• Netflix's "Big Mouth" eighth and final season is available to stream on Netflix.
• The series has featured several stars, including Natasha Lyonne, Megan Thee Stallion, and Jordan Peele.
• Here's a look at the star-studded cast and who they play.

After eight seasons and over 200 guest stars, the adult animated franchise "Big Mouth" premiered its final season on Friday.

Though it never reached the viewership numbers of behemoths like "Bridgerton" or "Stranger Things," it's one of the streamer's longest running original scripted shows.

Across eight years, the series has won five Emmys and inspired the 2022 spin-off, "Human Resources." Season eight concludes the series, which was created by Nick Kroll, his childhood best friend Andrew Goldberg, Jennifer Flackett, and Mark Levin.

The season follows a group of teens entering Bridgeton High School and having to rediscover their identities in the new school.

As with previous seasons, the teens' hormones, feelings, and mental illnesses are personified through various creatures that appear to help guide the teens through the ups and downs of puberty.

Nick Kroll plays Nick and Maury.

Kroll played several human characters, including Nick Birch, the series' lead character, who was inspired by Kroll's childhood.

Kroll also played Lola Skumpy and Coach Steve, Andrew's hormone monster, Maury, and Nick's hormone monster, Rick.

Kroll is known for starring in the FX comedy "The League," creating and starring in his own sketch series "Kroll Show," and creating the "Big Mouth" spinoff series "Human Resources."

John Mulaney plays Andrew Glouberman.

Andrew Glouberman, a boy obsessed with masturbation, is Nick Birch's best friend who joins him on his adventure through puberty.

John Mulaney, a comedian and former "Saturday Night Live" writer, plays the character. Mulaney has starred in other animated movies, including "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" and "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse."

Jessi Klein plays Jessi Glaser.

Jessi Klein plays Jessi Glaser, a close friend of Nick and Andrew's who explores her sexuality and struggles with depression and her parents' divorce.

Klein is best known for her writing and producing work, having previously produced "Inside Amy Schumer," "Transparent," and "Dead to Me."

Maya Rudolph plays Connie LaCienega and Diane Birch.

Maya Rudolph plays two characters in the series — Connie LaCienega, the hormone monster for Jessi, and Diane Birch, Nick's mother.

Rudolph, who rose to fame as a cast member on "Saturday Night Live," has won four primetime Emmy Awards for her performance in "Big Mouth" and has starred in numerous movies and TV shows, including "Bridesmaids," "The Good Place," and "The Lego Movie 2."

Ayo Edebiri plays Missy Foreman-Greenwald.

Missy is a nerdy biracial classmate of Andrew, Jessi, and Nick's.

In the first four seasons, Jenny Slate voiced the character, but she stepped down from the role in 2020, announcing on Instagram that black people should play black characters.

Slate was replaced with Ayo Edebiri as Missy began to explore her Black identity in the show.

Edebiri is best known for her breakout roles in the 2020s in "Bottoms" and "The Bear."

Thandiwe Newton plays Mona.

Thandiwe Newton played Missy's British hormone monster, Mona.

Newton is known for starring in "Westworld," "Mission: Impossible II," and "Solo: A Star Wars Story."

Jason Mantzoukas plays Jay Bilzerian.

Jay Bilzerian, a sex-obsessed bisexual boy, is another friend of Andrew, Nick, and Jessi's.

Mantzoukas is a comedian who has previously played equally wacky characters in "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," "The Good Place," and "The League."

Andrew Rannells plays Matthew MacDell.

Matthew MacDell, a gossipy gay student, was initially a secondary character in the first few seasons but became one of the main characters after season 3, developing relationships with Jay and Jessi.

Broadway and screen actor Andrew Rannells has starred in "The Prom" and "Girls" and has a vibrant voice-acting career, appearing on shows like "Sonic X," "Pokémon," and "Invincible."

David Thewlis plays The Shame Wizard.

David Thewlis joined the cast in season two as the Shame Wizard, who will mock and bully the children to amplify their shame around their mistakes.

Thewlis previously starred in multiple "Harry Potter" movies, "Wonder Woman," and "The Theory of Everything."

Jean Smart plays Depression Kitty.

Depression Kitty first shows up in season two after Jessi starts to develop strong negative emotions amid her parents' divorce. Since then, Depression Kitty has made a few appearances across the show.

Jean Smart, an Emmy-winning actor who stars in "Hacks," played Depression Kitty.

Maria Bamford plays Tito the Anxiety Mosquito.

Tito the Anxiety Mosquito embodies the children's anxiety, first appearing in season four.

Comedian Maria Bamford is known for her comedy specials as well as her Netflix show "Lady Dynamite."

Zazie Beetz plays Danni.

Danni is a student Nick meets in season seven when considering attending a private school.

Zazie Beetz is known for her roles in "Atlanta," "Deadpool 2," "Joker," and "Bullet Train."

Megan Thee Stallion plays Megan.

In season seven, Megan Thee Stallion guest stars as Megan, a hormone monster for Danni.

Megan Thee Stallion is better known for her rapping career, though she has also starred in Disney+'s "She-Hulk: Attorney At Law" and the 2023 movie "Dicks: The Musical."

Jordan Peele plays the ghost of Duke Ellington.

One of Nick's friends is the ghost of jazz pianist Duke Ellington, who lives in the teen's attic.

Jordan Peele is the voice behind the ghost. He also played Missy's father, Cyrus Foreman-Greenwald.

Peele is an Oscar-winning horror director and comedy actor best known for directing "Get Out," "Nope," and "Us" and starring in "Key and Peele."

Brian Tyree Henry plays Elijah.

Elijah, an asexual Christian student, appears in seasons six and seven, building a relationship with Missy. They broke up after graduating from middle school.

Brian Tyree Henry, known for his roles in "Atlanta," "Bullet Train," and Marvel's "Eternals," plays Elijah. Henry has voice acting experience from starring in the "Spider-Verse" movies as Miles Morales' father, Jefferson.

Natasha Lyonne plays Ms. Dunn.

Natasha Lyonne guest stars in the final season as sex-ed teacher Ms. Dunn. Lyonne has also made cameos in previous seasons playing Suzette Saint James, Jay's pillow girlfriend, and Nadia Vulvokov, the character Lyonne plays in Netflix's "Russian Doll."

Lyonne is best known for starring in "American Pie," "Orange is the New Black," and "Poker Face."

Ali Wong plays Ali.

Ali Wong joined "Big Mouth" in season three, playing the pansexual transfer student Ali.

Wong is a comedian who has previously starred in other Netflix originals like "Beef" and "Always Be My Maybe."

Keke Palmer plays Rochelle.

"Big Mouth" season five introduced the concept of Hateworms and Lovebugs, who strengthen the children's emotions. Rochelle, played by Keke Palmer, was Missy's Hateworm but later transformed into her Lovebug.

Palmer is best known for starring in "True Jackson, VP," "One of Them Days," and "Nope."

• Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is feuding with Grok, a chatbot created by Elon Musk's xAI.
• "The judgement seat belongs to GOD, not you," she wrote.
• It came after the AI chatbot called her Christian beliefs into question.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has it out for Grok.

The Georgia Republican lit into the AI chatbot, which was created by Elon Musk's xAI and is available to users on X, on Friday after it called her Christian beliefs into question.

"The judgement seat belongs to GOD, not you a non-human AI platform," Greene wrote. "Grok is left leaning and continues to spread fake news and propaganda."

The congresswoman also offered a warning about AI chatbots in general, saying: "When people give up their own discernment, stop seeking the truth, and depend on AI to analyze information, they will be lost."

In response to a post from a user asking whether Greene was "really a Christian," the chatbot said that the question was "subjective," mentioning the congresswoman's prior association with the QAnon conspiracy theory and her self-declared status as a Christian nationalist.

