Hello there, Friday! Whoa, the last one of 2023! Let’s kick off this tech party with a fun fact about a French bulldog making money on social media. “Manny the Frenchie” has over 1 million Instagram followers and a charming, squishy face. How much does Manny’s owner make for a single sponsored social media post? Is it … A.) $218, B.) $1,322, C.) $2,486 or D.) $3,122? Make your best guess, and the answer’s at the end.

💸 Do your part to keep these free newsletters coming to your inbox and let us pay the bills. Click the link to check out today’s sponsor, NetSuite. Make 2024 the year for your business. NetSuite can help! — Kim

If you love true crime shows, boy, oh boy, I have a gig for you! Lawyers use virtual juries to try out their strategies before a case makes it to court, and you can get paid for participating. How fun is that?!

The requirements are pretty basic. Most of these sites require you to be a U.S. citizen at least 18 years of age with no felony convictions. Depending on the case, there may be additional eligibility criteria.

The process usually involves filling out a form with your demographic information online. The info is used to match you with relevant cases.

How much do you get paid?

It depends. Based on the complexity and length of the case, you'll likely see anything from $5 to $60. But I did see a stat that said the average person makes around $45 per hour if selected.

Now, there might not be a ton of opportunities available to participate. The number of cases you’re invited to can vary based on your demographic profile and the demand for jurors in your area. In other words, this isn't a reliable income stream, but it can be an interesting hobby.

OK, let’s do this

Want to try it? You’ve got options:

• eJury allows attorneys to receive feedback before cases go to court. As a virtual juror, you review cases and answer questions that help lawyers prepare for trial.
• OnlineVerdict lets you review cases submitted by attorneys and provide feedback. Each takes about 30 to 60 minutes to review.
• JuryTest is where attorneys upload case materials and jurors provide their opinions on the case. You can listen to or read case details, then answer questions or give a verdict.
• SignUpDirect lets you participate in mock juries and research projects for legal cases. You can register on the website to be notified when new cases are available.

Protect your primary email address

Disposable email addresses are your friends when checking out new opportunities. You don't want to hand over your primary email address when looking for a side gig, which could lead to spammy messages.

• In Gmail, you can create disposable email addresses by adding a plus sign (+) and any word or number combination before the @ symbol in your email address. For example, if your email is HottieWhoLikesToParty⁠@⁠gmail⁠.⁠com, you could use HottieWhoLikesToParty+OnlineJuryDuty⁠@⁠gmail⁠.⁠com.
• Have an Apple iCloud+ subscription? You can get free addresses ending with @⁠icloud⁠.⁠com with their Hide My Email feature. I use this all the time.
• Temp Mail and 10MinuteMail are two sites that let you create disposable email addresses.

Again, I want to stress the number of virtual jury opportunities varies drastically. These sites may have no cases available one day and five the next, so check out each and put in your name where you’re interested.

😂 One for the road … Sue reports for jury duty. She promptly asks to be excused because she believes she's prejudiced. "I took one look at those shifty eyes and that cheap polyester suit and immediately knew he was guilty as sin." "Sit down," says the judge. "That's the prosecuting attorney."

Don’t you love finding a hidden gem that makes life easier? Browse some of my favorites:

• Silicone freezer trays that hold 1 cup of soup. I pop one out, toss it in a bag, and I have lunch for work. You can bake with them, too!
• Laundry detergent sheets are light and don’t leave a sticky mess, unlike liquid detergent.
• So handy — A cup holder you can put anywhere.
• Teeth a little dingy? I use this toothpaste to whiten mine.
• My niece’s face looked amazing. She told me this Snail Mucin is the social media rage.

Blame it on the algorithms: The Wall Street Journal conducted an interesting experiment: Creating bots that posed as 13-year-olds on TikTok. In just a few hours, these accounts were automatically fed very frightening videos, including some from the Israel-Palestine conflict, World War III predictions and end-of-the-world scenes. You might want to tell the kids to scroll past these vids.

📦 Amazon safety check: Go to your Amazon account and look under Your orders. You may see a new page called “Your Recalls and Product Safety Alerts.” Here, you’ll see details about recalls for any products you’ve purchased and how to get a refund or return the items. Super handy!

This cougar isn’t a cheetah: “Singlefluencers” (aka “single” and “influencer”) share the good, the bad and the ugly about dating online. One of them, Hannah Zaslawski, is filming herself going on 50 first dates. For each, she details how she met her date, walks through her pre-date nerves, and then gives followers real-time updates of her date. Everyone’s broadcasting their lives.

