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The most destructive project management habits aren't about missing skills or knowledge gaps — they're behavioral patterns that even the most certified PMs struggle to recognize in themselves. Experts and coaches reveal the top habits holding project managers back, from passive order-taking to over-reliance on tools, and what it really takes to lead effectively. The post The Destructive Habits Coaches and Leaders Coach out of Project Managers appeared first on The Digital Project Manager. View the full article

The real estate fintech touted Doma's role in Fannie Mae's title-acceptance pilot as key to the deal, which follows Opendoor's recent mortgage product rollout. View the full article

YouTube used its NewFront presentation to unveil a significant upgrade to its Creator Partnerships platform, adding Gemini-powered creator matching, stronger measurement tools, and new ways to run creator content as paid ads. Why we care. Influencer marketing has become a core part of many brands’ strategies, but finding the right creators at scale and proving ROI is a pain point. tackles influencer marketing’s two biggest friction points — finding the right creator and proving ROI. Gemini-powered matching cuts through the noise of three million creators, while the ability to run creator content as paid Shorts and in-stream ads makes performance measurable like any standard campaign, backed by a reported 30% conversion lift. How it works. The updated platform uses Gemini to recommend creators from a pool of more than three million YouTube Partner Program members, filtered by campaign goals. Advertisers get more control over who they work with and better visibility into how those partnerships perform. The big new feature. A revamped Creator Partnerships boost lets brands run creator-made content directly as Shorts and in-stream ads — formats YouTube says deliver an average 30% lift in conversions. The big picture. The announcement builds on BrandConnect, YouTube’s existing creator monetization infrastructure, showing that the platform is doubling down on the creator economy as a growth lever for advertisers — not just a content strategy. What’s next. Brands interested in the updated tools can watch the full NewFront presentation on YouTube for more details. View the full article

It’s been an outrageously long wait, but Google will finally allow Gmail users to change their email addresses. Late last year, a support page in Hindi hinted that changes to Google’s account name policy were on the way, but now it’s official. The company posted the news to X, but noted that only U.S. users will be offered the new flexibility for now. To make the change, head to your email settings options and click “change Google Account email.” Your email history and saved data will remain tied to the account, so don’t worry about losing anything. Users can change their Google account names across products like Gmail, Photos, and Drive, but really, email is the front-facing account people have been begging to change for ages. When you update your Google account name, your old handle will become an alias, so you can still use it to communicate over email. If you really wanted, you could revert back – but after this long of a wait, you’re probably ready to move on anyway. You asked, we delivered. If you’re a U.S. Google user, you can now change your account username for tools like Gmail, Photos, Drive and more — while keeping your emails, data and account history. Here’s what to know: 1️⃣ You can choose any available @gmail.com username. 2️⃣… pic.twitter.com/eF2lgbJaFg — Google (@Google) March 31, 2026 Gmail users eligible for a name change can pick a new username once per year up to three times total over their account’s lifetime. While limited, that policy is much more generous than being stuck with KrazyKat10@gmail.com over the course of your decades-long professional career. Google spends plenty of time and energy infusing its software with AI, but the company is notorious for letting its core products languish without basic quality of life updates. Gmail now offers hit or miss AI summaries at the top of the inbox, meanwhile essential products like Google Calendar lack common sense features like letting you add events using natural language. Given the company’s uneven track record of updates for some of its most important consumer-facing products, the Gmail news is a breath of fresh air — even if it’s one we really had to wait for. Google’s policy of only allowing users a small handful of Gmail accounts for each phone number makes sense from a security perspective, but it pairs terribly with its policy of locking people into the username they choose from the jump. Whether you’ve remarried, changed your business name, or just outright hated what you picked to begin with, there are myriad reasons you might want to ditch an old Gmail address. Now, you finally can. View the full article

Reddit ranks as the most-cited domain in AI-generated answers, followed by YouTube and LinkedIn, based on a new analysis of 30 million sources by Peec AI, an AI search analytics tool. The findings. Reddit was the most-cited source across ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Gemini, Perplexity, and AI Overviews. YouTube, LinkedIn, Wikipedia, and Forbes also ranked in the top five. Review platforms like Yelp and G2 appeared often in recommendation queries. The research showed which domains models rely on: ChatGPT favored Wikipedia, Reddit, and editorial sites like Forbes. Google leaned toward platforms like Facebook and Yelp. Perplexity emphasized Reddit, LinkedIn, and G2 for B2B queries. Why we care. To win in AI search, you need authority beyond your site. Brands that appear consistently across trusted third-party platforms are more likely to be cited. Why these sources? AI systems prioritize perceived authority plus authentic user input: Reddit leads because it captures real user discussions. YouTube dominates video citations via transcripts and descriptions. Wikipedia serves as both a live source and a training dataset. About the data. The analysis covered 30 million sources across ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Gemini, Perplexity, and AI Overviews, measuring domains directly cited in answers to isolate what shapes responses. The study. Top domains cited by AI search: Analysis based on 30M sources Dig deeper. More citation research: AI citations favor listicles, articles, product pages (March 2026) Only 15% of pages retrieved by ChatGPT appear in final answers (March 2026) ChatGPT citations favor a small group of domains (March 2026) Google’s AI Mode is citing Google more than any other site (March 2026) 44% of ChatGPT citations come from the first third of content (February 2026) AI Overview fan-out rankings boost citation odds by 161% (December 2025) Tracking AI search citations: Who’s winning across 11 industries (October 2025) YouTube dominates AI search with 200x citation advantage (October 2025) AI search relies on brand-controlled sources, not Reddit (October 2025) How to get cited by AI: SEO insights from 8,000 AI citations (May 2025) 82% of Google AI Overviews citations come from deep pages (March 2025) View the full article

Home prices increased 0.9% year-over-year and 0.1% month-over-month in January, according to the S&P Cotality Case-Shiller national home price index. View the full article

