Google improves accessibility of content for those with hearing problems

 

"Google is expanding its real-time caption feature, Live Captions, from Pixel phones to anyone using a Chrome browser, as first spotted by XDA Developers. Live Captions uses machine learning to spontaneously create captions for videos or audio where none existed before, and making the web that much more accessible for anyone who’s deaf or hard of hearing.

When enabled, Live Captions automatically appear in a small, moveable box in the bottom of your browser when you’re watching or listening to a piece of content where people are talking. Words appear after a slight delay, and for fast or stuttering speech, you might spot mistakes. But in general, the feature is just as impressive as it was when it first appeared on Pixel phones in 2019. Captions will even appear with muted audio or your volume turned down, making it a way to “read” videos or podcasts without bugging others around you. And even better, Google says Live Captions works offline, too.

...... 

Live Captions can be enabled in the latest version of Chrome by going to Settings, then the “Advanced” section, and then “Accessibility.” (If you’re not seeing the feature, try manually updating and restarting your browser.) When you toggle them on, Chrome will quickly download some speech recognition files, and then captions should appear the next time your browser plays audio where people are talking. "

Continue reading the article online with this feature described
https://www.theverge.com/2021/3/17/22337074/chrome-real-time-live-captions-audio-accessibility

I was able to capture the screen display of the School Committee meeting Tuesday with the feature. The black box located on top of the Zoom participants displayed in front of Chairperson Anne Bergen. It does well in providing an accurate caption. It is NOT perfect. There are mistakes some humorous but most seen thus far can be made out phonetically if not spelt correctly in the caption.

One really cool and potentially useful feature is that the captioning works for audio or video EVEN if the system sound is muted.  

Google improves accessibility of content for those with hearing problems

On National Pay Day women in sports highlight inequality

 

Megan Rapinoe has taken her fight for equal pay to Congress as she testified on Wednesday in front of a committee examining “the economic harm caused by longstanding gender inequalities, particularly for women of color”.

The Olympic and World Cup champion testified at a hearing by the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. In her opening statement, the soccer star told the committee that: “I am here today because I know firsthand that this is true. We are told in this country that if you just work hard and continue to achieve - you will be rewarded, fairly. It’s the promise of the American dream. But that promise has not been for everyone.

“The United States women’s national team has won four World Cup championships and four Olympic gold medals on behalf of our country. We have filled stadiums, broken viewing records, and sold out jerseys, all popular metrics by which we are judged.

“Yet despite all of this, we are still paid less than men – for each trophy, of which there are many, each win, each tie, each time we play. Less.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/mar/24/megan-rapinoe-equal-pay-day-us-congress-white-house-visit

"The NCAA’s handling of the women’s basketball tournament is either malpractice or malfeasance. It’s one or the other. The issue is not just petty skimping on food, the withholding of the March Madness brand, the willful lack of promotion. Something much bigger is going on here, a kind of larceny. And Congress should make the NCAA crack open the books on it.

Short of stifling Geno Auriemma with a pillow while stealing his diamond championship rings, the NCAA could not work harder to smother the potential of the women’s tournament and rob it of revenue. This week, in response to a query about its financials, the NCAA insisted again that the women don’t turn a profit. This is patently unjustifiable. You know how much revenue NCAA Division I women’s basketball generated collectively in 2018-2019? Almost a billion dollars. "

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/03/25/ncaa-women-basketball-tournament-revenue/

MA voices on National News: another mass shooting prompts more talk, no action (yet)

"Baker supports federal assault weapons ban, would advocate Mass.-style gun laws to national GOP"

"Governor Charlie Baker said Wednesday that he supports a federal ban on assault weapons and that he would advocate Massachusetts-style gun laws to fellow Republicans in Congress, as Democrats in Washington renew the push for tighter restrictions following two mass shootings in the last week.

“I think what we’ve done here in Massachusetts has worked and worked well, and if I could be a voice to share that with folks at the national level, I’d be happy to do that,” Baker said in an interview with Jim Braude and Margery Eagan on GBH Radio’s “Boston Public Radio.”

Asked by Braude if he supports a federal assault weapons ban, Baker responded, “Yeah, yeah. Absolutely.”

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/03/25/metro/baker-supports-federal-assault-weapons-ban-would-advocate-mass-style-gun-laws-national-gop/

 

"If 20 children killed in an elementary school didn’t change things, why would 10 dead adults in a supermarket?"

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/03/24/metro/if-20-children-killed-an-elementary-school-didnt-change-things-why-would-10-dead-adults-supermarket/

It doesn’t matter what most Americans want. It doesn’t matter how many people die. Those who could protect us from you too often won’t

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/03/24/metro/deadly-price-freedom/

MA State News: Gov Baker no mandate now for vaccinations; Duxbury football coach fired

"Baker not interested in vaccine mandates – for now"

"GOV. CHARLIE BAKER isn’t interested in requiring public-facing employees to get vaccinated, at least right now. And he’s got a problem with public officials who use their position to cut the vaccine line.

