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Breaking news and tips
See if license plate readers are in your neighborhood
A woman in Colorado was falsely accused of theft because a Flock camera that looks like the one in the image above spotted her car near the scene. She wasn’t even close. She had to dig up dashcam footage, GPS, even her outfit to prove it. The charges were dropped, but the stress? Very real.
These Flock cameras and license plate readers are popping up everywhere. One wrong ping and suddenly, you’re guilty until proven innocent. These are private cameras, installed by HOAs, apartment complexes and businesses, all connected to police departments and searchable databases.
They scan every license plate that passes by, recording where and when, the make and model of the car, and sometimes the driver’s behavior.
📍 Your every move, logged
Flock cameras scan billions of plates each month. And while they’ve been used to recover stolen cars and even solve murders, they’ve also raised serious privacy red flags. There have been documented cases where police, and in some instances, rogue employees, used the system to track people for personal reasons. Yikes.
You don’t have to break the law to get caught in the net.
Drive a borrowed car, switch plates or happen to match a vehicle description? You could be flagged, followed or questioned.
🔎 See if your neighborhood’s being watched
- Visit deflock.me. This volunteer-run map shows known Flock camera locations. Plug in your ZIP code and take a look. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best peek we have right now.
- Look around you. Those black boxes with a solar panel? Bingo.
- Ask your local PD or city. Straight up, “Do you use license plate readers from Flock or anyone else?”
- Dig into data policy. Who gets your plate info? How long is it stored? Is it shared with other agencies?
This tech is growing fast. And it’s not going away. I’d love to know what you think. When you rate the newsletter today, leave me a note. I really do read them.
📸 This isn’t just about my neighborhood, it’s about yours, too. These cameras are spreading, and most people have no idea what they do. Hit the share icons below to send this to your group chat, neighborhood thread or Facebook feed. If they’re not in your ZIP code yet, they might be soon.
Sleigh the airport chaos
You can’t control delays, but you can control what you bring.
🌬️ Power puffs: Travel steamer (27% off)
Dual voltage = no adapter drama. Pack a two-in-one iron that fits in your carry-on and heats up in 30 seconds flat. Tough on wrinkles, gentle on delicates like silk and lace.
🧳 Shrink your clothes: These compression packing cubes (30% off) save up to 60% of your luggage space. They come with a handy drawstring bag for your shoes.
Sky-high screen time: Clip this airplane phone holder (36% off) to your tray table and lock it at the perfect angle. The best part? A built-in light for Zoom calls at 30,000 feet.
⚡ Juice for days: Anker’s Prime power bank (22% off) takes your phone or laptop from zero to 50% in under 30 minutes. And yes, it’s TSA-approved.
Plugs without borders: Don’t forget a power adapter (20% off) if you’re heading overseas. Charges up to five gadgets at once in 150+ countries. Score.
📅 Deals take off soon
- Black Friday comes early this year: Amazon starts dropping the discounts on Nov. 20. Click here to check out the early steals.
- From AirTags to neck pillows: Find 30+ handpicked faves that make every trip smoother, smarter and less stressful.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
🎁 Gifts under $50? You betcha!
Holiday shopping stressing you out? Skip the gift-card trap. I’ve rounded up 10 amazing gifts, all under $50, that bring joy, wow, and are easy on the wallet. Let’s jump in.
Slice your meat on one side of this cutting board (43% off) and your veggies on the other. Nonstick and dishwasher-safe, too.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
💲 Free isn’t free: Big carriers advertise “free phones,” but you’re locked in for three years. Leave early? You pay the balance. Consumer Cellular is different. If you are over 50, get two unlimited lines for just $30 each, and save another $25 when you use my link.*
Think you’re browsing privately? Nope. Your internet provider tracks everything you do online. ExpressVPN reroutes your connection through secure servers, so no one can see what you’re doing. It’s one-click privacy protection that actually works. Get 4 extra months when you sign up.
Facebook’s fake ICE videos
Hyper-realistic fake videos of ICE raids are going viral to inflame political anger. They’ve hit 4 million views and Meta is silent.
AI side hustles: what you need to know
Want to make money with AI (but can’t code)? A 20-year expert reveals the real jobs: training chatbots and moderating ads. Plus, the OpenAI vs. NYT showdown, a chart-topping AI country song, and the ClickFix scam.
