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Desktop computers continue to play an important role in 2026, especially for people who want consistent performance and the ability to keep a machine running reliably for years. While laptops keep improving, a well-built desktop PC often remains the better choice for home offices, creative work such as video editing or 3D modeling, gaming, and everyday multitasking without compromise.


Apple Mac mini (M4)
desktop workstation setup
Source: Unsplash.com

The short but carefully selected list below focuses on brand-name desktop PCs that are widely available through Amazon and cover a range of budgets and use cases—from compact, energy-efficient systems to powerful gaming towers. I’ve selected machines that are well reviewed, easy to recommend, and realistically priced when compared with similar systems on the market.

1. Apple Mac mini (M4) — Best Compact Desktop (Entry-Level Pick)
Apple’s Mac mini continues to be one of the most impressive small-form-factor desktops available, and the M4 version takes that reputation even further. Despite its compact size, the Mac mini delivers excellent performance while remaining quiet, power-efficient, and notably responsive for its price range (currently $499 on Amazon).

The Mac mini (M4) includes front USB-C ports for convenient access, plus Thunderbolt, HDMI, and Ethernet on the back for clean, minimal desktop setups. The current Mac mini (M4) ships with...

Here’s Lesson 7 of the Brazilian Portuguese for Beginners series. This lesson begins with six practical sentences broken down word-by-word to help you understand how Brazilian Portuguese is constructed. After the sentence breakdowns, you’ll find a family-related vocabulary list, included to expand your everyday speaking ability.

From this lesson forward, the smaller vocabulary sections used earlier in the course will be replaced with larger, themed vocabulary lists, such as the family-related list found here. For reference, Lesson 1 now includes the Brazilian Portuguese alphabet after the sentence breakdowns, Lessons 2-5 now introduce basic verb conjugations, and Lesson 6 covers numbers 1-20 — all with accompanying audio to guide pronunciation.

As always, I strongly recommend listening to the audio first, then writing out each sentence and its word-by-word breakdown by hand. This process reinforces memory, improves understanding, and also helps build a solid foundation for fluency.

37. Se você quiser.
If you wish.
se — if
você — you
quiser — want (from querer, “to want”)

38. Muito bem, obrigado.
Very well, thanks. (masculine)
muito — very
bem — well
obrigado — thanks (masculine form)

Venice is a city that seems to exist slightly outside the grasp of time. Water replaces streets, footsteps echo across stony bridges, and centuries-old palazzos (historic Venetian palaces) rise from the canals as if they’ve always been there. Compared to somewhere like the busy markets of Bangkok, the pace here is noticeably slower and more deliberate — inviting you not to rush, but to observe.

Unlike many other European capitals, Venice doesn’t overwhelm with size or noise. Instead, it draws you inward through quiet alleyways and subtle details. It’s a city that rewards patience and curiosity rather than checklists.


Santa Maria della Salute church
along the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy
Source: Unsplash.com

Filmmakers have long understood Venice’s emotional weight and pull. In The Tourist and Death in Venice, the city isn’t just a setting – it becomes a mood. Venice often represents longing, beauty, and mystery touched by fragility, making it one of the most cinematic destinations in the world. That sense of fragility on the brink is perhaps most memorably captured in Casino Royale, where the character Vesper Lynd (played by Eva Green) meets her tragic end as a Venetian palazzo collapses into the canal beneath her.

Whether this is your first visit or a long-awaited return, this guide highlights Venice’s essential sights and offers hotel options ranging from practical to indulgent – helping first-time visitors experience the city with appreciation and confidence.

1. St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco)
Venice’s most famous gathering place feels grand without being overwhelming. Framed by historic arcades (covered walkways lined with columns) and anchored by the basilica, St. Mark’s Square has long been the city’s symbolic beating heart. Early in the morning, before crowds arrive, the square feels calm, open, and reflective.

By mid-day, however, the piazza fills with visitors, café tables, and musicians, creating a strong contrast to its earlier quiet. The lively, shifting energy is part of its appeal, offering two very different experiences within the same space. Visit early or just before sunset for the most memorable atmosphere.

