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The Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta exceeded its funding commitment by nearly $1 million, while its Dallas counterpart gave out $2 million in 2024. View the full article

Is a side hustle really the only thing separating you from the life you desire? Listening to some influencers on social media could certainly have you thinking so. Side hustles encompass a range of self-directed entrepreneurial activities undertaken while also working a job. For young people with limited access to capital, they’re the most accessible opportunity to engage in entrepreneurship. Yet, we still know very little about who takes them on and why, and what kind of impact they have on working life in economies like Australia. Our new report, Side Hustles: How Young People Are Redefining Work, presents the first wave of findings from an ongoing three-year, mixed-methods study that seeks to answer these questions. In our first year of data collection, we surveyed 1,497 side hustlers ages 18 to 34 and interviewed a further 68. Our findings raise questions about the merits of entrepreneurship as a solution to youth unemployment or a pathway to financial freedom. What makes a side hustle? To be included in our project, a young person had to be employed, but also carrying out some form of entrepreneurship. We defined entrepreneurship as self-directed economic activity, where the side hustler has some measure of control over when they work, who they work for, and what they charge. The most popular side hustle among participants was selling goods (42.9%). Others included: services such as gardening, dog-walking or moving furniture (29.2%) creating media content (16.5%) creative work such as graphic design or photography (11.3%). Side hustling could include some “gig work” through online platforms, but only when these platforms allow workers to negotiate prices with clients and make choices about their work. As such, we excluded ride-share and food delivery drivers from the project. Projects for the privileged While some people may assume that young people start a side hustle out of financial stress, we found side hustlers are actually a relatively privileged cohort. They are a well-educated group. Almost two-thirds of our sample had university degrees and many of the remainder were studying. They also generally report their financial well-being as comfortable. Why is this? Side hustles often don’t make much money, cost money to set up, and carry risk—all of the hallmarks of entrepreneurship. Median hourly earnings from their side hustles are less than what they would make working in retail or hospitality, and on average they are about 50% what they make in their main job. As one e-commerce side-hustler put it: “If I really put my time and energy into the consideration, I would say we’re not making much money at all. … It’s just something I enjoy doing in my free time.” Their side-hustle earnings are also uncertain: 65% say they are unsure what their earnings will look like in three months. In other words, you need to be financially secure already to even contemplate a side hustle. Passion over pay Side hustles don’t make enough to help someone who is really financially struggling, and they are unlikely to be a pathway out of the employment “rat race.” Despite this, our participants are overwhelmingly satisfied with their side hustles and say they have good work-life balance. So what motivates them? The top motivation reported in our study is passion and enjoyment. Side hustlers say they want work that relates to their interests and enjoy the autonomy and flexibility that a side hustle allows. Even though side hustles are often less profitable than a second job, the second-highest motivation was still money. That’s likely because they offer a way of making some supplementary income in a way that is flexible and autonomous. They’re often a source of “play money.” One 33-year-old man with an e-commerce side hustle told us: “If I was to pick up a second job, like … Uber driving at night time, I won’t be happy. I’ll be tired. I’ll be stressed out trying to do that. Whereas, I think because I’ve got the passion for it here, I’m happy to do it because, like I said, I’m doing it at my own pace.” Pressure to be productive Our research suggests that rather than being a pathway out of unemployment, side hustles actually represent a broader social and economic trend: More and more of young people’s lives are being encompassed by work. Interviewees frequently talked about feeling like they needed to make their time outside of work productive in some way. For some, it was as though they could not justify leisure time unless it was financially profitable. One participant told us: “You obviously want to enjoy life and have a bit of a chill time, but some days you just go, like, ‘What am I doing? Just sitting at home and just relaxing watching Netflix or whatever. I should probably be out there making more money.’ ” Blurring work life boundaries? Most participants were also not very concerned about growing their side hustles into businesses. Instead, they aspired for balanced working lives with a side hustle offering passion, flexibility, and autonomous work, and paid employment supporting them financially and offering the option of a traditional career. They also did not necessarily see the time spent on their side hustles as work, being much more personally invested and self-directed in their side hustles than in their paid jobs. But this means that much of their “leisure” time looks very much like work, and more and more of their lives are dedicated to being productive. David Farrugia is an ARC Future Fellow at the School of Education at Deakin University. Brendan Churchill is an ARC senior research fellow and senior lecturer in sociology at The University of Melbourne. Kim Allen is a professor of sociology of youth and culture at the University of Leeds. Stephanie Patouras is a research officer and PhD candidate at Deakin University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. View the full article

A U.S. lawmaker plans to introduce legislation in coming weeks to verify the location of artificial-intelligence chips like those made by Nvidia after they are sold. The effort to keep tabs on the chips, which drew bipartisan support from U.S. lawmakers, aims to address reports of widespread smuggling of Nvidia’s chips into China in violation of U.S. export control laws. Nvidia’s chips are a critical ingredient for creating AI systems such as chatbots, image generators and more specialized ones that can help craft biological weapons. Both President Donald The President and his predecessor, Joe Biden, have implemented progressively tighter export controls of Nvidia’s chips to China. But Reuters and other news organizations have documented how some of those chips have continued to flow into China, and Nvidia has publicly claimed it cannot track its products after they are sold. U.S. Representative Bill Foster, a Democrat from Illinois who once worked as a particle physicist, said the technology to track chips after they are sold is readily available, with much of it already built in to Nvidia’s chips. Independent technical experts interviewed by Reuters agreed. Foster, who successfully designed multiple computer chips during his scientific career, plans to introduce in coming weeks a bill that would direct U.S. regulators to come up with rules in two key areas: Tracking chips to ensure they are where they are authorized to be under export control licenses, and preventing those chips from booting up if they are not properly licensed under export controls. Foster told Reuters that there are already credible reports – some of which have not been publicly disclosed – of chip smuggling occurring on a large scale. “This is not an imaginary future problem,” Foster told Reuters. “It is a problem now, and at some point we’re going to discover that the Chinese Communist Party, or their military, is busy designing weapons using large arrays of chips, or even just working on (artificial general intelligence), which is as immediate as nuclear technology.” Nvidia declined to comment for this story. Chip smuggling has taken on new urgency after the emergency of China’s DeepSeek, whose AI systems posed a strong challenge to U.S. systems and were built with Nvidia chips that were prohibited for sale to China, according analyst firm SemiAnalysis. Prosecutors in Singapore have charged three Chinese nationals with fraud in a case that involved servers that may have contained Nvidia chips. Though it has not been put into broad use, the technology to verify the location of chips already exists. Alphabet’s Google already tracks the location of its in-house AI chips and others in its vast network of data centers for security purposes, according to two sources with direct knowledge of its operations. Google did not respond to a request for comment. Foster’s legislation would give the U.S. Department of Commerce six months to come up with regulations to require the technology. Bipartisan support Foster’s bill has support from fellow Democrats such as Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, the ranking member on the House Select Committee on China. “On-chip location verification is one creative solution we should explore to stop this smuggling,” Krishnamoorthi said in a statement. Republicans are also supportive, with Representative John Moolenaar, who chairs the committee, telling Reuters that “the Select Committee has strong bipartisan support for requiring companies like Nvidia to build location-tracking into their high-powered AI chips — and the technology to do it already exists. The technology for verifying the location of chips would rely on the chips communicating with a secured computer server that would use the length of time it takes for the signal to reach the server to verify where chips are, a concept that relies on knowing that computer signals move at the speed of light. Tim Fist, a former engineer and director of emerging technology policy at Washington think tank Institute for Progress, said such tracking would provide a general, country-level location for chips. But that is far more information than the Bureau of Industry and Security, the arm of the U.S. Commerce Department responsible for enforcement of export controls, currently has. “BIS has no idea which chips they should be targeting as a potential high priority to investigate once they’ve gone overseas,” Fist said. With location verification, “they now at least have bucketed the set of chips that are out there in the world into ones that are very likely to not have been smuggled and ones that warrant further investigation.” Foster’s second legislative goal of preventing AI chips from booting up if they are not properly licensed under U.S. export controls would be more technologically complex to implement than location verification, but he said the time has come to begin discussions for both efforts. “We’ve gotten enough input that I think now we can have more detailed discussions with the actual chip and module providers to say, ‘How would you actually implement this?'” Foster told Reuters. —Stephen Nellis and Max A. Cherney, Reuters View the full article

Even if you're on top of your finances and never miss a payment, in the current economic climate, managing your bills can feel like swimming frantically and just keeping your head above water, with your paycheck evaporating before you even have a chance to appreciate it. If you’re on salary and get paid bi-weekly, however, there are two months out of the year in which you are paid three times instead of two—and May is one of those months. Because your budget is probably based on getting paid twice per month, that thirdpay day can feel like a bonus—and it actually can serve you very well, if you play it smart. Here’s how to make the most of this month's "extra" paycheck. Don't budget for itStep one is to live your life like you only get paid 24 times every year. When setting up your budget and planning out your spending for the year (which you totally do...right?), you should pretend those two extra paychecks don’t exist. If you count them in your income, they’ll be absorbed into your everyday spending. That’s not necessarily a bad thing (and you have no choice, if your financial situation calls for it), but the benefit will be diluted. If you want those extra paychecks to feel like a bonus, start by forgetting all about them. Then when they roll in you, have a few smart ways to use them. Put it into a savings account with interestThe most obvious smart way to use that third paycheck is to stash it in your savings—especially if you have a high-yield savings account (HYSA) you can dump it into. This puts that extra money to work for you, and gives you a little more breathing room during the rest of the year, or it can be put aside for future expenses like holiday shopping, a vacation you’ve planned, or a big purchase you know is coming up. If you’re saving that third paycheck you need to have a plan for it. If you just leave it in your bank account there’s a risk it will just evaporate over time as you dip into it here and there when your budget gets a little busted. Again, using it to cover overages isn’t exactly a bad use of the money you earned, but it might not be the most impactful. Invest itA better option might be to invest the money. If you have retirement accounts, you can look into making extra contributions to help Future You have a more comfortable retirement plan. If you don’t have a retirement account, creating one with that extra paycheck could be the best thing you do all year—setting up an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is pretty easy, and if you make a habit of stuffing your third paychecks into that IRA every year you’ll be very glad you did. Alternatively, if you already have an investment portfolio you can apply that paycheck there and beef up your holdings. Invest in yourselfSpeaking of investment, don’t forget about investing in yourself. That bonus paycheck could be used to make your future brighter in several ways: Professional development. Using that extra money to earn a credential that can help you get promoted or find a better job can pay off in the long term without impacting your daily life. Deferred healthcare. If you’ve been holding off on dental work or some other form of big-ticket healthcare due to the cost, a third paycheck offers an opportunity to do some very necessary self-care. Lifestyle improvement. You could also use the bonus paycheck to pay for a gym membership or equipment to jump-start an exercise regimen that will pay off handsomely. Start a businessA little extra cash can be used to launch a lucrative side hustle (many of these little businesses don’t require much—or any—startup cash) or small business. If you’ve had an idea for a service or product that you think could be turned into a money-making endeavor, that third paycheck might be all the startup capital you need to get it off the ground. Create an emergency fundDistinct from your general savings, an emergency fund protects you from unexpected disasters that would otherwise wipe out your savings and leave you in a terrible financial position. These include job loss, medical emergencies, and home repairs, any of which could spell doom if you’re not ready for them. Since we live in a world where 42% of Americans don’t have any sort of emergency fund at all, setting that extra paycheck aside specifically for that purpose is a very smart idea. Pay down debtYou’re living in the world, which means you’re most likely carrying debt—it’s just a fact of modern life. If you have sufficient savings and an emergency fund, chipping away at your debt is a terrific use for an extra paycheck: Pay down credit cards. The interest rates credit cards charge can be insane, and if you’re paying just minimum payments each month it will take you a very, very long time to erase even a modest balance. A balloon payment thrown at the card charging the most interest can be a dramatic improvement in your financial outlook moving forward. Make an extra mortgage payment. If you have a mortgage on your house and the two third paychecks you get every month allows you to make two extra payments, you can literally shave years off your mortgage. For example, if you have a $300,000 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at 6.75% interest, your principal and interest comes out to $1,946 per month. If you can throw 2 extra payments totaling $3,900 per year using your two third paychecks, you can shave 10 years off your mortgage term and save $145,000 in interest. Other debt. Any other kinds of debt you’re carrying can be reduced or eliminated, of course—student loan debt, personal loans, auto loans. As long as there’s no penalty for paying more than the monthly payment, you can whittle these down by applying that third paycheck. It’s not often we get a break in this world. An extra paycheck is one of those times—but only if you make a plan to take advantage of it. View the full article

