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Want more housing market stories from Lance Lambert’s ResiClub in your inbox? Subscribe to the ResiClub newsletter. Once again, Zillow has downgraded its 12-month forecast for national home prices. On Wednesday, Zillow economists published their updated forecast model, projecting that U.S. home prices, as measured by the Zillow Home Value Index, will fall 1.7% between March 2025 and March 2026. Back in March, Zillow downgraded its 12-month outlook for U.S. home prices to +0.8%. In February, Zillow downgraded its 12-month outlook to +1.1%. And at the start of the year in January, Zillow’s 12-month national home price forecast was +2.9%. Why does Zillow keep downgrading its national home price outlook? “The rise in [active] listings is fueling softer price growth, as greater supply provides more options and more bargaining power for buyers,” Zillow economists wrote in March. “Potential buyers are opting to remain renters for longer as affordability challenges suppress demand for home purchases.” Essentially, Zillow thinks strained housing affordability—caused by U.S. home prices rising over 40% during the pandemic housing boom and mortgage rates spiking from 3% to 6% in 2022—is weighing on price growth. According to Zillow’s home price model, the listing site also believes that weakening and softening housing markets across the Sun Belt will weigh on nationally aggregated home prices this year. Among the 300 largest U.S. metro area housing markets, Zillow expects the strongest home price appreciation between March 2025 and March 2026 to occur in these 10 areas: Atlantic City, NJ: 2.4% Kingston, NY: 1.9% Rochester, NY: 1.8% Knoxville, TN: 1.7% Torrington, CT : 1.6% Bangor, ME: 1.5% Syracuse, NY: 1.4% Vineland, NJ: 1.4% Concord, NH: 1.3% Norwich, CT: 1.2% In that same time frame, Zillow expects the weakest home price appreciation to occur in these 10 areas: Houma, LA: -10.1% Lake Charles, LA: -8.9% New Orleans, LA: -7.6% Lafayette, LA: -7.5% Shreveport, LA: -7.0% Alexandria, LA -7.0% Beaumont, TX : -6.6% Odessa, TX: -6.3% Midland, TX: -5.7% Monroe, LA: -5.5 Below is what the current year-over-year rate of home price growth looks like for single-family and condo home prices. Florida is currently the epicenter of housing market weakness right now. View the full article

Homeland Security threatens to revoke university’s ability to admit foreign nationalsView the full article

Fifth Third Bancorp revised its guidance, but still expects record net interest income for 2025, even as commercial clients signal that economic volatility will drive up inflation. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. As Lifehacker's resident marathon runner and senior finance writer, there is one perfect point where my worlds intersect: buying sneakers. When it comes to investing in—and maybe even splurging on—running gear, nothing affects your running experience more than your shoes. Finding the perfect running shoes is about much more than style or brand preference. Proper footwear can be the difference between achieving your running goals and suffering through preventable injuries. Why proper shoe fit mattersMany runners unknowingly wear the wrong shoes for years. According to Jessica Lyons-Quirk, director of footwear merchandising at Road Runner Sports, "Not only do most people not know what true foot size they are, they also might not know if they are a neutral or stability runner, so they are setting themselves up for years of injury and being uncomfortable." If your gear is fitting improperly, "you're probably feeling prone to pain and injury," Lyons-Quirk says. "You might have pain in your feet, but also pain in your knees or hips when you walk or run." This mismatch between foot needs and shoe type can significantly impact your running experience and long-term foot health. "The biggest thing about injuries and foot health is that you need to be in the right shoe for your foot. Every foot is different—you're going to constantly be injury-prone if you aren't in the right shoe, which means you're never going to hit your training goals if you're constantly resting off an injury," Lyons-Quirk says. Understanding your running styleBefore selecting shoes, it's important to understand your running mechanics. Broadly speaking, there are two main categories of runners: Neutral runners have a natural foot motion forward with even weight distribution when pushing off. Your feet effectively absorb impact and don't roll excessively inward or outward. Stability runners overpronate, meaning the arch collapses during landing and the foot rolls too far inward. This can create alignment issues while you run. For both types of runners, you'll see shoes directly advertised for your specific style. Neutral runners have a more natural foot motion forward and effectively absorb the impact of the ground, while evenly distributing weight on the toe-off. Lyons-Quirk says you'll want to look for the HOKA Clifton or Saucony Ride. To find the best stability shoes, look out for extra guidance and support to control the excessive movement. Lyons-Quirk recommends the Brooks Adrenaline or the ASICS GEL-Kayano. Brooks Women’s Adrenaline GTS 23 Supportive Running Shoe at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now at Amazon Saucony Men's Ride 18 Sneaker $139.95 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg Shop Now Shop Now $139.95 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg Signs your running shoes do fitBefore blaming all your running woes on your shoes (which will lead to wasting time and money on finding the right pair), here are some of the positive signs that your shoes are in fact the right fit: Thumb's width of space: A common tip is there should be roughly a thumb's width of space between your longest toe and the front of the shoe. No pinching or rubbing: The shoes shouldn't feel tight across the widest part of your foot. Secure heel: Your heel should feel snug but not tight, with minimal slippage when walking. Room for toe splay: Your toes should be able to spread naturally when your foot lands. Comfortable arch support: The arch support should contact your arch without feeling intrusive. Red flags of a poor fitWatch for these warning signs that your shoes aren't right for you: Blisters, hot spots, or calluses developing after runs Numbness or tingling in the toes Pain in your feet, ankles, knees, or hips during or after running Black toenails from toes hitting the front of the shoe Feeling unstable during your runs When to get fittedThe best approach is to visit a specialty running store to get in-person guidance. Running stores often have a treadmill in-store so you can try your shoes at a jogging pace without leaving the building. You’ll want to lean on the stores and companies with a good return policy so that you can road-test your new shoes. Here are some times you when you should consider getting professionally fitted: When you're new to running After significant weight changes If you're experiencing unexplained pain Every 1-2 years, as feet can change over time When returning from injury Tips for sneaker shoppingThis might sound unconventional, but my hot tip is to shop for sneakers later in the day. Just like how I never buy jeans before I've eaten breakfast, I find my feet naturally swell throughout the day, and I want to make sure my sneakers can handle all my feet fluctuations. Another hack: Bring your old shoes to the store. The wear pattern provides valuable information about your running style for the seller helping you. Similarly, wear your running socks when you try on a new pair, since the thickness of your socks affects fit. And most importantly, make sure you can take your shoes on a test run before committing to anything. Many specialty shops allow you to jog around the store or even take a short run outside. Finding the right running shoes is a personalized process that directly impacts your performance and injury risk. As Lyons-Quirk emphasizes, each foot is different, and matching your specific needs to the right shoe is the number one key to running at your best. View the full article

Satellite company linked to People’s Liberation Army has supplied images to Iran-backed group in Yemen, say officialsView the full article

In my coaching, I pride myself on helping clients get to the root of their issues, instead of offering Band-Aid solutions. At the same time, I’ve found that sometimes people are so overwhelmed with all they have to do that they have difficulty making time for the deeper reflective thought that coaching requires. In these situations, I offer some quick and easy-to-implement best practices to help reduce their sense of overwhelm. Managing your work calendar effectively is one of the most crucial steps toward feeling more in control of your professional life. When your calendar is well-organized, it reduces stress, increases productivity, and ensures that you are focusing on the tasks that truly matter. However, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by back-to-back meetings, constant demands on your time, and the struggle to find space for deep work. Here’s how you can regain control of your work calendar with practical tips and strategies that can be implemented right away: Set clear priorities Before diving into calendar management, it’s important to set clear priorities. Your calendar should reflect your key objectives, goals, and values—not just the urgent requests that come your way. Start by identifying your top priorities for the week, month, and quarter. These could include project milestones, professional development, or key meetings with stakeholders. Set clear priorities Time blocking is a powerful technique where you divide your day into blocks of time dedicated to specific tasks or activities. This method helps you focus on one task at a time, reducing the mental clutter that comes from multitasking. It also ensures that you allocate time to all aspects of your work, including deep work, meetings, and administrative tasks. Learn to say no One of the biggest challenges in calendar management is learning to say “no.” It’s easy to accept every meeting request that comes your way, but this often leads to a crowded calendar with little time for meaningful work. Protecting your time is essential to maintaining control over your schedule. Use the ‘two-minute rule’ The two-minute rule, popularized by David Allen in his book Getting Things Done, suggests that if a task can be completed in two minutes or less, you should do it immediately. This rule helps prevent your to-do list from becoming cluttered with minor tasks and ensures that these small items don’t take up unnecessary space on your calendar. Leverage technology Modern calendar tools offer a range of features that can help you manage your time more effectively. From scheduling assistants that find the best meeting times to integration with task management apps, these tools can significantly reduce the time you spend organizing your calendar. Batch similar tasks Batching similar tasks together is a technique that can improve your efficiency and focus. For example, if you need to make multiple phone calls, schedule them back-to-back rather than scattering them throughout the day. This minimizes the mental switch costs associated with jumping between different types of tasks. Create buffer time Buffer time between meetings and tasks is essential for maintaining flexibility and preventing burnout. It gives you a moment to regroup, reflect, or handle any unexpected issues that arise during the day. Without buffer time, your day can feel rushed, and you may find yourself running late from one meeting to the next. Review and reflect Effective calendar management requires regular review and adjustment. At the end of each week, take a few minutes to reflect on how well your calendar worked for you. Did you manage to stick to your time blocks? Were there meetings that could have been shorter or avoided? Use these insights to make adjustments for the following week. Delegate and outsource If you’re constantly overwhelmed by tasks, it might be time to delegate or outsource some of them. Delegating responsibilities to others not only frees up your time but also empowers your team members to take on more responsibility. (For more on how to delegate effectively, see here.) View the full article

