Category Archives: Reviews

Technology: Cowboy Electric Bike Is Lightweight, With Integrated Lights & Removable Battery

From a TechCrunch online review:

Cowboy Electric Bike integrated lightsFrom the outside, the Cowboy e-bike is a sleek bike. It features a seamless triangle-shaped aluminum frame, integrated lights and a low-key Cowboy logo near the saddle. The handlebar is perfectly straight like on a mountain bike. The only sign that this is an e-bike is that the frame is much larger below the saddle.

The e-bike is relatively light at 16kg (35lbs). Most of the weight is at the back of the Cowboy e-bike because of the battery. But an investor in the startup told me that it wasn’t a problem and that he was even able to attach a baby seat at the back.

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https://cowboy.com/

The two things you’re going to notice quite quickly is that there’s no gear and there’s a rubber and glass fiber belt. Cowboy has opted for an automatic transmission — motor assistance kicks in automatically when you need it the most, such as when you start pedaling, you accelerate or you go uphill.

To read more: https://techcrunch.com/2019/10/23/a-bike-lovers-take-on-the-cowboy-e-bike/

Top Camper Trailers: “Lume Traveler LT540” Is Larger, With Open Roof, Upgrades

From a New Atlas online review:

Lume Traveler LT540 outdoor kitchenCustomers who liked the original Lume tailgate kitchen will find a larger version in the LT540 No. 1/Pure spec trailers, but those looking for a more all-weather solution will be able to enjoy indoor cooking with the new Nordic floor plan, which pulls the kitchen inside across the front wall. To accommodate it, Lume pushes the double bed back toward the bumper and eliminates the front sofa standard on the No. 1 and Pure models.

https://www.lumetraveler.com/en/en-lancering-lt540/

Lume Traveler LT540 Open RoofLast year, Dutch startup Lume wowed the world by topping its highly distinctive Traveler LT360 caravan with a retractable soft top, creating an airier style of trailer camping. Despite costing more than €46,000 (US$51,000) at the time, Lume’s debut model was successful enough to inspire a second model: the longer, more spacious Traveler LT540. Rather than use the 540’s extra 5.5 feet (1.7 m) to stuff the whole family inside, Lume makes things more comfortable for the wandering twosome, adding a toilet room, available indoor kitchen, available seating lounge, and floor space.

To read more: https://newatlas.com/outdoors/lume-lt540-convertible-glamping-trailer/

Drug Reviews: Top Ten Antiobiotics Used For Patients In Hospital ER’s

From a Becker’s Hospital Review online release:

Ceftriaxone and azithromycin are the top two most commonly administered antibiotics in U.S. emergency rooms for patients who are not admitted to the hospital, according to a study published in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy.

American Journal of Health System PharmacyThe top 10 most commonly administered antibiotics in the ER for nonadmitted patients were:

• ceftriaxone: 30.6 percent
• azithromycin: 10.8 percent
• clindamycin: 6.6 percent
• levofloxacin: 5.8 percent
• cephalexin: 5.3 percent
• metronidazole: 4.5 percent
• sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim: 4.2 percent
• ciprofloxacin: 3.9 percent
• amoxicillin: 3.8 percent
• penicillin: 3.3 percent

The researchers also found that most common emergency room diagnoses were urinary tract infections and cellulitis, and that prescribing practices generally aligned with treatment guidelines for these diagnoses.

To read more: https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/quality/10-most-common-antibiotics-administered-in-the-er.html?oly_enc_id=9129H5611090H0N

Cocktail Scene: “Dante” In New York City Voted “2019 Worlds Best Bar”

From a Food & Wine online article:

Dante NYC Negroni…at Camden’s Roundhouse in London, the annual list of the World’s 50 Best Bars was announced—and this year, New York’s Dante took home the grand prize. The West Village aperitivo bar and restaurant, which is famous for its extensive Negroni menu (and pop-up Negroni fountain), was ranked in 9th place on last year’s list, and also won “World’s Best Bar” and “Best American Restaurant Bar” at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans earlier this year. 

