Lifehacker

I love old movies. My wife... does not. This is a sticking point for us when it comes to deciding what we want to watch together; on the rare occasions she says we can watch whatever you want she never forgets to add but nothing old and in black and white.

I believe ruminating on worst-case scenarios is often unproductive, but I also was a Boy Scout and the motto “Be Prepared” is an indelible part of my psyche. One of the best ways to “be prepared” for any kind of emergency is to have extra food stored in your freezer. However, freezers require power, and if you lose…Read more...

There’s a new study claiming that neck gaiters like Buffs are worse than not wearing a mask at all. I’m not convinced that this study should be taken at face value, but it’s also reasonable to be suspicious of Buffs, bandanas, and other face coverings that aren’t designed to do the job of a mask.Read more...

As Congress continues to debate the next stimulus package, President Donald Trump made headlines by signing four executive orders on Saturday. One of these orders, a memorandum on payroll tax deferrals, has left many employers scratching their heads on how it will work—and the impact it will have on their employees.Read more...

Puberty is awkward for all parties involved. For kids, it starts with some build-up as friends start reaching these biological milestones, followed by sprouting new body parts and features, and ultimately resulting in a few years of asking yourself “Is this normal?” 37 times a day.

Even if you aren’t playing around with iOS 14 or macOS Big Sur yet, there’s one setting you want to know if you’re an Apple News+ subscriber. That’s because starting with iOS 14 and macOS Big Sur, web links to news stories that you tap or click will pull up said stories in Apple News+, rather than the publisher’s site.Read more...

Sure, print is slowly dying, but printed magazines are still one of the very best things a person can find in the mailbox—and that’s especially true for kids (and for parents looking for any avenue to limit screen time).Read more...

Brushing breads and biscuits before they go into the oven with some sort of fat (or egg, or dairy) is a nice way to add color and flavor, but we often seem to default to butter and olive oil when it comes to fat. I have nothing against those two fats—they are lovely—but a bread or biscuit that has been brushed with…Read more...

Many dentists’ offices are open now, which is great news if something in your mouth has been bugging you since mid-March or if you know you need dental work done. But that doesn’t mean it’s time for business as usual if all you need is a cleaning. Dentists are especially at risk of contracting COVID-19 from patients,…Read more...

Every summer, I get on social media and shout about how you don’t have to cook corn, and then I eat a lot of raw corn (mostly in “salads” that are actually just bowls of corn with seasoning). But I am not above a cooked ear or seven. I like it grilled, I like it steamed, I like it stripped from the cob and sautéed in…Read more...

A marked down pair of Sony WH-1000XM3 noise-canceling headphones, a discounted copy of Spongebob: Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated Shiny Edition, a Tacklife T8 jump starter, a Yamazaki sale at Huckberry, a 98-count pack of Tide Pods, a Cuisinart cast iron pot Gold Box, a set of five reusable masks at Everlane, and…Read more...

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With the pandemic raging on, many companies have been forced to make difficult, cost-saving decisions—and unfortunately, workers have been the most impacted. According to a new MagnifyMoney report, employees could lose $13 billion in retirement plan contributions over the next twelve months as companies suspend…Read more...

It sounds counterintuitive, but hear me out. If you’re looking for a new browser extension to try, or you want to download one that has been recommended to you, stop using the Chrome Web Store to look for it.Read more...

It’s long been my belief that everyone should learn a quirky skill, if not several, to teach themselves to find joy in the arbitrary. There doesn’t need to be a “reason” to be good at anything outside of enjoying that thing, especially if it walks the line between being challenging but possible—just far enough out of…Read more...

Sangria is a crowd pleaser but has a way of disappearing before the entire crowd is pleased, even with a COVID-appropriate crowd of two. One way to mitigate this is to make way more sangria than you think you’ll need (and make it with cheap wine), but you can stretch it even further by serving it with soda.Read more...

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Borrowers stressing about the end to forbearance programs for federal student loans in September just got a reprieve. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Saturday to extend the break on federal student loan payments. The new order—which also pauses accrued interest—allows borrowers to stop making…Read more...

Of all the devices to beta-test with a new operating system, the very last one on my list is my Apple Watch. I like new features, don’t get me wrong, but a buggy OS can brick your smartwatch. And since you can’t downgrade an Apple Watch, you’re either going to have to wait for subsequent updates to fix your issue or…Read more...

This week we’re learning how to be better readers with help from librarian and podcaster Margaret H. Willison. Listen to hear Margaret break down how we should rethink our definitions of what a being a “good” or “well-read” reader means, and the tactics we can use to improve our own reading game—from taking advantage…Read more...

I love when people go out and actually test the hardware we rely on each day. That’s why I used to spend way too many hours running file-transfer tests for routers at Wirecutter, and why I love Lifehacker alum Eric Ravenscraft’s latest analysis that exposes some big problems with your phone’s wireless charging…Read more...

You might think you know what to do if you are out and about in the forest and come across a bear, but you might also be dead wrong—in which case, you might end up dead. Prompted by a recent Facebook post from the National Parks Service sharing some dos and don’ts (“...don’t push your slower friends down in attempts…Read more...

Some kids will happily chug water all day, while others would rather shrivel up like a raisin before giving up their milk or juice and succumbing to the wet blandness that is plain old water. Once a kid has juice, they tend to prefer juice (who wouldn’t?)—but even little kids need to drink water regularly to stay…Read more...

Portland, Oregon—the city in which I reside—is obsessed with Southern food. I mean, I get it. Southern food is good, but a lot of the restaurateurs who prepare it have a hard time resisting the urge to “elevate” it, which misses the point of the cuisine entirely. (I once found a whole sprig of rosemary in my sausage…Read more...