The 30-year fixed rate mortgage average rose 21 basis points this week, lagging other indicators, which are all now lower than seven days ago. View the full article

Young volunteers who respond to natural disasters and help with community projects across the U.S. have been discharged as a result of the The President administration ‘s campaign to shrink government workforce and services. AmeriCorps’ National Civilian Community Corps informed volunteers Tuesday that they would exit the program early “due to programmatic circumstances beyond your control,” according to an email obtained by The Associated Press. More than 2,000 people ages 18 to 26 serve for nearly a year, according to the program’s website, and get assigned to projects with nonprofits and community organizations or the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It celebrated its 30th year last year. The volunteers are especially visible after natural disasters, including Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Hurricane Helene last year. The organization said on social media last month that teams have served 8 million service hours on nearly 3,400 disaster projects since 1999. Jordan Kinsler, 23, has worked with FEMA Corps for the last nine months, traveling from Minnesota communities impacted by floods to ones in North Carolina touched by Helene. He and his team were on their final project at FEMA headquarters in Washington when they got word Tuesday that they wouldn’t be able to finish. Kinsler, who is from Long Island, New York, said they packed that night and left Wednesday morning for their home base in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Kinsler said he’s proud of the work he’s done and had hoped to apply for a permanent position. “To have this ripped right from us at the very end, it felt insulting,” he said. The AP sent an email Wednesday seeking comment from AmeriCorps. Funding for AmeriCorps and NCCC has long been included when there are talks in Congress of budget trims. The federal agency’s budget showed NCCC funding amounted to nearly $38 million last fiscal year. The unsigned memo to members said NCCC’s “ability to sustain program operations” was impacted by “new operational parameters” laid out by the The President administration’s priorities and President Donald The President’s executive order creating the Department of Government Efficiency. Members, who receive a living allowance and have basic expenses covered, would be paid through the end of April, according to the memo. The program also provides members who complete their 1,700-hour service term with funding for future education expenses or to apply to certain student loans. That benefit was worth about $7,300 this service year. The memo stated that those who have completed 15% or more of their term would be eligible for a prorated amount, but those that have completed less would not be eligible. There’s always been “bipartisan support” of NCCC — “and bipartisan criticism,” said Kate Raftery, who was NCCC director from 2011 to 2014. Raftery said the abrupt departure of these service teams would have lasting damage both on the NCCC members who were gaining education and launching careers as well as the organizations that depend on them and the neighborhoods where they served. “It was a very unique mixture of incredible heartbreak and incredible rage, outrage,” Raftery said of her reaction to the news. “The two were battling themselves most of the day.” Bud Maynard, mayor of Vinton, Iowa, which is home to a regional NCCC campus, said the program “has been without a doubt, a blessing for Vinton” and celebrated the opportunity to host “hundreds of people over the years with an unmatched passion and selflessness to want to help others.” “All of Vinton should never forget what a great program, filled with great people, this has been for not only Vinton but every community that benefited from their mission,” Maynard said in a statement Wednesday. —Hannah Fingerhut, Associated Press View the full article

Ligation by the Ohio attorney general claims that UWM has turned brokers in its network into retail loan officers who solely work for the company. View the full article

The super-regional bank cited "a material slowdown" in investment banking and trading income as one reason for the lower revenue forecast. Interest rates are also a factor, executives said. View the full article

A major Burger King franchisee with dozens of locations has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Consolidated Burger Holdings, based in Destin, Florida, filed the court documents this week in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Florida. The franchisee now operates 57 Burger King restaurants in Florida and Georgia, after it reportedly closed 18 locations before its Chapter 11 filing. “Over the past several years, and particularly as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Debtors’ business suffered significantly from loss of foot traffic, resulting in declining revenue without proportionate decreases in rental obligations, debt service, and other liabilities,” Consolidated Burger said in the filing. The documents also cited “significant hurdles resulting from industry headwinds,” resulting in financial turbulence for the franchisee. According to the documents, sales plummeted in the past two fiscal years. In 2023, the franchisee documented $76.6 million in sales and a net operating loss of $6.3 million. Last year, sales were down to $67 million with an amplified operating loss of $12.5 million. Consolidated Burger plans to continue operating during the bankruptcy proceedings and has been seeking a buyer. It listed assets at $78 million in the court documents. It’s unmistakably a tough time for restaurant franchisees, between rising food costs, as well as higher labor costs and slower foot traffic—and that’s before restaurant owners begin to feel the impact of The President’s tariffs. To get more customers in the door, fast food chains have been offering budget meal deals: Last year, Burger King launched a $5 meal deal promotion, similar to one McDonald’s was running. Still, on the whole, Burger King’s sales have been moving in the right direction. According to QSR, which monitors data on quick serve restaurants, the Burger King chain itself outperformed its peers in Q4 with a 1.5% increase in same-store sales compared to 1.2% increase among competitors. Last year, Burger King’s parent company, Restaurant Brands International (RBI), dumped more money into its ambitious restaurant remodeling plans for locations in the U.S. and Canada. RBI also bought Burger King’s largest U.S. franchisee, Carrols Restaurant Group, for $1 billion to expedite the process. RBI said it planned to spend about $2.2 billion on the remodels, and said that by 2028, 85% to 90% of its roughly 7,000 restaurants will be upgraded. At the time, Burger King U.S. President Tom Curtis told CNBC about the investment, saying, “It was the first time in a long time that RBI had invested a significant amount of capital back into the business to coinvest with franchisees.” Curtis continued, “I think the process was, ‘Let’s see how this works’ . . . and we’re seeing early results on remodels.” View the full article

