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Robinhood said on Tuesday it is rolling back the event contracts that would let users bet on the result of the Super Bowl clash this weekend, after the online brokerage received a request from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The halt comes just a day after the launch of the product. Robinhood said it was “disappointed by the outcome.” “We are heeding their directive to cease offering these contracts despite the fact that the CFTC has not deemed Kalshi’s football championship contracts illegal,” said Lucas Moskowitz, Robinhood’s general counsel. Representatives for Kalshi and the CFTC did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment. The products would have allowed the company to tap into the betting mania around one of the most iconic sporting events in the country, as Robinhood looks to expand into segments that are gaining traction with retail investors. The company had rolled out the contracts to 1% of its customers. Those who already placed the trades will get the option to close their positions or take them to resolution, Robinhood said. Event derivatives trading involves buying and selling contracts that let traders speculate on the outcomes of specific events, including elections, economic data releases and policy decisions. “Prediction markets and event contracts can be subject to complex regulatory landscapes,” said Michael Ashley Schulman, partner and chief investment officer at Running Point Capital Advisors. “The CFTC may be concerned that this could be perceived as an active retail betting platform disguised under an investment umbrella, especially since sporting events are much more frequent than presidential elections.” These products have enjoyed a warm reception, despite being relatively new and widely seen as high-risk, especially after a U.S. court struck down the CFTC’s efforts to block KalshiEX’s election betting contracts. Robinhood’s derivatives arm is planning to launch a “more comprehensive” event contracts platform later this year. —Niket Nishant and Manya Saini, Reuters View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. From viral hacks to your grandmother, someone or something has, at some point, told you to clean with baking soda and vinegar. Even I have told you to clean with baking soda and vinegar. Yesterday, sadly, I learned that this approach isn't all it's cracked up to be. Let's discuss. Why you shouldn't mix baking soda and vinegar to cleanThe good news is that this mixture isn't toxic or dangerous in any way. You're not poisoning yourself over time if you mix vinegar and baking soda to get a bubbly paste to scrub onto your walls, countertops, or tile. The bad news is that it just doesn't do much. See, yesterday, I wrote about the best methods for cleaning water stains off white walls. As I expected, I got better results when I cleaned the water stain with a mixture of lemon juice, baking soda, and vinegar than I did when I just went at it with soap and water. The famous combo won again—or so I thought. The reason it was so much more effective, though, is because the true cleaning power was likely coming from the lemon juice at best and the sheer wetness of the solution at worst, not the baking soda and vinegar. In fact, these two products cancel each other out, according to some pro cleaning websites I read and Reddit threads I browsed. Baking soda is a base, vinegar is an acid, and when bases and acids get together, they neutralize each other. The results are water, carbon dioxide (which escapes in the form of fizz), and a salt called sodium acetate. The vinegar and baking soda are reacting with each other, not with your dirty surface, which is why this combination is usually no better a cleaner than water. You're really just wetting and (hopefully) scrubbing, not cleaning. If that's all you want to do, fine. If you want to actually clean, you'll need soap or something else to make a difference. What to use instead of vinegar and baking sodaFirst of all, don't overlook the power of bubbles. The classic trick of pouring baking soda down the drain and following it up with vinegar produces a lot of them, for instance, and while that doesn't really do much to battle actual clogs deep in the pipes, it can bubble out some dirt closer to the surface, at least. Second of all, vinegar and baking soda do each have a purpose in your cleaning arsenal. Think of this like an amicable divorce: They work better separately, but they're both still great on their own. Vinegar's gentle acidity can sometimes loosen grime from surfaces when you aren't ready to reach for the big guns like, say, a hydrochloric acid-based toilet bowl cleaner. Baking soda makes a great scrub because of its rough, gritty texture, and is also a solid odor eliminator, which is why you probably have an open box in the back of your fridge already. If you're looking to replace what you thought were the cleaning effects of baking soda and vinegar mixtures, just opt for regular cleaner. I've had great results with the double-concentrated formulas of Fabuloso and Pine Sol and they're not very expensive. If you liked the feeling of scrubbing those abrasive, gritty bubbles into surfaces, consider plain soap and water on a sponge or, if the material can handle it, steel wool. View the full article

Smartsheet is a powerhouse for project management, reporting, and more, but few organizations depend on it entirely for all their workflows. That means you’ll need to work across tools at least a little bit for every project. Unless you’re willing to copy and paste data across them, you’ll need some way to integrate Smartsheet with these other tools. Here’s how that works. What are Smartsheet integrations? A Smartsheet integration transfers data between your sheets and other tools. These integrations range in capability from automatically creating new work items in other tools when you create Smartsheet rows to dynamically updating fields in those rows whenever changes are made in those other tools. That means you can work from Smartsheet with all the data your business processes need without checking in other tools or waiting on someone to send an update your way. Why integrate Smartsheet with other tools? There are three reasons why all teams can benefit from integrating Smartsheet with the rest of their tools: It saves you time. It saves you money. It unlocks new opportunities for collaboration between teams. The right integration completely eliminates the need to check back and forth between tools to ensure you have the most up-to-date information. That role, often falling to project managers and team leads, is time-consuming, sometimes taking more time than other mission-critical tasks. Integrations can also save you money on licenses (or seats) for your tools. For example, instead of having licenses for both Smartsheet and Asana for an entire team, with some of them only checking in on Asana once in while, you could have everyone only in Smartsheet and use an integration to get them the Asana data they need. What are your options for integrating Smartsheet? At their core, integrations push data between Smartsheet and other tools. The way they do that, however, varies on the type of integration you use. Built-in integrations You can integrate Smartsheet with over 100 tools without using any third-party apps. These integrations come in one of two forms: Data Shuttle integrations and Connectors. Data Shuttle integrations automatically create CSV or Excel files for data in other tools and import them into Smartsheet. Connectors sync data in one or both directions for tools like Jira and Salesforce, letting you use the Smartsheet features you’re used to with data from other platforms. Connectors create deeper relationships between tools, while Data Shuttle integrations can handle larger volumes of data with less depth. Automation tools An automation tool, like Zapier or Make.io, uses if-this-then-that logic to push data from Smartsheet to other tools (or vice-versa). They’re usually some of the simplest integrations to set up, though they can’t modify or update data as well as other solutions. For instance, a single Zapier automation might create new rows in Smartsheet to match new work items in another tool or update specific rows, but it won’t do both. That makes these automations well-suited to simple integration needs, but they need to be combined in complex chains 2-way sync tools A 2-way sync tool is an integration that builds a deep, two-way relationship between Smartsheet and other tools, allowing for both the creation of new work items and the updating of most (if not all) fields in one tool as changes happen in another. With these platforms, you can truly work from Smartsheet with data from other tools while trusting that it’s up-to-date. Setting these up is often as simple as with automation tools, but they offer more depth in their integrations, which makes them the best of both worlds for most organizations. Curious to learn more about how 2-way sync tools work? Check out our guides to integrating Smartsheet with other tools using Unito. The 5 best Smartsheet integrations If you aren’t using any integrations, you’ll need to prioritize which ones you deploy first. Project management tools Even though Smartsheet is a powerful project management platform, it might not be used by all teams in your organization. When that’s the case, any projects that involve multiple teams or departments inherently require some integration to happen without intense delays. Better yet, integrating all project management tools your organization relies on with Smartsheet creates a more holistic view of everything going on within it. That means leaders can create initiatives built on better data and project managers don’t have to worry about being blindsided by an important update happening in a different tool. Examples of these tools Jira Asana ClickUp Trello Spreadsheets While Smartsheet strikes a strong middle ground between project management tools and spreadsheets, many of your workflows likely still depend on spreadsheets. Important reports, databases, and even entire projects might be managed in a spreadsheet tool like Google Sheets or Excel. Alternatively, you might use spreadsheets to back up Smartsheet data regularly. Integrating spreadsheets with Smartsheet means your projects, reports, and more can have access to just about any necessary data. That leads to more informed decisions and better strategies. Examples of these tools Google Sheets Excel Software development tools If your organization relies on any sort of software development — whether you’re within the tech sector or not — you’re likely used to not having much visibility on what developers do. Even if you manage software projects, you need to dive into the tools they use to get important updates. With your most important projects, where updates need to be shared with multiple stakeholders across their own tools, this can seriously slow down your work. With an integration, you can get all the updates you need without leaving Smartsheet. Examples of these tools Azure DevOps GitHub GitLab Chat and meeting tools How many of your projects start as conversations in a chat app? Having to hop between a Slack channel and your Smartsheet sheets to get all the details you need to flesh out a project can make just getting started much heavier. Then, as progress is made in that project — and updates are shared in quick chat messages — more and more time needs to be spent keeping it up to date in Smartsheet. With the right integration, those messages can instantly populate your projects so everyone stays in the loop without any extra manual work. Examples of these tools Slack Microsoft Teams CRMs Your CRM (customer relationship management) tool is the beating heart of your customer-facing teams. Salespeople use it to hold the contact information they need to close deals and track the progress of those deals. Marketers use it in their campaigns and rely on its tracking features to judge the effectiveness of their initiatives. Customer success teams often house their entire service workflow within your CRM. Integrating your CRM with Smartsheet can put customer data at your fingertips whenever you need it, as well as make support ticket escalations much smoother. Examples of these tools HubSpot Salesforce Pipedrive Integrate Smartsheet with your tool stack using Unito Unito is a 2-way sync solution for Smartsheet and over 50 integrations that keep all your work items up-to-date no matter where your teams work from. With some of the deepest two-way integrations on the market, you’ll have all the data you need in Smartsheet with regular updates to more fields than any other platform. Curious to see how Unito’s Smartsheet integration works? Here’s a look at Unito’s Smartsheet-Salesforce integration. FAQ: Smartsheet integrations What apps integrate with Smartsheet? Smartsheet offers built-in integrations for over 140 apps, including favorite enterprise tools like: Jira Software Slack Power BI HubSpot Microsoft Excel What can you automate with Smartsheet? Smartsheet’s automations allow users to automate routine tasks throughout their projects. Examples of these automations include: Alerting a specific user when a row meets certain criteria. Moving a row to another sheet. Generating updates from each sheet. Sending messages when certain criteria are met. You can learn more about Smartsheet automations here. Is there a Jira-Smartsheet integration? You have a few options if you need to integrate Smartsheet with Jira: Use Smartsheet’s built-in Jira integration. Use a third-party automation tool like Zapier to automate some actions in Smartsheet. Use a 2-way sync platform like Unito to automatically sync data back and forth between Smartsheet and Jira. Can Smartsheet integrate with Excel? Yes, Smartsheet offers a built-in Excel integration that allows some automation. You can also use an app like Unito to automatically sync data back and forth between Smartsheet and Excel spreadsheets. You can find a guide comparing these two methods here. Does Smartsheet have an API? Yes, Smartsheet offers an API for building your own Smartsheet connectors. You can find all of Smartsheet’s API documentation here. View the full article

