Today, by popular demand, I’m sharing some of my most-used apps and a few other great ones you might not know about. Most of these are free with in-app purchases.
And one more: MyRadar is Barry’s favorite weather app for hyper-local forecasts and notifications. (iPhone | Android)
😂 Speaking of … I meant to download a calendar app for my phone, but I downloaded a colander app. Now, my battery just keeps draining.
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In the past week, I’ve used AI to analyze a loved one’s health care records, create replies for a bunch of emails and map out two weeks in Europe. I used it to make a pic of me look better, too.
I know the wide world of AI tools is overwhelming, so I’m breaking it down today. Consider what’s below your primer on where to start if you’re brand new to the AI game or want to try out some new tools.
Green Day is going all out: To celebrate their “Dookie” album’s 30th anniversary, the California punk rock band has released “demastered” versions of their songs played on some hilariously inconvenient formats, including “Pulling Teeth” on a toothbrush, “Chump” on a Teddy Ruxpin and “Welcome to Paradise” on a Game Boy cartridge.
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🎁 Bring the holidays to life with these fun picks.
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🪟 A little fun: Window Swap lets you view the world from another person’s window. I saw a tree swaying in the wind in Warsaw, Poland, and a dreamy ocean view in Honolulu. It’s a lot of fun!
🧬 A happy ending: Luis Armando Albino was just 6 years old when he was abducted from a California park in 1951. He was taken to the East Coast and raised by another couple as their own. Over 70 years later, a gal who turned out to be his biological niece took a DNA test for fun and found a 22% match — to her long-lost uncle. She went to the police, who reopened the missing person’s case, and Luis was reunited with his biological family.
What does the acronym URL stand for? Is it … A.) Uniform Resource Locator, B.) Universal Retrieval Link, C.) Unified Reference Library or D.) User Request Log?
Isn’t too old for cheerleading! Ilagene Doehring got a blast from the past when Michigan’s Merrill High cheer team surprised her at her nursing home. Over 80 years after her stint as a high school cheerleader, she joined the squad for a performance. You have to see the video! What did the cheerleader drink before the big game? A root beer!
🎁 Isn’t that what the holidays are all about?
For the animal lover, a mini dog park for their desk that comes with a little fire hydrant or a zen garden cat litter box (under $9).
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🥳 Life feeling a little too serious lately? I’ve got the fix (or five!) for that.
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This art is for sale on Amazon. Can you find the hidden tiger?
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Paper maps never win at poker. They always fold.
Dino-mite: That little dino game Google displays in Chrome when your internet is out is surprisingly fun. You can play it even if your connection is good. Type chrome://dino into the Chrome browser address bar and hit Enter. Use the spacebar to hop over obstacles.
Travel prepared like a good little scout. (Fun fact: I was a Boy Scout leader. It’s a long story.) Bring these nifty gadgets to fix:
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How much kids should read for a better adulthood. 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 recommendations? These are the bestselling kids’ books on Amazon.
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Forget polite vacation autoreplies: Folks are getting sassy with their out-of-office messages (paywall link), like, “I’m out having way more fun than emailing you back. I’ll probably forget to reply.” The whole point? No fake promises to get back to you ASAP … which none of us can do after a trip, anyway!
Still using Facebook Messenger? Might as well have fun. Tap the + (plus sign) in the bottom left during a chat, then hit the icon that looks like a game controller. Hello-o-o, timewasters! Play classics like Snake, Pac-Man, Solitaire and Tomb Runner without any extra downloads.
🌲 Donate to your favorite nature-ity: A 53-year-old Colorado hiker was rescued after four days missing in the backcountry. She was on a “spiritual retreat” without food or her phone. If you think this sounds like fun (and, if so, ask a friend), toss this Spot Satellite (33% off today) in your pack. You can send an SOS to friends, family or authorities.
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We’re less than a month out from Labor Day (and football season). A cookout without lawn games is a very sad affair.
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