So, you've decided to jump into the crazy filter carnival that is Snapchat? Don't feel bad that you're just now getting started. Here are 20 awesome tips to get you up to speed in a hurry. 

1. You have a Snapcode

That little ghost icon with your photo in it can be shared to get new followers. It's called a Snapcode. Just have a friend take a snap of your Snapcode icon and the app will give them the option to add you.

2. Snapcodes can send people to your site

You can also customize a Snapcode for your website, Facebook page or anything else. Tap the ghost icon in the upper left of the camera screen, then go to Settings > Snapcode > Create Snapcode. Add the address to your website and tap Create. The app will create an icon that will link directly to your site.

3. You can see if people are stealing your pics

Social media is a shady place where people take screenshots of your photos and then share them with others or save them on their phones. Snapchat lets you know when someone is being sneaky, though. Tap on the three dots icon beside your Story on the Stories screen. An icon with an arrow beside it lets you know if someone took a screenshot. Snapchat will also send you a notification as soon as it happens.

4. There's a way to get around it, though

By putting your phone into airplane mode you can screenshot photos without Snapchat sending up the alarm. Just log out before turning airplane mode back on.

5. You can make stickers

You can make stickers out of your friends' faces and then add them to your snaps. Take a photo, then tap on the scissors icon on the upper left side of the screen. Outline their head with your finger. The sticker will form and automatically save.

To use a sticker, take a photo, tap on the icon on the right that looks like a notepad and choose your sticker by tapping on it. You can drag the sticker to wherever you want it on the image.

Pro tip: If you make a circle around the person's face and then fill in their face without lifting your finger, it makes the edges of your sticker much smoother and neater.

6. All those emojis beside your friends' names mean something

When you go to the chat section of Snapchat, you may have noticed emojis by each of your friends' names. Those aren't there by accident. Here's what all those Snapchat emojis mean. 

7. Collaborate with your friends

Have a Snapchat Story party with your friends. To get started, swipe right from the camera screen and tap on the + icon in the upper right. Then, name your Story and tap Who can add? From there, choose which of your friends can participate. Toggle on Geofence if you want your friends to add to the Story only when they're nearby. When you're done, click Create Story. The Story disappears in 24 hours unless others add to it.

8. Add filters to jazz up your snaps

You probably already know you can snap pictures and videos of yourself and friends as puppies, pretty ladies and bunnies. These are called lenses. You can also add filters to photos and videos. Turn on this ability by tapping the ghost icon in the upper left of the camera screen, then go to Settings > Additional Services and tap the box by Filters. Now, just swipe right or left after you take a photo or video to add some preset filters.

9. Don't miss out on hidden filters

If you turn on your location, you can access extra filters that are specific to your region called geofilters. When you turn on your filters capability, you'll then be prompted to turn on your location. Just tap Enable Location and you're good to go.

One of Snapchat's newer features is the ability to add artwork to your snaps using location. If you are in these certain areas, you can add the artwork of Jeff Koons to your snaps. It looks like new artists and locations may be coming soon, too.

10. You can make your own filters, too

Don't see a filter you like? You can create an on-demand geofilter for a wedding, graduation, birthday or whatever using these custom filter making directions. The filter will work for anyone on Snapchat within a certain designated area.

11. Use lenses in video chat

To start the craziest video chat you've ever had, swipe left from the camera screen, tap on a friend, then tap on the video camera icon. From there, your friends will be able to watch or join your chat. To add lenses, tap on your face. The lens options will pop up and you can start being silly.

12. Let the world know it's your birthday

Tap the ghost icon in the upper left of the camera screen, then go to Settings > Birthday and tap the box next to Birthday Party. On your birthday, a birthday cake will be displayed by your name so everyone will know it's your special day.

13. Time your snaps

After you take a photo, there is a little clock icon on the right. Tap on it and you can set how long a person can look at the snap in your Stories.

14. Send money to your pals

Tap the ghost icon in the upper left of the camera screen, then go to Settings > Snapcash to send money to your friends through Square. Just tap the I Agree button and follow the on-screen directions.

15. Save your Story to make Memories

You can save your entire Story to Memories, which is where you can access all your saved photos and videos. To save your Story, tap the download icon next to your Story on the Stories screen. To find your Memories quickly, swipe up on the camera screen.

16. Then do things with the Memories 

You can edit and send your Memories to others or post them to your Stories by tapping on the snap and then tapping on the Edit & Send option at the bottom of the screen.

