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See where her killer is 30 years after the Tejano artist’s death.

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Originally posted at: Britani Bateman’s Season 6 Aftershow Look

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Do you bank, shop, read the news, or video-chat with family online? If so, you may want to look into getting a VPN. A VPN (virtual private network) creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet so nearby snoops on café or hotel Wi-Fi can’t see what you’re doing. Also, with a VPN,  your internet provider has less visibility into your browsing. 

This guide explains what a VPN does (and doesn’t) do, when it’s worth turning on, the features that matter, and we’ll review five trustworthy VPN services we think you should consider.

What Exactly Does a VPN Do – and What Doesn’t it Do?

A VPN encrypts your connection from your phone, tablet, or computer to a VPN server somewhere else in the world. To people on the local network (think airport Wi-Fi, a cruise ship connection, or a rental apartment’s router), your activity looks like scrambled data. Websites you visit will see the VPN server’s IP address instead of the one tied to your home or hotel.

A VPN does not:

• Stop scams or phishing emails.
• Fix a device that already has malware.
• Make you invisible to every website (cookies, account logins, and browser fingerprinting still exist).

Think of a VPN as a strong privacy layer for the connection itself. You still want good passwords, a password manager, multi-factor authentication, and up-to-date software.

When Should I Use a VPN – and When Might I Skip It?

Great Times to Use a VPN

• Public Wi-Fi: cafés, airports, hotels, cruise ships, libraries, salons, and waiting rooms.
• Travel days: to keep connections consistent on unfamiliar networks and reduce location-based glitches.
• At home, if you prefer added privacy. It can reduce how much your internet provider can log about your browsing.

Times a VPN May Be Optional

At home on secure Wi-Fi when you’re only visiting websites that already use HTTPS (the lock icon). You’ll still gain some privacy from your ISP, but you might see a small speed dip.

Special Cases for VPN

If you’re a high-risk public figure (for example, a senior government official), consumer VPNs are only one small piece of a wider security plan. End-to-end encrypted messaging, security keys, and locked-down devices matter more.

Is Using a VPN Legal?

In most countries, yes. VPNs are legal across the U.S., Canada, the UK, the European Union, and much of Latin America. A handful of countries restrict or ban them, and some require government-approved services. If you travel internationally, check local rules before you connect.

Which VPN Features Actually Matter?

Skip the jargon and look for these:

• Independent audits and a clear no-logs policy: A reputable VPN invites outside firms to review its systems and confirm it isn’t recording your browsing activity. Transparency reports and open-source apps are a plus.
• Modern VPN protocols: WireGuard (or a modern variant) and OpenVPN are fast and secure.
• RAM-only servers: Servers that run from volatile memory instead of hard drives wipe themselves on reboot, which reduces risk in the event of a seizure.
• Kill switch and leak protection: If the VPN drops, a kill switch blocks traffic so your real IP doesn’t leak.
• Auto-connect on untrusted Wi-Fi: Handy when you’re on the go.
• Device limits that fit your life: Count phones, tablets, laptops, and a TV box or two.
• Straightforward apps and helpful support: Clear buttons beat complicated menus.
• Price that stays fair after the intro period: Review renewal pricing, not just the first-year deal.

How Do I Set Up a VPN Safely?

1. Pick a reputable provider (see the five options below).
2. Install the app on your phone and computer.
3. In settings, enable the kill switch and auto-connect on untrusted Wi-Fi.
4. Use it every time you’re on public Wi-Fi; decide whether to leave it on at home.
5. Keep your operating system and browser updated, and use multi-factor authentication on important accounts.

Read more: 10 Life Hacks to Demystify Technology for Women Over 60.

5 of the Most Popular and Reliable VPNs in 2025

These services are consistently recommended by independent tech reviewers for security, performance, and ease of use. Choose based on what you value most – simplicity, price, unlimited devices, or a privacy-first posture.

NordVPN – Fast and Full-Featured

Why it stands out: Regular speed leader with a WireGuard-based protocol (NordLynx), strong privacy history, RAM-only servers, and a growing move toward colocated hardware the company controls. Handy extras include Meshnet for secure device-to-device connections. Allows up to 10 devices.

Pros

• Excellent speeds and large server network.
• Multiple independent audits of its no-logs policy.
• Robust apps with kill switch, split tunneling, and dark-web monitoring tools.

Cons

• Lots of toggles can feel busy at first.
• Had a third-party data-center incident years ago; it prompted major security upgrades and more audits.

