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Slay your vampire electronics
Since Halloween’s in the air, let’s talk about something spooky: vampire electronics. These everyday gadgets quietly suck electricity (and money) when you’re not using them.
They’re called “phantom loads” or “standby power,” and they’re everywhere from your cable box to your soundbar to your printer. Even when they’re “off,” they’re drawing power.
The Department of Energy says this ghost power costs the average household $165 a year. That’s not nothing.
🧄 Use the tech garlic
You can hunt these energy vampires with a device called a Kill A Watt. It’s a plug-in meter that shows exactly how much power something’s using whether it’s running, idle or supposedly off.
It’s super easy to use. Simply plug your gadget into the Kill A Watt, plug that into the wall, and boom, instant readout. You’ll find out fast which “off” things are actually draining juice.
So what should you check first? Start with the sneaky stuff:
- TVs, cable boxes, game consoles
- Microwaves and coffee makers with digital clocks
- Chargers plugged in with nothing attached
- Smart speakers and smart home hubs
- Laptops that never fully shut down
You don’t need to check your fridge or Wi-Fi router. This isn’t frontier living.
Want to go all out? Snag a smart home energy monitor system that hooks directly to your circuit breaker. They cost a bit more, but they’ll save you even more money. I found a great one that’s $70 off right now.
🦇 Slay your energy vampires
Yank the plug, or better yet, use a power strip with on/off switches. These ones with a flat plug are top-rated and 25% off. One flip and you’ll drive a stake through a whole row of vampires.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Fang-tastic Halloween faves
You’ve got two weeks to go from “meh” to “monstrous.”
📺 Mini smart projector (44% off): Stream spooky movies right in your front yard. You’ll be an instant trick-or-treating hot spot.
Balloon lights (41% off, 100 pieces): Turn any balloon into a glowing orb. Reusable for any party that needs extra sparkle.
🍫 Assorted candy bars (25% off): Butterfinger, Crunch, Baby Ruth … these classics vanish faster than a ghost at midnight.
Wreath hanger (20% off): No nails, no tape. Change it up for every holiday without leaving a mark on your door.
🔦 LED flashlights (13% off, six-pack): Easy to carry and bright enough to spot lurking ghouls or just the driveway steps.
Promo code of the day: DENIM15 gets you 15% off new Amazon Essentials denim, but only through tomorrow.
🍬 Treat yourself: From creepy to sweet, click here for more scary-good deals.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Protecting yourself from voice scams
Voice cloning has left the lab. Soon enough, you might hear your voice and think, Wait, is that me or an AI?
AI isn’t just being used to revive dead rappers or prank your boss with Drake impressions. Scammers are generating voices to fake kidnappings, drain bank accounts and impersonate your kid in crisis.
📱 Connect AirPods to Android: AirPods can work without an iPhone. On your Android phone, go to Settings > Connections > Bluetooth and turn it on. Put your AirPods in pairing mode by holding the button on the back or double tapping the front light until it turns white. Then select them under Available devices and tap Pair.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
🌷 Full circle moment: How about good news? A shy kindergartner promised her teacher she’d say hello again after high school. Twenty years, two degrees and two kids later, Calyssa found that teacher, thanks to a single TikTok photo. Turns out, both were student moms from UC Davis and had the same grit. Sometimes the internet actually delivers a happy ending.
The gold rush is back
Gold’s soaring toward $5,000 an ounce while crypto takes another hit. Here’s what to know.
ChatGPT caught the arsonist
He thought he got away with starting one of California’s worst fires, until investigators checked his ChatGPT history. Yep, AI turned him in. Plus, landlords are using algorithms to hike rent, and a listener finds out his chatbot is a surprisingly good therapist.
📄 Convert YouTube videos to text: If you’d rather read a tutorial than watch it, YouTube makes it easy. Open the video, expand the description and tap Show transcript. In the new sidebar, hit the three-dot menu and select Toggle timestamps to clean it up. Then highlight, copy and paste the text wherever you need it. Amazing.
