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This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. A reader writes: I’m an admin in a small office, with a centrally located desk. One of my coworkers, Miranda, literally never stops talking. I counted for a while and she averages two major interruptions per hour, mostly extended monologues about personal minutiae, intimate relationship problems, or absolute and total nonsense. Basically, her entire internal monologue is externalized at all times. She announces everything she’s doing. She tells me long stories about how she managed things like “loaning her bike to someone” or “changing the exact location of her keys” that follow the entire storyline of the item through all its moves over a period of 24 hours. She is utterly oblivious to both subtle and direct feedback about this. For example: Me, doing math” “Sorry I can’t talk right now I have to focus on this.” Miranda: “Yeah, I know, I’m just going to go to the store because I’m out of groceries and last week my friend came over and ate all my salad and since there’s no salad at the store ever…” My boss knows this is a problem, and I know his inaction is a problem. I wear headphones a lot, which sucks because I’m also a receptionist. One of the consequences of this situation is that among all the nonsense are relevant work facts, but because of Miranda’s processes they are only concrete facts 10% of the time and the other 90% they are “in process” work facts, so the details are all subject to change. My short-term memory cannot function under these conditions. I have ADHD and focusing on my own job is hard enough. It is functionally impossible for me to also absorb this waterfall of constant information, sort through it in real time for the bits that might someday be important to me, record those, and move forward with any kind of larger understanding. It would be an entire job, like one of those movie jobs where a harried assistant follows some crazy magazine editor around managing their constant changes of mind. That’s not my job, I have a job, she does not need an assistant, I am needed elsewhere. I told my boss recently that given the status quo, I can commit to writing down important information during meetings and keeping my operating system updated with the finalized schedules I’m given, but that I am not able to mentally track any of this, ever. He’ll ask me to remember things from within the week (what day was X going to happen?) and I can’t, not because I’m generally bad at that but because I am constantly overloaded by so much content that it’s impossible to maintain any kind of cognitive clarity. I was told 900 details yesterday and 890 of them were irrelevant nonsense so the 10 good ones randomly mixed in did not stick. Since I can not stop the deluge of mind-numbing, banal storytimes, constantly listening to her entire verbal process is incredibly derailing, and the best I can do is try to work around it is by purging my entire brain at the end of every day in order to live a life of relative sanity. Want info to stop flowing off of me like water off a duck’s back? Get her under control. Is this a reasonable boundary I’m drawing? It’s an unreasonable situation, I’m actively job hunting, and while I very much like working with my manager I’m aware that he should be doing more about this than he is. Given that he’s unwilling or unable to actually manage Miranda (because as you can guess, her time management skills are appalling and her productivity is often shockingly low), am I doing the right things? It’s a reasonable boundary to draw, but whether that matters depends on how your boss responded when you laid it out. If he agreed it’s reasonable — and will continue to deem it reasonable the next time you can’t answer a question due to Miranda overload — then sure, maybe this is the best way for you to manage the situation since he won’t manage it himself. But his continued agreement will be key, so you’ll have to see how that plays out. Meanwhile, though, do your job duties require you to frequently interact with Miranda? If not, would your boss be willing to tell her that she cannot interrupt you during the day, period? Maybe he’s not willing to coach her through how to streamline her communications but would be willing to give her a blanket “you must leave LetterWriter alone.” If he’s not, do you feel like you have the capital and standing in your workplace (including the backing of your boss if Miranda gets upset) to tell her that yourself — to say, essentially, “I cannot do my job when you come by to talk to me, so you cannot come by anymore”? And to immediately cut her off when she does with, “I can’t work while you’re here, so I need you to leave so I can finish this”? Ideally, you’d get comfortable being really assertive about cutting her off, in ways that would feel rude if you were doing them to anyone else but which are warranted with her. I’m talking about things like holding up your hand in a visual “stop” motion and saying, “I need you to stop talking because I have to focus on something else” or bluntly saying, ““I need you to stop talking and leave my desk.” Again, that’s going to feel rude, because it would be with someone who wasn’t being so inappropriate themselves. Consider, too, whether a big-picture conversation with Miranda could help. For example: “I can’t get my job done when you keep coming over to talk to me. It’s making it impossible for me to get my work done, so from now on I need you to send me anything work-related in an email so that I can process it later. That’s the only way I can get my job done.” Otherwise, though, keep wearing your headphones and when she shows up at your desk to talk, say “can’t talk right now” and just keep working and ignoring her. That’s going to be hard to do! It’s going to feel impolite. It’s also probably your only option. View the full article

Francis was an inspiring moderniser though his changes fell short of supporters’ hopesView the full article

