• Diane Warren is tied for the longest losing streak in Academy Awards history.
• At the 2025 Oscars, Warren lost her 16th bid for best original song.
• Her nominations include songs performed by Celine Dion, Aerosmith, Lady Gaga, and Becky G.

Diane Warren went home empty-handed from the 2025 Oscars on Sunday, marking her 16th straight loss for best original song.

"I'm consistent as fuck," Warren told Variety on the after-party red carpet. "I'm the Terminator of the Oscars — I'll be back. That's in my Arnold Schwarzenegger voice. I'm coming back. You can't get rid of me."

Warren, who has also written pop hits with stars like Taylor Swift, Mariah Carey, and Cher, is the most-nominated woman in the category's history. She is tied with Paul Francis Webster and trails just two others for the all-time record: Johnny Mercer (18) and Sammy Cahn (26). However, of those four legendary songwriters, only Warren has never won the award.

In fact, only one other person has been nominated for 16 Oscars without a single win: sound mixer Greg P. Russell, whose last nomination (and loss) was in 2013 for his work on the James Bond film "Skyfall." (Russell should have been up for his 17th sound mixing award in 2017, but his nomination was rescinded for "violation of Academy campaign regulations," Deadline reported.)

As of Sunday, Warren is tied with Russell for the longest losing streak in Oscar history. All 16 of her nominated songs are listed below in chronological order.

"Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" from "Mannequin" (1987)

Performed by: Starship

What beat it: "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" from "Dirty Dancing"

"Because You Loved Me" from "Up Close & Personal" (1996)

Performed by: Celine Dion

What beat it: "You Must Love Me" from "Evita"

"How Do I Live" from "Con Air" (1997)

Performed by: Trisha Yearwood

What beat it: "My Heart Will Go On" from "Titanic"

"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" from "Armageddon" (1998)

Performed by: Aerosmith

What beat it: "When You Believe" from "The Prince of Egypt"

"Music of My Heart" from "Music of the Heart" (1999)

Performed by: Gloria Estefan and *NSYNC

What beat it: "You'll Be in My Heart" from "Tarzan"

"There You'll Be" from "Pearl Harbor" (2001)

Performed by: Faith Hill

What beat it: "If I Didn't Have You" from "Monsters, Inc."

"Grateful" from "Beyond the Lights" (2014)

Performed by: Rita Ora

What beat it: "Glory" from "Selma"

"Til It Happens to You" from "The Hunting Ground" (2015)

Performed by: Lady Gaga

What beat it: "Writing's on the Wall" from "Spectre"

"Stand Up for Something" from "Marshall" (2017)

Performed by: Andra Day and Common

What beat it: "Remember Me" from "Coco"

"I'll Fight" from "RBG" (2018)

Performed by: Jennifer Hudson

What beat it: "Shallow" from "A Star Is Born"

"I'm Standing With You" from "Breakthrough" (2019)

Performed by: Chrissy Metz

What beat it: "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" from "Rocketman"

"Lo Sì (Seen)" from "The Life Ahead" (2020)

Performed by: Laura Pausini

What beat it: "Fight for You" from "Judas and the Black Messiah"

"Somehow You Do" from "Four Good Days" (2021)

Performed by: Reba McEntire

What beat it: "No Time to Die" from "No Time to Die"

"Applause" from "Tell It Like a Woman" (2022)

Performed by: Sofia Carson

What beat it: "Naatu Naatu" from "RRR"

"The Fire Inside" from "Flamin' Hot" (2023)

Performed by: Becky G

What beat it: "What Was I Made For?" from "Barbie"

"The Journey" from "The Six Triple Eight" (2024)

Performed by: H.E.R.

What beat it: "El Mal" from "Emilia Pérez"

• I tried and ranked five fish sandwiches from McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, and Popeyes.
• I was impressed by McDonald's classic Filet-O-Fish and tartar sauce.
• However, Popeyes had my favorite sandwich.

Fish sandwiches are popular spring offerings at many fast-food chains, but which chain has the best one?

Every year, fast-food chains release fish sandwiches to coincide with Lent, the 40 days leading up to Easter Sunday. During that time, Catholics abstain from eating meat but can eat fish on Fridays. This year, Lent begins on Wednesday, March 5.

McDonald's has been selling fish sandwiches since the 1960s. The chain's Filet-O-Fish was born after a franchisee in a highly Catholic area of Ohio noticed his restaurant's sales suffered on Fridays.

The franchisee brought the idea of selling a fish sandwich to McDonald's then-CEO Ray Kroc, who was appalled at the idea of adding a fish sandwich to his hamburger empire's lineup.

"I don't care if the Pope himself comes to Cincinnati. He can eat hamburgers like everybody else. We are not going to stink up our restaurants with any of your damned old fish," Kroc recalled in his 1977 memoir, "Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald's."

However, customers couldn't get enough, and by 1965, the Filet-O-Fish became a permanent fixture on McDonald's menus nationwide.

Since the Filet-O-Fish was introduced, nearly every fast-food chain has added a seasonal fish sandwich to their menus during the Lent season.

Popeyes introduced its first flounder fish sandwich in 2021 and added a spicy fish sandwich to its menu the following year, perhaps aiming to capitalize on the incredible success of its spicy chicken sandwich in 2019.

But which sandwich is the tastiest and offers the best value?

For a definitive ranking, I tried all the fish sandwiches I could from McDonald's, Burger King, Popeyes, and Wendy's.

Here's every fast-food fish sandwich ranked from worst to best.

My least favorite fish sandwich was the crispy panko fish sandwich from Wendy's.

The sandwich cost $9.36 from my local Wendy's in Brooklyn, New York, excluding tax and fees.

It was supposed to come topped with lettuce, a slice of American cheese, pickles, and tartar sauce. Strangely, my sandwich came with tomato instead of lettuce.

This was obviously just an error made by the employees at my specific Wendy's. However, I decided to go ahead and try it anyway.

I enjoyed the crispy fish patty, and the tartar sauce had a subtle flavor.

I couldn't quite get past the tomato, though. It added a strange flavor to an overall OK sandwich. After removing the tomato, I liked the sandwich a bit more.

If you order this yourself, you'll probably have a better experience than I did, with the correct toppings.

My fourth favorite sandwich was the Big Fish sandwich from Burger King.

It cost $7.39 from my local Burger King in Brooklyn, New York, excluding tax and fees.

The Alaskan pollock patty came topped with tartar sauce, lettuce, and crunchy pickles on a toasted potato bun.

I thought the sandwich could have used a touch more tartar sauce, and the lettuce could have been spread out more to ensure an evenly distributed bite of all the ingredients.

The pickles were very crispy and I loved the texture of the potato bun.

However, I thought the fish patty could have been just a touch flakier on the inside. The texture was more chewy than some of the other sandwiches I tried.

My third favorite was the classic flounder fish sandwich from Popeyes.

It cost $5.99 from my local Popeyes in Brooklyn, New York, excluding tax and fees.

The top of the sandwich had a smattering of tartar sauce, and underneath the flounder patty were layers of pickles and more tartar sauce.

It came on a brioche bun, just like Popeyes' other sandwiches.

I really liked how crispy the fried fish patty was, and it had a lot of savory flavor.

The tartar sauce was tart without being too overpowering. The pickles were thickly cut, which impressed me. Overall, I really enjoyed this sandwich and would definitely order it again.

My second favorite was the McDonald's Filet-O-Fish.

It cost $5.99 at my local McDonald's in Brooklyn, New York, excluding tax and fees.

The sandwich came with a very generous serving of tartar sauce and a half-slice of American cheese.

The cheese slice was slightly hanging off the burger, so I moved it more to the center before diving in.

In 2023, a TikTok user claimed the size of the Filet-O-Fish patty appeared to have shrunken over the years, citing "shrinkflation," a tactic reportedly used by chains in which they reduce the size of their menu items in response to rising costs.

However, McDonald's responded that the "size and build of the Filet-O-Fish, including a half slice of American cheese, has not changed in decades." I didn't notice anything surprising about the size — I thought it seemed average for a burger.

This sandwich had the flakiest fish patty, in my opinion.

The layers of fish flaked off with each bite, which I didn't find with any other sandwich.

I also loved the amount of tartar sauce included on this sandwich — it added a lot of flavor and moisture, without being overpowering. I didn't really taste the cheese, and think the sandwich would have been just as good or better without that addition.

My favorite fish sandwich was the spicy flounder fish sandwich from Popeyes.

It cost $5.99 from my local Popeyes in Brooklyn, New York, excluding tax and fees.

Instead of tartar sauce, the sandwich came topped with spicy spread and pickles.

I was interested to see if I would miss the tartar sauce, since I liked it on the classic Popeyes fish sandwich.

I loved the spicy flavor of the mayo with the fish and crunchy pickles.

I thought this sandwich was the most flavorful, and also a great value at $5.99. I loved how the spicy mayo added not only a delicious amount of flavor but also added moisture to the fish patty.

The crinkle-cut pickles tasted fresh, and I didn't feel weighed down by the ingredients. I would definitely order this sandwich again.

