by Paul Riegler

MUNICH—After multiple cancellations amidst the first years of the pandemic, Bürgermeister Dieter Reiter opened the 187th Oktoberfest on Saturday with the exclamation “O’zapft is” (“it’s tapped”) after tapping the first keg with three knocks of a mallet.
The opening was heralded by a 12-gun salute and, as tradition demands, the Bürgermeister handed the first Maß – literally a measure but also a liter – of beer to Bavarian Ministerpräsident Markus Söder.
Prior …

Thursday is National Coffee Day: Here’s Where to Get Your Free Brew

by Paul Riegler

Please pass the milk and sugar.  Tomorrow, September 29, is National Coffee Day, a day that celebrates the rich, delicious hot (and sometimes iced) beverage that so many of people across the globe love to start and sometimes finish the day with.
To celebrate, many coffee houses and businesses are offering customers free or discounted cups of coffee.
Here’s where to get yours.
Caribou Coffee. The Minnesota-based company is offering members of its Caribou …

When Will the Pandemic Truly Be Over?

by Jonathan Spira

President Biden’s premature statement that the pandemic was over and the White House’s awkward pivot has fueled a discussion of how we will know when the pandemic is over.
Apparently, the fat lady has not yet sung.
I’m an historian by training and degree and, just as when looking for when a paradigm shift took place, the end of the pandemic can only be determined in the rear-view mirror.
There won’t be a …

What’s New in Apple CarPlay in iOS 16: Updates to Navigation, Easier Dictation, and New Driving Task Apps

by Jonathan Spira

Apple CarPlay has become the premier in-vehicle infotainment system, in many respects, since its launch at the Geneva Motor Show in 2014.  With each new version of its mobile operating system, Apple added features and functionality that enhanced the drivers’ and passengers’ experience as well as their safety.
The Cupertino-based company says that CarPlay is now available on 97% of new automobiles sold in the United States and over 80% elsewhere. …

Say Goodbye to Summer: The Autumnal Equinox is Thursday

by Anna Breuer

A quick glance at the thermometer in much of the United States may say summer, but the calendar says otherwise, namely that summer is coming to an end on Thursday.
Indeed, the first day of autumn is not only just around the corner, but, in the United States, the autumnal equinox is tomorrow, September 22, at 9:03 p.m. EDT (8 p.m. CT, 7 p.m. MT, and 6 p.m. PDT).
In the European …

Newark Airport Won’t Be Part of ‘NYC’ Airport Code Starting October 3

by Kurt Stolz

Many New Yorkers would consider Newark Liberty International Airport one of the city’s three major airports, despite the fact that it’s in New Jersey across the Hudson River, as has the International Air Transport Association, which is responsible for technical standards for airlines and airports.
IATA is in charge of three-letter airline codes, airport codes, and city codes, such as AAL for American Airlines and JFK for John F. Kennedy International …

Here’s What’s Open and What’s Closed on the Day of the Queen’s Funeral

by Anna Breuer

Monday, the day of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, is a bank holiday in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland.
While retailers are not required to shut on the day, it is likely that many will do so to mark the occasion, as well as to avoid attracting criticism.
The British Retail Consortium said in a statement that “[R]etailers are taking their lead from Government and are choosing to mark the …

That iPhone ‘On Us’ Offer? There’s No Such Thing as a Free iPhone 14

by Paul Riegler

The introduction of the new Apple iPhone 14 and its siblings has brought with it a spate of offers from AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon that appear to offer the latest iPhone for free.
“Get the new iPhone 14 Pro On Us” screams a current and very enticing T-Mobile offer on the carrier’s webpage.  The phrase “on us” implies something that’s not confirmed in the fine print. That something is “free.”
If you’re …