How to Learn to Drive as an Adult

I didnt learn to drive until I was 27. It made for an eventful trip to the recycling plant. I moved to Chicago for college and easily made it through another decade as a non-driver. Then I took a work trip to Minnesota, where -20 winds howled at the windows of my Econolodge. I signed up for driving lessons as soon as I got home. Your situation might be different, but many adult drivers share common struggles....

July 2, 2019 · 4 min · 724 words · Seth Blackwell

That Time When America Air-Dropped Pianos For Troops in Battlefields

You thought pianos dropping from the sky is a gag for cartoons? Then hear this story out. Likewise, the Baldwin Piano Company made wooden airplane wings and the Gibson Guitar Company made wooden toys. These ventures were hardly profitable, but at least it provided the company some semblance of a running operation. Each piano was treated with special anti-termite and anti-insect solution and sealed with water-resistant glue to withstand dampness....

July 2, 2019 · 1 min · 181 words · Rodney Harper

Have Sex 'Micro Talks' With Your Kid

In the history of parenting, there might be nothing more dreaded than The Sex Talk. Masturbation, nocturnal emissions, menstrual cycles, how to use condomsnobody wants an awkward lecture on these topics. I remember once joking with my mom about douching after seeing a commercial on television. She then took on a super serious tone and started to explain vaginal hygiene. I am not sure Ive yet to recover. But how do you go about it with feeling like youre busting into a private life without an invitation?...

July 1, 2019 · 3 min · 502 words · Mr. Mark Beard

What to Do If You're Too Tired for Sex

Im too tired is the most common reason we turn down sex. (I have a headache is a close second.) If youre exhausted all the time, thats a pretty good sign that something needs to change. Theres just no getting around the fact that sleep is an essential part of our lives. I highly recommend working on your sleep hygiene. These tips arent that hard, and they can make a surprisingly big difference....

July 1, 2019 · 2 min · 309 words · Michelle Taylor

Hellburner: The 16th Century Weapon of Mass Destruction

Such a fireship could wreck havoc upon the enemy with terrifying rapidity. This was the worlds first incendiary weapon, and the Greeks made good use of it on fireships. The idea was to starve the population. Giambellis request was denied and he was allowed to take only two smaller vessels, namedFortuynandHoop. The pontoon bridge over the Scheldt built to create a blockade during the siege of Antwerp. Giambelli turned the two ships into two of the biggest bombs Europe had ever seen up to that time....

June 29, 2019 · 2 min · 216 words · Amber Matthews

How to Figure Out If That Personal Finance Advice Is Nonsense

Wheres my bingo card? (Upon later reflection, this could be dangerous.) Its not that Im ungrateful for thoughtful PR pitches and expert insights. The results were shocking: 57% of those surveyed said theyll spend a full paycheck on holiday-related expenses. The representative offered me the entire data set to look over, and sent me a detailed Excel workbook. It only included people who said they would spend at least one paycheck on their holiday expenses....

June 28, 2019 · 2 min · 295 words · Amber Espinoza

The Best Classical Music Streaming Service Is Idagio

Listening to classical music is a bit different from listening to modern pop music. Multiple works are often released on the same album. Most streaming services arent built to accommodate this. A few are, and the best one isIdagio. Why not Spotify? And centuries of classical music in multiple genres are mostly lumped together into one genre. Its not easy to browse through, say, new recordings of baroque organ music....

June 28, 2019 · 2 min · 415 words · Ashley Mcdonald

How to Extend Your Wifi Network With an Old Router

Waste not, want not? Your older router should be one of them. Most importantly, your older router willalsoneed to be able to accept wireless connections from devices. Each transmission is known as a hop. The second wireless hop is the one that takes the hit. Because the transmitter in the second router has to do twice the work. It must first receive the signal from the primary router, and then retransmit the signal to wireless clients....

June 27, 2019 · 2 min · 217 words · Mr. Paul Harris

How to Handle a Public Toddler Tantrum

We were in the Trader Joes parking lot. My daughterwho was two at the timerefused to get into her car seat. I tried coaxing her calmly, and then not calmly at all. Soon, it was a scene. People peered into my car, wondering what was going on. I lied, my face hot and head dizzy. Thats my most vivid memory of a public toddler tantrum, but its certainly not my only experience....

June 27, 2019 · 4 min · 786 words · Victoria Hernandez

I'm YouTuber Natalie Wynn of ContraPoints, and This Is How I Eat

I suppose I do. My meals are sort of hard to categorize in accordance to traditional Western norms. I eat when I wake up so I guess that qualifies as breakfast. What do you usually eat? And the moment I could afford to stop cooking, I stopped. Most days I eat nothing except UberEats. I also have a bad UberEats habit. Its about a twice a day thing for me....

June 27, 2019 · 11 min · 2290 words · Jonathan Munoz

What to Do About Your Incredibly Boring Job

Dear Human Resource, Heres a question, one that has bugged me throughout my professional life. Ive heard that the average desk workerwhich I amspends about 45% of their workday doing actual work. That definitely describes my work day. But because Im bound by rather nebulously defined office hours, Im stuck here from morning to evening. What can be done?! You might not want to wait on that. And for what its worth, time-fritterers even include peoplelike mewho are self-employed and work at home....

June 27, 2019 · 2 min · 384 words · Robert Knox

Why the 2020 U.S. Census Could Change Everything, According to an Expert [Updated]

What exactly is the proposed change to the census? Its fairly simple: a question that asks participants whether theyre a citizen. Whats so wrong with asking about citizenship status? According to Lowenthal, skepticism of the Trump administration is the reason people might be discouraged to take part. Wait, so Trump doesnt automatically have access to my census information? Noat least not at this moment. According to Lowenthal, this information is kept private within the Census Bureau....

June 27, 2019 · 2 min · 222 words · Kathryn Guerrero

A Camp Counselor's Tricks for Motivating Kids

Lardner is a member of theOffspring Facebook group, and always has great parenting wisdom to share. When I asked her where she learned many of her tricks, she told me: At camp. It makes sensesummer camp counselors must be facilitators, coaches and mentors all at once. They encourage kids to take risks, work in teams and look out for others. They have to navigate a world of unpredictability Susie foundwhatin her bunk?...

June 26, 2019 · 2 min · 315 words · Jennifer Mora