The The President administration says the sweeping tariffs it unveiled April 2, then postponed for 90 days, have a simple goal: Force other countries to drop their trade barriers to U.S. goods. Yet President Donald The President’s definition of trade barriers includes a slew of issues well beyond the tariffs other countries impose on the U.S., including some areas not normally associated with trade disputes. Those include agricultural safety requirements, tax systems, currency exchange rates, product standards, legal requirements, and red tape at the border. He’s given countries three months to come up with concessions before tariffs ranging from 10% to more than 50% go into effect. Tariffs on China are already in effect. On many issues it will be difficult, or in some cases impossible, for many countries to make a deal and lower their tariff rates. In addition, many trade officials from targeted countries say privately that it isn’t always clear what the The President administration wants from them in the negotiations. Vice President JD Vance announced that India has agreed to the terms of trade talks with the United States, but other countries are still trying to set the contours for any negotiations. The White House has highlighted conflicting goals for its import taxes: It’s seeking to raise revenues and bring manufacturing back to the U.S., but it also wants greater access to foreign markets and massive changes to other nations’ tax and regulatory policies. Here are several non-tariff areas the administration is targeting: CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATES The President has accused Germany, China and Japan of “global freeloading” by — in his view — devaluing their currencies to make their exports cheaper. The European Central bank has been cutting interest rates to support growth. That could also weaken the euro, which has strengthened sharply against the dollar since The President took office. The ECB says it doesn’t target the exchange rate. In Japan’s case, the Bank of Japan has been gradually raising rates anyway after keeping them at zero or in negative territory for years, which should drive the yen up against the dollar. The U.S. dollar has fallen recently to 140-yen levels, down from about 160 yen last summer. Shrikant Kale, a strategist at Jefferies, believes the dollar will fall to 120 yen over the next 18 months. FARM PRODUCTS Agricultural safeguards against importing pests or health hazards have been a sticking point with U.S. trade partners for years. They include Japan’s restrictions on rice and potato imports, the EU’s ban on hormone-treated beef or chlorine-disinfected chickens and Korea’s ban on beef from cows more than 30 months old. Yet changes face stiff political resistance from voters and farm lobbies in those countries. For years, U.S. potato growers have sought access to Japan’s potential $150 million market for table potatoes. Japan has engaged in talks but taken years simply to supply a list of concerns to U.S. negotiators. The delay is “pure politics,” intended to protect domestic growers, says National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles. If Japanese politicians perceive the pain from The President’s tariffs might be worse than from their own potato growers, “that makes it more likely to make a deal,” Quarles said. But “if they perceive the pain domestically will be worse than the The President administration can bring to them … we’re going to be stuck where we are.” Korea’s beef restrictions started as a measure to keep out bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease. The 30-month rule has been maintained in the wake of mass protests in 2008, even as the U.S. has become the largest beef exporter to Korea. “It’s still politically controversial because of the scar at the time in 2008. I think the government will be very cautious,” said Jaemin Lee, professor of law at Seoul National University and an expert on trade issues. TAXATION The President has railed against value-added tax as a burden to U.S. companies, although economists say this kind of tax is trade-neutral because it applies equally to imports and exports. Value-added tax, or VAT, is paid by the end purchaser at the cash register but differs from sales taxes in that it is calculated at each stage of the production process. The President’s view could mean higher tariffs for Europe, where individual countries levy VAT of 20% or more depending on the type of good, and for the more than 170 countries that use this kind of tax system. The U.S. is an outlier in that it doesn’t use VAT; instead, individual states levy sales taxes. There’s little chance countries will change their tax systems for The President. The EU for one has said VAT is off the table. “The domestic taxation system has not been a conventional topic in trade negotiation because domestic taxation is directly related to national sovereignty or the domestic economic regime,” trade expert Lee said. “It’s very hard to understand why VAT has become an important topic in the trade discussion.” PRODUCT STANDARDS U.S. officials have complained about Japan’s non-recognition of U.S vehicle safety standards and its different testing procedures for car equipment. Japan also provides subsidies for the Japanese-designed ChaDeMo plug standard for electric cars, requiring foreign makers to use an outdated technology if they want the subsidy. BUREAUCRACY Concerns about excessive or baffling bureaucratic procedures to get goods into a country are mentioned repeatedly in the administration’s latest trade assessment. The U.S. has complained about expensive delays getting permission to export seafood to Japan. Meanwhile, Japan requires wheat imports to be sold to a government entity and has “highly regulated and intransparent” quota system that keeps rice imports from the U.S. to a minimum. Most of these issues are years old, raising questions about whether 90 days is enough to make a deal over them. U.S. pharmaceutical companies have complained about Korea’s system for drug imports, while automakers say environmental equipment standards are unclear and expose only importers to criminal penalties in case of violations. BUY AMERICAN Analysts say that despite the long list of non-tariff issues, the administration’s main focus may lie elsewhere: on The President’s desire to reduce trade deficits, cases where a country sells more to the U.S. than it buys. And the solution may be other countries buying more U.S. products, from energy to soybeans, and builingd more plants in the U.S. U.S. energy is already a major export to Europe. The President has mentioned a figure of $350 billion for potential EU gas imports. The EU does need imported gas. But The President’s figure would be a stretch given that last year’s exports of liquefied natural gas to the EU were around $13 billon, and that Europe is seeking to reduce its use of fossil fuels over the longer term. THE HEART OF THE MATTER? Discussions about non-tariff issues may simply be leverage to underpin The President’s stiff tariff levels. “It’s just a thing that’s there to justify my tariffs,” said Tobias Gehrke, senior policy fellow at the European Council of Foreign Relations. While lower level trade officials and industry representatives are acutely aware of non-tariff issues like agricultural safety, “The President and his cabinet… don’t really care about chlorinated chicken regulations in Europe and food standards,” Gehrke said. “They have much bigger thinking.” “They want to have European companies significantly move production to America… and to export from America to Europe. That would change the trade balance.” “And if that’s the main logic, then there’s no real deal to be had on non-tariff barriers.” Rugaber contributed from Washington DC and Kageyama from Tokyo. —David McHugh, Christopher Rugaber and Yuri Kageyama, AP Business Writers View the full article

Plan to be announced by European Commission aimed at forcing member states to end imports of Russian gas View the full article

A teenager who admitted being “addicted to speed” behind the wheel had totaled two other cars in the year before he slammed into a minivan at 112 mph (180 kph) in a Seattle suburb, killing the driver and three of the five children she was transporting for a homeschool co-op. After sentencing Chase Daniel Jones last month to more than 17 years in prison, the judge tacked on a novel condition should he drive again: His vehicle must be equipped with a device that prevents accelerating far beyond the speed limit. Virginia this year became the first state to give its judges such a tool to deal with the most dangerous drivers on the road. Washington, D.C., already is using it and similar measures await governors’ signatures in Washington state and Georgia. New York and California also could soon tap the GPS-based technology to help combat a recent national spike in traffic deaths. “It’s a horror no one should have to experience,” said Amy Cohen, who founded the victims’ advocacy group Families for Safe Streets after her 12-year-old son, Sammy Cohen Eckstein, was killed by a speeding driver in front of their New York home more than a decade ago. Turning tragedy into activism Andrea Hudson, 38, the minivan driver who was killed when Jones ran a red light, was building a backyard greenhouse with her husband to help educate several kids who shuttle between homes during the school day, her father, Ted Smith, said. Also killed in the March 2024 crash near Hudson’s home in Renton, Washington, were Boyd “Buster” Brown and Eloise Wilcoxson, both 12, and Matilda Wilcoxson, 13. Hudson’s two children were sitting on the passenger side and survived, but they spent weeks in a hospital. “You always hear of these horrific accidents, and it’s always far away, you don’t know anybody. But all of a sudden, that’s my daughter,” Smith said. “This guy did not swerve or brake. And it was just a missile.” Smith knew Washington state Rep. Mari Leavitt, who reached out to offer condolences and tell him she was sponsoring legislation to mandate intelligent speed assistance devices as a condition for habitual speeders to get back their suspended licenses. Leavitt predicts it will have an even more powerful impact than revoking driving privileges, citing studies showing around three-quarters of people who lose their licenses get behind a wheel anyway. Between 2019 and 2024, the state saw a 200% increase in drivers cited for going at least 50 mph (80 kph) over the speed limit, according to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. “I guess I don’t understand why someone is compelled to want to drive that fast,” Leavitt said. “But if they choose to drive that fast with the speed limiter, they can’t. It’s going to stop them in their tracks.” The measure, which Washington legislators passed last month and Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson is expected to soon sign, is called the BEAM Act, using the first letters of the names of the four victims: Buster, Eloise, Andrea and Matilda. Because Jones, 19, didn’t receive a speeding ticket in his two previous crashes, he likely wouldn’t have been required to use the speed-limiter ahead of the fatal one. And because it could be 2029 before the law takes effect, the judge’s requirement at sentencing only applies to his time on probation after being released from prison, Smith said. Evolution of a safety tool Competing tech companies that joined forces to lobby for ignition interlock requirements for drunken drivers have been working in unison again the last few years to pitch intelligent speed assistance. Brandy Nannini, chief government affairs officer at one manufacturer, Grapevine, Texas-based Smart Start, said fleet vehicles including school buses in the nation’s capital have been trying it out for years. But it took a lot of refinement before the GPS technology could instantly recognize speed limit changes and compel vehicles with the devices installed to adjust accordingly. “We’ve got a lot more satellites in the sky now,” said Ken Denton, a retired police officer who is the chief compliance officer at Cincinnati-based LifeSafer, part of the coalition of companies. When court-mandated, the devices would prevent cars from exceeding speed limits or whatever threshold regulators set. An override button allows speeding in emergencies, but states can decide whether to activate it and authorities would be alerted any time the button is pushed. A more passive version, which beeps to alert drivers when they are going too fast, is required for new cars in the European Union. California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a similar proposal last year, explaining vehicle safety requirements are set by the federal government and he was concerned a patchwork of state laws could stir confusion. Parents take up the cause Before Del. Patrick Hope agreed to sponsor the proposal in the Virginia Legislature, he tried out the device in Nannini’s car, which was calibrated to not go more than 9 mph (14 kph) over the speed limit. “That was my first question: Is it safe?” Hope said. Not only did he come away convinced it was safe, Hope is now pondering whether to install it on the cars of his three children, all of whom are new drivers. For those mandated by a court, the price could be hefty: $4 per day and a $100 installation fee. The fee would be reduced for low-income offenders. Cohen with Families for Safe Streets, which provides support services to the loved ones of crash victims, knows firsthand the kind of impact slowing down speeders can make. A year after her son was struck and killed in front of their New York apartment, another boy was injured in the same spot. By then, the road’s speed limit had been lowered. “That boy lived when he was hit, and mine did not,” she said. “When you are going a few miles slower, there’s more time to stop. And when you hit somebody, it’s much less likely to be deadly.” —Jeff McMurray, Associated Press View the full article

Apple has been under fire for several years after it was discovered that Siri violated user privacy, and the company earlier this year agreed to a $95 million settlement to resolve a class action lawsuit, which includes compensation for affected users. Eligible individuals can now apply for their share of the total. The dispute centered on Siri-enabled devices, including iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, HomePod, iPod touch, and Apple TV, which may have activated and recorded and shared private conversations without user knowledge. If you qualify for the settlement class, you'll receive $20 for each device claimed—up to five devices per individual for a total of $100—though it could be less if too many class members come forward. Am I eligible for a Siri settlement payout? The settlement covers Siri-enabled Apple devices purchased or owned between Sept. 17, 2014 and Dec. 31, 2024. If you can attest that your device accidentally triggered Siri during a private or confidential conversation, you're eligible for a payout. Individuals can submit claims for up to five Siri devices. The deadline to submit a claim is July 2, 2025, though it could take awhile to actually see any settlement cash. The court is scheduled to hold a final approval hearing on the case on August 1, and appeals after that meeting could delay payouts. How to submit a Siri settlement claimTo claim your piece of the Siri settlement pie, you'll need to submit a claim form online. If you received a personalized postcard or email about the suit containing a claim identification number (Notice ID) and confirmation code, you'll use those to log into the site and begin the claims process. If you didn't get a notice but believe you are eligible, select New Claim. You'll need to fill out some personal information—name, address, phone number, and email—as well as the email address attached to your Siri device(s). You'll also need to either upload proof of purchase for each device you are claiming or provide the serial and model numbers. To finalize the form, select a payment option, complete the attestation statement, and hit Submit. Alternatively, you can do nothing—or you can opt out of the settlement. You won't receive any money in either situation, but with the latter, you retain your right to sue Apple in the future on claims related to this case. Instructions for requesting exclusion (also with a July 2 deadline) are detailed on the settlement page FAQ. View the full article

