Welcome to Cookbook of the Week. This is a series where I highlight cookbooks that are unique, easy to use, or just special to me. While finding a particular recipe online serves a quick purpose, flipping through a truly excellent cookbook has a magic all its own.Its been a rough week. Some folks do yoga to shed anxiety, others go shopping, maybe donate to helpful organizations, or talk to friends. When I cant hold it together, I usually step into the kitchen to bake. For an extra layer of support, I turned away from new cookbooks and ran for my old favorites. This weeks pick is Rose's Heavenly Cakes, an astounding collection of cake recipes from the one and only Rose Levy Beranbaum.As you may or may not know, most of my professional career has been dominated by cake decorating. I always go savory for breakfast, but Im a dessert girl through and through. Cakes have always been an edible form of creative expression for me. I love making a dessert that can satisfy the belly, but I think its equally important for it to look truly irresistible whether its for a wedding or for yourself. Cakes symbolize something special and I needed something especially comfortinga good cake should practically transport you into a Miyazaki film. So I flipped open Roses Heavenly Cakes, a book I bought at my very first job in New York City back when Barack Obama was president, and the future felt fresh.Rose's Heavenly Cakes at a glanceRose Levy Beranbaum is legendary when it comes to practical cake baking and design. Shes one of the first (if not the first) to widely use the reverse creaming methodan alternative technique for making cake batter, where the fat is mixed into the flour before any liquid ingredients are added. Although her recipes are a mixed bag when it comes to the difficulty level, each and every one is a solid winner. In my experience using cookbooks, this is a rare quality indeed.Beranbaum is no freshman when it comes to cookbook writing. Although Roses Heavenly Cakes was first published in 2009, she had already written six others. The first one being The Cake Bible which won Cookbook of the Year. Her first cookbook won Cookbook of the freakin Year. Roses Heavenly Cakes came 20 years later, with new bakes and upgrades to some of the staple recipes in her Cake Bible. Suffice to say, you can trust her recipes.A great cookbook for the earnest cake bakerThere is one very special aspect of this cookbook that I find invaluable, and its that she writes from the standpoint of a working professional writing for other professionals. That does not mean this book is only for you if you own a bakery. Rather, its for earnest cake bakers that arent screwin around. If you have questions like, How many pounds or ounces is the finished batter so I can decide if I need to double the recipe?its in there. Most cake recipes tell you to split the batter evenly among two nine-inch pans. Have you tried eyeballing that? It stinks. Rose gives you how many ounces go in each pan.Furthermore, each recipe is written out in a clear, easy to read chart. The chart includes the ingredient, measurement by volume, and the measurement conversion to weight by ounces and grams (when applicable). For once the entire world of both measuring cup slingers and kitchen scalers can be happy.If you prefer simple cake recipes with single sentence steps and loads of colorful photos, this cookbook will either bore you or overwhelm you. However, if you let it, it will also impress you.The recipes you can expectRoses Heavenly Cakes provides a pleasant variety of cakes, like sponge cakes, cheesecakes, and individual-serving cakes. I wouldnt call it an exhaustive list of all the classics (something like The Complete Americas Test Kitchen Cookbook can help you there), but a mix and match. It feels like Beranbaum hand-selected some of her favorite classics, like Tiramis, German Chocolate Cake, and Yellow Butter Cupcakes, and tossed them in with her favorite twists and newer developments, like Rose Red Velvet Cake, Sticky Toffee Pudding, and Southern (Manhattan) Coconut Cake with Silk Meringue Buttercream.Though the recipes steps are nicely organized with bold sentence starters, be sure to read them completely. Most of the recipes are rather lengthy because they include the cake batter steps, followed by the icing, syrups, or fillings involved as a separate recipe with its own steps. Then shell tell you how she composed it. