> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://numericcitizen.me/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Numeric Citizen Introspection Newsletter #8
- URL: https://numericcitizen.me/2021-03/
- Published: 2021-03-31T11:41:20.000Z
- Updated: 2021-11-15T00:12:03.000Z
- Description: This is my introspection summary on my numeric life for March 2021
- Author: JF Martin
- Tags: Newsletter, #substack

Here is the **Numeric Citizen Introspection Newsletter #8** for **March of 2021**. On March 7th, my father died😔. He was 92\. I’ll miss him😢. Life must go on.

Now, let’s start with this month’s post highlights.

# **Post highlights from my [microblog](https://numericcitizen.micro.blog/?ref=numericcitizen.me)**

- [I’m sad](https://numericcitizen.micro.blog/2021/03/01/bye-bye-weather.html?ref=numericcitizen.me) to see **Weatherline** app go. Who’s the buyer? Apple?
- [I’m on ](https://numericcitizen.micro.blog/2021/03/04/hey-world-its.html?ref=numericcitizen.me)**[HEY World](https://numericcitizen.micro.blog/2021/03/04/hey-world-its.html?ref=numericcitizen.me)** and started using the service to publish more personal things. It’s like putting [a message in a bottle](https://world.hey.com/jf.m/hey-world-message-in-a-bottle-6ca434ae?ref=numericcitizen.me).
- Intel made some funny ads. They hit a few nerves. [Justin is back](https://numericcitizen.micro.blog/2021/03/17/dear-justin-youre.html?ref=numericcitizen.me).
- **Apple** just made a dangerous [move](https://numericcitizen.micro.blog/2021/03/21/is-bloatware-coming.html?ref=numericcitizen.me) to please **Russia**. Who’s next?
- I wrote a short [love letter](https://numericcitizen.micro.blog/2021/03/26/my-microblog-instant.html?ref=numericcitizen.me) to Micro.blog.

# **Post highlights from my [Medium page](https://numericcitizen.medium.com/?ref=numericcitizen.me)**

- I posted a few [tips and tricks](https://numericcitizen.medium.com/tips-and-tricks-on-optimizing-articles-exposure-on-medium-58079a798e42?ref=numericcitizen.me) to increase your exposure on Medium.
- I’m no longer using Medium to host my **Friday Notes Series**. [Here is why](https://medium.com/numeric-citizen-tidbits/friday-notes-15-friday-notes-are-dead-long-live-friday-notes-c275fa6d9227?ref=numericcitizen.me).

# **Post highlights from my [Numeric Citizen Blog](https://numericcitizen.me/)**

- What is it like using an **Apple Watch** during one day? Find out [here](https://numericcitizen.me/2021/03/07/a-day-in-the-numeric-life-of-my-apple-watch/); I noted my every single interaction with it! What I have found is surprising!
- **Craft** is the latest kid in town in the note-taking app space. But is Craft only for this use case? How does it compare to **Notion**? Can a Notion user move to Craft? You’ll find many answers and more [here](https://numericcitizen.me/2021/03/12/craft-vs-notion-from-a-bloggers-perspective/).
- I like **Substack** but **Buttondown** looked nicer. [I asked if you would follow me](https://numericcitizen.substack.com/p/would-you-follow-me/comments) if I moved this newsletter somewhere else. You overwhelmingly said yes. The good news, I won’t move anywhere. Find out why [here](https://numericcitizen.me/2021/03/28/substack-vs-buttondown-whos-better-my-observations/).

# **Post highlights from my [Numeric Citizen I/O](https://numericcitizen.io/?ref=numericcitizen.me)**

This is [my latest website](https://numericcitizen.io/2021/02/24/the-first-post-of-a-long-series?ref=numericcitizen.me), a place for meta-blogging or writing about the tools and workflow as a blogger and content creator. Think of it as a look behind the scene.

