http://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-of-natural-history/2021/04/15/what-expect-when-cicadas-emerge-spring/ What to Expect When the Cicadas Emerge This Spring April 15th, 2021, 6:00AM / BY Abigail Eisenstadt When eight inches below the ground warms to 64 degrees, the invasion of the Washington metropolitan region will begin. Countless young cicadas will erupt from the soil, molting into adults who will then buzz nonstop at a decibel level close … Continue reading The cicadas are coming, the cicadas are coming
New Apple TV 4K Siri remote won’t work as a gaming controller
Since the new Siri remote is a vast improvement on prior Apple TV remotes, it's worth noting that the remote can be purchased separately from the updated Apple TV 4K. For that info and a confirmation that AppleCare+ is now available for longer periods, I owe: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/04/here-are-the-updates-that-didnt-make-it-in-apples-livestream-yesterday/ But the article below is from https://www.macrumors.com New … Continue reading New Apple TV 4K Siri remote won’t work as a gaming controller
Medical mask under cloth mask works well curbing COVID spread
Please note that the photo shows how NOT to layer masks as the medical mask should be closest to the skin. https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2021/04/16/coronavirus-double-masking-study-COVID-19/7151618578609/ APRIL 16, 2021 / 11:00 AM Study shows double-masking -- medical mask under cloth -- cuts COVID-19 spread By Brian P. DunleavyPedestrians wear face masks to protect from and to prevent the spread … Continue reading Medical mask under cloth mask works well curbing COVID spread
New Magic Keyboard has its limits, including its pricing
If you have already watched Apple's April 20th event (available on Apple's website or on YouTube), you might be forgiven for thinking that the new version of the Magic Keyboard adds Touch ID to all M1-based Apple device to which it can be attached. As so often happens, the devil is in the details. The … Continue reading New Magic Keyboard has its limits, including its pricing
“Keeping clean” in a pandemic
With fresh water becoming more and more of a luxury around the world, maybe it's a good thing that many have discovered constant bathing isn't actually a necessity. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/apr/21/i-wash-my-hands-and-genitals-the-rest-i-gave-up-how-the-pandemic-changed-our-hygiene-habits ‘I wash my hands and genitals – the rest I gave up’: how the pandemic changed our hygiene habits Lockdown affected all our routines when it … Continue reading “Keeping clean” in a pandemic
Distressing food allergy (not nuts)
https://www.eatthis.com/news-study-milk-allergy/ This Food Is Becoming a Bigger Allergy Threat Than Nuts, Data Says Pediatric medical data show this is "the most distressing of the food allergies," as noted by an M.D. BY KRISSY GASBARRE APRIL 18, 2021 Many parents know how seriously American schools have taken nut allergies in recent years. Today, medical experts report there's a new … Continue reading Distressing food allergy (not nuts)
Sensible revision of the 4% withdrawal guideline
This is an article worth saving. Please note that even this revision of the traditional withdrawal plan during retirement only works if you have Social Security and some other source of income that's regular (such as a pension). One point the article doesn't focus on is how the nest egg is invested. My view is … Continue reading Sensible revision of the 4% withdrawal guideline
Nuanced review of Apple Fitness+
A focus on the expansion of Apple Fitness+ is at: https://www.macstories.net/news/apple-expands-fitness-offerings-with-new-classes-designed-for-pregnancy-and-older-adults-new-trainers-and-time-to-walk-with-jane-fonda/ But here's the review: https://mashable.com/review/apple-fitness-plus-review/? Apple Fitness+ review: A workout app for everyone but the fitness fanatic BY BRENDA STOLYARFEB 23, 2021 Is Apple’s new exercise app enough to fend off the quarantine-induced fitness slump? With the pandemic raging on for almost a year now, … Continue reading Nuanced review of Apple Fitness+
Apple’s new purple iPhone
This is just a brief gripe/whine about the first mid-cycle announcement of a new color for any iPhone line. The new purple available for iPhone 12s looks gorgeous BUT those of us who have already purchased an iPhone 12 (pick your version) cannot trade-in our current iPhones -- even at a slight loss -- to … Continue reading Apple’s new purple iPhone
iOS 14.5 has all sorts of bells and whistles
Am not sure how many iterations this iOS went thru -- seven? They've been testing one neat new feature after another. There will be other articles that will zero in on the details but here's a basic primer. https://mashable.com/article/download-ios-14-5-features/ Apple will release iOS 14.5 next week. Download it for these new features. BY BRENDA STOLYAR1 DAY … Continue reading iOS 14.5 has all sorts of bells and whistles
100 best nonfiction — old but not dated
The 100 best nonfiction books of all time: the full list After two years of careful reading, moving backwards through time, Robert McCrum has concluded his selection of the 100 greatest nonfiction books. Take a quick look at five centuries of great writing Robert McCrum reflects on his 100 greatest nonfiction books listThe 100 best … Continue reading 100 best nonfiction — old but not dated
HBO and Kate Winslet have a winner
Mare of Easttown review – Kate Winslet triumphs in a moreish murder mystery Alongside an able cast, the actor gives a defining performance in this perfectly conjured HBO drama set in a bleak and deprived corner of Pennsylvania Kate Winslet as Detective Mare Sheehan, looking for a missing teenager. Photograph: HBO Lucy Mangan@LucyManganMon 19 Apr 2021 … Continue reading HBO and Kate Winslet have a winner
Abycats' Thoughts 