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann The dish I made this weekAs I mentioned earlier, comfort food was in order. For once, I was baking with only myself in mind so I chose a cake just for me: the Southern (Manhattan) Coconut Cake with Silk Meringue Buttercream. Beranbaum writes in the headnote that typical Southern seven-minute frosting is too sweet for her, so she changed up the recipe to fit her Northern tastes. I fully subscribe to the elegant lightness of all meringue buttercreams. Though Id never made this particular Silk Buttercream, I was on board with this cake.The first ingredient is six egg whites. Whenever I see that, I think, Ugh, I guess Im whipping and folding in egg whites. Well Im glad I read the first few steps before turning the page because, to my great surprise, that wasnt the case. The egg whites get whisked into the coconut milk with no special treatment. It actually required fewer special steps than most cake batters Ive grown used to. After the final spin in my stand mixer, I had a luscious, billowing coconut cake batter.Beranbaums recipe indicates baking the batter in two nine-inch pans for a rather proper looking layer cake. I split it among three six-inch pans, and reserved two of the baked layers for another time (wrapped and frozen). One was for me. I didnt trim the rounded top to make it flat like I would for a gift or an event. I simply split it in half and filled it with the glossy, yolk-fortified coconut frosting. A thicker layer than usual. I covered the domed upper layer with more, and used a star tip to add a special decorative touch along the edges. I left the sides bare, and finished it off with a crown of coconut ribbons. The cake was complete. It was (and continues to be) perfect. The reverse creaming method resulted in an even and dense crumb texture that effortlessly dissolves on my tongue. The coconut flavor is rich and subtle rather than cloying or sunscreen-y. It was exactly what I neededto lose myself for a slice of time. A small reminder that Im still capable of achieving and worthy of good things.How to buy itOne of the best things about older books is that you can buy them used for a very reasonable price. Considering its a hardcover and absolutely loaded with cake recipes from a living cake legend, $18 is well worth it. If its a gift or used isnt your thing, get a brand new one here. For more books by Beranbaum, I suggest The Cake Bible which has just been updated and reprinted for its 35th anniversary. Rose's Heavenly Cakes $40.41 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $40.41 at Amazon

Bose has made quality headphones for a while, but it also offers some impressive portable Bluetooth speakers. The Bose SoundLink Max is their new flagship portable speaker, a bigger version of the classic Bose New SoundLink Flex. Right now you can get the waterproof speaker for $299 (originally $399) the lowest price it has ever been, according to price-checking tools. Bose SoundLink Max Large IP67 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker, Up to 20 Hours of Battery Life, USB-C, Built-in 3.5mm AUX $299.00 at Amazon $399.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Get Deal $299.00 at Amazon $399.00 Save $100.00 The Bose SoundLink Max shines in its audio quality for its size. At 4.7 by 10.4 by 4.1 inches and 4.9 pounds, it is light and compact enough to carry on a small bag comfortably. It is compatible with AAC, AptX Adaptive, and SBC codecs, so you'll get a higher bitrate. It also supports Google Fast Pair (lets you pair quickly when it comes close for the first time), and offers multipoint connectivity with up to two devices so you don't have to pair it again if someone else connects to it.Bose says it takes five hours to fully charge, offering 20 hours of power per charge. The Bose app (available for Android and iOS) lets you manage Bluetooth connections and control the EQ settings manually or choose from four presets: Bass Boost, Bass Reducer, Treble Boost, and Treble Reducer.The IP67 rating means the speaker is water- and dust-proof (it does have limitations on depth and time it can be underwater, though). According to PCMag's review, this speaker is loud with a full-bodied bass and clear highs, but it can struggle with deep bass at its maximum volume. It is expensive, but it's a quality speaker and you'd be getting it at its best price yet.

