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Hi from Dublin, I'm Matt...

Welcome to a new week, I hope that Stuff finds you safe and well.

I'm introducing a new section today, Stuff Recommends, where I share some things that I think you might like - each week it'll be a newsletter, book, film or TV show that I've personally vetted to be worthy of YOU, my amazing reader. I hope you enjoy!

(Do you have something you think I should recommend? Hit reply, and get in touch)

Thank you for being a part of Stuff. If you received this email from an excellent friend, and would like to subscribe, please go here. If you'd like an archive of Stuff from the beginning of 2022 - it's here.

Onward with the Stuff that MattRs this week...
  1. Monday Motivation:   Let this week be the week that you STOP being busy, it's time to reframe the standard answer to, "How're you doing?"  Just start doing less, like the smartest person ever.  You could even give up your to-do list completely because the whole concept is broken.  Try a 'leverage list' instead.  (Tip - this could be one of the best links I've ever posted)
  2. Your new superpower:  It's time to power-up your remote management skills.  Here's some excellent advice on how to give feedback in a remote environment.  You might not even need to give that feedback so often if you figure out how share micro-tasks with your new remote workers.
  3. Essential Reading: Eight secrets to a (fairly) fulfilled life.  An insightful article from the always excellent Oliver Burkeman.
  4. Take care: Take a look at box breathing, a technique that can reduce anxiety, lower your blood pressure and help you feel calmer.  I use a similar system to help me sleep, 4-7-8 is the pattern you need there.   Bonus Stuff:  The best thing to help you sleep, stop doomscrolling.
  5. TWIL:  People around the world make different sounds when they sneeze. Bless you!
  6. Who are you today? 36 questions that everyone should ask themselves from time to time.
  7. Thirty-odd years online:  I was around when the internet started coming to life, here's an excellent timeline of what has happened so far.
  8. What does the fox say? I'm loving this gallery of superb urban wildlife photography. Some seriously excellent work in here.
  9. 1365 and counting:  Who knew there was an online database of all the dinosaurs? Do you know your Scipionyx (hah) from your Acrocanthosaurus (more like it).
  10. All the Wordles a stage: Consider this my last post on wordle clones. This page catalogues over 770 derivatives of the daily word game.  Including Artle (Stuff 91), Heardle (Stuff 86) and Worldle.
NEW : Recommended Stuff

🗞 TimeMachiner is an excellent newsletter from the desk of Aaron Crocco - this week he taught me that the Dingo Fence in Australia is longer than the distance between London and New York. #mindblown

📚 Good Pop, Bad Pop is a clever memoir written by Jarvis Cocker, and based on the items found in an attic full of memories. I read this on holiday, and it was a lot of fun, highly recommended. 
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My aural stuff for you this week is a lovely album from an unexpected source. Actor Jessie Buckley and indie-pop legend Bernard Butler who collaborated to make 'For all the Days that Tear our Heart'.

The album is a lovely collection of indie-folk songs, seeded with an air of mystery and sometimes longing. I've really enjoyed this album, and it's worth a quiet listen, with beautiful vocals and some sublime arrangements.

Listen to Jessie Buckley and Bernard Butler - For all the Days that Tear our Heart on Spotify here.

Stuff that someone said:

"Think in the morning. Act in the noon. Eat in the evening. Sleep in the night." –William Blake
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Do you love independent writing? I recommend The Sample. Every day, they will send you a novel newsletter you might like, no obligation.

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