Santa's bag is full of spies

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Holiday shopping’s kicked off, with tech gadgets leading the wish lists. But there’s a catch — each comes with a privacy warning worth your attention.

Tags: holiday shopping, privacy, shopping, Spies, tech gadgets


iPhone and Android photo fix 101: How to save blurry pictures

Ever had one of those “oops” moments taking pictures? Your hand wobbles and the photo is as elusive as a Bigfoot sighting. (Or, in my case, my dog Abby doing something super cute.)

Before you rush to hit delete, hang tight! I’ve got a few helpful tricks to fix blurry photos. 

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One of the strangest places on Google Maps

It’s a village with life-size dolls in Japan. Located in Nagoro, more than 350 dolls represent villagers who once lived there but have either moved or passed away. You have to see this.

Scammers are targeting teens - Warn your Gen Zer about these tricks

OK, I need to talk to my Gen Z son, Ian, about this. And you should speak to anyone in your circle born between 1996 and 2010. 

The fine folks at the FBI’s crime division say teens have lost 2,500% more money to scams in the past five years. Compare that to an 805% increase for seniors. Still not great, but at least it’s not 2,500%.

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Don’t want to drop $1K on a new phone? Do this instead

It was a little anticlimactic when I went from the iPhone 14 Pro Max to the 15 Pro Max. Side-by-side, they look an awful lot like the same phone. The one thing that stood out was how shiny and clean the 15 looked.

You don’t have to shell out a lot of money — jump into the settings and use a little elbow grease to make your current phone sparkle.

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Stop mailing checks and use a special pen when writing checks

If you’re still mailing checks, now would be a good time to go paperless. New reports show that check fraud has doubled in the past year, thanks to organized crime. Things are so concerning that the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) warns Americans to stop mailing checks completely.

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Expired, dangerous stuff hiding in your house: Fire extinguishers, recalled products and lots more

Look around your house, and you’ll see things you never even realized have a shelf-life — and I don’t mean things like food that have a best-by date.

Take fire extinguishers. Over time, they can lose pressure. Those and smoke detectors should be replaced every 10 years or so.

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Ahoy, matey! Streaming costs are bringing back piracy

How much do pirates pay for corn? A buck-an-ear! How much do they pay for streaming services? Uh, they don’t.

On a recent Friday podcast, Andrew mentioned all the services he subscribes to to watch football. A reader sent a note with a suggestion: “Just watch on an illegal streaming site. Oh, and be careful what you click.”

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How to trust what you read online and tell if it's AI or human

I got this note from Ben in Texas. “Hi there, Kim. I love your podcast. You were talking about AI and I got to thinking. When I read a story online at some website, how can I tell if a human wrote it or some bot?”

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Bestselling items on Facebook Marketplace - and how to score them

There’s a lot of weird stuff for sale on Facebook Marketplace. It’s not just old strollers, an elliptical that collected dust for three years and a gross old couch. We’re talking drugs and a lot more … adult things.

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Viral hit 'The Boundaries Song' is a must-watch for all children

“The Boundaries Song” by Hopscotch Kids empowers children to stand up for themselves with its folk-style melody. This viral sensation, with 3.6 million views, encourages kids to speak up when they feel uncomfortable or unsafe. Through catchy lyrics and an animated video, it emphasizes the significance of setting personal boundaries and respecting others’ feelings. Check it out and share it with the kids.