Killer Whales Find an ‘Unlikely Friend’ in Dolphins
Off the coast of British Columbia, dolphins lead killer whales to salmon and earn their share of lunch, a new study reveals.
#wildlife #nature #KillerWhales #orca #dolphins #study #science #BritishColumbia #Canada
It's not finished yet, but I wanted to show it very much. I guess racing game in #orca? Not exactly racing, but anyway, cars.
You will also need to pick up gasoline, which will constantly run out
(and I know it does not fit but some of my rough wip music stuff playing in background. Well let's say the driver has very high stakes, so it's a very dramatic moment)
This year brought great improvements to #accessibility in GNOME, including:
• Accessibility from the start on the login screen
• Full accessibility of GNOME Web
• Tons of improvements to Calendar
• Screen reader integration for Notifications
• Configure #Orca screen reader from Settings
• GTK apps integrated w/Windows & macOS accessibility
Help us reach 1,500 #FriendsOfGNOME so we can focus on accessibility even more in 2026!
Killer Whales Find an ‘Unlikely Friend’ in Dolphins
Off the coast of British Columbia, dolphins lead killer whales to salmon and earn their share of lunch, a new study reveals.
#wildlife #nature #KillerWhales #orca #dolphins #study #science #BritishColumbia #Canada
It's not finished yet, but I wanted to show it very much. I guess racing game in #orca? Not exactly racing, but anyway, cars.
You will also need to pick up gasoline, which will constantly run out
(and I know it does not fit but some of my rough wip music stuff playing in background. Well let's say the driver has very high stakes, so it's a very dramatic moment)
This year brought great improvements to #accessibility in GNOME, including:
• Accessibility from the start on the login screen
• Full accessibility of GNOME Web
• Tons of improvements to Calendar
• Screen reader integration for Notifications
• Configure #Orca screen reader from Settings
• GTK apps integrated w/Windows & macOS accessibility
Help us reach 1,500 #FriendsOfGNOME so we can focus on accessibility even more in 2026!
Philly Anti-Capitalist: **1971 Screening**
https://phlanticap.noblogs.org/1971-screening/
from O.R.C.A. A group of Philly anti-war activists turned burglars broke into an FBI office and made off with documents. They exposed the bureau’s notorious COINTELPRO and never got caught! 1971 follows up with them decades later and goes into how they planned the action and how their break-in changed the way we understand surveillance…
#Movie #Orca #Repression
🗣️🎤📝 
Speech to Text and Text to Speech on GNU/Linux 
📝🔊💻
Why This Matters to Me (and Maybe You Too)
If you’re anything like me—a Linux user who counts on voice typing and TTS because of visual impairment—you know that accessibility is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. Speaking from experience as someone who depends on voice typing (and TTS) , the quest for a seamless, local, FLOSS speech-to-text (STT) setup on Linux can be frustrating.
Here’s how you can succeed with modern tools using Linux. FLOSS means freedom and privacy; working locally means real control.
Let’s dive in! I’ll tell you what I’ve learned and what I use—and hope you’ll share your favorite tools or tips!
System-Wide Voice Keyboard: Speak Directly in Any App
Want to speak and have your words typed wherever your cursor is—be it a terminal, browser, chat, or IDE? Here’s what actually works and how it feels day-to-day:
- Speak to AI (Offline, Whisper-based, global hotkeys)
This tool is my current go-to. It uses Whisper locally, lets you use global hotkeys (configurable) to type into any focused window, and doesn’t need internet. Runs smoothly on X11 and Wayland; just takes a bit of setup (AppImage available!).
GitHub Repo https://github.com/AshBuk/speak-to-ai) | Dev.to Post https://dev.to/ashbuk/i-built-an-offline-voice-typing-app-for-linux-speak-to-ai-3ab5)
- DIY: RealtimeSTT + PyAutoGUI
For the true tinkerers, RealtimeSTT plus a Python script lets you simulate keystrokes. You control every step, can lower latency with your tweaks, but you’ll need to be comfortable with scripting.
RealtimeSTT Guide https://github.com/KoljaB/RealtimeSTT#readme)
- Handy (Free/Libre, offline, Whisper-based, acts as a keyboard)
I’ve read lots of positive feedback on Handy—even though I haven’t tried it myself. The workflow is simple: press a hotkey, speak, and Handy pastes your text in the active app. It’s fully offline, works on X11 and Wayland, and gets strong accuracy thanks to Whisper.
Heads up: Handy lets you pick your own shortcut key, but it actually overrides the keyboard shortcut for start/stop recording. That means it can clash with other tools that depend on major shortcut combos—including Orca’s custom keybindings if you use a screen reader. If your workflow relies on certain shortcuts, this might need adjustment or careful planning before you commit.
GitHub Repo https://github.com/cjpais/Handy) | Demo https://handy.computer)
Real-Time Transcription in a Window (Copy/Paste Workflow)
If you’re okay with speaking into a dedicated app, then copying, these options offer great GUIs and power features:
- Speech Note by @mkiol https://mastodon.social/@mkiol
FLOSS, offline, multi-language GUI app—perfect for quick notes and batch transcription. Not a system-wide keyboard, but super easy to use and works on both desktops and Linux phones.
Flathub https://flathub.org/apps/net.mkiol.SpeechNote | LinuxPhoneApps https://linuxphoneapps.org/apps/net.mkiol.speechnote/)
- WhisperLive (by Collabora)
Real-time transcription in a terminal or window—great for meetings, lectures, and captions. Manual copy/paste required to get the text to other apps.
