Lifehacker

Things are getting surreal in popular culture this week. There's a weird blue smurf/cat chimera that suddenly appeared everywhere all at once, a hugely popular TikToker who's whole thing is making sure faucets work correctly, and a newly discovered universal trait among men: thinking about the Roman Empire.

I take mashed potatoes very seriously, and I can't imagine Thanksgiving without them. Over the years, I have developed several recipes, methods, and hacks for making the creamiest, dreamiest, most flavorful mashers around. I start with a pretty standard base recipe, which you can find below. As with any dish with few...Read more...

The iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max aren't even out yet: If you preorder one today, you might not even see it until October. Lucky for us, though, we don't need to wait until we get the new Pros in-hand to know how fast they really are.Read more...

Threesomes are largely seen as a way to spice up a lagging, monogamous relationship, but sometimes they're just a fun activity for a group of horny people and not a sign of the relationship's impending doom. Like so many other sex acts, though, they don't (usually) play out like they're shown on Pornhub. That is to...Read more...

Choux pastry is a pillar of the pastry world. Made out of a few pantry staples, this humble dough is the foundation of many sensational desserts. While you've surely seen it adorning bakery pastry cases, and maybe even eaten it before, it's a dough that you should really be on a first name basis with. This...Read more...

Documentaries have had a moment over the past few years, and it's not surprising: In a world in which facts" are as malleable as an editable Facebook post, docs offer a bit more stability. That's not to say that everything committed to film represents absolute honesty, but when telling a story requires a team of...Read more...

Imagine you need to buy a airline ticket for your cousin's wedding. You find what you think is the best price available to your destination. But the airline you chose charges for a carry-on, which isn't included in the base price, so you add that as well. You also pay extra so you can snag a window seat. Oh, and wait,...Read more...

Thisrefurbished 2017 MacBook Air with Microsoft Office 2021 is $499.99 right now. It has a grade A" refurbished rating, meaning it's in near-mint condition, and it has a 13.3-inch HD display, Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, an HD FaceTime webcam, and up to 12 hours of battery life.Read more...

Banks and credit card companies are not only in the business of awarding points and miles when you spend money-they also serve as travel agents with their own booking portals. As The Points Guy points out, there are some advantages to reserving your flights, hotels, and rental cars through programs like Chase Ultimate...Read more...

Every year, we buy more gardening supplies-and every autumn, we have to figure out how and where to stick themfor the winter. Now is the perfect time to organize, divide and divest. No need to store the stuff you won't make use of again, since garages and sheds are where things go to hibernate forever until your...Read more...

For the next few days, Samsung is practically giving away their new smart home hub, the SmartThings Station-if you're quick enough to catch it. For $1, a limited number of people can snag one each day, starting at about noon ET through Sept. 17.

Many resources exist to help educate adults on protecting themselves from online scams, identity theft, and other nefarious schemes. They also help safeguard the under-18 set-but as any parent of a teenager will tell you, kids tend to think they know everything, which means they might not be protecting themselves.

All fruits have their season, but apples never go out of style. Whether you're celebrating Rosh Hashanah or you're just looking to cozy up with a sweet apple dessert, I've got an air fryer recipe that'll knock your socks off. It's simple to make and looks like you bought it from a bougie bakery: Treat yourself to this...Read more...

If you're looking for the Connections answer for September 15, 2023, read on-I'll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solutions to all four categories. Beware, there are spoilers below for September 15, NYT Connections #96! Scroll to the end if you want some hints (and then the answer) to today's...Read more...

Have you ever filled your car with fuel only to realize you accidentally hit regular" instead premium" or vice versa? If this has happened to you, there's no need to panic. You probably haven't destroyed your engine, and it probably won't do any harm. But it's not a mistake you should make very often.Read more...

There are plenty of ways to take advantage of the different health features offered by technology these days-maybe eventoo many. Whether you're looking at dedicated fitness trackers from Fitbit, or planning to get a smartwatch like the Apple Watch Series 9, tracking your fitness journey has become a rather...Read more...

