ResidentialBusiness

In the dry months of winter, a humidifier is a godsend, infusing the air with moisture and doing its part to keep your skin and sinuses from getting parched. Since you’re probably regularly adding fresh water to it, you may not think you need to clean it that frequently. But you do—and more often than you might guess. In addition to helping it run better, cleaning your humidifier stops the machine from dispersing microorganisms and minerals into the air. Practice proper humidifier maintenanceDistilled or demineralized water is better than tap water; the latter can contain minerals that could hasten bacteria growth. The minerals can also cause what looks like white dust to collect on furniture near the humidifier. That happened to me a lot last winter until I started using filtered water this year. (It's annoying to have to wait for a full pitcher of water to filter, but not more annoying than having to clean around the humidifier constantly.) It's also better not to be breathing those minerals in or allowing them to build up in the humidifier itself, and switching to distilled water will take care of that problem. When the humidifier is not in use, don't let water sit in it. If you run it overnight, dump out anything that wasn’t vaporized in the morning; you don't want to be breathing in aerosolized stagnant water. Empty the water reservoir out, dry the inside with a cloth, and refill it again only when you’re ready to use it. If you forget to do that, don't put new water on top of old water when you go to use it again. Dump it and fill with fresh water. How (and how often) to clean your humidifierThe Mayo Clinic recommends you clean your humidifier every three days to keep it from spraying bacteria and fungi into the air. (Are you on a three-day schedule with yours? I wasn't!) The Environmental Protection Agency advises cleaning yours by unplugging the machine and scrubbing it out with a brush to remove any scale, deposits, or film you can see on the sides or interior of the tank. If you haven't cleaned yours in a while, you'll likely see the deposits and gunk, so you'll know where to scrub. Otherwise, use a sponge and thoroughly wipe down the entire perimeter of your basin. For the next step, consult your manual to determine the products the manufacturer recommends you use to clean your machine. Most likely, it’ll be either distilled white vinegar or a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. Some humidifiers can be cleaned with bleach, but not all, so make sure to follow the directions for your specific model. Whatever you use, you won't be running these cleaning products through the machine, but rather allowing them to sit in the water tank for 10 to 20 minutes before dumping it out and scrubbing it again. While that happens, scrub the other components with a little vinegar or hydrogen peroxide solution on a rag. Dump the solution from the basin, rinse it several times, then dry it with a cloth. Now you can breathe freely (and moistly) again. Good as new! Credit: Lindsey Ellefson I just cleaned my mini humidifier and it's easy: It's just a matter of putting the vinegar or peroxide solution in there and leaving it alone after you wipe down the rest. Though each model will differ in its instructions, I added two parts water to one part vinegar to mine. I always make sure to dry mine well before using it again and I rinse it several times, since I don't want any lingering vinegar scent. View the full article

Entrepreneurial couples and co-founding duos share a unique bond – whether they’re bound by marriage or business. Their synergy often stems from shared passions, complementary skills, and the drive to build something meaningful. But the reality is that co-founding a business with someone – romantic partner or not – isn’t always easy. From aligning strategic visions to juggling multiple responsibilities, the pressures of scaling a company can wear on even the strongest partnerships. Yet, entrepreneurial couples offer a blueprint for success precisely because their personal and professional lives are deeply intertwined. As such, they have to adapt, compromise, and communicate on a profound level, and any co-founding duo can learn valuable lessons from how these couples navigate the challenges that come their way while maintaining empathy for one another. Business partners, much like married couples, face a distinct set of hurdles that can test the very core of their relationship. In many ways, running a startup with someone mirrors the commitment of “till death do us part.” You’re tied together not just by formal agreements but also by the emotional investment you each bring to the table. It’s not surprising, then, that up to 43% of startup founders ultimately buy out their co-founders due to interpersonal rifts and power struggles. After all, co-founding a business is essentially a marriage in its own right – one sealed by a business license instead of a marriage license. Yet, when it works, it can be remarkable. In fact, teams with more than one founder outperform solo founders by an overwhelming 163%. One of the biggest pitfalls for co-founders, much like for couples, is misaligned vision. Whether you’re running a household or running a company, there must be a shared sense of purpose and direction. Many disputes boil down to role ambiguity, unclear expectations, and competing definitions of success. If one partner aims for aggressive growth while the other prioritizes sustainable expansion, friction is inevitable. Communication breakdowns and power struggles often follow, which can leave each partner feeling unheard. Time and again, in my work with both entrepreneurial couples and co-founding duos, we see that a foundational alignment on key initiatives and a willingness to resolve conflict collaboratively go a long way toward fostering a healthy partnership. So, how exactly do entrepreneurial couples make it work, and what can every co-founder learn from them? Here are a few tips: Be proactive – Don’t wait until problems arise One of the biggest lessons we can learn from entrepreneurial couples is the importance of addressing potential pitfalls before they become major issues. Whether it’s clarifying roles or scheduling regular check-ins, proactive communication is the glue that holds a relationship together. Rather than assuming everything is fine, schedule structured time to discuss both strategic decisions and personal stressors. By surfacing small grievances early, you prevent them from snowballing into larger conflicts. Understand How Your Familial Dynamics Affect Your Leadership Style Our upbringing and family backgrounds shape not only how we relate to our loved ones but also how we lead, collaborate, and handle conflict. Perhaps you grew up in a home where disagreements were swept under the rug, or maybe you learned to be hyper-assertive just to have a say. These patterns can quickly resurface when the stakes are high in a co-founding situation. Entrepreneurial couples have an edge because they’re forced to recognize – and often reconcile – these familial tendencies on a daily basis. In my work with both couples and co-founders, I’ve found that while the details of each therapy session may vary, the underlying principles remain the same: acknowledging deeply rooted family dynamics is the key to maintaining unity in any partnership. Identify your emotional triggers Even the most forward-thinking founders can falter if they’re not aware of the emotional triggers that fuel their reactions. Stress, fear, or insecurity can all ignite disproportionate responses. The first step is noticing the signs: a racing heartbeat, clenched fists, or a sudden urge to interrupt someone. Once you identify these red flags, you can practice pausing to breathe and reframing the situation. For entrepreneurial couples, this might mean stepping away to gather your thoughts, while for any co-founding duo, it’s about creating space for empathy and calm conversations. Create a strategic alignment plan Finally, business partners who take time to create a clear strategic alignment plan – from outlining shared goals to defining individual roles – set themselves up for smoother collaboration. This roadmap not only keeps you accountable but also helps you spot misalignments before they evolve into gaps that you can’t reconcile. Entrepreneurial couples have to merge life plans and business ambitions in real time, so they often learn to break down goals into manageable steps and assign responsibilities based on each partner’s strengths. By taking a similar approach, you’ll enjoy a much more harmonious working relationship with your co-founder along the way. For entrepreneurs of any kind, remember that the strength of your relationships can make or break your success. Your most valuable asset isn’t just the product or service you offer; it’s the people who help bring your vision to life. Invest in those partnerships first, and watch how every facet of your business thrives as a result. View the full article

