How is this legal in 48 out of 50 states? You can purchase one of these robo-dogs for just under $10,000. It’s a pass for me.
Trust winter forecasts again with the top 4 most accurate weather apps
Over the weekend, 10 million Americans across 11 states were under winter weather alerts. Yep, it’s that time of year already.
If your weather “forecasts” — quotation marks intentional — feel useless, I’ve got something you should know: Weather apps pull information from different data networks, and those networks vary in quality as reported by orgs like ForecastAdvisor. Some even vary by region of the U.S. I’ll show you the best to use depending on where you live.
A change in the weather
If you do any searching online about weather apps, you’ll still see “Global Weather Corporation” recommended as one of the most accurate weather forecasts, especially for the West Coast. It’s true, but GWC isn’t available to everyday folks like us anymore. Those services have been bundled off to automotive and data companies so only they can access them — womp womp.
The Weather Channel
Who’s really surprised this long-term player — also known as weather.com — is still at the top of the game when it comes to accuracy? Several apps pull their info from Weather Channel data, so you’ve got some choices other than The Weather Channel app.
Weather Underground is known for its hyper-local weather data and unique network of personal weather stations. You can also check out Storm Radar or the Google Weather app, which pulls data from The Weather Channel.
Best for: The South and Midwest, including in snowstorm-prone states like the Dakotas, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan and Vermont.
Weather in Microsoft Start
Microsoft, a weather guru? Microsoft Start has a proprietary weather app named the most accurate global forecast provider. Microsoft commissioned the study, so take it with a grain of salt. The trick is a mix of pulling accurate data and using Microsoft AI powers to get the best predictions. Use it here or download the Start app.
Best for: East Coast states and, for you snowbirds, Hawaii.
Weather.gov
EV stats revealed: States with the most chargers
Quick, take your best guess! Which state has the most chargers per registered electric vehicle (EV)?
Nope, it’s not California — though it is the state with the most EVs and the most EV chargers, all told. There are about 43,000 chargers (that’s 47 for every thousand EVs). That’s below the national average.
U.S. states are holding onto $70 billion in unclaimed assets: Visit the National Association of Unclaimed Property online to find the link for your state’s treasury website. Pro tip: If you have a frequently misspelled name, go by a nickname or have any former names, check those, too. You never know — I helped one listener find $25,000. No, I didn’t get a cut.
What does ChatGPT think of you?
The Daily Mail asked ChatGPT to generate a cliché about residents in each of the fifty states. Here’s what it wrote back, in 60 seconds.
🏈 No more Mr. Dice guy: Online betting is legal in 30 states, and athletes know that better than anyone. Auburn Tigers QB Payton Thorne says he’s been getting random payment requests from people who lost money on bets after his team loses. He’s not the only one. Never gamble more than you’re willing to lose.
This week in 1997, a group of hackers cracked code written in Data Encryption Standard, which was designed to be impenetrable. Oops. How long did it take the hackers to crack? Was it … A.) Five days, B.) Five weeks, C.) Five months or D.) Five years?
10 happiest U.S. states
Are Hawaii, Maryland, New Jersey, Utah, Delaware, Minnesota, Connecticut, Idaho, Nebraska and Massachusetts. WalletHub analyzed states on a 100-point scale. Totally agree with Hawaii! Sorry, but here are the 10 least happy states.
Porch pirates are worst in these states
What is the average value of a stolen package? About $50. Who are the ones doing that stealing? Data shows that 94% of porch pirates are 45 and younger, and 67% are middle class. That’s a little surprising, wouldn’t you say?
Where does your ISP fall among the fastest and slowest in the country?
Do you work from home? Is someone in your house a hardcore gamer? Do you stream high-definition content from multiple devices simultaneously? All these factors will help determine if you’re paying too much for internet speed. Here’s what you need to know.
Remember that hot site Cameo? The platform that lets folks pay for celeb shoutouts is stone-cold broke. The former $1 billion unicorn can’t afford to pay a $600,000 fine after violating the FTC’s rules for celebrity endorsements. New York and 29 other states involved will have to settle for splitting $100,000. If you want to buy a Cameo, better get it now.
🔫 Change is inevitable, except from vending machines: Several grocery stores in four states, including Oklahoma and Alabama, now have AI-powered vending machines that don’t dispense snacks; they sell bullets. American Rounds says their facial-scanning tech can verify the age of a buyer. I’m sure it’ll be able to detect if someone is wearing a mask or a ton of makeup, too, right?
🛰️ Get cheaper Starlink internet: Folks in one of the 28 U.S. states with “extra capacity” can get SpaceX’s Starlink dish for $200 off ($299, plus shipping and tax) and $90 a month for internet. That’s a huge discount — the dish is regularly $499 and the service is normally around $120 a month. If you’re considering Starlink, jump on it now.
Your new side hustle? Digital notary! That is, if you’re in one of the 47 U.S. states that now allows notary publics to operate completely online. Once you’re certified, you can notarize docs from home at your convenience. Check out the requirements for your state on the National Notary Association’s website.
🤰🏻 Born to swim: Couples are turning to Facebook groups to find cheap sperm donors, but the real cost may come in court. In states without clear laws, including Michigan, Indiana and Ohio, if a mom needs public assistance, the donor could be liable for child support — or even declared the lawful father.
Slap on the wrist: Verizon, AT&T and T‑Mobile will pay $10.22 million to a group of states to settle claims of false advertising. Their ads promised unlimited data plans and free phones, but guess what? Restrictions applied, conditions had to be met, and hidden fees lurked in the fine print. Check your bills.
Palmer Candy Company is recalling its white-coated confectionery items due to a possible salmonella contamination. The FDA says these snacks, including pretzels, popcorn and chocolate, are sold in 17 states at stores like Walmart, Hy-Vee, Target and Dollar General. Got some? Return ‘em where you bought ’em for a full refund.
Free filing: The IRS is testing a free tax filing tool called Direct File in 12 states. Finally! Of course, there’s a catch: It’s only for folks in certain areas with specific incomes. Want in? Check here to see if you’re eligible.
Another country just banned TikTok on certain devices - Is it banned in your state?
Social media and video-sharing platform TikTok is fighting an uphill battle to remain available on mobile devices. Calls to ban the app have intensified over the last few months, even though the company assured U.S. senators that it is committed to protecting user data.