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Also: Are you one firm or a bunch of solos under one roof? By Marc Rosenberg The Rosenberg Practice Management Library Go PRO for members-only access to more Marc Rosenberg. 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. Will native-AI operating systems run our computers in the near future? Samantha, the AI that Theodore falls in love with in the 2013 movie Her is actually an OS. That’s how he meets her: He buys a new OS called OS1 (“it’s not just an operating system, it’s a consciousness”) and “she” is its persona. Samantha becomes his intuitive and personalized companion to all his digital stuff, from email to video games. ChatGPT set off the generative AI boom in part because consumers (not just academics and developers) saw shades of Her. Two years later, the chatbot is a major consumer destination and is the AI interface with which people are most comfortable and familiar. More than 400 million people around the world now use ChatGPT every week, OpenAI COO Brad Lightcap recently told CNBC. For comparison, Apple’s iOS operates on more than 2 billion active devices worldwide, including more than 1.5 billion iPhones. Those are impressive numbers, but iOS is standing relatively still while ChatGPT is steadily moving up the adoption curve. Historically, Apple’s superpower has been its uncanny understanding of the user interface—the technology that acts as the mediator between a human user and their digital tools and content. Apple’s user interfaces rely mainly on older input technologies, such as mouse-clicking and touchscreen-tapping (though Siri remains a problem child). ChatGPT feels more and more like a new generation of user interface, one that’s powered by a very advanced mastery of language and the ability to intuit the intent behind a user’s input. Increasingly, it can act as a personal assistant with the ability to “reason” through problems. It can reason about things a user says with their voice or shows to the AI via their phone cam. Now OpenAI (and Anthropic) are rapidly developing the AI’s ability to control computer functions and apps. At the moment, OpenAI is packaging all this stuff inside ChatGPT. But how long before a chatbot app no longer contains it? Throughout the day, I call up the ChatGPT desktop app (by hitting <Option> and <Space Bar>) to run quick research lookups. For $200 per month, it can conduct deep research projects and control my mouse as it uses the web. It’s not a far leap from there to the AI using an app on my computer or printing something. Soon enough, I’ll likely have a running voice dialog with my AI OS throughout the day. Like Samantha (presumably) did for Theodore, the OS will learn my workflows, habits, and preferences. (In fact, many people in the field of natural language are working hard to build “EI,” or emotional intelligence into these systems, so that your AI operating system can be your friend too—as Sam was to Theodore.) The analyst Ben Thompson said in a recent Stratechery newsletter that OpenAI itself has realized that ChatGPT (and everything contained in it) is taking over the focus of the company. “Consumer tech companies . . . require a completely different culture and value chain than a research organization with an API on the side,” he wrote. “That is the fundamental reality that I suspect has driven much of the OpenAI upheaval over the last two-and-a-half years . . .” In short, OpenAI started out as an AI research lab, then became a provider of one-size-fits-all foundation models to enterprises and developers, then watched as ChatGPT stole the show and became its main source of revenue and fame. The question is, where does ChatGPT go from here? I think it’s the OS. LLMs could help solve the glacial change of government systems Jen Pahlka has a big idea: She says we should use large language models (LLMs) to eat through the government red tape that often stymies badly needed change to bureaucratic systems. She should know. She served as deputy chief technology officer (DCTO) under the Obama administration and helped found the United States Digital Service (USDS). Pahlka says that change agents like the USDS often encounter thousands of pages of policy and regulations that may or may not apply to a proposed change to a government website or system. Those pages pile up administration by administration, often creating overlapping and conflicting rules or a tangle of ambiguities. And agency bureaucrats often use that ambiguity to put new proposals into a state of perpetual review, saying neither yes nor no, effectively freezing attempts at change that they don’t really want anyway. That’s why interagency organizations like USDS need lawyers as much as they need top-notch designers and coders. LLMs could be another tool to cut through the ambiguity and shorten timelines. “You can use an LLM to figure out why there are 7,719 pages [of rules and regulations around a proposed system change] and what of that could get reduced,” Pahlka told Robert Safian in a recent Rapid Response podcast. “You can pretty quickly get to ‘this stuff is conflicting, this stuff is vestigial, this stuff is really controversial but you’ve got to deal with it’.” Pahlka has done work with Stanford’s Regulation, Evaluation, and Governance Lab (RegLab), which is studying the development of LLMs that specialize in swimming through years of policies, guidelines, and regulations. “It’s still pretty early days, but it’s starting to get used that way,” Pahlka says. “I want to see somebody like the labor commissioner in a state saying, ‘Oh yeah, we actually now have a regulatory environment that allows us to serve the needs of our state.’” Nvidia earnings: Good enough to keep the Boom booming Nvidia’s fiscal fourth-quarter earnings report on Wednesday marked the company’s first since the Chinese company DeepSeek showed the world that it could train a world-class AI model with far fewer Nvidia GPUs than anyone thought possible. If any big AI companies ran to the phone to cancel their orders of Nvidia’s new Blackwell processors it wasn’t apparent in the numbers the company reported. Revenues came in at $39.3 billion (35.6% from data center sales), up 78% from a year ago and up 12% from the previous quarter. Analysts had expected $38.04 billion. The company also said the good times would continue at least through the current quarter, in which it expects $43 billion in revenues. Analysts on the earnings call did, however zero in on the one weak point in the report: Nvidia’s profit margin, which remained flat for the second quarter in a row. But that metric is indicative of overall demand for GPUs only in an indirect way. Also, the company’s stock sagged somewhat in after-hours trading Wednesday, which is very dependent on the (mysterious) assumptions that institutional investors had already baked into the value of the stock. The bottom line is that the tech companies betting big on AI—think Google, Meta, OpenAI, and Microsoft—are not hedging on their infrastructure spending. Not yet, anyway. “Blackwell generating ‘billions in sales’ validates Nvidia’s top position just as the market is expanding on the agentic and physical AI fronts,” wrote eMarketer’s Jacob Bourne in a research note published Tuesday. “Short-term volatility is still on the horizon, but Nvidia’s market command remains unmatched.” More AI coverage from Fast Company: Anthropic’s new Claude AI model can decide between speed and deep thinking Autonomous AI agents are amazing—and scary People are most worried about AI replacing these 2 jobs This new AI tool helps Walmart’s merchandising team plan what’s in stores 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

