He was scammed, then taxed for it

⚠️ He was scammed, then taxed for it: A California man lost his life savings to scammers posing as the FTC. The fraudsters convinced him to move his money to a “secure account.” Huge mistake: He sent thousands in cash and gold through couriers and dipped into his retirement accounts, racking up over $30,000 in taxes. It’s one thing getting scammed, but it’s a double whammy to pay taxes on it.

Tags: California, money, retirement, scammers, scams, taxes


Chinese researchers broke encryption

Look at these two headlines:

So, who’s right?

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LaserWeeder: AI-powered robotic weed control

🚜 Agricultural revamp: Carbon Robotics just raised $70 million for AI-powered robots that help farmers blast weeds with lasers. The LaserWeeder attaches to a tractor and uses AI to detect and zap weeds without disturbing the soil microbiology. Bonus? It could reduce the need for harmful herbicides. No word on the cost yet, but the video sure looks cool.

81 years old

The age of a Georgia woman who recently voted for the very first time with the help of her niece. Her husband said she didn’t need to vote … or even learn to read or write. Now that he’s passed away, she’s doing things she’s never done before. Good for you, Betty!

Prada-designed Axiom Space spacesuit
Axiom Space
Axiom Space via Gizmodo

The luxury brand Prada worked with Axiom Space to keep astronauts stylin’ on the upcoming Artemis III mission. There’s a ton of tech included in these suits, from cameras and biometric sensors to regenerable CO2 scrubbing. Details here.

400,000-plus signatures 

On a petition delivered to the Kellogg’s HQ about its Froot Loops cereal. An ex-FDA food expert says those colorful rings are linked to organ damage, cancer, behavioral problems and worse. Need more proof? The Red 40 and Yellow 5 dyes in it are banned in other countries. Def not grape news.

$40,000 selling price

For art created by robot dogs. Artist Agnieszka Pilat is teaching Boston Dynamics’ bots Basia, Vanya and Bunny to paint by holding brushes in their “mouths.” He just sits back and watches. Pretty farfetched, eh?

71-year-old pole dancer

The internet can’t stop talking about her. She had a hip replacement and struggles with arthritis, but she still pulls off some incredible moves that require a whole lot of strength. Look at those biceps! I know, not tech, but wowza.

$100,000 in prizes

Doled out to winners of the NFL’s Big Data Bowl. Stats are a huge part of the game, and this contest is to see who can compile them into meaningful, interesting takeaways. More info here if you’ve always wanted to work for the NFL but you’re more of a “mathlete” than an athlete.

$329 per day

For Disney’s new skip-the-line pass. It debuts Oct. 23 at Disneyland and Oct. 30 at Disney World. In Florida, it’s only available if you’re staying at a Deluxe Disney World hotel or villa. Oh, and that charge is on top of the regular ticket price, which is around $100.

1 in 3 products

Has shrunk while the price has stayed the same (or gone down). It’s called “shrinkflation.” Paper products and cereal are big offenders. Take Angel Soft toilet paper: You now get 25% less TP for 13% more money. Talk about being on a roll! Hit this link for product comparisons.