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The days are getting longer, sunnier, and warmer in the western hemisphere. Those bright summer days have a bigger impact on the workforce and the physical office than you may think. The obvious ones are longer lunches and fewer people in the office due to vacations. Yet when everybody is in the office, there is one common human habit happening during the summer that is often overlooked. One that undermines employee productivity and increases a building’s carbon emissions. The productivity killer? Sunshine. Not that anybody is against it, but when the sun is at its highest and hottest, sun glare and heat penetrating the glass panes in office buildings prompts employees to leave their desks. They either spill over into another area of the office, disrupting colleagues, or they leave. Meanwhile, the air conditioning continues to blast, cooling unoccupied areas, wasting energy, increasing operational costs, and elevating the building’s CO2 emissions. Office insight reduces carbon emissions Since buildings account for almost 40% of the world’s carbon emissions, with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems being among the largest contributors, having insight into human behavior in the office can help reduce those emissions. This issue is not new, but the data to prove its impact on the workforce and planet has only been recently uncovered. For example, a global, well known Silicon Valley tech company took a closer look at how their workforce is using the office. Their goals were to improve collaboration, productivity, and energy efficiency. The company installed sensors that combine AI and body heat sensing technology to understand anonymous human movements in the office. At the large tech company, they aggregated 3-months’ worth of office data and identified human occupancy patterns. The analysis led to specific recommendations to improve the company’s office energy efficiency. Below are actual recommendations from the report: Weekday early mornings and evenings: Reduce HVAC setpoints before 8:00 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m., when saturation rates are consistently low. Midweek daytime control: Reduce airflow to 50% capacity outside of the following high-demand periods: Monday at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday and Wednesday between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., and Thursday between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. This data can also be used to make decisions about window shades, insulation, and lighting. Office layout impacts productivity Going beyond an understanding of how employees move around the office, the tech company was also able to infer actions and interactions among employees. Being able to visually depict human movements without identifying individuals provides genuine data into corporate culture and employee engagement. The actions are far more insightful than any feedback an employee survey could offer. For example, the frequency of impromptu meetings based on chair rollbacks. Also, seeing a cluster of humans congregating in the hallway for a short period of time, especially when the gathering is not held at the top of the hour or at the half hour. From a workforce perspective, office layouts also impact productivity and energy efficiency. This reality is not lost on employers and property managers as the latest JLL Global Office Fit Out Cost Guide 2025 reveals. The report cites an increased focus on in-office attendance, employee experience, and sustainability performance on investing in high quality workspaces. This explains why the average global office fit-out cost is increasing. Understand the workforce needs However, the latest design trends may not align with the workforce needs and/or reflect the corporate culture. For example, another insight the tech company gained from the sensors was that individuals were reserving conference rooms for themselves. This ties up meeting space for others and puts unnecessary demands on the HVAC system that is set to accommodate large groups. It is also an indicator that the open office layout increases noise levels and is not conducive to supporting focused work.   You can gain a better understanding of how the workforce uses the office without compromising privacy. Aggregated data on occupancy, foot traffic, human interactions, and their impact on energy consumption can lead to more comfortable, productive, and energy-efficient offices. And having that knowledge before undertaking a costly office renovation can make a big difference in ensuring the building aligns with the needs of the workforce as opposed to making employees adjust to the confines of the office. Honghao Deng is CEO and cofounder of Butlr.   View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Purchasing a full set of individual dumbbell pairs between five and 60 pounds can cost well over $1,500, not to mention how much space you'd have to dedicate to storing them. That's why I'm a huge fan of adjustable dumbbells like the REP QuickDraws or Nüobells, which I reviewed here and here, respectively. If you know you want to be able to up to 60 pounds at five-pound increments, effectively combining 30 weights into one compact set, then adjustables like the REP QuickDraws are how you can save significant money and space in your home gym equipment setup. But let's say your strength progresses beyond your adjustable dumbbells' capacity. First of all: Nice work. Secondly: What do you do now? I've seen users on Reddit directly asking "what's stopping me from adding more plates to keep going heavier?" Adding extra weight plates seems like a logical solution, as opposed to spending all that money on an entirely new set for just a few pounds beyond the recommended capacity. So, let's take a look at what is stopping you—and what's not. Here's what you should know about using add-on weights to your adjustable dumbbells, from what is officially considered unsafe to why it gets impractical even aside from that. How to add weight to your adjustable dumbbellsFirst off, not all adjustable dumbbells allow for this type of modification. Selector pin systems (like PowerBlocks) generally don't allow for unofficial weight additions due to their enclosed design. Dial systems (like my favorite, the Nüobells) have security features specifically preventing modifications outside the cradle. Then you have spin-lock dumbbells, like the QuickDraws, which allow for customization and additional weight outside the cradle. For this reason, I'll be speaking to the REP QuickDraws specifically, as opposed to Nüobells or Powerblocks. Still, adding weight beyond the manufacturer's specifications will almost certainly void your warranty. REP Fitness designed these dumbbells for specific weight ranges and cannot guarantee safety beyond those limits. I spoke with a REP representative (REP-resentative?) who informed me, "internal testing was not conducted beyond the 60 pound maximum, so REP cannot guarantee the safety of additional weight beyond that." Outside of your warranty, there are safety concerns. The handles, locking mechanisms, and materials are engineered for specific maximum loads. Exceeding these limits risks equipment failure and potential injury. Even if the dumbbells can technically handle the additional plates, the result might be bulky and awkward, affecting your form and increasing injury risk. All that being said, it still is entirely feasible to bend the rules and take your 60-pound dumbbells up to 70 pounds. Assuming you play it safe and only add a few plates to each side, here's what you should know: Only add compatible plates: The QuickDraw system uses standard plate dimensions that can be supplemented with additional compatible plates. Manual addition required: You'll need to add these plates manually outside the cradle system, as the selection mechanism only works within the advertised weight range. This pretty much negates the whole "quick draw" appeal. Secure them properly: Ensure the additional plates are secured with the locking mechanism to prevent dangerous slippage during exercises. Manual tracking required: The dial indicator becomes inaccurate once you exceed the designed range. You'll need to manually calculate and track the added weight. Can you (and should you) add more weight to REP QuickDraw Dumbbells?The short answer: Yes, technically you can add additional weight plates to REP QuickDraw dumbbells beyond their advertised maximum. The long answer: Just because something is possible doesn't mean you should make a habit of it. Sure, it's fully above-board to order add-on weights in five-pound increments (which, side-note, I love so much more than a 10-pound jump). However, going beyond 60 pounds isn't sanctioned by REP. For this reason, I naturally had my boyfriend test my DIY super-QuickDraws creation. In the image below, you can see how I manually added weights outside of the cradle. With the spin-locks, you can keep adding weights outside the cradle without any resistance. Just slide the weights on and flip the lock switch. I snapped a picture of it in its lopsided form, so you can see just how far outside the cradle the five-pound add-ons will go—and how precarious it starts to look right off the bat. Behold, my DIY super-QuickDraws creation. Credit: Meredith Dietz As we steadily increased the weight from 65, to 70, to 85 pounds, he noted growing concerns with how much the dumbbells could handle while still feeling safe. The all-steel design gives these guys a premium feel during standard use. But when you go beyond the sanctioned weight capacity, there's a sense that the dumbbells wouldn't bend or snag, but simply snap. And again, you'll need to manually keep track of how much weight you're adding, since the individual plates are not labeled, and you're exceeding the labels of the cradle. That mental math might not be a deterrent for you, but it's something to note. The bottom lineIn most cases, the hassle and safety concerns outweigh the benefits. The primary advantage of the QuickDraws—quick, convenient weight changes—is totally undermined when manually adding plates. Investing in a higher-capacity adjustable dumbbell set (like 80- to 90-pound models) or supplementing with specific heavier fixed dumbbells for certain exercises might be safer and more practical. For serious lifters approaching the upper limits of their adjustable dumbbells, I'd recommend supplementing with individual heavier dumbbells. View the full article

