• When my boyfriend and I blended our families we made sure to honor past traditions.
• We soon realized that it was important for our new family to create our own traditions.
• New traditions like s'mores nights have helped bring our family together.

The morning my boyfriend and I met for our first coffee date, we both knew there was something special between us.

We spoke the language of grief, of solo parents, of young widows who'd lost their forever person to cancer. We understood the hurdles inherent in opening your heart after loss and the way heartache and hope coexist in a single breath.

We understood the unspoken things, and when we made the choice, last year, to blend our families, we understood the challenge we were undertaking.

With the goal of building a family of six out of our respective families of three — two adults and four children, ranging in age from 3 to 15 — we blended the things we can see including furniture, kitchenware, bedtime routines, schedules. We also blended the things we can't see such as rules, values, and most importantly, traditions.

There isn't always a perfect blend

Some of the traditions were easy to blend. Our sushi Fridays merged with their pizza Fridays and became an alternating schedule of pizza and sushi. Our weeknights watching dramedies morphed into starting the night with a round of Netflix cartoons before bedtime for the littlest kids.

Other traditions — the ones that involve extended family and grief and four children who had to learn resilience too early — were harder. There's no way to be two different places at once on Thanksgiving. There's no way to decorate a Christmas tree with ornaments that belonged to their person while lighting a menorah that belonged to ours without unsettling the grief we've learned to co-exist with.

When it comes to those traditions, we've had to accept that there won't be a perfect blend, there won't be a seamless way to shape two traditions into one. We've had to realize that we won't get it right on the first try, or even the second, and we've had to compromise, communicate, and forge a way that works for all of us.

Our new family needed more

It turns out, blending traditions isn't enough to build a family from the ground up. Because the heart and soul of any family lives, often, in their traditions. In the way they celebrate birthdays and special occasions. The way they spend their Saturday mornings and Sunday nights. The way they build a life in the little things that hold the most meaning. To truly build a family that was uniquely ours, we needed to build our own traditions. Ones that were new to all six of us.

Our traditions were small to start: s'mores on Friday nights, Saturday afternoons on the basketball court, weeknights dropping onto the couch to watch Wheel of Fortune — and it's hard to tell if we're on the right track. Should we have developed more traditions by now or are we right to hope the traditions will come on their own with time? Are we hitting the right balance of old and new or are we tipping the scales too far in one direction?

The truth is I don't know, and for our untraditional family, our crew of six which is so intimately acquainted with grief, the answers to those questions don't matter. For us, the only thing that matters is that whatever tradition we're honoring—old or new, blended or not, on track or way off the deep end—we do it with an open heart and an eye toward building a family.

A family that's not mine or theirs, but ours.

• Pixar's Pete Docter said he doesn't think AI will fully replace humans in animated filmmaking.
• However, the chief creative director said AI could relieve animators of some "heavy burdens."
• Last month, Pixar released "Elio," a sci-fi animated film.

Not everyone believes AI spells the end for animators.

Pixar's chief creative officer, Pete Docter, recently said on comedian Mike Birbiglia's "Working It Out" podcast that he was unimpressed with AI so far, calling it "bland."

"AI seems like it is the least impressive blah average of things," he said.

AI is an anxiety-inducing topic in Hollywood. Critics of the technology are concerned that it could eliminate jobs across the entertainment industry. It was one of the reasons unionized writers went on strike for nearly five months in 2023. Those in support of integrating AI, on the other hand, like director James Cameron, believe it could make the filmmaking process more cost-effective.

From Docter's perspective, while he said everyone is "troubled" by AI, he doesn't think it will erase humans from the animated filmmaking process. Pixar's 29th animated feature, "Elio," hit theaters on June 20.

"If you look back in time, the number of hand-drawn animators that were really brilliant was in the dozens," Docter said. "A very small number of people who could draw well enough. Understood the dynamic of movement. Character acting. Had the right sensibilities."

Computers, he said, made animation more accessible, meaning people don't have to be a "brilliant draft person" to be an animator. "I still have to have performance and timing, but one of the heavy lifts has been done by the computer," he said.

Docter said AI, like computers, could alleviate some of the more cumbersome tasks associated with animation.

"I was wondering whether AI will continue to help us lift some of the heavy burdens that we have to carry as an animator and maybe put the focus more on the performance," he said.

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

• I was accepted into the University of Sydney's creative writing graduate program, and I was excited.
• But then I realized how AI is ruining the media landscape and the book industry.
• I decided not to enroll in the graduate program because I didn't see a future.

In early January 2024, I received a dream acceptance letter from the prestigious University of Sydney's creative writing graduate program. It wasn't just some program; it was validation.

Ever since I can remember, I have spent countless hours sitting in my room, writing stories. I was sure I'd write a bestseller someday. Although my parents didn't see writing as a career back then, I was determined to beat the odds and prove them wrong. Getting into the University of Sydney was the first step in that success.

But after my acceptance letter arrived, I realized the world was moving in a different direction. My sense of wonder and writing chops stood no chance against artificial intelligence. I talked myself out of the career path as it no longer seemed lucrative.

I couldn't ignore the changes AI is causing

I love language more than gardeners love dirt. I grew up reading Francine Pascal's "Sweet Valley Twin" series and Danielle Steel's escapades. I once refused to leave my room for days because my most beloved character in a book died, but since ChatGPT and other AI tools arrived, something in my creative radar has shifted.

In late 2023, I began noticing changes in the media landscape. Publications were laying off most of their writers, and friends in the industry lost out on great gigs and started competing with AI-generated writing.

As for the book industry, I realized AI will not spend years crafting a thrilling romance novel; it will instead churn out a thousand ebooks a month. For the commercial side of the industry, that will always be enough.

Meanwhile, MFA programs, like the one I was admitted to at the University of Sydney, still teach that the literary market is untouched. I've been struggling to believe that.

I wanted to ask my admissions officer: Are you preparing for the world we are entering?

I decided not to accept the graduate program's offer

Since I received my admission, I have been fighting a constant battle between staying true to what I believe and keeping up with new technology. In the back-and-forth, it feels like I'm losing my passion. Even though I tried to rationalize that a creative program isn't only about the job prospects, that it's about art, refinement, and bringing people together through written art, everything else around us is pointing to a devastating end.

I pictured myself two years later, with my degree in hand, querying agents while thousands of AI-written books filled bookstores. I imagined spending time writing amazing essays that editors would run through AI filters before deciding whether they wanted to assign cheaper versions of the story. The thought of being obsolete scared me stiff.

So, I made the heart-wrenching decision to walk away from the MFA.

Many people told me I was being overly dramatic because AI could never replace real writing and humans will always crave authentic stories, but I thought they were underestimating how quickly the market is shifting.

I also started thinking about what my master's program would do for me. Would I be proud of the credentials? Or would I feel depleted after a $50,000 investment for two years of study?

I'm finding my own way into the future

Since I turned down the program, I've been experimenting with different storytelling projects. While I've been freelancing full-time, I've also joined writing communities that focus on authentic stories.

There are days when I wonder what my classes would have been like, and it makes me sad that I'll never experience them. Many people are still pursuing MFAs, and it's still worth it.

But I know now that I don't plan to abandon writing; I'll just have to reinvent it.

• Director Gareth Edwards spoke to Business Insider about fulfilling a childhood dream by directing "Jurassic World Rebirth."
• Steven Spielberg, who directed the original "Jurassic Park," was heavily involved, leading Edwards to add several nostalgic elements.
• "Jurassic World Rebirth" is now in theaters.

Kids often dream of becoming police officers or doctors. For "Jurassic World Rebirth" director Gareth Edwards, however, his childhood dream was a bit more specific: working with iconic director Steven Spielberg. And now it's finally come true with the latest in the dinosaur action film franchise.

Edwards has found the Hollywood moviemaking sweet spot: directing major blockbusters that are also creatively satisfying.

He found geek boy superstardom when he made the first-ever spin-off in the "Star Wars" franchise, 2016's "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story." It's gone on to be regarded as one of the best ever within the beloved galaxy far, far away (though he disagrees with that opinion).

He followed that up by creating an original idea out of the studio system, a rarity these days, when he released 2023's "The Creator." The movie stars John David Washington as a special forces agent hired to hunt down and kill an AI.

Now, Edwards is taking on the legacy IP genre by helming "Jurassic World Rebirth," out now. Taking place decades after the events of "Jurassic World Dominion," the story, penned by "Jurassic Park" screenwriter David Koepp, follows Scarlett Johansson as the leader of a team of operatives who travel to an island research facility to take genetic material from dinosaurs.

For Edwards, making the movie checked off a childhood dream of working alongside Steven Spielberg, who was heavily involved in the filmmaking process. And it shows as "Rebirth" features several hat tips to the master, ranging from "Jurassic Park" to "Jaws."

"I hate the word IP, but there are only two franchises I would absolutely drop everything for and just do them. I already did one of them with 'Star Wars,' and this was the other one," Edwards told Business Insider. "So when Steven gives you this script, you're just checkmated immediately. The idea that you turn Steven Spielberg down is impossible."

BI spoke with Edwards while he was in New York City about the hourslong conversations he had with Spielberg while making the movie, his thoughts on "Rogue One" as it nears its 10th anniversary, and whether he'd ever consider making another "Star Wars" movie.

Business Insider: So what led you to sign onto "Jurassic"?

After "The Creator," I started the process of what am I going to do next. There was a thing in my mind that I was excited about. And in that process, a sequence from "Jurassic Park" entered my mind, and I forgot how they pulled it off, so I just put it on to get a refresher. I'm doing this with "Jurassic" and the next day my friend saw on the internet that Universal was looking for a director for a new "Jurassic" movie.

So I sent that to my agent, and I just typed in the text with the link to the story, "Is this stupid?" hoping he'd say, "Yes, stay away." And hours later, my agent got back to me, and the ball started rolling. Be careful what you wish for.

What I really enjoyed about "Rebirth" is its stand-alone feel. Was that intentional?

It was in David Koepp's script. That's why I really liked it. What the best sequels have in common is that the first one didn't know it was part of a trilogy or the start of sequels. It was just this self-contained story. So that's the way to go, to try to tell the best film you can.

It's then a high-class problem after that. And I'm not joking, but I haven't had a single conversation about a sequel with anyone from Universal or the producers.

That was my follow-up. Nobody tapped you on the shoulder and suggested a more heavy-handed way to tease another movie?

No. It was even a joke with the actors. 

But the movie also has a lot of nostalgia, with hat tips ranging from "Jurassic Park" to "Jaws. " Did that come organically?

When I got the script, it felt like a magical ticket back to being a kid again. So a lot of that was already in there, and half of it I probably brought with me. 

I mean, you're making a movie for Amblin that features a giant creature in the water. Of course, you're going to lean into "Jaws."

Yeah. The script said, "They're chasing a giant dinosaur in the water, on a boat, with a rifle leading out the front," and you're like, "Guys, I don't know if you've ever seen this movie called 'Jaws,' but I don't know how we escape those visuals." So it was a difficult situation, and the only way I got through it was this being a giant love letter to Steven Spielberg. Whenever there's a gap, I'm going to put something in that is a reflection of something from his movies that we love. 

You have now worked with two faces on the Mt. Rushmore of American cinema, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. Compare and contrast working for them.

