Lifehacker

‘Twas later that evening on the 4th of July, and sparkly fireworks no longer lit up the sky. Whatever leftovers you thought you might have for next year ended up in the Grand Finale. Now, an assortment of larger fireworks, and smaller firecrackers and sparklers litter the yard, street, or wherever your DIY display…Read more...

Pools are pretty gross when you think about it. And as much as we may not love the idea of swimming in a bunch of chemicals—in this case, chlorine—that’s probably preferable to whatever else would be stewing in there without them. So, yes, chlorine is necessary and important, but that doesn’t mean we have to enjoy its…Read more...

While you might not think of the software that runs on your Apple TV too often, Apple does release a major update every year. In the fall of 2021, Apple will release tvOS 15, which brings some quality-of-life improvements to the Apple TV: You’ll finally be able to log in to apps using Face ID on your iPhone, for…Read more...

It is not exactly a secret that I am not particularly proud to be an American, but I am a food writer living in the United States, which means certain editorial decisions are influenced by certain American holidays. (That’s capitalism, baby.) This Sunday is Independence Day, a day often celebrated with the…Read more...

The morning after a severe weather event—whether a localized thunderstorm or major hurricane—people cautiously walk out of their homes to survey the damage. If you live somewhere with trees, chances are you’ll find at least a few that are no longer standing, either on your property or near it.Read more...

Sibling relationships can look a lot of different ways. We all know someone who considers their brothers and sisters their best friends, and are in touch with them every day. But we also all probably know at least one person who has an adversarial relationship with a sibling, or may have cut them out of their life…Read more...

Rent a vacation home on or near basically any coastline in the country (including those surrounding lakes), and there is a good chance that the decor will be nautical in nature. But it doesn’t end there. It’s not uncommon to see coastal themed interior design in completely landlocked areas too—just because there isn’t…Read more...

Every July 4, as fireworks explode throughout the nighttime sky, millions of dog runs for cover, or bark and howl in confusion at the noises assaulting their sensitive canine ears. Fireworks are scary and disorienting for dogs, who don’t know that the cacophony outside is celebrating “freedom” and not threatening…Read more...

Why can you do 250 pounds on the leg press at your usual gym, but only 200 if you go to a different location across town? You didn’t suddenly get weaker, and contrary to a popular myth, it’s not because one gym is lying to flatter you. Machines are just different.Read more...

It’s hot outside...or at least it was. I can’t keep track. I’m going to level with you: This week did bad things to my brain. Kicking off the week at a scorching 115℉ and ending it at 75℉ has broken me in a unique way. I’ve never liked being hot, but now I fear the heat—but at least my garden made it through.Read more...

Outdated tile is a glaring eyesore that nobody wants. Maybe the tile hasn’t been changed since the ‘70s, or maybe it’s just not your style. Sure, it’s possible to retile your home yourself, but not without extensive research and a lot of supplies and equipment—including a wet saw for cutting tile. That whole process…Read more...

When I think of grilled pizzas, I think of the HBO show “Girls.” I truly hate this for me, but anytime I serve, eat, or ponder a pizza that has been cooked on the grill, I hear Allison Williams say, “We bought the ingredients to make grilled pizzas, and we were going to make grilled pizzas, and on the day we were…Read more...

Congrats on the new baby! Forget whether or not you’re prepared to raise a whole human being from infancy into adulthood. The real question is, Are you ready to get laid again?Read more...

The ideal morning routine helps you start your day feeling accomplished, capable, and ready to tackle everything ahead of you. That’s a wonderful feeling, but you may not have the energy to do a complex routine every single day. A chill, minimalist morning routine has its benefits, too. Rather than trying to come up…Read more...

Anyone who has ever tried to teach a child to tie their shoes knows how long it can take for them to get it right—and how frustrated they may feel in the meantime. But eventually, there comes that moment when it clicks. And it’s in that moment, when their failures turn to successes and their perseverance pays off,…Read more...

A fence is a classic way to mark the property line of your home, provide a level of privacy, and keep dogs and small humans from running into the street. But if the standard “white picket fence” look isn’t for you, trees and shrubbery can offer a more natural option. If you already have an existing fence, you can add…Read more...

