Celebrity Edge's Infinite Veranda cabin's flexibility, privacy, and uninterrupted views made it perfect for enjoying New Zealand's breathtaking scenery. Allie Hubers I booked an Infinite Veranda cabin on my Celebrity cruise and was surprised by how much I loved it. The polarizing design replaces a traditional balcony with more of a windowed "sunroom." Despite lacking a true outdoor space, the cabin's flexibility and privacy made it worth the price. My husband and I recently went on a 12-night cruise to New Zealand aboard Celebrity Edge — and, despite reading polarizing reviews online, we decided to splurge on an Infinite Veranda cabin. The stateroom design has been a topic of debate since it debuted in 2018, as Celebrity replaced a traditional balcony with floor-to-ceiling windows that open with the push of a button. Honestly, I had a hard time understanding the concept until I experienced it myself. Think of a traditional cruise balcony like an outdoor patio, while the Infinite Veranda is more like a (sometimes open-air) sunroom. For some, the lack of true outdoor space dilutes the cabin experience, while others appreciate the added versatility. I hadn't experienced anything like it before, but after 12 nights in the cabin, I'm convinced it was worth the cost. The biggest benefit was having added space and flexibility. Allie Hubers Instead of dedicating space to an outdoor balcony, the Infinite Veranda layout brings the seating space inside the cabin. So, our room felt extra spacious. I'm a chronic overpacker, but even with five suitcases, we had no issues finding storage. We were also pleasantly surprised by the extra space along the side of the Infinite Veranda, where we could store some of our luggage without our cabin feeling cluttered. The extra space also made our cabin more functional. Throughout the cruise, we used the Infinite Veranda as a second seating area. With two chairs and a small table, it was the perfect spot to have our morning coffee or a glass of wine at sunset. We ended up spending more time in our stateroom than usual because it was so comfortable. The Infinite Veranda felt more private than a traditional balcony. Allie Hubers One of the most unexpected benefits of the Infinite Veranda was the added sense of privacy it provided. On a standard balcony, your outdoor space is more exposed, with only a small divider separating you from your neighbors. They can also feel less secluded. Depending on the ship's design, a standard balcony might even be visible from other decks. On a previous cruise, for example, a stranger on an upper deck yelled things at me while I was taking photos on my standard balcony. It was pretty embarrassing. Thankfully, we didn't have to worry about that while using our Infinite Veranda. Even with the window open, the space felt enclosed and much quieter. Unlike on traditional balconies, where you can often hear chairs moving or conversations next door, we never heard our neighbors. All of this gave us a greater sense of privacy while we enjoyed the ocean views. We didn't need to step outside to see the breathtaking scenery. Allie Hubers Because the Infinite Veranda is built into the room rather than separated by a sliding door, we didn't have to go outside to take in sweeping views of New Zealand's fjords, cascading waterfalls, and jagged coastlines. With the country's cooler temperatures, bundling up to sit on a traditional balcony wasn't especially appealing. Instead, we loved lowering the window and enjoying the scenery from the comfort of our cabin. Unlike a standard balcony, which exposes you to wind, rain, or noise, the Infinite Veranda let us enjoy the views from anywhere in the room, even from bed. Whether we were sailing through Fiordland National Park or just wanted fresh, cool air in the cabin after dinner, we used the space constantly. Still, I can see why this room style is controversial. Allie Hubers One of the biggest drawbacks of the Infinite Veranda is the lack of a true outdoor space. At times, it can feel more like sticking your head out a car window than stepping onto a balcony. Additionally, the air conditioning shuts off automatically when the window is open. This can make the room stuffy or humid in warmer climates — luckily, though, this wasn't an issue for us with New Zealand's cooler weather. Some travelers also prefer the separation between indoor and outside space that true balconies with a door can offer. For example, it can be convenient if someone wants to hop on a phone call while their cabinmates are napping. This wasn't an issue for us, though. Ultimately, the Infinite Veranda won us over, and we feel it was a great value. Allie Hubers I can understand why the Infinite Veranda is polarizing, but for us, it was worth the money. In total, we spent $6,826 on an Infinite Veranda stateroom in Celebrity's AquaClass, which included wellness-focused perks such as access to a thermal spa and an exclusive restaurant. Infinite Veranda rooms typically cost more than standard veranda cabins, but prices vary widely — and I've even seen them cost slightly less on some itineraries. Although I was hesitant to book such a highly debated cabin, it turned out to be one of the highlights of our cruise. In fact, I've already booked another Infinite Veranda cabin for my cruise to Norway this summer. Read the original article on Business Insider

