Lifehacker

Raising houseplants offers a slew of psychological benefits, plus they look pretty when properly cared for (and there are plenty of low-maintenance choices for the lazy and forgetful). But as anyone who has acquired a few of them will tell you, once you discover you enjoy the experience of caring for a houseplant,…Read more...

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Instagram has been through so many changes, it’s hard to remember what is truly private on your account and what’s not. As a Meta product, though, Instagram isn’t known to respect your data, so the most “privacy-friendly” option would be to delete your account entirely. If you’re not willing to go that far, though, t…Read more...

For years I’ve been perplexed at MyFitnessPal’s popularity as a food tracker. It puts ads and articles in the way of the information you actually want, and the food database is so full of inaccurate entries they’ve added a badge system to indicate the ones that are probably correct. Plus, they’ve announced plans to …Read more...

While we slog through the dog days of summer, the holiday season seems like it’s eons away. However, if you plan on sending holiday packages through the U.S. Postal Service this winter, it pays to think this far ahead. The U.S. Postal Service has announced their planned peak-season pricing.Read more...

A long, long time ago, ancient computer users thought to themselves, “This is great, but I’d like to watch YouTube in bed.” And, thus, the laptop was born: a portable computer you can take anywhere you want. That portability is the whole point of your MacBook, ThinkPad, or other notebook computer, and, of course, a…Read more...

The past few years have been especially tough on the mental health of our children, to the point that a number of children’s health experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Children’s Hospital Association, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, have declared it a national…Read more...

You may have heard of “scromiting,” an informal name for cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome: a condition that causes uncontrollable vomiting after prolonged marijuana use. But it takes frequent weed smoking to develop the problem, as Taylor Nichols, an emergency medicine doctor, recently clarified for Slate. “It’s a…Read more...

When you think of spritz drinks, the first that probably comes to mind is the Aperol Spritz, and for good reason—it’s delicious. This Italian cocktail is made with sparkling wine, Aperol (or another type of liqueur), and soda water. But if you’re getting a little tired of the Aperol Spritz, there are plenty of other…Read more...

Communication is obviously key in a relationship—so what do you do if you find yourself in a relationship where real conversations aren’t happening? First, it’s important to remember this is not unusual. If you have been in a relationship, especially a longterm one, it’s likely you’ve experienced some form of…Read more...

Summer may be ending, but that doesn’t mean gardening season is, too. Many plants prefer the cooler temperatures and shorter days that come with fall, which means September is a great time to plan a garden refresh.

Sure, you could learn a useful language like Chinese or Spanish, but why waste your time with that when you could learn a math language designed for extraterrestrials or the tongue of the angels themselves?

I loved the idea of time capsules when I was kid. I used to grab action figures and pogs that I didn’t want anymore and bury them in a box marked “do not open for 20 years,” and imagine a future earthling in a silver spacesuit puzzling over what the strange artifacts mean. I forgot where I buried them all, of course.

How often would you guess Google collects your browsing data? We all know the tech giant siphons bits of information every time we use its search, sign into its apps, or zone out on YouTube, but you might be surprised to learn (or not, given the company’s reputation) almost every click and keystroke is sent to Google…Read more...

Hearing loss is pretty common, and yet less than 20% of people who could benefit from a hearing aid actually use one, according to statistics from the Hearing Loss Association of America. The average person with hearing loss goes seven years between noticing their hearing loss and actually seeking help. So the FDA’s…Read more...

I could eat a peach for hours, especially a juicy, fully-ripe, in-season peach. But such luscious delights are increasingly hard to come by, even in the summer months. “Just okay” peaches are much more common, and they have their uses: A little sugar, a little butter, a little heat, and you can transform a not-quite-…Read more...

Whether you use a PC, Mac, or iPad, keyboard shortcuts can save you a lot of time. On Mac, for example, you can use Command + ` to quickly switch between open windows of the same app, rather than clicking around your desktop searching for the right screen. While most of us know at least a few useful shortcuts, there…Read more...