Whether or not you plan on observing the Christian season of Lent, celebrating Mardi Gras (or Fat Tuesday) is a great excuse to chow down on some desserts. In the past, Lent meant abstaining from indulgent foods like butter, sugar, and eggs. As Christianity spread across different parts of the globe, during a time when food spoiled relatively quickly, there was no hope in preserving these ingredients during the 40-day period of fasting. Instead of tossing it all, there was a massive clear-out feast: Everything had to go. In the wake of this food-liquidation period, many creative and indulgent treats were born. Most of them are fried. All of them are carbs. Here are nine exquisite treats with which to celebrate the fattest days of the week. PaczkiA Polish creation now enjoyed around the world, paczki is a fluffy fried dough that is often filled with fruit jams, much like the American jelly doughnut. Paczki might even be filled and topped with chopped fruit, as fruit would also spoil over the fasting period, along with the other primary ingredients. They are made from a rich, yeast-raised dough that usually includes a splash of alcohol. They’re fried until golden, then filled or left fantastically plain and fluffy, before being finished with powdered sugar or icing. FastnachtThe word “fastnacht” refers to both the celebratory snack and the time for enjoying them–just before Lenten fasting. The German variety of fastnacht are pillowy, yeast-raised, deep-fried doughnuts that you can eat with a dollop of blackstrap molasses (which sounds like a lot of intense flavor for me, but I support your choices). It’s the Pennsylvania Dutch version of fastnacht that has piqued my interest. This doughnut is made from a yeast-raised potato dough with plenty of butter and sugar. This recipe repurposes mashed potatoes. I also appreciate this recipe for the helpful tips on changing out the oil, and advice on definitely not using expired yeast. Semlor buns Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann I hate to present you with something un-fried, but these semlor buns are too wonderful to ignore. Eaten in Sweden during the weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday, the plush buns are cardamom-scented and baked. Carve the center out of the baked and cooled roll, and pipe it full of a sweetened almond filling, followed by a heap of whipped cream. Top it with the small bit of roll you took out of the center. This recipe uses a tangzhong mixture to keep the roll soft. Haitian beignetsThere are beignets, like the flour-based ones popular in New Orleans for Mardi Gras, and then there are beignets, like the ones made in Haiti with a banana-based dough. There’s no need to proof the dough, and they’re shaped by simply dropping the batter into the frying oil. Check out this recipe for a straightforward mixing and frying method. King cake In several regions of the United States (but none as iconic as New Orleans) the days leading up to Mardi Gras must include this behemoth of a bread. The king cake is a sweet, enriched, yeast-raised treat, covered in icing and yellow, purple, and green sprinkles. It’s an explosion of sugar, color, and flavor. King cakes can be left unfilled, highlighting their soft, doughnut-like texture, or the raw dough can be filled and swirled with jams, nuts, or cinnamon and sugar. The dough is then braided, or twisted and shaped into a circle before baking. Tradition requires the baker to tuck a small token, usually a plastic baby, into the bread. Whoever gets the slice with the baby brings the king cake next time. My king cake video includes a recipe and how-to tutorial. Hornazo de jueves larderoGetting rid of all your perishables in one dish never looked more obvious or more enticing than in the hornazo. Hornazo de jueves lardero refers to the foods in your larder being baked together and eaten on Fat Thursday. Usually made and enjoyed in different regions of Spain, the hornazo can be made with a sweet or savory bread depending on the locality. Make the bread of your choosing, proof it, and when you’re ready to bake, tuck a raw egg, some cured sausage, and a slice or two of bacon right on top. Bake as usual. By the time the bread has fully baked, the meats and eggs will have too. You can follow this how-to video to learn how to make it. Fritole and dolci di carnevaleItaly has no shortage of dishes for celebrating the days leading up to Lent. Among them are lasagna and ravioli, but no celebration would be complete without some sweet fried carbs. Dolci di carnevale include such fancies as the zeppole and cicerchiata, and no Venetian carnevale is complete without fritole. Fritole are yeast-raised, fried dough fritters, bolstered with a splash of booze and studded with raisins. Fry until crisp and dust with a heap of powdered sugar. All the pancakes Credit: Natalia Van Doninck/Shutterstock At this point, you might think “doughnut day” makes more sense as a name, but in several countries, including Great Britain and Ireland, you may hear the day before Lent referred to as Shrove Tuesday, or “pancake day.” When you think about it, if everyone’s dumping eggs, butter, sugar and flour into the bowl, then you’re getting pancakes or doughnuts, depending on the leavening agent you have remaining in your pantry. Shrove Tuesday pancakes are a bit thinner than the fluffy disks you may be accustomed to, but slightly bulkier than a French crepe. Try this recipe, which makes the batter easy to prepare with the help of a blender. Alle bellesA traditional indulgence for Pancake Tuesday in the state of Goa, India, alle belles are crepe-like in appearance but contain no eggs. Considering the price of eggs lately, this might be the pancake for you. The filling is a stunner. Alle belles pancakes are wrapped around a filling of chopped coconut, cashews, and jaggery. The filling softens slightly as it sits in the warm pancake, delivering delicate sweetness and a harmony of textures. Try this recipe, which yields about 10 pancakes. View the full article

California Democrat Rep. Sam Liccardo, a freshman congressman who represents Silicon Valley, said he’s surprised the first piece of legislation he’s sponsoring takes aim at President Donald Trump’s meme coin. “That wasn’t my plan when I ran for office, I can assure you,” said Liccardo, the former mayor of San Jose. But the president’s launch of a meme coin just before taking office last month needed some kind of response, said Liccardo. Those who bought the meme coin right after launch made out, but the price quickly dropped leaving others with big losses. Even Trump-supporting crypto enthusiasts found the launch distasteful. “That behavior is so self-evidently unethical that it raises the question why isn’t there a clear enough prohibition,” he said, adding that Trump’s meme coin raises concerns about transparency, insider trading and improper foreign influence. The bill is set to be called the Modern Emoluments and Malfeasance Enforcement, or MEME act. According to a draft of the legislation, it would block the president, members of Congress, and other senior officials, as well as their spouses and children, from issuing or sponsoring securities, commodities and cryptocurrencies like meme coins. It would also force Trump to disgorge any profits he’s made from the sale of his meme coins. Liccardo’s bill, which he plans to introduce Thursday, has no chance of passing in this Republican-controlled Congress. But the freshman lawmaker said it would serve as a placeholder if Democrats come to power as well an important symbolic gesture against what he called obvious corruption. His bill comes amid a fractured Democratic Party struggling to find its footing in the early weeks of the Trump presidency. Meme coins are a strange and highly volatile corner of the crypto industry that often start as a joke with no real value but can surge in price if enough people are willing to buy them. Critics view them as nothing more than Ponzi schemes that enrich insiders and unethical celebrities. Supporters say meme coins could be early indicators of ways in which the internet could revolutionize financial and other transactions. Trump has long defied presidential norms when it comes to endorsing and promoting products like branded Bibles and perfume. But he’s leaned in particularly hard with cryptocurrency-related projects that could significantly boost his personal wealth. The Trump meme coin quickly soared in price to nearly $70 shortly after it was launched but has since fallen to about $12. Researchers have estimated that trading fees have generated tens of millions of dollars for entities that launched the coin, including a company owned by Trump. Trump and his sons also helped launch a decentralized finance cryptocurrency platform last year, and the president has backed online stores that sell crypto-themed sneakers and $100,000 watches. The Trump family business recently released an ethics agreement that prohibits Trump from “day-to-day” decision-making involving outside business deals and limits financial information shared with him. Once a skeptic of cryptocurrencies, Trump changed course and promised last year to make the U.S. the world capital of digital assets. The cryptocurrency industry, which felt unfairly targeted by the Biden administration, embraced Trump and spent heavily to help him win last year’s election. First Lady Melania Trump also launched a meme coin that spiked in value around the inauguration but has since cratered. A crypto developer who said he helped launch that meme coin was also involved in a disastrous meme coin launch that’s led to Argentine President Javier Milei facing a corruption probe. That developer, Hayden Davis, has said meme coins are essentially a rigged game that benefit a small group of people at the expense of retail investors. “It is an insiders’ game. This is an unregulated casino,” Davis said. Besides a criminal prohibition, Liccardo’s bill would also allow private investors who lose money on a meme coin backed by a public official to sue. Liccardo said that’s a key part of the legislation, given what he sees as a lack of independence in the current Justice Department. “You need to have some enforcement mechanism and a private right of action helps to keep everybody honest,” Liccardo said. —Alan Suderman, AP Business Writer View the full article

UK prime minister to reassure Washington that Europe will bolster its own defences but push for US ‘backstop’View the full article