Over the years, I’ve observed how the approach to housing in the U.S. has shifted. And while affordable housing has faced challenges in how it’s understood and accurately represented, there is increasing awareness of the need for more accessible, safe, and stable housing options for all. It is time to recalibrate our approach to housing—one that not only addresses economic disparities but also fosters community and enhances the quality of life for all residents. Affordable housing is essential for providing a foundation that allows people to contribute meaningfully to their communities. It is one of the reasons my architecture firm recently acquired a firm that specializes in affordable housing projects—to underscore our belief that affordable housing means access and opportunity, and to galvanize our commitment to building resilient, connected communities. As a company, we are writing a new chapter for affordable housing by thinking beyond monolithic categories like “low-income.” We are also recalibrating how we design, build, and allocate housing for our citizens across all income levels. Rethink the new norm Housing trends in the U.S. have been dominated for decades by the idea of “more and bigger.” This trend has pushed housing prices ever higher, particularly for single-family homes. In contrast, look back 80 years. Neighborhoods were filled with small, modest homes—houses that were attainable for a much wider range of people. The new norm is out of scale with the financial reality for most Americans today. We need housing for all income levels. We’re currently facing a housing challenge, not just in terms of cost, but also in how we approach scale and accessibility. While housing prices remain high, there is growing recognition of the need to create solutions that ensure more people can find safe and stable homes, particularly in urban centers where demand is strong. The gap between wages and housing costs has highlighted the need for creative approaches to housing that support diverse communities and offer better access to opportunities like jobs, education, and services. The call for housing has never been more urgent, but it’s clear that simply building more homes isn’t enough. We need to rethink how and where we build, as well as who we build for. Affordable housing—housing that’s affordable—should be designed to foster diversity, sustainability, and integration into vibrant communities. This means focusing on smaller homes, multi-family units, and mixed-use developments that can accommodate people from different income levels and contribute to the energy of neighborhoods. Ultimately, we need to shift our thinking about the built environment—not as a commodity, but as a shared resource that serves the broader public good. Mitch Smith AIA, LEED AP is the CEO and chairman of MG2, an affiliate of Colliers Engineering & Design. View the full article

Reorganisation of cyber and electronic military units will be crucial part of government’s strategic reviewView the full article

Looting incident follows disruption at food distribution site as Israel continues to limit supplies despite 79-day siegeView the full article

While overall investor purchase activity is returning to pre-pandemic norms, interest in condo units dropped to a 10-year low, as insurance and fees surged. View the full article

Every four years, the National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP) provides a snapshot of how students across the country are performing in math and English. It doesn’t tell us about individual students; instead, it gives us information about how well our public schools are preparing students. The 2024 results showed that 28% of 8th graders were proficient in mathematics (on grade level), and 30% were proficient in reading. In both, the average scores and proficiency rates are still below 2019 rates. One explanation for this dismal reality? Public schools simply aren’t capable of delivering results for students. But look closely at historical trends in NAEP Reading results from Mississippi. In 1998, only 18% of the state’s 4th graders were at least proficient in reading, relative to 29% across the nation. By 2024, Mississippi was beating the nation, with 32% of their 4th graders at proficient or advanced proficiency in reading compared to 30% nationally. Why? They will tell you they invested heavily in evidence-based approaches and programs for teaching reading—the “science of reading.” Unfortunately our states and districts often don’t have a supply of effective, useful and usable products and solutions to choose from. What’s broken is not our schools; it’s the lack of investment in education research and innovation that develops and delivers better solutions to them. If we care about education, we must invest in education R&D like we do in other sectors vital to our nation’s well-being. Let’s start by dispelling the myth that we don’t know how to help young people learn. In fact, we have decades of science from fields like psychology and neuroscience telling us a lot about how children learn and how learning progresses within fields like math or reading. The science of learning and human development tells us about the many factors that shape a student’s ability to learn, from their motivation and interests to environmental forces around them. The real problem The problem is that we don’t have a coherent system for translating basic scientific research in education fields into research and development. We lack a clear system for innovating new solutions and scaling them for sustained outcomes. Education R&D funding in the U.S. has historically been a tiny fraction of R&D funding compared to defense, health, energy, and agriculture sectors. Those other fields have structures that support and sustain such efforts. For instance, DARPA in the defense industry, or ARPA-E in energy define bold “what if?” questions and then catalyze funding so that researchers, builders, and industry collaborate toward future-oriented solutions. The Department of Education’s Institute for Education Sciences, prior to its effective dismantling by the current administration, historically funded basic research and program evaluation, but as a tiny (less than 1%) portion of the Department’s overall budget. That program evaluation budget goes quickly when spread across the many entities that deliver products and services across 50 states. It results in lots of one-off studies of solutions versus a truly problem-driven approach, focusing and directing resources to finding the solution. One problem with the solution-centric approach is that the solutions often originate from an education product marketplace that’s disconnected from the education research sector. Entrepreneurs and companies launch products, then gather data to see how they perform in classrooms. Imagine if a pharmaceutical company had its product teams (not researchers) develop a new drug, market it to a wide audience, then gathered data from “users” to see what happened. That’s the norm in education. We also often fail to scale what works. Take the science of reading: That research—much of it federally funded—has been around for decades. It eventually took a few well-informed state leaders and a podcast to finally bring the science of reading to scale in products, practices, and state-level policies. What real investment in education R&D looks like There’s a better way. We can create structures that enable and encourage problem- and research-driven innovation, align policies to desired outcomes, and sustain these efforts through ample and reliable funding. It’s long past time for an ARPA-Ed that builds on all we’ve learned from DARPA and other advanced research project agencies, adapted for the unique needs of K-12 education. At AERDF we have built such a model to demonstrate how actively managed R&D, done in close collaboration with educators and learners, can lead to breakthrough science and technology to power new solutions. An ARPA-Ed, or its equivalent, can build on this template. Sustained, well-funded research and development in other fields has shaped how we live today. GPS technology, the internet, and the mRNA vaccine all came out of DARPA projects. They’ve changed the way we navigate, communicate, and protect ourselves from disease. What might similar investment in education R&D do to transform how people learn? The aim is not to control where schools spend their money or what happens in classrooms. A strong education innovation system ensures that communities have a wide range of already-proven options to select, making the best choices for their students. This is really about what our young people need in order to thrive. Every child deserves an opportunity to pursue their educational and career goals. Let’s make the necessary investments because when we succeed at educating every child, we create a prepared workforce, our next generation of leaders, and stronger communities. It’s time to act Education is essential infrastructure for our economy and our communities. Let’s approach it that way. This is not the time to dismantle and defund NSF and the Department of Education. And this isn’t just a call for more federal funding. Philanthropy and the private sector also must think differently if we are to catalyze capital systematically in the way fields like energy and health have done. Lastly, we need policies at the state and local level that hold the market accountable for the solutions delivered. For the future we dream of, we need an education system that works—and that means investing like we mean it. Auditi Chakravarty is CEO of The Advanced Education Research and Development Fund (AERDF). View the full article

While more consumers claim they can't tell whether now is a good time to purchase a home, over half of prospective buyers said the market is better than it was in 2024. View the full article

