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Good morning Staker! Here’s what’s cookin’ today. Things are gettin’ sloppy around here, all about the latest scam known as ghost tapping, and Mick and the boys have called off their tour  👀

Let’s get into it!

Unsurprisingly, Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year for 2025 has to do with AI, but on the plus side, the word highlights some of the nonsense the world has had to endure with the evolution of artificial intelligence, giving a voice to millions who’ve had it up to here with:

Slop.

"We define slop as 'digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence,'" Merriam-Webster's [human] editors wrote. "All that stuff dumped on our screens, captured in just four letters: the English language came through again."

Slop has been a term used regularly in video game culture for several years—specifically, “friendslop,” which refers to low-budget video games that groups of friends play cooperatively with the intention of generating absurd video clips to share on social media.

The “mainstreamification” of the term speaks volumes about how AI-generated media has infiltrated the culture as a whole, with AI slop practically impossible to fully avoid these days for regular users of social media.

“Touch grass” was another term appropriately on Merriam-Webster’s list of runner-ups for 2025, which is a common way of telling someone to get off their phone/computer, go outside, and interact with the real world.

“Ghost tapping” is a cyber scam that deceives mobile device users into clicking on pop-ups without meaning to or even knowing they did, resulting in the authorization of payments to the malicious actors who orchestrated the scam in the first place.

It’s ye another example of the sophisticated techniques frauds are utilizing today to rip off unsuspecting consumers. It will often involve screen overlays, injected taps, or manipulated interfaces.

Screen overlays used in this scheme can practically be undetectable, often designed as a transparent pop-up that preys on the user’s standard behavior of routinely tapping or clicking a legitimate button in an app.

An injected tap is a type of malware that can cause the user to automatically subscribe to a malicious list or site in the app’s background, or even trigger the approval of a transaction..

Manipulated interfaces are designed to make a user think they’re clicking on a standard “close ad” or “exit page” button, but in reality, they’re approving the action the scam is designed to trigger.

Ghost tapping is difficult to detect while it’s happening, but these types of schemes are avoidable. Here’s how to protect yourself.

Only install officially licensed apps on your device, avoid installing game apps that feature aggressive advertising overlays, take care of which apps are granted any kind of permission (especially when it involves finances), keep the phone’s software up to date, and make use of antivirus tools when applicable.

A desalination plant in the coastal city of Rizhao, China opened three weeks ago, and on top of boasting the world’s most cost-effective method of converting seawater into fresh water, it also produces hydrogen fuel—a green alternative source of energy growing in popularity.

The plant produes 118,877 gallons of fresh water for every 800 metric tons of seawater, 192,000 standard cubic meters of green hydrogen fuel, according to the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post.

The outlet noted the hydrogen fuel output is enough to power 50 city busses for 4,600 miles while emitting no carbon. The facility is able to extract the hydrogen fuel by leveraging waste heat from steel factories nearby the plant.

The cost per cubic meter of the desalination plant’s overall output is $0.28—half the cost of Saudi Arabia’s methods, which produce over 20% of the world’s desalinated water—while California’s Carlsbad Desalination Plant does so at a cost of $2.20 per cubic meter.

The Rolling Stones never officially announced a 2026 U.K. and European tour, but plans for one were all but finalized, based on press statements made recently by a spokesman for the band, along with touring pianist, Chuck Leavall.

However, according to Variety, a source close to the band confirmed those plans are off, with Keith Richards—who turns 82 tomorrow—unable to make the commitment.

The legendary guitarist has been open about how the hardships of the road have taken their toll in recent years, particularly when it comes to his nagging arthritis, which he said forced him to change his style of guitar playing.

“When they properly sat down to discuss the tour, Keith said he didn’t think he could commit and wasn’t keen on a big stadium tour for over four months,” an unnamed source told British tabloid The Sun on Monday.

According to Variety, a second spokesperson added, “The band were looking to tour earlier this year but couldn’t make it work either. It’s hard for their fans but The Stones will get back onstage when they’re good and ready.”

The band is still on track to release an album next year. It will be a quick follow-up to 2023’s Hackney Diamonds, and the band’s second with producer Andrew Watt—a 35-year-old phenom who the Stones say helped reinvigorate the writing and recording process following a 15 year gap without a full-length album.

More holiday magic

Yesterday we gave you TV specials (and you all did incedibly well ⭐), so today we’re doubling down on holiday magic

That’s right, in today’s trivia were quizzin’ you all about holiday movies! Complete the game, and you’ll earn a shot at a $25 eGift Card ;)

Winner will be notified on Thursday afternoon. Keep an eye on your inbox and don’t forget to check your spam folder!*