Links

Here are links to some things you might find interesting. Enjoy!

Some of my favorite apps

Duolingo is a great app for learning another language. I highly recommend it. (You can even learn Klingon or High Valyrian with it.) As a bonus, check out this podcast with CEO and founder Luis von Ahn. He talks about how and why he started Duolingo.
Sky Guide is a fantastic app I’ve shared with many friends during the years. From a yacht in Croatia, to a campfire in the Wisconsin northwoods, it’s a perfect way to connect with the stars. It’s well worth the one-time fee in the app store.
Charity Miles is the app I turn to every time I take a walk or go for a bike ride. Choose your charity, and sponsors will donate a quarter for every mile you walk or 12.5 cents for every mile you bike. Link it to your other social media accounts to let your friends, family and followers know that you’ve worked out and supported your charity of choice.
Instagram is my favorite social media site, because it focuses on photos. You can find me there at 1mystique2.
Pandora, the music genome, offers an easy way to find new music similar to what you already like.

I don’t have any affiliations with these, but I’m pleased with the service I’ve received.

Mailchimp is an email marketing service. I blogged a little about it in “My friend Google.”
Yoast is a search engine optimization, or SEO, firm that offers a free plugin for WordPress.

The Lost Kitchen is an Alzheimer’s blog. Miriam Green’s mom has Alzheimer’s disease, and she’s been blogging about that journey. As a bonus, she includes a recipe with each post.
The Alzheimer’s Association blog is a great resource for caregivers or anyone interested in learning more about the disease. It’s updated often by guest bloggers — real people living with the disease, caregivers, family members, advocates and more.
Hyperbole and a Half is a blog that’s no longer published, but you can still read it online. My favorite post is about traveling with dogs. I still laugh every time I read it.

Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World–and Why Things Are Better Than You Think, by Hans Rosling. We’ve been led to believe things are worse in the world than they actually are. Things are improving, AND they can be better. Spread the word.
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, by Marie Kondo. Even though I downsized most of my life long before reading this book, I enjoyed her suggestions about what sparks joy. Interestingly, I had followed many of her processes without knowing.
A Man Called Ove: A Novel, by Fredrik Backman. I haven’t seen the movie, but I enjoyed the book, particularly as it relates to aging and finding value in one’s life.

My latest music crush: Gregory Alan Isakov
Late to the party but loving it: Hamilton soundtrack
Soundtrack for literally anything I want to do: Sleeping At Last’s Atlas 1 Space volumes
Coolest videos: OK Go
All-time favorite musician (and seen most in concert — 7 times?!): Chris Isaak