Free Audiobooks/Adios Selina/Remote Work Saves the Day

Nomadico issue #115

A weekly newsletter with four quick bites, edited by Tim Leffel, author of A Better Life for Half the Price and The World’s Cheapest Destinations. See past editions here, where your like-minded friends can subscribe and join you.

Selina Going Under

First it was WeWork that imploded, now it’s Selina’s turn. Despite the massive move to remote work that happened the past few years, global co-living chain Selina is in insolvency now after failing to make debt payments. As often happens when a quest for growth pushes aside everything else, setbacks snowballed into a collapse when interest rates went up. “The company has lost almost all of its value since going public in December 2021 with a $1.2 billion valuation.” Although their subscription model was compelling for globetrotting nomads, apparently not enough to keep them afloat.  

Free Public Domain Audiobooks

In cheerier news, public domain books that you could already read for free are available in free audiobook versions as well. More than 70,000 titles are up now through the Listenly platform. Get schooled on your next road trip with titles from the likes of Jane Austen and Joseph Conrad, but also newer voluntary public domain titles from the likes of Paul Graham. The even have a “banned books” category for classics that some school board or another has deemed too dangerous for young minds.

Germany Regains the “King of Hops” Title

Here’s something for the Europeans to cheer about. After nine years of trailing the USA in hops production for beer, Germany has regained its crown as the world’s #1 producer, with 20,300 hectares of land devoted to the crop. According to the German Tourism Board, there are more than 1,500 breweries in Germany and the average person living there drinks 95 liters of the beverage per year. Here’s more from them on their own craft beer scene.

Did Remote Work Save the U.S. Economy?

Economists have been scratching their heads at how the U.S. defied all predictions and managed to rev up the economy post-COVID while also keeping unemployment low and pushing inflation down. This defies all the models for what should have happened (and what mostly did happen in other countries). A new academic working paper proposes that the answer is…remote work. The USA has the highest percentage of remote workers as a portion of the total labor force and the author points to this as a big factor in why the U.S. economy has trounced most others. The cheers come with a downside though: the reason this worked is that the remote workers were willing to accept smaller pay increases as they got rid of costs for commuting and child care.

08/1/24

Book Freak 166: The Hacking of the American Mind

How Corporate America Hijacked Our Pursuit of Happiness

Hi Book Freaks! Welcome to another issue of the newsletter that delivers useful ideas from a wide variety of books. I would love to learn from readers about books that have changed their thinking and behavior. Please share them in the comments. — Mark

Get The Hacking of the American Mind

The Hacking of the American Mind presents a compelling case for how our modern society has confused pleasure with happiness, leading to widespread addiction, depression, and chronic disease.

The author is Robert Lustig, M.D., a pediatric endocrinologist and professor emeritus at the University of California, San Francisco. He argues that the relentless pursuit of pleasure through sugar, recreational drugs, technology, and other stimulants has rewired our brains, leaving us less capable of experiencing true contentment. By understanding the neurochemistry behind our emotions and the forces trying to manipulate them, we can make more informed choices about how we spend our time and energy in pursuit of true happiness.

Here are three key insights from the book:

Pleasure and happiness are not the same thing

Lustig explains the crucial neurochemical difference between pleasure (driven by dopamine) and happiness (associated with serotonin):

“Reward is short-lived (about an hour, like a good meal). Get it, experience it, and get over it. Why do you think you can’t remember what you ate for dinner yesterday? Conversely, contentment lasts much longer (weeks to months to years). It’s what happens when you have a working marriage or watch your teenager graduate from high school. And if you experience contentment from a sense of achievement or purpose, the chances are that you will feel it for a long time to come, perhaps even the rest of your life.”

Our modern environment is designed to hack our reward system

Corporate interests have deliberately exploited our brain chemistry to keep us consuming:

“By driving dopamine release, they all acutely drive reward, and in the process they also drive consumption. Yet, when taken to extreme, every stimulator of reward can instead result in addiction. For heroin or cocaine, you need a dealer and a wad of cash. For alcohol or nicotine, you need an ID. But for sugar, all you need is a quarter or a grandma.”

The path to contentment lies in mindful living

Lustig offers practical advice for reclaiming our mental health:

“Connect, contribute, cope, cook: each of these has the capacity to pull you out of addiction by limiting the need for reward by optimizing the effects of dopamine and reducing cortisol—and lift you out of depression by increasing contentment and the effects of serotonin.”