• I bought five frozen meals at Trader Joe's and made them all in my air fryer.
• The store's shrimp burgers and carne-asada burritos were pretty much made for the air fryer.
• Sadly, I couldn't get a perfectly crisp and bubbly cup of French onion soup in the air fryer.

I'm a chef and love using my air fryer to whip together quick, easy meals.

Some of Trader Joe's frozen items seem designed for the countertop appliance. However, it can be hard to tell which ones are better off in the microwave or on the stove.

As a test, I made five of Trader Joe's popular frozen meals — shrimp burgers, chicken fried rice, chiles rellenos con queso, carne-asada burritos, and French onion soup — in my air fryer.

Here's how they turned out.

Trader Joe's shrimp seafood burgers are made for air-frying.

I air-fried a couple of frozen shrimp seafood burgers at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes, flipping them halfway through.

They came out plump and juicy with a lovely golden crust on the outside.

Because the burgers were so juicy, they made a bit of a mess in my air-fryer basket. However, it was quick and easy to clean it out.

Chicken fried rice was a bit of a dark horse.

I don't like making frozen fried rice in the microwave because it stays soft and mushy, but I don't always have the energy to stand over a frying pan.

The air fryer seems like a smart alternative to enhance crispiness.

I dumped about half the bag of Trader Joe's chicken fried rice directly into my air-fryer drawer and cooked it at 350 degrees for 10 minutes, stirring halfway through.

The chicken cooked nicely without drying out, and the veggies turned bright and crisp, not overcooked or mushy. My one disappointment was that the rice didn't get quite as crispy as I'd hoped.

The chiles rellenos con queso came with air-frying instructions.

Trader Joe's box of frozen chiles rellenos includes two batter-covered, cheese-stuffed peppers.

I followed the box's specified air-fryer instructions to heat the peppers at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, flipping halfway.

They came out beautifully golden — the crust was crunchy and light, and there was no shortage of delicious cheese inside. However, perhaps because of this, the poblanos themselves almost became more of an afterthought flavor-wise.

The carne-asada burritos were another air-frying win.

Trader Joe's carne-asada burritos feature thinly sliced grilled beef and onions wrapped in a thick flour tortilla.

I air-fried a single frozen burrito at 350 degrees for 13 minutes.

The tortilla came out stiffer and darker than if I'd microwaved it, and the interior was still nice and moist. I find the microwave can dry things out sometimes.

The meat was juicy, and there was a good amount of it, but the burrito still benefited from a dunk in spicy salsa for more flavor.

It might sound silly, but I wanted to test the frozen French onion soup.

That's right, soup in the air fryer.

According to the instructions on the box, you're supposed to microwave the soup for five minutes. However, I wanted to maximize the crispy, cheesy top to imitate a restaurant-style crock of French onion soup.

I placed the frozen soup puck in an oven-safe glass container and put it in my air fryer at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

When the timer went off, I got the crispy crown I was after, but the center of the soup wasn't totally defrosted. I was forced to stir until it was fully melted, which scattered the cheese.

Even though I didn't have the top I wanted, once the soup was heated through, it was delicious. The cheese found its way into nearly every bite.

I'm excited to keep cooking most of these in my air fryer.

Overall, the air fryer seems to be a good match for many of Trader Joe's frozen offerings.

I'd choose the appliance every time for the shrimp burgers since it's hands-off. I think it cooks them a little more evenly and reliably than the stove.

I also loved the texture and cheesiness of the air-fried chiles rellenos, and I'm excited to liven them up in the future with extra salsa or taco sauce.

If you like a crispy burrito, the air fryer is definitely the way to go for Trader Joe's frozen offerings.

Although it wasn't absolutely perfect, when I'm in a rush and can't pan-fry the chicken fried rice, I much prefer the air fryer to the microwave.

All that said — and this may not come as a surprise — there's no clear advantage to cooking the French onion soup in an air fryer. I'm still trying to figure out how to get the perfect, crispy topping for that one.

• Cisu Capital, run by former Elliott portfolio manager Mark Wills, launched its commingled fund Monday.
• The firm first began trading with an SMA with roughly $200 million from Squarepoint in August.
• The commingled fund has more than $100 million, thanks in part to a large endowment's backing.

Elliott Management spinout Cisu Capital has started trading in its first commingled fund, seven months after it began managing money for a single outside investor.

Cisu, run by former Elliott portfolio manager Mark Wills, began trading with capital from hedge fund Squarepoint in August, running $200 million in a separate account. Its commingled fund raised more than $100 million, two people familiar with the firm told Business Insider, with a large endowment among the new investor base.

London-based Cisu declined to comment.

Wills spent more than a decade at billionaire Paul Singer's firm, with a stop at King Street Capital prior to that. His new firm, which focuses on the financial services sector, has been able to do what many new launches have struggled to do: Raise a commingled fund.

Commingled funds have large pools of investors and are what investors have typically signed on to when investing into a hedge fund, while SMAs offer a tailored investment strategy. This often allows LPs to customize risk limits, liquidity terms, and fees.

A ripple effect of the growth of big-name platforms such as Millennium has been an increase in the number of new managers being launched via separately managed accounts. Large allocators often prefer SMAs because they give them more transparency on a manager's holdings and they can negotiate on fees.

Capital in SMAs grew 27% year-over-year, a recent Goldman Sachs report notes, with nearly one out of every five allocators utilizing the structure. Allocators are using young managers' lack of scale to their advantage, pushing for new launches and emerging funds to adopt the structure if they want capital.

The Goldman report notes that more than half of the capital in firms with less than $500 million in assets is now held in SMAs — up from 41% at the end of 2020.

Cisu is one of several launches from former Elliott investors in recent years, as BI has previously covered.

• After a monthlong delay, Trump said he'll place new tariffs on Canada and Mexico on Tuesday.
• Trump already placed a 10% tariff on China, and more could be coming.
• Here are the goods imported into the US the most from these three countries.

When evaluating how President Donald Trump's new tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China could impact Americans, start by looking at the goods imported most from those countries.

The biggest categories are oil, electronics, and vehicles.

Trump reached a deal with the leaders of both Canada and Mexico to delay tariffs by a month in early February, and with the delay coming to an end, new tariffs are set to go into effect on Tuesday. It's unclear if Trump will stick with the 25% level, his commerce secretary Howard Lutnick said on Fox News on Sunday.

"There are going to be tariffs on Tuesday on Mexico and Canada," Lutnick said. "Exactly what they are, we're going to leave that for the president and his team to negotiate."

The president has already hit China with a 10% tariff, and Lutnick confirmed that more is coming unless the country cracks down on its drug policies, particularly to stop the flow of fentanyl into the US.

While details surrounding the implementation of the tariffs are still unclear, the proposed tariffs could affect a wide variety of goods Americans use daily. The Census Bureau reported that in 2024, the US imported over $1.3 trillion in goods from China, Mexico, and Canada combined.

From Canada, the top 2024 imports included over $98 billion worth of crude oil and about $28 billion in passenger cars.

The US imported nearly $67 billion worth of car parts from Mexico in 2024, along with $43 billion in computers, $14 billion in medicinal equipment, and $12 billion in crude oil.

China, meanwhile, is a major supplier of electronics to the US. The census data showed that in 2024, the US imported $64 billion in cell phones and other household goods from China, $34 billion in computers, and about $31 billion in games, toys, and sporting goods.

Some companies have already been preparing to increase prices as a result of Trump's tariff plans on the campaign trail. Real estate consultants previously told BI that Trump's trade plans, particularly his 25% tariffs on steel, are set to make rent and condo prices more expensive.

Walmart CFO John David Rainey also told CNBC on November 19 that price hikes are likely on the horizon if Trump implements his tariffs: "We never want to raise prices. Our model is everyday low prices. But there probably will be cases where prices will go up for consumers."

Additionally, Trump's plans could amplify economic strains between the US and its trading partners. Both Canada and Mexico threatened retaliatory tariffs in early February to push back against Trump's tariffs. Trudeau said in a statement at the time that if Trump "wants to usher in a new golden age for the United States, the better path is to partner with Canada, not to punish us."

Companies and economists have said that Trump's tariff plans would increase consumer prices. BI previously reported that Trump's broad tariff proposals were likely to increase prices across the board, from clothes and footwear to computers and video games.

Trump has previously denied that would be the case. "I am going to put tariffs on other countries coming into our country, and that has nothing to do with taxes to us. That is a tax on another country," Trump said in an August speech. However, he told reporters in early February that Americans will experience "some pain" as a result of the tariffs, but he said they will overall be beneficial for the country.

The tariffs implemented during Trump's first term did not significantly influence inflation, but his recently announced tariffs are broader and could have a larger impact on prices.

At this point, however, Trump's proposals could still change. During his first term in 2019, Trump announced new tariffs on Mexico with the aim of strengthening the border, but following criticism from lawmakers — including some Republicans — he withdrew the plan.

• Celebrities flocked to the Vanity Fair Oscar party in Los Angeles on Sunday.
• The red carpet had plenty of high-fashion looks, but some stars didn't wear their best outfits.
• Kim Kardashian's gown looked out of place, and Megan Thee Stallion's dress was a little too daring.

The 2025 Academy Awards came and went on Sunday, and A-list stars closed out the night at Vanity Fair's annual Oscar after-party in Los Angeles.