Key Takeaways Local Marketing Importance: Connecting directly with the community builds brand loyalty and trust, essential for small business success.Increased Visibility: Local marketing enhances brand recognition, making it easier for customers to discover your business.Targeted Approach: Focusing on local strategies attracts customers more likely to engage and convert into sales.Cost-Effectiveness: Local marketing typically requires a smaller budget, delivering a higher return on investment compared to broader campaigns.Community Engagement: Participating in local events and collaborating with nearby businesses fosters relationships that strengthen your position in the community.Measure and Adapt: Regularly analyze key metrics and gather customer feedback to refine marketing strategies and improve business growth. In today’s competitive landscape, marketing your small business locally can set you apart from the crowd. You’ve poured your heart and soul into your venture, and now it’s time to ensure your community knows about it. Local marketing isn’t just about reaching customers; it’s about building relationships that foster loyalty and trust. With the right strategies, you can effectively engage your target audience and drive foot traffic to your storefront. From leveraging social media to collaborating with nearby businesses, there are countless ways to make your mark in the local scene. Let’s dive into practical tips that will help you connect with your community and watch your small business thrive. Importance Of Local Marketing Local marketing plays a crucial role in the success of small businesses. It allows you to connect directly with your community, fostering brand loyalty and trust. You can effectively differentiate your small business in a competitive market and drive growth by focusing on local customers. Benefits For Small Businesses Increased Visibility: Local marketing enhances brand recognition within your community, making it easier for customers to find you. Targeted Audience Reach: By focusing your marketing strategies locally, you attract customers who are more likely to engage with your business and convert into sales. Cost-Effective Marketing: Local marketing often requires a smaller budget than broader campaigns, maximizing your return on investment. Higher Customer Retention: Building relationships locally fosters loyalty. Customers are more likely to return to a business they know and trust. Collaborative Opportunities: Partnering with other local businesses allows for shared marketing efforts, amplifying your reach. Building Community Relationships Engaging in Local Events: Participating in community events showcases your commitment to the area. It increases brand visibility and allows you to connect with local customers. Supporting Local Causes: Contributing to local charities or sponsorships demonstrates social responsibility, enhancing your reputation and fostering goodwill. Utilizing Social Media: Engaging with your community online builds relationships. Responding to customer feedback and sharing local content strengthens your connection. Networking with Local Businesses: Establishing business partnerships helps expand your reach and share customer bases, creating a mutually beneficial environment. Gathering Customer Feedback: Actively seeking input from local customers helps refine your offerings and demonstrates your commitment to meeting their needs. Implementing these local marketing strategies promotes your brand and strengthens your position within the community, paving the way for sustained business growth. Strategies For Marketing A Small Business Locally Effective local marketing strategies enhance your visibility and engagement within the community. Here are two essential strategies to consider. Utilizing Social Media Platforms Engage with your local audience by leveraging popular social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Create and share content that resonates with your community, using eye-catching visuals and relevant hashtags to boost discoverability. Respond promptly to customer inquiries and feedback, fostering strong customer service and building relationships. Consider running targeted ads to reach specific demographics, promoting upcoming events or sales, which can significantly boost customer acquisition and retention. Leveraging Local SEO Techniques Optimize your online presence by implementing local SEO strategies. Claim and enhance your Google Business Profile, ensuring your information is accurate and up-to-date. Use local keywords within your website and content, making it easier for potential customers to find you in search engines. Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews, which can bolster your brand reputation. Incorporate your business name, address, and phone number consistently across all platforms. These local SEO techniques contribute to improved visibility in local search results, driving more traffic to your small business. Engaging With The Local Community Engaging with the local community plays a vital role in marketing your small business effectively. It fosters trust, builds relationships, and establishes your brand as a valuable member of the area. Participating In Local Events Participating in local events significantly enhances your visibility and strengthens community ties. Sponsored events, farmers’ markets, and fairs provide opportunities to showcase your products and services directly to potential customers. For instance, setting up a booth at a local fair allows for face-to-face interactions, where you can demonstrate your offerings while gathering valuable customer feedback. Hosting workshops or classes can further position you as an industry expert, driving customer engagement and loyalty. Each event attended builds a stronger connection with your community, which leads to increased customer retention and brand loyalty. Collaborating With Other Local Businesses Collaborating with other local businesses creates beneficial partnerships that can boost your marketing strategy. Teaming up for joint promotions or shared events allows for cross-promotion, expanding your reach within the community. For example, you might pair with a local café to offer a discount for customers who purchase from both businesses, driving traffic to both locations. Collaborations often lead to shared resources, helping optimize budgeting and costs associated with marketing campaigns. Such alliances enhance your brand’s credibility and reinforce a sense of community, encouraging customers to choose your small business over larger competitors. Measuring The Success Of Local Marketing Efforts Measuring the success of local marketing efforts enables you to understand their effectiveness and adjust your strategies accordingly. Focus on analyzing metrics and gathering feedback to refine your approach. Analyzing Key Metrics To evaluate your local marketing success, track key performance indicators (KPIs). Monitor website traffic, which indicates how many visitors find your site through local searches. Analyze customer acquisition rates to determine the impact of your marketing campaigns. Measure social media engagement metrics to assess your connection with the community. Review metrics like reach, follower growth, and brand mentions to gauge your presence. Utilize business analytics tools to compile and interpret data effectively, allowing for informed decision-making. Adjusting Strategies Based On Feedback Gathering customer feedback provides invaluable insights into your marketing strategies. Use surveys or social media polls to understand customer preferences and satisfaction. Adjust your campaigns based on their responses to enhance customer service and retention. If feedback indicates specific areas of improvement, pivot your marketing strategy to address these concerns. Use this data to refine your messaging and offerings, ensuring your business meets community expectations and fosters loyalty. Implementing feedback in a timely manner can significantly enhance your operational efficiency and contribute to business growth. Conclusion Embracing local marketing is essential for your small business’s success. By building strong community relationships and engaging with your audience, you can create a loyal customer base that supports your brand. Utilizing social media and collaborating with other local businesses not only boosts your visibility but also enhances your credibility. Remember to track your marketing efforts and gather feedback to continuously refine your strategies. With dedication and the right approach, you’ll position your business as a trusted local leader, driving growth and fostering long-term success in your community. Frequently Asked Questions What is local marketing for small businesses? Local marketing focuses on promoting a business to customers within a specific geographical area. It helps small businesses stand out, build community relationships, and attract a targeted audience, ultimately increasing foot traffic and customer loyalty. Why is local marketing important? Local marketing is crucial as it increases visibility among potential customers nearby, fosters trust in the community, and encourages relationships that lead to higher customer retention and loyalty. How can social media aid local marketing? Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram allow small businesses to engage directly with their local audience through targeted ads, relevant content, and interactions, making them more visible in the community. What are some effective local marketing strategies? Effective strategies include optimizing your Google Business Profile, using local keywords, attending community events, supporting local causes, and collaborating with neighboring businesses to enhance visibility and reach. How can small businesses measure local marketing success? Success can be measured by analyzing key performance indicators (KPIs) such as website traffic, customer acquisition rates, and social media engagement metrics. Gathering customer feedback through surveys also provides valuable insights. What role do community relationships play in local marketing? Building strong community relationships fosters trust and loyalty, positioning a business as a valuable part of the local area. Engaging with the community enhances brand credibility and encourages repeat customers. How can collaboration with other local businesses benefit marketing? Collaborating with other local businesses can create joint promotions and shared events, enhancing marketing strategies. These partnerships increase visibility and strengthen community ties, benefiting all involved parties. Image Via Envato This article, "Effective Strategies for Marketing a Small Business Locally to Boost Community Engagement" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Meta is getting serious about the teens who use its services. Last year, the company rolled out "Teen Accounts" for Instagram, which add a number of restrictions, limitations, and features for users under the age of 18. Earlier this month, Meta rolled out Teen Accounts to Facebook and Messenger as well, and expanded some of those restrictions on Instagram specifically. If your teen had a standard Instagram account when Meta started rolling this out, their account was automatically changed into a Teen Account. Of course, that only worked if they had their real age attached to the account: If a teen said their birthday made them 18 or older, no Teen Account for them. Meta's AI is snitching on Instagram teens In response to this loophole, Meta is tasking its AI with rooting out teens purporting to be adults on Instagram. The company announced the experiment on Monday, revealing that tests will begin in the United States that same day. Meta is brief on the details here, but they do say that if the AI finds a standard account it suspects to be a teen, it will automatically switch them to a Teen Account—even if that account has an adult birthday. This also isn't Meta AI's first rodeo. The company has used an AI model trained to identify whether a user is underage since 2022. The AI model looks for behaviors associated with teen users, as, according to Meta, people in the same age group react similarly to specific types of content. (Think about all those memes you don't understand.) One interesting "tell" comes with birthday posts: The AI looks at how users interact with an account on their birthday, and can make a determination from there. If the AI is seeing a lot of "happy 17th birthday" posts and DMs, that's going to be quite obvious, but even if the messages track with how users under 18 tend to wish each other a happy birthday, the AI will get suspicious fast. What happens if the AI gets it wrong?There are probably many parents out there that have no issue with Instagram automatically changing their kids' profiles to Teen Accounts. But this tech is driven by AI, and AI doesn't always get it right: As such, there's a good chance that the AI accidentally flags adult accounts as teens by mistake, locking users 18 and older into restrictions meant for minors. That means your account will automatically take on some pretty drastic restrictions: You'll go private if you aren't already, and adult users won't be able to see your posts or DM you without following first. You won't see "violent" content, or posts promoting cosmetic procedures. (Perhaps no loss there.) Instagram will also warn you whenever you use the app for 60 minutes in one day, advising you to stop. And while you don't need to, your account will enter "sleep mode" between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., muting alerts and sending auto-replies to DMs. (To be fair, perhaps many of us adults would benefit from these restrictions.) If Instagram thinks you're 16 or 17, you'll be able to manually disable some of these limitations, but that's not really the point. If you're an adult, you shouldn't expect Instagram to change the parameters of your account because its AI bot got it wrong. Meta knows it, too. As the company says it its blog post: "We’re taking steps to ensure our technology is accurate and that we are correctly placing teens we identify into protective, age-appropriate settings, but in case we make a mistake, we’re giving people the option to change their settings." The company hasn't said exactly what those mitigation steps are yet, so I'll update this piece once we know for sure. My guess, however, is there will be an option in settings to verify your age and transfer your account back to an adult account. View the full article

The deal comes as Blend also introduces a new division dedicated specifically at serving independent mortgage banks, rolling out features with Crosscountry. View the full article

Underneath the slopes of the San Jacinto Mountains of Palm Desert, California, stands a house that looks right out of the pages of a magazine. With its distinctive rolling roof and mid-century modern design, the historic Miles C. Bates “Wave House” holds a coveted spot on the National Register of Historic Places. And now, thanks to a collaboration between modern furniture-and-design company Design Within Reach (DWR) and vacation rental company, Boutique, the Wave House is beautifully furnished and open to the public for rentals. DWR chose to outfit the house with pieces from its Paul Smith Collection, a collaboration with the British luxury fashion designer releasing the same day as the house booking. True to Smith’s design philosophy of “classic with a twist,” the collection reimagines a selection of iconic Knoll, Herman Miller, and DWR furniture with colorful new textiles. From the Eames Molded Plastic Side Chair refreshed with a seat cushion fashioned in lime green polka dots to Eero Saarinen’s Womb Chair cheerfully covered in vertical stripes, the collection aims to strike a balance between modernity and tradition. The collaboration provides an opportunity for DWR to explore new ways to introduce their collections to audiences. Debbie Propst, President of Global Retail at DWR’s parent company MillerKnoll, notes that this is an exciting opportunity to allow people to live with DWR pieces in real life and interact with them outside of a store. This experiential marketing philosophy isn’t new. The “shoppable” hotel room phenomena has been rising in popularity as a way to entice guests to bring a piece of their vacation back home with them. Guests at the Wave House can purchase everything from side chairs to the bed frame. All of the pieces in the collection are available through DWR’s website and at their new Palm Springs location, opened just this February. When planning the furnishings for the house, Omar Nobil, Senior Vice President Creative Director at DWR says that the company’s goal was to embody the spirit of the property and create a transportive experience for guests. “The striking architecture is a perfect home to the collection which honors form and function through bold applications of pattern, color, and scale,” says Nobil. “Great interior design has the power to move and inspire people when every detail, large or small, has been considered with the purpose of creating a particular, transportive experience.” View the full article

