Emotions
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West 56th Between 8th and 9th
I have lived in New York City my entire life and I have never seen anything like this. There is one block on the westside of Manhattan that is decorated with strands of lights that make you feel like you are in the middle of a storybook. It’s truly a beautiful sight.
I’m not sure what the celebration was all about, but whoever decorated that street certainly knew how to use tree tops, lamp posts, and electric poles to create a winter wonderland. Fifty-sixth street between eighth and ninth avenues is not to be missed.
Photos by Eliot Hess
Can You Identify These Benches?
My girl friend Barbara O’Connell often sends me the most interesting things to post. I love “Just Benches.” If you can identify anyone of these, let me know. We want to know the location and installer.
For Those Who Miss Typewriters
I know this sounds silly, but there are days that I miss the sounds of a typewriter. I imagine myself writing a book and listening to the keys click away.
My dreams may have come true. There is a new mechanical keyboard out there that feels like an old typewriter but still has the modern features we have come to love.
The new Lofree keyboard can work wired or wireless. You can use it with your PC or Mac as well as your iOS and Android devices.
The Lofree will be available in several different colors and it will feature different backlights.
If you want more information about Lofree, click here. Pricing was not mentioned.
Thank you Mashable for the lead.
Bad Breathometer
Photo from CNET
The Sharks loved it. Instead of awarding Lim the $250,000 he originally wanted for 10 percent of his company, all five sharks ended up giving him the $1 million for a collective 30 percent.
Eliot and I were cheering. It was such exciting moments for start-ups. I was so envious. I wanted the company as a client. I never pursued Breathometer, though I thought about it many times.
Forward to 2017. I just found out from CNET, a tech site, that Breathometer has now been ordered by the Federal Trade Commission to return $5.1 million to its customers. The unit simply did not give accurate results. That’s very dangerous, since the users depend on complete accuracy to find out if they are sober enough to drive.
CNET said the $49.00 Breathometer promised to tell people their blood-alcohol content level within an accuracy matching police breathalyzers. That never happened.
The Burlingame, CA, company has taken on a new journey. Breathometer plans to release the Mint, an oral health tracker that tells the user if they have bad breath.
Another good idea ?
Introducing The Migraine Hat
If you spend any time on social media, you know that a lot of people are very aggravated and frustrated by the current political situation. Most people who post on Facebook and/or Twitter don’t mind telling you just how they feel.
This could possibly cause a lot of headaches for peace-loving people who used to go to Facebook and Twitter for fun. That brings me to the subject of migraines. I came across a product, the Migraine Hat, that I just had to tell you about. It’s a $29,95 hands-free, wearable ice pack that is adjustable so it can be worn tight for compression or loose for cooling relief.
The company said,”This is a solution to the problem of working to reduce pain and discomfort for some migraine sufferers of which there are 37 million in the U.S. alone.”
The product does not claim to be a “headache” solution. A migraine is not a typical “headache,” which is the stigma the company is working to overcome.
Watch the video
The Migraine Hat website points out that the hats are:
1-Fully adjustable for kids and adults.
2-Lined with neoprene to stay cold longer.
3-Portable and can be worn on the go.
4-Flexible and can be pulled down to block light and sound.
5-Filled with an Cryo Gel Ice Pack that is both removable and reusable. Uniquely designed compression chambers deliver targeted pressure where you need it most. Stays cold up to four hours.
6-Available in a drawstring storage bag. This special drawstring bag stores your Migraine Hat and the Cryo-Gel ice packs so they can be placed in your freezer, ready when you need them.
7-Adjustable, one size fits all.
8-Designed to pull over eyes and ears to block light and sound. Adjust tight or loose to target pressure points.
Be sure to ask your doctor if the Migraine Hat is good for you. Never try anything new without consulting a medical advisor.
Just How I Feel Lately
My new wheels for the next month or two. Time for a positive spin.
Thank You Family And Friends
Together They Conquer In Washington DC
Grandmas Ruthie and Rhoda Are Smiling
No Greater Team Support
Strength From Oregon
You Can Always Count On Abby (m) To Make A Strong Statement
Jill Brooke (r) Marches In DC And Will Be Writing Essays On Experiences
Proud To Be The Aunt Of This Strong And Proactive Woman
Proud To Be The Aunt Of This Adventurous And Determined Woman
Marilyn Is To Be Admired For So Many Reasons
Mother Earth Never Stops Giving
I Always Said This Gal Is Beautiful Inside And Out
Steve (r) Is Always Filled With Surprises
You Can Always Count On Howard and Rene
This Is What You Need To Know About Alexa
Alexa was the most popular innovation at CES. Everyone was talking about her. I want to make sure that you know exactly what Alexa is all about because this voice-controlled intelligent personal assistant is going to enter your life in many ways.
This is good news for seniors. We now have a personal assistant that is capable of “voice interaction, music playback, making to-do lists, setting alarms, streaming podcasts, playing audiobooks, and providing weather, traffic and other real time information. It can also control several smart devices using itself as a home automation hub.”
Alexa lives in cylinders, home security, TV sets, home management, plus, plus. Many tech categories are thinking of new ways to include the voice recognition software. It’s pretty obvious Americans love giving orders.
My co-podcaster, TV personality and Innovation Insider Steve Greenberg, and I, discussed Alexa on a recent broadcast of Lying on the Beach. If you want to learn more about Alexa from us, click here.
If you want to read more about the complexity of Alexa in the years to come from Wired, a leading tech magazine, click here.
Enjoy the information. It’s your future.
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I’m Now The Proud Owner Of A Walker
Mine is all black, less conspicuous. Ha!
I really tried to talk my orthopedist out of it. I couldn’t bear being seen pushing a walker. I had no choice. It was either accept a walker or find myself another doctor. “If you are looking for rakhmones, (Yiddish for pity), I could recommend someone else,” my modern orthodox doctor told me today.
“You need a walker because you shouldn’t be placing any pressure on your knee. As you get older, you run the risk of having your knee collapse if the stress fracture doesn’t heal properly. Then you will have real tsouris (Yiddish for trouble).”
I asked my doctor about using crutches and he basically said that a woman my age can’t be trusted with them. The last thing I needed was to fall down. The walker was the only way to go. He recommended one with a seat in case I got tired. I got more nauseated by the minute.
The final results of the MRI was a stress fracture. We went to a medical supply store to buy the walker and a knee cuff with braces that I must wear all day. The store owner made sure I got the right size for each item. At first these things looked like foreign objects, but I’m now getting used to them. I am actually grateful that such innovations exist.
Years ago, my foot probably would have to be strapped in a bed sling and I would have been trapped there for weeks, maybe months. Now, I can be mobile, yet give my knee the care it needs. I am pretty sure that in a few years there will be a companion app for both these contraptions, allowing us to click in for height, tightness, navigation, and time management.
We live in some world. Let’s hope for the best, at least for the next four years.