- I love **Micro.blog,** but it’s not perfect. [Find out why](https://numericcitizen.io/2021/02/27/where-micro-blog-fails-for-me?ref=numericcitizen.me).
- Why [I’m using Commento](https://numericcitizen.io/2021/03/4/this-blog-uses-commento-here-is-why?ref=numericcitizen.me) as the discussion service on **Blot**.
- Bloggers and writers should [put the publishing date ](https://numericcitizen.io/2021/03/7/the-date-of-publication-is-a-must?ref=numericcitizen.me)in their posts. I do. See why.
- Editing new content [from the iPad](https://numericcitizen.io/2021/03/6/using-the-ipad-for-editing-blot-posts-with-a-git-client?ref=numericcitizen.me) for this blog poses some challenges.
- [I bought Nova](https://numericcitizen.io/2021/03/18/showing-support-for-real-mac-software?ref=numericcitizen.me) in support of real Mac software developers.
- Did you know about [Numeric Narcissism](https://numericcitizen.io/2021/03/21/guilty-of-numeric-narcissism-%E2%80%94-why-i-subscribe-to-my-own-rss-feeds?ref=numericcitizen.me)?

# **Apple tidbits worth my attention**

It was a slow month for Apple’s news. In fact, it is what didn’t happen or got lost that made the news. The rumoured Apple event did not occur, so we didn’t get a chance to update the ageing Apple TV 4K (while waiting for this, did you know you can [get a different remote](https://function101.com/products/button-remote-for-apple-tv?ref=numericcitizen.me) for it?). Gone is the **iMac Pro**. And the original **[HomePod](https://birchtree.me/blog/goodbye-homepod/?ref=numericcitizen.me)**. And some high-end **MacBook Pro** configurations. [Something is going on for the ](https://numericcitizen.micro.blog/2021/03/20/something-is-going.html?ref=numericcitizen.me)**[iMac](https://numericcitizen.micro.blog/2021/03/20/something-is-going.html?ref=numericcitizen.me)**.

1️⃣ **Mac OS X turns 20**. I returned to the Mac in 2005 with an iMac 24” running [Mac OS Tiger](https://www.macworld.com/article/1044922/julyeic.html?ref=numericcitizen.me). **Spotlight**, the **Dashboard** and **Automator** among other features, were the stars of this release. The dashboard has been killed in macOS Catalina. Sad. For [many](https://twitter.com/film%5Fgirl/status/1375168647069503488?s=21&ref=numericcitizen.me), Mac OS X made a turning point in their life. Don’t miss: [From Aqua to Catalina](https://www.macworld.com/article/340395/from-aqua-to-catalina-the-evolution-of-the-mac-os-x-operating-system.html?ref=numericcitizen.me), from MacWorld.

2️⃣ I like this tweet from Steve Moser

> [](https://twitter.com/stevemoser/status/1372617781141704708?ref=numericcitizen.me)

3️⃣ The well-known author, **Adam Engst,** [writes](https://tidbits.com/2021/03/10/is-it-safe-to-upgrade-to-macos-11-big-sur/?ref=numericcitizen.me) that it is now safe to upgrade to macOS Big Sur. Have you? I’m using it on my M1-Mac mini but not yet on my 2017 iMac. Some of my software is lacking the required updates before I make the jump.

4️⃣ Since the release of the first crop of M1 Macs, **the resale value of Intel-based Macs has collapsed**. **Om Malik** [commented](https://om.co/2021/03/01/the-m1-effect-on-mac-resale-prices/?ref=numericcitizen.me) on this trend.

5️⃣ **Intel** made some ads trying to steal some thunder from Apple’s M1 Macs. They look desperate. Yet, there is some truth to their message. Anyhow, these ads made quite a stir among Apple pundits, [one of them being John Gruber](https://daringfireball.net/2021/03/going%5Flonger?ref=numericcitizen.me). Then, the week after, [Intel was looking to do more business with Apple](https://www.macrumors.com/2021/03/23/intel-manufacture-apple-silicon-chips/?ref=numericcitizen.me) to manufacture future ARM-based processors. How funny.

Finally, on March 30th, Apple finally announced the next **WWDC conference** date: June 7-11\. This will be a digital-only event. Then, I wrote, “[And so it begins](https://numericcitizen.micro.blog/2021/03/30/and-so-it.html?ref=numericcitizen.me)”.

[Subscribe now](https://numericcitizen.me/subscribe/)

# **Some of my photos that came to light**

I had the pleasure of spending a weekend with my wife outside of the city. I took a few pictures.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/db/90/db90e17a-b0ed-4eb3-8db1-a5b434dbead1/content/images/public/images/c5a430ce-2ab3-4132-a003-73b95e6d54e0_1280x974.png)

This picture was intentionally kept dark

I restarted **my Photo Legend Series** this time, and it can be found on [HEY World](https://world.hey.com/jf.m?ref=numericcitizen.me). Expect more and more photo stories in the coming months.

