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IDEAS shared have the power to expand perspectives, change thinking, and move lives. Here are two ideas for the curious mind to engage with: I. Richard Boyatzis and Annie McKee on prisons of our own making: “When we are in a downward emotional spiral, feeling confused, unhappy, or ill at ease, we often end up playing and replaying mental ‘tapes’ that actually accentuate our negative emotions and feelings of hopelessness. When we are feeling down over a long period of time, this self-talk centers on messages that undermine us and, in turn, our power to change bad situations (‘It’s not my fault’ ‘My life will never be really happy’) or messages that weaken our sense of efficacy (‘This situation is beyond my control, I’m just stuck with it’). “When we get caught in this prison of our own making, we lose the ability to see ourselves, others, or our environments as they really are. We see the world through filters that may not have a basis in reality, and we begin to make decisions based on what we think rather than what is. We forget to engage in that other kind of self-talk: hopeful, affirming thoughts about ourselves and compassion for others.” Source: Resonant Leadership: Renewing Yourself and Connecting with Others Through Mindfulness, Hope, and Compassion II. Jonathan Brill on random change: “There are two interrelated reasons that you can control and profit from randomness. The first is that what’s unpredictable at one scale is often quite reliable at another. The second is that while random changes occur, they often self-organize into a reliable result.” Source: Rogue Waves: Future-Proof Your Business to Survive and Profit from Radical Change * * * Look for these ideas every Thursday on the Leading Blog. Find more ideas on the LeadingThoughts index. * * * Follow us on Instagram and X for additional leadership and personal development ideas. View the full article

Microsoft has announced that Skype will officially shut down on May 5, 2025. After this date, users will no longer be able to access Skype services, including messaging, calls, or voicemail. However, your Skype data — including chat and call history — will be available for export or deletion until January 2026. If you log into Microsoft Teams Free before January 2026, your Skype call and chat history will transfer automatically. If you take no action, your Skype data will be permanently deleted in January 2026. If you’re a business owner, entrepreneur, or freelancer who still relies on Skype, it’s critical to act now to avoid disruptions in your operations and daily routines. Here’s what you should do before May 5: 1. Export Your Chat History and Important Files Skype offers an option to download your chat history and shared files. This is crucial if you have important contracts, project notes, or client conversations stored in Skype. Visit Skype’s export tool. Request your files and messages. Download them once ready — it may take several hours to process. Tip: Back up your downloads to both a cloud service and an external drive for added security. 2. Consider Moving to Microsoft Teams Free Since Microsoft is encouraging migration to Teams: Set up a Microsoft Teams Free account. Log in before January 2026 to automatically carry over your Skype chat and call history. Familiarize yourself with Teams’ interface if you plan to use it. Tip: Teams is especially useful if you already rely on Microsoft 365 products. 3. Notify Your Contacts Don’t leave clients or partners wondering how to reach you. Send an announcement about the upcoming change. Specify your new communication method (Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, etc.). Update your email signature, website, and social profiles accordingly. Tip: Proactively reschedule any future appointments set for Skype onto the new platform. 4. Choose and Set Up a New Communication Platform If you’re not moving to Teams, explore alternatives: Zoom – Best for video meetings. Google Meet – Integrates smoothly with Google Workspace. Slack or Discord – Ideal for ongoing chat-based collaboration. WhatsApp Business – Good for mobile-friendly client communication. Tip: Test the platform before going live with important meetings. 5. Update Business Systems and Workflows If Skype was tied into your customer service, CRM, or internal systems: Remove Skype plugins or integrations. Install and configure your replacement tool. Test all workflows to ensure uninterrupted operations. Tip: Host a small internal test meeting before using the new platform externally. 6. Cancel Paid Skype Subscriptions If you pay for Skype Credit, international calling, or Skype Numbers: Visit your Skype account dashboard. Cancel any active subscriptions. Request a refund if applicable. Tip: Review your most recent billing statements to ensure nothing is missed. 7. Archive Voicemails and Contacts If you used Skype’s voicemail or stored contacts: Forward or download voicemails you want to keep. Export your contact list so you can import it into your new platform. Tip: Keep a local backup just in case the export doesn’t import cleanly. Skype’s shutdown marks the end of an era in digital communications. To avoid losing valuable data or communication capabilities, act now: export your data, move to a new platform, and notify your network. If you want to retain your Skype history beyond shutdown, log into Microsoft Teams Free before January 2026 — otherwise, your Skype data will be deleted permanently. This article, "Skype Is Shutting Down on May 5: Here’s What Business Owners Need to Do Now" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Google announced a new series of multi-day events called Deep Dive for in-depth coverage of the technical and marketing sides of SEO The post Google Is Launching Search Central Deep Dive Events appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Planning an event involves many moving parts, each generating costs that must be carefully tracked. Whether it’s venue rentals, equipment, catering or staffing, event planners need a structured approach to budgeting. Without a well-organized budget, costs can spiral out of control, leading to financial surprises. To simplify this process, an event budget template can help keep track of all expenses. Our Google Sheets event budget template provides an easy-to-use format for logging estimated and actual costs, ensuring your event stays within budget. Why Use an Event Budget Template for Google Sheets? Google Sheets is an excellent tool for creating an event budget because it’s free, online and allows real-time collaboration. Unlike static spreadsheets, Google Sheets makes it easy to update costs, add new budget categories and share data with your team. This flexibility ensures that all stakeholders stay informed about budget updates. Our event budget template in Google Sheets is designed to track activities and their associated costs. Each task includes: Estimated labor and material costs to plan financial allocations A vendor/contractor column to note outsourced services An actual cost column to compare estimates with real expenses, making post-event analysis easier However, ProjectManager is a much better way to plan, schedule and track the completion of events. That’s because ProjectManager offers award-winning tools such as Gantt charts, real-time dashboards, workload management charts, timesheets and project calendars equipped with robust features to schedule events, create an event budget, manage tasks and track event costs. Get started with ProjectManager for free today. /wp-content/uploads/2023/04/event-plan-gantt-chart-light-mode-CTA-1600x787.jpgLearn more Free Event Budget Template for Google Sheets The best way to determine if this event budget template for Google Sheets is a good fit for your team is to try it and compare it against other similar alternatives, such as event planning templates for Excel or project management software. To do so, click the image below to access this template for free, then make a copy so you can edit it. /wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Event-budget-template-for-Google-Sheets.png Simply fill out the fields to identify the tasks that need to be executed to carry out your event and all their estimated costs. Then you can log the actual cost of those event activities as your event is executed to determine if there are any cost overruns. Event Budget Template for Google Sheets: Pros & Cons While Google Sheets provides a convenient and accessible way to manage event budgets, it comes with advantages and limitations. Below, we break down the pros and cons of using our event budget template in Google Sheets. Pros of Making an Event Budget in Google Sheets Using Google Sheets for event budgeting offers several benefits: Free and cloud-based: No need for expensive event planning software; accessible from any device Real-time collaboration: Multiple team members can view and edit the budget simultaneously Customizable format: Modify the template to suit specific event cost management needs Automatic calculations: Built-in formulas help prevent manual math errors Easy data export: Can be downloaded as an Excel spreadsheet or PDF for reporting Cons of Making an Event Budget in Google Sheets Despite its advantages, Google Sheets has some drawbacks as an event budgeting tool: Limited automation: Lacks advanced financial tracking features found in dedicated project budgeting tools Manual data entry: Requires frequent updates to stay accurate Potential formatting issues: Large datasets may become hard to navigate and are better displayed on dashboards Internet dependency: Requires an online connection for full functionality No built-in cost analysis tools: Doesn’t provide detailed financial insights like some specialized software ProjectManager’s Budgeting Features are Better than an Event Budget Template for Google Sheets This event budget template for Google Sheets helps event planners estimate event costs and compare them against actual costs to monitor the financial health of an event, but it falls short when compared to ProjectManager’s resource planning, budgeting and cost tracking features. Here’s a quick overview of some tools that make ProjectManager a better event budgeting solution. Multiple Event Planning Tools ProjectManager offers powerful project management tools ideal for event planning, such as Gantt charts, kanban boards, task lists and project calendars, which allow you to create event schedules, assign tasks to team members and monitor progress. These tools automatically sync with online timesheets, workload management charts and event management dashboards to visualize high-level event planning data. /wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Construction-Gantt-light-mode-task-info-general-1600x858.jpg Advanced Resource Management and Cost Tracking Features ProjectManage allows event planners to allocate and schedule resources, estimate their costs, create an event budget and compare cost estimates against actual event costs. Managers can also balance their team’s workload using interactive workload management charts and log employee work hours using online timesheets. /wp-content/uploads/2024/05/workload-page-resource-management-lightmode-1600x785.png How to Use This Free Event Budget Template for Google Sheets Now let’s review the contents of this event budget template for Google Sheets to better understand how it works. 1. Identify All Event Planning Activities Event planning involves numerous tasks across different areas, including venue setup, equipment rentals, travel and accommodation, marketing, staffing, food and catering and entertainment. Listing all these activities helps ensure no cost is overlooked, allowing for a complete and well-organized budget. /wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Event-budget-template-event-planning-tasks.png 2. List Vendors or Contractors Each event planning activity will likely involve vendors or contractors, such as caterers, equipment suppliers or entertainers. Identifying these service providers ensures accountability and helps track who is responsible for each aspect of the event plan. Proper documentation of vendors also allows for better cost management and negotiation opportunities. /wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Event-budget-template-vendors-and-contractors.png 3. Log Planned Costs This template enables event planners to enter estimated labor and material costs for every task. By logging planned costs, you can allocate resources effectively and set financial expectations. This helps prevent overspending and ensures that each category remains within its designated budget. /wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Event-budget-template-estimated-costs.png 4. Compare Planned vs. Actual Costs Tracking actual expenses against planned costs helps event planners determine whether they are staying within budget. This comparison is crucial for identifying cost variances early and making necessary adjustments. It also provides valuable insights for future event planning, allowing for better budgeting strategies and cost control. /wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Event-budget-template-actual-costs.png More Project Management Templates for Google Sheets Google Sheets is a helpful tool for event planning teams as it provides an online platform that allows team members to collaborate more efficiently than traditional spreadsheet software like Excel. Here are other free project management Google Sheets templates that can be used with this event budget template. Google Sheets Timeline Template This free Google Sheets timeline template is ideal for visualizing event planning activities, their due dates and the sequence in which they need to be executed, which facilitates creating an event schedule. Google Sheets To Do List Template As stated above, events involve a lot of activities that can fall through the cracks if they’re not properly documented. This free Google Sheets to-do list template helps event planners log any tasks and track their completion. Google Sheets Kanban Board Template This free Google Sheets kanban board template helps event planners track the completion of event tasks by defining the stages of completion they go through and then using kanban cards to reflect their progress. Related Event Planning Content A successful event requires thorough planning, scheduling and budgeting, which is why we have dozens of blogs, templates and guides that can help master all the different areas of event management. Here are some of them. 12 Free Event Planning Templates for Excel and Word How to Create an Event Budget How to Plan an Event: Event Planning Steps, Tips & Checklist Event Budget Template for Excel Event Proposal Template for Word Event Plan Template Gantt Chart for Event Planning If you’re looking for an event planning tool that can go the distance, try ProjectManager. Our software is fully loaded with all the resource management, scheduling, budgeting and cost tracking features listed above and more to help you plan, track and report on your events. Stay on track and work more productively. Get started with ProjectManager for free. The post Event Budget Template for Google Sheets appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

