Upstairs neighbors did something that resulted in a little water dripping from my ceiling. It appears to have gotten behind a wall outlet as well, and I'm now concerned as to whether it's safe to use. The outlet had a surge protector plugged in at the time of the water exposure, which I unplugged after I heard buzzing coming from the outlet. Since the outlet kept buzzing, I cut off all electricity to half of my home via the circuit breaker for about a day (the building is old, so multiple rooms - kitchen, bathroom, and 2 extra are all on the same 20 amp breaker). There has been no buzzing since I turned the breaker back on.

After a cursory observation my super stated I could use the outlet again after 36 hours, which I extended to around 60 to be safe. When I started plugging in the surge protector, however, I saw a blue spark; this freaked me out enough that I decided to leave it unplugged.

Questions:
1. Given the above, is there reason to believe the outlet is currently safe to use/will be safe to use in the near future?
2. If not, what are my next steps? Request that my super/landlord send in an electrician?
3. (Slightly unrelated) Is it possible to change the configuration of rooms to circuit breakers? I don't want to have to shut off half my home again if there's a problem in only one room, and I appear to have a spare 20 amp that isn't connected to anything. The super said it wasn't possible as it would require new wiring to be placed in the walls, etc. but I don't know how knowledgeable they are on the electrical front.

Thanks!

A low budget one man type of travel show, similar to "Bald and Bankrupt". What sort of camera setup would you use? I am looking to buy camera and all related gear but it seem like there are a lot of conflicting aspects in terms of what would best work. Please give me your own opinion and advice, here are some of my key criteria:

1) I am thinking it has to have the option for mic jack / external mic, relying on the built in mic seems to often give really shitty audio.
2) Size, as compact as possible, needs to be easy to tote around while travelling
3) Price - not so much that I cannot spend the $$$, I guess "discreet" is more the thing... where I will be shooting there could be thieves as well as police or other officials that would think "journalism" if they see a really pro looking setup.

When I look up "prosumer" level cameras I see fairly bulky and fancy looking units. Again my main concern here is I do not want to look too juicy to thieves, and I need to be able to work in places where border guards will not immediately think "journalist" and police and others will think more "tourist who just happens to have good gear".

Oh, and:
1) one man show, so all auxilliary gear etc needs to fit in like a backpack or large tote bag
2) needs to be digital, such that uploading footage to the cloud is easy
3) should be flexible such that it is easy to point and shoot throughout travels, as well as set up like on a tripod for properly framed scenes

If I am thinking about this entirely wrong, please tell me that, too.

If you think "just shoot with your phone" that is kind of off the table, I want to be producing semi-pro quality video and audio when I do this.

So please, tell me, what would you buy?

My husband and I were given two N-95 masks by the wife of a (retired) doctor from church when C19 was barely making headlines. She said he had a couple of boxes from his practice. Is it legal for us to use them if we *must* go out? I am immunocompromised, if that makes any difference. My husband is not. I understand the moral argument for not using them. Is it worth taking just two to drop off at a medical office or hospital? We are in a mid-sized city in the southeast, not a big city like NYC.

Your thoughts are appreciated.

Two organizations I belong to publish Google calendars of events. I would like to subscribe to these from my Macintosh and iPhone, so they appear on the calendars I look at every day. I don't want to change which calendar apps I use. How can I do this most easily? On the Macintosh I use Apple's calendar app. On the iPhone I use Fantastical (which is just accessing the same calendar data that Apple's iOS calendar uses).

The shared calendars I want to access have not been made available in ical format. Is there any way I can subscribe to them from my Mac and iPhone?

More details follow:

I also have a Google calendar which I do not use except when I am forced to by other aspects of the Google ecosystem (e.g. Google Meet invitations).

The shared Google calendars I want to see are not public. They relate to kid things so they can't be public. I've been invited to join these calendars. When I click the invitation link they get added to my Google calendar. So when I go to calendar.google.com I see my own Google calendar, and I also see that I am subscribed to these other calendars and I see their events in their own colors.

I have subscribed to my Google calendar from my Macintosh and my iPhone by adding my Google account to those devices. However, that only brings in the events from my own Google calendar. It doesn't transitively bring in the calendars that I'm subscribed to via my Google calendar. Is there a way I can make it do that?

