Monthly Archives: April 2015

Should You Buy An Apple Watch?

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If you have been thinking about whether you should buy an Apple watch, I have the answer. The majority of tech reviewers agree that it is a technological wonder and they would love to own one. However, they don’t feel it’s an absolute necessity. (By the way, tech reviewers don’t get to keep their Apple review samples. They may get a press discount, but it’s still pricey). 

Reviewes feel that it’s the most innovative smart watch ever, but there no remarkable features that you don’t have on your iPhone. 

Ed Baig, tech editor at USA Today, quickly points out that there’s something special about eyeballing emails, text messages, incoming phone calls, etc. on the wrist of your hand rather than pulling your iPhone out of your pocket or purse. 

Available on April 24th, you can preorder the Apple watch today. The online store actually opened 12:01am. Good luck trying to access the store. Millions are doing exactly the same thing. I’m going to wait a few weeks and read more about it before deciding which model I want. 


The Apple watch comes in all kinds of flavors. They start at $349 and jump up to $17,000 for a 38mm 18-karat yellow gold model with a bright red buckle. The good news is that all of the watches, no matter what the price, have the same functions.


For one of the best reviews and informative pieces on the Apple watch, please read Ed Baig’s USA Today story. Click here. Or watch his video above.

Fitting Rooms Become More Public 

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I can remember the time when the fitting room in a clothing store used to be a sacred place. When you closed the door behind you, the rest of the world was shut out. You could try on new clothes and pretend to be anyone you wanted to be. It was a fantasyland.

All that came to a halt today when I entered the fitting room at the Express store on Lincoln Road in Miami Beach.  A sign on the mirror suggested that I take a selfie picture and then share it on the Express Facebook or Twitter page.

I’m no old fool. I realized that sign was not meant for me. No one wants to see me in my undies. It was for the true Express customer, the gal in her 20s or 30s. She was being encouraged to take a photo of herself with the outfit she was trying on. The whole point of a selfie is to share it with others. 

I would say that was an invasion of privacy except an Express saleswoman told me they were receiving much higher than expected  submissions, many of them racy, some with no clothes at all. I guess young women today love showing off. 

Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the “selfie” one of all?” 

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Retweets Have A Voice 

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We can now make a comment on a retweet 

I know a lot of you are not on Twitter, but I’m going to tell you about an exciting new development that’s happening on that platform. Maybe this will encourage you to join in on the action. 

In the past, if you liked something that someone else tweeted, the only way you could express your approval was by retweeting it. 

Now Twitter has updated the retweet function so that you can comment on the original message. 

The new update retweet will include the original message along with your comment. You can add 116 characters in addition to the 140-character limit of the quoted tweet.

I hated the fact that I could never comment on someone else’s Tweet. I wasn’t alone. Twitter said the feature increases user engagement.  

I sure plan to comment whenever possible so I can engage with new and interesting people.

Dementia Test? 

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I’m not sure why they labeled this an “Anti-Alzheimer” exercise. A good friend sent it to me. I thought I would share it with you. It’s fun, but don’t take it too seriously.


 

CAN YOU SEE 10 FACES IN THIS TREE?

  

THERE’S A FACE IN HERE. CAN YOU SEE IT?

C 

 

 
                     CAN YOU SEE THE BABY?

 

 CAN YOU SEE THE KISSING COUPLE? 

CAN YOU SEE THE THREE WOMEN? 

  

Remember this was just a game. If you find them all, you are not supposedly at the beginning stages of Alzheimer or Dementia! If you can’t find all of them, it’s because I had trouble posting the pictures. 

                                                       

Sign Of Old Age 

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Several people have repeatedly asked me to discuss this delicate subject with you. It’s very rude to publicly display everyone’s email address when the folks in the CC: line are strangers to each other. 

Older folks seem to do this more than the younger ones who know better. For some reason, although I tell my contemporaries not to do it, they repeat the blunder anyway. Not only are you invading someone’s privacy, but you are wasting space till the reader gets to this message. 