Setting up a free email account has never been easier. You now have many great options that promise lots of storage or convenient features, although there are a few things to keep in mind when picking one. The rule of thumb is that if you're getting a free email service, you're probably paying with your privacy, because the company has to make money at the end of the day. Depending on the company, it could use your emails to serve ads, track you across the web, or even use the text in your emails to train AI. However, there are exceptions to that rule, specifically when it comes to end-to-end encryption. It's a tough balance. In general, you’ll have to pay real money to avoid compromises—services that focus on privacy might suffer elsewhere. But if you're not ready to pay or set up your own private email server yet, here are your best free alternatives. You're not even limited to one option—it’s a good idea to create multiple email accounts and use them for different purposes, so you should mix and match based on your needs. Gmail is the best email provider for most people Credit: Pranay Parab Gmail is the best email service for most people, hands down. It’s reliable, filters spam well, and gives you 15GB of cloud file storage for free. Plus, it's practically unavoidable. It’s hard to be on the internet and avoid Google entirely, and at some point, you’re probably going to need a Google account. From setting up most Android phones to accessing a shared Google Doc, Gmail serves a wide range of audiences pretty well. Your Gmail account also comes with unlimited addresses, which is a great way to check if a service sold your email ID to spammers. The biggest argument against Gmail is that it’s owned by Google, which makes money by tracking you online to help personalize the ads you see elsewhere. If you are privacy conscious, then this isn’t the right email service for you. Pros: Ubiquitous, easy to use, feature-rich, integrates with other Google products Cons: Lots of advertising based on mining your data Outlook is the best Gmail alternative for most people Credit: Pranay Parab For those who don’t want to use Gmail, but are looking for a similar service, Microsoft’s Outlook is the best option. Just like Gmail, Outlook is backed by a tech giant and will almost certainly be around for years to come. Plus, you get up to 15GB of email storage and 5GB of additional OneDrive storage for free. It’s a reliable alternative to Gmail, but once again, it’s not the email service you want to use if privacy is your top priority. Pros: Backed by a major tech company; a feature-rich Gmail alternative Cons: Like Google, Microsoft doesn’t care that much about your privacy Proton Mail is the best email service for privacy Credit: Pranay Parab Proton Mail is the best free email service for privacy-conscious people. It offers 1GB of storage, a limit of 150 emails per day, and up to 10 aliases for free, which is good enough to get started. My Gmail account is over a decade old and it still uses less than 1GB of storage, so it’s possible to manage with that storage limit for quite a while. Proton Mail also gives you a fair bit more than mail, too, even if you aren't spending a dime. You'll get a free VPN for one device and a free password manager as well. Proton Mail’s biggest advantage is end-to-end encryption, which means your messages cannot be intercepted or read by Proton Mail or third parties. This is a great privacy feature as long as you’re communicating with Proton Mail users or people using other end-to-end encrypted email providers, but it’s not as effective if you’re communicating with people on ad-supported email accounts. Everything could be totally private on your end, but your friend’s email service could read the contents of your email pretty easily. If you're ready to pay, Proton Unlimited offers great value with more email addresses, more storage space, and advanced privacy features like dark web monitoring. Pros: Great for privacy; end-to-end encryption Cons: Only 1GB of storage and a daily sending limit Tuta is also a great privacy-focused email provider Credit: Pranay Parab If you need an encrypted email service that offers open-source desktop clients, Tuta could be one to consider. It has a free tier with 1GB storage and no ads, which is also a plus. While Tuta is end-to-end encrypted, your privacy depends on the encryption status of the people you're emailing. Just as with Proton Mail, email encryption needs all parties onboard and if even one person is on an unencrypted service, your privacy is compromised. Tuta comes with one calendar in the free tier, but you'll have to pay if you want to set up multiple calendars. One good thing is that Tuta doesn't restrict how many emails you can send or receive per day. The only limitation is storage. You also get apps for mobile use. Pros: Encryption, privacy, and no sending limits Cons: Just 1GB storage Yahoo Mail is the best free email for free storage Credit: Joel Cunningham If you want the maximum possible storage on your free email account, believe it or not, Yahoo Mail is your best bet. The provider lets you use up to 1TB storage (yes, that’s 1,000GB) for free. The catch is that it still limits you to a maximum of 25MB of attachments per email, so you can’t start attaching 4K movies to your emails. It also comes with other useful features, such as an easy way to unsubscribe from newsletters. However, Yahoo Mail also shows you ads in your inbox and isn’t really the service you want to use if you’re concerned about privacy. Pros: Tons of free storage Cons: As ad-heavy and invasive as other services, plus you have to have an “@yahoo” or, worse, “@aol” email address. (Certain people will judge you, if only subconsciously.) iCloud Mail is easiest to set up for Apple users Credit: Pranay Parab For anyone who already has an Apple Account, setting up an iCloud Mail account is really easy. Go to your device's settings and tap your name. Then, click or tap through to iCloud > Mail, and follow the on-screen instructions to set it up. Since you already have an Apple Account, you don't need to create a new password and you can start using the service for free. iCloud Mail's free tier offers 5GB space and it has no ads. Note that this 5GB is shared with your photos, device backups, and everything else on iCloud, so effectively, it is smaller than you might expect. However, if you're on an Apple device, you have the added advantage of not having to install any apps to use the service, because your iPhone, iPad, and Mac ship with the Mail app pre-installed. iCloud Mail can be accessed on Windows, Android, and the web, too. The easiest way to use iCloud Mail on non-Apple devices is via the iCloud website, although there is an iCloud for Windows app for PC. Note that you'll still need an Apple Account for this, which you can create for free at https://account.apple.com/. For Android, you can also easily add your iCloud Mail to your phone's mail app. Log in to your Apple Account here and select App-specific passwords. Create a new password and save it for later. Add a new account to your favorite email app, select the IMAP option, and type your iCloud email ID and the app-specific password. This will add the email ID to your Android phone. Apple's Mail app gets regular updates, and you can access privacy features such as protection against email tracking even on iCloud Mail's free tier. But while this service is great for many people, it is slightly wonky at times. I've failed to receive some emails on iCloud Mail at times because they got flagged as spam and never landed in my inbox. On the plus side, you can add up to three aliases to iCloud Mail, which is good if you want to protect your actual email address from being compromised. Pros: Easy set up, three aliases for free Cons: Occasionally buggy, just 5GB of free space (shared with iCloud Photos and your device backups) AOL is the best free email for unlimited storage Credit: Daniel Oropeza Another throwback, AOL Mail, offers a lot of the same benefits as Yahoo Mail, with a similar feature set and size limits (they're owned by the same company). AOL is user-friendly, lets you organize and personalize your inbox, and offers a spell-checker, calendar, and a to-do list feature on top of the features most email clients have. It's compatible with Android and iOS apps and you can transfer your contact list from CSV, TXT, or LDIF files. Pros: Unlimited free storage Cons: You're limited to 25 MB for your email attachments Zoho Mail lets you use custom email address domains for free Credit: Pranay Parab The biggest problem with almost every free email provider is you have no control over the domain name associated with your email address. You’ll be stuck with email addresses that end in @gmail.com, @yahoo.com, @outlook.com, etc. If you want to use your own domain name with your free email, check out Zoho Mail. Its free plan lets you add up to five users to your account and offers 5GB of free storage per user. There are no ads, but you won’t get IMAP or POP3 sync features for the mobile app, which means there may be delays in receiving mobile notifications for new emails. The service will still work pretty well on your desktop browser. Pros: You can use a custom @ Cons: Only 5GB storage and no IMAP or POP3 syncing Neo is the best free email for small business owners Credit: Daniel Oropeza Small business owners, freelancers, or anyone who wants to see how their emails are performing and how many people are actually reading them can see basic email analytic tools like CTR (click-through rate) and open rates with Neo. It's also a great alternative to Zoho, since it lets you choose a domain for free and has up to 100GB of storage. You can use an AI feature for writing emails, but you don't get five user accounts like on Zoho. However, if you run into trouble, be warned that Neo's support isn't known to be the best. Pros: See CTR and Open rates Cons: The support isn't very responsive View the full article

