Open source. 5-minute setup. Vector RAG done right—try it yourself. The post Proxy-Pointer RAG: Structure Meets Scale at 100% Accuracy with Smarter Retrieval appeared first on Towards Data Science.

Dallas, Texas, is one of the best cities for recent college grads. joe daniel price/Getty Images Redfin and Glassdoor identified the 10 best big cities for this year's college graduates. Each city was ranked across metrics related to housing, career opportunities, and quality of life. Texas has more cities on the list than any other state, with three in the top 10. Graduation season is upon us, and while this year's graduates have much to celebrate, they're also entering adulthood under significant financial pressure. They have more student loan debt than previous generations, face an unforgiving job market, and are trying to navigate a housing market where high prices and mortgage rates have made homeownership feel unaffordable. Where graduates choose to live after graduation could make a big difference, and a new report from Redfin and Glassdoor could help with their decision. The companies ranked 10 major metros using 13 indicators related to housing affordability, career opportunities, and urban quality of life. Across all states, the ranking suggests Texas is a standout destination for college grads. Three of its largest cities — Dallas, Houston, and Austin — round out the top 10. Redfin and Glassdoor highlighted their strong job markets and relatively affordable rent for recent grads. "These cities in Texas do great on all metrics: robust job markets, good amenities, and relatively affordable housing," Asad Khan, a senior economist with Redfin, told Business Insider. "Strong housing supply growth in Texas has been key to allowing these cities to grow and attract young professionals from high-cost states around the country." "The strong industry mix also makes these cities more resilient and attractive to a wide range of early career workers," Khan added. Read on to find out which other cities made the cut. Here are the 10 best big cities for this year's graduates, according to Redfin and Glassdoor. 10. Austin Austin. halbergman/Getty Images Average early-career earnings: $72,025 Price of typical starter home: $276,600 Years to save for down payment: 4 years, 1 months Monthly mortgage payment as percent of income: 30.3% Monthly rent as percent of income: 35% 9. Miami Miami Beach, Florida. Volodymyr TVERDOKHLIB/Shutterstock Average early-career earnings: $62,748 Price of typical starter home: $210,000 Years to save for down payment: 3 years, 11 months Monthly mortgage payment as percent of income: 26.4% Monthly rent as percent of income: 33% 8. San Diego San Diego. halbergman/Getty Images Average early-career earnings: $74,053 Price of typical starter home: $615,000 Years to save for down payment: More than 10 years Monthly mortgage payment as percent of income: 65.4% Monthly rent as percent of income: 64% 7. St. Louis Sean Pavone/Shutterstock Average early-career earnings: $61,834 Price of typical starter home: $150,000 Years to save for down payment: 2 years, 7 months Monthly mortgage payment as percent of income: 19.1% Monthly rent as percent of income: 23% 6. Houston Houston. Sean Pavone/Getty Images Average early-career earnings: $65,369 Price of typical starter home: $215,000 Years to save for down payment: 3 years, 7 months Monthly mortgage payment as percent of income: 25.9% Monthly rent as percent of income: 18% 5. Chicago Chicago, Illinois. Moses P/Shutterstock Average early-career earnings: $72,786 Price of typical starter home: $202,000 Years to save for down payment: 3 years Monthly mortgage payment as percent of income: 21.9% Monthly rent as percent of income: 28% 4. Dallas Dallas, Texas. travelview/Shutterstock Average early-career earnings: $67,451 Price of typical starter home: $240,000 Years to save for down payment: 4 years, 1 month Monthly mortgage payment as percent of income: 28% Monthly rent as percent of income: 26% 3. Boston Sean Pavone/Shutterstock Average early-career earnings: $80,026 Price of typical starter home: $460,000 Years to save for down payment: 6 years, 8 months Monthly mortgage payment as percent of income: 45.3% Monthly rent as percent of income: 53% 2. Omaha Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock Average early-career earnings: $59,123 Price of typical starter home: $195,000 Years to save for down payment: 3 years, 8 months Monthly mortgage payment as percent of income: 26% Monthly rent as percent of income: 28% 1. Washington, D.C. xbrchx/Shutterstock Average annual early-career earnings: $79,857 Price of typical starter home: $320,000 Years to save for down payment: 4 years, 2 months Monthly mortgage payment as percent of income: 31.6% Monthly rent as percent of income: 34% Read the original article on Business Insider

Mark Gurman / Bloomberg: Sources: the glowing “26” in Apple's WWDC invite is teasing a revamped Siri, memory shortages may push Mac Studio and touch MacBook Pro launches by a few months  —  Also: Memory shortages could push back new Macs.  —  Apple's WWDC 2026 teaser provides a glimpse of the revamped Siri interface coming in iOS 27.

🧠 How it works, 5 practical examples and a gallery of 25+ creations from others you can use as inspiration

