Plus: Facebook warning, MrBeast is having a bad week, RIP to Windows 10 | In partnership with T-Mobile | | A very happy first day of November and Friday, friend! Where were you 30 years ago on this day? I was making $40 a week hosting a radio show about computers late on Saturday nights. I think KFYI-AM in Phoenix put me there, figuring, “What harm could she do?” No one was listening, anyway! If you were with Jeff Bezos 30 years ago, you would’ve watched him buy the domain Amazon.com. A few Jeff facts to start us off today: He doesn’t wake up to an alarm; he washes dishes by hand every night, saying it’s “the sexist thing” he does; and when he’s struggling to solve a problem, he lets his mind wander. (I need to do more of that.) Now, what were we talking about? 🤩 So close! Help me reach the major milestone of 100,000 subscribers on my YouTube channel. Hit this link to subscribe. Thank you. Now, on to the news! — Kim 🆕 Today's podcast: Fake info in your medical records ⏱️ Daily Tech Update: Why I never use Waymo 💡 Digital Life Hack: How to get your hacked Facebook back 📬 Was this email forwarded? Sign up here for free |
TODAY'S TOP STORY Be careful what you believe “Drop 10 pounds before Thanksgiving!” That’s all over my social media feeds because I was a dope and clicked on a video of a gal showing off her svelte new figure. Ads for Ozempic and other weight loss meds are everywhere. The weight loss drug biz is a $100 billion industry. I know a bunch of people who have taken Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus or one of the other options, and I bet you do, too. Some folks shy away from going to the doctor for these prescription drugs, and I get that — it can be a hassle, embarrassing or just too expensive. No wonder nonprescription options are popular, too. Before you jump on the latest health trend, let me break it down and arm you with the facts. Let’s talk numbers Where there’s money, there are scammers. Cybersecurity firm BrandShield recently shut down 250 sites selling dangerous and sometimes deadly Ozempic counterfeits. Online pharmacies sell weight loss drugs labeled as GLP‑1 or compounded semaglutide for a couple of hundred bucks a month. These contain the same active ingredient as the prescription drugs. The difference is they’re not regulated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness or quality. Taking one could be totally fine … or you might end up taking meds from a compounding facility that cuts corners. Don’t fall for marketing gimmicks Take Kourtney Kardashian's Lemme brand. They sell a $90 GLP‑1 Daily supplement they claim stops your cravings. It’s made of fruit extracts and saffron and probably costs about 8 cents a pill to manufacture. Spoiler: It doesn’t work. All over TikTok, influencers are showing off #inspiring health journeys while earning up to $30,000 a month with sponsored posts. They’re cashing in to get you to buy these trendy drugs, and I bet some haven’t tried them. Their other tricks aren’t medications at all but attempts to get views. “Oatzempic,” trending all over the internet, is an oatmeal and lime smoothie (ew) influencers claim will shave off 20 pounds a month. Uh‑huh. Get the skinny Before you jump into any weight loss pills, supplements or trendy herbs: Ask a professional first. Your doctor knows way more than some random influencer on social media. If you don’t want to see your regular doc, try a reputable telehealth company that specializes in weight loss. No waiting rooms, awkward chats or worries about getting turned away. Check the ingredients. Research what's in those drugs you see online before you shell out any cash. Review open recall alerts. Before trying anything new, check the FDA website for recalls and fake products. Scan the lists right now, and you’ll be ahead of the game. It’s not worth risking your health or your wallet for a fake or dicey product. Do your loved ones a solid and share this article — let’s keep everyone in the loop. |
DEALS OF THE DAY I say this with love … No one likes nose hair. This trimmer is $12.99 and an absolute necessity for anyone over 40. Click the coupon for 10% off. Cheap-o sweaters don’t age well. Try $50 cashmere you can toss in the washer.* Don’t tell Ian, but I’m getting him a cashmere hoodie for Christmas. Dirty white sneakers make you look like a mess. Instead of buying a new pair, try this magical $12 cleaning sponge. Crusty lips are a no-go. I like Aquaphor’s repair balm — no smell or shine. Your family is too polite to tell you the meat is overcooked. Get a thermometer already. My fave is only $10. |
