Rich Little is one of the most impressive impressionists in the world. He can do more than 200 voices. And they’ve carried him through an amazing comedic career. He can do nearly any Hollywood star you can think of. He does every U.S. president from Kennedy to Bush. Though he’s from Canada, he has become an American comedy icon.
1 in 6 vehicles has faulty airbags - is yours on the list?
The 2010s have not been a kind decade to the auto industry. Manufacturing and sales declined, consumers started switching to alternative fuel vehicles and scandals like Dieselgate rocked the public’s trust in veteran automakers. Click or tap here to learn more about the Dieselgate debacle.
Aside from Dieselgate, another auto industry scandal has continued to put drivers in danger years after it was first brought to life: The Takata airbag recall. A range of faulty airbags produced by Takata have caused the deaths of 16 Americans — and millions of cars on the road may still have these airbags installed.
To protect the public, the Association of Global Automakers has started a campaign that makes consumers aware of the free safety recall. If your car was manufactured between 2000 and 2018, you’ll want to check your VIN as soon as possible.
Automakers join forces with Hollywood to raise awareness of airbag recall
The Takata airbag recall is currently the largest in U.S. history, with over 41 million vehicles and 34 auto brands affected by defective airbags. That means 1 in 6 cars on the road today are in danger. To raise awareness, the Association of Global Automakers has put created a promotional website with the help of acclaimed actor Morgan Freeman.
Together, they’ve put together a video where Mr. Freeman explains the recall, as well as the nature of the airbag defect.
As he explains, the problem lies in a part inside the airbag that can potentially shatter when the airbag deploys. This is not unlike the effect of a grenade, and the shrapnel produced by the defective airbag can cause serious injury and even death. To date, 16 Americans have died from Takata airbags, and hundreds have reported serious injuries as well.
Related: Top 6 gadgets to upgrade your car
The airbag risks are present no matter what causes the system to deploy, which underscores the urgency for consumers to check if their cars are eligible. Repairs under the recall are covered free of charge, and can be performed at your auto brand’s local dealership if they offer service.
How can I find out if I’m eligible for the Takata airbag recall?
Thousands of drivers have already had their airbags serviced and replaced under the recall — and it’s not too late for you to do so as well.
To qualify, you’ll need to check if your VIN is covered. Thankfully, the Association of Global Automakers has put together a website where users can get more information on the recall process and check if their car is affected. Click or tap here to visit the SafeAirBags information page.
On this page, you’ll see a box on the left where you can enter your VIN. Type it here, complete the Captcha and click Check VIN to continue.
Keep in mind not every automaker is affected by the recall. To save you time, here is the complete list of automakers that qualify:
- Acura
- Audi
- BMW
- Cadillac
- Chevrolet
- Chrysler
- Daimler Trucks
- Daimler Vans
- Dodge
- Dodge RAM
- Ferrari
- Ford
- GMC
- Honda
- Infiniti
- Jaguar
- Jeep
- Land Rover
- Lexus
- Lincoln
- Mazda
- Mercedes-Benz
- Mercury
- Mitsubishi
- Nissan
- Pontiac
- Saab
- Saturn
- Scion
- Subaru
- Tesla
- Toyota
- Volkswagen
If your car’s brand is missing from this list, you’re probably in the clear.
If you’re the owner of a Honda, though, it’s important to know the majority of cases involving defective Takata airbags occurred in Honda branded vehicles. You should check your VIN as soon as possible and, if eligible, prioritize your repair.
As bad as the danger is from faulty parts like airbags, new threats like car hacking remain ever-present on the horizon. Click or tap to see why your car may be at risk for cyberattacks.
Here's why Netflix should be worried about this new streaming service
Once the king of streaming services, Netflix’s dominance is slipping away. A new streaming service will be online soon and it’s stealing your “Friends.” It’s already been a rough year for Netflix after finding out Disney will be taking away tons of popular content. We’ll tell you all about the new streaming service and why Netflix should be worried.
Back from the dead - Hollywood spends major cash to resurrect entertainers for movies and concerts
Open/download audioThe entertainment industry is spending millions to resurrect dead celebrities using sophisticated digital technology that will ensure that iconic figures like Michael Jackson, Carrie Fisher and Audrey Hepburn live on forever. Could this technology replace real life actors? And what are the moral ramifications of this amazing technology? In this Komando on Demand podcast, Kim speaks with some of the digital wizards who work major movie magic to bring deceased actors and entertainers back to the big screen.
