Lifehacker

You shouldn’t follow every piece of TikTok advice that passes through your feed, but this recent tech tip making the rounds is worth heeding: Don’t use the iOS highlighter pen to block important information in screenshots and other images.

Southern cooks—or, more accurately, Southern eaters—have a lot of opinions about a lot of foods. Even if you don’t make the grits, fish, or beans, you probably have thoughts about how they should be prepared. Biscuits are particularly good at generating debate—even something as simple as the shape can cause friction.Read more...

Speed dial was an essential efficiency tool back when you needed to dial every number by hand. Rather than waste precious seconds punching the same digits every day, you could program your favorite contacts to designated spots on either a landline or a cell phone for quick, single-button access. Of course, these…Read more...

In spite of the many promises made by Hollywood movies, fistfights are almost never balletic exercises in controlled violence after which the winner walks away rubbing his bruised knuckles and looking like a badass. They’re usually terrifying, random encounters in which untrained, generally drunk combatants flail…Read more...

With a few noticeable exceptions, such as blueberries, blue raspberry candy, and certain cocktails, blue is not a color you want your food to be, especially if you weren’t planning on it. Blue (or turquoise, or green) garlic is particularly startling. Garlic is supposed to be beige, golden brown, or a deep, sticky…Read more...

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Let’s face it: Our butts are not kind to our couch cushions. Over time, they leave an indelible and not-very-cute imprint in our favorite lazing and resting places, squishing and squashing our cushions’ once rebounding softness into flat, dented mushiness. But if you’re not quite ready to give up that couch or your…Read more...

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental disorder that affects the way you perceive yourself and others. Those with BPD can have difficulty regulating their emotions, face issues with self image, and experience a pattern of unstable relationships. At the core of the disorder is an intense fear of abandonment,…Read more...

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I’m a big believer in old tech. I think we could all stand to update our devices less, and push the things we do have to their limits. Of course, nothing lasts forever: Eventually, there will come a day where, whether you want to or not, you have to get a new iPhone. When that day arrives, however, rather than walking…Read more...

Save for the consummate and frequent redecorators out there, most of us are probably in a home decor rut—maybe you made an effort at sprucing up your space a few years ago, and the same tasteful knick-knacks have been gathering dust on your shelves ever since. Whether your home needs a few touches to freshen up the…Read more...

Apple’s iOS 16 introduces some awesome new Messaging features: With the new update, you can recover deleted messages for up to 30 days, mark messages as unread to return to later, and you have more options for SharePlay than ever before. The two Messages features that made headlines, however, were the ability to edit…Read more...

Every adult has at least one “lawn person” in their social circle, and there’s a reason Lawn People are so obsessed: There are few things in this world that require more care and planning than a lawn. Lawns are thirsty, hungry time vampires that turn brown and brackish in a heartbeat if your attention wavers. The…Read more...

If you’ve ever come across the internet subculture of motivational speaker entrepreneurs, you know they’re going to advise you to work as hard as you can in your youth to save as much money as possible so that you can one day be 1) very rich and 2) very happy. Tik Tok star Gary Vaynerchuk boasts about how in his…Read more...

I don’t diet, but if I did, I feel like I would be a low-carb type of dieter. It’s not that I don’t love bread, pasta, and french fries; it’s that I love dairy more. I’ll never try Atkins (like my parents) or go Keto (like some sort of cross-fitter), but I will appreciate every new and creative cheese-based substitute…Read more...

Everyone hates the people they work with*: 90% of Americans report having an annoying co-worker, and nearly 60% of us have considered leaving, or have actually left, their jobs because of an annoying co-worker.

Whether in person or via email, saying no to other people and their requests comes easily to some. But for others, having to decline an invitation or turn people down—in both their personal and professional lives—is a source of anxiety.Read more...

