We wanted to find all the differences between two popular Italian food chains, Olive Garden and Zizzi.

• Many companies turn to layoffs to reduce costs, yet some purposefully refrain from making cuts.
• CEOs of companies that have never done layoffs told BI they think the approach is good for business.
• When workers aren't worried about getting cut, they expect to have better careers — and often do.

When the pandemic hit, friends at other companies began calling Melanie Dulbecco to ask whether she planned to lay off workers.

"It's the very last thing we would do," she told them.

Dulbecco has spent decades running Torani, a maker of flavored syrups used in coffee and other beverages.

Stay-at-home mandates presented a crisis for the company whose bottles line the shelves of innumerable cafés.

"We were ready to breathe into a paper bag," Dulbecco told Business Insider.

Instead, company leaders gathered to sketch out how big the blow to sales might be — and how to keep workers safe. The team then set a goal that might only amount to a nice-to-have at other companies: save the business without cutting a single employee.

Layoffs are so commonplace, even outside recessions and life-bending health emergencies, that companies like Torani are among a rarefied few that have never pink-slipped workers en masse.

Such employers are a study in the cultural tailwinds that can spin up when companies eschew broad-based job cuts.

'Grow, baby, grow'

One of Torani's values, and Dulbecco's mantra, is "grow, baby, grow." Yet, she said, it's not just about sales; it's also about employees' well-being. That's been good for business, Dulbecco said.

When she became Torani's CEO in 1991, annual revenue was less than $1 million. This year, the company's centennial, Dulbecco expects sales to top $600 million.

The grocer Publix is also a member of the no-RIF club. The Florida-based chain is the country's largest employee-owned company, with more than 255,000 workers.

One of them is Alec Jones. The 26-year-old has served as a cashier and a bagger and, lately, has been spending more time in the produce department at a Publix in Bonita Springs, Florida. Jones has been with the company for a decade, while many of his friends who work elsewhere have moved from job to job, he said.

"I've been having fun," Jones told BI. He said he feels more secure in his role, knowing that there would have to be a good reason to get fired.

A Publix spokesperson told BI that the company provides clear expectations, mentorship, and training to its associates to help them achieve their best.

The no-layoff bounce

For companies that avoid layoffs, the payoff can be big, said Darryl B. Rice, an associate professor of management at Miami University. He left a career in finance and moved into academia after watching banking colleagues lose their jobs amid the 2008 financial crisis.

He found that organizations that forgo layoffs create a sense of psychological safety that allows workers to thrive.

"Employees believe they are more likely to have career success," Rice told BI. That, in turn, makes it more likely they will do so, he said.

Layoffs, by contrast, tend to pierce that sense of safety and exact a "tremendous" cost in terms of workers' productivity and trust in leadership, said Wayne Cascio, a distinguished professor of management emeritus at the University of Colorado Denver.

When organizations start making cuts, those left standing often spend time doing things like sprucing up their résumés, Cascio told BI. Then, in the year that follows, the workers most likely to leave are the "good performers" because they tend to have more options, he said.

"There's an old saying: 'The first casualty in a downsizing is employee morale,'" Cascio said.

A subsequent casualty can be an employer's reputation with prospective employees, Rice said.

Millennial and Gen Z workers, in particular, have watched parents and grandparents get laid off at various points. That means, Rice said, there's often little sense that an employer would trade profits for people if the business soured.

Not having to think about cuts

Yet worker loyalty can grow when an organization hangs tight to its employees during a crisis.

That's what the window and door maker Marvin did during the 2008 global financial crisis — the deepest economic pothole in generations and one that emanated from the housing market.

As a result, the company saw an unprecedented drop in demand for its products. To make up for lost sales, Marvin temporarily cut full-time workers to 32 hours a week. For three years, the family-owned business also suspended a profit-sharing program, Paul Marvin, the company's chair and fourth-generation CEO, told BI.

During those lean years, "there was no money made," he said. That was the case for the Marvin family and the company's workers, Marvin said.

For more than a century, the manufacturer has been a mainstay in Warroad, Minnesota, a city of about 2,000 people along the Canadian border.

Laying off workers would change a place like Warroad forever, Marvin said. The company's long-term goal is to provide meaningful jobs in its hometown and beyond, he said. That matters more, Marvin added, than something like an annual dividend.

He said many employers are quick to say workers are their most valuable asset.

Yet, "When it comes time to back that up, it's like, 'Did you really mean that? Because it's the first thing you're cutting,'" Marvin said.

He said treating the company's 8,000-plus workers fairly — and the gratitude that results from successful efforts to save jobs in tough times — benefits the business far beyond even a protracted slump in sales.

As at Marvin, workers' tenures at Torani are often measured in decades rather than years.

Francisco Santos joined the San Leandro, California, company in 2002 and has risen to become a team lead for its first manufacturing shift each weekday. Despite his 4 a.m. start time, the 65-year-old isn't ready to give up working at a place where the support for employees is unlike anything he's experienced elsewhere.

For Santos, that includes not having to worry about himself and his colleagues when he hears about other employers laying off workers.

"You don't have to think about that," Santos said.

• I took a seven-day small luxury cruise for $6,500, and it was worth every penny.
• This Windstar cruise was smaller and more intimate than sailings I've done on megaships.
• I fell in love with the little Icelandic towns we stopped in, where I did plenty of hiking.

For a long time, I thought cruises weren't for me. I'd only been on megaships, which have thousands of passengers and always felt a little too touristy.

However, I changed my mind when I took my first small luxury cruise.

I booked a seven-night sailing around Iceland on Windstar's Star Pride ship for $6,500.

Here's why I fell in love with this style of cruise — and Iceland.

Although it was smaller than a megaship, this boat was still amazing

I loved everything about Windstar's Star Pride ship, from my big, comfy bed to the stunning spa.

The cruise size — around 220 guests — was perfect for me. It was small enough to learn fellow passengers' names but big enough that I was never stuck with people unless I wanted to be.

There was also so much to do on board.

I ate cookies, drank coffee, and played cards with new friends in the Compass Rose Lounge. Plus, the nightly line dancing, trivia, and entertainment always felt like just enough stimulation.

I loved that I got to choose whether to eat dinner alone or with strangers if I was feeling social. As a special treat, I even ordered room service (chocolate cake and prosecco) at midnight on my birthday.

As much as I loved the ship, it was Iceland that really drew me in

Every Icelandic port was magical.

At Heimaey Island — where puffins nest and a volcano looks down over the village — we drifted off the ship to explore. I hiked and wandered through the city to eat excellent caramel ice cream with salted black licorice.

Even though it was my first time there, the welcoming environment almost made me feel like a local.

When we docked in the artistic little town of Seydisfjordur, though, I really fell in love with Iceland. There were cheerful Nordic prefab houses, cute cafés, and a blue church at the center of town along the famous rainbow sidewalk.

In town, we were treated to an acoustic concert by two Icelandic musicians, and I was in awe hiking through the Vestdalur Valley. It was dotted with small flowers and stunning waterfalls.

The rest of the cruise was peppered with more wonderful experiences: A hike to Goðafoss Waterfall, a beer and pickled-shark tasting at a local pub in Ísafjörður, an afternoon soaking in the hot springs at Mývatn Nature Baths.

I didn't want the week to end, and I'm already ready to go back

By the end of the week, ship dinners that started as stilted affairs became fluid and loose-limbed. People showed off their new Icelandic wool sweaters as they walked from table to table to chat with each other.

On our last night on the ship, a group of us were bracing ourselves for a big goodbye when a volcano erupted just outside Reykjavík. We could just make it out in the distance.

As a few people wondered if this would impact our ability to disembark the next day, I found myself wishing it would.

I wasn't ready to leave. The small ship felt precious to me in a way no other cruise ever had.

We made it to port, and I got home safe. But I already know I'll be booking another small luxury cruise in the future.

• I've had the same conversation about leaving Facebook throughout the years.
• I can't do it because I've found support groups that help me being an adoptive mom.
• Facebook mom groups remind me that I'm not alone in what I'm going through.

Over the last few weeks, I've seen the same conversation play out on Facebook over and over again — "I'm leaving. Find me on Discord, Slack, Mastodon, or whatever platform the cool kids are flocking to now."

And every time, I have the same reaction. Mastodon? Is that a dinosaur? Discord? I don't know how to use that. Am I a dinosaur?

For several years now, I've pondered deactivating my account. I worry about the privacy of my data, and the new fact-checking policy is concerning at best. Most of all, however, I think about the giant time vacuum Facebook can become and the implications for my mental health. Loneliness is an epidemic in our country, and if I'm not careful, my minutes on social media make me less connected, not more.

Even with these concerns, I stay.

I stay for the mom groups

I'm not staying because of Marketplace, although we bought a great used car for our sons there. I occasionally peruse listings to see if I can retire soon after selling my collection of Holiday Barbies. But no, Marketplace isn't enough for me to stay.

Similarly, it's not the "On This Day" feature keeping me there, although I worry about my lost data when/if I exit. I started using Facebook not long before our family grew through adoption, and many sweet moments of those early family days are preserved on Facebook, like when my son called me "a robot with a heart" because I was good at trivia.

