Lifehacker

The best part of any camping trip is the campfire, but if you aren’t an expert at arranging your logs and kindling, building one can be an uphill battle. But with a ball of dryer lint and a few other tools, you can make a handy firestarter that will serve you well on those cool outdoor evenings.

Since Apple “courageously” removed the headphone jack with the iPhone 7, other (for reasons that are still up for debate), most other flagship smartphones have followed suit. After all, many of us use wireless headphones these days, and those who don’t can get by with a dongle. But those that prefer the old school…Read more...

Millions of people order coffee from cafés, specialty shops, and mega-chains every single day. It’s become a normal part of our lives—a routine. But routine breeds comfort and familiarity, and we’ve all seen people take that comfort and familiarity way too far—and it turns them into the type of customer that no…Read more...

Normally, making mortgage payments with your credit card is a bad idea. The one exception, though, is when you’re chasing a rewards bonus on a new card, because there’s a scenario in which it can pay off—here’s how it works.Read more...

Variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 didn’t really make news until this year, despite the virus spreading around the globe all through 2020. There’s some misinformation out there blaming the vaccine itself for these variants, but that seems to be based on a misunderstanding. Let’s explore the facts.Read more...

Grass stains are both tough and annoyingly common. The stains come from a mix of chlorophyll, xanthophylls, and carotenoids that stick to our clothes and are hard to scrub out, but hope isn’t all lost—in this small instance, we can beat nature. Here’s how to get rid of stubborn grass stains for good.Read more...

T-Mobile confirmed a security breach that leaked over 48 million current, former, and prospective users. T-Mobile says it closed the server vulnerability hackers used to access the files, but the leaked information is now for sale online.Read more...

You’re probably not making the most of your Apple Watch if you aren’t using it for fitness, and while you’re exploring this topic, you should consider tweaking the stats the watch shows you, too.

The Pixel 5a with 5G (which, let’s be real, we’re all just going to call “the 5a”) is Google’s latest “budget” smartphone. At $449, it isn’t cheap, but it’s far more affordable than other flagship devices. Of course, Apple has a budget phone of its own in the iPhone SE. If you’re in the market for a ~$400 smartphone,…Read more...

If you’re wondering where your child tax credit payment is for August or July, you’re not alone. Some families are still waiting to receive the monthly checks worth up to $300 per child, although the good news is that for most people, these delays are temporary. Here’s a look at what’s going on.Read more...

Many of us are carrying a little bit more weight now than when we were in our 20s. However, as tempting as it is to blame this weight gain on a slowing metabolism, that may not actually be the case, according to a study released last week in the journal Science.Read more...

With corporate offices slowly re-opening post-lockdown, we all may soon be expected to go back to interviewing the old-fashioned way—in person. Where simply wearing a shirt, looking at the webcam, and not audibly farting may have been enough to present yourself as a consummate professional in the Zoom Times, sitting…Read more...

The iCloud app for Windows lets you access your iCloud photos, mail, calendar, and more on your Windows PC, but one thing that’s been missing is iCloud Keychain. If you mostly use Apple products but have a Windows PC at home for gaming or desktop, this is the one that really stings.Read more...

At some point during pregnancy, usually as soon you begin to show, mere acquaintances and passersby start saying some seriously inappropriate shit to people who are with child. While many of these comments have become so commonplace that most people assume them harmless, upon further investigation with myriad formerly…Read more...

A few years ago, I embarked on a dream trip to the South of France, where I took cooking lessons at La Pitchoune (Julia Child’s summer home for nearly three decades). I split the cost of the stay and the lessons with five other women, one of whom was clearly accustomed to this kind of life. (Although I had done a…Read more...

Gnats and other small flies are annoying to get rid of. A small number of them is bad enough, but an infestation can mean a lot more effort. There are several remedies we’ve covered before, like apple cider vinegar traps, but there’s a plant that can help solve your gnat problems, too.

When you share a single Amazon account with a partner and/or kids, it’s pretty difficult to keep any shopping a surprise. Amazon tracks your search history (and then serves you ads), orders are easily reviewed, and there are tons of notifications between the time you place an order and the moment it arrives on your…Read more...