I would rather not ask the calendar owners to make changes to their calendars, but I will if that's the only way to get these calendars onto my Mac and iPhone. If that's necessary, what should I tell them to do? I don't want to ask them for an iCal link, because then they would have to manually retrieve and send out that link to everyone wha wants it. Ideally they'd be adding iCal capability to the calendar so that anyone with access could subscribe to it that way.

So many people use Google calendars and so many people have iPhones and Macs, I'm really hoping this is possible.

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST: The global race for a coronavirus vaccine is on. And around the world, hopes for a vaccine are high. (SOUNDBITE OF MONTAGE) UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER #1: Tests on humans are already underway in the U.S., China, the United Kingdom and Germany. UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER #2: The time that it takes to do these things is being at a level that no one has ever seen. UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER #3: Good morning, Andrew. Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech starting the dosing of the first U.S. participants in their clinical trial. UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER #4: And, Jim, Moderna is going to be a talking point this morning. FDA approval for phase 2 trial of its vaccine candidate, mRNA... KELLY: So what is a realistic timeline for a coronavirus vaccine, and when might we, the public, actually be able to get it? Well, those are the million-dollar questions that NPR science correspondent Joe Palca is here to address. Hey, Joe. JOE PALCA, BYLINE: Hello

Google says most of its employees will likely be allowed to work remotely through the end of year. In a companywide meeting Thursday, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said employees who needed to work in the office would be allowed to return in June or July with enhanced safety measures in place. The rest would likely continue working from home, a Google spokesperson told NPR. Google had originally told employees work-from-home protocols would be in place at least through June 1. Facebook also said it would allow most of its employees to work remotely through the end of 2020, according to media reports. The company had previously announced it was canceling large events through June 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Both companies began telling employees to stay home in March . Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

A slickly produced 26-minute video called Plandemic has exploded on social media in recent days, claiming to present a view of COVID-19 that differs from the "official" narrative. The video has been viewed millions of times on YouTube via links that are replaced as quickly as the video-sharing service can remove them for violating its policy against "COVID-19 misinformation." In it, filmmaker Mikki Willis conducts an uncritical interview with Judy Mikovits, who he says has been called "one of the most accomplished scientists of her generation." Never heard of her? You're not alone. Two prominent scientists with backgrounds in AIDS research and infectious diseases, who asked not to be identified over concerns of facing a backlash on social media, told NPR that they did not know who she was. If you were aware of Mikovits before this week, it is probably for two books she published with co-author Kent Heckenlively, one in 2017 and another last month. Heckenlively has also written a book

The Census Bureau says it is continuing the gradual relaunch of limited field operations for the 2020 census next week in nine states where the coronavirus pandemic forced the hand-delivery of paper forms in rural areas to be suspended in mid-March. On May 13, some local census offices in Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington are scheduled to restart that fieldwork, according to an updated schedule the bureau published on its website Friday. All workers are expected to be trained in CDC guidance in preventing the spread of COVID-19, and besides a new reusable face mask for every 10 days worked and a pair of gloves for each work day, the bureau has ordered 2 ounces of hand sanitizer for each census worker conducting field operations, the bureau tells NPR in an email. The announcement means more households that receive their mail at post office boxes or drop points are expected to find paper questionnaires left outside their

The Pan American Health Organization this week warned of an impending humanitarian crisis in Haiti due to the coronavirus pandemic. Haiti has reported relatively few cases of COVID-19 but it shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, which is experiencing one of the worst outbreaks in the hemisphere. With the Dominican Republic under lockdown, thousands of laid off migrant workers have headed home to Haiti and presumably some of them are carrying the virus with them. "There is real danger of a large-scale outbreak followed by a humanitarian crisis in Haiti," said Carissa Etienne, the head of PAHO, in a briefing this week with reporters. She said Haiti's health-care system is ill-equipped to deal with an outbreak of a highly-infectious, potentially-fatal respiratory disease. And the measures used elsewhere to stem the spread of COVID-19 are impractical or impossible in Haiti. "It is extremely difficult to institute proper social distancing in Haiti," she said —

Marc Lipsitch, a professor of epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health, answers questions about access to testing for COVID-19, false-negative results and the challenges of mass testing.

