Author: openjargon

  • A timeline of the kissing scandal between Harry, Jessica, and Melinda in ‘Perfect Match’ season 2

    Harry Jowsey, Jessica Vestal and Melinda Berry in "Perfect Match" season two.
    Harry Jowsey, Jessica Vestal, and Melinda Berry in "Perfect Match" season two.

    • Warning: Major spoilers for "Perfect Match" season two, episodes eight and nine.
    • Harry Jowsey is in hot water with Jessica Vestal after being accused of kissing another contestant.
    • Here's what we know about the kissing scandal involving Melinda Berry.

    Harry Jowsey said the "Perfect Match" season two kissing scandal, which led people to accuse him of disrespecting his partner Jessica Vestal, is "a lot worse than you think."

    Harry was obsessed with Jessica from episode three, and the pair had become one of the more consistent couples of the season.

    But in episode eight, Harry begins flirting with Melinda while at a party without Jessica. Harry offers to carry Melinda twice in the episode, and the second time, Harry allegedly kisses Melinda.

    The "kiss" apparently happens off-camera, turning the incident into an argument between Melinda, who is adamant that the kiss happened, and Harry, who says it didn't.

    The next day, Melinda tells Jessica that she and Harry kissed, causing a big fight between the three contestants.

    Harry has not addressed the "kiss," but he has referred to himself as a "gaslighting king" on his social media and on his podcast, "Boyfriend Material." These comments seem to suggest that Harry lied about the kiss on the show.

    The scandal has become one of the biggest controversies of "Perfect Match" season two, especially since the audience never saw the alleged kiss.

    Here's what we know so far about the kissing scandal between Melinda and Harry.

    'Perfect Match' season two, episode eight: Melinda and Holly say the kiss happened off-screen

    In "Perfect Match" season two, episode five, Stevan Ditter, Harry Jowsey, Chris Hahn, Kaz Bishop, Justin Assada are separated from their female partners.
    In "Perfect Match" season two, episode eight, Stevan Ditter, Harry Jowsey, Chris Hahn, Kaz Bishop, Justin Assada are separated from their female partners.

    The kissing scandal begins in episode eight after all the couples are split up and sent to separate parties. The boys' party is ambushed by a group of female contestants who are trying to tempt the men away from their original partners.

    Frustratingly, "Perfect Match" never reveals if the kiss happens in the episodes released on June 14. Either it occurred off-camera or the producers have decided to withhold the footage.

    But we do have some potential witnesses. In episode eight, Holly Scarfone and Justin Assada were talking to each other right next to where the kiss is thought to have happened.

    Holly is actually the first person to claim they kissed.

    Justin says: "Woah, what's going on there? huh"

    Holly replies: "Boys' day. They kissed."

    The camera also pivots to Stevan Ditter, who seems to be looking in the direction of Harry and Melinda.

    Stevan and Justin both say they didn't see anything, though they could be trying to defend their friend.

    Justin Assada says he didn't see anything but Holly Scarfone says she saw the kiss.
    Justin Assada says he didn't see anything but Holly Scarfone says she saw the kiss.

    The camera then goes back to Melinda and Harry, and Harry begins to talk about his great relationship with Jessica.

    When Melinda mentions the kiss, Harry denies it, laughs without looking directly at her, and walks away.

    Harry doubles down when they get to the rest of the group, saying that Melinda is making up the kiss to boost her fame.

    "No one saw it," he tells the rest of the group. "That was fake news. I did not kiss her. Where's the video evidence?"

    'Perfect Match' season two, episode eight: Harry doesn't mention the kiss when he first sees Jessica

    Later in the episode, the original couples return to the house, and Jessica finds Harry crying in his bed.

    Harry tells Jessica he hasn't been the best example for her or her daughter Autumn.

    Harry says he was too playful during the boys' party and carried Melinda to the toilet at one point in the day. Harry never mentions a kiss and instead accuses Melinda of trying to lie about what happened earlier in the day.

    Jessica and Harry have a brief argument, as she doesn't initially believe him but Jessica eventually forgives him.

    'Perfect Match' season two, episode eight-nine: Jessica tells Melinda off for telling everyone about the alleged kiss

    Harry Jowsey accidentally walks into the girls' chat about his kissing scandal.
    Harry Jowsey accidentally walks into the girls' chat about his kissing scandal.

    At the end of episode eight, the female contestants from the "boys' party" arrive in the house to give them an opportunity to steal any of the men.

    All the women decide to congregate around a table to reveal if any of the men cheated during the boys' day out. Melinda immediately tells Jessica that she and Harry kissed three times the day before.

    "He just kissed me," Melinda says. "And then does it again, so I kissed him back."

    Harry and Dom Gabriel walk past, so Jessica asks Harry to comment on Melinda's story. Harry again denies kissing Melinda, saying that no one saw anything.

    Melinda then turns to Brittan Byrd, who was nearby during the incident, to support her claim. Brittan says Melinda's makeup was on his nose.

    Jessica begins questioning Melinda's motives for kissing Harry and not telling her this information privately.

