Attention savers! Don't miss out on high CD rates, with some APYs reaching up to 4.75%. While these rates may not be around forever, now is a great time to consider opening a certificate of deposit account. With the right choice, you can earn a higher return on your investment.
Source: https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/banking/cd-rates-today-oct-24-2024/#ftag=CAD590a51e
JBL Wireless Earbuds on Sale for $30, a 40% Discount!
Source: https://www.cnet.com/deals/put-these-jbl-wireless-earbuds-in-your-ears-for-only-30/#ftag=CAD590a51e
Are you aware that your Social Security benefits can be suspended or terminated due to certain actions? Here are four crucial ways to avoid losing your benefits:
1. Exceeding the income limit: If you earn more than $1,971 per month from work, your SSI benefits may be reduced or stopped.
2. Not reporting changes: Failing to promptly report changes in your monthly income and living situation can lead to benefit suspension.
3. Earning too much while receiving SSDI: If you exceed the EPE earnings limit ($1,550/month or $2,590 for disability due to blindness), you won't qualify for your SSDI payment.
4. Exceeding the resource limit: Having resources worth more than $2,000 (individual) or $3,000 (couple) can make you ineligible for SSI benefits.
The world of smart home devices has expanded significantly, offering a wide range of products to enhance our daily lives. CNET's review of the best smart home devices highlights the importance of compatibility and individual needs. With options like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa as central hubs, users can seamlessly integrate various devices into their smart ecosystems. Smart thermostats, light bulbs, and plugs offer convenience and energy efficiency, while smart speakers enable voice control. With technology advancing rapidly, the upcoming Matter project aims to improve connectivity among devices. A balanced approach to choosing the best smart home device involves considering compatibility, goals, and needs.
Source: https://www.cnet.com/home/smart-home/best-smart-home-devices/#ftag=CAD590a51e
Boosting muscle mass requires a combination of exercise, rest, and a well-balanced diet. A recent article highlights eight essential foods that can help increase muscle strength. These include eggs, fish (such as salmon and tuna), nuts (like almonds and walnuts), soybeans, dairy products like Greek yogurt and cottage cheese, and extra virgin olive oil. Quinoa is also recommended due to its high protein, fiber, and carbohydrate content. Aiming for 0.7-0.8 grams of protein and 1.8-3.2 grams of carbohydrates per pound of body weight daily can support muscle growth.
Concerns Rise Over Surge in Violent Threats Against Federal Judges and Border Police
Concerns are growing over a surge in violent threats against federal judges and border police, according to recent intelligence reports. The threats, fueled by anti-immigrant rhetoric, have led to a heightened sense of insecurity among law enforcement personnel and court officials. The reports highlight the increased danger posed to these individuals, who are working to enforce immigration policies.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/judges-border-police-targeted-extremism/
Microsoft Office Home & Business 2024 is now available for PC and Mac at a discounted rate. The suite includes lifetime access to Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. With improvements over the 2021 version, including AI integration, better performance, and advanced content creation tools, this deal may be appealing to those who prefer a one-time purchase rather than a subscription.
Source: https://www.zdnet.com/article/get-microsoft-office-home-business-2024-for-pc-or-mac-for-28-off/
Perplexity, an AI-focused search startup, has launched a native Mac app, aiming to compete with other AI apps like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Quora's Poe. The new app offers free searches, as well as a Pro tier for $20/month or $200/year, providing more in-depth results. It also features voice mode, file upload, and dictation, allowing users to interact through audio.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/24/perplexity-launches-a-native-mac-app/
Lithuania's Vinted, a second-hand fashion marketplace, has secured a new valuation of €5 billion (approximately $5.4 billion) after closing a secondary share sale worth €340 million ($367 million). The transaction was led by private equity giant TPG, with other investors including Baillie Gifford and Hedosophia. Vinted's existing investors, such as Accel and Insight Partners, have retained some stake in the company.
LinkedIn fined $356 million for tracking ads privacy breaches in EU. The Irish Data Protection Commission found violations related to lawfulness, fairness, and transparency of data processing. LinkedIn has been given three months to bring its European operations into compliance with the GDPR.