Take a look at the email I just received. This prompted today’s subject. 

To: “david@davidhyland.com” <david@davidhyland.com>, “msuchcicki@pnj.com” <msuchcicki@pnj.com>, “matthew@matthewsolan.com” <matthew@matthewsolan.com>, “write@christineblank.com” <write@christineblank.com>, “jwmerchant@comcast.net” <jwmerchant@comcast.net>, “wgorham@floridatrend.com” <wgorham@floridatrend.com>, “generalmanager@theweeklychallenger.com” <generalmanager@theweeklychallenger.com>, “generalmanager@theweeklychallenger.com” <generalmanager@theweeklychallenger.com>, “ekirsch@yourobserver.com” <ekirsch@yourobserver.com>, “kyle.kennedy@theledger.com” <kyle.kennedy@theledger.com>, “scejas@wsvn.com” <scejas@wsvn.com>, “ccollette@wtsp.com” <ccollette@wtsp.com>, “wprice@floridatoday.com” <wprice@floridatoday.com>, “technologytoday@srtilley.com” <technologytoday@srtilley.com>, “kim@miamisunpost.com” <kim@miamisunpost.com>, “jessica.fortlauderdale@gmail.com” <jessica.fortlauderdale@gmail.com>, “mlewis@miamitodaynews.com” <mlewis@miamitodaynews.com>, “hpaton@bizjournals.com” <hpaton@bizjournals.com>, “hpaton@bizjournals.com” <hpaton@bizjournals.com>, “hpaton@bizjournals.com” <hpaton@bizjournals.com>, “hpaton@bizjournals.com” <hpaton@bizjournals.com>, “rtobias@prepaid-press.com” <rtobias@prepaid-press.com>, “aportela@elnuevoherald.com” <aportela@elnuevoherald.com>, “clayton.park@news-jrnl.com” <clayton.park@news-jrnl.com>, “john.gallas@news-jrnl.com” <john.gallas@news-jrnl.com>, “simone@gazetanews.com” <simone@gazetanews.com>, “trcutler@trcutlerinc.com” <trcutler@trcutlerinc.com>, “kblair@pnj.com” <kblair@pnj.com>, “rparag@tampabaymetro.com” <rparag@tampabaymetro.com>, “lajustice@nationalexaminer.com” <lajustice@nationalexaminer.com>, “pr@darkholegames.net” <pr@darkholegames.net>, “alexis.senior@orlandomagazine.com” <alexis.senior@orlandomagazine.com>, “bparsons@orlandosentinel.com” <bparsons@orlandosentinel.com>, “rtribou@orlandosentinel.com” <rtribou@orlandosentinel.com>, “jriley@tbo.com” <jriley@tbo.com>, “alvasquez@sun-sentinel.com” <alvasquez@sun-sentinel.com>, “tlecklider@evaluationengineering.com” <tlecklider@evaluationengineering.com>, “cburke@sqe.com” <cburke@sqe.com>, “nsanmartin@miamiherald.com” <nsanmartin@miamiherald.com>, “rod.gipson@baynews9.com” <rod.gipson@baynews9.com>, “ally@imore.com” <ally@imore.com>, “fcarnevale@orlandosentinel.com” <fcarnevale@orlandosentinel.com>, “amandaborges@sportstalkflorida.com” <amandaborges@sportstalkflorida.com>, “amandaborges@sportstalkflorida.com” <amandaborges@sportstalkflorida.com>, “apiccinilli@questex.com” <apiccinilli@questex.com>, “culturalyblog@gmail.com” <culturalyblog@gmail.com>, “mmesa@mrfood.com” <mmesa@mrfood.com>, “kathrynmchu31@gmail.com” <kathrynmchu31@gmail.com>, “ptaylor@miamiherald.com” <ptaylor@miamiherald.com>, “leclaire.editorial@gmail.com” <leclaire.editorial@gmail.com>, “tmalmer@pbpost.com” <tmalmer@pbpost.com>, “webmaster@tbnweekly.com” <webmaster@tbnweekly.com>, “cboylan@enthusiastnetwork.com” <cboylan@enthusiastnetwork.com>, “gtl@gametestlab.com” <gtl@gametestlab.com>, “enrique.posada@boomonline.com” <enrique.posada@boomonline.com>, “rachel@smalltownsandcitylights.com” <rachel@smalltownsandcitylights.com>, “stuart.campbell@foxtv.com” <stuart.campbell@foxtv.com>, “kayla.obrien@foxtv.com” <kayla.obrien@foxtv.com>, “stuart.campbell@foxtv.com” <stuart.campbell@foxtv.com>, “doug@ospreyobserver.com” <doug@ospreyobserver.com>, “lcilli@wfor.cbs.com” <lcilli@wfor.cbs.com>, “editor@ospreyobserver.com” <editor@ospreyobserver.com>, “tom.lyons@heraldtribune.com” <tom.lyons@heraldtribune.com>, “gdetman@actionnewsjax.com” <gdetman@actionnewsjax.com>, “gdetman@actionnewsjax.com” <gdetman@actionnewsjax.com>, “christian@broadbandexpert.com” <christian@broadbandexpert.com>, “craig@broadbandexpert.com” <craig@broadbandexpert.com>, “richard@cloudnewsdaily.com” <richard@cloudnewsdaily.com>, “gregg.burrage@wfts.com” <gregg.burrage@wfts.com>, “haltman@tampatrib.com” <haltman@tampatrib.com>, “eddierupp@iheartmedia.com” <eddierupp@iheartmedia.com>, “aburch@miamiherald.com” <aburch@miamiherald.com>, “chris@spiritfm905.com” <chris@spiritfm905.com>, “dsanchez@sun-sentinel.com” <dsanchez@sun-sentinel.com>, “margaretannkelsey@gmail.com” <margaretannkelsey@gmail.com>, “ericka@chickowski.com” <ericka@chickowski.com>, “info@mobilenations.com” <info@mobilenations.com>, “trino_ramos@idglat.com” <trino_ramos@idglat.com>, “rlittle@prepaid-press.com” <rlittle@prepaid-press.com>, “trino_ramos@idglat.com” <trino_ramos@idglat.com>, “matt@nerdappropriate.com” <matt@nerdappropriate.com>, “ash@nerdappropriate.com” <ash@nerdappropriate.com>, “scott@nerdappropriate.com” <scott@nerdappropriate.com>, “theadlady@advancedresearchmedia.com” <theadlady@advancedresearchmedia.com>, “tracyantol@gmail.com” <tracyantol@gmail.com>, “marc.meyer23@gmail.com” <marc.meyer23@gmail.com>, “robin@roblimo.com” <robin@roblimo.com>, “harryskev@bellsouth.net” <harryskev@bellsouth.net>, “info@cbil360.com” <info@cbil360.com>, “innovationinsider@gmail.com” <innovationinsider@gmail.com>, “robin@roblimo.com” <robin@roblimo.com>, “bernie@findandconvert.com” <bernie@findandconvert.com>, “darlynn@littleblogdress.com” <darlynn@littleblogdress.com>, “mitch@observernews.net” <mitch@observernews.net>, “jsobel@golfchannel.com” <jsobel@golfchannel.com>, “ewalsh@yourobserver.com” <ewalsh@yourobserver.com>, “admin@rightstartups.com” <admin@rightstartups.com>, “rgeorges@futurelawyer.com” <rgeorges@futurelawyer.com>, “kris@blogyourwine.com” <kris@blogyourwine