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Usually, it’s the businesses that are behind robocalls, but if you work at a nail salon or an auto repair shop, get ready for customers to start sending hordes of AI Karens your way. Google’s latest experimental AI feature, available to those who sign up for “Ask for me” on Google Search Labs, is aiming to be a sort of personal AI secretary for you. Once enabled, it’ll pop up an “Ask for me” button under certain searches, promising to call local shops for you to help you figure out availability, service costs, and the like. Clicking the “Ask for me” button will take you to a form, where you’ll fill out, for example, the make and model of your car, what services you need, and when you can come in. Google will then canvass local shops (there doesn’t seem to be an option to send a call only to a specific shop) and then email or text you back with results. On their end, business owners will hear a message at the start of every call indicating that it’s an automated system calling on behalf of a potential customer, Google spokesperson Craig Ewer told The Verge. If that sounds annoying, business owners can opt out, either within their Google Business Profile settings or by simply telling the AI not to call them back. For those that decide to humor the robocalls, Ewer told The Verge that Google is doing its best to ensure businesses don’t get overloaded with calls, and will use information collected from prior calls to help answer future ones without bothering an employee. Over on X, Google product lead Rose Yao said Ask for me is powered by Duplex, an existing Google feature that (mostly) uses AI to make reservations on your behalf, but it’s more geared towards research than actually booking anything. As it’s still experimental, it’s limited to nail salons and auto shops for now, though it could presumably expand in the future. As someone with social anxiety, I can see the surface level appeal here, although I’m not sure I’d ever want to commit the sin of making someone else talk to a robot. View the full article

The healthcare sector is one of the most common targets for hackers and cyber criminals, and yet another data breach has put the personal data of more than a million patients at risk. Community Health Center (CHC), a nonprofit healthcare provider in Connecticut, has disclosed that hackers gained access to its system in October and stole sensitive health and personal information belonging to 1,060,936 individuals. What happened with CHC? According to reporting by Bleeping Computer, hackers had access to the CHC network for several hours on October 14, 2024, though the breach was not discovered until January 2, 2025. Stolen data may include names, birthdates, addresses, phone numbers, emails, and Social Security numbers as well as medical records and health insurance information. CHC has indicated that it was not a ransomware attack, and no data was locked or deleted. What you can do if your data was stolenWhile you can't un-leak your personal data, you can (and should) be on the lookout for signs that it is being used maliciously. CHC is offering 24 months of free identity theft protection through IDX, including credit and cyber monitoring and ID theft recovery. According to CHC's filing with the Maine attorney general, those affected by the breach were notified by letter beginning on Jan. 30—and that consumer notice includes a QR code to activate monitoring services, or you can go to the IDX website and enter the enrollment code provided. The deadline to sign up for identity theft protection is April 30. You should also commit to other best practices for securing your data, including utilizing credit monitoring services (even if you don't qualify for IDX enrollment), activating credit freezes and fraud alerts, staying skeptical of requests for your personal information (don't give anything out via text, email, or phone until you've verified), and never clicking strange links. Of course, the CHC incident isn't the only one to compromise patient data—and it's far from the largest. The major breach of UnitedHealth Group subsidiary Change Healthcare (first reported in October 2024) is now believed to impact nearly twice as many people as previously disclosed. That ransomware attack included the health insurance, billing, and payment information as well as medical records and sensitive personal data of nearly 190 million patients. Ascension Health suffered a similar breach in February 2024, which affected nearly 6 million individuals. View the full article

Group is latest tech company to consider move away from longtime American corporate haven View the full article

One of the largest non-profit blood centers in the country, New York Blood Center (NYBC), said it was hit with a ransomware attack over the weekend and is now experiencing disruptions in its services, including longer than normal processing times for blood donations, plus the cancelling and rescheduling of some blood donations. NYBC provides blood to over 200 hospitals in the northeast, including New York and New Jersey, and transfusion-related medical services to over 500 hospitals across the nation. “At this time, we do not have a specific timetable for system restoration,” NYBC said in a statement on its website. “We are working diligently with third-party experts to restore our systems as quickly and safely as possible.” What happened? On Sunday, January 26, New York Blood Center Enterprises identified suspicious activity affecting its IT systems. It contacted cybersecurity experts who investigated and confirmed it was the result of a ransomware incident. “We took immediate steps to help contain the threat, including taking certain systems offline,” NYBC confirmed. The attack comes at a critical time, when blood donations in the U.S. are at a critically low level. Currently, the New York and New Jersey region face a “blood emergency” resulting from a 30% drop in donations in recent weeks since the holidays, totaling 6,500 fewer donations and crippling the region’s blood supply, according to the NYBC. What can I do to help? Donations typically decrease during the holidays, and this January poses additional challenges with colder than normal temperatures causing blood drive cancellations, and flu, COVID-19, and RSV reducing donor eligibility. Currently, donations of all blood types are urgently needed, especially Types O- and B-, which are down to a dangerously low 1-3-day supply. In the coming weeks, NYBC may have to do another push for more blood donations. If you’re eligible, you can donate your blood, but be prepared for the possibility of longer wait times or unexpected scheduling changes. Here’s more information about how to donate. View the full article

The return-to-office (RTO) push at companies such as Amazon and AT&T—which both required employees to be back in the office full-time this month—has been met with discontent and frustration from much of their workforces. Some Amazon employees have said they are looking for new jobs, if they haven’t left already, while people at both companies have reportedly struggled to even find an open desk. But other leaders are not letting the prospect of low morale or limited workspace derail their plans to return to the office full time in 2025. According to a memo obtained by Business Insider, the latest addition to the mix is Dell, which had already tested the waters with an RTO policy that applied to just a handful of departments. As of September, employees on the sales team and across a subset of other roles (including leadership positions) were asked to return to the office. Starting in March, however, Dell also will be “retiring the hybrid policy” and expect most employees to be in the office five days a week. The new mandate will apply to all employees who live within about an hour commute of a Dell office—regardless of whether they currently have a remote or hybrid arrangement. (A Dell spokesperson did not clarify whether employees who live farther would have to request an exemption or would automatically be allowed to continue working remotely.) According to Business Insider, employees who remained remote would not be put up for promotion without explicit approval from three senior leaders. This seems to be a slight shift from a policy Dell already had in place that rendered fully remote employees ineligible for promotion. “What we’re finding is that for all the technology in the world, nothing is faster than the speed of human interaction,” CEO Michael Dell wrote in the memo. “A 30-second conversation can replace an email back-and-forth that goes on for hours or even days.” In a statement to Fast Company, a Dell spokesperson added, “We continually evolve our business so we’re set up to deliver the best innovation, value, and service to our customers and partners. That includes more in-person connections to drive market leadership.” In his memo, the CEO noted that across departments that had started coming into the office, “we have seen these areas come alive with new speed, energy, and passion.” Other CEOs and business leaders have used similar rationale to justify bringing workers back to the office at least three days a week, with a growing number of companies ramping up to five days. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy echoed that sentiment when he announced that starting in 2025, the RTO policy would require employees to come into the office daily, rather than just three days a week. “When we look back over the last five years, we continue to believe that the advantages of being together in the office are significant,” he wrote in a memo. “If anything, the last 15 months we’ve been back in the office at least three days a week has strengthened our conviction about the benefits.” Like Jassy, Michael Dell had previously expressed his support for remote work. As recently as late 2022, Dell had openly said, “From my experience, if you are counting on forced hours spent in a traditional office to create collaboration and provide a feeling of belonging within your organization, you’re doing it wrong.” But as corporate America has shown over the past few years, he’s not the first business leader to make such a drastic reversal on remote work—and certainly won’t be the last. View the full article

