2021-11-24

Carlsen-Nepomniachtchi: Predictions - Chess.com

For Magnus, it's inevitably getting difficult. It's already his fifth match, so I don't think the fire is burning so hard inside.
—Vishy Anand

2021-11-21

2021-11-20

The Amazon Fire HD 10 is 50% off right now in Black Friday tablet deal

I'm going to start off by saying that I don't know why anybody needs a tablet.  Compared to smartphones with large 5.5. to 6.5 screens, tablets are bulkier and more difficult to take everywhere.  However, Amazon has $75 off their 2021 10.1 inch tablets, which is a heck of a nice deal on already budget tablets.  Last year during Black Friday I purchased the 2019 model for $80, and it is fine as a tablet.  My only complaint, besides not really needing a tablet, is that iPads, costing hundreds of dollars more, feel nicer to hold in the hands.

If you want more processing power and slightly more RAM, and you probably should because it will provide a better overall experience, then spend the extra $30 to get the "Plus" model, which is also $75 off.

Reviewers have complained about being limited to the Amazon ecosystem, with the Amazon store and Amazon software.  However, there are fairly easy ways to get around this, and there are videos on youtube showing how to install the Google store or how to turn the device into a regular Android tablet.

You might get much more value out of the tablet if you have an Amazon Prime membership.

https://www.tomsguide.com/deals/the-amazon-fire-hd-10-is-50-off-right-now-in-black-friday-tablet-deal

https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/amazon-fire-hd-10-2021

2021-11-12

Re: Facebook's Odd "Metaverse" Move

This is an interesting take on the future of the "metaverse."  

I think that it overestimates the advancement of technology.  It might be a long time before we are all living in a virtual reality, however, we will problem see different degrees of this happening in the near future with augmented reality.  

I saw something a few years ago where you could rent a robot in a tourist location and drive the robot around from your computer at home.  However, the real thing has to be much better.  I enjoy riding my bicycle outside much more than I enjoy using my stationary exercise bike in front of my TV set.
 
https://youtu.be/2b9-tsND40g

White Tail Covid

A new study has found widespread COVID-19 infections among deer populations in Iowa.

Researchers from the Penn State University found that more than 80 percent of white-tailed deer sampled in parts of Iowa between December of 2020 and January of 2021 tested positive for COVID-19, according to an announcement from the university on Wednesday, Nov. 3.

"We found that 80 percent of the sampled deer in December were positive for SARS-CoV-2, which proportionally represents about a 50-fold greater burden of positivity than what was reported at the peak of infection in humans at the time," said Suresh Kuchipudi, Huck Chair in Emerging Infectious Diseases and associate director of the Animal Diagnostic Laboratory at Penn State. "The number of SARS-CoV-2 positive deer increased over the period from April to December 2020, with the greatest increases coinciding with the peak of deer hunting season last year."

COVID-19: New Study Finds Significant Virus Spread Among Deer Population | Middlesex Daily Voice


2021-11-11

Pecans Appeared to Help Control Lipids in At-Risk Patients | MedPage Today

Eating fat can lower stroke risk as long as it's the right kind, study says - California News Times

Stroke: Which types of fat reduce risk?

Israeli study shows natural immunity delivers 13 times more protection than COVID vaccines

Ten states sue Biden administration over COVID-19 vaccine mandate for U.S. health workers | Reuters

2021-11-02

You Are Immune Against Every Disease

World Population Growth

World population growth during my lifetime has been remarkably linear, notwithstanding 5 million deaths from COVID. On the year of my birth, the Earth had 3 Billion people. At the present rate, it will be 8 Billion in four years.