Music can put a skip in your step and turn your frown upside down. It can also drown out distractions andmake you more productive. What are your favorite songs for zoning in and reaching maximum productivity? Sometimes a slow ambient track can help you focus. Other times you need something with some serious BPMs to get your heart pumping. Maybe you like indie electronica, classical, hip-hop, or heavy metal. Whatever it is that gets you in the zone, we want to know....

Some of them are near-indestructible, and can go anywhere. Others are super-tiny and can fit in your wallet. Others are shaped like keys, or have some other amazing trick up their sleeve. Which ones do you think are the best? Let us know in the discussions below. Maybe you own one and you love it. Maybe its super cheap, indestructible, super-portable, or just fast. Maybe its packed with extra features....

The word no is used a lot by liars trying to cover up their tracks. According to a former FBI counterintelligence agent, the way someone says it can truly reveal their deceptive behavior. Catching a liar in the act, andgetting them to admit to it, isnt easy to do. It can be especially difficult if theyre actually good at it. Dont go accusing people of things until youve dug a little deeper....

The solution is simple: cook the pods a bitbeforeyou chop them. (This is why its used as thickening agent in dishes like gumbo). By boiling the okra a few minutesbeforemaking any cuts, the slime factor is cut way down. you’ve got the option to then chop the pods and cook them however you wish. I recommend frying them. (Like really, why would you do anything else?) No Slime Time| Tasting Table...

Boiling water doesnt exactly take hours to achieve, but sometimes youre in a rush. This microwave trick can almost cut the time it takes to bring water to a boil in half. Even if youre a professional chef, the microwave can be useful for a lot of things. Its a great tool, especially when you want to get your pasta meal going a little quicker. Microwave the other half for a couple minutes then add them together....

Well need another test for that.) Ask the Food Lab: Can I Make Stock in a Pressure Cooker or Slow Cooker?| Serious Eats

Exchanging your time for money is probably familiar to you. You spend your daily hours to get a paycheck. However, spending your money to buyback some of your time can be even more helpful. As personal finance blog MoneyNing points out, your time is more limited than your money is. it’s possible for you to, however, buy back some of it. I take the shuttle to the airport now instead of driving myself....

Its a bunch of minor tweaks, but welcome ones considering the cost of the software. Fantastical 2($39.99) | Mac App Store

How long does it take you to convey a single idea? If youre bad at small talk, you might not realize when one idea ends and another begins. take a stab at learn your idea rhythm to get better at small talk. As Reddit user EverySeventeenYears explains, a poor conversation partner can ruinthe connection that small talkis meant to build. A beat is a single idea unit. Thats one thought communicated, one beat....

Before remodeling an older home, you must have it inspected for lead-based paint. Heres how to administer the test yourself, and what to do with the results. Lead amounts in paint ranged from 10 to 50 percent. Lead is a highly toxic metal that can cause a range of health and neurological problems. Pregnant women are also at risk as lead can pass from the placenta and poison the unborn fetus....

The final item your packet of power needs is a list of other airlines that also fly your route. How to Get Where Youre Going When Your Flight Gets Canceled| LA Times Image fromButz.2013.

Leaves can clog up your gutters in the fall and cause serious problems if you donttake preventative measures. In the video above, popular YouTuberCrazyRussianHackershows you how you could build the extension with just two PVC parts. Connect the parts, hook the extension up to your Shop-Vac or leaf blower, and youre all set. 5 Fall Leaves Life Hacks| YouTube

Put the peeler downyou dont have to use it. Some vegetables, like beets, do have bitter tasting skins. it’s possible for you to tone this down by dressing them with acid and sweetness. Nope, You Dont Have to Peel Carrots, Beets, or Even Squash| Bon Appetit Image fromwwworks.