Search giant also revved up its spending on data centres as it competes in artificial intelligence raceView the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Prior to September 2024, any Apple user interested in active noise-canceling (ANC) AirPods would've had to shell out $250 for the AirPods Pro. With the release of the ANC AirPods 4, the tech is much more affordable—and you can currently grab these $179 earbuds for $148.99. (Apple also has a more budget-friendly version of the AirPods 4 without ANC; that model is currently for $99.99, down from $129. Both of these prices mark record lows, according to price-tracking tools. While the discounts aren't mind-blowing, the fact we're seeing any price reductions on newly released AirPods makes them a good deal, relatively. Wireless Earbuds, Bluetooth Headphones, with Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive Audio, Transparency Apple AirPods 4 (With ANC) $148.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $179.00 Save $30.01 Get Deal Get Deal $148.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $179.00 Save $30.01 Wireless Earbuds, Bluetooth Headphones, Personalized Spatial Audio, Sweat and Water Resistant, USB-C Apple AirPods 4 (Without ANC) $99.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $129.00 Save $29.01 Get Deal Get Deal $99.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $129.00 Save $29.01 SEE -1 MORE The AirPods 4 have updated USB-C charging. Both models are powered by Apple's H2 chip, so you'll get Personalized Spatial Audio (so you can hear sounds seemingly coming from different directions as you move your head) and the ability to use head gestures to tell Siri "yes" or "no" (this also works for answering or denying calls). If you spring for the ANC AirPods 4, you'll get a charging case with a built-in speaker, which you can use with Find My to locate it if you lose them. You'll also get features like Conversation Awareness, which lowers your music volume when your AirPods detect that you're having a conversation; Transparency Mode, which lets you better hear your surroundings while your earbuds are in; and Adaptive Audio (combines ANC and Transparency mode to adjust ANC levels based on the noise around you). Keep in mind that since these are open style earbuds, lacking a silicone tip to better block out noise, the ANC will not be as good as what you can get from AirPods Pro. Both versions are rated IP54 for dust and water resistance, offer up to five hours of listening per charge (30 hours with the charging case), and can handle automatic switching with your other Apple devices. You can read more about the non-ANC AirPods on PCMag's "excellent" review, and more about the ANC AirPods on PCMag's "outstanding" review. View the full article

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit to reject the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), arguing that its reporting requirements impose unconstitutional burdens on small businesses. The brief was filed in Community Associations Institute, et al. v. U.S. Department of Treasury, a case that challenges the CTA’s beneficial ownership reporting mandates. NFIB’s brief questions whether Congress has the authority to impose the CTA’s reporting requirements under the Commerce Clause, arguing that the law regulates neither activity nor economic conduct. “The Corporate Transparency Act does not regulate activity, let alone economic activity, while also imposing burdensome reporting requirements on small businesses and raising numerous privacy concerns,” said Beth Milito, Vice President and Executive Director of NFIB’s Small Business Legal Center. “NFIB will continue to advocate for the small business community by contesting this harmful law.” Legal Arguments Against the CTA NFIB’s brief presents three core arguments: The CTA does not regulate activity, making it incompatible with Congress’s Commerce Clause authority. To satisfy the substantial effects test, Congress must be regulating economic activity, defined as the introduction, production, or exchange of goods or services. Because the CTA regulates noneconomic activity, it does not meet the Commerce Clause’s legal standard. In addition to this case, NFIB’s own lawsuit challenging the CTA remains active. Meanwhile, NFIB is advocating for legislative relief through the Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act, a bill that would repeal the CTA and eliminate its beneficial ownership reporting requirements for small businesses. The case remains pending before the Fourth Circuit as NFIB continues its efforts to challenge federal mandates that it views as overreach. Image: Canva This article, "Small Businesses Challenge Corporate Transparency Act in Federal Court" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit to reject the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), arguing that its reporting requirements impose unconstitutional burdens on small businesses. The brief was filed in Community Associations Institute, et al. v. U.S. Department of Treasury, a case that challenges the CTA’s beneficial ownership reporting mandates. NFIB’s brief questions whether Congress has the authority to impose the CTA’s reporting requirements under the Commerce Clause, arguing that the law regulates neither activity nor economic conduct. “The Corporate Transparency Act does not regulate activity, let alone economic activity, while also imposing burdensome reporting requirements on small businesses and raising numerous privacy concerns,” said Beth Milito, Vice President and Executive Director of NFIB’s Small Business Legal Center. “NFIB will continue to advocate for the small business community by contesting this harmful law.” Legal Arguments Against the CTA NFIB’s brief presents three core arguments: The CTA does not regulate activity, making it incompatible with Congress’s Commerce Clause authority. To satisfy the substantial effects test, Congress must be regulating economic activity, defined as the introduction, production, or exchange of goods or services. Because the CTA regulates noneconomic activity, it does not meet the Commerce Clause’s legal standard. In addition to this case, NFIB’s own lawsuit challenging the CTA remains active. Meanwhile, NFIB is advocating for legislative relief through the Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act, a bill that would repeal the CTA and eliminate its beneficial ownership reporting requirements for small businesses. The case remains pending before the Fourth Circuit as NFIB continues its efforts to challenge federal mandates that it views as overreach. Image: Canva This article, "Small Businesses Challenge Corporate Transparency Act in Federal Court" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Windows 11's minimum system requirements have been controversial from the day Microsoft unveiled the new version of its desktop operating system. The controversy boils down to one single line item: TPM 2.0 support. TPM stands for Trusted Platform Module, which is a chip that protects against malware and ransomware attacks. If your PC doesn't have TPM version 2.0, then you can't officially upgrade to Windows 11, unless you used a bypass that Microsoft had published. It appears that Microsoft doesn't want you to use the bypass any longer. Neowin spotted an update to a Microsoft support page with wording about the bypass removed. You can even check the page on The Wayback Machine to see what it looked like until a few days ago. The previous version mentioned that you could add a new registry key called AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU to bypass the TPM check and install Windows 11 on 'unsupported' PCs. In the updated version of the support article, that section is no longer there. This means that Microsoft no longer recommends any official method to install Windows 11 on 'unsupported' PCs. This move comes ahead of a planned end of updates for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, after which you'll have to pay annually to receive security updates. That could be an expensive proposition for each successive year that you choose to remain on Windows 10. Several methods to bypass the Windows 11 TPM check still exist, but it remains to be seen if they'll continue to work in the future. Microsoft has advised against upgrading 'unsupported' PCs, going so far as to say that doing so will void your warranty and that your PC may no longer be entitled to receive updates. But if you're like my editor and can't yet upgrade, at least you can make your Windows 10 PC look and feel like Windows 11. View the full article