Maroš Šefčovič tells FT of ‘certain progress’ but warns bloc will not settle for higher US tariff baseline View the full article

Key Takeaways Efficiency Enhancement: Order management software streamlines and automates the entire order cycle, minimizing manual labor and errors to improve overall business productivity. Improved Customer Satisfaction: By providing real-time order tracking and accurate inventory management, OMS ensures timely deliveries and enhances the customer experience, leading to higher retention rates. Integration Options: Businesses can choose between cloud-based and on-premise solutions, with cloud options offering scalability and flexibility, while on-premise solutions provide greater control and customization. Automation and AI Adoption: The integration of automation and AI technologies revolutionizes order management processes, allowing for predictive analytics that can enhance decision-making and optimize business outcomes. User Training Importance: Successful implementation of order management software relies on effective user training to boost adoption rates and maximize the software’s benefits within the team. Future Trends: The shift towards mobile order management solutions allows businesses to operate flexibly and respond quickly to customer needs, improving overall operational agility. In today’s fast-paced business world, managing orders efficiently can make or break your success. With customers expecting seamless experiences, leveraging the right order management software is crucial. This powerful tool not only streamlines your processes but also enhances customer satisfaction by ensuring timely deliveries and accurate inventory tracking. Imagine having the ability to automate repetitive tasks, reduce errors, and gain real-time insights into your operations. By integrating order management software into your business, you can focus on what truly matters—growing your brand and delighting your customers. Dive into the world of order management software and discover how it can transform your business operations for the better. Overview of Order Management Software Order management software streamlines your business operations by automating and optimizing the entire order cycle. Efficient order management plays a critical role in enabling small businesses to enhance customer satisfaction and improve overall productivity. Definition and Importance Order management software refers to a digital solution that automates your order processing, from order placement to fulfillment. This software is crucial for small businesses aiming to manage workflows effectively and maintain financial stability. It ensures timely deliveries, reduces errors in inventory management, and improves cash flow by providing real-time insights into resources and sales trends. With a unified platform, you can support your business goals and respond quickly to customer feedback, ultimately leading to better retention rates. Key Features to Look For When selecting order management software, focus on the following key features: Inventory Management: Real-time tracking helps prevent stockouts and overstock situations. Automation Tools: Automate repetitive tasks to minimize human error and save time. Order Tracking: Provide customers visibility into their order status, improving customer service. Integration Capabilities: Ensure compatibility with other software tools such as accounting, CRM, and e-commerce platforms. Data Analytics: Leverage business analytics for actionable insights into performance, enabling effective decision-making. Collaboration Features: Facilitate team management and communication to enhance workflow and operational efficiency. Choosing the right order management software can significantly boost your small business’s effectiveness, allowing you to focus on growth and scaling your operations. Types of Order Management Software When selecting order management software, you face two primary options: cloud-based solutions and on-premise solutions. Each type offers distinct advantages that can support your small business in streamlining workflows and enhancing productivity. Cloud-Based Solutions Cloud-based order management systems (OMS) host your order data on remote servers, accessible via the internet. This setup allows you to manage orders from anywhere, ensuring flexibility for you and your team. Scalability and Flexibility: These solutions easily scale with your business growth, accommodating increased order volumes without significant hardware investments. As your operations expand, you can adjust your usage seamlessly. Cost-Effectiveness: Cloud-based OMS often utilize a Software as a Service (SaaS) model, requiring minimal upfront investment. You’ll pay only for the features you use, reducing financial strain on your small business. Collaboration: Teams benefit from real-time access to order data, encouraging effective communication and collaboration. This aspect enhances your operational efficiency and supports strategic planning for future growth. On-Premise Solutions On-premise order management systems provide an alternative by hosting software and data on your internal servers. While this approach offers certain benefits, it also comes with considerations for small businesses. Control and Security: You maintain greater control over your data and systems, which can be critical for sensitive information. However, this control requires robust IT resources for management and maintenance. Upfront Investment: On-premise solutions typically involve higher upfront costs for software licensing and hardware. This aspect may impact your budgeting and cash flow when establishing an OMS. Customization: On-premise systems often offer more customization options, enabling you to tailor software to fit your specific business processes. If you need a highly specialized solution, this could be the right choice. By evaluating both options, you can make a more informed decision about which order management software aligns best with your business goals and operational needs. Benefits of Using Order Management Software Order management software (OMS) offers numerous advantages for small businesses aiming to optimize operations and enhance productivity. Implementing OMS significantly improves your business processes, allowing for efficient order handling, better inventory oversight, and increased customer satisfaction. Improved Efficiency OMS streamlines workflows by automating order fulfillment processes. Automated systems receive orders from multiple channels, process them, and manage picking and posting swiftly. This automation reduces manual labor and minimizes the risk of human error, enhancing operational efficiency. For example, you can expect to decrease order processing time by up to 30%, allowing your team to focus on higher-value tasks. With real-time inventory management, you maintain a clear overview of stock levels, preventing overstocking and understocking issues that can disrupt cash flow. Enhanced Customer Satisfaction Order management software enhances customer service by providing accurate order tracking and timely updates. Immediate access to order statuses allows you to communicate efficiently with customers, boosting their confidence in your business. Additionally, OMS facilitates better inventory management, ensuring that products are available when customers need them, which can lead to increased customer retention and loyalty. A study found that businesses leveraging robust OMS report a 20% improvement in customer satisfaction scores due to timely deliveries and accurate fulfillment. Incorporating order management software into your small business strategy not only drives productivity but also strengthens your position in the market by meeting customer expectations effectively. Challenges in Implementing Order Management Software Implementing order management software (OMS) presents several challenges, especially for small businesses. Understanding these challenges helps you navigate the transition smoothly. Integration with Existing Systems Integration with existing systems poses a significant challenge during OMS implementation. The complexity of integration often requires technical expertise. Your OMS must connect seamlessly with software tools like inventory management, customer relationship management (CRM), and shipping systems. Inconsistencies in data may emerge if integration isn’t handled correctly, affecting order processing and customer service. Ensuring data consistency prevents loss of information and streamlines workflow across your business processes. User Training and Adoption User training and adoption are critical for OMS success. Training your team on how to utilize the new system enhances employee management and boosts productivity. Without adequate training, employees might resist adopting the software, limiting its potential benefits. Developing a structured training program can help your team leverage the OMS effectively. Focus on strengthening communication skills during training to improve collaboration and user engagement. Encouraging feedback during the onboarding process allows you to address concerns and optimize the user experience, ultimately supporting your business goals. Future Trends in Order Management Software Order management software (OMS) is evolving rapidly, especially with the adoption of automation and AI technologies. These advancements play a vital role in enhancing operational efficiency for small businesses. Automation and AI Integration Automation and AI are transforming your order management processes. AI-driven order management enables your business to shift from traditional manual workflows to intelligent, adaptive systems. These systems utilize machine learning algorithms to minimize errors and facilitate real-time decision-making. For example, AI analyzes vast sets of historical and real-time data to detect patterns, predict customer demand, and adjust ordering parameters accordingly. With predictive intelligence, these solutions anticipate disruptions and simulate diverse scenarios, optimizing your outcomes while improving customer service. By embracing these tools, you enhance productivity, streamline workflows, and ultimately support your business growth. Mobile Order Management Solutions Mobile order management solutions offer flexibility, allowing you to manage your business operations from anywhere. These solutions enable team members to track orders, make adjustments, and communicate quickly through their smartphones or tablets. For small businesses, mobile capabilities improve time management and increase responsiveness to customer inquiries or updates. With real-time access to data, you maintain better inventory control, enhance customer retention, and effectively support your strategic planning initiatives. Adopting mobile solutions ensures your team remains agile, improving overall performance while meeting deadlines and customer expectations. Conclusion Investing in order management software can be a game changer for your business. By automating processes and streamlining workflows you not only enhance efficiency but also improve customer satisfaction. The right OMS helps you stay agile in a competitive market allowing you to meet customer expectations consistently. As you explore different options consider your specific needs and the features that align with your goals. Whether you choose a cloud-based or on-premise solution make sure it integrates seamlessly with your existing systems. This will help you avoid common pitfalls and maximize your investment. Embracing these technologies not only drives productivity but also positions your business for future growth. With the right tools in place you can focus on what truly matters—delighting your customers and expanding your market reach. Frequently Asked Questions What is order management software (OMS)? Order management software (OMS) is a digital tool that automates the entire order process, from order placement to fulfillment. It helps businesses streamline their workflows, manage inventories, and deliver timely updates to customers, thus improving overall operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. Why is order management important for small businesses? Efficient order management is crucial for small businesses because it enhances productivity, minimizes errors, and ensures accurate inventory tracking. By automating repetitive tasks, OMS allows small businesses to focus on growth and improving customer relations, ultimately leading to better financial stability. What are the key features to look for in OMS? When selecting order management software, look for features such as inventory management, automation tools, order tracking, integration capabilities, data analytics, and collaboration options. These features help optimize workflows, reduce errors, and improve customer satisfaction. What are the differences between cloud-based and on-premise OMS? Cloud-based OMS offers flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and easier remote access, while on-premise solutions provide better control and data security. Cloud systems typically require less initial investment, whereas on-premise options come with higher costs and require IT management resources. How does OMS enhance customer satisfaction? OMS improves customer satisfaction by providing accurate order tracking and timely updates, reducing the chances of errors and delays. This leads to a more reliable experience, fostering customer loyalty and retention through enhanced communication and fulfillment processes. What challenges do small businesses face when implementing OMS? Small businesses may encounter challenges such as integrating OMS with existing systems, ensuring user adoption, and providing training. A well-structured training program and seamless connectivity with tools like CRM and inventory management are essential for success. How can automation and AI enhance order management? Automation and AI technologies streamline order management by minimizing manual tasks, reducing errors, and facilitating real-time decision making. AI-driven solutions can analyze data to predict demand, optimize ordering, and improve overall operational efficiency. What are mobile order management solutions? Mobile order management solutions enable businesses to manage orders remotely using smartphones and tablets. This flexibility allows team members to track orders and respond to customer inquiries swiftly, improving time management and overall operational agility. Image Via Envato This article, "Boost Your Business Efficiency with Effective Order Management Software Solutions" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Garmin is well-known among fitness smartwatch enthusiasts, and if you're a runner, the Forerunner 265 is the best option in the Garmin lineup. The Forerunner 265 is without question the best fitness watch for runners, according to Senior Health Editor Beth Skwarecki's review. While it's typically a costly smartwatch at $449.99, it's currently on sale for $349.99, which is the lowest price it has ever been, according to price tracking tools. (Both the 46 mm model and the smaller 42 mm model are on sale for the same price.) Operating System: Android, Memory Storage: 8 GB, Battery Capacity: 4 Amp Hours Garmin Forerunner 265 $349.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $449.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal Get Deal $349.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $449.99 Save $100.00 Operating System: Android, Memory Storage: 8 GB, Battery Capacity: 4 Amp Hours Garmin Forerunner 265S $349.99 at Amazon $449.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal Get Deal $349.99 at Amazon $449.99 Save $100.00 SEE -1 MORE The Forerunner 265 comes with a bright and colorful AMOLED screen that makes it easily visible out in the sun. There are also physical buttons, which are much easier to hit without needing to look down mid-run. The GPS is surprisingly accurate, as is the heart rate tracking feature. The watch also calculates your VO2max and uses that data to predict your race times for a 5K, 10K, half-marathon, and full marathon. These predictions are pretty accurate, but usually a bit on the optimistic side, according to Beth's review. As you can with most Garmin watches, they are very customizable, from screen watches to workouts. The data you see or don't see can be easily edited in the companion Connect app. Beth got about 14 days of battery life from the smaller 265S watch. They are mostly the same watch with very subtle differences. The main thing you should worry about is getting the right size for your wrists so it fits well and generates accurate readings. View the full article