You can soon top up the battery of a Volvo electric vehicle at more than 17,800 Tesla Supercharger stations across the US and Canada. That should make it much easier for Volvo drivers to find a place to charge, even though they already had access to tens of thousands of fast charge points.Starting November 18, drivers can locate Tesla Superchargers via the Volvo Cars app or built-in Google Maps. It's possible to pay for charging sessions via the Volvo Cars app as well.There's one teensy catch, however, especially if you have had a Volvo EV for a while: to access Tesla Superchargers and other North American Charging Standard (NACS) chargers, you'll need an adapter. This costs $230 ($310 CAD) and can be ordered from authorized Volvo retailers. The automaker will start shipping them to retailers on November 18, but adapters for the EX30 will be available at a later date. That said, Volvo is including the adapter with purchases of the new EX90 flagship SUV, EX40 or EC40 starting with model year 2025.Volvo announced in June 2023 that it would support Tesla Superchargers and the NCAS. It's one of many automakers that have backed a more standardized approach to EV charging in North America.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/volvo-ev-drivers-can-start-using-teslas-supercharger-network-this-month-165541360.html?src=rss

Nintendo and the Pokmon Company are seeking approximately $65,700 in compensation from their lawsuit against Palworld developer Pocketpair. In a press release the studio issued on Friday, it said Nintendo and the Pokmon Company want 5 million each (plus late fees), for a total of 10 million or $65,700 in damages.At first glance, that's a paltry amount of money to demand for copying one of the most successful gaming properties ever, particularly when you consider Tropic Haze, the creator of the now defunct Yuzu Switch emulator, agreed to pay $2.4 million to settle its recent case with Nintendo. While Nintendo and the Pokmon Company may have well wanted to sue for more, their legal approach may have limited their options somewhat.Report on Patent Infringement Lawsuithttps://t.co/iS4Uk2tjWg Palworld (@Palworld_EN) November 8, 2024 As you might recall, when the two sued Pocketpair in September, they didnt accuse it of copyright infringement. Instead, they went for patent infringement. On Friday, Pocketpair listed the three patents Nintendo and the Pokmon Company are accusing the studio of infringing. Per Bloomberg, they relate to gameplay elements found in most Pokmon games. For example, one covers the franchises signature battling mechanics, while another relates to how players can ride monsters.Pokmon games have featured those mechanics since the start, but heres the thing: all three patents were filed and granted to Nintendo and the Pokmon Company after Pocketpair released Palworld to early access on January 19, 2024. The earliest patent, for instance, was granted to Nintendo and the Pokmon Company on May 22, 2024, or nearly four months after Palworld first hit Steam and Xbox Game Pass.According to Pocketpair, the two companies seek compensation for a portion of the damages incurred between the date of registration of the patents and the date of filing of this lawsuit. Put another way, it's a small window of time the suit targets.Im not a lawyer, so I wont comment on Nintendos strategy of attempting to enforce patents that were issued after Palworld was already on the market. However, I think its worth mentioning that Pocketpair CEO Takuro Mizobe had said before the game's release that Palworld had cleared legal reviews, suggesting the studio had looked at Nintendo's patent portfolio for possible points of conflict. In any case, the Tokyo District Court is scheduled to hear opening remarks from each side next week.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-palworld-lawsuit-seeks-65700-in-damages-163051523.html?src=rss

The 9th-gen iPad is on sale via Amazon for only $200. Thats a fairly substantial discount of 39 percent, as the regular price for this model is $330. The deal applies to both the dark gray and silver colorways. This is a tablet Apple first released back in 2021, so its getting a bit long in the tooth. However, its still a fantastic machine, particularly for the price. We called it a nice upgrade in our official review. The battery life is on point, the screen is crisp and the performance is snappy. Its an iPad. This is a relatively ancient tablet with an equally ancient A13 Bionic chip. This isnt the best iPad to buy for those looking for raw power. However, its the perfect tablet for those who want a media consumption machine on the cheap. Netflix in bed? Sign me up. This sale is for the 64GB model and doesnt apply to the 256GB version. The 9th-gen tablet is being discontinued, so its highly likely this is the last chance to pick one up at this price. Once the stock is gone, its all over. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/black-friday-deals-include-the-9th-gen-ipad-for-a-record-low-of-200-161404147.html?src=rss

iStorage Group aims to broaden product offerings and strengthen the global market position in hardware-encrypted data storage and cloud encryption solutions.

