EricVega//Getty ImagesCountry Living editors select each product featured. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Why Trust Us?Home ownership has long been a huge part of the American Dream because the benefits go far beyond the opportunity for financial growth. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), owning your own home can lead to better mental and physical health, increased financial and physical health for seniors, reduced rates of divorce, and improved school performance and development of children. Of course, everyone pictures the right house a little differently. While some people want to try fitting a family of four into a tiny house or pursuing a hot-to-trot life in a barndominium others might see themselves mixing cocktails in a cozy Cape Cod-style cottage. There are folks who wouldnt trade all the history that comes with living in an old farmhouse, no matter that it might come with creaks, cracks, and iffy plumbing. Then there are the people who have designs on building a totally custom home packed with a made-to-order layout, custom finishes, and field-tested amenities.On the other hand, very few people are likely to share dreams of buying a spec house because, well, its not a thing. Thats because in the past, spec homes have been associated with mass-produced structures filled with builder-grade finishes and stacked up in master-planned communitiesnot exactly the most charming way to start a story about living happily ever after. But, if youre in the market for a new house, you shouldnt sleep on a spec house! Today, high-end builders and developers are pouring money and attention into extra-special specs that are, well, nothing short of spec-tacular.EricVega//Getty ImagesFOR MORE ON REAL ESTATE TRENDS:What is a spec house?A spec house is a residence thats been designed and built without any input from a specific buyer. In the past, a builder or developer made selections for everything from exterior paint colors and stone to kitchen and bath tiles, countertops, and plumbing in the hopes of appealing to a large number of potential buyers and maximizing the amount of money they could make on the deal. That meant leaning into more neutral colors, less-expensive materials, and nothing-out-of-the-ordinary layouts.But things are changing. If you watch shows like Million Dollar Listing or Selling Sunset, you are well aware that a lot of real estate investors and custom luxury builders have moved into the spec space. These are people who are sparing no expense and adding things that would have been unheard of in spec homes years agoslabs of marble shipped in from Italy, $25,000 bathtubs, built-in aquariums, well-appointed butlers pantries, infinity pools. Why? Theyre confident there are plenty of buyers out there looking for top-of-the-line everything without the hassle of building it themselvesand they only need one of them to sign on the dotted line.PC Photography//Getty ImagesWhat are the benefits of buying a spec house?While rewarding, taking on the task of building a custom house comes with a huge time commitment and so many challenges. You have to find the right architect, the right builder, and the right piece of property; make non-stop decisions; deal with materials that are on backorder; handle timelines that get extended; and expect budgets to get blown out. The biggest boon of buying a spec house is that you have no part in any of that. The home is complete, and its being pretty much sold as-is. You only have to take the time to walk through it, and the only decision you have to make is whether its the right fit for you and your family. In some cases, architects and builders work with interior designers from the start, so the homes are completely done. All the beautiful wallpapers, furnishings, rugs, lighting, and artwork are cohesive and in keeping with the teams vision for the home. But wait! Theres more. The homes are also stocked with bedding, towels, dishware, pots and panseverything that anyone could possibly need to live well upon move-in. Obviously, buying a turnkey home saves a ton of time, and its especially appealing to buyers looking for a second or third home.When you do the math of all the time and energy spent, along with the cost of land, furnishings, and so on, you may also find that a spec home is actually saving you money, even when its chock-full of super-luxe items. EricVega//Getty ImagesWhat are some of the drawbacks of buying a spec home?Are you a person with very specific tastes? Do you like looking at a million different Quartzites and debating the pros and cons of each? Are you passionate and very specific about what you like in lighting, faucets, tile, and flooring? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, going the spec route might not be for you. As we mentioned, all those decisions have already been made for you by the time you enter the equation. And if youre someone who feels strongly about making a home extra personal, the idea of moving into a totally turnkey home is even less appealing. While todays spec homes are way more charming and customized than the model homes of 20 years ago, the fact of the matter is that mostif not allof the decision making is out of your hands. And if youre thinking youre going to get a spec home for a steal, you may need to reconsider. While most builders do want to sell quickly to avoid carrying costs, theyre still looking to make money. Bottom line: If the house is full of expensive upgrades and finishes, dont expect to get a whole bunch of something for nothing.Brush Up On Your House Styles:

Madison Square Garden is no stranger to show-stopping performances, but this time, the spotlight isnt on the stageits on a room. A room so bold, so drenched in drama, it feels like it could have its own opening night. In October 2024, as part of its continued, multi-year partnership with the Rangers, the beloved paint brand debuted The Benjamin Moore Boardroom, a private hospitality space inside The Garden. Now, thanks to ELLE DECOR A-List Designer Sasha Bikoff, the space has been transformed into a jewel box of color and glamour that feels as iconic as MSG itself. ELLE DECOR, with first-look images of the new space in hand, sat down with Bikoff to hear all about how she brought her bold vision to life.Brittany AmbridgeDesigner Sasha Bikoff in the newly designed Benjamin Moore Boardroom.When Benjamin Moore approached Bikoff for the project, she didnt hesitate. I was like, Im the person to do this. Look no further, she recalls. A born-and-raised New Yorker, Bikoff has spent countless nights at The Gardenwhether it was for Disney on Ice as a kid, her first concert at Z100s Jingle Ball, or Mariah Carey Christmas shows. Madison Square Garden is such a huge part of life and entertainment when youre from New York, she says. So many amazing memories with friends and familyits just everything.So, Bikoff wanted to do more than design a roomshe wanted to tell a story. I always say Im a storyteller, she tells us. And the tale she spun here is one of celebration and sophistication, with red as its beating heart. Red is the color of celebration, she says. Its deeply tied to both Benjamin Moore and the Rangers, making it a central hue for all of the design elements.Brittany AmbridgeThe ceilings are cloaked in Classic Burgundy, an ultra-flat paint that sets the mood with its deep richness. The walls are drenched in Raspberry Truffle, a high-gloss finish that glows under carefully curated lighting. On the millwork and railings is Neon Red, for an electrifying pop that ties it all together. We wanted paint to be the star here, Bikoff says. When you use a high-gloss paint, the color just popsthe finish is so rich, it almost feels like candy.This techniqueknown as color drenchingwas key to achieving what Bikoff describes as a moody, sexy, European vibe. More than just slapping paint on walls, every surface works in harmony to envelop you in color. You walk in and feel like youre in a jewel box, she says. The color takes overits solid, glossy, no patterns anywhere. Its like wet paint swirling together.Brittany AmbridgeBut the transformation didnt stop at paint. Bikoff brought in custom millwork and partnered with Cosentino for countertops and tabletops in a rich chocolate brown with gold and white veininga subtle nod to the warmth of the red tones without veering into harsh contrasts. Lighting was another pivotal element. Lighting is probably second only to paint in importance, she says. Chrome fixtures from Visual Comfort & Co. add sparkle and provide the perfect cool counterpoint to all that warmth. Glow lighting and cove lighting were strategically placed to make those reds shimmer like theyre alive.Brittany AmbridgeIn many ways, this project is quintessential Sasha Bikoff: bold yet refined, playful yet deeply thoughtfula reflection of her own personality and her love for New York City. As she puts it: I wanted this space to feel just as alive as the city itself. Mission accomplished.Julia CancillaEngagement EditorJulia Cancilla is the engagement editor (and resident witch) at ELLE Decor, where she manages the brand's social media presence and covers trends, lifestyle, and culture in the design world. Julia built her background at Inked magazine, where she grew their social media audiences by two million, conducted interviews with A-list celebrities, and penned feature articles focusing on pop culture, art and lifestyle. Over her five years of digital media experience, Julia has written about numerous topics, from fashion to astrology.