Every home needs upkeep and maintenance. Sometimes it can feel like you get one problem fixed, only to face another one. That can lead to tunnel vision, focusing on the present because you feel like there’s no time to worry about the future. But the future is coming, and if you don’t want to inordinately trouble your future self, there are several small steps you can take to make Future You a little happier. Record your paintPainting is an easy way to upgrade your house. Choosing the right color and sheen can be a project in itself, but once you get there you’ll have a space you feel comfortable in. Right as you start your paint project, snap photos of the can’s mixing formula on the label, then drop those photos in a folder for your home projects. That label contains everything you’ll need to know in order to replicate the paint at a later date, saving your future self a lot of grief. Alternatively, you can peel the label off (or ask for a second one when you buy the paint), and stick it in a notebook. Hang onto spare materialsRe-tiling the shower? Re-siding the house? Laying down some vinyl plank flooring? Whenever you finish a project, always try to have some leftover materials—and hang onto them. If you need to tear up a portion of your work years later, having spares on hand for the patch work will make the job a lot easier. Tiles and flooring are discontinued all the time, and even if that particular style is still being manufactured in the future there are often color and grain inconsistencies between batches, so a box of tile bought five years after the initial project may not match perfectly. Ask contractorsWe hire skilled professionals to do home maintenance and renovation tasks we can’t handle ourselves. But that doesn’t mean you should nip off to the pub while the work gets done. Paying attention and asking a few questions will make your future a lot less stressful: Materials used. Get a breakdown of the specific materials used. Knowing exactly what kind of paint, tile, or flooring was used will make it easier to replace or repair it in the future—and as noted above, ask to keep the leftover material. After all, you paid for it. Installation. You aren’t a contractor and don’t aspire to do complex plumbing or electrical work—but knowing how things were installed will be incredibly helpful to your future self. Contractors are deep wells of information, and they can clue you in on hacks, tricks, and best practices that can help you keep systems and finishes looking good and working correctly. Record datesKeeping a house in shape can be a whirlwind of constant effort, and that makes it easy to forget when, exactly, things were done. But knowing how long ago something was installed, repaired, or replaced will serve your future self very well. Everything in your house has a lifespan and a recommended maintenance schedule, so knowing when your boiler or HVAC was installed, how old your roof is, or the last time your basement flooded will be valuable information. While you're at it, mark down the date when you change the batteries in your smoke alarms, thermostats, alarm systems, and anything else that your comfort and safety rely on. Then do the same when you change out the filters on your HVAC system, furnace, or water supply (and don’t forget to check your fire extinguisher). Label fastenersHomeowners have been dealing with growing supplies of loose screws, bolts, and Allen wrenches for most of the modern home-owning age. To keep from someday desperately sifting through incorrect screws and wrenches, label them today. Every time you put together furniture or install shelving, put any leftover fasteners into some kind of storage and label it clearly. When the time comes to disassemble or fix it, you’ll have everything you need. Save product manualsJust about everything you buy for your home will come with some sort of product manual (and these days you can download most of them pretty easily). You might be tempted to think you don’t need a product manual for simple appliances—you know how to operate a toaster, for example—but you should keep your product manuals, physically or digitally. These manuals will provide the basic information you’ll need to repair, replace, or troubleshoot your stuff, including a breakdown of the specific sizes of fasteners, wall anchors, and other parts you might need to replace someday. Plus, manuals contain a lot of other useful information, like weight limits or other tolerances. If you want to turn a bookshelf you assembled into storage for your dumbbells, for example, it will be great to be able to just look up the unit’s capacity. Keep visual recordsTake photos of things like air filters or unique light bulbs and leave them on your phone. Do this for any unique item that needs replacing from time to time. Now, the next time you need a fresh supply, you'll be able to look up exactly what’s needed. Map out circuitsYou won’t know frustration until you need to cut the power to an area of your house (like the air conditioning) and you can’t figure out which circuit it’s on. You wind up flipping breakers until you find the one, and then you have a solid 20 minutes of resetting clocks and preferences ahead of you. Instead, spend a half hour mapping your breaker panel, labeling each one neatly. Next time you have reason to cut the power to an appliance or a room, you’ll be able to do so with no drama or stress. Purchase extra keysAs a man who has been forced to break into his own house far too often, I can say that having some extra keys stashed in safe places around your neighborhood (or a few trusted folks with security codes if you have smart locks) will be deeply appreciated by your future self. Identify contractors in advanceThe worst time to look for a plumber, electrician, exterminator, or roofer is when you’re in the midst of an emergency. Start asking friends and neighbors for recommendations now, and start a master file of contact info and who recommended them (including the specific work they did, if you can). When you discover a newly formed lake in your basement one morning, you’ll be able to calmly make a call instead of trying to cram three months of research into three minutes. View the full article

Government stepped in to take control of struggling company but is keen to attract private sector investmentView the full article

A consumer advocacy group filed a lawsuit this week to block insurers from charging California customers for $500 million in costs associated with the deadly Los Angeles fires. California’s insurance commission in February ordered insurers doing business in California to provide $1 billion to the FAIR Plan, the state’s insurer of last resort, to help it pay out claims related to the L.A. wildfires. The order allows insurers to recoup half the cost from its policyholders in the form of a onetime fee. The commissioner must approve the costs. The lawsuit, filed by Consumer Watchdog in Los Angeles, alleges Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara overstepped his authority and violated state laws for allowing for such cost shifting without going through the proper process. Such regulations have never been authorized in California and should have been vetted and approved by the Legislature or other oversight agencies before enforcement, Consumer Watchdog argued. The suit is asking the court to block Lara from approving the requests. There were at least three pending applications to implement a surcharge as of Tuesday, according to Consumer Watchdog. “We look forward to defending the rights and pocketbooks of Californians and stopping this socialization of FAIR Plan losses at the public’s expense, while the FAIR Plan’s profits will wholly remain with the insurance companies,” Consumer Watchdog staff attorney Ryan Mellino said in a statement. The Department of Insurance said the lawsuit could make California’s insurance crisis worse. “This hurts homeowners, small business and nonprofits who need access to insurance options, while doing nothing to address the insurance crisis,” Gabriel Sanchez, a department spokesperson, said in a statement. “It also serves to undermine our efforts to restore competition to all areas of our state, so people can get off the FAIR Plan and back to the regular market.” The FAIR Plan is the state’s last resort option for people who can’t get private insurance because their properties are deemed too risky to insure. The plan, with high premiums and basic coverage, is designed as a temporary option until homeowners can find permanent coverage, but more Californians are relying on it than ever. There were more than 555,000 home policies on the FAIR Plan as of March, more than double the number in 2020. The plan estimated a loss of roughly $4 billion from the Eaton and Palisades Fires, which sparked January 7, destroyed nearly 17,000 structures and killed at least 30 people. The plan had already paid out more than $914 million as of February. The lawsuit will not affect the FAIR Plan’s ability to pay out claims, Consumer Watchdog said. The American Property Casualty Insurance Association, the largest national trade association representing home, auto and business insurers called the lawsuit “a reckless and self-serving stunt.” Insurers have paid ten of billions in claims and contributed more than $500 million to sustain the FAIR Plan after the L.A. fires, the group said. “Blocking recovery of the additional costs insurers have paid to prop up the Fair Plan would jeopardize the last-resort coverage option for homeowners—and push our fragile insurance market closer to total collapse,” Denni Ritter, the group’s representative, said in a statement. “It is critical that the costs be spread equitably across a broader pool of insured customers to help restore California’s insurance market and protect access to coverage for all consumers.” The regulation to allow insurers to shift some of the costs used to sustain the FAIR Plan is among the strategies unveiled by Lara last year. California is undergoing a yearlong effort to stabilize its insurance market after several major insurance companies either paused or restricted new business in the state in 2023, which pushed hundreds of thousands of homeowners onto the FAIR Plan. Wildfires are becoming more common and destructive in California due to climate change, and insurers say that’s making it difficult to truly price the risk on properties. Of the top 20 most destructive wildfires in state history, 15 have occurred since 2015, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The state now gives insurers more latitude to raise premiums in exchange for issuing more policies in high-risk areas. That includes regulations allowing insurers to consider climate change when setting their prices and allowing them pass on the costs of reinsurance to California consumers. —Trân Nguyễn Associated Press View the full article

Good news, Android users: You no longer need to pay in order to use Gemini Live's camera and screen share features. Google announced the update in a post on X on Wednesday. The company cited the "great feedback" they received from users' experiences with Gemini Live camera and screen share, and revealed plans to roll out the features to all Android users over the coming weeks. You might even see the options right now. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Gemini Live has come a long way Gemini Live is the conversation mode for Google's AI assistant. Originally, it supported audio-only experiences: You could have a back-and-forth conversation with the chatbot, as if on a phone call with Gemini. However, back in March, Google announced "Gemini Live with Video," which added two key features to the conversation mode: First, you can give Gemini access to your camera and ask it questions about your surroundings. For example, you could point your camera at a sign in another language, and ask Gemini to translate. On the flip side, you can also share your phone's screen with Gemini, and ask it questions about what you're up to. Google originally rolled these new Gemini Live features to the Pixel 9 and Samsung Galaxy S25, and while we knew support for more smartphones were on the way, the company had slated these options as exclusive to Gemini Advanced. If you wanted to share your camera or screen with Gemini Live, you needed to plan to spend $20 a month for the privilege. Following Wednesday's announcement, however, that's no longer the case. As long as your Android phone can run the latest version of the Gemini app, you'll be able to try out these features free of charge. Google must have made the calculation that the expanded user base was worth more than the monthly $20 from a much smaller pool of willing subscribers—likely because of the magnitude of AI training data those extra users will generate for the company. It's a departure from other companies that offer similar features, like OpenAI: You need to pay for ChatGPT Plus to access "advanced voice" mode's camera and screen share features. Lifehacker's David Nield tried out Gemini's camera and screen share features earlier this month when it was exclusive to the Galaxy S25 and Pixel 9. He found that it worked well—to a point, anyway. The bot made mistakes, but most were understandable, like falsely identifying a Fitbit Charge 6 as a Fitbit Charge 5. It could translate social media posts and identify who won a soccer match on website showing the score, but when asked when the game was played, mistook the recent match for one that was played nearly two years prior. These features were available as of Wednesday, April 16, but Google says they will be rolling out over the coming weeks. If you don't see the options yet on the latest version of the Gemini app, just hang tight. View the full article

