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Shelly Brisbin

@Shelly@zeppelin.flights

mastodon 4.6.6

Public radio journalist (@TexasStandard@mastodon.social) and nerd. I cover #Texas news (government, transportation, disability, tech, arts, music, books). I also write about Apple (@sixcolors@zeppelin.flights) and podcast about classic film (@liontowershield@zeppelin.flights).
Accessibility (#a11y) advocate. Sending memes? Alt text or it didn’t happen.

Contact me securely on Signal: ShellyB.93

1487 Followers

331 Following

41 Posts

Joined February 05, 2023

The Radio News Job:

https://www.texasstandard.org/about-the-team/shelly-brisbin/

My #a11y Book:

http://iosaccessbook.com

Podcasting at The Incomparable:

https://www.theincomparable.com/person/shelly-brisbin/

Former tech+ #a11y podcast:

http://relay.fm/parallel

Posts

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Jul 21, 2026

My friend the AI alligator has me editing Audition session files' XML. Nice alligator!

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Jul 14, 2026

My strategic disabling and enabling accounts on my phone to manage clutter is going to get broken badly with iOS 27. If I plan to use Siri AI effectively, I'll need to keep the bin I use for transactions, the work email, the personal email and the podcast forwards all on there, all the time.

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Jul 11, 2026

The age verification cops have come for me on Bluesky because I live in Texas. Sharing vitals with another server on the Internet. Thumbs down.

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Jul 08, 2026

Very uncool #a11y news from Microsoft.

H/T to @jamesthomson@mastodon.social for the link:

https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/xbox-layoffs-hit-accessibility-leadership-calling-into-question-microsofts-continued-commitment-to-accessibility-initiatives/

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Jul 03, 2026

Attending my first NFB convention. Really appreciate y’all coming to my town for the festivities. #NFB28

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Jun 28, 2026

All career choices are open to us! @mcourcel@allovertheplace.ca

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Jun 17, 2026

O joy! Claude approves of my choice of vacation bed-and-breakfast. “Good choice.”

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · May 10, 2026

I’m cautiously optimistic about accessibility fixes in the Plex streaming app. Submenus read correctly, and the Shuffle button is no longer labeled Sleep. More. If I find it.

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · May 07, 2026

Replying to @Shelly@zeppelin.flights

I had tried to build an iOS app to do this task some time ago, using a different Claude login on a different Mac. Today, Claude referred back to that attempt, suggesting that my Web app was like something I’d already done in iOS. Yeah, but that iOS app was no good so I stopped working on int.

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · May 07, 2026

I deployed my first little Claude-aided 🐊Web app for family. Apparently, AI code can still have bugs in it! Who knew? 😳

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · May 07, 2026

Three iPhone 16 variants live in this house. I guess we’re in for some lawsuit money.

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · May 06, 2026

I’ve been very pleased with ‘project separate’, wherein I keep my personal computing life on separate devices from my work life. Then I left my iPhone at home, and I’m grumpy because the phone is the bridge between the two.

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Apr 30, 2026

I’m vaguely ashamed to admit that I asked Claude a fashion question. Apparently, I'm over the shame enough to admit it here. Answer: acceptable and believable.

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Apr 29, 2026

Thing I learned today: there is a Google Play Books app for iOS.

I did not want to learn this, but I have.

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Apr 28, 2026

Another fun #a11y option for mitigating Liquid Glass badness. I’ll try to put this through its paces today and share my thoughts. But the iOS 7.1 (you get a toggle, and you get a toggle…) vibes are strong.

https://osxdaily.com/2026/04/28/use-reduce-bright-effects-ios-26-iphone-ipad-liquid-glass/

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Apr 25, 2026

Breakfast thievery

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Apr 24, 2026

Replying to @macosken@mastodon.social

@macosken@mastodon.social THAT guy!

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Apr 24, 2026

It’s sad that I’m so surprised that a command I’ve thought up for Siri actually works.

I’m now reminding myself of a meeting awhile before it happens by saying “Siri, turn on Meeting Time at 11:29.” It activates my camera lights, which reminds me to hop on Zoom, just in time for the 11:30 convo.

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Apr 24, 2026

Let’s give the acclaim to those who MADE the shows, not the funder/distributor.

https://appleworld.today/2026/04/two-apple-tv-productions-win-peabody-awards/

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Apr 21, 2026

Replying to @DavidGoldfield@allovertheplace.ca

@DavidGoldfield@allovertheplace.ca “The emoji that must not be named!

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Apr 21, 2026

My new favorite accessibility setting can be found in the Mona app. “Remove emoji characters from usernames.” ❤️

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Apr 20, 2026

I do not have space in my news brain today for an Apple CEO. I have DOJ sctuff to follow!