While Greene contends that Groke has a left-leaning bias — a contention that many make about AI — the chatbot took a different turn recently, bringing up the topic of "white genocide" in South Africa in response to unrelated inquiries.

And according to documents previously obtained by BI, xAI has been training the chatbot specifically to avoid being "woke" like other chat bots. "The general idea seems to be that we're training the MAGA version of ChatGPT," one xAI worker told BI in February.

Spokespeople for Greene and xAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The congresswoman has also previously praised Grok, writing on X in September that she was "impressed how much Grok knows"

• Former Apple design chief Jony Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman are building a mystery ChatGPT device.
• The interwebs have come alive with gadget guesses, renders, and memes.
• OpenAI is trying to challenge Apple and Google by redefining AI interaction with new hardware.

Let's get something out of the way first: nobody really knows what former Apple design chief Jony Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman are building.

That hasn't stopped the internet from bursting at the seams with wild guesses, gorgeous renders, speculative hot takes, and a healthy dose of meme-fueled imagination.

So, what is this mystery device that Ive is cooking up for OpenAI's ChatGPT? A screenless wearable? A next-gen smart assistant? A pocketable AI oracle? A glorified paperweight?

Here's our roundup of the best guesses — serious, speculative, satirical, and everything in between. Thank you to my Business Insider colleagues for contributing to this Friday's fun.

Serious Guesses: Industry Analyst Weighs In

OK fine. We'll start with some serious ideas.

TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is a credible source in the tech hardware and supply-chain space, especially when it comes to Apple. His take on the Ive-OpenAI gadget is valuable:

• Form Factor: Think small. Maybe iPod Shuffle-sized. Portable, minimal, and delightfully Ive-ish.
• Wearable: One of the use cases includes wearing it around your neck. Shades of sci-fi, Star Trek, or perhaps a Tamagotchi on steroids?
• No Screen: It will have cameras and mics for environmental awareness but no display. The idea is to not add another screen to our lives.
• Companion Device: It will connect to your smartphone or laptop for processing and visual output.
• Production Timeline: Mass production is expected in 2027, giving us plenty of time for more leaks, renders, and conspiracy theories.

Kuo suggested on X that the announcement was timed to shift attention away from Google I/O. OpenAI positioned this as a new hardware-software narrative, riding the trend of "physical AI."

He also referenced a great quote from former Apple fellow Alan Kay: "People who are really serious about software should make their own hardware." That's exactly what Altman and OpenAI are trying to do here.

Clues from Altman and WSJ

The Wall Street Journal reported this week that Altman offered OpenAI staff a preview of the devices he's building with Ive:

• The device was described as an AI "companion." Altman wants to ship 100 million of them on day one.
• It will be aware of its surroundings and fit in your pocket or sit on your desk.
• It's not a phone or smart glasses. Ive reportedly wasn't keen on a wearable, though the final design may still flirt with that concept.
• Altman said the device should be the third major object on your desk, alongside a MacBook and iPhone.
• There will be a "family of devices," and Altman even floated the idea of mailing subscribers new ChatGPT-powered computers.

They aim to shift away from screen-based interaction and rethink what AI companionship really means in a day-to-day human context.

Renders, memes, and vibes

The brilliant designer Ben Geskin imagined several cool form factors on X, including this circular disc.

Geskin's ideas blend Apple-grade minimalism with futuristic whimsy, perfectly on brand for Jony Ive.

• Some smart glasses, because of course.
• A dangly dongle, equal parts techie and jewelry.
• Square/rectangular objects with eerie elegance.

Echoing Geskin, another user on X proposed a disc-shaped device, sleek enough to pass as a high-end coaster or futuristic hockey puck. Think of it as an AI desk companion, quietly listening and gently glowing.

One BI colleague mentioned a smart ChatGPT lamp, possibly inspired by "The Sopranos" episode where the FBI bugs Tony's basement. Funny, but not impossible. After all, a lamp fits Altman's desk-friendly criteria.

Another X user joked that the device could resemble those emergency pendants worn by older adults — "Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!" — but with ChatGPT instead of a nurse. A brutal meme, but it raises a valid point: If the device is meant to be always-on, context-aware, and worn, why not market it to older users, too?

Although, if this is for the olds, should it use Google Gemini instead? Burn!

X user Peter Hu proposed an AI-powered nail clipper. Yes, it's absurd, and no, it doesn't make sense. But the design? Low-key fire.

Here's mocked up a vape pen with a ChatGPT twist. Inhale wisdom, exhale existential dread.

Some of the most surreal concepts look like direct plugs into your skull. There's a "Matrix" or "Severance" vibe here, suggesting a future where ChatGPT lives in your head like a helpful parasite.

This one also looks painful in a different way.

This one below is cute!

I asked ChatGPT to take a guess. The answer was not impressive. No wonder OpenAI paid $6.5 billion for Ive's hardware design startup.

This last one is a Silicon Valley insider joke. It's also a warning that it's extremely hard to replace smartphones as the go-to tech gadget. It's a riff on the Humane pin, an AI device that bombed already.

Can OpenAI compete with Apple and Google?

This device matters beyond its shape because of what it represents. Right now, Apple and Google dominate the interface layer of computing through iOS and Android devices. If OpenAI wants to define how people interact with ChatGPT, it needs a hardware beachhead.

Humane's AI pin tried and failed. The Rabbit R1 got roasted. The jury's still out on Meta's Ray-Bans. Can Ive and Altman actually crack the code?

Knowing Ive, we'll probably be surprised no matter what. The real product could be something no one predicted.

The race to define the next major computing interface is officially on. With Ive and Altman teaming up, OpenAI is making a major bet that how we interact with AI is just as important as what AI can do.

When the curtain lifts, and Ive whispers "aluminium" in a design video, jaws will probably drop, and competitors will scramble.

Until then, keep your renders weird, your guesses wild, and your brain tuned in to BI. We'll be here to cover every hilarious, ambitious, and brilliant twist along the way.

See you in 2027.

• Tesla's used-EV sales grew by 27% in April, per Cox Automotive data, and the average sale price fell 1.8%.
• While some Tesla owners have said they plan to sell over vandalism concerns or Elon Musk's politics, analysts pointed to Tesla's EV dominance and aging lineup as the key factors.
• Tesla's market share of new EVs increased by over 3% in April, driven by sales of the Model Y, which was recently refreshed.

There's been a rise in people listing their Teslas this year, and it looks like many of the vehicles are finding buyers as the average resale price dipped slightly last month.

Data released on Wednesday from Cox Automotive indicates that the number of used Teslas sold increased by 27% month-over-month in April. The increase brought the automaker's share of the used-car market to an estimated 47%. Chevrolet and Ford followed, with 8.9% and 6% of the used-car market, according to the data.

The average sale price for used Teslas in April decreased 1.8% month over month. The overall average listing price for used EVs decreased 2.8%, according to Cox Automotive's data, up from 3.8% from the same period last year.

Tesla's growth in the used-car market comes as the EV giant has had a tough start to the year. In addition to its first-quarter vehicle deliveries being 13% lower than the same period last year and its worst since 2022, the company has also been mired in months of boycott efforts resulting from Elon Musk's political involvement.

Following harassment and vandalism aimed at Tesla stores and owners of the brand's vehicles, some owners have shared plans to ditch the vehicle, and others have posted TikTok videos of trading in their Teslas for a new EV. Cadillac said this week that it's attracting more Tesla owners, specifically for its Lyriq model.

However, Joseph Yoon, Edmunds' consumer insights analyst, told Business Insider that the increase in used-Tesla sales doesn't necessarily reflect politically motivated offloading. With the value of used Teslas falling dramatically over the past year, Yoon said that many likely can't afford to sell their vehicles if their values don't align with its CEO.

