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The Daily Dot

Mikael Thalen is a tech and security reporter covering social media, data breaches, hackers, and more.

Mikael Thalen

A photo collage of a device floating in the middle of cellular network towers.

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I built a cell phone surveillance detector for $20 and you can too

Natasha Dubash is a freelance writer and editor based in Los Angeles. She loves reporting on entertainment, television, and pop culture.

Natasha Dubash

2 image split. Countertop with text that reads: "(man emoji): 'A $200 countertop paint kit won't work" on left. Hand painting kitchen cabinets on right.

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Homeowner is unhappy with granite kitchen counters. Then they use $200 kit to redo entire kitchen

Parks Kugle is a writer and reporter based in San Antonio. His work has appeared in Lumina Literary Journal, Wicked Local Newspapers, and various publications across the U.S. He enjoys comics and gardening.

Parks Kugle

2 image split. Woman sitting in car holding broken key on left. Honda on car on right.

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‘I just bought a new shell off Amazon’: Honda driver accidentally breaks key. Then the dealership tells her the cost to replace it

Steve Ecker is a freelance reporter for the Daily Dot based in Austin, Texas. He has an extensive background in consumer marketing and is also an artist running Get Lost Collages.

Steve Ecker

2 panel image: a mechanic removes a tire and the scream emoji.

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‘How did it make it over here?’: Customer’s spare tire won’t fit. The mechanic can’t believe their DIY fix

Chad Swiatecki is a 30-year journalist who relocated to Austin, TX from his home state of Michigan in 2008. He most enjoys covering the intersection of arts, business and local/state politics. He writes regularly for Austin Monitor, and has written for Rolling Stone, Spin, New York Daily News, Texas Monthly, Austin Business Journal, Austin American-Statesman and many other regional and national outlets.

Chad Swiatecki

Left: Screenshot from Tiktok user @justanotherbmwtech of the underside of a Lexus; Right: Photo of a Lexus; Caption: Titkok comment from Tyler Tvirus that reads "Can't you see, that's a damn homemade skid plate? [crying laughing emoji]".

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‘Walmart skid plate option’: Driver’s Lexus is leaking. The mechanic can’t believe the customer’s DIY fix

Split image. Woman holding little mic standing in home on left. Vinyl wood panels being added to floor on right.

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‘Someone please help’: New homeowner tries to remodel house. Then they see what previous homeowner left behind

Mustafa Gatollari has been an internet culture writer for over a decade. He has a passion for connecting what’s trending on social media to solid research—helping to separate clout-chasing claims from facts.

Mustafa Gatollari

Screenshot of Tiktok user @shelbylove16; Screenshot of Tiktok user @shelbylove16's headlights.

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‘That type of genius is wifey material 100%’: Woman’s headlight goes out. Then she uses this creative method to get around it

3 panel images showing scenes from a person refreshing their bathroom.

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‘Get yourself some shims from Lowe’s or Home Depot’: Expert shows how to renovate your bathroom, give it a ‘luxury look’ in 24 hours

Phil West is a veteran professional writer and editor, and his works include two nonfiction books and articles in myriad print and online publications.

Phil West

Two panel design with someone sanding a headlight next to an image or sandpapers

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‘Thanks bro’: Expert shows faded headlight. Then he shows little-known DIY trick to fix it

Three censored images of the underside of a car

car running on hopes and dreams

‘Car running on hopes and dreams’: Customer brings car into the shop. The mechanic can’t believe what he sees underneath

Stacey Nguyen is a lifestyle and entertainment writer based in California. You can find her work on Real Simple, InStyle, BuzzFeed, PopSugar, and other sites.

Stacey Nguyen

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Culture

12 creative Christmas decoration ideas inspired by the best of pop culture

Woman with curtain rod and text that says "attempting the viral curtain rod garland"(l), Second Woman under garland(c), Third woman under garland(r)

tiktok-garland-hack

Deck your halls with the viral TikTok curtain rod holiday garland hack

Melody Heald is a culture writer. Her work can be found in Glitter Magazine, BUST Magazine, and more.

Melody Heald

Vaseline tub(l), Man talking(c), Hand dipping into open tub(r)

vaseline-trick

‘Just take a little bit of it’: Man reveals little-known use for Vaseline. Does it work?

Heather Stewart is a freelance reporter and previous intern for the Daily Dot. She was previously an executive producer at The Drag, UT&#8217;s award-winning podcast production house as well as a projects intern for KUT Austin. Her work can be found in the Austin Chronicle, the Victoria Advocate and more.

Heather Stewart

woman holding up blurred products(l) woman pointing at arm with red bumps(c) Woman holding up blurred Product(r)

strawberry bumps

‘I used to suffer with this’: Medical esthetician reveals at-home treatment for ‘strawberry bumps’

Three panel design showing aisle 16 "Faucsets" from Home Depot store. The middle frame shows the Home Depot sign from outside, and the final frame is a close up of tubing of the home

DIY