pileofcrapola

Women may want to get in line to live in the "Old Line State" after research says Maryland is the best state in the country for women to call home.

Dear Lifehacker,
I like to make things and sell them in my spare time. I heard Etsy's going to start letting big companies sell stuff on their site and I'm afraid I'll get muscled out. Where should I go? What sites should I sign up with? Should I just deal with regular retailers instead?

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You probably know your battery is best served by shallow discharges and regular top-offs, but calibrating your battery occasionally is important too—otherwise the display that shows you how much charge is remaining can be wildly inaccurate.

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I used to cringe at the mere mention of budgeting. As far as I knew having a budget meant filling out a spreadsheet–and that was something I’d tried but couldn’t seem to sustain.

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Perhaps you've always wanted a fancy delta kite but just didn't want to invest the $30-40 necessary to acquire one of quality. (Or maybe you'll just find this project fun and interesting.) If you've got an umbrella, you can turn it into a kite.

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In last week's Hacker Challenge, we asked you to share your best pet hack. We received some great entries, but the winning hack shows us how to get better control of your cats' eating habits when they require different diets.

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Pillows have a limited lifespan. If you can't remember the last time you replaced yours and want to quickly see if it's time for a new one, try this simple test.

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The drive-thru lane is no stranger to pranks — from Batman stealing customers’ grub to pranksters hacking into the system to scream obscenities at customers — but this particular brand of joke is pretty darn good. Mostly because it makes grown adults disintegrate into shrieking, terrified little children.

It appears that drive-thru workers fooled by YouTube’s resident fast food prankster MagicofRahat forgot two very simple things:

1. Skeletons don’t need to eat because they are skeletons, thus, they won’t be ordering fast food and

2. Skeletons can’t drive because they’re missing bodily tissues and ALSO THEY ARE DEAD. Can’t blame’em because skeletons are never not scary.

We’re glad there are still some things out there that can reduce people of any age into quivering masses of frightened delight, all for our entertainment , of course. Heck, at least these workers take the whole thing a lot better than when you order at McDonald’s through a Transformers voice distortion helmet.

Whenever I’m sitting covered in orange dust up to my wrists, empty bags strewn about me and a lingering sensation that something incredible just happened, I wonder what it is that makes the Nacho Cheese flavor of Doritos so alluring (while also wondering how to get cheese grit out from under my nails). It’s science, of course, and it’s also why the partnership with Taco Bell for Doritos Locos Tacos has been such a success: Those powdered cheese shells and fatty fillings are designed to leave you wanting more.

The New York Times is very good at delving into life’s important questions, and this one is no different. Despite the fact that the inventor of Doritos saw a many-flavored future for his chip, Nacho Cheese has reigned since 1964 as perhaps the most irresistible. Hence, it was the perfect starting flavor for the Doritos Locos Tacos, which have sold by the hundreds of millions since 2012.

It all boils down to psychobiology, points out the NYT‘s Michael Moss in an accompanying video graphic, which combine to make the popular taco combo such a hit: There’s dynamic contrast — the bite down into the crispy shell to fat-laced filling, a pleasing experience that only gets better due to the fact that Tacos Locos Doritos get half their calories from fat. That equals mouthfeel.

Then there are acids, lactic and citric, which work to get your saliva flowing freely and trigger that thing in your brain that wants you to eat more. It’s having fun so it’s like, “Go for it, dude. Eat as much as you want.”

And as anyone knows, once the smell of Doritos has permeated a room, it’s there to stay for a good amount of time. The long hang-time of the flavoring system makes your brain crave the taste all over again.

But the real kicker? The food is engineered to be forgettable — none of the flavors of Doritos trigger a phenomenon called “sponsor specific satiety.” This means your brain decides that because it can’t really remember what just happened, you’ll want more. And you’ll never, ever be satisfied.