President Trump wants states to begin relaxing stay-at-home orders and reopen businesses after the spread of the coronavirus pummeled the global economy and killed millions of jobs. The White House coronavirus task force released guidelines on April 16 to encourage state governors to adopt a phased approach to lifting restrictions across the country. Some states have moved ahead without meeting the criteria . The task force rejected a set of additional detailed draft recommendations for schools, restaurants, churches and mass transit systems from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that it considered " overly prescriptive ." A number of states have already begun to lift restrictions, allowing for businesses including hair salons, diners and tattoo parlors to once again begin accepting customers. Health experts have warned that reopening too quickly could result in a potential rebound in cases. States are supposed to wait to begin lifting any restrictions until they have a 14

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Meatpacking plants are hotspots for the coronavirus, with workers elbow-to-elbow as animals are processed on a conveyor belt. So, how can these factories be adapted to keep workers healthy?

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Updated at 9:44 a.m. ET As a young woman growing up in a poor farming community in Virginia in the 1940 and '50s, with little information about sex or contraception, sexuality was a frightening thing for Carole Cato and her female friends. "We lived in constant fear, I mean all of us," she said. "It was like a tightrope. always wondering, is this going to be the time [I get pregnant]?" Cato, 78, now lives in Columbia, S.C. She grew up in the years before the birth control pill was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, on May 9, 1960. She said teenage girls in her community were told very little about how their bodies worked. "I was very fortunate; I did not get pregnant, but a lot of my friends did. And of course, they just got married and went into their little farmhouses," she said. "But I just felt I just had to get out." At 23, Cato married a widower who already had seven children. They decided seven was enough. By that time, Cato said, the pill allowed the couple to

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

These sound-studies highlights of the week are lightly adapted from the May 4, 2020, issue of the free Disquiet.com weekly email newsletter This Week in Sound (tinyletter.com/disquiet). As always, if you find sonic news of interest, please share it with me, and (except with the most widespread of news items) I’ll credit you should I […]

Since the coronavirus pandemic hit our world, it has turned many things upside down. Does this mark the beginning of the final events of earth’s history? What are the prophetic implications of this event? Join us for a 90 minute live discussion with Pastor Doug Batchelor and Pastor Jëan Ross.

[YOUTUBE-HERE]

By the Amazing Facts Webmaster

Recently, I was at the grocery store picking up a few items. When I got to the cashier at the checkout line, I tried to engage her in conversation by asking a few simple questions. (I find it’s easier to share materials with people if you’ve broken the ice.) I asked if “things were crazy there lately,” and she said yes, commenting on how rapidly their recent shipment of toilet paper had disappeared.

As she was finishing up, she asked me if I needed a bag. I told her no and pulled mine out and set it on the counter. She said that because of the COVID-19 pandemic, they were not allowed to touch our bags and that I would have to bag my own groceries. After she told me this, the thought went through my mind that “she probably won’t take any material that I try to give to her.” So I bagged up my groceries and left without attempting to share any tracts or DVDs with her.^*

That left me wondering: “How do we share our faith during a lockdown?” 

Right now, if you knock on someone’s door, they're not likely to answer it. If you try to hand them a tract, they may not take it. Even having face-to-face Bible studies with people is more of a challenge now.

Yet, at this time, people are wondering what on earth is happening. They’re wondering what all of these rapid changes mean, and they want answers. As Christians who understand Bible prophecy, we have the answers that they need, but circumstances have made it more challenging to give those answers the way that we used to.

So here are a few ideas on ways that you can reach out to people and share your faith during the coronavirus lockdown: [PQ-HERE]

1. Use Your Phone!

One of the pastors at our church is continuing to have Bible studies with people but instead of going to their homes, he’s doing it over the phone. Also, many people who may not be Christians appreciate prayer and would not pass up an opportunity to pray with someone. Lots of people are out of work and don’t know what to do or where to turn—so give somebody a buzz and see what happens.

