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Showing posts from May, 2026

We couldn't afford to pay for my mom's dementia assisted living anymore. She moved into a tiny house next door to me.

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Lori Bufka moved her mom into a trailer home near hers in Arizona as a long-term care solution. Lori Bufka Lori Bufka, 64, cares for her aging mother in Arizona due to high assisted living costs. Bufka's mother lives in a nearby trailer, reducing care costs and enabling family support. Tech aids Bufka in remotely monitoring her mother, enhancing her caregiving abilities. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Lori Bufka, 64, who is caring for her mother with dementia in Arizona. Assisted living became too expensive for her mother, so Bufka moved her into a trailer next to their home, where her mother would have enough space and safety. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. I was a college professor and retired from a community college in Florida. I raised two boys, both of whom are married, and I have five grandchildren. I had retired to do van life with my partner, who has been with me for seven years. I realized, though, that you can only do so mu...

Utah's governor just tightened the rules for Kevin O'Leary's giant AI data center

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Utahns opposing the Stratos Project protest outside the Utah State Capitol on May 23. Natalie Behring/Getty Images Gov. Spencer Cox issued an executive order on data center developments in Utah. It establishes a framework that includes protections for water resources. Utah residents have protested a huge data center development backed by Kevin O'Leary. Utah's governor is all for new AI data centers — under certain conditions. After a massive data center project backed by "Shark Tank" investor Kevin O'Leary outraged many Utah residents, the governor is issuing new parameters around its development. In an executive order on Friday, Gov. Spencer Cox established a "higher bar for data center development in Utah." "Utahns deserve confidence that water resources, air quality, utility rates, wildlife, and quality of life will be protected. This framework helps ensure that data center development aligns with Utah's long-term interests and reflects Utah...

This weekend’s two biggest movies were both directed by YouTubers

The YouTube-to-prestige-horror pipeline is looking very strong. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/KkzeNdR via IFTTT

If I'm being honest, I didn't really enjoy family vacations until my kids turned 10

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The author said family trips improved once she could give her kids some independence. Courtesy of Sandra Lee. I've always made a point to travel with my kids so they could experience and enjoy new places. When they were younger, it was draining and not as enjoyable for me. Once they turned 10, things changed, and family vacations became something we could all appreciate. It was one of those days that only parents of younger kids can truly relate to. We were on our annual family beach vacation in Mexico, where the beaches are beautiful, meals are included, and the goal is to relax. No one really knew what set the kids off (do we ever?), but I remember saying to myself, "This was supposed to be a vacation." If I'm being honest, I didn't really enjoy family vacations as much when my kids were younger. I was so focused on packing and planning for them that I didn't really stop to think about what the vacation meant for all of us. I had an idea of what trips wou...

DoorDash is hiring a 'fight promoter meets growth hacker' to target the 'terminally online' on X for $200,000 a year

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DoorDash is hiring for an executive communications role that has a unique job description. Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images DoorDash's corporate communications team is hiring an executive social strategy and operations lead. The company described the role as a "fight promoter meets growth hacker meets clip merchant." Compensation ranges between $136,000 and $200,000. DoorDash is hiring an "executive communications professional" who's maybe not your typical PR person. Specifically, the delivery service is looking for someone who embodies a "fight promoter meets growth hacker meets clip merchant." In a May job posting, DoorDash said it's trying to build the "next generation of local commerce," which includes autonomous robots, agentic commerce, and in-store software. "These efforts require a nimble 'build in public' mentality to reach and engage with technical talent, the terminally online, policymakers, market observe...

Amazon says it shut down a token leaderboard: 'Don't use AI just to use AI'

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Amazon CEO Andy Jassy. Brendan McDermid/Reuters Amazon is shutting down an employee-created leaderboard that promoted excessive use of AI. An Amazon spokesperson said it "was never intended to promote the use of AI for usage's sake." Amazon's move comes amid a broader reconsideration of "tokenmaxxing" and AI spending in general. Amazon is looking to minimize " tokenmaxxing ." The company is shutting down an employee-made leaderboard that tracked AI token use because it encouraged some staff to perform tasks that didn't necessarily solve problems, just so they could climb the ranks. "Please don't use AI just for the sake of using AI," Dave Treadwell, an Amazon senior vice president, told staff earlier this week. "Use AI to help you solve customer problems, to help you solve business problems, to innovate." The move, first reported by the Financial Times, is the latest sign that big companies are pivoting from a culture of...

