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Ryan Donovan, the Council of Federal Home Loan Banks' CEO, foresees affordable housing mandates becoming more focused on home supply than demand. View the full article

OpenAI released a new base model on Thursday called GPT-4.5, which the company said is its best and smartest model for chat yet. It’s not a reasoning model like OpenAI’s o1 and o3 models, but it can be used to train other models to be reasoning models. Notably, GPT-4.5 was trained using 10 times the computing power (scores of GPUs in data centers) than its predecessor, GPT-4o. The result is a model whose outputs feel more natural and human, OpenAI said in its press release, and demonstrate a better general understanding of the world. Its writing and programming skills are better, and it hallucinates less. It also displays a higher level of emotional intelligence about the user and what they’re trying to do. For example, when prompted with “I’m going through a tough time after failing a test,” the model responded: “Aw, I’m really sorry to hear that. Failing a test can feel pretty tough and discouraging, but remember, it’s just one moment—not a reflection of who you are or your capabilities.” OpenAI cofounder and former researcher Andrej Karpathy, who got early access to the model, posted on X that the improvements are subtle but meaningful. “Everything is a little bit better and it’s awesome, but also not exactly in ways that are trivial to point to,” Karpathy continued; also, the model appears to have improved by 20% in everything it does rather than improving by several times over in certain domains or skills. OpenAI said GPT-4.5’s performance proves that supersizing models, training data, and computing power can still produce significant performance gains. However, a debate has been raging over this assertion on X. Karpathy saw evidence of this in his tests: “[I]t is incredibly interesting and exciting as another qualitative measurement of a certain slope of capability that comes ‘for free’ from just pretraining a bigger model.” Of course, “free” is stretching it: Training costs for a model as big as GPT-4.5 could approach $1 billion. OpenAI is releasing GPT-4.5 as a research preview to ChatGPT Pro users and to developers who pay to access OpenAI models through an API. It will become available to ChatGPT Plus and Team users next week, the company says. View the full article

The Fast Company Impact Council is a private membership community of influential leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual membership dues for access to peer learning and thought leadership opportunities, events and more. Ageism in Hollywood is a tale as old as time. It’s well-documented that older women have been less represented in mainstream media and female actors over 40 are less likely to get work compared to their male counterparts. The stigma surrounding aging women in entertainment has been so pervasive that many actresses have felt forced to hide the natural realities of aging. Actress Naomi Watts recently revealed, “I was told I would never work again if I admitted to being menopausal.” Her experience is not unique—many women in the industry have echoed similar sentiments, facing a shrinking pool of opportunities as they age. This year’s award show season has shown that the tides are turning. We’ve started to see a shift with actresses in Hollywood experiencing success later in life. One of the most discussed films of the past year, The Substance, tackles ageism head-on. And in a historic moment, Demi Moore—44 years into her career—won her first Golden Globe at 62 and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. During the Golden Globes, we saw seven of the Best Actress nominations go to women over the age of 40. These nominations signal a growing recognition that talent doesn’t have to have an expiration date. For decades Hollywood has created the perception that women in their 40s and beyond, often when they are perimenopausal or menopausal, are past their primes and reaching the end of their careers. Moore previously shared that she almost quit acting because of ageism and how difficult it can be, particularly for women over 50. However, this cultural shift in Hollywood’s acceptance and celebration of aging women could change how this demographic is represented. Now the question is, will we see other industries shift their perceptions of midlife women? Here’s why they should. Outdated research has failed menopausal women Before looking ahead, we have to understand how we got here. The societal stigma around aging has often overlapped with menopause, and unfortunately, that’s led to a negative perception of this transitional period of a woman’s life. Menopause has been widely understudied. For example, a study in Nature Aging has shown that researchers haven’t properly considered menopause in 99% of studies of the biology of aging. Furthering the stigma, outdated research has led to a lack of treatment options for women experiencing menopause symptoms. The use of hormone therapy to treat menopause symptoms stopped nearly overnight due to a study showing that hormone therapy increased the risks of cancer. However, recent studies have debunked that theory and shown the benefits of hormone therapy outweigh the risks. The lack of research and controversial history around hormone therapy has hurt menopause care and prevented aging women from getting the adequate support they need. That all is changing. What the entertainment industry can teach Companies can take a page from Hollywood’s playbook by supporting and empowering its female senior talent. Women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s are some of the most experienced managers, leaders, and mentors in the workplace. As they age, they are also often at the height of their careers. McKinsey and Lean In found that female leaders contribute more to employee engagement—including creating an inclusive workplace and mentorship—than their male counterparts, and another McKinsey report found that organizations with gender diversity of executive teams were 25% more likely to have above-average profitability compared to those who didn’t. Senior female leaders are an essential part of the workforce. Yet according to our 2022 Menopause in the Workplace report, 46% of working women experiencing menopause said their 50s have been the most difficult time in their careers. Our latest data also showed that 50% of Gen X women have experienced ageism at work. Now is a critical time for companies to step up and support. Organizations must invest in meeting the evolving needs of their midlife female workforce. Investing in menopause support for senior women leaders—such as access to specialized providers, educational resources, and coverage for hormone therapy—enables these women to manage their symptoms effectively, remain at peak productivity, and pave the way for the next generation of female leaders. What happens in Hollywood strongly influences culture, including workplaces. On March 2, Moore is up for her first Oscar for her critically acclaimed role. No matter who wins, it’s a victory for Moore and all aging women at work. Asima Ahmad, MD, MPH, FACOG is cofounder and Chief Medical Officer of Carrot Fertility. View the full article