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Disney takes over Hulu, a company with serious data collection issues
The Walt Disney Company’s march toward total entertainment/media domination continues. Disney now has full operational control of the streaming service Hulu. Earlier this year, Disney announced its own streaming service, Disney+.
This is the place where Hollywood gets its vintage gadgets
Have you ever watched a show that’s set in a specific period, and you see an old gadget and think, “Where’d they get that”? Maybe it’s an old laser disk or even a WWII radar unit — all these things are flashes from the past. But, the real way these shows or movies get these gadgets is more surprising than you may think.
Celebrities are coming back from the dead
There’s a growing trend in Hollywood … using digital effects to bring actors back from the dead. What’s even more astonishing is this digital necromancy isn’t limited to the big screen. It’s also coming to a stage near you, very soon.
YouTube now offers free movies like 'Rocky' and 'Pink Panther'
YouTube started as a website where amateur video makers could upload their simple videos for the world to see. It has since developed into a full-fledged entertainment platform with everything from video essays to serialized shows. But now, YouTube is going one step further by allowing anyone to watch full Hollywood movies in their entirety. You won’t believe some of the movies you can watch right now for free!
Free Hollywood-grade video editor is tops and you can't beat the price
Just the equipment can be rather intimidating and the apps expensive and, for some, difficult to learn and use. Still, if they weren’t so pricey, more of us would likely at least give it a shot.
How the power grid can go down from a cyberattack
Open/download audioIs this a frightening Hollywood movie plot? A weaponized cyberattack can quickly take down critical utilities and infrastructures like the electrical power grid, leaving millions of people vulnerable to the elements, and the U.S. economy vulnerable to ruin. The aftermath of such a severe attack can take years before we can recover (if ever). In this episode, we explore the vulnerabilities of cyberattacks on our power grid and what’s being done to prevent this from happening.
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Secret Netflix page where you can request TV shows and movies
Who isn’t addicted to Netflix at this point? It’s one of the most popular streaming services around and with good reason.
Not only does it stream some of the best Hollywood movies and TV shows, but it has a huge collection of originals to look forward too. I’m sure we’ve all spent many weekends binge-watching shows like “13 Reasons Why,” “Stranger Things” and “Black Mirror.”
You need to remove any app you installed in Facebook
As part of their big privacy revamp, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced a full audit and investigation of all third-party apps. Two months in, the results are public – and somewhat stunning. Facebook has suspended 200 apps for possible data misuse.
Get millions of free books, movies, music and software
Streaming services like Netflix and Hulu are great, but what if you are looking for an old classic that they just don’t carry? Sometimes it’s frustrating when you can’t find a copy of your favorite movie from the 1960s. It’s not just movie rental stores that are disappearing either. Record shops have been fading away for years also. It would be nice if there was a way to find some of the more unattainable things online. Don’t worry, there is!
Facebook is worse than a bad Hollywood movie.
Open/download audioThe latest revelation about Facebook sounds more like a plot from a low-budget, direct-to-video, Hollywood flop with a supervillain and a plan to take over the world. In a nutshell, as long as Facebook continues to grow, it doesn’t matter what harm comes from bad guys.
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Watch 40,000 TV shows and movies for free
If you’re like many people, you love watching movies. If so, you probably use online streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Video and you catch classics on TV every chance you get.
Or maybe you’re a big TV fan. The days when TV was called a “vast wasteland” are long gone. Now, it’s easy to find highly produced TV shows with complex storylines and multi-dimensional characters played by actors best known for making movies.
Hollywood home movies
A new deal puts Hollywood films in your home while they’re still in theaters
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Streaming service channel comparison charts - Hulu, YouTube, Sling and AT&T TV Now
Listings on the chart on this page may vary based on your location. Check with the providers to verify their most up-to-date channel offerings. If we’ve made an error, please let us know.
Hulu With Live TV — We present its basic channel lineup. It has two additional packages — Entertainment Add-on and Espanol Add-on — that offer even more channels. To view, go to hulu.com and select “Channels,” then “Customize with add-ons” and select “Network Add-ons.”
Free software to replace Microsoft Office, Photoshop, Outlook, Quicken and more
Need to fill your computer with software but don’t have a fortune to spend? Try these excellent free alternatives.