Microsoft PowerPoint is a great tool to turn your presentation ideas into reality. But PowerPoint presentations are also a surefire way to bore your audience to death if you don’t make your presentations engaging. To get your audience hooked, adding video files to your presentations can be a good strategy, as videos offer more engagement than most other content types. In this article, you will learn how to embed a video in PowerPoint and the benefits of doing so. How to Add a Video to PowerPoint from Your Hard Drive Here are simple steps to include a video in a PowerPoint presentation: Step. 1 Go to the Insert tab and click on the Video tab. Step. 2 When you click on the Video tab, a drop-down menu will appear with three options for inserting a video: This Device, Stock Videos, and Online Videos. Select Insert Video from This Device. Step. 3 When you select Insert Video from This Device, a prompt will appear asking you to locate a video file on your device. Find the video file you wish to use. Step- 4 Click on the Insert tab; the video will be added to your presentation slide. Step- 5 When you embed a hard drive video into PowerPoint presentations, you have multiple options to customize the video. Select your video and click on the Video Format tab, you will get assorted options for video shape, video border, video effects, video size, and many more. Also, you can add a poster frame to your video from this section. Click on the Playback tab after selecting your video, you get options to trim video, set fad duration, and many more. If you want to ensure that your video starts automatically, you can set it up by visiting the In Click Sequence tab. How to Add a YouTube Video to PowerPoint The process of adding YouTube videos to your PowerPoint slides is simple. In just a few clicks, you can embed a YouTube video into your PowerPoint slide. Let’s explore the process. Step. 1 Go to YouTube and choose the video you want to add to your presentation. Click on the Share tab to copy the link to your video. If you want your video to start at a certain time, play the video and click on the Share tab at the time when you want it to be played. Check the Start At box below, and then copy the URL. Step. 2 Click the Insert button, then choose the Video tab in your PowerPoint file. You will see three options for inserting a video. Select Online Videos. Step. 3 When you click on Insert Video from Online Videos, a dialog box will open to enter the address of the online video. At present, embedding videos from the following online platforms are allowed: YouTube SlideShare Vimeo Stream Flipgrid Step. 4 Enter the copied address of the YouTube video, and you can see the preview of the video. Click on the Insert button, and your video appears on your presentation slide. Your linked video will be played from YouTube. Therefore, you need to have an internet connection for video play in your presentation. Step. 5 For customization, adding videos from YouTube to your presentation only offers the In Click Sequence option when you select the video and click on the Playback tab. However, you will have most options when you select the video and click on the Video Format tab to customize the video. You can add poster frames, change video shapes, and much more. How to Embed a Vimeo Online Video into a PowerPoint Presentation The process of adding a video from Vimeo or any other video platform to your presentation is like adding a YouTube video and takes just a few minutes. The following are quick steps: Step. 1 Visit Vimeo and select the video you wish to include in your PowerPoint presentation. Next, click on the Share icon. Copy the link to your video. Vimeo also allows you to pick a certain time to start video playback by setting time in the Start Video At box. What’s more, you can also select play automatically. Step. 2 Go to the Insert tab and click Video. The Insert Video From pop-up menu appears. Click on Online Videos. Step. 3 When you click on Online Video, a new window will open. Enter the copied address of the Vimeo video into the address bar; it will show the preview of the video. Click on the Insert button, and your video will be added to your presentation slide. You have as many customization options for embedded Vimeo videos as you have for YouTube videos (mentioned in step. 5 of how to add a YouTube video to your presentation) Why You Should Add Videos to Your PowerPoint The following are key reasons why you should add videos to your PowerPoint presentation: 1. Make Your Presentation More Powerful Using storytelling in your presentation is a proven tactic to improve the outcome. And videos make storytelling more convincing. So, if you embed videos in your presentation, it can make your presentation more powerful. 2- Set the Mood of Your Audience Incorporating relevant videos that enhance your presentation slides can effectively engage your audience. When your viewers see that you have embedded videos in the initial slides, they are likely to conclude that the remainder of the presentation will be enjoyable rather than dull. 3. Keep Your Audience Engaged People enjoy watching videos, and the growth of video viewers globally supports this idea. Therefore, knowing how to embed a video in PowerPoint can enhance your presentations and engage your audience more effectively. 4. Help You Sell More Are you utilizing presentation slides to persuade your prospects or customers to make a purchase? Incorporating videos into your PowerPoint presentations can enhance your sales effectiveness. This is due to the fact that videos increase conversion rates. Read More: how to make a PowerPoint into a video Why can’t I add a video to PowerPoint? Here are common reasons why you can’t add a video to PowerPoint: You’re trying to embed an unsupported video from your hard drive Your Internet connection is off if you’re adding a video from Vimeo or YouTube Your PowerPoint program may be corrupted Your movie file might be corrupted Conclusion Now that you know how to embed a video in PowerPoint. It is time to create an awesome presentation to wow your audience Playing videos in your PowerPoint slides can make your presentations more powerful and offer excellent conversion rates. However, you should avoid common PowerPoint mistakes and ensure each embedded video complements the content of the slide. Image: Depositphotos This article, "How to Embed a Video in PowerPoint" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Microsoft PowerPoint is a great tool to turn your presentation ideas into reality. But PowerPoint presentations are also a surefire way to bore your audience to death if you don’t make your presentations engaging. To get your audience hooked, adding video files to your presentations can be a good strategy, as videos offer more engagement than most other content types. In this article, you will learn how to embed a video in PowerPoint and the benefits of doing so. How to Add a Video to PowerPoint from Your Hard Drive Here are simple steps to include a video in a PowerPoint presentation: Step. 1 Go to the Insert tab and click on the Video tab. Step. 2 When you click on the Video tab, a drop-down menu will appear with three options for inserting a video: This Device, Stock Videos, and Online Videos. Select Insert Video from This Device. Step. 3 When you select Insert Video from This Device, a prompt will appear asking you to locate a video file on your device. Find the video file you wish to use. Step- 4 Click on the Insert tab; the video will be added to your presentation slide. Step- 5 When you embed a hard drive video into PowerPoint presentations, you have multiple options to customize the video. Select your video and click on the Video Format tab, you will get assorted options for video shape, video border, video effects, video size, and many more. Also, you can add a poster frame to your video from this section. Click on the Playback tab after selecting your video, you get options to trim video, set fad duration, and many more. If you want to ensure that your video starts automatically, you can set it up by visiting the In Click Sequence tab. How to Add a YouTube Video to PowerPoint The process of adding YouTube videos to your PowerPoint slides is simple. In just a few clicks, you can embed a YouTube video into your PowerPoint slide. Let’s explore the process. Step. 1 Go to YouTube and choose the video you want to add to your presentation. Click on the Share tab to copy the link to your video. If you want your video to start at a certain time, play the video and click on the Share tab at the time when you want it to be played. Check the Start At box below, and then copy the URL. Step. 2 Click the Insert button, then choose the Video tab in your PowerPoint file. You will see three options for inserting a video. Select Online Videos. Step. 3 When you click on Insert Video from Online Videos, a dialog box will open to enter the address of the online video. At present, embedding videos from the following online platforms are allowed: YouTube SlideShare Vimeo Stream Flipgrid Step. 4 Enter the copied address of the YouTube video, and you can see the preview of the video. Click on the Insert button, and your video appears on your presentation slide. Your linked video will be played from YouTube. Therefore, you need to have an internet connection for video play in your presentation. Step. 5 For customization, adding videos from YouTube to your presentation only offers the In Click Sequence option when you select the video and click on the Playback tab. However, you will have most options when you select the video and click on the Video Format tab to customize the video. You can add poster frames, change video shapes, and much more. How to Embed a Vimeo Online Video into a PowerPoint Presentation The process of adding a video from Vimeo or any other video platform to your presentation is like adding a YouTube video and takes just a few minutes. The following are quick steps: Step. 1 Visit Vimeo and select the video you wish to include in your PowerPoint presentation. Next, click on the Share icon. Copy the link to your video. Vimeo also allows you to pick a certain time to start video playback by setting time in the Start Video At box. What’s more, you can also select play automatically. Step. 2 Go to the Insert tab and click Video. The Insert Video From pop-up menu appears. Click on Online Videos. Step. 3 When you click on Online Video, a new window will open. Enter the copied address of the Vimeo video into the address bar; it will show the preview of the video. Click on the Insert button, and your video will be added to your presentation slide. You have as many customization options for embedded Vimeo videos as you have for YouTube videos (mentioned in step. 5 of how to add a YouTube video to your presentation) Why You Should Add Videos to Your PowerPoint The following are key reasons why you should add videos to your PowerPoint presentation: 1. Make Your Presentation More Powerful Using storytelling in your presentation is a proven tactic to improve the outcome. And videos make storytelling more convincing. So, if you embed videos in your presentation, it can make your presentation more powerful. 2- Set the Mood of Your Audience Incorporating relevant videos that enhance your presentation slides can effectively engage your audience. When your viewers see that you have embedded videos in the initial slides, they are likely to conclude that the remainder of the presentation will be enjoyable rather than dull. 3. Keep Your Audience Engaged People enjoy watching videos, and the growth of video viewers globally supports this idea. Therefore, knowing how to embed a video in PowerPoint can enhance your presentations and engage your audience more effectively. 4. Help You Sell More Are you utilizing presentation slides to persuade your prospects or customers to make a purchase? Incorporating videos into your PowerPoint presentations can enhance your sales effectiveness. This is due to the fact that videos increase conversion rates. Read More: how to make a PowerPoint into a video Why can’t I add a video to PowerPoint? Here are common reasons why you can’t add a video to PowerPoint: You’re trying to embed an unsupported video from your hard drive Your Internet connection is off if you’re adding a video from Vimeo or YouTube Your PowerPoint program may be corrupted Your movie file might be corrupted Conclusion Now that you know how to embed a video in PowerPoint. It is time to create an awesome presentation to wow your audience Playing videos in your PowerPoint slides can make your presentations more powerful and offer excellent conversion rates. However, you should avoid common PowerPoint mistakes and ensure each embedded video complements the content of the slide. Image: Depositphotos This article, "How to Embed a Video in PowerPoint" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The mortgage arm of Rithm Capital saw profits surge in the fourth quarter, as the parent company looks to scale up before making any moves to separate. View the full article

The 17.2% of mortgage borrowers nationwide with interest rates equal to, or greater than 6%, is the largest share since 2016, according to Redfin. View the full article

Potentially transformative, the idea has yet to show practical value, as the boundaries between the two fields shift View the full article

The 30-year fixed rate mortgage continues to slip away from the 7% mark, Freddie Mac said, but experts still expect them to stay higher for longer. View the full article

Despite ideal market, challenges obstruct expansion. By CPA Trendlines Research Go PRO for members-only access to more CPA Trendlines Research. View the full article

Despite ideal market, challenges obstruct expansion. By CPA Trendlines Research Go PRO for members-only access to more CPA Trendlines Research. View the full article

