Anyone living in a major US city in the 60s has at least one vivid memory of what the air was like before the Clean Air Act and other steps taken to clean our life's breath. Here are a few of mine: Flying in a small plane above Los Angeles and seeing the demarcation line … Continue reading Keep our air and water clean — make them even cleaner, for everybody
Month: January 2019
Comparison of Amazon Fire HD 10 and iPad
I'm not surprised that the Apple iPad outperforms the Amazon Fire HD 10 in virtually every respect but, for many, budget matters. In that case, the Amazon Fire HD 10 is a worthy competitor on a value basis. https://www.businessinsider.com/best-tablet-apple-ipad-vs-amazon-fire-hd-10-2018-4 We compared the iPad to Amazon's Fire HD 10 tablet — and the winner was obvious May … Continue reading Comparison of Amazon Fire HD 10 and iPad
Many things about to change with accessing the internet — WSJ summary
From Wi-Fi to Bluetooth to 5G, All Your Wireless Is About to Change An unprecedented number of devices are coming online soon, and our current wireless systems weren’t built to handle the volume As smartphones compete for bandwidth with everything from smart-home sensors to autonomous vehicles, we will need new wireless technologies—badly. PHOTO: MATTHEW HORWOOD/GETTY IMAGES 125 COMMENTS … Continue reading Many things about to change with accessing the internet — WSJ summary
Here’s the other easy solution for robocalls
The easy solution is not to answer any number without caller ID. If it's a friend who hasn't called you before, they'll leave a message or text you instead. Unfortunately, the callers have the technology to choose a number that looks like local on your phone. Curiosity needs to be tamped down. Just let it … Continue reading Here’s the other easy solution for robocalls
Google is shutting down popular Google Hangouts
Google's choice of which products to continue and which to wipe out regularly puzzles me. Google Hangouts has been Google's most popular messaging service. Obviously it's not as popular as the top tier but Google finally found a product other than email that users liked. Of course they're ruining it by morphing it into something … Continue reading Google is shutting down popular Google Hangouts
Device for women’s sexual pleasure stripped of award at CES while male-focused trash was just fine thank you
Bias much? I've read several articles about this award revocation of an award and can find no legitimate justification other than misogyny. Given how women's bodies are used continually for advertising, how women are urged to do everything possible to massage their body into shape to please men, and the overwhelming presence of largely male-oriented … Continue reading Device for women’s sexual pleasure stripped of award at CES while male-focused trash was just fine thank you
Tired of robocalls? Here are the nuclear options
Now that I've (finally) given up my landline, and transferred that number to my cell, the number of robocalls and unwelcome calls has increased exponentially. If you're really serious about limiting calls you don't want, one option is to insert a request that the person confirm they're human -- that does work but also annoys … Continue reading Tired of robocalls? Here are the nuclear options
If you’re starting from scratch at choosing among the universe of tablets in the US
I've been happily in the Apple/Kindle universe for so long that I was momentarily stumped when asked to compare an Apple iPad to a Kindle Fire. This article turned out to be a very user-friendly primer for tablets generally. Confirmed that I'm right where I want to be, but investigating further for my friend with … Continue reading If you’re starting from scratch at choosing among the universe of tablets in the US
About to get incredibly cold in NE US — watch out for frozen water pipes
6 steps you can take to prevent your pipes from freezing The Washington Post · by Daniel Bortz · January 22, 2019 (Andreas Gebert/Reuters) As the winter chill sets in, it’s time to think about protecting your home from the elements. For prudent homeowners, this entails taking steps to prevent pipes from freezing and bursting during the cold-weather … Continue reading About to get incredibly cold in NE US — watch out for frozen water pipes
How this unnecessary wall will endanger wildlife
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/24/climate/border-wall-wildlife.html?partner=rss&emc=rss Why a Border Wall Could Mean Trouble for Wildlife Image A Mexican gray wolf on the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico.CreditCreditJim Clark/United States Fish and Wildlife Service, via Associated Press By John Schwartz Jan. 24, 2019 Want climate news in your inbox? Sign up here for Climate Fwd:, our email newsletter. As the fight continues … Continue reading How this unnecessary wall will endanger wildlife
Even if dementia is in your future, you probably have many good years first
This is a story where I can just imagine the researcher trying to describe the positives of this project when asking for funding. As we each get older -- let's define that as when Medicare kicks in at 65 -- the twin horrors of dementia or Alzheimer's disease are no longer in the unimaginable future. … Continue reading Even if dementia is in your future, you probably have many good years first
Keep your boarding passes private — they contain more info than you think
The following article is a reader-friendly expansion of a Popular Mechanics article explaining the basic problem: https://www.popularmechanics.com/flight/airlines/a25923137/hacker-airline-security-flaw/ The article below tho focuses on the regular wide distribution of all details of our lives on social media -- including the occasional posting of our boarding passes. Bottom line is don't do it. But this article (if … Continue reading Keep your boarding passes private — they contain more info than you think
Abycats' Thoughts 