On a recent wedding party trip, a group of six of us easily split the costs of our stay, food, drinks, Ubers, and party favors using Splitwise. We created a group that allowed each of us to add our expenses individually, and the app handled all the calculations and cost-splitting for us. All that was left to do was for each person to settle up at the end of our trip. The app is free to use on iPhone, Android, and the web, and we managed just fine with the free version. — CD

Infrastructure nerd

A blog I am really digging is Brian Potter’s Construction Physics, which is self-described as “Essays about buildings, infrastructure, and industrial technology.” Sounds boring, but is thrilling, as Potter deep dives into our built environment. The territory is similar to the podcast 99%Invisible, but far more quantitative. I’ve found his investigations so interesting I am systematically reading through his back issues. — KK

Anti-nausea hack

A study found that smelling isopropyl alcohol pads was more effective than a common anti-nausea drug at reducing nausea in emergency department patients, with peak effect in just four minutes. I bought a box of 100 alcohol prep pads ($6) to keep in my wallet for emergencies. Just hold near your nose and inhale gently if needed. They're so slim I forget they're there, but I'll be glad to have them if nausea strikes. — MF

Grownup Star Wars

The best show in the Star Wars universe is the extended story running through Andor and Rogue One. Tight drama, no cartoon comedy, stunning alien worlds. Season 2 of Andor is now streaming (on Disney+) and it is even better than the first: incredibly intense and gripping. It’s a story about how resistance to fascism stumbles, and the sacrifices needed to prevail. The skill in building these worlds is stellar, with next-century levels of detail and immersion, way beyond the classic Star Wars films. Same universe, but for thinking adults. — KK

Non-psychedelic ways to change your mind

Found on Reddit, this guide to rewiring your brain emphasizes interrupting negative thought patterns, reframing perspectives, and, of course, mindfulness as techniques for mental transformation. There’s no step-by-step outline—and each of these 12 methods requires additional research for support—but I found the guide helpful as a reminder that our brains are transformable. All it takes is attention and intention when it comes to developing better habits. —CD

Life wisdom text file

Merlin Mann's Wisdom Project is a collection of life lessons hosted as a text file on GitHub, delivered with Mann’s trademark humility and sharp wit.

Five pieces of wisdom:

• Write down the travel items you forgot to pack while you're still traveling.
• Sometimes in life, even though it's not your fault, it's still your problem.
• You are not obligated to have a strong opinion about everything.
• Never organize anything you should discard.
• If an item is especially precious or valuable to you, never set it down anyplace that you wouldn't want it to be overnight.

— MF

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