Well, George had retired when we started "Rogue One," so he was totally happy for us to go do our thing. But I did have the more surreal moment of showing him around the set of "Rogue One." But what I did to take the pressure off myself, seeing I was doing a "Star Wars" spin-off, I was competing with the likes of the holiday special and Caravan of Courage, the Ewok adventure. So I jokingly framed those movie posters in my office as a reminder to me that I just have to do better than those.

Then, one day I was told George is here, and he just walked into the office, and I was blown away. And as I was talking to him, I realized the posters on the wall. So I'm trying to be as animated as possible so he wouldn't look at the wall. 

Steven developed the story with David, so he was fully engaged from the start. He was in the meetings during preproduction. He would call me when I started shooting. He watched the dallies every day. We even sent him the first cut of the movie. I would have hour and a half phone calls with him giving me feedback. 

Were you prepared he'd be so hands-on?

It was definitely the right amount, but going in I didn't know if I'd see him once or all the time. I didn't know how it was going to play out. And I remember on day one, the first meeting at Universal, I get there early, and the next person who walked in was Steven Spielberg. 

I'll never forget the first interaction I ever had with him. It was right after "Godzilla." I got an email from ["The Lord of the Rings" creator] Peter Jackson, and there's a video attached. I hit play and it's Steven Spielberg. Peter Jackson was filming Steven Spielberg at George Lucas' birthday party. Steven had just seen "Godzilla" and was saying really nice things about it, so Peter sent it to me. I watched it and collapsed and burst into tears.

There are moments as a filmmaker where everything you're doing in your life, you ask, Why am I doing this? What is the goal? You don't know. That is the answer to why I'm doing this; for that moment, for that little video. 

We're coming close to 10 years of "Rogue One" coming out in theaters. Do you appreciate your contribution to "Star Wars"? It's arguably the best "Star Wars" movie since Disney bought Lucasfilm, and it's up there as one of the best out of all the movies. Can you appreciate that?

I don't agree with it, but I appreciate it. I'm very grateful that people say nice things. But what's super interesting about it, which you have to keep in your pocket as you go through making other films, is that it's not about how people feel the day it gets released, it's how people feel about it 10, 20 years from now.

When you make a movie, you're living at least a year from now. You're trying to imagine what it's like, all these decisions you're making, what they are going to be like a year from now when this movie is released. What's the audience going to think? And as the movie comes out, you go, "I'm going to pretend I'm living 10 years from now and it doesn't matter what people say in the moment." It's the kid who comes up to you 20 years from now and goes, "Oh my god, I loved that movie!" I think that's the reward. 

Would you ever go down that road of doing "Star Wars" again?

It's the thing that was in my life before I knew what a film was. And so it's like your mom; it's like something so a part of you. I'm always fascinated by what they're doing. I never stop loving that trilogy, but I'm very happy to move on and do my thing. 

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

• My family of five visited Stromboli, an island off the north coast of Sicily, in June.
• The sand around the island is black due to the island's active volcano.
• We took a boat out to see the volcano erupt at night.

When my husband said we were staying on an active volcano, I thought he was joking. I had left this portion of the planning for our trip to Sicily to him, so I was totally clueless as to where we were going when we boarded the ferry.

Three hours later, I could see smoke atop our destination. It was indeed a volcano — and it was indeed active. It was our best vacation ever.

We stayed in Stromboli

We decided to plan a family trip of just over two weeks to explore as much as we could, and one of the places people told us we had to go was the Aeolian Islands. Despite having a Sicilian family, I had never been to Stromboli, which is one of the seven Aeolian Islands off the north coast of Sicily.

My husband was thrilled by the idea of staying in Stromboli, the furthest island and an active volcano.

When we arrived, our Airbnb host was waiting for us on a tuk-tuk to carry us and our luggage to our house. There are no cars on the island, and some hosts and hotels offer golf carts and auto-rickshaws to move people around.

Our kids, who are 7, 5, and 5, were thrilled during our ride, and I was absolutely amazed by the views.

The sand is black

The house we rented had access to a small beach. My kids gasped when they saw the sand was black from volcanic activity. They quickly changed, and we all went down to explore the beach.

Like many beaches in Sicily, this one had few sandy spots and was mostly rocky. There was also a ton of sea glass, which kept my kids entertained for hours while they collected different colors.

I noticed the water was significantly warmer than in Taormina, where we had been before. Days later, a guide explained that it was due to the volcano's hydrothermal activity.

We took a boat to see the eruptions

On one side of the island, you can find houses, restaurants, the port, and a church. On the other side, you have the Sciara del Fuocco, where you can see the volcano erupt every 15 minutes or so at night.

Several hiking companies offer tours to explore the volcano, taking you up to 400 meters from the erupting area. Because our kids are little and the hike is hours long, we decided to take a boat instead and watch the eruptions from the sea.

We went at dusk since it's better to see the lava when it's dark out. I figured we'd just see some splutter and smoke, but I was astonished as we watched full-on eruptions that trickled lava back into the ocean.

Ships bring water to the island

On our first night at Stromboli, I was surprised to see a huge tanker ship parking right in front of our house. The kids and I all watched in amazement as the ship dropped its anchor, and we heard it thud against the bottom of the sea.

We learned that Stromboli, like the other Aeolian Islands, requires tanker ships to supply water. The ships arrive regularly and deliver freshwater.

It was our favorite vacation ever

Between the excitement of being on an active volcano, the black sand, and the perfectly warm water, Stromboli was a total hit for my family.

We explored the island on foot, visiting a stunning church and many beautiful shops (I even bought myself a volcanic rock ring), eating gelato, and mingling with the locals.

My kids spent time petting all the stray cats, finding treasures in the rocks, and floating in the sea.

Before we even boarded the ferry back to Sicily, we were already talking about when we would be coming back to Stromboli.

• I spent my teenage years going to an intentional community in Tennessee called The Farm.
• I was raised to be educated, thoughtful, and frugal, but I also realized I needed something else.
• I used to think fitting in meant selling out, but now, as a mom of two, I see that belonging is good.

The sun blazed as I led a group of kids to the swimming hole at The Farm, an intentional community in Summertown, Tennessee.

The water shimmered peacefully, yet I felt a sense of detachment and quietly stepped away. It was part of a summer volunteer program that provided students from Nashville with a chance to experience nature.

At 17, I realized my resistance wasn't about rejecting the experience. It was a sign that I was still finding my own path. Earlier, at 15, I had begged to wear hoop earrings at my Catholic school — wanting to fit in, to feel a little stylish, a little seen.

When I found myself volunteering in a place where trends and appearances carried no weight, it felt like I was being pulled in the opposite direction of what I craved.

My parents raised me to be frugal

While my friends enjoyed summer vacations at all-inclusive resorts, my childhood adventures took me to Nepal, China, and India, where I explored monasteries and temples. Over time, I began to envy the idea of simpler weekends, joining in to celebrate the Tennessee Titans or Vanderbilt football. Instead, I spent my weekends at an intentional community, where I learned a different kind of connection and purpose.

My weekends were shaped by its culture: volunteering with nonprofits and attending anti-war protests. The Farm still has active members today, including my parents, committed to values like nonviolence and an aversion to anger. My upbringing focused on being educated, thoughtful, and frugal, and I appreciate those qualities deeply. But the more I got to know myself, the more I realized I needed something different.

I moved to New York City and then the suburbs

At 21, I left for New York City. I moved into a walk-in closet in a Brooklyn apartment with three roommates. I held two internships, one at a talent agency and another at a local paper. I was scraping by, dragging grocery bags up three flights of stairs, but I was charting my own course. Over time, the hustle wore on me, and I found myself longing for stability, the kind I'd once resisted.

Eventually, I built a life with more balance, moving to the Maryland suburbs. Marriage brought calendars, routines, and family dinners. I leaned into them. I became a planner. I found comfort in color-coded schedules, meal prep, and order. I taught my daughters to join in — to be confident in a group of their peers, participate in team sports, and embrace trends they enjoyed. This felt rebellious in its own way.

I'm raising my daughters differently

Now, as a single mother raising two daughters, I still choose structure, but with intention. Our days are filled with lacrosse tournaments, varsity cheer, and church group. I used to think fitting in was selling out. Now I see how vital it is. Belonging builds confidence.

Whether they get manicures or take day trips to shopping districts in nearby Georgetown and SoHo, these rituals help my daughters feel socially grounded so they can shine in the ways I truly care about: creativity, academic originality, and the courage to speak their minds.

Of course, sometimes I'm still reminded of my hippie childhood. My daughters started a garden this summer, fresh dirt under their manicured nails as they basked in the sun. We return to The Farm sometimes, for holidays. I've learned to enjoy new experiences, too. Take food, for example. I didn't have my first hamburger until eighth grade. Now, I've more than made up for it. Whether it's ceviche, carpaccio, or a perfectly cooked steak, I've discovered a whole new world of flavors and learned that honoring your past doesn't mean you can't savor the present.

This spring, my daughters returned from a spring break cruise with a lacrosse stick and a Catholic Bible in hand. I smiled as they ran through the door, the comfort of home calling them back. Did I catch a glimpse of hoop earrings under one girl's hair? Maybe.

And I didn't wince at the full calendar ahead. I exhaled into it.

Peace, it turns out, doesn't have to look like a mountaintop in Nepal or a meditation at The Farm. Sometimes, it's found in the ordinary: a grocery list, a lacrosse uniform, a quiet night in a suburban rowhome that finally feels like mine.

• Every US state has a capitol that houses its state legislature.
• Many state capitols are domed buildings similar to the US Capitol, but others are more unique.
• Maryland's State House is the oldest capitol in continuous legislative use in the US.

A state's capitol can tell you a lot about its history and government.

Many state capitols feature references to their locations, like Kansas' statue of a Kansa warrior atop its dome, or the New Hampshire State House which was built with locally sourced granite.

Throughout history, the structures have also proven costly. When New York's state capitol in Albany was finally finished after 32 years in 1899, it was at a cost of $25 million, making it one of the most expensive government projects in the US. In 2013, The New York Times reported the figure was equivalent to more than half a billion dollars today.

Every capitol has a unique look and distinct origin, and you can learn more about them here.

Montgomery, Alabama

Alabama's capitol is where the Confederacy began, and there's a brass star on one of the porticos marking the spot where Jefferson Davis was sworn in as its president, according to the Alabama Historical Commission.

The building that stands today was constructed in 1851, after a fire burned down the original building in 1849, according to the Alabama Historical Commission.

One of the more famous parts of the capitol grounds is the Avenue of Flags. It has the flag of every state plus a native rock from each state at each flag's base. It was dedicated in 1968, according to Exploring Montgomery.

Juneau, Alaska

The Alaska State Capitol, completed in 1931, doesn't look much different from any other office building in Juneau, save the marble columns. According to Alaska's official website, it is one of few state capitols to not feature a dome.

As The New York Times reported in 1981, neither the building nor the location were popular with locals — both were chosen because the residents of Alaska had to fund construction themselves — but efforts to move the capitol have failed, even though a vote passed to move the location in the '70s.

As recently as 2022, Alaskan senators sponsored a bill to move the capital, this time to Willow, reported Alaska Public Media, but for now, Juneau remains the Last Frontier's capital city.

Phoenix, Arizona

Arizona's capitol was dedicated in 1901. It stopped being the home of the legislative branches of government in 1960 — and by 1978, all government officials had been moved to other buildings nearby in an area called the Capitol Complex.

The original building was then officially converted into a museum that anyone can visit.

