skip to main |
skip to sidebar
If you’re heading out for an Easter vacation, here’s a final to-do list before you hit the door. To avoid service interruptions, contact your credit card company to let them know you’ll be out of town. Print out any travel confirmations in case there’s a problem at a hotel, and bring in any outdoor furniture or items that could easily be stolen. Source Link
Cutting carbs. Getting more protein. Eating healthy fats. Take your pick because experts say there’s no such thing as a single “best” diet. Recent scientific reports say you get the same weight-loss benefits from low-carb versus low-fat diets and vegetarian and Mediterranean diets are equally heart-healthy. Source Link
Looking for a place to stash your stuff or maybe you have a spare room? You might like what’s being called the Airbnb of storage. Neighbor is a web-based service that rents out your space or lets you store anything from a few boxes to a garage-full of gear. The company says it’s a better storage alternative for renters and a better use of unoccupied space than Airbnb. Source Link
If you’re worried about what Facebook might be doing with your information, you can see everything it knows about you in one click. Facebook lets you download all its data including personal information, your friends list, page likes, photos, videos and messages. To download your Facebook data, go to Settings and click “download a copy.” Source Link
Remember how Mom said to wash your hands before every meal? She was right. A study found that the best way to prevent food poisoning is hand washing. Researchers who looked at norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships said hand washing before every meal was the best way to prevent the spread of illness. Source Link
You love ketchup but not that red, runny mess on your sandwich? The “Slice of Sauce” is real ketchup made into a thin square patty. The inventors who have a Kickstarter campaign to fund the product launch say it’s all natural and tastes just like what comes out of the ketchup bottle. Source Link
If you want to finish your next airline flight in good health, try booking a window seat in the middle of the plane. Experts say that’s the safest place to sit because you’re away from the aisle and restrooms where you can encounter sick people. But don’t worry about the guy coughing five rows up because that’s too far away for you to get infected. Source Link
Be careful that you don’t accidentally call the police for help with your cell phone or smart watch. There have been reports of people silently sending an SOS alert by pressing a series of buttons on their iPhone, Apple Watch or Android phone. You can disable the emergency Autocall feature in the settings on your phone. Source Link
For a job that keeps your mind sharp even into retirement, think high-level creativity and service. Researchers found that those with complex jobs working with data and with other people had longer-lasting memory and thinking ability. Such jobs include surgeon, lawyer, architect, musician, graphic designer and social worker. Source Link
The crooks who target you with bogus emails are changing their delivery system. The Better Business Bureau is warning of Facebook Messenger scams using a friend’s account that’s been hacked. The message might talk about getting a government grant that requires you to pay a processing fee upfront or it could be a sales or investment pitch. Source Link
That summer sun you’ve been longing for all winter might do more than warm your day. Researchers say spending more time in the sun in August and September helps your body produce more vitamin D and that could help prevent the flu next fall. Vitamin D builds your body’s immune system to fight off viruses. Source Link
How about a fitness tracker for kids? The new Fitbit Ace will help children keep track of steps and active minutes and give reminders to get moving with a goal of at least 60 minutes of activity per day. A parent will control the online account for the Fitbit Ace that’s designed for children aged 8 and over. Source Link
If you’re prone to dialing calls with your derriere, you might blame it on the voice that runs your smartphone. Using helpers like Apple’s Siri or Google Assistant can make a butt dial more likely, so check the sensitivity settings. And be sure to trigger your lock screen by hitting the power/sleep/wake button before you slip that phone into your hip pocket. Source Link
They’re 32 of the strongest parts of you. Your tooth enamel is 96 percent mineral and the hardest part of your body. A bite can exert 200 pounds of pressure and teeth can last for hundreds of years after you die, but all that strength can be lost if you don’t brush and floss every day. Source Link
Sweating to the tunes isn’t just a fun way to work out. Researchers found that people who were listening to music were able to last longer on a treadmill during a cardiac stress test. The study used Latin-inspired uptempo tunes and experts say high-intensity workouts might be easier when paired with music. Source Link
There are some telltale signs that you might be a victim of identity theft. If a merchant refuses your check or that monthly bill you’re expecting never comes in the mail, or you get a credit card you didn’t open, your personal information may be compromised. Experts say keeping a close eye on bank statements and bills is the best defense. Source Link
Binge drinking isn’t something you mostly see on college campuses. The CDC says 37 million Americans admit to having a drinking binge at least once a year, and many people say they binge drink once a week. The typical binge was seven drinks at a sitting and people over 35 accounted for half of binge drinkers. Source Link
