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Redbox is getting ready for one final sale. The defunct DVD rental chain’s assets, and those of its corporate siblings Crackle and Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, are being auctioned off in New York later this month, according to a court filing published Monday morning. The asset sale is just the latest chapter in Redbox’s tumultuous downfall: Once one of the country’s biggest DVD vendors, the rental chain saw its revenue evaporate overnight during the pandemic, leading to its bankruptcy in June of 2024. Much of this had to do with consumers switching to streaming, but the exact circumstances of Redbox’s demise remain highly contested: Last month, the trustee in charge of the bankruptcy proceedings filed a lawsuit against Chicken Soup for the Soup Entertainment’s former executives and board, alleging that the company and its subsidiaries were “victim of mismanagement and pillaging by insiders on a scale rarely seen with public companies.” For sale: Everything but the kiosks When the assets of Redbox and its corporate siblings go on sale on April 23, potential buyers will be able to bid on Redbox’s and Crackle’s trademarks, patents and other intellectual property. Among other things, the sale also includes various rights associated with hundreds of movies and TV shows produced and distributed by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment subsidiary Screen Media Films. Titles mentioned in Monday’s filing range from Jeepers Creepers to Machine Gun Woman to the 2021 Nicholas Cage flick Willy’s Wonderland. While it’s hard to estimate what the assets will ultimately be selling for, there does appear to be some interest in those film catalogs. The court-appointed trustee noted in a legal filing earlier this year that he had received offers “in excess of $100 million.” Notably exempt from the firesale: Redbox’s once-ubiquitous red rental kiosks. The filing does not explain why the DVD vending machines aren’t being sold at this point, but one reason could be that many of them have already found their way to landfills and Ebay auctions. When Redbox went bankrupt, it still operated about 27,000 kiosks, located in front of grocery stores, pharmacies and other retailers. Redbox had stopped paying many of these retail partners contractually owed commission fees long before it went bankrupt, leading to lawsuits from major chains including CVS and 7-Eleven. After the company went under, the kiosks became even more of a nuisance for retailers, with Albertsons complaining in a legal filing that its electricity bill for the machines amounted to $184,000 a month. Eventually, the bankruptcy court granted most retailers the right to dispose of the kiosks themselves. A few machines were saved by enthusiasts, while others apparently have been stripped for parts that are now being sold on Ebay. “Wildly unrealistic projections” The story of Redbox’s downfall has few parallels in modern corporate history: The company surpassed $1 billion in revenue in 2018, and had long planned a transition to streaming. Those plans were thrown into upheaval when the pandemic hit in 2020, with many of its consumers embracing much-larger streaming competitors like Netflix and Disney+ overnight. Redbox’s revenue declined to around $250 million in 2021, and the company was effectively out of money by early 2022. That’s when Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Chicken Soup for the Soul book publisher, swooped in to acquire Redbox for $375 million. The deal included the assumption of $325 million in debt, but Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment’s leadership forecast at the time that DVD rentals would quickly recover. That didn’t happen. Instead, Redbox’s revenue continued to crater. The company found itself in a cash crunch, unable to buy new DVDs, which further depressed rentals. In early 2024, the company’s cash on hand was so low that it wasn’t able to pay most of its bills, even leaving its service technicians stranded because corporate credit cards meant to pay for gas for company vehicles stopped working for days at a time. Employees would later discover that they had lost their health insurance while still working for the company. This was all too expected, according to the bankruptcy trustee. Redbox’s recovery “never could have reasonably been expected to happen” and were based on “wildly unrealistic business projections and plans,” the trustee claimed in his recently-filed lawsuit. The lawsuit also alleges that Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment’s corporate leadership used the company as their “personal piggy bank” by relying on unusual fee arrangements: Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment and its subsidiaries were obligated to pay 10% of their revenues to the book publisher every month in exchange for management services as well as the right to use the publisher’s trademarks. These fees allegedly ballooned to $18.4 million dollars a year following the Redbox acquisition, despite the fact that Redbox was losing money hand-over-fist. Payments even continued after Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment had stopped paying payroll taxes in late 2023. The trustee now wants executives to pay back those fees; any money recovered through such legal actions as well as this month’s auction is likely going to go to the company’s primary lender HPS, which is reportedly owed $500 million. View the full article

Investors continue to assess tariff risks after heavy sell-off last weekView the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Most of us aren’t great at hunting down cheap flights—we just hit refresh until the prices stop hurting our feelings. That’s where Matt's Flights Premium Plan comes in. It’s like outsourcing your flight anxiety to someone who actually enjoys digging for mistake fares and limited-time deals, and from now through April 27, StackSocial is offering a lifetime subscription to this deal-hunting service for $79.99 with the promo code SAVE10—but only for new users. And yes, it's truly lifetime: Pay once, and you get access to every jaw-dropping, typo-priced ticket Matt finds for the rest of your days. If you’re tired of checking Google Flights like it’s your part-time job, this could be a very low-lift upgrade. Here’s what that price gets you: three or more international and domestic flight deals per week, direct access to the Matt's Flights team for 1-on-1 travel planning via email, and unlimited custom search requests. So if you’re dead set on going from JFK to Lisbon next fall, you can just say so, and Matt will start digging. Premium members also get access to five times more deals than the free tier, which means more variety and a better shot at something that fits your dates and budget. The covered departure cities include most major airports in the U.S. and Canada, but even if your local airport isn't on the list, Matt's Flights will still search flights for you—just shoot them an email. There are some caveats: You need to redeem your code within 30 days, the plan only works on one device (though it’s accessible via desktop or mobile), and this is only for new users, so if you’ve used Matt’s Flights before, you’re out of luck. And while this plan works best if you have flexible travel dates, it still has value even if you’re a once-a-year kind of traveler—especially for international trips where one mistake fare could easily save you a few hundred bucks. View the full article

Shopify CEO Tobi Lutke shared an internal memo on X on Monday that stressed the importance of using AI effectively in daily tasks. In fact, he wrote, using AI is now a “fundamental expectation” of Shopify employees. Spotify product designers are now expected to use AI tools to do all platform feature prototypes. The results, Lutke says, are more exploratory and faster to produce and share. Shopify already provides employees with access to various AI coding tools from Github (Copilot), Cursor, and Anthropic (Claude code). “Our task here at Shopify is to make our software unquestionably the best canvas on which to develop the best businesses of the future,” Lutke wrote in the memo, which he said he posted to X because he believed it was about to be leaked anyhow. “We do this by keeping everyone cutting edge and bringing all the best tools to bear . . . for that we need to be absolutely ahead.” Lutke says his company will judge employees in performance reviews on how well they know and use AI tools. Employees are expected to continue to learn about and experiment with new AI tools, and share their findings within the company. Spotify product designers are now expected to use AI tools to do all platform feature prototypes. The results, Lutke says, are more exploratory and faster to produce and share. Shopify already provides employees with access to various AI coding tools from Github (Copilot), Cursor, and Anthropic (Claude code). But the new focus on AI tools such as Anthropic’s Claude and Github’s Copilot may not end at helping clients. Lutke says that before Shopify hires any more humans to work at the company, the hiring managers must explain why an AI tool couldn’t do the job. “[T]eams must demonstrate why they cannot get what they want done using AI,” he wrote. “What would this area look like if autonomous AI agents were already part of the team?” Shopify has been a boon for merchants by providing a comprehensive, user-friendly platform that streamlines the process of establishing and managing online stores. “Our job is to figure out what entrepreneurship looks like in a world where AI is universally available,” Lutke wrote in the memo. “And I intend for us to do the best possible job of that, and to do that I need everyone’s help.” View the full article

Google Chrome DevTools now offers CPU throttling calibration to better simulate real-world mobile performance. The post Google Chrome Adds New Tools For Better Mobile Testing appeared first on Search Engine Journal. 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. BJ’s Wholesale Club isn’t just about oversized ketchup bottles and 40-roll toilet paper packs—though you’ll definitely find those too. If you’ve been circling the idea of joining a wholesale club, this StackSocial deal might tip the scale. Right now, a one-year Club Card Membership with BJ’s Easy Renewal is going for just $20 instead of the usual $60. It’s only for new members, and you’ll get a redemption code to activate the membership directly through BJ's official website. It's great if you’ve got a big family, a stocked-up pantry dream, or just really love grabbing extra savings on groceries, gas, and daily essentials. The value shows up pretty quickly. BJ’s claims up to 25% savings compared to regular grocery stores—and it covers a lot: produce, meat, deli, and cleaning supplies, but also tech, toys, clothes, and even furniture. Their fuel perks might be the real unsung hero, though. Fill up at BJ’s Gas and you can stack extra discounts through the Fuel Saver Program, which rewards you for buying specific items in-store. And, if you hate wandering through aisles, the app handles curbside pickup or same-day delivery in some areas, and you can clip digital coupons that auto-apply at checkout. It’s not flashy, but it is efficient. The only catch: You're auto-enrolled into BJ’s Easy Renewal, which means you’ll be charged full price (whatever that is next year) when your discounted membership ends. You can cancel before that happens, but you’ll need to keep track of the renewal date or set a reminder. Also, this won’t work if you’re already a member or were one recently—it’s strictly for new sign-ups. So if you’ve never had a BJ’s membership and want to test the waters without paying full price, this deal gives you a pretty low-commitment way in. If you don’t think you’ll use it often or hate having to remember to cancel auto-renewals, it’s probably not worth it. But for $20? The savings might cover that in just one or two grocery runs. View the full article