It's hard to escape AI these days. Apple just made Apple Intelligence opt out, and Google Workspace users are now seeing big, hard-to-dismiss Gemini buttons all over their apps. The world's biggest tech companies are doing their best to sell you on a generative AI future, but even when you can't turn AI off, there are steps you can take to fight back. Even outside of Workspace, Google is one of the most egregious AI pushers around. The company has tried to push its Gemini AI in almost all of its properties, even though it's shown inaccurate search results recommending everything from eating rocks to adding glue to pizza. Even if you have no interest in AI search results, you'll still be forced to see elements of Google's Gemini all over Gmail and its other web apps. If that gets your goat, no worries—you can use Hide Gemini, a Chrome extension that hides Google Gemini elements from various Google sites—to pretend you live in the good older days of 2020. Hide Gemini removes the Ask Gemini button from Gmail and uses CSS to hide other egregious Gemini elements across Google's various sites, even the dreaded AI Overview box. Once you install it, the extension starts taking effect immediately. With these types of extensions, there's sometimes a worry that they may negatively impact the functionality of your service. An extension that blocks one element could sometimes inadvertently stop you from accessing other essential features. Fortunately, there are no such side effects associated with Hide Gemini. Since it uses CSS blocking, it merely hides unwanted AI elements without affecting any other functionality. Note that this extension, just like AI, isn't magic. It only hides persistent AI elements (such as the aforementioned Ask Gemini button), but not temporary promotional ones. If you've never used Gemini, you may see a Try Gemini button, which this extension does not hide. The developer says this is to avoid causing compatibility issues. Similarly, it doesn't block the "Help me write" prompt that may appear in Google Docs while you're working on a document. These minor limitations seem reasonable to me, and I'm happy to recommend Hide Gemini. It makes Google products a lot less annoying to use, even if it doesn't block the AI itself so much as makes it invisible. View the full article

Companies have told chancellor that scaling back tax breaks on savings accounts could boost UK financial servicesView the full article

LVMH’s Arnault contrasts US ‘wind of optimism’ with ‘cold shower’ of FranceView the full article

OpenAI is officially rolling out its latest model, o3-mini, starting today, Friday, Jan. 31. The company shared the news in a blog post on its website, just over a month after officially announcing the model during its "12 Days of OpenAI." As with each refreshed generative AI model, o3-mini is an improvement over o1-mini—but not by as much as you might think. OpenAI says the two models perform the same in math, coding, and science, but o3-mini offers quicker answers to user queries—24% faster, in A/B testing. According to the company, testers comparing the models found o3-mini produces "more accurate and clear answers, with stronger reasoning abilities." And, with "medium reasoning effort," o3-mini matches o1 in certain reasoning and intelligence evaluations. Like o1-mini, o3-mini is a reasoning model, a type of AI model that "thinks" through answers before responding to them. o3-mini has three different reasoning "efforts" depending on the use case: low, medium, and high. In mathematics testing, for instance, o3-mini's medium and high effort reasoning out erforms o1-mini, while high effort even outperforms o1 (the more powerful version of o1-mini). All three efforts beat o1-mini in PhD-level science questions, but o1 outperforms them all. o3-mini replaces the o1-mini model for all users. OpenAI doesn't explicitly state why you can't use o1-mini going forward, but touts that o3-mini has higher rate limits and lower latency than the previous model. At launch, only ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Pro users can access o3-mini. OpenAI says Enterprise users can access the model in a week. (In addition, Plus and Team users will see their daily rate limits jump from 50 messages on o1-mini to 150 messages.) That said, free users will be able to try o3-mini in a limited capacity, either by choosing the "Reasoning" option in the message composer, or regenerating a response. OpenAI says it's the first time free users have had access to a reasoning model in ChatGPT, which comes one day after Microsoft offered o1's reasoning to Copilot users for free. You can learn more about o3-mini in our post here. But as the model is only rolling out today, we won't know exactly how it performs until real-world testers start to use it. View the full article

