Were it not for his experience in North Dakota, Theodore Roosevelt said he never would have become president of the United States. After his first wife and mother died on the same day in 1884, the eventual 26th president retreated to modern-day North Dakota to mourn and reflect.
Next July, more than a century after Roosevelts death, a presidential library in his honor is slated to open in the state that held so much significance in his life. And the visionaries behind the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library hope a visit to the Medora, North Dakota-based library will prove as restorative to people in the modern era as this area once was for Roosevelt.
That may seem an ambitious goal, but this project offers an opportunity to expand the definition of what a presidential library can be, says Edward OKeefe, chief executive officer of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation. It was only fitting to take a land-first approach when celebrating a man who is synonymous with conservation and the national park system, he says.
[Rendering: Snhetta]
We wanted to build a place where you can learn about, and from, Theodore Roosevelt, where you can connect with friends and family and nature so you can decide what change you want to see in the world, OKeefe tells Fast Company. He wrote the book, The Loves of Theodore Roosevelt, which was released earlier this month.
SOMETHING DYNAMICALLY DIFFERENT
Though there was talk of building a Roosevelt library for years, the idea started to take shape in March 2020 when the foundation launched a design competition. That COVID-era timing proved serendipitous, OKeefe says, because it made the power of creating a place that would serve as a convening point all the more relevant. Later that year, Snhetta, an Oslo-based architectural firm, was unanimously selected as design architect.
This is not a museum with only artifacts under glass. It is meant to be an experience, OKeefe says. Theres no point in building a presidential library to a president who has been gone for over 100 years unless youre going to do something dynamically different and for the future.
[Rendering: Snhetta]
Among the design elements that make this library different from others is its roof, featuring dozens of native plant species that will help the building blend seamlessly into the prairie landscape. The coming weeks will mark a milestone in the construction processthats when more than 28,000 plant plugs will be planted on the roof, which spans about three football fields in length, currently planned for June 6.
The librarys architecture was inspired by a leaf atop two pebbles and is almost identical to the initial design, says Craig Dykers, lead architect for the project and co-founder of Snhetta. Once completed, people can ascend to the top of the roof for a view of the surrounding Badlands, the nearby Theodore Roosevelt National Park, nighttime stargazing and, eventually, events.
I can tell you, its such a dramatic experience, Dykers tells Fast Company, adding that it was important to foster a direct connection with nature that Roosevelt enjoyed. It sort of purifies your soul and allows you to see things in a unique way.
Beyond the roof, the butte where the library is situated is being restored to how it might have looked when Roosevelt came west, with native grasses that are more resilient in what can be a harsh and windy environment. Local ranchers have also been consulted as part of the design process and will experiment with grazing cattle and bison on the 93-acre site.
[Rendering: Snhetta]
A LIVING BUILDING
The library is pursuing full certification from the International Living Future Institute as part of its Living Building Challenge, the most advanced measure of sustainability. The project will serve as a model of self-sufficiency, featuring zero energy, zero emissions, zero water, and zero waste sustainability aspects.
Inside the library are walls made from rammed earth, or soil thats been compressed. Its the first time in modern times this ancient technique has been used in North Dakota, and a team based out of nearby Dickinson came together to learn how to make these walls, Dykers says.
From the walls to the roof and beyond, the living building is intentionally tactile so that visitors feel a connection with nature thats pervasive. In such ways, the design draws as much inspiration from the uniqueness of the land as it does the uniqueness of the man.
SLOWING DOWN
In addition to pouring through a wealth of biographies, academic research, and Roosevelts speeches and writings, Dykers sought to better understand how that time in North Dakota helped break the presidents spell of mourning. So the architect embarked on a nearly two-week solo hike during COVID-era lockdowns in the national park and surrounding area.
To be in that place was so powerful to me, and thats exactly what happened to Teddy Roosevelt, Dykers says.
[Rendering: Snhetta]
Even if many people arent inclined to do the same, a kidney-shaped cultural loop that surrounds the library will ensure visitors can appreciate the land from different perspectives, Dykers notes. Thats because the design is unusual in that its essentially flat, even though the land is not, which allows people to experience the rolling landscape in a unique way, he adds.
Were trying to slow people down, so they look down at their feet for a moment or look across the horizon for a moment, to get a different sense of time, Dykers says. North Dakota has an exceptional horizon.
INSPIRING VISITORS
For OKeefe, who grew up in North Dakota, leading the foundation after a 20-year stint as a media executive has been a coming home of sorts. The future library and surrounding land will be an opportunity to introduce more people to his beloved home state.
Just as Mount Rushmore has become a landmark destination in South Dakota, OKeefe envisions the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library someday becoming the same for North Dakota. And drawing people together in a place that held almost-spiritual significance for Roosevelt may have the same effect for those who embrace it, OKeefe says.
The design is evocative of this purpose in bringing people together and exposing them to nature and trying to inspire them to live more purposeful lives, OKeefe says. The journey is the destination.
The United Nations was in a crisis: Elon Musk had taken control of the European Space Agency and all of its outposts in space to further the development of Starlink. Delegates to the U.N., already in a special committee discussing equitable ways to militarize outer space, discovered Musks plans. Hurriedly, the representatives from Japan, Germany, and Egypt came up with a way to rein in the rogue billionaire: kidnap him. Musk, ever noncompliant, hid out on the moon, took several ESA scientists hostage, and lobbed threats at the U.N. After a day-long stalemate, the delegates found a way to bring Musk safely down to Earth, regaining control of the ESA.
The diplomats negotiating in this outlandish scenario werent professionals, and didnt have long and storied careers. Most of them werent even adults. They were high schoolers from around the world, and theyd come to Geneva, Switzerland, in mid-March for the 14th annual Yale Model United Nations Conference, Europe, looking to have a say in the future of global politics.
But even in sessions where they role-played imagined, futuristic scenarios, this years Model U.N. attendees couldnt escape the present. The teen from New York who had played the role of the Egyptian delegate in the space-focused committee said it was funny that in their fictional world of outer space, which even included alien encounters, Elon Musk is still the corrupt figure, kind of pulling the strings behind an elected body that hes not really supposed to have control of.