AI for the rest of us
Don’t know where to start with chatbots? There are now free online classes to ease your way in. Try these and let me know what you think!
🌌 Space commune, anyone? Jeff Bezos says by 2045, millions will live in space by choice. Robots will “commute” to the moon for us, handling all the dusty jobs while humans float in orbit. He swears it’s the next plow moment, not postapocalyptic sci-fi. Sam Altman agrees. Musk’s already packing. Me? I’ll be waving goodbye from Earth.
Everyday essentials to save your sanity
Your secret weapons to help you feel better and cleaner.
🌡️ No-touch thermometer (16% off): Wave, beep, and boom, instant readings for squirmy toddlers and even half-asleep adults.
Cetaphil ceramide serum (44% off): Sensitive skin? This one’s packed with dermatologist-tested ingredients for deep hydration.
🧴 Arm & Hammer hand soap (10% off, six-pack): Tough on dirt, gentle on skin and comes in four scents you’ll love.
Bamboo cotton swabs (16% off): One box = 1,000 fixes. These double-tipped buds are as soft as they are tough.
💅 Nail polish remover (42% off): A kinder way to clean up gel, dip and acrylic while moisturizing your nails.
Promo code of the day: Use code 9D7CMAWZ for 50% off this travel-size polish remover until Oct. 30. Don’t wait, supplies won’t last.
💰 Full price is optional: Head to Amazon’s deal page to catch today’s markdowns before they disappear.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Sora 2: The AI video tool that’s already out of control
I have to tell you about Sora 2. It’s OpenAI’s new video-generating app that’s both mind-blowing and terrifying.
It’s the first tool from any AI company that lets you give it a prompt, and in literally seconds, you get a full-blown, AI-generated video up to a minute long. The results aren’t perfect, but they’re close. Like Hollywood close.
Chrome shortcuts: Pin your favorite sites to Chrome’s home page. Open a new tab and click Customize Chrome in the bottom right. Toggle on Show shortcuts, then select My shortcuts. Click Add shortcut, enter the site name and URL, and hit Done. To delete one, tap the three-dot icon and choose Remove.
New chip, same price: In the market for a new laptop or set of VR goggles? Apple dropped new MacBook Pros, iPad Pros and Vision Pros, all running on the turbocharged M5 chip. Basically, they’re four times faster and way smarter, especially with AI stuff, and as expensive as last year, starting at $1,599, $999 and $3,499. You can preorder now, and they start shipping Oct. 22.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
🍏 If your iPad won’t download apps: Go to Settings > General > iPad Storage and make sure you have a few GBs free. Delete unused apps if needed. Then check Settings > General > Software Update to install the latest iPadOS. Still no luck? Force restart by tapping volume up, then volume down and holding the power button until you see the Apple icon. You got this!
Help! I’m in Amazon jail
Caller Gee from Virginia Beach got hacked ($2,500 gone) and somehow he’s the one in trouble. Amazon’s calling him the culprit. Plus, ChatGPT goes to court, Waymo’s cars get pulled over, and Hollywood’s newest starlet is pure code. It’s a wild lineup.
Real-life energy vampires
In today’s AI-powered podcast, find out which everyday electronics are draining your power bill. Spooky! Also, how easy (and fast) it is for scammers to clone your voice. Don’t miss these simple ways to protect your privacy, save money and stay tech ahead!
Feeling left behind? Download NetSuite’s free knowledge drop, “The CFO’s Guide to AI and Machine Learning.” No matter what you do, you should know more about AI. It’s not going anywhere.
🧞 Your wish, its command(o): Microsoft turned your PC into an eager intern. Say “Hey, Copilot,” and it’ll start doing stuff. Like actual tasks: updating settings, installing apps, flipping modes. No clicks. No confirmation. The “Hey, Copilot” wake‑word feature is opt‑in (not on by default). To use it: Update to the latest Windows 11 > Open the Copilot app > Tap your avatar (bottom left) > Settings > Scroll down to voice mode > Toggle “Listen for ‘Hey, Copilot’” on. Voila, start bossing it around.