Twofer

March 22, 2024

🛑 Twofer: Getting texts you didn’t sign up for? If it’s a marketing text you opted into for a coupon code, just text back, “STOP.” But remember, that works for spammers, not scammers. Scammers want you to text back to confirm you’re on the other end. If you never signed up for texts, hit the Report Junk button on your iPhone or forward the message to 7726 (that’s SPAM) for most big U.S. carriers.

Tags: Apple iPhone, scammers

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Would you pay $2,565 for a good night’s sleep?

I feel like crap if I don’t get a good night’s sleep. I bet you do, too. We’re not alone. The National Sleep Foundation says one in three of us isn’t getting enough ZZZs.

Shorting yourself on shut-eye can cause big problems, everything from less creativity and heart issues to increasing your risk of depression. And that means some folks are shelling out major cash on luxury sleep retreats, aka “sleep tourism.” Just when you think you’ve seen it all.

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Sick of QuickBooks? 3 accounting and budgeting software options

You shouldn’t do some things alone as a business owner, like managing your budget. Sure, you could try, and you very well may succeed. But it can take a lot of time and might cause a huge mess later on.

That’s why tons of people use QuickBooks to help with their budgeting. If you haven’t heard of it, QuickBooks is a popular small business accounting software. Most people utilize it because it’s versatile and easy on the wallet — but so are a lot of other programs you could be using.

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Nvidia is close to replacing some human nurses with AI, all for a mere $9 an hour. Yep, you read that right. These AI nurses will do things like guide you through colonoscopies, help manage your breast cancer care and, of course, keep your doc in the loop. Check out the video. With the current nursing shortage, this could def take off.

A pristine copy of Super Mario 64, released in 1996, is the most expensive video game ever sold. Did the cartridge sell for … A.) $1.6 million, B.) $1.1 million, C.) $500,659 or D.) $221,812?

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How to find and remove unwanted devices connected to your network

If you use wireless internet at home, you probably have several devices connected to your network. It’s so easy to keep piling on additional devices, too. Your new laptop, another video game console, a tablet or even your friend’s phone.

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Scummy data brokers caught selling military secrets — and your data, too

Data brokers are the companies that make billions of dollars gathering up, then selling or sharing our data. It’s used for everything from targeted ads (that’s how they knew you drive a Subaru) to spam (and why you get so many bogus phone calls).

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Microsoft is nudging Windows 11 and 10 users to switch their Chrome browser’s default search to Bing. The tactic? A sneaky pop-up ad offering free access to ChatGPT-4 if you switch. Click “Yes” and Microsoft automatically changes your search settings to Bing.

Tech tip: Break up with your browser

It’s not you, Explorer. It’s me. Just kidding, it’s definitely you. If your relationship with your current browser is getting stale, you can get a fresh window on the web without losing all of your data.

It’s easier than you’d think to pack up your bookmarks, saved passwords and favorite websites — hint, hint — and move on. You can count on me, your tech-relationship guru, for advice on switching when you’re ready to see other browsers.

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AI showdown: I put 3 chatbots to the test

As I scour 35 to 40 websites a day to make sure I’m up to speed on the tech world, I’m seeing a common theme: drama. There’s a lot of it in the AI world right now, and unsurprisingly, it’s mainly humans causing the buzz. While everyone from Elon Musk to The New York Times is busy suing OpenAI, I’m just focused on whether these AI chatbots actually work.

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10 surprising side hustles to make some extra cash

“Kim, how can I make money from home?” I’ve been getting this one for years and years. And guess what? Between new apps and the rise of the gig economy, it’s never been easier to make an extra buck.

Entrepreneur (paywall link) gathered some weird and wonderful side hustles, plus real examples of regular folks who make a pretty penny. Don’t worry, no Uber on this list — but I did include an option for those who love to drive.

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