Ahoy, Monday! Let’s kick things off with our tech trivia. What year did the first Apple iPad come out? Make your best guess now and you’ll find the answer at the end.

💛 I care about you. That’s why we cover all kinds of issues in this newsletter through the lens of tech. Today’s top story is an important one. If you know someone who might be at risk, send them the link. — Kim

Have you seen signs for kratom at your local gas station or smoke shop? It's probably on the counter right next to the erectile dysfunction pills. It’s also for sale all over the internet and social media.

While some claim the herbal supplement changed their lives, handling pain management and promoting wellness, there's a dark underbelly. People taking it are dying.

Some call it a wonder drug

Kratom comes from the leaves of a tree native to Southeast Asia. When ingested, the chemical compounds in the leaves create different effects on the body. Yes, including trippy ones. People typically take kratom by drinking it in tea or swallowing kratom capsules.

Some say the plant acts like a stimulant. For others, it’s a sedative. Many say it combats depression and anxiety. Others rely on it to manage pain or to curb opioid withdrawal symptoms.

Kratom on the web

With kratom's blown-up popularity comes an endless sea of online vendors. Anyone can do a quick Google search on the drug and find countless ways to get their hands on some. But high demand also has increased the amount of low-quality kratom out there.

Because kratom is an herbal supplement, it exists in a gray area of the law. In other words, the FDA can’t regulate it as it would a prescription drug.

Deaths by kratom

A 39-year-old mother of four, Krystal Talavera, collapsed in her kitchen while making breakfast for her family. Patrick Coyne, a marine mechanic and father of three, died in his sleep. J.D. Butler was talking to his girlfriend about moving in together when he had a seizure. All are dead because of kratom.

Some start taking it, thinking it's safe and non-addictive, only to find themselves hooked. Although some opioid addicts turn to the drug to wean themselves off harder substances like heroin and fentanyl, kratom acts as a gateway to opioids for others.

Kratom with caution

If you've got kratom-loving friends who swear it's harmless, hit 'em with these cold, hard facts:

🤝 I know all this information might be a lot to take in, especially if you've heard about kratom from friends or online. I just want you to know I'm sharing this with you because I care. The stories are real, and the risks are significant.

If you or someone you know is considering kratom or struggling with addiction, please contact professionals who can help. Local healthcare providers, addiction specialists or national helplines like SAMHSA's National Helpline (1-800-662-HELP) can offer assistance.

$300 million fine: The FCC is doling out its biggest penalty ever to an auto warranty scam robocall network. The group, operating under multiple names, used a million unique caller IDs to camouflage more than 5 billion calls over just three months in 2021. Those calls were so annoying.

Hospital hacked: Prospect Medical Holdings — which has clinics and hospitals in Texas, California, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania — got hit with malware. Emergency rooms and routine services came to a standstill, and doctors were locked out of patient records. This needs to be stopped.

AI, AI, AI, AI, AI, AI: That’s all artificial intelligence (AI) was mentioned during Apple’s quarterly hour-long business call. Compare that to 73 times for Microsoft and 90 for Alphabet’s calls. This year, nearly one-fifth of total global venture funding has come from the AI sector alone.

What a bargain: Google is trying to lure back WFH employees with a “Summer Special.” For $99 a night, you can stay at a new on-site hotel at their Mountain View campus. Yep, that’s right! Just $99 to live where you work! Give me a break.

📣 Small-biz advertising: If you’re looking to promote your biz on social, think twice before you sink a ton into Facebook ads. The average cost per thousand impressions — or CPM — right now is high, about $9.77. Woof. For TikTok, it’s $7.36. Snapchat is a bargain at $3.82. Prices for FB ads will come down in a few weeks once school is in full swing.

🤯 Mind-reading tech: Google and Osaka University have a crazy new AI tool that can tell what you’re listening to. Brain2Music analyzes brain signals while people listen to various music genres, then recreates music that aligns with their original mood about 60% of the time.

Is it “So long!” for TurboTax? Next year, you’ll be able to file your taxes online directly with the IRS. The agency is going totally paper-free by 2025, hoping to save 200 million sheets every year. Does that mean you’ll get your return faster? Hope so.

Amazing iPhone rescue: A mother and son got lost on a hike trying to get to a waterfall in Angeles National Forest. But, thanks to the Emergency SOS feature on the son’s iPhone 14, they were GPS located and rescuers were alerted. Without it, tracking them down would’ve taken a few days.

🎉 Win an iPad! At the end of this newsletter, you'll find your exclusive golden ticket — a referral link! Share it with friends, family or even your pet's social media followers! Every signup for my free newsletter earns you points toward fabulous prizes. So start sharing and watch those points pile up!

While you're brushing your teeth, waiting for your toast or sipping your first coffee of the day, I deliver the top tech news story and a digital life hack, all within two minutes. No rambling, no fluff — just straight-to-the-point tech talk.

👉 Get my Daily Tech Update podcast today!

I know, it reads like a clickbait headline, but this is according to new research presented at the American Society for Nutrition’s annual meeting.

They found men who practiced these eight healthy habits at age 40 lived up to 24 years longer. For women, tack on 21 extra years.

And the eight are …

The biggest impacts are a lack of physical activity, use of opioids and smoking. Each carries a whopping 30% to 45% increased risk of death.

“Kim, I’m a bad sleeper!” Fear not. Scientists say making even just one of these eight small changes will give you more time. And it’s never too late. Participants in their 50s and 60s saw a decreased risk of death.

I once asked my 97-year-old grandfather what his secret was to such a long life. He said, "I'm just waiting until I can afford a burial service."

Ever wandered around a parking lot searching for your car? Google Maps will help you find your parking spot easily — and automatically. Remember this next time you brave the mall!

On iPhone or Android:

Google Maps saves your parking location until you remove it. Now, you just need to remember what you did with your keys.

😂 Speaking of … Did you hear about the Norse god who couldn't stop losing hair? His name was Balder.

That’s why I’m so excited to tell you about the latest innovation from SimpliSafe Home Security: 24/7 Live Guard Protection and the new Smart Alarm Wireless Indoor Camera.

With a Fast Protect Monitoring plan, if an intruder breaks into your home, SimpliSafe monitoring agents can actually see, speak to and deter them through the camera, warning them they’re being recorded and police are on their way.

Right now, get 20% off any SimpliSafe system when you sign up for Fast Protect Monitoring. This huge offer is only available for a limited time.

Confused? Just give it a second, mate

The answer: The first-generation iPad was announced by Apple on Jan. 27, 2010, and it became available in stores on April 3, 2010. I named my first iPad “Titanic.” This way, when I hooked it up to iTunes, the screen said, “Titanic is syncing.”

🤗 As always, I appreciate you being here. If you smiled, learned something new or had an “aha!” moment, share me with a friend. Just copy your unique referral link and send it off by email, text or post on your social media. The more, the merrier! — Kim