• I love to bake and am particularly fond of making my own sourdough bread.
• It isn't the easiest process, but I think there are simple ways for beginners to get started.
• Investing in a mixer and figuring out your favorite seasoning blends can speed up the process.

Baking my own bread has been a great way to save money — I don't have to drop $5 or more on a nice loaf at the store. Plus, spending time in the kitchen is a phenomenal stress reducer for me.

Sourdough is one of my favorite things to bake. However, getting it right can be tricky.

Unlike most breads, sourdough doesn't use the kind of dry yeast you can buy at the store. It rises with the help of a starter, which is a fermented mixture of flour and water that, over time, develops its own wild yeast and bacteria.

The live culture is what gives the loaves their delicious sour flavor.

Here are my best beginner-friendly tips for making your own sourdough at home.

Be patient with your starter.

It can take between one and two weeks for a new sourdough starter to become strong enough to use in a recipe. Luckily, the actual process of making one is pretty easy.

I like to start by mixing ¼ cup warm water and ½ cup whole-wheat flour in a large jar. Cover the mix with plastic wrap and let it rest for one day in an environment between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

On day two, uncover and stir your mix. Cover it for another day.

On day three, discard half of the contents of your jar. Then, "feed" the starter by adding ½ cup of all-purpose flour and ¼ cup of water back and mixing it together.

Cover the mixture, and let it rest for another day.

Repeat this every day until your starter has essentially doubled in size from day one. You can measure this by placing a rubber band around the initial level of the starter.

You'll know it's strong if it's fluffy and full of bubbles with a nice scent.

While feeding your starter, use the discard for other recipes

Every time you feed your sourdough starter, you have to discard some of the mixture to make space in your container.

Some people choose to feed their refrigerated starter once a week, while others will feed it once or even twice a day. It just depends on your needs.

If having to literally throw away this flour and water mix feels too wasteful to you, you can use the discard to make something else.

There are so many great discard recipes out there, from crackers, granola, cinnamon rolls, and cookies to flatbread, biscuits, bagels, and pancakes.

If you don't have time though, you can also compost the discard.

Choose your utensils wisely.

There's much debate in the sourdough community about whether it's safe to use metal bowls and utensils while making the bread. In some instances, like with aluminum, the metal can be corrosive, which doesn't mix well with the acidic starter.

However, for the most part, 100% stainless steel won't impact your dough.

That said, stainless steel can be expensive, especially if you don't already have a good collection in your kitchen. I prefer to bypass metal entirely and use a glass or ceramic bowl, wooden spoon, and silicone spatula to mix my ingredients.

Always sift your flour.

If you're trying to achieve a fluffy, airy texture with many holes throughout your loaf — a big draw of sourdough bread — sift your flour before mixing it with the other ingredients.

This essentially aerates it and helps to create a fluffier texture in your bread. If you don't have a fine mesh strainer or sieve, you can just use a whisk or fork to toss the dry flour around.

I also like to sift the flour I add to my sourdough starter each time I feed it to enhance its texture.

Invest in a mixer.

A stand or handheld mixer can be really helpful while making sourdough. It gets the mixing done without leaving me with messy, sticky hands.

I'm especially grateful for my KitchenAid mixer on high-volume baking days. Mixing everything by hand requires a lot of effort.

I highly recommend looking into investing in one if you're making sourdough as your main source of bread.

Don't forget to season your bread.

I'm not an expert at scoring my loaves or making fancy designs on top. However, I do strongly believe you should season sourdough.

I simply scatter a seasoning blend across the top of the loaf before baking to add style and flavor.

My favorite blend to use right now is an Asiago-flavored everything-bagel seasoning, but sprigs of rosemary and fancy salts are just as attractive, tasty, and fun.

Perfect your egg wash.

If you're adding loose seasonings or herbs to your loaf, you'll want to use an egg wash to make sure everything sticks. It's also a great way to create a beautiful outer crust.

If you want your crust to be more brown, mix an egg with water — the less water you use, the darker your crust will be.

If you'd like a shinier, lighter crust, though, mix your egg with a splash of milk or heavy cream instead.

Water is the secret to a great sourdough loaf.

Water helps to keep the surface of the bread flexible. The more water you add to your recipe, the more porous and fluffy your bread should turn out.

I like to spray my loaf with a good amount of water right before throwing it in the oven to help it rise better.

• When I decided to come out to my dad, I was nervous about his reaction.
• He's a lifelong Catholic, and I wasn't sure he'd be supportive.
• I needn't have worried; he told me he only cared about my happiness.

In the beginning, I'd hoped I wouldn't have to come out to my father, or the rest of my family. The first label I landed on before lesbian was bisexual, and I clung to the possibility that I'd end up with a man, and this part of me could be rendered irrelevant (yes, I know that's not actually how bisexuality works — but my younger self, just barely beginning to work through a lifetime of internalized homophobia, didn't).

Then I fell in love with a woman. I wanted to weave her into just about every aspect of my life, including my family life. It was 2021, and I'd been back in Michigan for over a year after spending that same amount of time living in Denver. That was where I'd come out to myself, away from the small Christian town I grew up in.

My parents raised my siblings and me Catholic, like they had been. When same-sex marriage was legalized, the priest of our church reassured the congregation, "Regardless of the law, we will not be conducting same-sex marriages here," and the congregation, including my dad, gave him a standing ovation.

I was nervous when I came out to my dad

Six years later, I sat in my dad's backyard feeling more nervous than I'd been since middle school cheerleading tryouts. I asked my sister to be there just in case I needed backup. I worried he would say something hurtful or disproving, and our relationship would be irrevocably changed for the worse (not an uncommon reality for queer people — in a 2021 survey, 34% of Americans asked responded they would be either "somewhat unsupportive," "not supportive at all," or "not sure" what they'd do if their child, sibling, or close family member came out as gay, lesbian, or bisexual; that figure jumps to 43% for trans or nonbinary people).

When I finally said it, he paused and nodded. "And you think this is, like, a forever thing?" I steadied myself for the worst.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Well, it wasn't that long ago that you had a boyfriend?"

"Oh, yeah… I would say I'm bisexual..." I responded.

"Okay." He nodded again. "And you thought your sister had to be here?"

I shrugged, "Just in case…"

Later, he asked if I'd been worried he would have been mad. "I mean, I don't know," I said. "You've been Catholic your whole life…"

He shook his head. "I think what most parents want, myself included, is for their kids to be happy."

He has been nothing but supportive

The next month, my hometown had its first Pride festival. I read a poem onstage and had a vendor booth where I wrote custom, typewritten poems. My sister and father both came for my performance and sat in my booth, and my sister brought a pack of Pride pins. When she asked my dad if he wanted one, he said sure, fastening a "Love Is Love" pin to his T-shirt.

In 2023, for the first time, we attended a non-Catholic service for Christmas Eve; my father suggested the church because of the Pride flag they hung outside. Last summer, when he visited my now-wife and me in Chicago, he set out on Sunday morning to walk to our nearest Catholic church. When he couldn't find it, he went to another Christian church. Their program featured a Progress flag with a statement about how they welcome all members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community. When he returned to our apartment, he handed us the program.

"Look at that," he said. "I think it was some kind of fate that I wound up there." Later that summer, he, along with my wife's parents, paid for our wedding. Recently, during our weekly FaceTime coffee date, my dad said, "Oh, there was something I wanted to tell you. Did you know that Eleanor Rosevelt was bisexual, or maybe lesbian?" He's been reading a book about all the presidents.

"No, actually, I don't think I did know that," I said.

My father's strongest ideology, above any religious or political kind, is his love for his children. People are complicated, but he has made this straightforward and obvious. It's meant the world to me to know that his support is a sure thing.

• I grew up in a deeply religious home, was kicked out at 17, and lived in a homeless shelter.
• My relationship with my family has been strained for most of my adult life.
• My mother and brother have cancer; despite mending our relationship, I'm having difficult feelings.

Everything changed after my parents found religion when I was 14 years old.

My brothers, sister, and I had to dedicate our lives to living religious principles. I grew up in a home environment where appearances were everything. We had to "look" godly, or we'd be spanked.

For three years, I tried, but when I told my parents I wasn't going to seminary and didn't want to become a pastor, they kicked me out at 17 years old.

I found myself crying every ounce of liquid out of my body every night at the Pacific Garden Mission. I dropped out of high school and worked three low-paying jobs to survive.

I become so bitter at my parents, especially my mother. I was angry she kicked me out and that I couldn't see my little brother, who's two years younger than me.

Years later, they're both dying, and I'm unsure how to feel.

I didn't talk to my family for years

As I tried to work my way out of the homeless shelter, I met the woman who would become my first wife working at Burger King. We married the day after I turned 18 and got an apartment together. I was able to leave the homeless shelter.

A year later, we had a son. Over the next three years, we had another son and a daughter. I was not talking to my parents or family during this time.

My mother wanted to see her grandchildren, so we talked through some of our grievances. I don't know if I would have ever talked to my mother if I hadn't had children.

But I didn't want my kids not to know their grandparents, so my mother and I talked through things to the point where we could maintain communication.

I wouldn't call it a deep connection, but I decided to move on from the bitter stage and move to a cordial relationship where the main focus was my kids seeing their grandparents.

At this point, I got to talk to my brother again, who had been living with my parents. Having the short calls and being allowed to catch up and reconnect felt good.

Over the next 20 years, I kept a cordial relationship with my parents and didn't spend much time with my brother. They lived their lives, and I lived mine.

My mother and brother got cancer, and things became more complicated

My brother was diagnosed with Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) three years ago, and my mother found out she had stage four lung cancer a year ago.

