Happy Saturday, friend. I’ve got a good one for you today: Back in the Cold War days, the CIA got wildly creative. No drones, no satellites, just … pigeons. Yes, actual feathered spies. 

🐦‍⬛ This may sound cuckoo, but these birds were loaded with tech to gather top-secret intel. Was it: A) Tiny microphones, B) Film cameras, C) Morse code transmitters, or D) GPS beacons? Find the answer looking for breadcrumbs at the end! 

☠️ Viruses don’t knock, they break in. That’s why having real-time solid security protection on all your devices isn’t optional, it’s essential. Cover 5 devices for just $19 for the first year. More on this below. — Kim

Traveling doesn’t have to feel like an episode of Survivor crossed with a rom-com gone wrong, and you don’t need to drop a fortune to travel like a pro. 

Whether you’re hopping on a plane, hitting the open road or planning a weekend getaway, the right gear makes all the difference. Think of this as your custom packing list so you can focus on the fun. 

And yes, all items are under $50.

🧳 Compression packing cubes – $40 (20% off, six-set)

Keep your suitcase from turning into a disaster zone. Sort clothes by outfit, day or family member. You’ll never dig around for socks again.

🔋 Anker 20W USB-C fast charger – $19 (two-pack)

These little bricks juice up your phone three times faster than a regular charger. Lifesaver when your battery’s hanging by a thread.

🎧 Airplane wireless adapter – $35 (13% off)

Plug this into the plane’s headphone jack and use your earbuds or Bluetooth headphones. Genius.

📱 Phone holder mount – $10 (27% off)

Clamps right onto your tray table and doubles as a selfie stick. Pop in your phone, sit back and stream your way through turbulence.

💤 Memory foam neck pillow – $24 (20% off)

Snooze like you’re in first class, even if you’re squished in the dreaded middle seat. Comes with an eye mask, earplugs and a travel bag.

💧 Collapsible water bottle – $19 (5% off)

Fill it at the airport water station, then roll it up when you’re done. It stands when full and folds flat when empty. Amazing.

🧴 Toiletry bottle set – $9 (10% off, 16-pack)

They go through TSA without a hitch. Leak-proof and packed in a compact bag, leaving room when somehow you packed more than you left with.

💍 Jewelry organizer bag – $16 (20% off)

No more tangled necklaces or rogue earrings floating in your bag. This zip-up case keeps everything secure and sorted, even after TSA takes a peek.

🧦 Compression socks – $20 (20% off, six pairs)

Long flight ahead? These help prevent your legs from swelling and cramping up at 35,000 feet. Bonus: They’re comfy and cute.

📍 Apple AirTag – $23 (21% off)

Clip one to your luggage, backpack or even your dog (I do). That little location ping? The sound of peace of mind.

🤖 Tile Bluetooth tracker – $25

Team Android? Tile’s got your back … and your keys, wallet, suitcase or anything you can’t afford to lose.

💡 Pro tip: Grab these before your next trip and thank me later. They’re not just “nice to haves,” they’re sanity-savers. BTW: This list is just your first stop. My full travel shop is loaded with even more finds I use and recommend.

Every second, someone falls for a digital scam, and you could be next. Nearly half of American adults were hit by a scam or cyberattack last year. It’s no longer “if” it happens to you, it’s when!

That’s why I use TotalAV. It’s the award-winning antivirus I trust to keep my personal info safe. Whether it’s malware, ransomware, phishing scams, or the latest new threats, TotalAV has my back. 

Here’s what I love about TotalAV: No confusing setup, no tech stress. It runs quietly in the background while I shop, bank, and browse, keeping up to five devices protected with a single account. 

Don’t wait until your screen goes black or your accounts are drained. Protect yourself today with TotalAV, and get your first year for only $19 with my exclusive deal.

🕵️‍♀️ Tracked and terrified: A Nebraska woman thought she dropped her AirPods. Instead, she pulled a tracking device from her car, then found four more. The kicker? That’s not illegal in her state. No consent laws, no tracking rules. She installed cameras, caught her ex, and is now pushing to change the law. Here’s what to do if you find one. 

Zooming on the Autobahn: Mercedes-Benz is letting drivers hop on Microsoft Teams calls while driving. Yes, really. You can use the in-car camera to broadcast your face mid-merge, just no screen sharing (thankfully). It’s launching in the new CLA first, part of a push to make your car a third workspace. Because apparently, two weren’t exhausting enough.

