Hope quotes that inspire

Hope is the one thing that can help us get through the darkest of times. If you’re going through a difficult time, or need some inspiration to help guide you in your next phase of life, these hope quotes will help to lift you up. You might also find motivation reading through these inspirational quotes, life-changing quotes, or if you also need a laugh, these funny quotes.

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If you think flu is just a bad cold, think again. Flu is a contagious viral infection that can cause mild to severe symptoms and serious related complications, including hospitalization and deatheven in healthy children and adults. For those with a chronic health condition (such as heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, or diabetes), the risk of developing serious flu-related complications is higher.

Unfortunately, the 2022-2023 flu season is shaping up to be particularly bad in the US, with the highest number of positive flu tests and hospitalizations in more than a decade, as well as more than a dozen pediatric flu deaths reported so far this season. ^{[1-CDC-Early]}

Heres what you need to know about your risk of developing serious flu complicationsand how best to prevent flu in the first place.

How Flu Affects People Differently

Like COVID-19, flu is a respiratory infection that spreads when people with flu cough, sneeze, or talk. Although less common, flu viruses can also be spread by touching surfaces that an infected person has touched, and then touching your own mouth, nose, or eyes.

Because of how easily flu viruses can spread, anyone can get sick with flu. However, some individuals are at a higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications, including hospitalization and death.

Who is at higher risk?^[1]

• Young children (age 5 years and younger)
• Pregnant women
• Adults age 65+
• Individuals with certain chronic health conditions, including heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, and diabetes (even when the condition is well managed)

Those with chronic health conditions in particular should take note: Getting an annual flu vaccine is as important to your health as eating healthy foods, exercising, and taking medications as prescribed.

• People with diabetes are more likely to die from flu-related complications after hospitalization.^[2] Diabetes can interfere with the bodys ability to fight flu, and flu infection can interfere with management of blood sugar levels.^[3]
• People with heart disease face increased risk of serious flu-related complications and are six times more likely to have a heart attack within one week of flu infection.^[4]This is due to the body’s inflammatory response to the infection and the fact that the additional stress on the cardiovascular system could be overwhelming to an already weakened heart muscle.
• Flu can trigger asthma attacks^[5] and can worsen chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) symptoms^[6] by increasing inflammation in the lungs and airways.
• People with chronic kidney disease (CKD) at any stage, and those who have had a kidney transplant or are undergoing dialysis treatment, face high risk of developing serious flu-related complications due to their weakened immune systems.^[7]

During recent flu seasons, nine out of 10 people hospitalized with flu had at least one underlying health condition.

Of concern, a 2022 survey commissioned by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) revealed that nearly one in 5 individuals (22 percent) who face higher risk for flu-related complications (older adults and those with chronic health conditions) said that they were not planning to get vaccinated this season.^[8]

How to Prevent Flu

Given the seriousness of flu, the best way to help protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community is to get a flu vaccineevery year. For more than 50 years, hundreds of millions of individuals in the US have safely received seasonal flu vaccines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone age six months and older get vaccinated against flu annually.

If you are living with a chronic health condition, it is even more important that you take these three steps to help lower your risk of flu-related complications:

• Get vaccinated against flu every year
• Practice healthy habits to stop the spread of germswash your hands, cover coughs and sneezes, and stay at home if you are sick
• If you do experience flu symptoms, call a healthcare professional as soon as possible and take flu antivirals if prescribed

And if youve ever gotten a flu vaccine but still ended up with flu, dont think it was all for nothing. Even in cases when flu vaccination does not prevent infection completely, it can reduce the duration and severity of illness and can help prevent serious related complications, including hospitalization and death. So, roll up your sleeve and get to it!

Its not too late to get a flu vaccine. While the ideal time to get vaccinated is before flu begins circulating in your community (typically September and October in the US), it is still beneficial to get vaccinated later in the season because flu viruses may continue to circulate. If you havent already done so, get vaccinated against flunow.

Founded in 1973, NFID is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to educating the public and healthcare professionals about the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases across the lifespan. To learn more, visit the NFID website at www.nfid.org/flu.

References:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Early Wave of Flu Brings Early Flu Hospitalizations. October 28, 2022. Accessed November 20, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/spotlights/2022-2023/early-wave-hospitalizations.htm
• Wilking H, Buda S, von der Lippe E, et al. Mortality of 2009 Pandemic Influenza A(H1N1) in Germany. Eurosurveillance. 2010;15(49). doi:10.2807/ese.15.49.19741-en
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Flu & People with Diabetes. September 12, 2022. Accessed November 20, 2022. www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/diabetes.htm
• Kwong JC, Schwartz KL, Campitelli MA, et al. Acute myocardial infarction after laboratory-confirmed influenza infection. New England Journal of Medicine. 2018;378(4):345-353. doi:10.1056/nejmoa1702090
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Flu & People with Asthma. September 6, 2022. Accessed November 20, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/asthma.htm
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lung Disease including Asthma and Adult Vaccination. Accessed November 20, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/rec-vac/health-conditions/lung-disease.html
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Flu and People with Chronic Kidney Disease. August 25, 2021. Accessed November 21, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/kidneydisease/publications-resources/ckd-and-flu.html
• National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. 2022 National Survey: Attitudes about Influenza and Pneumococcal Disease, and the Impacts of COVID-19. October 2022. Accessed November 20, 2022. https://www.nfid.org/about-nfid/newsroom/news-conferences/2022-nfid-influenza-pneumococcal-disease-news-conference/2022-national-survey-attitudes-about-influenza-and-pneumococcal-disease-and-the-impacts-of-covid-19/

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When you think of Veronica Webb, 90s high fashion may come to mind. A runway model on the covers of countless magazines, Veronica spent most of her 20s jet-setting around the globe. In the fashion world, smoking was not just normal, it was encouraged, and Webb found herself smoking cigarettes regularly. When her mother, who was not a smoker, had a lung cancer scare, it made Veronica pause.

The whole time I was smoking, I thought Is this going to be the cigarette that gives me lung cancer? If this happened to my mom, who didn’t even smoke, it could certainly happen to me, Webb recalled. And, although smoking has been in my rear-view mirror, theres still that possibility that it could catch up to me.

As part of Mercks Focus On Your Lungs campaign, which provides education and resources to help encourage other people at high risk for lung cancer to get an annual screening, Webb is sharing her own story and lung cancer screening experience.

Understanding Your Risks and Importance of Screening

Lung cancer screening is a test that may help save lives by finding lung cancer earlier and before it has spread. The test is recommended annually for people at high risk. While the greatest risk for lung cancer is a history of smoking, there are other factors. These include a family history of lung cancer or exposure to certain materials in the environment, such as secondhand smoke, radon gas, or asbestos and other materials that cause cancer like arsenic, chromium and nickel.

Unfortunately, in 2021, less than six percent of people in the U.S. who were at high risk got their lung cancer screening. Studies have shown that Black Americans, who have the highest diagnosis rate of advanced lung cancer compared to any other racial or ethnic group, are less likely to get screened or be aware of the need for screening.

Today, for Black Americans, the probability of developing invasive lung cancer is 1 in 16 for men and 1 in 21 for women, with a lower survival rate than White Americans, said Dr. Raymond Osarogiagbon, member of Lung Cancer Foundation of Americas Scientific Advisory Board. Screening is an important step that may help increase rates of early detection as well as education and awareness for everyone at risk for lung cancer, including those in underserved communities like Black Americans.