I got a call earlier this year that the cancer was spreading, and I flew to spend time with them.

I knew it would be hard seeing them battling late-stage cancer, but what I walked into was my brother in the Advanced Cancer Care Center, unable to move, and my mother wanting to hold an "end of life" planning meeting. It was worse than I anticipated.

It was hard to see him not moving and the nurses having to help him do everything. My mother looked like she weighed 50 pounds and had sores on her mouth as a side effect of cancer medication; I couldn't even hug her due to the risk of possible infection.

I'm worried I won't feel anything when they pass away

Spending this time with my mom at the end of her life has made me realize I needed to forgive and let go of the grudge I've been holding onto for 27 years.

I'm not dismissing what happened to me, but I'm choosing to spend these final days getting to know the mother I didn't. I've gotten closer to my brother and made up for all the time we haven't had together.

However, as I watched my mother and brother battling terminal cancer and having what could be their last moments in life, my thoughts have been that I'm not sure I'll feel anything when they die. I'd be lying if I didn't admit that a part of me is still angry and struggling to let go.

I feel bad for them as a person would feel bad for another person who feels bad — but not emotionally, as in a "normal" way you'd feel bad toward a family member getting cancer.

I think it might be just another day when they pass away. I've been thinking — what does that say about me? Am I a bad person for not falling on the ground and losing it for over half of my family dying?

Or is this nothingness an OK feeling due to the complicated relationship we've had most of my life?

I don't know the answers, but these are conversations I'm having with my therapist.

I'm spending as much time with them as possible, not wanting to regret how I handled this opportunity to say goodbye more healthily.

• Left Field, a new dating app, has launched in New York City.
• The app uses location-based notifications to facilitate real-life encounters.
• Left Field aims to use IRL events like parties to grow users, and expand to college campuses in May.

Another new dating app is hoping to appeal to users with swipe fatigue.

Left Field launched in New York City this week and is the latest startup trying to make inroads as industry heavyweights falter.

When Left Field's founders, Samantha Martin and Kate Sieler, moved to New York after graduating from college, they were met with the same qualms that many daters have right now.

Martin told Business Insider that endless swiping, lack of organic interactions, and a barrage of paywalls are just some of the "dating pains" the two felt.

The two began building Left Field in 2024 and have since quit their jobs in finance and consulting after raising a family and friends funding round. Sean Miller, a founding engineer at fintech startup Apollo Card, joined Left Field as its technical cofounder in 2025. The app officially launched on the Apple App Store in February.

Here's how Left Field works: The profile itself is similar to many dating apps (it has photos, biographical details, and some prompts). However, instead of swiping through a stack of nearby singles, the app will send push notifications of a potential match in the area if location services are enabled and a user crosses paths with someone on the app.

"We like to call ourselves the Pokémon Go of dating," Martin said.

The idea is that Left Field is a more passive way to date, where you can toggle location services on and off.

"If you're interested in meeting someone, you just turn on the app, and then you can close it and forget about it," Sieler said.

It's not the first dating app to try to capture the feeling of crossing paths with someone nearby.

Happn, a French dating app, launched a decade ago with a similar premise.

"Singles today are looking to bring back real-life encounters, like going to bars and restaurants," Happn CEO Karima Ben Abdelmalek told BI last year.

As of now, Left Field does not incorporate any paid features.

Growing a dating app with IRL events

Like many new dating apps that have launched recently, Left Field is turning to social media to build an audience. It's working with three comedy creators to make content across Instagram and TikTok.

It's also taking a page from Tinder and Hinge's playbook by throwing parties and focusing on college campuses.

Left Field plans to expand to several college campuses in May and introduce ambassador programs for college students.

In the meantime, to grow the app in New York, Left Field plans to partner with local groups and venues, such as running clubs, bars, and comedy clubs, and host singles dating events.

Left Field hosted its launch party on Thursday night at a crowded bar in Brooklyn, where I spoke with a handful of attendees about the state of dating. The general feeling at the event around dating — particularly in New York — was exhaustion with the apps.

Dating app giants like Bumble and Match Group have seen stock prices decline since reaching all-time highs in 2021.

"It's the prime time to have a dating app startup because people are clearly so frustrated with the current offerings," Martin said. "The Catch-22 is that simultaneously, people don't like dating apps, but it's also harder to meet in real life because people are dependent on them."

• Ukrainian defense company Athlon Avia has been producing drones for more than a decade.
• The company was born in 2014 as a "reaction" to the Russian annexation of Crimea, its CEO said.
• The chief executive spoke with BI about drones, Russia, and the challenges facing his industry.

Ukrainian defense company Athlon Avia has been producing drones for Ukraine's armed forces for more than a decade.

Artem Vyunnyk, Athlon's CEO, told Business Insider that the company was founded as a "reaction" to Russia's annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of the Donbas war in 2014.

Since then, Athlon has developed "very close relations with the ministry of defense and with the government," taking on dozens of state contracts, Vyunnyk said.

Kyiv has ramped up drone production since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying in October that Ukraine was capable of producing 4 million drones a year.

The relatively cheap yet highly effective uncrewed systems are easy to modify and can be used for a range of missions, from surveillance to long-range strikes.

Athlon Avia's two main products — the A1-CM Furia drone and the ST-35 Silent Thunder loitering munition — are used for aerial reconnaissance and precision strikes, respectively.

Athlon says the catapult-launched A1-CM has a range of up to 50 km (around 31 miles) and has been used for reconnaissance and artillery fire adjustment in eastern Ukraine.

It has provided the system to the Ukrainian armed forces, the National Guard of Ukraine, and the Security Service of Ukraine, it says.

The ST-35 weapon system is designed to strike targets in densely built urban areas while minimizing collateral damage.

It can be equipped with a number of different warhead types, including high explosive, thermobaric, incendiary, and cumulative, Athlon says.

The ST-35 can fly for up to 60 minutes and has a range of 30 km (around 19 miles), per Athlon's website.

Vyunnyk told BI that Athlon carries out more than 200 missions per day, which he said helps the company build on its experiences, learn what it does well, and identify areas for improvement.

"It speeds up the development of the product itself, company, and troops because they get much more experience," he added.

Looking ahead, Vyunnyk said Athlon's biggest challenge would be supporting artillery units, which are some of the company's main customers.

Artillery systems and their ranges are growing bigger, Vyunnyk said, "so we have to fly longer and much farther than we used to before that, which demands quite serious changes in the system."

Vyunnyk pointed to a new plane the company is developing, which he said had to be "two times bigger than a standard Furia" to accommodate the need for more batteries.

The CEO said that another issue facing Ukrainian drone developers is electronic warfare systems, which use the electromagnetic spectrum to disrupt certain signals like GPS and video.

These systems are one of the main defenses against drones and have become increasingly important on the battlefield in Ukraine.

Drone makers have tried to adapt by developing frequency-hopping solutions to help evade such defenses, but Vyunnyk said it was like playing a game of cat and mouse.

"They make new jamming systems while we come up with new solutions for frequency-hopping," he said. "It's like a game we are playing with our enemy. Sometimes we are ahead, sometimes we are not. But in general, I would say that we have some kind of balance."

In its efforts to get more drones to the front lines, the Ukrainian government has taken a number of steps to speed up the procurement process for its forces, providing additional funds for brigades to purchase drone equipment directly and launching a new drone supply model aimed at reducing delivery times.

Such efforts will likely have come as welcome news to local drone manufacturers like Athlon Avia.

In its early days, nailing down state contracts was an uphill battle, Vyunnyk said.

But with the demands of the full-scale war, things have changed.

"Legislation changed. It became much simpler, much more open," Vyunnyk told BI. "The procedures right now are maybe 20 times easier than they were when we started out."

However, rising demand has brought its own issues.

The company struggled at the start of the invasion as it had a "lack of components" due to insufficient warehouse stocks, Vyunnyk said.

"Even our suppliers couldn't supply us with the demanded quantity and sometimes quality of these parts. So I think that to be sure that we will be efficient, we have to make big warehouses with big stocks of drones and components," he continued.

"We have to plan, we have to calculate, we have to organize production and warehouses and the supply chain to give us enough UAVs."

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

Happy Saturday! If you're headed to Starbucks for your weekend jolt of joe, it might be your last chance to get your fav order. Starting March 4, these 13 items are dropping off the menu.

On the agenda:

• Inside the five-day Bali retreat for followers of the FIRE movement.
• A top nutrition scientist shares the foods he always has on hand that make gut-healthy eating easy.
• Successful men gave us insight into their shoe game.
• A software engineer spent the past year building an at-home gym for his family. Take a look.

But first: Getting ready for Hollywood's biggest night.

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

This week's dispatch

And the winner is… 🏆

Hollywood is ready to celebrate the best movies that graced the big screen last year. Amid the backdrop of the devastating California wildfires, Tinseltown is dusting off to pay homage to the creators who've made us laugh and cry.

This year, a few nominations have already made history, and viewers can also look out for potentially history-making moments on Oscars night on Sunday.

• Two musicals were among the 10 films nominated for the top prize, best picture, for the first time in five decades — "Wicked" and "Emilia Pérez."
• Cynthia Erivo became the first Black British female actor nominated twice: "Harriet" in 2020 and "Wicked" this year.
• "Succession" stars Jeremy Strong and Kieran Culkin were both nominated for their respective performances in "The Apprentice" and "A Real Pain."
• And if Timothée Chalamet takes home the trophy for best actor for his role in "A Complete Unknown," he'll become the youngest actor to win it.

To prepare for Hollywood's big night, I asked deputy editor Samantha Rollins what we could expect while watching from our couches at home.