Welcome to Lesson 6 of the Brazilian Portuguese Lessons. Beginning with this lesson, numbers 1-20 are included as part of the course, with a separate audio track to help you practice pronunciation and rhythm. As always, take your time working through each sentence and its word-by-word breakdown, and don’t worry about speed — consistency matters more than pace.

31. Mais depressa que eu?
Faster than me? / Faster than I am?
mais – more
depressa – fast / quickly
que – than
eu - I

32. É verdade.
It’s true.
é - is (from ser, “to be”)
verdade - truth

Bangkok is a city of many stark contrasts that somehow live in harmony. Golden temples are found beside glass skyscrapers, monks move quietly through busy streets, and long-tail boats drift serenely along canals while modern trains glide overhead.

It’s one of those rare places where tradition and modern life don’t compete — they’ve found a way to share the space and coexist peacefully. Bangkok can feel more intense initially than other places mentioned in my recent travel guides, but beneath its surface, Bangkok has a deeply welcoming spirit that reveals itself gradually.


Wat Arun illuminated at night along
the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok
Source: Unsplash.com

It’s precisely this nuance of layered energy that has long fascinated filmmakers. In The Beach (starring a young Leonardo DiCaprio), early scenes set in Bangkok capture the restless pull (and push!) of the city — the hum of crowded streets, humid nights, and an inner sense of unapologetic wanderlust that seems to fill the air.

Before the story drifts south to quieter shores, Bangkok serves as the gateway to something — rather than somewhere — both chaotic and compelling, and full to the brim with possibilities. The stunning, secluded paradise that draws the characters in The Beach is Maya Bay — a small cove on the uninhabited island of Ko Phi Phi Leh, surrounded by towering limestone cliffs and turquoise waters.

Whether you’re determined to explore temples, sample street food, or are simply there to watch life unfold along the Chao Phraya River, the city offers an experience that feels absolutely unique and unforgettable. This guide highlights Bangkok’s essential sights and offers hotel options ranging from budget-friendly to luxurious, helping first-time visitors navigate the city with confidence.

1. The Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew
The Grand Palace is Bangkok’s most famous landmark and a definite must-see for first-time visitors. Once the official residence of the Thai kings, the palace complex dazzles with intricate architecture, golden accents, and well-maintained grounds. Within the complex sits Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), considered Thailand’s most sacred temple. Even seasoned travelers are often struck by the craftsmanship and overall spiritual presence of the site. The best time to visit is early morning, when temperatures are cooler and the crowds are lighter.

Before starting this lesson, take a moment to slow down and focus on how each sentence is built. Writing the sentences out, reviewing the vocabulary, and saying everything aloud will help train your ear and strengthen your overall familiarity with the language. Short, consistent practice sessions are more effective than long study periods, and returning to the same material more than once helps the language feel natural instead of forced.

25. Onde ele mora?
Where does he live?
onde – where
ele - he
mora - lives (from morar, to live)

26. Eu gosto de estudar.
I like to study.
eu – I
gosto – like (from gostar (de), to like)
de - of / to (required with gostar)
estudar – to study

OLED TVs have become the gold standard for home entertainment viewing, especially for people who care about image quality, the deepest blacks, and an overall more cinematic experience. If you already know you want an OLED TV and are looking specifically at larger screen sizes, the models I’ve listed below are certainly some of the best options you can buy right now.

I’ve focused this list on premium OLED TVs that are widely available through Amazon, starting with a flagship model that sets the standard for large-screen home theaters based on positive reviews and feedback.


Living Room TV Space
Source: Unsplash.com

1. LG 83-Inch Class OLED evo AI 4k C5 — Best Overall Large OLED
LG’s 83-inch OLED evo C5 is the sort of television you choose when you want a true home theater experience and don’t want to compromise on screen size or picture quality. At this scale, movies, sports, and even everyday TV feel far more immersive.

The OLED evo panel delivers deep blacks, strong contrast, and excellent color accuracy, while the included Filmmaker Mode preserves movies as they were intended to be viewed. Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos add to the immersive cinematic feel, and LG’s built-in AI upscaling does a great job improving lower-resolution content.

It’s without doubt a premium TV, but also the type of purchase most people plan to keep many years to come. If you’re looking for a large, high-end...