That Nacho Dorito Taste [New York Times]

Just because the government has the misfortune to shut down doesn’t mean all the expenses federal employees have to pay for are put on hold — far from it. Bills are still due for many affected by the shutdown, but Hyundai Motor says it wants to help any affected U.S. workers by deferring payments they owe on the car company’s vehicles.

Hyundai says that any of the 700,000 employees facing unpaid leave during the shutdown will be given a payment relief on their Hyundai vehicles “for as long as they are out of work,” reports the BBC.

If you happen to be shopping for a new car at the moment, federal employees will also get a 90-day payment deferral. This plan is similar to the Hyundai Assurance Program offered by the company four years ago during the heyday of the recession.

“We recognize the impact on family budgets that the furlough will drive,” John Krafcik, chief executive of Hyundai Motor America, said in a statement.

“Like we did almost four years ago when we launched Hyundai Assurance, this is our way of saying ‘We’ve got your back’ during this uncertain time,” he added.

Eligible customers must have financed their purchase or lease through Hyundai Finance America, so if you’re unsure, check with your dealer to see if you can participate in the deferral program.

Hyundai to defer payments due from US government staff [BBC]

Until this moment, eating in the car has been a complete and total disaster: Where do you put the food? Why is there no table? How is a reasonable person supposed to feel confident operating heavy machinery and munching without solutions to these problems?!? Luckily, KFC has found a way to quiet the masses clamoring to be free of all fetters whilst dining en vehicle: Snack containers that fit in your cup holder.

I know, your mind is totally and completely blown. KFC was expecting this, because heretofore the only things in cup holders were not pieces of chicken you could eat — more like change, your phone, a handful of pistachios you meant to eat later and then forgot about.

But now there’s a solution, and it seems KFC is expecting a food revolution. According to KFC’s infographic (via FoodBeast): 42% of Americans would be more likely to eat in their cars if the food container could fit in their cup holder. And what’s more, KFC knows who is probably doing the eating — for millennials ages 18-32, that could be 53% of people, if they had such a miraculous device in place.

Go Cups will come with one of five choices, paired with seasoned potato wedges for $2.49: Original Recipe Boneless chicken, a Chicken Little sandwich, two Extra Crispy Tenders, three Hot Wings or four Original Recipe Bites.

Everything is going to change. EVERYTHING. Either that, or you’ll keep eating fast food out of the bag it came in and wiping your hands on your pants. Whatever.

Prince William County and Stafford County home sales Washington Post These were among sales data provided to The Washington Post by Lender Processing Services. To find sale and assessment records for homes elsewhere in the Washington area, visit www.washingtonpost.com/homesales. Prince William County. BRISTOW ... and more »

If you love bath bombs but can't justify the price of fancy store-bought bath fizzies, then quench your skin-moisturizing thirst by making your own bath bombs at home! The process is simple, requires only a few ingredients, and will leave you soaking in relaxation. Try one of these three bath bomb recipes and give yourself a spa day at home.

Edit Steps

Making Basic Bath Bombs

1. Gather all your ingredients. Get together ½ cup of powdered citric acid, 1 cup of baking soda, ¾ cup of cornstarch, ¼ cup cane sugar, food coloring, and essential oils.
   
   
   
2. Start your mixture. In a large bowl, add your citric acid, baking soda, and cornstarch. Use your hands or a mixer to thoroughly incorporate all these dry ingredients together. After they have been well mixed, stir in your sugar.
   
   
   
3. Add a bit of water. Use a spray bottle to lightly dampen the mixture you’ve just created. Add only enough water so that the dough is compactable, but avoid adding so much that it becomes fizzy and must be started over.
   
   
   
4. Pour in your essential oils and food coloring. When your mixture can be easily molded in your hands, add essential oil and food coloring to your liking. Feel free to mix multiple scents and colors to create a combination unique to you.
   
   
   
5. Press the mixture into molds. Use dome molds or a mold with rounded edges and press the bath bomb dough into it. Use a lot of pressure to compact the mixture firmly into the molds, to prevent cracking.
   
