This computer is easy to set up, even for 1 person. It is extremely lightweight, and the screen is very thin. This is the perfect computer for someone who needs something that will work right out of the box with minimal setup. What was nice, too, is that it already offered Windows 11 during the setup process; however, if you want to stick with Windows 10, you have that option as well. I went with Windows 11, which may or may not have been a mistake. I encountered a few screen glitches when I was working in Word. First, my screen went black, then it came back, but the font started to squiggle on the screen. I was unable to do anything to fix it other than restart my computer. I’m not sure what caused this, but in my case, I also have another screen hooked up because the nature of my work requires that I have multiple documents open at any given time. The other monitor is 4k, so the glitch could also have to do with this, but the computer does seem to be able to drive a 4k monitor (extended, not mirrored, so two independent displays). 

Speaking of monitors, the screen is nice, but there is no way to physically adjust anything—no color, brightness, etc. The monitor is supposed to be calibrated out of the box; however, compared with my 4k monitor, you can see a huge difference in the quality. My case is unique though, as most people are not going to add a 4k monitor. So, on its own, the screen looks great. You likely would not notice any issues with the resolution (it’s only 1920×1080), but when you hook up an additional, higher resolution monitor, you will definitely notice a difference.  

I’ve also added my own web camera because I did not like how the built-in camera looked. The picture looks a bit gritty, and it seems to add a slight green/blue hue. So, if you must do a lot of Zoom/Google Meet calls, like I do, you may want to add your own camera. The difference between even my budget camera and the built-in computer camera is pretty significant. 

A few other things I want to note:

1. The fan is very noisy. Because so much is packed into the monitor, it frequently needs to vent heat, even with minimal activity. This noise is not bothersome to me, but people who are sensitive to noises might find it annoying.
2. You can tilt the monitor up and down but can’t raise it or go left and right. For my setup where I put it on a stand, this wasn’t a problem.
3. All ports are in the back of the monitor. If you frequently need to plug things in or out, like headphones, you may need to add a USB hub. The one USB hub I tried worked, but might have been drawing too much power on the USB ports, so it kept on being enabled and disabled by Windows. I ultimately just used a single extension cord since I only need to plug in USB headphones regularly (everything else is dongle-based and can stay plugged in in the back full-time).
4. The keyboard was paired right out of the box, but my keyboard stopped functioning the first day. The few hours that it did work, it wasn’t very responsive. There was no way to try to pair it again. Because I did not plan on using the keyboard provided anyway (I instead use this Logitech G915), it was not a big deal to me that it stopped working.
5. The mouse is not Bluetooth-enabled. It uses a USB dongle. I had some trouble with the mouse as well. It was not always as responsive as I would have liked, but I was not planning on using the mouse since I have my own mouse, a Logitech MX Ergo trackball, that I love. Subsequently, this was not a problem for me either.
6. Going back to the monitor—things appear larger because the monitor has a relatively low resolution—1920 x 1080. This is perfectly fine for day-to-day use, but if you want to use this for heavy duty productivity purposes (eg, if you tend to have multiple documents open on the screen simultaneously), you won’t see as much content on the screen as you would with a higher resolution monitor.
7. The computer only has an HDMI output despite most computers these days having DisplayPort. It also only has standard USB-A ports, so if you want USB-C or Lightning ports, you’ll have to look elsewhere.
8. The memory is good and there is plenty of storage. It has 16 GB of RAM. The speedy NVME main drive is 500 GB and there is a 1 terabyte data drive, which is really nice to have despite being the slowest available drive they could have included.

In summary, if you want a computer that is easy to set up and has a minimal footprint with great storage, this might be the computer for you. If your needs go beyond the basics, you’ll likely have to deal with some compromises that shouldn’t necessarily be present at this price point.

The post Review: Acer Aspire C27-1655-UA93 AIO 27″ Desktop appeared first on fullSTEAMahead365.

