A real-life Willy Wonka show

March 24, 2025

🍫 A real-life Willy Wonka show? Yep, Netflix is casting for a new reality competition series inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It’s called The Golden Ticket, and contestants face wild games and temptations in a retro-futuristic dreamscape. The best part? You can apply now. I just got over my addiction to chocolate, marshmallows and nuts. It was a Rocky Road. (I saw you smile!)

Tags: factory, games, Netflix, Now, real-life

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Creepy data grab and how to make it stop

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This is the kind of thing that makes you wish flip phones were still a thing. The world has moved from marketing to digital profiling. We are being tracked like never before.

Advertising giant Publicis Groupe just released a video bragging that its CoreAI platform tracks a staggering 91% of all adult internet users. Yes, that probably includes you, me and everyone we know.

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5 cool tricks for your router

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You never hear anyone say, “This router is amazing. It changed my life!” It’s sad because that little guy controls your entire home’s internet. If yours has a USB port (check the back!), you can unlock some surprisingly useful features. You’re gonna love this.

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$5.7 million

The world’s most expensive and rarest dog. He’s the first wolf and Caucasian shepherd mix called a “wolfdog.” At 8 months old, he already weighs 165 pounds. Speaking of … I can’t take my dog to the park as all the ducks keep trying to bite her. My fault for getting one that’s pure bread.

Do this to see if you got hacked

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I wish that I could wave my magic wand and automatically reinstate all the accounts for anyone who asks me for help because their Facebook account got hacked, their ex knows everywhere they go or they’ve lost access to everything and even money for some reason.

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Over $45,000

Round-trip tickets for two from Chicago to Munich. That’s if you book Lufthansa’s new “Allegris” first-class double suites. You get to enjoy a 27-inch video screen and a shared bed so you can easily … relax together and join the mile high club.

1 in 4

Computer programming jobs have vanished in the past two years. There are now fewer than at any point since 1980. The reason? Yep, AI. Time to level up your skills.

$1 million

Jerry Hall’s dress that inspired Princess Diana’s wedding gown is listed on eBay. Diana was in awe when she saw Jerry wear it at a royal birthday party. When Diana got engaged, she hit up its then-unknown designers, David and Elizabeth Emanuel, to create her now iconic gown with a 25-foot train and 10,000 pearls. It was stunning!

Over 60% of the time

AI search engines get their sources wrong (paywall link). In a study, chatbots were asked to match news to the correct headline, publisher, date and URL. They almost never admit they’re unsure and just blurt out wrong answers like they’re completely right.

14% decrease

That’s how much less money the “Tooth Fairy” is giving out these days. A survey of 1,000 parents shows payouts dropped from an average of $5.84 to $5.01. Brace yourselves, I was lucky if I got a quarter! What do tooth fairies have on their phones? Bluetooth! (Share this one with the kiddos!)

$65 a night

What it’ll cost you to skip the hotel and stay in a convent run by sisters in Rome. Rooms come with the basics like a single bed, drawers and a sink (paywall link). Plus, there’s a simple buffet-style breakfast waiting for you every morning at 7 a.m. Blessings included, obviously. Remember to leave some Rome in your suitcase for souvenirs. (Oh, it’s a good one!)