The author (left) is the only woman in her immediate family. Courtesy of Susan Teresa Since I'm the mother of three boys, I'm the only woman in a crowded house. I rarely had space just for myself, so I decided to declutter the attic. I turned the attic into my peaceful, feminine sanctuary, reflecting who I am as a woman. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy life as a boy-mom. Having three sons, my days are filled with excited talk of superheroes, villains, and video games. In summertime, epic battles play out in the backyard until dinner. On family movie nights, "Star Wars," "The Hobbit," and "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy run on infinite loops. Life is never boring. Although the "Boom! Crash!" of their younger years has now shifted to more nuanced language like "Bro! That's sus," I still can't help but feel, as our family of five gathers for meals, that I'm often the odd "man" out. Their shared spoken code reminds me that I'm the only female at the table, and that I'm fundamentally different in highly important ways. That's when I realized I needed my own space. I wanted my own space — away from the boys These past few years, I've stepped deeper into midlife — when women, often having spent decades as caregivers, ask, "Who am I really?" and "Why don't I feel like myself anymore?" I longed for a quiet space to explore these questions and others — like "What does it mean to be a woman in today's world?" My challenge was space. In 2019, wanting a home office/creative space, I transformed an unused room on our second floor. Then the pandemic hit. My husband, who'd always commuted, ended up working remotely for several years. My home office became his workspace. The staircase leading to the author's sanctuary in the attic. Courtesy of Susan Teresa Since every bedroom was occupied, I set up a desk in the living room. But the central location invited constant interruption: my husband, the boys, the dog, and even the cat who regularly photobombed Zoom calls. I needed space. Quiet space. Feminine space. Having run out of options, I considered the attic. Part of it was finished, even though we'd never used it as a "living space." We'd moved into the house when I was already seven months pregnant —dumping boxes, storage items, and inherited things in a frenzy before the baby arrived. Then, we shut the door. I decluttered the attic to make room for me I climbed the narrow steps to the third floor and peeked inside. In my head, a mantra from Kaizen philosophy: How do you move mountains? One stone at a time. I took a deep breath and decided this would become my feminine sanctuary. One stone at a time, I repeated with every box, every folder, every container, every piece of paper I pulled from the attic. I gifted usable things to Goodwill. I used a tip I'd read in a women's magazine to part with sentimental items by snapping photos to serve as memories, while tears streamed down my face. I placed toddler-sized sneakers into a big, black Hefty bag. It took weeks, but the mountain became a small hill. The small hill shrank to little piles. Until, at last, the attic was empty, ready, waiting. Designing from the inside out Most of my life, I realized, I had to share space. Growing up, I shared a room with my sister. After college, I shared houses and apartments with roommates until I moved in with my now-husband. The opportunity to have my own space — to design it in a way that reflected the woman I was becoming — felt exciting and empowering. The author's sanctuary has a desk. Courtesy of Susan Teresa As I envisioned the design of my space, I reflected on all that makes me uniquely me. The idea of a cairn came to mind — a structure built one stone at a time with intention and meaning. One stone — meditator: a space by the window for my meditation pillows, mats, incense, and singing bowls. One stone — writer/avid reader: a corner nook in which to curl up with books and journals. One stone — solopreneur: a white, glass, L-shaped desk with plenty of space for my laptop. One stone — mindfulness practitioner: walls adorned with inspiring art, affirmations, and symbols reflecting my growth. I now have my own feminine sanctuary A sign hangs on the door to the attic that reads, "The Zen Den — Meditation in Progress, Please Do Not Disturb." I place it when I want quiet — while meditating, reading, writing, hosting Zoom calls, creating, practicing origami, or simply being. For the first time in years, I have a space that reflects who I'm becoming as a woman. And I can hear my inner voice again. No one intervenes or interrupts, except the cat. And I've given him a feline pass. Read the original article on Business Insider

The Enhanced Games — a singular sporting competition where a majority of the athletes were on performance enhancing drugs — may herald a new business model that the tech industry is ready to embrace.

Structure-guided NER optimization for enterprise GraphRAG systems The post Proxy-Pointer RAG: Eliminating Wasteful Entity & Relations Extraction in Knowledge Graphs appeared first on Towards Data Science.