UK leader hails ‘very productive discussion’ but president declines to back plan for Ukrainian peacekeepers View the full article

Executives have met with investors this week to test waters on an offering that could value the company at $35bn View the full article

In a livestream today, OpenAI finally announced the launch of its GPT-4.5 model, but with a twist: For now, using it requires a $200 per month ChatGPT Pro subscription. That’s because the new large language model, or LLM, is still technically in a “research preview” state. This is all apparently shorthand for “please pay us for the privilege of being a beta tester.” Jokes aside, the company is promising GPT-4.5 provides more “natural conversation,” and performs better when it comes to programming, pattern recognition, writing, and “solving practical problems.” Note that GPT-4.5 isn’t intended as a reasoning model, meaning it won’t have the self-correcting or deep research capabilities of OpenAI o1, o3-mini, or the upcoming full version of o3. In a leaked document, the company said it’s not considering GPT-4.5 a “frontier” model, but it is OpenAI’s largest LLM yet, which should make it ideal for everyday queries, as the large database of training material should make for quicker answers. Credit: OpenAI In internal tests, OpenAI says the new model hallucinated about 24.7% less frequently than GPT-4.0, and was about 34.3% more accurate. Around 57% of internal human testers reportedly preferred GPT-4.5 to 4.0. Credit: OpenAI In other words, GPT-4.5 isn’t exactly at the cutting edge of AI, but it should be an improvement on other non-reasoning models, providing a nice middle ground between cheaper, more traditional LLMs and their frequently paywalled successors. The only major omissions seem to be multimodal features like AI Voice Mode and video input, although OpenAI says its working on updating its user experience, which seems to hint some version of these capabilities might come to the model in the future. That makes sense, given that, once again, this is technically an early release, with OpenAI saying it’s “still exploring” GPT-4.5’s limits and how people can use it. To that end, the LLM is set to expand to all paid ChatGPT plans over the next two weeks, before presumably reaching free users as a replacement for GPT-4.0 once it leaves its preview state. View the full article

Rafael Caro Quintero had been sought since 1985 for the murder of an American agentView the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. I used to buy cheap earbuds from random brands all the time, simply because I needed some earbuds that wouldn't give me a heart attack if (or when) I lost them or got them wet. If that sounds like your earbud-buying strategy, there's a great deal on a pair of budget earbuds that actually have pretty decent specs: the Anker Soundcore P20i. Right now, they're on sale for $19.99 (originally $39.99), the lowest price they have been according to price-checking tools. Soundcore by Anker P20i Color: White, Ear Placement: In Ear, Battery life: 30 hours, Water resistant: Yes. $19.99 at Amazon $39.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal Get Deal $19.99 at Amazon $39.99 Save $20.00 Anker has been making surprisingly good, budget-friendly earbuds, headphones, and speakers for a while. The Anker P20i/P25i (same earbuds, different names) came out in late 2023 and are a nice pair of budget earbuds offering a lot of features that you usually see in higher end earbuds. You get Bluetooth 5.3, 10-hour battery life per charge and another 30 hours from the case, a bass boost feature, and a companion app that offers more features. The app lets you choose from 22 preset EQ options so you can find the sound signature that best works for you. There is no custom EQ, but the fact that you have a companion app from a reliable brand for under $20 is impressive by itself. You can also set up a voice assistant from your phone through the app by making it one of the touch control commands. The earbuds are great for people who need a cheap pair of earbuds to take to the gym since they are rated IPX5 for water resistance, and although they don't have ANC, the in-ear design naturally eliminates a lot of background noise. These earbuds work with iOS and Android phones and have a "Find My Device" feature with its app. If I was still in my cheap earbuds era, I'd be grabbing these right away. View the full article

Love Warby Parker glasses, but not the high price tags? This one’s for you. Target is partnering with Warby Parker to bring designer-quality, affordable eyewear to customers, opening five “shop-in-shops” in 2025, the retailers announced on Thursday. Warby Parker staff will run the shops within Target locations, which will offer glasses, sunglasses, contacts, eye exams, and vision screenings, consistent with the eyewear brand’s own stores. Prices will start at $95, including prescription lenses. The first five locations will open in the second half of 2025 at the following Target stores: Willowbrook, IL Bloomington, MN Brick, NJ Columbus, OH (Polaris) Exton, PA Warby Parker at Target will also debut online at Target.com with the opening of the first location. More Warby Parker shops are slated to open in 2026. “Warby Parker at Target reflects both brands’ commitment to style, affordability, quality and convenience,” Christina Hennington, executive vice president of Target said in a statement. “As we test and learn with this new partnership—bringing Warby Parker’s expertise into select stores—we’re enticing new consumers to discover more of Target.” The new partnership will complement, not replace the Minneapolis-based retailer’s growing Target Optical business, which offers a range of products and services at more than 500 of Target’s 2,000 stores nationwide. The Warby Parker shops are the latest addition to Target’s growing number of in-store partnerships, which already include Starbucks, Apple, and Ulta. The news comes after Target announced it was rolling back its DEI efforts, ending its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and investments. The move has angered activists, who are calling for customers to boycott the brand as part of both the ”Target Fast” and “Feb. 28 Economic Blackout” movements. View the full article

