Hello, fellow tinkerer 👋 -

December 11th... is it too early for year-end lists? Nope!

The Verge asked employees to come up with lists of their favorite stories of the year, favorite tech gadgets of the year, and favorite non-tech things of the year. I loved the episode so much that I want to do the same. It required some serious thinking!

Without further ado, here are my favorites. And if you have something cool you'd love to share, reply to this email and let me know. I love checking out new things.

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1) Favorite stories of the year:

• ​Did one guy just stop a huge cyberattack? This story is fascinating. A Microsoft employee noticed a tiny anomaly that led him down a rabbit hole that ended with discovering a huge security vulnerability in the technology that runs most of the internet.
• ​Martha Stewart gives Netflix's 'Martha' a scalding review. I watched the Netflix documentary 'Martha' and found it fascinating. Martha Stewart's response was equally fascinating, especially since the documentary was largely based on interviews with Stewart herself.
• ​The rage and glee that followed a CEO's killing should ring all alarms. The assassination of a healthcare CEO in the U.S. is a story that's largely still unfolding as I write this. This article summarizes the internet's reaction, plus reaches back into history to compare it to the Gilded Age.

2) Favorite tech gadgets of the year:

• Dictation apps. I have fully embraced voice dictation this year. I've long used voice commands with my Alexa devices, but now have expanded into all types of dictation tools. I dictate everything from fleeting thoughts to full-blown blog posts. I couldn't pick a single app, so you can read more about how I use dictation here.
• Desk accessories: I've added a few tech-adjacent accessories to my desk, including an arm stand for my microphone, an arm to hold my cell phone (to record videos), and an arm for my webcam. These arms make it easy for me to move my tech out of my way as needed.
• Apple CarPlay. A few weeks ago, I traded in my well-loved minivan for a new SUV. As a result, I've entered the world of Apple CarPlay. I previously used an Echo Auto from Amazon to control *some* things using Alexa voice commands, but the CarPlay is so much better.

3) Favorite non-tech things of the year:

• Ugmonk's analog productivity system. Much as I love apps and tools, I also keep track of a few things using pen and paper. These products from Ugmonk are beautiful and practical.
• My standing desk: I put this laptop stand on top of an existing standing desk and put a walking pad underneath. I can now walk while working on my laptop or listening to a podcast. (Check out a pic of my setup here.)
• Wicked. The movie. I loved it; it was perfect, no notes. I'm a huge musical theater geek and have seen the Broadway production of Wicked twice. Planning to see the movie again before it leaves the big screen.

Want more ideas?

→ Do you have plans to improve your tools and processes in the new year? Check out this podcast episode.

→ If you're self-employed, here's a guide to a holiday season on your terms.

→ It feels like people are at a breaking point (my own reaction to the United Healthcare CEO story)

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That's it for this issue of Tinkering! See you again in two weeks.

Cheers,
Anna

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