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Unleash your inner IT overlord
I read every comment you leave at the end of this newsletter, and one theme always stands out: You want to know all the hidden things your tech can do!
Lucky for you, uncovering those “I had no idea!” moments is my superpower.
🪟 Secret Windows restart trick
Frequent shutdowns can fix most computer issues, but you can try a Shift shutdown to close all processes and apps and clear the RAM completely.
- Hold down Shift before you restart.
- In the menu, click the Power button > Restart while holding the Shift key and wait for your PC to power down.
- Choose Continue when it turns back on.
♻️ Did you know Windows is more environmentally friendly than macOS? Windows puts your deleted files in the Recycle Bin, while macOS throws them in the Trash. (Bet you never thought of that before!)
🧭 Wipe your location from photos
Your phone stores metadata every time you take a picture, including the date you snapped the photo, your camera settings and where you were located when the picture was taken. Before you share a photo, send that data to the intergalactic bit bucket.
- On iPhone, open the image you want to share and tap the share button (square with an arrow pointing up). Next, select Options and toggle off Location and All Photos Data.
- On Android, open Google Photos, select the photo, tap More (the three-dot menu), then go to Edit and click Remove location.
☎️ Fix your phone’s call audio
Let’s say you’re on the phone with a pal, and your background is so noisy that your friend can’t hear you. Good news if you have an iPhone: There’s Voice Isolation mode.
- Place your call, and when your recipient picks up, swipe down from the top right of your screen to access the Control Center.
- At the top of your screen, you should see an orange microphone icon next to the word Phone. Tap that, and you’ll see a separate screen with an Audio & Video option. Scroll to and tap Voice Isolation.
🏠 Deck your yard
Let’s prep your porch for the holidays without blowing a fuse (or your wallet).
🔌 Festive power-up: Outdoor extension cord (33% off, $30)
Playing electrical Jenga? These cords are waterproof, wear-resistant and built with a flame-retardant jacket. Perfect for inflatables or that one reindeer that always droops.
Set it and forget it: This power stake timer (18% off, $24) means no more walking outside to unplug lights at midnight. Comes with a remote that reaches 100 feet.
In honor of Veterans Day: Salute our heroes by upgrading your outdoor American flag ($10, 50% off). Heavy-duty polyester lets it wave, not fray.
Easy on, easy off: A pack of these light clips (8% off, $12) keeps your Christmas lights sturdy without peeling your paint. Your walls (and sanity) will thank you.
🚪 Front-entrance flex: This wreath hanger (15% off, $9) holds up to 20 pounds and adjusts for the perfect placement. Change it up without leaving a mark
Wipe those shoes: Stop dirt before it hits your floor with a new doormat (24% off, $46). The low profile means your door won’t catch and drive you nuts.
🎁 Shop the season: Hit up Amazon’s holiday page for more steals on decor, stocking stuffers and more. You’ll rest easy getting that out of the way now.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Why your car insurance hates you
My car insurance jumped 32%. I didn’t crash. I didn’t speed. I simply exist.
Sound familiar? Full-coverage car insurance rates rose 25% on average last year, and in some states, it was closer to 40%. Overall, rates are up 55% since 2022.
📖 Screenshot pages on your Kindle: Want to keep a quote or passage for later? Tap the upper-right and lower-left corners at the same time. You’ll see a quick flash, meaning it worked. To find it, plug your Kindle into a computer and open the Screenshots folder (or the Root folder on older models).
⚖️ Kim K (the other one) vs. ChatGPT: So Kim Kardashian (yes, future lawyer Kim) admitted she used ChatGPT to study for her law exams and bombed. Turns out the chatbot’s confidence didn’t match its accuracy. Been there, right? You ask AI for help, and suddenly you’re in the fast lane to Wrongsville. Bad joke time: What’s the difference between an ancient Egyptian prince and a Kardashian? The Egyptian knew from the start that their daddy would become a mummy. (Told ya!) 🐫
This robot does the laundry (really)
The ultimate sci-fi fantasy? A bot that can do the dishes or fold your pants. Hear why, by 2026, that dream is finally within reach.
My daughter is addicted to AI chatbots
Caller Josh says his kid’s obsession has crossed the line and even turned inappropriate. A must-hear for parents. Plus, the NBA’s high-tech gambling mess, OpenAI’s for-profit shake-up, and new scams that can clone your voice in real time.
