Lifehacker

Mulch is miraculous stuff. It keeps weeds at bay, fertilizes the soil, and minimizes the effects of too-hot (or too-cold) temperatures. Certain types even repel pests. But the single best argument for mulching your garden is that it conserves water, which is a huge deal for anyone dealing with hotter-than-usual…Read more...

In these financial times, anything you can do to make a bit of extra cash probably feels worth considering, whether that’s yet another side hustle or a foray into the sharing economy, which allows you to capitalize on renting out your home, spare room, swimming pool, RV, or personal vehicle.

Statins are a class of cholesterol-lowering drugs that are commonly prescribed and likely save a lot of lives. They’re also notorious for being able to cause muscle pain, which leads many people to quit their statins or be hesitant about taking one in the first place. But a new study suggests that most of the muscle…Read more...

I love a cheeseball. I love how it looks—kitschy, retro, round—and I love how it tastes—creamy, salty, a little tangy—but sometimes I do not love all the “work” that goes into making one. In fairness to the appetizer, it’s not that much work, but the “rolling into a ball” step can be a little tedious, and I am always…Read more...

To me, video quality matters. I try to watch TV and movies in the best possible resolution, especially if I’m paying for those pixels. Netflix, for instance, charges more for its 4K HDR content—a lot more, actually. But even if your streaming service offers 4K HDR content, you might not be experiencing it on your end.…Read more...

In a first-of-its-kind mission, NASA is planning to crash a spacecraft into an asteroid on September 26 (Earth time), and you’ll be able to stream it live.

Millions of Americans may be eligible for up to $10,000 in federal loan forgiveness (and up to $20,000 if they received Pell Grants) thanks to an announcement from President Joe Biden last week. This news has been a cause for celebration for some and anger for others, as most major political moves are, but it’s also…Read more...

Some people exercise for health. Others exercise out of a sense of competitiveness or accomplishment. But by far, the most popular reason that people hit the gym is to make their body look better. They want to lose weight, be jacked, have abs, or look toned. But I would like to humbly suggest: maybe that shouldn’t…Read more...

When I was in high school, the kid who sat in front of me in English class was a master pen spinner, and it was mesmerizing. He would sit there casually exhibiting some serious Don Draper energy and absent-mindedly do amazing things with his pen, while I—a person of low dexterity— watched on in jealousy. But time and…Read more...

If you’re able to get a seat near the front of the plane or in an exit row, you’ll likely have more room and be able to get off the plane faster. Similarly, aisle seats give you access to move around more freely, and window seats are great for sleeping or if you like the view. Of course, the middle seat is the worst.…Read more...

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Most of us are familiar with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, which is triggered by witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event. A person suffering from PTSD will often experience a constellation of mental health symptoms, such as nightmares, flashbacks, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable memories of the…Read more...

At the beginning of a relationship, when your rose-colored glasses are securely in place, a new partner’s quirks are cute. But as the early stages of dating turn into the harsh realities of a serious relationship, certain behaviors go from endearing to downright irritating.Read more...

Google Docs is embracing the emoji. Back in April, the company added the ability to react to docs with emojis, rather than leave a full comment. Now, Google is expanding its emoji support, adding a quick and easy way to insert emojis into Google Docs without needing to rely on an outside source.Read more...

Losing a loved one is a devastating experience that can wreak havoc on your emotions. But the destruction that grief brings doesn’t stop there. Grief can also manifest itself physically in the body, through headaches, nausea, loss of appetite, and other discomforts.Read more...

You might be scrolling through Twitter or TikTok, and your iPhone suddenly stops receiving new data. Getting disconnected from the network happens sometimes, so you should memorize a few fixes in advance to get back online faster.Read more...

When I moved into my home, the front yard was gray and lifeless. The previous owners, in lieu of landscaping, had put a layer of rocks over the entire front yard, which meant that the soil beneath was devoid of all life. But over the years I managed to revive it, turning what was once gray and dead into a habitat…Read more...

Last week, President Biden announced that millions of Americans may be eligible for up to $10,000 in federal student loan forgiveness—up to $20,000 for those who received Pell Grants—with additional support in the form of lower monthly payments and unpaid interest coverage for future borrowers and those who owe more…Read more...

I am a terrible gardener, but I still somehow managed to grow a whole bunch of (very small) tomatoes. Those tomatoes are really coming in right now, but they’re simply not big enough for slicing. This is a little tragic, because sliced tomatoes are the foundation of my favorite sandwich (the tomato sandwich, which is…Read more...

Cleaning as you go is widely regarded as one of the best ways to mitigate cooking mess. Loading dishes into the dishwasher as you’re done with them and tossing scraps as you make them keeps you from having to do a bunch of tedious labor once your meal has been consumed, but there are two strategies I like to take to…Read more...

An underrated hurdle to the small talk struggle is not how to keep the conversation alive, but how to gracefully let it die. Maybe the other person brought up the 2016 election. Or the podcast they’re thinking about starting. Or their divorce. No matter what, you’re desperately searching for an exit sign so you can…Read more...

Bluetooth is as fantastic as it is finicky. It enables our devices to communicate with each other wirelessly, empowering us to both walk away from our computers while still listening to music, or type on our keyboards without worrying about wires. But it isn’t perfect, and it isn’t perfect often. If your experience is…Read more...

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We generally assume that home renovations will increase the value of our home. Whether it’s a new kitchen or a gently refreshed guest bedroom, most of the time, the math works in our favor when we do work on a house, making the dust, mishaps, and strain on our bank accounts ultimately worth it.

