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Justice department alleges John Harold Rogers accessed sensitive information including briefings and policy deliberationsView the full article

N-VA’s Bart De Wever takes over after marathon talks as anti-establishment forces gather strength across EuropeView the full article

Usually, it’s the businesses that are behind robocalls, but if you work at a nail salon or an auto repair shop, get ready for customers to start sending hordes of AI Karens your way. Google’s latest experimental AI feature, available to those who sign up for “Ask for me” on Google Search Labs, is aiming to be a sort of personal AI secretary for you. Once enabled, it’ll pop up an “Ask for me” button under certain searches, promising to call local shops for you to help you figure out availability, service costs, and the like. Clicking the “Ask for me” button will take you to a form, where you’ll fill out, for example, the make and model of your car, what services you need, and when you can come in. Google will then canvass local shops (there doesn’t seem to be an option to send a call only to a specific shop) and then email or text you back with results. On their end, business owners will hear a message at the start of every call indicating that it’s an automated system calling on behalf of a potential customer, Google spokesperson Craig Ewer told The Verge. If that sounds annoying, business owners can opt out, either within their Google Business Profile settings or by simply telling the AI not to call them back. For those that decide to humor the robocalls, Ewer told The Verge that Google is doing its best to ensure businesses don’t get overloaded with calls, and will use information collected from prior calls to help answer future ones without bothering an employee. Over on X, Google product lead Rose Yao said Ask for me is powered by Duplex, an existing Google feature that (mostly) uses AI to make reservations on your behalf, but it’s more geared towards research than actually booking anything. As it’s still experimental, it’s limited to nail salons and auto shops for now, though it could presumably expand in the future. As someone with social anxiety, I can see the surface level appeal here, although I’m not sure I’d ever want to commit the sin of making someone else talk to a robot. View the full article

The healthcare sector is one of the most common targets for hackers and cyber criminals, and yet another data breach has put the personal data of more than a million patients at risk. Community Health Center (CHC), a nonprofit healthcare provider in Connecticut, has disclosed that hackers gained access to its system in October and stole sensitive health and personal information belonging to 1,060,936 individuals. What happened with CHC? According to reporting by Bleeping Computer, hackers had access to the CHC network for several hours on October 14, 2024, though the breach was not discovered until January 2, 2025. Stolen data may include names, birthdates, addresses, phone numbers, emails, and Social Security numbers as well as medical records and health insurance information. CHC has indicated that it was not a ransomware attack, and no data was locked or deleted. What you can do if your data was stolenWhile you can't un-leak your personal data, you can (and should) be on the lookout for signs that it is being used maliciously. CHC is offering 24 months of free identity theft protection through IDX, including credit and cyber monitoring and ID theft recovery. According to CHC's filing with the Maine attorney general, those affected by the breach were notified by letter beginning on Jan. 30—and that consumer notice includes a QR code to activate monitoring services, or you can go to the IDX website and enter the enrollment code provided. The deadline to sign up for identity theft protection is April 30. You should also commit to other best practices for securing your data, including utilizing credit monitoring services (even if you don't qualify for IDX enrollment), activating credit freezes and fraud alerts, staying skeptical of requests for your personal information (don't give anything out via text, email, or phone until you've verified), and never clicking strange links. Of course, the CHC incident isn't the only one to compromise patient data—and it's far from the largest. The major breach of UnitedHealth Group subsidiary Change Healthcare (first reported in October 2024) is now believed to impact nearly twice as many people as previously disclosed. That ransomware attack included the health insurance, billing, and payment information as well as medical records and sensitive personal data of nearly 190 million patients. Ascension Health suffered a similar breach in February 2024, which affected nearly 6 million individuals. View the full article

Group is latest tech company to consider move away from longtime American corporate haven View the full article

