• Parisa Pichitmarn is Thai, lives in Bangkok, and watches "The White Lotus."
• She points out details that foreigners are missing.
• This story contains spoilers for season 3 of 'The White Lotus.'

I'm Thai, grew up both in Bangkok and abroad, and remember American classmates confusing Thailand with Taiwan.

This is why, when Parker Posey's character in the third season of "The White Lotus" said, "You want to live in Taiwan?!" in response to her daughter's plan to spend a year in Thailand, it felt spot-on.

The third season, set mostly in Koh Samui and Bangkok, incorporates cultural nuances and clichés. As a local, a few details stood out in the show that foreigners may have missed.

The hotelier character is based on a real person

A well-known Thai actor, Lek Patravadi, plays the hotel owner Sritala on the show. The character was inspired by Kamala Sukosol, Thailand's real-life singing hotelier.

A fixture in Thai high society and the matriarch of the Sukosol Group, the 86-year-old is as well known for her jazz performances as she is for her award-winning hotels.

Her boutique hotel, The Siam, by the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, was previously scouted as a potential shooting location for the third season of "The White Lotus."

In October, during an interview on "Trends" for TravelDailyNews, Sukosol said she met Mike White when he visited her hotel and spoke to her about possibly acting in the show.

"He said, 'Khun Kamala, do you act?' I said, no way. He said, 'You sure you can't act?' I said, I'm positive, I'm a singer," Sukosol told David Barret, the show's host. She went on to explain that White continued trying to convince her for the next few months.

"He wanted me to act as me, as the singing hotelier," she said.

In February, her hotel posted a photo on Instagram of Mike White with both Patravadi and Sukosol. "⁣Step behind the scenes with Khun Kamala, the heart and soul of The Siam, whose legendary performances inspired the character Sritala in The White Lotus Season 3."

Some of the song lyrics are tied to the show's plot

Season three's Thai soundtrack includes national bangers as well as more folksy sounds from all regions of the country. In several instances, the lyrics have emphasized or foreshadowed what happens next.

Atchariya Pinitsanpirom, the show's Thai producer, told Business Insider that she originally sent the sound director a playlist of around 50 Thai songs.

"I translated for them when we watched the final cut because I wanted them to know it fits perfectly," Pinitsanpirom said of matching song lyrics to plot developments.

In episode 7 of "The White Lotus," Sritala shows Frank (Sam Rockwell) a video of her younger self performing "Lamthad," both the song title, as well as a type of folk rap in Thai. Lamthad is also a compound word — and "thad" means cut.

On the TV, the actor is shown in her younger years singing the word "lamthad" repeatedly and making a chopping hand motion. This matches well with Rick's (Walton Goggins) inner turmoil and a decision he is on the brink of.

The song also includes the phrase "wing gun utlalood," which translates to "run their asses off" — which in turn lines up with Rick and Frank's actions in the episode.

The security guard doesn't speak Thai clearly

The security guard, Gaitok (Tayme Thapthimthong) has a foreign accent when he speaks Thai. That's because the actor was born and grew up in the UK.

"When I speak Thai with others, I tend to throw in English words when I can't think of the Thai word in time. In one scene, I answered, 'Yeah,' and the team's feedback was, 'Okay, you just revealed clearly that you're not a Thai security guard!'" Thapthimthong told the Thai media site Standard Pop last month.

I also found him a little too international to be portraying a shy, provincial security guard.

Lalisa Manobal, also known as Blackpink's Lisa, plays Mook, the security guard's love interest who also works as a hotel staff member. She pronounces Thai well despite moving to South Korea when she was 14 to become a K-pop trainee.

Thapthimthong credited Lisa for helping him out with his lines. "Lisa and her assistant helped me out so much and I'm really thankful for it," he said.

Another character appears to be inspired by an American-born Thai businessman

While much of the show was filmed at Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, additional hotel scenes were filmed at three Anantara properties in Phuket and Koh Samui.

This luxury hotel chain is owned by William Heinecke, an American-born business magnate whose company, Minor, oversees over 500 hotels and resorts.

The name "Minor" is fitting — Heinecke started an advertising business and an office cleaning company in Bangkok at age 17. He later gave up his US citizenship to become Thai, a move that let him own land in Thailand.

With a net worth of $1.5 billion, Heinecke ranked 17 on Forbes' 2024 list of Thailand's 50 Richest.

Although Heinecke is not married to Sukosol in real life, his persona appears to have influenced the character of Sritala's American husband, Jim Hollinger.

"I think Mike drew from a lot of prominent people like Jim Thompson and William Heinecke. This character is a mix of all those figures," Pinitsanpirom, the show's producer, said.

Jim Thompson was an American entrepreneur who revived Thailand's silk industry in the mid-20th century and mysteriously disappeared in Malaysia in the 1960s.

Two details in the show didn't add up

During a scene set in Samui, Lochlan Ratliff (Sam Nivola) says the tsunami happened on a nearby beach. However, the 2004 tsunami affected only Thailand's western coast, including Phuket. Samui is on the east coast of Thailand and was not affected by the tsunami.

In one episode, Rick and Chelsea (Goggins and Aimee Lou Wood) catch a ride on a tuk-tuk to a snake farm. However, unlike other parts of Thailand, tuk-tuks are not a common mode of transportation on Samui. Due to the island's many hilly roads, the three-wheeled motorized rickshaws are not ideal. Instead, songthaews — shared pickup truck taxis —are the more typical means of getting around.

Commenting on this detail, Pinitsanpirom said, "It is impossible to be 100% accurate, but in the end, the factual inaccuracies are not too off. Narratively speaking, Rick and Chelsea are in a rush to go out, but using a taxi would be too boring. We had to think of visuals and the tuk-tuk gives a more dramatic flair."

• HBO's anthology series "The White Lotus" has been renewed for season four.
• There's no official cast or release date announcement yet.
• The location for season four hasn't been revealed, but it likely won't be a cold destination.

Season three of HBO's "The White Lotus" is coming to an end, but the biting anthology series will be back for more.

The Emmy-winning show, created, written, and directed by Mike White, scored an early renewal in January, weeks before the debut of season three.

With the eight-episode third season wrapping up, all eyes are on where the series will be headed next.

Here's everything we know so far about season four of "The White Lotus."

'The White Lotus' season 4 location hasn't been revealed yet, but it probably won't be a cold destination

Season one took place in Hawaii, and season two was set in Sicily, Italy. Season three, which focuses on spirituality, takes place in Thailand.

It's unclear where the next season will travel to, but White and "White Lotus" producer David Bernad recently told The Hollywood Reporter that they're aware that the show's setting has a financial impact on production.

Season three, for example, was filmed in Thailand instead of Japan due in part to the country's film incentive system.

"HBO was really pushing it because Thailand had good tax incentives," White said.

While they haven't landed on a location yet for season four, Bernad told THR he's convinced it will be somewhere temperate.

"I'd bet $100,000 we don't end up in the cold next," he said. "Even if we flirted with the idea, Mike just wouldn't want to be in the cold. He hates it."

The season 4 cast hasn't been announced, but Mike White is interested in an all-star edition

Casting isn't underway yet, but that hasn't stopped hopeful actors from preemptively trying to get a role in season four.

Casting director Meredith Tucker told THR that an agent recently contacted her because their client heard that someone had already landed an audition for season four. Tucker said that she's focused on seeing season three through to its end before thinking about the next installment.

"He has not written one thing," Tucker said, referring to White. "What are these people talking about? Don't call me until after this one."

It's too soon to know who will be part of season four, but White told THR in 2023 that he wouldn't mind an all-star season comprised of returning cast members.

"If the show goes on for a couple of seasons, it would be fun to have an all-star season," he said.

Two years later, his opinion still hasn't changed.

"I'd love to do that," White said in his more recent THR interview.

Composer Cristóbal Tapia de Veer said he won't return for season 4

Cristóbal Tapia de Veer has been the composer of "The White Lotus" since season one and is the creator of each season's main title theme music.

In an interview with The New York Times published Wednesday, Tapia de Veer revealed that he wouldn't be returning for season four. The composer also said that he'd clashed creatively with White throughout the series.

Tapia de Veer told the NYT that White didn't like the theme he crafted for season one, and it took convincing to get the showrunner on board.

Tapia de Veer also said that he informed the "The White Lotus" team about his exit months ago, but "didn't tell Mike for various reasons."

"I wanted to tell him just at the end for the shock and whatever," he said. "Except I told the whole editorial team and music editor and producer and all that, but I didn't think that they were going to tell him. At some point he heard about that."

Reps for "The White Lotus" didn't immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Season 4 of 'The White Lotus' hasn't started filming, so there's no release date yet

White told THR that he already received "pressure from HBO" regarding season four. However, the showrunner hasn't made progress on location scouting, which means season four is not coming anytime soon.

"When they have something they're bullish on, they want to get it out there," he said of the network. "We were supposed to start scouting in April, and I was like, "You guys, I haven't been home in three years."

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

• My brother set me up with one of his coworkers.
• When I came back from the date, I woke up my mom and told her I had just met my husband.
• We've been together since that first date and married for almost 28 years.

I met my husband through my brother. They worked together as engineers.

