Elizabeth Sergan writing for Fast Company:
These might just be the ugliest shoes we’ve seen all year
Or ever.
Boeing 747s still get critical updates via floppy disks
While it might sound surprising that 3.5-inch floppy disks are still in use on airplanes today, many of Boeing’s 737s have also been using floppy disks to load avionics software for years.
Let that sink in for a few minutes. No, really I will wait.
A Boeing 747-400 in the most common configuration holds 416 passengers.
First question that comes to mind is where are they buying floppy discs today.
Twenty Bits I Learned About Design, Business & Community
I just finished reading Dan Cedarholms’ book Twenty Bits I Learned About Design, Business & Community. If you are not familiar with Dan, he was the co-founder of Dribbble. It’s a simple and fast fun read with lots of tidbits of his experience. There are a few chapters that I just found myself laughing out loud as I read them.
“Start with a t-shirt.
Every good thing starts with a t-shirt. No really, hear me out. Don’t put the book down yet. There’s just something about the venerable t-shirt that evokes happiness.”
I read it digitally but enjoyed it so much I am going to get the hardcover for my collection.
Apple Store badges are back with Memoji, here’s how to make your own – 9to5Mac
If you need help look for me. I will be wearing this when I do tech support for friends and family.
The new Memoji badges are designed to help store employees express themselves in a world wearing masks. They’re sure to be conversation starters and add a pop of color and fun to the store experience. For long-time Apple enthusiasts, they’re a throwback to old times. Earlier badges promoted Apple’s in-store services and announcements, like Personal Pickup or The Beatles arriving on iTunes.
Nursing Home residents recreate famous album covers
From The Clash to Taylor Swift, residents at a UK nursing home recreat
Residents and caregivers at the Sydmar Lodge Care Home have been re-creating classic album covers as part of a creative project spurred by activities coordinator Robert Speker. Called “The Show Must Go On,” the goal has been to keep up the spirits of the older residents, who haven’t been able to receive visitors or have any outside entertainment since the lockdown began, according to Speker. (It now allows window and garden visits.)
I saw this the other day, and I thought it was brilliant and brought a smile to my face. It instantly reminded me of the move called Young@Heart from 2007, where a chorus of senior citizens cover songs from The Talking Heads to Jimi Hendrix.
As a long time Clash fan, this has to be my favorite with the Bowie version a close second.
100% carbon neutral supply chain by 2030, says Apple – 9to5Mac
I love to see articles like this from any company. Reducing your carbon footprint is good for everyone. Making a commitment for a global business to make sure all aspects including partners and outsourced manufacturing is impressive.
Apple today unveiled its plan to become carbon neutral across its entire business, manufacturing supply chain, and product life cycle by 2030. The company is already carbon neutral today for its global corporate operations, and this new commitment means that by 2030, every Apple device sold will have net zero climate impact.
California King
A new journal of emotional hygiene. From the makers of You Look Nice Today.
With everyone staying at home in self-quanrantine mode we got a nice little surprise last week. One of my favorite podcasts every was rebooted as California King. Its a reboot or a version 2 of the You Look Nice Podcast. Forty seconds into the show my smile returned!
Pence’s office blocks public health officials from appearing on CNN
Pence’s office blocks public health officials from appearing on CNN – CNN:
New York (CNN Business)Vice President Mike Pence’s office has declined to allow the nation’s top health officials to appear on CNN in recent days and discuss the coronavirus pandemic killing thousands of Americans, in an attempt to pressure the network into carrying the White House’s lengthy daily briefings in full.
– Sure makes total sense to prohibit news channels from acccess to Health Officials to get the coverage you want. Why did I not think of that.
Travel Observations – Israel
This post is long overdue. In January of 2018, my wife and I were able to travel to Israel with her mother for a pilgrimage. If you had asked me before this trip if Israel were one of my top ten travel/vacation destinations, I would have said absolutely no. If you couple this by seeing myself as a person who is more spiritual than religious, I had no longing desire to go initially.
For many, I think Israel is a religious destination, and that is 100 percent true, but there is so much more to this country. If you have an interest in history, art, politics, food, or just a beautiful country, it is well worth the visit. This experience was one of the best trips.
On this trip, we traveled with forty other people. We would go from historic site to site lead by the most fantastic guide (he made all the difference in the learning).
I am a person who notices things that most people don’t care about at all. This talent or annoyance, I get to take it everywhere.
Tech
- While traveling overseas, it is incredible how roaming on another mobile network can crush your battery. I relied on an external battery back and low power mode during the day.
- In the group of 40 people, there were four full-time iPad photographers
- (1) iPad Mini
- (1) iPad 9.7
- (2) iPad Pro 12.9 ( it was impressive to see these people whip out the giant tablets to take images)
- As far as phones, there were a few iPhone X’s (this was just after the release), but there were a lot of 8 and 8+’s
- I took the 8+, and the low light camera has been unbelievable in most of the very dark churches. With the phone set to automatic flash, it did not go off once
- I am only traveling with an iPad Pro 10.5 and iPhone, and it has been great. For some reason, i felt as though I had extreme mobility more than in the past.
Misc
- The preservation of the churches and synagogues and artwork is unbelievable.
- Most signage is in 3 languages – Hebrew, Arabic, and English.
- I came thinking I would be reading a lot more and watching movies in the evening but usually very tired after a day of touring. Some days we covered 7 miles or more on foot.
- The country is very mountainous, ranging in height from 800 feet above sea level to minus 400 feet below sea level (Dead Sea). The lowest place below sea level.
- We were able to visit the Dead Sea, which was terrific. I did not go in, but many of our traveling companions did. I had not brought a disposable change of clothing with me.
- Excellent American coffee was hard to come by. I drank a lot more espresso there, which is my preference, but many of our companions struggled. If you love Turkish coffee, you would also be fine.
- The pictures I took on this trip were really incredible and these do not do the locations justice.
- A small snack can of Pringles costs $6 American.
State of Video and Teleconference
When is started doing a clean up of applications on my computer I noticed a small disturbing trend. There are at least eight applications on my computer that do a similar function. At first I thought this could be limited to uses in a corporate setting but I bet freelancers and small businesses may have the same issue.
Below is a list of current and regularly used applications on my computer for video/teleconferencing that I on a regular basis.
Applications currently installed:
I like healthy competition among developers to make better products but the lack of differentiation among these is so small.