Even though the CDC and FDA said recently that there’s no evidence most people will need booster COVID-19 shots, a group of experts from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a statement in which they “conclude that a booster shot will be needed to maximize vaccine-induced protection and prolong its…Read more...

Starting with iOS 15 and iPadOS 15, Apple is going to apply a new child-protection policy when it comes to scanning photos that you upload to iCloud. This policy will help Apple report illegal child pornography images to the authorities, and on the surface, it sounds like a good thing that Apple is doing. But there’s…Read more...

American culture is dog-obsessed. Cuddly, fluffy, loyal, and funny, these animals are all over our social media feeds and our homes. But when your dog typically cuddly dog starts acting aggressive, however, it can come as a surprise. The reality of a growling, biting dog doesn’t match up to the adorable balls of floof…Read more...

Smart phone notifications can be overwhelming. They can also be, well, boring, hidden away as little rectangles at the top of your screen and looking mostly the same. If you want to spice up your notifications a little, consider taking advantage of one of Google’s fun alert features: chat bubbles.

For a certain segment of Star Wars fans—a segment of which I am not a part, though I have been cramming my head full of information about the franchise since roughly 1985—nothing is more important than arguing over what’s part of the canon. That is, which of the stories that have been told in this universe over the…Read more...

Hollywood seems to have the comic book movie down, but when it comes to adapting graphic novels as TV series, it’s still very much a mixed bag. For every The Umbrella Academy, there’s a Jupiter’s Legacy. For every Doom Patrol, there’s an Iron Fist. For every The Walking Dead, there’s the later seasons of The Walking…Read more...

While it’s important to have some cash in your bank account, it’s also possible to keep too much cash on hand when you don’t really need it. After all, some of that money could be invested elsewhere, where the interest rates are much more favorable. But how much cash should you have, and how much is too much or too…Read more...

“It’s too hot to eat” is a sentiment Caribbean folk know too well, especially in August, though admittedly it’s often said but rarely abided by. Yet with continual heat waves sweeping across the US, we must be mindful of our ecological footprints and utilize various strategies for staying cool besides putting the AC…Read more...

There’s an art to the movie trailer, although not everyone who constructs a trailer is an artist. The best tell us a story about the film we’re meant to go see, to tell us precisely why we’re meant to spend our precious movie dollars and run off to the theater for a couple of hours (and/or throw $30 at Disney+ for an…Read more...

Data encryption makes it nearly impossible for someone to access a protected file without the proper decryption key or password. Many apps use encryption to keep your data safe, including password managers, VPNs, and even some messaging apps—but you should be encrypting more than just the data you share online.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, I’ve stayed fit and (relatively) sane through daily walks around my neighborhood, listening to my favorite true crime podcasts and K-pop songs. One afternoon in the spring of 2020, however, I started to hear a ringing in my right ear. I had developed tinnitus: the perception of…Read more...

While it may seem unlikely as you puff up your LinkedIn profile and go cross-eyed reading job listings on Indeed, it’s actually possible you’ll get multiple offers—or have multiple viable job opportunities on the line—in the same timeframe.

On Sunday, the Taliban took control of Afghanistan’s capital city Kabul following the United States’ withdrawal of troops and the collapse of the country’s military. Many Afghanis are now in danger, including journalists, diplomats, people who have worked for or aided the US, and women and girls. You may have seen…Read more...

Grief is a natural response to loss, from the death of a loved one to the dissolution of a marriage, sudden financial stability, or the end of a friendship. While grieving, people tend to feel a range of emotions—everything from anger to guilt to sadness—all of which are normal, and can take time to work through.

Certain plants, like azaleas and rhododendrons, like moisture but they don’t like long periods of standing water. There is a delicate balance between adequately hydrating plants and drowning their roots, which can cause disease. But you can prevent root rot and keep your plants moist for longer—you just need a few…Read more...

