Bytes & Backpacks #98 🦟

Yes, we’ve changed our name from “News from the woods” to “Bytes & Backpacks”. I Hope that you’ll like it! Also, we have a podcast version!Disabled athletes get much less media attention, of course, but my admiration for them is perhaps even greater than for able-bodied men and women. Check out a selection of photos from the BBC.Kids are back at school and parents will be dealing with "screen time" again. Half an hour a day?An hour? Two? An endless quest to find balance. Banning kids from cell phones is a road to hell, spending 3+ hours a day on them is too. It was nothing like that for us, we ran outside and everything was so much better! It's just that the more we find out about the effect of cell phones on kids, the less we know :-). The first time humanity addressed the negative impact of frequent technology use was with books. Then it was the harmful effects of radio, then TV, the internet and now mobile screens. I've been dealing with my kids for the last few years mostly about WHAT they do on screens. Games and social media have a stop sign, education and smart games have a green light. I'll probably write a longer post about that next time, would you like it?And once again, youth. Do you have a problem with them not answering your phone? In fact, 70% of young people aged 18-34 prefer texting to calls. 34% have never even picked up the phone. For the youngsters, the numbers are even more interesting. On the other hand, voice messaging is booming. Remember when you called someone on voicemail and it ate up your credit?Well, okay, we're gradually getting into our more advanced years. Thinking about where to retire? Here's a thought on what countries are best for our retirement. I found a very interesting site that tells you how much longer you will live if you move to, let´s say, Greece. Or anywhere else in the world. And lots of other interesting information. Now that your kids aren't taking your phone, dig into what your old age might look like!My favourite company 1x (OpenAI has invested in it) has launched a humanoid robot for the home. Cooking, ironing, cleaning - the real revolution is coming soon!Have you ever wondered how small the processors in your mobile phone really are? What can you fit into a chip today thanks to technology? There's a very nice video circulating on Twitter. Yes, the line through the processor is a human hair, and then...Photography on film is in vogue again. What's the best thing about analogue photography? That you can shoot almost anything. Like building a camera out of Legos (fingers crossed this set will officially be made) or baking yourself a camera out of gingerbread (thanks for the tip, John).How about a week of walking in Scotland?When all the nature around us is gone, you can download the Earth.fm app and listen to nature sounds from around the world.In Portland, they built a new airport terminal with... a forest! Very nice.Ahh, look - never ending problem of marital cohabitation has an app! Is this still green or already blue? Is turquoise green or blue? Take a test at home and find out how each of you perceives colors, because we all just have it differently."Close the window, light is on, the mosquitoes are coming!" But not at all. Mosquitoes seek out victims primarily by smell and heat (this is nothing new). Now scientists have come up with a few recommendations to avoid getting stung - like loose clothing.There's a new Remarkable out there and it can do colors. If you like to write or draw, there's probably no better device. Also interesting is this mobile phone with an e-ink display or straight Barbie phone - without internet, of course, so Barbie can't get into the human world...I found us a new place to live in Croatia. Peace and quiet, an island of one square kilometer. What more could you ask for! And you know what? My wife doesn't want to go there! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newsfromthewoods.substack.com