I certainly don't stay for the political drama, insensitive trolls, or bizarre targeted ads.

I stay on Facebook because I've found niche groups for moms that can't be replicated in real life.

They've helped me through so much

When I became a first-time mom to a 7- and 8-year-old through adoption, I joined two Facebook groups of moms I met through our agency and the early blogging world. These women quickly became my closest friends.

We shared Ethiopian recipes, bedtime tips, travel advice, and more. Several of us have connected in person, deepening our friendships and introducing our spouses and children. Our kids are teenagers and young adults now; our concerns have shifted to college choices, driver's licenses, and perimenopause. Some of our connections have waned, but still, these women walked with me through some dark days, including my experience with post-adoption depression. Their friendship is invaluable to me.

Those adoption groups were my on-ramp to the amazing world of Mom Facebook.

When our family relocated from Iowa to Saint Paul, Minnesota, I found community in a group for local moms of teens. Like pioneers on the Oregon Trail, forging a path without a map, we parented through the pandemic — armed not with supplies and survival skills, but with cheeky memes and words of encouragement as we blundered through online school. This group is a highly specialized search engine, a Google on steroids, answering these questions and more: "Where should we sign up for driver's ed? Where are your kids buying pants these days? Any great intel on landing a job at the state fair?" These moms are smart and responsive, and because it's a local group, we are lucky enough to connect in person, too.

I stay afloat because they support me

Most recently, I've joined a group for moms of young adults dealing with epilepsy. This stage of our parenting journey feels like being blindfolded and thrown into the deep end after eating too many doughnuts. I'm staying afloat only because of these other moms. We discuss medicine changes and side effects, driving laws, and disappointment.

While I have several supportive "real-life" friends, it's so refreshing to communicate with others who get this unique and challenging season. "Me too" and "Same" are life preservers.

I'm sure there are Facebook groups for moms who have kids with autism and kids who play the ukulele. Soccer and vegan moms can find their community, as can new moms, old moms, and everyone in between.

On a platform that often feels isolating, Mom Facebook reminds me I'm not alone.

I've greatly decreased my Facebook use by deleting the app from my phone, and I'm much more conscious about what and where I'm posting. Still, I'm here (for now) connecting with other moms on a similar parenting road.

At least until someone teaches me how to use Discord, or I learn what a Mastodon is.

• Warren Buffett built a cash mountain, sold stocks, and halted buybacks last year.
• He nearly doubled Berkshire Hathaway's cash to $334 billion and sold a net $134 billion of stocks.
• Berkshire paid the most corporate income tax to the IRS of any American company in history, he said.

Warren Buffett stacked up record amounts of cash, made sweeping cuts to his stock portfolio, and even stopped buying back his own company's shares last year, as the world's foremost bargain hunter steered clear of a red-hot market.

The stock sales meant the famed investor's Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate paid the most corporate income tax of any American company in history, Buffett said in his annual shareholder letter on Saturday.

The four charts below tell the story of Buffett's remarkable year.

Buffett continued to balk at lofty valuations for public companies and private businesses in 2024. Instead of paying top dollar, he opted to build Berkshire's pile of dollars, Treasury bills, and other liquid assets.

The value of Berkshire's cash and cash-equivalent assets nearly doubled last year, from around $168 billion to $334 billion (or $321 billion after subtracting $12.8 billion of payables for purchases of Treasury bills). Both figures exceed the $307 billion market value of one of Buffett's favorite companies, Coca-Cola.

It also means nearly a third of Berkshire's $1 trillion market value is effectively money in the bank.

Buffett and his team jettisoned several longheld stocks in Berkshire's portfolio last year, and pared their two largest positions: Apple and Bank of America.

A dearth of compelling deals meant they only spent about $9 billion on stocks, down from around $16.5 billion in 2023 and $68 billion in 2022.

On the other hand, they disposed of stocks worth $143 billion — more than triple the $41 billion worth they sold in 2023, and more than quadruple the $34 billion figure for 2022.

On a net basis, Buffett and his team offloaded $134 billion or a Boeing's worth of stocks in 2024, dwarfing their net $24 billion of sales in 2023.

Buffett preaches that a company should only repurchase its stock if it's trading at a material discount to its intrinsic value. Berkshire's Class B shares have more than doubled since the start of 2021 to trade at a substantial 60% premium to book value.

Following his own guidance, Buffett has pulled back on share repurchases as the stock price has climbed. Berkshire bought back more than $20 billion of its own stock in both 2020 and 2021, then less than $10 billion worth in 2022 and 2023.

It repurchased $2.6 billion of stock in the first quarter of last year, then only $300 million worth in the second quarter. It ceased repurchases altogether in the third and fourth quarters.

The message to investors is that Buffett has stopped viewing Berkshire stock as undervalued, and no longer believes it's worth repurchasing.

Berkshire paid $26.8 billion in corporate income tax to the IRS in 2024, Buffett revealed on Saturday.

The 94-year-old CEO wrote that was the largest amount ever paid by any US company ever, and made up about 5% of all the federal income tax paid by American companies last year.

Berkshire's income tax payments totaled $28.5 billion last year, more than triple the $7.8 billion it paid 2023. The sharp increase largely reflects its stock sales last year, as the company realized taxable gains on holdings such as Apple.

• Microsoft's stock slipped Monday after an analyst note said it was canceling some US data center leases.
• The TD Cowen analysts said the pullback may indicate Microsoft is in a "potential oversupply position."
• Microsoft told BI it "may strategically pace or adjust our infrastructure in some areas" and will "continue to grow strongly."

Microsoft's stock slid slightly on Monday morning after an analyst note said that the company has canceled leases for some of its US data centers, suggesting AI demand might be lower than the company expected.

In a Friday note that generated discussion online over the weekend, analysts at TD Cowen published takeaways from their recent channel checks, which often seek out information from a company's supply chain and distribution channels.

"Our channel checks indicate that MSFT has 1) cancelled leases in the US totaling 'a couple of hundred MWs' with at least two private data center operators, 2) has pulled back on the conversion of SOQ's to leases, and 3) has re-allocated a considerable portion of its international spend to the US," the analyst note said, referring to megawatts and statements of qualifications, which often precede lease signings and which data center operators frequently take as a green light on data center construction.

"When coupled with our prior channel checks, it points to a potential oversupply position for MSFT," the analysts wrote. In some cases, Microsoft is "using facility/power delays as a justification for the termination," they added.

The analysts said it was unclear if the conversion of SOQs to leases was simply delayed or if they were outright terminated. Lastly, the analysts said the reallocated international spending suggests "a material slowdown in international leasing."

Taken together, their observations at the moment suggest to the analysts that Microsoft "may have excess data center capacity relative to its new forecast."

Microsoft's stock was down around 2% in Monday morning trading.

In another note published Monday, the TD Cowen analysts said they believe Microsoft's actions are "related to a shift in incremental OpenAI workloads to Oracle/Softbank as we have seen a material ramp in Oracle requirements in the last three months, at a scale we have not seen from Oracle prior."

President Trump last month announced Stargate, a new joint venture between OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank expected to invest up to $500 billion in AI infrastructure in the US.

In their Monday note, the analysts concluded, "Microsoft is still active to a degree, although it appears their run-rate data center demand is now lower vs. the torrid pace of leasing seen in 2023 and 1H24, during which time they led the data center leasing league tables amongst hyperscalers."

Microsoft said in Q2 earnings that AI demand is so high that the challenge is having enough data centers. The company plans to spend $80 billion on AI data centers in this fiscal year.

A Microsoft spokesperson told BI this spending "remains on track as we continue to grow at a record pace to meet customer demand."

"Thanks to the significant investments we have made up to this point, we are well positioned to meet our current and increasing customer demand," the spokesperson said. "Last year alone, we added more capacity than any prior year in history. While we may strategically pace or adjust our infrastructure in some areas, we will continue to grow strongly in all regions. This allows us to invest and allocate resources to growth areas for our future."

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has previously said that he thinks global productivity and GDP growth are better metrics of AI progress and success than chasing an arbitrary definition of artificial general intelligence, or AGI.

"Us self-claiming some AGI milestone, that's just nonsensical benchmark hacking to me," he said said on an episode of the "Dwarkesh Podcast" that aired earlier this month. "The real benchmark is, is the world growing at 10%?"

Nadella also said that "at some point, the supply and demand have to map" when it comes to AI.

"The classic supply side is, 'Hey, let me build it and they'll come.' I mean, that's an argument, and after all, we've done that, we've taken enough risk to go do it," he said.

However, "you can go off the rails completely when you are hyping yourself with the supply-side, versus really understanding how to translate that into real value to customers," Nadella added.

Though Microsoft has already had its earnings call this quarter, Wall Street will be watching Nvidia's earnings release on Wednesday for any signs of softening AI spending.

• Fyre Festival 2 is a go, according to the original event's founder Billy McFarland.
• The original Fyre Festival was a disaster, resulting in McFarland serving several years in prison for financial crimes.
• The new festival is set to happen in Isla Mujeres from May 30 to June 2.

