TikTok announced on Wednesday that it’s expanding its suite of accessibility tools by rolling out AI-generated ALT text for photos, a high contrast mode, and support for device-level bold text preferences. TikTok introduced support for ALT text for photos a few weeks ago, allowing creators to provide descriptive text for photos to help users with […]

Ride-hail and delivery giant Uber is introducing cheap, fixed-route rides along busy corridors during weekday commute hours in major U.S. cities – one solution to a world that feels, for most people, more expensive everyday.  Starting Wednesday, riders in Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, New York City, Philadelphia, and San Francisco will be able to save […]

Three years ago, I wrote about the Amazonification of Uber, an evolution of the transportation company into a closed business loop that feeds customers back into other Uber channels. At the time, the focus was on how Uber creates customer stickiness by, for example, actively cross-selling food delivery customers into grocery, and grocery into alcohol, […]

OpenAI is reportedly considering building data centers in the United Arab Emirates to greatly expand its Middle East footprint. A deal could be announced as soon as this week, according to Bloomberg. As Bloomberg notes, OpenAI has a long relationship with the UAE. In 2023, the company partnered with Abu Dhabi’s AI firm G42, which […]

"The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus can be suspended in a time of invasion," said White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller. He's correct, depending on definitions.

Syria sanctions lifted, a deportation ruling in Trump's favor, activist Wisconsin judge indicted, and more.

On Mother’s Day, I received an email from one of our readers in Kansas.  She’s a mother, now in her 80s, and went to church on Mother’s Day hoping for some encouragement.  But the pastor at her church never mentioned mothers.  Instead, the sermon was all about how women should always remain submissive and obedient to men — …

Everybody is so happy right now.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up more than 1,000 points today, the talking heads on television are bubbling over with optimism, and even many of President Trump’s harshest critics are cheering.  It warms my heart to see everyone so happy, and so there is part of me that …

But what about Chris Gaines? Unfortunately, scammers impersonating celebrities is nothing new. We see it all the time on our social media, with all kinds of comments on our posts pretending to be an artist posting from their “secret account” (really not a secret if they’re telling everybody, which should be your first clue that it’s a scam). It’s impossible to keep up with the number of these accounts that pop up. I try to delete the comments and block them, but every time you get rid of one of them another one comes along. It’s a never-ending battle. I’ve gotten quite a few messages from scammers pretending to be celebrities. My favorite was an account pretending to be an artist that I know personally, who I text with on a regular basis, that messaged me and thanked me for being a fan and asked my name. Gotta shoot your shot I guess. These scammers are obviously annoying, but even more concerning is that there are people who actually fall for their deception and believe they’re communicating with the artist themselves. The scammers concoct some story about how they’re not able to meet in person but they’re in love with their victim, and then they ask for money because they need it immediately and don’t have access to their bank account, or don’t want their manager to know they’re taking money out, or something ridiculous like that. It’s a real problem, because hardworking (and often elderly) people often fall for these scams and end up sending the scammer money – and there’s usually nothing that can be done to get it back. Of course it should be a little suspicious when “Morgan Wallen” asks you to send $300 in Apple gift cards or Bitcoin to someone in Nicaragua… But apparently people are still falling for these scams, and one state attorney general is warning folks that schemes like this are on the rise. Michigan attorney general Dana Nessel recently issued a warning about these scams, noting an increase in scammers impersonating celebrities like Snoop Dogg, Garth Brooks, and Michigan’s own Kid Rock: “While it may be disappointing to hear, you are probably not in a secret, long-distance relationship with Garth Brooks. Scammers are constantly coming up with elaborate schemes to steal your money and may be posing as celebrities or public officials. If someone claiming to be Garth or any other famous figure is asking you personally for money, don’t send it. It’s almost certainly a scam.” (Personally it’s a relief to find out that I’m not in a secret, long-distance relationship with Garth Brooks. Had me worried there for a second). But Kid Rock also issued a warning to his fans, reminding them that he only uses his official account and that anyone else contacting them from a different account isn’t him: Be careful. If it ain’t @KidRock it ain’t me. https://t.co/CU1shgZ1cc — KidRock (@KidRock) May 13, 2025 Another scam that I’ve been getting a lot of are the texts that call you the wrong name on purpose, trying to get you to respond to correct them and start a conversation. Something like “Hey Bob, are we still on for dinner tonight?” Then they act all embarrassed when you tell them they texted the wrong person and try to bait you into a conversation. These scammers are tricky. But at this point, you should know that when you’re communicating when someone who claims to be an artist or a celebrity on social media, chances are it’s a scammer and not really who you think you’re talking to. Be careful out there. And if you’re just now finding out that you’re not really in a relationship with Garth Brooks…well, I’m sorry to have to break the news to you this way.The post Michigan Attorney General Warns Of Increase In Scammers Pretending To Be Garth Brooks & Kid Rock: “Probably Not In A Secret Relationship With Garth Brooks” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