**Unsplash** started [Photo Club](https://unsplash.com/blog/introducing-photo-club/?ref=numericcitizen.me):

> “Unsplash Photo Clubs are community-led, Unsplash supported groups for contributors to connect with other contributors to get inspired by monthly photo prompts.”

**BREAKING NEWS:** [Getty Images acquires Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/blog/unsplash-getty/?ref=numericcitizen.me)[1](#footnote-1). I’m not sure if it’s good news or bad news. I tend to think of the latter. [I’m sad](https://numericcitizen.me/2021/03/31/getty-images-to-acquire-unsplash/). 😔 I will closely follow the partnership's evolution, hoping Unsplash stays true to its mission and intact in its delivery.

The March edition: [50 mm](https://unsplash.com/blog/photo-clubs-in-march/?ref=numericcitizen.me). I submitted a few pictures of mine to different themes. It’s impressive to see Unsplash grow in many (too many?) directions. Don’t miss the search trend [dashboard](https://unsplash.com/trends?ref=numericcitizen.me).

**Nikon** is making a free photo processing software called **[NX Nikon Studio](https://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Products/Imaging-Software/nx-studio.page?ref=numericcitizen.me)**. I’m not sure what’s the point for Nikon to do that. I didn’t test the software. Nikon requires to fill a registration form to download it. It’s on my to-do list. [DPReview has a review of it](https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikon-nx-studio-review?ref=numericcitizen.me). Mostly positive. Software is a bit slower than Adobe. Not good. It is not optimized yet for M1 Macs. Deal-breaker. 👎🏻

# **Must see photography stuff**

I love **Leica** even if I don’t own one of their cameras. I’d like to see this one for real, the [Q2 Monochrom](https://www.dpreview.com/products/leica/compacts/leica%5Fq2%5Fmonochrom?ref=numericcitizen.me). [It’s not cheap](https://www.vistek.ca/store/442216/leica-q2-monochrom?ref=numericcitizen.me). [Om Malik](https://om.co/2021/03/15/lone-surfer-the-story-of-one-photo/?ref=numericcitizen.me) is a Leica user, it seems. And I like his work. Speaking of Leica, they recently released a new firmware for their **M10 cameras** that allows for **perspective correction**, right on the camera. Results are quite impressive, as shown in this [review](https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/hands-on-review/hands-on-with-leicas-new-perspective-control-function-for-m10-cameras?ref=numericcitizen.me). I didn’t know that the well-known Apple designer Jony Ive and Marc Newson **made a [Leica prototype](https://www.leitz-auction.com/auction/en/auktion34/auction38/article/243.html?ref=numericcitizen.me)**. I’m not sure if this is their best work. 🧐

The **Instagram photographer generation** is not the most respectful people according to Paul Reiffer in “*[Photographers, Instagrammers: Stop Being So D\*mn Selfish and Disrespectful](https://petapixel.com/2019/07/22/photographers-instagrammers-stop-being-so-dmn-selfish-and-disrespectful/?ref=numericcitizen.me)*”:

> “the growing trend I’ve witnessed over the years has taken some photographers and Instagram users to a new level when it comes to lacking common courtesy and respect.”

The problem is the lack of property respect in the name of fake fame.

# **Climate change issues**

Not exactly related to climate change but somehow to the things we do on earth that have a real negative impact: **Elon Musk** **Starlink** satellites are great for Internet access but bad for astronomers. “[The costly collateral damage from Elon Musk's Starlink satellite fleet](https://phys.org/news/2020-05-costly-collateral-elonmusk-starlink-satellite.html?ref=numericcitizen.me)” is a must-read in that respect. These satellites could make it difficult in the future to create the following type of picture.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/db/90/db90e17a-b0ed-4eb3-8db1-a5b434dbead1/content/images/public/images/e652f8b2-8d44-47a1-9b36-2994476676fc_1280x1707.png)

Incredible image of a lunar eclipse

If you want to do **astronomic observation**, you’ll need something like the upcoming [eQuinox](https://unistellaroptics.com/equinox/?ref=numericcitizen.me) telescope. It’s brand new, pre-orders only for now—shipping in June. Man, I wish I would be living in a darker area. I would buy one of these.

