List: '10 terrific iPhone and iPad musical performances’

Today’s ‘List Friday’. Decades ago, Sweetheart Vivienne and I knew a then young couple who bragged they had to wed each other as their fathers both owned Rolls Royces. Fair dinkum. No joke. If you reckon that’s no basis for a marriage, you’d be right. They’re divorced. But it took 30+ years to get there. In 16 days time, Sweetheart Vivienne and I will have been married for 43 years. I can’t identify all the reasons for our marriage’s longevity. But one important one is that in key ways we’re different. Even opposites. That’s an asset because we complement each other. Her strengths are my weaknesses. And vice versa. But you can be sure one fact that’s played no part in our long marriage is that she owns an iPhone and I an iPod touch. These gizmos suit our different needs well. But both are beautiful, user friendly, fast, and ultra-portable. It’s amazing what Apple’s packed into their small cases. I could say ‘everything but the kitchen sink’. But that’d be exaggerating. Though try a bunch of musical instruments. Today’s list, from last Friday’s Age, is ‘10 terrific iPhone and iPad musical performances’ [1]. I’m pleased that, despite the list’s title, some iPod Touches are included. My fave? They’re all astounding. Remarkable. But I’ll go for Lang Lang [pictured] playing an iPad Flight of the Bumblebee [2]. I’m not saying you can’t make just as awesome music with a Rolls Royce or two. However I’ll reserve my judgement until I hear it. Ho hum.

farmdoc's blog post number 650

Here’s this week’s compendium. This week…

Wednesday – being the anniversary of the day in 1945 when Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated – was 'International Holocaust Remembrance Day' (in the UK, 'Holocaust Memorial Day') [1]. Never forgotten. Never again.

in its response to the Goldstone report, Hamas said it didn’t target civilians while firing hundreds of rockets at Israeli towns; it’s just that its rockets are unguided and they hit civilians by mistake [2]. I’m not surprised or disappointed by this. It’s what I expected from that lot.

Steve Jobs launched the iPad [3]. Some of the iJournalists and iTechies thought it’s the greatest thing since sliced iBread. Others looked down their iNoses at it and labelled it an iDud.

I came across this Queensland Health pdf file titled ‘Tooth friendly foods and tooth enemies’ [4]. It’s worth a quick read.

yesterday the Age published this article titled ‘How to deal with flight delays and travel hassles’ [5]. As it says, in the world of air travel, this is an age of lowered-expectations.

treehugger.com published this superb slideshow of the Passivhaus – which it calls ‘The Real Standard for a Real Green House’ [6]. I think they mean ‘a Really Green House’. But the pics are mouthwatering.

the Lancet published research concluding that in Type 2 diabetes, the most intensive glucose control is associated with increased risk for death [7]. I love research results that are counter-intuitive.

on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Sweetheart Vivienne and I had our annual State of the Union discussions. In diplomatic speak, they were cordial and fruitful. On Wednesday a certain Mr Obama borrowed our idea and gave his State of the Union Address [8a, 8b].

Finally, I wish you, dear Farmdoc’s Blog readers, a wonderful week.