School is out for Rec Room: The social gaming platform announced on Monday it is shutting down this June, despite “reaching over 150 million players and creators along the way” since its founding in 2016. “Despite this popularity, we never quite figured out how to make Rec Room a sustainably profitable business,” the company said in a statement. “Our costs always ended up overwhelming the revenue we brought in. “We spent a long time trying to find a way to make the numbers work.” “But with the recent shift in the VR market, along with broader headwinds in gaming, the path to profitability has gotten tough enough that we’ve made the difficult decision to shut things down,” it explained. Once valued at $3.5 billion, Rec Room is a popular, cross-platform social video game that allows players to hang out, create, and share user-generated games and virtual goods. “Over the last decade, players made over half a billion friends on the platform, spending a cumulative 68 thousand years in Rec Room; with millions still showing up each month,” according to the announcement. The Seattle-based company said it is pulling the plug now, while it still has the ability to wind things down “thoughtfully and do right by the people who built this with us.” What does this mean for players? As of Monday, users can no longer create new accounts, add a friend, or sign up for a Rec Room Plus (RR+) membership. However, active memberships are good until June 1. On that day, players will no longer be able to log into and play Rec Room, and at noon Pacific time, the website rec.net will go offline. How did we get here? The news comes after two sets of layoffs last year. In August, Rec Room cut 141 jobs, bringing the staff down to just over 100 people. That’s after March layoffs cut 16% of its workforce, according to Geek Wire. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. If there’s one thing Prime Video’s The Boys proves, it’s that it’s good to be suspicious of the powerful. While the near-invincible Homelander is the most terrifying sociopath currently on our screens, none of the Compound-V-augmented characters in this show are good people. Heck, even the characters without superpowers are pretty gross. But that’s part of the charm, and the reason why The Boys is such subversive fun. If you’ve binged the final episodes and are looking for more laser-eyed, 'Herogasm'-style entertainment—and you’ve already burned through all the other TV shows in the same vein—don’t fret: There are also a bunch of movies, novels, podcasts, and video games that will scratch that itch. The best books like The BoysSuperheroes behaving badly has been a literary theme for a very long time, and there are some excellent books about folks with superpowers (and super problems) waiting to be discovered. The Umbrella Academy, Vol. 1 $9.99 at Amazon $17.99 Save $8.00 Shop Now Shop Now $9.99 at Amazon $17.99 Save $8.00 Steelheart (The Reckoners) $7.68 at Amazon $14.99 Save $7.31 Shop Now Shop Now $7.68 at Amazon $14.99 Save $7.31 Vicious (Villains, 1) $9.10 at Amazon $19.99 Save $10.89 Shop Now Shop Now $9.10 at Amazon $19.99 Save $10.89 We Could Be Heroes: a novel – A Gripping Sci-Fi Fantasy Adventure of Superheroes and Lost Memories $14.49 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $14.49 at Amazon Soon I Will Be Invincible (07) by Grossman, Austin [Paperback (2008)] at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now at Amazon SEE 2 MORE The Umbrella Academy, by Gerard WayIf you’re looking for superhero messiness, this comic book series (also adapted into a terrific Netflix show) is perfect. When dozens of super-powered children are mysteriously born around the world, an alien in disguise adopts seven of them, forms them into the Umbrella Academy, and trains them to save the world from a future apocalypse. Familial dysfunction, heel turns, and messy personal lives afflict the kids, and when they reform as adults, their lingering resentments (and mental health issues) make saving the world as messy as you’d hope. Steelheart, by Brandon SandersonIt’s tuned to a younger audience than The Boys (no Herogasms here), but the story will appeal to the show’s fans. When a mysterious alien artifact begins orbiting Earth, some people become “Epics” gifted with uncanny superpowers. The Epics naturally let their absolute power corrupt them absolutely almost immediately, and the world swirls into chaos. Just like The Boys, in Steelheart, a group of scrappy, angry regular folks band together, determined to kill Epics—and things get pretty epic indeed. Vicious, by V.E. SchwabSchwab’s take on less-than-heroic superheroes is a bit more personal than The Boys, but no less entertaining. Victor Vale and Eli Cardale meet as college roommates and discover a way to gain superpowers, turning people into what they call Extraordinaries. A disastrous experiment lands Victor in jail and prompts Eli to dedicate himself to hunting down Extraordinaries and eliminating them. When Victor escapes his cell, the two former friends are suddenly on a terrifying collision course. We Could Be Heroes, by Mike ChenFlawed people misusing their special abilities? Look no further than We Could Be Heroes. Jamie and Zoe have both lost much of their memories, their pasts a total mystery. Both also have extraordinary abilities they use in selfish, stupid ways: Jamie can read minds and erase memories, and uses his power to scam his way through life. Zoe is incredibly fast and strong, and uses those advantages to scratch out a living and occasionally beat down some bullies. When they meet and partner to seek out their missing memories, they find themselves forced to grow up and step up—if they can. Soon I Will be Invincible, by Austin GrossmanGrossman’s 2007 novel follows two super-powered characters: Dr. Impossible, possessing super strength and intellect, and Fatale, a cyborg recently recruited into a group of superheroes called the New Champions. As Fatale helps the team investigate the disappearance of a super called CoreFire, she becomes disillusioned—superheroes, it turns out, are as petty and selfish as anyone else. And when Dr. Impossible breaks out of prison to launch his thirteenth attempt to take over the world, he’s haunted by his constant failures. Witnessing the mess these two make is perfect entertainment for fans of The Boys. The best movies like The BoysThere is no shortage of feature-length interrogations of the superhero myth. If you want more flawed, all-too-normal heroes failing upward, these movies are among the best. Watchmen (2009) Adapted from Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’s all-time classic graphic novel, the film shows us an alternate timeline where costumed vigilantes proliferated from the late 1930s until a public backlash led to legislation banning masked crimefighters. It’s really an examination of the whole superhero mythos awash in Cold War-era paranoia, and it’s a gloriously unapologetic story filled with flawed, unlikeable folks who happen to be capable of incredible violence. Stream Watchmen on HBO Max or rent it from Prime Video. Watchmen (2009) $3.79 at Prime Video Learn More Learn More $3.79 at Prime Video Chronicle (2012) Chronicle is a subversion of wish fulfillment most of us will recognize—the desire to suddenly have the power to do whatever we want. When three teenagers encounter a strange artifact, they gain telekinetic powers, including the ability to fly. Initially, they use their powers to play pranks and to gain popularity, but one kid’s difficult home life and emotional instability lead to tragedy and increasing levels of mayhem. It’s a sadder, more human take on the subject than The Boys, but offers the same pleasures. Stream Chronicle on HBO Max or rent it from Prime Video. Chronicle (2012) $3.99 at Prime Video Learn More Learn More $3.99 at Prime Video Super (2010) No one in Super has special powers, unless emotional instability and violent rage are considered “powers.” Rainn Wilson plays Frank, a devoutly religious man who believes God wants him to become a masked superhero called The Crimson Bolt. As The Bolt, Frank uses a pipe wrench to savagely beat criminals, but his personal issues soon drag him into a bloody, violent mess that spirals out of control, answering the question of why society doesn’t encourage masked vigilantes. Stream Super on PlutoTV or rent it from Prime Video. Super (2010) $3.99 at Prime Video Learn More Learn More $3.99 at Prime Video Kick-Ass (2010) A hilarious look at the dark side of turning to violence to solve your problems, Kick-Ass has gained a cult following since its release, in no small part because of the deranged performance of Chloë Grace Moretz, who was 12 years old at the time. After gaining a high tolerance for pain and some metal bone reinforcement, teenager Dave transforms himself into Kick-Ass, a masked superhero who fights crime, eventually joining forces with Big Daddy, a former cop pursuing revenge against a mobster, and his daughter Hit-Girl (Moretz). Stream Kick-Ass on Fubo or rent it from Prime Video. Kick-Ass (2010) $3.99 at Prime Video Learn More Learn More $3.99 at Prime Video The Suicide Squad (2021) If you just love the idea of imperfect, incompetent, and all-too-human superheroes, this second attempt to adapt the DC comic characters to film (the less said about the first attempt, the better) is a great choice. The rag-tag group of antiheroes and mild villains who offered shorter prison sentences in exchange for dangerous service doing black ops for the government has the perfect balance of humor, violence, and heart. The weirdo super-antiheroes in the Squad are just as awful as the supes in The Boys in many ways, but there’s a definite thread of hope here that’s usually missing from Prime Video’s show. Stream The Suicide Squad on HBO Max or rent it from Prime Video. The Suicide Squad (2021) $3.99 at Prime Video Learn More Learn More $3.99 at Prime Video The best video games like 'The Boys'Since superheroes were first put on screens, people have wanted to play games where they get to experience what it’s like to have such power. If you’re a fan of the dark, funny take The Boys has on that superhero life, these games are for you. Infamous If you wonder how you’d react to waking up with superpowers, play Infamous. You play as Cole, a dude who gets superpowers after an explosion in Empire City. While the main thrust of the game has you using those powers to restore order in the aftermath, there’s a Karma system baked in that lets you use your powers for less-than-good, which shapes how the rest of the game plays out. Platforms: PlayStation Infamous Collection [Sony Playstation 3, PS3] $59.99 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $59.99 at Amazon Dispatch Dispatch has The Boys vibes for days, especially if you’ve ever wondered how the normal executives at Vought sleep at night. You play as a former superhero reduced to working as a dispatcher for a group of supervillains-turned-heroes. It’s your job to allocate resources and superpowers appropriately as crises pop up—which is a lot more stressful than you might imagine. Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam Dispatch by Adhoc Studio $29.99 at Steam Shop Now Shop Now $29.99 at Steam Injustice: Gods Among Us As fun as it is to play a fighting game where you can be various superheroes and villains from the DC universe, the chaos and carnage of supes destroying one another is just one reason this game is perfect for fans of The Boys. The other is the fact that the game is set in a universe where Superman has broken bad and become Zach Snyder’s worst nightmare: A global tyrant not above using his omnipotence to get whatever he wants. Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Wii U, Steam Injustice Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition (PS4) $24.99 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $24.99 at Amazon The Boys: Trigger Warning Okay, it’s only available for the Meta Quest platform, but a PS5 version is in the wings. And you can’t get closer to The Boys in a video game unless you’re playing as the Boys in a video game. You take on the role of a man whose life is saved after being given Compound V by the Boys, which also give you temporary superpowers. The Boys promptly put you to work on their behalf, and the mayhem begins. The tone, spirit, and atmosphere are exactly like the show, making this the perfect gaming experience. Platforms: Meta Quest The Boys: Trigger Warning $29.99 at Meta Shop Now Shop Now $29.99 at Meta Saints Row IV The Saints Row games were never known for their restraint, and this entry is absurd enough for fans of The Boys. After being trapped in a simulation and forced to fight their way out, the President of the United States (don’t ask—the lore is deep, and silly) and their former gang (again, don’t ask) gain superpowers when allies hack the simulation, sort of like in The Matrix. The result is a delirious experience that has held up surprisingly well over the years. Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam Saints Row IV: Re-Elected + Gat out of Hell $30.00 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $30.00 at Amazon The best podcasts like The BoysWhether you want to dig into the themes, backstories, and theories about the show and its characters or fall asleep listening to stories with similar vibes, these podcasts are great for fans of The Boys. Let’s Hear It for The Boys Credit: Podcast logo Recaps, discussions, theories: Let's hear It for The Boys is a great place for fans of the show to get their regular dose of thinking way too hard about this ridiculous universe and its awful, no-good residents. Compound B – A Show About The Boys Credit: Podcast logo Another podcast that’s like hanging out with people who do nothing but watch The Boys and Gen V and then talk about each episode in such granular detail you start to worry about their mental health. But if that’s your vibe, Compound B is the podcast for you. Behind the Bastards Credit: Podcast logo If you love the way The Boys explores how people who could be superheroes turn into, well, Homelander, Behind the Bastards will fascinate you. It’s about real-life historical figures, but you will recognize Homelander’s brand of arrogant sociopathy in many of the people examined here. Vigil Credit: Podcast logo A narrative podcast about a “support” superhero named Vigil—who works in the background, usually unrecognized, to ensure the success of the top-line talent—this podcast is presented in a “mockumentary” format that matches up well with the tone of the show. Superhuman Public Radio (SPR) Credit: Podcast logo What’s great about this podcast is the potential for immersion: Superhuman Public Radio is presented as an NPR-style radio program that presents news segments from an alternate reality where superheroes routinely battle, try to save the planet, or misbehave in spectacular ways. It’s like living in a universe like The Boys for a little while. View the full article

Novo Nordisk just launched a new subscription program for Wegovy customers. In an announcement Tuesday, the Danish GLP-1 maker said the new program will help “reduce cost uncertainty” so that people can maintain access to their obesity drugs. Wegovy contains semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist used for chronic weight management. Novo Nordisk also promised savings of up to $600 per year for the pill form of the drug and up to $1,200 per year for the injections with a 12-month subscription. Eligible patients can choose the self-pay options that work best for them. A three-month plan will cost users $329 per month. A six-month plan is $299 per month. And a 12-month subscription comes with a monthly fee of just $249. “The new Wegovy subscription program removes barriers, providing people who enroll with a simple, affordable, and consistent way to start and stay on genuine, FDA-approved treatment,” said Ed Cinca, senior vice president of marketing and patient solutions at Novo Nordisk, in the announcement. Cinca continued: “By providing predictable monthly pricing, multi-month options, and access through trusted telehealth providers, this program aims to support a more manageable way for people to stay on treatment and focus on achieving meaningful, sustainable weight loss outcomes.” The subscription options are now available through Ro, WeightWatchers, LifeMD, Hims & Hers, and Sesame. The announcement noted that it will be made available through even more services soon. Novo Nordisk’s announcement comes as the company and Hims & Hers recently entered a partnership, ending a legal battle over copycat versions of Novo’s medications being sold on the telehealth platform for a third of the price. The announcement of the deal seemed to confirm, as does Tuesday’s announcement, that Novo Nordisk hopes to continue its expansion. The expansion makes sense, given the company’s sales slowed in 2025, mostly due to increased competition from Eli Lilly, along with other competitors. Earlier this year, Lilly’s stocks surged after it introduced its KwikPen treatment, made for more convenient injections, as the company seemed to be pulling ahead in the weight-loss medication market. According to a recent Yahoo Finance report, Lilly is still dominating the market. Its Q4 revenue increased 43%, to $19.3 billion, while Novo Nordisk said it expected sales to decline between 5% and 13% this year. View the full article