For the second time in more than 20 years, the Mega Millions lottery is getting a facelift. Tickets will now be twice as expensive, but prizes will also be bigger—and the odds of winning the jackpot have gone up (though your chances of taking home the prize are still infinitesimal.) The new version of Mega Millions rolled out to players on tickets this Saturday, and the updated game will see its first drawing tomorrow. Here’s what you need to know about how the game has changed (and what it means for your wallet): How much are tickets? As of this Saturday, ticket prices for the Mega Millions have gone from $2 to $5 apiece. According to a press release, the price hike will lead to “better odds overall, larger starting jackpots, and faster-growing jackpots”—essentially, the more money players pour into tickets, the larger the communal payout pool becomes. Tickets are sold in 45 states (the exclusions being Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah), Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This is the second time the Mega Millions has adjusted its game matrix since its inception in 2002. In 2017, ticket prices were doubled from $1 to $2, and, per the release, more than 1,200 players have become millionaires since that last change. How does this change my odds of winning a prize? The updated game parameters increase players’ odds of winning any prize from 1 in 24 to 1 in 23. For those who do win, they can expect an increased payout. A new built-in multiplier feature will automatically increase every non-jackpot win by 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, or 10X its base price. Now, non-jackpot prizes will range from $10 to $10 million, compared to the $2 to $1 million scale in the previous game. “Beyond big jackpots, players told us they want bigger non-jackpot prizes and that’s exactly what this new game delivers,” Joshua Johnston, lead director of the Mega Millions Consortium, said in the press release. “Players who had won $2 in the old game will now take home $10, $15, $20, $25 or $50 under this game.” What will happen to the size of the jackpot? A few important tweaks have been made to the jackpot. To begin with, every starting jackpot will now reset to $50 million instead of the former $20 million. In addition, the Mega Millions Consortium predicts that jackpots will grow faster under the new guidelines, estimating that “the average jackpot win in the new game will be more than $800 million vs. approximately $450 million in the current game.” This set-up might mean more jackpot wins passing the billion dollar threshold going forward, a payout phenomenon that’s happened just seven times since the lottery’s creation. How does this change my odds of winning the jackpot? Your odds of winning the jackpot have just jumped from 1 in 302,575,350 to 1 in 290,472,336. That might seem like a fairly sizable increase, but it’s less impressive when you realize that your chances of getting struck by lightning within the year are 1 in 700,000. In other words, don’t get your hopes up. When is the first drawing under the new structure? Mega Millions drawings take place every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. ET, meaning the first drawing under the new game structure is tomorrow night. You can catch the drawing live on TV stations including ABC, CBS, and NBC or on the Mega Millions website, and past recordings are posted to the Mega Millions YouTube channel. View the full article

Projects don’t just happen. There’s a lot of work before they’re approved, and once they have been given the go-ahead, there’s even more planning and scheduling needed! How do you communicate that information with stakeholders and the team so they understand the project? You use a project brief, an important document that outlines what the project is about, to do just that. A project brief lets you convey the main goals of the project so that everyone understands what they’ll be doing. Read on to learn more about them, and how to make one for yourself. There’s even a free template and in-depth example of a project brief for a construction project to help you get started. What Is a Project Brief? A project brief communicates the reason and approach for a project and the processes that will be used to manage it. It’s not as detailed as a project plan, though it’s up there in importance. Stakeholders and the project team need a short and concise pitch to explain the project. The project brief is a way to deliver this information in a summary that will outline the objectives of the project, its scope, the main deliverables, milestones and the timeline. Taking the time to create a thorough project brief helps bring everyone together to better fulfill the mandate of the project. It will also set the stage for a better plan and project schedule. The better your project brief, the better you’ll achieve the goals and objectives of the project. /wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Project-Brief-Template.png Get your free Project Brief Template Use this free Project Brief Template for Word to manage your projects better. Download Word File What Is the Purpose of a Project Brief? The project brief does more than frame the project—it also acts as an effective communication tool. A strong project brief helps stakeholders, teams, designers and anyone involved in the project understand its requirements and goal. It’s a key document at the initiation of a project, in that it brings everyone together to serve a common end. It is not an exaggeration to say the project brief is the most crucial document to leading a successful project. It is here that you define the scope of the project and open the door to a conversation between all parties involved in getting to the goal most efficiently. In practical terms, the project brief will make clear what your client’s objectives are, who the target audience or market for the product or service is, and even the key competitors in that space. Who Creates a Project Brief? Because it’s such a fundamental document in any project, the project brief is created by the project manager. The project manager is responsible for creating the project plan and schedule, as well as managing resources, so it’s only natural that they are involved in the creation of the project brief as it will guide all those other project components. However, a project manager doesn’t pull the information contained in the project brief out of their hat. Like producing the project plan and schedule, there are resources a project manager will tap to make sure the document accurately captures the project’s mission. /wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Manufacturing-gantt-chart-light-mode-costs-exposed-cta-e1712005286389.jpgLearn more The first and among the most key people to speak to, naturally, are the client and project stakeholders. They are the ones for whom the project exists and can define its goals and objectives. Once the vision is clear, project managers can refer back to older projects for historical data that can help guide the direction of this new project. Similarly, input from other project managers and project team members who have run similar projects can be very helpful. While the buck stops with the project manager, a lot of cooks are in this kitchen. The more research and preparation are done before the pencil hits the paper, the better the results, which will set the tone for the entire project that follows. What Should a Project Brief Include? The project brief is a bit of an oxymoron. It must describe the whole project thoroughly while at the same time offering only a summary. It’s not so different from an executive summary, in that it acts somewhere between an elevator pitch and the overview of an agenda. While project briefs can vary in format, most will touch on these topics. Title Client (contact info, type of business and customer base) Project Definition (background, outcomes, scope) Project Approach (processes and procedures) Project Objective Project Details (target audience, goals, timeline, phase, review, etc.) Key Elements of a Project Brief While we briefly touched on what to include in a project brief, let’s delve deeper into some key elements. Project title and description: Ensure the title is clear and concise. Include a summary of the project, its purpose and the problem it aims to solve. Goals and objectives: Include the desired outcomes the project wants to achieve. The objectives should have SMART targets, or specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. Project scope: Define what the project will and won’t include to manage expectations and prevent scope creep. Key deliverables: Tangible or intangible outcomes that the project will produce. Project timeline: Include start and end dates, key milestones, checkpoints and expected completion dates. Stakeholders: Identify who have a vested interest in the project or can influence the outcome. Be sure to note the core project team members alongside their roles and responsibilities. Budgets and resources: Provide a high-level overview of the allocated budget as well as specific resources like equipment, personnel and materials. Constraints: What that could impact the budget, such as budget limitations, strict deadlines or scarce resources? Success criteria: Define how project success will be measured and evaluated when finished. Project Brief Template Let’s take a look at a project brief and see one in which to get all those elements to come together on a page. ProjectManager has lots of free templates for every aspect of project management, including a free project brief template./wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Project-Brief-Screenshot-600x476.jpg You can see that everything is laid out clearly and cleanly. The project name is up top, as is the date the project brief was created, information on the client and an overview of the project itself. The goals and objects are described, constraints and assumptions are given and the project scope is detailed. You can also add the target audience and who is authorized to deem the project a success and by what criteria. After that follows more details about executing the project, such as the budget, timeline, duration and milestones. How to Create a Project Brief When you write a project brief you have to incorporate the background, the objectives of the project and what will determine if it’s a success. There needs to be an outline of the project’s schedule and target audience. At its simplest, a project brief can answer those questions and serve its purpose. You can list the sections as bullet points on a one-page document or if it’s a digital link to supporting documentation. There is no one way to create a project brief, but the following is a general guide to how to get started: Project Overview Begin by collecting the contact information. It’s a good and easy start. Jot down the client, their contract, a brief about their business and customer base. Having a solid background will inform the rest of your business brief. Project Objectives Knowing what your project objectives are is how you get a better understanding of the project at large. Look at what deliverables you have, especially the final one. This is also how you begin to define what a successful project looks like. Use SMART goals, as in being specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound. Project Timeline You’ve defined what you have to deliver, now you need to figure out the timeframe in which you have to make those deliverables. This means knowing when you’re going to start and what the project’s timeline is. What you’re undertaking here is the T in SMART, the time-bound part. To further refine the schedule, look at milestones (important dates, like when one phase ends and another begins). Who’s the Target Audience? The project brief is more than just what you’re doing and when you’re doing it, you need to outline who you’re doing it for. Without a target audience, you can’t define whether your project is a success or not. You can get it all done on time and within budget and still fail because you didn’t deliver on the quality expectations of your target audience. That means demographics and other profiling to make sure you’re fulfilling that audience’s needs. Tie It to the Stakeholders & Team Finally, you want to tie all the pieces to the stakeholders and the team, who are the target audience for the project brief. That means, making it relevant to them by including resources for the project, outlining the budget, even a communication plan and defining the roles and responsibilities. How much more you want to add is up to you, but it should strike a good balance between what’s important and what’s too in the weeds. Remember, you don’t want to obscure your message. Construction Project Brief Example For a better understanding of a project brief, let’s look at a construction project brief example. Project Title and Description Project Title: Aspen Creek Townhomes Development Description: This construction project involves the construction of a new residential development consisting of 10 modern, two-story townhome units on a currently vacant 1.5-acre site located at 123 Main Street, Aspen Creek, Colorado. The development aims to provide high-quality, energy-efficient housing options for families and individuals in the growing Aspen Creek community. Project Goals and Objectives Goals To deliver a high-quality residential development that meets the housing needs of the Aspen Creek community. To achieve a profitable return on investment for the developer. To establish a positive reputation for the construction company within the local market. Objectives Complete the construction of all ten townhome units within 12 months from project commencement. Adhere to the approved architectural plans and specifications, ensuring high-quality construction standards. Achieve a minimum energy efficiency rating of “Energy Star Certified” for each unit. Maintain the project budget of $2,500,000, with a contingency of 5%. Secure all necessary permits and approvals from the City of Aspen Creek promptly. Achieve a 90% pre-sale rate of the townhomes before project completion. Project Scope Inclusions Site preparation, including clearing, grading, and utility connections (water, sewer, gas, electricity). Construction of ten (10) individual two-story townhome units, each approximately 1,800 sq ft with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. Installation of all interior finishes (flooring, paint, fixtures, appliances). Landscaping of common areas and individual unit yards. Construction of on-site parking spaces (two per unit plus visitor parking). Exclusions Off-site infrastructure improvements beyond the property boundary. Sales and marketing activities (handled by a separate real estate agency). Homeowner association (HOA) establishment and management. Customization requests from individual buyers during construction (unless explicitly approved via change order). Key Deliverables Approved architectural and engineering drawings. Secured building permits and other necessary approvals. Completed and inspected foundation for all units. Erected and structurally sound framing for all units. Installed and functioning building systems (electrical, plumbing, HVAC). Completed exterior finishes (siding, roofing, windows, doors). Completed interior finishes (flooring, paint, fixtures, appliances). Landscaped common areas and individual yards. Completed on-site parking and access roads. Final inspection approvals from the City of Aspen Creek. As-built drawings and relevant warranties. Project Timeline and Milestones Project Start Date: May 15, 2025 Estimated Project End Date: May 15, 2026 Key Milestones Permit Approval: June 30, 2025 Foundation Completion: August 31, 2025 Framing Completion: November 30, 2025 Building Systems Installation: February 28, 2026 Exterior Finishes Completion: March 31, 2026 Interior Finishes Completion: April 30, 2026 Final Inspections: May 10, 2026 Project Completion & Handover: May 15, 2026 Key Stakeholders and Team Members Key Stakeholders Developer (Aspen Creek Development Group) Construction Company (BuildRight Construction – Project Lead) City of Aspen Creek Planning and Building Department Potential Homebuyers Local Community Core Project Team Members Project Manager (BuildRight Construction) – [John Smith] Site Superintendent (BuildRight Construction) – [Kevin Gardner] Lead Architect – [Danny Murphy] Structural Engineer – [B&B Engineering, LLC.] Project Budget and Resources Total Budget: $2,500,000 Contingency: $125,000 (5% of total budget) Key Resource Categories Labor (various trades) Materials (lumber, concrete, roofing, finishes, etc.) Equipment (excavators, cranes, etc.) Subcontractors (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) Success Criteria Completion of all ten townhome units within the agreed-upon 12-month timeframe. Adherence to the project budget, remaining within the $2,500,000 allocation plus contingency. Successful attainment of “Energy Star Certified” rating for each unit. Positive feedback from the City of Aspen Creek on the quality of construction and adherence to regulations. Achievement of at least an 80% pre-sale rate by the substantial completion date. Constraints and Assumptions Constraints Strict adherence to City of Aspen Creek building codes and zoning regulations. Potential weather delays during the winter months (November – March). Availability of skilled labor within the local market. Assumptions Timely approval of all required permits and inspections by the City of Aspen Creek. No significant unforeseen site conditions (e.g., soil contamination) will be encountered. Material prices will remain within the current market range. Risks and Challenges (Optional but Recommended) Potential delays in material deliveries due to supply chain disruptions. Unexpected increases in labor costs. Delays in permit approvals from the city. This project brief example for construction will act as a guide for the project team and stakeholders throughout the planning and execution phases. Things to Avoid when Making a Project Brief There are common mistakes people make when crafting their project brief; let’s take a quick look at those mistakes below. Biting Off More Than You Can Chew: Be on the lookout for pitfalls such as defining too many goals. The project brief needs to be, well, brief and too many goals will not only make it longer but harder to understand. Confusing Communication: Clarity is key to a successful project brief. If you aren’t clear when defining your target audience, then the project sights will be off from the start. Even if the aim is only a little off, over the course of the project the effect will be cumulative and your final deliverable will be well off the mark. Lack of Precision: Another thing to avoid is generalizations. Good writing is specific, and a well-written project brief shares the same precision. Avoid jargon and any meaningless filling. Say what you want is a few, well-pointed words that describe what you’re talking about, putting it in focus. Phoning It In: Finally, don’t be lazy. Put in the work. Do all the research, talk to everyone you need to in order to deliver a strong project brief. This is a foundational document that leads to the project plan, but it’s also a communication tool. If you don’t have a clear project brief, the rest of the project will suffer. How ProjectManager Enables Successful Projects ProjectManager is an award-winning project management software that turns a brief into a successful project. With features that can plan, monitor and report on progress and performance, you’ll only need one software to manage all aspects of your project. All the tasks that lead to deliverables in the project brief need to get done within the timeframe and budget you estimated. To control all these elements, we have an online Gantt chart project view. It organizes your tasks and subtasks, resources and costs. /wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Gantt_Manufacturing_Wide_Zoom-150_Focus-on-Tasklist_Spreadsheet.jpg Task Lists for Easy Execution Now you have your tasks laid out, but tasks need people to execute them and move your project forward. You can direct your team to use our task lists, which list out your task descriptions and file attachments. Then, they can work together, commenting at the task level with other team members, who are notified by email. /wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Manufacturing-overlay-LIST-ZOOM-task.jpg Track Projects with Automated Dashboards You can keep track of their progress with great monitoring features, such as a real-time dashboard that displays task status, costs and other high-level views of the project. Our software calculates task updates and displays them in color-coded charts and graphs, perfect to share at stakeholder meetings to keep them in the loop. /wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Dashboard_Construction_Wide_Zoom-150.jpg ProjectManager is a cloud-based software that organizes tasks, teams and projects. It helps you turn your project brief into a project plan, scheduling tasks on a Gantt chart and giving teams kanban boards to visualize their workload. Real-time dashboards and one-click reporting keep you on track and stakeholders updated. See for yourself by taking this free 30-day trial. The post How to Create a Project Brief: Template & Example Included appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