One of the most striking things about aging is how one’s perception of time changes over the years. When you’re a kid, time seems like it stretches on forever: A week can feel like a year, and a year can feel like a lifetime. But as you age, time seems to speed up. Sure, a particularly draining workday might drag on,…Read more...

Ice cream is, bar none, the best dessert out there. It’s rich, creamy, cold, and comes in as many flavors as you can imagine, from your standard chocolate and vanilla to experimental offerings such as ghost pepper or corn on the cob. Some days, it’s enough to open a pint from the nearest grocery store, but making your…Read more...

LEGOs are all about the possible: When handed a full box, what can you build? I spent a good chunk of my childhood rummaging through our LEGO collection at home, building all sorts of gadgets and contraptions. My older brother, when he wasn’t beating me up, would sometimes join in, and we’d spend hours building…Read more...

As the world enjoys our newfound freedom to leave our houses and the drama of the presidential election fades into memory, we’re all freed up to make up conspiracy theories about video games, pretend to drive invisible cars, and shove garlic up our noses.

Sometimes you want to dive deeper than the traditional mystery, romance, thriller, sci-fi, and fantasy books. If you like any of these five major literary genres but have nonetheless grown tired of them—or you just don’t know the difference between all these literary labels—it’s time to branch out with some niche sub…Read more...

Somewhere in the fall of 2021, Apple will release the macOS Monterey update—and this is a big one. Shortcuts automation finally comes to the Mac, Universal Control lets you share a cursor with your iPad, not to mention the new FaceTime features for shared media playback.

When it comes to growing up, some children need a little more time. Maturing slower than their peers can be hard for a kid though, especially once they start school. If all their friends are moving on to different activities and interests while their own schoolwork is getting progressively harder, it can leave them…Read more...

There are two words I think we can all agree don’t belong together and they are as follows: corpse and flower. And yet, not only are corpse flowers a thing, they are a giant thing. The amorphophallus titanum or “corpse flower” is a huge flower that, when it blooms, gives off a smell akin to rotting meat. Corpse…Read more...

The pandemic is waning here in the United States (at least for now), the job market is slowly showing signs of recovery, and millions of workers have fled their jobs in what many headlines are calling “The Great Resignation.” You might be one of those workers reckoning with what you want from work, and while it might…Read more...

I have always been resistant to cleaning things that are outside. Outside is where the dirt lives—the dirt’s “home turf,” if you will. But now that I live in a house that comes with its own little piece of outside, I’m seeing that cleaning these out-of-doors spaces is necessary, especially now that I am doing a fair…Read more...

Twitter has launched two new features, Super Follows and Ticketed Spaces, that the company says will help creators make money off of their followers. Does this mean you could make a decent living using the social media app? Probably not, unless you already have a huge Twitter following eager to consume your content at…Read more...

Los Angeles County recently asked residents to start wearing masks in public again, due to the increased risk posed by the Delta variant of the virus that causes COVID-19. Days later, the CDC director said that vaccinated people are still “safe” and still don’t need to mask up in most public settings. Who’s right, and…Read more...

The iPhone keyboard has a hidden superpower—beneath its usual letters, numbers, and symbols lie a treasure trove of less common but still useful symbols. The next time you want to tell someone how hot or cold it is, for example, you don’t need to type “degrees” or do a Google search for the degree symbol. You can tap…Read more...

If you go to a library to look for a book, it shouldn’t take much time to find what you need. That, of course, is because libraries are meticulously organized. And your laptop shouldn’t be much different—it’s your personal library of what’s important to you. The best way to keep track of your digital life is to stay…Read more...

Don’t throw away those old socks just yet.Read more...

I have never been and never will be “above” eating a frozen pizza (once cooked, obviously). They are convenient. They are tasty. They are customizable. But cooking them has a way of heating up your kitchen, as they need a good bit of heat to get all browned and bubbly. There is, luckily, another scorching heat source…Read more...

Finding a good daycare is tough. There’s the cost, which can be equivalent to paying a second mortgage every month; the waiting lists, which for some centers can run up to several years; plus the worries about how your child will adjust to a new daycare environment. With all of these factors, it’s hard not to feel…Read more...

Every fall without fail, Apple releases a major new version of their operating systems for the iPhone and iPad. And as always, if you’re curious about the new features in iOS 15 and iPadOS 15, there’s a way to skip the line and try them out right now using the public betas.