Google updated its Ads Transparency policy to show more detailed information about the entities funding ads – a move aimed at increasing accountability in digital advertising. Driving the news. Starting today, Google is displaying the payer name – drawn from an advertiser’s payment profile – if it differs from their verified advertiser name. For agency accounts, the client’s payment profile will be used as the payer name when applicable. This information will appear in the My Ad Center panel and the Ads Transparency Center. Why we care. This update increases public visibility into who is actually funding ads, which can impact brand perception, trust, and compliance. For agencies and businesses managing multiple clients or brands, accurate payer naming is essential to avoid misattribution, confusion, or reputational risk. It also introduces new operational steps – like re-verification and profile name management – that advertisers need to handle to maintain transparency and control how they’re represented. The next phase. Starting in June, advertisers can manually edit their payer name in their account’s verification settings. New Google Ads accounts will default to using the payment profile name unless it is updated during verification. Between the lines. This change aims to prevent confusion and ensure the true source of ad funding is clear, particularly in cases where agencies buy ads on behalf of clients. Google advised agency advertisers who were misclassified as direct advertisers to re-verify their accounts by May 31 to avoid inaccurate payer name displays. Zom out. Election Ads advertisers are already required to disclose payer names during verification. Those wishing to update their payer name must re-complete the election ad verification process under existing policies. The announcement. Updates to Ads Transparency Policy (April 2025) View the full article

Users are visiting Google more often but staying less. That’s one of several insights from a new analysis by Kevin Indig, in partnership with Similarweb, based on 5 billion search queries and 20 million websites across the U.S., UK, and Germany. The big picture. In the U.S., visits to Google are up +9% since AI Overviews launched in May 2024. Also: Time on site and pages per visit are flat or falling across markets. Query length has barely changed. The numbers point to a new user pattern: more frequent visits, shorter sessions – a shift toward “resolve and leave” behavior, according to Indig. By the numbers. Google visits are up in the U.S.: U.S. visits rose from 26.9% to 29.1% after the launch of AI Overviews last May. Pageviews on websites from AI Overview keywords have grown 22%. Meanwhile, engagement is falling: Time-on-site for Google.com is flat or declining in all three markets. In Germany, where AI Overviews launched two months ago, time on site dropped noticeably. Pages-per-visit dropped post-launch, suggesting users found answers faster. Also, query length is mostly unchanged: U.S. average query length rose just +3% since January 2023, from 3.27 to 3.37 words. In the UK, query length declined slightly after AI Overviews rolled out. Germany saw a modest +0.4% increase – but that was before AI Overviews went live. Why we care. Google AI Overviews are now seen by more than 1.5 billion searchers every month and occupy the most valuable real estate on Google’s search results. Google owns what searchers see (and don’t see), so SEOs and brands must understand how this impacts their behavior. The report. The Data Behind Google’s AI Overviews: What Sundar Pichai Won’t Tell You by Kevin Indig View the full article