17. Record Multi-Snaps 

A Multi-Snap is a recording that lasts 10 seconds. All you do is hold down the photo button and the app will take up to six 10-second recordings, depending on how long you hold down the button. You can choose which one you like and discard the rest, or you can choose to post them all. You can also decorate each one using the editing tools.

18. Take a look at your Snap Map

With Snap Map, you can see where your friends are and what they're doing. Go to the camera screen and slide your thumb and index finger together on the screen like you're trying to zoom out. The map options will pop up.

First, choose who can see you on the map. You can pick from Only Me, My Friends and Select Friends, which lets you choose which specific friends can see you.

When you add a snap to Our Story your avatar will share the snaps on the map. When your friends share, their snaps pop up on the map, too. Just tap on your friend's avatar to see what they shared.

No matter if you share or not, your avatar will show up on the map in the last location you opened the Snapchat app. Each time you open the app, the location updates.

19. Add tints to areas of your photos

Ever want to change the color of just one area of your photo? Like give yourself a new hair color or change your friend into a Smurf? With the Tint Brush you can.

Tap on the Scissor icon and then tap the Brush Icon. Choose a color from the palette, then circle whatever you want to tint with your finger. Bam! The brush will tint whatever you circled.

Pro tip: You can also use the Tint Brush to make certain parts of your photo black-and-white. Just choose white from the palette to get the cool effect.

20. Add an artistic filter

In addition to the funny lenses you can add to snaps, you can also add artistic filters. Take a regular photo, then tap on the Brush icon under the Paperclip icon. A bunch of paintings will appear at the bottom of the screen. Tap on one you like. Your photo will then be filtered to look like the painting.

Editors' note: This article was originally published June 1 and has been updated with new tips.

With gasoline prices continuing to break records, motorists are looking for cheaper alternatives. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a law requiring any gas station built or upgraded starting next year to be compatible with E85, a fuel formulation made with 85% corn ethanol.

E85 is significantly less expensive than regular unleaded: In Iowa, where regular unleaded has hit $4.75, E85 averages $3.42 a gallon

But most cars aren't rated to use corn ethanol-based fuel, and experts say the savings with cars that are designed for it are often swallowed up by poor fuel mileage.

"Anything you'd save at the pump, you're going to lose driving your car," John Schupp, owner of Missouri auto repair shop Sci-Tech Automotive, told KMBC in Kansas City.

Here's what you need to know about E85, including how to know if your car can use it, whether it's truly cheaper and what impact it has has on the environment.

What is E85 fuel?

Most formulations of gasoline are E10, or just 10% corn ethanol and 90% gasoline. E85, also called flex-fuel, is a blend of 85% ethanol to 15% gasoline.

Is E85 cheaper than regular gasoline?

Per gallon, E85 is almost always significantly less expensive than regular gas: The national average for regular unleaded on Tuesday was about $5.02. For E85, it was only $3.67.

In California, where gasoline has reached a nationwide high of $6.44, E85 averages $3.60. In Oklahoma, you can find it for as little as $2.89 a gallon.

But flex-fuel vehicles, or FFVs, using the high-ethanol blend have much lower fuel efficiency, Kelly Blue Book reported. In some cases, the difference in mileage is nearly 25%. 

As an example, the automotive research firm said, a 2021 Ford F150 pickup could get 21 combined miles per gallon when using gasoline, but only 16 mpg filled with E85. 

With a price differential of nearly 30%, or even greater in some areas, it may be worth it for many drivers. In addition, E85 has a higher octane content, which can produce more power in engines designed to use it. 

How do I know if my car is rated for E85? 

If your automobile can accept E85 fuel, it should have a yellow gas cap, or, if you have a capless fuel filler, a yellow ring around the hole where the nozzle is inserted.

A badge reading "Flex-Fuel," "FFV" or "E85" on the back of the vehicle may also indicate compatibility, according to Kelly Blue Book. And you can always check your owner's manual.

According to market data firm IHS Markit, there were at least 21 million FFVs in the US in 2017, the most recent year for which information was available.

But rising interest in electric vehicles has seen a move away from E85-rated autos. Last year, only Ford and General Motors produced flex-fuel vehicles, and they made only 11 models. That's a serious decrease from 2015, when there were 80 different models from eight carmakers that were rated for E85, according to the Renewable Fuels Association. 

Can I fill up on E85 even if my car isn't rated for it?