The author (not pictured) has been unemployed for months. Nico De Pasquale Photography/Getty Images I've been unemployed for seven months, and I'm debating if getting a master's degree would help. I know that a master's doesn't protect you from unemployment, but maybe I should expand my skills. I'm not sure if I will go back to school, but it would relieve some of my anxiety. A few years back, when ChatGPT first became available, the hype got loud, and one of my freelance clients was shouting the loudest. He called me one afternoon and declared that paying writers was a thing of the past, as this new technology could do in five minutes what all his freelance writers could do in a month. "You should have picked a different profession," he said. He fired me a few months later. I've been thinking about that interaction a lot lately, especially after seven months of unsuccessful job hunting. Countless hours of filling out applications have led to 10 interviews and zero job offers. It's got me wondering if, at age 45, I've somehow bottomed out of the job market. And if my skills have become irrelevant, I may go back to school. How I got to this questioning place A few months back, I had an interview for an administrative job at a state college. In addition to the pay and benefits, the prospective employers noted the job would include the ability to take six credit hours of college courses per semester once the probation period had ended. So, at six credit hours per semester over three semesters, I'd be able to complete a 36-credit-hour master's program in two years. It didn't seem like a bad path forward, assuming I got accepted to a program. But my post-undergraduate plan never included a master's. I wanted to get a job as a writer, and I did that with only a BA. For 20-plus years, my BA worked for both my primary and side-hustle careers. I dismissed graduate school as another long-term financial burden that would never pay for itself. Still, the idea of a master's always had merit. Many of my friends and colleagues have at least a master's degree in something, and for years, none of them seemed to be hurting for work or opportunities. My wife went back to night school in her 30s for two years to become a teacher, so maybe a similar path would be best for me, too. I doubt another degree would help To be honest, the desire to go back to school has less to do with being Step 1 in my mid-life career reinvigoration plan and more with the need for anything that will address my anxieties and uncertainties about the current job market. Maybe going back to school would help me twofold: relieve my anxiety and help expand my skills. But as has been shown over the last two years, higher education degrees and job-specific training do not make anyone immune to downsizing or job loss in the current economy. I know this because too many of my own friends and colleagues have been negatively impacted by the current economy. DOGE came for some of them, tariffs came for others, and their education and experience didn't seem to count for much. Turns out my old client was wrong; we all should have chosen a different profession. I'm moving forward Ultimately, I think the decision to pursue higher education works best when the person has a plan or wants to expand their existing skill set. I'm not sure I'm that person. Going back to school for a master's probably won't solve my long-term unemployment problem. But I'm still thinking about it. I should probably make a decision soon, though, because now I'm getting ads to join the Peace Corps in my feed. That's going to make it hard to pick up the kids from school. Read the original article on Business Insider

