tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-241362202024-03-11T06:01:18.258-07:00Jim Lyons ObservationsJim Lyons comments on business and marketing developments in the Printing and Imaging industry, combining many years of experience with an ever-enthusiastic eye on the future.Jim Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15445935101420575205noreply@blogger.comBlogger1002125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24136220.post-15698937145489297292023-11-29T05:36:00.000-08:002023-11-29T05:36:42.241-08:00As 2023 is ending, AI technology is pervasive in my life!<p>For example, selling on eBay! Here's a screen shot of my query to BingChat (yes, AI) and its response to me about how AI is being used by the company to facilitate product listing.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsH1MSTMISrXWnBbVqZG9IUtndXvJP9AC-fjoxTmdDYBh5RDez5WADcgOnD8_edufUqLG6vSAXFldmZExIcYAzN1zavU-ywP2Ptb7OGSopGSa5yrG-s1Ejh6aSD04mPBqfpcJ75aF0w8sLyqffFCYOM9bpZuMFkwz4t7utIx7DVX1v8WOyqQEm7w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="1370" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsH1MSTMISrXWnBbVqZG9IUtndXvJP9AC-fjoxTmdDYBh5RDez5WADcgOnD8_edufUqLG6vSAXFldmZExIcYAzN1zavU-ywP2Ptb7OGSopGSa5yrG-s1Ejh6aSD04mPBqfpcJ75aF0w8sLyqffFCYOM9bpZuMFkwz4t7utIx7DVX1v8WOyqQEm7w=w640-h288" width="640" /></a></div><br />As can be expected, the actual implementation can use some work. But stay tuned...<p></p>Jim Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15445935101420575205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24136220.post-74454972550681073102023-09-10T15:38:00.008-07:002023-09-10T15:38:49.374-07:00Bing Chat thinks the Eagles have already won<p> I hope it's correct and glad those fantasy numbers are not mine!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFatdOMyR18YjVlnhkQ-bkyns1Y55f7EDmkybaiKhmd2HCFOWq16Oqxrzrim_wy0u1FhlJ6oW_3JrU2N8nSWFlzwBztBGMRys-uXwj-aN4vxaf1vDO6FboML1h5Ph42vyk8VNub4FEoVqx336ABWozCzle6ws70Fy5bzC-xYpr3gVtBLP_AAgnww" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="1227" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFatdOMyR18YjVlnhkQ-bkyns1Y55f7EDmkybaiKhmd2HCFOWq16Oqxrzrim_wy0u1FhlJ6oW_3JrU2N8nSWFlzwBztBGMRys-uXwj-aN4vxaf1vDO6FboML1h5Ph42vyk8VNub4FEoVqx336ABWozCzle6ws70Fy5bzC-xYpr3gVtBLP_AAgnww=w642-h287" width="642" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>Jim Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15445935101420575205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24136220.post-77058826186559207592023-07-11T15:11:00.000-07:002023-07-11T15:11:11.625-07:00Happy Game Day - Major League Baseball All-star Game from Seattle<p>Yes, time to kick back and enjoy all-star baseball tonight, July 11th.</p><p>Reflecting on past games (and hearing the local radio guys talking about their favorite all-star game years and how many future hall-of-fame member. Figured this was a great question to ask Sage, via Poe. (Took a little prompt experimentation) </p><p>First question, by year, how many hall-of-famers, 1960 to 2010? The radio guys were talking about numbers in the high teens for certain years, so this answer looked right. (Since Hall nominations can only happen five years after a player's final game, any thing after 2010 seems to be inevitably understated, though of course any of these years' totals can go up, too. Not sure where Sage was coming from on the 2010 warning!</p><p>Here's the text cut-and-paste...<br /></p><p>_______________________________________________________<br /></p><p>Yes, I can provide a breakdown of the number of Hall of Famers by year for the 50 years from 1960 to 2009. <br /><br />Note that for the 2010 All-Star Game, the players selected would not yet be eligible for the Hall of Fame, as players must wait five years after retirement to be considered for induction.<br /><br />Here is the breakdown:<br /><br />- 1960: 21 Hall of Famers<br />- 1961: 23 Hall of Famers<br />- 1962: 23 Hall of Famers<br />- 1963: 22 Hall of Famers<br />- 1964: 23 Hall of Famers<br />- 1965: 22 Hall of Famers<br />- 1966: 26 Hall of Famers<br />- 1967: 23 Hall of Famers<br />- 1968: 24 Hall of Famers<br />- 1969: 23 Hall of Famers<br />- 1970: 24 Hall of Famers<br />- 1971: 20 Hall of Famers<br />- 1972: 22 Hall of Famers<br />- 1973: 20 Hall of Famers<br />- 1974: 21 Hall of Famers<br />- 1975: 20 Hall of Famers<br />- 1976: 18 Hall of Famers<br />- 1977: 18 Hall of Famers<br />- 1978: 18 Hall of Famers<br />- 1979: 18 Hall of Famers<br />- 1980: 18 Hall of Famers<br />- 1981: 15 Hall of Famers<br />- 1982: 18 Hall of Famers<br />- 1983: 18 Hall of Famers<br />- 1984: 14 Hall of Famers<br />- 1985: 14 Hall of Famers<br />- 1986: 16 Hall of Famers<br />- 1987: 15 Hall of Famers<br />- 1988: 18 Hall of Famers<br />- 1989: 19 Hall of Famers<br />- 1990: 14 Hall of Famers<br />- 1991: 14 Hall of Famers<br />- 1992: 14 Hall of Famers<br />- 1993: 12 Hall of Famers<br />- 1994: 9 Hall of Famers<br />- 1995: 13 Hall of Famers<br />- 1996: 14 Hall of Famers<br />- 1997: 15 Hall of Famers<br />- 1998: 15 Hall of Famers<br />- 1999: 14 Hall of Famers<br />- 2000: 16 Hall of Famers<br />- 2001: 14 Hall of Famers<br />- 2002: 14 Hall of Famers<br />- 2003: 13 Hall of Famers<br />- 2004: 14 Hall of Famers<br />- 2005: 13 Hall of Famers<br />- 2006: 14 Hall of Famers<br />- 2007: 13 Hall of Famers<br />- 2008: 13 Hall of Famers<br />- 2009: 12 Hall of Famers<br /><br />Overall, there were some years with a higher number of Hall of Famers than others, but there were always multiple Hall of Famers represented in each year's All-Star Game. <br /></p><p>_______________________________________________________</p><p>Here's a screen grab when I drilled down on my favorite year, the only game I've attended in person, 1999.