This week we’re speaking with investigative journalist and radio producer Dan Weissmann about how to get around all the outrageous expenses that come with the cost of healthcare. From the surprise medical bills to choosing from the endlessly confusing health insurance plans, we’re covering it all and revealing…Read more...

If you think about it, making beats is a dream job. You get to mess around with cool sounds all day and, if you’re good, you’ll get paid—and a rapper might even shout you out at the beginning of a song. Next time you hear Megan Thee Stallion’s “Body,” listen for her to say, “And if the beat live, you know Lil Ju made…Read more...

Hot, soapy water really is that bitch. It’s all you need to clean most things. But, in some cases, it does its job a little too well, especially if you’re dealing with greasy pots or pans.Read more...

Listen, I appreciate a good roll of duct tape or bottle of super glue as much as the next person, but they’re not universal miracle-workers. Not every adhesive is the right adhesive for the job; in fact, experience has shown me that choosing the wrong adhesive for a DIY project can lead to more frustration, more work,…Read more...

Alt+Tab is one of Windows 10's best shortcuts. It allows you to not only switch between apps, but to see a preview of all your open windows so you can choose exactly which one you want to switch to. It’s so good, there’s even a third-party plug-in for macOS to replicate it. Unfortunately, it’s also broken right now.…Read more...

Whether heading back to the campus or starting yet another year of learning from home, college students are probably going to want at least a few new gadgets to help them make it through the year.

Frozen cooked shrimp has become a freezer staple for many, thanks to being a quick and easy way to add protein to salads, pastas, and any number of other meals. But if it’s in your freezer at the moment, you’re going to want to check the label.Read more...

Humans aren’t the only ones who suffer memory loss and impaired brain function as we age—it can also happen to our pets. In dogs, it’s called cognitive dysfunction syndrome, or CDS, and unfortunately, many of its symptoms are brushed off as “normal” aging.

Depression is one of those illnesses that makes it almost impossible just to get out of bed, let alone do all of the necessary tasks your life requires, like getting dressed, feeding yourself, and cleaning your house. Unfortunately, the tendency to neglect your physical needs can often make you feel even worse,…Read more...

Most Spotify users are likely aware the streaming service tracks their listening activity, search history, playlists, and the songs they like or skip—that’s all part of helping the algorithm figure out what you like, right? However, some users may be less OK with how much other data Spotify and its partners are…Read more...

Are you tired of having to use boring touch controls to interact with your phone? After all, that’s the way things have been done on almost every smartphone for the last decade and a half. While some phones have dabbled in different gesture-based controls in the past, none has really caught on. Maybe Google will…Read more...

Have we reached peak used car prices? No one can say for sure, but there are definitely signs that the market is beginning to cool off. With some car model prices elevated above 30% compared to last year, this could be a good time to sell your car, especially if you don’t need one right now.

Contrary to public opinion, I do eat vegetables. I am a frequent eater of salads, and just this year started growing my own vegetables (and, technically, fruits), the most robust of which has been zucchini.Read more...

In a recent post, we offered a few options for removing mold from hard-to-clean surfaces like wood and upholstery, but what about the wettest room in the house? It might seem straightforward to clean your bathroom’s tub and tile, but areas like grout and caulking are a little trickier. Not to worry, there are ways of…Read more...

We’re used to seeing kids play team sports, like soccer and baseball, at a young age. And strength-based activities like climbing on monkey bars are time-honored childhood pastimes. But somehow, lifting weights looks wrong to many of us when kids are the ones doing it. But how young is too young to pick up a barbell?

We recently advised you that certain types of landscaping can help (or hurt) your home’s resale value. (Steer clear of spikey plants! Avoid invasive species! Don’t plant too many trees!) But another way to potentially boost the value of your home—or at least its curb appeal—is to remove or refrain from outdated…Read more...

With children heading back to full-time, in-person school over the next few weeks while the Delta variant of COVID-19 surges, many parents are wondering whether their kids will be required to wear a mask.

The shift was already happening, but after a year and a half of remote work during the pandemic, Slack has become the de facto business messaging app. But just as you’d think twice about calling your colleagues on their off days or after work, you should probably do the same on Slack too.Read more...