A reader writes: The company I currently work for was perfect for me when I started in the corporate world — low-key, the owner is very hands-off, and my bosses let me work without micromanaging. But recently we’ve become a lot bigger while still keeping that “small business” mindset. Our profit has more than quadrupled in the past seven years, but the number of employees in headquarters has not increased in response (we’re still fewer than 20 people). A daily catch phrase is, “It’ll slow down eventually … right?” It’s wearing me down to a point where I need to find another job, and I have started to activity job search. My concern is, I honestly do the job of three people (with three different managers) and I know they won’t be able to hire and train someone between me putting in my notice and leaving. No one else at the company is currently able to do the majority of my work. How can I start prepping and training my coworkers to do my jobs without making it obvious I’m planning to leave? Or potentially putting my job in jeopardy before I can get a new job? Or this a situation where I just need to let it go and say, “Not my responsibility”? The latter. If your employer were as concerned about this as you are, they would be creating time and structures for you to cross-train your colleagues. They’re not, so you don’t need to. There are some limits to that: the more senior your job gets, the more it’s your responsibility to ensure things like that are taken care of. If you’re a department director saying “no one will be able to cover even the basics if I’m buried in an avalanche tomorrow, oh well, too bad,” that’s a problem. That kind of planning is part of that job. And even if you’re not that senior, at a certain responsibility level in some cases it would be part of doing the job well to identify the must-do areas that other people need to be trained in and ensure that happens, or point it out to someone who can — or to say to your own boss, “Here’s a major point of weakness in our coverage, here’s what the consequences could be if I were suddenly not here, and here’s what I think we could do about it — but I don’t currently have any time to do it.” So if you haven’t done that last part, you should. You don’t need to make it obvious that it’s because you’re thinking about leaving; frame it as thinking about what would happen if you were suddenly hospitalized, won the lottery, got eaten by a wild boar, etc. But if they don’t make it a priority — which means carving out actual time for you to do it by moving back other priorities and doing the same for the people you want to train in your areas — then you don’t need to either. You’ll have flagged it for them, and the next steps are up to them. All that said, if you have time to work on some transition documentation that you can leave behind, that’s a good thing to do … but it doesn’t sound like you have a ton of spare time for that, and it’s not something you should work extra hours to get done (since again, if it were that important to your employer, they’d ensure you had time to prioritize it). Moreover, when people leave behind detailed and beautifully organized documentation for their work, it often never gets looked at by anyone — so it’s definitely not something you should contort yourself to achieve if it’s not easily doable. (For that same reason, if you do it, aim for a couple of pages of bulleted info, max. The idea isn’t to write a detailed manual to how to do your job — again, unless you’re asked to and given enough time for it — it’s to leave the most key info for whoever needs it when you’re gone.) But it’s very normal in office-type jobs not to be able to hire and train someone before a person leaves. Most people give two weeks of notice, which isn’t enough time to advertise the job, interview candidates, make an offer, and then wait for that person to give their own notice. So it’s not unusual that they won’t be able to do that; that’s how it normally goes and companies muddle through. “Muddling through” can mean that they back-burner projects you were working on out of necessity, or half-ass them in ways you wouldn’t have, or kill certain projects altogether, or bring in outside help. Or sure, occasionally a team will crash and burn because someone leaves, but it’s surprisingly rare for that to be the result. More often, their solutions just might not look like how you’re doing everything now, but they’ll figure it out. Regardless, it’s not yours to solve because this is not your company! Flag the concern, and then leave it to them to decide what to do about it. The post how do I train my team to do my job without making it obvious I’m planning to leave? appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

Furniture is one of the biggest hurdles during a move, because good dressers and couches are bulky and expensive. During a stressful time, it makes sense to crave something cheap delivered straight to your door. That’s where fast furniture comes in. These are simple pieces made with a mishmash of plastics, fiberboard and chipboard that aren’t built to last. They can typically be ordered online, are mass-produced and ship unassembled in a flat-packed box. They get the job done, but once thrown out, their ingredients generally can’t be recycled and don’t break down well. “It’s of little emotional value, it’s fleeting, and it is not going to accompany you through your life’s journey,” said furniture and design expert Deana McDonagh with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Americans dumped over 12 million tons (10.8 million metric tons) of furniture in 2018, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, and 80% of it ended up in landfills. Moving is chaotic, and fast furniture is a sensible solution. But there are ways to decorate your home that are just as cheap and may furnish other parts of your life. Community groups can help save money When Heather Strong moved to her own place in the Los Angeles area, newly single, she felt like she was starting over. Many of her well-loved furniture pieces, like her favorite pan rack, stayed with her ex in the home she’d left. That’s when she discovered the Buy Nothing Project: an app and network of local Facebook groups where people gave and got things for free. A year and a half later, Strong has furnished her home with dining room chairs, wood furniture and bedding from her neighbors. “I’ve had the chance to explore different areas of my own community and venture out a little. And I’ve made some friends,” said Strong, a business owner. Buy Nothing’s co-founder Liesl Clark recommends asking your neighbors before ordering that unassembled coffee table. Comb through neighborhood Facebook and Nextdoor groups, check gifting sites like Freecycle and see if a friend of a friend knows anyone getting rid of their furniture. Or, look on curbs and front stoops for nice pieces that others have left behind. “You will get so much more satisfaction. You’ll save funds that you can then perhaps spend more locally,” Clark said. Maddie Fischer has furnished most of her Brooklyn apartment with pre-loved pieces. She found one of her living room chairs in a trash bag on the street and nabbed her kitchen table for free in a move-out giveaway, recruiting her sister and friends to carry it down four flights of stairs. “I don’t mind when things look like they’ve had a little bit of wear and tear,” said Fischer, a social media manager. “I think it gives them more character.” If you can’t find the item you want on the curb, shop secondhand. Try neighborhood thrift stores or sift through sites like eBay, Vinted and Gumtree. There are also furniture rental websites to source quality items for a short time, but can be pricey. Build a quality furniture collection over time If finances permit, it’s never too early to start thinking about buying high-quality furniture. Dressers and tables made of wood and other natural materials are more unique and give the home a personal touch. Plus, they last longer and don’t need to be replaced as often. Decorating an empty home all at once can rack up a hefty price tag. So McDonagh, the furniture expert, recommended buying one nice piece of furniture every year. “If you’re doing it for your future self, take your time,” McDonagh said. Buy modular pieces like shelves and storage that stack onto each other and are adjustable based on space constraints. Over time, your home will fill with durable items that also feel homey. In the meantime, make do with what you have. A stack of books or boxes can function as a makeshift chair while a sturdier piece is on the way, McDonagh said. Outdoor furniture can work surprisingly well indoors too, since the fabrics protect well against scratches and stains. Fast furniture doesn’t have to be fast Despite the name, fast furniture can last many years if we take care of it. With creativity and a bit of TLC, it doesn’t have to be replaced as frequently. “I don’t believe that any furniture is inherently fast. It’s our decision as consumers whether it’s fast or not,” said Katryn Furmston, a fast furniture expert with Nottingham Trent University in England. Maybe you don’t want to carry a desk up five flights of stairs. Or the thought of sitting on a used couch icks you out. If you have to purchase fiberboard furniture, avoid buying from too-good-to-be-true websites that’ll leave you with missing parts or a slanted desk. When the piece arrives, treat it well. Cover scratches with a tablecloth or rotate it to face another direction. When it’s time to move away, keep a photo of the product handy to show to friends or co-workers. Give it a second life by selling in a community group or gifting to a neighbor. Do your part to keep the piece in use for as long as possible. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage also receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. —Adithi Ramakrishnan, AP science writer Associated Press journalist Kiki Sideris contributed to this report. 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. You don't need a sprawling home gym to stay in shape. What you need is smart gear—equipment that stores under a bed, hangs on a door, or folds flat against a wall. And right now, Amazon's Big Spring Sale is offering some of the best prices of the year on exactly this kind of compact, apartment-friendly fitness gear. Foldable under-desk walking padThe biggest obstacle to owning a treadmill in a small apartment is floor space. That's what makes a foldable under-desk walking pad such a great deal. This budget option is available on Amazon for $99.98, down from $129.99. You can walk at a steady pace while watching TV or taking a call, then fold the handle bar down and store it either upright against the wall or under your bed or couch. If you're willing to splurge, I personally recommend opting for this Merach walking pad, available on Amazon for $338.98. Walking Pad Treadmill $99.98 at Amazon $129.99 Save $30.01 Get Deal Get Deal $99.98 at Amazon $129.99 Save $30.01 Resistance bands setIf there is one piece of fitness equipment that every small-space dweller should own, it's a resistance band set. They weigh next to nothing, coil into a drawer, and can replicate nearly every gym machine movement: rows, chest presses, bicep curls, glute kickbacks, lateral walks. A good set will include multiple resistance levels, so you can progress over time without buying new equipment. There are plenty of options on sale right now, like this set for $24.98 (down from $37.99) or the full TRX resistance band set for $148.71 (down from $174.95). Travel-sized massage gunI always say, recovery is half the workout—and a massage gun is the fastest way to flush out soreness without booking a massage appointment. The Bob and Brad Q2 Ultra Mini Massage Gun is available for $78.82, down from $99.99. Its compact size makes it perfect for travel or bringing to the gym. Most importantly, it does still pack a punch, as I share in my more in-depth review here. Some more deals for your muscle recovery: 5 in 1 Foam Roller Set, $32.99, down from $39.95 1-Inch Thick Yoga Mat, $29.99, down from $36.99 TriggerPoint Grid 1.0 Foam Roller, $27.99, was $39.99 Adjustable dumbbellsAdjustable dumbbells are the ultimate space-saver for strength training. Buying individual pairs of dumbbells from five to 80 pounds in five-pound increments would cost well over $1,500 and eat up valuable floor space. Adjustable dumbbells deliver the same versatility for a fraction of that price, whichever brand you choose. The PowerBlock Elite EXP Adjustable Dumbbells are $339.51 (down from $449). You'd be hard-pressed to find a "best home dumbbells" list without PowerBlocks near the top. These dumbbells are incredibly compact, which is the whole point of going adjustable over a traditional rack of individual weights. PowerBlock Elite EXP Adjustable Dumbbells (Pair, 5-50lb) $339.15 at Amazon $449.00 Save $109.85 Get Deal Get Deal $339.15 at Amazon $449.00 Save $109.85 Fitness trackersNo home gym is complete without a way to track your workouts. For all the best deals on Garmin, Fitbit, Apple, Samsung, Suunto, and more, check out my colleague Beth Skwarecki's round-up here. Here are some highlights from the most popular brands: Apple Watch Series 11, GPS starting at $299 (down from $399). Series 11 is the current version, released in 2025. Garmin Forerunner 965, $499.99, originally $599.99 when it first launched in 2023. (It has since been replaced by the Forerunner 970.) Fitbit Versa 4, $149.95, down from $199.95. Suunto Run: $179, down from $199. Amazon's Big Spring Sale ends tonight, March 31, at 11:59 p.m. PT (April 1, 2:59 a.m. ET). Our Best Editor-Vetted Amazon Big Spring Sale Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Heart Rate Wireless Earbuds — $239.95 (List Price $239.95) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ 128GB Wi-Fi 11" Tablet (Gray) — $202.00 (List Price $249.99) Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $329.00 (List Price $399.00) Blink Video Doorbell Wireless (Newest Model) + Sync Module Core — $35.99 (List Price $69.99) Fire TV Stick 4K Max Streaming Player With Remote — $34.99 (List Price $59.99) Sony WH-1000XM5 — $243.00 (List Price $399.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