Pending sales of existing US homes slumped to a record low in January as severe winter weather slowed activity and consumers balked at high prices and mortgage rates ahead of the vital spring selling season. View the full article

The grandson of the PulteGroup founder did not elaborate on plans for a much-anticipated government-sponsored enterprise exit from conservatorship. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Sony's PlayStation VR 2 headset is getting a permanent price price drop this March, down to $400 from $550. That'll include the headset, the controllers, and a pair of wired earbuds—but is that a deal worth getting excited over? Well, for Sony, maybe. The price cut comes a year after Bloomberg reported that Sony had stopped making new PSVR 2 units and shifted efforts towards getting rid of excess stock. That points to lower-than-expected sales for the peripheral, and it's easy to see why. Sony's VR loyalists were surprised to hear when the headset came out, for instance, that it would not work with the existing library of games built for PSVR 1. That's because the PSVR 2 uses improved tracking technology and controllers compared to Sony's first crack at virtual reality, but still, the difference meant gamers had to rebuy their entire libraries, or just ditch games that hadn't been ported to the new headset altogether. This means PSVR 2 gamers have a slightly smaller selection of games than on other systems, with little assurance that their games will continue to work as hardware gets upgraded. Even Sony mascot Astro Bot has yet to come to the new system, with Astro Bot Rescue Mission still being stuck on the PSVR 1. That doesn't mean the headset is totally unworthy of the upgrade, though. It has a higher resolution than the PSVR 1, with a higher field-of-view, more precise controllers, and the addition of eye tracking. Having tried it myself, I was pretty happy with the experience, but I didn't see much to use it on with the PS5. Luckily, in the time sense its release, Sony has made the PSVR 2 available for PC, with the release of a $60 adapter. That just about fixes the library issue, assuming you have a VR-compatible PC, but it also opens the headset up to increased competition. Namely, while the PSVR 2 is well-priced compared to luxury PCVR headsets like the Valve Index (which can reach upwards of $930), it still has to compete with the likes of the Meta Quest 3 and 3S, which also work with PC. Compared to those other devices, whether this price drop is a good deal comes down to your priorities. It's still more expensive than the Quest 3S ($300), but it has higher-resolution displays and a built-in halo strap, something that I find more comfortable than the default Quest strap. On the other hand, it doesn't have a processor for standalone gaming and loses out on Meta exclusives like Batman: Arkham Shadow. The PSVR 2 is cheaper than the regular Quest 3 ($500), but you do get those same downsides plus slightly lower-resolution screens. However, the PSVR 2's screens are OLED, and again, it's pretty comfortable right out of the box (I've swapped the default Quest 3 strap for an aftermarket halo strap, which cost me $50). Personally, I'd prefer to see another $50 chopped off before I start recommending it, but it could work in the niche case where you don't care about standalone play and just want a comfortable PCVR headset that can occasionally also come to the living room to play the odd Sony exclusive, like Horizon Call of the Mountain. Bloomberg has also reported that Apple might soon adopt the PSVR 2's controllers for use with the Apple Vision Pro, so getting a set now could get you ahead of the game if you plan to upgrade later on. Note that the exact start date for the price drop might vary based on region, according to Sony's blog, so be sure to check your local retailer before purchasing. View the full article