Vietnam is revising its energy plans to focus more on large solar farms and less on reliance on coal and natural gas. The fast-growing economy now aims to get 16% of its energy from the sun — more than triple its earlier target of just 5%. A draft of the new policy outline, likely to be finalized in coming weeks, scraps plans to build offshore wind turbines, instead building more onshore wind capacity, rooftop solar and energy storage. Offshore wind and new gas projects have proven expensive and difficult. Large solar farms are cheaper and easier to build. But Vietnam also is emphasizing expansion of large solar farms to meet soaring demand for power generation. It forecasts it will need more than 211 gigawatts of energy by 2030 as its economy grows, 40% more than its previous estimate and more than Germany’s current total capacity. “This reflects both an overall increase in potential power demand by 2030 and the fact that LNG (or liquefied natural gas) projects are not on track to be completed by 2030,” said Giles Cooper, a partner at the international law firm Allens based in Hanoi who specializes in energy policy. Solar power expanded rapidly in Vietnam from 2018 to 2020, helped by generous government policies, as it leaped past its neighbors and some richer nations like the United Kingdom. But construction of new solar capacity stalled in 2020 as the Southeast Asian nation realized that its creaky electricity grid was getting overloaded since electricity was only available when the sun shone. “It was like the market almost stopped,” said Dimitri Pescia, of Berlin-based thinktank Agora Energiewende. Use of polluting coal, which releases earth-warming gases into the atmosphere, has surged and Vietnam is set to become of the world’s top five coal importers, displacing Taiwan, according to the International Energy Agency. Like many other countries, Vietnam still needs to upgrade its rickety grid, which has failed to keep up with rapid growth of clean power generation. However, it has made improvements and gained experience dealing with energy sources that aren’t always availables, Cooper said. Last year, authorities allowed electricity-guzzling factories to buy power directly from energy producers, aiming to ease pressure on the overstrained power grid and help big manufacturers like Samsung Electronics meet their climate targets. But that was hindered by a lack of space to build clean energy projects close to factories. Solar energy is “seen as the most promising technology to kick start” those direct purchases, Cooper said. But while it’s building clean power capacity, Vietnam is also ramping up use of coal. That’s partly to make up for lost hydropower capacity due to drought, and also to meet soaring demand as businesses shift factories from China to Vietnam. Vietnam is Southeast Asia’s second-biggest coal producer after Indonesia. It also imported 50 million ton of coal in the first three quarters of 2024 — a 31% increase, according to government data. Pescia noted that Vietnam’s coal-fired power plants aren’t very old and operators have yet to recoup their investments. “Phasing out coal in a country like Vietnam will take more time,” he said. The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. —Aniruddha Ghosal, Associated Press View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The TP-Link Tapo C402 is $19.99 on Woot for the next two days or until it sells out. If you're a Prime member, you get free shipping; otherwise, it’ll cost you an extra $6. TP-Link Tapo C402 $19.99 at Woot $49.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal Get Deal $19.99 at Woot $49.99 Save $30.00 This camera is IP65-rated, meaning it can handle rain and dust, and has a bullet-style design that makes it easy to mount. You get a 90-day Woot Limited Warranty, which isn’t long, but at this price, it’s hard to complain. It records in 1080p with a 125-degree field of view, offering sharp, color-rich daytime footage. At night, it switches between full-color video (though the colors reportedly appear a bit washed out) using built-in spotlights and black-and-white infrared video, depending on lighting conditions. For storage, the C402 supports microSD cards up to 512GB, but you’ll need to buy one separately if you want local storage. If you’d rather store footage online, TP-Link offers a Premium Tapo Care ($3.49 monthly or $34.99 annually) plan, which includes 30 days of video history, smart sorting for recorded clips, and rich notifications. Even if you skip the subscription, you still get free intelligent alerts for people, pets, and vehicles, privacy zone controls, two-way audio, and live view through the app, notes this PCMag review. Additional controls in the app include adjusting the spotlight brightness, formatting a microSD card, manually recording a video, and enabling or disabling the built-in 94dB siren, among others. The C402 connects via 2.4GHz wifi and works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT applets to integrate with other compatible smart home devices. It does not support Apple HomeKit. A 6,400mAh rechargeable battery powers the unit, which TP-Link claims can last up to 180 days per charge—though, in reality, that depends on usage. For those wanting a more hands-off power solution, the TP-Link Tapo SolarCam C402 Kit is available for $44.99 (down from $50.98), allowing the camera to run indefinitely on solar energy for a more set-it-and-forget-it experience. View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. With more people being called back to offices where they’re expected to share crowded spaces with coworkers — including sharing desks — let’s talk about shared space horror stories! Maybe you share a desk with someone who pinned up deeply personal love notes from their partner all over your shared space … or set the screensaver on your shared computer to be photos of herself in a bikini … or maybe you had a boss who “was constantly leaving open the very explicit romance e-novels she was reading on the shared workstation so you’d sit down to start your shift and suddenly you’re reading about parts quivering and throbbing.” Please share your tales of shared work space gone awry in the comments. View the full article

Mortgage lender Lower accuses New American Funding of stealing a San Antonio branch in early 2025. View the full article

Police to probe incoming chief accounting officer over alleged misappropriation of funds at former employerView the full article

Unwanted phone calls are out of control. Whether it’s a robocall trying to sell you something or spam calls from scammers trying to rip you off, it’s enough to make you want to stop answering your phone. So what can you do to stop them? The scourge of unwanted phone calls has been branded an epidemic by consumer groups, while the Federal Communications Commission says it’s the top consumer complaint. The calls are a nuisance to many ordinary people, some of whom have complained to The Associated Press. “I need help on getting spam calls to stop,” one reader said in an email. She’s getting up to 14 calls a day despite the countermeasures she’s employed. As the name implies, robocalls are automated calls to deliver recorded messages to a large number of phones. A robocall purely to deliver a message or collect a debt is allowed under U.S. regulations, but the Federal Trade Commission says robocalls with a recorded voice trying to sell you something are illegal unless you’ve given explicit written permission to receive them. Many robocalls are also probably scams, the FTC warns. If you’re flooded by unsolicited calls, here are some ways to fight back. Phone settings Smartphone users can turn on some built-in settings to combat unknown calls. Apple advises iPhone users to turn on the Silence Unknown Callers feature. Go to your “Settings,” then scroll down to “Apps,” and then to “Phone,” where you’ll see it under the “Calls” section. When you turn this on, any calls from numbers that you’ve never been in touch with and aren’t saved in your contacts list will not ring through. Instead, they’ll be sent to voicemail and show up in your list of recent calls. Android has a similar setting that allows you to block calls from private or unidentified numbers, although you will still receive calls from numbers that aren’t stored in your contact list. Just keep in mind that you could also end up not getting important calls, which sometimes come from unknown numbers. If an unwanted call does get through, both Android and iPhone users can block the individual phone number by tapping on it in the recent callers or call history list. You can also enter numbers directly into your phone’s block list. Do not call Sign up for the national Do Not Call registry, which is a list of numbers that have opted out of most telemarketing calls. The Federal Trade Commission, which runs the registry, says it only contains phone numbers and holds no other personally identifiable information, nor does the registry know whether the number is for a landline or a cellphone. The FTC says there are some exemptions, including political calls, calls from non-profit groups and charities, and legitimate survey groups that aren’t selling anything. Also allowed are calls from companies up to 18 months after you’ve done — or sought to do — business with them. But it also warns that while having your number on the registry will cut down on unwanted sales calls, it won’t stop scammers from making illegal calls. Other countries have similar registries. Canada has its own Do Not Call list while the U.K. has the Telephone Preference Service. Carrier filters Check whether your wireless carrier has a call-blocking service. Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T, three of the biggest U.S. networks, all have their own call filters for customers to block robocalls and report spam. There’s typically a free basic version and an advanced version that requires a subscription fee. Try an app If your phone company’s filters aren’t good enough, try third-party apps to weed out unwanted callers. There are a host of smartphone apps available that promise to block spam calls, like Nomorobo, YouMail, Hiya, RoboKiller, TrueCaller and others. Many charge a monthly or annual subscription fee but some offer a free basic option. Some also can be installed on landline phones, but only if they use VOIP technology, not copper cables. The Associated Press hasn’t tested any of these apps and isn’t making specific recommendations. We recommend you read user reviews and try some out for yourself. Apple says the apps work by comparing a caller’s number with a list of known numbers and labeling them, for example, spam or telemarketing. Then it might automatically block the call. “Incoming calls are never sent to third-party developers,” the company says. Report calls Did you know you can file a complaint with the FCC about specific spam calls? You can do so easily through an online form. It might not give you immediate satisfaction, but the National Consumer Law Center says data on complaints is the best tool federal agencies have for determining how big a problem robocalls are. Just say no While companies you’ve done business with can make robocalls to you, the National Consumer Law Center says it’s probably because you gave consent – possibly hidden in fine print. But you can also revoke your consent at any time. Just tell the company representative that you want to “revoke consent,” and if that doesn’t stop them, contact customer service and tell them that you don’t consent to receive calls and want your number added to the company’s “do not call” list, the center says. Hang up You might be tempted to try to engage with the call in an attempt to get your number off the call list or be put through to a real person. The FTC warns against doing this and recommends that you just hang up. “Pressing numbers to speak to someone or remove you from the list will probably only lead to more robocalls,” the agency says on its advice page. “And the number on your caller ID probably isn’t real. Caller ID is easy to fake” and can’t be trusted, it says. Cybersecurity company Kaspersky advises not even saying anything when you receive what you think is a robocall. We’ve all received scammy calls that start with something like “Hello, can you hear me?” to which you’ve probably replied “yes” without thinking. Scammers “can then store the recording of your confirmation and use it for fraudulent activities,” Kaspersky says. “So, avoid saying yes where possible.” Is there a tech topic that you think needs explaining? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your suggestions for future editions of One Tech Tip. —Kelvin Chan, Associated Press View the full article

