The Current-Sun Plus: Make money on TikTok, shipping scams, don’t use Windows Recall | In partnership with Oracle | | Welcome to a tech-tastic Sunday, friend. Ever feel your phone buzz, pull it out, and there’s no notification? You’re not imagining things. It’s called “phantom vibration syndrome,” or PVS. Studies show up to 90% of people who use smartphones regularly experience PVS. You see, our brains get so conditioned to expect notifications that sometimes, they create the sensation, even when our phones are silent or turned off. Fascinating, isn’t it? 🙏 By popular request: Today’s newsletter is packed with gifts for all your favorite people at every price point. I hope this helps you finish up your shopping … or, at least, get started. Sick of shopping? Head down to the “Web Watercooler” section for all the tech news you need to know to be tech-ahead and never left tech‑behind. — Kim 📬 Was this email forwarded? Sign up here for free |
TODAY'S TOP STORY Practical gifts everyone will love at $10, $20 and $50 Thank goodness I’m almost done shopping! I’m here to help you be a hero on Christmas morning at whatever budget floats your boat. Psst, if you need stocking stuffers, use this link. 💰 Under and around $10 They can make their own yummy fruit water with this infuser bottle (9% off, $12). An in-car sauce holder ($8) makes chicken nuggies extra portable. For the cook: Rub away lingering garlic stank with a stainless steel odor absorber ($10). This ballpoint pen ($10) diffuses essential oils as it writes. Stick this purifying wand ($12) in their wine glass, and they’ll never have a wine headache again. The reviews back it up! 💰 Under and around $20 Light up their life with a candle warmer that’s also a color-changing lamp (18% off, $18). You just know a weighted sleep mask ($17) would feel ahh‑mazing. This pizza cutter ($20) looks like a circular saw. I love it. A projection alarm clock (47% off, $19) displays the time on the ceiling or wall. No more middle-of-the-night phone blinding! Get them a marble cheese slicer ($18) so every time you see them, you can ask, “Did you cut the cheese?” Classic. 💰 Under and around $50 This portable popcorn popper (say that three times fast!) has a built-in serving bowl. Farmers market lovers, rejoice! This tote bag (19% off, $43) has seven pockets, including a flower holder. A 3-in-1 baking pan ($30) lets picky eaters have their own side of the lasagna. This portable lock box ($45) is perfect for the traveler or beach lover in your life. They can even charge their phone while it’s locked up. Who doesn’t love a nice hotel bed? These fancy hotel pillows ($60) are 25% off. 💰 Wanna splurge? An aroma diffuser ($125) with Bluetooth, so they can turn it on before they even get home. Ugg makes blankets ($73). ‘Nuff said. Make any patio look like a five-star steakhouse with a portable fire pit ($100). Know a slow sipper? A temperature-control smart mug ($150) keeps drinks warm for hours. The most aesthetically pleasing blender (25% off, $146) in the world. I want one! ⁉️ “Hey Kim, I still need to find the perfect gift for ...” Worry not! I have hundreds of ideas for you right here. You’ll get it done in a jiffy with my picks! |
MY TRUSTED ADVICE 🎙️ Every weekend on my award-winning national radio show heard on over 420 stations, I talk with interesting folks like you. Catch these convos on a station near you, or find my weekend show as a podcast in your favorite podcast player. George Noory, host of Coast to Coast AM, shares what he knows about the drone swarms over New York and New Jersey. There aren’t just a few — think 30 to 50 every night! Kagan Dunlap is a U.S. Marine and a good-looking guy. No-gooders use his pics to con ladies into fake online romances and cash grabs. He’s tired of it. Greg in Savannah, Georgia, got duped by someone posing online as a professional crypto trader. Long story short, he lost $200,000. Plus, Brad tracks his online accounts, Mike needs a trail cam, Nancy wants a secure kids’ iPad, Theresa explores the Dark Web and so much more! 📆 Let’s talk about anything digital in your life, whether it’s family matters or your business. Make an appointment to speak with me right here. |
KIM KOMANDO TODAY Guy Kawasaki on being remarkable Guy Kawasaki hosts the "Remarkable People" podcast (yep, I was on it because he said I fit that category!). He was one of the original marketers behind the Apple Macintosh computer, and I asked him some great questions, including a few about Elon Musk. Tap or click below to play this podcast now. Use this link to listen on Komando.com → |
WEB WATERCOOLER Shopping scams are getting nastier: One victim in Maryland was tricked into paying a fake $0.99 “redelivery fee” and ended up losing $400. USPS and other shipping companies won’t add a shipping charge after the fact. These scams usually come via text, so watch out. Attn., Windows Insiders: Microsoft’s Recall feature is a privacy nightmare. Even after a backlash forced changes, Recall still captures info like credit cards and Social Security numbers. That’s with the “sensitive info filter” on. Microsoft says they’re fixing it. Again. 