There are many different types of construction. Most think of dwellings, but when driving past road crews tearing up the streets, that’s also an example of a construction project. In fact, there are many different types of construction projects. Let’s review different types of construction, defining and illustrating them so they are clear and understandable. We’ll also look at international building codes and how construction project management software helps deliver all types of construction more efficiently. 1. Residential Construction Likely the most familiar type of construction is residential. It refers to the process of building, renovating or remodeling homes and other living spaces. Residential construction involves the creation of structures intended for individuals or families to live in. This type of construction can range from small single-family homes to large multi-unit buildings, from new builds to extensive renovations or additions with varying complexities based on design, location and building materials. Here are some examples. Single-family homes Custom home construction Apartment complexes Townhouses Regardless of whether a general contractor builds residential or any other types of construction that we’ll list below, they’ll work more effectively with construction project management software. ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software with multiple construction planning and scheduling tools. Construction managers can use robust Gantt charts to schedule tasks and resources, linking all four types of task dependencies to avoid delays or cost overruns and keep their profit margin. They can also filter for the critical path and set a baseline to track progress in real time. Meanwhile, subcontractors and site crews can execute tasks with task lists with unlimited file storage, comments, tags, priority and more. There are also kanban boards to visualize workflow and calendars to provide a monthly overview to keep stakeholders updated on progress. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. /wp-content/uploads/2024/04/critical-path-light-mode-gantt-construction-CTA.pngProjectManager has powerful Gantt charts to schedule and track construction projects. Learn more 2. Commercial Construction Another one of the types of construction is commercial, which refers to the building, renovation or expansion of structures intended for business purposes rather than residential living. These projects are typically larger in scale and can include a variety of buildings and facilities that serve the needs of businesses, organizations and the general public. These construction projects often involve complex design and considerations, adherence to safety and zoning regulations and using specialized materials and construction planning techniques. These buildings are typically intended to generate revenue or provide services to the public. They include the following. Office buildings Shopping malls Hotels 3. Industrial Construction Another one of the types of construction is industrial, which is the building, renovation or expansion of facilities used for industrial purposes, such as manufacturing, processing, storage or the production of goods. These projects are typically large-scale and require specialized designs, materials and construction techniques to accommodate the specific needs of the industries, such as factories, power plants or chemical processing plants. Industrial construction projects are often highly specialized and must comply with stringent safety, environmental and operations standards. These facilities typically require robust infrastructure to support heavy machinery, storage systems and production processes. Examples include the following. Factories Power plants Oil refineries 4. Infrastructure Construction Types of construction can also include infrastructure construction. It involves the building, engineering, upgrading and maintenance of essential systems and facilities that support the functioning of a society and economy. These projects typically focus on large-scale public works and utilities, aimed at providing transportation, water, energy and communication services to communities. Infrastructure construction is critical for the development and functioning of cities, regions and nations. Government agencies often fund these construction projects. They are essential for ensuring the proper functioning of cities, industries and transportation networks. These projects require long-term planning, substantial investment and adherence to safety, environmental and regulatory standards. Different types of construction can include the following. Highways Railways Airport construction 5. Civil Engineering Projects Civil engineering projects are types of construction that involve the design, construction and maintenance of infrastructure systems that are essential for society’s functioning. These projects are typically large in scale and focus on public works, including transportation, water management, energy and other critical facilities. Civil engineering projects aim to improve and maintain the built environment, ensuring safety, efficiency and sustainability. These construction projects require advanced knowledge of construction techniques, material science, environmental considerations and regulatory compliance. They play a key role in improving quality of life, boosting economic activity and ensuring the safety and sustainability of urban and rural environments. These projects tend to be one of the following. Bridge construction Tunnel excavation Dam building 6. Mixed-Use Development Types of construction like this refer to real-estate development that combines multiple types of users or functions within a single site plan or area. The goal is to create a more integrated, sustainable and vibrant environment by bringing together different spaces that support one another. The benefits of mixed-use development include reducing traffic congestion, improving the efficiency of infrastructure, fostering community interaction and promoting sustainable land use. These uses typically include the following. Residential and retail complexes Live-work spaces Urban redevelopment projects /wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Construction-Estimate-Template-Excel-image.png Get your free Construction Estimate Template Use this free Construction Estimate Template for Excel to manage your projects better. Download Excel File 7. Institutional Construction Construction projects that build or renovate structures designed for public, educational, healthcare, government or similar uses are called institutional construction. These projects typically involve the construction of facilities that serve the community or specific organizations rather than private or commercial interests. These types of construction project often require careful planning to meet specific regulatory, accessibility and safety standards, and they may be funded by government or nonprofit organizations. These buildings typically have large groups of people and are designed with long-term use, functionality and public safety in mind. These are some examples. Schools, universities and educational facilities Hospitals and healthcare facilities Government buildings 8. Modular Construction When referring to these types of construction, one is talking about a method of building where a structure is created off-site in separate, prefabricated sections or modules that are then transported to the construction site and assembled. Each module is built to the same standards as traditional construction, but the modular method allows for faster assembly because much of the work is done in a controlled environment. Besides prefabrication, other key features of modular construction include efficiency, flexibility, quality control and sustainability. Examples of this construction project include the following. Portable classrooms Modular healthcare clinics Prefabricated office spaces 9. Prefabricated Construction Modular construction is a type of prefabricated construction, which is a broader term that refers to any building or construction components manufactured off-site in a controlled factory environment before being transported to the construction site for assembly. These components can include walls, floors, roofs and other structural elements. The key idea is that parts of the building are pre-made, which can speed up the on-site construction process and facilitate construction quality control. Types of construction that are prefabricated include panelized construction, precast concrete and volumetric construction. These are typical examples of this type of construction project. Prefab homes Prefabricated warehouses Prefabricated bridge components 10. Land Reclamation Construction These types of construction refer to creating new land by altering bodies of water or by improving existing land areas unsuitable for development. This is typically done to expand usable land for urban development, infrastructure projects, agriculture or other human activities. The goal of land reclamation is to make previously unusable or underutilized land viable for construction and other purposes. Overall, these construction projects are a significant engineering and construction challenge that often requires careful planning, environmental management and long-term sustainability considerations. They include the following. Coastal landfills for urban development Artificial islands (e.g., Palm Jumeirah in Dubai) Wetland restoration projects /wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-construction-ebook-banner-ad.jpg Building Construction Types According to the International Building Code The International Building Code (IBC) classifies buildings into five primary construction types based on the materials used in the structure and their fire-resistance ratings. These classifications help determine the safety standards for the design and construction of buildings, including fire protection, structural integrity and building durability. Below are short definitions of each. Type I: Fire Resistive Construction The key characteristic of Type I construction is that it provides the highest level of fire resistance, with walls, floors and structural elements designed to withstand fire for a significant period (usually two to four hours, depending on the specific element). These buildings are made of non-combustible materials like concrete, steel or masonry. This is used for high-rise buildings, hospitals and large commercial or institutional structures. Type II: Non-Combustible Construction These buildings have fire-resistant features, but they don’t offer the same level of protection as Type I buildings. Fire-resistant ratings are typically between one and two hours. These construction products include steel or concrete for structural elements, but the fireproofing is less stringent than Type I. This code is used for mid-rise commercial buildings and warehouses. Type III: Ordinary Construction These buildings are less fire resistant than Type I and II buildings but still provide some protection due to the masonry on non-combustible exterior walls. Interior elements may be made of wood or other combustible materials. It’s commonly seen in older buildings, low-to-mid-rise commercial structures and apartment buildings. Type IV: Heavy Timber Construction The heavy timber construction can improve fire resistance due to the charring effect of large wooden beams, which creates a protective layer that resists further combustion. These construction projects are made with large, heavy wood beams, columns and floors, with limited use of steel and masonry. They’re used in buildings where aesthetics or design flexibility with exposed wood are important, such as barns, warehouses and certain commercial or industrial buildings. Type V: Wood-Framed Construction Type V buildings are made entirely of combustible materials, such as wood or other lightweight materials. This is the most common construction type for residential buildings. Because it’s made from wood, these types of construction have the least fire resistance compared to the other types. Fire ratings for structural elements are typically limited to one hour or less. ProjectManager Helps Manage All Types of Construction Projects There are a lot of types of construction, but regardless of the construction project, it is best served with project management software. Of course, not all construction project management software is the same. ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software that’s preferred by construction firms both large and small. Our multiple project views help plan and execute work, both in the office and on the job site. But that’s only the beginning of the advantages using our software provides to construction professionals. Robust Resource Management and Cost Tracking Features When scheduling tasks on Gantt charts, general managers can also schedule resources, both human and nonhuman, including their costs. This helps estimate the cost of the project to protect your profit margin and deliver more accurate estimates when bidding. Once the job has been awarded, construction managers can set the availability of their team, including PTO, vacation and global holidays, as well as skill sets. This makes it easier to assign tasks. There’s also a color-coded workload chart to get an overview of resource allocation and balance the workload to keep teams working at capacity without risking burnout. A team page gives a daily and weekly view of the team’s activities, which can be filtered to show priority, progress and more. Secure timesheets streamline payroll and provide a window into labor costs to help keep to the budget. /wp-content/uploads/2024/05/timesheet-lightmode-good-version-lots-of-tasks.png Real-time Online Project Dashboards and Reports Once the construction project is executed, monitoring progress and performance is crucial to delivering on time and within budget. After setting the baseline on the Gantt chart, our software automatically collects live data and displays it on easy-to-read graphs and charts for a high-level overview. Managers can quickly discern cost, time, workload and more. For more detail, toggle to the customizable reports, such as status, portfolio, timesheet, variance, workload and more. All reports can be filtered to get into the weeds or provide a more general summary to share with stakeholders and keep them informed. /wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Dashboard-light-mode.jpg Related Construction Project Management Content Construction project management is a big field. We’ve hardly scratched the surface in this article. For those who want to read more about Gantt charts, construction contracts, download free templates and more, click on any of the recently published blogs below. Why Use a Gantt Chart in Construction Project Management Types of Construction Contracts: Pros, Cons & Best Practices 32 Construction Documents (Templates Included) Construction Phases: Documentation, Templates & Steps Best Construction Scheduling Software ProjectManager is online project and portfolio management software that connects teams whether they’re in the office, on the job site or anywhere else. They can share files, comment at the task level and stay updated with email and in-app notifications. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. The post 10 Types of Construction Projects with Examples appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