Construction projects are won through the construction bidding process. In a nutshell, construction bidding involves a project owner who wants to build a construction project and contractors who can provide construction services. Managing the construction bidding process and expanding your customer base without breaking the bottom line is a delicate art. Whether you’re a seasoned construction professional or new to the business, you can always learn more about submitting a construction bid! What Is Construction Bidding? Construction bidding describes the process of bid submission and approval between a construction company and its customer, but it can also describe how subcontractors get work from the contractor once a job has been taken. Construction bidding can also be referred to as the construction tender process. Construction bidding can also be referred to as construction tendering, contractor tendering, construction proposal submission, project bid submission or simply project bid submission. A construction bid lives or dies on accuracy. Using blueprints, construction plans and material quantity takeoffs, the bidder must estimate a realistic cost (including a profit margin) to make the job viable. What Is a Construction Bid? A construction bid is a set of documents that a contractor submits to a project owner to demonstrate why its firm should be selected for the execution of a construction project. A construction bid should explain the scope of work, pricing breakdown, subcontractor list, qualifications among many other details. A construction bid may also be referred to as a construction bid proposal, bidding proposal, contractor’s offer or contractor proposal. To have an accurate forecast and competitive bid, you need tools to help estimate costs, time and other resources. ProjectManager is project management software that offers planning, scheduling and tracking tools to ensure you keep to your bid during construction management. Use our unlimited file storage to manage your construction bidding documents. Once your bid wins, you can start planning your construction projects with our Gantt charts, project calendars, kanban boards and more. Get started for free. /wp-content/uploads/2023/04/event-plan-gantt-chart-light-mode-CTA.jpgAfter you win your bid, track your project with powerful scheduling software. Learn more! What Is a Construction Bid Package? While their names sound similar, a construction bid and a construction bid package differ. A construction bid package is a set of documents prepared by the project owner and sent to contractors interested in participating in a project to give them relevant information such as the construction specifications, architectural drawings and contract terms, among other details. What Should Be Included In a Construction Bid? There’s no one-size-fits-all style to a construction bid, however, certain elements are required when submitting one. When making a construction bid, be sure to include the following: Contact Information: A bid will be discarded if there’s no contact information for the construction company that submits it or the potential customer to whom it’s addressed. The basic information is name, address, phone and/or email and a place for signatures, either to acknowledge receipt or agreement on the terms. Also, include the location of the project. Scope of Work: Next comes a project overview before getting into pricing details. Here, outline the scope of the project, the services provided, the schedule for the work, necessary materials and other features required to get the job done. This section should be detailed and include customer expectations, any subcontractors that’ll be hired, removal of trash, visitor rules, safety protocols and more. Construction Drawings and Specifications: These are the blueprints for any construction project and they offer the information to build the structure properly within the desired standards. Drawings may include a site plan, floor plan, elevations, etc. while specifications include written instructions and key components that complement the drawings. Project Schedule: The work schedule will be detailed here, from the start to the end and all milestones in between. It’s a good idea to determine the extent to which you’re liable for any events that cause delays in the execution of the project. Those events could be inclement weather, delayed permits, etc. Block out the calendar, noting working days, vacation, supply lead time, zoning approval and other third-party processes that can impact the timeline. Cost Estimate and Pricing Breakdown: Estimate the price for the entire project here. Break down the total cost into subsections, including labor and materials. Add a section on costs if the project goes over the scope to manage the customer’s expectations. Contractor’s Licenses and Certifications: These licenses and certifications may include things such as a general contractor license, specialty contractor license, trade certifications or professional certifications. They ensure public safety and peace of mind. References and Previous Projects: If there is any related experience from previous projects or references, be sure to include them. This can help build confidence in one’s ability to meet and surpass expectations. Quality Control Plan: A construction quality control plan outlines the procedures and processes that will be used to ensure the final product is up to the needed quality standards and specifications. It helps ensure projects are delivered at maximum efficiency, safety and client satisfaction. Subcontractor List: If there are any specific subcontractors who will be hired to perform various tasks, be sure to list them. It helps improve planning and scheduling and helps establish a more accurate project budget. Bonding Information: A bond bid is a legally binding agreement between the contractor, project owner and surety company. It ensures that the winning contractor will enter into the contract and provide a performance bond and a payment bond. Proof of Financial Stability: Demonstrating financial stability can help convince project owners of a reliable and capable contractor. It may include things like credit reports, financial statements, lines of credit, bonding capacity, insurance certificates and other supporting documentation. Proof of Insurance: This may include workers’ compensation insurance, general liability insurance, commercial auto insurance, etc. This section of a construction bid can help with risk mitigation and protecting project stakeholders. Existing Conditions: Describe the job site as it currently is after conducting a preliminary site assessment. List the conditions of the site as it stands now, what action will be taken to respond to these conditions and who will be responsible for what. Also, note how conditions discovered after the start of the project will be dealt with and who will decide on the scope and cost of any remediation. Terms of Payment: Detail how you’ll get paid for the job if selected by the customer. Most won’t pay the total cost upfront, so decide what down payment you require and the frequency of installments for the balance. These payments can be tied to various milestones in the project, which should be identified. Schedule of Values: Itemize all of the work involved in the construction project including the estimated cost of each item. This will act as the basis for progress to the payment contractor as it outlines how the total contract sum is distributed across various work items. Relevant Documentation: Because of the size of most construction projects, it’s critical to the bid to identify any sub-projects and an owner who’s responsible for them. This will help the customer know who’s responsible for what when the project begins. It also defines who has legal authority when it comes to signing documents. Construction Bidding Process When involved in the construction bidding process, you should ideally have accurate estimates and a low bid. Many customers only look at the bottom line and go with the lowest bidder. However, don’t bid yourself out of business. Keeping that in mind, it’s best to follow these steps in the construction bidding process. 1. Solicitation The very first step in the construction bidding process is when a project owner announces that a construction project will be built and then utilizes a request for proposal, invitation to bid or a request for qualifications document to reach out to potential contractors who are interested in participating in the project. Request for Proposal: A request for proposal (RFP) is a construction document that project owners send out to contractors to receive construction proposals from them. Once contractors submit their bid packages, they’re evaluated by the project owner so they can select who’s the contractor that best meets the requirements for their construction project. The RFP should include parameters and guidelines so contractors can understand what should be included in their bid packages. Invitation to Bid (ITB): This is a form document that the project owner issues to solicit competitive bids from qualified contractors. It is the starting point for the bidding process and plays a key role in ensuring a fair and transparent procurement process. It includes things like project information, bidder qualifications, project scope and drawings, bidding instructions and contract information. Request for Qualifications (RFQ): The RFQ is particularly important in larger and more complex construction projects. It acts as a screening process to identify qualified contractors, narrowing down the pool of potential bidders before issuing a request for proposal. This should aim to assess the contractor’s qualifications, capabilities and experience instead of focusing on specific pricing information. 2. Prequalification This is a formal process where a project owner or general contractor evaluates potential subcontractors based on their capabilities and qualifications before inviting them to submit bids. Beyond comparing prices, prequalification helps assess a subcontractor’s overall suitability for the project based on different factors such as financial stability, experience, safety record, etc. Below, we’ve outlined the criteria. Company Information: Basic details about the contractor’s business, including legal name, business structure, and years in operation. Experience and References: A list of completed projects similar in scope, size, and complexity, along with client references to demonstrate reliability and capability. Financial Stability: Proof of financial health, such as recent financial statements, to ensure the contractor can handle the project’s budget and cash flow needs. Licenses and Certifications: Copies of necessary licenses, certifications, and insurance policies to ensure the contractor meets legal and safety requirements. Safety Record: A summary of the contractor’s safety practices, including accident records and safety programs, to demonstrate a commitment to maintaining a safe work environment. 3. Site Visit and Pre-Bid Meeting During a site visit, potential bidders can examine the site, looking at any existing structures, topography, soil conditions and more. If there are potential issues or constraints that could impact the project, they will gather this information during that time. Pre-bid meetings are formal gatherings when the project owner provides potential bidders with the information they need to know about the project, answering any questions along the way. 4. Bid Package Preparation and Submission Preparation and submission are the two main phases of preparing a construction bid. During the preparation phase, a comprehensive set of construction documents will be assembled, including client-provided documents and company documents. The proposal will have a deadline for submission. Once the contractor has detailed the information required by the customer, they submit the bid before or on the deadline. 5. Bid Evaluation & Selection After the project owner has gathered bid packages from multiple contractors, there’s a period when the customer goes through all the submitted bids. They’ll choose the one that best fits their needs, which will be the winner of the bid. 6. Contract Award Because of the details of the bid, it can be used by both parties as a legally binding contract once agreed upon. However, it’s more likely the customer and the winner of the bid will finalize the terms and conditions sketched out in the bid and create a legal contractual agreement they both sign. 7. Notice to Proceed This is a formal document that gives the contractor the go-ahead to begin working on a project. It includes information like project and contract details, start date, contract tie, financial aspects and signatures. After all of this, the project will begin and follow the agreed-upon schedule and pricing of the bid. Types of Construction Bidding There are different types of construction bidding, also known as construction tenders which allow project owners to specify what type of contractors and subcontractors may send bids and other guidelines for their bidding process. There are four main types of tender in construction: open, negotiated, selective and serial tendering. Here’s a quick overview. Open Tendering This type of construction tender allows any contractor to apply for a construction project. The main benefit of using an open tender process for your project is that it allows you to gather many construction bids, which helps you find the best contractor for your projects, whether you’re looking for a low-cost bid, an experienced contractor or the best price-quality ratio. Open tendering is the preferred method for construction government projects because it promotes fair competition, ensures transparency and helps decision-makers select the bid that best fits the needs of their community. In the US, city and state governments are constantly accepting bids for a variety of public construction projects, which are often posted on their websites or authorized construction bidding websites that show available open tenders and the information you’ll need to send your bids. Negotiated Tendering This is a special type of tender that’s used whenever the project owner has decided he’d like to proceed with a particular contractor and proceeds to only receive a bid from him. From there, the owner will continue to negotiate its price, terms and specifications. Selective Tendering A selective construction tender allows a small group of contractors to apply for a construction bidding process, which combines the simplicity of negotiated tendering, but widens its scope so you can get different types of bids and have a better understanding of what your project might cost. Serial Tendering Serial tendering consists of opening a construction bidding process for multiple related projects that are expected to be completed in the future, such as when a construction firm wants to build a series of apartment complexes with similar characteristics. The main benefit of this type of tender is that it allows both the construction owner and contractor to take advantage of economies of scale for resources such as materials and equipment and it simplifies the construction bidding process. How to Bid On Construction Jobs Before we dive into the steps of the construction bidding process, it’s important to know the key elements of construction bidding. Whether you’re a project owner or a contractor, you’ll need to know about these elements. There are several types of project delivery and procurement methods, as well as different types of construction contracts from which you can choose. Each has pros and cons depending on the specific requirements of your project, so you’ll need to evaluate which of them works best for you. The following are the most popular methods and contracts for your construction bidding process. 1. Define Your Project Delivery Method A project delivery method defines the responsibilities and risks assumed by the project owner, construction managers and contractors when starting a construction project. Design Bid Build: This project delivery method consists of a design phase where a designer creates construction documents. Then those documents are released to contractors who will estimate the project costs and present a bid to the project owner. The project owner then will evaluate bids and select a contractor. Design-Build: An alternative method to design-bid-build in which the contractor assumes responsibility for the design and construction of the project. Construction Manager at Risk: In the construction manager at risk method, the construction manager commits to delivering the construction project at a guaranteed maximum price (GMP). 2. Select a Construction Procurement Method Here’s a brief explanation of the main responsibilities of the project owner and contractors under the two most popular construction procurement methods. General Contracting: The project owner hires a general contractor who will build the construction project. The contractor executes the construction work and might hire subcontractors to cover certain areas. Construction Management: The project owner hires multiple subcontractors for each type of construction work such as plumbing, electrical work or masonry. This requires a huge effort from the owner and is suggested for bigger construction firms. 3. Choose a Contract Model The project owner and contractor must agree on a contract model to establish a legally binding agreement for the execution of the construction project. Here are some examples. Cost Plus Fee Contract: A cost plus fee contract requires contractors to report costs as they occur rather than deducting them from a budget. Then the project owner pays for the accumulated costs plus a fixed fee that’s agreed with the contractor before executing the project. Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) Contract: In a GMP contract, the contractor defines a guaranteed maximum price for the project owner. The contractor must commit to this price even at his own expense if costs exceed his construction estimates. Time and Materials Contract: In a time and materials contract (T&M), the project owner pays an hourly rate for labor and purchases materials as needed by the contractor. It’s a good alternative when the project scope is uncertain and when close supervision is needed. /wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-construction-ebook-banner-ad.jpg Construction Bidding Best Practices The construction bidding process is highly competitive and there can be dozens of businesses vying for one job. How do you differentiate yourself and win the work without losing money in the process? Use Construction Bidding Websites Contractors typically find and secure construction contracts by using construction bidding websites. Here are some of the most popular: BidClerk: A platform for construction professionals to access bidding opportunities, project data and contact information for projects across various sectors. ConstructionBidSource: Provides a searchable database of active construction bids and RFPs from public and private sectors across the U.S. Blue Book Building & Construction Network: A comprehensive database offering access to construction project leads, contractor directories, and industry resources. Dodge Construction Network: Offers a wide range of project leads, construction bids and contractor tools to help professionals find opportunities and manage their bids. iSqFt: A subscription-based service offering construction bidding opportunities, plans, specifications and contact details for contractors and suppliers. Find RFP: A platform that specializes in aggregating public and private sector bids, RFPs and procurement opportunities for contractors. PlanHub: Am online construction bidding and project management platform that connects contractors with opportunities and project information. GovWin by Deltek: Focuses on government contracts and provides comprehensive bid tracking and project management services for contractors. ConstructConnect: shows a wide variety of construction tenders located in the state of Texas. Know the Competition It helps to know who else is bidding on the job. Know the competitors and what they’re doing. It’s helpful to network or join building trade groups to stay updated on what others in the construction industry are doing. When there’s a proposal, it doesn’t hurt to be the first one to bid, so keep an eye on marketplaces where bids are posted. Be Judicious With Your Bidding Although it helps to be the first to bid, it’s not ideal to bid on every job with a proposal. Spend time making the best proposal for the job while also ensuring it fits what your organization can accomplish at a profit. Cultivate a niche and look for work that will result in repeat business. Build Relationships Business is better executed on the foundation of a strong relationship, so strive to build relationships with people who are in a position to make decisions on awarding work to your company. Identify the individuals responsible for pulling the trigger on new work and develop trust with them. Accentuate Your Strengths When in the construction bidding process, don’t be bashful. Promote the qualities your business has that make it the right fit for the customer. Show off the team and be sure to let them know you have the experience necessary to do the job right. Sometimes value is more important than the price tag. Take Your Time Take your time when making the bid. Make sure to do the research and explain how you can give them the best return on their investment. If you know anyone who has worked for the customer previously, talk to them to get an idea of what the customer wants. Construction Bid Template This construction proposal template allows you to gather all the elements you’ll need to prepare a construction bid or proposal, such as the scope of work, costs, work schedule and timeline for your project. It’s easy to use and can help you streamline the construction tender process whether you’re a construction firm, general contractor or subcontractor. /wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Construction-Proposal-Screenshot-600x468.jpg More Construction Project Management Templates Construction projects involve creating a variety of documents which help the project management team have a better understanding and control over all the different areas of the project. Making all these documents from scratch can not only be challenging but also time-consuming, which is why we’ve created dozens of free construction management templates for Excel and Word. Here are some of them. Construction Estimate Template This free construction estimate template for Excel allows you to list down all your project costs such as materials, labor, equipment rental or any other cost categories you’d like to include. Construction Schedule Template This construction schedule template allows you to use an interactive Gantt chart to map out your project tasks on a timeline, identify dependencies, schedule resources, find the critical path of your project and much more. ProjectManager & Construction Bids ProjectManager is award-winning software used to organize plans that are productive and easy to share. Building your bid is akin to starting a project; you need to define a budget, manage resources, create a schedule and show it to your potential customer in the hopes that they accept your bid. Manage All Your Construction Bids In One Place ProjectManager’s kanban board is the perfect tool to track all the construction bids your organization is either evaluating or applying for. A kanban board has columns that allow you to group your construction bids by their status, such as sent, in review and approved. ProjectManager’s kanban boards allow you to communicate with your team members in real time and attach files with unlimited storage. /wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Kanban-flow-bid-proposal-construction-light-mode-1600x787.png Lay Out Your Project on Gantt Charts When you’ve done the due diligence and are ready to create a schedule, our online Gantt chart is there to organize all your tasks. Add a start and end date to each task and they populate a visual timeline that shows you the entire project on one page. /wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Construction-Gantt-chart-showing-task-lists-and-due-dates-1600x728.webp Create Dependencies and Milestones At this point, you can link all four types of task dependencies to avoid bottlenecks that can delay the execution phase of the project. Plus, set milestones as diamond icons on the timeline to mark when one phase ends and another begins. Milestones can also be used to mark any important dates you don’t want to slip through the cracks during the heat of the project. /wp-content/uploads/2024/10/how-to-make-a-gantt-chart-linking-task-dependencies.webp Unlimited File Storage for Documentation Construction projects are complicated and involve lots of documentation. Our online tool has unlimited file storage that acts as a central hub for your project documents, making it easy to find when you need it. No more messy desks or cluttered email folders to search through. You can share the project with your customer and, if they accept your bid, they’ll be notified by email and in-app alerts on the project’s progress. Construction Bidding FAQs Construction bids are often confused with similar construction documents like construction proposals, construction quotes and construction estimates. Here are the main differences between them to avoid confusion. What Is the Difference Between a Construction Bid and a Construction Proposal? While construction bids and construction proposals are very similar, there’s one key difference between them. Construction bids, also referred to as construction bid proposals are used when the conditions of a construction project are well-defined such as its scope of work, drawings, specifications and documentation. In these cases, the owner is simply looking for a general contractor with the capabilities to execute the work within the timeline and budget that’s been outlined in a construction plan by architects, engineers and the construction project management team. A construction proposal, on the other hand, is used when some project details are unknown or left open so that contractors can create a proposal that they think best serves the needs of the project owner. The two documents that project owners might use to gather construction bids and proposals are an invitation for bid (IFB) or a request for proposal (RFP). What Is the Difference Between a Construction Bid and a Construction Quote? A construction quote is a document that shows the estimated costs for labor or materials for completing a construction project, a portion of it or a specific task. One unique characteristic of construction quotes is that they’re only valid for a limited amount of time due to the ever-changing price of commodity resources such as lumber and fluctuating labor costs. Construction quotes can be used in many ways. For example, a construction project owner might request a quote from a construction contractor, or a contractor may ask for a quote to find out the cost of materials from its supplier. What Is the Difference Between a Construction Bid and a Construction Estimate? While a bid is an estimate, they aren’t the same thing. There’s no hard and fast rule, but most of the time when a contractor is talking about an estimate, they’re referring to the costs of materials and labor for their project. The construction bid is what’s sent to the customer as the final, fixed price for the entire job. Regardless of the difference, estimates need to be accurate so no money is lost if the bid is accepted. Related Content Construction Bids: Mastering Construction Bidding Construction Documents (Templates Included) Types of Construction Contracts: Pros, Cons & Best Practices ProjectManager is an online tool that gives you live data for better decisions. Keep your customers updated with a real-time dashboard that automatically calculates project variance, costs and more and displays them in shareable graphs and charts. Plan, monitor and report on your construction project, while getting instant status updates from the job site. Try our software today with this free 30-day trial. The post Construction Bidding Basics: Mastering Construction Bids appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