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is availableon iTunes and Apples Podcasts app,Stitcher,TuneIn,Google Play, or through ourdedicated RSS feedfor Overcast and other podcast players.Sponsored by CardPointers: The best way to maximize your credit card rewards. 9to5Mac Daily listeners can exclusively save 30% and get a $100 Savings Card.New episodes of 9to5Mac Daily are recorded every weekday. Subscribe to our podcast in Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as theyre available.Stories discussed in this episode:Listen & Subscribe:Subscribe to support Chance directly with 9to5Mac Daily Plus and unlock:Ad-free versions of every episodeBonus contentCatch up on 9to5Mac Daily episodes!Dont miss out on our other daily podcasts:Share your thoughts!Drop us a line at happyhour@9to5mac.com. You can also rate us in Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple is making a big change to Siris leadership within the company. Per Mark Gurman, former Vision Pro head Mike Rockwell will now be in charge. While this might seem like an odd fit, the best part of the move may actually have little to do with Rockwell specifically, and more what it says about Apples priorities.Mike Rockwells Vision Pro experience doesnt make him a natural Siri choiceMy biggest initial reaction to todays news was likely the same one you had: surprise at Mike Rockwell being the newly chosen Siri head.Yes, Apple really is trusting the Vision Pro guy with the future of Siri.Rockwell has led Apples Vision Products Group for years, with no AI background to speak of.Despite that, there are some encouraging tidbits in Gurmans report about Rockwells qualifications. For example, When developing the Vision Pro, Rockwell believed that Siri could be a central way to control the $3,499 device. Also:Rockwell hasnt been shy about criticizing Siri, according to people familiar with the matter. For years, he has pitched senior vice presidents on ideas for overhauling the voice assistant to make it more personalized.The main reason Im happy about todays news, though, isnt specific to Rockwell himself.I think the best thing about this move is that Siri is finally getting the attention it deserves from a top-tier Apple leader.Siri now has a major Apple leader focused solely on making it the best AI assistant possibleSiris history within Apple has involved being punted from one executive to another.Gurman summarizes the assistants tumultuous leadership:Siri the AI divisions main consumer product has had a number of bosses over the years. When Apple first launched the voice assistant in 2011, it was overseen by software executive Scott Forstall. It was then given to services chief Eddy Cue in 2012 and transferred to the current software head, Federighi, in 2017. Giannandrea took it over a year later. Now it will be led by Rockwell, with oversight returning again to Federighi.Federighi has previously been in charge of Sirifor a mere yearand technically will now have oversight again.But thats not as important as who will now be running Siris team day-to-day within Apple.Mike Rockwell may not have an AI pedigree, but unlike other Siri managers in the past, he is a top leader within Apple. Hes the person who developed and launched major hardware and software platforms for Apple. Rockwell is a big enough name that many outside the company know who he is.And now, hell get to focus all of his time and energy on making Siri the best AI assistant it can be.Rockwells appointment is good news because it shows Apple taking Siri more seriously than it has in a long time.Making Rockwell the new leader represents a big shift in how much the company is valuing and prioritizing Siri.Siri will not only be under the capable oversight of Craig Federighi. It will have a hands-on, dedicated, top-tier Apple leader who has Siri as his singular focus.Will Rockwell prove the right person for the job? Time will tell, but Apple putting such a valuable leader in that role is in itself a very good thing.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

These days, it seems like artificial intelligence is infesting every corner of life. Thewell-financed tech has strangled the internet as we know it, ruined once-beloved artists, and dragged cherished news outlets to ruin.With the avalanche of slop cascading from corporate America, it's probably no surprise that fast food executives are trying to shoehorn the tech alongside the Cinnabon Delights and Quesaritos of that beloved American institution, Taco Bell.On Tuesday, Yum BrandsIn a press release, the company hyped up its three-pronged approach to integrate AI into the fast food experience. Using proprietary software called "Byte by Yum," the food conglomerate says it will soon be using AI to take orders, keep track of cars waiting in the drive-through, and analyze restaurant sales performance.All that stuff might be exciting for shareholders, but it remains to be seen what the response is from consumers, many of whom are repulsed by AI-powered customer service. Despite this, retailers are embracing innovations like AI surveillance cams that falsify shoplifting reports, vending machines that sell ammo with facial recognition, and artificial car salesmen that agree to sell brand new Chevvy Tahoes for $1, forcing the dealership to renege on the offer. Cramming AI into fast food, you might argue, is pretty innocent in comparison.And it would be, if not for the army of workers manning tens of thousands of fast food stores throughout the US. For those workers, Byte by Yum is less a schlocky AI grab, and more an expansion of the tech-fueled panopticon of wage labor.Specifically, Yum will be using AI to expand its "Computer Vision Enhanced Operations" the same system it wants to use to track cars idling in the drive-through to optimize "back-of-house labor management through real-time analytics and alerts." Translation: it wants to use AI surveillance to track low-wage employees.It's a pretty dystopian goal when you consider the median fast worker makes just $29,540 a year, well below what most would consider a livable wage. (Yum Brands CEO David Gibbs, meanwhile, is worth an estimated $52 million.) Evidently, the Yum's C-suite executives feel there's more to squeeze from their overstressed workforce, and AI is just the tool for the job.Though Yum's national rollout of AI-surveillance might be the biggest, it's far from the first. Last year, a Forbesinvestigation reported an experimental new AI system going live in over 100 hundred franchised Dairy Queens, KFCs, and Taco Bells throughout the US. That program was used to track employee's conversations, speed in the kitchen, and wasted food.What Yum's proprietary software tracks will be anyone's guess. These days, corporations are using technology to more and more invasive ends, like to track bathroom breaks and monitor workers' health. Customers, meanwhile, just want Taco Bell to bring the damn Enchirito back.Share This Article