"Tesla buyers, they don't have that kind of just cash to burn for the sake of feeling better about themselves," Yoon said.

Cox Automotive director of industry insights Stephanie Valdez Streaty told BI that Tesla's market share in the used-EV market is correlated with the automaker's dominance in the overall EV market. Up until last year, Tesla held around half of the EV market share, and in 2020, they held close to 80%, Valdez Streaty said.

"They've just been at it a long time," Valdez Streaty said. "So, there's a lot more Teslas in the marketplace that become used Teslas."

Tesla hasn't launched a mass-market vehicle since 2020 when it released the Model Y, which went on to become one of the top-selling vehicles in the country. The Cybertruck, launched in late 2023, currently starts at $69,990, and a March recall filing revealed that fewer than 50,000 had been sold. As the company faces an increasingly aging car line-up, the used EV market is growing.

Valdez Streaty said that Tesla's used cars are, on average, $7,000 less expensive than the average pricing for all used EVs. Its affordability and the options available can make it a good option, she said.

While it's still notable that some Tesla owners say they are ditching their vehicles because of politics, it's not clear whether it's happening at scale, Yoon said. For context, Tesla held an estimated 53.3% market share in the used-car market in 2022, 44.5% in 2023, and 44.7% in 2024.

There was a bright spot for Tesla in the Cox Automotive data — sales of new vehicles appear to be on the rise.

While most auto manufacturers saw a monthly decrease in new vehicle sales, Tesla was one of the few that reported sales growth for new vehicles, with a 3% increase driven by Model Y sales. In April, Tesla sold an estimated 25,231 of its Model Y, which was recently refreshed. GM and Nissan were among the other brands highlighted in the report that saw a growth in new EV sales.

The report said that the growth in used EV sales comes at a time when EVs face continued challenges with affordability, availability, and additional uncertainty due to looming tariffs. A recent consumer survey conducted by Cox Automotive indicates that nearly 50% of respondents believe tariffs will significantly impact their decision to buy an EV.

• The latest seasons of shows like "The Studio" and "The Last of Us" are ending this week.
• Netflix's new limited series "Sirens" follows characters at a lavish beachside estate.
• Bong Joon Ho's 2025 sci-fi film "Mickey 17," starring Robert Pattinson, is now available on streaming.

If you can't get enough of shows centered on rich people in picturesque, beachy locales, Netflix has your next binge-watch lined up.

"Sirens," the streamer's new dark comedy series, is about an enigmatic lawyer turned socialite who drives a wedge between two sisters who have a fraught relationship.

Meanwhile, the latest seasons of shows like "The Studio" and "The Last of Us" are coming to a close this week, but others are just getting started.

Here's a complete rundown of all the best movies, shows, and documentaries to stream this weekend, broken down by what kind of entertainment you're looking for.

Season one of "The Studio," Seth Rogen's satire series about Hollywood, concluded this week.

The finale focuses on studio head Matt Remick (Seth Rogen) and his team's efforts to execute a dazzling presentation for CinemaCon that can save Continental Studios from being sold to a tech company. There's more to come, though, since the show is already renewed for a second season.

Streaming on: Apple TV+

"Sirens" follows characters at a ritzy beachside estate over the course of a weekend.

The five-episode limited series centers on the complicated dynamic between Devon DeWitt (Meghann Fahy) and her high-strung younger sister Simone (Milly Alcock), who works as a live-in personal assistant to the frightening but alluring Michaela Kell (Julianne Moore).

When Devon notices Simone and Michaela's eerily close relationship and the cultlike environment at Cliff House, she decides to intervene.

Streaming on: Netflix

Nicole Kidman returns as a wellness guru in season two of "Nine Perfect Strangers."

Kidman is back as health guru Masha Dmitrichenko, and she trades her sunny California retreat for the snowy Austrian Alps as she meets a new group of strangers eager for a transformative experience. The season two cast includes Henry Golding, "The White Lotus" standout Murray Bartlett, "Schitt's Creek" star Annie Murphy, and more.

The first two episodes are now streaming, with the remaining six episodes releasing weekly.

Streaming on: Hulu

Stanley Tucci goes on a culinary adventure in "Tucci in Italy."

The five-episode National Geographic series follows the actor as he travels to Tuscany, Lombardy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Abruzzo, and Lazio to sample the cuisine and culture of each Italian region.

Streaming on: Disney+ and Hulu

Natalie Portman and John Krasinski play estranged siblings who embark on a treasure hunt in "Fountain of Youth."

Guy Ritchie's latest action movie centers on siblings Charlotte (Natalie Portman) and Luke (John Krasinski), who use their knowledge of history to track down a hidden fountain of youth.

Streaming on: Apple TV+

NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt is the subject of a new four-part docuseries.

"Earnhardt" delves into Dale Earnhardt's life on and off the track and the Earnhardt family's enduring racing legacy.

The first two episodes are now streaming, with the remaining episodes releasing on May 29.

Streaming on: Prime Video

Football fans can watch "Untold: The Fall of Favre."

The sports documentary explores how NFL quarterback Brett Favre's stardom crumbled after controversies like the Mississippi welfare scandal.

Streaming on: Netflix

If you liked Lana Condor in the "To All the Boys I've Loved Before" franchise, check out "Worth the Wait."

The multigenerational romantic comedy centers on the intertwined lives of several Asian-American strangers as they navigate love, family, loss, and other challenges. The film stars Lana Condor, her "To All the Boys" costar Ross Butler, "Fast & Furious" franchise favorite Sung Kang, and more.

Streaming on: Tubi

The final season of "Big Mouth" is here.

Netflix's long-running animated series comes to an end this week with its eighth and final season. In the last batch of episodes, the high schoolers encounter drugs, cancel culture, and, of course, puberty.

Streaming on: Netflix

Comedian Jerrod Carmichael has a new special called "Don't Be Gay."

Three years after coming out as gay in his comedy special "Rothaniel," Jerrod Carmichael reflects on being raised straight, recalls secretly using Grindr, and jokes about his boyfriend's passive-aggressive tendencies.

Streaming on: Max

If you're in the mood for horror, watch "Fear Street: Prom Queen."

The movie is set in May 1988, as Shadyside High School seniors prepare for prom night. But the festivities are terrorized by a masked killer who begins murdering the girls competing for the coveted title of prom queen.

Streaming on: Netflix

Robert Pattinson plays a man who gets cloned every time he dies in Bong Joon Ho's "Mickey 17."

The 2025 sci-fi movie stars Pattinson as Mickey Barnes, a man who takes on a job as an expendable member of a space crew. Each time Mickey dies while on a dangerous assignment, his body is reprinted and his memories get uploaded to the new copy.

Streaming on: Max

Season two of "The Last of Us" ends this weekend.

After a shocking character death in an earlier episode of season two, the latest installment of "The Last of Us" concludes on Sunday.

The end of the road for "TLOU" isn't near, though; the series was already renewed for a third season, and showrunner Craig Mazin is hopeful for a fourth season to wrap up the narrative.

Streaming on: Max

• I've spent 190 hours in the air on long-haul flights from the US to Guam, Europe, and Canada.
• Every long-haul flight I've taken was in economy seating, and I've found ways to stay comfortable.
• This is my long-haul flight survival guide for passengers like me who are always stuck in economy.

I've spent six days of my life traveling between NYC and Guam — days because the journey across the Pacific takes 24 hours.

Each time, the day includes two layovers, two back-to-back long-haul flights, one medium-length flight, and a grueling 14-hour time change. It's exhausting, especially since I always fly economy. But taking these trips when I was younger warmed me up for the job ahead.