The deadly Los Angeles wildfires had just begun when Comic Relief U.S.’s new CEO took the helm at the charity that uses entertainment to combat poverty. Michele Ganeless noticed Hollywood’s response all the way from New York. She saw late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel turn his show’s backlot into a donation center. The Largo, an intimate nightclub featuring A-list comedians, hosted benefit performances. Inspired, Ganeless saw an opportunity to help out from the nation’s other cultural hub through “Stand-Up for LA.” “The goal was to help the New York comedy community give back,” Ganeless said of the March 3 comedy event including Jon Stewart, John Oliver, Ramy Youssef and Hannah Berner at The Town Hall in Manhattan. “Everybody has their own special connection,” she added. “But, obviously, in the entertainment community and the comedy community, there is a New York-LA connection.” Disasters tend to elicit widespread support for those impacted and researchers say meaningful relationships drive charitable donations. The six weeks since Los Angeles’ most destructive wildfires have proven no different. FireAid raised an estimated $100 million with performances from dozens of popular musical acts. But the unique relationship between the United States’ two largest cities has been evident in the fundraisers organized by New York’s entertainment, creative and hospitality industries — motivated by their professions’ bicoastal ties. Comic Relief US’ grantees on the ground — including actress Taraji P. Henson’s foundation dedicated to marginalized communities’ mental health, youth homelessness nonprofit Covenant House and The Boys & Girls Club — are helping the nonprofit determine the areas of greatest need. Berner, a former reality show cast member who has become a fixture of internet comedy, promised a fun night at “Stand-Up for LA” and called it “a joy” to also fundraise for families. “I was born and raised in New York and have seen others rally for us when we needed it,” Berner said in a statement. “And now it’s our turn to show up for L.A. during their difficult time.” TV personality Andy Cohen is offering fans the chance to be guests at a New York taping of Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live.” With a donation of at least $10 until April 6, entrants could win a behind-the-scenes experience, airfare and lodging. The beneficiary is the SoCal Fire Fund, which works with vulnerable students, school employees and families recovering from the blazes. “As completely different as they are, New York and Los Angeles are inexorably connected; when a calamity happens on either coast it’s just instinctual that we support each other,” Cohen said in a statement to The Associated Press. It isn’t just celebrities getting involved. Over 170 people bought tickets for a benefit show on a recent Friday night in Brooklyn. The organizers, artist manager Heather de Armas and music publicist Ava Tunnicliffe, donated the $3,275 in proceeds to Mutual Aid LA. The wildfires felt more present as the two watched the devastation unfold through social media posts. The majority of Tunnicliffe’s clients and coworkers are based in the Los Angeles area. Alt-pop vocalist B.Miles told the crowd “this is a very special thing to be a part of” because the Pasadena native still has family there. “It was easy to get people on board to help out what I would call our sister city,” Tunnicliffe said. “And I think they would do the same for us.” Carlos Quirarte, co-founder of Ray’s Bar, wasn’t sure anyone would pitch in for a clothing drive he organized at his locations in Greenpoint and the Lower East Side. But people overwhelmed their “tiny, little” spaces, he said, and local movers Piece of Cake dropped off 300 boxes for shipping. Skateboarder Mark Gonzales, a longtime Supreme collaborator, donated six boxes of the streetwear brand’s merchandise. Customers again showed up for a Jan. 18 fundraiser. Guests’ $20 entry fees and $1 of every drink purchase went to World Central Kitchen. Quirarte said the event, co-sponsored by dating app Bumble, garnered more than $20,000. It wasn’t the first time that he and his business partner have rallied their clientele around communities impacted by disasters. A 2012 “power-on party” after Hurricane Sandy stands out as the “craziest example,” he said. But he’s still blown away by the response. “We just have so many regulars at both locations that are transplants. So, you were hearing stories at the bar,” Quirarte said. “Aside from that, and aside from having a mass bunch of friends from the area, you couldn’t help but feel. And it’s here. It’s at home.” A seven-hour “fundraiser bridging coasts” brought together runners, cooks, artists, musicians and yogis on January 25. Gina Bruno, a classically trained chef from New York who runs a food-focused event space, said the idea began as just a bake sale. But the concept snowballed into something more ambitious after she texted Luke Haverty, the founder of a creative studio called “A Supper Series.” The bake-off continued with participants including lifestyle photographer Chloé Crane-Leroux and James Beard Award winner Sophia Roe — who have a combined 1.8 million Instagram followers — as well as viral spots L’Appartement 4F and Leon’s Bagels. A 5K run took participants across the Williamsburg Bridge. There was live music, a bouquet workshop and yoga classes. “For LA” raised $52,000 for California Community Foundation and World Central Kitchen, according to Haverty. A silent auction supported a GoFundMe for Los Angeles artists. Haverty said they felt a responsibility to provide as many ways as possible for people to put their individual talents toward something “bigger than one small donation.” “Once there was a platform for people to be able to invest into, that ultimately is what connected the coast,” he said. “You kind of put your hands up in the air until there’s something to dump your time and your energy into,” Bruno added. “I needed to do something because I was able to do something.” Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy. —James Pollard, Associated Press View the full article

Lukewarm response to Nvidia’s earnings left market vulnerable to drop in consumer and business sentimentView the full article

Any rollback in property taxes would require enough signatures to place a question on the ballot and pass with at least 60% of support from Florida voters. View the full article

Prada opened its runway show during Milan Fashion Week on Thursday with its take on the little black dress, reflecting what Miuccia Prada called “a very black moment” in world affairs. “To work in this difficult moment is really tough,” Prada said backstage. Sidestepping overtly political discussion, she added: ”What we try to do are clothes that make sense for women today.” Liberating women Prada’s Fall-Winter 2025-26 collection is aimed to liberate women from strictly feminine forms. In that way the little black dress series and other runway looks were loosely constructed, not body-hugging. Co-creative director Raf Simons said liberation was in itself an act of resistance. “You cannot be liberated if you don’t take a risk. There needs to be more resistance,” he said. The black numbers gave way to girlish knit dresses in Alice-in-Wonderland oversized proportions, layered over trousers for winter days on the playground. Pajamas made a now-familiar shift to daywear, with button tops tucked into sleeper skirts. Raw seams were intentionally revealed on garments. Waistlines were gathered as if by basting, and could be moved from the waist for a midi-skirt or over the bust for a minidress. “I would also say that we have rejected a lot of construction,” Simons said, specifically construction that restricts movement. Gestures of glamour It’s a mix-and-match world at Prada and just about any of the pieces work as separates: Short-sleeve and tube knitwear tops were bedecked with baubles, like found treasures. Men’s shirts scrunched messily at the waist, as if they came untucked. Staples were glammed up with faux fur stoles and fur lapels on coats, blazers and a striking lime green poncho. Prada VIPs American actress Hunter Schafer was among the front-row guests, invited in a show of support, the designers said. The trans actress posted recently that her new passport had been issued with a male gender marker. As usual, crowds of fans waited opposite the Fondazione Prada show space to shower adoration on VIPs. Other front-row stars included actresses Juliette Binoche, Gal Gadot, Maya Hawke and Chen Haoyu, along with Japanese singers Jo and Harua and Korean singer Karina. Is Prada shopping? Milan is abuzz with speculation over whether an Italian company might step forward to buy the rival fashion house Versace. Market speculation has focused on the Prada Group, which besides its namesake brand owns Miu Miu, the footwear brands Church’s and Car Shoe, and Marchesi 1824 pastry shops. “I think it is on everybody’s table,” Prada said with a chuckle when asked about the Prada Group’s interest. —Colleen Barry, AP fashion writer View the full article