This article is posted with permission from our partner MacPaw. MacPaw makes Mac + iOS apps that have been installed on over 30 million devices worldwide. Freelancers Union members receive 30 days of free unlimited access to CleanMyMacX and Setapp: https://freelancersunion.org/resources/perks/macpaw/ Many freelancers really struggle with staying productive. Whether you’re experiencing writer’s block or getting distracted regularly, maintaining productivity can be a significant challenge. Yet, there are a few actions that can help freelancers stay productive. Techniques like the Pomodoro method and blocking your access to distracting apps are ideal for this. Some even better news? Multiple focus and productivity apps help you reinforce these techniques and ensure you avoid distractions. So, if you’re trying to keep your focus and don’t want to take your eye off the ball, apps are an easy way to do this. Let’s look at the productivity tips and productivity software that can help! How to be more productive: Key productivity tipsBelow, you’ll explore the productivity software and apps you can use to be more productive, but first, what are the best methods for being productive as a freelancer? Well, this can involve finding a productive environment and limiting your distractions. Implementing these tips requires you to set up an environment that works best, which may include listening to motivating music. It can also involve implementinging methods such as time blocking or time scheduling approaches, and you’ll also want to take regular breaks so that you can return to the computer feeling energized and ready to work. 6 of the best productivity apps for work as a freelancerWith the right productivity software, you can implement these tips easily, but a huge range of productivity apps are on the market. So, here, we’ll explore six of the best productivity apps to help you maintain your focus from the start to the end of your day. Let’s dive in! Get everyday productivity shortcutsWith the Dropzone app, freelancers can stay focused by remaining organized and managing files easily; the app helps you avoid the stop-start file navigation process, so your focus is always on the task at hand. The main benefit of Dropzone is the speed at which you can organize those files. It just requires a simple drag-and-drop approach to move the files into the shortcut icons. This saves you time as a freelancer and ensures you can return to high-priority tasks quickly. Dropzone also simplifies the administrative task management processes or transitional tasks with handy shortcut-adding functions. For instance, if you’re a freelance writer, you can add shortcuts to resize images that you want to add to a blog post. Or, if you’re an SEO manager adding links to an article, you can add shortcuts that shorten URLs through the DropZone app. Set a timer to stay more focusedThe Focused Work app is a timer-style app that augments your level of focus. It will let you allocate a specific timeframe for the duration you need to focus. You can choose the timer style you want, and a few options are available. The Flowmodoro option lets you focus for as long as possible. The Pomodoro option lets you break up your focus time with short breaks. Focused Work is ideal for a range of freelancer roles. For instance, as a copywriter writing a long-form blog or landing page, you can input what task you will work on and can adjust the length of time you’ll need to focus. With the timer set, you can focus for the duration and then pause for a break in your writing process with the time’s up. If you tend to get distracted by other apps, Focused Work can also help with this. The app has a function to block certain websites and apps, and this will prevent distractions and minimize multitasking. Master online meetingsIf you need to be productive during and after meetings, Spellar AI is ideal. This app helps you maximize your understanding of the spoken information shared in a meeting, doing so through a transcription process. But it does more than this; it automatically organizes what was said in meetings in a written format and aids with grammar and fluency through the transcription process. Since it organizes transcriptions in a clear, organized way, picks up each unique speaker, and gives the speakers a name, the Spellar AI productivity app can help you make the most of those crucial meetings. For instance, as a freelance team leader of a content writing team, you may use this app to transcribe the spoken information during a team meeting and check exactly what a team member said. This can enhance your post-meeting focus and help you decide which actions to take based on the specific details of the conversation. Sync your to-dos & reminders with your MacGoodTask is a to-do and reminder synchronizing app that supports exceptional focus and minimizes distractions. The synchronizing feature works with Apple’s Reminders app and calendar software, which ensures you can handle projects effectively and in order of priority. GoodTask is also a task-setting app that helps you stay focused and organized with a handy list. Manual entry is not required for tasks that happen regularly; the automatic repeat mode will set these tasks to recurring automatically. It’s a good productivity app for freelance team leaders who need to focus on task assignments or timeboxing. For instance, a team leader might need to organize and repeat one-on-one meetings with each member of their team. They can do this by using the automatic repeat mode on GoodTask, which helps them stay focused and minimize the manual processes needed to set up these meetings. Block distractions while workingFocus 2 is a straightforward timer that doubles as software that blocks distracting websites and apps. In terms of its timer and scheduling features, it allows you to establish your own schedule so that you can begin focusing on a particular time and date. When it comes to reviewing your level of focus, there is a statistics tab that shows how long you stayed focused on a task. This is ideal for freelance writers who need to track the time required to complete specific projects and then optimize their level of focus accordingly. Since distracting apps can hinder your focus, you’ll want to use the app-blocking feature if you need to ensure each project is receiving your undivided attention. So, to use the app blocking feature, go into the preferences menu. When you want to add a blocked app to the list, press the + (Plus) button. If you want to remove a blocked app from the list, press the - (Minus) button. Get AI assistant for daily tasksThe BoltAI app is essentially an AI assistant that can help you prioritize different tasks. It helps you focus in many ways, one of which is to provide a focused web browsing or research approach. It eliminates the chance of veering off-topic with your research process and provides tailored responses to your specific queries. When you need to optimize your focus even further and require project prioritization tips, BoltAI can provide these. For instance, a freelance writer and editor could write a prompt related to task prioritization and list the tasks they need to complete. Tasks might include editing three articles and writing two, as well as completing keyword research for a separate project. BoltAI will reveal which tasks are the most important and suggest a task prioritization list. This can help you handle your workload effectively without losing focus. Best productivity apps for work: Need to find these options?It doesn’t matter if you’re a freelance editor, writer, or team leader. Focus is needed to complete every task and project effectively and satisfy your clients. If your mind is distracted, you’ll need a way to maintain your focus. This is much easier with the best productivity apps. So, where will you get the ones listed above? Well, they’re all on Setapp! At Setapp, a seven-day free trial applies before your subscription for multiple apps commences, so you’ll be able to see exactly how these features work. If you want to stay focused, go to Setapp today. Try out these best productivity apps for work and watch your output improve significantly. View the full article