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdbj6t7PiGfGMLz4BrCftYlkwKVmA3SkrqmOkkio8zuSmqITsp4WQFZONoLYPBBAU_hyBivqT9xnCI3toAEOBew69mHQZeGyYIwnKDQQXRbNoGUSkOmluF8m0CbCKp-lNOiFtfLtfcTZVMCJJ4zqAt050C6UOkTCv3HCF32dq5kqNKRoNciihcbg/s798/Screenshot%202023-07-11%20160213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="655" data-original-width="798" height="421" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdbj6t7PiGfGMLz4BrCftYlkwKVmA3SkrqmOkkio8zuSmqITsp4WQFZONoLYPBBAU_hyBivqT9xnCI3toAEOBew69mHQZeGyYIwnKDQQXRbNoGUSkOmluF8m0CbCKp-lNOiFtfLtfcTZVMCJJ4zqAt050C6UOkTCv3HCF32dq5kqNKRoNciihcbg/w512-h421/Screenshot%202023-07-11%20160213.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br />_______________________________________________________<p></p><p>But can we trust these answers? Mark McGwire...hmm...</p><p><br /></p><p>Stay tuned!<br /></p>Jim Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15445935101420575205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24136220.post-23081347850676001692023-07-09T08:28:00.001-07:002023-07-09T08:28:14.203-07:00Just when attention on AI takes over the world, a new social media platform...Threads<p>Here I am back on Blogger, one of the oldest social media platforms ever (MySpace era?), and what do you know? Another social media throwback - time for a "plug-compatible" Twitter replacement!!!</p><p>I feel like we are going retro, with the press reaction on a Sunday (July 9, 2023), allows the doings of the week to be digested and looked at with at least the tiniest of perspective. So now after Threads captivated much of the world this week, there's blowback in the media.</p><p>A natural process, and all quite interesting!</p><p>https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/09/briefing/threads.html</p><p>I love the time on Threads, learning its quirks and limitations, and seeing some of the early adopters out there, many of who I recognize from very early days of other platforms like Facebook and especially Twitter, more than a decade ago.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jim Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15445935101420575205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24136220.post-5454386715310848962023-07-02T07:21:00.003-07:002023-07-02T07:21:19.226-07:00Those green and blue messaging bubbles? A keeper from NovaAI<p>Seems like a basic search engine question but I like what my Nova app on my Android tablet came up with this morning - really helpful!</p><p><br /></p><p>"Certainly! I'd be happy to explain the difference between iMessage and text messages. </p><p><br /></p><p>iMessage is an instant messaging service developed by Apple, designed specifically for Apple users. When you send a message to another Apple device user using iMessage, the bubbles in the messaging app will appear in blue. iMessage allows you to send text, photos, videos, animations, stickers, and more. Along with simple messages, iMessage also supports various features like read receipts, typing indicators, and end-to-end encryption for secure communication.</p><p><br /></p><p>On the other hand, text messages, often referred to as SMS (Short Message Service) or MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service), are standard messaging services that are primarily used for text-based communication between mobile devices. When you send a message to someone who doesn't have an Apple device, the message is transmitted as a regular text message, and the bubbles in the messaging app will appear in green.</p><p><br /></p><p>It's important to note that text messages are limited to the basic text format and do not have the additional features provided by iMessage. However, iMessage automatically falls back to sending a regular text message if the recipient's device doesn't support iMessage or if there is no internet connection available.</p><p><br /></p><p>Let me know if you have any further questions or if there's anything else I can assist you with!"</p>Jim Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15445935101420575205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24136220.post-85671550267029068172023-06-27T05:20:00.003-07:002023-06-27T05:20:45.229-07:00Still out here - and like many, loving the AI Chat tools<p> I am still here, still making observations, and it is time I picked up the old blog again. And my work with the currently available AI tools deserves some posting, so stay tuned.</p><p>Just to make it clear, one thing that I must say really bores me these days is the printer industry. It was good to me for decades and I am not turning on it, just ignoring it. Hope that's ok?</p><p>From the AI front, I am beginning my new run here by highlighting a recent (early April 2023) article from Audubon about using ChatGPT to help identify birds. Take a look and I will come back with some examples of my experimenting with similar goals in mind...</p><p>https://www.audubon.org/news/can-new-ai-chatbots-chatgpt-help-you-identify-birds</p><p><br /></p>Jim Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15445935101420575205noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24136220.post-71057150445567515122021-11-09T05:28:00.001-08:002021-11-09T05:28:26.203-08:00Review: The Talented Mr. Varg
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52366423" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1576634235l/52366423._SX98_SY160_.jpg" border="0" alt="The Talented Mr. Varg" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52366423">The Talented Mr. Varg</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4738">Alexander McCall Smith</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4329284160">5 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4329284160">View all my reviews</a>
Jim Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15445935101420575205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24136220.post-38660891324906542682021-08-14T06:54:00.001-07:002021-08-14T06:54:40.221-07:00Review: Racing the Clock: A Running Life with Nature