One of the largest non-profit blood centers in the country, New York Blood Center (NYBC), said it was hit with a ransomware attack over the weekend and is now experiencing disruptions in its services, including longer than normal processing times for blood donations, plus the cancelling and rescheduling of some blood donations. NYBC provides blood to over 200 hospitals in the northeast, including New York and New Jersey, and transfusion-related medical services to over 500 hospitals across the nation. “At this time, we do not have a specific timetable for system restoration,” NYBC said in a statement on its website. “We are working diligently with third-party experts to restore our systems as quickly and safely as possible.” What happened? On Sunday, January 26, New York Blood Center Enterprises identified suspicious activity affecting its IT systems. It contacted cybersecurity experts who investigated and confirmed it was the result of a ransomware incident. “We took immediate steps to help contain the threat, including taking certain systems offline,” NYBC confirmed. The attack comes at a critical time, when blood donations in the U.S. are at a critically low level. Currently, the New York and New Jersey region face a “blood emergency” resulting from a 30% drop in donations in recent weeks since the holidays, totaling 6,500 fewer donations and crippling the region’s blood supply, according to the NYBC. What can I do to help? Donations typically decrease during the holidays, and this January poses additional challenges with colder than normal temperatures causing blood drive cancellations, and flu, COVID-19, and RSV reducing donor eligibility. Currently, donations of all blood types are urgently needed, especially Types O- and B-, which are down to a dangerously low 1-3-day supply. In the coming weeks, NYBC may have to do another push for more blood donations. If you’re eligible, you can donate your blood, but be prepared for the possibility of longer wait times or unexpected scheduling changes. Here’s more information about how to donate. View the full article

The return-to-office (RTO) push at companies such as Amazon and AT&T—which both required employees to be back in the office full-time this month—has been met with discontent and frustration from much of their workforces. Some Amazon employees have said they are looking for new jobs, if they haven’t left already, while people at both companies have reportedly struggled to even find an open desk. But other leaders are not letting the prospect of low morale or limited workspace derail their plans to return to the office full time in 2025. According to a memo obtained by Business Insider, the latest addition to the mix is Dell, which had already tested the waters with an RTO policy that applied to just a handful of departments. As of September, employees on the sales team and across a subset of other roles (including leadership positions) were asked to return to the office. Starting in March, however, Dell also will be “retiring the hybrid policy” and expect most employees to be in the office five days a week. The new mandate will apply to all employees who live within about an hour commute of a Dell office—regardless of whether they currently have a remote or hybrid arrangement. (A Dell spokesperson did not clarify whether employees who live farther would have to request an exemption or would automatically be allowed to continue working remotely.) According to Business Insider, employees who remained remote would not be put up for promotion without explicit approval from three senior leaders. This seems to be a slight shift from a policy Dell already had in place that rendered fully remote employees ineligible for promotion. “What we’re finding is that for all the technology in the world, nothing is faster than the speed of human interaction,” CEO Michael Dell wrote in the memo. “A 30-second conversation can replace an email back-and-forth that goes on for hours or even days.” In a statement to Fast Company, a Dell spokesperson added, “We continually evolve our business so we’re set up to deliver the best innovation, value, and service to our customers and partners. That includes more in-person connections to drive market leadership.” In his memo, the CEO noted that across departments that had started coming into the office, “we have seen these areas come alive with new speed, energy, and passion.” Other CEOs and business leaders have used similar rationale to justify bringing workers back to the office at least three days a week, with a growing number of companies ramping up to five days. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy echoed that sentiment when he announced that starting in 2025, the RTO policy would require employees to come into the office daily, rather than just three days a week. “When we look back over the last five years, we continue to believe that the advantages of being together in the office are significant,” he wrote in a memo. “If anything, the last 15 months we’ve been back in the office at least three days a week has strengthened our conviction about the benefits.” Like Jassy, Michael Dell had previously expressed his support for remote work. As recently as late 2022, Dell had openly said, “From my experience, if you are counting on forced hours spent in a traditional office to create collaboration and provide a feeling of belonging within your organization, you’re doing it wrong.” But as corporate America has shown over the past few years, he’s not the first business leader to make such a drastic reversal on remote work—and certainly won’t be the last. View the full article

