'Disturbing Gibberish': New Trans Textbook For Psychiatrists Could Harm Millions Of Kids, Critics Say Authored by Darlene McCormick Sanchez via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), A new "cutting-edge" textbook on transgenderism written with the help of activists will be used to train psychiatrists and could harm millions of children in the future, some experts have warned. (Illustration by The Epoch Times, Shutterstock) "Gender-Affirming Psychiatric Care," just released on Amazon at $58, is a textbook printed by American Psychiatric Association (APA) Publishing. The textbook signals early on that it's more subjective than objective, quoting a feminist studies professor saying, "Scientific neutrality is a fallacy." The content has prompted some critics to question the textbook's reliance on a mix of transgender-identifying professionals writing about their experiences, limited scientific studies, and neo-Marxist critical theories. "This is a huge issue; millions more kids will be harmed," said Dr. Lauren Schwartz, a psychiatrist in Oklahoma speaking out against the rush to "transition" children. The textbook's introduction says the book is based on an "evidence-informed approach" instead of an evidence-based approach, which is more scientific, she told The Epoch Times. The 26 chapters are written by 56 authors, 50 of whom are in the transgender community, according to the textbook's foreword. Chapters include affirming "two-spirit people," a term used to refer to someone who believes he or she is both sexes, and one about "double queer" people—or people who identify as transgender and have a mental disability. The book's editors are listed as an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and investigator at the National LGBT Health Education Center; and a transgender-identifying psychiatry resident at the University of Pennsylvania, whose work is influenced by her background as a "non-binary/trans, queer, neurodivergent, chronically ill, Jewish person." Dr. Schwartz noted that the authors were chosen by "prioritizing lived experience, diversity of perspectives, and community impact of prior work over academic titles." 'Disturbing Gibberish' The problem is the textbook will be perceived as authoritative because it was printed by the APA's publishing arm, she said. "Anyone wanting to practice gender-affirming care, any attorney wanting to defend it, and any legislator who wants to protect it, now they have a new peer-reviewed textbook, not just 'evidence' in a journal or a study," she said. Alan Hopewell, a prescribing neuropsychologist in Texas who saw transgender-identifying patients decades ago, called the textbook "disturbing." "This is nonsensical gibberish which has no foundation whatsoever in science," he told The Epoch Times. Hospitals could demand doctors go by the textbook because the APA put it out, or it could even be used to remove the license of doctors who don't go along with it, he said. Abigail Martinez (R), the mother of a transgender teen who committed suicide, sheds tears as Erin Friday comforts her and transgender activists block TV cameras from capturing her story in Anaheim, Calif., on Oct. 8, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) "This reminds me of brain-damaged hippies free-associating at a commune," Mr. Hopewell said. The book foreword says that most of the contributing authors recognize they are "obscenely privileged" as English-speaking doctors with access to elite schools. It asserts that the psychiatric field was built on "the work [and assumptions] of European, white, cisgender men, including their colonial, Anglo-centric, cis-heteropatriarchal worldview and pathologization of experiences that did not fit their own 'norm.'" "For millennia, outside of European colonial influences, gender diversity has flourished to varying degrees among hundreds of indigenous communities around the world," the foreword reads. The idea that Western countries were colonizing land stolen from indigenous people is part of critical race theory (CRT), which critics say is rooted in neo-Marxism. Straight White Bias CRT and gender theories see white people and heterosexuals in Western civilization as "oppressors" of minority identity groups, who are viewed as victims. Activists are encouraged to dismantle oppressive societies in order to right discrimination of the past, according to ideology architects such as Ibram X. Kendi, who wrote "How to Be an Antiracist." Detransition advocates meet outside of the annual Pediatric Endocrine Society conference held in San Diego, Calif., on May 6, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Proponents of CRT and gender theories contend that discrimination against identity groups such as white people and heterosexuals is needed to right the wrongs against racial and sexual minorities. "The entire document is predicated on an uncritical acceptance of queer theory, which is more accurately queer Marxism," conservative author James Lindsay told The Epoch Times. Queer theory is a gender ideology advocating the destruction of traditional sexual norms; some queer theorists support sexual acts such as pedophilia and bestiality that aren't accepted by society. The textbook describes heterosexuals as cisgender people who are part of a "cultural and systemic marginalization" of LGBT people who don't align with societal norms. To prove the point, the authors object to the idea that only women can have babies. "For example, naming an obstetrics and gynecology practice a women's health center is cis-normative because it assumes the practice will only serve patients with one gender," the foreword reads. Mr. Lindsay, author of "The Marxification of Education," said the idea of "treating" gender dysphoria with hormones or surgery is akin to performing lobotomies on the mentally ill decades ago. History teaches that communist theories applied to the real world have deadly results, he said. Mr. Lindsay pointed to the forced application of Trofim Lysenko's Soviet agriculture program based on pseudo-science as an example of a communist idea gone bad. The program caused millions of innocent people in the former Soviet Union to starve by forcing them to plant seeds close together in the belief that plants from the same class never compete with each other. The theory contributed to widespread famine. Read the rest here... Tyler Durden Sat, 12/02/2023 - 18:40.....»»

The air traffic controller workforce has been severely stretched, with staffing shortages leading to strenuous workweeks and alcohol or drug abuse. Rafael Cordero/GettyAir traffic controllers, who have long endured staffing shortages, are facing increasingly strenuous schedules.The workloads have led some controllers to use alcohol, sleeping pills, and drugs to cope, per a Times report.Complaints to the FAA revealed problems among the workforce that could jeopardize air safety.There's a growing problem that's threatening the ability of air traffic controllers to effectively perform their jobs, which over time could weaken the safety of passengers in the skies: their strained workloads.The air traffic controller workforce in recent years has been stretched to the brink, with staffing shortages necessitating six-day workweeks and 10-hour workdays for many controllers, conditions which have exacerbated exhaustion and in some cases led to depression, according to The New York Times.In interviews and complaints sent to the Federal Aviation Administration, several controllers said they had not sought personal help to deal with physical and psychological issues because they were fearful of the FAA's rules governing medical clearances, per The Times.The rules regulating the clearances prohibit particular medications from being used by air traffic controllers — as they could cause drowsiness on the job — so some controllers have turned to alcohol and sleeping pills instead, per the report. Some controllers have forgone medications that they needed in order to comply with the clearances. And a few controllers have even turned to drugs, based on a Times review of complaints that were submitted to the FAA.The lengths that some air traffic controllers have gone through to maintain their jobs reflects the tediousness that the role demands, as they are the safeguards for the lives of millions upon millions of travelers. It is because of their work that passenger air travel in the US remains incredibly safe, a marvel of modern transportation.But a Times report from September revealed that close calls at US airports have occurred at a greater rate than previously known. An examination of internal FAA records by the newspaper revealed that in 2023 such incidents took place multiple times a week. And the Times report also noted that in May, 310 of the 313 air traffic control facilities in the country had fewer than the recommended number of certified controllers.The growing safety issues don't just extend to the well-being of controllers. The Washington Post in August reported that federal authorities have been investigating roughly 5,000 pilots who may have altered their medical records to withhold health issues that could jeopardize their ability to fly airplanes safely.When it comes to air traffic controllers, the coping mechanisms that some of them have sought to employ were further detailed in complaints to the FAA.Air controllers in one air traffic facility were reported for "using alcohol and illegal drugs while on position" as they were directing plane traffic, per a complaint examined by The Times. Another complaint listed the "strong odor of alcohol" that came from some controllers. Several controllers said that they witnessed some colleagues "showing extreme signs of mental problems."And according to one FAA complaint reviewed by The Times, a controller said that she ingested up to nine vodka drinks per night to combat sleeping issues and panic attacks that a physician indicated was partly brought on by the stress of her job.FAA spokeswoman Jeannie Shiffer in a statement to The Times said that the agency "maintains the safest, most complex and busiest airspace in the world.""The nation absolutely needs more air traffic controllers, and growing the work force will result in better working conditions and more flexibility," she added.Shiffer also said that the agency prioritized the health of its air traffic controllers, noting that it provided free counseling."When they have issues, we work with them to resolve it," she said in a statement.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Two filmmakers shooting a documentary about invasive mussels discovered a 128-year-old shipwreck that sunk in an 1895 snowstorm in Lake Huron. Filmmakers Yvonne Drebert and Zach Melnick discovered the wreck of the "Africa" in Lake Huron.Courtesy of Yvonne Drebert and Zach MelnickFilmmakers shooting footage of invasive mussels in Lake Huron found a shipwreck from 1895.The "Africa" had been carrying coal from Ohio to Ontario, and was carrying 11 sailors.The wreck is covered in invasive quagga mussels that are altering the Great Lakes' ecosystem.A pair of filmmakers who spent two years shooting footage for a documentary about invasive mussels in the Great Lakes accidentally discovered a 128-year-old shipwreck that vanished in 1895.The wreck is believed to be the "Africa," which was carrying coal — along with 11 doomed sailors — from Ohio to Ontario in October of 1895, before disappearing into Lake Huron amid an early season snowstorm, according to the filmmakers.Over a century later, Yvonne Drebert and Zach Melnick received a tip from scientists while they were working on their documentary."Scientists doing an offshore fish survey had noticed an anomaly on their sonar readout, basically an unusual bump on an otherwise flat lakebed," Melnick said in a press release. The couple, who specialize in underwater videography, grabbed their ultra-low-light, high-resolution camera system, and journeyed out to the site of the anomaly, expecting to find "a pile of rocks."Instead, when their remotely operated vehicle descended 85 meters, "a huge structure loomed up from the depths — it was a shipwreck. We couldn't believe it," Melnick said.The wreck was difficult to identify — images from the filmmakers show the ship is covered by the invasive quagga mussels that have been overhauling the ecosystem of the Great Lakes. Every inch of the "Africa" is covered with invasive quagga mussels, which have been plaguing the Great Lakes for years.Courtesy of Yvonne Drebert and Zach MelnickBut the filmmakers said that with the help of a local maritime historian and a marine archaeologist, the "Africa" emerged as the likeliest possibility. The vessel's measurements matched that of the "Africa," plus Melnick and Drebert saw coal scattered across the lake bottom near the wreck."There are so many quaggas filtering the Great Lakes, that the lakes are up to three times as clear as they were before the mussels," Drebert said in the press release. "The quaggas are the reason we're able to see the shipwreckin almost 300 feet of water without any additional lights. But they're also responsible for making wreck identification in the Great Lakes incredibly difficult." The couple's documentary, "All Too Clear: Beneath the Surface of the Great Lakes," will be released in early 2024.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