Are you suffering from “Zoom fatigue?” Exhausted from being on video calls multiple times a week, or even every day? Well, it may be because you’re sick of looking at your own face, according to a new study. That study, from researchers at Michigan State University and published in the journal PLOS One, discovered that “facial appearance dissatisfaction” could explain the weariness people are experiencing when using videoconferencing technology. Our increased reliance on virtual meetings in the workplace, especially with the rise of remote work, means we are spending a lot more time on camera, which has significant implications for workplace productivity and individual well-being, according to the researchers. “Our study highlights that dissatisfaction with facial appearance contributes to Zoom fatigue, leading to reduced adoption of virtual meeting technologies,” said study author Chaeyun Lim of Michigan State University. The study also looked at impression management features, which are tools that enable users to adjust their self-video to manage their appearance, and found that dissatisfaction with facial appearance “also drives the use of impression management features, emphasizing the need to address worker well-being in virtual communication environments.” In other words, researchers found that individuals who didn’t like how they looked had more Zoom fatigue and saw virtual meetings as less useful, leading them to be less interested in adopting the technology. Taken together, the findings shed light on why some people are less likely to want to attend virtual meetings. The study involved 2,448 U.S.-based workers answering a 15-minute survey. The group included professional, technical, and scientific workers who worked remotely at least part of the time and regularly attended virtual meetings for work. It’s not the first study about negative feelings associated with virtual meetings. Another study from Austrian researchers in 2023 examined the effects of videoconferencing directly on the brain and heart. In that study, electrodes were stuck on the heads and chests of 35 students who took part in 50-minute lectures through videoconference and in person. According to the brain and heart readings, students had significantly greater levels of fatigue, drowsiness, negativity, and sadness, and less attention, after videoconferencing than after in-person lectures. So, what’s the solution? “Individuals and organizations can adopt practices such as scheduling regular breaks,” according to Graz University of Technology’s René Riedl, co-senior author of the Austrian study. “Based on our research results, we recommend a break after 30 minutes, because we found that after 50 minutes of videoconferencing, significant changes in physiological and subjective fatigue could be observed. Moreover, utilizing features like ‘speaker view’ to mitigate the intensity of perceived continuous eye contact could be helpful.” View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. The romantic comedy is one of cinema’s oldest and most reliable genres for good reason: Real-life romance is complicated and sometimes exhausting. That can be true for characters in movies, too, but their problems are generally funnier than our own and, anyway, they’re not our problems. We’re comforted either because we know everything will work out fine, or because we know we won’t have to deal with the hilarious and/or poignant consequences of interacting with other humans. Sadly, the golden ago of the rom-com has passed us by. Worse, Netflix in particular has pulled back on its selection of older (meaning anything much older than a decade) movies in favor of more recent releases, which means you might have to dust off your DVDs of you're looking for a '90s classic. On the other hand, that also means there are probably a lot of newer rom-coms on the service that you haven't seen before. Romance always benefits from a little novelty, after all. In that spirit, these are some of the best romantic comedies currently streaming on Netflix. Players (2024) Gina Rodriguez plays sportswriter Mack, who has spent years writing hook-up plays for her friends—elaborate schemes that have led her and the crew to any number of one-night stands. The tables are turned when she falls for a war correspondent (Tom Ellis) who only sees her as a hookup. Her best friend Adam (Damon Wayans Jr.) jumps in to help her land her man, and unexpected complications arise when he realizes that his own feelings for Mack aren't entirely platonic. Players (2024) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix Hit Man (2024) This "Netflix Original" from director Richard Linklater (Dazed and Confused, Boyhood) was actually acquired by the streamer after it made a splash at the Sundance Film Festival, no doubt in anticipation of leading man Glen Powell finally having his moment. And certainly he's got charisma to spare in this shaggy-dog rom-com/thriller in which he plays Gary Johnson, a college professor who moonlights as a participant in sting operations for the New Orleans police department, pretending to be a hit man to rope in would-be criminals. When he feels a spark with his latest mark, a woman (Adria Arjona) desperate to escape an abusive husband, things get complicated. It's a great premise, the leads have chemistry to spare, and it's altogether a great hang. Hit Man (2024) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix Anyone But You (2023) Speaking of Glen Powell, he co-headlines this 2023 throwback (an extremely loose adaptation of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing) with Euphoria's Sydney Sweeney that became a box office hit despite a savaging by critics. The pair play an investment banker and a college student, respectively, who meet cute but suffer a classic rom-com misunderstanding that leaves them both bitter—then, two years later, they meet up at the destination wedding of her sister and his roommate's sister, perfectly positioned for a classic enemies-to-lovers turnabout. Anyone But You (2023) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix No Hard Feelings (2023) A rom-com with a big side of sex comedy, No Hard Feelings stars Andrew Barth Feldman as a shy, nerdy 19-year-old heading off to college with minimal experience in just about anything involving the opposite sex. His rich (and clearly problematic) parents decide to hire broke rideshare driver Maddie (Jennifer Lawrence) to flirt and hopefully have sex with him. The absolutely bonkers plan doesn't go as expected, naturally, but the movie winds up being a bit sweeter than you'd expect from the premise. No Hard Feelings (2023) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix The Incredible Jessica James (2017) Jessica Williams plays the title's New York City playwright, who finds herself at loose ends following a bad breakup and a seemingly endless string of rejections for her work. She's introduced to divorced Boone (Chris O'Dowd), with whom she bonds over life's disappointments. The real charm in this smart indie are in its performances, as well as its conviction that romance needn't be an end unto itself, but can go hand in hand with a renewed sense of artistic purpose. The Incredible Jessica James (2017) Learn More Learn More Maid in Manhattan (2002) While this B-grade Jennifer Lopez flick is traditional in its transposition of fairy-tale tropes to the world of a modern (well, circa 2002) New York City hotel, there's nothing wrong with a little comfort food. Jennifer Lopez plays Marisa Ventura, single mom and maid at a fancy Manhattan hotel, while Ralph Fiennes plays rich senatorial candidate Chris Marshall. By the time a mix-up involving a borrowed Dolce & Gabbana has Chris thinking that Marisa is another wealthy guest, we're already well on our way to a 21st century Cinderella story. Maid in Manhattan (2002) Learn More Learn More The Lovebirds (2020) Bumped from theaters and sold to Netflix at the beginning of the pandemic, his two-hander starring Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani was largely overlooked at the time, but deserves a second chance. They play a couple whose relationship is at a low point after four years together. Through bizarre circumstances, the same night they decide to break up, they are the joint witnesses to a murder and must go on the run—and nothing reignites an old flame like life-or-death stakes. The film was directed by Michael Showalter, who helped put Nanjiani on the map with 2017's The Big Sick. The Lovebirds (2020) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix Kicking and Screaming (1995) No, not the on where Will Ferrell coaches a kids' soccer team. This early effort from future Barbie co-writer/Greta Gerwig paramour Noah Baumbach is a talky rom-com in the Woody Allen/Whit Stillman vein, following the various romantic struggles of group of recent college grads who can't quite figure out how to get started on their real lives. There's not a ton of plot, but the vibes are great—credit Baumbach's witty script and a likable cast, including Josh Hamilton, Olivia d'Abo, Chris Eigeman, and Parker Posey. Kicking and Screaming (1995) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix She's Gotta Have It (1986) The first Spike Lee joint, this enormously charming low-budget feature follows Nola Darling (Tracy Camilla Johns), a young artist living in Brooklyn in the pre-hipster 1980s, as she muses on her romantic relationships with three different men (one of them played by Lee himself). If a little rough around the edges, it's an extremely accomplished debut, hinting at Lee's future career with creative flourishes, from a documentary shooting style to sequences in which interviews with the characters (and a handful of real people) offer commentary on the difficulties of navigating romantic relationships in the then-modern era. She's Gotta Have It (1986) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix A Tourist's Guide to Love (2023) Vietnam is the real star in this, the first movie to be shot in the country following the COVID-19 pandemic. Rachael Leigh Cook (She's All That) stars as a travel executive (dealing with a recent break-up, naturally) who sneaks off to Southeast Asia to go undercover on one of the group tours her company promotes. In the process she meets tour guide Sinh (Scott Ly), who encourages her to step outside of her comfort zone. Together, they explore some of the most beautiful features of modern Vietnam. Probably they fall in love too, IDK. A Tourist's Guide to Love (2023) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix Nappily Ever After (2018) Violet Jones (Sanaa Lathan) spends her life in near-terror of rain, for fear that her rigorously straightened hair will be ruined. That hair is a signifier in every aspect of her life, straightening sessions even having been a way to bond with her demanding mother (Lynn Whitfield). Following a breakup with her boyfriend because of her exacting nature (particularly regarding her hair), she experiments with: different colors that her friends object to; a natural style that renders her either invisible or the subject of derision; she even shaves her head at one point, which only gets her invited to a cancer support group. Director Haifaa al-Mansour’s movie makes a great point about the fraught nature of Black hair, particularly when that hair belongs to a woman. Meeting a salon owner in the middle of a freakout, Violet begins a slow journey to learning to love herself, her hair, and maybe even the hot salon owner (Lyriq Bent). Nappily Ever After (2018) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix Always Be My Maybe (2019) Romantic comedies are often (not always) comfort food, and so we often find familiar plots: Here, longtime friends who’d lost touch (Ali Wong and Randall Park) reconnect after a falling out years before. She’s a successful celebrity chef and engaged; he’s fixing air conditioners with his dad, which is how the two meet up. Nahnatchka Khan (creator of Fresh Off the Boat) brings a light touch here, and Wong and Park have great chemistry; they’re joined by a fun supporting cast that includes a really funny turn from Keanu Reeves playing himself. Always Be My Maybe (2019) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix Set It Up (2018) Some of the best romantic comedies involve a slightly outlandish scheme, and this reliably charming Netflix original has one of those great setups: Two overworked assistants (Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell) come up with the idea that, if they can get their bosses (Lucy Liu and Taye Diggs) laid, they’ll be less interested in stressing out their employees. So the two harried assistants plan to set their bosses up, which, not unexpectedly, goes very comedically awry in pretty much every way. Naturally these things never work out as planned, and the romance in the offing is not the one that anyone had expected. Set It Up (2018) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix The Perfect Find (2023) Though Numa Perrier’s film hits plenty of the traditional rom-com beats, lead Gabrielle Union provides the spark that ignites the whole film (based on the Tia Williams novel). She’s never been better than she is here, playing Jenna, a woman in her 40s making a clean break of a long-term relationship and taking on a high-profile, high-stakes career in beauty journalism—only to wind up in a one-night stand with Eric (Keith Powers), 15 years younger and the son of her boss. The Perfect Find (2023) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix The Half of It (2020) Writer/director Alice Wu made a splash with her queer classic Saving Face way back in 2004. Her long-awaited follow-up, a comedy-drama inspired by Cyrano de Bergerac, is better. Here, friendless high schooler Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis, from “Nancy Drew”) is tasked with writing love letters to her crush, Aster (Alexxis Lemire), on behalf of a football player named Paul. There’s plenty that’s familiar here, but Wu makes everything feel fresh and fun. The Half of It (2020) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) One of the most iconic and memorable rom-coms of the 1990s might be new to many American viewers, who are missing out on a movie that’s both wonderfully goofy and deeply poignant in the best tradition of the genre. Shah Rukh Khan plays Rahul Khanna, best friends in college with Anjali (Kajol), but smitten with Tina (Rani Mukerji). Rahul and Tina get married and time goes by, but Tina always feels a little bit guilty, like maybe she got in the way of something. With little time left to live following complications in childbirth (did I mention there’s also drama here?), Tina writes her daughter a series of letters—the last one asking that she make sure that dad and Anjali reconnect. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix Our Souls at Night (2017) Indian director Ritesh Batra (The Sense of an Ending and The Lunchbox) brought together screen legends Robert Redford and Jane Fonda for this well-received romantic drama from a top-rate director. Despite the ominous title, it’s a quiet and sweet film that’s worthy of its stars. It’s not really a comedy, so I’m cheating a bit by putting it here, but it’s got such a satisfyingly light touch that it hits most of the same buttons as more straightforward rom-coms. Our Souls at Night (2017) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix A Perfect Pairing (2022) A high-end Hallmark movie in tone (nothing wrong with that!), A Perfect Pairing has a flawless setup: Harried Los Angeles wine exec Lola (Victoria Justice) comes across a little-known family-made wine from Australia, but a co-worker steals her idea and pitches it to the boss before she can. So fed-up Lola heads Down Under to secure the client for what she hopes will be her new company. Trying to work her way in, she volunteers to cover for a missing hand at the sheep farm owned by the family. The big-city girl down-on-the-farm premise comes, of course, with the slightly cocky but increasingly charming (and often shirtless) station boss (Adam Demos) with whom she works. A Perfect Pairing (2022) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix Alex Strangelove (2018) High schooler Alex Truelove (Daniel Doheny) is psyching himself up to have sex with his girlfriend, Claire, for the first time—but something’s holding him back. Openly gay Elliott (Antonio Marziale) has an idea why Alex is so reluctant and, frankly, the audience ought to have a clue by that point, as well. It’s a perfectly sweet, good-natured coming-of-age story that has some fun with Alex’s awkward efforts to set expectations aside and just kinda be himself. Alex Strangelove (2018) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix Wedding Season (2023) Asha (Pallavi Sharda) just broke off her engagement and left her Wall Street investment firm in favor of a Jersey City startup. Her concerned mother sets her daughter up on a dating app, and Asha acquiesces to a single date with the first match: Ravi (Suraj Sharma). It doesn’t go particularly well, but they’re both under a lot of parental pressure to get married, and Asha has about a dozen weddings to go to over the course of the summer, most of them filled with busybodies who want to see her in a relationship. So, naturally (for a movie), Ahsa and Ravi decide to play at being a couple to get people off their backs—which works out fine, until it doesn’t. Wedding Season (2023) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix Barakah Meets Barakah (2016) Class-busting romance is nothing particularly new, but this candid Saudi Arabian comedy-drama sees middle-class civil servant Barakah (Hisham Fageeh) strike up a relationship with Bibi, a boundary-pushing Insta celebrity. Just finding time and space to pursue a frowned-upon relationship in modern Saudi is challenging, but the movie explores the social and political obstacles with a light touch. Barakah Meets Barakah (2016) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018) Imagine that everyone you’d ever had a crush on received a letter expressing your exact feelings. It’s a nightmare scenario, but a reality for shy high school junior Lara Jean (Lana Condor), who’d written the letters as a form of secret diary, only to show up at school one day to find that her little sister had mailed them all. Can you imagine? Condor is fantastic here, and the whole thing is delightful. It’s been followed by two also-very-good sequels, as well as an ongoing spin-off series (XO, Kitty). To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix Seriously Single (2020) We start out in familiar territory here: Dineo and Noni (Fulu Mugovhani and Tumi Morake, both very funny) are a couple of successful big-city women—this time in Johannesburg. Dineo is on the hunt for a long-term relationship, even after getting dumped via livestream at work, while Noni is perfectly content with one-night stands. Their romantic (and un-romantic) trials are alternately charming, horrifying, and hilarious. The heart of the movie is its two leads, and the friendship that sustains them. Seriously Single (2020) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix Love Hard (2021) Dating columnist Natalie (Nina Dobrev) sets off from LA to Lake Placid New York to meet the guy that she's connected with via a dating app. Bad news, though: Josh Lin (Jimmy O. Yang) looks nothing at all like his dating profile, though he's ultimately cajoled into introducing her to Tag (Darren Barnet), the hot guy whose pictures Josh was using. It seems like Natalie and Tag are set to make a love connection, but if you've already guessed that there's an extra twist in the offing, buy yourself some flowers and consider yourself a rom-com expert. Love Hard (2021) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix The Lost City (2022) Maybe it doesn't have quite the stature of cinematic forebear Romancing the Stone, but the love-on-an-adventure energy is very similar. Sandra Bullock is Loretta, a novelist of romantic adventure novels who's also a former archaeologist (sure), while Channing Tatum plays Alan, the dimwitted book cover model who secretly has the hots for her. Loretta is kidnapped by a billionaire (Daniel Radcliffe, having a grand ol' time) who hopes that she'll be able to lead him to an ancient treasure described in one of her books—but, lucky for her, Alan is on her trail. There's some fun chemistry between the two leads, and the movie boasts some visual panache to keeps things lively. The Lost City (2022) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix View the full article