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55577652" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1616471543l/55577652._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="Racing the Clock: A Running Life with Nature" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55577652">Racing the Clock: A Running Life with Nature</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3350977">Bernd Heinrich</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4174944100">4 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4174944100">View all my reviews</a>
Jim Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15445935101420575205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24136220.post-31350394359111515132021-05-16T06:31:00.001-07:002021-05-16T06:31:28.082-07:00Review: Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55305389" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1616785063l/55305389._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55305389">Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6583155">Adam M. Grant</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3984477031">5 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
<strong>So relevant! Think Again could be life's mantra!</strong><br /><br />So much here! Love the insight, advice, and yes, the illustrative cartoons and other graphics that help make the author's pint. Adam Grant has come to be a personal favorite, including his recent thoughts on the end of the lockdown and how much work it can be to get out of it - i.e. languishing. I was going to go four stars only because much of the book covers workplace and other group situations which as a retiree I am mostly past, but the value of the remaining content can't be over-stated!
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3984477031">View all my reviews</a>
Jim Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15445935101420575205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24136220.post-40365134041272972332020-12-01T05:25:00.001-08:002020-12-01T05:25:29.087-08:00Review: Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36294636" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1506243780l/36294636._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36294636">Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17598726">Matthew Walker</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3110236403">5 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3110236403">View all my reviews</a>
Jim Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15445935101420575205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24136220.post-8814138107787891362020-10-31T09:04:00.002-07:002020-10-31T09:06:37.535-07:00Love the Back Tap. New button on your iPhone...no kidding!<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYEBYE1nfTNdd6YK4QkfFNIn3TKv3U1Tdxb1gI7HhyUKzU5VclPDYjGlyAkMWdO0W_dqNihD3gH23u8ekbzt68qPRY-EtIWH3oA789dhdrMRxYhqQVGxAxwxRJBLWDYdTnJFTjag/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1555" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYEBYE1nfTNdd6YK4QkfFNIn3TKv3U1Tdxb1gI7HhyUKzU5VclPDYjGlyAkMWdO0W_dqNihD3gH23u8ekbzt68qPRY-EtIWH3oA789dhdrMRxYhqQVGxAxwxRJBLWDYdTnJFTjag/w640-h310/image.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Find the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/21540028/apple-iphone-ios-14-back-tap-hidden-secret-button-gesture">article</a> on <a href="https://www.theverge.com/21540028/apple-iphone-ios-14-back-tap-hidden-secret-button-gesture">The Verge</a> website<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>It's not a "back rub" which might sound pretty good right about now, but the "Back Tap" and it's good too. Much more of a treat with this trick.. It's a new iPhone capability that comes about from iOS14, which we all have upgraded to, right?</p><p>Thanks to a<a href="https://www.theverge.com/21540028/apple-iphone-ios-14-back-tap-hidden-secret-button-gesture"> great article</a> from <a href="https://www.theverge.com/">The Verge</a> by <a href="https://twitter.com/cgartenberg">Chaim Gartenberg</a> - as the "Button of the Month" for October - I have now enabled Back Tap to get those screen shots from my iPhone that I often struggle with. Now, it's just a tap-tap on the back of my iPhone 8, rubber case and all. And given the large choice of functions potentially enabled with the double-tap, it makes me think about how I will use my triple-tap option!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFQOtecNIYkXgxyOSvsNTealCVajwdoBqvyz8CqIuEFp0M47XCAzor_DzqxxhoFV-iyv-BdE4PLNjdybz_oykQ4pxbXG6SQCtMTdaaOYScP0w_S_IqT95oAUWIY9GkBx4X_Cb0w/s1280/IMG_2161.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="713" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFQOtecNIYkXgxyOSvsNTealCVajwdoBqvyz8CqIuEFp0M47XCAzor_DzqxxhoFV-iyv-BdE4PLNjdybz_oykQ4pxbXG6SQCtMTdaaOYScP0w_S_IqT95oAUWIY9GkBx4X_Cb0w/w223-h400/IMG_2161.PNG" width="223" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Find under Accessibility and Touch, at the very bottom...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsv1tbi8DDYa4O27gW197fHEgl6QGi8RiNxUAG0J6pgBOq0AA8VawYZylwBgK0GfX-gDsTPPuy_BEaY9tQY-9v1mHoyYfk7De3R4kFm-Fbzm-L4vIENhiRLbH0KNegQj9YUxVZaQ/s904/IMG_2156.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="904" data-original-width="735" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsv1tbi8DDYa4O27gW197fHEgl6QGi8RiNxUAG0J6pgBOq0AA8VawYZylwBgK0GfX-gDsTPPuy_BEaY9tQY-9v1mHoyYfk7De3R4kFm-Fbzm-L4vIENhiRLbH0KNegQj9YUxVZaQ/w325-h400/IMG_2156.PNG" width="325" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scroll down the next list to find your choice to activate with two (or three) back taps...