The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) has recently updated the lung cancer screening guidelines, lowering the smoking pack-years and age requirement for yearly screenings, which helps make more people eligible for screening. Adults between the ages of 50 and 80 who currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years and have at least a 20 pack-year smoking history should be screened every year.

A pack-year is the number of packs of cigarettes a person smoked per day, multiplied by the number of years they have smoked.

In my own experience, very often, preventive care is not on the radars of the African-American communities, Webb said. It is so important to empower people to take preventative action by increasing education and awareness of the resources that are available because even if it helps just one person, it is a step in the right direction.

Veronicas Screening Experience

Veronica recently underwent a lung cancer screening via low-dose computed tomography (low-dose CT or LDCT) scan to check if she has lung cancer. It’s simple and quick, its not invasive and it’s easier than other exams Ive had, Webb said. There’s no needles or pain, and there’s no prep.

Webb is also familiar with some of the common feelings of anxiety and fear prior to screening.

I understand that its scary to get these screenings, she said. But the point is that you need to catch anything that is wrong early. If you take the opportunity to find out about your health, then you have a fighting chance.

Watch Veronica get screened for lung cancer below and visit FocusOnYourLungs.com to understand if you might be eligible.

The post I Got Screened For Lung Cancer – Now It’s Time for You to <i>Focus On Your Lungs</i> appeared first on Reader's Digest.

How to hide apps on iPhone

Whether you want to tuck away a dating app or a game you’re too old to the playing, the process for how to hide apps on an iPhone is simple. Take the steps below to remove apps from your home screen without uninstalling or deleting them. If your apps are taking up too much space, here’s how to free up storage on your smartphone.

1. First, create a folder by tapping and holding down on an app and dragging it on top of another app. Once you see that the folder has been created, you can release the app. You can add as many apps to the folder as you want. The folder will be automatically named by your phone, but you can change this by clicking on the text above the folder after you create it.
2. Now, drag the app that you want to hide into the folder you just created. Tap and hold the app to drag it into the new folder, just like you did in the last step to create the folder.
3. If you want to hide more than one app, drag any others into the folder too.
4. Next, open the folder, and tap and hold the app you want to hide. While keeping your finger on it, drag it to the right side of the folder. A new page of the folder will be created, and your app will move to it. Let go of the app to make it stay on the second page of the folder.
5. Repeat step 4 for all the apps you want hidden. As you create more pages in your folder, you’ll see multiple dots appear at the bottom of the screen. Those dots indicate how many pages are in your folder, and you can swipe right or left to navigate between them.
6. Then, when you return to your home screen, only the apps on the first page of the folder will be visible.

How to hide apps with the new iOS 14 update

Apple’s latest software takes hiding apps a step further, allowing you to hide entire app pages for a simpler and cleaner iPhone interface.

1. Tap and hold down (or long-press) on a blank area of your screen.
2. When the widgets start to wiggle, tap the app page dot icons at the bottom of the screen. All your app pages will then appear on your screen.
3. Click the circle with the check mark under the app page you want to hide, so that it is unchecked.
4. Tap Done in the top right-hand corner to save your changes.

Now, the app page won’t appear when you swipe through the pages on your home screenand you officially know how to hide apps on an iPhone. If you change your mind at any point, you can reverse this feature by repeating the steps above and checking off the app page that was hidden. You can also move the apps out of the folder or rearrange their order however you’d like.

Hiding apps isn’t the only way to keep your smartphone’s contents away from prying eyes. Here’s how to lock apps on an iPhone and what you need to know about the safety of WhatsApp.

How to find hidden apps on iPhone

Want to find and open a hidden app on your iPhone? It’s easy to search for any appeven apps that are stored in a folder or the App Libraryby following the instructions below.

1. Go to your iPhone’s home screen and swipe left to open the Search feature. In the Search bar, type in the name of the app. When the app’s icon appears, tap to open it.
2. Alternatively, you can ask Siri to open the app for you. Simply press and hold the Side button to activate the Siri voice command function, then say “Open [app name].” Siri will find and open the app for you.
3. If you can’t locate the hidden app by quickly searching for it, the App Library can help you out. Swipe left from your home screen until you see the App Library page. From there, you can type the app’s name into the search bar or go to the category it belongs to.

Now that you know how to hide apps on an iPhone, learn how to hide messages on an iPhone and see (and delete) your iPhone call history, so your conversations stay private too.

Additional reporting by Brooke Nelson.

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The history of the Baskin Robbins logo

Ice cream runs in this family. A year after Burt Baskin opened Burton’s Ice Cream Shop in Glendale, California, in 1945, his brother-in-law, Irv Robbins, opened his own ice cream shop in Pasadena. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t take very long for the two to merge their businesses.

Baskin and Robbins created Baskin Robbins in 1953. Their shop offered 31 flavors so that visitors could theoretically come back each day of the month for a new flavor. At the time, it was rare to offer as many flavors as they did, and they wanted to brag about it in their logo and on their storefronts. The number 31 proudly stood out from the name with “31” written above “Baskin Robbins Ice Cream.”

This remained the signature logo for Baskin Robbins until 1991, when the names “Baskin” and “Robbins” sandwiched the number 31. This is also when they first introduced the pink and blue color scheme.

The logo was then modernized in 2006, but it still included the number 31; its just a little more camouflaged. Now that you know that, can you see it? The pink parts of the B and R make up the number 31. Learn why so many logos use red (like Coca-Cola) in their branding and how colors influence us.

Where is the 31 in the Baskin Robbins logo now?

In 2022, the Baskin Robbins logo got its most current makeover since 2006. The new logo is a less playful version of the one prior. The designers have swapped out blue for brown and the font is a bit more modern. But the logo still reflects the important number 31. Like the previous logo, the 31 makes up the pink part of the letters B and R. Can you see it? Although 31 flavors isn’t as breathtaking as it was all those years agoBaskin Robbins has actually created over 1,000 flavors as of todaythe 31 still remains an integral part of the company’s roots.

Its OK that you were too consumed with your ice cream to notice this fun quirk. We were too. Next, see how your personality traits are linked to your favorite ice cream flavor. Then, read up on the interesting history behind Pringles’ mascot.

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When you’re asking them to sit or giving them a treat, eye contact means that their attention is on you and that theyre ready to (hopefully) listen. But sometimes your pup will look at you without being prompted, or give you the doggy side-eye when you’re not even doing anything interesting, just watching TV. Unless you’re doing one of these things that your dog actually hates, there are a few reasons why your dog might stare at youeven when you don’t call his name or do something to get his attention.

Why does my dog stare at me?

In general, dogs use eye contact to gain information and understand what their human wants them to do, says Philip Tedeschi, professor and researcher on the human-animal bond with Rover. Dogs use eye contact as reassurance and understanding in very similar ways that humans do, to ascertain interpersonal connection and reaction. This helps us connect with them as well, he says.

In especially good news for pooch parents, science confirms that dogs use eye contact to express affection. How do you tell if a dog loves you? Well, if he stares at you, it’s a good sign! Just like humans gaze into each others eyes to show love and affection, so does your dog, says Tedeschi. In fact, one study showed that the cuddle’ hormone oxytocin increases in both humans and dogs when they exchange a loving gaze. Also, find out why your cat stares at you.

However, Tedeschi points out that if the eye contact between a dog and a human is too long or too intense it might lead to discomfort in the dogsimilar to the way two humans staring at each other for a prolonged period of time would make them uncomfortable. So what do you do if your dog stares at you? Look back, but not for too long. Dogs get awkward, too!