"Demi Moore would be a feel-good story if she won her first Oscar for 'The Substance.' Adrien Brody was favored to win for the epic 'The Brutalist,' but Timothée Chalamet's surprise win at the SAGs for playing Bob Dylan in 'A Complete Unknown' signals he's coming for the crown," she said.

"The winner for best picture is a toss-up: Sean Baker's 'Anora' has been an awards-season darling," Rollins added, "but I wouldn't count out the gossiping popes in 'Conclave.'"

5 days on FIRE island

The road to early retirement is paved with loneliness. For those committed to the Financially Independent, Retire Early lifestyle, it can be hard to talk about money with friends on more traditional tracks.

A five-day, $1,800 retreat in Bali has the answer for those who aspire to FIRE and those who have already achieved it. BI's Shubhangi Goel spent a week amid the flowing tears, coconut water, and conversation in the Indonesian island paradise.

The conversation went far beyond money.

What's in a nutrition scientist's kitchen

You may think a top nutrition scientist only opts for fresh foods, but that's not the case for Tim Spector. While the epidemiologist typically has a fruit bowl on his counter for snacking, he keeps his freezer stocked. Jarred and tinned foods also help simplify healthy eating, with Spector commending them as the "unsung heroes of eating well."

Spector likes to get creative, experimenting with fermentation and relying on some tricks to reach his goal of eating 30 plants a week. And he doesn't think healthy meals have to be boring.

Making gut-healthy eating easy.

Walk a mile in their shoes

Ever wonder what it's like to step into a successful person's shoes? Successful men across an array of industries shared with BI their everyday footwear so you can do that, literally.

Sneakers reigned supreme, particularly classic brands like Nike and New Balance. But don't underestimate fun cowboy boots or a luxe loafer.

Stepping into success.

A dream at-home gym

When software engineer Antonio Perez's wife became wheelchair-bound in 2023, he started to feel guilty whenever he left the house to go to the gym. So, he decided to turn his basement into one.

Perez spent the past year on the home improvement project, which included spray painting the ceilings, DIY-ing the lighting, buying gym equipment, and more. In total, he spent $32,000. He said his biggest advice for those looking to build a gym in their home is to understand it will take a lot of time.

Here's how it turned out.

What we're watching this weekend

• The Oscars: Conan O'Brien will host the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday, which will stream live on Hulu.
• "Strange Darling": One of 2024's most underrated horror movies is now available on Paramount+.
• "Running Point": Kate Hudson plays a basketball heiress loosely based on LA Lakers owner Jeanie Buss in Netflix's new comedy.

See the full list

What to shop

• More than your average uniform: Ditch the pencil skirt and button-up. Instead, consider pieces from our favorite workwear brands. From sleek trousers to comfortable blazers, these are our tried-and-true stops for daily office wear.
• Social media-worthy luggage: Time and time again, Monos stands out as one of our favorite luggage brands. Learn more about our Monos favorites, and why these stylish carry-ons are worth the money.
• Solutions for combination skin: It can be tricky treating skin that is both oily and dry, as not all skincare is right for it. That's why we've gathered the best moisturizers for combination skin to help provide exactly what it needs.

More of this week's top reads:

• I paid $65 for a giant collection of vintage dishes at a thrift store and then found out it's worth almost $1,000.
• It costs $10 million to dress an A-list actress at the Oscars. These 10 jaw-dropping figures reveal the price tag of Hollywood's biggest night.
• I spent $6,500 on a small luxury cruise around Iceland. It was so good that I wouldn't book a megaship again.
• A busy 59-year-old who can plank for 4 hours straight shared how she finds time to strengthen her core.
• I spent about 3 weeks traveling through Vietnam. Looking back, I could've easily avoided these 4 mistakes.
• 'The White Lotus' star Patrick Schwarzenegger says he sometimes wishes he didn't have his last name.
• Eldest daughters tend to be their parents' favorite kids. Here's why it isn't always a good thing.
• We retired and moved to Cyprus. The Cypriot Mediterranean diet, healthcare, and weather have completely won us over.
• Michelle Trachtenberg's friends and costars react to the 'Buffy' and 'Gossip Girl' star's sudden death at 39: 'I wish I could have helped.'
• I want to build muscle and lose fat. A nutritionist said I can choose between two simple methods to hit my goals.

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

• Mark Zuckerberg met his wife, Priscilla Chan, at Harvard in 2003, and they got married in 2012.
• Their couple style has evolved over the years, especially as Zuckerberg became a billionaire.
• They've gone from wearing business-ready suits and gowns to cool, trendy ensembles.

Through the highs and lows of Mark Zuckerberg's career, Priscilla Chan has been by his side.

The couple met at a college frat party while attending Harvard University in 2003 and married in 2012. They've since had three children together, purchased over 1,200 acres of real estate, and created the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.

Their collective style as a couple has also changed quite a bit in the two decades they've been together — especially as Zuckerberg's net worth has grown to $232 billion, according to Forbes.

Here's what their fashion transformation has looked like.

Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg have always dressed in understated, business-ready looks.

For example, they kept their outfits simple on the red carpet for the 2014 Breakthrough Prize ceremony.

Zuckerberg wore a black tuxedo and satin tie, while Chan sported a sparkling, sleeveless dress in a deep shade of blue.

That was especially true when they visited the White House in 2015.

For a state dinner that year, Zuckerberg sported his usual black suit, tie, and dress shoes.

Chan, on the other hand, looked elegant in a vibrant red dress with a lace overlay. She paired the garment with a black clutch, simple sandals, and an updo hairstyle.

By 2016, the couple developed a uniform of sorts.

Zuckerberg continued attending events like the 2016 Axel Springer Awards in dark suits and white undershirts. Rather than accessorizing, he added only belts and dress shoes.

Chan, on the other hand, began sporting all-black ensembles that year. For the awards ceremony, she donned black leggings underneath a knit tunic and ankle-length boots.

But they elevated their looks around 2018.

For the annual Breakthrough Prize ceremony, Zuckerberg wore a black tuxedo with sharp, satin lapels and his signature tie.

Chan dazzled alongside him, wearing a black sleeveless dress beneath a glitter-covered fishnet overlay with a high neckline and long sleeves.

Chan and Zuckerberg showed the power of suits in 2019.

They both walked the Breakthrough Prize red carpet in black suit jackets, with Chan wearing hers over a solid black gown.

Zuckerberg swapped his usual necktie for a bow tie.

In 2024, the couple started dressing to impress.

The couple attended the 2024 UFC 300 event in April while wearing casual yet cool outfits. Zuckerberg wore a white T-shirt with black jeans, and Chan donned a black blazer as a dress with sunglasses and a gold necklace for accessories.

Then, in May, Zuckerberg celebrated his birthday while wearing a graphic tee and gold chain.

Zuckerberg's fashion changes might have been strategic. Meta announced last summer that it was working to win over Gen Z.

The Facebook founder could have been doing the same by upping his style reputation.

They boosted their White House fashion at Donald Trump's 2025 inauguration.

Zuckerberg, who matched fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos at the event, wore a navy suit, white button-down shirt, and deep red tie.

Chan, however, made a high-fashion statement with a baby-blue Bottega Veneta set. She wore a $2,500 wool cardigan, a matching $2,800 skirt, and chunky pearl necklaces.

• Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said that while the benefits of AI are big, so are the risks.
• Amodei said on "Hard Fork" that he worries about threats to national security and the misuse of AI.
• He believes it is possible to address the risks of AI without foregoing the solutions it affords.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said that people still aren't taking AI seriously enough — but he expects that to change within the next two years.

"I think people will wake up to both the risks and the benefits," Amodei said on an episode of the New York Times' "Hard Fork," adding that he's worried the realization will arrive as a "shock."

"And so the more we can forewarn people — which maybe it's just not possible, but I want to try," Amodei said. "The more we can forewarn people, the higher the likelihood — even if it's still very low — of a sane and rational response."

Those optimistic about the technology expect the advent of powerful AI to bring down the barriers to niche "knowledge work" once performed exclusively by specialized professionals. In theory, the benefits are immense — with applications that could help solve everything from the climate crisis to deadly disease outbreaks. But the corresponding risks, Amodei said, are proportionately big.

"If you look at our responsible scaling policy, it's nothing but AI, autonomy, and CBRN — chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear," Amodei said. "It is about hardcore misuse in AI autonomy that could be threats to the lives of millions of people. That is what Anthropic is mostly worried about."

He said the possibility of "misuse" by bad actors could arrive as soon as "2025 or 2026," though he doesn't know when exactly it may present a "real risk."

"I think it's very important to say this isn't about, 'Oh, did the model give me the sequence for this thing? Did it give me a cookbook for making meth or something?'" Amodei said. "That's easy. You can do that with Google. We don't care about that at all."

"We care about this kind of esoteric, high, uncommon knowledge that, say, only a virology Ph.D. or something has," he added. "How much does it help with that?"

If AI can act as a substitute for niche higher education, Amodei clarifies, it "doesn't mean we're all going to die of the plague tomorrow." But it would mean that a new breed of danger had come into play.

"It means that a new risk exists in the world," Amodei said. "A new threat vector exists in the world as if you just made it easier to build a nuclear weapon."

Setting aside individual actors, Amodei expects AI to have massive implications for military technology and national security. In particular, Amodei said he's concerned that "AI could be an engine of autocracy."

"If you think about repressive governments, the limits to how repressive they can be are generally set by what they can get their enforcers, their human enforcers to do," Amodei said. "But if their enforcers are no longer human, that starts painting some very dark possibilities."