How often do you come in contact with a conspiracy theory?Maybe on occasion, when you flip through TV channels and land on an episode of Ancient Aliens. Or perhaps when a friend from high school shares a questionable meme on Facebook.How confident are you in your ability to tell fact from fiction?If youre a teen, you could be exposed to conspiracy theories and a host of other pieces of misinformation as frequently as every day while scrolling through your social media feeds.Thats according to a new study by the News Literacy Project, which also found that teens struggle with identifying false information online. This comes at a time when media literacy education isnt available to most students, the report finds, and their ability to distinguish between objective and biased information sources is weak. The findings are based on responses from more than 1,000 teens ages 13 to 18.News literacy is fundamental to preparing students to become active, critically thinking members of our civic life which should be one of the primary goals of a public education, Kim Bowman, News Literacy Project senior research manager and author of the report, said in an email interview. If we dont teach young people the skills they need to evaluate information, they will be left at a civic and personal disadvantage their entire lives. News literacy instruction is as important as core subjects like reading and math.Telling Fact from FictionAbout 80% of teens who use social media say they see content about conspiracy theories in their online feeds, with 20 percent seeing conspiracy content every day.They include narratives such as the Earth being flat, the 2020 election being rigged or stolen, and COVID-19 vaccines being dangerous, the News Literacy Projects report found.While teens dont believe every conspiracy theory they see, 81 percent who see such content online said they believe one or more.Bowman noted, As dangerous or harmful as they can be, these narratives are designed to be engaging and satisfy deep psychological needs, such as the need for community and understanding. Being a conspiracy theorist or believing in a conspiracy theory can become a part of someones identity. Its not necessarily a label an individual is going to shy away from sharing with others.At the same time, the report found that the bar for offering media literacy is low. Just six states have guidelines for how to teach media literacy, and only three make it a requirement in public schools.Less than 40% of teens surveyed reported having any media literacy instruction during the 2023-24 school year, according to the analysis.Credible SourcesAs part of gathering data for the report, teens were asked to try their hand at distinguishing between different types of information they might encounter online. They were also challenged to identify real or fake photos and judge whether an information source is credible.The study asked participants to identify a series of articles as advertisements, opinion or news pieces.More than half of teens failed to identify branded content a newsy-looking piece on plant-based meat in the Washington Post news app as an advertisement. About the same amount didnt realize that an article with commentary in the headline was about the authors opinion.They did better at recognizing Googles sponsored results as ads, but about 40 percent of teens said they thought it meant those results were popular or of high quality. Only 8 percent of teens correctly categorized the information in all three examples.In another exercise, teens were asked to identify which of two pieces of content about Coca-Colas plastic waste was more credible: a press release from Coca-Cola or an article from Reuters. The results were too close for comfort for the report, with only 56 percent of teens choosing the Reuters article as more trustworthy.Brand recognition could have played a role in teens decision to choose Coca-Cola over Reuters, Bowman says, a feeling that a more-recognizable company was more credible.Whatever the reason, I do think news organizations engaging young people on social media and building up trust and recognition there could have the potential to move the needle on a question like this in the future, Bowman said.Checking the FactsWhere teens did feel confident spotting hoaxes was with visuals.Two-thirds of study participants said they could do a reverse Google image search to find the original source of an image. About 70 percent of teens could correctly distinguish between an AI-generated image and a real photograph.To test teens ability to spot misinformation, they were asked whether a social media photo of a melting traffic light was strong evidence that hot temperatures in Texas melted traffic lights in July 2023.Most teens answered correctly, but about one-third still believed the photo alone was strong evidence that the claim about melting traffic lights was true.Bowman said that the fact that there was no difference in students performance when results were analyzed by their age leaves her wondering if teens of all ages have received the message that they cant always believe their eyes when it comes to the images they see online.Their radars seem to be up when it comes to identifying manipulated, misrepresented, or completely fabricated images, Bowman continued. Especially with the recent advancements and availability of generative AI technologies, I wonder if it may be harder to convince them of the authenticity of a photo that is actually real and verified than to convince them that an image is false in some way.When it came to sharing on social media, teens expressed a strong desire to make sure their posts contained correct information. So how are they fact-checking themselves, given a minority of teens actively follow news or have taken media literacy classes?Among teens who said they verify news before sharing, Bowman said theyre engaged in lateral reading, which she described as a