In an interview Wednesday on the Boston Public Radio show, Baker said he wouldn’t favor a mandate requiring members of the State Police, correctional officers, nursing home workers and other public-facing employees to be vaccinated in order to perform their duties.

“I don’t think you should put somebody in a position where they have to choose between a vaccine that they may be very concerned about taking for some very good reasons and their jobs, at least at this point in the process,” Baker said. “I want to concentrate on getting people vaccinated first.”

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/health/baker-not-interested-in-vaccine-mandates-for-now/ 

"Duxbury football coach fired over team’s use of anti-Semitic terms in recent game"

"The longtime head coach of the Duxbury High School football team, Dave Maimaron, was fired Wednesday, as the fallout widened from disclosures that his players used Holocaust-related language and Jewish words to call plays during a recent game.

The school’s upcoming game against Hingham was also canceled, along with upcoming junior varsity and freshman games, and the Duxbury school district hired an outside investigator to examine what happened. It’s unclear if or when the team’s season will resume.

“We want to be perfectly clear that we recognize how serious this is, and it is getting our undivided attention,” said Superintendent John Antonucci in a letter to the community announcing the district’s response."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/03/24/sports/duxbury-football-head-coach-dave-maimaron-fired/

2020 Selections to the National Recording Registry Announced

National Recording Registry Adds 'Rhythm Nation' Among 25 New Selections 2020 Selections to the National Recording Registry Announced Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden today named 25 recordings as audio treasures worthy of preservation for all time based on their cultural, historical or aesthetic importance in the nation's recorded sound heritage. Janet Jackson's clarion call for action and healing in "Rhythm Nation 1814" now joins other groundbreaking sounds of history and culture among the latest titles inducted into the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress, including Louis Armstrong's "When the Saints Go Marching In," Labelle's "Lady Marmalade," Nas' "Illmatic," Kool & the Gang's "Celebration," and Kermit the Frog's "The Rainbow Connection." Watch the announcement video featuring several of the artists and songwriters. Click here for more information  =>  https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-21-015/?loclr=ealn Watch the announcement video featuring several of the artists and songwriters. https://www.loc.gov/item/webcast-9731/?loclr=ealn

FHS Girl Up Club schedules virtual discussion on women's rights - Mar 25, 6:00 PM

From Angelina Perez:

I wanted to let you know about an event that my Girl Up Club is hosting this Thursday (3/25/21) at 6:00 PM. The event will take place via zoom and it is going to be a discussion on gender equality. 

This event will also be a place where people can discuss their experiences with sexism and misogyny and also discuss intersectional feminism and gender based violence. The event will be recorded for people to watch. 

Anyone is allowed to attend, they don't have to be a member of Girl Up as many FHS students will be in attendance. There will also be Girl Up global leaders/youth activists at the event. 

I've attached a pdf flyer that also has the Zoom link attached to it.

Zoom link =>  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85127749031?pwd=NUVOTk1Tc0NlME9WUkJUWWNoSnRNZz09

Download a copy of the flyer   https://drive.google.com/file/d/17_qA08rXarC6dCZlkXtzsniIakjCSDQB/view?usp=sharing

FHS Girl Up Club schedules virtual discussion on women's rights

FHS Theatre Company to perform Senior Student Directed 1 Acts: 2 plays each on 2 nights

Come support the Franklin High School Theatre Company as they premier the Senior Student Directed One Acts.  

Four different performances spanning the course of two evenings: 

• What Happens in Neverland, Stays in Neverland directed by Amanda Melmed '21 (March 25th @ 7pm)
• Frankenstein directed by Ben Fine '21 (March 25th @ 745pm)
• Identity Play directed by Bridget Flaherty '21 (March 26th @ 7pm)
• The 9 Worst Breakups of All Time directed by Max Allard '21 (March 26th @ 745pm)

VIRTUAL LIVE STREAM (ALL PATRONS): Note that there are TWO SITES - one for Thursday (3/25) and one for Friday (3/26). 

What Happens in Neverland, Stays in Neverland/Frankenstein - Thurs. 3/25/21

What Happens in Neverland, Stays in Neverland/Frankenstein - Thurs. 3/25/21

Identity Play/The 9 Worst Breakups of All Time - Fri. 3/26/21

Identity Play/The 9 Worst Breakups of All Time - Fri. 3/26/21

Access to live stream arrives with two different price points: $10.00 for individual access (additional processing fee applies $3.95), and $20.00 for family access (encouraged for viewers of 4+ individuals - additional processing fee applies $3.95).

Here is a guiding document for how to purchase the tickets for the livestream (remember that all patrons have to "make and account" before they can buy - they should do this well before the show, so there are no last minute hiccups.)