Do dogs use eye contact to try to communicate with humans?

Eye contact is actually not a natural instinct for dogs, but over time they learn that eye contact can often lead to attention or food from their humans. So, if you see your dog looking to the side, or notice he’s staring at you in a classic, cute, looking-up puppy eyes kind of way, it probably means he wants something.

Dogs will often stare when youre doing something that piques their curiositylike grilling up something that smells tasty or opening the cupboard where the treats areto see if they can get in on the fun too, says Tedeschi. So, next time you catch your hound staring, try giving him a cuddle. If you’re curious, here’s why dogs sometimes tilt their heads when looking at you.

Why does my dog stare at other dogs?

If your dog sees another dog while youre out for a walk, he might look at the other dog briefly to catch the dog’s attention, but when two dogs stare at each other its actually a sign of hostility.

Youll more frequently see dogs turning away from each other in order to avoid eye contact as sustained staring can be a sign of aggression, says Tedeschi. Prolonged eye contact rarely occurs in friendly exchanges between two dogs. When two dogs meet for the first time, always approach with caution and never just let your dog run up to an unknown dog. You don’t know how other canines will react. That’s just one of the mistakes dog owners should never make.

Why does my dog stare at me when he goes to the bathroom?

When dogs are defecating, they feel like they are vulnerable, so hes looking to you to protect him and for safety cues as he goes, says Tedeschi. Most dogs also learn that if they go to the bathroom outside when and where theyre supposed to, they will be rewarded with a treat, so they stare at you to make sure you know that they are doing their business. Yes, it’s a bit awkward, but you can reassure your dog by saying something soothing instead.

So now you know: your dog stares at you because he wants to express affection, make sure he’s safe, or check on his chances of getting food or snuggles. Think you’re a dog expert? Test yourself to see how much you know in our definitive guide to what dogs want.

Source:

• Philip Tedeschi, Professor and researcher on the human-animal bond with Rover.com

Why Do Dog Licks Us?

Signs Your Dog Is Mad at You

Signs Your Dog Really Trusts You

The post Why Does My Dog Stare at Me? Here Are the Reasons Behind All That Eye Contact appeared first on Reader's Digest.

What are shortcuts on Mac?

Mac shortcuts are specific key combinations on your keyboard that allow you to do things on your computer that would typically require a mouse or trackpad and the screen’s pull-down menu. For example, you can use your keyboard to copy and paste a set of text instead of using your mouse to select, copy, and paste from the menu, but more on that later.

How do I see all the shortcuts on my Mac?

To find the Mac shortcuts that are already set up on your device, go to System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts. From there you can look through the different mac keyboard shortcuts that are set up for your keyboard and other places your Mac allows shortcuts, like the launchpad and dock, Mission Control, and Spotlight.

How do I create shortcuts on a Mac?

If you want to create a new keyboard shortcut, navigate down to App Shortcuts, click the plus, select the application you want (or select All Applications), and type the menu title of your shortcut along with the keys you want to use. Then click Add. Take note, in order for the shortcut to work you will need to type in the exact syntax of the menu title; that includes capitalization, spaces, and punctuation. To change an existing shortcut you can select the one you want to change, click on the key combination, and then type the new keys you want to use.

Mac command keys

Keyboard shortcuts using the Command key on Macs are pretty well-known. In case you forgot, or need a refresher, here are some helpful ones. Simply press the command key and the other specified key at the same time.

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Mac function keys

The Mac function keys run across the top of your keyboard. The F1-F12 keys can be used for built-in Mac features or as standard function keys. The function keys may look slightly different depending on what model of Mac you have, but each key shows a self-explanatory image that tells you what the built-in Mac feature is. If you’re not sure what all of the icons mean, here’s how to decode them.

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You can also use the F1-F12 keys on your Mac as standard function keys. These will work differently depending on the app you’re using and the keyboard shortcuts that you have set up. To use the function keys as standard function keys hold down the Function (fn) key and then press a function key. For example, when you press the fn key and F11, it will perform the action assigned to that key instead of lowering the volume. If you also have a Windows computer at home too, you’ll want to know these Windows keyboard shortcuts or if you have Windows 10, you’ll want theWindows 10 keyboard shortcuts.

Function keys using Touch Bar

Before we dive into Mac Shortcuts, you may have noticed (if you have a newer MacBook) that you don’t have the function keys F1-F12 on your Mac. In order to find these keys, hold down the Fn (Function) key and you should see F1-F12 appear on the Touch Bar at the top of your keyboard. If you would like these keys to appear on your Touch Bar automatically when opening a specific app, go to the Apple Menu. Open System Preferences, then click Keyboard. Navigate to Shortcuts at the top of the window and click Function Keys from the list on your left. Click the “+” and add as many apps as you’d like. Now when you open these apps, the Function Keys should appear automatically in your Touch Bar.

Combination Mac keyboard shortcuts

Some keyboard shortcuts require more than just one or two keys. You might need to use two hands for these MacBook keyboard shortcuts or just have really long fingers. Here are the shortcuts we think you’ll use the most.

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Now that you know how to navigate your keyboard like a true tech pro with these Mac shortcuts, check out these Zoom shortcuts that’ll make your life easier as well.

Sources:

• Apple: Mac keyboard shortcuts
• Apple: How to use the function keys on your Mac

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What Apple Employees Won't Tell

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Its still a great cleaner

There are few things baking soda cant do. Its a great multipurpose cleaner and you can use it when you cook, to heal ailments, around the house, and even to make crafts for your kids. But there are some instances where baking soda causes more harm than good. While it can help you with most of your chores around the house, make sure avoid using it when cleaning these products.

The post 11 Things You Should Never Clean with Baking Soda appeared first on Reader's Digest.

Work your way through these 19 “which one doesn’t belong” puzzles and see how quickly you can solve them. The answers are right below the images, so if you get stuck, just keep reading. If you want to warm your brain up first, try out these hidden-picture puzzles and these visual puzzles and brainteasers.

Which snowflake doesn’t belong?

In reality, every snowflake has a unique pattern, but in this puzzle only one is different. Can you spot it? Make sure you look closely at each individual snowflakeone of them is not like the others. Which one doesn’t belong?

The sixth snowflake is not like the others. The star in the center has six points, whereas all of the other snowflakes stars have five points.

Which English muffin doesn’t belong?

These tasty treats are topped with olives, ham, cheese, and salami. While they differ from one another, one stands out a little more than the rest. Study the different illustrations for a while to see if you can figure it out.

Find it yet? Heres a hint: It has to do with the number of toppings on each English muffin. If you look closely, youll notice that English muffin number six has three different toppings: an olive, a slice of ham, and a slice of cheese. All of the other muffins only have two different toppings. Ready for a different sort of challenge? Try these printable brainteasers.

Which Christmas tree doesn’t belong?

In this image, there are six different Christmas trees. One of them isnt like the others. Can you figure out which one doesn’t belong? Make sure you look closely at the decorations and the different snow patterns on the trees.

The Christmas tree that isnt like the others is number two. If you look closely, youll notice that for every other tree, the colored lights on the left side match the lights on the right side. But the two lights on the bottom branches of Christmas tree number two are different colors.

Which wheel doesn’t belong?

Blue and red, red and blue. Which wheel is different from the rest? Out of these five wheels, one of them doesn’t belong. How quickly can you figure out which one it is?