quick internet search to investigate the posts source and a method employed by professional fact-checkers.Given a random group of teens, Bowman posited they would most likely use much less effective ways of judging a sources credibility, based on factors like a websites design or URL.In other words, previous research shows that young people tend to rely on outdated techniques or surface-level criteria to determine a sources credibility, Bowman explained. If schools across the country implemented high-quality news literacy instruction, I am confident we can debunk old notions of how to determine credibility that are no longer effective in todays information landscape and, instead, teach young people research-backed verification techniques that we know work.Actively Staying InformedWhile conspiracy theories surface commonly for teens, theyre not necessarily arming themselves with information to stave them off.Teens are split on whether they trust the news. Just over half of teens said that journalists do more to protect society than to harm it. Nearly 70 percent said news organizations are biased, and 80 percent believe news organizations are either more biased or about the same as other online content creators.A minority of teens just 15 percent actively seek out news to stay informed.The study also asked teens to list news sources they trusted to provide accurate and fair information.CNN and Fox News received the most endorsements, with 178 and 133 mentions respectively. TMZ, NPR and the Associated Press were equally matched with 12 mentions each.Local TV news was the most trusted news medium, followed by TikTok.Teens agree on at least one thing: A whopping 94 percent said schools should be required to offer some degree of media literacy.Young people know better than anyone how much they are expected to learn before graduation so, for so many teens to say they would welcome yet another requirement to their already overfull plate, is a huge deal and a big endorsement for the importance of a media literacy education, Bowman said.Throughout the study, students who had any amount of media literacy education did better on the studys test questions than their peers. They were more likely to be active news seekers, trust news outlets and feel more confident in their ability to fact-check what they see online.And, in a strange twist, students who get media literacy in school report seeing more conspiracy theories on social media perhaps precisely because they have sharper media literacy skills.Teens with at least some media literacy instruction, who keep up with news, and who have hightrust in news media are all more likely to report seeing conspiracy theory posts on social media at least once a week, according to the report. These differences could indicate that teens in these subgroups are more adept at spotting these kinds of posts or that their social media algorithms are more likely to serve them these kinds of posts, or both.This article was syndicated from EdSurge. EdSurge is a nonprofit newsroom that covers education through original journalism and research. Sign up for their newsletters.

As we approach the holiday season, your calendar is probably filling up. And undoubtedly your to-do list is as well.If youre nearing the point of overwhelm, it might be time for a to-do list refresh. Here are some creative ways to build a list that works better for you:Make a to-do list based on your energy levelWriter Stephanie Vozza recently had the opportunity to interview author Rebecca Arnold, who coaches Harvard University faculty members about productivity and leadership. Arnold shared her strategy of creating three different lists, based on your energy level at any given moment, which she names: rock star, so-so, and blah.The idea is that you can maximize your productivity at a given time. When youre feeling great, thats the time you want to do your most challenging, biggest-picture thinking. After lunch, when your energy is low, thats the time to do something simple, like catching up on emails.At the beginning of a work block, ask yourself, Wheres my energy at right now? Arnold tells Vozza. Then youll know exactly what to tackle based on that. You dont lose a lot of time thinking, What should I work on? Its all there.Write a might-do listFormer Google executive John Zeratsky keeps a might-do list, where he puts minor tasks like scheduling appointments or submitting expenses, writes Amanda Imber, founder of the behavior change consultancy Inventium and host of the How I Work podcast.This strategy helps Zeratsky by preventing small tasks from cannibalizing too much space on his actual to-do list and making him feel unnecessarily overwhelmed. When enough of these minor projects pile up, he can then make time to do them all at once, maximizing efficiency.The might-do list strategy has several benefits, Imber writes. It removes the psychological weight of obligation from minor tasks, increasing your motivation and sense of freedom. Psychologists find we get more satisfaction from picking tasks ourselves versus being mandated to do them.Get honest about letting goWriter Rachel Kramer Bussel asked organizational experts to review her to-do lists with the hope they could help her feel less like keeping up with these lists was a job in and of itself. One of the hardest lessons she learned was that there are timesespecially when youve been putting off something for a whilethat you need to be honest and remove that task from your list for good. Maybe youve changed course in your career goals since you initially wrote down the task or other, more urgent work has crossed your desk, Rashelle Isip, author of How to Be More Organized Right Now, explained to Kramer Bussel.If certain responsibilities are truly vital to your work or well-being, youll find a way to get them done, Isip added. So, if you havent, figuring out why can help you move past itand get to the next item on your list.

