Lifehacker

There’s a magic to the early days of any tech that’s lost as it becomes more mainstream. The Mac is a great example of that: When it was still struggling to keep up with Microsoft and Windows, Mac OS was a sandbox of fun ideas that didn’t really help you get any work done, but made using your Mac all the more fun.…Read more...

We’re getting therapy all wrong.

Citrus season may be over, but lemons and limes persist. Both fruits are widely used to add a little (or a lot) of acid to dishes and drinks, and both, once juiced, leave behind a shell of pith and zest. You can compost the spent rinds, or freeze and zest them later...or you can blend them with water and use the …Read more...

Milkshakes come better in pairs, especially in the summer. And right now, New York-based burger chain Shake Shack is offering a buy one milkshake, get one free deal until July 31 at participating locations. Share with a friend or take both for yourself.

Once a year, foragers and chefs unite in the herbaceous, springtime frenzy that is fiddlehead and ramp season. Fiddleheads, the curled, young tips of certain ferns, have always been a crop you could cultivate at home, but ramps have remained elusive in the domain of woodland forests.

A few (or a lot of) bad apples have managed ruined the fun for many teenagers, tweens, and parents across the United States. Several popular theme parks have decided to tighten their minimum age requirement to enter the park without parental supervision after a rise in “unruly behavior” in recent years.

With the work-from-home era in full swing, I’ve found that I still venture out every few days to do my job from a coffee shop. Something about the change of scenery is helpful and gets me in a working mood. It’s hard to live, work, eat, sleep, clean, study, and relax all in the same space; at some point, when you’re…Read more...

I am constantly searching for more space to garden. So when I ran out of ground, I went vertical—and the way it fundamentally changed the way people experience my garden is remarkable. Consider this a love letter to trellises.

Milkshakes and concretes are two frozen treats that look awfully similar. As Memorial day approaches and the need to scarf frozen desserts skyrockets, it’s a good time to learn the difference between these two creamy treats. Both are delicious, but one is easier to duplicate at home than the other.

Google I/O is the company’s big spring event, where it can show off new software and hardware customers and developers alike can look forward to. This year’s I/O was over two hours long, and was almost all about AI. That shouldn’t be surprising, but when the leaks talked so much about the new Google Pixel Fold, you…Read more...

You know you’re not supposed to consult Dr. Google when what you really need is a real doctor, but you’re here because you did. You had a headache, and now you’re halfway convinced it’s a brain tumor, and you’re freaking out. Sit down. Take a deep breath. It’s going to be okay. Let’s talk.Read more...

original post here from Emily Price https://lifehacker.com/where-to-buy-last-minute-mothers-day-flowers-1825831926Read more...

It’s difficult to imagine modern life without access to refrigeration. Not only does it make grocery shopping a lot easier to plan, being able to freeze our food and leftovers allows us to take advantage of bulk discounts and reduce food waste. Plus, having a freezer means you can literally enjoy a burrito whenever…Read more...

Productivity hacks often have funky little names. You have your Pomodoro technique, the idea of “eating the frog,” and now, temptation bundling. Temptation bundling, per Ness Labs, involves combining an activity that gives you instant gratification with one you don’t like to do. The best example is waiting to watch…Read more...

We love a tiny hack around here and sometimes, it’s the smallest ones that make a big impact. If you’re studying for finals right now, you might be feeling pretty overwhelmed trying to cram everything in. Even in your downtime, though, you can be subconsciously absorbing your materials.

I’d like to think I’m the kind of person who will take the time to wash, dry, and chop the wide variety of produce it takes to make a salad, but I’m not. I’m lazy, which is why I’ve recently been on a bagged salad kick. These kits offer an easy way to make sure I actually eat a vegetable once in a while. I’m not so…Read more...

I have never been particularly interested in cars—they are merely things that exist to get me from point A to point B, and are often overpriced and beleaguered by expensive problems.

If you’re looking to harness the power of water at your will, French drains are the way. Whether you have water pooling in areas outside when it rains, areas of your garden that get too much water, or a garage or house that floods, a little rock and pipe can make those problems disappear before they become costly…Read more...