Speaking of astrophotography, March saw the continuous arrival of images from **Perseverance** on Mars. Jawdropping images [available here](https://mars.nasa.gov/resources/25695/perseverance-view-of-the-delta-in-jezero-crater/?ref=numericcitizen.me). A [PowerPC processor powers this rover](https://9to5mac.com/2021/03/02/perseverance-nasa-rover-mars-imac-g3-processor/?ref=numericcitizen.me)[2](#footnote-2). Who knew.

# **Privacy stuff we should care about**

Have you ever heard of “**spy pixels**”? [They are everywhere](https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-56071437?ref=numericcitizen.me), in emails you receive. They are used to build a vision of your email consumption habits. It isn’t good. HEY World, a well-known email service[3](#footnote-3), tracks and disable them. [Apple could do more to help disable them](https://daringfireball.net/2021/02/apple%5Fmail%5Fand%5Fhidden%5Ftracking%5Fimages?ref=numericcitizen.me) on their platforms. John Gruber:

> they should flag all emails containing known trackers with a shame badge. It’s a disgraceful practice that has grown to be accepted industry-wide as standard procedure, because the vast majority of users have no idea it’s even going on.

Maybe in the next major releases of their platforms? WWDC is coming (see at the end of this issue).

**Competing in the Internet Search business is hard, even when [Google’s own search results are deteriorating](https://daringfireball.net/linked/2021/03/04/fowler-google-search?ref=numericcitizen.me) fast, in the name of ads.** That being said, alternatives to Google exist, like **DuckDuckGo**[4](#footnote-4). Many pundits are asking Apple to build its own search engine in the name of privacy protection. The trouble is, having Google as the default search engine brings a lot of money to Apple. Chances for Apple to make a switch increase, in my opinion, when there are more and more alternatives. [Brave Search](https://www.theregister.com/2021/03/03/brave%5Fbuys%5Fa%5Fsearch%5Fengine/?ref=numericcitizen.me) is coming. It will be interesting for Apple to see them in the future of search and privacy protection. It’s the last holdout to break. [Are 10 billion dollars the price to pay](https://daringfireball.net/linked/2021/03/04/brave-search?ref=numericcitizen.me)? 🧐

Speaking of Apple privacy, see **[their privacy labels](https://www.apple.com/privacy/labels/?ref=numericcitizen.me)** on their own apps and services.

# **Quotes to remember**

> Remember Substack reader? — **Fabrizio Rinaldi**

> I’ve noticed that when using digital tools for thinking I end up mostly thinking about how I’m organizing what I’m thinking about, but with analog tools I think about what I’m thinking about. — **Jack on Micro.blog**

> Connection Lost… Connected. The M1 Bluetooth Mouse Story. — **Marco Arment**.

> Google looks like a kingdom’s king that we have to feed and please, isn’t? — **JF Martin**

> Capitalism is cancer and billionaires are the tumours. — **Aral Blakan**

> Culture is shaped by SEO experts and algorithms. Neither of which have our best interests in mind. — **Mike Rockwell**

# **What’s next? I’m glad you asked!**

In recent days, before publishing this newsletter, **I started to get interested in electronic music mixing**. 🎧🎶 I started to research the subject and see what it would take for me to try this art form. Stay tuned as there is so much to learn!

Before WWDC, I look forward to **Apple’s announcements to come in April**. So far, 2021 was a pretty quiet Apple month.

# **Leftovers**

Here is something really cool to watch.

Another thing very cool, for those who remember Apple’s Mac Paint art. This brings back a lot of memories.

> [](https://twitter.com/pinot/status/1375567530593562624?ref=numericcitizen.me)

This concludes the **Numeric Citizen Introspection Newsletter #8** for **March** of 2021\. I would love to get your feedback and read your comments. Thanks for being a subscriber. Thanks for reading! 🙏🏻

[1](#footnote-anchor-1)

The news came out just before the publication of this issue.

[2](#footnote-anchor-2)

The same processor that powered an iMac G3 back in the days.

[3](#footnote-anchor-3)

I’m a paying member of this wonderful email service.

[4](#footnote-anchor-4)

I’m a proud user of DuckDuckGo, 99% of the time.