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Classical Music in the Digital Age
Trivia: What was the first video game played in space (by a cosmonaut on a Game Boy in 1993)?
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August 27, 2025
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Today we’re sharing fun tips on classical music in the digital age, along with the best deals, fun trivia, and more!
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From Italy to a Nasdaq Reservation
How do you follow record-setting success? Get stronger. Take Pacaso. Their real estate co-ownership tech set records in Paris and London in 2024. No surprise. Coldwell Banker says 40% of wealthy Americans plan to buy abroad within a year. So adding 10+ new international destinations, including three in Italy, is big. They even reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO.
Paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approvals.
What We’re Reading
Get these e-book deals before they’re gone.
 | By: Larissa Hommes A sweet sports romance: Physical therapist Piper refuses to date hockey players, but cocky, gorgeous Zeke is testing her patience--and her rules! As they bond during therapy sessions, both their walls begin to come down. Are they willing to risk it all on love |
Dear Joanne
Your questions, her wisdom — Joanne’s here with thoughtful advice, warm humor, and a listening ear for whatever’s on your mind.
My, how the summer has flown by. Here we are, the last Wednesday of August. As the saying goes, the older we get the faster time flies. I never believed that when I was younger but now, I realize how true that is.
For those of you that love to travel now that you are retired, this column will either make you laugh or believe I am a crazy person. Or both.
This week I find myself preparing for a trip with my husband. We are going on a ten night cruise to a much warmer climate than where we live. In addition to the cruise, my husband bought me the most magnificent birthday gift a girl (my age) could ever want… I meet and greet with Donny Osmond! I am so excited I can’t even express myself in words.
Now the dilemma. Two or three vacations ago the airline lost our luggage, and we were just a few hours away from taking a cruise without any of our personal belongings. After that scare we made the joint decision that we would only travel with a carry-on for each of us. Now I have to pack for a 14 day vacation with just a carry-on that abides by the restrictions that all airlines follow. I am sincerely asking all the women out there – how can I pull this off?
My husband laughs at me when I say I need an outfit for every day and an outfit for every night. In reality I know that is not the case. In the past I have always left about 50% of the items I bring with me untouched. So, I continue to try to streamline.
Five pair of shorts, ten tops, four dresses, two pair of crop pants, three pair of slacks, five t-shirts, three pair of flip-flops/sandals, two bathing suits, one coverup, one sweatshirt (in case it gets cold), socks and undergarments. I’ve become an expert at compression bags so I think I might be ok in squeezing everything in the carry-on.
My backpack will have typical travel documents and identification, medication, wallet, jewelry, my Kindle, cell phone, charger, earbuds, notepad, snacks, reading glasses, sunglasses, gum, and pen. My husband will carry my laptop and related work items because those items just become too heavy for me.
On the airplane, I’ll wear my jeans (too bulky to carry), sneakers (won’t fit inside the carry-on), and light windbreaker.
But the dilemma comes when it comes to meeting Donny! What will I wear? What will make me look thinner? I will have to wear make-up. My hair will need to be just so. Oh, the pressure! The meet and greet comes with a professional photo, so everything will need to be perfect.
Do I sound stressed? I am always very stressed right before traveling. But once I am enroute, I tend to relax and enjoy.
I know many of you spend time traveling now that you are retired. What are some of your travel tips? Whether it be your thoughts on destinations, packing advice, or relaxation techniques, we would love to hear your advice. Send your thoughts and questions to [email protected].
Until next time, where every goodbye is just a promise of a new hello,
Joanne
On this day in 1958, the Soviet Union successfully sent two dogs—Belyanka ("Whitey") and Pestraya ("Many Colors")—on a rocket flight reaching 281 miles high, and brought them back safely. This remarkable feat marked a major milestone in space exploration, demonstrating that living beings could endure and survive the intense conditions of reentry.
Classical Music in the Digital Age
Classical music has always carried a kind of timeless magic—notes written hundreds of years ago that still have the power to move us. But in today’s digital world, this centuries-old art form has slipped into the modern spotlight in some unexpected ways. Once tucked away in concert halls and record collections, it now lives just as comfortably on your phone, tablet, or TV screen.
A Symphony at Your Fingertips
Remember when building a music library meant shelves of vinyl or CDs? Now, streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and Idagio let you summon Bach, Beethoven, or Tchaikovsky in seconds. You no longer need a boxed set the size of a suitcase to hear all of Mozart’s symphonies—just a search bar and maybe a pair of headphones. It’s a world where you can easily discover a new favorite conductor or compare three versions of the same concerto before your coffee gets cold.
