Is It Permissible and Secure to Use Headphones While Operating a Vehicle?
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The common belief surrounding the use of headphones while driving is that it’s a strict no. They can distract you from monitoring the road, and blocking your ears can hinder your ability to hear essential sounds in your environment, which is vital for safe driving.
You can communicate with someone through the car’s speakers using Bluetooth while cruising the open road. Is there really a significant difference between that and using an earbud for better sound quality or private discussions when others are present in the vehicle? Per regulations in certain states, there’s no distinction. However, this varies across different jurisdictions.
Additionally, in any instance, maintaining awareness of the road ahead — and your surroundings — remains the chief consideration regardless of legal regulations. Hearing aids essential for better hearing are consistently allowed in the United States, as they are medical tools aimed at enhancing your hearing, not obstructing it. Nonetheless, regarding the use of earbuds or single earbuds, laws can differ widely from one state to another.
What various laws indicate about driving with earbuds
Crucial Costco Items for Winter Readiness by Savvy Homeowners
**5 Costco Items Wise Homeowners Require For Their Winter Preparations**
Winter transforms our daily routines, with shorter days and cooler temperatures leading us to spend increased time indoors. This can reveal inefficiencies in our homes, as well as feelings of boredom and potential cabin fever. When combined with the flurry of holiday festivities that cap off one year and usher in the next, there are numerous valid reasons to ensure you possess all the necessary electronics to endure the severity of winter.
Whether you’re entertaining for the holidays or simply dealing with extended periods of harsh weather throughout the winter, Costco offers a range of electronics that can assist you in weathering the season. The warehouse retailer provides smart home products tailored for winter obstacles, including items such as smart heaters and devices that can assist during a power outage. Discounts are often available to Costco members, but you can also shop from Costco’s online store without a membership, making it a convenient resource for winter readiness.
We have sifted through Costco’s offerings and identified several items we believe will be beneficial as the cold weather sets in. Our emphasis was on emergency readiness, comfort at home, and general convenience. At the conclusion of this article, you can find additional information on how we selected these products. For now, let’s explore some Costco items that can make winter a bit more manageable.
### Backup Power
Winter storms and fierce winds pose a significant risk of power outages, particularly in areas with above-ground electrical lines and large trees. One method to guarantee your essential electronics stay operational throughout the winter is by having a portable power station. Unlike traditional gas-powered generators, a portable power station operates quietly and can be used indoors. Access to one ensures that vital home electronics such as refrigerators and space heaters remain functional during outages.
Costco offers a variety of portable power stations. Larger units from reputable brands like Anker and EcoFlow can supply energy for prolonged durations. A mid-range power station like the Anker Solix C1000X is worth considering if you want something versatile. The Solix C1000X has enough capacity for household needs while still being portable enough for RV trips or holiday travels.
One drawback is that portable power stations can be quite pricey. The Solix C1000X is priced at $750 at Costco, while more robust options will be even more costly. However, the Jackery Explorer 300 Plus stands out in Costco’s selection, priced at just $230. It is more suited for charging smaller devices like laptops and phones, but that can be beneficial during a power cut.
### Portable Heater
During the heart of winter, central heating may struggle to keep every part of your home warm, particularly in older homes or apartments. A portable heater can provide focused warmth and move additional heat from one space to another. You might use a portable heater while working at your desk and then easily transfer it to the bedroom when night falls.
Costco offers various heaters, including a Midea Dual-Flex heater and an Omniheat Digital Ceramic Personal Heater 2-pack. Both represent excellent value and can deliver extra warmth on particularly frigid days. Additionally, they can serve as emergency heat sources when combined with a portable power station in case of an outage this winter.
Portable electric heaters consume considerable electricity, which can spike your energy bill if used frequently during the winter. It’s essential to monitor their placement, ensuring they’re kept away from curtains, blankets, and furniture to prevent potential fires. As portable heaters cannot be left unattended, they lack smart home compatibility and should only be plugged into smart plugs that can accommodate their high electrical draw. Nevertheless, these recommended models incorporate a built-in timer and an eco mode that grant them smart-like functionalities. Keep in mind, space heaters are not intended to replace your home’s heating system.
