Newsletter Library

Think about the way you lived 30 or 40 years ago. You probably looked up phone numbers in a phone book, carried paper maps in the car, waited to have photographs developed, went to a store when you wanted to buy something, and planned your evening around the time your favorite television program was on. None of those things seemed inconvenient. They were how life worked. Then technology began changing not only the gadgets we used, but our habits....keep reading

Have you ever heard a technology term and wondered, “What is that, and where does it fit?” Maybe someone brings up Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cloud storage, an app, a browser, a password, or a smart TV. Each term might make sense on its own, but together they can seem like a jumble of unrelated things. If you ever feel confused or overwhelmed by all these words, that's completely normal. Everyone starts out unsure, and it's okay to have questions....keep reading

Artificial Intelligence (AI) seems to have its own language. One day, you’ll hear someone talking about GPT-5.5. The next day, it’s Claude Opus, Gemini 2.5 Pro, or another “latest model.” Technology news is full of announcements about new AI models, which can make it seem like you need to follow every release. The truth is much simpler....keep reading

Most of us use email every day, but we rarely spend much time looking at the settings behind it. Gmail arrives ready to use, so it is easy to assume that what you see is how Gmail works. But Google gives you quite a bit of control over how your inbox looks, how messages are organized, and even what happens after you click Send. You do not need to change dozens of settings. These ten are some of the most useful ones I recommend knowing about. Most of these instructions are for Gmail on a computer at mail.google.com. Some Gmail settings differ or aren't available in the mobile app....keep reading

Have you ever called your internet provider because your Wi-Fi stopped working, only to be asked, “Can you restart your modem and router?” If you’re like many people, you may have wondered, “Aren’t they the same thing?” You’re certainly not alone. The words modem and router are often used interchangeably, but they perform two very different jobs. Understanding the difference can make troubleshooting internet problems much easier—and help you make better decisions if you ever buy new equipment....keep reading

Technology has made it easier than ever to stay connected with family, shop from home, and manage our finances. But it has also made life easier for scammers. The good news is that most scams follow familiar patterns. Once you know what to look for, they become much easier to recognize and avoid....keep reading

Have you ever heard someone say, “The stock market seems to know something before everyone else,” or “The betting odds changed overnight”? There’s another type of market that’s been getting a lot of attention recently, called a prediction market. At first glance, prediction markets may sound like gambling. And in some ways, they can feel similar. But their purpose is a little different. Instead of betting on a football game or a horse race, people buy and sell contracts based on whether they think a future event will happen....keep reading

When people hear the term Artificial Intelligence (AI), many immediately think about ChatGPT, Gemini, or futuristic robots. But here’s something that surprises many of my students: You may already be using AI dozens of times every day without ever opening an AI website....keep reading

A few years ago, most of us were impressed when artificial intelligence (AI) could answer questions, write an email, or summarize a document. Today, AI is beginning to do something new. Instead of simply responding to requests, some AI systems can now take action on your behalf. This new approach is often called Agentic AI, and it may become one of the biggest technology changes of the next decade. The good news is that the basic idea is much easier to understand than the name suggests....keep reading

Not long ago, paying for something usually meant handing over cash, swiping a credit card, or inserting a chip card into a payment terminal. Today, many people simply hold their credit card, smartphone, or smartwatch near the register and hear a quick beep. A second later, the payment is approved. It may seem almost magical. A fascinating technology operates behind the scenes whenever you tap. You don't need specialized computer expertise to understand how it works....keep reading

Not long ago, paying for something usually meant handing over cash, swiping a credit card, or inserting a chip card into a payment terminal. Today, many people simply hold their credit card, smartphone, or smartwatch near the register and hear a quick beep. A second later, the payment is approved. It may seem almost magical. A fascinating technology operates behind the scenes whenever you tap. You don't need specialized computer expertise to understand how it works....keep reading

Traveling today almost always means traveling with technology. A smartphone for maps and photos, maybe a tablet for reading, a laptop for staying in touch, or even just earbuds and a charger. The good news is you don’t need to be “techy” to travel smart. A little planning can prevent most travel headaches and give you peace of mind on the road. This guide focuses on the basics—what to bring, what to download ahead of time, and how to protect yourself if something goes wrong....keep reading

If you’ve noticed that Google, ChatGPT, or Gemini now answer questions instead of just showing links, you’re not imagining things. We’re moving into a new phase of search, often called Answer Engine Optimization, or AEO. Instead of asking, “How do I rank #1 on Google?” the smarter question is now: “How do I become one of the sources AI chooses to answer with?” Let’s break that down in plain English....keep reading

Your smartphone, laptop, car, microwave, and even some toys all have something in common: computer chips. These tiny pieces of technology quietly control much of modern life, yet most of us have no idea where they come from or how they’re made. Let’s pull back the curtain—without getting technical—and look at how chips are manufactured and why different kinds of chips are used for different jobs....keep reading

If you’ve been spending time on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok, you may have noticed something changing. There seems to be more content than ever before, yet much of it feels repetitive, shallow, or strangely unsatisfying. Videos autoplay, posts blur together, and after scrolling for a while, you may realize you didn’t actually learn much of anything. This growing flood of low-value content is often called “AI slop.”...keep reading

Have you ever checked the price of something—an airline ticket, a hotel room, or even a ride home—and then checked again later only to find the price had changed? Same product. Same service. Different price. That experience is becoming more common, and there’s a name for it: dynamic pricing. Understanding this concept can help you feel less frustrated—and, in many cases, help you save money....keep reading