The internet can be a fun place, but it can also be dangerous. Hackers are going to hack, after all, and you might just be in their crosshairs. One of the easiest things you can do to protect yourself is to keep your PC up to date with the latest security patches—and Microsoft dropped a new one yesterday.

So you’re in the market for a new car. Trading in your car is a great way to apply the value of your old vehicle to your new one, all while avoiding the hassle of selling it yourself. The only issue? You haven’t paid off your current ride.Read more...

Tempering eggs isn’t easy. Even after doing it hundreds of times, I still reconsider recipes that require me to slowly drizzle scalding liquid from a heavy pot with my non-dominant hand while simultaneously whisking with the other. It’s messy, it’s hot, it’s frustrating. Luckily, you can make tempering a heck of a lot…Read more...

According to the nonprofit agency the Gun Violence Archive, there have been over 200 mass shootings in the United States in 2023, and it’s only May. Guns have been the leading cause of death for U.S. children and teenagers for several years, beating out car accidents, COVID, cancer, and drag queen story hours alike.Read more...

We’re fans of anything that can make travel less of a headache, from checking in online or booking smarter itineraries to knowing your rights when things go wrong. And speeding through the customs and immigration process with Global Entry (which includes TSA PreCheck in the membership fee) certainly can alleviate…Read more...

The “Sunday scaries” may be cliche, but they’re also real. That dread we feel about the coming week is connected to the relief we feel on Fridays as the weekend approaches. But instead of treating Friday as a time to avoid and escape your responsibilities, what if you used it to set up a relaxing weekend and a…Read more...

I’m hardly married to one type of cookware. I have stainless steel pans, cast iron pans, and nonstick pans, and I’m beginning to dabble in carbon steel. Each piece of cookware comes with its own set of idiosyncrasies, and knowing them means you can cook in any kitchen, no matter what kind of pan you’re confronted…Read more...

Seeing your favorite store close is always a blow, and the current economic uncertainty we are facing is seeing many of our favorite companies close some locations, tighten their belts, and brace for what’s to come. Many have already filed for bankruptcy; the silver-lining for us, though, are the liquidation sales…Read more...

The allure of grain bowls, Buddha bowls, and protein bowls is that, if they’re made right, the quantity and diversity of ingredients keep your palate interested until the very last bite. That “if” is important. You’d think combining a load of fun ingredients would lead to effortless satisfaction, but I’ve gone to…Read more...

While texting often is looked down upon when it comes to developing a new relationship with someone, it can be a useful tool when first getting to know someone. It’s a great way to flirt and helps to foster connection and intimacy. Plus, it’s an easy way to show someone you’re thinking of them. That is, when it’s used…Read more...

Food waste is a serious issue. According to Feeding America, around 119 billion pounds of food is wasted in the US every year, worth more than $408 billion. Here are some of the most commonly wasted foods, and what changes you can make to save food and money.

When my wife and I bought our first house, the feature we were most excited about was the laundry. The machines in the house were ancient, but after years of schlepping to the laundromat every week, the most luxurious thing we could think of was the prospect of at-home, on-demand laundry.

Americans love stuff, but most of us have too much of it. That’s why American houses keep getting larger, and it’s also why about 10% of us also spend money on a self-storage unit. Considering that the average storage unit costs close to $1,000 a year, it’s no surprise that some of us also get creative about finding…Read more...

Among the many initial concerns around AI and ChatGPT is that students would use it to write their school papers or essays or otherwise cheat on assignments. While you obviously shouldn’t do that—you’ll never learn anything that way, and the risks outweigh the rewards—you can use ChatGPT to help you study in more…Read more...

Every once in a while, Apple really surprises me. Today is one of those times: The company just announced is finally bringing Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro to the iPad, and with it, the tools to produce professional videos and music using a touch-screen device. These are built-for-iPad apps, rather than direct ports of…Read more...

We all love showing off pictures of our pets to anyone polite enough to ask—but if you’ve ever wished for an opportunity to take your obnoxious adoration of your pet to the next level, the time has come. This month, you can put a picture of your beloved pet on a billboard for free for you (and many strangers) to see.