While some motorists are tempted to use E85 in a car designed only for conventional gas, or to top off their tank with it, "unless you're driving a vehicle specifically made for the cheaper fuel, using it can cause engine damage," according to Consumer Reports, 

"You'll probably have a tow truck taking it to the shop because, after about two tanks of E85, a car that's not equipped for it probably won't run," Schupp told KMBC.

Where is E85 sold?

According to E85Prices.com, there are more than 5,500 gas stations selling E85 flex-fuel, mostly in eastern states, the Midwest and California.

That works out to slightly less than 4% of all retail gas stations in the US. 

Is E85 better for the environment?

A 2019 study by the US Department of Agriculture said corn-based ethanol is much cleaner than petroleum, with 39% fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

But a report published in February by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences factored in the cost of land and water use and determined that ethanol leaves a much larger carbon footprint. The carbon intensity of corn-based fuel is "likely at least 24% higher" than that of conventional gas, the researchers said.

Fuels with higher ethanol content, like E15 -- which contains 15% ethanol and 85% gasoline -- are usually prohibited during the summer because it's believed they contribute to smog levels. (Traditional fuel is 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline.)

But in light of the current fuel crisis, the Biden administration has lifted the summertime ban.

Currently, the limited scale of corn ethanol production means it's unlikely to impact climate change much either way. But that could change if demand increases or government regulations mandate that a higher percentage of fuel come from renewable sources.

As the valuations of electric vehicle companies such as Tesla went sky high through 2020 and 2021, other EV startups were tripping over each other to follow that path to fortune via special purpose acquisition companies. It seemed like a new automotive SPAC IPO hit the market every week last year, but this week one of them has reached end of the road.

Electric Last Mile Solutions, or ELMS, a Michigan-based EV startup with a focus on commercial vehicles, is entering Chapter 7 bankruptcy with plans to liquidate. This comes just 12 months after its SPAC IPO in June of 2021 and four months after both its CEO and Chairman resigned amid accusations of improper share purchases ahead of that IPO.

Shauna McIntyre stepped into the CEO role in February, but in a statement says the company is out of time: "Unfortunately, there were too many obstacles for us to overcome in the short amount of time available to us. I could not be prouder of what our team has been able to accomplish under very challenging circumstances."

ELMS Board Chair Brian Krzanich, who you may remember from his days as Intel's CEO, said: "It's extremely frustrating that we must take this route, but it was the only responsible next step for our shareholders, partners, creditors, and employees."

At the most recent CES in January, ELMS gave us a tour of their Urban Delivery van, with a focus on short-distance, downtown deliveries. Things were looking bright then, but the stock price has been on a steady decline since, down to $0.21 in premarket trading from a 52-week high of $12.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro are now available to order and there are some neat Galaxy Watch 5 deals to coincide with the devices' joint launch. 

There isn't much of a design change from the Galaxy Watch 4 but the new smartwatches do have a longer-lasting battery and a skin temperature measurement sensor as a new health feature. The bigger Watch 5 Pro in particular is geared toward outdoor sports enthusiasts and features a durable titanium design, 80-hour battery life and exclusive tools like turn-by-turn navigation.

What colors do the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro come in?

The Galaxy Watch 5 is offered in four colors: silver, gray, gold and blue. Gold is exclusive to the smaller 40mm size and blue is only available on the larger 44mm variant. On the Pro side, you can choose between two titanium finishes: black and gray. There are plenty of interchangeable bands for both versions of the Galaxy Watch 5 if you want to customize the look further. 

How much do the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro cost?

The Bluetooth and Wi-Fi-only Galaxy Watch 5 starts at $280, while the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro starts at $450. If you want the LTE versions, that'll cost you $50 more. Here's how US retail pricing breaks down in full:

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 (40mm): $280
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 (44mm): $310
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 with LTE (40mm): $330
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 with LTE (44mm): $360
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro (44mm): $450
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro with LTE (44mm): $500

Be sure to check out all the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro deals below for some ways to save on their retail prices.

Best Galaxy Watch 5 deals

Best Galaxy Watch 5 Pro deals

WhatsApp took out newspaper ads to combat fake news in India on Tuesday, after rumors sparked the lynching of five men.

The full-page ads, which ran in English, Hindi and other languages in daily papers, include tips for spotting fake news messages on WhatsApp.