Constitutional Sheriffs' Group Seeks to Disrupt Elections, Raise Concerns about Election Integrity. The Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association (CSPOA) has been training sheriffs nationwide on the importance of upholding the Constitution's authority in their counties. While some sheriffs have publicly aligned themselves with CSPOA's beliefs, others have shied away from association. With the upcoming US election, concerns are rising about potential disruptions. The FBI and Department of Homeland Security have warned that "election-related grievances" could motivate domestic extremists to engage in violence.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/constitutional-sheriffs-disrupt-election/
A recent news article highlights concerns that a popular agritech app, Plantix, may be perpetuating the overuse of pesticides in Indian agriculture. The app was initially designed to reduce pesticide use but ultimately became an e-commerce platform for buying pesticides. Critics argue that the app's ease of use could lead to more farmers relying on synthetic chemicals as a quick fix for complex agricultural challenges.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/plantix-pesticides-venture-capital-app/
Apple enthusiast David Gewirtz has shared his thoughts on why he might hold off purchasing a new M4 Mac Mini, despite its rumored improved performance. According to Gewirtz, the main reason is the SD card slot feature on his current Mac Studio, which allows for convenient storage and transfer of files. With no similar feature on the Mac Mini, Gewirtz may wait for an updated Mac Studio model before upgrading.
AI systems from Google, Microsoft, and Perplexity have been found to be citing questionable sources in their search results. The issue arose when users queried the "Sierra Leone IQ" or "Kenya's IQ," which led to responses referencing a database by Richard Lynn. Critics argue that Lynn's work is of poor quality and has been used to promote racist ideologies.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/google-microsoft-perplexity-scientific-racism-search-results-ai/
Ditch the deep fryer and try oven-baked buffalo wings for a crispy and healthier snack! According to CNET, baking chicken wings in the oven can achieve a similarly crispy result to deep-frying, without all the excess oil. Simply pat dry your wings, coat with flour or baking powder, and bake at 350°F for an hour. For extra crispiness, increase the temperature to 425-450°F for the last 20-30 minutes. Try out different seasonings and sauces to find your favorite flavor!
High-yield savings accounts offer attractive interest rates, with some rates reaching up to 5.25%. To maximize earnings, it's essential to open an account as soon as possible. CNET Money highlights the best savings rates today, providing a comprehensive comparison of available options.
Source: https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/banking/todays-best-savings-rates-oct-24-2024/#ftag=CAD590a51e
Important reminder for recent college graduates: the student loan grace period is ending! If you graduated last year, it's time to start making payments on your federal student loans. Don't worry, we've got you covered with a rundown of what you need to know.
"Get ready for Thursday Night Football! The Minnesota Vikings are set to take on the LA Rams tonight at 5:15 PM PT (8:15 PM ET). You can watch the game on Prime Video, Twitch, or NFL Plus. If you're in the local markets of either team, you can also catch it on Fox 9 (KMSP) in Minneapolis and Fox 11 (KTTV) in Los Angeles.
To stream the game, Amazon Prime members can tune in for free on Prime Video, while non-members can subscribe to Prime Video for $9 a month. NFL Plus subscribers can also stream the game without an Amazon Prime membership.
For those looking to watch local channels, live TV streaming services like YouTube TV, Hulu Plus Live TV, DirecTV Stream, Fubo, and Sling TV offer Fox in various markets. You can check availability on their websites."
Netflix has shut down its Southern California game studio, Team Blue, just two years after its establishment. The studio had made significant hires, including Chacko Sonny from Blizzard and Joseph Staten from Microsoft's Halo franchise. However, as of October 2024, all three big hires are no longer at the company.
Source: https://www.gamefile.news/p/netflix-team-blue-socal-studio
Security expert Bruce Schneier highlights the promises and threats of artificial intelligence (AI) in cybersecurity and society. He emphasized that AI is not inherently better or worse than human capabilities, but rather, it can fundamentally change things when applied at scale. Schneier noted that AIs will make more systematic mistakes due to a lack of common sense, which could lead to pervasive errors in critical decision-making processes. However, he also sees potential benefits, such as AI-assisted network monitoring and vulnerability scanning.