Can the internet affect your memory? Here’s what a new study reveals.
How to get a job as a mystery diner
Any restaurant worth its salt wants to know what it’s doing right and what it’s screwing up. And they’re willing to pay you for that info. But they can’t just judge servers and kitchen staff when they’re on their best behavior. They need someone undercover.
Enter mystery dining. Restaurants get genuine feedback and you get to eat out for free. I found out how to have your cake and eat review it.
How it works
Yes, you really get your food free of charge, including tips and travel expenses, usually in the form of a voucher or gift card.
It is a job, though. You’ll have to give a ton of feedback about your restaurant visit. How was the food? How was the service? What could’ve been better? You’ll need to have an eye for detail and a good memory. You’ll also need to take some photos as part of the trip.
Oh, and you won’t need to worry about an awkward confrontation at the table. You’ll submit all your intel afterward to the company you’re working for.
Most of them have online portals, too. Once in their system, log into your account, check available assignments, choose one to complete and upload your results.
Who are these “mystery” companies?
Mystery dining agencies act as a middleman between you and larger restaurants that pay them for intel. Here are a few of the most reputable:
- Second to None has been in the biz for 30 years and can get you gigs in high-end and fast-food dining. Pretty sure getting paid to critique an In-N-Out burger is Barry’s dream job. They also work in retail if shopping’s more your speed.
- Eye Spy CC focuses on dining and has excellent reviews from reviewers who, uh, review for them. Shoppers report getting large enough budgets to go to high-end restaurants and really enjoy themselves. Nice!
- Market Force is another heavy-hitter in dining and retail. Diners say vouchers usually start small, but once you’ve worked with a company for a while, you can get larger assignments and additional pay.
FYI: This is a “secret” from restaurants but not from the IRS. If you make over $600 with any org, you must file a 1099 like a regular independent contractor.
How to apply
Ask Kim: 'Can you help me choose a new PC and printer?'
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Every week, Kim is asked tech-related questions. Which organizers are best for home offices? What apps are the safest for kids to use? What are brands worth the cost?
Kim recently received one question that stood out. Marion from Tennessee explained she helps run two small companies. They want to upgrade two desktop computers and a printer since they have been very slow. She’d like to know what fast computers and printers Kim recommends.
🏃🏼♂️ Fake it ’til you jog it: There’s now an app called Fake My Run that lets you draw made-up jogging routes and upload them to Strava like you’re a cardio god. Inspired by “Strava mules” (yes, people pay others to run for them), the app’s developer says it’s a comment on running’s toxic clout-chasing culture. I was running down the street where the houses were numbered, 64k, 128k, 256k, 512k and 1MB. What a trip down memory lane!
5 minutes
That’s all the exercise older adults need to boost brainpower. New research says huffing and puffing for minutes a day (think brisk walks, pool laps or scrubbing a tub like it owes you money) can significantly improve memory, focus and multitasking. TL;DR: You don’t need CrossFit, start with crossing the room.
Mac feeling slow? Something might be hogging resources in the background. Open Activity Monitor to see what’s going on. Check the CPU and Memory tabs, and sort by % CPU or Memory Used. If you spot a big app running, double-click it and hit Quit. FYI: Don’t close system processes.
Macbook Pro 13
This is the latest and greatest MacBook Apple has to offer. You’re getting up to five times the graphics speed compared to previous versions. This 13-inch MacBook pro has speed and power, including an advanced neural engine.
Chromebook lagging? Press Search + Escape to open the Task Manager. You’ll see a list of apps, browser tabs and extensions. Look for anything using a lot of memory or CPU (processing power). If something stands out, click it and select End Process to force it to close.
400 occupations
Analyzed, and researchers found taxi and ambulance drivers are least likely to die from Alzheimer’s. The reason is interesting. They’re constantly using their brains to navigate, which keeps the hippocampus healthy. That’s the part of the brain tied to memory and spatial skills. And no, using GPS doesn’t count, but folding a map does.
57 years old
The new Spanish Scrabble world champion. This is wild. Nigel Richards is from New Zealand and doesn’t speak any Spanish. He has an encyclopedic memory, memorizing words as soon as he reads them. He’s also won the Scrabble world championship multiple times in French and English (paywall link). Reminds me … My dog accidentally swallowed some Scrabble tiles. Her next poop could spell disaster. (Oh, that was so good.)