Author: knjohn

How to clean your laptop screen without damaging it | Mashable

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Recently, as I was editing an article, I noticed an accent over an “a” that definitely shouldn’t have been there. I backspaced to no avail and even went so far as to make sure my Spanish keyboard wasn’t turned on by mistake. Turns out it was a fleck of dust or dirt, which is how I knew it was time to clean my laptop screen.

As with most valuable tech devices, there is a right and a wrong way to clean your laptop screen. So, here’s the 411 on exactly how to clean your laptop screen so you’re left with a shiny, sparkly, and almost-new-looking screen.

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How to return Amazon orders in 2025 | Mashable

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Amazon provides a pretty irresistible shopping experience through its speedy shipping (among other Prime member perks), vast range of products, and unbeatable prices. Prime Day (formally called Prime Big Deal Days in October), in particular, can often lead to some regretful impulse buys. Psst: Just because something is down to its lowest price ever doesn’t mean you need it.

With another Amazon shopping holiday on the horizon, officially kicking off on Oct. 7, you may be wondering how to return unwanted items purchased at Amazon. Whether you fall victim to the inevitable Prime Day impulse buys, end up with a broken item, or accidentally order two of something, it’s actually pretty simple to make returns in 2025.

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Trump’s tariffs are devastating the Halloween industry | CNN Business

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Chris Zephro’s warehouse full of latex masks, “Saw” movie props, and zombie apocalypse games is a testament to his love of horror.

“Horror is not necessarily Halloween. It’s really a lifestyle,” Zephro said.

But the fake blood inside his Santa Cruz, California, warehouse pales in comparison to the real-life cash bleed from his business ever since the Trump administration launched a trade war with China last spring.

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A new rule means some 401(k) contributions will no longer be tax-deferred. Here’s who will be affected | CNN Business

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A new rule is going into effect next year that will affect high earners who make “catch-up contributions” in their 401(k)s or other tax-deferred workplace retirement plans.

The rule, which was created under the Secure 2.0 retirement law, will essentially eliminate the immediate tax break for catch-up contributions that you get for the bulk of your other contributions to a 401(k) — or 403(b), 457(b), Simplified Employee Pension Plan (SEP), or SIMPLE IRA.

Here’s a breakdown of what will change and who, specifically, will be affected.

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Diagnostic dilemma: A woman got unusual bruising from a massage gun. It turned out she had scurvy. | Live Science

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The patient: A 37-year-old woman in Philadelphia

The symptoms: The patient went to the emergency department after four days of pain, swelling, and bruising on the upper part of her left knee. She reported that these symptoms appeared after she’d used a massage gun on her leg.

What happened next: Doctors took the woman’s medical history, noting that she had been on blood thinners for about six years due to previously having a blood clot in her lung and a stroke caused by a small birth defect in her heart that had allowed a clot to reach her brain. She also reported heavy menstrual bleeding.

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Jane Goodall, famed primatologist who discovered chimpanzee tool use, dies at 91 | Live Science

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Jane Goodall, the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees, has died at the age of 91, the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) confirmed in a statement on Wednesday (Oct. 1). Goodall died of natural causes in Los Angeles, California, while on a speaking tour.

Goodall “was a remarkable example of courage and conviction, working tirelessly throughout her life to raise awareness about threats to wildlife, promote conservation, and inspire a more harmonious, sustainable relationship between people, animals, and the natural world,” the JGI statement reads.

Dame Valerie Jane Morris-Goodall was born on April 3, 1934, in London. As a child, Goodall was fond of animals, including the 1920 book “The Story of Dr. Dolittle,” and intrigued by the ecosystems of Africa. On a trip to Kenya in 1957, she met paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey, who convinced Goodall that studying the behavior of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) might provide insights into the behavior of early human ancestors.

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Setting Clear Expectations for Employees | Business News Daily

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Setting expectations and clearly communicating responsibilities to each new hire can pay off in the long run. Yet many companies fall short. Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace 2025 report shows that only 21 percent of employees worldwide were engaged in 2024, down from 23 percent the year before. When employees aren’t engaged, businesses pay the price. Gallup estimates the global economy lost about $438 billion in lost productivity alone. A big reason is that workers don’t always know what’s expected of them. Making roles and responsibilities clear is one of the simplest — and most powerful — ways to boost engagement and strengthen an organization.

Gallup also found that engagement has nearly four times more impact on workplace stress levels than where people work. And with more than half of employees globally considering leaving their jobs — often because expectations are unclear or mismatched — the case for better expectation-setting couldn’t be stronger.

What are employee expectations?

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Direct Costs vs. Indirect Costs: What’s the Difference? | Business News Daily

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As the owner of a startup or small business, understanding the distinction between direct and indirect costs is essential when pricing your products or services. When you know the true costs involved in producing and providing your goods or services, you can price them competitively and accurately. Additionally, many costs are tax-deductible according to current IRS guidance, so properly tracking both direct and indirect costs can help maximize your deductions.

What are direct costs?

Direct costs are expenses that a company can easily trace to a specific “cost object,” which may be a product, department or project. Examples include software, equipment and raw materials. Direct labor is also included, as long as it relates to a product, department or project.  For example, when an employee is hired for a project either exclusively or for a set number of hours, their labor is a direct cost. If your company develops software and needs specific assets, such as purchased frameworks or development applications, those are direct costs.

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How To Manage A Multigenerational Workforce (11 Tips) | LifeHack

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It’s no secret that the workforce is changing. And with that change comes new challenges and frustrations. However, with change also comes new opportunities to learn, grow, and innovate.

But, in many cases, it’s easier said than done, especially when managing a multigenerational workforce.

After all, it’s not simply about adopting new forms of modern technology; it’s about understanding and accommodating your team’s different motivations, expectations, and working styles.

This article aims to give you the confidence you need to lead all ages on your team. Here are 11 tips to help you manage your multigenerational workforce

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How to Avoid Micromanaging (When You Just Want to Help) | LifeHack

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Have you ever found yourself at the crossroads of delegation and assistance? The familiar predicament that leaders often face.

You aim to steer a proficient team, delegating tasks to your members, while simultaneously carrying an anxiety that makes you peek over their shoulders, just to ensure that things are on the right track.

Your well-intentioned oversight, however, might be perceived as micromanagement by your team. Worse still, you might unwittingly fall into the snare of micromanagement without even realizing it.

Trust me, I’ve been there.

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