Remember when TikTok went nuts for “Dubai chocolate”? Well, that fervor is now causing an international shortage of pistachios. The trend took off in 2023 when food reviewer Maria Vehera posted a video unwrapping and eating the high-end chocolate bar. The chocolate (called “Can’t Get Knafeh of It” in a nod to the traditional Arab dessert) was originally launched in 2021 by boutique Emirati chocolatier FIX. Vehera’s video has since racked up over 124 million views and is widely credited with sparking the “Dubai chocolate” craze. Instantly recognisable by its vibrant green filling, TikTokers flooded the platform with enthusiastic taste tests of the bar, which is sold exclusively in the UAE. Many also began rating dupes and attempting homemade recreations. The traditional recipe features milk chocolate, the shredded pastry known as kataifi, and a pistachio cream filling. If the bar wasn’t already hard enough to get your hands on, it has now triggered an international shortage of its key ingredient: pistachio kernels. In just one year, prices have soared from $7.65 to $10.30 per pound, Giles Hacking from nut trader CG Hacking told the Financial Times. “The pistachio world is basically tapped out at the moment,” he said. Primarily grown in the US and Iran, pistachios were already in short supply due to a poor American harvest last year. This year, Iranian producers have exported 40% more nuts to the UAE in the six months leading to March than they did in the entire 12 months before. That’s a major shift from 2023, when global supply exceeded demand and prices dipped, according to Behrooz Agah, a board member at Iran’s pistachio association. Major chocolate makers like Läderach and Lindt have since joined the trend with their own pistachio-infused products. Meanwhile, cookie chain Crumbl reportedly has Dubai Chocolate Brownie and Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake flavors in development. And with demand still booming, scammers have even set up fake websites claiming to sell the coveted chocolate. In response, some stores are now reportedly rationing the number of bars per customer. I’d like to see them try to stand between me and my pistachio chocolate. View the full article

Looking for a fast-moving car chase? Aerial acrobatics? How about a bit of fisticuffs, or a tiger straight up eating a dude? Look no further: Netflix has what you need. You can catch a high-minded thriller that uses action to underline plot, character, and message; or a hyper-stylish beat-em-up with cinematography and choreography that make art of violence; or you can just watch a lot of stuff blow up real good. No judgments! The only criteria is that the movie provides a fair share of fast-paced action thrills. Here are your best action options on Netflix right now. Carry-On (2024) Action thriller Carry-On starts off at the airport (naturally) and on Christmas Eve—I'm already tense. Taron Edgerton is TSA agent Ethan Kopek, who's blackmailed into allowing Jason Bateman to smuggle a dangerous package onto a flight (and yet I can't get through with my belt on). Having allowed the package through, Kopek is determined to stop the man (known only as The Traveller) from carrying out his devious plan. You can stream Carry-On on here. Back in Action (2025) Director Seth Gordon (Four Christmases, Horrible Bosses) does't swing for the fences with this action comedy, but there's enough fun to make up for its lack of originality. The title refers to Matt and Emily, a married couple who gave up their careers as CIA operatives in order to settle down for a quiet life in the suburbs. It's gone well for a number of years, until their identities are exposed, putting their kids are in danger. Back in Action is also a nod to stars Cameron Diaz, who hasn't been in a movie since 2014, and Jamie Foxx, acting again after his 2023 hospitalization. Neither has lost a step. You can stream Back in Action here. Damsel (2024) Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things, Enola Holmes) is virtually the young adult face of Netflix at this point. In her latest movie, she plays the title's damsel, Elodie, who agrees to marry a handsome prince, as young damsels did back in medieval times. Only she discovers that it's a trap, and she's actually meant to serve as a sacrifice to satisfy an ancient magical debt to a dragon. Luckily, our distressed damsel is far more resourceful than her would-be in-laws might have guessed. Angela Bassett, Robin Wright, and Shohreh Aghdashloo round out the cast of this fun action fantasy. You can stream Damsel here. RRR (2022) A fast-paced action movie should almost certainly not be as long as RRR, but there is not one single dull moment in this nearly three-hour Bollywood film. Likewise, a historical drama that touches on the national trauma brought on by the British Raj and depicting two real-life revolutionaries who died as martyrs to the cause of independence shouldn’t be this much pure fun, but somehow the context only makes it more satisfying. Find me a more thrilling moment in the movies than the bit where a truck full of wild animals is forcefully unleashed upon a sedate gathering at a British politician’s compound, or when a meet-cute between the two main characters involves wild acrobatics over and around a bridge. If American action epics insist on being this long, they could learn a thing or two or three from RRR’s refusal to ever sag. You can stream RRR here. Kill Boksoon (2023) Gil Bok-Soon (Jeon Do-yeon) is just a working single mom struggling to relate to her teenage daughter. Or, at least, that’s how it looks. It turns out that the company she works for, M. K. Ent., is in the assassination business, and Bok-Soon is their top-rated killer—she’s also in a slightly awkward relationship with one of her co-workers. It’s not a comedy, but the movie has fun playing up its parallels between a typical corporate job and Bok-Soon’s gig, while also offering up some impressively well-defined characters. What’s at least as important as all of that, though, is the plethora of spellbinding action sequences and brilliant fight choreo. You can stream Kill Boksoon here. The Equalizer 3 (2023) 2014's The Equalizer was the first of two ongoing, largely unrelated takes on the original 1980s TV series—a new CBS show starring Queen Latifah premiered in 2021 (it's also on Netflix). Given the failure ratio of reboots, finding success with two of them is no small feat, and it doesn't hurt the film series reunites Denzel Washington with Training Day director Antoine Fuqua. This third entry, probably the best of the three, finds Robert McCall taking it easy on the Amalfi coast following a close call when some new friends he's made are threatened by the Mafia-like Camorra. It doesn't break any new ground, but it's the bullet-filled equivalent of comfort food. You can stream The Equalizer 3 here. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) It's hard to account for the box office failure of Furiosa, a movie that opened to stellar reviews and solid audience scores but still failed to make back its budget, let alone a profit—but here we are. This prequel is every bit the thrill-ride Fury Road was, even as it slightly dials back the action in favor of a bit more emotional complexity in and around our titular ass-kicker (here played by Anna Taylor-Joy as the younger version of Charlize Theron's one-armed badass). It's exactly the kind of smart, bonkers action spectacle we always say we want. You can stream Furiosa here. Sicario (2015) Before becoming our go-to director for smart, heady sci-fi with movies like Arrival and Dune(s), Denis Villeneuve helmed successful thrillers, including Prisoners and crime thriller Sicario. Emily Blunt stars as Kate Macer, an FBI agent taken with bringing down a leader in a powerful drug cartel along the Mexican border. In the process, Kate learns that the CIA's plans are legally and morally disturbing, raising questions about the extent to which the government will bend the rules to achieve its goals, and to what extent a loyal operative should follow orders. Timely. You can stream Sicario here. Conan the Barbarian (1982) The '80s fantasy movie wave saw a string of movies about sweaty, shirtless guys in loincloths battling dragons and demons, and the greatest of these was, of course, Conan the Barbarian, a brilliant vehicle for a young Arnold Schwarzenegger to show off those famous biceps. Here, Conan begins a lifelong quest of vengeance against the evil sorcerer Thulsa Doom (James Earl Jones), beset by giant snakes, cannibal orgies, and the Wheel of Pain. It's all very silly while taking itself very seriously, which is just the right approach for adapting the pulpy novels of Robert E. Howard, and kind of the sweet spot for action movies of the era. You can stream Conan the Barbarian here. Waterworld (1995) The most expensive film ever made at the time of its 1995 release, Waterworld was lost to discourse about its inability to recoup its budget—which is kinda too bad. It's not a triumph by any measure, but it's solid escapist fun with some impressive action sequences and an environmental message; it also manages to concoct a convincing vision of a world built entirely on water, even if it all feels a little too Mad Max to be truly original. Still: It's fishy fun with a memorable villain turn from Dennis Hopper. You can stream Waterworld here. Godzilla Minus One (2023) Even given the success of Hollywood's recent stabs at the franchise, the best Godzilla movies still come from Japan, a fact made crystal clear by this emotional roller-coaster, set in the aftermath of World War II. With clear-cut and inventive action set against a story involving human characters who we genuinely care about, this isn't just the best recent kaiju movie...it may be the best ever. You can stream Godzilla Minus One here. Black Hawk Down (2001) Ridley Scott's historical drama repertoire doesn't stop with the ancient world (Gladiator, Exodus Gods and Kings) or even the French Revolution (Napoleon). Here, he dramatizes what came to be called the Battle of Mogadishu, which occurred not even a decade before the film was released. In 1992, A famine-relief operation saw the U.S. and United Nations embroiled in a Somali civil war during which three American Black Hawk helicopters were shot down, two of them landing deep in hostile territory. Scott and company (including leads Josh Hartnett, Eric Bana, and Ewan McGregor) focus purely on the resulting harrowing standoff without spending a lot of time on context or character development. The film received fair criticism for that, and for turning the Somali fighters into faceless enemies, but it's hard to argue that the laser-focus on the moment-to-moment trauma of combat doesn't make for a compelling action spectacle. You can stream Black Hawk Down here. Apollo 13 (1995) Another historical drama, but one with a quite different feel, Apollo 13 comes from the directing/acting team of Ron Howard and Tom Hanks, so you know you're in for something inspirational. Telling tells the story of astronauts Jim Lovell (Hanks), Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon), and Fred Haise (Bill Paxton) on the title's ill-fated lunar mission, the movie gets high points for technical accuracy while also maintaining tension alongside a sense of both wonder and loss as three men fight to survive while also facing the loss of their dream of the moon. You can stream Apollo 13 here. Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024) The fourth Bad Boys movie isn't quite as good as 2020's Bad Boys for Life, from the same directing team of Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, but it's still a fun action spectacle that makes clear that the modern sequels are better than their Michael Bay-helmed predecessors. Mike and Marcus (Will Smith and Martin Lawrence) are back as they learn that their captain, killed in the last film, is being framed for having drug cartel ties. Naturally, our heroes get back together to clear Conrad's name and also to blow stuff up. You can stream Ride or Die here. Smokey and the Bandit (1977) Burt Reynolds has a long way to go and a short time to get there. He's Bo "The Bandit" Darville, running point for an illegal shipment of bootleg beer (400 cases of Coors, to be precise) from Texas to Atlanta, using his cool car to draw attention from Jackie Gleason's Sheriff Buford T. Justice. He's joined along the way by Sally Field's Carrie, a runaway bride who makes a surprisingly helpful companion. The practical car action makes it a slightly more believable alternative to the Fast and the Furious films. You can stream Smokey and the Bandit here. The Guns of Navarone (1961) With plenty of action and hints of melodrama, this World War II-set adventure finds Gregory Peck, David Niven, and Anthony Quinn leading a commando unit tasked with taking out a couple of giant guns on the titular island in order to clear a path to rescue 2,000 marooned soldiers. Dogged by Nazis, the team faces the Germans on sea and land, with guns, fists, and their wits. It doesn't have much more on its mind that Nazi-punching action, and that's not a bad thing. You can stream the Guns of Navarone here. The Old Guard (2020) Greg Rucka wrote the screenplay for this adaptation of his graphic novel about a mercenary special ops team made up of impressively long-lived humans with unexplained regenerative powers. Charlize Theron leads the cynical group of warriors in a movie that effectively blends superhero tropes with military action. The lack of superpowers that don't have to do with healing helps differentiate it from Marvel and DC flicks, foregrounding skillfully choreographed fight sequences that don't feel like complete fantasy. You can stream The Old Guard here. The Harder They Fall (2021) The modern western takes on the story of real-life Black American cowboy Nat Love (played by Jonathan Majors), and he’s joined by several other characters out of actual American history, played by the likes of Idris Elba, Zazie Beetz, Regina King, and Delroy Lindo. It’s not a history lesson, but western movies have never been particularly troubled by the idea of heightening the true stories of the old American west into something like mythology. Here, young Nat Love’s parents are killed by Elba’s outlaw Rufus Buck, sending Love on a lifelong quest for revenge. This leads to a series of brilliantly exciting shoot-outs, stunts, and chases that pay tribute to the classic movies of the western genre, while also nodding to modern fight choreography and staging. You can stream The Harder They Fall here. The Night Comes for Us (2018) A sort-of successor to The Raid series (including many of the same actors), this movie from Indonesian writer/director Timo Tjahjanto (May the Devil Take You, a great horror movie also on Netflix) tells the story of a Triad member forced to fight his way out of the organization. The movie is on the bloodier end of its genre; the action is brilliant and stylized, but there’s quite a bit more realism in terms of blood and gore. The concluding fight scene is an all-time great one, if you’ve got the stomach for it. You can stream The Night Comes for Us here. Kate (2021) Though it’s lead by a French director and an American actor (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), Kate stands apart in its anime-inspired, neon-lit, new-Tokyo aesthetic. There’s nothing new here, plot-wise, but that’s beside the point. Assigned to kill a yakuza assassin by her handler (Woody Harrelson), the titular assassin discovers that she’s been poisoned and has only 24 hours to live (i.e., 24 hours to get violent revenge). Imagine if the 1940s film noir classic D.O.A. were a martial arts action movie. You can stream Kate here. Gunpowder Milkshake (2021) An appearance by Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh doesn’t necessarily guarantee guarantee “action” (the Everything Everywhere All at Once and Crazy Rich Asians star can do it all)—but an appearance from Yeoh is guaranteed to be the icing on any action-movie cake. A modern take on classic gun-fu, this one further gilds that lily by adding in Lena Headey, Karen Gillan, Carla Gugino, and Angela Bassett(!) The cast aside, the film deals with two rival groups of assassins battling it out over the fate of a kidnapped child. You can stream Gunpowder Milkshake here. Baahubali (2015) The two Baahubali movies might not have quite the rousing political appeal of RRR (they’re all from the same director, S.S. Rajamouli)—honestly, it’s hard to beat the thrill of watching snotty colonials being eaten by tigers—but, if anything, these movies are even bigger, grander, and more operatic in their interests. Roughly inspired by the ancient Indian stories of the Mahabharata and featuring endless sweaty shirtless men (and not a few women, although more often clothed) fighting people and animals, the first film includes a 45-minute battle sequence that’s topped by the sequel. There’s just enough plot and romance to propel the action, but they’re the kinds of movies that know exactly what we’re here for, and they’re not afraid to give it to you. Baahubali: The Beginning and Baahubali: The Conclusion are both on Netflix, in English-dubbed and subtitled versions. You can stream Baahubali here. Enola Holmes (2020) Her brother Sherlock wasn’t above a bit of fisticuffs now and then, but it was his sister, Enola (Millie Bobbie Brown), we learn here, who really got to mix it up—with some help and training from their mother, Eudoria (Helena Bonham Carter). Enola uses that combat training throughout the movie in fights involving fists, guns, knives, explosives, and a moving train or two as Enola searches for her missing mum while staying a step or two ahead of big bro (Henry Cavill). The sequel is just as fun. You can stream Enola Holmes here. Outlaw King (2018) Chris Pine plays Robert the Bruce in this film that, unsurprisingly, takes plenty of liberties with the Scottish Wars of Independence of the 14th century. No matter. The film sees underdog Robert lead a guerrilla campaign against the future Edward II of England in a number of exceptionally (though believably) bloody Medieval battles. Spears and swords clash in a number of extended and expensive-looking sequences, making it look like a real-life (well, kinda) Game of Thrones. You can stream Outlaw Kings here. Beckett (2021) The film aspires to the paranoid, conspiracy-style of movies like The Parallax View, The Bourne Identity, or Enemy of the State, but the plot here is a little too thin to work on that level. Where Beckett excels, though, is in presenting a straightforward man-on-the-run action thriller. John David Washington stars as the title character, who finds himself getting chased through Greece, for reasons unclear to him, following an auto accident. Washington is fun to watch as he runs and gets shot at; the scenery is striking; and the movie does a good job of making Greece feel incredibly sinister, especially for a lead character who doesn’t know the language. You can stream Beckett here. Da 5 Bloods (2020) It feels strange to include Spike Lee’s thoughtful Vietnam War story—one that grapples with the experiences of Black American soldiers during that conflict as few (if any) movies have before. Nevertheless, part of the reason that it works as well as it does is that Lee’s film does all of that while also offering up plenty of impressively shot and choreographed action sequences. With a cast led by Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, and Clarke Peters, the movie finds four aging Vietnam vets returning to that country to recover the remains of their fallen squad leader—and also to dig up the gold bars they left behind. Set in two time frames, it plays as a war movie in the past and, often, a thriller in the characters’ present, as they’re hunted by mercenaries while they hunt their lost treasure. You can stream Da 5 Bloods here. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024) Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy, of course) is back, and he kicks off the movie by hijacking a helicopter in pursuit of some criminals in Detroit. Encouraged to take some time off, he returns to Southern California just in time for his old partner (Judge Reinhold) to warn Foley that is estranged daughter (Taylour Paige), a defense attorney who went up against the wrong people, is in danger. Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser, and Bronson Pinchot all return from the original film, joined by Axel's new partner played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. As legacy sequels go, this one's better than it has a right to be. You can stream Axel F here. View the full article

