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In a major move set to redefine e-commerce experiences, PayPal has partnered with Perplexity to integrate its payment solutions directly into the AI-powered shopping platform. This innovation allows consumers to shop and purchase items seamlessly while engaging with Perplexity’s chat interface—a development that’s poised to benefit small business owners significantly. As of November 25, 2025, U.S. users can transition directly from product research to checkout within Perplexity. Merchants can now list their catalogs through PayPal, making their products easily discoverable while ensuring secure transactions. Michelle Gill, General Manager of Small Business and Financial Services at PayPal, emphasized the significance of this collaboration, stating, “We are building for the next era of commerce by connecting PayPal’s trusted payments and buyer protection directly to AI-powered shopping.” One of the most compelling aspects of this initiative is its potential to streamline the shopping journey for consumers. They can now browse and buy items from popular retailers such as Abercrombie & Fitch and Ashley Furniture without ever leaving the chat interface. This capability addresses a growing consumer demand for convenience in online shopping—an especially relevant factor for small businesses looking to compete in a market where consumer preferences are rapidly evolving. Small business owners can leverage this collaboration to tap into a new, AI-driven sales opportunity without facing complex technical requirements. PayPal’s “agentic commerce services” enable merchants to sync their product catalogs with the platform quickly. This means that once a small business establishes a presence on PayPal, it automatically becomes integrated into Perplexity’s search and shopping capabilities—an important advantage in today’s competitive retail landscape. The user experience has been enhanced further by PayPal’s payment security systems, which automatically screen transactions for fraud. This feature is vital for small businesses that may lack extensive resources for fraud prevention. By utilizing PayPal’s robust identity verification and risk management systems, merchants can build trust with their customers, ensuring a safer shopping environment. To entice new users to try this innovative shopping experience during the holiday season, PayPal has launched a limited-time incentive: customers who complete their first purchase via PayPal within Perplexity will receive 50% back, up to $50. This promotion, running from November 25 through December 1, 2025, could drive additional traffic to small businesses participating in this platform—especially during a time when many are trying to maximize their holiday sales. However, small business owners should remain aware of potential challenges. Adapting to this new platform will require time and effort. Businesses must ensure their product catalogs are up-to-date and fully integrated with PayPal’s system to capitalize on the increased discoverability. Additionally, as customers grow accustomed to swift and seamless shopping experiences through AI, small businesses may feel pressured to adapt quickly or risk losing ground to competitors that do. In the words of Dmitry Shevelenko, Chief Business Officer at Perplexity, “Shoppers and merchants demand a better e-commerce experience in the age of AI, one that’s as personalized as it is seamless.” This partnership marks a crucial evolution in the shopping experience, highlighting the imperative for smaller retailers to embrace technological advancements or risk falling behind. With the increasing consumer trend toward AI-driven solutions in retail, small businesses that engage with platforms like Perplexity could find themselves at a distinct advantage. Successfully integrating into this new paradigm may not only enhance sales during the holiday season but could also set the groundwork for sustained growth in the expanding agentic economy. As this collaboration unfolds, business owners should evaluate their readiness for such integrations and consider both the immediate benefits and the strategic adaptations required to thrive in this fast-evolving landscape. For more details on this initiative, check out the full announcement on PayPal’s newsroom here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "PayPal Powers Seamless Checkout for AI Shopping with Perplexity Integration" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The Government Accountability Office has agreed to investigate Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte for allegations of misuse of power and violations of federal privacy laws View the full article

Take a look at the top of this article. See that headline? If it looks different than what you clicked on to get to this page, congratulations: Google might have chosen you to participate in its latest AI experiment: rewriting news headlines for some users in Google Discover. Evidence of the new effort was first spotted by The Verge, as it seems writer Sean Hollister was affected by the update. Here's what's going on: When you swipe right on your Pixel or Galaxy home screen (or scroll down in the Google app on iPhone, or open up a new Chrome browser window with Google as your homepage), there's now a chance the article previews you'll see from Google Discover were actually generated by AI, rather than mirroring the headlines and/or descriptions handwritten by those articles' actual authors and editors. Sometimes, these AI headlines are just clunky or vague—one AI headline introduced another Verge story about specific AI initiatives within Microsoft as "Microsoft developers using AI," which doesn't tell you much, especially in the current tech landscape. You can't trust AI headlinesBut more dangerously, these headlines can also get the facts of the story wrong. In Hollister's case, his Google Discover fed him a headline saying "Steam Machine price revealed," whereas the original article from Ars Technica simply said "Valve's Steam Machine looks like a console, but don't expect it to be priced like one." Clicking through leads to an article with quotes from a Valve designer hinting that the upcoming PC/home console hybrid won't have a subsidized price like most home consoles, which is not at all the same thing as an official price reveal. Another headline Hollister saw said "Qi2 slows older Pixels," which implies using a Qi2 charger on your phone could hurt its performance. The original article simply said that older pixels won't be able to use the full extent of a Qi2 charger's fast-charging. Granted, mistakes with consumer tech headlines will probably only cause some momentary disappointment or confusion, or maybe a missed opportunity to buy the best charger for your phone. But imagine that misinformation applied to a story about something more serious, like the Luigi Mangione case. Considering previous attempts other companies have made to summarize the news with AI, it's hardly unlikely. Perhaps worst of all, it also seems these AI headlines can throw shade when it wasn't intended, introducing a risk of libel. Recently, PCGamer wrote a cheeky story about Baldur's Gate 3, covering gamers who discovered that they can use the Polymorph and Dominate Beast spells to recruit child NPCs to their cause who, thanks to real-world German laws, can't die. You can imagine how that would be useful in a game, and hey, it's all fiction, right? Unfortunately, Google's AI headline chose to change PCGamer's original "Child labor is unbeatable" into "BG3 players exploit children." Yikes. What's going on with these Google AI headlines?Both Hollister and I reached out to Google for comment, and were given the same response: The new headlines are part of a "small UI experiment for a subset of Discover users," and follow up on similar AI previews introduced into Google Discover in October. Those previews featured short AI summaries of articles that users could expand to see more information (and even an AI headline), but didn't outright replace existing, author-written headlines. The new experiment "changes the placement of existing headlines to make topic details easier to digest," which seems to be code for the AI headlines now being placed up-top, where you would expect the real headlines to be. I'm personally not part of the UI experiment, but Hollister reported he wasn't able to see the actual headlines until he clicked through to the real articles. How to tell if that Google Discover headline was written by AIObviously, there's a number of problems with this test. The AI headlines could misreport the news, as they already have in Hollister's case, or make false accusations. And unfortunately, since they're right where actual headlines have been shown in the past, it's totally understandable for a reader to think they were approved by the articles' authors or editors. If a Discover headline looks fishy to you, there are three ways to identify whether it was written by AI. Google's AI is obsessed with making headlines shorter. All of the AI headlines Hollister saw were four words or less, and while we like to be concise here at Lifehacker too, I can say from experience that actual journalists and editors usually write headlines that are a bit longer than that. None of Google's AI headlines seem to capitalize anything but the first word. That's a stark difference from most websites' style guides. At Lifehacker, for instance, we use A.P. style, which capitalizes most words expect for articles like "the." You can tap "See more" under the Discover preview and check for a tag saying that it was "Generated with AI, which can make mistakes." Articles using actual headlines won't even have a "See more" button. Unfortunately, there does not seem to be a way to opt out of these AI headlines, as Google did not provide me with one when I asked, instead simply reiterating that this is a "small UI experiment." That means not everyone is seeing these for now., at least As someone who made frequent use of Google Discover back before I moved to an iPhone, that's still a major bummer. In the past, it's been a convenient way to catch up on stories that were relevant to me without having to scroll social media or check multiple homepages, but I can imagine that having to scrutinize every headline to know whether or not it's real will make things a lot rougher. It's also not great for journalists, who both rely on Google Discover for traffic, and could take the brunt of user ire about inaccurate headlines from readers who don't realize a machine created them. As it is, I think the latter is the more likely outcome. But even if Google eventually works out the kinks with AI headlines, they could still hurt web traffic, potentially removing the incentive to click that is part of all good headline writing. Google will continue to use outside content to keep people on its platform, but the people behind that content will get fewer eyes on it. (Of course, as always, if you want to get the most accurate idea of what an article says, it's best to read it thoroughly before forming an opinion.) View the full article

It’s a great week to have a disposable income and act like you know how to ski. North Face x Skims today launches its second winter outerwear capsule, again channeling ski culture with a campaign shot on the powder-coated Chilean mountains. (Skis and airfare not included.) The 2025 drop expands on its collection from last year with even more silhouettes, like the wrap puffer coat, and a thoughtfully cropped, hooded puffer jacket with drop shoulder that brings some fashion to the line, which is aesthetically more oriented toward sport. It also includes men’s and kid’s styles for the first time (prices range from $55 to $800). Even considering the new styles, the overall brand ID will look very familiar to Skims fans, with creative direction that’s nearly identical to last year’s North Face collaboration. It has a styling and color system approach that’s similar to the recent Skims x Nike collab, with muted color tones such as bone, kyanite, gunmetal, phoenix, and onyx, this time inspired by winter color palette. The campaign creative direction again utilizes gradiated layouts and product imagery, featuring models in geometric groupings organized by garment colorway. (Laura Obermeyer and Jackie Nickerson shot this year’s campaign; the first iteration last year was 2 campaigns, one shot by Vanessa Beecroft and the other shot by Donna Trope.) Part of what makes the Skims marketing such a home run is how it plays with its brand for a distinct visual approach to each of its various campaigns for core product drops. It appears to be less flexible with collaborations. A big week for ski fashion But it’s not the first to drop a winter collection this week. Nike and Jacquemus expanded their long-running partnership into the winter season by earlier this week announcing their first ever ski collection (some styles are online now). The Nike x Jacquemus’ collab plays into cold weather glamour and offers shapes that are driven less by spandex body shaping and more by a classic, retro aprés style. The style lines and pattern of the clothes create their own shape on the body, such as in the ful skirt featured on the first campaign image, or the hourglass shape emphasized by the bell sleeve and tailored waist of the ski jacket. It’s Audrey Hepburn in Chalet with the functionality of Gore Tex. Prices range from $110 to $700 for what’s currently available online, which is half of the total 18 expected styles to be released. These drops are an entry point for fashion brands to get in on outerwear sales by tapping into the expertise of brands already in the space (North Face and NIke, respectively). They are also a way for winter sport amateurs to tap into ski styles, without having to spend big on a vacation or premium-level gear they don’t really need. I live at sea level, and I’d still buy that Nike x Jacquemus jacket, if it wasn’t sold out. And though all the North Face x Skims styles have yet to be released, the comments section on the brand announcement posts is already piping. This quick sequence of drops is another indication there’s appeal in prestige signalling through pieces that have preppy, sophisticated, and stylistic design elements you might see walking around Kemo Sabe in Aspen or a premium St. Moritz chalet. It’s almost as if tennis core and gorpcore had a winter romance (does that give us chaletcore?). North Face x Skims and Jacquemus x Nike have distinct pespectives on this, but one thing is clear: this winter, skiing is a state of mind. View the full article