.com>, “angiesangelhelpnetwork@gmail.com” <angiesangelhelpnetwork@gmail.com>, “jose@communitynewspapers.com” <jose@communitynewspapers.com>, “nicksa@newsmax.com” <nicksa@newsmax.com>, “matt@techspot.com” <matt@techspot.com>, “ldjiii@bellsouth.net” <ldjiii@bellsouth.net>, “mail@scottishbanner.com” <mail@scottishbanner.com>, “info@capitaloutlook.com” <info@capitaloutlook.com>, “broedel@globefl.com” <broedel@globefl.com>, “thefashionpoet@gmail.com” <thefashionpoet@gmail.com>, “james@thesslstore.com” <james@thesslstore.com>, “karen@miamicurated.com” <karen@miamicurated.com>, “sbrown@palmbeachmedia.com” <sbrown@palmbeachmedia.com>, “larry.hannan@jacksonville.com” <larry.hannan@jacksonville.com>, “sbrown@palmbeachmedia.com” <sbrown@palmbeachmedia.com>, “nmoschella@pbpost.com” <nmoschella@pbpost.com>, “jeffrey.a.zahn@espn.com” <jeffrey.a.zahn@espn.com>, “gary.mills@jacksonville.com” <gary.mills@jacksonville.com>, “dkofsky@360sync.com” <dkofsky@360sync.com>, “jmcallister@sqe.com” <jmcallister@sqe.com>, “jonathan.vanian@sparkinteractive.com” <jonathan.vanian@sparkinteractive.com>, “chendrix@lrp.com” <chendrix@lrp.com>, “jthomas@nerdmentality.com” <jthomas@nerdmentality.com>, “david@tbparenting.com” <david@tbparenting.com>, “kristin@nerdprobs.com” <kristin@nerdprobs.com>, “cbarker@kelbymediagroup.com” <cbarker@kelbymediagroup.com>, “ndahlberg@miamiherald.com” <ndahlberg@miamiherald.com>, “gapingvoid@gmail.com” <gapingvoid@gmail.com>, “alrojovivo@telemundo.com” <alrojovivo@telemundo.com>, “simon@mobilenations.com” <simon@mobilenations.com>, “simon@mobilenations.com” <simon@mobilenations.com>, “simon@mobilenations.com” <simon@mobilenations.com>, “simon@mobilenations.com” <simon@mobilenations.com>, “joe@mobilenations.com” <joe@mobilenations.com>, “joe@mobilenations.com” <joe@mobilenations.com>, “kseraaj@orlandoadvocate.com” <kseraaj@orlandoadvocate.com>, “kseraaj@orlandoadvocate.com” <kseraaj@orlandoadvocate.com>, “jgillin@tampabay.com” <jgillin@tampabay.com>, “mbaggs@golfchannel.com” <mbaggs@golfchannel.com>, “dhodges@tallahassee.com” <dhodges@tallahassee.com>, “sfrederick@keysnews.com” <sfrederick@keysnews.com>, “nick.sutrich@androidheadlines.com” <nick.sutrich@androidheadlines.com>, “susan_salisbury@pbpost.com” <susan_salisbury@pbpost.com>, “editor@khaasbaat.com” <editor@khaasbaat.com>, “rseyler@chipleypaper.com” <rseyler@chipleypaper.com>, “rmullins@tampatrib.com” <rmullins@tampatrib.com>, “kmathis@baileypub.com” <kmathis@baileypub.com>, “dennis@krmsradio.com” <dennis@krmsradio.com>, “tpratt@tampatrib.com” <tpratt@tampatrib.com>, “jknowles@naylor.com” <jknowles@naylor.com>, “lola@magazinemv.com” <lola@magazinemv.com>, “kgrey@floridaweekly.com” <kgrey@floridaweekly.com>, “jachenbach@golfweek.com” <jachenbach@golfweek.com