Apple Software Update -- May 26, 2020

First things first: twelve to go. NASCAR Gander Truck Series / Charlotte --Elliott leading Kyle Busch.

• ten to go: 0.34 second separation between Elliott (leader) / Kyle (second place)
• eight to go: 0.39 second separation; no one else in play for first / second
• six to go: 0.39 second separation; it's going to be a heckuva finish;
• four to go: 0.70 second separation; Kyle Busch got caught up in lap traffic;
• two to go: 1.10 second separation; Elliott needs to see the white flag;
• final lap: 0.77 second separation; 
• Elliott wins; well-deserved; good for him;

TCM: this is pretty coincidental. I went through a short Diana Ross (and the Supremes) stage over the weekend. I'm pretty much over it now. And, what do you know? On TCM now: "Lady Sings the Blues," for which Diana Ross was nominated for an Oscar for her portrayal of Bille Holiday. 

APPL: I normally don't follow / pay attention to macOS updates -- the software that "runs" the Apple Macs. I simply download the new updates and leave it at that. It's generally a pain; once downloaded a few tweaks are necessary to bring the desktop back to the way I like it. Be that as it may.

Interestingly enough, the newest update, released this week, macOS Catalina 10.15.5, addresses two issues that actually caught my attention.

First, over the past few months, I've noticed that my computer would freeze up. It usually happened when large files were being downloaded; many of these files were being downloaded in the background of which I was not particularly aware. I thought it was simply "one of those things," re-booted, and moved on. But now I see it's a "recognized" problem for the current macOS version (10.14.6 - my current version). Apparently, the new version addresses this issue. I'm impressed.

Second, battery management. This is even more interesting and counter to what I had been told years ago about Mac batteries. Years ago I was explicitly told by Apple Store employees it was best to keep my Mac computer batteries fully charged. Interesting. From MacRumors:

The ‌macOS Catalina‌ 10.15.5 update introduces a new Battery Health Management feature for Mac notebooks. Battery Health Management is meant to extend the overall lifespan of a Mac's battery by reducing the rate of chemical aging.

Battery Health Management analyzes the battery health of a laptop and its charging pattern, and in some cases, it will preserve battery longevity and health by not charging a MacBook to its full capacity. Keeping a MacBook charged at its full capacity at all times can reduce battery health.

Very, very interesting.

My hunch is that Rush Limbaugh, if his chemotherapy was not "kicking his @$$" would have mentioned it on his show. I don't listen to all of Rush, but I do listen to much of Rush. He's an Apple aficionado and loves to tell listeners of these new developments. It's possible he's mentioned this on his show and I simply missed it. I missed his show today, for example.

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They Never Quit

It wasn't enough to destroy the global economy with a draconian response on the advice of the WHO, CDC, and others.

Now, they want to double down, triple down, quadruple down, whatever it takes.

Exhibit A: cover article in this week's issue of The Economist: seize the moment -- the chance to flatten the climate curve. No, I don't subscribe and I don't read, but I happened to see it at my son-in-law's house.

If two months of shutting down the economy can cause an economic depression, imagine what the faux environmentalists could do to the economy. 

Wow.