You can watch just about everything on YouTube, but if you want to watch a full-length Hollywood movie, you're either going to have to sit through a lot of ad breaks or pay a digital rental fee. But not all movies on YouTube are restricted like this. Sometimes you'll come across feature films that you can watch in their entirety, without any limitations or roadblocks to hamper your viewing experience. While not all of them are, um, supposed to be available on YouTube, allow me to point you to an interesting playlist of movies uploaded by none other than Warner Bros. Discovery itself, via Warner Bros. Entertainment. As noted by Gizmodo, this playlist of 31 films is 100% legal, contains no ads, and is free to watch. It seems that over the past month or so, Warner Bros. has been uploading films to this YouTube playlist, seemingly at random. Certainly the list of titles runs the gamut. At the top, there's The Wind and the Lion , a 1975 Sean Connery-starring historical drama about Theodore Roosevelt dealing with the kidnapping of an American citizen (to clarify, Connery does not play Roosevelt). Below that, there's Michael Collins, the 1996 thriller about the real-life Irish revolutionary starring Liam Neeson, Alan Rickman, and Julia Roberts. Also available: The 1997 marital arts flick Mr. Nice Guy, which features Jackie Chan as a chef caught in the middle of a dispute between a journalist and a gang of drug dealers. On the other end of the spectrum, there's The 11th Hour, a 2007 climate change documentary from Leonardo DiCaprio that gathers insights from scientists, politicians, and environmental activists. It's inspiring to see the climate progress we've made in the 18 years since the film was released (I'll pause while you laugh mirthlessly). If The 11th Hour is a skip for you, there are a few dozen other movies you might be interested in checking out. Here's the full list: The Wind of the Lion Michael Collins Mr. Nice Guy City Heat The 11th Hour The Adventures of Pluto Nash Chaos Theory Waiting for Guffman American Ninja V Mutiny on the Bounty Dungeons & Dragons The Bonfire of the Vanities Return of the Living Dead Part II The Accidental Tourist Critters 4 Murder in the First The Year of Living Dangerously December Boys Lionheart Oh, God! Crossing Delancey Price of Glory Flight of the Living Dead: Outbreak on a Plane Deal of the Century Deathtrap The Mission SubUrbia Hot to Trot True Stories The Science of Sleep The Big Tease You can find them all on by exploring various Warner Bros. channels, but it's easiest to peruse this playlist. View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. Remember the letter-writer whose coworker screamed at them and HR hadn’t done anything? Here’s the update. I wrote to you back in 2020 about an incident from 2019 where a coworker had a screaming tantrum. I very much appreciated your input, and that of your commentariat. Nothing much happened regarding HR and my yelling coworker, Dolores. I’ve taken your advice to heart, that almost all workplace issues are caused by bad management. This was seemingly a situation with a bad coworker, but the problem was exacerbated by the deep incompetence of my boss, Cornelius. He had no idea how to shut Dolores down at the moment, and just spun his wheels about resolving it and he basically left me to fend for myself. Sybil wasn’t great either, and everyone I know has some horror stories about her, and there was some cross-departmental workload drama behind the scenes that was coloring this exchange, but I didn’t need to be involved and the only reason I was was due to Cornelius’s incompetence. So now, five years on, Cornelius’s old boss has retired, Sybil has semi-retired, Jane has retired, and Cornelius has finally retired. This was thrilling news when it was first announced. However, we’d struggled with his new boss, Gilderoy, as well. Gilderoy would alternate between being sympathetic and understanding about how obstructionist Cornelius was (a little TOO sympathetic, we’re not peers dealing with the same annoying boss, YOU have the authority to change these behaviors!), and deeply frustrated we didn’t just do his work. We all felt that we had a Gilderoy problem just as much as a Cornelius problem, but it was hoped that these were Cornelius-specific management problems. After all, Cornelius was given a new manager every few years when his current boss decided they just couldn’t handle him any more. But alas! Cornelius announced his retirement in January and there still isn’t a replacement, and they didn’t even have a new job description to post until September. Gilderoy absentee-managed us, and refused to make any changes to the substantive issues that we were still dealing with due to Cornelius’s tenure (job misclassifications, understaffing, circular workflows, etc.), leaving it for the new boss to deal with. On one hand, I understand that, but on the other, there was no urgency on hiring and no acknowledgement that waiting indefinitely to, for example, be paid appropriately was a hardship. So I got a new job! I had to stay with this organization because of the benefits, but a) it’s a massive organization and b) due to the active union I’m a part of (that totally dropped the ball dealing with Cornelius) there was a pretty robust internal transfer network. I took a huge career pivot, but I work a standard schedule (I’d been working 2nd shift for over six years, and due to the chronic understaffing would never be able to get off that shift despite having been promoted) and have WFH days, which was unheard of in my old career. Ironically, Cornelius, who has always been glowing about my work (which was largely his work), was able to serve as a reference for me. I would never have been able to use him as a reference if he were my current manager. I impressed my new boss with my cover letter, which explained why my skills were transferable, even if it didn’t look like it on my resume. My new boss, dealing with a long empty role, had decided to completely revamp the job description and hiring process, which made me, a non-traditional applicant, extra appealing. The thoughtful hiring process impressed me as an applicant. I was able to (mostly) handle the stress of the interview process by internalizing your advice that hiring communications aren’t a cipher that you need to decode. It truly is just a time-consuming, bureaucratic process. Every email I did or didn’t receive, I’d just say “THIS COULD MEAN ANYTHING.” I’ve been in my new role for a month and it’s been great. It’s definitely a steep learning curve, but I’m filling a long-empty and necessary role, and my co-workers are all thrilled to have me. I get to keep all my benefits, and stay with all my healthcare providers. Most importantly, I get to see my family in the evenings! Your blog has been invaluable. I’m a regular reader and recommender of your blog. I’ve started numerous letters over the years about my bad boss, Cornelius, or his bad boss, Gilderoy, but ultimately decided not to write. I knew your advice — “your boss is terrible and isn’t going to change.” Over the last six years my partner and I have both had career pivots, written dozens of cover letters based on your resources, and had several successful job searches. I still read your blog every day, but now I’m busy enough that I’m not killing time in the archives. View the full article

