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San Francisco Chronicle
12-07-2025
- Health
- San Francisco Chronicle
Beat the heat with these cooling gadgets and wearables
You can only sit in front of the fridge with the door open for so long. As heat waves blast the world like a blow dryer on high, folks are reaching for anything that promises a little personal chill: portable mini fans, cooling neck wraps, high-tech vests and all kinds of heat-beating headwear. Of course, cooling gear helps most when paired with basic and safe strategies against the heat: most importantly hydration, shade and rest. Stay out of extreme heat when possible, and know the signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Yet these wearable wonders and breezy gadgets can offer some relief. They might look quirky, but when the AC struggles and the sidewalk feels like a stovetop, they can start to seem like must-haves. When you're at home Indoors, stay comfy with cool-feel sheets (like those with a silky finish or lightweight fibers), bed fans (where a nozzle inserted into the bed linens pumps a flow of air around you), or a cooling pillow or chill pad, which are filled with a gel that can stay cool for hours. Sleep-product brands include Serta, Sealy, Casper, Pluto and Threshold. The chill pads can work for your own bed and the pets' bed too. There are chillable full-size mattresses (Chilipad, 8Sleep and BedJet get good reviews from The Spruce) and smaller, simple pads (CoolCare and Sharper Image, among others). Outdoor wearables Clare Epstein, an employee safety expert with Vector Solutions in Tampa, Florida, works to reduce heat stress for at-risk employees in industries like construction, aviation and agriculture. She recommends wearables like cooling scarves and evaporative cooling vests. 'By soaking the fabric in cold water at the beginning of the day, the vest slowly cools, and keeps the wearer cool," she says. Clothes made of 'phase change materials,' or PCMs, contain gel capsules or pads that can help moderate body temperatures. advertises a vest that stays under 60 degrees for a few hours, and AlphaCool offers a neck tube that performs similarly. Another feature of the tube, which is made of a polymer material, is that it doesn't get overly chilled, so it's safe for kids to use. Also for kids, there's a line of plush toys from Warmies that includes little critters of the farmyard, ocean, forest and safari that can be popped in the freezer before a trip to the park or playground. Wearable items that incorporate small fans or thermoelectric coolers are also good, Epstein says. And there are vests with tubed reservoirs you can fill with water or electrolytes so you can sip as you go. 'These encourage people to take more water breaks, and stay hydrated,' says Epstein. The wearables range is extensive. Along with cooling buffs, headbands, wristbands, socks and scarves, there are cooling brimmed hats and ball caps. Brands include Mission, Ergodyne, and Sunday Afternoon. If you'd prefer a refreshing breeze, USB-chargeable handheld or wearable fans might do the job. Chill advice Lynn Campbell, co-founder of 10Adventures travel company in Calgary, Alberta, takes a lot of strenuous hiking and cycling trips with her husband, Richard. They've developed some easy hacks for hot days. 'We'll wake up early, so we're done by 10 or 11 a.m., or if we're out on the trails, split the day in two, so we rest by water or in the shade over the hottest part' of the day, she says. Wear light colors and thin, breathable fabrics. And bring an umbrella. 'This is a game-changer,' Campbell says. 'Now we always pack ultralight, compact ones; they're incredible.' Also, pour cool water on your head and back. 'We freeze a few bottles of water so we can pour ice water on us to cool down,' Campbell says. "Putting the bottles under the armpits, in the groin, or on the back of the neck can effectively cool a person down.' And Annita Katee, a contributing writer for Apartment Therapy, has another way to prep your bed on hot nights: 'Pop your sheets into the freezer at least two hours before bedtime, then pull them out right before you hit the sack,' she wrote in a recent post. She folds hers into a zipped plastic bag, flattens it, then sets it on a freezer shelf between ice packs. 'The result? A delightfully cool bed that feels like a refreshing oasis against the heat.' ___
Winnipeg Free Press
12-07-2025
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
Beat the heat with these cooling gadgets and wearables
You can only sit in front of the fridge with the door open for so long. As heat waves blast the world like a blow dryer on high, folks are reaching for anything that promises a little personal chill: portable mini fans, cooling neck wraps, high-tech vests and all kinds of heat-beating headwear. Of course, cooling gear helps most when paired with basic and safe strategies against the heat: most importantly hydration, shade and rest. Stay out of extreme heat when possible, and know the signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Yet these wearable wonders and breezy gadgets can offer some relief. They might look quirky, but when the AC struggles and the sidewalk feels like a stovetop, they can start to seem like must-haves. When you're at home Indoors, stay comfy with cool-feel sheets (like those with a silky finish or lightweight fibers), bed fans (where a nozzle inserted into the bed linens pumps a flow of air around you), or a cooling pillow or chill pad, which are filled with a gel that can stay cool for hours. Sleep-product brands include Serta, Sealy, Casper, Pluto and Threshold. The chill pads can work for your own bed and the pets' bed too. There are chillable full-size mattresses (Chilipad, 8Sleep and BedJet get good reviews from The Spruce) and smaller, simple pads (CoolCare and Sharper Image, among others). Outdoor wearables Clare Epstein, an employee safety expert with Vector Solutions in Tampa, Florida, works to reduce heat stress for at-risk employees in industries like construction, aviation and agriculture. She recommends wearables like cooling scarves and evaporative cooling vests. 