Google bad bosses, and most of what pops up are survival guides for employeeslike how to survive a bad boss, as if bad leadership is just another natural disaster we need to ride out. We shouldnt have to survive our day jobs. Leaders shouldnt be someone we brace for every morning. A boss should bring out your bestnot send your stress levels through the roof.But heres the paradox: Reforming bad bosses is tough, because they usually dont know theyre the problem. If they think theyre doing great while their team is quietly crumbling, how can we expect them to change?Why its hard to change a bad bossA theory called the Dunning-Kruger effect can help explain why its so hard to change a bad boss. The Dunning-Kruger effect is a cognitive blind spot where people with low ability overestimate their competence. The theory has its critics, but three decades of qualitative data and observations in hundreds of organizations back this up: The worst bosses often believe theyre crushing it, while employees are silently unraveling. Its not usually out of malice; its a lack of self-awareness. Honest feedback gets lost in the shuffle because people are too afraid to say whats really on their minds. Instead, they tell their boss what they think will keep them in their good gracesor out of their crosshairswhich only reinforces the bosss belief that theyre a rockstar leader.The impact of power Ed Catmull, the former President and co-founder of Pixar often said, The higher up you go, the more distorted the truth. Megan Reitzs research on speaking truth to power backs this up with something called advantage blindnessa phenomenon where people in power become oblivious to how their status intimidates others. When youre at the top, you stop noticing the subtle ways people treat you differently. You dont see how your words weigh more, or how your presence alone makes people hesitate to push back or offer real feedback.Then theres the disinhibiting effect of power. Studies from Dacher Keltner show that power can flip a switch in people, lowering their empathy and making them act more selfishly. This isnt about people suddenly becoming villainsits more like power brings out a version of themselves that isnt held back by social filters. Keltners research adds that if you marinate in power long enough, those disinhibiting effects can become permanent, eroding empathy over time.Bad leadership isnt always intentionalits often about blind spots and unchecked power. The question is, how do we start holding up the mirror and breaking the cycle? Because the only way to reform bad bosses is to help them see what theyve been missing.Check your assumptions with this QuizEven if you think youre doing great, here are a few ways to check your assumptions:Do you know what your direct reports are struggling with?What lights a fire under your teamdo you know what really motivates them?Whens the last time someone went toe-to-toe with you on something you feel strongly about?What do your people wish youd stopor startdoing?Make a list of the people at work who you mentor, lean on for advice, or trust with your secrets. Is this group of people diverse in terms of age, tenure, ethnicity, gender, function?Whens the last time you admitted to your team that you made a mistake?If you answered no or I dont know or dont recall to any of these, its a clear sign that theres room for improvementand thats where real leadership begins.Action you can takeGet to know your teamTake the time to truly understand your team. Good leadership isnt some cookie-cutter approach; its personal. Its about digging deep to find out what your people care about and what challenges theyre facing. So, roll up your sleeves and get to know thembecause when you invest in your team as individuals, youre setting the stage for genuine connection and collaboration.Invite disagreementIf no one is pushing back, thats not leadership. Thats a red flag. Youre either fostering fear or groupthink. Innovation thrives on disagreement, so encourage itlet people feel safe to challenge you. [examples]Get (real) feedback Assessing your own leadership effectiveness is harder than it seems. The higher you climb, the more filtered your feedback becomes. Leaders need to recognize that the more authority they have, the more likely people are distorting their perception of the truth. Those at the top are often insulated from real feedback, making it difficult to gauge whether theyre truly effective or simply surrounded by an echo chamber. Its easy to surround yourself with people who agree with youit feels good! But real growth happens when you step out of that comfort zone. Build a challenge network insteada group of people who will give you real, honest feedback, even when it stings.Get out of your echo chamber Bad bosses naturally favor people who look, think, and act like them. Whats the result? An echo chamber of agreement and reassurance. This isnt just detrimental to diversity and inclusion; its a recipe for stagnation. When no one around you challenges your ideas, you start to believe youre always right. When your view of reality is distorted, your competence takes a hit. You cant make sound decisions when youre surrounded by yes-people, and thats how the cycle of bad leadership keeps churning, unchecked.Admit MistakesOwning your mistakes doesnt make you weakit makes you credible. In fact, sharing your missteps builds psychological safety within your team, creating an environment where others feel comfortable doing the same. Research shows that leaders who admit when theyre wrong are seen as more competent. You cant grow if you cant face where youve slipped up, and fostering an open dialogue about errors encourages learning and improvement for everyone involved.We cant eradicate bad bosses entirely, but we can mitigate the damage by raising awareness of the science behind it. Bad bosses arent just an organizational nuisancetheyre a public health problem. The human toll is too great to ignore, and the bottom-line impact is too costly to dismiss.