"We aren't advertising on X as we've found other platforms to better reach our customers," a Walmart spokeswoman told Bloomberg News. Elon Musk has been facing criticism, including from Tesla investors, for endorsing an antisemitic post on X.Anadolu / GettyWalmart has joined the growing list of companies suspending their ads on X.  It comes after Elon Musk appeared to endorse an antisemitic post. Musk said that it was "a mistake" and  "one of the most foolish things" he'd done on the platform.Walmart announced on Friday that it will stop advertising on Elon Musk's social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter."We aren't advertising on X as we've found other platforms to better reach our customers," a Walmart spokeswoman told Bloomberg News.The retailer, which is the largest in the US by sales, joins several other major companies including Disney, Apple, IBM, and Warner Bros in pulling ads from the platform since Musk seemingly endorsed an antisemitic post.But Joe Benarroch, X's head of business operations, said on CBS MoneyWatch that the company had stopped advertising on X in October, "so this is not a recent pausing."In a dig at Walmart on Friday, Musk replied to a tweet about the news saying: "I prefer HEB."I prefer HEB— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 2, 2023He had harsher words at the DealBook Summit this week, raging against big advertisers that have ditched his platform and warning that they could "kill" X.X CEO Lina Yaccarino sent a memo around the company Thursday backing up Musk."Our principles do not have a price tag, nor will they be compromised — ever," she wrote. "No matter how hard they try, we will not be distracted by sideline critics who don't understand our mission."Musk has since said the post was a "mistake" and "one of the most foolish things" he'd done on the platform. The controversy could cost the company up to $75 million in ad revenue by the end of 2023, The New York Times reported.The investor Ross Gerber has said that Musk's X comments have also damaged Tesla, saying he'd never seen a CEO do "so many detrimental things" to harm a brand."I've never had this with any company I've invested in in my entire life, where the CEO does so many detrimental things that destroy the brand, because bottom line that's what's happening. It's absolutely outrageous, his behaviors and the damage he's caused to the brand," he said.Walmart did not immediately reply to Business Insider's request for comment, which was made outside of normal working hours.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Michael Bloomberg pledged $40 million to a new climate initiative that will use satellites to ensure 50 oil and gas companies are cutting methane emissions. An offshore gas platform burns methane, a potent greenhouse gas.Getty ImagesFifty oil and gas companies pledged to zero out methane emissions by 2030 at the UN climate summit.Satellites are being deployed to track whether these companies actually meet their promises.Adnoc, Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, Shell and other international oil majors signed on.Catherine Boudreau reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Erin Snodgrass reported from Los Angeles.Satellites are the next tool that will hold oil and gas companies accountable in their promise to cut methane emissions and slow global warming.The United Arab Emirates, host of this year's UN climate summit COP28, on Saturday announced that dozens of oil and gas companies — accounting for 40% of global production — aim to nearly eliminate their methane emissions by 2030. Many state-owned oil companies signed on, including the UAE's Adnoc, as well as Saudi Arabia's Saudi Aramco. US firms ExxonMobil and Shell, and other international oil majors will also participate.Shortly after, a separate initiative was announced that will use satellites to track whether the companies keep their promise. The billionaire businessman and philanthropist Michael Bloomberg pledged $40 million to the initiative — a partnership with the Environmental Defense Fund that will launch its own satellite early next year."Oil and gas companies often don't have the data on these methane emissions, including where leaks are happening," Bloomberg, UN special envoy for climate ambition and solutions, told reporters in Dubai. "Even when data is available, there often aren't rules and incentives in place to make sure companies do something about it."Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide, though it only lingers in the atmosphere for about a decade compared with centuries for carbon dioxide. That short lifespan is why climate scientists say eliminating methane emissions is one of the quickest ways to slow global warming.The oil and gas industry is responsible for 40% of human-caused methane emissions from leaking wells, compression stations, and pipelines, as well as by routinely burning off excess gas in a practice known as venting and flaring.Even though numerous countries and oil and gas companies have pledged to slash methane emissions in recent years, they are still rising to record levels, according to the IEA. The agency, university scientists, and environmental groups have published research showing that national governments are significantly undercounting total emissions.Historically, measuring methane was challenging because the gas is colorless, leaks are unpredictable, and finding them involved expensive field studies with aircraft and handheld infrared cameras. That approach only offered a snapshot in time and the research took a long time to publish.Those methods have changed over the last decade. A new generation of satellites can now pinpoint methane leaks almost anywhere and, within days, computers equipped with AI models can calculate the amount of emissions escaping. This, in turn, means oil and gas companies responsible for the plumes can be notified faster and potentially take action.The UN last year launched its own methane alert and response system that uses satellites to monitor emissions and notify countries and companies. Since then, 1,500 methane plumes were identified and some governments took action, including Argentina.The 50 oil and gas companies that signed a "decarbonization charter" on Saturday in Dubai agreed to eliminate routine flaring, improve the way they monitor methane leaks, and report progress on reducing emissions.COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber, who also heads Adnoc, during a speech on Saturday said that tackling methane emissions are "a quick and easy win." Adnoc earlier this year already promised to zero-out the pollutant by 2030, even as it plans to expand oil production.COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber at the UN Climate Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.Peter Dejong"If companies deliver, we calculate it means reducing methane emission by 80% to 90%, which is critical," EDF President Fred Krupp told reporters. "But that only happens if there's accountability."The satellite being launched by EDF, known as MethaneSAT, can regularly monitor methane emissions from regions accounting for much of the world's oil and gas production. That includes emerging and developing economies, where state-owned oil companies have been largely absent from methane pledges until now.The data gathered by satellites can also help climate advocates push governments to implement tougher methane laws. EDF and Bloomberg Philanthropies are working with the IEA, UN, and the climate nonprofit RMI on its accountability push.The EPA's 'super emitter' programThe US and European Union are already cracking down on methane emissions. The US Environmental Protection Agency on Saturday finalized regulations that will reduce an estimated 58 million tons of methane emissions over the next 15 years. That figure is comparable to the emissions released by the entire US power sector in 2021, the agency said. The rules require companies to monitor leaks, limit flaring at oil wells, and reduce emissions from equipment like pumps and storage tanks.A "super emitter" program will allow certain third parties that detect large methane plumes to submit data to EPA, which will do its own verification before notifying the oil and gas company responsible.The methane that will be captured, rather than released into the atmosphere, would be enough to heat 7.8 millions homes this winter, EPA officials said during a press conference Friday. Once fully implemented, the rule will prevent the emissions of the equivalent of 1.5 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide, they said.The EU in November agreed to its first-ever law directing fossil fuel companies to measure and report their methane emissions, and bans most flaring and venting by 2027.The US and EU are part of the Global Methane Pledge that calls for a 30% reduction in methane emissions by 2030. At least 155 countries have signed the pledge, which launched in 2021 at the UN climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland.However, China and Russia — the top two producers of methane emissions in the world — aren't signatories. China in November published its own plan to reduce the pollutant, but it doesn't include any hard targets. The country's state-owned oil companies are also absent from the "decabonization charter" announced in Dubai.Melanie Robinson, global climate program director at the World Resources Institute, said in a statement that the methane commitments were encouraging but require strong measures to hold oil and gas companies accountable.She added that the oil and gas sector still isn't being held accountable for all the emissions created by the fuel they sell to other industries. That's akin to a cigarette maker "claiming no responsibility for the impact of their product once it leaves the factory door," Robinson said, adding that voluntary promises alone won't acheive global climate goals.