It’s a totally sensational Sunday, friends! I hope you take time for yourself today. Wish me luck — I’m going shopping after church. Let’s start with our tech brain teaser and knowledge enhancer. Are there more humans or more mobile phone subscriptions on Earth? You’ll find the answer at the end.

I had a blast putting this newsletter together, brought to you by the good folks at NetSuite. Business owners, do your 2024 selves a favor and check them out. Massive tech-know is ahead! Let’s do this! — Kim

I went to a bin store the other day. I bought a completely sealed two-by-two-foot box for $10. Inside my mystery box were four pairs of men's black socks, a cat bell, two potato peelers, an iPhone stand and a Dallas Cowboys women's shirt I got a kick out of. Someone must’ve made a snap decision to return that.

Ever heard of bin stores? They're like the Wild West of retail — usually small and independently run, with some junk and deals you won't believe. The neatest part is where they get all this stuff. Bin stores hawk returned items from Amazon, Target, Walmart — you name it — along with liquidated goods and overstock inventory.

How do you find this stuff? The methods are many, so pick your favorite.

Remember, it’s an adventure!

You'll find everything from brand-new items with tiny flaws to overstock scores. But be smart — some items might be damaged, and there's probably counterfeit junk in the mix. If it's something electronic, ask if you can plug it in to try it out. I’d love to hear what you get at your local bin store. I bet these places will be packed in late January.

Pro tip: Check with your local stores on pricing because they tend to offer discounts on certain days of the week. You should also ask when their inventory comes in and prepare yourself for a line out the door!

Speaking of shopping … I went to a furniture store to buy a living room set last weekend. I told the salesman I needed two couches that would seat a total of eight people. He pointed to a set and said, “These couches would seat eight people, no problem.” I smiled and asked, “Now, where am I going to get eight people with no problems?” I laughed, Barry shook his head, and the sales guy just walked away.

December is a busy month. You deserve something nice, like a hot, relaxing bath.

🚔 Verizon gave a woman's address to a stalker: Robert Michael Glauner, posing as a cop, got her home address and call logs after sending a fake warrant to Verizon. He showed up at her home with a knife. Glauner was arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including extortion and stalking. Get with the program, Verizon.

ChatGPT is more like an NPC: ChatGPT's been acting like a moody teen lately, giving sluggish replies and telling users to do the job themselves. OpenAI seems puzzled by the laid-back attitude (there have been no major updates), sparking jokes about an "AI Winter Break."

🚨 Apple alert: Apple's AI Journal in iOS 17.2 is nosy, analyzing your personal photos, workouts and music to create journal entries. It’s cool if you want that but creepy if you don’t. Head to Settings > Privacy & Security > Journaling Suggestions and turn off what you don't want shared. Toggle off Discoverable by Others while you’re in there.

Quishing these scams would stop: There’s been a 587% rise in "quishing" (QR phishing) scams. Watch out for fake QR codes leading you to nasty places online. Don't scan random codes, especially if you need to pay for something like parking. And remember, if a QR code leads to a page that asks you to log in, it's likely a trick.

Excel-lent showdown: Picture a packed arena, fans cheering and ... spreadsheets? That's right, the Microsoft Excel World Championship in Las Vegas turns number-crunching into an epic battle. Contestants like reigning champ Andrew "The Annihilator" Ngai duke it out over complex math problems for a grand prize of $3,000. Are you into Excel formulas? I know sum.

Whether you have a few minutes to spare during your drive or you're just chilling at home, it's the perfect time to tune in to The Kim Komando Show podcast! I keep it real, breaking down the latest tech trends, cybersecurity tips and gadget reviews into snack-sized, easy-to-understand episodes.

👉 Get my podcasts today!

Count me in: GnuCash is free, open-source accounting software with many of the same features as Quicken. You can use it entirely offline, too.

When you have a weird rash: Use Ctrl + Shift + N (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + N (Mac) to open an Incognito or private-browsing mode window in most web browsers. That way, it won’t get saved to your browsing history and pop up later. Good luck with the rash.

🔗 You gotta see this: No need to screenshot your weird ChatGPT convos. With “shared links,” you can whip up a unique URL for your chat and ping it to a friend. Try it!

☎️ Every week on my show, I talk with interesting folks and those who could use a little help with something digital. Catch these convos this weekend on a station near you or as a podcast.

Plus, Kevin needs GPS help, Michael wants a LifeLock substitute, Clayton is exploring online photo album options, Jana is switching to a new iPad, and much more!

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Watch: The northern lights dance live in the sky. This is on my bucket list.

Clean: Confession — I love cleaning the floors. Toilets? No, thanks. My tricks of the trade.

Recreate: That nice part of 2020 where you baked bread. Love a no-knead loaf. Makes the house smell so good!

Read: How Lego creates a new set.

“This house is so full of people it makes me sick. When I grow up and get married, I'm living alone.” — Kevin

The answer: Mobile phone subscriptions. There are 8.58 billion mobile subscriptions, per the ITU. There are 8 billion people on Earth, according to the UN. Some caveats: Many people own more than one phone, and machines and devices use a significant number of connections.

🍳 I stopped at a little diner for breakfast and ordered the Christmas Eggs Benedict. The waitress delivered it on a shiny metal plate. I said, "This is fancy." She replied, "Well, hon, you know there's no plate like chrome for the hollandaise!"

Phew, that was a jam-packed newsletter, eh? Do me a solid and tell a pal to get my free newsletter, too. Every reader counts. Let’s make all our people tech-smart! See you bright and early tomorrow morning with news I’ve been hoping to share with you for years. Now we have proof! — Kim