Elementor rolls out an intuitive AI site planner that streamlines website design from brief to visual layout The post Elementor Rolls Out WordPress AI Site Planner appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

It's hard to escape AI these days. Apple just made Apple Intelligence opt out, and Google Workspace users are now seeing big, hard-to-dismiss Gemini buttons all over their apps. The world's biggest tech companies are doing their best to sell you on a generative AI future, but even when you can't turn AI off, there are steps you can take to fight back. Even outside of Workspace, Google is one of the most egregious AI pushers around. The company has tried to push its Gemini AI in almost all of its properties, even though it's shown inaccurate search results recommending everything from eating rocks to adding glue to pizza. Even if you have no interest in AI search results, you'll still be forced to see elements of Google's Gemini all over Gmail and its other web apps. If that gets your goat, no worries—you can use Hide Gemini, a Chrome extension that hides Google Gemini elements from various Google sites—to pretend you live in the good older days of 2020. Hide Gemini removes the Ask Gemini button from Gmail and uses CSS to hide other egregious Gemini elements across Google's various sites, even the dreaded AI Overview box. Once you install it, the extension starts taking effect immediately. With these types of extensions, there's sometimes a worry that they may negatively impact the functionality of your service. An extension that blocks one element could sometimes inadvertently stop you from accessing other essential features. Fortunately, there are no such side effects associated with Hide Gemini. Since it uses CSS blocking, it merely hides unwanted AI elements without affecting any other functionality. Note that this extension, just like AI, isn't magic. It only hides persistent AI elements (such as the aforementioned Ask Gemini button), but not temporary promotional ones. If you've never used Gemini, you may see a Try Gemini button, which this extension does not hide. The developer says this is to avoid causing compatibility issues. Similarly, it doesn't block the "Help me write" prompt that may appear in Google Docs while you're working on a document. These minor limitations seem reasonable to me, and I'm happy to recommend Hide Gemini. It makes Google products a lot less annoying to use, even if it doesn't block the AI itself so much as makes it invisible. View the full article

Companies have told chancellor that scaling back tax breaks on savings accounts could boost UK financial servicesView the full article

LVMH’s Arnault contrasts US ‘wind of optimism’ with ‘cold shower’ of FranceView the full article

OpenAI is officially rolling out its latest model, o3-mini, starting today, Friday, Jan. 31. The company shared the news in a blog post on its website, just over a month after officially announcing the model during its "12 Days of OpenAI." As with each refreshed generative AI model, o3-mini is an improvement over o1-mini—but not by as much as you might think. OpenAI says the two models perform the same in math, coding, and science, but o3-mini offers quicker answers to user queries—24% faster, in A/B testing. According to the company, testers comparing the models found o3-mini produces "more accurate and clear answers, with stronger reasoning abilities." And, with "medium reasoning effort," o3-mini matches o1 in certain reasoning and intelligence evaluations. Like o1-mini, o3-mini is a reasoning model, a type of AI model that "thinks" through answers before responding to them. o3-mini has three different reasoning "efforts" depending on the use case: low, medium, and high. In mathematics testing, for instance, o3-mini's medium and high effort reasoning out erforms o1-mini, while high effort even outperforms o1 (the more powerful version of o1-mini). All three efforts beat o1-mini in PhD-level science questions, but o1 outperforms them all. o3-mini replaces the o1-mini model for all users. OpenAI doesn't explicitly state why you can't use o1-mini going forward, but touts that o3-mini has higher rate limits and lower latency than the previous model. At launch, only ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Pro users can access o3-mini. OpenAI says Enterprise users can access the model in a week. (In addition, Plus and Team users will see their daily rate limits jump from 50 messages on o1-mini to 150 messages.) That said, free users will be able to try o3-mini in a limited capacity, either by choosing the "Reasoning" option in the message composer, or regenerating a response. OpenAI says it's the first time free users have had access to a reasoning model in ChatGPT, which comes one day after Microsoft offered o1's reasoning to Copilot users for free. You can learn more about o3-mini in our post here. But as the model is only rolling out today, we won't know exactly how it performs until real-world testers start to use it. View the full article

Google is rolling out one-on-one appointments with technical experts to help advertisers properly implement conversion tracking tags on their websites. Why we care. Accurate conversion tracking is essential for optimizing digital ad campaigns and understanding return on investment (ROI). Google offering appointments with experts to help advertisers implement Google tagging on their websites addresses a common pain point for advertisers who struggle with technical implementation of tracking tools, which can lead to unreliable performance data and wasted ad spend. What tagging does: ROI insights. Track valuable actions on your site to gauge ad effectiveness. Performance tracking. Analyze how ads perform across channels and devices. Unlock features. Enable advanced Google Ads tools like Smart Bidding. How it works. Appointments will last 30 to 60 minutes and involve a walkthrough of the tagging setup process. In the walkthrough, a Google Technical Support expert will guide both you and your developer in setting up tags to track campaign performance. The details: You’ll need to schedule the appointment for the specific Google Ads account where tagging will be implemented. Advertisers managing multiple accounts should use the customer ID for the individual account (not a Manager account). First seen. We were made aware of this new feature in Google Ads by Natasha Kaurra on her LinkedIn and share the information you see once you start the process: What’s next. Ensure you have your developer and account information ready for the appointment. View the full article