Austin has been on a building boom since it started becoming a tech hub. The Texas city has seen its skyline shift and its fortunes grow. Major tech firms like Apple and Amazon have established key offices, and in the 2010s alone, the city grew 21%, adding 171,000 residents. It now has more than 974,000, the 10th largest in the country. Builders have raced to erect housing for these new arrivals; Austin has seen a boom in market rate apartments in recent years—so much that it led rents to decrease after years of big jumps. And in recent years, according to a new report, part of that building boom has included affordable housing, including permanent housing for the formerly unhoused, low-cost studio units, and even housing for teachers. Austin’s affordable housing construction pipeline outpaces all other U.S. cities, according to research from Yardi Matrix, a real estate data source. In 2024, the city delivered 4,605 affordable units—defined as properties that agree to limit rents as a condition of a tax credit or subsidy. That’s double the rate in 2023. The research shows Austin will also deliver the most affordable units this year, 3,452—more than LA’s 2,752, despite the California city having more than four times as many people. And Austin will continue to lead, with the forecast of units in the pipeline through 2027 showing Austin with 9,528, compared to Seattle’s 6,289. Yardi Matrix “We want to ensure that the population that made Austin what Austin is can stay in Austin,” said James May, Housing and Community Development Officer for the City of Austin Housing Department. It’s also worth mentioning that Austin’s changing demographics are playing a large role in the housing market. As the city continues to morph from a capital and college town to a tech and healthcare nexus, wealth and median income have risen. A recent city memo noted that the city’s housing market had dramatically changed since it laid out its housing plan in the mid 2010s—median home sale price has risen by 58%, and rents went from an average of $1,350 in 2017 to a peak of $1,709 in 2022—so Austin needs to recalibrate its strategy and focus more on deeply affordable units. “Austin used to be a city of musicians and artists, and now income and rent are far higher than what it was 10 years ago,” said Heather Way, a professor at the University of Texas-Austin who specializes in housing law. Yardi Matrix May credited the growth in affordable housing in Austin to three factors. First, was community: Multiple providers including the city, county, housing authority, and private builders have been looking to invest in new housing, with private developers investing in significant new construction using the city’s density-bonus program. The second was money. A series of local bonds for affordable housing raised significant funds for new construction, including a 2022 bond for $350 million, which helped fund new affordable units. In addition, the construction of new transit lines included $300 million in anti-displacement funds that also helped pay for new buildings. May said the city recently purchased a 100-acre property formerly owned by the Top Deal electronic company that it plans to use for mixed-income development, which will include affordable housing. And finally, the third pillar was regulatory reform. The city council has passed many initiatives in recent years to increase density and make it easier to build: transit-oriented development rules allowed for higher buildings near bus and train lines, Affordability Unlocked allowed housing development on land zoned for commercial projects, and the HOME Initiative shrunk the required lot size for homes and made it legal to build multiple units on lots zoned for single-family homes. But even with that surge, it’s still not enough. Despite Austin’s recent lead, the construction rate still lags well behind what’s actually needed to provide sufficient access to affordable housing: tens of thousands of new units would be needed to adequately meet the demand. A record-breaking number of evictions in the surrounding county last year attest to the pressure renters feel making ends meet. And while new supply is definitely a step in the right direction, what isn’t being built is deeply affordable housing. Defined as housing that can support those making around 30% of the median income; in 2023, just 63 such units were built, even though this group makes up 17% of the city’s population. Creating enough affordable units, and building more for those with extremely low incomes, will be even more challenging due to the changing landscape for construction. Stubbornly high interest rates will make getting financing more difficult. Tariffs will make materials more expensive. And the The President administration’s actions against HUD, including threats to withhold funding from sanctuary cities like Austin, might end vital federal support. “It’s going to be a tough market, we won’t see the entire pipeline go all the way through,” May said. Austin’s boost in housing production is a start. But it’s sadly far from finished. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Beats headphones are well known for their style and better compatibility with Apple devices. Both of these hold true with their flagship headphones, the Beats Studio Pro, currently $169.95 (originally $349.99), the second-lowest price it has been after a 51% discount, according to price-tracking tools. While it is compatible with Android users, Apple users will get the most out of these premium headphones. Beats Studio Pro $169.95 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $349.99 Save $180.04 Get Deal Get Deal $169.95 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $349.99 Save $180.04 The Beats Studio Pro came out in 2023 with a "good" review from PCMag, praising its sculpted sound (but warning sound-sticklers against it), comfort, premium accessories, and spatial audio with head tracking. They also said you can get much better headphones for less than their $349.99 price (which is very true) that have adjustable EQ and better active noise cancelling (ANC). However, at $169.95, these headphones are a great deal, especially if you're an Apple user. These headphones have hands-free Siri access, one-touch pairing on iOS and Android devices (through Google Fast Pair), which gives simultaneous connections with up to two devices, and a transparency mode that lets you hear your surroundings. Apple users will be able to take advantage of the AAC codecs, which work seamlessly with Apple to give much better audio quality, but have limitations with Android devices. You get a quick-access menu to control the ANC and Transparency modes, and you can also use the Find My app if you misplace your headphones. The biggest miss with the Beats Studio Pro that you would expect any premium headphones to have is an adjustable EQ. However, they have plenty of EQ presets for you to choose from. The ANC is slightly above average, which is good for its current price. You can get about 40 hours of playtime at full charge with ANC and Transparency modes off, and a 10-minute charge gives you about four hours of juice. View the full article

Levies on overseas movies going into the US would damage production hubs in countries including UK, Canada and AustraliaView the full article

Financier assumes effective control of Howard Hughes and will shift its strategy to hunt for acquisitionsView the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. If you’re thinking about upgrading your home security without dealing with tangled wires or tricky installations, this refurbished Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera—currently priced at $114.95 on Amazon with free shipping—might be worth a look. It’s a wire-free setup that mounts easily with just a few screws and connects over 2.4GHz wifi. No electrical know-how required. PCMag gave it an Editor’s Choice award, mostly thanks to its 2K HDR video, wide 160-degree field of view, and a super bright (up to) 3,000-lumen floodlight. You can dim the light if needed (it’s set at a cooler 4,000K color temp), and either turn it on manually through the Arlo Secure app or have it trigger automatically with motion. Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Wireless Camera, Color Night Vision, Motion Sensor, 2-Way Audio, White, 1-Pack (Renewed) $114.95 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg Get Deal Get Deal $114.95 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg What’s nice here is the smart detection system—it doesn’t just ping your phone every time a leaf blows past. Instead, it uses object detection to tell you if it saw a person, animal, or vehicle. It also has a 12x digital zoom with auto tracking, which helps the camera stay locked on moving objects in the frame. The image/video quality holds up well, especially during the day—crisp, colorful, and clear. At night, it still performs nicely with decent clarity up to about 25 feet, but the colors don't pop as much, especially in low lighting. Just a heads up, though: If you want to store footage in the cloud, you’ll need a subscription to the Arlo Secure plans. Those start at $7.99 per month for a single camera or $17.99 per month for unlimited cameras. On the smart home side, it plays well with Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT, so it fits right into most setups, according to this PCMag review. As for battery life, the built-in battery lasts a few months between charges, but if that sounds like a hassle, you can pair it with a $59.99 solar panel or plug it in via Arlo’s $49.99 outdoor magnetic cable. View the full article

Skywatchers, you’re in for a treat. You’re going to want to look up into the night late Monday, May 5 into the early hours of Tuesday, May 6, to see the debris of Halley’s comet as it lights up the sky with a meteor shower called the Eta Aquarids. Here’s everything you need to know about the Eta Aquarids and the chance to see debris from Halley’s comet in 2025. What are Halley’s comet and the Eta Aquarids meteor shower, anyway? While Halley’s comet itself only travels around the sun every 75 or so years, each time it returns to the inner solar system, it sprays debris (ice and rock) into space, which results in two meteor showers each year: the Eta Aquarids in May, and the Orionids in October, creating what we know as shooting stars. (Halley’s comet was last seen in 1986, and won’t come around again until 2061.) When comets pass by the sun, the dust they emit eventually creates a “dusty trail” around their orbits. Then, when Earth passes through these trails, they interact with our atmosphere, creating those dazzling shows of light in the sky. The Eta Aquarids peak early in the month of May, and are known for their speed; they travel at about 40.7 miles per second into Earth’s atmosphere, according to NASA. That’s important, because fast meteors can leave glowing incandescent “trains” of debris, which last for several seconds to minutes. During the peak of the Eta Aquarids, viewers can see up to 50 meteors each hour, depending on visibility. What’s the best time to see the Eta Aquarids meteor shower in 2025? Peak viewing is this Monday night, May 5 into Tuesday morning, May 6 in the predawn hours, according to NASA’s Bill Cooke, who told the AP that visibility will likely be affected by the moon, which will be two-thirds full. The good news: viewing opportunities will last through the month until May 28. You can view the Eta Aquarids in both the northern and southern hemispheres, but the southern hemisphere is preferable. For those of us in the northern hemisphere, viewers can expect to see about 10 meteors an hour, depending on your latitude and conditions that night. Expect to see “Earthgrazers,” which are long meteors “that appear to skim the surface of the Earth at the horizon,” per NASA. NASA viewing tips for the Eta Aquarids meteor shower Our friends at NASA offer these tips: Find a viewing spot away from city or street lights. Lie flat on your back with your feet facing east. You may want to bring a blanket or a lounge chair. Look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible. After about 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors. Be patient. The show will last until dawn, so you have plenty of time to catch a glimpse. View the full article