If you’ve ever battled your way through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport at rush hour, you know that comfort can feel like a luxury. Between TSA lines, flight delays, and a race to find a seat with an outlet, air travel isn’t always relaxing. That’s exactly the stress Delta is trying to relieve with the launch of its newest Sky Club in Atlanta Monday—its biggest yet by guest count. Located in Concourse D, the new 24,000-square-foot space is the eighth Delta lounge in ATL and is designed to offer more breathing room, literally and figuratively. With seating for 506 guests, it’s the second-largest Sky Club by square footage in the airport—but the largest when it comes to sheer capacity. “This lounge is not just about space,” Dwight James, S.V.P. of Customer Engagement & Loyalty for Delta Air Lines tells Fast Company. “It’s about experience. It’s about hospitality. We’re always looking for ways to reduce the stress that naturally builds up during travel, especially right after TSA. That’s the moment we think about the most—how do we help someone shift from feeling anxious to feeling cared for?” Hospitality meets hometown pride The lounge includes amenities aimed at all types of travelers: a 16-seat bar, theater-style media wall, soundproof phone booths, and ample workspace. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer panoramic views of the airfield. There’s a full buffet and two beverage stations. But beyond the layout and amenities, what makes this club unique is its sense of place. Delta leaned into Atlanta’s dual identity: Southern charm meets city sophistication. “We always try to bring in local flavor,” James explains. “You’ll see that in the art, in the design choices. When people visit our lounges, we want them to feel something familiar, like a quiet respite. Something that reminds them of home—even if they’re far from it.” “We always try to bring in local flavor,” James explains. “You’ll see that in the art, in the design choices. When people visit our lounges, we want them to feel something familiar, like a quiet respite. Something that reminds them of home—even if they’re far from it.” In this case, there’s a custom tile mural of lush greenery behind the buffet—a subtle nod to Atlanta’s nickname, “City in a Forest.” Guests riding the elevator are greeted by a vibrant mural featuring magnolias and dogwoods by local artist Ryan Coleman, and the lounge also features sepia-toned photography from Pam Moxley that manages to make you nostalgic for summer evenings—even if you’re en route to Minneapolis. “We’re not just building lounges as places to sit before a flight,” says James. “We’re building experiences. Our goal is that when someone leaves the lounge, they carry that feeling with them onto the aircraft.” Solving the lounge crowding problem Of course, as any frequent flyer knows, lounges can get crowded. Really crowded. Delta faced backlash (and some angry Reddit threads) when it rolled out changes to its loyalty program for SkyMiles members last year, intended to help with overcrowding. “Change is hard when you’re emotionally connected to a brand,” James admitted. “But it also showed us how passionate people are about Delta. We made some tweaks, and now we’re seeing record engagement.” According to Delta, credit card signups are at an all-time high. Base-tier members—those who haven’t yet earned status—are rating the SkyMiles program higher than before. And for travelers who hit top-tier Diamond Medallion status, new incentives are now built in to keep them engaged past the finish line. “We want to make it feel like, hey, Delta sees me,” James said. “Even after I’ve hit my status, there’s still more value to earn.” The new space in Concourse D is also meant to help with overflow, especially in a city that accounts for nearly a third of Delta lounge visits systemwide. ATL handles nearly 1,000 peak-day departures to over 200 destinations worldwide. “We’ve taken steps to ensure our most premium customers get the experience they deserve,” said James. “But we also want our lounges to feel more welcoming. That’s why we’re continuing to modernize and expand—not just in Atlanta, but across our network.” That roadmap includes upcoming lounge openings in Seattle and Salt Lake City, plus future expansions in Philadelphia and Denver. But in Atlanta, the focus is on more than just expanding the physical footprint. It’s also about making lounges feel like experiences rather than just rooms with snacks and decent Wi-Fi. “We may have a local chef come in and do a live demo, or even set up something like a farmers market-style event,” James said. “People walk in and are like, ‘Wait, is that a chef? In the airport?’ It’s something different, something memorable.” The goal, he added, is to build those moments into Delta’s broader loyalty strategy—not just offering a clean seat and a drink, but creating a kind of brand consistency from the lounge to the gate to the air. “It’s a different kind of energy. It surprises people in a good way,” he says. “These curated experiences tie into how we think about loyalty—because for us, loyalty isn’t just about a program. It’s about giving people reasons to choose Delta again.” The new lounge arms race As a whole, airlines are expected to cut 2025 outlooks when they report earnings starting this week (Delta’s earnings are expected Wednesday). Last month, Delta cut its first-quarter expectation citing weaker-than-expected corporate and leisure bookings—another reason for the airline and others to focus on their high-spending travelers. Delta isn’t the only airline rethinking the lounge experience. United Airlines recently announced it is raising fees for its airport lounge memberships and co-branded credit cards, part of a broader effort to manage crowding and cater to high-spending travelers. The new structure introduces two tiers: $750 annually for individual United Club access, or $1,400 to bring up to two guests—more than double the previous cost for a guest-inclusive pass. “Yes, there are fee increases,” United MileagePlus head Richard Nunn told reporters last month, “but we were very, very cognizant of ensuring that the value increments and the benefits that are delivered outweigh any increase.” Like Delta, United is leaning into perks like rideshare credits, award flight discounts, and lounge upgrades to retain loyalty in a market where travelers are demanding more than just a comfy seat and free snacks. Capital One, a relative newcomer to the airport lounge space, is also making moves. Since opening its first lounge at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in 2021, the company has gradually expanded to five locations, including Washington D.C.’s Reagan and Dulles airports, as well as Denver and Las Vegas. By the end of 2025, that number is expected to grow to seven, with new lounges planned for New York’s JFK, and a Capital One Landing at LaGuardia. While still small compared to legacy players like American Express, Capital One’s lounges are carving out a niche by partnering with local businesses—think regional breweries, bakeries, and distilleries—to create a more personalized, locally inspired experience. As Jenn Scheurich, head of Capital One Travel, puts it: “We honestly always want to make sure the local market is represented everywhere we go.” Delta’s investment in this new Sky Club fits into a broader effort to modernize and expand its lounge network. Other clubs in Atlanta—specifically in Concourses A and C—are set for updates. The expansion of Concourse D will also allow Delta to operate more gates and accommodate larger aircraft. And it’s not just Atlanta. Later this year, the airline will open a Delta One Lounge and a new Sky Club in Seattle, with additional projects planned for Salt Lake City, Philadelphia, and Denver. View the full article