>, “editor@bocamag.com” <editor@bocamag.com>, “editor@bocamag.com” <editor@bocamag.com>, “hkretzer@wmbb.com” <hkretzer@wmbb.com>, “chris@allgeek.tv” <chris@allgeek.tv>, “bwells@floridaweekly.com” <bwells@floridaweekly.com>, “bwells@floridaweekly.com” <bwells@floridaweekly.com>, “cpierce@floridaweekly.com” <cpierce@floridaweekly.com>, “mike@socialmediaexaminer.com” <mike@socialmediaexaminer.com>, “josh@scbmarketing.com” <josh@scbmarketing.com>, “rickdanabarlow@wingfootmedia.biz” <rickdanabarlow@wingfootmedia.biz>, “lisa.freeman@sourcemedia.com” <lisa.freeman@sourcemedia.com>, “editor@thecoastalstar.com” <editor@thecoastalstar.com>, “fred@broadbandexpert.com” <fred@broadbandexpert.com>, “blake@broadbandexpert.com” <blake@broadbandexpert.com>, “jonathan@broadbandexpert.com” <jonathan@broadbandexpert.com>, “abeorlegui@holadoctor.com” <abeorlegui@holadoctor.com>, “blang@happyherald.com” <blang@happyherald.com>, “kelly ballingerpublishing.com” <kelly@ballingerpublishing.com>, “editor@flsentry.com” <editor@flsentry.com>, “chris.johnson@charismamedia.com” <chris.johnson@charismamedia.com>, “jcutter@orlandosentinel.com” <jcutter@orlandosentinel.com>, “dan@the-games-blog.com” <dan@the-games-blog.com>, “albert@towerpublications.com” <albert@towerpublications.com>, “jimmy@allgeek.tv” <jimmy@allgeek.tv>, “sam.hudson@bonniercorp.com” <sam.hudson@bonniercorp.com>, “rbrackett@tampabay.com” <rbrackett@tampabay.com>, “cstrine@breezenewspapers.com” <cstrine@breezenewspapers.com>, “editorial@worldwidedrillingresource.com” <editorial@worldwidedrillingresource.com>, “mkolberg@bicsi.org” <mkolberg@bicsi.org>, “spatrick@news4jax.com” <spatrick@news4jax.com>, “eclarke@pbdailynews.com” <eclarke@pbdailynews.com>, “lauren@whpinc.com” <lauren@whpinc.com>, “philb@gulfshorebusiness.com” <philb@gulfshorebusiness.com>, “dave@thebullandbear.com” <dave@thebullandbear.com>, “editor@khaasbaat.com” <editor@khaasbaat.com>, “dmarsh@mining-media.com” <dmarsh@mining-media.com>, “scott.dressel@newssun.com” <scott.dressel@newssun.com>, “scott.harrell@creativeloafing.com” <scott.harrell@creativeloafing.com>, “ellatino@msn.com” <ellatino@msn.com>, “susanb@biz941.com” <susanb@biz941.com>, “info@ecolatino.com” <info@ecolatino.com>, “editor@sunshineartist.com” <editor@sunshineartist.com>, “sat@databazaar.com” <sat@databazaar.com>, “cbarth@bizjournals.com” <cbarth@bizjournals.com>, “dbeebe@evaluationengineering.com” <dbeebe@evaluationengineering.com>, “info@digitaljuice.com” <info@digitaljuice.com>, “jennifer@makobiscribe.com” <jennifer@makobiscribe.com>, “monica@flprint.org” <monica@flprint.org>, “znashed@mail.ucf.edu” <znashed@mail.ucf.edu>, “dpulizzi@verizon.net” <dpulizzi@verizon.net>, “dbeebe@evaluationengineering.com” <dbeebe@evaluationengineering.com>, “editor@flsentinel.com” <editor@flsentinel.com>, “meganjerrard@gmail.com” <meganjerrard@gmail.com>, “julio@techspot.com” <julio@techspot.com>, “gina.mcqueen@baynews9.com” <gina.mcqueen@baynews9.com>, “mkuhar@mining-media.com” <mkuhar@mining-media.com>, “phil@androidcentral.com” <phil@androidcentral.com>, “acreamer@powersourceonline.com” <acreamer@powersourceonline.com>, “chelsea@noiseporn.com” <chelsea@noiseporn.com>, “brad@utahstyleanddesign.com” <brad@utahstyleanddesign.com>, “editor@prepaid-press.com” <editor@prepaid-press.com>, “bicsinews@bicsi.org” <bicsinews@bicsi.org>, “simsmich@nsu.nova.edu” <simsmich@nsu.nova.edu>, “derek@webosnation.com” <derek@webosnation.com>, “jas_acevedo@idglat.com” <jas_acevedo@idglat.com>, “felicia@bocaratonobserver.com” <felicia@bocaratonobserver.com>, “mmcleod@orlando-life.com” <mmcleod@orlando-life.com>, “sondrag@livingonthesuncoast.com” <sondrag@livingonthesuncoast.com>, “ruddy@newsmax.com” <ruddy@newsmax.com>, “tracydillon@retailenvironments.org” <tracydillon@retailenvironments.org>, “rudycolon24@gmail.com” <rudycolon24@gmail.com>, “nicol@theourtownnews.com” <nicol@theourtownnews.com>, “dpramirez@elsentinel.com” <dpramirez@elsentinel.com>, “thomvideo@aol.com” <thomvideo@aol.com>, “thomvideo@aol.com” <thomvideo@aol.com>, “mjohnsen@aws.org” <mjohnsen@aws.org>, “brida.connolly@gmail.com” <brida.connolly@gmail.com>, “lrigual@modernluxury.com” <lrigual@modernluxury.com>, “mgauert@cityandshore.com” <mgauert@cityandshore.com>, “atschida@fmbnews.com” <atschida@fmbnews.com>, “jrodack@globefl.com” <jrodack@globefl.com>, “hshanholtzer@sqe.com” <hshanholtzer@sqe.com>, “jalaraque@obsoletegamer.com” <jalaraque@obsoletegamer.com>, “raits@hometownnewsol.com” <raits@hometownnewsol.com>, “esmith@enthusiastnetwork.com” <esmith@enthusiastnetwork.com>, “ssinclair@imagingnetwork.com” <ssinclair@imagingnetwork.com>, “jorsi@tampabay.com” <jorsi@tampabay.com>, “sahni@cise.ufl.edu” <sahni@cise.ufl.edu>, “issacs@photoshopuser.com” <issacs@photoshopuser.com>, “rene@mobilenations.com” <rene@mobilenations.com>, “daniel@wpcentral.com” <daniel@wpcentral.com>, “sahni@cise.ufl.edu” <sahni@cise.ufl.edu>, “andrew@techlaunchpad.com” <andrew@techlaunchpad.com>, “kfeagins@wjct.org” <kfeagins@wjct.org>, “brenda.silva@medinews.com” <brenda.silva@medinews.com>, “brenda.silva@medinews.com” <brenda.silva@medinews.com>, “brenda.silva@medinews.com” <brenda.silva@medinews.com>, “brenda.silva@medinews.com” <brenda.silva@medinews.com>, “tcmag@montessori.org” <tcmag@montessori.org>, “jwooldridge@miamiherald.com” <jwooldridge@miamiherald.com>, “tjackson@towtimes.com” <tjackson@towtimes.com>, “stacy@moneytalksnews.com” <stacy@moneytalksnews.com>, “borko@cse.fau.edu” <borko@cse.fau.edu>, “laurie@nova.edu” <laurie@nova.edu>

