Splitwise/Construction Physics/Anti-nausea hack
Recomendo - issue #460
Split expenses seamlessly
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
Recomendo is an authentic, hand-crafted, human-written weekly newsletter that is free, but not cheap. Please consider supporting our work with a paid option, now at the low price of $45 per year. Paid subs enable us to keep making it free for others.
Recomendo Unclassified Ads work! Here’s how to reach over 110,000 subscribers for just $200.
UNCLASSIFIEDS
10 Amazon Prime Perks You Need to Be Using. Are you taking advantage of your Amazon Prime perks? Whether you’re already a Prime member or considering signing up, here are 10 Prime member benefits you should be using!
Pets can't tell you what's wrong—but we can. At Sage Veterinary Imaging, pets get human-quality MRI & CT scans for precise answers. People travel from all over to our Round Rock, TX center for expert diagnostics. Learn more at SageVeterinaryImaging.com.
Top-Rated Pet Insurance You Can Trust. From mishaps to major illnesses, Embrace keeps you covered. Get a quote in seconds — your pets deserve the best!
Meet The Daily Upside, a free business newsletter that offers sharp analysis on the latest finance, economics, and investing news. Navigate the complexities of inflation, tariffs, and more without clickbait headlines. Join 1+ million subscribers when you sign up for free.
Recomendo is published by Cool Tools Lab, a small company of three people. We also run the Cool Tools website, a YouTube channel and podcast, and other newsletters, including Gar’s Tips & Tools, Nomadico, What’s in my NOW?, Tools for Possibilities, Books That Belong On Paper and Book Freak.
Re: Life Wisdom. My contribution: When you lose something, remember the first place you looked. After you find it, return it to that place.
Two Thumbs UP: Construction Physics and Andor!