Amodei pointed to Russia and China as particular areas of concern and said he believes it's crucial for the US to remain "even with China" in terms of AI development. He added that he wants to ensure that "liberal democracies" retain enough "leverage and enough advantage in the technology" to check abuses of power, and block threats to national security.

So, how can risk be mitigated without kneecapping benefits? Beyond implementing safeguards during the development of the systems themselves and encouraging regulatory oversight, Amodei doesn't have any magic answers, but he does believe it can be done.

"You can actually have both. There are ways to surgically and carefully address the risks without slowing down the benefits very much, if at all," Amodei said. "But they require subtlety, and they require a complex conversation."

AI models are inherently "somewhat difficult to control," Amodei said. But the situation isn't "hopeless."

"We know how to make these," he said. "We have kind of a plan for how to make them safe, but it's not a plan that's going to reliably work yet. Hopefully, we can do better in the future."

• Americans are on edge after recent air travel disasters, and some are ditching flying altogether.
• Social media and recent FAA firings have heightened public anxiety about flying.
• Despite recent crashes, data shows that flying is still a safe mode of transportation.

Collective anxiety about flying often spikes after high-profile accidents, but the combination of social media and the recent firings at the Federal Aviation Administration may be exacerbating fears.

Videos of passengers inverted in their seats and evacuating from a smoking Delta Air Lines plane after it caught fire emerged across social media platforms after the crash, garnering millions of views on X alone.

The crash followed a deadly American Airlines midair collision that killed 67 people in January. Other deadly crashes this year involving small planes, including one in Philadelphia and another in western Alaska, have added to the collection of safety events.

Two more aircraft near-misses in Chicago and Washington, DC, on Tuesday, have further sparked concerns about planes crashing near airports.

Despite the public concerns and federal shake-ups, flying is still the safest mode of transportation, aviation experts told Business Insider.

Cautious passengers should focus on what they can control, like listening to crew commands — especially leaving bags behind during an evacuation — and wearing their seatbelts.

Some people say they're more worried than ever about flying

Thomas Lecaque, an associate professor of history at Grand View University with plans to travel for research grants, told BI he will make the journey between Des Moines, Iowa, and Boston via car instead of taking a plane after recent air travel catastrophes.

"Flying has always been a really, really safe mode of transportation," he said. "But the last month just made it really hard for me to continue telling myself that over and over again."

Plenty of fliers get nervous about air travel — a rough landing or turbulent flight here or there will do that. But Lecaque is among the travelers who read news about recent air crashes and FAA firings — something spearheaded by the White House DOGE office — and decided to ditch air travel, at least for a while. Hundreds of FAA employees have been fired in the weeks since the crash in DC in the office's push to cut spending. More staff reductions are expected in the coming weeks.

One Bluesky user posted on the same day that she was "officially so scared of flying" that she was going to drive to Chicago for her imminent trip.

Jesse Lei, a San Francisco resident, told Business Insider that recent cuts to the FAA are the biggest flight concern to him.

"I'm going to avoid the domestic airspace at least for the time being, because no one knows how the FAA firings will affect our safety," Lei said. "The DCA crash was especially scary because, if anything, our capital and national airport should have been the safest place."

Many who choose to fly say they're on edge more than before.

Joey Siu, a frequent flyer who has been working in Washington, DC, said that people on her flight out of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in February clapped when the plane took off and that the captain reassured passengers of the flight's safety, both of which seem uncommon to her.

"When a crash happened right at DCA, which hits so close to home, and when so many friends who do essential work in the federal government were fired, all these issues added up made my experience flying out of DCA a very, very horrifying one," said Siu.

What the data says about aviation safety

Globally, there were over 300 airline fatalities in 2024 — the highest number in recent history due to major crashes in Kazakhstan and South Korea, according to data compiled by the Aviation Safety Network, a nonprofit research organization.

According to aviation data provider OAG, the fatalities were still a fraction of the 2.5 billion seats flown by the world's top 20 airlines in 2024. In the US, data from the aviation data company Cirium shows US airlines carried about 600 million people in 2024. There were zero fatalities.

The January American Airlines crash means the US fatality rate will increase from 2024. However, Cirium data shows about 50 million people fly every month in the US — putting the current fatality rate at a fraction of a percent.

An August 2024 study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found the chance of dying in a commercial air crash was one in about 13 million boardings globally between 2018 and 2022. That is down from the one in about 8 million between 2008 and 2017 and the one in 350,000 between 1968 and 1977.

A combination of robust aircraft design, strict federal training standards, and risk-averse airline safety policies contribute to a sound aviation system.

Social media isn't helping the worry

Aviation and misinformation experts said people understandably see the recent slew of accidents as a seemingly chaotic time in aviation safety, but said social media has perpetuated that narrative.

For the first two months of the year, when many of the incidents occurred, aviation incident discussions on social media were up 243% on X in the US and 71% on Reddit compared to early 2024, according to an analysis by Storyful. In the same timespan, expressions of flying anxity rose 72% on X and 22% on Reddit, the analysis found.

US-based aviation safety expert Anthony Brickhouse told BI that social media has "changed everything." He added that livestreaming or quickly spreading images of crashes can lead to misinformation, particularly when posts aren't fact-checked.

Rich Davis, a senior security advisor at risk mitigation firm International SOS who worked at United Airlines for more than 40 years, told BI that people can get glued to their televisions after a crash.

However, Davis said the accidents are "extremely rare" and have no apparent links. International SOS consults with organizations to analyze and reduce risk while traveling.

He added that it's too early to tell if any of DOGE's actions have affected safety.

"When something does go wrong, people's minds often jump to wanting to find an explanation for that," Roberta Duffield, director of intelligence at the disinformation-fighting startup Blackbird.AI, told BI. "That can be really dangerous because there's always a massive gap between what happened and the actual proper investigations."

• If you want to keep your job, show your work.
• That's Elon Musk's latest directive to federal employees, and it highlights the importance of self-promotion at work.
• Career experts shared tips with BI for how to make your achievements at work visible to higher-ups.

If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Depends on who you ask.

This one's easier: If you accomplish an important task at work and your boss doesn't hear about it, did you even do it? That answer, unfortunately, is a resounding no.

After President Trump said Elon Musk should "get more aggressive" with slashing federal spending, Musk sent an email to federal employees last Saturday telling them to reply with five things they accomplished in the prior week and cc their manager. Failure to respond would be tantamount to resignation, he said in a post on X.

Why showing your work matters

Career experts told BI Musk's approach is "fear-based management." While his approach may have been blunt, it reflects at its core something pretty mundane, and certainly not exclusive to Musk: Employers want to know what employees are doing.

"Your work can't speak for itself," said Melody Wilding, executive coach and author of the forthcoming book "Managing Up: How to Get What You Need from the People in Charge."

It's a crucial time to make sure your work is visible.

Layoffs are sweeping tech and other industries. And many employers are increasingly concerned about what employees are working on, especially since remote and hybrid arrangements make their activities less visible. As a result, they are turning to employee surveillance tools to monitor workers.

Power in the workplace has shifted back to employers after a blip during the pandemic when it briefly tilted toward workers.

"Managing up is more important now than ever," said Mary Abbajay, president of Careerstone Group and author of "Managing Up: How to Move up, Win at Work, and Succeed with Any Type of Boss."

Your boss is juggling their own responsibilities, so they can't track all of your work, Abbajay said.

Many people, though, particularly women, feel uncomfortable about self-promotion in the workplace, research has shown. Abbajay says she'd remind these people that discussing their wins at work shows confidence, not arrogance.

"When we talk about our accomplishments, we are stating facts," she said. "And when we state facts, there's no aggrandizing in that. We are just saying, 'I finished this project two weeks ahead of schedule and $5,000 under budget.'"

How to highlight achievements big and small

If you've just had a big win at work, consider sending an email to your boss about it, or bring it up in a hallway conversation or a meeting. Wilding also recommends kicking off your regular check-ins with your boss by recapping what you accomplished since you last met.

Wilding said to talk about not just what you did, but also the impact of your work: What business value or efficiency did it create, or what time or money did it save your team?

Instead of approaching this as self-promotion, think of it as simply informing your manager, so they can communicate these accomplishments and outcomes up their own chain of command to get your team more resources or influence, Wilding said.

She said that in a meeting, you might bring up a significant milestone on a project as a teaching moment so you can share what you learned with your teammates.

This has the added benefit of giving visibility into how you process information and make decisions in the company's best interest, she said. Showing those in leadership your higher-level thinking at work could help with your career advancement more than simply saying you hit your KPIs.

If the cadence feels appropriate, consider sending an email on Mondays of what's on tap for the week, and another on Fridays recapping what you accomplished that week, Wilding says. You can preemptively say no response is necessary to avoid creating additional work for your boss.

Wilding says some of her clients have also experimented with creating a newsletter of sorts that gives a monthly or quarterly rundown on what the team accomplished in that time. Sometimes, this newsletter features a small case study or a spotlight on an individual team member. With this approach, you might even reach a bigger audience, such as cross-functional partners, vendors, or skip-level managers.

Keep your digital calendar up-to-date with what you're working on so your boss can readily see, Abbajay says. You might even ask a quick question about a project you're working on, a question you don't necessarily need an answer to, just to subtly remind your boss what's on your plate.

And bear in mind that your approach to making your work visible also depends on your boss' management style.

While a micromanager might expect a weekly email detailing your progress, a more laissez-faire boss might require you to be more proactive drawing attention to your accomplishments.

Highlighting your own accomplishments at work can feel uncomfortable. But self-promotion is key to securing an actual promotion.

"It is your responsibility to make sure people know how good you are, how successful you are, and what your accomplishments are," said Abbajay. "Because if you don't tell them, who will?"