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Diet should be a priority when it comes to heart health. But supplements can help to lower cholesterol, dietitian Lauren Ball said. Increasing your fiber intake can help reduce cholesterol levels, a dietitian said.Getty ImagesHigh cholesterol levels can put a person at risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular issues. Eating a healthy diet is vital for heart health. But fiber supplements and probiotics can also help to reduce cholesterol levels, a dietitian said.A dietitian shared the two supplements she recommends for lowering cholesterol levels and improving heart health.When thinking about supplements for heart health, cholesterol is typically the target, Lauren Ball, a dietitian and professor of community health and wellbeing at the University of Queensland, Australia, told Business Insider. That is because high cholesterol can lead to cardiovascular problems such as heart attacks, strokes and mini strokes, narrow arteries, and peripheral arterial disease, which is when a build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries restricts blood supply to the legs.A healthy diet should be the first port of call for lowering cholesterol, and those looking to improve their heart health might want to speak to a dietitian for individual support, Ball said.But eating more fruits and vegetables is a good place to start, because they are a good source of fiber, which is known to reduce LDL, or "bad," cholesterol, she said. The FDA recommends people get a minimum of 28g of fiber per day, and whole grains, oats, and beans are also good sources.Research has also shown that supplements can significantly lower cholesterol levels. Ball shared the two supplements she would recommend for heart health.Fiber supplementsSome cholesterol is excreted or removed in feces, Ball said, and fiber increases the bulk of stools. So the more fiber we eat, the more cholesterol is excreted, she said.Supplements can be an easy way to boost fiber intake, Ball said. There are different types, but the most common are natural soluble fibers such as inulin or psyllium husk, she said. They usually come in either capsules or a kind of powder that you can sprinkle on your food. Natural insoluble fibers such as flaxseeds also increase the size of stools, she said.One meta-analysis of eight clinical trials published in 2000 found that taking 10g psyllium husk daily appeared to lower total cholesterol levels by 4% and LDL cholesterol levels by 7%.But while fiber is a fairly safe and inexpensive supplement, it can sometimes come with side effects such as tummy upset or constipation, particularly if you are not drinking enough water, she said. Drinking more water can help.ProbioticsProbiotics, which contain the good bacteria that live in our guts, have also been found to reduce cholesterol levels, Ball said. Similarly to fiber supplements, they are thought to work by improving the body's ability to pass stools.They change the environment of the gut microbiome and enable the large intestine to incorporate more cholesterol into feces, she said.Probiotics tend to be more expensive than fiber supplements, but they may also be linked to other health benefits such as smoother digestion. Some ongoing research suggests that probiotics might also be beneficial for mental health. You are also less likely to experience side effects such as constipation from probiotics than from fiber supplements, she said.Prioritize healthy eating and don't spend too much money on supplementsBall said that both of these supplements are "fairly safe," but it's important to be aware that the supplement space is largely unregulated."The likelihood of getting ripped off is moderate to high for supplements in general. What I would stay away from would be anything that's exorbitant in cost," she said.A food-first approach is always going to be more economical and more likely to have an impact as well, she said.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Trian Partners said it would take its "case directly to shareholders" after Disney rejected Nelson Peltz's request for board seats. Nelson Peltz wants seats on Disney's board.Reuters Nelson Peltz is launching a second proxy battle at Disney, ramping up the pressure on CEO Bob Iger. The activist investor's fund, Trian Partners, said it would take its "case directly to shareholders." The statement comes after Disney rejected Peltz's request for seats on the board. Nelson Peltz signaled he would launch a new proxy challenge against the Walt Disney Company, in a statement that ramped up the pressure on CEO Bob Iger.Peltz's Trian Partners fund, which holds a $3 billion stake in the entertainment giant, said it would take its "case directly to shareholders" after Iger turned down the activist investor's request for board representation."Since we gave Disney the opportunity to prove it could 'right the ship' last February, up to our re-engagement weeks ago, shareholders lost $70 billion of value," Trian said. "Disney's share price has underperformed proxy peers and the broader market over every relevant period during the last decade and over the tenure of each incumbent director."Disney's stock price is up about 3.5% in 2023, meaning it's lagging the benchmark S&P 500 index, which has climbed 19% year-to-date. It's valued at just under $170 billion, some $40 billion less than Netflix.Disney's move Wednesday to nominate Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman and former Sky chief Jeremy Darroch to its board is "an improvement from the status quo," but won't "address the root cause behind the significant value destruction and missteps that this board has overseen," Trian added.Peltz has been loading up on Disney shares since February, when he called time on a first proxy battle against the House of Mouse after it agreed to cut costs by laying off about 7,000 employees.Trian had been seeking at least three seats on the Burbank, CA-based entertainment powerhouse's board, according to a Reuters report citing unnamed sources.Disney has also faced questions from shareholders about who'll succeed Iger as CEO when his contract ends in 2026. The former weatherman made a dramatic return to the company last year after Bob Chapek's dismissal.Blackwells Capital, another Disney shareholder, stood by Iger and praised the nominations of Gorman and Darroch. Its CEO Jason Aintabi slammed Peltz's proxy battle."Mr Peltz and Trian need to withdraw this costly and disruptive effort to displace experienced voices in the boardroom and substitute them with Mr. Peltz and his nominees," he said in a statement."Mindless, drum-beating activism is not the right strategy for shareholders. Disney's board is acting in the best interests of all shareholders and should be allowed the time to focus on driving value at one of America's most iconic companies without this fatuous sideshow," he added.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Deliveries have finally begun in the US, but the Cybertruck's weight and charging port are among the barriers to putting it on European roads. Tesla's Cybertruck has finally begun deliveries in the US.TeslaCybertruck deliveries have finally begun, but Tesla's electric truck is unavailable in Europe.The pickup faces obstacles, with an EU truck license likely needed to drive the US-built vehicle.It may not be worth Tesla's while to make a Europe-friendly version of the Cybertruck.After years of waiting, the Cybertruck is finally here — but European Tesla fans shouldn't get too excited.Although deliveries began on Thursday in the US, it isn't available in Europe, despite the European Union being both an important manufacturing hub and a key market for Tesla. There are a few reasons why it's unlikely to be sold across the Atlantic anytime soon.The first is simple: the Cybertruck is extremely heavy.Documents submitted to US regulators show that the minimum gross vehicle weight range is 8,001 to 9,001 pounds, or 4 to 4.5 tons, which could prove an issue if Tesla wanted to sell the pickup in Europe as is."The vehicle's gross vehicle weight for the dual-motor version is high, above 3.5 tons," Pedro Pacheco, vice-president of research at Gartner, told Business Insider."That has implications for European regulations, because it means that, most likely, a passenger vehicle driver's license will not do," he added.Weight worriesTo drive a vehicle heavier than 3.5 tons in the EU, drivers must have a category C1 license — meaning that to drive a US-built Cybertruck on European roads, you may need to apply for a truck driver's license.Another obstacle is that the Cybertruck's charging port isn't compatible with European chargers.The Cybertrucks rolling off Tesla production lines in the US work with the Tesla NAC standard, which has been widely adopted across the US, but not with the CCS network used by most European nations.Pacheco added that Tesla would probably seek to make adjustments to ensure that an EU Cybertruck could drive on European roads, including making their charging tech compatible with CCS and reducing weight.The bigger question is whether Tesla can be bothered making these tweaks, considering the relative unpopularity of hulking pickups like the Cybertruck in Europe."Pickup trucks are somewhat small in terms of market adoption in comparison to what you see in the US market," said Pacheco."For a vehicle in the category of the Cybertruck, there's not a huge market in Europe, because pickup trucks generally are not very common."The European market for pickups is mostly focused on what Pacheco calls "entry-level pickup trucks" – small by US standards but better suited to European roads and cities.Production challengesTesla CEO Elon Musk has floated the prospect of producing a smaller version of the Cybertruck for the European market before, describing it as "highly likely down the road" in 2020. However, there have been no updates since, and Pacheco said he thought the small size of the market was probably a factor in Tesla's disinterest.Elon Musk at the Tesla Cybertruck delivery event.TeslaAt any rate, Tesla is likely going to have enough trouble satisfying demand for the Cybertruck in North America without worrying about other continents.The US carmaker stopped taking orders for the electric pickup outside the US last year – a step Musk said it would only take if demand exceeded supply "to a ridiculous degree."Since then, the Tesla boss has admitted that the company faces enormous challenges in scaling up production of the Cybertruck and satisfying the more than 2 million preorders Tesla has received.In an earnings call last month, he said that the automaker had "dug its own grave" with the Cybertruck's unique design, and said that it would likely be years before Tesla hits its target of making 250,000 Cybertruck a year.Tesla did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

When Queen Máxima married into the Dutch royal family, she was known for her simple style. These days, she experiments with bold cutouts and sheer designs. Queen Máxima of the Netherlands photographed in 2005, left, and in 2023, right.Getty ImagesQueen Máxima of the Netherlands is known for her regal style.Before marrying the Dutch king, she wore simple and casual looks.More recently, she has experimented with bold cutouts and sheer designs.Queen Máxima of the Netherlands is considered a style icon to many.The Dutch queen was born Máxima Zorreguieta in Argentina in 1971, and she met her now-husband, Prince Willem-Alexander, during a vacation in Seville, Spain, when she was around 28 in 1991, the Daily Mail reports.Originally, Máxima had no idea that Willem-Alexander was a royal and she thought it was a joke when he later told her the news, the publication added.Before the couple married in 2002, Máxima was photographed wearing simple and casual outfits at the few public engagements she attended. After she became a princess, Máxima turned to formal wear and her wardrobe consisted of ballgowns, tiaras, and fascinators.Her regal style was even more apparent after she became Queen of the Netherlands in 2013. More recently, the queen has experimented with more daring ensembles, such as dresses with sheer and illusion necklines, and bold cutouts.Here's a wider look at the royal's style evolution.At a 2001 photo call for her engagement to Willem-Alexander, Máxima dressed in a simple red dress and accessorized with a floral brooch and earrings.Willem-Alexander and Máxima Zorreguieta announce their engagement on March 30, 2001.MARCEL ANTONISSE/Getty ImagesGreeting the public later that year, Máxima wore an all-red ensemble, which consisted of a leather jacket, a pencil skirt, and a matching clutch bag.Máxima Zorreguieta greeting the public in The Hague in October 2001.JASPER JUINEN/Getty ImagesMáxima became a princess upon her wedding to Crown Prince Willem-Alexander in 2002. She paired an ivory gown with a five-meter train by Valentino with the Dutch Pearl Button tiara. Dutch Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Crown Princess Máxima Zorreguiet before their royal wedding in 2002.Anthony Harvey/Getty ImagesSource: Royal CentralQueen Máxima dressed in a more regal manner after becoming a princess. She wore an off-the-shoulder dress in the Netherlands' national color, orange, and rewore her wedding tiara to a different wedding later that year. Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Crown Princess Máxima at the wedding of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and Ari Behn in 2002.A. Jones/J. Whatling/J. Parker/M. Cuthbert/Getty ImagesThat same year, she wore a black coatdress embroidered with florals and styled her hair in a sleek updo for a family christening.Dutch Princess Máxima attends the christening of Eloise Sophie Beatrix Laurence in December 2002.Michel Porro/Getty ImagesDuring a state visit to Brazil the following year, the princess wore a one-shoulder blouse with flared details and a floor-length, ruffled skirt with beaded red earrings.Máxima is photographed during a state visit to Brazil in 2003.Julian Parker/Getty ImagesIn one of her boldest looks to date, Máxima wore an oversized fascinator, a trench coat with a tie belt, and a pair of pink-and-red heels in 2005.Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Máxima attend the wedding of Prince Pieter Christiaan and Anita van Eijk in 2005.Michel Porro/Getty ImagesMáxima and her mother-in-law, Queen Beatrix, coordinated in pink ensembles at a joint engagement in 2008. The princess wore a bright-pink two-piece and matching hat, while the queen wore a tweed dress, blazer, and hat in a lighter shade of pink.Princess Máxima and Queen Beatrix photographed in 2008.Mark G. Renders/Getty ImagesAt a wedding in Greece in 2010, Máxima changed up her usual formal look with a green-and-pink strapless dress and a gold, sequinned belt.Willem-Alexander and Máxima attend the wedding of Tatiana Blatnik and Prince Nikolaos of Greece in 2010.Europa Press/Getty ImagesAfter Beatrix abdicated in 2013, Willem-Alexander and Máxima were declared king and queen. Máxima wore a custom Jan Taminiau gown with a matching cape and a sapphire tiara gifted by Beatrix to the inauguration.Willem-Alexander and Máxima became king and queen of the Netherlands in 2013.Jasper Juinen/Getty ImagesSource: Hello MagazineAttending a wedding in 2015, Queen Máxima wore a lace mermaid gown with an illusion neckline by Jan Taminiau. She also wore a diamond and ruby tiara, a matching choker necklace, and ruby drop earrings. The Queen of the Netherlands attends the royal wedding of Prince Carl Philip of Sweden and Sofia Hellqvist in 2015.Ian Gavan/Getty ImagesSource: The Court JewellerMáxima stood out in a one-shoulder lilac dress embroidered with purple flowers and gold detailing in 2017. She completed the look with a purple shawl and wore her hair down in relaxed waves.King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima in 2017.Patrick van Katwijk/Getty ImagesWhile visiting the British royals in 2019, Queen Máxima opted for a floor-length gown with a sheer neckline and sheer sleeves. She styled her hair in an updo and wore the Stuart Diamond Tiara. Queen Máxima, King Willem-Alexander, Queen Elizabeth II, and the then-titled Duke and Duchess of Cornwall at Buckingham Palace in 2018.WPA Pool/Getty ImagesSource: The Court JewellerAt the 2020 state opening of Parliament, the queen wore a Claes Iversen dress with ruffled detailing. She rounded off the look with a gold headband by Maison Fabienne Delvigne, gold gloves, and a royal sash.Queen Máxima of The Netherlands attends the state opening of Parliament in 2020.Patrick van Katwijk/Getty ImagesSource: HolaWearing a bolder look, Máxima wore a Jan Taminiau dress with floral cutouts and paired it with an asymmetrical fascinator at King Charles' coronation in 2022.Queen Máxima and King Willem-Alexander at the coronation of King Charles in 2023.Jeff Spicer/Getty ImagesSource: Town and CountryMore recently, Máxima wore another daring look at a royal engagement in November 2023, opting for an Iris van Herpen gown with a semi-sheer neckline and a built-in cape.Queen Máxima photographed in November 2023.Pierre Suu/Getty ImagesSource: PeopleRead the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Mali, an Asian elephant, died in Manila Zoo in the Philippines after spending most of her life in a concrete pen. Visitors watch the elephant named "Mali" inside an enclosure at Manila zoo in 2013.REUTERSThe "world's saddest elephant" has died in the Philippines after spending her life in captivity.Celebrities, including Sir Paul McCartney, had called for her release.Mali arrived at the zoo in 1981 as a gift from the Sri Lankan government to Imelda Marcos.Mali, a beloved elephant at Manila Zoo in the Philippines, has died after spending over four decades alone in a dilapidated pen.She was dubbed one of the world's "saddest" elephants by animal activists.Critics of Mali's treatment pointed to the conditions at Manila Zoo, citing Mali's solitary existence and the lack of proper medical care. In response, zoo authorities argued that Mali, having spent her entire life in captivity, was best suited to that environment.Sir Paul McCartney, and other celebrities, including Pamela Anderson, called for the release of Mali, per PETA Asia.In 2013, he sent a letter to Benigno Aquino III, who was president of the Philippines at the time, asking him to transfer the elephant to a spacious sanctuary in Thailand, where she could be among other elephants.In the wild, female elephants live in herds of family groups led by a matriarch, raising their offspring and forming enduring, emotional relationships.Last week, Mali started showing signs of distress and was treated with antihistamines and vitamins. She passed away on Tuesday afternoon. An autopsy revealed cancer in some organs and a blockage in her aorta.Mali arrived as a baby elephant at Manila Zoo in 1981 as a gift from the Sri Lankan government to former Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos. For over 40 years, she lived as the sole elephant in the zoo.Her death has reignited discussions about the conditions of animals in captivity and the responsibilities of zoos to provide proper medical care. A PETA Asia statement said Mali died in her "barren concrete pen," denied expert treatment by a vet, because of "indifference and greed," per CBS News.Mali was one of the most popular attractions at Manila Zoo."She was the face that greeted everyone who visited Manila Zoo. She is a part of our lives," said Honey Lacuna, the mayor of Manila, per BBC News. Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Over 150 scientists went with Napoleon Bonaparte when he invaded Egypt. They mapped pyramids, dissected mummies, and did more scientific work. Joaquin Phoenix played "Napoleon" in Ridley Scott's latest biopic.Apple TV+When Napoleon invaded Egypt, he brought dozens of scientists with him.Astronomers, mathematicians, and naturalists spent three years studying the country.Napoleon's invasion failed, but it led to some groundbreaking scientific work.When General Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Egypt in July 1798, he didn't just bring tens of thousands of soldiers, he also recruited over 150 scientists, known as savants, to accompany him.They arrived "with the aim of both study and exploitation," according to an archaeologist.A little over a month later, on August 23, 1798, the scientific society called the Institut d'Égypte, which still exists today, held its first meeting in a lavish palace in Cairo and appointed Napoleon as its first vice president.Napoleon wanted to use the country's natural resources, history, and culture for the benefit of France. He urged the savants to focus on projects, like improving bread ovens, purifying the Nile's water, and brewing beer without hops.The scientists' tasks were made more difficult because the ship carrying much of their surveying and scientific equipment had sunk. Then, after a series of defeats in Egypt, Napoleon returned to France in 1799 and left many of the scientists stranded.Despite setbacks, the engineers, mathematicians, naturalists, and others spent nearly three years surveying, documenting, and collecting everything from antiquities to mummified remains to animals largely unknown to the West.Their work led to some novel discoveries, helped formalize sciences like archaeology, and spurred an infatuation with Egypt that's continued ever since.1. The discovery that chemical reactions are reversibleBefore chemist Claude-Louis Berthollet's realization, the concept that chemical reactions could be reversible wasn't universally accepted.However, Berthollet found strong evidence to support the concept while studying the salt deposits in the lakes of the Natron Valley.Limestone in the lakes was covered in a naturally occurring salt called natron, which Egyptians used to preserve mummified bodies because it absorbed moisture and dissolved fat.Graeco-Roman remains near Wadi El Natrun, the area where Berthollet saw natron.Werner Forman/Universal Images Group/Getty ImagesBerthollet observed that the limestone, which contained calcium carbonate, chemically reacted with salt, aka sodium chloride, to produce natron, made of sodium carbonate.In laboratory conditions, chemists knew that the exact opposite reaction was possible, which led Berthollet to reasonably conclude that chemical reactions were reversible and that heat and different amounts of a substance could determine which way the reaction went.2. A more formal approach to archaeologyIn Napoleon's time, archaeology wasn't yet a formal science. Most savants had little experience with artifacts. Sand still buried some temples that had yet to be excavated.Dominique-Vivant Denon, an artist and writer, was awed by the ancient monuments he saw. He went back to France with Napoleon and quickly published a book with his descriptions and drawings, "Travels in Upper and Lower Egypt."At the time of Napoleon's invasion, travelers had long known of Alexandria, Cairo, and other parts of Lower Egypt. The Great Pyramids and Sphinx were famous. But Upper Egypt wasn't as well known.That changed when the savants arrived. "The whole army, suddenly and with one accord, stood in amazement...and clapped their hands with delight," Denon later wrote.Denon's drawing of the Edfu Temple. The people give a sense of the huge scale of the monuments.Art Media/Print Collector/Getty ImagesHis drawings and descriptions of the temples and ruins at Thebes, Esna, Edfu, and Karnak proved immensely popular. Many were depicted in fashionable paintings and inspired decor trends.Since he'd had to capture everything in short bursts of time, Denon had pushed for two commissions of savants to return and better document the monuments.Napoleon's architects and engineers made careful drawings and took measurements of a large number of monuments. Others attempted to measure the pyramids. (Napoleon never shot them with cannons, in case you were wondering.)3. Savigny discovered a new way to classify insectsWhen he was back in France, Jules-César Savigny needed to organize the 1,500 species of insects he'd brought back. There didn't yet exist a systematic way to distinguish one species of moth or butterfly from another. So Savigny invented one.It turned out, the mouth parts had sufficient differences to allow Savigny to separate the bugs into species. He pored over the tiny jaws of the insects. He drew over 1,000 images of specimens, some of which were only a centimeter long.Just 21 and a botanist by training when he arrived in Egypt, Savigny collected invertebrates like worms, bees, spiders, snails, and flies. He also took specimens of starfish, coral, and sea urchins.Savigny's intricate drawings of arachnids from the from Description de l'Egypte.De Agostini Editorial via Getty ImagesSavigny applied the same rigor to arachnids, worms, and other animals that lacked backbones. Some of his classification methods are still in use today.4. The discovery of a new species of crocodile that took 200 years to confirmEtienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire was convinced there were two species of crocodiles in the Nile.Like Savigny, Geoffroy was a prolific collector. While in Egypt, he studied bats, mongooses, tortoises, and more.One reason Geoffroy was able to dissect and stuff so many specimens was he had purchased an 11-year-old enslaved boy, whom he trained to help with his work.Geoffroy dissected so many different kinds of animals that he started to see patterns between even very different species. It led to his theory of a "unity of