How to fake influence
I blurbed this self-published book, Under the Influence, which explains how popular influencers on social media make a living by buying fake followers, fake likes, and fake comments. It will tell you how to do all that. It was written by Trey Ratcliff, a photographer who has actual followers and real influence. I blurbed the book because it is more than just a take-down of the dark side; it’s about how to have real, enduring, positive influence by being creative, producing real engagement, and being honest. — KK

Advice from books
I recently started a weekly newsletter called Book Freak. Each issue has three short pieces of advice found in books. Here’s an example, from issue 7: “If you want the law to leave you alone, keep your hair trimmed and your boots shined.” ― Louis L’Amour, The Man Called Noon (1970) — MF

Death checklist
I came across this checklist and immediately bookmarked it. It’s a list of what to do after a death occurs. I compared it to other lists floating around online and liked this one best because of it’s practical reminders to take care of unpaid bills, contact the post office, etc. May be a bit morbid, but I like to be prepared. — CD

This vacuum cleaner really sucks
The Bissell Zing Canister (model 2156A) was only $50 and it exceeded my expectations. It is bagless, quieter than any other vacuum cleaner I’ve owned, and has powerful suction. It’s great for hardwood floors (I don’t know how well it works on carpeting since we don’t have any). — MF

Find fake people that look like you
This website (Have They Faked Me?) matches your selfie against AI-generated photos and tells you how close you are to being faked. You might be helping them to create more fakes, but it’s still kind of fun. It’s weird to see pictures of women that look so human and look sort of like me, but don’t exist at all. — CD

Earphone adapters
For a reason that no longer makes sense, airlines use a headphone jack that has two prongs, one for each ear channel, instead of the standard single ⅛” plug used everywhere else. That means you need a small 1-to-2 adapter if you travel with your own earphones/earbuds. These adapters are tiny, easily lost or left behind. I wanted to replace the several units (extra for companions) that I carry and lost, and could not figure out what they are called to order them. No specification I could think of worked.  Eventually I discovered they are called Airline Headphone Adapters. You are welcome. — KK

-- Kevin Kelly, Mark Frauenfelder, Claudia Dawson 05/12/19