Fortnite is coming back to the iPhone next week, according to Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney. That may not sound like huge news to those of you that have never played Fortnite, but the game's return follows a court ruling that has implications for many other apps you likely use every day. The ruling, from judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, states definitively that Apple is no longer allowed to stop developers from linking to purchases outside the App Store or limit them from explaining where such purchases can be made. What does this mean practically? Well, have you ever tried to subscribe to Netflix, upgrade Spotify, or buy a Kindle book on your iPhone? These things can't be done right now, at least not through the iPhone apps. You also won't find any language explaining this inside those apps. Instead, you'll have to go onto a web browser, make the purchases there, then go back to your phone to access the movie or book, etc. This odd situation is the result of a tangle of policies between the big tech companies—one that's hostile to users. Currently, Apple demands that all commercial transactions inside apps go through the App Store itself. The company claims this is for security and ease of use, but Apple also happens to take a sizable cut of all App Store transactions. This means, should Netflix allow users to subscribe inside the app, it would have to pay Apple a large percentage—between 15 and 30 percent—to Apple every month. Until recently, Apple also forbade companies from linking to external websites where transactions can be made or even referencing that such alternative places to pay exist. Different companies have responded to this in different ways. Epic Games, which owns Fortnite, pulled its apps from the App Store entirely. Some companies, including Netflix, don't offer any signup options in the app at all, and hope that users will figure out they need to sign up elsewhere. Some companies just charge more to App Store customers: YouTube Premium, for example, costs $18.99 per month in the App Store but only $13.99 if you sign up in your browser. Some companies, like Patreon, use a different tactic: If you sign up to support someone on Patreon using your iPhone, 30 percent of your monthly contribution goes straight to Apple instead of to the creator you wanted to support. The ruling will have implications for all such companies, allowing them to explain these things inside the app while also linking to alternative places to subscribe. Spotify told The Verge that it will soon add a link to its web-based subscription inside its iPhone app. Apple, for its part, intends to appeal the ruling, meaning the situation could change. For now, though, companies are a bit more free to link to and talk about alternative ways to make purchases. View the full article

McDonalds released its earnings report for the first quarter of 2025 early this morning. According to the report, U.S. comparable sales decreased by 3.6% from the previous year, primarily driven by reduced guest counts. This is the fast food giant’s largest U.S. sales drop since the second quarter of 2020, when U.S. sales plunged 8.7% during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. ‘Grappling with uncertainty’ The fast food retailer reported that U.S. store revenue dipped to $5.96 billion, below a Bloomberg consensus estimate of $6.12 billion cited by Yahoo Finance. In the earnings report, McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski noted that “Consumers today are grappling with uncertainty.” Chicago-based McDonald’s said adjusted earnings per share were $2.67. The earnings report also indicated that global sales fell 1.0%, with the most notable decline in sales in the U.K. McDonald’s shares (NYSE: MCD) were down 1.53% in early-afternoon trading on Thursday following the report. The stock is up 7.71% year to date. Fast food embracing value meals amid consumer caution Consumers appear to be tightening their spending due to economic uncertainty, likely not helped by President The President’s broad tariffs and erratic trade policies, which have made people anxiousness about increased costs and a possible recession. In this morning’s earnings call, Kempczinski warned, “we’re not immune to the volatility in the industry or the pressures that our consumers are facing.” McDonald’s menu prices have notably risen along with inflation in recent years, leading to customer backlash. More recently, however, the fast food retailer has attempted to increase customer traffic by releasing new menu items and promoting value-focused deals. Recent discount deals include the McValue menu, which features buy one, add one for $1 items, and $5 Meal Deals. Other fast-food chains have made similar moves to boost sales. Meanwhile, the burger giant plans to continue to offer meal deals like this, according to McDonald’s CFO Ian Borden. “While we may adjust our current McValue offerings over time,” Borden said on the earnings call, “for the remainder of 2025, we’ll continue to include everyday value meal deals starting at $5 given how the current $5 meal deal in particular has resonated with customers.” View the full article