Only about 10 percent of venture funds ever make it to a fourth vintage. Of those, just 5 to 10 percent are led by women. I’m one of them. When I started Female Founders Fund in 2014, I believed that solid returns and conviction would speak for themselves. Strong performance would unlock capital and the industry would reward the achievement, especially from those breaking new ground—or so I thought. What I’ve come to learn is that venture capital isn’t a pure meritocracy. It’s a network-driven ecosystem where who you know often matters just as much as what you build. Cultural and political changes, and a tight market environment, are making it especially difficult for fund managers to maintain momentum. Now is the time for the industry to reflect on how to ensure that these funds, especially those led by diverse managers, can weather these forces and continue to support diverse founders with brilliant ideas. Investing in women isn’t charity. By yielding powerful, durable returns, it has proven to be smart business. As risk tolerance declines, it could be tempting for institutions to retreat to the familiar. Instead, they should pay attention to the data. A shorter runway for women Over the years, a few lessons have become clear. They aren’t the ones you find in your LPA, but they’re the realities that quietly shape who gets funded, who gets backed again, and who quietly fades away. Returns are just one part of the picture. While performance is important, other forces—institutional change, personal networks, and internal politics—often drive how capital gets distributed. Once an institution commits to a fund, that relationship can extend across multiple vintages. The incentive to change managers is low. Check writers want proximity to the next generation of Tier 1 talent striking out on their own. That bias works in favor of spinouts—former Sequoia, a16z, or Benchmark investors taking the entrepreneurial leap. But for managers without that institutional pedigree, the path looks very different. And for women, who remain significantly underrepresented in those firms’ partnership ranks, the path is even narrower. Your first fund is often cobbled together from founders, friends, and family offices willing to take an early bet. By Fund II or III, however, the bar shifts. Institutions want scale, systems, and years of realized returns, all of which take time to build. For emerging managers, that’s the hardest leap: breaking through a system designed to reward familiarity over conviction. Venture is a relationship business. It prides itself on data and rigor, but in practice it runs on trust. The capital that fuels our industry still moves through networks built over decades. Who you know, how long you’ve known them, and what you have to offer, determines access. This is why new or diverse fund managers often find it easier to raise their first fund on promise than their second on proof. Convincing someone to take the initial bet on someone new can be easier than asking them to break a pattern with subsequent funds—because the pattern is still overwhelmingly male. We must also look at money. Wealth isn’t optional—it’s the price of entry. For example, all new fund managers are expected to invest a “GP commit,” which equates to roughly 1 percent of their total fund size. On a $50 million fund, that’s $500,000 in cash, upfront. Imagine asking an entrepreneur to invest half a million dollars in their own Series B to show commitment. For many, especially women and first-time fund managers, that barrier is insurmountable without preexisting, generational, or spousal wealth. It is one of the quietest but most enduring structural filters in venture, and it uniquely disadvantages women, who, on average, hold less personal and intergenerational wealth. Having a financial cushion is also vital to play the long game that venture requires. To stay in the business, particularly through downturns, you need a financial cushion. Big payouts don’t happen often. Selling some of the investment early can help a little, but small fund managers can’t always afford to take a lower price without making it harder to raise money later. It’s not just about resilience and grit; it’s about runway. And because women more frequently enter the industry later, without the safety nets that have historically supported male peers, their runway is often meaningfully shorter. Staying in the game long enough to see your conviction validated is, in itself, a form of privilege. Another challenge that has played out over the years is that while several well-intentioned institutions and corporations have stepped in to support and capitalize diverse managers, the purpose behind many of these checks has been to provide “start-up” capital designed to help new funds get off the ground, with the expectation that larger institutional investors would take over from there. That handoff, however, has proven difficult. Even as the tide has turned culturally and politically, there’s a real opportunity to rethink how we sustain diverse managers beyond the first fund, widening the base of long-term support so they can weather market cycles and build lasting franchises. The current system still assumes women will somehow “graduate” into institutional support structures that were never designed with them in mind. Shaping the next frontier I started Female Founders Fund as an entrepreneur who spotted alpha in the market—a clear gap between the caliber of women building companies and the capital available to back them. Twelve years later, that thesis has proven right again and again. At Female Founders Fund, we’ve seen it firsthand. Maven Clinic became the first unicorn in women’s health, defining an entirely new category of care. Billie reimagined modern personal care before its acquisition by Edgewell. BentoBox transformed hospitality tech, leading to a successful exit. Tala, now valued at nearly $1 billion, continues to scale globally, expanding access to financial services in emerging markets. Wagmo created a new category of employee benefits around pet care, while Violette_FR built the first artist-led French beauty brand in decades. These companies touch millions of end customers and have built products, tools, and services that have scaled across industries proving that female-led innovation drives real enterprise and consumer value. These founders are category creators—pairing big visions with world-class execution. These outcomes aren’t outliers. They’re evidence that backing female founders is a wise investment strategy that generates meaningful returns. We cannot let this moment in time with its tighter markets and shifting market and social priorities create negative momentum. Women are now leading in industries once thought impossible to break into: Space DOTS, founded by a NASA-trained astronautical engineer; Beyond Aero, reimagining flight through hydrogen-electric propulsion; Amini AI, building Africa’s environmental data backbone; Waabi, redefining autonomous trucking; and Dacora, making history as the first female-founded automotive company. From aerospace to AI, from climate to transportation, women are shaping the next frontier and the best is yet to come. In order to keep seeing new role models of success especially for those living outside the traditional Silicon Valley ecosystem, we need to keep capital flowing. That’s how the next generation of women and underrepresented founders will see themselves in the leaders building today. In a moment when the world feels increasingly divided, doubling down on progress isn’t just good business—it’s good stewardship. Because the hardest part isn’t raising a fund, it’s building one that endures. And the longer I stay in this business, the clearer it becomes: investing in women isn’t a risk, it’s a return. View the full article

Defence secretary faces serious questions over strikes on alleged drug smuggling boatsView the full article

Reform UK leader insisted at a press conference that he had never said anything racist ‘with malice’ View the full article

Russian authorities said Thursday they have imposed restrictions on Apple’s video calling service FaceTime, the latest step in an effort to tighten control over the internet and communications online. State internet regulator Roskomnadzor alleged in a statement that the service is being “used to organize and conduct terrorist activities on the territory of the country, to recruit perpetrators (and) commit fraud and other crimes against our citizens.” Apple did not respond to an emailed request for comment. The Russian regulator also announced that it has blocked Snapchat, a messaging app for sharing photos, videos and text messages, citing the same grounds it gave for restricting FaceTime. It said that it took the action Oct. 10, even though it only reported the move on Thursday. Under President Vladimir Putin, authorities have engaged in deliberate and multipronged efforts to rein in the internet. They have adopted restrictive laws and banned websites and platforms that don’t comply. Technology has also been perfected to monitor and manipulate online traffic. After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the government blocked major social media like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Access to YouTube was disrupted last year in what experts called deliberate throttling of the widely popular site by the authorities. The Kremlin blamed YouTube owner Google for not properly maintaining its hardware in Russia. While it’s still possible to circumvent some of the restrictions by using virtual private network services, those are routinely blocked, too. Authorities further restricted internet access this summer with widespread shutdowns of cellphone internet connections. Officials have insisted the measure was needed to thwart Ukrainian drone attacks, but experts argued it was another step to tighten internet control. In dozens of regions, “white lists” of government-approved sites and services that are supposed to function despite a shutdown have been introduced. The government has also acted against popular messaging platforms. Encrypted messenger Signal and another popular app, Viber, were blocked in 2024. This year, the authorities banned calls via WhatsApp, the most popular messaging app in Russia, and Telegram, a close second. Roskomnadzor justified the measure by saying the two apps were being used for criminal activities. At the same time, authorities actively promoted a “national” messenger app called MAX, which critics see as a surveillance tool. The platform, touted by developers and officials as a one-stop shop for messaging, online government services, making payments, and more, openly declares it will share user data with authorities upon request. Experts also say it doesn’t use end-to-end encryption. Earlier this week, the government also said it was blocking Roblox, a popular online game platform, saying the step aimed at protecting children from illicit content and “pedophiles who meet minors directly in the game’s chats and then move on to real life.” Stanislav Seleznev, cyber security expert and lawyer with the Net Freedom rights group, told The Associated Press that Russian law views any platform where users can message each other as “organizers of dissemination of information.” This label mandates that platforms have an account with Roskomnadzor so that it could communicate its demands, and give Russia’s security service, the FSB, access to accounts of their users for monitoring; those failing to comply are in violation and can get blocked, Seleznev said. He suggested that these regulations could have been applied to both Roblox and FaceTime. Roblox in October was the second most popular game platform in Russia, with nearly 8 million monthly users, according to media monitoring group Mediascope. Seleznev estimated that possibly tens of millions of Russians have been using FaceTime, especially after calls were banned on WhatsApp and Telegram. He called the restrictions against the service “predictable” and warned that other sites failing to cooperate with Roskomnadzor “will be blocked, that’s obvious.” –Dasha Litvinova, Associated Press View the full article