Best for: Power, speed, and features without needing to be a techie.

ExpressVPN – The Simplest Experience

Why it stands out: Very clean apps on every platform, a custom high-performance protocol (Lightway), and a RAM-only server system by design. Known for frequent third-party audits and reliable streaming access. Allows 8 devices at once.

Pros

• Easy to set up and use; great for “set it and forget it.”
• Strong track record of independent audits.
• Excellent device and router support.

Cons

• Costs more than most competitors.
• Occasional app hiccups are fixed quickly, but can be annoying while they last.

Best for: Anyone who wants an effortless, consistent VPN.

Surfshark – Best Value with Unlimited Devices

Why it stands out: One account covers every phone, tablet, and computer in your household. Delivers fast WireGuard connections, built-in ad/tracker blocking, and effective streaming at a friendly price.

Pros

• Unlimited connections for families and multi-device setups.
• Independent security assessments and solid performance in current tests.
• Clean, modern interface.

Cons

• Some advanced settings are tucked away.
• Streaming services occasionally block servers until workarounds roll out (true for all VPNs).

Best for: Budget-minded users with many devices.

Proton VPN – Privacy-first, with a Rare Free Plan

Why it stands out: Built by the same team as Proton Mail in Switzerland, with open-source apps and a strong civil-liberties stance. The free plan has no data cap, which is unusual among reputable providers, though it’s limited to fewer locations and one device.

Pros

• Excellent privacy posture, regular transparency reports, and open-source clients.
• Usable free tier for casual or backup use.
• Strong speeds on paid plans and effective anti-censorship tools.

Cons

• The free plan is slower at peak times and offers fewer locations.
• Interface can feel a bit more technical in certain views.

Best for: Privacy purists and anyone who appreciates open-source transparency or wants a quality free option to start.

Private Internet Access (PIA) – Open-source and Unlimited Devices

Why it stands out: Open-source apps, a long history in privacy circles, an audited no-logs policy, and unlimited simultaneous connections. Often one of the most affordable paid VPNs, especially on multi-year plans.

Pros

• Unlimited devices per subscription.
• Open-source clients and an independently verified no-logs stance.
• Flexible settings for advanced users.

Cons

• Headquartered in the United States (some buyers prefer non-U.S. jurisdictions).
• Speeds can be uneven for uploads depending on the server.

Best for: Households that want maximum coverage at a low price.

Which VPN Should I Choose for My Situation?

• I want the easiest app: Choose ExpressVPN.
• I want speed and lots of features: Choose NordVPN.
• I want to cover many devices cheaply: Choose Surfshark or PIA.
• I care most about privacy culture and open-source apps: Choose Proton VPN.

Will a VPN Make Me Safer from Identity Theft?

It helps protect the connection (especially on public Wi-Fi), but it’s not a magic shield. Pair it with multi-factor authentication, a password manager, software updates, and cautious clicks. If a text or email looks suspicious, don’t tap the link; go to the site directly.

Will a VPN Make Me Anonymous?

No. It hides your IP address and encrypts your traffic in transit, which is valuable, but websites can still recognize you through logins, cookies, and browser settings. For stronger privacy, combine a VPN with privacy-respecting browsers, tracker blocking, and mindful account habits.

Will a VPN Change What I Can Watch?

Sometimes. VPNs can help you access content that’s blocked on a particular network, but streaming platforms constantly update their detection. Results vary from day to day and service to service, no matter which VPN you use.

Any Downsides of VPNs?

• Slight speed hit: Usually small with modern protocols, but it can happen.
• Occasional friction: Banking or streaming services may ask you to verify your identity more often.
• Country rules: A few countries restrict or ban VPNs. If you travel, check local laws first.

Bottom Line: Do You Need a VPN?

For most people, yes. It’s one of the simplest ways to improve privacy and reduce risk on public Wi-Fi and during travel. Pick a reputable provider, enable the kill switch, and let it auto-connect on unfamiliar networks. It won’t replace good habits, but it adds a strong layer of protection with very little effort.

Quick Checklist to Stay Safer Online

• Turn on your VPN whenever you’re on public Wi-Fi.
• Enable the kill switch and auto-connect on untrusted networks.
• Keep your phone and computer updated.
• Use a password manager and multi-factor authentication.
• Be careful with links in texts and emails, even ones that look friendly.
• If you travel, verify local VPN rules in advance.

