daily story pitches


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Monday, October 2nd

Facebook killed a helpful security feature that allowed friends to help regain your Facebook account even if you forgot your password and no longer had access to an email account or phone number. What can you do now? As I learned over the weekend while helping my mom get back into her account: not much.

Friday, September 29th

The App of the Day: SAMSUNG Food. There are lots of cooking and recipe apps but this one is fairly unique and may be what you’re looking for. Instead of just a bunch of recipes, SAMSUNG Food lets you clip recipes from anywhere (Pinterest, blogs, TikTok, etc) and put them in one personal cookbook.

Thursday, September 28th

Don’t spend too much on a smartphone. This is a popular time for people to upgrade their phones. You may be tempted to pay more for phone storage you don’t need. Should you get the 128 GB version? Do you need 512? Or is 1 TB what you want? I’ll look at some of the factors to help you decide.

Wednesday, September 27th

What you need to know ahead of the national emergency broadcast test next week. Everyone’s phone will ding and receive an emergency warning next Wednesday, October 4th. It’s a FEMA test that will interrupt TV programming but everyone will get an alert on their phones. There are some conspiracy theories spreading out there. What’s the truth? Why and what can you expect?

Tuesday, September 26th

September is Suicide Prevention Month. Suicide among young people is a record levels so there is a push to help teenagers and pre-teens who are having trouble. There are suicide prevention phone lines but kids hate talking on the phone. They do text though. I’m looking at the Crisis Text Line, a free number kids can text to chat with a professional.

Monday, September 25th

Amazon Prime and the state of streaming. Amazon just announced it is adding commercials to movies and TV shows. Disney+ did that a few weeks ago along with Hulu and Netflix. People already pay for $140 a year for Amazon and one of the perks has been commercial-free video. I’m taking a look at the state of streaming, another option, and why you can no longer avoid commercials.

Friday, September 22nd

The App of the Day, Free Your Music. Most everyone listens to music through Spotify, Amazon, Apple, or YouTube. Have you ever thought of switching from one to another? The thing that holds people back from doing this is they’ve built solid playlists and favorites over the years. There’s an app for that. Free Your Music will copy playlists and favorites from one service and add them to another. I’m looking at how it works and if it’s safe.

Thursday, September 21st

Alexa just got smarter. Amazon announced a bunch of new upgrades to these smart assistants that are about as common in homes as area rugs. She’ll soon talk more like a human (among other things). I’m looking at what Amazon announced and why it’s trying to make Alexa more like a member of the family.

Wednesday, September 20th

How are students using ChatGPT? Is it just for research or are they really using it to cheat? After nearly a year, the results are in. They’re using it to cheat. What are teachers supposed to do? Is there a way to detect work done by ChatGPT? Yes there is for the most part. By checking the work with ChatGPT. I’ll explain how and look at the results of the study.

Tuesday, September 19th

Selling a smartphone. Plenty of people are looking to upgrade their smartphone this time of year. New devices coming out from Apple, Samsung, and Pixel are tempting. What are the best options of upgrading? Should you trade-in a device or sell it?

Monday, September 18th

IOS 17 is released today to the public. It includes many new features that Apple (and I) talks about, but there’s something else that even Android fans will appreciate. New ringtones. For the first time in a decade, Apple is introducing 2 dozen new ringtones. And it may be the best thing in iOS 17 that no one is talking about.

Friday, September 15th

The App of the Day: Be Fake. BeReal was (still is) one of the more popular apps of the last year. That’s the app that sends a notification to all users at the same time asking them to take a photo. The complaint from BeReal users is that it never happens when you’re doing something fun. Be Fake, takes care of that by making sure all of your photos show you doing some amazing things. BeFake, uses artificial intelligence to make your life more exciting.

Thursday, September 14th

What you should know before cutting the cable cord. Millions of cable subscribers are missing some of their favorite channels and are looking for alternatives. I’ve talked to several and have received questions from viewers about switching to YouTubeTV, Hulu, and Furbo TV. What you should know before cutting the cord? Why cutting the cord may not be for you.

Wednesday, September 13th

Facebook privacy settings you should change today. We all know that Facebook is a scammers best friend. They not only can get loads of information from and about you, but unless you change a couple of settings they can go after your friends. I’m looking at a few privacy settings you should change or hide as soon as possible.

Tuesday, September 12th

Apple announcements. Today at noon PT, Apple will unveil a new iPhone and Apple Watch. Will they be worth the upgrade or should you wait? I’m following the event and will report on everything you need to know about the iPhone 15. Note, the event is late in the afternoon ET but I will have it ready at the usual time. I’ll also watch the wording closely if you plan to run it a day behind. But it’ll be ready by 5P ET.

Monday, September 11th

The Hollywood writer’s strike goes on and a big winner is…. Gilligan? Free TV services and classic sitcoms are enjoying a surge in popularity. Tubi, Pluto, Roku, and Freevee report their highest number of viewers since the strike began. So what classic shows can you see? I’m taking a look at how these services work andwhich one has the best choices.

Friday, September 8th

The app of the day: Grammarly. Sure, Apple and Google say their spell-check is improved and getting better every day. Yeah. Right. It’s pretty frustrating. If you correct auto-correct more than auto-correct corrects you, this app can help.

Thursday, September 7th

How fast should your internet be? Prices range from $30 or so to $100 a month for internet. That’s a big difference. Forget the TV commercials that ask “are you paying too much”, the question should be “are you paying for too much?” Does your family need more than 100 Mbs? I’m taking a look at what you need to consider before upgrading.

Wednesday, September 6th

More cool things in iOS 17. It should be ready for public release on Tuesday following Apple’s unveiling of a new iPhone and Apple Watch. I’m looking at a few more mind-blowing features. Some surprising things you’ll soon be able to do on your phone.

Tuesday, September 5th

Cool things in iOS 17 . We’re a week away from the release of the new iOS 17. What does it do? I’ve been trying out the new operating system and there are some small cool features that might make your life easier. This week, unless something happens in the tech world, I’m going to look at the hidden features in iOS 17 and why you may want to download the update when it’s released September 12th.

Monday, September 4th

A simple trick to save on shipping. Amazon is raising the minimum for purchases to get free shipping. It was just $25 for non-Prime members, now if those shoppers want free shipping they’ll need to spend $35. But there’s a simple trick to get free shipping even if you don’t have an Amazon Prime membership.