A common extracurricular for high school students with an interest in international relations, Model U.N. mirrors the procedure of real U.N. meetings. For the three-day YMUNE conference in March, hundreds of student delegates came from countries in Europe, Asia, and the Americas, traveling up to 6,000 miles with their schools to participate. Once there, students broke into committees, focusing on a topic of their choice for the duration of the conference.
Some students attended General Assembly (GA) committees, exploring contemporary issues, such as nuclear energy, equitable internet access, and cryptocurrencies. Model U.N. deviates from the U.N. in that it often has faster-paced “crisis” committees that involve more direct action from participants; assassination attempts and other acts of sabotage are common. Other committees at this years YMUNE focused on historical and fictional events, like outer space colonization or the ethical struggles in Charlotte Brontės Wuthering Heights. I attended a specialized committee on the Paris Commune of 1871, where I worked with other delegates to create a stable and autonomous communist government.
Delegates are expected to come to these conferences with some research done and a write-up of their assigned countries position. But once a committee starts, things tend to get chaotic, as teenagers in business attire fight for global influence. And this year, they were fighting for influence in the shadow cast by President Donald Trumps “America First” brand of diplomacy.
The White House meeting heard round the world
Model U.N. trains students to be the future of international diplomacy, an objective that feels more complex than ever. This year’s YMUNE conference took place two months after Trumps inauguration and just two weeks after his now infamous Oval Office meeting with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trumps approach to politics spilled into many of the committees, no matter the topic, and lingered in the minds of the student delegates.
When asked about Trumps approach to foreign policy, many of the international students I spoke with expressed concern and outrage over his treatment of Zelenskyy. A group of girls from Germany had strong opinions on the issue, saying that Trump was selfish and impeding on democracy. One of the girls called the Oval Office meeting horrible to watch, adding that all [Trump] wanted to do was belittle [Zelenskyy] and make a fool of him in front of international television.
Trump clearly doesnt want to work with [any] country, she said. He lies and says he wants to work with them, but in the end, its just for his own benefit. She was aware of Elon Musks interaction with far-right political parties in Germany, such as the AFD, and noted it was scary to see how such a far-right party is slowly gaining popularity in Germany. All the German girls seemed to agree that the U.N. had a mandate to fight undue U.S. influence.
Even students who admired Trump seemed put off by the Oval Office meeting. A Brazilian student who voiced support for Trumps firm approach to foreign policy and appreciated his strong persona said, Its a little bit too radical to just lash out on Zelenskyy in the White House.
As many of the delegates at YMUNE were European, they were all too aware of Trumps disdain for established alliances and his desire to limit military funding to Europe. A different pair of German students said they had an initial interest in some of Trumps more moderate policies, as they were similar to reforms they would have liked to see implemented in Germany. But now, one said: Hes quite literally going against the entire EU.
The cloud of America First nationalism
At the same time that the space committee was negotiating with Musk over his hostages, a different group of delegates gathered in a GA committee to discuss the uses of science and technology in international development. As the delegates looked for funding to support their proposals for nuclear energy and expanded internet access, a theme emerged: They were all wary of making alliances with the United States.
According to the delegate representing Malaysia (a classmate of mine from New York City), the students representing developing nations were afraid the U.S. would try to monopolize the funding for their projects to have outsize influence over their countries. If the U.S. paid for cell towers and satellites, they reasoned, it could try to wrest control of them in the future. The delegate representing Iran remarked that the allies should quickly try to make a deal with the U.S. before Trump attaches strings to the money, seizes control of projects, and capitalizes on all of our collaboration.
The cloud of American nationalism hung over the room, threatening tenuous collaborations. The delegate of Malaysia told me that all the delegates were aware of a shifting world order, and were cracking jokes about current events without ever saying explicitly that Trump was the biggest threat to the success of their proposals.
Throughout the entire conference, delegates were finding that Trump wasnt just affecting the substance of YMUNE negotiations, he was altering the style of them. Some attendees felt they were witnessing a cultural shift. The usual schmoozing between delegates trying to make alliances was turning into something more sinister, as some students took on the personas and negotiating tactics of Trump and his allies.
The positions taken by delegates in Model U.N. are just assumed for a few days. We are all essentially just playing a role. But the tactics that work for politicians in the real world also work for these delegates. Many saw strongman personas to be less palatable, but more effective, in getting peers on their side. I spoke with a girl from India who observed that many delegates this year believed they had the power to act or behave like Trump. She saw them using his polices to take really radical action that we have not seen before as well, pushing for more extreme proposals in direct contradiction of the collaborative purpose of Model U.N. She said some sessions were more about showing your personality than working together.
A group of girls from Franconia, Germany, also had thoughts about the way delegates personas were changing in response to these politicians. They sensed that delegates were becoming more entitled and assertive, and that normally collaborative committee sessions were turning into power struggles. Its interesting to see other delegates embody a persona that is similar to Trump, said one of the girls, who was originally from the United Kingdom. She saw people dropping some of the refinement that negotiations are supposed to have in favor of louder and more aggressive posturing. She called this a risky game.
Usually in YMUNE, delegates try to balance the complexities of global politics, humanitarian crises, and the diverse perspectives of the other delegates with the goals of the country or person they are representing. Even delegates representing more politically contentious countries dont want to make real enemies. But this year, most of the students I spoke with seemed to believe that diplomatic niceties were being lost, and that Trump was the main reason why.
Politics or Puns?
YMUNE is traditionally a place where delegate-students can build their public speaking skills, develop their ability to compromise, practice formal academic writing, and meet new people from around the world. Its also a place where they can practice real diplomacy. I, like many students, joined Model U.N. because I care about global political issues and want to feel like I am making a difference to solve themand because I like the idea of a career as a diplomat.
But some delegates felt the connection between Model U.N. and the real U.N. had been severed with Trump undermining the U.N.s work. The delegate from the committee on outer space, who joined Model U.N. because he appreciated the chance to address world issues and to work toward real change, remarked that Model U.N. has started to feel less like a simulation of the U.N., and more like a fun activity to do, influenced by the news but removed of its broader significance.
He had started to lose faith in the real U.N., too. He told me that if a president can push aside decades of good will as easily as Trump has, then international relations begins to feel like a futile field. He seemed to think that learning how to participate in real diplomacy through Model U.N. was no longer possible.
