Hasta La Gadget!

Today is a great day for you if you have been waiting on a new piece of software from Apple. The company didn’t just have one release up its sleeve today. After rolling out iOS 8.1.1 for all supported devices, which not only fixes bugs but improves performance on old models, Apple also released OS X Yosemite 10.10.1 to the public. This update addresses certain bugs that have been irking the users ever since this software was released last month.

Apple claims that this update will bring improvements for the Wi-Fi reliability, and it also improves the reliability when the user sends a Mail message through a select few email service providers.

It is mentioned in the release notes that OS X Yosemite 10.10.1 also enhances reliability when connected to a Microsoft Exchange service. Other fixes in this update include resolution of an issue where sharing services, Actions and Notification Center widgets might not be available. Bug that could cause Notification Center to not be retained after a start, and it also addresses a bug that prevented the Mac App Store from displaying certain updates.

The OS X Yosemite 10.10.1 update is live Apple’s now offers all new software updates for absolutely free, and this applies to their subsequent incremental updates, which is precisely what this release is.

OS X Yosemite 10.10.1 Update Fixes Wi-Fi Reliability Issues , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

If you checked Twitter or Facebook in the last five minutes or so you’ll already know what I am talking about. It seems that about half an hour back iMessage went down. Many users have taken to social networks like Twitter or Facebook to report that they cannot use this message service, which is available on both iOS and Mac. Messages between the two are not being sent right now and on the iPhone they’re being sent as text messages.

iMessage is Apple’s own messaging client which is exclusive to the company’s own platforms and devices. So iMessage can work on all supported iPhone, iPad and iPod touch models, and users able to send messages, pictures, video and audio clips and more between iOS devices and OS X machines.

On the iPhone it has a fallback system in place. If an iMessage cannot be sent then the app will revert to text messages. iMessage going down does not affect the iPhone’s ability to send text messages using its cellular connection.

Those who are trying to send a message using this client on a Mac to an iPhone they’re out of luck because iMessage on Mac can’t revert to text messages. So far Apple hasn’t acknowledged whether there’s a major issue and hasn’t clarified when the service will be fully back online once again.

iMessage Goes Down For Users Around The World , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

Try to imagine what it might feel like to take every breath through a straw. For many people with lung diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD, they don’t have to imagine because that’s what breathing can feel like on many days, especially days when air pollution levels are high. With COPD it often becomes more and more difficult for people to breathe over time because the air sacs that carry air from the nose and mouth to the lungs become less elastic.

November is COPD Awareness Month and Wednesday, November 19, is also World COPD Day. If there’s one thing that the American Lung Association of the Northeast wants the public to know as we shine the spotlight on this disease this month is that COPD can be treated. When diagnosed early and properly managed, both COPD’s progression and its severity can be minimized. That’s why it is so important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of this disease so that if you notice symptoms in yourself or a loved one, you know to make an appointment to see your doctor right away.

The most common symptoms of COPD include constant coughing, shortness of breath while performing everyday activities, excess sputum production, feeling unable to breathe or take a deep breath, and wheezing. COPD most often occurs in people age 40 and over who have a history of smoking, have had long-term exposure to lung irritants or have a rare genetic condition called alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency.

COPD is the 3rd leading cause of death in the United States, claiming more than 120,000 American lives each year. More than 12 million people have been diagnosed, but another 12 million people are likely to have COPD and don’t know it.

Particularly alarming is the rise of COPD in Women. Last year, the American Lung Association reissued its report Taking Her Breath Away, which found that the number of deaths among women from COPD has increased four-fold over the past three decades. Since 2000, more women than men in this country have died of this disease.

As we observe COPD Awareness Month, please spread the word to your loved ones that if they have trouble breathing they should see their doctor. Never assume that trouble breathing is a normal part of aging; it is not. Get yourself checked out. COPD is diagnosed using a simple test called spirometry. Spirometry is a noninvasive test that the amount of air you can blow out of your lungs and how fast you can blow it out. The test can help your doctor determine if you have COPD and, if so, how severe it is.

If you already have COPD, the American Lung Association can connect you with support and resources to help. We host Better Breathers Clubs across the Northeast which offer the opportunity to learn ways to better cope with COPD while getting the support of others who share in your struggles. These support groups give you the tools you need to live the best quality of life you can. Better Breathers Clubs meet regularly and feature educational presentations on a wide range of relevant topics.

For those who need help quitting smoking, the American Lung Association is here to help. Whether it’s your first time trying to quit or your tenth we can help you succeed once and for all. Call our free LungHelpLine and Tobacco QuitLine at 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) to speak with a certified tobacco treatment specialist. You can also sign up for our Freedom From Smoking Online course at ffsonline.org. This course is an adaption of our group clinic that has helped thousands of smokers quit for good.

Please also join our movement to stand up against lung cancer and stand together for lung health by joining LUNG FORCE this month. As we observe COPD Awareness Month this November, we are also observing Lung Cancer Awareness Month and are seeking to draw attention to the number one cancer killer of both men and women. We want the public to know that anyone can get lung cancer. Learn more about lung cancer and how you can help fight it at LungForce.org.

We’d been driving around — lost — for what seemed like an eternity. My husband wouldn’t ask for directions.