In this week's comments update, readers are discussing a house in Melbourne with a curved roof and textured concrete wallsdesigned by LLDS Architects. Called Northcote House, the home is slotted into the site of a former car park, with bespoke elements including the irregularly shaped plywood roof structure created using computer numerically controlled (CNC) robotics.LLDS Architects tops self-designed home in Melbourne with curved plywood roof"Love the context/juxtaposition of this fancy new archi-object with next door's Biffa bins!"Commenters had mixed reviews. "Inspiring projects are so rare to come by these days this is a welcome project!" applauded Chris. "Love it, never heard of LLDS, but I have now," they wrote."Can't decide if it's out of place or fittingly random," pondered I M Slei. "Love the context/juxtaposition of this fancy new archi-object with next door's Biffa bins!"Design Junkie deemed Northcote House "a wildly experimental home"."I kinda like it," said Souji. "It does look like a failure in function and comfort, but it's quirky sometimes quirky is enough," they determined.Gothic Gargoyle was on the fence, musing "not sure how I feel about this one", adding "The interiors look interesting but there's nowhere to sit back, relax and enjoy that curving roof".For Chauncey Mabe there was "an interesting idea or two, but overall it's overdone, inside and out, and the interior is creepy". Then they went further, stating "I predict a horror movie will be shot inside this structure before long".Quirky or creepy? Join the discussion Bathtope is a foldable bathtub that mimics origami"Bathsack"Another story that piqued readers' interest this week was a fold-away bathtub by Japanese product design group LIXIL showcased at Designart Tokyo, cut from a single piece of waterproof textile that can be hung up like a hammock or stowed away."I kinda love the idea of this but would definitely prefer to try it before buying it," concluded Henry.They went on to raise that "with a regular bath, you tend to use the solid sides to leverage yourself as you get out could see that experience being very different (and potentially wobbly and awkward) with this version!"Meanwhile, Devin du Plessis simply branded it "bathsack"."Foldable bathtub, foldable toilets, foldable phones, sometimes I wish I was foldable," quipped Robin518.What do you reckon? Join the discussion Open Architecture designs conical Sun Tower as "giant sundial""Looks like an unfinished nuclear plant cooling tower"Another project splitting opinions in the comments section this week was the 50-metre-tall Sun Tower designed by Open Architecture in northeast China, with a conical concrete form designed to follow the path of the sun.Zea Newland called it "depressing and noisy" and ultimately "not worth destroying the climate for"."Looks like an unfinished nuclear plant cooling tower," decided T Foxe.However, Chuck Anziulewicz was less despondent and argued "it seems like a fairly versatile structure, with spaces for exhibits and performances". They added "I think this is marvelous".Pa Varreon agreed, writing "beautiful interior spaces in perfect poetical accomplishment with the outside" before hailing it a "masterpiece".Which side are you on? Join the discussion Comments UpdateDezeen is the world's most commented architecture and design magazine, receiving thousands of comments each month from readers. Keep up to date on the latest discussions on our comments page and subscribe to our weekly Debate newsletter, where we feature the best reader comments from stories in the last seven days.The post "Can't decide if it's out of place or fittingly random" says commenter appeared first on Dezeen.