Intrauterine devices, or IUDs, are an extremely effective and convenient form of birth control for many people—but it can also very painful to get one inserted. Current medical guidelines say that your doctor should be discussing pain management with you, and they also give advice to doctors on what methods tend to work best for most people. The newest set of guidelines is from ACOG, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. These guidelines actually cover a variety of procedures, including endometrial and cervical biopsies, but today I'll be talking about the IUD insertion portions. And in 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's released new contraceptive recommendations that include a section on how and why providers should help you with pain relief. Before we get into the new recommendations and what they say, it’s important to keep in mind that that not everybody feels severe pain with insertion—the estimate is that insertion is severely painful for 50% of people who haven't given birth, and only 10% of people who have, according to Rachel Flink, the OB-GYN I spoke with for my article on what to expect when you get an IUD. (She also gave me a great rundown of pain management options and their pros and cons, which I included in the article.) I’m making sure to point this out because I’ve met people who are terrified at the thought of getting an IUD, because they think that severe pain is guaranteed and that doctors are lying if they say otherwise. In reality, there’s a whole spectrum of possible experiences, and both you and your provider should be informed and prepared for anything along that spectrum. Your provider should discuss pain management with youThe biggest thing in both sets of guidelines is not just the pain management options they discuss, but the guideline that says there is a place for this discussion and that it is important! You’ve always been able to ask about pain management, but providers are now expected to know that they need to discuss this with their patients. The ACOG guidelines say: "Options to manage pain should be discussed with and offered to all patients seeking in-office gynecologic procedures." And the CDC says: Before IUD placement, all patients should be counseled on potential pain during placement as well as the risks, benefits, and alternatives of different options for pain management. A person-centered plan for IUD placement and pain management should be made based on patient preference. “Person-centered” means that the plan should take into account what you want and need, not just what the provider is used to doing or thinks will be easiest. (This has sometimes been called “patient-centered” care, but “person-centered” is meant to convey that you and your provider understand that they are treating a whole person, with concerns outside of just their health, and you’re not only a patient who exists in a medical context.) The CDC guidelines also say: “When considering patient pain, it is important to recognize that the experience of pain is individualized and might be influenced by previous experiences including trauma and mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety.” The ACOG guidelines, similarly, say that talking over the procedure and what to expect can help make the procedure more tolerable, regardless of how physically painful it ends up being. (Dr. Flink told me that anti-anxiety medications during insertion are helpful for some of her patients, and that she’ll discuss them alongside options for physical pain relief.) Lidocaine paracervical blocks may relieve painThere’s good news and bad news about the recommended pain medications. The good news is that there are recommendations. The bad news is that none of them are guaranteed to work for everyone, and it’s not clear if they work very well at all. The CDC says that a paracervical block (done by injection, similar to the numbing injections used for dental work) “might” reduce pain with insertion. Three studies showed that the injections worked to reduce pain, while three others found they did not. The CDC rates the certainty of evidence as “low” for pain and for satisfaction with the procedure. The ACOG guidelines also mention local anesthetics, including lidocaine paracervical blocks, as one of the best options for pain management. Dr. Flink told me that while some of her patients appreciate this option, it’s often impossible to numb all of the nerves in the cervix, and the injection itself can be painful—so in many cases, patients decide it’s not worth it. Still, it’s worth discussing with your provider if this sounds like something you would like to try. Topical lidocaine may also helpLidocaine, the same numbing medication, can also be applied to the cervix as a cream, spray, or gel. Again, evidence is mixed, with six trials finding that it helped, and seven finding that it did not. The ACOG guidelines note that sometimes topical lidocaine has worked better than the injected kind. Unfortunately, they also say that it can be hard for doctors to find an appropriate spray-on product that can be used on the cervix. The CDC judged the certainty of to be a bit better here compared to the injection—moderate for reducing pain, and high for improving placement success (meaning that the provider was able to get the IUD inserted properly). Other methods aren’t well supported by the evidence (yet?)For the other pain management methods that the CDC group studied, there wasn’t enough evidence to say whether they work. These included analgesics like ibuprofen, and smooth-muscle-relaxing medications. The ACOG guidelines say that taking NSAIDS (like ibuprofen) before insertion doesn't seem to help with insertion pain, even though that's commonly recommended. That approach does seem to work for some other procedures, though, and may help with pain that occurs after an IUD insertion. So it may not be a bad idea to take those four Advil if that's what your doc recommends, but it shouldn't be your only option. Or as the ACOG paper puts it: "Although recommending preprocedural NSAIDs is a benign, low-risk intervention unlikely to cause harm, relying on NSAIDs alone for pain management during IUD insertion is ineffective and does not provide the immediate pain control patients need at the time of the procedure." Both sets of guidelines also don't recommend misoprostol, which is sometimes used to soften and open the cervix before inserting an IUD. The ACOG guidelines describe the evidence as mixed, and the CDC guidelines specifically recommend against it. Moderate certainty evidence says that misoprostol doesn’t help with pain, and low certainty evidence says that it may increase the risk of adverse events like cramping and vomiting. What this means for youThe publication of these guidelines won’t change anything overnight at your local OB-GYN office, but it’s a good sign that discussions about pain management with IUD placement are happening more openly. The new guidelines also don’t necessarily take any options off the table. Even misoprostol, which the CDC now says not to use for routine insertions, “might be useful in selected circumstances (e.g., in patients with a recent failed placement),” it writes. Don’t be afraid to ask about pain management before your appointment; as we discussed before, some medications and procedures require that you and your provider plan ahead. And definitely don’t accept a dismissive reply about how taking a few Advil should be enough; it may help for some people, but that shouldn't be the end of the discussion. You deserve to have your provider take your concerns seriously. View the full article

While mortgage originations increased, borrowers focused their attention on big-ticket items, as credit account balances flattened overall, Vantagescore said. View the full article

One easy way to ensure an unflattering nickname has staying power is to act defensive about it. Apparently, the same goes for unflattering acronyms. After multiple news outlets reported on Wednesday morning that Wall Street has embraced a new acronym for approaching the topic of tariffs—TACO, or The President Always Chickens Out—a reporter asked the president about it during an afternoon press conference. The President responded apoplectically, scolding the reporter for her “nasty” question, and admonishing her, “Don’t ever say what you said.” So, naturally, within minutes, the internet was awash with AI-generated images and other memes linking The President with tacos. Reporter: Wall Street analysts have a new term called the TACO trade.. Saying The President always chickens out on tariffs… The President: I kick out?Reporter: Chicken out. — Acyn (@acyn.bsky.social) 2025-05-28T17:13:22.578Z It all started on May 2, when Financial Times columnist Robert Armstrong coined the phrase in the publication’s Unhedged newsletter. “Regular readers will not be surprised by Unhedged’s view that the recent rally has a lot to do with markets realizing that the US administration does not have a very high tolerance for market and economic pressure, and will be quick to back off when tariffs cause pain,” Armstrong wrote, as stocks began recovering just over a month after the U.S.’s ostensible Liberation Day. “This is the Taco theory: The President Always Chickens Out.” Even someone with only a cursory understanding of international trade would have probably noticed the pattern by this past weekend, when The President backtracked on a recently announced 50% tariff threat against the EU. The Streisand effect, wdith a dash of hot sauce Giving this pattern a name so easy to remember, and so devastatingly diminishing, may have predetermined its ubiquity. Although the term had apparently flourished on Wall Street in the weeks since it was first coined, it only broke containment when it was finally written about enough that The President had to actually respond to it. Now that he’s done so, and revealed in the process that the phrase has apparently hit a nerve, it’s social media’s turn to respond. “Taco Don” memes are flourishing on X, mostly in the form of AI-generated images. Some of them depict The President utterly ensconced in tacos or taco-related items. Others still manage to depict The President as both taco and chicken. Anyone abandoning the AI route and instead searching manually for chicken-adjacent images involving The President will strike gold in at least one spot. When The President hosted Saturday Night Live in 2004, he performed in a sketch called “Donald The President’s House of Wings,” during which the cast dances around him in chicken costumes—something that has not escaped notice on X. Another image from The President’s past has come back to haunt him even more, though, since the TACO acronym emerged. In 2016, then-candidate The President celebrated Cinco de Mayo by tweeting an image of himself grinning over a The President Tower Grill taco bowl, fork in hand. That image is now making the rounds again on X and Bluesky in its new context. Even sitting U.S. Senator Tina Smith posted the image on her Bluesky account. — Tina Smith (@smith.senate.gov) 2025-05-28T18:09:03.262Z What happens from here might feel familiar. When the internet exploded with weird JD Vance memes earlier this year, fans of the vice president attempted to reclaim the narrative by tweeting similar memes to support Vance. Indeed, at least one X user is already trying to repurpose the new TACO acronym to mean “The President Always Crushes Opposition.” Whether that version of the phrase will actually gain any traction remains to be seen. In the meantime, meme-lovers, The President critics, and those who enjoy looking at tacos are eating well. View the full article