What I like about the kettle I selected is that it not only looks nice and has good heft but that it is made of borosilicate glass, which is considered nontoxic. I used to have a plastic electric kettle years ago that I got rid of when we got the water cooler because I didn’t think I needed it any longer and because I had some concerns over it being made of plastic, as it’s well known that the hotter plastic gets, the more likely it is to release dangerous chemicals, including BPA and other endocrine disrupters. With a borosilicate glass kettle, there are no concerns over such chemicals leaching into the water as it boils. The other advantage of a glass kettle is that it’s kind of fun watching the water come to a rolling boil. This kettle also has an LED light that changes colors from blue, to purple/pink, to red as it’s cooking the water, so you get a sense of how close you are to your water being fully boiled and can see what water looks like as it goes through various temperature stages. Once the water comes to a rolling boil, the kettle and light shut off.

Because the electric kettle is visually interesting with its lights, I do have some safety concerns regarding its use around young children. it’s especially important for any children who will be around the kettle to understand that this isn’t a toy, and that boiling water is extremely dangerous. Ideally, it should be kept away from children’s reach and only used when an adult is present, as accidents can happen exceedingly quickly. I have paranoia over such things, so I made sure to explain all of this to my young daughter and I do not leave the room when the kettle is in use. The kettle I ordered comes with a foam brush and two packets of a citric acid detergent that can be used for descaling. Since we just replaced all our copper pipes due to extremely hard water and put in a whole-house water softening system and a reverse osmosis filter system under our kitchen sink, I’m hoping we won’t have to deal with any scaling or that it will be minimal. After 1 week of use, I have not noticed any issues yet. I’m excited though because with our ultra-filtered water and this electric kettle, we can get rid of our water cooler and reclaim a little space in our kitchen.

The post Review: ZenCore Electric Kettle appeared first on fullSTEAMahead365.

Since we will be getting a pickup truck of our own, this lantern spoke to us with its cute pickup truck motif. It also feels very autumnal with all the adorable pumpkins. The scene is very nicely painted. We also really like the decorative scrolling on the outside of the lantern, which adds to its charm. It is a great size–not too large or too small–measuring about 10.5 inches with the handle and 4 inches at the base.

It’s truly a beautiful piece. Would highly recommend it.

The post Review: Melunar Fall Snow Globe Lantern appeared first on fullSTEAMahead365.

The only thing I do not like about this are the fairy lights, which use a USB plug. There is a small hole drilled on the side of the wooden base through which the fairy light cable runs, but because of how the rose was attached to the base, the cable comes out right at the side of the dome, so you cannot hide the light cable unless you want to look at the back of the rose. If the hole were drilled in the back of the base, rather than on the side, it would have been so much better. This was likely a quality-control issue with the piece I received, but it was not a big deal for me because I did not want the lights, so I just pulled them out. I don’t have a USB outlet by my bookcase, and I thought the lights were a bit too bright. Fortunately, they came out very easily and you do not notice the small hole in the base.

I am very happy with this dome and would highly recommend it, especially to a Beauty and the Beast or Disney fan.

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The socket shelf is easy to install. First, you snap the shelf right into the outlet piece. Next, you remove the screw from the outlet cover of the outlet you want to convert, plug the socket outlet in, and then use the included screw to secure it to the wall, just like you would with any outlet cover. In our case, it went right on top of our existing outlet cover, though there may be situations where you may need to remove your existing outlet cover. It’s important to use the included screw to secure it so that the unit isn’t inadvertently unplugged during use. It took us less than a minute to install and everything feels nice and stable.

The nice thing about this unit is that it has 4 USB outlets in addition to the 3 regular outlets, which provides flexibility, especially if you want to use it to charge your phone or other device. The night light feature is also nice since our garage can get very dark. The night light has 3 settings: constantly bright, auto dusk (ie, it will turn on once there is insufficient ambient lighting), and completely off. It is a very white light, but not blinding, and it does not cast very far. Therefore, if the nightlight feature is important to you, this may not be bright enough, depending on how much light you want the nightlight to generate.

The post Review: TROPICALTREE Surge Protector Wall Outlet with Shelf appeared first on fullSTEAMahead365.

The smoke detectors were easy to install, but we did not use the screws that came with the units because they were too small and did not work well for us. Instead, we just repurposed the screws from our old units, which were very long, had more substantial screw heads, and ended up working great. That also spared us from having to install the anchors, which are likely needed if using the smaller screws.