The World's 50 Best BarsThe World’s 50 Best Bars 2019

1. Dante–New York

2. Connaught Bar–London

3. Florería Atlántico–Buenos Aires

4. The NoMad–New York

5. American Bar–London

6. The Clumsies–Athens

7. Attaboy–New York City

8. Atlas–Singapore

9. The Old Man–Hong Kong

10. Licorería Limantour–Mexico City

11. Manhattan–Singapore

12. Native–Singapore

13. Carnaval–Lima

14. Katana Kitten–New York

15. Guilhotina–São Paulo

16. Three Sheets–London

17. Himkok–Oslo

18. High Five–Tokyo

19. Salmón Gurú–Madrid

20. Paradiso–Barcelona

To read more: https://www.foodandwine.com/news/worlds-best-bars-2019?did=446693-20191021&utm_campaign=faw-travel-tips_newsletter&utm_source=foodandwine.com&utm_medium=email&utm_content=102119&cid=446693&mid=25675223965

New Culture Books: “The Sartorialist INDIA” By Scott Schuman (2019)

From an Architectural Digest online interview:

the_sartorialist_india_fo_int_3d_05353_1908190959_id_1260398I wanted this book to be a bit different. It’s not an encyclopaedia of India, but I really tried to go to a lot of different places and photograph whatever I saw that I thought seemed really visually intriguing. I went to music festivals, sporting events, wrestling…and there’s cricket and horse racing in this book too.  There’s fashion week, and then small villages in Odisha. As a photographer, if you’re picky like I am, I didn’t want to just include say, a horse racing photograph, but I wanted to put myself in that position, and if I came up with something good, that would be great. I just wanted to try and put myself in a lot of different positions to see different elements of India.

Scott Schuman has been travelling to India for the better part of a decade. For his acclaimed fashion blog, The Sartorialist, Scott has photographed the eye-catching, sometimes strange, effortless whimsy of street fashion all around the world, and India has made a significant appearance too. Now, Scott is releasing a book of photographs specifically dedicated to the country—The Sartorialist: India, published by Taschen. Scott speaks to AD India about his travels to the country, his quest for the cool kids, and what still surprises him about Indian fashion.

To read more: https://www.architecturaldigest.in/content/the-sartorialist-in-conversation/#s-cust0

Culinary Arts: First Season Of “SommTV” Streaming Service Launches (Video Trailer)

From a Food & Wine online review:

Currently available in what is being called a “charter period,” SommTV is billed as “a new video streaming service that loves food and wine as much as you do.” The platform promises to offer entirely new shows, films, footage, and educational masterclasses, as well as the archives of the Somm movies (including things like trailers) and additional licensed content. Access is currently priced at $9.99 per month or $74.99 per year, though that may change once the service has its full launch which is apparently slated for this coming March. Content can be streamed worldwide on the usual suspects of devices: Apple, Android, Amazon, etc.

To read more: https://www.foodandwine.com/wine/sommtv-streaming-wine-app?did=447253-20191022&utm_campaign=faw-wine-list_newsletter&utm_source=foodandwine.com&utm_medium=email&utm_content=102219&cid=447253&mid=25705137797

 

Destination Travel: “Belle Époque Luxury” At Domaine Les Crayères Hotel, Champagne, France

From an Architectural Digest online article:

Domaine Les Crayères Hotel in Champagne, FranceChampagne is a lot bigger than it seems. Vineyards can be up to an hour away from each other depending on traffic, so it’s best to pick a home base in the heart of the region. The luxurious Domaine  Les Crayères was the former home of Madame Pommery’s daughter (Pommery was a 19th century French businesswoman who took over her husband’s successful wine business after he passed away). The space was transformed into a hotel in the early 1980s, where it still retains some of the Belle Époque sensibility from its previous owner.