OpenAI released its newest reasoning model, called o3-mini, on Friday. OpenAI says the model delivers more intelligence than OpenAI’s first small reasoning model, o1-mini, while maintaining o1-mini’s low price and speed. The company says o3-mini excels in science, math, and coding problems. Developers can access o3-mini through an API, and can select between three levels of reasoning intensity. The lowest setting, for example, might be best for less difficult problems where speed of response is a factor. ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Pro users can access OpenAI o3-mini starting today, OpenAI says, while enterprise users will get access in a week. The announcement comes at the end of a week in which the Chinese company DeepSeek dominated headlines after releasing a pair of surprisingly powerful and cost-effective AI models called DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-R1. The latter, a reasoning model, scored close to, and sometimes above, OpenAI’s o1 in a set of recognized benchmark tests. “We’re shifting the entire cost‑intelligence curve,” OpenAI researcher Noam Brown said of o3-mini on X. “Model intelligence will continue to go up, and the cost for the same intelligence will continue to go down.” He said o3-mini even outperforms the full-sized o1 model in a number of evaluations. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in December that the o3 series models demonstrate significantly higher levels of intelligence than the o1 models, including in computer coding and problem solving requiring advanced mathematics. The largest version of o3 also achieved the highest score yet of any AI system on a test called ARC-AGI, a logic and reasoning test designed to measure progress toward artificial general intelligence, meaning AI that’s as smart or smarter than humans at most tasks. The o3 model scored 87.5% on the test (humans can score around 85%). OpenAI originally announced o3, along with a smaller version called o3-mini, in December, but said it would complete its internal safety testing, and get feedback from a group of outside safety and security testors, before launching the models. OpenAI said it would release o3-mini this month, and gave no release timeframe for the larger o3 model. OpenAI chose not to expose the o1 models’ chain of thought, and the same holds true for o3-mini. Researchers have shown that generating chain-of-thought can sometimes confuse models and pull them off focus. DeepSeek-R1, however, is trained to show its chain of thought, and Google announced in December a new experimental model called Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking that also shows its “thinking.” Reasoning models represent a new chapter in developing generative AI models. From 2020-2023 AI labs won almost all of their performance increases by pre-training their models with more data and computing power. That “brute force” approach began to show diminishing returns in 2024, so the AI labs–OpenAI chief among them–began to teach models to do more reasoning (and use more computing power) at inference time just after the user has asked a question or posed a problem. The model might generate multiple streams of tokens at once, then choose which one leads to the best answers. Or it might follow a certain branch of logic then iteratively backtrack after hitting a dead end. The model generates a lot of tokens, which must all be stored in a “context window” while the problem is being solved. This requires a lot of memory and a lot of computing power. OpenAI’s first try at reasoning models with the o1 series wasn’t perfect. The largest o1 model is very expensive to run and its needs a long time to reach an answer. The o3 models are said to do more reasoning at inference time, but return answers faster using less computing power. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. The final months of 2024 saw the release of two major cinematic works, each laser focused on design and architecture. While very different films (that is, one Oscar-nominated, one Razzie-nominated), each is monumental in its own right. First came Francis Ford Coppola's decades-in-the-making sci-fi drama Megalopolis, following a visionary architect, played by Adam Driver, who dreams of transforming the future city of New Rome into a utopian paradise with the help of a magical metal. Critics were not kind to Coppola's film, but a much warmer reception greeted Brady Corbet's The Brutalist, a more down-to-earth but no less epic period drama following a Hungarian-born Holocaust survivor (Adrien Brody) who emigrates to the United States and whose past as an accomplished architect gradually becomes clear. Documentaries aside, architects and architecture have served varied, but particular roles in film: The art of architecture, when spotlighted, is frequently used to metaphorically reflect what's happening between towering personalities. As an occupation, though, architecture is often treated as a bland signifier: architects are often solidly middle-class romantic interests, the specific career incidental. Though veering from scary to silly to epic, these 10 films all go a bit deeper. The Towering Inferno (1974) Surely a cautionary tale for budding young architects, The Towering Inferno reminds us that even Paul Newman makes mistakes (and just being hot doesn't necessarily make one a good architect). The actor plays Doug Roberts, designer of the world's walled building: San Francisco's (fictional, thank God) Glass Tower. The titular fire isn't entirely Duncan's fault—blame is doled out to various corner-cutting subcontractors—but it's still made clear that Roberts cared more about style and personal prestige than safety, the result being a horrific (also thrilling) disaster in which various '70s era celebrities are placed in fiery danger. You can buy The Towering Inferno from Prime Video. The Towering Inferno (1974) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Belly of an Architect (1987) An acclaimed, though lesser-known 1980s indie, Belly stars Brian Dennehy as the (fictional) architect Stourley Kracklite, following him as he travels from Chicago to Rome to arrange an exhibition on the (real-life) 18th-century French architect Étienne-Louis Boullée. In Rome, Kracklite's marriage and resolve begin to crumble against the backdrop of increasingly opulent classical architecture—particularly that of Boullée himself, whose work has been characterized as grand to the point of megalomaniacal (if not fascist). All of that impressive architecture is quite present onscreen, often used to signal that our lead is being dwarfed by the scale of the art around him. You can stream The Belly of an Architect on Prime Video. The Belly of an Architect (1987) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video High-Rise (2015) An adaptation of J.G. Ballard's same-titled dystopian novel, High-Rise stars Tom Hiddleston as Dr. Robert Laing, who is living in a London tower building where things have gone rather hideously wrong (they're eating the dogs, literally). We journey back a few months to meet the architect, played by Jeremy Irons, who's designed a (rather cool-looking) building that's the absolute tops in elegant modern living—at least for the wealthier residents who live on the upper floors. When class warfare inevitably breaks out between them and the less fortunate lower denizens, things grow increasingly grim, but the architect remains free, for a time, to blandly philosophize about the impact of his designs on society. After all, he doesn't have to live there. You can stream High-Rise on Max or rent it from Prime Video. High-Rise (2015) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Inception (2010) Inception captures what must be an architect's dream, before bringing things back down to earth in extremely commonplace ways. Elliott Page plays Ariadne, a graduate-level architecture student hired to design the architecture of a literal dream, with no budgetary nor design restrictions. The designs need to be believable on an intuitive level, with an idiosyncratic logic that a dreamer wouldn't question. Of course, capitalism rears its head even here: This isn't some grand plan for art unbridled by reality; it's all in service of an ultra-rich businessman with an eye towards stealing corporate secrets—a reminder that even our dreams are constrained by greed. You can stream Inception on Netflix or rent it from Prime Video. Inception (2010) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Fountainhead (1949) I'd rather eat my own head than read another magniloquent Ayn Rand doorstopper, but this adaptation of her landmark book, directed by King Vidor, is certainly focused on its lead character's profession—though using it to make a larger point about how anyone who caves in to popular tastes is a dirty communist or something. Gary Cooper stars as Howard Roark, faced with a full-blown newspaper campaign aimed at putting a stop to his individual spirit and idiosyncratic designs. The central love affair between Roark and icy cool Dany Taggert (Patricia Neal) provides a bit of melodramatic fun, and the cinematography is stunning. The central message about being true to your own muse is also on the button, even if the narrative pushes that idea to pretty wacky extremes (though without some of the novel's more odious overtones). You can stream The Fountainhead on The Criterion Channel. The Fountainhead (1949) at The Criterion Channel Learn More Learn More at The Criterion Channel Mon Oncle (1958) I've endeavored to stick to films that deal with architects, or at least with building design as a profession, but it's hard to avoid Jacques Tati when talking about the ways in which architecture impacts our lives. The second of the director's films in which he stars as the hopelessly awkward Monsieur Hulot (and his first in color), this one finds Hulot spending time with his nephew and family in their ultra-modern, relentlessly geometric house in a new Paris suburban development. Brilliantly, hilariously conceived, the Villa Arpel is a triumph of style over substance, with comfort and tradition giving way at every turn to capitalistic modernity. Chairs are nearly impossible to sit on, flagstones are positioned so that it's impossible to walk, and ostensibly convenient appliances are so loud, you can barely think. It's a satire buoyed by physical comedy, but astute as to the ways in which architecture and design can try to improve our lives and go terribly wrong in the process. You can stream Mon Oncle on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Mon Oncle (1958) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Amityville: It's About Time (1992) From the sublimely ridiculous to the just plain ridiculous: A highlight (relatively) of a series that stretches to dozens of movies (don't feel bad if you've lost track of the Amityville oeuvre), It's About Time reminds us that urban planning and architectural design aren't just about blueprints and mathematics, they're also about vibes. If, for instance, you're hired to design a new neighborhood in Amityville, as is the case for architect Jacob Sterling (Stephen Macht), never use an old clock from the ruins of an infamous murder house as your inspiration. It will end badly for all parties. You can stream Amityville: It's About Time on Tubi, Freevee, and Prime Video. Amityville: It's About Time (1992) at Freevee Learn More Learn More at Freevee Jungle Fever (1991) Architecture isn't the defining feature of this 1991 Spike Lee joint, but it does speak to a dearth of Black American architects both in film and in real life. Harlem architect Flipper Purify (Wesley Snipes) has built an impressive career for himself, as well as a solid family life—at least until he starts an affair with a temp (Annabella Sciorra) assigned to him by an agency. Being an architect in a movie is often a shorthand way of suggesting middle-class, white-collar success, and is almost entirely restricted to white characters (think Sleepless in Seattle); despite the enormous contributions of Black structural designers to American design history, the percentage of white people in field remains somewhere in high 90s. In movies, that number is closer to 100%—honestly Flipper is the only non-white cinematic architect I came across while assembling this roundup. So whether or not you approve of his extramarital engagements, you can certainly give him credit as a trailblazer. You can rent Jungle Fever from Prime Video. Jungle Fever (1991) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Columbus (2017) Indie filmaker Kogonada (After Yang, Pachinko) made his debut with this quiet relationship drama that makes stunning use of the structural design features of Columbus, Indiana—a surprising place, perhaps, to focus on architecture. John Cho stars as Jin Lee, returning to the title town to care for his estranged father, now in a coma in a local hospital. He meets library worker Casey (Haley Lu Richardson), and the two explore Columbus together, with the composition of the city serving as backdrop (and sometimes mirror) to their developing relationship, even as topics of conversation turn on her knowledge of local architecture and her desire to enter the field. It's a quiet, subtle film that's as close to pure cinema as we get in the 21st century. You can rent Columbus from Prime Video. Columbus (2017) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Black Cat (1934) A stunning expressionist masterpiece with grisly horror trappings, the architecture of The Black Cat serves the story as much as it embellishes it. Boris Karloff plays architect and former Austro-Hungarian army officer Hjalmar Poelzig, who has built an ultra-modern, Bauhaus-style house on the ruins of the fort that he'd betrayed to the Russians during World War II. Its modernity conceals a bevy of occult mysteries, however—it's a haunted house unlike any that had come before, and its stylish sterility comes to feel like a trap in and of itself. Director Edward G. Elmer had been a set designer in Germany before fleeing the rise of the Nazis, and it's hard not to see parallels between the movie and conditions in Germany at the end of the Weimar Republic, when a thin veneer of progress was built atop literal corpses. You can rent The Black Cat from Prime Video. The Black Cat (1934) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video View the full article

