At the best of times, the lack of paid sick leave is a bad thing. Now, it’s an actual public health emergency. The vast majority of people who work in the Retail, Hospitality, and Grocery segments are low paid as it is. Without paid time off, they have to go to work, sick or not.
The last giraffes on earth
I’ve always been fascinated by giraffes and while I knew they were endangered, I didn’t realize how dire the situation was until I read this article.
Time has no meaning at the North Pole
This would be deeply unsettling. I don’t know if I could be on that research vessel for that long.
Apple formalizes ban on non-official coronavirus apps in App Store
Apple is saying, “Don’t screw with us right now. We’re not in the mood.”
He Has 17,700 bottles of hand sanitizer and nowhere to sell them
Zero sympathy for this ghoulish price gouger. I hope he loses his shirt.
Apple Card assistance program will allow customers to skip March payment without interest due to coronavirus
Another good move by Apple.
Apple’s COVID-19 response – closing all retail stores outside of Greater China until March 27
This is an extraordinary move by Apple. The question is, will other retails follow suit? Malls?
Monty Python’s silly walks are indeed silly, scientists determine
I think the fact that there is a journal called “Gait and Posture” is the funniest part of this article.
Dead Sea Scrolls at the Museum of the Bible are all forgeries
Well, that’s embarrassing.
Why soap works
Fascinating how the seemingly most simple thing is one of the most effective.
How canceled events and self-quarantines save lives, in one chart
Yeah, it sucks that our favourite events, sporting or otherwise, are being canceled but it’s not out of a sense of panic for the most part.
Coronavirus impact: Netflix shuts down film, tv work in U.S. and Canada as production nears standstill
The news included a tidbit about Apple.
Bill Gates steps down from Microsoft board
This may be seen as minor news – Gates hasn’t been CEO since 2008 – but it’s still interesting.
The dos and don’ts of ‘social distancing’
As Canadians, we’re already good at social distancing. We hate when anyone gets within three feet to us.
How much worse the coronavirus could get, in charts
Ignoring the inflammatory headline (by their own story, the situation doesn’t have to get worse/dire), the charts are a fascinating look at how important various forms of intervention are as well as how fast we implement them.
Apple announces online-only WWDC 2020 due to coronavirus spread
As predicted by myself and many others. This was to be expected given the situation the world finds itself in right now and is certainly the right decision. Apple tries to put a brave face on it saying, “This June, WWDC20 brings a completely new online experience to millions of talented and creative developers around the world.”
Spanish Flu: a warning from history
There are lessons from 1918 to be learned here.
Today at Apple sessions suspended at all US stores due to coronavirus precautions
I wonder how long it will be or how worse it will get before Apple closes North American stores?
DeepFake of Willem Dafoe as Hannibal Lecter
This is frighteningly well done.
Apple Music signs new multiyear deals with world’s largest record labels
Speculation is that this will kill any bundling options Apple has for Music.
Apple reopens all 42 China stores after virus closures
A bit of good news amongst all the bad.
N.C.A.A. basketball tournaments canceled amid coronavirus outbreak
This popped up on my phone as I was reading “Why hasn’t America canceled sports yet?” Maybe they will.
The Apple Watch won but TAG Heuer is keeping a certain kind of smartwatch alive
Good luck. I’ve always been a fan of TAG Heuer’s design but I can’t afford an Apple Watch let alone a TAG Heuer with prices starting at £1,495 ($1,883 US) for the stainless steel model and £1,950 ($2,456 US) for titanium. But they do look good.
NBA suspends season after idiot player jokes about COVID-19, then tests positive
The NHL has also suspended its season. With the 2020 Major League Baseball season scheduled to begin on March 26, what do you think the odds are of Opening Day actually happening on that date?
Beastie Boys Story trailer for Apple TV+
I was never a Beastie Boys fan but I’ll definitely watch this documentary about them.
Coronavirus divides tech workers into the ‘worthy’ and ‘unworthy’ sick
And it’s not just tech workers. Give a thought to the folk working in the service industries – hotel staff, fast food workers, waiters – people who rely on not only hourly wages but are required to show up in physical locations to receive those wages. And many of them have little to no benefits, medical or otherwise.
Twitter orders all employees worldwide to work from home
We’ve gone from “Hey would you mind….” to “please do this…” to “Holy crap just stay home!”
Ideal glass would explain why glass exists at all
I had no idea there was any such thing as “ideal glass” and the line, “Glass is a liquid in suspended animation” kind of blew my mind. It’s one of those things you know but didn’t know.
Study: People are more willing to share their data if they’ll be paid for it
I never give up accurate data without getting something in return. You want me to fill out your survey? Pay me. No, not enter me into a draw. Straight up PAY ME.
This is what it’s like to be in control of the most powerful weapons on the planet
This is an awesome and terrifying responsibility. Granted, it’s a puff piece but there are interesting tibits in it.