### Smart Lighting
With the sun setting earlier in winter, adequate lighting in the house becomes crucial. Smart lighting allows you to adjust the brightness and ambience of your home, often via a mobile app that lets you do so right from your couch. Smart light bulbs enable you to modify the color temperature throughout the day, allowing cooler tones in the morning and warmer tones for soothing, quiet evenings.
However, Costco’s smart lighting assortment includes more than just smart bulbs. You’ll discover products such as recessed downlights, ceiling fans with integrated LED smart lights, string lights, and even outlet covers featuring built-in lighting. The inventory also includes outdoor lighting, such as a 4-pack of Feit path lights.
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Researchers Utilize CRISPR to Restore Ancient Gene That Can Avert Disease
slowing the aging process. Utilizing the gene editing technology CRISPR-Cas9, a research group at Georgia State University has reintroduced a revamped version of the ancient enzyme gene uricase into human liver cells. The laboratory experiments yielded promising results, suggesting a future in which humanity could be free from the debilitating joint pain associated with gout. The concept is straightforward yet audacious: to reinstate a fragment of our evolutionary past to address contemporary health challenges.
Currently, the experimentation takes place in petri dishes rather than in human subjects. No treatments have been administered thus far, and human clinical trials have not commenced, but the potential ramifications are significant. The ability to reintroduce previously lost genes signifies that we have a new tool to combat modern diseases and enhance the quality of life.
The ancient gene brought back to life
“Affordable Intelligent Home Enhancements for Reducing Expenses”
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The phrase “smart home” is widely used in 2025, and it signifies various things to different people. For some, it represents an ordinary home equipped with an advanced security system. For others, it means equipping every device with internet connectivity for maximum ease. Regardless of your perspective, it’s apparent that the market is flooded with technology claiming to simplify your life and reduce monthly expenses.
Indeed, there are numerous options available. Adding to this is the troubling fact that certain smart home brands have been found to invade users’ privacy via cameras (notably the Amazon-owned Ring) instead of reducing costs, making the selection of suitable devices increasingly challenging. This is precisely the reason we scoured the web to identify eight top-notch smart home upgrades that will help you save money without compromising home security.
How to Properly Clean the Trackpad of Your Laptop
safely wipe down your MacBook’s display and surfaces, but there’s one section that often presents a bit more challenge when it comes to eliminating grime and dirt: The trackpad.
If you’re not using an external mouse with your device, that small square is working overtime. It gathers fingerprints, soaks up every bit of skin oil your hands can produce, and ultimately becomes a dirty spot you’d prefer to ignore. In severe situations, this accumulation might even disrupt your laptop’s haptics or gesture controls, deceiving it into believing you’re swiping or tapping when you’re actually not.
The bright side? Tidying up your trackpad doesn’t necessitate a specialized kit or a visit to the Apple Store. All you truly require is a microfiber cloth and a small container of 70% isopropyl alcohol. Alternatively, you can utilize 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes, 75% ethyl alcohol wipes, or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes. Just ensure you never use bleach, aerosol sprays, or abrasive materials.
Maintaining your trackpad is simple
Four Electronics Most Effectively Acquired from Amazon
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Buying electronics online often involves a degree of uncertainty, which can make the checkout experience less than pleasant. High-value items such as televisions and laptops may benefit from some hands-on evaluation before you proceed with a long-term investment, and even more affordable gadgets deserve some research prior to your purchase. While nearly every online electronics vendor provides comprehensive specifications and stats for various tech devices, shopping for electronics via Amazon offers added advantages.
While free shipping isn’t unique to Amazon, Amazon Prime Members can generally expect quick and complimentary shipping. At no extra charge to Prime Members, options like two-day, overnight, and even same-day shipping are available on a multitude of Amazon products. Additionally, Amazon’s return policy is quite accommodating. Many products may be returned within a year, allowing you the opportunity to try the item before fully committing. And whereas Amazon excels in its delivery and return services compared to other online sellers, its vast selection and extensive range of electronics ensure significantly more convenience than the hustle, noise, and occasionally unhelpful personnel found in physical stores.
