Category Archives: digital

Audi Takes The Lead On Making Toll Payments

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Image: Audi

One of the strangest things I had to get used to when we moved to Miami from New York City was calling the electronic toll collection program, the SunPass. In New York it’s known as E-Z Pass.

Now I may not have to remember any name at all if car makers follow Audi’s lead. Audi is integrating a toll payment system on some of its models so that the devices automatically pay the road tolls.

Audi explains that “the Integrated Toll Module (ITM) is a toll transponder built into the vehicle’s rearview mirror. The technology is compatible with existing tolling agencies nationwide, which can be linked with a driver’s new or current account.”

I think this is all pretty cool.

The Students Take Over

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I’m in a much better mood today. For the first time in over a year, I think this country may actually have a chance to get out of the mess it has been in under the Trump administration. The students are going to save us.

I very much want to be a part of the March 24th nationwide demonstration. I want to be there when every politician, who gets funded by the NRA, gets called out, then kicked out.

I am so sick of certain people, on the other side of the aisle, telling me guns don’t kill people, people do. These now former friends make me feel like I’m living in the twilight zone. Trump now says he is willing to talk about instituting gun background checks. What a phony. Just weeks ago, he removed more than $12 million from the budget that was designated to improve the screening of people who buy guns.

He wanted that money for his wall and tax cuts. The rich get richer, and nothing gets trickled down to the masses. It never does. Thankfully, some sanity will be restored. I have great faith in the youth of America to save us.

I will do my best to support the students. I hope you will join me. Thank you.

My recent Facebook posts.

Bios For All Ages

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Two years ago, my niece Mara told me that her then five year old was reading biographies. I was immediately fascinated. I love biographies, but it usually takes me weeks, or months, to finish a book. I learned that my grand nephew, Ari, was reading a book in one night, or a few days. I was amazed.

Mara is a librarian so I knew this was something I wanted to know more about. She gave me the information, but I tucked it away someplace and then forgot about it. Two days ago, I was at Books & Books, in Coral Gables, and noticed a section of the children’s area devoted to biographies. I realized I was staring at the biography books Mara told me about.

I know I’m not five years, old but I couldn’t help myself. I bought five books. While they are written very simply, they are filled with facts that I didn’t know about. These books are a quick read for you, and perfect to share with young ones. There are hundreds of them. I plan to read the five I bought, and keep ordering more from Amazon, or make more trips to Books & Books.

I am fascinated by biographies. They teach us so much about life. After I finish each one, I plan to send my copy to any parent or grandparent who expresses an interest in sharing it with a child.

Memo to Mara. Thank you for the heads up. These are terrific. I am so happy you shared this with me.

Oh, What A Night

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We just came back from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fl. We went to see Frankie Valli in concert. At 83, he was amazing. While he definitely looks older and moves a little slower, the voice and spirit was as young as it was in 1962.

He may not hit the high notes as well as he did before, but compared to most of the male singers today, he did very well. It’s astonishing how much energy he exuded for almost two hours on stage. I was a little nervous that he would pass out, but that was my neuroses, not his. He showed no signs of exhaustion, and knew how to pace himself.

It would have been fun to ask Frankie about getting older. How does he maintain his energy and strength. Other men his age are sitting in front of a TV set not moving. He can’t sit still. What gives? The answer is probably pretty simple. If you like what you are doing, you can go on forever.

Happy Valentine’s Day

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This photo was taken of Eliot and me October, 2013 in Cuba. It seems so appropriate for today. We were visiting the home of Jose Rodriguez Fuster, a Cuban artist who produces ceramics, paintings, drawings, engravings, and graphic designs.

I fell in love with his work. Please watch the videos because it will show you what he did to rebuild the fishing town of Jaimanitas, just outside of Havana. He turned the entire town into a huge public art exhibition. He is considered as great as Gaudi.

I would go back to Cuba over and over just to be in the company of Fuster’s work.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

Love,

Lois

The Smallest Flashlight

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My cousin Jeff collects flashlights. We all thought he was eccentric until there was a hurricane in Miami, mudslides and fires in California, and a heavy duty snowstorm in New York.

When the lights went out, and the flashlights that he gave us guided us though the dark, we too fell in love with these handy little gadgets. That’s why I loved learning about the Slughaus Bullet 02. It’s suppose to be the world’s smallest LED flashlight.

