Tool:
Piskel is a web-based utility for drawing “pixel art” in the vein of retro video games. You can create static or animated images, and download them as animated GIFS. The interface is intuitive. It’s surprisingly powerful and fun to use. — MF

Destination:
While traveling in China, the government will prevent you from accessing Google, Gmail, Google maps, Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, The New York Times, and many other news sites. If any of these services are important to you, you need to use a very good VPN to circumvent the censoring. (China is able to block some VPNs that work elsewhere). The best VPN for China is the ExpressVPN app, which you can load on your phone and laptop. Once loaded it’s pretty seamless and unnoticeable. You can reach any site with fine speed. There’s a monthly subscription of $8.32, but it’s worth it compared to cheaper and free VPNs. It’s useful anywhere in the world sites are blocked. Even in the West, if I am accessing a public wifi spot for my mail I’ll turn it as an added layer of privacy. — KK

Stuff:
I finally bought an Aquis Microfiber hair towel and I use it every day. It’s probably shaved off a minute or two of blowdrying, but what I really appreciate is that my hair is breaking less, and visibly smoother and less frizzy. Also, it’s much more comfortable to wear a lighter, less heavy towel on my head — don’t know why I didn’t do that sooner. — CD

Listenable:
For 25 years Sedge Thomson has convened a weekly live radio variety show called West Coast Live. It’s a warm mix of unconventional live music, conversations with off-beat authors, and playing around with radio. Imagine Prairie Home Companion meets Fresh Air. I listen to (and have been a guest on) the show to learn about great books that aren’t best sellers, and great music not on the charts. And when he does have celebrity guests, Sedge’s low-key interviews take them off their routines into unexpected territories. Select episodes from two decades of archives are available as podcasts. — KK

Spoilers:
My Subscription Addiction spoilers section is my go-to bookmark when I can’t physically wait to get monthly makeup box from Sephora. But this site is so much more than that. It’s a massive directory of subscription boxes you can search by gender, categories, and countries. As well as reviews, promo codes and a free forum for swapping items. — CD

Travel:
Airlines are reluctant to tell passengers the real reason a plane is late, or how long a delay will actually last. But if you go to your airline’s special cargo website, you’re more likely to get the real story. I’ve also found FlightAware to be an accurate source of information about delays. — MF

-- Kevin Kelly, Mark Frauenfelder, Claudia Dawson 03/5/17