GitHub Repo https://github.com/collabora/WhisperLive)
More Tools for Tinkerers
If you like building your own or want extra control, check out:
- Vosk: Lightweight, lots of language support. GitHub https://alphacephei.com/vosk/)
- Kaldi: Powerful, best for custom setups. Website https://kaldi-asr.org/)
- Simon: Voice control automation. Website https://simon-listens.org/)
- voice2json: Phrase-level and command recognition. GitHub https://github.com/synesthesiam/voice2json)
Pro Tips
- Desktop Environment: X11 vs. Wayland affects how keyboard hooks and app focus actually operate.
- Ready-Made vs. DIY: If you want plug-and-play, try Speech Note or Handy first. Into automation or customization? RealtimeSTT is perfect.
- Follow the Community: @thorstenvoice offers tons of open-source voice tech insights.
Screen Reader Integration
Looking for robust screen reader support? Linux has you covered:
- Orca (GNOME/MATE): The most customizable GUI screen reader out there. The default voice (eSpeak) is robotic, but you can swap it for something better and fine-tune verbosity so it reads only what matters.
- Speakup: Console-based, ideal for terminal.
- Emacspeak: The solution for Emacs fans.
💡 Orca is part of my daily toolkit. It took time to get the settings just right (especially verbosity!) but it’s absolutely worth it. If you use a screen reader—what setup makes it bearable or even enjoyable for you?
Final Thoughts
If you’re starting from scratch, try Handy for direct typing (just watch those shortcuts if you use a screen reader!) or Speech Note for GUI-based transcription. Both are privacy-friendly, local, and accessible—ideal for everyday Linux use.
Is there a FLOSS gem missing here?
Sharing what works (and what doesn’t!) helps the entire community.
Resources:
Speech Note on Flathub https://flathub.org/apps/net.mkiol.SpeechNote
Handy GitHub https://github.com/cjpais/Handy
Speak to AI Guide https://dev.to/ashbuk/i-built-an-offline-voice-typing-app-for-linux-speak-to-ai-3ab5
RealtimeSTT https://github.com/KoljaB/RealtimeSTT
#Linux #SpeechToText #FLOSS #Accessibility #VoiceKeyboard #ScreenReader #Whisper #Handy #SpeechNote #OpenSource #Community #voicetyping #LocalSTT #TTStools #SpeechRecognition #A11y #Linuxtools #Voicekeyboard #Whisper #Handy #speech-to-text #SpeechNote #review #ScreenReaders #ORCA #FOSS
Winner – threatened species: Red Dawn
Ghost bats are rare and elusive, with strict roost requirements. Wagiman country, Adelaide River Hills, Northern Territory.
Photograph: Etienne Littlefair
Winner – monochrome: Party Streamer
‘Orca WA007 joyfully leaps out of the Bremer Canyon after devouring a Cuvier’s beaked whale, her prey’s intestines subtly hanging from her mouth like a festive decoration. Around 300 of these mammal-hunting orcas have been recorded in this remote Southern Ocean hotspot, with unfolding research suggesting they may be their own ecotype.’ Noongar country, Southern Ocean, off Bremer Bay, Western Australia.
Photograph: Rachelle Mackintos
I was offered an opportunity to lead a little #livecoding workshop with the attendees and students of the local college. If that's your sort of thing, let me know.
Also, if you're proefficient with #orca, I would LOVE a second pair of hands to help folks participating, if you feel up to it, send me a DM.
I was offered an opportunity to lead a little #livecoding workshop with the attendees and students of the local college. If that's your sort of thing, let me know.
Also, if you're proefficient with #orca, I would LOVE a second pair of hands to help folks participating, if you feel up to it, send me a DM.
Incredible, first-of-their-kind images show an orca being born in Norway https://www.livescience.com/animals/orcas/incredible-first-of-their-kind-images-show-an-orca-being-born-in-norway-and-the-rest-of-its-pod-forming-a-protective-circle 🐬 #Cetaceans #MarineMammals #MarineLife #MarineBiology #Dolphins #Whales #Science #Orca
Incredible, first-of-their-kind images show an orca being born in Norway https://www.livescience.com/animals/orcas/incredible-first-of-their-kind-images-show-an-orca-being-born-in-norway-and-the-rest-of-its-pod-forming-a-protective-circle 🐬 #Cetaceans #MarineMammals #MarineLife #MarineBiology #Dolphins #Whales #Science #Orca
Newest J-Pod orca calf missing, presumed dead https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/newest-j-pod-orca-calf-missing-presumed-dead-11431652 🐬 #Cetaceans #MarineMammals #MarineLife #MarineBiology #Dolphins #Whales #Science #Orca
Newest J-Pod orca calf missing, presumed dead https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/newest-j-pod-orca-calf-missing-presumed-dead-11431652 🐬 #Cetaceans #MarineMammals #MarineLife #MarineBiology #Dolphins #Whales #Science #Orca
"The #Orca screen reader now announces caps lock state changes, and screen readers will now describe the Shortcuts and Autostart pages more optimally. A new grayscale color filter for people sensitive to colors, developers have done a full pass to eliminate bright flashes in the UI, and the desktop zoom feature will now follow the text insertion point. Keyboard navigation has been improved, and a few other small changes have been to improve #accessibility."