Most F1 cars can reach speeds of well over 200 mph, but the newest automobiles in the F1 stable go much much slow. Built from 400,000 Lego pieces, the life-size Lego cars can drive 12 mph—not bad for a bunch of plastic bricks. To mark the start of a multiyear partnership, the Danish toy maker created 10 drivable, full-scale Formula 1 cars that debuted at the Miami Grand Prix. The racing series’ 20 competitors, including speed demons Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, drove the Lego cars at Sunday’s prerace Drivers’ Parade for millions of fans watching from the grandstands and on television. The “big build” cars took Lego builders a collective 22,000 hours over eight months to assemble the four million pieces. It’s Lego’s most challenging project by size and scale, according to Chief Marketing Officer Julia Goldin. The cars showcase each team’s distinctive livery but share the cockpit, chassis, and components necessary to cover the circuit’s three-mile inaugural lap. “We each want to push the art of impossible, to push the boundaries,” Goldin told Fast Company in an interview on Friday at the trackside Lego Garage. Drivable, life-size Legos Lego has made a mark with life-size, or larger-than-life, public art installations at institutions from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to the Volvo Museum in Sweden. But the Formula 1 cars boast a novel distinction, says Marcel Šťastný, the project’s lead engineer: They’re ready for the race track. The nearly 1:1 scale models reach about 12 mph using automotive parts contained within the structure and authentic Pirelli tires. They herald Lego’s new Speed Champions product line based on race cars from Ferrari, McLaren, and other teams, with accessories from driver minifigures in full racing gear to replacement hub caps. Of course, they differ from actual Formula 1 cars in two key ways: performance and design. A modern F1 car uses a 1.6-liter V6 turbo engine and two electric motors to produce around 1,000 horsepower and travel upwards of 200 mph. And unlike the official single-seat race cars, Lego’s design fits two people. Lego created the dual cockpit specifically in order to accommodate each team’s driver pairs during the parade. “The beginning of the concept was really fitting two people inside, and then we built the rest of the car around the cockpit,” says Jonathan Jurion, the project’s senior designer. But making room for two people inside the car wasn’t the project’s only challenge. Since the competitors didn’t get a test run ahead of the public debut, Lego also had to create adjustable seats and pedals within the cockpit to accommodate the drivers’ heights. The project’s engineering manager specialist Martin Šmida says his team used animation runs and personal measurements to ensure a fit on race day. And then there was the compressed timeline, with the project kicking off last August. “We did 10 cars in the amount of time it would normally take to do one car,” Jurion says. “We didn’t want to cut any corners, so we had to think out of the box how to streamline the process while creating a custom design for each one.” From CAD to hand-built Despite a frenetic start off the line, the project began with the same computer-aided design exercise used by the 400-plus Lego products launched each year. “We model the cars first in the computer because it’s a huge amount of bricks,” Jurion says. “We have specialists who work on the shapes and forms, and others who work on the design of the detailing and logos.” The design then shuffles through the pipeline, to technical engineers and manufacturing engineers “who make sure that we can build these, because it’s not really an easy task,” he adds. Designers and engineers used foam mockups to collaborate on a layout that hid the drivetrain, which includes a motor and a 105 amp-hour battery. (Lego cut its teeth last year on a full-scale McLaren P1 that Lando Norris took for a spin on England’s Silverstone Circuit. But instead of traditional Lego bricks, that car used bolts, gears and pins from Lego’s advanced Technic system.) “We have special builders who really know how to build these huge builds, and they take the building instructions from the manufacturing engineers and then build them, kind of layer by layer, like we would build a house,” Jurion adds. The cars were assembled by hand at Lego’s factory in the Czech Republic but glued together for their Formula 1 debut. “All the bricks you can see are off-the-shelf bricks,” Jurion says. “Potentially, if anyone has enough bricks, they could build them at home.” “Gluing the bricks together is obviously something that we don’t want our fans to do in real life, but we had to do it so that we keep the cars together,” he added. “We don’t want to lose any bricks on track.” Multiyear growth Lego and Formula 1 alike have long had loyal fans willing to shell out top dollar for the experience, but both brands have surged in popularity—especially among women, children and families, according to Goldin—since the COVID-19 pandemic. A new audience turned, or returned, to Lego sets during lockdown, boosted by the LegoMasters reality television series, while Netflix’s Drive to Survive, now filming its eighth season, has brought millions of new fans to motorsports. Data show that F1 has seen a particular surge in growth among children between ages 8 and 12. Lego continues to grow, as well, slated to begin construction on its first U.S. factory, a $1 billion factory outside Richmond, Virginia, in mid-2027. Goldin declined to provide the total investment figure for the Formula 1 partnership but says there’s more to come. “This sets the bar high, but we definitely don’t think of this as a one-off.” View the full article

The death of Joann fabrics is turning out to be a big gain for at least one other retailer. Following the beloved craft chain’s bankruptcy and subsequent plan to wind down its operations, discount retailer Burlington Stores—formerly known as Burlington Coat Factory—is moving to scoop up dozens of leases from former Joann locations across more than 20 states, court documents reveal. The 45 locations, some of which have been home to Joann’s stores for decades, were listed as being taken over by various Burlington subsidiaries on a bankruptcy court filing last week, with the company expected to assume control of most of the leases on June 1. In January, Joann filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for a second time in less than a year, having succumbed to inflationary pressures and shifting habits among consumers who had embraced at-home crafts during the early years of the pandemic. The company has since said it would close every location, with a sizable chunk of those stores closing for good last week. All of Joann’s almost 800 stores are expected to be closed by the end of May. The relatively quick wind-down creates an opportunity for other retailers that are looking for space, with leases available for low cure amounts or no cure price at all, court records show. The transfer of leases to Burlington is not a done deal, as interested parties still have time to object. Fast Company reached out to Burlington for comment and additional details. ‘2,000-store target’ Headquartered in Burlington, New Jersey, Burlington Stores offers merchandise at so-called off prices, specializing in apparel, footwear, and of course coats. The company formerly known as Burlington Coat Factory earned $504 million in profit on revenue of $10.6 billion in fiscal 2024. Last week’s filing shows Texas as the state with the most Joann stores that will be transferred to Burlington, with nine locations in the Lone Star state, followed by California with five. The filing also offers a window into the growth plans of a brick-and-mortar brand with ambitions to significantly increase its store count. While many chain retailers have reduced their physical footprint or shuttered entirely over the past few years, Burlington has been growing at a healthy clip. The company opened more than 100 net new stores in 2024, CEO Michael O’Sullivan said in an earnings release in March, and it plans to open another 100 locations this year. Burlington has also been relocating dozens of locations that O’Sullivan described as “oversized,” part of a national trend in which retailers are trying to do more with smaller-format stores. As of the end of its last fiscal year, Burlington operated 1,108 stores in 46 states, along with Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. It has said it has a long-term target of 2,000 stores. In addition to Burlington, the filing also listed other retailers that were taking over a handful of Joann locations, including Hobby Lobby, Boot Barn, and furniture retailer Massa Gallery. Below you can find the full list of locations that Burlington is seeking to take over. The oldest lease on the list, in Flagstaff, Arizona, dates back to April 1979. Arizona 1717 N Dysart Road in Avondale, AZ 1514 S Riordan Ranch St in Flagstaff, AZ Arkansas 3835 North Mall Ave in Fayetteville, AR California 5885 Lincoln Avenue in Buena Park, CA 26583 Carl Boyer Drive in Santa Clarita, CA 2210 Daniels St in Manteca, CA 3010 Ming Ave in Bakersfield, CA 12779 Main Street in Hesperia, CA Colorado 2580 South Colorado Blvd in Denver, CO 7360 South Gartrell Road in Aurora, CO Florida 10261 River Marsh Drive Ste 149 in Jacksonville, FL 540 N us Hwy 441 in Lady Lake, FL 1131 S Federal Hwy in Pompano Beach, FL Georgia 2655 N. Decatur Road, Decatur, GA 1074 Bullsboro Drive Unit #6 in Newnan, GA Illinois 7511 Lemont Rd Ste 101 in Darien, IL 2056 N. State Route 50, Bourbonnais, IL Kentucky 4600 Shelbyville Rd Ste 280 in Louisville, KY Massachusetts 96 Providence Highway in East Walpole, MA Michigan 9052 Highland Road in White Lake, MI Mississippi 3875 North Gloster Street in Tupelo, MS Nebraska 10521 S. 15Th Street in Bellevue, NE New Mexico 558 E. Main St., Farmington, NM New York 3225 State Route 364 in Canandaigua, NY 1530 County Route 64 in Horseheads, NY North Carolina 80 South Tunnel Road Suite 30 in Asheville, NC Ohio 4600 W Broad Street in Columbus, OH 3872 Paxton Avenue, Cincinnati, OH Boardman Poland Road, Youngstown, OH Oregon ​​783 Lancaster Dr. Ne. Suite #133 in Salem, OR South Carolina 1120 Seaboard Street, Myrtle Beach, SC 1215-B North Main Street in Summerville, SC Texas 1219 North Fry Road in Katy, TX 10515 N Mo Pac Expy Bldg 1 in Austin, TX 9500 S I-35 Frontage Rd. Building K, Austin, TX 4127 N Hwy 75 in Sherman, TX 2640 West University Dr in Denton, TX 2050 West University Dr Suite 250 in Mc Kinney, TX 19105 Lyndon B Johnson Fwy., Mesquite, TX 10501 Gateway Blvd W Bld 9 in El Paso, TX 201 University Oaks Blvd in Round Rock, TX Utah 720 W. Telegraph in Washington, UT Washington 700 Ocean Beach Hwy Ste 100 in Longview, WA Wisconsin 1226 Koeller St in Oshkosh, WI 4045 Commonwealth Ave in Eau Claire, WI View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. You'd think we get enough drama from news and social media—but honestly, we live for it. Netflix has stories of tortured romance; parental struggles; political victories; and all manner of triumphs and tragedies, whether entirely fictional or inspired by true events. Past Lives (2023) Greta Lee plays Nora, whose family emigrated from South Korea to the United States when she was a child. Years later, and then over the course of several years, she reunites with childhood friend Hae Sung (Teo Yoo), forcing an examination of her life as it is, and as it might have been. Certainly among the best of the last five years, the film's exploration of roads not taken builds to a powerful emotional punch. You can stream Past Lives here. The Two Popes (2019) With a bit of extra relevance in recent days, this biographical film from director Fernando Meirelles (City of God) dramatizes a key period in the relationship between then-Pope Benedict XVI and his soon-to-be successor, Jorge Mario Bergoglio (later Francis). Following the Vatican leaks scandal of 2012, Benedict (Anthony Hopkins) finds himself weakened both physically and in terms of his authority—as he considers resigning the Papacy, he summons Bergoglio (Jonathan Pryce), the leading contender to replace him. The two debate theology and struggle with their own futures in a near two-hander than earned each of the actors Academy Award nominations. You can stream The Two Popes here. The Six Triple Eight (2024) Tyler Perry directs this war drama, and it's likely his best movie yet, with a powerhouse lead performance from Kerry Washington as the real-life Major Charity Adams, commanding officer of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. During World War II, a backlog in mail delivery was causing tremendous harm to troop morale, and so this battalion of Black women was charged with getting letters delivered; Perry's greatest achievement here is making an extremely convincing case for the significance of mail sorting. Once deployed to Germany, the women come under fire from enemy soldiers, as well as from fellow allied soldiers who see no place for women, and particularly Black women, in wartime. You can stream The Six Triple Eight here. The Long Game (2023) The drama here is quietly understated, though the stakes are very real. Jay Hernandez heads up the cast here to tell the true story of a group of teens from Del Rio, Texas of the 1950s, who set out to play golf at a white country club as the San Felipe Mustangs. They could be caddies, of course—but to actually play?! The kids went on to win the 1957 Texas State High School Golf Championship, with Long Game dramatizing the triumphs, setbacks, and extremely overt racism on the road to that victory. You can stream The Long Game here. Society of the Snow (2023) The true story of the 1972 Uruguayan rugby team lost in the Andes following a plane crash has been the subject of multiple documentaries and two previous dramas (the best known being, almost certainly, Frank Marshall's cannibalism-heavy Alive from 1993). For all that Andes-crash content, this is the best of all of them: a thoughtful and tasteful take on what's sometimes been presented as a salacious drama, with director J. A. Bayona emphasizing both the physical perils faced by the team and the spiritual toll of survival. You can stream Society of the Snow here. Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020) Sweaty, smoky clubs; outspoken (often openly queer) women who accepted no bullshit—women like Bessie Smith, Lucille Bogan, Gladys Bentley, and, of course, Ma Rainey. The 1920s blues scene was a moment, and Wolfe’s movie goes a long way to resurrecting the era with its contained but explosive story of one stormy Chicago recording session. Based on August Wilson’s play, it’s packed with brilliant performances, led by Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman in his final film role. You can stream Ma Rainey's Black Bottom here. The Power of the Dog (2021) Jane Campion came roaring back after an absence from the director's chair of a decade or so, with this, the most acclaimed film of her career to date. Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Phil Burbank, as beguiling as he is cruel, who runs a family ranch in 1925 with his far gentler brother, George (Jesse Plemons). Phil's callousness sparks into flame when George finds love with a local waitress (Kirsten Dunst), his brother's happiness shifting their power dynamic uncomfortably, and leaving Phil to contemplate (or, rather, to avoid contemplating) his feelings for the man who taught him how to be a cowboy years earlier. You can stream The Power of the Dog here. Shirley (2024) A woman president? What's next?! Academy Award winner John Ridley (screenwriter of 12 Years a Slave) directs this quite necessary biopic of sometimes-forgotten pioneer Shirley Chisholm. The first Black woman elected to Congress (in 1969), Chisolm ran a forcefully progressive campaign for president just three years later. Even if the movie is a bit formulaic, in the ways that these things sometimes are, Regina King (perhaps unsurprisingly) gives a moving, illuminating performance as the idiosyncratic trailblazer. You can stream Shirley here. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018) Charmingly unwieldy name aside, Guernsey is a cute and clever period drama based on the popular novel from Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. Lily James stars as Juliet Ashton (pen name: Izzy Bickerstaff), a writer in 1946 who finds herself entranced by the titular society, formed during the German occupation of the island. Like the book before it, the quirkiness of the story's characters masks dark undertones related to the horrors of the just-concluded war, lending the film a surprising emotional depth. Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Donnie Brasco) directs. You can stream The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society here. Anyone but You (2023) A loose spin on Much Ado About Nothing, Anyone But You stars Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell as a couple who meet, hit it off for about a minute—and then immediately start to get on each other's nerves. Until, of course, they need wedding dates and find themselves surrounded by scheming friends. As Shakespeare taught us, of such inauspicious beginnings are great romances sometimes born. It's not wildly out there as rom-com premises go, but the movie is briskly directed and boasts strong chemistry (a must) between Sweeney and Powell. You can stream Anyone but You here. Beginners (2010) Better late than never: That’s the message of Beginners, in which Hal, played by Christopher Plummer (beginning his own late-career resurgence) comes out to his son, Oliver (Ewan McGregor). As Hal begins to live his life more openly and finds love with a younger man, he also develops a more honest relationship with his son. As a result, the two become closer than they ever were before, and their relationship inspires Oliver to pursue a new romance of his own—and to generally live life on his own terms. It’s a movie about how, sometimes, being true to yourself is the best way to be a good parent. You can stream Beginners here. Do the Right Thing (1989) Director Spike Lee had his greatest triumph with this funny, quotable, and ultimately explosive film about the racial tensions percolating in a Brooklyn neighborhood on a hot summer day. Stylish, funny, humane, and, ultimately, a gut punch. You can stream Do the Right Thing here. Scoop (2024) The reliably great Gillian Anderson plays real-life British journalist Emily Maitlis, who lead the BBC2 team that secured the disastrous interview with Prince Andrew (Rufus Sewell) that laid bare his associations with sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein—and by "disastrous," I mean that it was a disaster for the Prince, who couldn't seem to stop himself from making things worse. A juicy and compelling true story. Keeley Hawes and Billie Piper also star. You can stream Scoop here. Passing (2021) This gorgeous black-and-white adaptation of the once-controversial 1929 novel explores the dramatized history of some light-skinned African-Americans attempting to pass as white. Ruth Negga and Tessa Thompson play old friends who reunite unexpectedly after years apart; one is married to a Black man and living in Harlem while the other is married to an odious, racist white doctor who has no idea his wife isn’t the woman he thinks she is. The fallout both women experience as a result of their chance encounter is an indictment of a society that would place so much value on skin color, yes, but it’s also a challenging consideration of the choices people will make for self-preservation, and it offers no easy answers. You can stream Passing here. May December (2023) Todd Haynes directs this insightful, moving, and also deliberately campy story of an actress visiting the woman she'll be playing in a film. The movie's deft, and unexpected, blending of tones makes it pretty consistently fascinating, and the lead performances from Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, and Charles Melton saw them all as Oscar nomination frontrunners, even if no actual nods were forthcoming. You can stream May December here. Carol (2015) The chemistry between Rooney Mara’s Therese and Cate Blanchett’s Carol is palpable from the moment their eyes meet across a crowded department store—but it’s the 1950s, and theirs is a love that dare not speak its name, even to one another. That’s just how things were back then (luckily, queerphobia has been entirely eradicated). The women suffer for their love in Todd Haynes' modern classic, but the tears come less when things are going bad as when it starts to feel like they might just possibly start to go a little right. You can stream Carol here. Nyad (2023) Annette Bening stars as the real-life Diana Nyad, who swam from Florida to Cuba in her 60s—powered largely by an unyielding willfulness. The movie succeeds in large part because of the performances from and chemistry between lead Annette Bening and Jodie Foster, both of whom received Oscar nominations for their work here. The movie makes a strong case that age is inevitably a weakness in many ways, but can also be a source of surprising strength. You can stream Nyad here. The Lost Daughter (2021) Inspired, in part, by ancient Greek mythology, this psychological drama was probably never destined to be a crowd-pleaser—but it’s a genuinely confident, bold debut from writer/director Maggie Gyllenhaal. Olivia Colman (who got a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her trouble) plays Leda Caruso, a middle-aged college professor who develops a rather disturbing obsession with a woman and her young daughter while on holiday in Greece. Jessie Buckley also got an Oscar nod for playing a younger version of Leda, and Gyllenhaal picked up a nomination for her screenplay. You can stream The Lost Daughter here. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019) Chiwetel Ejiofor wrote and directed (also co-starred) in the biographical, family-friendly (in the best sense) film based not he memoir of William Kamkwamba (played here by Maxwell Simba). Born to a family of farmers in Kasungu, Malawi, William barely manages to stay in school (essentially blackmailing a teacher in lieu of being able to afford tuition), but his persistence pays off: the young engineering prodigy develops a design for a windmill that might be able to save the village from the impacts of drought and a global economic downturn—but only if he can convince his family that the sacrifices required to build his machine will be worth it. You can stream The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind here. Judy (2019) Renée Zellweger won an Oscar for her portrayal of screen legend Judy Garland in this biopic that focuses on the last year of her life, contrasting the period of trial with scenes from her early life, and drawing straight lines between the treatment of a child actor with the troubles of an aging star. There are some biopic tropes here, and the film builds to a necessarily tragic conclusion, but there's a great deal of heart and humanity here, and Zellweger offers up a very worthy performance. You can stream Judy here. Twilight (2008) Say what you like about Catherine Hardwicke's adaptation of the Stephenie Meyer's novel: the movie was a blockbuster and a genuine pop culture phenomenon, touching on the drama and trauma of teen romance in grand, nearly operatic, style. The movie was released during the country's last major economic downturn, and some sparkly vampires might be just the comfort watch you need in more recently troubling times. You can stream Twilight here. Goodfellas (1990) Martin Scorsese's epic take on the life of real-life mobster Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) is an indisputable classic of the genre—in fact, it's the movie people think of first when you mention gangster movies. Scorsese has rarely been better, but the movie's performances (from Liotta, Robert De Niro, Lorraine Bracco, and Joe Pesci) are where it soars. You can stream Goodfellas here. Rustin (2023) Colman Domingo gives a stellar performance (he earned a Best Actor Oscar nomination) as the title's Bayard Rustin, the gay Civil Rights leader who planned the March on Washington. Domingo is all charm here as a man desperate to advance a movement focused on his skin color but is less certain how to treat his sexuality. Not only is it an intersectional corrective to our very straight-centered vision of the Civil Rights Movement, it's a stylish and moving biopic in its own right. You can stream Rustin here. The Boys in the Band (2020) An update of the 1968 play (previously adapted to the screen by William Friedkin in 1970), Boys in the Band keeps its period setting and premise: Michael (Jim Parsons) is hosting a very gay birthday for his friend Harold (Zachary Quinto), joined by their friends Donald (Matt Bomer) and Larry (Andrew Rannells). Everyone's ready to cut loose without the pressure of having to act straight—until they're joined unexpectedly by married Alan (Brian Hutchison), and everyone has to decide how far they're willing to shove themselves back in the closet. You can stream The Boys in the Band here. View the full article

