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Cool tools really work.
A cool tool can be any book, gadget, software, video, map, hardware, material, or website that is tried and true. All reviews on this site are written by readers who have actually used the tool and others like it. Items can be either old or new as long as they are wonderful. We post things we like and ignore the rest. Suggestions for tools much better than what is recommended here are always wanted.
Nordic walking poles — NOT trekking poles. Trekking poles are held in front with bent arms to aid with balance and assist particularly in hiking on steep inclines; Nordic walking poles are held at the side and behind with straight arms and aid with propulsion, useful on relatively level terrain. The point is, Nordic walking poles make walking more enjoyable (and burn 20% more calories with no perceptible increase in effort — indeed, they seem to make walking easier — and also make walking a full-body exercise). The poles I use are the Exel Pro Curve one-piece poles, but those I had order from the UK. I do like them a lot, as I explain.
Seed and nut grinder with removable cup. I got this initially to grind flaxseed, but now I use it constantly to grind spices (dried chipotles, cumin seed, fennel seed, etc.), chia seeds, turmeric root, etc. Reliable, easy to use, easy to clean. Whole spices stay fresh longer, so it works well to grind them just before use.
MacBook Air with 15” screen. I had not realized what an enormous difference the slightly larger screen would make, especially given that the computer when closed and carried doesn’t seem much bigger than the 13” Air. But in use the 15” feels SO much larger.
DIGITAL
I have been following from the outset the war that began when Russia invaded Ukraine, and Jake Broe has been a reliable chronicler of the war, with three reports a week plus additional things like interviews, questions of the month, and the like. Caolan Robertson has been exceptionally good lately (e.g., with his exposé of Ireland’s support for a Russian factory there that provides tons of aluminum for Russia’s war machine), but for day-in, day-out reliability, Jake Broe is hard to beat.
My invisible item is an essay, and in connection with that essay, I offer this basic introduction to Esperanto, which can accommodate learners from a wide range of native languages (English is what I used, but the user can choose from Arabic, German, Vietnamese, Tagalog, etc.) — you select your language from the initial screen.
INVISIBLE
I wanted to experience what it is like to be fluent in another language: see my brief essay, “Learning to Learn a Language”. Partly to minimize effort, I chose Esperanto, the learning of which involves patience more than effort.
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