The new smoke detectors look great. The white blends in great with our white ceilings compared with the old yellow/peach-colored units that were likely installed when our house was built in the late 90s. The nice thing, too, is that these detectors have a 10-year lithium battery, so there should be no more nights of interrupted sleep because a smoke detector battery suddenly depletes at 2 AM, causing obnoxious chirping and a frantic search for the problem unit.

The post Review: X-Sense Smoke Detector Alarm (3 pack) appeared first on fullSTEAMahead365.

The stand appears to be nicely constructed. It has a decent heft, which provides good stability, so I don’t have to worry that my laptop will come crashing down like a bunch of dominoes during a meeting. I also really appreciate the swivel feature. Because of the location of my desk, people and animals can be in the camera view behind me. As a result, I would often escape to other areas of the house during meetings that took place when everyone was home, but it was annoying to do that. The swivel feature and adjustable neck on this stand enable me to stay at my desk, as I can quickly and easily adjust the direction and angle of my laptop so that no one has to catch a glimpse of some craziness behind me, like my senior dog deciding it’s time to groom his sensitive parts.

Another nice feature of this stand is that it is compact and can be folded, which allows me to keep it right on my desk even when it’s not in use. Now, when I’m called to an impromptu meeting, I can quickly reach for it and put it to use.

I would highly recommend this stand to anyone who uses a laptop for virtual meetings, especially if you find your laptop camera providing less-than-flattering glimpses of your face or surroundings.

The post Review: SOJUNER Swivel Adjustable Laptop Stand appeared first on fullSTEAMahead365.

The solar lights arrived very nicely packaged. They were individually wrapped in a sturdy box. Each light was intact with no damage and appeared to be well constructed. We immediately added the lights to our fence post but did not secure them with the included screw because we wanted to test them out for a week or two first. We had purchased solar string lights before that did not work properly or stopped working quickly, so we thought we would see how these do first. Although the lights arrived late in the day and only had a few hours to charge—not the 6 to 8 hours outlined on the instruction sheet–they worked beautifully and have continued to work well since. They provide quite a bit of light. The product specs indicate that each cap casts 400 lumens, which is the equivalent of about 30 incandescent watts. Looking at the lights, this appears to be accurate. The light is a soft white and lasts the whole night through. I am not sure if the same will be true in the winter when there is less sunlight, but even with minimal charging time, they worked well so we are optimistic.

It is nice to have this extra light in our yard, especially since we have small dogs and sometimes must go out into the yard with them late at night or in the wee morning hours. Prior to buying these lights, our backyard had been a bit of a dark void, so it could feel a little spooky at times. These lights enable us to see the dogs much better and even provide a bit of a magical feeling with their soft glow. Because these are motion-sensing lights, the lights brighten a bit when people get close to the round sensor on the cap, which is another nice feature.

The only issue we have is that our posts are 3.5 x 3.5 inch, and these are 4 x 4 inch, so they are a bit large for our fenceposts; however, they are fine secured with the screw and do not look odd. We debated building out the top of the post with some wood strips to make for a better fit, but we ultimately did not bother because we just do not have the time and read that a too tight fit is also not good for preserving the actual fenceposts. Basically, we are looking to get a few more years out of our fence, and while it is not pretty to look at, these new caps help elevate our fence a bit.

The posts came in a pack of 4 and we will likely be ordering more soon to replace some of our other really worn fencepost caps. We like that these are super easy to install—just press the button below the cap, pop the cap on the post, and secure with a single screw—making them manageable for people like us who are limited on time and not the most handy.

The post Review: Sumaote Motion Sensor Solar Post Cap Light 4×4 appeared first on fullSTEAMahead365.

