Solar Energy Converted to Liquid Form

http://time.com/3706444/solar-energy-liquid-fuel/

Solar Power:

1.     fastest growing energy source

2.     about to go on line, a solar farm in CA that will supply 140,000 homes

3.     now, Harvard scientists are figuring out how to convert solar energy to liquid

This could take awhile, but storing solar energy in some form other than a battery could be big news.  And this kind of break through could make solar a true replacement for some percentage of our fossil fuel.  That could upset the world’s wealth (for some countries in the Middle East this might mean a lower future wealth or spendable income). The future may not be a repeat of the past. 

Stay tuned, and comment if you know more about this topic.

iPhone Tip For Gaining More Space

Wondering if voice mails were actually stored on the phone, thus taking up memory space, I did some research.  I found that (1) yes they are, and they do take up space and (2) merely deleting them does NOT completely clear the space. You need to take one more step

Some users have gained massive space by deleting numerous voice mails.  Apparently the iPhone is supposed to automatically delete voice-mails after a certain period of time, but  you probably want to gain some extra disk space by doing it manually:

1.     Choose the Phone icon.

2.     Select the voice mail option icon on the bottom of the screen.

3.     Look the screen and you will notice something at the bottom, that I had never noticed before, and it is called “Deleted Messages.”

4.     Once you choose “deleted messages”  tap the “Clear All” choice to permanently delete the messages.  This will free up some space.

Thanks to this “about tech” link for that information:

http://ipod.about.com/od/phonefeatures/a/iphone_vm_space.htm

Note, this morning I got a junk call to my cell phone.  There is a choice when you look at the recent phone numbers to "block all calls from this number".  Try it. 

DexCom Getting APP Ready for Apple iWatch

DexCom makes a diabetes monitor system that is especially useful because it has 3 components:

1.  A small Sensor that measures glucose levels just underneath the skin.

2.  Transmitter that is fastened on top of the sensor and sends data wirelessly to the receiver.

3.  Receiver displays your child’s glucose trends in vivid colors so you can easily see when it’s high, low or within range.

(above from the DexCom website   www.dexcom.com )

A story in today’s Wall Street Journal says that DexCom is readying an app to for Apple iWatch, and it will take the transmitted data from the sensors and put it in easy viewing on the wrist.  It already links to an iPhone.  Raw data is thereby interpreted with graphs and colors so action needed is more obvious than just “raw data”.

The iWatch app would be a nice evolution or upgrade from having similar data sent to an iPhone, as a child might not either have an iPhone, or be allowed to bring one into classrooms at school or in a sports situation. A watch face just makes much more sense than a smart phone monitor screen.

FDA regulates such devices and prescribes levels of scrutiny depending on the device and accuracy (I presume).  FDA is expected to approve the data appearing on the iWatch.

All this should be good news,  not only for parents of Type I diabetic children, but for investors who own Apple stock.

Vaccines to Get Now

(advice for adults -- see MD's for children's vaccines which are much in the news today)

http://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2015/vaccines-to-get-now.html

A link to an excellent list of Vaccines to Get Now …  in addition to the annual flu shot of course.  AARP is to thank for preparing this list.  I have had most of these, but will review the ones that recommend boosters every 10 years.

In addition this issue of their magazine offered up some other good health tips.

http://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2014/how-to-prevent-diabetes-photo.html?intcmp=AE-HEA-ENDART-REL#slide1

10 ways to lower diabetes risk.  Millions of Americans are at risk, as you have probably read.  One of the most obvious ways is to be aware of the consequences of sugar filled soft drinks (which are in ever larger sizes as compared to the 1950’s)

Just one or two sugar-sweetened beverages a day increase your risk of diabetes by 26 percent, a new Harvard School of Public Health review of studies finds.

PS -- if you have not had the shingles shot, some pharmacies offer that (and it is covered by insurance such as Medicare).  It is, however, very perishable, and thus should be ordered a few days before you go in to get the shot.  It must be frozen in transit to the pharmacy, and has a very short shelf life (freezer life, actually) so most pharmacies do not stock it, it is "on demand".    36 types of pneumonia can be covered by vaccination, who knew there were so many types?  I didn't know there was PCV13 and PPSV23, two types.  I have only had one shot, and don't remember which one.