</td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSx76haqoPHff08ZSBSQ7RTDxBHQ_Mx7c_aqO24KaCngdebThp4jH2I2Q5TwlJOQsdtY0oX39-4bT6ACakJvDsWxic2G9-SwGMbA14-MUn5XmgBRhmge13hiK7cRT8hkM4cPka2A/s1334/IMG_2156.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><br /></a></div><br /> <p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj6enrB3JbRrP82OGfslxptZ-jXnv-ketZESCNAAFlW69n6kvjvX2nntSfke7IXFDNfkGItZwNQb3SeMOVnb2VY5N9ppREQjazPxM1QU4SVXI3u1-OLAphukOxFNroyBKEU-kSTg/s750/IMG_2158.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="379" data-original-width="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj6enrB3JbRrP82OGfslxptZ-jXnv-ketZESCNAAFlW69n6kvjvX2nntSfke7IXFDNfkGItZwNQb3SeMOVnb2VY5N9ppREQjazPxM1QU4SVXI3u1-OLAphukOxFNroyBKEU-kSTg/s320/IMG_2158.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pondering my Triple Tap choices...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Happy Halloween and Happy Back Tapping!</div>Jim Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15445935101420575205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24136220.post-5289150660928964412020-10-26T08:01:00.005-07:002020-10-26T08:01:31.325-07:00We didn't start the Fire...<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZ1OG_s2u4mLQZ15RsSkF6xqyGCXxkUh-_WPZt2xwqMAMAaD1Dw9IebEz9H5Eh1WI3UulBCc2tBjbY_uztUrh6rb9U4Q-L6gjVfpD2cp1uPyoGIbDEtOocod29jTCqlonm1PbGw/s2048/IMG_3568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZ1OG_s2u4mLQZ15RsSkF6xqyGCXxkUh-_WPZt2xwqMAMAaD1Dw9IebEz9H5Eh1WI3UulBCc2tBjbY_uztUrh6rb9U4Q-L6gjVfpD2cp1uPyoGIbDEtOocod29jTCqlonm1PbGw/s320/IMG_3568.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My collection of Kindle Fires - one of each size<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I have been waiting to use that song lyric/title in SOMETHING on social media. When finally it occurred to me that I have a nice stairstep collection of Kindle Fires, each in a different size and color, I had my subject!</p><p>For now, it's also a chance to get back to something in blogging world. Other than my short book reviews, which I have been slow to produce lately too, my posts have dwindled to near zero. My topic of how the fax has played into the pandemic story had appeal, but that's now old news. Likewise, a few other tidbits have made me think blog post, but like with many things during these crazy times, for me at least, they don't get done.</p><p>So here it is...a Monday-morning color fest, and a rock-and-roll caption to go with. Does that work?</p>Jim Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15445935101420575205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24136220.post-72873980253844861882020-09-23T06:31:00.001-07:002020-09-23T06:31:45.168-07:00Review: Disloyal: The True Story of the Former Personal Attorney to President Donald J. Trump
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54916250" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1597453817l/54916250._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="Disloyal: The True Story of the Former Personal Attorney to President Donald J. Trump" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54916250">Disloyal: The True Story of the Former Personal Attorney to President Donald J. Trump</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20593802">Michael Cohen</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3547530325">5 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
<strong>For me, a must read</strong><br /><br />Having followed current events very closely I felt like I had to read Cohen's story.It was informative and even entertaining, in many places. The story of his growing sycophantic behavior certainly sheds light on others. All the detail on his work to cover up the affairs - money changing (or not) hands and the like - was much more than I needed.
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3547530325">View all my reviews</a>
Jim Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15445935101420575205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24136220.post-82484158029482941012020-07-23T12:11:00.001-07:002020-07-23T12:11:48.498-07:00Review: The Man Who Played with Fire: Stieg Larsson's Lost Files and the Hunt for an Assassin
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43887587" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549584391l/43887587._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="The Man Who Played with Fire: Stieg Larsson's Lost Files and the Hunt for an Assassin" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43887587">The Man Who Played with Fire: Stieg Larsson's Lost Files and the Hunt for an Assassin</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7896315">Jan Stocklassa</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3411363467">4 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3411363467">View all my reviews</a>
Jim Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15445935101420575205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24136220.post-17070513599422186772020-06-27T12:39:00.001-07:002020-06-27T12:39:56.814-07:00Review: The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51187948" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1567638164l/51187948._SX98_SY160_.jpg" border="0" alt="The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51187948">The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5869">Erik Larson</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3266381778">5 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
<strong>Great stories on Churchill’s first year as War PM</strong><br /><br />Erik Larson knows how to spin a tale, and I was delighted to have The Splendid and the Vile to read during these times (2020 coronavirus pandemic, economic crisis and social unrest). The backdrop of people in London carrying on, during the sometimes nightly Nazi bombing raids, is truly inspiring.