OpenAI released its newest reasoning model, called o3-mini, on Friday. OpenAI says the model delivers more intelligence than OpenAI’s first small reasoning model, o1-mini, while maintaining o1-mini’s low price and speed. The company says o3-mini excels in science, math, and coding problems. Developers can access o3-mini through an API, and can select between three levels of reasoning intensity. The lowest setting, for example, might be best for less difficult problems where speed of response is a factor. ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Pro users can access OpenAI o3-mini starting today, OpenAI says, while enterprise users will get access in a week. The announcement comes at the end of a week in which the Chinese company DeepSeek dominated headlines after releasing a pair of surprisingly powerful and cost-effective AI models called DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-R1. The latter, a reasoning model, scored close to, and sometimes above, OpenAI’s o1 in a set of recognized benchmark tests. “We’re shifting the entire cost‑intelligence curve,” OpenAI researcher Noam Brown said of o3-mini on X. “Model intelligence will continue to go up, and the cost for the same intelligence will continue to go down.” He said o3-mini even outperforms the full-sized o1 model in a number of evaluations. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in December that the o3 series models demonstrate significantly higher levels of intelligence than the o1 models, including in computer coding and problem solving requiring advanced mathematics. The largest version of o3 also achieved the highest score yet of any AI system on a test called ARC-AGI, a logic and reasoning test designed to measure progress toward artificial general intelligence, meaning AI that’s as smart or smarter than humans at most tasks. The o3 model scored 87.5% on the test (humans can score around 85%). OpenAI originally announced o3, along with a smaller version called o3-mini, in December, but said it would complete its internal safety testing, and get feedback from a group of outside safety and security testors, before launching the models. OpenAI said it would release o3-mini this month, and gave no release timeframe for the larger o3 model. OpenAI chose not to expose the o1 models’ chain of thought, and the same holds true for o3-mini. Researchers have shown that generating chain-of-thought can sometimes confuse models and pull them off focus. DeepSeek-R1, however, is trained to show its chain of thought, and Google announced in December a new experimental model called Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking that also shows its “thinking.” Reasoning models represent a new chapter in developing generative AI models. From 2020-2023 AI labs won almost all of their performance increases by pre-training their models with more data and computing power. That “brute force” approach began to show diminishing returns in 2024, so the AI labs–OpenAI chief among them–began to teach models to do more reasoning (and use more computing power) at inference time just after the user has asked a question or posed a problem. The model might generate multiple streams of tokens at once, then choose which one leads to the best answers. Or it might follow a certain branch of logic then iteratively backtrack after hitting a dead end. The model generates a lot of tokens, which must all be stored in a “context window” while the problem is being solved. This requires a lot of memory and a lot of computing power. OpenAI’s first try at reasoning models with the o1 series wasn’t perfect. The largest o1 model is very expensive to run and its needs a long time to reach an answer. The o3 models are said to do more reasoning at inference time, but return answers faster using less computing power. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. The final months of 2024 saw the release of two major cinematic works, each laser focused on design and architecture. While very different films (that is, one Oscar-nominated, one Razzie-nominated), each is monumental in its own right. First came Francis Ford Coppola's decades-in-the-making sci-fi drama Megalopolis, following a visionary architect, played by Adam Driver, who dreams of transforming the future city of New Rome into a utopian paradise with the help of a magical metal. Critics were not kind to Coppola's film, but a much warmer reception greeted Brady Corbet's The Brutalist, a more down-to-earth but no less epic period drama following a Hungarian-born Holocaust survivor (Adrien Brody) who emigrates to the United States and whose past as an accomplished architect gradually becomes clear. Documentaries aside, architects and architecture have served varied, but particular roles in film: The art of architecture, when spotlighted, is frequently used to metaphorically reflect what's happening between towering personalities. As an occupation, though, architecture is often treated as a bland signifier: architects are often solidly middle-class romantic interests, the specific career incidental. Though veering from scary to silly to epic, these 10 films all go a bit deeper. The Towering Inferno (1974) Surely a cautionary tale for budding young architects, The Towering Inferno reminds us that even Paul Newman makes mistakes (and just being hot doesn't necessarily make one a good architect). The actor plays Doug Roberts, designer of the world's walled building: San Francisco's (fictional, thank God) Glass Tower. The titular fire isn't entirely Duncan's fault—blame is doled out to various corner-cutting subcontractors—but it's still made clear that Roberts cared more about style and personal prestige than safety, the result being a horrific (also thrilling) disaster in which various '70s era celebrities are placed in fiery danger. You can buy The Towering Inferno from Prime Video. The Towering Inferno (1974) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Belly of an Architect (1987) An acclaimed, though lesser-known 1980s indie, Belly stars Brian Dennehy as the (fictional) architect Stourley Kracklite, following him as he travels from Chicago to Rome to arrange an exhibition on the (real-life) 18th-century French architect Étienne-Louis Boullée. In Rome, Kracklite's marriage and resolve begin to crumble against the backdrop of increasingly opulent classical architecture—particularly that of Boullée himself, whose work has been characterized as grand to the point of megalomaniacal (if not fascist). All of that impressive architecture is quite present onscreen, often used to signal that our lead is being dwarfed by the scale of the art around him. You can stream The Belly of an Architect on Prime Video. The Belly of an Architect (1987) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video High-Rise (2015) An adaptation of J.G. Ballard's same-titled dystopian novel, High-Rise stars Tom Hiddleston as Dr. Robert Laing, who is living in a London tower building where things have gone rather hideously wrong (they're eating the dogs, literally). We journey back a few months to meet the architect, played by Jeremy Irons, who's designed a (rather cool-looking) building that's the absolute tops in elegant modern living—at least for the wealthier residents who live on the upper floors. When class warfare inevitably breaks out between them and the less fortunate lower denizens, things grow increasingly grim, but the architect remains free, for a time, to blandly philosophize about the impact of his designs on society. After all, he doesn't have to live there. You can stream High-Rise on Max or rent it from Prime Video. High-Rise (2015) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Inception (2010) Inception captures what must be an architect's dream, before bringing things back down to earth in extremely commonplace ways. Elliott Page plays Ariadne, a graduate-level architecture student hired to design the architecture of a literal dream, with no budgetary nor design restrictions. The designs need to be believable on an intuitive level, with an idiosyncratic logic that a dreamer wouldn't question. Of course, capitalism rears its head even here: This isn't some grand plan for art unbridled by reality; it's all in service of an ultra-rich businessman with an eye towards stealing corporate secrets—a reminder that even our dreams are constrained by greed. You can stream Inception on Netflix or rent it from Prime Video. Inception (2010) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Fountainhead (1949) I'd rather eat my own head than read another magniloquent Ayn Rand doorstopper, but this adaptation of her landmark book, directed by King Vidor, is certainly focused on its lead character's profession—though using it to make a larger point about how anyone who caves in to popular tastes is a dirty communist or something. Gary Cooper stars as Howard Roark, faced with a full-blown newspaper campaign aimed at putting a stop to his individual spirit and idiosyncratic designs. The central love affair between Roark and icy cool Dany Taggert (Patricia Neal) provides a bit of melodramatic fun, and the cinematography is stunning. The central message about being true to your own muse is also on the button, even if the narrative pushes that idea to pretty wacky extremes (though without some of the novel's more odious overtones). You can stream The Fountainhead on The Criterion Channel. The Fountainhead (1949) at The Criterion Channel Learn More Learn More at The Criterion Channel Mon Oncle (1958) I've endeavored to stick to films that deal with architects, or at least with building design as a profession, but it's hard to avoid Jacques Tati when talking about the ways in which architecture impacts our lives. The second of the director's films in which he stars as the hopelessly awkward Monsieur Hulot (and his first in color), this one finds Hulot spending time with his nephew and family in their ultra-modern, relentlessly geometric house in a new Paris suburban development. Brilliantly, hilariously conceived, the Villa Arpel is a triumph of style over substance, with comfort and tradition giving way at every turn to capitalistic modernity. Chairs are nearly impossible to sit on, flagstones are positioned so that it's impossible to walk, and ostensibly convenient appliances are so loud, you can barely think. It's a satire buoyed by physical comedy, but astute as to the ways in which architecture and design can try to improve our lives and go terribly wrong in the process. You can stream Mon Oncle on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Mon Oncle (1958) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Amityville: It's About Time (1992) From the sublimely ridiculous to the just plain ridiculous: A highlight (relatively) of a series that stretches to dozens of movies (don't feel bad if you've lost track of the Amityville oeuvre), It's About Time reminds us that urban planning and architectural design aren't just about blueprints and mathematics, they're also about vibes. If, for instance, you're hired to design a new neighborhood in Amityville, as is the case for architect Jacob Sterling (Stephen Macht), never use an old clock from the ruins of an infamous murder house as your inspiration. It will end badly for all parties. You can stream Amityville: It's About Time on Tubi, Freevee, and Prime Video. Amityville: It's About Time (1992) at Freevee Learn More Learn More at Freevee Jungle Fever (1991) Architecture isn't the defining feature of this 1991 Spike Lee joint, but it does speak to a dearth of Black American architects both in film and in real life. Harlem architect Flipper Purify (Wesley Snipes) has built an impressive career for himself, as well as a solid family life—at least until he starts an affair with a temp (Annabella Sciorra) assigned to him by an agency. Being an architect in a movie is often a shorthand way of suggesting middle-class, white-collar success, and is almost entirely restricted to white characters (think Sleepless in Seattle); despite the enormous contributions of Black structural designers to American design history, the percentage of white people in field remains somewhere in high 90s. In movies, that number is closer to 100%—honestly Flipper is the only non-white cinematic architect I came across while assembling this roundup. So whether or not you approve of his extramarital engagements, you can certainly give him credit as a trailblazer. You can rent Jungle Fever from Prime Video. Jungle Fever (1991) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Columbus (2017) Indie filmaker Kogonada (After Yang, Pachinko) made his debut with this quiet relationship drama that makes stunning use of the structural design features of Columbus, Indiana—a surprising place, perhaps, to focus on architecture. John Cho stars as Jin Lee, returning to the title town to care for his estranged father, now in a coma in a local hospital. He meets library worker Casey (Haley Lu Richardson), and the two explore Columbus together, with the composition of the city serving as backdrop (and sometimes mirror) to their developing relationship, even as topics of conversation turn on her knowledge of local architecture and her desire to enter the field. It's a quiet, subtle film that's as close to pure cinema as we get in the 21st century. You can rent Columbus from Prime Video. Columbus (2017) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Black Cat (1934) A stunning expressionist masterpiece with grisly horror trappings, the architecture of The Black Cat serves the story as much as it embellishes it. Boris Karloff plays architect and former Austro-Hungarian army officer Hjalmar Poelzig, who has built an ultra-modern, Bauhaus-style house on the ruins of the fort that he'd betrayed to the Russians during World War II. Its modernity conceals a bevy of occult mysteries, however—it's a haunted house unlike any that had come before, and its stylish sterility comes to feel like a trap in and of itself. Director Edward G. Elmer had been a set designer in Germany before fleeing the rise of the Nazis, and it's hard not to see parallels between the movie and conditions in Germany at the end of the Weimar Republic, when a thin veneer of progress was built atop literal corpses. You can rent The Black Cat from Prime Video. The Black Cat (1934) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video View the full article

The regulator has a projected fiscal year 2025 budget of $810 million, according to a nonpartisan analysis. View the full article

Chief warns country could be vulnerable to Chinese and Russian influence if it is forced to abandon operations there View the full article