I now work as a travel reporter, and I've taken many international flights by myself that were six hours or longer from North America to Europe. I've spent 190 hours in the air on long-haul journeys — all in economy.

Along the way, I've picked up some tips on how to pack, stay comfortable, and remain entertained on a plane.

Here are my long-haul flight tricks to help you survive hours in economy, especially if you're flying solo.

Bring your own food.

If you don't bring your own food, you might end up with nothing but pretzels and Biscoff cookies for several hours. Many long-haul flights include meals, but some don't.

For example, on my most recent long-haul flight from NYC to Vancouver, British Columbia, with JetBlue, I thought I'd get a complimentary meal on the six-hour journey. But I later learned from the JetBlue website that the airline only serves free meals on transatlantic flights. Luckily, the flight had a complimentary self-service snack pantry, so I avoided paying for a full meal, most of which were $13.

But the snacks only curbed my hunger and didn't leave me feeling full, so it's best not to rely on your airline to satisfy your hunger.

Pack your own entertainment.

The same advice goes for entertainment.

Some airlines have been filtering out seatback screens because many people prefer their own devices. And in-flight entertainment systems that take place through apps sometimes stop working during flights.

So, I recommend bringing your own screen and downloading films and shows from streaming services you subscribe to. For example, Netflix has this option in the app.

Make a long, eclectic playlist for the in-between moments.

When traveling for hours on end with multiple layovers, it's nice to have some background jams to keep your spirits up, especially if you're a solo traveler.

I recommend creating a long playlist packed to the brim with all your favorite tracks for all your typical moods to make the trip go by faster.

And don't sit through your layovers.

Speaking of layovers, I suggest staying active through them by walking around and exploring the terminal, if you are able.

Whether your layover is one hour or five, you'll be glad you spent the time on your feet once you're seated for your next flight.

You should also opt for an aisle seat.

Another way to keep moving throughout your trip is to opt for an aisle seat.

I had always been a window seat person, but I've completely changed my mind since traveling solo on long-haul flights in recent years.

I like to stretch my legs often on long flights, so I prefer being able to stand up and walk around whenever I please without the nervousness that comes with waking a sleeping stranger next to me and asking them to move.

You could also opt for a window seat if you know there will be some epic views.

Some views are worth sitting still for. And if you can't get an aisle seat, I think a window seat is your next best bet. Who doesn't enjoy a view and somewhere to rest their head?

I also recommend dressing in layers.

This is especially important if you're traveling through extremely different climates.

And you never know when the airplane will be too hot or cold for comfort.

Pack everything you'd bring to a sleepover in your carry-on.

The priorities for your preciously limited carry-on space should go to overnight essentials: basic toiletries and a change of clothes. Otherwise, you'll end up sitting uncomfortably in your filth for hours, and that'll make the trip feel longer.

A neck pillow is a must.

If you struggle to relax and fall asleep on flights like me, a neck pillow is a total game changer. Economy seats aren't typically very comfortable, so having a soft place to rest my head almost feels like an upgrade.

Bring your own water bottle.

You're already increasing your carbon footprint simply by being on a long-haul flight, so why not avoid using single-use plastics?

Staying hydrated through air travel is crucial, and you'll probably end up buying a plastic bottle if you don't bring your own, at airport prices. So do the world and your wallet a tiny favor.

If you can swing it, splurge for premium economy.

I've never splurged on premium economy, but I was lucky enough to get a free upgrade on a recent JetBlue flight from NYC to Vancouver. Now that I've tried it, I think I will on my next long-haul flight.

The $180 upgrade included a comfier seat with a thick headrest and extra legroom, as well as other perks like early boarding and exclusive snacks.

The seat is still in the coach cabin, so I don't think I'd upgrade on a short flight, but I'd book a premium ticket for six or more hours stuck in a seat.

The Department of Homeland Security revoked Harvard University's ability to enroll foreign students and gave it 72 hours to hand over student records. Now, Harvard is suing the Trump administration for the ban.

• The Justice Department is dropping its criminal case against Boeing.
• It's a major win for the embattled planemaker.
• The case stems from two Boeing 737 Max crashes that killed 346 people in 2018 and 2019.

The Justice Department on Friday said it had reached a deal with Boeing that would allow the planemaker to avoid criminal charges stemming from two 737 Max crashes that killed 346 people and upended the planemaker's business for years.

Boeing will instead invest more than $1 billion in strengthening its compliance, safety, and quality programs in exchange for the Justice Department dropping the case. The deal is not yet finalized and will be submitted to the court soon, the department said in a court filing.

Crucially, the lack of being labeled as a felon could help it continue winning lucrative defense contracts without a waiver from the Pentagon.

Boeing declined to comment.

Boeing originally agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to defraud the Federal Aviation Administration and pay a $243.6 million fine, but that deal was thrown out by the judge in December. A jury trial was scheduled to begin in June.

The families of some victims have long opposed any outcome that did not result in a trial.

"This isn't justice. It's a backroom deal dressed up as a legal proceeding, and it sends a dangerous message: in America, the rich and powerful can buy their way out of accountability," the victims said via a lawyer when reports first surfaced earlier in May that a deal was in the works.

It's yet another piece of good news for the beleaguered planemaker following the 737 Max crashes, a midair door-plug blowout, and other quality control headaches that have plagued its production line in recent years. In 2025, the company won a lucrative defense contract for the F-47 fighter plane and has seen an influx of orders for its 787 Dreamliner and yet-to-be-certified 777X.

Shares are up more than 17% year-to-date, outpacing the broader market.

• President Donald Trump feted the top holders of his $Trump token on Thursday night.
• Justin Sun, the top holder of the coin, said he was presented with a $100,000 Trump-branded watch.
• A billionaire, Sun has run into legal troubles related to his other holdings.

The crypto billionaire Justin Sun said he received a $100,000 Trump-branded watch at President Donald Trump's meme coin dinner on Thursday, held at the Trump National Golf Club outside Washington, DC. The top 220 holders of the token were invited to the event.

In photos and videos of the event, Sun posed with other attendees and signed a printout of a leaderboard showing he was No. 1 among the top 220 Trump coin holders.

Sun said he was gifted a Trump Tourbillon watch, which retails for $100,000. The top 25 holders were treated to a more intimate reception with Trump.

"I really appreciate, like, everything the Trump administration has done to our industry," Sun said in a video that he reposted on X. "As the president said right before, so like, basically, like, 100 days ago, like, they go after crypto people like everywhere. That's impossible for us to have such beautiful events in DC."

In a separate post, Sun shared a video showing him walking into the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, where top White House officials work. The White House did not respond to a question about whom Sun met with.

In 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged Sun with fraud, accusing him of manipulating the market for Tronix or TRX crypto. In February, after Trump took office, the SEC paused its investigation.

Sun, who Forbes estimates is worth $8.5 billion, has other ties to Trumpworld. Before buying the meme coin, he invested $75 million in World Liberty Financial, a crypto project connected to the president and his sons.

The White House previously said that it had nothing to do with the event. The dinner was held at Trump's private golf club outside Washington, where he spoke from behind a presidential podium.

Trump stands to make millions off the meme coin. The $Trump coin website says the Trump Organization and affiliated entities control 80% of the meme coin. First lady Melania Trump also has her own coin.

Sun has spent millions to participate in other headline-grabbing events. He shelled out $4.6 million to have lunch with Warren Buffett, $6.2 million to eat a duct-taped banana, and a staggering $28 million to fly on Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin (though Sun has yet to blast off).

Representatives for the Trump Organization and Sun did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Take a look inside President Donald Trump's new ultraluxurious jet, a $400 million Boeing 747-8 gifted by Qatar. From bedrooms and salons to private offices and even a playroom, this flying mansion is raising eyebrows in Washington — not just for its opulence, but for the controversy it's already sparking.

