youtu.be/tCO4i2t-Aso

Kalimba by Mr. Scruff.

Merlin and eBird are linked. You should be able to log into eBird using the same username and password. I would suggest doing this on the web, because the website has a lot more options than the eBird app (but the app is great for when you’re out birding!)

Then you can export your data from eBird. Here’s some info about how to do that: support.ebird.org/en/…/48000794682-my-ebird

I now only track my sightings in eBird. When I get a new species, it shows up on my Merlin life list as well, which is handy for field identification. While eBird can be a little intimidating to start using, they have some good tutorials online, and the data you submit contributes to real research, which is awesome.

If you are considering a used bike, I would encourage you to find a well respected local bike shop that sells used bikes. Buying off Craigslist or other used item platforms can be fine too, but if you are just starting and don’t know much about bikes yet, it can be risky.

If you’d prefer a new bike, I might recommend a Canyon. They are a direct to consumer brand so the prices are typically quite good, and you get much better specs for the price than you would with brands that are not direct to consumer.

Canyon have just released an Endurace Allroad which is a fantastic entry-level road bike. The geometry (how the frame is arranged) is very friendly for newer riders, as it won’t have you stretched out in a very uncomfortable position. It has quite good components (parts) for the price. Unfortunately I think it is a little more expensive in the US vs in Europe.

Here is a video about the bike from a cycling YouTube channel that is quite good. They focus on discussing how bikes would work for regular people, not star athletes. youtu.be/KoEOayjg0B8

If you’re in Europe and you have access to Van Rysel, they also have some quite good entry level road bikes. The same channel as above (Cade Media) have some videos about them.

Happy to answer more questions if you’d like.

To clarify, it does still work just fine without the app. You can turn it on and off and change the temp without the app. We’ve been using an older version for years without the app and it’s great.

Tufted titmouse.

Teacher here. I have my laptop (16”) and an ultra wide (34”) on my desk, and a projector behind me. I keep my email, attendance, and calendar on the laptop screen.

On the ultra wide, I keep my grade books and various spreadsheets, since more width makes it easier to see more data, and I have my daily agendas/lesson plans. Again, more width makes it easier to see the whole week at once. I keep that fixed to 2/3rds width of the screen, and the other side is reserved for Spotify at like 1/6th width

The projector is used to show the daily agenda, videos, instructions, etc. I very frequently screencast my iPad to the projector, so I can fill out worksheets on it with the class and they can see me write or circle things.

I can’t even fathom having any less screen real estate now. I gotta be able to see it all at once!

Perhaps Zwift? It has lots of workouts available for you, some that are just one-offs and some that are in a series.

Yeah! It’s a recording that plays while you do the exercise. You can listen to your music at the same time. When there’s an audio cue it turns your music down temporarily. The cues are all recorded by the coach. She will tell you when to run and when to walk, how much longer is left, and give encouragement. Sometimes she just kinda talks during longer stretches of running that might be difficult, and it helps to distract you a lot.

What got me started was the 5k program in the Runkeeper app. It’s a couch to 5k program with audio cues that you listen to as you run. Coach Erin is great and super motivating. I was literally never in shape before, and that program got me in shape and interested in and enjoying fitness for the first time in my life.

I felt the same paralysis of making decisions and figuring out the right exercises to do. So I got a personal trainer through an app and it was game changing. They would send me encouraging texts and give me some accountability and do the hard work of coming up with exercise routines for me so I didn’t have to think about it. It was pretty expensive so I switched to a cheaper app that doesn’t have 1 on 1 support and customization, now that I have some confidence in myself and my ability to do it.

The first app I used was called Future and the one I use now is called Ladder. I do weight lifting and some cardio but both apps have a variety of stuff, Future more so because the trainers can totally customize anything.