Google's crappy "AI Overviews" regularly spits out dangerous and incorrect answers and now it's being entrusted with medical advice.In a self-congratulatory blog post, Google's chief health officer Karen DeSalvo claimed that "recent health-focused advancements on Gemini models" and "our best-in-class quality and ranking systems" will allow the janky feature to "cover thousands more health topics."Troublingly, the update will include a new feature called "What People Suggest," which will provide health advice from amateurs around the internet. Though DeSalvo said the feature is available on mobile devices in the US, we weren't able to access it on either the Google app or the web.AsFuturism and other outlets have extensively documented, Google's AI Overviews are cartoonishly bad at providing accurate information. From claiming that baby elephants can fit in the palm of a human hand to suggesting you put glue on your pizza, Google's in-search AI has consistently struggled to differentiate between fact and fiction in the nearly two years since its launch.Indeed, a recent study from Columbia's Tow Center for Digital Journalism found that the search giant's Gemini chatbot got basic questions wrong an astounding 60 percent of the time."Our research shows that people often value hearing from others who are navigating similar health questions," a Google spokesperson said in response to questions about this story. "'What people suggest' helps people find this information in a more organized and helpful way. This feature has gone through rigorous testing and clinical evaluations by licensed medical practitioners, and it appears alongside authoritative health content on Search."Ironically, Google used to have hundreds of human employees whose jobs centered around health but in 2021, the company closed its health division and either laid off or reshuffled the people who staffed it. Citing past failures at follow-through on big-vision health tech projects, dozens of experts who spoke to Bloomberg last summer said they were concerned that Google's AI will give accurate and high-quality healthcare information and there's been little in the intervening period to suggest that those anxieties have been assuaged."If Googles overall ambition is to completely disrupt the health-care industry, well, nobody in the big tech world has succeeded," explained Emarketer senior analyst Rajiv Leventhal told Bloomberg at the time. "Health care is a unique beast."We've reached out to Google to ask about how it plans to verify that the health information in its AI provides accurate and safe health responses. The last time we asked the company about AI Overviews, it told us that there "may not be a lot of high-quality web content available" for some questions, and as such, the feature will sometimes simply get it wrong."We have guardrails and policies in place to protect against low-quality responses," a company spokesperson toldFuturism a few weeks ago, "and when issues arise we use those examples to improve and take appropriate action under our policies."Updated with comment from Google.More on Google AI: Did Google Test an Experimental AI on Kids, With Tragic Results?Share This Article

Headquarters: Quebec, Canada URL: https://missiveapp.com/Missive is leading the way in transforming how teams communicate and work together. We're looking for a Back End Developer to join our team. In this role, youll work closely with our technical team and designer to develop and support our world-class web application. Youll have a direct impact on how users experience and interact with our product.What youll achieveCollaborate with product and design teams to implement new features from scratch. (complex codebase)Improve and modernize existing back-end code for performance and readability. (we talk in billions of rows)Lead bug fixes and support related investigation (we are dealing with emails, you need to love edge cases)Must Have Skills10+ years of experience in all things related to what is listed in this job offer.Deep Ruby and Rails and Postgres knowledge: Projects showcasing API integrations, scalable services, data optimization, and security best practices.Experience to build reliable, maintainable, and scalable back-end systems.Comfortable in a fast-paced, complex environment; able to debug, optimize, and automate workflows while handling large data flows.Autonomy & Self-Development Thrives in a small, high-performing team, takes ownership, and learns new technologies independently.Bonus. Experience with email infrastructure.Be obsessed with optimized code and usability.Working at MissiveWe are passionate about our craft and committed to delivering exceptional results. We build with a clear focus on serving our customers. Creating the best possible product, in the end, is what truly matters.We ship with high quality and velocity, believing that it is not only rewarding but also a lot of fun.Zero-ish meeting culture, allowing you to focus on what you do best.Do more with less mentality.Remote or/and in-office work options (HQ Quebec City, Canada).Work closely with a team that recognizes the value of technical expertise.Work with/for a product loved by its users.Retreats.Compensation & BenefitsThe salary for this position depends on experience and qualifications within the range of CAD $125,000 to $175,000 annually. In addition to the base salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes insurance coverage, telemedicine, 5 weeks of vacation time, and other perks.How to ApplyWe welcome applications from candidates located anywhere in the world.Start date is as soon as possible. Submit your resume to jobs@missiveapp.com.To apply: https://weworkremotely.com/remote-jobs/missive-senior-backend-software-developer

CNET broadband experts have discovered the top internet service choices for speed, affordability and more in Minnesota.