Little Rock, Arkansas

Arkansas' capitol took 16 years to complete. Construction lasted from 1899 to 1915, and the building was designed by architects George R. Mann and Cass Gilbert, according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas.

This building replaced the State House, which is now the Old State House Museum, according to Arkansas Heritage.

Sacramento, California

The building was constructed between 1860 and 1874, and designed by Reuben S. Clark. It has been listed as a California Historical Landmark since 1974, according to the Historic State Capitol Commission.

Its design was based on the US Capitol in Washington, DC, among other well-known American buildings, according to the State of California Capitol Museum.

The California State Capitol is located inside the 40-acre Capitol Park, which contains trees from around the world, a World Peace Rose Garden, and the Civil War Memorial Grove.

Denver, Colorado

The Colorado Capitol, which was completed in 1901, was also designed to look like the US Capitol, but with a Colorado twist: The dome is covered in real gold leaf donated by gold miners to reference the Colorado Gold Rush from 1858 to 1861, according to the Colorado General Assembly.

Hartford, Connecticut

The current Connecticut State Capitol is actually the third capitol the state has had since the American Revolution. This one, designed by Richard M. Upjohn, opened in 1879, according to Connecticut's official state website.

The golden dome is surrounded by six pairs of statues representing agriculture, commerce, education and law, force and war, science and justice, and music, according to the State Capitol Preservation & Restoration Commission.

Dover, Delaware

The Delaware Legislative Hall was dedicated in 1933 and replaced the Old State House, which is opposite the Hall on the capitol mall. It was designed in the Colonial Revival style by E. William Martin, according to Delaware's official state website.

Washington, DC

The United States Capitol is located on Capitol Hill in DC. It was in construction for decades, partially destroyed in 1814, and then finally finished in 1829, according to Architect of the Capitol. The famous, gigantic dome was later added during an expansive addition in 1855, designed by Thomas U. Walter.

Atop the dome sits the "Statue of Freedom," a 19-foot statue of a woman wearing a battle helmet, holding a sheathed sword in one hand, and a laurel wreath and shield in the other. She's been there since 1863, according to Architect of the Capitol.

Tallahassee, Florida

The current capitol, also called the New Capitol, is located directly in front of the original — together, they form the Capitol Complex. The New Capitol was built in 1977 by architect Edward Durell Stone and the firm of Reynolds, Smith, and Hills, according to the Florida Capitol website.

The website reports the building was designed in an "international style to reflect a modern Florida," and includes a 22-story central tower.

The Old Capitol still stands, and it was restored to its original 1902 glory in the '80s. Currently, the building is the Florida Historic Capitol Museum.

Atlanta, Georgia

Georgia's capitol was finished in 1889 and designed by Willoughby J. Edbrooke and Franklin P. Burnham, according to the city of Atlanta's website. It sits on the site of the former Atlanta City Hall/Fulton County Courthouse, which was there from 1854 to 1994.

According to the city, it's one of 43 National Historic Landmarks in the state.

Honolulu, Hawaii

At the dedication of the Hawaiian capitol in 1969, then-Governor John A. Burns explained the design of the building, the Honolulu Star Advertiser reported.

"In this great State Capitol there are no doors at the grand entrances which open toward the mountains and toward the sea," he said. "There is no roof or dome to separate its vast inner court from the heavens and from the same eternal stars which guided the first voyagers to the primeval beauty of these shores."

The building is also surrounded by a reflecting pool meant to symbolize the Pacific Ocean, which surrounds the chain of 137 recognized islands that make up Hawaii, according to the State of Hawaii.

Boise, Idaho

Idaho's capitol was designed by architects J.E. Tourtellotte and Charles Hummel, and was constructed between 1905 and 1920. According to Idaho's Capitol Commission, it's the only capitol in the US that is heated by geothermal water. It comes from a spring 3,000 feet underground.

Springfield, Illinois

According to a pamphlet by the Illinois Secretary of State's office, the current capitol (the state's sixth) was completed in 1888, 20 years after crews broke ground. At the time of its construction, the limestone dome was illuminated by 144 gas jets. However, the carbon emitted by those jets eventually turned the dome black.

It took 100 years, but it was finally cleaned in 1986.

Indianapolis, Indiana

According to the Indiana Department of Administration, Indiana's capitol was completed in 1888, and is home to all executive offices, the Indiana State Senate, the Indiana House of Representatives, and the Indiana State Supreme Court, among others. It was constructed with Indiana limestone.

Des Moines, Iowa

The large golden dome is 23 carats, and the entire building is 275 feet tall, according to a visitor's guide. It's been re-gilded four times since its construction in 1886.

Overall, Iowa's capitol has a total of five domes, making it the only capitol in the US with five.

Topeka, Kansas

Kansas' capitol dome is topped with a statue called "Ad astra" (Latin for "to the stars"), which is part of the state's motto, "ad astra per aspera" ("to the stars through difficulties"), according to the Kansas Historical Society.

The statue itself is a bronze depiction of a warrior from the Kansa tribe (also known as the Kaw Nation or Kanza), who call Kansas home and gave the state its name.

The entire building took 37 years to construct, also according to the Kansas Historical Society, from 1866 to 1903. 

Frankfort, Kentucky

Kentucky's capitol was designed by Frank Mills Andrews, according to Kentucky's official state website. There are also statues lining the front portico that represent Kentucky, the central figure, with Progress, History, Plenty, Law, Art, and Labor as her "attendants," according to the state website.

The current building is the fourth capitol in the state, and it was completed in 1910.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The Louisiana Capitol is just one of nine capitols in the US that doesn't feature a dome — and at 450 feet tall (or 34 floors), it's also the tallest capitol in the country, according to Louisiana's House of Representatives.

It was dedicated in 1932, without the person who had spearheaded the effort to build it, Senator Huey P. Long, a controversial figure in Louisiana's history, as reported by Encyclopedia Britannica.

Augusta, Maine

The capital of Maine was originally Portland when the state broke away from Massachusetts in 1820. But when Mainers asked for a more centrally located capital city, Augusta was chosen in 1827, according to the Maine State Legislature. The building was completed by 1832.

The State House's dome is topped with a female figure of Wisdom, which was designed by sculptor W. Clark Noble of Gardiner, a town 6 miles from Augusta.

Annapolis, Maryland

Maryland's State House is the oldest capitol in continuous legislative use in the US, built in 1779, according to its official website. It's also the only state capitol to have once served as the US capitol when the Continental Congress met there from 1783 to 1784, according to the website.

Boston, Massachusetts

The Massachusetts State House, built in 1789, originally had a wooden dome, but Paul Revere's own company was responsible for covering it in copper in 1802, CBS News reported.

And the land it was built on? It used to be owned by none other than John Hancock, who was Massachusetts' first elected governor.

Lansing, Michigan

The floors of Michigan's capitol, which was dedicated in 1879, are made of limestone and have visible fossils in them, as you can see on the capitol's official website.

St. Paul, Minnesota

According to Explore Minnesota, the state's capitol is the second-largest self-supporting marble dome in the world, only behind St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

Architect Cass Gilbert insisted on using Georgia marble for the dome, according to the Minnesota Historical Society. Some were critical of using out-of-state materials, so as a compromise, the contractor leased the quarry in Georgia and imported the rough marble so Minnesotans could do the work in-state.

It took nine years, but was completed in 1905.

Jackson, Mississippi

Designed by architect Theodore Link and constructed between 1901 and 1903, Mississippi's state capitol was built on the site of an old state penitentiary, according to the state capitol's official website. The building spans 171,000 square feet and features 4,750 original electric light fixtures, as well as an 8-foot statue of an eagle on the top of its dome.

Jefferson City, Missouri

Missouri's state capitol was completed in 1917, according to its official website. Ceres, the goddess of grain, sits at the top of its dome.

In addition to Missouri's state legislature, the 500,000-square-foot building houses the Missouri State Museum with exhibits about the state's history and natural resources.

Helena, Montana

The main building of Montana's state capitol was completed in 1902, and its two wings were added in 1911 and 1912, according to the Montana Historical Society. Inside, the building features works of art such as the mural "Lewis and Clark Meeting Indians at Ross' Hole," painted by Charles M. Russell in 1912.

Lincoln, Nebraska

Nebraska's state capitol was designed by architect Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue and completed in 1932, according to its official website. The 400-foot tower is topped with a 19-foot bronze statue called "The Sower."

It is the only state legislature to be unicameral, meaning it only has one chamber.

Carson City, Nevada

Nevada's state capitol was built from 1870 to 1871 out of sandstone sourced from a quarry belonging to Abe Curry, the founder of Carson City, according to Travel Nevada. It features a silver-colored dome, a nod to Nevada's nickname as "the silver state."

Concord, New Hampshire

The New Hampshire State House was constructed between 1816 and 1819 with locally sourced granite from Rattlesnake Hill in Concord, according to the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources.

In 1818, a wooden sculpture of an eagle painted with gold was installed on top of the capitol dome. It was replaced with a copper replica in 1957, but the original sculpture can be viewed on display inside the capitol, according to EverGreene, the architecture firm that restored the State House's gold-plated dome.

Trenton, New Jersey

After Maryland, New Jersey State House is the second-oldest capitol still in use, completed in 1792, according to the state of New Jersey's official website. Much of the original building, designed by architect Jonathan Doane, was destroyed in a fire in 1885.

Architect Lewis Broome restored the capitol and added a cast-iron dome plated with copper and gold and featuring the Latin phrase "Fiat Justitia Ruat Coelum," meaning  "There must be justice even though the heavens fall."

Santa Fe, New Mexico

New Mexico's capitol, known as the Roundhouse, is the only round capitol in the US, according to Santa Fe's official tourist website. Architect Willard C. Kruger modeled the design after the Zia sun symbol, which he also incorporated into the capitol rotunda skylight. The symbol is also part of New Mexico's state flag.

Albany, New York

Spanning 3 acres and 5 stories, New York's state capitol took 32 years to build, from 1867 to 1899, according to the National Park Service. Inside the granite building, visitors can find 25 murals by William deLeftwich Dodge in the Governor's Reception Room.

Raleigh, North Carolina

Completed in 1840, North Carolina's 3-story capitol includes a copper dome, according to the National Park Service.

Bismarck, North Dakota

North Dakota's state capitol is the tallest building in the state at 241 feet and 8 inches tall, according to the official government website. The Art-Deco structure is nicknamed the "Skyscraper on the Prairie," according to the Society of Architecture Historians.

Columbus, Ohio

Construction of the Ohio Statehouse took over 20 years, from 1839 to 1861, according to its official website. Much of the work was done by prisoners at Ohio Penitentiary, some of whom left graffiti on the walls that was uncovered during restoration work, the website says. Built in the Greek-Revival architecture style out of Columbus limestone, the Statehouse is a designated National Historic Landmark.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Built in 1917, the dome on Oklahoma's capitol was added more recently, in 2002, according to the Oklahoma Historical Society — it was left out of the original construction due to costs. The grounds of Oklahoma's capitol also had active oil rigs until 1986. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

Salem, Oregon

Oregon's Art-Deco capitol is made of white Vermont marble with a gold statue of an "Oregon Pioneer" atop the dome, according to the capitol's official website. In-person guided tours are paused due to construction.

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's capitol, designed by architect Joseph Huston, cost $13 million to build when it was completed in 1906, which would be over $403 million today, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The building's 272-foot dome is decorated with green glazed terra cotta tile, according to the capitol's official website.