This article is posted with permission from our partner MacPaw. MacPaw makes Mac + iOS apps that have been installed on over 30 million devices worldwide. Freelancers Union members receive 30 days of free unlimited access to CleanMyMacX and Setapp: https://freelancersunion.org/resources/perks/macpaw/ Many freelancers really struggle with staying productive. Whether you’re experiencing writer’s block or getting distracted regularly, maintaining productivity can be a significant challenge. Yet, there are a few actions that can help freelancers stay productive. Techniques like the Pomodoro method and blocking your access to distracting apps are ideal for this. Some even better news? Multiple focus and productivity apps help you reinforce these techniques and ensure you avoid distractions. So, if you’re trying to keep your focus and don’t want to take your eye off the ball, apps are an easy way to do this. Let’s look at the productivity tips and productivity software that can help! How to be more productive: Key productivity tipsBelow, you’ll explore the productivity software and apps you can use to be more productive, but first, what are the best methods for being productive as a freelancer? Well, this can involve finding a productive environment and limiting your distractions. Implementing these tips requires you to set up an environment that works best, which may include listening to motivating music. It can also involve implementinging methods such as time blocking or time scheduling approaches, and you’ll also want to take regular breaks so that you can return to the computer feeling energized and ready to work. 6 of the best productivity apps for work as a freelancerWith the right productivity software, you can implement these tips easily, but a huge range of productivity apps are on the market. So, here, we’ll explore six of the best productivity apps to help you maintain your focus from the start to the end of your day. Let’s dive in! Get everyday productivity shortcutsWith the Dropzone app, freelancers can stay focused by remaining organized and managing files easily; the app helps you avoid the stop-start file navigation process, so your focus is always on the task at hand. The main benefit of Dropzone is the speed at which you can organize those files. It just requires a simple drag-and-drop approach to move the files into the shortcut icons. This saves you time as a freelancer and ensures you can return to high-priority tasks quickly. Dropzone also simplifies the administrative task management processes or transitional tasks with handy shortcut-adding functions. For instance, if you’re a freelance writer, you can add shortcuts to resize images that you want to add to a blog post. Or, if you’re an SEO manager adding links to an article, you can add shortcuts that shorten URLs through the DropZone app. Set a timer to stay more focusedThe Focused Work app is a timer-style app that augments your level of focus. It will let you allocate a specific timeframe for the duration you need to focus. You can choose the timer style you want, and a few options are available. The Flowmodoro option lets you focus for as long as possible. The Pomodoro option lets you break up your focus time with short breaks. Focused Work is ideal for a range of freelancer roles. For instance, as a copywriter writing a long-form blog or landing page, you can input what task you will work on and can adjust the length of time you’ll need to focus. With the timer set, you can focus for the duration and then pause for a break in your writing process with the time’s up. If you tend to get distracted by other apps, Focused Work can also help with this. The app has a function to block certain websites and apps, and this will prevent distractions and minimize multitasking. Master online meetingsIf you need to be productive during and after meetings, Spellar AI is ideal. This app helps you maximize your understanding of the spoken information shared in a meeting, doing so through a transcription process. But it does more than this; it automatically organizes what was said in meetings in a written format and aids with grammar and fluency through the transcription process. Since it organizes transcriptions in a clear, organized way, picks up each unique speaker, and gives the speakers a name, the Spellar AI productivity app can help you make the most of those crucial meetings. For instance, as a freelance team leader of a content writing team, you may use this app to transcribe the spoken information during a team meeting and check exactly what a team member said. This can enhance your post-meeting focus and help you decide which actions to take based on the specific details of the conversation. Sync your to-dos & reminders with your MacGoodTask is a to-do and reminder synchronizing app that supports exceptional focus and minimizes distractions. The synchronizing feature works with Apple’s Reminders app and calendar software, which ensures you can handle projects effectively and in order of priority. GoodTask is also a task-setting app that helps you stay focused and organized with a handy list. Manual entry is not required for tasks that happen regularly; the automatic repeat mode will set these tasks to recurring automatically. It’s a good productivity app for freelance team leaders who need to focus on task assignments or timeboxing. For instance, a team leader might need to organize and repeat one-on-one meetings with each member of their team. They can do this by using the automatic repeat mode on GoodTask, which helps them stay focused and minimize the manual processes needed to set up these meetings. Block distractions while workingFocus 2 is a straightforward timer that doubles as software that blocks distracting websites and apps. In terms of its timer and scheduling features, it allows you to establish your own schedule so that you can begin focusing on a particular time and date. When it comes to reviewing your level of focus, there is a statistics tab that shows how long you stayed focused on a task. This is ideal for freelance writers who need to track the time required to complete specific projects and then optimize their level of focus accordingly. Since distracting apps can hinder your focus, you’ll want to use the app-blocking feature if you need to ensure each project is receiving your undivided attention. So, to use the app blocking feature, go into the preferences menu. When you want to add a blocked app to the list, press the + (Plus) button. If you want to remove a blocked app from the list, press the - (Minus) button. Get AI assistant for daily tasksThe BoltAI app is essentially an AI assistant that can help you prioritize different tasks. It helps you focus in many ways, one of which is to provide a focused web browsing or research approach. It eliminates the chance of veering off-topic with your research process and provides tailored responses to your specific queries. When you need to optimize your focus even further and require project prioritization tips, BoltAI can provide these. For instance, a freelance writer and editor could write a prompt related to task prioritization and list the tasks they need to complete. Tasks might include editing three articles and writing two, as well as completing keyword research for a separate project. BoltAI will reveal which tasks are the most important and suggest a task prioritization list. This can help you handle your workload effectively without losing focus. Best productivity apps for work: Need to find these options?It doesn’t matter if you’re a freelance editor, writer, or team leader. Focus is needed to complete every task and project effectively and satisfy your clients. If your mind is distracted, you’ll need a way to maintain your focus. This is much easier with the best productivity apps. So, where will you get the ones listed above? Well, they’re all on Setapp! At Setapp, a seven-day free trial applies before your subscription for multiple apps commences, so you’ll be able to see exactly how these features work. If you want to stay focused, go to Setapp today. Try out these best productivity apps for work and watch your output improve significantly. View the full article

The European Union on Thursday pushed back hard against allegations by U.S. President Donald Trump that the 27-nation bloc was out to get the United States, and warned that it would vigorously fight any wholesale tariff of 25% on all EU products. The tit-for-tat dispute following the vitriolic comments of Trump aimed at an age-old ally and its main postwar economic partner further deepened the trans-Atlantic rift that was already widened by Trump’s warnings that Washington would drop security guarantees for its European allies. Thursday’s EU pushback came after Trump told reporters that “the European Union was formed in order to screw the United States. That’s the purpose of it, and they’ve done a good job of it,” adding that it would stop immediately under his presidency. Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland, which holds the EU’s rotating presidency, went on a counteroffensive. “The EU wasn’t formed to screw anyone,” Tusk said in an X post. “Quite the opposite. It was formed to maintain peace, to build respect among our nations, to create free and fair trade, and to strengthen our transatlantic friendship. As simple as that.” And Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez added fiery fuel to the debate. “We will stand up to those who attack us with unfair tariffs and veiled threats to our sovereignty. We are committed and prepared to do so,” he said in northern Spain. The EU also warned that the moment that tariffs are announced, it would trigger tough countermeasures on iconic U.S. industries like bourbon, jeans, and motorcycles. “Spain and the EU have been together working for months, and we will adopt measures to respond firmly. We will do so as a bloc,” Sánchez said. European Commission trade spokesman Olof Gill also said that the EU would stand up to the Trump administration if tariffs are announced. “The EU will react firmly and immediately against unjustified barriers to free and fair trade,” Gill said in a statement. “We will also protect our consumers and businesses at every turn. They expect no less from us.” Trump said in comments late Wednesday that the United States stood ready. “We are the pot of gold. We’re the one that everybody wants. And they can retaliate. But it cannot be a successful retaliation, because we just go cold turkey. We don’t buy any more. And if that happens, we win.” Gill also countered Trump’s caustic comments on the inception of the EU and its development as an economic powerhouse. “The European Union is the world’s largest free market. And it has been a boon for the United States,” he said, adding that the EU has “facilitated trade, reduced costs for U.S. exporters, and harmonized standards and regulations,” which makes it easier for U.S. exporters. The EU estimates that the trade volume between both sides stands at about $1.5 trillion, representing around 30% of global trade. Trump has complained about a trade deficit, but while the bloc has a substantial export surplus in goods, the EU says that is partly offset by the U.S. surplus in the trade of services. The EU says that trade in goods reached 851 billion euros ($878 billion) in 2023, with a trade surplus of 156 billion euros ($161 billion) for the EU. Trade in services was worth 688 billion euros ($710 billion) with a trade deficit of 104 billion euros ($107 billion) for the EU. The figures are so big that it remained essential to avoid a trade war, the EU has said. “We should work together to preserve these opportunities for our people and businesses. Not against each other,” Gill said. “Europe stands for dialogue, openness and reciprocity. We’re ready to partner if you play by the rules.” Joseph Wilson in Barcelona, Spain, and Vanessa Gera in Warsaw, Poland, contributed to this report. —Raf Casert, Associated Press View the full article

IDEAS shared have the power to expand perspectives, change thinking, and move lives. Here are two ideas for the curious mind to engage with: I. Craig Wright on the value of thinking opposite: “The more a person can exploit the contradictions of life, the greater his or her potential for genius. Great artists, poets, playwrights, musicians, comedians, and moralists embed oppositional forces in their work for dramatic, and sometimes comic, effect. Brilliant scientists and mathematicians seemingly do not go in search of contradictions but are comfortable when they find them. Transformative entrepreneurs look for contrarian solutions. If you want to better understand an object or concept, conceive of the opposite.” Source: The Hidden Habits of Genius: Beyond Talent, IQ, and Grit—Unlocking the Secrets of Greatness II. Clay Scroggins on the key to simplifying: “Find that one sentence that defines why you do the things you do, and it can have massive repercussions on your life moving forward. When you can clarify your why—and by that, I mean the answer to every ‘why do you do what you do’ question—you can start to live and lead effectively.” Source: How to Lead in a World of Distraction: Four Simple Habits for Turning Down the Noise * * * Look for these ideas every Thursday on the Leading Blog. Find more ideas on the LeadingThoughts index. * * * Follow us on Instagram and X for additional leadership and personal development ideas. View the full article

“Without AI literacy, we’re all at risk.” Accounting ARC With Liz Mason, Byron Patrick, and Donny Shimamoto Center for Accounting Transformation Go PRO for members-only access to more Center for Accounting Transformation. View the full article

“Without AI literacy, we’re all at risk.” Accounting ARC With Liz Mason, Byron Patrick, and Donny Shimamoto Center for Accounting Transformation Go PRO for members-only access to more Center for Accounting Transformation. View the full article