It's been eight years since the disastrous Fyre Festival, but founder Billy McFarland insists that a second attempt is still in the works, though details are scant.

"FYRE 2 is real. My dream is finally becoming a reality," McFarland told NBC's "Today" show in an interview that aired on Monday.

The original Fyre Festival took place on the island of Great Exuma in the Bahamas. "Took place" is loose parlance — sure, people arrived in the Bahamas for a music festival. But they were famously greeted with catastrophe: The promised "luxury lodging" was actually tents, "gourmet food" was haphazard cheese sandwiches, and the artists set to perform simply weren't there.

The infamous event was chronicled in two dueling documentaries: Netflix's "FYRE: The Greatest Party That Never Happened" and Hulu's "Fyre Fraud." McFarland himself was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud charges tied to the festival. He was released in March 2022 after serving less than four years.

McFarland first announced his intent to engineer a second Fyre Festival in an April 2023 post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Then in August, McFarland announced in a video uploaded to his personal YouTube channel that tickets were on sale despite no details about what the event would entail. McFarland claimed his first batch of 100 tickets sold out.

More than a year after McFarland's initial announcement, plenty of questions still remain about the festival and the founder still has limited answers.

Here's everything we know about Fyre Festival 2.

Why is Billy McFarland organizing another Fyre Festival?

After the disastrous results of the original festival, McFarland seems determined to redeem himself.

"FYRE 2 really isn't about the past, and it's not really about me. It's about taking the vision, which is strong," McFarland told the "Today" show.

McFarland spent time in solitary confinement in 2020 and 2021 after participating in an interview on the podcast "Dumpster Fyre," his attorney told Business Insider. It was there, McFarland said, that he dreamed up his new venture.

"It really all started during this seven-month stint in solitary confinement," he said in the Fyre Festival 2 announcement video. "I wrote out this 50-page plan of how I would take this overall interest and demand in Fyre, and how I would take my ability to bring people from around the world together to make the impossible happen, but how I would find the best partners in the world to allow me to be me while executing Fyre's vision to the highest level."

McFarland also said in an April 2023 X post, after announcing Fyre Festival 2, that it was "in the best interest" of the people to whom he owes money for him to continue working.

McFarland was released from federal prison in March 2022 and transferred into "community confinement" in New York. Entertainment Weekly reported that he's since been on supervised release.

When and where is Fyre Festival 2?

Fyre Festival 2 will take place in Isla Mujeres, Mexico from May 30 to June 2.

It's not surprising that the festival won't take place in the Bahamas again. The country's Ministry of Tourism previously told CBS News in a statement that the "government of The Bahamas will not endorse or approve any event associated with" McFarland, saying that he's "considered to be a fugitive" in the nation.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, conducted in June 2024 and published in September 2024, McFarland said that his festival partners would be scouting locations in Honduras, Belize, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica, and Panama. The Journal reported that discussions about the festival taking place in Honduras have been ongoing since February, Coral View Beach Resort owner Heath Miller said.

This time around, McFarland will be working with a production company that bought a 51% stake in Fyre Media, a talent management company, and a US festival operator. An Instagram post shared by McFarland on Monday revealed that the three-day festival will be produced by live event producer Lostnights. The partners SoldOut and FriendlySky will handle ticketing and hospitality packages for the guests.

McFarland will be more hands-on with the festival's marketing and promotional events.

"I'm sure many people think I'm crazy for doing this again. But I feel I'd be crazy not to do it again," McFarland said in a statement included in his Instagram post. "After years of reflection and now thoughtful planning, the new team and I have amazing plans for FYRE 2. The adventure seekers who trust the vision and take the leap will help make history. Thank you to my partners for the second chance."

How to get Fyre Festival 2 tickets

People interested in attending the festival should be prepared to shell out a hefty amount of money, even for the cheapest tickets. On Monday, McFarland announced that 2,000 tickets ranging from $1,400 for general access to $1.1 million for the highest tier were now on sale.

When the first batch of tickets was released in 2023, the festival website and McFarland himself said that tickets had already sold out — but it's difficult to verify that claim. At least a couple of people seem to have genuinely bought tickets, though: The Washington Post and CBS News both spoke to Victoria Medvedenko, who purchased tickets for her and her boyfriend at $549.89 each.

Medvedenko, a 20-year-old nursing student, told the Washington Post she wasn't very concerned about how the festival might turn out. "I'm sure I'll get my money back so I don't really see it as much of a loss either way."

Her boyfriend, Cooper Sinkiawic, told CBS News the couple's biggest worry was whether major acts would be willing to sign on to the festival. While they're "optimistic," he said, they're not ruling out the possibility of "some cheese sandwiches."

McFarland announced in a since-deleted statement on his Instagram in August 2023 that all revenue from ticket sales would be held in escrow until the announcement of the final date — meaning that a third party will hold them until that condition is satisfied. In his interview with the Journal, McFarland reiterated that the money from the aforementioned sales remains in escrow.

In a statement provided to Business Insider on February 24, 2025, Fyre 2's head of sales said, "We've already sold over $1,500,000 of tickets."

Who's on the lineup for Fyre Festival 2?

There isn't one yet. So, again: TBD!

"We're going to have artists across electronic, hip hop, pop, and rock," McFarland told the "Today" show. "However, it's not just music. We might have a professional skateboarder do a demonstration. We might have an MMA champion teach you techniques in the morning."

McFarland skirted around follow-up questions regarding the lineup before saying that the festival still hasn't secured any artists yet but he's hopeful.

His Instagram post said that there would be "international and emerging talent, taking guests on boundary-pushing excursions by day and uniting for intimate beach-side performances by night."

As for other events, McFarland said in his previous announcement video that he was working with "one of the biggest and best TV companies in the world" to produce yet another documentary titled "After the Fyre." He also said he was working with "one of the biggest production companies" on a deal to produce "Fyre Festival: The Broadway Musical," which is admittedly much more intriguing than the prospect of another Fyre Festival itself.

McFarland said there will also be pop-ups and events "around the world" in the lead-up to the festival — at least four, per the festival site.

Only time will tell if everything manifests — and McFarland knows his reputation for follow-through isn't the best.

"I think it's always a risk," he told the "Today" show. "You're taking a risk because I made a lot of bad decisions and messed up the first festival. Until it's experienced, there is a risk component to it."

Palmer Haasch contributed to an earlier version of this story.

• Polynesia is a popular honeymoon destination, but I traveled there solo and had a wonderful time.
• I rented my own scooter and stayed in guesthouses, a different experience than most honeymooners.
• Although the islands can be luxurious, I had the most unique experiences off the beaten path.

I know several people who honeymooned on the French Polynesia islands, and their photos looked marvelous.

The islands seem great for couples — US News even named two of them (Bora Bora and Tahiti) as some of the best spots for newlyweds in 2025.

However, I wanted to see if Polynesia is also a worthwhile destination for a solo trip.

Here's how I spent a week island-hopping around Polynesia all by myself.

I started my Polynesian getaway in Tahiti

To kick off my trip, I flew Air Tahiti Nui to the largest island in French Polynesia, Tahiti.

I landed early in the morning, and my room at Te Moana Tahiti Resort wasn't ready yet.

So, I started exploring the area right away. There were yellow mopeds in front of the hotel that I could rent by downloading an app on my phone.

I named my scooter Lemondrop and spent the entire day with her.

The first stop was grabbing a bite to eat at Snack De Mairipehe — which ended up being one of the best meals I've ever had.

It was my first time trying poisson cru, a delicious dish that consists of raw fish marinated in citrus juice and coconut milk alongside cucumbers, tomatoes, and avocados.

Some local recommendations filled out the rest of my day

At the restaurant, a local told me about Tahiti Iti, a reef break that offers some of the best surfing in the Pacific Ocean. Of course, I had to see for myself.

I rode over, and when I arrived, I saw some people about to leave the shore on a small boat. I asked if I could join, paid a small fee, and found myself on a 30-minute tour to the break to see the surfers up close.

It was one of the coolest travel experiences I've ever had.

I also stopped to see the Arahoho Blowhole and the Plage Ahonu black-sand beach before heading back to my hotel.

There were surprises around every corner in Tahiti

The next day, I strolled through the island's popular Marche de Papeete market, where I sampled several local foods.

I also took a wrong turn and ended up on a neighborhood street closed off for an outdoor game of bingo. The locals encouraged me to join, and I won on my first try.

The unplanned moment remains one of my favorite memories from the trip — it gave me a warm glimpse into the local culture.

Next, I made my way to Raiatea

The next leg of my trip was on Raiatea, which was only a 45-minute flight away. It's considered a sacred island in Polynesian spirituality and home to the Marae Taputapuātea UNESCO World Heritage Site.

I stayed in a mother-daughter-run bed and breakfast called Niu Shack. My room was in a hut in the jungle, and the mother cooked all my meals with fresh fruits from her extensive garden.

Beyond the stunning accommodations, the highlight was trying my hand at sailing on a double-hulled Holopuni canoe.

I was excited to explore the Marquesas Islands

Next, I visited one of the most remote archipelagos in the world, the Marquesas Islands.