Discussion | Link

Lauren Conrad, Stephen Colletti, and Kristin Cavallari in 2026. JC Olivera/Variety via Getty Images "Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County" premiered in September 2004. It aired three seasons on MTV, launching stars like Lauren Conrad, Kristin Cavallari, and Stephen Colletti. Here's where the cast members are today. As the great Hilary Duff once sang, "Let's go back, back to the beginning ..." The year was 2004, and "Laguna Beach" had just premiered on MTV, drawing immediate buzz. The show focused on a group of high school friends at Laguna Beach High School and promised to show the world what "real" high schoolers in Orange County were like, not like the 20-somethings on "The OC." The show lasted for three seasons, launched three spin-offs ("The Hills," "The City," and "The Hills: New Beginnings"), and created stars out of its teenage cast. It set the standard for a new type of high-gloss reality show. However, while Conrad, Colletti, Cavallari, and Bosworth are still relatively well-known, the rest of the cast have resumed a normal life. In 2026, many of the stars from the first season met up to film a true high school reunion, which dropped on the Roku Channel in April. Here's what the stars of "Laguna Beach" are up to now. Lauren Conrad was the first narrator of "Laguna Beach" and the show's relatable protagonist. Lauren Conrad was the center of the series in 2004. John Sciulli/WireImage/Getty Images The first season of "Laguna Beach" documented the end of Conrad's senior year of high school and followed her and her friends as they decided what to do after graduation. A focus of the first season was the love triangle between Conrad, her friend Stephen Colletti, and Colletti's girlfriend Kristin Cavallari.  Season two followed Conrad as she dropped out of college and began dating Jason Wahler. Their relationship was explored further in the first season of "The Hills."  Conrad went on to star in "The Hills" for five seasons. Now, she's a married mom of two with her own lifestyle empire. Lauren Conrad attends 'The cast of "Laguna Beach" appear on SiriusXM's the Julia Cunningham Show' at Shutters On The Beach on March 26, 2026 Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for siriusXM Conrad, 40, was the star of "The Hills," which documented her and a new group of friends as they followed their dreams in Los Angeles. But she left the show midway through the fifth season to pursue other projects. Now, she has a fashion empire at Kohl's. She's also written multiple books in the fiction and non-fiction genres. Conrad is married to William Tell, a lawyer, and they have two sons. They live in, you guessed it, Laguna Beach. Kristin Cavallari was the show's other breakout star, and she became the narrator after Conrad left "Laguna." Kristin Cavallari said she was excited about the opportunity "Laguna Beach" presented on the rewatch podcast she co-hosts with Colletti. J. Merritt/FilmMagic/Getty Images Cavallari was a grade behind Conrad and her friends, and thus season two was all about Cavallari graduating, as well as her complicated relationship with Colletti, who was in school in San Francisco. She left the show after season two. She told Business Insider in 2022 that producers chose her to be the villain of the series. Cavallari took over for Conrad on "The Hills," and then starred in her own reality show, "Very Cavallari." She also has her own lifestyle brand. Kristin Cavallari in March 2026. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for siriusXM Cavallari, 39, was reintroduced to audiences when the torch essentially passed from Conrad to Cavallari during Conrad's last episode of "The Hills." During season five's episode 10, "Something Old, Something New," Cavallari attended the wedding of Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt then remained on "The Hills" until it ended in 2010. In 2018, Cavallari began starring on her own reality show on E!, "Very Cavallari," which focused on her life in Nashville with her now-ex-husband Jay Cutler, and her efforts to expand her lifestyle brand, Uncommon James. The show ran for three seasons. Cavallari was married to former Chicago Bears quarterback Cutler from 2013 to 2020, and they have three children together. She lives in Nashville. She has also written two cookbooks, and Uncommon James recently expanded to Uncommon Beauty, as well.  She and Colletti cohosted "Back to the Beach with Kristin and Stephen," a "Laguna Beach" rewatch podcast from 2022 to 2023. Stephen Colletti was the object of both Conrad's and Cavallari's affections. Stephen Colletti was one of the breakout stars of "Laguna Beach." Scott Gries/Getty Images Colletti was the prototypical California surfer dude during the first two seasons of the show. Most of his storylines revolved around his on-again/off-again relationship with Cavallari. He also had a close friendship with Conrad that constantly seemed to be on the verge of something more, though nothing ever happened on-screen.  He left after season two. Colletti is now an actor and writer, but he still dabbles in reality TV. Stephen Colletti in March 2026. Steve Granitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images Colletti, 40, began starring in "One Tree Hill" in 2007 as Chase Adams and remained on the show until it ended in 2012. He then appeared in a few episodes of the basketball drama "Hit the Floor" until 2016. He has also appeared in various TV movies. Colletti and his "One Tree Hill" costar James Lafferty also co-wrote and co-starred in a pilot called "Everyone Is Doing Great." They successfully funded the project with a Kickstarter, and it ran for two seasons. He told Business Insider in 2022 that he was asked to be a recurring cast member on "The Hills" every season. He declined, but he did appear in episode 26 of season three. The episode was aptly titled "A Date with the Past."  In January 2026, Colletti returned to his reality TV roots by competing on season four of "The Traitors," even if he did outrage every millennial by identifying as a star of "One Tree Hill," not "Laguna Beach." Colletti began dating reporter Alex Weaver in 2022, and they got married shortly before the reunion special aired. They're also expecting their first child together. Jason Wahler popped up in season two as Jessica Smith's boyfriend. He later dated Lauren Conrad. Jason Wahler got his start on "Laguna Beach" as a love interest of Jessica Smith. John Shearer/WireImage for Frederick's of Hollywood/Getty Images Wahler originally appeared on the show as Jessica Smith's boyfriend, though their relationship was full of ups and downs. After Conrad returned to Laguna Beach, the two began dating, and their relationship lasted through the first season of "The Hills." He was a recurring character in the series, and the show touched on his struggles with addiction.  Wahler returned to MTV to appear on "The Hills: New Beginnings." Jason Wahler in November 2024. Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images Wahler, 39, was part of the cast of the rebooted "Hills," alongside his wife, Ashley Slack. They have three children. Before that, Wahler was part of the cast of the fourth season of "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew," as he was an alcoholic and addicted to cocaine. He had been arrested multiple times before his appearance and has served jail time. He opened up about relapsing in 2018, per People. Wahler is also the director of the Change Your Brain Foundation. He did not appear on the "Laguna Beach" reunion. Jessica Smith was one of Cavallari's good friends, and she dated both Wahler and Dieter Schmitz. Jessica Smith was a main character on "Laguna Beach." Barry King/WireImage/Getty Images Smith was the long-suffering girlfriend of Wahler, but the two eventually broke up after one too many fights about how she couldn't trust Wahler during season two. She had also dated Schmitz, one of Conrad's friends, during season one. Now, she's Jessica Evans. Jessica Smith Evans in March 2026. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for siriusXM Evans, 38, is a mom of four. She and her husband, Michael Evans, live in the Dallas area. She has her own Amazon shop, but she has mainly stayed out of the spotlight since completing her time on the show.  Lo Bosworth was Conrad's best friend. She eventually popped up on "The Hills," as well. Lauren "Lo" Bosworth was the loyal bff viewers wanted on "Laguna Beach." Jason Merritt/FilmMagic/Getty Images Bosworth and Conrad, or Lo and LC as they were nicknamed on the series, were the definition of BFF goals to any teen watching "Laguna Beach."  Bosworth also left the show after season two to attend UC Santa Barbara, but when she transferred to UCLA, she joined her bestie on "The Hills." She was more of a main character on that spin-off and was involved in many of its most dramatic moments.  Bosworth remained on "The Hills" until the end. She founded a women's body-care company, Love Wellness. Lo Bosworth in May 2025. Noam Galai/Getty Images for Hearst Magazines After "The Hills" ended, Bosworth, 39, started her own blog, "The Lo Down," which she ran for years, and wrote a book of the same name in 2011. She also attended culinary school and started her own YouTube channel. Bosworth hosted a podcast called "I Love Wellness," and now hosts another one called "Tell Me I'm a Good Mom." In 2016, Bosworth founded Love Wellness, a women's body care company that aims to "shatter the stigma around women's wellness so that you have solutions you are comfortable with." It offers supplements, multivitamins, sexual health items, and various wellness kits. She married Dom Natale, an investor, in 2025. Bosworth attended the reunion virtually because she was seven months pregnant at the time of filming and is based in New York City. Her daughter, Nelle, was born in January 2026. Talan Torriero was the show's resident ladies' man in seasons one and two. Talan Torriero left "Laguna Beach" after season two. Mark Sullivan/WireImage/Getty Images Torriero was a junior in season one, making him younger than most of the cast, but he was pretty consistently hooking up with older girls. He also briefly dated Cavallari, but it didn't last long as she was still hung up on Colletti. He left after season two. Torriero is now married with children. Talan Torriero in March 2026. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for siriusXM Before he got married, the former reality star, 39, remained in the headlines for dating celebrities like Kimberly Stewart and Nicole Scherzinger. However, he married Danielle Zuroski in 2014, putting his party boy past behind him. They have three children. He and his wife now own and operate a farm, Torriero Farms, in Omaha, Nebraska. He also founded the company Ice Blankets. Torriero attended the reunion. Trey Phillips was the token artsy friend. Trey was the cool conscious kid on season one of "Laguna Beach." Jason Merritt/FilmMagic/Getty Images Phillips, 39, was good friends with Colletti and the other guys, though he had a special bond with Conrad. Phillips famously put on a fashion show that Conrad also used as a way to break into the fashion game. Phillips left the show after season one to attend Parsons in New York City. Phillips still works in the fashion industry. Trey Phillips in March 2026. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for siriusXM Phillips was a designer at Vera Wang for years, but now he's an app developer. He created a cooking app called Method Cooking. He expanded on his experiences on the show during "Back to the Beach with Kristin and Stephen," and he also attended the reunion. Jen Bunney was one of Conrad's good friends who would later pop up on "The Hills." She spiced up "The Hills." Michael Bezjian/WireImage/Getty Images Bunney didn't really make an impression until she showed up on "The Hills," and memorably hooked up with Brody Jenner even though Conrad had been on a few dates with him — and right after Conrad gifted Bunney with a diamond martini glass-shaped necklace for her birthday. As a result, the two stopped being friends on the show. The storyline was juicy, but Jenner said it was completely fake in a 2015 interview with Yahoo Style.  Bunney, now Dunphy, works in healthcare. She has an MBA and a doctorate in public health. Jennifer Bunney Dunphy in April 2023. Charles Sykes/Bravo/Getty Images She married Taylor Dunphy in 2014 and now goes by Jennifer Dunphy. They have two kids together. According to her LinkedIn, Dunphy, 40, was the senior vice president and chief population health officer at Heritage Provider Network from 2014 to January 2026. In 2023, she published a book, "Don't Tell Me What to Do." Dunphy also remains close with "Hills" star Heidi Montag and is even the godmother to Montag's son, Gunner. When fans asked Dunphy why she wasn't part of the "Laguna" reunion, she had a simple answer: She wasn't invited. "I don't know [why]. I can't answer that question. I wasn't in the room," she told People. Morgan Olsen, one of Conrad's good friends, was mainly defined by her desire to attend Brigham Young University. Morgan Olsen was one of the more quiet cast members. Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images Olsen was part of Conrad's friend group, although she was a bit more conservative than the rest of her friends, as evidenced by her decision not to go to Cabo for spring break and her desire to attend Brigham Young University (BYU), a Mormon school. She graduated in 2008. She left "Laguna Beach" after season one. She now goes by Morgan Smith. She founded her own apparel brand, Minnow. Morgan Smith in March 2026. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for siriusXM She married Joel Smith in 2010, and the couple has three children together. Smith, 40, founded Minnow in 2016. It originally started as a swimwear line, but has since added clothing and accessories, as well as a brick-and-mortar store on King Street in Charleston, South Carolina, where she lives with her family. Christina Schuller was Olsen's best friend and part of the main friend group. Christina Schuller focused on extracurriculars on "Laguna Beach." Mike FANOUS/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images Schuller was also part of Conrad's group of friends, though she and Olsen were closer to each other than the rest of the group. Her main contribution to "Laguna Beach," though, was her infamous trip to New York City when she tried out for a Broadway musical. Schuller left the show after season one. Schuller now goes by her married name, Sinclair. Christina Sinclair in March 2026. Michael Tullberg/Getty Images Sinclair, 39, moved to Miami with her husband, Chad Sinclair, and their three kids in 2022. She's still close friends with Morgan Smith — in fact, they were bridesmaids in each other's weddings. During the reunion, Sinclair opened up about mental health struggles she had during her senior year of college and discussed being in and out of hospitals for a year. "I really wanted to talk about something meaningful, and so I spent a lot of time praying and reflecting on what that would look like," she told People. "It's a part of my life that was important, and I think a lot of people can relate in some way or another. I wanted to share something meaningful." Dieter Schmitz was one of Conrad and Colletti's best friends and was frequently the voice of reason among his friends. Dieter Schmitz was in the core cast in 2005. Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images Schmitz appeared in both seasons one and two with the title of "Stephen's Friend." Schmitz was one of the few cast members in a stable relationship during season one, with Jessica Smith — though the two wouldn't last into season two. Schmitz had a "Laguna Beach" reunion at his wedding. Dieter Schmitz in March 2026. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for siriusXM Schmitz, 40, got into hospitality after leaving the show and now lives in New York City with his wife Isabell. They have two kids. According to his LinkedIn, Schmitz is a general manager at Accor, a French hospitality group. When he married his wife in 2016, many members of the "Laguna Beach" cast were present, including Conrad, Colletti, and Phillips (the latter two were groomsmen for their friend). Alex Hooser, better known as Alex H., was a loyal friend. She was the second "Alex" in the cast — but her first name is Lauren, making her, really, the third Lauren. M. Phillips/WireImage/Getty Images Hooser is one of two cast members who stuck around for the first three seasons of "Laguna Beach," along with Jessica Smith. She was portrayed as a loyal friend to Kristin Cavallari — though at some points it did seem like her only lines of dialogue on the show were asking about Cavallari's relationship status. Hooser is Alex Olsen now. She opened up at the reunion about her family's struggles during the show. Alex Hooser in March 2026. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images Hooser, 39, lives in Santa Cruz, California, with her husband and three kids. During the reunion, she discussed how, while filming the first season, her father was arrested, sent to prison, and eventually put on house arrest after making what she called "poor financial decisions." Similar to Smith's Amazon shop, Hooser has a Shop My where people can buy products she's curated. Read the original article on Business Insider