Celebrities arrived at the event in red-carpet attire, and many Oscars attendees changed into second looks for the evening.

There were plenty of stylish outfits at the event, but there were also stars who didn't nail their looks, from poorly tailored outfits to dresses that didn't suit the occasion.

Take a look at the outfits that missed the mark at the Vanity Fair after-party.

Kim Kardashian

Kardashian went bridal for the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in a custom Balenciaga gown. The white, strapless look had a corset bodice, a full skirt, and ruching from top to bottom.

That said, it looked far more like a wedding dress than a fun, after-party frock. The same gown in a different color could have been more interesting, and accessorizing with statement jewels would have been fun.

John Legend

Legend sported an all-black ensemble consisting of baggy trousers, a thick skirt, and a high-necked, long-sleeved poncho.

Unfortunately, the outfit wore him — it was too oversized and overwhelming in shape.

Zoe Saldaña

Saint Laurent designed the Oscar winner's after-party look. It featured a black long-sleeved top that Saldana wore without a bra, a peach high-low skirt with thick ruffles and a train, and sheer black tights.

Though the color combination looked sharp on Saldaña, the top half of the outfit was too casual for the Oscars-related event. A black halter top or strapless bodice would have been a better match.

Jeremy Pope

Jeremy Pope looked dapper at the Oscars in a simple black Balmain suit decorated with bowties. His after-party look, however, wasn't as strong.

He arrived wearing a wide-legged leather catsuit and platform boots. Though the bottom half of his outfit had potential, its bodice only covered half of Pope's chest before extending into a scarf that covered his mouth. The outfit was ultimately more odd than fashionable.

Taraji P. Henson

Henson was one of the few stars to wear a minidress after the Oscars.

But the asymmetrical piece looked more messy than daring. Its sparkling embellishment attached at the dress' waistline looked especially out of place.

Julianne Hough

From the front, Hough's black-and-white gown was eye-catching. It had a leotard-like top with sheer panels showing her arms and waist, and a ruched, cream-colored skirt that added elegance.

It was the other side of the gown, however, that ruined the look. Its backless design extended so low — all the way to Hough's backside — that it was more distracting than interesting.

Matt Bomer

Bomer's Valentino tuxedo had a classic silhouette, and his relaxed tie and decorative brooch paired well with the look.

However, his patterned scarf was distracting, particularly because he wore it tucked under the tuxedo jacket. The look would have been better if Bomer ditched the superfluous accessory.

Lily-Rose Depp

Depp took a unique approach to Chanel, wearing two pieces that were more daring than usual for the fashion house.

Her bralette-style top was sheer and had a sequined bow pattern, and her low-waisted skirt was pleated and made from green tulle. But because the garments sat so far apart on Depp's body, it looked like she was missing a chunk of her outfit.

Megan Thee Stallion

Stallion isn't a stranger to taking risks on the red carpet, but the green gown she wore to the after-party was a bit too daring for the setting.

The green, mermaid-style dress hugged her figure, and feathers on the bodice floated out from the dress like a peacock's plume. The neckline was so low that the rapper's chest was completely exposed, with only green nipple pasties providing her with coverage.

The dress would have been great if the neckline was a bit higher or if Meg had worn a statement bralette with the garment instead of pasties.

Michael Urie

While it was fun that Urie didn't just wear a traditional suit, there was too much going on in his sheer, lace-embellished set. The beading and lace on his jacket and pants were so intricate that they were hard to look at when they overlapped, and the wide leg of his pants didn't help.

Urie may have had a more balanced look if he paired the statement jacket with simpler pants.

Sarah Paulson

You couldn't miss Paulson's Marc Jacobs dress, both because of the red color and the massive bubbles of fabric that adorned the hem, backside, and neckline of the dress.

The play on volume could have been fun, but the bubbles were so big that not even Paulson's simple black clutch or heels could detract from them. Slightly less fabric would have made the look stronger.

Anna Kendrick

The black cocktail dress Kendrick wore from Ashi Studio was pretty — its fabric had a fun sheen and a bubble skirt hit above her knee.

However, flower-shaped sequin embroidery on the hemline and one sleeve took the dress from sleek to clunky. The look would have stood out more if it didn't have so many embellishments.

Ice Spice

Ice Spice wore a floor-length mustard skirt and coordinating cardigan, without a shirt.

The cardigan made the whole look feel casual for the red carpet, though, and Ice may have looked more red-carpet-ready if she paired the skirt with a formal top.

Laverne Cox

Cox's black dress looked more like a costume than a red-carpet outfit, particularly because of the way it was styled.

The archival Manfred Thierry Mugler dress formed a scalloped, halter neckline that looked like a spiderweb. Cox paired the dress with black gloves, and her dramatic hair and makeup included a short, black hairstyle, no eyebrows, and red lips.

The outfit would have been perfect for a chic Halloween party or themed event, but it didn't quite work for the after-party.

• The Nissan Rogue Rock Creek is a new, off-road-focused version of the brand's popular compact SUV.
• I was impressed by the Rogue Rock Creek's peppy engine, comfortable cabin, and fun off-road looks.
• I was disappointed by the lack of skid plates and powertrain to back up the rugged looks.

The Rogue compact SUV has been Nissan's best-selling model in the US over the past decade.

I drove a well-equipped Nissan Rogue SL last year and was impressed by its peppy performance, comfortable cabin, and good fuel economy.

This year, Nissan introduced a new off-road-focused variant called the Rogue Rock Creek, comparable to Toyota's RAV4 Woodland Edition and Subaru's Forester Wilderness. It's the second Nissan model to receive the Rock Creek treatment, following the larger, midsize Pathfinder Rock Creek.

Even though it doesn't quite have the off-road hardware and beefed-up drivetrain to back up the rugged looks, the Rogue Rock Creek remains a capable compact crossover.

I recently spent a week behind the wheel of a 2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek.

The base front-wheel-drive 2025 Rogue S starts at $29,230, while the fully-loaded all-wheel-drive Rogue Platinum starts at $40,920.

The middle-level Rock Creek trim starts at $35,420, but premium paint, luxury options, and freight fees push the as-tested price to $38,025.

The Rock Creek edition comes with special styling that sets the trim apart.

The Rock Creek trim comes with a black front grille with Lava Red accents and triple air vents that evoke Nissan's rugged Hardbody pickup trucks of the late 1980s and 1990s.

The Rock Creek also includes special extras like 17-inch all-terrain tires and a heavy-duty roof rack.

Frustratingly, the Rock Creek edition has the same 8.2 inches of ground clearance as all other Rogues. It's also missing the underbody skid plates needed for rough terrain, like those found on Nissan's off-roading-focused PRO4X trim Frontier pickup.

Unlike the Pathfinder Rock Creek, which received a brawnier V6, the Rogue Rock Creek is powered by the same 3-cylinder engine found across all trims.

Nissan's KR15DDT turbocharged variable compression engine produces a solid 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque. The gutsy three-cylinder engine also emits a surprisingly robust sound.

The three-cylinder engine is equipped with Nissan's unique variable compression technology, which can vary the compression ratio for hard acceleration or more efficient operation while cruising.

The transmision remains the weak point in the Rogue's drivetrain and doesn't fully exploit the punchy turbocharged engine's performance. The transmission feels inconsistent, and its artificial shift points feel a bit rubbery.

My test car boasted EPA fuel economy figures of 27 miles-per-gallon city, 32 highway, and 29 combined. The Rock Creek, with its bulky all-terrain tires, gets two miles per gallon less than other all-wheel-drive Rogues.

The Rock Creek is the only trim that comes standard with all-wheel-drive.

My test car came with the same five different drive modes (Eco, Snow, Sport, and Off-road) as all AWD-equipped Rogues. However, the Rock Creek edition is the only trim to get Hill Descent Control, which helps maintain traction down steep slopes.

The Rogue delivers peppy performance with a soft, comfortable ride.

Just like the Rogue SL I drove a few months ago, the Rock Creek delivers a friendly and pleasant driving experience. The chunky all-terrain tires have not hindered the Rogue's on-road performance or contributed to any appreciable road noise. In fact, its more substantial sidewalls contribute to a softer, more comfortable ride.

The Rogue's turbocharged engine produces strong power throughout the rev range, and it remains remarkably quiet and smooth even under the strain of hard acceleration.

The Rock Creek's cabin is attractive and logically designed

The cabin's ergonomics and build quality are excellent. All of the controls and buttons are intuitively placed, making button hunting minimal. There are also plenty of storage nooks and a variety of USB, 12V, and wireless charging options.

Atop the center console is a small eight-inch infotainment touchscreen. Higher trim models get a sleek 12.3-inch unit. The NissanConnect infotainment system is pretty simple and easy to use but feels dated.

Fortunately, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard.

My test car came standard with a 360-degree camera system.

Exclusive to the Rock Creek trim is a special Off-Road View feature that gives the driver a visual of what's immediately in front of and on the side of the vehicle, allowing for more precise tire placement when off-roading.

My test car's front seats came with attractive lava red accent stitching and badging.

The seats, which are upholstered in black leatherette and waterproof nylon, were incredibly comfortable.