Obsidian is the Winamp of productivity tools. If you're as ancient as I am, you might remember that the best part of that once-ubiquitous music player extension was the massive number of plugins and themes you could install to make it better, all of them built by enthusiasts. Obsidian is a good note-taking application on its own, stuffed with all kinds of features: You can organize notes in folders, link to notes from other notes, and even use advanced options like Mermaid diagrams. But like Winamp, Obsidian truly shines once you dig into its extensive plugin ecosystem. There are over 2,000 Obsidian plugins available as of this writing, and you can use them to basically turn Obsidian into whatever you can dream up. Many of these plugins are small in scope, granted, but not all of them. Some of the extensions are extensive enough to replace entire applications you might otherwise be using. Here's how I used Obsidian plugins to replace four different productivity tools. Your kanban app My real kanban board is full of secrets so enjoy this fake one. Credit: Justin Pot I used to be a big fan of Trello, once a humble personal kanban planner. Fifteen years of bloat and upselling mean that application is unrecognizable today, which I'm fine with, because Obsidian works better for me than Trello ever did. I owe it all to the Obsidian Kanban plugin. Install it, and you can create as many Kanban boards in Obsidian as you like. Every card can include as much text as you want, formatted the same way you would anything else in Obsidian. That includes links—every card can link to the pages you're using to manage your projects. I'm a freelance journalist who writes for a handful of publications, including the one you're reading now. I typically write around 20 articles a month, meaning I always have multiple projects on the go. I use an Obsidian Kanban board to keep track of everything. I have columns for "Plan to write this month," "Plan to write this week," "Outlined," "Submitted need edits," "Edited not invoiced," "Invoiced not paid," and, finally, "Paid." This system allows me to see everything I'm working one in one place, and track my progress on all of them. I honestly don't know if I could manage my workflow without it. And, because I also do all of my writing directly in Obsidian, I can jump straight to a project from my dashboard. This is just one example—I'm sure you can think of other uses. But perhaps my favorite part of this system is that every kanban board in Obsidian is, in reality, just a markdown document that combines a few lists, meaning I can export them and keep an archive, even if I stop using Obsidian. Your journaling app Credit: Khamosh Pathak Lifehacker has written a lot about journalling apps over the years, and I personally have extensively tested every example you can think of, multiple times. All of them have pros and cons, and I'm not going to pretend that Obsidian is the best tool for everyone. What I will say is that I use Obsidian for my personal journal, and I can't imagine using anything else. My colleague Kamosh has already written about using Obsidian as a journalling app, so I'll refer you to him for more on how to get started. But I'll add that I recommend installing the journal review plugin so that you can regularly look back at previous entries. You can also look into Obsidian's templates feature if you want to use the same outline for your journal every day. I used it to create something similar to a bullet-journal, with questions about my day. Your read-it-later app Credit: Justin Pot A few months ago, Obsidian launched Obsidian Clipper, which saves webpages to your personal "vault." This is an extension for every major browser that allows you to save entire articles from the web. This is useful for research, but it also means you can use Obsidian as a replacement for read-it-later applications like Pocket or Instapaper. Just set up a dedicated vault for articles you want to read later, point the plugin toward that vault, and open your read-it-later vault every time you want to catch up on your backlog. You can even do things like highlight or add your own notes while you read, all without having to pay for a subscription. Your to-do app Credit: Obsidian Tasks The problem with many to-do apps—and the reason Lifehacker will seemingly never stop writing about them—is that everyone has different productivity needs and no single app can serve them all. If you have never found a to-do system that's perfect for you, that's understandable. But if that's you, and you're a fan of Obsidian generally, look into the tasks plugin. This tool goes through every single note in your vault and collects all of the markdown task lists you've created. It's a perfect add-on if you already use Obsidian to outline your projects. The extension also allows you to add due dates, including recurring tasks, and set your priorities. View the full article

Remarks are a significant win for Sir Keir Starmer as he visits the White House for talks over UkraineView the full article

A joint venture with Sixth Street will give Figure more liquidity to scale Figure Connect, a blockchain-based private capital marketplace. 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. GoPro is the indisputable king of small outdoor action cameras. Its latest flagship camera, the GoPro Hero13 Black came out this past September, but the older GoPro Hero12 (released in 2023) has a good bundle deal you should consider. The Black Creator Edition bundle offers the Volta pack, a media and light mod, extra battery, and carrying case all for just $55 more than the camera alone. You can get the bundle for $399 (originally $499), its lowest price yet, according to price-tracking tools. GoPro HERO12 Black Creator Edition Color: Black, Brand: GoPro, Item Weight: 454 Grams, Maximum Weight Recommendation: 5E+2 Grams. $399.00 at Amazon $499.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Get Deal $399.00 at Amazon $499.00 Save $100.00 GoPro releases a new camera just about every year, so the changes aren't always ground-breaking. There's not much you can do with just a GoPro, since they heavily rely on their accessories, so the bundles are usually where the best offers are. That's what makes the GoPro HERO12 Black Creator Edition a great deal in 2025. Here is what you get: HERO12 Black, Carrying Case, Enduro Battery, Curved Adhesive Mount, Mounting Buckle + Thumb Screw, USB-C Cable, Volta, USB-C Pass-Through Door, Lanyard, Media Mod, Vertical Mounting Buckle, Light Mod, Light Diffuser, and 2-Finger Adapter. The Volta handle is arguably the most valuable item. The handle is a portable battery, has built-in buttons for easier control, lets you use the GoPro wirelessly with a remote, and doubles as a tripod. The media mod and light mod also offer useful tools, giving you a microphone with audio ports and an LED light so you can see better in the dark. The GoPro Hero 12 Black received an "outstanding" review from PCMag upon its 2023 release, and the bundle is almost the same price as the GoPro Hero 13 Black, so it makes it a great deal for anyone looking to get a good GoPro with all the important accessories at a discounted price. View the full article