The wheel that doesn’t belong is number four. The symbol turns in the opposite direction. If you got that right, your brain is primed for some sudoku puzzles.

Which star doesn’t belong?

Look closely at all 12 stars. Which one doesn’t belong? Count how many points each star has and make sure to look at their placement in the sky.

Star number eight doesn’t belong with all of the others. If you look closely, you can see that all of the other stars are reflected in the waterexcept the eighth star.

Which snowboard doesn’t belong?

Which one doesn’t belong? Out of these six snowboards, one isn’t like the rest. Don’t worryyou don’t have to be a pro snowboarder to figure this one out.

The snowboard that doesn’t belong is number four. On all the boards, the top of the longest stroke of the X is on the right, but this is reversed on the fourth board. Want more mind-benders? Try these rebus puzzles.

Which cyclist doesn’t belong?

Nine cyclists are competing in a race, but one of them doesn’t belong. Make sure to look closely at their numbers, their shirts, and their bikes.

Cyclist 32 isn’t the same as the others. All riders with an even number have a punctured back wheel; those with an odd number have a punctured front wheel. Well, except for number 32, an even-numbered cyclist with a front-wheel puncture.

Which bowling ball doesn’t belong?

There are six blue bowling balls, but one of them doesn’t belong. Can you figure out which one it is? This one is tricky because they all look very, very similar.

Did you solve this one quickly? Ball number four has two large finger holes; the other balls only have one large hole. Keep testing your brain with these tough-to-solve math puzzles.

Which carnival mask doesn’t belong?

These sparkly carnival masks might appear the same at a glance, but in reality, one is different than the rest. Can you spot which one it is?

Mask number three doesn’t belong. On all the other masks, the pointed side of the eyes aims outward.

Which candy doesn’t belong?

These 12 sweet candies might all look similar, but one is different from the rest. How quickly can you figure out which one doesn’t belong? Make sure to look at their placement, wrappers, and colors.

Candy number eight is the odd one out. There are two types of candy with alternating colored grains: yellow and red, and yellow and blue. But on the eighth candy, the color alternates every two grains. It’s so tough to spot, it’s almost an optical illusion!

Which lollipop doesn’t belong?

This one is a bit more challenging because these lollipops all look slightly different. But of the seven sweets, one doesn’t belong with the rest. Can you find the one that is different?

The one that’s different from all the rest is lollipop number five. For all other lollipops, the second and fourth rings (starting from the outer edge) are identical colors.

Which lipstick kisses don’t belong?

Which two lipstick kiss marks do not belongknowing that the woman only had four lipsticks of different colors?

Kisses number four and seven do not belong with the rest. She only has blue, green, red, and pink lipsticks.

Which flower branch doesn’t belong?

This is another image where all the illustrations already look slightly different, but there is one that doesn’t belong. Can you figure out which flower branch isn’t like the others?

Flower branch number two doesn’t belong with the rest. On all other branches, the top flower has just as many petals as flowers on the branch.

Which piece of plumbing equipment doesn’t belong?

If you think word searches are tough, try this puzzle from heating oil supplier Heatable. There are all sorts of plumbing toolsbut one of them is not like the others. In fact, it’s broken! Can you find the one broken tool in this tricky brainteaser?

The answer is below.

Which duck doesn’t belong?

All of these duckies are looking pretty snazzy in this puzzle from PlumbNation, but only one of them is sporting a tiny tuft of feathers. Can you pick it out of the crowd?

The answer is below.

Which spider doesn’t belong?

Arachnophobes beware! Most of these creepy-crawlies have even sets of fangs. Some have two, and some have four. Some are hiding their choppers, while others are baring rows of teeth. But only one is missinga fang. Can you spot it? This spooky puzzle comes to us courtesy of greeting card manufacturer Scribbler.

The answer is below.

Which three Christmas trees don’t belong?

It’s a triple whammy with this puzzle from Christmas Tree World: You’re challenged to find not one but three Christmas trees without stars on top. It’s harder than you’d think!

The answer is below.

Which snowman doesn’t belong?

These snow people are all looking pretty dapper, but one of them is missing a button! Most of them are rocking three buttons, but one only has two in this head-scratcher from eyewear company Feel Good Contacts.

The answer is below.

Which Frosty doesn’t belong?

The wintry brain-teasing fun continues. While all of these smiling snowmen look uniform, one is a little different than the rest. Hint: Look at the colors.

The answer is below.

Now, try these brain-training games.

To test your brain even more, purchase your own copy of Mind Stretchers: Volume One. Puzzle editor Allen D. Bragdon keeps you on your toes with over 150 puzzles.

Source:

• Heatable
• PlumbNation
• Scribbler
• Christmas Tree World
• Feel Good Contacts

The Trickiest Riddles for Adults

Try to Solve the Viral Riddle

How Many Squares Do You See?

The post Which One Doesn’t Belong? See If You Can Spot the Image That’s Different appeared first on Reader's Digest.

Funny animal memes

Chances are, you’re no stranger to awkward situations. The best medicine for embarrassment is humor, and the best memes have it in spades. How many of these funny animal memes can you relate to? We see ourselves in more than a few. From hilarious cat memes to preciousdog memes, there’s a little humor for everyone on this list. Once you’re done scrolling through these funny animal memes, check out more animal humor with these corgi memes and animal jokes.

The post 45 Funny Animal Memes You Can’t Help But Laugh At appeared first on Reader's Digest.

Funny birthday memes sure to make them laugh

There seems to be a meme for every major life event these days. From wedding memes and happy anniversary memes to hilarious thank-you memes, you can pretty much find a meme for any occasion and situation. One of the best occasions for meme enthusiasts to indulge in? A birthday, of course! And funny birthday memes are pretty much guaranteed to put a smile on anyone’s face.

We’ve created thebest memesto send to your friends or family on their special day, for every personality and sense of humor, so you’re sure to find the perfect one. Remember: Laughter is the best gift you can give … though abirthday gift or birthday cakecertainly wouldn’t hurt either! After you send them your favorite happy birthday meme, follow up with azodiac memeto poke some lighthearted fun at their sign.

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The post 52 of the Funniest Happy Birthday Memes appeared first on Reader's Digest.

The funniest New Years jokes to tell

1. What is a New Year’s resolution? Something that goes in one year and out the other.

Speaking of resolutionshere’s the best New Year’s resolution, according to your zodiac sign.

2. What do snowmen like to do on New Years Eve? Chill out.

3. Youth is when you’re allowed to stay up on New Year’s Eve. Middle age is when you’re forced to.

4. What do New Year’s Day parades have in common with Santa Claus? No one is awake to see either of them.

5. My grandparents had resolutions like donating more time and money to charities. I’ve decided to make my own coffee once a week.

Loving these New Year’s jokes? Feel free to use them as funny New Year’s captions on Instagram.

6. Why do you need a jeweler on New Years Eve? To ring in the New Year.

7. My New Year’s resolution is to stop hanging out with people who ask me about my New Year’s resolution.

8. What did the little champagne bottle call his father? Pop!

9. Whats a cow’s favorite holiday? Moo Years Eve.

10. Where can you find comedians on New Year’s Eve? Waiting for the punch line.

11. What do farmers give their wives at midnight on New Year’s Eve? Hogs and kisses.

12. An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.

Looking for more New Year’s jokes and humor? These New Year’s memes will have you laughing into 2023.