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3266381778">View all my reviews</a>
Jim Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15445935101420575205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24136220.post-16470655668124734592020-05-26T09:54:00.001-07:002020-05-26T09:54:35.858-07:00Welcome Apple Glass - seriously<div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifvxvkbzA7MAgMNeojkJ7aznC5JV9OcPTTCvI8QttyrYNEZfw-LZ-CHcN53esznPRsAq-9cHSeYrBb39Uf4fUuoUXNF5RtE8-U4MnVQgAwfI762tU8BQoXZkr26Mip7Ua8uzUIbQ/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="656" data-original-width="913" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifvxvkbzA7MAgMNeojkJ7aznC5JV9OcPTTCvI8QttyrYNEZfw-LZ-CHcN53esznPRsAq-9cHSeYrBb39Uf4fUuoUXNF5RtE8-U4MnVQgAwfI762tU8BQoXZkr26Mip7Ua8uzUIbQ/w640-h460/AppleGlass.jpg" title="From https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/05/22/apple-may-own-the-future-of-personal-computing-with-apple-glass-says-gene-munster" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of a number of press coverage - this one from Apple Insider<br /> <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/05/22/apple-may-own-the-future-of-personal-computing-with-apple-glass-says-gene-munster">https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/05/22/apple-may-own-the-future-of-personal-computing-with-apple-glass-says-gene-munster</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>My choice of this post's title ("Welcome...seriously") reflects a bit of an homage to the <a href="https://www.inc.com/bill-murphy-jr/37-years-ago-steve-jobs-ran-apples-most-amazing-ad-heres-story-its-almost-been-forgotten.html">famous 1981 Apple advertisement,</a> welcoming IBM to the personal computer market. This time, it's not an upstart company having the nerve to "welcome" the seemingly insurmountable computer giant into their backyard, the nascent "personal computer" market (and I credit IBM with popularizing the "PC" nomenclature). Instead, it's me welcoming Apple into the #smartglasses market. And like 1981, at this stage of the wearable-computing-eyewear market, it's early, with bona fide success for any or all players very much up in the air.</div><div><br /></div><div>I just <a href="http://jimlyonsobservations.blogspot.com/2020/04/another-smartglasses-opportunity-with.html">posted last month about Amazon's Echo Frames efforts</a>, a product which include many things in common with the <a href="https://www.macrumors.com/2020/05/19/apple-glasses-price-prescription-lenses-rumors/">rumored Apple product</a>. The big one, it would seem, is that both have the capability to be fitted with prescription lenses, meaning they can be full-time replacements for users' existing glasses.</div><div><br /></div><div>The speculation about the Apple product's AR/VR functionality may end up winning the day, but to me, the main point of differentiation (at least as anticipated when Apple's product comes to fruition), is their assumed dependence on the companies' different "assistants", Amazon Echo (Alexa) and Apple Siri. It's accurate to say I use both of these technologies on a daily basis, and I view Amazon as having a very large advantage. While Siri manages to use my voice commands make a call or open an app on my iPhone, and Alexa does quite well with managing my home lighting and controlling a few (so far) other smart home functions, when they meet on the same playing field, like requesting information (just for fun, say, "who's birthday is it today?"), it seems Alexa is far more likely to speak back something pleasing ("today is Miles Davis's birthday", followed by a short bio of the late, great jazz great), whereas Siri seems to put the burden back on me ("Sorry, I don't see any matches in your contacts"). <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Like with Amazon Echo Frames, I am happy to keep an eye on this development from Apple. I just don't anticipate beating down the doors for a pair - or is it singular, as in "Glass". That nomenclature did not work so well for Google (with the quickly-coined term "Glasshole" gaining widespread buzz) - we will see for Apple!</div>Jim Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15445935101420575205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24136220.post-22991644594013021782020-05-14T05:33:00.001-07:002020-05-14T05:33:12.890-07:00Review: Pale Rider: The Spanish Flu of 1918 and How It Changed the World
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35237941" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1495936757l/35237941._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="Pale Rider: The Spanish Flu of 1918 and How It Changed the World" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35237941">Pale Rider: The Spanish Flu of 1918 and How It Changed the World</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1285397">Laura Spinney</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3310625186">0 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3310625186">View all my reviews</a>
Jim Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15445935101420575205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24136220.post-26872630628334017342020-04-24T10:50:00.001-07:002020-04-24T10:50:40.528-07:00Another "Smartglasses" opportunity with Amazon Echo Glasses - guess I will be missing some moments<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRyBw13dEhxa3nTyIIwnGvvsEEV24f1FvZbPO17ceWVp3E_vMNPI3MRW3Vs8zWkPeOPIsIFEst5f0LH3d4cdODFMCJnyY3nBLN_29DRFJTbrWz8ka2edM5ffe6zlZBDMFQVee82A/s1600/EchoFramesApril2020.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="1591" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRyBw13dEhxa3nTyIIwnGvvsEEV24f1FvZbPO17ceWVp3E_vMNPI3MRW3Vs8zWkPeOPIsIFEst5f0LH3d4cdODFMCJnyY3nBLN_29DRFJTbrWz8ka2edM5ffe6zlZBDMFQVee82A/s640/EchoFramesApril2020.