👓 Stuff #133 - With a chorus of cheers, Matt.

Hey from Dublin,

Welcome to a new week, and indeed welcome to new subscribers. It's great to have you all join me on our continued quest for the curious.

It's that time of the month where I share the latest Stuff Mixtape, just over two hours of music that has been my orbit this month.   I put it all together especially for YOU, and it's the perfect accompaniment to this week's email.

The list is tip-top this week, and I hope you'll find something that makes you curious... thanks again for being here, see you next Monday...

1. Monday Motivation:   Let this week be the one that you kick off some (digital) spring cleaning.  I've written a 9-step guide to getting your digital life fully detoxed.  Not only will a deep clean improve your productivity, it's good for your mental health as well.  
2. Your new superpower:  It's time to get happy, with 25 scientific happiness hacks.  Happiness is a superpower that will make you resilient and productive, sometimes the key to happiness is much simpler than you think.
3. Essential Reading:  More scientific support showing that a four-day work week reduces stress without hurting productivity.  The calls for something different than we currently have are getting louder.  We've already moved from 7 days to 6 and now to 5, so maybe the next step is inevitable.  I'm here for it!
4. Take care: The amazing Kurzgesagt explains:  What happens when you get sick. I've been fighting a cold this week, so this was timely!
5. TWIL:  The top of some US Skyscrapers are absolutely beautiful.  This one in Austin, Texas is lovely.  So is this one in Seattle, Washington.   I had no idea!
6. F*ck it, I need a break:  The average person in the EU works for 36 years, thats a long time with c25 days' time-off a year.   Does your company allow you a sabbatical?  Mine does (every five years), and the benefits of a break to both company and employee are impressive.
7. Show me your Capri Chasma:  Google Earth, but for Mars - check out the Curiosity Rover button, and see how far the brave little fella has gone!  NASA has more info here.
8. AI-ght:  GPTExcel uses the power of AI to generate those mystery formulas that you struggle with on Excel or Google Sheets.  Very useful!  Armchair.ai allows you to choose the right side-hustle based on your interests and skills. Bonus Stuff - 500 AI generated ways to end a letter.  Pained and Penitent, Matt
9. Take me away!  I usually cover these a bit earlier, but this was just released - the 2022 Travel Photographer of the Year.  My favourite is Cal Cole - follow them on Instagram.
10. Finally:  A new daily numbers puzzle - like Countdown, but a touch easier. Digits from the NY times.   Thanks to JG for the pointer.

Only one thing on the Stuff Stereo this week, the new Stuff Mixtape which is packed FULL of incredible things to listen to.

We open this month with a track that sounds like it comes from a bygone age, but is in fact brand new from Italian singer Andrea Laszlo De Simone, and is followed by a track that sounds brand new but is in fact from 70's diva Amanda Lear.

There are some gentle chilled out tunes from Eddie Chacon, Lana Del Rey and the new one from Baxter Dury, called Aylesbury Boy.

We go back to the Summer of Love for Alone Again Or, and then we start to hurtle towards the future with some cool, crisp electronica from Phoria, Floex and Malik Djoudi.

I visit the dancefloor with Klangkarussell, The Blessed Madonna (not that one) and Impérieux.

The last third of the selection is super chilled, with a cover version of classic Ibiza wind-down tune 'At the River', as well as a beautiful stripped back cover a Massive Attack classic.   There is something new from Tricky and a beautiful track from Norwegian favourite Susanne Sundfør.

I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed making this for you.