But what about today’s surgical, N95, and homemade face masks? Do they serve a purpose in protecting against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is causing havoc around the world? This has been an issue of hot debate. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) initially advised against their use, and the US Surgeon General urged people to stop buying them, likely because hospitals and other healthcare institutions lacked sufficient access to personal protective equipment (PPE).¹ The CDC has since changed its stance and has now advised the public to use cloth face masks when out in public, especially in areas of significant community-based transmission like grocery stores and pharmacies.² The CDC notes that its change in recommendation stems from recent studies that show that people who lack symptoms can transmit the virus, and that just speaking and breathing can put large quantities of virus into the air and, subsequently, on surfaces.² Therefore, the primary purpose of a face mask is not to protect the wearer but to protect the public at large in the event the wearer is infected, thereby curtailing transmissions and saving healthcare institutions from the burden those transmissions would have caused.

The question is, does the use of a mask really protect the public? There continue to be proponents on both sides of the issue, and even health organizations have not yet come to a consensus. The World Health Organization (WHO), for instance, still only advises the use of face masks for people caring for someone with COVID-19 or for people with respiratory symptoms, such as coughing or sneezing.³ The issue has also become highly politicized, and Vice President Mike Pence recently garnered significant criticism for not wearing one while visiting the Mayo Clinic, which led to much speculation over his actions.⁴ With so much contradictory information and actions by governmental bodies and medical professionals, it can be difficult to make sense of it all. So, what do the current data show? Let’s dive in.

Are Masks Effective in Preventing SARS-CoV-2 Transmission?

Much of the resistance against masks has centered around the argument that they do not help. As would be expected, the data regarding masks in the setting of SARS-CoV-2 and its associated disease, COVID-19, are still sparse. One small study examining the utility of masks in blocking SARS-CoV-2 was published on April 6, 2020 as a letter in the Annals of Internal Medicine, and it concluded “both surgical and cotton masks seem to be ineffective in preventing the dissemination of SARS–CoV-2 from the coughs of patients with COVID-19 to the environment and external mask surface.”⁵ In the study, patients with SARS-CoV-2 were instructed to cough 5 times each onto a petri dish placed approximately 8 inches away from their mouths while wearing no mask, a surgical mask, a cotton mask, and then no mask again. In most cases, virus was detected on the petri dishes and outer surface of the masks. However, there are a few important points to consider:

1. The study only included 4 patients. This is a very low-powered study, which means the study population is not sufficiently large to draw definitive conclusions.
2. The study specifically examined the effect of coughing, which can expel air from the lungs at a speed of up to 100 miles per hour—this is the equivalent of a category 2 hurricane. Therefore, it is not surprising that significant volumes of the virus were detected on the outside of the masks and on the petri dish for many of the patients. However, current data suggest many people with SARS-CoV-2 are asymptomatic or have minimal symptoms, particularly early after infection and sometimes for up to 21 days,⁶ yet they are shedding large volumes of virus during this time just by speaking and breathing. One can surmise a mask may be better equipped to contain virus that is expelled less forcefully, and there are data to back this up. For example, a study published in Nature Medicine that examined exhaled breath samples of 246 people infected with at least 1 respiratory virus, whether a seasonal coronavirus (not SARS-CoV-2), rhinovirus, or influenza, concluded that surgical face masks could be useful in preventing transmission of these pathogens.⁷ Use of surgical face masks was found to reduce the detection of coronavirus RNA in aerosols, with a trend toward reduced detection of coronavirus RNA in respiratory droplets.

Despite its limitations, the Annals of Internal Medicine study had two findings that may be particularly relevant to the general public. First, lower viral loads were observed in the petri dishes of all 4 patients after coughing with the cotton mask (2 layers, 100% cotton) versus coughing with the surgical mask (3 layers, polypropylene for all with polyethylene added to the inner layer). Since many people in the public are wearing homemade cloth masks, this provides reassurance that cloth masks can have benefit in reducing dissemination of the virus. Of course, other fabrics are also being used and some appear to be more protective than others—we’ll get to that in a bit. Second, and most importantly, all outer mask surfaces, whether surgical or cotton, had detectable viral loads, highlighting the importance of not touching the front of any mask that is worn. While it can be difficult to refrain from touching the mask to adjust it, doing so defeats its purpose and may facilitate the virus’s spread.