Readers are advised to check if a message has been forwarded -- WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature to help people identify forwarded messages. Beyond that, the ad urges readers to double check facts, links and photos. There's also a warning about viral messages.

"Do not pay attention to the number of times you receive the message," it reads. "Just because a message is shared many times, does not make it true."

"This morning we are starting an education campaign in India on how to spot fake news and rumors. Our first step is placing newspaper advertisements across the country in English, Hindi, and several regional languages. We will build on these efforts going forward," a spokesperson for WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook, said a statement.

India is WhatsApp's largest market, with more than 200 million users sending a billion encrypted messages each day.

Five people were lynched in the western city of Dhule on July 1, after WhatsApp was used to spread a rumor that they were child kidnappers.

Last week, India's justice and information technology minister of India, Ravi Shankar Prasad, tweeted that WhatsApp must focus on "security related aspects" of its operations in the country.

Updated Tuesday 11 July at 00:28 a.m. PST: Adds WhatsApp comment.

WhatsApp, fake news and gadgets : 5 interesting trends in digital news.

Fake news on WhatsApp provokes lynchings in India : Five men murdered when a village thinks a video warning against child abduction shows a real kidnapping.

Apple Arcade added virtual pet game My Talking Tom to its catalog of titles on Friday. In the game, you adopt a cat, give it a name and take care of it. Make sure Tom's needs are met and that he's happy, fed and well-rested. 

Taking care of Tom is a far cry from what you'd experience with a real cat. Tom stands on his hind legs, snoozes in his own human bed and grins sheepishly while using a real toilet -- this animation, particularly, verges on being too realistic.

My Talking Tom also includes mini games like bubble shooter, 2048 and Flappy Tom, as well as memory and matching activities. The more you play, the more in-game coins, diamonds and keys you earn to unlock prizes and accessories for Tom.  

The game asks for access to your device's microphone early on in the game. This is so Tom can actually "talk" to you and repeat words you say. You can choose to leave the microphone off and still enjoy other aspects on the game. 

My Talking Tom is also available in the App Store for players who aren't subscribed to Apple Arcade, but you'll encounter ads and in-app purchases. Outfit7, the studio behind the game, also has multiple apps featuring Tom and other talking animals. 

Apple Arcade adds new games and content updates every week. If you're interested in trying Apple Arcade, you can get a three-month free trial with the purchase of a new device, or one month for free if you're signing up for the first time. Open the App Store and tap the joystick icon at the bottom of the screen to launch the service. 

Twitter is trying out a new option called Status Tweets that lets users add one of several prewritten labels to a tweet. The feature "allows you to add a status topic from a predetermined list to your rweets to provide more context for your followers," Twitter said Thursday. 

"So whether you are about to drop a hot Tweet thread, share your shower thoughts, or have a bad case of the Mondays, your Tweets can better convey what you are up to," Twitter added.

One user who apparently has access to the feature tweeted that the available status labels include, among others, "Spoiler alert," "Need advice," "Hot take," "Unpopular opinion," "Living the dream," "Working hard, hardly working," "Traveling" and, as Twitter suggested, "A thread," "Shower thoughts" and "Case of the Mondays."

Custom statuses reportedly aren't available. When you see a Status Tweet from someone, you can also click on the status label to see other tweets associated with that status topic.

The test is running with some users in the US and Australia for a limited time, the company said. On iOS and Android, people included in the test can post their own Status Tweets and see other people's, Twitter said in a Help Center post. On the web version of Twitter, they'll be able to see Status Tweets but not write them.

Ditch the traditional bookshelf and upgrade to an e-reader for your child. E-readers save space, are ultraportable and grant access to a massive library of options whenever you want to explore something new. 

In anticipation of Prime Day, plenty of early Prime Day deals have already arrived, helping you save money on a ton of popular items, and right now, Kindle Kids devices are discounted by $60 at Amazon, bringing the price to just $50 for these e-readers designed for especially for children. This offer is available through July 11.

The Kindle Kids e-reader has a 6-inch, black-and-white, glare-free, 167-ppi display and 8GB of storage. It can connect to Bluetooth headphones or speakers. That means your kids can access a ton of audiobooks from Audible, too. These e-readers are specifically for reading, so your kids won't be distracted by apps, videos or games while they're using their device, like they might on a traditional tablet.

The Kindle Kids also has a long battery life -- it can last weeks on a single charge, which is great for when you're on the go. And when you buy a new Kindle Kids e-reader, you'll get a kid-friendly cover, a one-year subscription to the Amazon Kids Plus service and a two-year guarantee to replace broken devices. 

