Cool things worth checking out: Kooba/Menu reader/Workshop tip

Once a week, Kevin Kelly, Claudia Dawson, and I send out a weekly newsletter that gives you 6 brief personal recommendations of cool stuff. We have 11,821 subscribers. Here's issue #54. Get the Recomendo weekly newslettera week early by email.

Getting good stuff on craigslist:
This brief, succinctblog posthas great advice on how to find what you want (at least with used furniture) on Craigslist. For instance, dont forget to search for common misspellings of your target. These tips match my experience in buying used tools on Craigslist. KK

Better book finder:
Koobais a fun option for finding the next book on your reading list. Just type in a title you like and youll get an interactive graph of suggestions. You can keep adding book, remove any you dont want or start clicking to create a deeper web of recommendations. CD

Menu reader:
This $8 magnifieris the size of a credit card, and as thick as a stack of six quarters. The lens is 1.75" square and theres a smaller round lens in the corner. A button on the side turns on a bright LED. Ive taken to carrying it in my pocket. It comes in especially handy for reading menus in dark restaurants. MF

Workshop tip:
When mixing epoxies, resins, goops, paints, glues, I always need to dispose of the gunked up mixing container afterwards. I try to hoard used take-out containers and paper cups yet run out. By far the best solution is to use flexible silicone mixing bowls. Nothing sticks. Turn them inside out to clean, and use again and again. They come in all sizes. You need only one each size. Since I mostly use small amounts of epoxy, I use the smallest silicone cup I could find,Norpro Mini Pinch Cups. KK

Become a mind reader:
A good practice in empathy I like is copying someones body language to get a glimpse of what theyre feeling. Sometimes taking notice is enough, but if you mimic a persons posture or positioning you might be able to understand them better. CD

DIY Cleaner Spray:
Weve been making our own cleaner spray for years. Its mainly water with rubbing alcohol, vinegar, and corn starch. It cuts right through grease, smells much better than commercial cleaners, and costs less than 50 cents a gallon. The recipe is called the Alvin Corn Homemade Glass Cleaner and isposted here. MF