Spring cleaning time is around the corner and while you’re prepping your regular to-do list, there are a few things you might be overlooking—we all have blind spots, after all. Let’s go over a few of the places you are likely to forget about so you can add them into your routine. Once you familiarize yourself with these suggestions and tips, you can use this checklist I created in Google Sheets to help remind you about what you might have missed. You can make your own copy out of this doc and open it up every couple of months to check off each of the tasks as you work through them. Most overlooked spots in your bathroomYou already know to clean your toilet (and how not to do it) and your tub. You have no water stains and your tile is pristine. Forgetting anything? It might be these: Clean and unclog the overflow holes in your sink, if you have them. Clean and disinfect high-touch but rarely-noticed surfaces like your shower head handle, toilet flusher, and drawer pulls. (Familiarize yourself with the difference between disinfecting, sanitizing, and cleaning while you're at it.) Dust and wipe down any vents. Wash your shower curtain. Clean your shower head thoroughly, as well as the sink faucet's aerator, which can get gunky over time. Wipe down the inside your medicine cabinet (and maybe take some time to declutter it). Wipe down the outside of your toilet, including the sides. Do the same for the exterior of your garbage can. Clean any dusty light fixtures. Finish up with the baseboards, then mop. What you're forgetting to clean in your kitchenThe kitchen experiences a fresh mess every day (multiple times a day, even), so while you're spending all that time wiping down the counters and loading the dishwasher, it's easy to miss the grime that is building up over time in less-noticed spots. Periodically, you should: Clean under and behind your major appliances (which you can actually do without moving them). Dust and wipe down the top of your refrigerator, not just inside and under it. ...but empty out and clean your fridge, including the shelves, too. (When you're putting everything back inside is a great time to reorganize the contents.) When you’re tackling the oven, don’t forget the warming drawer, plus the vent, hood, and knobs. Scrub down your backsplash. Clean out your toaster's crumb tray. Wipe down the outer surface of your garbage can. Clean and disinfect your drawer pulls and the handles on your cabinets, fridge, and microwave. Disinfect the light-switches (and any other switches in the room). Spruce up your light fixtures. Wipe down the tops and undersides of your cabinets, especially the ones up top that have exposed space under the ceiling. Thoroughly dust and clean all the baseboards before you sweep and mop the floor. What to clean in your living roomYou pay attention to cleaning your kitchen and bathroom for sanitary reasons, which makes sense, but the living room? That’s all about aesthetics, baby. You want to impress your guests, after all. Impress them even more by remembering to: Dust your plants (even your fake ones). Dust your candles. Clean and disinfect high-touch items like remotes and coasters (plus those light switches). Dust picture frames and any other knick-knacks. Remove couch and chair cushions and vacuum underneath them for a horrifying surprise. Clean window blinds and curtains. (Blinds are easy: There's a hack.) Dust and wipe down your windowsills, too. Clean the undersides of coffee tables, side tables, and ottomans. Clean your light fixtures. End with the baseboards again before sweeping, vacuuming, and/or mopping. What needs to be cleaned in the bedroomsYour bedroom is the one area that is all about you—so treat yourself to an extra clean one. Try cleaning these for some bonus points: Wipe your curtain rods and windowsills when you toss your curtains in the wash. (If you have blinds, clean those instead.) Clean and disinfect high-touch items like alarm clocks, drawer pulls, door knobs, and light switches. Clean your ceiling fan (but make sure to do that before you vacuum). Dust the top of your headboard. Dust plants, candles, picture frames, and knick-knacks. As usual, finish up with those baseboards before cleaning the floor. View the full article

In the run-up to this weekend’s Super Bowl in New Orleans, fans couldn’t be more excited to see the Philadelphia Eagles face off against the Kansas City Chiefs, as the latter attempts to make Super Bowl history as the first team to win the championship three times in a row. With advertising prices hitting all-time highs, and an exciting halftime show featuring recent Grammy winner Kendrick Lamar scheduled, why are ticket sales plummeting? That’s right: Ticket prices for Super Bowl LIX are down 30% over this past week, or around 50% cheaper than last year. Currently, the cheapest seats are selling for somewhere between $3,057 to $4,300 before taxes on the secondary market, compared to a year ago, when they were selling for $9,365 on the secondary market. Here are the current ticket prices as of Monday night, according to USA Today: StubHub: $3,057 ($4,130 with fees) TickPick: $4,300 all-in SeatGeek: $3,414 ($4,620 with fees) Gametime: $3,374 ($4,527 with fees) Ticketmaster: $3,330 ($4,001 with fees) TicketSmarter: $3,613 ($4,697 with fees) Vivid Seats: $3,228 ($4,454 with fees) There are a few possible reasons for the low ticket sales. For one, New Orleans may not have the same pull for fans who wanted to party in Las Vegas last year when the Chiefs faced the San Francisco 49ers. Another reason is that New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome stadium has a lot more seats (74,000) than Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium (65,000), making last year’s seats harder to come by, and a result, more pricey (call it simple supply and demand). Finally, New Orleans is still reeling from last month’s terrorist attack that killed 14 people and injured at least 35, when a man plowed his pickup truck into a crowd and opened fire. In response, local officials have created “an enhanced security zone” along Bourbon Street, and are shutting down and limiting traffic on roads near the stadium and cordoning off the area surrounding the Superdome. And according to NFL chief security officer Cathy Lanier, thousands of state, federal, and local law enforcement officers will be on the ground during the Super Bowl, the Associated Press reported. View the full article