13. What did the ghost say on Jan. 1? Happy Boo Year!

These New Year’s jokes will give you all the laughs you need, but for good luck, here are some foods you should eat.

14. I see no need to make more New Year’s resolutions when the ones already on the books aren’t being enforced.

15. What do you call always wanting a date for New Year’s Eve? Social security.

16. What’s a digital camera’s New Year’s resolution? 1080p.

17. This New Year’s, Im going to make a resolution I can keep: no dieting all year long.

18. Knock, knock. Whos there? Abby. Abby who? Abby New Year.

Don’t forget to share these funny New Year’s quotes with friends and family!

19. Where can you go to practice math on New Years Eve? Times Square.

20. Why should you put your new calendar in the freezer? To start off the New Year in a cool way.

21. What do you tell someone you didn’t see on New Year’s Eve? I haven’t seen you for a year.

22. This New Year’s, I’ve resolved to lead a better life. Now all I have to do is find someone who will trade lives with me.

23. What happened to the man who shoplifted a calendar on New Year’s Eve? He got 12 months!

Need to spruce up your New Year’s party? Check out these New Year’s decorations to help you ring in 2023 in style.

24. What is corn’s favorite holiday? New Ears Day!

25. Whats the one group that hates New Years Day? The New Years Eve cleanup crew.

26. I was going to quit all my bad habits for the new year, but then I remembered that nobody likes a quitter.

The only “homework” you want your dog to chew up is your list of New Year’s resolutions.

27. What did Adam say to Eve on Dec. 31? It’s New Year’s, Eve.

28. Why was the telephone late for work on Jan. 1? It was busy ringing in the new year!

29. What did George Washington do in the days leading up to New Year’s? He made a New Year’s revolution.

30. What compliment did the drink glass give to the champagne on New Year’s Eve? “You’re so bubbly!”

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31. Not to brag, but I already have a date for New Years EveDec. 31.

32. My New Years resolution is to get better at pretending to know the words to “Auld Lang Syne.”

33. My resolution was to read more, so I turned on the subtitles on my TV.

34. I don’t know why people flock to Times Square on New Year’s Eve. They always drop the ball.

35. Why is New Year’s a slice of bread’s least favorite holiday? It has to make a toast.

36. Why did the man stand on one leg at midnight on New Year’s? He wanted to start the year on the right foot.

37. Why was the Hershey bar bummed on New Year’s Eve? It got stuck waiting for a midnight Kiss.

38. What do kangaroos say to each other at midnight on Jan. 1? “Hoppy New Year!”

39. What did the woman say when she was offered a raisin on New Year’s Eve? “No thanks, I already have a date.”

40. What was the opening line of the spice rack’s New Year’s toast? “Cheers to the good thymes!”

Next, check out these New Year’s quotes that will inspire a fresh start to 2023.

Submit your best joke here, and get $25 if Readers Digest runs it.

Lucky New Year's Traditions

Why Do We Kiss on New Year's Eve?

Your Zodiac's New Year's Resolution

The post 40 New Year’s Jokes That Will Have You Laughing into 2023 appeared first on Reader's Digest.

Try these tongue twisters

Think you have a quick tongue? These tongue twisters will put your mouth to the test. Unlike brain games, tongue twisters aren’t really testing your mental acumen (though it can certainly be a mental exercise to figure out how to say them in the first place!). They’re simply testing your ability to say the words in order! And since they’re often packed with hard words to pronounce, that’s often way easier said than done. (And by “done,” we mean “said.”) See how many you can say before you start tripping over your words.

The post 40 of the Hardest Tongue Twisters in the English Language appeared first on Reader's Digest.

Why do we have middle names?

Some people might answer, Its so my mom has three names to yell at me so I know Im in trouble. But there is actual history behind it, and it dates back to ancient Rome.

Many Romans had three names: a praenomen, which was a personal name; a nomen, which was a family name; and a cognomen, which indicated what branch of family you were from. The more names you had, the more respected you were by others. Women only had two names, and slaves typically had one. An example you may be familiar with? Gaius Julius Caesar.

This tradition of multiple names spread over to Western cultures in the 1700s. Aristocrats would give their children long names to show their high place in society. Spanish and Arabic cultures would give their children paternal or maternal names from previous generations to be able to keep track of the childs family tree. Learn more about the middle name traditions in 8 countries around the world.

But the way we use middle names todayoriginated in the Middle Ages when Europeans couldnt decide between giving their child a family name or the name of a saint. They eventually settled on naming their children with the given name first, baptismal name second, and surname third. The tradition was spread to America as people started to immigrate overseas.

As time went on, people started to stray away from religious middle names and get creative with the second name of their child. A common tradition was making the middle name the maiden name of the mother.

Common middle names for girls

According to Kidspot, here are the most common middle names for girls in the USA:

1. Marie
2. Anne/Ann
3. Lynn
4. Elizabeth
5. Lee/Leigh
6. Nicole
7. Louise
8. Michelle
9. Renee
10. Jean

Common middle names for boys

And now for the boys:

1. Alan
2. Michael
3. James
4. William
5. Lee
6. John
7. Robert
8. Andrew
9. David
10. Joseph

Today, some people dont even have middle names, some prefer to be called by their middle name, and some never even use theirs. But just be grateful that we dont trace our lineage back with multiple cognomina like some aristocratic families used to and end up with 38 names. That would be a mouthful! Next, check out more explanations for things you’ve always wondered about.

Sources

• Kidspot.co: “The Most Common Middle Names”
• NPS: “Why No Middle Names?”
• Time: “Now You Know: Why Do We Have Middle Names?”
• Mental Floss: “Why Do We Have Middle Names?”

The Most Popular Baby Names from the Year You Were Born

Why Do People Say "Bless You" After Someone Sneezes?

100 Fun and Interesting Facts About Practically Everything

The post Why Do We Have Middle Names? appeared first on Reader's Digest.

Onomatopoeia definition and examples

In addition to being one of the most fun words to sayand hardest to spellin English, “onomatopoeia” probably calls to mind a whole bunch of silly, fun words. Onomatopoeia is the process of creating a word that mimics a sound and using it to describe that sound. (The word “onomatopoeia” is also used to describe the words themselves, rather than just the process.) Examples of onomatopoeia are the types of words you can imagine inside a colorful bubble in a comic book. So what is an example of onomatopoeia? “Boom!” “Splat!” “Pow!” These are some of the most obvious ones, but there are plenty of very common words you probably had no idea were onomatopoeia examples. Need to add some pizazz to your writing or speech? Try these expressive utterances.

One potential area of confusion: Words like “wow,” “eek,” or even “ugh” arenotonomatopoeia. Instead, these words, outbursts that express emotion rather than a specific sound, are interjections or exclamations. While you’re brushing up on fun words, check out these palindrome examples and examples of hyperbole as well.

The post 50 Examples of Onomatopoeia You Never Thought of appeared first on Reader's Digest.

Why do jeans have tiny pockets?

The small pocket is actually called a watch pocket because it was originally intended as a safe place for men to store their pocket watches. It dates back to Levis first-ever pair of jeans, which hit the market in 1879.

According to the Levi Strauss blog, originally there were only four pockets on a pair of blue jeans, the watch pocket included.

So next time you find yourself standing nonchalantly with your thumb hooked in that small pocket, know that it was originally used to store a pocket watch. Now that we’ve demystified the tiny jean pocket, find out more interesting and fun facts you never knew about.