The author and her family moved from New Zealand to Kobe, Japan three years ago and have settled into their new life nicely. Sergey Alimov/Getty Images Moving to Japan from New Zealand gave my family cheaper living and better healthcare. Inexpensive flights and Japan's rail network made frequent travel part of everyday life. Less financial stress and a slower lifestyle improved my mental health and overall quality of life Three years ago, my family of three left New Zealand for Kobe, Japan, desperate for a total reset. We were running on empty, exhausted by skyrocketing living costs, limited career growth, and relentless financial stress. We already loved Japan as tourists, but moving here permanently felt like a massive gamble. Instead, trading hemispheres didn't just change our coordinates; it completely rewrote our quality of life. Same-day medical care is possible Back in New Zealand, my husband once waited months for an MRI after a severe work injury, while I spent years and thousands of dollars chasing answers to chronic health concerns through a clogged public system. When his back pain returned, I braced for the same exhausting delays in Japan. Instead, I laughed out loud when the clinic doctor asked if he'd prefer his MRI in three hours or later in the day, after he'd had some lunch. The total cost was just ¥6000 (around $38 USD). The author said it's easy to get appointments for inexpensive medical care. This machine shows the total cost for a specialist visit for her daughter, which is under $2 USD. Courtesy of Kerri King. While New Zealand's healthcare is technically free, accessibility was often the real issue. I now feel an enormous sense of relief knowing affordable and timely care is available when we need it. My 10-year-old daughter's monthly pediatric specialist appointments cost just ¥280 — less than $2 USD. Ditching our car improved our lives We don't own a car, so movement is embedded in our daily life. Between train stations, school runs, and grocery trips, I easily clear 10,000 steps a day. In my first four months here, I lost 10 kilograms (about 22 pounds), though I quickly found them again thanks to Japan's incredibly delicious bakeries. The author said she walks more and feels better both physically and mentally since moving from New Zealand to Japan. Courtesy of Kerri King. Increased walking has also changed how I connect with my environment. In a car, seasonal changes passed me by. Now, I slow down to notice spring buds, cherry blossoms hanging over train tracks, or autumn maples turning a deep crimson. I even took extra winter walks just to feel snowflakes settle on my cheeks as the hills behind my home turned white. We can travel frequently In New Zealand, international trips were a rare and expensive treat. In Japan, cheap flights across Asia and an extensive rail network make travel effortless and affordable. Last summer alone, we visited Vietnam, Taiwan, Singapore, Bali, and the Setouchi Islands. Our multi-stop summer itinerary — flying from Osaka to Singapore and Bali before heading back to Japan — cost just 212,587 Yen ($1,332 USD) for all three of us on budget carriers. Traveling to Beppu this May made me realize just how lucky we are. As I rode the Yufuin no Mori scenic train past mountains covered in vivid green cedar and purple wisteria, I looked out the window and actually cried out of pure gratitude for this new life. Having affordable international flights at our doorstep and a domestic transit system that makes spontaneous weekend trips easy has turned travel from an occasional luxury into a normal part of our lives. The author said her bills are much lower than they were in New Zealand, which feels much more manageable for her family. Courtesy of Kerri King. Our housing and grocery bills plummeted by more than half In New Zealand, we paid NZ $1,680, or about $985 USD, a month for a small two-bedroom unit outside Christchurch's city center. In Kobe, we now pay around $450 a month for a much larger three-bedroom apartment. The first time I did a week's worth of grocery shopping in Japan, I walked into the supermarket with ¥50,000 (about $315 USD) in my wallet, expecting to spend most of it. When the total came to just ¥15,000 ($95 USD), I genuinely thought there had been a mistake at the register. While rising prices and the weak yen have made everyday life more expensive for many families in Japan, it still feels far more financially manageable for us than life in New Zealand did, especially when it comes to housing, groceries, internet, and eating out. Living in Japan has reshaped my perspective and improved my mental health Starting over in Japan wasn't a magical fix; navigating a new language and culture was lonely at times. Yet immersing myself in a completely different way of living reshaped my perspective, teaching me to appreciate more and fight the current less. They say money can't buy happiness, but the financial stability and lifestyle shift here reduced my stress so drastically that eight months ago, I finally came off antidepressants after relying on them since I was 17. Japan didn't cure me, but it created the conditions for recovery, which reignited my curiosity for learning about the world. Read the original article on Business Insider