Amazon Kids Plus has a ton of children's literature available. Some titles, like the Harry Potter series, are included for free, while there are thousands of other books available for purchase as well. After the first year, your subscription will renew at $5 a month, but you can cancel anytime by visiting the Amazon Parent Dashboard. You'll find parental controls on the dashboard, too, allowing you to adjust age filters, add books to your child's library, view reading progress and more. You can also use Amazon Kids Plus on other compatible Kindle devices, Fire tablets, Echo smart speakers and more.

There are also tools to help your child tackle more challenging books such as Vocabulary Builder, which can help look up words and create flash cards for practicing new words, and Word Wise, which can automatically show simple on-screen definitions above difficult words. At $50, this is a great time to invest in an e-reader that can help your child form strong, healthy reading habits.

Tokyo is a wonderfully frenetic city of lights, high rises and concentrated insanity. It's equal parts "Blade Runner," "The Fifth Element," "Ghost in the Shell" and, well, just about every other sci-fi movie you can think of.

For years, Tokyo's Akihabara district was the place to score cheap electronics. As the Internet became a thing and manufacturing largely moved out of Japan, Akihabara became just another place to snag gadgets, albeit one with a lot of cool stores.

Then the situation changed again, with the arrival of Yodobashi Camera. The Japanese chain is legendary for its stunningly massive stores and low prices. Think of it as a sort of Walmart on steroids that focuses on electronics. Stack eight Best Buys on top of each other, and you're only starting to get close.

For any gadget fan, the area is amazing. Here's what it's like.

Akihabara Denki Gai

Day or night, the Akihabara Denki Gai (which translates to Akihabara Electric Town) has a vibrant energy (though, in fairness, so does most of Tokyo). Just a short walk from the subway station, the main street is lined with tall buildings covered in colorful ads depicting sales and anime characters. There are names you'll recognize, like Sega, and many you definitely won't.

These stores are only part of the area's electric charm. Take a turn onto one of the side streets, and smaller stores hawk far more specialized wares. Better still, enter one of the side buildings. Alleyways transition invisibly to corridors. Tiny shops focus on one microscopic niche of the electronics world. Need a new switch for your old VCR? How about a single LED for a DIY project? Fuses, cables, random parts you've never seen before? You can probably find one here.

The narrow alleys and corridors remind me of a modern-day Japanese Kowloon Walled City, with turn after turn, stairway after stairway, and just endless stalls and stores.

Akihabara isn't what it once was. It earned its legendary status as a home for electronics. But as those became commodities available anywhere thanks to the Web, the focus of Akihabara started to change. Soon there were more and more stores selling DVDs and manga. As those grew in popularity, other stores shifted their focus to cater to these new types of customers: otaku.

Otaku

Otaku roughly translates to "fanboy" or "fangirl." While it generally refers to those passionate about manga or anime, it's really anyone with an intense interest in a certain topic.

More than just selling the content, stores popped up to speak to the otaku themselves. There's the Gundam Cafe, for example.

Go to Akihabara in the evening, and an even more obvious example of a quirk of the otaku culture will appear. Every few stores will have a young woman outside, dressed as a maid or an anime character, handing out fliers for drink specials. Maid cafes are essentially hostess bars, a sort of Hooters without the revealing clothing...and with cosplay instead.

Yodobashi

The transition away from pure electronics stores was probably not hurt by Yodobashi Camera. The eight-story colossus is probably the largest electronics store in the world. Walking in is an assault on multiple senses.

First, it's incredibly bright. The Japanese tend to over-light retail stores, but Yodobashi does this to a whole different level. Searing fluorescents annihilate all shadows in a greenish-blue scorch that messes with your brain. (Seriously. Walk outside after being under these lights for a while, and the sun seems sunset red at any hour.) Impossibly shiny linoleum floors plus glass and chrome display cases all conspire to make you squint. Sunglasses would not feel out of place.

Then there's the noise. On top of the usual background din of any electronics store, there's the Yodobashi Camera theme song to add to the cacophony. Behold its greatness:

Push past this, and you'll get swallowed up by, quite simply, the most amazing collection of electronics you'll ever see. Want some headphones? Try on a few hundred. Want a TV? Seemingly every one on the market is here on display. Speakers? There are three rooms for that. Vacuums? A floor (I think). If it plugs in or takes batteries, it's here, and there are probably a few hundred options to choose from.

