app » bubble level
The virtual world has taken over so many aspects of our lives, but who would have thought hardware tools would be one of them? This free app is incredibly accurate and easy to use. No need to go to the garage to dig out your level. Simply grab your smartphone and the pile of picture frames you’ve been meaning to hang for months. It also features other handy tools like a metal detector and those for measuring angles and surface flatness.
book » unraveling oliver: a novel by Liz Nugent
The Irish author makes the story of sociopath Oliver Ryan both horrifying and heartbreaking, which is hard to do. The narrative shifts between the key characters so you have some understanding of why Oliver is so awful. The dark thriller moves at a quick pace as Oliver grows up, and if the first line doesn’t want to make you read more, nothing will.
podcast » revisionist history by Malcolm Gladwell. Available on iTunes.
These podcasts will make you feel smarter. Gladwell, author and reporter for The New Yorker, currently has two seasons of podcasts that examine topics that have been forgotten or misunderstood, ranging from why NBA player Wilt Chamberlain couldn’t make a free throw to the story of critical capitalization as it relates to education. Last time I thought about critical capitalization, I was in college. He does a great job of weaving stories with interviews so it doesn’t sound like a college lecture.