I agreed with him. During this years meeting, I often felt shut down in committee sessions by the kinds of delegates who like to imitate Trumps behavior, and was treated differently by some of them because of my gender. I still care passionately about global politics, but am unsure if I will continue doing Model U.N. in college. Its frustrating to put work into conferences and feel as though my research is pointless, that I wont be listened to simply because I refuse to adopt the brashness of other delegates. I feel like my time is better spent addressing politics in other wayslike by writing articles.
One evening, during a break in the conference, I stepped out of the hotel where the sessions were being held to buy some food at a nearby grocery store. On my way out, I was confronted with a large crowd of students. In the middle stood a boy from Massachusetts, engaged in a spirited impression of Trump.
I fought my way to the center of the circle and introduced myself, asking for his name. My name is Donald J. Trump, he replied in a perfect imitation of the presidents drawl. I asked him for his stance on international policy. No one knows international policy better than Donald Trump, he responded. We love policy, and we love internationals, too. The crowd tittered. The boy absorbed the energy of his audience, growing bolder, matching the cadence of the president. What a great question. We love these questions, he went on.
He kept it up for a few more minutes, the audience hanging on to every word. For the moment, at least, no one seemed too concerned with what the real Trumps policies meant for their futures. And then it was over. The crowd dispersed, meandering through the misty night back to the hotel, ready to engage in another two hours of committee sessions.
Want more housing market stories from Lance Lamberts ResiClub in your inbox? Subscribe to the ResiClub newsletter.
This week, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York published its quarterly Household Debt and Credit Report. It shows that while still low, distress is creeping back into the housing market.
Here’s how the U.S. housing foreclosures in Q1 of 2025 compare to previous years:
Q1 2014: 144,500
Q1 2015: 111,820
Q1 2016: 96,680
Q1 2017: 90,460
Q1 2018: 76,360
Q1 2019: 71,040
Q1 2020: 74,720
Q1 2021: 11,400
Q1 2022: 24,220
Q1 2023: 35,640
Q1 2024: 44,180
Q1 2025: 61,660
When COVID-19 lockdowns began, the federal government implemented a nationwide foreclosure moratorium to protect homeowners from the economic fallout. These protectionsincluding forbearance programswere extended multiple times. At the same time, a historic surge in housing demand pushed home prices to new highs during the pandemic housing boom, boosting homeowner equity and keeping foreclosure activity unusually low.
But in recent quarters, foreclosures have steadily returned, inching closer to pre-pandemic 2019 levels. That foreclosure rebound picked up pace in Q1 2025, following the expiration of the moratorium on foreclosures of home loans backed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The question heading forward: Will housing foreclosures continue to rise through the rest of 2025 and in 2026? Lets take a closer look at the leading indicators.
Before U.S. housing foreclosures rise, delinquencies of 90-plus days typically increase. While credit card and auto delinquencies of 90 days or more have surged in recent quarters, delinquencies of 90-plus days on household mortgages remain well below pre-pandemic 2019 levels.
Here’s how the recent share of household mortgage balances that are 90-plus days delinquent compares to previous years:
Q1 2014: 3.72%
Q1 2015: 2.95%
Q1 2016: 2.08%
Q1 2017: 1.67%
Q1 2018: 1.22%
Q1 2019: 1.00%
Q1 2020: 1.06%
Q1 2021: 0.59%
Q1 2022: 0.47%
Q1 2023: 0.44%
Q1 2024: 0.60%
Q1 2025: 0.86%
On the delinquency front, the most noticeable development this quarter is that student loan delinquencies surged to a five-year high in early 2025. While the jump was expected after years of artificially low student loan delinquency rates, Fed researchers warned of serious consequences for behind student-loan borrowers, including damaged credit and reduced access to mortgages and auto loans.
According to the New York Fed, superprime U.S. borrowersthose with credit scores above 760who carry unpaid student loan balances are expected to see their credit scores drop by an average of 171 points this spring. Thats because student loan delinquencies, which hadnt been reported to credit bureaus since the start of the pandemic, are now being reported again. This sudden credit hit could temporarily push some borrowers out of the housing market in 2025 and 2026.
The Treasury has also resumed collection tactics on student loans, including wage garnishment and tax refund seizures, raising questions about potential spillover into other areas of consumer credit.
And before 90-plus day delinquencies typically increase, 30-plus day delinquencies usually rise first. Indeed, 30-plus day mortgage delinquencies have returned to pre-pandemic 2019 levels.
Here’s how the portion of household mortgages transitioning into 30-plus days delinquent compares to historic data.
Q1 2014: 4.92%
Q1 2015: 4.05%
Q1 2016: 3.70%
Q1 2017: 3.51%
Q1 2018: 3.38%
Q1 2019: 3.50%
Q1 2020: 3.48%
Q1 2021: 1.59%
Q1 2022: 1.66%
Q1 2023: 2.43%
Q1 2024: 3.24%
Q1 2025: 3.71%
Big picture: While U.S. housing foreclosures remain low and below pre-pandemic 2019 levels, the 30-plus days delinquency data suggests that foreclosures could gradually near pre-pandemic 2019 by the end of 2025.
The web wasnt always like it is now. It used to be weirderin a good way. And it still can be.
After all, we all occasionally need a tranquil break amidst a hectic daybe it a beautiful sunset, the sight of a cat falling asleep on a windowsill, or even just the landscape rolling by as you stare out the window.
Thats what the tool we’re about to go over is all about. Its a way to look out a windowbut not your window. Another persons window. Right from your workday screen.
On the surface, it may not appear practicalbut arguably, its the most practical thing in the world. Even just a few moments of staring into a virtual window can inject something invaluable into your day. Sometimes, theres nothing more practical than simply taking care of yourself.
In that sense, its good for productivity, too. Place the window on a secondary monitoror keep it in one corner of your computer screenand it just might put you in the right mood to tackle the rest of your to-do list without any doomscrolling or other distractions.
So, ready to find your favorite magical window?
Unearth all sorts of little-known tech treasures with my free Cool Tools newsletter from The Intelligence. A spiffy new discovery in your inbox every Wednesday!