🎓 Hit or MIS: It’s a tough job market for computer science grads. The tech hiring boom has gone bust, with mass layoffs and fewer openings. Some opt for a Master of Management Information Systems (MIS) degree to ride out the downturn. These jobs pay roughly $112,000 a year for master’s grads, compared to $72,000 annually with only a bachelor’s degree. I’d rather see you get a cybersecurity or AI degree. Winning over Americans one check at a time: An Indiana mom raked in $95,000 in five months promoting fashion, beauty and kids’ products on TikTok. Unlike other social platforms with steeper entry requirements, TikTok Shop lets folks with just 1,000 followers start monetizing. Is it worth it for how much data they collect? Up to you. Here’s the signup link. It kills your brain cells: Glyphosate, the most used weed killer in the world, has been linked to diseases like Alzheimer’s. It’s in Roundup and so many other brands. A new study from Arizona State University (my alma mater!) says the chemical leads to long-term damage, even with brief exposures. The EPA’s stance? Low levels are safe. 🤑 New year, new (higher) prices: YouTube TV subscriptions are getting a $10 price hike to $82.99 per month starting in January. It’s the second increase in less than a year. At launch in 2017, YouTube TV was just $34.99 monthly. Oof, that’s a 137% jump. They say the decision wasn’t made “lightly” (with dollar signs in their eyes). It's time to decide if you really need it. 💸 Another flop for Harry and Meghan: Their $100 million Netflix deal is on shaky ground. “Polo,” their new series focusing on the world of elite equestrian sports, has been ridiculed by critics as "unintentionally hilarious." I tried to watch it, but it was so bad. The couple never did the animated series Netflix signed for, either. Meghan's reputation as being extremely difficult to work with isn’t helping matters, and her cooking show is going up in smoke, too. PSA: Working for a living takes up your whole day. |
AI can transform your business AI is changing the game, and small to large businesses are transforming at lightning speed. But here's the good news: It's not too late to get in on the action and take your business to the next level. That’s where Oracle comes in. Simple AI integration: Oracle makes it easy to bring AI into your business — no headaches, no fuss. Top-tier power: Oracle uses Nvidia GPUs, the best for processing power, so your AI solutions run like a dream. Affordable: Get more bang for your buck, with high performance at a lower cost than other cloud providers. Built to grow: Your business is always changing, and Oracle will grow right along with you, offering scalable solutions. Hands-off maintenance: Don’t worry about the techy stuff — Oracle handles updates and infrastructure management so you can focus on what really matters. You know AI is the future — now’s your chance to cut your cloud bill in half with Oracle. You have nothing to lose and so much to gain. Can Oracle cut your company's cloud bill in half? → Please support our sponsors! |
TECH LIFE UPGRADES 📍 Consistency is key: Make sure your business name is consistent across Yelp, Google and every other online directory. Even small differences (like “Co.” instead of “Company”) can confuse search engines and hurt your SEO rankings. Want more small-biz smarts? Get on the list for my free small-biz newsletter now. 🔒 Friendly reminder: Browser extensions lose support and change developers. Take a minute to review what’s installed and ditch anything you don’t use. On Chrome, tap the three dots near your profile icon, hover over Extensions, then select Manage Extensions. On Safari, go to Preferences > Extensions. 🏈 What’s the score? In the Alexa app, open Settings > Sports Update. Add your teams (you’ll find all major American sports leagues). Now, say, “Alexa, give me my sports update” for scores and schedule info. Debt freedom starts in 30 seconds: If you’re struggling, stressed out or worried about money, do something about it today. Get a free debt analysis with a plan* to pay down your credit cards, personal loans, collections or medical bills. This company is legit. $40 to Sharon for cocktails: Unless you change your settings, anyone with the Venmo app can see all your contacts. Go to Privacy settings > Friends list > Private. While you’re there, turn off “Appear in other users’ friends’ lists.” This is important! 🤹♀️ Free audio editing software: Get the one we use at the ol’ Komando Radio Ranch right here. It works great if you’re digitizing music on cassettes and LPs, podcasting or just editing audio for whatever reason. |
SUNDAY TO-DO LIST Watch: One of the 100 best flicks available totally free on YouTube. 🤮 Admit it: You haven’t cleaned out your garbage disposal in a long time. I use this to make it easy. Impress: The family with homemade popovers. I bet these smell so good. Mix: Two scoops of collagen* into your coffee or smoothie. I do this every morning to keep my skin, bones and joints happy. (Psst, it’s 45% off and you’ll get free shipping with my link.) 🤗 Ask: Me your questions. I’m a business owner, tech expert and mom. I’ve been helping people navigate tech and life for over 20 years. I’m here for you, too. |
UNTIL NEXT TIME ... An oldie but a goodie: I’ll never forget these predictions of what humans could look like in 2100 because of tech. You have to see it. I’m praying we never end up with claws and a second eyelid. Shudder. Speaking of … What’s the difference between a cat and a comma? A cat has claws at the end of its paws and a comma’s a pause at the end of a clause. (I know you’re gonna use that one.) 💫 Shop: I like to scan Amazon’s bestsellers for gift inspiration. It’s a good way to find those gifts on everyone’s wish lists, adults and kids alike. Another day in the books! If you laughed or learned something new, help me grow this newsletter and tell one person to subscribe. Just one! Would you do that for me? That would be amazing, just like you! — Kim |
|
|
|