plan" or "unity of composition" a kind of quasi-evolutionary idea that Charles Darwin would reference decades later.Geoffroy's theories often irritated his fellow naturalists. That includes when he attempted to demonstrate a mummified crocodile he'd taken from Egypt represented a separate species.Geoffroy's depiction of the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) from the Description de l'Egypte.De Agostini Editorial via Getty ImagesIts jaw was completely different from the Nile crocodile, Geoffroy said. Plus, it was less aggressive. One had been on display in Paris. "It took pleasure in being patted; and anyone might, without the least danger, open its mouth, and place his hand between its teeth," according to one account.His colleagues said he was wrong about there being a separate species of crocodile. However, over 200 years later, biologist Evon Hekkala and a team of researchers analyzed the DNA of modern crocodiles and some of Geoffroy's mummies to confirm his suspicions, and show two separate species swam in the Nile: Crocodylus niloticus and Crocodylus suchus.5. The advent of ophthalmologyAn engraving from the Description de l'Egypte showing the interior courtyard of a house.Science & Society Picture Library via Getty ImagesThe French physicians who accompanied Napoleon encountered unfamiliar diseases in Egpyt. One disease they brought back with them to Europe was something they called Egyptian ophthalmia, which is now known as trachoma and can cause itchy, swollen eyes and lead to blindness.It became so prevalent that physicians all over Europe started studying the disease. Geoffroy, who contracted it, was "totally blind" for weeks, he wrote.Up to that point, ophthalmology wasn't a formalized branch of scientific research, but the race to find the origin of this disease laid the groundwork for its creation.Eventually, British physician John Vetch realized the pus from the infected eye could spread the disease. Knowing it was contagious, Vetch developed methods of prevention and treatment that are considered milestones in the history of ophthalmology.6. The Rosetta Stone helped Champollion discover how to decipher hieroglyphsFor centuries, no one could read hieroglyphs, the pictorial writing that covered many Egyptian monuments. When the French found the Rosetta Stone during their invasion, they knew it could serve as a kind of translation key.Deciphering hieroglyphs would allow scholars to read the writing on scores of other Ancient Egyptian texts and monuments.In 1801, the British were negotiating for France's surrender. One stipulation was that the British would take the antiquities and the savants' collections, which included the Rosetta Stone.Geoffroy told the British that the savants would "destroy our property, we will disperse it in the Libyan sands, or we will throw it into the sea" before they handed it over. They were allowed to keep their notes and collections.The Rosetta Stone is housed at the British Museum.Fox Photos/Getty ImagesThree texts were inscribed on the stone, in Egyptian hieroglyphs, an Egyptian cursive script derived from hieroglyphs, and Ancient Greek. Since the three were identical, the Greek writing could help researchers decipher the hieroglyphs.It took two decades for French scholar Jean-François Champollion to translate them. Champollion made use of a copy the French savants had taken of the slab and published.The Rosetta Stone is currently in the British Museum. Egypt has been trying to get it back, calling it a "spoil of war."7. The invention of an engraving machine that sped up the printing processWhen the savants returned to France, many worked on compiling the multi-volume book "Description de l'Égypte," which amounted to 7,000 pages encompassing what they'd seen and studied in Egypt.To save some of the laborious work of engraving, engineer Nicolas-Jacques Conté created a machine that automated part of the process.To print the hundreds of illustrations, engravers first had to transfer them to copper plates.Just one of the many detailed engravings added to the Description de l'Egypte, this one of a mosque in Cairo.Science & Society Picture Library via Getty ImagesFor plates with monuments, Conté's machine could engrave the sky in the background. The engraver could program it to create clouds as well.What originally would've taken six to eight months could be completed in just a few days.It was still a massive undertaking and considered to be the most ambitious work of France in the early 19th Century. The first volume wasn't printed until 1809. The final volume came out in the late 1820s, nearly a decade after Napoloen's death.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Here's why your Christmas Airbnb costs so much: Many owners raise prices in December as short-term-rental profitability is "harder than ever." Melinda Johnson, who runs 29 Airbnbs in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, decks their halls for the competitive holiday season.Courtesy of Melinda JohnsonNightly rates for Airbnbs spike during the holidays. One Tennessee cabin triples its price. Hosts go all out to woo guests, corralling dozens of Christmas trees and backup turkeys. One analyst said Airbnb owners who don't raise their rates enough are "leaving money on the table."This year, Melinda Johnson is decorating 29 Christmas trees.Johnson, who manages 29 Airbnbs across the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, is going the extra mile to set her properties apart ahead a crucial winter-holiday season.Even as the economy slows and inflation cramps spending, people still reach for their wallets to book December getaways. Short-term rental owners, who in some areas have been struggling to make the profits that they'd dreamed of, are ready to take advantage.Airbnb hosts and property managers see the holiday season as an opportunity to nab big bookings during the slower winter months, when people tend to travel less. The last few weeks of December can make up for the seasonal slog."It's something we count on for the winter months," Johnson told Business Insider.Hosts like Johnson will charge as much as they need to — so it's no shock your Christmastime Airbnb costs a pretty penny.Take one of her most popular properties, a three-bedroom cabin with king-size beds, en-suite bathrooms, and a game room. A typical night in October runs $179. Over Thanksgiving, she brought in $450 per night. For Christmas, the cabin is booked at $650 per night.In addition to decking the halls with trees, stockings, and more, Johnson and her team hire extra cleaners, at $30 an hour, to scour the rentals before the holiday check-ins, scrubbing tile grout and removing the windows from their frames to thoroughly dust.'Tis the season for Airbnb hosts to raise pricesThe short-term-rental market is complicated.Hosts are still seeing record-high demand for bookings, but average revenue per available room declined 0.5% in October after three years of growth, according to short-term-rental analytics firm AirDNA.AirDNA economist Jamie Lane said profitability is "harder than ever in short-term rentals," especially for new investors who may have purchased properties at higher prices with steeper mortgage interest rates.The solution? Charge more at key times.Some hosts, Lane explained, nudge their nighty rates up and down based on demand, while others set a flat rate for the whole year. AirDNA tracks the difference between the strategies and says there's a clear winner in playing into demand."You can get 20% more revenue by actively managing your revenue, your rates, as opposed to just 'set it and forget it,'" Lane told BI.Demand for short-term rentals spikes during the holidays.Courtesy of AirDNAAirDNA data shows the last week of the year is typically the second highest-income week for short-term rentals, surpassed only by the Fourth of July. It takes on special importance for hosts since it's surrounded by slump periods in late fall and early winter.Hosts deck the halls to nab the highest prices possibleLos Angeles property manager Austin Weinerman, whose company manages 100 Airbnbs across nine states, puts enough turkeys on hold that every home could be delivered a backup bird if something went wrong."We're fully stocked across each market, so there shouldn't be a scenario where someone goes without a turkey," he told Business Insider.Weinerman also stressed the importance of raising rates to the maximum the market will allow.A five-bedroom home in South Florida he manages comes complete with a fire pit, a pool, a jungle gym, and an under-the-sea-themed kids playroom. A typical night there will fall between $400 and $700. But for Thanksgiving, it was listed for $1,500 to $1,700 per night; around Christmas, it will go for $2,000 to $2,300 a night."The holidays are some of our biggest-dollar-amount bookings, so it's so important that everything goes smoothly," he said.Host Ryan Villines, however, told BI that he maintains his base rate of $299 per night for his one-bedroom getaway in the lakeside town of Warsaw, Missouri. He only adds a $25-per-person charge for the holidays to account for large groups traveling together.He doesn't like to raise prices too high."Maybe if I was in Acapulco or somewhere tropical," he said.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

I'm 41 and she's 77. Her perspective reminds me aging is a privilege. We started swimming together, and it helped our friendship grow. The author.Courtesy of the authorWhen another woman and I realized we both loved swimming, we began a ritual.After yoga class we swim 500 meters down a river, and it feels almost spiritual.She's 36 years older than me; I feel lucky to have a friend who's older, wiser, and so different."Like I always say: You never regret a swim."My friend Jacquie is climbing the ladder in front of me, beads of water dripping from the ends of her silver hair. She reaches for a pink pair of Crocs and slips them on — she says the soles of her feet are too tender for the ladder rungs.Earlier that morning I'd taught yoga in the meadow behind our village pub, as I do every Wednesday from April to October. Afterward, Jacquie, the other women who attended my class, and I drank coffee in the pub garden. One by one the others excused themselves to get back to work or go home to clean up before their kids finished school.Then Jacquie and I put our yoga mats in our cars and walked down to the edge of the river, where we slid off our yoga pants and T-shirts to reveal our swimsuits. We shoved our clothes into our matching neon-orange dry bags, clipped their bands around our waists, and slid into the cool water.Our swimming ritual continued for 3 yearsWe've been doing this for three years now, since I started teaching yoga outdoors in 2021, just as England was opening back up after our original COVID-19 lockdown.I knew Jacquie's daughter from the school gates. For years Jacquie was just "Bryony's mom," a woman in her 70s I sometimes said hello to. Then she started coming to my class. After talking about how much we both love swimming, we decided one week we'd end class with a 500-meter paddle downstream to the jetty at the bottom of her own garden.The first summer we swam, I was in my late 30s and had just left the church I'd been part of for 10 years. Raised a preacher's daughter in the American South, I was taking apart decades of religious beliefs and finding a new faith I could live with as an adult. Jacquie, a farmer's daughter from Zimbabwe, had become a student of Buddhism in her early 50s after a breast-cancer diagnosis.As we'd drift down the river, we'd take turns pointing out the sound of wind blowing through the willow trees lining the banks or the herons and kingfishers swooping over our heads. Sometimes we'd end up in hysterics, laughing at how stupid we were for swimming in water so cold or at the chain-link fence one house erected that summer to keep the teenagers who use the river from trespassing.In awe of the nature around us and moved by our shared bravery, I started to see our swims as spiritual experiences.Our swims and our friendships have become sacred to meI'm 41 now; Jacquie is 77. I have two young sons; she has an adult daughter. A few of my friends are getting divorced; many of Jacquie's friends have died. I'm noticing my first wrinkles; Jacquie says that that ship has sailed and that the face you have after 40 is the face you deserve.That sense of wonder we experienced the first summer we swam hasn't worn off. I still see our swims as sacred experiences, and I feel lucky to have a friend who's older, wiser, and so different from me, who's helped give me a new perspective from which to see the world and reminded me that aging is a privilege.Thanks to her — for the rest of my life, wherever I am — I'll always remember this: You never regret a swim.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

