Fifi’s owner actually came on my radio show to give us more details about Fifi and what Amazon is doing to cover up their drivers’ bad decisions.
The truth behind airplane mode (no, it’s not a myth)
ChatGPT
You know the drill. You find your seat, wrestle your carry-on into the overhead bin like it’s a CrossFit challenge, and then, ding! The flight attendant reminds you to switch to airplane mode.
So … what happens if you don’t? Are you going to crash the plane? Trigger the emergency slide midair?
🛑 Da plane, da plane!
Let’s start with the obvious: Your phone isn’t powerful enough to take down a jetliner. Planes are built tough, with shielding and redundant systems to prevent any one gadget from causing a disaster. Your phone? Not that powerful. Sorry, Apple.
But if you and everyone else leave your phones on full blast, the radio noise from all those signals can interfere with the pilots’ communications.
It’s not dramatic. It’s just obnoxious. Think low-level buzzing and static in the pilot’s headset when they’re trying to talk to air traffic control.
It won’t crash the plane. It might make the pilot say, “Can you repeat that?” to air traffic control, which, y’know, isn’t ideal when they’re, oh, coordinating more than a few 900,000-pound hunks of metal going 500 mph across an invisible highway in the sky.
🛩️ It’s not the paint job
This interference is more likely on planes with older electronics, typically ones built before 2005. Some older aircraft have had systems upgraded though. It’s not about the plane’s birthday, it’s about what’s under the hood.
That’s why the rule is still around: It’s easier to just have everyone use airplane mode than risk messing with cockpit comms on the one plane with vintage wiring.
📶 No bars anyway
At 35,000 feet, your phone is desperately pinging towers it flew past five minutes ago. It won’t connect. All it does is kill your battery and waste your time.
Don’t panic, shopper
🛟 From power outages to self-defense, you’ll want this gear.
- Stay charged up and get alerts with a hand-crank radio (17% off).
- A smoke & carbon monoxide detector (25% off) lets you act fast.
- Roadside trouble? Keep a car safety tool ($29) in your glove box.
- This first aid kit ($40) has everything for bumps, cuts and burns.
- Clip one of these personal alarm sirens ($19) to your key chain.
- The meals in this emergency food bucket (5% off) last 25 years.
🚨 Don’t stop now: Stock up smart with more emergency must-haves on my page to stay prepped for anything.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
📻 A face for radio: Catch my award-winning show this weekend. I’m on over 510 stations across the USA! Find your local station and tune in, or get my show’s podcast so you can listen anytime, anywhere.
AM radio in every vehicle
Automakers tried to kill AM radio, but Congress isn’t buying their excuses. A full Senate vote is coming, here’s the scoop.
What would you do? A San Jose woman got buried in hundreds and hundreds of Amazon packages. Think faux leather cheap car seat covers she never ordered from a seller in China. Turns out, shady return scammers were dumping rejected goods on her doorstep. Amazon’s response? A $100 gift card and radio silence … until the news shamed them into action.
Every 44 minutes
Something in deep space is flashing, and scientists have no idea what it is. It’s 14,700 light-years away and sends out bursts of both radio waves and X-rays. For the record, that isn’t supposed to be possible. Theories? Maybe an ancient magnetar or a white dwarf binary system. Or hear me out: Aliens.
😎 Miss me this weekend? If you didn’t catch my national radio show, I’ve got you. Enter your ZIP code into my station finder to see where to tune in next weekend, or grab the podcast and listen whenever it works for you. Your earbuds will thank you.
👋 Weekend chores are more fun with company. Catch my award-winning weekend radio show on a station near you. Not sure where and when? Enter your ZIP code into my handy-dandy station finder, or get my show’s podcast to listen on your schedule.
👋 Weekend chores are more fun with company. Catch my award-winning weekend radio show on a station near you. Not sure where and when? Enter your ZIP code into my handy-dandy station finder, or get my show’s podcast to listen on your schedule.
👋 Weekend chores are more fun with company. Catch my award-winning weekend radio show on a station near you. Not sure where and when? Enter your ZIP code into my handy-dandy station finder, or get my show’s podcast to listen on your schedule.
🎧 Join me this weekend! My national radio show is hitting 500+ stations coast to coast, and you’re on the VIP list. I’ll be sharing smart tech tips, digital life advice, crazy stories that didn’t make the newsletter and taking your calls! Find your local station or get the podcast.
🐷 I think, therefore I ham: Ham radio operators will be setting up in parks to talk with others across the country today. Use the Field Day Locator: Type your town and state under Location or Call Sign, click a marker and get the details. Fun times!
Down under deception: Most listeners in Australia thought “Thy” from “Workdays with Thy” was a real radio host for six months. The truth that she’s actually an AI from ElevenLabs only came out after some listeners dug into her backstory. Thy’s next career move? Running for office.
🎉 You’re invited! This weekend, my award-winning national radio show is broadcasting on 420+ stations across the U.S. I’m talking tech tips, digital life hacks, wild stories I can’t fit in the newsletter and taking calls from listeners just like you. Find your local station or get the podcast.
⏩ 10-second shortcut: You don’t need your mouse to rewind or fast-forward on YouTube. Press K to pause or play, J to rewind 10 seconds, and L to fast-forward 10 seconds. Be sure to subscribe to my channel so you never miss my podcast or radio show.
Be positive, no matter watt: Scientists are on the verge of a major breakthrough: transmitting electricity wirelessly using microwaves, radio waves and lasers. The idea? Beam power to a satellite or antenna that converts it back into usable electricity, no wires needed.
I love the weekend: My national radio show is airing all across the country. With over 400 stations strong, find your closest one using our super-duper station locator map. And because I aim to please, you can listen to my show as a podcast or watch it on YouTube.
Amateur radio gets through when nothing else can
After Hurricane Helene, a group quietly stepped in before anyone else. Now, after Milton hit Florida, they’re back, but rarely make the headlines.
Bosses are firing Gen Z workers fast
Gen Z grads are getting the axe — 6 in 10 employers have already let them go. Plus, a massive security breach exposed the private info of millions. Find out how one guy spent $1K on Facebook Ads to find love and about a new law that could change your car radio.