When you change the air filter in your furnace, you expect the old one to be dirty. But let’s say that when you go to make your regularly scheduled switch, you find that your old filter isn’t just a little grimy — it’s completely filthy. And it’s not as though you left more time between filter changes, so it somehow ended up getting this dirty in a relatively short period of time.

Here are a few of the reasons why your HVAC filter got so dirty so fast, and what you can do to prevent it from happening again.

Your home is extra dusty

Whether you’ve deep-cleaned a room or have been in the process of a renovation project, doing anything to disturb (or create new) dust can send more of it into the air, and then, into your furnace air filter.

Solution : Try vacuuming more often. The dust and dirt that the vacuum sucks up means less will make it to the filer.

Your HVAC system is on the wrong setting

Most thermostats have two fan settings : “On” and “auto.” When it’s on “auto,” the fan only blows when your HVAC system is actively heating or cooling your home. But if you switch to the “on” setting, it’s constantly running, meaning that air is continuously passing through the filter, giving it more of a chance of getting dirty.

Solution : Switching your thermostat to the “auto” setting will extend its life of the filter.

The filter has a high MERV rating

Some high-performing furnace filters have the ability to trap substantially more indoor air contaminants than your run-of-the-mill filter. Some may even offer the protection of a HEPA filter. But because it traps so much of what’s in the air (which is what you want it to do), these filters get dirty very quickly.

Solution : Pay attention to the MERV rating when buying a new filter , and be aware that the more protection one offers, the faster it’ll be coated in grime.

Pet hair and dander

Did you get a new pet? Or did an existing pet start shedding more than usual? Both can cause your furnace filter to fill up faster than usual.

Solution : Brush your pet (outdoors) on a more regular basis, and increase the number of times you vacuum in a week.

The post How to Stop Your HVAC Filter From Getting So Dirty So Fast appeared first on Lifehacker Australia .

The election of the Albanese Labor government brings an opportunity to end one of the most detrimental elements of Australian refugee law and policy in the past decade: the use of temporary visas. Temporary protection has been the only option available for asylum seekers who arrived by boat a decade ago and were recognised as refugees. Known as the “legacy caseload”, these people are caught in a system of law and policy that keeps them in a state of perpetual limbo. As the new government committed to end temporary protection, we have just published a policy brief with the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law outlining how this could be achieved. Our report sets out practical reforms that can be implemented relatively simply, within existing legislative provisions and with only minimal changes to policy and regulations. The 17 recommendations were produced in consultation with refugees and asylum seekers living on temporary protection visas and bridging visas. We also consulted civil society, including former and current temporary protection visa holders and legal groups working with refugees. The impact of temporary protection and the fast-track system on refugees and asylum seekers has left many depressed and suicidal . Expectations from those living on temporary visas and the wider refugee advocates are high and there is significant apprehension about the transition. The new government understands it will need to approach reforms carefully. Our recommendations are accompanied by a trauma-informed strategy to help reduce mental distress, deterioration and retraumatisation of asylum seekers, while also increasing community engagement.

The current system is damaging

Australia’s temporary protection system is unfair, expensive, impractical and inconsistent with our international human rights obligations. In 2014, the Coalition government reintroduced a Howard-era three-year Temporary Protection Visa (TPV) and a five-year Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV) for the more than 30,000 people who arrived by boat between August 13 2012 and January 1 2014. However, unlike the earlier Howard policy, the temporary visas this time provided no realistic prospect of applying for permanent protection. The number of people in this “legacy caseload” as of May 2022 is 31,256. They come from many countries. The largest number are from Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The majority – around 19,500 people – have been found to be refugees and have been granted TPV and SHEV. The 10,000 who have been refused a visa were assessed through a “fast-track” process that has been neither fair nor fast . People who have been refused have been living in the Australian community for ten years or more while awaiting the outcome of appeals. Some ( such as the Nadeselingham family ) are working or have had children in Australia. There are also many asylum seekers from Afghanistan who have been refused visas but who cannot return due to the reemergence of the Taliban in August 2021. In other words, some of those refused visas may well be refugees or have other ties to the Australian community. However, the current legal system does not allow them to apply for other visas without going through cumbersome, expensive appeals and ministerial intervention processes. People who hold TPVs and SHEVs are allowed to work but not to reunite with family or travel freely overseas. Others live on precarious short-term bridging visas, some without the right to work. Many are without access to income support. In either situation, the uncertainty is damaging people’s mental health and well-being.