Welcome to AI Decoded, Fast Company’s weekly newsletter that breaks down the most important news in the world of AI. You can sign up to receive this newsletter every week here. Nvidia gets burned by The President on China chips Silicon Valley magnates fell over themselves to placate and appease President Donald The President. Nvidia just found out why that’s no guarantee of success. The company said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Tuesday that the The President administration will now require a license for the company to sell its H20 chips—the most powerful GPUs still legal for export—to Chinese companies. Nvidia says it will take a $5.5 billion charge in its April quarter earnings reflecting a belief that the license is a permanent requirement and that it has little chance of getting one. With its market cap already down 20% this year, the company watched its shares plunge another 6% in after-hours trading on Tuesday. The license requirement comes after Nvidia had already made overtures toward The President. CEO Jensen Huang recently dined with the president at Mar-a-Lago and has reportedly pledged to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on new U.S. data centers. Following the Mar-a-Lago dinner, NPR reported that the White House had backed off a plan to restrict the H20 chips. But in the end that wasn’t enough to prevent the administration from effectively banning the H20 and gouging out a big chunk of Nvidia’s revenues. “We lower our fair value estimate for wide-moat Nvidia to $125 from $130 as we cut our revenue estimates to exclude China now and in the future,” Morningstar strategist Brian Colello wrote in an investor brief on Wednesday. “We retain our Very High Uncertainty Rating. Shares appear undervalued to us, as tariff concerns are likely weighing on the stock.” You can almost see the shrugged-shoulders emoji next to Colello’s words: Nvidia’s investor downgrade has nothing to do with real demand for its products, which remains very high. The administration claims the export controls stem from national security concerns—that H20 chips would pose a threat should Beijing get control of them. But more likely, The President recognizes Nvidia’s central role in the generative AI boom, and seized on the company’s success as a chess piece in his grudge match against China. The move comes as Chinese AI companies are pulling ahead of their American counterparts in areas like self-driving cars and robotics, and are within striking distance of surpassing the U.S. in frontier model development. Many D.C. and Silicon Valley insiders will applaud the H20 restrictions. After all, they feed the defense sector’s push to bulk up for a military conflict with China (perhaps around Taiwan), and may even slow China’s considerable momentum in AI research. But this zero-sum, winner-take-all approach may have its downsides, too. Chinese company DeepSeek, for example, was spurred to some impressive AI innovation precisely because it was denied top-tier chips from U.S. competitors. And, as the pundit Thomas Friedman pointed out on The Ezra Klein Show, this century’s biggest problems—the environment and AI safety—are world problems that will require cooperation and openness between the world’s two superpowers. And it’s not just Nvidia. Mark Zuckerberg is learning the same lesson: that The President’s loyalty can often seem transactional at best. The Meta CEO is this week being grilled in the witness chair of a government anti-trust action that could break up his company. The President has an obedient, all-GOP commission, and yet he’s done nothing to stop the case. This after Zuckerberg and company gave $2 million to The President’s inauguration fund, stood behind The President at the inauguration, bent the knee at Mar-a-Lago and the White House a number of times, abandoned fact-checking on his social platform, promoted longtime Republicans to high positions within Meta, and discontinued DEI programs at the company. Zuckerberg offered the Federal Trade Commission $450 million, then $1 billion, to keep the case from going to trial, but FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson balked at the numbers and kept the court date. The President didn’t intervene. My guess is that all these tech honchos will eventually learn, in one way or another, what so many others have—the giant black sucking hole that is Donald The President’s ego simply can’t be appeased. OpenAI releases its newest reasoning model, o3 OpenAI on Wednesday unveiled its next flagship reasoning model, called o3. As the second generation of OpenAI’s “thinking” models, o3 can quickly gather contextual data and follow multiple reasoning paths to a correct answer—all in real time in response to a user prompt. OpenAI says the new o3 model outperforms the o1 series in every respect and will replace it. A key advance lies in o3’s ability to use external tools to arrive at sound answers. For instance, it might review all the published papers on a specific research problem before crafting its own novel answer, or reason over the contents of an uploaded image. “The combined power of state-of-the-art reasoning with full tool access translates into significantly stronger performance across academic benchmarks and real-world tasks,” OpenAI said in a blog post published Wednesday. According to OpenAI, the o3 model earned state-of-the-art status atop the Codeforces (coding skill), SWE-bench (software engineering skill), and MMMU (visual and textual reasoning skill) benchmark tests. OpenAI says it used 10 times more computing power to train the o3 model than the o1, utilizing new reinforcement learning that incorporates either human or synthetic feedback to improve the quality of its answers. “To me the magic is that under the hood it’s still just next-token prediction,” OpenAI President Greg Brockman said during a livestreamed demo Wednesday. “We’ve changed the objective, changed where the data comes from, and now we’re able to really hook it up to the world.” Alongside o3, OpenAI also released a smaller, faster, and more budget-friendly reasoning model called o4-mini, which the company says excels in math, coding, and visual tasks. In addition, the company introduced Codex CLI, a desktop coding assistant that is powered by the o3 and o4-mini models. A “vibe shift” in the way enterprises are talking about AI and the workforce When corporate executives say AI will usher in a new age of efficiency, what exactly do they mean? At first blush, it sounds like an opportunity to cut down on labor costs (personnel-related headaches). But the truth is more complicated. Over the past year, people in both the corporate and technology worlds have been quick to stress that AI will assist human workers, not replace them. And that narrative has been picked up by people at the management level, as a new survey from Beautiful.ai seems to suggest. The firm, which sells an AI presentation builder, surveyed 3,000 managers and found that as AI tool use in the workplace rises, most doubt that AI can or should replace human workers. The percentage who said their teams wouldn’t function well if some humans were replaced by AI rose 20% over last year’s survey, to 63% of respondents. And only 30% think replacing staff with AI would be financially beneficial—down 17% from 2024. Meanwhile, 65% say employee resistance to AI remains a top concern. It’s hard to say how much these managers are simply parroting the PR du jour to a surveyor. But it does raise the concern that as real workers begin to gain experience with AI tools, confidence in their potential for actually altering workflows doesn’t seem to be growing. Meanwhile, a survey by HR software provider G-P finds that 67% of U.S. executives remain willing to cut headcount and use AI to become 50% more productive. More AI coverage from Fast Company: What ‘Ex Machina’ got right (and wrong) about AI, 10 years later Docusign expands beyond signatures with new AI-powered contract management tools The next big AI shift in media? Turning news into a 2-way conversation Krea, an Adobe for the AI era, discusses its $500 million vision Want exclusive reporting and trend analysis on technology, business innovation, future of work, and design? Sign up for Fast Company Premium. View the full article

Decision by federal court heightens the risks that Silicon Valley behemoth will need to sell assets View the full article