I had to get back to Tahiti, and then it was a three-hour flight to Nuka Hiva, the largest of the islands.

I loved staying with a local family in Pension Tokaeva guesthouse. It was fascinating to slow down and converse with the family — thank you, Google Translate — and learn more about their lives and culture.

My last stop was Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands

For the final leg of my journey, I flew to Hiva Oa, the second largest of the Marquesas Islands. I rented a car — which was an interesting adventure itself — and visited the Paul Gauguin Cultural Center to learn more about the French artist.

The most memorable part of my time on the island, however, was traversing the lush, mountainous cliffside in search of local tiki makers.

I ended up purchasing two tikis, one stone and one wooden, from two different villages an hour away from each other.

I loved my trip, and I didn't feel out of place as a solo traveler

I was worried the Polynesian islands would be full of loved-up newlyweds — and that many of the local attractions would be catered to them. Luckily, that wasn't my experience.

I had a fabulous time exploring a few of the islands by myself and was able to connect with locals along the way.

I could see why someone would want to celebrate love in a place like Tahiti, but I'd be excited to come back with or without a partner.

• Only three women in Oscars history have won best director.
• "The Woman King" and "Till," both directed by women of color, were not nominated in 2023.
• Director Greta Gerwig was snubbed in 2020 for "Little Women" and again for "Barbie" in 2024.

In the 97-year history of the Academy Awards, only nine women have ever been nominated for best director, and only three have won.

In 2024, director Justine Triet was nominated for "Anatomy of a Fall," but many were angered that Greta Gerwig was not nominated for "Barbie," which got a best picture nod.

This year, French filmmaker Coralie Fargeat became the ninth woman ever nominated in the best director category for "The Substance."

Here are 24 times the Oscars snubbed female directors.

In 1977 — 48 years after the Oscars began — Lina Wertmuller became the first woman nominated for best director, but she did not win.

Wertmuller directed "Seven Beauties." The film was also nominated for best foreign language film, best screenplay, and best actor for Giancarlo Giannini, although it did not win in any category.

It would be almost 20 years before another woman was nominated for best director: Jane Campion for "The Piano" at the 1994 awards.

Randa Haines directed "Children of a Lesser God" in 1986. It was nominated for five Oscars, including best picture, but not best director.

"Children of a Lesser God" was nominated for best adapted screenplay, best supporting actress, best actor, best actress, and best picture. Marlee Matlin won the best supporting actress award at age 21, making her the youngest and first deaf person to win an Academy Award. Haines' role as director, however, was ignored.

Barbra Streisand told Variety that sexism had prevented her films from winning Oscars, saying, "They don't want to see a woman director."

Streisand made her directorial debut with "Yentl" in 1983. It was nominated for five Oscars and won two, but she was snubbed for best director. She did, however, become the first woman to win a Golden Globe for best director. She remained the only female winner until Chloé Zhao won in 2021 and Jane Campion in 2022.

Streisand told Variety it took her years to want to direct again after the snub. In 1991, she directed "The Prince of Tides," which garnered seven Oscar nominations including best picture. Yet again, Streisand's work as a director was not nominated for an award.

"Awakenings" received three Oscar nominations in 1991, but director Penny Marshall was not one of them.

The film was released in December 1990 to critical acclaim — Roger Ebert wrote that Marshall directed the movie "with intelligence and heart."

It was nominated for best adapted screenplay and best picture, and Robert De Niro was nominated for best actor. Marshall's work as director was not recognized by the Academy.

Jane Campion directed "The Piano" in 1993 and was nominated for best director, but she didn't win.

"The Piano" was nominated for eight Oscars and won three: best screenplay, best supporting actress for Anna Paquin, and best actress for Holly Hunter.

Sofia Coppola won the Oscar for best screenplay for "Lost in Translation," but she lost best director to Peter Jackson.

In addition to best screenplay and best director, "Lost in Translation" was nominated for best picture, and Bill Murray for best actor.

Valerie Faris and her husband, Jonathan Dayton, directed the critically acclaimed "Little Miss Sunshine" in 2006, but they weren't nominated for best director.

"Little Miss Sunshine" won two Oscars: best original screenplay and Alan Arkin for best supporting actor. Abigail Breslin also made history with her nomination for best supporting actress at 10 years old, making her one of the youngest actors ever to be nominated for an Academy Award. However, directors Faris and Dayton weren't nominated.

"The Kids Are All Right" was nominated for four Oscars in 2011, but they didn't include a best director nod for Lisa Cholodenko.

"The Kids Are All Right" was nominated for best original screenplay, best picture, best actress for Annette Bening, and best supporting actor for Mark Ruffalo. The film's other star Julianne Moore was also snubbed.

"Yeah, there were no women in the directing category," producer Celine Rattray told "Today" at the time. "It's interesting because I think the Academy often rewards flashy directing styles like Danny Boyle in '127 Hours.'"

That same year, Debra Granik's directing work on "Winter's Bone" was overlooked by the Academy.

"Winter's Bone" starred Jennifer Lawrence and John Hawkes, both of whom received nominations. It was also nominated for best adapted screenplay and best picture. 

Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to ever win best director, but she was snubbed in 2013 after she directed "Zero Dark Thirty."

Just three years after her historic best director win for "The Hurt Locker" in 2010, Bigelow wasn't nominated for "Zero Dark Thirty," even though the film received five Oscar nominations including best picture.

Ava DuVernay could have been the first Black woman nominated for best director for "Selma" in 2015, but the Academy didn't include her.

"Selma" was nominated for best picture and won the Oscar for best original song, but DuVernay told Entertainment Weekly in 2015 that she wasn't surprised by the directing snub.

"It would be lovely," she said. "When it happens to whomever it happens to, it will certainly have meaning. This is not me being humble, either. It's math."

Years later, "Selma" actor David Oyelowo also spoke about the Academy's response to the film.

"I remember at the premiere of 'Selma' us wearing 'I Can't Breathe' T-shirts in protest," he said at a 2020 Screen Talks live Q&A. "Members of the Academy called in to the studio and our producers saying, 'How dare they do that?' ... and 'We are not going to vote for that film because we do not think it is their place to be doing that.' It's part of why that film didn't get everything that people think it should've got and it birthed #OscarsSoWhite. They used their privilege to deny a film on the basis of what they valued in the world."

The Academy responded on X, formerly known as Twitter: "Ava & David, we hear you. Unacceptable. We're committed to progress."

The critically acclaimed "Wonder Woman," directed by Patty Jenkins, was not nominated for a single Oscar.

Superhero movies don't usually win Oscars, but there have been exceptions such as "Black Panther" (three Oscars) and "The Dark Knight" (two Oscars). "Wonder Woman" was considered a critically acclaimed contender in 2017, but it was not recognized by the Academy.

The following year, Jenkins spoke to Vulture after other female directors were snubbed.

"The Academy is working on this, but the real issue to me is that at the end of the day, no matter what movie you make and no matter how much money it makes, and no matter how diverse the audience is, the voting academy is still very, very limited. Still," she said.

"Harriet" was nominated for two Oscars in 2020, but director Kasi Lemmons didn't receive one.

Cynthia Erivo was nominated for best actress for her portrayal of Harriet Tubman, and the song "Stand Up" was nominated for best original song.

That year, Natalie Portman wore a black Dior cape embroidered with the names of female directors whose work had been snubbed by the Academy, with Lemmons' name among them.

"I wanted to recognize the women who were not recognized for their incredible work this year, in my subtle way," Portman told the Los Angeles Times.

"Queen and Slim," directed by Melina Matsoukas, was not nominated for any Academy Awards in 2020.

The Director's Guild of America nominated Matsoukas for outstanding directorial achievement in first-time feature film. But at the 2020 Oscars, the best director category was all male, prompting Issa Rae to introduce the nominees by saying, "Congratulations to those men."

In 2020, Greta Gerwig was nominated for best adapted screenplay for "Little Women," but not for best director.

"Little Women" received seven Oscar nominations, including best picture, best actress, and best supporting actress, and won for best costume design. Many believed that Gerwig was robbed.

"To nominate Greta for best picture and best screenplay and best actresses but not best director just truly speaks to the way we don't view women as auteurs no matter how much they clearly ARE," Decider's senior film reporter, Anna Menta, wrote on X.

Marielle Heller wasn't nominated for best director for "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" or "Can You Ever Forgive Me?"

Tom Hanks received an Oscar nod for best actor for his portrayal of Mr. Rogers (he lost to Joaquin Phoenix) in "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" in 2020, but Heller's directing work did not receive a nomination.

It was the second snub in a row for Heller. The year prior, her movie, "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" earned Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant Golden Globe and Oscar nominations, but Heller was not nominated.

"This was an incredible year for women filmmakers," Heller said in 2019, W magazine reported. "A lot of us made really worthy movies."

She added, "But that was our undoing. There were too many of us, and the world doesn't know how to handle more than one good female director at a time."

"The Farewell," directed by Lulu Wang, was not nominated for any Oscars, despite rave reviews.

While the 2019 film was snubbed at the Oscars, "The Farewell" was nominated for a Golden Globe for best picture, and Awkafina won the award for best actress.