President Donald Trump speaks to the media. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images President Trump says peace talks to end the US-Iran war will resume on Monday. The announcement came amid heightened tensions during the two-week ceasefire. On Saturday, Iran took control of the Strait of Hormuz in response to the US blockade of its ports. Peace talks to end the US-Iran war will resume on Monday in Pakistan, President Donald Trump said on Sunday. "My Representatives are going to Islamabad, Pakistan — They will be there tomorrow evening, for Negotiations," he said in a Truth Social post that warned the US would attack Iran's power plants and bridges should talks fail. During a weekend when tensions rose following Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz in response to US blockages of its ports, the speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, said in a televised address that Tehran was simultaneously engaged in diplomacy and ready for military confrontation. Hours later on Sunday, Iran's official IRNA news agency said it would not take part in the negotiations, blaming "Washington's excessive demands, unrealistic expectations," and the US blockade. Trump accused Iran of committing a "serious violation" of the two-week ceasefire that began on April 8, according to ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl. In a post on X, Karl said Trump still believes he can get a peace deal, quoting him as saying: "It will happen. One way or another. The nice way or the hard way. It's going to happen. You can quote me." On Saturday, Iran's military declared that the Strait of Hormuz "has been returned to its previous state, and this strategic waterway is under strict management and control by the Armed Forces." In a statement to Iran's Tasnim News Agency, the spokesman insisted that until the US ends restrictions on the free movement of vessels to and from Iran, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz "will remain tightly controlled and unchanged from its previous status." Also on Saturday, US Central Command shared an image on its X account of the littoral combat ship USS Canberra patrolling the Arabian Sea during the blockade. It said: "Since commencement of the blockade, 23 ships have complied with direction from U.S. forces to turn around. American forces are enforcing a maritime blockade against ships entering or exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas." Opening the strait has been a central demand since the start of a fragile ceasefire earlier this month and amid the ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran. The strategic Strait of Hormuz is a narrow chokepoint linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and a major artery for global shipments of oil and natural gas. Read the original article on Business Insider

