Health Tips Line

For this story, originally published in 1986, our editors distilled dozens of sources from the Reader’s Digest archives into a compelling account. As we mark the 114th anniversary of the Titanic’s sinking on April 15, 1912, it remains as fresh, moving and shocking as ever. Read on for a remarkable chronicle of the disaster and its aftermath—along with video clips of survivors, the wreckage and more. The White Star Liner Titanic , the largest ship the world had ever known, sailed from Southampton, England, on her maiden voyage to New York City on Wednesday, April 10, 1912. She was built with double bottoms, and her hull was divided into 16 watertight compartments. She was thought to be unsinkable. The liner carried more than 2,200. Occupying the first-class suites were many well-known men and women—Col. John Jacob Astor and his young bride; President William Howard Taft’s close adviser Maj. Archibald W. Butt; former congressman and Macy’s chief executive Isidor Straus; and J. Bruce Is...

After a long day, there’s nothing better than sinking into the couch, grabbing the remote and firing up the latest blockbuster movie or binge-worthy TV show . Our smart TVs, which put so many streaming apps right at our fingertips, make it easy—and that’s a bit of a problem. That always-on connectivity comes with a hidden cost: your privacy. Because while you’re kicking back and watching your favorite actors, your TV is watching you . It’s not using a camera; it’s collecting data. Worse, you can’t get around it by buying another television: All the major smart TV brands use these spying features . The good news is that you can take control and limit what your television “sees” about you, and we’re going to show you how. Read on for everything you need to know about the data your smart TV is gathering on you—and how you can stop it. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter for more tech, humor, travel, cleaning and fun facts all week long. What does your TV know about y...

Let me start by saying that Mahjong is a lot more than just a pretty game. I was first drawn in by the colorful setups, sparkly tiles and themed cocktails taking over my social feeds. I was also determined to pick up something new at the start of the year, so I convinced a few friends to join me. We ordered a Mahjong set, added all the fun accessories, and figured we’d be playing in no time. Then a seasoned player gave us a reality check: Mahjong isn’t exactly a learn-as-you-go kind of game. Turns out, there’s a bit more to it than we expected—but that’s part of the appeal. Here’s what to know before you dive in. What is Mahjong? (And why is it trending?) Mahjong is a four-player, tile-based game that originated in Qing Dynasty China. It made its U.S. debut in 1920 and quickly became a popular pastime. In 1937, a group of women formed the National Maj Jongg League. Their goal was to standardize the game we now know as American Mahjong so that all players would abide by the same rule...