Creating an effective marketing planning calendar is crucial for streamlining your marketing efforts and achieving your goals. It helps you define objectives, align activities with important dates, and assign responsibilities to team members. This structured approach not only guarantees accountability but also allows for regular updates to adapt to market changes. By utilizing digital tools, you can improve collaboration and overall productivity. Comprehending how to build this calendar can greatly impact your marketing success, so let’s explore the critical steps. Key Takeaways Define marketing goals and align activities with key internal and external dates to ensure relevance and focus. Assign ownership for each task to enhance accountability and clarify team roles in achieving objectives. Utilize digital tools for real-time updates, customization, and improved collaboration among team members. Schedule regular review meetings to adapt the calendar to changing priorities and market trends. Document changes to track the evolution of strategies and assess the impact on campaign performance. Understanding the Purpose of a Marketing Calendar A marketing calendar is a vital strategic tool that helps you schedule all planned marketing activities in a cohesive manner. It serves as a visual roadmap, integrating various channels and key dates like product launches and cultural events. This organization prevents overlooked tasks and guarantees your marketing efforts align with business objectives. By documenting fundamental activities and deadlines, a marketing planning calendar allows you to proactively plan campaigns, enhancing collaboration and communication across departments. Regular updates maintain its relevance, making it a living document that adapts to changing market trends. Utilizing a marketing campaign calendar can considerably increase efficiency, reduce missed deadlines, and improve visibility of your marketing efforts, ultimately contributing to the success of your marketing strategies. Key Benefits of Implementing a Marketing Calendar Implementing a marketing calendar can greatly improve your organization and planning, making it easier to track deadlines and manage tasks effectively. You’ll notice enhanced team collaboration, as everyone gains a clearer comprehension of their roles and responsibilities. This structured approach not just streamlines your marketing efforts but additionally boosts overall productivity. Enhanced Organization and Planning When you utilize a marketing calendar, you gain a potent tool for enhancing organization and planning within your marketing efforts. A well-structured marketing calendar example centralizes all planned activities, preventing important tasks from being overlooked and ensuring your team stays aligned on objectives. By proactively scheduling campaigns on your marketing schedule, you can meet deadlines and allocate resources efficiently, minimizing conflicts and missed opportunities. Documenting key milestones increases visibility of your marketing efforts, promoting better communication within your team. Regularly updated calendars serve as a reliable source of truth, allowing you to track performance and adapt strategies based on insights from past activities. This structured approach also supports strategic alignment with overall business goals, maximizing your marketing ROI. Improved Team Collaboration Improved collaboration among team members is one of the standout benefits of using a marketing calendar. This centralized platform allows everyone to view and contribute to planned activities, ensuring transparency and alignment with marketing goals. By reducing communication barriers, stakeholders from different departments, like product development and sales, can provide input and stay updated on marketing timelines and priorities. Regular updates to the calendar promote ongoing collaboration, enabling teams to adapt to changes and make informed decisions in real-time. Clear task assignments within the calendar encourage accountability, nurturing a culture of shared ownership. Moreover, increased visibility of scheduled activities helps prevent conflicts and overlaps, eventually improving teamwork and efficiency in executing marketing strategies. Essential Components of an Effective Marketing Calendar To create an effective marketing calendar, you need to identify key dates, assign task ownership, and develop a channel integration strategy. Each of these components plays an essential role in ensuring your marketing efforts are organized and aligned with your overall goals. Key Dates Identification Identifying key dates and milestones is essential for creating an effective marketing calendar, as it aligns your marketing activities with significant events that can drive engagement and sales. Important dates should encompass not just your marketing initiatives but also holidays, seasonal trends, and internal deadlines that might impact your calendar. To capture all relevant dates, consult with stakeholders from various departments, like sales and product development, ensuring you consider factors that influence customer behavior. Regularly revisit your marketing calendar at the start of each quarter and month to update key dates based on evolving business objectives and market conditions. A structured approach to documenting key dates helps avoid scheduling conflicts, enhancing overall collaboration and execution among your team members. Task Ownership Assignment Assigning task ownership in your marketing calendar is vital for maintaining accountability, ensuring that each team member knows their responsibilities for executing and managing specific activities or campaigns. Clear ownership streamlines communication and collaboration, reducing confusion and overlapping responsibilities that can lead to inefficiencies. Each task in the calendar should include the owner’s name, deadlines, and relevant notes to provide context and clarity on expectations. When you assign ownership, it cultivates a sense of responsibility among team members, enhancing their motivation and performance toward achieving marketing goals. Make it a practice to regularly review and update task assignments to adapt to changing priorities or team dynamics, ensuring that all responsibilities remain aligned with your overarching marketing strategy. Channel Integration Strategy Integrating multiple marketing channels into your planning calendar is crucial for creating a cohesive strategy that aligns with your overall business objectives. Your calendar should include entries for email, social media, content marketing, and advertising, guaranteeing a well-rounded approach. Each entry must have vital fields like campaign name, target audience, marketing channels, start and end dates, and key milestones for clear communication among team members. Incorporate significant cultural events, holidays, and industry-specific dates to maximize engagement and relevance. Regularly review and update the calendar to adapt to changing priorities or strategies, maintaining its reliability for all stakeholders. Effective channel integration improves resource allocation, boosts collaboration, and maintains consistency in your brand messaging across all platforms. Steps to Create Your Marketing Calendar When you set out to create your marketing calendar, it’s essential to start by defining your overarching marketing goals and measurable objectives. Next, identify key internal and external dates relevant to your marketing efforts, like product launches or holidays. Then, brainstorm a list of marketing activities and campaigns that align with your goals, selecting the most effective channels for each initiative. Assign ownership for each task to specific team members, enhancing accountability. Finally, regularly review and update the calendar, treating it as a living document. Step Description Define Goals Establish measurable marketing objectives Identify Key Dates List important internal and external dates Assign Tasks Delegate responsibilities to team members Collaborating With Your Team for Success Collaboration plays a crucial role in the success of your marketing planning calendar, as it brings together diverse perspectives from various team members. Involving individuals from different departments guarantees alignment on goals and activities, leading to a more cohesive strategy. Regular meetings to review the calendar improve communication, allowing you to discuss progress, address challenges, and adjust timelines as necessary. Utilizing collaborative tools like Google Sheets or project management software, such as Asana or Trello, provides real-time updates and visibility for the team. Assigning clear ownership for tasks empowers team members to take responsibility, making sure everyone understands their role in achieving marketing objectives. Gathering feedback from stakeholders during the creation process helps identify potential conflicts and refine strategies for better execution. Utilizing Digital Tools for Enhanced Organization Digital tools are essential for enhancing organization within your marketing planning calendar, allowing for efficient management and coordination of tasks. By leveraging these technologies, you can improve your team’s collaboration and streamline processes. Consider these key benefits: Real-time updates: Tools like HubSpot and Trello provide instant notifications, so everyone stays informed about changes. Customizable templates: Easily create customized calendars for content, social media, or campaigns, meeting your specific needs. Device synchronization: Guarantee all team members have access to the latest version, reducing miscommunication. With advanced filtering options, you can prioritize vital activities, as regular reviews promote accountability, helping your team adapt to shifting marketing strategies effectively. Embrace these digital tools to enhance your marketing planning efforts. Maintaining Flexibility and Adaptability To effectively maintain flexibility and adaptability in your marketing planning calendar, it’s crucial to treat the calendar as a living document that evolves alongside your strategies. Regular review meetings can help you accommodate changes in priorities, ensuring your calendar reflects the most current strategies and timelines. Integrating a feedback loop from your team improves adaptability, allowing the calendar to evolve based on insights and shifting market conditions. Consider utilizing sophisticated software solutions over static templates for better flexibility; these tools offer customizable options and streamline collaboration for quicker adjustments. Furthermore, building in buffer times for key activities will help your team manage unexpected challenges without derailing overall marketing efforts, keeping your strategies responsive and effective. Best Practices for Regularly Updating Your Calendar Updating your marketing calendar regularly is key to maintaining its effectiveness and relevance. To keep your calendar current, follow these best practices: Schedule regular review meetings at least monthly or quarterly to assess its relevance and make updates based on team feedback and shifting priorities. Utilize collaborative tools like project management software for real-time updates and visibility, enhancing accountability and communication among team members. Document changes and adjustments to track the evolution of your marketing strategies, helping you understand the impact of past decisions on campaign performance. Frequently Asked Questions How to Create an Effective Marketing Calendar? To create an effective marketing calendar, start by defining your marketing objectives and aligning them with your business goals. Identify key dates, such as product launches and industry events, to include in your calendar. Use tools like Google Calendar or Asana for easy collaboration and updates. Assign tasks to team members for accountability, and regularly review the calendar to adapt to changes in strategy or market conditions, ensuring it remains relevant and useful. What Are the Eight Steps to Creating a Successful Marketing Calendar? To create a successful marketing calendar, start by defining your marketing goals and measurable objectives. Next, identify key dates like product launches and industry events. After that, brainstorm activities that align with your goals and choose the right channels for each. Assign ownership for tasks to guarantee accountability. Finally, regularly review and update the calendar to adapt to changing conditions, making it a dynamic tool that reflects your marketing strategy effectively. What Are the 7 Steps to Creating an Effective Marketing Plan? To create an effective marketing plan, start by defining your marketing goals and measurable objectives. Next, analyze your target audience and understand their needs. Then, outline your marketing strategies, choosing the channels that best reach them. After that, allocate your budget and set timelines for each activity. Assign responsibilities to team members for accountability. Finally, review and adjust your plan regularly to stay aligned with market changes and guarantee ongoing effectiveness. How to Make a Timeline for a Marketing Plan? To make a timeline for your marketing plan, start by outlining key milestones and deadlines. Break down your activities into manageable tasks and set specific timeframes for each. Use project management tools or calendar software to visualize this timeline, enhancing collaboration and accountability among team members. Regularly review and adjust your timeline based on progress or changes in priorities, and include buffer time to handle unexpected delays effectively. Conclusion In conclusion, an effective marketing planning calendar is crucial for organizing your campaigns and aligning your team’s efforts with strategic goals. By comprehending its purpose, implementing key components, and collaborating using digital tools, you can boost productivity and accountability. Regular updates guarantee the calendar remains relevant and adaptable to market changes. Following best practices will help you maintain a dynamic approach, eventually driving the success of your marketing initiatives and nurturing a culture of continuous improvement within your team. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Creating an Effective Marketing Planning Calendar" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Creating an effective marketing planning calendar is crucial for streamlining your marketing efforts and achieving your goals. It helps you define objectives, align activities with important dates, and assign responsibilities to team members. This structured approach not only guarantees accountability but also allows for regular updates to adapt to market changes. By utilizing digital tools, you can improve collaboration and overall productivity. Comprehending how to build this calendar can greatly impact your marketing success, so let’s explore the critical steps. Key Takeaways Define marketing goals and align activities with key internal and external dates to ensure relevance and focus. Assign ownership for each task to enhance accountability and clarify team roles in achieving objectives. Utilize digital tools for real-time updates, customization, and improved collaboration among team members. Schedule regular review meetings to adapt the calendar to changing priorities and market trends. Document changes to track the evolution of strategies and assess the impact on campaign performance. Understanding the Purpose of a Marketing Calendar A marketing calendar is a vital strategic tool that helps you schedule all planned marketing activities in a cohesive manner. It serves as a visual roadmap, integrating various channels and key dates like product launches and cultural events. This organization prevents overlooked tasks and guarantees your marketing efforts align with business objectives. By documenting fundamental activities and deadlines, a marketing planning calendar allows you to proactively plan campaigns, enhancing collaboration and communication across departments. Regular updates maintain its relevance, making it a living document that adapts to changing market trends. Utilizing a marketing campaign calendar can considerably increase efficiency, reduce missed deadlines, and improve visibility of your marketing efforts, ultimately contributing to the success of your marketing strategies. Key Benefits of Implementing a Marketing Calendar Implementing a marketing calendar can greatly improve your organization and planning, making it easier to track deadlines and manage tasks effectively. You’ll notice enhanced team collaboration, as everyone gains a clearer comprehension of their roles and responsibilities. This structured approach not just streamlines your marketing efforts but additionally boosts overall productivity. Enhanced Organization and Planning When you utilize a marketing calendar, you gain a potent tool for enhancing organization and planning within your marketing efforts. A well-structured marketing calendar example centralizes all planned activities, preventing important tasks from being overlooked and ensuring your team stays aligned on objectives. By proactively scheduling campaigns on your marketing schedule, you can meet deadlines and allocate resources efficiently, minimizing conflicts and missed opportunities. Documenting key milestones increases visibility of your marketing efforts, promoting better communication within your team. Regularly updated calendars serve as a reliable source of truth, allowing you to track performance and adapt strategies based on insights from past activities. This structured approach also supports strategic alignment with overall business goals, maximizing your marketing ROI. Improved Team Collaboration Improved collaboration among team members is one of the standout benefits of using a marketing calendar. This centralized platform allows everyone to view and contribute to planned activities, ensuring transparency and alignment with marketing goals. By reducing communication barriers, stakeholders from different departments, like product development and sales, can provide input and stay updated on marketing timelines and priorities. Regular updates to the calendar promote ongoing collaboration, enabling teams to adapt to changes and make informed decisions in real-time. Clear task assignments within the calendar encourage accountability, nurturing a culture of shared ownership. Moreover, increased visibility of scheduled activities helps prevent conflicts and overlaps, eventually improving teamwork and efficiency in executing marketing strategies. Essential Components of an Effective Marketing Calendar To create an effective marketing calendar, you need to identify key dates, assign task ownership, and develop a channel integration strategy. Each of these components plays an essential role in ensuring your marketing efforts are organized and aligned with your overall goals. Key Dates Identification Identifying key dates and milestones is essential for creating an effective marketing calendar, as it aligns your marketing activities with significant events that can drive engagement and sales. Important dates should encompass not just your marketing initiatives but also holidays, seasonal trends, and internal deadlines that might impact your calendar. To capture all relevant dates, consult with stakeholders from various departments, like sales and product development, ensuring you consider factors that influence customer behavior. Regularly revisit your marketing calendar at the start of each quarter and month to update key dates based on evolving business objectives and market conditions. A structured approach to documenting key dates helps avoid scheduling conflicts, enhancing overall collaboration and execution among your team members. Task Ownership Assignment Assigning task ownership in your marketing calendar is vital for maintaining accountability, ensuring that each team member knows their responsibilities for executing and managing specific activities or campaigns. Clear ownership streamlines communication and collaboration, reducing confusion and overlapping responsibilities that can lead to inefficiencies. Each task in the calendar should include the owner’s name, deadlines, and relevant notes to provide context and clarity on expectations. When you assign ownership, it cultivates a sense of responsibility among team members, enhancing their motivation and performance toward achieving marketing goals. Make it a practice to regularly review and update task assignments to adapt to changing priorities or team dynamics, ensuring that all responsibilities remain aligned with your overarching marketing strategy. Channel Integration Strategy Integrating multiple marketing channels into your planning calendar is crucial for creating a cohesive strategy that aligns with your overall business objectives. Your calendar should include entries for email, social media, content marketing, and advertising, guaranteeing a well-rounded approach. Each entry must have vital fields like campaign name, target audience, marketing channels, start and end dates, and key milestones for clear communication among team members. Incorporate significant cultural events, holidays, and industry-specific dates to maximize engagement and relevance. Regularly review and update the calendar to adapt to changing priorities or strategies, maintaining its reliability for all stakeholders. Effective channel integration improves resource allocation, boosts collaboration, and maintains consistency in your brand messaging across all platforms. Steps to Create Your Marketing Calendar When you set out to create your marketing calendar, it’s essential to start by defining your overarching marketing goals and measurable objectives. Next, identify key internal and external dates relevant to your marketing efforts, like product launches or holidays. Then, brainstorm a list of marketing activities and campaigns that align with your goals, selecting the most effective channels for each initiative. Assign ownership for each task to specific team members, enhancing accountability. Finally, regularly review and update the calendar, treating it as a living document. Step Description Define Goals Establish measurable marketing objectives Identify Key Dates List important internal and external dates Assign Tasks Delegate responsibilities to team members Collaborating With Your Team for Success Collaboration plays a crucial role in the success of your marketing planning calendar, as it brings together diverse perspectives from various team members. Involving individuals from different departments guarantees alignment on goals and activities, leading to a more cohesive strategy. Regular meetings to review the calendar improve communication, allowing you to discuss progress, address challenges, and adjust timelines as necessary. Utilizing collaborative tools like Google Sheets or project management software, such as Asana or Trello, provides real-time updates and visibility for the team. Assigning clear ownership for tasks empowers team members to take responsibility, making sure everyone understands their role in achieving marketing objectives. Gathering feedback from stakeholders during the creation process helps identify potential conflicts and refine strategies for better execution. Utilizing Digital Tools for Enhanced Organization Digital tools are essential for enhancing organization within your marketing planning calendar, allowing for efficient management and coordination of tasks. By leveraging these technologies, you can improve your team’s collaboration and streamline processes. Consider these key benefits: Real-time updates: Tools like HubSpot and Trello provide instant notifications, so everyone stays informed about changes. Customizable templates: Easily create customized calendars for content, social media, or campaigns, meeting your specific needs. Device synchronization: Guarantee all team members have access to the latest version, reducing miscommunication. With advanced filtering options, you can prioritize vital activities, as regular reviews promote accountability, helping your team adapt to shifting marketing strategies effectively. Embrace these digital tools to enhance your marketing planning efforts. Maintaining Flexibility and Adaptability To effectively maintain flexibility and adaptability in your marketing planning calendar, it’s crucial to treat the calendar as a living document that evolves alongside your strategies. Regular review meetings can help you accommodate changes in priorities, ensuring your calendar reflects the most current strategies and timelines. Integrating a feedback loop from your team improves adaptability, allowing the calendar to evolve based on insights and shifting market conditions. Consider utilizing sophisticated software solutions over static templates for better flexibility; these tools offer customizable options and streamline collaboration for quicker adjustments. Furthermore, building in buffer times for key activities will help your team manage unexpected challenges without derailing overall marketing efforts, keeping your strategies responsive and effective. Best Practices for Regularly Updating Your Calendar Updating your marketing calendar regularly is key to maintaining its effectiveness and relevance. To keep your calendar current, follow these best practices: Schedule regular review meetings at least monthly or quarterly to assess its relevance and make updates based on team feedback and shifting priorities. Utilize collaborative tools like project management software for real-time updates and visibility, enhancing accountability and communication among team members. Document changes and adjustments to track the evolution of your marketing strategies, helping you understand the impact of past decisions on campaign performance. Frequently Asked Questions How to Create an Effective Marketing Calendar? To create an effective marketing calendar, start by defining your marketing objectives and aligning them with your business goals. Identify key dates, such as product launches and industry events, to include in your calendar. Use tools like Google Calendar or Asana for easy collaboration and updates. Assign tasks to team members for accountability, and regularly review the calendar to adapt to changes in strategy or market conditions, ensuring it remains relevant and useful. What Are the Eight Steps to Creating a Successful Marketing Calendar? To create a successful marketing calendar, start by defining your marketing goals and measurable objectives. Next, identify key dates like product launches and industry events. After that, brainstorm activities that align with your goals and choose the right channels for each. Assign ownership for tasks to guarantee accountability. Finally, regularly review and update the calendar to adapt to changing conditions, making it a dynamic tool that reflects your marketing strategy effectively. What Are the 7 Steps to Creating an Effective Marketing Plan? To create an effective marketing plan, start by defining your marketing goals and measurable objectives. Next, analyze your target audience and understand their needs. Then, outline your marketing strategies, choosing the channels that best reach them. After that, allocate your budget and set timelines for each activity. Assign responsibilities to team members for accountability. Finally, review and adjust your plan regularly to stay aligned with market changes and guarantee ongoing effectiveness. How to Make a Timeline for a Marketing Plan? To make a timeline for your marketing plan, start by outlining key milestones and deadlines. Break down your activities into manageable tasks and set specific timeframes for each. Use project management tools or calendar software to visualize this timeline, enhancing collaboration and accountability among team members. Regularly review and adjust your timeline based on progress or changes in priorities, and include buffer time to handle unexpected delays effectively. Conclusion In conclusion, an effective marketing planning calendar is crucial for organizing your campaigns and aligning your team’s efforts with strategic goals. By comprehending its purpose, implementing key components, and collaborating using digital tools, you can boost productivity and accountability. Regular updates guarantee the calendar remains relevant and adaptable to market changes. Following best practices will help you maintain a dynamic approach, eventually driving the success of your marketing initiatives and nurturing a culture of continuous improvement within your team. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Creating an Effective Marketing Planning Calendar" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In the long-running Android vs. iOS competition, iPhones have historically had the edge in terms of parental controls: They've been a bit more straightforward and intuitive, and easier for caregivers to understand and manage. Apple does many things well, and getting its apps and devices working seamlessly together is definitely one of them. Google, however, is gradually improving the experience for parents, with a batch of updates earlier this year, and now some more changes as part of a significant Android 16 upgrade. The latest changes mean more controls can be accessed on your kids' devices. What's new in Android 16The usual Android caveat applies here: Each Android phone maker does things slightly differently, though there's not actually too much variation in this particular area. The latest Android 16 updates mentioned above are rolling out now to Pixel phones (and I've tested them on a Pixel), but will take a while to reach other handsets—Samsung phones will most likely get them early next year, for example, with One UI 8.5. So what's new? Essentially, more of the existing parental controls are available on the Android devices of your youngsters, so you can get at them from their phones and tablets as well as accessing them remotely. It should make life easier if you're with your kids and they pass their devices over to you. You can find the options that have been added to kids' devices by opening Settings on the phone or tablet of your young person and choosing Parental controls. Right away you'll see a toggle switch for enabling on-device controls, and when you do enable them you need to enter a PIN—to stop your kid from changing these settings themselves. The new on-device controls in Android 16. Credit: Lifehacker There are then four sections you can access: Daily limit, App limits, Downtime, and Website content filters. Tap on any of these to set restrictions for the current device, which can be adjusted depending on the day of the week in some cases. Pick Downtime, for example, and you can set times during which the device is locked. These match the tools you've previously been able to manage remotely. Select Daily limit, then turn on the Use daily limit toggle switch, and you're able to control how many hours your kid can use their phone or tablet for each day. There's also a bar chart showing device usage over time, so you can see how much screen time your child has been taking advantage of. These settings are simple, understandable, and a breeze to use—you don't have to mess around with Google accounts or family relationships if you don't want to. You can just enter a PIN and start making changes—you don't necessarily have to connect these settings to any other devices. If you want to manage them remotely, though, Google has a wider parental control system in place. Google's Family Link controls The new Android 16 controls that appear on devices can work independently of anything else, but Google already offers plenty of options if you need them. Everything is managed through the Google Family Link portal, which you can access on the web or through the apps on Android or iOS. You can use Google Family Link to set up Google accounts for your kids, and then manage what they're able to do with them. The idea is that they sign into their Android devices using the account you've created for them, and because Google knows you have a verified connection to them, you can put restrictions on those devices remotely. All the usual safeguards and protections are covered: You can set screen time limits, manage the apps your kids can use (and for how often), put blocks on certain websites and categories of website, and put parental approvals in place for making purchases through Google's various digital storefronts. These mostly match what's now available on-device. Google Family Link on the web. Credit: Lifehacker There's a location tracking element to Google Family Link as well, so you can see where your young people are at all times, and even get notifications based on their movements: You might want to get a ping when they turn up at school, for example, or when they leave home. All this can be managed through the apps. More recent updates let you control the amount of screen time your children can have during school hours, and there are also now tools for managing the contacts that youngsters are able to interact with—as yet you can't get to these controls directly on your kids' devices. There's plenty in the way of reports on usage too, alongside these controls. Add everything up, and Google now has a fairly comprehensive set of parental controls that you can manage from just about any device, or from the devices your kids are using—assuming you've given them Android phones or tablets. View the full article