The author has been traveling with his twins since they were little. Courtesy of the author My twins were 11 months old on their first trip overseas. I spent most of it apologizing to strangers. For 18 years, I booked every flight and packed every bag. The boys just came along. Then a bottle of tequila showed up under the Christmas tree. My parents never took me overseas. I always said I'd do it with my kids. Fiji was the first attempt. Charlie cried on the plane. Thomas cried at the resort. Both cried at dinner while other guests tried not to stare. By the second morning, I was wondering if I'd made a terrible mistake. The twins' first trip was to Fiji. Courtesy of the author It took three years to try again. In Bali, Charlie screamed for hours on the first night, eventually falling asleep on the floor next to the front door. I felt like doing the same. Nothing had improved. South Africa was the first trip where nobody cried When the boys were 9, I had a work conference in Cape Town. My wife, Cece, flew 14 hours alone with them to meet me. Charlie arrived jetlagged and emotional, refusing to eat. But before we headed out on safari, I arranged a visit to an orphanage. The boys brought an Australian football and spent the afternoon teaching the kids how to kick it. I watched them run around for an hour, completely ignoring me. Nobody cried. Or refused to eat. It was the first trip where I stopped apologizing to people. The first successful trip as a family was to South Africa. Courtesy of the author The crying stopped, the obliviousness didn't I'd plan every detail of a trip, and the first question each morning was "Where are we going today?" If I asked what they wanted to do, the answer was a shrug or "whatever." I'd ask if they'd packed, and they'd say yes. I'd check and find no toothbrush. Thomas had toiletries confiscated at security so many times that I stopped replacing them. AirPods went in at the gate and didn't come out until we landed. Between stops, both sat in the back seat staring at their phones while entire countries passed the window. When they were 16, we visited Washington DC and spent time at the Holocaust Museum and the National Museum of African American History. I expected the usual half-glances at plaques. Instead, they stopped. They wanted to talk about what they were seeing. The twins got more interested in things as they got older. Courtesy of the author A year later in Sri Lanka, a cooking class ran long because the boys spent half of it swapping travel stories with backpackers, talking about places we'd visited. Afterward, unprompted, both said they were glad we'd booked it. Not my usual feedback. But I still checked their rooms for forgotten chargers. Mexico was the first time I'd ever had a drink with my own kids on a trip When the boys turned 18, we took a trip to Puerto Vallarta. One afternoon, we wandered into a small tequila bar for a tasting. We sat at the counter and worked through the pours while the bartender explained each one. The author and his twins did a tequila tasting in Mexico. Courtesy of the author What I didn't know was that after we left, they went back. They found the man behind the counter and asked which one their dad had liked. He pointed them to a bottle of Don Cayo. It's a small local brand you can't find outside Mexico. A few weeks later, it was under the Christmas tree. It's the best present I've ever received. For 18 years, I was the one who remembered everything I booked the flights, checked the bags, replaced the confiscated toothpaste, and tried to make it fun. Past presents from the boys were usually a book I'd suggested that my wife had to buy. Sometimes they didn't even manage that. The Don Cayo wasn't a book I'd chosen. Nobody told them to go back to that bar. These are the same kids who couldn't remember to pack deodorant. But they remembered which tequila their dad liked. I keep it for special occasions. It almost makes me forget the Fiji fiasco. Almost. Read the original article on Business Insider

Qianer Liu / The Information: Sources: Google is in talks with Marvell Technology to develop a memory processing unit that works alongside TPUs, and a new TPU for running AI models  —  Google is in talks with Marvell Technology to develop two new chips aimed at running AI models more efficiently, according to two people with direct knowledge of the discussions.

