Tim Barribeau

2 months ago | wsj.com | Tim Barribeau

You may have had that experience at a party with a bunch of new people who suddenly all want to play — and next thing you know you’re trying to remember the names of people you met five minutes ago and figure out a social structure that’s clearly been established between them all for years. Luckily, board games have come a long, long way from social-deduction games like Werewolf, the fad and the cringey-in-retrospect obsession with .

Jun 28, 2024 | wsj.com | Tim Barribeau |Nick Guy

Whether you read a book a month or plow through three in a week, an ebook reader is a handy companion. The devices can store thousands of books, including library loans. Their battery life is measured in weeks, not days. They're as easy to read in bright sunlight as they are in bed at 2 a.m. And since most models are now water resistant, they'll survive a trip to the beach, too. Choosing the best ebook reader isn't really a matter of weighing the features, because most of them are pretty decent.

May 3, 2024 | wsj.com | Tim Barribeau

In the age of tap to pay and digital driver’s licenses, there’s no reason to lug around an overstuffed wallet that bulges out of your jeans or coat pocket, or takes up too much room in your work bag or purse. A minimalist wallet with room for a few cards and a bit of cash will hold everything you need most of the time, and elegantly so. We spoke to personal stylists for their advice on the slim wallets they recommend to their clients, and how to pick the best slim wallet for you.

Apr 25, 2024 | wsj.com | Tim Barribeau

MODERN AIR CONDITIONERS are astonishing tools, especially compared to the earliest iterations. They cool us quietly, powerfully and more efficiently than ever, said Greg Lawson, lead operations research analyst at the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The problem: Running them accounted for almost 20% of U.S. residential electrical consumption in 2020, the most recent year for which EIA data is available.

Feb 26, 2024 | wsj.com | Tim Barribeau

Before electric kettles were common in the U.S. (a ), we relied on putting a pot of water on the stove or using the microwave, both imprecise heating methods, to get hot water for our drinks. Thankfully, there’s a much better way today. A good electric kettle will quickly and safely prepare water for tea, coffee, hot chocolate or even instant noodles, and make your life easier at every turn.