The The President administration's appointees have been quick to roll back misguided Biden-era initiatives, writes the Chairman of Whalen Global Advisors. View the full article

Weeks ahead of his death, Pope Francis dedicated this month’s prayer intention to new technologies and the hope that it can serve “every person, especially the weakest.” “How I would like for us to look less at screens and look each other in the eyes more,” Pope Francis said in a prerecorded video released April 1. “Something’s wrong if we spend more time on our cellphones than with people. The screen makes us forget that there are real people behind it who breathe, laugh, and cry.” Pope Francis died at 88 Monday morning, the Vatican announced in a statement on X, just after his appearance in St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday. Pope Francis, in his 12-year papacy, often stood up for the marginalized, including migrants. And the April 1 tech-focused prayer intention was no different. “It’s true, technology is the fruit of the intelligence God gave us,” he continued. “But we need to use it well. It can’t benefit only a few while excluding others. So, what should we do? We should use technology to unite, not to divide. To help the poor. To improve the lives of the sick and persons with different abilities.” The pope has voiced his concerns over technology before. Last year, he warned that artificial intelligence could lock the world order in a “technocratic paradigm.” In 2023, he spoke to participants at a workshop about how tech should be considered with its moral implications. “Use technology to care for our common home,” Pope Francis said during his April 1 intention. “To connect as brothers and sisters. It’s when we look at each other in the eyes that we discover what really matters: that we are brothers, sisters, children of the same Father. Let us pray that the use of new technologies will not replace human relationships, will respect the dignity of the person, and will help us face the crises of our times.” View the full article

