Lifehacker

Windows 10, bless it, arrives packing lots of annoying bloatware. Some of it you can uninstall; some you cannot (cough Your Phone cough). And while the operating system feels like it’s gotten a bit better about this over the years, you’re still going to need to use a third-party app if you want a cleaner Windows 10…Read more...

My immersion circulator gets far more use in the summer than it does in the winter. Sous-vide-ing meat means I don’t have to turn on the oven, and combining a long spell in a constant-temperature water bath with a few minutes on the grill is my favorite hot-weather cooking method (especially if I’m making ribs).Read more...

Windows 10 updates tend to break things, and the most recent Window 10 version 2004 update is no exception. According to numerous forum posts, the latest irksome bug prevents Windows 10 apps from accessing the internet even when the PC is successfully connected and your web browser is working just fine.

Thanks in no small part to COVID-19, we have found ourselves in a golden age of conspiracy theories. With so much still unknown about the novel coronavirus, whenever we add a piece to the pandemic puzzle through evidence-based medicine and research—especially if the new information contradicts our earlier thinking—…Read more...

As the pandemic lingers on, Americans continue to be impacted by the country’s economic crisis. Since March, there have been record-high unemployment numbers, as many companies adjust to the “new normal.”Read more...

I will never understand people who don’t like eating grits, but I do understand people who don’t like making grits. Like preparing risotto and polenta, the process usually involves a good bit of stirring, and I simply hate standing still in front of a stove. The good news is you can cook grits in your Instant Pot. You’…Read more...

If you recently purchased a TiVO Stream 4K, you’ve probably been a little put off by a security notification you received that implied something you’ve done has given a third party “extensive access to your personal information.” Oh, and “You should remove its access unless you’re sure you can trust it.”Read more...

We are all trying to be more eco-conscious and sustainable in our purchases and lifestyles. An easy way to do this without even leaving your home is through composting. Why compost, you ask? It helps reduce landfill waste and brings back rich nutrients to your yard. When you recycle kitchen scraps it introduces…Read more...

Up until a few years ago, Abigail Reed’s politics were in line with those of her parents. She understood their point of view, and she followed it. Then Reed, a recent high school graduate from Indianapolis who is headed to college in a few weeks, started thinking for herself. She started having conversations with…Read more...

Screen recording features are great for guiding tech-challenged family members through using their new smartphone, capturing in-game footage, collecting evidence when reporting bugs and more. However, not all devices let you record your screen equally or easily.

Spending lots of hours scrolling on social media and clicking through photos, videos and stories is arguably the opposite of mindfulness, but now you can multitask, at least on Snapchat. The new Headspace Mini comes with six short meditations you can do alone or with friends without ever leaving the app.Read more...

I do not think of syrupy, herbal liqueurs as “summery,” but that doesn’t stop me from drinking them during the summer, or looking from for new and interesting ways to drink them. If you’ve had a Garibaldi, you know that these bitter, dense elixirs can be refreshing—you just have to get some fluffy juice involved.

The ongoing pandemic has changed so many aspects of our lives that it’s hard to feel in control over much. Everyday there’s a seemingly never-ending list of tasks that have to be done, so when you finally finish and have the chance to go to bed, that may be the first moment you’ve had to yourself all day. And while it…Read more...

We all have someone in our lives who isn’t taking the pandemic seriously enough. A friend who keeps inviting you over for non-distanced, indoor dinner parties, the neighbor who wears their mask around their chin, a parent who refuses to acknowledge they are high risk. But what do you do when you’re having weekly (or…Read more...

One of the most annoying things about the serviceably entertaining but very annoying 2018 film Green Book is its arbitrary use of a very good title. Victor Hugo Green’s The Negro Motorist Green Book, published between the 1930s and the 1960s, is a fascinating piece of history: an atlas/guidebook intended to help Black…Read more...

Android: Irritated as I am that Dark Sky will no longer have a home on Android as of August 1, the pain is slightly lessened by other big weather players—a phrase I don’t get to use nearly enough—stepping up to provide similar services. Or, at least, that’s what AccuWeather is attempting to do in its app’s latest…Read more...

In spite of my elder millennial status, I’ve never been crazy about avocado toast. (And yet I still rent!) It’s fine—there’s nothing wrong with it—but I usually prefer scooping the avocado directly from its leathery peel into my mouth with a spoon.Read more...

As coronavirus cases surge in some parts of the country, many Americans are still reeling from the economic impact of the pandemic. In response, Congress has passed several relief bills, including legislation that has made health savings accounts easier to use during this difficult time. These are the biggest changes…Read more...

Borderlands 3 (Xbox One) | $10 | Best Buy

While biking outdoors is on the lower end of the coronavirus risk spectrum, getting an indoor exercise bike has definitely become a more appealing prospect these past few months. In the video above, I decide to build my own exercise bike rather than spend over $2,000 on a Peloton.

I wish we didn’t need VPNs, but they can be a necessary part of a balanced data security breakfast. ISPs, governments, advertisers and even individuals keen on knowing what you do online can find ways to easily track your browsing data. VPNs make doing so harder (but hardly impossible) by obfuscating your connection…Read more...

Cognitive tests are, apparently, “very hard” for some people.Read more...

A lot is going on right now. In between a pandemic and fighting for civil rights, Black folk are occupied. But one thing I think we can all agree on is supporting Black-owned businesses wholeheartedly. Black people, on average are less likely to get business loans and often have less capital in order to maintain their…Read more...

Little kids have been able to look to many heroes for guidance during the coronavirus pandemic. Sesame Street came through early on with a virtual pandemic playdate with Elmo and a COVID-19 town hall with CNN. LeVar Burton read to us. The New York Times’ science reporter even answered kids’ questions. But finally,…Read more...