Head of world’s biggest asset manager says market ructions are ‘impacting Main Street’View the full article

Alarm at market turmoil prompts even allies of the president to speak out View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. I’ve heard new parents say things like “I can’t even remember what my life was like before the birth of my child.” Well, I don’t have children, but I’m pretty sure I can relate: I can’t remember my life before my Instant Vortex air fryer. I’ve been using this helpful appliance for three years now, and things have only gotten better since. In my kitchen, anyway. I originally got the Instant Vortex 5.7-quart so I could write more recipes for Thanksgiving food coverage. I didn’t particularly want an air fryer—how much could a small countertop oven possibly help with Thanksgiving, I thought, let alone day-to-day cooking? Why would anyone even use this thing? I judged it endlessly—until I did start using it. Instant Vortex 5.7-Quart 4-in-1 Air Fryer (Black) $119.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $139.99 Save $20.00 Shop Now Shop Now $119.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $139.99 Save $20.00 The basics of using an Instant VortexThe Instant Vortex air fryer is a fairly simple basket model air fryer. It has a sleek pod-shaped design with a handle jutting out front, and a small turning dial on the upper section. You simply plug it in, and the appliance comes alive. The panel lights up with mode options: air fry, bake, reheat, and roast. There are two additional buttons—for setting the temperature and setting the timer—that you control with the rotating dial. There’s a single grate that sits snugly into the basket, and that’s it. It doesn’t have 15 presets, or multiple grates to switch out, and simplicity is one big reason I’ve grown to love it. (Read my full review of the Instant Vortex here.) How the Instant Vortex has changed my cooking over three yearsTo be clear, I still cook with my other appliances. An air fryer is not a replacement for a stove or oven, but the Instant Vortex has decidedly become a critical part of my cooking toolkit. It’s become a gadget I fully rely on for a few specific situations and when cooking certain types of ingredients. Sometimes it works in tandem with other appliances, if I’m orchestrating a large meal, but often I fire up the air fryer because I’m tired and I don’t really want to put effort into my cooking. Roasting all the vegetablesI like my vegetables roasted, sautéed, or steamed, in that order. The air fryer has changed the way I tackle the first of those, and any time I go back to doing it in the oven I regret it. Roasting veggies in the Instant Vortex can take as little as five minutes (when I’m roasting peppers), and it can cut the cooking time for root veggies in half. When I look back on the “before times,” I think of the years I’ve lost roasting potatoes in the oven—and compunding matters, an air fryer baked potato is far superior to any oven-baked spud. A lazy weeknight cooking special Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann As a food writer, it might not surprise you to know I cook a lot during the day. I also wash a lot of dishes because of this (many New York City apartments do not have dishwashers). After the work day is done, I’ve had enough of my kitchen. That's when I bring my Vortex down from its home atop the fridge, plug it in, drop something or other inside, and leave the room. That’s how dinner gets cooked: A marinated pork tenderloin, turkey kielbasa, or frozen steak bites go in. While the meat rests, I can char some air-fried broccoli, quickly roast nearly any vegetable (with this method), or keep it simple and serve a side of sliced pickles. This machine is clutch for lazy weeknight dinners. A take-out fried food revival machineThis weekend I went with my mom to the Asian market where they make this delicious battered and fried fish. I brought some for my brother and his family, but while it was packaged in the plastic container, it got soggy from the humidity. Was I worried? Absolutely not. Whether fried chicken, fried fish, soggy french fries, or an entire fried chicken sandwich, I revive all of my fried food in my Instant vortex in about five minutes. The basket style makes it easy, because you can do the “basket shake”: Grab the handle and jostle everything in the basket halfway through the cooking time for even crisping. Reheating leftover fried food in the oven for 20 minutes is a thing of the past. Easier dinner parties and family eventsI don’t think I could part with my Vortex simply because it makes preparing dinner parties and holiday feasts so much better for me. Truly, it makes cooking large meals easier. I often set it up in a totally different area so it clears up space near the stove, and roasting side dishes or baking desserts in there frees up my oven for larger casseroles or the Thanksgiving turkey. What I wish I knew when I first got my Instant Vortex Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann The basket depth mattersThe Vortex has been my favorite basket model air fryer so far, but I was more familiar with how to use an oven-style air fryer because it mimics the shape of a toaster oven and a conventional oven. The basket on the Instant Vortex is rather deep—just shy of four inches to the grate—which is great for roasting broiler chickens or thick cuts of meat, but if you place a cake pan or something wide down into the basket, you have to navigate carefully to avoid burning your knuckles on the sides of the pan. I recommend using foil strips under wide items so you can lower them down and pull them out. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann Things can go wrong in, well, an instantSpeedy cooking, as long as it's cooked well, is never a bad thing. However, if you can’t see how fast your food is cooking then it’s easy to let it go too far. The Instant Vortex has one of the most efficient convection heating systems I’ve used so far, which is great—but it also means food can go from perfect to overcooked in a matter of one minute. I had to learn the hard way that I need to check on my food frequently when cooking with this appliance. I've written about my favorite air fryers before, but if you’re interested in an easy to navigate air fryer with a roomy basket that consistently delivers evenly cooked veggies and meat, the Instant Vortex can be your helper for the long haul. Just remember to check on your food, at least in the beginning, so you don’t burn anything (which is good advice for any new appliance, frankly). View the full article