Key Takeaways Fresher and Tastier Ingredients: Locally sourced food is often fresher and more flavorful, directly supporting local farmers and enhancing your culinary experiences. Nutritional Benefits: Foods harvested at peak ripeness retain higher nutritional value, promoting healthier meals for consumers. Environmental Sustainability: Choosing local ingredients reduces carbon emissions from transportation, aligning with eco-friendly practices that appeal to environmentally conscious consumers. Economic Support for Local Communities: Purchasing local food strengthens community economies by keeping money within the area, creating jobs, and uplifting local businesses. Challenges with Seasonal Availability: The variety of locally sourced food can fluctuate based on season and climate, necessitating menu adaptations to highlight what’s fresh and available. Strategic Marketing Opportunities: Highlighting the quality and benefits of local ingredients can build brand loyalty, encourage community engagement, and differentiate your business from larger chains. Imagine biting into a juicy tomato that’s just been picked from a nearby farm. That’s the beauty of locally sourced food. It’s not just about what’s on your plate; it’s about supporting your community and enjoying fresher, tastier ingredients. When you choose local, you’re connecting with farmers who pour their passion into their produce. Locally sourced food doesn’t just benefit your taste buds; it also promotes sustainability. By reducing the distance food travels, you’re cutting down on carbon emissions and supporting eco-friendly practices. Plus, you get to enjoy seasonal flavors at their peak. Embracing local food means making a positive impact on your health and the environment. So let’s dive into the world of locally sourced food and discover how it can transform your meals and your community. The Benefits of Locally Sourced Food Locally sourced food offers numerous advantages that enhance your business and the community. Embracing local ingredients boosts your menu’s freshness while supporting nearby farmers. Nutritional Advantages Locally sourced food often contains higher nutritional value. Ingredients harvested at peak ripeness maintain more nutrients than those shipped from far locations. Your customers enjoy fresher produce, resulting in healthier meals that attract health-conscious diners. When you highlight these benefits in your marketing strategy, it enhances your brand’s image and fosters customer loyalty. Environmental Impact Choosing locally sourced food significantly reduces environmental impact. Shorter transportation routes lower carbon emissions, aligning with sustainable practices that appeal to eco-conscious consumers. Promoting your commitment to sustainability through local marketing channels, such as social media marketing and email marketing, builds brand awareness and fosters community involvement. By prioritizing local partnerships, you contribute positively to your neighborhood while attracting customers who value environmental responsibility. Supporting Local Economies Supporting locally sourced food enhances your community’s financial health. When you purchase local products, your money circulates within the area, benefiting local businesses and creating job opportunities. This financial boost strengthens your community infrastructure, improves schools, and revitalizes local economies. Economic Benefits for Farmers Farmers greatly benefit from your support of local food systems. When consumers prioritize purchasing locally sourced produce, it increases demand for fresh, quality ingredients. The local marketing strategies you employ, such as participating in farmers’ markets or forming partnerships with local restaurants, directly enhance your farm’s visibility. Engaging with your target market through social media marketing or local advertisements fosters stronger connections with consumers and encourages repeat purchases. Job Creation in Communities Job creation thrives when you support local economies. Shopping locally creates stable employment opportunities in your area, from farms to small businesses. Each dollar spent on local food generates additional economic activity, with estimates showing $0.32 to $0.90 reinvested back into the community. Host local events or sponsorships to promote your business and increase community engagement, which elevates brand awareness and customer loyalty. Building relationships through grassroots marketing and local influencer partnerships further drives job growth, ensuring that your community remains vibrant and economically strong. Challenges of Locally Sourced Food Locally sourced food presents certain challenges you must navigate to ensure sustainability and customer satisfaction. Understanding these can help you strategize your business’s offerings effectively. Seasonal Availability Seasonal availability significantly impacts your sourcing choices. Local food systems often face limitations based on climate conditions, which can restrict the variety of products available at different times of the year. For instance, in areas like Colorado, drought conditions can hinder organic cattle production and grazing. This variability in local produce forces you to adapt your menus and marketing strategies to match what’s fresh and available. Engage your customers with seasonal promotions that highlight current offerings and encourage them to explore new dishes based on what’s in season. Price Comparisons Price comparisons pose another challenge when it comes to locally sourced food. While customers increasingly appreciate the benefits of fresh, local ingredients, they may still compare prices against larger grocery chains that offer lower prices due to scale. Focus on showcasing the quality and unique taste of your local products through effective local marketing. Use your online presence and local listings on platforms like Google My Business and Yelp to emphasize the value of supporting local businesses. Promote loyalty programs that reward customers for choosing locally sourced options, reinforcing the perception that they receive more for their money while helping your small business thrive. How to Incorporate Locally Sourced Food into Your Diet Locally sourced food not only enhances your meals but strengthens community ties. Here’s how to effectively incorporate these ingredients into your diet. Finding Local Sources Identify local farmers’ markets to source fresh produce directly from growers. Connect with nearby farms for seasonal offerings, ensuring freshness and peak flavor. Leverage local listings and directories to discover purveyors and review options for community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs. For convenience, utilize social media platforms to engage with local producers and find events where you can buy food directly. Maintaining an online presence through a small business website can help you promote local sources and showcase your commitment to fresh ingredients. Recipes Featuring Local Ingredients Create dishes highlighting in-season produce. Incorporate vegetables like tomatoes and squash in summer salads or root vegetables in hearty winter stews. Use local herbs and spices to elevate flavors, ensuring each meal reflects the region’s bounty. Share these recipes on your blog or social media accounts to enhance community engagement and promote local ingredients. Offering loyalty programs can help encourage customers to try new dishes featuring local products. Consider hosting small business events where customers can taste these recipes, enhancing customer retention and generating positive word of mouth within the community. Conclusion Embracing locally sourced food not only enhances your meals but also strengthens your community. By choosing fresh ingredients from nearby farms you support local economies and foster connections with passionate producers. This commitment to local food systems contributes to a healthier planet by reducing transportation emissions and promoting sustainable practices. As you explore seasonal offerings and experiment with new recipes you’ll discover the rich flavors and nutritional benefits that come with eating locally. Engaging with farmers’ markets and community-supported agriculture can deepen your appreciation for the food you consume. Ultimately your choices can make a significant impact on your health and the well-being of your community. So go ahead and savor the taste of local food while making a positive difference in the world around you. Frequently Asked Questions What are the advantages of locally sourced food? Locally sourced food offers fresher ingredients, stronger community support, and numerous sustainability benefits. It enhances taste by using seasonal produce and reduces transportation emissions, which contributes to environmental health. Additionally, it helps promote a sense of connection with local farmers and encourages healthier meal options. How does locally sourced food benefit the community? Supporting local food systems strengthens community financial health by circulating money within the area, creating job opportunities, and improving local infrastructure. This economic boost fosters community engagement and encourages stronger relationships among residents, local businesses, and farmers. What nutritional benefits does local food provide? Locally sourced food is often harvested at peak ripeness, which helps retain more nutrients compared to items that travel long distances. This results in healthier meals that appeal to those conscious of their dietary choices, making it a preferred option for health-minded consumers. Are there challenges associated with locally sourced food? Yes, one challenge is seasonal availability, as climate conditions can limit the variety of products throughout the year. Additionally, consumers may compare local prices with larger grocery chains. Businesses need to effectively market the quality and unique benefits of local products to overcome these challenges. How can consumers incorporate locally sourced food into their diets? Consumers can start by visiting local farmers’ markets and connecting with nearby farms for seasonal offerings. Utilizing social media and local directories can help in discovering local purveyors. Additionally, creating recipes that highlight in-season produce and sharing them online can promote local food and inspire community engagement. Image Via Envato This article, "Why Choosing Locally Sourced Food Benefits Your Health and Community" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Though the marketing was a bit cagey, it's clear by this point that Ryan Coogler's latest, the critical and box office powerhouse Sinners, throws vampires into its genre-busting mix unashamedly. Set largely in 1932, the movie follows a couple of twin brothers (both played by Michael B. Jordan) returning to their backwater hometown of to Clarksdale, Mississippi to set up what they hope will be a lucrative juke joint—but not before navigating old relationships and the Klan leader who owns the sawmill that the two are looking to buy. By the midway point, all the movie's more grounded elements feed into a larger narrative blending magical realism, action, and horror. It's a thoroughly distinctive vision, a movie that's made a great deal of money, and an early Oscar favorite—so look for studios to learn the wrong lessons and give us a stream of generic vampire movies. Not here, though! None of these movies is particularly like Sinners, other than the vampire angle—but just as Ryan Coogler's movie uses vampires as a starting point, these movies all use undead lore in wildly different ways to tell wildly different, but consistently good, stories. Ganja & Hess (1973) A meditative, sultry, and entirely experimental horror film, writer/director Bill Gunn's Ganja stars Duane Jones (Night of the Living Dead) as Dr. Hess Green, who is attacked by his assistant with a knife belonging to a fictional ancient African tribe. He’s subsequently compelled to drink the blood of his assailant, an act that completes his vampiric transformation. Shortly thereafter, the assistant’s wife shows up looking for her husband and, even once she realizes what happened, begins a love affair with the doctor. Stylish and deliberately paced (a lot of vibes; a little plot), the movie has some smart, and very barbed, points to make about assimilation and religious hypocrisy. Spike Lee remade it in 2014 as Da Sweet Blood of Jesus but, with respect to Lee, you're much better off with the original. You can stream Ganja & Hess on Tubi and Kanopy or rent it from Prime Video. Ganja & Hess (1973) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014) Iranian-American writer/director Ana Lily Amirpour's A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night would make a list of cool vampire movies on its gorgeous black-and-white style alone: Gliding down the streets of an Iranian town in her chador, The Girl (Sheila Vand) cuts an iconic figure, even when we learn that her eerie way of movement has to do with a concealed skateboard. But Amirpour has a lot of fun with the idea that a girl traveling a deserted street in the dark might be a threat far more than a potential victim, and that a chador might be less a symbol of oppression than a means of staying concealed until the moment comes to strike. You can stream A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night on Kanopy or rent it from Apple TV+. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014) at Apple TV+ Learn More Learn More at Apple TV+ Dracula's Daughter (1936) Like father, like daughter in this direct sequel to the Bela Lugosi film, with Countess Marya Zaleska (Gloria Holden, in full Garbo mode) running afoul of Edward Van Sloan's Van Helsing from the original. The two vampires share in common not just an archnemesis, but an eye for the ladies, as well, with Countess Zaleska seducing first despondent Lili and then kidnapping Janet. What it lacks in style (not being nearly a match for Todd Browning's film in that regard) it makes up for in sheer horniness. Producers and censors were nervous about the lesbian of it all in the lead-up to the film's release, but also chose to hype it up in the marketing, especially with the very on-the-nose tagline: "Save the women of London from Dracula's Daughter!" You can rent Dracula's Daughter from Prime Video. Dracula's Daughter (1936) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Bit (2019) Nicole Maines (Supergirl) stars here as Laurel, a trans teenage girl who's off to sunny LA following her transition. She's looking for a fresh start, and it's all going great until a club afterparty leads to lots of making out—and then some blood drinking. It’s not long before Laurel is offered the chance to join an all-female group of vampires dedicated to taking care of the many predatory men walking the city’s streets. You can stream Bit on Prime Video. Bit (2019) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video What We Do in the Shadows (2014) Starring, written, and directed by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, Shadows precedes the equally great show of the same name with a similar premise: A houseful of old-world vampires (with old-school vampire trappings) looks desperately uncool when faced with the modern world. Many vampire narratives derive pathos from the idea of people trapped in a state of dull, unchanging immortality. Shadows takes that notion and mines it for solid laughs. You can rent What We Do in the Shadows from Prime Video. What We Do in the Shadows (2014) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Daughters of Darkness (1971) Erotic bisexual vampire movies, believe it or not, had a moment in the 1970s; few (if any) were more successful, and more genuinely sexy, than Daughters of Darkness. The movie has a look and feel that borders on arthouse, with a grand and elegant style, as well as a willingness to go deeper with themes (western decadence, gendered power dynamics, etc.) that have been discussed in many an academic context in the decades since. If all that makes it sound like a bore, I'll repeat that it's still very much an erotic bisexual vampire movie. Delphine Seyrig plays Countess Elizabeth Báthory, who happens upon a newlywed couple honeymooning in a remote region, and immediately sets about seducing the wife away from human sexual and moral conformity. You can stream Daughters of Darkness on Tubi and Shudder or rent it from Prime Video. Daughters of Darkness (1971) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Lost Boys (1987) It might not be the gayest vampire movie (there's a lot of competition), but it may well be the sweatiest. Directed by out gay director Joel Schumacher (several years before he made the gayest superhero movie, Batman & Robin), The Lost Boys finds brothers Sam (Corey Haim) and Michael (Jason Patric) Emerson moving with their family to sunny, schvitzy Santa Carla, California—just in time for Michael to be seduced into joining a sexy vampire gang by its blonde leader David, played by Kiefer Sutherland. The vamps bait Michael with Star (Jamie Gertz), but his desire for the girl gives way to a fascination with David that leads him down a very bloody path. You can rent The Lost Boys from Prime Video. The Lost Boys (1987) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Cronos (1992) Guillermo del Toro begins in this deeply unconventional vampire movie, the writer/director's debut. In the 16th century, an alchemist invents the titular device: a steampunk-ish scarab that conceals a creature inside. When it's rediscovered in the present by Jesús Gris (played by del Toro favorite Federico Luppi), it injects the man with an elixir that makes him (a bit) younger, and gives him a vampire's thirst for blood. Complicating matters, a dying oligarch who'd been on the trail of the Cronos isn't very happy that someone else gets the use of its powers, so he sends his relentless thug of a nephew (Ron Perlman) to hunt it down. The imagery is weird and endlessly inventive and, what's more, del Toro injects enough dark comedy around the edges so that the proceedings never bog down in self-seriousness. You can stream Cronos on Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Cronos (1992) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Blade II (2002) A decade on from Cronos, Guillermo del Toro directed this rather brilliant action spectacle—a blood-soaked good time that blends its disparate elements into a propulsive thrill ride that knows exactly what kind of movie it is. Wesley Snipes is at his sassy best as the title's vampire/vampire hunter, while every set piece is bright and colorful, and the vampires are thoroughly monstrous. Practical effects and an artist's eye turn a comic-book action movie into an essential. You can rent Blade II on Prime Video. Blade II (2002) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Nadja (1994) A fascinating novelty from director Michael Almereyda, Nadja is based (roughly) on André Breton's French surrealist manifesto of the same name; when financing for such an adaptation fell through (a near-instantaneous process), David Lynch (who also appears) stepped in and paid for the whole thing. To save money and achieve a particular look, Almereyda filmed vampire point-of-view shots on a Fisher-Price camera. All of which is to say that this is unlike other vampire movie. Two plot points kick off the film: First, the death of Count Dracula at the hands of his old nemesis, Van Helsing (Peter Fonda)—traumatizing his daughter (Elina Löwensohn); then, that same Nadja seeking out the daughter of Van Helsing to have sex with so that she can make her a thrall and carry out her goal of getting revenge on the Van Helsing family. It's an arty take on blood, gore, and horny lesbian vampires. You can stream Nadja on Prime Video. Nadja (1994) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Thirst (2009) "What if we took Emile Zola’s non-supernatural 1868 novel Thérèse Raquin and made it into a vampire horror film?" said writer/director Park Chan-wook (Oldboy), apparently. The novel is about an orphan forced into a miserable marriage with a droopy hypochondriac who begins a torrid, ill-fated affair. Here, the orphan is Tae-ju (Kim Ok-vin), and the dashing man with whom she's having an affair is Sang-hyun (Song Kang-ho), a one-time Catholic priest who developed vampiric hungers following an experiment gone wrong. Wildly stylish, and fascinating in being surprisingly faithful to a book that has nothing at all to do with vampires. You can rent Thirst from Prime Video. Thirst (2009) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Only Lovers Left Alive (2013) Is Only Lovers Left Alive a horror movie? A Gothic romance? A stoner-ish comedy? Um...yes? Indie writer/director Jim Jarmusch, who'd already put his distinctive stamp on other genres (like the idiosyncratic western Dead Man), turned his camera to horror. The movie follows a vampire couple, both alive for centuries but now living a world apart: Adam (Tom Hiddleston) is a sullen and moody musician living in a trashy Detroit apartment, while Eve (Tilda Swinton) lives a cheerier life in Tangier. She brings Adam along with her to give him a change of scenery and get him out of his gloomy rut, where she encourages him to get out to live a little, or whatever the undead equivalent is. You can rent Only Lovers Left Alive from Prime Video. Only Lovers Left Alive (2013) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Interview With the Vampire (1994) It's great that the modern TV-series adaptation dispenses with the subtext and gets real as to the relationship between Lestat and Louis, but this 1994 adaptation walks impressively close to that edge. Vampires Lestat (Tom Cruise) and Louis (Brad Pitt) set up housekeeping in moody New Orleans, "adopting" daughter Claudia (Kirsten Dunst) and generally making a glorious mockery of the all-American family unit. You can rent Interview with the Vampire from Prime Video. Interview With the Vampire (1994) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Martin (1977) George Romero manages to pack an extensive exploration of vampire lore into a film that may or may not even involve a vampire—it's not much a spoiler to offer that we're never entirely clear whether the vampirism of Martin (John Amplas) should be taken literally. From a family steeped in Eastern European folklore and myth, Martin develops a driving need to drink blood, a need that leads him to drug his victims and then slice into their veins with a razor. As usual, Romero has a lot to say, but here he's expertly playing on notions of vampires as sexual stand-ins (the impotent Martin role-plays the highly sexualized vampire attacks of earlier movies), and Romero also invites us to question our fascination with Martin even as he's engaged in repulsive acts. You can stream Martin on Tubi. Martin (1977) at Tubi Learn More Learn More at Tubi Let the Right One In (2008) One of the finest vampire movies, certainly of this century, is unexpectedly poignant, even as it doesn't skimp on the brutality. Bullied Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant) meets and befriends Eli (Lina Leandersson), a girl who appears to be about his age, but who is (you won't be surprised to learn) a vampire. Though very different, the two bond over their shared status as outsiders in the gloomy Swedish suburb of Blackeberg. You can stream Let the Right One In on Kanopy or rent it from Prime Video. Let the Right One In (2008) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Stake Land (2010) Stake Land's vampires are neither sexy nor subtle. They're fully animal creatures that stalk an apocalyptic wasteland—cutting to the chase as to what a world with vampires might quickly come to look like. As a thriller, it's gory and effective, but a movie just about humans on the run from scary vampires would be less interesting than what we get here: As is so often the case, it's the humans who remain the scariest threats. Religious fanatics calling themselves The Brotherhood are convinced that vampire are God's will, a punishment for sins and, as a result, they're perfectly happy to help the hungry beasts feed. You can stream Stake Land on Tubi, Kanopy, Peacock, and Prime Video. Stake Land (2010) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock Blood Relatives (2022) We're talking about cool vampires here, but this comedy from director Noah Segan is about a terminally uncool vampire (played by Segan), who discovers that he's the father of a grown young woman (played by a great Victoria Moroles) who inherited his vampirism, in part, and wants to connect with her dad following the death of her mom. Mostly, she just has nowhere else to go. In and among the snappy dialogue and sharp characterizations, Segan has fun puncturing vampire lore in the story of a guy who initially has no interest in connecting with his daughter, but then has a change of heart. You can stream Blood Relatives on Shudder or rent it from Prime Video. Blood Relatives (2022) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Dracula (1931) If it's hard to imagine a time when horror wasn't a powerhouse movie genre, that's because it's been that way since 1931, the year that Béla Lugosi's Count Dracula sashayed onto the screen. Tod Browning's film was a prestige adaptation of a classic novel, before it occurred to anyone to treat horror as B-level entertainment, so there's no corner-cutting in Dracula's impeccable style. Though it gets a bit stagey in its second half, the movie gives us some of horror's most indelible imagery—scenes and shots we're still referencing nearly a century later. Béla Lugosi's Dracula has been endlessly parodied and imitated, but all of that's only possible because he made one hell of an impression. You can rent Dracula from Prime Video. Dracula (1931) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video View the full article

