Lifehacker

The past week has shown us that you can never predict when a peaceful protest will escalate into something violent. (Though it’s certainly happening a lot these days, mainly thanks to inappropriate responses from the police.) If you’re headed to a protest, it can be helpful to brush up on your first aid basics—and to…Read more...

If you’ve got something that’s zip-tied together that shouldn’t be zip-tied together—whatever it is, for whatever reason—a broken bobby pin can be an excellent release tool.Read more...

It would be a great understatement to describe things as “tense” right now, and tension can lead to anxiety, which—for some of us—can lead to nausea and other kinds of stomach issues. And, though I would never suggest you abandon Pepto or Tums, I’ve found that the addition of a stomach settling-beverage helps to…Read more...

TP-Link Archer AX10 Wi-Fi 6 Router | $70 | AmazonRead more...

Finally chucked the stack of junk mail that’s been piling up on your kitchen table? The economic impact payment you’ve been waiting for the government to send might have been in that stack.Read more...

I’m a lazy tweeter, it’s true. I don’t use the service much, and when I do, I’ll occasionally upload an image with some pithy comment and call it a day. But that’s wrong on my part. I, like you, should also spend a moment to add alt text to my tweeted images.Read more...

The idea of “colorblindness” when it comes to race is certainly not a new idea. You’ve surely heard it; you might have thought it; maybe you’ve even said it: “Oh, I don’t see color; I only see the person.” Especially when it comes to kids, we have a desire to see them as innocent—which they are—and that this…Read more...

More than a week has passed since the brutal police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Rallies and protests have since ensued, rightfully, from coast-to-coast. And it’s not just Floyd. It’s Philando Castile and Breonna Taylor, Freddie Gray and Michael Brown, Tamir Rice and Eric Garner (among many, many, many…Read more...

We’ve talked about the settings you need to know to keep your phone, your data and yourself safe and secure when protesting. If you do choose to use your device during a protest, there are a few safety and messaging apps you’re going to want to install on your phone before you head out.Read more...

In the United States, the criminal justice system is supposed to be one of the most fair and just in the world. There are, however, many disparities in who is treated more harshly and who gets to walk away without any acknowledgement that they’ve committed a crime in the first place.

We can never truly know what is in the hearts of corporations and their CEOs. Do they mean what they say when they make very pretty statements about diversity and inclusion and their grief about George Floyd’s death? Or is it empty rhetoric? How can we tell the difference?Read more...

In times of great stress and turmoil, eating and (especially) cooking can seem extraneous, but existing in a body means you have to eat, even if you are actively protesting, providing essential services during a pandemic or paralyzed by anxiety and fear.Read more...

Looking for something to watch tonight? Every afternoon we’re hunting down and highlighting the best streaming options around.

There’s a flood of information about what’s going on in the nationwide protests against police brutality. Snippets of news go viral, one tweet or clip at a time: a thing a protester does, a thing a police officer does. Before you share anything, take a minute to ask yourself these questions.Read more...

In addition to the tally of confirmed COVID-19 cases, there is a secondary count of the number of people who have recovered from the infection. What does it mean, to be counted as someone who has recovered from COVID-19? What does that look like?

Even though tomorrow’s originally scheduled Android 11 Beta Show has been postponed, it appears Google has also begun sending out the Android 11 beta to a handful of users even earlier than expected.Read more...

Even if you feel fairly adjusted to life during a global pandemic (or did until this week), there’s a good chance your finances could use a bit of extra attention. Whether you’re struggling to make ends meet or just want to save some money during uncertain times, there may still be opportunities to get some of your…Read more...

At a moment when race is at the very top of the national conversation, Crayola is, finally, providing kids with more than a handful of colors to choose from when they draw self portraits, family portraits and pictures of their friends. Crayola is calling the set “Colors of the World,” and it’s available for pre-order…Read more...

In the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd and countless other black people in the US, hundreds (thousands?) of protests have sprung up in every corner of the country demanding justice and accountability, and permanent systemic change to the structural racism this country was built on. During such a critical…Read more...

Users across social media today are posting black squares as part of Blackout Tuesday, a protest planned by two black executives in the music industry. But many are pointing out that by tagging these posts with #BLM or #BlackLivesMatter, people are unintentionally flooding online spaces that are used to share helpful…Read more...

The U.S. has erupted in protests over the brutal killing of George Floyd by police. The protests have largely been peaceful. The police response has not.Read more...

Pepper spray (including the brand name Mace) causes extreme stinging and burning in the eyes and nose. If you’ve been pepper sprayed, you’ll need to flush the chemical out. Water works, but it’s not the only option.Read more...

It’s almost summer, I guess—at least that’s what the bags of dark, ruby-red cherries at the grocery store are telling me. Cherry season will last a while, yet it will still seem too brief, which is why I’m taking time to quickly pickle a few out of every bag I buy.Read more...

More than a week after George Floyd was killed by police in Minneapolis, demonstrations around the country continue in the name of racial justice. Here’s how to donate money to a cause that is actively working to fight police brutality and racial injustice. These include:Read more...

One of the risks that comes with protesting—even peaceful protesting—is that you might end up getting arrested. Yes, the First Amendment gives us the right to peaceably assemble—but just because something is in the Bill of Rights doesn’t mean that you won’t find yourself in a situation where those rights are violated.Read more...

