Lifehacker

When the Supreme Court declined to block Texas SB8—which bans abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, functionally banning the procedure altogether—it set off an emotional shockwave. People processed their feelings on Twitter, firing off all manner of spicy tweets about backwards Texans, ignorant male politicians who…Read more...

Little packets of instant miso soup are as delicious as they are convenient. I eat miso soup for breakfast (with a microwaved-poached egg), but its utility reaches far beyond the first meal of the day, especially if you are flying, road-tripping, camping, or traveling in any way.

Packing for the gym is a bit like packing for a trip: You need to have all the supplies you’ll need for your destination, and you also need everything to be organized so you can find it at the right time. And just to keep things fun, you have to have a plan for dealing with contents that will often be wet and smelly.

Microsoft’s strict hardware requirements for the upcoming Windows 11 have left many users behind, but it turns out there’s a way to install the new OS even if your PC’s processor or security features don’t meet the company’s standards—though it’s not guaranteed to run properly.

Networking sucks, which means that there’s no shortage of advice for ways to make it fun. One of the most common suggestions is: “Don’t network—make friends instead.” But this attitude is shitty in its own way. If you befriend someone for their connections, are you really their friend? (Probably not.)Read more...

I recently got a notification that my Gmail account was 90% full. I thought that was impossible since Gmail must have unlimited space. Then I remembered that I’ve had the account since 2008 and have never cleared out old, unnecessary emails. If you are in the same (increasingly full) boat, here are the steps to mass-…Read more...

Last June, my kindergartener came home on the last day of school with a folder of avant-garde “How to flip a pancake” writing samples and a pencil case full of not one, not two, but ten uncapped markers. Of course, he had used one of those uncapped markers to cover every inch of his white dry erase board with blue…Read more...

Much to the chagrin of big tech companies, nobody wants their smartphones to spy on them. By default, however, our mobile devices track our every move—and share that data with other apps and services. Luckily, as with most things on Android, you don’t need to live with the default setup presented to you. Instead, you…Read more...

Last week, I went on my very first elk hunting trip with my dad and a couple of other dudes. I had not been camping since I was a child, so the trip was quite educational in nature. I learned about “tagging,” “spikes,” and “bald-faced hornets,” but I also learned that hunting and eating do not pair well together, at…Read more...

Twitter user Ian St. recently asked for a list of favorite Catholic movies, leaving interpretation of the question open-ended, and folks were happy to offer up their top choices:Read more...

It’s pretty unlikely that the noise level in your home is consistent. At any given time, there’s a mix of people talking and appliances running and sounds from outside drifting in, and it can be difficult to set your smart speaker’s volume appropriately so it stands out above the fray but doesn’t shout at you when…Read more...

Apple’s M1 Macs are known for speed, and for good reason: They wake up immediately and churn through tasks, often without breaking a sweat. You might think that your M1 MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, or Mac mini maintains this level of performance no matter what you throw at it; as it turns out though, the apps you…Read more...

Considering we’re living in the Age of the Video Meeting, if you are using a computer without a webcam, there’s a good chance you have the need for a quality video camera from time to time. Before you go out and buy a new webcam, though, you should consider converting your Android phone into a high-resolution camera.…Read more...

We all know getting a good night’s sleep is important, but too often, we just settle for the “night’s sleep” part and leave out the “good.” Maybe that’s because we think how “good” we sleep is mostly out of our hands—but there are ways to maximize your sleep so your waking hours are even better.

Marble isn’t only beautiful—the stone can be a long-lasting feature of your home. This is why it’s used to make everything from countertops, to floors, to showers. And as anyone who has ever wiped out on a marble floor knows, it’s quite hard.Read more...

Bees may be small in size, but they play a major role in ecosystems, pollinating trees, flowers, and other plants. But one type of bee does more than pollinate: the carpenter bee.Read more...

When you think about painting a room, chances are you’re picturing giving your walls a refresh, or a makeover in a new color. But ceilings are a different type of canvas—one that can change the feeling of the entire room.