Before we begin, please remember that writing out each sentence and its vocabulary helps reinforce memory to build a stronger connection with the language. Saying the sentence aloud, reviewing it more than once, and practicing regularly—even if only for a few minutes—will make everything stick much more naturally over time. Consistent repetition is far more effective than trying to do too much at once.

19. Nós estamos no Brasil.
We are in Brazil.
nós - we
estamos – are (from estar, to be)
no – in the (comes from em (in) + o (the, masculine)
Brasil - Brazil

20. Você gosta do Brasil?
Do you like Brazil?
você – you (subject pronoun, formal/neutral, singular)
gosta – like / likes (from gostar (de), to like)
do - of the (comes from de + o)
Brasil - Brazil

London gracefully blends the real and the imagined. It’s a city where historic streets double as film sets, from Harry Potter’s King’s Cross to the many iconic locations featured in James Bond action thrillers (the rain-soaked streets of Skyfall come to mind). Beyond the movies, London rewards travelers with some of the finest museums in the world, royal landmarks, eclectic neighborhoods, and a pulse that feels both fast-paced and timeless.

It’s a magical place that can be explored on foot or alongside the steady hum of red double-decker buses rolling past stone buildings that seem to carry centuries of memories. London is endlessly fascinating — whether you’re visiting for the first time or returning to uncover something new. This guide highlights London’s essentials — historic landmarks, cinematic views, walkable neighborhoods, and hotel options ranging from budget to luxury.


London, view of Big Ben
Source: Unsplash.com

1. Westminster & Big Ben
Perhaps no visit to London is truly complete without seeing Westminster (the historic political heart of London). Big Ben (the iconic clock tower officially known as the Elizabeth Tower), the Houses of Parliament, and Westminster Abbey (site of royal coronations and historic ceremonies) are all within a short walk of each other, making this one of the most recognizable and visually striking areas of the city. Even if you don’t go inside, walking along the Thames (the river that winds through the heart of the city) gives you classic London views. The best times to visit are early morning for fewer crowds, or just before sunset when the light reflects beautifully off the river.

In this lesson, you’ll learn a few practical Brazilian Portuguese phrases used in everyday situations like traveling, meeting people, and making simple plans. Each sentence is broken down word by word to help you reinforce meaning and understand sentence structure as you continue building confidence.

13. Vamos ao hotel.
Let’s go to the hotel.
vamos - (we)go, let’s go (from ir, to go)
ao – a(to) + o (the, masculine)
hotel – hotel (sounds like otel)

14. Não é nada.
It’s nothing.
não – not, no
é – is (from ser, to be)
nada – nothing

Rio de Janeiro pulls you in long before you ever set foot on its beaches — in the way sunlight fans out across stacked rooftops in the early morning, the kind you see in Fast Five as the camera sweeps across the city’s hillside neighborhoods. The Atlantic breeze feels almost like what so many describe as a warm, humid kiss that carries music and conversation through the air. There’s an almost visible energy that seems woven into daily life, reflected in the hearts and faces of everyone around you.

Sometimes the feeling arrives through the city’s music itself — maybe while listening to a song like “Figa de Guiné” by Mari Fróes, whose lively vocals capture that mix of longing and brightness Rio is known for, as if she’s bottled a piece of the Brazilian Portuguese spirit in song form.

Rio is ultimately a city of duality: calm mornings and electric nights, uneven mountains and soft beaches, joyful rhythms and quiet reflective moments. This guide highlights Rio’s essentials — its iconic viewpoints, vibrant neighborhoods, and the best hotel options from budget to luxury.


Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -
view across to Sugar Loaf Mountain
Source: Unsplash.com

1. Copacabana Beach (Praia de Copacabana)
Rio’s most iconic beachfront — the long curve of the beach offers beautiful views, and the sweeping black-and-white wave design along the promenade is immediately recognizable. Copacabana is also one of Brazil’s most famous gathering spots, known for beach volleyball, footvolley, and the constant music drifting from its kiosks. Best time to visit: Early morning for softer light and fewer crowds, or sunset for the gorgeous atmosphere.

Here’s the second set of Brazilian Portuguese sentence breakdowns and vocabulary. If you’re practicing pronunciation, I highly recommend using Pimsleur’s Brazilian Portuguese audio lessons — their repetition and clarity make it much easier to hear as a beginner. As always, each example below is broken down word-by-word to help build a strong foundation. Remember that writing things out helps reinforce memory!