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My chance for a third experience owning a "smartglasses" product has come and gone, for now at least</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">When <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-echo-frames-smart-glasses-alexa-voice-commands-2019-9">Amazon Echo Frames were announced in September 2019</a>, with limited availability, I couldn't resist getting on the waiting list with hopes of being "invited" to buy them sometime in the hopefully near future. I was teeing up a third experience for me with so-called "smartglasses", and with their built-in Alexa capabilities, the promise of Frames seemed to also play well with my ever-growing usage of Amazon's digital assistant/smart speaker technology around home. I was hoping to give these a try by pulling the trigger on the invitation when it came in March of this year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In terms of my high interest in wearable computing and specifically eyeware, nothing has changed much since the day </span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">I tweeted out my Google Glass "application" in 2012. Then, I ended up getting back a qualifying tweet in the Spring and picking them up in August 2013 at </span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Google offices in San Francisco. </span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">With fitting and a little training session thrown in, I was out $1500, plus travel expenses, but I fully enjoyed experimenting and being part of the legion of "Glass Explorers". I should add that as a professor of marketing, I was very impressed with Google's ability to craft a beta test program with so much cachet that it could be a money-maker on its own!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">I wrote a</span>bout my Google Glass experiences<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"> in a <a href="https://jimlyonsobservations.blogspot.com/2017/07/google-glass-is-back-lets-hear-it-for.html">post to this blog back in 2017</a>, and overall, it w</span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">as worthwhile and enlightening</span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"> being a #GlassExplorer (that's the hashtag we were encouraged to use as we shared Glass experiences on social media). Their novelty did eventually wear off though, so I resold the gadget on eBay for a reasonable price, and waited for my next wearable opportunity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIYfppPsj4YyEjrC9mzWh9tHmLldF1xfOoYq4ToAYvnv_4RFcxf24ihkqEO0-fR_2KhcEHIgcs4iB6nBVz1ioF1c9MVwJUJwqnaQXMXUEQckslWTJqsJTqwV8YuTw4BCesv7ogLg/s1600/IMG_3400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIYfppPsj4YyEjrC9mzWh9tHmLldF1xfOoYq4ToAYvnv_4RFcxf24ihkqEO0-fR_2KhcEHIgcs4iB6nBVz1ioF1c9MVwJUJwqnaQXMXUEQckslWTJqsJTqwV8YuTw4BCesv7ogLg/s200/IMG_3400.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me in my Snapchat Spectacles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;">That came in the form of Snapchat Spectacles, which I gave a try a few years later. They were an interesting product that offered another memorable marketing rollout, sharing that with Google Glass. Their product's usage model diverged, with Glass being more of an always-on information application with its imaging capability only part of the feature set. Snapchat's product was based on sunglasses, and could be simply described as "sunglasses that take photos". This simplified concept was matched by a much lower price (in the single-digit hundreds rather than the single-digit thousands). I jumped in, but the novelty </span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">wore off almost before it began,</span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"> for me especially as a normally infrequent wearer of sunglasses,and I was in and out of Spectacles ownership quite quickly, again </span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">with</span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"> some help from eBay.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It seemed I might be ready for another run at this category, and as already mentioned, my invitation for Echo Frames came through a few weeks ago. Now it was on me to decide if I would take the $180 plunge, in a somewhat urgent fashion - the invitation would expire soon. Part of the decision meant thinking back on my wearables "legacy", which I have briefly recounted here, and that much inspired me to move forward.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span>
But...Echo Frames clearly are aimed at full-time glasses wearers which I am not. <span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;">I already mentioned that my high interest in this category of products had not changed over the years, but one thing that had changed was a normal, slow downward trend</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> in my eyes' "uncorrected" seeing abilities. I still remain a part-time glasses wearer, though, with off-the-shelf readers supplemented by prescription lenses for intermediate distances, i.e. desktop and laptop screens. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Also...they are aimed at, and work with, Android phones, with no iOS (iPhone) compatibility. Show stopper for me!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Plus...messing around with getting the frames and then getting prescription lenses elsewhere, which would need more fiddling, and no doubt cost, for getting them installed, just wasn't sounding like a great prospect for me. Echo Frames would set me back $179.99 plus tax, to start, with who knows how much to follow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I ended up spending under $100 and ordering a new pair of Warby Parkers with my "intermediate/computer" prescription, all "installed" and ready to go! Not "smartglasses", but no muss, no fuss, and very little learning curve!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And those missed moments in the post's title? That is just a play on Amazon's marketing tagline for Echo Frames. Actually, I think I am just fine missing a few, if it comes down to that!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Seems like something we're saying this a lot these days, but my whole little investigation here has led to more questions than answers. For example, what has my full history with Amazon Echo/Alexa and related technologies entailed? Can I find photo examples, specifically how do I search, effectively, for "camera of origin" in Google Photos? What about that "lifelogging" bodycam I tried - does that count? This is just a start, so stay tuned!</span>Jim Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15445935101420575205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24136220.post-59383245165580364652020-04-06T11:48:00.001-07:002020-04-06T11:48:54.118-07:00Review: The Resisters