It’s almost Labor Day—a holiday that the U.S. Department of Labor describes as “an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers.” Regardless of whether you take that claim at face value, or see the day off as a government scam, it’s not a bad idea to take the opportunity to consider…Read more...

Living through 2020 and what we’ve survived of 2021 so far has prompted many people to reflect on their lives, goals, and priorities. If you’re among them, and realized that you’d like to (eventually) see more of the world and start volunteering, there’s a way to do both at the same time: Volunteer for a scientific…Read more...

Mirrors are a timeless piece of home decor, and for good reason. Not only can they make smaller spaces appear larger, and amplify a room’s natural light, they can also blend in seamlessly with almost any design style.Read more...

They may seem like any other towel or rag, but those made from microfiber come with some baggage. For starters, some people hate—and we mean, truly despise—the feeling of microfiber on their skin. If you fall into this category, you’re not alone, and that weird snagging sensation you’re feeling isn’t in your head.Read more...

This weekend marks the unofficial end of summer—a time people have traditionally gotten together for one final cookout of the season. But even if you and your circle are all fully vaccinated, you may opt to stay home this year, thanks to the spread of the Delta variant.Read more...

Even if you’ve never heard of milk paint or chalk paint before, you’ve definitely seen it. Except, the chalk paint we’re referring to here isn’t the dark-colored kind that you can use to turn any surface into your very own chalkboard. That’s something else.Read more...

Most of us have heard the term “tendonitis,” usually when talking about conditions like tennis elbow, swimmer’s shoulder, or any of the many other overuse injuries we can develop. When we develop an overuse injury, our instinct for recovering is usually rest and ice. However, as we are now discovering, the best…Read more...

Just when you thought blockbuster movies couldn’t possibly get any longer, the fine people at Universal Pictures announced the runtime for the next, long-delayed entry in the James Bond series. When it opens in October in the US, No Time to Die is set to keep movie-goers in their seats for a bladder-busting 2 hours…Read more...

One of the things I realized when I got my first kayak was that I was also going to need to buy my own PFD, or personal flotation device. When you rent a boat, the staff usually hands you a lifejacket, and you try to ignore how awkward it is while you try to have fun on your boat. But now that you get to buy your own,…Read more...

In the wake of the Supreme Court decision to allow Texas to ban abortions after approximately six weeks of pregnancy, a few people—I’m not naming names—have shown that they have no idea how weeks are counted in pregnancy. Folks, on the day you have sex to make a baby, you are considered two weeks pregnant already. And…Read more...

Unsure if that weird spot on your child’s shirt is chocolate or poop (we’ve all been there)? Is an especially sticky substance clinging to their lunch bag? If you’re worried your kids will ruin all those nice clothes you just got for their return to the​​ classroom, we have you covered. We consulted with Leanne Stapf,…Read more...

ASMR content has been around for years, most of it hosted on YouTube. The acronym stands for autonomous sensory meridian response, and content in the category generally features creators, or ASMRtists, speaking softly into a microphone, pretending to put makeup on a viewer, directing a viewer’s attention to focus…Read more...

There are many ways to share music with your friends through Spotify, but the company is rolling out a new “Blend” feature that lets users automatically create a shared playlist that updates daily based on both listener’s music tastes. Blends are available to all free and premium users, and you can invite any other…Read more...

I’m currently sitting in the dining room of my friend’s Red Hook apartment, at a stately and beautiful walnut table that has been sullied by the trappings of my “productivity”; laptop, papers, books I probably won’t get around to reading, a busted-but-still-functioning set of headphones, crumpled receipts and a large,…Read more...

As we all get back out there and travel again, we might have forgotten how to properly fit all of our items into a suitcase. If you can’t remember what to roll and what to fold (or how much underwear you need for a long weekend), then check out our best packing hacks.Read more...

