All posts tagged: easier

‘It’s easier when nobody’s watching’: inside the secretive and sublime freak-folk of @

‘It’s easier when nobody’s watching’: inside the secretive and sublime freak-folk of @

Published by Sam Flores

Victoria Rose arrives at Philadelphia’s 30th St Station and apologises for the sticky streaks covering her car’s interior. She’s a beekeeper, and it’s just propolis, a resinous sealant for gaps in the hive. Her bandmate, Stone Filipczak, is riding shotgun, and her protective gear occupies the rear passenger seat. We’re heading to one of their favourite spots, an Ethiopian restaurant that doubles as a venue. The dining room quickly gets boisterous – a challenge for our interview given that Filipczak and Rose are relatively soft speakers, and not wildly keen to divulge specifics about the music they make as @. Like Rose’s bees, they’re a secretive and self-sustaining pair. As you might guess, @ is pronounced “at”. It’s a tough Google. The name, Filipczak explains, came from “a vision of an @ sign on a kick drum head”. Not that they have any need for one: @’s art-folk is rooted in acoustic guitar, woodwinds and vocal harmonies that furrow and frolic. Their fantastic second album, Autosmile, is their first with the venerated indie label 4AD. …

Kobo just made it way easier to ditch your Kindle — here’s why you should

Kobo just made it way easier to ditch your Kindle — here’s why you should

Published by Miika Tikkanen

For the first time ever, Rakuten Kobo has launched its award-winning line of eReader in over 500 Best Buy stores across the United States. Previously, U.S. customers could purchase Kobo eReaders online through kobo.com, or in person at Staples, and Target. Now, book lovers can visit their local Best Buy to see and try out Kobo’s latest devices, including the waterproof Kobo Clara Colour and Kobo Clara BW, as well as the feature-rich Kobo Libra Colour. Related This is the better Kindle alternative that most people don’t consider Kobo beats Kindle on library books, format flexibility, and physical buttons Here’s why Kobo is expanding into Best Buy at an interesting time It’s not just about the money… According to Michael Tamblyn, CEO of Rakuten Kobo, the move aims to let more American readers experience Kobo eReaders before buying: “Many readers want to be able to pick up a device, see the screen, and feel it in their hands before they commit. With Kobo eReaders now available at Best Buy, more American customers can do just …

Have an old PC monitor laying around? Turning it into a TV is easier than you think

Have an old PC monitor laying around? Turning it into a TV is easier than you think

Published by Miika Tikkanen

So you’ve upgraded your monitor setup and are left with an extra screen you’re not quite sure what to do with. Or, perhaps, you’re just looking to get a bit more out of your current displays.  Well, if your monitor has at least one HDMI input, you can repurpose it as either a dedicated screen for streaming or as an over-the-air TV in just a few simple steps (and with things you might already have around the house). There are even affordable audio solutions if your monitor doesn’t have built-in speakers, Bluetooth connectivity, or even a 3.5mm audio jack.  Also: How to turn your TV into a computer monitor I’ll walk you through what equipment you need for turning your monitor into the perfect second screen for your bedroom, office, or garage.  How to use your monitor as a TV Asus ZenScreen Smart Monitor MS27UC Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET Streaming and physical media The fastest and simplest way to re-use an aging monitor is to use a streaming device like the Amazon Fire TV Stick or Roku …

This Bagsmart Toiletry Bag That Makes Packing Easier is 40% Off

This Bagsmart Toiletry Bag That Makes Packing Easier is 40% Off

Published by Sam Flores

Fumbling through a jumbled makeup bag while getting ready is nobody’s idea of fun. Thankfully, Amazon has one of our favorite toiletry bags marked down by 40 percent, making it an easy (and affordable) way to keep your skin care and makeup contained, visible and readily accessible when you’re on the go. Here’s why it’s worth adding to your cart before the sale ends. Deal of the day This toiletry bag features a wide-open, double-sided design with a middle compartment that keeps bottles standing upright, so nothing shifts or leaks in transit. It’s roomy enough to hold everything from full-size shampoo bottles to makeup brushes and skin care essentials, making it just as useful for weekend trips as it is for longer vacations — and versatile enough to double as a gym or toiletries storage for your home. The bag is made from water-resistant PVC fabric that can handle accidental spills or contact with wet countertops, plus the bag is lightweight which helps you avoid adding bulk to your luggage. The bag also has double …

Homes designed for easier upkeep could mean lower maintenance fees for owners

Homes designed for easier upkeep could mean lower maintenance fees for owners

Published by Sam Flores

SAVINGS EXTEND TO COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS The same approach is also being applied to commercial developments. One example is the redeveloped Shaw Tower at Beach Road, where features to make the building easier to maintain were incorporated into the design. An integrated track allows a single crane to clean or replace external glass panels, while permanent access systems such as cat ladders allow cooling towers to be serviced without erecting temporary scaffolding. Mr Darren Burrows, senior associate director for building services at engineering consultancy Beca – which worked on the project’s building services and sustainability design – said such features are especially important because many building systems require regular servicing throughout their lifespan. “There’s lots of moving parts and maintenance activities that we need to carry out, whether it’s weekly, monthly or annually,” he said. “The components can be either small but in tight spaces, or they can be large components that we need to consider how we can remove them from a building both safely and effectively, and in a cost-effective manner.” Source link