Readers can apply the book’s ideas by:

1. Being more aware of how technology and processed foods affect their mood and motivation.
2. Prioritizing activities that promote long-term contentment over short-term pleasure.
3. Cultivating social connections, contributing to their community, developing healthy coping mechanisms, and cooking whole foods.
4. Advocating for policies that protect public health over corporate profits.

07/31/24

Zakka Embroidery / MR. ROBOT

Books That Belong On Paper Issue No. 25

Books That Belong On Paper first appeared on the web as Wink Books and was edited by Carla Sinclair. Sign up here to get the issues a week early in your inbox.

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ZAKKA EMBROIDERY PRESENTS DESIGNS THAT ARE AN ELEGANT BLEND OF JAPANESE AND SCANDINAVIAN STYLE

Zakka Embroidery: Simple One- and Two-Color Embroidery Motifs and Small Crafts
by Yumiko Higuchi
Roost Books
2016, 192 pages, 8.3 x 0.6 x 5.9 inches, Paperback

Buy on Amazon

I’m a sucker for fiber arts. I only ever had a passing interest in embroidery and basically did all of my needlework embellishments freehand and on-the-fly. But since hitting the embroidery thread jackpot at a yard sale last summer, I’ve been inching slowly closer to learning the actual craft. Zakka Embroidery was exactly what I needed.

Yumiko Higuchi first draws in readers with a collection of beautiful embroidery motifs (shot clearly and up close so that you can practically feel the stitches on the muslin) with corresponding projects. All the motifs are garden/nature inspired and only use one or two colors of thread. This was a huge selling point for me, as I am not naturally drawn to overly colorful designs and have a hard time figuring out what goes well together (outside of gray and dark gray). The projects range from sweet, floral clutches and satchels, to baby items, to home decor. There are a lot of great gift-projects in this book. The second half is a thorough, photographically illustrated guide to embroidery techniques, and then the actual embroidery and project patterns.

Because many of the projects in this lovely little book do involve sewing, it’s good to have some basic sewing skills to fully utilize it. But don’t let that stop you! You can easily embroider these motifs onto pre-made garments (some projects actually call for this), tea towels, or accessories. You could even make these tiny gardens into your classic wall-hanging, but I think one of the nicest things about this book is that everything is intended to be actually used, worn, and appreciated in action.

– Mk Smith Despres

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MR. ROBOT: RED WHEELBARROW: (EPS1.91_REDWHEELBARR0W.TXT)

MR. ROBOT: Red Wheelbarrow: (eps1.91_redwheelbarr0w.txt)
by Sam Esmail, Courtney Looney
Harry N. Abrams
2016, 160 pages, 7.7 x 0.5 x 9.8 inches, Hardcover

Buy on Amazon

This is without question one of the strangest books I’ve ever purchased. I feel like Amazon just shipped me the handwritten journal of a complete lunatic, at the same time I’ve never felt more connected to a fictional character. If you haven’t seen it, Mr. Robot is an amazing counter culture, techno thriller that I highly recommend. If you’re not a fan, this book will mean nothing to you. If you are a fan, this book is something special.

The book, much like the show, is a total mindbender. It’s a journal that’s actually featured in Season 2 of the series, and the entries follow the plot of the season. It’s written from the show’s main character Elliot’s point of view, in his own handwriting, and features his many…demons. There are also notes added from a secondary character, seen briefly throughout the season, who’s trying to piece together Elliot’s story. Just like reading someone’s actual journal, this offers a lot of perspective and insight into Elliot’s character, and what his motivations are moving forwards.

The printing is amazing. The handwriting in pencil looks like you could smudge it with a wet finger. There’s also a plethora of collected scraps like envelopes, a cigarette package, and a newspaper clipping, all which add to the eerie feeling that this book was ripped from the TV. I haven’t spent nearly enough time uncovering all that it’s pages have to offer. I found a number chart imprinted on the second to last page, I know that’s got to be related to something. If you’re a fan who wants to go further down the rabbit hole, you’re going to enjoy this.

– JP LeRoux

07/30/24

Rental Tools

Tools for Possibilities: issue no. 97

Once a week we’ll send out a page from Cool Tools: A Catalog of Possibilities. The tools might be outdated or obsolete, and the links to them may or may not work. We present these vintage recommendations as is because the possibilities they inspire are new. Sign up here to get Tools for Possibilities a week early in your inbox.