OUR internal conversations may seem inconsequential, but they determine the success of every interaction. They hold secrets to how we can have authentic conversations with others. When CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard recently testified before the Senate regarding the breach of security using Signal’s group chat during an attack on Yemen, their carefully measured responses revealed something profound. As they faced direct questions about the Signal chat, including an accidental text that included Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, viewers witnessed a rare moment when the divide between Ratcliffe and Gabbard’s private thoughts and public speech became apparent. Their shifting gazes and carefully chosen words highlighted a universal human struggle: the gap between what we think and what we say. This chasm creates the tension we carry, the anxiety that keeps us awake, and the misunderstandings that damage our relationships. We all have private conversations with ourselves that no one else hears — the running commentary in our minds, interpreting events, assigning meaning, and shaping our responses to the world. The stories we tell ourselves profoundly shape how we interact with the world, yet we seldom examine these narratives with the scrutiny they deserve. Instead of creating stress by tamping them down, our hidden conversations can be an untapped reservoir of wisdom. Our unprocessed inner dialogues hold insights that could transform superficial exchanges into authentic connections. Our brains as story-making machines Human beings are natural storytellers. Our brains weave narratives to make sense of experiences and create the stories we believe and live by. These internal narratives reflect our beliefs, identities, and perceptions and drive behaviors in ways we often fail to recognize. When we encounter new information, we don’t process it objectively — we filter it through existing stories about ourselves, others, and how the world works. These narratives provide comfort but can trap us in limited perspectives. When your story becomes the only story We are socially conditioned to have “the answer” and rewarded for being the smartest person in the room. Unexplored, our attachment to our narratives can get us into trouble. When we hold tightly to our version of reality — our story about what happened or what something means — we leave little room for mindful listening, alternative perspectives, and collaboration. Like the officials questioned in the Senate hearing, our inability to process and gain wisdom from our private thoughts will trap us in stress. There’s no space for productive dialogue between concerned parties, which guarantees communication breakdowns. When we fail to question our automatic interpretations, we respond to imagined threats rather than actual circumstances. We hear criticism where none exists, assume malicious intent behind neutral actions, and react defensively to perceived slights. Think about your thinking We can develop greater awareness of our internal patterns through metacognition — or thinking about our thinking and creating space between stimulus and response for more intentional communication. Here are practical ways to build this awareness: 1. Expose the stories behind your emotions. When strong emotions arise, identify not just what you’re feeling but the underlying narrative driving that emotion. Our emotions don’t drive our thinking; they’re physical upheavals of our thoughts. Ask yourself: “What story am I telling myself about this situation? What story am I telling myself that’s beneath the negative judgment?” For the officials questioned in the Senate hearing, imagine if they’d felt safe and confident enough to speak their truth and admit their mistakes. This may have led to a commitment to follow the norms that protect confidential information. 2. Mine the facts. Separate observable facts from your interpretations. If someone arrives late to a meeting, the fact is their arrival time. One could assume they are being disrespectful, or one might learn that their child had a bad morning. Grounding yourself in verifiable reality rather than assumptions creates a solid foundation for communication. 3. Process internal opinions through four essential questions When forming judgments, examine them through these lenses: • What are my desires? Identify what you want from the situation. In the Senate hearing, were the officials questioned aiming for obstruction, distraction, or disclosure of truth? • What are my concerns? Acknowledge your fears or worries. Within any opinion lies concerns about outcomes. What worries drove both questioners and the questioned officials in that hearing? Were they able to discuss them? • What power issues are at play? Every conversation involves power issues. Recognizing authority dynamics helps you to navigate conversations. The Senators had the authority to seek facts, but to what authority were the questioned officials committed? • What standards or values are shaping your opinions? Identify the principles or expectations that form the foundation of your judgment. Every judgment we have is fueled by standards that we hold mostly unconsciously. What if all parties in the hearing held the standard that upholding their oath to the Constitution was fundamental? Revealing our inner dialogues — even to ourselves — may initially feel uncomfortable. However, a willingness to examine what usually remains hidden will ultimately lead to more authentic communication. Developing awareness of our inner dialogue exposes patterns we might never notice. This heightened consciousness doesn’t just minimize internal stress — it fundamentally transforms how we connect with others. When we understand the stories driving our reactions, we can choose whether to believe them. As we separate facts from interpretations, we create space for curiosity rather than judgment. And by examining our opinions through multiple lenses, we develop more nuanced perspectives that foster genuine understanding. * * * Chuck Wisner has spent thirty years as a trusted advisor, coach, and teacher in communication, human dynamics, and leadership excellence. He has worked with leaders and their teams in Fortune 200 companies. He also trained in mediation and worked as a senior mediator affiliated with the Harvard Mediation Program at the Harvard Law School, and later, associated with MIT’s Center for Organizational Learning. His book, The Art of Conscious Conversations – Transforming How We Talk, Listen, and Interact (BK Publishers, Oct. 22, 2022), explores how to heighten our awareness and become more conscious in our conversations. Learn more at chuckwisner.com. * * * Follow us on Instagram and X for additional leadership and personal development ideas. * * * View the full article

