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Read this before your laptop or e-bike becomes fireworks
ChatGPT
Maybe this photo is a little bit dramatic. BUT, electronics are exploding.
Everything from your phone to your e-bike runs on lithium-ion. While batteries are small energy wonders, they’re also tiny explosives just begging for an excuse to ruin your day. Or your house. Or your entire block.
As temps rise, so does the risk, so let’s talk about how to stop your tech from turning into a five-alarm fire.
💣 Why batteries go boom
Lithium-ion batteries are basically Red Bull for your gadgets: compact, high-energy and way too volatile to be taken lightly.
That’s why I don’t mess around, and neither should you. I had a staffer who wanted to charge his e-bike in the studios. When I told him nope, I got a dirty look that said, “She has no idea what she’s talking about.” Oh well, my name’s on the building, not his.
These batteries contain flammable electrolyte fluid, and if something goes sideways, like a short circuit, a fall, a shady charger or just a hot day, they enter a self-immolating spiral called “thermal runaway.”
Translation: It cooks itself until BOOM. Larger tech like e-bikes and EVs carry bigger batteries, which mean bigger flames that are almost impossible to extinguish.
💻 Laptops and smaller gadgets
- Never leave your laptop in a hot car, near a heater or in direct sunlight.
- If it feels hot to the touch, shut it down and let it cool.
- Monitor its temp with apps like TG Pro (for Mac) or Core Temp or Real Temp (for Windows). If it hits 176° F, that’s emergency spicy.
- Got an old phone or device you’re not using? Don’t toss it in a drawer. Use a fireproof battery bag (10% off) for safe storage. Cheap insurance.
🚲 E‑bikes (and other big battery tech)
- Only buy e-bikes with UL 2271-certified batteries. If you don’t see the cert, assume it’s a firestarter with wheels. This tip alone is worth the price of my newsletter.
- Use the original charger only. Not the $11 one named “China’s Best ZappyFire” from Amazon.
- Store your e-bike in a cool spot, away from direct sunlight, and not inside your home or garage while charging.
- Never leave it charging overnight or when you’re not home.
- If the battery smells like chemicals, looks bloated or starts whispering “soon” … STOP.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
LinkedIn secrets for success
ChatGPT
LinkedIn isn’t just a digital résumé graveyard full of corporate buzzwords and “Let’s circle back” types. This is the one social platform where being smart actually works in your favor. Over 250 million folks in the United States use LinkedIn. You probably do, too, but you’re not using it right.
You didn’t search it, but the ad still found you
ChatGPT
Mention taking a trip to Antarctica near your phone, and suddenly every screen you own starts pushing parkas. You didn’t search it. Didn’t type it. Definitely didn’t ask your smart speaker to recommend thermal underwear. But the “Visit Antarctica” ads found you anyway. So how did they know?
🤔 Is that surface flat? Your iPhone can check. Just open the Measure app. If you can’t find it, swipe down from your home screen and search for it. Tap Level and place your phone down to see if it’s even. On Android, there are free third-party apps like Bubble level.
👨👩👧👦 Eyes on your teens: If your kid is between 13 and 17, set up Supervision on Instagram. You or your teen can send the invite by going to your profile, tapping Menu (three lines) > Family Center > Invite your teen. Find their name and hit Invite. Then, open their account and tap the invite > Next > Allow. Simple.
🎶 Binge-worthy tunes: Stream music from your favorite shows on Spotify and Apple Music’s hubs for Netflix, Disney+, Max and more. Just tap Search > TV & Movies (Spotify) or Film, TV & Stage (Apple Music) for playlists filled with hits from those iconic moments.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: OLED = Organic Light-Emitting Diode. TVs and phones with OLED have insane contrast — true black, vivid color. Downsides? Burn-in risk if a logo sits too long on screen. Looks gorgeous until SpongeBob is forever etched into your screen.
Traveling soon? Don’t mess with pricey roaming fees or sketchy airport SIM cards. I use Saily eSIM — it’s the smart, secure way to stay connected anywhere in the world. Just download the app, choose your plan and you’re online in minutes. Here’s a how-to video. No physical SIM needed!
🤳 Blurry photos? If tapping to focus doesn’t help, it might be time to clean your lens. Seriously, your phone spends all day in your pocket picking up dust and fingerprints that can ruin your pics. The fix? Not your T-shirt. Use a gentle microfiber cloth. Here’s a cheap one for $7 with cleaning fluid.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Check this out: Library Extension shows you what’s at over 5,000 libraries while you browse the web. You can borrow books, music or audiobooks without spending a dime. Best part? You don’t need to sign up. Get it on Chrome, Firefox and Edge.
📅 Social on autopilot: Want to save time on social media? Schedule your Facebook and Instagram posts on Meta Business Suite. Head to the Home tab and tap Create post. Under Scheduling options, select Schedule to pick a date and time. You’re all set. Work smarter, not post from bed at midnight harder.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Made a mistake in the iPhone Calculator app? Simply swipe left on the numbers to delete the last digit. Still not gonna help you with taxes, but it’s handy.
📝 No scanner? No worries. On your iPhone, go to the Notes app > create a new note > Attachment button (paper clip icon) > Scan Documents to open your camera. Tap Insert to grab the text. For Androids, open Google Drive > (+) icon > Scan document > Save > Upload, and you’re good to go. Congrats, your phone is now a scanner/copier/fax from 2002.
🌦️ Avoid the storm: Planning a road trip? If you have Android Auto, just say, “Hey, Google, show me the weather radar.” You’ll get live storm updates right on your screen. It’s a handy way to stay ahead of any surprises. And remember, eyes on the road.
🛑 Keep out hackers: Hide your SSID (network name) so randos don’t see your Wi-Fi. Find your router’s IP address (usually on a sticker at the bottom) and type it into your browser. Then, Login > Wireless Settings > Disable SSID broadcast.
From Lisa in Texas: “Kim, I’m done with Big Tech snooping. Is StartMail really private?” You bet! StartMail is built for privacy — no tracking, no ads, just secure email. You can even import all your old messages and contacts, hassle-free. Save 60% now with my exclusive link!
🤖 Mixed signals: Watch what you type into ChatGPT or any AI. Asking for a “detailed” answer and a “summary” can confuse your bot. Stick to positive language like “do” instead of “don’t.” AI is built for specific tasks, so saying not to do something is only helpful if you explain why. Keep it simple.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Say “Alexa, remember this,” and she can store your information like Wi-Fi passwords, recipes, birthdays or gate codes.