Watch windows around the world
This simple-as-can-be website lets you peer out someones window via video captured somewhere else in the worldand there’s no telling where, exactly, youll end up. Its random.
The site is called WindowSwap, and its a brilliant brain-resetting resource you can use for free.
And it couldn’t be much easier to get started with, either: Just open up the WindowSwap website and click (or tap) on Open a window somewhere in the world.
You can keep clicking Open a window somewhere in the world as much as you want to randomly flip through different streams.
The location of the videoand the time it was captured, likely in the last few monthswill appear at the top of the screen.
Heres what the experience actually feels like in action:
*click* Its the golden hour near sunset. Youre looking out a window from a high-up apartment at the soft glow of the sky, cars slowly cruising by on the calm street below.
*click* Its night time in winter. Snow falls peacefully in a backyard somewhere. All is still.
*click* Youre watching out an airplane window as an airplane makes a gradual descent through a clear blue sky, snowy mountains on the horizon.
*click* Tropical foliage fills your view. A cockatoo flies toward the camera.
*click* A cat faces away from you, staring out the window along with you.
Beautiful views from all around the globe are never more than a click away with the free WindowSwap website.
You get the idea. It goes on and on like that from there. You can stop wherever you like and take in the viewor maybe even leave it open while you work.
WindowSwap is free, but the service will sometimes ask for your support. You can close any pop-ups requesting you subscribe if you aren’t interested in contributing.
If you do end up contributing, the WindowSwap All Access subscription offers a handful of extra featureslike the ability to search for specific cameras rather than flipping through them randomlybut you really dont need any of that to enjoy the service.
WindowSwap is available as a website for phones, PCs, Chromebooks, Macs, and any other device you may be using.
This core service is completely free.
And you dont have to create an account or provide any personal information to use it.
Ready for more week-enhancing tech treats? Check out my free Cool Tools newsletter for an instant introduction to an incredible audio appand another off-the-beaten-path gem every Wednesday!
On Monday, Starbucks rolled out a new dress code as part of its larger corporate overhaul. But union workers say the change is both restrictive and unproductiveand now, baristas are walking out.
The dress code comes as new CEO Brian Niccol is on a mission to bring the brand back to basics, including by scaling back its menu, returning hand-written notes on cups, and introducing ceramic mugs in stores. Employees are now required to wear a more simplified palette of solid black tops along with khaki, black, or blue denim bottoms under the companys signature-green apron.
However, in an email to supporters, Starbucks Workers Unitedthe union representing Starbucks baristascalled the dress code restrictive, adding that it was implemented without input from the baristas it affects. The union has been bargaining to reach a contract with Starbucks for over three years, with no end in sight. It says that the new dress code represents bad faith bargaining, alleging that the code undermines a tentative agreement about attire made at the bargaining table.
A spokesperson from Workers United told Fast Company that, as of Wednesday evening, walkouts have occurred at more than 100 Starbucks locations and included more than 1,200 baristas. The strikes come in the wake of a lackluster financial report for Starbucks’s second quarter of 2025, during which revenue dipped below expectations, U.S. comparable store sales declined 2%, and U.S. comparable transactions were down 4%leaving some analysts wondering just how well Niccol’s “back to basics” plan is actually working.
Union workers are frustrated with the new dress code
According to a series of videos posted by Workers United, baristas are frustrated with the new dress code for a number of reasons.
In one clip posted to Bluesky, a group of workers at a store in Dallas claim they were told their black sneakers were no longer acceptable under the dress code, and that they would have to buy new shoes before returning to work. The Workers United spokesperson explained that, in the past, waterproof shoes have always been a requirement. On Monday, though, several workers (including those in the aforementioned video) claim they were told their waterproof shoes couldnt have any mesh fabric, despite the fact that such a stipulation was not included in the new dress code.
As this new dress code begins to be enforced, Starbucks didn't provide money for new shoes.
The company would rather understaff stores than let us work in the shoes we've always worn during shifts. Customers don't care about what's on our feet![image or embed]— Starbucks Workers United (@sbworkersunited.org) May 13, 2025 at 7:50 AM
The spokesperson also alleged that employees have been sent home for small details like the color of their blue jeans or the number of visible piercings.
Managers are told that they have to enforce all these things; otherwise their own jobs are in jeopardy, the spokesperson said. It’s creating a lot of frustration and confusion, and making baristas feel like this really isn’t about what they’re wearing; it’s just about control.
In another video of workers announcing their reasons for walking out, one barista shared: Now we have to purchase new shirts and shoes to be compliant with the new policy. Why doesnt Starbucks do the right thing and provide a stipend for these newly required items?
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Starbucks Workers United (@sbworkersunited)
Starbucks announced its dress code change on April 14. At the time, the company said it was also launching a line of company-branded T-shirts, adding that employees could receive two of these shirts at no cost. However, the Workers United spokesperson said theyd received several reports of the free shirts not being ready for baristas on Monday. Starbucks, on the other hand, claimed that, of the 18 styles available, only three were temporarily unavailable in a few sizes this week.
In response to the recent walkouts, a Starbucks spokesperson said: The biggest update to our dress code is simple: wear a black shirteither your own or one we provide.While Workers United, which represents less than 5% of our workforce, attempted to create disruption in a handful of stores, the overwhelming majority of our 10,000 U.S. company-operated stores remain open and are serving customers as normal.
The spokesperson noted that there haven’t been any changes to the shoes baristas can wear, other than the heel height, adding that footwear can be black, grey, navy, brown, tan, or white. However, they did not comment on baristas’ complaints about the inconsistent application of the dress code.
The spokesperson added that it would be more productive if the union would put the same effort into coming back to the table to finalize a reasonable contract.
A broader issue
Strikes due to the dress code are just the latest chapter in an ongoing battle between Workers United and Starbucksand union members say their concerns go far beyond what they’re supposed to wear.
Over the past three and a half years, Workers United has been in a continuous bargaining process with Starbucks management, seeking a contract that includes higher wages, guaranteed hours, and better staffing in stores. Members reported that negotiations between the union and the company broke down in late February, which has led union members to increasingly engage in acts of civil disobedience, like sip-ins, walkouts, and picket lines.