We’re barely into Spring but right now is the time to tackle those seasonal allergies. Step one is testing to identify exactly what you’re allergic to and then avoid that. Treatment can include steroid sprays and inhalers or immunotherapy shots or oral treatments to desensitize your body to those allergens. Source Link
All it takes for distracted driving may be someone else in the car. A study found that conversations with a passenger were just as distracting as phone calls. Looking away from the road at a phone was the biggest problem but a hands-free device did not eliminate distracted driving. Source Link
With just 15 minutes of work you might put another $200 a month into your paycheck. The recent federal income tax cut means less withholding and you can check that with an online tool from the IRS. To complete your online check-up, go to irs.gov and click on “tax withholding.” Source Link
If you need to lose weight, you can help everyone when you make it a family affair. Studies show that when overweight parents shed pounds, so do their overweight kids. Even if others don’t need to lose weight, the habits formed with healthy eating as a family can make that a lifestyle instead of a temporary dieting choice. Source Link
Your odds for dementia may be linked to how much you drink. A study of one million people found that heavy alcohol use is the biggest modifiable risk factor for dementia. Researchers say people with drinking problems had a much higher risk of developing early-onset dementia. Source Link
It’s something found in most medicine cabinets, but you might want to ditch the cotton swabs. More than 12,000 children suffer ear injuries each year and many occur when kids try to use cotton swabs by themselves. It might be good advice for everyone because the ear is self-cleaning and a cotton swab usually pushes wax deeper into it. Source Link
To build a better resume, feature a list of achievements instead of a roster of jobs. Experts say you should offer measurable evidence of accomplishments to demonstrate what you can do for a new employer. A listing of job titles doesn’t help because a common title can mean different work in other professions. Source Link
What can you do to help your phone’s battery last longer each day? Start by turning off features you don’t need all the time, like Bluetooth or GPS and reduce the number of apps that are always running in the background to provide notifications. Media streaming also takes more power so use options to download content for viewing or listening offline. Source Link
Sleeping in a bedroom that isn’t black as night could be making you blue. Researchers found a strong association between even low-level nighttime light exposure and depressive symptoms. Seeing any light at night might throw off the body’s internal clock and change hormonal functions in the brain and that could lead to psychological problems. Source Link
If you need a helping hand with the latest pop culture lingo then the Merriam-Webster dictionary has your back. The dictionary editors have added a dozen new terms like “dumpster fire” “glamping” and “mansplain” which are a mismanaged disaster, camping with all of the comforts of home, and a condescending way that men explain things to women. Source Link
Does an attentive spouse mean a better career for you? A study found that a husband or wife who scored high for conscientiousness lead to greater career success for both people. And it wasn’t just wives who stay home because three-fourths of the couples had both partners working outside the home. Source Link
It’s a breast cancer treatment that strikes fear into the hearts of many women, but reality is different. Before radiation treatment half of women heard horror stories about the side-effects but afterwards 80 percent said it was less scary than expected. Today’s radiation therapy is shorter and more precise and leads to fewer problems like breast pain after a treatment. Source Link
To get the best price on the new Samsung Galaxy S9 you might skip your carrier’s store and go straight to the source. Samsung is selling its new flagship model for less than what three of the four major carriers are charging. Buying a smartphone directly from the manufacturer also makes it easier to use it with another carrier if you decide to change services. Source Link
If you’re looking for a warning sign about the risk of dementia, the eyes may have it. Researchers say unhealthy changes to blood vessels of the retina could mirror changes taking place in the brain and that could contribute to mental decline. A routine eye examination is all that’s needed to check the blood vessels in the retina. Source Link
When your home WiFi won’t fly, look to your router for relief. Experts say your home router’s power plug could be the culprit so make sure it’s tightly connected to an outlet. Keep it cool by not placing your router in a cabinet or anywhere with little ventilation. If all else fails, reboot your router by unplugging it for 10 seconds. Source Link
One in ten Americans claim some Irish heritage and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are happening everywhere from Akron, Ohio to Vancouver, Washington. A new survey ranks Boston, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia and Seattle in the top five for St. Paddy’s day fun, but Boston’s annual parade may fall victim to storms that have dropped over two feet of snow there in the past two weeks. Source Link
