This short extension cord has an AC plug on one end and four AC receptacles on the other. I like it more than a power strip because you can plug in bulky adapters without obscuring the other receptacles. — MF

This article in Greater Good Magazine tells you five ways to clear brain fog. Three things that can cause brain fog are isolation, stress and uncertainty. For me, walking my dog and using my rowing machine help me to clear out my head, but when that doesn’t work, self-compassion always does. — CD

Among my circle the most recommended new baby book is The Happiest Baby on the Block which presents the 5-S sleeping framework. It outlines five suggested guidelines for getting infants to sleep well. Our daughter and all her new-parent friends have used these principles successfully. I’ve been very impressed how quickly and well our infant granddaughter sleeps. A lot of this info is online by now, but the book is easy to read and handily organized. — KK

This website lists the astronauts in space right now, with links to their Wikipedia entries. They’re all in the International Space Station and come from Russia, China, the United States, and the European Union. — MF

Despite the fact that I use Google maps almost everyday for something, I didn’t know about these 5 cool functions built into the system. I wish I had known about how to share locations earlier. The hacks are presented by Steve Dotto on Dottotech channel in this short video. — KK

This breakdown of pricing tactics is useful to check out, even if you are not a marketer. I learned that consumers respond to alliteration in prices, like “two t-shirts for $25” because it just feels right. Which I agree with! Also, be precise with large prices — like in real estate transactions — $362,978 is better than $350,000. Why? We associate precise numbers with small values. If you sign up on Nick Kolenda’s website with your email address, you’ll get access to his other psychology + marketing PDFs, like Choice Psychology, Font Psychology and Color Psychology. — CD

— Kevin Kelly, Mark Frauenfelder, Claudia Dawson

Tales is a fantastic way to capture and preserve family stories. After asking their team to interview my father, they handled the scheduling, phone interviews, and editing. Two weeks later, they sent me a link to a private podcast about my dad’s life that sounded like an NPR show. Within 30 seconds of listening to the first episode, I was learning things about my dad I never knew! After listening to the podcast, my daughter said, “I just listened to that with Poppy. I’m so glad you got that made.” A Tales private podcast would truly make an incredible holiday gift. — MF

“This is how video calls should feel. Thank you!” Around’s radically reimagined video calls reduce fatigue, free up your screen, and are designed for how modern teams REALLY work today. You’ll never want to go back to Zoom or Google Meet again. Try Around for free.

Learn smarter, not harder. Brilliant.org’s interactive courses help you learn the right way at your own pace. Titillate your mind, interact with concepts, and visualize solutions through fun story-driven lessons.Get started for free today and get 20% off your annual subscription.

Let me guess: Your portfolio has been getting hammered lately? The S&P is down. And crypto is down. That’s why we’ve been reading Alts. While everything else in the world was down last week, their own recommendations were up 1.4%. Join 30k others. Subscribe to Alts for free.

They are known the world over for their impact on technology and the modern world. But the origin story of PayPal and its creators—Elon Musk, Reid Hoffman, Peter Thiel, and many others—has gone untold. Until now. Check out THE FOUNDERS, from award-winning biographer Jimmy Soni.

If Mark Zuckerberg and Tim Cook agreed on something, it would be this business newsletter. Founded by investment bankers. The Daily Upside is our favorite source for premium business news that’s actually worth reading. Plus, Recomendo readers can sign up completely free.

Venice, 1368. 14-year-old Nico sees a man burned at the stake for being queer. He can’t help loving men, but the risk overwhelms him until a brutal war shatters his innocence. Welcome to the world of THE BALLOT BOY  by Larry Mellman. From Ninestar Press, available on  Amazon.

Career questions? Get your Jobhoroscope and let the planets tell you what study or job is right for you, for your child, or a friend (great gift!). Get a thorough, detailed astrological report of your real talents right away- at only € 34.90. Enter “RECOM” for 20 % off.

Desk Notes explores writing, travel, and literature. Read a new issue every Friday.