Key recommendations

The focus of the policy brief was to set out reforms either within the current legislative and policy framework, or with minimal changes. This means changes can occur within a relatively short time frame. Key recommendations include:

• refugees on TPVs and SHEVs should be moved onto permanent visas known as Resolution of Status visas. People who have not yet been assessed or who have previously been refused protection should also be able to apply for a permanent visa that does not require another assessment of their protection claims
• restrictions on travel for TPV and SHEV holders should be removed, pending the grant of a permanent visa and includes specific recommendations in relation to travel documents. Travel is essential for re-establishing links to separated family
• family reunion, particularly partners and children, should be prioritised. Granting people permanent visas allows them to begin the process of family reunion through the family or humanitarian programs
• the government should establish a specialised team in the Department of Home Affairs to work closely with migration agents, lawyers and refugee communities. This group could identify other options for allowing reunification of close relatives and children who, under current law, may not fall within the definition of “member of a family unit”. Families have been separated for at least 10 years; many left children at home who have now reached ages where they will no longer be considered dependent.

In 2014, the new minister for immigration, citizenship and multicultural affairs Andrew Giles said

Labor has a longstanding policy of opposing TPVs, for good reason. They do not provide a sustainable solution for refugees. The uncertainty exacerbates real mental health issues and denies people the capacity to live full lives. As well as significant international law concerns with these provisions, they put people in limbo. There is no deterrence value here, even if you accept that to be a valid policy objective – they only place vulnerable people in a place of uncertainty.

He now has significant power to put those words into action.

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Mary Anne Kenny , Associate Professor, School of Law, Murdoch University ; Ali Reza Yunespour , Academic Internships Coordinator, The University of Melbourne ; Carol Grech , Professor, University of South Australia , and Nicholas Procter , Professor and Chair: Mental Health Nursing, University of South Australia This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article .

The post How the Government Could Fix Australia’s Unfair Temporary Visa System appeared first on Lifehacker Australia .

Travelling via any means is bonkers right now , so you may not be thinking about booking a trip anytime soon. Or maybe you are revenge travelling and booking all of the trips — either way, if you have e-credits or vouchers from trips that were cancelled during the pandemic, you should probably use them soon or find out how to save, extend, or get credit for them before they expire. As the Washington Post points out , travel companies were quick to hand out vouchers — rather than issue refunds, even when required to do so — for cancellations on the assumption that customers wouldn’t actually use them before they expired. And that’s exactly what’s happening. If you can’t use your vouchers or credits in the near future, here are a few ways to avoid losing them.

Check the status and policies for your vouchers

First, gather all the information. Log into your travel accounts and note what vouchers or credits you have, how much they’re worth, when they expire, and any policies or limitations for redemption.

Ask for a refund instead

Customers and company representatives who spoke to the Post reported that vouchers can often be redeemed for a full refund, which airlines, cruise lines, and other travel operators may be required to offer based on their terms and conditions if they cancelled your trip with no alternative. Of course, this may not apply if you cancelled. But it doesn’t hurt to ask — firmly.

Use only part of your expiring credit

If you have an e-credit for a certain dollar amount that’s set to expire, you may be able to keep it active by spending part of the money on a super cheap itinerary (like a one-way flight) and saving the rest for the future. Another hack: book travel using points or e-credits and cancel it within the 24-hour no-penalty window, which re-deposits the credit to your account and resets the expiration date. Note that there may be fees or restrictions for this.

Prevent general travel points from expiring

Another thing to check is whether the frequent flyer miles or travel points (and other benefits) you’ve accumulated over time are set to expire soon. Many rewards programs suspended mileage expiration and extended existing premium membership benefits, but those limitations are starting to kick in once again. For example, American Airlines AAdvantage miles expire after 24 months of inactivity, meaning no earning or spending on your account. American paused mileage expiration during the pandemic but reinstated the rule on April 1. To keep your account alive , you only need to make one transaction, which could include a credit card charge, redemption for a cheap flight or other travel, or a cash/mileage donation to charity.

Plan that trip anyway

Depending on the type of voucher you have, you may get pretty good bang for your buck when booking right now. For example, a cruise line may charge less than the total of your original credit, so you can cover more of your cost. If you want to get away, feel safe doing so, and have some flexibility, this may be better than letting your money go to waste.

The post Don’t Let Your Pandemic Travel Credits Go to Waste appeared first on Lifehacker Australia .