Providence, Rhode Island

The Rhode Island State House, built between 1895 and 1904, features the fourth-largest freestanding marble dome in the world, according to the Rhode Island Restoration Committee's official website. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1970.

Columbia, South Carolina

The construction of the South Carolina State House began in 1854, but halted due to the Civil War. The building still features cannonball marks from when the Union army captured Columbia in 1865, according to Discover South Carolina. The State House was finally completed in 1903, and it was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1976, according to the South Carolina Department of Archives and History.

A portrait of state senator Clementa Pinckney, who was killed in the 2015 shooting at Charleston's Mother Emanuel AME Church, hangs in the Senate Gallery.

Pierre, South Dakota

South Dakota's state capitol was constructed between 1905 and 1910, not long after South Dakota became a US state in 1889, according to the South Dakota Bureau of Administration. An annex was added in 1932. The Neoclassical building features scagliola plaster columns, war memorials, and stained-glass windows, according to Travel South Dakota.

Nashville, Tennessee

The Tennessee State Capitol opened in 1859. The architect, William Strickland, died during its construction in 1854 and was buried on the capitol grounds along with President James K. Polk and first lady Sarah Childress Polk, according to the Tennessee State Museum.

Austin, Texas

Completed in 1888, the Texas State Capitol dome is topped with a statue of Libertas, the goddess of liberty, according to the official website for the Texas House of Representatives. It stands 14 feet taller than the US Capitol.

Salt Lake City, Utah

Utah's State Capitol was designed by architect Richard K.A. Kletting and was completed in 1916, according to its official website. The rotunda features bronze and marble statues of Native American leaders, LDS pioneers, and US presidents such as Abraham Lincoln, according to its website.

Montpelier, Vermont

The Vermont State House, designed in the Greek Revival architecture style, dates back to 1857, according to the National Park Service. A statue of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, adorns the top of the dome.

Richmond, Virginia

Thomas Jefferson designed Virginia's state capitol to look like the ancient Roman temple of Maison Carée, according to the Virginia General Assembly's official website. The building also features a bronze statue of Jefferson, who is depicted holding the capitol's architectural blueprints.

Olympia, Washington

The Washington State Legislative Building features the tallest freestanding masonry dome in North America at 287 feet, according to the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services. Designed by Walter Wilder and Harry White, it was completed in 1928.

Charleston, West Virginia

West Virginia's capitol, designed by Cass Gilbert, took eight years and almost $10 million to construct before its completion in 1932, according to its official website. The dome stands at 293 feet tall — 5 feet higher than the US Capitol in Washington, DC.

Madison, Wisconsin

Wisconsin's state capitol building features the only granite dome in the US, according to Travel Wisconsin. On top of the dome, a gilded bronze statue by Daniel Chester French is aptly named "Wisconsin."

Cheyenne, Wyoming

Wyoming's state capitol, constructed between 1886 and 1890, was built in the Renaissance Revival architecture style, according to the Wyoming Department of Administration and Information. It is one of 20 current state capitols designated as a National Historic Landmark, according to the National Park Service.

• We spoke to three nail professionals about how to make a press-on manicure last longer.
• Proper preparation is important, as filing and buffing your natural nails ensures the best adhesion.
• Apply the nails at an angle and avoid water after application to allow the glue to dry properly.

A full set of detailed nails can take hours to complete at the salon, and the price of frequent visits can add up quickly.

Luckily, premade press-on nails offer a faster, more affordable alternative to traditional gel or acrylic sets.

Although they're not guaranteed to last as long as traditional manicures, press-ons can stay on for weeks at a time with the proper prep and care.

To find out how to get salon-quality results at home, Business Insider spoke with three nail experts. Here's what they said about making the most of your press-on nails.

File down the press-on nail to get a better fit

According to Julie Kandalec, a celebrity manicurist and founder of Julie K Nail Academy, the most important aspect of making press-on nails last is making sure each one fits properly.

When trying on each press-on, she said to take note of how it fits along the sides and natural curve of your nail. For example, she told BI that applying a curved press-on onto a flatter natural nail will likely cause it to pop up because of the poor fit.

"The tiniest bit of pressure is usually OK. But if you really have to press it on there, it's gonna last a day, and it's popping off."

If you have particularly flat nail beds and your press-ons are curved, Kandalec said to size up on the nail for a bigger, flatter well. Then, file down the sides to accommodate the size of your natural nail. If you can feel the sides against your nail bed, it's too big.

Use a file on the surface of your natural nail and the underside of the press-on nail

Kandalec recommends using a file on both your natural nail and the underside of the press-on nail to ensure maximum grip for the glue.

She said to flick the file inside the press-on nail in a few different directions to create some roughness for better adhesion.

Then, use a file on the top surface of your natural nail to remove any excess acrylic or gel, especially along the cuticle area, which is more prone to lifting.

Avoid creating air bubbles

Without proper preparation, air bubbles may form between the natural and fake nails. After a few hand washes, water can get into the gaps, loosen the glue, and cause lifting of the nail, Tokyo Nails co-owner Nomundari Uuganbayar told BI.

To avoid this issue, she suggests a solid prep process, including pushing your cuticles back and cleaning the area. She also recommends buffing the natural nails to create a soft texture, and making sure they're dry before application.

Remember that glue is a trial-and-error process

Although there's no exact measurement for the perfect amount of glue, Kandalec told BI it's best to fill the well of the press-on nail.

If the glue seeps out from the sides of the fake nail, you've likely added too much. In that case, you can use a wooden cuticle stick to clean up the excess.

Be sure to apply glue to your natural nail as well before placing the press-on. If you're able, Kandalec suggests fitting the press-on closely to your cuticles so it sits just beneath the skin along the sides of your nail.

Apply the press-on at an angle

According to Teresa "Tere" Rodriguez — a Chicago-based artist and licensed nail tech who offers a press-on nail subscription — it's best to apply the fake nail at an angle for about 20 to 25 seconds to allow the glue to set.

Rodriguez recommends applying the press-on nail from the cuticle, then pushing down toward the top for an effective grip.

Avoid water for about 20 minutes after application

It's best to avoid getting your nails wet for at least 20 minutes after the application. This is because the glue needs time to fully dry and bond the press-on to your natural nail. Washing your hands too soon can cause the bond to weaken and lead to premature lifting.

According to Rodriguez, a good set of press-on nails can last up to two or three weeks with the proper application and care.

• Over 15 years ago, my husband and I thought we'd built the 3,000-square-foot home of our dreams.
• We added extra bathrooms, another bedroom, and focused on having tons of space for loved ones.
• Things didn't go as planned. Now, our home feels too big, and we regret some of our choices.

As millennials, my husband and I have long been aware that our likelihood of home ownership was abysmal.

After all, the 2007 subprime mortgage crisis was still fresh in our memories as we began designing our future. So, in 2009, when we got the opportunity to have our own home built, we went all in.

At the time, we were sharing a bedroom in my parents’ home with our 15-month-old, and I'd just discovered I was pregnant again. Talks of getting a house happened quickly, but it felt more like wishful thinking than something that would pan out.

However, when my husband and I looked into it, we were surprised to learn that we qualified for an FHA loan to finance a home.

We also found that home builders were relatively desperate to sell homes in order to offload properties they were saddled with after the housing crisis. This meant that the builders and their lenders were very accommodating of us as first-time home buyers.

Since we were taking the plunge anyway, we decided to build the house of our dreams — and we wanted to go big.

We had ideas for using a big house, but they didn’t quite work out as we’d planned

We chose a roughly 3,000-square-foot layout for our home and prioritized having lots of rooms.

Our home builder offered us a $15,000 upgrade credit that we used to add a powder room and an additional large bedroom with an ensuite bathroom similar to the primary.

The additions put the home layout at five bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths. Additionally, the house plan included both formal and casual dining rooms and a private office.

It may have seemed like a lot for our small family, but we planned to use the space and fill it with loved ones.

We were open to having more kids and planned to have my parents move in with us to help with childcare and share expenses. We also intended to have my grandma move into one of our extra rooms so we could help support her in her golden years.

Unfortunately, our plans didn’t work out as we’d expected. My grandmother died before the house was even finished. My parents only lived with us for about five years before moving full time into my grandmother's old home.

We did have a third child, but for years now, my husband and I have felt like we have too much house.

Although the extra bedroom with an ensuite bathroom was nice while my parents lived with us, it mostly goes unused now. Our larger home comes with higher utility bills, and there's no one else helping us to pay them now that my parents don't live here.

There's also a lot of space to take care of. For now, our children pitch in on chores to keep things tidy, but upkeep of our home lies on our shoulders.

Our oldest is now a year away from moving out for university, and I know our house will only seem bigger and emptier as the kids head off to college.

Sadly, some regrets can't be fixed with a bit of elbow grease

Looking back, there's a lot we could've done if we hadn't prioritized size and used all of that credit to make our home bigger.

For example, I'd love to have installed vaulted ceilings, but it feels far too late (and expensive) to make that change now. If we'd gone for a smaller house, maybe we could've had a larger back and front yard space.

It's easy to say the solution to our regrets is to downsize and trade our home in for a smaller model, but that's not for us.

Besides actively recoiling at the thought of ever having to pack and move again, staying in the home my kids are growing up in is valuable to my husband and me.

Also, I like knowing that our kids will be able to return to their childhood rooms whenever they want to, something neither my husband nor I can say for ourselves.

As much as I cherish the space that makes up our home, I can't help but have regrets when I think of upgrades we could’ve had or see an electricity bill.

My advice for anyone looking to buy a home is to plan for the absolutes. If you focus on preparing for contingencies instead of certainties, you might end up with something that doesn't serve your needs if they fall through.

• Torrential rain and flash floods hit parts of central Texas early Friday morning.
• Officials said that at least 32 people have died, but that they expect that number to rise.
• Some two dozen children are missing from Camp Mystic, a local summer camp.

At least 32 people have died after heavy rainfall caused flash flooding in parts of central Texas on Friday.

About two dozen kids are also missing from Camp Mystic, a Christian girls' camp along the Guadalupe River, which Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said rose 26 feet in 45 minutes as torrential rain battered the region.

The Heart O' the Hills, another girls' camp based along the river, said its director, Jane Ragsdale, had died in the floods.

"We have received word that Jane Ragsdale did not make it," the camp said in a statement posted to its website. "We are mourning the loss of a woman who influenced countless lives and was the definition of strong and powerful."

It added that the camp was not in session as the flooding hit, and that "most of those who were on camp at the time have been accounted for and are on high ground."

The National Weather Service said the Guadalupe River reached the second-highest height on record on Friday. The agency said it was also monitoring potential flooding around Lake Travis, and warned of "dangerous and life-threatening flooding and heavy rain" across multiple counties.

Here are some images showing the impact of the flooding and ongoing search and rescue efforts.

• I spent one night at the Fairmont Pacific Rim, a five-star hotel in Vancouver, British Columbia.
• I slept in a Fairmont Gold room that costs about $725 per night.
• I left the luxury hotel wishing I'd booked a longer stay.

When I think of the Fairmont hotel brand, two words come to mind: historic luxury.

From Quebec City's Fairmont Le Château Frontenac to the iconic Plaza Hotel towering over Central Park in Manhattan, every Fairmont hotel I'd stayed in or gawked at from across the street had been reminiscent of a renaissance castle — until I spent one night at the Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver, British Columbia, in May.