It measures just over an inch long, less than half an inch wide, and weighing just .211 ounces. You can take it with you anywhere. You can attach the miniature flashlight to anything you own. It’s super powerful and retails for $9.99.

I just may buy two or three at that price.

Bitcoin Explained

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At least once a week, someone asks me to explain Bitcoin. I have been holding on to two documents that answer 90 per cent of the questions I have been getting. My friend Alex emailed these explanations to me in December. They are perfect.

Thank you Alex. You are very generous to share this information with us.

Click here to find out about the technology.

Click here to find out about investing.

I hope this helps. I have also enclosed the Wikipedia explanation.

You Can’t Escape

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Your entire privacy is about to go out the window, and there is very little you can do about it.

I know several technologists who are working on tracking devices that will be placed in the clothes you will be buying in the future.

What scares me the most is that you may never know exactly which garments are tracing your steps.

L.L. Bean is one is the companies who wants to put sensors inside your clothes and footwear so they can learn just how you use their clothes. From the minute you purchase one of their items, their sensors are tracking your every move. A song comes to mind. “They will know if you have been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake!”

L.L.Bean claims that they will ask you if you want to opt-in when they start selling clothes with sensors. If you don’t want to, the item that caught your eye may not be available without a sensor. Your choices can become very limited. I personally don’t believe any manufacturer will be totally truthful. They may want to be honest, but mistakes will happen.

L.L. Bean has been telling the trade media that all the information collected will be kept confidential. That doesn’t make me any more comfortable.

What if I buy something and don’t wear it for months. Does that mean I get a bad score. and scolded when I go to buy my next item?

What if I buy a larger size? Will I get reprimanded for gaining weight? There is a lot to consider here. I feel like I am being spied on and there is no escape.

You Really Should Join Twitter

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There are so many tidbits posted on Twitter each day. You really should join just to peruse. In one easy swipe, you learn things that would take you all day to read in various publications. It’s like reading headlines. Here is a sample from today.

Waterpik Also Introduced A New Whitening Water Flosser Yesterday

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I didn’t want to tell you about two new water flossers at once. I thought they both deserved special attention. The second unit actually whitens your teeth while you are water flossing.

 

Here are excerpts from the press release we issued.

The Waterpik Whitening Water Flosser is ideal for those who don’t want to use harsh bleaching chemicals or undergo expensive treatments. Clinically proven to remove an additional 25% of teeth stains vs. brushing alone, the Waterpik Whitening Water Flosser is as gentle as regular toothpaste.

Combining patented Water Flosser and Whitening Infuser technologies, the Waterpik® Whitening Water Flosser mixes a gentle whitening agent with water to remove stubborn stains between the teeth and in hard-to-reach places that other products miss.

The whitening process is uncomplicated. Users insert a whitening tablet into the special Water Flosser handle, aim the pressurized water flow at teeth, then Water Floss as usual.

Using the Water Flosser for one minute per day helps restore natural whiteness to teeth in four weeks and maintains a whiter smile with ongoing use.

Delivering all the clinically proven benefits of Water Flossing, the Whitening Water Flosser removes up to 99.9% of plaque from treated areas, improves gum health, helps prevent future tooth decay, and has been proven safe for teeth and gums.

The Waterpik® Whitening Water Flosser is also accepted by the American Dental Association.

According to Dr. Chris Strandburg, DDS  “The Whitening Water Flosser is a threefer because it whitens your teeth, it freshens your breath and it makes your gums healthy.”

The new Waterpik® Whitening Water Flosser offers a variety of features, including the patented whitening infuser, 10 pressure settings, 90 seconds of water capacity, a removable and dishwasher-safe reservoir, in-handle water flow control, and a new swivel-handle hose for improved access to hard-to-reach tooth surfaces.

The Water Flosser includes four interchangeable tips for standard use, as well as for those with special dental needs, such as implants and dental braces. Each Waterpik® Whitening Water Flosser comes with 30 whitening tablets (a one-month supply).

Priced between $79.99 – $99.99 (depending on model), the Whitening Water Flosser comes with a three-year warranty.

Now you know what I know. I bet you want one. Let me know.

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