Where to watch free Champions League final live streams from anywhere

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When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more Tom Weller/Picture Alliance via Getty Images Looking for the latest information on where to watch the Champions League final? As we've done throughout the tournament for years now, our guide has unearthed a range of international viewing options, many of them free. So you can tune in from anywhere on the planet for a PSG vs. Arsenal live stream. Channels have changed this year, and even the UK has lost its free option for the final, but we can help you unlock free Champions League final live streams from Ireland, Australia, and more. To get around region blocks, you'll need a VPN (virtual private network) to access international live streams from outside their broadcast country. See also: Best streaming deals | Best sports streaming services Champions League final live stream options Access live streams from anywhere via ProtonVPN (30-day money-back guarantee) Austr...

Your returns could be headed to a landfill. An AI-native software aims to reroute them to nonprofits.

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At Luxome, returns of bedding and other textiles go to nonprofits in need through the AI-native software LiquiDonate. Luxome Retail returns are costly to process and hard to resell. Many retailers send them to the landfill. Luxome previously struggled to donate returned blankets without cannibalizing sales. LiquiDonate uses AI to match returns and nonprofits, generating shipping labels for direct donation. When Hyaat Chaudhary founded Luxome in 2018 to sell luxury weighted blankets, "returns were an afterthought," he said. Not every customer wants to keep the products they order, so returns piled up at the warehouse. Other retailers disposed of their returns in landfills . "It just drove me crazy as a human being. It seems wasteful, and I care about the environment," Chaudhary told Business Insider. At one point, Chaudhary donated 5,000 weighted blankets locally. His approach flooded the market, and Luxome customers started canceling their orders, he said. Instead,...

The 20 states where people are having the most trouble paying for their homes

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Louisiana is third among states with the highest increase in delinquent mortgages. Cavan-Images/Shutterstock WalletHub ranked US states based on mortgage delinquency. Its list shows which states had the biggest increases in delinquent mortgages between 2025 and 2026. Vermont and Delaware had the highest increases, the analysis found. In recent years, the economy hasn't been kind to homeowners and those looking to buy. Many potential buyers simply can't afford to buy a home, with the average 30-year mortgage rate over 6%. For the people who bite the bullet on a home loan, other costs are waiting. From property taxes and insurance to repair costs, Americans — some of whom face more challenging job markets — are paying more in home expenses than a simple monthly mortgage payment. Whatever the reasons, some homeowners are failing to pay their mortgage payments on time. When a payment is at least 30 days late, it's reported to the credit bureaus as delinquent. A WalletHub stud...

Why the internet is joking that Anthropic hired Pope Leo

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Co-founder of Anthropic, Chris Olah, shakes hands with Pope Leo. Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP via Getty Images Pope Leo XIV presented a sweeping letter about AI alongside Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah. Olah's presence sparked jokes online that Pope Leo is Anthropic's latest high-profile hire. Both Olah and the pope warned of the dangers of AI in their speeches at the Vatican. No, Pope Leo XIV — the 267th Bishop of Rome, who leads over 1.4 billion Catholics — isn't joining Anthropic. After the Vatican invited Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah to help unveil the pope's big letter warning about AI — and he publicly thanked Olah — the internet started joking that one of Silicon Valley's hottest AI startups had recruited the head of the Catholic Church. Breaking: Pope Leo just announced he’s leaving papacy and will join Anthropic as a member of technical staff. https://t.co/4BLW1X1S7P — Mike Sapiton 🇺🇦 (@sapitonmix) May 25, 2026 During his speech, the pope thanked Olah — who...

What smart people are saying about Pope Leo's letter on AI

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Pope Leo XIV. Simone Risoluti - Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images Pope Leo XIV shared his first encyclical, or a letter to the church, on Monday. He wrote about AI-related issues, from monopolies to employment concerns. Tech leaders, politicians, and journalists are now speaking out in response. Big names in tech, politics, and more are responding to the pope's lengthy letter about AI. Pope Leo XIV released his first encyclical, or a letter to the church about a relevant social issue, on Monday. His writing spans 245 paragraphs and covers AI-related monopolies, employment concerns, ethics, and more. He titled the letter: "Magnifica humanitas: on safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence." Now, a wide range of people are sharing their thoughts on his stance. Here's what they're saying. David Sacks David Sacks, former White House AI czar, expressed some skepticism over Anthropic's mythos warnings. Matt McClain/The Washington...

I didn't want to work in my family's warehouse business. After 14 years, I can't imagine leaving.