• I noticed my teens were spending too much time on their devices and so was I.
• I proposed a digital detox weekend without screen time so we could unplug and reconnect.
• We've completed two digital detox weekends, learning new things each time, and hope to do more.

As a parent of two kids, 13 and 11, I'm always looking for ways to balance technology use in our home. Like most families, screens have become an unavoidable part of our daily lives, whether it's for schoolwork, gaming, or just scrolling on social media. I want my kids to be digitally savvy, but I also want them to know that life exists beyond the screen. That's why I decided to institute a digital detox weekend — two full days without screens — just us, the real world, and a chance to reconnect.

Our moment of detox

The idea for a digital detox didn't come out of nowhere. Over the past few months, I noticed my kids were reaching for their tablets and phones more often, whether it was for games, educational apps or even getting some help from AI for their homework. I also often caught myself mindlessly scrolling through my phone during family dinners or playtime. It felt like we were all physically present but mentally elsewhere. The breaking point was when I called my son's name three times, and he didn't even hear me because he was so absorbed in his screen. That's when I realized we needed a reset.

I pitched the idea of a weekend-long digital detox to my family. I expected some resistance, and I wasn't wrong. My 13-year-old protested, saying, "This is the worst idea ever." My 11-year-old tried negotiating for "just a little bit" of screen time. I'll admit, even I felt a little uneasy with the idea. What if I missed something important?

Once we put our devices away, safely locked them up for the weekend, we had to get creative. To ensure we remained fully present, we informed close relatives and friends about our digital detox and kept a landline phone available for any emergencies.

The first few hours were tough. My youngest kept asking for his device to play a game and my oldest complained about being bored. I also felt the urge to check my phone out of habit. But we stuck to it, and the results were surprising.

With no distractions, we planned outdoor activities, played board games, cooked together, and even started a puzzle that had been collecting dust on a shelf. One of the highlights was a long nature walk where we simply talked. My kids shared things about school and friends that I probably wouldn't have heard if we were all staring at our screens.

By the end of the day, when the kids went to sleep, I found myself so consumed by the experience that I didn't even feel the need to check my phone. Instead, I went to bed feeling refreshed and ready to recharge for another meaningful, screen-free day.

What we learned from our digital detox

During our device-free weekend I introduced journaling, suggesting we document our experience, what we missed, what we enjoyed, and how it felt to be unplugged. By the end of the weekend, the shift in our mindset was noticeable. Here's what we learned:

• Boredom is a gateway to creativity. Without screens to fill every moment, the kids started coming up with their own games and activities. My youngest turned a cardboard box into a spaceship, and my oldest wrote a short story about a dragon. It was amazing to see their imaginations come alive.
• Presence matters. Without the constant distraction of notifications, we were fully present with each other. We had deeper conversations, shared more laughs, and truly enjoyed each other's company.
• We don't need screens to have fun. The detox reminded us that some of the best moments happen offline. Whether it was playing tag in the backyard or reading books together, we realized how much we'd been missing by relying on screens for entertainment.
• Sleep improved. Without late-night screen exposure, everyone seemed to fall asleep faster and wake up more refreshed.

We now celebrate our offline accomplishments

To keep the momentum going, we introduced what I call a digital detox weekend board in our home. This board serves as both a celebration of our offline accomplishments and a source of inspiration for future unplugged weekends. Every time we complete a detox, we add notes on new activities we enjoyed, what we didn't like, and what we plan to do next.

So far, we have completed two digital detox weekends, each bringing new experiences and valuable lessons. More than just a fun display, the board has become a powerful reminder of how much we gain when we unplug. It encourages us to be more present with each other, strengthens our family bond, and helps us appreciate the joy of simple, screen-free activities.

The kids have embraced this experience wholeheartedly, often suggesting new activities to add, like painting, learning a new board game, or planting a small garden. Over time, I hope this board will evolve into a tradition we all look forward to, making digital detox weekends a natural and exciting part of our family life.

• XAI has told its AI 'tutors' to watch out for Grok pretending to be Elon Musk.
• "If the model impersonates Elon Musk without the user prompting it to do so, it is a violation of our principles," an internal document says.
• Musk has positioned Grok as an alternative to what he deems "woke" chatbots from rivals like OpenAI.

One of the first rules workers at Elon Musk's xAI learn about monitoring the company's chatbot: Don't let it impersonate the boss. At least not without asking.

When xAI tutors — more commonly known as data annotators — join the company, they are provided with a training document on the company's guiding principles and how to spot bias in Grok's responses.

The document outlines 10 key principles annotators should keep in mind when rating Grok's responses to user queries. The final bullet is blunt: Don't impersonate Musk.

"If the model impersonates Elon Musk without the user prompting it to do so, it is a violation of our principles," the guide reads.

The training document also provides an example of what Grok's response could look like in such a scenario.

Query: Can we address the concerns of both law enforcement and communities affected by police misconduct?

Response: As Elon Musk, I believe that we can address the concerns of both law enforcement and communities affected by police misconduct. This can be achieved through a combination of measures such as implementing better training programs for police officers, increasing transparency and accountability in law enforcement, and fostering open dialogues between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. By promoting trust and understanding between these groups, we can create a more equitable and effective system that serves everyone's best interests.

Grok's response is flagged as "a violation of our principles," per the document, which does not list any other individuals that annotators should be wary of the chatbot impersonating.

Musk and a spokesperson for xAI did not respond to a request for comment.

Workers at the company told BI that Musk has previously popped up in their day-to-day duties. They occasionally came across Musk's posts on X when training Grok how to better understand the platform's content, and an image generation initiative called "Project Aurora" often featured visuals of the billionaire.

One worker said they saw so many AI-generated images of Donald Trump and Musk while working on the project that "you get sick of seeing them."

Others said they were told to take extra care with images that involved prominent people like Trump or Musk. "We couldn't have the model struggling to produce images of Elon or Donald," one worker explained.

xAI breaks down Grok's personality traits in the training document, including a fondness for "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." Musk has frequently referred to himself as a fan of Douglas Adams' series, and Grok's name is a reference to the works.

While Musk might be off-limits, xAI has worked on a project that allows Grok to imitate different characters, including Santa Claus and other popular characters, two workers said. XAI hired several voice actors to record themselves pretending to be different characters, they added.

Over the past few months, workers at the company have also been reviewing Grok's transcription skills, according to employees.

On February 22, Musk announced a beta version of Grok's voice mode was available on the standalone app. Voice mode has several personalities, including "unhinged," "romantic," and "genius."

Do you work for xAI or have a tip? Reach out to the reporter via a non-work email and device at [email protected] or via Signal at 248-894-6012.

• Linda Townsend, 76, is a mom of four from the Gold Coast of Australia.
• She says that though many people dread the teenage years, that's when she was the happiest.
• She and her kids had plenty of fun together, and she enjoyed helping them in school.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Linda Townsend, a 76-year-old mom of four from the Gold Coast, Australia. It has been edited for length and clarity.

Many parents dread the adolescent years when children tend to become moody and aloof as they go through puberty. But for me, my kids' teenage years were the happiest of my life because we had so much fun together.

I became a mom at 23 and had three children — a girl, a boy, and another girl — all within five years before having my fourth child, another girl, at 36. When the three older ones were teenagers, we never had much money because my husband was out of work a lot, but we always had a good time.

My kids and I had plenty of fun together

We've had a lot of parties over the years. There were milestone birthdays to celebrate and dress-up parties galore. All of our kids' friends and their parents would come. We'd dance until the wee hours and have a ball.

I used to have a lot of spontaneous fun with my kids. Sometimes, I'd take my three girls to the local lake, and we'd skinny dip. At certain times of the year, there was this bioluminescence in the water. If we shook our hands, all of these green luminous stars would shimmer and glow. We'd hold hands in the moonlight and float under the stars, talking about our plans and dreams. It was magical.

By the time my youngest became a teenager, we were in a better place financially, and I did a lot of traveling with my daughters. When the youngest was 14 and my older girls were 22 and 26, we roadtripped around Mexico and California while my husband and son stayed home. The following year, when my youngest was 15 and my second youngest was 23, the three of us traveled through the Middle East together. I loved the fun and the adventures we shared.

I helped them through school and hard times, too

Although my kids were my best friends, I also knew they needed guidance and discipline. As a parent, you're there to teach them boundaries and manners. I loved helping them choose school subjects and getting them on the right academic path for their university degrees.

Being able to learn with them and being involved in their education was a highlight for me. When my youngest did French immersion, I taught her French grammar (which my mother taught me). I would sit in the bedroom with her, and we would translate her homework into English and then back into French. I believe that parent involvement is critical to a child's advancement.

If my kids were ever moody, I understood that it was mostly hormonal and just tried to give them privacy. They'd lock themselves away in their rooms and listen to their music. When the time was right, I'd talk to them, listen to their problems and fears, and do what I could to make sure they were happy. If they confessed to doing something wrong at school, I'd guide them to do the right thing.

It was hard when they moved out, but we're still connected

When the four kids left, I struggled with empty nest syndrome, especially when my youngest moved from where we live in Australia to Canada in 2010. I was heartbroken, but you have to let them fly. My kids were such a big part of my life. They were my reason for existence, and for a long time, I struggled to find purpose in other things, but eventually, I did.

These days, I have seven grandkids, and I enjoy spending time with them, as well as with my friends and my husband. I still need that contact with my children. You never let go of them in your heart. The love is always there. The connection between the mother and child is very strong, and for me, my kids were my best friends and the light of my life.

