Ever since my husband started working at Trader Joe's, our grocery hauls have completely changed. The chain has so many convenient, high-quality, and affordable options that we find ourselves stocking up on the same must-haves week after week.From frozen favorites to pantry staples, here are the Trader Joe's products we can't live without right now.We use Trader Joe's Dutch griddle cakes to make fast-food-style breakfast sandwiches at home. Trader Joe's Dutch griddle cakes can be heated in the microwave. Jennifer Krosche Moreno These fluffy griddle cakes are the secret to our homemade version of popular fast-food breakfast sandwiches.Add an egg and some Trader Joe's chicken breakfast sausage, and you've got a protein-packed breakfast in minutes. The cakes are also good on their own and easy to heat up in a toaster or microwave. Frozen mac and cheese is a staple at our house.Trader Joe's has a few types of frozen mac and cheese. Jennifer Krosche Moreno Forget the boxed stuff you have to cook on the stove Joe's Diner frozen mac and cheese is creamy, rich, and indulgent. It heats up in minutes, making it a perfect lunch for busy days or side dish with dinner. This is one of my favorite things to buy at Trader Joe's.We love getting high-quality meat for a solid price.Trader Joe's has a range of meats for sale. Jennifer Krosche Moreno The centerpiece of most meals my husband cooks is some sort of meat, so we buy it regularly. Fortunately, Trader Joe's offers an impressive selection of it at competitive prices.I've been impressed by the quality of the meat we've gotten at the chain, so we grab beef, poultry, or pork on each shopping trip. Plantain chips are our ultimate anytime snack.Plantain chips are sweet and salty. Jennifer Krosche Moreno Trader Joe's plantain chips deliver when the craving hits for something salty, sweet, and crunchy.Made with just three ingredients plantains, sunflower oil, and salt these chips are my guilt-free, go-to snack. We always keep a few bags on hand for road trips, late-night cravings, and afternoon desk snacks. If you prefer a little kick, try Trader Joe's jerk-style plantain chips.Ice-cream sandwiches are some of our favorite perfectly portioned treats.We love buying Trader Joe's brownie-coffee crisp ice-cream sandwiches. Jennifer Krosche Moreno We always have ice cream in our freezer, and Trader Joe's ice-cream sandwiches are some of our favorite buys. They're the perfect portion-controlled treat for when we're watching TV after dinner. Some of our top picks are the Mini Mint Mouthfuls, brownie-coffee crisp ice-cream sandwiches, and classic Sublime cookie ice-cream sandwiches.We no longer order takeout since Trader Joe's has such good frozen alternatives. Trader Joe's vegetable fried rice can be found in the freezer section. Jennifer Krosche Moreno We've been so impressed by Trader Joe's frozen foods inspired by other countries that we rarely order takeout these days.Trader Joe's soup dumplings and fried rice are some of our favorite buys. Both dishes deliver on flavor and cost far less than if we'd ordered them from a restaurant. For us, these heat-and-eat options are a game changer for busy nights when cooking from scratch isn't an option. A few things from the produce section are always in our cart. We always stop by Trader Joe's produce section. Jennifer Krosche Moreno Eating clean is important to us, so fresh produce is always in our kitchen.We regularly stock up on bananas, berries, and mini carrots for easy snacking for us and our dogs. Plus, the chain's seasonal fruits and vegetables can be great for trying new recipes. My husband also swears by Trader Joe's salad kits for quick, no-fuss lunches. Chocolate milk is a staple in our fridge. Trader Joe's chocolate milk is made with cocoa. Jennifer Krosche Moreno Open our fridge, and you'll always find a half-gallon of Trader Joe's chocolate milk. It's so creamy and delicious.We like to drink it as a coffee alternative, after-dinner sweet treat, or post-workout pick-me-up. We use Goddess dressing as way more than just a salad topper.Trader Joe's Goddess dressing pairs well with veggies. Jennifer Krosche Moreno Trader Joe's Goddess dressing is a staple for us. It's fantastic on salads or as a veggie dip. We also like using it to upgrade pasta or tuna salad.It's one of the most versatile condiments we own and a great value, as a little goes a long way in terms of flavor.Breaded chicken tenderloin breasts are the star of some quick meals in our house. Trader Joe's breaded chicken tenderloin breasts can be found in the frozen section. Jennifer Krosche Moreno Trader Joe's breaded chicken tenderloins are a lifesaver when I'm trying to make a quick, stress-free meal. I like pairing them with Trader Joe's mac and cheese and some veggies for a dinner that's ready in minutes. The tenders are also great for adding protein to salads.Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle shampoo and conditioner have become shower staples.Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle shampoo contains peppermint. Jennifer Krosche Moreno Infused with eucalyptus and other botanicals, Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle products leave our hair feeling soft and clean. I like how they make our hair smell, too.A little bit of these goes a long way, which makes them a great value for us. We regularly grab a bottle from Trader Joe's excellent wine section.We love Trader Joe's budget-friendly wine section that's filled with tasty, high-quality options. Jennifer Krosche Moreno I think Trader Joe's wine selection is unbeatable in terms of value and quality. Whether we need a bottle for a special occasion, a hostess gift, or something to pair with dinner, there's always an affordable option that tastes like it cost way more than it actually did. There are a lot of bottles available for under $20, and many cost less than $10.