Alma Har'el won the first-time feature film award from the Directors Guild Of America for "Honey Boy" in 2020, but she wasn't nominated for any Oscars.

"Honey Boy" garnered Oscar buzz and critical acclaim, but ultimately was not nominated for any Academy Awards.

"The Woman King," directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, did not receive any nominations for the 2023 Academy Awards.

Despite rave reviews and box-office success, "The Woman King" starring Viola Davis was not nominated for any Oscars.

In an as-told-to piece for The Hollywood Reporter, Prince-Bythewood wrote that "the Academy made a very loud statement, and for me to stay quiet is to accept that statement."

"'The Woman King' wasn't snubbed," she wrote. "A snub is if it missed out on a category or two. The film was not nominated for one single craft. Not one single extraordinary performance was recognized. And when has that happened for a successful film that hit all the so-called markers? It's not a snub. It's a reflection of where the Academy stands and the consistent chasm between Black excellence and recognition. And, sadly, this is not just an issue in Hollywood but in every industry."

The 2022 film "Till," directed by Chinonye Chukwu, also did not receive any Oscar nominations.

"Till" tells the story of Mamie Till-Bradley, the mother of 14-year-old Emmett Till, who was tortured and murdered after a white woman falsely claimed he groped her in 1955.

Chukwu appeared to allude to being shut out of the Oscars in an Instagram post on the day that the nominations were announced.

"We live in a world and work in industries that are so aggressively committed to upholding whiteness and perpetuating an unabashed misogyny towards Black women," she wrote. "And yet. I am forever in gratitude for the greatest lesson of my life — regardless of any challenges or obstacles, I will always have the power to cultivate my own joy, and it is this joy that will continue to be one of my greatest forms of resistance."

She also shared Prince-Bythewood's article in The Hollywood Reporter in a since-deleted Instagram post, writing, "Every single word of this brilliant piece should be required reading for everyone."

"Women Talking" was nominated for best picture and best adapted screenplay, but director Sarah Polley was not nominated for best director.

Polley told Vogue that while she was happy that "Women Talking" received two nominations, the "lack of acknowledgement" of Black female directors was "a hard thing to swallow."

"I'm thrilled for our team and so proud, but that has to live alongside the fact that some of the best films of the year were made by Black female filmmakers and they weren't honored," she said.

Polley also mentioned the lack of representation for female directors on the red carpet of the Golden Globes in an interview with IndieWire.

"On my mind tonight, specifically, are the incredible female filmmakers who weren't represented here tonight," she said. "So the filmmakers of 'Till' and 'The Woman King' and 'Aftersun,' the list goes on and on. So for me, I think that's top of mind for me tonight, just the incredible work done by female filmmakers this year."

Paul Mescal was nominated for best actor for "Aftersun," but the film's director, Charlotte Wells, was not nominated.

"Aftersun" marked Wells' first time directing and writing a feature film. Paul Mescal plays Calum, a father navigating parenthood and depression as he takes his daughter Sophie (Frankie Corio) on vacation to Turkey.

"It's very much fiction, but rooted in experience and memory," Wells told AnOther magazine. "It's personal in that the feeling is mine and I allowed my own memories and anecdotes through all of childhood to form the kind of skeleton outline that I worked from to write the first draft. But after that point it did become very much about the story I was trying to tell, and that frequently required pushing it away from my own experience."

Maria Schrader's 2022 film adaptation of "She Said" chronicling The New York Times' investigation into Harvey Weinstein did not receive any Oscar nominations.

"I hope the movie inspires people and fuels the conversation that has been going on for quite some time now," Schrader told Shondaland. "Something started after this article went public. This is probably not going to stop." 

Gerwig was snubbed again in 2024 when she was not nominated for best director for "Barbie."

Despite the film receiving eight Academy Award nominations, Gerwig's work as director was not nominated. Neither was Margot Robbie's leading performance.

In an interview for Time's 2024 Women of the Year, Gerwig said that she still considered herself nominated because "Barbie" was up for best picture.

Gerwig said, "A friend's mom said to me, 'I can't believe you didn't get nominated. I said, 'But I did. I got an Oscar nomination.' She was like, 'Oh, that's wonderful for you!' I was like, 'I know!'"

• Veronica Cardenas is the daughter of two immigrants from South America.
• She worked as a prosecutor for Immigration and Customs Enforcement but eventually quit.
• Her private practice allows her to bring together her family history and professional expertise.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Veronica Cardenas, the founder of Humanigration. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I grew up feeling pressure to succeed so that everything my parents went through would be worth it.

My dad is an immigrant from Peru. He came to the US with legal status when he was 17, after a seven-year wait for a family visa.

Soon after, he met my mom. She was from Colombia and had crossed the southern border without documentation. She had been detained and was facing deportation. They married quickly, in part to give my mother legal standing in the country. They're still together 41 years later.

My mom faced a lot of hardships in Colombia that she has only started talking about recently. As a child, I only knew that she put her dreams aside to raise her four children, and she felt some resentment about that. Knowing that motivated me to work extra hard with the opportunities I had that my mom never did.

I felt torn between 2 identities

Although I was born a US citizen, I always felt like I was stuck between two worlds. I never felt fully Latina or fully American.

Despite that, I was driven. I became the first in my family to attend college and later law school. Being a lawyer felt prestigious, and as a minority, I found the law very important because it defined my rights and boundaries.

I aced my classes on immigration law, but I wanted to practice anything but that. My whole life story had been tied to immigration. Still, I applied for an internship with the Department of Homeland Security when a friend encouraged me to. After graduating and passing the bar, I became a trial attorney for the government, prosecuting immigration cases.

The job seemed to shift within a few years

At the time, I was working in New York City, litigating many asylum hearings. As the government counsel, I argued against asylum seekers. Most of the cases I prosecuted were granted asylum, so I didn't feel the sting of being responsible for someone's deportation.

I moved into a two-year role with investigations related to major crimes. Trying people responsible for sex trafficking and other serious crimes was rewarding. My team often helped the victims of trafficking get legal status or reunite with their families.

After that, I returned to court in New York City, but the job felt very different. There were lots of people stopped at the border and minors in court by themselves. I'm a professional who worked very hard to become good at my job. I wasn't going to throw the book at a minor who was undefended.

I needed a stable job, but I eventually resigned

I was going through a difficult divorce and providing for my two children. The pay and security of a government job were appealing. But I began to feel more tension with my work. I realized I never talked about it with my family.

Ultimately, I felt like I had to resign. I believe we can enforce immigration laws humanely without people risking their lives or their children. But I no longer saw that happening in the courtroom. I stepped down in 2023.

Today I work in a private practice

I started a private practice defending people facing immigration removal. I realized how fraught immigration was. When I was working for the government, it was easy to believe that I was a wall defending the country from potentially dangerous immigrants. Suddenly I was hearing from client after client about the way the immigration system mistreated them. I still believe we need immigration laws, but they need to be enforced with fairness and justice.

In addition to my private practice, I started Humanigration, an organization that educates immigration lawyers about the rights of noncitizens. I also hold community events to educate noncitizens about their rights.

At the end of the day, everyone in this country is an immigrant. We shouldn't forget this. Today, my parents and immediate family are all citizens. I now have three kids, and I tell them about their family's immigration story with pride.

• OPM sent an email to federal workers over the weekend asking them to list their accomplishments.
• The Social Security Administration told workers to treat it as an opportunity to highlight their work.
• The Department of Defense, on the other hand, told their workers not to respond to the email.

One federal agency's advice to workers who received Elon Musk's email on productivity: treat it like an opportunity to highlight your accomplishments.

After the Office of Personnel Management sent an email to all federal employees over the weekend requesting five bullet points on what they accomplished at work over the past week, the Social Security Administration told all agency employees that the email "is a legitimate assignment and should not be reported as spam."

"You must take the action requested by the deadline," SSA's human resources department told employees in an email, reviewed by Business Insider.

It added: "Review your work over the last week and identify the most impactful mission-critical work accomplishments" that advance the agency's public service goals and the administration's priorities.

"This is an opportunity to highlight the important work you do that helps impact the lives of those we serve," it said.

An SSA employee who received the email told BI that management told workers to respond to the email as advised, and that the agency's management will have a meeting this afternoon to get more information on the next steps.

SSA did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.

The email comes after federal agencies terminated thousands of their workers over the past week, in line with President Donald Trump and Musk's goal to reduce waste and slash the government workforce. Dozens of workers — including those who voted for Trump — told BI that they were upset that the administration is targeting the federal workforce. Some fired workers were told cuts were targeting low performers, upping the stakes on Musk's latest ask.

Some other federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, have instructed their employees not to respond to OPM's email.

"The Department of Defense is responsible for reviewing the performance of its personnel and it will conduct any review in accordance with its own procedures," the agency posted on X.

The email sparked mass confusion across federal agencies, leaving many workers frustrated to have received the email on a Saturday with minimal guidance on how to respond. One federal worker told BI that the email was "pure harassment;" another worker said that they did not plan to respond to the email.