Reddit, you probably already know, is essentially a modernized version of the standard online forum. It provides communities for individuals with even the most niche interests, giving them space to connect with others who share their passions. It also has something of a language and culture all its own, so if you’ve…Read more...

In a tweet Wednesday President Biden announced $10,000 in student debt relief for most borrowers, while recipients of Federal Pell Grants will have $20,000 in debt forgiven. So you might be wondering: Is there an easy way to check if you’re a Pell Grant recipient? Spoiler: Yes. Here’s how to check whether or not you…Read more...

Parking in a garage may be convenient, but the owners of more than 280,000 recalled Hyundai and Kia SUVs are better off leaving their vehicle outside for the time being, according to the manufacturers. That’s because certain models have a defect that may cause the vehicles to catch on fire. Here’s what to know about…Read more...

It’s that time of year again: School is starting, Halloween decorations have appeared on store shelves, and every Apple nerd you know is begging you not to buy an iPhone. Why? Because Apple is about to announce the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro, with all the new bells and whistles that come with a next-generation smartphone.Read more...

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Spreadable meat is kind of a weird concept, but it’s a weirdness that’s worth making peace with. Once you’ve done that, and have begun to enjoy the luxurious life of pâté and liver mousse, you can get real weird and introduce tangy, fruity jam into the situation.Read more...

In 2018, 20th Century Fox released the film adaptation of author Angie Thomas’ young adult coming-of-age novel The Hate U Give. Despite the book’s massive popularity—it sat at number one on the New York Times’ bestseller list for nearly a full year—the film version barely managed to outgross its $23 million budget.…Read more...

Yesterday, Apple announced it would expand its self-repair program to include M1 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro devices, adding Mac parts and guides to the catalog for the first time. If you have an M1 MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, or either an M1 Pro or M1 Max MacBook Pro, you can now repair these devices yourself with…Read more...

It’s tough to say whether we’re officially in a recession, but unemployment rates are traditionally one of the most reliable metrics to gauge how the economy is faring. However, the figures most often reported in the media don’t paint the whole picture. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) calculates the…Read more...

Zucchinis are erupting from gardens left and right, and you can’t even give them away anymore. If you decided to garden this year, you’re most likely drowning in zucchinis the size of baseball bats and perhaps starting to panic. (Wait, could they work as baseball bats?) That’s perfectly normal; take a deep breath. As…Read more...

Although fears of a serious economic recession—or worse—have eased a little, no one can agree on how healthy the U.S. economy actually is. The numbers are all over the place. The stock market is in a bear market, inflation has gone down a bit but is still painfully high, consumer spending is down; but unemployment…Read more...

Show me someone who can turn away a bowl of heart-shaped cacio e pepe, and I’ll show you someone who needs a hug. It might be hard to find such whimsical pasta on the shelves of the grocery store, but you can make hearts, squares, linguine, pappardelle, and countless other shapes of pasta all from one greater canvas:…Read more...

It often feels like after a certain age, back pain becomes a fact of life. This discomfort doesn’t have to be inevitable: You can keep the aches and pangs at bay with the best stretches and yoga moves to relieve back pain. Unfortunately, because an achy back is seen as so common, many people are quick to dismiss signs…Read more...

The tumult of 2022—sinking stock prices, layoffs, high-profile cancellations—may have dimmed Netflix’s star as the streaming outlet where top creators flocked to make their passion projects. But you gotta give them credit for finally releasing Blonde, director Andrew Dominik’s adaptation of the Joyce Carol Oates novel…Read more...

Car mileage is usually discussed in “miles per gallon,” which generally makes sense: We calculate car usage in miles and pay for gas by the gallon. But when it comes to budgeting, we don’t always care how far we can go on a specific amount of a specific petroleum product. We care how much it costs. That goes double if…Read more...

If you are a Game of Thrones fan, I’m sure you’ve already watched the first episode of GOT prequel House of Dragons on HBO at least once, but if you want to inject your fandom even deeper into your consciousness, you can join over 700,000 other gigantic nerds and learn how to speak “High Valyrian” through the free…Read more...