Even as children, we in the U.S. learn that June brings good things—warmer weather, ice cream trucks, and most significantly, summer break from school. As an adult, all of those things still matter to me (substitute summer break for outdoorsy weekends), but the arrival of summer produce has crept up to the top of my June list of good things. In this monthly article, I take a look at the fruits and veggies coming into season and some incredible ways you can use them. Let’s dive into June's offerings. Why seasonal and local produce is greatLong distance shipping for out-of-season produce is convenient, but there is usually a price to pay with literal higher prices or lesser quality (or both). Using seasonal produce is a step toward supporting smaller farms situated somewhere closer to where you live rather than a monoculture farm somewhere far away. A big, healthy harvest with shorter shipping distances likely means a cheaper price tag for you. And hopefully the produce exhibits the best possible flavor profile since it doesn’t have to travel great distances to arrive at your market. Buying local and in season means you’ll possibly see a greater variety of tender greens and delicate fruits that don’t travel out of state well. Those little strawberries that pop up at the farmers market are so juicy and delicate you’d never see them packed up and shipped out across the country—they’d be turned into jam before they got a chance to leave. Go to those summer farmers markets downtown and reap the benefits of the juiciest summer fruit. What’s in season right nowYou’re probably seeing it already, but everywhere from tiny produce markets to big box grocery stores are growing fuller with the very beginnings of summer produce glut, and the prices are dropping. Personally, I’m celebrating the low berry prices with morning smoothies. (If you’re a fruit smoothie-enthusiast like I am, here are a couple great blenders that might interest you.) For those who are growing their own food, keep up with our Home and Garden section for tips. The new produce coming in for June:Apricots Sweet Cherries (not quite yet for tart cherries) Strawberries Blueberries Raspberries Blackberries Beets Broccoli Cabbage Garlic scapes Green peas Mustard greens Zucchini & summer squash Say, "au revoir" to:Asparagus Arugula Ramps Parsnips Produce in peak season:Beet greens Lettuce Radishes and their greens Rhubarb Spinach Turnips Chard Snap peas Snow peas Note that your specific region may be warmer or cooler, or farther away—so don’t worry if floods of strawberries haven’t arrived yet, or if you still have loads of wild ramps growing in the yard. Nature will do its thing, and we’ll continue trying to keep up. What to cook with your spring bountyFruitsJune is the beginning of having all the fun you want to have when it comes to recipes. Let’s start with fruit. We’re looking at loads of berries for the next few months and the beginnings of stone fruits, so I recommend warming up those ovens. I know that sounds too hot, but think of the pies! Cherry pies, Strawberry-rhubarb, apricot and blackberry, blueberry-goat-cheese tarts—you simply must make some. To help you along, here’s my fail-proof way to lattice pie crust, and my best advice on preventing soggy fruit pies. They’re well worth a read if you’ve had trouble in the past. If you’d rather be stuck in a room with a pack of wild 7-year-olds than make a pie, OK fine. Make a fruit trifle with leftover cake, stuff delicious biscuits with summer fruit and whipped cream, and why not take a crack at your own homemade berry ice cream. I made vanilla bean ice cream with a swirl of fresh raspberry compote and I felt pretty damn pleased with myself. If you’re shopping for affordable ice cream machines, I just tested and reviewed this Cuisinart. As I mentioned, fruit smoothies always welcome a handful of frozen berries. I should mention (and I’ll say this again at the end of the season): Freezing your berries is the best way to reduce waste. (Here’s the best way to freeze fruit.) If you’re using berries to top yogurt or granola, there’s no need to freeze it, but if you’re baking with fruit, making jams, or blending smoothies, freezing is extremely helpful. Pop the fruit in the freezer in the container it came in (hull strawberries first, and halve the big ones). After a few hours, they’ll be solid and you can dump them into a zip-top freezer bag for easier freezer storage. Vegetables All the cruciferous veggies are going strong right now, so go ahead and get that fiber. Use shaved broccoli and cabbage in a salad. Wilt spinach, chard, or mustard greens down in a hearty soup. My absolute favorite thing to do with summer zucchini is to make Thai kai jiao. You can use different vegetables in this dish, but zucchini is my all-time favorite. You also can’t go wrong with grilling big, fat planks of summer squash and drizzling them with a light vinaigrette. Got lots of crisp lettuce? Well, you can always bulk up your warm salads or do what I do and add it to every sandwich. Bacon, egg, cheese, and lettuce. Meatball parm sub and lettuce. Peanut butter and—OK, maybe not that one. Pay special attention to the fleeting produce like rhubarb, ramps, and scapes. They’re around for just a blink so grab them up. Try roasting your rhubarb with strawberries for a sweet, tart, and caramelized treat. Enjoy the best of June produce, and hopefully we’ll get a peek at tomatoes at the end of the month. 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 2nd-generation Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is currently 25% off, bringing its price down to $199.99 (originally $264.98)—that's its lowest price yet, according to price trackers. If you’re an Android user who happens to be in the market for a new tablet that won’t break the bank, this device might be a good fit for you. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite $199.99 at Amazon $264.98 Save $64.99 Get Deal Get Deal $199.99 at Amazon $264.98 Save $64.99 With 64GB of storage, this 10.4-inch Android tablet comes with an S Pen stylus and is a lightweight option that won’t take up too much space in your bag. Despite being suitable for everyday use, the screen lacks the sharpness, brightness, and color depth of higher-end tablets, which might be noticeable if you’re editing photos or using it in direct sunlight. Additionally, while the under $200 price tag is appealing, 64GB of storage may not be sufficient if you need to store a large number of files. When fully charged, battery life lasts 14 hours, but it can take nearly three hours to charge, compared to newer iPad models, which charge significantly faster. If you’re using the tablet as part of your work-from-home or office setup, you can sync multiple Galaxy devices into a larger workstation and control them all through this tablet. Additionally, the Quick Share feature allows you to send files from the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite to any other Android device. Whether you’re using it as a cheap drawing tablet or to replace a laptop for basic tasks, the Android-friendly, entry-level Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite has an attractive price tag, a free stylus, and a compact size. However, if you’re looking for advanced capabilities, ultra-sharp visuals, or more extensive storage, it may not be ideal. View the full article

US chipmaker’s shares rise as CEO hails ‘incredibly strong’ demand for its products View the full article