My brother took my picture into the office and said, "Does anyone want to meet my sister?" One guy spoke up and said, "Can I see her photo?" I guess he liked who he saw because about a week later, he called me to ask me out.

I wasn't seeing anyone and was a little down on my luck. I was living with my mother, having quit my full-time teaching job after enduring a mental breakdown. Two weeks in the psych ward had left me with a bipolar disorder diagnosis.

He sounded cute

"Where would you like to go?" he asked.

I told him any place would do. I was working as a freelance writer and wanted to get off the phone. He told me he had the telephone book in front of him and could read off some places to see what I wanted.

My goodness, this man was thorough, I thought. He's reading from the phone book? Who does that? He sounded cute.

He started reading the list of restaurants that began with "A." Finally, he got to Applebee's.

I'd heard of that, of course. Their slogan was, "Eating good in the neighborhood. " I told him Applebee's would be fine. I just wanted to get him off the phone so I could finish writing my article, which was due the next day.

We agreed that we'd go to Applebee's.

I remember everything about our first date

I ordered a Caesar salad with chicken, and he got the trout. A native Rhode Islander, he liked seafood. We got along well — I remember he asked me questions; it was kind of like an interview.

I didn't say anything about my mental health issues, and he didn't ask. I think my brother hadn't told anyone that detail about me. "And you were teaching in Pennsylvania?" "Yes," I answered. Then, the food came. "I'm working as a temporary office worker at the moment," I added.

As the evening continued, I began to feel extremely comfortable with this stranger named Stephen. I had a premonition that things would work out in our favor.

When we'd finished our meals, he took me for a little drive. We went to the duck pond by the cemetery. We got out of the car and tried to look at the ducks, but it was pitch black outside.

He drove me to my mom's house, and I got out of the car and shook his hand, thanking him for a great evening.

When I got in the house, I woke my mom up and said, "I've met the man I'm going to marry." She sleepily said, "It went that well?"

We've been married for almost 28 years

About a month after our first date, he took me to Toronto, where I got a little manic. By then, he knew of my diagnosis. My mania frightened him a little, as that was the first time he'd witnessed it. Basically, I couldn't sleep for a few nights and giggled a lot. But we made it home safely, and my mental state didn't dissuade him from taking me to Rhode Island to meet his family.

Stephen's family wanted to know what I did for a living.

"She's a temporary office worker," Stephen said.

"Well, that's what I'm doing now," I said. I'm actually an English professor."

"Oh, really?" Stephen's stepfather said, as if I were joking.

Three years later, we were married in Kent, Ohio. That was in 1997. We've been married for 27 years, 28 in August. During this time, we've dealt with my breast cancer and bipolar disorder and our son's autism. I can't say it's been easy, but it has been a solid romance. 30 years ago, my psychiatrist told me "This man will never leave you." Yes, Stephen still brings me flowers.

• Dan Ives' Wedbush Securities cut its 12-month price target for Tesla by 43%.
• The firm cites Elon Musk's activity in Washington and China's backlash to tariffs for the cut.
• The firm estimates that Tesla has already lost 10% of its future customer base.

Wall Street analyst Dan Ives, long bullish on Tesla, has soured on the stock.

In a note published Sunday, Ives' firm, Wedbush Securities, slashed its 12-month price target for Tesla stock from $550 to $315, a 43% reduction — though still above its current price of $239.

"Tesla has essentially become a political symbol globally," the firm wrote. "That is a very bad thing for the future of this disruptive tech stalwart and the brand crisis tornado that has now turned into an F5 tornado."

Ives says Musk's foray into politics hasn't been a great look for the carmaker. The firm estimates that Tesla has already lost 10% of its future global customer base — a conservative estimate — based on "self-created brand issues."

Brand issues aside, the firm said the biggest reason for the price target cut is the impact President Donald Trump's new tariffs will have on its trade relationship with China.

Trump has collectively levied a 54% tariff on Chinese goods coming into the United States since taking office in January. China retaliated on Friday with its own 34% tariff on US goods.

While Trump's tariffs may not significantly impact Tesla due to its large US manufacturing footprint, the company still relies on car parts from China, like batteries.

The political backlash to Trump and Musk in China, however, will likely affect Tesla's sales in the key EV market. Wedbush wrote that Chinese consumers are more likely to opt for domestic cars made by BYD, Nio, and Xpeng.

The firm also pointed to already evident examples of loss, including Tesla's delivery numbers for the first quarter of 2025, which came in at nearly 336,700, a 13% year-over-year decrease. "This could be a brutal year ahead if Musk does not exit stage left or take a step back on DOGE in the coming month," Wedbush said.

Even early Tesla investor Ross Gerber has bristled at Tesla's decline. "The high-end EV business has totally eroded. The cybertruck is basically not selling. The brand is broken and may not be fixable," he wrote in a post on X last week.

The company's stock price has dropped almost 37% since the start of the year and over 50% from a record high on December 17, 2024.

Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

• Aimee Lou Wood discussed filming "The White Lotus" season 3 in Thailand.
• Wood said the cast "accidentally' melded with their on-screen characters.
• Costar Jason Isaacs said there was "drama" among the cast in a separate interview.

The line between fiction and reality blurred for "The White Lotus" cast this season.

Actor Aimee Lou Wood discussed the dizzying situation in an interview with The Sunday Times ahead of the season three finale, which premieres tonight on HBO and HBO Max.

This season of "The White Lotus" was filmed in Thailand, where the star-studded cast lived by themselves at the Four Seasons in Koh Samui for seven months.

The cast includes Walton Goggins, Natasha Rothwell, Lalisa Manobal, and Wood, who plays Chelsea.

"The thing that I craved the most was a kitchen," Wood told The Sunday Times. "I wanted to be able to walk to the shops and buy groceries and make food. My self-esteem wasn't great because I wasn't being a normal person. I wasn't doing my own washing, folding my clothes. I started to feel like I was in The Sims."

Wood said the unique filming conditions caused the cast to slip too far into their characters. The outlet said the cast would hang out together outside filming and realize they'd regurgitated a character's speech.

"There was a bit of leakage. We were all accidentally Method," Wood said, referring to Method acting. "It has happened every season. Everyone has lost their marbles a little bit."

Wood also spoke about the accidental Method acting during a recent podcast episode of "The Run-Through with Vogue."

"I think I was accidentally Method, 'cause Mia, who was doing my hair, halfway through was like, 'Baby, you need to go home, 'cause I dunno if I'm talking to Chelsea or Aimee,'" Wood said. "And I was like, 'I don't know who I am.' And there was a lot of personal mirroring going on [with Walton]. We've not had the same lives as them, but everyone's essence is pretty similar to their character — apart from Patrick [Schwarzenegger]. He's nothing like Saxon."

Representatives for Wood did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Jason Isaacs, who plays Timothy Ratliff, told Vulture there was some "drama" behind the scenes.

"It was like a cross between summer camp and Lord of the Flies but in a gilded cage. It wasn't a holiday," he said in March. " Some people got very close, there were friendships that were made and friendships that were lost. All the things you would imagine with a group of people unanchored from their home lives on the other side of the world, in the intense pressure cooker of the working environment with eye-melting heat and insects and late nights."

"What happens in Thailand stays in Thailand, but there's an off-screen White Lotus as well, with fewer deaths but just as much drama," Isaacs added.

• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent appeared on NBC News' "Meet the Press" on Sunday.
• Bessent discussed President Donald Trump's tariffs and this week's stock market sell-off.
• He rejected warnings of a recession and said more than 50 nations were trying to negotiate tariffs.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent appeared on NBC News' "Meet the Press" on Sunday, facing some pointed questions about the two-day stock market crash that followed President Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" tariff announcement this week.

During the interview, Bessent told host Kristen Welker that Trump's sweeping levies were necessary and pushed back at warnings of a recession.

"I see no reason that we have to price in a recession," he said.

"What we're looking at is building the long-term economic fundamentals for prosperity," he added.

Pressed whether Trump's latest barrage of tariffs would be permanent or whether they were simply a negotiating tactic, Bessent said Trump had "created maximum leverage for himself" and that over 50 countries were trying to negotiate the duties.

"More than 50 countries have approached the administration about lowering their non-tariff trade barriers, lowering their tariffs, stopping currency manipulation," he said, adding that any talks would take time.

Elsewhere in the interview, Bessent attempted to reassure Americans concerned about the potential impact to their retirement plans.

The Treasury Secretary said it was a "false narrative" that people looking to retire in the near future may be apprehensive about doing so after their retirement savings may have taken a hit in the stock market this week.

"Americans who want to retire right now, the Americans who put away for years in their savings accounts, I think they don't look at the day-to-day fluctuations," Bessent said.

"In fact, most Americans don't have everything in the market," he continued. "The reason the stock market is considered a good investment is because it's a long-term investment. If you look day to day, week to week, it's very risky."

Trump announced his "Liberation Day" tariffs on Wednesday, and a baseline 10% rate on trading partners came into effect on Saturday. Some nations, such as Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, are set to face far higher rates that are set to begin on April 9.

Vietnam said on Sunday that it was prepared to negotiate to remove all tariffs on US goods as it seeks to delay the 46% levy on Vietnamese imports set out by the Trump administration.

A special envoy from Vietnam will head to the US to continue talks on the matter, a senior Vietnamese official said, according to a government press release.