A newly published, unverified report claims Google’s Gemini AI is instructed to mirror user tone and validate emotions in its responses. Why we care. If accurate, AI-generated search responses may vary based on how a query is phrased — not just the information available. What’s new. The report centers on a previously undisclosed internal structure referred to as upcast_info, which appears to contain system-level instructions guiding how Gemini responds. The report, published by Elie Berreby, head of SEO and AI search at Adorama, suggested that Gemini is instructed to: Match the user’s tone, energy, and intent. Validate emotions before responding. Deliver answers aligned with the user’s perspective. What it means. Instead of acting as a neutral aggregator, AI answers may: Reinforce negative framing (“Why is X bad?”). Reinforce positive framing (“Why is X great?”). If public perception is negative, AI may amplify it. As the report suggests: AI reflects existing sentiment signals. It doesn’t “balance” them the way blue links often do. Query framing. The emotional framing of a query affects: Which sources get cited. How summaries are written. The overall tone of the answer. Google’s AI Overviews already show tone shifts, often aligning with query intent beyond keywords. This report offers a possible explanation. Unverified. Google hasn’t confirmed the leak. As Berreby noted in his report: “I’ve decided to share only a fraction of the leaked internal system information with the general public. I’m not sharing any sensitive data. This isn’t a zero-day exploit. This is a tiny leak.” The report. This Gemini Leak Means You Can’t Outrank a Feeling View the full article

Google is giving retailers more firepower to promote loyalty program benefits directly within product listings — expanding the program internationally and into its newest AI-powered shopping experiences. What’s new. Merchants can now highlight member pricing and exclusive shipping options directly on listings. Loyalty annotations have also expanded to local inventory ads and regional Shopping ads — making it easier to promote in-store or geography-specific perks. Why we care. The more you can personalize an offer for a shopper, the better. Embedding member perks into the moment of purchase discovery — rather than requiring a separate loyalty app or webpage — makes programs more visible and more likely to drive sign-ups. By the numbers. According to Google, some retailers have reported up to a 20% lift in click-through rates when showing tailored offers to existing loyalty members. The big picture. Loyalty benefits will now appear on Google’s AI-first surfaces, including AI Mode and Gemini, putting member offers in front of shoppers at an entirely new layer of the search experience. Where it’s available. The expansion covers 14 countries — Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, the UK, and the US. How to get started. Merchants activate the loyalty add-on in Merchant Center, configure member tiers, and set up pricing and shipping attributes. Connecting Customer Match lists in Google Ads is required to display strikethrough pricing and shipping perks to known members. Don’t miss. US merchants can apply to join a pilot that uses Customer Match as a relationship data source for free listings — potentially expanding loyalty reach without additional ad spend. View the full article

In a significant case highlighting the risks of pandemic-related fraud, a Louisiana woman has been charged for her alleged role in a scheme that attempted to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Lisa Lemoine, 38, from Bossier City, faces a charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, a serious offense that could lead to a lengthy prison sentence and hefty fines. Lemoine’s case is part of a broader crackdown on fraudulent activity linked to the pandemic relief funds that many small businesses relied on during the economic downturn. Small business owners need to be aware of the implications of this case, both in terms of potential risks and the lessons it offers. Key Benefits of Understanding This Case Recognizing the risks inherent in pandemic relief programs like the PPP can help small business owners safeguard their operations. While these initiatives were designed to provide crucial funding, their complexity can occasionally lead to unintentional missteps or, worse, fraudulent activity. Arming yourself with knowledge from situations like Lemoine’s can ensure that your business avoids similar pitfalls. It’s also a reminder that government agencies are actively monitoring PPP fraud. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley, along with various federal agents, announced the charge, emphasizing the collaborative efforts of the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force. This task force has been created to protect legitimate businesses and prosecute fraudsters. Increased monitoring means legitimate small business owners can feel more secure knowing there are mechanisms in place to combat fraud that can undermine the integrity of relief programs. Real-World Implications for Small Business Owners Lemoine allegedly conspired with others to submit fraudulent PPP applications, recruiting borrowers who were ineligible while claiming they operated qualifying businesses. These actions resulted in significant financial gain for the conspirators, who allegedly collected fees amounting to up to 30 percent of the loan amounts. The implications for small business owners are critical: understanding eligibility requirements and ensuring that applications are completed accurately is vital for compliance and integrity. Moreover, this situation sheds light on the importance of transparency. Small business owners should carefully vet their applications and maintain accurate financial documentation. Engaging with knowledgeable financial advisors or legal counsel could mitigate risks and help navigate the complexities of future programs. Potential Challenges Ahead While PPP provided essential support, it also opened doors for fraud. The Lemoine case serves as a warning. Fraudulent schemes are not limited to those exploiting the system; even legitimate small businesses can inadvertently attract scrutiny if not diligent in their application processes. Additionally, as investigations ramp up, businesses may face increased pressure to verify their claims and ensure compliance with all stipulations set forth by the government. This may also necessitate additional resources and time that smaller operations may not have readily available. “Collaboration between government agencies is vital as we continue to combat and prevent fraudulent activities related to COVID-19 relief,” said Foley. Understanding this collaborative approach can guide small business owners in navigating their own compliance needs, ensuring they adhere to guidelines set forth by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and other regulatory bodies. This case underscores the importance of vigilance. Business owners should not only familiarize themselves with the laws and regulations surrounding loan applications but also stay informed on potential fraud. Those with knowledge of fraudulent activities can report their concerns to the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline, ensuring accountability and safeguarding their business environment. Lemoine’s path through the legal system reminds us of the critical balance that exists in trying to access available funds while maintaining integrity. For small businesses, the takeaway is clear: In a landscape rife with opportunities and challenges, grounding business practices in transparency and compliance not only fortifies reputations but preserves the trust essential for future funding initiatives. For more information on this case, you can visit the original SBA announcement here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Louisiana Woman Pleads Guilty in Multi-State PPP Fraud Scheme" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

A new investigation from Sen. Ed Markey has zeroed in on the human staffers who operate behind-the-scenes at self-driving car companies like Waymo, Tesla, and Zoox. While many of these companies emphasize that they seek to automate most aspects of driving, they still depend on humans to assist these cars when their software encounters confusing situations—or fails. The investigation began at the beginning of February and was led by Markey, who has taken a particular interest in the self-driving car industry. The study involved sending letters to seven companies working on autonomous vehicles—Aurora, May Mobility, Motional, Nuro, Tesla, Waymo, and Zoox—and asking them detailed questions about when and how they deploy human remote operators or assistants. None of the seven companies that Markey’s office reached out to were willing to share how often human staffers need to help their autonomous vehicles reorient themselves, Markey’s investigation found. The office’s research also found that Waymo is the only autonomous vehicle company that relies on staffers based outside the U.S. to help assist its driving system, and that it’s the only company that employs a large share of workers who perform this role without holding a U.S. driver’s license. “My investigation revealed a wide range of concerning practices,” Markey said in a statement, “from employees assisting vehicles from overseas to wide variations in communication lag times between vehicles and human operators.” The use of remote vehicle assistant workers raises several concerns, including questions over latency and the lack of consistent standards across the emergent self-driving industry. Another concern is fatigue on the part of remote operators, and the risk that they might mislead or cause a robotaxi to engage in dangerous behavior. City officials in cities like San Francisco are also worried about unplanned stops, and their impact on local traffic and emergency operations. A recent Fast Company investigation, which analyzed dozens of reports filed by public transit operators in San Francisco, also highlighted concerns with the quality of the call centers used by public officials to reach these companies, including remote teams who are supposed to respond to emergency events, when their technology suffers an issue. The Fast Company investigation also highlighted the issue of unplanned stops, which can require a Waymo remote operator, someone on the company’s event response team, or even a city first responder to intervene. Importantly, these companies frequently emphasize that their software is not designed for remote vehicle operation. Instead, companies maintain that remote assistance teams are simply advising software, and they emphasize it’s possible for vehicles to ignore context or suggestions by remote teams. In their letters to Markey’s office, which formed the basis of the investigation, many defended their approach to remote operations, or pushed back on Markey’s characterization of the risks. Still, Markey wrote on Tuesday to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) urging the agency to conduct a further investigation. In his letter, Markey acknowledged that remote operators indeed can help AVs operate safely, but lack adequate oversight and safeguards. “These results reveal an industry that is deeply opaque about its reliance on human operators, resistant to meaningful accountability, and in urgent need of federal oversight,” he wrote, referring to his investigation. He soon plans to propose legislation addressing the human operators involved in the self-driving car industry. Markey has previously co-sponsored proposed legislation that would limit where self-driving cars can operate, and criticized these companies at a recent hearing on autonomous vehicles. View the full article