2. Use Social Media! 

Many more people are online now. If you have a social media account, instead of posting only cat videos, post something of substance that speaks to the times in an intelligent and informed way. Ask thought-provoking questions and see what kind of dialogue it generates. You may find many opportunities to share as others express their thoughts and concerns about the things that are happening right now.

3. Use Text Messages! 

Who doesn’t have a cell phone nowadays? I personally don’t have a smartphone, but texting still works on my “dumb” phone! Send Bible verses or inspirational quotes to people. And if you don’t have a cell phone, you can still send text messages if you have a Google Voice account, which is free.

4. Use Snail Mail! 

Although someone might not take a tract directly from your hand at this time, they would likely have no problem if they got it in the mail. Lots of people are stuck at home and, quite honestly, they’re bored! Send them something to read or watch. A friend of mine mentioned that they were looking up random names and addresses in the phone book and sending an uplifting card with a Bible tract in it. What a great idea! 

I felt inspired by that and, over the weekend, I hand-wrote a brief letter to several neighbors on a nearby street and placed a Final Events of Bible Prophecy and Kingdoms in Time DVD, as well as an 8 Amazing Steps to Optimize Your Health and Ancient Prophecies That Reveal the Future! Amazing Fact Tracts.

I hand-wrote the notes because people are more likely to open a handwritten envelope and to read a handwritten letter. If you choose to do this, you can put your name or just identify yourself as a friend or neighbor; it’s up to you, but it’s a great way to share with people while they’re under lockdown. (Here is a link to the letter that I sent out with the materials. Feel free to use and modify it as you see fit: Dear-Friend.pdf.)

How are you sharing your faith at this time? Please share your ideas in the comments below. Others might be inspired by what you’re doing! Just because we’re under lock-down doesn't mean that we can’t be about our Father’s business. Let’s be prayerful and look for creative ways to reach out to others.

*Just a note, I still should have offered her a resource and allowed her to decide if she wanted it or not. The next store I went to, instead of assuming that the cashier wouldn't take anything, I asked him if I could give him something. The young man said, “It depends on what it is.” I pulled a Final Events of Bible Prophecy DVD out of my purse, and he said, ‘Oh yeah! I'll take that.’ Praise the Lord! But what if I had not offered it?

More than 2.5 million households across more than 60 countries tuned in for The New Heart, a powerful, timely revival presented by Amazing Facts International. 

With ten days of faith-building messages and crucial, relevant Bible answers from Pastor Doug Batchelor, president, the online series aired on Facebook, YouTube, and the AFTV online channel, and was even simultaneously translated into Spanish. Facebook users shared the programs more than 20,000 times.

Hosted by Pastor Jëan Ross, vice president for evangelism, the program was filmed at the W.O.R.D. Center with minimal on-site personnel—in keeping with safety measures during the pandemic.

Did you miss it? Watch it now!

“If there was ever a time when we needed deep, heart-searching revival, it’s now,” Pastor Doug noted. “The worldwide pandemic reminds us that we are nearing the return of Christ. Let’s not put off the spiritual preparation we will all need as we face Earth’s final events.”

And people responded to the invitation, with more than 25,000 emails and online messages pouring into the ministry. Vickie wrote, “Thank you, Pastor Doug. This series has really been an eye-opener, and I realize how important it is to read God’s Word every day. I really enjoy listening to you!”

The series also provided a time for families to come together. Viewer Sharyn noted, 

“I just want to share with you that my 91-year-old mother, Miss Jennie, and I watched all ten sermons, which aired here in our town each night at 9:00pm, and my mother would not miss even one. And, lastly, to show you how dedicated she was, she is extremely hard of hearing, so she had me place her chair right in front of the television so she could hear it to the exact volume that allowed her to hear without it being too loud or low. Thank you so much! Your gift made a wonderful impact on my elderly mother, and on me also.”

The daily sermons covered important revival themes, including, “Real Repentance,” “Sincere Confession,” “Receiving and Sharing Forgiveness,” “They Found the Book,” and “Mountain-Moving Faith.” On Sunday evening, Pastor Doug and Pastor Jëan hosted a special Bible Answers Live program on questions related to the topics featured in the series.

