Medicine cabinet must-haves

🩺 None of this is in vein.

🌵 Prickin’ awesome: These little silicone cactus dryer balls capture hair, reduce wrinkles and soften fabric. 

December 14th, 2024

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Merch celebrating the UnitedHealthcare CEO killer is for sale on eBay. Plus, an AI bot that surfs the web for you, Siri gets an OpenAI upgrade, and why people are gifting unclaimed mail this holiday season.

⚖️ Google’s in trouble: The DOJ wants them to sell off Chrome, saying it has too much control over online search. They aren’t wrong … it has 3.4 billion users worldwide. Google’s clapback? Forcing a sale would hurt consumers, damage the economy and pose a national security risk. The case moves forward in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.

$5,700

Asking price for 509-SWIFTIE. That’s the phone number 509-794-3843. Taylor Swift-related phone numbers have become a hot commodity. Also for sale: 75-ERAS-TOUR for $4,500 and 41-SWIFT-ERA for $3,300. I have a Roomba that I named “Taylor Swiffer.” I named my iPhone “My little phoney.” Before you ask, none of my tech is named “Hugh Jass.”

Price tags can fool you: Always check the unit price (cost divided by the number of units). On sites like Amazon, it’s in parentheses in tiny letters next to the sale price. This makes comparing prices easier to see if buying in bulk is actually worth it.

All charged up

🪫 Never run out of juice again! Here are my picks for you:

📚 Need something to read? Browse bestsellers on Amazon. 

Laptop getting warm? It happens when you’re doing intensive stuff like rendering a video. Besides annoyingly loud fans, your system might throttle performance to cool down. A cooling pad helps improve airflow and keeps things running smoothly. Here’s a good one on sale.

Fresh and flawless

When life gets a little messy, I’ve got the fixes for you.

  • We’re approaching the window-open season. Grab an air purifier (16% off) while they’re on sale.
  • These duster sponges (15% off) wipe away all the muck from your floorboards, blinds or wherever.
  • Spill your drink on your favorite shirt? Whip out a Tide pen ($7.88) and that stain’s history.
  • Downy wrinkle releaser spray ($11.96) is like an iron in a bottle.
  • If you’re hunting for an actual clothes steamer, I found one (20% off).

🏠 Home upgrade? Check out my handpicked favorites to get your place all ready in time for spring.

🚨 50% off alert: My home security pick, SimpliSafe, is having a massive sale. Get all the gear to lock down your home. You’ll sleep better at night.

So fresh and so clean

Everything you need to refresh, recharge and restore.

  • Start your day with a soap bar (20% off) packed with Vitamin C to make you glow.
  • Shoe insoles that support your achy feet with every stride.
  • What’s that smell? Eucalyptus and lemongrass shoe spray instead of stinky feet.
  • Too much lint is a fire hazard. A vent cleaner (29% off) gets all your dryer’s hard-to-reach spots.
  • A steam cleaner (10% off) cuts through dirt and grime like no other.

🛍️ It’s on sale: Browse Amazon deals and coupons. Yes, I look at this page most days. No, I wouldn’t call it a problem. Happy shopping!

20 minutes

Of dancing is just as good as a gym session or jog. Researchers found shaking your booty can get your heart rate up to a health-enhancing level (paywall link). Need a speaker? Here’s a cool one on sale.

Less than $50

What an antique collector paid for a suspected Van Gogh painting. It was the deal of the century at a garage sale in Minnesota. Specialists are trying to prove the portrait of a fisherman, “Elimar,” is authentic. If so, it’s worth at least $15 million (paywall link). Speaking of … My Van doesn’t Gogh. It’s out of Degas. (I saw you smile right there.)

🐾 I’m a dog person: My Abby makes life better. It turns out that’s true even if the pet isn’t real. Ageless Innovation makes meowing cats, wagging dogs and chirping birds that respond like the real thing, minus the walking, feeding or litter box duty. Now they’re all over assisted-living facilities and even hospice care centers. Some 93% of folks say they feel more joy after getting one. They’re for sale on Amazon.

Get ‘em by the weekend

Grab these goodies now to level up your evening plans.

  • LED lights (33% off) behind the TV make movie night more cinematic. If you want to splurge, this option (15% off) works with Alexa and Google Assistant.
  • Say goodbye to awkward silences. This conversation-starter game (20% off) helps to get any group talking!
  • Battery-operated flameless candles (22% off) look just like the real thing but don’t burn out.
  • Keep the drinks cold with a set of four insulated cups (42% off).
  • This electric wine bottle opener (13% off) isn’t screwing around.

🤔 What’s on sale? Hit this page to see Amazon’s deals of the day.

Safety first

🔐 These gadgets are no-brainers to bring on your next trip to protect yourself and your stuff.

🛍️ Miss window shopping? I do mine on Amazon. Hit this page for my “I didn’t know I needed that!” picks.

MVPs = Most Valuable Purchases

  • Jar openers ($10), because no one needs to know you’re standing in front of the fridge at 2 a.m. eating pickles.
  • Is there anything more rage-inducing than dropping your phone in between the car seats? Save your sanity with a car seat gap filler.
  • A smart coffee warmer (25% off), so cold coffee never ruins your morning again.
  • Let your nosy neighbors think you’re hosting a rave with smart light bulbs (under $15).
  • This bug bite relief tool sucks out all the stuff that makes bites so itchy. It’s under $10, too.

Save money: Check this page to see if anything you’ve bought on Amazon is on sale. I love a good stock-up.

Stuck at a desk all day?

💻 Upgrade your workspace for a new year of getting stuff done.

  • A memory foam seat cushion ($45) helps with booty and back pain. You can use it in cars and airplanes, too. Click the coupon box for 30% off!
  • Pair the seat cushion with a foot stand ($39) for extra relief. Ahh.
  • If you use a laptop, this stand (15% off, $17) is your posture’s new BFF. Plus, it helps your computer’s ventilation so it lasts longer.
  • A room divider is nice for more privacy or hiding all your junk on video meetings.
  • Quick! Name something more annoying than a cord you need falling behind your desk. You can’t, huh? A magnetic cord holder (25% off) stops that from happening.

🤑 Amazon Outlet is like the sale aisle at Target. It’s where they list all the super-cheap overstock and clearance items. I like the under-$10 section.

5,000 Christmas trees

Planted by an Indiana couple 10 years ago. Bruce and Shawn Carpenter’s Christmas tree farm is helping fund college for their eight grandchildren. About 1,000 trees are ready for sale. I wish I lived close enough to go get one!

Your DNA up for sale

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23andMe is struggling and searching for new ways to make money. One of those options? Selling your genetic data. Plus, the Hurricane Helene forecast scandal, fake election donation sites, and four key times to change your password.

What we can learn from iPhone 16 sale numbers

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The new AI features were supposed to make this phone a winner. But that’s not how it’s playing out. Here’s why.