Lift heavy to build muscle: that’s advice you’ve probably seen in a million places. But how heavy is “heavy,” and how do you know if your workout qualifies?

There’s no specific number of pounds that will constitute “heavy” for everyone. What’s heavy for a teenage girl picking up a dumbbell for the first time will be a lot less than what’s heavy for a pro strongman. (If you do want to compare your lifts to other people, sites like Symmetric Strength can show where you stand — but please consider these comps as just for fun.)

Training “heavy” is shorthand for resistance training that is in a low-rep range and gets heavier over time. This is the type of training that gets you the biggest gains in strength and muscle size.

Training this way is not the only way to build muscle, but it’s a very effective one. So let’s look at what does and doesn’t count as training heavy.

How many reps are you doing?

Training for strength usually has you doing 1-5 reps in each set. Training for hypertrophy (bigger muscles) is often in the 8-12 range.

The truth is there isn’t much difference in results between the two; getting stronger gives you bigger muscles and getting bigger muscles makes you stronger. I’d say that as long as you’re doing 12 reps or fewer, you’re in an appropriate range to say you are training heavy.

Once you’re doing much more than that — 15, 20, 50 reps — you’re training your muscular endurance more than strength. You can build some strength this way, but it doesn’t really count as training heavy.

How hard does the set feel?

OK, let’s say you’re doing squats in sets of 8. That could count, but only if you’re loading the squats enough that it’s hard to do 10 of them.

For some exercises and some goals, you might be aiming for failure — literally, going until you can’t do another rep. An example would be if you’re doing 8 bicep curls and couldn’t manage a ninth.

But you can also get close to failure without quite going there. For example, if you’re doing squats, a set of 8 might be done at a weight that you could squeeze out 10 or 11 reps of if you really pushed yourself. That still counts as heavy training.

What doesn’t count is if you’re doing eight reps of goblet squats with a light dumbbell because it’s the only dumbbell you have, or because you’re intimidated about going up in weight. Heavy lifting is when you’re doing the appropriate rep range with a weight that is challenging within that range .

Are you increasing the weight over time?

The only way to keep the lift challenging as you get stronger is to keep increasing the weight.

To use our goblet squat example, maybe squatting with a 9 kg dumbbell was challenging the first time you tried it. But a week or two later, you can probably do the same eight reps with a 11 kg dumbbell. Before long, it may make more sense to do front squats with a barbell, to make it easier to add more weight. You’re lifting heavy.

But if you kept doing the same sets of 8 squats with the same 9 kg dumbbell, you’re not efficiently challenging yourself to build muscle or strength — you’re just doing an exercise that keeps getting easier. That’s still good for you, because it’s still exercise, but it no longer fits the description of lifting heavy.

Are you resting between sets?

This is where a lot of people go wrong, especially if they’re doing home workouts or are concerned about calorie burn during a workout. We don’t lift heavy for the calorie burn during the workout; we lift heavy to build muscle, and save the cardio for another day.

If you’re constantly working to keep your heart rate up, with little to no time to rest between exercises, you aren’t training heavy. More likely, you’re doing circuit training. Crossfit “metcon” WODs often fall into this category, as do many home workout videos that bill themselves as high-intensity interval training (HIIT). They’re usually not real HIIT, but that’s a rant for another time.

If you aren’t resting, that means you aren’t approaching each set of lifts when you’re fresh. Reducing rest times makes the workouts feel harder, but it also means you’ll be working with less weight. That means they usually don’t fit our definition. They might still help you build strength or muscle size, but not nearly as efficiently as lifting heavy.

If you take a few minutes’ rest between exercises, then you’re lifting heavy. A typical range would be 2-4 minutes between exercises that work smaller or fewer muscles (like curls or presses) and 3-5 minutes or more between sets of big compound lifts (like squats or deadlifts). With an appropriate rest time, you’ll be able to properly lift heavy.

The post What Does It Mean to Lift ‘Heavy’? appeared first on Lifehacker Australia .

Microsoft is testing a new “Kids Mode” for Edge that makes the browser safer for younger users with just a few clicks.

Edge already has several family features, but those settings must be manually set up and apply to all users in a family group. Kids Mode, however, can be turned on or off by the parents and comes with heightened security and content filters built-in, including blocked sites, Bing Safe Search, and family-friendly browser themes.