The Rogue's second-row split-folding bench seat offers plenty of room for two adults or a fairly cramped experience for three.

Its 38.5 inches of legroom is on par for the segment.

Open the motion-activated rear liftgate, and you'll find 31.6 cubic feet of cargo space.

Fold down the rear seat to expand cargo capacity to 74.1 cubic feet, smaller than competitors like the Hyundai Tucson and Honda CR-V

The Rock Creek comes standard with Nissan ProPilot Assist.

The adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist worked well on straight roads.

My verdict: See past the rugged styling, and you'll find a thoroughly sensible and capable compact SUV.

Despite the rugged styling, the Nissan Rogue Rock Creek is not a true off-roader, thanks to its funky transmission and the lack of skid plates to prevent damage to the underbody.

Thus, it's neither a pavement princess nor a rock-crawling beast. It lives somewhere in the middle. Perhaps as a helpful tool for the weekend adventurer who needs to drive on dirt roads to reach a campsite.

The reality is that most Rogue Rock Creeks will never leave the pavement and will be destined to spend their lives shuttling about suburbia. And that's OK because, at its core, the Rogue is an excellent compact crossover with a peppy performance, good fuel economy, and a comfortable cabin.

• Google's "Ask for me" tool uses AI to call businesses for service details and availability.
• Currently, the tool is limited to nail salons and auto shops and requires users to opt in.
• If the tool expands to medical offices and customer service lines, it could be a game changer.

Google launched its "Ask for me" tool on Search Labs a little over a month ago, and it's good news for those who find picking up the phone to call local businesses daunting or time-consuming.

The experimental tool uses AI to call businesses near you to find out how much a service costs and when it's available. For now, it only works for nail salons and auto shops, and you have to opt in to try it. If Google expands this tool in the future though, it could become an everyday application of agentic AI for consumers.

The experiment is available on desktop and mobile, although I had some trouble getting the tool to work for nail salons on my desktop. The "Ask for me" banner shows up when you search terms like "oil change" or "nail salons near me."

Once the banner shows up, you can click on "get started" to fill out details about the type of service you're looking for. If you're looking for an auto service, it will give you 25 service options. You'll also have the option to enter your car model and year.

For nail salon requests, Google asks about what kind of nail service you want. Then, it provides nine manicure options, including dip powder or nail art, and four for pedicure. It will also ask if you want extra services like a massage, nail extensions, or dip removal. For both categories, it will ask if you want the soonest availability, or if you're looking specifically for a week or weekend slot.

Google will confirm it received your request over text or email, depending on your choice. Then, assuming businesses are open, you'll get a full report on local services offered within about 30 minutes. For those who picked up the call from Google, you'll see details from the conversation, like the pricing and soonest availability. It will also provide a list of businesses that didn't pick up the phone.

I sent multiple requests over the last few weeks to test out the tool's functionality and accuracy. To verify the results, I also contacted the businesses directly to confirm prices, availability, and whether they had actually received a call.

I heard from one of the salon workers that it didn't sound like a human called — and they were left a little confused. Another salon worker asked if the Google call was spam, although they still picked up and provided the information asked.

There are multiple nail salons in my area, so Google was able to get about five businesses on the line in a 30-minute span. However, if you're in a more rural area, you might not get as thorough of a report.

For now, I don't see myself needing to use this service given I rarely go to the nail salon and don't use a car. That said, I would use this on a regular basis if it expanded its capabilities to call medical offices, insurance companies, customer service lines for store brands, and mailing centers.

If the service expands, some form of identity verification may be needed, along with clearer boundaries about what the AI can inquire about. That said, I'm looking forward to a future where I can hopefully spend less time on the phone asking for basic information.

• Bird flu outbreaks have caused egg prices to skyrocket in recent months.
• I recommend bananas, chickpea flour, commercial egg replacer, tofu, and ground flaxseed as egg substitutes.
• Bananas, egg replacer, and ground flaxseed are better for baking while tofu and chickpea flour work best in savory egg dishes.

Recent bird flu outbreaks have made eggs difficult to find and expensive to buy, and it may be awhile before egg prices drop. To save money, some people are cutting back on buying eggs and turning to more budget-friendly substitutions.

Since becoming vegan about 10 years ago, I've experimented with a variety of egg alternatives in cooking and baking.

Here are my favorite egg substitutes and how best to use them.

Bananas are great for pancakes and baked goods

I use bananas in place of eggs when I make pancakes or desserts, like cakes and muffins. I use half a banana or about one-quarter cup mashed to replace each egg.

Bananas will sweeten any recipe and thicken the mixture, but chunks can also show up in the batter and make the final product taste like banana. I like this for a lot of recipes, but it is worth adjusting other ingredients to get the ideal consistency and flavor.

While bananas will add sugar to any recipe, they also contain plenty of fiber and nutrients like potassium and vitamin B. If bananas are already on the grocery list, this substitute can be an easy and affordable swap.

Chickpea flour works for omelettes and egg bites

Chickpea flour, a common ingredient in South Asian and Mediterranean cuisines and a popular gluten-free alternative to wheat flour, can replace eggs in omelettes, frittatas, and egg bites. It's high in protein, with 20 grams per cup — the equivalent of about three eggs.

For an egg-free omelette, I mix the flour and water together in a one-to-one ratio, adding salt and spices to my liking. Then, I let the batter cook on a nonstick pan until it resembles a crepe. For egg bites or frittatas, I use the same batter as the omelette with extra water as needed and bake it in a tin.

My 16 ounce bag of chickpea flour cost four dollars, which is cheaper than a carton of a dozen eggs in many grocery stores right now.

Commercial egg replacer is the easiest substitute for baked goods

Commercial egg replacer is my preferred substitute when baking a new recipe and avoiding experimentation. The egg replacer does a great job of preserving the original taste and texture of recipes without needing to adjust other ingredients.

I often use Bob's Red Mill Egg Replacer, which can make 34 "eggs." One tablespoon of egg replacer mixed with two tablespoons of water equals one egg.

The egg replacer has more sodium and carbohydrates than eggs and doesn't contain any protein, but my 16 ounce bag costs six dollars and it lasts me for months.

Firm and silken tofu are high-protein egg alternatives

Tofu, commonly used in East Asian and Southeast Asian cuisines, has been a staple for me since becoming a vegan, especially since it is high in protein.

One of my favorite breakfast dishes is plant-based scrambled eggs with crumbled-up firm tofu. While the taste isn't exactly the same, the texture is close to that of scrambled eggs, and with spices like turmeric and garlic powder, it's a satisfying breakfast.

Silken tofu, which is softer and creamier, can also replace eggs as an ingredient in decadent desserts like brownies, cakes, and pies. Its mild taste doesn't drastically change the flavor of the final product, and its smooth texture makes for a rich batter. To replace one egg, use one-quarter cup of silken tofu.

A 16 ounce package of firm or silken tofu is often cheaper than a carton of eggs.

Ground flaxseed is my go-to for baking

Ground flaxseed is my preferred egg substitute when baking since it's versatile and packed with fiber. To make a "flax egg," mix one tablespoon of ground flaxseed with three tablespoons of water and let it sit for five minutes to thicken before adding it to any batter.

A flax egg can be used for nearly all baking recipes, though in lighter desserts, like cookies, the seeds may sometimes be visible in the batter. Otherwise, flax eggs often preserve the texture and taste of recipes and add a delicious nutty flavor.

A 14-oz bag of ground flaxseed can easily produce over 40 "eggs."

• The Vanity Fair Oscar Party was held in Beverly Hills on Sunday night following the Oscars.
• Rachel Zegler, Cynthia Erivo, and Mikey Madison changed outfits for the night's event.
• Their looks were even better than what they wore to the actual awards ceremony.

Celebrations didn't stop after the 2025 Oscars concluded on Sunday night.

Following the awards ceremony, dozens of stars headed to the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills, where many of them showed up in different outfits for the annual bash.

Here's a look at the stars who wore even better looks to the second event, including Mikey Madison and Kylie Jenner.

Selena Gomez

The "Emilia Pérez" star was undoubtedly among the best-dressed stars at the 2025 Oscars, in a rose-gold gown from Ralph Lauren.

When she arrived at the after-party, she topped the look with a shimmering black number from Armani Privè and a thick diamond choker that tied the look together.

Monica Barbaro

The custom Christian Dior look that Barbaro wore to the 2025 Oscars missed the mark.

But that wasn't the case for the custom Dolce & Gabbana gown she changed into for Vanity Fair's party.

The strapless dress, crafted from cream-colored fabric and embellished with sparkling silver strings, fit her perfectly and looked classic at the after-party.

Rachel Zegler

Zegler was a vision in her cream-colored halter gown. The neutral piece had a chest cutout, ruffles all over its bodice, and a lace skirt that flowed around her feet.

She also complemented the look perfectly with an updo hairstyle and long earrings.

Mikey Madison

Madison evoked old Hollywood glamour for her after-party appearance.

She wore a strapless black gown with a plunging V-shaped neckline, a wrapped bow belt, and a full skirt.

The Oscar winner also draped a scarf around her arms and donned a statement ruby necklace.

Meg Ryan

Ryan looked cool and chic on the event's red carpet in a semisheer dress.