Key Takeaways Community Hubs: Public markets serve as vibrant spaces that foster connections between farmers, artisans, and consumers, enhancing community engagement through unique shopping experiences. Economic Impact: They significantly bolster local economies by providing platforms for small businesses, attracting foot traffic, and generating sales opportunities while promoting local entrepreneurship. Sustainability Focus: Many public markets emphasize sustainable practices by prioritizing locally sourced and environmentally friendly products, encouraging healthier consumer choices. Challenges to Navigate: Public markets face competition from supermarkets and regulatory hurdles that require vendors to differentiate their offerings and comply with local laws effectively. Cultural Experiences: Notable public markets like Pike Place and Borough Market exemplify the blend of culture and commerce, offering unique experiences that draw both locals and tourists. Future Trends: The future of public markets will see increased vendor collaboration, technological advancements, and a growing focus on sustainability, paving the way for adaptive and resilient small businesses. Imagine strolling through vibrant stalls filled with fresh produce, artisanal goods, and the enticing aromas of local cuisine. Public markets are more than just places to shop; they’re community hubs that foster connections between farmers, artisans, and consumers. These bustling spaces offer a unique blend of culture, flavor, and sustainability, making them essential to urban life. As you explore the rich tapestry of a public market, you’ll discover not only delicious foods but also stories of the people behind them. From supporting local economies to promoting healthy eating habits, public markets play a crucial role in shaping our communities. Dive into the world of public markets and see how they can enhance your shopping experience while bringing you closer to the heart of your community. Overview of Public Markets Public markets serve as essential retail environments that promote small businesses and local entrepreneurs. They provide unique storefront opportunities where farmers and artisans sell fresh produce, handmade goods, and distinctive products to consumers. These vibrant marketplaces create a direct connection between you and your customers, fostering relationships that enhance community engagement. Public markets contribute significantly to local economies by attracting foot traffic, generating sales, and supporting small business growth. When shoppers explore public markets, they experience a variety of flavors and cultures, making each visit enjoyable and memorable. These markets encourage you to adopt sustainable practices, as many participants prioritize local sourcing and environmentally friendly products. By participating in a public market, your small business gains visibility and access to a diverse customer base. You engage with shoppers seeking fresh options and unique offerings, ultimately building brand loyalty and community support. The dynamic atmosphere of public markets cultivates a sense of belonging, enhancing the overall shopping experience for you and your customers. Benefits of Public Markets Public markets serve as vital hubs that benefit both small businesses and the local community. They encourage interaction and create opportunities for unique shopping experiences. Economic Impact Public markets bolster the local economy by providing a platform for small businesses. These markets generate significant foot traffic, leading to increased sales opportunities for vendors. Independent retailers can establish storefronts in a supportive environment, attracting local shoppers who prioritize fresh produce and handmade goods. By promoting local entrepreneurship, public markets contribute to job creation and economic vitality within the community. Community Engagement Public markets foster community engagement by creating spaces for interaction among consumers, artisans, and farmers. You can connect directly with customers, understand their preferences, and build lasting relationships. These markets host events, workshops, and seasonal activities that strengthen community bonds. By participating, small businesses enhance their visibility and cultivate a loyal customer base, all while contributing to a vibrant community atmosphere. Challenges Faced by Public Markets Public markets encounter various challenges that impact small businesses and retailers aiming to thrive in these environments. Competition with Supermarkets Competition with supermarkets presents a significant challenge for public markets. Supermarkets offer convenience, lower prices, and a wide range of products, making it difficult for smaller retailers to attract consumers. Public market vendors often depend on providing unique, locally sourced products to differentiate themselves. You need to emphasize the quality and distinctiveness of your offerings to compete effectively. Highlighting your small business’s story and commitment to sustainable practices can draw consumers looking for a shopping experience that supermarkets don’t provide. Regulatory Hurdles Regulatory hurdles also pose challenges for public markets and the small businesses within them. Compliance with health regulations, zoning laws, and permits can be cumbersome. These rules can limit your ability to set up a storefront or operate efficiently. Understanding the specific regulations governing public markets in your area is crucial for success. Engaging with local authorities and other market vendors can help navigate these complexities, ensuring your small business operates smoothly while adhering to necessary guidelines for safety and legality. Notable Public Markets Around the World Public markets stand out as vibrant spaces rich in culture and community, drawing shoppers, artisans, and farmers. Several notable public markets globally exemplify the spirit of local commerce and support for small businesses. Pike Place Market Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington, features over 500 small businesses. This iconic market connects you with local farmers, food artisans, and craftspeople. The market’s unique storefronts offer fresh produce, handmade goods, and artisanal products, promoting small business visibility. Engaging events, like the famous fish-throwing tradition, enhance the shopping experience, attracting both locals and tourists. This bustling marketplace illustrates how a public market can significantly impact the local economy by supporting small business initiatives and creating community engagement. Borough Market Borough Market in London serves as a hub for food enthusiasts and small business owners. With a rich history dating back to the 12th century, this market features an array of vendors selling local and international food products. The market’s diverse retail offerings enhance the storefront opportunities for small businesses, showcasing everything from fresh produce to gourmet prepared foods. Regular events, tastings, and workshops foster customer interactions, strengthen community ties, and promote local craftsmanship. By embodying the principles of sustainability and local sourcing, Borough Market exemplifies how public markets support small businesses and contribute to vibrant urban life. Future of Public Markets Public markets will continue to evolve as pivotal retail spaces for small businesses. As customer preferences shift toward sustainable and locally sourced products, these markets provide storefronts that enhance visibility and brand identity. Emphasizing unique offerings will attract shoppers seeking distinct goods, ensuring your business stands out in a competitive retail landscape. Emerging trends indicate increased collaboration among vendors. Sharing resources or co-hosting events can expand your customer base while foster community engagement. Engaging with other small businesses within the market helps create a vibrant atmosphere that draws foot traffic. You can benefit from shared marketing efforts and cross-promotion initiatives, bolstering your reach. Technological advancements will also shape the future of public markets. E-commerce integration into these physical spaces will allow you to maintain an online presence while encouraging in-person visits. Offering online ordering or delivery services can enhance your appeal to tech-savvy consumers. Providing seamless shopping experiences across platforms also fosters loyalty among customers. Regulatory landscapes may evolve, presenting both challenges and opportunities. Staying informed about local zoning laws and health regulations is crucial for smooth operations. Active communication with market management can create effective solutions for compliance issues. Embracing these changes ensures that your small business adapts effectively and continues to thrive. As public markets progressively prioritize sustainability and community involvement, they’ll increasingly attract consumers who value ethical purchasing. Aligning your business practices with these principles will resonate with an environmentally conscious shopper base. Innovating your products and operations to reflect these values will strengthen your business’s connection to the market and its patrons. Conclusion Public markets are more than just places to shop; they’re essential to the fabric of our communities. By connecting you with local farmers and artisans, they foster a sense of belonging and support small businesses. As you explore these vibrant spaces, you’ll discover unique products and experiences that supermarkets simply can’t offer. The challenges faced by public markets highlight the importance of adaptation and collaboration among vendors. Staying engaged with local authorities and embracing sustainability will ensure their continued success. As these markets evolve, they’ll remain vital in promoting local economies and enriching community life. Embrace your local public market and be part of the movement that values quality, sustainability, and connection. Frequently Asked Questions What are public markets? Public markets are community hubs that connect farmers, artisans, and consumers. They offer a vibrant shopping experience with fresh produce, handmade goods, and unique products, promoting local economies and healthy eating habits. How do public markets benefit local economies? Public markets support small businesses by providing retail environments that attract foot traffic and generate sales. They foster entrepreneurship, create jobs, and enhance economic vitality in urban areas. What challenges do public markets face? Public markets often compete with supermarkets that offer convenience and lower prices. Additionally, regulatory hurdles like health regulations and zoning laws can pose challenges for small businesses operating in these markets. Can you give examples of notable public markets? Notable public markets include Pike Place Market in Seattle, known for its connection to local farmers and artisans, and Borough Market in London, which celebrates local craftsmanship and sustainability. Both play significant roles in their communities. What is the future of public markets? The future of public markets will focus on sustainability, collaboration among vendors, and the integration of technology, such as e-commerce. These changes will enhance brand visibility and align with consumer preferences for locally sourced products. Image Via Envato This article, "Discover the Vital Role of Public Markets in Building Vibrant Communities" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Key Takeaways Community Hubs: Public markets serve as vibrant spaces that foster connections between farmers, artisans, and consumers, enhancing community engagement through unique shopping experiences. Economic Impact: They significantly bolster local economies by providing platforms for small businesses, attracting foot traffic, and generating sales opportunities while promoting local entrepreneurship. Sustainability Focus: Many public markets emphasize sustainable practices by prioritizing locally sourced and environmentally friendly products, encouraging healthier consumer choices. Challenges to Navigate: Public markets face competition from supermarkets and regulatory hurdles that require vendors to differentiate their offerings and comply with local laws effectively. Cultural Experiences: Notable public markets like Pike Place and Borough Market exemplify the blend of culture and commerce, offering unique experiences that draw both locals and tourists. Future Trends: The future of public markets will see increased vendor collaboration, technological advancements, and a growing focus on sustainability, paving the way for adaptive and resilient small businesses. Imagine strolling through vibrant stalls filled with fresh produce, artisanal goods, and the enticing aromas of local cuisine. Public markets are more than just places to shop; they’re community hubs that foster connections between farmers, artisans, and consumers. These bustling spaces offer a unique blend of culture, flavor, and sustainability, making them essential to urban life. As you explore the rich tapestry of a public market, you’ll discover not only delicious foods but also stories of the people behind them. From supporting local economies to promoting healthy eating habits, public markets play a crucial role in shaping our communities. Dive into the world of public markets and see how they can enhance your shopping experience while bringing you closer to the heart of your community. Overview of Public Markets Public markets serve as essential retail environments that promote small businesses and local entrepreneurs. They provide unique storefront opportunities where farmers and artisans sell fresh produce, handmade goods, and distinctive products to consumers. These vibrant marketplaces create a direct connection between you and your customers, fostering relationships that enhance community engagement. Public markets contribute significantly to local economies by attracting foot traffic, generating sales, and supporting small business growth. When shoppers explore public markets, they experience a variety of flavors and cultures, making each visit enjoyable and memorable. These markets encourage you to adopt sustainable practices, as many participants prioritize local sourcing and environmentally friendly products. By participating in a public market, your small business gains visibility and access to a diverse customer base. You engage with shoppers seeking fresh options and unique offerings, ultimately building brand loyalty and community support. The dynamic atmosphere of public markets cultivates a sense of belonging, enhancing the overall shopping experience for you and your customers. Benefits of Public Markets Public markets serve as vital hubs that benefit both small businesses and the local community. They encourage interaction and create opportunities for unique shopping experiences. Economic Impact Public markets bolster the local economy by providing a platform for small businesses. These markets generate significant foot traffic, leading to increased sales opportunities for vendors. Independent retailers can establish storefronts in a supportive environment, attracting local shoppers who prioritize fresh produce and handmade goods. By promoting local entrepreneurship, public markets contribute to job creation and economic vitality within the community. Community Engagement Public markets foster community engagement by creating spaces for interaction among consumers, artisans, and farmers. You can connect directly with customers, understand their preferences, and build lasting relationships. These markets host events, workshops, and seasonal activities that strengthen community bonds. By participating, small businesses enhance their visibility and cultivate a loyal customer base, all while contributing to a vibrant community atmosphere. Challenges Faced by Public Markets Public markets encounter various challenges that impact small businesses and retailers aiming to thrive in these environments. Competition with Supermarkets Competition with supermarkets presents a significant challenge for public markets. Supermarkets offer convenience, lower prices, and a wide range of products, making it difficult for smaller retailers to attract consumers. Public market vendors often depend on providing unique, locally sourced products to differentiate themselves. You need to emphasize the quality and distinctiveness of your offerings to compete effectively. Highlighting your small business’s story and commitment to sustainable practices can draw consumers looking for a shopping experience that supermarkets don’t provide. Regulatory Hurdles Regulatory hurdles also pose challenges for public markets and the small businesses within them. Compliance with health regulations, zoning laws, and permits can be cumbersome. These rules can limit your ability to set up a storefront or operate efficiently. Understanding the specific regulations governing public markets in your area is crucial for success. Engaging with local authorities and other market vendors can help navigate these complexities, ensuring your small business operates smoothly while adhering to necessary guidelines for safety and legality. Notable Public Markets Around the World Public markets stand out as vibrant spaces rich in culture and community, drawing shoppers, artisans, and farmers. Several notable public markets globally exemplify the spirit of local commerce and support for small businesses. Pike Place Market Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington, features over 500 small businesses. This iconic market connects you with local farmers, food artisans, and craftspeople. The market’s unique storefronts offer fresh produce, handmade goods, and artisanal products, promoting small business visibility. Engaging events, like the famous fish-throwing tradition, enhance the shopping experience, attracting both locals and tourists. This bustling marketplace illustrates how a public market can significantly impact the local economy by supporting small business initiatives and creating community engagement. Borough Market Borough Market in London serves as a hub for food enthusiasts and small business owners. With a rich history dating back to the 12th century, this market features an array of vendors selling local and international food products. The market’s diverse retail offerings enhance the storefront opportunities for small businesses, showcasing everything from fresh produce to gourmet prepared foods. Regular events, tastings, and workshops foster customer interactions, strengthen community ties, and promote local craftsmanship. By embodying the principles of sustainability and local sourcing, Borough Market exemplifies how public markets support small businesses and contribute to vibrant urban life. Future of Public Markets Public markets will continue to evolve as pivotal retail spaces for small businesses. As customer preferences shift toward sustainable and locally sourced products, these markets provide storefronts that enhance visibility and brand identity. Emphasizing unique offerings will attract shoppers seeking distinct goods, ensuring your business stands out in a competitive retail landscape. Emerging trends indicate increased collaboration among vendors. Sharing resources or co-hosting events can expand your customer base while foster community engagement. Engaging with other small businesses within the market helps create a vibrant atmosphere that draws foot traffic. You can benefit from shared marketing efforts and cross-promotion initiatives, bolstering your reach. Technological advancements will also shape the future of public markets. E-commerce integration into these physical spaces will allow you to maintain an online presence while encouraging in-person visits. Offering online ordering or delivery services can enhance your appeal to tech-savvy consumers. Providing seamless shopping experiences across platforms also fosters loyalty among customers. Regulatory landscapes may evolve, presenting both challenges and opportunities. Staying informed about local zoning laws and health regulations is crucial for smooth operations. Active communication with market management can create effective solutions for compliance issues. Embracing these changes ensures that your small business adapts effectively and continues to thrive. As public markets progressively prioritize sustainability and community involvement, they’ll increasingly attract consumers who value ethical purchasing. Aligning your business practices with these principles will resonate with an environmentally conscious shopper base. Innovating your products and operations to reflect these values will strengthen your business’s connection to the market and its patrons. Conclusion Public markets are more than just places to shop; they’re essential to the fabric of our communities. By connecting you with local farmers and artisans, they foster a sense of belonging and support small businesses. As you explore these vibrant spaces, you’ll discover unique products and experiences that supermarkets simply can’t offer. The challenges faced by public markets highlight the importance of adaptation and collaboration among vendors. Staying engaged with local authorities and embracing sustainability will ensure their continued success. As these markets evolve, they’ll remain vital in promoting local economies and enriching community life. Embrace your local public market and be part of the movement that values quality, sustainability, and connection. Frequently Asked Questions What are public markets? Public markets are community hubs that connect farmers, artisans, and consumers. They offer a vibrant shopping experience with fresh produce, handmade goods, and unique products, promoting local economies and healthy eating habits. How do public markets benefit local economies? Public markets support small businesses by providing retail environments that attract foot traffic and generate sales. They foster entrepreneurship, create jobs, and enhance economic vitality in urban areas. What challenges do public markets face? Public markets often compete with supermarkets that offer convenience and lower prices. Additionally, regulatory hurdles like health regulations and zoning laws can pose challenges for small businesses operating in these markets. Can you give examples of notable public markets? Notable public markets include Pike Place Market in Seattle, known for its connection to local farmers and artisans, and Borough Market in London, which celebrates local craftsmanship and sustainability. Both play significant roles in their communities. What is the future of public markets? The future of public markets will focus on sustainability, collaboration among vendors, and the integration of technology, such as e-commerce. These changes will enhance brand visibility and align with consumer preferences for locally sourced products. Image Via Envato This article, "Discover the Vital Role of Public Markets in Building Vibrant Communities" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Strava drama has become the name of the game in the fitness tracking world. I suppose when your favorite fitness app also includes a social media element, a little tension is inevitable. Add competitive leaderboards into the mix, and you've got a recipe for intrigue that would make reality TV producers salivate. If you're tuned into leaderboard controversies, you'll know that runners and cyclists are deeply divided on whether the platform is doing too much—or not nearly enough—to combat fake entries. If you ask me, when some users are deploying electric unicycles to dominate local climbing segments, that's evidence enough something needs to be done. And now Strava is doing something: The company has announced the launch of AI-enabled Leaderboard Integrity, a new tool intended to separate legitimate athletes from creative cheaters. How Strava is using AI to root out cheatersFor the uninitiated, the reason people cheat is usually to claim King of the Mountain (KOM) and Queen of the Mountain (QOM) titles—coveted crowns that represent the fastest times on specific segments. Peruse the Strava subreddit for a few minutes, and you'll be sure to see grievances about leaderboard cheaters. Strava's latest update is designed to identify and flag "irregular, improbable, or impossible" performance recorded on the platform. The system acts as a digital referee, capable of detecting when an impossibly fast e-bike ride has been mislabeled as a regular cycling effort, then politely prompting users to correct their entries. The technology goes beyond simple speed checks. Strava revealed in February that its machine learning system analyzes activities using 57 different factors, including speed patterns, elevation gains, and acceleration data, to determine when something doesn't add up. The result of this crackdown? Strava has already removed 4.45 million activities from its platform. The deleted activities generally fall into two main categories: entries uploaded with the wrong sport type (like labeling an e-bike ride as regular cycling) and activities recorded while in a vehicle. To be fair, the latter category likely includes everything from users forgetting to stop their tracking while driving home, to more deliberate attempts to game the system by recording car or train journeys as part of legitimate running segments. How Strava users are reactingThe fitness community's reaction to Strava's cheater detection has been characteristically split. Serious athletes and segment hunters generally applaud the stricter measures—after all, leaderboard integrity is what makes the app's competitive element at all meaningful. If the numbers are fraud, what's the point? However, some users worry about false positives—that is, legitimate exceptional performances getting flagged by overzealous algorithms. And the AI is overzealous: Some users have commented that their personal records are being deleted without any sort of prompt or ability to dispute the AI's findings. If you're a serious athlete, seeing your genuinely impressive times being questioned by an automated system that might not account for peak human performance is naturally going to rankle. Outside of leaderboard integrity, Strava's AI initiatives are generally overzealous and inaccurate. I'm not alone in noticing how absurd its new route generation can get. I'm talking routes with concentric loops, cutting through buildings, major roads instead of residential paths, and other issues that will make no sense to a real human moving through the world. Given the immense heat map data that we've all effectively donated to Strava, to be given such shoddy AI-generated routes is fairly bonkers, and it's hardly surprising that its cheat-detecting tools would also be less than precise. The bottom lineControversy aside, Strava's competitive features should be more about personal motivation than serious competition. If cheater detection is ruining your experience, I recommend some perspective. Try not to let it spoil what should be a fun, social fitness experience—especially given the AI tools don't (yet) seem accurate enough to reflect reality. But with 4.45 million activities already in the digital trash bin, Strava's message is clear: The days of easily gaming the leaderboards are over. Of course, as fitness tracking technology continues to evolve, so too will the methods people use to fool the system. Hopefully Strava stays one step ahead of creative rule-benders. View the full article