Kids Mode is still in development, but you can try it out early in the latest Edge Canary build. It will come to the developer build next, then should be available in the stable build sometime in the future. If you download Edge Canary for Kids mode, keep in mind it will install as a separate version of Edge — so if you’re trying to keep your kids away from certain content, you’ll need to make sure they’re using Edge Canary instead of the normal version. It’s also important to note that Edge Canary is full of other unfinished features and settings, which could cause occasional crashes and other errors.

How to enable Kids Mode

Whether you test Edge’s Kids Mode out early or wait for it to come to a more stable version, turning it on is easy: Open the browser, then click the Profile image in the upper-right, and select “Kids Mode.”

With Kids Mode on, Edge will prevent access to a list of pre-determined websites, which can be modified by going to Settings > Family S afety . This menu also includes activity reports and lets you manage all the other profiles and devices used by your family. Bing will also be permanently set to ‘Safe Search’ when the browser is in Kids Mode.

Finally, Kids Mode can be customised with its own kid-friendly browser themes — just click the settings icon from a new tab and click “Custom, ” and then “Manage” under “Background Image.”

[ The Verge ]

The post How to Enable Microsoft Edge’s New ‘Kids Mode’ appeared first on Lifehacker Australia .

Warning: This article deals with the topic of sexual assault and may be triggering to some. If you or someone you love is in need of support, you can reach out to the team at 1800 RESPECT .

Four-part HBO original documentary series Allen v. Farrow is turning a lot of heads at the moment. The production, which is the work of award-winning investigative filmmakers Kirby Dick & Amy Ziering and Amy Herdy, takes a deep look into one of Hollywood’s most notorious stories.

What’s the documentary series about?

In a statement on the news, Binge writes that the documentary covers:

“The accusation of sexual abuse against Woody Allen involving Dylan, his then seven-year-old daughter with Mia Farrow; their subsequent custody trial, the revelation of Allen’s relationship with Farrow’s daughter, Soon-Yi; and the controversial aftermath in the years that followed.”

As the Sydney Morning Herald reports, Allen has long denied the claims and was not charged with any crimes, however, these events have followed the family since.

Where can I watch Allen v Farrow?

Foxtel and Binge are set to fast track the series of episodes to Australian televisions on Monday, February 22nd. If you don’t have a Binge subscription, you can sign up for the streaming service here .

Where to find the Allen v Farrow trailer?

The series is expected to be a raw and likely quite affecting look into a decades-long story, and the media coverage that surrounded it. HBO has released a trailer for the documentary that you can check out below:

While it’s yet to be seen by audiences world-wide, it’s expected this documentary series will gain a lot of attention once it has been released. The production is currently sitting at an 85 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and The Sydney Morning Herald has published an insightful piece on what to expect.

So, mark your calendars, friends. This is one to keep an eye out for.

The post How to Watch the ‘Allen v. Farrow’ Documentary Series in Australia appeared first on Lifehacker Australia .

Do you need a new pair of headphones and love a bargain? Well, good news, because Amazon are running a sale on Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless Headphones , discounting them by an impressive 50% off their RRP – from $499, down to $249.

There’s one catch: you have to be a Prime member to get this deal. However, Amazon does offer a free 30 day trial for Prime, so you can always sign up, buy the headphones and then give your subscription the flick afterwards.

Released back in April of last year, Sennheiser’s Momentums are lightweight wireless earbuds with active noise cancelling and passive noise isolation. As far as in-ear headphones go, they’re one one of the best performing products on the market.

You can get 7 hours of playback from Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless earbuds, which can be extended to a total of 28 hours via the charging case. The earbuds offer touchpad controls and a range of customisable playback options that are available via Sennheiser’s Smart Control app.

Dropping almost $500 on any pair of earbuds can feel a bit daunting, but at half off, this is an offer you can’t refuse.

This article has been updated since its original publication.

Image: Sennheiser

Sennheiser’s high end Momentum noise cancelling wireless headphones are also on sale for Prime members . These headphones are currently going for $399, down from $599 – so you’ll save $200 off the RRP.

These over ear Momentum are one of the best sounding headphones currently available on the market. If you consider yourself an audiophile, you won’t be disappointed by these. The quality and clarity of audio playback is incredible, with well performing active noise cancellation to boot. They’re quick to pair via Bluetooth, and maintain a strong connection.

If the Momentums are a bit out of your price range and earbuds aren’t your thing, you can also pick up a pair of Sennheiser’s 450BT noise cancelling wireless headphones for $179, down from $299. The Sennheiser’s 450BT are solid mid-level headphones, and a good bargain for the price. Again, this deal is only available if you’re a Prime member .

