Brendan Cosgrove is trying to establish boundaries between work and personal life, but it's challenging because he works from home. Courtesy of Brendan Cosgrove 2025-04-08T10:42:02Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? I used to have a one-hour commute to and from work. Now, I measure my commute in seconds. I work from home with two young children. Their presence is both a blessing and a nuisance. I sometimes miss my long commute, where I could have some guilt-free time for myself. My kids, 2 and 4, are a lot less sneaky than they think they are.My home office door is pretty thin so I often hear them snickering, whispering, and tiptoeing in the hallway.Sometimes I'll hear paper crinkle under the door and look down to find a hand-drawn picture. Sometimes I'll find a necklace made of Cheerios and dental floss hanging from the door knob.It's the best thing about working from home — having my kids close by.On the other hand, in addition to the cute snickers and whispers, I can hear them arguing. Sometimes it's about a toy, sometimes a book. Sometimes it's because they've decided to boycott food, sleep, or shoes.On those days, the worst thing about working from home is having my kids close by.Don't get me wrong, I want the Cheerio necklaces. I like working from home. It's just that sometimes I'd like a little less home in my work.Back when I worked in an office, I had plenty of distance between my personal and professional livesI worked about 25 miles away, and it took me an hour to make it home each day.I'd leave my desk, walk down the hall, open a door, get on an elevator, open four more doors, walk through the parking garage, open my car door, and spend the next 60 minutes skating across hot asphalt, swerving to miss potholes, cursing at mistimed traffic lights, and generally miserable and stressed.Still, I kind of miss it.There was something therapeutic about being locked in a car for an hourI could listen to podcasts or music. I could sit in silence. I could be alone with my thoughts. I could decompress from the workday, reenergize, and gear up for a fun night with the kids. It was 60 minutes of doing whatever the hell I wanted, as long as I didn't break any traffic laws.Now I measure my commute in seconds: I stand up from my desk, walk three paces to the office door, and turn the knob. There's no decompressing from the workday. There's no reenergizing. I barely have time to yawn before I'm back in the thick of parenting, changing diapers, and picking up toys.I know these are good problems to have, and I'm not clamoring for another two-hour round trip to work each day. I cherish the extra minutes I get at home with my family.I just liked having some guilt-free time to myself, which is what my commute gave me — twice a day, five days a week — albeit in a weird, abusive kind of way, like tying someone to a chair and forcing them to eat ice cream. I can recreate some of the good things about my commute at homeI'm trying to be more intentional about building personal time into my daily routine. I've started to set aside a few minutes at the end of each shift to decompress and reacclimate to my home environment. On some days, I'll pay our nanny to stick around a little longer so I can go for a jog while listening to music. I'm getting my podcast fix while doing the dishes or cutting the grass.I could always start commuting to the office again. I could pay for the extra two hours of childcare, pack up my lunch, hop into my car, and trudge 25 miles down the interstate, dodging potholes along the way.However, as soon as I do, I know I'll miss those extra minutes at home and those hushed hallway conversations. Maybe I'll even miss the tantrums.And at some point, amid the roadwork and stalled cars, I'll look at my rearview mirror and wish there was a Cheerio necklace hanging from it. Recommended video

In less than a week, President Donald Trump’s tariffs have already created economic chaos in the US and abroad. On Wednesday, he announced a minimum 10 percent tariff on almost all imports, with dozens of countries facing far higher rates. The S&P 500 has plunged almost 10 percent in response as of Monday, hitting nearly two-thirds of Americans who hold stock especially hard.Some countries, including China, have issued retaliatory measures. Other US trading partners, including Japan, are seeking to negotiate with the Trump administration.But if the tariffs stay in place, US consumers are expected to soon pay more for everything from cars to sneakers to groceries as a result.Industries from car manufacturing to pharmaceuticals have been scrambling to respond. A producer of the Chrysler Pacifica minivan and Dodge’s electric Charger Daytona has already temporarily closed one of its factories in Canada, just across the border from Detroit. Whirlpool also announced layoffs Thursday of more than 650 American workers in Iowa, citing economic conditions in the US.Amid the economic uncertainty created by the tariffs, what is clear is that a global trade war may be just beginning. Here are some of your key questions about the tariffs, answered.What happened the last time the US imposed tariffs on this scale?The last time the US imposed tariffs similar to those issued by Trump was at the outset of the Great Depression.The Smoot-Hawley tariffs