The International Labor Organization (ILO), an agency of the United Nations, has downgraded its global employment forecast for 2025, saying “the global economy is growing at a slower pace than we had anticipated.” In its latest edition of its World Employment and Social Outlook Trends report, the ILO forecast 7 million less jobs would be created in 2025 globally, for a total of 53 million jobs, down from 60 million—based on economic growth projections from the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) April 2025 World Economic Outlook. The numbers translate into slower overall employment growth across the globe in 2025, down to 1.5% from 1.7%; and lower expected GDP growth of 2.8%, down from previous forecasts of 3.2%. “Our report now tells us that if geopolitical tensions and trade disruptions continue, and if we do not address fundamental questions that are reshaping the world of work, then they will most certainly have negative ripple effects on labor markets worldwide,” ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo said in a statement. The report found the United States was a driving factor in worldwide employment growth, with 84 million jobs across 71 countries “directly or indirectly tied to U.S. consumer demand, now increasingly at risk of disruption due to elevated trade tensions.” Of those 84 million jobs, 56 million are located in the Asia-Pacific region. However, Canada and Mexico have the highest share of jobs (17.1%) that are exposed to trade disruption. The report does make some recommendations: Houngbo said countries and employers can make a difference “by strengthening social protection, investing in skills development, promoting social dialogue, and building inclusive labor markets to ensure that technological change benefits all.” View the full article