“Why not?” I pleaded.

He replied, “I don’t need help. We’ll be fine.”

“Typical man,” I thought. I finally pulled out my cell phone; dialed our destination; got directions and within minutes, we were back on track.

I tell you this story not to embarrass my husband, but to make an important caregiving comparison. The journey for every Alzheimer’s caregiver is hard. The road is filled with unexpected turns, bumps, detours and dead ends. It’s easy to lose your way. Anger, confusion and feelings of helplessness and hopelessness are common.

But for male caregivers, who are generally less likely to seek assistance or who will put off asking for help as long as they can, the road can be even tougher.

While it’s true that most caregivers in the U.S. are women, the national percentage of male Alzheimer’s caregivers has doubled, from 19 percent to 40 percent between 1996 and 2011. And with the number of dementia cases expected to jump from 5 million today to almost 16 million by 2050 — almost two thirds of whom will be women – their husbands, sons and grandsons will increasingly bear the caregiving burden.

As I know from my personal caregiving experiences with my mother and father, all of us — men and women alike — face physical and emotional fatigue, isolation from family and friends and often, financial hardship. However, male caregivers too often approach the role with a dangerous “go it alone” mentality.

The good news is, in our role as service providers and Alzheimer’s professionals, we are hearing from more and more men who need our help. The bad news is, we know that this increase pales in comparison to the tens of thousands of husbands, sons and other men who are struggling without us. For instance, only 20 percent of the calls that come in to our 24 hour Helpline at the New York City Chapter are from men — yet we know they make up a much larger percentage of our caregiving constituency.

Whether they are older men taking care of their wives, or sons taking care of their moms, the higher levels of anxiety, frustration and embarrassment they experience is striking — particularly among men in their 70s and 80s.

By and large, men of the older generation were the breadwinners. Their wives — even if they worked — took care of the household chores like cooking, cleaning, laundry and shopping. Now, faced with the frightening reality that their life partners have dementia, these men are responsible not only for medical and care decisions, but for running the household as well, including chores they’ve probably never done before. And suddenly, these strong, independent, proud men are completely lost at sea.

To all the male caregivers: do yourself a favor and take the first step. Call the Alzheimer’s Association Helpline anytime — day or night (1-800-272-3900). No question is too small; no problem, too big.

Find a support group. They are comfortable, safe places where you will be with people who have been in your shoes. You won’t be the only guy in the group who’s ruined your wife’s favorite blouse because you didn’t separate the colors from the whites. You won’t be the first to admit he’s clueless about operating the dishwasher. Nor will you be alone in wondering, “How will I ever get through this?”

Thinking of this generation of caregivers, I’m reminded of the Beatles’ song, “Help” … When I was younger, so much younger than today, I never needed anybody’s help in anyway. But now these days are gone, I’m not so self assured …

With a little help from your friends at the Alzheimer’s Association, I promise, you will “get your feet back on the ground.” And someone will be with you, giving you directions, every step of this long journey.

High school seniors across the country will soon be making one of the most important choices of their lives: where to go to college. Questions will swirl in their heads — What is the best college for me? Can I afford it? Will I do well there? Will it prepare me for a career once I graduate?

Given the rising cost of higher education, I believe that small independent colleges will demonstrate they are a sound investment, as well as an added value, for students who want to succeed during their college years, and beyond.

Let us consider the following important and much discussed criteria:

Accessibility. Many believe that private colleges lack diversity and only enroll wealthy students. That is a myth. According to the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), both four-year private colleges and four-year public institutions enroll the same percentage of full-time minority student undergraduates — 26 percent. In addition, public and private colleges enroll similar percentages of full-time undergraduate students from low-, middle- and upper-income families as four-year public colleges.

Affordability. To keep college accessible and affordable for middle and lower income families, private colleges offer generous institutional aid programs. Centenary, for example, provides 94 percent of our traditional, full-time students with some form of institutional aid that does not have to be paid back. Many small, independent colleges do likewise. This level of financial support makes the cost of private college tuition competitive with public colleges and universities.

Outcomes. Using the criteria of graduation rates, graduate earnings, and advanced degrees, small private colleges and universities shine. Students at private colleges graduate faster than their peers at public universities (in four years versus five or six years), so they are more likely to avoid extra semesters of tuition and begin their careers and earning years earlier.

Beyond performing well in the three criteria listed above, small private colleges — because of their size and decision-making structure — can be more nimble, innovative and responsive to market developments. At Centenary, we offer a student-centered learning environment that integrates a liberal arts education with career preparation. This approach enabled students in last year’s Event Management class the opportunity to operate one of the more than 40 concession stands at the 2014 Super Bowl. Our Fashion Design and Merchandising students are working with a local nonprofit organization that works to empower women living in shelters through sewing, to design hospital gowns and shirts that can accommodate port-a-caths during chemotherapy treatments. These innovative programs are giving students the hands on, practical experience that will prepare them for rewarding careers.

I encourage students and their families to understand the true added value of small independent colleges in the broad and complex tapestry of American higher education. When you consider the individualized attention, leadership opportunities, and experiential learning environments students are exposed to at these institutions, you come understand their true value.

Centenary College is located in Hackettstown, N.J.