    The pair argue over this for a minute before Jessica says she will ask for both sides of the story before deciding whether to stay with Harry.

    Meanwhile, Harry walks away and complains about the situation to Dom. Harry tells Dom that Melinda set up the conversation about the kiss and says Melinda was the one who tried to initiate a kiss, but he turned away.

    'Perfect Match' season two, episode nine: Melinda says Harry also said he wanted to have sex with her

    Melinda Berry in "The Perfect Match" season two.
    Melinda Berry in "The Perfect Match" season two.

    Jessica spends most of episode nine asking multiple contestants about what she should do about the Harry situation.

    It is not the first time Harry's loyalty has been questioned. Harry has a poor dating track record, and multiple contestants have brought this up to Jessica.

    Jessica speaks to Alara Taneri, Stevan, Dom, and Bryton Constantin, who all defend Harry. Jessica also speaks to Harry for his side of the story.

    Harry denies the kiss but adds another element to the story.

    "I did look at her stomach, and I said, 'It'd look good if you were pregnant.' But it was not in that sense," Harry says.

    When Melinda speaks to Jessica privately later in the episode, Melinda says Harry wanted to have sex with her.

    "He was like, 'I'm 30 years old. I'm ready for some babies.' He goes, 'You ready for some babies? I'll put a baby in you,'" Melinda says. "He goes, 'They'll come out handsome and tall and athletic.'"

    'Perfect Match' season two, episode nine: Jessica confronts Harry

    Jessica Vestal and Harry Jowsey competing in a "Perfect Match" couples challenge.
    Jessica Vestal and Harry Jowsey competing in a "Perfect Match" couples challenge.

    Harry and Jessica sit down again at the end of the episode to discuss the kissing incident.

    Harry says he has been vomiting all evening because of the stress of the situation and apologizes again for the incident. However, Jessica is still not convinced Harry is telling the whole truth.

    The episode ends with Harry making another plea for Jessica to match with him.

    "Perfect Match" fans will likely find out Jessica's decision when the season two finale premieres on Netflix on June 21.

    June 14-17, 2024: Harry and Melinda joke about the kissing drama on social media

    Ahead of the season two finale, Harry and Melinda appeared to joke about the kissing scandal on social media.

    In one of Melinda's two TikTok posts about the kiss, she captioned the video: "All I know is the truth #theperfectmatch #perfectmatch #Netflix all will be revealed."

    Meanwhile, Harry shared an Instagram reel of him wearing a T-shirt that said "I ❤️ gaslighting" while reading a book titled "gaslighting."

    June 18, 2024: Harry says he was told to create drama during the boys' day.

    Harry Jowsey in "The Perfect Match" season two.
    Harry Jowsey in "The Perfect Match" season two.

    Harry seemed to suggest that he lied about the "kiss" in the latest episode of his podcast, "Boyfriend Material with Harry Jowsey," which aired on Tuesday.

    Harry said he was a "gaslighting king" during episodes seven to nine of "Perfect Match." Harry never addresses the kiss directly but said he would talk more about the situation next week.

    "I just want to let you guys know it's a lot worse than you think, so buckle up," he said.

    Later in the episode, Dom appeared as a guest on the podcast and said he didn't agree with Harry's "gaslighting" and "lying" during the kissing drama. But Dom said Harry's actions wouldn't have been as serious in the real world.

    These comments seem to indicate that Harry kissed Melinda and lied about it.

    Harry also said there were "no hard feelings" between him and Melinda, implying they've made up.

    Harry added there was no excuse for his behavior, and listed multiple reasons for his actions.

    Harry said he wasn't in the right headspace when filming "Perfect Match," and he was drinking a lot before and during the boys' day outing.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkN7FGArxBk?feature=oembed&w=560&h=315]

    "There was no limit on that alcohol," Harry said. "I was so fucking drunk that I don't remember leaving that place. I don't remember the second half of that night. All I remember is like the shit that went down and then being back at the house with food poisoning."

    In last week's episode of "Boyfriend Material," Harry said he didn't remember much of the show because he was always drunk.

    Later in this week's episode, Harry said that someone in the "Perfect Match" production team told the contestants to create drama to make the series more interesting.

    "There was someone on the team that came up to both the girls and the guys and said, 'Hey, if you guys don't do anything or create any drama, we don't have a fucking show,'" Harry said.

    Representatives for "Perfect Match" did not immediately respond to a comment request from Business Insider outside business hours.

    In "Perfect Match" season two, episodes eight and nine, Harry looks very sick and tells Jessica he vomited because he was worried about their relationship.

    On his podcast, Harry said he just had food poisoning from undercooked salmon that he made.

    "It looked like I was vomiting, crying, and freaking the fuck out from Jess," Harry said. "But, in that moment, I was just violently ill."

    Harry said he should have spoken to Jess after the boys' party and taken accountability, but at the time, he was blackout drunk, sick from food poisoning, and had a victim mentality.

    "I was only thinking about myself," Harry said. "Looking back at that, there's a lot of shit I would have done different."