As Big Tech kicks off its quarterly earnings season this week, the industry’s bellwether companies have been thrust into a cauldron of uncertainty and turmoil that they didn’t anticipate when Donald The President re-entered the White House nearly 100 days ago. Since President The President’s Jan. 20 inauguration, Big Tech stocks have been on a see-sawing ride that has eviscerated trillions of dollars in shareholder wealth amid an onslaught of tariffs and other potentially detrimental actions. It’s the polar opposite of what Apple CEO Tim Cook, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos hoped for when they assembled behind The President as he was sworn in. That display of unity reflected a belief that The President’s second stint in the White House would be a refreshing change from the heavy-handed regulation of President Joe Biden’s administration while unleashing even more lucrative opportunities in artificial intelligence and deal-making. But the The President administration’s policies so far have vexed Big Tech’s “Magnificent Seven” companies — a group consisting of Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Amazon, Tesla, Google parent Alphabet and Facebook parent Meta Platforms. Since The President’s inauguration, the Magnificent Seven’s combined market value has plunged by $3.8 trillion, or 22%, as of April 20. The financial damage was even more severe a few days after The President’s April 2 unveiling of sweeping reciprocal tariffs that would have exacted a heavy toll on Big Tech’s supply chains in China and other key markets around the globe. A temporary freeze on the majority of the most punitive tariffs and an exemption from most of the fees on electronics coming in from China has provided some relief, but The President has made it clear the reprieve may be short-lived. That has left the specter of The President’s ongoing trade war hanging over Big Tech, whose influence extends around the world. “The mass confusion created by this constant news flow out of the White House is dizzying for the industry and investors and creating massive uncertainty and chaos for companies trying to plan their supply chain, inventory, and demand,” Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives said. Besides the upheaval triggered by The President’s tariffs, his administration is also in the midst of trying to prove regulators’ allegations that Meta has been running an illegal monopoly in social networking, and working to persuade a federal judge to break up Google after its search engine last year was found to be illegally abusing its power. The President also has given no indication of abandoning antitrust lawsuits filed by the Biden administration that aim to hobble Apple and Amazon. And Nvidia absorbed a significant setback last week when the The President administration banned it from selling one of its popular AI chips to China, prompting the company to record a $5.5 billion charge to account for the stockpile of processors that it intended to export to that country. Tech CEOs will get a chance to discuss the fallout from the trade war and other challenges still ahead during analyst conference calls that will be held as part of their companies’ financial reports for the January-March quarter. The ritual will kick off Tuesday when Tesla is scheduled to release its full financial report after already revealing that its first-quarter car sales dropped by 13% from the same time last year. The decline occurred against a backdrop of vandalism, widespread protests and calls for a consumer boycott amid a backlash to Musk’s high-profile role in the White House overseeing a cost-cutting purge of U.S. government agencies. After Musk discusses his strategy for reversing a decrease in Tesla’s market value since he joined The President in the White House, Google parent Alphabet Inc. is scheduled to announce its results on Thursday. Then four of the Magnificent Seven will get their turn next week: Amazon on April 29; Meta and Microsoft on April 30; and Apple on May 1. Nvidia, which operates on a fiscal year ending in January, is scheduled to wrap things up on May 28 with the release of its quarterly results. —Michael Liedtke, AP Technology Writer View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. A reader writes: Is there a professionally acceptable way to push back when someone apologizes for causing problems at work? For example, this morning, my colleague slept through a meeting we had scheduled. Since I’m on the west coast (we’re a remote team), this meeting required me to wake up at 5 am. She messaged me two hours later saying, “Whoops, I totally spaced on this meeting. Sorry!” My normal response would be to say something like, “It’s okay! When can we reschedule?” But … it’s not okay! Not just because I woke up early, but because I was unprepared for my next meeting as a result. This has happened in other situations, with both people more senior and more junior than me, and I never know how to respond when someone apologizes for something that caused real inconvenience (particularly when that apology seems insincere/like they don’t understand the harm done). Is there a response other than “it’s okay!” to an apology? I answer this question over at Inc. today, where I’m revisiting letters that have been buried in the archives here from years ago (and sometimes updating/expanding my answers to them). You can read it here. View the full article

Two new studies agree: Google’s AI Overviews steal clicks from organic search results. While Google told us that AI Overviews citations result in higher-quality clicks, the introduction of AI Overviews correlates with a measurable decline in organic visibility and clicks, particularly for top-ranking, non-branded keywords. That’s according to two new data studies from SEO tool provider Ahrefs and performance agency Amsive. By the numbers. Here’s how AI Overviews have decreased click-through rate (CTR) for traditional organic listings, according to the two studies: Ahrefs: A 34.5% drop in position 1 CTR when AI Overviews were present, based on an analysis of 300,000 keywords. Amsive: An average 15.49% CTR drop, with much larger losses in specific cases (e.g., -37.04% when combined with featured snippets), based on an analysis of 700,000 keywords. Non-branded keywords. AI Overviews are much more likely to trigger on non-branded queries, and these terms showed the largest CTR drops: Amsive: -19.98% CTR decline on non-branded keywords. Ahrefs: Focused exclusively on informational intent (99.2% overlap with AI Overviews). Lower rankings = bigger CTR hits. Google’s AI Overviews push organic results further down, minimizing visibility even for solidly ranking pages. There was a -27.04% CTR drop for keywords not in the Top 3 positions, according to Amsive: AI Overviews benefit branded queries. Branded keywords are less likely to trigger AI Overviews (only 4.79%) – but when they do, they get a +18.68% CTR boost. This is possibly due to greater user intent and brand familiarity, according to Amsive. Why we care. These two studies (as well as data from Seer Interactive, which we covered in Google organic and paid CTRs hit new lows: Report) call into question Google’s claim that AI Overviews get more clicks than traditional listings. Google’s claim may or may not be true, but these studies show that overall clicks have gone down – and many websites ranking well in Classic Search aren’t included in AI Overviews. About the data: Ahrefs: Used Ahrefs + Google Search Console (GSC) data to analyze CTR changes before (March 2024) and after (March 2025) the U.S. rollout of AI Overviews. Amsive: Pulled data from 700,000 keywords across 10 websites and 5 industries to isolate patterns by keyword type, industry, and SERP feature overlap. The studies. You can read them here: Ahrefs: AI Overviews Reduce Clicks by 34.5% Amsive: Google AI Overviews: New CTR Study Reveals How to Navigate Negative SERP Impact View the full article

