🧬 This is a crazy story: Jenna Gerwatowski, 23, took a DNA test and discovered her grandmother, whom she’s never met, is 100% a murder suspect. A newborn was left to die at a Michigan campground in the 1997 “Baby Garnet” cold case. Investigators matched Jenna and Jenna’s mother’s DNA to the baby and charged Jenna’s grandma, Nancy Gerwatowski, with the child’s murder. I can’t imagine how the family feels.
11.4 million viewers
For the “Yellowstone” series finale on Sunday, Dec. 15. (I was one of ‘em!) Season 5’s second-half premiere pulled in 16.4 million viewers across all platforms, but Sunday’s finale is a record high for the Paramount Network and CMT. Talk about going to the train station …
A scam for the holidays: “Card declined” messages are all over scammy retail sites. It’s a trick to get you to pay twice so they can steal twice the card details. Before you check out, make sure the site’s URL starts with “https” (don’t skip the -s!). My trick: Save more money shopping online with the Upside app. Use promo code KIM so they know I sent ya.
“AI Therapist”: That’s a new job title in the AI world. Kyle Fish’s gig at an AI company (paywall link) is to make sure the AI systems are treated ethically as they evolve so they can be more likely to achieve consciousness. I’ve always said being polite to your bot generates better answers.
Every move you make, every breath you take, I’ll be watching you: The next Walmart greeter you see may be wearing a body cam. The retail giant’s new program will stop thieves and keep workers safe when things get tense. TJX Companies, which owns TJ Maxx and Marshalls, already uses them, but some worry the cams are really spying on employees. Probably all of the above.
💬 Encryption is your BFF: ICYMI, I told you the FBI warned you to use apps with end-to-end encryption for your sensitive convos because of Chinese hackers. But what about 2FA security? Yep, they can be intercepted, too. Your best bet is to use an app like Google Authenticator. While you’re at it, turn on automatic software updates to plug any security holes.
No. 1 in fatal accidents
For automaker Tesla, with 5.6 deadly crashes for every 1 billion miles logged in its 2018 to 2022 models. They recalled over 125,000 vehicles in May due to issues with the seatbelt warning system, which isn’t helping their track record, either. As for the other car brands, Kia was a close second in fatalities, followed by Buick, Dodge and Hyundai.
20,000% spike
In drone reports over sports stadiums. It’s illegal to fly even a registered drone over a stadium during a game. In 2017, the NFL reported about a dozen drone sightings. In 2023, there were 2,845.
😂 Murphy’s Law states anything that can happen will happen: But are you familiar with Cole’s Law? It’s finely shredded raw cabbage with a salad dressing, commonly either vinaigrette or mayonnaise.
🪦 Where there’s a will, there’s a relative: Jesse Beck, 45, recorded a video “will” four days before he died in a motorcycle crash. It didn’t hold up in court. Why? Estate law (paywall link) is old school, and video or audio recordings don’t cut it. The legal validity of wills from text messages and emails also depends on where you live, but a signed, witnessed and notarized paper doc is still the gold standard.
Face, meet palm: A so-called “misinformation expert” was caught spreading misinformation. Jeff Hancock submitted a doc with fake AI-generated citations. Minnesota’s Attorney General paid him $600 an hour for expert testimony defending a new state law that bans AI-driven voter deception. You can’t make this up … but a bot did.
🎥 “Endorsement for AI”: That’s what Lisa Kudrow is calling Tom Hanks’ new film, “Here.” The Robert Zemeckis-directed flick uses AI to de-age Hanks and Robin Wright into younger versions of themselves. The “Friends” star thinks bots will replace real actors. It’s like she heard my show last week.
No. 1 free app
Drumroll, please … It’s Temu. That’s two years in a row for the most downloaded free app. In second place is Meta’s Threads, followed by TikTok at No. 3. I know Temu is super cheap, but that comes with its own cost. Here’s why I’d never buy the toys there for the kiddos in my life.
That escalated quickly: TikTok Shop is pulling in more customers than retail giants Shein and Sephora. It launched in September of 2023, and 45% of Americans have already bought something through it. Fashion and beauty items pitched by influencers are the most popular.
🚨 North Korean hackers are targeting Macs: It starts with an email containing a fake crypto news headline (e.g., “Hidden Risk Behind New Surge of Bitcoin Price”) and includes a link, supposedly to a PDF. The link actually leads to a malicious app that lets the sender take control of your system. If you’ve clicked on a random PDF link recently, scan for malware ASAP. I use TotalAV.
Brave new world: U.K. police are testing a facial recognition phone app that lets officers identify people walking down the street. Some communities put up signs as a warning. This tech is worldwide; American police searched Clearview AI’s facial database 2 million times in New York City and Dallas this year.
Stalkerware is up 239%: Apps like mSpy and Life360 market themselves as ways to track your kids. Abusers use them to see everywhere their partner goes. This is no small problem; 85% of domestic violence survivors have experienced digital abuse. Need help? Here’s my guide to protecting yourself.
🛑 Help during a bus driver shortage: School districts around the country are cutting bus routes big time. About 36% of students took a bus in 2017, but now, it’s only 28%. If you’re having trouble getting the kids to school, check out ride-hailing apps like the PiggyBack Network and HopSkipDrive.
An offer you should refuse: “Gamified” job scams start with a random text or WhatsApp message asking you to do online tasks for money. You might even see some profits before they ask you for money, promising big returns. This trick made up almost 40% of job scam reports this year, with $41 million lost in just the first half of 2024. Oof.
$20 trillion tunnel
Connecting New York City and London. There’s no telling how long the Transatlantic Tunnel would take to build. A 23.5-mile tunnel linking England and France took six years. NYC and London are 3,000 miles apart. For the record, I’d totally ride it.