Tax Day’s coming up
If you did your taxes, a gold star for you. And if you have not done your taxes, April 15 is a week and a half away. Sorry for the jump scare.
That’s still plenty of time to file if you haven’t yet … and plenty of time to get ripped off if you have. I’ve got your back with a last-minute checklist to avoid getting screwed by the IRS — or post-file scammers.
Save your TikToks: I can’t tell you if the government’s TikTok ban will happen, but it’s not a bad time to download your videos if you use the app. Doing it from a desktop is easier than on a phone. Right-click on a video you want to save and select Download Video.
If we have to: Google is finally deleting billions of records it collected from folks who thought they were browsing in private using Chrome’s Incognito mode. Google claimed it was “impossible” to find and delete this data but changed its tune when a judge ruled on a class-action settlement. Don’t be fooled — Incognito mode still isn’t totally private. For that, you need a VPN.
Google’s email launched 20 years ago. Back then, you had to have an invite to join. It wasn’t till later they introduced perhaps my favorite feature: “Undo send.” Was that in … A.) 2007, B.) 2009, C.) 2012 or D.) 2015?
🍔 Fast-food shakedown: Shake Shack’s CEO says in-store digital kiosks make your order cost 10% more on average. The machines are designed to make you spend more by letting you take your time and nudging you towards supersizing everything.
The truth is out there: A two-pound cylinder that crashed through a Naples, Florida, man’s roof is likely a piece of a space station. The impact lines up with the trajectory of a 2.9-ton pallet of old batteries the ISS launched back in 2021.
It’s weird being the same age as old people: Gen Z says capitalizing letters is for “old” folks. Now, 20-somethings entering the workforce are calling the death of their lowercase texting the “end of an era” … Oh, brother. If you can pay taxes, you can hit the Shift key.
🚨Travel advisory: If you’re driving back from Canada, check your car for unfamiliar AirTags. Car thieves use them to jack your car, and it’s a huge problem north of the border. Look under your wipers, in the front grille or even inside your car. FYI, if you have an iPhone, it’ll flag any unknown AirTags traveling with you. On Android, you need this free app.
Run like your phone’s at 1%: Use Verizon between Jan. 1, 2016, and Nov. 8, 2023? You might get up to $100 from a class-action settlement. Check your mail or inbox for a claim form, then mail it back or head to the settlement website to submit a claim by April 15.
Calling all night owls: Have an older Roku model and a house full of light sleepers? Upgrade to the Voice Remote Pro (on sale right now) and get Headphone mode. Plug in your headphones, and enjoy the full sound of your favorite show without waking anyone up. Sweet!
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