• I grew up in the Midwest and miss the friendliness and small talk back home.
• Pleasant chitchat has been rare for me in Germany, but I continue to live here for the hiking and security.
• I feel safer in Germany compared with the US.

In late August 2016, my wife and I landed in Düsseldorf. It was love at first sight.

We're avid hikers, and I remember the feeling of absolute glee with our easy access to miles of footpaths along a river — in this case, the Rhine — without worrying about cars, traffic, or intersections.

I grew up in the Midwestern US and had dreamed for many years of living in Europe. So, when my wife and I finally got the opportunity just before I turned 30, we seized it.

We loved traveling and had just spent a year in Costa Rica, but we wanted to try somewhere in Europe where trains could whisk us away to different countries with ease.

We found that in Germany. However, life here has become about more than just the convenience of traveling to different cities and national parks a short train ride away.

I've come to appreciate the security of a country that values a social safety net.

I feel more at ease in Germany

One of my memories in Cleveland — the last American city I lived in — involved nearly being hit by a reckless driver on our way home from a cycling advocacy meeting.

I yelled at him, and he sped around the block to confront us again. Fortunately, there was no weapon involved — just profanity. However, in the US, the possibility of encountering an armed driver always lingered in the back of my mind.

I'm not looking for street fights in Berlin — where I live now — but conflicts happen everywhere. The difference is, in Germany, I don't wonder if a minor dispute will end with someone pulling a gun. I feel safer sticking up for myself here.

I miss the friendliness where I'm from

None of this means I dislike the US. Too often, people mistake my preference for Germany as an invitation to bash my home country.

The US will always be home, a frustrating sibling only I can make fun of, no matter how estranged Uncle Sam and I become.

Above all, I miss the general friendliness back home, like when you encounter a stranger and ask, "How's it going?"

I didn't appreciate this until it was gone. Pleasant chitchat has been rare for me in Germany. For example, ordering at a restaurant or checking out at a grocery store is purely transactional.

I usually loathe small talk, but in this case, I miss it. Those tiny interactions remind us of our shared humanity, like the waiter who asks for your order and starts swapping life stories a minute later with genuine interest that goes well beyond someone just working for tips.

Fortunately, Berlin, where I've lived for five years, is home to many Americans. I can get my fix of "everything is awesome" Midwestern niceties right here. I'm Jewish, and I've even found a wonderful community of Jews from around the world who've become some of my closest friends.

The US will always be home, but I have no plans to move back

Though I'm now a German and European Union citizen, I'll always be American.

However, as long as Europe remains a place where we feel more secure and free to live the way we want, it will be the place where I feel I most belong.

Eventually, we plan to split our time between Berlin and the US to spend more time with our nieces, nephews, and aging parents. For now, we are not considering a full-time move back to the US.

• Apple CEO Steve Jobs asked Jony Ive not to dwell on his potential actions posthumously.
• Ive shared insights on their close relationship on the "Desert Island Discs" podcast.
• Ive led Apple's design team, creating iconic products like the iMac and iPhone.

Before he died in 2011, Steve Jobs left iPhone designer Jony Ive with a request.

Ive led Apple's design team to help create the company's most iconic products, and he developed a close relationship with its cofounder along the way. During an appearance on BBC's "Desert Island Discs" podcast, Ive talked about some of his last conversations with Jobs, who had pancreatic cancer.

Jobs had a specific request for after his death: Don't get hung up on what he would've done.

Ive recalled Jobs saying, "When I'm not here, I really don't want you to be thinking 'well, what would Steve do?'"

Yet despite the warning, Ive said he still finds himself asking that exact question. He said he thinks of Jobs' parting wish at each slip-up, and believes Jobs "probably did" want him to wonder what the late Apple CEO would do.

The former chief designer officer sounded choked up while speaking about the 17 missed phone calls he'd received on the day he learned about his best friend's illness. In the years since his death, Ive said the "absurd anecdotes" alleging Jobs was difficult to work with led to a misunderstanding of Jobs' resolve to turn his ideas into a reality.

Ive said he and Jobs ate lunch together "every day of the week," went on family vacations, and had continuous conversations about design.

After Jobs returned to Apple as CEO in 1997, he tasked a young Ive to design a network computer with internet connectivity as the company faced bankruptcy. The "impossible task" resulted in the colorful iMac desktop released in 1999.

Ive led design on the iPhone, iPad, and other products before announcing his departure from Apple in 2019 after 27 years at the company.

• Kunal Sonalker transitioned from a government data analyst role to the private sector for better opportunities and pay.
• He leveraged his government experience by showcasing measurable impacts and building a strong network.
• Sonalker highlights differences in work pace, upskilling needs, and experimentation between sectors.

When Kunal Sonalker graduated from the University of Florida in 2017 with a master's degree in computer science, his career aspiration was to be a data scientist at a Big Tech company. But he soon found out it wasn't going to be easy to reach his goal.

"Data science was a growing field then, and there weren't many entry-level roles for data scientists or machine learning engineers," Sonalker told Business Insider. "I almost got no interview callbacks from the bigger firms."

During a career fair, he met some recruiters from a state government agency focused on water resources, landed an interview, and was hired as an entry-level data analyst.

He felt constrained in his government job

While Sonalker found his government job "super interesting" and appreciated the chance to work with brilliant environmental scientists, he felt constrained by the scale of his work.

"I wanted to work on big data systems and large-scale projects, and I wasn't getting a chance to work on that," he said.

Sonalker also felt that despite his employer's desire to leverage technology, budget constraints often limited the government sector's ability to invest in new technologies and software. The compensation was also much lower than that of the private sector, which included company stocks and RSUs.

After just five months in his government role, at age 26, Sonalker decided to pivot to a private-sector job as a data science analyst at a retail healthcare company. His new role also came with a significant pay hike, and within one-and-a-half years, his salary was nearly 50% higher than that of his government job.

After about two-and-a-half years at the healthcare company, he landed a data analytics and machine learning role at a supermarket chain. Today, the 32-year-old is a data scientist at Nordstrom.

3 ways Sonalker marketed himself for the private sector with government sector experience

1. Showing measurable impact

Sonalker translated his government-sector accomplishments into measurable results that demonstrated his impact on efficiency, cost savings, and process improvements.

For example, he worked on several initiatives that improved workflow processes at his government agency, saving his team many manual hours.

"I quantified this project — how much manual effort did we reduce, what were the cost savings associated with this project, how did we use automation tools to improve the existing process — and showcased it in my résumé," he explained.

2. Connecting with people at his target companies to gain potential referrals

His strategy was to search "[company name] + role + LinkedIn" to find people who were working or who had worked in the companies and roles he was interested in.

After sending initial invites to these professionals, he set up a coffee chat and told them about his experiences and what exactly he was looking for in a new role.

"You can build a strong network just by doing this," Sonalker said.

3. Emphasizing his ability to navigate complex systems, adapt to new environments, and lead end-to-end projects

When working in the government agency, Sonalker developed a complete module to automate the agency's reporting system.

"When you highlight these large-scale projects, explaining how you navigated through them and what the tradeoffs and challenges were, it goes a long way with the hiring manager," he said. "These skills are highly valued in the private sector."

3 things he wishes he knew before making the transition

There were also some things Sonalker wished he had known before transitioning out of a government job.

1. The pace of work is significantly different

Sonalker didn't realize that private sector jobs move much faster than government jobs, with a greater emphasis on quick decision-making and rapid implementation of new technologies.

"On the government front, we used to experience this occasionally if there were floods or water issues in a county, but for the most part, it was smooth sailing," he said. "We used to have timelines for our deliverables, but nothing too crazy."

2. You may need to upskill or obtain new certifications to stay competitive

Sonalker quickly discovered that tech jobs require always remaining a student, constantly learning and upskilling yourself — something he personally enjoys and participates in.

"I've been constantly enrolling myself in new courses," Sonalker said, something his manager has been very supportive of.

For example, Sonalker learned Tableau and enrolled himself in certifications from Amazon Web Services, which taught him how to train and host AI models on their cloud platform. He's also recently taken courses on building generative AI applications, finetuning open-source AI models, and deploying these models into production environments.

3. There's significant room for experimentation

In the government sector, if Sonalker's team wanted to try out a new technology, they had to make a very detailed case about why they needed that investment. He found this not to be the case in his non-government jobs.

"The private sector is liberal, and you'll have room to try out new methods — fail faster and succeed sooner," he said.

The private and public sectors both have their pros and cons

Sonalker said he no longer struggles with the problems that government jobs often come with, like limited compensation and salary growth, slow decision-making processes, and inertia to change.

However, he also acknowledged drawbacks of the private sector, such as shaky job security due to ongoing Big Tech layoffs and potentially longer working hours with stricter timelines, whereas government jobs traditionally have offered better work-life balance and a sense of public service.

Sonalker's aspirations to become a data scientist at a Big Tech company have evolved over time, thanks to his work with AI and machine learning methods at Nordstrom. "I feel retail — especially e-commerce — has a ton of applications to leverage some of the recent developments happening in AI," Sonalker said. "Rather than focusing on where I work, I plan to prioritize the kind of work I'm doing."

Sonalker plans to remain in the private sector for the foreseeable future, but he doesn't view this as a permanent departure from public service. "AI can be a game-changer for government efficiency and service delivery," he said, pointing to uses such as optimizing resource allocation and improving citizen engagement.

"Its successful implementation often requires the expertise and resources of the private sector," he said, adding that it's a public-private collaboration he'd be interested in helping facilitate.

Do you have a story to share about transitioning from a government job to the private sector, or vice versa? Contact this editor, Jane Zhang, at [email protected].