President Donald The President on Wednesday announced a proposal to weaken vehicle mileage rules for the auto industry, loosening regulatory pressure on automakers to control pollution from gasoline-powered cars and trucks. The plan, if finalized next year, would significantly reduce fuel economy requirements, which set rules on how far new vehicles need to travel on a gallon of gasoline, through the 2031 model year. The administration and automakers say the rules will increase Americans’ access to the full range of gasoline vehicles they need and can afford. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration projects that the new standards would set the industry fleetwide average for light-duty vehicles at roughly 34.5 miles per gallon in the 2031 model year, down from a projected 50.4 miles per gallon in 2031 under the Biden-era rule. The move is the latest action by the The President administration to reverse Biden-era policies that encouraged cleaner-running cars and trucks, including electric vehicles, and it sparked criticism from environmental groups. Burning gasoline for vehicles is a major contributor to planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. “From day one I’ve been taking action to make buying a car more affordable,” The President said at a White House event that included top executives from two of the largest U.S. automakers. The rule reverses a Biden-era policy that “forced automakers to build cars using expensive technologies that drove up costs, drove up prices and made the car much worse,” The President said. Automakers applaud and environmentalists decry rule change The action is expected to save consumers about $1,000 off the price of a new car, The President said. New cars sold for an average of $49,766 on average in October, according to Kelley Blue Book. Automakers applauded the planned changes, which came amid industry complaints that the Biden-era rules were difficult to meet. Ford CEO Jim Farley said the planned rollback was “a win for customers and common sense.” “As America’s largest auto producer, we appreciate President The President’s leadership in aligning fuel economy standards with market realities. We can make real progress on carbon emissions and energy efficiency while still giving customers choice and affordability,” he said. Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa said the automaker appreciates the administration’s actions to “realign” the mileage standards “with real world market conditions.” Since taking office in January, The President has relaxed auto tailpipe emissions rules, repealed fines for automakers that do not meet federal mileage standards, and terminated consumer credits of up to $7,500 for EV purchases. Environmentalists decried the rollback. “In one stroke The President is worsening three of our nation’s most vexing problems: the thirst for oil, high gas pump costs, and global warming,” said Dan Becker, director of the Safe Climate Transport Campaign for the Center for Biological Diversity. “Gutting the (gas-mileage) program will make cars burn more gas and American families burn more cash,” said Katherine García, director of the Sierra Club’s Clean Transportation for All program. “This rollback would move the auto industry backwards, keeping polluting cars on our roads for years to come and threatening the health of millions of Americans, particularly children and the elderly.” ‘People want the gasoline car’ The President has repeatedly pledged to end what he falsely calls an EV “mandate,” referring incorrectly to Democratic President Joe Biden’s target that half of all new vehicle sales be electric by 2030. EVs accounted for about 8% of new vehicle sales in the United States in 2024, according to Cox Automotive. The President called Democrats’ efforts to promote EVs “insane,” adding, “People want the gasoline car.” No federal policy has required auto companies to sell EVs, although California and other states have imposed rules requiring that all new passenger vehicles sold in the state be zero-emission by 2035. The President and congressional Republicans blocked the California law earlier this year. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy urged his agency to reverse existing fuel economy requirements, known as Corporate Average Fuel Economy, or CAFE, soon after taking office. In June, he said that standards set under Biden were illegal because they included use of electric vehicles in their calculation. EVs do not run on gasoline. After the June rule revision, the traffic safety administration was empowered to update the requirements. The new rules “are going to allow the automakers to make vehicles that Americans want to purchase, not vehicles that Joe Biden and (former Transportation Secretary Pete) Buttigieg want to build,” Duffy said Wednesday. Under Biden, automakers were required to average about 50 miles (81 kilometers) per gallon of gas for passenger cars by 2031, compared with about 39 miles (63 kilometers) per gallon today. The Biden administration also increased fuel-economy requirements by 2% each year for light-duty vehicles in every model year from 2027 to 2031, and 2% per year for SUVs and other light trucks from 2029 to 2031. At the same time, it called for stringent tailpipe rules meant to encourage EV adoption. The 2024 standards would have saved 14 billion gallons of gasoline from being burned by 2050, according to the traffic safety administration’s 2024 calculations. Abandoning them means that in 2035, cars could produce 22,111 more tons of carbon dioxide per year than under the Biden-era rules. It also means an extra 90 tons a year of deadly soot particles and 4,870 additional tons a year of smog components such as nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds going into the air in coming years. Mileage rules have been implemented since the 1970s energy crisis, and over time, automakers have gradually increased their vehicles’ average efficiency. “Weakening fuel economy standards won’t do much to make cars more affordable but is certain to make Americans buy a lot more gasoline,” said Albert Gore, executive director of the Zero Emission Transportation Association. The action also harms domestic manufacturers that have invested heavily in EV technologies and hired thousands of employees to build them, Gore said. GM CEO skips White House event Notably absent Wednesday was General Motors CEO Mary Barra, who was attending a previously scheduled event in New York City, a company spokesperson said. A GM plant manager represented the automaker at the White House instead. Like Ford and Stellantis, GM has poured billions of dollars into electrification of its fleet. In a statement, the company said it “supports the goals” of the proposed rule. “We remain committed to offering the best and broadest portfolio of electric and gas-powered vehicles on the market,” GM said. –Matthew Daly and Alexa St. John, Associated Press Associated Press writers Darlene Superville and Seth Borenstein contributed to this report. The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. View the full article