Author Kimberly Wilson learned the power of actually resting on vacation when she trekked to Grenada without an itinerary. Kimberly Wilson Author Kimberly Wilson was a traveler who always had an itinerary and a long list of to-gos while vacationing. During a girls trip with her mom, she decided to not plan anything — for once. Wilson found that when she didn't create moments for social media, she could actually rest. I've always considered myself to be a hustler, since my first lemonade stand, in fact. Growing up in New York, I was raised on a mentality that in order to live the life you dream, the work ethic has to match. That idea followed me through undergrad, then law school, then a career, mostly in travel writing, that practically runs on coffee and momentum. I constantly live a life on go-mode. It's probably why when people find out how much I travel for work and in my personal life, they assume I love it. It's my natural way of being. And I do, mostly. I'm the one who scours TikTok, Google Reviews, and travel sites to ensure that I'm able to perfectly curate my itinerary from the moment I step foot off the plane, train, or automobile. But in this season of life, as I'm navigating personal and professional life changes, I've learned that rest can't be my reward. So I wanted to try something new: see what happens when there's nothing to plan. And so I did just that. How I created rest during travel This past Mother's Day, I took my mom to Grenada. There was no spreadsheet, no color-coded schedule with a long list of plans and things to do (my mom hates that anyway), and nowhere for us to be. We had our flights, a hotel, and an intention to show up and figure it out. For someone like me, that last part was harder than it sounds — believe me. We stayed at The Beach House at Silver Sands, and I think the property did half the work for me. Tucked away on the southwest coast of the island, it doesn't have the sprawling amenities, a packed pool bar or an activity desk of a mega-resort that's trying to curate every second of your trip. Still, it was just what we both needed — quiet, a stretch of beach that felt like it belonged to just us, comfort, and luxury. The property itself is small by design, and ours was only one of 28 rooms and suites. When we walked into our king room, which featured wide windows and a private canopied terrace, we were stunned. The room sat on Portici Beach, which is framed by a stone bluff and water that shifts between shades of blue depending on the hour. There's also a main infinity pool that we had access to, a spa (at the sister property, Silversands Grand Anse, which we gladly enjoyed one day), kayaks, and beach yoga if we felt so inclined. The options existed, but we didn't feel pressure to partake in them one way or another. Inside the Grenada hotel where author Kimberly Wilson stayed with her mom. Kimberly Wilson For the first day, I won't pretend I wasn't restless. I kept reaching for my phone to look something up, to find the "best" local spot, and who I knew on the island. Old habits die hard, is what they say, right? For example, the woman who sat next to me on the plane — a stranger — informed me that a mutual friend was also on the island celebrating their birthday that weekend. They were hosting a themed party, to which she invited us to join, along with a list of activities to participate in while we would be there. My mom, who has watched me operate at this pace my entire life, just looked at me and said, essentially, stop. So I did. Spoiler alert: I also skipped the party. By day two, we were in our groove. We ate when we were hungry. We sat on the beach without a plan to leave it. One afternoon we ventured out to Port Louis Marina for lunch at Chez Louis, which felt like exactly the right amount of outside world. A good meal, a change of scenery, and then back to the quiet that Beach House offered. That ratio ended up being the whole trip in miniature. I worked out every morning, either at the outdoor gym on the beach or over at the main Silversands property, which has more equipment. I'm training for HYROX, so completely switching off for that was never really on the table, and I didn't try to force it. What I noticed was that the workouts felt different there, less obligatory and more like something I actually wanted to do because they weren't rushed or had to fit within a schedule. Kimberly Wilson takes a mirror selfie at the hotel gym. Kimberly Wilson We had dinner one night at Grenadian Grill, where the coastal cuisine matched the unhurried pace we'd finally settled into. But honestly, the food was secondary. My mom lives in New York and I'm in Maryland, so we just enjoyed catching up for girl time with zero distractions because that seems to be what is always the first thing that gets sacrificed when life picks up speed (on my end, not hers as a retiree, of course). I removed the pressure to perform on vacation I've taken a lot of trips. I've seen a lot of places, but I can't say I've always allowed myself to fully be where I was. Grenada was different. We all know the travel industry sells rest as a product. And the products are really good most of the time, really, really good actually: a spa package, a swim-up suite or butler service. I'm not going to say, I don't love all of those things. But what I found was that rest isn't really something a hotel gives you, it's something you have to decide to receive. The hotel's seclusion removed the temptation to keep moving and the simplicity of Grenadian life removed the pressure to perform a vacation for anyone, including myself. Kimberly Wilson works at a laptop on a Grenada beach. Kimberly Wilson I came back to Maryland without a single TikTok video or restaurant video saved for a future trip to Grenada (I scrolled and moved on, folks). Just some photos of my mom and I laughing having a good time on what I hope is many more girls trips to come. I'm still a hustler, by all means. That's not going anywhere anytime soon, even despite no longer living in "the concrete jungle." But I understand now that rest isn't the opposite of ambition. You need it as part of the infrastructure. And sometimes all it takes is a secluded beach in Grenada, your mother telling you —sternly, I might add — to put the phone down, and a place that's quiet enough to let you hear yourself think. Read the original article on Business Insider