The regulator has a projected fiscal year 2025 budget of $810 million, according to a nonpartisan analysis. View the full article

Chief warns country could be vulnerable to Chinese and Russian influence if it is forced to abandon operations there View the full article

Bluesky has steadily been replacing X (formerly Twitter) for me, but I've really missed the ability to bookmark posts for future reference. While X still has Twitter's old bookmarks feature, the only way to save a Bluesky post is to like it, since you can access a list of your liked posts on your profile page. That's not always convenient—what if you dislike something, but want to be able to find it again later, say if it's an article about bad but important news? That's where Kyst comes in. It's a browser extension for Chrome and Firefox that lets you save Bluesky posts in one click. Installing Kyst and signing in Credit: Pranay Parab I've previously written about Bluesky's app passwords feature, which allow you to authorize third-party apps to access your account without having to give them your real password. Kyst doesn't use app passwords, preferring OAuth (short for open authorization) for authentication instead. OAuth is how most social networks allow you to connect third-party apps. The app requests access to your Bluesky account, and when you authorize it, it still cannot see your username or password. In theory, this is a great move, as Bluesky plans to get rid of app passwords eventually. In practice, though, things are a little complicated. At time of writing, Bluesky doesn't yet allow you to view which apps you've authorized using OAuth, and that means you can't quickly revoke access to apps you don't want to use. This is expected to change over the coming months, as Bluesky rolls out OAuth more broadly. For the time being, if you want to stop using Kyst, you'll have to sign out of Bluesky and delete the browser extension. The developer told me in an email that they're also working on allowing people to delete their Kyst accounts in the future. Once you've installed Kyst on Chrome or Firefox and authorized the extension, you can start using it via the official Bluesky website. It adds a small bookmark button below each post and shows one button on the right side of the screen that displays or hides a sidebar. Using bookmarks on Bluesky Credit: Pranay Parab Once Kyst is set up, Bluesky posts on your browser will show a bookmark button next to the like button. Click once to bookmark the post and click again to undo. The Kyst button on the right side of the page opens up a sidebar to let you view your bookmarks. The extension is as simple as that, and it works fairly well. If you're away from your browser, you can also visit https://kyst.app/bookmarks to see and organize your bookmarked posts. For that organization, both the Kyst sidebar and Kyst's website allow you to add tags to your bookmarks, which makes it easy to categorize saved posts and find what you're looking for. The extension also lets you filter saved posts by date, type of post (regular posts vs threads), or by the media attached to the post. As a writer, I love using Kyst to save posts that give me story ideas, but there are a few rough edges. On both Chrome and Firefox, the extension has a bug that makes it show massive thumbnails for saved posts. On Firefox, I noticed the sidebar also wasn't displaying any posts, so I had to switch to the bookmarks page to see the posts I'd saved. View the full article

Amsterdam likely to be one location for ice cream division’s spin-off, with London and New York also under considerationView the full article

Close to 88% of all homeowners reported staying in the same home year-over-year compared to 85.1% reported a decade ago, per U.S. Census data. View the full article

I enjoy Super Bowl Sunday. I’m not much of a football fan, but my friend always hosts a lovely party with plentiful snacks, and I don’t have to do a thing. You see, hosting a dinner party is one thing—there’s a set meal, and you can plan out the timing—but a party based on hot snacks means lots of upkeep, and frequent refreshing. You need a lineup of snacks that are delicious, easy to prep, and quick to churn out, leaving you plenty of time to yell at the TV. This sounds like a job for the air fryer. Here’s a list of my favorite Air Fryday snacks fit for the big game. Cheese-stuffed biscuit ballsYou know what’s better than cheesy breadsticks? These cheese-stuffed biscuit balls. They’re made with canned biscuit dough, which makes the preparation straightforward. Pop a can of your favorite vacuum-sealed dough and wrap a biscuit's worth around a fat cube of mozzarella cheese. Throw the balls in the air fryer for a few minutes, and before serving, swipe with melted butter and a sprinkle of garlic salt. Seasoned pretzels Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann Seasoned pretzels have won me over. They're crunchier than potato chips and these ranch seasoned ones are packed with flavor. While you can use the original oven method outlined in the recipe, you can do it faster in the air fryer. Just place them on the air fryer grate (it's okay if they overlap) and set the air fryer on the "bake" setting for 325°F. Bake them for seven to 15 minutes (depending on the size of the pretzels and type of air fryer), tossing them around halfway through the cooking time. Meatball shots Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann I created meatball shots specifically for football watching—because while I don't follow the sport, I do enjoy the weekly snacks. It turns out, everyone else loves them too. Using store-bought frozen meatballs ensures a stable vehicle for the cheesy center, and Boursin cheese is the perfect pre-seasoned mixture for the job. These are sure to go quick, so make a double batch. Easy mushroom chips Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann I was stunned at how well canned mushrooms handle air frying. They turn into crunchy, bubbly, umami slices with little more than a spritz of oil. These could not be simpler to make and they're completely vegan. Enjoy them on their own, as a companion to nuts or seasoned pretzels, or use them as a crunchy topping for dip. Air fryer s'mores Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann You don't need a campfire to enjoy s'mores; an air fryer does the trick just fine. While some folks might associate these sweet treats with the great outdoors, this speedy method makes a good argument for s'mores indoors. Just load up your air fryer with graham cracker halves and their trusted fillings. In about four minutes you'll have s'mores to feed a small crowd. Air fryer kielbasa Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann A large platter of fatty sausage with crispy edges is a special type of heaven. And when your team is losing by 12 points, well, you'll need something pleasant to distract you from your rage. Air fryer kielbasa is extremely simple and highly gratifying. The trick here is scoring the daylights out of the exterior—those shallow cuts become crispy and the air fryer ensures you can get more ready in case there's a half-time emergency. Devils on Horseback Credit: Claire Lower These bite-sized nibbles offer an enticing balance of sweet and salty, crunchy and chewy. All you need is fruit, cheese, and pork to wrap around them. Pitted dates make an excellent fruit pocket for stuffing with cheese, and a half slice of bacon or prosciutto makes for a great pork blanket. Follow the directions here. American-cheese crisps Talk about zero prep time: American cheese singles are already ready for your air fryer. While classic cheese frico is a crispy, lacy snack made from a hard cheese like parmesan, American cheese crisps are something altogether new. Simply lay a few floppy singles on the floor of your air fryer and witness their transformation to crunchy, cavernous puffs. Pile them into a bowl and watch them disappear. Air fryer pierogi Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann At this point there should be no doubt that meats do very well in the air fryer, but what about carbs? Lucky for us, they have a place in the basket as well. Pierogi are a great example. To make a crispy, fluffy batch of pierogi, start with a box or bag from the freezer section of your grocery store. Follow the directions in my recipe here for the simple method. Caramel pasta chips Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann If you're looking for a sweet, crunchy snack to round out your Game Day spread, try these irresistible caramel pasta chips. You can use any shape of pasta you have on hand (the weirder the better, in my opinion). Start by boiling the pasta, draining it and tossing the wet noodles with cinnamon and sugar. The air fryer will quickly evaporate the water in the pasta, leaving behind a light and flaky shell coated in caramel. A big bowl of these snackable pasta chips will be an instant hit. Shishito pepper poppers Jalapeño poppers are mildly spicy, but for a stuffed-pepper snack that keeps you guessing, try this recipe for shishito pepper poppers instead. Shishitos are long green peppers with a thinner fleshy wall than jalapeños, which allows them to soften a bit faster in the air fryer. Pair that with the knowledge that you’ll never know which one are mild and which are a pocket of spicy hellfire and you’ve got yourself a snack your guests won’t forget. Phyllo wrapped veggies Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann If you’re looking for a way to incorporate more veggies onto your roster, here’s an incredible air fryer option: phyllo dough wrapped veggie sticks. You can use any vegetable you have available in the fridge, like carrot sticks, whole scallions, bell peppers, or asparagus. Lightly buttered phyllo dough creates crisp, flaky layers around each vegetable. Click here for the full recipe. Mac and cheese bitesThis is the only suggested air fryer snack on this list that requires cold leftovers, but it’s so insanely good I think it’s worth making a batch of mac and cheese the day before. Once the mac and cheese is cold, slice it into sticks or squares and toss into the air fryer as-is, no breading required. The existing cheese and oils from the sauce will fry and crisp to form a crunchy frico cheese exterior with a soft pasta interior. Click here for the full recipe. Air fryer crunchy chickpeas Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann It’s nice to have a variety of snacks at the table. Here’s one that’s easy, low commitment, and impossible to stop munching on. Crunchy chickpeas are tossed with seasonings and a secret ingredient: cornstarch. The layer of starch creates a shattering crust on each garbanzo unlike anything you’ve had before. And they’re ready in a snap. Check out the recipe here. Leftovers egg rolls This snack is a lifesaver if you underprepared for your party. Keep a pack of egg roll wrappers around so you can roll up any leftovers you have hanging in your fridge. Yep. Any and all leftovers. Fill the egg roll wrapper with a slice of lasagna, baked beans and cheese, ham and pickles, or leftover potato salad. They crisp up in the air fryer like a dream. Read here for the details. Bacon-wrapped banana bitesSimilar to devils on horseback but even simpler are these bacon-wrapped banana bites. They’re an irresistible blend of sweet, earthy, and salty. Slice ripe bananas into one-inch segments and wrap them in strips of bacon. Pop them in the air fryer until crisp. Air fryer key lime pie Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann Just because it’s a snack party doesn’t mean we have to skip dessert. This air fryer key lime pie is a nice reminder that spring is just around the corner. Use a store-bought graham cracker crust—they’re about eight inches in diameter and the aluminum tin fits in most air fryers. With only a few ingredients, this recipe comes together quickly—but don’t forget to give the finished pie time in the fridge to cool. View the full article