📲 Umm … who are you? I hate when I’ve forgotten someone’s name. That’s why I wanted to pass along what a Harvard-trained etiquette expert told CNBC you should do instead: Ask for their contact info. Hand over your phone, and they’ll pop in their name. Bingo, crisis averted. So smart.

Boss scams are on the rise: You get a message from your “boss” asking you to purchase gift cards on the company card or with your own money. Companies have lost millions to this stuff. No kidding, someone pulled one of these on someone who works for me — using my name! She didn’t fall for it.

My name ain’t Mary, but I’m still poppin’: A viral Instagram trend called "Get to Know Me" asks questions about your age, height, birthdate, tattoos and more. Don't do it! They're the answers to common account security questions. Might want to share this on your Instagram account to warn others. Btw, I’m here on IG.

🚲 E-bike owners, this is your warning: ​​Andrew Beaton gave his 12-year-old son an e-bike for Christmas, but things took a dangerous turn. The bike’s battery exploded and quickly burnt the house down. The silver lining: The kiddo saw the flames early, and the family got out safely. Never charge your e-bike inside the house or garage.

Get the little ones to sleep: Jim Fiorelli is the Kentucky grandpa behind "PJs and Pillows" on YouTube. In just 11 months, he's brought bedtime stories to thousands of kids nationwide. Jim believes in the soothing effect of bedtime books. I love how the internet can do good, in this case, for Jim and the kids.

Is your mailbox overflowing with unsolicited credit card and insurance offers? You can thank the big four credit reporting bureaus: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion and Innovis.

Each bureau provides lists of consumers, based on specific criteria, to credit and insurance companies for prescreened offers. Yes, it's completely legal. But don't worry, there's a solution: Opt Out Prescreen, a tool developed by these very credit bureaus.

• Visit optoutprescreen.com. You can choose to opt out for five years or forever, then fill in the form.
• Opting out permanently? You’ll have to use snail mail, but it’s worth it. Print, sign and mail a confirmation form.

📮 You know, postal service jokes don't need much setup. It's all in the delivery.

Nothing’s free in this world: This includes top-notch antivirus and internet security software for your Windows or Mac computers and iOS or Android devices. Get a year of my recommended software, TotalAV, for only $19. Hackers and scammers are in full swing!

Calling all caregivers! Or anyone with an older person in their life who always seems to end up in scammers' clutches. Make these three changes on their phone.

🛣️ Hitting the road? Download a map of where you’re going in case you hit a no-cell-service zone. First, make sure you’re connected to the internet and not in Incognito mode. Open the Google Maps app and search for your destination. Tap the city name or address > the three dots > select Download offline map > Download.

Trust me, it’s dusty: Your laptop and desktop gather dust just like everything else. Do yourself (and your wallet) a favor and blow out all the junk. Compressed air gets the job done, but I prefer a reusable air duster.

Tired of missing the perfect shot? Double-tap your Android phone's power button — bam, instant camera! This hidden shortcut bypasses the lock screen and gets you capturing moments in a flash. Check your "Gestures" settings to activate this game-changing tip.

After 20-plus years operating a business in the radio and tech industry, I know you have to let the data do the talking. The numbers show you where your company excels — and where it’s not doing so great. I wish someone had told me this a long time ago.

You can’t run a successful business with Quicken. Sure, you get a basic P&L, but that’s not enough. You need more than just accounting software.

That’s what is so great about NetSuite by Oracle. In one easy-to-use dashboard, you see everything that makes your business tick — revenue, inventory, sales, employees, expenses, you name it. Over 37,000 businesses rely on NetSuite.

That pun was oak-ay.

The answer: D.) $3,122. That’s right — Manny earns over $3K per sponsored post. Dang, I really should’ve put Abby, my golden retriever, on social media years ago. That girl needs to start earning her keep!

🎉 There’s just a few days left for my iPhone 15 giveaway (a $799 value)! Share the link with someone you know so they can try my free newsletter and get a chance to win! Yes, you can enter, too, at www.komando.com/win.

Another issue of your favorite tech news in the books. (Hey, I’m just assuming.) Take your business to the next level in 2024. NetSuite will give you the reliable data you need! See you tomorrow, and until then, stay your amazing self! — Kim