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I used to be freaked out on airplanes. My aerophobia wasn’t severe enough that I took trains everywhere, but it was bad. I had to force myself to board flights, and the days preceding any trip were spent fretting about the upcoming trial-by-airline instead of planning vacation activities.

My daughter recently asked for chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast on her birthday. Since it fell on a school day and pancakes are never made in my house without substantial emotional drama about the comparative size, quantity and facial composition of said pancakes in relation to those of their siblings (we have…Read more...

There are a lot of reasons you might want to keep your birth control a secret, but it doesn’t really why—it’s your body and your choice. Whether your parents are being overbearing, your partner is controlling, or you live within a region or culture where it’s frowned upon, it’s stress you don’t need to worry about.…Read more...

In March, I’ve tried to figure out whether I could fit stretching into my fitness regimen and like doing it. After almost three weeks, I’m still doing pretty much the same routine I described in my last post. My biggest focus in this time has been consistency—I knew my biggest challenge would be actually doing the…Read more...

At some point in your career, you will probably have to deal with a brilliant jerk at work. Brilliant jerks are everywhere, getting praised by management while making everyone else’s life a living hell. Sometimes their overall jerkiness is recognized—even endorsed—by management while other times, their toxicity goes…Read more...

I have never been a good student of history, at least not in the traditional sense. I hate reading about war, but war is only one lens through which we can study the past. History is literally just stuff that happened, and wars are not the only thing that happened. Almost any cultural phenomenon or artistic movement…Read more...

My parents love asparagus, their go-to green vegetable. During my last trip to visit them in Sacramento, I was given the important task of preparing it. I kept it simple: A quick, blistering sauté in olive oil and salt, followed by a splash of lemon juice. “The asparagus is very good,” my stepfather said. “I like the…Read more...

I have sympathy for influencers. Seriously. I’m closer to obscurity than I am to celebrity, but a quick google search of my name will provide evidence enough that I’m “extremely online.” As a writer, Twitter may as well be my LinkedIn. As a comedian, TikTok is like my resume. Likes, comments, and followers—for those…Read more...

Last year, I got a personal training certification to round out my knowledge and ensure I can be even more of a know-it-all when I write about fitness for you guys. Since so many people are interested in this line of work, I thought I’d break down what the experience was like, whether it was worth the effort, and what…Read more...

Apple released new updates for iPhone (iOS 15.4.1), iPad (iPadOS 15.4.1), and Mac (macOS 12.3.1) yesterday, and according to the release notes, they fix some annoying bugs across platforms, including a battery drain issue many iPhone users experienced on iOS 15.4. However, Apple didn’t advertise the important security…Read more...

Kids all know that Facebook is for old people to share political memes, but that isn’t stopping Mark Zuckerberg’s company from going after the hearts and minds of the young. Plus: Memers meme over the Oscars slap, and online medical advice proves sound for once.

Bruce Willis’ family revealed on Instagram Wednesday the 67-year-old actor is “stepping away” from acting following a diagnosis of aphasia, a condition affecting the ability to either understand language or to communicate (or both).Read more...

Shopping for stuff can be fun, but capitalism’s allowance for a proliferation of brands also makes it quite stressful. Our stores and online platforms are stuffed with brands—no matter what it is you want to buy, there are literally hundreds of brands out there to choose from. Some you’ve heard of, some seem obviously…Read more...

If peanut butter is a staple in your kitchen and pantry, check the brand and the label to see if it’s part of the voluntary recall issued by Skippy Foods, LLC. According to a release from the company—which was also published on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) website—the products are being recalled…Read more...

I’m sure you’re familiar with the XKCD comic “Duty Calls” in which an internet users is passionately typing away late into the night because “someone is wrong on the internet!” The comic illustrates Cunningham’s Law, the tongue-in-cheek axiom that states “the best way to get the right answer on the internet is not to…Read more...

While your Mac’s dock looks sleek and elegant, it isn’t always the best use of screen real estate. By default, it is filled with apps you probably never use and takes up far too much space on your screen by default. Yes, you can edit the programs it displays, but you can actually increase its usefulness in more ways…Read more...

For a brief moment there, it seemed we had finally moved on from the horrible cable TV business model. Streaming was cheap, easy, and full of our favorite shows. In 2022, however, it feels like every show is attached to its own streaming service, forcing you to pay cable prices to have access to everything. If you’ve…Read more...

Admit it. You might be a little (or a lot) controlling. If you clicked on this headline, you have either a sneaking suspicion—or a profound certitude—that you are possibly (probably?) guilty of trying to control the shit out of everything you can.

I first discovered the joys of lying about my ability to access the internet when I went to one of those little cabin places that encourages you to unplug. They suggest that you put your phone in a lock box, and they provide a landline in case you need to call 911. Before I left, I told everybody that I didn’t expect…Read more...

Elden Ring is a massive game. You can spend hours exploring the map, engaging with enemies, and progressing through the storyline, all without giving a second thought to your save file. After all, Steam automatically backs up your save files to the cloud. What could go wrong? Unfortunately, a lot. Save file…Read more...

Not to brag, but I go on a lot of first dates. But this point, I’m familiar with navigating all the unspoken rules of the game. Will we split the bill, or is that too platonic? Should we acknowledge the fact that I obviously stalked you before showing up tonight? To hug or not to hug?

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Sometimes, when I want to feel mad, I read about the crap the internet tries to pass off as weight loss hacks. Because they are all so, so bad.