Bluesky has steadily been replacing X (formerly Twitter) for me, but I've really missed the ability to bookmark posts for future reference. While X still has Twitter's old bookmarks feature, the only way to save a Bluesky post is to like it, since you can access a list of your liked posts on your profile page. That's not always convenient—what if you dislike something, but want to be able to find it again later, say if it's an article about bad but important news? That's where Kyst comes in. It's a browser extension for Chrome and Firefox that lets you save Bluesky posts in one click. Installing Kyst and signing in Credit: Pranay Parab I've previously written about Bluesky's app passwords feature, which allow you to authorize third-party apps to access your account without having to give them your real password. Kyst doesn't use app passwords, preferring OAuth (short for open authorization) for authentication instead. OAuth is how most social networks allow you to connect third-party apps. The app requests access to your Bluesky account, and when you authorize it, it still cannot see your username or password. In theory, this is a great move, as Bluesky plans to get rid of app passwords eventually. In practice, though, things are a little complicated. At time of writing, Bluesky doesn't yet allow you to view which apps you've authorized using OAuth, and that means you can't quickly revoke access to apps you don't want to use. This is expected to change over the coming months, as Bluesky rolls out OAuth more broadly. For the time being, if you want to stop using Kyst, you'll have to sign out of Bluesky and delete the browser extension. The developer told me in an email that they're also working on allowing people to delete their Kyst accounts in the future. Once you've installed Kyst on Chrome or Firefox and authorized the extension, you can start using it via the official Bluesky website. It adds a small bookmark button below each post and shows one button on the right side of the screen that displays or hides a sidebar. Using bookmarks on Bluesky Credit: Pranay Parab Once Kyst is set up, Bluesky posts on your browser will show a bookmark button next to the like button. Click once to bookmark the post and click again to undo. The Kyst button on the right side of the page opens up a sidebar to let you view your bookmarks. The extension is as simple as that, and it works fairly well. If you're away from your browser, you can also visit https://kyst.app/bookmarks to see and organize your bookmarked posts. For that organization, both the Kyst sidebar and Kyst's website allow you to add tags to your bookmarks, which makes it easy to categorize saved posts and find what you're looking for. The extension also lets you filter saved posts by date, type of post (regular posts vs threads), or by the media attached to the post. As a writer, I love using Kyst to save posts that give me story ideas, but there are a few rough edges. On both Chrome and Firefox, the extension has a bug that makes it show massive thumbnails for saved posts. On Firefox, I noticed the sidebar also wasn't displaying any posts, so I had to switch to the bookmarks page to see the posts I'd saved. View the full article

Amsterdam likely to be one location for ice cream division’s spin-off, with London and New York also under considerationView the full article

Close to 88% of all homeowners reported staying in the same home year-over-year compared to 85.1% reported a decade ago, per U.S. Census data. View the full article

I enjoy Super Bowl Sunday. I’m not much of a football fan, but my friend always hosts a lovely party with plentiful snacks, and I don’t have to do a thing. You see, hosting a dinner party is one thing—there’s a set meal, and you can plan out the timing—but a party based on hot snacks means lots of upkeep, and frequent refreshing. You need a lineup of snacks that are delicious, easy to prep, and quick to churn out, leaving you plenty of time to yell at the TV. This sounds like a job for the air fryer. Here’s a list of my favorite Air Fryday snacks fit for the big game. Cheese-stuffed biscuit ballsYou know what’s better than cheesy breadsticks? These cheese-stuffed biscuit balls. They’re made with canned biscuit dough, which makes the preparation straightforward. Pop a can of your favorite vacuum-sealed dough and wrap a biscuit's worth around a fat cube of mozzarella cheese. Throw the balls in the air fryer for a few minutes, and before serving, swipe with melted butter and a sprinkle of garlic salt. Seasoned pretzels Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann Seasoned pretzels have won me over. They're crunchier than potato chips and these ranch seasoned ones are packed with flavor. While you can use the original oven method outlined in the recipe, you can do it faster in the air fryer. Just place them on the air fryer grate (it's okay if they overlap) and set the air fryer on the "bake" setting for 325°F. Bake them for seven to 15 minutes (depending on the size of the pretzels and type of air fryer), tossing them around halfway through the cooking time. Meatball shots Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann I created meatball shots specifically for football watching—because while I don't follow the sport, I do enjoy the weekly snacks. It turns out, everyone else loves them too. Using store-bought frozen meatballs ensures a stable vehicle for the cheesy center, and Boursin cheese is the perfect pre-seasoned mixture for the job. These are sure to go quick, so make a double batch. Easy mushroom chips Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann I was stunned at how well canned mushrooms handle air frying. They turn into crunchy, bubbly, umami slices with little more than a spritz of oil. These could not be simpler to make and they're completely vegan. Enjoy them on their own, as a companion to nuts or seasoned pretzels, or use them as a crunchy topping for dip. Air fryer s'mores Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann You don't need a campfire to enjoy s'mores; an air fryer does the trick just fine. While some folks might associate these sweet treats with the great outdoors, this speedy method makes a good argument for s'mores indoors. Just load up your air fryer with graham cracker halves and their trusted fillings. In about four minutes you'll have s'mores to feed a small crowd. Air fryer kielbasa Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann A large platter of fatty sausage with crispy edges is a special type of heaven. And when your team is losing by 12 points, well, you'll need something pleasant to distract you from your rage. Air fryer kielbasa is extremely simple and highly gratifying. The trick here is scoring the daylights out of the exterior—those shallow cuts become crispy and the air fryer ensures you can get more ready in case there's a half-time emergency. Devils on Horseback Credit: Claire Lower These bite-sized nibbles offer an enticing balance of sweet and salty, crunchy and chewy. All you need is fruit, cheese, and pork to wrap around them. Pitted dates make an excellent fruit pocket for stuffing with cheese, and a half slice of bacon or prosciutto makes for a great pork blanket. Follow the directions here. American-cheese crisps Talk about zero prep time: American cheese singles are already ready for your air fryer. While classic cheese frico is a crispy, lacy snack made from a hard cheese like parmesan, American cheese crisps are something altogether new. Simply lay a few floppy singles on the floor of your air fryer and witness their transformation to crunchy, cavernous puffs. Pile them into a bowl and watch them disappear. Air fryer pierogi Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann At this point there should be no doubt that meats do very well in the air fryer, but what about carbs? Lucky for us, they have a place in the basket as well. Pierogi are a great example. To make a crispy, fluffy batch of pierogi, start with a box or bag from the freezer section of your grocery store. Follow the directions in my recipe here for the simple method. Caramel pasta chips Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann If you're looking for a sweet, crunchy snack to round out your Game Day spread, try these irresistible caramel pasta chips. You can use any shape of pasta you have on hand (the weirder the better, in my opinion). Start by boiling the pasta, draining it and tossing the wet noodles with cinnamon and sugar. The air fryer will quickly evaporate the water in the pasta, leaving behind a light and flaky shell coated in caramel. A big bowl of these snackable pasta chips will be an instant hit. Shishito pepper poppers Jalapeño poppers are mildly spicy, but for a stuffed-pepper snack that keeps you guessing, try this recipe for shishito pepper poppers instead. Shishitos are long green peppers with a thinner fleshy wall than jalapeños, which allows them to soften a bit faster in the air fryer. Pair that with the knowledge that you’ll never know which one are mild and which are a pocket of spicy hellfire and you’ve got yourself a snack your guests won’t forget. Phyllo wrapped veggies Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann If you’re looking for a way to incorporate more veggies onto your roster, here’s an incredible air fryer option: phyllo dough wrapped veggie sticks. You can use any vegetable you have available in the fridge, like carrot sticks, whole scallions, bell peppers, or asparagus. Lightly buttered phyllo dough creates crisp, flaky layers around each vegetable. Click here for the full recipe. Mac and cheese bitesThis is the only suggested air fryer snack on this list that requires cold leftovers, but it’s so insanely good I think it’s worth making a batch of mac and cheese the day before. Once the mac and cheese is cold, slice it into sticks or squares and toss into the air fryer as-is, no breading required. The existing cheese and oils from the sauce will fry and crisp to form a crunchy frico cheese exterior with a soft pasta interior. Click here for the full recipe. Air fryer crunchy chickpeas Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann It’s nice to have a variety of snacks at the table. Here’s one that’s easy, low commitment, and impossible to stop munching on. Crunchy chickpeas are tossed with seasonings and a secret ingredient: cornstarch. The layer of starch creates a shattering crust on each garbanzo unlike anything you’ve had before. And they’re ready in a snap. Check out the recipe here. Leftovers egg rolls This snack is a lifesaver if you underprepared for your party. Keep a pack of egg roll wrappers around so you can roll up any leftovers you have hanging in your fridge. Yep. Any and all leftovers. Fill the egg roll wrapper with a slice of lasagna, baked beans and cheese, ham and pickles, or leftover potato salad. They crisp up in the air fryer like a dream. Read here for the details. Bacon-wrapped banana bitesSimilar to devils on horseback but even simpler are these bacon-wrapped banana bites. They’re an irresistible blend of sweet, earthy, and salty. Slice ripe bananas into one-inch segments and wrap them in strips of bacon. Pop them in the air fryer until crisp. Air fryer key lime pie Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann Just because it’s a snack party doesn’t mean we have to skip dessert. This air fryer key lime pie is a nice reminder that spring is just around the corner. Use a store-bought graham cracker crust—they’re about eight inches in diameter and the aluminum tin fits in most air fryers. With only a few ingredients, this recipe comes together quickly—but don’t forget to give the finished pie time in the fridge to cool. View the full article

