Verbatim search/Home battery/Ad-free Boing Boing
Recomendo - issue #435
Verbatim search results
If you're finding that using quotation marks no longer returns exact phrase matches on Google, here's a workaround: After conducting your search, click on "Tools" under the search bar, then click on “All Results” and choose “Verbatim”. This will display search results that match the exact phrase you entered. — CD
Home battery
The next big step after installing solar panels on your roof is to install big batteries in your garage. That way you can manage your power better and have plenty on hand during power outages. The slickest off-the-shelf solution is a Tesla Powerwall. The non-Tesla alternative we went with is about the same price ($12,000 per 13 kwh) and capacity, but with a slightly longer warranty. We installed two Franklin lithium iron phosphate batteries, the standard composition for homes. Instead of feeding our electrons back into the grid at a low price, we get to use all the energy we produce during evenings and nights, and for charging our electric car. And during storms, we keep the lights and refrigerators on. Franklin is a complicated system installed by pros. For the true do-it-yourselfer who wants the cheapest possible home battery system, go to BigBattery.com to get your gear. — KK
Boing Boing goes ad-free
In 1987, my wife Carla and I launched Boing Boing, a zine exploring cyberpunk sci-fi, indie comics, and fascinating oddballs. It evolved into a blog with contributions from our journalist friends, covering technology, culture, politics, and wonderfully weird discoveries. After 20 years of increasing ad dependence, we're excited to offer an ad-free premium version that's so much cleaner. Recomendo readers get 25% off their first year – I hope you'll check it out! — MF
Worldwide package tracking
This all-in-one package tracking page will be particularly useful during the holiday season. It allows you to track up to 40 packages from over 2,500 different carriers worldwide. — CD
Animation art
An artist I follow on Instagram is Andy Thomas. He creates these very whimsical, hard to explain animations of fantasy shapes. He says he does not use AI. They appear to be half biological, half algorithmic creations and are unlike anything I’ve seen. I like their energy. — KK
Mini quick-release that actually works
This titanium quick-release keychain is built like a tiny tank with a clever ball-bearing collar mechanism. I use it to separate my house key from a carabiner that's clipped to my shoulder bag. It takes deliberate action to detach (no accidental separations), yet disconnects smoothly when you want it to. Here's a photo so you can see how small it is. — MF
Recomendo is an authentic, hand-crafted, human-written weekly newsletter that is free, but not cheap. 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 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, Just 1 Question, Books That Belong On Paper and Book Freak.
Recomendo Unclassified Ads work! Here’s how to reach over 90,000 subscribers for just $150.
UNCLASSIFIEDS
One Pair of Glasses. Endless Style. Get Yours at Pair Eyewear! Personalize your look with hundreds of magnetic toppers, including a new Holiday collection! Starting at $60. Shop the collection today!
Where to Find the Best Deals on Hoka Shoes Finding Hoka shoes on sale can be tricky, so we’ve rounded up the top 8 stores to find the best deals for Hoka!
Broken Minds Thriller series: Dr. Bryce Davison, psychologist & law enforcement consultant, unravels chilling crimes while battling inner demons. Six pulse-pounding books blend dark suspense with unique therapy insights, revealing both criminal minds and those healed.
The Workaround is a weekly newsletter of business stories that share shortcuts to success and traps to avoid. Join thousands of startup founders, corporate innovators, and tech-enabled service leaders who learn secrets and leave with a smile.
Want to stop procrastinating on the creative goals you “say” are most important to you? Don’t let your ideas die inside your mind. Use this Free guide, grounded in the psychology of creative work, to overcome your resistance and make getting started easy & enjoyable.
That Boing Boing title is very misleading. It isn’t going ad-free — you are offering a (paid) ad-free option. Very disappointing and much less interesting than the title would suggest.
Given the quality of Google searches going down over the past decade, like two years ago I found Kagi. The search results are too good. You do have to pay to use it but, man, I can't go back. Not sponsored or anything, just my anecdotal take.