I’ve been using the new Readwise Reader as a repository for all my digital highlights. As an added bonus for users, there is a Weekly Wisereads newsletter that gives me the most highlighted content across the internet. That goes beyond just articles and includes the most highlighted YouTube video, Twitter thread, PDF or handpicked RSS feeds. The newsletter has also been gifting away free EPUBS by notable authors to add to your Reader. I’m an avid user of my Readwise highlighting app, so I really appreciate reading what everyone else is highlighting and reflecting on. — CD 

Residents of the US can get 4 free Covid home tests mailed to them just by signing up here at this US covid.gov site. This offer works even if you got free tests from the earlier round. — KK

In my ongoing war with mosquitoes, I've been trying different ways to relieve the itching caused by these tiny beasts' bites. The Bug Bite Thing is extremely effective, provided you use it right after noticing a mosquito bite. It's a suction tool that extracts the itch-causing mosquito saliva from your skin, providing instant relief. However, avoid using it on your face or neck unless you want a circular hickey. — MF

I love this idea of defining my own visual style. This how-to article outlines how to discover your visual foundation so that you can make timeless and meaningful design decisions. The five steps are:

1. Get personal: Connect to a favorite place or story to find inspiration for your visual style.

2. Get curious: Create a visual research board to collect images, icons, and typography that resonate with your theme.

3. Embrace frequency bias: Look for patterns and recurring elements to solidify your visual direction.

4. Check yourself: Confirm your theme is personal and relevant to you. 

5. Create a definitive visual taste palette: Compile an edge-to-edge board filled with visuals, type, color, and shapes that expresses your unique visual style.

— CD 

If you need to wash and dry clothes while traveling, here’s a drying tip from Jono Hey’s excellent Sketchplanations newsletter. First, wash your garment in the hotel sink. Then, lay it flat on a towel, roll the towel up tightly, and wring it out. After that, remove the garment and drape it over the towel rack to dry.  “With any luck,”  writes Jono, “your underwear will be wearable again in the morning. And if it's not quite there, there's often a hair dryer to help finish off.” — MF

Tipped off by a reader (bookofjoe) I’ve been trying out gourmet instant ramens. Nongshim instant noodles from Korea are noticeably better than your average instant ramen, and good enough to repeat. My favorite is the Vegan style, but they come in beef, mushroom, chili, and other flavors. The ones packaged in cups are particularly handy in a pinch. — KK

I’ve been using these Swedish DishCloths to cut back on my use of paper towels. It’s basically a really thin sponge. They’re super absorbent and can pick up the tiniest of crumbs. When dry, they’re gritty enough to scrape gunk off countertops and stoves — which is exactly what I wanted them for. — CD

When doing manual work it’s hard to get your hands clean of sticky grease, paint, glue, ink, grime – all things ordinary soap won’t remove. The best way I know of to clean super grimy hands is to squirt them with Fast Orange, and then rinse with water. This is the industrial-strength cleaner auto shops use. It cleans better, faster than anything else I’ve tried. The after smell is a pleasant orange, which is a bonus. — KK

Alex Kurtev, writer of the Rabbit Ideas newsletter, has compiled a list of 100+ lesser known but useful websites. I’m not done exploring all of them, but thanks to the list I discovered a search engine for PDFs and free ebooks called PDF Drive, and WikiArt, a visual art encyclopedia where you can search artworks by genre, media and style. — CD

I’m fighting a war against mosquitoes. So far, the best weapon in my arsenal is the Thermacell Patio Shield Mosquito Repeller. It looks like an insulated beverage bottle. It uses butane cartridges to heat a small paper mat treated with an odorless repellent. It’s advertised to keep mosquitoes away from a 15-foot radius, and I’ve found that to be true. I’ve seen zero mosquitoes since I started using it. The downside is that the butane bottles and pads are expensive — a 300-hour supply is about $100. But it’s worth it, because now I can sit in my backyard without being attacked. — MF

If you need to hear how to pronounce a foreign word try the website Forvo. It can pronounce words you enter in the Romance languages, German, Russian and Japanese. If you are unsure of the proper English pronunciation it can do that too. —  KK

This article suggests three questions to help you get unstuck and start making progress when you're feeling frustrated or procrastinating. 

