#learning-2025 — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #learning-2025, aggregated by home.social.
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https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/things-i-learned-supermoon-coming-in-january-2026/
I knew that we had three consecutive Supermoons from October-December (see Newsletter Leaf Journal 253). I did not however remember the date of the recent December “Cold Supermoon” off the top of my head. I found the date in an article by Renee Straker for The Weather Channel. In that article, I learned a bonus fact. I quote Ms. Straker:
If you miss the supermoon this week, the new year will bring you another chance in January.
It turns out we have four consecutive Supermoons. After January, the next Supermoon will come in November 2026.
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https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/things-i-learned-supermoon-coming-in-january-2026/
I knew that we had three consecutive Supermoons from October-December (see Newsletter Leaf Journal 253). I did not however remember the date of the recent December “Cold Supermoon” off the top of my head. I found the date in an article by Renee Straker for The Weather Channel. In that article, I learned a bonus fact. I quote Ms. Straker:
If you miss the supermoon this week, the new year will bring you another chance in January.
It turns out we have four consecutive Supermoons. After January, the next Supermoon will come in November 2026.
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https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/apples-2015-ifixit-app-ban-12-15-25/
While reading about iFIXIT’s new FixBot, I learned that IFIXIT has had app difficulties with Apple’s App Store in the past. Back in 2015, IFIXIT “tore down the Apple TV and Siri Remote” that had been sent to it by Apple. IFIXIT, which had an iOS app, explained what happened next:
A few days later, we got an email from Apple informing us that we violated their terms and conditions—and the offending developer account had been banned. Unfortunately, iFixit’s app was tied to that same account, so Apple pulled the app as well. Their justification was that we had taken ‘actions that may hinder the performance or intended use of the App Store, B2B Program, or the Program.’
It sounds like the disappearing of the IFIXIT app was downstream from the suspension of IFIXIT’s developer account. Fortunately, the 2015 post comes with a happy 2025 update:
iFixit has an all-new mobile app in the App Store and the Android Play Store. This archived post is about the previous version of the app. We spent our time in the penalty box, and Apple has reinstated our account. We appreciate their consideration.
Ihave never used the iFIXIT app (the website works well enough for me), but I am glad to read that it is once again an option for people with iPhones and iPads.
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https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/things-i-learned-mixue-is-a-big-fast-food-chain/
I had never heard of “Mixue” before reading Tom Whitwell’s 52 things I learned in 2025. To learn about Mixue, I turn to the post cited to by Mr. Whitwell, The story of Mixue by Sam Tang. Mr. Tang explains that Mixue is a fast food chain in China run by two brothers who started out selling shaved ice in 1997. The post is interesting and well-worth reading, but I single out the same fact that Mr. Whitwell did (quoting Mr. Tang):
As of Q3’24, Mixue operates more than 45,000 stores globally (only 20 being self-owned). This makes it the largest food chain worldwide by store count.
Sam Tang
According to Newsweek, as of September 2024, about 90% of Mixue’s approximately 45,000 outlets were located in China, while noting that some of the non-China locations are found in Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia. The Economist noted that there were no Mixue locations in the United States as of March 7, 2025 (perhaps that is why I never heard of it). It is worth noting that Mixue’s business model is different than some other big chains. According to BBC, “[u]nlike Starbucks, which operates more than half of its stores directly, almost all of Mixue’s outlets are run by franchises.” Mr. Tang explained that Mixue generates “revenue primarily by providing raw materials and equipment to franchisees (97% of their revenue), rather than collecting hefty franchise fees or taking a share of profits.” There may be some other caveats in assessing what the world’s biggest fast food chain is. For example, BBC noted that the 45,000 number was “according to Mixue,” which touted the big total for slightly eclipsing McDonald’s and Starbucks, which it placed at “over 43,000” and “40,576” respectively. But regardless of how you count, it sounds like Mixue is doing big business in China and in the markets (I am good though, I think we already have enough junk food options).
#business #china #fastFood #learning2025 #mcdonaldS #starbucks
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https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/blind-cat-head-tilts-12-13-25/
My good friend and New Leaf Journal colleague Victor V. Gurbo once published an article on trying to ascertain whether his cat was deaf. There was no doubt however that his cat cold see. But what about blind cats? I found answers to many blind cat questions in an article on COAPE titled Navigating Life’s Spectrum: Understanding the behavioural nuances of sharing your life a blind cat (HT Wiktor Tkaczyk). The article includes many blind cat facts and tips. I share one below:
Many blind cats engage in ‘head-tilting,’ using their ears to ‘feel’ their way around.
When I see head-tilting, my first thought is an anime produced by studio Shaft. I now add “blind kitty” to my list of head tilt associations.
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https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/original-wizard-of-oz-movies-11-30-25/
I have seen the famous 1939 The Wizard of Oz movie. But was that the first theatrical adaptation of L. Frank Braum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz? Had you asked me before November 17, 2025, I may have tentatively guessed it was. But I now know better thanks to Sterling Dudley writing for Internet Archive Blogs:
Rightly remembered for its masterful execution and translation of the fairytale Oz to the big screen, MGM’s The Wizard of Oz (1939) remains the primary association with Oz for most audiences. However, despite its iconic status, that version was preceded by multiple filmed adaptations. Between 1908 and 1925, at least six silent adaptations brought Oz to life, some now lost, others surviving in fragments that reveal inventive visual interpretations often drawn from the stage musicals of the era.
Sterling Dudley (“The Wonderful Public Domain of Oz“)
The famous Wizard of Oz starring Judy Garland as Dorothy was the seventh (that we know of)Wizard of Oz movie. According to Mr. Dudley, there were six silent adaptations of The Wizard of Oz “between 1908 and 1925.” However, he goes on to note that the first was released in 1910 (see video on Internet Archive), so I am unsure what the 1908 date refers to. The original article is well-worth reading and comes with plenty of links to public domain Wizard of Oz resources.