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💩 Stinking of success: Fartcoin, a joke crypto with zero real value, is soaring, hitting an $800 million market cap and beating out Dogecoin. No one really knows who’s pumping money into it, but crypto is majorly spiking after Trump’s election, and investors are taking gambles. But, as I always say … you should never trust a fart.

Time children should spend reading, according to a new study. Researchers analyzed 10,000 kids and found the earlier they started reading for fun, the better their learning, memory, speech and mental well-being. Looking for some book recs? Here are the bestselling kids’ books on Amazon right now. They make great gifts, too!

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A good fee is tariff-ic: The FTC just banned hidden “junk fees” for hotels, tickets and vacation rentals. Starting in 2025, businesses will need to show the total price upfront — no more “resort” or “convenience” fees snuck in at checkout. Yeah, those fees will still be there, but being able to see them before you pay will save everyone a whole lot of time.

🎰 Parents, check your kids’ Roblox accounts: Illegal online casinos are targeting kids on Roblox, letting little ones gamble on games like slots and blackjack. Some sites even convert their winnings to real cash through crypto. Roblox is cracking down, but parents, keep an eye out for in-game casinos. Bloxmoon and RBLXWild are two big names to watch for.

ChatGPT just got a big upgrade: Think of it as a mix between a chatbot and Google. It still answers your questions but now includes direct links to its sources. Plus, there’s a new voice mode you can use with it. To try it out, just click the globe icon in the ChatGPT text box. It works great!

For the “Yellowstone” series finale on Sunday, Dec. 15. (I was one of ‘em!) Season 5’s second-half premiere pulled in 16.4 million viewers across all platforms, but Sunday’s finale is a record high for the Paramount Network and CMT. Talk about going to the train station …

🧬 This is a crazy story: Jenna Gerwatowski, 23, took a DNA test and discovered her grandmother, whom she’s never met, is 100% a murder suspect. A newborn was left to die at a Michigan campground in the 1997 “Baby Garnet” cold case. Investigators matched Jenna and Jenna’s mother’s DNA to the baby and charged Jenna’s grandma, Nancy Gerwatowski, with the child’s murder. I can’t imagine how the family feels.

A scam for the holidays: “Card declined” messages are all over scammy retail sites. It’s a trick to get you to pay twice so they can steal twice the card details. Before you check out, make sure the site’s URL starts with “https” (don’t skip the -s!). My trick: Save more money shopping online with the Upside app. Use promo code KIM so they know I sent ya.

“AI Therapist”: That’s a new job title in the AI world. Kyle Fish’s gig at an AI company (paywall link) is to make sure the AI systems are treated ethically as they evolve so they can be more likely to achieve consciousness. I’ve always said being polite to your bot generates better answers.

Every move you make, every breath you take, I’ll be watching you: The next Walmart greeter you see may be wearing a body cam. The retail giant’s new program will stop thieves and keep workers safe when things get tense. TJX Companies, which owns TJ Maxx and Marshalls, already uses them, but some worry the cams are really spying on employees. Probably all of the above.