The tan piece was sleeveless, had a beaded collar, and was embellished from top to bottom with delicate sparkles. The actor wore the look with rosy makeup and a diamond bracelet.

Kylie Jenner

Jenner sat in a custom Miu Miu dress next to her boyfriend, the Oscar nominee Timothée Chalamet, at the 2025 Oscars. She then attended the Vanity Fair after-party in a new gown designed by Ashi Studio.

The corseted design was strapless, with a sheer illusion bodice and lace skirt.

It fit Jenner like a glove and made for the perfect edgy look with her dark, wavy hairstyle.

Rachel Sennott

Sennott's sparkly pink dress for the Oscars wasn't her best, as the sequins didn't match the glamour of the red carpet. It didn't help that her black tights looked out of place.

But the black high-low gown the "Saturday Night" star changed into for the after-party struck the perfect tone.

The gown's plunging halter neckline gave way to a dropped-waist bodice, and the pleated fabric on the skirt made the dress look like it spilled onto Sennott's body. It created a fun and dramatic look.

Coco Jones

Jones chose a custom Coach dress for her Oscars debut, which had sparkles on the skirt as well as a daring slit. It was a solid look, but it didn't stand out from the pack.

She changed into a strapless gown that leaned into the butter-yellow trend for the after-party. The architectural detailing on the strapless corset bodice contrasted with the ruching on the skirt, which had a slit, just like her first dress.

The colorful ensemble was the perfect continuation of the fashion story Jones started earlier in the night.

Lisa

Lisa swapped out the menswear look she wore to the awards ceremony for a custom Miss Sohee dress that had a gothic feel.

The base of the K-pop star's look was a sheer black bodysuit with a high neckline and intricate lace. The strapless dress featured a sweetheart neckline, and the skirt bubbled around her hips before flaring inward for an exaggerated hourglass shape. She accessorized the look with wet hair and diamond jewelry.

The dress was stunning, and Lisa amped the look with edgy styling.

Joe Locke

The "Heartstopper" star's Oscars outfit had too much going on, from the jacket with tails to the sparkly vest he wore with it.

His after-party look was much simpler — and much more stylish. He wore a tuxedo shirt with no tie or jacket, pairing it with a cummerbund and wide-legged pants.

A gold brooch on his chest elevated the party-ready look.

Coco Gauff

The tennis star wore two colorful Miu Miu gowns to celebrate the Oscars, but her second look was stronger than the first.

The yellow dress she wore to the awards ceremony looked a bit dated because of its thick straps and large, sparkly embellishments that covered it from head to toe.

The green gown Gauff changed into for the after-party felt fun and fresh in comparison. The sheath dress had spaghetti straps. Gems were embroidered onto the bodice in the shape of florals that cascaded down the garment. A circular cutout in the back gave the gown a sexy edge.

Cynthia Erivo

Erivo looked stunning at the Oscars, celebrating her character Elphaba from "Wicked" in a custom Louis Vuitton gown.

But her dress for the after-party felt like a celebration of Erivo herself, which was a welcome change from the rest of her awards season looks.

Erivo's Vivienne Westwood gown was made of a gauzy gray fabric that crisscrossed over her body to form a mini dress. The fabric spilled into a floor-length train on one side, and a black bow sat on one of Erivo's shoulders and her waist.

She carried a heart-shaped bag and wore gothic-style jewelry with the outfit, creating a look that was both whimsical and sexy.

Gal Gadot

Gadot wore red Prada dresses to both the Oscars and the after-party, but the sheath dress she changed into was more interesting than the satin ball gown she wore to the show.

Sparkly black beading adorned the dress from head to toe, bringing texture to the simple silhouette.

Gadot wore a red scarf around her neck, mixing old Hollywood glamour with the more modern ensemble.

• Wendy Osefo is one of the stars of "The Real Housewives of Potomac."
• She and her husband have three kids and want them to be financially set up for success.
• They set up a trust for their kids but haven't told them about it — yet.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Wendy Osefo, one of the stars of Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Potomac." It has been edited for length and clarity.

My husband and I wanted our children to be financially secure if something happened to us unexpectedly or as we got older. So, Eddie and I met with an attorney and created a trust for our family.

We made sure there was an addendum that said they could get additional funds if they achieved certain goals, like learning our native tongue of Igbo or earning a Master's degree. We also included activities and extracurriculars we would like our children to do, such as joining my sorority or my husband's fraternity.

We tried to envision our children growing up and the milestones we wanted them to accomplish. Our attorney told us that if we were no longer here, the people we entrust to look after our children would have a clear plan of how we wanted to raise our children. We really took that to heart, and that's what made us create the addendum.

It took us over a year to finalize the trust, and it's still being edited. It's a very detailed trust. There are provisions for how Eddie and I should be cared for in the event of our passing and for our future grandchildren.

God willing, I'll be here til I'm 90 years old, but my kids, who are 11, 9, and 5, can start accessing the trust once they graduate from college. Before that, they can draw on the trust to buy their first car, pay their college tuition, or start a business.

My children don't know about the trust, and I want to keep it that way for a while

I've told my children, "You have to get a Master's degree if you want some additional funds," but they don't really get the concept of a trust. I think it's something that we'll have future conversations with them about.

I don't want them to know that there's a trust, which is their safety net. I want them to live life and accomplish the things they want.

I feel like the first time I would like them to know about the trust is if one of my children said, "Hey, mom and dad, I want to start a business." And then I can say, "OK, we will take it out of the trust."

Outside that, I don't want them to operate based on navigational signals from the trust. If you achieve those milestones, you get an added bonus; if you don't, then there is no harm or foul.

College is something that Eddie and I want for our children

Growing up with a Nigerian heritage, college was very important and something you had to achieve. I understand that college is not for everyone, but college was not an option when I was raised. It was a matter of "Where are you going to go to college?"

A lot of times, I feel like there's a pervasive narrative pushed on communities of color that you don't have to go to college, and I don't think that's fair because I don't see that same narrative often being pushed on white communities. So, I want to make sure that my children can achieve educational success as well.

I have four degrees, and Eddie has four degrees. It's just something that we value in our household. It's an Osefo thing.

Every family has the right to value different things in their household. It doesn't mean that it makes you less than if you don't value education.

Incentives are part of the trust, but it's not how we parent in daily life

When I was growing up, there were no incentives for school or chores. I was just told what to do. It was more like, "If you are a good child, this is what you do."

Eddie and I are definitely different that way. We are not forcing our children to do the things written in the trust, but if they do them, they get an incentive.

My friends think the trust is a great idea. My mom has a different opinion. She thinks kids should do the right thing and not be rewarded for it.

My kids are only incentivized for what's in the trust. Other than that, I agree with my mom that you make your bed, do the dishes, and take out the trash because that's what you're supposed to do.

We're trying to build generational wealth

It's really important for everyone to have life insurance if they can. Our life insurance rests within our trust, so if and when something happens to us, it gets paid into the trust.

The trust buys life insurance for every person and generation that comes after us, creating generational wealth within our family.

Basically, you have created your own family bank. And when you do that, you can borrow against the family bank if your grandkids ever need a loan.

My kids will be financially taken care of regardless of whether they do anything written in the trust. Still, if they want additional funds, they can do things to get that bonus.

Nandini Maharaj is a freelance writer covering health, wellness, identity, and relationships. She holds a master's degree in counseling and a doctorate in public health.

• How likable you are in a job interview often greatly determines your success in landing the role.
• It can be hard to feel authentic and optimistic when you're stressed about the interview itself.
• Soft skills like matching the interviewer's energy or being appropriately vulnerable can help.

Being well-liked doesn't just help you move up at work. It can also be a deciding factor in getting tahe job in the first place.

Employers are often more likely to choose someone they click with in a job interview, even if that person is a little less experienced or skilled than another candidate, according to Dr. Sharon Grossman, a counselor and executive coach specializing in workplace stress reduction. "It's an invitation to just be yourself," she said.

The more authentic you are, the more likely you are to hit it off with the interviewer — or spot red flags if you're incompatible with them.

That's easier said than done when you're stressed about answering questions correctly, but all you need are a few soft skills to "ease into a conversation" with the interviewer and come out on top, Grossman said.

Visualize nailing the interview

Research suggests that visualizing an outcome can help you make decisions to bring you closer to your goal.

To feel more relaxed and enthusiastic in an interview, it helps to visualize the process "down to the minute details," Dr. Zachary Ginder, a psychologist specializing in occupational stress reduction, told BI. He recommends finding time before the interview to close your eyes and picture yourself at every stage: the handshake, how you sit down, how you articulate each point, and how you express yourself when you're stuck.

If you've already done your research on the company and role, this mental rehearsal is an extra bit of prep to help your personality shine through.

Turn nerves into excitement

Feeling antsy before an interview doesn't have to be a liability. "A certain amount of stress, up to a point of course, is actually beneficial for peak performance," Ginder said.

You can turn your stress into an advantage by reframing it as motivation. Instead of trying to conceal how nervous you are, "you can show that you're excited, and that's really contagious," Grossman said.

Being energetic and open about wanting the role signals passion to the interviewer. Ultimately, it can make you more memorable than a candidate who was tougher to read or seemed too nonchalant.