Glaringly bright, blue-hued headlights filled my hatchback earlier this year as I drove 80 miles an hour on the highway between San Antonio and Austin. The headlights shone so brightly that their reflection in my rearview mirror burned my eyeballs, causing me to look away from the road and rapidly slow down. The large luxury SUV behind me began riding my tail causing an even more intense glare to engulf my car before aggressively whipping around to pass me.For a moment, all was fine. My eyes adjusted. And I began to pick up speed again only to be visually assaulted by a lifted truck with even brighter headlights and flood lights atop its roof, then an electric vehicle with the whitest lights Id ever seen, and an onslaught of others. Fearing my car being slammed from behind every time I was forced to slow down and look away from the road, I got off the highway and took an alternative route. The headlights felt like theyd become especially hard on my eyes in recent years. Maybe I was just getting old, I thought, or my eyes had been weakened by working on a computer for a living. Then a listener of Voxs Explain It to Me podcast named Reed called and asked, Am I going crazy? Or does every new car on the road have the worlds brightest headlights? Im wondering why this is suddenly happening? And are there any limits? Can people just put whatever they want on the front of their car and blind everyone else? He wasnt alone. Our show has received multiple emails with similar inquiries from listeners and Vox readers. And theres even a subreddit dedicated to the topic, where people complain, make jokes, and work together to find solutions. So in hopes of helping Reed, myself, and the many other upset drivers, Explain It to Me took on Reeds question. There are two ways to answer that question, lighting scientist John Bullough, who leads the Light and Health Research Center at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, told Vox. The first has to do with the color of LED lights, the kind now overwhelmingly used in car headlights. Youve probably noticed that a lot of them look a lot more of a bluish white compared to the yellowish white of halogen headlights, Bullough said, which used to be more common in headlights.The concepts we use to measure light intensity lumen and candela were created by scientists long ago, and dont fully align with how different parts of our vision have different sensitivities to different-colored lights, Bullough said. That means that even though a light meter might say a pair of halogen headlights has the same light intensity as a pair of LED headlights, our eyes will see the bluish LED one as brighter because its more likely to be picked by our peripheral vision, making our brains prioritize it as important or alarming. The second factor, Bullough said, is that the intensity of headlights really has increased over the last 10 to 20 years.If we think about the reason we have headlights, theyre not to create glare theyre to help us see things along the road so that we can avoid collisions, he said. But the result has been that moves to make cars safer for their occupants, like the ever-increasing size of American vehicles and the increasing intensity of headlights, have created a new set of safety problems for anyone outside the car. Whos responsible for the brighter lights? Headlight intensities have actually been increasing in part because of things like the Insurance Institute for Highway Safetys safety ratings, which the insurance company-backed nonprofit doles out to help customers choose which car to buy, Bullough said. Carmakers also use the ratings as a selling point. When IIHS first started evaluating headlights nearly a decade ago, they were giving headlights pretty poor grades in terms of their ability to help us see things at night. Of 95 car models tested by IIHS in 2016, just two earned a good rating.A desire to improve safety ratings, combined with the growing dominance of LEDs in the broader lighting market, has driven carmakers to rapidly brighten their lights.LEDs are a new technology that took over pretty much everything in the lighting world in the last 15 years. Its arguably the biggest change in lighting technology since they first fired up an incandescent light bulb, said Nate Rogers, a freelance writer who wrote an extensive story in 2024 about headlight brightness. LEDs are more energy efficient. They last longer. It was a total sea change in the lighting world when LEDs came out, and over time theyve started to replace pretty much everything, and that includes car headlights.But Rogers also believes the federal highway safety czars, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), share some of the responsibility for why bright LED lights have become the norm on roads. They are the ultimate authority, he said. Any car that is driving on the road has to meet NHTSA standards.Several people I spoke to [from NHTSA] told me that the most complaints from drivers that the NHTSA gets are about car headlights [and] headlight brightness, Rogers said. But NHTSA has not created rules to limit the intensity of bright lights. Nor do federal safety ratings for car models consider the safety of anyone outside the car, as Vox contributor David Zipper explained last year only the safety of a given cars occupants is included. Are brighter lights actually dangerous? During his reporting, Rogers said, he never really found anyone disputing safety concerns tied to headlight glare. While he was often pointed to an IIHS study finding a 19 percent reduction in crashes for cars that have good safety ratings for their headlights, he added, its really hard to track whether or not someone else got into a crash after being blinded by another drivers headlights. Without