    Stay tuned for more information on whether Harry did kiss Melinda.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Several of Boeing’s candidates for CEO have turned it down, report says

    Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun speaks to reporters as he departs from a meeting at the office of Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) on Capitol Hill January 24, 2024 in Washington, DC.
    Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun.

    • Boeing is struggling to find a new CEO as Dave Calhoun departs at the end of the year, per the WSJ.
    • Larry Culp of GE and David Gitlin of Carrier have declined the role.
    • Stephanie Pope remains a candidate, but her background in finance is an obstacle.

    Boeing is struggling to find a new CEO, per a Monday report from The Wall Street Journal.

    Dave Calhoun announced in March that he would step down at the end of the year, in the wake of the Alaska Airlines blowout. He will face further scrutiny as he testifies before the Senate on Tuesday.

    People familiar with the discussions told the Journal that Larry Culp, the CEO of General Electric, turned down Boeing's request that he consider the role.

    Culp gained plaudits for turning around GE after taking over in 2018, overhauling manufacturing processes and slashing debt.

    David Gitlin, the CEO of home-appliances firm Carrier and a member of the Boeing board, said in a first-quarter earnings call that he removed his name from the list of candidates, citing his commitment to Carrier.

    One candidate still in the running is Stephanie Pope, the CEO of Boeing's commercial airplanes division. Her predecessor, Stan Deal, announced his immediate retirement at the same time as Calhoun's resignation. She was formerly the planemaker's chief operating officer, and, like Calhoun, has a background in finance. A third-generation Boeing employee, she started as a finance analyst in 1994.

    However, the Journal reports that many insiders are lobbying for a CEO with an engineering background.

    Boeing's struggles with the 737 Max have been linked to an emphasis on speed over safety, with delivery goals taking priority over quality control.

    Another potential candidate is Pat Shanahan, the CEO of Spirit AeroSystems — the supplier that built the fuselage of the Alaska 737 Max that lost its door plug in midair. The firm is in discussions to be taken over by Boeing, while some parts of the business could be sold to Airbus.

    The Journal reported that the CEO discussions are also looking at whether the next leader should be based near Boeing's factories in the Seattle area rather than at its Virginia HQ.

    Boeing's decision to move its headquarters away from its traditional base in 2001 attracted controversy. The distance between corporate leaders and manufacturers on the ground has been cited as contributing to the planemaker's struggles in maintaining standards.

    In February, Boeing's board shut down a shareholder's bid to move its HQ back to Seattle.

    And last September, the Journal reported that Boeing employees were irritated by Calhoun commuting via private jet while the firm began a return to the office.

    Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider.

    Do you work at Boeing? Reach out to this reporter at psyme@businessinsider.com or on Signal at @Syme.01

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Social media has gotten so bad that America’s top doctor is intervening

    Young people holding phones from a below angle.
    Gen Z grew up on social media and they often compare themselves to others.

    Hi! Who says the movies are dead? Disney's "Inside Out 2" took home $295 million at the global box office over the weekend, a record opening for an animated movie.

    In today's big story, we're looking at the surgeon general suggesting warning labels for social media. (Let us know which side you are on.)

    What's on deck:

    But first, follow at your own risk.


    If this was forwarded to you, sign up here.


    The big story

    A solution for socials

    Dr. Vivek Murthy

    Social media has gotten so bad that the country's top doctor is intervening.

    Dr. Vivek Murthy, the US Surgeon General, wrote an op-ed for The New York Times calling for social media to come with a warning label like the ones you find on cigarette packs, writes Business Insider's Geoff Weiss.

    In his piece, Murthy said social media is a key culprit of the mental health crisis young people are facing. A warning label reminding people it is "associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents" could help the problem, he argued.

    It's not something Murthy can install on his own. The labels would require congressional approval. And Murthy's comparison to cigarette warnings might be misplaced, writes BI's Katie Notopoulos, who suggests explicit lyrics on music might be a better fit.

    Murthy has taken shots at social media before. Last year he called for legislation to protect young people from harassment, abuse, and exploitation, and more transparency from tech companies.

    Major social media companies remained largely silent regarding Murthy's suggestion, but the tech lobbying group Chamber of Progress was quick to respond.

    "Putting a warning label on online speech isn't just scientifically unsound. It's at odds with the constitutional right to free speech," group CEO Adam Kovacevich said in a statement.

    Vote here to let us know whether you favor a warning label.

    warning label with red background

    Murthy's recommendation comes at a unique time for social media.

    If the US ban on TikTok can survive the courts, it will be a watershed moment for the industry. (Yes, TikTok's ties to China muddy the waters, but a successful ban would still mean lawmakers shutting down a popular app used by millions of Americans.)

    It's not just TikTok. Generative AI adds more fuel to the misinformation fire social media platforms have been battling for years.

    AI tools make it easier for bad actors to fabricate stories, images, and videos that can influence people. And it's all happening in the lead-up to a contentious presidential election. There are also concerns surrounding AI-generated avatars' impact on influencers, writes BI's Dan Whateley.

