I cut the cord, and you should, too

August 27, 2025

I cut the cord, and you should, too: If you’ve linked ChatGPT to Gmail, Google Drive or anything personal, listen up. Researchers found that one poisoned document can trick the AI into spilling sensitive info. No clicks, no alerts. We’re talking leaked emails, stolen files, even access to your accounts. I cut all GPT connections in my settings. You should, too.

Tags: alerts, files, Gmail, Google, settings

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New scam trick: Fake sites that look too good

Midjourney

$200+

What some fans drop every month just to binge 60-second soap operas. Forget Netflix and chill, it’s now “vertical drama and debt” for $20 a week. That’s more than an HBO Max + Netflix + Hulu bundle, with enough left over for popcorn.

📚 Make Kindle page turns clearer: Ever flip a page and wonder if you went forward or back? Turn on the swipe effect, so it’s obvious. Tap on a page, select the Aa (font) icon, go to the More tab, scroll down to Page Turn Animation and toggle it on.

29 minutes, 3 seconds

That’s how long Vitomir Maričić held his breath, obliterating the world record. Fueled by 10 minutes of pure oxygen, the freediver stayed under nearly five minutes longer than the previous champ. That’s double a dolphin, close to a seal and just enough to find out who lives in a pineapple under the sea. (SpongeBob SquarePants)

2 hours

That’s the daily screen-time limit Toyoake, Japan, wants for its residents. Kids would face curfews (9 p.m. for elementary, 10 p.m. for teens), but there are no fines attached. Voting happens next month. Imagine the uproar if any town tried this in the U.S.?

2.5 million

That’s how many people are stuck on the wait list for Raya. The dating app’s a hit with celebs and athletes, but you have to apply, and some people wait years to get in. And if you do? No screenshots, no bragging about who you’ve seen (paywall link). You might find a cougar or maybe a cheetah.

Add subtitles to YouTube videos: They’ll help you reach a bigger audience. On desktop, go to YouTube Studio and select Subtitles on the left. Choose your video, Set the language and Confirm. Then click Add under Subtitles. Upload a file or type them out manually. When you’re ready, hit Publish.

4 years

That’s how much prison time one disgruntled developer is getting for building an IT doomsday device. 55-year-old Davis Lu planted a self-destruct code at Eaton Corp. that locked out thousands of users the moment his name was deleted from the employee directory. There’s quiet quitting, and then there’s quiet ctrl + alt + deleting.

58%

That’s how many American homes are too messy to charge an EV. We could unlock millions of home chargers if folks just cleaned out their garages. Instead, most are less “charging station” and more “where clutter goes to die,” hoarding broken printers, forgotten hobbies and a suspicious number of extension cords.

$91 million

That’s what one unlucky soul lost in Bitcoin, just by trusting the wrong “support agent.” The victim handed over wallet credentials to someone pretending to help, and poof, 783 BTC vanished. My crypto newsletter is launching in mid-September. Sign up now!