Hello friend,
We hope this email finds you sitting outside, sipping something refreshing. This month, we were inspired by life outdoors in its brightest colors: poppies blooming, park picnics, and street-side café tables.
While May was heavy on the latest technology and its risks, and finding your flow amidst the noise, June makes us more aware of our surroundings and compassion for each other and the environment.
While most of Europe is winding down, we know this might contrast with you finding the energy for a last sprint elsewhere in the world. We're offering a moment to pause, feel seen and find your next inspiration.
Enjoy!
Blue Banana Bites this June
TL;DR (jump here if it’s too overwhelming)
Our inspiration for this issue
SOUND BITE
Quacks aren't Quiet
Most of us grew up with some version or translation of the song 'Papaveri e papere,' which always seemed like a cute (children's) song.
But did you know? At the time it was written, Italy was under a strict fascist regime, so musician Mario Panzeri hid his political satire within happy tunes. This time, the song was about poppies and ducks: the ducks represent ordinary people struggling to survive, while the poppies symbolize those who hold all the power.
BITE OF THE MONTH
From Parades to Petitions
On the Other End of the Rainbow
It's visibility, protest, and celebration: LGBTQIA+ Pride Month is here, yet there is still a long way to go. If this is you, we're happy to have you on board. If not, we hope you can appreciate the diversity of precious humans on this planet. We are stronger together, with community events, protests, parades and safe spaces happening all over the world. We also recognize that discrimination has a logical consequence: it harms mental health and causes trauma. That's also why PTSD awareness tags along with us this month.
When Trauma Takes Hold
Around 70% of people will experience trauma in their lives, and 1 in 3 are expected to develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). There is so much to say about PTSD Awareness Week, especially since we have a trauma expert on our team, but let's keep it short and essential: If this is you, you are not broken, you are not alone, and there is help and a path to healing. Fortunately, we now know that the body remembers trauma and that affects the nervous system. That's why we want to provide resources for somatic (body) therapy.
Enjoy Nature, Feast Like a Duke
Who would have thought that 'eating like a king' could also mean enjoying snacks on a blanket on some grass? It turns out aristocrats were the ones who made picnicking a trend. Gathering with friends or family in nature with a basket full of fresh fruits, salads, and snacks is a perfect way to spice up your June 17th celebration or kick off the summer season.
Did you know that a massive picnic on the Austrian-Hungarian border on August 19, 1989, played a pivotal role in the struggle for German reunification? This historic mass meal indirectly contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The Planet is Talking, Are You Listening?
We also witness the traumatizing consequences of climate change: floods, tsunamis, hurricanes, droughts, and resource shortages. (If you're a survivor of any of these events, emotional and mental support matters. You can find some useful resources here).
"The planet doesn't argue; it sends signals."
As individuals, we may only be able to make tiny contributions, but as a collective, we can do so much. For World Environmental Day and Ocean Day, you can sign a petition or check out these resources for participation.
PRODUCTIVITY BITE
Summer Productivity for the ADHD Brain (A Survival Guide)
Hydrate and Nourish: Treat your body like an overheating laptop. Drink and eat before your brain decides to enter 'Power Save Mode' and forgets how to spell 'focus'.
Move Before You Melt: Get your body moving before the sun reaches its peak. Your dopamine reserves will thank you.
Escape the Sensory Apocalypse: If the sun is screaming, the heat is oppressive, or the noise is deafening, hide. Your brain cannot filter input when it's overheating.
Defeat the Night Owl Trap: Fight the siren song of the cool night air. Yes, late nights out are tempting, but do you want your morning self to be a zombie who forgets how to use a spoon?
TECH BITE
The Great June Conference Hunt
June is absolutely wild with conferences around the globe, especially in tech. Haven't found your social knowledge hub yet? Check them out here.
For the developers out there, here's a specialized list of conferences. Maybe at one of them you'll run into Martin, our CEO.
FROM THE STUDIO
The Good News Bag
We want you to be able to peek behind the curtains of Blue Banana Software, so our updates now have their own bite-sized section.
Windows Users, We Heard You (Finally!)