The release of DeepSeek’s new model has shaken assumptions about who has the upper hand in developing the technology View the full article

National holidays can be a fun and timely way to market a business. There are lots of February national days that may be relevant to various businesses. Here’s a look at some things on the calendar this month. Why should you market your business in February? It’s generally beneficial to market a small business all year. But here are some specific reasons to keep your efforts going during February: Pick up during a slow time: Many consumers are still recovering from the holidays and spending lots of time at home during February. They may need an extra push to patronize your business. Stand out among your competition: Since many businesses are slowing down this month, there may be less noise from your competitors. Use the opportunity to get your business in front of your target audience. Take advantage of gift-giving occasions: Valentine’s Day is one of the most popular February holidays. People often buy gifts for loved ones, so it’s perfect for businesses that sell flowers, chocolates, and more. Help customers with daily habits: After the new year, people are still getting into a daily rhythm. And many are adjusting the high expectations of their resolutions. So there may still be time to tie your products or services into their new routines. Tie your offerings into other national holidays: There are lots of other occasions throughout February that may be relevant to your business. Check the list below. Celebrate These February National Days If you want to promote your business on national days in February, here are some popular ones to consider. Feb. 1 – National Dark Chocolate Day Food bloggers, bakeries, and gift shops can all use this day to offer specials on products or recipes that include this popular ingredient. Feb. 2 – Groundhog Day Did the groundhog see his shadow? Many businesses create fun social media content surrounding this holiday. Feb. 3 – National Carrot Cake Day Restaurants and bakeries may offer free desserts or specials to celebrate this day. Feb 4. – National Israel Day National Israel Day celebrates the rich cultural heritage and contributions of the Israeli people. It serves as an opportunity to honor Israel’s history, achievements, and the enduring ties between Israel and communities worldwide. Feb. 5 – World Nutella Day Celebrate Nutella by offering grocery store specials or posting unique recipes online. Feb. 6 – National Frozen Yogurt Day Frozen yogurt shops shine on this day thanks to sales and special events. Feb. 7 – National Send a Card to a Friend Day Gift shops and handmade stationery retailers can gain attention by promoting letter writing. Feb. 8 – Safer Internet Day IT service providers and professional organizations can share helpful tips on this holiday. Feb. 9 – National Pizza Day Pizza shops, grocery stores, and recipe bloggers can celebrate this popular food with fun online content and sales. Feb. 11 – National Inventors Day If you’ve invented a unique product, use this occasion to share your story or tips with other inventors. Feb. 12 – Super Bowl Sunday Much online content revolves around the big game, from snack recipes to events at local sports bars. Feb. 13 – Galentine’s Day This is a day to celebrate female friendships. So gift shops, restaurants, and event venues could create events or sales. Feb. 14 – Valentine’s Day Valentine’s Day is likely the biggest gift-giving occasion in February. So, any business that sells gifts, including restaurants and date night spots, can include this date in marketing materials. Feb. 15 – Singles Awareness Day The day after Valentine’s Day celebrates singles. Some people may go on outings at restaurants or bars with single friends. Feb. 17 – National Caregivers Day Assisted living facilities and other businesses that serve seniors and their families can use this occasion to recognize caregivers. Feb. 18 – National Drink Wine Day Wine shops, restaurants, and bars can offer special promotions for wine lovers. Feb. 20 – Presidents Day Presidents Day is celebrated on the third Monday of February to celebrate George Washington’s birthday. Many businesses give the day off and/or offer specials. Feb. 21 – Fat Tuesday Fat Tuesday is the last day that many people eat fatty, indulgent foods before the start of Lent. Restaurants and bakeries may offer specials. Feb. 22 – National Margarita Day Invite groups into your restaurant and offer specials on Margarita Day. Feb. 24 – National Tortilla Chip Day Tortilla Chip Day may be popular in Mexican restaurants and/or grocery stores. Feb. 28 – National Tooth Fairy Day Dentists and childcare businesses can create fun educational content around this holiday. National Weeks in February You Don’t Want to Miss Some February celebrations last a whole week. Here are some that may be relevant to certain businesses. Feb. 1 – 7 – National Patient Recognition Week Medical offices can post thank you messages or recognize specific patients this week. Feb. 6 – 10 – National Pride in Foodservice Week Engage employees and share stories online or through marketing materials to recruit more top talent. Feb. 6 – 12 – National Freelance Writers Appreciation Week Share messages of appreciation or provide perks to freelancers on your team. Feb. 6 – 12 – International Networking Week Business groups and offices can host networking events to encourage engagement and increase membership. Feb. 12 – 18 – National Secondhand Wardrobe Week Thrift stores, vintage resellers, and content creators can all share the benefits of shopping secondhand and offer fun events and specials. Feb. 14 – 21 – Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Education Week Memory care centers and assisted living communities may host workshops or share helpful tips online for families. Don’t Forget These February Monthly Holidays There are also monthly observances that last throughout February. Businesses may create ongoing promotions or campaigns to spread awareness and tie their content into these. Black History Month Black History Month celebrates the contributions and acknowledges Black Americans’ struggles. Many businesses share educational content online or host workshops. American Heart Month Doctor’s offices and health-related businesses can share heart-healthy recipes and healthy living tips throughout the month. National Cancer Prevention Month This is another opportunity for health-related businesses to share prevention tips. Children’s Dental Health Month Dentist offices can use this as a reminder to schedule appointments and share tips online. Responsible Pet Owner Month Pet care businesses can share tips with customers or offer specials on related products. National Hot Breakfast Month Restaurants can offer breakfast specials all month long. National Snack Food Month Recipe bloggers can share unique snack recipes monthly, or grocery stores may create fun snack displays. What is the month of February known for? February is part of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere. The most prominent holiday celebrated in the U.S. is Valentine’s Day. It’s also the shortest month of the year, with just 28 days (or 29 on leap years). What should a small business post on social media in February? Social media content is likely to vary depending on your industry and niche. But many businesses tie content into Valentine’s Day or winter. Some also post social justice-related content in recognition of Black History Month. How can you promote your business in February? You can promote your business in February by tying it into different national days, including Valentine’s Day, Presidents Day, and even National Margarita Day. See a complete list of February holidays above. DateHoliday Feb. 1National Dark Chocolate Day Feb. 2Groundhog Day Feb. 2National Girls and Women in Sports Day Feb. 2Optimist Day Feb. 2National Tater Tot Day Feb. 3Bubble Gum Day Feb. 3National Wear Red Day Feb. 4Ice Cream for Breakfast Day Feb. 4National Hemp Day Feb. 5World Nutella Day Feb. 6National Frozen Yogurt Day Feb. 7National Fettuccini Alfredo Day Feb. 7National Send a Card to a Friend Day Feb. 8Safer Internet Day Feb. 9National Pizza Day Feb. 9National Toothache Day Feb. 10National Home Warranty Day Feb. 11Global Movie Day Feb. 11National Inventor's Day Feb. 12National Pork Rind Day Feb. 12Super Bowl Sunday Feb. 13Galentine's Day Feb. 13National Football Hangover Day Feb. 13National Clean Out Your Computer Day Feb. 14Valentine's Day Feb. 15Single's Awareness Day Feb. 15National Gumdrop Day Feb. 16National Almond Day Feb. 17National Caregivers Day Feb. 17National Random Acts of Kindness Day Feb. 18National Drink Wine Day Feb. 18National Battery Day Feb. 19National Lash Day Feb. 20National Leadership Day Feb. 20National Comfy Day Feb. 20National Muffin Day Feb. 20National Love Your Pet Day Feb. 20President's Day Feb. 21Paczki Day Feb. 21Fat Tuesday Feb. 21National Pancake Day Feb. 21National Grain Free Day Feb. 22National Supermarket Employee Day Feb. 22National Margarita Day Feb. 22Ash Wednesday Feb. 23National Dog Biscuit Day Feb. 23National Toast Day Feb. 23National Chili Day Feb. 23National Tile Day Feb. 24National Tortilla Chip Day Feb. 24National Skip the Straw Day Feb. 25National Clam Chowder Day Feb. 26National Pistachio Day Feb. 27National Strawberry Day Feb. 27National Retro Day Feb. 28National Tooth Fairy Day Feb. 28World Spay Day Feb. 28National Floral Design Day YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Market Your Business With these National Days in January Image: Envato Elements This article, "Market Your Business With These National Days in February" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