"We're a lot more contemporary with a different demographic," a representative of the Fairmont Pacific Rim told Business Insider.

While Fairmont's heritage hotels give guests a peek into the past, the Fairmont Pacific Rim embraces modern luxury. The five-star hotel has won numerous awards since it opened in 2010, including being named the No. 1 hotel in Western Canada in the Condé Nast Traveler 2024 Readers' Choice Awards.

One lavish night in a $725 room at the Fairmont Pacific Rim swept me off my feet. In fact, I left wishing I'd booked it for a longer stay.

The Fairmont Pacific Rim is in downtown Vancouver's Coal Harbour neighborhood.

The Fairmont Pacific Rim was one of many glass skyscrapers lining the Coal Harbour waterfront in downtown Vancouver. But it was the only one with strips of text lining several stories of the 22-floor facade.

In 2-foot-tall, spaceless, lowercase Helvetica Bold lettering, each line read, "lying on top of a building…the clouds looked no nearer than when I was lying on the street."

The installation by UK artist Liam Gillick was the first of many indicators that the Fairmont Pacific Rim celebrates art and design.

The second was the vibrant BMW coupe in front of the entrance, which looked like a page from a comic book. According to the hotel's Instagram page, pop artist Jeff Koons hand-painted the fancy car.

Inside, the lobby is known as "Vancouver's living room."

From fashion and music to sculptures and paintings, the Lobby Lounge showcased all types of art.

High-end fashion was displayed on mannequins in glass boxes and hanging bird cages. Nestled in a corner was a stage with a piano and drum kit, played by a range of musicians on the rise. Spinning figures of children stood over 6 feet tall on top of a marble fireplace.

The Lobby Lounge also has a raw bar serving sushi and cocktails.

"It's commonly known as Vancouver's living room because it's so popular for locals," the hotel representative told BI.

I wish I'd had more time to hang out in the lobby and listen to live music while munching on sushi.

Since I was in a Fairmont Gold room, I checked in on the 20th floor.

You can think of Fairmont Gold as a first-class experience. It's an elevated section of the hotel on the 20th, 21st, and 22nd floors with premium rooms and its own mini lobby lounge with complimentary snacks throughout the day.

"Essentially, the Fairmont Gold product is like a club floor," the hotel rep told BI. "It is a brand-new product for us, which we're super excited about."

Fairmont Pacific Rim's Gold experience launched in March 2025.

The rep said the design of the lounge and rooms was inspired by Vancouver's natural beauty. Floor-to-ceiling windows surrounded the lounge, offering views of the harbor, skyline, and mountains.

The Fairmont Gold Lounge had complimentary breakfast, afternoon snacks, and evening appetizers exclusively for Gold guests.

I was surprised to learn that breakfast was made to order rather than served buffet-style.

I ordered scrambled eggs and chicken sausage and paired them with toast, fruit, and fresh orange juice.

The eggs were soft and fluffy, just like I like them. All the ingredients tasted fresh and filled me up without spending a dime.

If I had stayed longer, I would have liked to try more of the complimentary breakfast dishes, like the brioche French toast or the avocado toast.

I stayed in a 400-square-foot Gold Harbour Mountain View room on the 20th floor.

The hotel has 367 guest rooms and 60 Fairmont Gold rooms.

I stayed in a Gold Harbour Mountain View room that sleeps up to four people. The hotel rep said that the best available rate for this room is 984 Canadian dollars, or about $725, though BI received a media rate for the one-night stay.

My room had a king-sized bed, a bathroom, a sitting area, and a balcony accessible via floor-to-ceiling windows.

I thought the room was stunning.

With custom furniture and unique decor, this was one of the most beautiful hotel rooms I'd ever stayed in.

I was immediately taken by the handblown glass Bocci chandelier, which had air plants peeking out from the bulbs. I sank into the custom velvet couch in front of the windows, and warm accent lighting made the space feel even more luxurious.

Out on the balcony, I marveled at the grand views of the harbor, spotting seaplanes, yachts, and skyscrapers sitting beneath mountains.

Upscale amenities enhanced the luxury feel.

My bedside table had an oil diffuser, a smart tablet with room controls, spa booking capabilities, and in-room dining services.

The framed TV across from the bed was a whopping 75 inches with a Bose sound bar. I appreciated the small details, too, like the leather box that held the TV remote and lifestyle magazines with elegant spreads highlighting architecture, photography, design, travel, and more.

In the evening, an attendant came by for turndown service, where I selected premium pillows and oil scents from a menu.

The spacious bathroom felt like a spa.

Each Fairmont Gold room has an oversize bathroom coated in black marble, with two sinks, a lit mirror, a glass shower with two showerheads, and a deep bathtub topped with a resin tray.

A separate toilet room with a sliding door was at the back of the bathroom. The toilet was luxurious, with a light beaming inside the bowl and an upscale bidet with options to heat the seat, change the water temperature, and a dryer mode.

The bathroom had luxury amenities from Le Labo toiletries to a Dyson hair dryer that I fell in love with. After five minutes of use, my damp hair, which drapes past my waistline, looked like it had just gotten a blowout.

But the real spa was down on the fifth floor.

The five-star Fairmont Spa set a calming mood upon entering. Warm lighting beamed through thin wood panels with a soothing water feature against a wall.

In addition to massage, facial, and meditation treatments, the spa has several amenities, including a mineral bath, fitness center, Jacuzzi, and infrared sauna, among others.

There's also an outdoor relaxation lounge with gravity chairs and views of the surrounding city.

During my stay, I didn't have time to book a spa treatment, but I'll be sure to do so next time.

The pool is outdoors on the sixth floor.

From November through April, a portion of the pool deck transforms into the Nordic Spa, which moves guests through a range of temperatures with a cedar plank sauna and cold plunge pools.

"It's very popular for sports teams and muscle recovery," the hotel rep told BI.

On the second floor, I found the hotel's restaurant, Botanist.

Botanist looked like a restaurant inside a greenhouse. Dining tables were surrounded by living plants, lit by floor-to-ceiling windows.

"The menu is inspired by the Pacific Northwest, so everything is hyper-local," the hotel rep told BI.

The restaurant serves brunch, lunch, and dinner.

The menu features sustainably sourced proteins like wagyu beef, grilled octopus, and black pepper-crusted salmon. It also includes hand-cut pasta, locally sourced produce, and lobster Benedict.

Also on the second floor, there was a rotating art gallery.

"This hotel is a platform for creativity," the hotel rep told BI. "We blend influences of art, music, and fashion."

The art in the Pacific Gallery rotates every three months.

During my visit, the exhibit was Angela Teng's Colourwork, a series where crocheted acrylic paint acts as yarn. The vibrant art popped in an otherwise white room.

I think art enthusiasts would be inspired by a stay at the Fairmont Pacific Rim. But don't book just one night like I did.

I've stayed in so many luxury hotels that they sometimes blend together in my mind. However, the Fairmont Pacific Rim's art-forward aesthetic made this a booking I'll be thinking about for years to come.

Next time I'm in Vancouver, I'll spend my whole trip at the Fairmont Pacific Rim.

• I took my kids on a guided group tour across Italy.
• Visiting Europe with my teens was magical, and I didn't want to come home.
• I'd recommend Italy to families looking to try traveling abroad.

My husband and I visited Italy for the first time a few years ago on a Disney cruise, kid-free. Italy was so special, I returned home dreaming of returning with my teenagers. It took a few years, but this summer, we booked an Adventures by Disney trip — a highly organized form of group travel — and spent more than a week experiencing Rome, Tuscany, Florence, and Venice with our 17-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter.

I love traveling with my family, and we've been on some pretty incredible trips. But with responsibilities back home, I'm always ready to get back to the real world. As we walked through Venice on our last day in Italy, gelato cones in hand, I said to my family, "I wish we could stay a little longer, suspended in time just like this."

Preparing for our trip to Italy in advance made it go smoothly

I'm not sure if it was the specific trip we booked or Italy as a whole that captivated my family, but everything about the country fit our vacation style.

Before traveling, we spent a few months learning basic Italian and, since we'd received our itinerary in advance, we watched videos and read articles about things we'd do in Italy, from touring the Vatican Museum to seeing Michelangelo's David. Taking kids who felt familiar with Italian culture on a tour across the country made everything run smoothly.

We did touristy things, but I let my kids do teenager things, too

It was delightful to watch my teenagers experience the country for the first time. Little things felt incredibly rewarding, like watching them savor delicious pizza or learn to make fresh pasta by hand. Yes, my teens liked checking out important bits of Italian history and culture, but they also loved ordering different menu items from Italian McDonald's or finding Starbucks shops and trying new-to-them sips.

When my husband made a comment about them only wanting to do things we had back home, I reminded him that it's their vacation, too, and the way to get kids to enjoy travel is to let them pick some activities based on what they like.

There was something to do for everyone

Although our group tour consisted of about 40 travelers we were exploring the country with, we loved that there were periods of free time built into every day. On our own, we took my film-loving son to a movie at a Roman theater and saw my daughter squeal with excitement over shopping for clothes at Italian stores.

Italy felt like the perfect place to see sights and learn, but was also a wonderful spot to do things my kids were interested in, right down to the cat sanctuary we visited in Rome, located within the ruins of the spot where Julius Caesar was killed.

A group travel-style trip is perfect for a family's first time in Europe

My kids had been out of the US on vacations before, but mostly to places like all-inclusive resorts in spots like Turks and Caicos. I was nervous about taking them to Europe for the first time, and was glad I turned over the planning to a company like Adventures by Disney so I could enjoy the trip without worrying about logistics.

Everything on our trip was handled by our guides, who traveled with us and helped get everyone in our group safely to the next activity. Tickets for a tour of Rome's Colosseum or a walking tour of Doge's Palace in Venice were all part of the trip cost, as were fun activities like a pizza-tasting party and dinner at a medieval villa, complete with Italian folk music performers.

I wasn't alone in my appreciation for the itinerary-planning help: Every mom I chatted with on the trip said they'd booked it because all they had to do was show up and enjoy, rather than spending their entire vacation buying tickets, scheduling activities, and dealing with things that would inevitably go awry. Visiting a foreign country with kids can feel daunting, and doing so as part of a group travel experience with dedicated guides made all the difference.

Our trip was so successful, my teens already want to go back to Europe

My kids loved Italy so much that they're already asking when we can travel abroad next. Bitten by the European travel bug, they've asked about visiting countries like France and England.

Italy was the perfect jumping-off point for my teenagers, and the friendly people there (who graciously spoke English whenever they realized we were Americans, and were very patient with us practicing our Duolingo-learned Italian) were so kind to my kids. In fact, while I'm thrilled they want to visit other countries, I'd take them back to Italy again to try to recapture the magical time we spent there.

• Amazon Prime Day has competition from a list of other retailers, from Walmart to Dollar General.
• Some rivals are offering longer sales or starting their discounts ahead of Prime Day.
• It's a chance for other retailers to challenge Amazon's dominance, one analyst said.

What used to be one of the sleepiest times of year for retailers has turned into a major shopping event thanks to Amazon.

Amazon's Prime Day this year will last four days between July 8 and 11 — longer than it has run before, and the earliest that the sale has started.

A range of other retailers, from Dollar General to REI, are also offering sales that coincide with or start earlier than Prime Day.

Fourth-of-July sales for products, such as mattresses or seasonal items like lawnmowers and inflatable pools, have been around longer than Prime Day. Overall, though, early summer was historically a slow time for retail.

