Duolingo is an app and website designed to help people learn languages in a simple and engaging way. It’s free to use, though there are paid options that remove ads and offer extra features. The lessons are short and interactive, with exercises that involve matching words, listening to sentences, speaking, and translating. A green owl named Duo acts as the app’s mascot—offering encouragement when you stay on track and reminders when you don’t. The platform offers a wide range of languages, from widely spoken ones like Spanish, French, and Chinese to less common choices like Welsh, Hawaiian, and even fictional languages like Klingon and High Valyrian. Lessons focus on practical, everyday communication—like ordering food or asking for directions—though you’ll occasionally encounter quirky sentences that are memorable in their oddness. Duolingo adapts to your progress: if you’re struggling, it slows down; if you’re doing well, it introduces more challenging material. There are game-like features—points, streaks, and levels—that keep learning motivating and fun. For those looking to go beyond basic lessons, Duolingo also offers podcasts, stories, and interactive exercises to improve listening and reading comprehension. Convenient and easy to use, Duolingo fits into almost any schedule—you can practice on the bus, during a lunch break, or before bed. While it’s not a complete substitute for full immersion or in-depth study, it’s a useful tool for beginners and a good way to keep language skills fresh.

That's right, the Kindle can a great tool for learning Mandarin. You can download a free Chinese dictionary called CC-CEDICT. Then you can tap on any word to get the English translation and the pinyin. There are plenty of Chinese ebooks you can find online for free or purchase on Amazon. I used this method earlier this year to read a few chapters of Harry Potter and now I'm reading The Three-Body Problem by ‎Liu Cixin.

From wikipedia: Meditations is a series of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor from AD 161 to 180, recording his private notes to himself and ideas on Stoic philosophy. Meditations are worth reading if only to get a glimpse at the thoughts of a man who lived a life in truly extraordinary circumstances of being a Roman Emperor. It's surprising how relevant the themes of his diaries are two thousand years later.

The Republic is a Socratic dialogue, written by Plato around 380 BC, concerning the definition of justice, the order and character of the just city-state and the just man—for this reason, ancient readers used the name On Justice as an alternative title (not to be confused with the spurious dialogue also titled On Justice). The dramatic date of the dialogue has been much debated and though it might have taken place some time during the Peloponnesian War, "there would be jarring anachronisms if any of the candidate specific dates between 432 and 404 were assigned". It is Plato's best-known work and has proven to be one of the most intellectually and historically influential works of philosophy and political theory. In it, Socrates along with various Athenians and foreigners discuss the meaning of justice and examine whether or not the just man is happier than the unjust man by considering a series of different cities coming into existence "in speech", culminating in a city called Kallipolis, which is ruled by philosopher-kings; and by examining the nature of existing regimes. The participants also discuss the theory of forms, the immortality of the soul, and the roles of the philosopher and of poetry in society.

Grammarsen is a desktop app that automatically corrects your selected text using chatgpt, helping you stay focused. No more copy pasting and switching tabs. Simply select some text, press a hotkey, and see the old text gets replaced with the corrected version. Grammarsen saves time for students, writers, marketers, english learners, and anyone who types a lot.

"Fooled by Randomness" is a thought-provoking book by Nassim Nicholas Taleb that delves into the role of chance in our lives and how we often mistake random events for meaningful patterns. Through a mix of personal anecdotes, philosophical insights, and statistical analysis, Taleb explores how randomness affects the world of finance, business, and daily life. The book challenges readers to rethink their perceptions of success, failure, and the forces that drive outcomes. This book is ideal for readers interested in finance, probability, and the philosophical implications of randomness.

"The Bed of Procrustes" is a collection of aphorisms by Nassim Nicholas Taleb that distills his philosophical insights into short, thought-provoking statements. The title refers to the Greek myth of Procrustes, symbolizing the tendency to force things into unnatural conformity. Through these aphorisms, Taleb critiques modern society's flaws, biases, and misconceptions, offering a sharp, often humorous, commentary on topics ranging from knowledge and science to wealth and human behavior. This book is perfect for readers who enjoy deep, philosophical musings and appreciate Taleb's sharp wit and unconventional perspectives.

Discover the secrets to a long, healthy, and fulfilling life with "Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life" by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles. This insightful book delves into the Japanese concept of ikigai, or a "reason for being," which is believed to be a key factor in the remarkable longevity of the residents of Okinawa, a Japanese village known for having the world’s highest percentage of centenarians. Through interviews with these vibrant centenarians, the authors uncover how the principles of ikigai—where passion, mission, vocation, and profession intersect—contribute to their happiness and longevity. The book reveals the residents' daily practices, from their nutrient-rich diets and active lifestyles to their strong community bonds and purposeful work. "Ikigai" provides practical advice and tools to help readers discover their own ikigai, offering a blend of cultural wisdom and actionable steps towards a life filled with purpose, health, and joy. This book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in enhancing their well-being and finding deeper satisfaction in everyday life.

