On The Fly

In this episode, Rediscovering Galileo . . . Today, we’re turning our telescopes back in time to explore Galileo Galilei's work and how amateur astronomers today can experience his groundbreaking discoveries for themselves. If you listened to last week's podcast, Planetary Pursuit , you might have heard me say that Jupiter is “my favorite planet." Here’s why– Galileo’s Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems, published in 1632, challenged the geocentric model of the universe—the belief that everything orbits around Earth. Instead, he advocated for the Copernican model, which places the Sun at the center of our solar system. This book was not just a scientific treatise but also a revolutionary act that put Galileo in conflict with the Catholic Church. Galileo presented his arguments as a dialogue between three characters: Salviati, who supported the heliocentric model; Simplicio, who defended the traditional geocentric view ; and Sagredo, an open-minded observer....

In this episode, The Power of a Thank-You Note . . . Halloween night is a time for spooky fun and neighborhood camaraderie. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the streets, neighbors emerged from their homes, transforming their driveways into festive candy stations. A familiar face caught my eye as I strolled around the neighborhood, taking in the sights and chitchatting with the neighbors. It was a neighbor I hadn't spoken to in years, a young mother whose daughter had interviewed me for a school project on gemstones and the GIA in 2014. As I approached her, a spark of nostalgia ignited. "So, how old is your daughter now?" I asked, curious about her journey. "She's 23," she replied, a smile spreading across her face. "She's studying architecture now." I was taken aback. "That can't be possible," I exclaimed. "It feels like she interviewed me for her school project just yesterday." Time had s...

In this episode – iPhone Notes . . . In previous episodes, we’ve discussed the value of having the Notes app on your iPhone. Recently I discovered the following article from Readers Digest that may help you keep those notes private. In today’s digital age, you can use many handy iPhone tricks for convenience and productivity, and the Notes app is one of my most valuable tools. It’s a practical way to use your iPhone to jot down information such as shared to-do lists, contact information, shopping lists, and more. Leaving these notes unprotected may pose a security risk, as anyone accessing your phone can quickly view them.  This episode will walk you through how to password-protect notes on your iPhone. How Does Apple Protect Notes? Apple provides only basic default security to protect the data stored in the Notes app on your iPhone. When locked, your iPhone locks Notes like any other app, requiring whatever security check you use to unlock your device. This could be with a passcod...