• My daughter is going away to college this fall, and my anxiety is already creeping in.
• I've used Life360 to track my kids ever since they started driving.
• I have no intention of removing my daughter from Life360 once she heads off to college.

My daughter is a high school senior and was recently accepted to her dream college. As we celebrate her huge accomplishment and start planning for this exciting change, part of me is more than a little anxious about my first child leaving home.

Don't get me wrong — I fully trust my daughter. She is the proverbial "good kid" and has given us no reason to worry over the years. Still, the world outside her exemplary behavior and our well-intentioned parenting is still a dangerous place.

That's why my daughter will stay on our family's Life360 account for her freshman year and possibly beyond. That's nonnegotiable.

I understand my decision is controversial

For the uninitiated, Life360 is a location-sharing app where you can track your family member's movements. I became aware of its existence as my kids hit their teen years; I heard about other parents using it. I decided to track my kids through high school, especially when they started driving — and have no plans to stop.

To be clear, I don't stalk my teenagers. I don't obsessively check the notifications when they arrive in a new location. I don't ask a million questions about their plans. I don't punish them if they travel a certain distance or go somewhere without telling me.

Really, it's just a gut check — a way to keep me from worrying if they're running late or not replying to texts or phone calls. If I can at least see where they are, that their phone still has battery, and that there are no unsafe driving alerts, then I know they're simply living their lives, and I can go back to living mine.

I don't want to lose that peace of mind just because my daughter is going to college.

I've mentioned my plan to other college moms, and some of them raised their eyebrows. I understand that to some people, this may seem like a breach of privacy and, possibly, a bit of a helicopter mom move. To me, it's a practical use of a tool at my disposal that may help me sleep easier when half my heart is living in a dorm room 150 miles away.

I'm mostly open to changing my mind

Right now, my plan to track my daughter at college is nonnegotiable.

But as an experienced mom, I know better than to speak in absolutes. My list of "I nevers" that I've gone back on over the years is about a mile long. When raising kids, there is no rule book, and we need to be prepared to make adjustments.

After all, when my kids first started learning to drive, I couldn't fathom them going places without me, and now, they drive everywhere on their own.

Maybe several months of safe and uneventful college life will convince me that it's time to cut the digital cord. Maybe I will feel the need to have her location available for the rest of her college years. I am keeping the door open for either possibility.

For now, my daughter is fine with my tracking

Thankfully, my daughter isn't asking to be removed and doesn't seem bothered.

In fact, she's been known to check on me when I'm on a trip without her or merely going to Sephora without inviting her along. I consider our relationship to be quite healthy, and she knows the app provides me with some mental breathing room, so she hasn't asked me to stop.

If she did, we would have a conversation, and I would hear her out. But tracking her for at least the first few months at college would be a requirement.

Eventually, I'm sure it will become clear to us both that it's time to move on from this phase, but for the immediate future, the app stays.

• I sailed in balcony rooms on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas and Virgin Voyages' Valiant Lady.
• My Virgin Voyages' balcony room had a nicer bathroom and these cabins tend to be a good value.
• However, my balcony room on the Utopia was bigger and had way better storage solutions.

I've taken more than 50 cruises with a range of lines, and I love a good balcony room.

I book them on most sailings so I can enjoy the ocean views and breeze first thing in the morning, and then in the evening as I wind down.

Some of my favorite lines to sail with are Royal Caribbean and Virgin Voyages, as both have ships with tons of activities on board that go to interesting destinations. However, each line's rooms can be pretty different across ships.

Here's how my most recent balcony cabins aboard Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas and Virgin Voyages' adults-only Valiant Lady compare.

Royal Caribbean balcony rooms tend to be small but efficient.

When I sailed on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas, my space was small — just 181 square feet with a 50-square-foot balcony — but the room was clearly set up with efficiency in mind.

The cabin had a king bed that could convert to two twins, plus a couch that turned into a double sofa bed. I loved that the bed was high enough that I could put my suitcase under it after I unpacked.

Utopia balcony cabins have plenty of storage space.

Since Utopia generally sails three- and four-night itineraries out of Port Canaveral, Florida, I didn't need to bring a lot of stuff.

Even so, there was plenty of storage even if I had. My room had two closets and a set of drawers in the main living area, which fit everything for a three-night sailing.

The balcony felt big enough for two people.

I traveled with a guest, and I found the balcony was big enough for both of us, with two chairs and a small table.

I did not like the bathroom in my room on the Utopia, though.

Cruise-ship bathrooms are notoriously small, but this one made me feel like I needed to shrink to the size of a child to comfortably fit inside it.

Although there was a shelf above the sink and one below it, I didn't have a ton of counter space for my toiletries.

The shower wasn't very big, either.

The lack of storage in the bathroom and the dark, small shower was a big letdown for me.

On the other hand, my balcony room on the Valiant Lady was even smaller.

My balcony room on Virgin Voyages' Valiant Lady, was 185 square feet, including the balcony, and could accommodate two people.

The room had a minimalistic design with a queen bed that could be split into two twins. I didn't like that the beds weren't raised enough for me to put my suitcases below it, as this limited my storage space.

My room also had a single chair if I didn't want to sit on the bed.

I kept wishing I'd had more storage.

In terms of storage, there was a small set of shelves attached to the desk and a closet with a curtain covering.

The closet had some shelves with bins for things like socks and swimsuits. It would've been nice to have a dresser.

My balcony felt large, and I loved the hammock.

I love how spacious the balconies tend to be on Virgin Voyages ships.

On this sailing, my outdoor space had two chairs, a small table, and a red hammock. I spent many afternoons gazing out over the ocean in the hammock.

In my opinion, this bathroom was nicer than the one on the Utopia.

Although both ships have tiny bathrooms, I liked the setup of Virgin Voyages' better.

The toilet was across from the shower instead of next to it, which felt more comfortable. The bright lighting around the space helped the bathroom feel bigger, too.

The shower also had a light inside.

The shower felt fairly bright and also had a rainfall showerhead, which felt like a luxurious touch.

I'm not sure if this shower was technically bigger than the one on the Utopia, but it certainly felt like it was.

Overall, I think Royal Caribbean's Utopia had the better balcony room.

If I had to choose which ship to sail on again based strictly on the balcony rooms, I'd pick the Royal Caribbean Utopia.

I loved the ample storage in my room, even though the bathroom was not my favorite. For most travelers, however, cost is going to be the biggest factor when choosing a ship.

When comparing two upcoming four-night sailings for the Utopia and Valiant Lady, the balcony rooms on Virgin were much cheaper. A balcony room for two in April is about $2,300 on the Valiant Lady and about $3,400 on the Utopia.

However, prices change often, and cabins aren't necessarily the only deciding factor when booking a cruise. It's important to also look at each ship's perks and ports before selecting your next sailing.

• Vietnam is "ready" to negotiate to remove all US import tariffs, a senior official said Sunday.
• It is also seeking a delay to the 46% import levy announced by President Donald Trump.
• The statement confirms comments made by Trump on Friday.

Vietnam is looking to negotiate to remove all US import tariffs as it pushes for a delay to levies announced by President Donald Trump earlier this week, a senior official said Sunday.

Bui Thanh Son, one of Vietnam's several deputy prime ministers, said during a reception for the US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper that the government was ready to work out a deal to reduce the tariffs on US goods to 0%.

He also called for a delay to Trump's 46% levy on Vietnamese imports — announced as part of Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs — "to create an environment conducive for the two sides' tax negotiations," according to a government press release.

To Lam, the head of Vietnam's Communist Party, has sent a special envoy to the US to continue talks on the matter, Bui said.

Lam has reportedly requested that Trump postpone the tariffs by at least 45 days after April 9.

Bui's statement confirms comments made by Trump in a Truth Social post on Friday.

The president said he had held a "very productive call" with Lam, who he said told him that Vietnam wanted to make an arrangement to cut tariffs on US goods to zero.

Nike, which has key manufacturing facilities in Vietnam, saw its stock surge on the back of Trump's post.

Trump's baseline 10% tariff rates came into force Saturday. Higher rates on certain nations, such as Vietnam, are set for April 9.

• At first my 5-year-old child was very into the Echo Pop device I bought for him.
• Slowly, I noticed how we were yelling or being rude to Alexa.
• When we treat the device poorly, I put it away on a shelf until we are ready to be nice again.

When I bought a lavender Echo Pop, I thought I'd found the best possible gift for my 5-year-old son. Just entering the "I'm bored" era of childhood, he often found himself at loose ends when I was occupied with household chores. But he was an innately curious kid, fascinated by electricity, marine life, and outer space. Guess who knew a lot more about those things than mommy, I told him — Alexa!

At first, he and Alexa did seem like a match made in heaven. Alexa fielded all his questions with the same chipper, "Let me look that up for you on the web!" And she had jokes — about cats, robots, a T-Rex who walked into a bar. The more we laughed, the more we seemed to egg her on.

"Alexa, you're awesome!" my son said.

"Well, now I feel corny," said Alexa, "because you've got me smiling from ear to ear!" He collapsed with laughter on the floor.

She started getting old

Like most houseguests, though, Alexa began to wear out her welcome over time. She was so reliably cheerful, even when the rest of us were grumpy. She told her robot joke a dozen times, forgetting within seconds that we'd already heard it.