If there’s any source I fully trust to get to the bottom of any sort of drama… it’s the hometown girlies. Of course, Megan Moroney and Riley Green have been at the center of dating rumors for the best several months, while fans have also accused Riley and duet partner Ella Langley of being a couple after their hit duet “You Look Like You Love Me,” came out… so it’s just been all over the place. Riley has said before that Ella was “too smart” to date him, and that the two knew going into the duet that this would be part of the conversation. They were fully expecting fan to embrace the love story, the same way they did for legendary country music couples like George Jones and Tammy Wynette. He said: “Yeah, I mean, Ella’s probably too smart to date me anyway. But I think that’s kind of the country music fan, like, they love the Tim McGraw and Faith, and the George and Tammy. And when we fist started having the success we did with that song, I kinda told Ella, I was like, ‘There’s gonna be a lot of things said, but I mean, you don’t really have to play into it or not play into it, its gonna be something people enjoy the same way we do when we go listen to those songs.’” Even when Ella Langley said they were just very good friends, it was still not enough to convince the world that they were not together. Of course, these rumors paused when everyone decided to believe that Riley was seeing Megan due to some vacation breadcrumbs where they were seemingly together. Moroney confirmed they happened to be on vacation in the same place, but also shut down the thought that they were seeing each other in a romantic capacity. “He was individually on his vacation with his friends. St. Barts is a popular place! It’s one of those things where if you know someone on a small island, you’re like, ‘Oh, sh*t, you’re here too.’ So it was fun. Just because we’re hanging out doesn’t mean we’re romantically dating. You know what I mean?” After Moroney shut down the rumors of them being together, and with Riley Green’s Damn Country Music tour kicking off, it didn’t take long for fans to think he and Ella were back together after seeing them on stage performing again. They just want to believe it so bad… like Riley said they would. But since Megan and Riley have been spotted at the airport together recently, and fans have concocted a totally new theory that Riley and Ella don’t like each other now, people seem to be back on the Megan and Riley train… and this time, they might have some really solid proof. Several girls posted on TikTok yesterday about seeing Megan and Riley riding around in Riley’s Chrysler LeBaron convertible in his hometown of Jacksonville, Alabama. Both of the things I saw where from girls who say they live not far from Riley, and one girl who posted a video said even her husband, who knows little to nothing about the saga, is sure it was them: @grracieknightThere’s no more debate they together. I do have a pic ♬ original sound – gracie knight A different girl spotted them driving around and took a photo from behind, and though you can’t see their faces, certainly looks like them to me. There’s definitely something going on, though how serious it is or what it really means is anybody’s guess… they’re both in the middle of big tours that run through the summer, so we’ll see if they decide to go public, or if it’s more of a fun fling that fizzles out before they ever reveal anything to fans. Or maybe they’re just friends… two really good looking friends who like to hang out. It’s a good way to get people talking no matter what, which is always important for fans to keep in mind with this type of stuff. If they don’t want people to know, driving around in a convertible in a small town is probably the worst possible way to keep it under wraps… news travels fast in small town.The post Country Music Fans Think They’ve Finally Confirmed Riley Green & Megan Moroney Are Dating After Spotting Them Together In His Hometown first appeared on Whiskey Riff.