Per your most frequent request, In Your Face for Windows is out now!
Feel free to share this with anyone who said, 'Ah, too bad it's not for Windows,' when you told them about In Your Face. Because, of course, you did tell your friend, your badminton colleague, your hairdresser and your grandma about it, right?
Apple Loves Us!
Apple featured our app, In Your Face, again in the categories 'Apps and Games We Love' and 'Great New Productivity Apps and Updates.' We feel honored and giggly about it, but of course, we wouldn't be where we are right now if it weren't for our users.
A Bunch of Us
By the way, thank you for reading! The numbers are flattering us! Over 2,000 subscribers? That’s bananas!
TOOL BITES
Nature is Buffering
Not just another weather app that sends rain notifications while you're setting up for a picnic. It also has a (modifiable) personality and a playful, gamified layer. With augmented reality, secret location tracking, and unlockable achievements, this app has it all while making witty comments whenever it can.
If you live near a river, stream, or are lucky enough to spend time at sea, you are in a unique position to help Ocean Cleanup collect data on floating plastic debris. Simply track it on the app! By doing so, you contribute to identifying cleanup targets for scientists and volunteers, ultimately protecting all aquatic flora and fauna.
BOOK BITES
Nature's Many Voices
Forest Euphoria: The Abounding Queerness of Nature
Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian
Growing up queer and neurodivergent, Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian found belonging and fascination in swamps and fungi. In Forest Euphoria, she reveals nature's radical queerness – from fungi with thousands of sexes to sexually fluid eels. Telling her own story and connecting it with her hyperfocus on nature changes how you look at the world.
Earth's Wild Music: Celebrating and Defending the Songs of the Natural World
Kathleen Dean Moore
This book invites you to listen to the planet's hidden symphony. From whale songs to forest rustles, it reveals how nature communicates through sound. It's a fascinating journey that shifts your perspective, reminding us that the Earth is constantly singing. Focusing your attention on these sounds can gently regulate your nervous system.
AWARENESS BITES
Too Many Notifications, One Heart
June has got Pride Month on maximum visibility mode, PTSD Awareness asking us to process some feelings. All while Environment Day and Ocean Day remind us that the planet and the seas need help too. Maybe that 'overload' is just proof of our capacity to care.
BANANA SPLIT
Tiny Internet Treats
Just little proofs that the internet is still weird, playful and worth exploring.
Your Colorful Music Class
Chrome Music Lab turns your browser into a playground where music theory loses its stiffness. Drag, drop, and watch sound behave like colorful physics. And without noticing, you’re being taught essentials for your next musical encounter.
Hello? Is it fish you’re looking for?
On Visdeurbel.nl you'll find a live underwater stream from Utrecht, in the Netherlands, showing fishes stranded in front of a closed canal lock. Spot a fish on the cam? Push the button to ring a bell and help Mr. or Ms. Fish cross over. What a lovely way to help our fellow earthlings!
TL;DR – Too Long; Didn’t Read
Poppies with Power. Explore an old Italian child
ren's song with a hidden meaning.
Rainbows and Waves. See how June brings people and their stories together in all their colors, edges, and environments.
Productivity vs. Heat. Tiny hacks to keep you sane, and hydrated, during summer.
Conference Alert. Stay on track with all the June conferences.
From the Studio. Blue Banana news served up fresh.
Check and Protect. Connect with and protect nature featuring:
Carrot Weather
The Ocean Cleanup Survey
Nature Is Talking. Find queerness and sounds in nature featuring:
Forest Euphoria: The Abounding Queerness of Nature by Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian
Earth's Wild Music: Celebrating and Defending the Songs of the Natural World by Kathleen Dean Moore
Pick Your Cause. Find the awareness day that fits your goals for a better world.
Cherry on Top. Discover sweet bites of the internet featuring a playful Music Lab and a doorbell for fish.
What to expect in July
The next issue is all about putting your smile back on your face. Whether it is finding simplicity, sharing a laugh, or saying thank you to your loved ones.
Want to tell us we're doing a good job? Show your appreciation here or write to us!