that strict measurement of how dangerous car headlight brightness is, it seems that NHTSA is a little stuck and a little unsure about how to fix it, he said. Driver safety is just one aspect of the problem. The other has to do with people sharing the roads pedestrians and cyclists. The number of people killed by cars while walking has risen precipitously in the US in the last decade: According to a new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), pedestrian deaths are up 48 percent from 2014. Another GHSA report found that in 2022, approximately three-quarters (77%) of pedestrians killed in fatal crashes were struck at night.Mark Baker, founder and president of the advocacy group the Soft Lights Foundation, which aims to protect people from the harmful effects of LED lighting, thinks headlight intensity, in addition to the increasing prevalence of large cars on American roads, might be linked to the uptick pedestrian deaths at night. He theorizes that drivers blinded by bright headlights at night struggle to see pedestrians, and pedestrians may struggle to see as well. Theres just way too much light now, he said. Nobody can see you.Baker has lobbied Congress to get a hearing on the adverse impacts of LED headlights, and hes tried working with states to pass laws limiting headlight intensity. He has yet to score a victory, but has gotten more than 70,000 people to sign a petition called Ban Blinding Headlights and Save Lives!I have filed two petitions to the federal government: one to set a limit on maximum intensity, Baker said. Right now there is no overall limit on maximum intensity. And then theres no limit on the blue wavelength light. Thats the most debilitating light. It causes glare in your eyes. Its harder to see. Its also hazardous to our eyes. The fight is personal for Baker. I got knocked out of teaching, he said. LED headlights on the road and in his classroom tormented him an experience that eventually led to a diagnosis of mild autism. I couldnt go to work, he said. So I started devoting my time to try and figure out whats wrong with these LEDs. Ive since met other people that have similar reactions so severe that theyre considering thoughts of suicide because its just its torture for those of us that have autism.So if safety ratings incentivize carmakers to equip new cars with bright LED headlights, what do we do? There are a couple of solutions that could help protect drivers from glare, Bullough said. The first has to do where headlights are aimed. The light that comes from low-lights, the lights we drive around with most often, should be pointed down and toward the road, and not into the rear window of cars. But headlights can become misaligned after theyve been replaced, or after accidents.Headlight aim is something that some states, but not most, actually require as part of their safety inspections, Bullough said. So drivers could ask their mechanic once a year to have their headlight aim checked and to adjust it if needed.Headlight aim is often especially poor with older cars that have aftermarket LEDs on their cars, automotive and tech journalist Tim Stevens said. He thinks better enforcement of traffic safety laws could help.A lot of states like Michigan, for example, dont have any kind of annual inspection at all, he said. So it becomes an issue for the police to basically pull someone over if they think that someones headlights are too bright.NHTSA could also create headlight intensity limits, which state and local authorities could then use as a baseline for enforcement, Bullough and Baker pointed out. Certainly what could be done is some upper limits on the overall intensity from low-beam headlights, Bullough said. Stevens said carmakers are introducing new technologies that could help with the problem, like high beam assist or adaptive beam technology, which are supposed to dim headlights instinctively and automatically when the cars are coming up on traffic, pedestrians, and dark corners.Its been available in Europe and in the rest of the world for quite a few years, Steven said. Its only been made legal in the US since 2022, but because it takes a long time for auto manufacturers to bring new technology to market, its still taking some time for them to be able to bring these new headlights to the American market. For now, he added, the tech is only going to be on the newest and highest-end cars. So its going to be a long time before we see this on the majority of cars on the road.There are other tools and techniques that the average person can use to deal with headlight glare, like looking down and to the right while driving when there are bright lights passing you, or picking up a pair of blue light-blocking glasses. But Baker believes meaningful change will only come through civic action. The empowerment comes from listeners contacting the government, contacting me, joining up with the Soft Lights Foundation, and getting involved, he said. Lets fix this systemic problem.Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:

