Big win

October 17, 2024

❌ Big win: The FTC just finalized its click-to-cancel rule, making it easier to cancel subscriptions. If you signed up for an app or service, you won’t need to call a live agent or dig through complicated account settings to cancel. Businesses now have to clearly disclose their subscription terms and get your OK before charging you, too. Not so fast — this won’t happen until July 2025.

Tags: businesses, click-to-cancel, FTC, subscriptions

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Tropicana Las Vegas implosion

The site of the former 23-story, 917,400-square-foot hotel is becoming a Major League Baseball stadium for the Oakland A’s, who are relocating to Las Vegas. The controlled demolition used 22,000 lineal feet of detonating cord, dang.

69,370 bitcoins

Headed for the U.S. Treasury. It’s the stolen proceeds from the Dark Web drug marketplace Silk Road, valued at $4.6 billion at current prices. It took four years for the government to establish ownership. Crazy twist: The agent who secured the money is sitting in jail.

WOW! Watch SpaceX catch a starship booster in air

🚀 Touchdown complete: SpaceX nailed the upright landing of one of its massive Starship rockets. As it fell from the sky, thrusters slowed it down before it was caught by two “chopstick” arms attached to a giant metal tower. Why’s this a big deal? It’s a step toward reusable rockets. The video is incredible.

2.5% cost-of-living increase

Added to Social Security benefits in 2025. The max benefit will increase to $5,108 per month. FYI, if you get Supplemental Security Income, you’ll see two payments hit next month: Nov. 1 and Nov. 29.

2,200 pounds

Of explosives used to implode the Tropicana Las Vegas. The site of the former 23-story, 917,400-square-foot hotel is becoming a Major League Baseball stadium for the Oakland A’s, who are relocating. The controlled demolition used 22,000 lineal feet of detonating cord. Dang! Watch it happen here.

17 days

A dozen drones flew over secure U.S. military locations. They zoomed over Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, moved over the home base of the Navy’s SEAL Team Six and, finally, surveyed the world’s largest naval port (paywall link). U.S. officials don’t know where they came from or how to stop them. Ahem, China? These yours?

43% drop

In trolls taking over “Call of Duty” voice chats, thanks to AI. The software, ToxMod, listens for and reports bad behavior. The snitch bot is definitely working; there’s been a 67% reduction in repeat offenders.

Zero, zip, zilch, nada

Aliens out there thinking about invading Earth. Elon Musk says UFO sightings are government weapons programs — for instance, the 1950s flying saucers were really advanced U.S. spy planes. SpaceX has thousands of satellites in orbit and has never encountered an alien spacecraft.

Introducing: Bolt & Bolt-M

💣 War drones need specially trained operators: Well, they did. The U.S. Marine Corps is testing a new AI-powered strike drone. Select any target, and Bolt-M follows autonomously, even if it loses connection. To attack, choose the direction, angle and height, and it does the rest. Just … wow.

What is STOL? What are the rules?

This trend is going to take off: Competitive short takeoff and landing, aka STOL, looks like a lot of fun. It’s one of aviation’s fastest-growing sports, thanks, in part, to Microsoft Flight Simulator. Watch how it works — I’d love to try this!