'By soaking the fabric in cold water at the beginning of the day, the vest slowly cools, and keeps the wearer cool,' she says. Clothes made of 'phase change materials,' or PCMs, contain gel capsules or pads that can help moderate body temperatures. advertises a vest that stays under 60 degrees for a few hours, and AlphaCool offers a neck tube that performs similarly. Another feature of the tube, which is made of a polymer material, is that it doesn't get overly chilled, so it's safe for kids to use. Also for kids, there's a line of plush toys from Warmies that includes little critters of the farmyard, ocean, forest and safari that can be popped in the freezer before a trip to the park or playground. Wearable items that incorporate small fans or thermoelectric coolers are also good, Epstein says. And there are vests with tubed reservoirs you can fill with water or electrolytes so you can sip as you go. 'These encourage people to take more water breaks, and stay hydrated,' says Epstein. The wearables range is extensive. Along with cooling buffs, headbands, wristbands, socks and scarves, there are cooling brimmed hats and ball caps. Brands include Mission, Ergodyne, and Sunday Afternoon. If you'd prefer a refreshing breeze, USB-chargeable handheld or wearable fans might do the job. Chill advice Lynn Campbell, co-founder of 10Adventures travel company in Calgary, Alberta, takes a lot of strenuous hiking and cycling trips with her husband, Richard. They've developed some easy hacks for hot days. 'We'll wake up early, so we're done by 10 or 11 a.m., or if we're out on the trails, split the day in two, so we rest by water or in the shade over the hottest part' of the day, she says. Wear light colors and thin, breathable fabrics. And bring an umbrella. 'This is a game-changer,' Campbell says. 'Now we always pack ultralight, compact ones; they're incredible.' Also, pour cool water on your head and back. 'We freeze a few bottles of water so we can pour ice water on us to cool down,' Campbell says. 'Putting the bottles under the armpits, in the groin, or on the back of the neck can effectively cool a person down.' And Annita Katee, a contributing writer for Apartment Therapy, has another way to prep your bed on hot nights: Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. 'Pop your sheets into the freezer at least two hours before bedtime, then pull them out right before you hit the sack,' she wrote in a recent post. She folds hers into a zipped plastic bag, flattens it, then sets it on a freezer shelf between ice packs. 'The result? A delightfully cool bed that feels like a refreshing oasis against the heat.' ___ New York-based writer Kim Cook covers design and decor topics regularly for The AP. Follow her on Instagram at @kimcookhome. For more AP Lifestyles stories, go to
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Beat the heat with these cooling gadgets and wearables
You can only sit in front of the fridge with the door open for so long. As heat waves blast the world like a blow dryer on high, folks are reaching for anything that promises a little personal chill: portable mini fans, cooling neck wraps, high-tech vests and all kinds of heat-beating headwear. Of course, cooling gear helps most when paired with basic and safe strategies against the heat: most importantly hydration, shade and rest. Stay out of extreme heat when possible, and know the signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Yet these wearable wonders and breezy gadgets can offer some relief. They might look quirky, but when the AC struggles and the sidewalk feels like a stovetop, they can start to seem like must-haves. When you're at home Indoors, stay comfy with cool-feel sheets (like those with a silky finish or lightweight fibers), bed fans (where a nozzle inserted into the bed linens pumps a flow of air around you), or a cooling pillow or chill pad, which are filled with a gel that can stay cool for hours. Sleep-product brands include Serta, Sealy, Casper, Pluto and Threshold. The chill pads can work for your own bed and the pets' bed too. There are chillable full-size mattresses (Chilipad, 8Sleep and BedJet get good reviews from The Spruce) and smaller, simple pads (CoolCare and Sharper Image, among others). Outdoor wearables Clare Epstein, an employee safety expert with Vector Solutions in Tampa, Florida, works to reduce heat stress for at-risk employees in industries like construction, aviation and agriculture. She recommends wearables like cooling scarves and evaporative cooling vests. 'By soaking the fabric in cold water at the beginning of the day, the vest slowly cools, and keeps the wearer cool," she says. Clothes made of 'phase change materials,' or PCMs, contain gel capsules or pads that can help moderate body temperatures. advertises a vest that stays under 60 degrees for a few hours, and AlphaCool offers a neck tube that performs similarly. Another feature of the tube, which is made of a polymer material, is that it doesn't get overly chilled, so it's safe for kids to use. Also for kids, there's a line of plush toys from Warmies that includes little critters of the farmyard, ocean, forest and safari that can be popped in the freezer before a trip to the park or playground. Wearable items that incorporate small fans or thermoelectric coolers are also good, Epstein says. And there are vests with tubed reservoirs you can fill with water or electrolytes so you can sip as you go. 