Lifehacker

This year, for the first time, the USPS’s Operation Santa program is both virtual and nationwide. That means more kids can write in asking for clothing, shoes and toys, and more “adopters” can make those Christmas wishes come true.Read more...

Left-leaning policy wonks call it the biggest political layup of our time. It enjoys rare bipartisan support in a time of rancorous political division. It would lower rates of incarceration among people of color and chip away at the prison industrial complex.

We’ve known since close to the start of the pandemic that wearing a mask protects other people from your own respiratory droplets. But shouldn’t masks protect the wearer, as well? The science wasn’t available to answer that question at first, but it’s probably true. The CDC recently updated their mask advice to note…Read more...

Installing gigantic wheels on your car is a tempting proposition when you’re eager to maximize style and minimize tire sidewall. Automakers make it easy to select an optional wheel and tire package that offers larger-diameter rims fitted with lower-profile tires, smartly filling the wheel openings. To keep everything…Read more...

When’s the last time you cleaned your can opener? No really, go check. I’ll wait.Read more...

So, your toddler is embarking on the journey from a crib to a bed. It’s both an inevitable transition and one of the most blatant signs your baby isn’t your baby anymore; they are becoming your big kid (and how dare they!). Knowing when—and how—to make the transition can be tricky, though, so let’s talk it through.Read more...

Apple worked overtime last week to convince the tech world to get excited about its latest chip innovations, making bold claims that its new machines are infinitely faster than the previous generation. But here’s something to consider: Are all of Apple’s new M1 chips created equal?Read more...

Last night, I had a craving—a craving for the blue box. It was 10 pm, and suddenly I had to have Kraft macaroni and cheese, so I got a pot boiling and dumped the little elbows into the swirling liquid.Read more...

Google collects data on everything you do while using its products and services. Sometimes this data is sold to advertisers; sometimes it’s used to make it easier to use Google’s products.Read more...

Because he’s been pretty low-key about it, you might not be aware that a promising politician that we’ve been keeping an eye on released A Promised Land on Tuesday—a book that offers a firsthand account of Barack Obama’s journey to becoming America’s first Black president.

Learning to do your own hair is a precious skill these days. Many salons continue to remain closed around the country, and those hairdresser who are taking appointments could be booked for months to come. But twisting your own locs can be like trying to wax your own back: You can’t see what you’re doing, and it hurts…Read more...

Peeing in the shower is gross. However, peeing in the shower will not harm anyone or anything. Thus, one cannot take a stance on whether peeing in the shower is acceptable until one comes to terms with this contradiction.Read more...

The holiday season is finally here. I mean, yes, this year has been a combination of monotonous, fleeting moments mixed with neurotic horror over our and our loved ones’ health. But we can all take a breather and celebrate by gifting each other thoughtful things, even if it might not make sense to gather as one big…Read more...

HBO Max is a pretty sweet streaming service, rolling up shows and movies from HBO, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, and Turner Classic Movies with tons of other Warner Bros. content into a single app. Unfortunately, it still isn’t available everywhere—or on Roku, anyway. Today the streamer announced it will, at long last,…Read more...

A pre-pandemic survey revealed that nearly half of Americans thought they were underpaid, and that’s been made worse by COVID, as nearly a third of Americans have lost their job or had their wages cut, according to Redfin. Do you feel underpaid? Here’s some tips on how to make your case for a raise.Read more...

With the United States’ total student debt bill on a perpetual climb every year, and now totaling a staggering $1.5 trillion, leaders in the Democratic party are reportedly toying with an idea that could offer borrowers at least a partial respite from the sometimes ruinous burden of student debt.

Flashcards are a favorite study method, allowing you to learn large amounts of material, then weed out the parts you already know. But writing out hundreds of index cards and carrying them around so you have them handy whenever you have a few minutes to run through them is a pain. Fortunately, like many other aspects…Read more...

Monday’s Best Deals | Kinja Deals

As I type these words, I am eating a pile of fries that taste like the last Thursday in November. They’re fries with a stuffing vibe—a great vibe—and they came into being without any help from a certain trader named Joe.Read more...

Zoom is letting you use its video chat service for free on Thanksgiving Day. Better yet, Zoom is going to lift all video chat restrictions that day, too, so you can talk to your loved ones—remotely—all day if you want to. Of course, you’ll still need to not blow past your ISP’s data cap if you decide to have a huge…Read more...

If you or a friend or relative is experiencing a type of substance addiction, you may have made the decision to seek help via a rehabilitation program. But it’s not as simple as Googling the nearest treatment facility: there are many different types of programs offered in more than 14,500 treatment facilities in the…Read more...

The pandemic has taken so much from us—but do you know what it doesn’t have to take? Our kid’s awkwardly posed school pictures (complete with traditional blue or grey background), that’s what.

The White House has seen a peaceful transitions of power between outgoing and incoming presidential administrations throughout history, regardless of any volatility gripping the nation. Passing the baton of executive power to a new presidential administration has been a hallmark of this country’s democracy; the White…Read more...

Every year, people wring their hands over which wine to serve with the turkey, potatoes, and dressing, even though we already know that Champagne is the best choice. But not everyone can drink Champagne (or any alcohol for that matter) and—while it’s thirst-quenching—water is just not celebratory enough for…Read more...

Today, Moderna announced that its coronavirus vaccine appears to be 94.5% effective. It’s the second vaccine candidate (after Pfizer’s, at 90%) to give us an early peek at their phase three results, and once again the news is good, but comes with caveats.Read more...

