This National Library Week, we're celebrating the power of libraries to endure—even in the face of unprecedented challenges.

In our latest Vanishing Culture essay, @brewsterkahle shares why preserving the library system matters now more than ever: https://blog.archive.org/2025/04/07/vanishing-culture-preserving-the-library-system/

Commission of @shy_flash

He ordered a Christmas present for the good Kosnika. It has become a beautiful picture... this has also been printed on canvas..

Thank you for your trust and have fun with the picture

Minecraft Access: A World of Blocks, Blindness, and Brilliance 🌍💎 #MinecraftAccess #InclusiveGaming

Seven years ago, I lost my sight—and with it, I thought I’d lost the chance to play Minecraft. Back in my sighted days, Minecraft was my escape hatch to infinite creativity. Build a castle? Sure. Survive the night? Done. Accidentally set your house on fire because you put lava in the wrong place? Look, we’ve all been there.

But when I lost my vision, Minecraft felt like a closed door. And while games might not be life’s top priority, let’s admit it—they’re a fantastic way to unwind. Losing that world stung.

That’s where Minecraft Access comes in. It’s a mod that makes the game accessible for blind players. Sounds amazing, right? When I first tried it four months ago, though, things didn’t go as planned. I wandered aimlessly, got hopelessly lost, and rage-quit before a creeper even had the chance to blow me up. But yesterday, armed with more patience (and probably less sanity), I decided to give it another go.

And you know what? This time, I crushed it. Well, not literally—I didn’t fall into lava, for once! I set up an underground base, complete with a wheat farm and an infinite water source. I mined iron, found diamonds (yes, diamonds! I’m rich!), and lit up my surroundings so mobs wouldn’t spawn. Because let’s be honest, nothing says “bad day” like being smacked by a zombie you can’t even see.

So how does this all work? Minecraft Access narrates the block in your crosshair, tells you its position, and makes inventory and crafting fully accessible. I navigate with ASDW keys, craft like a pro, and honestly, I feel like I’ve rediscovered a part of myself I thought was gone.

Of course, it’s not all smooth sailing. Navigating the terrain is like playing a guessing game where the prize is not falling into a ravine. And while I can build functional stuff, making it visually appealing? Let’s just say my creations won’t win any beauty contests. But hey, I can still mine, explore, and survive—and that feels like magic.

The real heroes here are the developers of Minecraft Access. Turning a game this visual into something a blind player can enjoy is a Herculean task. They’ve done something incredible, and they deserve all the praise (and maybe some pizza, because who doesn’t love pizza?).

If you’re curious or want to say thank you to these legends, check out their GitHub page or hop on their Discord. They’ve made Minecraft a world for everyone, and that’s worth celebrating.

https://github.com/khanshoaib3/minecraft-access

Minecraft has always been about endless possibilities. Thanks to this mod, those possibilities now extend to players like me. Who knows? Maybe I’ll even build a castle someday... if I can figure out where the stairs go. 😅

#BlindGamer #GamingWithoutLimits #Accessibility #Minecraft

Good morning fediponies! I hope ya'll are having a good day. Feel like it's a good time to share some snippets of a big project I'm working on. =3

I'll post them one at a time 'cause I'm lame like that. Working in order of highest rank backwards, I'm putting together a big group image of the Stargazer crew. First up is our first officer, Harvest Moonsprite!

Avatar of my friend Lorelei Starspray, she is the best friend one could ever ask for. She is absolutely dedicated to our community and me as a friend, and everything she does keeps us safe and harmonious. Like a good first officer, she keeps things running and executes her duty with precision and effeciency. She is my rock, I could not do what I do without her.

#projectstargazer #pony #mlp #art #ponyart #starsongdusk #mastoart #digitalart #unicorn #scifi #fanart #webcomic #christmas #hearthswarming #krita #twitch #twitchstreamers #twitchtrot #alttext