The The President administration on Wednesday sued Maine for not complying with the government’s push to ban transgender athletes in girls and women’s sports, escalating a dispute over whether the state is abiding by a federal law that bars discrimination in education based on sex. The lawsuit follows weeks of feuding between the Republican administration and Democratic Gov. Janet Mills that has led to threats to cut off crucial federal funding and a clash at the White House when she told President Donald The President: “We’ll see you in court.” The political overtones of the moment were clear, with Attorney General Pam Bondi — and one of the athletes who joined her on stage at the Justice Department — citing the matter as a priority for The President. Bondi said other states, including Minnesota and California, could be sued as well. “President The President, before he was elected, this has been a huge issue for him,” Bondi said. “Pretty simple: girls play in girls’ sports, boys play in boys’ sports. Men play in men’s sports, women play in women’s sports.” The President campaigned against the participation of transgender athletes in sports in his 2024 race. As president, he has signed executive orders to prohibit that and to use a rigid definition of the sexes, rather than gender, for federal government purposes. The orders are being challenged in court. The President’s departments of Education and Health and Human Services have said Maine’s education agency is violating the federal Title IX antidiscrimination law by allowing transgender girls to participate on girls teams. The Justice Department is asking the court to order the state to direct all schools to prohibit the participation of males in athletic competition designated for females. Maine officials have refused to agree with a settlement that would have banned transgender students from sports, arguing that the law does not prevent schools from letting transgender athletes participate. Mills said Wednesday that the lawsuit was expected and is part of a pressure campaign by Washington to force Maine to ignore its own human rights laws. “This matter has never been about school sports or the protection of women and girls, as has been claimed, it is about states rights and defending the rule of law against a federal government bent on imposing its will, instead of upholding the law,” Mills said in a statement. Maine’s attorney general, Aaron Frey, said Wednesday he is confident Maine is acting in accordance with state and federal law. “Our position is further bolstered by the complete lack of any legal citation supporting the Administration’s position in its own complaint,” he said in a statement. “While the President issued an executive order that reflects his own interpretation of the law, anyone with the most basic understanding of American civics understands the president does not create law nor interpret law.” The government’s complaint cites as examples the case of a transgender athlete who in February won first place in pole vault at a Maine indoor track and field meet and a transgender athlete who last year began competing in female cross country races in the state and placed first in a girl’s 5K run. The lawsuit reflects a stark philosophical turnabout from the position on gender identity issues taken during Democratic administrations. Under President Joe Biden, the government tried to extend civil rights policies to protect transgender people. In 2016, the Justice Department, then led by Attorney General Loretta Lynch, sued North Carolina over a law that required transgender people to use public restrooms and showers that corresponded the gender on their birth certificate. The President signed an executive order in February, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” that gave federal agencies wide latitude to ensure entities that receive federal funding abide by Title IX in alignment with his administration’s interpretation of “sex” as the gender someone was assigned at birth. Bondi was joined at the news conference by former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines, who has emerged as a public face of the opposition to transgender athletes. Gaines tied with a transgender athlete for fifth place in a 2022 NCAA championship and has testified before lawmakers across the country on the issue. She and others frame the issue as women’s rights. During a February meeting with governors, The President threatened to pull federal funding from Maine if the state did not comply with his executive order. Mills responded: “We’ll see you in court.” Maine sued the administration this month after the Department of Agriculture said it was pausing some money for the state’s educational programs because of what the administration contended was Maine’s failure to comply with the Title IX law. A federal judge on Friday ordered the administration to unfreeze funds intended for a Maine child nutrition program. Questions over the rights of transgender people have become a major political issue in the past five years. Twenty-six states have laws or policies barring transgender girls from girls school sports. GOP-controlled states have also been banning gender-affirming health care for transgender minors and restricting bathroom use in schools and sometimes other public buildings. Whittle reported from Portland, Maine. Associated Press writer Geoff Mulvihill in Philadelphia contributed to this report. —Alanna Durkin Richer, Eric Tucker and Patrick Whittle, Associated Press View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Though people talk about the auteur revolution of the 1970s, or the warm, populist glow of neon-soaked ‘80s movies, the 1990s were an incredibly assured time in filmmaking. Romantic comedies went deeper and darker; Black filmmakers were rising to the forefront and telling their own stories; and technology had advanced to the point that things that had never been possible before were suddenly up on the screen. Plus, it was still an era when a mega-blockbuster might be an Edwardian period drama set on a boat with not a single superhero in sight. Strange days, truly. What's Love Got to Do With It? (1993) I'm not the only one who'll die on the hill of "Angela Bassett was robbed at the Oscars" (no disrespect to Best Actress Holly Hunter), but regardless, her performance here is wildly memorable, elevating what might have been a more standard biopic with a committed performance that never feels like mimicry. Tina Turner's life story has such a powerful dramatic arc that it would have been hard for a movie to go too far wrong. You can stream What's Love Got to Do With It? on Hulu or rent it from Prime Video. What's Love Got to Do With It? (1993) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu Boyz n the Hood (1990) Writer/director John Singleton’s debut earned him an Academy Award nomination, and the movie’s reputation has only grown with time. The movie follows Tre (Cuba Gooding Jr.) as he’s sent to live with his father (Laurence Fishburne) in South Central LA, with the pressures of gang culture all around him. You can stream Boyz n the Hood on Starz or rent it from Prime Video. Boyz n the Hood (1990) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video 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 many 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 on Netflix and Max or rent it from Prime Video. Goodfellas (1990) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Sleepless in Seattle (1993) It’s easy to forget that Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan don’t meet for nearly the entirety of the movie—that’s how memorable their chemistry is. A kid’s request (to a very-1990s radio talk show) for a new girlfriend for his grieving dad culminates in a memorable meeting at the Empire State Building. You can rent Sleepless in Seattle from Prime Video. Sleepless in Seattle (1993) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Waiting to Exhale (1996) This Terry McMillan adaptation about the power of female friendships has an all-time great cast led by Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, and Lela Rochon. You can stream Waiting to Exhale on Hulu or rent it from Prime Video. Waiting to Exhale (1996) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu The Crow (1994) In spite, or perhaps because of, its behind-the-scenes tragedy, Brandon Lee's look and performance here made the movie a touchstone for an entire generation of tatted-up, moody goth kids. Director Alex Proyas' signature visual style is on full display here. You can stream The Crow on Kanopy or rent it from Prime Video. The Crow (1994) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Dazed and Confused (1993) A surprisingly smart high school stoner movie from writer/director Richard Linklater, Dazed and Confused follows a bunch of rowdy Austin teens on the last day of school in 1976. The cast is great, and the ‘70s soundtrack isn’t bad, either. You can stream Dazed and Confused on Prime Video. Dazed and Confused (1993) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Boogie Nights (1997) Paul Thomas Anderson's first film, Hard Eight, became a cult classic but didn't make a penny at the box office; just a year later, though, he broke through with this period epic set during the golden age of porn of the 1970s. Mark Wahlberg plays Dirk Diggler, who rises and falls in his career as a porn star, while Julianne Moore and Burt Reynolds earned Oscar nominations, as did Anderson for his screenplay. You can rent Boogie Nights from Prime Video. Boogie Nights (1997) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Eve's Bayou (1997) Kasi Lemmons' Southern Gothic drama is a sultry, genre-busting triumph. Jurnee Smollett plays 10-year-old Eve Batiste, who witnesses her father's infidelity, but is made to doubt her own eyes. Tensions build within the family as the extent of her father's betrayal becomes more clear, and Eve turns to her Aunt Mozelle, a gifted Hoodoo practitioner who helps Eve develop her own gifts. You can stream Eve's Bayou on Peacock or rent it from Prime Video. Eve's Bayou (1997) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock The Truman Show (1998) A rather shockingly prescient comedy-drama from director Peter Weir (Picnic at Hanging Rock, Dead Poets Society), Truman stars Jim Carrey (transitioning into his serious-actor era) as Truman Burbank, a man who doesn't realize that he's the subject of a popular reality show, his whole life on display for the amusement of countless viewers. The science fiction-light premise would soon become our daily reality. You can stream The Truman Show on Hulu, Kanopy, and Paramount+ or rent it from Prime Video. The Truman Show (1998) at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ Terminator 2 (1991) James Cameron re-teamed Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger for this action-blockbuster sequel that took everything great about the first one and turned up the dial. A deeply satisfying sci-fi spectacle. You can stream T2 on Paramount+ and Kanopy or rent it from Prime Video. Terminator 2 (1991) at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993) Both Sister Acts are great, but if it’s a ‘90s vibe you’re going for, this one involves Whoopi Goldberg’s Deloris Van Cartier putting the band (of nuns) back together to save a city school facing closure. It all culminates in a stage performance including jams, baggy overalls, white-boy rap, and Lauryn Hill. This will be a primary source for historians of the era. You can stream Sister Act 2 on Disney+ or rent it from Prime Video. Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993) at Disney+ Learn More Learn More at Disney+ Bound (1996) A wildly sexy neo-noir involving ex-con Corky (Gina Gershon) and Mafia moll Violet (Jennifer Tilly), in which the two display all-time great cinematic chemistry while using their relationship to egg on the straight-male insecurities of mobster Caesar (Joe Pantoliano). The Wachowskis came on strong in their feature debut. You can stream Bound on Pluto TV or rent it from Prime Video. Bound (1996) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Living End (1992) New Queer Cinema pioneer Gregg Araki’s best-known film is likely Mysterious Skin, but his angry, freewheeling early work The Living End is the purest expression of his talents as a filmmaker. Araki's movie is a primal scream in which a couple of HIV-positive drifters kill a homophobic cop and take off on a “fuck everything”-themed road trip. You can stream The Living End on Kanopy or rent it from Prime Video. The Living End (1992) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Toy Story (1995) Near the dawn of digital filmmaking, Pixar came along with strong case that, in the right human hands, computer animation could have heart and soul. Tom Hanks leads an all-star voice cast in the much-beloved movie about a bunch of toys who come to life whenever Andy isn't looking. You can stream Toy Story on Disney+ or rent it from Prime Video. Toy Story (1995) at Disney+ Learn More Learn More at Disney+ The Blair Witch Project (1999) So convincing was the found-footage illusion here that people believed that they were watching the real thing. Of course, we’re far less gullible now. You can stream The Blair Witch Project on Kanopy or rent it from Prime Video. The Blair Witch Project (1999) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Watermelon Woman (1996) Cheryl Dunye’s indie rom-com finds lead Cheryl exploring the history of a fictional Black golden age film star while simultaneously looking for love and trying to hold onto her job at the video store. The movie explores complicated topics without ever succumbing to self-seriousness. You can stream The Watermelon Woman on The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. The Watermelon Woman (1996) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Candyman (1992) From an era during which Black characters in horror movies were pretty much exclusively victims, Tony Todd's chilling, seductive Daniel Robitaille stalks Chicago's Cabrini-Green housing project to avenge the racial violence of the past, as well as to reclaim a lost love. You can rent Candyman from Prime Video. Candyman (1992) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Mulan (1998) "Be a man," one of the movie's catchiest songs demands, but there's a double meaning; our lead is a young woman taking her father's place to defend Imperial China from a Xiongnu invasion. Slightly underrated, at least in Disney terms, it's a fun and action-packed musical, and proves that women can do anything men can do—and that cross-dressing is a viable path to success. You can stream Mulan on Disney+ or rent it from Prime Video. Mulan (1998) at Disney+ Learn More Learn More at Disney+ Office Space (1999) The great King of the Hill was just a couple of seasons in, and fans of Mike Judge's Beavis and Butt-head might have been forgiven for not expecting the kind of trenchant satire that Office Space provides. If anything, the film's take on the pointless forms and stapler-hoarding that make up the world of the modern white-collar worker feels more accurate now than ever. You can stream Office Space on Hulu or rent it from Prime Video. Office Space (1999) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu Jurassic Park (1993) Steven Spielberg’s dino drama remains a favorite. Even more shocking, the special effects remain impressive despite decades of innovations. It's still the dinosaur-rampage movie to beat. You can stream Jurassic Park on Hulu or rent it from Prime Video. Jurassic Park (1993) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu The Addams Family (1991) Director Barry Sonnenfeld and company have a ton of fun in expanding Addams Family lore into a full-blown tribute to weirdness—just when we needed it most. Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd, and Christina Ricci head the stacked cast. The sequel is even better. You can stream The Addams Family on Netflix or rent it from Prime Video. The Addams Family (1991) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Brady Bunch Movie (1995) The joke here is that the goofy Brady family of the very ‘70s sitcom are living their lives in a pseudo-punk ‘90s. It shouldn’t work at feature length, but the commitment to the bit—and to replicating the look and feel of the beloved sitcom—makes it a camp classic. You can stream The Brady Bunch Movie on Kanopy or rent it from Prime Video. The Brady Bunch Movie (1995) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Poetic Justice (1993) John Singleton followed up Boyz N the Hood with this comparatively mellow romantic drama, with leads Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur offering up impressive, moving lead performances. You can stream Poetic Justice on Starz or rent it from Prime Video. Poetic Justice (1993) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The First Wives Club (1996) It’s not Shakespeare, but Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, and Diane Keaton are great fun as three divorcées seeking revenge on the husbands who left them for younger women. The finale, set to “You Don’t Own Me,” is cheer-worthy. You can stream The First Wives Club on Paramount+ and Kanopy or rent it from Prime Video. The First Wives Club (1996) at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) One of the decade’s great rom-coms has a requisite tragic setup that builds to not only a great romance, but several memorable Bollywood dance numbers. You can stream Kuch Kuch Hota Hai on Netflix and Prime Video. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Princess Mononoke (1997) Another triumph from Hayao Miyazaki, Princess Mononoke is set in a fantasy medieval Japan. Ashitaka is infected in an animal attack, and seeks a natural cure—only to discover that humanity’s activities have angered the gods and thrown off the natural balance. If it’s not the director’s best, it’s one that best sums up his talents. You can stream Princess Mononoke on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Princess Mononoke (1997) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet (1996) After the director's phenomenal Strictly Ballroom, Baz Luhrmann broke into the mainstream in a big way by going back to Shakespeare. His signature style blends operatic beauty with hyperactive camerawork, and that's all fully on display here, shining a new light on the tragedy with some help from then-teen heartthrobs Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. You can stream Romeo + Juliet on Hulu or rent it from Prime Video. William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet (1996) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Pulp Fiction (1994) Quentin Tarantino made quite a splash with this retro-style, endlessly quotable, non-linear neo-noir packed full of memorable scenes. Uma Thurman is phenomenal, but there’s no weak link in the large ensemble. You can stream Pulp Fiction on Hulu, Peacock, and Pluto TV, or rent it from Prime Video. Pulp Fiction (1994) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock Ghost in the Shell (1995) Rather artfully blending CGI and cel animation, Ghost in the Shell involves cyborg agent Maj. Motoko Kusanagi trailing a man who hacks minds. Like Blade Runner before it, the movie explores the nature of human consciousness and the idea that we might be just another kind of machine. You can stream Ghost in the Shell on Kanopy and Pluto TV or rent it from Prime Video. Ghost in the Shell (1995) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Ghost (1990) Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore at the height of their box-office powers lead this clever and crowd-pleasing supernatural romance about a banker murdered in a seemingly random attack, and the girlfriend he leaves behind. Bruce Joel Rubin won an Academy Award for the screenplay, and Whoopi Goldberg took home an Oscar for her scene-stealing performance, even if it was clearly a belated prize for The Color Purple. You can stream Ghost on Kanopy and Paramount+ or rent it from Prime Video. Ghost (1990) at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ Blade (1998) A Marvel movie before there was such a thing, Blade stars Wesley Snipes as the thoroughly bad-ass title character: He's a vampire who can walk in the daylight, hunting the world's more conspicuously evil bloodsuckers for funsies. The movie is appropriately bloody and endlessly stylish, and leads to an even better sequel directed by Guillermo del Toro. You can rent Blade from Prime Video. Blade (1998) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) Every generation, it seems, gets its own Tom Ripley. Adaptations of the Patricia Highsmith novel series are, perhaps, more ubiquitous than viewers even realize: Purple Noon, The American Friend, and the John Malkovich-starring Ripley's Game are just a few examples, alongside the spiritual successor Saltburn and now joined by the Netflix series Ripley. This one swims near the top in that sea of sociopaths, with Anthony Minghella's confident, stylish direction lending deniability and likability to Matt Damon's Ripley, a killer and a con man you almost feel bad for. You can stream The Talented Mr. Ripley on Paramount+ or rent it from Prime Video. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ Happy Together (1997) Wong Kar-wai's romantic drama stars Leslie Cheung and Tony Leung Chiu-wai as a pair of lovers in a tempestuous and, frankly, ill-conceived relationship in Buenos Aires. There's not much of a plot here, but it's not necessary: These two are hypnotic, as are Wong's flawless pacing and Christopher Doyle's cinematography. You can stream Happy Together on Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Happy Together (1997) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Showgirls (1995) As with most of Paul Verhoeven's other films, it's possible to view his notoriously trashy film as either dark satire or unintended camp. It's tremendous fun either way and, though it quickly gained a reputation as garbage, it's far more watchable than many other better-reviewed films. You can stream Showgirls on Tubi and Pluto TV. Showgirls (1995) at Tubi Learn More Learn More at Tubi Edward Scissorhands (1990) Tim Burton was at the top of his game when he directed this deeply weird but sweet fable that also served as a fitting swan song for Vincent Price. You can stream Edward Scissorhands on Disney+ or rent it from Prime Video. Edward Scissorhands (1990) at Disney+ Learn More Learn More at Disney+ Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion (1997) Approaching 30, our leads (Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow) haven’t achieved much of significance, so they decide to beef up their resumes—with mixed results. Sorvino and Kudrow are so charmingly stupid here that it’s impossible not to root for them against the mean girls. Amid all the broad comedy, the movie makes a good case that it’s better to be a slacker than an ambitious jerk. You can rent Romy and Michele from Prime Video. Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion (1997) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Love Jones (1997) The chemistry between Larenz Tate and Nia Long is off the charts after they meet in a Chicago club. Their passionate connection is threatened by old relationships and her impending move to New York. You can rent Love Jones from Prime Video. Love Jones (1997) Learn More Learn More Ring (1998) Before the (quite good) American remake, there was the excellent Japanese original about a mysterious tape that curses its viewers to death over the course of seven days. The image of Sadako climbing out of a TV is indelible. You can stream Ring on Shudder, Kanopy, and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Ring (1998) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Malcolm X (1992) Spike Lee brings his signature directorial style to this epic, ensuring that this plays as far more than a typical biopic. Denzel Washington absolutely disappears into the lead role. You can stream Malcolm X on Paramount+ or rent it from Prime Video. Malcolm X (1992) at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ Before Sunrise (1995) Richard Linklater follows Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Céline (Julie Delpy) as two people who meet on a train and spend a night walking the streets of Vienna and chatting about life and love. That's really all there is to it, but it's all written and performed with such intelligence and emotional honestly that it feels as though we're getting a very full meal indeed, surpassed only by its even-better 2004 sequel. You can rent Before Sunrise from Prime Video. Before Sunrise (1995) Learn More Learn More Friday (1995) Craig and Smokey (Ice Cube and Chris Tucker) are just a couple of guys hanging out hoping for something to do. They shoulda been careful what they wished for, as this one impossible Friday will see them involved with burglaries, shoot-outs, and excessively horny pastors. As in all the best buddy/stoner comedies, it's all in goofy fun. You can stream Friday on Max and Netflix or rent it from Prime Video. Friday (1995) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Babe (1995) Mad Max director George Miller, alongside Chris Noonan (who was nominated for two Oscars here) crafted this big-hearted but darkly comic all-ages barnyard fable. It was so influential that star James Cromwell immediately gave up eating meat. You can stream Babe on Peacock or rent it from Prime Video. Babe (1995) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock Heat (1995) Michael Mann’s crime drama pits an LAPD detective against a career criminal, their cat-and-mouse game revealing that they’re as similar as they are different. Al Pacino and Robert De Niro are at the tops of their mid-career games. You can stream Heat on Netflix or rent it from Prime Video. Heat (1995) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Scream (1996) Wes Craven reinvented slasher movies with this funny, bloody, clever film that breaks down and breaks apart everything we love about the genre. We’re still living in the horror flick world that Craven created, and not just because this franchise is still going, stronger than ever. You can stream Scream on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Scream (1996) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Menace II Society (1993) The Hughes Brothers’ early masterpiece, Menace believably recreates the world of LA’s Watts and Crenshaw neighborhoods in the era, with Tyrin Turner’s Caine looking to escape from violence—only to find himself drawn deeper in. You can stream Menace II Society on Pluto TV or rent it from Prime Video. Menace II Society (1993) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video White Men Can’t Jump (1992) Wesley Snipes gives a smart, funny performance in this basketball-themed comedy-drama, as does Woody Harrelson—though, of course, Rosie Perez steals every scene she’s in. It was one of director Stanley Kubrick’s favorite movies. You can stream White Men Can't Jump on Hulu or rent it from Prime Video. White Men Can’t Jump (1992) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu Def by Temptation (1990) James Bond III writes, directs, and stars in this classic horror film as Joel, a minister from a long line of ministers who nevertheless becomes disillusioned and heads off to NYC to visit his old friend, K (Kadeem Hardison). As it turns out, the first attractive woman (Cynthia Bond) that Joel meets during a night out is a literal succubus, preying on unsuspecting Black men. Samuel L. Jackson and Bill Nunn also star. You can stream Def by Temptation on Shudder, Prime Video, and Peacock. Def by Temptation (1990) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock Party Girl (1995) An irresponsible club kid (an absolutely unforgettable Parker Posey) gets bailed out of jail (she threw an illegal rave) by her librarian godmother and is forced to get a job cataloguing books to get her life back on track. It's a brilliantly funny indie comedy, but also a surprisingly authentic recreation of rave culture of the time, displaying some actual diversity and dodging all of the common tropes. You can stream Party Girl on Hulu, Peacock, and The Criterion Channel, or rent it from Prime Video. Party Girl (1995) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock Titanic (1997) In a modern world of blockbusters designed to be as comforting and non-threatening as possible, be the movie that made an entire generation of moviegoers loudly sob. You can stream Titanic on Prime Video. Titanic (1997) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video View the full article