Pharrell Williams has high hopes for the Met Gala, the first to focus exclusively on Black designers, and the first in more than 20 years to have a menswear theme. “I want it to feel like the most epic night of power, a reflection of Black resiliency in a world that continues to be colonized, by which I mean policies and legislation that are nothing short of that,” he recently told Vogue. “It’s our turn.” Indeed. And welcome to the first Monday in May. How to watch the 2025 Met Gala Vogue will livestream the gala starting at 6 p.m. Eastern on Vogue.com, its YouTube channel and across its other digital platforms. Teyana Taylor, La La Anthony and Ego Nwodim will host the stream. Emma Chamberlain will also do interviews on the carpet. The Associated Press will livestream celebrity departures from the Mark Hotel beginning at 5 p.m. Eastern and will stream the gala carpet on delay beginning at 6:30 p.m. The feeds will be available on YouTube and APNews.com. E! will begin live coverage at 6 p.m. on TV. The livestream will be available on Peacock, E! Online and YouTube, along with the network’s other social media feeds. Who’s hosting the 2025 Met Gala? This year, the fundraising gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is hosted by a group of Black male celebrities, including Williams, the musical artist and Louis Vuitton menswear director, and Lewis Hamilton, Colman Domingo, and A$AP Rocky, with NBA superstar LeBron James as honorary chair. They’re joined by Vogue’s Anna Wintour, the mastermind behind the gala, considered the year’s biggest and starriest party. Also guaranteed to show up is a second tier of hosts from a variety of worlds: athletes Simone Biles and husband Jonathan Owens; Angel Reese and Sha’Carri Richardson; filmmakers Spike Lee, Tonya Lewis Lee and Regina King; actors Ayo Edebiri, Audra McDonald and Jeremy Pope; musicians Doechii, Usher, Tyla, Janelle Monáe and André 3000; author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie; artists Jordan Casteel, Rashid Johnson and Kara Walker; playwrights Jeremy O. Harris and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins; and fashion figures Grace Wales Bonner, Edward Enninful, Dapper Dan and Olivier Rousteing. The gala raises the bulk of the curation budget for the museum’s Costume Institute. This year’s Met Gala dress code is… It’s more like a firm suggestion. From Wintour. This year, it’s about tailoring and suiting as interpreted through the history and meaning of Black dandyism across the Atlantic diaspora. The theme is inspired by the annual spring exhibition, which this year is based in large part on “Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity,” a book written by Monica L. Miller. She is guest curator of the exhibit. “Historical manifestations of dandyism range from absolute precision in dress and tailoring to flamboyance and fabulousness in dress and style,” Miller writes in the exhibit catalog. “Whether a dandy is subtle or spectacular, we recognize and respect the deliberateness of the dress, the self-conscious display, the reach for tailored perfection, and the sometimes subversive self-expression.” How the dress code goes, in terms of taste and style, is anyone’s guess. Wintour has a hand in virtually all things gala, so the presumption is things can’t go too far off the rails. She recently knocked down the rumor that she approves all looks, telling “Good Morning America” she’ll weigh in if asked. The exhibit, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” draws on other sources beyond Miller’s book. It’s organized into 12 sections. Each symbolizes a characteristic of dandy style as defined by Zora Neale Hurston in her 1934 essay, “Characteristics of Negro Expression.” Among them: ownership, presence, distinction, disguise, freedom, respectability and heritage. Presumably, for gala guests who do deep-dive research (or have stylists to do it), some of these factors will play out on the museum steps that serve as the event’s red carpet. Who else is going to show up? The guest list amounts to about 450 high-profile people from tech, sports, art, entertainment and more. The mix, Williams said, is a must. “It’s so important to me to have successful Black and brown people of every stripe in the room: not just athletes and actors and actresses, entertainers, but also authors, architects, folks from the fintech world,” he told Vogue. “We’ve got to invest in each other. We’ve got to connect with each other, because it’s going to take everybody to coalesce the force of Black and brown genius into one strong, reliable force.” For full coverage of the Met Gala, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/met-gala —Leanne Italie, AP Lifestyles Writer View the full article