By the time you reach the top, going floor by floor gawking at the awesomeness, you'll probably be hungry. No worries, there are a bunch of restaurants on the top floor.

Bottom line

Akihabara is one of the best areas to see Tokyo do what it does best: condense a whole lot of something into a small space, and add a dash of madness.

It's amazing and fantastic and totally worth seeing. If you can make it, check out Japan-Guide's take on it. If you can't, check out the photo tour above.

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As well as covering TV and other display tech, Geoff does photo tours of cool museums and locations around the world, including nuclear submarines, massive aircraft carriers, medieval castles, epic 10,000 mile road trips, and more. Check out Tech Treks for all his tours and adventures.

He wrote a bestselling sci-fi novel about city-size submarines, along with a sequel. You can follow his adventures on Instagram and his YouTube channel.

We all have different gifting styles. Some of us are DIYers, some are risk-takers and many of us just ask our giftees for their wish lists. You might be someone who always gives money during the holidays or, more likely, someone who likes to receive money. Cash is convenient and easy for the gift-giver, and it lets the recipient save or spend it on what they want. 

What about gifts for children? While it's hard to figure out the coolest toys and tech for tots, you might also hesitate to hand over cash to children.

In fact, giving kids money for the holidays can be a great way to teach them about personal finances. There are a couple of different approaches to helping teach the children in your life about managing money.

1. Giving kids physical money

Remember what it felt like to receive money as a child? A little bit of cash can go a long way in making a young giftee excited. Plus, familiarizing children with money can help them learn how to spend and save responsibly. Even if the child might want to spend it all in one place, that could lead to valuable lessons early on. You can also take the opportunity to help them open a custodial savings account to teach them about saving money. Parents.com suggests that between the ages of 6 and 8 is the perfect time to introduce kids to bank accounts and saving.

2. Giving money toward college tuition (529 contribution)

A 529 plan may not spark the same excitement as unboxing a PlayStation 5, but it does offer a tax-advantaged way to save and invest for qualifying education expenses, like paying for college tuition. While your giftee may not fully appreciate it right now, it'll be plenty important down the road. Such a gift can be used to teach a kid about the importance of self-investment via education.

Contributions toward a 529 plan can be invested in the market to later be withdrawn without capital gains taxes, much like a Roth IRA. There are several ways to approach making a 529 gift contribution for a minor. For example, you can contribute to an existing account using the gifting platform that most 529 accounts offer. 

You can also open a new custodial 529 account on behalf of a child, even if you're not their parent or legal guardian. You'll need to have the child's Social Security number (or Individual Tax Identification number) and date of birth. If for whatever reason you don't have that information, you can open an account in your own name and then change the beneficiary of the plan at a later date. You can open 529 accounts with most financial institutions, including Fidelity, Schwab and Vanguard.

What's better, 529 accounts are generally sponsored by the state you live in, and more than half of states offer tax benefits for contributions. Check out this 529 contribution tax break calculator from Vanguard to see how much you could save in taxes when gifting to a 529 account.

3. Giving kids stock

Gifting stocks can be a great way for kids aged 13 and older to get interested in investing and understand exponential growth. It also offers opportunities for kids to learn about business finances, accounting and taxes, and to potentially affect their future net worth. 

You have a few options to give stocks to kids. If a child doesn't already have a custodial account with a brokerage (generally under the ownership of parents or grandparents), you can open one for them with you as the custodian. When the child turns 18, they then gain control of the account. When presenting your gift, you can discuss the basics, such as how to buy stocks, market versus limit orders and dollar-cost-averaging. 

Alternatively, you can transfer stock purchased in your brokerage account to theirs if you have their information, or you can use a stock-gifting app, like those featured in our guide on how to gift stocks. While most brokerages offer app access for custodial accounts, you may choose to go with a kid-specific investing app, such as BusyKid, which aims to teach children about managing money and investing.

If you have a tech-oriented youngster on your holiday shopping list, cryptocurrency may be an interesting gift. The cryptocurrency world is more complicated than that of brokerage accounts, but there are many services and products with a wide range of options for gifting crypto.