• North Korea's naval gaffe with a 5,000-ton destroyer's launch can be seen from space.
• A photo shows the warship capsized in the water after a botched launch.
• State media said a furious Kim slammed the mistake as a "serious accident and criminal act."

New satellite images of the Chongjin port in North Korea show the aftermath of a failed ship launch on Wednesday: a capsized new destroyer still partially resting on the pier. The ship's internal compartments are almost certainly flooded, complicating efforts to right it.

Calling the event a "serious accident" on Thursday, North Korean state media reported that the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, was watching the ceremony as the ship's stern slid down a ramp ahead of schedule, jamming the entire vessel.

Satellite imagery from Airbus and Maxar Technologies show that North Korea likely planned a broadside launch of the 5,000-ton destroyer, a method that splashes the ship sideways into the water.

In one image, taken after the failed launch, the ship appears to be lying on its starboard side and still partially stuck on the ramp; the superstructure that is its highest point can be seen lying to the left of the hull, resting in or near the water. Much of the vessel's frame seems obscured by blue fabric. The aerial image below reveals the line of the normally level aft flight deck fully on its side, at far right.

The weight of the bow section on the pier may be pinning the destroyer in an exposed position and would be exacerbated by any internal flooding likely on the stern. These internal spaces would need to be de-watered before a heavy-lift crane has a chance to lift the 5,000-ton vessel.

Lee Sung-jun, a spokesperson for South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters on Thursday that Seoul also assessed the ship to be partially submerged. Seawater can corrode and short-circuit electronic systems and rust exposed metal, necessitating expensive and time-consuming repairs once it's removed.

State media wrote that the launch mechanism malfunctioned, causing the stern to slide into the water while the bow remained stuck on land.

After watching the error, an irate Kim was quoted by state media as criticizing the officials involved in the launch, saying they were censured and that their mistakes would be "dealt with" at a party committee meeting next month.

The North Korean leader further called the bungled launch a "serious accident and criminal act," adding that it had "brought the dignity and self-respect of our state to a collapse in a moment."

South Korean officials told reporters on Thursday that it's likely the destroyer is in the same class as the Choe Hyon, a 5,000-ton vessel that it launched from a separate shipyard in April.

Analysts and top North Korea watchers have assessed that the Choe Hyon is the country's largest warship to date.

Satellite images from early last month showed what experts said was likely the "fitting out" process of the ship, during which internal construction is completed and equipment is installed before the warship is handed over to North Korea's navy. Then, in late April, North Korea unveiled the vessel during a ceremony at Nampo port. A ship is launched once it's watertight and all of its major components are installed.

The only upside for North Korea is that during a ship launch likely no crewmembers would be aboard.

The Choe Hyon has been identified as a guided missile frigate and reportedly one of two in the class that are under construction. Some analysts suggested the warship looked capable of carrying a vertical launch system, an upgrade for North Korea's naval capabilities that allows the warship to carry a larger arsenal of anti-ship, land-attack, or surface-to-air missiles.

The Choe Hyon is just one example of Pyongyang's naval modernization efforts. It's been a top priority under Kim along with a broader military buildup. Much of that focus has been on the submarine force; North Korea unveiled a new missile submarine two years ago.

North Korea's navy is considered "primarily a coastal force" per a 2021 US Defense Intelligence Agency report, consisting of about 60,000 personnel, 400 patrol ships, 70 diesel-electric submarines, and 260 amphibious landing craft. The country faces insufficient resources in its shipbuilding industry, a major challenge towards its naval modernization efforts.

While Choe Hyon appeared to be a sophisticated vessel, experts were waiting until its launch to observe potential capabilities and technologies.

• Billy Joel has canceled the rest of his concert tour due to a brain condition.
• Joel, 76, has "normal pressure hydrocephalus," a type of fluid buildup in the brain.
• The condition causes issues with hearing, vision, balance, and memory.

Billy Joel is canceling the rest of his concert tour after being diagnosed with a brain disorder. The news comes after the singer postponed some gigs over health concerns.

In an Instagram post, Joel, 76, shared that he was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), a rare brain disorder which he said leads "to problems with hearing, vision, and balance."

His doctor advised him to refrain from performing and pursue physical therapy in his recovery process.

What is normal pressure hydrocephalus?

NPH is a build-up of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain's ventricles, or fluid-filled chambers. The buildup creates pressure on brain tissue, leading to brain damage if left untreated. NPH is more likely to occur in people over 60.

There are two main types of NPH.

Primary NPH has no known causes and makes up 50% of cases. Secondary NPH is caused by other health issues like a stroke, brain aneurysm, brain tumor, or a traumatic brain injury.

Common symptoms of NPH include struggles with walking, balance, vision, memory, hearing, mood regulation, and urinary incontinence.

NPH is usually treatable

Despite being caused by abnormal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels, NPH is called "normal pressure" hydrocephalus because a spinal tap measuring CSF usually yields normal results. For that reason, it can take a while to diagnose the condition, as it can initially be confused with Alzheimer's or Parkinson's.

NPH is diagnosed with physical and neurological exams, diagnostic tests (such as MRIs and CTs), and spinal taps, which can rule out or identify related conditions like meningitis.

In many cases, NPH is treatable and even reversible. The most common treatment is implanting a shunt into the brain to drain the excess fluid into other parts of the body, like the abdomen.

• Christine Cornell, a veteran courtroom artist, is covering the Sean "Diddy" Combs trial.
• She told BI what it's like to sit inside the charged courtroom and who has been hardest to draw.
• From her spot right in front of Combs' family, Cornell is learning how to capture his "dark side."

Christine Cornell said, with some hyperbole, that the backpack she wears into the Sean "Diddy" Combs courtroom "weighs about 300 pounds."

It's full of pastels, drawing tools, and even binoculars, Cornell told BI.

For the past 50 years, Cornell has been a courtroom sketch artist in New York and the surrounding area. She's covered some of the city's most iconic trials — the falls of Wall Street financier Bernie Madoff and Mafia boss John Gotti, to name a few. Now, Cornell has a front row seat to the Combs sex-trafficking and racketeering trial, and talked to Business Insider about what it's like to make sense of the case from behind her sketch pad.

"I love what I do because it's a very human thing," she said. "The things that I learn about people are very human things."

After the trial kicked-off, the first thing Cornell had to do was figure out where to sit to get a good view. She ended up on the right side of the courtroom, right in front of Combs' family and about 30 feet from the witness stand.

"When I can see, I can draw," Cornell said. "And then I'm really in heaven."

Every time Cornell is in a courtroom, she said she learns something new. Despite having sat through grisly testimony for half a century — and the Diddy trial has been full of violent, disturbing details — she loves her job because it lets her fill a unique purpose.

"Court art is very different from photography, because it's time-lapse. It's not a snap," she said. "You get to pick all of the most important qualities of the people and put them together in one image, so that you can tell a much bigger story than a still shot can do."

Cornell said it always takes her a bit of time to get comfortable drawing a trial's main characters, and that this case hasn't been any different. It took her a few days to feel confident sketching Combs when her view is partially blocked. Even now, a couple of weeks into the trial, she's still perfecting her depiction of the rapper.

"I started thinking that maybe I had to get a little bit more of that dark side of him into the picture. Because Cassie would talk about it," Cornell said, referencing Cassie Ventura, Combs' ex-girlfriend and the prosecution's star witness. "She said that when he'd get angry, his eyes would turn black."

When she heard that, Cornell said she thought of the mob boss Gotti, whose darkness she could "feel."

Combs is accused of sex trafficking two women, including Ventura. He has denied the charges and all accusations of sexual abuse.

Drawing Ventura herself proved to be a challenge, Cornell said, because "she's so damn beautiful."