Key Takeaways Understanding Hot Shot Business: The hot shot business model involves fast transport of small loads, primarily using a reliable vehicle like a pickup truck or cargo van to serve industries with urgent delivery needs. Low Startup Costs & Flexibility: Starting a hot shot business generally requires a minimal investment and offers scheduling freedom, allowing owners to balance work and personal life effectively. Essential Equipment and Tools: Key to success are dependable vehicles, appropriate trailers, and technology solutions like Transportation Management Software and accounting systems to streamline operations. Legal Requirements: Entrepreneurs must navigate important legal aspects including business registration, obtaining necessary licenses, and securing proper insurance coverage to protect business assets. Creating a Business Plan: A well-structured business plan that defines your niche, outlines financial projections, and anticipates challenges is crucial for long-term success in the hot shot logistics market. Effective Marketing Strategies: Building a strong online presence through optimized websites, social media engagement, and branding can significantly enhance visibility and attract potential clients in a competitive landscape. Starting a hot shot business can be an exciting venture that opens the door to financial independence and flexibility. If you’ve got a reliable vehicle and a drive for success, you’re already on the right track. This industry thrives on quick deliveries, catering to clients who need urgent transport solutions. With the right knowledge and planning, you can carve out your niche in this competitive market. From understanding regulations to marketing your services, every step is crucial in building a successful hot shot business. Ready to dive in? Let’s explore how you can turn your passion for driving into a profitable enterprise. Understanding Hot Shot Business A hot shot business involves transporting small loads quickly, focusing on expedited delivery and flexible service. It’s an attractive startup option for entrepreneurs who want to turn their passion for driving into a viable business venture. Definition and Overview A hot shot business typically entails using a pickup truck or cargo van to transport goods that require urgent delivery. This business model caters to industries like construction, oil and gas, and e-commerce, where time-sensitive shipments are common. Entrepreneurs in this field must familiarize themselves with market research and understand the legal structure of their business, such as forming an LLC or sole proprietorship, to mitigate liability. Benefits of Hot Shot Business Low Startup Costs: Most hot shot businesses require minimal initial investment, primarily for a reliable vehicle and necessary permits. Flexibility: You can choose your schedule and the types of loads to transport, enabling a work-life balance that suits your needs. Diverse Clientele: A wide range of industries relies on hot shot services, creating multiple revenue streams. You can target construction firms, manufacturers, or online retailers. Scalability: As you gain experience and build a customer base, expand your business by adding more vehicles or hiring team members to enhance service capacity. Networking Opportunities: Hot shot services require collaboration with various businesses, helping you build a strong professional network that can lead to partnerships and referrals. Marketing Potential: With effective digital marketing strategies, such as SEO and social media, attract a broad audience and establish your brand in this competitive market. Starting a hot shot business not only offers financial independence but also aligns with your lifestyle choices and entrepreneurial goals. Understanding the essential components enhances your chances of success in this exciting venture. Necessary Equipment and Tools Starting a hot shot business requires critical equipment and tools to ensure efficient operations and customer satisfaction. Two main categories of essentials include vehicles and transportation, as well as technology and software. Vehicles and Transportation Investing in the right vehicles is key to your hot shot business’s success. You’ll need a medium-duty pickup truck, specifically in Class 3-5. Options include: Ford F-350 or F-450: Known for reliability and towing capacity. Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD or 4500HD: Offers fuel efficiency and strength. RAM 3500 or 4500: Provides robust performance for heavy loads. Selecting a trailer also plays a significant role in operations. Common types include: Gooseneck trailers: Ideal for stability and higher weight capacity. Flatbed trailers: Versatile for various load types. Dovetail trailers: Perfect for loading wheeled vehicles or equipment. With proper vehicles and trailers, you enhance not only your capability to meet client demands but also your brand’s reputation within the market. Technology and Software Implementing technology and software solutions streamlines your hot shot business activities. Here are some necessary tools: Transportation Management Software (TMS): Helps with route optimization, load tracking, and managing deliveries. Accounting Software: Simplifies financial management, from budgeting to tax preparation. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems: Essential for managing client interactions and improving customer service. Using the right technology improves efficiency and supports growth strategies. These tools facilitate tasks from customer acquisition to financial tracking, ensuring a smooth operation. Consider investing in digital marketing solutions like SEO and email marketing to attract your target audience effectively. Legal Requirements Starting a hot shot business involves navigating various legal requirements. Understanding these requirements ensures your venture operates within the law and protects your interests. Business Registration and Licensing Choose a Business Structure: Decide on a legal structure like a Limited Liability Company (LLC), sole proprietorship, or partnership. An LLC offers personal asset protection and operational flexibility, making it a popular option for small business entrepreneurs. Register Your Business: Register your chosen business structure with your state’s Secretary of State office. This process legitimizes your business and allows you to operate legally. Obtain an EIN: Acquire a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. This tax ID is essential for business tax filings and can also help in opening a business bank account. Complete Necessary Licensing: Undergo a Department of Transportation (DOT) medical examination to obtain a medical card. This card, valid for 24 months, ensures you meet health standards for operating commercial vehicles. Get a USDOT Number: If involved in interstate commerce or operating vehicles over certain weight limits, apply for a USDOT number. This requirement is crucial for compliance with federal regulations. Insurance Needs Evaluate Insurance Types: Insurance coverage is vital for protecting your business assets and ensuring compliance with legal regulations. Consider obtaining general liability insurance, cargo insurance, and commercial vehicle insurance. Secure Commercial Vehicle Insurance: This type of insurance covers your trucks and ensures compliance with legal requirements. It protects against damages and liabilities resulting from accidents. Invest in Cargo Insurance: Cargo insurance safeguards the freight you’re transporting. It provides financial protection in case of lost or damaged goods, which is essential for maintaining customer trust. Consult an Insurance Agent: Work with an insurance agent who specializes in commercial insurance to identify the right coverage for your business. Their expertise can help you navigate coverage options and find the best policies to suit your needs. Creating a Business Plan A strong business plan lays the foundation for your hot shot business. It details strategies for growth and addresses potential challenges, ensuring you’re prepared for success. Identifying Your Niche Choosing your niche proves vital in a hot shot business. Focus on industries requiring expedited delivery like construction, oil and gas, or e-commerce. Analyze your target audience’s needs through thorough market research. Define your business model and highlight unique selling points that differentiate you from competitors. Assess the demand and adapt your services accordingly for effective customer acquisition and retention. Financial Projections Accurate financial projections guide crucial decisions. Estimate startup costs, including vehicle acquisition, maintenance, insurance, and permits. Consider ongoing expenses such as fuel, marketing, and operational costs. Calculate potential revenues based on market research and projected sales funnel performance. Establish a budget, aiming for a healthy profit margin. Explore funding options such as loans, crowdfunding, or angel investors to secure necessary capital. Assess your cash flow to ensure sustainable operations while you scale your hot shot business. Marketing Your Hot Shot Business Effective marketing strategies are essential for your hot shot business to thrive in a competitive landscape. The right mix of branding, online presence, and networking can significantly enhance your visibility and customer acquisition. Branding and Online Presence Creating a strong brand identity is crucial for establishing trust with your target audience. Start by developing professional marketing materials, including a memorable logo that reflects your services. Use this logo consistently across business cards, website, and social media to build brand recognition. A professional website serves as the backbone of your online presence. Ensure it provides detailed information about your services, company history, and contact details. Optimize your website for search engines (SEO) to attract potential customers actively seeking transportation solutions. Incorporate clear calls to action and customer testimonials to enhance credibility. Utilize social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for digital marketing. Regularly post updates about your services, share industry insights, and engage with followers to showcase your expertise and reliability. Effective social media interaction can lead to increased customer trust and higher sales. Networking and Building Relationships Networking plays a pivotal role in the growth strategy of your hot shot business. Attend industry events, trade shows, and local business meetings to connect with potential clients and partners. Building relationships with other entrepreneurs can lead to collaboration opportunities, resource sharing, and mentorship. Consider joining relevant professional associations or business incubators that cater to the transportation industry. These organizations often provide valuable resources, legal advice, and mentorship, helping you navigate the complexities of running a small business. Establishing partnerships with complementary businesses can also enhance your service offerings. For example, collaborating with logistics companies or suppliers can create referral opportunities and expand your customer base. Building and nurturing these connections ensures a stronger position in the market and opens doors for future growth. Conclusion Starting a hot shot business can be a rewarding venture that aligns with your desire for independence and flexibility. With the right vehicle and a solid understanding of the industry, you can carve out a niche that suits your skills and interests. By focusing on effective marketing and building strong relationships within the industry, you’ll position yourself for growth and success. Remember to stay informed about regulations and invest in the necessary tools to streamline your operations. Embrace the journey ahead and let your passion for driving lead you to new opportunities. Your hot shot business could be the start of something great. Frequently Asked Questions What is a hot shot business? A hot shot business involves transporting small loads quickly, often serving industries like construction, oil and gas, and e-commerce. It focuses on immediate delivery needs and can be a flexible, lucrative opportunity for entrepreneurs. What do I need to start a hot shot business? To start a hot shot business, you’ll need a reliable vehicle such as a medium-duty pickup truck, suitable trailers, and essential tools like Transportation Management Software (TMS) and accounting software. Additionally, understanding regulations and marketing strategies is crucial. What are the legal requirements for a hot shot business? Legal requirements include choosing a business structure (like an LLC), registering your business, obtaining a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN), and acquiring necessary licenses like a USDOT number. It’s also crucial to meet state regulations for transportation. How do I market my hot shot business? Effective marketing strategies include building a strong online presence, optimizing your website for search engines, utilizing social media, and creating professional marketing materials. Networking at industry events can also help you connect with potential clients. What are the benefits of starting a hot shot business? Starting a hot shot business offers low startup costs, flexibility in scheduling, a diverse client base, and scalability. It also presents networking opportunities and the potential for significant earnings, especially when targeting niches needing expedited service. How can I create a successful business plan for my hot shot business? To create a successful business plan, outline growth strategies, identify your niche, and conduct thorough market research. Include financial projections to estimate startup costs and ongoing expenses, and explore funding options to support your business. What type of insurance do I need for a hot shot business? Essential insurance types for a hot shot business include general liability, cargo, and commercial vehicle insurance. Consulting an insurance agent specializing in commercial coverage will help you find the best policies for your needs and ensure legal compliance. Can I operate a hot shot business part-time? Yes, many entrepreneurs successfully operate a hot shot business part-time. This model offers flexibility in scheduling, allowing you to balance other commitments while building your client base in the hot shot industry. What vehicles are recommended for a hot shot business? Recommended vehicles for a hot shot business include medium-duty pickup trucks like the Ford F-350, Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD, or RAM 3500. These vehicles provide the necessary towing capacity and reliability for transporting loads efficiently. How can technology help my hot shot business? Technology, such as Transportation Management Software (TMS), accounting software, and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, can streamline operations, enhance customer service, and improve efficiency in managing logistics and finances for your hot shot business. Image Via Envato This article, "Mastering How to Start a Hot Shot Business for Financial Freedom and Success" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Key Takeaways Understanding Hot Shot Business: The hot shot business model involves fast transport of small loads, primarily using a reliable vehicle like a pickup truck or cargo van to serve industries with urgent delivery needs. Low Startup Costs & Flexibility: Starting a hot shot business generally requires a minimal investment and offers scheduling freedom, allowing owners to balance work and personal life effectively. Essential Equipment and Tools: Key to success are dependable vehicles, appropriate trailers, and technology solutions like Transportation Management Software and accounting systems to streamline operations. Legal Requirements: Entrepreneurs must navigate important legal aspects including business registration, obtaining necessary licenses, and securing proper insurance coverage to protect business assets. Creating a Business Plan: A well-structured business plan that defines your niche, outlines financial projections, and anticipates challenges is crucial for long-term success in the hot shot logistics market. Effective Marketing Strategies: Building a strong online presence through optimized websites, social media engagement, and branding can significantly enhance visibility and attract potential clients in a competitive landscape. Starting a hot shot business can be an exciting venture that opens the door to financial independence and flexibility. If you’ve got a reliable vehicle and a drive for success, you’re already on the right track. This industry thrives on quick deliveries, catering to clients who need urgent transport solutions. With the right knowledge and planning, you can carve out your niche in this competitive market. From understanding regulations to marketing your services, every step is crucial in building a successful hot shot business. Ready to dive in? Let’s explore how you can turn your passion for driving into a profitable enterprise. Understanding Hot Shot Business A hot shot business involves transporting small loads quickly, focusing on expedited delivery and flexible service. It’s an attractive startup option for entrepreneurs who want to turn their passion for driving into a viable business venture. Definition and Overview A hot shot business typically entails using a pickup truck or cargo van to transport goods that require urgent delivery. This business model caters to industries like construction, oil and gas, and e-commerce, where time-sensitive shipments are common. Entrepreneurs in this field must familiarize themselves with market research and understand the legal structure of their business, such as forming an LLC or sole proprietorship, to mitigate liability. Benefits of Hot Shot Business Low Startup Costs: Most hot shot businesses require minimal initial investment, primarily for a reliable vehicle and necessary permits. Flexibility: You can choose your schedule and the types of loads to transport, enabling a work-life balance that suits your needs. Diverse Clientele: A wide range of industries relies on hot shot services, creating multiple revenue streams. You can target construction firms, manufacturers, or online retailers. Scalability: As you gain experience and build a customer base, expand your business by adding more vehicles or hiring team members to enhance service capacity. Networking Opportunities: Hot shot services require collaboration with various businesses, helping you build a strong professional network that can lead to partnerships and referrals. Marketing Potential: With effective digital marketing strategies, such as SEO and social media, attract a broad audience and establish your brand in this competitive market. Starting a hot shot business not only offers financial independence but also aligns with your lifestyle choices and entrepreneurial goals. Understanding the essential components enhances your chances of success in this exciting venture. Necessary Equipment and Tools Starting a hot shot business requires critical equipment and tools to ensure efficient operations and customer satisfaction. Two main categories of essentials include vehicles and transportation, as well as technology and software. Vehicles and Transportation Investing in the right vehicles is key to your hot shot business’s success. You’ll need a medium-duty pickup truck, specifically in Class 3-5. Options include: Ford F-350 or F-450: Known for reliability and towing capacity. Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD or 4500HD: Offers fuel efficiency and strength. RAM 3500 or 4500: Provides robust performance for heavy loads. Selecting a trailer also plays a significant role in operations. Common types include: Gooseneck trailers: Ideal for stability and higher weight capacity. Flatbed trailers: Versatile for various load types. Dovetail trailers: Perfect for loading wheeled vehicles or equipment. With proper vehicles and trailers, you enhance not only your capability to meet client demands but also your brand’s reputation within the market. Technology and Software Implementing technology and software solutions streamlines your hot shot business activities. Here are some necessary tools: Transportation Management Software (TMS): Helps with route optimization, load tracking, and managing deliveries. Accounting Software: Simplifies financial management, from budgeting to tax preparation. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems: Essential for managing client interactions and improving customer service. Using the right technology improves efficiency and supports growth strategies. These tools facilitate tasks from customer acquisition to financial tracking, ensuring a smooth operation. Consider investing in digital marketing solutions like SEO and email marketing to attract your target audience effectively. Legal Requirements Starting a hot shot business involves navigating various legal requirements. Understanding these requirements ensures your venture operates within the law and protects your interests. Business Registration and Licensing Choose a Business Structure: Decide on a legal structure like a Limited Liability Company (LLC), sole proprietorship, or partnership. An LLC offers personal asset protection and operational flexibility, making it a popular option for small business entrepreneurs. Register Your Business: Register your chosen business structure with your state’s Secretary of State office. This process legitimizes your business and allows you to operate legally. Obtain an EIN: Acquire a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. This tax ID is essential for business tax filings and can also help in opening a business bank account. Complete Necessary Licensing: Undergo a Department of Transportation (DOT) medical examination to obtain a medical card. This card, valid for 24 months, ensures you meet health standards for operating commercial vehicles. Get a USDOT Number: If involved in interstate commerce or operating vehicles over certain weight limits, apply for a USDOT number. This requirement is crucial for compliance with federal regulations. Insurance Needs Evaluate Insurance Types: Insurance coverage is vital for protecting your business assets and ensuring compliance with legal regulations. Consider obtaining general liability insurance, cargo insurance, and commercial vehicle insurance. Secure Commercial Vehicle Insurance: This type of insurance covers your trucks and ensures compliance with legal requirements. It protects against damages and liabilities resulting from accidents. Invest in Cargo Insurance: Cargo insurance safeguards the freight you’re transporting. It provides financial protection in case of lost or damaged goods, which is essential for maintaining customer trust. Consult an Insurance Agent: Work with an insurance agent who specializes in commercial insurance to identify the right coverage for your business. Their expertise can help you navigate coverage options and find the best policies to suit your needs. Creating a Business Plan A strong business plan lays the foundation for your hot shot business. It details strategies for growth and addresses potential challenges, ensuring you’re prepared for success. Identifying Your Niche Choosing your niche proves vital in a hot shot business. Focus on industries requiring expedited delivery like construction, oil and gas, or e-commerce. Analyze your target audience’s needs through thorough market research. Define your business model and highlight unique selling points that differentiate you from competitors. Assess the demand and adapt your services accordingly for effective customer acquisition and retention. Financial Projections Accurate financial projections guide crucial decisions. Estimate startup costs, including vehicle acquisition, maintenance, insurance, and permits. Consider ongoing expenses such as fuel, marketing, and operational costs. Calculate potential revenues based on market research and projected sales funnel performance. Establish a budget, aiming for a healthy profit margin. Explore funding options such as loans, crowdfunding, or angel investors to secure necessary capital. Assess your cash flow to ensure sustainable operations while you scale your hot shot business. Marketing Your Hot Shot Business Effective marketing strategies are essential for your hot shot business to thrive in a competitive landscape. The right mix of branding, online presence, and networking can significantly enhance your visibility and customer acquisition. Branding and Online Presence Creating a strong brand identity is crucial for establishing trust with your target audience. Start by developing professional marketing materials, including a memorable logo that reflects your services. Use this logo consistently across business cards, website, and social media to build brand recognition. A professional website serves as the backbone of your online presence. Ensure it provides detailed information about your services, company history, and contact details. Optimize your website for search engines (SEO) to attract potential customers actively seeking transportation solutions. Incorporate clear calls to action and customer testimonials to enhance credibility. Utilize social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for digital marketing. Regularly post updates about your services, share industry insights, and engage with followers to showcase your expertise and reliability. Effective social media interaction can lead to increased customer trust and higher sales. Networking and Building Relationships Networking plays a pivotal role in the growth strategy of your hot shot business. Attend industry events, trade shows, and local business meetings to connect with potential clients and partners. Building relationships with other entrepreneurs can lead to collaboration opportunities, resource sharing, and mentorship. Consider joining relevant professional associations or business incubators that cater to the transportation industry. These organizations often provide valuable resources, legal advice, and mentorship, helping you navigate the complexities of running a small business. Establishing partnerships with complementary businesses can also enhance your service offerings. For example, collaborating with logistics companies or suppliers can create referral opportunities and expand your customer base. Building and nurturing these connections ensures a stronger position in the market and opens doors for future growth. Conclusion Starting a hot shot business can be a rewarding venture that aligns with your desire for independence and flexibility. With the right vehicle and a solid understanding of the industry, you can carve out a niche that suits your skills and interests. By focusing on effective marketing and building strong relationships within the industry, you’ll position yourself for growth and success. Remember to stay informed about regulations and invest in the necessary tools to streamline your operations. Embrace the journey ahead and let your passion for driving lead you to new opportunities. Your hot shot business could be the start of something great. Frequently Asked Questions What is a hot shot business? A hot shot business involves transporting small loads quickly, often serving industries like construction, oil and gas, and e-commerce. It focuses on immediate delivery needs and can be a flexible, lucrative opportunity for entrepreneurs. What do I need to start a hot shot business? To start a hot shot business, you’ll need a reliable vehicle such as a medium-duty pickup truck, suitable trailers, and essential tools like Transportation Management Software (TMS) and accounting software. Additionally, understanding regulations and marketing strategies is crucial. What are the legal requirements for a hot shot business? Legal requirements include choosing a business structure (like an LLC), registering your business, obtaining a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN), and acquiring necessary licenses like a USDOT number. It’s also crucial to meet state regulations for transportation. How do I market my hot shot business? Effective marketing strategies include building a strong online presence, optimizing your website for search engines, utilizing social media, and creating professional marketing materials. Networking at industry events can also help you connect with potential clients. What are the benefits of starting a hot shot business? Starting a hot shot business offers low startup costs, flexibility in scheduling, a diverse client base, and scalability. It also presents networking opportunities and the potential for significant earnings, especially when targeting niches needing expedited service. How can I create a successful business plan for my hot shot business? To create a successful business plan, outline growth strategies, identify your niche, and conduct thorough market research. Include financial projections to estimate startup costs and ongoing expenses, and explore funding options to support your business. What type of insurance do I need for a hot shot business? Essential insurance types for a hot shot business include general liability, cargo, and commercial vehicle insurance. Consulting an insurance agent specializing in commercial coverage will help you find the best policies for your needs and ensure legal compliance. Can I operate a hot shot business part-time? Yes, many entrepreneurs successfully operate a hot shot business part-time. This model offers flexibility in scheduling, allowing you to balance other commitments while building your client base in the hot shot industry. What vehicles are recommended for a hot shot business? Recommended vehicles for a hot shot business include medium-duty pickup trucks like the Ford F-350, Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD, or RAM 3500. These vehicles provide the necessary towing capacity and reliability for transporting loads efficiently. How can technology help my hot shot business? Technology, such as Transportation Management Software (TMS), accounting software, and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, can streamline operations, enhance customer service, and improve efficiency in managing logistics and finances for your hot shot business. Image Via Envato This article, "Mastering How to Start a Hot Shot Business for Financial Freedom and Success" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The old turn-it-off-and-on-again adage has helped successfully troubleshoot computers for years, but there's more than one way to restart your hardware and software—including a lesser known option on Windows that may well be new to you. Having spent many years writing about tech, it isn't often that I come across something I didn't already know about. So when I stumbled across this old BetaNews article about an emergency restart feature in Windows, I was taken aback. It showed a screen and a keystroke combination I had genuinely never heard of before. A bit more digging revealed that this has been in Windows for decades, making it even stranger that I'd never come across it. Official information on this emergency restart in Windows seems to be thin on the ground, or has perhaps been lost to time. Essentially though, it seems to replicate what a long press on your PC's power button would do: A quick, no-questions-asked reboot of your computer, with the minimum of fuss. The Windows enthusiasts over on Reddit have spotted this feature before, and there appear to be plenty of people on the boards who hadn't come across it until their attention was drawn towards it. If you dig into those threads you'll find some technical information on what exactly is going on behind the scenes, and the different calls that the feature might be making. It's worth emphasizing that this is very much a last resort option, as indeed the feature itself will tell you. You're not going to get a chance to save anything you're working on, as is the case if you force a reboot by pressing and holding the power button. How to access the emergency restart option Use at your own risk. Credit: World of OSes If all is well with your Windows computer, you can of course click the Start menu button on the taskbar, then the power button on the right, and then Restart. But what if your computer has crashed and left you hanging, so you can't click anything? What if the situation is so bad that the Start menu has mysteriously disappeared? To get to the emergency restart option, you need to press the familiar Ctrl+Alt+Del keyboard shortcut, known by pretty much everyone who's ever had to fix a Windows PC at some point. This shortcut is designed to work even if your computer is otherwise unresponsive, and gives you access to options for locking your PC, signing out of your account, and bringing up the Task Manager. Down in the lower right corner, there's also a power button: Click this and you get the standard Sleep, Shut down, and Restart options. However, if you hold down Ctrl and then click the power button, that takes you to the emergency restart page, together with the warning about losing any unsaved data. Click OK, and your computer will reboot itself almost instantly. If you can get to the screen after Ctrl+Alt+Del, then you'll want to try the normal restart option first—you'll only need to go down the holding Ctrl route if that doesn't work. Presumably, that will be because there's a program or a part of the Windows code that isn't shutting down properly to clear the way for a restart. Should you need yet another way of restarting your computer without using the Start menu, you can do it from the command prompt or PowerShell utility, too: Just type "shutdown /r" and hit Enter. There are a host of extra flags you can add to that command if needed, including setting a timer for the restart and forcing applications to close: You can read full instructions here. Having now familiarized myself with the emergency restart option in Windows, I'm off to find more features that I haven't come across—even though they've been around for years. Any suggestions are most welcome. View the full article

