The Weekly Write-Up #27
Welcome back, everyone! I apologize for not having a newsletter last week. I didn’t have one because it was a very hectic weekend where nothing seemed to go right for my family (stomach bug, ER visit, car problems, my glasses breaking, etc.)! Plus, it was spring break, so I gave myself a one-week break from my newsletter as well. So, I just really didn’t feel like posting last week. But, we are back with number 27! Enjoy!
In this newsletter…
A great book...until it was just okay!
A cheesy, but hilarious romance film!
How to get Apple services for cheaper!
More fun, indoor activities for you to enjoy!
Literary Picks
THE CHOSEN
Recently, I finished The Chosen written by Chaim Potok which I talked a little bit about in a previous newsletter. The Chosen is about Reuven Malter who is a Jew that lives in America. His life is fairly normal until a baseball accident sparks a new friendship and changes almost everything.
At first, I really enjoyed this book, and it was quite captivating because the plot line was very interesting. As the book went on though, it became more dull and not as exciting until the end of the book. The parts of the book that were interesting and fascinating, I really enjoyed, but the dull parts made me ready to put down the book. I think this all came down to expectations versus reality: where I thought the plot was going versus where it actually went. It wasn’t in a surprise ending/plot twist sort of way (because I would have liked that). No, the book was just completely different than I had expected from the first few chapters. The plot overall was just okay, but there were definitely great and very interesting parts to this book (like the beginning and the end). So, the middle section of the book was mostly just details that seemed a little unnecessary, and Chaim Potok could have made them more exciting. I will say, though, this book taught me a lot about Judaism, and being a religion I didn’t know much about, it was interesting to learn about their customs and how they live their lives as Jews. So, while I didn’t really enjoy the plot because it wasn’t very captivating or interesting, I appreciate how much I learned about Judaism through the writing of Chaim Potok in this book.
Overall, this book was just okay. If you want to read this book, I would say to read it more to learn about Judaism than to enjoy the story. You can purchase this book here on Amazon.
Watchlist Wonders
THE PRINCESS BRIDE
Last week, I watched The Princess Bride with my girlfriend. This was the first time I had ever seen this movie, but I had heard a lot of great things about it from multiple different people. I have been wanting to watch it for a long time, so I’m glad that I finally watched it. After watching the movie, I’m ready to give my review!
The Princes Bride focuses on Buttercup who is to be married off to a prince who she doesn’t want to marry. Her one true love, Westley, was believed to be lost at sea and attacked by pirates. In this adventure, she must learn life lessons as she makes new friends and fights against the evil prince. As with most movies, The Princess Bride had both good and bad parts to it. I think the biggest and possibly the only con was that the plot was very predictable. It was a pretty typical romance/adventure movie, but while it was predictable, it was still very enjoyable. The story was still a good and enjoyable storyline. The best part of this movie, though, is how funny and quotable it is. I was laughing all throughout this movie because it is just a genuinely funny movie! I have also heard this movie quoted endlessly as I go about my daily life (which was one of the main reasons I wanted to watch this movie)! I myself have now been quoting the movie because it is just that quotable. So, even though the plot was predictable, the movie was very enjoyable!
Overall, I really enjoyed watching this movie, and I would recommend it to almost anyone! It is rated PG, but this is also 1980s PG. Other than people getting stabbed with swords, it is otherwise fine. Those who enjoy cheesy romance films will enjoy this movie, and even those who don’t should still enjoy this movie! The Princess Bride can be found on Disney+!
Tech Thoughts
APPLE ONE
An Overview
Earlier this week, one of my newsletter subscribers reached out to me asking about Apple One and what it entails and whether it is worth it. It occurred to me at this point that I should probably talk about Apple One since I have mentioned it in a few previous newsletters. Apple One is a subscription offered by Apple that gives you access to various services that Apple has to offer. While you can buy these services separately, with Apple One you will save lots of money on these services.
The Services
Apple One gives you access to many different services (depending on the plan) like Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, iCloud Storage, Apple News+, and Apple Fitness+. Below is a short description of each of these services:
Apple Music: I talked about Apple Music in a previous newsletterand how it compares with other apps like Spotify. An Apple Music subscription also comes with Apple Music Classical which just dropped this week. Apple Music Classical is a fantastic app, but can only be downloaded on iPhone (not on iPad, Apple Watch, Android, etc). Apple Music is a great music service and has millions of great songs!