Rallying call by Sam Altman raises questions over the company’s priorities in the new phases of competitionView the full article

Every year in the United States, thousands of families face a devastating reality: Their child has a rare disease, but they won’t know it until it’s too late for effective intervention. Thirty percent of children with rare diseases don’t live to see their fifth birthday. For too long, we’ve relied on limited newborn screening panels that vary from state to state, waiting until symptoms are severe and irreversible before acting. This approach is not only medically irresponsible, it’s fiscally unsound. Experts estimate rare diseases cost the U.S. healthcare system $1 trillion annually. Beyond the cost to our healthcare system, families too often find themselves in the position of becoming medical experts just to care for their child, taking them away from work and other loved ones, creating an immeasurable burden on the entire family. As professionals who have spent their entire careers at the intersection of science, policy, and innovation, we believe we are standing at a pivotal moment where the status quo is no longer acceptable. We must approach diagnosing rare diseases at birth differently via genome sequencing. The science has never been more promising. The economics have never made more sense. And the human cost of inaction has never been higher. EARLY DIAGNOSIS, EARLY TREATMENT Earlier diagnosis of rare diseases is not a luxury—it is a moral and financial imperative for modernizing our health system. Take the case of KJ, a baby treated at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Born with a deadly genetic disease called CPS1 deficiency, KJ was diagnosed early and became one of the first children to receive gene therapy tailored to his specific mutation. That treatment didn’t just save his life. It also likely saved millions in long-term healthcare, special education, and disability costs that the system would otherwise have shouldered for decades. This is the future we should be building toward: one where precision medicine is equitable, made possible by genomic newborn screening and next-generation gene therapies. One that prevents suffering and reduces the strain on public and private healthcare dollars alike.   We already screen every baby born in the U.S. for certain conditions. But our current panel only scratches the surface. Thousands of serious, treatable genetic disorders go undetected every day because we haven’t modernized our approach. We can change that. We believe in a future where a single, affordable, and actionable genomic newborn screening at birth can identify hundreds of early-onset genetic conditions with established therapies and treatments. This allows for timely intervention that not only saves our healthcare system valuable resources but, most importantly, spares families unnecessary suffering.    Let’s be clear: Earlier diagnosis leads to better outcomes. Children with spinal muscular atrophy, for example, can now receive treatment in the first weeks of life that dramatically improves survival and quality of life. That’s only possible when they are diagnosed before symptoms begin. Delay by even a few months leads to expensive and tragic outcomes. POLICY CHANGES We need leadership to ensure genomic newborn screening is available to every child. I applaud Florida State Representative Adam Anderson for championing groundbreaking initiatives in newborn screening by sponsoring the Sunshine Genetics Act (HB 907), which is establishing free, opt-in whole genome sequencing for newborns in Florida. Public-private partnerships, federal investment in data infrastructure, and updates to newborn screening policy can all move the needle without increasing the deficit.  We’re already seeing progress with the recently announced BEACONS initiative—the country’s first multi-state genomic newborn screening initiative. Funded by a $14.4 million award from the National Institutes of Health Common Fund Venture Program, this program is laying the early groundwork for integration of whole genome sequencing into existing state newborn screening systems by examining the feasibility of incorporating genomic newborn screening into the public health system. BEACONS is just the beginning of a future where we envision a national standard for genomic sequencing at birth, grounded in early intervention, which can transform the lifetime health of the next generation of Americans. This transformation is about unleashing the power of American innovation in partnership with the families, clinicians, and researchers who are working tirelessly to transform care. It’s about enabling the next generation of gene editing and cell therapy technologies to succeed by ensuring we catch the diseases they can treat early enough to make a difference.  Importantly, we have the support of policymakers on both sides of the political aisle. Representatives Mike Simpson (R-ID), Kelly Morrison (D-MN), Nick Langworthy (R-NY) and Kim Schrier (D-WA) reintroduced the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act. This legislation was moved forward in September to the full committee. Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) continue to champion the issue on the Senate side. The bipartisan bill will renew and strengthen existing newborn screening programs. This bill is the first step. The next step is ensuring all newborns have access to the latest genetic tests so we can screen for the full range of treatable rare diseases and genetic conditions. The Genomic Answers for Children’s Health Act, which is awaiting introduction in Congress, will be crucial to these efforts as this legislation would further increase access to critical genomic testing. CHILDHOOD HEALTH MUST BE ADDRESSED The current drumbeat of the U.S. government is driven by calls for efficiency and a childhood health crisis that must be addressed. Republican lawmakers have long championed policies that are fiscally responsible, pro-innovation, and pro-life. Supporting expanded early diagnosis of rare diseases is squarely aligned with these values. It reduces long-term entitlement spending, encourages market-based innovation, and gives every child a fighting chance at life.    As policymakers debate the future of healthcare and innovation in America, we urge them to look closely at the rare disease community. What they’ll find is not just a population in need, but a blueprint for smarter, more sustainable, and more compassionate healthcare.  The tools are here. The evidence is clear. The time is now.    Britt Johnson, PhD, FACMG is the SVP of medical affairs at GeneDx. Katherine Stueland is the CEO of GeneDx.  View the full article

