Mark Zuckerberg is now apologizing for censoring conservative views during the pandemic. But the real shocker? He claims it was under pressure from the White House.
How NASA plans to back up data on lunar soil
Let me ask you a question: Do you think the cloud is a safe place to back up your data, the world’s treasures and government secrets? In a world of increasing breaches, hackers and threats, even cloud storage might not be enough.
Welcome to the next frontier: Lunar backups. NASA is teaming up with Lonestar, a Florida-based startup, and the Isle of Man, that self-governing British Crown Dependency you might’ve never heard of, to store data on the moon. Think of it like the ultra-secure Fort Knox but for digital information.
🚀 Blockchain goes intergalactic
How do you keep data safe on the moon? By using a blockchain — the same tech behind crypto. It ensures data is secure, genuine and tamper-proof. This isn’t your mom’s filing cabinet; it’s out of this world.
The first data cube, “Freedom,” landed on the moon in February 2024, proving the concept works. Lonestar’s first commercial mission takes off in 2026. Oh, and the Isle of Man’s post office got in on the fun, too, sending digital stamps to the moon. Now that’s first-class mail.
🌝 Why the moon?
The moon isn’t becoming a storage locker for your embarrassing selfies. The mission is first to preserve humanity’s crown jewels — our most vital data. Think of it as Earth’s external hard drive or a modern Library of Alexandria (hopefully, with a less tragic end).
What’s on the moon-bound list? Obvious candidates include:
- Scientific research: DNA sequencing data, climate models and pandemic studies.
- Cultural archives: Literary classics, historical texts and digitized art collections.
- Financial records: Stock market data, transaction histories and economic models.
- Health care information: Genome mapping and medical research.
- National security data: Sensitive classified information.
- Tech blueprints: Designs for critical infrastructure, from power plants to the internet backbone.
- “The Kim Komando Show”: Audio files of all my shows, because they’re that important to all mankind. (OK, I made that up!)
🌎 Earth vs. the moon
Not everyone’s on board with storing data on the moon. It’s not like you can send a tech to fix things. And retrieving something? Think “break glass in case of emergency,” not your daily backup.
Accessing lunar data would take spacecraft, encryption and dealing with space itself. Long-term storage? Sure. Easy? Not at all.
15 out-of-the-box ways to make extra cash from anywhere
By now, you probably know that you don’t have to leave home to make money. After all, many companies sent employees home to work during the pandemic. But even if you aren’t a salaried employee, you can still make a living from the comfort of your own home.
Zuck’s singing like a canary: The question is why? Mark Zuckerberg finally admitted Facebook censored conservative views during the pandemic, citing pressure from senior White House officials. Posts criticizing the COVID-19 vaccines, mask mandates or suggesting the virus was created in a Chinese laboratory were deleted.
Need some extra cash? 15 jobs you can do from home
Working remotely isn’t suitable for everybody. But in the wake of the pandemic, it has seen a considerable boon globally. Tap or click here for legit ways to find work-from-home jobs.
If you’re interested in earning a living from home, there is no better time to get involved with the right opportunity.
How to rock a remote interview: Tips for shining over the phone or on video
Remote interviews are the present and the future. Why? The pandemic forced many companies nationwide to move to a remote system nearly overnight.
Now that we’ve been operating remotely for a while, many employers have seen the positive benefits of having remote employees. Increased productivity is one of them.
20% reduction in printing
Compared to pre-pandemic times. That’s what HP boss Enrique Lores told investors. Yeah, things aren’t pretty in the print hardware division; revenues have been down nine quarters in a row.
It’s a buyer’s market: During the pandemic, people scooped up boats, RVs and motorcycles at record rates. Now, they’re trying to offload them, thanks to rising costs and interest rates. Plenty of dealers are stuck with excess inventory, too. Your move — it’s time to score some deals on eBay and Facebook Marketplace!
$257 to $213
The average projected concert ticket price this summer compared to the summer of 2023. More major acts are canceling their tours as the post-pandemic live music boom cools down. Still, ticket-seller Live Nation hit $3.8 billion in revenue for the first quarter of 2024. Bet they say a prayer for Taylor Swift every day.
GameStop shares surge again; investors lose big time
This is one of those stories you can talk about with your family and friends. A few years ago, has-been companies went viral with investors, and their stock prices went sky-high out of the blue.
Because everything is a cycle, it just happened again. After you read this, you’ll know why no one can shut up about GameStop, a company that sells video games, gaming platforms and accessories primarily from its brick-and-mortar retail stores across the country.
6 crazy jobs that tech killed — and what replaced them
If you work in an office, your job probably didn’t exist 100 years ago. Yep, six out of every 10 jobs didn’t exist back in 1940!
Sure, there are the obvious ones like data infrastructure or email operations, but even jobs like conference planners and nail techs didn’t exist on record until the 1990s and 2000s!
$850 for a “Star Wars” Millennium Falcon Lego brick set
Guess it wasn’t a pandemic fad after all … Since launching adult sets in 2020, Lego has doubled its over-18 offerings to include fan favorites like an $899 Titanic set and a $469 Hogwarts set. There’s even a name for the diehards: AFOL, or Adult Fans of Legos. I’m more of an AFON myself — Adult Fan of Napping.
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10 surprising side hustles to make some extra cash
“Kim, how can I make money from home?” I’ve been getting this one for years and years. And guess what? Between new apps and the rise of the gig economy, it’s never been easier to make an extra buck.
Entrepreneur (paywall link) gathered some weird and wonderful side hustles, plus real examples of regular folks who make a pretty penny. Don’t worry, no Uber on this list — but I did include an option for those who love to drive.
Pay-per-prescription: Hitting up your doctor for a sick note or refill? Prepare to pony up. Once-free admin tasks could soon carry a price tag. Blame pandemic burnout and the telehealth boom for turning your doc’s inbox into a no-freebie zone.
7 ways to stop paying so much on streaming every dang month
Five years ago, Netflix, Disney+ and Hulu with Live TV would cost you around $56 a month. Not bad! Today, the exact services will run you over $106. How’s that for outrageous?
New research shows we’re more cutthroat than ever about what we pay to stream. Let’s look at some clever ways people save so you can, too!
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.”
The future is here: Amazing robots that cook, clean and carry your stuff
Did you ever watch “The Jetsons” and wish the robotic maid Rosey was real? She was responsible for many household tasks, including cleaning, cooking and caring for the family — George, Jane, Judy, Elroy and their pet dog Astro. And boy, oh boy, Rosie was built.
Just how much can my job monitor me?
If it feels like Big Brother is watching you work, it’s because he probably is. Today’s employee monitoring systems are getting fancier by the day, but are they legal?
The short answer (unfortunately) is yes. However, employees do have rights. Keep reading to find out how far your boss might be allowed to go.