Stable Doodle/Mind Window/Chimp Empire
Recomendo - issue #367
Turn doodles into fine art
Stable Diffusion just launched Stable Doodle, a free website that converts simple sketches into detailed art using generative AI. It’s addictively fun. Here’s a sketch I made and the result when I asked it to turn it into a “Hosukai print of a monstrous mule-tiger ascending Mt Fuji.” — MF
Mind Window
Mind Window is an app developed by researchers at the University of Arizona that gives you insight and data on your thought patterns. Every day I get six prompts at random times to reflect on what I just thinking about. The app generates a word cloud of my thoughts and tracks my mood and what I most commonly focus my attention on. By using the app you consent to participate in their research study. Personal information is stored anonymously and securely, and participants may edit or remove their personal information at any time. I’ve only been using it for 5 days but some things I learned about myself is that my thoughts are split 50/50 between Future focus and Present focus (not Past), and right now my word cloud is made up of: Thinking, Love, Future, Weather, Feeling, Waking, Moment and Energy. — CD
Chimp drama
Running on Netflix, this 4-part nature documentary is extraordinary. Chimp Empire closely follows the largest known band of wild chimpanzees as individual chimps struggle to prosper, while their tribe wages war with other tribes for food resources. The intimacy you get is stunning. (It is directed by the same guy who did My Octopus Teacher.) Love triangles, betrayal, misfits, mafia bosses, murder. The personalities and drama are shockingly familiar. It is the chimpanzee equivalent of The Game of Thrones. I sure hope they keep it going with future seasons. — KK
Art follow
One of my favorite living artists is Tauba Auerbach. I first encountered her work at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, where she had a solo show at the age of 40. There is a nerd appeal to her work. She enjoys knots, new materials, geometry, calligraphy, camouflage, glass blowing, weaving patterns, all in service of beautiful surprises. She is a good follow on Instagram, and is worth a trip out of your way to see her exhibits. — KK
Schengen Calculator
U.S. passport holders are allowed to visit countries in the Schengen area (which comprises most of Europe) for up to 90 days in a 180 day period. That can become tricky to calculate for digital nomads and other frequent travelers, but a free iPhone app called the Schengen Calculator makes it easy to see how many days you have remaining. Schengen Calculator Free is a similar app for Android. — MF
Motivational Video Archive
This online collection of motivational videos made by artist Michelle Ellsworth are incredibly intimate and funny and comforting to watch. They offer advice on personal problems and creative struggles and interpersonal relationships. They are unedited and around 2-5 minutes long. It doesn’t seem to be updated and not all the videos load, but it’s worth spending some time on if you need something uplifting. I clicked on a few titles that grabbed me and each one made me smile and made me feel more forgiving toward myself. — CD
Recomendo unclassifieds are just $150. Use this link to buy an ad and reach out to over 69,000 subscribers.
UNCLASSIFIEDS
Everyday learning for modern thinkers. Get fluent in the key building blocks of data science, programming, math and more with thousands of bite-size, interactive lessons you can easily fit into your everyday. Join millions of modern learners around the world and start your free 30-day trial today.
Find out if a career in IT is right for you in the next 5 minutes! Unlock great salary, growth potential, and opportunities in a tech career. Is IT your calling? Take this FREE quiz to find out!
The Intersection of Wall Street and DC holds immense power, influencing corporate dynasties, economies, and elections. To unpack it all, we recommend Power Corridor. Started by a team with 20+ years of disruptive journalism experience, Power Corridor probes the key players, events, and ideas shaping the global economy. Sign up for free here.
How do Sushi Chefs sharpen their knives? Vincent, resident knife sharpener at Korin, is the go-to for Japanese knife sharpening and care. See his recommendations for the Japanese chef knives that so many culinary professionals use.
Have big creative goals? Feeling stuck? Reignite your motivation. Define your creative vision. Design personalized strategies for consistent momentum. This free comprehensive guide, Bigger, Bolder, Better: Design Your Best Year Yet will walk you through all the steps.
Get smarter in 5 minutes with Morning Brew (it's free). There's a reason over 4 million people start their day with Morning Brew - the daily email that delivers the latest news from Wall Street to Silicon Valley. Check it out!
Recomendo is published by Cool Tools Lab, a small company of three people. We run the Cool Tools website, a YouTube channel, and other newsletters, including Gar’s Tips & Tools, Nomadico, What’s in my NOW? and Book Freak.
in looking for a solid link to the motivational video archive (http://motivationalvideoarchive.org/), i found this cool article from 2017 about michelle ellsworth- she does still post to it just intermittently:
https://www.affidavit.art/articles/motivational-video-archive
I drew a crappy picture of mountains and a stream and got a good result with my prompt. Then I drew a smiley face and used the same prompt. I got similar results to my original so it sure isn’t clear whether this is just another text-based image generator masquerading as something fifferent.