Getting rid of stuff can be hard, even if you’re not exactly a hoarder. It’s hard enough for so many of us in our consumerist society, in fact, that scientists have studied why that is—and are always coming up with ways to overcome an aversion to decluttering our lives. Just in time for spring cleaning season, look to research published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology that suggests there’s a way to ease yourself into parting with old belongings: Instead of throwing them out all at once, banish them to purgatory first. What it means to put clutter in “purgatory”The researchers, Mathew S. Isaac and Poornima Vinoo, kicked off their paper by explaining that people who struggle to part with their possessions tend to jump through hoops to avoid doing it and may only manage to do so by employing “various behavioral strategies” to ease the psychological strain. One such strategy that has proven useful for some, the researchers note, is relegating unnecessary but hard-to-part-with items to “out of sight” status, in the hopes that they will then drop out of mind and can be later disposed of, minus the hand-wringing. “According to ethnographic research, one such strategy is to move products into purgatories, or temporary liminal spaces,” they write. In other words: Before throwing out your old photos, books, receipts, mementos, or knick knacks for good, put them into a space somewhere between your everyday environment and the trash. Essentially, banish things you think you should probably get rid of to a box or a junk drawer where you won’t access them, but you’ll know they’re still around. Once you no longer have to look at them every day, you’ll hopefully realize how little you actually need them once it’s time for a major purge, and they’ll be easier to donate, sell, or trash. Why the purgatory method helps you get rid of your junkIsaac and Vinoo reviewed three existing studies that indicated moving items into “purgatories” helps people brace for the inevitability of disposal. However, their research uncovered a new reason it works, and it has nothing to do with a reduction of attachment. “Specifically, purgatories are shown to trigger mental simulation of the product disposal process, thereby helping product owners brace for the looming loss of their product,” they write. In simpler terms, when you condemn an item to its purgatory, it’s a practice run for throwing it away for real. Not only will you be lessening your attachment to physical objects in a gradual way by removing them from your everyday environment, you’ll be rehearsing for the moment when you actually junk them permanently. How to get started putting your excess stuff into purgatoryWhen you're decluttering, make a separate pile of things you think you could get rid of, even if you aren’t quite ready to pull the trigger yet, in addition to the clear-cut piles of things to toss, sell, donate, and keep. You don’t have to commit to throwing them all away, but this will get you thinking about the possibility. Outdated clothes you don’t wear anymore, single-use kitchen tools you haven’t picked up in ages, and toys your kids have aged out of—basically, all the stuff you hold onto for sentimental or "just in case" reasons—can go into purgatory. Make sure “purgatory” is someplace you won’t have to look at every day. The idea is to forget what’s in there so you can see just how inconsequential it really is. Put the box deep in a closet, down in the basement, or on a shelf in the garage. For maximum efficiency, use separate boxes for things that won’t be useful to anyone else, and things that could reasonably be donated. That way, when it's time for them to go to their final resting place, you can bring one box to the donation center and throw one out without having to go through them again, which will reduce the likelihood of you reneging on anything that's in there. Challenge yourself not to venture into purgatory except to put more stuff in there—but take heart knowing the research shows you probably won’t even want to. Set a reminder in your phone for a month from now, and on that day, transport the items to their final destination, whether that’s the trash or the donation center. In the event you find you actually need to use something from the box during that month, you can consider taking it as a sign that the item was a necessary one. (That is very unlikely, by the way.) Other ways to part with things you're not sure aboutI know better than anyone how easy it is to manufacture excuses for not getting rid of clutter. I am the reigning queen of holding on to something "just in case" I need it in the future. The thing is, though, you can make that excuse for everything you own. A purgatory box is a great way to bridge the gap between knowing something is probably trash and actually throwing it out, which is why I have a purgatory shelf for old clothes. But there are other methods designed to make it easier on you to toss things out on sight and those get even faster results than having to wait around to dispose of a box for a month. I recommend familiarizing yourself with these decluttering questions. When you're sorting through a closet, a cabinet, a drunk drawer, or wherever else, asking objective, reasonable questions is one of the easiest ways to disentangle from any sentimentality or excuse-making. Some of the questions include, "Would I know I had this if I needed it?" and "When was the last time I used this?" Reframing how you think of a particular item and its utility can help you part with it. I used to be all about the KonMari method, which has you ask yourself if each item you pick up "sparks joy" for you, but the issue was that I could do enough mental and emotional gymnastics to claim that everything I owned sparked joy. If you're like me, switching over to a more rigid (and, admittedly, harsher) line of questioning can be the push you need. If, after answering the questions about a certain item, you're still unsure whether you can give it up, toss it into the purgatory box. Combining methods is totally fine as long as you commit to the goal of ultimately getting rid of what isn't serving you and is, in fact, just mucking up your space. View the full article

Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web. We are seeing new shuffling with the Google search results...View the full article

No SEO strategy is one-size-fits-all, but there are common practices we follow when helping websites recover from traffic losses or drive growth. We see these patterns across projects, making them best practices within our agency. While they may not apply to every situation, they consistently deliver results. Here are the SEO pitfalls to avoid if you want to regain lost traffic or get back on a growth trajectory. 1. Writing blog posts based on keyword search volume Search engines prioritize content written for people because it provides solutions to users’ needs. They might use sitewide classifiers and human reviewers to assess this. If every page and blog post is created solely to generate traffic based on estimated keyword search volumes, you’ve made it clear you’re prioritizing traffic over user experience (UX). Anyone can export a list of keywords, questions, People Also Ask results, and phrases with search volume, then churn out blog posts for them using: LLMs and AI. Article spinners. Human writers in a native language. Outsourcing to content farms overseas. Using a combination of these methods makes it even more obvious that the content is created for SEO rather than for actual users When this happens, search engines can easily detect the pattern. It’s the same approach many new sites or amateur SEOs take. Instead, write content that solves a keyword phrase, question, or topic and focuses on what your customers are asking. Find topics relevant to their needs, even if there’s no recorded search volume. By providing content that ranks for the query and offering solutions for what users need next, you create a great UX. These posts may not bring in direct SEO traffic, but they serve as valuable resources. Users can still discover them through internal links, recommended reading, or rich results like “People Also Ask” and AI Overviews. Another advantage is that these unique topics can attract backlinks and social media shares because they offer fresh insights rather than competing for high-volume keywords. You can uncover these topics by: Reviewing questions on blog posts (yours and competitors’). Exploring forums and communities. Using tools like AlsoAsked.com. Analyzing customer support databases. Surveying your own customers. Dig deeper: The complete guide to optimizing content for SEO (with checklist) 2. Publishing content in bulk instead of prioritizing quality If you want your business to last, focus on quality over quantity. Publishing ten – or even two – articles a day quickly leads to a shortage of topics. Unless you’re a media site with a team of 20+ journalists or highly qualified contributors, it’s nearly impossible to maintain fact-checked, high-quality, and original content at that pace. Chances are, you’ll rely on LLMs, content farms, or article spinners. In most cases, this results in content that’s either inaccurate or low quality. Even if it’s mostly accurate, search engines may view it as low quality, which can hurt your site’s reputation. Worse, you’ll eventually run out of topics and struggle to produce new content. This can lead you to start publishing off-topic pieces. When your content drifts too far from its core focus, you risk losing your reader and subscriber base as they’ll no longer find your site relevant. More importantly, if there’s nothing new or valuable for them, they’ll stop returning. Suppose your content is original and written in-house. Publishing too much too soon can turn your passion project into a burden, leading to burnout. From an SEO perspective, mass publishing is a red flag for low-quality, AI-generated, or unverified content. While it may bring an initial traffic surge, that traffic usually disappears just as fast. Over the past 15 years, I’ve seen this same pattern play out – first with article spinners, and now with ChatGPT. If you want your site to thrive long-term, focus on publishing quality content, not just more of it. Dig deeper: SEO content writing vs. content writing: The key difference Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. Business email address Sign me up! Processing... See terms. 3. Focusing on word count instead of value There is no minimum or maximum word count for SEO. Some of our clients’ pages get hundreds or thousands of visitors a day with fewer than 300–400 words. Before adding content to a page, consider the goal of a search engine: A search engine’s job is to provide the best possible answer in the easiest, fastest, and most understandable way. If a solution only requires 200 words – including an example – but you stretch it to 1,000 just to hit a word count, you’ve likely buried the answer under unnecessary fluff. Think of a recipe. If all you need to know is how many cups of flour go into a loaf of bread, you don’t need a backstory about where the flour was grown, the bread’s origin, or a personal anecdote about a holiday baking mishap. These details are supplemental, not essential to the user’s search intent. Two simple ways to deliver this information effectively: Provide a clear recipe that states the exact flour measurement for a specific type of bread and the number of loaves (e.g., how many cups of flour for two loaves of sourdough). Create an FAQ or blog post, such as “Cups of flour per loaf of bread,” and include a chart listing ingredients in rows and loaf types or sizes in columns, making it easy for users to find what they need. Sometimes, formatting is more important than word count. Words alone aren’t always the best way to convey information – other elements can enhance clarity and usability, such as: Videos. Sound clips. Tables and graphs. Infographics and images. If you want to attract traffic and, more importantly, keep visitors coming back, prioritize delivering answers in an easy-to-use format that helps them find a solution efficiently. Dig deeper: Content length, depth and SEO: Everything you need to know in 2025 4. Turning every header into a question This trend emerged with FAQ schema and the push to appear in “People Also Ask” and “People Also Search” results. However, once it became overused, search engines started ignoring it. Instead of forcing every header into a question, focus on writing headers that clearly indicate what’s on the page and align with how users naturally search. Some questions are useful, but others work better as statements. Branded phrases and slang may not have search volume, but they can still resonate with users. If every header is a question, the content may feel unnatural and forced. More importantly, headers don’t need to be phrased as questions to appear in featured or rich results. The content itself just needs to be clear, direct, and accurate. When creating headers, we recommend: Using language that matches how consumers search. Making them easy to scan so users can quickly find what they need. Ensuring each header supports the one above it and aligns with the title tag. Removing sections that don’t match the title or previous headers, as they likely aren’t topically relevant. 5. Publishing every single day or week You don’t need to publish new content daily or weekly, especially if there’s nothing new to write about. Publishing just for the sake of it often leads to thin content and a poor user experience. Instead, growing SEO traffic can come from refreshing and improving existing content. Start by looking at pages that have lost traffic and revamping them. Check for broken sources, outdated information, or formatting issues. Internal links may need to be adjusted to fit your site’s current structure. In some cases, other pages rank higher because they explain or present the information better. Updating old content could be the key to regaining traffic, especially if the topic has already been covered in detail. Publishing new content without a clear user need is rarely the solution. Dig deeper: 5 SEO mistakes sacrificing quantity and quality (and how to fix them) Avoid these mistakes to keep your site competitive These recommendations may not apply to every situation, but we see them consistently when working on projects. When companies overoptimize for search engines instead of users, they often create a bad experience. You may gain traffic temporarily, but if the content isn’t valuable, users won’t return. View the full article