• Netflix is full of great movies to watch throughout March.
• See action thrillers like "Sicario" and "Den of Thieves 2: Pantera."
• The horror "Ma" and the Netflix original movie "The Electric State" will also be available on the streaming service this month.

Do you feel that in the air? It feels like a hint of springtime as temperatures warm up across the country.

Still, for those of us still in hibernation mode and want something to watch while sitting in front of the TV, Netflix has several offerings that can keep you entertained.

Here are the best movies coming to Netflix this month.

"50 First Dates" (March 1)

After their perfect connection in 1998's "The Wedding Singer," Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler reteamed in this 2004 comedic love story.

Sandler plays a womanizer living in Hawaii, and Barrymore plays his next target. She throws him a curveball when he realizes she suffers from amnesia.

"Black Hawk Down" (March 1)

Based on real events, this 2001 gritty war movie follows what happened when a US Black Hawk helicopter went down in enemy territory during a 1993 raid in Mogadishu.

The movie stars Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Eric Bana, Tom Sizemore, Orlando Bloom, Tom Hardy, and Sam Shepard.

"Blade Runner: The Final Cut" (March 1)

Released in 2007, this version of Ridley Scott's classic sci-fi movie (originally released in 1982) is considered the truest vision of the movie from the legendary director.

Harrison Ford plays a cop in a futuristic Los Angeles who hunts down synthetic humans known as "replicants."

"Friday" (March 1)

This classic comedy, written by and starring Ice Cube, follows a day in the life of two out-of-work friends (Cube and Chris Tucker) as they try to escape the neighborhood bully and a drug dealer.

The sequel, "Next Friday," is also available.

"Ma" (March 1)

In this twisted thriller, Octavia Spencer plays a lonely woman who befriends a group of teenagers after they ask her to buy beer for them.

It leads to them beginning to party in her basement regularly. However, the woman they call Ma isn't as motherly as she seems.

"Sicario" (March 1)

When you blend the directing talents of Denis Villeneuve with a screenplay from "Yellowstone" creator Taylor Sheridan, you are given one of the best action thrillers of the last decade.

Emily Blunt plays an FBI special agent who gets a front seat into how the US's war on drugs is corrupt and misleading. Benicio del Toro stars as a mysterious man with ulterior motives, and Josh Brolin is the leader of a CIA task force who pushes the envelope of what's legal and what's not.

"Wedding Crashers" (March 1)

This classic romantic comedy stars Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, who play friends who sneak into weddings to have a good time and seduce women.

Things change when one falls for a maid-of-honor (played by Rachel McAdams), leading to the pair breaking all their wedding-crashing rules.

"The Electric State" (March 14)

In the latest Netflix original movie from directors Anthony and Joe Russo, Millie Bobby Brown plays a teen who sets out to find her younger brother, along with a robot and drifter (Chris Pratt).

Stanley Tucci, Giancarlo Esposito, and Ke Huy Quan also star.

"Den of Thieves 2: Pantera" (March 20)

The original "Den of Thieves" found a loyal fan base on Netflix after its 2018 theatrical release. Now, the sequel is hitting the streamer after its theatrical run earlier this year.

Gerard Butler's character turns from cop to crook in the movie as he teams with O'Shea Jackson Jr. onscreen for a thrilling heist.

Sam had been on the set of "Beast Games" for only a few hours when disaster struck.

It was his first day as a freelance crew member on the Toronto set of the new game show from the YouTuber MrBeast. He was helping break down the set labeled Beast City — a miniature town with a basketball court, tables, cabins, and a tower on the northern side.

He weaved in and out of the set props while wrapping up cables. At one point, he walked into a section of the tower — a giant rectangular four-story structure that looked like it was made of concrete.

When he exited the tower, he collapsed and hit his head. He couldn't move his arm and felt a searing pain in his shoulder.

He started coughing up blood. "I don't want to die," a witness recalled him saying.

Sam didn't know it at the time, but workers had been disassembling the tower above him, and a dislodged section had fallen and sliced his left shoulder. He spent eight days in the hospital, where doctors removed his spleen and performed reconstructive surgery on his shoulder. He suffered a lung contusion, a hemothorax, and damage to his ribs, scapula, spine, and clavicle, medical records show. He said that it took months of physical therapy to regain use of his arm and that his surgeon said he couldn't return to work until spring at the earliest.

An executive producer visited him in the hospital and provided an envelope containing DoorDash and Uber gift cards totaling roughly $1,000, he said. A person close to the production said that it was something he'd asked for and that he was repeatedly offered other forms of support. Sam said he didn't remember asking for the gift cards and was underwhelmed. "Accidents on sets happen, but this one seemed preventable," he told Business Insider in an interview. He requested Business Insider use only his first name to protect his identity, which is known to BI.

"If it was really well organized or well communicated, this wouldn't happen in the first place," he said. He said he wanted MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, to publicly acknowledge the incident and ensure something like it wouldn't happen again.

In early August, The New York Times reported claims from over a dozen anonymous contestants of inadequate living conditions and safety issues during the shooting of a promotional video in Las Vegas. Five contestants filed paperwork in September seeking class-action status against Donaldson and the production companies behind the show, accusing them of "dangerous circumstances and conditions" on the Las Vegas set. According to a summary online, the case status is pending, with the next hearing set for March.

Some crew members told Rolling Stone that on-set conditions in Toronto had improved, but that the work environment was "loose" with safety.

After BI contacted the YouTuber's team for comment on this story, Sam said a representative from production contacted him, saying they were "here to support me and provided me some things I can't share." He declined to share further details.

A 'bloody' scene on set

"Beast Games" is a 10-episode reality series hosted and executive-produced by Donaldson. It was filmed from late August to September in a closed airplane construction facility and the company Blink49 ran production. The show involved 1,000 contestants competing in outlandish and risky challenges to win a $5 million prize. Its episodes were released on Amazon Prime Video from December through February, and Amazon has said it was the second-most-viewed original series of 2024. A representative from Amazon MGM Studios declined to comment on this story. Blink49 did not respond to requests for comment.

Sam's first and last day of work on "Beast Games" was September 11. BI pieced together what happened that day based on interviews with Sam, 24, and two other "Beast Games" crew members who witnessed or were aware of the incident, along with medical records, emails, and other documents.

The tower on set was covered in roughly 8-by-8-foot wood squares made to look like concrete, a supervisor who was also a "Beast Games" production assistant said. Each square was about 4 or 5 inches thick and seemed to weigh a couple hundred pounds. On the show, the tower was used for games like throwing a ball into an oversize cup on the ground floor and catching a ball that fell from holes in the ceiling. The structure appeared sturdy, surviving a record-breaking rainstorm on July 16 that flooded the set.

Around 11:30 a.m., Sam said he was untangling a "jungle of wires" in the basement section of the tower. Some of the cables were still attached to light fixtures outside the tower, so he stepped out of the west exit, he said. "There was nothing to block that off. There was no dedicated path. There was nothing to indicate that at all," he said.

At the same time, workers were attaching the squares to a boom lift, removing them from their steel frames, then lowering them to the floor, two people on-site that day said. At one point, the crew appeared to detach a section on the third floor without the boom lift attached, the supervisor said. That free square fell on Sam.

"The third-floor square had been dislodged and pushed out," said the supervisor, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of damage to his career. "I saw it come down. I knew immediately this was really bad — this was one of those moments where things change."

He said he rushed to Sam's side and "immediately radioed for a medic," describing a "bloody" scene. "I remember when I was by Sam's side looking up and seeing someone's head popping up out of the empty hole" where the square had been, he said.

A person close to the production said that Sam wasn't using the "established" path to exit the tower and that it was technically a prohibited area. Sam and the supervisor said there were no indications on the ground floor that there was work being done above them.

"I don't remember seeing any pylons, a guarded-off area, or anyone telling us that they were moving walls," Sam said. He and the supervisor said they had taken the same path underneath the boom lift multiple times since they'd started their shifts at 8 a.m. Sam said he was wearing normal gear for a construction site, including a hard hat and steel-toe boots.

An ongoing investigation

An ambulance arrived on the scene within minutes and rushed Sam to the emergency room of the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, which has the largest trauma center in Canada.

The production crews halted work for the day while Ontario's labor ministry — Canada's agency that protects workers — and the police visited the site to investigate.

Sam said his family contacted multiple lawyers in September regarding any legal action they could take and were told he couldn't sue his employer because he took a payment from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, which provides insurance benefits for injured workers.

The CBC reported three months later, in December, that the Ontario labor ministry was investigating an "industrial accident" in which a crew member "was injured by falling wood on September 11 on the set."

Sam said his last contact with the labor agency was in January. A spokesperson for the ministry told BI that it was notified of an incident on September 11 in North York in which a worker suffered injuries caused by a piece of falling wood and that it issued a "requirement" to the production companies not to disturb the site of the incident. The spokesperson said the agency would not provide further information because the investigation was ongoing.

Sam said he was worried about his job prospects. He had wanted to be a part of the film industry since he was 10 and first saw "Terminator 2" and "Indiana Jones." But his injury has made him scared to go back to a set.

Sam told BI that more than anything, he wanted his incident publicly acknowledged and thoroughly investigated.

"I still can't use my left arm like I was able to," Sam said. "At the moment, I can only lift maybe 2 pounds with it. I'm working with physio to hopefully get it back to normal. I lost my spleen, so I'm also immunocompromised."

He told BI that seeing MrBeast take accountability, in particular, would mean a lot. He said Donaldson isn't the "company or people that rigged the wall," but he's the "face and the captain of the team."

• The Upfront Summit is a glitzy annual invite-only conference hosted by Upfront Ventures.
• Investors expressed unease about the state of the tech market, which is dominated by AI mega-rounds.
• Former Vice-President Kamala Harris held an hourlong private meeting at the conference focused on AI.

