Birds on a Cable | Blog

“WordPad is no longer being updated and will be removed in a future release of Windows.” – Microsoft

Oh, WordPad, simple and sublime,
As for word processors, you stand the test of time.
A humble tool, though oft’ overlooked,
In your simplicity, your charm is unshook.

You’re the underdog, the unsung hero,
Forgotten by many, but I won’t let you go.
With simplicity as your guiding creed,
You fulfill my every writing need.

Basic features, stripped-down to the core,
You may lack flair, but that’s what I adore.
No distractions, just a clean landscape,
Allowing my thoughts to truly take shape.

You may lack the power of Word’s grand suite,
But you’re swift and nimble, oh, so neat.
No bloated software, no endless wait,
With you, I can simply begin and create.

In your simplicity, I find my peace,
Where creativity flows, and worries cease.
Oh, WordPad, though others may scoff and chide,
In your plainness, my words find their stride.

So here’s to you, WordPad, we raise our voice,
In your plainness, we truly rejoice.
For in your unadorned and humble guise,
We find a space where creativity flies.

Hey there, fellow wellness enthusiast! Can we take a moment to appreciate how our smartphones have become our personal health buddies? I mean, seriously, it’s like having a wellness coach right in your pocket! Today, I want to talk about something I’m excited about: Health and Wellness Apps.

Picture this: you’re on a mission to be the healthiest version of yourself, but life’s busyness is getting in the way. Let’s dive in and discover how these apps can make your journey healthier and happier.

Imagine living in a world where the mean retirement age is well into the late 80s. In this world, you could live up to 130 years old. It seems like a far-flung future, where medicine has advanced to the point that we can slow down aging and eliminate age-based diseases. But this future predicts an increase in life spans and quality of life for older humans. Scientists at the University of Rochester have made a breakthrough that could make this future closer than you think.

Have you ever noticed that Gmail will alert you to reply to an email you may have missed? I’ve noticed this feature recently and decided to investigate how Gmail knows and, the more important (Big Brother) question: is Google reading my emails?

Let’s start by explaining what happens. Gmail calls this feature a “Nudge,” which is automatically enabled on Gmail accounts. It scans your inbox to find old emails you may have missed, then adds them to the top of your inbox and suggest that you reply. I’m guessing this is ringing bells if you utilize a Gmail account.

Who owns google.com? Well, the answer to that second one is easy: Google does! But when you go to your favorite domain registrar looking to purchase the perfect new domain for your England-based, Tapas-inspired spinach pie business, spanishkopita.uk (obviously), how does the registrar know if it’s available? Is there some kind of list somewhere? Yes, in fact, there is!

If you’re an Apple (not the fruit) addict like me, you probably have a dozen USB-A charging cubes and 4-5 different charging cables. You might also have AirPods, iPhone, an Apple Watch, and other various Apple products.

Well, that is also me. While I’ve always carried an iPhone, I acquired a set of AirPods a few years ago. And a few months ago, I got an Apple watch to replace my Fitbit. All three devices require a USB-C port, but I only have one charging cube, so I use my laptop to charge all this junk. As you can imagine, I am changing the cables around for the devices that need charging. What a very dumb, minute issue!

It’s coming, and it can’t come soon enough.

I’m rockin’ the iPhone 11, which I seemed to have stopped caring for approximately four months ago. That timing coincides with its first detrimental drop, the drop that created a hairline crack in my display. “No biggie, I can manage until September,” I told myself. I had been planning on a new mobile this year anyway, and the crack only accelerated that want.

A client recently brought in a laptop that had stopped booting into Windows. A common occurrence; computer parts are fallible and will always give across a long enough timescale. I immediately noticed pressure on the bottom of the keyboard and trackpad. I popped the bottom cover off the laptop and found the battery had doubled in thickness, putting so much pressure on the hard drive that it was unseated from its plug. While those two together are an unprecedented scenario for me, laptop battery swelling is common enough to deserve its own write-up. It indicates imminent or immediate battery failure and, more importantly, is a hazard that can catch fire or explode.

—— Written in Bierstadt font ——

Trust me for a minute; this might get weird, but let’s think back to 2007: iPhone, Nancy Pelosi, the bald eagle, Lindsay Lohan, the Spice Girls, people thinking this is okay. You’re there now, mentally? You just signed up for Tumblr and are getting the hang of “hashtags?” Cool, so you understand that 2007 was a very long time ago, and the world has changed a TON since then. One thing that’s remained the same, though? The default font in Microsoft Office: Calibri. Until now.

The Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized how we interact with our surroundings, making our apartments, homes and cities smarter and more connected than ever. And by doing so, IoT is enhancing residents’ convenience, efficiency, and quality of life.

Imagine a world where your home appliances, security systems, and even your lights are interconnected to communicate with each other. That’s the power of IoT in smart homes. IoT devices are connected to the internet to enable automation and control. I’m sure you do this now. You can remotely adjust your thermostat, monitor your bedroom lights, and maybe receive alerts if there’s a water leak in your home.

Video doorbells, another IoT-powered innovation, allow you to see and communicate with visitors remotely, adding another layer of security and convenience.