In the past, both the union and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) have argued that Starbucks hasnt been bargaining in good faith. In December, Workers United filed an updated unfair labor practice charge with the NLRB outlining their concerns around the drawn-out bargaining process. And, recently, the union filed a new amendment with the NLRB alleging failure to bargain over the dress code.
The amendment calls the dress code an example of bad faith bargaining for unilaterally implementing a new dress code policy . . . that materially differed from both the status quo and what the parties had tentatively agreed to at the bargaining table.
A Starbucks spokesperson said they would “make sure any differences between our negotiations and store implementations are addressed lawfully and fairly.”
Jasmine Leli is a barista from Buffalo, New York, whos worked at Starbucks for three years. Shes also one of the union bargaining delegates who ran the dress code working group that led to a tentative agreement about a future dress code. The unions proposed dress code, she says, included protections like allowing workers to wear union T-shirts to work and to keep their visible piercings. Leli calls the new dress code a distraction from fixing the real issues that we have in our stores.
As partners, we don’t have guaranteed hours, Leli says. We don’t have enough people at work during the middle of the day and at night. I’m not getting all of the hours that I need. I’m not making a fair wageI got a 30cent raiseand now I’m being asked to go out and purchase a completely new wardrobe, including shoes, and our contract hasn’t been finalized.
Ultimately, Leli says, Starbucks should be working to finish the contract and solve its staffing issuenot implementing a new dress code. Customers care more about the wait time for their latte than the shirt their barista is wearing, she adds.
We’re more than mad because the changes that the company is making don’t address the issues that we’re facing in the stores, Leli says. Starbucks is iconic for their green apron. Customers know they’re walking into a Starbucks. It’s not a mystery. And with my regulars, I know their drink, and they know me, whether I’m in a purple shirt or a black shirt.
When a friend and I began investing in thoroughbreds in 2018, it wasn’t fantasies of running in the Kentucky Derby or the Preakness Stakes that excited us most. It was naming the racehorses. We’d seen California Chrome and American Pharoah etch their names in the sports lexicon. And while producing a horse of that caliber was a longshot, just the prospect of the announcer yelling, “Here comes [name we chose] down the stretch!” was unexpectedly thrilling.
This weekend’s Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown, features some elite thoroughbreds, and even some better names. Journalism, the favorite, has arguably the best name in the field. American Promise has obvious American Pharoah vibes and was sired by 2018 Triple Crown winner Justifyanother iconic moniker.
On name alone, Id put my money on Sandman.
And while betting on the horse with the best name is the equivalent of my 10-year-old daughter rooting for the Miami Dolphins because their uniforms are pretty, for a niche sport that becomes the center of the sports world for six weeks in the spring, sometimes the name is all we’ve got.
For owners to choose a name worth rooting for, there are some tricksand rulesto follow.
The Basics
All racehorses are given the birth date of January 1 of the year they were born, regardless of their actual birthday. Then, the clock starts ticking. Owners must give their horses an official, registered name by February of their second year, or face late registration fees from horse racing’s administrative hub, The Jockey Club.
Before receiving their official monikers, these nameless thoroughbreds are typically referred to by combinations of their sire and dam’s names (their father and mother) along with a description. For instance, the horse As Time Goes By was previously known as bay mare by American Pharoah out of Take Charge Lady. Sometimes they go by just the dams name and the birth year2020 chestnut gelding out of Sunrise Glow. Kind of like how COVID-19 got its name, or how scientists would name a newly discovered planet.
Owners must submit six different name options to The Jockey Club for consideration, each of which must follow the clubs specific rules.
The Science
Racehorse naming follows strict guidelines. Before Twitter, horse racing featured the original character limit. Names cannot exceed 18 characters, including spaces and punctuation. This explains compact names like Shutthefrontdoor and Keepmeinmind. Additionally, names are limited to seven syllables, with 2003 Kentucky Derby contender Atswhatimtalkinbout pushing character, syllable, and pronunciation limits to the extreme.
Using initials is also prohibited, as are numbersunless spelled out, as exhibited by 1988 Derby runner-up Forty Niner.
Horse-related terms like filly, colt, mare, and stallion are also forbidden, as are official course and race titles. Names with obvious commercial value are also immediately rejected. Nobody wants to see a horse named Coca-Cola or TikTok leading the field down the stretch.
The art
Uniqueness is nonnegotiable. No horse can share a name with another currently racing or one that has raced or bred in the previous 10 years. For stallions, the name protection extends to 15 years after they’ve stopped breeding, while winners of Grade 1 stakes racesthe highest echelon of the sportare protected for 25 years. And just like sports teams retire jersey numbers, names like Secretariat, Man o’ War, and Seattle Slew are forever on the restricted list and can never be reused. To check a names availability, owners can verify it against the Jockey Club registry.
Personal names are also tricky. A horse cannot be named after a famous person or someone who’s been dead for less than 50 years without written permission from them or their family. I learned this firsthand when I tried to name one of our horses Mookie Blaylock as an ode to Pearl Jam, which the band used as its original name before changing it, and was informed I needed permission, which wasnt worth the trouble.
One of the most famous stories of a celebrity-named horse came in 1991, when then-First Lady Barbara Bush gave her written consent to the owner of a filly out of Kentucky to use her name, but the horse made only two starts and earned just $102 in winnings.
Finally, the Jockey Club strictly prohibits vulgar, obscene, or offensive names. Previously rejected names include Ben Dover and Sofa King Fast, though occasionally, somelike Hoof Heartedslip past the censors.
The craft
Casual and seasonal horse racing enthusiasts remember names like California Chrome and Smarty Jones, both Derby winners.
But who remembers Orb, or Mage?
Both also won the Derby, but their names dont inspire, so theyre largely forgotten.
To craft a unique, memorable name that bettors want to root for, many owners look to their horse’s physical characteristics. A foal with a distinctive scar might earn a boxing-related name like Haymaker, turning an imperfection into a memorable identity. The most common tradition is incorporating the parents’ names, like a nominal family tree, as 2023 Derby contender Tapit Trice did when it combined sire Tapit with dam Danzatrice (Italian for ballerina), creating a name that honors both bloodlines.
The biggest breeders have more sophisticated racehorse naming strategies. Susan Magnier, who names the racehorses at Coolmore in the UK, reserves grand names for their most promising colts. The name Camelot was stored in her diary for nearly 10 years before a worthy horse emerged. That horse went on to win six of the 10 races he started across Ireland and Great Britain in 201113, doing the moniker justice.