were passed in 1930 against the advice of many economists. They raised the average tariff by 20 percent. The goal was to protect American farmers and businesses that had ramped up production during World War I, only to see prices collapse when European manufacturing ramped back up thereafter. However, the tariffs ended up triggering retaliatory tariffs from European trading partners, causing international trade to decrease significantly. Between the United States and Europe alone, trade fell by about two-thirds between 1929 and 1932, deepening the depression.The tariffs were ultimately repealed in 1934. But they had more lasting geopolitical impacts: Some historians speculate that the resulting economic fallout globally helped contribute to the rise of Adolf Hitler in Germany.What does Trump actually hope to achieve by this? Trump has celebrated Wednesday, the day that the tariffs were implemented, as “Liberation Day.” That’s because he sees the tariffs as a “declaration of economic independence” and a means of reviving American manufacturing, as he said during a Rose Garden event on Wednesday.“Our country and its taxpayers have been ripped off for more than 50 years, but this is not going to happen anymore,” he said. “We are finally putting America first.” His hope is that, in making it more expensive to import foreign goods, companies will seek to invest in bringing their production to the US, therefore bringing prices down for American consumers in the long run. He also claims that the tariffs will stop other countries from “cheating” America with trade imbalances.Economists don’t think that the tariffs will achieve those goals. The Economist called the tariffs the “most profound, harmful and unnecessary economic error in the modern era,” based on an “utterly deluded” understanding of economics and history. For one, the formula used to determine the “reciprocal” tariffs involves dividing a country’s trade surplus with the US by its total exports. That number was then divided in half to arrive at the tariff rate. That’s not the more tailored approach that the administration had previously floated, which would have taken into account a complex array of factors. It also ignores the fact that many nations have a trade surplus with the US because they are relatively poor and cannot afford to buy American-made goods. Do Americans support this move?Trump’s approval ratings have fallen to their lowest point since he assumed office amid the tariff furor. While Trump’s immigration policies remain relatively popular, buoying his overall approval ratings, that’s not the case when it comes to his economic policies. Polls conducted over the last month indicate that between 37 and 45 percent of Americans approve of Trump’s performance on the economy. A majority of Americans said in a March 27 CBS News/YouGov poll that Trump is focusing too much on tariffs and not enough on reducing prices. A separate YouGov poll conducted shortly after Trump’s tariff announcement found that a majority of Americans disapproved of the tariffs, 40 percent strongly so.Which products will be most affected?Perhaps a more apt question is what products won’t be affected, given that even many US manufacturers rely on imported goods and are expected to pass on increased costs to American consumers.Trump has announced a 25 percent tariff on all foreign-assembled cars and plans to introduce additional tariffs on certain car parts, including engines and transmissions. Prices of consumer electronics are also expected to increase significantly, given that countries hit hard by the tariffs — China, Taiwan, and South Korea — are major producers of TVs, cellphones, and more. Clothing and shoes will also likely become more expensive since China, Vietnam, and Bangladesh — all major exporters — now face steep tariffs. What does this mean for the US and global economy?The White House had warned that Trump’s tariffs would inflict short-term pain — and that’s what America is getting, without any assurance that there will be a payoff in the long run. The US dollar has declined in value against other benchmark currencies. Economists project that the tariffs will lead to a $3,789 decline in disposable income for the average US household, as well as a 0.87 percent decline in American economic growth in 2025. JP Morgan has raised its odds of a recession from 30 percent to 60 percent since the beginning of the year amid concerns about the impact of tariffs.The global economy is also reeling, with stock indices dropping worldwide in recent days. Few countries will suffer as much as Cambodia and Vietnam, where many American companies, from Nike to Apple, have moved manufacturing. Notably, Trump did not hit Mexico or Canada with additional tariffs beyond those announced earlier this year. Why were Russia and North Korea exempted?Russia and North Korea were also not on the list of countries facing additional tariffs, and exactly why is a bit of a mystery.The White House has reportedly argued that they are “already facing extremely high tariffs, and our previously imposed sanctions preclude any meaningful trade with these countries.”However, other countries facing significant US sanctions, including Venezuela, were hit with additional tariffs.Also, the US still trades significantly more with Russia than with other countries that were not spared, some of which are remote islands. After Russia’s 2021 invasion of Ukraine, the US imposed economic sanctions on Russia that caused trade between the two countries to fall from about $35 billion to $3.5 billion last year. Russia is currently in talks to lift those sanctions as part of an agreement to end the war in Ukraine. Update, April 8, 6:30 am ET: This story was originally published on April 4 has been updated with additional information on Trump’s tariffs.See More:

Nintendo finally revealed what that mystery 'C' button does on the Switch 2, and while it certainly sounds impressive, it'll be reserved for paying customers — although there is good newsTech11:03, 08 Apr 2025Updated 11:03, 08 Apr 2025Mario Kart is back for the first time in yearsLast week, Nintendo revealed the Switch 2, and in the days since we've seen more information trickle out from Nintendo and its publishing partners. The new console won't have Hall Effect sticks, but will have a stacked launch lineup of new and older titles, including third-party games like Cyberpunk 2077, Elden Ring, and more.One of the biggest questions we'd had before the event was what that new 'C' button on the right Joy-Con controller does, and Nintendo has confirmed it'll be tied to cross-game party chat via the company's 'GameChat' service.‌Article continues belowAnd, while it certainly seems impressive, there is an asterisk next to the feature.Nintendo has commented on the new Joy Con sticksLeaks last month had predicted Nintendo would finally push online chat further than the Switch 1's awkward companion app, and while it's been a long time coming, it's certainly a welcome update.‌GameChat will let players chat together regardless of which game they're playing, and can watch other players via picture-in-picture — albeit with a pretty choppy frame rate if the unveiling event is anything to go by.It's all tied into the new 'C' button, but it relies on having a Nintendo Switch Online membership to use. Without that, it doesn't do a great deal.Nintendo's Vice President of Player and Product Experience Bill Trinen told Polygon that without a membership to the company's online service, players will just be prompted to sign up.‌Switch 2 is just a couple of months away(Image: AFP via Getty Images)“You would be able to find out about the NSO subscription there and get a sense of some of the functionality,” he said.“NSO really is a critical piece of the Nintendo Switch 2 experience," Trinen adds, and it makes sense in some ways when rivals charge similar fees for online multiplayer.‌Still, with some complaints the Switch 2 is too expensive (and with Trump's tariffs potentially making things even worse), having a button feel like a paid-only feature will rankle some.Thankfully, you have some time to decide if the GameChat functionality is for you. Nintendo is letting all players use it until March 31, 2026 free of charge.NSO will also include additional classic games, including GameCube titles., when Switch 2 arrives. Expect a full review from Daily Star when the console arrives in June to help you make up your mind about whether GameChat is worth the price of admission.Article continues belowFor the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.‌‌‌

Switch 1 won’t die as Nintendo admits not all fans can afford Switch 2 Michael Beckwith Published April 8, 2025 10:49am Updated April 8, 2025 10:49am Will you be trading in your Switch 1 when the Nintendo Switch 2 comes out? (Nintendo) Although the Switch 2’s price tag is not necessarily its biggest problem, Nintendo has acknowledged that it’s too much for some people. The current console generation has been weird. Thanks to numerous factors, Sony and Microsoft couldn’t completely abandon the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One for years, and even now plenty of developers continue to make games for the older systems. As such, despite the Nintendo Switch 2 being right around the corner, it wasn’t surprising to hear Nintendo confirm similar plans for the original Nintendo Switch console. This can partially be attributed to the Switch 1’s massive installed userbase, but Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser has acknowledged that it’s also because of the Switch 2’s higher price point. According to Canadian outlet CBC, an attempt to question the console’s price during a media roundtable with Nintendo last Wednesday (the same day as the big Switch 2 showcase) was deflected by a moderator, who pushed for attendees to ask about ‘the fun stuff’ instead. However, Bowser was willing to touch upon the subject and while he believes the Switch 2’s price is appropriate, he knows it’s too high for some: ‘We recognise there are some people that may not be able to afford [the Switch 2’s] price point. ‘That’s why we wanted to make the other Switch platforms available, so [people] still have an opportunity to come into our gaming universe, be a part of these characters in these worlds, and see value, if you will, in whatever rung of the platform they come in.’ In a separate interview with The Washington Post, Bowser pointed out that the Switch 1’s install base is over 150 million units: ‘We want to keep those players engaged. Not all of them may be ready to jump to Switch 2.’ This is why Nintendo still has Switch 1 games scheduled for 2026, which it announced at a previous Nintendo Direct held last month. If it abandoned the Switch 1 entirely, it’d be needlessly cutting off a stream of revenue. Nintendo’s 2026 titles include a new Tomodachi Life (Nintendo) The price of the Switch 2 hasn’t been as controversial as Nintendo may have feared. £395.99 is fairly reasonable and what many estimated it would be. It’s the price of the games that has been the unwelcome surprise, with Mario Kart World going for as much as £75 for the physical edition. This so far seems to be the exception, since Donkey Kong Bananza and the first set of Switch 2 Edition games, are priced at £66.99 – but that’s still a noticeable leap compared to the price of Switch 1 games. Bowser told The Washington Post that this variable pricing is deliberate and that Nintendo is judging the price of its games on a case-by-case basis: ‘We’ll look at each game, really look at the development that’s gone into the game, the breadth and depth of the gameplay, if you will, the durability over time and the repeatability of gameplay experiences.’ More Trending However, all these comments from Bowser were made prior to the announcement of Donald Trump’s tariffs, which happened not long after the Switch 2 showcase wrapped up last Wednesday. Despite having been announced several weeks beforehand, Nintendo seemed ill-prepared for Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’, and subsequently had to delay pre-orders in the US (everywhere else is unaffected) and it’s speculated the company may bump up the Switch 2’s price as a result. Trump had already promised stronger tariffs against China, which prompted Nintendo to move some of its console production to Vietnam and Cambodia to get around it. However, Vietnam and Cambodia have now been hit with tariffs of 46% and 49% percent, respectively. In a more recent interview with Wired, Bowser said that the initial round of tariffs weren’t a factor in the Switch 2’s price tag, but Trump’s recent actions are a ‘challenge’, that are ‘something we’re going to have to address.’ The Switch 2 games are already pricey, but could the console get more expensive too? (Nintendo) Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our newsletter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. GameCentral Sign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

The privacy risks posed by the artificial intelligence industry are slowly coming into view. Alphabet’s robotaxi business, Waymo, says it may use videos of passengers captured by in-vehicle cameras to sell ads and train its AI models. TechCrunch reports that the unreleased policy was originally spotted by reliable software researcher Jane Manchun Wong, who posted about it on X on Saturday. A screenshot provided by Wong shows the terms of use that the robotaxi company plans to ask riders to comply with. An opt-out option is provided to comply with California’s privacy law. It’s not entirely clear how Wong was able to access the new policy that hasn’t been shared publicly but Wong is known for digging through companies’ software and finding unreleased updates. The screenshot of the policy states: “Waymo may share data to improve and analyze its functionality and to tailor products, services, ads, and offers to your interests. You can opt out of sharing your information with third parties, unless it’s necessary to the functioning of the service.” Wong has noted that the new policy will have an opt-out option for California riders, to comply with the California Consumer Privacy Act—one of the only comprehensive state privacy laws in the country. The CCPA allows residents to access and delete data that has been collected about them. “Opt out of Waymo, or its affiliates, using your personal information (including interior camera data associated with your identity) for training GAI,” the screenshot. When reached for comment by Gizmodo, Waymo disputed some of the assertions in the policy draft that had leaked but didn’t dispute that the leak was real. “This unreleased app page contains placeholder text that doesn’t accurately reflect the feature’s purpose,” the company said.  “The feature, which is still under development, will not introduce any changes to Waymo’s Privacy Policy, but rather will offer riders an opportunity to opt out of data collection for ML training purposes. The data is used among other things, to train models for safety, to make sure cars are clean, find lost items, provide help in case of emergency, check that in-car rules are being followed and improve products and services. Waymo’s ML systems are not designed to use this data to identify individual people, and there are no plans to use this data for targeted ads.” Waymo has become one of the most successful robotaxi companies on the market. With the swift implosion of its core competitor Cruise (which is owned by GM), Waymo has become the dominant player in California’s self-driving car industry. Waymo, which is currently operational in a handful of cities across the country, recently partnered with Uber, signaling an expansion of services. Other companies, including Elon Musk’s Tesla, have also gestured at future plans to launch robotaxi services—although none have enjoyed Waymo’s level of success yet.