Discussion | Link

Kristina Modares has bought 10 properties over the last decade and still owns five. Courtesy of Kristina Modares Kristina Modares started co-buying properties with her friends and family in her 20s. She has co-bought 10 properties in the last decade and remains an owner of five. Modares said she's learned valuable lessons along the way about getting into business with friends. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kristina Modares, 36, an Airbnb host. Modares is also the founder of Open House Education and a marketer at Joynt, a real estate platform designed to help people buy and own homes with family and friends. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity. In 2015, I was 25 and living in Austin, renting a home downtown with a friend and hoping to buy one of my own. I'd just gotten my real estate license and didn't yet have the two years of income needed to qualify for a mortgage on my own. When I told a friend about it, he said, "I'd buy a house with you." That conversation made me realize you don't have to buy alone — or wait for a romantic partner — to become a homeowner. We didn't end up buying together in Austin, but we did purchase a commercial property in San Antonio. It was my first experience co-buying with a friend. At the time, I was young and naive and didn't think much about the complications that could come with co-buying. I was just excited to get into real estate. That experience opened the door to something much bigger. Over the past 10 years, I've bought 10 homes through partnerships with friends and family. That includes a beach house I own with my sister that we rent on Airbnb, a retreat property with two business partners, and a small stake in another shared home that's rented. Co-buying helped me become a first-time homebuyer — and eventually a multi-property homeowner — much sooner than I could have on my own. My sister and I own an Airbnb rental in Florida I was only 29 when my sister and I bought our second property together: a beach house in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. It's one of my favorite properties. We grew up vacationing in the area and had always dreamed of owning a home there. At the time, a beach house in that area felt like something only wealthy families could afford. This was the seventh property I'd purchased, and by then I knew what kind of investment I liked to make: one I felt personally connected to and could use myself. It feels like home, and it's reassuring to know that if I want to go on vacation even during hard times, it's an option. It's also comforting to know I have my sister's support. Modares, right, and her sister Stefanie bought this Florida home together. Courtesy of Kristina Modares We bought the house sight unseen. It was one of the cheapest options we could find in the area, and it needed a lot of work. It's a roughly 1,500-square-foot home with three bedrooms and three bathrooms. We bought it for a little over $400,000, and today it's worth around $700,000. We split the purchase evenly. To help fund it, we each contributed around $70,000 toward the purchase and renovation of the home — money we had earned from a house in Austin we had bought together. We saw the home as a good investment because of its location and long-term earning potential. It backs up to a state park, so it feels private, but it's still only about an eight-minute walk to the beach. Stefanie celebrates the renovated home. Courtesy of Kristina Modares We started renting it on Airbnb in late 2021 and have earned about $420,387 so far. We're less focused on the monthly income than on the home's long-term value and eventual sale. Because the home has been profitable, I haven't had to put in any more of my own money. We have either reinvested the money into the property or used the money we've earned to cover expenses when we're in town, like going out to dinner. Successful co-buying requires clear structure, lawyers, and trust I hear people say all the time, "I don't have anyone to co-buy with." Part of that, I think, is that we often don't talk to friends and family about money. We're taught not to — it's taboo. But if you want to co-buy, you have to be willing to have those conversations. Finding someone to buy with is only the first step. There's a lot to consider, whether you're buying with a friend, family member, or romantic partner. Can this person talk openly about money? Are they good at having honest conversations, or do you feel like you have to walk on eggshells around them? If it feels hard to bring up something uncomfortable, that may be a sign they're not the right person to buy with. Modares bought this property in 2018 for $240,000 with a business partner. It was later renovated into a community center and coffee shop. Courtesy of Kristina Modares Over time, I've seen firsthand what works in a co-buying partnership, what doesn't, and how those relationships can evolve — both financially and personally. The best way to make a partnership work is to create structure. In my first few co-buys, I didn't use operating agreements or hire my own lawyers. Would I do that today? Absolutely not. With the last couple of properties I co-bought, I finally hired a lawyer to draft an operating agreement. If I were buying again, I'd probably go through a co-buying company like Joynt, which creates operating agreements to guide co-buyers through the process. Getting into real estate changed my life Looking back, there are a few things I would have done differently with some of my partnerships, especially having more serious conversations early on about responsibilities and what could go wrong. You never know when something in the house will break, when you'll need to replace a couch, or when another unexpected expense will come up. It's also important to discuss what happens if someone wants to sell their stake. I've only had to deal with that once, and it was unexpected. Luckily, we were able to talk it through and come up with a solution. Modares purchased this home in 2017 with her sister for $280,000. They now rent it out to tenants for $2,400 a month. Courtesy of Kristina Modares Before co-buying, I knew nothing about real estate or homeownership. But over the years, I've learned a lot, and my journey has taught me how to collaborate and has developed skills I never imagined I'd have, like talking to contractors with ease. I'm older now, and I can't take on as much financial risk, so I'm no longer trying to accumulate a bunch of properties. But having those experiences in my 20s shaped my life. They taught me that traditional ways of doing things aren't always the right fit for everyone. Axel Springer, Insider Inc.'s parent company, is an investor in Airbnb. Read the original article on Business Insider