There are also observational data that support the use of face masks by the public. A study by microbiology and infectious disease specialists in Hong Kong, where face mask use by the general public is high (~96%), found significantly fewer cases of COVID-19 per million people compared with traditionally non-mask–wearing countries, including various European countries, the United States, Singapore, and South Korea.⁸ Among the COVID-19 clusters they identified in Hong Kong, 11 were in recreational, mask-off settings and only 3 were in workplace settings where masks were routinely worn. Based on their findings, the investigators concluded, “Community-wide mask wearing may contribute to the control of COVID-19 by reducing the amount of emission of infected saliva and respiratory droplets from individuals with subclinical or mild COVID-19.”⁸

Because the stakes with COVID-19 are so high, some healthcare experts have made a strong argument for applying the precautionary principle, which suggests “we should sometimes act without definitive evidence, just in case.”⁹ Some countries are already applying this principle by making use of facemasks in public a requirement. Austria, for example, widened its face mask requirement in parallel with loosening its lockdown.¹⁰ Time will tell how effective this measure is, but until there is a vaccine, use of such precautionary measures will be important, particularly as lockdowns are lifted.

Do Face Masks Cause Harm?

Some have argued against the use of face masks by indicating that they can cause harm. One claim made on social media is that they may increase the risk of heart attacks by reducing oxygen levels, but there does not appear to be any evidence to support this. Furthermore, a 2009 study suggests wearing a facemask in areas with high air pollution has beneficial cardiovascular effects, including on blood pressure and heart rate variability, by reducing exposure to particulates.¹¹ This finding may be particularly relevant regarding COVID-19, as reports have shown that polluted areas in the United States, Italy, and China have been hardest hit by this disease.^12-14 Although the reasons for this are multifactorial and include socioeconomic considerations, exposure to pollutants are known to increases the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular ailments, which have been associated with an increased risk of developing and dying from COVID-19.

Another concern with masks is that people are unlikely to wear them properly, which may prompt more frequent face touching as they try to adjust their masks. This may be a somewhat valid concern, particularly as many images and videos have surfaced highlighting this problem, including the extreme case of a Kentucky woman who cut a hole in the front of her face mask to make it easier to breathe.¹⁵ Clearly, most people know not to do this. And it seems enough people are doing a good enough job wearing masks for them to show a drastic impact on the infection numbers. For example, countries like Austria and the Czech Republic, which implemented mandatory use of face masks in public fairly early in the course of the pandemic, have had significant decreases in the spread of the virus.¹⁶ In the United States, states like New Jersey that have implemented compulsory use of face masks in grocery stores and other retail establishments, are also seeing the coronavirus curve flatten.¹⁷ Of course, other crucial measures, such as social distancing, have also greatly contributed.

Want to Make a Mask?

We’ve all heard about the N95 masks, which provide filtration efficiency against at least 95% of particles measuring >300 nanometers, including dust, mold, and various pathogens. These masks have been in short supply, which has prompted people to create their own cloth face masks. There has been debate over whether cloth masks are effective, but if constructed correctly, it appears they may be even more effective than N95 masks, particularly against particles that measure <300 nanometers, which is the range most viruses fall into.¹⁸ SARS-CoV-2 measures approximately 120 nanometers in diameter.¹⁹ Although it is larger than some viruses, it is still so small that you need an electron microscope to see it. Therefore, a mask needs to be able to filter out incredibly small particles to be effective against this tiny tyrant.

A study published in ACS Nano found that not all fabrics are created equal.¹⁸ When tested as a single layer, filtration efficiencies of commonly used fabrics, such as cotton, flannel, silk, and chiffon, ranged from 5% to 80% for particles measuring <300 nanometers and 5% to 95% for particles measuring >300 nanometers. The study investigators found filtration was significantly improved by using multiple layers of different fabrics, which is also in accordance with the CDC recommendations.²⁰ Cotton hybrids combinations, such as cotton–silk, cotton–chiffon, and cotton–flannel, showed a filtration efficiency of >80% for particles <300 nanometers. Of these, a tightly woven cotton (600 thread count) paired with chiffon fabric made from polyester and spandex appeared to be the most effective, filtering out ≥97% of particles <300 nanometers. The investigators surmised this may be because this combination pairs the physical filtering of cotton with the electrostatic filtering of chiffon, providing a two-pronged approach.

