Life Style

Did you know that a significant percentage of the U.S. population has one of the less-efficient variants of the MTHFR gene? TikTokers love to say this, and it’s true. They’ll also claim that if you have a MTHFR variant, that you need special vitamins, and that the wrong vitamins (or even some medications) will be toxic to you. This is not true, even though some influencers have built their entire online personalities around claims like these.They’ll tell you that MTHFR (which TikTokers love to call the “mother f-er gene”) is responsible for your (or your child’s) autism, ADHD, depression, anxiety, thyroid issues, or other conditions. They’ll offer testing for the gene or for vitamin levels in your blood; they’ll also sell you coaching to guide you through the process of determining which s...

Photo: LMWH (Shutterstock)Walmart’s early Black Friday deals are now live, with deals on smartwatches, laptops, TVs, and vacuums. They are the third major retailer after Target and Best Buy to kick off their Black Friday deals. Early Black Friday deals are actually good this year, and you should be checking them out if you haven’t already. One of those great deals is the second-generation Apple Airpods, currently going for $69 (originally $129), their lowest price yet, according to Honey’s price history.One thing to keep in mind is that this AirPod model comes with the standard lightning charging case, not the wireless charging one. The second-generation AirPods have also been $99 at least since the summer, according to Honey. Still, this is one of those early Black Friday deals that will ...

There were enough possibilities on this board to make me FLIP-FLOP several times, but I got the answers eventually. If you’re looking for the Connections answer for Wednesday, November 8, 2023, read on—I’ll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solutions to all four categories. Along the way, I’ll explain the meanings of the trickier words and we’ll learn how everything fits together. Beware, there are spoilers below for November 8, NYT Connections #149! Read on if you want some hints (and then the answer) to today’s Connections game.If you want an easy way to come back to our Connections hints every day, bookmark this page. You can also find our past hints there as well, in case you want to know what you missed in a previous puzzle.Below, I’ll give you some oblique hints...

Thanksgiving gravy is a must-have on the feast table. This delectable and versatile sauce is made to elevate everything it touches on the plate, and reflect the savory flavors of the perfectly roasted turkey that just made its debut on the table. Obviously, that means you’ll be using the fresh pan drippings, right? As if the host wasn’t frantic enough with cooking, reheating, plating, and serving; Now they have to make a last minute gravy. Pass. You can save yourself trouble and still get that rich turkey flavor by freezing your gravy now and adding pan drippings later.For the past two years, I’ve hosted friendsgiving. That means catering a feast in my petite New York City apartment kitchen. I like a challenge. I usually make my gravy from a mixture of store bought turkey stock and fresh p...

All those rhyming words, and you know they can’t all be in the same category! If you’re looking for the Connections answer for Tuesday, November 7, 2023, read on—I’ll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solutions to all four categories. Along the way, I’ll explain the meanings of the trickier words and we’ll learn how everything fits together. Beware, there are spoilers below for November 7, NYT Connections #149! Read on if you want some hints (and then the answer) to today’s Connections game.If you want an easy way to come back to our Connections hints every day, bookmark this page. You can find our past hints there as well, in case you want to know what you missed in a previous puzzle.Below, I’ll give you some oblique hints at today’s Connections answers. And farther ...

If you’re a lover of wildlife, inviting a more varied population of birds into your yard is always a goal. Owls, with their natural pest-control abilities, are an often-overlooked friend to the garden, plus they’re cool and fun to watch. Setting up a safe nesting area for owls can help attract owls to your outdoor space, so here’s what you need to know.Owls can eat up to 12 mice in one night of hunting, making them a practical as well as fun addition to a garden space. If you have issues with pests eating veggies or other plants in your yard, owls are a natural option to help keep your garden safe without the use of traps or poisons.When considering an owl’s nest box for your yard, keep in mind that some species of owl are territorial, especially when they have young, so keeping their nest...

When purchasing a used car, it’s understood that a certain amount of homework will be involved—looking into things like its mileage, title, and value, as well as whether there are any exterior issues, or problems under the hood. However, as discussed in a recent Lifehacker post, brand new cars can get damaged prior to being sold, and for that reason, it’s important to check for problems before signing a contract and driving one off the lot.But let’s say you don’t spot the damage until you’ve already brought the vehicle home. Here’s how to handle the situation.A lot depends on the type of damage or defect you find in your brand new car, when you notice it, and what is covered in your warranty. According to an article in Car and Driver, “all car manufacturers offer buyers a factory warranty ...

Today’s puzzle is middle-of-the-road in difficulty. If you’re looking for the Connections answer for Sunday, November 5, 2023, read on—I’ll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solutions to all four categories. Along the way, I’ll explain the meanings of the trickier words and we’ll learn how everything fits together. Beware, there are spoilers below for November 5, NYT Connections #147! Read on if you want some hints (and then the answer) to today’s Connections game.If you want an easy way to come back to our Connections hints every day, bookmark this page. You can also find our past hints there as well, in case you want to know what you missed in a previous puzzle.Below, I’ll give you some oblique hints at today’s Connections answers. And farther down the page, I’ll re...

Photo: hanohiki (Shutterstock)Whenever there’s talk of home improvement projects, the terms “renovation” and “remodeling” tend to be used interchangeably. That can get confusing quickly, though, as they have two separate meanings. Here’s the difference between renovating and remodeling, and why it matters.Discussions about renovating and remodeling often happen in the context of real estate—like whether they increase or decrease the value of your home. There are also people who purchase fixer-uppers so they can make decisions about upgrades and make the home their own. In other cases, people who aren’t sellers or new homebuyers simply want to give their home an upgrade (or several).Regardless of the reason for the project(s), renovating and remodeling are two separate categories. The short...

It’s an all-noun puzzle today, or at least it looks that way until you STUDY the words closely. If you’re looking for the Connections answer for Saturday, November 4, 2023, read on—I’ll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solutions to all four categories. Along the way, I’ll explain the meanings of the trickier words and we’ll learn how everything fits together. Beware, there are spoilers below for November 4, NYT Connections #146! Read on if you want some hints (and then the answer) to today’s Connections game.If you want an easy way to come back to our Connections hints every day, bookmark this page. You can also find our past hints there as well, in case you want to know what you missed in a previous puzzle.Below, I’ll give you some oblique hints at today’s Connectio...