Flying commercial is usually a fraught experience, but a reported uptick in in-flight incidents concerning unruly passengers has only compounded the possible annoyance of stepping onboard a plane. If you’re ever to witness one of these ugly scenes—whether it’s two passengers pushing and shoving each other, or someone…Read more...

The Tokyo Olympics will feature plenty of our favorite sports, like gymnastics, track and field, and swimming—but there will also be six new (or almost-new) sports in the mix. Here’s what you need to know to watch the newcomers at the “2020 Olympics,” as they’re being called. (Yes, we know it’s 2021.)Read more...

If you owe the IRS money, they certainly don’t want you to forget about it. That’s why the agency has ever-so-kindly provided an online tool to help you track your outstanding balance and stay on top of payments, saving you the hassle of relying on a sheaf of old mail to keep track of the details.Read more...

Bird feeders can be a tranquil and welcoming environment for birds—unless they’re not properly cared for. According to Colorado Parks & Wildlife, bird feeders spread diseases like salmonellosis, trichomoniasis, pigeon paramyxovirus, and avian pox. In other cases, old wet seeds can grow mold and mildew, harming the …Read more...

The Fourth of July is always a tough holiday for dog owners, but this year will be a real doozy. On top of the usual fireworks, rowdy drunk people, and other dogs, this year’s gatherings have an extra complication: Nobody knows how to act.Read more...

The first public beta for watchOS 8 is now available, giving users a chance to try out all the new features coming to Apple Watch Series 3, 4, 5, 6, and SE devices later this year. This early version of watchOS 8 includes the respiratory sleep tracking, new workout modes and multi-timer support, and tons of new…Read more...

Becoming financially literate takes some work, but it doesn’t have to be a chore. And in 2021, one of the easiest ways to source practical advice on budgeting, managing debt and investing is listening to personal finance podcasts while you’re making dinner, out walking the dog, or commuting to work. To help you choose…Read more...

Until very recently, I avoided the world of barbecue. Getting up early? Being outside? Asking men for advice? None of this sounded all that appealing, but here I am, showing you pictures of some pulled pork I smoked for my family, and I fully “get it.” Getting up early mean you get a little bit of peace and quiet, and…Read more...

Adobe recently announced Photoshop Sketch and Illustrator Draw, two great free drawing apps available on iPad, will be removed from the Apple App Store (and Google Play) on July 19. Luckily, the apps are getting a free replacement in Adobe Fresco, which combines the features of Photoshop Sketch and Illustrator Draw…Read more...

Socrates didn’t fear death. Even though he met a gruesome demise (he was executed by the state for the alleged crime of corrupting Athenian youth), Socrates didn’t flee or plead before his executioner. If we are to take his beliefs and teachings—that death is an inevitability that might be good, actually—to heart, we…Read more...

Vacuum cleaners can clog by things getting stuck in the hose or from an over-full canister, but most clogs are easily solved by just regularly emptying your vacuum. Hair and string, though, tend to wrap around the vacuum brush and can restrict its movement, causing a slow death until it stops spinning altogether,…Read more...

Most people do not own every kitchen gadget their heart desires. It’s a matter of cost, but also one of space—unless you are a rich person with a spacious kitchen, gadgets, mixing implements, and even bowls and platters have to earn their spots in cabinets and drawers.

Putting a cat on a diet is hard. The pitiful eyes, the constant yowling, the nonstop paw taps asking for food, not to mention all the times they wake you up at 2 a.m., in the hopes your guard will be down just enough that you’ll feed them. Add in a second cat with different dietary needs and it can seem impossible to…Read more...

There is much to ponder in the infinite mysteries of outer space, but...what’s it smell like? It turns out that much, if not all, of the seeing the wonders of space would be accompanied by a distinct aroma—or stench. Space has a smell, but it’s only astronauts (and perhaps your odd corporate CEO with a thirst for…Read more...

My sustainable homestead is evolving—and the new addition to the ever-growing project involves using rain barrels to provide my chickens with drinking water, irrigate my garden, and keep my compost pile moist.Read more...

The Pop It toy craze has finally given us an answer to the question, “What if bubble wrap could, like, re-generate or something?” Predictably, it is super satisfying for kids and adults alike.Read more...