From Bananas on Fire to Sandman
My partner and I had four horses to name. One name Ive already forgotten, as it was gven to a forgettable horse. Another we dubbed Artillerystrong, singular, and assertive. A third we named Queen Karma. We liked the implied royalty combined with the mysticism and alliteration.
But the name that caught the attention of bettors and emerged as the best in the stable was Bananas on Fire, a nod to our favorite beer from a local Lake Oswego brewery. Hardly Secretariat or Seabiscuit, but it was fun. Which is where many owners land.
While theres no Bananas on Fire in this weekends Preakness, we do have Journalism. We have River Thames, Goal Oriented, and Pay Billy. Sovereignty, another strong name, won the Derby but wont be running the Preakness, so theres no shot at a Triple Crown this year. So if were going on name alone, even with Journalism locked in as the favorite, Ill still put my money on the best name in the field.
Give me Sandman.
When I lived in Florida, I had a neighbor named Ms. Carmen. She was in her late 70s, fiercely independent, and lived alone with her two dogs and one cat, which were her closest companions.
Each hurricane season, she would anxiously ask if I would check on her when the winds began to pick up. She once told me: “Im more afraid of being forgotten than of the storm itself.” Her fear wasnt just about the weather; it was about facing it alone.
When hurricanes hit, we often measure the damage in downed power lines, flooded roads, and wind-torn homes. But some of the most serious consequences are harder to see, especially for older adults who may struggle with mobility, chronic health problems, and cognitive decline.
Emergency preparedness plans too often overlook the specific needs of elders in Americas aging population, many of whom live alone. For people like Ms. Carmen, resilience needs to start long before the storm.
The number of older adults in the U.S. and the percentage of the population age 65 and older have been rising. [Image: US Census Bureau]
I study disaster preparations and response. To prepare for hurricane season, and any other disaster, I encourage families to work with their older adults now to create an emergency plan. Preparing can help ensure that older adults will be safe and able to contact relatives or others for help, and will have the medications, documents and supplies they need, as well as the peace of mind of knowing what steps to take.
Recent hurricanes show the gaps
In 2024, Hurricanes Helene and Milton put a spotlight on the risks to older adults.
The storms forced thousands of people to evacuate, often to shelters with little more than food supplies and mattresses on the floor, and ill-equipped for medical needs.
Flooding isolated many rural homes, stranding older adults. Power was out for weeks in some areas. Emergency systems were overwhelmed.
A tornado tore into a senior community in Port St. Lucie, Florida, during Milton, killing six people. Some long-term care facilities lost power and water during Helene.
At the same time, some older adults chose to stay in homes in harms way for fear that they would be separated from their pets or that their homes would be vandalized.
These events are not just tragic; they are predictable. Many older adults cannot evacuate without assistance, and many evacuation centers arent prepared to handle their needs.
How to prepare: 5 key steps
Helping older adults prepare for emergencies should involve the entire family so everyone knows what to expect. The best plans are personal, practical, and proactive, but they will contain some common elements.
Here are five important steps:
1. Prepare an emergency folder with important documents.
Disasters can leave older adults without essential information and supplies that they need, such as prescription lists, financial records, medical devices andimportantlycontact information to reach family, friends, and neighbors who could help them.
Many older adults rely on preprogrammed phone numbers. If their phone is lost or the battery dies, they may not know how to reach friends or loved ones, so its useful to have a hard copy of phone numbers.
Consider encouraging the use of medical ID bracelets or cards for those with memory loss.
Hurricane season begins June 1. Dont wait until its too late.To prepare ahead you can develop an evacuation plan, assemble a disaster supply kit, create a communications plan and more.For more hurricane preparedness tips, visit: https://t.co/gG4ogHLnOg pic.twitter.com/Wukb1C1CUt— Polk Emergency Mgmt (@polkemergency) May 6, 2025
Critical documents like wills, home deeds, powers of attorney, and insurance records are frequently kept in physical form and may be forgotten or lost in a sudden evacuation. Use waterproof storage thats easy to carry, and share copies with trusted caregivers and family members in case those documents are lost.
2. Have backup medications and equipment.
Think about that persons assistive devices and health needs. Having extra batteries on hand is important, as is remembering to bring chargers and personal mobility aids, such as walkers, canes, mobility scooters, or wheelchairs. Do not forget that service animals support mobility, so having supplies of their food will be important during a hurricane or evacuation.
Ask doctors to provide an emergency set of medications in case supplies run low in a disaster.
If the person is staying in their home, prepare for at least 72 hours of self-sufficiency in case the power goes out. That means having enough bottled water, extra pet food, and human food that doesnt need refrigeration or cooking.
3. Map evacuation routes and shelter options.
Identify nearby shelters that will likely be able to support older adults mobility and cognitive challenges. If the person has pets, make a plan for them, toomany areas will have at least one pet-friendly shelter, but not all shelters will take pets.
Figure out how the person will get to a shelter, and have a backup plan in case their usual transportation isnt an option. And decide where they will go and how they will get there if they cant return home after a storm.
If your loved one lives in a care facility, ask to see that facilitys hurricane plan.
4. Create a multiperson check-in system.
Dont rely on just one caregiver or family member to check on older adults. Involve neighbors, faith communities, or local services such as home-delivered meals, transportation assistance, support groups, and senior centers. Redundancy is crucial when systems break down.
5. Practice the plan.
Go through evacuation steps in advance so everyone knows what to do. Executing the plan should be second nature, not a scramble during a disaster or crisis.
Planning with, not just for, older adults
Emergency planning isnt something done for older adultsits something done with them.
Elders bring not only vulnerability but also wisdom. Their preferences and autonomy will have to guide decisions for the plan to be successful in a crisis.
That means listening to their needs, honoring their independence, and making sure caregivers have realistic plans in place. Its an important shift from just reacting to a storm to preparing with purpose.