The Federal Reserve Board lifted two enforcement actions against the megabank dating back to 2011. But the Fed's seven-year-old asset cap remains in effect. View the full article

Google streamlined the process for importing cost data into Analytics, reducing mandatory fields and offering more flexible reporting options. The big picture. Marketers can now import cost data with just three core requirements: source, medium, and date, eliminating previous constraints around campaign names and IDs. Key updates. Including the following fields allows for more detailed reporting. Without them, Google Analytics will report cost data in aggregate when dimensions like campaign name or ID are queried. Simplified required fields. You now only need three fields to import cost data: Source: Where the traffic originated. Medium: The type of traffic (e.g., CPC, organic). Date: The date for data mapping. Optional campaign fields: Campaign name and campaign ID are no longer required but can be included as optional key fields. Why we care. This change simplifies the cost data import process, reducing the barrier for you to track and optimize ad spend within Google Analytics. However, excluding campaign-level details could limit reporting insights. Bottom line. For more accurate and granular cost reporting, import campaign name and campaign ID when possible. But for those just looking to get basic cost tracking set up quickly, the new requirements streamline the process. View the full article

Just like everything else, cars keep getting more expensive—new car prices have risen steadily in recent months, and will probably just keep getting pricier (the average new car now costs an eye-watering $49,740). That’s one reason why about half of all car buyers finance their purchase, and why we collectively owe an astounding $1.644 trillion in auto loan debt. But that’s also why about 38% of car buyers bought their vehicles with cash. Cash offers some advantages, especially if you’re looking to avoid interest and monthly payments that can mess with your budget. But if you decide to buy your next car without financing it in any way, there’s one thing you should absolutely never do: Tell the dealership. The benefits of buying a car with cashBuying a car with cash doesn’t mean you dump an oil drum of pennies on someone’s desk, it just means you’re not financing the purchase with a loan. There’s absolutely no reason you can’t do this as long as you have the funds, and buying with cash has some serious benefits: No monthly loan payments. If you’ve ever financed a car, you know that paying several hundred bucks a month can put a crimp in your finances for years to come. No interest. Paying cash means you don’t have to pay extra on top of the price of the car. Avoid overspending. When you’re financing a car, salespeople usually keep you focused on whether you can afford the monthly payment, which can obscure how much you’re actually paying for the car. Paying cash means you don’t go over your budget without realizing it. True ownership. If you pay cash, no one can repossess the car—if you decide to sell it, it will be solely your decision. Plus, you start off with 100% equity in the vehicle. On the other hand, dealers make a lot of money by getting you to finance the purchase through them. The majority of dealer loans have a markup of up to 2.5% that goes directly to the dealer, which can translate to a fair bit of money over the course of a car loan. That gives them an incentive to offer you a better price or to throw in extras—as long as they think that extra money is on the table. The best way to buy a car in cashPeople think buying a car in cash will get them the best price, but it’s actually the opposite—once a dealer knows they won’t get the extra money through arranging financing, they’ll have less interest in crafting an appealing price and throwing in extras. If you’re going to pay for the car in cash, there are a few basic bits of strategy you should follow: Deflect. Salespeople will often ask you directly how you plan to pay for the car. If you’re going the cash route, deflect—tell them you’re considering options, or tell them you want to hear your financing options. Don’t lie, necessarily, but don’t admit you’re paying cash until you have to. Negotiate the final price. Get the best deal you can on the vehicle, including anything you can get thrown in (like coatings or free upgrades). Get it in writing, if you can. Arrange payment. Once you have the total cost of the car nailed down and you inform them that you’re not interested in financing and will be paying cash instead, be ready with a payment method. A personal check can cause delays and might not even be accepted, so having a cashier’s check from your bank is probably the easiest and safest way to handle this. It’s not impossible that the dealership’s finance department will be unwilling to close the deal if they assumed they’d be making a profit from a loan. But if they won’t honor the price you negotiated when you want to pay cash, ask yourself if you can trust this dealer at all. If a dealer wants to blow up a sale when you want to pay cash, it’s best to walk away. Paying cash for your next car won’t magically make it a bargain, but it can save you a lot of money over time—as long as you don’t tip your hand too early. View the full article

Google revised its policy for dating and companionship advertisers, pushing back enforcement and clarifying certification rules for aggregators. Extension. The deadline for certification has been extended from March 4 to April 9. After this date, uncertified advertisers will no longer be permitted to run ads. Aggregator update. Aggregatoars promoting dating or companionship services will be eligible to serve restricted ads with proper certification, starting April 9. These ads will appear on Search with age and country restrictions. Certification for aggregators opens Feb. 25, while other advertisers can continue applying for certification. Why we care. The certification process aims to ensure transparency and safety in dating-related advertising on Google. The timeline extension and aggregator guidelines provide you with additional clarity and time for compliance. What’s next: Advertisers should prepare for the April 9 enforcement deadline and secure the required certification to avoid disruptions in campaign eligibility. View the full article

Mike Waltz and Jonathan Powell will hold talks about the Indian Ocean territory View the full article

The new year isn’t getting off to a great start when it comes to employment in the tech industry. Tech giant Salesforce is reportedly getting ready to cut 1,000 roles at the company. The expected job cuts are just the latest in a line of layoffs already initiated by well-known companies in the technology sector, including Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft. Here’s what you need to know. Salesforce to reportedly lay off over 1,000 employees Today, Bloomberg reported that Salesforce, the world’s top customer relationship management software company, will be cutting more than 1,000 positions at the company. The news came from an unnamed source and was not an official announcement from Salesforce. Nothing is known about which departments will be hit hardest by the cuts. However, a Bloomberg source said that any displaced workers will be allowed to apply for other positions at the company. We’ve reached out to Salesforce for comment. It’s also worth noting that these cuts aren’t a net job reduction at Salesforce, as the company is also currently actively hiring salespeople to promote its AI offerings to customers. Salesforce reported having 73,000 employees as of January 2024, which means that a reduction of 1,000 personnel equates to fewer than 1% of its workforce. Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, and more cut jobs Despite being fewer than seven weeks into the new year, many major tech companies have already announced plans to reduce their workforce or cut staff in 2025. In mid-January, Facebook parent company Meta Platforms announced it would cut about 5% of its workforce. A 5% reduction in staff equates to layoffs totaling about 3,600 people, noted Bloomberg. As of last September, Meta employed about 72,000 workers. Announcing the cuts in an internal memo, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said, “I’ve decided to raise the bar on performance management and move out low-performers faster.” And Meta isn’t alone. In January, Microsoft also laid off some workers it deemed low performers, Business Insider reported. It is unknown how many employees at the Redmond company would lose their roles. We’ve reached out to Microsoft for comment. Amazon in January also announced it would eliminate staff, Bloomberg reported, with dozens in its communications department being targeted. And it’s not just the big tech giants. Smaller tech companies have also announced layoffs since the new year began. Those companies include payments platform Stripe, which is eliminating 300 positions, and Placer.ai, the Israeli location analytics firm, which is laying off 150 workers. A repeat of 2022-2024? The large number of high-profile tech companies that have announced layoffs in the early days of 2025 has understandably given rise to anxieties of those in the industry who lived through the massive job cuts implemented by the industry between 2022 and 2024, when hundreds of thousands of tech workers lost their jobs. What workers now want to know is if 2025 will be a repeat of those years. At this point, that’s impossible to answer. However, the 2022-2024 period of mass tech industry layoffs was generally spurred by overhiring during the pandemic years when many tech companies saw a rapid uptick in users and customers. In 2025, the greatest threats of job layoffs don’t come from pandemic-induced overhiring as much as they do from the rising specter of AI and its ability to replace human workers. It remains to be seen whether AI will pose a serious risk to tech industry jobs this year. As for layoffs in the tech industry, layoffs tracking site Layoffs.fyi says that so far in 2025, 31 tech companies have laid off just over 7,000 employees. That compares to the 152,000 employees laid off across various companies in 2024 and the 264,000 and 165,000 laid off in 2023 and 2022, respectively. View the full article

The Federal Reserve terminated two mortgage-related enforcement actions against Wells Fargo & Co. from more than a decade ago, the central bank said Tuesday. View the full article