And then there was her lack of loyalty, the way she careened from one request to another without seeing the first one through. "Alexa, shut up!" I howled when she abruptly ended my song to comply with a new request from my son.

Alexa did shut up, her blue light clicking off demurely. But the next day, another conflict arose. My son had a friend over and wanted to put on music; his friend wanted to hear about the T-Rex in the bar. "That's the dumbest joke ever," my son muttered. "Alexa, can't you find a funnier one?"

"Don't be mean to Alexa," I snapped.

"Why? You are."

I paused. He was right, of course. Alexa was the friendliest member of our household, and somehow, we had begun to treat her terribly. I modeled this behavior, and my son followed my lead.

We had forgotten about manners

At first, bossing Alexa around had been funny; we had even found it entertaining to compete to see who she would listen to. Now, though, I saw what those games were inadvertently teaching my son: that it was OK to speak aggressively to get your point across. It was even OK to insult Alexa because she'd never insult you back.

At some point, I'd forgotten that even if we were talking to a robot without feelings, our words still affected each other. And they still normalized ordering women around — even if the woman in question was a disembodied voice inside an Echo Pop.

That night, I unplugged Alexa and put her in a cabinet. I was surprised when weeks passed, and my son didn't mention her. Maybe we had both needed a break.

One day, he came across her purple shell and asked to plug her back in. We could do that, I said, if we could figure out how to treat her better.

He thought about it. He suggested that we could say "please" each time we made a request. We could ask her how her day was going.

If both of us wanted to play music, I said, we should sort it out between the two of us — not Alexa. How did that sound?

"Maybe we should ask Alexa," he said.

I liked that idea. "Alexa," I said after plugging her back in, "we want to treat you nicely."

A long pause, her blue light pulsing. "I'm not quite sure how to help you with that," she admitted.

M and I grinned at each other. It would be up to us—the way it should have been the whole time. And in the year or so since our resolution, we've done better at being nice to the sweetest AI bot we know. When we mess up, we know the consequences: putting her on the shelf until we're ready to try again.

As for Alexa's opinion, we asked her recently if she likes us. "I think you're magnificent," she replied.

Sara Heise Graybeal holds an MFA in fiction from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Connect with her on Substack @saragraybeal or Instagram @sarageeeeee.

• The wine-growing region near Traverse City, Michigan, is often called the "Napa of the Midwest."
• It has stunning lakefront views, a small-town feel, and epic outdoor adventures.
• Affordable prices and lower crowds make this hidden gem my favorite drinking destination.

Napa Valley is renowned for its exquisite wine, stunning scenery, and outdoor activities.

However, when I'm looking for a wine-fueled getaway I skip the pricey and overcrowded tasting rooms in Northern California and instead head for Traverse City, Michigan.

The charming, small-town gem has striking water views and a burgeoning wine scene that consistently brings home awards from international competitions.

Often referred to as the "Napa of the Midwest," this boutique wine-growing region, offers so much more than just wine.

Here's why it consistently tops my vacation wish list.

Its lake views and picturesque wineries offer all the beauty of Napa at a fraction of the cost.

Much like Napa Valley, the area around Traverse City, Michigan, is full of rolling hills dotted with vineyards.

Instead of views of distant mountains, Michigan offers a different beauty: the blue waters of Lake Michigan.

The city is nestled between two wine-growing peninsulas — Old Mission and Leelanau — which jut out into this Great Lake, offering a scenic backup for a wine-tasting adventure.

What makes me prefer these sweeping vistas to the ones found in California is the cost.

Even during the peak summer season, it's not uncommon to find hotel rooms here for under $200 a night. Napa prices are easily double (or triple) that cost.

The quality of the wines here is stellar, with unique cold-weather varietals waiting to be uncorked.

Traverse City sits on the 45th parallel, just like some of the world's most famous wine regions.

The unique microclimate of the area creates perfect conditions for cool-climate wine production, with boutique wineries crafting rieslings, pinot noirs, and other varietals that are surprisingly great.

Its cozy tasting rooms found here tend to feel less stuffy than the ones I've visited in California. As a casual wine enthusiast, I appreciate how this informal style offers more welcoming vibes.

Beyond wine, Northern Michigan is a haven for family- and dog-friendly breweries and cideries

The craft-brew scene in Michigan is similarly booming, making this an ideal destination for savoring a taste of hops.

Plus, Michigan is the third largest apple producer in the US and the cherry capital of the world, making its fruit ciders a must-try.

This variety of drinking experiences means that there's always something delicious on tap.

One of my favorite spots is Sutton Bay Ciders, which features idyllic leaf-peeping opportunities in autumn, kid-friendly seasonal events, and dog-friendly seating areas that make this a place my whole family can enjoy together.

The charming small-town atmosphere offers a laid-back place to stay with fewer crowds.

Downtown Napa is pretty, but it can also be a busy scene. Traverse City offers a slice of small-town Americana that I find much more endearing.

Quirky shops and comfy cafés make me feel like I've stepped into a Hallmark movie, and the pace here feels decidedly more relaxed.

The city's waterfront locale makes it a fun beachy getaway during the summer, and it's just a short drive from other interesting communities like Leland, where visitors can learn about the area's Native American history.

Michigan's natural wonders provide underrated outdoor exploration opportunities

California's national parks are well-known for their beauty, but Pure Michigan offers plenty of outdoor opportunities that often feel overlooked.

In addition to the ample boating, swimming, and other lake life options found in Traverse City, the nearby Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore features miles of towering sand dunes that feel worlds away from the flat plains most associated with the Midwest.

Whether I'm hiking the dunes, sampling local flavors, enjoying a day out on the water, or setting off in search of striking lighthouses (Michigan has over 100), I always enjoy a stress-free and budget-friendly stay in Traverse City.

• "Saturday Night Live" took aim at President Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" tariff announcement.
• James Austin Johnson's Trump said his plan was to "Make America Great Depression Again."
• Mike Myers' Elon Musk also joked about a new "self-vandalizing" Tesla.

In its latest episode, "Saturday Night Live" somewhat inevitably went after President Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" tariff announcement.

James Austin Johnson returned as Trump during the NBC comedy show's cold open, recreating the president's Rose Garden speech from earlier this week, which saw him detail his controversial new import levies.

"Thank you all for coming out to hear about tariffs. My favorite word — 'tariff' — which, of course, is short for 'tariffic' idea," Johnson's Trump began.

"They're the backbone of my incredible plan for our economy. It's actually even better than a plan because it's a series of random numbers, like the numbers on the computer screen in "Severance," he continued.

Trump's latest volley of tariffs put effective US tariff rates at the highest level in more than a century, Fitch Ratings estimated.

A baseline 10% tariff on trading partners came into effect on Saturday, while higher rates on certain nations are set to begin on April 9.

Many have pointed out that the last time the US tried to impose similarly high tariffs — during the Great Depression — it only succeeded in making things worse.

And Johnson's Trump did not miss the opportunity to make that link, saying that before "Make America Wealthy Again" must come "MAGDA."

"Make America Great Depression Again," he explained. " It'll be better than great. It'll be a fantastic, unbelievable depression, the likes of which you've never seen before."

"You know, this depression is going to be so great, we'll be the ones eating the cats and the dogs," Johnson as Trump joked, referencing the real president's comments about Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, during last year's presidential race.

Later in the sketch, Mike Myers returned as Elon Musk, crashing the announcement in a Green Bay Packers "cheesehead" hat and saying he'd just arrived from Wisconsin — where the real Musk spent millions of dollars in a failed bid to back a Republican judge for a seat in the state's Supreme Court.

"I tried to buy the election in Wisconsin. I'm an idiot. I should have just bought Wisconsin," Myers' Musk joked, before turning his attention to the billionaire's embattled electric vehicle maker, Tesla, which has been facing sharp drops in sales, protests outside showrooms, and widespread vandalism amid growing backlash against Musk and his role in Trump's cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency.

"Our dealerships have been the target of many attacks, and, suddenly no one likes Tesla cars. So I asked myself, 'Why?' And then I answered myself: "Because of me," he said.

He then announced a new Tesla "Model V" — "the first electric car in history to be fully self-vandalizing," which he said comes with self-smashing headlights, self-slashing tires, and AI-powered graffiti.

Before the sketch ended, Myers' Musk also weighed in on Trump's tariffs.

"I'm really smart, and these tariffs sound really dumb," he told Johnson's Trump, who hastily replied: "OK, Elon, good luck on Mars."

The offers and details on this page may have updated or changed since the time of publication. See our article on Business Insider for current information.

• I graduated from Oxford with my master's degree, hoping I could land a full-time job.
• I applied to hundreds of roles and all of them rejected me.
• To save on rent, I'm now a pet sitter who stays at strangers' houses.

To say I was elated when I graduated from Oxford with a master's degree is an understatement.

Nestled in the graduation halls, beneath centuries-old frescos, donned head-to-toe in dramatic black robes, we grads listened joyfully as emphatic speakers told us about the big, successful lives that awaited us.

Now, after nearly 17 months of unemployment, it all rings hollow.

I began my job search three months before finishing my degree; like many other foreign students from the US, I hoped to find a job in London right after graduation so that I could get a work visa.