Trader Joe's frozen foods and sweet treats make the drive from Canada worthwhile. Karen Habashi I'm a Canadian mom who drives to the US just to stock up on my family's favorite Trader Joe's items. My kids love the store's fettuccine Alfredo, mango juice smoothies, and vanilla meringues. The Middle Eastern-style kebabs and Mandarin-orange chicken make weeknight dinners a breeze. As a mom of three picky eaters, I will do whatever it takes to find foods that my kids enjoy. Luckily, Trader Joe's offers dinner options my whole family loves at affordable prices. There's only one problem: the complete lack of Trader Joe's locations in Canada. So, twice a month, I drive nearly an hour from our home in Canada to Bellingham, Washington, to stock up on all my family's favorites. Crossing the border for groceries might sound extreme, but the quality of the products and rave reviews from my kids make the drive worthwhile. Here are nine items from Trader Joe's that always end up in my cart. Prices may vary by location. My whole family is obsessed with Trader Joe's Mandarin-orange chicken. Karen Habashi One of my family's favorite meals is Trader Joe's Mandarin-orange chicken, so I make sure to buy four packages each time I shop. This chicken, battered in a delicious orange-ginger sauce, is great on its own or with stir-fry noodles. If I'm feeling fancy, I'll serve it with broccoli, carrots, and white rice, sprinkled with some sesame seeds on top. My son never liked fettuccine Alfredo until he tried the Trader Joe's version. Karen Habashi Even though my son has never been a fan of fettuccine Alfredo, served in a restaurant or cooked at home, he absolutely loves Trader Joe's take on this dish. For my family of five, I typically heat up two packs of the frozen pasta. I also love adding Trader Joe's breaded chicken tenderloin breasts for extra protein. To elevate the dish even more, I add some high-protein milk and butter, then top it with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano and parsley. The result is always a resounding success in our household. Trader Joe's take on kebabs is delicious. Karen Habashi I'm originally from Egypt, so I always make sure to pick up a bag of Trader Joe's Middle Eastern-style kebabs, which remind me of home. A bonus: my oldest daughter loves them, too. These kebabs take about 20 minutes to grill and are my secret for whipping up shawarma in a flash. I like combining them with tomatoes, a homemade tahini sauce, and onions seasoned with sumac and parsley. Then, I pack it into the Trader Joe's Egyptian-sourdough Baladi pocket bread. I can't get enough of Trader Joe's chocolate-covered wafer cookie bars. Karen Habashi My secret indulgence is Trader Joe's chocolate-covered wafer cookie bars. This sweet treat tastes exactly like my favorite childhood snack I had back home in Egypt. Each bar costs only $1.20, so I normally grab anywhere from five to seven during my grocery trips. Trader Joe's vanilla meringues are a sweet treat that always come home with me. Karen Habashi My haul always includes Trader Joe's fat-free vanilla meringues, which are my youngest daughter's favorite treat. At only $4.50 per container, these fluffy meringues offer the perfect amount of sweetness in each bite. Trader Joe's rolled corn tortilla chips are my son's go-to snack. Karen Habashi My son loves Trader Joe's chili-and-lime-flavored rolled corn tortilla chips, so I always make sure to pick up a bag whenever I visit the store. I highly recommend these extra-crunchy chips for anyone who likes spicy snacks, since they're packed with zest and heat. I always pick up Trader Joe's mango juice smoothies for my daughter. Karen Habashi My teenage daughter's favorite item from Trader Joe's is the store's mango juice smoothie. These non-dairy smoothies are made with mango purée, apples, banana purée, and lemon juice, and are a staple in our fridge. Along with great flavor, each smoothie is full of vitamins A and C, and costs only $3. Trader Joe's pork gyoza potstickers are a great appetizer for hosting. Karen Habashi Whenever we have guests over, I love to serve Trader Joe's pork gyoza potstickers. Each pack of these potstickers has about 20 pieces, making it the perfect appetizer for any get-together. I like to pair them with some soy sauce mixed with rice vinegar, and garnish with green onions. I can't believe how awesome Trader Joe's cultured salted butter is. Karen Habashi So many of my favorite Egyptian recipes rely heavily on butter, so I'm always on the hunt for one that's high-quality with an affordable price tag. Trader Joe's cultured salted butter is my personal favorite, as it tastes amazing, softens in minutes, and elevates every dish. Read the original article on Business Insider