No charger lasts forever. At some point, you may notice nothing happens when you plug the cable into your smartphone. Maybe you can even see the wires poking out. But even if you treat your cables perfectly, there's the chance your next phone won't even support it.

Gamers can get their hands on the UPERFECT 2K 120Hz portable gaming monitor for just $169 right now-that's 30% off the regular price of $240. The monitor offers a QHD 2560 x 1440 HDR display that supports Freesync.

The ROLLOVA V2.0 Designer Limited Edition is a smart replacement for other measurement tools like a tape measure. It has a long standby battery life (up to 18,000 hours) and is compatible with multiple units of measure, and it costs $98.99. You just roll it across the surface you want to measure.Read more...

You really only wear your waterproof gear when it's actually raining, so you could be forgiven for thinking it's not something you need to wash all the time. It's practically getting a rinse every time you put it on, right? As it turns out, the more water your raincoat keeps off of you, the less it will work over...Read more...

Now through Sept. 26, Adidas is running a fall sale with over 4,000 items available at up to 60% off. Which isn't that remarkable-but you can combine the offer with a gift card deal and a limited-time discount code to maximize your savings. I tried it out, and realized some steep discounts, even on already heavily...Read more...

After a meal so gigantic that only stretchy pants will do, there remains one dish that everyone still looks forward to: pie. There's pumpkin pie and pecan pie but, oh, that fruit pie. You've always wanted to make an impressive, sugar-studded, perfectly woven lattice crust, but you balk every time because, well...you've...Read more...

The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus will be available soon, and many of us are already sizing them up against last year's iPhone 14. While the 14 is by no means obsolete, there are definitely some big differences between the two generations of iPhones-though nothing revolutionary.Read more...

When the home repair bills start to mount, many people suddenly become passionate about DIY home repairs-and there are certainly plenty of projects around the house that you can do yourself to save money. But a home repair is only worth it if you don't make things worse in the process, and it's surprisingly easy to...Read more...

While I generally recommend taking notes by hand, there are some benefits to modernizing your practice and taking them on the computer, too. One way digital notes can really help you remember what you're studying is by paying attention to the fonts you use.Read more...

Apple's Wonderlust kicked off this Tuesday, Sept. 12, announcing the iPhone 15, the Apple Watch Series 9 (and more products and features)-but how will those new gadgets affect the value of your current ones? It's no surprise that tech gadgets drop in value once the new models are released. If you're thinking about...Read more...

This week, the hopeful weirdos of the UFO community were handed a gigantic slab of red meat in the form of a hearing in front of Mexico's congress, where journalist, ufologist, and hoaxer Jaime Maussan produced what he claimed were the mummified bodies of two alien corpses. There's not enough evidence yet to say...Read more...

Browsing the internet is currently putting you at risk of being hacked. That's not just because the internet is a risky place: A new security vulnerability has been discovered that allows bad actors entry into your computer, potentially allowing them to install malware, steal data, and even take over your machine.

Welcome to Training Diaries, a new Lifehacker series about my journey to the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon. This series will cover all the ups, downs, and hill repeats on my journey to the biggest marathon in the world. Leading up to race day on Sunday, Nov. 5, I'll go over proper fueling, injuries and setbacks,...Read more...

Thisstraightforward, easy-to-use Ninja Dragon Blade K 4K drone is on sale for $86.99 right now (reg. $169). It's a great pick for those just starting out. It offers 12 minutes of fly time on a charge, which is too short for experienced flyers but is just fine for beginners and kids. It includes features like a four-wa...Read more...

When children are younger, we tell them they're good at everything, whether it's a piece of artwork they drew or the somersault" they attempted at the park. But as they age, kids are challenged more and might become anxious about not meeting expectations. Worse, they can let the endless praise go to their heads if...Read more...

Put the watering can down: It's the end of the season and all that watering you've been doing is now just habit. Even before the rain starts, it's time to wean yourself off the hose.

I have long given up the fantasy that I could live in a minimal, streamlined environment with two children. I declared us a family of maximalists and let the piles of art projects, stuffed animals, building materials, and books grow like snow drifts from the corners of every room. When I'm sick of tripping over...Read more...