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Ryan Saltzman works in his family's business Courtesy of Ryan Saltzman Ryan Saltzman is the only one of his four siblings to work in the family business. He worked hard to earn his employees' respect and learn how to work with his dad. The 100-year legacy of the business motivates him to keep it going, he says. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Ryan Saltzman , vice president of Banner Wholesale Grocers . It has been edited for length and clarity. When I was a junior in college , I didn't have a clear idea of what I wanted to do for a career. Then, my dad called. I'd grow up watching my dad and grandfather work hard at Banner Wholesale Groceries, the company that my great-grandfather founded. That day on the phone, my dad explained that he had recently bought out my cousins' share of the business. Banner was doing well, but not phenomenal, and my dad wanted me to help grow the company . Saying yes wasn't the easiest decision. All of my friend...

Memorial Day gas prices are the highest in years as Trump says he's close to a deal with Iran

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Gas prices are at a four-year high in the US this Memorial Day. Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images Nearly 40 million Americans will drive at least 50 miles from home during Memorial Day weekend. Memorial Day weekend gas prices, meanwhile, have reached a four-year high. That's largely the result of Trump's conflict with Iran. Your jaunt to the beach on Memorial Day will cost you. The current national average for regular gas is $4.51, the highest it's been since 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, causing a spike in oil prices. The current price of gas is 4 cents higher than a month ago and $1.32 higher than the same time last year. As of Sunday, California has the highest average at $6.11, while Indiana has the lowest at $3.93. Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, and millions of Americans will travel to cookouts, parties, and vacation destinations to celebrate. AAA projects almost 40 million people will drive at least 50 miles fro...

I gave my kids more responsibility at the grocery store. They rose to the challenge.

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The author lets her kids check out at the supermarket. Courtesy of the author I let my kids take over the grocery self-checkout. What started as chaos turned into teamwork and independence. Grocery shopping became a way to teach practical life skills. I have always loved grocery shopping with my kids. From the time they were babies and toddlers, I loved putting them in the cart and chatting about what I was buying. It always feels a bit chaotic, but it's always been one of my favorite things to do with them. Now that they're older and have graduated from riding in the cart to walking beside it, I've looked for ways to get them more involved in the process. They would help choose produce or grab things off the shelf and put them in the cart. But then the day came when they wanted to start scanning groceries at the self-checkout . There are three of them, and the thought of them all grabbing items out of the cart and scrambling to scan things seemed like a lot . But one day...

Xreal, Google’s smartglasses partner, thinks it has finally mastered this notoriously tricky industry

Chi Xu, the founder and CEO of XREAL, thinks the smart glasses business has finally reached a turning point. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/it7IfBd via IFTTT

When I was done raising my kids, I spent my late 40s traveling. I forgot to save for retirement in the process.

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The author admits she wanted to travel the world. Now she's questioning if she should have been planning for her future. Courtesy of Jennifer McGuire. I spent my 20s and 30s raising four kids and dreaming of traveling the world. When they left home, I prioritized travel over getting a job that might offer a retirement plan. Now I'm 53 and wondering if I made a big mistake by not planning better for my future. It occurred to me at 3:32 one morning, the witching-est of hours, the worst possible time to wake up. I was jet-lagged after flying home from Norway. My suitcase was on the floor, waiting to be unpacked and repacked for my next trip in just two weeks. I had $247 in my checking account. I didn't want to think about how much was in my savings account because it was probably less. I am 53 years old, a mother of four adult children, a new-ish travel writer, and I am just now realizing that I have made my life a little ridiculous. When I wake up the next morning, I'm e...

Fashion designer Jeremy Scott gets a huge cheer after ripping up his AI-written commencement speech

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Fashion designer Jeremy Scott gave the commencement address at the Kansas City Art Institute's graduation ceremony. Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for SpoiledChild Jeremy Scott gave the commencement address at the Kansas City Art Institute this month. Students cheered for Scott when he ripped up his AI-written speech. Graduates have booed and heckled commencement speakers over their remarks about AI. Jeremy Scott's speech at a college graduation ceremony began with an AI-written speech, which could have ended in boos. Instead, the fashion designer received roaring applause. Scott's commencement address at the Kansas City Art Institute on May 16 began predictably. He congratulated students on reaching the "threshold of a new beginning." He said their "power is limitless." "Sounds kind of cliched, right? Doesn't sound authentic, does it? Sounds like you've heard it before, right? It's because it's AI," he revealed. Then, Scott ripped...