It’s been a week filled with uncertainty, but we’re pushing forward and sticking to what we do best. We explained why a so-called ‘investment piece’ is often just a waste of money, tried to alleviate the fear of flying with some facts, compared the Amazon Echo and Google Home, and more. Here’s a look back.



Last night, among many other more important votes, Americans in several states voted on whether to legalize marijuana for recreational or medicinal purposes. In almost all cases, the votes passed. Here’s what that means for you.

The Electoral College is an integral, if not unusual, part of American democracy. Few other nations have one, and even when they do the system isn’t quite the same. How does the electoral college work and why do we even have one? Our latest video explains.


Waiting for election day news can be excruciating. A similar agony comes with the wait for results after a medical test, or when you send an email with bad news and fear how the recipient will react. Here are some tips that can help you stay mentally strong while you wait it out.

If you own a MacBook, you’re likely well aware of how scrolling and right-clicking work on the trackpad, but you may not know how to invoke Quick Look, Notification Center, or Exposè. Whether you’re new to macOS or you just never bothered to learn them, these gestures can make your life a little simpler.



If you’ve never sung karaoke, it might seem like a nightmare. You’re standing in front of a bunch of random people, singing all by yourself, and praying the monitor with the lyrics doesn’t go out. But a lot of your fears are unfounded, and there are plenty of things you can do to ease yourself into the spotlight.


This week, Google released Google Home, a voice-controlled smart appliance, to compete with the surprisingly popular Amazon Echo. Both devices can play music, control your lights, and answer questions with nothing but your voice, but we wanted to see how Google’s new device stacked up against the established competition.


Often it makes sense to spend money on quality. If you have a cheap pair of boots but they only last a year, you might pay more over time than you would with a more expensive pair that lasts for years. It’s an excellent theory. It doesn’t always work out this way in practice, though.


Most fears boil down to a lack of understanding, and in those situations knowledge really is power. If the thought of flying in a plane makes you anxiousand break out in a cold sweat, these flying safety facts are your medicine to take before, during, and after your flight.


November is National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, and that means that if you haven’t started your story yet, now is the perfect time. Writing has a ton of mental and emotional benefits, so let’s get started! Here are some tools that will help.


When I travel, being able to strength train is my second priority (the first is having good internet,) but I can’t always count on finding a gym. So I’ve come to depend on my suspension trainers and MacGyver-like sensibilities for mystrength-focused bodyweight workouts, no matter where I am. You can do the same.


On November 14th, we’ll get the closest full moon since 1948, and it won’t happen again for 18 years. If you want to snap a photo of the moon in all its glory, be prepared. Here’s how to take a picture of next week’s supermoon that will do it some justice, and may even be wallpaper-worthy.


I waited until my seven-year-old was done with his breakfast to break the news. “Do you remember the election was yesterday?” I asked. “Yeah? Who won?” he said. I had to tell him: Donald Trump.


If you’re on a budget and you’re looking for some great ways to relax and unwind beyond just going for a walk or taking a nap, this graphic has about fifty of them, all of which may take a little time, but never any money. Best of all, it’s organized chronologically, so you can try them at different parts of the day.




At $35, the Raspberry Pi is a fantastic little computer, but when you add in the cost of a display, mouse, and keyboard, things get a little more expensive. Good thing you don’t really need them. With VNC, you can access your Pi from a laptop or desktop computer using the same mouse, keyboard, and display that you always do, no rewiring required.


Thanksgiving isn’t Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie, but the standard can seem a little, well, standard. To make a festive gourd-based dessert your friends and family will truly be thankful for, try one—or several—of these tasty variations below.