Source:

• Levi Strauss & Co.: “Those Oft-Forgotten Pant Parts”

Why Your Seatbelt Has a Fabric LoopAnd the Drivers Seatbelt Doesnt

Why Is There a Cotton Ball in Pill Bottles?

Why Are So Many Logos Red?

The post This Is Why Jeans Have Those Tiny Pockets appeared first on Reader's Digest.

If you’re not a word search expert, no need to worrythere are easy, medium, and hard puzzles below for everyone. If your brain is in need of some more exercise, make sure to try these printable brain teasers, printable sudoku puzzles, and printable crossword puzzles as well. Bonus, they’re also free!

Valentine’s Day word searches

Ready to celebrate all of the love in your life with flowers, chocolate, and hugs? These Valentine’s Day word searches start off easy and get more challenging. See how many you can work through. The first puzzle has 12 hidden words and the last has over 30.

St. Patrick’s Day word searches

Coins, leprechauns, luck, rainbows, everything green, oh my! Try to find all of the words in the three St. Patrick’s Day word searches below.

Easter word searches

If you got through Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day, you should be a pro at these Easter word searches. Try to find all of the hidden words. Remember, they’re spelled out horizontally, vertically, and diagonally. Arrows on the puzzles also indicate how the words appear.

Mother’s Day word searches

Print out these free holiday word search puzzles and spend some quality time with mom solving them. Also, don’t forget to get her a card, flowers, and tell her how much she means to you.

Father’s Day word search

Don’t forget about the dads! Here’s a fun, easy word search you can do with your dad or grandfather on Father’s Day this year.

Fourth of July word search

See how quickly you can find the words fireworks, liberty, patriotism, and freedom in this printable word search.

Halloween word searches

The first Halloween word search here is pretty easy, but the last one is a little more tricky. Word search number three is a zigzag word search, meaning that words go left, right, up, down, and can bend at a right angle. Words do not go diagonally. One word is already highlighted to help you get started.

Thanksgiving word searches

Before cutting into the turkey and eating your pumpkin pie, try out these fun holiday word searches. They get harder as you go on and the last puzzle is a zigzag word search. Don’t forget to bookmark these fun Thanksgiving riddles the whole family will love!

Christmas word searches

The holidays can be a stressful time. Take a break from cleaning, cooking, and shopping for gifts to unwind with these Christmas word search puzzles. Get the whole family involved by printing them out and adding them to everyone’s stockings on Christmas morning.

RELATED: Christmas Riddles for Guaranteed Holiday Cheer

The Best Riddles for Kids: Can You Solve Them?

Can You Find the Hidden Objects in These Pictures?

Long Riddles to Give Your Brain a Workout

The post 24 Free Holiday Word Searches appeared first on Reader's Digest.

It’s math o’clock!

The post 16 Math Riddles Only the Smartest Can Get Right appeared first on Reader's Digest.

Printable sudoku puzzles

In the mood to challenge your brain? Here are some printable sudoku puzzles that are sure to make you think hard. Sudoku puzzles aren’t easy, but with a little practice and some helpful sudoku tips, you’re sure to become an expert. Print a few of these out, get a pencil ready, and see how many you can solve without any mistakes. Sudoku puzzles are solved with logic and don’t require you to have any math skills (well, besides being able to count to 9). All of the sudoku puzzles are 9×9 grids. To solve them you have to fill in the empty cells. Each column, row, and region must contain the numbers 1 to 9 exactly once. Below there are sudoku puzzles for all levelseasy, medium, hard, and extra hardso both kids and adults will find something to work on. If your brain is craving more exercise, also try these printable crossword puzzles, printable brain teasers, printable word searches, and holiday word searches.

The post 20 Printable Sudoku Puzzles to Test Your Smarts appeared first on Reader's Digest.

You may know Monopoly as one of the most popular classic board games in modern history, or as the game that means your family members all stop talking to each other for a couple of hours over Thanksgiving. But did you know it was originally invented as a way to teach people about the problems that come with massive wealth inequality? The original Monopoly game was released in 1906, and it looked very different from the version on your shelf today. In fact, it didn’t even have the same name.

The Landlord’s Game

A young woman by the name of Elizabeth Magie created the game as a “practical demonstration of the present system of land-grabbing with all its usual outcomes and consequences.” Her inspiration was a book by progressive economist Henry George, Progress and Poverty. The first version of the game was called The Landlords Game. Whereas the original goal of the game was to simply accumulate wealth, the goal in the eventualMonopoly version was to own industry and create a monopoly of wealth and influence. If you’re getting flashbacks of the despair you felt as your uncle cackled maniacally when you and your last $100 landed on his three-hotel property, well, that’s sort of the point of the game (the despair, not the cackling). Which is also why some people prefer to playonline board games instead.

Researcher Thomas Forsyth has spent the last 20 years researching the history of The Landlords Game. Elizabeth saw a concentration of the nations wealth with a small minority of people and wanted a way to teach people that it not only would grow worse if left alone, but that solutions existed to remedy the problem. She hoped the game would solve those problems by illustrating their effects, and making it personal (at least in gaming terms).

As time went on,The Landlords Game was played in classrooms to teach students about the economy. They added new rules and changed the board around, with the name evolving from The Landlords Game to Auction Monopoly to finally just Monopoly. Parker Brothers soon bought the patent, and sales for the game exploded. Since then, multiple newer versions of the original Monopoly game have been published. And, true to the game’s intent, there’s money to be made from some of them.

How much are original Monopoly games worth?

Because Monopoly was such a successful game, there were thousands of copies sold, which mean thousands still survive. Even games from the 1930s don’t tend to sell for jaw-dropping prices (under $50). But there are some collectors’ and rare editions that are worth a bit more.

These include the Parker Brothers’ Patent Pending 1935 Edition (worth $300 to $900), the Parker Brothers’ 1935 Trade Mark edition (worth $380 to $1,000), and the 1991 Last Edition, given out only to employees of a manufacturing plant in Salem, Massachusetts, when Hasbro took over the game. Only 650 copies of this game were produced, and they fetch over $2,000.

Additionally, Forsyth has started to sell replicas of the original Monopoly game on his website, which looks just like Magies first release of The Landlords Game. Right now we see history repeating itself with a great concentration of wealth, so it really is a perfect time to revisit a release of the original game after more than 100 years of solitude, says Forsyth.

Now that you’ve got a deeper understanding of this surprisingly educational game, you’ll be better equipped to playMonopoly at your next family gathering: Just remember to ruthlessly crush your opponents! Alternatively, it might be safer to break out one of the best board games for two people.

Sources:

• LandlordsGame.info: “History”
• LandlordsGame.info: “1906 Replica Edition Game”
• TheGamer.com: “Rarest Monopoly Versions”

How to Win Monopoly, According to Experts

You've Probably Been Playing Monopoly Wrong Your Whole Life

15 Strategy Board Games You'll Love (and Where to Get Them)

The post This Is What the First-Ever Monopoly Game Looked Like appeared first on Reader's Digest.

Always read the reviews

Amazon is known for having very thorough (and sometimes funny) reviews on the products they sell. Before you add anything to your cart you should always see what the customers really thought. Read on to see some brutally honest funny Amazon reviews that will make you laugh out loud. The laughs don’t stop there with Amazon, make sure you also know about the funny things to ask Alexa to keep the fun going. Before reading through the reviews on a product you want to buy, make sure you know how to spot a fake Amazon review.

The post The Funniest Amazon Reviews of All Time appeared first on Reader's Digest.