Data analytics firm LexisNexis Risk Solutions said it suffered a data breach that could have affected the names, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, and contact information of more than 364,000 people. The company said in a filing with Maine’s attorney general that an “unauthorized third party” stole data from a third-party platform used for software development. A spokesperson told TechCrunch, which earlier reported of the breach, that an unknown hacker accessed its GitHub account. The breach dates back to last Christmas, though the company said it only discovered it on April 1. “Upon learning of the issue, we promptly launched an investigation with the assistance of leading external cybersecurity experts, notified law enforcement and took steps to review and further enhance our security controls,” LexisNexis said in a notice that’s being sent out to consumers. “We also initiated an extensive review of the impacted data to identify personal information that may have been affected.” Reached for comment by Fast Company, a spokesperson for LexisNexis Risk Solutions confirmed the third-party breach and emphasized that it did not contain financial or credit-card information. “There was no compromise of our own systems, infrastructure, or products,” the spokesperson said. “We are notifying approximately 360,000 individuals and appropriate regulators. We have also reported this incident to law enforcement.” Their market, your data LexisNexis is part of a massive industry where data brokers collect and sell access to personal and financial data for risk and fraud assessment. That information can have wide repercussions for consumers. For example, the New York Times reported last year that LexisNexis would receive driving data from automakers, which the firm would then sell to insurance companies, potentially leading to higher premiums. LexisNexis also operates a large database of legal documents and public records. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) said in December that it planned to introduce rules that would limit the ability of data brokers to sell sensitive information on Americans. But the new The President administration halted those operations, and the CFPB officially scrapped the plans earlier this month. “The Bureau is withdrawing this NPRM (notice of proposed rule making) in light of updates to Bureau policies,” its listing in the Federal Register said. View the full article

e.l.f. Beauty (NYSE:ELF) announced on Wednesday that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire rhode, the beauty brand founded by Hailey Rhode Bieber, alongside its Q4 earnings for the fiscal quarter ending March 2025. (Shares of ELF closed down over 1% Wednesday afternoon, before the news was announced.) “e.l.f. Beauty found a like-minded disruptor in rhode,” said e.l.f. chairman and CEO Tarang Amin. “rhode further diversifies our portfolio with a fast-growing brand that makes the best of prestige accessible.” According to a press release sent to Fast Company, the deal is built on “both brands’ shared focus on disruption and product innovation, setting the stage for transformative global expansion” and is in line with e.l.f. Beauty’s vision “to create a different kind of beauty company by building brands that disrupt norms, shape culture and connect communities.” rhode plans to launch its first physical in-store partnership with retailer Sephora throughout North America and the U.K. before the end of the year, and has doubled its consumer base over the past year, driving a total of $212 million in net sales in the 12 months that ended March 31, 2025. The $1 billion deal is comprised of $800 million of consideration payable at closing in a combination of cash and stock, subject to customary adjustments, and an additional potential earnout consideration of $200 million based on the future growth of the brand over a three-year timeframe. e.l.f. Beauty previously cut its full-year guidance when it last reported earnings for Q3, after seeing a 36% drop in profits and “softer than expected” sales trends in January, according to CNBC. In its fiscal third quarter ending December 31, 2024, the cosmetics company reported revenue of $355 million vs. $330 million expected; and an EPS, or earnings per share, of 74 cents adjusted from 75 cents. e.l.f. Beauty has a market cap of $5.10 billion, as of market close Wednesday. The Oakland, California-based skincare and cosmetic products company was founded by Joseph Shamah and Scott Vincent Borba in 2004. View the full article

During its meeting last month, some members of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy committee expressed concern about persistent supply-chain disruptions while others were confident price growth would be constrained. View the full article

Many of us want the right to repair our own devices, and at least with Apple products, things have been moving in the right direction on that front. Three years ago, Apple launched its self-service repair program, which finally gave people access to the tools and repair manuals needed to fix their broken Apple products for themselves. The program launched with support for iPhone repairs, and it later added some Macs, the Beats Pill speaker, and the Apple Studio Display to its roster as well. Now, Apple is expanding its self-service repair program to include some iPad models. Which iPads can I repair?Unfortunately, not all iPads are in the self-repair program at the moment. From May 29, 2025, Apple will add the following iPads to the program: iPad Air (M2 and later), iPad Pro (M4), iPad mini (A17 Pro), and iPad (A16). This matches the list of iPads Apple will currently accept for official mail-in or in-shop repairs. If you have a different iPad, then you'll instead have to try your luck with third-party repair shops such as iFixit. How to repair your broken iPadStart your self-repair journey by downloading the appropriate repair manual from Apple's website. Go through your manual to learn more about your device and how to repair it, and once you're ready, place an order for the necessary tools and parts. The good news here is that you can buy or rent Apple-approved iPad repair tools and replacement parts directly from the company. All available products are listed on Apple's Self Service Repair Store. Plus, authorized third-party repair shops also now have access to these tools, too, if you'd prefer to get some in-person help with your repair but can't make it to an Apple location. At time of writing, iPads still weren't listed on the site, so the exact pricing of different types of repair isn't available yet. In the meantime, let's take a look at repair costs for an iPhone 16 Pro Max to get an estimate of what the prices could be. As an example, repairing an iPhone 16 Pro Max's display costs a hefty $379, and repairing the battery costs $119. In some cases, you can return the replaced part to Apple and receive a credit, which should ease the burden on your wallet. For the aforementioned display repair, the credit offered is just $19, but it's $57 for the battery, which is quite good. iPads are bigger than any iPhone, so you can expect repair prices to be higher for them, too. Note, also, that you may sometimes have to enter the serial number of your iPad before placing your parts order, so don't expect to be able to keep a stockpile of parts on hand. Repairing iPads (and other Apple products) is a great idea for those who are comfortable tinkering with hardware, but even if you're not one of those people, this announcement is still good news, since programs like these allow your friendly neighborhood repair shop to stock genuine parts, too. View the full article

A video game once synonymous with one of the most disastrous launches in history has not only redeemed itself, but will be getting a proper second act. Cyberpunk 2077 developer CD Projekt Red announced in an earnings call Wednesday that the company is at work on a follow-up to the futuristic role-playing title, which was released in late 2020 and universally criticized for being unfinished, glitchy and at times unplayable. CD Projekt Red said that the conceptual phase is complete and pre-production has begun on the “next big game set in the Cyberpunk universe,” which it is calling Cyberpunk 2 for now. The company expects the game’s development to take four to five years, but that number could shift as the project gets underway. The redemption story is a striking change of fate for Cyberpunk 2077, which not longer ago was doomed to languish in video game lore as one of the greatest failures of all-time. Cyberpunk’s skyscraper-high launch expectations For a time, Cyberpunk 2077 appeared destined to become gamer shorthand for a much-hyped game that over-promises and under-delivers to the extreme. The backlash over Cyberpunk 2077’s likely premature launch was so severe that many platforms hosting the game’s download began issuing refunds to appease unhappy players, with Sony even going as far as taking the game out of the PlayStation store. At the time of its initial release, hype for Cyberpunk 2077 was sky high. Developer CD Projekt Red was widely lauded for its hit The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, a sprawling open world RPG famous for rich narrative storytelling. It didn’t help that Cyberpunk 2077’s development budget topped $300 million, making it one of the most expensive games ever made. A very expensive makeover Instead of calling Cyberpunk 2077 a flop and moving on, CD Projekt Red kept chipping away at the game, issuing improvements to stabilize its performance, deepen combat and paint richer stories in its glowing Tokyo-esque fictional metropolis, Night City. Cyberpunk 2077 joins only a handful of games including Final Fantasy XIV and No Man’s Sky that have completely re-written their own histories after failing spectacularly. For Cyberpunk 2077 and those games alike, the modern model of live-service games – games that evolve and get updates over time, sometimes through paid content – made the comeback stories possible. After their initial missteps, the teams behind all of these games spent years winning back players and rebuilding their communities, earning a lot of respect in the process. Cyberpunk 2077’s turnaround wasn’t cheap. The company poured north of $100 million in additional resources into the game after its launch, putting out a major “large-scale” expansion called Phantom Liberty, starring actor Idris Elba, who joined Keanu Reeves on the game’s A-list voice acting cast. In its earnings call, CD Projekt Red announced that the expansion has now sold more than 10 million copies. Fast forward four years and the team behind the former failure clawed their reputation back so successfully that Steam’s user reviews now rate Cyberpunk 2077 as “overwhelmingly positive” – an outcome that would have been impossible to imagine back in the game’s dark days. View the full article