7. Nós não sabemos.
We don’t know.
nós – we
não – not, don’t, no
sabemos – know (from saber, to know)

8. Como você se chama?
What is your name? / Literal meaning: How do you call yourself? como – how?
você – you
se – yourself
chama - call / are called (from chamar, to call, to name)

Paris has a magical way of revealing itself — think of the opening shots of Midnight in Paris, where the city comes awake under soft morning rain, cafés begin setting out their chairs, and the Seine reflects the first warm glow of its lamps. Paris carries with it an undeniable dreamlike quality, as if the city itself has a personality and flair all its own.

Films like Before Sunset and Amélie have captured that presence through their colors, atmosphere, and slow walks through real Paris streets. Paris is simply enchanting, artistic, nostalgic, and elegant all at once. This brief guide covers the essentials — the must-see landmarks, a few neighborhoods worth exploring, and the best hotel options from budget to luxury.


View of Paris city and Eiffel Tower
Source: Unsplash.com

1. Eiffel Tower
Let’s start with the symbol of Paris. Completed in 1889 for the World’s Fair, the Eiffel Tower has appeared in countless films. At night, it sparkles for five minutes at the start of every hour —one of the most magical sights in the city. For the best experience, visit just before sunset: you’ll see Paris in daylight, watch the sky turn golden, and then enjoy the tower lighting up after dark.

This series breaks down useful Brazilian Portuguese sentences word-by-word and explains where certain verbs and forms come from. Beginners can really benefit from hand-writing each sentence and the individual word meanings. Writing things out reinforces memory, especially well. I sometimes use Pimsleur audio as a starting point because their pronunciation is clear and beginner-friendly, but all sentence breakdowns, vocabulary lists, and explanations here are my own. I hope these breakdowns help anyone learning Brazilian Portuguese — especially travelers preparing for Brazil.

1. Eu falo um pouco de português.
I speak a little Portuguese.
eu – I
falo - speak (from falar, to speak)
um – a, one (indefinite article, singular masculine)
pouco – a little, a bit
de – of
português - Portuguese

2. Com licença, senhor.
Excuse me, sir. (literally: “with permission, sir”)
com - with
licença – permission, license
senhor – sir, mister, gentleman

A MacBook Air is already one of the best lightweight laptops money can buy, but the right accessories can make it even better — whether you’re working, commuting, or setting up a clean desk layout at home. Here are five accessories that I believe genuinely elevate the MacBook Air experience, including items I personally use in some form every day.


MacBook Air in use
Source: Unsplash.com

1. Logitech MX Anywhere 3S — A compact Mouse That Just Works
I’ve used one version or another of Logitech’s MX Anywhere series for about five years, and it’s still the most reliable compact mouse I’ve ever owned. It tracks smoothly on nearly any surface, the clicks aren’t obnoxiously loud, and the scroll wheel can switch to a free-spin mode that flies through long webpages. It can also pair with multiple devices, making it perfect if you switch between a Macbook Air and another computer at home.

Bikini Atoll is known for the 23 nuclear tests that impacted this distant corner of the Marshall Islands between 1946 and 1958. The nuclear tests forced residents to relocate leaving behind dangerous lingering radiation. Unexpectedly, decades later, the atoll’s reef sharks would not only still be present — but actually thriving.

Today, Bikini Atoll’s waters hold unusually high numbers of grey reef sharks, blacktips, whitetips, and even some occasional tiger sharks. With the atoll uninhabited and untouched by modern fishing or development, these sharks live in what is basically an unintentional wildlife refuge. Because of this, scientists studying the region have found the reef shark populations to rebound dramatically.

Recently, I rewatched San Andreas (2015, Warner Bros. Pictures),
the disaster movie starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Alexandra Daddario (who more recently appeared in 2023’s Mayfair Witches). And it got me wondering: how much of that enormous “mega-quake” is actually rooted in real science?


Golden Gate Bridge -
San Francisco, California
Source: Unsplash.com

Sure, movies like this are obviously made for entertainment,
but it’s still fascinating to imagine an event that could happen in some form.
In San Andreas, the quake reaches an insane magnitude of 9.6, which is astronomically high. According to the USGS...