When you think of the American Automobile Association (AAA)—aka “Triple A”—membership benefits like towing and other roadside assistance services probably come to mind. So if you don’t own your own vehicle, you may assume that the perks of being a AAA member don’t apply to you.Read more...

The quality of the air around you has a big impact on your quality of life. In addition to the long-term effects on your health, poor air quality can make whatever you’re doing much harder—especially for those with respiratory conditions.Read more...

If you’ve paid close attention to labels on any electric products, devices, or appliances, you may have noticed a small mark with the initials “UL” on it. It’s not something associated with a particular company or brand of products, and is one of those things that once you know it’s there, you start noticing them all…Read more...

Some city-dwellers consider outdoor activities things like running to catch the bus, eating lunch in the park, and visiting a farmers’ market. But for others, that won’t cut it. They prefer their air fresh, their walkways unpaved, and their trees in forests. But they also want the benefits of living in an urban area.

If you’ve ever driven past a Krispy Kreme shop, noticed that their iconic “Hot Doughnuts Now” sign is on, and been tempted to stop in for a warm and tasty piece of sugary fried dough, you now have the perfect excuse. The chain is offering a summer promotion that could yield many (many) free glazed doughnuts. Here’s…Read more...

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released their latest Consumer Price Index, and the results aren’t pretty. On the whole, the price of goods across the board went up 1% compared to just last month, and food was hit harder than other categories—an increase in 1.2% compared to just thirty days ago.

An unexpected visitor is a real double-edged sword. On the one hand, how nice! Company! On the other, what if they think you’re a slob because you didn’t have time to clean before their arrival? But even if you only have 10 minutes to prep before a guest arrives, you can still make a big difference in how the place …Read more...

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Kids these days are rediscovering hit songs from the 80s, and I’m not complaining. More specially: Netflix’s Stranger Things has sent Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)” back to the top charts nearly 30 years after its initial release. For modern viewers who didn’t already know the iconic ballad, but…Read more...

If the film Jaws is any indication, the best way to fight a shark is to shove a pressurized scuba tank in its mouth, climb into your ship’s crow’s nest, and shoot the tank from a distance, making the shark explode into a million pieces. If you’re like me and don’t swim in the ocean with an air tank, gun, or lust for…Read more...

If you rent your living space, sure, you don’t technically own it—but you do pay for it, and it’s your private sanctuary. However, your landlord may want to (or need to) enter your private domicile for some reason, at some point. While you do have a legal right to privacy, there are some instances in which you won’t…Read more...

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So, you want to play retro video games? Excellent. Whether you’re exploring old favorites or digging for new treasures, there’s a huge library of titles out there waiting for you. Some retro enthusiasts (like your dear author) will fall down the rabbit hole of era-appropriate hardware— original consoles, game paks,…Read more...

I like doing outdoor things—fishing, hunting, laying on the beach—but I’m not a big camper. (I only camp because elk don’t tend to hang out around hotels.) When it comes to s’mores (a famous camping snack), I prefer to make them indoors. Broiler s’mores come out perfect every time—the marshmallow gets browned, not…Read more...

Windows users believe their OS has a superior file management system to macOS’ Finder. While that assertion is up for debate, one file management feature Mac users can hold above Windows is Finder tabs: These tabs allow you to quickly switch between file windows as you would sites in a web browser, a convenient and…Read more...

One of the side effects of modern capitalism is the incessant drive for growth. Every business has to get bigger every year or it’s a disaster. You see this echoed in the consumer markets—there always has to be a new product, a new category, a new way to encourage folks to spend their money. So it’s not a total…Read more...

A recent Twitter dustup called into question the whole point of the Bechdel test, a set of criteria to help gauge the representation of women in popular entertainment first put forth by Dykes to Watch Out For cartoonist Alison Bechdel in 1985 and inspired, in part, essay from Virginia Wolf. By way of reminder, the…Read more...