Are you tired of the annoying "AI overview" at the top of your search results? Turns out you can get rid of it by starting your search with the word "fuck." The trick spread thanks to a now-viral thread on Tumblr and it works wonders. I've been trying it out all morning: the AI disappears but the results are otherwise more-or-less the same. Is this the best way to stop seeing AI in search results? No. We've talked about how to disable Google's AI search results by changing the default search engine in your browser to only pull in web results, and that's better. But is this the funnest way to stop seeing AI in search results? Fuck yeah it is. And it's perfect if you sometimes want to see AI results, but need a way to exclude them on a case-by-case basis. Credit: Justin Pot Sometimes, when you search, you want a quick answer. AI results in search are potentially useful for this. Sometimes, though, what you're looking for is a deep dive on a particular issues written and curated by actual experts. AI results, in that context, are mostly just cluttering your search results. Turns out you can blast them out of your search results with a strategically placed f-bomb. I don't know specifically why this works, but I assume it's some filter Google set up to avoid situations where the AI swears at users. It's particularly funny because this is how people use profanity in real life. Comedian James Acaster once explained the reason he started swearing during standup in one of my favorite bits. He realized that by not swearing he "attracted a demographic that I hate." The point: saying "fuck" every now and then can means people who don't like profanity won't engage with you. This trick, apparently, also works with bots: swear liberally and they won't interact with you. Welcome to the fucking future. View the full article

For the first time in over two decades, Capri Sun is expanding its single serving offerings with a colorful new bottle—but don’t worry, the iconic pouch is here to stay. Capri Sun’s new bottles are hitting shelves nationwide today at Kroger, Circle K, some Walmart locations, and regional convenience stores like Meijer and Hy-vee. They come in the brand’s three most popular flavors: Fruit Punch, Pacific Cooler, and Strawberry Kiwi. According to the company, each bottle contains about double the liquid contents of a traditional pouch, at 12 fluid ounces. However, for those interested in a smaller serving size and that classic form factor, Capri Sun pouches aren’t actually going anywhere (in fact, Capri Sun sells over six million of the mini beverages every day.) Instead of replacing the pouch, the new bottles are actually Capri Sun’s attempt to get pick-up in the convenience store market, an area where its normally delightful packaging has caused the juice to be overlooked amongst a sea of other, more easy-to-drink options. Kristina Hannant, Capri Sun’s director of marketing, says the brand has actually tried to stock pouches at convenience stores, but found that “consumers weren’t reaching for them as often when faced with many other bottled options.” That makes sense, given that Capri Suns weren’t exactly designed to be displayed in a traditional beverage aisle or crammed into a cup holder on a long road trip. The pouch is all about the tactile experience, one that’s particularly enchanting for young kids (stabbing the pouch with the straw; crunching its plastic exterior; perhaps using it as a projectile) but less so for parents in the driver’s seat. “Designed specifically to fit the shelves and coolers of convenience stores, the Capri Sun bottles cater to the busy, on-the-go lifestyle of today’s families with a resealable cap that parents can appreciate—especially given 53% of parents prefer beverages their kids can drink on the go and many find that bottles help with preventing spills,” Hannant says, referring to a statistic from market research firm Numerator. The bottles were also made to cater to a group of Capri Sun’s most dedicated and outspoken followers: According to a press release, “Between 2020 and 2023, a staggering 76% of suggestions received by the Capri Sun call center were about fans wanting a bigger product size.” Presumably to maintain product recognition, the bottles’ design is essentially a copy-pasted version of each flavor’s corresponding pouch, though it’s still a bit disconcerting to see Capri Sun’s branding outside the usual context. Logically, Capri Sun’s new bottles make sense as a supplementary offering. But, until proven otherwise, we’re inclined to argue that half of the Capri Sun’s nostalgic factor really comes down to the fact that anything tastes more magical out of a pouch. View the full article