The right tools to rent

Tool Rental Know-How

The benefits of ownership are often overrated. Renting a tool can be a far smarter way to go than purchasing it. Renting can be far cheaper, and you’ll get the latest version of the tool. You can try out a new-to-you tool. Maintenance is not your headache. For instance you don’t have to store large tools, like a cement mixer. (You do have to return them!) Of course renting is particularly great for those tools you only need for a one-time job. How often do you need a wet saw, or a jackhammer?

But don’t stop there. Most people are unaware of the vast variety of expert tools available for rental from any decent rental store. The choices are mind-boggling and inspiring. Many of these tools will make a tough job easy and smooth. I did a tile fireplace once only because I was able to rent that wet saw to cut through marble like butter.

Every year or so I walk through a large rental place just looking to see what’s available. I come away with ideas like: why use a post hole digger for a fence line when you can rent an auger? Firewood time: rent log splitter, idle rest of the year. At a well-stocked rental store you can rent almost any tool you can think of: paper shredders, moisture meters, gas detectors, chimney brushes, sewer cameras, staple hammers, and so on. I’ll try new things because I know I can rent the right tool.

Here is a small selection of tools you can rent. Most great rental centers seem regional. (Can anyone suggest a great national rental store?) I’ve given approximate rates per day as a guideline, but most will also rent per hour, or half day too. — KK

Rototiller

A mini horse and plow. Really useful when starting your garden area from sod. $85 per day.

Heat Cannon

This is a mega heat gun. Used to hurry the drying of paint or sheet rock spackle. It eats lots of propane and oxygen – ventilation is a must. $135 per day.

Mini Mortar Mixer

You don’t need a full-sized cement mixer to do mortar jobs like laying brick or stone, or making stucco. $50 per day.

Mini Excavator

Aaaah, so cute! This 3-foot wide excavator will go where its big brothers can’t: through a gate, in between houses, onto landscaping, near foundations, into backyards. Its arm can reach out 13 feet and dig down 8 feet, and is strong enough to do minor earthwork. Some have a self-leveling cabin that really helps offset that paralyzing feeling on a slope that you are going to tip over. I recommend practicing before you get in close quarters. $275 per day.

Stump Grinder

No other way to remove a stump. The grinder swings back and forth, throwing off a huge pile of chips. Despite its power, slowly nibbling across the stump down to its roots (don’t even think of using a chain saw) will take longer than you think. $125 per day.

Wet Saw

An abrasive wheel lubricated by water hooked up to your garden house. Will easily and fairly accurately cut tile, pavers, concrete, stone, etc. Use outside if possible. $85 per day.

Steam Wallpaper Remover

Removing wall paper is an ugly mess, and hopefully only a once-in-your-lifetime job, but this makes it possible. $40 per day.

Airless Paint Sprayer

Will lay paint or stain as fast as you can walk. Sucks the paint from its own 5-gallon bucket. You’ll need long cords to feed its electric motor. $90 per day.

Electric Jack Hammer

This has one moving part: it. Will pulverize concrete, whether in a wall or on the floor. Not easy to handle, it will give you a workout. Even though it is electric, it still requires ear protection. $100 per day.

Carpet Dryer

When a flood soaks your wall-to-wall carpeting, you need to dry it out as fast as possible. Stick the “nose” of one of these under the yanked up edge and keep it running till everything dries out. You’ll probably need more than one, and you’ll need to have electric power on. $30 per day.

Ditch Witch

These walk-behind ditch diggers come in all sizes. The small ones will dig narrow trenches for irrigation and cables 12 to 18 inches deep; larger ones for larger or deeper pipes. Call 811 to make sure you ain’t cutting through underground utilities. $280 per day.

Fence Post Driver

Really the only way to bang metal fence posts into the ground. Lift up the weight with two hands, pull down hard over the post. It will employ muscles you have never used before. $13 per day. $80 per day.

07/29/24

Retro Recomendo: Podcast Listenables

Recomendo - issue #420

Our subscriber base has grown so much since we first started eight years ago, that most of you have missed all our earliest recommendations. The best of these are still valid and useful, so we’re trying out something new — Retro Recomendo. Once every 6 weeks, we’ll send out a throwback issue of evergreen recommendations focused on one theme from the past 8 years.