American illustrator and painter Robert McGinnis has died at 99 years old, per Variety. A posting from the obituary site Legacy reveals he passed away on March 10. Primarily, McGinnis is best known for creating the poster art to various James Bond films over the decades. Beginning with 1965sThunderball,hed go on to create art for You Only Live Twice, Diamonds Are Forever, On Her Majestys Secret Service, Live and Let Die,and the 1967 parody version ofCasino Royale. His film career extends beyond the spy franchise: in total, he did over 40 movie posters, such as Breakfast at Tiffanys(his debut assignment) Barbarellaand threeMatt Helmfilms. As he became more popular, the McGinnis Woman became a popular shorthand to describe the figure of bikini-clad women that were often paired with chiseled men of that era. Born February 3, 1926, McGinnis is described by Legacy as one of the most prolific illustrators of the 20th century. Starting out in his career, he apprenticed at Walt Disney Studios and later took a job at Dell Publishing. There, he drew covers for paperback novels for various genres, from detective fiction to horror and fantasy. His work could also be seen in magazines such as National Geographic, TIME, and Readers Digest. In 2016, he started drawing retro covers for reissued Neil Gaiman books. McGinnis is survived by his three children and their individual families. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Hellest Cabin / Helen & HardSave this picture! Sindre EllingsenArchitects: Helen & HardAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:80 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2023 PhotographsPhotographs:Sindre EllingsenMore SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Hytte Hellest is located at one of Norway's most beautiful sandy beaches on the edge of gently rolling, grass-covered sand dunes. The goal was to carefully integrate the vacation home into the landscape so that it feels like a natural part and extension of the dunes. At the same time, the residents should feel as if they are living in close contact with nature, nestled in the dunes, with a spectacular panoramic view of the open sea.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The house appears like a dune that opens towards the sea, with the rear part embedded into the landscape. The grassy landscape extends seamlessly over the roof. A three-part, continuous panoramic window offers a 180-degree view directly towards the open sea and the expansive beaches to the east and west of the property.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The vacation home gives a sense of spaciousness. Glass walls and windows divide the space into different zones, creating a continuous feeling of openness despite its modest size. The visible wooden structure divides the living space into different areas. A parametrically shaped, wave-like ceiling made of oak slats spans between the beams. It mirrors the motif of ocean waves and softly fades out at the front and back of the house. The floor and rear walls, which meet the ground, are made of visible concrete, carefully interwoven with the dominant wooden structure. The entire interior and all furniture are custom-made from oak wood and made specifically for this space.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Byberg, NorwayLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeHelen & HardOfficeMaterialsWoodGlassMaterials and TagsPublished on April 05, 2025Cite: "Hellest Cabin / Helen & Hard" 05 Apr 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027891/hellesto-cabin-helen-and-hard&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Scanners are slow. Printers are dramatic. And neither is easy to use when youre in a rush. So we, the StackCommerce deals team, tested an app that claims to do it allscanning, signing, saving, and even faxing documentsright from your phone.After one week, we forgot any other methods existed. The SwiftScan document scanner and PDF editor app swept us off our feet. Plus, this weekend only, you can save an extra $18 on a lifetime subscription to the iOS and Android apps with code TAKE30 at checkout, dropping the price from $59.99 to $41.99.We scanned everything from receipts to handwritten notes, and the app delivered crisp, professional-looking PDFs each time. The auto-capture feature was a game-changerjust point your smartphone camera at the page, and SwiftScan handles the rest, automatically cropping and optimizing the image.The mobile PDF editing tools were another highlight. Being able to annotate, sign, and even redact documents right on our phones saved us so much time. We found ourselves using it for everything from signing contracts on the go to highlighting key points in meeting notes.And when it came to sharing, the one-tap export to email and cloud services like Google Drive and Dropbox made sending files a breeze. We even tried the fax feature, and it worked flawlessly for times when we needed an old-school sharing method.But what really made SwiftScan indispensable was the OCR technology. Its already a major convenience digitizing paper documents and receipts, but being able to search for a specific date, word, or passage can help you stay even more organized.You have less than 48 hours left to get a SwiftScan lifetime subscription for $41.99 with code TAKE30 at checkout (reg. $59.99).StackSocial prices subject to change.SwiftScan VIP: Lifetime SubscriptionSee DealWhat makes this deal specialIn a world where most productivity tools keep moving to the cloud, many people are still stuck juggling clunky office equipment just to send a quick scan. The SwiftScan app for iOS and Android offers a way outwith a tool that brings scanning, editing, and even faxing into the 21st century. And unlike most modern apps that charge monthly or yearly fees, this deal gives you lifetime access for a one-time payment.

A smart, stylish and affordable sonic toothbrush with impressive battery life and advanced features.

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Etienne M. discussed his Calm Lake environment, showing how he used Maxtree and SpeedTree to create realistic vegetation and worked on composition to make the dense forest.Read the interview: https://80.lv/articles/breakdown-calm-lake-that-looks-like-oil-painting/

RTHumanoid HistoryBLADE RUNNER concept art by Syd Mead.

Welcome home!SpaceX:The hatch is open and the crew will now begin their unassisted exit from Dragon in support of a research study