💩 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.
12 hours per week
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!
11.4 million viewers
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.
💬 Encryption is your BFF: ICYMI, I told you the FBI warned you to use apps with end-to-end encryption for your sensitive convos because of Chinese hackers. But what about 2FA security? Yep, they can be intercepted, too. Your best bet is to use an app like Google Authenticator. While you’re at it, turn on automatic software updates to plug any security holes.
No. 1 in fatal accidents
For automaker Tesla, with 5.6 deadly crashes for every 1 billion miles logged in its 2018 to 2022 models. They recalled over 125,000 vehicles in May due to issues with the seatbelt warning system, which isn’t helping their track record, either. As for the other car brands, Kia was a close second in fatalities, followed by Buick, Dodge and Hyundai.
20,000% spike
In drone reports over sports stadiums. It’s illegal to fly even a registered drone over a stadium during a game. In 2017, the NFL reported about a dozen drone sightings. In 2023, there were 2,845.
😂 Murphy’s Law states anything that can happen will happen: But are you familiar with Cole’s Law? It’s finely shredded raw cabbage with a salad dressing, commonly either vinaigrette or mayonnaise.
🪦 Where there’s a will, there’s a relative: Jesse Beck, 45, recorded a video “will” four days before he died in a motorcycle crash. It didn’t hold up in court. Why? Estate law (paywall link) is old school, and video or audio recordings don’t cut it. The legal validity of wills from text messages and emails also depends on where you live, but a signed, witnessed and notarized paper doc is still the gold standard.
Face, meet palm: A so-called “misinformation expert” was caught spreading misinformation. Jeff Hancock submitted a doc with fake AI-generated citations. Minnesota’s Attorney General paid him $600 an hour for expert testimony defending a new state law that bans AI-driven voter deception. You can’t make this up … but a bot did.
🎥 “Endorsement for AI”: That’s what Lisa Kudrow is calling Tom Hanks’ new film, “Here.” The Robert Zemeckis-directed flick uses AI to de-age Hanks and Robin Wright into younger versions of themselves. The “Friends” star thinks bots will replace real actors. It’s like she heard my show last week.
No. 1 free app
Drumroll, please … It’s Temu. That’s two years in a row for the most downloaded free app. In second place is Meta’s Threads, followed by TikTok at No. 3. I know Temu is super cheap, but that comes with its own cost. Here’s why I’d never buy the toys there for the kiddos in my life.
That escalated quickly: TikTok Shop is pulling in more customers than retail giants Shein and Sephora. It launched in September of 2023, and 45% of Americans have already bought something through it. Fashion and beauty items pitched by influencers are the most popular.
🚨 North Korean hackers are targeting Macs: It starts with an email containing a fake crypto news headline (e.g., “Hidden Risk Behind New Surge of Bitcoin Price”) and includes a link, supposedly to a PDF. The link actually leads to a malicious app that lets the sender take control of your system. If you’ve clicked on a random PDF link recently, scan for malware ASAP. I use TotalAV.