New-Fangled News for Boomers, Gen X and Anyone Else Trying to Keep Up with Technology

Skelley’s Snippets ✂️

 🤖🥼 In HealthTech Magazine’s article "How Can AI Support the Senior Care Workforce?", Calvin Hennick shows how Cypress Living uses AI tools like the chatbot Hugo and fall-risk models to improve care and ease staff workloads. These innovations help personalize interventions and automate routine tasks, freeing caregivers to focus on residents. As AI advances, its role in transforming senior care and boosting efficiency will only grow.

🏠 Amazon’s new Blink Video Doorbell offers a sharper 1440p view, wider angle, and better weatherproofing, all for just $60 ($70 with the required Sync Module). Blink is Amazon’s pick for simple, affordable security with long battery life, while Ring remains the premium choice for advanced features and smart home integration. Choose Blink for basics, or Ring for a more robust system.

🕹️ GameStop just dropped over $500 million on 4,710 bitcoin. This marks a new chapter for the company, which shot to fame during the 2021 meme stock frenzy but has since struggled to find lasting momentum. Much like its wild stock journey, GameStop’s bitcoin bet is risky and signals a shift toward digital assets, echoing a broader trend among corporations—though investors remain wary, given crypto’s infamous volatility and the company’s uncertain future

♟️ Chess: From Ancient India to the Age of AI

Chess has captivated players for over 1,500 years. It began as chaturanga in ancient India, evolved into shatranj in Persia, and later took its modern form in medieval Europe. Fast forward to 1997 and IBM’s Deep Blue defeated Garry Kasparov, starting a new era for the ancient game. Computers weren’t just analyzing—they were winning. The chess world has never been the same.

Today, the game is seeing another major shift. Chess.com turns 20 this year 🎂, and it’s grown from a small online forum into the most influential platform in modern chess. With over 200 million members, 1.5 million paying subscribers, and more than 20 million games played daily, it’s become the global hub for players of every level.

The site’s 2021 launch of AI-powered game reviews has changed how players improve. These tools break down your games with the kind of feedback that once required a coach—making improvement more accessible, especially for new players (who now make up the majority of users).

And chess is more global than ever. 85% of new users come from outside the U.S., and the reigning world champion, 18-year-old Gukesh Dommaraju, hails from India—a reflection of the game’s rapidly expanding international base.

Despite the strength of engines, the human side of chess remains vibrant. Online play, streaming stars, celebrity matches, and even a spot in the Esports World Cup are all fueling the next generation. Whether you’re chasing a title, analyzing your last rapid game, or just enjoying a few blitz matches before bed, the game continues to evolve—and the board is as alive as ever. -CP

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🛠️ Stressed? Watch People Build Stuff

I’ve never been particularly handy, and I own a hundred times more books than I do power tools, but I do enjoy watching people build things on YouTube. @jimmydiresta makes me want to own my own barn-inspired workshop on some land in the country and build a wooden tool chest with forty-four small drawers.

Why? I have no idea, but it’s a blend of his competence, experience, and desire to try new things that inspires me.

If I want a quick way to relax, I don’t reach for my phone and click on the latest meditation app. Instead, I put on one of Jimmy Diresta’s videos and watch him cut, drill, sand, and assemble his latest project. There’s something hypnotic about watching him expertly go from tool to tool to bend the materials to his will.

He seems to have acquired every modern tool and gadget in his quest to build out his property. But you can’t blame him, since he’s up there by himself—except for his Swiss mountain dog, Clovis—erecting structures one log at a time.

Part of me would like to emulate these guys, but so far I’ve only acquired a power drill and a fancy saw. Also, I don’t think my local township would approve a permit for a log cabin, even a small one, in my backyard. Maybe in the next life. -LC

🔮 The Genius of Myst’s Simple Origins

Did you know the original Myst video game (1993) was made using pretty simple tools? The Miller brothers, who created the game, didn’t have a big team or fancy software. They used something called HyperCard—basically digital note cards on old Macs—to build the whole game.

Robyn Miller created the stunning visuals by photographing handmade models and painting backgrounds, then piecing everything together. With almost no coding experience, they stitched those mysterious worlds puzzle by puzzle—and even recorded some sounds right in their garage!

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DISCLAIMER: Nothing in this newsletter is financial advice or any other kind of advice for that matter. This is strictly for entertainment and fodder for occasional thoughtful reflection. The owners of The Skelley may benefit financially when readers click on links in the publication.