The author booked a bedroom on Amtrak's California Zephyr and slept in both bunks. Joey Hadden/Business Insider I spent two nights on Amtrak's California Zephyr train and booked a $2,200 bedroom with two bunks. I spent the first night in the top bunk and the second in the lower cot. I slept well in both, but I preferred the top bunk because it made the room feel bigger. With two nights on the California Zephyr and two beds to choose from, I picked both. In February 2026, I took the Amtrak sleeper train's full route from Chicago to Emeryville, California. For the 53-hour train journey, I booked a $2,200 bedroom with a foldout couch and an upper bunk. As a solo traveler in a room for two, I spent one night in each cot to see which I preferred. I got roughly the same amount of sleep in each bunk, but some key differences led me to prefer the top one. And honestly, you probably won't agree with me. My Amtrak bedroom was 50 square feet and had two beds. Joey Hadden/Business Insider Inside the bedroom, there was a bathroom on the left, a foldout couch on the right, and a table and chair against the back window. Above the couch was a lever to pull the top bunk down from the ceiling. Train attendants offer turndown service to set up both beds, but as an experienced overnight train traveler (I've spent 193 hours on them), I did it myself. I spent my first night in the top bunk. Joey Hadden/Business Insider When I pulled the top bunk down from the ceiling, I found a ladder, straps to hook to the ceiling, and bedding. I hooked the ladder to the end of the bed and climbed up to fix the straps. There was also a pair of pockets on the wall where I stored my water bottle and phone. The shakiness of the train felt more prominent in the top bunk, but I didn't mind it. Joey Hadden/Business Insider If you're new to overnight train travel, I wouldn't recommend the top bunk. The shakes and rumbles of the rails felt more intense up there than on the couch below. But I've slept on so many trains that this motion rocks me to sleep now. I slept for seven hours and woke up feeling well rested. Sleeping up top made me feel like a kid again. Joey Hadden/Business Insider I slept in the top bunk above my brother growing up. Back then, it felt like just another mundane detail of my day. But as an adult, lying up there in that Amtrak bed, I was overwhelmed with nostalgia. It was like traveling back in time and having the chance to appreciate something I never did as a kid. The best part of the top bunk was that it made the room feel bigger. Joey Hadden/Business Insider With the couch still intact, adding the top bunk gave the tiny space another piece of furniture without taking up more square footage. I stored my belongings on the couch below and used the bunk as a loft throughout the next day. On the second night, I slept in the bottom bunk. Joey Hadden/Business Insider Beneath each corner of the couch was a pedal that read "Push for bed." With my foot on the pedal, I pulled the bar spanning each cushion to make the bed. I had easy access to the power outlets and a cupholder by the window. The bottom bunk felt larger than the top bunk, but it made the room feel smaller. Joey Hadden/Business Insider The bottom bunk was wider than the top bunk, so I had more room to stretch out. At the same time, the lower bunk took up a lot of the floor space. I suddenly felt cramped. There was no longer space to stand in front of the sink, so I brushed my teeth in bed. I stuffed all of my belongings in the corner of the room. I slept for eight hours in the bottom bunk and felt just as well rested as I did the day before. In the bottom bunk, I woke up with a view. Joey Hadden/Business Insider The window in my room was only visible from the bottom bunk. So I appreciated waking up, opening the curtains, and seeing the sunrise without leaving my bed. It may have been smaller and shakier, but the top bunk has my heart. Joey Hadden/Business Insider I'm sure most would prefer the bottom bunk for its size and slightly smoother ride, but on future overnight Amtrak trips, I'll always take the top bunk. If I'm riding solo, it'll make the room feel bigger. But even if I'm not, I'll give my partner the bigger bed and enjoy feeling like a kid again. Read the original article on Business Insider

The author was recently laid off and is now unemployed. Courtesy of Bil Browning I was laid off after 10 years working at the media company. I'm unemployed in my 50s and can't find a job; instead, I'm doing side gigs. I wonder where I fit in the current job market as an unemployed 50-something-year-old. I was one of the first Twitter "influencers" back before it even had an app. When Facebook launched pages, I was the first gay journalist to have one after they helped me set one up, complete with the blue "verified" checkmark that actually meant something before they started selling them. I grew another Facebook page to over a million followers, and the Library of Congress archived my old blog as an important part of the internet. I spent 20 years helping to build the online journalism ecosystem into what it is today. So why can't I find a job in digital journalism now that I'm unemployed for the first time in 20 years? I have a sneaking suspicion it's because of my age. I was laid off after decades in the media business I started my own site in the early days of blogging, back in 2004. After 10 years, I sold it to a media company and went to work for them. I stopped focusing on my own social media presence to build the media company's accounts. The publications needed the awards and recognition more than I did, I thought. I invested in them instead of myself. They laid me off a few days before I'd have been there for 10 years. I know I'm not the only one. Editors, journalists, and professional copywriters are laid off weekly. LinkedIn is now chock-full of professionals bemoaning that they're on layoff lists. Many have most likely been replaced with AI programs. AI doesn't want paid holidays, vacation time, or health insurance. It definitely doesn't need to plan for retirement. I wonder how much my age is factored into my struggles Now I'm scraping by on Substack subscriptions, monetized social media content, and freelance writing. None of those are 401(k) boosters. During the one interview I've landed, a person half my age told me that my résumé was impressive, but the follow-up question was, "When do you see yourself retiring?" When will I retire? When I hit the lottery. There's a particular type of despair that arises when you realize that you have to justify 20 years' worth of work in one paragraph that will impress an AI bot. Toss in the fact that I never finished my college degree, and I've got even less of a chance of bypassing the AI screeners who always tell me I forgot to enter my higher education qualifications. Job listings I'm now seeing require a master's degree and an active TikTok account to land a minimum wage job pitching influencers to shill a corporation's latest product. Sure, I've got thousands of followers across multiple platforms, but have I done the latest TikTok dance trend? That's considered experience now. Add in that I moved to Mexico City three years ago Most job listings for remote positions require you to be based in the US. While my bank account is American and I pay American taxes, companies don't want to deal with a cross-border hire. Now I'm not just older, I'm complicated. I don't want to retire; I want to pay my bills. I miss leading teams and being useful in a way that feels more immediate. Until I can again, I tweak résumés, rebuild my social media presence, grow my newsletter, write the best cover letters I can, and hope for the best. It's been challenging, but I'm hopeful that my best years aren't behind me. Read the original article on Business Insider