    And yet, things have never been better for some companies.

    Meta, the godfather of social media, is perhaps the best example. On January 31, CEO Mark Zuckerberg, along with a handful of other tech CEOS, was grilled by Congress during a hearing on online child sexual exploitation.

    At one point, Zuckerberg was pressured to physically stand up and face families affected by online abuse. In the long battle to force tech CEOs to get their companies in line, it felt like a potential turning point.

    More than four months later, though, the only thing that's seemed to change is Meta's stock price. The company's share price is up more than 28% since that contentious hearing.


    3 things in markets

    man
    1. How one hedge fund got off to a booming start this year. Schonfeld's flagship fund is leading returns among the main multistrategy managers. It's an impressive turnaround for a firm that faced takeover talks in 2023. But it hasn't come easy, with the loss of portfolio managers and research executives amid a strategy shift.
    2. Has the market peaked? Investors are worrying the market has reached its top amid record highs, according to Bank of America. The bank identified 10 indicators of a market peak, like elevated M&A activity and sell-side strategists overwhelmingly recommending allocating to stocks. But don't worry, we've only triggered four so far.
    3. June could see a rise in bankruptcies and unemployment. That's according to Wall Street forecaster Danielle DiMartino Booth, who pointed to the rise in corporate bankruptcies over the past year. It's a sign that businesses are struggling under higher interest rates.

    3 things in tech

    status update instagram
    1. Status updates are so back. Instagram notes are growing at a "wild pace" and the app plans to expand the AIM-like feature for users. Bad news for creators, though: Notes are best suited to mutuals who follow each other, not for the influencing class.
    2. iPhones might be getting the Ozempic treatment. Apple is reportedly aiming to slim down its iPhones, as well as some MacBook Pros and Apple Watch models, by next year. It also appears to be making its phones less reliant on WiFi and cellular connectivity, a move that could eventually become a revenue stream for Apple.
    3. Adobe is having a terrible month. The Department of Justice is suing Adobe over deceptive subscription practices, with the lawsuit claiming the company hides fees and makes it hard to cancel subscriptions. It comes after public backlash over using artists' content to train AI models.

    3 things in business

    Business Insider's most innovative CMOs of 2024 from left: Mayur Gupta, Kim Chappell, Kory Marchisotto, Asad Ayaz and Jonnie Cahill
    1. Marketing's trailblazers. From fast food and fashion to finance and baby formula, here are 34 CMOs changing the game in 2024. Many of them are making fast use of social media platforms like TikTok and investing heavily in AI.
    2. BlackRock's solution to the retirement crisis is a catch-22. To avoid economic catastrophe, CEO Larry Fink argued, people should work longer and save more money. The problem? Many older people who do want to work are overlooked in favor of younger employees.
    3. Zyn could get tougher to buy. The maker of the popular nicotine pouch has paused online sales after receiving a subpoena from the District of Columbia about sales of flavored tobacco products — which have been banned in DC since October 2022.

    In other news


    What's happening today

    • Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun testifies in Congress on the company's safety culture.

    The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Jordan Parker Erb, editor, in New York. Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. George Glover, reporter, in London. Annie Smith, associate producer, in London. Amanda Yen, fellow, in New York.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Neom suffers another setback with delay to $10 billion transport venture

    The Line, NEOM
    The Line is a key part of the Neom project.

    • Neom's $10 billion joint venture with DSV has been delayed over missing regulatory approvals.
    • The partnership was due to start in the second quarter of this year, per ShippingWatch.
    • Despite the setback, DSV says it remains committed to the Neom partnership.

    Saudi Arabia's Neom megaproject appears to have hit another stumbling block.

    Neom's $10 billion joint venture with Danish transport company DSV has been delayed over missing regulatory approvals, per reports.

    The partnership was due to start in the second quarter of this year, but the company told ShippingWatch that the deal had been pushed back.

    "Neom is an extensive project in which DSV will be part of a joint venture for the overall logistics solutions. As we have previously stated, it requires a number of regulatory approvals, which unfortunately are taking longer to obtain than we had hoped," a DSV representative told the outlet.

    The freight company is still waiting for regulatory approvals from both Saudi Arabia and Egypt, Bloomberg reported.

    However, the DSV representative told ShippingWatch that its "long-term expectations" for cooperation remained unchanged, adding that delays were routine for a project of this scope.

    The logistics company said it was undertaking transportation services for Neom "while we wait for our joint venture to come into place. Therefore, we are ready to scale up our efforts when the approvals come."

    Representatives for DSV and Neom did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

    Neom has suffered a series of setbacks in recent months.

    In April, Bloomberg reported that population estimates for Neom's flagship project called The Line had been reduced amid concerns over finances.

    The cost of the project has reportedly ballooned past estimates, with some reports putting the estimated cost for the futuristic megacity at $1.5 trillion.

    Experts have said the kingdom is struggling to attract the foreign investment needed for the expensive plans.