Lee Ann Rawlins Williams is a clinical assistant professor of education, health and behavior studies at the University of North Dakota.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Americans often receive a lot of grief for being less internationally traveled than citizens of other countries. But in recent years, more Americans are traveling abroad than ever before. Numbers compiled by the digital magazine Travel and Tour World (TTW) show that in March 2025, 6.56 million Americans flew outside of the country. Thats 1.6% more than the same period a year earlier, and more than 22% more than in 2019the year before the pandemic caused international travel to grind to a halt.
TTW cites pent-up demand, strong personal savings among affluent demographics, and a growing appetite for immersive cultural experiences as the main reasons more Americans are traveling overseas. And those numbers from March will likely increase this month as the school season ends and Americans start heading out on summer vacations, especially since ticket prices have been dropping lately as airlines lower their fares to entice inflation-wary consumers to travel.
But if it’s your first time traveling internationally, you may not be aware that the reigning transportation and mapping app kings in the United States, Google Maps and Apple Maps, arent always the best to use in other countries. There are others that will enable you to navigate new lands more easily, especially the abundant public transportation options that most other countries offer. With that in mind, here are some apps to download before you head out on your global travels.
Citymapper
Citymapper is probably the most recognizable app on this list, and thats because it does one thing better than nearly any other app: It helps you navigate some of the worlds best cities, whether that be by foot, car, bicycle, scooter, tram, ferry, or other city-specific modes of transitway more modes than Apple or Google offers in most locales.
Citymapper is already pretty popular in America because it helps residents and visitors in big cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., get around. However, while the app supports just 28 cities in America, it supports 72 in Europe, along with prominent Asian destinations, including Tokyo, Seoul, and Hong Kong.
Moovit
If you need public transit directions in America or most major European cities, Google Maps or Apple Maps can do a decent job of getting you from point A to point B. But if you are in less frequently traveled countries of the world, you’ll find that Google Maps and Apple Maps dont always reveal all the public transportation options that are available when trying to get across a cityor from city to city.
Thankfully, theres Moovit, which boasts public transit directions for more than 112 countries and 3,400 cities across the globeincluding many in the Global South, which many transit apps frequently overlook. If you are traveling in Eastern Europe, South America, Africa, or large parts of Asia, Moovit will likely show you the most public transportation options available. Another great thing about the app is that it lets you download a citys transit maps for offline viewing.
Naver Map
Few countries have a geopolitical postwar history that’s as fascinating as South Korea. The country, which is still technically at war with North Korea, rapidly industrialized after the 1960s to become one of the worlds most economically and technologically advanced nations. If you plan to visit South Korea, be sure to download Naver Map before you go.
Naver Map is the Google Maps of South Korea, and it features nearly everything you would expect to find in Google Maps, including transportation directions and business listings. You can still use Google Maps or Apple Maps in South Korea, but their real-time transportation direction capabilities are significantly nerfed. Thats because South Korean law requires mapping providers to store their mapping data within the countrysomething neither Google nor Apple does. And yes, while Naver Map is predominantly used by locals, the smartphone app is also available in English, making it a must-have for American visitors.
Rome2Rio
The apps above are mostly very city- or country-specific. But what if you are going on a multination journeysay from Portugal to Finlandand stopping at multiple cities on the way? There is probably no better app that helps you get from one country to another than Rome2Rio.
Fast Company has previously spotlighted the platformwhich is basically like a Google Maps for major modes of travel between any two points on the planetbut it’s worth mentioning here again because it is so useful (and the smartphone app is great). Rome2Rio will show you how to navigate between two placesno matter if by car, train, bus, plane, or ferryand show you how much it is likely to cost based on your selected mode of transport.
Transit
Finally, it’s worth mentioning that one of the easiest transportation apps to use is Transit, thanks to its excellent user interface, which makes following step-by-step transit directions a cinch. As soon as you open the app, youll instantly see the public transport options closest to youno searching required. It also displays route options in a color-coded bar chart format, letting you choose the best one for you at a glance.
Transit is currently available in 25 countries and over 870 cities. The majority of those cities are in the United States, Canada, and France, but the app also supports major cities in popular destinations for U.S. tourists, including the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and other select global cities.
Paula Davis is the founder and CEO of the Stress & Resilience Institute. She is a globally recognized expert and adviser regarding burnout prevention at work and building resilient teams. Previously, she practiced law, and then during her postgraduate training for her psychology masters degree, she was selected to be part of the University of Pennsylvanias faculty teaching resilience skills to soldiers for the Armys Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness program.
Whats the big idea?
To increase well-being, motivation, engagement, resilience, or the many words that describe thriving teams, we must understand that leadership behaviors drive employee experience. Leaders can control the conditions that allow for sustainable high performance. We need to advance the conversation beyond individual remedies for burnout and address root causes of stress and disengagement.
Below, Paula shares five key insights from her new book, Lead Well: 5 Mindsets to Engage, Retain, and Inspire Your Team. Listen to the audio versionread by Paula herselfin the Next Big Idea App.
1. Activate sticky recognition
When people are keenly aware of their impact at work, it ignites a powerful psychological fuel. Sticky recognition is a way for leaders to show an individual or team their impact, as well as awaken something even deeper: a sense of mattering. Its a fundamental human need to know that we matter. Mattering emerges from a combination of achieving goals that are personally important and being noticed or recognized for that work.
There are two tiny noticeable things (TNTs) that can activate sticky recognition. The first is saying a thank you, plus a little bit of extra added to it. That extra piece is the why. Instead of only saying thank you to someone, you can say to them, Thank you. The way you summarized those reports helped me see the key takeaways and I was able to have a much clearer conversation with the CEO because of it. That little extra piece sticks or resonates beyond the thank you.
The second TNT that activates sticky recognition is calling out peoples strengths. For instance, I was leaving a restaurant with a friend when I noticed a different friend walking down the sidewalk. I hadnt seen her in a long time, so I ran up to her and gave her the biggest hug, saying, Sandra, its so great to see you. When I got in the car, the friend I had gone to dinner with said, I really like the way your face lights up when you see your friends. Being complimented on that kindness in me was very powerful.
2. Amplify A, B, C needs
A stands for autonomy, B stands for belonging, and C stands for challenge. This trio forms the basis for several well-being models. There are several TNTs that can expand the A, B, C needs of your team.
