Why Put Your Laptop in the Microwave
When we collected the weekly updates from our staff last Friday, our editors were ditching Morning Person FOMO, brightening up the winter with new plants, tidying up our apartments, and moving to standing tables.
This week, we’re looking at how to keep warm in cold weather, taking advantage of modern medicine, experimenting with high-tech laptops, and using social media to collaborate with friends.
What updates have you made this week? Let us know in the comments.
Winter for a heating pad
This cold snap on the East Coast got me thinking about how to keep my humble abode warm while my pitiful heater breathed almost the same hot air into my bedroom. Solution? Water bottles. Specifically, hot water bottles stuffed under my sheets , as suggested by our resident health expert Beth Skorecki. Now, instead of cold blankets and an uncomfortable shivering fit, my bed welcomes me (and my legs) with a warm hug every night. Pro tip: Set your alarm an hour before you want to get your water bottles ready and give the warmth time to creep into your bed.
Patrick Austin, staff writer
Give up clumsy rubber boots
I have shorter waterproof boots for everyday use on days like today and I feel like I saw the light of day after years of walking in bulky rubber boots / snowboots with only minimal rain / snow outside.
Emily Lipstein, Social Media Editor
Preheat your laptop in the microwave
I have a Wave laptop ($ 25). I laughed when I first saw them , but after cleaning the office, I suddenly appreciated them. Laptops are hard to throw away, okay? You always feel that you will need them someday. It comes with a scanning app that is reliable and painless to use (unlike all other scanner apps, sorry ), so when you run out of pages and everything is in the cloud, you simply load your laptop into the microwave to erase the ink. and then start over. The catch is that it comes with a Pilot Frixion pen, and if you lose it, you can’t just use your old pen (the ink has to wear off when heated, you know). So I ordered extra pens like a goof. I will report back after the first microwave heating.
Beth Squarecki, health editor
Automate pickup from pharmacies …
I finally downloaded the CVS app and subscribed to text message notifications that allow me to more easily manage my recipe information and notify me when they are ready to receive.
alisia adamchik, staff writer
… and stop resisting pharmaceuticals
I didn’t think I would ever get a shilling for Big Pharma on Lifehacker, but I also never thought I would be the person who got the flu shot and then got the flu. I got arrogant because of how rarely I get sick, and then I got dumped. I was pleasantly surprised when I walked into Cold & Flu Pharmacy and found it to be a real cocktail bar. You can get exactly the medicine you need to treat the exact constellation symptoms you have; No more, no less. I’m here with you today thanks to the versatile CVS version of Mucinex Fast Max Severe Congestion & Cough. I usually avoid taking medication when I have a cold, thinking the side effects aren’t worth it (see Hangover from NyQuil), but I’ve come to believe that Mucinex is actually a very effective product. I also tried OG Mucinex 12-Hour and it allowed me a few nights of restorative sleep.
melissa kirsch, editor-in-chief
Use Twitter for good, not evil
I started a viral collaborative Twitter thread this week in which one person asks everyone’s stories. You should start too! A good thread is like keeping the court in the far corner of your favorite bar. To keep discussion active, cite the best answers and add a few words of encouragement to them. One formatting note: don’t say “quote this tweet,” just ask a question.
Nick Douglas, staff writer
Double down on the bodysuit trend
My update this week heralds this “year of the body”. They stay in place, my boobs look good with them and they are very cheap at Target .
Claire Lowe, Food and Beverage Editor
Add something new to your Instagram feed
I follow wonderful illustrator Marie Andrew on Instagram and she makes my feed so much better. Her drawings show that all the little things – our random curiosities, fleeting thoughts that we never tell anyone, the smallest particles of joy that we just accidentally notice – are actually big things.
Michelle Wu, parenting editor
Find the perfect backpack
I finally found a medium weight camera bag that I really liked. This $ 60 Beaspire bag is perfect for all my tests so far, and I’ll take it with me to Japan! (Tip: Always check your backpack carefully at home before traveling with it.)
Patrick Allan, staff writer