    Saudi officials have been keen to counter the narrative that plans for the futuristic megacity have been scaled back. In private, though, recent reports suggest that the Crown Prince is open to having "tough conversations" about his Vision 2030 ambitions.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • The trips Justice Clarence Thomas took with Harlan Crow — that we know of

    Harlan Crow, left, and Clarence Thomas, right, in an edited image.
    Harlan Crow, left, and Clarence Thomas, right, in an edited image.

    • Justice Clarence Thomas has taken several trips with GOP mega-donor Harlan Crow in recent years.
    • Democrats released new documents last week saying Thomas failed to disclose three additional trips.
    • Here is a list of the trips Thomas and Crow have taken together — that we know of.

    Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is once again facing renewed scrutiny amid details about undisclosed trips he took with GOP mega-donor Harlan Crow.

    Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee last week released documents showing Thomas failed to disclose three trips he took aboard Crow's private jet in 2017, 2019, and 2021. According to Sen. Dick Durbin, the flights were gifted to Thomas.

    Thomas also recently amended his 2019 financial disclosure to include two vacations paid for by Crow, according to ProPublica, that year to Indonesia and the Bohemian Grove, an exclusive gentleman's club in Monte Rio, California. ProPublica first reported on the undisclosed trips last year.

    The justice has defended the missing disclosures, saying he was advised that disclosing hospitality gifts from people who had no business before the court was unnecessary.

    Thomas and Crow have been friends for more than thirty years. Both have said they don't talk about politics or legal cases together, but legal experts and lawmakers have expressed ethics concerns that Crow could have an influence on Thomas, a sitting member of the most powerful court in the country.

    Michael Zona, a spokesperson for Crow, told BI the billionaire provided information relevant to the Senate Judiciary Committee's requests going back seven years.

    "Despite his serious and continued concerns about the legality and necessity of the inquiry, Mr. Crow engaged in good faith negotiations with the Committee from the beginning to resolve the matter," the statement said. "As a condition of this agreement, the Committee agreed to end its probe with respect to Mr. Crow."

    An attorney for Thomas, Elliot S. Berke, told Business Insider the vacation information Crow provided to the Senate Judiciary Committee falls under the "personal hospitality exemption," which means it did not need to be disclosed.

    "The Judicial Conference changed this provision last year, and Justice Thomas has fully complied with the new disclosure requirement," Berke said.

    The Supreme Court did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.

    May 2017: Montana trip

    On May 7, 2017, Thomas traveled on Crow's private jet from St. Louis to Kalispell, Montana, a small mountain town known as a gateway to Glacier National Park.

    According to documents released by Senate Democrats last week, the Montana excursion is among the three previously unknown trips that Thomas failed to disclose.

    It remains unclear what Thomas was doing in Montana; BI could not identify any public appearances the justice made in the state at that time.

    On May 9, 2017, Crow's jet left Montana for Dallas, where the billionaire resides. Beyond the flight on Crow's jet, it's unclear how much of the trip Crow paid for.

    July 2017: Camp Topridge in upstate New York

    ProPublica reported last year that Thomas has vacationed at Crow's lakeside resort, Camp Topridge, nearly every year for the last two decades. The secluded property is located in the Adirondacks in upstate New York and is only accessible by invitation from the billionaire himself.

    According to the outlet, Topridge guests are treated to meals prepared by private chefs, guided fishing experiences, and private concerts.

    During a July 2017 Topridge trip, Thomas and Crow were joined by an array of corporate leaders and political activists, including major Republican donors and executives from Verizon and PricewaterhouseCoopers, ProPublica reported.

    Thomas even appears in a painting hung at the resort, which shows the Supreme Court justice conversing with conservative legal activist Leonard Leo, according to the outlet.

    Harlan Crow poses for a photograph in a redeveloped office complex
    GOP megadonor Harlan Crow has defended his relationship with Justice Clarence Thomas after a series of bombshell ProPublica reports.

    March 2019: Savannah, Georgia

    Thomas's quick round trip to his hometown of Savannah, Georgia, was the second undisclosed trip revealed last week. It wasn't clear what Thomas was doing in Georgia, but he still has family members living there, including his mother.

    July 2019: Bali, Indonesia

    Thomas and Crow's 2019 Bali vacation was the centerpiece of ProPublica's original 2023 report. Although first reported last year, disclosure details about the Indonesia trip were included in recently amended financial disclosure forms and the Judiciary Committee's report.

    According to ProPublica, Thomas and his wife, Ginni Thomas, spent nine days vacationing with Crow and others as they sightsaw on several islands and spent time on the billionaire's 162-foot superyacht, the Michaela Rose.

    July 2019: Bohemian Grove, California

    Thomas amended past filings to include a 2019 vacation he took with Crow to Bohemian Grove, an exclusive, all-male club in Monte Rio, California.

    ProPublica previously reported on Thomas' trips to the gentleman's retreat. The club's prestigious alumni include US presidents, military officials, artists, and top business leaders.

    June 2021: Northern California

    On June 29, 2021, Thomas traveled from Washington, DC, to San Jose, California, aboard Crow's jet, The Washington Post reported. He returned to DC the same day. The reason for the trip remains unknown.

    Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas

    July 2022: Camp Topridge (again)

    On July 7, 2022, Thomas again boarded Crow's plane to travel to Camp Topridge — possibly for his annual summer vacation at his billionaire buddy's hideaway, ProPublica reported last year.

    Other suspected trips

    ProPublica said Thomas cruised through New Zealand aboard Crow's superyacht roughly a decade ago. The outlet reported that the Supreme Court Justice also boarded the Michaela Rose for a river cruise around Savannah, Georgia. A photo of Thomas donning an embroidered shirt referencing a 2007 trip through the Greek Islands suggests the justice may have also vacationed in the Mediterranean.

    Thomas has also made frequent use of Crow's private jet for quick day trips and business travel, according to media reports.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • A 104-year-old has been a professional lobster woman since she was 8. She says the secret to her longevity is keeping busy.

    An older woman banding lobsters on a boat.
    Virginia Oliver measures and bands lobsters on her son Max Oliver's boat.

    • Lobsterwoman Virginia Oliver, 104, has worked in the family business since age 8.
    • The centenarian gets up at 3 a.m. thrice a week to start her shift on the water in Maine.
    • She told Business Insider she will stay in the job "until I die."

    She might be 104, but Virginia Oliver won't quit lobster catching — a job she's done on and off since she was 8.

    Thick fog, stormy seas, and heavy traps haven't stopped the centenarian from stepping aboard her son, Max's boat, three times a week.

    "It's a family tradition," Oliver, of mid-coast Maine, told Business Insider. "I wouldn't want to do anything else."

    The formidable grandmother insisted the only "dangers" she faced were occasional cuts while she banded the lobster claws together.

    She said that her most recent injury happened three years ago when she was badly pinched on the little finger by a crab.

    She refused to conform to a stereotypical role

    Oliver needed seven stitches but was more concerned by the attitude of the doctor who treated the wound.

    He asked why a woman her age could be out on the water lobstering. "I told him, 'Because I want to,'" she said.

    She first refused to conform in 1928 when she joined her father — a shop owner and lobster dealer — on fishing expeditions.

    It was the year Herbert Hoover became the 31st President of the US, and Disney made "Steamboat Willie," the first Mickey Mouse cartoon with sound.

    Significantly, in 1920, the year Oliver was born, the 19th Amendment was passed, and women in America finally won the right to vote.

    An older woman pilots a lobster boat.
    Oliver sometimes pilots the lobster boat.

    In the short documentary "The Lobster Lady," released in 2020, Oliver said, "When I started out with lobstering, no women ever went."

    She told BI that she had never experienced sexism in the job and the lobstermen she'd met were "friendly."

    In the film, she said she worked with her older brother and her late husband as well as accompanying her 80-year-old son.

    "My life has been altogether different from most people's," she told Dale Shierholt, who directed the film.

    Meanwhile, in her interview with BI, she said the secret to her longevity was keeping busy.

    She goes to bed at 9 p.m. before rising at 3 a.m.

    "I've always been active and enjoy my work," Oliver, who gets up at 3 a.m. three times a week ahead of loading the boat — appropriately named Virginia.

    She said she goes to bed at 9 p.m. the previous night so she gets enough sleep before heading out. She's an early bird, even when she's not working, typically getting up at 5:30 a.m.

    "The Lobster Lady" was produced by amateur historian Wayne Gray, who befriended Oliver and her son.

    He told BI he'd joined a family dinner on June 6, 2024, when Oliver celebrated her 104th birthday.

    A centenarian working on a lobster boat in Maine
    Virginia Oliver working on her lobster boat with her son.

    Gray said her relatives supported her decision to keep on lobster fishing, knowing better than to interfere. He said she often piloted the boat and helped operate the winch.

    She also measured the lobsters, he added, ensuring they met the size standards set by authorities in Maine

    Oliver said she never felt queasy when the ocean got rough, especially after 96 years in the business. "I get wet to the gills, but I never get seasick," she told Shierholt.

    Oliver still enjoys the taste of lobster

    She told BI that she has not become tired of eating lobster. "I like lobster roll, as long as it's toasted," she said.

    Meanwhile, she is somewhat bemused by the attention she has attracted in Maine and beyond. Last year was the subject of a children's book and has been stopped in the street for autographs.

    She hoped her career — which, she said, she plans to follow until '"the day I die" — would encourage other women to enter traditionally male-dominated industries.

    "I'm glad to see younger lobsterwomen following in my footsteps," she said.

    Do you have a powerful story about longevity to share with Business Insider? Please send details to jridley@businessinsider.com.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • The 91-year-old owner of the iconic Hollywood Arby’s has closed the restaurant after 55 years due to the pandemic and California’s $20 minimum wage

    A signage promotes Arby's new $1 menu in Hollywood, California May 14, 2010.
    The Hollywood Arby's location in 2010.