FTSE 100 group sets out plans to sell £2bn of offices and scale back office developments View the full article

An attorney for a Texas pipeline company said Wednesday at trial that he will prove various Greenpeace entities coordinated delays and disruptions of a controversial oil pipeline’s construction in North Dakota, and defamed the company to its lenders. Attorneys for the Greenpeace defendants told a jury there is no evidence to back up the claims by Dallas-based Energy Transfer, which seeks potentially hundreds of millions of dollars in damages from Greenpeace. The case is tied to protests in 2016 and 2017 of the Dakota Access Pipeline and its controversial Missouri River crossing upstream of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s reservation. The tribe has long opposed the pipeline as a risk to its water supply. The pipeline was completed in 2017. Energy Transfer and its subsidiary Dakota Access allege trespass, nuisance, defamation and other offenses by Netherlands-based Greenpeace International and its American branch, Greenpeace USA. The lawsuit also names the group’s funding arm, Greenpeace Fund Inc. Greenpeace paid professional protesters to come to the area, sent blockade supplies, organized or led protester trainings, passed “critical intel” to the protesters and told untrue things to stop the pipeline from being built, the plaintiffs’ attorney, Trey Cox, told the jury in his opening statement. “They didn’t think that there would ever be a day of reckoning, but that day of reckoning begins today,” Cox said in opening statements. Attorneys for the defendants emphasized what they said are distinctions between the various Greenpeace entities, such as what they do and how they’re organized. They said Greenpeace International and Greenpeace Fund Inc. had zero involvement in the protests, while Greenpeace USA had six employees at Standing Rock for five to 51 days. Greenpeace is committed to nonviolence, and only got involved at Standing Rock because of tribal outreach, the attorneys said. “This was an Indigenous-led movement by the Native tribes, and we wanted them to have the spotlight,” said Greenpeace USA attorney Everett Jack Jr. One of nine alleged defamatory statements — that Energy Transfer desecrated burial grounds and culturally important sites during construction — was made many times by the tribe before any of the Greenpeace statements, he said. Cox said that statement was included in a letter sent to Energy Transfer’s banks and signed by the executive directors of Greenpeace International and Greenpeace USA. He added that Energy Transfer made 140 adjustments to its pipeline route in order to respect sacred sites. “Our goal was to be a good corporate citizen in North Dakota,” Cox said. More than 500 organizations from more than 50 countries signed on to that letter, said Greenpeace International attorney Courtney DeThomas, who described it as an act of free expression. No financial institution will testify that it received, read or was influenced by the letter, which was signed after thousands of protesters were already at Standing Rock, DeThomas said. Greenpeace representatives have said the lawsuit is an example of corporations abusing the legal system to go after critics and is a critical test of free speech and protest rights. An Energy Transfer spokesperson said the case is about Greenpeace not following the law, not free speech. Greenpeace says the lawsuit is going after $300 million, citing a figure from a previous federal case. The lawsuit complaint asks for damages in an amount to be proved at trial. Because of Greenpeace, Energy Transfer incurred over $82 million in security, contractor and property costs, and lost $80 million of profits, Cox told jurors. The pipeline was supposed to be completed by Jan. 1, 2017, but wasn’t moving oil until five months later, he said. Greenpeace’s “deceptive narrative scared off lenders” and Energy Transfer lost half its banks, he said. The company suffered over $68 million in lost financing and spent $7.6 million for public relations “to deal with these problems and lies” from the “whisper campaign,” Cox said. But Jack said Greenpeace had nothing to do with the company’s delays in operating or refinancing. He also disputed how Energy Transfer is claiming or calculating its damages. The company also has no expert to back its claim of reputational harm, he said. Jury selection took place earlier in the week and the estimated five-week trial is now underway. Nine jurors and two alternates will hear the case in Mandan, North Dakota. The company filed a similar case in federal court in 2017, which a judge dismissed in 2019. Energy Transfer subsequently filed the lawsuit now at trial in state court. Earlier in February, Greenpeace International filed an anti-intimidation suit in the District Court of Amsterdam against Energy Transfer, saying the company acted wrongfully and should pay costs and damages resulting from its “meritless” litigation. —Jack Dura, Associated Press View the full article

CMA head also warns it will not be ‘open season’ for takeovers harmful to consumers View the full article

In this hectic modern world, it’s natural to feel like your ducks aren’t in a row, but every so often the planets seem to align. This week, Mercury is joining Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune for a seven-planet parade (although not all of them will be visible to the naked eye). Here’s what that all means and how best to see it. How exactly do planets align? According to NASA, the term planetary parade isn’t really a technical term in astronomy, but it’s cute and paints a fun picture. Additionally, planetary alignment has a few different meanings; it can refer to when the planets line up with each other or when they line up with the moon or stars. For our purposes, we are referring to the latter. The eight planets in our solar system all orbit the sun on “a relatively flat, disc-shaped plane.” Almost a metaphor for life, each planet moves at its own speed along the orbit. Because of this, it is inevitable that they occasionally line up from time to time. How often does this happen? It all depends on your perspective. According to NASA, this is not a rare occurrence, but it does not happen every year. For Dr. Gerard van Belle, director of science at Lowell Observatory, this is just another day at the office. “On the scale of supermoon to death asteroid, this is more a supermoon sort of thing,” Dr. van Belle explained to the New York Times. Both NASA and Dr. van Belle do acknowledge that even though it is not rare, it is still a fun phenomenon to witness. How to see the planets align in February 2025 This week is prime viewing for stargazers hoping to catch the planets in action. For most places in the world, the evening of Friday, February 28, is the optimal viewing night. Enter your location into the Sky Tonight app to confirm and head outside right after sunset. Which planets are part of the parade? You won’t need special equipment to see Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Mars. For Uranus and Neptune, binoculars or a telescope are a must. Be careful with your eyes when spotting Saturn as it is close to the sun and low in the horizon. After you take in the wonders of the night sky, you might find yourself inspired to bring more alignment into your own life by, for example, syncing up with your coworkers on a project (even the annoying ones). If the planets can come together, maybe you can, too. View the full article