If you have an Alexa built-in device, you know how useful the virtual assistant is. You can ask her pretty much anything, from “What’s the weather going to be like today?” to “How many ounces are in a pound?” and get a quick answer. Well, did you know you can level-up Alexa’s game by downloading Alexa skills? These skills help you easily access services and products, all with Alexa’s assistance. These skills can be life savers, especially if you don’t have a free hand or are on-the-go. Here are some of the best Alexa skills that’ll make your day-to-day routine so much easier.

Find your phone

Weve all experienced the frustration of losing our phone somewhere in the house. Now you dont need to worry if no one is there to call it for you, because Alexa can. Just say, Alexa, open Wheres my phone, and shell give it a ring. You can then follow the sound of your ringtone or the vibration to find your phone.

RELATED: Google Home vs. Amazon Echo

Control your car

One of the best Alexa skills to utilize is controlling your car from the comfort of your home. Brands like Toyota, Ford, and Hyundai have subscriptions available that allow you to tell Alexa to start your car, unlock it, and even check how many miles are on your vehicle. Just make sure you have the right subscription paired to your car before you tell Alexa what to do.

Send alerts

We hope nothing happens to us in your home, but it’s better to stay on the safe side. If you have an Ask My Buddy account, you can enable the Ask My Buddy skill on Alexa and send alerts if needed. For instance, if you fall in your home and need help, you can say, “Alexa, ask My Buddy to send help” or “Alexa, send an alert to [person’s name here]” and they’ll get an alert to check in on you. You can also check in on others with this skilljust say, “Alexa, check in with everyone” and they’ll receive messages asking them to check in. Keep in mind that, while this skill is helpful, it should not be used as a substitute for dialing 911 in an emergency.

RELATED: What Is Amazons Alexa and What Can It Do?

Plan meals

Between work, family, and other daily life obligations, it can be tough to plan meals for the entire week. Alexa can help with that, though. Say, “Alexa, find some easy dinner recipes” and she’ll find delicious recipes for you quickly. Then, she’ll read the ingredients you need and even read out the recipe’s steps. This skill is a total game-changer if you’re short on time and need a hands-free guide in the kitchen.

Talk to your cats

Its tough to leave your cat home alone all dayespecially when its basically your child. Well, Alexa lets you tell your cat how much you love and missed them once you get home. Simply enable the Meow! skill on your device. To get started all you have to do is say, Alexa, meow,” and she’ll start talking to your furry friend.

Comfort your dogs

If you have pups at home who get anxious, don’t worryAlexa can help comfort them. Say, “Alexa, open Relax My Dog” and Alexa will play music that relaxes your best four-legged friend. There’s an option for cats, toojust say, “Alexa, calm my cat.”

Make phone calls

You dont even have to pick up your phone. Just say, Alexa, call [name someone in your contacts]. Right now it only allows you to call people who also have an Alexa-enabled device. Its a great feature to have if your hands are full or youre cooking dinner and need to make a call.

RELATED: Which Virtual Assistant Tells the Best Jokes?

Check your email

Yep, Alexa can check your email and even help you respond to messages. Say, “Alexa, check my email” and she’ll pull up the emails you’ve gotten within the last 24 hours. Once you open them, you can tell her to respond, delete, archive, or do another task involving that email. If you’re looking for a specific email from someone, you can say, “Alexa, did [person’s name] send me an email?” This is a great skill to utilize if you need to multitask, but don’t have your hands available to respond to email. Make sure your email account is linked before you use this skill, though.

Plan your vacation

For this skill, you need a little help from the travel site, KAYAK. You first have to set up an account and then enable KAYAK on your device. Then say, Alexa, ask KAYAK [your travel question]. Shell be able to find you deals on flights, book hotels, and give you information about rental cars. To get started exploring the feature try asking Alexa these things:

• Alexa, ask KAYAK where can I go for 700 dollars.
• Alexa, ask KAYAK to track JetBlue Flight 5983.
• Alexa, ask KAYAK how much it costs to rent a car in Boston.
• Alexa, tell KAYAK to set my home airport to Chicago.

Order you a car

Link your Alexa with your Uber or Lyft account and then just say, Alexa, ask Uber/Lyft to request a ride. You dont even have to lift a finger. And, its especially helpful when you are running late and dont have time to manually plug in your destination.

RELATED: How to Change Alexas Name: 7 Easy Steps

Rent a car

Need a rental car? Alexa has you covered. Enable CarRentals and simply say, “Alexa, open CarRentals” and book a rental car in no time. Tell Alexa when and where to get the car and she’ll list out what cars are available and for what price. Then, have her book the rental and you’re all set.

Tell a bedtime story

One of the best ways to end the day is watching your kid drift off to sleep as you tell them a bedtime story. But sometimes there are a million other things to do around the house and you just dont have time. Dont worry; Alexa can do it for you. Enable the Short Bedtime Story feature on your device and then ask, Alexa, tell a bedtime story to [your childs name].

RELATED: Top 12 Must-Have Alexa Accessories

Play Jeopardy!

Learn new facts every day by playing Jeopardy! with Alexa. Simply say, Alexa, play Jeopardy! and shell start asking you questions. Youll be quizzed in areas including sports, pop culture, travel, and world history. If youre an Amazon Prime member you get a free subscription to Double Jeopardy! which gives you six extra clues every week.

Learn what happened this day in history

History buffs, this Alexa skill is for you. Enable This Day in History and say, “Alexa, launch This Day in History” to get a rundown of what historical event happened on a particular day, no matter what the date is. For instance, you could say, “Alexa, ask This Day in History what happened on July 15,” and you’ll get an answer. Talk about a simple way to learn something new!

Control your house

To take advantage of this convenient feature, you have to buy smart home devices such as Nest Thermostats,Philips Hue lightbulbs, andAugust locks. After an easy installation, Alexa can help control your home. When you get home from work say, Alexa, turn on the lights. Or if you wake up too hot in the middle of the night, you can say, Alexa, set the thermostat to 65 degrees.

RELATED: The Most Useful Alexa Accessories

Play music

Alexa can play any type of music youre in the mood for. If you have Amazon Prime, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Pandora, and/or SiriusXM you can ask your device to play any song, artist, or genre you want. Just say, Alexa, play Somewhere Over the Rainbow on Spotify. If you want to be woken up by your favorite music you can say, Alexa, wake me up to John Mayer at 7 a.m.

Get in a quick workout

Got five minutes to spare? If so, Alexa will help you work out. Enable Five Minute Workout, say, “Alexa, open Five Minute Workout” and she’ll provide you with a quick core and cardio workout. You’d be surprised what a quick workout like this can do for your body.

RELATED: 10 of the Best Alexa-Enabled Devices Worth Buying

Send and request money

If you use PayPal, Alexa can help you send and request money. Link your PayPal account, open PayPal, and then say, “Alexa, send [person’s name here] $10” and you’ll easily send $10 to your recipient. You can also say, “Alexa, tell me my PayPal balance” to find out how much is in your account. This comes in handy when you’re in a pinch and need to send money quickly, but don’t have the time or ability to log into PayPal on your computer or phone.

Create/add to your to-do list

You can create lists in your Amazon Alexa app on your smartphone and then ask her to add or delete things from them once theyre completed. Ask, Alexa, add apples and almonds to my grocery list. Alexa can also set reminders for you. Say, Alexa remind me to pay rent at 3 p.m. today. And then once you finish that say, Alexa, delete pay rent from my to-do list.