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45835970" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1569173277l/45835970._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="The Resisters" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45835970">The Resisters</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/32872">Gish Jen</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3263634504">5 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3263634504">View all my reviews</a>
Jim Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15445935101420575205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24136220.post-51864527484099172392020-01-29T06:49:00.000-08:002020-01-29T06:49:20.903-08:002020 Oscars and Super Bowl - one week apart!<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-51-1IRKqtcgkecPAaD0kZTtkvwmFLSOI985JObg7JnCZiYSPDC9pHEJMeoDIp2C5LVK1HccgYTnK_RDbnC8_oawobE7YaREtdMviosfZ9pTW1xbFCnIvcTtyU598UW-Wb4TFw/s1600/Screenshot+2020-01-29+at+7.20.35+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="1600" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-51-1IRKqtcgkecPAaD0kZTtkvwmFLSOI985JObg7JnCZiYSPDC9pHEJMeoDIp2C5LVK1HccgYTnK_RDbnC8_oawobE7YaREtdMviosfZ9pTW1xbFCnIvcTtyU598UW-Wb4TFw/s640/Screenshot+2020-01-29+at+7.20.35+AM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Screenshot from my recent Google Search, confirming the Super Bowl was played in late January in 1995 </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
With some of the year's biggest (and my favorite) TV events coming up, I find myself curious about the dates - and the memory of some old benchmarks I once counted on. Is the calendar compressing? Like most things, it depends on who you ask (or more accurately, where you look).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
First, the Super Bowl? I remember watching just about all the games, way back to the very first one (Packers won, of course) and even the fourth - with the Chiefs extending the AFL's winning streak to two. It started as an afternoon game in early January, but the date began to slip. It's now (seemingly) firmly lodged in early February. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And the Oscars? I remember one night in the early '80s being at a gathering for young adults on a Spring evening (Monday), when the NCAA men's basketball finals and the Academy Awards were conflicting, on the same night! That would have been in late March.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In 2020, the two of the biggest TV nights in America are ONE WEEK apart. The NFL will be helping us celebrate Ground Hog's Day this year, with kickoff at 6:30pm EST on February 2nd. The Oscars will air the following week in the same time slot. (Evening of February 9th.)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So I arbitrarily went back 25 years, and did a Google search for the dates of the 1995 game and ceremony. And I am feeling I can trust my memory! That year, the big game was played on January 29th. And the Academy Awards that year? Still in the late March timeframe I remembered.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim1phi-vHLeuulBNOgBB3DC0MV3BrWVRMD7GFvtgJGsBYoaD39jxqKhjMAWq3Uo712rao5H6yZiW24iq8rD_TSbcG7UsiYjqOChdBh6Z4a6u7yAjMGWbnuEY9m-DmbAGtF68VGqw/s1600/Screenshot+2020-01-29+at+7.20.03+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="689" data-original-width="1220" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim1phi-vHLeuulBNOgBB3DC0MV3BrWVRMD7GFvtgJGsBYoaD39jxqKhjMAWq3Uo712rao5H6yZiW24iq8rD_TSbcG7UsiYjqOChdBh6Z4a6u7yAjMGWbnuEY9m-DmbAGtF68VGqw/s320/Screenshot+2020-01-29+at+7.20.03+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
In conclusion, it's the film awards that have moved, the most anyway. In both cases, trophies are awarded based (mostly) on achievements in the prior year, so getting the ceremony closer to year in question seems sensible. I will be watching both - and yes, paying attention to the commercials as well.</div>
Jim Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15445935101420575205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24136220.post-30459907421744344332020-01-18T06:23:00.001-08:002020-01-18T06:23:28.931-08:00Review: The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8370773" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1463509337l/8370773._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8370773">The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/44565">Candice Millard</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3007306735">5 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
I had never heard of Teddy Roosevelt's post-presidential expedition to the Amazon rainforest in Brazil until the recently-aired Ken Burns series ("The Roosevelts"). The perilous nature of the trip intrigued me and so when I saw this book, authored by a National Geographic reporter Candice Miller, I knew I had to read it. And I am happy that I did - even if it took what must be a year or more to finish (thanks to our public library for seemingly endless renewals).