Kohl’s has terminated its new CEO Ashley Buchanan after an investigation determined that he directed the retailer to engage in vendor transactions that involved undisclosed conflicts of interest. Kohl’s named Chairman Michael Bender as interim CEO, effective immediately. In connection with the appointment, Bender will step down as a member of the board’s audit, compensation and nominating and environmental, social and governance committee, according to the retailer’s regulatory filing. The news comes nearly four months after Buchanan, who had been previously the CEO of arts and crafts chain Michaels, took over the job on January 15. Buchanan’s appointment marks the third CEO for Kohl’s in three years as the department store struggles to reverse sluggish sales. Kohl’s said Thursday that Buchanan’s firing is unrelated to its performance, financial reporting, results of operations and did not involve any of its other employees. Kohl’s will conduct a search for a permanent CEO and said it will name a new chair in due course. The company couldn’t be immediately be reached for comment. Buchanan didn’t immediately return a message sent to his LinkedIn account. According to the Securities and Exchange Commission filing, Buchanan’s termination follows a probe conducted by outside counsel and overseen by the board’s audit committee. It found Buchanan had directed that Kohl’s conduct business with a vendor founded by an individual with whom Buchanan has a personal relationship on “highly unusual terms favorable to the vendor” and that he also caused Kohl’s to enter into a multimillion-dollar consulting agreement with the same individual who was a part of the consulting team. It also found that in neither case did Buchanan disclose this relationship as required under Kohl’s code of ethics. In connection with his termination and in accordance with the terms of his equity award agreements, Buchanan will forfeit all equity awards he received from the company, including the recruitment awards made as of January 15, according to the filing. Buchanan will also be required to reimburse Kohl’s for a pro rata portion of his signing incentive in the amount of $2.5 million, according to the documents. As a result of Buchanan’s termination, the board has determined to withdraw his nomination for election as a director of the company at the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting to be held on May 14. Buchanan had succeeded Tom Kingsbury, who stayed on as an adviser and is retaining his position on Kohl’s board until his retirement next month. Kingsbury served as Kohl’s interim CEO in December 2022 and was named its permanent leader in February 2023. The firing comes at a time when Kohl’s, which operates 1,600 stores across the country, is wrestling with sluggish sales. Its middle-income shoppers have pulled back on discretionary spending in the face of still-high prices for necessities. It’s also faced stiff competition from Walmart and Amazon, which have been improving their fashion offerings at affordable prices. And like other retailers, it is confronting uncertainty surrounding President Donald The President‘s expansive tariffs. On Thursday, Kohl’s offered a preliminary look at sales and profits for the current quarter that showed continued weakness, though the expected results are on track to beat Wall Street estimates. It said that it expects to report a decline in comparable sales—those coming from established physical stores and online channels—in the range of 4.3% to 4%, and a loss of 24 cents to 20 cents per share for the fiscal first quarter. Analysts expected earnings per share loss of 54 cents and a drop in comparable sales of 6.4%, according to FactSet. It expects to report final fiscal first-quarter results on May 29. Shares of the company, based in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, rose nearly 9% in late morning trading. —Michelle Chapman and Anne D’Innocenzio, AP business writers View the full article