6 cheap kitchen gadgets that will make your life easier for under (I promise)

6 cheap kitchen gadgets that will make your life easier for under $20 (I promise)

Published by Miika Tikkanen

We make a lot of pasta (and boxed mac and cheese) in my house, and between the large pasta pot, the sauce pot, and the big round colander, the sink fills up very quickly. Enter this clip-on silicone pasta strainer: You simply clip it onto your pot once the pasta is done (I’ve found it fits both smaller and larger pots), strain, and then throw it on the top shelf of your dishwasher. It takes up very little room, and you don’t have to scrub the colander. It’s been a game-changer in my kitchen. Source link

Can a Temporary Break From Drinking Make Moderation Easier?

Can a Temporary Break From Drinking Make Moderation Easier?

Published by Jenni Sidey

Rethinking the Question of Abstinence Most people who want to cut back on drinking assume the best strategy is to somehow force themselves to simply drink less. Surprisingly, research suggests that taking a temporary break from alcohol may actually improve the chances of long-term moderation. Rather than reflecting an all-or-nothing philosophy, a planned period of temporary abstinence can help reset habits, build confidence, and make later moderation more achievable. Self-guided breaks from drinking can be beneficial. Professionally guided breaks supplemented by real-time support from an addiction psychologist or other specialist practitioner can further amplify and extend those benefits. Hit the Reset Button Taking alcohol off the table for several weeks or longer interrupts automatic drinking routines. Without the daily negotiation over whether to have “just one,” people can step back and observe why, when, and how they drink. Studies of initiatives such as “Dry January” suggest that many participants continue drinking less long after the challenge ends. Rewiring the Brain A temporary break also weakens learned associations between alcohol and everyday situations. Stress, celebrations, restaurants, …

xTool’s New Printer Will Make It Easier Than Ever to Be Creative. The Preorder Is Live Today

xTool’s New Printer Will Make It Easier Than Ever to Be Creative. The Preorder Is Live Today

Published by Miika Tikkanen

While I understand the technology behind it, UV printing will always feel like magic. Buying a box that can bring all your magnificent ideas to reality? It’s magical, and it’s only getting better. xTool, a leader in innovative digital fabrication technology, has just opened the preorder window for its “print anything” O1 Omni printer. The tagline for the Omni is “From rigid to fabric. Print it all.” xTool says the print anything capability is made possible by a “flexible, innovative dual-printhead architecture.” Makers will be able to configure the system for dual-UV printing to unlock advanced multilayered effects using specialized neon ink, or choose a hybrid UV and fabric setup to give you as many material options as possible. The O1 Omni printer is available in three configurations. There’s the entry-level UV edition: $1,699 preorder ($2,499 retail price), the effect-optimized dual-head UV edition for specialized neon ink: $2,699 preorder ($3,299 retail price) and the ultimate cross-category hybrid UV and fabric edition for printing directly onto cotton or onto film: $2,799 preorder ($3,499 retail price). Possibilities …

Binge Drinking Has Never Been Easier

Binge Drinking Has Never Been Easier

Published by Daniella Wilson

Until recently, cocktails were a rarity at baseball stadiums. Beer was far easier to grab on the go, and getting rowdy fans liquored up was in no one’s best interest. Liquor was limited, sometimes exclusively to air-conditioned suites where cosmopolitans could be sipped far from the masses. And yet, on Memorial Day weekend, I found myself squeezed into the stands at Wrigley Field drinking a mai tai, next to a stranger drinking a margarita. My seatmate and I were having Cutwaters, a line of canned cocktails from Anheuser-Busch. The stadium’s beer stand offered canned Long Island iced teas, canned palomas, even canned espresso martinis. Alcohol companies have been trying to make the idea of portable cocktails stick for more than a century, and they have finally succeeded. In 2025, Americans consumed nearly 11 billion servings of ready-to-drink cocktails, according to IWSR, a data firm that tracks trends in the alcohol industry. Depending on your state, you can now buy Cutwaters at CVS, Walmart, and Trader Joe’s. A four-pack, which contains about six to eight shots’ …

You can name cells in Excel, and formulas get much easier after that

You can name cells in Excel, and formulas get much easier after that

Published by Miika Tikkanen

A few months ago, I opened one of the formulas in my sales sheet and stared at it for a second too long. It read =G15*0.05. The 0.05 could’ve been a tax rate, a commission, or a number I’d typed in by mistake, and the cell reference told me nothing. Leaning on raw references like that is one of the Excel habits worth unlearning before formulas start breaking on you. Naming the cell changes that. With a single rename, every formula touching it reads in plain words, and the workbook stops feeling like other people’s code. Naming a cell takes seconds with the Name Box Click, type, enter, and you’re done The Name Box is the small field to the left of the formula bar. Most people use it to read the current cell address, but it works just as well the other way around. Type a name in it, hit Enter, and that name belongs to whatever cell you have selected. Say I drop the 5% commission rate into a single cell in my …