A hackathon event is pushing the US Army and defense partners to better integrate systems. US Army photo by Sgt. Nicodemus Taylor The US Army and industry partners are making drones, sensors, and weapons talk to one another. Decades-old barriers prevented systems from connecting, forcing personnel to be the link. Lessons from Ukraine and the Army's new warfighting software have inspired the changes. US Army leaders are trying to break down the decades-old technology barriers that have kept weapons, sensors, and command systems from easily sharing information, a critical step as the service pushes to make battlefield decisions faster. A recent exercise, the Project Jailbreak hackathon, brought top defense companies and the Army together to connect counter-drone systems, air and missile defenses, command systems, drones and uncrewed systems, and other weapons, getting these disparate systems speaking the same language. Updates were made and are already being pushed out to soldiers, including those deployed in the Middle East. "If you're not a technologist, think about your daily life. Imagine if every accessory you have — light bulbs, toaster, TVs — had a different way to connect," Alex Miller, the Army's chief technology officer, told reporters on Thursday. Imagine "your toaster didn't plug into the outlet," he said, and "you had to find a special adapter." That condition is what the Army's dealt with for decades, forcing soldiers to be what Miller described as the "integration point" between different systems, "which does not scale well if you are cold, tired, wet, and hungry operating on 20-hour days." Troops would have to manually input data for battlefield decision-making, spending more time going back and forth between all the different systems. That slows the decision-making process when speed matters. Updates from the event have already been pushed forward, with more to come in the coming 30 days. US Army photo by Spc. Kristen Cruz The service's new approach builds on the Army's commercial software-inspired approach to developing its new command and control system, as well as lessons from Ukraine. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said that the "aha" moment for the hackathon came after seeing how Ukraine integrated drones, sensors, and weapons into its battle management program Delta during a trip in Germany. "A lightbulb went off," he said. "Everything I had seen over the previous 16 months was simply not as integrated, simple, or effective for the warfighter. I realized we had to move right now." Defense firms Anduril, Boeing, General Dynamics, L3Harris, Leidos, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Palantir, Perennial Autonomy, and RTX were all apart of the hackathon. Engineers from the firms came together with the Army, cracked open the technologies behind their systems, and began sorting out how to have them talk to one another. While some vendors have done this before, this was the first time the Army had approached the problem at this scale and taken on the older technical standards that shaped how those systems connect. "We crippled our partners by stating their systems were classified at inception, which impedes modern development practices, and mandating they interface directly with decades-old standards instead of implementing new technology," Miller said. Ukraine's Delta battle management program and the Army's NGC2 inspired the event. US Army photo by Staff Sgt. Dane Howard Some fixes have already been sent to soldiers, including forces in the Middle East. Miller said the Army's goal is to have the rest deployed within the next 30 days. Future hackathons will bring in other weapons, like long-range precision fires. And the Army will start applying these approaches to the new systems it acquires. "This is the foundation," Brent Ingraham, assistant Army secretary for acquisition, logistics, and technology, said. "As we go beyond the scope of this sprint in integrated air and missile defense and get into fires, current ground vehicles, and intel platforms, we will perform similar functions to ensure backward compatibility." Over the past year, the Army has undergone rapid transformation as it adopts new weapons, commercial software development practices, and tries to break down data silos, the isolated systems that prevent information from moving quickly across the force. A leading program in this effort has been Next Generation Command and Control, the service's new warfighting software. NGC2, which has been in continual development with both the Army's 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson in Colorado and the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii, uses open architecture, meaning it is designed so new tools from different vendors can be added more easily. NGC2 has also helped the Army move data faster and add automated tools for tasks such as estimating ammunition needs. Army leaders have said the speed of future war will require technology that can be updated quickly, features more streamlined communications between different weapons and systems, and employs artificial intelligence to help match pace and relieve some cognitive load for soldiers sorting through the data. Read the original article on Business Insider