All cookie dough is edible if you’re not a coward, but sometimes being a little bit of a coward pays off. Being sick, particularly the kind of sickness that comes from being poisoned by food, is never fun, and raw cookie dough can make you quite sick, even if it is quite rare.Read more...

Have you ordered your first, second, and third rounds of free COVID tests from the U.S. government? If not, click over to covidtests.gov and make your request now, because the program’s funding is about to dry up. The website now has an announcement that the program will be suspended on September 2, which is this…Read more...

One of the unexpected delights of being a parent is having a front row seat to seeing a child’s joy—whether it’s excitement at zoo, the experience of riding a train, or just getting a slushie on a summer day. “Most children have a huge capacity for joy,” said Maureen Healy, a child psychology expert and author of the…Read more...

The current national unemployment rate is as low as it’s been in 50 years, so depending on your industry, there’s likely never been a better time to ask for a raise in your entire life. The tight labor market has companies desperate to hire and keep talented people, so if you do it right, you can wring cash out of…Read more...

With all the savory odes-to-corn out in the world, I thought it was time to lengthen the dessert list. Corn has the versatility to be an herby salad, covered in cotija, served next to ribs or as them, but it’s also undeniably sweet. I’m a dessert girl at heart, so grab an extra ear or a bag of the frozen stuff, and…Read more...

Most of our household appliances—including the ones we use to clean our homes—need some kind of maintenance, and vacuums are no exception. And unfortunately, it involves more than simply emptying the bag or canister when it’s completely full.Read more...

At this point in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, at-home rapid antigen tests are one of the key tools at our disposal when it comes to stopping the spread of the virus. And though it’s been less than a year since these tests were scarce and expensive, they’ve now become fixtures in most of our medicine cabinets.Read more...

Previously, we explained the difference between a half-bath and a full-bath, and other toilet-related math, along with why you may start seeing listings referring to the “primary” (rather than the “master”) bedroom. But when it comes to the terms in real estate listings, those are only the beginning.Read more...

Given the combination of broken glass and electricity, if a light bulb breaks while still screwed into the socket of a lamp or other light fixture, it’s not a situation to be taken lightly.Read more...

It took a global pandemic for us to fully acknowledge how utterly exhausting socializing can be—even if it’s with people you genuinely like. Of course, this is something introverts have always known, but now, after most people stopped spending time with friends for at least some period of time over the past…Read more...

Summer is coming to an end, but before we make the switch to the comfort foods of the fall, there’s still time for a last hurrah over Labor Day weekend. Whether your plans involve attending cookouts, traveling, or staying in and ordering takeout, eating will certainly play a role. Fortunately, there are plenty of food…Read more...

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The more time I spend making cocktails, the more often I return to the basics. I’m prone to being seduced by the notion of discovering what’s new about the old and known. I harbor reticence towards infusions (though they can be great), kitchen counter fermentations, eight-plus ingredient potions, and elaborate…Read more...

Amazon has spent years chasing the major water cooler hit that would justify the existence of Prime Video, and yet despite some strong showings (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Boys, The Wheel of Time), it has never managed to launch its own pop culture-dominating Stranger Things-level hit.

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It’s been a totally chill and normal month for HBO Max. Definitely nothing significant happened to affect the best streaming service around, like, say, new CEO David Zaslav canceling a bunch of forthcoming shows and even a $90 million Batgirl movie and making the decision to remove a bunch of content—including movies…Read more...

When you open an email, there’s no obvious indication the sender will know. It’s not like Facebook Messenger, which sends an overt read receipt any time you open a message. However, the sender can include a small, pixel-sized image in the email, which identifies when we open it. In turn, it tells the sender (narc).…Read more...

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In advance of their new album, K-Pop band Blackpink has released a video for their song “Pink Venom,” and the online reaction seemed to dwarf everything else that happened on Earth in the past week—provided you’re about 16 and not yet concerned with student debt relief. But there is also a killer (literally) new slide…Read more...

A long-distance relationship is trickier than most. Creating and maintaining connection with someone who might live hundreds, if not thousands of miles away, can be difficult—but it’s also essential for the growth and well-being of your relationship.Read more...

It’s no secret our apps use our locations: In fact, many need to in order to work properly. You wouldn’t get very far on your road trip if Google Maps couldn’t see your location. But smartphone makers don’t make it clear how location-sharing works—particularly that you can choose between sharing your general location,…Read more...

A last will and testament ensures your belongings are bequeathed to your family and your last earthly wishes are fulfilled after your death. But getting your affairs in order in the social media age is a lot more complicated than it used to be. Instead of just our physical property and finances, we also have to plan…Read more...

Look: If clocking in and clocking out counts as “quitting,” then we should all be quitters. You’ve probably heard about “quiet quitting,” as well as the growing backlash to the viral term. The idea, first popularized in a TikTok from @zkchillin (now @zaidleppelin), describes “quiet quitting” as employees “quitting the…Read more...

Shoe lore, of dubious provenance, is rampant in running communities. You need to get fitted for the right shoe for your feet, one school of thought goes. (This requires an evaluation at your local running store.) Another idea is that you either need to wear minimalist shoes, or that you should never wear minimalist…Read more...

This week, the White House announced a sweeping plan to forgive the student loan debt of millions of Americans. The initiative will cancel up to $10,000 in debt for some borrowers and $20,000 for others. Here’s how to see if you’re eligible for loan forgiveness, how you can get your hands on the money, and a look at…Read more...

When I first saw this Bon Appétit article suggesting I add sliced jalapeños to my rosé, I thought about getting angry, but then I remembered I was the one who suggested putting pickles in your shitty beer. (And I was just too tired to muster up any real indignation.)Read more...