Smart TVs
Christian Bale’s Celebrated 2010s Crime Movie Turns into a Paramount+ Hit
Columbia Pictures
The 2013 film “American Hustle” debuted to widespread acclaim, earning $251 million against a $40 million budget, marking it a financial triumph. It also garnered numerous nominations at the Academy Awards as well as honors at the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild Awards, and British Academy Film Awards. It boasts a 92% rating on the Tomatometer from critics and a 74% on the Popcornmeter from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. As for its significance in 2025, nearly 13 years later — it’s currently climbing the streaming charts.
During the week ending December 12, it remained among the top 10 streamed movies on Paramount+ for multiple days, a trend likely to persist in the coming weeks. Starring Christian Bale, the cast also includes Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, and Jennifer Lawrence, with supporting performances by Robert De Niro, Shea Whigham, Louis C.K., Michael Pena, and others. This American crime film, featuring superb comedic timing, is very loosely inspired by the FBI’s Abscam operation that took place in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Is the dramatization worthwhile? Yes, and this seems to be the reason for its resurgence in popularity, mirroring many older classics, such as this Hollywood gem that received a perfect score from Roger Ebert on HBO Max, or the 2010 reboot of a renowned television series that is gaining traction on Netflix.
Audience Reactions to American Hustle
Factors Leading to the Shift Towards Electronic Parking Brakes in the Majority of Vehicles
fitted with electronic parking brakes, commonly referred to as EPBs. These compact electronic switches have a significantly reduced profile compared to their cable-driven versions, requiring considerably less effort from the driver to utilize. Numerous elements have impacted the widespread acceptance of this system within the automotive sector, yet one of the most critical is the size of EPB switches and their straightforward installation.
Conventional hand brakes, while entertaining for making sharp turns in an unoccupied parking area, occupy a substantial amount of a vehicle’s internal space, both in terms of cabin presence and mechanical components. The transition to EPBs has granted manufacturers greater flexibility in crafting new vehicles and introduced practical features for drivers — such as automatic engagement and disengagement of the parking brake.
EPBs provide greater design flexibility for automakers
Top 10 Easy 3D Printing Projects for Beginners
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How a Robot Snowblower with Self-Driving Capability Can Clean Your Driveway This Winter
Yarbo Snow Blower, this robotic device can remove snow up to a height of 5 inches and is capable of recharging itself, simplifying your snow removal tasks significantly.
The price of the Yarbo Snow Blower is an astounding $4,999. Unless you have that amount readily available, this item may not appear attractive. Additionally, those residing in areas with minimal snowfall or those who have dependable residential snow removal services probably won’t find sufficient value to warrant the expense. On the other hand, if you inhabit regions with heavy and frequent snowfall and regularly need to clear your driveway and paths, the Yarbo could be a worthwhile investment.
The Yarbo Snow Blower is reminiscent of other robotic yard-maintenance devices, like watering tractors or the Ecovacs GOAT A3000 robotic lawn mower. Now, you can have assistance in the winter as well. While advertised functionalities indicate reliability for the Yarbo Snow Blower, and customer feedback supports this, it’s essential to fully comprehend what you’re getting for the price and whether it will be justified.
How the snowblower operates
As a self-governing apparatus, the Yarbo Snow Blower provides autonomous snow-clearing features. In light, 1-inch-deep snow, it can clear up to 6,000 square feet on a single charge. The robot expels the snow it navigates over to one side, effectively removing it from driveways and pathways. While driverless vehicles may encounter difficulties in snowy conditions, the Yarbo Snow Blower functions well on various surfaces like pavement, concrete, and gravel.
Each Yarbo Snow Blower is centered around a base unit that weighs 77 pounds. Each purchase includes a snow blower module with a 2-foot-wide intake, a battery, snow tracks, shovel, and a docking station. The module is designed to be adaptable and compatible with other Yarbo products and accessories, including a snowplow blade and a lawnmower attachment.
The robot operates on a lithium-ion battery and requires about an hour and a half to recharge from 20% to 80% battery capacity. It can project the snow it removes up to 40 feet, ensuring you won’t have large snow piles at the edges of your driveway. Additionally, the Yarbo’s camera aids in detecting obstacles and preventing collisions, but the robot is equipped with protective bumpers just in case. While you can program the Yarbo to clear the snow at specified times, the Yarbo app and weather forecasting functionalities allow the robot to determine the optimal times for snow clearance, making the process more efficient.
What users think about the snowblower
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