Friday, September 1st

The app of the day: Milanote. This is an app I discovered a couple of weeks ago and it’s become my favorite and most helpful app and I use it every day and all day. Milanote is a web clipper, organizer, project manager, and can be used for things large and small. I’m looking at how this app can be a huge help to people working on a project or a group planning a family vacation, or just you wanting to save an article you found online.

Thursday, August 31st

How to get started with NFC tags and stickers. As we looked at yesterday, NFC tags can be very helpful but setting them up can be a little maddening. Today I’m looking at what you need to get started and how to set some of the tags up for what you want them to do.

Wednesday, August 30th

Tiny stickers that can change how you do things. NFC tags are quarter-sized stickers people are learning can make many tasks easier. Control your smart home devices, send automatic texts and reminders, and many different things just by tapping your phone against a sticker. Today I’ll show how they work, tomorrow I’ll show how to set them up. These are some of the coolest tech gadgets I’ve seen in a long long time.

Tuesday, August 29th

NOTE: Having to change stories today. Haven’t figured out how to use those darned NFC tags well enough to do the story. I’ll effort it for tomorrow.

Today: Gadgets and tech for tailgating. Whether you’re in the parking lot at the stadium or in someone’s backyard, there are a few things that will come in handy at football tailgate parties. I’m looking at a few things to take on the road.

Monday, August 28th

Prime your TV for football. The season kicks off this week and all fans will sit down to watch their favorite team on the big screen TV. No matter what type of TV you own or how much you spent on it, it can look better. There are a few things you can do to make it look better and a couple of things you might think are right but can make the game look terrible.

Friday, August 25th

The app of the day: Socratic. Kids are back in school and in a way, so are their parents. “Mom, can you help me with this homework?”. It’s been awhile since mom and dad were in algebra class and they may no longer be smarter than a 5th grader. Socratic can help parents and students with homework. Not just giving the answer but helping them learn to solve the problems and answer the questions on their own.

Thursday, August 24th

Apple sends out a warning about how you charge your iPhone. They can catch fire! Seriously. And many people are making these mistakes. Apple issued a rare message for its users that if you put your phone on charge and place it in bed while you sleep, it can overheat and catch on fire. Also, if you use cheap gas station chargers can cause a fire.

Wednesday, August 23rd

Tech for emergencies. No matter where you live, the weather can knock you off the grid. But new technology can keep the lights on and keep you connected. I’m looking at a few gadgets to help in case of emergency.

Tuesday, August 22nd

Is the robo call dead? For the first time since the pandemic shut down robo call centers, Americans received fewer spam calls than the month before. It isn’t all good news though. While cellular providers and the FCC made some moves to curb robo calls, robo texts is now public enemy #1. Is there any way to stop them?

Monday, August 21st

It isn’t your imagination. It’s a lot more difficult to understand what actors are saying on TV. A new study shows more and more people are using closed captioning when watching anything on TV and it isn’t the baby boomers, it’s Gen Z. I’m looking at why dialogue in shows and movies is hard to hear or decipher, and what gadgets can help.

Friday, August 18th

The App of the Day: EdX. How would you like to get a college education for free? Not just any education but a Harvard University education. This app offers dozens of Harvard classes for free. Watch virtual classes, download class materials, and (for a fee) get a certificate of completion.

Thursday, August 17th

Improve your home wifi. So you’ve got a bunch of smart home devices, someone who’s always gaming online, and more devices connecting to the internet than ever. As a result, everything is slower. There are several ways to improve your home WiFi to get a speedier connection all through the house. We’ll take a look at a few ways to speed things up.

Wednesday, August 16th

Do you have an old phone you don’t use? Most of them aren’t worth anything but they’re not worthless. When you upgrade to a new device a cellular service will only offer to recycle the old one. You can do something else instead. Turn it into a remote, clock, picture frame, or e-reader. I’m looking at the best ways to use old seemingly worthless devices.

Tuesday, August 15th

An iPhone feature that saved someone’s life in the Maui wildfire tragedy and might save yours if you know about it. Emergency SOS is already a lifesaving feature of iPhone but it doesn’t work if there’s absolutely no cellular connection available. Now the iPhone can contact emergency services by using satellites. And it’s pretty interesting to see how it works.

Monday, August 14th

A viral Facebook hoax that has some truth to it. Every Facebook user has seen th copy-and-paste this message to trick Facebook’s algorithm and see more your friends and fewer ads. Well there’s one viral post like this that has some truth to it. You don’t have to copy and paste, but it does work.

Friday, August 11th

The App of the Day: Taste. Cord cutters have multiple streaming services. Netflix, Prime, Hulu, Pluto, etc. That’s great but it also presents a problem: how to find something to watch. It usually requires you to switch in and out of apps to browse which can take hours. Taste is an app that helps you find something to watch based on what other people like who like what you like. It’s sort of like Tinder for movies and shows.

Thursday, August 10th

Pet tech. It’s a fast growing category: electronics for dogs and cats. Soon to be a $50 billion business category. I’m looking at a couple of pet robots and a gadget that teaches dogs how to talk. Yep. Well, sorta.

Wednesday, August 9th

All the talk this time of year is about back to school supplies for students. For moms and dads sending kids off to college, they’re going to need some supplies too. I’m looking at a few tech gadgets for parents to help keep their students connected even hundreds of miles away.

Tuesday, August 8th

College Students need laptops but today’s laptop computers leave much to be desired. They’re thin and light and that forces manufacturers to take a few necessary things out of the computers. I’m looking at laptop accessories every laptop owner probably needs.

Monday, August 7th

What’s the best laptop for school? PC, MacBook, or Chromebook? The decision could cost or save you hundreds of dollars. I’m looking at a few things to ask yourself before you buy a laptop for college.

Friday, August 4th

The app of the day; tv guide. Cord cutting is great if you’re wanting to save money. It’s different though. One of the biggest differences is being unable to see what’s coming on in a few hours or days. Years ago there was a magazine many of us had on our coffee table that showed us EVERYTHING that was coming on regular TV for the week. Now, TV Guide is an app!

Thursday, August 3rd

Bet you didn’t know your iPhone could do some of these things. As much time as we spend on our smartphones there are cool things it can do that we miss. I’ve rounded up a few things I only recently discovered that people may find helpful. Btw, for this story I’m including a bullet-point list, including an extra tip, in the web story if you want to push viewers to your website.