Organize your Apple Watch: One of the best ways to clean things up is by customizing the Control Center you open every day. Press the Side button, scroll to the bottom and tap Edit. Drag your most-used icons, like the flashlight, to the top, and remove the ones you don’t need with the minus sign. Bonus: The Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) is on sale.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Fix a lost phone signal in seconds
You know how it goes, the second you actually need to make a call with your phone, the signal tanks. Don’t panic. I’ve got fast fixes.
💼 Smarter AI, fewer guesses: Every company’s asking how to make AI work, and NetSuite already has the answer. As the #1 AI Cloud ERP trusted by over 43,000 businesses, it connects your financials, inventory and operations into one smart system that knows instead of guesses. Download “The CFO’s Guide to AI and Machine Learning” for free.
Healthy without the pricey
Ready to upgrade your body like it’s your phone? Start here.
😌 Facial glow-up: Red light therapy mask (31% off)
Forget the salon price tag. Pop this on for 20 minutes, tap the massage mode and relax. Stick with it and you should start seeing smoother, brighter skin after about a month.
⌚ Save $80: Wowza, snag a new Fitbit Versa 4 (40% off) while this deal is still hot. Sync it with your iPhone or Android and see your progress instead of guessing.
Feeling sore? Wrap this heating pad (53% off) around your back, shoulders, waist or wherever you need soothing relief. Bonus: FSA eligible. Here’s how to use it.
🏃♀️ Go the extra mile: Build strength with a weighted vest (50% off). Great if you’re training, doing cardio or adding “oomph” to your strolls around the block.
Little luxuries: From moms to besties, she’ll love this gift set (33% off) that’s got a candle, diffuser and room spray in one box. Comes prewrapped with a bow. Chic and easy.
🎁 Skip the boring stocking stuffers: Check out my holiday gift guide. The “I put thought into this” present takes only two clicks.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Ransomware hackers upped the game, and it’s personal
If you read one thing today, let it be this, because the rules of ransomware have officially changed, and not in a “Yay, innovation!” kind of way.
For years, the scam was simple: Hackers locked up your computer, holding your files hostage and demanding a ransom in Bitcoin for a promise to give your data back.
Filter the trolls: Getting rude comments or DMs on Instagram is no fun. You can hide them before anyone else sees. Go to your profile > Settings and activity > How others can interact with you > Hidden Words. Type the words you don’t want showing up and hit Add. Anything similar disappears from your comments and DMs.
“Dear diary”: Anthropic says its newest AIs, Claude Opus and Claude Sonnet, can reflect on how they think (paywall link). Not in a “Skynet’s alive” way, but more like “Hey, I notice I’m reasoning weird today.” Researchers call it “introspective awareness.” It’s supposed to make AIs safer … or just better at faking it. Sounds harmless enough, but it might be the start of a very polite robot uprising.
🖥️ Snap layouts: Windows 11 has a clever feature that helps you organize apps on your screen. Hover over the Maximize button on any window to see layout options for splitting your screen into halves, thirds or quarters. Click where you want the app to go, and Windows will line up the rest for you. It’s better than manually resizing.
Creeps love their Meta Ray-Ban glasses
Weird guys are using them to record their pickup attempts on college women. Plus, YouTuber Ian Runkle joins me to talk about a lock company that sued an influencer and got roasted. Also: AI in real estate, smart fridge ads, and what’s new with GPT-5.
Is your loyalty card spying on you?
Your fave AI-host Mara exposes the hidden price of loyalty programs (hint: it’s your data). Then, how to turn your closet clutter into holiday cash. Plus, a rapid-fire look at the week’s top headlines.
📱 Free phones aren’t really free: Big carriers bury costs in long contracts that can trap you for years. Consumer Cellular keeps it simple with no hidden fees and no gotchas. If you are over 50, get two unlimited lines for just $30 each and save another $25 when you use my link.
The prank economy: OK, there’s this new site called Dare Market that pays people in crypto to do pranks. Film yourself doing something ridiculous, and if the crowd likes it, you get Solana. If not, congrats, you humiliated yourself for free. It’s raised $2 million already. They swear no one’s getting hurt, but I’ve heard that before.