Apple TV+: Apple TV+ has numerous great movies and shows for your watching pleasure. It also includes many critically acclaimed Apple TV originals that can only be found on Apple TV+!
Apple Arcade: Apple Arcade has a huge selection of all types of games. There is something for everyone here (action, strategy, racing, puzzles, sports, and so much more). Apple Arcade has some really great games that I intend to talk about in a future newsletter.
iCloud Storage: iCloud is where many of your files, photos, and device backups are stored. Without a subscription, you only get 5GB of storage in iCloud (which is not very much), but you can get much more by subscribing to an iCloud plan. Depending on the plan, you can get 50GB, 200GB, or 2TB of storage.
Apple News+: The best news from all of your favorite news sources all in one app! While you can use Apple News without an Apple News+ subscription, Apple News+ allows access to all of the articles in the app. It allows access to magazines and other content as well!
Apple Fitness+: Apple Fitness+ includes thousands of workouts (Yoga, Strength, Core, HIIT, etc.) with tons of different trainers. If you have an Apple Watch, the experience is enhanced as you can see metrics on the screen and so much more!
Summing Up and Pricing
Apple currently offers 3 Apple One plans:
Individual: This plan is Apple’s cheapest plan at $16.95 per month. This will get you access to Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple TV+, and 50GB of iCloud storage (no Apple News+ or Apple Fitness+). When you do the math, you will be saving $7 per month compared to if you bought these 4 services separately. Note: This plan cannot be shared with family members; only you will get access to these services.
Family: The family plan is $22.95 per month and gets you basically the same services as the individual plan, with two changes. First, iCloud storage is now 200GB rather than 50GB. Secondly, you can share this plan with up to 5 other people, but everyone gets separate accounts, so your music (for example) is separate even though you are on the same plan. When doing the math, you will save $9 per month with this plan. This plan is great for families (hence the name) who don’t need a ton of storage, Apple News+, or Apple Fitness+. If you do want Apple Fitness+, say, you could always buy this separately in addition to this plan.
Premier: Finally, the premier is the most expensive plan that is $32.95 per month and gets you everything. This comes with Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, Apple Fitness+, and 2TB of iCloud storage (which is a lot). Now while $32.95 per month isn’t cheap, you are actually saving $26 per month as opposed to if you bought everything separately (around $60). This plan can also be shared with up to five other people, so all of your family members can have access too!
So, is Apple One worth it? Well, if you are going to use these services anyway, then absolutely! There is no reason to buy all of these services separately because you will save a bunch of money on the plan. When Apple One came out, my family was already paying for many (but not all) of these services. It was a no-brainer for us to get Apple One because we would be paying the same price, but getting extra services that we weren’t receiving before! If you don’t already pay for these services, then you should consider Apple One because it is going to give you access at a discounted price. Even if you just want two or three services, Apple One is going to be similar in price while giving you even more services. It really all depends on what services your family needs/wants and how much you are willing to pay. You can go to the Apple website to learn more and view pricing.
Wild Card
FUN ACTIVITIES VOL. 2
In my last newsletter, I talked about 3 indoor activities that you can do in the midst of this cold spring weather (be sure to check that out if you haven’t already). Today, I’m going to add to that list to make it 6 indoor activities!
Rock-Climbing: I was planning to go rock-climbing last week, but sadly I didn’t get to go. I have been rock-climbing before though, and I can say that it is a very fun activity. What is the most fun about rock climbing is that it isn’t an easy activity, so it challenges you both physically and mentally. Another great thing about rock-climbing is that both adults and kids can enjoy it since each wall is a little different. Epic Climbing is a great facility in central Indiana!
Movies: Watching a movie is an inexpensive and easy way to have a nice night with family and friends or even by yourself. And, who doesn’t want popcorn? You can go to the movie theater, or you can just have a nice night at home watching a movie. Don’t know what movie to watch? Check out the Watchlist Wonders section of every newsletter! Through The Weekly Write-Up, I have talked about tons of movies (you can find a full list here) that you should check out!
Laser Tag: I have done laser tag multiple times, and I think that it is a lot of fun! The goal is to use lasers to shoot your opponents and either take their base or defeat them entirely. Laser tag is a lot of fun, and there are numerous great places where you can go to play. This articlehas 10 of the coolest laser tag places I’ve ever seen, and I’m sure they would be a blast to play at! You can even do laser tag at home with these laser tag guns!
I hope that you will consider checking out and taking part in these activities because they are really fun!