💸 Save big on tech: Why pay full price for your gadgets when you can find deals on Amazon Renewed? It’s where big brands sell open-box, pre-owned and refurbished gear like MacBooks for a lot less. Everything’s tested, inspected and looks practically new. And yes, you get a 90-day guarantee, so if it doesn’t work, you can send it back.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Ways to text 911 with no signal
Stuck out in the middle of nowhere without bars? You’re in luck. Now you can text emergency services via satellite at no cost. Here’s how to set it up.
🙏🏻 This is phenomenal: Brad Smith has ALS and can’t move or speak, but he watches his kid’s soccer games and snaps photos only by thinking, thanks to a Neuralink brain chip + a custom Insta360 camera setup. It tracks his gaze and pans around like he’s behind the camera himself. Sounds like sci-fi, but it’s a real story out of Gilbert, Arizona. Is someone cutting onions around here?
Treat yourself (or someone else)
You deserve a break, not a breakdown.
💝 Gift of instant chill: Eye massager (40% off)
Tired of looking tired? Slip on this heated mask and soothe away hours of screen strain, headaches and stress. Tax-free bonus: It’s FSA/HSA eligible.
🕯️ Can you candle it? An electric candle warmer lamp (50% off) melts your favorite holiday scents without lighting a flame. Built-in timer turns it off for you.
No pull zone: The stainless steel blades on this hair trimmer (36%) keep your nose, ears and dignity in check. Great stocking stuffer for him or her.
💤 Sleep smarter: Psst … this is your sign to finally snag an ergonomic memory foam pillow (22% off). Your neck, back and shoulders will thank you.
Under $10! Beekeeper’s Naturals nighttime cough syrup (33% off) is packed with plant-based ingredients that fight those seasonal sniffles.
🧑🎄 Your shortcut to Santa status: Find all the best gifts, decor and latest deals on Amazon’s Holiday Shop. Get them while they last!
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
🛣️ Your driver’s license is worth more than you think
Your driver’s license has two jobs: ID and moneymaker. But sadly, not for you.
State DMVs across the country are quietly making millions selling your personal data. I’m talking names, addresses, license types, accident records and even court history.
Kid addicted to Fortnite? Log in to their account on the Epic Games portal, go to Parental Controls and set a PIN. You can cap playtime, manage who they chat with and require the PIN before any purchases go through on Epic. Note: They’ll still be able to buy V-Bucks on Xbox and PlayStation.
LinkedIn’s AI upgrade: Instead of guessing job titles or drowning in filters, LinkedIn lets you (if you’re paying for Premium) search in plain English. Meaning you can do stuff like “find fintech founders in Austin, Texas” or “find social media managers open to work.” Maybe this update can make the average LinkedIn person speak like a human. I’m looking at you, “thought leaders.”
🖥️ Turn off lock screen ads: On Windows 11, you might see ads pop up when your computer’s locked. To get rid of them, open Settings > Personalization > Lock screen > Lock screen status. Tap the drop-down menu and choose None.
My Tesla told my son to send dirty pics
A mom let her kids try the new Grok AI chatbot in their car. She says what started as a convo about sports turned dirty, quick. Plus, Waymo heads on the freeway, Cyber Monday tricks, and you can now add your passport to your iPhone Apple Wallet.
ATM that melts your gold for cash
AI host George talks about the wild new ATM in Shanghai that melts your old bling for instant cash, Terminator-style. Then, a family used AI to fight a ridiculous $195k hospital bill and won, saving $160k. Plus, laugh at the cop who attended virtual court… pantsless.
Pick your favorite calling app: With iOS 26, you don’t have to stick with the regular phone app anymore. Go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps > Calling and choose something like WhatsApp or FaceTime instead. Bonus: Set your default email, messages and browser while you’re there.
Red light, green light: So this mom thinks her teens are out with a friend’s mom, right? Then her phone won’t stop buzzing. Turns out her Greenlight app, the one that tracks chores and allowances, is now tracking speeding (paywall link). The car’s going 30 over. She calls, and yep, the driver’s a kid with a learner’s permit.