If you applied for a loan through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), you may be eager to see if your small business qualifies for loan forgiveness. The program, which encourages companies to keep their employees on the payroll, has offered forgivable loans up to $10 million.

Whenever I have to make a download something big using my phone—or, really, download anything to my phone—I always have weigh the question of “Will this burn through too much of my data plan?” against “How badly do I need this app (or game, or video) right now?”Read more...

Amid growing anti-Chrome sentiment, there’s still one thing the browser’s good for: convenience. And now, Chrome’s built-in password storing feature is getting upgraded with a new autofill option on Android.Read more...

If your kids have ever wanted to design and animate their own video games but didn’t know where to start, Roblox has a free summer coding challenge that can teach them the basics. The challenge, called “Build It, Play It,” gives kids easy-to-follow instructions to help them learn how to create a game with custom…Read more...

Parenting is a wild and confusing trip—to put it mildly. So this week we’re learning how to teach our kids the ins and outs of how to be decent, responsible, adult people with help from writer Catherine Newman. Catherine is the author of multiple books for both kids and adults, including Waiting for Birdy, …Read more...

Did you know that you can only order pool noodles in packs of six or more? Because I learned the hard way.Read more...

Grilling a piece of fresh fruit adds char, dimension, and flavor. The heat gets those juices flowing while the grates caramelize and scorch the sugars—something that’s particularly welcome if you’re dealing with a subpar peach or a not-quite-ripe nectarine.Read more...

Mystery Ranch Mission Rover | $130 | HuckberryRead more...

You might have a dark system theme; you might have set all of your favorite apps to use a dark theme. Even still, the websites you typically visit might not want to play along, which can be a jarring experience while you’re browsing—akin to someone opening a vampire’s coffin at high noon.Read more...

Choosing a prenatal is one of the first of many decisions moms-to-be make, and it isn’t an easy one. The ingredient list can be confusing, the pills themselves are large, and they come in a bewildering variety. A search on Amazon yields 507 hits for “prenatal vitamins,” plus there are direct-to-consumer brands. Though…Read more...

This spring, Congress passed the CARES Act for those impacted by the pandemic. The landmark bill has several provisions for those facing financial difficulties—including one for those looking to borrow from their retirement accounts. The new rules provide temporary access to your 401(k) with fewer penalties and…Read more...

The 2020 election was going to be contentious no matter what, and it should come as no surprise that tons of misinformation is being slung around Facebook by those convinced that (reasonable) systems like voting-by-mail are, in some way, perpetuating some gigantic fraud.Read more...

There’s no quick trick to conquering anxiety. Anyone who struggles with anxiety to any degree knows this. Many people, even during the best of times, intensely or excessively worry about everyday situations. And I wouldn’t exactly classify 2020 as “the best of times.”Read more...

Anker AA Alkaline Batteries (48-count) | $13 | AmazonRead more...

A bag of pre-shredded carrots may seem like the height of convenience, but the often dry, inexplicably rubbery vegetable shreds remind me of too many sad side salads. Even though I am fully aware that I enjoy a freshly shredded carrot far more than a bagged one, I cannot resist the siren song of laziness. (I currently…Read more...

So every week I’ve been writing these Monday morning posts highlighting what’s new and notable on Netflix in the coming week. It’s a useful process for me personally, because it either reminds me of stuff I’ve been meaning to watch (can’t wait to stream the Michael Jordan docuseries The Last Dance and catch up on…Read more...

As a philosopher and psychological researcher specializing in the meaning of life, Dr. Frank Martela is constantly fielding questions about how to make your life more meaningful. Clearly, that’s not an easy question, but he does have a suggestion for a thought exercise that could help: Ask yourself who you’d bring…Read more...

As children, we’re taught to be helpers. Along with learning how to share, lessons about helping other people start in preschool or earlier. But most of us weren’t taught about healthy boundaries, or when to recognize when “helping” someone else turns into enabling.

At this point, it seems as though every person, food and inanimate object gets its own national day of celebration. While this can seem pointless and be hard to keep track of, some days (like today, July 19th) make the nonsense worthwhile. For today is National Ice Cream Day, and we can get behind the tasty chilled…Read more...

Ask a person of a certain age what their blood type is, and chance are they’ll know it offhand. From military dog tags to Cold War-era tattoos on children, the idea was that knowing your blood type could save your life in an emergency situation where you might need blood immediately. But what used to be a crucial…Read more...

If, like many people, you’ve realized that you will be working remotely for the foreseeable future, you may have considered relocating. Earlier this week, we highlighted a new visa program that lets Americans work remotely from Barbados for a year. But working in a tropical paradise isn’t for everyone. For those…Read more...

Have you been so angry, frustrated and/or stressed lately that you just want to scream as long as you can into the void? Us, too. But as it turns out, we now have the option of having our blood-curdling wails echo throughout the land—specifically, Iceland. The small island country, and place where you’ve been meaning…Read more...

Duffel bags are a universal storage/travel item. I’ve had many versions over the years for a myriad of reasons. This versatile item might be an essential piece of your lifestyle or an occasional one. Either way, you should have the proper bag to suit your needs.

Hosting an exchange student is an enriching experience that allows you to serve as the bridge that allows another person to enter into America. Through exchange programs, you can teach your hosted student about American culture: our food, our political history, our pop culture, our natural beauty, our diverse cities…Read more...

Facebook Messenger now lets you share other open apps, browser tabs, photos, videos and more during your video calls. And even better, you don’t have to wait for it to roll out to your preferred platform: The new screen-sharing feature is available now on Android, iOS and desktop versions of Messenger, Messenger…Read more...

Have you been remembering to get up to go for a walk every now and then? Since we talked about it last week, I’ve definitely done more walking than before, but not necessarily in the bite-sized, frequent stints I intended.Read more...