   
   
6. Let the bombs dry. Leave the bath bombs in the molds for at least 24 hours. Place the molds in a cool, dry area away from moisture. If after 24 hours the bath bombs still feel slightly damp, remove them from the molds and allow them to air dry independantly.
   
   
   
7. Store the bath fizzies. When the bath bombs no longer feel damp to the touch, remove them from their drying area and store them in an airtight container. Keep the bombs away from moisture to prevent premature fizzing, and enjoy them in your next bath!^[1]
   
   
   

Making Ultra Softening Bath Bombs

1. Gather your ingredients. For this recipe, you will need 8oz of cornstarch, 4oz of baking soda, 4oz of citric acid, 3oz of cocoa or shea butter, 3 tablespoons of almond oil, 3 tablespoons of coconut oil, essential oils for the scent, and food coloring for appearance.
   
   
   
2. Mix the dry ingredients. Stir together cornstarch, baking soda, and citric acid powder until well mixed. Use your hands or a beater to do this for larger batches.
   
   
   
3. Add in the liquid ingredients. Pour the cocoa or shea butter, almond oil, and coconut oil into the mixture. Combine all the ingredients until a dough-like substance has been formed.
   
   
   
4. Mix in colors and scents. To make your bath bombs extra luxurious, add in a tablespoon of your favorite essential oil. Feel free to mix multiple scents together to create a unique combination. Add several drops of food coloring to change the color of your bath bombs, and stir the mixture well.
   
   
   
5. Set the mixture in molds. Use domed molds or any mold that lacks corners, and press the bath bomb mixture into the mold. Pack the mixture firmly so that the finished bomb won’t have cracks or crumble apart.
   
   
   
6. Allow the bombs to dry. Set the mold with the bath bombs in a cool, dry area for at least 24 hours to ensure that all moisture has evaporated. If necessary, you can pop the bath bombs from the molds and place them in a dry towel to expedite the process.
   
   
   
7. Store the bath bombs. When the bombs feel dry to the touch, remove them from their molds or drying towel and place them in an airtight container. Keep them away from moisture until they are ready to use. Enjoy your new bath bombs in a relaxing bath!^[2]
   
   
   

Making Milky Bath Bombs

1. Gather all your ingredients. You need 1 cup of baking soda, 1 cup of powdered citric acid, ½ cup of cornstarch, ⅓ cup finely ground epsom salts, ¼ cup powdered milk, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 2 tablespoons melted cocoa butter, witch hazel, water, essential oils, and food coloring.
   
   
   
2. Incorporate all the dry ingredients. Mix together the baking soda, citric acid, cornstarch, epsom salts, and powdered milk. You can use a mixer or your hands, so long as all the ingredients are thoroughly incorporated.
   
   
   
3. Add the wet ingredients. Slowly pour in the olive oil and cocoa butter, mixing gently with your hands. Use a spray bottle to add equal parts witch hazel and lukewarm water until the dough is solid enough to be compacted. Don’t add too much moisture though, as this will cause the dough to begin fizzing before it is even finished.
   
   
   
4. Add your color and scent. Use one or more essential oils of your choice to add to the mixture. Use as little or as much as you want, knowing that the scent will be a bit stronger when added to the warm bath water. You can additionally choose to add food coloring to the mix to stray away from a traditional white bath bomb.
   
   
   
5. Put the dough in molds. Pack the powdery dough down into dome or rounded molds to create a shape. Be sure to press firmly so that the dough sticks well and doesn’t form cracks when dried.
   
   
   
6. Let the bath bombs dry out. Place the dough in the molds in an area that is cool and dry for at least 24 hours. When the moisture has completely evaporated from the bath bombs and they are dry to the touch, they can be removed from the molds.
   