National holidays can be a fun and timely way to market a business. There are lots of February national days that may be relevant to various businesses. Here’s a look at some things on the calendar this month. Why should you market your business in February? It’s generally beneficial to market a small business all year. But here are some specific reasons to keep your efforts going during February: Pick up during a slow time: Many consumers are still recovering from the holidays and spending lots of time at home during February. They may need an extra push to patronize your business. Stand out among your competition: Since many businesses are slowing down this month, there may be less noise from your competitors. Use the opportunity to get your business in front of your target audience. Take advantage of gift-giving occasions: Valentine’s Day is one of the most popular February holidays. People often buy gifts for loved ones, so it’s perfect for businesses that sell flowers, chocolates, and more. Help customers with daily habits: After the new year, people are still getting into a daily rhythm. And many are adjusting the high expectations of their resolutions. So there may still be time to tie your products or services into their new routines. Tie your offerings into other national holidays: There are lots of other occasions throughout February that may be relevant to your business. Check the list below. Celebrate These February National Days If you want to promote your business on national days in February, here are some popular ones to consider. Feb. 1 – National Dark Chocolate Day Food bloggers, bakeries, and gift shops can all use this day to offer specials on products or recipes that include this popular ingredient. Feb. 2 – Groundhog Day Did the groundhog see his shadow? Many businesses create fun social media content surrounding this holiday. Feb. 3 – National Carrot Cake Day Restaurants and bakeries may offer free desserts or specials to celebrate this day. Feb 4. – National Israel Day National Israel Day celebrates the rich cultural heritage and contributions of the Israeli people. It serves as an opportunity to honor Israel’s history, achievements, and the enduring ties between Israel and communities worldwide. Feb. 5 – World Nutella Day Celebrate Nutella by offering grocery store specials or posting unique recipes online. Feb. 6 – National Frozen Yogurt Day Frozen yogurt shops shine on this day thanks to sales and special events. Feb. 7 – National Send a Card to a Friend Day Gift shops and handmade stationery retailers can gain attention by promoting letter writing. Feb. 8 – Safer Internet Day IT service providers and professional organizations can share helpful tips on this holiday. Feb. 9 – National Pizza Day Pizza shops, grocery stores, and recipe bloggers can celebrate this popular food with fun online content and sales. Feb. 11 – National Inventors Day If you’ve invented a unique product, use this occasion to share your story or tips with other inventors. Feb. 12 – Super Bowl Sunday Much online content revolves around the big game, from snack recipes to events at local sports bars. Feb. 13 – Galentine’s Day This is a day to celebrate female friendships. So gift shops, restaurants, and event venues could create events or sales. Feb. 14 – Valentine’s Day Valentine’s Day is likely the biggest gift-giving occasion in February. So, any business that sells gifts, including restaurants and date night spots, can include this date in marketing materials. Feb. 15 – Singles Awareness Day The day after Valentine’s Day celebrates singles. Some people may go on outings at restaurants or bars with single friends. Feb. 17 – National Caregivers Day Assisted living facilities and other businesses that serve seniors and their families can use this occasion to recognize caregivers. Feb. 18 – National Drink Wine Day Wine shops, restaurants, and bars can offer special promotions for wine lovers. Feb. 20 – Presidents Day Presidents Day is celebrated on the third Monday of February to celebrate George Washington’s birthday. Many businesses give the day off and/or offer specials. Feb. 21 – Fat Tuesday Fat Tuesday is the last day that many people eat fatty, indulgent foods before the start of Lent. Restaurants and bakeries may offer specials. Feb. 22 – National Margarita Day Invite groups into your restaurant and offer specials on Margarita Day. Feb. 24 – National Tortilla Chip Day Tortilla Chip Day may be popular in Mexican restaurants and/or grocery stores. Feb. 28 – National Tooth Fairy Day Dentists and childcare businesses can create fun educational content around this holiday. National Weeks in February You Don’t Want to Miss Some February celebrations last a whole week. Here are some that may be relevant to certain businesses. Feb. 1 – 7 – National Patient Recognition Week Medical offices can post thank you messages or recognize specific patients this week. Feb. 6 – 10 – National Pride in Foodservice Week Engage employees and share stories online or through marketing materials to recruit more top talent. Feb. 6 – 12 – National Freelance Writers Appreciation Week Share messages of appreciation or provide perks to freelancers on your team. Feb. 6 – 12 – International Networking Week Business groups and offices can host networking events to encourage engagement and increase membership. Feb. 12 – 18 – National Secondhand Wardrobe Week Thrift stores, vintage resellers, and content creators can all share the benefits of shopping secondhand and offer fun events and specials. Feb. 14 – 21 – Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Education Week Memory care centers and assisted living communities may host workshops or share helpful tips online for families. Don’t Forget These February Monthly Holidays There are also monthly observances that last throughout February. Businesses may create ongoing promotions or campaigns to spread awareness and tie their content into these. Black History Month Black History Month celebrates the contributions and acknowledges Black Americans’ struggles. Many businesses share educational content online or host workshops. American Heart Month Doctor’s offices and health-related businesses can share heart-healthy recipes and healthy living tips throughout the month. National Cancer Prevention Month This is another opportunity for health-related businesses to share prevention tips. Children’s Dental Health Month Dentist offices can use this as a reminder to schedule appointments and share tips online. Responsible Pet Owner Month Pet care businesses can share tips with customers or offer specials on related products. National Hot Breakfast Month Restaurants can offer breakfast specials all month long. National Snack Food Month Recipe bloggers can share unique snack recipes monthly, or grocery stores may create fun snack displays. What is the month of February known for? February is part of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere. The most prominent holiday celebrated in the U.S. is Valentine’s Day. It’s also the shortest month of the year, with just 28 days (or 29 on leap years). What should a small business post on social media in February? Social media content is likely to vary depending on your industry and niche. But many businesses tie content into Valentine’s Day or winter. Some also post social justice-related content in recognition of Black History Month. How can you promote your business in February? You can promote your business in February by tying it into different national days, including Valentine’s Day, Presidents Day, and even National Margarita Day. See a complete list of February holidays above. DateHoliday Feb. 1National Dark Chocolate Day Feb. 2Groundhog Day Feb. 2National Girls and Women in Sports Day Feb. 2Optimist Day Feb. 2National Tater Tot Day Feb. 3Bubble Gum Day Feb. 3National Wear Red Day Feb. 4Ice Cream for Breakfast Day Feb. 4National Hemp Day Feb. 5World Nutella Day Feb. 6National Frozen Yogurt Day Feb. 7National Fettuccini Alfredo Day Feb. 7National Send a Card to a Friend Day Feb. 8Safer Internet Day Feb. 9National Pizza Day Feb. 9National Toothache Day Feb. 10National Home Warranty Day Feb. 11Global Movie Day Feb. 11National Inventor's Day Feb. 12National Pork Rind Day Feb. 12Super Bowl Sunday Feb. 13Galentine's Day Feb. 13National Football Hangover Day Feb. 13National Clean Out Your Computer Day Feb. 14Valentine's Day Feb. 15Single's Awareness Day Feb. 15National Gumdrop Day Feb. 16National Almond Day Feb. 17National Caregivers Day Feb. 17National Random Acts of Kindness Day Feb. 18National Drink Wine Day Feb. 18National Battery Day Feb. 19National Lash Day Feb. 20National Leadership Day Feb. 20National Comfy Day Feb. 20National Muffin Day Feb. 20National Love Your Pet Day Feb. 20President's Day Feb. 21Paczki Day Feb. 21Fat Tuesday Feb. 21National Pancake Day Feb. 21National Grain Free Day Feb. 22National Supermarket Employee Day Feb. 22National Margarita Day Feb. 22Ash Wednesday Feb. 23National Dog Biscuit Day Feb. 23National Toast Day Feb. 23National Chili Day Feb. 23National Tile Day Feb. 24National Tortilla Chip Day Feb. 24National Skip the Straw Day Feb. 25National Clam Chowder Day Feb. 26National Pistachio Day Feb. 27National Strawberry Day Feb. 27National Retro Day Feb. 28National Tooth Fairy Day Feb. 28World Spay Day Feb. 28National Floral Design Day YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Market Your Business With these National Days in January Image: Envato Elements This article, "Market Your Business With These National Days in February" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Prime Video's original content lineup in February has a little something for everyone, starting with a new comedy series executive produced by the late Normal Lear. Clean Slate (Feb. 6) stars George Wallace and Laverne Cox—who also created and produced the show—as a father-daughter duo working on reconciliation when Cox's character returns home to Alabama as a proud trans woman. Later in the month, Prime Video is premiering the third installment of Reacher (Feb. 20), the crime thriller starring Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher, a former U.S. Army policeman and the titular character from Lee Child's book series. In season three, Reacher attempts to rescue a DEA informant from the criminal underworld. Also on tap in February is a new comedy special from George Lopez (Muy Católico, Feb. 18), docuseries 50,000 First Dates: A True Love Story (Feb. 11), and My Fault: London (Feb. 13), a YA film adapted from the 2023 Spanish film of the same name and based on the Mercedes Ron novel Culpa mía. Here are all the originals coming to Prime Video in February. What’s coming to Prime Video in February 2025Available February 3Calleja en el espacio (part 1) Available February 6Invincible Clean Slate Available February 7Newtopia Available February 1150,000 First Dates: A True Love Story Available February 13My Fault: London (2025) Broken Rage (2025) Available February 18George Lopez: Muy Católico Available February 20Reacher Available February 24Prime Video Boxing 11 Available February 27House of David Su Majestad View the full article