Wednesday, August 2nd

Parents might think they’re limiting how much time their kids are spending on TikTok, IG, YouTube or other apps. The truth is, kids have figured out a way to get around Screen Time limits and spend as much time as they want on the platforms without their parents ever knowing. I’m explaining this trick that went viral and showing parents what they can do about it.

Tuesday, August 1st

Time is running out to claim a portion of a $725 million dollar class action settlement from Facebook. I did something on this months ago and now the deadline is just a few weeks away. I’m explaining why Facebook is ordered to pay the money, who’s eligible, and how to do it before August 25th.

Monday, July 31st

It happens to all of us at some time or another and it’s a helpless feeling; our phone stops working. It either won’t turn off or won’t turn on. The screen either goes black or frozen on the last thing you were doing. No matter what you do, you can’t fix it. So you take it in to tech support and the dude presses a few buttons and it works again. WHAT DID HE DO??? I’m going to show you how to do a quick hard re-set to save you a trip to the store.

Friday, July 28th

The App of the Day: Firefox Focus. Chrome is the #1 browser in the world but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best browser for everyone. Firefox Focus is a web browser app for people who’d rather Google and its advertisers tracking their every move. But Firefox Focus also helps keep users from becoming distracted by too many windows.

Thursday, July 27th

Roku, Chromecast, or Amazon Firestick? How are these streaming devices different from one another and which one is best? There are some pretty big differences and depending on what you and your family enjoy watching, one will be better than the others. I’m taking a look at how these are different to help you decide which one to use.

Wednesday, July 26th

If you have a smart TV do you need a Roku, Firestick, or Chromecast? Smart TVs do what streaming devices do so why would you need one? You don’t, but you might want to have at least one. I’m looking at the pros and cons of adding these popular devices to your smart TV. Tomorrow we’ll look at the choices and help pick the right one for your needs.

Tuesday, July 25th

How much is your Barbie (or another collectible) worth? The Barbie movie has driven up prices of collectible Barbies and you may have one or two in a closet somewhere. Rather than spending lots of time looking up prices yourself, you can simply use your phone’s camera. And I discovered why some collectible Barbies aren’t worth `what you thought.

Monday, July 24th

X. It’s official, “X” has replaced Twitter and “all the birds”. New details are rolling out about what X is and how it will be different than Twitter. I’m talking with a social media expert about the future of X and whether this is a move that kills the social network and pushes people to Threads.

Friday, July 21st

The app of the day: Hand Talk. GENIUS! If you’ve ever struggled talking to a deaf person this is the app you’ve been looking for. Enter what you want to say, or say it, and this app translates it into sign language. Not just for you to use, but it displays an animated character who signs for you, and the person you’re talking to.

Thursday, July 20th

Is your TV watching you? You may spend hours each day watching live TV, Netflix, YouTube, or another streaming service. While you’re watching it, is your television watching you? It is. In a way. What you need to know about something the TV industry calls “post purchase monetization”.

Wednesday, July 19th

Netflix just canceled its Basic Plan that many people subscribe to. Starting today you’ll need to pay an extra $60 a year for its Standard Plan unless you’re already doing Basic. I’ll explain what’s going on and what Netflix is up to.

Tuesday, July 18th

A genius way to keep up with your tech gadget chargers. If you’ve got a bunch of power blocks/chargers for things you know how difficult it can be to keep track of what goes with what. After trying a few ways to keep them organized I finally found one that works. QR codes.

Monday, July 17th

I’ve received a few questions about returning products ordered on Prime Day. It’s pretty easy but there are a few catches. I’m looking at what you need to know before you send something back.

Friday, July 14th

App of the Day: Goblin Tools. This is another A.I. app, similar to Chat GPT, Bard, and others. But Goblin Tools is designed for people with neurodivergent challenges that make some tasks difficult and overwhelming. People with ADHD, are on the autism spectrum, Down’s syndrome, and dyslexia will likely find this app helpful. So will their parents and grandparents. I’ll explain how this app works and why it may be just what some families are looking for.

Thursday, July 13th

UPDATE: I’m going to hold off on pet tech until next week. iPhone users can now download the latest iOS 17 in beta. But should you? The new operating system has a lot of new features and you’ve probably heard about the cool things you can do with it. I’m taking a look at how to get permission to download it, what you should do before, and answer the question: should you get it or wait.

Wednesday, July 12th

Prime Day scams: fake text messages. Prime Day ends today which means for the rest of the week shoppers will be waiting on their packages. Billions of dollars worth of items are being shipped and scammers will be taking advantage of shopper’s anticipation. How texting (smishing) texts work, how to spot them, and what happens when you click on one. (I hope this will be the last Prime Day related story for awhile)

Tuesday, July 11th

Amazon Prime Day and all of the other summer sales holidays are well underway. If you place an order watch out for scams. The bad guys take advantage of online shopping events as much as the shoppers. I’m looking at a few common shopping scams, what to watch for, and how to avoid them.

Monday, July 10th

Millions of people will shop online over the next few days. Last year on Amazon Prime Day, shoppers ordered over 300 million items. That makes this week a much anticipated week for thieves. Porch pirates will be roaming neighborhoods looking for easy marks. I’m looking at things you can do to protect your packages from being taken from your doorstep.

Friday, July 7th

The app of the day: Threads. You’ve heard about it this Twitter competitor from Meta and Instagram. It released the other day and already has about 40 million downloads. Here’s most everything you need to know about it. The good, the bad, and where it needs to improve.

Thursday, July 6th

Prime yourself for Prime Day this weekend. You can lose money on Prime Day, or at least miss deals on products you want. I’m looking at two tools Prime Day shoppers should use to get the best deals. It’s easy to miss a lightning sale and it’s easy to make sure you’re not falling for something that only looks like a bargain. These two tools will help save even more money on Prime Day whether you shop on a computer or a phone.

Wednesday, July 5th

Taking a look ahead to Amazon Prime Day which begins Tuesday. While Amazon gets most of the attention, other online retailers will try to compete with their own sales events. I’m looking at where you can find great deals on electronics next week and what gadgets are going to be discounted the most.

Tuesday, July 4th

Happy Independence Day. Not much going on in the tech world so I’m going to look at something that affects us all. Battery trickle and charging a phone overnight. Many (most?) of us put our phones on charge when we go to bed. While it sits on the charger it’s affected by battery trickle. I’m taking a look at what this means and how to charge a phone to make the battery last longer.