According to new research from Whop, a marketplace for digital products, one in three Gen Z consumers now make purchasing decisions based on recommendations from AI-generated influencers. The report gathered survey data from 2,001 Americans 12-to-27 years old and found the trend particularly strong among college-aged consumers. Nearly half of 19-to-21 year olds follow AI influencers, with 47% of young men following these accounts, compared to under 40% of women. While many have argued that AI influencers lack the authenticity needed to sell products, that might not matter—especially to Gen Z. Authenticity vs reach Previous research backs this up. Nearly half (46%) of Gen Z say they’re more likely to trust a brand that works with an AI influencer. Only 35% of Gen Z respondents said they valued an influencer’s authenticity, according to Sprout Social’s 2024 Influencer Marketing Report, compared to about half of millennials, Gen X, and baby boomers. What Gen Z does care about is follower count. Almost half (47%) said the number of followers matters more than how authentic the influencer feels. Unsurprisingly, almost half (49%) of influencers admit they’re worried. Lil Miquela, one of the most high-profile virtual creators, with 2.4 million followers on Instagram, has pulled in brand deals with BMW, Calvin Klein, and Dior. The character reportedly earns close to seven figures annually; a Bloomberg article from 2020 estimated $8,000 per sponsored post, citing data from OnBuy. Other notable AI influencers include Nonoouri (498,000 followers), Magazine Luzie (7.8 million followers), and Shudu (237,000 followers). Platforms are now leaning in. Meta recently launched tools that allow users to create their own AI characters on Instagram and Facebook, opening the door for creators to build their own virtual influencers with no coding or design background needed. “Our findings are clear: younger generations are hungry for opportunities to make money online. It’s a sign of the times, and what more is to come,” said Cameron Zoub, chief growth officer and cofounder of Whop, in a statement. “However, creating an AI influencer and the ability to make a living off of one are two very different things.” View the full article

After the Nintendo Switch, the Steam Deck might be the most impressive gaming handheld of the last decade. It brings Steam games—most of which were initially designed to run on Windows PCs—to a remarkably designed portable device. The only problem? Battery life can be rough on some games. If you're struggling to stay charged, here are some tips to help you out. When it comes to your Steam Deck's battery life, you're going to notice a lot of variability, even from one game to another. AAA games that rely on high-end GPUs will typically guzzle power. On laptops or desktops, that's usually not as much of a concern, but on the Steam Deck—when those games run at all—they can burn through the battery quickly. So, while we have plenty of tips to get the best battery life, it's important to keep in mind some games will simply burn through your power no matter what. Fortunately, SteamOS is already pretty power efficient (at least compared to other operating systems), and there are several handy tools to help. First, learn what, exactly, is draining your batteryThere are a few common culprits for battery drain in games, and it's helpful to understand them before diving into solutions. This is because what works for one game with minimal performance impact, could make another game unplayable. With that in mind, here are a few key things that drain your battery: Your hardware settings. The display on your Steam Deck is always a pretty big battery drain, and turning down the brightness can help. Wireless radios like wifi or Bluetooth are always sipping power, even if you're not using them, so you can sometimes turn these off if you don't need them. Your refresh rate and FPS. Your Steam Deck has to update the screen dozens of times every second, and for some games it might be way more than necessary. 60 to 90 frames per second might be necessary for a fast-paced game like Doom Eternal, but it's overkill for Stardew Valley. Your processor's TDP. Thermal Design Power (or TDP) is a complicated metric, but it serves as a shorthand for how much power your processor is using. On the Steam Deck, you can limit this directly, which is a blunt way of saving battery, but it can help sometimes. The most useful tool to help you diagnose your biggest battery drains is the Performance Overlay. Press the three-dot menu button while in a game and navigate to the Performance section and you'll see an option to enable this overlay. There are several levels of detail, ranging from a simple frame rate counter, to real-time power consumption and temperature readouts. The Performance tab is also where you'll find several useful features we'll discuss (under Advanced View), so it's good to make friends with this tab. Dive into your game's display settingsWhile the Steam Deck has a lot of useful features for managing battery life, you're still going to find some of your best options in your game's settings. Most games have presets to lower graphics settings with one quick toggle—like switching from Ultra to Medium—and some have even more advanced settings. This is particularly important to keep in mind if you play Steam games on multiple devices. Some games will try to sync settings between them, which can lead to your game rendering at a higher resolution or frame rate than the Steam Deck is even capable of displaying. In general, here are a few settings you should take a look at: Resolution: The Steam Deck has a 1280x800 resolution, so unless you're using an external monitor, there's no reason to set your game to a higher resolution. Most games won't let you go higher anyway, but it's worth it to double check. You can also go lower for some games, if you don't need as much detail. Frame rate: Many games offer the ability to cap how many frames the game generates, even if your display is capable of showing more. This can have a substantial impact on your battery life, especially for games that need to perform a lot of complex calculations (like graphics-heavy shooters) for every new frame. Graphical presets: If your game has a preset slider, try starting on the lowest preset and working your way up to see how the game performs. The Performance Overlay can be a huge help here, to see how much power your system is drawing on different presets. If your eye can't tell the difference, but your battery can, drop the settings. You can play around to find the right balance for you, and it will vary greatly by game. In some games, you might want more graphical detail, but fewer frames per second, while others would benefit from the exact opposite. Try a few options to see what works best. Adjust your refresh rate and FPS in tandem with the Frame Limit sliderAs mentioned above, the number of times your game updates the screen per second can be a huge factor in battery drain. This is affected by both the screen's refresh rate (how many times the display physically updates the pixel you see) and your game's frames per second (or FPS, the number of times the GPU generates a new frame per second). To complicate matters further, your refresh rate can have an effect on your input latency, meaning it's important to strike a delicate balance. To simplify this, the Steam Deck has a slider called Frame Limit that can impose a limit on how many frames your game displays and strike that balance for you. It automatically adjusts your refresh rate to be evenly divisible by the FPS limit, avoiding unnecessary (and asynchronous) refreshes, while still maintaining the highest refresh rate possible to reduce input lag. It's a workaround that's placed somewhat late in the pipeline, and it's sometimes better to adjust your game's settings directly, but it simplifies a complicated process. If you'd rather adjust your display's refresh rate directly, you can toggle Disable Frame Limit and adjust the refresh rate from 45Hz to 90Hz directly. Keep in mind, though, you might still need to adjust some game settings to avoid generating frames your display will just throw out. Put a cap on your Thermal Design Power (TDP), if you mustTweaking your game's graphics settings can adjust your power consumption with scalpel-like precision. By comparison, the TDP limit is a hammer. But even hammers have their uses. By design, the TDP slider on the Steam Deck will put a hard limit on how much power the CPU/GPU can draw from the battery. You can't get much more direct battery savings than that. The problem is that games typically, you know, need power. And even games with really fine-grain settings don't generally ask the user to decide how much electricity to draw. For some, especially graphics-heavy games, putting a hard limit on TDP can cause massive performance drops or even game crashes. Less demanding games, though, can benefit from playing with this setting. A useful rule of thumb is that if the game you're playing is already struggling to maintain a consistent frame rate, try something else before touching TDP. But for games like Stardew Valley, where you're never really concerned with frame rate, you can experiment with lowering the TDP limit to 10W or even 5W to see how well the game performs. Of course, setting a TDP limit only matters if it's below what your game was using in the first place. This is another area where the performance overlay comes in handy. You can get a sense of how much power your system is drawing during your games, and use that to gauge how low you want your TDP limit to be. Don't forget per-game battery setting profilesOn top of all these settings, you can also set game-specific profiles to change your battery settings automatically based on the title you're playing. I can't recommend this feature enough, especially if you tend to play games with very different power demands. Few things are more annoying than forgetting you set a low TDP limit for a simple game, then launching a more demanding game that strains against that limit. To use this, it's one simple toggle on the Performance tab. Enable "Use per-game profile" and the Steam Deck will automatically create a profile for every game you use. You can disable this toggle to switch back to the default, if you ever decide you prefer one consistent profile. Keep in mind the profiles only account for the Steam Deck's settings itself, not any game-specific settings. But it's still a handy tool. It can be overwhelming to keep track of all the different buttons and knobs you can fiddle with to get extra battery life, but the Steam Deck manages to balance a ton of customization options with the simplicity of straight-forward, user-friendly tools so you can game longer. View the full article