Read more: 2025 Tech Trends – Navigating the Digital World.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What’s your top reason for using a VPN – public Wi-Fi safety, streaming access, or privacy from your internet provider? If you already use one, which VPN do you have and how has it worked for you? Which matters most to you: ease of use, speed, price, unlimited devices, or strong privacy checks? 

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Originally posted at: Heather Dubrow’s Denim Bustier Mini Dress

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Chances are, sometime in your 60s, the moment arrives when you have to, or want to, move out of your long-time home.

Whether you’re downsizing into a smaller, easier space to care for, or charting a new lifestyle in a new place, the word ‘move’ creates dread in every heart. Moving will always be one of the most stressful moments of your life.

I have downsized several times already. First from the large hacienda in the jungle where I raised my kids, then, from what I thought would be my empty-nest house which turned out to be too big. I also made a move to a condo in the U.S. (but that’s another story).

In this article I will share my move to a temporary cottage in Mexico, where I stayed for around a year while contemplating my permanent settling back in the States. It was that intermediate step that taught me what to expect and how to carry off a move with grace and style.

Yes, moving is awful, but not impossible. And yes, you can do it with grace and style. Here are my tips for turning a nightmare situation into something orderly and calm.

Time Is Your Best Friend

When moving, time is your best ally. Throwing your possessions into boxes at the last minute is nerve-wracking and not calm-inducing. Instead, start packing early, super early. Packing and moving is hard enough even without time pressure.

Packing with anticipation gives you the time to hold garage sales and donate to charities all the things you don’t need in your life any longer. Packing early puts you in control.

Pack Everything Yourself

It may sound glamorous to hire a mover to pack your belongings, but moving is the moment when you downsize.

Take this opportunity to pack yourself and touch each object of your life, Marie Condo style, and ask yourself, “Does this object bring me joy?” And, “Is this object beautiful and/or useful?” If the answer is no, get rid of it now.

You’re paying to move things. So, why move things that you’ll throw out when you arrive. You don’t want to ask yourself the question, “Why did I move this?” when you’re unpacking. So, review each item and decide if it has a place in your new life.

Don’t pack nonstop. When time is on your side, you can keep living your life whilst packing. I began by packing three good boxes a day.

Then, I could continue my daily life: read, go for a walk, meet a friend for lunch, write in my journal, entertain. Allow packing to be one of the many activities you do in your day and not a soul draining purpose.

Be a Professional

Make life easy for yourself and buy yourself the proper packing materials! Buy the tape gun, the good moving boxes, the Sharpies, industrial size rolls of bubble wrap and brown paper. You want to pack well; having the right equipment cuts down on the struggle and unpleasantness of it all.

Serious Labeling

Label boxes in detail. Not just ‘kitchen’, but rather, “Kitchen: rolling pin, cookie sheets, silpat sheets, lasagna pan, round cake tins, square cake tins.”

It helps you unpack in an orderly way because you’re not just unpacking every box in the kitchen to see what’s inside. Also, number the box: “Kitchen 1” so that you can see how many boxes it took to pack your kitchen and keep an inventory in case of lost boxes.

Color Dots Do the Talking!

I went to the office supply store and bought color dots. I assigned a color to each room and dotted the boxes. Red for kitchen, blue for living room, green for bedroom, etc.

Then, during the move, when the movers were carrying boxes into the house, no one had to stop and read the box. The movers would call out “Red!” and I’d say, “Kitchen!” Everyone loved it.

“Open First”

Label certain boxes ‘open first’. These are the boxes filled with the things you used until the last moment, so naturally, they are the boxes you will need first.

The ‘open first’ kitchen box had a few knives, some cutlery, a few plates, cups, glasses, the electric tea kettle and some teabags. The bathroom ‘open first’ box had my toiletries, a towel and a roll of toilet paper.

A Bed and a Cup of Tea

The first thing I did once the movers left, or even whilst they were there, was to make up my bed and set up the tea kettle. You survived the move and all you really need to do now is make yourself a cup of tea and collapse into your bed.

Unpacking Slowly

When unpacking, limit yourself to three good boxes a day. If you, instead, unpack all day, you’ll be grouchy, stressed, and still staring at boxes. Create your new life whilst you are settling in. Take a shower and escape, go to the movies, visit a friend, take yourself out to dinner or a walk in the nearby park.

Be Gentle with Yourself

Moving, if you do it right, is emotional. It’s a total upheaval of your sacred space, a review of everything you own and why it’s in your life. Be gentle with yourself. Take dance breaks. Pack to good music. Break for tea time. It’s a delicate time for your soul.

