Occasionally, when you call customer service, you get someone from another country that is very hard to understand. If you choose the option for Spanish, you can often get redirected to a call center in America with English-speaking representatives (yes, English).
    
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Lowering the temperature of your thermostat can do more than reduce your energy bill (although we think that benefit is so awesome that it still made the list). Dropping temps just two to five degrees can also help you lose weight and provide a better night's sleep.
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Most of us have a dish of coins that accumulate month after month and then take them to a CoinStar machine to lost about 10% just to have them counted. Few banks offer the service anymore, so how do you avoid the fee (without resorting to getting a gift card)? Blogger Joe Reddington suggests using automatic checkout at the supermarket.
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Google is slowly but surely improving Google+ and trying to bring the social network to the masses. Yet some of Google+'s best features are less than obvious for both avid Google Plussers and those who are still wondering what the point of it is. Here are some of the more interesting or at least useful tips for getting the most out of Google+.
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As you gear up for an interview, you're likely agonizing over the questions you'll be asked, the answers you'll give, and how to make the best possible first impression. Most of your preparation will probably focus on the time you spend face-to-face with your interviewer.
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Getting feedback on yourself or a project is always a little tough no matter how thick your skin is. If you find yourself constantly on the defensive when people offer you that constructive feedback, Barking Up the Wrong Tree suggests you create two lists to differentiate between the type of feedback you're getting.
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Whether you're an early riser or a night owl, you have to wake up sometime (unfortunately). Many people use an alarm clock or smartphone, others prefer an app like CARROT, and some use nothing but good ol' sunshine. So tell us: how do you wake up every morning?
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Dear Lifehacker,
I'm ready to take the plunge into making better coffee, and I've got all my gear picked out—but where can I actually buy the beans? Do I just get them at the grocery store, or is there something better I should get? Is there any way to try out different coffee before I buy a ton?
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The bathtub can be a pretty big place for a toddler, especially when a favorite toy floats out of reach. But you can make things a little less frustrating with a simple laundry basket.
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Stickers on your car's windshield, such as the ones you need for parking, are notoriously difficult to remove later. Keeping a corner unstuck is one way to easily take them off, but Redditor wewtaco has an ingenious solution: use mobile phone screen protectors between the windshield and the sticker.
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Sometimes cars leak, leaving ominous spots or puddles on the ground that can make you wonder if your vehicle is dying a slow death. The good news is if you can master the art of "spotology" by deciphering those mysterious spots, you can tell whether the fluid leak is a harmless drip or a serious problem to be fixed ASAP. Here's how.
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In our never-ending quest for steak perfection, we found one more trick to add to your cooking technique. It comes from esteemed food genius Harold McGee, who says you should make sure the steaks are warm before you cook them.
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Android/iOS: The American Red Cross has already released an app with information on what to do in emergencies for people. The Pet First Aid app fills the same need for any pet-related emergencies you might have.
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No matter how smart you think you are, communicating with your significant other is never easy. That said, it's not impossible, and according to The Wall Street Journal you can improve your communication with just a few tips.
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Chrome extensions make life easier, but not all of them are above board. Some of them eat up your data and send it to the developer, leak passwords, and are generally more intrusive than they should be. One easy fix—use a dummy Google account for Chrome, so if it is leaking data, it won't be associated with you.
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Android: Unit conversion apps are a bit of a bore, but Convert Anything takes the concept to a whole new level. It's probably the most complete unit conversion tool we've seen, and can convert everything from length measurements and currency to clothing/shoe sizes to resistance and magnetomotive force.
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The Olean, NY, woman tells WIVB-TV that her restaurant recently received two large orders from firefighters who had been working to put out a house fire in freezing temperatures.
When it came time to ring up the first order, the manager says she elected to foot the $83 tab out of her own pocket.
Then a second group of firefighters came in and ordered $70 worth of food. The woman says she texted her boss to see if the McDonald’s would cover the cost. She tells WIVB that it’s “very common” for the store to pay for orders for police who come by the restaurant.
When the boss said no, she claims she went up the ladder to McDonald’s corporate, only to also be told no. So she and other workers at the restaurant chipped in to pay for the meals.
The details get a little hazy after that.
Some firefighters, believing that the manager had been pressured by the restaurant to pay for their food, called the franchisee to complain.
Her boss dismissed later her from her job of eight years. According to the former manager, she was told it was because she swore at a superior. However, she claims the extent of her foul language was saying, “this is ‘freaking’ ridiculous.”
The franchisee denies the manager’s claim that the firing had anything to do with paying for the firefighters’ meals.
“We would never penalize an employee for showing appropriate gratitude for the work of our firefighters,” reads a statement to WIVB. However, the franchisee would not provide any further details on the dismissal.
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George Mason U. to offer gender-neutral housing next fall Washington Post George Mason University will allow male and female students to live together in on-campus dorm rooms starting this fall, adding itself to the growing list of U.S. schools that formally offer gender-neutral housing. The move places one of the largest ... George Mason University to offer gender-neutral housing option for studentsMyFox Washington DC George Mason University To Offer Gender-Neutral Housing Next FallUniversity Herald all 5 news articles » |
Ready, set, crawl! Babies race for Manassas Mall gold Washington Post As athletes on the other side of the world skated and skied, Austin Edwards completed his own Olympian feat in Manassas: He crawled. Although it might not have required perfect technique or hours of training, Austin's scramble across about 10 feet of ... and more » |
Prince William County community calendar, Feb. 16 to 22, 2014 Washington Post Sunday, Feb. 16. “Operation Urgent Fury: Invasion of Grenada,” photographs and artifacts chronicling the invasion of Grenada. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, National Museum of the Marine Corps, 18900 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Triangle. Free. 877-635-1775. Dale City ... and more » |
Dear Lifehacker,
I know I should have health insurance and renter's insurance, but I got a letter in the mail that said I should probably have flood insurance too. My coworker is always going on about "whole life" insurance, but I have life insurance through work. What types of insurance should I actually have, and what's just a scam?
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We've told you about the negative body language cues you should avoid in a job interview, but it's also important to keep an eye on your interviewer. If you think they are getting bored or distracted, stop whatever you are saying and ask them a question to snap their attention back to you, advises The Daily Muse:
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Here's a really simple savings plan that anyone should be able to do and end up with $1,378 more socked away by the end of the year. It starts with saving just $1 the first week.
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Proper grammar is important, whether you write for a living or only occasionally. It's especially important if you're looking for a job or trying to impress a new client. In this infographic, GrammarCheck has collected a list of some of the most common grammar errors people make and how to avoid them.
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Most of us never get a crash course in how to cook or find our way around the kitchen. We learn from others: friends, parents, cooking shows, or cookbooks. That means it's easy for there to be gaps in our knowledge, like things we really should know, have been doing wrong, or just never had to learn. Let's take a look at some of them.
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