Monday, July 3rd

(I’ll get this story finished by noon today so you have more time to run it before tomorrow)

How to take photos of fireworks with your smartphone? Even professional photographers will tell you fireworks are some of the hardest things to shoot. They’re even more difficult with a smartphone camera. But it can be done. I’m looking at a few camera settings to improve your chances of getting good shots.

Friday, June 30th

The App of the Day: iExit. We’ve all been on a road trip and thought about getting something to eat. Do we stop at the next exit? Or is something better down the road? This app tells you exactly what is at each exit so you know if it’s okay to go a little further. It shows restaurants, hotels, and gas stations. RV’ers know all about this app and it’s a favorite for serious road warriors.

Thursday, June 29th

Amazon pushes Prime memberships leading up to and during Prime Day which is coming up in a little over a week. Many of our viewers already pay for Prime ($139 annually). Now that other retailers promote their own sales to compete with Amazon, you may wonder if Prime is worth the extra money? There are many Prime benefits that you’re probably not using. I’m looking at all of the “hidden” features that you’re missing.

Wednesday, June 28th

Travel tech. I’m sure you’re doing something about travel delays and issues. AAA expects 4th of July travel to set all-time records for the holiday both by air and highways. Predictions of over 51 million people leaving home for a few days. I’m rounding up some travel tech to make any trip at least a little easier.

Tuesday, June 27th

It’s too hot and your smartphone hates the heat more than you do. What happens when your phone displays the warning that it’s too hot? What should you do? What does Apple and the other phone makers suggest you shouldn’t do? Phone makers strongly suggest a few steps that can prevent overheating. I’m taking a look at a couple mistakes many people make after they see a warning pop-up saying the phone won’t work until it cools off.

Monday, June 26th

The iPhone turns 16 years old on June 30th. The first iPhone was released on that date in 2007. Can you even remember what life was like before? The iPhone changed the world and that’s no hyperbole. I’m looking at 3, maybe 4 ways the iPhone changed everything.

Friday, June 23rd

App of the Day: Autio. This app was all Kevin Costner’s idea and it’s geared toward roadtrip vacations. Autio is filled with stories read by people like Costner. As you drive through an area, someone tells a story about its history. It’s like having a tour guide on road trips. Drive along the coast of Florida and stories appear on a map that you can listen and learn about some of the cool things about that area. Is it better than listening to podcasts and music? We’ll see.

Thursday, June 22nd

When young kids can’t call 9-1-1. When we all had landline phones it was easy to teach a young child how to call for help. Today, if something happens to mom or dad and the child needs to call 9-1-1, many don’t know how. In fact, many have no way to call for help because mom and dad’s phone is locked and they don’t know the passcode. I’m looking at a simple solution and how to put an old phone to good use.

Wednesday, June 21st

Amazon Prime Day is coming back. And soon. Amazon announcing the dates and a few changes including one that might lead you to shop elsewhere. Yep, Amazon is making it where you don’t have to shop at Amazon.com. I’m looking at this big change and a few other things you should know about Prime Day and how it stacks up against Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Tuesday, June 20th

It’s pool, lake, and beach season and if you’re going to be anywhere near water this summer, prepare to protect your smartphone. I’m looking at a few things you can (and should) do to protect your phone from water damage. Including an iPhone trick most people don’t know.

Monday, June 19th

Do you subscribe to too many streaming services? Cord cutters can easily spend too much money on streaming. For the first time since streaming became a “thing”, the number of subscriptions dropped in March. That means people ended their subscriptions to Hulu, YouTube TV, HBO Max, Amazon Video, or other services they were paying for. I’ll look at how it adds up and one tip to save money.

Friday, June 16th

The app of the day, Radioooo. I’m a sucker for cool music apps and this app is pretty unusual. It’s a radio Time Machine. You select any country in the world and a decade and the Radioooo app plays music that was popular in that country and at that time. It’s like going back in time and listening to the radio.

Thursday, June 15th

A Facebook scam so good it’s fooling smart Facebook users. Don’t believe everything you see on Facebook. Just because it is a sponsored ad doesn’t mean it’s a trustworthy business. Recent ads on Facebook are scams and Facebook doesn’t appear to be doing anything about them. This particular scam almost fooled me into entering a credit card to take advantage of a sale on Lulu Lemon. I dug through the ad to find out who’s really behind it.

Wednesday, June 14th

One more Father’s Day gift ideas. Sure gift cards are easy but I can assure you, no dad remembers what you gave him. I’m rounding out the Father’s Day gift idea series with tech gifts he’ll definitely remember every time he uses them. Which will be often. These are more affordable gift options than the ones we’ve tried this week.

Tuesday, June 13th

Fathers Day gifts: a robot bartender. If dad loves a good cocktail and he likes to entertain, this robot bartender will have people talking. The Bartesian is sort of like a Kureig, only with Manhattans, Old Fashions, and Margaritas. They’re pretty cool but take up a ton of countertop space. I’m looking at a new Bartesian that solves that problem; it’s half the size.

Monday, June 12th

Father’s Day gifts: portable refrigerator. I seriously haven’t seen anything like this new tech product. It’s a refrigerator on wheels with a freezer AND an ice maker. And it doesn’t need a power cable. I’m seeing if the “Glacier” can live up to its claims and how it works.

Friday, June 9th

The App of the day: Ink Hunter. Tattoos are forever and you don’t want any “regerts” once ink hits skin. This app lets you see what a tattoo will look like before you sit in the chair. It uses AI to virtually place a tattoo on your arm, wrist, etc to see what it will look like.

Thursday, June 8th

Father’s Day gift ideas: outdoor movie projector and screen. Last week Google searches for “outdoor living spaces” jumped over 700%. If dad is the outdoor entertaining type, a movie projector and screen could be just the right gift. Whether he’s entertaining the kids in the neighborhood, hosting his buddies for a game night, or using it for a business presentation. I’m looking at a few options of projectors and screens to make dad the talk of the neighborhood.

Wednesday, June 7th

Two things you can do with your iPhone that you never knew. I’m going to check to see if Android devices have these features too. These are time-savers that solve a couple of the headaches we all experience. How to select multiple text messages or voicemails at once and another feature you’ll be “today years old” when you learned you can do this.

Tuesday, June 6th

Father’s Day gift ideas 2. I’m looking at surround sound systems for dad’s home theater. Or if he would love a home theater (who doesn’t?) how do you start? I’m looking at the main elements of building a home theater. From a TV to surround sound system.