Federal regulators' plan to rescind reforms to the anti-redlining Community Reinvestment Act implementation rules disappoints community advocates, but gives banks clarity by reverting to longstanding CRA rules. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. I’m frequently asked for recommendations on what robot vacuum to get. While I’ve got favorites, I usually respond with a list of features I’d look for. Each year, robots get so much more advanced that these features change. But if I were buying a robot vacuum tomorrow (or in the next big sale), here’s what I’d look for. Unless you’ve got wall-to-wall carpet, get a vacuum/mop comboGenerally, people shy away from combo products because each new functionality is an additional feature that can break. There’s also a belief that one of the features won’t be as good as the other. For a while, expecting the vacuum and mop to be equally great on robot vacuums was unreasonable, but that’s not true anymore. Furthermore, starting in 2024, robots had AI added to their little robot brains that stopped toggling between vacuuming and mopping—instead, it identifies dirt/detritus, and uses whatever tools it has to fix the problem. The mops have become leagues better than they were,too. One favorite in this regard is the Dreame X50. Dreame X50 Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop $1,359.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $1,699.99 Save $340.00 Shop Now Shop Now $1,359.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $1,699.99 Save $340.00 Robots that only vacuum aren’t even cheaper most of the time. For every vacuum, there’s a vacuum/mop combo in the same price range. Unless you’re only working with carpet in your home, get the robot equipped with the most tools for handling your floors, which means a combo. Get a robot that can reach Eureka J15 Ultra reaching sweep and mop pads Credit: Amanda Blum Robot vacuums are generally 11- to 14-inch pancakes of various shapes that surf your floor. In a big open space, they work well, floating over floor debris and stains and cleaning them. But a few years ago, robots were struggling to get up close to the wall and/or to other objects on the floor. This left a band of debris there, so new robots started coming out with sweeps and mops on arms that can reach out from under the robot and get closer to areas the robot can’t. Over the last two years, the reach has become long and more accurate, so in most cases, modern robots can get up close to walls, but their arms can reach into areas the robot can’t reach. Even the Dyson 360 Vis Nav, which I didn’t particularly like, had a very effective side extension that got up to the wall. Robots like the Roborock Saros 10R and the Eureka J15 Ultra have very effective extending arms. Roborock Saros 10R $1,599.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg Shop Now Shop Now $1,599.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg Eureka J15 Pro Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop $999.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg Shop Now Shop Now $999.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg Dyson 360 Vis Nav Vacuum $999.99 at Best Buy Shop Now Shop Now $999.99 at Best Buy SEE 0 MORE The dock matters as much as the robotMuch attention is paid to the robots themselves: their suction power, their mop pads, how low to the ground they are, if they can climb stairs. However, the dock is an equal partner in how well your vacuum works. To keep your robot functioning at peak performance and to keep your life easier, you want to look for specific features. I recommend docks that have removable trays in the base, so you can pull them out entirely to clean, rather than getting on the floor and trying to shove your hand into the back of the dock to try and clean it, as you had to on pre-2024 models. All modern Roborock models have this, as did the Eureka J15. But not all vacuums do. These days I also look for docks with a receptacle for cleaning fluid. This will auto-inject the cleanser into each batch of fresh water, so you don’t have to manually add it. In the best case scenario, this is a container you can refill with cleanser of your choice (like the Eureka J15), instead of a disposable, proprietary cleanser cartridge from the company (as with the Dreame models). Lastly, I cannot stress enough how important it is to check the water capacity of the dock. On both Narwal models, the Freo Z and the Freo X, I had to replace the water after every single run of the robot, making it much less autonomous. The roller design translates to how autonomous your robot will be Split roller design on Saros 10 Credit: Amanda Blum Underneath all robots are the rollers, which are either singular or double, and are what sweeps debris off the floor and into the robot itself, aided by the suction power of the robot. The rollers are also where hair gets caught, debris gets stuck, and paper clogs the robot. The design of these rollers has changed dramatically over the years, but the most effective rollers I’ve seen recently were the Roborock split design, where two rollers did not meet in the middle, giving debris an easier passage into the robot. I saw this design on the Saros 10 and the Saros 10R. While the roller on the Dyson 360 Vis Nav was also great since it featured big fluffy brushes on the roller, the robot sat so low to the ground that a lot of debris could not be accessed by the roller, and was pushed around instead. Rollers with silicone fins—which most older models (and all Roombas) sport—are easily sliced through by human and dog hair, meaning they need to be replaced often. A lifting chassis will make the mop more effective Dreame x50 lifting chassis Credit: Amanda Blum Much emphasis is placed on robots that can “climb,” which will hopefully become robots that can climb stairs. The closest we’ve come so far is the Saros 10 and the Dreame X50, both of which can surmount a threshold of a few inches (the Dreame did a far more competent job of this). More important than climbing, the technology robots use to lift themselves, where the front of the robot chassis is lifted, exerts pressure on the backend of the robot, where the mop is. This has a much needed effect of helping the mop pads dig into the grime on the floor, allowing for more contact and pressure. While most robot mops glide over floors, and can get up surface stains, particularly wet ones, they struggle with grime. But robots like the Saros 10 and Dreame X50 did a better job than other mops because of the pressure put upon the mop pads. View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. Last week we talked about things that you thought were normal early in your career … but later learned were actually just weird things your old workplace did and which were not typical at all. Here are 15 of my favorite stories you shared. 1. The packed hotel rooms My very first internship was the most bizarre work experience I’ve ever had, but I didn’t know it then. My boss was personally wealthy, as in 1% wealthy. But she was super cheap at work. When we organized the nonprofit’s annual conference, we got X many rooms free for staff for however many attendees booked rooms. My boss told us that we were going to be bunking together because there weren’t enough rooms. She had her own penthouse suite though! Only unpaid interns roomed together. (The paid staff had their own. Unpaid interns made up about 70% of the organization’s entire staff.) I learned later that we got a discount for every hotel room we didn’t fill for staff. I stayed in a large suite with 11 women. Three of us shared a bed. Three were on the pullout. I vaguely recall some people on cots and the floor. All of us broke fire code. But think of a medium-size hotel suite with 11 people staying in it. It was normal to me because I thought it was like dorm living on a Friday night. At my next job, we were planning an annual conference, and I asked the VP of events, a very scary, fierce woman, if we could pick who we’d be rooming with or would she do it? She blinked twice and said, “No one ever shares hotel rooms. I’ve never heard of that! Hotel rooms for staff are the cheapest expense so cutting it makes no difference in the event budget.” I was mortified for the remainder of my time there. 2. The phone answerer The first “real” job I had in a small office, everyone answered each other’s phones when they weren’t in. It was encouraged by our boss so no customer or client “never left a message and felt unheard” during office hours. So, if I was in my office and Sally was out for the day, if her phone rang, I had to go into her office and answer it. I would say, “I’m sorry, Sally is not here for the day but can I take a message and have her get back to you?” This was office wide, no matter your position (so yes, we even had to answer our bosses phone). I didn’t know any better and I thought that’s just how things went when you worked in an office setting. Fast forward to my next job. My first week there, my office neighbor was out for the day and her phone rang so I got up out of my new office and went and answered it. This was a bigger office, and the amount of “what the hell is this guy doing?” looks I got from everyone was astronomical. After I explained how it was in my old office, everyone laughed it off and explained that definitely is not how offices work and is why answering machines were invented! 3. The gang bang I worked in TV news production in the late 80s through the mid 90s. First station I worked for called press conferences provided by an outside organization for all networks a “gang bang.” First week at my second TV station as we were going through the newscast rundown prior to the show I asked if the live shot was a gang bang. And thus I discovered that it is not, as I assumed, an industry standard term. 4. The misplaced enthusiasm At my first job, company IT support, we were not supposed to respond to manager messages in the Teams-equivalent with “Okay,” because it wasn’t showing enough enthusiasm. We had to respond with “Party!” Didn’t matter if it was something like a mandatory overtime announcement – “Party!” It ended up being a Thing a lot of us used mockingly outside of work, and I still sometimes do it. Definitely had to train myself out of it at my next more normal communicating job though. 5. The tic tacs In my first job, which was at a call center, my team was all on the same anti-anxiety medication to the point that we called them “tic tacs” when we needed to ask a coworker for a pill. 6. The storage labyrinth One university department I worked for right out of undergrad grossly misinterpreted the rules on retention of student records, both the types of records that need to be kept and the length of time required to keep them, such that they believed anything even remotely related to the student’s time at the university must be kept far longer than was truly necessary. This resulted in the entire basement of the building I worked in consisting of a labyrinth of locked storage areas full of boxes upon boxes of student “records” that should have been recycled a decade ago. It looked like that scene from the end of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark except there was nothing cool hidden in the boxes, just lengthy descriptions of academic advising sessions from 15 years ago. I’m pretty sure nothing was ever cleaned out because the task was too daunting by that point. Upon changing jobs, I realized that the laws surrounding student retention required far, far less stringent application and the only thing that most of the storage facility in the basement was good for was probably mouse housing. 7. The sleeping My first job made me think that I’d have to deal with sleep-related topics in the office on a regular basis. This ranged through some … unfortunate … variations. Conflicts from people sleeping in shared office spaces while others were trying to do their job at their desks. People falling asleep while on duty. People sleeping in their direct manager’s office! Being told to share a hotel room with a complete stranger (from a different, completely unaffiliated business) to save on travel costs. Being told to share a bed (yes, bed – not just a room) with coworkers (yes, PLURAL) to save on travel costs. I was relieved to discover this is not at all normal after I changed jobs. 8. The glorious cornucopia of pens In my first job after graduation, we had to ask a senior executive’s assistant for any new office supplies, although almost nothing was actually available anyway. My main request was for a new pen — the cheapest kind they could buy in bulk — which I could only get one of at a time. And you had to show that your existing pen was clearly out of ink. If I had lost it, the assistant would quiz me about what happened to my old one and where it was. When I moved to my next job, there was a whole closet of office supplies and I still remember the amazing moment when I was just casually told I could take what I needed. I was so nervous that for a long time I’d only take one pen at a time in case anyone saw me taking — god forbid — two. 9. The emails At my dysfunctional office job after I finished college, it took three people and upwards of half an hour to send even a short internal email. You’d write the email, recruit a coworker to read over your shoulder and critique/wordsmith while you wrote, and then have your supervisor do the same. This was not the kind of office that did life or death work, it wasn’t a field where that level of word choice mattered, and to this day I have not heard a better explanation than “someone in upper management was afraid of our department looking bad with an insufficiently perfect word choice.” I don’t even think the other departments did this! I was a recent college grad and had no idea this wasn’t normal for corporate jobs until I mentioned it to a friend, who looked at me like I’d grown a second head. 10. The mailing labels We had to type the mailing labels … on intra-office envelopes. 11. The elevator access An old employer that was notoriously cheap kept some costs down by not allowing employees to use the elevator without a doctor’s note. At first I didn’t realize quite how bonkers that was because I was fresh out of school and (at least way back then) plenty of high schools and below didn’t allow all students to use elevators, so I guess I read it as an extension of that? I realized how thoroughly bizarre it was when a colleague broke her ankle and had to crutch up and down three flights of stairs in a cast for the few days it took her to get a doctor’s note certifying that she did indeed need elevator access. 12. The permissions I had one manager who found it “disrespectful and suspicious” for staff not to ask permission before leaving our department’s office. Like, to drop off a paper. Or to return a piece of IT equipment. Or pick up materials. If you were leaving your immediate desk vicinity, you had to find Ms. Boss, ask her if you could go take care of whatever business you had down the hall, and then finish it quickly once permission was granted. This boss did not last long (shocking, right?), but I was very young and so on-edge from her outbursts and micromanaging that I went to my next job with the habit of asking every single time I needed to leave my desk. Finally, after a couple weeks, my (wonderful) new manager explained that he really, really didn’t care if I needed to go give Jane a paper … I could just do it. 13. The letters I work in a hospital. When we needed to send a letter to the patient, we would print it, fold it and put it into an envelope. Twice a day, someone from the internal post team would collect the letters and their team posted them. I did this from 2018-2024. In August 2024, I moved departments. When I printed a letter, everyone looked at me like I was crazy and told me it goes electronically to an off site printing company. I immediately emailed my old manager to tell her, thinking she would love this new information. Turns out she knew this all along but didn’t trust the process. So she made us do it all by hand. I asked the internal post guy about it and he said we were the only admin team that he collected packages from. His team’s actual job was to arrange transportation of clinical samples to labs. 14. The tape terrorism In my early 20s, I worked in insurance (home/auto/life) for a few years at a few companies. The first office I worked at after receiving my license was a very large and successful franchise office of one of the nation’s top home/auto insurance companies, so I assumed (naively) that it was a well-run representative of the industry. I did learn a lot, but the owner/manager was an absolute tyrant who would scream at us while we were on the phone with customers, move our bonus requirements so she never had to pay us, and required everyone in the office (all women) to wear makeup and keep their hair done and call all the male clients “honey” and “sweetie.” Beyond all this, she had a set of strange rules/requirements we could never quite understand. We rotated desks monthly, and she didn’t allow us to have any personalization at our desk: no photos, no decorations, no notes. She enforced this by outlawing tape in the office — it was impossible to find a roll of Scotch tape for love or money, and we were screamed at if we brought in our own. The only exception to this was our list of agent names/codes, which was taped to each computer monitor with one piece of tape. If we desperately needed tape for a ripped paper or another normal office use, we would very carefully tear off a tiny sliver of this single piece of tape. If the owner noticed that we’d put tape on something else, she would shrilly demand to know where we’d gotten it and what did we think we were doing. When I started my next job at another insurance office, I opened the office supply drawer to find rolls upon rolls of Scotch tape. I felt like the richest person in the world, and almost overcome by emotion exclaimed, “Oh my god, tape!” My new bosss’s reaction to this made me realize such tape-based terrorism was not, in fact, typical in the industry. 15. The Miller time I used to work at a startup where the owner’s last name was Miller. So much of our internal design-related things (not official logos) was a clear rip-off of the Miller High Life logo, and for major celebrations the featured drink was always 40s of Miller High Life. I was straight out of college, so this frat-like stuff didn’t seem that weird at the time! I should also mention that the only place in town to buy 40s of High Life was a sketchy gas station…. So for major office events someone would have to go to the gas station and buy a bunch of 40s, totally normal work activity! View the full article

