How to survive the emotional timebomb of family at Christmas – The Irish Times

We have all dealt with a difficult person in our lives, and we are all individually almost certainly a difficult person for someone else too, it turns out. This becomes especially clear at Christmas, when families gather and discover that while the faces at the table have changed, the emotional seating plan has not. For […]

How to Get Your Cat or Dog to Lose Weight—Experts Weigh In (2025)

Engage in active play for at least 30 minutes a day, whether that be with a wand toy, laser (just make sure to reward them after their “hunt”), or whatever toy they like best. (Check out my full guide to my favorite interactive cat toys for even more recommendations.) Same as with dogs, use puzzle […]

How to Brush Your Pet’s Teeth—Veterinarians Weigh In (2025)

As the pet tech writer here at WIRED, I know just how far we’ve come as a pet-obsessed society. From automatic litter boxes with built-in cameras to interactive pet cameras on wheels that shoot out treats, if a human has dreamed it, our pets have probably been subjected to it. For a while, pet influencers […]

How to use a wood heater properly to limit smoke pollution, and why it matters

Robin Phillips was taking the bins out when his airways erupted with pain. The Launceston resident said he gasped for breath as smoke from a nearby wood heater scorched his eyes, nose and throat. He abandoned the rubbish and struggled back to the house. “I was like, ‘I can’t breathe,’” he said. “It was shocking.” […]

I was demoted, and I don’t know how to deal with the whispers

Dear Eric: I work in the public sector in a job that makes me well known in my field of work and in the community where I work. I was recently demoted. My colleagues are stumped as to the real reason why, as am I. This has been a hot topic in my field, and […]

Google Calendar Malware Is on the Rise. Here’s How To Stay Safe

While software makers and app developers continue to make their wares safer and less open to attack, you can never get complacent with digital security—and you need to be aware of all the different methods of attack that bad actors use to get at your accounts. Those methods include targeting Google Calendar: An app so […]

How to keep pipes from freezing as South Carolina braces for deep freeze

As the Upstate braces for a deep freeze, it is best to go ahead and prepare your pipes from the extreme cold.Experts say if it’s cold outside, and nothing comes on when you turn on the cold water on your faucet, it’s likely frozen or possibly broken.See how low temperatures are expected to go here.Roto-Rooter […]