Champagne FranceChampagne is one of those places in the world that there’s truly no bad season to visit. Yet, before you let the bubbles get to your head, remember to plan everything in-advance as many vineyards are small, independently owned, and can’t always accommodate walk-ins. The place is also very spread out, so you should consider renting a car or hiring a driver if you’re booking several tastings. Luckily, getting to Champagne is easy, as it’s only a two-hour train ride from Paris. In fact, some travelers even opt to simply make a day trip out of it. Time spent aside, the grandiose French architecture all the way to the glow of the vineyards will warm your heart (no, it’s not just the alcohol) and have you immediately wanting to come back.

To read more: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/design-lovers-guide-to-champagne-france

Boomers Retirement: Three Of The Top Hidden Costs Facing Retirees

From a Wall Street Journal online article:

“many people are poorly prepared for unexpected expenses” in later life, the study notes. Even worse, about one in five retirees (19%) and one in four retired widows (24%) experienced four or more shocks during retirement. The good news: Many older adults who get hit with stealth expenses appear to bounce back.

• Replacement costs. Big-ticket buys—a new furnace, updated appliances, a fresh coat of house paint—can put sizable dents in your nest egg. But most people don’t consider that these outlays can follow them into later life or that such costs can continue to add up for decades. A contributing factor: Many retirees underestimate their life expectancy.

• Relatives in need. This can hit you from two sides: aging parents feeling a financial pinch and younger family members who suddenly find themselves in a bind. With the latter, perhaps it can be an adult child who gets laid off or divorced, or a grandchild who needs help with tuition.

Costs in Retirement• Required distributions. Most people know that, after reaching age 70½, they must begin withdrawing funds from tax-deferred accounts (like IRAs). What they fail to understand are the ripple effects from these payouts. Required minimum distributions can, first, push you into a higher tax bracket and, second, translate into increased Medicare Part B premiums (which are tied to annual income).

To read more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-expenses-people-often-forget-when-they-plan-for-retirement-11571321423

Health Care Costs: Top 5 Highest Paid Physician Specialties (PayScale.com)

From a Becker’s Spine online article:

PayScale LogoPayScale reports real-time salary data from over 54 million reports from job seekers, fact checking the data against private and public compensation data.

Here’s how average pay ranges for five physician specialties stack up:

1. Neurosurgeon: $401,499

2. Cardiothoracic surgeon: $387,451

3. Invasive cardiologist: $382,361

4. Orthopedic surgeon: $375,091

5. Gastroenterologist: $309,604

To read more: https://www.beckersspine.com/spine/item/47223-5-highest-paying-physician-specialties-neurosurgeon-no-1-at-401k.html?oly_enc_id=9129H5611090H0N

 

Boomers Homes: Costly Modifications Needed To Stay In Your Existing Home

From a Kaiser Health News online article:

Homes for aging Boomers costly renovationsLeaving nothing to chance, the Cavners are making a number of modifications they might never need. For instance, neither uses a wheelchair, but contractors are making all doorways 3 feet wide for accessibility throughout — just in case. The master bath roll-in shower, flat and rimless, will provide room to maneuver and the master bath vanity is also at wheelchair-accessible height. Kitchen drawers, rather than cabinets, will allow easy access in a wheelchair. The Cavners are closely watching details of the renovation, but it wasn’t a hard decision.

AUSTIN, Texas — Chris and Dennis Cavner, in their early 70s, are preparing to move less than two blocks away into a 2,720-square-foot, ranch-style house they bought this year. But first a renovation is underway, taking the 45-year-old property all the way back to its studs. When the work is completed, these baby boomers are confident the move will land them in their forever home.

“We wanted to find a house that we could live in literally for the rest of our lives,” he said. “We were looking specifically for a one-story house — and one that had a flat lot, to age in place.”

To read more: https://khn.org/news/baby-boomers-aging-aging-in-place-retrofit-homes/