A Texas woman took to Facebook after her 9-year-old left his stuffed gorilla at a California hotel. A stranger saw the post, went an hour out of her way to pick it up, then documented the gorilla’s journey home. Absolutely watch this if you need a smile!
😲 The No. 1 show on Netflix right now: “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” dives into the true story of two brothers convicted of murdering their parents in 1996. The newly elected Los Angeles District Attorney says, “I will have to review the confidential prison files for each brother, the transcripts from both trials, and speak to the prosecutors, law enforcement, defense counsel and the victims’ family members. Only then can I make a decision.” I don’t think much will happen at their resentencing hearing on Dec. 11.
Apple Park covers 175 acres in Cupertino, California, and cost around $5 billion to build. Which of these is not true about Apple’s digs? Is it that … A.) There are seven gourmet cafes, B.) It’s powered entirely by wind energy, C.) Steve Jobs didn’t live to see it open, or D.) It has the world’s largest curved glass panels?
470,000 feet
Altitude reached by the University of Southern California’s student-built rocket. Aftershock II broke the previous record of 380,000 feet, becoming the first non-governmental or private-company-owned rocket to reach this far into space. Oh, space is a vacuum, but it doesn’t suck.
Police drone nabs a would-be burglar
Police in California nabbed a burglar near the Santa Monica Pier with a drone. The little guy spotted a car thief using a screwdriver to punch open locks in a parking lot. It called in officers and directed them to the exact location. Amazing, right?
⚠️ He was scammed, then taxed for it: A California man lost his life savings to scammers posing as the FTC. The fraudsters convinced him to move his money to a “secure account.” Huge mistake: He sent thousands in cash and gold through couriers and dipped into his retirement accounts, racking up over $30,000 in taxes. It’s one thing getting scammed, but it’s a double whammy to pay taxes on it.
👶 Nature had other plans: A pregnant California woman’s water broke on her front porch, forcing her to give birth right then and there. Her Ring doorbell cam captured everything, from her squatting down to finally pushing out her baby girl. Luckily, her husband was by her side. Mom and baby are both doing great.
🚖 Another wayward Waymo: A San Francisco woman was trapped in an autonomous Waymo cab when two men stood in front of the car and wouldn’t move. Why? They wanted her phone number. She told them no, but the cab wouldn’t budge, leaving her stuck until they finally walked away. Waymo’s response? She got a free ride.
18 years
Paying the neighbor’s electricity bill. A guy in Vacaville, California, has lived alone in the same apartment complex since 2006. The entire time, he wondered why the heck his power bill was so high. Turns out he was paying for the apartment next door, too. What a dope.
1,500 miles traveled
To return a kid’s beloved stuffed animal. A Texas woman took to Facebook after her 9-year-old left his stuffed gorilla at a California hotel. A stranger saw the post, went an hour out of her way to pick it up, then documented the gorilla’s journey home. Absolutely watch this if you need a smile!
✔️ It’s a yes from me: A new California bill could stop companies from collecting and sharing personal data with just one click. It’s a royal pain in the butt to opt out of every single site. If the bill passes, it could impact all Americans, since many companies apply the same privacy protections nationwide.
Torque of the town: In the EU, all new cars are required to alert drivers when they’re driving too fast. If a bill passes in California, every 2030 and later model would need GPS or a front-facing cam, along with a function to deliver notifications to drivers exceeding the speed limit by more than 10 mph. Wonder where all that data will end up …
📦 Arrr, matey: A California woman turned the tables on USPS mail thieves. She mailed herself a package with an Apple AirTag in it. After crooks snatched the package from her P.O. Box, she called the cops. The tracker led police right to their hideout, where they found more stolen mail and packages.
50% higher
Expected car insurance costs in California, Missouri and Minnesota this year. Insurers are blaming damage from severe storms and wildfires. Across the U.S., premiums are expected to go up 22%. Check your state here.
😸 Meow you’re talking: Earn $50 and contribute to scientific research just by playing with your cat. I’m not kitten you. Researchers at the Animal Welfare Epidemiology Lab at the University of California, Davis, are looking for two-minute videos. Apply here.
165% surge
In exterminator searches in the U.S., compared to 2023. Across the country, people are waging war with pests. Three times as many Yelp searches for cockroach exterminators have been completed than at this time last year. According to Yelp, California has the biggest rat problem. Bet you thought it was New York.
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a cop! Police in California used a drone to nab a burglar near the Santa Monica Pier. The little guy spotted a car thief using a screwdriver to punch open locks in a parking lot, and it called in officers and directed them to the exact location. Here’s the video.
Parenting hack: Ever tried calming a baby in the car? A California dad took a close-up photo of Mom’s face, turned it into a large cutout and slapped it on the back seat. Now, the little one giggles at her favorite person from the backseat. Adorable video here.
Underwater drone: An UUV (uncrewed underwater vehicle) called Manta Ray just underwent testing off the coast of California. Shaped just like its namesake, the massive Manta Ray can glide below the waves with almost zero wake. It can also be taken apart and reassembled in the field, Ikea-style, for easy transport. Check it out in action!