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Drops is a language learning app that focuses on teaching vocabulary through quick, visual-based games. The idea is to make learning feel more like playing, with short sessions you can fit into your day. Instead of grammar-heavy lessons, it leans on matching words with pictures, swiping, and tapping to help words stick in your memory. The app covers over 40 languages, from common ones like Spanish and French to less common ones like Hawaiian and Ainu. You get common, everyday words and phrases to start with—things you’d actually use in conversation. It’s built for people who want to learn at their own pace, and there are features like reminders and streaks to keep you coming back. Drops keeps lessons short—usually five minutes—so it’s easy to squeeze in some learning while waiting for coffee or riding the train. There’s a free version with ads and limits on daily use, or you can pay for Premium to get rid of ads, unlock all content, and use it offline. Overall, it’s not going to teach you complex grammar or how to hold a full conversation right away, but if you’re looking to build your vocabulary in a fun, no-pressure way, it does the job.

Learning a new language is hard, you need a lot of repeated exposure to the same words to make them stick. Here's the trick I use. I open ThaiPod101's live channel and let it run in the background while I do something else. For example, I can have it open while cooking dinner or tidying up. Even if I look at the screen only occasionally, I still get the benefits of being repeatedly exposed to Thai vocabulary. This works particularly well in combination with other learning methods. If you have a smart TV or a Chromecast, you can even play it on your TV instead of regular TV channels. The channel runs 24/7 and replays ThaiPod101 lessons.

Italki is a platform connecting language teachers, mostly native speakers, with students. You can book, pay, and schedule your classes directly through their website. The classes are one on one, just you and the teacher, and conducted over a video call. I used Italki successfully before going to Thailand for the first time. My wife who is Thai gave me an Italki gift card. There are plenty of teachers to chose from and the rates are affordable. You'll pay anywhere from $10 to about $20 for a class.

Improve your writing in any macOS application with AI assistance. Quickly correct grammar mistakes, change writing styles, or translate text.

iColoring creates and prints custom coloring pages for free with the AI coloring pages generator. Key Features 1. Text to color: iColoring turns text into unique coloring pages, generating distinctive coloring books for creative projects and educational institutions. 2. Design by AI: By inputting specific text, users get their coloring page with specified designs. This allows personalized messages or themes to be seamlessly integrated into the artwork, enhancing the overall experience. For instance, generate coloring pages featuring a specified logo for children in your educational institution. Benefits 1. Save more time: When you need to do a lot of similar designs, it helps you save a lot of time, especially for batch work or non-high quality work. 2. Generates more ideas: When designers run out of ideas, iColoring provides them with more inspiration and direction. Use Case 1. Help users quickly create coloring pages when their creative inspiration is exhausted. 2. Generate a coloring book with a specific theme for education.

A directory of writer tools, including AI-generators, AI-detectors, and plagiarism scoring systems. Our curated collection highlights the most popular writing tools, ranked according to user satisfaction and effectiveness. We've categorized these tools into four main segments: AI Writing Assistants & Generators, Plagiarism Checkers & AI Detectors, Copywriting Tools & Content Generators, and Book Writing & Creative Writing Tools. Each section is designed to help you find the right stack for your specific writing and copywriting needs.

Greek myths retold by Stephen Fry. He is both the author and the narrator of this book. His wit and sense of humor come across in both the text and in the delivery. Plus, you actually get to learn Greek myths.

“I set out to write a book about what to do to make a great work of art. Instead, it revealed itself to be a book on how to be.” —Rick Rubin

Skin in the Game may be nice but The Black Swan is the OG Nicholas Taleb. Read this book to learn how to think and avoid biases and reread at least once very couple of years.

by George Orwell an expedition into who people are and what life is

YiMeta is a platform for building AI tool websites, designed to help users effortlessly create and customize various AI-powered tools. The key features include: ● One-Click Website Creation: With no coding skills required, YiMeta uses AI to generate SEO-optimized web pages that are ready to use. Users can further edit the content to enhance website conversion rates. ● Rich Collection of AI Tools: YiMeta offers over 100 versatile AI tools and supports unique workflow editing, integrated with ComfyUI workflows. Whether for text, image, or video-related tools, users can create them instantly. ● Professional SEO Structure Management: Leveraging extensive experience in content creation for tools, YiMeta applies advanced SEO expertise to ensure the success of users’ tool websites. ● Convenient Financial Management: YiMeta provides comprehensive analytics for traffic and financial data, enabling users to focus on business growth and keyword optimization. YiMeta offers a free online AI face swap tool. Users can upload photos and perform face swaps without registration.