If you’re in a committed romantic relationship, your partner should be your first priority—but not your only priority. Maintaining healthy, mutually supportive friendships with people you aren’t having sex with is great for your mental and emotional health, not to mention your relationship.

Most of us rely on our smartphones to wake up in the morning. Unless your battery really sucks, we don’t encounter a Home Alone situation very often. But when your alarm isn’t reliable, and you have someplace important to be, you have a big problem. and that is what going on with Android’s Clock app, as a new bug…Read more...

You move into a new place and discovering that one of your roommates is a hottie: It sounds like the setup to an adult movie, but it can happen in real life. Like hooking up with a coworker, acting on your attraction to a roommate might be ill-advised, all things considered, but horniness tends to supersede intellect.…Read more...

A bullshit concept from the incel world has been leaking into mainstream culture, so it’s time we explain. I’m talking about the idea of a “sigma male,” who supposedly exists in relation to “alpha” and “beta” males.Read more...

Highlighting the rampant harassment on Twitter is now a cliche; we all know it’s a breeding ground of abuse and cyberbullying. Thankfully, the company seems to be finally listening to its userbase’s calls for better anti-harassment tools with a new “Safety Mode” feature.

This week, the kids are spreading a tic-disorder through social media, pretending to get arrested, and using furry-porn to fight COVID disinformation. Everything is extremely normal.

When you live with someone, you share your stuff. You both use the smart speaker to listen to music around the house, and you both use the smart lights to show off to your friends (“look, I can turn them blue!”). The point is, you all use the same smart devices, and it’s about time you tied those devices to the same…Read more...

Starting Oct. 1, monthly SNAP food assistance benefits will go up by an average of $36 per person, the largest increase in the program’s 46-year history. Here’s what you need to know about how to qualify for increased food assistance—which you can get even if you’re a student.Read more...

You may not think about it all that often, but that cardboard salt container in your kitchen (the one with the handy metal spout) is pretty useful. Not only does it allow you to more easily pour out all that fine salt (without using a spoon, which can introduce unwanted moisture), it can also be put to use even after…Read more...

Lately, my toddler has been putting all sorts of items in the dryer. He sees me putting clothes in it, and he wants to help, but he still hasn’t figured out that only certain items are meant for the dryer. The result is that I have to check very carefully before turning the dryer on, as I’ve discovered everything from…Read more...

Like every other piece of technology, the iPhone gets slower with time. Sure, it might easily coast by for 4-5 years, given the quality of Apple’s hardware, software, and security updates. But your phone will never feel as speedy after five years as it did on day one.

Chloé Zhao’s Academy Award-winning Nomadland is inspiring a new wave of tourism to unlikely locations in South Dakota, including the Reptile Gardens animal park and the cowboy-themed Wall Drug Store, both featured in the film.

There was a time, before smartwatches, when I briefly got really into swimming. I learned to read the pace clock at the pool at my local Y, and I would count strokes in my head to keep tabs on whether I was using good, efficient form. I brought my workouts to the pool on index cards inside ziploc baggies.Read more...

An expanded COBRA subsidy that temporarily covers 100% of your healthcare premiums due to unemployment is ending Oct. 1. The program lets you to keep your former employer’s healthcare plan for at least 18 months, but normally you have to cover the full cost, which many people find too expensive. With the subsidy…Read more...

Veterinarians and auto mechanics have a lot in common. They both fix urgent problems for people who often have no idea what’s going on—and are never happy to get a big bill.

With the rise of increasingly convenient features such as street-level 360º photos available on Google Maps and other competing mapping services, there’s always a risk your personal data will be captured in a publicly available photo in a way you’d rather avoid—whether than means the outside of your house or the…Read more...

As medical and recreational use are being legalized in states across the country, it feels like so much about cannabis consumption is changing quickly. Some things, however, are still the same as they’ve ever been. For instance, you still aren’t supposed to cross state lines with weed—even if you got it legally with…Read more...

Two hundred dollar wireless earbuds are great. Until you lose them.Read more...