Free literature offers were extended during each broadcast. Viewers were encouraged to request the items via text message, ensuring they’d receive text reminders of subsequent programs. 

Amazing Facts International exists to make “God’s Message Our Mission” and spark revival among God’s end-time people. Thanks to the dedication of our ministry team and the generous financial support of our donors, The New Heart series reached millions and is continuing to impact the world, preparing this generation for Christ’s soon return!

If you missed the series or would like to watch the programs again, watch here. And be sure to share it with your friends and family!

If you’ve ever wanted advanced Bible training to become a better disciple, a better soul-winner, and a better servant of Jesus—but money, distance, or schedule has stood in your way—your wait will soon be over!

June 1 marks the relaunch of AFCOE Online, featuring Internet-based, interactive courses specially designed by the team at the renowned Amazing Facts Center of Evangelism.

And when you sign up by August 31, you’ll have the opportunity to receive special discounted pricing. 

• If you’ve already signed up for Amazing Disciples or Amazing Doctrines, you’ll receive the other course for free. (And if you sign up for both, you'll get the same 2-for-1 deal!)
  
  
• And to sweeten the deal, every course purchase comes with a digital version of the Amazing Facts eCangelism resource, which will get you off to a running start when sharing your faith in your community and beyond! (Learn more at afbookstore.com)

Unfortunately, the onsite AFCOE Comprehensive program has been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. But AFCOE’s flexible online course will be available anytime and anyplace and formatted for both desktop and mobile devices. Each AFCOE class is easily accessible and in-depth, delivering world-class Bible training at an amazing price.

Each course features video instruction by Pastor Doug Batchelor, Amazing Facts International president; Pastor Jëan Ross, vice president for evangelism; and Pastor Carlos Muñoz, AFCOE director, along with other gifted and experienced instructors. You’ll even interact with fellow students and have the opportunity to get your questions answered by AFCOE staff. Plus, weekly AFCOE Live sessions with the AFCOE team will occur throughout your course!

Amazing Disciples Online Course

The foundational AFCOE Online course is Amazing Disciples, an intensive, 13-week online class presented by real experts in the field—Amazing Facts evangelists and teachers! This course is excellent for personal devotions and Bible study groups, as well as being the perfect tool for churches to use in training members for outreach. Its purpose is to provide affordable, convenient, and in-depth and empowering Bible and outreach training. See more at online.afcoe.org.

Amazing Doctrines Online Course

Amazing Doctrines is a 13-week course that will ground you in last-day doctrines so you can boldly teach others the vital truths of Scripture. This course delivers focused, trustworthy teachings about Scripture, salvation, the sanctuary, the afterlife, the Second Coming, the Sabbath, stewardship, health, and the Spirit of Prophecy. Each week-long lesson features an inspiring introduction, Scripture to memorize, an in-depth Bible study, reflection and group discussion questions, and more to help you stand firm on foundational scriptural truths and confidently teach others to do the same. See more at online.afcoe.org.

Coming Winter 2020: Amazing Sanctuary Online Course

The Amazing Sanctuary 13-week online course will be an eye-opening deep dive into the earthly and heavenly temples and their meaning for followers of Christ today—while offering an exciting picture of how God’s sanctuary message will play a vital role in these last days!

• If you’ve already signed up for both Amazing Disciples and Amazing Doctrines, you’ll receive Amazing Sanctuary at an awesome discount!

Don’t Wait!

These courses are a great way to learn more about your faith—and then be able to go out and share that faith. Right now, with so much of the world looking for spiritual answers in the face of multiple crises, studying with AFCOE Online can have a life-changing difference for you … and for all those you will reach with Bible truth!

Go to http://online.afcoe.org for more information and to sign up!

Confidence is consistently believing in your own ability. It gives you an edge, elevating your performance, personal effectiveness, and even the quality of your relationships. The good news is that it's possible to build this magnetic quality over time—and there's no better time to start than now. In this weekly series, individuals new to the workforce, returning after a hiatus, or making a career transition can find bite-sized confidence-building tips for the moments that matter. Leadership consultant Selena Rezvani provides tips on improving your self-image, cultivating a growth mindset, and focusing on small wins, as well as other techniques for improving your self-confidence—minutes at a time. Tune in every Monday for a new confidence-boosting tip and start every week off more poised and self-assured.