Catherine Bracy is the Founder and CEO of TechEquity, an organization working at the intersection of tech and economic equity. The company advocates on behalf of policies that ensure people—not companies—control how technology shapes their economic futures. She was previously Code for America’s senior director of Partnerships and Ecosystem, and founded Code for All. During the 2012 election cycle, she was director of Obama for America’s Technology Field Office in San Francisco. What’s the big idea? Venture capital isn’t just funding innovation; it’s shaping what kind of innovation is possible. Right now, that system is failing us. It forces startups to sacrifice real problem-solving and innovation for the sake of chasing unsustainable growth. Our economy will be better off if we create and rely on a startup ecosystem that rewards real value rather than speculative hype. Below, Catherine shares five key insights from her new book, World Eaters: How Venture Capital is Cannibalizing the Economy. Listen to the audio version—read by Catherine herself—in the Next Big Idea App. 1. Technology isn’t the problem. Venture capital is. A few years ago, I was in a strategy session with labor advocates who were trying to get gig companies (Uber, DoorDash, and the like) to treat their workers better. It was a room full of smart, committed people with great ideas about how to create fairer wages, better protections, and a pathway for these workers to have more stability. As we talked, something clicked for me. We were strategizing ways to convince these companies to change—but at what point in their growth cycle could they have made better choices? When they were tiny startups, just trying to survive, they had no time to think about worker protections. Then, seemingly overnight, they became billion-dollar global giants—except by then, their exploitative business models were too big and too profitable to unwind. “Venture capital demands exponential growth fast.” This struck me as different from how industries used to grow. Traditionally, companies had middle stages: periods of stability where they could adjust their practices, adapt to regulations, and build systems that worked for both employees and society. But tech doesn’t work that way. Some of that has to do with software itself because it’s cheap to build, easy to scale, and can reach millions of users almost instantly. But most of it has to do with the economic incentives behind the companies—and that structure is venture capital. Venture capital demands exponential growth fast. There’s no pause button. No moment where a company can afford to step back and say, How do we do this more responsibly? In the venture model, companies aren’t built to be stable. They’re built to scale or die. As Charlie Munger said: “Show me the incentives, and I’ll show you the outcomes.” The economic outcomes we’re living with today—the erosion of worker protections, skyrocketing housing costs, and the growing concentration of wealth in fewer hands—aren’t accidents. They’re a direct result of the incentives baked into venture capital. 2. The Power Law is shaping the economy in ways you don’t see. The Power Law is a statistical principle where a few extreme values dominate the dataset. Think earthquakes: most are tiny tremors, but a few are catastrophic. Venture capital portfolios follow this same pattern. Investors spread their bets across dozens of startups, expecting just one or two to hit it big while the rest fail. These extreme successes are called unicorns in the parlance of Silicon Valley. “Think earthquakes: most are tiny tremors, but a few are catastrophic.” That might sound like a reasonable strategy since startups are risky. But here’s where it gets dangerous: As venture capital evolved, the Power Law went from being an observation of how venture capital funds look as a result of pursuing these risky companies to a guiding force for how investors should invest. In other words, instead of pursuing breakthroughs and achieving Power Law distributions as a natural result, venture capital became about pursuing Power Law distributions without any regard to the kind of company that was creating it. It doesn’t matter whether a business is solving a real problem, whether it’s good for society, or even whether it’s profitable. What matters is scale. This is why we see: Monopolistic tech giants instead of diverse, competitive markets. Growth-obsessed startups that burn through billions with no clear path to profitability. Essential services—like housing—being financialized to fit a Silicon Valley growth narrative. Venture capital started as a way to fund technological breakthroughs. But now, it’s become a system designed not to create value, but to chase billion-dollar valuations at any cost. That cost is one that the rest of us are asked to bear. 3. Venture capital destroys more value than it creates. Because venture capitalists do not know which startups will be their unicorns, they force every company they invest in to chase billion-dollar growth—whether or not it makes sense. That means: Exploiting workers to cut costs. Shipping half-baked products just to scale faster. Skirting regulations to stay ahead of slower-moving competitors. Committing fraud—or at least getting very, very close. The tragedy is that many of these companies could have been solid, sustainable businesses. But because they were forced to chase unrealistic growth, they collapsed. Great ideas get destroyed not because they weren’t good businesses, but because they weren’t venture capital businesses. Take LocalData, a startup that helped cities manage property data to increase revenue and prevent blight. It was profitable and growing. But because venture capital investors didn’t see it as a billion-dollar opportunity, they pressured the founders to pivot to a different market. The pivot failed and the company shut down. This isn’t just one company’s story. It’s the story of an entire ecosystem that rewards financial engineering over real innovation. 4. The problem isn’t the companies that venture capital funds—it’s the ones it doesn’t. If you are an entrepreneur with a great idea that doesn’t fit the venture model, you have two choices: 1) Take venture capital money and distort your business to chase growth you can’t sustain. 2) Get no funding at all. This is especially dangerous in markets like housing and clean energy, areas where we desperately need innovation but where venture capital’s demand for hypergrowth doesn’t fit. Venture capital doesn’t just fund bad businesses. It crowds out the good ones, siphoning capital away from sustainable solutions and into the next speculative bubble. If we want innovation that solves problems, we need new funding models that aren’t beholden to the Power Law. 5. It’s time for the Indie Era of Startups. When I started writing World Eaters, I thought it would be mostly about how venture capital is harming society. But as I talked to entrepreneurs trying to build differently, I realized the story was bigger than just what’s broken. There are founders who want to build companies that are profitable and sustainable—who reject the unicorn model in favor of something more resilient. There are investors experimenting with alternative funding models that reward long-term success rather than short-term hype. “We can build a startup ecosystem that rewards real value, not just speculative hype.” These are companies like Butcherbox, whose founder—who had soured on venture capital after venture capitalists killed a previous business of his—got his startup capital from a crowdfunding campaign. Butcherbox is now a $500 million per year business with the time and space to take on efforts to improve jobs in the meatpacking industry and support sustainable ranching. Now is the perfect time to help businesses like this succeed. With higher interest rates, the market is shifting. Investors can’t throw unlimited cash at money-losing businesses anymore. Companies must prove traction earlier. That means we have a window (before the next bubble inflates) to show that another way is possible. If we do it right, this could be the moment where the Indie Era of Startups begins. Entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers don’t have to accept the Power Law as destiny. We can build a startup ecosystem that rewards real value, not just speculative hype. If we get it right, we won’t just fix tech—we’ll fix the economy. This article originally appeared in Next Big Idea Club magazine and is reprinted with permission. View the full article

Revenue and profit both reported higher. By CPA Trendlines Research Go PRO for members-only access to more CPA Trendlines Research. View the full article

Revenue and profit both reported higher. By CPA Trendlines Research Go PRO for members-only access to more CPA Trendlines Research. View the full article

Fresh produce is probably one of the greatest gifts we can enjoy from nature. Call me a tree-hugger, but plants are seriously incredible. I don’t have a proper garden at the moment—it’s a north-facing potted plant set-up on my balcony—but if you’ve ever grown vegetables or even flowers from seeds, you know what I mean. Plants make gigantic blooms and fruit out of dirt and sunshine. That’s magic, and we reap the benefits. In this monthly article, I'll take a look at the fruits and veggies coming into season and some recipes you can use them in. As for this month: It's been spring for a while but it finally feels like it. And after a long winter, greens and a few fruits are coming back into our markets. Why you should buy seasonal produceAny chef and serious home cook will be interested in cooking seasonally (using in-season produce for your particular locale). Using seasonal produce often comes with a cheaper price tag; it will likely be more abundant in your region; and the produce exhibits the best possible flavor profile since it doesn’t have to travel great distances to arrive at your market. When you're buying in season, you’ll possibly see a greater variety of certain items, like tender greens and fruits that don’t travel out of state well. I often see green chard on the shelves—but when rainbow chard shows up I suddenly feel like making Swiss capuns again. What’s in season right nowThe produce shelves in late February to early April are always less robust on this side of the hemisphere. But as soon as the frost ends, new fruits and veggies start to show up. For those who are growing their own food, keep up with our Home and Garden section for tips. The produce to check out right now:Asparagus Beet greens Parsnips Lettuce Radishes and their greens Rhubarb Spinach Turnips Chard Arugula Escarole Snap peas Snow peas Produce to look forward to:Apricots Strawberries Keep in mind that your particular region may be warmer or cooler—so don’t despair if it’s not quite rhubarb season for a few more weeks in your area, and if you’ve had strawberries for a week already, hooray for you! What to cook with your spring bountyYou might have noticed that the greens and root vegetables are the stars of spring. It’s a great time to pack this nutritious foliage into your savory meals before we get obsessed with fruit in a couple of months. One of my favorite things to do with leafy greens like spinach, chard, beet and radish greens, and escarole—not to mention mustard greens and kale—is to chop them up and wilt them down in a lightly oiled frying pan with some salt and garlic. Then I can use them in any number of ways, like filling omelets, stirring them into soups and stews, as a pizza topping, and mixing them into rice dishes. I adore blanched asparagus with eggs (hard boiled, scrambled, omelets—all eggs), but if you're using it as a side dish, try asparagus treated in this simple and savory way. Roast your turnips and parsnips easily in the air fryer. Bulk up your warm salads with arugula, snap peas, and leaf lettuce, and toss snow peas into savory stir fries. Rhubarb is a special stalk. It has a tart flavor and brilliant rosy color when cooked, and I do recommend cooking them or treating them in the following ways. They’re far too sour when used raw. The leaves are toxic so cut those off and compost them if they are still on your stalk. Use your rhubarb in pies, pickle them, make this rhubarb cake, or try rhubarb-infused vodka. Fresh apricots and strawberries will be on their way shortly, so keep your eyes peeled at the local farmers markets. You’ll know summer is around the corner when you see those seafoam green containers with loads of wee strawberries filled to the top. View the full article

Six roadblocks to avoid. By Alan Anderson, CPA Transforming Audit for the Future Go PRO for members-only access to more Alan Anderson. View the full article

Six roadblocks to avoid. By Alan Anderson, CPA Transforming Audit for the Future Go PRO for members-only access to more Alan Anderson. View the full article

By CPA Trendlines Research Every tax client is a potential client for other services. Stay busy after busy season by helping with other financial and tax-related services. MORE Listicles here Exclusively for PRO Members. Log in here or upgrade to … Continued Go PRO for members-only access to more CPA Trendlines Research. View the full article

By CPA Trendlines Research Every tax client is a potential client for other services. Stay busy after busy season by helping with other financial and tax-related services. MORE Listicles here Exclusively for PRO Members. Log in here or upgrade to … Continued Go PRO for members-only access to more CPA Trendlines Research. View the full article