Not sure if your cloth mask provides adequate filtration? You can consider adding a layer or two of facial tissue or paper towel to the inside of your mask. A report from Hong Kong found that kitchen paper towels have similar fabric size and gaps as the middle layer of a surgical mask. The report also suggests in the absence of a cloth mask, a combination of one sheet of tissue paper (inner layer) and two sheets of kitchen paper towel (middle and outer layers) could be used, with this combination achieving >90% of the filtration efficiency of surgical masks for particles measuring ≤200 nanometers.

While mask material is important, so is the fit of the mask. The study in ACS Nano showed that improper fit could reduce filtration efficiency by more than 60%.¹⁸ The CDC says the mask should fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face.²⁰ The wearer should also be able to breathe without restriction, but there should be no gaps.

Tutorials for sew and no-sew masks can be found at the CDC website.

Bottom Line

• Wear a mask when out in public, especially when indoors or in crowded places.
• Once the mask is on your face, avoid touching it as much as possible, especially the front of the mask.
• Cloth masks should ideally be constructed of multiple layers of different types of fabrics for maximum filtration.
• The mask should cover the mouth and nose, fit snuggly against the sides of the face, and be free of gaps.

References

1. Feng S, Shen C, Xia N, Song W, Fan M, Cowling BJ. Rational use of face masks in the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet Respir Med. 2020;S2213-2600(20)30134-X.

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommendation Regarding the Use of Cloth Face Coverings, Especially in Areas of Significant Community-Based Transmission. Published April 3, 2020. Accessed May 2, 2020.

3. World Health Organization. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: When and how to use masks. Accessed May 2, 2020.

4. Wise A. Leaving Off Mask At Mayo Clinic, Pence Said He Wanted To Look Workers ‘In The Eye’. Published April 28, 2020. Accessed May 2, 2020.

5. Bae S, Kim MC, Kim JY, et al. Effectiveness of surgical and cotton masks in blocking SARS-CoV-2: a controlled comparison in 4 patients. Published April 6, 2020. Accessed May 4, 2020.

6. Hu Z, Song C, Xu C, et al. Clinical characteristics of 24 asymptomatic infections with COVID-19 screened among close contacts in Nanjing, China. Sci China Life Sci. 2020;63(5):706-711.

7. Leung NH, Chi DKW, Shiu EYC, et al. Respiratory virus shedding in exhaled breath and efficacy of face masks. Nature Medicine. Published April 3, 2020. Accessed May 4, 2020.

8. Cheng VC, Wong SC, Chuang VW, et al. The role of community-wide wearing of face mask for control of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic due to SARS-CoV-2. J Infect. 2020;S0163-4453(20)30235-8.

9. Greenhalgh T, Schmid MB, Czypionka T, Bassler D, Cruer L. Face masks for the public during the covid-19 crisis. BMJ. 2020;369.

10. Reuters. Austria widening face-mask requirement while loosening lockdown [news release]. Released April 6, 2020. Accessed May 5, 2020.

11. Langrish JP, Mills NL, Chan JK, et al. Beneficial cardiovascular effects of reducing exposure to particulate air pollution with a simple facemask. Part Fibre Toxicol. 2009;6:8.

12. Holden E, Lakhani N. Polluted US areas are among worst-hit by coronavirus – putting people of color even more at risk. The Guardian. Published April 14, 2020. Accessed May 6, 2020.

13. Conticini E, Frediani B, Caro D. Can atmospheric pollution be considered a co-factor in extremely high level of SARS-CoV-2 lethality in Northern Italy? Environ Pollut. 2020:114465.

14. Zhu Y, Xie J, Huang F, Cao L. Association between short-term exposure to air pollution and COVID-19 infection: evidence from China. Sci Total Environ. 2020;727:138704.

15. Toronto Sun. Kentucky woman cuts hole in face mask to breathe easier. Published May 5, 2020. Accessed May 6, 2020.

16. Dwyer C. In ‘Big Adjustment,’ Some European Countries Push For Residents To Wear Masks. Published April 1, 2020. Accessed May 8, 2020.

