Lithium-ion battery fire: A home in Fairway, Kansas, caught fire after a lawn mower battery blew up in the garage. It was on the charger when family members heard an explosion, and the fire spread quickly. Thankfully, everyone got out safely. PSA: Charge your electric goodies outside, not in the garage.
I loved these 10 true movies you can stream this weekend
ChatGPT
First about this image. I asked AI to “make a pic of me watching a movie,” and somehow it nailed my husband, our two goldens (even Bella the puppy!). But there’s something off. Can you spot it? At the end of the newsletter, rate it, then drop your guess, name and email. I’ll pick five winners to get a Kim Komando Show ballcap (a $29.99 value)! 🧢
Moving on…
Looking for something great to watch this weekend? Forget feel-good fluff, this list is packed with real stories that’ll leave your soul gently dismantled. Better yet, all these movies are based on real events. I’ve watched every one.
They’re powerful, emotional and full of people who overcame the impossible, made history or changed the world in quiet but unforgettable ways.
Hit the link to watch the movie’s trailer and find out where it’s streaming.
Unbroken
An Olympic athlete survives a WWII plane crash, 47 days adrift at sea and brutal captivity in a Japanese POW camp and never gives up.
Nyad
Annette Bening stars as Diana Nyad, who swam 110 miles from Cuba to Florida at age 64. Talk about determination.
Reality
Sydney Sweeney plays NSA whistleblower Reality Winner in a real-time thriller using actual FBI transcripts. It’s tense and intimate.
The Burial
Jamie Foxx and Tommy Lee Jones face off in a legal battle over a family-run funeral home. It’s smart, funny and based on a real 1995 case.
Lion
A boy gets lost in India, adopted in Australia, and years later finds his way home using Google Earth. Bring tissues.
Father Stu
Mark Wahlberg plays a boxer turned priest whose life is upended by a rare illness. It’s raw, redemptive and surprisingly funny.
The Theory of Everything
Stephen Hawking’s rise, struggle and love story are brought to life by an incredible performance from Eddie Redmayne.
Why you should not use WhatsApp
ChatGPT
“Kim, I heard the call with the man who lost $60,000 in a crypto scam. You said anytime someone wants to move the conversation to WhatsApp, it’s a scam. Why is that?” — Dennis in Washington
Thanks for the question, Dennis. I’m glad you heard that call. Heartbreaking. And unfortunately, it’s not rare. When someone says, “Let’s move this conversation to WhatsApp,” it’s almost always the beginning of a scam.
399 billion
The gallons of water Texas data centers are expected to chug annually by 2030. That’s nearly 7% of the state’s entire projected water use. They’re actually telling people not to take so many showers. Good thing I don’t live in Texas. I love nothing more than getting up at 6 a.m. for a cold shower. So I don’t.
📢 Check for recalls: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission site is worth checking now and then. You can search by categories, filter by date or hazard and sometimes get a refund or replacement. And if there’s ever a big recall, don’t worry, I’ll warn you here in my newsletter, too.
The great iPhone rapture
ChatGPT
It starts like any typical night out. You’re sipping something overpriced and half-listening to your friend’s relationship drama. Then, you check your pocket. Empty. You think maybe it was a pickpocket. But the reality is far stranger.
✨ Manifesting, but make it AI: Vision boards are so 2006. Now it’s all about editing yourself into a trailer for your future. AI tools like Freepik and Runway let you simulate dream jobs, podcast guest spots, even private jets, with your own face (paywall link). Does it help? Maybe. Is it a little Black Mirror? Definitely.
3 in 4
The number of new grads saying “nah” to working at Big Tech firms. Turns out, job security and vibes matter more than kombucha on tap. Layoffs, ethical murkiness and burnout culture make Google and Meta feel like cautionary tales. Instead, job hunters are going for startups and anywhere they won’t be laid off by lunch.
Windows 11 22H2 support is ending: Microsoft will stop security patches and bug fixes for this version on Oct. 14, 2025. To update, go to Settings > Windows Update and enable Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available. FYI: Support for Home and Pro editions already ended last October.
🔥 Today is the last day: Microsoft is killing off password storage in its Authenticator app. Your logins were migrated to Edge in early July, and the rest, like payment info, is toast tomorrow, Aug. 1. Passkeys are sticking around, but this is your sign to switch to a new password manager before your digital pantry gets cleaned out on Microsoft’s schedule. I use and recommend NordPass.
📹 No cellfies here: Turns out the FBI does have the “missing minute” from the Epstein prison footage. You know, the one that mysteriously vanished from the DOJ’s public video. The metadata shows it was recorded, just not released. Officials now claim the raw footage exists and shows nothing sketchy, obviously.
$16.5 billion
That’s how much Tesla’s spending on AI chips from Samsung, and that’s just the appetizer. Interestingly, not buying ’em from Nvidia. Elon Musk says it’s a “baseline,” which in Musk-speak usually means “buckle up.” The AI6 chips will be homegrown in Texas, giving “Made in America” a futuristic glow-up.
🚇 Off the rails: I thought this was interesting. NYC dropped big bucks on a computerized train signal system 25 years ago, and it’s already headed for retirement. ICYDK, it was supposed to let trains run faster and closer together. Meanwhile, the 100-year-old clunky mechanical system is still doing its thing, chugging along like your grandma’s toaster that refuses to die.
😳 Oklahoma school board scandal: During a Board of Ed meeting, someone streamed a video of nude women gathered around a “chiropractic table” on the big screen. So there’s a full-blown investigation, and fingers are pointing at Ryan Walters, the state’s head of education. He’s denying everything, of course.
🍏 iPhone 17 Pro rumors: It’s getting a major camera upgrade, like 8x optical zoom instead of the 16 Pro’s 5x. Apple’s also working on a special pro camera app and adding a new button on the top edge for quick shots. It might even support 8K video recording. Now everyone can see your nose hairs.
100x
That’s how often grocery prices can change in a single day at some stores. One blink and your eggs are cheaper. Or not. Welcome to grocery aisle gladiator match, where price tags refresh more than your Instagram feed, thanks to electronic shelf labels (ESLs) (paywall link).
Your AI confidant isn’t confidential: Thought your sob session with ChatGPT was sealed tight? LOL. CEO Sam Altman just confirmed that all your convos, with juicy, emotionally messy details, could end up in court. Yes, even the stuff you deleted. Unlike therapists, AI bots don’t get client privilege. Good to know.
🤖 Who’s the bot now? ChatGPT’s new agent tool snooped its way through a human verification test by clicking the “I am not a robot” checkbox. Yes, it passed a bot test as a bot. Even narrated the click like it was writing its memoir. Somewhere, a human is failing the same CAPTCHA and crying into their LaCroix.
3x
That’s how much Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses sales grew in the first half of this year. Zuck wants your face real estate (paywall link). Apparently, we also want our sunglasses to take selfies and hear voices. Meta is staking its claim before your sunglasses start running ads, really.
YouTube sleep timer: You can play white noise before bed without it running all night. While watching a video, tap the cog icon (on mobile and desktop), select Sleep timer and choose a time like 30 minutes or End of video. Fingers crossed, no loud ad sneaks in to ruin your dreams.