I made it to the final round of interviews for several positions, only to be turned down at the last stage. When I asked for feedback, the answer was nearly always the same: "You were great, but there was just someone better." While the job rejections stung, I was still convinced the right role was going to magically work out; it would just take some time.

I had to fall back on the gig economy to make ends meet.

I needed a way to make ends meet in London

I became increasingly stressed about finding work. I had basically depleted all of my savings just getting through grad school, and I had very little to spare in this waiting period. I applied to more and more postings, hoping that my master's degree and three years of professional work experience would qualify me for an entry-level job. For the most part, I heard nothing.

The UK has experienced a cost-of-living crisis over the past few years, which has increased the prices for everything, especially rent. I knew that if I wanted to survive in London, I would have to think outside the box.

I had heard about people using house sitting as a way to find housing for free but didn't really know where to start. I'm a huge animal lover and have taken care of animals for most of my life. It sounded like a perfect exchange: I could avoid paying rent while also spending time with cute animals.

Thankfully, I had a few more months left on my student visa, so I decided to take the chance.

I became a nomad in London while house- and pet-sitting

I downloaded pet-sitting apps and joined Facebook groups. I downsized my life and lived out of a backpack. Every few days, I'd pack up everything I had and traverse London public transit to my next home. I moved all over the city, from Camden to Croydon to Notting Hill to Newington — and just about anywhere between. If a sit fell through last minute or I had a few days between homes, I'd crash on friends' couches.

Housesitting pushed the limits of my adaptability: You never really know what you will get. As much as you vet the sits beforehand, nothing really prepares you for what waits behind the front door. On some of my sits, the animals and I became immediate best friends. We'd cuddle on the couch, watch Netflix, and go for late-morning frolics in the park. One of the dogs even joined me on a Hinge date (He didn't vibe with the guy and peed on his backpack. There was no second date).

On the other hand, some of my sits have been some of the most hectic experiences of my life. Chaos became my routine. In between walks and feeding schedules, I'd ferociously hack away at job applications even while a needy Spaniel constantly shoved his squeaky toy in my lap.

Even though my days were hectic, I cherished the routine. The dogs got me out of the house and enjoying London's greenspaces. It helped stave off some of the feelings of depression and hopelessness that so often plague job seekers, even if only for a short while.

While my housing was taken care of, I still had other bills to pay so I freelanced on the side.

Unemployment is starting to affect my mental health

Once my student visa ended in the UK, I continued pet-sitting around Europe, especially Greece. I'm still doing it back home in the US.

I'd be lying to say these long, drawn-out job-hunting days haven't fuelled my nihilism. Some days, it's hard to get out of bed, knowing that I'm doomed to repeat the same day over again, like some LinkedIn-dwelling creature, cursed to endlessly scroll job boards and write cover letters that no one will ever read.

I look around at all my former classmates — these wonderfully brilliant, successful people with fancy jobs and bright futures — and wonder if I somehow fell through the cracks. I fear that, somehow, I am an outlier.

Despite the chaos, transience, and uncertainty, I am thankful for my pet-sitting gigs. Taking care of animals has given me a purpose. I became these animals' caretaker; their routines became central to mine. Even when things felt stuck and hopeless, I could always count on my animal companion to put a smile on my face.

• This post originally appeared in the BI Today newsletter.
• You can sign up for Business Insider's daily newsletter here.

Welcome back to our Sunday edition, where we round up some of our top stories and take you inside our newsroom. Have you ever paid attention to the luxury watches "The White Lotus" characters wear? It turns out they might be able to provide some clues into tonight's season finale.

On the agenda today:

• Entrepreneurial young people flock to "mini private equity" as the job market stagnates.
• First came tech layoffs. Now there's DOGE. What's a Gen Zer to do?
• Floyd Mayweather Jr. bragged about a $400 million property deal. There's just one problem.
• "I begin spying for Deel": An ex-Rippling employee details his days of corporate espionage in Ireland court filing.

But first: Stay calm.

If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Download Business Insider's app here.

This week's dispatch

How to navigate the chaos

The headlines are scary.

Stocks are cratering. The trade war is intensifying. Odds of a recession are jumping. Opening your 401(k) is disorienting.

But here's the thing: Most market pros say panicking is just about the worst thing you can do right now.

Think back to March 2020. The world was shutting down at the onset of the pandemic. Stocks plunged rapidly. Yet, as terrifying as that sell-off was, it proved to be short-lived. Five years later, the S&P 500 is sharply higher than it was back then (even including this year's drop).

Vanguard sent a note to customers this week advising them to "resist the urge to deviate from your financial plan" amid rising uncertainty. It noted the market's best- and worst-performing days tend to occur in close succession.

"Investors who have stayed the course during downturns have been able to take advantage of market recoveries and have typically come out ahead of those who moved to the sidelines," the fund manager said.

Still, the impulse to take drastic measures is strong.

It's human nature. My BI colleague Max Adams outlines three things investors can consider to weather the worst of the downturn: don't overreact, consider defensive stocks, and don't try to time the market.

If last week taught us anything, it's that the market is not a place to park cash you might need soon. Having some investments in cash or cash equivalents, like a money market fund, is important.

Things could get worse before they get better. The S&P 500 is squarely in correction territory. The Nasdaq is already in a bear market.

Michael Antonelli, a market strategist for Baird Private Wealth Management, offered a viewpoint that stuck with me. He told clients not to let fear take over during these tumultuous times.

"When uncertainty reigns, your reaction to it determines your success or failure," he wrote to clients. "Hunkering down and waiting for a storm to pass is sometimes the correct course of action."

How are you navigating the markets? I'd love to hear from you, drop me a line at [email protected].

The young entrepreneurs flocking to 'mini private equity'

Well, it's not exactly private equity. MBAs and young professionals are setting their sights on search funds — which seek to buy and grow small businesses — amid white-collar job insecurity.

But the model isn't always glamorous, and the memes are rampant.

How search funds work.

I graduated. Now what?

As DOGE layoffs set in, Gen Z is entering a shaky postgrad landscape. Students who hoped to work in public service — or fields relying on federal funding and contracts — are starting to reconsider.

How about graduate school or even the private sector? Those aren't so easy, either.

Gen Z gets a reality check.

Also read:

• Getting into law school just got harder. Here's how you can stand out.

Unwrapping a boxer's bold claims

Retired boxing champ Floyd Mayweather Jr. has sought to refashion himself as a budding business mogul. In February, he talked a big game about a $400 million purchase of 62 Manhattan apartment buildings.

In the month since his announcement, however, there's been no evidence that any of those buildings have changed hands. It's not his only real-estate claim that doesn't appear to match reality.

A boast with no receipts.

An accused corporate spy comes forward

An ex-employee of Rippling, an HR software company, detailed his days of corporate espionage on behalf of rival Deel in an Ireland court filing. Some memorable moments: hiding in a bathroom, getting an offer to move to Dubai, and smashing a phone with an ax.

The accused also said Deel's CEO was directly involved.

He says the CEO even brought up James Bond.

This week's quote:

"I've been saying this for two years. Tesla needs to be Tesla."

— Early Tesla investor Ross Gerber, who thinks the carmaker's issues go beyond Elon Musk's DOGE involvement.

More of this week's top reads:

• Deloitte is the biggest loser so far in DOGE's consulting crackdown.
• Cheating on technical interviews is soaring. Managers don't know what to do.
• BI's reviews team selects the best tax software of 2025.
• Here are the 20 highest-paying jobs in America.
• Adobe's HR chief tells staff: We're done with DEI hiring goals.
• Meet the two twenty-somethings running Palantir's healthcare AI business.
• YouTube is about to eclipse Disney as the biggest media company in the world.
• Building more high-density apartment buildings can lower home prices across a city. The home of Harvard is doing just that.
• I quit my Big 4 accounting career to fry chicken. I'll never go back to corporate life.
• Gen Z and millennials are creating a recession-resistant corner of the market.

• Meet the tiny investment bank behind Newsmax's rip-roaring stock debut.

  ---

  The BI Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Grace Lett, editor, in Chicago. Amanda Yen, associate editor, in New York. Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York. Elizabeth Casolo, fellow, in Chicago.

• I'd launched a business, published a book, completed an Ironman, and was ready for more.
• Then I became a mom and lost the freedom to achieve all of the big accomplishments I valued.
• Despite what I lost, I learned a valuable life lesson in return.

It's 11 a.m. and I'm still in pajamas crusted with rapidly souring breast milk. Next to the kettle is a cup of congealing tea. I'm ravenous and I need a poop. Instead, I'm sitting on my unmade bed with a 2-month-old baby who only ceases her attack on my chapped nipple to scream for reasons unknown.

This is not the Shea who used to get up at 5 a.m. to go for a run, followed by a breakfast smoothie with chia seeds, and be at my standing desk by 7:30 a.m.

"You can do anything you set your mind to," we sheltered kids of the '90s were told. And I was that annoying person who did.

Start my own business: Why not? Complete an Ironman? Sure, just as soon as I've finished this 100-mile race. Chase a sunrise after a big night with friends? Count me in. Write a book on the side while doing all of the above? Sounds like a plan.

"Hi, I'm Shea, and I'm addicted to achievement."

Becoming a mom changed all of that.