After a three-day weekend, investors’ attention was trained on the stock market this morning to gauge how a new trade warning from China would impact stocks. So far, it’s not a very pretty picture—especially for some of the market’s most influential tech stocks. As of this writing, the S&P 500 is down 2.32% since last Thursday (the market closed for Good Friday), the Nasdaq Composite has slumped by 2.61%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average is likewise down 2.30%. It’s the continuation of a trend for the three major U.S. indexes: Each has dropped in three of the four previous weeks as a result of The President’s tariffs on major trading partners, causing experts to warn that we may be entering a bear market. Major tech companies saw a brief reprieve last week, when the The President administration clarified that some electronic goods would be briefly exempt from existing reciprocal tariffs. Today, though, both the overall indexes and every member of the Magnificent Seven are back in the red. Here’s how Magnificent Seven stocks are faring at the time of this writing: Alphabet Inc. (Nasdaq: GOOG): down 2.26% Amazon.com, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN): down 3.42% Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL): down 2.77% Meta Platforms, Inc. (Nasdaq: META): down 3.29% Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq: MSFT): down 2.05% NVIDIA Corporation (Nasdaq: NVDA): down 5.49% Tesla, Inc. (Nasdaq: TSLA): down 6.86% Why are tech stocks and markets falling? There are two main factors that experts believe are driving the decline. First, President The President has spent the last week openly criticizing and calling for the immediate firing of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. The Fed is the central banking system of the United States, and it has long upheld an independence from politics that most economists feel is essential to the reserve functioning effectively. However, experts are concerned that, should The President follow through on firing Powell, the move could represent the end of an independent Fed and send stocks into a tailspin. Second, on Monday night, China issued an official warning against any countries striking deals with the U.S. at its expense. The warning came in response to a Bloomberg report that the The President administration planned to pressure other nations to cut down on trade with China in order to negotiate their own tariff exemptions with the U.S. In response, China’s Commerce Ministry said in a statement that it would “take countermeasures in a resolute and reciprocal manner.” Currently, the The President administration has levied a whopping 145% tariff on Chinese imports, leading China to enforce 125% duties on U.S. goods. For most tech companies, strained trade relations with China have major ripple effects across operations. Most Apple products, for example, are manufactured in China, while many products sold on Amazon are made there as well, and Nvidia chips are manufactured in Taiwan. Likewise, Tesla relies heavily on parts made in China. Later this week, investors are due to get a more overarching sense of how The President’s tariff whiplash has impacted major tech companies, as big names including Tesla, Alphabet, Intel, and IBM are set to share their first-quarter earnings reports. View the full article

Shin Bet head claims premier asked him to target domestic opponents and sought support in future constitutional clashes View the full article