1. What haven't I done yet? Why? — This question helps you identify unfinished tasks and understand the reasons behind your procrastination.

2. What's stopping me from doing this? — This question assists in identifying obstacles and excuses, allowing you to address them and move forward.

3. What is making me frustrated or discontent? — This question encourages reflection on your sources of stress so that you can address those issues head on. 

Procrastination often feels like an invisible hurdle I can’t jump over, but once I get clarity on what my obstacles are, the path becomes clear to me and I can get it done. — CD

Watch sidewalk artists in Waikiki draw extreme caricatures of customers, and their customer’s hysterical reactions. The drawings are much more exaggerated than typical caricatures yet they look uncannily like the subjects. I was laughing along with the people who bravely sat for the drawings. A guaranteed mood lifter. — MF

Like the previously recommended SciHub, Libgen (Library Genesis) is a shadow library offering free scientific papers online. But in addition to journal articles, this Russian-based site also offers magazine articles, books, and especially full textbooks often required for school. I use it to find scientific papers. Scientific and academic information is often very hard to get, especially in the developing world, so Libgen is extremely valuable everywhere, despite the fact that US-based publishers consider it a pirate site they are trying to take down. I was disappointed my own books were not included in Libgen; I’d be thrilled if they were. — KK  

Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR), also known as yoga nidra, induces a state of deep relaxation while maintaining consciousness. If you're unable to take a 15-minute nap when you're tired, I find that one of these free 9-minute NSDR tracks has a similar effect. The guided breathing techniques help to slow down my heart rate, and the body scans redirect my focus from external visual information to a sensation of pure rest. — CD

Rocumentaries.com is a growing collection of over 200 documentaries handpicked by the website's creator for their quality and interesting subject matter. You can filter the selection by Genres and Channels, and each listing includes links that direct you to their streaming platforms. I always enjoy documentaries but don’t have the time to search for new ones, so I appreciate that these films have been vetted and vouched for, and I've added several to my watchlist. — CD 

When it comes to buying produce, I opt for organic whenever possible. However, there are certain non-organic fruits and vegetables that contain negligible traces of pesticides. These are known as the "Clean Fifteen" and are typically cheaper than their organic counterparts. The list includes avocados, sweet corn, pineapple, onions, papaya, frozen sweet peas, asparagus, honeydew melon, kiwi, cabbage, mushrooms, mangoes, watermelon, and carrots. On the other hand, the "Dirty Dozen" refers to produce that, when non-organic, tends to have high levels of pesticides. This list includes strawberries, peaches, spinach, cherries, kale, pears, nectarines, tomatoes, apples, celery, grapes, and potatoes. Choosing organic versions of these can help avoid pesticide exposure. — MF

If you define success in the conventional ways – wealth, fame, accomplishments — then Sam Altman has a great list of tips on How to Be Successful that are very helpful in nudging you in that direction. Altman is the co-founder of OpenAI and ChatGPT, but he published this essay five years ago before he was “successful.” — KK

Using wide-mouth mason jars is a great way to store leftover soups, stews, and curries that I prepare in a pressure cooker. However, transferring the liquid into the jars often creates a mess on the counter. That's where a canning funnel comes in handy. I wish I had purchased one 20 years ago. The one I currently use is the Bilal stainless-steel model. — MF

Generative AI art is particularly suited for architecture. My favorite AI Instagram follow right now is Midjourney Architecture. It features the best examples from diverse creative AI co-artists who generate ultra imaginative buildings and unexpected interiors. It doesn’t matter if these won’t ever be built. (There is a set of multiple images behind each image on the home page.) — KK