Levies will be implemented on February 1, White House saysView the full article

For small businesses, spring means one thing: tax season. That means there’s no better time than the present to start getting the necessary paperwork in order. Whether you’re a one-person show or a larger corporation, there are several key dates to be aware of. Not only will you avoid a last-minute rush, you’ll also avoid possible fees or penalties and ensure your business remains in compliance. Businesses with Employees If you had employees or hired independent contractors in 2024, you are required to provide them with the appropriate federal tax forms. For employees who earned wages in 2024, W2 forms must be distributed by Jan. 31, 2025. For independent contractors who earned at least $600 in 2024, you must file a federal 1099-NEC form with the IRS and provide the form to the worker by Jan. 31, 2025. Note that in years past, employers used the 1099-MISC form for both miscellaneous income and non-employee compensation, but it has since been replaced with form 1099-NEC. Small businesses with employees that were required to pay federal and state unemployment taxes during 2024 are also required to report these payments. IRS Form 940, Employer’s Annual Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) Return, must be submitted by Jan. 31, 2025. However, employers that submitted taxes when due have until Feb. 10, 2025. S Corp Election If your business is an LLC or a C Corp, you may be eligible to elect S Corp status for federal income tax purposes. There are many benefits of S Corp status, including the avoidance of double taxation and self-employment taxes. If you’re interested in electing S Corp status, you must act fast. Existing companies with a tax year that began on Jan. 1 have until March 17 to file IRS Form 2553. Businesses that have a fiscal year other than the calendar year have two months and 15 days after the start of their fiscal year to submit the form. Tax Deadlines Staying on top of looming tax deadlines is a best practice for small business owners. Doing so helps you avoid fees and penalties and keeps your business in compliance. Following is a basic summary of due dates. Sole Proprietorship Taxes: Tuesday, April 15, 2025, with an optional extended deadline of Oct. 15, 2025. Partnership Taxes: The 15th day of the third month after the end of the tax year. For partnerships using Dec. 31 as their year-end, that date is March 17, 2025, with an optional extended deadline of Sept. 15, 2025. Limited partnerships must also list their profits and losses on IRS Form 1065 (U.S. Return of Partnership Income). Partnerships must also file Schedule K, which breaks income into different categories. Both general and limited partners must obtain Schedule K-1 from their partnerships for their own tax filings. LLC Taxes: By default, single-member LLCs are taxed as sole proprietorships, so their deadline is April 15, 2025. Multiple-member LLCs are taxed as partnerships, so their deadline is the 15th day of the third month after the end of their tax year. However, LLCs can elect to be taxed as a C Corp or an S Corp, in which case those deadlines apply (see below). C Corporation Taxes: C Corps that operate on a calendar year basis must file IRS Form 1120 by April 15, 2025, with an optional extended deadline of Oct. 15, 2025. C Corps that do not use a calendar year must file by the 15th day of the fourth month following the end of their fiscal year. S Corporation Taxes: LLCs and C Corps can elect to be taxed as S Corporations. Those using a calendar year have until March 17, 2025 to file IRS Form 1120-S with an optional extended deadline of Sept. 15, 2025. For S Corps not operating on a calendar year, the tax filing due date is the 15th day of the third month following the end of their fiscal year. What’s New for 2025 Following is a list of changes that will affect small businesses filing taxes for 2024: The standard mileage rate for business use of a vehicle is 67 cents for the 2024 tax year. The IRS has delayed the requirement that payment apps and online marketplaces issue 1099-K forms to taxpayers who receive over $600 in digital payments. That requirement will be phased in over the next several years. For 2024, third-party settlement organizations (TPSOs) must report transactions over $5,000. Previously, businesses were allowed to deduct 100 percent of meal expenses. Now, that allowance is only 50 percent. Some meals, such as those for events held for employees, customers, or the general public, are fully deductible. Entertainment expenses (such as concert or theater tickets) are no longer deductible. Pass-through business owners may deduct 20 percent of qualified business income for 2024 if their total income is not more than $191,950 (if filing single) or $383,900 (if filing jointly) before the QBI deduction, with some exceptions. The 2022 tax year was the last year where businesses could deduct 100 percent of qualified bonus depreciation for fixed assets. For tax year 2024, the maximum deduction for qualified bonus depreciation for fixed assets is 60 percent, with the deduction decreasing by 20 percent each year in the years to follow. The Section 179 depreciation limit for 2024 is $1,220,000 for federal purposes. States will have varying dollar limits for Section 179 depreciation. Please note vehicles have separate limits for both bonus depreciation and Section 179 depreciation. Small Businesses: Get Ready for Tax Season Now When you’re the owner of a small business, it’s never too soon to start getting ready for tax season. Familiarizing yourself with key dates and changes in tax law ahead of time can go a long way in ensuring tax season goes smoothly. Not only will this help you avoid 11th hour stress, it also ensures you avoid unnecessary fees and penalties. Image: Envato This article, "Small Businesses: Keep On Top of Important Tax Deadlines for 2025" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

