The Wednesday drag is real. I’ve got a few quick tech tips to help you reset and power through.
Walt Disney lives again? Kinda. He’s being turned into a lifelike robot for Disney parks, so guests can see what it might’ve been like to meet him. It’ll look like him at age 62 and use real lines from his speeches. The twist? His granddaughter says he would never want this.
Mach 3.5
The speed of the world’s first supersonic artillery shell, the Sceptre TRBM 155HG. It can hit targets up to 100 miles away with 5-meter accuracy. That puts it well outside the reach of most jamming systems. How? AI, sensors and GPS help it correct its path mid-flight. It’s like Call of Duty, but real.
📂 Open files fast: Press Ctrl + O (Windows) or Command + O (Mac) to instantly launch the file dialog in most programs. Even better? Select multiple files and use this shortcut to open them all at once. It’s a real time-saver.
📞 Talk to a human: Head to this site next time you need to find the right customer service number. They list everything from airlines to dating apps and stores. Bookmark it now and thank yourself later when you reach a real person.
🔥 Mac scam spreading: A new phishing scam makes your Mac pretend to freeze, throw a meltdown alert, then sweet-talk you into handing over your Apple ID like it’s a lost kitten. It’s fake. It’s bad. And it’s targeting typo-prone Mac users who think “MacOsHelp.vip” is a real Apple site.
274,000
The number of Ford Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators recalled over brake issues. Apparently, Ford’s version of stopping power is just hoping real hard. The recall affects 2022–2024 models with front brake lines that might leak, reducing function. If your brake pedal suddenly feels like a soft pillow, maybe don’t test your luck.
🚨 Windows alert: New password-stealing malware is spreading fast. It shows a fake “I Am Not A Robot” CAPTCHA and tells you to open the Windows Run box and type a command. Huge red flag. No legit site will ever ask you to do that. If it pops up, close the page immediately. And yes, real-time protection helps. I use TotalAV.
$20,000
What some folks are dropping on hand-painted portraits. In an age where AI can remix your face in 0.5 seconds, more Americans are actually paying real humans to immortalize them the analog way. It’s slower, pricier and way more intimate. Also, no filters, just your raw, regal essence (and maybe your dog).
3 Hours
How early TSA recommends you show up if you don’t have a Real ID. Starting May 7, showing up with your regular old license could earn you a one-way ticket to the “extra screening” zone (aka airport purgatory). No star in the corner? Better bring a passport, or pack snacks and a Kindle for the line.
🏠 Real estate’s shady practice: Some agents are using secret signals to keep commissions high. Sellers used to pay 5% to 6%, split between both agents. But starting Aug. 17, they’ll be banned from discussing commission splits in home listings. The work-around? Hidden clues, like three cookies in a photo to hint at a 3% cut.
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.
🎭 Deepfakes just got sneakier: It’s getting harder to figure out if that person is real or not. A good way to spot them used to be skin color changes that matched a heartbeat. Bad news: New AI can mimic those. How can you tell? The person’s facial features are too perfect, or they worked at CGI Fridays.
How to tell if a job applicant isn’t real
Hackers are using AI to create fake job candidates that look and sound real on Zoom. Try this pro trick to spot them.
🧠 ChatGPT passed the Turing test: Yep, the big one where a machine tries to convince you it’s human. In a study, people chatted with the new GPT-4.5 for five minutes, and 73% thought it was a real person. The bot was told to act like a slightly awkward, internet-savvy introvert with dry humor. Without that personality prompt, it only fooled 36%.
🤳 Skip the digital zoom: It makes photos look worse by stretching pixels instead of capturing real detail. Instead, use your phone’s highest megapixel setting, take the shot and then crop in on what actually matters. Bonus: Before you snap the pic, tap to focus so there’s no annoying blur.
🕵️ Scammers posing as the FBI: The lowest of the low. Scammers claim to be from the Internet Crime Complaint Center and offer to help you recover stolen money, then refer you to another “agent.” That’s when they ask for financial info and money. The real FBI won’t contact you like this or ask for payment.
⏩ Time flies: Time-lapse videos can make a simple sunset look magical. On your iPhone or Android, open the Camera app and select Time-lapse mode. Tap Record to start, and press it again when you’re done. FYI, 30 minutes of real time is about 10 seconds of video. Give it a shot tonight.
Restore old photos with AI
Scratched, faded, or torn family photos? AI tools can restore them in seconds. Here’s how to do it yourself.
🔍 Crime authors have a secret weapon: When they need to get the gory details right, they turn to a Facebook group called Cops and Writers. There, authors can ask real officers how much blood would actually come out of a wound, or whether it’s “spatter,” not “splatter” (paywall link).