Racism is a pestilence that affects the safety and well-being of people of color. As we continue to witness the injustices that exist as a result of racism, one thing is clear: It isn’t enough for our white allies to just be “not racist”; they must be anti-racist. If you’re wondering what the difference is, we’ll…Read more...

Social media is a powerful tool for promoting a cause, but lax posting policies also leave plenty of room for users to spout racist, hateful and violent rhetoric or to dox innocent people.

Looking for something to watch tonight? Every afternoon we’re hunting down and highlighting the best streaming options around.Read more...

If you are wondering about how to help protesters right now, consider making a donation to a local bail fund. It’s cruel at any time to imprison someone for not having cash on hand—but especially now, getting protesters out of jail quickly is especially critical in order to reduce their risk of COVID-19 exposure.Read more...

The first step to joining a protest is simply showing up, but it’s also important to be prepared for all situations—from a long day in extreme weather conditions, to close contact with others in the midst of a pandemic, to possible arrest.

Advice about paying off debt usually tells you to pay off your high-interest debt first. But what really counts as high-interest debt? Is it a simple matter of looking at the numbers on your various bills? Yes, but there are additional details that are helpful to note.Read more...

In the wake of George Floyd’s death, a handful of tech companies have released statements condemning racism and police brutality, and voicing support for racial justice. But while statements are nice, feel-good gestures, it’s better to show your commitment with your money—and hiring practices. After all, in a country…Read more...

Water is probably one of the most important things you can bring to a protest or demonstration. It keeps you hydrated, yes, but it can also be used to clean minor wounds, cool oneself and rinse chemical crowd-control irritants from one’s eyes. Virtually all water besides stagnant puddle water can be used this way, but…Read more...

Recently, the CDC removed its warnings about limiting choirs during religious services. The original guidelines included recommending that religious gatherings “consider suspending or at least decreasing use of choir/musical ensembles and congregant singing, chanting, or reciting during services or other programming,…Read more...

In this week’s protests against police brutality, police in many cities chose to escalate violence. One tool they commonly use is a chemical weapon known colloquially as tear gas. Here’s what to do if you encounter tear gas at a protest. (First step: flush your eyes with water.)Read more...

Tempted as you might be to leave your iPhone at home when you leave the house to protest—and I don’t blame you there, given the increased risk of your expensive device getting destroyed when you get pushed to the ground or shot at with rubber bullets—you might want to reconsider. Your iPhone can be an incredible…Read more...

In light of the events of the past week following the death of George Floyd, parents—particularly white parents—should be asking themselves: Am I doing enough? Am I exposing my children to diverse voices and cultures? Has racial diversity and systemic racism been an on-going topic of conversation in my home? Because…Read more...

With all that’s going on in the world right now, you might think hackers and other fraudsters would give it a rest for a while, right? But that’s far from the case.Read more...

If you haven’t thought much about Tay Zonday’s song “Chocolate Rain” since it became a meme in 2007, it’s time to pull up the YouTube video—and listen very carefully to the lyrics.

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The Minnesota Freedom Fund, which has been bailing out protesters in Minneapolis, has become a popular cause to donate to this week. Great! But make sure you go to their actual website—and don’t donate to the fake venmo that’s been floating around in their name.Read more...

Protests and demonstrations can be action-packed events with lots of running and shouting, but the majority of your time at one of them will be spent walking, standing and chanting. These events can last for hours, and hours of walking, standing, chanting and (occasional) running can leave one quite hungry. This is…Read more...

With protests taking place in at least 140 cities over the last week sparked by the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, we thought it was time to look at other demonstrations and riots throughout American history. And given the potential risks to personal safety—not to mention large gatherings in the…Read more...

Being trapped with your significant other 24/7 is not a recipe for relationship success. That’s why this week we’re talking with divorce attorney James J. Sexton about how to save our marriage and avoid becoming a statistic in the post-pandemic “divorce boom.” Hear James talk about the ways couples can remind…Read more...

Last week, I wrote a piece for parents on how to help their little kids get better at participating in video chats with loved ones (because they suck at it). But the thing is, the kids are only half the equation: There are things the person on the other end of the call—maybe that’s you!—could do to help the chats go…Read more...

Seems like everyone is taking on a new #challenge these days. So when we saw the #lemonjuicechallenge on TikTok, we decided to hop on the bandwagon.Read more...

Chromium-based Windows web browsers are getting a brand-new spellchecker thanks to a recent collaboration between Google and Microsoft. Windows Spellcheck, rather than Hunspell, will now help you fix your various typos and blatant misspellings (especially with URLs and acronyms), but you might need to first enable the…Read more...

It’s officially a new month which means it’s time to replenish your Netflix queue.

Things are not particularly calm right now, so most people are looking for anything that can soothe them, even for only a few minutes. For some, this can mean rewatching the movies they loved as a child. For others, it can mean watching ASMR videos on YouTube. Now, thanks to a new series on Disney+, you no longer have…Read more...

Whether you come from a family that proudly displays their coat of arms in the foyer, or knows very little about where they came from, you may have some questions about your background. Being stuck at home thanks to the coronavirus pandemic means that we may have more time on our hands, but conducting genealogical…Read more...