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Picture this: You’ve made it through the gauntlet of airport parking, security checkpoints, luggage checks and boarding. You’re finally safely ensconced in your seat (and if you’re really lucky, you’re next to an empty middle seat ). Just before takeoff, you hear a booming voice. But it’s not the pilot announcing your departureit’s the dude in the row behind you who decided that not only should he listen to monks chanting death metal while you race down the runway but so should the rest of the plane courtesy of his phone speaker. Oof. Your flight is already off to a rough start, and you haven’t even hit any turbulence. Relatable? You’re not alone. Traveling is stressful enough without dealing with people’s weird taste in music. “I think everyone’s got a similar story! People doing annoying things is part and parcel of public transportationwhich includes flying,” says Jan Goss, a business etiquette expert with more than 30 years of experience. “But that doesn’t excuse the bad behavior...

You’re at the airport, checking in your carefully packed suitcase , confident that the padlock you’ve clamped to the zipper will keep all your belongings safe. But how much protection do locks really offer? While they may feel like a safeguardand let’s face it, options are limited when it comes to securing luggagethe truth is that most locks provide little more than a false sense of security. In fact, they’re about as effective as tying your zippers with a flimsy piece of string. Read on to find out why padlocks may not be the best choice for luggage protection and to discover some smart ways to protect your personal belongings. Get Readers Digest s Read Up newsletter for more travel, tech, cleaning, humor and fun facts all week long. What’s wrong with depending on a padlock? Sure, padlocked luggage provides extra peace of mind, but the reality is that those little hunks of metal can often do more harm than good. Despite the safety measure, thieves can still easily break into suit...

There’s good news: “Here’s a great book.” Then there’s really good news: “Here’s a great bookand it’s free!” If you’re a shameless bibliophile, you always have an eye out for new and interesting ways to invite fantastic fiction and nonfiction titles into your life. So when a program like Amazon First Reads pops up, you want to make sure you’re in the know and first in line to get your hands on more glorious books . Well, stick with us here because some really good news is coming your way. If you’re not already taking advantage of this book program, allow us to introduce you to your new best friend . The Amazon First Reads program is super simple andif you play your cards righttotally free. Join the free Reader’s Digest Book Club for great reads, monthly discussions, author Q&As and a community of book lovers. What is the Amazon First Reads program? Amazon First Reads offers early access to new books across a variety of genres. The program isn’t newit launched more than 10...

We’ve barely crossed the threshold of 2025, and Walmart is already ruffling the feathers of its fanatical customer base. No, it didn’t raise prices on your favorite products. And, nope, it didn’t propose a televised Target vs. Walmart steel cage match (although we would totally watch). Instead, Walmart gave its logo a makeover fit for modern timesat least that was the idea. But people, well, they have feelings. B ig feelings. Huge. So grab a seat (and maybe a magnifying glass), and let’s dig in to the retailer’s rebranding, the internet’s response and more fascinating facts about Walmart’s history and future. Get Readers Digest s Read Up newsletter for more news, humor, travel, tech and fun facts all week long. How did Walmart revamp its logo? Perhaps a more appropriate question is: Did Walmart revamp its logo? Yes, but it did so with a light hand. The rebranding is subtleas in barely noticeable. The wordmark, aka the text-only logo that reads Walmart , uses an updated font...

Flooring is pretty sophisticated these days, but there’s nothing like the warmth and richness of old-fashioned hardwood floors. If you take care of them, wood floors can last for decades, if not centuries. My old house in Minnesota had wood floors, and they gleamed like the day they were installed in 1900. Most of the time, all my wood floors needed was a quick swipe with a dust mop and an occasional deeper clean with a floor cleaner formulated for wood. There was one spot in my home, though, that was a constant struggle against scratches, warping and other problems. It happened during winter, and if you live in a cold climate, you probably have the same issue. Marred wood floors can be a nightmare to fix. You can either live with the damage, try to repair minor scratches or replace the affected planks and refinish the flooror you can avoid all that heartache by following the advice of two seasoned cleaning experts who hail from northern climates. Read on for the mistake you’re prob...