Asking Eric: Cheating ex-husband plays the ‘victim'
Dear Eric: I left my 32-year marriage more than 20 years ago, due to my ex-husband's extramarital affairs. We have four adult children who I virtually raised alone as he was never available to them physically or emotionally.
I wanted the children to have a good relationship with their father as I treasured my relationship with my parents. I tried to protect the children from what was happening leading up to our divorce. I had counseling leading up to leaving him and after, and it's taken me a long time to be at peace.
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CNET
19 minutes ago
- CNET
Please Keep Your Portable AC Unit Away From Extension Cords. An Electrician Explains
With the weather heating up, the time has officially come to install air conditioning units. But before you start cooling down your home, there's one safety tip to keep in mind: Never plug your air conditioner into an extension cord or power strip. It might seem like a harmless shortcut, especially if outlets are limited, but doing so creates a safety hazard, according to Paul Martinez, owner of Electrified NYC in Brooklyn. "No extension cords whatsoever," Martinez says for appliances that use a heating element and for devices like AC units that run constantly. If you're not sure which devices and appliances shouldn't be plugged into extension cords, here are seven of the most important ones to remember. Read more: Best Surge Protector 1. Air fryers Air fryers are great for quickly cooking and warming food, including full meals and side dishes, but it's not a good idea to attach them to extension cords or power strips. Although they range in wattage based on size, large air fryers can draw up to 2,000 watts, making them a major fire hazard if they're attached to an extension cord. If you don't have counter space to keep your air fryer out full time, it's best to only pull it out when needed and plug it into a dedicated wall outlet every time. 2. Microwaves Many homes have a built-in microwave but not everyone has this feature. If you have to find a place to connect yours in your kitchen, this is another heavy-duty appliance that should live on its own dedicated circuit because of its high wattage. 3. Extension cords Plugging extension cords into other extension cords is another huge "no" in the electrical world. This practice called "daisy chaining" can lead to the circuit overheating, which would cause the cords to overheat and lead to a fire. Extension cords should never be plugged in to each other.4. Space heaters Electric space heaters have long been known to be a major cause of fires. The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated that between 2017 and 2019, portable space heaters were involved in 1,700 fires per year, with some of those fires resulting in deaths. "Let's say you connect (an extension cord) to a floor heater," Martinez says, "the plug melts and it starts a fire. That's why you can't use extension cords and/or power strips for any appliances, because they should be used for electronics only." Read more: Never Put a Space Heater in These 9 Places 5. Toasters and toaster ovens Although toasters are smaller kitchen appliances, they use a lot of energy and can also pose a fire threat if connected to an extension cord. Toaster ovens need even more power to operate with wattage ranging from 1,200 to 1,400 watts. "A lot of people don't have knowledge of extension cords," says Martinez. "If extension cords are 14-gauge and you're running an appliance with a heating element, (like) a toaster oven, microwave or dishwasher, a 14-gauge will not hold the amperage and can burn up the extension cord. And that's what causes fires in New York City." Fourteen-gauge and 12-gauge extension cords are some of the most common extension cords. A 14-gauge cord can handle up to 1,800 watts, or 15 amps, the same as a standard wall outlet in the US. But Martinez recommends any appliance that uses more than 1,500 watts should always be on a dedicated circuit.6. Refrigerators While refrigerators use less power -- about 300 to 800 watts -- than some other kitchen appliances, they're still not recommended for extension cord use because they are constantly running. Even if an extension cord doesn't cause a fire when attached to a fridge, there's a possibility the connection could cause the fridge to malfunction. While they are not as high-powered as the other kitchen devices, you should still avoid plugging refrigerators into extension cords.7. Air conditioning units AC units use a lot of power to keep your home cool so they need to be plugged into a wall outlet as well. Martinez also stresses the importance of purchasing the correct AC unit for your space. You can use an online BTU calculator to calculate the type you will need to effectively cool your space. "People just buy a 5,000 BTU air conditioner, because it's $99 on sale, and they think it's going to cool off (their home) and it does not," according to Martinez. AC units "are supposed to cycle on and off, so they don't pull that much energy. So if you undersize it, the compressor is going to work 10 times harder." This can result in your home never properly cooling off, a higher electricity bill and if the unit is connected to an extension cord, possibly a fire. It is important to determine what size air conditioner unit you need based on the size of the area you are trying to cool off. James Martin/CNET The bottom line on extension cords Martinez says the number one thing to keep in mind regarding extension cords is to never use them with any "appliances whatsoever." He says you should also remember to only pair power strips with electronics and that your average home extension cords shouldn't be used for anything above 15 amps (1,800 watts), regardless of where or how the device operates. For more home tips, here is the secret ingredient needed to clean a cast iron and expert tips on how to stop porch pirates.
CNET
23 minutes ago
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My Favorite Budget-Friendly Air Fryer Snack Is My Guilty Pleasure
Chickpeas are having a moment -- at least in my household. To me, they're like the French fry in the sense that they're delicious no matter how you cook them. However, I've found one appliance that never lets me down when it comes to making my favorite high-protein snack: the air fryer. When cooked correctly, chickpeas are crispy, savory and endlessly customizable. An air fryer can transform ordinary chickpeas into a golden, crunchy snack in under 15 minutes. But there's one trick you have to know before you even think about hitting that air fryer button: Make sure the chickpeas are bone dry. After rinsing and draining the chickpeas, pop them in a salad spinner and give them a good spin until they look as dry as possible. If you don't have a spinner, you can spread them out on a pan and use paper towels to soak up the moisture, then allow them to air dry for a few minutes. Once they're dry, it's time to cook them up. Best of all, a can of chickpeas can be purchased for less than a dollar. That, along with a drizzle of olive oil and some spices is all you need for this fast, protein-packed snack. Here's everything how to make it. Read more: Meal Plan Your Way to Plenty of Protein With This Helpful Visual Guide Ingredients: 1 can chickpeas/garbanzo beans 1 tbsp olive oil 1/4 tsp onion powder 1/4 tsp paprika 1/4 tsp cumin 1/8 tsp harissa A dash garlic powder, salt and pepper How to make air fryer chickpeas: Step 1: Drain and rinse the chickpeas, then use a salad spinner as described above to dry them. Step 2: Place the dried chickpeas in a medium-sized bowl and toss them with olive oil, then your spices, until they're fully coated and have a slightly red tint. You can use any variation of spices that you like but you will want to ensure your chickpeas are fully coated before cooking them. Corin Cesaric/CNET Step 3: Place the prepared chickpeas in a parchment-lined air fryer in a single layer. Placing the chickpeas in the air fryer in a single layer ensures that they will crisp evenly. Corin Cesaric/CNET Step 4: Cook them at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes or until they are golden brown, shaking the air fryer basket halfway through the cooking time. After 10 minutes, check to ensure they are your desired crispiness. If you want them crispier, place them back in the air fryer for 2 minutes at a time. Your chickpeas should have a nice crunch to them when they are done cooking. Corin Cesaric/CNET Step 5: When the chickpeas are done cooking, serve them by themselves as a snack, on a salad or with a roasted vegetable on the side. I used this batch of air fryer chickpeas as a topper for a kale salad. The chickpeas added just the right amount of crunch. Corin Cesaric/CNET More easy air fryer recipes to try
News24
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NSFAS in R15.2bn reconciliation with universities, TVET colleges
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