Cornell told BI it took her a few tries to get past Ventura's external poise, but that she now has a handle on drawing the woman whose story set off Combs' downfall.

"It's a very human process, making these choices," Cornell told BI about deciding what to include in her images and what to leave out.

When the courtroom was shown a photo of Combs' home on Star Island in Miami, for example, Cornell chose to draw something else.

"It was the only time I could see Puffy's face since he was turning to look," Cornell said, using a nickname for Combs. "I wanted to draw him. I wanted to get that look of wistfulness on his face."

Cornell said her job has changed drastically with the 24-hour news cycle — there are fewer courtroom artists and smaller budgets. Despite the changes, Cornell said her role is still key to helping the public understand cases like Combs'.

Cameras are not allowed inside the courthouse, but that hasn't stopped photographers from setting up outside en masse. Artists are the only eyes the outside public has in the room during the trial.

"There's a million cameras here, but there's not a million artists here," she said.

• This post originally appeared in the BI Tech Memo newsletter.
• Sign up for the weekly BI Tech Memo newsletter here.

Hello, and welcome to your weekly dose of Big Tech news and insights. These are the moments I feel so lucky to be a journalist in Silicon Valley. AI is rapidly changing so much important stuff, for better or worse. Even just witnessing this from the sidelines is a joy.

I had a fancy newsletter ready to go, all about Google's big I/O conference. Then, OpenAI bought Jony Ive's AI gadget startup for $6.5 billion. It's called io. Lowercase. I'm not joking. That's the name.

Agenda

• What you need to know about this OpenAI-io megadeal and what it means for Apple, Google, and the rest of the tech industry.

• An exclusive look at a powerful new Microsoft AI exec who came from Meta.

• How I created a podcast about Google I/O in about 15 minutes, using one of the company's AI tools.

Central story unit

I went to Google I/O this week. It's my favorite Silicon Valley event. Despite being a $2 trillion corporation, Google retains some of its lovingly nerdy, playful attitude.

There's been a lot of angst lately about OpenAI eating Google's lunch. I didn't see much evidence of that at the conference. Neither did my BI colleagues Charles Rollet and Pranav Dixit, who attended with me.

Pranav told me that I/O made it clear how far Google has come in a relatively short time. "OpenAI still ships incredibly fast, but Google finally has real momentum," he said. "I'm genuinely excited to see how this plays out over the next year."

Charles' (good) advice: "Never underestimate Google." He had a caveat, though. "I was at a technical panel when the news hit that OpenAI was buying Ive's hardware startup, and seeing OpenAI upstage Google like that felt a little ominous."

But what about Apple? The handwringing has suddenly switched to this tech giant now. Ive helped create the iPhone, but he regrets the unintended consequences of smartphones. He recently said it still weighs on his mind.

Ive's io startup has been designing a new device for an AI future where a powerful personalized chatbot assistant follows you around, helping with everything. He also recruited a bunch of Apple technologists to help. What's the form factor? It's definitely not going to be a phone. It could be a pin of some sort, maybe? Although that idea bombed once already.

Now, OpenAI owns whatever this is. ChatGPT is likely to be the AI assistant embedded in this gadget. That is a potentially potent threat to Apple, which has struggled for years to come up with what the next big device will be. It doesn't help that Apple is way behind OpenAI and Google in the AI race.

Read more.

News++

Other BI tech stories that caught my eye:

• Exclusive: Microsoft hired Jay Parikh away from Meta. We reveal his big plans.
• BI's full breakdown from Google I/O.
• Exclusive: We tested Waymo vs Tesla FSD in San Francisco. Elon Musk responded.
• Sergey Brin explains why he's partly back in founder mode at Google.
• Why some investors walked away from Sam Altman's OpenAI funding efforts.

Eval time

My take on who's up and down in the tech industry right now, including updates on Big Tech employee pay.

UP: Google (Alphabet) is up almost 2% this week. See above for the reason.

DOWN: Apple shares are down about 7% this week. That's a shift of more than $200 billion in market cap, in favor of Google. Donald Trump issued a new iPhone tariff threat on Friday, adding to Tim Cook's challenges.

COMP UPDATE: Below is data from Indeed's Hiring Lab. They looked at salaries in software development from the start of 2024 through the end of March 2025. I'm surprised by the blockchain pay. I suppose bitcoin hit a record this week.

From the group chat

Other Big Tech stories I found on the interwebs:

• Given the angst around Apple right now, you should read this from Mark Gurman (Bloomberg).
• When Big Tech moments happen like this, I always turn to Ben Thompson (Stratechery).
• More clues here on what this Jony Ive AI device might be (WSJ).

AI playground

This is the time each week when I try an AI tool. What do you think of this week's pick? What should I do, or use, next week? Let me know.

I met Dan Fitzpatrick at Google I/O. He's a Tech Memo subscriber and expert on AI for education. We discussed how he uses generative AI, particularly how he creates podcasts from his research. Here's one he did this week in which he talks about meeting Google CEO Sundar Pichai. This was his workflow:

• Record a voice memo on his phone.
• Put that into Google's Gemini chatbot and ask it to create a transcript.
• Ask Gemini to try again and keep the words closer to how Dan spoke in the audio file.
• Upload the transcript to a speech AI service called ElevenLabs in three batches.
• ElevenLabs turned this into a new audio file of Dan speaking in his distinct style.
• Dan edited the audio in TikTok's CapCut tool and published it on LinkedIn as a podcast.
• "I also add the jingles in CapCut," he told me.

Not to be outdone, I created a podcast, too. I asked Charles and Pranav for some of their top Google I/O takeaways. I put that text into a Google Doc and added it to Google's NotebookLM AI tool. I then selected "Audio Output" on the right-hand side of the NotebookLM page. About one minute later, the tool created this podcast. Check it out and let me know what you think.

User feedback

I would love to hear from anyone who reads this newsletter. What do you want to see more of? Email me at [email protected].

Specifically, though: This week, I want to hear back from anyone who attended Google I/O. Is OpenAI (and Jony Ive) a real threat to Apple and Google, or not? Why?

Business Insider's chief video correspondent Graham Flanagan and senior producer Jake Gabbard take you behind the scenes of the latest "Boot Camp" story: covering the US Army Mountain Warfare School in the rugged mountains of Vermont.

From battling brutal weather conditions to capturing the intense, high-stakes training soldiers endure, Graham and Jake break down what it took to produce one of the series' most challenging episodes. They dive into the storytelling process, talking about choosing compelling characters and navigating the harsh terrain — all while bringing the unique world of military mountaineering to life on-screen.

• In my early 20s, I saw a story about sending a letter to deployed soldiers.
• I hadn't made many friends after college, so I wrote one and sent it with cookies.
• In 1995, I married one of the soldiers with whom I had become a pen pal.

In 1990, I was in my early 20s, living in my first apartment and in my first post-college job.

Still, I wasn't like other women my age. I had been diagnosed with osteoarthritis and was facing hip replacement surgery. Dating and love weren't on my radar.

One evening, I saw a media story encouraging Americans to send letters to "Any Soldier" to support deployed troops. I wrote a patriotic letter, thanking whoever received it for their service, and put it in a shoebox with homemade cookies. Duty done.

I wasn't expecting to meet my husband like that.

A crew wrote back

A few weeks later, I received a letter, not from a US Marine Corps tank crew thanking me for the package and telling me a little about themselves. One of them mentioned that "Sgt. Ski" (the quiet one) read my letter on Good Morning America.

As the holidays approached, I sent Christmas cards to each of the four-person crew. I began receiving letters from each of them, including Sgt. Bill Mioduszewski. The crew and I exchanged group letters and audiotapes. They even painted my name on the side of their tank.