WEB WATERCOOLER 🚨 Hackers’ latest Facebook tricks: They’re stealing accounts to post fake product listings on Marketplace or in status updates or stories. Or they’re using those stolen profiles to post that someone has died and they need money for the funeral. PSA: Have strong passwords and lock your profile so only your friends can see it. Android folks, watch out for this: FakeCall malware is targeting over 20 banks. It starts with an infected app that becomes the default calling app on your phone. The next time you call your bank, it redirects to the attacker’s number with a fake screen and everything. Remember, you should only download apps from the official Google Play Store. 💀 Google Search is dead: OpenAI added a search function to ChatGPT for up-to-the-minute news, weather, sports scores — you name it — without ads or scrolling. It’s live now for ChatGPT Plus and Team subscribers; free access is coming within the next few months. I predicted Google’s demise two years ago, and people laughed at me. In Monday’s newsletter, I’ll share insider tricks for (and problems with) using ChatGPT’s search feature. Speaking of Alphabet, “G” is also for Gemini: Gemini AI in Google Maps can help you find interesting spots nearby, and it even summarizes others’ reviews. Any chatbot can use this data to answer location-based questions. In Waze, you can report accidents just by talking to the app, too. They’re hoping more eyeballs in the apps equals more ad dollars. 📅 Support for Windows 10 ends Oct. 14, 2025: You’ll be able to pay $30 for one year of extended security updates, but that’s as far as it goes. Heads-up: Windows 11 works on CPUs made in 2018 or later. Here's a budget pick and a high-spec model (25% off) if your laptop is older. Atlas doesn’t need lunch breaks: Boston Dynamics just dropped a new video of its humanoid robot Atlas. The bot does factory work, like moving engine covers between supplier containers and a mobile sequencing dolly — complete with full-motion bending and turning. The big deal is that no human needs to tell the bot what to do after training. WTH? The Colorado Department of State posted a spreadsheet with partial passwords to its voting machines on its website. No biggie, they say, since each machine has two unique passwords, needs physical access and is stored in an ID-only area. Someone needs to get fired — now. 🐺 I hope this isn’t true: Online sleuths say YouTuber MrBeast has raked in $23 million through a web of crypto wallets and shady schemes. It’s got all the drama: A long trail of insider trading, misleading investors, and using his influence to pump and dump. Their proof? Transactions, charts, messages and pics of him partying with crypto entrepreneurs. Here’s the full investigation. Great read, btw. |
TECH LIFE UPGRADES You’re the tech-smart one in the family: The next time someone calls you for iPhone help, try this: If both your phones are updated to at least iOS 18, start a FaceTime call. Have them tap the Share button at the top of the screen, next to the red X. When the preview pops up, tap it from your phone and choose Request Control. When you’re all done, hit the stop button. 👆 Saved you a swipe: On most Android phones, swipe down from the top of the screen once to see key shortcuts and settings, then swipe again to see the full selection. It's called the Quick Settings screen. A faster way to get there: Swipe down once with two fingers. Haven't used your PayPal account in forever? Delete it and erase all the data associated with your name. Log in and click the Settings icon. Select Data & Privacy > Delete your data and close account. Follow the on-screen prompts, and wait for the confirmation email. 😚 Bye, bye, bye: When you see an ad you don’t want to see again on Facebook, look in the top right corner of the ad itself. Find the three-dot icon and tap Hide Ad. Attn., shortcut newbies: Start working these into your repertoire. Try Ctrl + A to select all of something, Ctrl + X to cut your selection, Ctrl + V to paste, Ctrl + Z to undo your last action and Ctrl + Y to redo. On a Mac, use Cmd instead of Ctrl. Cancel what you’re not using: I use Rocket Money,* an app that finds all your recurring subscriptions and lets you easily cancel those you no longer want. The first time I logged in, it saved me $360! |
BY THE NUMBERS 25% of Google’s code Is now generated by AI — and it's working. Just look at their cloud business stats: Third-quarter earnings totaled $11.4 billion, a 35% increase from the same stretch last year. I wonder how many developers making over $500,000 a year are getting the boot. 275 million accounts Using Meta’s Threads, the rival to X. Zuckerberg says it’s on track to be their next major social app, with over 1 million people signing up each day. I think it’s kinda lame … 130-year record Mount Fuji has never been snowless this late in the year. The peaks are usually white by Oct. 2. Blame unusually high temperatures. My Mount Fuji pun isn't just funny — it's hill areas. (Oh, was that a groan I heard, or are you hungry?) |
WHAT THE TECH? Cables sure make the world(‘s internet) go 'round. |
UNTIL NEXT TIME ... 🎁 It’s November, which means the holidays are basically here. I’m feeling festive, and I’ve got advent calendars in my Amazon cart. Here are the best options I’ve found. Tea bags, coffee, tiny jars of jam, chocolate bars? Yum! What's the difference between jelly and jam? Santa doesn't jelly himself down the chimney on Christmas Eve. (I laughed when I wrote that!) Thanks for reading, friend. Rate this issue below and leave a comment. I read ‘em all! I’ll be back tomorrow in your inbox. On the docket: An important warning for you and the kids in your life. Until then, may All Saints' Day bring peace, reflection and joy. 🌟 — Kim |
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https://referrer.komando.com/8818309c/3 | In "50 Smart Ways to Use AI," Kim shares helpful prompts for today's most common AI chatbots. Whether you're tackling spreadsheets, planning rainy-day activities or developing a wellness plan, let AI handle the heavy lifting for you! | |
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