A UK-based analysis found that the finance and insurance sectors are the most exposed to advances in AI. A UK report found that jobs involving clerical work or based in finance, law, and business management had a high exposure to the adoption of AI. Jasmin Merdan/Getty ImagesThe finance and insurance sector is the most exposed to the adoption of AI.That's according to a new study from the UK government's Department for Education.The report found jobs in finance, law, and business management were likely to be impacted by AI.A new report that measures AI's effect on London city workers may raise alarm bells on Wall Street.A UK-based analysis found that the finance and insurance sectors are the most exposed to advances in AI, with London-based professionals predicted to be some of the first to feel the heat from the new tech.A report by the UK government's Department for Education's Unit for Future Skills measured the industries and areas that would be most affected by the adoption of AI. It found that professional jobs, especially those that involved clerical work or roles based in finance, law, and business management, had a higher exposure to AI."The finance & insurance sector is more exposed to AI than any other sector," the report said.Other sectors, including property, education, and administration were also predicted to be highly impacted by AI. The department also found that employees with qualifications in accounting and finance were typically in jobs likely to be affected by AI.Based on a methodology developed by US academics, the report measured the exposure of various roles to the new tech. The researchers considered the skills needed for jobs across the UK labor market and how much they could be helped by common AI uses including speech and image recognition, translation, and language modeling.Occupations with the least exposure to the adoption of AI included trade workers such as roofers and steel erectors.Here are the top ten UK sectors with the highest exposure to AI:Management consultants and business analystsGetty ImagesFinancial managers and directorsThe financial district in NYC.Maria Noyen/Business InsiderCharted and certified accountantsA woman counting money.Catherine McQueen/Getty ImagesPsychologistsThe researchers cautioned against taking psychedelics without supervision.GettyPurchasing managers and directorsPrivate wealth managers provide expert advice for high-net-worth individualspixelfit/ Getty ImagesActuaries, economists, and statisticiansWall Street is bracing for what comes next after a brutal August and September for stocks.Mario Tama / GettyBusiness and financial project management professionalsJustin Sullivan/Getty ImagesFinance and investment analysts and advisersGen Z is putting more stock into careers in finance, with one in four recent graduates considering the field a top career sector.Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty ImagesLegal professionalsUS Supreme Court buildingCelal Gunes/Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesBusiness and related associate professionalsGetty ImagesRead the original article on Business Insider.....»»

A 2014 will signed with a smiley face by Aretha Franklin, the "Queen of Soul," was found wedged between couch cushions, challenging a previous will. Aretha Franklin performs onstage at the Elton John AIDS Foundation Commemorates Its 25th Year And Honors Founder Sir Elton John During New York Fall Gala at Cathedral of St. John the Divine on November 7, 2017 in New York City.Dimitrios Kambouris / GettyThe will of Aretha Franklin, who died in 2018, has been disputed after two versions emerged.The newer one, dated 2014, was found buried in a couch.A recent court decision has granted ownership of her former homes to her sons.Aretha Franklin, the American "Queen of Soul," passed away in Detroit in 2018. At the time, it was believed she had left no will behind relating to her fortune with a net worth of $80 million.A legal battle arose after her death from pancreatic cancer aged 78 when a will was not initially recovered. However, her niece Sabrina Owens, the estate's executor at the time, discovered two handwritten sets of documents nine months later at Franklin's Detroit home, the BBC reports.The version Owens found, dated 2010, has been superseded by a recently-discovered will from 2014.The newer will was discovered wedged between couch cushions. A recent court decision on the competing documents granted her sons ownership of her former homes.The decision by Judge Jennifer Callaghan was delivered four months after a Detroit-area jury deemed the document valid.Franklin signed The will with a smiley-face signature inside the letter "A." The papers, dating back to 2014, override a handwritten will from 2010 discovered at Franklin's Detroit home in 2019, according to the presiding judge.The 2014 document implies the music icon's desire for her youngest son to assume control over her estate. Kecalf and his children are now set to inherit Franklin's gated mansion in suburban Detroit, initially valued at $1.1 million in 2018 and considered the "crown jewel" of her real estate portfolio.Her son Ted White II, who favored the 2010 will, was awarded a separate house in Detroit, although it had already been sold for $300,000 before the competing wills emerged. His lawyer mentioned on Tuesday that he is seeking the sale proceeds.A third son, Edward Franklin, was granted another property under the 2014 will by Judge Callaghan. The fate of Franklin's fourth home, valued at over $1 million, remains undecided, with the judge stating that the 2014 will did not specify the recipient."This was a significant step forward. We've narrowed the remaining issues," said Charles McKelvie, an attorney for Kecalf, in response to the ruling.While both documents indicated Franklin's desire for her four sons to split the income from her music and copyrights, discrepancies existed. The 2014 will suggested Kecalf's inheritance of the $1.1 million home, while the 2010 will divided assets more evenly among her heirs.During the trial, Kecalf testified that his mother often conducted business on the couch, making it plausible for a will to be found there.A jury ruled in favor of the 2014 will, considering it superior to the 2010 document. Franklin's eldest child, Clarence, who was not part of the dispute, will receive an undisclosed percentage of the estate per a pre-trial agreement.A dispute persists over how to handle Franklin's music assets. A status conference with the judge is scheduled for January.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Banana Republic and J. Crew are brands from a bygone era. I visited both stores to find out which is winning its comeback. The author compared Banana Republic and J. Crew stores. Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderBanana Republic and J. Crew are brands from a bygone era.Both brands are in the midst of desperately needed reinventions.I visited both stores to find out which is winning its comeback era.Banana Republic and J. Crew are brands from a bygone era when safari cargo dresses and jewel-adorned oxfords were smart, chic office wear.Today, both brands are in the midst of desperately needed reinventions.Gap Inc., which owns Banana Republic, has struggled to revive its appeal over the years. Third-quarter net sales were down 7% compared to last year. Banana Republic's third-quarter sales of $460 million were down 11% year-over-year, and its same-store sales were down 8%.But Gap's new CEO, Richard Dickson, has a strategy to reinvigorate the company's portfolio. For Banana Republic, that means improving clothing quality and elevating its aesthetic to become a quiet luxury brand.Meanwhile at J. Crew, the brand has never quite been the same since creative director Jenna Lyons left in 2017. But that might be a good thing, as CEO Libby Wadle sees it. "I'm not trying to do much that goes back to what we once were," she told the New York Times.J. Crew is privately held, so it does not report sales, but the Times reported that the company's average order value is up.I visited both stores to see how far they've come and find out which is winning its comeback era.First, I visited Banana Republic in Manhattan.Banana Republic storefront.Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderThe store is located next to Rockefeller Center at 626 5th Avenue.The front of the store has a lush sitting area.Banana Republic's store entrance.Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderA giant coffee table displayed art books.The first mannequins I saw were styled in basic winter pieces.Styling on mannequins at the front of the store.Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderThe styling here wasn't super impressive, but definitely spoke to a quiet-luxury approach that spotlights staple pieces and luxury fabrics like wool and shearling.Each section of the store centered around a different theme, color palette, or collection.The women's section at Banana Republic.Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderThe store was spacious. I didn't see many customers in the store.Each table was styled with a combination of clothing and accessories. A tablescape at Banana Republic. Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderArtful centerpieces added dimension to the tables.I loved this leather skirtA leather skirt at Banana RepublicJennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderThe skirt is part of the Peter Do collection.Most of the clothing felt luxuriousSweaters folded at Banana RepublicJennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderThere was a mix of staples like crewneck sweaters, along with more statement pieces like shearling coats.This down puffer felt like a fluffy cloud.A white puffer jacket. Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderThe jacket felt high-quality and looked warm. And it was reasonably priced at $230.But this puffer didn't make sense to meA red puffer coat. Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderThe satin puffer coat has an awkward shape with a very large collar. It felt off compared to the rest of the clothing around it.Holiday and evening pieces were toward the back of the storeVelvet suiting was folded on a table. Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderA black velvet suit set was laid out on a glass table, which made it a bit difficult to picture how it would fit.I was surprised to see some bohemian-inspired jewelry.Jewelry was displayed in cases and on top of books. Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderThe bohemian jewelry didn't seem to fit with the more elegant pieces. But I found a pair of nice gold hoops.Upstairs, I was struck by this gorgeous shearling coat.A shearling coat. Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderThe coat felt so luxurious, and I loved the wine color.The second floor had more basics and sweaters.The second floor was also spacious. Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderMore art pieces continued to give the store a modern, worldly vibe.The fitting rooms were hidden, but I eventually found an employee who showed me to a room.A fitting room at Banana RepublicJennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderFirst, I tried going into the fitting rooms on the second floor, but there weren't any employees there so I went back down to the first floor.This cashmere sweater was soft, but was too big.Trying on a cashmere sweater. Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderNormally I'm a small, but it seemed Banana Republic's clothing ran a bit big. I would go down to an extra-small in this sweater. (The pants were my own.)I liked this knit polo, but the fabric felt a little cheap.Trying on a knit polo. Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderThis top was an extra-small and it fit me well. It's made from a wool-blend fiber, but it felt paper thin, and I could imagine it getting holes quickly. So, I wouldn't pay $70 for it.I really liked this sleeveless knit top. Trying on a knit top. Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderThis was a nice top that I could wear to work. I also tried a pair of wide-leg leather pants. They were cool, but way too big on me.Overall, Banana Republic has potential, but it's not quite there yet. Another display at Banana Republic.Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderIf Banana Republic wants to tap into the quiet-luxury market, they'll need to start by improving the quality of their basics. There were also some strange style choices that they'll have to refine.The pieces that stood out to me most were more luxury-leaning, like the $2,500 shearling coat and a $380 bucket purse.I would consider buying a couple timeless staples at Banana Republic or investing in a single splurge item like a coat or handbag, but the brand wouldn't be the first on my list for a closet refresh.Next, I took the train downtown to visit J. Crew.The exterior of the J. Crew store. Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderThis store is located near Union Square at 91 Fifth Avenue.Right away, the outfits displayed in the windows caught my eye. The window displays at J. Crew. Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderThe styling was fun and festive for the holidays.When I walked into the store, pops of color lifted my mood. The front of the J. Crew store. Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderThe store felt playful and bright.At the front of the store was a section of holiday-themed clothing.Mannequins at J. Crew.Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderThere was lots of bright red, Fair Isle sweaters, and silver.It didn't take long to find some sequins.A sequined vest. Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderSequins were throughout the store — on sweaters, dresses, and tops.The store was pretty busy Customers shop inside a J. Crew store. Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderThere were at least a dozen customers on the ground floor.This jacket stopped me dead in my tracks. A metallic leather jacket. Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderI was not expecting to find this metallic leather jacket. The shearling and cropped style was perfect.The store was broken into sections based on colorThe pink section. Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderThe pops of color made the store visually interesting and exciting.I noticed that the store chose color and texture over too many patterns. The blue section.Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderSomething felt stripped down about the store compared to previous years. There weren't a lot of patterns, other than the occasional stripes, Fair Isle, and some holiday plaid. Instead, the clothing really leaned into pops of color and lush textures like cashmere and wool.And of course, it wouldn't be J. Crew with some strategically placed feathers. A wool coat and an oxford with feather cuffs. Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderFeathers have been a trendy adornment lately. It's not always done tactfully, but this crisp button-down felt like an approachable way to try the trend.A small sitting area punctuated the center of the store.A spot for customers to sit. Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderThe store selected modern, minimalist furniture.A lot of the jewelry incorporated pearls.Jewelry on display in J. Crew.Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderThe jewelry was much preppier than the jewelry at Banana Republic.I was unsure about the corduroy pants.Stacks of corduroy pants. Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderThe pants were a slim-straight fit. I thought they'd look cooler if they were a trendier wide-leg or even a fun, retro flare. But I grabbed a pair to give them a shot.The styling throughout the store was fun and gave me a lot of outfit ideas. Several mannequins styled in winter clothing. Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderI really liked the merchandising throughout the store. Some unexpected pieces were paired together, but it looked cool.An employee showed me to a fitting room.Inside a fitting room. Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderThe fitting room had plenty of room to hang my clothes and the lighting was adequate.I didn't like the corduroy pants after all.Trying on corduroy pants. Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderThe brown sweater was a nice staple, though I wasn't feeling the color on me. The corduroy pants were a miss. The color was too mustard and I didn't like the slim fit.But I loved this grey sweater and leather pant combo.Trying on a grey sweater and leather pants. Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderI've been looking for a new pair of leather pants, so I picked out a couple of pairs. Before I went to the fitting rooms, a customer told me she had both pairs and loves them.I also liked these leather pants. I threw in a feather-cuff shirt for fun. Trying on a striped shirt with feather cuffs. Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderI couldn't decide which pair of pants I liked best. They fit slightly differently, but both felt comfortable and were flattering.I tried a shirt with removable feather cuffs for fun — stripes aren't really my thing, but I actually didn't hate it.Overall, J. Crew came out on top.A mannequin in a knit jacket. Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Business InsiderI had the most fun shopping at J. Crew and could have spent a lot more time there. The store had a wide range of styles and colors, but not so much that it overwhelmed me as it does in H&M or Forever 21. Every section had something that caught my eye, and there were multiple pieces I noted to come back for or look up online.While J. Crew has kept much of its classic prep, the clothing didn't feel too traditionally preppy for me. The brand has managed to hold on to parts of its identity that make it J. Crew — like sequins, feathers, and bright colors. These styles came off as revamped and modern when paired with leather skirts, cropped jackets, and cashmere sweaters.Finally, the clothes are approachable. The styles are paired down from what you might see on the runway, but still feel trendy. And prices skew slightly less expensive than Banana Republic for comparable quality.Before this visit, J. Crew seemed outdated and it didn't fit my personal style. Now, I would consider it a destination for several needs, whether it's to get a few basics, find an outfit for an event, or overhaul my wardrobe.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

ChatGPT is already making it harder for Upwork and Fiverr freelancers to make a living. Some freelancers for platforms like Upwork and Fiverr have seen their earnings negatively impacted by the adoption of ChatGPT. Getty ImagesThe popularity of ChatGPT has already led to lower earnings for some Upwork and Fiverr freelancers.Freelancers who complete writing-related tasks have seen some of the biggest impacts.There are still ways for freelancers to have success in the age of AI.Last year, a record 39% of the US workforce did freelance work, per the freelance platform Upwork. But this year, the growing popularity of ChatGPT is posing a threat to some of their jobs.A paper published in July by researchers from Washington University in St. Louis and New York University examined how the November 2022 rollout of the generative AI tool ChatGPT impacted the earnings of Upwork freelancers. The key finding: freelancers whose work was the most exposed to AI earned over 5% less in April 2023 than they did before that chatbot's release. Additionally, the researchers said workers who focused on writing-related tasks were among the most impacted.It's not just Upwork freelancers who are earning less. Sheraz Shoukat, an Australia-based freelancer who offers various writing services on the Fiverr platform, said tools like ChatGPT have led to less demand for his work."The impact on our earnings is huge, and to be honest, in a negative sense," he told Business Insider. He said he's seen some freelancers' earnings fall from roughly $2,500 to $3,000 per month to around $1,000 today.NEW: Generative AI is already taking white collar jobsAn ingenious study by @xianghui90 @oren_reshef @Zhou_Yu_AI looked at what happened on a huge online freelancing platform after ChatGPT launched last year.The answer? Freelancers got fewer jobs, and earned much less pic.twitter.com/kbtp8uDUPU— John Burn-Murdoch (@jburnmurdoch) November 10, 2023 Shoukat is among the many workers around the world who are monitoring how the AI boom will impact their jobs in the years to come. The rise of generative AI tools like ChatGPT could expose millions of jobs to automation and force many US workers to switch occupations over the next decade.Freelance workers, who are often narrowly specialized, could be the workers at "greatest risk of automation," Oxford economist Carl Benedikt Frey told Business Insider."If all you are doing is copy editing, translation, or web design, generative AI is more capable of substituting for you than if you are part of a larger organization or team, where you perform a bundle of tasks," he said.As AI tools make it easier for companies' in-house workers to perform certain job tasks, the demand for some types of freelance work could decline, Mark Muro, an expert on technology and workforce development and a policy director at the Brookings Institution, told Business Insider."In many settings, ChatGPT can be the freelancer and very much could reduce freelance jobs," he said, adding that this dynamic could play out in "higher exposure" occupations like marketing, media, writing, and advertising.How freelance writers can have success in the age of AIHowever, it's not all doom and gloom. Some freelancers have found work as AI content editors, which often involves editing, fact-checking, and giving a human touch to clients' AI-generated content. Between May and October, Fiverr searches for freelancers with AI-content-editing skills increased by over 7,000% in the US compared to the prior six-month period, according to a company report.Other freelancers have found ways to continue producing valuable original content in the age of AI.Ben Baker, a 56-year-old part-time freelance writer, covers events, explains court decisions and regulations, and does product reviews. He told Business Insider that he's continued to grow his freelance earnings because much of his work requires expertise that AI doesn't have."AI can tell you what the court decided," he said, citing one example of his work. "It cannot tell you how that decision can be applied to various situations."Baker said he lands about one-third of his gigs through freelance platforms like Fiverr and gets the rest through direct contacts he's developed with online publications. He has a few pieces of advice for other freelance writers: Breathe life into your writing, showcase your expertise, and incorporate real people into your content as much as possible."AI is hard to compete with if you go head to head," he added. "You have to find something it cannot do."Are you a freelancer whose earnings have been impacted — for better or worse — by the rise of generative AI like ChatGPT? If so, and you're willing to share details about your pay, reach out to this reporter at jzinkula@insider.com.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