OMA / David Gianotten Wins Competition to Transform Tirana’s Selman Stërmasi StadiumSave this picture!Selman Stërmasi Stadium. Image © OMAOMA/David Gianotten, has won the competition to revitalize the historic Selman Stërmasi Stadium and its surrounding area in central Tirana, Albania. Originally built in 1956, the stadium is now being redesigned to not only expand the existing football grounds but also to foster stronger links between surrounding neighborhoods in Tirana. With the revitalization, the stadium aims to be a key connector between the Blloku and Komune a Parisit neighborhoods. The design expands the existing football park into a dynamic, mixed-use development that blends new architecture with generous public spaces. Inspired by Albania's mountainous terrain, the project introduces a layered composition of buildings and landscapes that form a contemporary civic destination. Save this picture! Football is a cornerstone of urban culture and national identity across Europe and around the world, and we feel it especially intensely here in Tirana. Our design is meant to accelerate the exciting changes taking place in the city, while fostering closer bonds within and between neighborhoods and communities here. - Architect David Gianotten, OMA Managing Partner Related Article Foster + Partners Unveils Design of New Manchester United Stadium in the Reimagined Old Trafford Neighborhood At the heart of the plan is the refurbished stadium, whose seating capacity will increase from 9,500 to 15,000. A newly designed arena bowl enhances the spectator experience by offering clear sightlines and reducing the distance between stands and the pitch. Framing the stadium are new residential units of various sizes, along with a hotel, office spaces, retail, and food and beverage outlets.Save this picture!A triangular plaza at the stadium's entrance will act as a flexible social hub, serving as a fan zone during match days and an active public space throughout the week. The new urban block takes cues from the ancient Stadium of Amantia, an Illyrian structure from the third century BCE known for its stacked stone construction and dramatic mountain setting. Reflecting this heritage, the new buildings are clad in natural stone and arranged to create peaks and terraces, evoking the topography of the original site in a modern context.Save this picture!The winning proposal is a collaboration between OMA, LOLA Landscape Architects, Royal Haskoning DHV, and Petrit Halilaj, with design leadership from David Gianotten and Kees van Casteren.Other recent projects by OMA include the New Museum expansion set to open in Fall 2025, the exhibition scenography for the Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the renovation of the Gallery of the Kings in Museo Egizio, and the renovation of the Perth Concert Hall in Australia in collaboration with Perth-based WITH Architecture Studio. Image gallerySee allShow less About this authorReyyan DoganAuthor••• Cite: Reyyan Dogan. "OMA / David Gianotten Wins Competition to Transform Tirana’s Selman Stërmasi Stadium" 08 Apr 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1028888/oma-david-gianotten-wins-competition-to-transform-tiranas-selman-stermasi-stadium&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save世界上最受欢迎的建筑网站现已推出你的母语版本!想浏览ArchDaily中国吗?是否 You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Bad news for allergy sufferers: climate change may make your seasonal allergies last even longer. Scientists developed a model accounting for how different warming scenarios could affect pollen production and emissions. What they found was, by the end of the century, warmer temperatures could kick off the spring allergy season 10 days to 40 days earlier and extend summer/fall emissions an extra 5 days to 15 days, the researchers report in the journal Nature Communications.