What can you do in minutes that might add years to your life? Researchers found that even small bouts of exercise were associated with longer life spans for older men. The exercise sessions can be less than 10 minutes and doing this helped two out of three men reach their weekly exercise goal. Source Link
Helping your child balance screen time with the rest of life takes clear goals, prioritizing and persistence. Start by setting real limits like a number of minutes per day or no screens at dinner or bedtime and be ready to enforce this by confiscating devices. And teach kids to prioritize so that screen time isn’t the first thing they do. Source Link
Getting the perfect shave can be a matter of timing. Wait until after a shower when your skin is warm, moist and free of dead skin cells and let the shaving cream sit for a few minutes before you begin. Rinse the razor after each swipe and finish by splashing your face with cold water to ease any inflammation. Source Link
Planning ahead can help you put the brakes on emotional eating. Keep a food journal to understand what triggers emotional eating and be prepared with healthy snacks. You can also exercise, enjoy your favorite TV show or talk to someone instead of reaching for extra calories to help you cope. Source Link
Your smartphone is a target for hackers but some simple steps can safeguard you. Don’t use social media logins for other websites to limit the damage if your Facebook account is hacked. Disable the ability to auto-connect on public wi-fi that’s and never use it with finance or banking apps and switch to a six-digit passcode for your phone. Source Link
Tired of getting blasted by audio from websites that automatically run videos when you visit a page? The Google Chrome web browser now lets you mute all audio from any page on a website. Right-click the open tab and select “mute site” to permanently silence all pages from that website. Source Link
Here’s a way to get to sleep faster -- make tomorrow’s to-do list tonight before you head off to bed. Testing showed that people who wrote a to-do list for the next day before bedtime were able to fall asleep more quickly. But researchers say the findings may not apply to those who suffer from true insomnia. Source Link
Your selfie might be museum-worthy -- or at least look like it. The Google Arts and Culture app takes your selfie photo and matches it to an archive of the world’s great art. The app lets you choose from a number of suggested portraits to find the fine art that fits your face. Source Link
Here’s how to be a power shopper at the thrift store. Check both the men’s and women’s sections because items can be mislabeled and pay attention to tags, dates and colors to find special sale prices. And give everything a second look in your cart on the way to checkout to be sure you didn’t miss any damage. Source Link
You can de-clutter your life by remembering the three Ps -- paper, phone and purge. Toss paper records more than a year old but keep financial files for seven years and sign-up for paperless billing. Put phone apps in folders by category and leave only a handful of favorites on the home screen, and purge your home of stuff you don’t need by donating, selling or tossing it. Source Link
Looking for a “side gig” that can earn you money quickly? If you’re handy you could make your own specialty jams or preserves or create jewelry to sell on Etsy. An expertise in popular software could be used to host classes or workshops or put your hands-on tech skills to work fixing smartphones or tablets with a repair business that makes house calls. Source Link
Want a three-step plan to avoid being a victim of online hacking? Start by using a free password manager for automatic strong protection that you don’t have to remember. Log onto financial sites using only one device like an old phone, tablet or laptop. And set up alerts so your bank will email or text you about any large transactions. Source Link
Household dangers for pets go beyond that leftover chocolate bar and some kinds of flowers. Experts say a tiny Lego piece can also look like a treat to your dog but will be big trouble if he eats it. And be sure you don’t have any twist ties, rubber bands, cotton swabs or dental floss laying on the floor. Source Link
Breakfast gets all the glory but lunch sets the stage for dinner and there are ways to do that mid-day meal right. You can graze with handfuls of raw vegetables, a few hard boiled eggs and popcorn, or go for takeout with lean chicken, fish, and black beans but no buns or shells. Or you can make an extra portion of dinner the night before and pack that for today’s lunch. Source Link
Your grammar school skills may help you spot an email scam. Misspellings of words or misplaced punctuation can be a tip-off and a misspelled email address from your bank or another business is a warning sign. And watch out for any email that includes a link to update your personal information. Source Link
Taking steps to prevent smartphone addiction in kids starts with a few basic rules. Don’t allow smartphones in bedrooms because they can disrupt sleep. Use apps or tools from your service provider to filter content and limit data usage. And create a device contract with rules like no smartphones at the dinner table, or no more than an hour of social media use after school. Source Link
Here are some ways to safeguard your personal information in case of a major website hack. Consider using a master email address that’s only for recovering account information. Make sure you're not searchable by phone number on LinkedIn or Facebook, and don’t use social media accounts to log in to other websites or apps to avoid sharing too much information. Source Link