Mashed potatoes are important, and I take them very seriously. The epitome of comfort food, a bowl of roughed up spuds is the easiest way to turn an otherwise “healthy” meal into comfort food.Read more...

Bruce Willis’ family wrote on Instagram that the actor will be retiring due to health issues, including most recently a diagnosis of aphasia. Aphasia is a disorder that can affect a person’s ability to communicate.

Many first-time pandemic parents are worried: Are their children are on-track with their social and emotional skills? With the world in lockdown mode for the better part of two years, many babies born in or after 2020 have missed out on the usual playdates, birthday parties, music classes, and other opportunities for…Read more...

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Your garden and potted plants can really benefit from a drip irrigation system. These systems reduce the time you have to spend watering your plants, can help keep fragile plants properly watered on hot days, and keep house plants watered while you go out of town for a long weekend. Many drip irrigation systems can be…Read more...

Does this article’s headline sound a bit, well, unhinged to you? Why would anyone remove their MacBook’s display? Newer MacBooks have great displays, and if you didn’t want a display on your Mac, surely you’d have bought a Mac mini or a Mac Studio, right? But while it might seem silly indeed, removing a MacBook’s…Read more...

When you start a new romantic relationship, there are so many exciting things to look forward to: the honeymoon stage, planning your Instagram debut, learning all about each other, and feeling overwhelmed with happiness and possibility. Some of the fun stuff happens outside the relationship, too—telling your friends…Read more...

Long gone are the days of playing console video games online for free. Switch owners need to pony up for Nintendo Switch Online, Xbox users have to sign up for Xbox Live Gold, and those of us loyal to Sony have to pony up for PlayStation Plus to play against friends and strangers alike. But things are chancing at…Read more...

There are plenty of external monitors on the market, but many Mac users (myself included) naturally gravitate toward the aesthetics and features of those made by Apple: a high-quality display, excellent speakers, ease of use, and, of course, an aesthetic that aligns with the rest of your Apple products. So yes,…Read more...

Incorporating different types of movements into your workout routine can be an effective way to improve your overall strength, mobility, and conditioning. And walking like an animal—instead of like a human—should be different enough.Read more...

They call it the Flower Bomb.Read more...

Even if you’re “fully” vaccinated and boosted, you may be due for another COVID-19 vaccine shot soon. The FDA decided today to authorize a second booster dose for people over age 50.Read more...

Though the internet’s wisdom on the dangers of using antiperspirant are overblown (you don’t actually need to worry if yours contains aluminum), you may nevertheless have pondered whether you should go the more natural route when dealing with your body odor. Deodorants mask odor without inhibiting your body’s…Read more...

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When you’re on a road trip, you have tons of options for places to stop to find a bathroom and a candy bar. There are those little brick buildings offering little more than a restroom and a few vending machines; a string of cookie-cutter, state-operated plazas with a Sbarro and a 7-11; and ordinary gas stations…Read more...

If you’ve ever played a video game online, you’ve probably heard of Discord, the free voice, video, and text chat platform that many gamers use to talk. The platform is divided into separate servers with their own members, rules, topics, and channels, but one underused feature is the ability to create and code unique…Read more...

If you’re like a lot of folks, it’s probably been a minute since you needed your grown-up wardrobe. Many of us have been working remotely for the last few ... years? Has it really been years? Holy moly. You might break out the dress shirts for a Zoom call, but otherwise, we’re living in a permanent Causal Friday,…Read more...

Citrus season is winding down, and I am bummed about it. I have been gorging on Sumo citrus for weeks now, trying to cram as much vibrant, tangy sweetness into my mouth as possible until the bumpy fruits disappear for the year.Read more...

At this point, we’re all used to receiving spam texts: Messages purporting to be from your carrier offering you a “gift” for paying your bill, or from “Netflix” asking you to open a link and “update your subscription.” These attempts to rip you off aren’t unusual. What is unusual is when these texts come not from a…Read more...

Did you know you could use dishwasher tablets in way more places than just your dishwasher? Turns out, we’ve all been sleeping on the lesser known uses of these compact cleaning agents. Since they’re designed with bleach and enzymes to remove stains, combat hard water, and eat through grease, those little pods can…Read more...

Protein is an important macronutrient. If you lift, you need it to build muscle. If you run a lot, you need it to keep from losing muscle. If you diet, it helps to nourish your body even when you’re low on calories, and if you eat foods that don’t naturally have a lot of protein, supplementing is one way of ensuring …Read more...

Onion dip and potatoes are a winning combination. The classic pairing of a thin, super salty potato chip and creamy, umami-packed onion dip is a top-tier snack, but I’ve also been know to mix store-bought dip into mashed potatoes, to excellent results.Read more...

If you’ve ever listened to someone, like, pepper everything they say with, like, a never-ending litany of likes, ums, or ahs, you know it can be distracting and—whether fair or not—can diminish what they’re saying. We all occasionally lean on verbal crutches, or what academics call “disfluencies” when we’re nervous,…Read more...

From a limited series about The Godfather to a remastered version of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Paramount+ is celebrating the 1970s in April 2022.

Will Smith single-handedly made the Oscars buzzworthy again last night. And by single-handedly, I’m of course referring to the single open hand he used to slap comedian Chris Rock. I could keep making jokes, but Twitter has got it covered.

You probably use your computer copy and paste some text, a link, or an image from one place to another dozens of times a day. You probably don’t even think about it. That is, until something goes wrong, or you’re working on something that requires you to do it over and over and over.Read more...