• Sennheiser PXC 550 II wireless headphones – now $318 (down from $549)
• Sennheiser 350BT Wireless Headphones – now $149 (down from $199)
• Sennheiser True Wireless Headphones CX 400BT – now $148 (down from $299)
• Sennheiser Sweat and Splash Resistant CX Sport Headphones – $105 (down from $199)

There’s also a few deals going for the range of EPOS/Sennheiser gaming headsets. Both the GSP 350 and GSP 550 gaming headsets are on sale. The 350 has had its price slashed by $120 , and is now going for a steal at $99, while the 550 has been reduced by a huge $200 down to $199. Both of these premium headsets come with a Dolby 7.1 surround sound feature, and connect to your PC via USB.

The GSP 601 gaming headset is on sale for $229, so you can save $90 off the RRP. This headset has some impressive noise isolation, and uses a 3.5mm input jack, so you can connect it to your console (including the PS5 and Xbox Series X).

Editor’s note: Descriptions and features are as taken from manufacturer/seller claims and user reviews on Amazon.

The post Sennheiser’s Momentum Headphones Are 50% off Today appeared first on Lifehacker Australia .

Sex can, at times, be an awkward area for people. That’s normal, and nothing to be embarrassed about. If there are areas you’re curious about but haven’t ever felt brave enough to try – sex toys for example – it can feel daunting at first.

But fear less, folks. Because here at Lifehacker, we want to clue you up with all the tools you need to learn about new areas in a safe and comfortable setting.

Today, I want to chat about dirty talk. Of all the sex topic areas, this can be one of the most intimidating for people because well, you’re using your words.

So, to offer a bit of a soft landing for people diving into this area for the first time I sought out the expertise of Psychosexual and Relationship Therapist, Christine Rafe of Good Vibes Clinic .

Here are her tips on mastering dirty talk.

It doesn’t need to be reserved for the bedroom:

Rafe explained to me that you can experiment using dirty talk in all kinds of settings. It doesn’t need to be when you’re in the bedroom, and it also doesn’t need to be reserved for when you’re in the middle of a sexual encounter.

“Dirty talk is not just for when you’re in the act, you can dirty talk – whether in person or not – at any time [with consent]. Dirty talk that happens long before and long after a sexual encounter helps to fuel the desire for future encounters with that person,” she said.

Make your dirty talk personal:

One of the easiest ways to explore dirty talk, Rafe shared, is by expressing what you like. It’s a great way to build up communication around sex, and it’s also going to sound pretty damn hot.

“Dirty talk is even sexier if it’s about something that you actually know about your own body or experience,” she said.

“Knowing about your own pleasure and arousal, and then verbalising this to your sexual partner will increase your enjoyment and educate them on your unique sexual pleasure.”

Examples like “I love it when” or “it makes me feel X when you Y” are good jumping-off points.

Practise makes perfect – yes, even with dirty talk:

The only way to get better at something is by practising, people. Rafe told me:

“As with any assertive sexual communication, I always encourage my clients to identify things they would like to say, and practice saying them alone – or with a trusted friend or therapist – outside of the moment.

“Talking dirty, particularly for beginners, can feel awkward and clunky because we are not socialised in a world where expressing our sexual desires is learnt or encouraged. By practising, we can desensitise ourselves to any deep-seated shame, embarrassment or awkwardness we associate with the words or actions by repeating the phrase 10 (or more) times. Get comfortable saying things on your own first, and it will come across even more natural in the moment.”

Finally, don’t do anything you’re not into:

Just because you’re experimenting sexually doesn’t mean you need to feel uncomfortable. Remember, you’re there to have a good time.

On this, Rafe stressed that mutual respect has to be present at all times.

“You may have a sexual partner who really wants you to dirty talk as they enjoy it,” she said.

“That’s great, but if you really don’t feel comfortable doing it, and you don’t have an interest in exploring it, kindly express this to the sexual partner. We do not need to be interested in the same things as those we are currently sleeping with. If you don’t feel comfortable but you want to try, use the other tips I’ve mentioned to develop your own dirty language, then put them into practice and see how you go!”

In the end, with any sexual exploration, the name of the game is your enjoyment. So, keep these tips in mind and see how they work for you. Happy chatting!

The post An Expert’s Guide to Mastering Dirty Talk appeared first on Lifehacker Australia .