Your pacemaker and open source software. Using embedded medical technology, such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, or insulin pump? What’s running inside is a complete mystery.

Implanted medical devices running proprietary software present security vulnerabilities and lock up data where doctors can’t get to it when needed. That’s a problem open source advocate Karen Sandler knows about firsthand because she has an implanted pacemaker/defibrillator running proprietary software.

Here is what puzzles me about “Bears Discover Fire:” There are at least three storylines in this super-short story: The protagonist, a 61-year-old man, dealing with his family. The protagonist’s mother is dying. And, of course, the bears discovering fire.

Why did Bisson choose these characters and their stories, bringing them together with the bears discovering fire?

RIP Terry Bisson. Here is one of his most famous stories, the excellent “Bears Discover Fire."

I just re-read the story. It’s very short and simple on the surface, with a lot going on underneath that I don’t quite understand. At some point, I might Google until I find an analysis—or, even better, try to figure it out on my own. But for now, I’ll just appreciate the story.

He also wrote the short story “They’re Made Out of Meat.” He wrote novels too, but he was a master of short fiction.

A client asked for a synopsis of each of five articles, and I think it makes sense to do them all as a single document.

When I need to locate the document again, I will find it by searching for its filename.

Will future-me remember that the plural of “synopsis” is “synopses?”

Oxiclean gets an insulated coffee carafe or Thermos clean as a whistle, without scrubbing

First, put the Oxiclean in the carafe. I used a partial scoop of Oxiclean, just above the line on the plastic scoop that comes with the product.

Fill the carafe halfway with hot water from the tap. Cover and shake.

Open and fill the rest of the way with hot water. Let it sit for a while. I let it sit for two hours; you can probably do it for less time.

The carafe is like new.

I’m passing this on because it does not seem to be widely known. Every time I Googled for how to clean a stained Thermos, I saw a lot of tips about denture tablets and dishwasher soap, which don’t work well at all in my experience. And the shape of the carafe makes scrubbing impractical.

Are whistles particularly clean, by the way?

I read the Robert B. Paker Spenser novels voraciously in the 80s. Spenser often eats food with Syrian bread. What the hell is “Syrian bread?” I wondered.

I’m currently listening to the audiobook of “Early Autumn,” which is not one I have re-read in more than 30 years. Spenser is eating Syrian bread again.

Google did not exist when I first read the books, but it does now. And now I know:

“Syrian bread” is another name for pita bread.

Katelyn Jetelina, Your Local Epidemiologist: Real-world data shows fall 2023 vaccines are effective. Vaccines help prevent against long covid and are safe and effective for children. Also, transmission takes hours. “Quick passersby at a grocery store are far less risky than staying in a house with someone infected.”