A recent study by influencer marketing platform Heepsy reveals that YouTube users are more likely than users of any other platform to forget their passwords and request account recovery help. The study, which analyzed password-related search queries across 35 major platforms, found that YouTube leads with the highest volume of password reset activity, both in absolute numbers and per capita. According to the findings, YouTube users request new passwords more than four times a year on average, with a staggering 1.4 billion total password-related searches. This equates to 35,899 searches per 100,000 users, making it the most problematic platform in terms of password memory. Video streaming platforms dominated the top rankings. Facebook followed in second place with 593 million password recovery searches, or 28,238 per 100,000 users. Pinterest ranked third, logging 83.6 million searches among its 417 million active users, or 20,045 searches per 100,000. The data indicates that users of content consumption platforms like YouTube and Pinterest face password-related problems up to 43 times more often than users of communication-focused platforms. Heepsy’s study utilized search behavior data based on three common queries: “[Platform] password reset,” “[Platform] forgot password,” and “[Platform] recover account.” These queries reflect user intent to regain access to their accounts and were adjusted relative to each platform’s active monthly user count. “The platform where people forget their passwords the most is YouTube, leading with the highest number of password-related searches,” the study notes. The fourth and fifth spots were claimed by X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, respectively. X users averaged one password reset per year, with 77 million total queries. Instagram saw just 5,894 password-related searches per 100,000 users, totaling 94.3 million queries—79% fewer than Facebook, despite having a similar user base. Spotify came in sixth, generating 4,236 password recovery searches per 100,000 users. Its users demonstrated a clear pattern, with “forgot password” searches (14.1 million) vastly outpacing “recover account” searches (59,500). LinkedIn, Twitch, Line, and Discord rounded out the top ten. LinkedIn users registered 2,603 password-related searches per 100,000, while Twitch followed closely with 2,288. Line saw just 1,914, and Discord had the lowest search frequency at 1,032 per 100,000 users. Discord’s user base showed the fewest signs of password issues, with just 0.1 password resets per user annually. The platform’s focus on persistent logins across devices and sessions likely contributes to this reduced need for password recovery. In contrast, YouTube’s widespread use across devices may explain its top ranking. “YouTube’s massive base of 3.9 billion monthly active users, along with its cross-device usage patterns, contributes significantly to its top position in password reset frequency,” the report states. Image: Envato This article, "YouTube Tops List of Platforms Where Users Forget Passwords Most Often" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

A recent study by influencer marketing platform Heepsy reveals that YouTube users are more likely than users of any other platform to forget their passwords and request account recovery help. The study, which analyzed password-related search queries across 35 major platforms, found that YouTube leads with the highest volume of password reset activity, both in absolute numbers and per capita. According to the findings, YouTube users request new passwords more than four times a year on average, with a staggering 1.4 billion total password-related searches. This equates to 35,899 searches per 100,000 users, making it the most problematic platform in terms of password memory. Video streaming platforms dominated the top rankings. Facebook followed in second place with 593 million password recovery searches, or 28,238 per 100,000 users. Pinterest ranked third, logging 83.6 million searches among its 417 million active users, or 20,045 searches per 100,000. The data indicates that users of content consumption platforms like YouTube and Pinterest face password-related problems up to 43 times more often than users of communication-focused platforms. Heepsy’s study utilized search behavior data based on three common queries: “[Platform] password reset,” “[Platform] forgot password,” and “[Platform] recover account.” These queries reflect user intent to regain access to their accounts and were adjusted relative to each platform’s active monthly user count. “The platform where people forget their passwords the most is YouTube, leading with the highest number of password-related searches,” the study notes. The fourth and fifth spots were claimed by X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, respectively. X users averaged one password reset per year, with 77 million total queries. Instagram saw just 5,894 password-related searches per 100,000 users, totaling 94.3 million queries—79% fewer than Facebook, despite having a similar user base. Spotify came in sixth, generating 4,236 password recovery searches per 100,000 users. Its users demonstrated a clear pattern, with “forgot password” searches (14.1 million) vastly outpacing “recover account” searches (59,500). LinkedIn, Twitch, Line, and Discord rounded out the top ten. LinkedIn users registered 2,603 password-related searches per 100,000, while Twitch followed closely with 2,288. Line saw just 1,914, and Discord had the lowest search frequency at 1,032 per 100,000 users. Discord’s user base showed the fewest signs of password issues, with just 0.1 password resets per user annually. The platform’s focus on persistent logins across devices and sessions likely contributes to this reduced need for password recovery. In contrast, YouTube’s widespread use across devices may explain its top ranking. “YouTube’s massive base of 3.9 billion monthly active users, along with its cross-device usage patterns, contributes significantly to its top position in password reset frequency,” the report states. Image: Envato This article, "YouTube Tops List of Platforms Where Users Forget Passwords Most Often" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Next we must tackle the barrage of non-tariff weapons used to strangle American exportsView the full article

Nations are trying to reach an agreement to charge commercial vessels a fee for their emissions in what would effectively be the world’s first global carbon tax. The International Maritime Organization, which regulates international shipping, set a target for the sector to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by about 2050, and committed to ensuring that fuels with zero or near-zero emissions are used more widely. Its Marine Environment Protection Committee meets Monday through Friday in London. The committee, comprised of IMO member states, is working to approve proposed new global regulations to put a price on maritime greenhouse gas emissions and to set a marine fuel standard to phase in cleaner fuels. The measures are more than climate aspirations – they will become mandatory for ships operating globally, said IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, who thinks the industry must do more to cut carbon pollution. The committee will “set the course for a net-zero future for the maritime sector,” he told The Associated Press in a statement Thursday. The future of clean shipping hangs in the balance, said Emma Fenton, senior director for climate diplomacy at a U.K.-based climate change nonprofit, Opportunity Green. Fenton said a high price, simple flat-rate levy on shipping’s greenhouse gas emissions is the only way to decarbonize the industry equitably. “If an agreement is reached, it would represent a huge moment of solidarity in the fight to tackle climate change,” Fenton said. “For the first time, we will have, hopefully, an effective global framework tackling this international issue. Most emissions are tackled domestically.” Here’s what to know: What are the talks about? Emissions from shipping have increased over the last decade — to about 3% of the global total, according to the United Nations — as vessels have gotten much bigger, delivering more cargo per trip and using immense amounts of fuel oil. Maritime nations agreed in 2023 to slash emissions from the shipping industry, though several experts and nations were critical of the deal since it did not set 2050 as a hard date. The IMO is now in the process of adopting regulations to achieve the goals agreed to in 2023. Why are they important to the world? A simple climate levy paired with a green fuel standard would help narrow the price gap between fossil fuels and green fuels, such as hydrogen, methanol and ammonia, according to the Global Maritime Forum, a nonprofit that works closely with the industry. Shipping relies heavily on fossil fuels and the sector won’t transition off those on its own, said Jesse Fahnestock, who leads the forum’s decarbonization work. And it will take time to build up a supply of e-fuels based on renewable electricity so investments need to happen now, he added. Most ships today run on heavy fuel oil, releasing carbon dioxide and other pollutants as it’s burned. Dominguez has said that major decarbonizing requires an overhaul of shipping fuel. The Clean Shipping Coalition is calling on governments to commit to a high price on all ship emissions and a strong fuel standard. The alliance of environmental non-profits is also urging countries to revise the IMO’s tool for measuring a ship’s carbon intensity, to quantify and raise their efficiency transparently and drive down the amount of fuel burned long-term. What is the status of the negotiations? Led by Pacific island nations, whose very existence is threatened by climate change, more than 60 countries support a flat levy per metric ton of emissions to reach net zero in a fair way. The shipping industry supports a fee, too. The International Chamber of Shipping represents over 80% of the world’s merchant fleet. Its secretary general, Guy Platten, said a pricing mechanism for maritime emissions is a pragmatic solution and the most effective way to incentivize a rapid energy transition in shipping. Some countries, notably China, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and South Africa, want a credit trading model instead of a fixed levy, where ships get credits for staying under their emissions target and ships purchase credits if they go over. Other countries want a compromise between the two models. Some fear that anything short of a universal levy would jeopardize climate goals and allow wealthier ship owners to buy compliance while continuing to pollute. Ambassador Albon Ishoda, Marshall Islands’ special envoy for maritime decarbonization, said IMO’s climate targets are “meaningless” without the levy. Revenue from a levy could be used to help developing countries transition to greener shipping, so they aren’t left behind with dirty fuels and old ships. What’s expected by the end of the meeting? If the committee agrees and finalizes text for the regulations, they could be formally adopted in October and take effect in 2027. That could send a powerful signal that the green transition is happening and that it’s possible for a global industry, according to the IMO. 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. —Jennifer McDermott, Associated Press View the full article