The White House claims the department will still manage student loans, but the future of FAFSA remains uncertain.

March 20, 20254 min readRFK, Jr., Wants to Make Baby Formula Safer, but Trump Budget Cuts Imperil That EffortA new Trump administration healthinitiative called Operation Stork Speed aims to improve the safety of infant formula and reduce contamination risk, but budget and staffing cuts may hinder thatBy Tanya Lewis edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier Magone/Getty ImagesEarlier this week the Trump administrations Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Food and Drug Administration announced a new initiative aimed at improving the safety and quality of infant formula. Dubbed Operation Stork Speedlikely a reference to the first Trump administrations COVID vaccine program Operation Warp Speedthe program aims to increase testing for heavy metals and other contaminants.In addition, the announcement said the FDA will launch a comprehensive update and review of infant formula nutrients, the first such effort by the agency since 1998, according to the announcement. It also said that the FDA will expand formula importation policies and work to achieve greater transparency in the formula market. And the agency plans to work with the National Institutes of Health and other research organizations to study the short- and long-term effects of formula feeding on infant and child health.The FDA will use all resources and authorities at its disposal to make sure infant formula products are safe and wholesome for the families and children who rely on them, said Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., in the announcement. Helping each family and child get off to the right start from birth is critical to our pursuit to Make America Healthy Again.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.But the Trump administrations cuts to the FDA and other government agencies could make it hard to ensure the safety of food in general, let alone that of infant formulas.What Prompted ItThere have been a couple of high-profile incidents of bacterial contamination in infant formulas in recent years. In 2022 Abbott detected contamination at one of its formula manufacturing plants, which led to a recall and national shortage of the vital source of newborn nutrition. And in 2023 Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition recalled one of its formulas. These companies are two of the largest formula producers.Earlier this week, Consumer Reports published an analysis of 41 formula products that found that many of them contained concerning levels of heavy metals, such as arsenic and lead, as well as so-called forever chemicals (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS). The analysis also determined one product contained two chemicals found in plastic, including bisphenol A (BPA). It's obviously a product for a very vulnerable population at an age where their brains and their bodies are still developing. And there is plenty of data to show that some of these chemicals can interfere with that process at a young age, says Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports. Some of these chemicals are found naturally in the environment, but in the analysis, certain brands contained more of them than others. The good news is, though, that there are a number of brands and options that are available to parents that have low readings of these chemicals, Ronholm says.Ronholm notes that the timing of the HHS and FDAs announcement suggests it was likely made in response to these data because we had shared the results with them on Monday, he says. Ronholm adds that the agencys intended actions are encouraging but only if they are implemented. There is a risk of this becoming a false promise, especially if the current trend of additional budget cuts, additional staffing cuts across government agencies continues. That really puts this plan into jeopardy, he says.Beyond contamination, Kennedy has also taken aim at formulas nutritional content. In a meeting earlier this week with the countrys biggest formula producers, first reported by Bloomberg, he specifically called out the use of seed oils, which he has claimed are unhealthy despite little clear evidence of harm. Others studies have documented the high added sugar content in formulassugar is often one of the first listed ingredients.More about RFK, Jr.s PoliciesKennedy has made nutrition and food additives a central part of his mission to Make America Healthy Again. Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods pose health risks for chronic disease, and California has proposed legislation to restrict their use in school lunches. The FDA recently banned the artificial dye Red No. 3 because studies showed it caused cancer in animals. (This has not been shown in humans, however.)But experts say many of Kennedys policy positions, including his long-standing opposition to vaccines, are dangerousespecially as the country battles a growing measles outbreak that has killed two people, including a child. Kennedy has also made troubling statements about letting H5N1 avian influenza rip through poultry farms to identify birds that are immune, which scientists say would be devastating to flocks and also ineffective. Bird flu has swept through U.S. dairy cattle and poultry farms since last year, causing egg prices to spike and raising fears of a potential pandemic.