French president warns that curbing scientific research puts America’s economy and democracy at riskView the full article

President Donald The President is opening a new salvo in his tariff war, targeting films made outside the U.S. In a post Sunday night on his Truth Social platform, The President said he has authorized the Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to slap a 100% tariff “on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands.” “The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death,” he wrote, complaining that other countries “are offering all sorts of incentives to draw” filmmakers and studios away from the U.S. “This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat. It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda!” It wasn’t immediately clear how any such tariff on international productions could be implemented. It’s common for both large and small films to include production in the U.S. and in other countries. Big-budget movies like the upcoming “Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning,” for instance, are shot around the world. Incentive programs for years have influenced where movies are shot, increasingly driving film production out of California and to other states and countries with favorable tax incentives, like Canada and the United Kingdom. Yet The President’s tariffs are designed to lead consumers toward American products. And in movie theaters, American-produced movies overwhelming dominate the domestic marketplace. China has ramped up its domestic movie production, culminating in the animated blockbuster “Ne Zha 2” grossing more than $2 billion this year. But even then, its sales came almost entirely from mainland China. In North America, it earned just $20.9 million. In New Zealand, where successive governments have offered rebates and incentives in recent years to draw Hollywood films to the country, the film industry has generated billions of dollars in tourism revenue driven by the “Lord of the Rings” and “Hobbit” films, which featured the country’s pristine and scenic vistas. More recently, the blockbuster “Minecraft” movie was filmed entirely in New Zealand, and U.S. productions in 2023 delivered $1.3 billion New Zealand dollars ($777 million) to the country in return for NZ$200 million in subsidies, according to government figures. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he was awaiting more details of The President’s measures before commenting on them but would continue to pitch to filmmakers abroad, including in India’s Bollywood. “We’ve got an absolutely world class industry,” he said. “This is the best place to make movies, period, in the world.” The Motion Picture Association, which represents major U.S. film studios and streaming services, didn’t immediately respond to messages Sunday evening. The MPA’s data shows how much Hollywood exports have dominated cinemas. According to the MPA, the American movies produced $22.6 billion in exports and $15.3 billion in trade surplus in 2023. The President, a Republican, has made good on the “tariff man” label he gave himself years ago, slapping new taxes on goods made in countries around the globe. That includes a 145% tariff on Chinese goods and a 10% baseline tariff on goods from other countries, with even higher levies threatened. By unilaterally imposing tariffs, The President has exerted extraordinary influence over the flow of commerce, creating political risks and pulling the market in different directions. There are tariffs on autos, steel and aluminum, with more imports, including pharmaceutical drugs, set to be subject to new tariffs in the weeks ahead. The President has long voiced concern about movie production moving overseas. Shortly before he took office, he announced that he had tapped actors Mel Gibson, Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone to serve as “special ambassadors” to Hollywood to bring it “BACK—BIGGER, BETTER, AND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE!” U.S. film and television production has been hampered in recent years, with setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hollywood guild strikes of 2023 and the recent wildfires in the Los Angeles area. Overall production in the U.S. was down 26% last year compared with 2021, according to data from ProdPro, which tracks production. The group’s annual survey of executives, which asked about preferred filming locations, found no location in the U.S. made the top five, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Toronto, the U.K., Vancouver, Central Europe and Australia came out on top, with California placing sixth, Georgia seventh, New Jersey eighth and New York ninth. The problem is especially acute in California. In the greater Los Angeles area, production last year was down 5.6% from 2023 according to FilmLA, second only to 2020, during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic. Last, October, Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, proposed expanding California’s Film & Television Tax Credit program to $750 million annually, up from $330 million. Other U.S. cities like Atlanta, New York, Chicago, and San Francisco have also used aggressive tax incentives to lure film and TV productions. Those programs can take the form of cash grants, as in Texas, or tax credits, which Georgia and New Mexico offer. “Other nations have been stealing the movie-making capabilities from the United States,” The President told reporters at the White House on Sunday night after returning from a weekend in Florida. “If they’re not willing to make a movie inside the United States we should have a tariff on movies that come in.” Associated Press writers Gary Field in Washington and Charlotte Graham-McLay in Wellington, New Zealand, contributed to this report from Washington. —Jill Colvin and Jake Coyle, Associated Press View the full article

You’ve probably heard of Charles and Ray Eames, the designers behind the iconic Eames chair and ottoman, and Georgia O’Keefe, the trailblazing artist. But you might not know about how these artists were connected during their careers—or the art that came from their camaraderie. Herman Miller, in collaboration with the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, is bringing that history to light with a new limited-run furniture line. The New Mexico Collection, set to be released on May 20, celebrates the Eameses, O’Keeffe, and designer Alexander Girard, the founding director of Herman Miller’s textile division. Included in the launch are 300 special Eames Wire Chairs, retailing for $1,995, and 100 iterations of the never-before-sold Girard Snake Table, retailing for $895. Both of the items offer a look into the intertwined artistic legacies of three designers whose work continues to shape the art world today. An oft-overlooked network of friends Georgia O’Keeffe first met Alexander Girard and his wife, Susan, when the couple moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1953. O’Keeffe had already been living in the remote rural town of Abiquiú, New Mexico, since the 1940s, and was already a household name across the country at the time of their meeting for her lush and evocative depictions of the natural world, many of which were inspired by flora and fauna native to her local surroundings. “[The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum] can’t say for sure exactly when and how they met, but suffice it to say there weren’t too many world renowned artists and designers living in that area, and apparently they felt a real kinship,” says Kelsey Keith, brand creative director at Herman Miller. For the New Mexico collection, Keith visited the museum’s archives, where she learned that there are records of 20 to 30 years of correspondence between the Girards and O’Keeffe—not just to advise each other on artistic projects, which they did plenty of, but also to trade the kinds of casual stories that maintain a decades-long friendship. “They ended up traveling together all over the world,” Keith says. “Girard and his wife would go on these folk art collecting trips to Central and South America and to Japan, and [O’Keeffe] actually accompanied them on some of those trips. I think you have to be pretty good friends with someone to take those kinds of trips together.” It was through the Girards that the Eameses entered the picture. Girard was already close to the Eameses; in fact, the design duo had actually landed him his job. When the Eameses first began to design furniture for Herman Miller in the ‘40s (the company has now owned the exclusive distribution rights to Eames designs for decades), Charles and Ray asked for Girard to be brought on with them as “a real design partner, not just someone to sort of decoratively apply fabrics after the fact,” Keith says. Through this professional collaboration, the Girards and the Eameses became both close colleagues and friends. The Girards soon introduced the Eameses to O’Keeffe. While their friendship wasn’t as close, since the Eameses lived a state away from O’Keeffe in Los Angeles, they also kept up a correspondence, and were known to attend the Girards’ annual Christmas parties. At the heights of their careers, the personal links between Girard, O’Keeffe, and the Eameses informed the work of all four creatives. A new design and a revived prototype The new Eames Wire Chair Low Base and Girard Snake Table both serve as a window into this period of artistic cross-pollination. The chair is inspired by a wire chair originally gifted by Ray Eames to O’Keeffe as decor in her Abiquiú home and studio. O’Keeffe’s home and studio are now preserved as museum exhibitions, and for good reason: Her minimalist-yet-aesthetically pleasing and highly curated approach to interior design draws visitors to view her former residence year-round. Suffice it to say, O’Keeffe had high standards when it came to outfitting her space. Ray’s chair surpassed them. “Georgia loved [the chair] so much that she wrote a thank-you note and actually asked for another one just like it, which is hilarious—that someone sends you a gift, and you’re like, ‘I love it so much, can I have one more?’” Keith says. “But she could do that, obviously. The original chair has a little label on it that Ray hand-drew to Georgia.” Instead of making an exact replica of Ray’s original gift to Eames, Herman Miller decided to create a product that would merge elements of the Eames’ design and O’Keeffe’s interior decor. The New Mexico Collection’s wire chair is a classic Eames frame on a low base, an homage to the fairly low ceilings and smaller furniture in O’Keeffe’s home. The chair is upholstered in a bikini style (think two inverted triangles stacked together) with an ochre and sienna striped fabric designed by Girard and intended to match with the Abiquiú home’s adobe interiors. While the new wire chair is a contemporary design made from archival elements, the Girard Snake Table is a close replica of a prototype made by Girard in the ‘50s that was never widely produced (though it occasionally pops up on auction sites.) The table features a splayed-leg aluminum base and steel top, printed with a custom illustration of a snake made by Girard. Snake imagery was a preoccupation of both Girard’s and O’Keeffe’s. O’Keeffe was so enamored with the snake’s form, in fact, that when an archaeologist fan sent her a preserved skeleton, she had it encased in a bench in her living room. Today, visitors to the O’Keeffe house will find the snake’s final resting place, as well as an original pillow made by Girard featuring one of his snake drawings. “This is New Mexico, so snake motifs are really prevalent,” Keith says. “I think what’s interesting about this is that Girard interpreted that motif in his own way—in a very graphic sense—and then [O’Keeffe] also took inspiration from the natural world, and had this snake skeleton embedded in the banco in her house.” For Keith, the New Mexico Collection truly came together when she was able to see the final products arranged in O’Keeffe’s home, overlooking the New Mexico landscape through sweeping glass windows. “I will say, I think we hit it just right, because when we brought in the limited-run products to photograph in [O’Keeffe’s] house, they fit so perfectly, it looks like they were meant to be there,” Keith says. View the full article

Live and on-demand video constituted an estimated 66% of global internet traffic by volume in 2022, and the top 10 days for internet traffic in 2024 coincided with live streaming events such as the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match and coverage of the NFL. Streaming enables seamless, on-demand access to video content, from online gaming to short videos like TikToks, and longer content such as movies, podcasts and NFL games. The defining aspect of streaming is its on-demand nature. Consider the global reach of a Joe Rogan podcast episode or the live coverage of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft launch—both examples demonstrate how streaming connects millions of viewers to real-time and on-demand content worldwide. I’m a computer scientist whose research includes cloud computing, which is the distribution of computing resources such as video servers across the internet. ‘Chunks’ of video When it comes to video content—whether it’s a live stream or a prerecorded video—there are two major challenges to address. First, video data is massive in size, making it time-consuming to transmit from the source to devices such as TVs, computers, tablets and smartphones. Second, streaming must be adaptive to accommodate differences in users’ devices and internet capabilities. For instance, viewers with lower-resolution screens or slower internet speeds should still be able to watch a given video, albeit in lower quality, while those with higher-resolution displays and faster connections enjoy the best possible quality. To tackle these challenges, video providers implement a series of optimizations. The first step involves fragmenting videos into smaller pieces, commonly referred to as “chunks.” These chunks then undergo a process called “encoding and compression,” which optimizes the video for different resolutions and bitrates to suit various devices and network conditions. When a user requests an on-demand video, the system dynamically selects the appropriate stream of chunks based on the capabilities of the user’s device, such as screen resolution and current internet speed. The video player on the user’s device assembles and plays these chunks in sequence to create a seamless viewing experience. For users with slower internet connections, the system delivers lower-quality chunks to ensure smooth playback. This is why you might notice a drop in video quality when your connection speed is reduced. Similarly, if the video pauses during playback, it’s usually because your player is waiting to buffer additional chunks from the provider. Dealing with distance and congestion Delivering video content on a large scale, whether prerecorded or live, poses a significant challenge when extrapolated to the immense number of videos consumed globally. Streaming services like YouTube, Hulu, and Netflix host enormous libraries of on-demand content, while simultaneously managing countless live streams happening worldwide. A seemingly straightforward approach to delivering video content would involve building a massive data center to store all the videos and related content, then streaming them to users worldwide via the internet. However, this method isn’t favored because it comes with significant challenges. One major issue is geographic latency, where a user’s location relative to the data center affects the delay they experience. For instance, if a data center is located in Virginia, a user in Washington, D.C., would experience minimal delay, while a user in Australia would face much longer delays due to the increased distance and the need for the data to traverse multiple interconnected networks. This added travel time slows down content delivery. Another problem is network congestion. As more users worldwide connect to the central data center, the interconnecting networks become increasingly busy, resulting in frustrating delays and video buffering. Additionally, when the same video is sent simultaneously to multiple users, duplicate data traveling over the same internet links wastes bandwidth and further congests the network. A centralized data center also creates a single point of failure. If the data center experiences an outage, no users can access their content, leading to a complete service disruption. Content delivery networks To address these challenges, most content providers rely on content delivery networks. These networks distribute content through globally scattered points of presence, which are clusters of servers that store copies of high-demand content locally. This approach significantly reduces latency and improves reliability. Content delivery network providers, such as Akamai and Edgio, implement two main strategies for deploying points of presence. The first is the “Enter Deep” approach, where thousands of smaller point-of-presence nodes are placed closer to users, often within internet service provider networks. This ensures minimal latency by bringing the content as close as possible to the end user. The second strategy is “Bring Home,” which involves deploying hundreds of larger point-of-presence clusters at strategic locations, typically where ISPs interconnect: internet exchange points. While these clusters are farther from users than in the Enter Deep approach, they are larger in capacity, allowing them to handle higher volumes of traffic efficiently. Infrastructure for a connected world Both strategies aim to optimize video streaming by reducing delays, minimizing bandwidth waste and ensuring a seamless viewing experience for users worldwide. The rapid expansion of the internet and the surge in video streaming—both live and on demand—have transformed how video content is delivered to users globally. However, the challenges of handling massive amounts of video data, reducing geographic latency and accommodating varying user devices and internet speeds require sophisticated solutions. Content delivery networks have emerged as a cornerstone of modern streaming, enabling efficient and reliable delivery of video. This infrastructure supports the growing demand for high-quality video and highlights the innovative approaches needed to meet the expectations of a connected world. Chetan Jaiswal is an associate professor of computer science at Quinnipiac University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. View the full article