The large number of Americans entering their prime homebuying years has kept demand high, making it harder for first-time homebuyers. A millennial couple moving into their new home.Getty ImagesMany young Americans want to buy their first home at a time when the supply is low.The housing demand from millennials has made it harder for the generation to get into the game.To make matters worse, millennials have been hit hard financially and carry a lot of debt. One thing keeping home demand — and prices — up is that there are a lot of millennials trying to buy.In 2020, millennials overtook baby boomers as the largest generation. That group, roughly aged from the mid-20s to early 40s, is also entering their prime home-buying years, with the average age of first-time home buyers at 36.The average millennial has also seen their net worth double in the last five years, from about $54,000 to $115,000, according to The Federal Reserve.The demand for homes from millennials has been enough to keep the pressure on the housing market in recent years, according to a new research publication from the Indiana Business Research Center and the IU Center for Real Estate Studies.Simply put, there are a lot of young Americans looking to buy their first home at a time when the housing supply is still low.While mortgage interest rates have started to fall in recent weeks, they were above 7% much of the year, peaking near 8% in October. Meanwhile, housing prices are still high but have started to pull back recently in some areas of the country. In September, Zillow reported that the total US housing market reached a record value of $52 trillion, a 49% jump since before the pandemic.Many prospective buyers are putting down less than 20% for a home purchase, according to ZIllow.Paul Bradbury/Getty ImagesAs a result, the overall housing demand from younger Americans has made it harder for other millennials to get into the game.Millennials have had a more difficult path to home ownershipMillennials have been hit hard financially, with more debt and a lower net worth than their parents had at the same life stage.Growing that wealth has been made more difficult due to the drop in housing supply over the last 15 years, which has pushed prices up and made it that much harder to get into the market. Housing supply has remained low in the last two years as many older Americans have chosen to stay put in their mortgage-free homes or with mortgages locked in at lower interest rates.Baby boomers built a lot of wealth through home equity.Ariel Skelley/Getty ImagesTo make matters worse, millennials carry a heavier load of student loans with payments that resumed in October.According to the Education Data Initiative, 33% of all student loan accounts belong to millennials, and they hold 30% of the total debt. In both categories, that is second only to Gen Xers.The result is that it takes the average millennial longer to buy their first home. In 2021, the average age of a first-time home buyer was 33, according to the National Association of Realtors. In 2022, that age grew to 36, a huge jump in just 12 months.Millennials are in danger of creating a housing bubbleThe research from Indiana University warns that the larger millennial population could lead to a housing bubble and a crash in the housing market.Demand from this generation is expected to wane just as baby boomers start to leave the housing market. Meanwhile, post-millennial generations will be smaller due to lower birth rates. As these cohorts enter their prime house-buying years, this could lead to a surplus of homes on the market, pushing prices down."A generational housing bubble is on the horizon," researchers wrote. "New housing built now to meet strong demand may sit vacant in a decade. Demand reversal will intensify by the mid-2030s when the annual number of homes that seniors add back to the market is expected to be 40% higher than current levels."Millennials may be in a no-win situation.JGI/Tom Grill/Blend ImagesSo, do millennials stretch themselves financially to buy into an expensive market now, hoping to build wealth that might later disappear? Or do they keep chugging along in their current state without a major asset, which is typically the easiest path to a higher net worth?It is starting to feel like a no-win situation.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Alaska is the biggest, most remote state. After visiting all 50 states, here's why I think it's one of the best. I've been to all 50 states and Alaska was my last one. Brian CicioniIn 2023, I finally visited my 50th state — Alaska.I thought it'd be perfect to save the biggest, most remote state for last.Alaska was filled with incredible food and activities and I would go back. For years, it's been my goal to visit all 50 states.Growing up in Pennsylvania, frequent road trips to New England and Florida allowed me to check off coastal states in quick succession.In subsequent years, easy access to New York City airports made it relatively easy to use holiday weekends to check off more. Around 2010, I saw No. 48 (Hawaii) and No. 49 (North Dakota) as part of family vacations.But instead of making plans for Alaska, No. 50, I pivoted my focus to exploring Asia, Europe, and South America. My idea was that Alaska would always be there.But after the height of the coronavirus pandemic around 2020, I refocused on North America. By 2023, I knew it was time to visit my last state. Here's why I'm glad I saved Alaska for last.Alaska is so big that each city almost felt like a different stateAlaska is a massive state. Brian CicioniAlaska's vastness is put into perspective when you remember you can fit two of the second-largest states (Texas) inside of it. In part because of its size, each part of the state has a different feel. I started in Fairbanks and had to wear sunglasses on the way to my hotel — it was so bright and sunny out even though it was around 10 p.m. In Ketchikan, I experienced rainy, Seattle weather. In Anchorage, I was reminded of home as I experienced traffic jams. Here, though, they were caused by a goat that went too far down a cliff adjacent to the Seward Highway. The state was filled with incredible activities and memorable cuisine I ate so many memorable dishes in Alaska. Brian CicioniI mined for gold outside Fairbanks, sampled reindeer sausage in Anchorage, and explored the scandalous side of Ketchikan's history along Married Man's Trail.I visited several museums and was especially impressed with the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage's replicas of where indigenous people lived. Each dwelling had a member from the given tribe to tell stories and answer questions. Food-wise, I ate at least one memorable thing in each city. The omnipresent Thai food huts in Fairbanks served as the backdrop for the most surprising culinary experience I've had in the United States. I ordered my pad Thai through a window and never got out of my car, which made more sense once I learned most vehicle owners use heaters to stop their engines from freezing in the below-50-Fahrenheit winters. Alaska's food scene is very unique. Brian CicioniI tried salmon in Ketchikan, the salmon capital of the world, but I most remember the soft, Parisian-like seaweed gnocchi I ordered in the most touristy part of town. In Anchorage, I had Southeast Alaskan oysters with plum-wine foam that made me nearly forget every oyster bar I've ever tried in the Northeast. I was intimidated at first, but I'm glad I saved Alaska for last I enjoyed my travels to Alaska and I would go back. Brian CicioniAlaska ended up being No. 50 for two main reasons. First, it's probably the most difficult to get to from the Northeast, with direct flights being seasonal and limited. Second, I was intimidated. How would I, who never even lived in an unattached house, enjoy the largest, least densely populated state? But once I was aboard Alaska's Denali Star train, enjoying the changing landscapes over a plate of reindeer bolognese while oblivious to the lack of cell-phone reception, I realized I may have saved the best for last. And I know I'd definitely like to return. Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

I had bathroom emergency on a first date. Later, I realized I had poop on my shorts. Luckily, my date and I had both lost our sense of smell due to COVID. The infamous bathroom scene from the movie 'Bridesmaids.'Universal StudiosA first date in Charleston, SC was expectedly a reenactment of a scene from "Bridesmaids."I had explosive diarrhea so bad, I had to poop in the sink; I later realized I stained my shorts. Luckily, thanks to previously having COVID, neither my date or I could smell it. The humor of the "Bridesmaids" food poisoning scene, like many good comedic concepts, lies in its unexpectedness. Watching it, you're under the assumption that the events faced by Annie and her friends could never happen to you. Going to the bathroom in the middle of the street? Burping and farting simultaneously in a pristine bridal shop? Emitting effusive diarrhea directly into a bathroom sink? That could never happen!But what if it could?Food poisoning played an unexpected role in my first dateWhen I started out as a digital nomad a couple of years ago, I also started going on dates with a lot of different guys in the cities I traveled to. Thankfully, my date in Charleston, South Carolina, was the only one that involved food poisoning.Not long into my first date with a cute guy from Tinder, I felt a faint sense of fatigue creeping over me. I attempted to put it out of my mind. After all, I was enjoying myself. It was in summer 2021, right after the worst of the pandemic, just as the world was opening up again.My date and I, like the rest of the world, had to learn how to interact with strangers again. So, as my date led me on an unofficial walking tour of the city's French Quarter, we had fun bridging the awkwardness of it all. Then my butthole clenched."We need to find a bathroom," I said, before adding, "Now."My diarrhea was so bad, I couldn't make it to the toiletThankfully, my Charlestonian companion knew his hometown like the back of his hand and led me to a tiny café with a single-stall restroom in the back. I duck-walked back there as quickly as possible, attempting to prevent having an accident in front of not only my date, but everyone attempting to have a nice afternoon.I threw open the door and looked wildly around, like a detective with a warrant. After a quick calculation, I determined that I didn't even have enough time to make it to the toilet at the other end of the room. I would have to settle for the next closest porcelain fixture with a hole in it: The sink. I had only enough time to rip off my pants and release the beast.Twenty minutes later, however, my "Bridesmaids" moment turned into a "There's Something About Mary" moment when a father and his child, as well as my date, started knocking on the door and asking if I was OK."Coming!" I said, amazed that they had waited so long (and that my date was still there). Thankfully, I felt that my body was "safe" now, so I quickly cleaned up the sink with running water and a gargantuan wad of paper towels and got out of there. Thus, 25 minutes after first entering the bathroom, I finally emerged from my hellish, Sisyphean prison with a forced smile and a brow laced with sweat. The worst was finally over. Or so I thought.I was horrified to discover poop on my shortsYou see, I was still feeling residual effects from a Covid infection I'd had at the beginning of the pandemic. I had been living in New York when it all started and had been one of the first in the country to lose their sense of smell, and mine never fully came back. I could smell some things, like lemons, but not others, like the poop that was now on my shorts. Apparently, I hadn't cleaned up everything in that bathroom.Upon touching the back of my shorts 30 minutes after the Incident, only to discover poop there, I was understandably horrified. "Should I say something? Maybe he smells it, and he's just not saying anything to be polite?" I thought, sweating even more profusely. But minutes later, he provided our date with the twist ending it needed. We had been talking about the pandemic — because what else did people talk about back then — and he blurted out: "Did you know I got Covid a year ago and I still can't smell right?"At last, I breathed a sigh of relief and vowed to spend the rest of the date with my back turned.And yes, I still got laid.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»