There have been a lot of dirty dishes lately, and with every dishwashing cycle your dishwasher gets slightly dirtier. If your plates and silverware aren’t coming out clean, your glass is foggy, or you notice a funky smell in your dishwasher, it’s time for a deep cleaning.Read more...

An exclusive discount on Anker’s PowerWave Sense wireless charging pad, a Libratone Bluetooth speaker, a pair of JBL true wireless earbuds, a rare markdown on Nintendo Switch Joy-Con, a Gooloo 4000A peak jump starter, a Cusinart convection oven, and a face mask five-pack at Nordstrom Rack lead Monday’s best deals.

This week’s lineup of new Netflix Originals includes a study in contrasts: A docuseries exploring controversial wellness treatments—think tantra, bee-venom therapy, fasting diets—and an action flick about an experimental new drug that gives people legit superpowers.

The annual Perseid Meteor Shower is peaking this week, so now is the time to plan your escape to a dark spot under open sky.

Files by Google is a handy app that helps manage your Android phone’s storage space and securely transfer data to the cloud and other devices. Now, it can also lock your personal files in an encrypted, PIN-protected folder, thanks to its new Safe Folder feature.

As the coronavirus outbreak continues, some companies are predicting higher health insurance premiums for 2021. Whether you have recently lost your job—or you’re already thinking about fall open enrollment—there are some types of insurance to stay away from. Short-term health insurance may seem less pricey upfront,…Read more...

To me, the lines between “breakfast,” “lunch,” and “dinner” have always been blurry. Mealtimes are, after all, constructs created to fit the needs of the people, and they vary greatly from culture to culture. The Romans didn’t eat breakfast, and the British have an elaborate “tea” system I have yet to fully grasp.…Read more...

As humans we hate to feel helpless, so when we see someone struggling with something our instinctual response may be to offer them some advice. We also use this tactic when communicating when someone who has experienced some type of loss. It’s hard to know what to say in those situations, and “I’m sorry you’re going…Read more...

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After you’ve spent the time, money and energy creating a garden, flowerbed or yard, the last thing you want is for all your hard work to be ruined by weeds. Instead of using commercial weed killer to eliminate those pesky sprouts, there are plenty of more eco-friendly solutions. Here are a few options.Read more...

When you’re eating a good sandwich, everything seems right (or at least a little better) in the world for a few minutes. The way all the fillings and bread come together harmoniously can be more than just lunch: it can be a transcendent experience. Sure, you can (and should!) make your own sandwiches at home, but…Read more...

Everyone overthinks a decision or situation from time-to-time, but for some it becomes an obsession and gets in the way of their ability to function. When faced with a difficult decision, for example, it’s a good idea to take the time to weigh the potential risks and benefits of your options and consider the possible…Read more...

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Oh, Canada, you temptress to the north, with your universal health care and cheese-curd-and-gravy-covered fries. There are so many beautiful spots, from Prince Edward Island to Vancouver Island, and everything (well, most parts) in between, making it a popular spot for American vacationers. And given that it has been…Read more...

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a renewed interest in classic hobbies—like crafts, knitting and gardening—along with other activities that make us feel better during these trying times. Two of the more popular pastimes/coping mechanisms have been adopting or fostering pets, and watching “The Golden Girls.”

If you’ve gotten used to having something to look at up in space during weekends this summer, don’t worry—there’s something to see tonight. Last weekend we were treated to NASA’s live coverage of the SpaceX crew returning to Earth. This weekend, we have to opportunity to see Mars and the moon align and rise together.…Read more...

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When your job involves working on multiple projects—usually simultaneously—it can be easy to forget to update your portfolio. If you’re lucky, you have a steady stream of work with constant deadlines, leaving little time for anything work-related other than, you know, actual work.Read more...

Morning routines are an important way to start your day and launch your productivity. We talk about productivity a lot here, and for good reason: we have things to accomplish, goals and deadlines to meet. A few years ago I had a solid morning routine consisting of the standard grown-up fare—alarm clock, hot drink,…Read more...

I have always been a disorganized parent. I remember my first baby, just a few months old, getting inconsolably cranky and I couldn’t figure out why. “Well, is it past his naptime?” somebody asked me, and I was like, wait: naps have a time?

I woke up this morning and suddenly realized that I had yet another game night scheduled for tonight with my friends. That’s just what our quarantine lives have become: endless game nights, during which we’re always trying to find something new that works well over Zoom / Facebook / Google Meet / you name it.

We first shared this post in early 2019, long after the peak of the adult coloring fad. But desperate times call for desperate measures, and a global pandemic that shows no sign of abating certainly qualifies. If you’ve peaced out on puzzles, maybe try some coloring? But like, highbrow coloring.

I am writing this installment of 3-Ingredient Happy Hour three whole days before it will publish. As I write this, I am 33. Tomorrow, I will be 34. When you read this, I will have been 34 for two days. That is how time works—it marches on, waiting for no one (not even Mick Jagger, another notable Leo).Read more...

Exercising during a pandemic is a good, healthy use of your time. Exercising while binging your favorite shows is an even better use of your time. Maybe getting the ol’ heart pumping while also watching a bunch of Real Housewives drink copious amounts of alcohol and bicker with each other over stupid shit is something…Read more...

Edge Chromium is a decent web browser. I’d even go as far as to say it’s worth swapping over to from Google Chrome, given its improvements with memory usage. However, Microsoft has been incredibly annoying about stuffing Edge Chromium down everyone’s throats, and a recent Windows update locks this browser into your OS…Read more...

It’s a new month and a new fitness challenge, friends. Time to pick up a sandbag! And then put it down. And then pick it up again. Yep, keep going. Just a few more reps.Read more...