Early in my travels I did a trip carrying a bag like the featured bag... It was an albatross strapped to my back! It was cumbersome particularly when using public transportation. Even when I was much younger (and before two total hip replacements...) it was a lot to carry all day long.

Instead of the compass I would use the iPhone compass or a photo app that provides "Golden Hour" info for your location.

I would call AMEX, explain that you accidentally missed the payment and ask if they can make a one-time exception so your interest rate will revert to the former rate. Assuming you have never missed another payment you may just get what you ask for...

Excellent advice. I am always polite and conversational when dealing with customer service reps on the phone. Over the years I have been offered myriad deals, quick and easy fixes of problems, etc. I've rarely run into a rep who wouldn't work with me to try to get me what I wanted.

I wonder how much dormant accounts really affect credit scores? I have a Macy's card that I haven't used since I opened it years ago when I made a major purchase and opening a new account gave me a 20% discount.

I wonder how much dormant accounts really affect credit scores? I have a Macy's card that I haven't used since I opened it years ago when I made a major purchase and opening a new account gave me a 20% discount.

Finasteride causes serious persistent sexual dysfunction in a small number of men. I'm talking about impotence and nonexistent libido (among other symptoms)... What makes it so bad is that in most cases the side-effects never subside after the medication is discontinued. It can affect men who take a minimal dose only…

Mushroom farms are another source of low-cost compost. It's been a lot of years but a mushroom farm in Santa Cruz, California sold pickup-truck loads for $10.

Melanie, you probably don't need me to tell you this but be sure to do a lot of online research before settling on a particular chair.

You really do not need to frame raised beds with wood... Simply make the bed with paths (or a narrow border). Read How to Grow More Vegetables (and Fruits, Nuts, Berries, Grains, and Other Crops) Than You Ever Thought Possible on Less Land Than You Can Imagine by John Jeavons. It has detailed instructions on how to…

I use a VPN 24/7 on my Mac instead of through my router. In my case Witopia.net servers have often been faster than the Charter ISP servers when I performed speed-tests. So I guess the answer is that it depends on the VPN servers that you are using...

That explains why my Witopia.net VPN is secure: I'm using OpenVPN via a program provided by Witopia instead of the default OS X software.

I understand the attraction of setting up a VPN on a router but I think that in the end it is more hassle than it is worth. I prefer to use VPN as needed on every device; on my office Mac Mini I have it configured to connect to my VPN when it automatically boots-up every morning at 8am. I don't need VPN 24/7 on my…

You don't need to use any type of border (wood, etc.) with raised beds... Wood borders and the like use more resources and make it harder to till the soil and access the center of the bed. Simply create a path or narrow border around the edge and you are good to go. My raised beds are also rounded on top and not flat.…

I use Witopia.net for my personal VPN service. When connecting using Firefox with the NoScript extension disabled my public IP address is not leaked. (I usually use Safari on my Macs but on rare occasions I must use Firefox.)

I wish that there was more information available about TodayRemote. I want to compare its features with a Spotify app I already own called Remoteless. But its description on the iTunes Store is very limited as is the info available on the developer's website... And I don't want to pay $1.99 for the "pro" version just…

A couple of years ago it came time to replace our old stove that we had purchased from a neighbor's mom for a whopping $25. I was going to surprise my wife with a fancy (for us...) gas stove that would have set us back $1500 including extending a gas line, electrical work, etc. But my wife got me to spill the beans…

This Mac-user would like to join the other commenters who have noted that it would have been nice if the article headline stated up-front that this piece is geared toward Macs and iOS devices. I would also like to see Lifehacker authors indicate which operating system they are using because the instructions and…

I think that you may be confusing the current FCC chairman Tom Wheeler with former FCC chairman Michael Powell. Mr. Powell was appointed to the FCC by President Bill Clinton in 1997 and elevated to chairman by President George W. Bush in 2001. Powell left the FCC in 2005 and in 2011 he became the head of the National…

The advice is so obvious to me I am surprised that any writer needs to be told this...