"July used to be the dog days of summer when people didn't spend that much," said Zak Stambor, senior analyst of retail and e-commerce at EMARKETER, which shares an owner with Business Insider.

Prime Day, which Amazon first hosted in 2015, changed that.

Now, "July is a time that consumers are conditioned to be on the hunt for deals," Stambor said. "Every retailer needs to respond and lean into that."

Best Buy, Dollar General, and other retailers are getting in on the action

Besides Prime Day, this year's sales lineup includes a seven-day Fourth of July sale from Best Buy. Like Amazon, Best Buy is offering deals on electronics to members of its paid loyalty programs. Best Buy's sale lasts three days longer than Prime Day, though. It also started on Monday, over a week ahead of Prime Day.

Dollar General is planning its own "7 Days of Savings" event, which starts on July 6. The dollar store's discounts for the sale are more limited than Amazon's, with one deal per day, such as a discount on a fan or a buy-one, get-one deal on bratwurst.

Walmart and Target, which have offered their own sales around Prime Day in years past, are also getting in on the action again. Walmart's sale, for example, will start on July 8 and run for six days. Members of Walmart+, the big box store's paid membership, will get early access to deals.

Department store Kohl's, outdoor gear retailer REI, and home improvement chain Lowe's are also among the stores offering Fourth-of-July and other sales around the same time as Prime Day this year.

Amazon may have drawn inspiration from its rivals for its longer Prime Day, Stambor said. Last year, when Prime Day was two days long, Walmart's sale was twice as long.

"Amazon can see that those events have resonated, and so why not hop in the pool and join them?" Stambor said.

All those deals could be welcome this year as consumers watch their spending closely and worry about prices going up due to tariffs. President Donald Trump's 90-day pause on many of the tariffs that he enacted in April expires on July 9, the second day of Prime Day.

Amazon still has an edge over many other retailers when it comes to conveniences like fast delivery and value, Stambor said. And marquee sales events like Prime Day allow Amazon to increase its market share in the long run.

Rival retailers' sales are also a chance for them to win over customers.

"What is their unique value proposition that will drive consumers to buy from them rather than just go to Amazon or Walmart?" Stambor said.

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

Happy Fourth! Your cookout's soundtrack may sound a little bland this season since there's no song of the summer. Waaaah! Here's why there's no new bops.

While you're here, subscribe to Defense Flash, BI's new guide to the latest innovations in military strategy, defense tech, and more delivered right to your inbox every week.

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This week's dispatch

Poolside page turners

After the cookout, and the party, and the drinking, and the water play, you'll be yearning for some quiet time. And if you're like me, that means curling up with a good book.

There are plenty of old and new summer reads to make you forget about going back to work next week. I asked six of our editors at Business Insider what their favorite reads are. Here's what they said:

Jamie Heller, Editor in Chief: I just finished "The Bee Sting" by Paul Murray, and I mostly couldn't put it down! In this family saga set in Ireland, Murray develops consuming characters and keeps you in suspense, all with a writing style that's distinct but also easy to follow and enjoy. I highly recommend it!

Bartie Scott, Deputy Editor, Economy: "Tom Lake" by Ann Patchett makes a great summer read with its whirlwind romance and heartwarming mother-daughter dynamics. While the material is sweet and whimsical, Patchett's writing is high quality, and if audiobooks are more your style — or if you're picky about narrators — it's worth knowing that Meryl Streep reads this one.

Bryan Erickson, Executive Creative Director: I am rereading "Capote's Women" by Laurence Leamer because much like the series, "Feud: Capote vs. The Swans," once was not enough. I identify with Truman's scarf-wearing escapism, and am slightly obsessed with the NYC that came before me.

Paige DiFiore-Wohr, Deputy Editor, Freelance: If you're looking for a suspenseful, twist-filled story about friendship, betrayal, and redemption, "The Drowning Woman" by Robyn Harding is the book for you. The story follows a once-successful restaurant owner who's now living out of her car as she encounters a rich socialite who's about to change her life. Nothing is as it seems, and no one can be trusted. I finished this thriller in less than a day.

Tracy Connor, Standards Editor: I devoured "Pineapple Street" by Jenny Jackson by the side of a pool last summer, relishing every twist in the tale of a rich New York City family grappling with relationship, parenting, and personal problems. It's a modern and sharper version of the delicious epics I used to sneak from my parents' bedstand in the 1970s.

Joe Ciolli, Executive Editor, Markets and Investing: "Our Band Could Be Your Life" by Michael Azerrad is a compelling look at how independent musicians forged their careers in the pre-internet era. Thirteen chapters dive into 13 bands who developed crucial networks for the music and touring industries we know today. I don't even like most of the bands, but it's still the best music book I've ever read.

BI may earn a commission if you purchase through our links.

The BI Today team: Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York. Akin Oyedele, deputy editor, in New York. Grace Lett, editor, in New York. Amanda Yen, associate editor, in New York.

• Gen Z employees are learning what they shouldn't say at work amid a generational language barrier.
• Words like "rizz" and "crashout" have found their way into office lingo for younger workers.
• An HR professional told BI that Gen Z should be mindful when bringing new sayings to the workplace. 

It can be challenging to keep up with all of the slang your Gen Z coworkers use.

Employees who are part of Generation Z — those born between 1997 and 2012 — are introducing coworkers to a variety of new phrases in the workplace.

The new generation of workers is bringing their personalities into the office, and thus, their jargon.

"We now take our work home readily and easily, basically in our pockets with our phones," Carrie Bulger, an industrial-organizational psychologist at Quinnipiac University, told Business Insider's Emily Stewart in June. "The lines are blurred no matter what. Why wouldn't they blur in the other direction as well?"

Ultimately, Gen Z wants to be understood in the office. Four out of 10 Gen Zers say their primary job is central to their identities, coming in second to their friends and family, according to a 2025 Deloitte survey of more than 14,000 adult-aged Gen Z professionals. The same survey found that clear communication is important to them.

As more young people come into the working world, one Gen Z worker suggested that they use some caution.

Kevon Martin, a 25-year-old human resources coordinator, told BI there's a time and a place for slang.

"Older colleagues can benefit from being more adaptable and relatable to their younger coworkers, so they know how to appeal to a younger consumer base," Martin said. "However, Gen Z must also recognize you can't come to work and use whatever slang words you'd use with each other because it's not the same environment."

Below is a list of phrases a Gen Z colleague might use and what they (usually) mean. While some of these phrases originated from Black and LGBTQ+ creators, they are wide-ranging in their origins and references.

Chokehold

When you can't get enough of an item, person, or idea, one might say that it has you "in a chokehold." For example, the restaurant you frequent for lunch could have you in a chokehold if you visit every day.

Crash out or crashout

"Crash out," as a verb, essentially means to respond dramatically to something. When a person is at their wits' end or a stressful event occurs, they may crash out by yelling, crying, or some other over-the-top response.

For example, getting in trouble at work may prompt your coworker to crash out by being really upset about it.

If they respond to such events with that sort of behavior often, they can be labeled a "crashout."

IJBOL

Think of "IJBOL" as a more intense acronym than "LOL" that's more work-appropriate than "LMAO."

It stands for, "I just burst out laughing," and it's the way a Gen Zer might let you know they found something funny or cringe. It's unclear who coined the acronym, but it can be used sincerely to express that you're laughing or ironically to demonstrate how chronically online you are.

Rizz

It's short for charisma. Someone with "rizz" is a smooth talker who knows how to navigate conversations like a pro. Those with "zero rizz" are awkward or have poor conversation skills.

Aura

In the Merriam-Webster dictionary, aura is defined as "an energy field that is held to emanate from a living being," and Gen Zers on TikTok have not transformed that meaning much.

Everyone has aura, but the kind your young coworker might be referring to represents someone's swagger, cool points, or some undefinable X-factor that makes them intriguing.

Someone who demonstrates an impressive skill or unmatched "rizz" might gain aura points. Meanwhile, someone who does something embarrassing might lose them. If you're constantly in awkward situations, you might be labeled as someone with negative aura points.

Roman Empire

The "Roman Empire" trend began online when someone asked, "How often do men think about the Roman Empire?" Cue viral videos of women asking their dads, husbands, and brothers how often the ancient society crosses their minds. The answer: more than you'd think.

As sayings do, the phrase "Roman Empire" has transformed to mean a topic or scenario that someone can't stop thinking about. In one TikTok, a Garage Clothing employee said that Taylor Swift and football player Travis Kelce's relationship is their Roman Empire.

Ick

The term "ick" has long been used to describe something gross or unpleasant, but it has taken on a new meaning thanks to a current trend on TikTok. At first, "give me the ick" was used by Gen Zers to refer to traits or habits that turned them off from a person they're dating, but now many are sharing "icks" in all aspects of life.

In December, a group of Atlanta-based nurses was publicly ridiculed for sharing their "icks" about patients in a TikTok video. The caption read "Icks, Labor & Delivery (Edition)," and the video featured multiple nurses sharing things they didn't like about patients.

The employees appear to have since lost their jobs, based on an apology posted to Facebook by Emory Healthcare, which referred to them as "former employees."

Stories, like those of the hospital workers, may give young people pause when considering more casual behavior around the office. But Martin told BI it can work if executed appropriately — and not disparagingly — in an environment of open communication between colleagues of multiple generations. 

Naur

Simply put, "naur" means no or know. It is a more dramatic way of saying "no" or "know" and sounds like "no" with an Australian accent. 

Slay

To "slay" anything means someone is doing an exceptional job at their work or a task at hand. 

Understood the assignment

If a coworker says this, they mean a task has been completed exactly as it was meant to be done.

Say less

A shortened version of "say no more." It's used when you completely agree or understand what someone has just said.

Unserious

This is a more fun way of saying that something or someone is ridiculous or cannot be taken seriously.

L or W

Although referring to wins and losses as "Ws" or "Ls" probably didn't start with Gen Z, the youngsters do like to use it to describe a positive or negative experience. 

Your colleague might tell you your opinion is an "L take" if they disagree with you.

• Google engineer Aashna Doshi says that strategic networking helped land internships that led to a full-time job.
• To distinguish herself from the pack, she showcased her skills with independent projects, Doshi told BI.
• When you finally have a foot in the door, do your best to become a reliable "go-to" person, she added.

It's just not enough to cold apply for tech jobs anymore, said Aashna Doshi, a two-time intern turned software engineer at Google. To land a spot at a tech giant, you need to be networking "intentionally."

"Knowing who you want to meet, finding that common bridge between both of you, and then really learning from their experience, was a big game changer for me," Doshi told Business Insider.

Doshi suggests reaching out not only to people whose career paths you'd like to emulate, but also those with whom you share common ground, including similar personal experiences.

"I was talking to a bunch of people, and saw this software engineer who was working out of Europe, and was super inspired by her story," she said. "She was also a woman. I love to see other women in tech and also, she's European. I grew up in Belgium, so that's kind of my connecting point to her."

A foot in the door

While Doshi ended up getting a referral from the engineer in Europe, she said she wasn't initially thinking of asking for one.

Reaching out because you're genuinely interested in someone's trajectory, she added, has twofold benefits — you're likely to learn more from a less stilted conversation, and the connection you make could last throughout your career.

"I reached out to her to learn more about her story, not like, 'Hey, can I get a referral at Google?'" she said. "I actually didn't even have any intention of asking her for this internship referral, but we became friends and she let me into her life, which is what her day-to-day looks like, how she grows in the role that she's in."