🏡 Yelp is not treason: Turns out, leaving a three-star review can cost you $2K. A Scottsdale renter who dared to complain got fined $4,000 for “negativity.” Why? A sneaky non-disparagement clause in the lease. The company only walked it back after local news and the FTC caught wind. 

Lonely kids, synthetic pals: This is so sad to me. A new report says a third of kids using AI chatbots feel like they’re talking to a real friend. A quarter say they turn to AI because they literally have no one else. Make sure the kiddos in your family aren’t one of them.

🤖 Don’t buy anything Pixel now: Google’s next-gen Pixel lineup drops on Aug. 20, featuring four new phones, including a foldable (paywall link) and a fresh Pixel Watch. Expect Android 16 Gemini AI baked into everything, and a switch to TSMC chips.

Good in the world: After the horrific July 4th floods tore through Kerr County, Texas, one woman started a Facebook group to reunite survivors with their stuff, and 36,000 strangers joined in. Volunteers are cleaning mud-soaked diaries, baby shoes and wedding rings, then posting photos to help people reclaim what’s left. It’s heartbreak, healing and hope.

📱 I’ve gotta tell you something, switching to Consumer Cellular was one of the smartest moves I’ve made. You can keep your phone and number, or get a deal on a new one. Same reliable coverage at a fraction of the price, and real U.S.-based support folks who are patient and want to help and listen. Check it out! Get $25 off by using code KIM25.*  

👋 Weekend chores are more fun with company. Catch my award-winning weekend radio show on a station near you. Not sure where and when? Enter your ZIP code into my handy-dandy station finder, or get my show’s podcast to listen on your schedule.

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: When your cell service is acting up, switch on Airplane mode, wait a few seconds and turn it off. Your phone will reconnect to the nearest tower. Nice.

📅 Schedule emails in Gmail: Most people don’t know this, but you can write an email now and send it later. In the compose window, click the arrow next to the blue Send button and choose Schedule send. Select Pick date & time, fill in the deets, then click Schedule send again. Easy. 

🖥️ Turn on dark mode in Windows 11: Out of the box, Windows 11 uses a light background with dark text. To switch it up, go to Settings > Personalization > Colors > Choose your mode and select Dark. Want more control? Choose Custom to set dark mode separately for menus and apps. 

⏰ Add a clock to your Kindle: Want to keep an eye on the time while reading? In a book, tap the Aa icon > More > and turn on Show Clock While Reading. You’ll see the time at the top of the screen. Pretty helpful if you keep staying up way past your bedtime.

🔍 Change your Chrome search engine: You don’t have to stick with Google. Chrome also gives you options like Bing, Yahoo!, DuckDuckGo and Yandex. Go to Settings > Search engine > Change, pick one, then hit Set as default.

💪🏻 Your body’s made of collagen, so why not give it the good stuff? NativePath Collagen is clean, pure and backed by science. Two scoops a day, and my body gets it. Get 45% off, free shipping and a bonus gift! Sweet!*

Answer: B) Film cameras! During the Cold War, the CIA actually trained pigeons to fly over enemy sites wearing tiny, featherweight cameras strapped to their chests.

One report said the birds’ photos were surprisingly high quality, given they were basically 2 oz. flying drones with no idea they had security clearances.

As a regular, you know this is the spot where I leave you with a mediocre joke so you smile. Here we go!

🩰 ​​A little girl stood crying on the English coast. A pigeon flew down and asked what was wrong. “I want to be a ballerina in France,” she said, “but I can’t get across the Channel. The pigeon said, “Wait here.” An hour later, he returned with 30 pigeons pulling a tiny raft. She hopped on, hopeful. Halfway across, a storm hit. The ropes snapped. The raft sank, and the girl was rescued by a passing British navy boat. The moral of the story: You can’t be a ballet dancer if you’re pigeon-towed. (Get it? Tough crowd.)

With so many malware threats today, it’s time for antivirus protection. Up to 5 devices for just $19 for your first year. TotalAV has you covered with my exclusive deal. Stay smart, stay safe, because viruses don’t wait.

This is the #1 tech newsletter in the U.S., and probably the only one talking about Cold War pigeons. Tomorrow, I’m talking about how to use AI’s superpowers as a personal sidekick for life’s hardest moments. 

Be sure to rate this newsletter below. Leave me a comment! Today’s also a great day to silence your phone’s notifications for one hour. 🔕 — Kim

📣 Don’t keep me a secret: Share this email with friends (or copy URL here)