“These simulations indicate that increasing pollen and longer seasons will increase the likelihood of seasonal allergies,” said the authors of the study.Climate Change Could Boost AllergensFor allergy sufferers, plant pollen triggers the immune system. Allergic reactions can include a scratchy throat, watery eyes, itchy skin, runny nose, and sneezing. About 50 million Americans have some kind of allergy, with trees, grasses, weeds, mold, and dust mites the most common.Both rising temperature and increased CO2 will play roles in increasing the number of pollen-producing plants, as well as driving them to make, then release pollen even earlier. The models accounted for where pollen-producing plants are likely to grow more on Earth as the planet warms. But the lengthening of the season will likely play a bigger role than increased plant coverage.Although this outcome is based on a computerized simulation, the probability of an extended allergy season linked to a warming world is very high.Read More: Everything to Know About AllergiesLonger Season, Higher Pollen CountNot only will warming extend the allergy season in both directions, it could also put more pollen into the air — both daily and over time. Simulations show rising temperature and precipitation boosting daily pollen emissions by about 35 percent to 40 percent. Total pollen emission yearly could rise by as much as 40 percent, according to the model.Although this model relies on mathematical simulations, to make predictions, other studies have already shown that warming temperatures have impacted pollen and mold production.For example, a study published in Nature analyzed number high-pollen count weeks in the San Francisco Bay area between 2002 and 2019 and showed increases over time as temperature and precipitation rose. Atmospheric CO2 and wildfire smoke were not factors.Other work has shown effects of climate change on specific plants that produce pollen. For instance, ragweed pollen season in North America has lengthened since 1995. The amount varies depending by area. For example, the ragweed pollen season is now 16 days longer in Minneapolis than it was in 1995.This article is not offering medical advice and should be used for informational purposes only.Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:Before joining Discover Magazine, Paul Smaglik spent over 20 years as a science journalist, specializing in U.S. life science policy and global scientific career issues. He began his career in newspapers, but switched to scientific magazines. His work has appeared in publications including Science News, Science, Nature, and Scientific American.

They all lied to you. They said binoculars were the best way to spot bucks and eagles, but they were wrong. You can spot your prey and rare birds miles away using only one hand and our best-selling handheld telescope.  Imagine spotting a pack of deer you never would’ve seen otherwise or, better yet, witnessing an eagle family in their nest because you have a close-up view in the palm of your hand. It’s cheaper than you think, too. This HD monocular telescope is only $22.97 (reg. $54.99), but it’s not going to stay that way.  Get close up from miles away This telescope has 50×60 magnification, allowing you to see several miles away. If your binoculars have something like 10x magnification, you’re probably maxing out at about 3,000 feet away and missing out on long-distance sightings—rare birds and that 12-point buck. They’re also great for stargazing. You can mount the telescope against your phone’s camera lens and use it to take pictures. Snap rare wildlife shots while camping, or take it to a concert and get some close-ups of your favorite musicians. Tell everyone you took those amazing pictures with your phone—and your portable telescope.  Enjoy HD viewing through BAK4 prisms glass with fully coated optics. Those sciencey terms simply mean you’ll get bright, clear images, even in low-light conditions, like at dawn or dusk.  Get your telescope for bird-watching, hunting, camping, concerts, or whatever else you want to zoom in on before the price goes back up. It’s only $22.97 (reg. $54.99) through April 27 at 11:59 p.m. PT. You don’t even need a coupon.  StackSocial prices subject to change. High-Definition Monocular Telescope – $22.97 See Deal

Nature, Published online: 08 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01068-1Evidence shows that science and scientists remain highly trusted. But genuine scientific voices are not shouting loud enough over the noise to hold sway.

A massive solar windstorm in 2017 compressed Jupiter's magnetosphere "like a giant squash ball," a new study reports.