With farm app technology at the forefront, modern farmers can efficiently manage their operations using powerful tools that are just a few clicks away. This guide will delve into the top farm app choices and their key features, offering invaluable insights for those seeking to optimize their agricultural practices. The Growing Role of Farm Apps in the Agricultural Industry As the agricultural sector continues to adapt to modern challenges and opportunities, the relevance of mobile devices and farm apps in the industry is steadily expanding. This section seeks to highlight the various benefits and effects of integrating farm apps into your agricultural practices, particularly if you are exploring how to establish a farm from the ground up. Farm apps serve as crucial tools in enhancing operational efficiency, simplifying data management, and promoting environmentally sustainable practices, making them indispensable assets in today’s farming landscape. The Rise of Agricultural Apps: A Digital Revolution in Farming Farm apps, also known as ag apps, are fast becoming an integral part of the toolset available to contemporary farmers. These digital platforms offer an array of functionalities that serve to boost both productivity and efficiency on the farm. From monitoring crop health and conducting soil tests to streamlining the maintenance schedule for tractors and other machinery, farm apps are an all-in-one solution. Additionally, they offer real-time access to essential information such as localized weather forecasts, current market prices for crops, and other data crucial for making timely and informed decisions. These innovative tools not only enable farmers to fine-tune their operations but also offer cost-effective alternatives for those looking to break into farming without a substantial financial outlay. As technological advances continue to permeate the agricultural sector, the uptake of farm apps is projected to accelerate, offering even more enhanced functionalities to farmers around the globe. The Benefits of Integrating Farm Apps into Farm Operations Incorporating farm apps into the daily grind of farming activities offers a multitude of advantages, among which are increased operational efficiency, data-driven decision-making, and substantial reductions in labor costs. By automating various tasks, such as scheduling irrigation cycles or administering fertilizers, these apps help farmers optimize their routines and minimize manual intervention. They serve as a centralized hub for collating and interpreting data related to crop yields, soil health, and climatic conditions, thereby facilitating more informed and strategic decision-making. Furthermore, the automation features of farm apps can significantly cut down on the need for manual labor, allowing farmers to allocate resources more effectively. Farm apps present a compelling value proposition for farmers interested in elevating their agricultural practices, making their operations more streamlined, data-driven, and, ultimately, more profitable. Key Benefits of Farm Apps: Enhanced efficiency Data-driven decision-making Reduced labor costs Automated tasks such as irrigation and fertilization Real-time weather information Market price updates Choosing the Best Farm App for Your Agricultural Needs: Our Methodology With technology making significant inroads into the agriculture sector, farm apps have become indispensable tools for modern farmers. These apps provide a host of solutions, from weather predictions to crop management. In identifying the most useful and efficient farm apps for agricultural entrepreneurs, we’ve considered a variety of factors. These criteria are rated on a scale from 10 (most important) to 1 (least important), ensuring that our recommendations align with the practical needs of modern farming operations. Functionality and Features: Importance 10/10 Comprehensive tools for crop management, livestock tracking, and more. Features for weather forecasting, soil health analysis, and planting schedules. Integration of IoT and smart farming technologies. User Interface and Usability: Importance 9/10 Intuitive design for easy navigation and use. Accessibility for users with varying levels of tech-savviness. Compatibility with various devices, including smartphones and tablets. Data Management and Analytics: Importance 8/10 Efficient data collection and storage capabilities. Analytical tools for informed decision-making. Customizable reporting features. Integration with Agricultural Equipment and Systems: Importance 8/10 Compatibility with existing farm equipment (tractors, sensors, etc.). Seamless data exchange with other farm management systems. Support for precision agriculture practices. Cost and Subscription Options: Importance 7/10 Reasonable pricing models suitable for different farm sizes. Transparency in costs and subscription terms. Availability of free trials or demo versions. Customer Support and Resources: Importance 6/10 Reliable customer service for technical support. Availability of training materials, tutorials, and user guides. Active community forums or user groups for peer support. Security and Privacy: Importance 6/10 Robust security measures to protect farm data. Compliance with privacy laws and regulations. User control over data sharing and privacy settings. Scalability and Customization: Importance 5/10 Flexibility to scale up with the growth of the farm. Customizable features to suit specific farming operations. Options for specialized farming types (organic, hydroponics, etc.). With these criteria guiding our research, we’ve sought out the top farm apps that offer comprehensive solutions tailored to the diverse challenges of agricultural operations. Our recommendations aim to blend functionality with user-friendliness, ensuring farmers have the best tools at their fingertips. Top Farm Apps to Revolutionize Your Agricultural Business Advances in technology have made it easier than ever to manage farms, and farm management apps have become a crucial tool for modern agriculture. This section will explore some of the top farm apps that can revolutionize your agricultural business. Conservis Conservis is a comprehensive farm management system that centralizes data and reporting, providing growers with insights for row and permanent crop operations from planning to financials. By combining agronomic and economic data with tools like Zone Economics, Conservis enables farmers to gain insights into their actual production costs, monitor their plans against actual outcomes, and view the overall performance of their farm operation in real-time. The platform’s customizable dashboard provides real-time access to metrics that matter, enabling farmers to make profitable decisions. Conservis’s customer success team provides exceptional support to farmers with expert services that reduce on-farm labor headaches and delegate data management to a Conservis expert. FarmRaise FarmRaise is a farm management app that helps farmers keep track of their finances on the go. It works offline, so expenses can be uploaded anywhere. It allows farmers to track their cash flow, visualize expenses, and stay off the grid by not requiring bank details. The user-friendly app includes an interactive guide to help farmers find what they need, and the Farm Funding Library helps farmers find farm grants that fit their needs. FarmRaise also provides a weekly farm newsletter called the Briefing. The app has a free and premium plan that offers full access to the funding library. CattleMax CattleMax is a cloud-based software solution for cattle record keeping, and it has been serving users since 1999. The platform offers a comprehensive suite of ranch management tools to help cattle producers easily organize and track their cattle and ranch records. CattleMax’s enhanced mobile version enables users to update or access records in the field. The software allows users to manage pasture, equipment maintenance, rainfall, customers, and more all in one place. With its automated processes and reporting features, ranchers can save time and make more informed decisions. The company’s customer service team is composed of ranchers who use the software in their herds. AgriApp AgriApp is a smart farm app tailored for Android mobile devices. It provides a wide range of information and services for crop production and management, such as crop advisory, soil testing, agricultural practices, weather forecasting, satellite insights, and more. It also functions as an online marketplace for farmers to buy crop solutions and get real-time agro advisory from experts in their local language. The app provides customizable crop calendars, satellite imagery to collect observation photos for monitoring crop growth and potential, and a community group to connect with fellow farmers to exchange information and solutions. AgriApp is a free app available on the Google Play Store. Farm Service Manager Farm Service Manager is a premium, subscription-based app designed for farm owners, managers, and contractors to manage the service and maintenance history of all farm machinery and vehicles. The farm app enables users to generate precise service records, establish service reminders, and develop service histories for every machine or vehicle. This functionality enhances resale value while reducing expensive repairs and downtime. It has multi-user access, allowing different levels of access to be assigned to different users, including employees and outside mechanics, from wherever they are on the farm. The app also keeps track of part numbers for convenient ordering and creates comprehensive service and maintenance histories for each machine or vehicle, ensuring that all equipment operates at its optimal performance. BushelFarm BushelFarm is an innovative farm management software that provides a comprehensive overview of farmers’ operational and financial performance. It is designed to simplify farm records management and offers intelligent automation to transform farm records into actionable insights. The software’s capabilities include the cost of production analysis, real-time profitability calculations based on market prices, and profit and loss reports at the farm, crop, and field levels. BushelFarm offers three different plans to cater to farmers’ varying needs and budgets, starting from $19.99 per month to $199 per year. This also makes it a scalable solution that can be customized to the needs of various farmers. Herdwatch Herdwatch is a farm management application widely used in the UK and Ireland. The app offers a hassle-free farming experience by eliminating paperwork and providing real-time data to help farmers make informed decisions. It’s a versatile app that suits various types of farms, including dairy, beef, sheep, and arable. Its features include fast, paperless compliance, saving hours on paperwork, and keeping farm records safe. Herdwatch is fully integrated with the Department of Agriculture, ICBF, and Bord Bia, and FRS backs it. Farmers in the UK and Ireland can use the app for free under the basic plan. While currently unavailable outside the UK and Ireland, Herdwatch aims to expand to other countries soon. FarmBrite Farmbrite is an all-in-one farm management software built for multi-species and biodiverse farms and ranches. The platform includes integrated tools for livestock management, farm planning and tracking, financial accounting, order management, and e-commerce. The software allows farmers to track animal and pasture health, grazing activities, soil, and herd health and automate planning and yield estimates. It also includes features for team collaboration, task management, and detailed financial reporting. With over 40 pre-built reports, integrated dashboards, and custom reports, farmers can gain new insight into their operations and make informed decisions. Farmbrite offers a 14-day free trial and is accessible via iOS and Android apps. AgFiniti AgFiniti is a cloud-based farm management software that integrates with Ag Leader’s SMS Software for in-depth analysis. It offers real-time insights and informed decision-making across the entire farm. AgFiniti allows querying fields for yield comparisons, generating real-time prescriptions, remotely accessing InCommand displays, and creating/editing boundaries. It also provides mobile access, cloud storage, and analysis tools such as overlaying maps and yield comparisons. The platform is available in both free and paid versions, with the latter offering additional features like CartACE and multi-year analysis. PickApp PickApp is a revolutionary solution that helps farmers manage their farms efficiently, reduce labor costs, and optimize the quality of their produce. Its advanced data-driven management tools for attendance, productivity, quality control, and location tracking provide farmers with real-time insights and decision-making capabilities. PickApp’s innovative analytics, automation, and Big Data algorithms improve labor productivity and enhance product quality. Farmers worldwide can access the platform’s customizable portal from their mobile devices or office PCs, and it offers multilingual support, custom reports, and notifications for real-time problem-solving. PickApp is ideal for all types of farms, including enterprise farms, cooperatives, packing houses, and brands. Comparison of Top Farm Apps Below is a comparison table that outlines some of the top farm apps discussed in this article. The table aims to provide a quick overview of each app’s main features, availability, and pricing options. Farm AppMain FeaturesAvailabilityPricing ConservisComprehensive farm management, real-time insightsGlobalSubscription-based FarmRaiseFinancial tracking, funding libraryGlobalFree & Premium Plans CattleMaxCattle record keepingGlobalSubscription-based AgriAppCrop production and managementGoogle Play StoreFree Farm Service ManagerMachinery maintenance, multi-user accessGlobalSubscription-based BushelFarmFinancial performance, automationGlobalFrom $19.99/month HerdwatchCompliance, livestock managementUK & IrelandFree & Paid Plans FarmbriteAll-in-one, biodiverse farm managementGlobal14-day free trial AgFinitiCloud-based, real-time insightsGlobalFree & Paid Versions PickAppLabor productivity, quality controlGlobalCustom Pricing Frequently Asked Questions about Farm Apps How much do farm apps typically cost? The cost of a farm app varies depending on the provider and the features offered. Some farm apps are free to download, while others require a subscription-based service for access to premium features. It’s important to note that a free app may not include all the features needed for effective farm management, and investing in a subscription-based service may be necessary. Are farm apps compatible with all types of farming operations? Farm apps are created to support a range of farming activities, including crop cultivation and livestock management, and they can be tailored to meet specific requirements. They use data and analytics to make informed decisions, can integrate with IoT devices, and are accessible from different devices. While some may be specialized, most apps are flexible and compatible with different types of farming. Even farming games are available to help various types of farmers hone their skills. Can farm apps help with compliance and record-keeping? Farm apps can assist with maintaining accurate records and compliance by allowing farmers to track and record critical data, such as pesticide applications, soil samples, and livestock treatments. The apps can also generate reports and analytics, providing insights into regulatory requirements and certifications. With this data, farmers can ensure compliance with industry regulations and maintain accurate records to support audits and certifications. How secure are farm apps in terms of data protection? Selecting farm apps that offer robust data security and privacy features is essential for safeguarding sensitive farm information. Evaluating app security can include reviewing privacy policies, verifying the use of encryption, and assessing access controls. Farmers should also keep their devices updated, use strong passwords, and avoid using public Wi-Fi to further protect their data. What are the hardware and software requirements for using farm apps? The hardware and software requirements for using farm apps may vary depending on the app. Typically, farmers need a mobile device or tablet with a compatible operating system, such as iOS or Android, and access to a reliable internet connection. Some apps may also require additional hardware, such as sensors or cameras, to collect data. Reviewing the app’s requirements before downloading it to ensure compatibility is important. In conclusion, farm apps can revolutionize agriculture by improving farm management efficiency, helping with crop protection, increasing productivity, allowing you to find used farm equipment, and ultimately leading to higher profits. With the advancements in technology and the availability of these innovative tools, farmers can stay on top of their operations like never before. By embracing these apps, farmers can optimize their farm’s resources and stay ahead of the competition. So why not explore the potential of farm apps today and take your agricultural business ideas to the next level? One of the world’s largest indoor farms is using advanced tech to build a more resilient food system; check out the video here: Read More: BovControl Is a Cow-Tracking App for Farmers How to Start a Worm Farm This article, "Revolutionizing Farming with Farm Apps" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