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang met separately with President Donald The President and Republican senators Wednesday as tech executives work to secure favorable federal policies for the artificial intelligence industry, including the limited sale of Nvidia’s highly valued computer chips to U.S. rivals like China. Huang’s closed-door meeting with Republicans on the Senate Banking Committee came at a moment of intensifying lobbying, soaring investments, and audacious forecasts by major tech companies about AI’s potential transformative effects. Huang is among the Silicon Valley executives who warn that any restrictions on the technology will halt its advancement despite mounting concerns among policymakers and the public about AI’s potential pitfalls or the ways foreign rivals like China may use American hardware. “I’ve said repeatedly that we support export control, that we should ensure that American companies have the best and the most and first,” Huang told reporters before his meeting on Capitol Hill. He added that he shared concerns about selling AI chips to China but believed that restrictions haven’t slowed Chinese advancement in the AI race. “We need to be able to compete around the world. The one thing we can’t do is we can’t degrade the chips that we sell to China. They won’t accept that. There’s a reason why they wouldn’t accept that, and so we should offer the most competitive chips we can to the Chinese market,” Huang said. Huang also said he’d met with The President earlier Wednesday and discussed export controls for Nvidia’s chips. Huang added that he wished the president “a happy holidays.” The The President administration in May reversed Biden-era restrictions that had prevented Nvidia and other chipmakers from exporting their chips to a wide range of countries. The White House in August also announced an unusual deal that would allow Nvidia and another U.S. chipmaker, Advanced Micro Devices, to sell their chips in the Chinese market but would require the U.S. government to take a 15% cut of the sales. The deal divided lawmakers on Capitol Hill, where there is broad support for controls on AI exports. A growing battle in Congress Members of Congress have generally considered the sale of high-end AI chips to China to be a national security risk. China is the main competitor to the U.S. in the race to develop artificial superintelligence. Lawmakers have also proposed a flurry of bills this year to regulate AI’s impact on dozens of industries, though none have become law. Most Republican senators who attended the meeting with Huang declined to discuss their conversations. But a handful described the meeting as positive and productive. “For me, this is a very healthy discussion to have,” said Sen. Mike Rounds, a South Dakota Republican. Rounds said lawmakers had a “general discussion” with Huang about the state of AI and said senators were still open to a wide range of policies. Asked whether he believed Nvidia’s interests and goals were fully aligned with U.S. national security, Rounds replied: “They currently do not sell chips in China. And they understand that they’re an American company. They want to be able to compete around the rest of the world. They’d love to some time be able to compete in China again, but they recognize that export controls are important as well for our own national security.” Other Republicans were more skeptical of Huang’s message. Sen. John Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican who sits on the upper chamber’s Banking Committee, said he skipped the meeting entirely. “I don’t consider him to be an objective, credible source about whether we should be selling chips to China,” Kennedy told reporters. “He’s got more money than the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, and he wants even more. I don’t blame you for that, but if I’m looking for someone to give me objective advice about whether we should make our technology available to China, he’s not it.” Some Democrats, shut out from the meeting altogether, expressed frustration at Huang’s presence on Capitol Hill. “Evidently, he wants to go lobby Republicans in secret rather than explain himself,” said Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee. Warren added that she wanted Huang to testify in a public congressional hearing and answer “questions about why his company wants to favor Chinese manufacturers over American companies that need access to those high-quality chips.” –Matt Brown, Associated Press View the full article

The bill that brought the government back online last month ended the shutdown with an unexpected catch that could crush an entire industry. A hidden provision slipped into the bill just before it passed has nothing to do with the federal shutdown and everything to do with hemp—the version of cannabis that’s grown as a food, a fiber, and, in recent years, as the active ingredient in an array of sodas, gummies, and snacks crafted to give people an alcohol-free buzz. Hemp is legally defined as a variety of the plant Cannabis sativa L. that contains less than .3 percent of the most common form of THC, the psychoactive compound from marijuana that gets people high. In 2018, a multiyear agricultural law known as a farm bill created that distinction, removing hemp—the very low-THC version of cannabis—from being lumped in with the controlled substance marijuana. That small shift gave birth to a booming industry of hemp-based THC drinks and snacks, which quickly hit store shelves even where recreational cannabis is illegal. Now, a provision in the federal spending bill will limit the amount of THC in a beverage or edible to .4 milligrams—well below the 10 milligrams promised by some of the hemp-based drinks found on gas station shelves. While hemp contains much less THC than the high concentrations present in marijuana plants, hemp-based THC can still give people a dose-dependent buzz when ingested. Businesses interested in the THC loophole also began converting CBD, a nonintoxicating compound in hemp, into other forms of THC that were not subject to the same restrictions and bottling it up for customers. The combination of THC’s recreational appeal and the ease with which businesses could now sell and ship hemp-based THC products inspired a lot of entrepreneurs to jump into the recreational side of the hemp industry. Now that part of the industry is poised to be regulated out of existence over worries that weed by another name was suddenly everywhere. Whether a looming ban on hemp-derived THC drinks is common sense or a terrible misstep depends on your perspective – and your business interests. Beyond booze With drinking on the decline as the health impacts of alcohol come to light, a wave of new companies view THC drinks as a future proof, zero-proof alternative to booze. That includes breweries large and small, which began experimenting with THC brews to offset their losses as the craft beer boom fizzles. Xander Shepherd, who co-founded Artet, a company that sells THC-infused spritzes and aperitifs, says that he and his cousin went into business “to bring THC to our family’s Thanksgiving dinners.” “On a deeper level, we were motivated by the belief that THC has an important role to play in the progression of cocktail culture,” Shepherd told Fast Company. “Our stated mission is to prove to the world that infused drinks belong on the bar cart, or the dining room table, or anywhere else you might find a great bottle of wine or a fine spirit.” Because the farm bill’s hemp rules appeared to be settled law at the federal level, the regulatory environment looked safe enough for a huge variety of companies to start producing and selling THC-based candies, canned drinks, vape oils and other products. In the face of an uncertain future, Shepherd says Artet hopes to continue to “open people’s minds and palates” about its trendy THC sippables. The THC trend’s detractors paint a different picture. Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell quietly pushed through the regulatory change to purposefully undo a loophole he helped create. McConnell emphasized that the change wouldn’t affect the industrial hemp industry, which grows the plant for products like biofuels, fiber and paper, and was designed to rein in the “rise of intoxicating and synthetic THC products.” “…I am proud to have championed this language that keeps these products out of the hands of children, secures the future of regulated hemp businesses, and keeps our promise to American farmers and law enforcement by clarifying the intention in the 2018 Farm Bill,” McConnell said of the bill. An uncertain future States are also wrestling with the issue, weighing their worries against the success of a young industry that’s creating jobs and pulling in substantial tax revenue. Prior to the bill’s passage, a group of attorneys general from almost 40 states wrote Congress with their concerns about the proliferation of widely-available THC products, cautioning that convenience stores and gas stations are “stocked to the brim” with psychoactive THC products. For Artet, the gameplan is to continue being a good steward in an industry that’s increasingly attracting scrutiny. “We feel that providing a good example for consumers and legislators is one way we can help undo this potentially looming prohibition,” Shepherd said, noting that many brands in the space work hard to keep their THC products safe. Artet’s bottles come with a special child-resistant cap and a shot glass for pouring precise servings, two measures it takes to keep customers safe and sipping as intended. “Ultimately, those bad actors are wildly outnumbered by business owners and brands who are trying to do things the right way, even when it makes the job harder,” Shepherd said. “We do these things because we believe they’re the right thing to do, and we’re not alone in our efforts.” View the full article

The world of popular psychological ideas, which is largely the self-help industry, is not short of contradictions. For instance, it simultaneously promotes the benefits of emotional intelligence (the ability to empathize with others and engage in strategic impression management) and authenticity (the tendency to express what you really feel and think without much consideration for others’ opinions). It also frequently celebrates self-acceptance and constant self-improvement (“love yourself as you are”… but also “become the best version of yourself”), mindfulness and relentless ambition (“stay in the zone, present and serene”… while hustling aggressively toward big goals), and even self-awareness and self-belief, which pull in opposite psychological directions. Self-awareness requires confronting your flaws, limitations, and blind spots with brutal honesty; self-belief requires ignoring at least some of that evidence to maintain high-levels of confidence, optimism, and drive. One asks you to see yourself clearly; the other asks you to believe in yourself despite what you see. Yet this isn’t a logical flaw so much as a reflection of our human tendency to categorize things as either fully good or fully bad, when in reality most psychological qualities operate in a yin–yang balance. As Aristotle argued in his doctrine of the golden mean, virtue itself sits at the midpoint between two vices — courage between cowardice and recklessness, generosity between stinginess and extravagance, confidence between timidity and hubris. In other words, even the qualities we most admire become dysfunctional when taken too far, and even the traits we distrust can be valuable in moderation. Human behavior functions the same way: most psychological strengths aren’t inherently good or bad, they’re dose-dependent. In line, emotional intelligence isn’t inherently superior to authenticity; self-awareness isn’t automatically better than self-belief. They each contain the seed of their opposite, and their value depends on the situation, dosage, and context. In fact, one of the most established findings in personality and organizational psychology is the “too-much-of-a-good-thing” effect: virtually any trait or competency becomes dysfunctional when taken to an extreme. Confidence turns into arrogance, humility into self-doubt, authenticity into impulsive oversharing, and EQ into manipulative charm. Every strength has a shadow side, every virtue has a saturation point, and every desirable trait comes bundled with its own trade-offs. The goal, then, is not to pick one pure ideal — authenticity or impression management, self-awareness or self-belief — but to learn to calibrate them, blending them in ways that make us more effective, rather than more extreme. Hidden drawbacks At times, even traits that seem to have no downside, such as self-awareness, come with hidden drawbacks. Intuitively, one would assume that we are generally better off knowing ourselves, understanding how others perceive us, and being aware of our strengths, limitations, biases, and blind spots. After all, entire leadership models, coaching programs, and HR philosophies rest on the idea that insight precedes improvement. If you don’t know what’s broken, how can you fix it? If you don’t know how others experience you, how can you expect to lead them? And if you don’t understand your own motives, how can you trust your decisions? To be sure, this intuition is backed by a substantial body of research. For example, many scientific studies show that: 1) Self-awareness predicts better job performance. Employees with higher self-insight (as measured through multisource or “360-degree” feedback assessments) tend to show greater effectiveness at work, including when they are managers and leaders. 2) Self-awareness enhances leadership effectiveness. Leaders who are more attuned to their strengths and weaknesses receive higher performance ratings and foster better team climates (note, however, that underestimating your skills and leadership talents is also linked to higher leadership effectiveness compared to people who overestimate themselves). 3) Self-awareness improves interpersonal relationships. Individuals who understand their emotional patterns and their impact on others display higher empathy and lower conflict. It’s simple: if you know how you impact others, which equates to knowing how others see you, it will be easier for you to adjust your behavior to make a desired impact on others (this is what David Brent and Michael Scott fail to do, which makes The Office great comedy value but their characters an absolute nightmare archetype of a boss). The value of selective ignorance However, there are also well-documented benefits to poor self-awareness — or, more precisely, benefits to selective ignorance, including being unaware of your limitations or unjustifiably pleased with yourself. Think of people with the arrogance or confidence of Kanye West, Cristiano Ronaldo, or Muhammad Ali… but without the talents to back it up! Consider the following findings: First, people with inflated self-views tend to be more resilient and less affected by stress, being able to bounce back faster and stronger from setbacks. Along the same lines, decades of research on positive illusions shows that overly optimistic people cope better with adversity and maintain higher motivation. Second, self-deception can make individuals more persuasive: people who genuinely believe they are more competent than they are often appear more confident and convincing to others. If you can fool yourself, you are much more likely to fool others, since you don’t even have to pretend or lie. Third, low self-awareness can fuel ambition. Many entrepreneurs, athletes, and leaders overestimate their odds of success — and this unrealistic optimism propels them to attempt things that a more accurate self-assessment would quickly veto. The world’s innovations are not driven by people with perfectly calibrated self-views, but by those who believed they could fly even when the evidence suggested otherwise. All of which is to say: the self-help promise of clean, linear psychological virtues overlooks how messy human functioning actually is. A bit like nutrition advice that alternates between demonizing carbs, demonizing fat, and demonizing sugar (sometimes all three, and at times none), the self-help world tends to spotlight traits in isolation, ignoring the context in which they operate. Authenticity is wonderful… until it’s not. Confidence is powerful… until it becomes delusion. Empathy is admirable… until it becomes people-pleasing. Even mindfulness has a dark side when it becomes an excuse for avoidance or emotional disengagement. A tool box A more realistic (and scientifically grounded) way of thinking about psychological qualities is to view them as tools in a repertoire. A hammer is useful, but not if you treat every situation as a nail. Emotional intelligence is helpful, but not if it turns into strategic manipulation. Authenticity is refreshing, but not if it comes at the expense of tact, professionalism, or prosocial self-regulation. And self-awareness is enlightening, but not if it becomes rumination, self-criticism, or paralysis by analysis. The true art of psychological competence, especially in leadership, is not picking the “right” trait but deploying the right trait at the right time. It’s knowing when to believe in yourself fiercely, and when to question your assumptions. When to be transparent, and when to filter. When to push ruthlessly, and when to pause reflectively. When to take a risk, and when to seek feedback. Most importantly, it’s recognizing that every psychological asset becomes a liability when unbounded, and every liability contains the seed of an asset when calibrated properly. If the self-help industry were more honest, it would sound far less like a collection of tidy commandments and far more like a user manual for a complex operating system: one with settings, thresholds, sliders, and context-specific modes. But “it depends” will never be a bestseller, and “everything in moderation” is hardly a motivational tagline. So instead, we get a contradictory buffet of directives — be yourself, but improve yourself; relax, but hustle; speak your truth, but avoid offending anyone; know your flaws, but never doubt your greatness. The irony, of course, is that mature psychological functioning lies precisely in reconciling these tensions. Not by choosing sides, but by developing the agility to move fluidly between them. In the end, the real contradiction is not in the advice we receive, but in our desire for simple answers to complex questions. Human nature is too nuanced for single-variable solutions, and the qualities that make us effective are rarely pure. They are contradictions held in balance (the yin and yang of psychological functioning) and the leaders who thrive are those who learn to navigate this paradox elegantly, not dogmatically. View the full article

