Have you seen this video of a nervous Amazon driver having a conversation with a dog? It’s freakin’ adorable. A doorbell cam captured the wholesome moment an Amazon delivery driver wary of a dog sitting on the porch overcame his fear and approached the pooch for a cute conversation. I’d tell an Amazon joke here, but I’m worried about my delivery.
Relaxation goodies
🛀 You know you need ‘em.
- Tough holidays? Roll this migraine stick ($13) on your temples, forehead and neck to tackle your headache.
- Pair this bath pillow (20% off) with a bathtub wine holder ($14) and forget all your worries. Ahh.
- Holiday cooking is basically a full-time job. Heel your feet with a wooden foot roller ($15).
- A heated, vibrating gua sha stone ($55)? Say less.
- What’s your favorite tea? Oolong? Earl Grey? Jasmine? Chamomile? This tea sampler box has ‘em all.
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So, you unwrapped something techy and you’re already having trouble. Before searching online for help, know it’s dangerous to Google tech company phone numbers.
Scammers work the system to get spoofed websites and numbers as the top search results via ads. Instead of waiting for a response to an online form, try calling the manufacturer or tech company directly. I’ve included links below in case you’d rather use a contact form or chat service:
- Amazon: 888-280-4331; Amazon website
- Microsoft: 800-642-7676; Microsoft support
- Apple: 800-275-2273; Apple support
- Google: 650-253-0000; Google support
- Meta: 650-543-4800 (Heads-up: It’s hard to get someone to answer); Facebook support, Instagram support
- Roku: 816-272-8106; Roku support
- Samsung: 800-726-7864; Samsung support
- PayPal: 888-221-1161; PayPal support
An older CEO, long past retirement, called IT for support. He asked, “How can I print this document?” IT said, “All you need to do is Ctrl + P.” The CEO replied, “I haven’t been able to do that for years!” (I heard you laugh!)
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Did ChatGPT kill the search engine?
You no longer need to visit Google and sift through hundreds of links to get your answers. Chatbots can pretty much do it all for you. Is it the end of the webpage? Plus, downsides to ‘Buy Now, Pay Later,’ how much your passwords are worth, and tricks to make money on Amazon.
🎥 James Bond’s favorite pasta is mini penne: The next movie in the James Bond franchise is in limbo, with no script or timeline. Why? A stalemate between the Broccoli family, which holds creative control, and Amazon, which owns the rights to release the films. The Broccolis don’t trust Amazon’s algorithm-driven, streaming-first approach or the idea of endless spinoffs (paywall link). Can’t blame ‘em — just look at what Amazon did to “The Lord of the Rings.”
$2 billion
MacKenzie Scott’s donation spree this year. Since her split from Jeff Bezos in 2019, she’s dished out $19.2 billion. She got 4% of Amazon in the divorce. About 75% of her cash donations have gone toward fighting poverty. She’s still one of the richest women in the world, with a net worth of almost $41 billion.
Feeling the pressure? I’ve got ya!
🎁 These gifts come just in time for Christmas.
- A Polaroid camera (20% off) with Bluetooth and an app you can use to edit your photos. The future is now!
- Oakley sunglasses are a spec-tacular gift.
- For the traveler: a nice laptop backpack ($70) saves time while going through TSA security checkpoints.
- My niece uses this skincare brand, and she freakin’ glows. The set comes with a bunch of goodies.
- For their 2025 walking resolution, Reebok sneakers (for men and for women).
- Honest Beauty’s mascara is to die for. It’s also under $20.
- This hair-drying wand (20% off, $120) is the perfect alternative to Dyson’s $600 Airwrap.
- A shiny new golf bag would be an un-fore-gettable gift. 🏌️
- I don’t know how they did it, but this is the best workout mat (15% off) I’ve ever owned. (I gifted myself a Peloton Tread, and it’s great.)
- For the person obsessed with their journal, colorful ballpoint pens. They’re under $10, too.
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🍗 Kitchen helper: Smart speakers like the Amazon Echo can juggle multiple timers at once. If you give them a name, you’ll know what’s ready to come out of the oven. Say something like, “Alexa, set a 20-minute timer for the potatoes” or “Set a 45-minute timer for the chicken.”
Save your butt: Maybe you ignored this yesterday, but I’ve got your back. Grab an Amazon gift card and print out the details or email it to them. Here’s a trick to make a gift card feel special: Put it in a little box, then put that inside a bigger box. Put that one in another box. Now wrap it all up, and they’ll have a fun surprise opening it.
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💳 Oh, crap: You forgot to buy a present for your cousin, Linda, and she’s coming over tomorrow. Grab an Amazon gift card online now, and write something kind in a lovely card. Bam, done.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Tip your Amazon driver with Alexa
This holiday season, your Amazon driver could earn cash and bonuses — all with a simple Alexa command. Find out how your thanks can make a difference!
December 21st, 2024
Drones over New Jersey and a wild nuclear theory. Plus, a Secret Santa scam, LG’s pricey see-through TV, and a lawsuit hitting Amazon’s One Medical.
Stop Alexa from spoiling your Christmas surprise
Don’t let your Amazon Echo ruin the holiday surprise. A quick settings change can keep your gifts under wraps.
What a tragedy: Philip Tong, a 45-year-old dad with diabetes, felt short of breath, was coughing up blood and had blue feet. He used Amazon’s One Medical to book a telehealth appointment. The doctor’s advice? Buy an inhaler. Tong died later that day in the ER; he was in sepsis. Now his family is suing. If you’re experiencing severe symptoms, please call 911. Telehealth has its place, but nothing replaces emergency care.
12 hours per week
Time children should spend reading, according to a new study. Researchers analyzed 10,000 kids and found the earlier they started reading for fun, the better their learning, memory, speech and mental well-being. Looking for some book recs? Here are the bestselling kids’ books on Amazon right now. They make great gifts, too!
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Stop faking it: How to get the presents you want
Tired of pretending to love bad gifts? An Amazon Wish List trick makes sure you get what you really want — no fake smiles required.
🏈 What’s the score? In the Alexa app, open Settings > Sports Update. Add your teams (you’ll find all major American sports leagues). Now, say, “Alexa, give me my sports update” for scores and schedule info.
📦 One person’s return … is another’s “new” purchase. Amazon lets items that pass a quality check be resold as “new,” even if they’ve been opened. Look for the letters “LPN” on the packaging. That’s a telltale sign it’s been reprocessed. Hit up Amazon’s customer service pronto for a replacement.
The state of our country: Scumbags are selling merch glorifying the UnitedHealthcare CEO killer. Amazon had the decency to pull “Deny Defend Depose” shirts, but they’re still on eBay, apparently because they don’t break any rules. Really? Trolls review-bombed the McDonald’s where the guy was caught, too, calling workers rats and snitches. What is wrong with people?
🤑 It’s cozy-up-with-a-book season: If you have Amazon Prime, grab two free e-books from their monthly First Reads selections. It’s early access to popular new books. Sweet!
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