Monday, June 5th

this page didn’t get updated earlier. I’m covering Apple’s announcement and the expected Apple VR. Other companies are doing virtual reality glasses but none have really taken off. Will Apple’s VR headset be different? What will it do? How much will it cost? Will anyone care? The conference is going on right now. I’ll have it by 4P central time. (Btw, i do not mention “today” anywhere in the package.

Friday, June 2nd

The App of the Day: Pocket. You can have 28 apps on your home screen. Pocket should be one of them. If you spend time reading news articles and blog posts on your phone you may see something you want to read later. You can add a bookmark, or you can use this app. Whether you’re on your computer or phone Pocket makes it easy to save anything you see online.

Thursday, June 1st

First, can you guys help me with a correction? Last week in the stories about kids, smartphones, and social media, (5-24, and 5-25) I misspelled a name in the web story. If it’s possible could the digital team please correct it? “Titania” is the correct spelling for Titania Jordan, not “Tatania”. I misspelled her name with an A instead of the I. I apologize for the error. If it could be corrected I would greatly appreciate it.

Story pitch for today: The FCC fined Amazon $25 million for misusing the recordings of kids when they talk to Alexa. Amazon has been keeping those recordings even after parents thought they’d deleted them. Why? I’ll get into that and show you how to hear what Alexa recorded when it thought you said its name.

Wednesday, May 31st

So how good (and scary) is AI when you use it to fake you saying something? A couple of weeks ago I looked at new technology being used to “bank” or record your voice for playing later if you somehow become unable to speak. Apple will reportedly release something similar. What would happen if you combine a banked voice with Chat GPT? We’re going to find out.

Tuesday, May 30th

Father’s Day gifts. Tech gifts hit a high point for Father’s Day. Dads love gadgets. I’ll be sprinkling in a few tech gift ideas over the next few weeks, starting today. A couple of gadgets that make it easy to do dad things, something to bring to life some of his childhood or a new hobby, and something especially for grandads.

Monday, May 29th

Happy Memorial Day. A gnarly scam is spreading on Facebook and this one has the potential to kill your Facebook page. Police departments are issuing advisories about the “I think you know him” scam. One of our viewers unknowingly sent it to me. I’ll show what happens if you click the link.

Friday, May 26th

The App of the Day: Foodvisor. Ever wonder if what you’re eating is good for you? Ever look at nutritional labels and can’t make out what’s good and what’s bad? Foodvisor makes it easy to quickly see what’s inside the food you eat. Take a photo of what you’re about to eat and Foodvisor uses machine learning to tell you what you’re about to put in your body and whether it’s good or bad.

Thursday, May 25th

How parents can say no to a smartphone when “all the other kids have one”. I’m following up yesterday’s story on social media and kids with a possible solution for parents who get pressure from their young kids who demand a smartphone. When all the other parents say “yes”, others find it difficult to say no. But there’s a solution. A national program suggests parents get together to form a plan. And it’s working.

Wednesday, May 24th

I’m following up one the Surgeon General’s notice that social media poses a risk for children. What are some of the findings from studies and what evidence is there that social media contributes to mental health issues? I’m talking with a company that’s done some research and the findings are alarming.

Tuesday, May 23rd

Holiday travel with the kids and the tech that can make the trip peaceful. What can you do for a couple of kids in the backseat on a multi-hour drive? Toss them a tablet or phone to keep them occupied. Do you really want your kids to watch silly cartoons for 4 hours straight? I’m looking at a few tech tips for car trips with the kids.

Monday, May 22nd

Memorial Day travel tech. AAA predicts 42 million Americans will travel this Memorial Day. That’s the most since 2000. For a couple days this week I’m going to be looking at tech for traveling. A couple of things you may want to have in the car for when you and the family hit the road.

Friday, May 19th

The app of the day: a real Chat GPT app. Both app stores have been over run with fake Chat GPT apps that contain viruses. The folks behind Chat GPT, OpenAI have pushed an official app to the Apple App Store and another is coming to the Google Play Store.

Thursday, May 18th

Get $30 off your internet bill (if you qualify). The government paves the way for millions of people and families to get a $30 reduction in the cost of their home internet. It’s simple to find out if you qualify and you may be surprised that you qualify based on income. I’m explaining how it works, how to find out if you qualify, and how to apply. That’s a $360 savings over the course of the year.

Wednesday, May 17th

An iPhone will soon be able to sound exactly like you. Apple is releasing technology that will allow your iPhone to send messages with audio that uses your voice. Only you typed what you wanted it to say. How does that work? I’m looking at Acapella, a company that uses similar technology to help ALS patients save their voice so their loved ones will hear them and not a computerized voice. It’s pretty unreal.

Tuesday, May 16th

TV antennas: facts and myths. Cord cutters are in the market for TV antennas to get free TV. Walmart and Amazon are filled with deals on antennas, but many of them have fake claims. Can you really get cable channels? Will you really get 4k? Can you really get TV stations from hundreds of miles away? I’m looking at some of the cons being advertised and what you really need to know before buying a TV antenna.

Monday, May 15th

Tech gifts for grads. Sure, high school and college graduates will love getting cash or a check for their big day. They might even like an Amazon or Best Buy gift card. Those are easy. If you’re the type who wants to give something thoughtful, I’ve rounded up a few tech gadgets that almost any grad will find useful or fun.

Friday, May 12th

The app of the day: Flighty. If you are a frequent flier or if you frequently pick up fliers at the airport this may be an app that’s worth the subscription. Flighty gives you lots of data other airline apps can’t offer. It’s the most popular and most recommended app for travelers who want as much information as they can get. Flighty says it delivers FAA provided information on delays even before the pilots get them.

Thursday, May 11th

If you use a Windows PC you should update your software today. Microsoft just released an update that patches dozens of bugs that allow hackers to take over your computer and do a lot of nasty things with your information. Several flaws are known as “zero days vulnerabilities” which means hackers already know about them and are using them to break into PCs. I’ll explain why it’s important to update Windows and how to do it.

Wednesday, May 10th

Tech gifts for moms, dads, and grads. This is a season for gifts. Mother’s Day and Father’s Day of course. Plus you may have some high school and college graduates you need to buy for. I’ve rounded up a few tech gift ideas that will be great for any of the folks on your gift list this spring. Today’s story will feature some tech gadgets for the working man and woman, as well as those who’ll be out looking for a job.

