KOReader: language learner's trusty companion

Framing language learning as a fun gamified activity apparently works well when you're in the app subscription business, but the jury is still out on whether you can actually reach a reasonable level of language proficiency using an app as your main tool. Me? I'm old school: give me a decent text book, a dictionary, plus something to read, and I'm good to go.

There is, though, something else I added to my language learning toolbox not so long ago: a Kobo Libra 2 with KOReader installed on it. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that this combo has taken language learning to a whole new level.

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Weekend reading: "Why Not Mars" edition

TIL: Cut out a shape in Inkscape

I had a square logo, and I wanted to make it round. Inkscape makes it surprisingly easy.

  1. Create a circle shape, and place it over the square image.
  2. Set opacity of the circle to 50%.
  3. Select both the shape and the image.
  4. Choose Objects > Clip > Set.
  5. 💰

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Hald CLUT Pack: now with three new presets

To paraphrase Sir Mix-A-Lot, I like Hald CLUTs, and I cannot lie. Indeed a handful of Hald CLUT files made with my own fair hands is a staple of my photography workflow. Hald WHAT? you might ask. To oversimplify, it's a preset that any Hald CLUT-capable application (digiKam, RawTherapee, and Darktable, to name a few) can use to apply a specific look to a photo. Here's a much better and more detailed explanation if you want to know more.

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Weekend reading: "Learn less, faster" edition