Blockbuster had around 9,000 video-rental stores worldwide at its peak. When it filed for bankruptcy in 2010, it had just 1,700 stores. How many are open today: One, 10, 18 or 30?
The answer: One. The last Blockbuster is located in Bend, Oregon, about 160 miles south of Portland. At its peak in 1994, Blockbuster was valued at $8.4 billion. In 2000, Blockbuster turned down an offer to buy Netflix for $50 million. What a mistake!
Fabulous health news: Emily Hollenbeck, who suffers from treatment-resistant depression, found a new lease on life with deep brain stimulation (DBS). It involves placing thin metal electrodes in a part of the brain that regulates emotional behavior. The results? She could actually taste food, and music moved her again. The FDA is pushing to bring this miracle tech to more people in need. Amazing, right?
Is the size of the world’s largest snake. The recently discovered reptile is as thick as a car tire, has a human-sized head and is an actual nightmare for me. Don’t hiss me off.
💰 Small wins, big drama: AMC is forking out $8.3 million because it got too share-happy with customers’ personal deets. If you were a subscriber between January 2021 and 2024, grab a slice of the settlement pie. Don’t get too excited, though; you might be looking at less than $1. Everyone gets a free week of AMC+, too. Gee, thanks.
🔊 Fun fact: AirPods can stand up to stomach acid for at least 9 hours. That’s how long it took to remove one from a gal named Moe Kennedy, who swallowed the earbud in her sleep. Get this: It worked just fine in her stomach and after her emergency endoscopy to remove it.
Catfish crackdown: Tinder’s new ID verification system could slow scammers. You get a blue checkmark by submitting a video selfie with your driver’s license or passport. Not keen on ID show-and-tell? A video selfie alone earns you a blue camera icon. Better than nothing, I suppose.
Apple did what? Apple just doubled the battery life for iPhone 15 models to a whopping 1,000 cycles with a free update. Translation: Your phone’s battery stays fresher for longer. Check your battery health in your phone settings. Apple must have a lawsuit coming over battery life to have made this change.
⚠️ Facebook funeral scam warning: Scammers have hit a new low, creating fake funeral livestreams. They use real details from obituaries to trick grieving families into giving their credit card info for a “service.” These scams are blatantly obvious. Why hasn’t Facebook done anything to shut them down? Oh, I forgot … It doesn’t care.
This is usually reserved for only big investors. Redditors will be super happy if the stock flies … and have a ton to talk about if it flounders.
Forget hacking networks: Now, cybercriminals are using genuine logins stolen from real people. Info-theft malware is already up 266% in 2024. Keep all your usernames and passwords safe, and don’t give them to anyone. And you really need solid antivirus software. Get TotalAV for $19 for the first year on up to five devices.