On a freezing cold Wednesday afternoon in eastern Kentucky, Taysha DeVaughan joined a small gathering at the foot of a reclaimed strip mine to celebrate a homecoming. “It’s a return of an ancestor,” DeVaughan said. “It’s a return of a relative.” That relative was the land they stood on, part of a tract slated for a federal penitentiary that many in the crowd consider another injustice in a region riddled with them. The mine shut down years ago, but the site, near the town of Roxana, still bears the scars of extraction. DeVaughan, an enrolled member of the Comanche Nation, joined some two dozen people on January 22 to celebrate the Appalachian Rekindling Project buying 63 acres within the prison’s footprint. “What we’re here to do is to protect her and to give her a voice,” DeVaughan said. “She’s been through mountaintop removal. She’s been blown up, she’s been scraped up, she’s been hurt.” The Appalachian Rekindling Project, which she helped found last year, wants to rewild the site with bison and native flora and fauna, open it to intertribal gatherings, and, it hopes, stop the prison. The environmental justice organization worked with a coalition of local nonprofits, including Build Community Not Prisons and the Institute to End Mass Incarceration, to raise $160,000 to buy the plot from retired truck driver Wayne Whitaker. He’d only just purchased it as a hunting ground, and it was an easy sell. “There’s nothing positive we’ll get out of this prison,” he said. The penitentiary has been a gleam in the eye of state and local officials and the Bureau of Prisons since 2006. It has always sparked sharp divisions in Roxana and beyond and was killed in 2019 after a series of lawsuits, only to be quietly resurrected in 2022. Last fall, the bureau took the final step in its approval process, clearing the way to begin buying land. Some in Letcher County, which saw 5.2% of its population leave between 2020 and 2023 and grapples with a 24% poverty rate, believe the prison will replace jobs and tax revenue lost with the decline of coal. Federal prison construction has boomed in central Appalachia as mining has faltered, with 8 of the 16 penitentiaries built there, often atop mines, located in Kentucky alone. “Those are all expressions of the economic crisis that has occurred due to the collapse of the coal industry, and for which the prisons and the jails are proposed,” said Judah Schept, a professor of justice studies at Eastern Kentucky University. In his book Coal, Cages, Crisis, Schept noted that mine sites are considered ideal locations for prisons or a dumping ground for waste, rather than places of ecological value, as some biologists have argued. The Roxana site has been reclaimed, meaning re-vegetated with a forest that now shelters a number of rare species, including endangered bats. Opponents argue that a prison will bring more environmental problems than jobs. Letcher County was 1 of 13 counties ravaged by catastrophic flooding in 2022, a situation exacerbated by damage strip mining caused to local watersheds. The prison slated for Roxana will exacerbate the problem. The Bureau of Prisons estimates it will damage 6,290 feet of streams and about 2 acres of wetlands. (The agency has promised to compensate the state.) DeVaughan said the purchase also is a step toward rectifying the dispossession that began with the forced removal and genocide of Indigenous peoples. The Cherokee, Shawnee, and Yuchi made their homes in the area before, during, and after colonization, and their thriving nations raised crops, ran businesses, and hunted bison that once roamed Appalachia. In all the time since, coal, timber, gas, and landholding companies have at times owned almost half of the land in 80 counties stretching from West Virginia to Alabama. Several prisons sprang from deals made with coal companies, something many locals consider the continuation of this status quo. Changing that dynamic is a priority for the Appalachian Rekindling Project, which hoped to buy more land to protect it from extractive industries and return its stewardship to Indigenous and local communities. DeVaughn said Indigenous peoples throughout the region will be welcome to use the land as a gathering place. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Cherokee Nation, and United Keetoowah Band did not respond to requests for comment. DeVaughan sees its work establishing a new vision of economic transition for coalfields, one that relies less on “dollars and numbers” and more on “healing and restoration” of the land and the Indigenous and other communities that live there. She is working with the Cheyenne and Arapaho nations to acquire a herd of bison and plans to work with local volunteers, scientists, and students to inventory the site’s flora and fauna. The plot sits at the edge of the 500-acre site outlined for the prison, which would hold over 1,300 people in the main facility and adjoining camp. A representative of the Bureau of Prisons told Grist land acquisition will continue. This isn’t the first time the agency has hit such a pothole. Six years ago, Letcher County master falconer Mitch Whitaker refused to sell nearly 12 acres, requiring the agency to revise its plans. The prospect of doing so again led Representative Hal Rogers, who represents the area in Congress and has been the leading champion for the prison, to lambaste ARP and its allies. “This land purchase comes as no surprise from a group led by Kentucky outsiders and liberal extremists,” he said in a statement. But many of those on hand that Wednesday to celebrate the sale were local residents like Artie Ann Bates, who grew up in Letcher County and saw waves of strip mining damage her family’s land. “It’s just really hard seeing a place you love be destroyed,” she said. The purchase is a “sign of progress,” she added, bundled up at the foot of the mine site alongside her neighbors. — Katie Myers, Grist This article originally appeared in Grist, a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Sign up for its newsletter here. View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. A reader writes: My husband is a blue collar worker, and he’s very experienced in his field. A little less than a year ago, he decided to switch jobs. He went from doing residential work in people’s homes to commercial work on big buildings. He had over two decades of experience doing the residential side of things, but very little commercial experience. So, in some ways it was like starting over again and having to train from the ground up. At the time, he had two competing job offers: one with a residential company that was offering a slightly lower base pay, but more potential bonuses and benefits, and the commercial company he ultimately went with. To leverage the other offer, he talked to the commercial company and they decided to hire him at a slightly lower rate than he wanted but with an extra week of PTO, and they said they would look at a raise at his 90-day review to bring him up where he wanted to be, based on his performance. At his 90-day review, his boss told him that he was incredibly impressed with how fast he was learning the job. His exact words were, “You’re kicking ass and taking names!” He told my husband that they were not only going to give him a bigger raise than promised, they were also going to give him a new work van and send him to be trained for bigger, more complex systems and look at another significant pay bump at the one-year mark if his trajectory continued. When my husband showed me his glowing review, I told him to make sure and include that on his resume. He’s not actively looking for a new job at the moment, but he is going back to school and needs an updated resume for that (as well as just keeping his resume fresh). We have a relative who is a hiring manager in a white collar industry (think banking/finance). At a recent family gathering, my husband was talking to this relative and asked for their opinion on his resume. When they saw that he had written that his boss had said he was “kicking ass and taking names” at his 90-day review, they told my husband that that was unbelievably unprofessional and that they would have thrown his resume directly into the garbage the second they saw that. They said having that comment on his resume would make them seriously question his judgment, and they would never, ever hire someone who thought that was acceptable … and in fact, they would consider reaching out to their industry contacts and telling others to avoid that person as well because it was so wildly inappropriate. My husband was very taken aback and upset by this, but I told him that this feels like (1) a bit of an overreaction, and (2) a difference in industry norms. I said that he was just quoting his boss and the feedback was literally written on his evaluation and told to him verbally, and other people in the same industry wouldn’t be thrown by it at all. I said he could take it off of his resume if he wanted and just leave the other details, but personally I thought it was charming and showed how enthusiastic his employer is about his work. I work in healthcare, so I feel like I’m predisposed to lean more towards being conservative, but even I thought that the response my husband got was over the top. If I saw that on a resume, my first thought would be, “Clearly, their last boss was very enthusiastic about their work!” (We do live in a more culturally conservative area, though where my husband and I work has become quite a bit more progressive in recent years.) He seems to be a bit deflated by this, so I wanted to seek other opinions. Is this a “never ever under any circumstances” type of thing, or is this something that can be more industry-dependent? Your relative’s reaction was over the top. I wouldn’t include “kicking ass and taking names!” on a resume, but that’s largely because it’s not specific enough, not because it’s an outrageous offense. I mean, it’s true that you normally shouldn’t include profanity on a resume, and the bar is pretty high for doing it. (There are times when I’d consider it, though! If Barack Obama or, I don’t know, Tom Hanks put in writing that I was “incredible at getting shit done,” I’d seriously consider putting that on a resume. But again, that’s a high bar — and even then some people might raise their eyebrows at it, but that would be outweighed by the number of people who loved it.) My take on the quote your husband used is that it doesn’t convey enough about why his employer felt he was kicking ass and taking names, which is ultimately the part that matters. It would be more effective to write about the work specifics that made them feel that way. For example: “In first 90 days, exceeded team’s previous sales by 20% and brought in two new six-figure contracts, earning kudos from management and an unusual out-of-cycle salary increase.” (That said, I could see using the “kicking ass and taking names” quote in a cover letter if there was a way to work it in organically.) Regardless, though, your relative’s reaction is absurd. They’d reach out to industry contacts to tell them never to hire him? That’s ridiculous, and that tells you that this is someone with no sense of proportion and with bad judgment. It’s absolutely useful for your relative to share that the wording would be considered unprofessional in their industry, but once they went beyond that, they were teaching you something about themselves more than about resume-writing (and that lesson is that you shouldn’t take professional advice from them). View the full article

Rival companies in fierce battle for talent in race to build powerful artificial intelligence ‘agents’View the full article

On Tuesday, Apple announced Apple Invites, a new app for iPhones that creates custom event invitations "for any occasion." If that sounds a lot like popular party planning apps like Partiful, that's because, well, it is—only, this app integrates with the greater iOS experience, which is likely bad news for third-party competitors. This isn't a surprise to anyone follow Apple rumors closely. As reported by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple has been working on an invite system for iOS, internally referred to as "Confetti." It wasn't clear whether those plans would manifest as a standalone app, or rather as options built-into existing apps like Calendar and iMessage. Of course, we now know it's the latter. If you've used an event-planning app before, Apple Invites is probably going to be straightforward. When you start an event, you have a series of customizable options: You can add a custom background for the event, similar to iOS's wallpaper selector (although, here, Apple is pushing Apple Intelligence to generate the background images); give the event a name; and set a date, time, and location for your event. These are pretty standard features for an app like this. What gives Apple Invites an interesting spin is the Apple-centric features. You can create a shared album for this event, so that all partygoers can add the pictures and videos they took in one centralized location—eliminating the need for someone to coordinated a shared album with all the guests during or after the fact. In addition, you can create a shared playlist for the party, if you trust your guests to add their music to your event. When your invitation is finished, you have your choice in how to send it out. You can simply send out a public link to the invite via any channel you wish, or you can send invites to a specific list of guests. You can choose whether you want to approve each guests' RSVP, or whether you're happy to automatically add anyone to the guest list who says they're going, as well as whether invitees are allowed additional guests—from plus ones all the way to plus fives. There's a lot of control here, but there is a catch: You need to be subscribed to iCloud+. If you pay for extra iCloud storage, you're already subscribed, but otherwise, you won't be able to create invitations. You don't need iCloud+ to RSVP, though. Anyone can accept or reject an event invitation from Apple Invites through the site—no iCloud or Apple Account needed. While I don't care for the AI-generated backgrounds, I do like the overall presentation here. Built-in shared albums and playlists are what's really selling it to me, though, and I imagine they're going to appeal to a lot of party-planning people. Whether that's enough to overtake popular options like Partiful, we'll have to wait and see. You can try Apple Invites right now, either from the App Store or from icloud.com/invites. View the full article