Budgeting is a hassle. Even when you know all the best spreadsheet hacks, going it alone can be confusing and time-consuming. But I have good news for you: Right now, you’ve got a smartphone in your hand, which means you never have to do anything on your own ever again!Read more...

Digital passwords have existed since the 1960s, and we haven’t come up with a better option...until now. An tech industry-wide group called the FIDO Alliance aims to get rid of them, and for good reason: Passwords are easy to hack, and difficult to remember. The smarter method, they argue, is to scrap troublesome…Read more...

Dorm move-out season is tough because it coincides with finals and the melancholy that comes with leaving your friends and newfound freedom behind. Plus, you probably weren’t the picture of cleanliness all year, so you’ve got plenty of junk to dig through, sort, toss, and pack. Here are a few tips to make it all go a…Read more...

Flavorful dips and spreads are some of the greatest gifts I give to myself. Baba ganoush, onion dip, and straight cream cheese all have the ability to elevate anything from a lobster omelette to a pretzel stick. For sweet applications, there’s kaya jam. This queen of coconut condiments pairs well slathered on toast or…Read more...

ChatGPT is not unlike a smart child—intelligent, yes, but also easily manipulated. A kid might understand the difference between “good” and “bad,” but an ill-intended adult can often convince a child to do something “bad” if they choose the right words and use the right approach. And this was the case with ChatGPT…Read more...

Caramelizing onions always takes longer than you think it is going to. This is partially the fault of recipe writers who tell you it’s something you can do in half an hour, which is just not true. Sure, you can brown onions in half an hour, but caramelization—the process of breaking down long chains of sugar molecules…Read more...

If it seems like your carpets and rugs aren’t actually clean—or don’t stay clean for very long—after you vacuum, it’s probably because you’re doing it wrong. Short back-and-forth strokes in random directions may be easy, but they won’t pick up all of the dirt, dust bunnies, pet hair, crumbs, and other debris stuck…Read more...

Sour Patch Kids have always been my favorite movie candy (sorry to those who prefer Raisinets or whatever the kids are eating these days). But they can do more than just taste good while your friends are munching popcorn. Here are three surprising reasons to keep a stash handy.Read more...

In the world of cultured dairy products, labneh straddles the line between cheese and yogurt, which is why you’ll sometimes find it referred to as “yogurt cheese.” You can buy it by the tub or strain your own, but either way, you’ll be rewarded with a tangy, intensely creamy spread that never met a carb it didn’t…Read more...

Toast makes a surprisingly chic sweet snack, especially if you’re smearing it with frangipane (aka bostock), or brownie batter. I’m always looking for my next toast to dazzle and delight, but I fear I may have discovered the peak of it all. Today, I bring you lazy dulce de leche toast, and it’s the best toast I’ve…Read more...

In 2022, I spent 97 days and 20 hours listening to podcasts on Pocket Casts alone. (Add in time I listened on Spotify and other platforms and the total grows more shocking.) I’m not sure how this is possible, or what it says about my social life, but here we are.

The last thing you’d expect when testing for a virus is to catch a bacterial infection in the process. But that could be the the case with some at-home COVID-19 tests distributed in the United States, according to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration recall. More than 500,000 of the tests were distributed to CVS…Read more...

Unless you’re remarkably lucky, if you live long enough in the U.S., you’re eventually going to be hit with a medical bill so large it will make your jaw drop. Even if you’ve been lucky enough to avoid this nightmare yourself so far, you certainly know someone a medical bill horror story. Through all the shock and…Read more...

If you learn anything after buying a house, it’s this: Water is your enemy. Every day, in a surprisingly wide variety of ways, water is infiltrating your house and trying to erode, rust, and wash away everything inside it, including you. That’s why the folks who built your house have taken steps to anticipate and deal…Read more...

The digital revolution should have made preserving the past easier, but instead, it feels to me like we’ve only lost access. The games and programs we grew up with didn’t grow up with our computers, and now most live only in our memories. Well, unless you know where to find them.

Like the rest of the world, colleges have gone digital, though the change is a fairly recent one. When I was an undergrad in 2013, almost all of my assignments were handed in on paper, but in grad school in 2023, everything is submitted online. In just a decade, much of my coursework has gone digital—but not all of…Read more...