Housing starts in the US fell in March by the most in a year, as weak demand from high prices and mortgage rates gives builders little confidence to break ground. View the full article

A new report released by Frontegg highlights a growing frustration among American consumers over login issues, especially password resets, which are pushing users to abandon purchases, accounts, and even paid subscriptions. The findings suggest that businesses may be losing significant revenue due to cumbersome authentication processes. According to the study, 87% of Americans have abandoned an account sign-up or purchase because of login difficulties. Password-related obstacles top the list, with 42% saying they’ve ditched an online cart specifically because they needed to reset a password to check out. The data underscores the delicate balance companies must strike between maintaining account security and delivering a frictionless user experience. “Logins can be so inconvenient that they drive customers away,” the report states. Even frequent online shoppers—those who buy from websites multiple times per week—were more likely to leave a cart behind, with 92% saying they had done so due to login issues. The average value of an abandoned cart was $85, and 13% of respondents said they walked away from orders worth $150 or more. The study also shows that complex password requirements contribute to abandonment. Users who found password rules too long or complex were 46% more likely to give up on a purchase. Two-thirds of Americans have stopped using a website entirely due to login hassles, and 55% did so after forgetting their password. One in five have even been locked out of a paid subscription service. Security practices appear to be adding to user frustration. Despite their intention to protect, mandatory password resets may backfire, leading users to select weaker and more predictable passwords. The study cites current guidance from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which now advises against forced password resets. When it comes to password management, consumer habits vary widely. While 39% of Americans use secure password managers, 16% still reuse the same password for most accounts. Gen Z led in risky behavior, with 23% reusing passwords and 9% admitting to choosing simple, easy-to-remember passwords. Password fatigue is another clear issue, with 57% of respondents reporting they are overwhelmed by managing login credentials. Among baby boomers, that number rises to 69%. Fourteen percent of Americans frequently reset their passwords because they can’t remember them, treating them as temporary gatekeepers rather than secure credentials. The report indicates that users are ready for alternatives. Nearly half (49%) said they would prefer a passwordless login experience, and 19% would even pay a fee to eliminate passwords. Biometrics emerged as the most trusted authentication method, favored by 41% of respondents. Single sign-on (SSO) was preferred by 12%, with higher adoption among Gen Z at 16%. Complex authentication systems like multi-factor authentication (MFA) also posed challenges, with 62% of respondents having been locked out due to these added layers. Banking and financial services were cited as having the most difficult login experiences, with 43% identifying them as the hardest to navigate. The study concludes that login friction is costing businesses more than they realize. More than half of Americans (52%) said they would consider switching to a competitor offering a simpler login experience. To remain competitive, Frontegg’s report suggests businesses rethink authentication by prioritizing seamless, secure, and low-friction login solutions. The findings are based on a survey of 1,003 Americans and provide a detailed view of how login processes impact user behavior, security perceptions, and customer loyalty. Image: Envato This article, "Frontegg Study Reveals Password Resets Are Driving Users Away" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

A new report released by Frontegg highlights a growing frustration among American consumers over login issues, especially password resets, which are pushing users to abandon purchases, accounts, and even paid subscriptions. The findings suggest that businesses may be losing significant revenue due to cumbersome authentication processes. According to the study, 87% of Americans have abandoned an account sign-up or purchase because of login difficulties. Password-related obstacles top the list, with 42% saying they’ve ditched an online cart specifically because they needed to reset a password to check out. The data underscores the delicate balance companies must strike between maintaining account security and delivering a frictionless user experience. “Logins can be so inconvenient that they drive customers away,” the report states. Even frequent online shoppers—those who buy from websites multiple times per week—were more likely to leave a cart behind, with 92% saying they had done so due to login issues. The average value of an abandoned cart was $85, and 13% of respondents said they walked away from orders worth $150 or more. The study also shows that complex password requirements contribute to abandonment. Users who found password rules too long or complex were 46% more likely to give up on a purchase. Two-thirds of Americans have stopped using a website entirely due to login hassles, and 55% did so after forgetting their password. One in five have even been locked out of a paid subscription service. Security practices appear to be adding to user frustration. Despite their intention to protect, mandatory password resets may backfire, leading users to select weaker and more predictable passwords. The study cites current guidance from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which now advises against forced password resets. When it comes to password management, consumer habits vary widely. While 39% of Americans use secure password managers, 16% still reuse the same password for most accounts. Gen Z led in risky behavior, with 23% reusing passwords and 9% admitting to choosing simple, easy-to-remember passwords. Password fatigue is another clear issue, with 57% of respondents reporting they are overwhelmed by managing login credentials. Among baby boomers, that number rises to 69%. Fourteen percent of Americans frequently reset their passwords because they can’t remember them, treating them as temporary gatekeepers rather than secure credentials. The report indicates that users are ready for alternatives. Nearly half (49%) said they would prefer a passwordless login experience, and 19% would even pay a fee to eliminate passwords. Biometrics emerged as the most trusted authentication method, favored by 41% of respondents. Single sign-on (SSO) was preferred by 12%, with higher adoption among Gen Z at 16%. Complex authentication systems like multi-factor authentication (MFA) also posed challenges, with 62% of respondents having been locked out due to these added layers. Banking and financial services were cited as having the most difficult login experiences, with 43% identifying them as the hardest to navigate. The study concludes that login friction is costing businesses more than they realize. More than half of Americans (52%) said they would consider switching to a competitor offering a simpler login experience. To remain competitive, Frontegg’s report suggests businesses rethink authentication by prioritizing seamless, secure, and low-friction login solutions. The findings are based on a survey of 1,003 Americans and provide a detailed view of how login processes impact user behavior, security perceptions, and customer loyalty. Image: Envato This article, "Frontegg Study Reveals Password Resets Are Driving Users Away" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Welcome to “Cookbook of the Week.” This is a series where I highlight cookbooks that are unique, easy to use, or just special to me. While finding a particular recipe online serves a quick purpose, flipping through a truly excellent cookbook has a magic all its own. I cook on a daily basis (no surprises there), and most of the time, the meals I make hit the spot. But there are some special meals I make that spur a spontaneous exclamation from my partner, or make me shake my head in disbelief that all of my intentions for this dish have been realized. The meal I made yesterday did exactly that, and the recipe was from Pakistan, my cookbook of the week. About the bookPakistan is a new release, and the debut cookbook from Maryam Jillani. This cookbook, with possibly the most vibrant and mesmerizing cover I’ve ever seen, presents an expansive view of what Pakistani food is. Jillani includes dishes from Islamabad to Karachi in Pakistan but also dishes that originated in India and Afghanistan. It reminds me of when I learned that many of my favorite Thai dishes were originally from other places, like sweet and savory pad see ew from China, and thin, flaky Thai roti making its way over from India. Cuisine is not completely bound by borders and, like language, it influences neighbors and changes over time. Pakistan has a recipe for every craving you might have, like street food snacks, vegetarian sides, desserts, and hearty meat dishes. It is complete with chapter breaks that pair personal stories with beautiful photography—food, people cooking, and landscapes—all with a rather hypnotic contrast of light and shadow. While this might just be an artist’s trained eye coordinating lovely visuals, I can’t help but connect the balance and contrast in the photography with how the flavors present themselves in the dishes of Pakistan. A great cookbook for the fearless flavor seekerThis is not a cookbook for a person on a diet. It’s not going to be a fun cookbook for a person that says, “Oh I don’t do (fill in the blank).” Whether it’s a healthy dose of frying oil, a bold teaspoon of Kashmiri red chili powder, or sweet and tart tamarind paste, this cookbook is for the fearless. It’s for the home cook who purchased that mango powder in the Asian market but doesn’t know the first place to use it. Because the fearless cooks know that being surprised by new seasoning, ingredients, and flavors are likely going to be a massive revelation for your cooking as a whole. You enjoy new combinations and then you start using them in your own, brand new concoctions. That said, be aware that this cookbook may include ingredients that are hard to source for you depending on your region. While plain yogurt might be at your local supermarket, carom seeds or fresh curry leaves may not be. But don’t let that stop you in your tracks; there are a fair amount of recipes that completely use ingredients available in Western supermarkets. Additionally, Pakistan has an excellent section in the front of the book that discusses the fresh herbs and spices used in the recipes and how to substitute them if they can be. The dish I made this week Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann This week, I made Borani Banjan, or Afghan-Style Fried Eggplant in Yogurt. My partner and I ended up eating it alongside some pan-fried chicken thighs, and this is the meal that made us both stop and appreciate the food on our plates. I’d say this recipe is an eggplant-forward dish, but there are onions and tomatoes that share the spotlight. I chose it because the headnote says it’s well-loved for being so straightforward in preparation (I do love that) and because the picture showed me how it was to be served—red-orange stewed veggies over a sweep of tangy yogurt and herbs sprinkled over the top. I adore well-cooked (mushy) eggplant over yogurt. Add a spicy, salty sauce, and I have achieved all goals for the day. The recipe consisted of ingredients I grabbed easily at the store, barring the Kashmiri chili, sadly. I only had cayenne in my cabinet, so I said, "screw it," and used that instead. While I can’t wait to try this recipe with the indicated chili powder, I had the time of my life eating this tangy, warming, bitter, salty dish. The eggplant slices get fried in cooking oil, set aside, and other ingredients then get cooked in more oil. The eggplant gets added back in and everything steams together to make a robust and spicy side dish. Served on the cooling yogurt, you’re hit with hot, cold, herbal dry mint, and round background notes from the veggies and turmeric. It was a wild ride of massive flavors, and now I want more where that came from. How to buy itThe hardcover of Pakistan is stunning, so I’d recommend you go all out and get it. But I understand that if you’re a voracious cookbook reader, you might prefer the less obtrusive ebook for a lower price. As with most new hardcover cookbooks, you’ll likely be able to spot it easily at your local brick and mortar bookstore too. Pakistan: Recipes and Stories from Home Kitchens, Restaurants, and Roadside Stands $9.99 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $9.99 at Amazon View the full article