The drop in mortgage rates as measured by Freddie Mac, came about even as the 10-year Treasury yield used to price loans moved higher since Thanksgiving. View the full article

Of the 50 highest risk markets in the country, 16 reside in California, followed by New Jersey with nine, Attom found. View the full article

The rise of artificial intelligence is transforming every industry, but it also creates enormous demand for digital infrastructure and natural resources. Data centers, the engines of this transformation, consume vast amounts of water and energy. A single hyperscale data center consumes up to 5 million gallons of potable water every day. In Phoenix, 58 centers together demand more than 170 million gallons daily, enough to ​​serve up to several hundred thousand households. This is the internet’s hidden water footprint, amplified by AI, cloud computing, and data-heavy services. Training a single large AI model in a Microsoft data center can require about 185,000 gallons of clean water. By 2027, AI-related data centers could consume 1.7 trillion gallons annually, nearly matching the domestic water use of some developed nations. Most data centers still rely on evaporative cooling, which consumes massive volumes and discharges chemical-laden wastewater. The challenge is not only scale but also geography. More than 40% of U.S. data centers are located in water-stressed basins. AI’s rapid growth demands a new approach. Water cannot become the bottleneck to the next chapter of human progress. FROM COMMUNITY PUSHBACK TO BUSINESS RISK Public concerns are already reshaping the industry: Oregon: Google faced lawsuits over water secrecy. Indiana: Amazon’s Project Rainier is under state scrutiny for allegedly draining wells while pumping millions of gallons per hour. Georgia: Families near Meta’s complex report unusable wells. Virginia: Utilities now require new data centers to secure their own water sources or adopt closed-loop systems. Investors are paying attention. Water use per AI training cycle is emerging as a core accountability metric, alongside carbon intensity. Communities are responding with moratorium requests. THE CALL FOR INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP The industry can no longer rely on incomplete data, inconsistent reporting, or distant offsetting schemes. Declaring a “water positive” target by some far-off date is no longer enough. Communities demand tangible action where the water is drawn. The technology exists today. Around the world, data center and cloud providers are proving that sustainability and scalability can coexist, with each breakthrough setting a new benchmark for what is possible. Microsoft has deployed closed-loop systems in Arizona and Wisconsin, saving up to 125 million liters per site. Google used reclaimed wastewater at 22% of its campuses as of 2023. Amazon is building new centers with closed-loop treatment, recycling every drop used for cooling. NVIDIA is partnering with Singtel to deploy next-generation liquid and immersion cooling systems designed to achieve industry-leading water efficiency in Singapore’s new AI data centers. The opportunity is clear: Water must be engineered into AI’s growth, not treated as an afterthought. THE TECHNOLOGIES DRIVING SUSTAINABLE AI Building a sustainable digital future requires bold adoption of both proven and emerging solutions that reduce environmental impact while enabling continued growth. The tools already exist. What we need now is the conviction to scale them. Smarter cooling technologies Closed-loop and liquid cooling: Advanced systems can reduce water consumption by as much as 30 to 50% while maintaining the high-performance environment that AI workloads demand. Water recycling at scale: Leaders like AWS plan to deploy treated wastewater at more than 120 data centers by 2030, setting a new baseline for responsible water use. AI-Driven optimization Smart workload scheduling: By applying AI to manage computing loads, operators have shown they can ​​​​​​cut water consumption by a third without increasing carbon emissions. This type of efficiency breakthrough makes sustainability scalable. Alternative water sources Seawater desalination: In coastal or arid regions, seawater offers an abundant alternative. Advanced desalination technologies convert it into a reliable cooling supply without burdening municipal drinking water systems. High-value water reuse: Modern treatment technologies can transform sewage, brackish groundwater, and industrial effluent into high-quality process water, eliminating dependence on limited freshwater supplies. This is our approach at Gradiant, where our feedwater-agnostic treatment systems enable data centers to operate using seawater, wastewater, or other unconventional sources, reducing dependence on fresh supplies. By recycling blowdown and cooling tower reject, we achieve zero-liquid discharge and drastically reduce freshwater withdrawals, even in the largest hyperscale AI facilities. With the right technologies, sustainable AI data center growth can align with both environmental and business imperatives. AI’S GROWTH HINGES ON WATER The next era of AI will be defined by those who treat water as critical infrastructure. Companies that lead will gain faster permitting, avoid regulatory shocks and operational disruptions, and build lasting trust with the communities that host them. Water is not compliance. It is resilience. It is innovation. It is license to operate. AI’s future depends on leadership that recognizes water as the defining resource of our digital age, one that must be safeguarded through innovation rather than depletion. Advanced recycling, seawater desalination, and next-generation water treatment will be the pillars of responsible growth. The companies that act now will determine not only how AI grows but whether it grows responsibly, securing both digital progress and planetary resilience. Prakash Govindan and Anurag Bajpayee are the cofounders of Gradiant. View the full article

The Bronx stands apart from New York City’s four other boroughs in stark ways. Home to 1.4 million residents and the nation’s poorest congressional district, it once flourished as fertile farmland. Today, we’re restoring this land—not to its agricultural roots, but as fertile ground for raising healthy, happy, and prosperous children. And in the process, we’re cultivating opportunity for a new generation of citizens. My wife Lizette and I founded and run Green Bronx Machine (GBM). Our nonprofit is dedicated to rewriting the narrative about the Bronx and its residents. Inside Community School 55, just across the tracks from rows of dilapidated public housing towers, sits an unexpected oasis: a thriving garden where fruits and vegetables grow alongside young dreams and possibilities. All year long, grandmothers find respite in the greenery while children eagerly plant seeds, harvest crops, raise chickens, and gather eggs. But this transformation didn’t begin outdoors—it started in a classroom. AN “UNEMPLOYED” TEACHER I playfully call myself an “unemployed teacher.” An educator/administrator since 1984, I left formal employment determined to launch a program that has now spread to more than 1,000 schools across the United States and a dozen countries—with ambitious plans to scale that impact. Dubbed “A Miracle in the Bronx,” we combine urban agriculture, project-based learning, and community engagement that transforms educational outcomes in areas where success seems improbable, if not impossible. GBM’s classroom model began almost by accident. When struggling to engage my students, I received a box of daffodil bulbs. Instead of discarding them, I tucked them behind a radiator. Weeks later, the bulbs sprouted and bloomed, and with them, a change in students’ engagement and attendance. These kids, who wouldn’t come to school to see me, were suddenly showing up to see plants. That was my a-ha moment. We planted 25,000 bulbs all across NYC that year. [Photo: Green Bronx Machine] Today, the program features indoor Tower Gardens and Babylon Micro-Farms, where students grow vegetables year-round in classroom settings, along the way learning math, English, biology, even phys. ed. The results extend far beyond agriculture. Participants show improved academic performance, higher attendance rates, better nutritional habits, and increased environmental awareness. Teachers are similarly inspired and engaged. Meanwhile, the produce students grow is sold to provide much-needed jobs and income, or taken home by students to feed their families. I learned that when a child plants a seed and nurtures that plant to harvest, they never go hungry again—not intellectually, emotionally, or physically. THE VISION DEFICIT IN AMERICAN SCHOOLS It is common to think that America’s educational challenges stem primarily from limited funding. But the more fundamental issue is a clear vision of what’s possible in today’s schools—something increasingly scarce in an environment dominated by misinformation, politics, and eroding social cohesion. For children growing up today, the harsh reality is that in America, despite our cherished narrative of meritocracy and individualism, one’s ZIP code remains the primary determinant of social, educational, and health outcomes. That’s exemplified in marginalized areas like the South Bronx. This geographical determinism is driven by many things. That includes schools in low-income areas being starved for funding, experienced teachers, and enrichment opportunities. Students also face additional barriers such as food insecurity, housing instability, and exposure to environmental hazards—all impacting their ability to learn effectively. END ZIP CODE DESTINY By transforming schools into centers of community wellness, individual excellence, and environmental stewardship, we’ve demonstrated that innovative approaches can overcome systemic barriers. We’re growing high performing schools, engaged citizens, responsible neighbors, vibrant communities, jobs, and we’re growing healthy food—all together. The program has driven impact across a wide variety of communities, national and international, and that impact is captured in a documentary, Generation Growth, which highlights the program’s success and led to GBM being named a 2024 Most Innovative Company by Fast Company. SCALE A TRANSFERABLE MODEL What makes GBM’s method so impactful is its transferability across states and international borders. Schools in diverse settings, from rural Alabama to suburban Colorado, have successfully adapted it to local needs while maintaining core principles. We’re projected to impact 30,000 schools in the United States by 2030. This isn’t just about the Bronx. There is a Bronx in every American city and around the world; we’ve built a turn-key program that serves all of them. This is about transforming how we think about education, community, sustainability, poverty, and progress everywhere. [Photo: Green Bronx Machine] Many think I have a larger-than-life personality, but you don’t need that to be effective. It’s about community engagement. Ana Christina Garcia of Sloan Kettering and a GBM board member notes that “Green Bronx Machine capitalizes on community assets and unlocks the potential, desire, and passion that children, principals, and teachers already have. Community engagement is about making organizational resources more accessible to unlock people’s existing talents and power. It’s a two-way street where everyone benefits from sharing their wonderful talents as human beings and creating stronger community connections.” I call this social vitamins fortified with human capacity. We’re not just growing plants, we’re growing hope. And hope is the most powerful seed we can plant. In 2026 I’d like to shake hands with other thought leaders to continue bringing this proven program across the country. It takes a village, of course, but it also takes an inspiring vision. Join me please. The author thanks Joel Makower and Jeff Senne for their contributions to this article. Stephen Ritz is founder of Green Bronx Machine. View the full article

