Lifehacker

Sociological studies, history, and a quick look at Twitter all confirm a simple fact: People are terrible. We’re terrible because we’re born that way, and because we work diligently toward terribleness.

There are a few things in life you can never have enough of. Time and money might be the first two that come to mind, but there are times when storage space on your computer could be a close third. When you unexpectedly run out of space—just as you’re trying to install a large game or download a high-res movie—your…Read more...

Every computer develops some cruft over time: the small app you installed years ago and forgot about, or a cleaning utility you downloaded when you wanted to free up some space, but is still running in the background. Plus, Windows comes with its own bloatware. No matter how old (or new) your Windows PC is, you should…Read more...

PC gaming is rightly considered a “high-end” computer task. While plenty of games will run on weak or outdated PCs and laptops, the biggest, newest games require powerful hardware and gaming-friendly operating systems like Windows or SteamOS—features that tiny productivity machines like Chromebooks lack.

When you hear the words “ray tracing,” your mind likely dredged up images of cutting-edge games. Ray tracing didn’t hit mainstream PC GPUs until 2018, and only the latest generation of consoles supports the tech, so it wasn’t much of a consideration for a majority of the gaming community until recently. Still, retro…Read more...

According to the rules of popular culture, a cop has to answer honestly when faced with the hard-hitting question of “Are you a cop?” Tragically, this is not true. Police officers are legally allowed to lie. In fact, they’re allowed to lie a lot.

Pastry brushes are essential kitchen tools, even if you’re not much of a baker. In addition to applying egg (or mayo) washes to breads and pastries, you can use them to apply a slick sheen of mustard to a leg of lamb (to help the seasoning stick), baste a roast, or paint a whole chicken with mayonnaise. They do,…Read more...

Commercially made cannabis edibles are increasingly available as adult-use retail sales sweep the nation (in slow motion). Once upon a time, you had to DIY, but today, you can consult a trusted shop—if not one of the dozens of cannabis cookbooks coming to market faster than that brownie will kick in.Read more...

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Connection is key in every relationship, but day-to-day life—from work, kids, and chores to our attachment to our phones—can make it difficult to regularly communicate and sync up with our partner. When a relationship hits a snag, it’s not always clear what we need to do to cultivate a healthier and closer connection.…Read more...

Since its February in release, Elden Ring has taken the internet by storm as millions of hapless players explore the Lands Between, die repeatedly (and violently) along the way, and then meme about it. This latest release from Hidetaka Miyazaki and FromSoftware—creators of Demon’s Souls and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice…Read more...

Though hand sanitizer has been around for decades, it became indispensable at the beginning of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic—and since then, the product has been subject to a number of ironic recalls. Now, hand sanitizers featuring either Mickey Mouse or Baby Yoda on the label are part of another. The voluntary recall…Read more...

A fire pit is a welcoming addition to any backyard. It can become a central gathering point and can extend the warm season by keeping you cozy from spring through fall. Building a fire pit yourself is a tempting project, but there are some things you should consider before taking this on—for your safety and your…Read more...

Last week, Sony announced its revamped “PlayStation Plus” subscription service, offering three different tiers that let you play games online, as well as access exclusive games. If you want access to all games offered, including PS2, PS3, and PSP options, you need to resign yourself to a $120 per year subscription.…Read more...

Originally created as a rust-prevention solvent for use in the aerospace industry, WD-40 has become the go-to product for your home’s squeaky door hinges and stuck bike chains (Which can be counter productive as it then traps dirt and dust inside.) There’s some debate about what the product actually is, however—and…Read more...

If you’re online, you’ve probably been witness to a crime. I’m not referring to the crime of being cringe—I’m talking about people who openly post incriminating information on social media.

One of my hobbies is lurking in a Facebook group called something along the “Trader Joe’s Meal Ideas for Busy Moms.” As in any Facebook group, this one has a fair amount of drama, and several recurring themes: “Look at this bug I found in this bag of produce,” “Look at my charcuterie board,” and “Is this mold?” are a…Read more...

If you’re new to going to the gym, we have a whole guide to the basic, possibly embarrassing questions that may come up in your head. But today we’re going to zero in on one of the more common things to overthink about: How long a time is it okay to spend on a machine?

Though ants can show up in your home any time of year, you may notice them becoming particularly active in the spring. That’s because after spending the winter taking shelter under wood piles or yard debris—or even hiding out inside your walls—the combination of warmer weather and more rain than usual is their signal…Read more...

One of the best parts about spring is finally getting back outside to enjoy nature. Or, at least that’s the case until you run into some sort of obstacle, like an especially muddy trail, seasonal allergies, or ending up with a red, itchy rash after coming in contact with poison ivy, or a similarly irritating plant.Read more...

Although parts of the country are waking up to snow this morning, it is technically spring—which means it’s time for some spring cleaning. And your car is no exception.Read more...

Think back to your days in driver’s ed. Aside from being told to hold the steering wheel at “10 and 2" (something now considered outdated and potentially dangerous), you were probably also constantly reminded to adjust your mirrors and check your blind spot.Read more...

When deciding what type of container is best for growing your plants, you’ve probably at least considered traditional unglazed terracotta pots. They’ve long been a staple of at-home gardening, and for good reason: They’re relatively inexpensive, can be reused, and are porous, allowing for an exchange of air and water.Read more...

After making it through another long winter, warmer spring weather gave us a reason to get excited. But now that allergy season is in full swing, those who live with seasonal allergies—sometimes referred to as “hay fever”—may be wishing that they lived somewhere else. Specifically, somewhere where allergy season isn’t…Read more...

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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.