😅 I can’t believe I’m typing this: Women on TikTok are pouring castor oil into their belly buttons every night to help with digestion and bloating. Castor oil does have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, so maybe they’re onto something. No crude jokes, OK?
64 iPhones, one music video
OK Go’s new music video for “A Stone Only Rolls Downhill” was filmed on 64 iPhones. arranged them into a mosaic of split screens and edited it all into a single take. It took their 31-person team of 31 over 1,000 takes and more than 577 hours of prep to nail the 4-minute video. Even Tim Cook was impressed.
$18
New monthly price for Netflix’s ad-free Standard plan. Oh, goodie, another $3 price hike. The ad tier is now $8 (up from $7), and Premium is $25 (from $23). Account sharing went up a buck to $9. In the final quarter of 2024, Netflix pulled in $10 billion, and its revenue shot up 16%.
🎓 Absolutely ridiculous: AI detection software is flagging loads of false positives. A University of North Georgia student accused of cheating on an assignment lost her scholarship. The crime? She turned on Grammarly for spellchecking, something the university recommends. Parents, tell your kids to leave a trail of proof they did their own work, like a Google Doc with a draft history.
Color me surprised: Samsung just dropped the details about its new Galaxy S25 smartphones, and they’re basically S24 models with better processors to handle the real upgrade: Samsung AI. Neat, new features include a lock screen summary with info to help you plan your day; Photoshop-level editing with a swipe of your finger; and cross-app actions that let you layer multiple requests into one, like, “Find a well-rated coffee shop nearby and text the address to Barry.”
Tragic and chilling: This is so sad. A 63-year-old North Carolina man shot his wife, then confessed to the murder in a Facebook group he was an admin for before taking his life. “My wife admitted to cheating on me so I killed her, I’m about to kill myself. Figure this group out for your selves,” he wrote. The couple was married for over 34 years.
🚨 Botnet alert: Researchers found a botnet called “Murdoc” targeting security cameras and routers worldwide. Over 1,000 devices are compromised; AVTECH IP cameras and Huawei HG532 routers are the main targets. Once hackers take control, they can launch DDoS attacks or steal your info. Fixes are coming from the manufacturers, so keep your router (steps here) and security cams updated.
44%
Percentage of young Americans who don’t want to own a car. Adults ages 18 to 34 would rather call an Uber or Lyft or rent a ride on Turo. But we’re not heading to a robo-taxi future just yet; a solid 52% of all folks don’t trust self-driving cars. I won’t get in one.
🌠 The sky is falling: On Prince Edward Island in Canada, Laura Kelly’s doorbell cam caught the exact moment a meteorite fell. In a big first, the cam also caught the sound it made on impact. This happened last July, but scientists just released their findings. Huh … sounds different than I expected.
🛑 Stop letting Big Tech decide what you see: StartMail is my pick for privacy-first email. It’s super easy to switch over your contacts and mail, or you can treat it as a fresh inbox for only your VIPs. Save 60% now with my special link.
Adult diaper influencer: You read that right. It’s 27-year-old YouTuber Bumble Pree, who has trouble controlling her bladder as a result of multiple sclerosis. Her two diaper companies, InControl and Rearz, make options with trendy designs like kawaii-style cats and unicorns. Their ads feature cute gals in crop tops. The adult diaper biz is set to hit $24 billion by 2030. Hooray, I wrote all that without making a poop joke!
$580 million
How much Tom got for Myspace. Remember that guy in the white T-shirt from your Top 8? That’s Tom Anderson. He doesn’t show his face much these days, but he was just spotted in California. Tom and co-creator Chris DeWolfe sold the early social media site to News Corp in 2005. A few years later, Tom retired to Hawaii to lei around.
Space heaters recalled: Nearly 8,000 Vornado VH2 Whole Room Heaters sold on Amazon are being recalled. The power cord could detach, leading to electric shocks and fires. Check your heater for the date codes “JUL24” or “AUG24,” along with “TYPE VH2” on the silver label. Hit this link for help.
👀 The IRS is watching: If you sold over $5,000 on sites like eBay, Etsy or StubHub last year, keep an eye out for a 1099-K form in the mail (paywall link). The reporting threshold used to be $20,000. Now, you need to report side hustle earnings over $5,000, even if you don’t get a form from a specific site.
No, you didn’t miss jury duty: This scam is spreading across the U.S. It starts with a call or email from a “court official” saying you’ve gotta pay up via wire transfer or gift card to avoid fines or arrest since you were a no-show. Delete the email or hang up the phone. Then, if you’re still concerned, call your county’s courthouse. Heads-up: Real government websites end in .gov.
Let’s talk AI-bot it: The CIA’s new AI chatbot takes on the personalities and views of foreign presidents and prime ministers so agents can better prepare. This upgrade is part of the intelligence agency’s plan to woo tech partners and create a more Silicon Valley-like work culture.
💸 Stargate will change everything: Yesterday’s announcement by President Trump, along with the biggest tech CEOs, is the most consequential technical project of the century. Stargate is bigger than anything. Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, OpenAI’s Sam Altman and SoftBank’s CEO Masayoshi Son declared a half-trillion-dollar investment in AI. In medicine, Stargate promises cures and the ability to stop most diseases from happening. We cannot fathom all this means except that our country will be an AI leader. Stargate will create an immediate 100,000 jobs.
$50 per year
To use a $900 camera as a webcam. A photographer had the bright idea to use his fancy Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II digital camera for video meetings. When he plugged it in, nothing. Then, he found the reason on Canon’s site: It’s $5 per month or $50 per year for the software. Shutter up.
The sky is falling
On Prince Edward Island, Canada Laura Kelly’s doorbell cam caught the exact moment a meteorite fell. In a big first, the cam also caught the sound it made on impact. It happened last July, but scientists just dropped their findings. Huh, sounds different than I expected.