   
   
7. Store the bath bombs. Place all of the bath bombs in a sealable container away from moisture. When you’re ready to use them, simply place one in your bath and enjoy the milky fizz it creates!^[3]
   
   
   

Edit Video

Edit Tips

• Suggested vegetable oils include coconut oil, avocado oil, apricot kernel oil, sweet almond oil, or olive oil, although any emollient oil is good!
• Use small molds to make three-dimensional fizzy bath shapes.
• Either fragrance and/or coloring is optional.

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Make Fizzy Bath Tablets
• How to Make Bath Salts
• How to Make Vanilla Bath Bombs
• How to Make Fizzy Salts
• How to Make 'Melt and Pour' Soap
• How to Make Homemade Cupcake Bath Bomb Fizzles
• How to Use a Bath Bomb

EditSources and Citations

• Read on wikiHow
• Email this Article
• Edit
• Discuss

This article provides suggestions for an experiment that uses air pressure to crush a soft drink can. This can be a great visual demonstration of some simple scientific principles, and with supervision, can be performed by students.

Edit Steps

1. Rinse a soda can with water, and leave a small amount (approximately 2 tbsp.) of water in the bottom of the can.
   
   
   
2. Prepare a bowl of ice water.
   
   
   
3. Place the can upright on a stove and heat until the water is boiling inside the can.
   
   
   
4. Using tongs held with your palm facing upward, pick up the hot can, quickly turn it over and plunge the top of the can into the bowl of water.
5. In a fraction of a second the can will be crushed with a very loud noise!
   
   
   

In a Classroom Setting

1. Ask the students: "What caused the can to be crushed?"
   
   
   
2. Listen to the students' responses. This will help you find out what they already know. Do not affirm or deny any of the answers. Just acknowledge and accept them, and ask the students to explain their thinking.
3. Based on their answers, you may need to explain what happened, or if they offer a good explanation, go on to the next step. (See explanations in the "Tips" section)
4. Ask the students to suggest things to change in the experiment to test the explanation.
   
   
   
5. The students should repeat the activity and vary the conditions. They should record their results and draw conclusions. Have them share their findings with one another to see if they agree.
   
   
   

Edit Video

Edit Tips

• Possible variables to change:
  • Amount of water in the can
  • Temperature of water in the bowl
• Explanation:
  • When the can is heated, it becomes filled with water vapor. This vapor occupies approximately 1000 times more space than it did as a liquid. When you turn the can over into the cool water, the water vapor turns back to liquid water very quickly, creating a partial vacuum in the can.
• Increasing the time between removing the can from the heat and placing it in the water.
• Why doesn't the water in the bowl just get pushed up into the can rather than the can being crushed? Water has mass, which means it also has inertia. Inertia can be thought of as a resistance to change in motion. (That is not technically correct, but will suffice for the purposes of illustration.) The water must be pulled up, and it must go from a state of little or no motion and start moving upward. This requires more force than the sides of the can will be able to withstand, so the can is crushed by air pressure before the water can move in. Some water will move into the can and will be seen draining out when you lift the can out of the water.
• The average coke can has about 49 square inches of surface area. The can would therefore experience a total crushing force of 441 lbs. If a total vacuum were formed, the crushing force would be about 686 lbs.
• Do not flip and let go. Flip the can and put (do not drop) it in the water.
• Let's assume that the can only acquires a 2/3 vacuum. (This could be a much lower pressure.) Atmospheric pressure is 14 lbs/square inch. A 2/3 vacuum would produce an inside pressure of approximately 5 lbs/square inch. This is a differential of 9 lbs/square inch. That means each square inch of the can is subjected to an inward force of 11 lbs.
• (Numbers are rounded for simplicity; the English system is used to make the forces a little more understandable for the layperson)
• Holding the tongs palm up makes it much easier to flip the can into the water.
• Practice before doing this in front of the students.