Stripe on Thursday announced a tender offer for employees and shareholders that valued the company at $91.5 billion, nearly 41% higher than its valuation a year ago, potentially delaying the fintech firm’s ambitions of going public. The deal signals the strong recovery of the global venture capital sector, as central banks have started to cut interest rates amid subdued inflation and strong economic data. “Stripe was profitable in 2024, and we expect to be so in 2025 and beyond,” co-founders John Collison and Patrick Collison said in their annual letter published on Thursday. The payments processing company was valued at $65 billion in a deal last year, which allowed employees to cash out their stock. At its peak, Stripe was valued at $95 billion in 2021. The company serves a variety of high-profile customers, including Elon Musk-led social media platform X, Amazon, car rental firm Hertz Global and grocery delivery app Instacart. Stripe, which has headquarters in San Francisco and Dublin, allows companies to accept payments, send payouts and automate financial processes. —Pritam Biswas and Jaiveer Shekhawat, Reuters View the full article

The San Francisco-based company said its latest product has fewer so-called ‘hallucinations’View the full article

I like watching Reels and TikToks about cleaning because in addition to getting some good tips, I find them relatable. Why, yes, Algorithm, I do often find myself in a position where friends are coming over but my home isn't exactly spotless. How did you know? One Instagram user has a suggestion for how to turn that exact situation into a cleaning win: Called the "GFD bin," it's gained some traction on the app as a quick decluttering method worth trying. What is a "GFD bin?"A "GFD bin" is a "guests for dinner" bin, according to its creator, Holly Blakey. The organizing and interior decorating guru shared this video last December explaining the idea: Essentially, before guests come over, you grab a big basket (or even a bag) and take it around the house, tossing anything out of place inside. Then, stash it somewhere, like a closet, committing to putting its contents away the next day. By doing this, you accomplish a few things at once: Obviously, you get your home ready for guests quickly, but you also set yourself up for cleaning success by segmenting the work into two parts. It might seem like a cop-out to just run around and hide all the dirty parts of your home, but it draws on two techniques I really stand by. The first is the idea of segmentation, like you employ when you follow the "magic basket" approach. The magic basket, for its part, involves going around your home every night and depositing out-of-place items into said basket, then putting everything away the next day. The goal here is to space out your labor so it never gets overwhelming. You wake up the next day feeling good about the work you did do the night before, put everything away, then get motivated by that effort, creating a looping cycle instead of one longer, dread-worthy task. The second approach the GFD bin calls on is the idea of rewarding yourself to create further cleaning motivation. You need breaks when you do anything productive or you'll get burned out eventually, but when you're doing a task that is especially unpleasant or tedious, like cleaning, you should also make sure those breaks are fun and enjoyable. In the same way I've recommended eating a favorite candy or watching a favorite show while cleaning, incorporating the arrival of friends as an enjoyable activity mid-cleaning can be motivating, too. Rather than getting down on yourself for letting a mess pile up and being in a rush before someone gets to your place, think of this as a built-in motivational scheme. There's no shame in hiding away the mess as long as you follow through on the commitment to putting it away the next day. View the full article

