The Week USA – August 31, 2019

The best of...dorm-room decor

Consumer

Car and Driver

Say goodbye to the Nissan Versa that was

long the cheapest new car in America. The

2020 Versa that will arrive in showrooms

next month starts at $2,270 more than

the last, but it “fi nally measures up to less

popular but more sophisticated rivals such

as the Hyundai Accent.” Though still an

entry-level sedan, the Versa “has trans-

formed from unquestionably homely to

universally handsome” while improving

its road manners and adding a few class-

exclusive safety features. The ubiquitous

subcompact you might previously have

accepted as a rental “starts being one you

might want.”

Motor Trend

Despite a modest boost in engine output,

the 2020 still feels underpowered. “Step on

the gas, and you’ll hear the transmission

complain as it whines to get the job done.”

But the steering is responsive, the ride is

decent once you reach cruising speed, and

you will get 40 mpg on the highway, pro-

vided you don’t choose the manual trans-

mission over the standard CVT. The Versa

remains relatively spacious, too, despite a

reported 6-inch reduction in rear legroom.

Autoblog.com

Attractive, competent, content-laden, and

competitively priced—“it’s hard to ask

much more from a car like this.” Though

the weak engine prevents it from being a

runaway pick, the Versa is now “a serious

contender for the top spot in the subcom-

pact sedan market.”

LEISURE 29

Tip of the week...
How to pet a cat

Best apps...

For hunters and anglers

And for those who have

everything...

“For ice cream lovers, it is the summer of

our discontent.” The food industry has

taken it upon itself to push dairy-free ice

cream alternatives as the healthy eater’s

choice, and our supermarket freezers

are being fi lled with options containing

caulifl ower, sweet potatoes, even zucchini

and peas. Some of them are vegan-friendly

“frozen desserts”: Oatly is made from oat

milk; Cado uses avocados; Farm to Spoon

uses a pureed blend of caulifl ower and navy

beans. Peekaboo Mint Chocolate Chunk,

by contrast, really is ice cream, complete

with 10 percent dairy

fat and cane sugar.

But every Peekaboo

fl avor promises hidden

veggies in every bite—

in this case, spinach.

$10 a pint, peekaboo

icecream.com

Source: The Wall Street Journal

QAppreciate the cat mindset. Cats were do-
mesticated long after dogs, so they do have
more of a wild streak. They have to learn
to enjoy human interaction when young—
ideally between two and seven weeks old—
or they’ll always be fairly standoffish.
QGive them control. Leave it to the cat to
approach you. If the cat doesn’t know you,
kneel and hold out your hand as you would
with a dog. Nuzzling and purring means you
have permission to pet.
QKnow where to stroke. Most friendly cats
like being touched at the base of their ears,
under their chins, and on their cheeks (but
not on the whiskers). Cats often don’t like to
be touched on their stomachs, backs, paws,
or the base of their tails.
QRecognize danger signs. A sudden turn of
the head, flattened ears, and a twitching tail
all are trying to tell you, “You should really
stop...like, now.”
Source: Southern Living

QonX Hunt, perhaps the most popular app

for hunters, provides detailed topographi-

cal GPS maps that let users track their steps

and mark waypoints. Subscriptions starting

at $30 a year add precise property lines and

unlimited offline use.

QHuntStand is a free alternative that like-

wise allows hunters to create shareable

maps of hunting grounds with pins marking

deer stands, trails, and food plots.

QFishbrain lets anglers network, show off

their catches, and exchange tips, such as

which lures work best where. “You might

even meet your next fishing partner.”

QNavionics is “Google Maps for the water.”

For $15 a year, boaters and anglers can ac-

cess nautical charts, sonar charts, detailed

map overlays, and more.

QFish Rules gives anglers detailed regula-

tions based on location and time of year,

including daily limits and minimum sizes.

Source: Field & Stream

The 2020 Nissan Versa: What the critics say

Small but capable, from $14,730

Costa Farms

Peace Lily

A peace lily is nearly

impossible to kill. This

3-foot-tall specimen

requires little more than

direct sunlight and a

weekly watering. And

unlike the blooms of

other lilies, the fl owers

aren’t overwhelmingly

fragrant. Also available

in a smaller size.

$42, amazon.com

Source: NYMag.com

Vornado VFAN

Mini Classic

The brand to turn to

for the best fans still

produces an all-metal

desktop model that

delivers vintage style

along with effi cient,

quiet air circulation. It’s

available in three colors

and comes with a fi ve-

year warranty.

$50, vornado.com

Source: TheInventory.com

LapGear

Designer Lap Desk

If you need a lap desk,

this model is “the total

package in terms of

style, comfort, stabil-

ity, and build quality.”

Thoughtful touches

include a handle for

toting it across campus

and a slot for holding

phones. The cushion

pattern varies.

$35, lapdesk.com

Source: TheWirecutter.com

Poppin

Laundry Hamper

“For any small space,

this hamper is the per-

fect fi t.” It can collapse

for easy storage, and

the canvas liner dou-

bles as a laundry bag.

Also available in dark

gray, rosy pink, heather

brown, and navy blue.

$70, containerstore.com

Source: Forbes.com

TaoTroni c s LED

Desk Lamp With

Wireless Charging

Everybody needs a

desk lamp, and this one

has a built-in pad for

wireless charging of

iPhones and Samsung

phones. It also features

a pivoting, tiltable head,

fi ve lighting modes,

and seven brightness

settings.

$36, walmart.com

Source: Engadget.com