For autonomy, we oftentimes think solely about where people work and when people work, but I want you to think about how you can give people more decision-making authority. Can you allow them to be more creative? Can you allow them to take more control? Being able to expand autonomy is great. A TNT for autonomy is setting context for rules and goals. Give the rationale, the backstory that explains why a change is happening or why they are assigned a particular project. Or tell a little bit more about the story of a client the company is working with.
This trio forms the basis for several wellbeing models.
Belonging comes next. A sense of connection is important and needs to be fostered more intentionally in hybrid or remote work models. One of the TNTs that amplify connection is scheduling unstructured time with someone, just 10 or 15 minutes every couple of weeks, to ask whats on their mind. Or, a much more powerful question would be, What has your attention right now? Over time, this inquiry allows leaders to understand their team in a deeper way.
People want to feel a sense of opportunity and growth from their workthey want the right challenge. If they dont see a clear path for that, they will not hesitate to leave the organization. A TNT for this is helping them seek mastery experiences. Help them understand or get to know different skills that they might want to consider developing to reach their goals. Then, suggest opportunities that allow them to pursue those skills. If someone says they want to get better at public speaking, maybe you can offer that they can lead a team meeting or present at a conference.
3. Build workload sustainability
There are a lot of things within leaders control that can make workloads sustainable. It comes down to two things: establishing teaming practices and recovery practices. A TNT for teaming practices is conducting a meetings audit. Take a step back and look at how many meetings you take part in. How many meetings are people on your team involved with? Are all those meetings necessary? Is there another way that information can be communicated? Can meetings be shorter? Can you add an agenda so that there is structure and clarity?
4. Design systemic stress resilience
Resilience is one of the most misunderstood words in our world of work. Basically, resilience is meant to help people develop their capacity to manage challenges, problems, failure, setbacks, and grow from those obstacles. Resilience lives at the individual level, team level, and organizational level. Resilient teams show four big capacities:
Team efficacy. They have a lot of collective confidence in their ability to achieve goals and manage challenges.
Clear roles and responsibilities. Clarity increases autonomy.
Improvisation. If they encounter a challenge, theyre able to chat, pivot, and proceed with a new game plan.
Psychological safety. This allows for cohesion, trust, and the ability to discuss failure when things dont go right.
A TNT for expanding your teams resilience is to debrief together after micro-challenges. Dont wait for the big project to finish. Whenever your team encounters a minor stumble, use that as an opportunity to come together and talk.
5. Promote values, alignment, and meaning
Values misalignment is one of the six drivers of burnout. Values need to be lived. People want to see their leaders walking the talk. Research shows that there are six ways that leaders can build a sense of values, alignment, and meaning at work:
Communicate the works bigger impact.
Recognize and nurture potential.
Foster personal connections.
Discuss values and purpose during hiring and onboarding.
Model values-based behavior.
Give employees autonomy.
Youll notice that the A, B, C needs are part of this structure as wel. One TNT that you can use for yourself and encourage within teams is to revive a dormant connection. Who is someone you had a strong connection with in the past, but the relationship has been quiet for a while? Reach out to that person and revive that connection.
This article originally appeared in Next Big Idea Club magazine and is reprinted with permission.
When disasters happensuch as hurricanes, wildfires, and earthquakesevery second counts. Emergency teams need to find people fast, send help and stay organized. In todays world, one of the fastest ways to get information is through social media.
In recent years, researchers have explored how artificial intelligence can use social media to help during emergencies. These programs can scan millions of posts on sites such as X, Facebook, and Instagram. However, most existing systems look for simple patterns like keywords or images of damage.
In my research as an AI scientist, Ive developed new models that go further. They can understand the meaning and context of postswhat researchers call semantics. This helps improve how accurately the system identifies people in need and classifies situational awareness information during emergencies. The results show that these tools can give rescue teams a clearer view of whats happening on the ground and where help is needed most.
From posts to lifesaving insights
People share billions of posts on social media every day. During disasters, they often share photos, videos, short messages and even their location. This creates a huge network of real-time information.
But with so many posts, its hard for people to find whats important quickly. Thats where artificial intelligence helps. These systems, which use machine learning, can scan thousands of posts every second, find urgent messages, spot damage shown in pictures, and tell real information from rumors.
During Hurricane Sandy in 2012, people sent over 20 million tweets over six days. If AI tools had been used then, they could have helped find people in danger even faster.
Training AIs
Researchers begin by teaching AI programs to understand emergencies. In one study I conducted, I looked at thousands of social media posts from disasters. I sorted them into groups like people asking for help, damaged buildings and general comments. Then, I used these examples to train the program to sort new posts by itself.
One big step forward was teaching the program to look at pictures and words together. For example, a photo of flooded streets and a message like were trapped are stronger signals than either one alone. Using both, the system became much better at showing where people needed help and how serious the damage was.
Finding information is just the first step. The main goal is to help emergency teams act quickly and save lives.
Im working with emergency response teams in the United States to add this technology to their systems. When a disaster hits, my program can show where help is needed by using social media posts. It can also classify this information by urgency, helping rescue teams use their resources where they are needed most.
For example, during a flood, my system can quickly spot where people are asking for help and rank these areas by urgency. This helps rescue teams act faster and send aid where its needed most, even before official reports come in.
Addressing the challenges
Using social media to help during disasters sounds great, but its not always easy. Sometimes, people post things that arent true. Other times, the same message gets posted many times or doesnt clearly state where the problem is. This mix can make it hard for the system to know whats real.
To fix this, Im working on ways to check a posts credibility. I look at who posted it, what words they used and whether other posts say the same thing.
I also take privacy seriously. I only use posts that anyone can see and never show names or personal details. Instead, I look at the big picture to find patterns.
The future of disaster intelligence
As AI systems improve, they are likely to be even more helpful during disasters. New tools can understand messages more clearly and might even help us see where trouble is coming before it starts.
As extreme weather worsens, authorities need fast ways to get good information. When used correctly, social media can show people where help is needed most. It can help save lives and get supplies to the right places faster.
In the future, I believe this will become a regular part of emergency work around the world. My research is still growing, but one thing is clear: Disaster response is no longer just about people on the groundits also about AI systems in the cloud.
Ademola Adesokan is a postdoctoral researcher in computer science at Missouri University of Science and Technology.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