The author and her family moved in with her parents. Courtesy of Melissa Noble My family of five moved in with my parents earlier this year. It took my parents a bit of an adjustment period to get used to us in their space. Now, they don't want us to leave. When my siblings and I moved out of home in our late teens and early 20s, my mom really struggled with the empty nest syndrome. Even years later, when we were getting married and having babies of our own, she would talk about how much she missed her four kids. Never in a million years did she ever think any of us would be back living at home as adults. But as fate would have it, here I am, age 41, living with my mom and dad, along with my three kids and husband. In January, my family of five moved from country Victoria, Australia, to the Gold Coast, my hometown. To save money, my folks offered us the bottom level of their double-story home. For the first couple of months, they were overseas traveling, and then in March, our multigenerational living story began. I'm not going to lie — it did take time for my folks to adjust to sharing their space. After all, they had lived alone in the family home for 20-odd years. Suddenly, there were boisterous (and often messy) kids tearing around, and two extra adults in the house. However, after setting a few ground rules, we soon got into a nice daily rhythm, and they are now genuinely loving having us around. The other day, my mom even said she didn't want us to leave. I know that my folks are the ones doing us the favor, not the other way around. We haven't had to pay rent for four months or worry about buying furniture after the interstate move. But funnily enough, I think my parents are also benefiting from the multigenerational living arrangement in various ways. More security and safety My parents are doing pretty well for their age, but their health has still declined in recent years. I think having my husband and me around has improved their sense of safety, as we can offer care and assist during emergencies. The other day, my 81-year-old dad took a tumble at the top of the stairs. Ordinarily, my 77-year-old mom would have had to heave him up on her own or call my brother or sister to dash over. But because I was downstairs working and heard the thud, I ran upstairs and checked he was OK. Likewise, when my mom deteriorated rapidly from a bacterial lung infection recently, my husband and I made the decision to call an ambulance. I'm glad we did, as she ended up staying in the hospital for a week. If we weren't around, my dad would have had to deal with the situation on his own or call my siblings to assist. The author and her family have discovered many benefits of multigenerational living. Courtesy of Melissa Noble Built-in companionship We try to give each other plenty of space, but we still spend a lot of time together throughout the day. Every morning, I have tea with my dad, and during my lunch break, I eat with my folks. We also share nightly meals and chat about the day's events. When us kids left, I think mom struggled with grief, loneliness, and a loss of purpose. But now, their home is filled with laughter and grandkids. My parents don't get a chance to feel lonely, and they are still very much needed. Household help and shared responsibilities Being a double-story house, Mom and Dad's home takes a lot of energy to maintain, especially for two older people. But having two extra adults taking care of the property has eased the burden on my folks. My husband handles most of the yard maintenance and any heavy lifting, while I cook, do housework, and assist with tech issues. I really didn't want to create any extra strain on my folks, so we are trying our hardest to be of value to them. Everybody wins Overall, multigenerational living has been deeply rewarding to both us and to my folks. It has injected vibrant new energy into our old family home, created extra support for my parents, and made us feel like we are 'part of the village.' I'm sure there are times when my parents long for a bit of peace and quiet, or when they want to scream after sitting down on the couch, only to find a Nerf bullet or stray Barbie arm poking into their backside. But there have been so many unexpected upsides, and I'm really glad I returned to the nest, 41 and all. Read the original article on Business Insider

Reuters: A look at contrasting China playbooks of AMD CEO Lisa Su and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, with Su keeping a lower profile; China accounts for ~20% of AMD's revenue  —  When AMD CEO Lisa Su arrived in China last week just days after Nvidia's CEO left, she kept a much lower profile than Jensen Huang …

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Is it a hidden gem, a cult classic, or hopelessly dumb? We vote "all of the above."

As temperatures rise, some creatures pick fights while others struggle to learn.

Brent Crane / Bloomberg: A profile of Ariane Gorin, who became Expedia CEO in 2024 and has overseen back-to-back years of revenue growth, with record gross bookings of $119B in 2025  —  Atop the globe's second-largest travel booking company, Ariane Gorin is keeping a “close eye” on geopolitics but sees mostly clear skies ahead.

From specialized motors to the use of machine learning algorithms, Turkey’s billion-dollar hair-transplant industry is the result of a constant process of innovation.

Emily Glazer / Wall Street Journal: Bill Gates' carefully crafted public image has been eroded by revelations about his ties to Epstein; Gates was recently snubbed from Microsoft's CEO Summit  —  The billionaire philanthropist was once ranked the world's most admired man—but the revelations of his Jeffrey Epstein ties are eroding efforts to burnish his reputation

Ina Fried / Axios: Sources: Microsoft and Nvidia will unveil the first Windows PCs powered by Nvidia SoCs, including devices from Surface and Dell, at Computex and Build 2026  —  The company best known for powering the AI boom is coming for the PC: Nvidia is expected next week to debut the first Windows computers …

Zack Abrams / The Block: A US court ordered Circle to blacklist Zama's cUSDC contract, freezing ~$12.6M in funds, likely catching many in the “crossfire” of a civil suit against a DAO  —  Quick Take  — A federal judge ordered Circle to blacklist Zama's confidential USDC (cUSDC) contract on Friday night, freezing about $12.6 million.