Elon Musk’s SpaceX and two partners have emerged as frontrunners to win a crucial part of President Donald The President’s “Golden Dome” missile defense shield, six people familiar with the matter said. Musk’s rocket and satellite company is partnering with software maker Palantir and drone builder Anduril on a bid to build key parts of Golden Dome, the sources said, which has drawn significant interest from the technology sector’s burgeoning base of defense startups. In his January 27 executive order, The President cited a missile attack as “the most catastrophic threat facing the United States.” All three companies were founded by entrepreneurs who have been major political supporters of The President. Musk has donated more than a quarter of a billion dollars to help elect The President, and now serves as a special adviser to the president working to cut government spending through his Department of Government Efficiency. Despite the Pentagon’s positive signals to the SpaceX group, some sources stressed the decision process for The President’s Golden Dome is in its early stages. Its ultimate structure and who is selected to work on it could change dramatically in the coming months. The three companies met with top officials in the The President administration and the Pentagon in recent weeks to pitch their plan, which would build and launch 400 to more than 1,000 satellites circling the globe to sense missiles and track their movement, sources said. A separate fleet of 200 attack satellites armed with missiles or lasers would then bring enemy missiles down, three of the sources said. The SpaceX group is not expected to be involved in the weaponization of satellites, these sources said. One of the sources familiar with the talks described them as “a departure from the usual acquisition process. There’s an attitude that the national security and defense community has to be sensitive and deferential to Elon Musk because of his role in the government.” SpaceX and Musk have declined to comment on whether Musk is involved in any of the discussions or negotiations involving federal contracts with his businesses. The Pentagon did not respond to detailed questions from Reuters, only saying it will deliver “options to the President for his decision in line with the executive order and in alignment with White House guidance and timelines.” The White House, SpaceX, Palantir, and Anduril also did not respond to questions. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE In an unusual twist, SpaceX has proposed setting up its role in Golden Dome as a “subscription service” in which the government would pay for access to the technology, rather than own the system outright. The subscription model, which has not been previously reported, could skirt some Pentagon procurement protocols allowing the system to be rolled out faster, the two sources said. While the approach would not violate any rules, the government may then be locked into a subscription and lose control over its ongoing development and pricing, they added. Some Pentagon officials have expressed concerns internally about relying on the subscription-based model for any part of the Golden Dome, two sources told Reuters. Such an arrangement would be unusual for such a large and critical defense program. U.S. Space Force General Michael Guetlein has been in talks on whether SpaceX should be the owner and operator of its part of the system, the two sources said. Other options include having the U.S. own and operate the system, or having the U.S. own it while contractors handle operations. Guetlein did not respond to a request for comment. Retired Air Force General Terrence O’Shaughnessy, a top SpaceX advisor to Musk, has been involved in the company’s recent discussions with senior defense and intelligence leaders, the two sources said. O’Shaughnessy did not respond to requests for comment. Should the group led by SpaceX win a Golden Dome contract, it would be the biggest win for Silicon Valley in the lucrative defense contracting industry and a blow to the traditional contractors. However, those long-standing contractors, such as Northrop Grumman, Boeing and RTX are expected to be big players in the process as well, people familiar with the companies said. Lockheed Martin put up a webpage as a part of its marketing efforts. MANY BIDS The Pentagon has received interest from more than 180 companies keen to help develop and build the Golden Dome, according to a U.S. official, including defense startups like Epirus, Ursa Major, and Armada. Members of the White House’s National Security Council were briefed by a handful of companies about their capabilities, four sources said. The Pentagon’s number two, former private equity investor Steve Feinberg, will be a key decision-maker for Golden Dome, two U.S. defense officials said. Feinberg co-founded Cerberus Capital Management which has invested in the cutting-edge hypersonic missiles industry but not in SpaceX. Feinberg, who did not respond to a request for comment, has said he would divest of all his interests in Cerberus when he joined the administration. Some experts believe the overall cost for Golden Dome could reach hundreds of billions of dollars. The Pentagon established several timelines for capabilities to be delivered starting with early 2026 to those delivered after 2030. SpaceX is pitching for the part of the Golden Dome initiative called the “custody layer,” a constellation of satellites that would detect missiles, track their trajectory, and determine if they are heading toward the U.S., according to two sources familiar with SpaceX’s goals. SpaceX has estimated the preliminary engineering and design work for the custody layer of satellites would cost between $6 billion and $10 billion, two of the sources said. In the past five years, SpaceX has launched hundreds of operational spy satellites and more recently several prototypes, which could be retrofitted to be used for the project, the sources said. Reuters reviewed an internal Pentagon memo from Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth issued shortly before a February 28 deadline to senior Pentagon leadership asking them for initial Golden Dome proposals and calling for the “acceleration of the deployment” of constellations of satellites. The time frame could give SpaceX an advantage because of its fleet of rockets, including the Falcon 9, and existing satellites that could be repurposed for the missile defense shield, the people familiar with the plan said. Despite these advantages, some of those familiar with the discussions said it was uncertain whether the SpaceX group would be able to efficiently set up a system with new technology in a cost-effective way that can protect the United States from attack. “It remains to be seen whether SpaceX and these tech companies will be able to pull any of this off,” said one of the sources. “They’ve never had to deliver on an entire system that the nation will need to rely on for its defense.” —Mike Stone and Marisa Taylor, Reuters View the full article

In a post on his social media platform Thursday morning, the president criticized the Federal Reserve's reluctance to lower rates and said the chair's departure "could not come soon enough." View the full article