Over the past decade, we’ve seen Cheetos and its Flamin’ Hot flavor brand pop up in some fun and unexpected places. There was the Spotted Cheetah pop-up NYC restaurant in 2017. The Hollywood pop-up with chef Roy Choi in 2018 called the Cheetos Flamin’ Hot Spot. A taco at Taco Bell. There was a Forever 21 apparel collection in 2019. A nail polish with Dipwell. A Dr. Squatch soap. And, of course, a pair of Crocs. Parent company Frito-Lay has sprinkled Flamin’ Hot across products like Doritos, Ruffles, Lay’s, Funyuns, Smartfood, and even in a limited edition of Mountain Dew. But Jack Black escalated things to previously unpredictable levels on Saturday Night Live this weekend, in a spoof that imagined Flamin’ Hot in an entirely unprecedented product category. Even Chester Cheetah was disgusted with the Preparation H collab. The Cheetos SNL Canon This is a more-than-worthy addition to the Cheetos SNL canon. The brand has been spoofed and referenced several times over the years. In 2019, Woody Harrelson played a man who opened a World’s Biggest Cheeto Museum. And of course, there is 2017’s brilliant “Pitch Meeting” sketch, in which the misguided definition of brand purpose is taken to the extreme. We may be cresting peak brand collab, with so many constantly rolling out that it takes the most wild and wildly creative to even make a ripple. Liquid Death has become a master at navigating this, but for so many brands these efforts come and go with little fanfare. Cheetos may be the perfect brand through which to satirize broader brand culture. It’s beloved in a way that is self-aware and silly. It has utilized brand collabs and limited products cleverly enough that absurd spoofs are just this close to actually being believable. Frito-Lay has not yet responded to a request for comment on whether this was an official brand partnership with the show. But I hope it is. Just as Kraft Heinz is mulling the potential of its unofficial role in Seth Rogen’s show The Studio, Cheetos extending its self-awareness and sense of humor in this way would be an incredibly spicy way to evolve how brands play in entertainment. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Back when I biked everywhere, I would wear my regular sneakers and slip my feet into the toe cages I’d attached to the pedals of my bike. But when I got into the habit of riding a spin bike regularly, I grudgingly switched to "real" cycling shoes—the kind with the cleat on the bottom of the shoe that clicks into a special socket on the pedal. I’ve written before about how I struggled those first few spin classes, trying to get the hang of using the rental shoes. It wasn't until I got a spin bike to use at home that I realized, after a few rides, I really needed those shoes. Why do cyclists use shoes with cleats?Serious cyclists use cycling shoes because of how well they transfer power from your legs to the pedals. This isn’t a big deal when you’re casually biking around town, but if you expect to be able to sprint hard in a spin class or stand up from the saddle, you’ll definitely want your shoes to be up to the job. Wear thin-soled shoes, like Chucks, and you’ll feel the outline of the pedal pressing uncomfortably into your foot. Wear flexible sneakers, like running shoes, and you’ll notice the sole bending during those out-of-saddle climbs. I ended up using hiking shoes before I finally gave in and went shopping for actual cycling shoes. Your shoes and pedals need to be compatibleCycling pedals and shoes are not universally compatible. If you look at the bottom of a pair of cycling shoes, there’s a metal and/or plastic attachment called a cleat. This is what locks on to the pedal. There are a bunch of different cleat systems. Peloton uses a large, triangular cleat called LOOK Delta, while road cyclists often like Shimano’s SPD cleats, and will debate over whether the SM-SH51 or the SM-SH56 is the better one to get. (If you’re riding outdoors and you’re new to cleats, get the 56. It’s easier to unclip.) The pedal/cleat/shoe situation can get complicated if you’re riding a bike outdoors, especially once you start considering whether you’ll also need to walk in the same shoes. This is where spin bike owners can breathe a sigh of relief. You’ll only need to walk from wherever you put your shoes on to the bike, and you don’t have to worry about how quickly you can unclip in an emergency. You just need something to connect your foot to your bike. I chose my first pair of cleats by searching Amazon for pedals in my price range, and ended up with a pair of pedals that have a toe cage on one side and an SPD-compatible attachment on the other. I kept that in my shopping cart while I looked for shoes to match, and found a pair that could take SPD-style cleats. If you already have either the shoes or the pedals, take stock of their requirements and get matching parts. Not sure what to search for? These cleats and pedals are sometimes called “clipless," even though people talk about “clipping in.” That's to distinguish them from toe clips. (You know, the cage things.) Look for "SPD pedals" and "SPD cleats" or "SPD shoes." How to buy a matching set Shoes and pedals are sold separately, but here’s a tip for shopping: The cleats traditionally come with the pedals, even though they attach to the shoes. (You can also buy the cleats on their own.) So the procedure is: Find a pair of pedals with your chosen cleat type (such as SPD) Find a pair of cycling shoes that can take the appropriate type of cleat. This means they need to have screw holes in the right places. Some shoes can take multiple types of cleat; check before you buy. (Sometimes shoes will come with cleats attached, but not always.) Make sure that you'll have a set of cleats for each pair of shoes. Usually the cleats come with pedals, but sometimes the shoes also do, and you can always buy cleats separately if needed. If two people will be sharing the same bike, you'll need two pairs of shoes and thus two pairs of cleats. You only need one set of pedals per bike, of course. How to install your cleats (if you need to)Typically you open up your brand-new box of pedals and find the cleats alongside them in a little baggie. Then you open up your brand-new shoes and try them on to ensure they fit as snugly as possible without hurting you, and then you install the cleats from the pedal package on your new shoes. I found this video helpful when installing my cleats. If yours are a different style, just look up a video about the type you’ve got. Once everything is set up, take a little time to practice clipping in and out, and you’re ready to pedal. One more thing: Read up on your style of cleat and find out what adjustments you can make. There may be a screw on the pedal itself that makes it harder or easier to clip in, and you may be able to tweak the placement of the cleat on the shoe. After a few rides, you’ll have a better sense of what you might want to adjust. What to buy if you want SPD cleatsSPD cleats make the most sense if you ride outdoors. You can even swap out your spin bike pedals for a pair of SPD-compatible pedals so you can use the same shoes with your spin bike and your outdoor bike. Here's what you'll need: Reversible pedals with SPD on one side and toe cages on the other. They come with SPD cleats to attach to your shoes. Or buy a pair of standard SPD pedals (no toe cage option). They also come with cleats. If you need an extra pair of cleats—for example, so you can share the bike with a family member—here’s a pair of SPD SM-SH51 cleats (good for indoor cycling), and they even come with an allen wrench. Now that you’ve got the pedals and cleats, all you need is a shoe. Fortunately, tons of cycling shoes are SPD-compatible. (They’ll have two little screw holes next to each other.) Try these: This Shimano unisex shoe works with SPD or Peloton cleats. The TIEM Slipstream looks like a cute sneaker, but is actually an SPD-compatible cycling shoe. The Giro Rumble is a mountain bike shoe that looks like a cross between a cycling shoe and a low-cut hiking boot. It is also SPD-compatible. Shimano’s “high performance” indoor cycling shoe has a twisty-knob (“BOA”) closure and great reviews. Giro Rumble VR Mens Mountain Cycling Shoes - Ox Blood (2021), 45 $64.99 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $64.99 at Amazon What to buy if you have a PelotonShoes aimed at Peloton riders often have cleats already installed because they figure you're looking for an easy solution. But if you end up needing to buy the cleats separately, here’s a set of LOOK Delta cleats that you can attach to any compatible cycling shoes, and here’s a set that includes both the LOOK Delta pedals and cleats. And consider your shoe options. You may feel like you should get the official Peloton shoes, but the consensus among die-hard Peloton riders is that they kind of suck. Better to pick a shoe that fits your foot and that has a convenient closure. Here are a few options: Here’s an inexpensive shoe that can take SPD- or Peloton-style cleats (cleats not included). These Betoosen shoes come with LOOK Delta (Peloton-style) cleats already installed. These Tomasso Pista shoes have a BOA closure and come in a variety of colorways, plus the cleats are already installed. These Asphodelus shoes come in artsy styles and, again, have cleats pre-installed. tommaso Veloce II Men's Indoor & Road Cycling Shoe – Compatible with Look Delta, SPD & SPD-SL – No Cleats – EU 47 / US 13 White/Black $69.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg Get Deal Get Deal $69.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg View the full article

The director, confirmed less than a month ago, has issued 12 orders via the social media platform that reverse Biden-era initiatives. View the full article

If mortgage rates drop into the low 6% range, there will be a retention opportunity on 5.4 million loans that have interest rates starting at 6.5%. View the full article

Zoom has officially launched Zoom Tasks, a new AI-powered task management product built directly into Zoom Workplace. This release marks a significant addition to Zoom’s AI-first open work platform, enabling users to track, manage, and complete tasks through its AI Companion assistant. Zoom Tasks is now generally available, allowing users to consolidate to-dos from meetings, Zoom Team Chat, emails, and more into a single streamlined interface. According to Zoom, the new tool enables users to manage tasks more efficiently by leveraging agentic AI capabilities that can surface, organize, and prompt task completion. AI-Driven Task Management Built on Zoom AI Companion’s federated AI architecture—which utilizes both proprietary and third-party models—Zoom Tasks introduces autonomous task handling features aimed at reducing time spent on follow-ups. “Zoom Tasks is our AI-first task management solution built right into Zoom Workplace, with AI Companion helping you identify, manage, and complete your to-do list faster,” the company stated. Zoom says the agentic AI system can detect action items from meeting summaries and chat conversations, consolidate them into a single dashboard, and even suggest next steps such as scheduling meetings or drafting messages. Zoom highlighted the productivity gains with this integration, explaining that one-third of leaders spend at least an hour weekly following up with teammates about project status—a loss that can amount to $16,000 per year per manager in productivity. Zoom Tasks aims to close that gap. Centralized and Intuitive User Experience With Zoom Tasks, users can review and accept AI-generated task recommendations, assign action items, and track progress all from within the Zoom interface. “At the end of the day, just go to your Tasks tab to see all the action items that have been assigned to you,” Zoom explained. Users returning from vacations or overwhelmed by information can also ask AI Companion to summarize chat threads and extract tasks from messages. Zoom noted that the assistant can then recommend how to proceed—such as scheduling meetings, creating drafts, or writing messages—based on context. Getting Started with Zoom Tasks Zoom Tasks is included with eligible paid Zoom Workplace plans. To use it, users must update their Zoom Workplace app to version 6.4.3 or higher and enable AI Companion task settings in their account. Once enabled, the Tasks tab becomes accessible from the top navigation bar. Zoom also offers tips for users to fully leverage the platform: Check the “Recommended tasks” section to review suggested actions. Use the AI Companion icon for suggested task completions. Add tasks manually or directly from chats and emails. Edit tasks to include notes or source links for better context. While Zoom Tasks is optimized for use with AI Companion, users without the assistant can still benefit from the task management features, using it as a central hub for all their to-do items. With Zoom Tasks now integrated across its workplace platform, Zoom continues to position itself as a productivity-focused solution provider, embedding AI capabilities to simplify work and empower collaboration across teams. Image: Zoom This article, "Zoom Introduces Zoom Tasks to Streamline Workflows with AI Companion" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article