The release of DeepSeek’s new model has shaken assumptions about who has the upper hand in developing the technology View the full article

National holidays can be a fun and timely way to market a business. There are lots of February national days that may be relevant to various businesses. Here’s a look at some things on the calendar this month. Why should you market your business in February? It’s generally beneficial to market a small business all year. But here are some specific reasons to keep your efforts going during February: Pick up during a slow time: Many consumers are still recovering from the holidays and spending lots of time at home during February. They may need an extra push to patronize your business. Stand out among your competition: Since many businesses are slowing down this month, there may be less noise from your competitors. Use the opportunity to get your business in front of your target audience. Take advantage of gift-giving occasions: Valentine’s Day is one of the most popular February holidays. People often buy gifts for loved ones, so it’s perfect for businesses that sell flowers, chocolates, and more. Help customers with daily habits: After the new year, people are still getting into a daily rhythm. And many are adjusting the high expectations of their resolutions. So there may still be time to tie your products or services into their new routines. Tie your offerings into other national holidays: There are lots of other occasions throughout February that may be relevant to your business. Check the list below. Celebrate These February National Days If you want to promote your business on national days in February, here are some popular ones to consider. Feb. 1 – National Dark Chocolate Day Food bloggers, bakeries, and gift shops can all use this day to offer specials on products or recipes that include this popular ingredient. Feb. 2 – Groundhog Day Did the groundhog see his shadow? Many businesses create fun social media content surrounding this holiday. Feb. 3 – National Carrot Cake Day Restaurants and bakeries may offer free desserts or specials to celebrate this day. Feb 4. – National Israel Day National Israel Day celebrates the rich cultural heritage and contributions of the Israeli people. It serves as an opportunity to honor Israel’s history, achievements, and the enduring ties between Israel and communities worldwide. Feb. 5 – World Nutella Day Celebrate Nutella by offering grocery store specials or posting unique recipes online. Feb. 6 – National Frozen Yogurt Day Frozen yogurt shops shine on this day thanks to sales and special events. Feb. 7 – National Send a Card to a Friend Day Gift shops and handmade stationery retailers can gain attention by promoting letter writing. Feb. 8 – Safer Internet Day IT service providers and professional organizations can share helpful tips on this holiday. Feb. 9 – National Pizza Day Pizza shops, grocery stores, and recipe bloggers can celebrate this popular food with fun online content and sales. Feb. 11 – National Inventors Day If you’ve invented a unique product, use this occasion to share your story or tips with other inventors. Feb. 12 – Super Bowl Sunday Much online content revolves around the big game, from snack recipes to events at local sports bars. Feb. 13 – Galentine’s Day This is a day to celebrate female friendships. So gift shops, restaurants, and event venues could create events or sales. Feb. 14 – Valentine’s Day Valentine’s Day is likely the biggest gift-giving occasion in February. So, any business that sells gifts, including restaurants and date night spots, can include this date in marketing materials. Feb. 15 – Singles Awareness Day The day after Valentine’s Day celebrates singles. Some people may go on outings at restaurants or bars with single friends. Feb. 17 – National Caregivers Day Assisted living facilities and other businesses that serve seniors and their families can use this occasion to recognize caregivers. Feb. 18 – National Drink Wine Day Wine shops, restaurants, and bars can offer special promotions for wine lovers. Feb. 20 – Presidents Day Presidents Day is celebrated on the third Monday of February to celebrate George Washington’s birthday. Many businesses give the day off and/or offer specials. Feb. 21 – Fat Tuesday Fat Tuesday is the last day that many people eat fatty, indulgent foods before the start of Lent. Restaurants and bakeries may offer specials. Feb. 22 – National Margarita Day Invite groups into your restaurant and offer specials on Margarita Day. Feb. 24 – National Tortilla Chip Day Tortilla Chip Day may be popular in Mexican restaurants and/or grocery stores. Feb. 28 – National Tooth Fairy Day Dentists and childcare businesses can create fun educational content around this holiday. National Weeks in February You Don’t Want to Miss Some February celebrations last a whole week. Here are some that may be relevant to certain businesses. Feb. 1 – 7 – National Patient Recognition Week Medical offices can post thank you messages or recognize specific patients this week. Feb. 6 – 10 – National Pride in Foodservice Week Engage employees and share stories online or through marketing materials to recruit more top talent. Feb. 6 – 12 – National Freelance Writers Appreciation Week Share messages of appreciation or provide perks to freelancers on your team. Feb. 6 – 12 – International Networking Week Business groups and offices can host networking events to encourage engagement and increase membership. Feb. 12 – 18 – National Secondhand Wardrobe Week Thrift stores, vintage resellers, and content creators can all share the benefits of shopping secondhand and offer fun events and specials. Feb. 14 – 21 – Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Education Week Memory care centers and assisted living communities may host workshops or share helpful tips online for families. Don’t Forget These February Monthly Holidays There are also monthly observances that last throughout February. Businesses may create ongoing promotions or campaigns to spread awareness and tie their content into these. Black History Month Black History Month celebrates the contributions and acknowledges Black Americans’ struggles. Many businesses share educational content online or host workshops. American Heart Month Doctor’s offices and health-related businesses can share heart-healthy recipes and healthy living tips throughout the month. National Cancer Prevention Month This is another opportunity for health-related businesses to share prevention tips. Children’s Dental Health Month Dentist offices can use this as a reminder to schedule appointments and share tips online. Responsible Pet Owner Month Pet care businesses can share tips with customers or offer specials on related products. National Hot Breakfast Month Restaurants can offer breakfast specials all month long. National Snack Food Month Recipe bloggers can share unique snack recipes monthly, or grocery stores may create fun snack displays. What is the month of February known for? February is part of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere. The most prominent holiday celebrated in the U.S. is Valentine’s Day. It’s also the shortest month of the year, with just 28 days (or 29 on leap years). What should a small business post on social media in February? Social media content is likely to vary depending on your industry and niche. But many businesses tie content into Valentine’s Day or winter. Some also post social justice-related content in recognition of Black History Month. How can you promote your business in February? You can promote your business in February by tying it into different national days, including Valentine’s Day, Presidents Day, and even National Margarita Day. See a complete list of February holidays above. DateHoliday Feb. 1National Dark Chocolate Day Feb. 2Groundhog Day Feb. 2National Girls and Women in Sports Day Feb. 2Optimist Day Feb. 2National Tater Tot Day Feb. 3Bubble Gum Day Feb. 3National Wear Red Day Feb. 4Ice Cream for Breakfast Day Feb. 4National Hemp Day Feb. 5World Nutella Day Feb. 6National Frozen Yogurt Day Feb. 7National Fettuccini Alfredo Day Feb. 7National Send a Card to a Friend Day Feb. 8Safer Internet Day Feb. 9National Pizza Day Feb. 9National Toothache Day Feb. 10National Home Warranty Day Feb. 11Global Movie Day Feb. 11National Inventor's Day Feb. 12National Pork Rind Day Feb. 12Super Bowl Sunday Feb. 13Galentine's Day Feb. 13National Football Hangover Day Feb. 13National Clean Out Your Computer Day Feb. 14Valentine's Day Feb. 15Single's Awareness Day Feb. 15National Gumdrop Day Feb. 16National Almond Day Feb. 17National Caregivers Day Feb. 17National Random Acts of Kindness Day Feb. 18National Drink Wine Day Feb. 18National Battery Day Feb. 19National Lash Day Feb. 20National Leadership Day Feb. 20National Comfy Day Feb. 20National Muffin Day Feb. 20National Love Your Pet Day Feb. 20President's Day Feb. 21Paczki Day Feb. 21Fat Tuesday Feb. 21National Pancake Day Feb. 21National Grain Free Day Feb. 22National Supermarket Employee Day Feb. 22National Margarita Day Feb. 22Ash Wednesday Feb. 23National Dog Biscuit Day Feb. 23National Toast Day Feb. 23National Chili Day Feb. 23National Tile Day Feb. 24National Tortilla Chip Day Feb. 24National Skip the Straw Day Feb. 25National Clam Chowder Day Feb. 26National Pistachio Day Feb. 27National Strawberry Day Feb. 27National Retro Day Feb. 28National Tooth Fairy Day Feb. 28World Spay Day Feb. 28National Floral Design Day YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Market Your Business With these National Days in January Image: Envato Elements This article, "Market Your Business With These National Days in February" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

