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Deals, Drones, and Deals: Presidents Day Savings & Tech Troubles

Retailers are offering significant discounts on a variety of gadgets and electronics this Presidents Day, while law enforcement officials are investigating a Best Buy employee in Florida who allegedly used a manager's code to discount nearly 150 items, including MacBooks, by as much as 99 percent. Meanwhile, concerns about drone defense are growing after a recent airspace closure over El Paso, Texas, and parts of New Mexico.

According to The Verge, consumers can find deals on earbuds, speakers, TVs, smart home tech, and other gadgets this Presidents Day. The outlet noted that discounts have been strong since the holidays, with retailers offering deals due to Valentine's Day, the Super Bowl, and Presidents Day.

In Florida, a Best Buy employee, Matthew Lettera, was charged with fraud after allegedly using his manager's code to discount items for himself and others, Ars Technica reported. The manager reportedly became suspicious of strange sales numbers in December 2024. Private investigators traced the sales back to Lettera, who allegedly conducted 97 discounted purchases for himself and 52 additional transactions for others. The total loss to Best Buy exceeded $118,000.

Elsewhere, the recent airspace closure over El Paso, Texas, and parts of New Mexico has raised concerns about the state of U.S. anti-drone defenses. Wired reported that the incident is stoking unease among pilots and the public. Analysts have warned of potential destructive attacks using drones, but developing safe countermeasures remains challenging. The Federal Aviation Administration originally planned the airspace closure to last ten days, but it was ultimately shortened.

In other news, a recent article in Wired cautioned against purchasing unknown laptop brands on Amazon, noting that better alternatives are often available at the same price. The article highlighted the importance of researching products before making a purchase.

Finally, Hacker News highlighted the US Forest Service Diaries, which document forest management, fire suppression, law enforcement, road construction, and daily life in the northern California mountains from 1927 to 1945. The diaries, written by US Forest Service Ranger Reuben P. Box, offer a glimpse into the past.

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Synthesized from multiple sources. Reviewed for accuracy.

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