The Centennial State may become first in the nation to require retailers to warn consumers that burning fossil fuels “releases air pollutants and greenhouse gases, known by the state of Colorado to be linked to significant health impacts and global heating.” The warning is the linchpin of a bill—HB25-1277—that narrowly passed the state House on April 2 and is scheduled to be heard in the Senate’s Transportation & Energy Committee this week. Its Democratic sponsors say the bill will raise awareness among consumers that combusting gas in their vehicles creates pollutants that harm their health and trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to more intense and extreme weather, wildfires, and drought. The groundbreaking measure would require retailers to place warning labels printed in black ink on a white background in English and Spanish in no smaller than 16-point type on fuel pumps and “in a conspicuous location” near displays offering petroleum-based goods for sale. Proponents compare the stickers to warnings labels on cigarettes that scientific evidence found motivated consumers to reconsider the health impacts of smoking. The labeling bill is backed by environmental groups, including 350 Colorado and the Sierra Club, and opposed by gas stations, chambers of commerce, and energy trade associations. About 136 lobbyist registrations were filed with the secretary of state in the position of support, opposition, or monitoring—a benchmark of the measure’s divisiveness. “The bill, as you’ve heard, seeks to drive systemic change and to help us meet our greenhouse gas emission goals,” state Rep. Junie Joseph (D-Boulder), a sponsor, testified at a House Energy & Environment Committee hearing on March 6. “Colorado is actively working to reduce emissions to comply with the Clean Air Act and state climate targets.” Colorado is on track to meet greenhouse gas emissions reductions of 26% by 2025 and 50% by 2030, over 2005 levels—albeit a year late for each period mandated under state law, according to a November report compiled by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Colorado Energy Office. Yet the state is woefully behind in its compliance with federal air quality standards. Emissions from energy industry operations and gas-powered vehicles are the main drivers of the nine-county metropolitan Denver region’s failure to clean up its air over the last two decades. The state’s largest cities rank among the 25 worst in the nation for lung-damaging ozone pollution. Several days before the labeling bill passed the House, the state’s health department said it planned to ask the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to downgrade its air quality for the second time in a year. The request is intended to give regulators more time to draw up a plan to reduce pollutants that cause a toxic haze that blurs the Rocky Mountains from May to September. Colorado repeatedly touts its “nation-leading” greenhouse gas emissions reduction laws targeting oil and gas production, as well as requirements that utilities transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Yet to make long-term progress toward a state mandate to cut emissions 100% by 2050, officials need residents to drive less and carpool and take public transit more. The bill’s sponsors cited a first-in-the-nation labeling law in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts, as proof such initiatives work. The Cambridge City Council enacted its greenhouse gas label law in 2020. City inspectors affix about 116 bright yellow stickers that read: “Warning. Burning Gasoline, Diesel, and Ethanol has major consequences on human health and on the environment including contributing to climate change” in pump bays at 19 gas stations annually, along with inspection stickers, Jeremy Warnick, a city spokesman, wrote in an email. Early research into the impacts of Cambridge’s labeling law suggest that peer pressure that results from one person seeing a label on a gas pump and telling friends about it at a party can indeed motivate people to reconsider their transportation choices. A measure instituted in Sweden in 2021 that requires labels depicting each fuel grade’s impact on the climate to be installed on gas pumps produced similar results. The warning stickers communicate to people as they’re pumping gas that others in their community acknowledge petroleum products create emissions that are warming the planet, said Gregg Sparkman, an assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience at Boston College. Sparkman’s research found Americans function in a state of “pluralistic ignorance,” essentially “walking around thinking others don’t care about climate change.” A study he co-authored in Nature in 2022 found that most Americans “underestimate the prevalence of support for climate change mitigation policies.” While 66% to 80% of people approve of such measures, Americans estimate the prevalence to be between 37% and 43%, on average, data showed. Warning labels can cut through this apathy, he said. “These signs chip away at the mirage—they become one of hopefully many signals that an increasing number of Americans regard this as an emergency that requires urgent action out of government, citizens and everybody,” he said. In Colorado, gas station owners, as well as representatives of retail trade organizations and the American Petroleum Institute, among others, testified against the labeling bill at the three-hour March 6 House energy committee hearing, calling the legislation an “unfunded mandate” that would “shame consumers” and target retailers with “exorbitant fines.” Some warned it would make gas prices rise. The law would require convenience stores to design, buy, and affix the labels and to keep them in good condition. If a consumer reported a defaced decal to the state Attorney General’s Office, a store owner could face a $20,000 penalty per violation—standard for violations under the Consumer Protection Act. An amendment added on the House floor would provide retailers with 45 days to fix a problem with a label. “The gas pump itself is already cluttered with words, numbers, prices, colors, buttons, and payment mechanisms,” Angie Howes, a lobbyist representing Kum & Go, which owns Maverik convenience stores, testified at the committee hearing. “The message will likely be lost in the noise and we question the impact of such a label toward the proponents’ goals.” Republican and Democratic committee members alike expressed concern about the fines, asking bill sponsors to consider reducing them. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, or CDPHE, also opposed the measure, citing the state’s efforts to make it easier and cheaper for Coloradoans to reduce their energy use by taking advantage of electric vehicle and heat pump subsidies, among other voluntary measures. Colorado is already first in the nation in market share of new EVs, Lindsay Ellis, the agency’s director of legislative affairs, testified. “This bill presupposes that awareness alone is an effective strategy for changing behavior and does so at the liability and expense of small businesses like gas stations,” she said. “We should continue to focus on solutions with measurable emissions reductions to improve air quality.” Gov. Jared Polis also appears dubious of the measure’s ability to effect long-term change. When contacted by Capital & Main for comment, spokesperson Eric Maruyama cited legislative and administrative strategies that have “cut hundreds of millions of metric tons of cumulative greenhouse gas emissions since 2010.” “Like CDPHE, Governor Polis is committed to protecting Colorado’s clean air and reducing pollution through proven strategies that are good for the environment, good for consumers, and that empower Colorado businesses and individuals to take meaningful action that improves public health,” Maruyama wrote in an email. “Governor Polis is skeptical of labeling requirements and will review any legislation that reaches his desk.” Doctors and scientists who testified at the House energy committee hearing on March 6 disagreed. “I take care of children living in some of the most polluted zip codes in the country, and I can tell you firsthand that burning fossil fuels is making them sick,” Dr. Clare Burchenal, a Denver pediatrician, told the committee. “Warning labels can connect the abstract threat of a climate emergency with fossil fuel use in the here and now—my patients and their families have a right to know how the products they’re using are impacting their health.” — Jennifer Oldham, Capital & Main This piece was originally published by Capital & Main, which reports from California on economic, political, and social issues. 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Key Takeaways Affordable Franchise Options: There are numerous franchises available for under $10,000, making entrepreneurship accessible without a substantial financial burden.Service and Retail Franchises: Opportunities exist in both service-based and retail sectors, with low initial investment requirements that benefit from brand recognition and ongoing support.Lower Financial Risk: Investing less than $10,000 reduces financial risk, allowing for more manageable business operations and better cash flow management.Essential Documentation: Familiarize yourself with key documents such as the franchise agreement and franchise disclosure document (FDD) to understand your obligations and the potential for success.Strong Support Systems: Many affordable franchises come with robust training and operational support, increasing the likelihood of a successful franchise launch.Importance of Research: Conduct thorough research on potential franchises, focusing on brand reputation, market presence, and the experiences of current franchisees for informed decision-making. If you’ve ever dreamed of owning your own business but thought it was out of reach, you’re not alone. Many aspiring entrepreneurs believe that starting a franchise requires a hefty investment. The good news? There are plenty of franchises available for under $10,000 that can help you kickstart your journey without breaking the bank. These affordable opportunities offer you the chance to tap into established brands while minimizing financial risk. Whether you’re looking for a side hustle or a full-time venture, you can find a franchise that fits your budget and lifestyle. Let’s explore some of the best options that can pave the way for your entrepreneurial success. Overview of Franchises Under 10k Franchising offers a viable path for small business owners to enter the market with a lower initial investment. You can explore numerous franchise opportunities available for under $10,000, making entrepreneurship accessible. Affordable franchises come with several advantages that attract aspiring franchisees. Established brands associated with these franchises benefit from brand recognition, which enhances your potential for profit. Many franchisors provide franchise training and ongoing support, ensuring you understand the franchise model and can operate effectively. Key elements of franchises under $10K include: Initial Investment: Many franchises under $10,000 offer lower franchise fees, allowing you to start your business without substantial financial strain. Franchise Agreement: Each franchise opportunity includes a franchise agreement outlining your rights and obligations as a franchisee. Franchise Disclosure Document: This essential document provides insights into franchise operations and expected performance metrics, helping you make informed decisions. Franchise Support: Ongoing training and support from the franchisor can set you up for success, ensuring you stay compliant with franchise laws and regulations. Exclusive Territory: Some franchises offer exclusive territories, minimizing competition and maximizing your sales potential. Engaging in franchise research can help you identify various franchise systems that fit your goals and lifestyle. With the right franchise marketing strategy and a solid understanding of franchise compliance, you can successfully navigate the franchise industry. Consider participating in franchise expos or consulting franchise consultants to gain deeper insights into potential franchising trends and opportunities for growth. Types of Franchises Under 10k Franchises under $10,000 offer a range of opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs. These types of franchises require minimal initial investment and provide access to established brands, support systems, and training resources. Service-Based Franchises Service-based franchises often present some of the most accessible options for small business ventures. These franchises typically focus on delivering services rather than products, resulting in lower startup costs. Examples include: Financial Services: Franchises focusing on tax preparation and financial consulting allow you to operate with minimal overhead. Many finance franchise systems enable work from home or a small office, reducing location-related expenses. Vending Machine Ownership: By purchasing and managing vending machines, you can enter the franchise world with a small investment. Initial expenses generally cover the cost of the machines, inventory, and maintenance, making this a low-cost choice. These service-based franchises often benefit from the strong support provided by the franchisor. You’ll find training programs, marketing assistance, and franchise operations manuals essential to your success. Retail Franchises Retail franchises are another viable option for you if you’re aiming to invest under $10,000. Although more common in higher investment ranges, several retail franchises maintain affordable entry points. Examples include: Mobile Retail Franchises: Vendors selling products from mobile units have relatively low investment requirements compared to traditional retail. This model allows you to reach customers in various locations without the expense of a brick-and-mortar storefront. Pop-Up Shops: Many franchises designed around temporary retail locations require less capital. This flexible approach can be ideal for testing markets and generating brand recognition quickly. When entering a retail franchise agreement, ensure you fully understand the franchise disclosure document and any ongoing royalty fees. These factors can impact your initial investment and long-term profitability. Both service-based and retail franchises offer unique opportunities in the franchise industry. Each franchise model allows you to leverage brand recognition and support, driving potential growth for your small business. Advantages of Investing in Low-Cost Franchises Investing in low-cost franchises presents several significant advantages, particularly for small business entrepreneurs looking to enter the franchise industry without substantial upfront costs. Low Initial Investment Lower initial investments give you access to numerous franchise opportunities. For example, franchises like Java Dave’s Coffee, Corvus Janitorial Systems, and SlipDoctors require investments from $499.95 to $3,495. This affordability means you can start your franchise business with reduced financial pressure. With the remaining capital, you can allocate funds for essential aspects like marketing, franchise training, and operational expenses, ensuring effective franchise management from the onset. Less Financial Risk Less financial risk accompanies low-cost franchises. By investing under $10,000, you minimize potential losses, allowing you to navigate the complexities of franchising more comfortably. The decreased risk can lead to greater franchise success, letting you focus on building brand recognition and expanding your franchise network. This stability supports better cash flow management, making it easier to meet ongoing obligations, such as royalty fees and other franchise fees, as your business grows. Popular Franchises Under 10k Several franchise opportunities exist for under $10,000, making it easier for you to start a small business. Below are two notable franchises that provide affordable entry points and strong support systems. Franchise A: Steak ‘n Shake Initial Investment: $10,000 Ownership: You can operate an existing Steak ‘n Shake restaurant with a 50% ownership stake in profits. Requirements: Full-time, hands-on operation and completion of an extensive training program are essential. Ongoing Costs: Higher ongoing costs may arise due to the lower upfront pricing model. Support: You benefit from robust franchise support, including training and operational guidance from the franchisor. Franchise B: Chick-fil-A Initial Investment: $10,000 Ownership: The corporate office retains most profits, yet franchisees can earn between $150,000 and $250,000 annually. Requirements: The franchise agreement demands exclusivity, often requiring years of U.S. experience to qualify. Choosing a franchise under $10,000 allows you to join established brands with strong training and support systems, promoting better franchise growth potential. Considerations Before Investing Investing in a franchise under $10,000 requires careful evaluation of several important aspects. Understanding these factors equips you for a successful venture in the franchise industry. Researching the Franchise Research helps you identify the right franchise opportunity. Look for franchises that align with your interests and skill set. Assess the franchise’s history, brand recognition, and market presence. Review the franchise disclosure document (FDD) to understand the initial investment, franchise fees, and any ongoing royalty fees. Attend franchise expos to connect with franchisors and gain insights into their franchise systems. Investigate current franchisees’ experiences, focusing on support and franchise training provided. A comprehensive analysis enables you to gauge the potential for franchise growth and success. Understanding the Commitment Understanding your commitment is essential for making an informed decision. Franchise agreements outline your rights and obligations as a franchisee. Expect to invest time in training and adhere to the franchisor’s operational guidelines. Some franchises offer exclusive territories, protecting your market space from competition. Be aware of the responsibilities involved, including ongoing franchise marketing efforts and compliance with franchise regulations. Evaluate your financing options to ensure you can sustain initial expenses while managing day-to-day operations. Knowing these factors builds a solid foundation for your small business franchise journey. Conclusion Exploring franchises under $10,000 opens up exciting opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs. With lower financial barriers you can tap into established brands that offer invaluable support and training. These affordable options allow you to focus on growth without overwhelming financial pressure. By understanding the different franchise models available and conducting thorough research you can find the right fit for your skills and interests. The potential for success increases when you choose a franchise that aligns with your goals. Take the time to evaluate your options and consider the benefits of low-cost franchises as you embark on your entrepreneurial journey. Frequently Asked Questions What are affordable franchise options available for under $10,000? Many franchises require an initial investment of less than $10,000, including options like Java Dave’s Coffee and Corvus Janitorial Systems. These franchises offer low financial risk while providing structure and support from established brands. Why should I consider a franchise for under $10,000? Franchises under $10,000 provide a lower financial barrier to entry, making entrepreneurship accessible. They also offer ongoing support from franchisors, which can enhance your chances of success by ensuring you have training and marketing assistance. What types of franchises are available under $10,000? Franchises under $10,000 can be categorized into service-based franchises, like vending machine ownership, and retail franchises, such as mobile retail and pop-up shops. Each offers unique opportunities and often comes with necessary support. What is a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD)? A Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) is a legal document that provides insights into a franchise’s operations, financial performance, and more. It helps potential franchisees understand their rights and obligations before committing to a franchise. How important is ongoing support from franchisors? Ongoing support from franchisors is crucial as it includes training and marketing assistance, helping franchisees establish and grow their business. This support can significantly reduce the risks associated with running a franchise. How can I start researching franchises? To start researching franchises under $10,000, consider exploring online resources, attending franchise expos, or consulting with franchise experts. This research can help you identify options that align with your goals and lifestyle. Are there risks associated with low-cost franchises? While low-cost franchises have less financial risk, it’s important to evaluate each opportunity thoroughly. Understand the operational commitments, ongoing fees, and market presence to ensure you make an informed decision. Can I participate in franchise events? Yes, participating in franchise expos or events can be beneficial. They provide an opportunity to network, gain insights, and learn about current trends and various franchise systems available under $10,000. Image Via Envato This article, "Affordable Franchises Under 10k: Unlock Your Entrepreneurial Dreams Today" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article