Tuesday, May 9th

unique and personalized Mother’s Day gift ideas you can still get in time for Sunday. Do you struggle to find something to give a mom who has everything she needs or wants? I’ve rounded up a few creative gifts that she has no idea exists and will let her know how much she means to you. I’m including unique video books, gummie vitamins tailored for her needs, and a way to create the most personalized greeting card, poem, or song she’s ever seen.

Monday, May 8th

Our power went out and it sounds like it’s going to be out for most of the day. As a result I’m going to hold off on the Mother’s Day story pitch below to make sure I can get a story done today.

Instead I’m going to look at something many people can overlook when setting up an online savings account. Nearly a billion dollars was deposited into Apple Savings accounts in just the first 4 days. The issue with online bank accounts is what happens to your money if something happens to you? Your family can’t run down to the local bank branch for help. And since your money is tied only to an online bank, they can problems trying to access it. I’m looking at the most important thing you should do when setting up any online bank account.

Friday, May 5th

The app of the day Water Llama. it’s spring and summer time and you better stay hydrated. Of all the things Apple Health does, it does not do anything about keeping track of your water intake. This app, from the Ukraine, tracks how much water, coffee, soda, tea, and alcohol you drink and keeps you motivated to do better.

Thursday, May 4th

Astro the security guard. Amazon touts its new robot as a solution to guarding your home. It patrols the house and sends alerts if it detects a loud sound or an unknown person. How does it do? I checked it out for about a month to find out.

Wednesday, May 3rd

The Jetsons are here. Amazon announced its household robot named “Astro” a couple of years ago. It’s now available. I picked up an Astro robot about a month ago and have been trying it out to see what it can do. Is it worth the $1,599? What does it do? Today I’m looking at some of the basic information and tasks this robot can do, I’ll follow it up Thursday with a look at how it does as a home security guard.

Tuesday, May 2nd

If you’ve ever left a pet behind while you’re at work or on vacation, there’s now a robot to let you stay in touch and even toss them some snacks. Also a mug that keeps your coffee or tea hot for over an hour. I’m looking at some really cool Mother’s Day gadgets that you may not have seen before.

Monday, May 1st

Less than 2 weeks from Mother’s Day and if you haven’t done it already, you should start thinking about Mother’s Day gift ideas. I’m going to sprinkle in a few gadget gift ideas over the next week or so starting today and tomorrow. Gadget gifts for moms who may not care that much about tech gadgets.

Friday, April 28th

The App of the Day, Poolsuite FM. Every now and then I run across an app that seems stupid and ridiculous. Everyone already has their favorite music app, or apps but you might want to add Poolsuite FM to your suite of apps. It’s a total throwback to the 70s and is filled with songs you’ve never heard before. Stupid? Not necessarily. There are several reasons this could be one of your favorite apps of summer.

Thursday, April 27th

Tax refunds and mailbox theft. The US Postal Service reports an increase of mailbox thefts around tax time. Criminals snatch mail out of mailboxes looking for tax refund checks. It’s a crime of opportunity and very easy to commit. 20% of taxpayers still receive their refunds through paper checks. I’m looking at how this crime typically happens and what to do online to protect yourself and your refund.

Wednesday, April 26th

Saving photos on a smartphone. It’s spring and you may be getting ready to take more photos with your phone. Graduations, holidays, vacations, and other events give us more opportunities to snap photos and shoot video. We may want to take more photos than our phones can hold, so what do you do? Many people make a disastrous mistake that causes them to lose important photos forever. I’m taking a look at how to make room on your phone for photos and videos without losing them forever.

Tuesday, April 25th

How to find someone’s emergency info, even if they can’t respond and you don’t know who they are. This truly could save someone’s life: you find someone who needs help right away but are not able to respond. Maybe they’ve fallen and hit their head, maybe they’ve had a seizure, maybe they’re too drunk to take care of themselves. If they have a smartphone you can not only call their family or friends but give first responders information that could save their life. Even if their phone is locked, you can find their emergency information. I’ll show how to do that on an iPhone or Android device.

Monday, April 24th

Facebook is on the hook for $725 million and if you have, or had a Facebook account you can get a slice. How much? No one knows right now. I’ll take a look at the lawsuit, how to know if you’re entitled to some of it, and how to claim it.

Friday, April 21st

The App of the Day, All Trails. This app is a huge help to anyone who loves a good hike. Search for nearby trails to get all the details you need to know before setting off on a walk. Is it steeper than you want to hike? Is it a loop? How far is it? What do other hikers say about it? And you can use the app to search for the best trails wherever you’re traveling.

Thursday, April 20th

Want to help the environment? Keep your electronics working. Earth Day is Saturday and much of the emphasis will be cleaning up the environment. But what if there’s less to clean up? I’m looking at things we all can do to keep our computers, phones, routers, and other electronics working for a long time. It’ll help the environment and save you a ton of money.

Wednesday, April 19th

What are you supposed to do with old electronics? Landfills are filling up with old TVs, computers, and phones. Electronics have dangerous materials that should never go into the trash, yet over a billion tons of old electronics get dumped there anyway. Earth Day is Saturday so I’m looking at how to get rid of unwanted electronics safely. Who recycles electronics and what do they do with them? Best Buy just introduced a new program to take unwanted tech right from your doorstep and I’m looking at a recycling center that focuses on electronics.

Tuesday, April 18th

Apple now offers high yield savings accounts. Teased a while ago you can now open up a savings account alongside an Apple credit card. While the banks on the corner offer savings accounts that earn about .3%, Apple and Goldman-Sachs savings accounts will earn 4.15% interest. Can iPhone users now do all of their banking through Apple? I’ll explain and show what it takes to apply.

Monday, April 17th

Start now to prepare for tax day 2024. Filing taxes can be easier than it was this year if you plan ahead. Keeping track of expenses, deductions, mileage, donations, and all of the other things that can bring down your tax bill doesn’t have to be the headache it usually is. If you’re still saving paper receipts in an envelope or folder there is a better way. Better ways that is. I’m looking at a few things you can do right now to prepare for Tax Day 2024.

Friday, April 14th

The app of the day Picture This. Now’s the time folks are getting back into the yard, planting, digging, weeding, and all those other flower bed and yard chores. Do you ever run across something and wonder, ‘should I weed it or feed it?’? Picture This uses artificial intelligence to help find out what is growing in your garden and yard. Simply snap a photo and in seconds the app can show you what it is (most likely).