My garden is spectacular right now-people stop in the street and marvel at it. This time next month, it'll look like total crap.Read more...

I recently posted about the best music streaming service for different kinds of people, and it made me realize that the reason I stick with Spotify isn't because it's the best or I love it so much. It's because I have a playlist consisting of 1,823 songs I've liked" over the past five years or so, and I could never...Read more...

With TikTok and Oscar Mayer out here convincing us that hot dogs are reasonable straws for beer (who uses a straw for beer ever?), I'd like to bring us back to a much more approachable drink-snack combo: bubble tea. Bubble tea, or boba tea, is a sweet drink that is both refreshing and comforting, and every sip leaves...Read more...

If you're looking for the Connections answer for Thursday, September 14, 2023, read on-I'll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solutions to all four categories. Beware, there are spoilers below for September 14, NYT Connections #95! Scroll to the end if you want some hints (and then the answer) to...Read more...

International Day of the Programmer falls on Sept. 13 this year, and Fanatical, the online video game store, wants to give you free programming and game development ebooks. Here's what you get and how to get them.

This 3-in-1 charging cable has two Lightning connectors and one magnetic Apple Watch charger, and a two-pack is on sale for $34.99 right now (reg. $69). This iOS compatible cable is about 4' long and splits into the three connectors toward the end. It's made from ABS plastic and aluminum alloy with over-current,...Read more...

Last year, Apple unveiled Emergency SOS via satellite, an iPhone 14-exclusive feature that used satellite communications to connect you to emergency services. With the launch of the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro, Apple is expanding this Emergency SOS feature to include Roadside Assistance via satellite. Here's how it works.Read more...

Although Apple's Wonderlust' event was jam-packed with information about the Apple Watch, iPhone 15 and 15 Pro, and the USB-C AirPods Pro, the company still left out a lot of useful information in the keynote. If you're wondering what else is worth knowing about, here's a quick list to help you catch up.

One of the best new features of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 is the ability to control key functions with a new double-tap" gesture. It lets you answer calls, control music playback, reply to messages, etc., simply by tapping your thumb and index finger twice.Read more...

Leafy greens have been the carriers for dozens of outbreaks of food poisoning in recent years. The CDC recently linked several to a particular strain of E. coli, but other outbreaks have involved Salmonella, norovirus, Listeria, and Cyclospora. If this unfun fact has you swearing you'll wash your lettuce better, I...Read more...

Now that Apple's Wonderlust event is officially over, all four models of the iPhone 15 series will soon be able to preorder. If you're interested in picking up an iPhone 15 or 15 Plus, or splurging for one of the 15 Pros, here's how to make sure you order yours as quickly as possible.

Contrary to popular belief, shopping for school supplies is a year-round endeavor. Whether you procrastinated on buying what you need for the new school year, found out about a surprise necessity a few weeks into class, or want to try out a new study technique that calls for specific tools, you shouldn't have to pay...Read more...

Remember ringtones? Back in the day, when phones still rang with something other than spam calls, people even used to pay for the privilege of choosing a bespoke call sound. These days, the trend is to keep your phone on silent at all times, but it might be worth flipping the mute switch on your iPhone (or tapping the ...Read more...

Exploring the vast galaxy of Starfield is mind-blowing, but fancy spaceships ain't cheap, and neither are space apartments. Luckily, there's a glitch in Starfield that will let you grab enough credits to build an Imperial Fleet.

When you're focused on how well your investments are performing, it's easy to overlook hidden fees that come with with investment services. Investment fees are charges you pay for the services of your investment accounts and financial professionals. But how much should investment fees cost, and how can you tell when...Read more...

If making the bed is a chore, putting on a duvet cover is a real hassle. Getting a duvet inside its sheath usually involves trying to stuff it down evenly before getting frustrated and resigning yourself to letting it be lumpy. But there's a better way to get a duvet cover on, every time-in fact, there are two better...Read more...

If some of the shine is wearing off your old light fixtures, or if you just want them to match some updated furniture or decor, there are a few simple things you can do to give them a new look-and you don't need much to get started. Here's how to freshen up those old fixtures instead of replacing them.Read more...