The update screen is a normal occurrence on Windows machines, so of course hackers are now manipulating it to sneak malware onto devices. The scheme, a recent iteration of a ClickFix attack, is designed to trick you into executing a dangerous command under the guise of completing a "critical security update." But what you're actually doing is installing an infostealer that hands data over to bad actors. When a Windows update pop-up is actually a ClickFix attackClickFix is a social engineering ploy that uses tactics like fake error messages, CAPTCHA forms, and command prompts to deliver malware to your device. As PCMag reports, the Windows update scam is a pop-up that looks like a standard Windows blue screen but is actually a full screen browser page being displayed from a malicious domain. The ClickFix element is a set of keystrokes—not part of the real update interface—that have the user paste and execute a malicious command, ultimately delivering malware to their device. These instructions have an air of urgency, which is a common element of a scam. Researchers at cybersecurity firm Huntress have detailed the exact mechanism behind this attack, including an iteration in which users are prompted to verify they are human (rather than complete a security update). As Bleeping Computer outlines, the malicious code is embedded into the pixel data of PNG images, and the final payload is one of two known infostealers. According to the Huntress analysis, following a recent law enforcement operation, fake Windows update pages continue to exist across multiple domains, but those domains no longer seem to host the malware payload. That doesn't mean, however, that this attack, or some version of it, won't pop up elsewhere. How to stay safe from this ClickFix attackIf you run Windows on your device, you've probably seen a blue or black update or error screen many times, and you may not be suspicious if your computer randomly begins an update or prompts you to take an extra step to confirm it. But while a legitimate update screen will have a progress indicator and instructions not to turn off your computer, you should never need to input manual commands. This is a red flag of a ClickFix attack and not something a trusted service will require. Of course, it's important to keep your computer up to date. Microsoft releases security updates on the second Tuesday of the month, known as Patch Tuesday, and you can enable automatic updates on your machine to ensure you get fixes as soon as they're available. If you want to take additional steps to prevent ClickFix attacks on Windows, you can disable the Windows Run box to prevent unauthorized access to commands. View the full article

Twilio’s latest research sheds light on an increasingly pressing issue for small businesses: the digital overload many mid-career professionals face. The findings from Twilio’s “Age of Distraction” report reveal that adults aged 36 to 50 are grappling with an average of 2,228 unread personal emails—more than double the UK national average. As small business owners look to connect with this demographic, these insights can guide how they shape their customer engagement strategies. The report notes that mid-career adults, who are often juggling demanding professional and family lives, report an overwhelming pressure to stay online. Surprisingly, 44% of those aged 36 to 50 feel this pressure, compared to just 28% of younger adults aged 18 to 25. Yet, this group experiences lower emotional fulfillment from digital communications, with only 36% indicating an emotional uplift from video calls and messaging. For small business owners, these findings present both opportunities and challenges. On one hand, understanding this demographic’s struggles with digital noise allows businesses to tailor their approaches. Sam Richardson, Director of Executive Engagement at Twilio, emphasizes, “To win their attention, brands must respect boundaries and build trust.” By creating meaningful engagements rather than bombarding potential customers with messages, small businesses can stand out amid the clutter. Moreover, the report highlights a growing desire for digital detoxes among this age group. One in five UK adults have attempted a digital detox in the past year, with 83% believing that time spent alone helps recharge their energy. Brands that offer solutions catering to these needs can foster genuine connections with their audience. Companies like Posh, an events platform, demonstrate how to implement these strategies. According to Eli Taylor-Lemire, Co-Founder and CPO at Posh, “People don’t need more notifications, they need more meaningful moments.” Posh has leveraged Twilio’s programmable messaging to facilitate over a million real-time updates daily, encouraging users to participate in events that matter. This case shows how businesses can use technology as a bridge to deeper connections rather than just a source of digital noise. However, small business owners should be mindful of potential pitfalls. As they adapt to these new insights, the risk of overloading customers with attempts to engage or inform remains high. The key lies in adopting a quality-over-quantity approach, delivering content that resonates without overwhelming the audience. Catherine Knibbs, a human behavior technologist, emphasizes the significance of adopting considered approaches to technology usage. She states, “Modern life doesn’t allow for us to totally turn our back on technology,” suggesting that while businesses must engage digitally, they should also foster environments that allow for meaningful human connections. For small businesses looking to implement these strategies, here are a few actionable insights: Focus on Personalization: Use data intelligently to craft personalized messaging that resonates with the audience. Tailored connections can significantly increase engagement while reducing the feeling of overload. Offer Value, Not Just Messages: Concentrate on delivering solutions that genuinely benefit the customer, rather than simply trying to sell a product. This creates trust and fosters stronger relationships. Incorporate Opportunities for Offline Engagement: Facilitate in-person interactions when possible. This can help cut through the digital noise and create lasting customer loyalty. Be Mindful of Frequency: Understand the right balance in communication. In a world where customers are already juggling numerous digital obligations, too many interactions can push them away. The digital landscape is evolving, and small business owners need to navigate it thoughtfully. By recognizing the challenges faced by mid-career professionals and responding with empathy and strategic engagement, businesses can not only capture attention but also build lasting connections. To explore the full findings of Twilio’s research, visit Twilio’s Age of Distraction Report. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Mid-Career Adults Overwhelmed by Digital Noise, Seek Real Connections" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Twilio’s latest research sheds light on an increasingly pressing issue for small businesses: the digital overload many mid-career professionals face. The findings from Twilio’s “Age of Distraction” report reveal that adults aged 36 to 50 are grappling with an average of 2,228 unread personal emails—more than double the UK national average. As small business owners look to connect with this demographic, these insights can guide how they shape their customer engagement strategies. The report notes that mid-career adults, who are often juggling demanding professional and family lives, report an overwhelming pressure to stay online. Surprisingly, 44% of those aged 36 to 50 feel this pressure, compared to just 28% of younger adults aged 18 to 25. Yet, this group experiences lower emotional fulfillment from digital communications, with only 36% indicating an emotional uplift from video calls and messaging. For small business owners, these findings present both opportunities and challenges. On one hand, understanding this demographic’s struggles with digital noise allows businesses to tailor their approaches. Sam Richardson, Director of Executive Engagement at Twilio, emphasizes, “To win their attention, brands must respect boundaries and build trust.” By creating meaningful engagements rather than bombarding potential customers with messages, small businesses can stand out amid the clutter. Moreover, the report highlights a growing desire for digital detoxes among this age group. One in five UK adults have attempted a digital detox in the past year, with 83% believing that time spent alone helps recharge their energy. Brands that offer solutions catering to these needs can foster genuine connections with their audience. Companies like Posh, an events platform, demonstrate how to implement these strategies. According to Eli Taylor-Lemire, Co-Founder and CPO at Posh, “People don’t need more notifications, they need more meaningful moments.” Posh has leveraged Twilio’s programmable messaging to facilitate over a million real-time updates daily, encouraging users to participate in events that matter. This case shows how businesses can use technology as a bridge to deeper connections rather than just a source of digital noise. However, small business owners should be mindful of potential pitfalls. As they adapt to these new insights, the risk of overloading customers with attempts to engage or inform remains high. The key lies in adopting a quality-over-quantity approach, delivering content that resonates without overwhelming the audience. Catherine Knibbs, a human behavior technologist, emphasizes the significance of adopting considered approaches to technology usage. She states, “Modern life doesn’t allow for us to totally turn our back on technology,” suggesting that while businesses must engage digitally, they should also foster environments that allow for meaningful human connections. For small businesses looking to implement these strategies, here are a few actionable insights: Focus on Personalization: Use data intelligently to craft personalized messaging that resonates with the audience. Tailored connections can significantly increase engagement while reducing the feeling of overload. Offer Value, Not Just Messages: Concentrate on delivering solutions that genuinely benefit the customer, rather than simply trying to sell a product. This creates trust and fosters stronger relationships. Incorporate Opportunities for Offline Engagement: Facilitate in-person interactions when possible. This can help cut through the digital noise and create lasting customer loyalty. Be Mindful of Frequency: Understand the right balance in communication. In a world where customers are already juggling numerous digital obligations, too many interactions can push them away. The digital landscape is evolving, and small business owners need to navigate it thoughtfully. By recognizing the challenges faced by mid-career professionals and responding with empathy and strategic engagement, businesses can not only capture attention but also build lasting connections. To explore the full findings of Twilio’s research, visit Twilio’s Age of Distraction Report. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Mid-Career Adults Overwhelmed by Digital Noise, Seek Real Connections" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Ralph Lauren revealed Team USA’s Milan Cortina Winter Olympics looks Thursday, complete with Americana knit sweaters and plenty of vintage call-backs. The formal opening ceremony look pairs a patterned red, white and blue knit sweater with tailored cream trousers and a matching wool coat. Moving sportier, the closing ceremony outfit features a graphic puffer coat inspired by vintage ski kits over a color-blocked sweater. “We are creating something that we know has to become timeless and has to be something that people will wear forever and appreciate forever,” said David Lauren, the Chief Branding and Innovation Officer at Ralph Lauren. “So in creating jackets like this and creating things, we’re looking at the things that we most cherish. Things that are already enduring parts of the Ralph Lauren lexicon, and then we’ll build on that.” Beyond the ceremony looks, a Team USA collection, which will also be given to athletes as Olympic village wear, became available to public Thursday. The collection follows similar design themes as the opening and closing ceremony looks, with classic red, white and blue patterning on lots of knits, and includes Ralph Lauren’s versions of winter staples like bomber jackets and hockey jerseys. The process of creating these looks is a long one. The Ralph Lauren team, which has been designing Team USA’s Olympic apparel since 2008, starts on each Olympics’ looks about 2 1/2 years out from the Games, meeting with athletes and brainstorming ideas for the kits. As Milan-Cortina’s looks are unveiled, Lauren said the looks for the 2028 Los Angeles games are already months in the making. He knows the cultural importance each Olympics’ outfits holds, and the attention they garner in the fashion world and among American consumers. “The fact that we know people will want them and collect them and chase them down across eBay, is just an exciting part of the game,” he said. Sometimes, even international Olympic athletes are on the lookout for them. Beyond being an addition to an American athlete’s Olympic wardrobe, the pieces are also sometimes used as bargaining tokens in the Olympic village. Para snowboarder Brenna Huckaby and snowboarder Red Gerard explained to The Associated Press that there’s a tradition of swapping team sweaters and jackets with other nations at the Olympics, if there’s a certain country’s design that catches an athlete’s eye. That’s only if there’s a piece of their collection that they’re willing to let go of, that is. “I rarely trade, because I almost always love every single piece of Team USA stuff,” said Huckaby, modeling the color-blocked closing ceremony sweater that she said “is going to be on rotation after.” “But every now and then there will be some random thing that another country has. And it’s so hard to sit with all my bags, all my stuff open, like, ‘OK, what am I willing to part with?’ That is probably, aside from competing, the hardest part of the Games,” she said. AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics —Alyce Brown, AP Sports Writer View the full article