Remembering that professional connections, like any relationship, are two-way streets, also goes a long way towards helping them endure, Doshi added.

"As we move and progress in our life, the way in which I think about it is, we are collecting people, and we are supporting people," she said. "And the people that will come all the way through will be the ones that you have formed a genuine bond with. If you ask someone for a referral and they give it to you, I mean, that's well and good, but five years down the line, 10 years down the line, they might not even remember who you are."

If you can't get an internship, complete a project

Since you're likely to be taking similar classes as your competition, it's what you do with that knowledge that can make you stand out, Doshi said.

Projects are the "one thing that I will say again and again and again for any student," she said.

The Google engineer partly credits her success in securing an internship to the projects she developed in her downtime.

"This is the way you can set yourself apart from 1000 other people, because if you take data structures and algorithms, and your peers take data structures and algorithms, you all have the same foundational knowledge that you are building," she told BI. "But what you do with that knowledge, what you do with the data structures and algorithms, really, really makes a difference."

There's no pressure to specialize in a niche skillset right out of the gate to impress potential employers, either, Doshi said. What you're really aiming for is a broad knowledge base and a flexible personality.

"They don't expect you to come in with tons and tons of experience," she said. "They actually care about more — can you think in a specific way, and given a situation changes, are you able to adapt to that? More than doing like 700 LeetCode questions and getting those exactly right, I tried to do more problem solving in adaptive sense."

Becoming a 'go-to' person

If and when you finally do land an internship, the challenge then becomes securing a full-time return offer.

In Doshi's case, she did her best to become integral to the teams she was placed on — being a point person for a particular issue can help you be more memorable, as well as slowly build a positive reputation with senior employees.

"If they have a bug, and they trust you enough to be like, 'Oh, Aashna, you've done something like this before. Why don't you take this up?'" she said. "That is not just giving you work. It's, 'Oh, we trust you to take something like this up.' So being that person they can trust, being that go-to person, is an absolute game changer."

Doshi also cautions interns against self-isolating. You're not expected to know everything, and shouldn't try to act like you do.

"As an intern, you are coming in with, as everyone knows, less experience than the rest of the team. The intention is to show progress," she said, adding, "The key lies in asking the right questions. A lot of people say there are no wrong questions, etc, etc. Maybe there are no wrong questions, but there are questions that are better than others, in my opinion."

Knowing how to ask for help can be just as important as knowing when — Doshi suggests presenting your questions in a way that shows you've attempted to solve the problem on your own first.

"Do your due diligence before that, which means if you're stuck, ask the right person for help," she said. "I'm going to explain that I already tried to do X, Y, Z, and it didn't work. How do I move forward?"

The goal of an internship is, after all, to absorb as much knowledge as possible. Try to avoid letting your fear of looking lost halt your progress, she added.

"So this kind of framework really accelerated my learnings, because I wasn't wasting hours and hours on something that absolutely I didn't understand or didn't work," she said. "And while I wasn't spending those hours, I still did my due diligence, which is, do my research, look through the code base."

• Some of the best-selling EVs are about to become a lot more expensive.
• Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" eliminates the $7,500 tax credit for new electric cars.
• Here are the 20 electric and hybrid vehicles that qualify for the $7,500 discount.

President Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" is about to make EVs even more expensive.

On Thursday, the US House of Representatives passed Trump's tax and spending bill, and in doing so, killed the $7,500 tax credit for new, US-made electric vehicles.

Trump signed the bill into law on Friday, meaning that the tax incentive will end on September 30th.

Auto industry experts have previously warned that removing the $7,500 credit will make EVs even more unaffordable, and there are already signs that some automakers are starting to adjust their prices.

Jeff Bezos-backed EV startup Slate Auto quietly removed the "under $20,000" expected price tag for its upcoming electric pickup truck from its website this week. The company had previously said it expected the customizable pickup to qualify for federal tax incentives.

20 electric and hybrid vehicles currently benefit from the $7,500 tax credit, according to the US Department of Energy's website — but for buyers looking to snap them up before the discount goes away, there are a couple of important caveats.

For starters, not every version of those vehicles meets the criteria for the tax incentive.

Some are limited to specific model years and trims. For example, only the 2026 version of the Hyundai IONIQ 9 qualifies for the tax credit.

There is also a max retail price limit of $80,000 for vans, SUVs, and pickups, and $55,000 for all other vehicles.

In addition, the credit is only available to buyers with an adjusted gross income of $150,000 or less, although the limit extends to $300,000 for married couples filing jointly and $225,000 for heads of households.

There is also a separate federal tax credit of up to $4,000 for used EVs and hybrids, which applies to a much wider range of vehicles, but that will also come to an end in September once Trump signs the bill into law.

Every EV that qualifies for the $7,500 tax credit

• Acura ZDX
• Cadillac LYRIQ
• Cadillac OPTIQ
• Cadillac VISTIQ
• Chevrolet Blazer
• Chevrolet Equinox
• Chevrolet Silverado
• Chrysler Pacifica (hybrid)
• Ford F150 Lightning
• Genesis Electrified GV70
• GMC Sierra
• Honda Prologue
• Hyundai IONIQ 5
• Hyundai IONIQ 9
• Jeep Wagoneer S
• Kia EV6
• Kia EV9
• Tesla Cybertruck
• Tesla Model 3
• Tesla Model X
• Tesla Model Y

• Business Insider recently spent a night aboard a US Navy destroyer sailing from England to France.
• Our reporter got an inside look at daily life for sailors on USS Thomas Hudner.
• Sailors explained what they like about being on the ship, as well as some of the challenges.

ENGLISH CHANNEL — About a year and a half before Business Insider stepped aboard the US Navy destroyer USS Thomas Hudner, the ship was battling hostile drones in the Red Sea. Kill marks can be seen painted on the warship, which recently found itself again wrapped up in the violence in the Middle East.

BI's stay aboard the powerful warship at the tail end of May and into June was significantly quieter by comparison.

The roughly 24 hours spent aboard the Thomas Hudner as the ship crossed the English Channel from England to France to mark the 81st anniversary of the D-Day invasion offered a glimpse into what life is like for the warship's sailors as they handle missions while grappling with the grind of daily Navy life.

Setting sail, two tugboats pulled the 500-foot-long Arleigh Burke-class destroyer away from the pier and into a crowded harbor. Sailors in their dress blues stood manning the rails as people on the shore looked on with great interest.

Getting the warship underway at Portsmouth was a whole-of-ship effort, with sailors from the bridge to the combat information center and from the flight deck at the stern to the bow all playing a role.

Cmdr. Cameron Ingram, Thomas Hudner's commanding officer, told me that each of the 300-plus sailors aboard has a "vitally important" job keeping the ship operating smoothly.

"We're one big complex machine, and I am just a single component within it," he said. "A ship needs a captain, yes. But a ship needs lookouts, and a ship needs folks to do laundry, a ship needs people to do maintenance on weapons systems and damage control systems, and to stand watches."

"As much as the crew needs me to do my job, I need them to do their jobs every single day, because I cannot do my job if they aren't doing theirs," Ingram added.

Dinner that evening came early and consisted of pizza, pasta, and Brussels sprouts. I ate with officers in the wardroom, where the World War II film "Saving Private Ryan" was playing on a TV in the background.

Considering the purpose of the destroyer's voyage across the English Channel, the famous Steven Spielberg movie was a fitting choice. It's recognized as one of the most realistic portrayals of the Allied invasion of Normandy ever recreated in film, capturing the horrors of the daring operation to secure the foothold needed to break Nazi Germany. The warship I was on was churning the same waters that the massive D-Day fleet had sailed 81 years earlier, thousands never to return home.

Following dinner, the ship's skipper delivered a lengthy announcement over the ship's announcing system praising the crew and offering a preview of the coming D-Day events. He ended the broadcast by playing a song over the loudspeaker from the musical "Les Misérables," a nod to the visit to France.

I spent the evening wandering around the ship, observing sailors as they did their jobs and listening to them talk about life on the destroyer and in the Navy in general.

Life aboard a destroyer is demanding. Sailors operate in tight quarters, sharing berthing spaces and working long hours to keep up ship operations. Daily routines center on watch rotations in areas like the bridge, CIC, and engineering spaces to ensure the vessel stays mission-ready.

Despite the challenges, such as limited personal space and time away from family, sailors value bonds with crewmates, the service and sense of purpose, the resilience fostered aboard the ship, and the opportunity to travel.

"I've been all over the world," Petty Officer 1st Class Anna Watson, who manages the computer infrastructure for the ship's combat systems, shared. She came to Thomas Hudner, a ship homeported in Mayport, Fla., from the Navy's 7th Fleet, the command that oversees the Indo-Pacific region.

"I've been to Japan, Thailand, South Korea — places like that — and now I get to see Europe," she said.

"Definitely one of the benefits of being in the Navy, and being on a ship in the Navy, is you get to see most of the world. So that's pretty cool."

Some sailors BI spoke with that night pointed to the opportunities for professional growth that come with a deployment and working on a ship.

Chief Petty Officer Olaf Sampson, the head electrician, said being in the Navy and serving on a deployed warship is "a great stepping stone for young people to get into," where they can establish independence and learn a skill or trade.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Aiden Grimes, who works with the warship's embarked helicopters, finds the problem-solving aspect of his job very appealing. "You don't have a lot of people to go to, so you have to figure it out yourself, and I like doing that," he said.

Lt. John Wacker, who flies an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter, has previously deployed with a littoral combat ship and a cruiser, but this was his first time doing so on a destroyer, which he described as the "main force" of the Navy's fleet; the service has 74 DDGs, the most of any ship class. He said it was "cool" to watch how the crew operates on the ship.

The experience isn't easy, though. Deployments mean months away from family and friends, with port visits few and far between. And the requirements and scheduling can also change on a dime and give way to a high tempo of operations that can be stressful.

In the fall of 2023, for instance, the Thomas Hudner became one of the first American warships to engage in combat against Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who had just started their attacks on Israel and international shipping lanes in the Red Sea.

Those battles marked the start of a prolonged campaign for the Navy, which sent multiple aircraft carriers and warships, like Thomas Hudner, to the Middle East to fend off Houthi attacks. The Pentagon even extended some deployments, putting additional stress on crews with a difficult mission.

More recently, not long after the ship participated in D-Day events in France, the Thomas Hudner was dispatched to the Eastern Mediterranean along with four other destroyers to help shield Israel from Iranian ballistic missile attacks. The Navy warships collectively scored multiple interceptions.

The Houthi and Iranian engagements underscore the need for sailors to always be ready for the possibility of a new mission. That high state of readiness, however, can take its toll. Military roles come with different pressures compared to life in the civilian world.

When it came time to rest that night on the destroyer, I retreated to the stateroom I had been assigned, which resembled a small command center with a pull-out bed and an en suite bathroom. It was my second time spending the night on a Navy ship. Last year, I embarked overnight on the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower during a Red Sea combat deployment.

The room was on the colder side, and I didn't sleep more than about an hour, though that had more to do with my insomnia than anything else. Without WiFi or cell service, I played games on my phone just to pass the time until breakfast, which was pancakes, eggs, corned beef hash, and a few much-needed cups of coffee

After breakfast, I made my way up to the ship's bridge to watch as we approached the scenic French coastline and my final stop, Cherbourg-en-Cotentin. The destroyer sailed slowly into the port, accompanied by tugboats, and methodically pulled up alongside the pier.