'These encourage people to take more water breaks, and stay hydrated,' says Epstein. The wearables range is extensive. Along with cooling buffs, headbands, wristbands, socks and scarves, there are cooling brimmed hats and ball caps. Brands include Mission, Ergodyne, and Sunday Afternoon. If you'd prefer a refreshing breeze, USB-chargeable handheld or wearable fans might do the job. Chill advice Lynn Campbell, co-founder of 10Adventures travel company in Calgary, Alberta, takes a lot of strenuous hiking and cycling trips with her husband, Richard. They've developed some easy hacks for hot days. 'We'll wake up early, so we're done by 10 or 11 a.m., or if we're out on the trails, split the day in two, so we rest by water or in the shade over the hottest part' of the day, she says. Wear light colors and thin, breathable fabrics. And bring an umbrella. 'This is a game-changer,' Campbell says. 'Now we always pack ultralight, compact ones; they're incredible.' Also, pour cool water on your head and back. 'We freeze a few bottles of water so we can pour ice water on us to cool down,' Campbell says. "Putting the bottles under the armpits, in the groin, or on the back of the neck can effectively cool a person down.' And Annita Katee, a contributing writer for Apartment Therapy, has another way to prep your bed on hot nights: 'Pop your sheets into the freezer at least two hours before bedtime, then pull them out right before you hit the sack,' she wrote in a recent post. She folds hers into a zipped plastic bag, flattens it, then sets it on a freezer shelf between ice packs. 'The result? A delightfully cool bed that feels like a refreshing oasis against the heat.' ___ New York-based writer Kim Cook covers design and decor topics regularly for The AP. Follow her on Instagram at @kimcookhome. For more AP Lifestyles stories, go to
Mint
09-07-2025
- Mint
I pitted an AI robot massage against the real thing
The spa attendant ticked off a few instructions ahead of my 11:15 a.m. massage. Change into this wetsuit-like outfit. Pull your hair back. Hit the start button whenever you're ready. 'It'll do a couple onboarding things,'' she said, 'and then you're good to go.'' Onboarding? Was this a new-hire orientation or a hotel-spa appointment? I had signed up for a new robot massage at the W Scottsdale. The 241-room hotel in the city's downtown entertainment district recently added Aescape, an AI-powered machine touted as the next generation of massage. Robots aren't new to hotels. You've probably seen them cleaning, delivering room service or gliding through the lobby. Now they're coming for the spa. Aescape (the A is silent) has massage tables at a handful of hotels, including the Four Seasons Resort Orlando in Florida and the Ritz-Carlton Bacara in Santa Barbara, Calif. They are also popping up in other cities at fitness centers and day spas. There are no deepfake concerns with AI massages. You can see the massage table and the giant white arms with fat paws ready to pound your back. The question for spa guests: How does the robot compare to a professional spa massage therapist and is the value there? That's where your trusty travel columnist comes in. I tried both at the same W Hotel Away spa, 24 hours apart. The Aescape massage, 60 minutes, was $120. My 50-minute de-stress massage was $190, $228 with service charge. Both did the trick in their own ways. But let's just say Erik, my real massage therapist, doesn't have to worry about job security. Maybe you've plopped into one of those Sharper Image massage recliners or high-tech massage chairs at an airport lounge or mall. Get those images out of your head. The Aescape robot massage at the W was set up like a traditional spa appointment. There was a treatment room, table and background music. Except there's no massage therapist and you disrobe not to your undies but the tight-fitting loungewear Aescape provides. The company says it's designed to limit things getting bunched up during the automated massage. It also helps the robot read your body during body scans. (Mine told me my left foot was out of position at one point.) Customers start the massage face down on a wide massage table, peering through the traditional face pillow to an iPad-like screen below. 'Welcome, Dawn," mine said, and noted I was there for the 60-minute total back, glutes and hamstring massage. The device is the massage control center. It's where you adjust the pressure, pick the music, move on from a particular body part and heart any robot move you particularly like. I found this all pretty distracting. But that's probably because it was my first time and I was taking mental and voice notes for this column. (The company says there's a way to set it and forget it and simply enjoy the massage. It's called immerse mode.) I'll admit to taking a few deep breaths during the first minutes the robot was pressing deep into my back. Yes, I was thinking about the online comments from naysayers who feared getting crushed. The worries went away after I reduced the pressure level. The robot can't reach two areas that are most enjoyable for me, the head and neck. And, in this particular case, I had