While quiet in real life, Bill was a marathon letter writer, sharing about his favorite bands, hometown, family, the cookies his grandma sent, and why he joined the Marines. He asked me about my life and the concerts he assumed I was attending back home.

When we met, he didn't feel like a stranger

Though Bill and I were strangers, we developed an easy, unguarded bond through our correspondence. Still, I didn't share my health issue with him; to be honest, I didn't think we'd ever meet. He asked for my phone number, but I didn't think he'd ever call.

But in April 1991, when he turned to the US, he did. We continued to write over the next two years and talk on the phone occasionally. I was chatty and flirty, and he was quiet and amused.

As time passed, Bill talked more frequently about meeting. I made excuses. I was afraid that if we met, he would see I didn't look like I did in that flattering picture I had sent the crew in 1990; I had gained 50 lbs. from medications for my health condition.

He pushed me to set a date to meet in 1992. I told him I was having surgery and needed to take time off for that. He sent me flowers and a sweet get-well card. I had put him off again.

In 1993, Bill was transferred from the West Coast to the East, now only a nine-hour drive away. I had no more excuses. I wrote to him and told him why I was afraid to meet.

When I didn't hear back immediately, I assumed the worst. Two weeks later, I got his reply: "I don't care if I come there, you come here, or we meet halfway — we are going to meet."

So we set a date, Labor Day weekend in 1993. As soon as we saw each other, he went for a long embrace. It didn't feel like we were strangers then.

We've been married for 29 years

That night, we went out with a friend and her husband. We went back to their house to watch a late-night TV show, and Bill and I laughed at the same stupid jokes. I took him to a few Florida touristy spots and tried to impress him with my culinary skills.

Three days after we met, he shyly kissed me. We were falling in love, not in the usual way, but as friends who knew each other pretty well before we "technically" met. Two months later, he quietly told me he loved me, and I told him I loved him, too. In November 1995, we got married.

Since then, we have lived all over and gone through life's lows and highs, including illness, deployments, infertility and miscarriages, buying our first home, welcoming our only child, and career changes, including his retirement from the Marines.

In September 2001, when I was seven months pregnant with our son, Bill went to California for desert training. He unexpectedly ran into his former lieutenant, the one who made him read my "Any Soldier" letter on TV.

Bill said, "Remember our pen pal, Vikki? I married her and she's having our son." The then-USMC major responded with a look of surprise followed by an "Ooh ra! Hope he's born on the Marine Corps birthday." I missed the 226^th by a couple of days.

This year, Sgt. Ski and I will celebrate our 29th anniversary. What began as a dutiful letter and melted cookies in a shoebox addressed to "Any Soldier" landed exactly where they were meant to, if you believe in fate — and we do.

• Henry Butler was diagnosed with an early stage of prostate cancer at age 49.
• He was given a lot of treatment options and ultimately chose a prostatectomy.
• It's been five years since his surgery. While he's physically back to normal, his life is forever changed.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Henry Butler, who is a prostate cancer survivor. He lives in the UK with his wife, where they run a wine shop together. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

When I found out I might have prostate cancer, I was on holiday with my family, sitting on a boat.

I remember getting the phone call from my doctor saying that my PSA levels were slightly above what they should be for my age, and I should come in for more tests because it might be cancer.

So that was fun.

When I got back, I returned to the doctor and got an internal examination with the finger up the backside. That's when he said my prostate didn't feel right on one side.

I wish I hadn't had so many treatment options

I was diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer in 2019 at age 49. I'd been taking antibiotics for a sinus infection, and suddenly started getting a lot of painful UTIs.

I never prioritized doctor visits before that, but my wife insisted I schedule an appointment. Thank goodness she did.

After my doctor felt my prostate, everything was fast-tracked. I had an MRI and two biopsies. My Gleason score, which measures how aggressive the cancer is, was around three or four — high enough to consider treatment.

I was given loads of options. I sort of expected the medical experts to tell me what treatment I should have, but it was the reverse. They said this needed to be my journey, and I had to choose.

In hindsight, I wish I hadn't had all the options. My wife and I investigated them all, and I still wasn't sure which was the right one.

Then, one day, I was in the hospital, and a urologist who had bought wine from us a couple of years back recognized me.

We got to talking, and he was the first doctor I really warmed to. He told me straight up, "You've got cancer and we need to deal with it." On hearing that, I just thought, "You're the man."

We discussed the various options and ultimately decided to go with surgery.

I chose to cut out the cancer

In spring 2020, I had a prostatectomy. The doctor said I was going to feel like I'd been hit by a train after the surgery, and he was right. Getting back on track wasn't easy and took a full year.

Aside from the pain post-surgery, which got a little better each week, I had issues with incontinence and couldn't get an erection. This didn't make me feel like less of a man, though. I accepted that if there were changes, then I'd deal with it, and it would be fine.

I've got a friend who doesn't want any treatment because I think he's worried about how it would change him as a man. So he just monitors his PSA levels, but is constantly worried.

Physically, I'm back to normal

I struggled with incontinence during that first year post-surgery, but now I hardly think about it.

Sex was something my wife and I had to get used to, again. Part of my recovery involved taking Viagra every day for a year to help get everything back in working order.

My wife was worried about hurting me at first, and I was also nervous, but we got there eventually.

Physically, I'm almost completely back to normal, thanks to the incredible care I received and diligently following the recovery guidelines, like regularly walking, doing Kegel exercises, and staying positive.

However, this experience has changed my life.

My life is different after treatment

I started therapy for the first time in my life. A friend signed me up because I had the cancer thing going on, I had a couple of friends who had died, and business was struggling.

Turns out, I loved therapy. Off the back of that, I'm now in a men's group.

Before all this, the thought of joining a men's group sounded horrific. I didn't want to sit around with a bunch of men and talk about, I don't know, stuff. But it has been super rewarding.

You quickly realize that everyone's had something going on — it's not always cancer, it can be another form of trauma. We talk about masculinity and how you deal with trauma mentally, and how you communicate with each other. That's been a really good way of making connections with people.

I think that's a big thing that's changed in me. I'm better at keeping connections and being more open with my emotional side, which can be upsetting sometimes, but the benefits far outweigh the negatives. You get a lot back from people if you're vulnerable.

• Interior designer Vicente Wolf shared which decor items he'd never have in his home and why.
• He said small coffee tables aren't functional enough, and short drapes can look odd.
• The designer also avoids faux fireplaces, plastic flowers, and mass-produced art.

When designing your space, deciding what not to bring into your home can be just as important as choosing which pieces to buy.  

So, Business Insider asked Vicente Wolf, an interior designer with over 40 years of experience and principal designer of Vicente Wolf Associates, to share a few things he'd never have in his own space.

Here's what he said.

Coffee tables serve a real purpose in homes, so Wolf avoids small ones

"Coffee tables offer people a place to put things down — even your feet, should you choose to," he told BI.

A generously sized coffee table is especially necessary if you don't have end tables or other flat surfaces conveniently located nearby, Wolf added.

Plastic plants can be drab and have the same stale look year-round

Wolf avoids faux plants in his home designs as they can be lifeless and unchanging. They also don't hold a candle to living ones.

"There is a joy in seeing things grow," he added.

Plus, based on the ancient practice of feng shui, which focuses on harmony and balance in a space, every room should include something living. 

Fluorescent lights can be too harsh and unflattering

Wolf avoids using fluorescent bulbs in his home because they're not very flattering in spaces or against skin tones.

"They are way too harsh for the eyes, and wreak havoc on the colors in the decor," he said.

Wolf recommends staying away from matchy-matchy bedroom sets

Matching furniture sets may be a one-step way to decorate a bedroom, but they lack originality, Wolf said.