I’m not entirely sure why the trucker was so offended by my zipper merge—which is the proper way to merge, thank you very much—but he very clearly didn’t like it and his horn let me know it. I was driving a minivan full of kids ages 6 to 8 to school, and traffic was unusually heavy on this particular morning. A few…Read more...

Youth pop culture has its peaks and valleys, and this week is a definite valley. Maybe it’s because so many school-aged people are studying for finals, or maybe everyone is glued to the Jan. 6 congressional hearings, but not much seems to be happening out there in young people culture. Come on, Youth of America,…Read more...

Statista reports there were 521,705 missing persons cases files in 2021, the lowest number in the United States since 1990. It’s certainly uncommon for someone to go missing, but when it happens, it’s just as certain to be traumatic for their friends and family.

No matter how many productivity hacks you’ve tried, the one thing that is hard to shake is the overwhelming to-do list. When faced with a daunting task (or many daunting tasks), the first steps are always the most challenging. If this is the case for you, one approach is to make sure those first steps are as small as…Read more...

You were going for parent of the decade and saved enough in a 529 plan to fund your child’s private college education. Imagine your surprise when the little bugger decides not to go to college at all (or enrolls in a much less expensive school). Now there’s a bunch of money tied up in an investment vehicle with…Read more...

Eloping might seem like a great idea, especially if wedding planning is stressing you out or the whole thing is costing too damn much. Whether it’s due to family pressure, financial issues, or a desire to marry the love of your life as soon as possible, you might make a snap decision before stopping to think about…Read more...

As far as software support goes, it’s tough to beat Apple. The company continues to update older devices years after their initial release, to the point where it stings when your six-year-old iPhone 7 isn’t eligible for iOS 16. The company might be generous with its software updates, but that doesn’t mean it gives all…Read more...

If you have kids, you likely have way too many toys. Even if you don’t buy many, there’s a seemingly constant influx of grandparent gifts, birthday and Christmas presents, goody-bag swag, and hand-me-down toys from neighbors and friends. It can make for a very crowded, cluttered playroom. (And kitchen, and family…Read more...

There’s a video going viral on TikTok this week in which user MandyVJones explains how you can make a drink that tastes just like Coke, but is good for you. All you need to do is mix a splash of balsamic vinegar with sparkling water, add some ice, and enjoy.

There are two distinct types of Claire Lower blogs: Those that contain normal, helpful, explainers and fun little tips (blogs you can send to your mom without explanation); and those that are a little bit fucked up. The latter is easy to spot. Such a blog will have a headline that makes you go, “I bet Claire wrote…Read more...

All day, every day: It’s stress o’clock. While all you might want to do is push away your worries, if you really want to get a sense of control, you need to tackle them with intention. To accomplish this, set aside a designated time to do nothing but stress. Here’s what to know about taking an effective “worry break,”…Read more...

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I will never turn my nose up at a mayo-dressed picnic salad—be it chicken, egg, tomato, or broccoli—but I get downright excited if I see a good brocc salad at a potluck. My favorite broccoli salad is slightly kitschy: It’s got mayo (of course), but also bacon, red onion, cheddar cheese, a splash of red wine vinegar,…Read more...

There are plenty of things we use or engage in as children that have entirely practical applications once you’ve ‘grown up.” Exhibit A: Night lights, those little lights you plug into the wall, soaking a room or hallway with dim, soothing light. Night lights are usually associated with little kids who are scared of…Read more...

If you have a Mac, iPhone, or iPad and you’re looking for something new from your web browser, you should check out Orion. The new browser lets you run both Google Chrome extensions and Firefox add-ons, while claiming not to sacrifice your privacy. Orion is based on WebKit, the browser engine used by Safari on Mac and…Read more...

If you’re leaving the country this summer, there are two things you should do ahead of time. First, make sure the tourist destination you’re visiting isn’t overrated. Second, make sure you exchange currency before you leave the country. I understand that when traveling abroad, the checklist of things to do can be both…Read more...