The deadline for filing your personal tax return as a freelancer (including your Schedule C if you are reporting your income as an LLC on your Form 1040) is just around the corner on April 15, 2026. As you may be aware, being a freelancer means that you face a unique tax landscape. Unlike traditional employees, you may juggle multiple income streams, diverse tax obligations and a wide range of deductible expenses. This complexity is part of the reason why your tax return may contain moving parts that put you at higher risk than the average tax filer of triggering the red flags that can lead to an IRS audit. To be clear, a tax audit notice is not an accusation of wrongdoing, it simply means the IRS wants to verify information on your return. However, audits take time, energy, and documentation plus if you are found to have made an error or underpaid your taxes in some areas, the penalties and fines can be significant. This means that the best strategy is prevention by understanding what the IRS looks for when considering taxpayer audits and filing a return that is accurate, consistent, and well‑supported. Below are the most important 1040 red flags freelancers should avoid for the 2025 tax year, along with practical guidance to help you stay off the IRS radar. Mismatched or unreported Income on your return. This is one of the biggest audit triggers for freelance tax returns. The IRS receives copies of every Form 1099‑NEC, 1099‑K and other third‑party reporting forms issued to you by your clients. Their systems automatically compare what you report with what they have on file. If the numbers don’t match, your return is flagged almost instantly. When filing, it is imperative to include all income from clients, digital platforms, payment processors, and even small one‑off jobs. Many freelancers assume that if they didn’t receive a 1099, they don’t need to report the income. Unfortunately, that’s not how the IRS sees it. All income is taxable, whether or not a form was issued. To avoid this red flag, reconcile every 1099 you receive with your own bookkeeping. If you know you earned income that wasn’t reported on a form, make sure to include it.Excessive or unusual deductions. Freelancers are entitled to deduct legitimate business expenses, but deductions that appear disproportionately high relative to your income can raise questions. The IRS uses statistical models to compare your deductions to those of similar taxpayers. If your expenses fall far outside the norm, your return may be selected for review. Common problem areas include travel, meals, equipment purchases and home office deductions. These are valid deductions, but they must be ordinary, necessary and directly related to your business. Claiming a large percentage of your income as expenses, especially year after year, can signal to the IRS that something doesn’t add up. The best way to avoid this issue is to keep detailed records and only deduct expenses that truly relate to your freelance work. If you’re ever unsure whether something qualifies, err on the side of caution by consulting a tax professional.Repeated Schedule C losses. It’s not unusual for freelancers to have a loss in a given year, especially when starting out or investing heavily in equipment or marketing. But multiple years of losses can raise concerns. The IRS may question whether your freelance activity is a business or a hobby. Businesses are expected to operate with a profit motive; hobbies are not. If you report losses year after year, the IRS may ask you to prove that you are running a legitimate business. This could include showing evidence of marketing efforts, a business plan, separate business accounts, and consistent invoicing. To avoid this red flag, make sure your records demonstrate that you are actively trying to make a profit. Even if your income fluctuates, your documentation should show that you are operating professionally.Mixing personal and business expenses. One of the most common mistakes freelancers make is blending personal and business spending. Using a business account for personal purchases or deducting personal expenses as business costs can create confusion and raise red flags. The IRS expects freelancers to maintain clear boundaries between personal and business finances. When those lines blur, it becomes harder to substantiate deductions, and the IRS may question the legitimacy of your expenses. The solution is simple: keep separate bank accounts and credit cards for your business. Categorize expenses regularly and maintain receipts. Clean, organized records go a long way in preventing audit issues.Underreported digital payments and gig‑platform income. Digital payments are a major enforcement focus for the IRS. Platforms like PayPal, Venmo, Etsy, Patreon, and Upwork issue 1099‑Ks when you meet reporting thresholds, and the IRS matches this data against your return. If you fail to report income from these sources, your return may be flagged. Even if you don’t receive a 1099‑K, you are still required to report all income. Many freelancers overlook small payments, tips, or subscription revenue, but the IRS considers all of it taxable. To avoid this red flag, track all digital income throughout the year. Don’t rely solely on the forms you receive; maintain your own records and report all of your income. When it comes to tip and any overtime income this is especially true if you are planning to use the new tax law deductions going forward for this type of income. Documentation is critical!Any crypto and digital asset activity. If you bought, sold, traded, staked, or received crypto payments in 2025, the IRS expects full reporting. The agency has significantly increased its focus on digital assets, and new broker reporting rules mean the IRS will have more transaction data than ever. Failing to check “yes” on the digital asset question on Form 1040 or omitting crypto transactions is a major red flag. Even small trades or transfers can trigger reporting requirements. To stay compliant, use a crypto tax tool or work with a tax professional who understands digital assets. Keep detailed records of every transaction, including cost basis and fair market value.Large charitable deductions without documentation. Charitable contributions are a common deduction, but they must be properly documented. Large donations relative to your income, or non‑cash contributions without appraisals, can attract IRS attention. The IRS requires written acknowledgments for donations of $250 or more and appraisals for non‑cash gifts over certain thresholds. Without proper documentation, your deduction may be disallowed. To avoid this red flag, keep receipts, letters from charities, and appraisals for non‑cash gifts. Make sure your records clearly support the amounts you claim.Foreign accounts or international income. If you have foreign bank accounts, investments or income you may be required to file additional forms such as FBAR (FinCEN 114) or Form 8938. Failing to report foreign assets is a serious red flag and can result in significant penalties. To avoid this issue, report all foreign accounts and consult a tax professional if you have cross‑border income.Take action now to file your freelance tax return and avoid IRS red flags. There are just a few days left to get your freelance taxes filed by the April 15 deadline. If you have complete accounting records, are reporting all income and also documenting your deductions thoroughly, there is a good chance that your tax filing will be smooth, even with the IRS’s advanced data‑matching and analytics capabilities. The bottom line is to focus on accuracy and transparency in your freelance tax filing which is your best defense against an IRS audit. View the full article

The deadline for filing your personal tax return as a freelancer (including your Schedule C if you are reporting your income as an LLC on your Form 1040) is just around the corner on April 15, 2026. As you may be aware, being a freelancer means that you face a unique tax landscape. Unlike traditional employees, you may juggle multiple income streams, diverse tax obligations and a wide range of deductible expenses. This complexity is part of the reason why your tax return may contain moving parts that put you at higher risk than the average tax filer of triggering the red flags that can lead to an IRS audit. To be clear, a tax audit notice is not an accusation of wrongdoing, it simply means the IRS wants to verify information on your return. However, audits take time, energy, and documentation plus if you are found to have made an error or underpaid your taxes in some areas, the penalties and fines can be significant. This means that the best strategy is prevention by understanding what the IRS looks for when considering taxpayer audits and filing a return that is accurate, consistent, and well‑supported. Below are the most important 1040 red flags freelancers should avoid for the 2025 tax year, along with practical guidance to help you stay off the IRS radar. Mismatched or unreported Income on your return. This is one of the biggest audit triggers for freelance tax returns. The IRS receives copies of every Form 1099‑NEC, 1099‑K and other third‑party reporting forms issued to you by your clients. Their systems automatically compare what you report with what they have on file. If the numbers don’t match, your return is flagged almost instantly. When filing, it is imperative to include all income from clients, digital platforms, payment processors, and even small one‑off jobs. Many freelancers assume that if they didn’t receive a 1099, they don’t need to report the income. Unfortunately, that’s not how the IRS sees it. All income is taxable, whether or not a form was issued. To avoid this red flag, reconcile every 1099 you receive with your own bookkeeping. If you know you earned income that wasn’t reported on a form, make sure to include it.Excessive or unusual deductions. Freelancers are entitled to deduct legitimate business expenses, but deductions that appear disproportionately high relative to your income can raise questions. The IRS uses statistical models to compare your deductions to those of similar taxpayers. If your expenses fall far outside the norm, your return may be selected for review. Common problem areas include travel, meals, equipment purchases and home office deductions. These are valid deductions, but they must be ordinary, necessary and directly related to your business. Claiming a large percentage of your income as expenses, especially year after year, can signal to the IRS that something doesn’t add up. The best way to avoid this issue is to keep detailed records and only deduct expenses that truly relate to your freelance work. If you’re ever unsure whether something qualifies, err on the side of caution by consulting a tax professional.Repeated Schedule C losses. It’s not unusual for freelancers to have a loss in a given year, especially when starting out or investing heavily in equipment or marketing. But multiple years of losses can raise concerns. The IRS may question whether your freelance activity is a business or a hobby. Businesses are expected to operate with a profit motive; hobbies are not. If you report losses year after year, the IRS may ask you to prove that you are running a legitimate business. This could include showing evidence of marketing efforts, a business plan, separate business accounts, and consistent invoicing. To avoid this red flag, make sure your records demonstrate that you are actively trying to make a profit. Even if your income fluctuates, your documentation should show that you are operating professionally.Mixing personal and business expenses. One of the most common mistakes freelancers make is blending personal and business spending. Using a business account for personal purchases or deducting personal expenses as business costs can create confusion and raise red flags. The IRS expects freelancers to maintain clear boundaries between personal and business finances. When those lines blur, it becomes harder to substantiate deductions, and the IRS may question the legitimacy of your expenses. The solution is simple: keep separate bank accounts and credit cards for your business. Categorize expenses regularly and maintain receipts. Clean, organized records go a long way in preventing audit issues.Underreported digital payments and gig‑platform income. Digital payments are a major enforcement focus for the IRS. Platforms like PayPal, Venmo, Etsy, Patreon, and Upwork issue 1099‑Ks when you meet reporting thresholds, and the IRS matches this data against your return. If you fail to report income from these sources, your return may be flagged. Even if you don’t receive a 1099‑K, you are still required to report all income. Many freelancers overlook small payments, tips, or subscription revenue, but the IRS considers all of it taxable. To avoid this red flag, track all digital income throughout the year. Don’t rely solely on the forms you receive; maintain your own records and report all of your income. When it comes to tip and any overtime income this is especially true if you are planning to use the new tax law deductions going forward for this type of income. Documentation is critical!Any crypto and digital asset activity. If you bought, sold, traded, staked, or received crypto payments in 2025, the IRS expects full reporting. The agency has significantly increased its focus on digital assets, and new broker reporting rules mean the IRS will have more transaction data than ever. Failing to check “yes” on the digital asset question on Form 1040 or omitting crypto transactions is a major red flag. Even small trades or transfers can trigger reporting requirements. To stay compliant, use a crypto tax tool or work with a tax professional who understands digital assets. Keep detailed records of every transaction, including cost basis and fair market value.Large charitable deductions without documentation. Charitable contributions are a common deduction, but they must be properly documented. Large donations relative to your income, or non‑cash contributions without appraisals, can attract IRS attention. The IRS requires written acknowledgments for donations of $250 or more and appraisals for non‑cash gifts over certain thresholds. Without proper documentation, your deduction may be disallowed. To avoid this red flag, keep receipts, letters from charities, and appraisals for non‑cash gifts. Make sure your records clearly support the amounts you claim.Foreign accounts or international income. If you have foreign bank accounts, investments or income you may be required to file additional forms such as FBAR (FinCEN 114) or Form 8938. Failing to report foreign assets is a serious red flag and can result in significant penalties. To avoid this issue, report all foreign accounts and consult a tax professional if you have cross‑border income.Take action now to file your freelance tax return and avoid IRS red flags. There are just a few days left to get your freelance taxes filed by the April 15 deadline. If you have complete accounting records, are reporting all income and also documenting your deductions thoroughly, there is a good chance that your tax filing will be smooth, even with the IRS’s advanced data‑matching and analytics capabilities. The bottom line is to focus on accuracy and transparency in your freelance tax filing which is your best defense against an IRS audit. View the full article