Edit Warnings

• Older children (ages 10+) may be able to do the activity themselves with adult supervision but you, as the adult, must watch carefully. You are responsible for safety! Never allow more than one person to do the demonstration at a time!
• The can and the water inside will be hot. Make sure that as the can is flipped into the water, no one is standing in a position where they might be injured by the water flying out of the can.
• Splash-proof goggles are necessary for all participants. (Can be purchased at most hardware and home centers. Be careful to make sure they are splash-proof.)

Edit Things You'll Need

• Empty aluminum soda cans
• Tongs large enough to comfortably handle the hot cans
• Stove or hot plate
• Shallow, clear, bowl of cool water
• Bunsen burner may be used as heat source

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Get Children Involved With Science
• How to Make a Rainbow
• How to Make a Soda Bottle Volcano
• How to Make a Cloud in a Bottle
• How to Expand Ivory Soap
• How to Create Your Own 3D Glasses
• How to Memorise the Periodic Table

Edit Sources and Citations

• "Can-Crushing Experiment" Includes video of activity

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Be the hit of your next baby shower and design a crafty motorcycle diaper cake for the mother-to-be. Ideal for a motorcycle enthusiast or just for someone who likes cute things, this craft doesn’t require a lot of crafty skills, just enough supplies and a little time.

Edit Steps

Selecting the Goodies to Form the Motorcycle Diaper Cake

1. Purchase the colors and styles of the required items that you think the expectant mom would like. The following list explains exactly what is needed (also see Things You'll Need below for the crafting items):
   
   
   
   • At least 34 diapers (newborn or early stage)
   • 2 receiving blankets
   • 2 bibs, a chain linked toy (appropriate for a newborn or infant)
   • 1 pair of infant socks
   • 1 baby bottle
   • 1 washcloth
   • 1 plush stuffed toy (that does not contain buttons or any items that could pose a choking hazard).

Creating Motorcycle Tires

The swirls you're about to create form the motorcycle tires.

1. Line the cake pan with folded diapers. Start by lining one side and stacking the diapers on their side so they sit upright, but placed horizontally. As you build up one wall side, migrate to the other side of the pan and build up that area.
   
   
   
2. Continue lining the sides of the pan with folded diapers. Keep creating the swirl shape.
   
   
   
3. Contain the diapers in the pan. Wrap one of the rubber bands or soft elastic loops around the perimeter of the diapers.
   
   
   
4. Lift the diaper "tire" from the pan and carefully place on a hard surface. You may want to ask a friend to help with this because if a single diaper slips from the band, you’ll have to start the process all over again!
   
   
   
5. Create another diaper tire. Do this inside the pan the same way you designed the first swirl.
   
   
   
   • Add the rubber band around the diapers, then gingerly lift the tire from the pan and set next to the first diaper tire.
     
     
     
6. Wrap each diaper tire with the decorative ribbon. Cover the rubber band or elastic loop with the ribbon. This improves the look and helps to give the impression of a tire.
   
   
   
   • Pin the ribbon in place, leaving the pin at the bottom of the tire so it doesn’t show.
     
     
     

Adding the Blankets

1. Fold the first receiving blanket in half, length-wise. If necessary, iron the blanket to remove wrinkles.
   
   
   
2. Roll the blanket into a very tight roll. The roll must be tight enough to fit in the middle of the diaper tire hole. Pin the blanket roll in place.
   
   
   
3. Slide the rolled blanket through the diaper tire hole. Match the ends so the blanket is hanging out half and half. The roll must remain in place, so pin each end of the blanket if necessary.
   
   
   
4. Stand the diaper tire on its side (so it now looks like a tire). Join the blanket from the first diaper tire to the second tire. Align the tires next to each other so they form the base of the motorcycle.
   
   
   
   • Tuck the end of the blanket into the hole of the second diaper tire. Pull gently so the blanket easily holds the two tires in place.
     
     
     
   • Add a pin on the ends of the blanket to ensure the blanket stays in place inside the tires.
     