 

There was an email message here but I removed it to protect the guilty. Listen, I make mistakes all the time, but this one we can all avoid together. 


 

 

 
 
 



 

 

 

Facebook Holiday Posts 

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The Road Ahead Could Get Bumpy 

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My stunning Guatemalan girlfriend Ana pictured here with her handsome husband Tony, still have their good looks despite recent injuries. We can’t be too careful in our active lives.

 

Image from Engadget.  A camera using auditory alerts. 

In the last three weeks, I have heard four horror stories of contemporaries getting hurt in their own homes. A slip on an area rug (a broken nose), a fall from a ladder, (broken hip), a bump on a shower handle (a black eye) and a cut on a piece of glass (multiple stitches on several fingers). Ouch“

I’m not saying accidents don’t happen to younger relatives and friends as well but an increasing number of 60-plus year old pals are feeling much more vulnerable these days. It may be all the stories we are exposed to on Facebook. 

Nevertheless, I wanted to tell you about a pocket camera being worked on by scientists from Massachusetts Eye and Ear and the Schepens Eye Research Institute. I first read about it on the tech site Engadget.  They are hoping it might be a giant step forward for the visually impaired. 


Granted, this development may not help us in the home, but it should be of great assistance when we are walking outside. The camera uses auditory alerts to warn us when an obstacle approaches. 

As years go by, many of us will lose more of our peripheral vision. That means we will be more prone to bump into things. The scientists say the camera will have “proximity sensors so it will warn us with a quick alarm so we don’t bump into objects. The current warning systems have a constant annoying beep which sounds off if you are standing next to a structure. This camera is said to be much more user friendly. 

I will let you know when the product becomes available. 

Am I The Last To Know?

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Okay, it’s been a few years since I’ve had my period, but how is it possible that I didn’t hear about a new technological advancement in sustainable feminine hygiene products. 

Much to my surprise, more and more women are using menstrual cups. That’s right, menstrual cups that don’t have to be changed for 12 hours. They look like upside-down bell-shaped devices. It’s made of a nontoxic material (medical-grade silicone).

One of the reasons why the menstrual cups are so popular is because women want to  live in a world that is environmentally-friendly. Disposable tampons are no longer considered PC.  The menstrual cups are reusable and are priced from $20 to $40. Some of the prominent brands are Softcup, Intimina, and  Diva Cup. All the cups are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.  

There is so much more to this story. Racked.com, a shopping and fashion site, offers the complete  story. Click here. If you are going to tell your children and grandchildren about these cups, I recommend that they seek the advice of their doctors first. I’m just reporting the news. 






Historic Statement By Tech Industry Leaders to Legislators 

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I wanted to share this press release with all of you. I have never been prouder of the tech industry as I am today. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 1, 2015
Stephen Peters | stephen.peters@hrc.org | 202-423-2860

Tech Industry Leaders Make Unprecedented & Historic Joint Statement to Legislators: Add LGBT Non-Discrimination Protections to Civil Rights Laws

WASHINGTON – Today, in response to a host of anti-LGBT bills pending or signed in to law in states around the country, tech industry leaders signed an unprecedented joint statement supporting the addition of non-discrimination protections for LGBT people to civil rights laws. Other leaders are also expected to sign on later today.

“This unprecedented and historic effort by the giants of the tech industry should be a clarion call to policymakers that discriminating against LGBT people is not acceptable in today’s marketplace of ideas,” said HRC President Chad Griffin.“These leaders have made it clear: if states want high tech jobs, they must put fully inclusive nondiscrimination protections in place immediately.”

“If anything can be learned from the battle for fairness and equality in Indiana, Arkansas, and other states, it’s that LGBT people deserve to be protected from unjust discrimination,” said Max Levchin, CEO of Affirm, and the organizer of the joint statement. “We are proud to stand on the side of liberty and justice and call on all legislatures to add sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes in non-discrimination protections. This will ensure that no one faces discrimination while everyone preserves their right to live out their faith.”

Joint Statement from Tech Industry Leaders

The values of diversity, fairness and equality are central to our industry. These values fuel creativity and inspiration, and those in turn make the U.S. technology sector the most admired in the world today.

We believe it is critically important to speak out about proposed bills and existing laws that would put the rights of minorities at risk. The transparent and open economy of the future depends on it, and the values of this great nation are at stake.

Religious freedom, inclusion, and diversity can co-exist and everyone including LGBT people and people of faith should be protected under their states’ civil rights laws. No person should have to fear losing their job or be denied service or housing because of who they are or whom they love.

However, right now those values are being called into question in states across the country. In more than twenty states, legislatures are considering legislation that could empower individuals or businesses to discriminate against LGBT people by denying them service if it they felt it violated their religious beliefs.

