If you know me well, you know that I don’t wear jeans. As a matter of fact, I own one pair that I bought probably 20 years ago. For me, it’s shorts or khakis (or something loud). I actually had to buy a pair this week, however, as we’re going to a benefit for Breakthrough Charter Schools tonight with the theme based on Back to the Future. I might have been able to pull off Biff Tannen, but Marty McFly definitely wasn’t in the cards, so I was happy to see that 80’s dress was acceptable. So, off I went to get some jeans and dress like I did 40 years ago (which really hasn’t changed that much). Hopefully, no pictures will make their way around the internet next week.
As for this week’s inbox, scroll on down for online scams, unruly children, the lottery, and more.
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Online Scams
According to a new FBI report, online scams led to $16B in losses last year (and that’s only what was actually reported), with victims 60 and over being the biggest target. Amongst those 60+, investment scams were the biggest source of loss. Take this as a reminder to “think before you click”.
Chef Boyardee
Since I’m full of useless information, I already knew that Chef Boyardee had Cleveland ties- he owned a restaurant in town that led to the founding of his canned pasta company. It was announced earlier this week that Chef Boyardee has been acquired by private equity (of course) from ConAgra Foods for $600M. Click through to the link for a little more on the famous chef.
iPhone Photos
During lunch with a friend last week, he was trying to find a certain photo on his iPhone, but was unable to do so. He knew the location where the picture was taken, but wasn’t sure of the date. I suggested he use the mapping location within the Photos app on the phone, and he had no clue it even existed. It’s actually my favorite tool within the app (it appears under “Pinned Collections” for me) and I use it regularly. I may not remember what year we went to Iceland, but I can pull up the map and find all the photos I took there, which is a significant time saver over scrolling through every photo I’ve ever taken. Dave was so intrigued that he went back to his office and found a great video providing info about updates to the iPhone Photos app.
T-Rex
For those of you who loved the Jurassic Park movies, you’ll be excited to know that Tyrannosaurus Rex handbags should be hitting the market by the end of the year. These are made from lab grown T-Rex hide which was developed using collagen from T-Rex fossils, and as the article boasts, this material will be biodegradable (just like real leather, if you weren’t aware). I’m not much of a handbag guy, so I’ll just wait for the inevitable T-Rex burger…
Unruly Children
Which kid is going to be in bigger trouble with their parents? The one who scratched a $57M painting in a Dutch museum, or the one who got his dad fined $100K by the NFL? While the Dutch defacer can only be assumed to be young enough to not know better, the Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator’s son is 21. And he knew exactly what he was doing when he made the $100,000 phone call.
The Lottery
While the Powerball lottery provides 292M different combinations of numbers, the Texas lottery only has 25M combinations. And even though Powerball has recently been over $1B, it would be nearly impossible to purchase the 292M different tickets required to guarantee a win. Not so with the 25M tickets needed to ensure a win in Texas. And that’s what some enterprising criminals recently did.
AI Voice Scams
According to cybersecurity provider McAfee, three seconds of audio is enough for a scammer to replicate a specific voice with 85% accuracy. That’s a little concerning. So, next time a loved one calls you with a sense of urgency and says they’re in jail or being held hostage, trust but verify (one of our favorite sayings here at Ashton). Among other tips, it’s also recommended that you remain calm should you get a call like this, as you’ll think much more clearly.
I’ll leave you with some food and drink for the weekend. Our good friend Aaron Ondrish (an internal IT resource we’ve worked with at two different Cleveland-area law firms over the years) has just launched a barbecue channel on YouTube. I just learned of this in the past hour and have only gotten into what he tells me is his favorite video. That’s a good looking brisket, and I’m definitely looking forward to trying his tips.
While you’re smoking your brisket and watching tomorrow’s Kentucky Derby (#151), make sure to have a mint julep to celebrate. And remember, the keys to a good julep are crushed ice and a silver or pewter julep cup. If you’re not a fan of horse racing, you can always catch up on Ireland’s senior national hurling championships, currently underway.
Have a great weekend.
Abbey