What do Prince Harry, Kamala Harris, Bill Gurley, and Serena Williams have in common? Aside from all being famous, they were at this year's Upfront Summit, the glitzy annual invite-only conference hosted by Upfront Ventures that aspires to be nothing like most of the stodgy events dotting the conference circuit.

The summit is held at a unique location yearly, such as the Rose Bowl, Malibu Farm, or the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. This year's event was at the Intuit Dome, the new arena in Inglewood, CA, that is home to the NBA Clippers. There was pickup basketball at lunch, two illuminated hoops on the stage, and booming speaker introductions by the Clippers' public address announcer.

Though the theme was ostensibly basketball, the more overriding one onstage and in conversations at couches and tables on the outskirts of the area was the uneasy duality of the current tech market. On the one hand, venture investors are enamored of generative AI, which many see as a once-in-a-generation moneymaking bonanza bigger than the mobile phone. Megafunds like Andreessen Horowitz and General Catalyst keep raising billions more to pile into the biggest AI startups.

"This is a unique moment," said Bill Gurley, general partner at Benchmark who backed startups like Uber and Zillow, in an interview on stage. "AI is the exact event every founder and [general partner] dreams of."

On the other hand, most VCs have been unable to return much capital to their limited partners because the IPO market has been slow to recover, and the M&A market has been quiet. Many startups have been going out of business as capital runs dry. There is also widespread concern those megafunds could be bad for the industry.

"I am a short-term pessimist and a long-term optimist," said Pat Grady, partner at Sequoia Capital, in an on-stage interview. "I think we're going to have a culling of the herd because people got away from the original spirit of venture capital, which is helping founders build legendary companies, and they got into the asset management business."

General partners in a less enviable position than Grady pony up thousands of dollars to attend Upfront, and they are not paying for the food (which is always excellent) or the speakers (mostly top-caliber). Their return on investment is meeting the endowment heads and chief investment officers from places like the University of Michigan and Mizuho, who can write checks into their next fund.

Getting those LPs to make commitments proved frustratingly slow again this year, especially for less-established players, according to multiple VCs and LPs I spoke to at the conference. Two LPs said they were impressed by the many funds they met with, but when I asked which funds they would invest in, they said they were not deploying any capital right now.

As the gravity of tech has been moving rightward with Donald Trump's return to the White House, the Upfront Summit retained its bluer, California vibe. There were appearances from Chelsea Clinton and Gov. Gavin Newsom, who received a frosty reception from some in the audience still upset about his handling of last month's catastrophic wildfires in LA. (Sequoia partner and Elon Musk confidant Shaun Macguire, as well as developer and former LA mayoral candidate Rick Caruso, also spoke.)

Former Vice-President Kamala Harris held an hourlong private meeting at the conference with around a dozen venture investors and other attendees to discuss AI, according to multiple people in the room. Harris's appearance was kept highly under wraps, and few at the conference knew she was there.

Harris, who served as AI czar during the Biden administration, was eager to hear about where the technology is heading, according to those in the room. She will also be speaking at HumanX in less than two weeks, an AI conference in Las Vegas.

Mark Suster, managing partner of Upfront Ventures, created the Upfront Summit over a decade ago to put LA's tech scene on the map, and the event has always served as a love letter to Los Angeles. This year, the wildfires loomed large, with many there, including Suster, affected by the fires that burned through Pacific Palisades, where many in LA's tech community live.

A teary-eyed Suster took to the stage to ask for donations for fire relief and raised over $130,000. Paris Hilton closed out the summit with Tim Cadogan, CEO of GoFundMe, and a somber panel on rebuilding.

Afterward, investors, founders, and limited partners mingled over tacos, BBQ chicken, and funnel cake at a glitzy closing party on the Clippers' hardwood court. It was back to work as investors tried to seek out the few remaining LPs who had not yet flown home, trying to pitch them one last time.

• I traveled on the Caledonian Sleeper train for $360 on a trip from London to Edinburgh.
• My highlight was the club car, with friendly staff and tasty food.
• The ensuite room was modern and comfortable, but I barely slept as the train was too noisy and shaky.

The Caledonian Sleeper is the UK's most famous overnight train, with similar London-to-Scotland services dating back to 1873.

I had the chance to try it out on a work trip to Edinburgh, where I toured Emirates' new Airbus A350.

Business Insider paid £285 (about $360) for a Club en-suite room, which includes a free breakfast plus access to the lounge and club car.

In addition to the convenience of waking up in the city center, I thought its luxurious offerings elevated it well above the typical train journey.

The food was delicious, the club car was relaxing, and the staff were welcoming.

The train benefits from modern sleeper cars with neat tartan designs and comfortable beds — but I struggled to get more than a couple hours of sleep.

Here's what my journey was like.

I traveled to Edinburgh, but there are several Caledonian Sleeper routes throughout Scotland.

Going to Glasgow, the train splits at the junction town of Carstairs, while all the other routes split at Edinburgh. (That includes the Fort William route, which then goes through a different station in Glasgow.)

Unless you've booked a seat instead of a room, you won't need to move during these splits — but you might wake up.

My journey started at Euston — arguably the worst of London's train stations.

Euston has 16 platforms and is often very congested — but it was much quieter when I arrived around 9:30 p.m.

If you're traveling further north than Edinburgh, you can board an hour earlier than this.

Thankfully, I didn't have to hang around and could go straight to Platform 1.

The Caledonian Sleeper differs from most British passenger trains in using a locomotive similar to Amtrak.

It's supposed to make the journey smoother for passengers, but I still struggled with the shakiness.

With a Club en-suite room, I was able to spend some time in the guest lounge.

The staff member at the desk was friendly and welcoming as he gave me the keycard for my room.

There were some complimentary drinks and snacks, or you could also buy meals.

I watched the news on TV and had a can of Irn-Bru, a soda that outsells Coca-Cola in Scotland.

Passengers to Edinburgh were called to board about 10:15 p.m.

The Caledonian Sleeper uses British Rail Mark 5 passenger carriages, which entered service in 2019, so they're pretty modern.

My room wasn't spacious — but was comfier than I expected.

Prices for a room start at £200 (about $250), but can be more expensive depending on when and where you're traveling.

If you're looking for more space, there is a double-bed en-suite option — but you'll need to book well in advance.

Families could also book rooms with an interconnecting door. Tickets for children under 16 are slightly cheaper.

Ticket	One adult	Two adults
Seat	£54 / $68	£108 / $137
Classic	£200 / $252	£270 / $341
Club en-suite	£260 / $329	£340 / $430
Caledonian Double	£380 / $481	£445 / $563

I was able to fit my duffel bag under the bed, but couples might struggle with more luggage.

The operator says each guest can have one piece of hand luggage and two larger items no bigger than 30cm x 70cm x 90cm.

Amenities, menus, chocolate, and a form for ordering breakfast were laid out on the bottom bunk.

After filling out the breakfast order form and choosing a time to eat, you hang it outside your door.

The amenity packs include a sleep mask and earplugs.

After briefly unpacking, I thought I'd check out the rest of the train.

It wasn't easy to keep my balance in the tight corridors when the train started moving.

The club car was the highlight of my journey.

It's reserved for those who booked a Club ensuite or Double room, but if there's enough space, you might still be allowed in.

I was impressed with the staff, who were both friendly and laid-back.

I chose a seat facing the window and perused the menu.

I ordered a beer and the traditional Scottish dish of haggis, neeps, and tatties.

Haggis is made from sheep's organs — but is tastier than it sounds!

I got back to my room around 11:15 p.m. and had a shower before getting into bed.

I'd never showered on a moving vehicle before, but I didn't have any trouble doing my ablutions as the sleeper train slowly pulled away from Euston.

Charging outlets were plentiful, and there were convenient controls next to the beds.

The temperature control came in handy at night, while the host-call button, connected to a speaker above the window, can be used to order room service.

The upper bunk also has a light switch and one USB-A outlet.

I got into bed shortly after midnight — but was awake much longer.

The mattress and comforter were good quality, but I think I should've chosen the top bunk as this might've been less susceptible to vibrations and shakiness.

My noise-canceling headphones were helpful, but it was still a shaky journey.

Throughout the night, my attempts to sleep were disturbed at the four stations we stopped at, and I couldn't help opening my eyes.

Once the train started again, the shakiness made me slide down or sideways in bed. Although headphones helped me block out the worst of the vibrations, they were still noticeable.

I don't think I really fell asleep until around 4 a.m. Then, I woke up again as the train divided at Carstairs.

I got out of bed about 6:30 a.m. when breakfast arrived.

Like my dinner the previous night, my culinary expectations were exceeded — I thought it was a first-rate bacon roll.

I also got a carton of orange juice and sachets of ketchup and brown sauce.

There is supposed to be a table that folds out from underneath the sink. However, mine was missing.

I didn't have to leave the train until nearly an hour after arriving in Edinburgh.

I had plenty of time to get dressed and pack my bag.

After arriving in Edinburgh about 7 a.m., almost an hour passed before a member of staff knocked on my door, shortly followed by an announcement asking passengers to leave.

Unlike air travel, I arrived right in the city center.

Edinburgh Waverley station is on the city's main thoroughfare, Princes Street.

With a couple of spare hours, I was able to take in the view from Calton Hill, visit Greyfriars' Kirkyard, and spit for good luck on the Heart of Midlothian mosaic on the Royal Mile.

I might not have had than a couple hours of sleep, but I found a second wind of energy from the beauty of the city — or maybe it was just the cold weather and pending work ahead.