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From The President Tower to the Vatican: inside the tortuous dealmaking to link Ukraine’s resources to US supportView the full article

Google started placing ads inside chat conversations with some third-party AI assistants, according to a Bloomberg report, marking another step in its push to monetize AI-powered search alternatives. Driving the news. Google’s AdSense network — traditionally used for placing ads in search results and across websites — is now running ads within chatbot interactions, according to people familiar with the rollout. The company reportedly began testing the feature earlier this year with conversational AI search startups iAsk and Liner. A Google spokesperson confirmed that AdSense is available “for websites that want to show relevant ads in their conversational AI experiences.” Why we care. Google’s move brings targeted advertising into a new, fast-growing channel: AI chatbots. As users increasingly turn to conversational AI for answers instead of traditional search, placing ads in these interactions ensures brands stay visible where attention is shifting. This also opens up new, highly contextual ad formats that could deliver better engagement and insights than standard web placements. The big picture. AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity are reshaping how people get answers online – a space historically dominated by Google Search. Google has responded by integrating its own large language models into products like Gemini and Search. Last year, it began including ads in its AI-generated overviews on Search results pages. Between the lines. By partnering with AI startups, Google can capture ad revenue regardless of who owns the search experience. Liner tailors a small number of ads to longer user queries, a model CEO Luke Jinu Kim likens to an “early version of Google search ads.” iAsk places ads below AI-generated answers before prompting follow-up questions. Yes, but. AI-driven platforms often see lower click rates – a challenge for advertising models built on volume and engagement. Still, research-heavy use cases like Liner’s may offer more targeted opportunities for brands. What to watch. Whether users find ads in AI chats useful or intrusive, and how Google balances monetization with user trust in an evolving AI search landscape. View the full article

For the second time in recent months, the Food and Drug Administration is bringing back some recently fired employees, including staffers who handle travel bookings for safety inspectors. More than 20 of the agency’s roughly 60 travel staff will be reinstated, according to two FDA staffers notified of the plan this week, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential agency matters. Food scientists who test samples for bacteria and study potentially harmful chemicals also have been told they will get their jobs back, but have yet to receive any official confirmation. The same uncertainty hangs over employees who process agency records for release to lawyers, companies and journalists under the Freedom of Information Act. About 100 of those staffers were recently eliminated, according to an agency official with direct knowledge of the situation. But in recent days the FDA has missed multiple court-ordered deadlines to produce documents, which could result in hefty fines. That’s prompted plans to bring back a significant number of those staffers. The apparent reversals are the latest examples of the haphazard approach to agency cuts that have shrunk FDA’s workforce by an estimated 20%, or about 3,500 jobs, in addition to an unspecified number of retirements, voluntary buyouts and resignations. In February, the FDA laid off about 700 provisional employees, including food and medical device reviewers, only to rehire many of them within days after pushback from industry, Congress and other parties. The Department of Health and Human Services hasn’t detailed exactly which positions or programs were cut in the mass layoffs. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary has repeatedly said that no FDA scientists were fired as part of the reductions. But at least two dozen food scientists who worked in a San Francisco testing laboratory and a Chicago research center were let go in March. An HHS spokesperson suggested the apparent mix-up was due to “the fractured, outdated HR infrastructure we inherited from the Biden administration and are now actively overhauling.” The spokesperson did not respond to specific questions about which employees are being reinstated but said the administration will “streamline operations and fix the broken systems left to us.” About 15 scientists working in FDA’s Division of Food Processing Science and Technology in Chicago were told last week they be will reinstated, according to a staffer who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential agency matters. But a week later there has been no written confirmation and the scientists have not returned to the office. The group’s research includes studying ways to prevent harmful bacteria from growing on produce and preventing the spread of microplastics and other particles from food packaging. “I hope Commissioner Makary continues to assess these ill-informed cuts and works to bring back impacted employees expeditiously,” said Susan Mayne of Yale University, the FDA’s former food director. “His legacy as commissioner is on the line.” With more than 15,000 employees remaining across various U.S. and foreign offices, the FDA’s core responsibilities are reviewing new drugs, medical products and food ingredients as well as inspecting thousands of factories. Makary has said no inspectors or medical reviewers were fired as part of the recent reductions. But current and former FDA officials note that those frontline employees are often supported by teams of administrative staff. FDA inspectors, for example, have long relied on travel bookers to coordinate trips to India and other countries that often involve visa permissions, security measures, ground transportation, tech support, translation services and other logistics. Inspectors can spend up to half the year traveling, a grueling workload that makes recruiting and retaining staff a challenge. For a brief period last month, inspectors were told they would be booking their own travel. The FDA set up a hotline to assist with making the arrangements. Then, agency leaders developed a plan to hire an outside contractor to perform the work. On Monday, staffers were informed that about a third of the fired staff who performed the work would be returning. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content. —Matthew Perrone, AP health writer AP reporter JoNel Aleccia contributed to this report. View the full article

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Scams are a dime a dozen these days—so much so, you're pretty safe ignoring most of the messages you receive from unknown senders. But every now and then, an uncommon message isn't a scam, spam, or malicious in intent; in fact, sometimes, it's an official message from none other than Apple, warning you that you're being spied on. As much as this situation sounds like classic spam, it's very much not: Apple actually did send alerts to users on Wednesday warning them they might be targeted by "mercenary spyware attacks." Two of the users Apple alerted were Ciro Pellegrino, an Italian journalist for Fanpage, and Eva Vlaardingerbroek, a Dutch right-wing activist. You can see an excerpt of the alert below: “ “Apple detected that you are being targeted by a mercenary spyware attack that is trying to remotely compromise the iPhone associated with your Apple ID -xxx-...This attack is likely targeting you specifically because of who you are or what you do. Although it’s never possible to achieve absolute certainty when detecting such attacks, Apple has high confidence in this warning — please take it seriously.” ” This isn't the first time Apple has sent users this type of warning. In fact, the company sent a round of warnings to users back in July, complete with the same message as noted above. They did the same in April of 2024, as well. According to an Apple support document on the subject, the company has sent alerts multiple times each year since 2021, now to over 150 countries in total. The specifics of the attempted attacks are limited, since Apple doesn't want to reveal how it is able to detect the risks to users. While that's understandable, it means users are left knowing they're likely the target of a spyware campaign, but without knowing from who or where. To be clear, the vast majority of users receiving these alerts are not your everyday iPhone customers. Most of the users Apple believes are being targeted by spyware work in high-profile positions that attract attacks from state actors. Think politicians, journalists, activists, diplomats, etc.—people who expose secrets or have power that other people in power would like to stop. Bad actors spend millions of dollars to target these users in elaborate spyware campaigns, attempting to install malware on their devices in an effort to spy on location, data, and activity. Perhaps the most notable spyware of this kind is Pegasus, which was created by the Israeli-based NSO Group to spy on a host of high-profile targets the government sees as "threats." What makes spyware like Pegasus particularly dangerous is it requires no action on the part of the target: Bad actors can infect iPhones and Androids with Pegasus silently in what's known as a "zero-click" attack, and track just about everything the target does on their smartphone. What to do if you receive this alertIf you do receive one of these alerts, the first step is to ensure it's real. The company will send alerts via iMessage and email: iMessage alerts are sent from [threat-notifications@apple.com], while email alerts are from [threat-notifications@email.apple.com]. Before April of this year, Apple sent both from the @apple.com domain. Even if you confirm the address, sign into appleid.apple.com and look for the threat notification at the top of the page. If Apple really sent you one, you'll see it here. Otherwise, assume the message is fake. Apple says its alert will never ask you to click a link, open a file, or install an app or profile, so if the "alert" asks you to do this, ignore it. These are classic tactics to trick users into installing the very malware a true alert would try to protect you from. The company also recommends you reach out to the non-profit Access Now and use their Digital Security Helpline. While they won't be able to offer you specific advice about your situation, they will be able to walk you through general steps to secure yourself. Whether you receive an alert, or your work involves one of these at-risk positions, Apple strongly encourages you to enable Lockdown Mode on your Apple devices. Lockdown Mode restricts many of the basic functions of your Apple devices, to plug potential holes bad actors can exploit to compromise those devices. This includes blocking things like message attachment types, web technologies in Safari, and incoming FaceTime calls. The feature also removes your location from shared photos, and stops configuration profiles from being installed on your device. As Lockdown Mode limits the features of your iPhone or Mac, it's not something that most people should use on a daily basis. However, for those who may be targeted by bad actors, it can be a great line of defense. You can follow our guide here to enable Lockdown Mode on your Apple devices to protect yourself. View the full article