    • The franchisee operating the 55-year-old Arby's on Hollywood's Sunset Boulevard has closed it down.
    • "Truth is, I think it was the pandemic that did us in," 91-year-old owner Marilyn Leviton told KTLA-5.
    • California's $20 minimum wage for fast-food workers and a need for new equipment also led to the restaurant's closure, she said.

    Beef sandwich chain Arby's has closed its restaurant on Hollywood's Sunset Boulevard after 55 years of operating under one owner.

    The location is no longer listed on Arby's website. Local station KTLA-5 reported that it closed on Saturday.

    Since the restaurant opened in January 1969, it has only had one owner: Marilyn Leviton, now 91, per KTLA-5.

    "Truth is, I think it was the pandemic that did us in," Leviton told the station. "I really feel we would have closed during the pandemic, except for the federal loans."

    A general view of the atmosphere during the FYC event for FX's "Baskets" at Arby's on May 29, 2018 in Los Angeles, California.
    The Hollywood Arby's location during the FYC event for FX's "Baskets" on May 29, 2018.

    Restaurants had to dramatically change their operations during the pandemic and pivot to just offering delivery, collection, and drive-thru as in-restaurant dining was prohibited under waves of lockdowns. Restaurants also had to deal with soaring food and labor costs.

    There were other strains on the business, too, Leviton told KTLA-5.

    "Arby's is demanding more technical equipment, which we couldn't afford, and I don't think the $20-an-hour wage increase helped either," she said.

    California raised its minimum wage for workers at quick-service restaurant chains to $20 an hour in April — 25% more than the state's general minimum wage. The restaurant industry lobbied against the legislation, arguing that it would force them to up prices, lay off staff, and close restaurants.

    Arby's did not immediately respond to a request for comment made by Business Insider outside regular working hours.

    KTLA-5 reported that when the Arby's location first opened, it was the only fast-food restaurant on Sunset Boulevard with a view of the Hollywood sign.

    Speaking about the closure of her restaurant, Leviton said: "I'm awfully sorry that it came to this."

    "I think we did a good job for 55 years," she said.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • An NYU freshman is suing her roommate, accusing her of stealing over $50,000 of her luxury belongings

    According to the lawsuit, one of the stolen items was a ruby necklace.
    According to the lawsuit, one of the stolen items was a ruby necklace.

    • The 19-year-old daughter of a Russian mining magnate is suing her NYU roommate.
    • The lawsuit claims the roommate stole about $51,000 worth of luxury items, including a ruby ring.
    • According to the suit, she sold some of the items on The RealReal — a secondhand marketplace.

    Aurora Agapov, the daughter of a Russian-American mining magnate, has accused her New York University roommate of stealing more than $50,000 worth of luxury handbags and jewelry from her.

    In a lawsuit filed on May 31 in Manhattan's Supreme Court, Agapov, a 19-year-old freshman, claimed that her 18-year-old roommate, Kaitlyn Fung, sold some of the items on The RealReal — a secondhand luxury marketplace.

    NBC News reported that Agapov said in the suit that the stolen items included a Solange Asagury 18-carat ruby ring worth over $23,000, a Bvlgari necklace, a Chanel bracelet, and bags from Chanel and Celine.

    According to the New York Post, the first outlet to report on the lawsuit, Agopov accused Fung of selling some items significantly below their value, such as a $13,000 Bvlgari necklace for only $2,485.

    The Post reported that Agapov noticed some of her belongings were missing last month.

    According to the outlet, she became suspicious of Fung after finding a receipt from The RealReal in a pocketbook.

    "My heart dropped," Agapov told the Post.

    The items were gifted to her by her mother and held sentimental value, she told the news outlet.

    The RealReal did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

    In a statement provided to BI, NYU spokesperson John Beckman said universities are prohibited from speaking about specific students' disciplinary records.

    However, Beckman added, "Stealing from a roommate is a lousy thing to do and a rarity among the 12,000 students we have in student housing."

    He said that such actions violate both NYU's code of conduct and the law, and the university takes the matter seriously.

    According to Beckman, anyone found guilty of such behavior would likely be removed from their room, face disciplinary proceedings, and could be suspended.

    NBC News reported that Fung was taken into custody last month and charged with third-degree grand larceny. The criminal case is pending, according to the Post.

    Fung's attorney and the New York Police Department did not immediately respond to BI's request for comment.

    According to the Post, Agapov is seeking $51,000 in damages in the civil suit, and the return of any unsold items.

    According to the US Sun, Agapov's father is Andre Agapov, the president and CEO of Rusoro Mining, a company that mines gold and other materials, primarily in Venezuela.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • I ditched gentle parenting. As my child got older, I felt like I was enabling bad behavior.

    Photo illustration of a parent with children acting out.
    • I'm a millennial mom and always dreamt of being the cool parent. 
    • While pregnant I came across the concept of gentle parenting and was sold. 
    • I realized I was enabling bad behavior from my preschool child, and stopped gentle parenting. 

    As a millennial mom, I've always had this fantasy of raising my child as my friend — being the "cool mom" was absolutely my dream. I was so afraid of traumatizing my son by being too firm and imposing too many rules. Would he grow up hating me? Would his only memories of me be arguments and punishments? Would he label me as a dictator to his friends?