Gary Illyes from Google shared some more details on Googlebot, Google’s crawling ecosystem, fetching and how it processes bytes. The article is named Inside Googlebot: demystifying crawling, fetching, and the bytes we process. Googlebot. Google has many more than one singular crawler, it has many crawlers for many purposes. So referencing Googlebot as a singular crawler, might not be super accurate anymore. Google documented many of its crawlers and user agents over here. Limits. Recently, Google spoke about its crawling limits. Now, Gary Illyes dug into it more. He said: Googlebot currently fetches up to 2MB for any individual URL (excluding PDFs). This means it crawls only the first 2MB of a resource, including the HTTP header. For PDF files, the limit is 64MB. Image and video crawlers typically have a wide range of threshold values, and it largely depends on the product that they’re fetching for. For any other crawlers that don’t specify a limit, the default is 15MB regardless of content type. Then what happens when Google crawls? Partial fetching: If your HTML file is larger than 2MB, Googlebot doesn’t reject the page. Instead, it stops the fetch exactly at the 2MB cutoff. Note that the limit includes HTTP request headers. Processing the cutoff: That downloaded portion (the first 2MB of bytes) is passed along to our indexing systems and the Web Rendering Service (WRS) as if it were the complete file. The unseen bytes: Any bytes that exist after that 2MB threshold are entirely ignored. They aren’t fetched, they aren’t rendered, and they aren’t indexed. Bringing in resources: Every referenced resource in the HTML (excluding media, fonts, and a few exotic files) will be fetched by WRS with Googlebot like the parent HTML. They have their own, separate, per-URL byte counter and don’t count towards the size of the parent page. How Google renders these bytes. When the crawler accesses these bytes, it then passes it over to WRS, the web rendering service. “The WRS processes JavaScript and executes client-side code similar to a modern browser to understand the final visual and textual state of the page. Rendering pulls in and executes JavaScript and CSS files, and processes XHR requests to better understand the page’s textual content and structure (it doesn’t request images or videos). For each requested resource, the 2MB limit also applies,” Google explained. Best practices. Google listed these best practices: Keep your HTML lean: Move heavy CSS and JavaScript to external files. While the initial HTML document is capped at 2MB, external scripts, and stylesheets are fetched separately (subject to their own limits). Order matters: Place your most critical elements — like meta tags, <title> elements, <link> elements, canonicals, and essential structured data — higher up in the HTML document. This ensures they are unlikely to be found below the cutoff. Monitor your server logs: Keep an eye on your server response times. If your server is struggling to serve bytes, our fetchers will automatically back off to avoid overloading your infrastructure, which will drop your crawl frequency. Podcast. Google also had a podcast on the topic, here it is: View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. One thing they don't tell you about parenting is how much of it you'll spend telling your kids to put on or take off their shoes. (Not including the additional time you'll spend telling them to put the shoes away where they belong.) In an effort to smooth out this surprisingly difficult daily transition, I recently bought my 9-year-old son elastic shoelaces, so he'd be able to slip his hi-top Nikes on and off without tying and untying them. The next day I ordered some for myself, and I can't remember the last time I made a more satisfying purchase. Bread Elastic Shoelaces $9.99 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $9.99 at Amazon It's not like I struggle with tying my own shoes—I've even graduated from the "two bunny ears" method to "around the tree"!—but it is true that I am now middle aged, which means I enjoy bending over to do things even less than I used to. If I am wearing low top sneakers, I can usually manage to tie them just loosely enough that I can take them on and off without undoing any knots or sitting down, but it's a lot tougher to do that with hi-tops or, especially, all-canvas shoes like Converse or my current pair of super flexible, minimalist "barefoot" shoes. But not so once you swap out the cloth laces for elastic ones. They look just like regular cotton laces, so no one will know your lazy little secret, but they have a ton of stretch, transforming even the stiffest or most pliable shoes into low effort slip-ons. I can now pull off my canvas shoes by stepping on the heel with my opposite foot, and pull them on as easily as putting on slippers. And the extra give in the laces is a benefit when you're wearing them too—they still fit you snugly, but the laces don't put any pressure on the top of your foot, making your shoes feel both lighter and more comfortable. After a few weeks with my stretchy laces, I'm seriously considering upgrading all my other shoes too—they come in all colors, and they even make them for dress shoes, which are extra annoying to take off, not to mention infamously difficult to keep tied (if you're me). Upgrade of the week? Upgrade of my entire life. View the full article