Musicians Without Borders
Digital platforms have also opened the stage to performers who might never have reached global audiences in the past. A young violinist in Prague can upload a performance to YouTube, and within days people in New York, Tokyo, or Buenos Aires are applauding from their living rooms. It’s as if the walls of the concert hall have dissolved, leaving us all in the front row.
Concerts From the Couch
Even live experiences are changing. Many major orchestras and opera houses now livestream their performances in stunning quality. Some even experiment with virtual reality, so you can “sit” in the best seat of the house—without worrying about parking, weather, or whether someone tall sits in front of you.
A Few Sour Notes
Of course, the digital age isn’t perfect. Streaming royalties are notoriously slim, which makes life tricky for many musicians. And with so much available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed—like staring at a buffet where you want to taste everything but don’t know where to start.
A Living Tradition
Still, what’s remarkable is how resilient classical music has been. It hasn’t faded into history; it has adapted, reaching new audiences in new ways. The digital age hasn’t diluted its richness—it’s simply given us more doors through which to enter.
And that’s the real beauty: whether you’re a lifelong devotee or just dipping a toe into Mozart for the first time, classical music is right there, ready to play. All you have to do is press “play”—and maybe adjust the volume before the trumpets come in.
Yesterday’s Poll Results: How Do You Keep Track of Your Contacts?
Looks like the phone has officially replaced the old Rolodex—over half of respondents keep their contacts in a digital address book. Still, a hearty 16% are sticking with pen-and-paper charm, and more than a quarter of folks mix and match depending on the moment. Only the bravest 0.4% rely on sheer memory—fingers crossed they don’t forget Aunt Carol’s number!
TOP COMMENTS
“My old address book was never where I needed it, but my phone is!”
“I use my phone's telephone directory. One can add "Notes" to any contact you have. And it's alphabetical (automatically). No sweat...”
“Primarily, I use a digital address book. However, I have an excel spreadsheet with a family/friends list. I use that list for Christmas/invitations, etc. It is the best way to make sure that I don't miss sending an invite to someone who should be getting one. Plus, my very large family knows that I have it and utilize it for their events too.”
Press Pause: The Unexpected Perks of Going Alcohol-Free
Taking a break from alcohol—even for just a couple of months—can unlock surprising benefits. Many people notice improved sleep, brighter moods, and sharper focus once that evening glass of wine is off the table. Energy levels often rise, making everyday routines feel easier, and the body gets a welcome reset that supports long-term health.
It’s not about strict rules or perfection, but about curiosity: what happens when you swap that cocktail for a cup of tea, or skip the nightcap entirely? For some, the answer is a clearer head in the morning, more consistent energy during the day, and even rediscovering hobbies and habits that feel more rewarding without the haze of alcohol.
The real takeaway? Pressing pause doesn’t mean giving something up—it means opening space for unexpected gains. Sometimes the simplest experiment leads to the biggest refresh.
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Slang Phrase of the Day
Phrase: SMH
Meaning: SMH stands for “shaking my head.” It’s used in texts, emails, or social media to show disbelief, disappointment, or mild disapproval—like when something makes you sigh and shake your head in response.
In a sentence: “My grandson had to teach me how to use three remote controls just to turn on the TV… SMH.”
Good News of the Day
Pea Power: A Plant Virus Awakens the Immune System to Battle Cancer
Scientists at UC San Diego have discovered that a virus naturally found in black-eyed peas — the cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) — shows incredible promise as a low-cost and potent cancer immunotherapy. In preclinical tests involving mice and dogs, injecting the virus directly into tumors triggered a robust immune response. It summoned an army of immune cells—neutrophils, macrophages, natural killer cells—into the tumor environment and activated B cells and T cells, creating long-term immune memory that helps the body continue to hunt down cancer elsewhere. Remarkably, this response occurs even though CPMV doesn’t infect human cells.
Researchers compared CPMV with a closely related plant virus, CCMV, which doesn’t offer the same anti-tumor benefits. The key seems to be CPMV’s ability to trigger powerful interferon signals—types I, II, and III—that are known for their cancer-fighting properties. An added advantage? CPMV can be grown using simple materials like soil, water, and sunlight, making it far more affordable to produce than many existing immunotherapies.
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RetireHub Trivia
Want more trivia? Play our “Nostalgia Trivia Game” on our site! We add fresh questions daily, so there’s always something new to test your knowledge.
Not into trivia? No worries! We’ve got plenty of other fun games to enjoy, like:
What was the first video game played in space (by a cosmonaut on a Game Boy in 1993)? |
Which national flag is the world’s only non-rectangular, consisting of two stacked pennants? |
What was the first U.S. national monument, designated in 1906? |
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