Add a positive spin

Most interviews involve at least one tough question, such as why you're leaving your current role.

Being too negative or badmouthing your employer can backfire. Grossman suggested giving a generic answer, like "There was a conflict that I felt couldn't be resolved."

Then, shift the focus to the interviewer. You can say the experience taught you the value of good company culture and then ask the interviewer what they like about their company's culture.

You can use the same technique for any questions you're worried about answering. "It's always about pivoting and reframing to cast yourself in a positive light — while still being truthful, of course," Ginder said.

Match your interviewer where you can

While you don't want to be insincere in an interview, it helps to emphasize your similarities with the interviewer — and their vision of the ideal candidate.

If the interviewer is high-energy, it can help to "play up on that" if you're also a naturally bubbly person, Grossman said.

Research the company culture and make sure your answers match the mission statement. If collaboration is an integral part of the culture, you want to share stories that show you're a team player, instead of ones highlighting your independence, Ginder said.

You should only do this if you genuinely like and relate to the culture. Otherwise, you not only risk coming off as fake, you might also land in a role that doesn't fit you.

Tap into vulnerability

While your instinct might be to look perfect in interviews, a little vulnerability can go a long way.

If you fumble an answer, be honest, Grossman said. You can say something like "I'm sorry, can I start over? I was really nervous and what I just said doesn't truly represent what I want to say." Then take a beat to collect yourself and begin again.

Course-correcting in the interview can play as authentic and also demonstrate that you take ownership, she said. Plus, if the interviewer won't let you try again, it's a sign that you probably don't want to work there.

Interview them back

Grossman said you should always treat job interviews as a two-way process: you're also interviewing them as a fit. Ask detailed questions and be on the lookout for incompatibilities.

Even if it's your dream job, carry yourself with the knowledge that you have options. Otherwise, desperation can negatively color your answers or make you too nervous to be yourself.

"You have to say to yourself: 'I need a job and this job will be amazing. If I don't get this job, I'll find something else,'" Grossman said.

• Egg prices are at an all-time high, but living without them isn't as difficult as you may think.
• As a child with an allergy in the '90s, egg-free alternatives were difficult to find.
• However, in 2025, it's easier than ever to live an egg-free lifestyle.

From long lines outside Costco to sticker shock in supermarkets, many shoppers in the US have seen the effects of rising egg prices in stores — and their wallets.

Between December and January, egg prices rose by a whopping 15.2%, the largest month-over-month increase since June 2015. The average price for a dozen eggs is now $4.95, though many shoppers have reported paying far more.

To be honest, though, I didn't even realize prices had gone up because I've never purchased a carton of eggs in my life.

However, my egg-free existence was never by choice, as I was diagnosed with life-threatening allergies to dairy and eggs when I was around 9 months old.

Although millions of Americans are now in a panic over the price of eggs, many people like me have been living without them for decades — and it's not as difficult as you may think, especially in 2025.

Navigating an egg allergy decades ago was challenging but not impossible

As a child of the '90s, I found that allergy awareness simply wasn't as prevalent then as it is now.

I frequently had to explain to adults that I couldn't eat a bite out of the snacks they were offering me at day care or summer camp, even after my parents thoroughly explained my allergy to them.

Egg-free options were rare. I could eat snacks like Teddy Grahams and Oreos, but most pastries, bread, and pasta were off-limits.

At the time, there were no crowdsourced Reddit threads I could reference for suggestions for egg substitutes, and plant-based eggs wouldn't be widely available for another few decades.

Eager to ensure I didn't feel left out at birthday parties, my mom once tracked down an egg substitute — Ener-G Egg Replacer. The powder, a mix of starches and leavening agents, could replace egg whites or egg yolks in baking. She'd find a Duncan Hines cake mix and substitute milk with soy and the eggs with egg replacer.

Luckily, her "rare" find back then is fairly common and accessible today.

Nowadays, egg-free options and alternatives are everywhere

In recent years, my reality has shifted in a way I never would have imagined in childhood. I haven't outgrown my allergies, but the public has grown more aware of how to accommodate people like me.

Although my mom had trouble finding egg-free alternatives in the '90s, the options today are abundant, thanks in part to the rise in vegan and plant-based diets.

I still remember how emotional I felt last year when I found a vegan bakery in Paris with fresh croissants, pain au chocolat, macrons, and other treats. At last, I could finally order whatever I wanted.

Ordering delicious meals and desserts at restaurants, once a far-off dream, has now become a possibility for me as well. When I was a kid, I was often stuck with bland chicken and veggies when we'd go out to eat.

But recently, I was able to participate in a dessert-only fine-dining experience at Nicosi in San Antonio, and a full meal at Mixtli, a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Even better, egg substitutes feel way easier to research and access at grocery stores, and there are numerous egg replacers on the market.

It's also easy to find egg-free baking recipes online that use substitutes like unsweetened applesauce, bananas, flaxseed, and even aquafaba (the liquid left over from cooked chickpeas).

When I tell people about my allergies (or jokingly ask them what an egg tastes like), they often look at me with pity.

Although I'd love to know the joy of a fresh omelet or what a certain pastry tastes like, an egg-free life isn't nearly as difficult as people often assume.

Plus, on the bright side, I don't have to experience the pain of adding a $7 carton of eggs to my shopping cart.

• Since 2015, Daily Harvest's goal has been delivering healthy meals to customers across the US.
• It's using AI across facets of the business, including customer experience and packaging.
• This article is part of "How AI is Changing Everything: Small Business," a series exploring how small companies are using AI for success.

Daily Harvest is on a mission to bring nutritious food to consumers — with products that span heart-healthy harvest bowls to high-protein smoothies.

The meal delivery service, founded in 2015, ships orders throughout the US and sells its frozen food products in big-box and grocery stores like Costco and Kroger, and that all involves complex logistics.

While the brand's reach is large, its team is not — Daily Harvest employs fewer than 200 people.

As it has built an omnichannel business, Daily Harvest has integrated artificial intelligence throughout its operations, Jackson Mlawer, the company's director of product management, said. It's using AI for product recommendations, customer experience improvements, and packaging efficiency.

"Over the last year, we've invested a lot more in hyperfocusing on areas that we know over the course of our history as a business have driven success with AI," Mlawer said.

AI now touches nearly every facet of business operations, but the conversation often centers on how large enterprises or Big Tech companies are using it to scale their operations.

Small businesses like Daily Harvest are also tapping into AI, which shows how this segment can use the technology as a force multiplier.

Adopting a new AI approach

Mlawer said Daily Harvest has long been a tech-forward company. It initially built a custom tech stack, website, and mobile app, as well as internal tools. But beginning last year, the company turned to specialized, third-party AI solutions and has taken a more strategic approach with its AI investments.

Daily Harvest uses AI to drive product searches and recommendations for the 100 or so SKUs, or product codes, in its catalog. Sifting through all this data to recommend products based on each customer's dietary needs and unique preferences would be nearly impossible if it relied on humans alone. AI allows the company to quickly analyze customers' orders and website browsing history to incentivize them to try new products and reorder.

"We don't want customers to be fatigued with our food," Mlawer said. "We want them to try new products that we're launching or try things they've never tried so they can feel like the assortment is evergreen and it meets a bunch of different needs that they have throughout their life cycle." That's why ensuring the company has a robust data engine that can support product recommendations is so important, he added.

AI allows Daily Harvest to enhance other parts of its customer experience. The company has always used chatbots in its customer care channels, but AI allows it to drive more self-service and lets customers easily make changes to their plans, such as skipping their next order.

Previously, its customer care team would receive a help ticket and speak with the customer to resolve their issue. Last year, Daily Harvest implemented an AI chatbot that provides more rapid responses to customer queries. It also developed an AI model that categorizes customers at risk of canceling their subscriptions and directs them to a customer service agent for more personalized service, which improves retention.

"Not only are we seeing cost savings from enabling more of this automation, but we're seeing that our customer success scores — their actual satisfaction scores — have actually increased with the implementation of more AI in our care channels," Mlawer said.

Taking the friction out of fulfillment

AI also helps Daily Harvest enhance its fulfillment experience.

The company ships its boxes directly to consumers, so it's critical they are delivered on time and in good condition. Daily Harvest uses AI to determine how much dry ice to pack based on the number of products in each box and the weather at its final destination.

"How do we properly pack a box? Do we need 10 pounds of dry ice? Five pounds? Should I use a small box or a large box?" Mlawer said. "All these compounding factors are really intended to learn as AI is used, and then deliver, essentially, a frozen, on time, in-full package to customers."

With AI, Daily Harvest is improving packaging efficiency and the customer experience, but the technology isn't a solution for everything.

AI is only as good as the data it ingests, and there can be some growing pains in the beginning. For example, when Daily Harvest launched its new chatbot, the tool would sometimes provide incorrect responses to customers. The company adjusted how it trained and coached its AI model, pivoting to provide manual responses and focusing on a few use cases until the model had enough accurate data to deliver better results.

Within its fulfillment operations, Daily Harvest has also implemented quality-control measures, in which employees spot anomalies and double-check box configurations and packaging.