"In my opinion, they also look dated, as society has moved toward a more relaxed vision of home styling," he told BI. "Coordinating pieces that work together is so much more fun — and alluring — but do take an extra bit of thought."

You won't find short drapes in his space

According to the designer, having drapes that hang above the floor is akin to wearing clothing that doesn't fit properly.

He said drapes typically look best when they touch the floor or puddle a ½ inch to an inch or so.

The designer replaces paper napkins with cloth ones

Although paper napkins are easier to clean up, Wolf said it's best to opt for cloth ones if you want a more sophisticated look.

Cloth napkins are wonderful for entertaining guests and are a personal luxury to use in everyday life — just make sure they're good quality.

"Buy cotton napkins that have some absorbency," he added. "You have to be able to wipe grease off your face properly."

Wolf tries to avoid reproduced and mass-produced art

Wolf said mass-produced art is the opposite of sophistication, and using it is a missed opportunity to create a more personal home design.

"I like my home and those of my clients to be an expression of how they live and who they are," he said.

So, he prioritizes special original pieces and typically steers clear of reproduced art for himself and his clients.

He suggested looking at secondhand stores for original art that "won't break the bank" or framing your own photos. After all, Wolf said, "most everything will work beautifully" in a really great frame.

Fake fireplaces don't offer the same feel as real ones

The designer said faux fireplaces can be tacky and electric inserts can't even come close to the look and feel of a real fireplace.

"If you must, a gas-powered fireplace is acceptable, but there is nothing like the real thing with real logs," he said. "So, if it doesn't light, I don't want it."

He said furniture with visible branding is tacky

He also avoids displaying labeled or branded furniture in his home. 

"It's just tasteless," Wolf said. "Why do I want to give a company free advertising?"

This story was originally published on November 7, 2022, and most recently updated on May 23, 2025.

• Anthropic banned the use of AI in job applications.
• The startup is backtracking on this policy, Mike Krieger, Anthropic's chief product officer, said.
• Anthropic is a leading AI startup that offers an AI chatbot service called Claude.

About a week ago, I told you about an odd policy at one of the top AI companies. When you apply for a job at Anthropic, the startup won't let you use AI to write a required "Why Anthropic?" essay.

That seemed a bit rich, coming from a company that's been warning us to adopt AI or face irrelevance.

On Friday, an Anthropic executive said the startup is reversing this stance.

"We're having to evolve, even as the company at the forefront of a lot of this technology, around how we evaluate candidates," Mike Krieger said during an interview on CNBC. "So our future interview loops will have much more of this ability to co-use AI."

Why would an AI company have previously not wanted people using its products like this? This technology is supposed to take over the world, revolutionizing every aspect of work and play. Why stop at job applications?

I asked Anthropic about this earlier in May. I still haven't heard back. But I think Krieger described the evolving situation thoughtfully. Here's everything he said on Friday about this issue (edited for clarity by me, not an AI bot).

"I actually was in a conversation this week around how we're revising our interview loop to actually let people use AI, because that is an actual part of the software engineering job today.

"Are you able to use these tools effectively to solve problems? Just like, I talk to people who are high school teachers and they've had to evolve, how they even think about what it means to give assignments out in the age where people are using AI.

"We're having to evolve, even as the company at the forefront of a lot of this technology, around how we evaluate candidates. So our future interview loops will have much more of this ability to co-use AI, but talk about, how did you prompt the AI? What were you trying to do with it? What are its limitations? What did you change, based on what it did?"

Anthropic is hiring a lot right now. If you go to its career website and click on a job posting, you may still see this requirement:

"While we encourage people to use AI systems during their role to help them work faster and more effectively, please do not use AI assistants during the application process," Anthropic wrote in a job posting I checked on Friday. "We want to understand your personal interest in Anthropic without mediation through an AI system, and we also want to evaluate your non-AI-assisted communication skills. Please indicate 'Yes' if you have read and agree."

I assume Anthropic will update these listings soon. Maybe they'll get their Claude AI chatbot to do it?

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• I compared premade frozen beef patties from Wegmans, Costco, and Whole Foods to find the best one.
• I thought the patties from Wegmans were a bit too greasy.
• I loved the burger patties from Whole Foods because they were full of great flavor.

When it comes to summer cooking, I always like to have frozen burger patties on hand. They're a quick and convenient meal I can make whenever the mood strikes. 

To find out which supermarket chain carries the best frozen burgers, I compared options from Wegmans, Costco, and Whole Foods.

Here's how the frozen burger patties stacked up, from worst to best.

Wegmans' Angus beef burgers looked a little different than the other patties.

At $15 for six ⅓-pound patties, this option was more expensive than many of Wegmans' fresh burger options.

The packaging on Wegmans' seasoned Angus beef burgers suggested cooking them frozen, so I separated a patty from the stack and cooked it on a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.

The juice didn't pool up on the top of the burger patty while I cooked it, and it kept an even shape and puffed up to the perfect size. However, I thought the seared outer layer took on an oddly orange hue.

I also tried thawing another Wegmans burger before cooking it, and this patty was noticeably grayer than the others I tried. However, I wasn't worried because color isn't always an indicator of freshness.

These burgers were a little too greasy and spongy for me.

When I bit into the Wegmans burger, there was an enormous explosion of greasy juice. However, this could've been because I let them sit for a little bit before eating them.

I thought these patties were a little on the salty side, but to be fair, they were pre-seasoned with sea salt. They stayed moist, but seemed a bit greasy, even by burger standards. I also thought they had a spongy texture.

I'd eat one again if someone served it to me, but I'll skip them next time I'm at Wegmans.

I was curious to see what the Kirkland Signature Angus ground-chuck and beef patties would be like.

At $28 for 18 patties — each weighing ⅓ pound — Costco's house brand represents the best deal for frozen patties of the three stores. 

The packaging suggested cooking these patties frozen, but I tried cooking them both thawed and frozen.

I found it very easy to overcook them, especially when I started with a thawed burger. These patties were large in circumference but thin, so they cooked faster than I expected. The first three came out fully well done when I was aiming for a medium temperature.

Still, they took on a nice brown crustiness when seared on the skillet and maintained a decent size.

I didn't think the Kirkland Signature patties had a ton of flavor.

Unfortunately, I didn't think these burgers tasted like much. They were a bit juicy when I cooked them to medium, but didn't offer much flavor.

That said, when I garnished them with cheese, ketchup, and the like, they were good. If I served them at a barbecue, no one would ever complain.

I preferred them to some other frozen burgers I've tried in the past, and due to the cost and convenience, I could imagine myself picking up a package of these during barbecue season. 

The Whole Foods organic grass-fed beef burgers were smaller than the other patties.

The Whole Foods burger patties were the most expensive of the three, at $8.50 for four ¼-pound patties. They were slightly more costly per pound than Wegmans' and the only organic beef option among the three I tried. They were also smaller than the other patties.

The box I got was frozen solid, and the burgers were pressed so tightly in their packaging that it was impossible to separate them without at least partially thawing them first. 

Unlike the other two brands, the box for the Whole Foods burgers suggested thawing these patties before cooking.

The small patties cooked very fast. They were so thin that, at times, I wound up with dried-out edges even when the center of the burger was still juicy. They shrunk in the pan and didn't look especially appealing. 

The Whole Foods burger was my favorite.

In my opinion, these patties tasted distinctly better than the other two options. There was a rich, meaty, almost gamey flavor that tasted as much like skirt steak as ground beef. Each patty also had a nice, crusty texture from the skillet.

When I tried all three burgers side-by-side, completely unadorned, this was the only one I finished.

Once I run out of the remaining Kirkland Signature burgers in my freezer, I'll pick up the Whole Foods patties to cover the rest of the summer.

This story was originally published on June 16, 2024 and most recently updated on May 23, 2025.