a wicked stiff neck that needed attention. So I was more than done with the back section 30 minutes in when the robot turned to my sore glutes and hamstrings. (You don't turn over on these massages, either; the entire time is spent face down.) The glutes-and-hamstring section was the best part of the massage. A bonus: I rocked out to AC/DC's 'Thunderstruck" as the robot worked out the kinks. You don't find that soundtrack diversity during traditional spa massages. I even turned up the pressure past the halfway mark. When it was done, I wouldn't say I was in that dreamy, postmassage haze—but I was more relaxed. Another plus: My hair wasn't a greasy mess and I didn't have to shower off any oils or lotions. I didn't even have to check out because it was prepaid through Aescape. Given the areas it doesn't reach, though, 60 minutes was too long for me, even on the company dime. And I don't think the value proposition is there, either. (Two young guests checking out spa treatments that same day asked if the robot massage was free!) An Aescape spokeswoman says the price includes extras like access to the hotel's popular pool. David Cronin, general manager of the W Scottsdale, said a comparison between traditional massages and a robot massage misses the point. The robot massage isn't designed to replace humans, he says. They are for people who maybe don't want the personal touch of a massage therapist or just need a 30-minute recovery after a hard workout. The shorter massages have been popular, he says, with guests and locals. He's a cyclist and says that's the sweet spot. For an extra 70 bucks plus tip, I'll take all the extras that came with my traditional massage. That one started with robe, slippers and a hand-delivered elixir made with three juices, spearmint tea and prickly pear syrup while I waited for my appointment. The biggest extra, of course: Erik. The hulking message therapist has worked at the W for three years. He won me over as soon as the clock started in treatment-room six. His hands and elbows dug into everything that hurt ('It's going to feel worse before it feels better,'' he warned early on) and the head and foot massages were the treats they always are. I was just a few doors down from the robot's home at the hotel, but miles away, mentally and physically. When time was up, Erik was waiting outside my door with a glass of cold water. The robot only asked me to rate the massage (4 out of 5) and simply told me to remove my belongings from the table to make way for the next guest. Write to Dawn Gilbertson at
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Donald Trump's Trump Steaks Failed After Just 2 Months
Before Donald Trump became president -- back when the thought of running hadn't even crossed his mind and "The Apprentice" excelled in the reality television world -- he briefly headed a company selling one of America's favorite dinners: steaks. Trump Steaks got its welcome to the world back in 2007, selling various steak cuts, hamburger patties, and hot dogs. You couldn't just go into your local Walmart and pick up one of "The World's Greatest Steaks" (the tagline of Trump Steaks). Instead, you could only order through Sharper Image -- a website, store, and catalog ordering service focused on home and lifestyle products -- and the QVC shopping channel. This added an element of exclusivity to Trump's product before even getting into the specifics of the beef's certification and origin. Trump Steaks did have the certifications that generally mark a quality steak. When picking steak at the grocery store, you're looking for Prime grading -- the best you can get in terms of USDA grades of beef. All products from Trump Steaks carried the USDA Prime seal and were supplied by Sysco-owned Buckhead Beef. So with a reputable source and such a great certification, there's no reason why this company wouldn't take off, right? Read more: 7 Costco Meats You Should Buy And 5 You Should Avoid After about two months on the Sharper Image site beginning in May 2007, Trump Steaks had sold virtually no steaks for such a large project. As a result, the steaks were pulled from Sharper Image's catalog and from QVC shortly thereafter. Trump Steaks' availability, which depended directly on Sharper Image, ended up being a hindrance. Without being able to pick up the steaks at local stores, not everyone could easily purchase the product. There also didn't seem to be a lot of desire from existing Sharper Image customers to shell out big bucks for frozen steaks. Additionally, Sharper Image filed for bankruptcy just a year after the Trump Steaks stunt. At the end of the day, Trump Steaks genuinely did not wow its consumers as Donald Trump promised. Looking back on the reviews of Trump Steaks, many people bought a cut and were disappointed by the bland taste and grainy texture. One anonymous consumer even noted, "Nothing in this collection seems to justify the asking price. There are better steaks out there" (via GQ). Even folks that felt the products weren't too bad still thought they were way overpriced. When you're paying at least $100 (plus shipping) for Donald Trump's product, you at least deserve an experience that matches the description. Otherwise, it makes complete sense to toss Trump Steaks to the side and opt for something reliable, like shopping for meats with your local butcher for a better quality steak. For more food and drink goodness, join The Takeout's newsletter. Get taste tests, food & drink news, deals from your favorite chains, recipes, cooking tips, and more! Read the original article on The Takeout.