January's median payment also grew at its fastest pace since October as volatile interest rates hit homebuyers' wallets, the Mortgage Bankers Association said. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. They don't make movie stars like they used to, but they only made a movie star like Gene Hackman once. Born in 1930, Hackman served as a marine and studied journalism in college before dropping out to work as an actor, earning acclaim on Broadway and in television roles but not breaking out in films until his late 30s, when he earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for playing Warren Beatty's brother in the crime classic Bonnie and Clyde. It proved to be the start of an eclectic big-screen career that would see him earn four more Oscar nominations (and two wins, for 1971's The French Connection and 1992's Unforgiven). With hangdog looks and an ability to project gravitas and heroism and weakness and villainy in equal measure, he gave one indelible performance after another, always bettering the films he appeared in. To honor his recent death—and celebrate his truly remarkable career—here are 20 of his most iconic performances. Bonnie and Clyde (1967) Bonnie and Clyde is best remembered today as a harbinger of the auteur era that would transform Hollywood in the 1970s. Filled with dark humor and visceral violence, and borrowing techniques from the French New Wave, Arthur Penn's film overcame tepid early reviews to become a counter-cultural sensation and a major awards contender. Though Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway are iconic as the title criminals, then-newcomer Gene Hackman made his mark (and earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination) playing Clyde Barrow's ill-fated brother Buck. You can rent Bonnie and Clyde from Prime Video. Bonnie and Clyde (1967) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Downhill Racer (1969) The first of a string of memorable movies in which Gene Hackman plays a coach, Downhill Racer is a quintessentially '70s affair—a moody, heady sports drama led by one of Hollywood's biggest stars (Robert Redford) that critic Roger Ebert called "the best movie ever made about sports—without really being about sports at all." Redford commands the spotlight as a cocky, self-centered skiing champ, but it's Hackman who grounds the film as the teamwork-minded coach hoping to lead his athletes to Olympic gold. You can stream Downhill Racer free with ads on Pluto TV or rent it from Prime Video. Downhill Racer (1969) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The French Connection (1971) Watching The French Connection today, we recognize a certain formula: big-budget, well-choreographed shoot-outs, chases, and car crashes given gravitas by a complex and troubled lead, usually a cop. But it only became a formula because so many other films tried to copy what director William Friedkin accomplished here with Hackman in the lead. All of the action beats land because of his performance as antihero Popeye Doyle, one that landed him his single Best Actor Oscar. You can rent The French Connection from Prime Video. The French Connection (1971) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Poseidon Adventure (1972) Poseidon rests firmly in the very ‘70s disaster-movie style: an all-star cast faces doom and soapy drama, this time on a cruise ship turned upside down. These casts were always blends of older, more familiar faces and relatively younger stars, of which top-billed Hackman was representative. These movies aren’t really about the acting, but this one wasn’t received as a dumb action movie: it received multiple Academy Award nominations and earned Hackman a Best Actor BAFTA, a single award given for two performances in two very different movies. The first was his performance as earnest reverend Frank Scott in this one, and as Popeye Doyle in The French Connection. Even way back in 1972 it was clear that Hackman had range. You can stream The Poseidon Adventure on Starz or rent it from Prime Video. The Poseidon Adventure (1972) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Scarecrow (1973) A little-known entry in the filmographies of both Hackman and costar Al Pacino, this character drama is worth seeking out. Hackman plays a drifter and ex-con who hooks up with a simple-minded sailor (Pacino). The pair set off across the country with plans to open a business together, but get into trouble along the way and wind up doing a stint in prison—and experience that will have a profound effect on both their lives. Though it won the top award at the Cannes Film Festival, it is little discussed today, and that's too bad—it's not often you get to enjoy the likes of Hackman and Pacino playing opposite one another. You can rent Scarecrow from Prime Video. Scarecrow (1973) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Conversation (1974) Francis Ford Coppola’s film didn’t do much in the way of business on its initial release, but the critics and the years have been extremely kind to the film, no small accomplishment given that much of its plot hinges on 1970s-era technology. The movie’s themes about the dangers of the surveillance state and ambivalence about our need to know everything about everyone are as relevant now as ever. Hackman plays yet another iconic character in Harry Caul, brilliant at his job but also, himself, a deeply secretive and haunted man. His performance here is simply one of the finest in an era full of brilliant performances. You can stream The Conversation on The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. The Conversation (1974) at The Criterion Channel Learn More Learn More at The Criterion Channel Night Moves (1975) An absolutely essential neo-noir, Hackman stars here as retired football player Harry Moseby, now a private investigator but with a personal life that’s crumbling around him. Like other noir films before it, the plot thread grow increasingly convoluted and dense, building toward an impressively unexpected ending, but Harry remains the glue that holds it all together. Even as a depressed and sullen character who you wouldn’t want to spend five minutes with in real life, he’s riveting. You can rent Night Moves from Prime Video. Night Moves (1975) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video A Bridge Too Far (1977) Though it received mixed reviews at the time, war film A Bridge Too Far was a box office hit, and stands today as the kind of epic adult drama Hollywood rarely makes anymore. With a screenplay by William Goldman, it depicts a doomed military operation in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands in 1944. Hackman is part of a stacked cast that includes James Caan, Michael Caine, Sean Connery, Elliott Gould, Anthony Hopkins, Laurence Olivier, Ryan O'Neal, and Robert Redford. You can stream A Bridge Too Far on MGM+ or rent it from Prime Video. A Bridge Too Far (1977) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Superman (1978) For at least a generation, Hackman was the definitive Lex Luthor in the definitive superhero movie. Director Richard Donner promised a level verisimilitude in his Super-saga, which Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder deliver. Hackman, though, is the third point on that triangle, alternately delivering comic relief and a sense of real menace—even with a full head of hair. Today’s movie supervillains are all about conquering the universe, which feels like a distraction from this movie’s more real and present threat: a ruthless