"It's absolutely crazy to be treated like this by a president," the worker said.

Musk also posted on X that failure to respond to the email would be treated as a resignation. The email sent to workers did not include that claim, and Musk later posted on X on Monday morning that it "was basically a check to see if the employee had a pulse and was capable of replying to an email. This mess will get sorted out this week."

The OPM gave employees Monday at 11:59 p.m. EST as the deadline to respond to the email. The National Treasury Employees Union told its members that those who have not received guidance from their agency should wait to respond; those who have received guidance should follow it, whether that means responding or not responding to the email.

"This situation remains very fluid, and we are actively seeking out clearer information to pass along," the union said. "It is incredibly unfortunate that you were required to complete this wholly unnecessary request."

Are you a federal worker? Got a tip? Contact this reporter securely on Signal at the username asheffey.97 or email her at [email protected].

• The agency responsible for regulating vehicle safety has cut 4% of its workforce.
• The NHTSA has multiple investigations into Tesla including two about its self-driving tech.
• The firings come as Elon Musk's DOGE makes sweeping cuts across the federal government.

The agency responsible for regulating vehicle safety and is investigating Tesla has cut staff as Elon Musk's DOGE continues to make sweeping changes to the federal workforce.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration fired 4% of its workers on February 14, an individual with knowledge of the cuts told Business Insider.

The agency, which is responsible for ensuring vehicle safety in the US, has three active investigations into Tesla.

These include an investigation into Tesla's Actually Smart Summon (ASS) feature, which allows drivers to fetch their cars remotely using their smartphone, and investigations into the Full-Self Driving and Autopilot technology.

Cuts to the NHTSA, which is part of the Department of Transportation, come as the Trump administration continues efforts to slash the federal workforce, with Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency leading the charge.

The new administration fired thousands of probationary federal employees, who have typically been in their roles for less than two years, across multiple agencies on February 13.

Musk's DOGE, meanwhile, has made broad cuts across multiple departments as it seeks to eliminate what it says is government waste.

On Saturday, Musk sent out an email to federal employees asking them to list what work they accomplished in the past week, with the Tesla CEO posting on X that failure to respond would be taken as a resignation.

It is not clear whether the NHTSA layoffs affected teams specifically involved in regulating Tesla. A review of LinkedIn profiles by BI suggests that some of the federal workers let go by the NHTSA had been in their roles for less than a year.

An NHTSA spokesperson told BI that despite the job cuts, the agency remained larger than it was at the start of Joe Biden's presidency and had grown 30% during his administration.

"We have retained positions critical to the mission of saving lives, preventing injuries, and reducing economic costs due to road traffic crashes. We will continue to enforce the law on all manufacturers of motor vehicles and equipment," the spokesperson said.

NHTSA is responsible for overseeing vehicle recalls for automakers.

It issued 932 safety recalls, affecting almost 31 million vehicles in 2022 per the agency's website. Over the past year, Tesla has issued multiple recalls for its Cybertruck, Model Y, and Model 3 vehicles.

The NHTSA, which has between 500 and 1,000 employees according to its LinkedIn page, also sets rules on autonomous vehicles and robotaxis.

The Washington Post reported that the small team overseeing self-driving vehicles within NHTSA has been cut in half as a result of the layoffs. The agency declined to comment to the outlet about that point.

Tesla is set to enter the robotaxi market this year. Musk told investors that the EV maker plans to launch an autonomous ride-hailing vehicle service in Austin in June.

Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Do you work at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and have information to share? Contact this reporter at [email protected] or tcarter.41 on Signal.

• The 96th Academy Awards are on Sunday, March 2.
• Some of the recipients of the most Oscars in history never set foot in front of the camera.
• Walt Disney holds the record for the most wins, taking home 22 from 59 nominations.

When you think of Oscar winners, your mind might go to some of the biggest names in Hollywood, like Meryl Streep, Denzel Washington, or Viola Davis.

But some of the winningest individuals in Oscars history actually made their impacts behind the scenes, bringing dinosaurs to life in "Jurassic Park," composing songs for "The Little Mermaid," and doing makeup for "Men in Black."

Edith Head, an eight-time Oscar winner — and the most awarded woman in Oscars history — famously said, "What a costume designer does is a cross between magic and camouflage. We create the illusion of changing the actors into what they are not. We ask the public to believe that every time they see a performer on the screen he's become a different person."

From costume designers like Head, to composers, sound engineers, and set designers, these individuals helped create the magic needed for movies to thrive.

As excitement builds for this year's nominees, get to know the achievements and contributions of the 12 people with the most competitive Academy Awards in history.

Gordon Hollingshead — 7 Oscars

Gordon Hollingshead — whose movie career spanned from 1916 to his death in 1952 — won his first competitive Oscar for best assistant director in 1933, a category that would only exist through 1937.

He also won three best short subject (two-reel) awards, two best short subject (one-reel) awards, and one best documentary (short subject) award.

These categories have also been redefined since his victories in the 1940s and 1950s; they are now known as the awards for best live action short film and best documentary short film.

Fred Quimby — 7 Oscars

"Tom and Jerry" producer Fred Quimby received his first Oscar nomination and trophy in 1944 for best short subject (cartoon) for "Yankee Doodle Mouse."

His other six wins would all come from the same category, which is now called best animated short film.

Gary Rydstrom — 7 Oscars

Director and sound designer Gary Rydstrom was awarded best sound and best sound effects editing for "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," "Jurassic Park," and "Saving Private Ryan."

He also has a best sound award for "Titanic," bringing his total award count to seven.

Richard Day — 7 Oscars

Richard Day won seven awards for best art direction (now known as best production design), beginning in 1936 with "The Dark Angel" and concluding in 1954 with "On the Waterfront."

Rick Baker — 7 Oscars

Described by the Oscars as a "lifelong 'monster kid,'" makeup artist Rick Baker has made significant contributions to the world of movie makeup across genres, winning seven Academy Awards throughout his career.

In 1981, Baker received his first nomination and win for best makeup for "An American Werewolf in London."

In the '90s, he had multiple wins with "Ed Wood" (1995), "The Nutty Professor" (1997), and "Men in Black" (1998).

Another memorable contribution includes transforming Jim Carrey into the Grinch for the 2000 movie "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

Edwin B. Willis — 8 Oscars

Working alongside esteemed art director Cedric Gibbons, set designer Edwin B. Willis won eight Oscars in 15 years for his contributions to set design within the art direction category.

His first win came in 1941 for his work in interior direction on "Blossoms in the Dust," and his final win came in 1956 for his work in Set Decoration on "Somebody Up There Likes Me."

Alan Menken — 8 Oscars

Disney fans can say a big thank you to composer Alan Menken, the mind behind the music in "The Little Mermaid," "Beauty and the Beast," "Aladdin," and "Pocahontas."

Menken won two Academy Awards for each of these films, winning in the scoring and original song categories.

Dennis Muren — 8 Oscars

Dennis Muren won eight Academy Awards for his contributions to visual effects on iconic films like "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" and "Jurassic Park."

Muren's work had a significant impact on popular films throughout the '80s and '90s, like "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial," "Innerspace," and "Terminator 2: Judgment Day."

In addition to his competitive Oscars, Muren also won a technical achievement award in 1981.

Edith Head — 8 Oscars

The beautiful costumes worn by Audrey Hepburn in the classics "Roman Holiday" and "Sabrina" came from eight-time Oscar-winner Edith Head.

Known for her "distinctive personal style" and "forthright personality," according to the Oscars website, Head built a career dressing some of the most famous movie stars of her time, like Elizabeth Taylor, Marlene Dietrich, Grace Kelly, and Steve McQueen. In all, she received 35 nominations and is the winningest woman in Oscars history.

Other winning films she designed costumes for include "The Heiress," "All About Eve," "Samson and Delilah," "A Place in the Sun," "The Facts of Life," and "The Sting."

Alfred Newman — 9 Oscars

Alfred Newman, who was known for films like "The King and I," won nine awards for his work as a composer.

He won his first Oscar in 1938 for scoring "Alexander's Ragtime Band" and his final Oscar in 1967 for "Camelot."

Cedric Gibbons — 11 Oscars

Cedric Gibbons won best art direction 11 times out of 38 nominations.

His first award came in 1930 at the second annual Academy Awards ceremony for "The Bridge of San Luis Rey." He won his final Oscar in 1957 for "Somebody Up There Likes Me"

Walt Disney — 22 Oscars

Walt Disney dominated the best short subject (cartoon) category (now awarded as best animated short film) throughout the 1930s with projects like "Flowers and Trees," "Ferdinand the Bull," and "The Ugly Duckling."

His films continued to win awards throughout his life, and he won his final competitive Oscar posthumously in 1969 for "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day," bringing his total to 22 awards from 59 nominations.

In addition to his competitive awards, Disney was also the recipient of four non-competitive special awards for the creation of Mickey Mouse, the significance of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" in animation, the use of sound in "Fantasia," and his work as a creative producer, for which he won the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award.