Mlawer said small businesses exploring AI should be tactical about how they use it. They don't need to apply it in every area. Instead, they can use it to augment specific parts of their operations and address the most pressing problems.

"Be very strategic with the type of AI enhancements that you feel your business will drive the highest value from," Mlawer said.

• Kroger has abruptly replaced its CEO with an interim leader, the grocery chain said on Monday.
• Rodney McMullen resigned, and Ronald Sargent is taking over his role.
• The chain said it learned about conduct "inconsistent with Kroger's Policy on Business Ethics."

The grocery chain Kroger is replacing its CEO after an investigation into his personal conduct, it said Monday.

Kroger said in a statement that it learned about conduct by Rodney McMullen that was "inconsistent with Kroger's Policy on Business Ethics."

"On February 21, the Board was made aware of certain personal conduct by Mr. McMullen and immediately retained outside independent counsel to conduct an investigation, which was overseen by a special Board committee," Kroger said.

No Kroger associates were involved in McMullen's conduct, Kroger said. It added that the behavior wasn't related to the company's financial performance.

McMullen has resigned from the CEO role, Kroger said. He'd been Kroger's CEO since 2014 and became chair of the company's board of directors the following year.

The company has appointed Ronald Sargent, a member of its board of directors who's a former CEO of Staples, as interim CEO and board chair while it searches for a permanent replacement.

Mark Sutton will take over as the company's lead independent director, Kroger said.

Kroger is the largest supermarket chain in the US by sales. The company operates grocery stores under multiple names, including Harris Teeter and Fry's.

The company is expected to report its fourth-quarter earnings on Thursday.

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• Dr. Shai Efrati, 55, says he is healthier than he was 20 years ago.
• His biggest tip to patients who want to live longer is to not retire.
• Other experts agree that retiring can be detrimental to longevity.

A longevity doctor shared his biggest tip for extending your life — don't retire.

Dr. Shai Efrati, a physician and a professor in medicine and neuroscience at Tel Aviv University, has been documenting his health for the last 20 years, including MRI scanning his brain and testing his cognition and physical performance. He told Business Insider his health markers are better now than they were when he was in his 30s.

As the founder of a hyperbaric oxygen therapy clinic in Florida, Efrati partially attributes his health to the treatment where patients breathe in pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been linked to reversing some of the biomarkers of aging, but isn't approved for this use by the Food and Drug Administration.

However, in his work with patients who want to age healthily, Efrati's biggest tip is to keep working for as long as possible.

Work can give us a sense of purpose

"The most important thing is to have a future," Efrati said. He said being needed by others can be one way to find purpose.

"Of course, if you are working in construction or something physically challenging, then stop. But if not, then don't ever retire," he said. "If you are quitting one type of work, find another one. Fight for a purpose, be need-able for something."

Efrati gave the example of a 90-something patient who was still working in real estate and thinking about how to build on Mars. Efrati believes the man's attitude and sense of purpose made him a better candidate for longevity-boosting medical care than a 40-year-old who had retired with the sole intention of relaxing.

A 2019 study found that of the 6,985 participants aged between 51 and 61, those who had a stronger purpose in life were less likely to die in the 16 to 18-year follow-up period. The authors said it's possible that a sense of purpose contributes to our wellbeing, which has been associated with lower levels of inflammation.

Staying occupied is linked to living longer

Karen Glaser, a professor of gerontology at Kings College London and lead researcher on the WHERL study into work, health, and life expectancy, previously told BI that staying in a job that isn't too stressful or physically demanding could protect our cognitive abilities.

Whereas retiring can deprive us of social connections, which are linked to longevity, she said. A 2023 study published in BMC Medicine found that people aged between 37 and 73 who were socially isolated had a 77% higher risk of dying of any cause.

Ben Meyers and Fabrizio Villatoro, researchers at LongeviQuest, an organization that validates the ages of the world's oldest people, previously told BI that working hard for as long as possible was a common trait among the over 1,000 supercentenarians that they had met.

And Heidi Tissenbaum, a professor in biology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School who researches healthy lifespans, said that keeping both the body and brain busy is essential for living a long, healthy life.

The same benefits can be gotten from volunteering or taking up hobbies, Glaser said — staying occupied is the key, rather than employment itself.

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

Welcome back! If you're feeling some kind of way about heading back to work, maybe hold off on that social media post. As much fun as it can be to vent, an ex-VP of HR at Microsoft said it's a fine line.

In today's newsletter, four massive firms are dominating the hedge fund industry and leaving everyone else to figure out where they fit in.

What's on deck

Markets: Hudson River Trading had a record year in 2024. Here's what went so well for the trading giant.

Tech: Hulu's livestream of the Oscars went dark during critical moments of the awards ceremony.

Business: Starbucks' CEO is six months on the job. How is he doing? (And what does it mean for your morning coffee?)

But first, don't even try to compete.

If this was forwarded to you, sign up here.

The big story

The new big four

In the world of hedge funds, there are four big names — and then everyone else.

Millennium, Citadel, Point72, and Balyasny have surpassed their peers by so much it's reshaping the entire industry, writes Business Insider's Bradley Saacks.

The fundraising ability, talent recruitment, and strong performance of those four multistrategy funds have made it almost impossible for up-and-comers to break in.

The concentration at the top has several knock-on effects.

For one, it makes an already competitive (and expensive) market for hiring even harder. One estimate last July of 18,600 people across 53 multistrategy firms found more than 71% worked for one of the big four.

And if you can't attract the best talent, you might have a tougher time raising money from allocators, who are already keeping things close to the vest due to high interest rates.

Those two factors make setting up your own fund a lot more intimidating than it used to be.

Even investors with the highest pedigrees — former Millennium executive Bobby Jain — have faced challenges going out on their own. And besides, the days of a high-profile investor running a fund that attracts billions of dollars in investments are long gone.

At the same time, one allocator told Bradley that Steve Cohen's Point72 has a $9 billion waitlist, which is larger than most firms' total capital.

As one person building a multi-strat fund put it to Bradley: "If you're going to compete with Citadel and Millennium in their own backyard, you're already dead."

The end result could mean less competition, as investors might just stay with the biggest dogs on the block.

Funds looking to stay afloat might try to think outside the box, lest they compete directly with one of the giants. That could mean catering to specific regions or focusing on more niche investments the big players wouldn't bother with.

Still, the rise of the big four could be an opportunity for smaller players. With firms like Millennium and Citadel looking more like big banks, being nimble could be an asset.

Specifically, using AI to help streamline work that a high-priced human might typically do could narrow the gap (and improve their margins).

News brief

• As Europe mobilizes behind Ukraine, it's sitting on a $218 billion ace card — and it's being urged to play it.
• 'Crypto Capital of the World': Trump selects cryptocurrencies for new strategic reserve.
• Citi's latest blunder: an $81 trillion 'inputting error.' (That's not a typo.)
• Millennials have a terrifying new job: being full-time adults.
• Here's what Trump's cabinet picks have in their investment portfolios — from bitcoin and Big Tech to index funds.
• Americans are afraid to fly after recent crashes — social media and DOGE aren't helping.
• The best-dressed celebrities on the 2025 Oscars red carpet.
• 'SNL' mocks Trump-Zelenskyy White House meeting, interrupted by a chainsaw-wielding Elon Musk.
• Jeff Bezos' Washington Post moves might please Trump — but they're costing him money.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the DoD's civilian federal workforce must respond to DOGE's productivity emails.

3 things in markets

1. Goodbye, WallStreetBets. Hello, investing influencers. With Roaring Kitty's rise in the rearview, there's a new set of retail-investing influencers guiding thousands of followers. Three told BI their strategies, explained why they left the WallStreetBets subreddit, and shared some personal Hall of Fame trades.

2. HRT's monster 2024. Hudson River Trading's net trading revenue hit nearly $8 billion last year, an all-time high, according to people familiar with the matter. Roughly half of HRT's trading profits still come from its high-frequency trading business. But the firm is also expanding into more hedge-fund-style trading strategies that require more capital and come with greater risks.

3. The US economy's big bogeyman: stagflation. Fears of higher inflation and slow economic growth are creeping back into the picture. Kansas City Fed president Jeff Schmid and Apollo chief economist Torsten Sløk both issued warnings in remarks last week.

3 things in tech

1. This dating app wants to be like Pokémon Go for finding love. Left Field launched for New York daters last week, and it's the latest startup aiming to mitigate swiping fatigue. The app wants to introduce a more passive way to date. Instead of swiping, Left Field sends push notifications of a potential match in the area if a user has location services on and crosses paths with another profile.

2. Inside the exclusive LA tech conference where VCs, royals, and legendary athletes mingle. The Upfront Summit is an annual invite-only event that aspires to be #not-like-the-other-tech-conferences. This year, Prince Harry, Serena Williams, and Kamala Harris were all in attendance, and AI excitement — and unease — was a dominant theme.

3. Hulu crashed during the livestream of the Oscars. On Sunday, some fans were left disappointed and unable to follow along in real time for some of the biggest awards of the night. It was the first time the platform has streamed the awards live.

3 things in business

1. The secret of business success. A study of 50 million American companies tried to crack the code, finding the amount of financing and its source are key indicators. But venture capital's mostly white, mostly male bias led BI's Adam Rogers to this succinct conclusion: "Be a tech bro who gets money from other tech bros." The study also gives clues about a more interesting question — why today's startup culture looks so different from before.