     
     
5. Fold the second blanket in half length-wise. Then roll the blanket the same way you rolled the first blanket.
   
   
   
6. Place the blanket into the opening of the front tire. Slide the blanket completely through the hole until both blanket ends meet.
   
   
   

Adding the Remaining Elements

1. Pin the bib to the top of the front diaper tire. Keep the graphic or child’s name visible and facing outward.
   
   
   
2. Hold the ends of the front diaper tire blanket upward. Slide the ring toy through the top so they hold the two blanket ends. Slide the toy until it is almost all the way down to the diaper tire.
   
   
   
3. Insert the baby bottle above the bib and underneath the ring toy. Check that it fits snugly.
   
   
   
4. Create more definition and strength in the handlebars. Slide a small piece of rolled-up light cardboard inside each handlebar roll.
   
   
   
5. Stuff the baby socks with a small amount of tissue paper to puff up the garment.
   
   
   
6. Top the handlebars with one sock on each side. Try to pin in place if they don’t hold naturally.
   
   
   
7. Add the second bib to the back diaper tire the same way you added the first bib to the front.
   
   
   
8. Prop the stuffed toy on top so it appears that the toy is riding the motorcycle. You may need to pin the toy in place, especially if the toy is pliable.
   
   
   
9. Finished. You now have a fun, cute and very useful gift to give to the expectant mom.
   
   
   

Edit Tips

• Rest the diaper cake in an oversized basket stuffed with goodies for mom (like spa gift cards, a bottle of champagne and even a cute nightgown she can wear in the hospital).
• Integrate the washcloth by wrapping it around the baby bottle before inserting it above the bib.

Edit Things You'll Need

• At least 34 diapers
• 8 inch (20cm) cake pan and a few rubber bands.
  
• 2 receiving blankets
• 2 bibs
• A chain linked toy (appropriate for a newborn or infant)
• 1 pair of infant socks
• 1 baby bottle
• 1 washcloth
• A plush stuffed toy (that does not contain buttons or any items that could pose a choking hazard)
• Sewing scissors
• Straight pins
• Rubber bands or elastic loops
• Decorative ribbon that matches your overall motif (such as the toy, blankets, bibs etc.), in color of choice
  
• A few sheets of tissue paper and light cardboard
  

Edit Sources and Citations

• http://www.sweetaprils.com/2011/08/diaper-motorcycle-tutorial-diy-how-to.html

• Read on wikiHow
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- Preservation Virginia and JTI are working together to preserve historic tobacco barns in Virginia and North Carolina.

We welcomed Debbie Amster from Nourishing Possibilities to share with us her Sweet Potato Greens recipe.

In case you missed it, Shifrin told the viral video company 'I quit' with her very own viral dance video.

Miss Gannon was born without arms, but that doesn't stop her.

Take a look at these photos of one of the chicks being fed by its parents.

A Ku Klux Klan rally was canceled Tuesday due to the government shutdown.

Local restaurants are offering deals to federal workers affected by the government shutdown.

The Navy has awarded a $6.4 million contract to a Colorado firm to repair and restore the Washington Navy Yard building where a gunman killed 12 people.

A probe by WUSA9 Investigations, in collaboration with WUSA9's Call for Action, has revealed a smelly situation with a price tag of $14 million along the C&O Canal.

A kitten was rescued from a storm drain after a worker at a trucking company found four kittens in a drain Sunday night.

Obamacare has been touted as a way to give small businesses new, cheaper sources of health insurance for their workers, but some of the loudest opponents are small business owners themselves.

Uncertainty in the economy may be spooking Americans when it comes to Haloween spending.

The U.S. Postal Service defaulted on a $5.6 billion retiree benefits payment.

- A man driving with his family along a New York City highway was attacked by a group of motorcyclists who chased his SUV for more than 50 blocks after it bumped into one of the bikes, which had stopped suddenly, police said.

When the federal government shuts down, the mayor has been required to send DC workers home too. But Mayor Vincent Grays says the District is NOT shutting down if he gets his way.