The following process of dropping the anchor and using the massive lines to secure the destroyer in place — the reverse of what the crew did in Portsmouth — was as intricate and lengthy as it was in England. It involves tough, manual labor, but for some, that's part of the appeal of serving on a ship.

"There's also something kind of majestic, if you will, about pushing a gigantic piece of iron war machinery through the water," shared Chief Petty Officer Chris Miller, who is responsible for the destroyer's self-defense systems. "It takes a lot to make this thing move, and there are a lot of moving pieces to it."

"It's very intricate in design and very sophisticated, but it's also very powerful," he added, summing up his thoughts with: "It's awesome."

• A new $500 membership service allows patients to skip the doctor's office and get their own labs.
• Function Health then gives people nutrition and supplement advice, and encourages retesting.
• I found the extra data interesting, but ultimately needed a doctor to properly interpret it.

The Rock loves it, Zac Efron invests in it, and Equinox gym members are signing up for it in droves. Function Health is the latest hot commodity for longevity seekers looking to optimize their health.

The promise is simple: skip the waiting room at the doctor's office and head straight to the lab, for comprehensive medical testing that evaluates the health of key organs, like your heart and kidneys.

Function also measures some things that "regular" doctors typically don't, like electrolyte levels as well as the so-called "heavy metals" — lead, mercury — potentially poisonous substances that can sometimes lurk in our air, water, and food. It might even find cancer.

I wanted to see what all the big buzz was about with this $500 annual blood-and-pee testing service, so I tried it out. Disclaimer: I didn't have to pay for it, because Function Health gave out free trials to journalists as the company is still in beta testing mode.

In the end, my Function results led me to seek out more advice from doctors than I usually would, to help me separate the signal from the noise in all the data.

I freaked out about all the little cholesterol particles hiding out in my blood

The good news is that Function is not a huge time suck. It takes about 15 minutes to get the initial testing done and you can roll up to just about any Quest Diagnostics lab location nationwide (except in Hawaii and Rhode Island).

Their tests measure over 90 different biomarkers in your blood and urine, including almost all the typical stuff you'd find in a doctor's office (except STD testing). Function performed roughly three times the number of tests I had done the last time I went to the doctor's office for routine bloodwork. There were more measurements related to hormones, key nutrients, my metabolism, and heart health. Function Health also measured my "biological age," a scientifically squishy indicator of health and fitness.

With so many tests being run, there's a good chance that something you measure when you do Function will come back abnormal. That doesn't always mean there's something wrong with you; sometimes your own "normal" doesn't fit neatly into a given reference range.

Function is OK with having a few errant flags in the data, and encourages re-testing any out of range labs. Their ethos is the more information, the better. It's about creating a more detailed picture of your overall health, not making sure each test is perfect every time.

People are "wanting to know more about their biology, and to be advocates for their own health," Dr. Mark Hyman, one of the founders of Function Health, told Business Insider.

Hyman, a longtime friend of US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., chalks it up "to disillusionment with healthcare in general" in the US. Hyman says many people who use Function's tests may be able to resolve their own health concerns without ever seeing a doctor afterwards.

"While you'll need to see a doctor for certain things, the beauty of Function is you come in, follow up, order follow up tests on yourself, and then you can follow the guidance," Hyman said.

His venture dovetails with the rise of new tech promising to put you in the driver's seat of your own health. Think wearables (rings, watches, glucose monitors) and concierge medicine (full body MRIs, anti-aging IV drips). As the personalized medicine industry booms, Function is taking off. The company says its membership has more than doubled since December, to more than 200,000 customers.

I ended up overanalyzing my results, and coming to some pretty silly conclusions

The very first "out of range" marker that was mentioned in my Function report was a cholesterol measurement. While my regular LDL, or "bad" cholesterol number — the one you'd get measured in a doctor's office — looked fine, Function also measured the size of my LDL cholesterol particles.

Apparently, I had slightly elevated numbers of small and medium sized LDL cholesterol particles, which are more dangerous than larger LDL particles. This "could indicate an increased risk for cardiovascular disease despite normal LDL cholesterol levels," my results said, adding "it is vital to address the out-of-range results."

This was a surprise. I had always been told I have "good" cholesterol.

I started imagining all those tiny, sticky cholesterol particles racing towards my aging heart. Knowing how important heart health is for healthy aging, and that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US, I started to worry. Should I quit my beloved mayonnaise? Maybe I should at least cut back.

After my initial shock, I reached out to independent cardiologists and longevity doctors for this story. I also spoke directly to Hyman about my results. All of those physicians refocused my attention, helping me interpret the results, and zoom in on the more meaningful ways to adjust my lifestyle.

Frankly, they reminded me why this kind of testing isn't widely recommended, and why we go to the doctor in the first place.

Without help from doctors, I was stressing about the wrong things in my labs and on my plate

Even for me, a seasoned health journalist who isn't generally freaked out by medical test results, this felt like a lot to take in. In addition to the supposedly off-balance cholesterol numbers, there was also low vitamin D, and a few other items that could impact everything from my immunity to metabolism and fertility.

Without a doctor's advice, I found it was easy to get lost in the noise of all the results.

"I think if you showed any cardiologist or lipidologist your panel, they wouldn't be worrying about you," Dr. Ken Feingold, an emeritus professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, who is an expert on lipids and lipoprotein metabolism, told BI.

The cholesterol numbers that really matter were fine, including the basics (total cholesterol, LDL, HDL) but also some of the more niche measurements that doctors are now factoring into clinical decision-making, like lipoprotein A and apolipoprotein B (APOB), Feingold said.

"I think it would be very unfair to expect a consumer, the person that had the lab work done to try and figure it out on their own," Dr. David Sabgir, a cardiologist in Ohio who is also not involved with Function Health, told BI.

In theory, Function is designed to help consumers make simple nutrition tweaks they hadn't thought to make — perhaps adding fatty fish for omega-3, vitamin D, or fiber supplements.

"80% of people's health issues will never need a doctor," Hyman said. "They're really lifestyle-driven and they can be modified through modifying your diet and your lifestyle."

However, as a consumer, I found the barrage of information confusing, making it harder to feel in control of good decision-making.

Plus, while Function gave me diet and supplement recommendations (vitamin D, fiber, berberine, omega-3, and coQ10, along with more fish and eggs), it buried the most important piece of nutrition advice that every doctor I spoke to was quickly able to point out.

Doctors told me to cut back on white bread and enjoy avocados

In a follow-up interview with Hyman — which is not standard procedure for Function patients — he told me I could improve my particle numbers by cutting down on, or ideally eliminating, refined starches and sugars.

This was advice that was not highlighted in my Function dashboard, but other doctors wholeheartedly agreed. It was the first thing they said.

Miora longevity clinic director Dr. Gregory Pippert uses advanced blood testing that's similar to Function's, often catering to patients who are trying to optimize their health and gains in the gym.

"I look at so much green on that," he said of my cholesterol panel. "Then I see particle numbers that are not massively high."

For Pippert, the headline was simple: just skip the refined grains more often.

"Do I really, really need the big extra thick slice of white bread? Maybe not," Pippert said. "It's making the good choices more than the bad choices, but not obsessing."

Seeing more granular data may help some patients take general pieces of health advice — to hit the gym five days a week, incorporate more strength training, or adhere to heart healthy diets, like the Mediterranean diet, more seriously.

"The anxiety associated with the results may trigger more compliance with lifestyle modification," Sabgir said.

But how can we be sure we'll pick out the right tweaks on our own? If I'm skipping mayo but not switching to whole grains or cutting back on sugar, I'm probably not going to have a huge impact on my test results.

"I don't know why people are offering this," Feingold said. "It's a way to make a lot of money because sure, they're charging a significant amount of money for this, but you don't really need it to make decisions about who you're going to treat, most of the time."

• Ukraine is using ground robots to evacuate wounded, lay mines, and attack Russian forces.
• An operator said they don't use different robots, instead they adapt and tweak the same ones.
• They work like "Lego sets" — a positive for Ukraine's soldiers, as they need to constantly adapt.

Ukraine is using ground robots "like Lego," putting them together differently to use for different missions, from evacuations to attacks, a Ukrainian robot operator told Business Insider.

Oleksandr Yabchanka, head of the robotic systems for Ukraine's Da Vinci Wolves Battalion, told BI that his unit doesn't have different robot types. Instead, they equip and put them together based on specific needs.

They might use a rigid capsule so it can carry a wounded soldier, but later, if they need to destroy a Russian position, they attach a bomb to it and "turn that system into a kamikaze one," he said.

Yabchanka described ground drones as being adaptable systems that soldiers can put together themselves on the field.

"We all remember Lego. We were growing up together with those kits," he said.

He also described it as a positive development for Ukraine: In a war where tactics and technology are constantly changing, helping soldiers be nimble could be key.

Adaptable robots

Vadym Yunyk, the CEO of FRDM Group, which makes the D-21 robotic ground logistics complex, told BI that "the adaptability of the D-21 is one of its key advantages."

The robot can be used for transporting provisions like ammunition, as well as for the emergency evacuation of wounded, or even as a platform for mounting weapons.

Yunyk said this adaptability means that units can "quickly integrate the platform into their own tactics."

The company has also adapted the system further: In response to requests, it attached a combat module to the D-21, making the D-21-12R, a robot that can fire while moving between different positions, Yunyk said.

And they're working on adding a grenade launcher, too.

"This opens the way to even more flexible applications for the D-21 and D-21-12R," he said. "In other words, we are not just offering a product — we are providing a tool that adapts to the real needs of the front lines."

Milrem Robotics, an Estonian company, describes its THeMIS robot, which is being used in Ukraine, as "an advanced multi-role defence platform designed for various operational tasks."

The company says its "modular and versatile design allows customization according to the customer's needs" and that its robots can gather intelligence, dispose of ordnance, and evacuate troops. They can also be fitted with a variety of weapons depending on what soldiers have available and want to achieve.

Kuldar Väärsi, the founder and CEO of Milrem Robots, told BI that innovation on the battlefield goes even further.

He said that soldiers have been using the tech in ways the company wasn't even expecting.

"Ukrainian troops are really creative, and they really find very simple ways how to get even more out of the equipment," he said.

A new type of warfare

Ground robots are not new to warfare, but the scale of their use in Ukraine, the different types of usage, and the number of companies quickly bringing them to the battlefield stand out.

They also have the potential to be a key tool for Ukraine, as it has far fewer troops than Russia, which is a much larger country. Russia is also working on its own versions.

The speed of innovation is notable, too, with countries rapidly deploying AI and new tech to make them more autonomous and more powerful.

Yabchanka said soldiers are playing a key role in that development.

He said his troops often tweak, refine, and upgrade the ground robots themselves while on video calls with manufacturers.

It's a similar dynamic to the one that drone operators have described to BI. One operator said he often texts and FaceTime manufacturers to give them feedback and get updates.

FRDM Group's Yunyk said his robots also have to constantly be updated based on feedback and how soldiers are using them.

"The product lifecycle in this war is extremely short," he said. "What worked a month ago may already be outdated today. Therefore, developers do not have the luxury of working according to old templates."

He said that if companies spend two years developing a product, "there is a high risk that it will become irrelevant even before development is complete."

"This is a new reality in which those who adapt faster, not those who plan longer, win," he added.