2. Meet DOGE's acting administrator. Amy Gleason's career has combined interests in nursing and technology. One former colleague described her as "superhuman" when it comes to work, adding that she earned the nickname "the green dot" for being on the work messaging system late into the night and then early in the morning. The ex-colleague also described her as apolitical and unflappable and predicted she would "crush it" in her new role.

3. Checking in on Brian Niccol's 'Back to Starbucks' plan. Since September, the new CEO has been focused on rebranding the coffee chain to win back its customer base. Niccol's goal is to turn Starbucks into a cozy local coffeehouse customers can hang out in — and he's instituted several changes to do so. It's still early, but marketing and retail experts think Niccol is moving in the right direction.

In other news

• Forget cancel culture. America's real problem is cancellation culture.
• The 2025 Oscars worst-dressed list: 12 looks that missed the mark — sorry.
• There's a streaming alliance that beats Netflix on one key metric.
• Who's left at OpenAI?
• The art of no deal: Negotiation experts dissect Trump and Zelenskyy's Oval Office clash.
• How cheaper mortgages gave us the baby boomers — and what it means for today's baby bust.
• A key part of the bitcoin bull case has lost steam. What to know about efforts to start a bitcoin reserve.
• How much Netflix pays employees in jobs ranging from content roles to engineers, according to salary data.
• Photos show the biggest moments at the 2025 Oscars.

What's happening today

• Paris fashion week begins.

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

• I lived in Banff, Canada, throughout my 20s. I loved the North American town and would move back.
• The people I encountered were so kind, and I loved experiencing the changing seasons.
• Banff had beautiful wildlife, and Canada had great cuisine that I still think about.

When I was 25, my friend asked me if I wanted to move to Banff, Canada. Without giving it much thought, I jumped at the opportunity.

Within a few months, I quit my job at a daily newspaper in Australia, sold most of my worldly possessions, and boarded an airplane for Calgary, Alberta.

My friend had lined us up with an agency that sorted out all the visa paperwork and organized a job in Banff, so it was a really smooth transition.

I'll never forget sitting on a bus driving from Calgary to Banff and seeing the Rockies for the first time. That was the start of one of the most magical periods of my life.

There's nothing like watching the changing seasons hit beaches and mountains

One of the many things about Canada I first fell in love with was its changing seasons.

Coming from the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, I had never really experienced proper seasons before. The Gold Coast typically averages about 300 days of sunny weather a year.

When we arrived in Banff, it was fall. There was something so striking about the golden and orange hues of the autumn leaves set against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains.

As the days grew shorter and colder, Banff became a winter wonderland. The first time my friend and I saw snow falling, we ran outside, laughing and dancing in the snow like two little girls.

For someone who'd grown up on a beach in a sub-tropical climate, that was pretty special.

Experiencing holidays North American-style was a blast

As Halloween approached, I realized what else I'd been missing in Australia.

When I was a child, we would go trick-or-treating in our street, but none of the houses would be decorated and we'd be lucky to come across a neighbor who actually had candy to share.

In contrast, Halloween was incredible in Banff. There were costume parties, bonfires in the park, jack-o'-lanterns on people's lawns, and spooky decorations adorning most buildings.

For Thanksgiving, my Canadian friends made me a traditional Canadian pumpkin pie — something I'd never tried before. Throughout the season, locals showed me that North American hospitality I'd heard so much about.

Christmastime also felt extra special celebrated against a snowy backdrop, and we experienced some of the most festive decorations we'd ever seen in Canada.

I miss so much of the food

During my time in Canada, I also fell in love with the food.

I've traveled to many places but, in my opinion, North America seems to do food better than everybody else. The serving sizes tend to be big and the flavors strong and tasty.

One of my favorite things to eat in Canada was the local favorite, poutine — fries with cheese curds and brown gravy. It proved to be the perfect après-ski treat after a day of shredding the ski hills around Banff.

There are so many other foods I miss, such as Nanaimo bars (made with wafers, nuts, and coconut crumbs) and fluffy pancakes with pure Canadian maple syrup.

I'd also love to once again have fresh BeaverTails (a fried-dough treat) and the mighty Caesar (a zesty tomato-clam-juice cocktail with vodka).

I still think about Banff, and I'd move back in a heartbeat

After living in Canada, my partner and I moved to London and then to various parts of Australia, but we never felt that same magic.

We miss Banff's incredible mountains, beaches, forests, and wildlife that often took our breath away. Above all else, we miss the people in Canada the most. We met some of the kindest, most caring souls you could imagine there — people who instantly felt like family.

If I had my time again, I would've spent longer in Canada before moving on after a year and a half. Even now, more than a decade later, I'd say goodbye to our home in Bright, Australia, and move back to Banff in a second.

On all of my travels to more than 50 countries, I've never found another place quite like it, and it will always have a special place in my heart.

• BYD unveiled a new vehicle-mounted drone for its EVs on Sunday.
• The Lingyuan drone takes off from a retractable hanger and travels up to 33 miles an hour.
• Chinese EV makers are locked in a tech arms race as they try to win customers with futuristic features.

BYD's latest trick for taking on Tesla in China's brutally competitive auto market is built-in drones.

The Chinese EV giant unveiled a vehicle-mounted drone system on Sunday, allowing drivers to take sweeping panoramic videos.

The Lingyuan drone system, which BYD developed with Chinese drone maker DJI, will be offered on models as a 16,000 yuan ($2,200) optional extra.

The drones are housed in a roof compartment, can take off and land from a moving car and follow the vehicle at speeds of up to 33 miles an hour.

BYD's premium Yangwang U8 SUV, which costs about $150,000, already includes an onboard drone, but Lingyuan will add the feature to more affordable vehicles.

The first models to get the system include BYD's $27,000 Sealion 07 DM-i hybrid and $40,000 Tang L electric SUV.

Drones are the latest high-tech extra offered by a Chinese automaker to make their cars stand out in the country's intensely competitive auto industry.

While its rivals have offered features such as AI-assisted parking and the ability to voice-control household appliances, BYD has led the way when it comes to smart features.

The company recently showed off a supercar that can "jump" over potholes, and last month announced that it would install advanced "God's Eye" self-driving technology in all its EVs, including the $9,500 Seagull, at no extra cost.

Weeks later, Tesla rolled out its own self-driving tech to some drivers in China. Elon Musk's automaker, which is battling BYD for global EV dominance, offers Chinese drivers self-driving features for $8,800 extra — only slightly less than the cost of BYD's Seagull.

BYD sales are booming following strong demand for its affordable EVs and hybrids. It sold 318,000 vehicles in February, up 161% on the same month last year, with a record 67,000 sales outside China.

• DeepSeek said it would have a 545% cost-profit margin — under very specific circumstances.
• Perhaps the biggest disclaimer: it assumes everyone who uses its largely free AI models would pay.
• The Chinese startup said in a Saturday GitHub post that only a "subset" of its services are monetized.

Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has projected it would have a cost-profit margin of 545% for its AI models — provided everyone currently using them would pay.

In a GitHub post on Saturday, DeepSeek said its largely free V3 and R1 models had a daily running cost of $87,072 over a 24-hour period at the end of February, based on leasing Nvidia chips at $2 per hour.

If usage over that period was billed at DeepSeek-R1's pricing, it would generate daily revenue of $562,027, with a "cost profit margin of 545%," the post said.

Under those parameters, it would imply annual revenue exceeding $200 million.

However, DeepSeek said just a "subset" of its services are currently monetized, meaning its theoretical figures would require all users to switch to a paid plan — something that none of its rivals has achieved.

The assumption that everyone would pay isn't the only part of the post that brings the figure into doubt.

The startup said the cost-profit figure only applies R1 billing pricing and does not factor in the "significantly lower" V3 pricing.

Notably, DeepSeek also applies off-peak pricing, which adds a further asterisk to its theoretical financials.

During peak daytime hours, its Nvidia H800 chips focus on inference, which is when AI models conduct tasks. During lower-demand nighttime hours, it reallocates those chips to focus on research and training.

Because of this cost-saving mechanism, DeepSeek said it automatically applied nighttime discounts for developers, which would also bring down its actual revenue.

Despite the disclaimers, it's the first time the Hangzhou-based company has disclosed details about its financials from inference tasks.

It provides fresh insight into DeepSeek more than a month after it launched a powerful AI model at a seemingly lower cost, shocking Silicon Valley and causing a sell-off in tech stocks.

The market rout was partly fueled by the company's claim that it trained its models using less than $6 million worth of Nvidia H800 chips — a fraction of the spending by other US AI giants like OpenAI.

Since the H800 chips are less powerful than the chips used by many tech giants, DeepSeek's success raised further questions about the necessity of billion-dollar AI infrastructure expenditures.

However, DeepSeek's cost claims have drawn scrutiny from tech giants, researchers, and regulatory authorities.

Last month, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis called the buzz around DeepSeek's low-cost model "exaggerated." He said that DeepSeek's claim of training its AI model for just $5.6 million likely only accounts for the final training phase, overlooking the broader investment in development and infrastructure.