The author said her three children ended up growing up in Vermont on their low-key, budget-friendly family vacations to the same location. Courtesy of Jaclyn Greenberg. Traveling with three small kids felt a bit daunting, so we took an easy-to-manage trip to Vermont. My family enjoyed it so much, we returned to the same spot every summer for 8 years. Those low-cost rips made it easy for us to get away, and gave us memories to last a lifetime. When my kids were 5, 3, and 18 months old, we took one of our first family vacations together. Back then, traveling with three little kids, including one with severe disabilities, seemed daunting. But I was desperate to get out of the house and away from our stressful routine, which included numerous doctor and therapy appointments for my disabled son. When a family friend offered us his townhouse in South Burlington, Vermont, I took him up on the offer, especially since the low cost made me feel less pressured to plan the perfect vacation. We drove from our home on the East Coast and stocked the fridge with groceries from Trader Joe's. Many of the activities we enjoyed were cheap or free. For example, we fished on a dock near the townhouse, took a hayride at Shelburne Farms and pet the animals, and tasted ice cream on the Ben and Jerry's Factory tour. I was surprised by how happy my kids were hanging out in the quiet environment. It went so well that we made it an annual tradition. The author said her family enjoyed the quiet while on vacation in Vermont. Courtesy of Jaclyn Greenberg. The trip evolved as we grew As the kids got older, our list of activities grew, just like they did. One summer, we traveled two hours east to Lake Willoughby and waded in the water. The following year, we rented paddleboards at the same lake, and the year after that, we all went kayaking. We took lengthy bike rides on the waterfront by Lake Champlain and hunted for waterfalls all over the state. One year, after I got the kids their first passports, we drove to Montreal for two nights so the kids could experience a new country. The author said her family, shown here exploring a waterfall, made a longer list of must-do activities each year they visited Vermont. Courtesy of Jaclyn Greenberg. We consistently visited Vermont during the third week of August, right before everyone went back to school, so we could escape before life got hectic. Each year, the drive along Route 22a in Vermont brought regular views of cows, barns and hay bales. As we meandered through the winding roads, I took a few deep breaths and enjoyed the multi-layered, rolling mountains as the four-lane concrete thruway faded out of sight. As the years passed, we extended our stay by a day or so. Our list of "must do" activities in the surrounding area kept expanding, so we needed the additional time to fit it all in. And when those 10 days were over, no one wanted to head home. Creating memories to last a lifetime When I look back, I realize that my kids grew up in Vermont. My youngest was barely walking on that first trip, and my daughter rode her pink scooter around Church Street. The next year, she rode a tricycle and eventually a bike for miles on the Colchester Causeway Trail. On our last trip, my daughter was a teenager who liked to go clothes shopping with me. The author said her family enjoyed returning to the same spot every year for nearly a decade. Courtesy of Jaclyn Greenberg. Our adventures taught us how to pack, travel together and modify activities so my disabled son could get in on the fun. Those vacations gave my kids a consistent, familiar place to explore, learn, and grow. And they gave me a break from a hectic routine and space to breathe. A couple of years ago, our family friend sold the townhouse in Vermont. Everyone in my family was sad, but we took the opportunity to expand our travels. Since then, we've been to Maine, New Hampshire, Arizona, Key West, and, most recently, Europe, all of which were amazing. But our time in Vermont will always hold a special place in our hearts. Those low-cost, laid-back trips made it easy for us to get away, but they also gave us memories we will hold onto for a lifetime. Read the original article on Business Insider

Generating Minecraft Worlds with Vector Quantized Variational Autoencoders (VQ-VAE) and Transformers The post Dreaming in Cubes appeared first on Towards Data Science.

Fusion startups and investors risk deepening fissures if some key disagreements aren't settled amicably.

It's a major milestone for the company's new mega-rocket system, putting it in position to challenge SpaceX's dominance of the global launch market.

The laser was used to study the physics of stellar interiors and fusion energy, among other things.

The author and her family went on a trip to Paris this past December. Courtesy of Kris Ann Valdez My family of five took an 8-day trip to Paris with my in-laws. We made a few rookie mistakes, including staying too far from the city center. However, we also did a few things right, like scheduling rideshares in advance. On our first night in Paris this past December, my husband and I saw beef tartare on the menu and decided it was our chance to try a true French classic. We had no idea that we'd just ordered raw beef and egg. My mother-in-law was seated next to me when they delivered the plate. It'd been a long travel day, and she'd felt nauseous for most of it because of her medication. One look at that raw meat sent her dashing for the restroom. Unfortunately, the restroom was down a steep staircase, and she didn't quite make it, getting sick at the feet of the bartender. The waiters were gracious, though some of the other diners looked less than thrilled. Because it was the middle of cold and flu season, I quickly explained it was her medication, not a stomach virus. A nearby woman translated for the others, and the room visibly relaxed. For all the stereotypes about Parisian waiters being snobby, I found them warm and thoughtful toward our family. Still, from that moment on, I knew my husband and I would have to tone down our adventurous ordering habits. None of us — neither my in-laws nor my family of five — had been to Paris before. It turned out that the beef tartare was just our first rookie mistake on our trip. Over the next eight days, we made plenty of others, along with a few great decisions that kept us sane. We ran late to every one of our timed-entry museum slots until we tried this trick Traveling with three children, ages 13, 8, and almost 3, is not easy. Add grandparents who walk slowly and need frequent bathroom breaks, and you have a perfect storm of running late everywhere. What finally worked was scheduling a rideshare the night before. Every time we did that and had a van waiting outside, it created a non-negotiable hard stop for when we had to leave. It also made it far more likely that the driver would arrive on time. For large groups, this was the only way we ever stuck to our schedule. Also, purchasing timed-entry tickets in advance meant we avoided painfully long lines, and saved us hours of waiting around. The author and her family made a few mistakes while traveling, but also did a few things that helped them enjoy their trip more. Courtesy of Kris Ann Valdez I overromanticized a bucket-list experience I spent my childhood being dragged through antique shops by my interior-designer mother. Because of that, I like to think I can evaluate a truly great antiquing experience. For years, I'd heard Parisian flea markets described as the gold standard of antiquing. So I made visiting one a priority, even splurging on an almost $100 rideshare to make it happen on a chilly, early morning with the whole family. What we found was deflating. Street vendors had piles of used clothing and miscellaneous objects on tables with nearly every item declared "very valuable." When my toddler pointed to a small metal toy car, I was quoted €12 (about $14 at the time of the trip). Oil paintings seemed to start at €400 across the board. Even a worn stuffed dog I fell in love with was priced at €60 with no room to bargain. It was a cold, miserable morning, and a good reminder not to fixate on an experience or place, especially if it's inconvenient and out of the way. With multigenerational travel, ease and convenience matter more than crossing romanticized experiences off a bucket list. They went to Paris during Christmastime. Courtesy of Kris Ann Valdez We didn't create a meeting plan for when we got separated At the Louvre, my husband matched his parents' pace while I ran off in pursuit of our toddler. That meant I saw the Mona Lisa and all the lovely, famous art I'd come to admire at hyper toddler speed. The Louvre's spotty cell service made it difficult to reconnect with my husband and in-laws. Between their slower pace and my toddler's refusal to stay still, finding each other was an ordeal. Next time we visit a large museum or go to a big event, I'll designate a meeting spot ahead of time in case anyone gets separated. We stayed too far outside the city center Paris has 20 neighborhoods called arrondissements, and we stayed in the twentieth, which put us on the outskirts of the city. That meant we were far from all the activities we wanted to do. In our defense, it was Christmastime and hotel prices were sky-high. Still, I wish I'd searched harder for a property closer to the center, as everything was always 40 minutes away. The author typically prefers public transportation but it was hard to navigate in such a big group. Courtesy of Kris Ann Valdez Choosing convenience over being frugal was always the right choice I'm pretty frugal overall — if it were up to me, we would've taken the metro everywhere in Paris. But every time I pushed for us to use public transportation in this city, it turned into a miserable affair. For example, by train, it took us nearly three hours to get to Versailles, even though it was supposed to take 90 minutes. The logistics of shuffling our large group from train to train were just too much. Although rideshares cost more, they saved our sanity. Multigenerational travel comes with hidden costs, and in our case, paying for convenience was almost always money well spent. Read the original article on Business Insider