RELATED: Little-Known Amazon Hacks Every Online Shopper Needs to Know

Have Gordon Ramsay critique your cooking

Alright, this is for everyone who needs a laugh in the kitchen. You can actually tell Alexa to ask Gordon Ramsay about the dish you made, and his voice will chime in with a strong opinion. Simply say, “Alexa, ask Gordon Ramsay about the lasagna I made” or “Alexa, ask Gordon Ramsay to try my omelet” and listen to the legendary chef give you the brutal truth. You can either take the heat or get out of the kitchen.

Need more Alexa humor? Read what the funniest things to ask Alexa are. Then, read up on another cool gadget: The Amazon Astro Home Robot.

Sources:

• The Amazon Blog: “10 cool things you didn’t know Alexa could do”
• Amazon: “Alexa features”

5 Ways You're Shortening the Life of Your Amazon Alexa

17 Amazon Prime Benefits You Might Not Know About

Amazon Scams to Avoid at All Costs

The post 20 of the Most Useful Alexa Skills appeared first on Reader's Digest.

Looking for a way to help the racial justice movement? There are many worthy places to send your Black Lives matter donations. The Black Lives Matter movement originated in 2013 with three Black women activists: Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi. It began with a hashtag after the acquittal of George Zimmerman, who fatally shot an unarmed 17-year-old named Trayvon Martin in Florida in 2012. Since then, Black Lives Matter has grown to become an international movement and an important part of the Movement for Black Lives, which seeks to represent the interests of Black communities across the United States and draw attention to and abolish structural inequality. While there have been many protests over the years, as police brutality and wrongful killings of Black people continue to occur in America, the Black Lives Matter movement grew substantially in 2020 with the tragic deaths of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky. More people than ever before were galvanized to protest in the streets, spread awareness on social media, educate themselves, take action to stop racism, have tough conversations with family and friends, and donate to charities and organizations that need help in their support of this important movement.

If you are in a position to give a Black Lives Matter donation, the charities below will help continue the fight against racism, support the individuals and families of those who lost their lives, and work to educate more people, which will hopefully bring us closer to a solution. Don’t forget to read up on what anti-racism means and what it means to be anti-racist.

The post 16 BLM Charities (and Organizations) to Donate to Right Now appeared first on Reader's Digest.

Cute animal pictures you really need to see

We know you can’t resist cute animal pictures, so we gathered 100 of the cutest animal pictures we could find for your ooh-ing and aah-ing pleasure. Some of the cutest animals in the world might be critters you didn’t even know existed! Of course, when you’re going for maximum cuteness, you can’t go wrong with baby animal pictures. There’s just something about a tiny, fluffy, uncoordinated wee one that makes our hearts melt like butter. And it doesn’t stop with cats and dogs! If you’re not lucky enough to live in the country, the adorableness of cute farm animals will get you browsing land listings. Really, we’d like two of every animal, please. Noah had the right idea!

The post 100 of the Most Adorable Animal Pictures That Will Make You Say “Awww” appeared first on Reader's Digest.

We can’t get enough

If you’re having an off day, or just need some smiles, taking a few minutes to squeal at these baby animal pictures will instantly put you in a good mood. Keep reading for some serious cuteness including everything from adorable puppy pictures to pictures of baby turtles. You have no idea what you’re in for.

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The cutest corgi pictures

A corgi’s stumpy legs, pointy ears, and sassy personalities make them some of the best dogs. If you don’t already have one on your dog wish list, these photos might convince you otherwise. These full-grown and puppy pictures of corgis are sure to put a smile on your face. If you can’t get enough of cute dogs, you’ll also want to look through these adorable pug pictures and these husky pictures.

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Who doesn’t love a good bargain? While there are some things to never buy at the dollar store, there are certainly plenty of products you should. A low price may be tempting, but you may also be concerned about quality, and rightfully so. You can expand your budget with dollar store beauty items, but how do you know what’s actually a good deal? We reached out to experts to help guide you on your next trip to the dollar store that will allow you to save some extra cash while getting everything you need.

The post 10 Things You Should Have Been Buying from the Dollar Store This Whole Time appeared first on Reader's Digest.

This dinner recipe will only take you about 30 minutes, and home chefs that have tried it rave about the delicious outcome. My son and I made this recipe for supper last night and we were so happy with the results! I’m in my early 50s and this chicken tastes how KFC chicken used to taste, reader Alisa shared after giving the recipe five stars. It is not as salty as some of the recipes that we have tried, and we really liked the subtle flavors of the herbs (in the poultry seasoning). Definitely a winner! Make sure you use this trick to know when your chicken is done cooking.

Its no surprise that over 4 million people have viewed this fried chicken recipe4,182,939 to be exact! This tried and true recipe has been around for a while, and during its peak around 5,000 people viewed it daily. Follow these extra tips to make irresistiblehomemade fried chicken.

Using oil to cook the chicken can get a little messy, but the end result is well worth it. If youre worried about getting splashed with oil, get your own deep fryer to help make the cooking process easier and safer.

Check out the recipe in action above to get a better idea of how you can cook this up yourself. Just a heads up, you might want to double it, because your family is sure to gobble all the chicken up before you have a chance to sit down. In the unlikely event that you have leftovers, we’ve got the best ways to reheat fried chicken, too. Even if you’re a skeptic, you should still try your hand at making this basic fried chicken recipe, and add it to these other recipes everyone should know by the time they’re 35.

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The best cheese puns

Cheese Louise!

Come to cheddar, right now. Over brie.

Praise Cheeses!

Set your mind at cheese.

Take it cheesy.

Who cares if you’re alone-y, just eat some macaroni.

Sweet dreams are made of cheese.

Hugs and cheese. If you’re enjoying these cheese puns, you might also get a kick out of these horse puns.

Kick it to the curd!

Check out these pasta puns if you need more food-related laughs.

Anything you can do, I can do feta.

You think youre feta than me?

Gouda take the good with the bad.

In queso emergency…

Gouda luck!

Absence makes the heart grow fondue.

Hes a real munster.

Ricotta get through this! These hilarious cartoon puns are sure to make you laugh.

Cheese puns about brie

Hello, is it brie youre looking for?

Do you brie-lieve in magic?

Let’s agree todisabrie.

Hoping today is as nice as can brie.

To brie or not to brie.

Let’s brie friends forever.

Have a brie-lliant birthday!

Where would I brie without you?!

Love food humor? Check out these taco punsthey really shell out the laughs.

My favorite kind of music is R&Brie.

Let it brie.

Would you brie mine?

You are brie-lliant! Try out these bread puns for the next time you want to loaf around.

Nacho average cheese puns

Dont touch! Theyre nachos.

This is nacho thing.

Nacho problem.

Nacho average person.

If you don’t like cheese I’m nacho type. These beach puns are shore to make you laugh.

Flirty cheese puns

This might sound cheesy, but I think you’re really grate.

You are so grate.

Hey, you’re looking sharp.

I would be so provolone without you.

I hadfondueyou think we cando this again?

You’re my Roquefort ever.

Check out these fruit puns and pickle puns for more laughs!

Im really fondue you.

You are looking mozzare-hella good.

Edam you’re looking fine.

I don’t want to sound cheesy, but we go really gouda together. If these cheese puns don’t work, try out these Valentine’s Day puns.

Short Jokes Anyone Can Remember

What Your Favorite Cheese Says About Your Personality

Clever Jokes That Make You Sound Smart

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