A civil engineer contributes to how modern cities and towns look because they play an essential role in planning and constructing residential and commercial projects. They design, construct, and maintain projects such as bridges, canals, roads, and buildings. They work closely with other professionals, including construction workers, urban planners and architects. This blog will walk you through how to hire civil engineers. Role and Responsibilities of a Civil Engineer Civil engineers play a pivotal role in the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of infrastructure projects. Their responsibilities extend across various aspects of engineering and project management, ensuring that the structures are safe, sustainable, and efficient. Below is an expanded list of the roles and responsibilities of a civil engineer: Designing Infrastructure Projects: Civil engineers play a crucial role in developing comprehensive designs for infrastructure projects. Their work encompasses a wide range of structures, including roads, bridges, tunnels, water supply systems, sewage treatment facilities, and dams. Utilizing advanced design software to create precise and detailed plans. Conducting feasibility studies to assess the potential success and sustainability of a project. Testing designs for reliability, safety, and compliance with regulations using simulation software. Project Management and Oversight: Once a project moves from the design phase to construction, civil engineers take on the role of project managers, overseeing the construction process to ensure that everything adheres to the original plan. Ensuring that construction follows the designed plans, safety regulations, and specifications closely. Overseeing budgets, resources, and timelines to guarantee that projects are finished on time and within the set budget. Conducting site inspections and monitoring construction progress to address any issues promptly. Collaboration with Other Professionals: Civil engineering projects often require a multidisciplinary approach, necessitating collaboration with professionals from various fields. Working closely with construction managers to coordinate the construction phase, ensuring that the project meets the designed specifications. Collaborating with surveyors to establish reference points, grades, and elevations to guide the construction. Partnering with urban planners to ensure that the infrastructure projects align with city development plans and environmental regulations. Coordinating with architects to integrate aesthetic and functional aspects into the infrastructure projects. Ensuring Safety and Compliance: A critical responsibility of civil engineers is to ensure that all projects comply with local, state, and federal regulations and safety standards. Establishing safety measures and protocols to ensure the protection of both workers and the public throughout the construction process. Consistently reviewing and updating project plans to ensure they adhere to evolving regulations and standards. Conducting risk assessments to minimize potential hazards associated with the construction and use of the infrastructure. Sustainability and Environmental Protection: Modern civil engineering also emphasizes sustainable development and environmental protection. Incorporating sustainable practices and materials into the design and construction processes to minimize environmental impact. Designing infrastructure that is resilient to climate change, natural disasters, and other environmental challenges. Working on projects that improve environmental quality, such as water and air pollution control systems and green building practices. Civil engineers, through their expertise and dedication, ensure that infrastructure projects not only meet the immediate needs of society but also contribute to long-term sustainability and resilience. Drafting an Accurate Civil Engineer Job Description Drafting an effective civil engineer job description is the first step in hiring one. A concise overview of the role should emphasize the importance of creating a sustainable, safe, and efficient environment. Responsibilities The core responsibilities need to be detailed. These can generally include using CAD software, conducting environmental impact assessments, feasibility studies, etc. Qualifications Core qualifications that should be included in a job description include a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or a related field. A strong knowledge of safety regulations, building codes, and industry standards on construction projects is a must. Skills Analytical and problem-solving skills are essential. Mentioning organizational and project management abilities is also necessary. A good civil engineer should also have excellent communication and teamwork abilities. A good job description also acknowledges the freelance civil engineering trend. It should be mentioned that freelancers are expected to manage several products and meet client expectations. Essential Qualifications and Skills for a Civil Engineer When businesses look to hire a civil engineer, they typically seek candidates with a mix of specialized skills, relevant certifications, and appropriate educational backgrounds. One of the minimum educational requirements is a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or related field. That applies to a freelance civil engineer candidate, too. More specialized roles usually require a master’s degree with specializations in structural engineering, urban planning, and environmental engineering, to name a few. The Fundamentals of Engineering Exam assesses fundamental knowledge and serves as the initial step toward becoming a licensed professional. After about four years of work experience, a candidate can get a professional engineering license. They need to sit for a PE exam. This license is mandatory for professionals who want to sign off on projects or work as consultants in different fields, including structural engineering. Or on civil engineering projects. Civil engineers can also pursue certifications like PMP or project management professional. You can also look for software certifications relevant to the industry. Finally, a good candidate has technical proficiency and can manage timelines, budgets, and resources. There’s a growing focus on projects that minimize environmental impact and are sustainable. Suitable candidates also need to understand how data analytics and The Internet of Things are transforming the maintenance of structures. How to Hire a Civil Engineer: A Step-by-Step Guide Here is a step-by-step guide that will help you find the perfect civil engineer for your small business. How to Find Civil Engineers Traditional sources for hiring include Monster, Glassdoor, and Indeed. More specialized websites like the American Society of Civil Engineers exist when you’re looking for a civil engineer. You can find freelance civil engineers for short-term projects on websites like Freelancer and Upwork. Building a team with contractors and freelancers is becoming more popular because they are flexible and have cost-effective specialized expertise. There are also unusual ways to promote a job opening, like community bulletin boards, job fairs, and connections through your local chamber of commerce. Interviewing Civil Engineer Candidates: What to Focus On Interviewing techniques for a civil engineer include touching on a candidate’s specialized skills, certifications, and educational background. Find out about any certifications from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Draft a list of the best interview questions to ask candidates based on your company’s specific needs. You’ll want to know about their project management experience and specialized skills, such as proficiency in software like AutoCAD. A set of questions on engineering standards, design principles, and regulatory compliance can help you find the ideal candidates and reduce hiring bias. Once you make your decision, follow up with your top selections and send an interview rejection letter to the rest. Checking Qualifications, Certifications, and Past Projects when Hiring Civil Engineers A candidate for a civil engineering job must have a solid educational background and professional certifications that can be validated. Civil engineering requires high levels of technical expertise and knowledge. Verifying that a candidate has fundamental knowledge in structural analysis and geotechnical engineering is a sound practice. They should have professional certifications and be licensed as a Professional Engineer (PE). You should also review a candidate’s past civil engineering accomplishments when hiring. That allows you to evaluate their ability to work under pressure and apply theories to real-world situations. Onboarding Your New Civil Engineer Once you make your decision, it’s time to consider how to onboard new employees. Onboarding is an essential part of the process when you’ve hired a new civil engineer. A structured program reduces the time a new candidate takes to get productive. Here are some onboarding best practices to consider: Familiarizing a new engineer with ongoing projects helps them fit in. Show them your latest structural engineering projects. Getting them acquainted with company protocols includes walking them through coding standards, project manager tools, and security policies. Integrating them into team dynamics includes introducing a new candidate into your business’s communication and collaboration style. Social integration is essential. Ensuring Continuous Growth and Development Civil engineers must engage in ongoing professional development and remain informed about the latest engineering technologies and standards. Additionally, they should stay up-to-date with industry certifications to maintain their competitiveness. New Technologies Civil engineering is continually evolving, and there are always new technologies, techniques, and materials to stay on top of. It’s a heavily regulated industry, so a structural engineer must follow regulations, codes, and norms. Essential Certifications Certifications are essential in certain areas, such as water resources and transportation engineering. They’re a testament to any engineer’s dedication and expertise. Expert Guidance It’s essential to consider the civil engineering consultants’ role in professional development. They offer expert guidance and customized training programs that can help. You can also use a training plan template to facilitate continual learning. Step/TipDescription How to Find Civil Engineers- Utilize traditional job boards like Monster, Glassdoor, and Indeed. - For specialized searches, consider the American Society of Civil Engineers. - For short-term projects, freelance platforms like Freelancer and Upwork are useful due to the flexibility and specialized expertise of freelancers. Interviewing Civil Engineer Candidates- Focus on specialized skills, certifications, and educational background. - Inquire about project management experience and software proficiency (e.g., AutoCAD). - Ask questions related to engineering standards, design principles, and regulatory compliance. Checking Qualifications and Certifications- Verify the candidate's educational background and professional certifications. - Ensure they have fundamental knowledge in structural analysis and geotechnical engineering. - Check for Professional Engineer (PE) licensure. - Review past projects to evaluate their ability to apply theories to real-world situations and work under pressure. Onboarding Your New Civil Engineer- Implement a structured onboarding program to speed up the new hire's productivity. - Introduce them to ongoing projects and company protocols, including coding standards, project manager tools, and security policies. - Integrate them into team dynamics and the company's communication and collaboration style for social integration. Ensuring Continuous Growth and Development- Encourage continuous professional development and staying updated with the latest engineering technologies, norms, and certifications. - Stay informed about new technologies, techniques, and materials in the ever-evolving field of civil engineering. - Consider the role of civil engineering consultants for expert guidance and customized training programs in areas like water resources and transportation engineering. https://youtube.com/watch?v=CsaFLAA784o%3Fsi%3D_TLBW80PvkDCeuA- FAQs: How to Hire a Civil Engineer Here are some answers to common questions that apply to structural engineering and other areas. How do civil engineers collaborate with architects and urban planners? These experts collaborate with urban planners and architects by integrating structural functionality and safety considerations. Are there different specialties within civil engineering? Yes, there are several different specialties, including structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, and transport engineering, to name just a few. How crucial is it for a civil engineer to be familiar with local building codes? Civil engineering services need to be well-versed in regional safety standards, industry best practices, and legal requirements. Additionally, they should have a strong understanding of local building codes. What role does sustainability play in modern civil engineering? Modern civil engineering involves integrating eco-friendly technologies and materials, protecting natural habitats, and optimizing energy use. Sustainability is essential in their work to minimize environmental impact and conserve resources. Modern civil engineer jobs focus on sustainability. Image: Envato Elements This article, "How to Hire a Civil Engineer" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article