Construction personnel of all types need to understand the role that civil construction drawings, or blueprints, play in the construction process. In this course, Jim Rogers explains why civil construction drawings matter and discusses how to use them on construction projects and job sites. Jim digs into the common features of civil construction drawings, going over standard details, project specifications, how to find the scale information of each drawing, and how to measure dimensions on construction drawings. He then shows how to decipher different types of civil construction drawings, including site and plot plans that describe how to locate structures on a property; grading and drainage plans that capture existing ground conditions and help determine the extent of the construction work to be completed; street improvement plans; and more.

When you know your priorities, you can make better and quicker decisions that will take your projects—and your career—to the next level. Mike Vardy, a seasoned productivity expert, shares his unique method of instantly unlocking productivity at work: by prioritizing tasks and working on the right things at the right time. Gain an understanding of what prioritization really means, how to really understand what's important, and how priorities create clarity. Additionally, you can learn to create an attention path that is meaningful to you—whether it's looking at goals, energy, activity, or time availability.

This course was created by Madecraft. We are pleased to host this content in our library.

SketchUp Pro, the powerful and popular 3D design software, boasts a robust tool kit that users can leverage to design, document, and share their projects. Whether you're a SketchUp veteran or a brand-new user, this weekly series can help you spend less time fussing with settings and features and more time designing amazing things. Instructor Tammy Cody shares actionable, bite-sized tips for using common SketchUp tools more efficiently, as well as how to generally work smarter with the software. Tune in every Monday for a new tip.

Note: Because this is an ongoing series, viewers will not receive a certificate of completion.

Statistics help us make sense of the world around us. These numbers help everyone from political pollsters to fantasy football aficionados make informed calls based on the mountains of data at their disposal. In this weekly series, learn how to decode the statistics that pop up on a daily basis. Eddie Davila explores a new eclectic, real-world topic each week. Learn how stats are used to find the average score on a test, how casinos use stats to ensure that the house will usually win, and more.

Note: Because this is an ongoing series, viewers will not receive a certificate of completion.

Take your love of letterforms to the next level with this weekly series that explores all things, big and small, related to type and the practice of typography. These tips are aimed at people using Adobe Creative Cloud: primarily InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop. Some tips are specific to particular applications and some are purely conceptual and software agnostic. Tune in every Monday for another timely tip to improve your typographical skills and increase the efficiency of your design workflow.

Note: Because this is an ongoing series, viewers will not receive a certificate of completion. (Author: Nigel French)

Welcome to the Real Recording School Weekly series. Every week, Larry Crane leads a class of like-minded audio enthusiasts, engineers, and producers through a new recording or mixing challenge. Learn how to recognize and fix persistent sound issues like clicky bass, snare drum ring, boomy guitars, and hi-hat bleed, so that the music is all that listeners hear. The course features software and plugins, such as iZotope and Pro Tools, but almost all the techniques can be recreated in your favorite DAW. All you need to follow along is a pair of headphones and a passion for sound.

Note: Because this is an ongoing series, viewers will not receive a certificate of completion.

Join Dr. Baxter Bell as he introduces you to this series on wrist and elbow health. Conditions like tennis elbow and carpal tunnel can be a result of repetitive and long-term mouse and keyboard use. These exercises help prevent the common pains that plague people who work at desks and computers. Baxter shares a simple antidote for tired, tight wrists and hands, as he guides you through a series of exercises to open up the upper back, shoulders, and arms. Follow along and unlock the potential to feel more open and pliable. Happier wrists and hands are the immediate result.

This course was created by Desk Yogi. We are pleased to offer this training in our library.

References, recommendations, and referrals are more than just flattery—they can change the trajectory of your career. Join Emilie Aries as she breaks down how to leverage these powerful endorsements to go further at work. Learn who to ask, when to ask, and how to ask—and how to follow up on requests without seeming pesky. Plus, discover a simple framework you can use to make sure you're giving as much as you're taking from your network of supporters.