A BLT is a pretty perfect sandwich. I don’t thing I need to explain why the combination of crispy, salty bacon, crunchy lettuce, creamy mayo, and juicy tomatoes taste good together. Each component has a part to play, and they play it oh-so-well, but I think there’s a reason the “B” comes first. People love their…Read more...

The parenting journey is the most humbling of journeys. There’s nothing quite like trying to raise a child into a competent, compassionate, independent adult to make you confront all of your own many shortcomings. It’s not long before we’re doing all the things we said we would never do, even as the annoying phrases…Read more...

Who doesn’t want whiter teeth? On the other hand, who wants to volunteer for extra dentist visits, with all the time and expense they involve? Fortunately, Pinterest and TikTok are here to swoop in and provide alternatives—pretty much none of which are good ideas.Read more...

It’s best to wash your bedsheets every week or two—but what about the other stuff on your bed? Let’s talk about what I like to call “solid plushy” stuff: Pillows, cushions, stuffed animals, and even comforters rarely draw much attention when you’re cleaning—maybe because they’re annoying to wash. But how often should…Read more...

Reemerging into the spotlight after a buyout and a bankruptcy, movie subscription service MoviePass is coming back in a new form—but if you’re hoping for the return of all-you-can-watch movies for $10 a month, it’s not going to happen. The beta for the revamped service launches on Thursday morning, and will provide a…Read more...

Expiration dates are meaningless, but there is still a feeling of unease that can come with munching down on a snack whose packaging claims it expired weeks or months ago. That’s why it’s helpful to know which foods are especially fine to consume post-expiration date—and which ones you actually should not.

Paying attention to the news cycle has never been particularly good for your mental health, but there’s something particularly upsetting about stories of natural disasters. Hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires—these catastrophic events will make anyone feel powerless and vulnerable. You can take steps to prepare your…Read more...

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Do squats. That’s a standard piece of advice for getting strong, and if you’re interested in working with barbells, the story generally begins with “do barbell squats.” But how do you actually set up for squats? Today we’ll go through the steps in a way you’ll understand even if you’re a complete beginner, and cover…Read more...

A good pan sauce can be impressive—luxurious even—but it all hinges on the consistency. A too-thin sauce feels watery on the tongue and runs all over the plate, but it’s no reason to panic. You can fix yours with two cheap and ubiquitous kitchen staples.Read more...

Summer tomatoes are bountiful and at peak deliciousness right now. Maybe you’ve made about as many Caprese salads as you can take, and your neighbors don’t want anymore “gifts” (they’ve got their own surplus to devour). If you’re looking for a new way to chow down on these summer gems, use them as cups and stuff them.

It’s an emotional time of year. Many young adults are headed off to college for the first time, eliciting the mix of tremendous excitement and apprehension that comes with crossing any of life’s major thresholds. Some parents are despondent at the thought of seeing their kids off, while just as many can’t wait to…Read more...

All computers act up from time to time. When things go awry, my first recommendation is always to simply shut down and reboot: Often, this simple power cycle fixes the issue. However, you might run into the odd problem that doesn’t go away. Maybe your MacBook gets hot and stays hot, or the fans are spinning out of…Read more...

It’s hard to get a straight answer as to whether or not we’re currently in a recession. From crashing stock markets to spiking consumer prices, it’s safe to say the economy is struggling. At the very least, don’t look at your 401(k) right now.

The wifi password is a power both desired and feared: Everyone wants to know it, but forget it, and you’re toast. Why Microsoft and Apple make it difficult to find wifi passwords on Windows and Mac isn’t clear (this is valuable information, after all). But, rest assured, those passwords are available to you if you’re…Read more...

The streaming gods give, and the streaming god take away. This month, Hulu is adding a whole bunch of new content, including the latest seasons of The Handmaid’s Tale and Atlanta and acclaimed recent films like Petite Maman and The Eyes of Tammy Faye. It’s also losing a lot more, as an expiring agreement with NBC…Read more...

When it comes to hotel status, there are two types of travelers: those who have it, and those who don’t. And if you fall into the latter category, you might be wondering how you can get in on the benefits that come with being a loyalty member. You don’t necessarily need to stay loyal to just one hotel chain to reap…Read more...