With farm app technology at the forefront, modern farmers can efficiently manage their operations using powerful tools that are just a few clicks away. This guide will delve into the top farm app choices and their key features, offering invaluable insights for those seeking to optimize their agricultural practices. The Growing Role of Farm Apps in the Agricultural Industry As the agricultural sector continues to adapt to modern challenges and opportunities, the relevance of mobile devices and farm apps in the industry is steadily expanding. This section seeks to highlight the various benefits and effects of integrating farm apps into your agricultural practices, particularly if you are exploring how to establish a farm from the ground up. Farm apps serve as crucial tools in enhancing operational efficiency, simplifying data management, and promoting environmentally sustainable practices, making them indispensable assets in today’s farming landscape. The Rise of Agricultural Apps: A Digital Revolution in Farming Farm apps, also known as ag apps, are fast becoming an integral part of the toolset available to contemporary farmers. These digital platforms offer an array of functionalities that serve to boost both productivity and efficiency on the farm. From monitoring crop health and conducting soil tests to streamlining the maintenance schedule for tractors and other machinery, farm apps are an all-in-one solution. Additionally, they offer real-time access to essential information such as localized weather forecasts, current market prices for crops, and other data crucial for making timely and informed decisions. These innovative tools not only enable farmers to fine-tune their operations but also offer cost-effective alternatives for those looking to break into farming without a substantial financial outlay. As technological advances continue to permeate the agricultural sector, the uptake of farm apps is projected to accelerate, offering even more enhanced functionalities to farmers around the globe. The Benefits of Integrating Farm Apps into Farm Operations Incorporating farm apps into the daily grind of farming activities offers a multitude of advantages, among which are increased operational efficiency, data-driven decision-making, and substantial reductions in labor costs. By automating various tasks, such as scheduling irrigation cycles or administering fertilizers, these apps help farmers optimize their routines and minimize manual intervention. They serve as a centralized hub for collating and interpreting data related to crop yields, soil health, and climatic conditions, thereby facilitating more informed and strategic decision-making. Furthermore, the automation features of farm apps can significantly cut down on the need for manual labor, allowing farmers to allocate resources more effectively. Farm apps present a compelling value proposition for farmers interested in elevating their agricultural practices, making their operations more streamlined, data-driven, and, ultimately, more profitable. Key Benefits of Farm Apps: Enhanced efficiency Data-driven decision-making Reduced labor costs Automated tasks such as irrigation and fertilization Real-time weather information Market price updates Choosing the Best Farm App for Your Agricultural Needs: Our Methodology With technology making significant inroads into the agriculture sector, farm apps have become indispensable tools for modern farmers. These apps provide a host of solutions, from weather predictions to crop management. In identifying the most useful and efficient farm apps for agricultural entrepreneurs, we’ve considered a variety of factors. These criteria are rated on a scale from 10 (most important) to 1 (least important), ensuring that our recommendations align with the practical needs of modern farming operations. Functionality and Features: Importance 10/10 Comprehensive tools for crop management, livestock tracking, and more. Features for weather forecasting, soil health analysis, and planting schedules. Integration of IoT and smart farming technologies. User Interface and Usability: Importance 9/10 Intuitive design for easy navigation and use. Accessibility for users with varying levels of tech-savviness. Compatibility with various devices, including smartphones and tablets. Data Management and Analytics: Importance 8/10 Efficient data collection and storage capabilities. Analytical tools for informed decision-making. Customizable reporting features. Integration with Agricultural Equipment and Systems: Importance 8/10 Compatibility with existing farm equipment (tractors, sensors, etc.). Seamless data exchange with other farm management systems. Support for precision agriculture practices. Cost and Subscription Options: Importance 7/10 Reasonable pricing models suitable for different farm sizes. Transparency in costs and subscription terms. Availability of free trials or demo versions. Customer Support and Resources: Importance 6/10 Reliable customer service for technical support. Availability of training materials, tutorials, and user guides. Active community forums or user groups for peer support. Security and Privacy: Importance 6/10 Robust security measures to protect farm data. Compliance with privacy laws and regulations. User control over data sharing and privacy settings. Scalability and Customization: Importance 5/10 Flexibility to scale up with the growth of the farm. Customizable features to suit specific farming operations. Options for specialized farming types (organic, hydroponics, etc.). With these criteria guiding our research, we’ve sought out the top farm apps that offer comprehensive solutions tailored to the diverse challenges of agricultural operations. Our recommendations aim to blend functionality with user-friendliness, ensuring farmers have the best tools at their fingertips. Top Farm Apps to Revolutionize Your Agricultural Business Advances in technology have made it easier than ever to manage farms, and farm management apps have become a crucial tool for modern agriculture. This section will explore some of the top farm apps that can revolutionize your agricultural business. Conservis Conservis is a comprehensive farm management system that centralizes data and reporting, providing growers with insights for row and permanent crop operations from planning to financials. By combining agronomic and economic data with tools like Zone Economics, Conservis enables farmers to gain insights into their actual production costs, monitor their plans against actual outcomes, and view the overall performance of their farm operation in real-time. The platform’s customizable dashboard provides real-time access to metrics that matter, enabling farmers to make profitable decisions. Conservis’s customer success team provides exceptional support to farmers with expert services that reduce on-farm labor headaches and delegate data management to a Conservis expert. FarmRaise FarmRaise is a farm management app that helps farmers keep track of their finances on the go. It works offline, so expenses can be uploaded anywhere. It allows farmers to track their cash flow, visualize expenses, and stay off the grid by not requiring bank details. The user-friendly app includes an interactive guide to help farmers find what they need, and the Farm Funding Library helps farmers find farm grants that fit their needs. FarmRaise also provides a weekly farm newsletter called the Briefing. The app has a free and premium plan that offers full access to the funding library. CattleMax CattleMax is a cloud-based software solution for cattle record keeping, and it has been serving users since 1999. The platform offers a comprehensive suite of ranch management tools to help cattle producers easily organize and track their cattle and ranch records. CattleMax’s enhanced mobile version enables users to update or access records in the field. The software allows users to manage pasture, equipment maintenance, rainfall, customers, and more all in one place. With its automated processes and reporting features, ranchers can save time and make more informed decisions. The company’s customer service team is composed of ranchers who use the software in their herds. AgriApp AgriApp is a smart farm app tailored for Android mobile devices. It provides a wide range of information and services for crop production and management, such as crop advisory, soil testing, agricultural practices, weather forecasting, satellite insights, and more. It also functions as an online marketplace for farmers to buy crop solutions and get real-time agro advisory from experts in their local language. The app provides customizable crop calendars, satellite imagery to collect observation photos for monitoring crop growth and potential, and a community group to connect with fellow farmers to exchange information and solutions. AgriApp is a free app available on the Google Play Store. Farm Service Manager Farm Service Manager is a premium, subscription-based app designed for farm owners, managers, and contractors to manage the service and maintenance history of all farm machinery and vehicles. The farm app enables users to generate precise service records, establish service reminders, and develop service histories for every machine or vehicle. This functionality enhances resale value while reducing expensive repairs and downtime. It has multi-user access, allowing different levels of access to be assigned to different users, including employees and outside mechanics, from wherever they are on the farm. The app also keeps track of part numbers for convenient ordering and creates comprehensive service and maintenance histories for each machine or vehicle, ensuring that all equipment operates at its optimal performance. BushelFarm BushelFarm is an innovative farm management software that provides a comprehensive overview of farmers’ operational and financial performance. It is designed to simplify farm records management and offers intelligent automation to transform farm records into actionable insights. The software’s capabilities include the cost of production analysis, real-time profitability calculations based on market prices, and profit and loss reports at the farm, crop, and field levels. BushelFarm offers three different plans to cater to farmers’ varying needs and budgets, starting from $19.99 per month to $199 per year. This also makes it a scalable solution that can be customized to the needs of various farmers. Herdwatch Herdwatch is a farm management application widely used in the UK and Ireland. The app offers a hassle-free farming experience by eliminating paperwork and providing real-time data to help farmers make informed decisions. It’s a versatile app that suits various types of farms, including dairy, beef, sheep, and arable. Its features include fast, paperless compliance, saving hours on paperwork, and keeping farm records safe. Herdwatch is fully integrated with the Department of Agriculture, ICBF, and Bord Bia, and FRS backs it. Farmers in the UK and Ireland can use the app for free under the basic plan. While currently unavailable outside the UK and Ireland, Herdwatch aims to expand to other countries soon. FarmBrite Farmbrite is an all-in-one farm management software built for multi-species and biodiverse farms and ranches. The platform includes integrated tools for livestock management, farm planning and tracking, financial accounting, order management, and e-commerce. The software allows farmers to track animal and pasture health, grazing activities, soil, and herd health and automate planning and yield estimates. It also includes features for team collaboration, task management, and detailed financial reporting. With over 40 pre-built reports, integrated dashboards, and custom reports, farmers can gain new insight into their operations and make informed decisions. Farmbrite offers a 14-day free trial and is accessible via iOS and Android apps. AgFiniti AgFiniti is a cloud-based farm management software that integrates with Ag Leader’s SMS Software for in-depth analysis. It offers real-time insights and informed decision-making across the entire farm. AgFiniti allows querying fields for yield comparisons, generating real-time prescriptions, remotely accessing InCommand displays, and creating/editing boundaries. It also provides mobile access, cloud storage, and analysis tools such as overlaying maps and yield comparisons. The platform is available in both free and paid versions, with the latter offering additional features like CartACE and multi-year analysis. PickApp PickApp is a revolutionary solution that helps farmers manage their farms efficiently, reduce labor costs, and optimize the quality of their produce. Its advanced data-driven management tools for attendance, productivity, quality control, and location tracking provide farmers with real-time insights and decision-making capabilities. PickApp’s innovative analytics, automation, and Big Data algorithms improve labor productivity and enhance product quality. Farmers worldwide can access the platform’s customizable portal from their mobile devices or office PCs, and it offers multilingual support, custom reports, and notifications for real-time problem-solving. PickApp is ideal for all types of farms, including enterprise farms, cooperatives, packing houses, and brands. Comparison of Top Farm Apps Below is a comparison table that outlines some of the top farm apps discussed in this article. The table aims to provide a quick overview of each app’s main features, availability, and pricing options. Farm AppMain FeaturesAvailabilityPricing ConservisComprehensive farm management, real-time insightsGlobalSubscription-based FarmRaiseFinancial tracking, funding libraryGlobalFree & Premium Plans CattleMaxCattle record keepingGlobalSubscription-based AgriAppCrop production and managementGoogle Play StoreFree Farm Service ManagerMachinery maintenance, multi-user accessGlobalSubscription-based BushelFarmFinancial performance, automationGlobalFrom $19.99/month HerdwatchCompliance, livestock managementUK & IrelandFree & Paid Plans FarmbriteAll-in-one, biodiverse farm managementGlobal14-day free trial AgFinitiCloud-based, real-time insightsGlobalFree & Paid Versions PickAppLabor productivity, quality controlGlobalCustom Pricing Frequently Asked Questions about Farm Apps How much do farm apps typically cost? The cost of a farm app varies depending on the provider and the features offered. Some farm apps are free to download, while others require a subscription-based service for access to premium features. It’s important to note that a free app may not include all the features needed for effective farm management, and investing in a subscription-based service may be necessary. Are farm apps compatible with all types of farming operations? Farm apps are created to support a range of farming activities, including crop cultivation and livestock management, and they can be tailored to meet specific requirements. They use data and analytics to make informed decisions, can integrate with IoT devices, and are accessible from different devices. While some may be specialized, most apps are flexible and compatible with different types of farming. Even farming games are available to help various types of farmers hone their skills. Can farm apps help with compliance and record-keeping? Farm apps can assist with maintaining accurate records and compliance by allowing farmers to track and record critical data, such as pesticide applications, soil samples, and livestock treatments. The apps can also generate reports and analytics, providing insights into regulatory requirements and certifications. With this data, farmers can ensure compliance with industry regulations and maintain accurate records to support audits and certifications. How secure are farm apps in terms of data protection? Selecting farm apps that offer robust data security and privacy features is essential for safeguarding sensitive farm information. Evaluating app security can include reviewing privacy policies, verifying the use of encryption, and assessing access controls. Farmers should also keep their devices updated, use strong passwords, and avoid using public Wi-Fi to further protect their data. What are the hardware and software requirements for using farm apps? The hardware and software requirements for using farm apps may vary depending on the app. Typically, farmers need a mobile device or tablet with a compatible operating system, such as iOS or Android, and access to a reliable internet connection. Some apps may also require additional hardware, such as sensors or cameras, to collect data. Reviewing the app’s requirements before downloading it to ensure compatibility is important. In conclusion, farm apps can revolutionize agriculture by improving farm management efficiency, helping with crop protection, increasing productivity, allowing you to find used farm equipment, and ultimately leading to higher profits. With the advancements in technology and the availability of these innovative tools, farmers can stay on top of their operations like never before. By embracing these apps, farmers can optimize their farm’s resources and stay ahead of the competition. So why not explore the potential of farm apps today and take your agricultural business ideas to the next level? One of the world’s largest indoor farms is using advanced tech to build a more resilient food system; check out the video here: Read More: BovControl Is a Cow-Tracking App for Farmers How to Start a Worm Farm This article, "Revolutionizing Farming with Farm Apps" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Seven steps to transition your firm. By Jody Padar Radical Pricing – By The Radical CPA Go PRO for members-only access to more Jody Padar. View the full article