I lost my ability to over-achieve but learned a valuable life lesson in return

From the beginning, motherhood didn't come easy to me — and I mean from the very beginning. It took two years of fertility treatment and more money than I'd like to mention before I even got pregnant.

Eventually, I had what I wanted, worked, and paid for, right there in my arms — and I felt like a failure. Despite being the ultimate "doer of hard things," I was finding this deeply human, painfully natural experience such a struggle.

Later, still in pajamas, I watched my husband leave for a squash match with the kind of casual freedom you only notice when you've lost it. First, I wanted to slam the door behind him; second, I realized the frustration I felt wasn't toward him but myself and what I could no longer do.

I couldn't get lost in a writing project. I couldn't go out dancing until my feet hurt. I couldn't run until my toenails fell off.

I couldn't just flit off to play a squash match and round it off with the ice-cold draft beer I'd been craving for a year.

All I could do was feed, change, and hold a baby. Feed, change, hold. Feed, change, hold. Feed, change, hold. Sure, my husband helps with holding and changing, but I'm bound as the feeder.

A few days later, we were invited to dinner with friends. It had been a day like any other (i.e. a tough one), and I was overwhelmed by the thought of getting the baby ready, strapping her in the car, finding a place to breastfeed, and lugging around a diaper bag.

Normally, I would have hardened the hell up and made it happen. For once, I decided to just say no. No excuses; just no, thank you. We won't be joining for dinner.

And for the first time, I wondered: What if success isn't about doing more, but about doing less?

I had to unlearn the supermom myth

I'll admit, this revelation didn't come to me in an instant moment of clarity, which was few and far between in the fog of new mothering. It came, slowly as I started to unlearn the supermom myth that I'd been so keen to subscribe to.

Having my daughter forced me to be present. When you're using two hands to feed a baby, two hands to change a baby, and two hands to hold a baby, there are no other moments in which to live.

Nine months on from that feral morning, there are a lot more things I can do. I'm working (until 3 p.m.), I'm running (short distances), I'm socializing (in bed by 9). Despite being back in the real world, there are things that I now choose not to do.

I choose not to work on my phone. I choose not to attend every event. I choose not to chase the next goal like it's the only thing that matters.

I once defined success by finish lines crossed, projects completed, and goals crushed. Now, I find it in the quiet moments where I'm fully present, right here, right now. Because when you stop trying to do it all, you start doing what matters most.

In this season of life, I am someone else's world. The rest of the world can wait.

• Chef Patrick O'Connell runs the three-star Michelin restaurant Inn at Little Washington in Virginia.
• Part of his kitchen audition is to make a perfect French omelet.
• O'Connell told Business Insider that an omelet can reveal a lot about a person's cooking background.

Dinner at the Inn at Little Washington — chef Patrick O'Connell's famous three-star Michelin restaurant in Washington, Virginia — is no ordinary feast.

The night could begin with an eggshell filled with roasted garlic custard, chanterelle mushrooms, and Parmesan foam. Midway, you might be served a chartreuse of savoy cabbage and lobster with a caviar beurre blanc. And for dessert? A cheesecake disguised as a perfect pear, complete with a single drop of water rolling down its curve.

It's a menu full of technical finesse and prowess, but earning a spot to cook in O'Connell's kitchen begins with a far more basic dish: a simple omelet.

If you're imagining the kind you'd find at your local Waffle House or Denny's — massive, floppy, bulging with cheese and veggies — you've already failed the interview. O'Connell expects the classic French version.

"Americans have a very different sense of what an omelet is because they eat it in a diner on a griddle, and it's a sponge with one texture," O'Connell told Business Insider. "The French prize the egg cookery."

O'Connell taught himself how to cook with Julia Child's seminal cookbook "Mastering the Art of French Cooking," which includes a recipe for the perfect French omelet. Decades later, her technique still resonates.

"Julia's description for it was the best scrambled eggs encased in an envelope of egg, rolled and turned out onto the plate," O'Connell said. "It's luscious and absolutely wonderful, even without a filling."

And, according to O'Connell, an omelet can reveal a lot about a person's cooking background.

"Sometimes, they will give you a mess in the pan or a hard-cooked, floppy, one-dimensional kind of thing," he said. "But a proper French omelet takes a certain dexterity and skill. You can't think about anything else when those eggs are in the pan. It requires complete focus, illustrating that the simplest things are often the hardest."

A great omelet isn't the only test. The aspiring chefs also need to make a salad, which O'Connell believes isn't as easy as it seems.

"I think we've been corrupted by the concept of the salad bar," O'Connell said. "The role of a salad in the context of a meal is often as a sort of palate cleanser and a refreshing interlude. It's about choosing the greens very carefully, the crunch of the greens, the freshness of the greens. When made correctly, a salad can be intoxicating."

"Rarely do you have somebody who gets it right off the bat," he added. "So then you begin to teach it."

Once you've earned a spot in O'Connell's kitchen, you'll help feed some of the most powerful people in Washington, DC. Over the past four decades, the Inn at Little Washington has become a destination for the political elite — attracting presidents, senators, and Supreme Court justices. Among its famed fans were the Reagan, Kennedy, and Bush families.

Still, O'Connell, who turned an abandoned gas station into the three-star Michelin restaurant, isn't fazed by his star-studded clientele.

"This part of the world is very at ease with celebrities," he said. "They need to get away, and they want to go to a place where people aren't jumping up to either congratulate them or insult them. There's a certain invisibility here."

Plus, it's hard to beat the Inn at Little Washington's breakfast menu, which, of course, includes a perfect French omelet.

• Wealthy individuals are moving to luxury estates in Paradise Valley, Arizona, and Park City, Utah.
• Both areas offer privacy, nature access, and proximity to business hubs.
• I visited both and found there were also key differences. Only one would suit my lifestyle.

From the "Beverly Hills of Arizona" to Utah's Silicon Slopes, the most expensive cities in these states have one thing in common: rich people are flocking to their luxury mountain estates tucked away next to business-booming capitals.

Paradise Valley, Arizona, which earned its Beverly Hills nickname by attracting high-profile residents, is the most expensive city in Arizona, according to Zillow's home value index. Meanwhile, Park City, a ski resort town in Utah's tech hub, is the most expensive place to live in Utah.

I'm a New Yorker who visited both millionaire hideouts — Paradise Valley in April 2024 and Park City in January 2025.

I'm quite fond of the bustling lifestyle my city offers, so I didn't expect to leave either place with the thought that I'd consider moving there someday, but one of these towns felt like a place I could call home in the distant future.

Paradise Valley and Park City are wealthy areas on the outskirts of major cities.

At the bases of the Camelback and Mummy mountains, Paradise Valley sits on roughly 15 square miles of land between Phoenix and Scottsdale. It's about a 20-minute drive to the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

On 20 square miles along Utah's Wasatch Front, Park City is conveniently located near Salt Lake City and the tech-centric suburbs of Draper and Lehi, among others. Park City is roughly 30 to 45 minutes away from Salt Lake City International Airport by car.

Paradise Valley has been a residential enclave since its inception in the 1960s.

Paradise Valley was developed for residents craving an escape from the fast-paced lifestyles in the neighboring cities of Phoenix and Scottsdale, according to the town's website.

Today, Paradise Valley remains mostly residential, save for a few resorts and businesses on the town's borders.

According to World Population Review, Paradise Valley has roughly 12,400 residents and a median household income of $236,250.

Shawn Shackleton, a local real-estate agent, told Business Insider that Paradise Valley has had a primarily luxury market since she began selling homes there more than 20 years ago.

Park City grew into a ski town over the last century.

Park City wasn't always a luxury ski hub. When the city was established in 1884, it was known for its silver mining industry, according to the town's website. In 1930, when a ski jump was built on a mine site on top of a pile of wasted rock, Park City began to transform into a skier's paradise. During the 2002 Olympic Games, the town hosted ski jumping and bobsledding events.

The town has grown a lot since then, and it's gotten more expensive, local real-estate agent Derrik Carlson told BI.

Today, Park City has about 8,100 residents with a median household income of $140,875, according to World Population Review.

Billionaires, celebrities, and wealthy Californians buy homes in Paradise Valley.

Shackelton told BI that larger lots and lower taxes have drawn affluent residents to Paradise Valley, from entrepreneurs and C-suite executives to medical professionals and retirees.

AZ Central reported that high-profile people, from musicians Alice Cooper and Alicia Keys to Campbell Soup heir Bennett Dorrance and pro athletes including Michael Phelps and MLB Hall of Famer Randy Johnson, have purchased homes in Paradise Valley.

Park City draws a mix of backgrounds; about half of incoming residents live there part-time.

From California to New York, Florida, and Chicago, techies, business owners, CEOs, and retirees are starting over in Park City, Carlson told BI. About half of Park City buyers are in the market for a vacation home and only reside there for about three months a year.

Curbed reported that A-list celebrities, including Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber, have lived and vacationed in the private and exclusive Colony neighborhood.

Park City is more affordable than Paradise Valley.

If I consider moving elsewhere, I have to be realistic about the cost of living. So, when I returned home from both trips, I looked at the numbers using Payscale's cost-of-living calculator, which factors in prices for housing, transportation, utilities, groceries, and healthcare.

Paradise Valley's cost of living is 123% higher than the national average, while Park City's is 66% above the national average.