National holidays can be a fun and timely way to market a business. There are lots of February national days that may be relevant to various businesses. Here’s a look at some things on the calendar this month. Why should you market your business in February? It’s generally beneficial to market a small business all year. But here are some specific reasons to keep your efforts going during February: Pick up during a slow time: Many consumers are still recovering from the holidays and spending lots of time at home during February. They may need an extra push to patronize your business. Stand out among your competition: Since many businesses are slowing down this month, there may be less noise from your competitors. Use the opportunity to get your business in front of your target audience. Take advantage of gift-giving occasions: Valentine’s Day is one of the most popular February holidays. People often buy gifts for loved ones, so it’s perfect for businesses that sell flowers, chocolates, and more. Help customers with daily habits: After the new year, people are still getting into a daily rhythm. And many are adjusting the high expectations of their resolutions. So there may still be time to tie your products or services into their new routines. Tie your offerings into other national holidays: There are lots of other occasions throughout February that may be relevant to your business. Check the list below. Celebrate These February National Days If you want to promote your business on national days in February, here are some popular ones to consider. Feb. 1 – National Dark Chocolate Day Food bloggers, bakeries, and gift shops can all use this day to offer specials on products or recipes that include this popular ingredient. Feb. 2 – Groundhog Day Did the groundhog see his shadow? Many businesses create fun social media content surrounding this holiday. Feb. 3 – National Carrot Cake Day Restaurants and bakeries may offer free desserts or specials to celebrate this day. Feb 4. – National Israel Day National Israel Day celebrates the rich cultural heritage and contributions of the Israeli people. It serves as an opportunity to honor Israel’s history, achievements, and the enduring ties between Israel and communities worldwide. Feb. 5 – World Nutella Day Celebrate Nutella by offering grocery store specials or posting unique recipes online. Feb. 6 – National Frozen Yogurt Day Frozen yogurt shops shine on this day thanks to sales and special events. Feb. 7 – National Send a Card to a Friend Day Gift shops and handmade stationery retailers can gain attention by promoting letter writing. Feb. 8 – Safer Internet Day IT service providers and professional organizations can share helpful tips on this holiday. Feb. 9 – National Pizza Day Pizza shops, grocery stores, and recipe bloggers can celebrate this popular food with fun online content and sales. Feb. 11 – National Inventors Day If you’ve invented a unique product, use this occasion to share your story or tips with other inventors. Feb. 12 – Super Bowl Sunday Much online content revolves around the big game, from snack recipes to events at local sports bars. Feb. 13 – Galentine’s Day This is a day to celebrate female friendships. So gift shops, restaurants, and event venues could create events or sales. Feb. 14 – Valentine’s Day Valentine’s Day is likely the biggest gift-giving occasion in February. So, any business that sells gifts, including restaurants and date night spots, can include this date in marketing materials. Feb. 15 – Singles Awareness Day The day after Valentine’s Day celebrates singles. Some people may go on outings at restaurants or bars with single friends. Feb. 17 – National Caregivers Day Assisted living facilities and other businesses that serve seniors and their families can use this occasion to recognize caregivers. Feb. 18 – National Drink Wine Day Wine shops, restaurants, and bars can offer special promotions for wine lovers. Feb. 20 – Presidents Day Presidents Day is celebrated on the third Monday of February to celebrate George Washington’s birthday. Many businesses give the day off and/or offer specials. Feb. 21 – Fat Tuesday Fat Tuesday is the last day that many people eat fatty, indulgent foods before the start of Lent. Restaurants and bakeries may offer specials. Feb. 22 – National Margarita Day Invite groups into your restaurant and offer specials on Margarita Day. Feb. 24 – National Tortilla Chip Day Tortilla Chip Day may be popular in Mexican restaurants and/or grocery stores. Feb. 28 – National Tooth Fairy Day Dentists and childcare businesses can create fun educational content around this holiday. National Weeks in February You Don’t Want to Miss Some February celebrations last a whole week. Here are some that may be relevant to certain businesses. Feb. 1 – 7 – National Patient Recognition Week Medical offices can post thank you messages or recognize specific patients this week. Feb. 6 – 10 – National Pride in Foodservice Week Engage employees and share stories online or through marketing materials to recruit more top talent. Feb. 6 – 12 – National Freelance Writers Appreciation Week Share messages of appreciation or provide perks to freelancers on your team. Feb. 6 – 12 – International Networking Week Business groups and offices can host networking events to encourage engagement and increase membership. Feb. 12 – 18 – National Secondhand Wardrobe Week Thrift stores, vintage resellers, and content creators can all share the benefits of shopping secondhand and offer fun events and specials. Feb. 14 – 21 – Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Education Week Memory care centers and assisted living communities may host workshops or share helpful tips online for families. Don’t Forget These February Monthly Holidays There are also monthly observances that last throughout February. Businesses may create ongoing promotions or campaigns to spread awareness and tie their content into these. Black History Month Black History Month celebrates the contributions and acknowledges Black Americans’ struggles. Many businesses share educational content online or host workshops. American Heart Month Doctor’s offices and health-related businesses can share heart-healthy recipes and healthy living tips throughout the month. National Cancer Prevention Month This is another opportunity for health-related businesses to share prevention tips. Children’s Dental Health Month Dentist offices can use this as a reminder to schedule appointments and share tips online. Responsible Pet Owner Month Pet care businesses can share tips with customers or offer specials on related products. National Hot Breakfast Month Restaurants can offer breakfast specials all month long. National Snack Food Month Recipe bloggers can share unique snack recipes monthly, or grocery stores may create fun snack displays. What is the month of February known for? February is part of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere. The most prominent holiday celebrated in the U.S. is Valentine’s Day. It’s also the shortest month of the year, with just 28 days (or 29 on leap years). What should a small business post on social media in February? Social media content is likely to vary depending on your industry and niche. But many businesses tie content into Valentine’s Day or winter. Some also post social justice-related content in recognition of Black History Month. How can you promote your business in February? You can promote your business in February by tying it into different national days, including Valentine’s Day, Presidents Day, and even National Margarita Day. See a complete list of February holidays above. DateHoliday Feb. 1National Dark Chocolate Day Feb. 2Groundhog Day Feb. 2National Girls and Women in Sports Day Feb. 2Optimist Day Feb. 2National Tater Tot Day Feb. 3Bubble Gum Day Feb. 3National Wear Red Day Feb. 4Ice Cream for Breakfast Day Feb. 4National Hemp Day Feb. 5World Nutella Day Feb. 6National Frozen Yogurt Day Feb. 7National Fettuccini Alfredo Day Feb. 7National Send a Card to a Friend Day Feb. 8Safer Internet Day Feb. 9National Pizza Day Feb. 9National Toothache Day Feb. 10National Home Warranty Day Feb. 11Global Movie Day Feb. 11National Inventor's Day Feb. 12National Pork Rind Day Feb. 12Super Bowl Sunday Feb. 13Galentine's Day Feb. 13National Football Hangover Day Feb. 13National Clean Out Your Computer Day Feb. 14Valentine's Day Feb. 15Single's Awareness Day Feb. 15National Gumdrop Day Feb. 16National Almond Day Feb. 17National Caregivers Day Feb. 17National Random Acts of Kindness Day Feb. 18National Drink Wine Day Feb. 18National Battery Day Feb. 19National Lash Day Feb. 20National Leadership Day Feb. 20National Comfy Day Feb. 20National Muffin Day Feb. 20National Love Your Pet Day Feb. 20President's Day Feb. 21Paczki Day Feb. 21Fat Tuesday Feb. 21National Pancake Day Feb. 21National Grain Free Day Feb. 22National Supermarket Employee Day Feb. 22National Margarita Day Feb. 22Ash Wednesday Feb. 23National Dog Biscuit Day Feb. 23National Toast Day Feb. 23National Chili Day Feb. 23National Tile Day Feb. 24National Tortilla Chip Day Feb. 24National Skip the Straw Day Feb. 25National Clam Chowder Day Feb. 26National Pistachio Day Feb. 27National Strawberry Day Feb. 27National Retro Day Feb. 28National Tooth Fairy Day Feb. 28World Spay Day Feb. 28National Floral Design Day YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Market Your Business With these National Days in January Image: Envato Elements This article, "Market Your Business With These National Days in February" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article