real-estate mogul willing to watch millions die for a few extra bucks. You can stream Superman on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Superman (1978) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Hoosiers (1986) A sleeper hit at the box office that has come to be recognized as one of the most inspiring sports movies ever made, this 1986 drama gave Hackman one of his best-loved roles. He plays Norman Dale, a teacher at a poor high school in rural Indiana who leads a team of misfits to glory on the court. Though Hackman was overlooked, Dennis Hopper earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nod for his turn as the town drunk who finds new purpose serving as Dale's assistant coach. You can rent Hoosiers from Prime Video. Starting Feb. 28 you can also stream it free on Prime Video With Ads. Hoosiers (1986) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video No Way Out (1987) Simultaneously smart and trashy, No Way Out pays tribute to noir movies past while steering more firmly into erotic thriller territory—not that big a leap. Hackman here plays Secretary of Defense David Brice, the type of role that’s just window dressing in many other movies. Here, though, Hackman is having a grand time playing Brice as a thoroughly nasty bit of business—duplicitous, murderous, and sharing a mistress (Sean Young) with lead Kevin Costner. It’s not Hackman’s finest performance, but it’s definitely one of his juiciest. You can stream No Way Out with ads on Pluto TV or rent it from Prime Video. No Way Out at Pluto TV Learn More Learn More at Pluto TV Mississippi Burning (1988) Though its politics don't seem quite as progressive 37 years on, there's no arguing the fact that Gene Hackman commands the screen in this racially charged crime thriller, set amid the 1960s civil rights movement and inspired by true events. Hackman and Willem Dafoe play FBI agents investigating the murders of three civil rights workers in a southern town that is cozy with the KKK. Hackman was nominated for Best Actor for his turn as a former good-ol'-boy sheriff turned federal agent, who knows all too well how racism and prejudice operate in the town, and is willing to bend the rules to bring the killers to justice. You can stream Mississippi Burning free with ads on Pluto TV, catch it on Prime Video, or rent it from Apple TV. Mississippi Burning (1988) at Apple TV Learn More Learn More at Apple TV Unforgiven (1992) Unforgiven was seen as a valedictory for Clint Eastwood, but the movie’s sole acting Oscar went to Hackman. He plays Sheriff Little Bill Daggett, whose rejection of vigilantism puts him at odds with Eastwood’s William Munny, in town to avenge the disfiguring of a sex worker. Munny may be the movie’s center, but Little Bill provides all the conflict, and it offers a later-career return to the types of complicated, morally grey characters of his earlier days. You can stream or rent Unforgiven from Prime Video. Unforgiven (1992) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Quick and the Dead (1995) Everyone says Unforgiven is a revisionist western, but it looks wildly traditional next to Sam Raimi’s deliberately over-the-top take on the genre. Hackman plays John Herod, the ruthless and endlessly greedy ruler of the Old West town of Redemption. Herod arranges a round-robin style contest of champions in town, in which gunfighters are to fight for cash, win, yield, or die. This isn’t a subtle or insightful performance, but a delightfully hammy one. Even when playing a very recognizable Gene Hackman type, the actor could still be awfully fun to watch. You can stream The Quick and the Dead on Hulu or rent it from Prime Video. The Quick and the Dead (1995) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu Crimson Tide (1995) Though sometimes dismissed as a spin on The Hunt for Red October, this submarine thriller is impressively smart, pitting Hackman’s experienced sub commander against Denzel Washington as his first officer, both men in conflict over interpretation of an order to launch missiles, the outcome of which could have devastating consequences. You don’t necessarily come to a Tony Scott action thriller for the acting, but the movie is a real showcase for its leads, and a fascinating juxtaposition of two brilliant actors from different generations. You can rent Crimson Tide from Prime Video. Crimson Tide (1995) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Get Shorty (1995) Gene Hackman's range encompassed all types of characters, but he rarely seemed to be having more fun than when playing a sleazeball—something he does with gusto in this satire of mid-'90s Hollywood excess, directed by Barry Sonnenfeld and based on the novel by Elmore Leonard. He plays a B-movie director in debt with the mob who gets in way over his head when he get involved with a movie-obsessed loan shark (John Travolta) in an attempt to get out a tight spot. Unsurprisingly, things don't go smoothly. You can stream Get Shorty free with ads on the Roku Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Get Shorty (1995) at The Roku Channel Learn More Learn More at The Roku Channel The Birdcage (1996) An indisputable crowd-pleaser, The Birdcage sees Hackman as a thoroughly conservative senator (in stark contrast to the actor’s real-life politics) who heads to South Beach to meet the EXTREMELY GAY family of his daughter’s fiancée. It’s a fun villain-esque role for Hackman, one that memorably sees him in full drag for the final act. You can rent The Birdcage from Prime Video. The Birdcage (1996) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Enemy of the State (1998) This surveillance-state thriller isn’t nearly as smart as its 1970s influences, but it’s entirely entertaining in the way it approaches many of the same themes with a more action-heavy style. Opposite Will Smith, Hackman here plays Brill Lyle, a paranoid surveillance expert who has so much in common with The Conversation’s Harry Caul that you might consider Enemy of the State a blockbuster take on the earlier film. You can rent Enemy of the State from Prime Video. Enemy of the State (1998) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Heist (2001) The same year Steven Soderbergh's Ocean's Eleven pulled off a box office cash grab on the backs of (almost) a dozen of Hollywood hottest stars, David Mamet built his own crime caper around a band of aging thieves. Hackman plays the leader of a gang of professional smash-and-grabbers whose face is captured by security cameras during a job, forcing him to go on the run and attracting the ire of his partners in the "business." Hackman handles Mamet's mouthfuls of dialogue with practiced ease, elevating what Roger Ebert described as "the kind of caper movie that was made before special effects replaced wit, construction, and intelligence." You can rent Heist from Prime Video. Heist (2001) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) Though he'd appear in a few more movies before retiring in 2004, Wes Anderson's The Royal Tenenbaums was Hackman's last standout performance, and one of his very best. He's hateable and irresistible in equal measure as the deeply flawed patriarch of a deeply neurotic, Salinger-inspired New York family who assembles his estranged wife (Anjelica Huston) and deeply resentful children (played by Luke Wilson, Ben Stiller, and Gwyneth Paltrow) to tell them he only has weeks to live. You can rent The Royal Tenenbaums from Prime Video. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video View the full article