If you give a mouse a click: It’ll do some handy things. Hover over a link, then click the middle button on your mouse to open it in a new tab. Middle-click an app in your PC’s toolbar to open it in a new window (even if the app is already open). Pro tip: Let’s say you want to refresh a page but you don’t want to lose the current version. Middle-click your browser’s refresh button to open a fresh copy.
The smishing scam
Received a message from FedEx or UPS about a package you didn’t order? Don’t fall for it —clicking that link could put your personal and financial information at risk.
🤖 Want a job in AI? Recruiters want candidates with a technical background and degree in data science, computer science, mathematics and applied science (paywall link). You also should be proficient in a few programming languages, starting with Python and JavaScript. Bonus points if you’ve taken a course in AI ethics.
$1,000 a night
Cost of a wellness retreat for new parents. They’re popping up in fancy hotels across the U.S. (paywall link). For that kind of cash, you’ll get access to a 24/7 nursery staff so you can have a full night’s sleep. One hotel’s $800-per-night rate includes lactation consulting, scalp and hand massages, foot rubs, and hot towel rubs.
🚀 Polaris Dawn: Billionaire Jared Isaacman, the guy who led the first all-civilian spaceflight to orbit Earth, is gearing up to be the first private astronaut to take a spacewalk. The team is zooming there on a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, reaching an altitude not seen since the Apollo moon missions. At around 435 miles from Earth, they’ll open the hatch and exit the spacecraft (paywall link).
Most Gen Zers have no idea how to type: Just ask Jonah Maier, who stares at his keyboard to hit the right letters (paywall link). Blame schools. In 2000, 44% of graduates took a keyboard course; by 2019, that dropped to 2.5%. Educators just assume the tech-savvy generation knows how to type. Spoiler: They don’t!
🤖 Beware the good idea fairy: The U.S. government will now get access to OpenAI and Anthropic AI models before they’re accessible to the public. The U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute (wow, sounds fancy) will assess AI’s capabilities and risks. The goal? To keep AI in check and establish safety standards the world can follow (paywall link). There are so many problems with this, I don’t know where to start.
💸 Golden handcuffs: Nvidia employees work seven days a week and until 2 a.m., but they aren’t leaving. The company’s shares have skyrocketed over 3,000% since 2019, turning many into millionaires (or close to it). The catch: The stocks vest over a four-year period, so it’s “lock in or miss out” on a fortune (paywall link).
$17 million loss
On a $27 million dream home. A New Jersey couple spent seven years building a 40,000-square-foot property that includes a chapel, an English-style pub, a gym, a home theater, a wine grotto and a golf simulator (paywall link). It’s up for auction with a reserve price of just $10 million.
Forget polite vacation autoreplies: Folks are getting sassy with their out-of-office messages (paywall link), like, “I’m out having way more fun than emailing you back. I’ll probably forget to reply.” The whole point? No fake promises to get back to you ASAP … which none of us can do after a trip, anyway!
Forget EVs: Plug-in hybrids are winning popularity contests, with sales in the U.S. almost doubling since 2019. Most folks are hesitant to go all-electric, so the gas engine adds some security. In many cases, they’re cheaper than purely electric or gas models, too (paywall link).
Remember “Rickrolling”? It’s the prank when you trick someone into watching the video for Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up.” An AI CEO says his bot just did it to a customer. No kidding, the person asked for a video training session. When the AI couldn’t find one, it sent a link to the 1987 hit. Yes, they patched the glitch.
Slang lesson of the day: Gen Alpha (those born since 2010) is tossing around the word “Ohio,” and it’s got zilch to do with the state. They’re using it to call out something weird, cringey or random (paywall link). Spot a lawnmower on the freeway? “Only in Ohio.” Rock a polka dot and stripes combo? “You’re so Ohio.” Mew.
I’ve seen it: Photos of a Pennsylvania man, Brian Posch, are all over Facebook with the message “HELP FIND HIM.” Sadly, Brian passed away months ago. So why are messages still being shared? Because scammers are posting them to trick others into sharing their link. Once the post gets a ton of shares and follows, they change their page to a scammy site where they steal your money. Gotta be on your toes!
Warn your older adults: An 83-year-old woman was conned out of $1.4 million by scammers posing as JPMorgan’s fraud department and U.S. agents. They said she needed to help catch a rogue employee, but she was the real target. It took 279 days after her first big withdrawal for anyone to notify her son about the suspicious activity (paywall link). Don’t count on banks to step in and help you not get taken.
🚨 How Charmin! Major TP-Link warning: U.S. lawmakers want to investigate TP-Link over fears China could use these routers to spy on Americans and the U.S. military. TP-Link is a hugely popular brand, but with routers made in China and a history of security issues, the concerns are real. Feeling uneasy? Here are a few steps to secure your router.
Is your Wi-Fi router spying for China?
Federal officials are raising red flags over TP-Link, warning their products might be linked to Chinese espionage. Plus, Redbox files for bankruptcy, Taylor Swift drops cassettes, and Apple’s next iPhone features AI.
📼 Cassettes have A and B sides, and they were replaced by the CD: Big-time artists like Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo are releasing new music on cassette tapes so Gen Z can discover that nostalgic crackling sound (paywall link). Surprise, they have no idea how to use them! Pro tip: Get the teen in your life a Walkman for cool points.
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🐷 Beware the pig butchers: I’ve been warning you about pig-butchering scams for years, and now they’re finally mainstream news. A random message leads to a friendly chat, and before you know it, you’re pouring your money into a get-rich-quick scheme. The scams play with your emotions, whether that’s love, fear or panic. Your critical thinking goes out the window. Remember this — and share this (paywall link).
🔗 Facebook snoop: They say Link History is a handy tool for saving your browsing. Privacy concern? Absolutely. FB tracks and sells all your clicks. Here’s how to turn it off. Open the Facebook app, tap Menu > Settings & Privacy > Settings > Browser, and toggle off Allow link history.