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Some good news for Publishers Clearing House (PCH) customers: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said Wednesday that the sweepstakes company is paying for refund checks to 281,724 customers who ordered a product after receiving and clicking on an email, which included “deceptive and unfair” practices, according to the FTC’s allegations. Here’s what you need to know. What happened? Publishers Clearing House, which has been known for decades for its sweepstakes deals and big checks, agreed to pay a total of about $18.5 million in refunds and make substantial changes to its e-commerce operations. “While we disagreed with the FTC’s assertions at the time, we were glad to have resolved the matter and move forward continuing to do what we do best—provide consumers fun entertainment and games powered by our famous chance to win,” Christopher Irving, vice president of consumer and legal affairs at PCH, told CBS News. Irving added that the current refunds are based on the FTC’s complaint and settlement from two years ago. Among other things, the 2023 lawsuit alleges PCH misled customers into thinking they had to make a purchase to enter the sweepstakes or to increase their chance of winning, and that the email subject lines were deceptively worded. The FTC also charged that the company added surprise shipping and handling fees to the costs of products, misrepresented that ordering is “risk free,” used deceptive emails as part of its marketing campaign, and misrepresented its policies on selling users’ personal data to third parties prior to January 2019. Here are the three main charges of the FTC’s complaint: PCH targeted older and lower-income consumers, deceiving them into thinking either that consumers could not enter into sweepstakes without purchasing a product, or that their chances of winning would be increased by purchasing products. PCH misled consumers by sending emails with deceptive subject lines that led consumers to believe the email was related to official documents, such as tax forms. PCH added deceptive shipping and handling fees and misrepresented that ordering was “risk-free,” even though consumers who wanted refunds had to return products at their own expense. What to know about getting a Publishers Clearing House refund check The FTC said recipients who receive a refund should cash their checks within 90 days, as indicated on the check. If you received a refund and have additional questions, contact Publishers Clearing House at 888-516-0774 or by email here. Consumers who have questions about the refund process can also visit the FTC website to view the frequently asked questions. The FTC does not require people to pay money or provide account information to get a refund. For some context, in 2024, the commission’s actions led to more than $338 million in refunds to consumers across the United States. View the full article

The The President administration has framed tariffs as a necessary tool for bringing more jobs to the U.S. and reviving the manufacturing sector. But many economists have warned that widespread job creation is unlikely, given the cost to companies—and in the meantime, The President’s substantial tariffs will drive up prices for both consumers and businesses, likely forcing them to cut costs through layoffs. Many frontline workers have already expressed concerns about the effect that the tariffs could have on their job security. In a survey by workforce management software company UKG, over half of the 5,000 frontline workers surveyed—defined as people who do shift work or are paid hourly—said they believed they could be laid off, while 74% expect that the tariffs will affect their earnings potential. Gen Z workers were the most likely to be concerned about layoffs, but the majority of workers described feeling nervous, stressed, or angry about the impact of tariffs on their jobs. Though the tariffs have already shaken up financial markets, the vast majority of workers (77%) believe that The President’s trade policies will harm smaller businesses more than Wall Street firms. According to the survey, tariffs are also driving changes in how workers are showing up on the job. Over 70% of respondents said their workplace behavior had changed in some capacity: Many of them claimed to be working harder to “prove their value,” while others were picking up additional shifts. Nearly half of workers were striving to increase their savings. About two-thirds of those surveyed said they expected the tariffs would likely limit their future job prospects. Workers have reason to be worried. President The President’s trade policies already seem to be impacting the workforce: The automaker Stellantis has trimmed headcount by about 900 across several manufacturing plants anticipating the impact of tariffs, while Volvo is cutting up to 800 jobs. Just this week, UPS announced that it would slash 20,000 jobs within the year to reduce costs, citing “macroeconomic uncertainty” and also noting the high likelihood of decreased shipping volume from China due to the tariffs. (Another major factor is that UPS is significantly cutting back on deliveries for Amazon.) Agricultural exporters are feeling the financial effects of the tariffs and have turned to layoffs, according to a CNBC report. Some experts have said that the tariffs might eventually create more manufacturing jobs stateside, and a number of major companies have already said they are expanding their manufacturing footprint in the U.S. But a Goldman Sachs analysis found that the tariffs could also lead to hundreds of thousands of job losses across the workforce—something that many workers clearly seem to anticipate. View the full article

Organizations look structured and logical from the outside—boxes and lines, reporting relationships, KPIs, and performance frameworks. But walk into any real meeting, and you’ll sense it: side glances, shifting energy, people going silent when one voice enters the room, unexplained resistance to change, and power dynamics no slide deck could predict. That’s not just dysfunction. That’s the system speaking, and most leaders aren’t listening. That is why we need something called systemic intelligence. Systemic intelligence is the capacity to sense and respond to the invisible forces shaping an organization’s behavior, culture, and outcomes. It’s not about titles or tactics. It’s about understanding: The unspoken agreements that guide behavior The loyalties people carry—to past leaders, ideas, or roles The emotional undercurrents in teams and across departments The patterns of inclusion and exclusion that shape decision-making The stories that are being told, and the ones that aren’t If emotional intelligence helps you understand individuals, systemic intelligence enables you to understand relationships, fields, and patterns. It’s what allows a leader to walk into a room and feel the temperature, not just the metrics, but the mood of an organization. Why This Matters More Than Ever The modern workplace is in flux. Hybrid work, generational shifts, AI transformation, and rising emotional exhaustion reveal how fragile many organizational systems are. And yet, most leadership development still focuses on logic, linearity, and surface-level skills. Here’s the reality: 70% of transformation efforts fail, primarily due to hidden dynamics—cultural resistance, misalignment, and lack of trust. Furthermore, only 27% of employees believe their company’s values align with how work actually gets done. Most strategies fail not because they are wrong but because they are disconnected from the reality of the system they are trying to move. If leaders don’t learn to see the system, they will be ruled by forces they don’t understand. A Moment That Changed Everything I once worked with a leadership team navigating the aftermath of a merger. They had a new vision, a reorg plan, and a glossy set of PowerPoint decks. But something was stuck. Meetings were tense. Morale was low. Alignment felt forced. So, we paused the strategy session and held a story circle. One leader finally voiced what everyone else had been feeling: “I still feel loyalty to our former CEO. We never really said goodbye. And it feels like we’re not allowed to grieve the culture we lost.” In that moment, something shifted. What emerged wasn’t just emotion; it was clarity. The energy in the room softened, and trust began to rebuild. The team could finally move forward—not by pushing harder, but by acknowledging what had been in the system all along. What you don’t name, you can’t shift. The S.E.E.N. Framework for Systemic Intelligence Systemic intelligence isn’t about having special powers. It’s about cultivating a new kind of leadership presence that’s attuned to what’s happening beneath the surface. You don’t develop this awareness by accident. You create it by practicing small but powerful shifts in observing, listening, and engaging with your organization as a living, breathing system. To help leaders begin, I use a simple guide: “S.E.E.N.” It’s a reminder that before you can shape a system, you must first learn to see it. S – Sense the Field. Slow down. Listen beyond the words. What’s present, but unspoken? What’s the emotional temperature? Before jumping into action, ask your team: “What’s the mood in the room right now?” Then sit with the silence. E – Explore Hidden Loyalties. People don’t just commit to goals—they commit to identities, past leaders, and unspoken rules. What loyalties are operating beneath the surface? For example, a team resistant to innovation may not fear change—they may be protecting the legacy of a beloved product or person. E – Examine the Energy Flow. Where is energy stuck? Who gets centered, and who gets sidelined? Where does attention naturally go? Where does it get blocked? Map informal influence—not just reporting lines. Who really holds trust in the system? N – Name What Needs to Be Acknowledged. Often, healing doesn’t come from solving—it comes from witnessing. What grief, transition, or injustice needs to be seen and honored? What if your next strategic move began with a ritual of acknowledgment, not another set of objectives? How to Start Seeing the System You don’t need to become a therapist. You just need to become more attuned to the emotional undercurrents, unspoken dynamics, and patterns shaping your team. Here are a few ways to begin: Host Campfire Conversations. Create spaces where stories—not just updates—can be shared. Start with: “Tell us about a moment that shaped your connection to this organization.” Bring in Outside Eyes. Artists, facilitators, systemic coaches, or organizational psychologists can help visualize dynamics your team may be too close to see. Use Visual Mapping. Ask: “What’s the formal structure? What’s the informal one? Who’s at the center of decisions, and who’s on the margins?” Slow the Agenda. Build in white space. Let emotion, silence, or discomfort have a seat at the table. Intelligence lives in the spaces we’re often too quick to fill. Most leaders try to fix what they can see. But true leadership begins by learning to sense what you can’t. Strategy is important, and structure is necessary, but without systemic intelligence, even the best plans will stall. Because what’s unacknowledged gets acted out, and what’s seen can finally start to shift. So, the next time your team feels stuck, ask yourself: “What’s really going on here? What’s in the system that no one is naming?” That question might be your most strategic move yet. View the full article