You want a snack but don’t want all those calories? You can stay under 100 calories with a salty treat like 2 tablespoons of guacamole and 5 tortilla chips, or get some crunch with 3 cups of air-popped popcorn. Satisfy a sweet tooth with 2 tablespoons of frozen yogurt sandwiched between 2 graham crackers or get tart with 6 ounces of no-fat lemon yogurt. Source Link
Does your “healthy” snack list include any of these nutritional no-no’s? Dietitians say baked chips are so low in fat you’ll eat plenty of them before you feel full, pretzels have no nutritional value and store-bought smoothies are often loaded with sugar. And read the labels for granola or cereal bars and choose one that’s high in fiber and lower in sugar. Source Link
When does more money mean less financial stability? When it’s in your checking account. Experts say most people feel they can spend freely when there’s a bigger checking account balance. The solution is to move that extra money to a savings account with automatic transfers or have money directly deposited from your paycheck into a savings account. Source Link
When the workday is dragging, try this five-minute pick-me-up. First, stand up and stretch or take a walk for 60 seconds. Spend two minutes completing a short online errand and then take a minute to write down your weekend plans. Finally, send a text or use a messaging app to check-in with someone you care about. Source Link
It’s a morbid-sounding way to de-clutter your home and some say it works. Death Cleaning has you downsize your possessions as if you were clearing things after you die. That means keeping what you absolutely love or definitely want to pass on to your family. You can even create a box with keepsakes that you want but will be thrown out after you’re gone. Source Link
If you’re adding a child to your family phone plan think inexpensive and take control. Offer them a hand-me-down iPhone or a low-cost Android device. Establish ground rules like you get all passwords and can check their phone at any time. And set up parental controls on the phone for kid-safe searches and to limit what apps they can download. Source Link
How can you lower blood pressure, ease depression, improve digestion and sleep better without medicines or treatments? By practicing meditation. Getting started is simple, too. Sit or lie down for about 5 minutes and let your mind wander without trying to control it. Another technique is to focus on your breathing or stare at an object while you meditate. Source Link
Why are so many managers so bad at managing? Because they’re not made for the job. A study found that most companies promote their best performers to be supervisors, but those skills aren’t what’s needed to manage people. Researchers say the talents that drive you to succeed don’t make you a good leader who can collaborate and share credit. Source Link
Here’s what to do if your Facebook account has been hacked. Try to log on using your password and check messages and let friends know to not click on any links in recent posts. If you can’t log on, use “forgot password” to answer challenge questions and once you’re in, turn on two-factor authentication to prevent future hacks. Source Link
The one of the best diet plans may be good for your head as well as your heart. A study found that older people who followed the heart-healthy DASH diet were less likely to suffer from depression. The DASH diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products, and restricts foods high in saturated fats and sugar. Source Link
If you’re in the market for a car that’s “new to you” this may be a great time to start shopping. Used car prices are often lower in late winter and 2018 is no exception. The biggest savings are on midsize luxury cars and Kelly Blue Book says the best used cars for under $8,000 are the 2007 Toyota Avalon and Honda Civic and the 2009 Honda Accord. Source Link
Older women may be able to skip the gym if they also skip the elevator. A study found that stair climbing can help post-menopausal women improve heart and lung function and lower blood pressure. But to get those benefits you’ll need to climb the equivalent of 14 flights of stairs several times a day. Source Link
It’s a home security camera that’s really smart. The $300 Lighthouse camera has a 3D sensor that maps the room and can distinguish humans from pets and remember faces to identify who’s coming and going and alert you if a stranger is in your home. The app-connected camera also has night vision, two-way talk and a built-in security siren. Source Link
Slow and steady might win the race to beat back those extra pounds. A study found that people who ate more slowly were 40 percent less likely to be obese. To avoid weight gain it was also helpful to skip after-dinner snacks and not eat anything in the two hours before you go to bed. Source Link
Need to know if a place you’ll be visiting is wheelchair accessible? It’s right there on Google Maps. The app will show you if a spot can accommodate wheelchairs when you hit the description and check under the “amenities tab.” The database is being crowd-sourced by users who can report if a location is wheelchair-friendly. Source Link
It’s music to the ears of cruise ship lovers. The new “Symphony of the Seas” from Royal Caribbean will set sail soon on its maiden voyage as the world’s largest cruise ship. The 6,000-passenger vessel has 20 restaurants, an ice skating rink, a Central Park with trees and greenery, a 10-story water slide and a bar where you can get drinks made by robots. Source Link