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3007306735">View all my reviews</a>
Jim Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15445935101420575205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24136220.post-58334123634142717652020-01-13T09:59:00.000-08:002020-01-13T09:59:15.341-08:00Language evolves...caught in the act!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvL8FAR4T9TeW2v8yd6csyJ9PfQ3hgc0gSyc2SgjfkC6aAY2Ew9C4HU8CiKuHX63cVlXzmdqEYt-9s45RBkLsphYmWkh_j2yNQsz5DdX19zSX1cpyk3VMQ8kAxuXrHCqhamnz2VQ/s1600/Screenshot+2020-01-10+at+7.16.02+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="1490" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvL8FAR4T9TeW2v8yd6csyJ9PfQ3hgc0gSyc2SgjfkC6aAY2Ew9C4HU8CiKuHX63cVlXzmdqEYt-9s45RBkLsphYmWkh_j2yNQsz5DdX19zSX1cpyk3VMQ8kAxuXrHCqhamnz2VQ/s640/Screenshot+2020-01-10+at+7.16.02+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As a student of evolution as used in its traditional sense, I am also intrigued by the concept's application to processes outside the biological. (See #s 1 and 2 in the screenshot above.)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That includes modern word usage, and I have recently encountered an example that I find fascinating. Maybe I am longing for the tech world, again missing last week's Consumer Electronics Show (CES), or just the fact that fast-changing fields prompt the need for fast-changing terminology, but I have one of these changes which I find fascinating.<br />
<br />
First during the just-ended holiday season, and now with a recent Amazon order, I have noted that what I have always referred to as "cables" (see below) - or what many refer to as "cords" - are now being called "chargers".</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3EIhUUU5-PYQexO4nZg1KmskUw_TuSfU-mvDZBUpdpu10cgYkknQE4nk9ErwGGdeE2jsJ7F7JksxyIXPLnJgvfXkonEGFLiGlG_MsHWREAM6l2EwSZqMYycdszxJQ2lNmfPsNw/s1600/IMG_0191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3EIhUUU5-PYQexO4nZg1KmskUw_TuSfU-mvDZBUpdpu10cgYkknQE4nk9ErwGGdeE2jsJ7F7JksxyIXPLnJgvfXkonEGFLiGlG_MsHWREAM6l2EwSZqMYycdszxJQ2lNmfPsNw/s640/IMG_0191.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The vendor calls them by the "right" old-school name but Amazon refers to them as "chargers"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />It's a great adaptation, to a more "active" noun that describes the function they perform, but my more traditional self would complain that the charger is the part that "plugs in the wall", i.e. the 110v wall socket (in the US anyway). My #OKBoomer rationale is that it's does the charging and the cable only provides the connection with the device being charged. HOWEVER, the plugging in the wall these days means into the ever-more-ubiquitous USB sockets found included in modern wall outlets, and things like lamps in hotel rooms and backs of airplane seats.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinzbjVWVmW2gyRdLoM2kf5Jvemkl-W6DTqjZQ8kLZEWngvuxsrjgct5eHmC2RtJdKCJp6J6mrhXU1T8kEd9YTsCKwq8-BPSw7dSvI_EBO4B9l9gcDbR7xbKmOHjPLVVWoWnI1u1A/s1600/44A89E4D-4598-4EB4-9A52-F6D96DF2274D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinzbjVWVmW2gyRdLoM2kf5Jvemkl-W6DTqjZQ8kLZEWngvuxsrjgct5eHmC2RtJdKCJp6J6mrhXU1T8kEd9YTsCKwq8-BPSw7dSvI_EBO4B9l9gcDbR7xbKmOHjPLVVWoWnI1u1A/s320/44A89E4D-4598-4EB4-9A52-F6D96DF2274D.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even at my rather rustic coffee shop, the outlets include USB sockets</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
So...let the charging continue!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Jim Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15445935101420575205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24136220.post-23944344976770726432019-12-29T06:39:00.001-08:002019-12-29T06:39:14.031-08:00Review: Kingbird Highway: The Biggest Year in the Life of an Extreme Birder
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13332148" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1394275498l/13332148._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="Kingbird Highway: The Biggest Year in the Life of an Extreme Birder" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13332148">Kingbird Highway: The Biggest Year in the Life of an Extreme Birder</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/73605">Kenn Kaufman</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1234641607">5 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
Now I know why this book is a classic in the birding world! Chronicle of Kenn's 1973 Big Year (and put into book form 30 years later). In addition to all the birds and birders referenced, Kaufman's experiences mirror my own from the 1970s, in so many ways, e.g. from finding out about California's "under 18" law, to crossing the Canadian border as a 19-year-old longhair with little money, to our 1978 birding quest that took my partner and me to many of the "hotspots" mentioned in the book. This is one of those that I wished I had read earlier!!! (Just noted on my Goodreads that I had added it to my "to read" pile in 2015! At least I got it read in the same decade, just barely.)
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1234641607">View all my reviews</a>
Jim Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15445935101420575205noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24136220.post-73405578802677970112019-12-19T09:39:00.003-08:002019-12-19T09:39:52.489-08:00Review: A Christmas Carol
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19311598" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1409521715l/19311598._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="A Christmas Carol" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19311598">A Christmas Carol</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/239579">Charles Dickens</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3074311333">5 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
What can you say? I say, read this book! It’s short, timely, and features great writing, as only Dickens can. Like me, you are no doubt very familiar with the story and characters, but the written descriptions of the surroundings and especially the various spirits are unforgettable. And oh yeah, it’s cheap - Gutenberg (free) or the Amazon version for 99 cents! But don’t be a Scrooge!!!
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3074311333">View all my reviews</a>
Jim Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15445935101420575205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24136220.post-6678570010144977502019-12-04T17:32:00.001-08:002019-12-04T17:32:27.733-08:00Review: Impeach: The Case Against Donald Trump
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48563550" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1571844503l/48563550._SX98_.jpg" border="0" alt="Impeach: The Case Against Donald Trump" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48563550">Impeach: The Case Against Donald Trump</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19671681">Neal Katyal</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3065133595">5 of 5 stars</a>
<br /><br />
To say this book is "topical" is quite an understatement. Katyal is one of my favorite talking heads during the descendence of 45, and he's also a good Twitter follow as the story develops in real time. How this book could be so current will amaze you - breaking a few of the usual publishing-calendar barriers, no doubt.
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3065133595">View all my reviews</a>
Jim Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15445935101420575205noreply@blogger.com0