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Apr 19, 2026

Time again to take up read-it-later/soeak-it-later workflows. Off to download some new apps.

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Apr 15, 2026

Fascinating. @codemonkeymike@fosstodon.org

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Apr 15, 2026

Neo is the “ultra” of 2026.

https://cleantechnica.com/2026/04/15/world-premiere-of-the-id-3-neo-new-name-new-design-new-interior-and-new-technologies/

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Apr 13, 2026

Replying to @dadakopf@dobbs.town

@dadakopf If you could teleport, you wouldn’t need other instruments to set yourself free,

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Apr 12, 2026

I believe that waffles and bacon for dinner will set you free.

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Apr 12, 2026

Now, my buddy Claude is organizing lists of transactions into a pretty spreadsheet for the taxes. No, Claude, those Criterion Blu-rays and contributions to public radio are NOT business expenses. But thanks for trying.

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Apr 10, 2026

Sometimes I'm in the kitchen, having a cocktail while listening to a podcast, and I ask Siri things I'm not sure it will be able to answer satisfactorily.

Me: Siri, whats the average livespan of an alligator in captivity?

Siri: The average…. Is 70 years. For medical advice, please consult a physician.

CC: @jsnell@zeppelin.flights @dmoren@zeppelin.flights

zeppelin.flights

Jason Snell (@jsnell@zeppelin.flights) - The Incomparable

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Apr 07, 2026

Replying to @Woody@dragonscave.space

@Woody@dragonscave.space I always have to remember to reserve a day that week to report and write stuff.

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Apr 06, 2026

New post:

https://www.brisbin.net/2026/04/05/pulling-more-apple-at-50-accessibility-threads/

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Apr 01, 2026

Replying to @Shelly@zeppelin.flights

When I got that first job editing computer magazines – tabloid format newspapers, really – I also set up the company's first email system and helped keep a bunch of Mac Pluses running. And, um, there was some mischief with QuickMail, as a protest against unloved bosses. We were young.

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Apr 01, 2026

Replying to @Shelly@zeppelin.flights

Next, I fixed everyone's Macs – usually they just had one. I was the anti-mansplainer who trained women to get the most from their little beige boxes. I did write HyperCard stacks for a fancy lawyer while wearing a suit and heels, with a Mac Plus slung over my shoulder.

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Apr 01, 2026

Replying to @Shelly@zeppelin.flights

I wanted to aim higher with my brand-new journalism degree, but most starting-out reporter jobs in those days would have sent me to small towns where you needed a car to do your job. So I pivoted to non-profits, local politics and a newsletter called The MacBulletin. Once I settled in, I learned to make myself indispensable by building databases and managing mailing lists on an IBM AT, and later, the Mac Plus.

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Apr 01, 2026

Replying to @Shelly@zeppelin.flights

Here's a thread of "behind the music" stuff I left out of the story for brevity. I've told versions of this on podcasts, but without the slap upside the head from my journalism professor. It feels weird to send the written version into the world though, mostly because it screams "you old!"

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Apr 01, 2026

My Mac origin story. @sixcolors@zeppelin.flights

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Mar 06, 2026

Replying to @mfeir@mstdn.social

@mfeir Thanks Michael. I appreciate the recommendations. It’s always been a very friendly group of us publishing iOS accessibility books. 😊 I guess you’re kind of the last man standing now. Best of luck to you as well.

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Mar 06, 2026

Some news about my book. @iosaccessbook@zeppelin.flights

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Mar 06, 2026

My friend Josh de Lioncourt is facing serious medical issues because of a rare condition called MDS. Josh is blogging about his journey, and the stem cell transplat he needs. Now, there's a GoFundMe to help with increasing medical costs.

I've known Josh for 20 years. He's contributed so much to the Apple #a11y community as a podcaster and a developer. And he's a really good guy, too!

If you can help Josh, please contribute.

https://goodjourney.blog

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-joshs-journey-to-a-lifesaving-transplant?attribution_id=sl:45887b2a-108a-4246-b569-db9e5170de31&lang=en_US&ts=1772147833&utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_content=amp17_te-amp20_t2&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Nov 25, 2025

Boosted by

CM Harrington @octothorpe@mastodon.online

We all know about the massive disparity between the number of men’s and women’s voices in podcasting. But can we talk about the absolute emptiness of the “women review audio gear” space on YouTube? Especially when it come to mics? Women’s voices be different, y’all.

Shelly Brisbin @Shelly@zeppelin.flights · Mar 29, 2023

Replying to @TexasObserver@texasobserver.social

@TexasObserver@texasobserver.social congrats, y’all.

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Jason Snell (@jsnell@zeppelin.flights) - The Incomparable

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