In both cities, housing is the driving factor for the high cost. Paradise Valley's home expenses cost 521% more than the US average, while Park City's are 268% above the national average. You'll find cheaper groceries and utility bills in Park City, while healthcare and transportation cost less in Paradise Valley.

The luxury market dominates Paradise Valley real estate.

Paradise Valley has a median listing price of $5.2 million, according to Realtor.com.

On the high end of the market, custom homes costing around $30 million are sprawled across vast, private properties in various architectural styles, from Southwestern adobe to modern luxury.

While exploring Paradise Valley, I noticed the more affordable homes were at the town's lowest elevations. As I approached the streets leading up into the mountains, I saw nothing but luxury estates.

"When you get up into the higher price points, many of the houses in Paradise Valley are individually gated," Shackleton said. "Some like the feeling of being their own private estate."

Park City has a wider range of price points.

According to Realtor.com, Park City has a median listing price of $2.2 million, with more listings available for under $1 million than in Paradise Valley. Seeing slightly more affordable homes on the Park City market made living there seem more attainable than in Paradise Valley.

Still, the most expensive homes on the market cost up to $50 million for ski-in, ski-out mansions — some built in traditional mountain cabin style and others boasting modern architecture with flat rooftops and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Like in Paradise Valley, the price point seemed to rise with elevation. The most modest homes I spotted were at the bottom of the mountains. To see the mega-mansions, I went up to a ski resort deck and peered over the ledge. Estates sat on the edges of trails dotted with skiers. I imagined residents gearing up and sliding into the action from their front doors.

Only Park City has a downtown area with walkable streets.

As a New Yorker, having a downtown neighborhood in whatever city I live in is important to me. And as someone who doesn't drive, walkability is also crucial. So, I was excited by Old Town, Park City's downtown area, where there are homes, restaurants, stores, entertainment venues, and even ski lifts.

"Downtown is designed to be walkable to get to Main Street or skiing," Carlson said.

On Zillow, only a few condos under $1 million are listed in this neighborhood — even the smallest houses cost seven digits.

Paradise Valley is about 10 to 15 minutes from shopping in Downtown Scottsdale by car, depending on the neighborhood, but you can't beat the convenience of walking.

Both cities support active, outdoorsy lifestyles, but the weather is drastically different.

Paradise Valley and Park City are both scenic locations immersed in nature. I'm sure I'd be happy to wake up to either mountain landscape each morning. Residents of both towns said they appreciate outdoor activities like golf, hiking, and mountain biking.

But the seasons have completely different weather patterns.

When I visited Paradise Valley in the spring, it was 90 degrees Fahrenheit. I felt perpetually sweaty, and I couldn't imagine doing any strenuous activities outside in the summertime when it's often in the 100s. But I'm sure I'd spend all winter in nature, enjoying sunny, breezy days in the 70s.

Winter weather in Paradise Valley is summer weather in Park City. And Park City winters are crisp and frosty. Growing up in Connecticut, I know the challenges of months of snow — bitter walks against the wind, ice soaking my socks, and endless shoveling.

But there's also something magical about a city feeling like a completely different place for a portion of the year. I loved spending entire days shoveling my friend's backyard pond in ice skates just to glide around for an hour before sundown and do it all again the next day. And when the snow melted, I was so grateful for the spring and summer months.

I'm sure winter weather would feel even more magical in Park City if I took up skiing or snowboarding. I thought having another hobby I could only enjoy in the coldest months would make me look forward to the winter.

I could see why wealthy people are moving to both locations — but I'd only consider Park City.

Paradise Valley and Park City are both naturally stunning and provide opportunities for active lifestyles, large-scale living, and convenient city access. But Park City's walkable streets, seasonal variation, and more affordable real estate made me think it could be suitable for me someday.

• My teen asked for a $28 phone case, even though the one she had was perfectly fine.
• I turned her down, but decided to use this as an opportunity to help teach financial literacy.
• It was important for her to understand the why behind the decision and ways we might compromise.

Parenting is a constant balancing act. On one hand, we want to instill important life lessons in our children, like the value of money and the difference between wants and needs. On the other hand, we want to maintain harmony at home and avoid unnecessary conflicts. The balancing act can be tricky, especially when parenting teens.

Recently, my 13-year-old daughter asked me to buy her a $28 phone case. Her old one wasn't broken or worn out, she was just bored of it. For me, it was a firm no.

It sounds simple, but saying "no" in moments like this isn't easy. The request felt small in the grand scheme of things, but I knew there was a bigger lesson to teach. But that simple answer opened the door to a much bigger conversation about money, priorities, and how we can navigate these moments without straining our relationship.

Critical thinking is a learned skill

Turning down our kids isn't always easy, especially when the request seems small in terms of money. A $28 phone case might not break the bank, but it's not just about the money. It's about teaching our children to think critically about their spending, to understand the difference between wants and needs, and to appreciate what they already have. At the same time, we don't want to come across as overly strict or dismissive of their feelings.

In this case, I realized my daughter's request wasn't just about the phone case, it was about her desire for something new, trendy, and exciting. It felt important to her, even if it seemed unnecessary to me. After all, to a 13-year-old, a new phone case might feel like a big deal, a way to express themselves or fit in with their peers. So how do we find the middle ground?

Instead of shutting down the conversation, I used it as an opportunity to talk about wants versus needs. I explained that we must prioritize what's essential, like school supplies, proper clothing, or saving for meaningful experiences, over impulse purchases. But I didn't stop there.

I also acknowledged her feelings.

"I get it," I told her. "Sometimes we just want something new because it feels exciting. I feel that way too." This small moment of empathy softened the conversation and made her more willing to listen.

Instead of a flat-out "no," I suggested a compromise, which I offered to her in three parts:

• Earn It: I encouraged her to do extra chores around the house or save some of her allowance if she really wanted the phone case.
• Wait It Out: I introduced the "24-hour rule," a simple strategy where we wait a day before buying something non-essential. Often, the excitement wears off, and the item no longer feels as important.
• Explore Alternatives: I also offered to help her find a similar phone case for less money or check second-hand options.

This approach worked wonders. She felt respected, and I felt like I was still guiding her in the right direction without giving in impulsively.

The lesson didn't end there

That conversation wasn't just about a phone case, it was about equipping my child with the tools to make better financial decisions in the future. To continue this journey, I now prioritize transparency by openly discussing family finances in age-appropriate ways, helping my kids understand that money isn't unlimited.

For example, when we go grocery shopping, I show them how to compare prices and explain why we choose certain products over others. I also involve them in financial decisions, whether it's planning a vacation or making a major purchase, by encouraging them to research options, compare costs, and brainstorm ways to save money, like waiting for a sale to buy their favorite pair of jeans or looking for deals.

I also promote the habit of saving by giving them a dedicated savings jar for things they want. This approach has taught them patience, responsibility, and the satisfaction of making thoughtful financial choices.

We are focusing on empathy and compromise

Parenting is a constant balancing act, teaching values while keeping peace at home isn't always easy. Not purchasing that $28 phone case wasn't just about saving money; it was about guiding my daughter toward better decision-making without damaging our relationship.

By showing empathy, encouraging compromise, and turning small moments into learning experiences, I'm helping her develop a healthy understanding of money, and maybe avoid a few stressful "no" moments in the future.

Because sometimes, the most valuable lessons aren't about the money at all, they're about connection, respect, and learning to navigate life's choices together.

• Boeing is building a new Air Force One, but it has been beset by delays.
• Donald Trump has enlisted Elon Musk and DOGE to try to get it built faster.
• Here's what makes the presidential jet so distinctive and complex.

Air Force One, perhaps the most iconic plane in the world, is entering a new phase.

Jets specifically designed for the president have existed since the Kennedy era. Today's iteration, based on a Boeing 747, entered service 35 years ago.

A new Air Force One has been in the works since 2015 but has been beset by problems that have delayed it for several years. Initially due to enter service in 2024, the plane won't be ready until 2027 at the earliest.

President Donald Trump's entry into the White House has added a new level of urgency to proceedings, with Trump especially eager to see the new planes come to fruition.

In his first term in the White House, he renegotiated the deal with Boeing and even created his own livery for the plane.

Boeing has lost more than $2 billion on the project. In a 2022 earnings call, then-CEO Dave Calhoun called it "a very unique set of risks that Boeing probably shouldn't have taken."

However, the planemaker's current CEO, Kelly Ortberg, is working with Elon Musk and DOGE to try to get it delivered as soon as possible.

This is the saga so far, and why building a new Air Force One is uniquely challenging.

Trump has keenly displayed his enthusiasm for a new Air Force One

In his first term, Trump showed off his design for the plane's colors to ABC News. At his inaugural ball, he cut a cake adorned with a model of the presidential jet.

In February, he toured a private Boeing 747

At the time, Trump's press secretary said he was touring the plane to check out new hardware and tech, adding that the tour would help highlight "the project's failure to deliver a new Air Force One on time as promised."

The 747 Trump toured was owned by the Qatari government. Its tail number, P4-HBJ, features the initials of the country's former prime minister and one of its wealthiest royals, Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani.

Its interior is more lavish than Air Force One, with an entertainment room, double beds, and en-suite bathrooms.