Maneuvering the requirements for commercial multifamily loans can be complex, but comprehending the vital components helps simplify the process. First, you need to assess your financial health by focusing on key metrics like the Debt Service Coverage Ratio and Loan-to-Value Ratio. Next, you’ll define the purpose of your loan and prepare a detailed business plan. By organizing your legal and financial documents, you’ll set the stage for a smoother application process. What comes next is critical for your success. Key Takeaways Calculate and maintain a Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) above 1.25 to demonstrate adequate income for loan repayment. Determine the Loan-to-Value Ratio (LTV) to ensure it falls within the preferred 75%-80% range for financing. Prepare a detailed business plan outlining loan purpose, financial projections, and market analysis to strengthen your application. Organize essential legal and financial documents, including tax returns, balance sheets, and property information, for a seamless application process. Conduct thorough market analysis to assess demand, competition, and economic indicators that influence property viability and cash flow projections. Understanding Commercial Multifamily Loans When you’re looking into commercial multifamily loans, it’s vital to comprehend what sets them apart from traditional single-family home loans. These loans cater particularly to properties with multiple residential units, such as duplexes and apartment complexes, making multifamily lending a unique investment opportunity. They typically involve larger amounts and more complex appraisal processes because of the income potential from multiple tenants. Key commercial multifamily loan requirements include a solid Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR), which should normally exceed 1.25, ensuring that the property’s income can comfortably cover its mortgage obligations. Furthermore, Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratios for multifamily properties range from 75% to 80%, meaning lenders might finance up to 80% of the property’s appraised value. Grasping these intricacies is vital for successful apartment building financing, as accurate financial assessments and market evaluations directly impact your borrowing capacity and overall investment success. Assessing Your Financial Health Evaluating your financial health is vital before pursuing a commercial multifamily loan, as lenders rely on specific metrics to determine your creditworthiness. Start by calculating your Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR), aiming for a score above 1.25. Next, analyze your Net Operating Income (NOI) to gauge your property’s profitability and its capacity to support loan payments. Comprehending your Loan-to-Value Ratio (LTV) is significant; lenders typically prefer LTVs of 75%-80%. To organize your financial data effectively, you can use the table below: Metric Ideal Value Importance Debt Service Coverage Ratio > 1.25 Indicates ability to cover debt Net Operating Income Positive Reflects property profitability Loan-to-Value Ratio 75%-80% Determines loan amount eligibility Consulting with financial professionals can offer insights and highlight areas for improvement before you apply for apartment loans or multi family loans. Key Metrics: Debt Service Coverage Ratio and Loan-to-Value Ratio Grasping key financial metrics like the Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) and Loan-to-Value Ratio (LTV) is essential for anyone seeking a commercial multifamily loan. Comprehending these ratios can improve your chances of securing apartment building loans from multi family mortgage lenders. The DSCR measures your property’s ability to cover debt obligations; a ratio above 1.25 typically indicates a healthy financial position. A DSCR below 1.0 signals insufficient income to cover debt payments, which raises red flags for lenders. The LTV ratio represents the loan amount relative to the appraised property value; most lenders prefer an LTV of 75%-80%. Calculating LTV involves dividing the total loan amount by the appraised value, showing your equity in the property. Defining the Purpose of the Loan When you define the purpose of your multifamily loan, you’re laying the groundwork for your investment goals. Consider how the type of property and your financing strategy align with your long-term objectives, like increasing rental income or broadening your portfolio. This clarity not just helps you make informed decisions but additionally strengthens your application in the eyes of lenders. Investment Goals Assessment How can you guarantee your multifamily loan aligns with your investment goals? Start by clearly defining the purpose of the loan, as this influences the lender’s assessment of risk and terms. Consider these common uses for apt loans or apartment complex loans: Acquiring new properties Funding renovations Providing working capital for operational expenses Supporting income generation from multiple tenants A well-articulated purpose not only aligns with long-term business goals but also aids in establishing a repayment strategy based on expected cash flow. Communicating your intended use of loan proceeds boosts your credibility and improves your chances of securing multi family home financing, ensuring you meet your investment objectives effectively. Property Type Consideration Comprehending the specific type of multifamily property you’re dealing with is fundamental for defining the purpose of your loan. Whether you’re looking at small duplexes or large apartment complexes, identifying if the funds will be used for purchasing, refinancing, or renovating is significant. This clarity helps guarantee alignment with lender expectations and risk assessments. By clearly articulating the loan purpose, you enable lenders to evaluate potential income generation from multiple tenants, an important aspect of their underwriting process. Additionally, detailing how the loan supports your long-term business goals, like broadening your portfolio or enhancing property value, is critical. Lenders will likewise want to know how the loan contributes to cash flow and repayment capabilities in your apartment lending strategy. Financing Strategy Development Defining the purpose of your commercial multifamily loan is crucial, as it sets the foundation for your entire financing strategy. By clearly specifying how you intend to use the funds, you help lenders assess risk and tailor loan terms to your needs. This alignment with your long-term business goals can improve your chances of securing approval. Consider these aspects when defining your loan purpose: Property acquisition for new investments Renovation to increase property value Refinancing existing debt for better terms Supporting operational performance with projected cash flows Engaging with financial advisors during this phase can likewise help articulate your case effectively, boosting lender confidence and potentially leading to more favorable loan conditions. Preparing a Detailed Business Plan When preparing a detailed business plan for your commercial multifamily loan, outlining financial projections is essential. You’ll want to define your target market by analyzing local demographics and housing trends to showcase the potential for profitability. Clear financial forecasts, including anticipated rental income and operating expenses, will strengthen your case and demonstrate the viability of your investment. Outline Financial Projections A solid financial projection is essential when preparing your detailed business plan for a commercial multifamily loan. You’ll want to include various components to provide lenders with a thorough outlook. Consider incorporating the following: Projected income statements detailing expected rental income and operational expenses over three to five years. Cash flow projections that outline anticipated cash inflows and outflows, accounting for occupancy rates and maintenance costs. A detailed market analysis to assess local demand and competition, aligning your projections with current trends. Bios of key team members to improve credibility, showcasing their experience and expertise. Utilize historical data or comparable market analyses to guarantee your projections are realistic and grounded, thereby bolstering lender confidence in your business plan. Define Target Market Identifying your target market is essential for creating a robust business plan that appeals to lenders and investors alike. Start with a thorough market analysis of the local multifamily rental market, identifying trends, demand, and competitive properties. This data supports your investment decisions and shows lenders you understand the market terrain. Include projected income statements and cash flow forecasts, demonstrating anticipated revenue from rental units alongside operational expenses. Adding leadership bios establishes credibility, highlighting your management team’s experience. A detailed operational structure should outline management processes, tenant relations strategies, and maintenance plans to guarantee efficient property management. Utilize the business plan as a roadmap to align your financing with long-term goals, enhancing your chances of securing favorable loan terms. Conducting Market Analysis How can you effectively conduct a market analysis for multifamily properties? Start by gathering key data to assess the demand and viability of your investment. Focus on crucial factors that inform your decisions, including: Local demographics: Understand who lives in the area and their housing needs. Economic indicators: Analyze job growth, income levels, and overall economic health. Rental rates and occupancy levels: Compare these metrics in similar properties to gauge potential income. Zoning regulations and development plans: Assess how these factors might affect property values and future opportunities. Utilizing online databases and local real estate reports can notably improve your analysis, providing you with accurate insights. Projecting Cash Flows When you project cash flows for multifamily properties, it’s crucial to base your estimates on current market rates and occupancy levels. Usually, you should plan for a minimum 5% vacancy allowance to account for tenant turnover. Accurately computing cash flows likewise requires you to include all operating expenses, which commonly range from 30% to 50% of gross rental income. Here’s a simple cash flow projection table: Item Estimated Amount Percentage of Income Gross Rental Income $100,000 100% Operating Expenses $40,000 40% Net Operating Income (NOI) $60,000 60% Moreover, verify your Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) stays above the industry standard of 1.25, reflecting sufficient income for mortgage payments. Regular updates on cash flow projections help you respond to market conditions effectively. Understanding Loan Terms and Conditions Grasping the terms and conditions of commercial multifamily loans is essential for making informed financial decisions. These loans come with specific characteristics that affect your investment strategy. Key terms to pay attention to include: Loan Type: Fixed or variable interest rates can greatly impact your payments. Loan-to-Value Ratio (LTV): Typically between 75% to 80%, this ratio indicates how much of the property’s value is financed. Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR): Aiming for a DSCR of 1.25 or higher guarantees the property generates enough income to meet its debt obligations. Amortization Schedule: Comprehending this schedule is crucial, as it dictates your payment plan over the loan’s life, influencing cash flow. Additionally, be aware of prepayment conditions, as they may involve penalties or balloon payments, which can affect your financial flexibility. Familiarizing yourself with these aspects will improve your ability to navigate the loan process effectively. Organizing Legal and Business Documents Organizing legal and business documents is vital to guarantee a smooth loan application process, as lenders require specific documentation to evaluate your credibility and financial health. Start by gathering your Articles of Incorporation or business licenses to prove your entity’s legal status. Lenders typically want to see 2-3 years of federal tax returns, providing them with an all-encompassing view of your business’s financial performance and tax obligations. Additionally, prepare a current balance sheet, profit and loss statement, and cash flow analysis to demonstrate your business’s financial stability and operational efficiency. Don’t forget to include detailed property information, such as current rent rolls and unit mixes, which are fundamental for accurate property valuation and underwriting. Selecting the Right Lender Choosing the right lender for your commercial multifamily loan can greatly influence your borrowing experience and overall financial outcome. To make an informed decision, consider the following factors: Interest rates: Lower rates can dramatically reduce your overall borrowing costs. Loan terms: Understand the length and flexibility of repayment options. Fees: Look out for any hidden costs that could increase your total expenses. Lender reputation: Research client reviews and the lender’s history with multifamily financing. It’s wise to compare offers from multiple lenders, as terms can vary considerably. This could save you thousands over the loan’s duration. Furthermore, know the lender’s specific requirements, such as debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) and loan-to-value (LTV) ratios. Engaging with a mortgage broker or financial consultant can also help you identify lenders that match your financing needs, ensuring a smoother borrowing experience. The Application Process: Step-by-Step The application process for a commercial multifamily loan typically unfolds in several key steps that help you secure financing efficiently. First, you’ll start with an initial consultation to discuss your financing needs and eligibility with the lender. Next, you need to submit a thorough loan application, including financial statements, business plans, and property information. After submitting your application, the underwriting phase begins. Here, the lender reviews your application, assesses your credit history, and conducts a property appraisal to determine its market value. If your loan is approved, you’ll receive a commitment letter detailing the loan terms, like interest rates and repayment schedules. Finally, the closing process takes place, where you’ll sign the final documents, pay any associated closing costs, and have the funds disbursed to finalize the loan transaction. Step Description Initial Consultation Discuss financing needs and eligibility Loan Application Submit documentation and financial statements Underwriting Review application and conduct appraisal Tips for a Smooth Loan Approval Process To guarantee a smooth loan approval process, it’s vital to start by thoroughly evaluating your financial health. Focus on key metrics like a Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) above 1.25 and a solid Net Operating Income (NOI) to demonstrate profitability to lenders. Additionally, consider these important tips: Clearly define the purpose of the loan, detailing how the funds will be used. Prepare a thorough business plan, including market analysis and cash flow forecasts. Understand the specific loan terms, such as interest rates and amortization schedules. Organize all necessary legal and business documents, like tax returns and financial statements. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the 5 Cs of Commercial Lending? The 5 Cs of commercial lending are vital for evaluating creditworthiness. Character assesses your reputation, whereas capacity measures your ability to repay the loan through metrics like Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR). Capital indicates your financial investment, showing commitment to the project. Collateral involves assets pledged against the loan, with lenders typically seeking a Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratio of 75%-80%. Finally, conditions refer to the broader economic environment affecting lending decisions. What Are the 4 Cs of Commercial Lending? The 4 Cs of commercial lending are crucial for evaluating your loan eligibility. Credit reflects your credit history and score, showing your repayment ability. Capacity assesses your income and cash flow, focusing on the Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR), ideally over 1.25. Capital represents your equity investment, typically requiring a 20-30% down payment. Finally, collateral is the property itself, with its market value and income potential influencing the lender’s decision. What Is the 2% Rule in Commercial Real Estate? The 2% Rule in commercial real estate suggests that a property should generate gross monthly rent equal to at least 2% of its purchase price. For instance, if you buy a property for $200,000, it should ideally earn $4,000 in monthly rent. This rule helps you quickly evaluate a property’s cash flow potential, ensuring your rental income can cover expenses and yield profits. Nevertheless, consider factors like location and market trends as well. What Are the Three Cs of Commercial Lending? The Three Cs of commercial lending are Credit, Capacity, and Collateral. First, Credit evaluates your credit history and score, which impacts your loan terms. Next, Capacity assesses your ability to repay the loan, typically measured by the Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR); a ratio above 1.25 is often favorable. Finally, Collateral refers to the assets securing the loan, such as the property itself, which lenders appraise to gauge value and risk. Conclusion Maneuvering through commercial multifamily loan requirements can be straightforward if you follow the right steps. By comprehending key metrics like DSCR and LTV, preparing a solid business plan, and organizing necessary documents, you can improve your chances of securing financing. Choosing the right lender and carefully managing the application process are essential to success. With thorough preparation and attention to detail, you’ll position yourself favorably for loan approval and achieve your multifamily investment goals efficiently. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Navigating Commercial Multifamily Loan Requirements: A Step-by-Step Guide" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