For small businesses, spring means one thing: tax season. That means there’s no better time than the present to start getting the necessary paperwork in order. Whether you’re a one-person show or a larger corporation, there are several key dates to be aware of. Not only will you avoid a last-minute rush, you’ll also avoid possible fees or penalties and ensure your business remains in compliance. Businesses with Employees If you had employees or hired independent contractors in 2024, you are required to provide them with the appropriate federal tax forms. For employees who earned wages in 2024, W2 forms must be distributed by Jan. 31, 2025. For independent contractors who earned at least $600 in 2024, you must file a federal 1099-NEC form with the IRS and provide the form to the worker by Jan. 31, 2025. Note that in years past, employers used the 1099-MISC form for both miscellaneous income and non-employee compensation, but it has since been replaced with form 1099-NEC. Small businesses with employees that were required to pay federal and state unemployment taxes during 2024 are also required to report these payments. IRS Form 940, Employer’s Annual Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) Return, must be submitted by Jan. 31, 2025. However, employers that submitted taxes when due have until Feb. 10, 2025. S Corp Election If your business is an LLC or a C Corp, you may be eligible to elect S Corp status for federal income tax purposes. There are many benefits of S Corp status, including the avoidance of double taxation and self-employment taxes. If you’re interested in electing S Corp status, you must act fast. Existing companies with a tax year that began on Jan. 1 have until March 17 to file IRS Form 2553. Businesses that have a fiscal year other than the calendar year have two months and 15 days after the start of their fiscal year to submit the form. Tax Deadlines Staying on top of looming tax deadlines is a best practice for small business owners. Doing so helps you avoid fees and penalties and keeps your business in compliance. Following is a basic summary of due dates. Sole Proprietorship Taxes: Tuesday, April 15, 2025, with an optional extended deadline of Oct. 15, 2025. Partnership Taxes: The 15th day of the third month after the end of the tax year. For partnerships using Dec. 31 as their year-end, that date is March 17, 2025, with an optional extended deadline of Sept. 15, 2025. Limited partnerships must also list their profits and losses on IRS Form 1065 (U.S. Return of Partnership Income). Partnerships must also file Schedule K, which breaks income into different categories. Both general and limited partners must obtain Schedule K-1 from their partnerships for their own tax filings. LLC Taxes: By default, single-member LLCs are taxed as sole proprietorships, so their deadline is April 15, 2025. Multiple-member LLCs are taxed as partnerships, so their deadline is the 15th day of the third month after the end of their tax year. However, LLCs can elect to be taxed as a C Corp or an S Corp, in which case those deadlines apply (see below). C Corporation Taxes: C Corps that operate on a calendar year basis must file IRS Form 1120 by April 15, 2025, with an optional extended deadline of Oct. 15, 2025. C Corps that do not use a calendar year must file by the 15th day of the fourth month following the end of their fiscal year. S Corporation Taxes: LLCs and C Corps can elect to be taxed as S Corporations. Those using a calendar year have until March 17, 2025 to file IRS Form 1120-S with an optional extended deadline of Sept. 15, 2025. For S Corps not operating on a calendar year, the tax filing due date is the 15th day of the third month following the end of their fiscal year. What’s New for 2025 Following is a list of changes that will affect small businesses filing taxes for 2024: The standard mileage rate for business use of a vehicle is 67 cents for the 2024 tax year. The IRS has delayed the requirement that payment apps and online marketplaces issue 1099-K forms to taxpayers who receive over $600 in digital payments. That requirement will be phased in over the next several years. For 2024, third-party settlement organizations (TPSOs) must report transactions over $5,000. Previously, businesses were allowed to deduct 100 percent of meal expenses. Now, that allowance is only 50 percent. Some meals, such as those for events held for employees, customers, or the general public, are fully deductible. Entertainment expenses (such as concert or theater tickets) are no longer deductible. Pass-through business owners may deduct 20 percent of qualified business income for 2024 if their total income is not more than $191,950 (if filing single) or $383,900 (if filing jointly) before the QBI deduction, with some exceptions. The 2022 tax year was the last year where businesses could deduct 100 percent of qualified bonus depreciation for fixed assets. For tax year 2024, the maximum deduction for qualified bonus depreciation for fixed assets is 60 percent, with the deduction decreasing by 20 percent each year in the years to follow. The Section 179 depreciation limit for 2024 is $1,220,000 for federal purposes. States will have varying dollar limits for Section 179 depreciation. Please note vehicles have separate limits for both bonus depreciation and Section 179 depreciation. Small Businesses: Get Ready for Tax Season Now When you’re the owner of a small business, it’s never too soon to start getting ready for tax season. Familiarizing yourself with key dates and changes in tax law ahead of time can go a long way in ensuring tax season goes smoothly. Not only will this help you avoid 11th hour stress, it also ensures you avoid unnecessary fees and penalties. Image: Envato This article, "Small Businesses: Keep On Top of Important Tax Deadlines for 2025" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

American Honda issued a major recall over engine concerns this week. On Wednesday, the company recalled 295,000 vehicles, including Honda and Acura models. In the announcement, Honda said owners of the recalled vehicles need to update the field injection control unit (FI-ECU) software due to the fact that the system could cause the engine to spontaneously malfunction. Honda explained in a news release, “Due to improper programming of the FI-ECU, sudden changes in the throttle could illuminate the check engine light and cause the engine to lose drive power, hesitate and/or stall, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. American Honda self-diagnosed this issue by monitoring telematics information and determined the need to perform the software update of the supplier part.” The company also said that owners of the affected models will receive notice of the issue in the mail by March. They should immediately take their vehicle to an authorized dealership to have the issue remedied, free of charge. The company listed three models impacted by the recall in the release. Those models are: 2023-2025 Honda Pilot, 2022-2025 Acura MDX Type S, and 2021-2025 Acura TLX Type S. “Owners of these vehicles can also determine if their vehicles require repair by visiting www.recalls.honda.com or www.recalls.acura.com, or by calling (888) 234-2138,” the notice said. Last year, Honda recalled more than 750,000 vehicles in the U.S. due to an airbag issue. At the time, the company said a faulty sensor could cause the airbags to inflate even when there is not a crash. In this week’s release, Honda said that, at present, it has “not received any confirmed reports of crashes or injuries related to this issue.” View the full article