Let’s Reflect:

When was your most recent move? What did that entail? Any tips to share with us? Do you dread moving so much that you won’t move? What are your concerns about moving? Please share anything advice you wish you had known before you moved.

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What happened all those years ago?

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Originally posted at: Dolores Catania’s Black Sheer Ruched Dress

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What happened all those years ago?

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What happened all those years ago?

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Continuing in my London travel series, I’d like to introduce you to the Serpentine Galleries (now officially called Serpentine South and Serpentine North) located inside London’s gorgeous Hyde Park and extending to Kensington Gardens.

On this visit in mid-October, I saw both exhibits, North and South. Serpentine South Gallery sits just south of the Serpentine Lake (on the Kensington Gardens side, near the bridge). The Serpentine North Gallery is across the lake, housed in a converted 19th-century gunpowder store.

Hyde Park makes Central Park in New York look paltry by comparison, although it is by far smaller. It’s an optical illusion perhaps due to its windiness whereas Central Park’s rectangle of 843 acres (341 hectares) is far larger than Hyde Park’s 350 (not including Kensington Gardens). Perhaps it is the lack of small hills or what feels like a longer expanse of water. In any case, the jaunt from one gallery to the other was a mere bridge crossing and short walk of less than 10 minutes.

Serpentine South

At Serpentine South, the interactive exhibit Peter Doig: House of Music explored the role of music, film, and communal gathering/listening spaces in his work. Using paintings, sound, and atmosphere, the show merged sensory realms – sight and sound, stillness and rhythm – into one experience.

I sat for a while, immersed in the acoustics, listening to the original Bell Labs sound system. It was acoustically exquisite – a rare treat to hear something so sonically pure in an art-gallery setting. The layered tones filled the room like light refracting through color.

One painting caught my eye immediately – its warm hues, figures, and reflections made me think it was set in Venice. My friend thought so too. But no – it turned out to be Trinidad, where Doig now lives and paints. That revelation changed everything: the painting wasn’t a European daydream but a Caribbean reality. It pulsed with a slower, hotter rhythm – the kind of light that hums through memory rather than geography.

About Peter Doig

Born in Edinburgh in 1959, Peter Doig spent his early years between Trinidad and Canada, before studying at the Wimbledon School of Art and the Royal College of Art in London. His work blends dream, recollection, and cinematic atmosphere – landscapes that hover between places remembered and places imagined.

Doig has earned global acclaim for re-establishing the emotional power of painting in an era that often favored conceptual coolness. His lush brushwork, saturated color, and ambiguous narratives evoke both nostalgia and unease.

Among his many accolades are:

• Winner of the John Moores Painting Prize (1993)
• Turner Prize nominee (1994)
• His works are held in collections at Tate Britain, MoMA, and the National Gallery of Canada
• His painting White Canoe broke records at auction, affirming his stature as one of the world’s most valued living painters.

Doig is often described as a “painter’s painter” – someone who keeps the medium alive through mood, layering, and the suggestion of narrative rather than the dictation of it.

About the House of Music

The House of Music exhibition at Serpentine South is not merely a gallery show; it’s an invitation to inhabit a world. The space – part studio, part listening room – glows with the warmth of Trinidad, filtered through the painter’s mind. The inclusion of the Bell Labs audio installation deepens the experience, surrounding the viewer in what feels like an echo chamber of memory.

The show succeeds because it dissolves boundaries: between sound and silence, art and audience, north and south. You don’t just look – you listen, breathe, and feel. The lounge-like atmosphere encourages you to linger, to let the paintings’ colors harmonize with the sound waves curling through the air.

What could have been a gimmick turns instead into a holistic encounter – an exploration of what it means to see with your ears and hear with your eyes.

For me, it was more than a visit. It was a sensory communion – a reminder that art, at its best, doesn’t just hang on walls. It reverberates.

Peter Doig: House of Music runs from10 October 2025 – 8 February 2026.

Serpentine Galleries+1 Located at Kensington Gardens,

London W2 3XA (Serpentine South Gallery),

United Kingdom.

Contact: information@serpentinegalleries.org

Serpentine North

Serpentine North’s “The Delusion” exhibit of Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley’s game designed exhibit promised a glimpse into a dystopian, sci-fi future – but what it delivered was far less imaginative and even less engaging. The installation was meant to spark dialogue about social media, loneliness, and depression, yet it failed spectacularly to do so. No one wanted to “interact” with a non-human interface, and that apathy defeated the very premise of the show.