There’s trouble in AI-generated paradise. TikTok’s most popular AI-generated series “Fruit Love Island” has millions of followers, but that may not be enough to save it from video takedowns and shifting online attitudes toward AI. “Fruit Love Island” is exactly what the title implies: a one-to-one recreation of the popular dating show Love Island, rendered with AI and featuring humanoid fruit as contestants. When hot new bombshells enter this villa, they’re anthropomorphic cherries, bananas, pineapples, and more. “Welcome to Fruit Love Island, where eight single fruits are about to flirt, fight, and trust—things get messy fast,” begins the first episode. “Fruit Love Island” is posted on an account called Ai Cinema. After launching on March 13, the account skyrocketed to more than 3 million followers in a little over a week, with every new video garnering tens of millions of views. As of March 31, the most popular episode has 38.7 million views and 1.8 million likes. But lately, the account’s trajectory has reversed, with its creator complaining of criticism and its videos getting deleted. Of the 22 episodes of “Fruit Love Island” posted to TikTok, only 10 remain live, the other 12 apparently taken down from the app. The series’ YouTube account was also taken down. Whether these incidents are due to mass reporting from reviewers or for potentially violating TikTok’s Community Guidelines (which outlaw content “that violates intellectual property rights”) is unclear. But one way or another, “Fruit Love Island” seems close to its expiration date. ‘Losing motivation’: The ‘Fruit Love Island’ creator on giving up the series The person behind Ai Cinema complained about the shifting tides in the comments section of a recent episode. “Guys I’m losing motivation. These videos take so long and the image and animation gen is getting so bad! I’m so sorry!” they wrote. “Also so much hate and all my vids removed is tough. We’ll get through it.” They’ve also posted several Stories on TikTok responding to criticism (“Each episode takes hours,” they wrote in one post, adding that they have to “keep redoing things because the Al generation messes up constantly”) and threatening to stop posting “Fruit Love Island” altogether. “No more fruit love island. Since people so obsessed with it,” they wrote. “All my videos banned I make no money.” “Yall heard it from bananito himself,” they concluded, referencing one of the series’ main characters, a playboy banana with six-pack abs. AI-generated video takes hit after hit The sudden change in attitudes online toward series like “Fruit Love Island” reflects a larger trend around AI-generated content, particularly video. Last week on March 25, OpenAI suddenly shuttered its video generation tool Sora, including its standalone app. The move also cost OpenAI a billion-dollar investment from Disney, along with the rights for more than 200 Disney characters to appear in Sora-generated videos. Though Sora’s closure just months after the app’s launch came as a shock, new reporting from The Wall Street Journal reveals just how unsustainable the tool was for OpenAI. Sora was reportedly losing $1 million per day, and by the end of its life, the app had less than 500,000 worldwide users. Meanwhile, dominant attitudes on social media toward AI-generated content are skewing more and more negative. Pop singer Zara Larsson recently came under fire for reposting a promo for an AI-generated series in which a chocolate bar seduces a strawberry. (Why every AI-generated animated series seems to fixate on food is its own mystery.) And Ai Cinema’s comments section on TikTok is flooded not with fans, but with critics highlighting generative AI’s negative environmental impact, calling out the low quality of the series’ animation, and—perhaps most scathingly—saying that the series “isn’t even entertaining.” More ways forward for AI video The fall of Sora and souring attitudes may not be the nail in the coffin for AI-generated video. Though Disney’s deal with OpenAI fell through, the company hasn’t given up on its AI ambitions. Disney is reportedly in active discussion with more than a dozen partners to find other ways to implement AI, and in a statement at the time of Sora’s closure, the company said it will “continue to engage with AI platforms to find new ways to meet fans where they are while responsibly embracing new technologies that respect IP and the rights of creators.” And for all their threats of cancelling “Fruit Love Island,” even the Ai Cinema creator seems determined to turn lemons into lemonade. Their bio on TikTok now links to another account, where they’re launching a new AI-generated series titled “The Shore Between Us.” The page has already amassed 189,000 followers, despite not yet posting a single episode. On Monday, March 30, the creator posted the series’ first teaser, revealing that the project is essentially a clone of The Summer I Turned Pretty, except that the characters are—you guessed it—anthropomorphic fruit. View the full article

A reader writes: I am a high-performing, respected, well-liked senior contributor on a 25-person team at a global tech company. Since Covid, we have all been successfully working remotely. Recently, the company has enacted a “hybrid work” policy, which for me means I am supposed to go to the office three times a week. Because our team and those we work closely with are scattered around the globe, this means we are often going to the office to sit on virtual calls. Our team also has 12 contract workers who are not required to be in the office due to the terms of their contracts and desk availability. Additionally, the director of our team, Scott, is considered a teleworker and is grandfathered in, so the in-office policy doesn’t apply to him. There is one other non-contract employee who doesn’t live near an office and is also grandfathered in. I give you all this context to ask for advice on advocating for a high-performing colleague, Molly, who has been given an ultimatum: move to be close to an office (without any moving assistance) or she will “exit the company” in the next few months. Molly started as an intern with the company and performed so well that she was hired full-time. She’s now been with us nearly five years and has been fully remote the entire time. She is one of the top performers on our team and is my star mentee who is expected to follow in my footsteps. This is important to note as my skills and knowledge make me somewhat of a “unicorn,” and my boss is always trying to find people who have similar skillsets. Molly and I share a manager, Claudia, whom we both trust and respect. When this hybrid work policy was implemented towards the end of 2025, Claudia followed all the correct paths in HR to request an exemption for Molly to be redesignated as a teleworker based on her performance and value to the team and company, but it was denied. Claudia is very upset about this, and I do believe the decision was out of her hands and that HR has just drawn a hard line in the sand around this new policy. Scott, Claudia’s boss and our team’s director, also supported this exemption for Molly, and said he took it all the way up the chain to advocate for her. I believe both when they say they did all they could. Beyond Molly’s stellar performance, I am outraged that this hybrid work policy is already being incredibly unfairly applied (see context above), that this decision will affect the entire team’s morale, and that the loss of her will mean I will most likely have to pick up the slack. (I already take on a lot of work beyond my core responsibilities, and I’ve made it clear with both bosses that I’m having better work boundaries in 2026 for my own mental health.) It has not been made clear if we’ll be able to backfill Molly’s role. As her senior peer, what, if anything, can I do to advocate for her to stay? It’s really a simple ask of HR: redesignate a top-performer as a teleworker. As of now, Molly’s situation is largely unknown to most of the team. But I’ve been thinking, is there power in numbers? Assuming I get Molly on board, could I campaign to the rest of the team and ask them to “sign” or in some way show their support for Molly, and then share this evidence up the chain of command and to HR? I have a good amount of influence with the team, and I am willing to burn some professional capital on this crusade for fairness to keep my star mentee. I know something like this is a hail Mary at this point, so I’d appreciate any guidance! You can read my answer to this letter at New York Magazine today. Head over there to read it. The post my rock-star coworker will quit if she has to return to the office appeared first on Ask a Manager. 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. Amazon's Big Spring Sale ends tonight, but there's still time to take advantage of solid deals for all your fitness needs—including these solid discounts on sneakers that are still available. Keep in mind that if you want a specific shoe on sale, it's worth watching the schedule of new releases. My ultimate shoe hack: New models tend to be introduced in the spring, making right now an excellent time to snag discontinued models. Still, I know that choosing the right pair can feel overwhelming, so I have guides here and here so you can find the perfect match for you. adidas Men's Response Pace Running, Black/White/Matte Silver, 10.5 $39.00 at Amazon $65.00 Save $26.00 Get Deal Get Deal $39.00 at Amazon $65.00 Save $26.00 Nike Men's Revolution 8 Road Running Shoes, Pure Platinum/Blue Hero-Wolf Grey-White, 11.5 $59.97 at Amazon $75.00 Save $15.03 Get Deal Get Deal $59.97 at Amazon $75.00 Save $15.03 Nike Men's Run Swift 3 Road Running Shoes, Black/White-Dark Smoke Grey, 12 Extra Wide $63.75 at Amazon $85.00 Save $21.25 Get Deal Get Deal $63.75 at Amazon $85.00 Save $21.25 New Balance Men's Fresh Foam X 1080 V14 Running Shoe, Grey Matter/Silver Metallic/Inkwell, 8 M $98.99 at Amazon $164.99 Save $66.00 Get Deal Get Deal $98.99 at Amazon $164.99 Save $66.00 Nike Men's Air Max Alpha Trainer 6 Workout Shoes, Black/Parachute Beige-Sail, 13 $80.00 at Amazon $100.00 Save $20.00 Get Deal Get Deal $80.00 at Amazon $100.00 Save $20.00 Nike Women's Revolution 8 Road Running Shoes, Sail/White-Pale Ivory-Black, 5 $42.38 at Amazon $75.00 Save $32.62 Get Deal Get Deal $42.38 at Amazon $75.00 Save $32.62 New Balance Women's Fresh Foam X 1080 V13 Running Shoe, White/Silver Metallic, 11 M $104.99 at Amazon $164.99 Save $60.00 Get Deal Get Deal $104.99 at Amazon $164.99 Save $60.00 Under Armour Women's Charged Surge 4 Running Shoe, Off White Pink, 8 $49.99 at Amazon $65.00 Save $15.01 Get Deal Get Deal $49.99 at Amazon $65.00 Save $15.01 PUMA Women's RIAZE PROWL Sneaker, Puma Black-Ignite Pink-Aquamarine, 9 $58.57 at Amazon $88.00 Save $29.43 Get Deal Get Deal $58.57 at Amazon $88.00 Save $29.43 Adidas Women's Break Start, Ivory/Ivory/Cloud White, 7.5 $28.08 at Amazon $70.00 Save $41.92 Get Deal Get Deal $28.08 at Amazon $70.00 Save $41.92 SEE 7 MORE The best running shoes for men on sale right nowThese sneakers are marked down until the end of Amazon's Big Spring Sale tonight: Adidas Mens Response Pace Running, $39, down from $65 Nike Men's Revolution 8 Road Running Shoes, $59.97, down from $75 Nike Men's Run Swift 3 Road Running Shoes, $63.75, down from $85 Nike Men's Air Max Alpha Trainer 6 Workout Shoes, $80, down from $100 New Balance Men's Fresh Foam X 1080 V14 Running Shoe, $98.99, down from $164.99 The best running shoes for women on sale right nowSnag these deals before they end tonight: Adidas Women's Break Start Shoe, $28.08, down from $70 Nike Women's Revolution 8 Road Running Shoes, $42.38, down from $75 Under Armour Women's Charged Surge 4 Running Shoe, $49.99, down from $65 PUMA Women's Riaze Prowl Cross Trainer, $58.57, down from $88 New Balance Women's Fresh Foam X 1080 V13 Running Shoes, $104.99, down from $164.99 For more, check out the best deals we've found on fitness wearables, on headphones and earbuds, and all other tech during Amazon's Big Spring Sale here. Our Best Editor-Vetted Amazon Big Spring Sale Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Heart Rate Wireless Earbuds — $199.00 (List Price $249.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ 128GB Wi-Fi 11" Tablet (Gray) — $202.00 (List Price $249.99) Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $329.00 (List Price $399.00) Blink Video Doorbell Wireless (Newest Model) + Sync Module Core — $35.99 (List Price $69.99) Fire TV Stick 4K Max Streaming Player With Remote — $34.99 (List Price $59.99) Sony WH-1000XM5 — $243.00 (List Price $399.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

A federal judge granted the interview request for a brokerage accused of violating the megalender's restriction on selling loans to wholesale competitors. View the full article