Vanessa Gordon lives under one roof with her multigenerational family in East Hampton, an expensive neighborhood in New York. Jeremy Garretson for BI This essay is part of The New American Home, a series that examines multigenerational houses. After 13 years of marriage, I became a single mom of my two young kids. I knew my life was about to change after my divorce in 2024, but I didn't fully grasp how quickly and dramatically it would shift. Our family home was in East Hampton, New York, but it wasn't technically mine. I had been with my husband since I was 18, after moving from my childhood home in Connecticut to his residence. The author, Vanessa Gordon (middle), has three generations living under one roof, including her 12-year-old daughter, Sarah. Jeremy Garretson for BI The house was a premarital asset. That meant when the marriage ended in 2024, so did my ability to stay. I was immediately faced with the logistical reality of starting over in one of the most expensive clusters of zip codes in the nation. I had to quickly find a new home for myself and my kids, who are 12 and 8 — fast. It only got more complicated when my parents needed to move in, too. I started looking for a home with strict financial guardrails I began searching for a new rental house in 2025 with the help of my business partner, who had experience renting in the Hamptons. The family lives on the first floor of this Hamptons house. Jeremy Garretson for BI As a newly single parent in my late 30s and business owner in the event planning industry with fluctuating income, I needed clarity around what I could truly afford. I created strict parameters. I needed at least three bedrooms: one for me, one for my two children, and one flexible room for guests or workspace. I was looking for a maximum monthly payment of $4,500, plus utilities and extras, that I could comfortably carry on my own without stress. I also wanted reasonable square footage and a great location. A floor plan of the author's house, not drawn to scale, shows how each generation gets its own space. BI I sat with my business partner at a park in East Hampton and started combing through my phone for reliable people who either had or knew someone renting their home in the Hamptons offseason. By some miracle, I found a friend who was renting their home in the Hamptons and secured a monthly rent within my parameters. The Gordon family enjoys a patio-style backyard space, too. It features an outdoor kitchen. Jeremy Garretson for BI I visited the home that same day, and was sold instantly: kitchen, living room, dining area, three bedrooms, including a gym and sauna. And, the 2,200 square feet home was within easy walking distance of the village. My parents moving in temporarily wasn't part of the plan My car suddenly gave out due to a mechanical failure. It was a total loss. The repair costs didn't make sense relative to the value. Suddenly, I was in a new home without reliable transportation for my kids and me. The multigenerational family loves living together thanks to the added benefits. Jeremy Garretson for BI I needed help with basic needs like grocery shopping, general errands, and ensuring my children got to and from their after-school activities. That's when my parents stepped in, sparking the beginning of our multigenerational household — just under three months after I moved in. At 80 and 74, they offered to live with us for long stretches while keeping their home in Connecticut. The arrangement was originally meant to be temporary. I figured it would be a way to stabilize my new single-mom life while I settle into my new home. And living under one roof with three generations has forced us to reorganize our way of living. Three generations under one roof means three different ways of living The living room is a communal space. Jeremy Garretson for BI My parents spend on average 10 days a month living with me. From the onset, there's been little friction. Luckily, we organically created boundaries as needed. Even in common spaces like the kitchen, pantry, and refrigerator. My parents have their own section of the home that feels autonomous, including the secondary bedroom and living room. Though the living room is communal, my parents use it most. The third bedroom is mine and multifunctional. I turned it into a gym and a dedicated workspace. There's also a bed for me to sleep on, but sometimes, I sleep in the living room when my parents aren't using it. The shared spaces are the kitchen and dining area, which have become our cooperative spaces. Dinners are more lively and fun. My children have gained more consistent access to my parents, their grandparents. I have regular emotional backup for those difficult conversations and the challenges that arose because of the divorce. Having my parents around also helps me financially because they help me make smart money decisions, like which car insurance to purchase. They also help out with gas and groceries. It also reshaped how I think about 'home' Before my parents moved in with me, home was tied to marriage, to partnership, and to a version of stability that I assumed would last, even perhaps if our marriage did not. Multigenerational living helps the author care for her kids, including her son, who is 8. Jeremy Garretson for BI Now, home feels more intentional. Living with my parents during this season of life has shown me that independence does not necessarily mean confinement. Support systems can be strategic. Multigenerational living isn't necessarily a step backward. Do I see this living arrangement as permanent? No. Will my parents move in with me later in life? Perhaps. That's now part of the long-term conversation, since we've already seen that we can function together — imperfectly, in a loving way. Divorce forced me into a new chapter, but having my parents around gives my children consistency and my parents a greater sense of purpose. It's also given me the opportunity to regroup and rebuild financially. Read the original article on Business Insider

Amanda Mull / Bloomberg: A profile of Quince, an online luxury DTC brand valued at $10B+, which has found success by using data analysis and close manufacturer ties to keep prices low  —  The online apparel retailer has become a $10 billion-plus e-commerce giant by mastering the art of the supply chain.