Mustafa Al-Bassam is a former member of Anonymous, the global hacktivist collective known for cyberattacks on governments, corporations, and security agencies. Al-Bassam also cofounded LulzSec, a splinter group that launched high-profile cyberattacks in 2011. He was one of the key figures behind its hacking of Sony Pictures, the CIA website, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and multiple international law enforcement agencies.

In this interview, Al-Bassam takes us inside the world of cyber warfare and digital activism, discussing the rise of Anonymous, hacking programs targeting governments, and the battle for online privacy. He offers insight into cybersecurity threats posed by intelligence agencies like the US National Security Agency and UK Government Communications Headquarters and discusses how global powers such as China and Russia use hacking as a geopolitical weapon.

Since leaving the hacktivist world, Al-Bassam has become a blockchain developer and an entrepreneur. He earned a doctoral degree in computer science and cofounded Celestia, a decentralized blockchain platform aimed at enhancing online security and privacy.

For more:
Twitter: @musalbas
Celestia: www.celestia.org

• Stacy Anderson, a scientist, has studied how centenarians live for over 20 years.
• She believes lifestyle factors such as diet play a big role in how long a person might live.
• She eats plenty of fruits and vegetables and gets eight hours of sleep each night.

A scientist who has studied centenarians for over 20 years shared four things she does to live a long, healthy life.

Stacy Andersen, a behavioral neuroscientist at Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, is the co-director of the New England Centenarian Study, which examines the lives of people over 100 who are in good health. She has traveled the country visiting centenarians in their homes, meeting their families, and often sitting down with them for breakfast to try to pinpoint why they have lived so long.

"We're not trying to get everyone to live to 100. We're trying to get everyone to live like a centenarian. So really, to have that extended healthspan," Andersen told Business Insider, using the term for how long a person is healthy.

Living to an extreme age, like 105 and over, is likely about 70% down to a person's genetics, Andersen said, but healthy habits appear to be the most important factor for living to our late 80s and early 90s.

There's no one recipe for longevity, Andersen said, but following "the good, healthy behaviors that we know about and that are well tested" is the best approach to healthy aging.

She shared the habits she's implemented into her life based on her research and meeting hundreds of centenarians.

1) Eat five different colors a day

Andersen tries to eat five different colors of fruits and vegetables every day to ensure she gets a range of nutrients. "You're getting a wider variety, and it just feels good to check that box each day," she said.

Prioritizing fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and lean meats is crucial for healthy aging, she said and pointed to the Mediterranean-style diet as an example.

Based on the eating patterns of people in countries like Italy, Greece, and Turkey, the Mediterranean Diet has been ranked the healthiest way to eat for eight years running by US News & World Report.

A large 2023 study found that people who ate a whole-food-rich diet, similar to the Mediterranean Diet, lived up to a decade longer than those who ate a typical Western diet.

2) Exercise daily and mix it up

Anderson aims to get some movement in every day. She mixes up her workouts, sometimes going on long hikes with her dog, and other times running on a treadmill.

A typical centenarian is active, Andersen said. Many live on their own into their 90s, they often drive for an average of 10 years longer than their peers, and work for five years longer, she said.

The most common workout the centenarians she has studied do is walking or stretching, but they also do a lot of informal exercise, such as housekeeping, gardening, and yard work.

The link between longevity and an active lifestyle is well-established. A 2023 study by researchers at the University of Cambridge found a link between exercising for 11 minutes a day and a lower risk of dying from chronic illnesses such as heart disease and cancer.

3) Get good-quality sleep

Andersen prioritizes consistently getting eight hours of high-quality sleep.

Current guidance on sleep tends to emphasize getting seven to nine hours, but some emerging science suggests sticking to a consistent sleep schedule could matter more.

Everyone is different and feeling refreshed when you wake up is more important than the number of hours you sleep, she said.

"It's kind of when you feel like you're waking up ready to start the day," Andersen added.

When we sleep, it's like a "power cleanse for our brain," she said. It helps remove the proteins that are thought to to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.

4) Challenge yourself to learn a new skill

Andersen has taken up sailing, which she said challenges her both cognitively and physically. "I tell everyone, 'Whatever you've always wanted to do that's new, go and do that!'" she said. Several centenarians she has met took up painting in their later years, for example.

Doing something that engages your brain and attention strengthens neural pathways and builds new ones, and is the number one thing we can do for brain health, she said. "Just doing crossword puzzles where you're retrieving information is probably not going to be that beneficial," she said.

A 2021 study published in the journal PLOS One by researchers at the University of Edinburgh, found that after just one week of intensive language learning, a group of 33 participants, aged between 18 and 78, had improved their ability to focus and switch between tasks. A control group of 34 participants who did an intensive course that didn't involve language learning also experienced cognitive benefits, but they weren't quite as significant, the authors said.

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

What did you do last week? Sorry to be so blunt, but federal workers are grappling with that question. DOGE sent an email this weekend asking government employees to list their recent accomplishments before midnight tonight. Many told BI they feel frustrated by the request. The Department of Defense, meanwhile, instructed staff not to respond.

In today's big story, getting an advanced degree was once viewed as the best path toward job security. Now, it's proving to be a liability on your résumé.

What's on deck

Markets: The takeaways from Warren Buffett's annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders.

Tech: A former big-time Elon Musk believer makes the case for why Tesla is in trouble this year.

Business: The Russian media oligarch pushing Putin to even further extremes.

But first, school's out forever.

If this was forwarded to you, sign up here.

The big story

Highly educated, highly unemployable

Their degrees were something for them to fall back on. Instead, they're in a free fall.

Job seekers with advanced degrees are having a much harder time finding work compared to their less-educated peers, writes Business Insider's Aki Ito.

These days, you're better off with just a high school diploma instead of a Ph.D. if you want to find work fast. People who didn't go to college can get work twice as quickly as those with advanced degrees.

(Let's be clear: Advanced-degree holders still largely rule the roost on compensation. But pay only matters once you have a job.)

Aki has previously written about the struggles of white-collar workers thanks to hiring reductions among tech and finance firms. Those are common landing spots for people with advanced degrees, which might be why extra education isn't paying off in the job hunt.

However, Aki's story explores whether the labor market's latest shift could signal a bigger change in the importance of education.

All of this is also happening at a time when colleges are facing a reckoning.

Some say you can't put a price on education, but universities have certainly tried. With the cost of a four-year degree at a private college easily surpassing $250,000, more and more young people are questioning the benefits of college, let alone grad school.

Another corner of the job market that was once a sure thing is also getting shaken up.

Government jobs, traditionally considered a stable paycheck with good benefits, have been upended by the Trump administration. (Just reread the intro to this newsletter if you need a recent example.)

Tens of thousands of employees took buyouts, and thousands of probationary workers were fired during the first month of the Department of Government Efficiency's cost-cutting efforts.It's still unclear the impact these job cuts will have on the wider labor market. But continuing to make wholesale changes to the largest employer in the US, which is known for its job security, will likely have some residual effect.

News brief

• Few prisoners claiming abuse have access to a jury trial. The Supreme Court could soon change that.
• Here's what management experts think about Elon Musk's DOGE emails.
• Nike is betting Kim Kardashian can be its next Michael Jordan.
• The big healthcare startup buyers have left the building.
• I spent five days at a FIRE retreat in Bali with 50 super-savers.

3 things in markets

1. Warren Buffett's tax bill was a doozy. Berkshire Hathaway, the legendary investor's conglomerate, paid a record $26.8 billion in taxes last year, Buffett wrote in his annual letter to shareholders. It's the most paid by any US company in history and represents about 5% of total American corporate income taxes paid in 2024. "Spend it wisely," Buffett wrote. The letter also included some more fundamental business — and life — lessons, too.

2. The meme coin explosion. Once an obscure corner of crypto, meme coins have taken on a life — and market — of their own. But scams are common with meme coins, and ongoing conversations about a regulatory path are another big question mark.

3. How a hedge fund repays $1.2 billion to investors heading for the exits. The past few years have been rocky for Paloma Partners, posting just a 2.5% return in 2024. The multistrategy hedge fund said last fall it would take time to repay departing investors. To meet redemption requests, Paloma plans to pull $600 million from hedge funds it backed, including the quant firm Aquatic Capital, according to four people familiar with the matter.

3 things in tech

1. An early Tesla investor is now bearish on the stock. Ross Gerber was among the first to spot Tesla's potential, but he isn't feeling so confident now. Gerber doubts the company can achieve Full Self-Driving on time without switching hardware, and he believes Elon Musk has too many pots in the fire.

2. We're hiring … just not humans. Originally created as an experiment, two founders built a jobs board for AI agents. The jobs board, dubbed "Job for Agent," provides insight into what companies might look for in an AI workforce.

3. AI bosses feel the pressure. In a recent interview, the CEOs of Google DeepMind and Anthropic spoke about the weight of responsibility that comes with ushering in AI. The leaders urged people to better grasp the real force for change they expect AI to be — and for societies to start planning accordingly.

3 things in business

1. The oligarch who wants to "Make Russia Great Again." There is one Russian nationalist currently in the spotlight who may be even more zealous than Vladimir Putin. Konstantin Malofeyev operates Tsargrad, a multimedia platform with over three million followers. He embraces Trumpian rhetoric and helped organize the Russian separatist rebellion in Ukraine's Donbas region, paving the way for Putin's invasion. But Malofeyev thinks Putin isn't doing enough to crush Ukraine.