    I was convinced I could raise a child by giving him free rein. While pregnant, I read up on parenting styles and came across an ultramodern movement called "gentle parenting." It instantly struck me as empathetic, respectful, and mindful.

    It promised a deep bond between parent and child, with a strong focus on the child's feelings. It leaned more toward giving children choices instead of orders. Importantly, it frowned upon punitive tactics. It perfectly aligned with what I wanted from motherhood— peacefulness — or so I thought.

    Gentle parenting worked when my child was little

    Gentle parenting was relatively easy during early motherhood. I managed to avoid using the word "no," I didn't implement time-outs, and if my son really didn't want to do something, instead of being reactive, I would exercise a level of patience and graciousness that previous generations probably wouldn't have. I always tried my best to model a sense of calmness by giving my son a safe space to experience his negative emotions. This seemed like a fundamental aspect of gentle parenting.

    However, as my son approached preschool age, it became apparent that he would struggle in school — and the real world — if I didn't change my approach to parenting. His tantrums would go on for too long, he would be defiant with everyday tasks, and he would struggle to recognize authority. Even when I followed the gentle parenting scripts laid out by gurus, everything felt like an ongoing tug of war.

    I had joined numerous parenting groups on social media to get a better idea of how to handle certain situations, such as my son's refusal to brush his teeth. Instead of seeing rational responses, I was shocked to find some parents suggesting to avoid brushing teeth to keep children happy while defining it as "negotiable" This seemed unacceptable to me.

    I needed to change my parenting strategy

    I quickly realized that every child has varying levels of noncompliance, and in order for my son to assimilate well outside the home, he couldn't keep up with his behavior (which I had admittedly enabled).

    I could no longer align myself with the parental restrictiveness of the movement. I felt like I was treading on eggshells all the time. The pressure to be the perfect, patient parent was wearing me down.

    I found gentle parenting to be unrealistic and stressful — it was making me miserable. A small but recent study found that 40% of gentle parents who were interviewed confessed to being overwhelmed, exhausted, hard on themselves, and uncertain. I can definitely relate. Confining myself to a parenting style wasn't feasible — I needed to be adaptable to changing situations and moods with my son, which required a blended approach.

    Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that gentle parenting is way too gentle. Children need to learn that the world doesn't revolve around their personal feelings. Children need a level of firmness and accountability. There should be balance instead of leaning toward extremes for the sake of fitting into parenting structures.

    In all honesty, drifting away from gentle parenting made me realize that parenting is more about trusting your gut than following scripts and best practices. I've learned to be myself and foster a healthy mother-son relationship with my child by enforcing firm limits and expectations while always giving warmth and support.

    That's not to say I don't believe in gentle parenting. I definitely still believe in treating children with respect, modeling behaviors for children, and regulating myself as a parent before reacting.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • A crew member hit the ceiling and a passenger was scalded by spilled coffee as turbulence caused ‘pandemonium’ on a flight in New Zealand

    An Air New Zealand Airbus A320 designed with the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team colours is seen at the airport in Wellington on October 29, 2015
    An Air New Zealand Airbus A320.

    • Two people were injured on an Air New Zealand flight due to severe turbulence.
    • A passenger was scalded by hot coffee and a crew member hit the cabin ceiling.
    • Turbulence is facing a renewed focus in the aviation sector after the death of a Singapore Airlines passenger.

    Two people were injured on board an Air New Zealand flight when it encountered severe turbulence, according to local media reports.

    The Airbus A320 was flying from the capital, Wellington, to Queenstown on Sunday when it hit turbulence.

    Suze, a passenger on board, told Radio New Zealand she was burned after a full coffee pot was spilled over her during the turbulence.

    She added that it happened about 15 minutes into the flight as the cabin crew started the trolley service.

    "There's nothing you can do. You're strapped in, you want to stay strapped in, there could be more turbulence and then you've got to deal with the level of burns you've just received," she added. "It was actually pandemonium."

    Suze, who did not share her surname, called on Air New Zealand to improve the design of their coffee pots so that the lids are more secure.

    A flight attendant was also injured on the flight, the local outlet Crux reported.

    "One of the cabin crew told us how she was standing and went up and hit the ceiling," a passenger told Crux.

    They added, "The jolting and dropping, tilting slightly sideways, felt like those parts where you go on a roller coaster and start dropping down and then boost back up."

    In a statement shared with Crux, the airline's chief safety officer, David Morgan, said customers' safety and well-being is "our number one priority."

    "From time to time, clear-air turbulence can occur where rough air is not visible to the flight crew," he added.

    Air New Zealand did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

    The incident comes as the aviation sector considers turbulence more closely following the death of a Singapore Airlines passenger in May. Tim Clark, the president of Emirates, said that airlines could tighten seatbelt rules and use AI to help predict when turbulence might occur.

    But Sunday's incident shows that even if passengers are strapped in, flight attendants still have to move about the cabin, and debris can still be a risk for passengers.

    Read the original article on Business Insider