Seven steps to transition your firm. By Jody Padar Radical Pricing – By The Radical CPA Go PRO for members-only access to more Jody Padar. View the full article

The Brannock device—that sliding metal gadget used in shoe stores to measure the dimensions of your feet—was invented 100 years ago this year. But footwear fitting hasn’t really gotten more advanced since, says Dan Cataldi, founder and CEO of custom insole maker Groov. For most people, it still comes down to finding shoes by style and size, taking a few steps in them, and hoping for the best. And when it comes to insoles, the part of the shoe that you actually walk on, people with medical issues and professional athletes might get custom orthotic inserts fitted by a doctor, while most people make do with what comes in their shoes or, in a pinch, a cushioning insert from the drugstore. [Photo: Groov]Groov is designed to bridge that gap, using an app that lets customers scan their own feet and footwear at home with their iPhone cameras so it can build 3D models of their two feet and understand the shapes of their shoes. Then, the company’s machine learning algorithms can design a variety of styles of insoles for each customer. “For me, the whole notion of Groov is taking something that should exist within footwear and bringing it into footwear,” Cataldi says. “If you’ve got to go see a clinician, if you’ve got to make an appointment, that’s not footwear.” Options include the Plush, an everyday cushioning model designed for comfort, and a high elasticity model designed for athletes, known as the Response model. “Here we replace the soft, shock-absorbing, low-elasticity cushion with a high-elasticity, more explosive cushion for a quick first step, and I blast off in each step,” he says. There’s also the Luxe, a more discreet replacement for built-in insoles for shoes like high heels, designed to be thin enough to stick into the shoe without being visible when the shoes are worn. [Photo: Groov]Groov insoles typically arrive within a few days, engraved with the customer’s name or another chosen nickname. If customers want to order more or try another style, like switching from the regular cushioning model to the athletics-focused variety, they can do so from the app. Customers are likely to want to retake their scans every year or two, or if they have reason to believe something has changed in their feet, and they can scan new shoes or the shoes’ existing insoles to order Groov insoles adapted to a particular pair, Cataldi says. Key to the easy customization is the TrueDepth camera system in the iPhone that’s used for FaceID logins. The camera projects, then captures, a grid of invisible infrared dots, used in the FaceID system to create a unique model of the face and by Groov to similarly understand the contours of the foot. [Image: Groov]“What that enables us to do is bypass any need for a clinical visit if it’s a non-medical situation, and get all of the data with millimeter-level precision,” he says. And replacing that clinical visit with a brief, at-home foot scan means reaching a wide audience who’d simply never think of getting inserts from a doctor. After all, Cataldi says, his own father is a chiropractor who provides orthotic inserts for patients and wore them himself, but even as a young athlete, Cataldi thought the medicinal-seeming devices felt like overkill. From Groov’s perspective, being able to create insoles on demand is also an advantage, since there’s no inventory that has to sit around company warehouses or on retailer shelves. But the company did in December do pilot pop-ups in Nordstrom’s men’s and women’s departments in Manhattan, where Groov was able to scan dozens of customers’ feet in-store. Future retail collaborations may be in the works, Cataldi says, and the company is also in talks with footwear companies about potential partnerships. Deals with e-commerce companies to integrate the technology into their shopping experiences might also be in Groov’s future, he says, and for now the company is promoting the technology through social media, with athletes and others already highlighting their use of the inserts on Instagram. Another happy customer, Cataldi says, is his own father. While he still advocates orthotic inserts for patients who need them, he’s switched away from them himself. “Now, he wears Groovs,” Cataldi says. View the full article

Welcome to AI Decoded, Fast Company’s weekly newsletter that breaks down the most important news in the world of AI. You can sign up to receive this newsletter every week here. OpenAI’s “deep research” gives a preview of the AI agents of the future OpenAI announced this week its AI research assistant, which it calls “deep research.” Powered by OpenAI’s o3-mini model (which was trained to use trial and error to find answers to complex questions), deep research is one of OpenAI’s first attempts at a real “agent” that’s capable of following instructions and working on its own. OpenAI says deep research is built for people in fields like finance, science, policy, and engineering who need thorough, precise, and reliable research. It can also be useful for big-ticket purchases, like houses or cars. Because the model needs to spin a lot of cycles and tote around a lot of memory during its task, it uses a lot of computing power on an OpenAI server. That’s why only the company’s $200-per-month Pro users have access to the tool, and they’re limited to 100 searches per month. OpenAI was kind enough to grant me access for a week to try it out. I found a new “deep research” button just below the prompting window in ChatGPT. I first asked it to research all the nondrug products that claim to help people with low back pain. I was thinking about consumer tech gadgets, but I’d not specified that. So ChatGPT was unsure about the scope of my search (and, apparently, so was I), and it asked me if I wanted to include ergonomic furniture and posture correctors. The model researched the question for 6 minutes, cited 20 sources, and returned a 2,000-word essay on all the consumer back pain devices it could find on the internet. It discussed the relative values of heated vibration belts, contact pad systems, and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) units. It even generated a grid that displayed all the details and pricing of 10 different devices. Not knowing a great deal about such devices, I couldn’t find any gaps in the information, or any suspect statements. I decided to try something a little harder. “I would like an executive overview of the current research into using artificial intelligence to find new cancer treatments or diagnostic tools,” I typed. “Please organize your answer so that the treatments that are most promising, and closest to being used on real patients, are given emphasis.” Like DeepSeek’s R1 model and Google’s Gemini Advanced 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental, OpenAI’s research tool also shows you its “chain of thought,” as it works toward a satisfying answer. While it searched it telegraphed its process: I’m working through AI’s integration in cancer diagnostics and treatment, covering imaging, pathology, genomics, and radiotherapy planning. Progressing towards a comprehensive understanding. OpenAI also makes a nice UX choice by putting this chain-of-thought flow in a separate pane at the right of the screen, instead of presenting it right on top of the research results. The only problem is, you only get one chance to see it, because it goes away after the agent finishes its research. I was surprised that OpenAI’s deep research tool used only 4 minutes to finish its work, and cited only 18 sources. It created a summary of how AI is being used in cancer research, citing specific studies that validated the AI in clinical settings. It discussed trends in using AI in reading medical imaging, finding cancer risk in genome data, AI-assisted surgery, drug discovery, and radiation therapy planning and dosing. However, I noticed that many of the studies and FDA approvals cited didn’t occur within the past 18 months. Some of the statements in the report sounded outdated: “Notably, several AI-driven tools are nearing real-world clinical use—with some already approved—particularly in diagnostics (imaging and pathology),” it stated, but AI diagnostic tools are already in clinical use. Before starting the research, I was aware of a new landmark study published two days ago in The Lancet medical journal about AI assisting doctors in reading mammograms (more on that below). The deep research report mentioned this same study, but it outlined preliminary results published in 2023, not the more recent results published this month. I have full confidence in OpenAI’s deep research tool for doing product searches. I’m less confident, though, about scientific research, only because of the currency of the research it included in its report. It’s also possible that my search was overbroad, since AI is now being used on many fronts to fight cancer. And to be clear: Two searches certainly isn’t enough to pass judgement on deep research. The number and kinds of searches you can do is practically infinite, so I’ll be testing it more while I still have access. On the whole I’m impressed with OpenAI’s new tool—at the very least it gives you a framework and some sources and ideas to start you off on your own research. AI is working alongside doctors on early breast cancer detection A study of more than 100,000 breast images from mammography screenings in Sweden found that when an AI system assisted single doctors in reviewing mammograms, positive detections of cancer increased by 29%. The screenings were coordinated as part of the Swedish national screening program and performed at four screening sites in southwest Sweden. The AI system, called Transpara, was developed by ScreenPoint Medical in the Netherlands. Normally, two doctors review mammograms together. When AI steps in for one of them, overall screen reading time drops by 44.2%, saving lots of time for oncologists. The AI makes no decisions; it merely points out potential problem spots in the image and assigns a risk score. The human doctor then decides how to proceed. With a nearly 30% improvement in early detections of cancer, the AI is quite literally saving lives. Healthcare providers have been using AI image recognition systems in diagnostics since 2017, and with success, but the results of large scale studies are only now beginning to appear. Google touts the profitability of its AI search ads Alphabet announced its quarterly results earlier this week and hidden among the other results was some good news about Google’s AI search results (called AI Overviews). Some observers feared that Google would struggle to find ad formats that brands like within the new AI results, or that ads around the AI results would cannibalize Google’s regular search ads business. But Google may have found the right formats already, because the AI ads are selling well and are profitable, analysts say. “We were particularly impressed by the firm’s commentary on AI Overviews monetization, which is approximately at par with traditional search monetization despite its launch just a few months ago,” says Morningstar equity analyst Malik Ahmed Khan in a research brief. Khan says Google’s AI investments paid off in the company’s revamped Shopping section within Google Search, which was upgraded last quarter with AI. The Shopping segment yielded 13% more daily active U.S. users in December 2024 compared with the same month a year earlier. Google also says that younger people who are attracted to AI Overviews end up using regular Google Search more, with their usage increasing over time. “This dynamic of AI Overviews being additive to Google Search stands at odds with the market narrative of generative AI being the death knell for traditional search,” Khan says. Google also announced that it intends to spend $75 billion in capital expenditures during 2025, much of which will go toward new cloud capacity and AI infrastructure. More AI coverage from Fast Company: Hundreds of rigged votes can skew AI model rankings on Chatbot Arena, study finds AI might run your next employee training You can try DeepSeek’s R1 through Perplexity—without the security risk Why this cybersecurity startup wants to watermark everything Want exclusive reporting and trend analysis on technology, business innovation, future of work, and design? Sign up for Fast Company Premium. View the full article