Shirley’s written and graphic worlds in print are far more engaging and convincing than this 3D version attempt at her poignant messages of the terror of hate and exclusion, division and blinders-on-opinionated ranters.

Upon entry, signage greeted visitors instructing them to answer questions posed by what resembled a cheap plastic fortune-teller – the kind you’d find at a carnival. Except here, the fortune-teller was nothing more than a digital advertising screen flashing prompts, expecting visitors to shout or pontificate their thoughts into the void. It was, frankly, a gimmick.

I wish there were a guide each step of the way who conversed with me and other guests to elicit our opinions and to offer theirs. If a real person had started a genuine exchange, which could be recorded or transcribed later on the digital display, it might have worked. Instead, The Delusion became exactly what it claimed to critique: a one-way monologue with a machine.

The Delusion was created by Danielle Brathwaite‑Shirley and runs from 30 September 2025 through 18 January 2026.

Located at West Carriage Drive,

London W2 2AR,

United Kingdom

information@serpentinegalleries.org

If you want to read more about my London explorations, read my article on the Freemasonry Museum.

Let’s Talk:

What’s the strangest gallery/exhibition you’ve been to? Did it grab you or did you think it needed improvement?

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Boundaries aren’t walls that keep love out. They’re bridges to the kind of relationships I actually want – built on respect instead of obligation, truth instead of resentment.

The Pattern I Couldn’t See

For decades, I believed that being a good mother, a good daughter, a good woman meant saying yes. To everything. Always.

Host every holiday? Yes. Drop everything to help? Yes. Absorb everyone’s emotions while suppressing my own? Yes.

I was so busy being accommodating that I forgot to ask: Am I okay with this?

The answer, it turned out, was no. I wasn’t okay. I was exhausted, resentful, and completely disconnected from my own life. I was performing a role I’d never auditioned for, in a play that never ended.

At 60, after a particularly brutal holiday season left me depleted for months, I realized something: I had never once asked myself what I wanted. Not really.

What Changed?

I wish I could tell you there was one lightning-bolt moment of clarity. But the truth is messier than that.

It was small things accumulating. A therapist who kept asking, “What do you want?” and refusing to accept “I don’t know” as an answer. A book about trauma recovery that explained how I’d learned to abandon myself to keep others comfortable. A conversation with one of my daughters where I realized I was teaching her, by example, that women don’t get to have needs.

That last one broke something open in me.

The Marriage and Motherhood Survivor Method work I started doing taught me something radical: You can set boundaries without shame. You can be both loving and boundaried. You can disappoint people and still be a good person.

These weren’t just nice ideas. They were practices I had to learn, like a new language.

The Guilt Is Not Your Compass

Here’s what nobody tells you about setting boundaries in your 60s: The guilt is intense.

You’ve spent decades building relationships on a foundation of unlimited availability. When you start changing the rules, people notice. Some people protest. Some people get angry.

And you feel terrible. Like you’re failing. Like you’re selfish. Like you’re doing something wrong.

But I learned to ask a different question: Is this guilt, or is it just unfamiliar?

Turns out, much of what I’d labeled “guilt” was actually just discomfort with being myself. With prioritizing my own wellbeing. With telling the truth.

What Boundaries Actually Look Like

Setting boundaries at 60 doesn’t mean becoming harsh or cold; it means getting honest.

It looks like: “I’m not hosting this year, but I’d love to come for dinner.”

It sounds like: “I can visit for two hours on Saturday. What time works for you?”

It feels like: Peace. Space. Energy for the things I actually want to do.

Some people adapted beautifully.

And yes, some people didn’t adapt. A few relationships that I thought were deep turned out to be transactional. They existed because I was useful, not because I was loved.

Losing those hurt. But keeping them would have cost me myself.

The Gift of Starting Now

If you’re reading this thinking “I’m too old to change” or “I’ve already set the pattern” – stop.

You’re not too old. The pattern can change. I’m living proof.

Every day you have left is a day you can choose differently. Every interaction is a chance to tell the truth instead of telling people what they want to hear.

Is it comfortable? No. Is it worth it? Absolutely.

Because boundaries aren’t walls that keep people out. They’re bridges to respect – for yourself and from others.

And building them? That’s not unloving. It’s the most loving thing you’ll ever do.

Learn about setting boundaries with your adult children with my Marriage and Motherhood Survival Method.

Let’s Discuss:

Have there been times in your life when not setting a boundary with someone was harmful to you?

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Originally posted at: Lisa Hochstein’s Embroidered Cutout Jeans

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