What if it only took a few minutes a week to become a better iOS developer? This series is designed to provide small, smart hacks that can improve the way you code with Xcode and Swift. Tune in every Tuesday for another short video, on topics such as version control with Git, MapKit, iPad Playgrounds, and iPhone X development. Create faster, more reliable, and better-looking apps for iPad, iPhone, or Apple Watch. Steven Lipton will help you take your iOS (and watchOS) projects to the next level, one week at a time.

Note: Because this is an ongoing series, viewers will not receive a certificate of completion.

Linux is the operating system of choice for enterprises that need a stable, agile, and open-source platform, and it's only getting more popular. Qualified system administrators are in demand. If you've been anticipating a transition to Linux for your company or your career, or thinking about using Linux at home, this series presents a great opportunity to explore it—one tip at a time. Instructor covers a wide range of topics relevant to anyone interested in broadening their knowledge of Linux core concepts, including virtualization, the Linux file system, file management, file transfer, process management, multitasking, networking, and security. Plus, learn about compatible hardware and the Linux desktop experience. Tune in each week to get a new tip, and keep learning Linux all year long.

This tips-based course will show Excel users productivity-boosting tricks, cool hidden features, need-to-know functions, and advanced content on subjects such as using PivotTables for data analysis. Tune in every Tuesday for a new tip from expert Dennis Taylor. Each tutorial is a short, self-contained lesson guaranteed to give you new insights into Excel.

Note: Because this is an ongoing series, viewers will not receive a certificate of completion.

Despite our best efforts, not all of our photos are immediate winners. In this weekly series, get techniques for turning good shots into exceptional photos in a matter of minutes. Photographer and teacher Chris Orwig shares insider tips for Photoshop, Lightroom, and more. Using real-world examples, Chris demonstrates how to leverage these powerful tools to enhance everything from wedding portraits to landscape photos. He also goes over general photography techniques that can help you ensure that your shots are authentic and interesting before you even touch any digital editing tools. Tune in each week for a brand-new tip.

Note: Because this is an ongoing series, viewers will not receive a certificate of completion.

Sometimes you need to experiment to grow as an artist. What better place to try out new design ideas than the Drawing Vector Graphics Laboratory? Every Wednesday, Von Glitschka introduces a new method, tool, or resource to stretch your creative muscle and explore a new artistic style. Each lesson pulls back the curtain on Von's design process—the good, the bad, and the ugly—to give beginners the self-confidence they need to start drawing and provide experts an inside look at a fellow professional's workflow.

Note: Because this is an ongoing series, viewers will not receive a certificate of completion.

Would you like to work faster and more efficiently with SOLIDWORKS? There is a ton of knowledge in the SOLIDWORKS community that you'll never learn from the documentation. Gabriel Corbett has spent years studying the program, attending conferences, teaching classes, and talking to fellow experts. In this weekly series, he shares his insights with you. These tips and tricks cover many different facets of the program, from renaming files, customizing properties, to sketching and constructing difficult geometry, replacing parts, and drawing links. Each weekly episode is just 2–10 minutes—ensuring maximum returns in a minimum amount of time. Tune in every Wednesday for new SOLIDWORKS tips.

Note: Because this is an ongoing series, viewers will not receive a certificate of completion.

Looking to add 3D to your professional skill set? In this weekly series, join EJ Hassenfratz as he shares tips, techniques, and strategies for boosting your 3D skills with Cinema 4D, the essential tool for motion graphics artists and designers. Learn how to enhance your designs—and streamline your overall workflow—with these helpful tactics. Tune in every Thursday for a new tip.

Note: Because this is an ongoing series, viewers will not receive a certificate of completion.

Do you feel like you're aligned with your highest potential? Breathwork is an ancient practice for quieting the mind and body. This breathwork course helps you clear, cleanse, and let go of heavy tension. Learn how to control your breathing to ease boredom, focus scattered thoughts, release pressure, decrease lethargy, ease sadness, and tame a distracted mind. Each exercise should help you improve your mental and physical well-being and achieve a clearer, more focused mental state—in just moments.

This course was created by Desk Yogi. We are pleased to offer this training in our library.