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Learning from death

Frank Ostaseski has accompanied over 1,000 people as they died in a hospice, and in this 60-minute podcast (recorded at a Long Now seminar), he distills what lessons the dying — and death — have taught him. Their wisdom is deep, complex, potent, intimate, and unexpected (not cliche). It will shift your relationship to life. Listening (or watching the video) will be one of the best hours in your life. — KK

Exit Scam podcast

I have only listened to the first episode of Exit Scam, an eight-episode podcast about the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of the founder of Canada’s biggest Bitcoin exchange. When Gerald Cotten died, the password to $215 million of cryptpcurrency was lost, and some people think he faked his own death. This is my favorite podcast since Serial. — MF

The Video Archives Podcast

In 1983, Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avery worked at the Video Archives movie rental store in Manhattan Beach, California. Nearly 40 years later, Tarantino and Avery have teamed up to host The Video Archives Podcast, where they talk about their favorite cult movies of the era. It’s a blast listening to these hardcore film fans reminisce about the films they loved growing up, and they have some great stories to share. — MF

The Gateway by Gizmodo

I was on edge weekly, waiting for the next episode of Gizmodo’s 6-part podcast, The Gateway. Journalist Jennings Brown investigates the dangerous effects of YouTube guru Teal Swan on her loyal Facebook followers. Teal Swan is not a licensed therapist and admits to using SEO and tags to target depressed and suicidal people, as well as creating her own therapy practices to treat them. She is hypnotic, alluring, and adamant that she is not the leader of a cult, even though her followers call themselves the Teal Tribe. There’s much more to this story that I can’t give away, and it made me wish this podcast would never end. — CD

Vital podcast

Supreme Court decisions can be monumental in their consequences, but they often hinge on very specific, sometimes messy cases. More Perfect is a super podcast from the folks at Radio Lab that burrows deep into the specifics of Supreme Court cases, in order to illuminate their logic and meaning. All the episodes are fantastic, but a recent one on the Commerce Clause in the US Constitution — One Nation, Under Money — is especially great. I was shocked how little I knew about this clause, and consider this audio lesson to be essential listening for any American. No matter what your political tilt you’ll be perturbed and educated. Afterwards, listen to the rest of the shows. — KK

Long conversations

A “long conversation” is a new format for a conference. Two speakers begin a conversation on stage. After 15 minutes one of the two speakers is replaced by a new speaker and the conversation continues, and every 15 minutes for the next 8 hours a speaker is swapped out. (Each speaker converses for 30 minutes.) The day is engaging, unpredictable, passionate, diverse, informative, and entertaining. It’s a format invented by Long Now Foundation that is worth stealing. For an example, here are highlights from a long conversation held at the Smithsonian. — KK

07/28/24

Most Flight Legroom/Longer Thailand Stays/Global Entry Delays

Nomadico issue #114

A weekly newsletter with four quick bites, edited by Tim Leffel, author of A Better Life for Half the Price and The World’s Cheapest Destinations. See past editions here, where your like-minded friends can subscribe and join you.

The Most Legroom on Long Flights

If you have a long-haul international flight coming up and you’ll be in the back of the plane, this guide to the roomiest seats in regular economy could be useful. Noting seat pitch, width, recline ability, and roominess of the cabin, it’s a list of which flights will be the most comfortable. I’ve been on two of them and will vouch that flying on Emirates in an Airbus 380 felt like going back in time to the 1980s, as in a far superior experience than what we’re stuck with now most of the time.

Hidden Costs of Home Ownership

If your parents are asking you when you’re going to settle down and buy a house, you might want to send them this Bankrate article on how much it really costs to own a home. When you add in insurance, taxes, maintenance, and repairs, the average U.S. homeowner with an average house is paying an extra $18,118 every year on top of their hefty mortgage. (It’s much higher in states like California.) You could probably pay for a year’s worth of Airbnb monthly rentals in much of the world on that amount alone.

More People Can Stay in Thailand for 60 Days

Thailand’s visa rules change more often than I buy new shoes, but the latest tweak is a positive one all around. First of all, citizens of more countries can enter without getting a visa in advance, from 57 nations to 93. In a great change for nomads passing through, visa-free visitors can now stay in Thailand for up to 60 days, compared to the earlier limit of 30 days. Get the full story here.

Global Entry Renewal Delays

My wife applied to renew her Global Entry status back in December, paying and then getting reimbursed from a travel credit card. As of July 17, she’s still waiting for a response. Apparently that has become so normal that the agency is giving a two-year grace period: you can keep using the program (and TSA PreCheck) as long as you applied in time to renew. According to this article that has a response from the agency, 77% of applications are handled automatically and are swift, but the 23% that are randomly reviewed manually are getting stuck in a huge backlog.

07/25/24

What’s in my NOW? — Luisa de Lachica