You can go the simple route and use a service like Cash App to send crypto to people aged 13 to 17 who sign up for an account with a parent or guardian sponsor. You can send bitcoin easily to their Cash App account, where they can then choose to store it in the app or move it to a different storage vehicle, or wallet. While Coinbase also has a gifting feature, it no longer allows users under the age of 18. Another option is to gift a hardware wallet, perhaps with some crypto already stored on it. This is a more secure way to store cryptocurrency, but may require a little extra instruction.

5. Giving kids gift cards

Some folks prefer to give gift cards over cash for multiple reasons. Sometimes cash isn't appropriate, or it's too impersonal. Gift cards can be bought for specific retailers and offer a more structured approach to spending. 

Gift cards can also come in the form of general "debit" cards, like Visa or Amex gift cards, which give kids more freedom to choose what they want to buy. These could give kids experience using debit and credit cards to make purchases and help them learn about managing an online account.

As the gift-giver, you may even be able to save some money by buying gift cards at a discount. Check out our guide on buying and selling gift cards to learn where you can safely save.

Ford is recalling 330,784 Mustangs of the 2015-2017 model years over concerns that their rearview cameras could either be too dim to use or simply cut out altogether.

The issue stems from a faulty wiring harness inside the Mustang's rear decklid that can become loose or damaged. The fix for this issue is luckily pretty simple and involves replacing either the decklid harness or, in some cases, the rearview camera itself.

This recall, like all recalls, will be performed free of charge by your local Ford dealer. Owners of affected vehicles can expect to be notified by Ford via mail on or around March 7. If you believe your Mustang is one of the affected vehicles and have questions about the recall, you can call Ford's customer service department at 1-866-436-7332 and reference recall number 22S06.

Welcome to Nonfungible Tidbits. Our focus this week: Russia's war in Ukraine. 

In addition to uprooting the lives of Ukrainians and throwing the international order into chaos, the Russian invasion has created a proving ground for some of the most ambitious -- and cynical -- use cases for cryptocurrency. On the one hand, crypto has become a tool for individuals and organizations to provide charitable support and donations to Ukrainians (as well as a new frontier for online scammers). But there are reports of Russian oligarchs using the technology to evade an increasingly aggressive bevy of financial sanctions. We'll also look at the sale of an NFT of the Ukrainian Flag to support Ukraine -- a project backed by a member of the Russian punk band PussyRiot. 

Our other stories include scams trying to exploit donations to Ukraine, and how some cryptocurrency exchanges are handling the sanctions against Russia. 

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Cryptocurrency donations worth millions raised for Ukraine 

More than $50 million in cryptocurrency has been raised for Ukraine in the time since Russia began military operations in the nation last week. Many of these donations have been made directly to the Ukraine government. Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's minister for digital transformation, tweeted wallet addresses for cryptocurrency donations, which was also tweeted by Ukraine's official twitter account. Over $47 million in cryptocurrency has been donated in this way, says Elliptic, a blockchain analysis firm.

Read CNET's full story on how Ukraine raised bver $55M in crypto to help resist Russia .

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NFT backed by a member of Russian punk band PussyRiot raises $6.7 million for Ukraine

Aside from direct donations to the Ukrainian government, UkraineDAO, an online organization backed by a member of the Russian punk rock group PussyRiot, has raised millions by auctioning a Ukrainian flag sold as an NFT. Contributors were able to share ownership of the NFT, and 3,200 individual contributions took place in 72 hours for a total of $6.7 million in ether.

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Scammers trying to exploit the war in Ukraine

If you want to donate to help Ukrainians, it's good to be aware of scams on social media that are using the war in Ukraine for illicit gain. These scams can take the form of fake charities and other organizations claiming to support Ukrainians. Especially when it comes to cryptocurrency, anyone who wants to donate should be careful, as cryptocurrency transactions are generally irreversible and difficult to track. If you're inclined to donate, check out CNET's list of charities and make sure you do your research first.

Read CNET's full story on how war in Ukraine brings out scammers trying to exploit donations.  

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Cryptocurrency exchanges don't want to bar users in Russia

While the White House hasn't yet commented on this directly, Bloomberg reports the Biden administration has asked cryptocurrency exchanges to prevent Russian people and organizations from using virtual currencies to circumvent Washington's sanctions. Bloomberg cites a White House official saying that American authorities are aggressively fighting any misuse of digital assets to avoid sanctions. Reuters reports that Binance, as well as US-based Coinbase and Kraken have agreed to screen users and block anyone targeted by sanctions, but the exchanges have stopped short of banning all Russian clients. Binance and Coinbase are the two largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world by market cap.