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It’s something we’re all talking about: Why are all the tech CEOs surrounding President Trump?
I’ll never forget when my son, Ian, asked me where in Los Angeles I lived. I told him I couldn’t remember — it was 30 years ago, and I lived there for maybe six months. A few minutes later, he called and had the address. It was available for free to anyone on the internet […]
More and more location-sharing apps have been caught selling your data to third parties. Here’s how to use the stuff built into your phone already.
Stay ahead of bad weather with these top-rated apps and sites.
I’ll tell you how to access it, plus I’ll share some wild Haul deals.
I’ll walk through how it happened and what you can do to secure your info.
Breaking news and tips
6 signs your vacation rental is a scam
It’s that time of year when so many of us are planning vacations and booking a rental. Sadly, scammers are very aware of that, and they’re always changing their tricks to fool people out of their money, rentals — or worse.
One of the most prolific thieves scammed people out of $7 million over just two years. He listed 100 properties across the U.S. and accepted 10,000 offers. His bait-and-switch schemes worked … till he got caught.
Being familiar with the red flags can save you from being a victim. And that’s why I’m here today — to give you the know-how.
1. Suspicious photos
Does the picture of that beachfront property look like it’s straight out of a pricey photoshoot? Images that are just a little too polished should raise your eyebrows. Try a reverse image search to see if a pic pops up elsewhere online. How? Open a pic, right-click on it, then choose Search Image or similar in your browser.
2. That doesn’t add up
Some hosts list a property at different price points on multiple platforms. The highest bidder wins, so your stay could get canceled if they find someone who’ll pay more. But wait — it could also be a “phantom rental.” In this scheme, crooks cook up a completely fake listing using a bogus address and photos and run away with your money.
3. Under pressure
When you’re rushed into making a decision, you’re more likely to overlook serious flaws in the listing. A legitimate host won’t rush you into sealing the deal.
4. ‘Can you send me a gift card?’
Always pay through the rental site. Secure payment methods include debit, credit and sometimes a direct bank transfer. Never pay using gift cards, a cash app, crypto or a certified check.
5. Too good to be true
All bright and shiny
☀️ Hello, sunshine! Let’s brighten your day with a few little upgrades.
- I don’t like dark hallways and stairwells. These night-lights look nice and cost less than $10 for eight. Click the extra coupon!
- Guys and gals, bags under your eyes make you look older. Swipe on some gentle under-eye cream (44% off).
- Now, use some redness-banishing eye drops (8% off) so you’ll look like you got a great night’s sleep!
- Do you floss every day? Uh-huh, sure. A water flosser (40% off) is easier and keeps your teeth sparkling.
- White taper candles with no smell ($15 for 20) are my go-to for dinnertime.
Just in case you need it: A bestselling ice and snow scraper to toss in the car. Stay safe!
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
You can count on me: The next time you need to do a simple calculation, type it directly into your browser’s address bar and hit Enter. You can do the same with the search bar in Windows or Mac’s Spotlight Search.
❤️ A father’s love: An IT director in Toronto called corporate life quits after doctors told him his son had an ultra-rare neurodegenerative disease with no cure. They said his boy would be paralyzed from the waist down by age 10 and quadriplegic by 20. Dad liquidated his savings and teamed up with researchers working on a promising gene therapy. Years later, his son received the treatment and can now stand up. So wonderful.
Face control on Chromebooks
This is incredible: Google’s new AI feature lets people control Chromebooks using only head and mouth movements. It’ll allow folks with motor impairments to move a cursor, select options and write type emails via text-to-speech. See it in action. So cool.
Where’s my flying car already?
It’s 2025 — shouldn’t we be living in a Star Trek world by now? Here’s why flying cars are still a distant dream.
✈️ Aisle be waiting at the airport: You can now pay for a JetBlue flight using Venmo. They’re the first airline to offer it, and I bet others will follow. Why the change? JetBlue’s in the red, reporting hundreds of millions in losses. Reminder, if you’re booking secret travel, all your purchases on Venmo are public unless you take these steps.
$620,000
The new max pay for Walmart’s regional store managers. Quite the raise from last year’s $570,000 cap. That’s thanks to bigger bonuses and stock grants. Even on the lower end of the pay spectrum, you’re looking at $420,000, a boost from $320,000. Now, that’s if you snag your full bonus, but it, too, is also rising from 90% of base pay to 100%.
Delete your name from the internet
One guy found his private info online and became a target for romance scams. Only one thing worked to remove it. Plus, Venmo for flights, Comcast’s $70 sports streaming plan, and #StickNation — yes, picking up sticks is a trend!
📵 Phones and showers don’t mix: It’s a recipe for black mold. All that steam is a breeding ground for spores inside your case. Plus, it messes with your phone’s internal components — even waterproof ones. If you need your shower karaoke time, use a Bluetooth speaker. I found one that’s 20% off ($40).
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Dear Kim: Thomas wrote in to ask me for the “best VPN that doesn’t slow down my Wi-Fi connection.” Hey, that’s ExpressVPN! Most of the time, I forget it’s turned on, which is high praise, really! Some VPNs slow you down to a crawl. Use my link for an extra four months free.
Can you read cursive?
If so, the National Archives wants your help! They need volunteers to transcribe 300 million historical items.
Fountain of youth: Retro Biosciences is developing a set of proteins that could turn back the clock on human skin cells. Their goal? To add 10 years to your life. Their work is powered by ChatGPT GPT-4b micro, an AI model created by OpenAI. They didn’t sign a big deal, but OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has already invested $180 million of his own money into Retro Biosciences.
How this wildfire victim reunited with his dog
Quick tech cleanup: Do this every 3 months
When was the last time you cleaned up your digital life? It’s not fun, but just a few minutes of physical and digital decluttering can work wonders. It boosts productivity, clears mental clutter and leaves you feeling like you’ve done something great. Ready? Let’s do this!
🥵 It’s all over social media: Heating pads, space heaters and electric fireplaces are leaving people with toasted skin syndrome caused by too much heat exposure. It looks like a lacey spotted rash and could take months or years to go away, if ever. Have it? See your doctor ASAP.
‘Can you tape that?’ Phrases tech has killed off
I’m sure you remember this: “You hang up first.” “No, you hang up first.” Not quite as romantic when you fumble for the “End call” button on your iPhone, eh? As times change and our tech changes, so, too, do the phrases we use.
Tina Turner – Hot for You Baby
🎶 You’re simply the best: Tina Turner passed away in 2023, but a new song has been released with the 40th-anniversary edition of “Private Dancer.” The “lost” tune, “Hot for You Baby,” was cut from the original tracklist. Critics say it’s meh, but I think it’s classic Tina Turner and those amazing legs of hers! Take a listen and see what you think.
11 years
Added to your life just by doing chores. Every time you do yard work, take the stairs or vacuum up dust bunnies, you’re boosting your metabolism and increasing your life expectancy. Tell your kids this next time they “forget” to clean their rooms.
Big promises, no results: There are some big opinions on Meta ditching its fact-checking program, but here’s the joke: It didn’t work in the first place. An analysis found only 14% of posts pushing foreign enemy state narratives were flagged as false on Meta. The new plan of action? Community notes … because that’s totally working out for X.