Implementing Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies v1.0 (ENCOR 350-401) is a 120-minute professional-level exam associated with the CCNP and CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure certifications. The exam tests a candidate's knowledge of implementing core enterprise network technologies. This course helps candidates to prepare for the last three domains of this exam—Network Management, Security, and Automation—as well as general exam preparation. Instructors Kevin Wallace and Charles Judd show how to configure connectivity, monitoring, messaging, and authentication tools such as SNMP, syslog, NetFlow, and more. They also show how to secure a network from internal, unauthorized access as well as external threats, and automate networking. The course includes study strategies and exam prep tips to ensure you're ready for the real test.

This course was created by Kevin Wallace Training. We are pleased to offer this training in our library.

Sleep is mandatory. You can't outsource it and you can't negotiate it—and it has a powerful impact on everything you do while you're awake. So why not build habits to optimize your sleep and live your best life? Learn how to make sleep a priority and take steps to achieve sleep wellness. The Sleep Ambassador®, Nancy Rothstein, shares tips for optimizing sleep and performing at your best in work and life. Learn how to prioritize sleep, assess your sleep, create the right sleep environment, and adopt strategies to fall asleep and stay asleep. Nancy offers concrete, practical advice based on research and science—so you can master sleep as your superpower.

Get your gear on! Join photographer, author, and educator Tim Grey every Friday for insights on camera gear of all kinds. In Photo Gear Weekly, Tim shares tips for mastering your camera's advanced features, recommends accessories that will streamline your shooting and expand your creative options, and spotlights hot gear—new and vintage alike—that you'll want to know about.

Note: Because this is an ongoing series, viewers will not receive a certificate of completion.

They will critique your nachos.

Groundhog Day, Back to the Future, The Matrix, and more.

If you thought the appearance of Ben would be the soapiest turn of this season, you were wrong.

Ripped from the headlines, and inspired by this FPP, let's watch Contagion together on our own. It's widely available from US streaming services for under 5 US bucks. Youtube, Amazon (*not* on Prime Video), Google Play, Apple itunes, possibly available if you have Cinemax. We do not have the ability to share a stream.

. Fanfare
. IMDB
. Rotten Tomatoes
. Fact-Checking 'Contagion', npr

Thursday, March 19

Make popcorn, grab a beverage. Launch MeFi Chat, choose the LiveWatch tab (upper right), say hello. Please be ready to launch the film at 9.15 EDT; too early for the West Coast, too late for the East Coast, but whatevs. It will not be synchronized; we are resourceful. If you can't afford the movie, maybe I can screen share with 1 person? I'll watch my MeFi Mail, I have a gmail account in this name, also this page in case of issues. This is not a thing we've done before, but I've never had to avoid Covid-19 before, either. The unexpected is the new norm. This is only nominally hosted by MeFi, so if you want to complain, memail me, not the mods.

Thu March 19 at 6:00 PM,

MeFites in Japan, unite! (While, of course, maintaining appropriate distance) This upcoming Sunday (April 19) at 19:00 we'll be meeting on Zoom to chat and conviviate (that's probably not a real word). You're probably at home, you're probably going stir crazy, you probably want to meet new people or see familiar faces again, so you should join us! If you want to attend, say the word and we'll send you the Zoom meeting invite link via MeMail.

Sun April 19 at 8:00 PM,

I'd like to hang out with other MeFites online next weekend (April 24 or 25), from ca. 7pm PST. Not sure how (platform), so this and precise details would be yet TBD. 19+, your choice of food/drink (surprise us), your best hangout/bar attire, some warm (flattering) lights and funky decor, and some tunes (streamed with e.g. Watch2Gether or better).

I've never ever been to a meetup yet. I fact, I don't believe I've met a single MeFite in person yet. I haven't even managed to convince a real life person to join so please let's do this! Any interest? MeMail me or post here :)

Fri April 24 at 7:00 PM,

What should a Christian wear? Pastor Doug shares principles from the Bible on how to choose what is appropriate.

Do you know how to engage in spiritual warfare? What weapons do you use on an enemy that you can't see?

There is a very real war going on around us at all times. A war that cannot be fought with guns and knives. A war where concerning us, we determine the outcome ...