Thursday, April 13th

How to share vacation photos on Facebook while you’re on vacation. Sure, we all know it’s not the best idea to tell everyone we’re out of town, but many people do it anyway. Posting photos from the beach, or mountains, or some beautiful city in Europe is just too tempting. I’m going to show you how easy it is for a burglar to find an empty house and how you can share them safely.

Wednesday, April 12th

The FBI is warning travelers about public chargers and charging stations you see in airports and hotels. The warning suggests “bad actors” have figured out ways to compromise those charging plugs to steal information and install malware that can track phones even after you unplug the phone. How much of a threat is this? I’m looking into the risk and what travelers should do instead to keep phones and tablets charged.

Tuesday, April 11th

More facebook mistakes. We’ve all done these things that help hackers find and target you for their dirty work. Sign into an app or website with your Facebook login? How many devices are currently logged into your account? And how many companies/websites have you given permission to see and share your web activity? Things we never think about but the hackers do. I’ll run down a few more settings you definitely need to check and change.

Monday, April 10th

Are you doing something wrong on Facebook? Is your account getting hacked over and over again? Are you constantly seeing ads you don’t want and don’t need? Are you sharing your Facebook information with companies you don’t know? Maybe it’s time to look under the Facebook hood. I’m taking a look at some Facebook privacy options you probably didn’t know were putting your information at risk.

Friday, April 7th

The app of the day: your own chat gpt. By now everyone has heard about Chat GPT. There are dozens of chat gpt apps in the app stores and there’s one at the top of the App Store charts. The thing is, there is no official Chat GPT app and one you download may be stealing your information or worse. (See Lily Collins Facebook hack). I’ll explain and show how to create your own chat GPT app. I did something a few weeks ago before Chat GPT took over the tech headlines. This is not a repeat of that story.

Thursday, April 6th

Genius gadgets to help spring clean your workspace and storage room. Do you feel anxiety every time you look under or behind your desk? Do you ever forget which plastic tub you stashed something in and placed in a storage room? I recently purchased a couple of gadgets popular on TikTok to take care of the mess behind the desk and in the storage room. Pretty genius stuff and, by the way, why didn’t I think of that?

Wednesday, April 5th

Spring clean your tech. You spent hundreds (maybe thousands) on that new big screen television and you notice it doesn’t look as good as it once did. You may notice a smudge, or the colors are just not as vibrant as they should be. Back in the old days you might’ve just taken a bottle of glass cleaner but you can’t do that now. I’m looking at what the owner’s manuals say about cleaning today’s TVs and the mistakes people make that can ruin the screen.

Tuesday, April 4th

Apple and Facebook make it nearly impossible for someone to access someone else’s accounts or profiles. But that security has a downside. If someone close to you dies can you access their accounts to download photos, files, contacts, and other things they’d want you to have? It used to be impossible to talk Apple into letting someone look at someone else’s information. I’m looking at how to set up Apple accounts and Facebook profiles that allow someone to take care of your digital estate after you’re gone.

Monday, April 3rd

Have you ever wondered what will happen to Google accounts when you or someone close to you dies? Unless someone has their username and password, it’s nearly impossible to gain access to their email, Google Drive, or anything else you might need. Google has a way for trusted friends and family to gain access to someone’s account IF it’s set up ahead of time. It could be one of the most important things anyone can do for their loved ones. I’ll look at Apple and Facebook in the next few days.

Friday, March 31st

the app of the day. Pet first aid. If you’re a pet owner you’ve probably had a moment where you didn’t know what to do. Should you rush them to the vet or what? Pet First Aid is from ASCPA to help pet owners figure out what’s going on and what to do.

Thursday, March 30th

If you have an iPhone you can now download the latest version of iOS 16. What’s in it? New emoji!!! If you’re always looking for just the right emoji for text messages, you have a few more choices but what are they and how can you use them? Also, a trick many people don’t know about to find just the right emoji to use when you’re typing out a text or message. Oh, and other devices have them too.

Wednesday, March 29th

Troubled teenagers might not ever talk with a counselor, teacher, parent, friend, or make a phone call to crisis assistance. Most teenagers don’t like talking to people or over the phone about anything. But they will text. I feel it’s worth mentioning the Crisis Text Line which works with volunteer counselors across the country who will respond to anonymous text messages and What’sApp.

Tuesday, March 28th

how to download all of your Facebook posts, pictures, etc. In the wake of the Lily Collins Facebook hack (that I covered yesterday), I think it’s a good idea to let viewers know they can, and should, download their photos, memories, and contacts from Facebook in the event their account is ever removed or compromised. It isn’t difficult but yet most people don’t know it’s possible. I’ll show you how.

Monday, March 27th

The Facebook hack Facebook doesn’t want to talk about. Over the past few months hundreds of Facebook users had their accounts (profiles) taken over by hackers. They lost all of their photos, memories, contacts, everything. On top of that, the hacker changed all of the victim’s names to ‘Lily Collins’. And Facebook did not respond. The victims were helpless to do anything. I talked to one of the “Lily Collins Hack” victims about how it happened and it should frighten everyone with a Facebook or Instagram account.

Friday, March 24th

The app of the day: “one sec”. Are you having trouble ignoring social media? Do you spend a long time each day endlessly scrolling through Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and others? One sec is an app designed to help you cut the social media hold on your time. And it does it in a rather unusual way.

Thursday, March 23rd

I’m doing some legwork on a couple of strong stories for next week. And it’s a pretty slow tech week. So I’m looking at a spring cleaning piece. Everyone has cords, devices, papers, and other clutter on their computer. You can tidy things up a lot without losing anything you need. I’m taking a look at how to spring clean your computer desk.

Wednesday, March 22nd

The importance of backing up your computer. World Backup Day is coming soon and it’s a reminder of how important it is to save and backup all the things we have stored on our computer. Photos, music library, important files and documents. Things happen that wipe all that away. I’m looking at how, and the easiest way, to back up any computer.

Tuesday, March 21st

The FCC is cracking down on spam texts. What’s worse than robocalls? Spam texts. You can’t just hang up on the scammer, you always read it and most contain malicious links. The increase in spam texts has forced the FCC to react. I’m explaining why spam texts pose such a big risk and what has to happen for the FCC’s plan to work.