To ensure no one faces discrimination and ensure everyone preserves their right to live out their faith, we call on all legislatures to add sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes to their civil rights laws and to explicitly forbid discrimination or denial of services to anyone.

Anything less will only serve to place barriers between people, create hurdles to creativity and inclusion, and smother the kind of open and transparent society that is necessary to create the jobs of the future. Discrimination is bad for business and that’s why we’ve taken the time to join this joint statement.

Sincerely,

Max Levchin, CEO, Affirm
Mark Pincus, Chairman, Zynga
Jeremy Stoppelman, CEO, Yelp
Marc Benioff, CEO, SalesForce
Jack Dorsey, CEO, Square
Dick Costolo, CEO, Twitter
Joe Green, CEO, Lyft
Brian Chesky, CEO, AirBnB
Joe Gebbia, CPO, AirBnB
Nathan Blecharczyk, CTO, AirBnB
Ron Conway, CEO, Axon JuriMed Group LLC
John Donahoe, CEO, Ebay
Paul Graham, CoFounder, YCombinator
Rich Barton, Chairman, Zillow Group
Chad Hurley, CEO, Mixbit
Adora Cheung, CEO, Homejoy
Phil Libin, CEO, Evernote
Trevor Traina, CEO, IfOnly
Nirav Tolia, CEO, NextDoor
Dion Lim, CEO, NextLesson
Bret Taylor, CEO, Quip
Joe Lonsdale, CEO, Formation 8
Thomas Layton, Chairman, Elance-odesk
Fabio Rosati, CEO, Elance-odesk
Dave Morin, CEO, Path
Mark Goldstein, Chairman, BackOps
Kevin Rose, CEO, North Technologies
Yves Behar, CCO, Jawbone
Padmasree Warrior, CTSO, Cisco Systems
Tony Conrad, CEO, about.me
Sunil Paul, CEO, Sidecar
Michael Moritz, Chairman, Sequoia Capital
Dan Schulman, President, PayPal
Devin Wenig, President, eBay Marketplaces
Robert Hohman, CEO, Glassdoor
Laurene Powell Jobs, Founder and Chair, Emerson Collective
Mohan Warrior, CEO, Alphalight
David Spector, CIO, Penny Mac
Shervin Pishevar, CoFounder, Sherpa Ventures

 

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. HRC envisions a world where LGBT people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.


 

Coloring Books For Adults 

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Illustrations from Barnes and Noble and Amazon 

As a youngster, my happiest days was when I was coloring in a coloring book. I would go into a zone that was peaceful, full of hope, and very mysterious. 

Wouldn’t it be wonderful, as senior adults, if we could experience some of that same euphoria? Apparently, I’m not the only senior who wants an hour or two every few days to participate in this glorious non-digital exercise. 

According to a salesman at Book Soup, West Hollywood, CA,  there has been a significant run on coloring books for adults. I first read about the idea in the New York Times on Sunday when they ran a major feature on Johanna Basford’s coloring book for adults called “Secret Garden.” It’s a 96-page collection of elaborate black-and-white ink drawings of flowers, leaves, trees and birds. 

   

Images: Digitalartsonline.uk. 


I was in LA at the time so I rushed over to Book Soup on Sunset Blvd. to buy whatever copies I could get my hands on. I was so disappointed to learn that the coloring books were already sold out. I was told that Basford and her publisher, Laurence King Publishing, had no idea that the New York Times article was going to run on that day. They had no extra time to issue additional copies so everything in stock sold out.

“Secret Garden” has sold 1.4 million copies in 22 languages.  Basford’s newest coloring book, “Enchanted Forest,”‘ has already sold 226,000 copies. Basford is 31 year old illustrator from Aberdeenshire, Scotland. 

The Book Soup salesman told me that fans buy several books at a time. I can understand why.  If you make s mistake, you can start all over again. He also said there are a few other publishers that have coloring books for adults but I decided to wait for Basford’s illustrations.  

Tomorrow, I search for colored pencils.