America finds it nearly impossible to build big projects now. The Big Dig is a brilliant 9-part podcast that uses the US’s most expensive infrastructure project to explain, blow-by-blow, how it overcame all the forces trying to prevent it from being completed over 30 years. This podcast is classic, dramatic, thrilling – one of the best podcast series I’ve ever heard – and perfect for anyone trying to make something big happen. — KK
About twice a year I will treat myself and buy Sampler Packs from JetPens (as previously mentioned). In 2023, I bought 4 Sampler Packs and my favorite pen to have discovered is the Pentel EnerGel RTX Gel Pen (0.7 mm). I can’t describe it better than the very talented JetPens copywriter does, so here is their very accurate description: Boasting buttery smooth writing, crisp lines, and intensely pigmented color, the Pentel EnerGel is a workhorse pen that even the choosiest pen enthusiasts enjoy. You can buy single pens from JetPens for $2.90 each, but the larger packs are cheaper on Amazon right now. — CD
The Hatch Rest Go, a tangerine-sized portable sound machine, offers high-quality white noise and soothing sounds for better sleep. It's USB-C rechargeable and provides a richer sound than smartphone apps. My nephew and his wife successfully use it for their infant. Impressed, I also purchased one and now use it nightly. — MF
Creative types who create a lot of content online may wonder what becomes of their work after they die. Keeping it going for more than one generation would be a challenge. It is not like books, which can continue without effort. How much would it cost to have your websites and archives guaranteed to remain online and running for 100 years? The folks at WordPress, the software behind half of todays’ websites, will keep your stuff going and hosted for 100 years for $38,000, which works out to $380 per year. As more and more of my work is digital, I am very tempted by their 100-Year Hosting Plan. — KK
When I’m using Instagram, I get served quite a few ads for electronic gadgets and kitchen tools. If I see something I’m interested in buying, I don’t buy it from the advertiser, because they are a dropshipper who marks up the price by a factor of five or more. Instead, I go to AliExpress and search for the product there. That’s where the dropshippers go to find products and the prices are much cheaper. — MF
This post by Julia Evans addresses the misconception that doing good work automatically gets recognized and rewarded, and instead encourages you to maintain a “brag document.” A brag document is your personal record of accomplishments, contributions and learning experiences at work. This can be helpful in promotions and raises when your yearly review rolls around — but more than that it’s a good practice for reflection and discovering possibilities for future development. Here’s the template. — CD
Japan is open to tourists again. Despite its reputation, Japan can be one of the cheaper developed places to travel in. Currently their exchange rate per dollar is the highest it has been in many decades. This 11-minute video by Abroad in Japan will give you all the concrete details on how to travel in Japan with minimal money. It was posted 6 years ago, but the info is still valid. — KK
I liked learning about the 9 types of intelligence based on a theory by Psychologist Howard Gardner. They are: Visual-spatial, Linguistic-verbal, Logical-mathematical, Body-kinesthetic, Musical, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, Naturalistic, and recently added Existential. Here’s an info-graphic and another chart I found helpful. I know what comes easily to me, but this makes me want to develop the intelligences I struggle with: spatial, logical-mathematical and bodily-kinesthetic. My plan in 2024 is to draw more, build puzzles, and maybe try sculpting. — CD
Every year, Matt Mullenweg, the co-founder of WordPress, posts a photo of the things he carries in his travel bag, along with detailed descriptions. His 2023 photo includes 53 items plus a backpack that holds everything. The thing I want the most from his list is the Rolling Square inCharge XL 6-in-1 Multi Charging Cable. — MF
Morgan Housel compiled a list of ideas “that help explain how the world works.” Here are some examples:
Compassion Fade — People have more compassion for small groups of victims than larger groups because the smaller the group, the easier it is to identify individual victims.
Ringelmann Effect — Members of a group become lazier as the size of their group increases. Based on the assumption that “someone else is probably taking care of that.”
Cobra Effect — Attempting to solve a problem makes that problem worse. Comes from an Indian story about a city infested with snakes offering a bounty for every dead cobra, which caused entrepreneurs to start breeding cobras for slaughter.
—MF
The next time you have a big mess to clean up try “the pile method”. The pile method is when you collect all the stuff that needs to be put away in one giant pile, and then sort those things — like with like — into smaller piles, and put those piles away one by one. At first it felt counterintuitive to make one giant mess, but it really does speed up the process and it’s so satisfying to be efficient and tidy. — CD
This simple trick by Coach Mike Nitro shows you how to use your pants as a life preserver. It could save your life if you fall overboard into deep water with your clothes on. — KK
Camille Hartsell, my colleague and research librarian, put together this helpful guide titled "Tech stuff for Ten-yr-olds". Her detailed write-up includes the specific devices her kid uses, how they are used, apps allowed and settings put in place. It’s both thoughtful and thorough, and a useful resource for any parent seeking strategies for regulating their child's screen time. — CD
I bought these gloves for a relative who lives in New England. The forefinger and thumb have touchscreen-sensitive pads on them, so you can use your phone or tablet without removing the gloves. They look nice and are inexpensive. — MF
The US National Park Service offers various passes to all its parks, including a $80 lifetime pass for seniors over 62, and a $10 lifetime military/veteran pass. They also will issue a FREE pass for any current 4th grader and/or anyone with permanent disabilities. Subtle reminder that national parks are one of America’s best ideas. — KK
This website uses simple interactive animations to explain how a wind-up watch works. It begins with the power source—a spring—and illustrates how the power is transferred through gears to keep the watch running for up to 40 hours. The site then moves to the escapement mechanism and other key components found in modern mechanical wristwatches. — MF
Many books would do better as an article, and many films should be a short. I’ve really been enjoying Short of the Week, a stream of short videos that carry the punch of a long movie. These shorts can deliver drama, new worlds, innovation, illumination, surprises, and are rarely boring. Wonderfully diverse in form and topic, they are also widely international. The home site has background info on each, but you can also subscribe to its YouTube channel. There’s great stuff here, from Oscar winners to the most ultra indie. — KK
Managing creative people is a whole ‘nother skill than just being creative yourself. The best practices for managing a group that is persistently creative and innovative is described in Ed Catmull’s bestselling book on Pixar. Catmull co-founded Pixar when it was a computer hardware company, and ran it through its glorious run of producing one hit movie after another. His book Creativity, Inc., recounts the many lessons he learned. I found it a page-turner because throughout the book he focuses on his mistakes, failings, and what he got wrong. Almost no one does that, and yet I found it irresistibly the most powerful way to teach. Get the newly released updated edition, where, true to his spirit, Catmull expands on what he got wrong in the original book! — KK
I think wisdom can be given by a person of any age or gender, but as a woman turning 40 I was really grateful to hear these experienced lessons from a 44-year-old woman. Below are a few of them. — CD
Start or end every day with writing about your life. There’s always something buried underneath the to do list in your head, something you didn’t realise you felt, that when written down, will make everything clearer.
Allow friendships to come and go. Don’t cling onto friendships because they are old. Cling on to them because they bring you joy and comfort and laughter.
The small details of your day matter. Be it your first cup of coffee in the morning, or the way you make your bed, or a walk through the park on the way to work, life is year upon year of stacked up small joys like these. Take pleasure and pride in them.
Put your phone down.
Put your phone down.
Put your phone down.