With home prices up pretty much everywhere, you may have decided to sell your home. To get the most out of your property, you’ll need to hire a good real estate agent who knows how to price a property, market it, and negotiate effectively. To find the right agent, you’ll need to ask the right questions—like the ones…Read more...

Virtual filters have long been popular on social media, but in the accelerated digital world, wearing virtual makeup is for more than selfies. From digital parties to professional meetings, it’s become increasingly common to find skin-smoothing features on video apps or use filters to alter how you look. If you’re…Read more...

One of the universal truths of parenting is that at some point, every parent is bound to hear their own parents’ words come flying out of their mouth. “Because I said so, that’s why,” one might retort to a child who insists on more of an explanation than they are due—a phrase that, while infuriating when you’re on the…Read more...

Apologies to the crew up in Redmond, but I usually associate “disasters after upgrading to a new version of an operating system” with Microsoft’s giant feature releases for Windows 10. However, it’s Apple’s turn to enjoy some embarrassment this week: According to numerous reports, upgrading to macOS Big Sur allegedly …Read more...

When it comes to humans, Dolly Parton is in a category of her own. Throughout her career spanning more than five decades, she has managed to amass an unusually diverse and devoted fan base. (This is the subject of the excellent podcast Dolly Parton’s America, in case you’re looking for a deep dive into her life and…Read more...

When the pandemic first began, we canceled our spring travel plans and looked forward to summer. Travel restrictions didn’t ease up that much over the summer, and now holiday travel is (or at least should be) off the table.

Motorola Razr 5G (Unlocked) | $1000 | AmazonRead more...

After decades of space travel—and a 24-hour delay—NASA is flying commercial. Later today, NASA is set to launch its first operational commercial crew mission with SpaceX, known as “Crew-1,” from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, traveling to the International Space Station. Here’s how to watch.Read more...

If you’re someone who, like myself, enjoys the light, reassuring pressure of a weighted blanket, you may notice that yours is looking a little dingy right now. That’s completely understandable. This year—especially the past few months—has been unbelievably stressful.Read more...

Do you currently live in an expensive city and have been working entirely remotely for months? Have you cringed as you paid your rent, knowing that there’s technically no work-related reason to be in that location? If you’ve experienced these thoughts lately (or even before the pandemic), there’s an offer you may want…Read more...

There comes a time in many elementary school students’ academic careers when they ask their parents to drive them to the local craft store and purchase several styrofoam spheres of varying sizes. The real magic begins back at home, where, thanks to some paint and other materials, the styrofoam balls are transformed…Read more...

The holidays are usually a time to gather family, revisit hometown pleasures, and celebrate friendsgiving. But this year, coronavirus is the guest we didn’t plan for and definitely don’t want to invite into our homes. There are a myriad of reasons why large family gatherings shouldn’t happen this year and why …Read more...

Alexa’s Care Hub is now live, giving elderly and special-needs users better access to their family members and caregivers via Echo devices. With Care Hub, these users can ask Alexa for help directly—which will trigger the device to notify connected family members—or their family members can use it to virtually check…Read more...

For those of us who are conflict-averse, situations involving harassment or discrimination may feel easier to avoid or ignore in hopes that the threat will go away or someone else will intervene. But whether it’s casual racism or micro-aggressions within your friend group, street harassment toward a stranger, or…Read more...

I remember the first time I saw kettlebells in a commercial gym. I’ve heard of these, I thought, and decided to try some swings. I picked up one of the bells and faced the mirror—wait, no, I didn’t want to drop it and shatter the mirror. So I turned to my left, and realized if I lost my grip it would fly toward the…Read more...

If you’re not a prolific weed-smoker who consistently burns through mountains of pot to satiate your craving, there’s a good chance you’d like to save your stash for later.

Friday’s Best Deals | Kinja Deals

I did not plan to make this drink today. I planned to make a drink that featured a lot of Campari, because I love Campari. But sadly, I am out of Campari. The liquor store is not far, but it is very cold out, and the ever-rising number of COVID cases in my city does not make the idea of venturing out any more enticing.Read more...

A friend of mine recently asked if their plan to move from AT&T DSL to a cable internet provider was a good one. As one who made that same leap many years ago, I felt like shipping them a celebration beer. For me, the transition was a joy akin to what I’d imagine the Mandalorian feels after getting the hyperdrive to…Read more...

My husband is on a roll this week. First, he dominated the lingering smell of our dog’s vomit escapades with this coffee grounds hack. Then, after eight fall seasons of living in this house, he finally figured out how to transport the leaves that cover the entire surface of our backyard to the street—by using a giant…Read more...

Background tunes make Twitch streams more immersive and fun, but the platform has seen an increase in Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) infringement notifications targeting streamers playing recorded music during their streams. This uptick led to weeks of confusion, with streamers unsure of Twitch’s music…Read more...

Pre-cooked spiral cut hams—also known as “city hams”—have always been a favorite of mine since there is no danger of undercooking and we’re free to focus flavor. Heating and serving may seem simple enough, but you can overdo it in the oven, leading to a dry, chewy pork product, and nobody wants that. Luckily, there…Read more...

When a floating dust particle or wayward grain of pollen waft their way into my sinuses, a predictable physiological response occurs: I scream bloody murder through my nose in the form of a massive, cacophonous sneeze.

Hello cats and kittens, and welcome to another delicious installment of the Skillet Chili Cook-Off, the seasonal culinary competition that’s keeping me (and my freezer) full of spicy stew.Read more...

As we continue our month of training the overhead press, it’s time to address the way you might be cheating—or not, depending on how you look at it. The press is really two different lifts, depending on whether you bend your knees to do it.Read more...