17. Sherman S. N.J. Virus Curve Flattens More; Murphy Says Not Ready to Reopen. Published April 25, 2020. Accessed May 8, 2020.

18. Konda A, Prakas A, Moss GA, et al. Aerosol filtration efficiency of common fabrics used in respiratory cloth masks. ACS Nano.Published April 24, 2020. Accessed May 8, 2020.

19. Yu IM, Oldham ML, Zhang J, Chen J. Crystal Structure of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Protein Dimerization Domain Reveals Evolutionary Linkage between Corona- and Arteriviridae*. J Biol Chem. 2006;281(25):17134-17139.

20. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coronavirus Disease 2019. Cloth Face Covers. Reviewed April 13, 2020. Accessed May 8, 2020.

21. Hong Kong Consumer Council. Reuse Mask? DIY Mask? Published March 18, 2020. Accessed May 8, 2020.

The post Let’s Talk About Masks appeared first on fullSTEAMahead365.

Here’s the page and translation:

———————–

Mr. Schmidt: “How old are you, Sabine?”

Sabine: “I am 16 years old.”

Mr. Schmidt: “You are young and beautiful.”

Sabine: “Thank you, and how old are you?”

Mr. Schmidt: “I am 26 years old.”

Sabine: “Oh, you are also young and very handsome. My friend Michael says you are old and ugly.”

Mr. Schmidt: “Michael says that?” Hmmm, interesting!”

———————–

Seriously, what is going on here? Is Mr. Schmidt hitting on Sabine? Is Sabine flirting with Mr. Schmidt? Why does he have to bring up her looks? Their interaction seems strange, especially given their vast age difference. If Sabine were just a few years older it might not seem so odd. But making her a minor makes it cringy. Sabine and Mr. Schmidt’s interaction becomes even stranger in the context of another worksheet, where the two first meet and we find Mr. Schmidt kissing Sabine’s hand as she bashfully looks away.

———————–

Sabine bumps into a man. “Oh, excuse me!” Sabine says.

“I’m sorry!” says the man.

Sabine looks at the man and asks, “Excuse me, what’s your name?”

“My name is Mr. Schmidt. And you?” says the man.

“My name is Sabine,” says Sabine.

“I am pleased to meet you, Sabine!” says Mr. Schmidt and kisses Sabine’s hand.

“Pleased to meet you, too!” says Sabine.

———————–

Now, the dialogue here is fine. I understand the vocabulary this worksheet is trying to teach (ie, “sorry” and “excuse me”) but why have Mr. Schmidt kiss Sabine’s hand? Was that really necessary for this lesson? What is the teaching point here? This is not the 17th or 18th century. Kissing a stranger’s hand is not a normal interaction. And I think it would be an especially unusual occurrence in Germany, where kissing or hugging, especially in public, is generally avoided. A brief handshake would be much more realistic, especially between strangers. So, I was seriously left wondering about this odd curriculum and decided to do some investigating.

It turns out the worksheet is part of a Sabine und Michael series, which is a “TPRS” curriculum developed by a guy named Michael Miller, who has taught German and Spanish at the high school level and now sells his curriculum. I had to look up what TPRS means and found it stands for “Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling.” While I like that concept, the stories/dialogue are poorly executed.

On his website, Mr. Miller sells Sabine und Michael as a “natural, cultural approach” and includes an extensive bulleted list outlining the many benefits of his TPRS materials. One bullet says, “Real treatment of culture. The use of realistic characters in realistic settings lends itself to a consistent stream of cultural customs.” As I already mentioned, the exchange between Sabine and Michael does not seem realistic to me from a culture standpoint, though I have to admit I have not been to Germany in about 20 years. Still, I doubt they have developed a hand-kissing epidemic over there. Furthermore, in today’s Me Too environment, the presented scenarios can be considered downright inappropriate. This series could really use a bit of an overhaul to reflect stories more in line with the times and the culture they’re intended to represent.

That said, I can’t wait to see what happens next, as another selling feature is that this curriculum provides “a serial set of stories that follow characters through two years.” What will Mr. Schmidt’s next move be? Stay tuned!

The post The Strange Interactions Between “Sabine und Michael” appeared first on fullSTEAMahead365.