Monday, March 20th

The rising cost of streaming. YouTube TV sent an email to subscribers announcing it is raising the cost by $8 starting next month. Hulu raised prices again last year. For people who cut the cable cord a few years ago it’s beginning to appear that at some point, streaming is going to cost as much as cable. I’m looking at how much it costs now to stream live TV and how it compares to cable prices.

Friday, March 17th

The App of the Day: Coin Snap. A dollar may not be worth as much as it used to be, but a penny, or a quarter could be worth 10,000% more than when it was first minted. If you’ve ever wondered what an old nickel is worth, just take a photo of it with CoinSnap and it’ll give you a value. Good for collectors and might be fun for kids.

Thursday, March 16th

TikTok: is the Chinese government really following you? TikTok is in the news again today. Since it’s a fast-moving story today’s story will be more of a side-bar that you can run alongside the latest update in the news. If there’s so much concern about the Chinese tracking TikTok users, is there anything we can do right now to guard our privacy? I’ll look at settings you need and those you can turn off no matter how `you use TikTok.

Wednesday, March 15th

Ever gone to a movie theater, church service, business meeting, or dance recital and someone’s phone starts ringing? To be honest I’m surprised it doesn’t happen more often. You don’t want to be that person everyone’s looking at do you? The iPhone and Android devices have silent mode buttons but phone cases can make it difficult to flip the switch. Thankfully, both phones have a special feature called “Do Not Disturb” that apparently a lot of people don’t know how to use. I’ll show all of the things you can do with Do Not Disturb and how it can save you from embarrassment and from being disturbed yourself.

Tuesday, March 14th

Is your money safe in an online bank? Online banks offer better interest rates than your bank down the street. Some offer interest rates of over 4% while local brick and mortar banks only pay .01%. But…are online banks safe? Is your money protected? What about money you may have in a Venmo, PayPal, or other cash app account. I’m talking to an expert.

Monday, March 13th

“Yessssss it works”. No it doesn’t. Everyone on Facebook has seen at least one friend share a viral post which says they’ve done a copy-paste to remove ads and return all of their friends to their feed. They say it works but does it? And if it’s a scam what harm can come from posting it? I’ll explain how a scammer can use your post to target you.

Friday, March 10th

The App of the Day: Glass. Instagram may not be dead but Gen X sure hates it now. Insta is the #1 app people want to drop. Why? Because it’s trying to hard to be TikTok. If you’re only on Instagram for photos, Glass is an app to try. Follow pro photographers or your friends.

Thursday, March 9th

How to spot hidden cameras in an Airbnb or condo rental. Spring break traditionally is the start of vacation season and it’s that time of year again. Many people will rent an Airbnb or condo. Did the owner hide any security cameras in the rooms? You can buy small cameras built into smoke detectors, chargers, alarm clocks and just about anything you can think of. Is there a way to check for them? I’m looking at some of the hidden cameras for sale on Amazon and how to spot them where you’re renting.

Wednesday, March 8th

Sleep tech! 48 states will ‘spring forward’ this weekend and next week is Sleep Awareness Week (no coincidence). Spring and summer take some adjustments in order to get a good night’s sleep so I’m looking at a few things that can help. From a pillow to stop snoring to a number of apps to help you fall asleep and wake up on time. I will mention spring forward in the anchor intro but not the package.

Tuesday, March 7th

Many parents hoping to keep their kids from visiting websites and certain apps turn on an iPhone feature called Screen Time. This allows parents to set limits on how much time they can spend on apps and sites or if they can use them at all. What they may not know is Screen Time limits do not include visits and time spent on websites accessed in private or incognito mode. I’m looking a little closer at what screen time does and does not do, and how to truly lock down your child’s phone if you only want them to use it for certain things.

Monday, March 6th

How kids hide the fact they use apps their parents have forbidden. I’ve heard parents say ‘I don’t allow the TikTok (or Snapchat) app on my kids’ phones. That’s cute you think that. But kids are using apps their parents forbid by using a few tricks of the trade. I’m looking at a couple of the secrets kids (and cheating spouses probably) use to hide the apps they don’t want you to see.

Friday, March 3rd

The App of the Day: Forest. It is the Global Day of Unplugging and it runs through sundown Saturday. “Forest” is an app for iPhone and Android that helps limit the amount of time you spend on your phone. You set your time limits for the phone or apps and Forest keeps track of how much time you’re spending. It’s great for limiting distractions when you absolutely need to focus on a project.

I won’t mention the Global Day of Unplugging in the package if you plan to air the story at a later date but it will be referenced to in the anchor intro.

Thursday, March 2nd

Unplugging. Friday-Saturday is the Global Day of Unplugging. I won’t mention this in the package in case you want to run it later but it will be referenced in the intro.

By now most everyone agrees we are spending too much time on social media and smartphones. The GDoU is intended to encourage people to spend time away from those screens. Is it a lost cause now? How do we convince the younger generations to spend less time doomscrolling? And is there a better way to unplug than willpower? I’m talking to a journalist who’s done a ton of research to help answer some of those questions.

Wednesday, March 1st

It’s March and time for spring cleaning. I see people cleaning up their yards and people are cleaning up (and out) their homes. While you’re in the spring cleaning mindset, it’s a good time to do some cleanup of your tech. Namely your phone and computer. I’m taking a look today at some things you can do on your phone to clean up and speed up the device you use more than anything else.

Tuesday, February 28th

Can someone set up a second or alternate Face ID on your iPhone? One of Apple’s best security feature is Face ID. It should prevent someone from using your phone to transfer money, purchase things with Apple Pay, and even log into some social media apps. If someone takes your phone and passcode, wouldn’t Face ID prevent them from using those apps without permission? You’d think so but you’d be wrong. I’m going to test this out to see if it’s possible and a few things you can do to make your phone harder to use if it’s ever stolen.

Monday, February 27th

If you have an iPhone, this is the single most important thing you can do to protect your identity, bank accounts, privacy, and practically everything else in your life. There was a report in the Wall Street Journal last week about a young woman who had her iPhone stolen while using it in a bar. Before she could react, the thief had changed the passcode, transferred money from her bank account, and changed passwords for many of her accounts. Police say they’re seeing more reports of this type of crime.

What usually happens in these thefts and what the bad guys quickly do to lock you out of your phone forever. Tomorrow I’ll follow up with a best practices story on preventing this crime.