I'll confess: my MacBook's keyboard has seen better days. I've been meaning to clean it for a while, but I always put it off because of how hard Apple makes disabling the keyboard in general: Whenever I switch off my MacBook, pressing literally any key powers it on again—not just the power button. That makes cleaning it tricky, since since an accidental keypress could trigger unwanted actions on my Mac. Luckily, there is a way to disable a MacBook's keyboard to make it possible to clean the laptop properly: It's just not obvious. Disabling your MacBook's keyboard for cleanupApple recommends turning off your MacBook before you try to clean it. To keep it switched off, you need to use a few software tricks. Your MacBook ships with a hidden key combination to disable the keyboard temporarily, which I discovered thanks to Zsolt Benke's blog, Decoded. Follow these steps to stop your MacBook from turning on when you press any key: Press and hold the left Command, left Control, and right Shift keys for seven seconds. Don't release them after this time. While pressing the other three keys, hold the power button on your MacBook for another seven seconds until the MacBook has switched off. Now, try pressing any key other than the power button and you'll notice that the MacBook doesn't switch on. You can safely clean the keyboard now. You should know that this method only works for one restart. If you turn off your MacBook normally again, any key will boot it up unless you use the method described above. In their blog, Benke notes that they were unable to make this method work on an M3 MacBook Air, so you may not be able to use this trick on all MacBooks. It works just fine on my M1 MacBook Air, however. Credit: Pranay Parab There's also an alternative way to disable your MacBook's keyboard. You can install the excellent (and free) KeyboardCleanTool utility. The app does require accessibility permissions to disable your keyboard, which can raise red flags from a security standpoint, but this app is safe to use: It has been around for over a decade, and is made by the developer of the popular BetterTouchTool app, which we've covered before. \KeyboardCleanTool has a single button that lets you enable or disable your MacBook's keyboard. When the keys no longer respond, you can use your MacBook's trackpad or a mouse to press the tool's on/off button whenever necessary. How to clean your Mac's keyboardIdeally, you'll want to shut down your MacBook before cleaning its keyboard—or, at least, disable the keyboard using the app mentioned above. Either way, ensure your MacBook isn't connected to power when you're cleaning the keyboard. If you're cleaning Apple's wireless keyboards, be sure to turn off the device before cleaning. (If it has removable batteries, take them out before cleaning, as well.) As for tools, you can use a lint-free cloth and compressed air to clean the keyboard. Apple recommends using a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe, 75% ethyl alcohol wipe, or disinfectant wipe for cleaning. While you can lightly moisten the cloth for cleaning the Mac's keyboard, you should use the least possible amount of water. If your cleaning tool is too wet, you could risk damaging the keyboard and paying a significant sum for repairs or replacements. Never use any coarse or metal tools for cleaning, as well, to avoid accidentally scraping the keyboard. When using disinfectant wipes, ensure that the wipe is lightly damp, even if the chemical is approved by Apple for cleaning. Lastly, be gentle. If you use abrasive materials or apply excessive force while cleaning the keyboard, you could end up erasing letters off keys, dislodging keycaps, in addition to other unintended consequences. It's easy to remove keycaps on your MacBook, but you're going to find it difficult to reattach them properly, so it's best to apply less force while cleaning the keyboard. When cleaning the keyboard, start by using a cloth to clean both the keycaps and the spaces between keys. After the initial sweep, you can move to a can of compressed air to dislodge any debris that might be stuck. Lift your laptop and tilt it to a 75-degree angle, then use the compressed air directly on the affected area in a left-to-right motion, as Apple itself recommends. Once done, you can use the cloth for another sweep, followed by a gentle wipe using the disinfectant wipes. Once you're done, wait for the disinfectant to evaporate. Ensure that the keyboard is totally dry before you use it again. View the full article

Today's Bissett Bullet: “A proactively managed pipeline has several components, all working together to afford you the ability to accurately forecast fee growth for your firm.” By Martin Bissett See more Bissett Bullets here Go PRO for members-only access to more Martin Bissett. View the full article

Today's Bissett Bullet: “A proactively managed pipeline has several components, all working together to afford you the ability to accurately forecast fee growth for your firm.” By Martin Bissett See more Bissett Bullets here Go PRO for members-only access to more Martin Bissett. View the full article

Ford Motor on Wednesday projected up to $5.5 billion in losses on its electric vehicle and software operations this year, a loss similar to last year and a sign of the severe difficulties in cutting costs on battery-powered models. The automaker forecast overall profitability for 2025, but even that was lower than in 2024. For the fourth quarter, it reported a net profit of $1.8 billion, up from a loss of $500 million in the year-ago quarter as pension-related costs weighed on results. The company’s shares were down nearly 5% in after-hours trading. Ford’s chief executive, Jim Farley, has been seeking to follow up a choppy 2024 with more consistent results, in a year that is already shaping up to be marred by swings in U.S. policy. The Dearborn, Michigan, automaker is working to overcome persistent quality issues and lift its stock price, which declined by 18% last year. It now faces uncertainty around U.S. President Donald Trump‘s threatened tariffs on Mexico and Canada. If implemented, the measures would boost the automaker’s raw material costs and likely hurt sales demand. Farley told analysts on a conference call that Ford could weather a few weeks of tariffs, but that if 25% duties on Mexico and Canada were prolonged, “it would have a huge impact on our industry, with billions of dollars of industry profits wiped out, and adverse effect on the U.S. jobs.” Farley added he believes that Trump is aiming to strengthen the auto industry, not weaken it. The company’s fourth-quarter revenue of $48.2 billion surpassed analyst expectations of $43 billion, according to LSEG data. Adjusted earnings per share of 39 cents also beat analyst forecasts of 33 cents per share. Farley made some significant cuts to the company’s EV plans last year, axing a much-anticipated three-row electric SUV and delaying the launch of its next generation electric F-150 Lightning truck. The company is leaning heavily on its California “skunkworks” team developing EVs from the ground up, and said the first affordably priced vehicle from that team will be a mid-sized electric pickup arriving in 2027. While Ford is not rolling out new EVs in the coming year, a contrast to General Motors which is introducing a blitz of new models and ramping up sales of its Blazer and Equinox EVs, Farley is leaning heavily on hybrids, which GM is not rolling out until 2027. Ford’s EV losses include significant investment in future models, and it is also increasing volume while cutting costs by $1.4 billion, said Sherry House, Ford’s incoming chief financial officer. Ford sold roughly double the number of hybrids compared with its EVs last year, with 187,426 hybrids sold and 97,865 EVs. The automaker’s multi-powertrain approach “should help it mitigate any adverse impact on sales from the elimination of the federal EV tax credit, as opposed to a company such as GM who bet very aggressively on battery EVs,” said Garrett Nelson, analyst for CFRA Research. The Trump administration has eyed removing a $7,500 consumer tax credit available on certain EVs. The company projected lower earnings before interest and taxes of $7.0 billion to $8.5 billion for 2025. It met its annual guidance for 2024 after narrowing it late last year, recording annual EBIT of $10.2 billion. Among the challenges facing Ford this year is a tougher pricing environment, House said, and the automaker is planning for about 2% lower industry pricing. Tariff turmoil Ford is the first major automaker to report earnings since Trump signed an executive order on Saturday stating that the U.S. would impose 25% tariffs this week on goods from Mexico and Canada, which would affect Ford as well as cross-town rivals GM and Stellantis. However, Trump delayed the decision for a month after discussions with each country’s leader. The automaker did not factor in tariffs to its annual outlook, executives said. Farley told analysts that any tariff policy implemented would have to be “comprehensive for our industry,” adding that Asian rivals are able to import vehicles into the U.S. with “no incremental tariff.” Tariffs on Mexico would affect Ford’s popular Maverick pickup truck, one of its most affordable vehicles, the Bronco Sport, as well as the Mustang Mach-E SUV, which are assembled in Mexican plants. Analysts have said of the Big Three Detroit automakers, Ford is the least exposed to tariffs. GM and Stellantis produce more profit-rich vehicles outside the United States. Last month, Executive Chair Bill Ford told reporters that Trump called him “out of the blue.” “He understands the importance of our industry and of Ford in the industry,” Bill Ford said, referring to Trump. The Ford chairman added that he was “very confident that Ford will have a voice, and a seat at the table.” —Nora Eckert and Nathan Gomes, Reuters View the full article

Small business transactions in the U.S. increased by 5% in 2024, with 9,546 closed deals representing an enterprise value of $7.59 billion, 15% higher than in 2023, according to BizBuySell’s Insight Report. Despite three Federal Reserve rate cuts, the impact on the business-for-sale market remained limited, with 60% of surveyed buyers reporting no effect on their purchasing timeline. Higher-Priced Deals Drive Market Growth Business sales grew steadily throughout the year, with 10% growth in Q1, followed by 5% in Q2 and Q3, before leveling off in Q4. The median sale price increased 3% year-over-year to $345,000, while the average cash flow multiple rose from 2.49 to 2.57. Transactions also moved faster, with median days on the market dropping to 168 days. “Despite the Federal Reserve’s rate cuts, many commercial lenders have kept underwriting criteria tight, resulting in minimal pass-through savings for acquisition financing,” said BJ Delhamer, vice president at Insite Commercial Real Estate Advisors. With post-election uncertainty fading, buyers are expected to accelerate purchases. Carrie Duvall, CEO at 1st & Main Partners, reported a strong start to 2025, closing multiple deals exceeding her best annual earnings. Manufacturing, Technology, and Construction Sectors Surge Key industries drove transaction volume in 2024, with manufacturing, building and construction, and online and technology businesses seeing a combined 32% year-over-year increase in sales. Manufacturing: 15% increase in acquisitions; median sale price $700,000; cash flow multiples up 9.5% despite weaker margins. Online and Technology: 74% surge in transactions; median sale price $650,000, 24% lower than 2023, reflecting more lower-priced deals. Building and Construction: 10% growth in acquisitions; median sale price $760,000; stable valuations with small gains in cash flow. AI and cloud-based platforms have made technology businesses more scalable, while reshoring efforts continue to boost U.S. manufacturing appeal. Tariff Concerns Loom for Small Businesses The return of Trump administration tariffs raises concerns about rising costs. 48% of business owners are bracing for increased expenses, while 15% are seeking domestic suppliers to mitigate risks. One in five business owners surveyed said they would pass tariff-related costs onto consumers, potentially fueling inflationary pressures. Inflation and Rising Costs Challenge Small Businesses Despite easing inflation, 54% of business owners say costs remain high, with 78% reporting increased expenses in 2024. Key cost drivers included higher goods costs (70%), insurance (51%), and payroll (44%). Financial performance remained flat, with median revenue fluctuating throughout the year and cash flow following similar trends. The median sale price of small businesses rose just 3%, reflecting ongoing financial pressures. More Sellers Enter the Market Despite Financial Uncertainty Sellers continued to offload businesses despite weaker financials, with 38% of brokers saying the market favors buyers. Retirement remains the top reason for selling (38%), followed by pursuing other opportunities (35%) and cashing in on high business values (21%). “We are tired. It’s incredibly difficult to find good employees that will help us provide the high level of customer service that we are known for. We have managed to show significant growth year-over-year since 2019 and along with solid investments we are in a position to retire very early,” said Levi Fehrs, owner of Kodiak Furniture in Alaska. New Buyers Emerging: Corporate Refugees and Young Entrepreneurs The rise of corporate refugees—professionals leaving corporate jobs to own businesses—has fueled demand. 42% of buyers identified as former corporate employees, while 14% were recently unemployed. Young MBAs are also entering the market, driven by Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) programs at major business schools. Service, Retail, and Restaurants Hold Steady; Private Equity Grows Service businesses: 40% of transactions, median sale price $325,000, slight growth. Retail: Flat transaction volume, median sale price $255,000, steady demand for specialty businesses. Restaurants: Flat sales volume, median sale price $225,000, 4% drop in revenue offset by higher profit margins. Private equity firms: Increasing interest, particularly in niche industries with strong cash flow. Market Outlook for 2025 With financing constraints persisting, seller financing is expected to play a larger role, with 91% of brokers citing it as critical. Interest rates remain a top concern, and 23% of brokers rank them as the biggest market challenge. “With tighter lending conditions, both buyers and sellers should be prepared to negotiate creative financing options, such as seller notes, earn-outs, or partial equity retainment. These structures can help bridge valuation gaps and signal confidence in the business’s future performance,” said Delhamer. As AI, reshoring, and entrepreneurship drive business acquisitions, buyers are focusing on stable, recession-resistant businesses (76%), while 42% analyze financial performance as their top priority. Despite challenges, demand remains steady, and savvy entrepreneurs continue to find value in the market. This article, "Small Business Acquisitions Rise 5% in 2024, Driven by Higher-Priced Deals" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article