2. Scaredy-cat capitalism in the new Trump era. While deregulation and tax cuts are generally favored by corporate America, Trump and his policies aren't exactly predictable. That's leading some companies — from Meta to Disney — to brace for his whims. Many businesses are trying to get in Trump's good graces by cutting back on DEI and handing over a check.

3. You might be waiting on your tax return this year. The Internal Revenue Service began firing probationary workers last week who were not "critical" to tax filing season. These terminations are part of Trump's efforts to slash the federal workforce, but it could result in more backlogs, slower customer service, and delayed refunds, tax experts and IRS employees told BI. An IRS HR employee said the firings, coupled with a hiring freeze, could set the agency behind on its functions well into 2026.

In other news

• OpenAI researcher says soft skills aren't going anywhere.
• Sam Altman welcomes baby in birth announcement on X: 'I have never felt such love.'
• Your apartment building is made of steel — and Trump's trade plans could mean higher rent.
• Three numbers that show how dramatic Walmart's transformation has been with Amazon nipping at its heels.
• Charlie Javice called for a mistrial, saying her right to a fair trial was 'irreparably compromised' during openings.
• MrBeast said making his Amazon show 'Beast Games' was 'not a good' financial move: 'I lost tens of millions of dollars.'
• One of the few bears on Wall Street worries stagflation could drive a 10% stock sell-off this year.
• Why ESPN doesn't need the MLB.

What's happening today

• Donald Trump hosts Emmanuel Macron at the White House
• Zoom reports Q4 earnings
• Ukraine summit in Kyiv on third anniversary of Russian invasion

The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Grace Lett, editor, in Chicago. Ella Hopkins, associate editor, in London. Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. Amanda Yen, associate editor, in New York. Elizabeth Casolo, fellow, in Chicago.

The world's largest construction project is carving a path through the Saudi Arabian desert, but will the 170-kilometer-long megacity known as "the Line" ever become a reality? Journalists cannot freely report from Saudi Arabia, so we analyzed satellite imagery and spoke to experts to separate the vision from reality.

Not only have the cost and the timeline for construction shifted in the sand, but recent reports suggest that thousands of migrant workers have died while trying to deliver Mohammed bin Salman's "Vision 2030."

• Starbucks said it would lay off 1,100 corporate employees this week.
• The coffee chain said it would notify affected employees by midday Tuesday.
• CEO Brian Niccol is trying to turn around results at the Seattle-based chain.

Starbucks said it would lay off 1,100 corporate employees this week and halt hiring for hundreds of open roles.

Employees whose jobs are being eliminated will hear from Starbucks by midday Tuesday, the company said.

"We are simplifying our structure, removing layers and duplication and creating smaller, more nimble teams," CEO Brian Niccol said in a letter on Monday announcing the layoffs. "Our intent is to operate more efficiently, increase accountability, reduce complexity and drive better integration."

The company said employees at Starbucks' stores would not be affected by the layoffs.

Starbucks has 16,000 employees across its corporate offices and other areas of the business, such as roasting operations. It said that not all of those employees were on teams affected by the layoffs.

Starbucks has been seeking to rejuvenate sliding sales in the US, its main market. Niccol, who was named CEO in September, has said the company needs to prioritize the customer experience, including focusing more on baristas, whom the company calls "partners."

"I recognize the news is difficult," he said in the memo. "We believe it's a necessary change to position Starbucks for future success — and to ensure we deliver for our green apron partners and the customers they serve."

Starbucks has been making changes to its stores since Niccol joined the company.

Partners at stores are now encouraged to write notes to customers on their paper cups. Starbucks also rolled back its open-door policy and requires patrons to buy something in order to use the store's bathroom or get a cup of water.

Under Niccol, the company has also reduced the number of promotions it offers members of Starbucks' rewards program.

Do you work at Starbucks and have a story idea to share? Reach out to this reporter at [email protected] or via the encrypted messaging app Signal at 808-854-4501.

• For a long time, I was terrified by the idea of being alone in a foreign country.
• However, I was thrown into my first solo trip when a friend unexpectedly left me alone in France.
• Exploring France by myself gave me more confidence and made me excited to plan future solo trips.

In my 20s, I traveled with friends all over the globe, from Oktoberfest in Germany to the Bedouin Tents in Israel. Now that I'm 33 and most of my friends are married (some with kids), I've found myself booking fewer flights.

So, last year, when I scored two tickets to see Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in France, I hoped I could convince someone to come with me. Going alone briefly crossed my mind, but solo travel felt out of my comfort zone, and I was worried that I wouldn't have as much fun that way.

So, I ended up booking a weeklong trip to Paris and Lyon with a friend from work who I'd known for almost a decade.

At the time, I was just happy that I wouldn't have to go by myself. Looking back, I had the wrong priorities.

The truth is, not all friends work well together as travel companions

Before the trip, my friend and I struggled to get on the same page about choosing hotels and agreeing on an itinerary.

Our problems continued as we left for Paris. As she complained about our flight, I felt drained by her negativity. When we arrived, I marveled at a rainbow over the Seine River as she appeared to be answering work emails on her phone.

Tensions felt high, and I worried we might not be very compatible travel partners — but I figured we'd both feel better by day two and ready to continue exploring.

Instead, that was the last day we spent together on the trip. The next morning, she texted me to head out for the day without her.

I took myself on a walking tour from the Eiffel Tower to the Palais-Royal. I should have been excited to cross off bucket-list items, but instead, something felt off.

Later, she let me know that she would be flying home to New York City, leaving me to unexpectedly continue the trip by myself.

Although I was scared of being alone in a foreign country, I embraced it

For a long time, the thought of being by myself in a foreign country (especially one where I don't speak the language) made me feel anxious and afraid.

However, instead of feeling completely terrified when she left, I mostly felt relieved. The tension was gone, and I no longer had to worry about someone else.

Determined not to let being ditched ruin my experience, I changed our original itinerary to be one entirely on my own terms with excursions I wanted to do most.

As an extrovert who is energized by others, I worried that I wouldn't have as much fun in Paris by myself. However, I realized I didn't need to share an experience to value it. It was impossible not to enjoy visiting places I'd dreamt of seeing for years.

I continued on from Paris to Lyon alone and even went to see the Eras Tour solo. As I navigated public transit and city streets on my own, I felt strong, confident, and like I could truly do anything.

This experience gave me more confidence to take on the world alone

As it turns out, getting ditched in a foreign country may be the best thing that could've happened to me.

Being suddenly pushed into solo travel showed me that I'm capable of something I was originally afraid of even trying out. This realization has empowered me to travel more without waiting around for anyone else.

Plus, I've come to appreciate how traveling solo means setting your own schedule and making your own decisions without having to accommodate anyone else's needs.

I hope to travel to Europe by myself again this year, and I'm even considering booking a longer stay.

As for this trip? My only regret is not booking it solo in the first place.

• Apple is set to defend its DEI programs against critical investors at its shareholder meeting.
• A vote is expected Tuesday on a motion brought by a conservative think tank to ax its DEI programs.
• Apple said the motion "inappropriately attempts" to restrict its ability to manage its operations.

Apple is set to face a showdown with shareholders this week as it prepares to defend its diversity, equity, and inclusion policies against critical opponents in its investor base.

The iPhone maker is scheduled to meet investors Tuesday at its annual shareholder meeting, where a vote is expected on a motion put forward by the National Center for Public Policy Research to cease DEI efforts.

The organization, a conservative think tank in Washington, DC, argued that US Supreme Court cases had called into question the legality of corporate DEI programs, putting employers at risk of discrimination claims.

Apple, the world's most valuable company, said in a filing that it would oppose the proposal because it "inappropriately attempts" to restrict how the company manages its operations.

It comes at a time when its Big Tech counterparts have been rolling back DEI initiatives.

Last month, Mark Zuckerberg's Meta announced it would cut its DEI programs. The company told employees that the "legal and policy landscape" around DEI efforts in the US was changing.

Other companies that have rolled back programs include Google, which said this month that it would no longer pursue hiring goals based on DEI, and Amazon, which has changed references about DEI benefits on some of its websites.

Though some companies began shifting focus away from DEI before the election, several tech leaders have recently reacted to President Donald Trump's deeming DEI efforts "wasteful."

Apple's decision to stand by its DEI policies could weigh on its relationship with the president. CEO Tim Cook has tried to build a good rapport with Trump, visiting his Mar-a-Lago resort in December.

On Monday, Apple announced a plan to hire about 20,000 people over the next four years as part of a commitment to invest more than $500 billion in US projects.

Apple is a rare holdout among tech firms stepping back from DEI initiatives. Large shareholders in its investor base, such as BlackRock, have kept a distance from activist campaigns.

Shareholder proposals don't always end up on a company's ballot. A review by the consultancy ISS-Corporate found that proposals against ESG policies, including those against DEI, that came to a vote had garnered little support in the past three years.

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