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It was a mighty fine experiment: Take an original fast-forward science fiction writer, who has been subscribing to Cool Tools …
As I'm sure you've heard, we're in the midst of Prime "Day" at Amazon, a sale event that's going on for 72 hours this time. A few items we've recommended before are marked down quite a bit, like the 10-inch Kindle Fire tablet (56% off), the JBL Go 3 travel Bluetooth speaker (30% off), and the Lifestraw backcountry water filter (43% off). This is a great time to pick up earbuds or headphones, like the folding Beats Solo 4 headphones at 51% off.
This Lifehacker article on how to avoid mosquito bites when you're enjoying the summer weather on your deck is refreshingly concise. I'd add treated Insect Shield clothing to the list for an extra layer of protection, but it's easy to remember a breeze and the right sprays. "DEET really works, and so do picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus. If a mosquito repellent spray (especially a 'natural' one) doesn't have one of these ingredients, it’s probably no good." I usually go for a higher percentage of DEET than they recommend, which you can find online or at sporting goods stores.
I’ve frequently discussed new travel fees popping up all over, but this article showing all the things you can be fined for in Europe was about five times longer than I expected. You may think Europe is more laid-back about showing skin, but you’d better not walk around in swimwear in parts of Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, or Croatia, with some fines exceeding $1,500. Unruly behavior, smoking in public, eating next to a cultural monument, or even taking a selfie in the wrong place could hit your wallet hard. And don’t pull out a dashcam for your rental car in Austria: it’s illegal there.
Now that AI is answering our questions, sometimes even giving the right answer, you don’t see many articles like this answering a single search query like “How Many Passports Can You Have?” The answer, according to this Travel + Leisure article, seems to be “plenty” if you want to go to the effort. There are even circumstances where you could have two for your home country.
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.
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