IMG_0001 is a website that streams raw and unedited videos uploaded to YouTube between 2009 and 2012. All these videos were uploaded with default filenames of IMG_XXXX, and there is no identifying information except for the upload date. The random nature of this content and these glimpses into everyday life make me feel like an alien stumbling upon a time capsule of human existence. — CD

We are slowly weaning ourselves away from teflon non-stick pans. So far we’ve found some good ceramic pans that keep their non-stick for years, but contain no plastics. Per a recommendation from Tim Ferriss, we got a titanium-ceramic hybrid pan, which has fantastic non-stick without plastic. We really like the 10-inch Titanium Always Pan Pro frying skillet from Our Place, coated inside with a matrix of alternating titanium and ceramic. It was expensive, a little deeper than a frying pan, but is now what we grab first. – KK

TimeMap.org presents a world mapwith a slider bar that starts at 4000 BC and ends at the present day. As you slide through time, you watch empires rise and fall. Any interesting civilization or event you spot can be instantly researched — just click on it and the relevant Wikipedia article appears in a side panel. — MF

My dog is trained not to jump on the bed or couch unless his special blanket is laid out first. However, we recently discovered that our microfiber duvet cover ($30) repels dog hair, so our house rules have changed. We no longer lay out the blanket and we just invite him up, which he, of course, quickly adjusted to. I’m not sure where all his dog hair goes, but it definitely does not stick to our bedding. Another reason I’m happy with our duvet cover is that it’s made of seersucker, which means it never looks wrinkly. — CD

I like this tiny thermometer that hangs on the zipper pull of my jacket or daypack. It settles the question of exactly how hot or cold it is. The Sun Zipogage ($21) weighs only half of an ounce (13g) and is digital with an on/off button. (Tiny analog thermometers are not readable or accurate.) – KK

This Cevaton Screen Extender adds two 15.6" 1080p screens that wing out from my laptop. I use it when I'm working on my treadmill desk. It folds flat when done and comes with a sturdy carrying case for travel, but both monitors plus the stand weigh about five pounds, so I don't plan to travel with it (I use an iPad as a second monitor when I'm on the road.). It comes with a variety of cables to connect to most laptops. (Note: it won't work with basic M1/M2 MacBooks.) — MF

For Wordle fans who want more strategy, try Bongo (free online). It's a daily puzzle where you place letter tiles on a grid to create words across five rows, with a bonus word snaking down through them. Each puzzle also contains the guest creator's hidden "purple words." It's become part of my evening routine, right after Wordle and Connections. — MF

I’ve spread these ultra-cheap Uigos LED nightlights throughout our home. They are bright enough to guide me in the dark, but not too bright to use any measurable energy. A six-pack is $10. — KK

This article, written by clinical psychologist Beth Kurland, shifted my perspective on the necessity of processing raw emotions. She describes sadness as "a bit like food that needs to be digested in order to move through you. When left undigested, it can sit there for a long time and cause unintended consequences”. The author provides six powerful "views" or vantage points to help process these heavy emotions. The one that works best for me is the Audience View, which helps to loosen the grip of the story I've attached to the emotion. The practice involves imagining yourself as an audience member observing your experience and then distinguishing between your raw emotions and your thoughts. For example, you might say: "There is sadness, and I am aware of thoughts telling me that I should be over this by now." This helps me label emotions as emotions and thoughts as thoughts, recognizing that neither of these are facts, but rather "food" to digest. — CD

As someone with dry, itchy winter skin and unfortunately non-gibbon-length arms, this 17-inch wooden lotion applicator has become an essential tool. I squirt moisturizer onto the applicator pad at the end of the stick and can easily reach every spot on my back. It's low-tech but solves the problem — no more asking family members for help or leaving patches of dry skin unreached. — MF

This website was made by the creator of the Tree Spirit Tarot and shares the historical significance and symbolism of 78 different trees across many different cultures, as well as psychological and philosophical insights and messages from each tree. It's interesting and educational, and it makes me feel connected to the ancient wisdom of trees. — CD

Netflix is showing a sweet, gentle, sometimes funny, series about old age and a nursing home. A Man on the Inside is created by Michael Schur who did The Good Place, The Office, and Parks and Rec, but this one is quieter, and less edgy. There are 8 very short episodes that are easy going. It’s the most heartwarming thing we’ve watched since Ted Lasso. — KK

I love my Mova Globe. This is a globe that slowly spins without batteries or wires. Its silent revolution is powered by ambient room light, and it will spin forever even from the light of a desk lamp. Internally there are two layers, the visible layer which spins inside a seamless clear shell, which sits on a clear tripod. Mova comes in 5 sizes, and 5 different forms, such as Mars, Moon, a map Earth, or a photorealistic Earth. I have the 4.5 inch (19 cm) version of the realistic Earth which spins next to me as I work. It is drifting right now. Since it isn’t cheap ($218), it makes a great gift for the right nerd. — KK

OSEA is a clean beauty brand that specializes in seaweed-based skincare products. I’m slowly working my way through their entire product line and all of their lotions and oils feel incredibly luxurious. You really can’t go wrong by gifting any of their sets. My favorite rebuys are the Vagus Nerve Trio and the Body Hydration Heroes. — CD

I bought the Pueblo Leather Round Zipper Card Case from SOT when I was in Japan in 2018, and it's one of my favorite possessions. Mine holds a few cards, some paper bills, a band-aid, an ibuprofen pill, and an Apple AirTag. After six years, it shows no signs of wear besides a natural patina on the leather. I think the only way to order it is from the SOT website, or Amazon.jp. Thanks to a favorable exchange rate, it’s about $100. — MF

Modifying a toy nerf blaster to make it faster and stronger was a standard teenage hack. You can now buy hot-rodded nerf blasters online that rapidly shoot magazines of darts 150 feet (45 m). A good choice is the Dart Zone Max Omina Pro ($60) which is equipped with two magazines of half-length darts. It shoots in such a forceful direct line that I can have fun with soda can targets. Ideally you want two of them. Warnings: its battery-powered engine is loud, and you obviously need eye protection (included). — KK

The JBL Go 4 bluetooth speaker is the perfect size for personal use, and its sound quality has proven to be good enough for having a dance party with friends. It’s so easy to take anywhere and connect to instantly, that I find myself listening to music all the time now. Right now it’s priced at $40 and available in multiple colors. It would make a great gift or stocking stuffer. — CD

Looking for a unique holiday gift for your favorite curious person? A premium subscription to my long-running blog, Boing Boing ($45/year), is like giving them a year-long ticket to a cabinet of curiosities. Your gift recipient gets our new ad-free site and newsletter covering tech, art, and wonderfully weird cultural phenomena. It's the gift that delivers fresh surprises every day. — MF

If you're curious about the occult and esoteric but unsure where to begin, Vestus Mysteria is a great newsletter to subscribe to. Joe, the writer, is a history buff who provides clear and easy-to-understand context on the most mysterious subjects. I appreciate that he includes links to sources and book recommendations for those who want to learn more. Each issue feels like taking a sip of the unknown. Here’s a link to a recent issue where he explains the origin of the phrase "Dark Night of the Soul". — CD

In our home we went with window blinds instead of curtains. Over three decades we’ve tried all kinds of blinds, and have settled on these Persilux Cellular Cordless Shades as the best. Through some kind of magic you can raise or lower the blinds with two fingers, and the blinds will rest at the level you leave it. There are no strings to haul or to get tangled. You can get translucent or blackout versions. A number of different brands make them; the key words seem to be “cellular cordless.” The Persilux brand has worked great and I order them online. — KK