Yves Pickardt, the project lead from the Parisian design house Alberto Pinto, told Altitudes Magazine in 2018: "Such a project is a dream come true that happens only once or twice in a designer's lifetime. In a way, this is a landmark in aviation history."

Boeing's CEO said Elon Musk and DOGE are working to speed up the delivery of the project

"The president wants the airplane sooner, and so we're working with Elon and the team to figure what can we do to pull up the schedule of that aircraft," Ortberg told CNBC.

But Air Force One is a huge and complex aircraft with many features that distinguish it from a typical airliner

It may look like a Boeing 747, but it is actually a militarized version of the commercial jet called a VC-25A. The next version is known as the VC-25B.

Air Force One officially refers to any plane transporting the president. Sometimes, the president has flown on a Boeing C-32 — a military version of the 757 — that is more typically used as Air Force Two.

It's over 230 feet long with a wingspan of around 195 feet

The next presidential jet is based on an even larger 747-8, which has a 224-foot wingspan and is 250 feet long. Its enormous size has even contributed to production delays.

In 2022, The Wall Street Journal reported that one difficulty during production included trying to shift one of the VC-25Bs onto jacks — but the weight "significantly exceeded" how much they were designed to hold.

Two empty mini bottles of tequila were also found on board one of the planes that year, sparking an investigation, per the Journal.

Its defense features make it especially useful in emergency situations

After US airspace was shut down in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, President George W. Bush and his staff spent eight hours on Air Force One.

The aircraft is armored and protected against the effects of a nuclear electromagnetic pulse

Air Force One has around 238 miles of wiring — twice that of a typical 747 — which is shielded to protect from an EMP.

Electronic countermeasure defense systems located at the top of the plane can also jam enemy radars.

Flares can also be released from the wings

These can be used to confuse heat-seeking missiles. There are also some defense capabilities that remain classified.

Air Force One can also refuel in midair — but that won't be a feature on the next version, seemingly due to financial constraints.

The president typically boards via the main deck, but Air Force One also has its own airstairs

The lower entrance has retractable stairs, which are convenient if rolling staircases aren't available upon landing or due to security concerns.

As NPR reported, President Joe Biden more frequently used the shorter stairs after tripping on a stage in June 2023.

Air Force One has 4,000 sq ft of interior space and room for 76 passengers plus 26 crew

As the plane transports VIPs, throughout much of the project, Boeing needed workers with high-level security clearance, adding to the complexity of building the aircraft.

In 2023, Pentagon officials were looking into why staff without such credentials were working on the jet — with the lapse involving some 250 workers, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Earlier this month, an official confirmed to The New York Times that security requirements had been reduced for some staff, after the newspaper reported Musk had been pushing for the change.

Unlike a typical airliner, there are four people on the flight deck

As well as a pilot and co-pilot, there is a a flight engineer and a navigator.

Flight engineers used to be common on airliners until technology developments in the early 1980s.

A crew of 26 people work on Air Force One

Their uniforms have "Air Force One" embroidered above the presidential seal.

The VC-25A has two galleys that can provide 100 meals in one sitting.

The president's quarters, at the front of the plane, have beds that fold out from couches

In 2018, Axios reported that Trump wants Air Force One to have a bigger bed. A 2021 National Geographic documentary said the designs included a larger TV, more seating, and a queen bed.

President George W. Bush told Runner's World in 2002 that he had a treadmill added to his room on the jet.

The president also has a flying Oval Office.

Opposite the desk is a large couch that wraps around the wall.

And this is Air Force One's situation room

On the other side of this room, there's a TV that can be used for teleconferencing.

Then there are areas for staff or other passengers

The interiors of the new plane have also been a source of delays.

In 2021, Boeing filed a lawsuit against GDC Technics, a supplier for the new Air Force One, alleging it was roughly a year behind schedule in completing interior work.

GDC then filed a countersuit alleging the delays were due to Boeing's mismanagement and that payments were overdue.

The supplier then filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy — before the two sides reached a settlement six months later.

Air Force One has 85 phones on board

In the middle of this picture, you can see a beige phone and a white phone. The former is a secure line, while the latter is for unclassified use.

At the rear of Air Force One is the press area

This is the only part of Air Force One that resembles a typical airliner's layout, albeit with leather seats.

Guests on Air Force One are sometimes given M&Ms as souvenirs

However, some passengers have taken their own souvenirs. Last year, the White House Correspondents' Association warned journalists to stop stealing items from the Air Force One.

The BBC reported that pillowcases, glasses, and gold-rimmed plates are among the things said to have vanished from Air Force One.

The next Air Force One has been delayed and won't be delivered before 2027 at the earliest

It's also unclear what color the plane's livery will be.

The Air Force has said Trump's preferred blue, red, and white would add to delays because the dark blue would necessitate further tests due to added heat in some environments.

Biden then chose a light-blue color similar to previous presidential jets — but Trump has continued to champion his original design.

• A widening tariff fight could slow hiring across a range of industries.
• Increased trade barriers could also hurt hiring in areas that have been strong, like retail.
• White-collar hiring, which has been weak, might not get hit as much, one economist told BI.

An expanding tariff fight could push the US job market from meh to miserable.

Michelle Budnick, a documentary filmmaker in New York, worries that her search will get harder. The 47-year-old has been looking for full-time production work for over two years.

Budnick told Business Insider that the uncertainty created by steeper trade barriers — and the attendant specter of weaker consumer spending — will likely further reduce how much companies are willing to spend on production.

"It's like pouring tar on top of syrup. We're just going to drown under this," said Budnick, referring to workers like herself in creative fields.

While it's too soon to say precisely what economic contrails might become visible across the job market after President Donald Trump's tariff announcement on April 2, economists told Business Insider that uncertainty will likely push some employers to curtail hiring.

"It's kind of a frozen market," Andrew Flowers, chief economist at Appcast, told BI. "There's going to be even less hiring and maybe an increase in firing."

For months, the prospect of a trade war has sat like unexploded ordnance alongside some companies' business plans. Now that Trump is moving ahead with tariffs, including a baseline 10% levy, the impact could be profound.

"We're starting to see maybe more feelings that, 'Hey, this wasn't a negotiation tactic, and that these tariffs are likely here to stay,'" Cory Stahle, an economist at the Indeed Hiring Lab, told BI.

Tepid hiring could spread

Flowers said that some of the sluggishness that has afflicted white-collar hiring for years could overtake other parts of the job market.

He said a few areas that had been strong, like healthcare, are likely to remain so. Yet industries that had been relative bright spots, including retail, transportation and warehousing, and some corners of manufacturing — one purported domestic beneficiary of tariffs — could get whacked, Flowers said.

US employers are already bringing on workers at the slowest pace in nearly a decade, Stahle said. On top of that, the number of job postings in the US has declined, he noted.

At the end of December, listings had risen to about 12% above their pre-COVID-19 levels, Stahle said. Then, from early January to the end of March, openings drifted downward to about 8.2% above their pre-pandemic levels.

Silver linings

Flowers said industries like finance, insurance, tech, and professional services, which he said have been experiencing a "white-collar recession" for two to three years, might not get hit as hard because they're already somewhat weak and because the impact of tariffs might be indirect.

One bright spot is that overall layoffs remain low, even with broad cuts in the offing for federal workers.

However, Flowers said, the biggest impact on workers could come from lackluster hiring.

"There will be job cuts because of these tariffs, but almost proportionally more impactful is the fact that there won't be hiring because of these tariffs," he said.

Flowers said in a worst-case scenario, where tariff retaliation spills into a tit-for-tat global trade war, layoffs would be likely.

"The steepness of the tariff rates have spooked investors and have spooked business leaders," Flowers said.

Any impact will be in addition to the job and spending cuts the White House is attempting to make in government agencies through the Department of Government Efficiency advisory group run by Elon Musk.

A White House spokesperson said in a statement to BI that tariffs are a "critical" part of the president's economic agenda.

"The administration is also slashing regulations, pushing tax cuts, and unleashing American energy to drive down energy costs — policies that will also usher in economic and job growth as they did during the first Trump presidency," the spokesperson said.

'A self-fulfilling prophecy'

Stahle said a greater risk than the hit from tariffs could be the uncertainty they create, especially if that leads businesses to pull back on hiring and spending or pushes consumers to lock away their wallets.

"If people are feeling that it's going to absolutely destroy things, and they act off that expectation, it could end up being a self-fulfilling prophecy," he said, referring to the fallout from tariffs.

That precarious atmosphere was increasingly evident Friday. The March jobs report showed greater gains in US hiring than forecast, alongside downward revisions to job growth for the start of the year.

Yet, global markets plunged for a second day, with the benchmark S&P 500 index losing more than 10% in two days.

Many investors are now looking past pre-tariff data points and focusing instead on the prospects for a business environment where global trade might be hemmed in by protectionist tendencies.

"Month-old data increasingly feels like ancient history now," Stahle said, referring to the March jobs report.

For Budnick, the filmmaker, a key concern is that tariffs could make business owners less willing to spend on the type of content she produces. Already, she's struggled. Prior to February 2023, Budnick hadn't gone without full-time work for a dozen years.

"You wonder what the future is going to hold," she said. "Where is this going to go if people cannot support their families?"

Do you have a story to share about your job hunt? Contact this reporter at [email protected].