• Rudy Giuliani scores rare legal win as judge dismisses bankruptcy case — but a countdown timer is ticking

    Rudy Giuliani smiling in a car
    The vast majority of Rudy Giuliani's debt comes from a $148 million jury judgment against him for defaming two Georgia election workers.

    • A judge dismissed Rudy Giuliani's bankruptcy case, freeing him to appeal a $148 million judgment.
    • It comes with a big asterisk: Giuliani can't seek bankruptcy protection again for 12 months.
    • Now, all the civil lawsuits against Giuliani can continue to play out in courts.

    The judge overseeing Rudy Giuliani's bankruptcy granted him a rare legal win.

    In a court order Friday, the judge dismissed the Chapter 11 case and allowed him to appeal the $148 million defamation judgment he owes.

    But there's a catch: Giuliani isn't allowed to file for bankruptcy again over the next 12 months. And his creditors are ready to pounce.

    The former New York City mayor filed for bankruptcy in December, claiming he couldn't pay his $152 million in debt.

    The bankruptcy froze all the other civil litigation against Giuliani, including defamation cases from election technology companies and a lawsuit from Noelle Dunphy, who accused him of sexual abuse.

    Nearly all of Giuliani's debt was the $148 million judgment a Washington, DC, jury awarded to Ruby Freeman and Wandrea Moss, two election workers he defamed by falsely claiming they manipulated votes in Georgia.

    Giuliani's assets were worth about $10 million — depending on what he could get if he sold his Manhattan and Florida apartments — not nearly enough to satisfy all the debt.

    Friday's order, approved by bankruptcy judge Sean H. Lane, also puts Giuliani on the hook for $350,000 in fees already incurred in the case by a legal discovery vendor. Lane also placed control of Giuliani's Upper East Side condo, which is up for sale, in the hands of a lawyer representing his creditors. A chunk of the potential proceeds from the sale would go toward legal fees, and the rest would be held in escrow.

    Over the past few months, Giuliani has filed inconsistent financial statements and appeared to squirrel away streams of income, his creditors have complained. Giuliani said he had trouble finding an accountant — a claim his creditors found hard to believe. Lane expressed frustration with "the difficulties we've had in terms of transparency in this case" in a hearing earlier this week.

    At the same time that Giuliani was filing odd financial statements, he also made it clear in court filings that he wanted breathing room to appeal his $148 million judgment.

    After months of wrangling — including a last-ditch effort to convert the bankruptcy to a Chapter 7, which would have further slowed the process — Giuliani and lawyers representing Freeman and Moss struck a deal.

    On Wednesday, they both told the judge that dismissing the bankruptcy altogether was the best move.

    The draft order provided by Giuliani's legal team included a line that would forbid the 80-year-old from filing for bankruptcy again for one year.

    In the Southern District of New York, where the case is playing out, bankruptcy judges customarily forbid debtors from re-filing for some period of time if they believe the debtor sought the protection in bad faith, according to Eric J. Snyder, the chair of the bankruptcy practice at Wilk Auslander LLP.

    "Twelve months is a long time. Normally it's six months," Snyder said. "But in this type of case, because of Giuliani's behavior, I think 12 months is probably consistent."

    Dunphy will continue her fight in court

    Dismissing the bankruptcy would unfreeze all of Giuliani's other civil cases, allowing him time to appeal the massive defamation judgment against him.

    It also means all the other litigants suing Giuliani can continue to pursue their cases against him in other courts, which are mostly taking place in New York, where he was once the mayor and top federal prosecutor.

    But the legal team representing the so-called "unsecured creditors" — including Dominion Voting Systems and Dunphy — objected to dismissing the bankruptcy case.

    Rudy Giuliani looking at his phone at a Trump rally
    Rudy Giuliani has continued to support former President Donald Trump, who is running in the 2024 election.

    In a rowdy hearing Wednesday, they asked Lane to allow the cases to play out in the bankruptcy process.

    Lane said at the hearing that he was inclined to dismiss the case. He said appointing a Chapter 11 trustee to take over Giuliani's assets would eat up administrative fees, and that Giuliani's lack of financial transparency posed a persistent problem.

    "That's not going to magically change if you continue the case in 11 with the trustee," he said.

    "Our client Noelle Dunphy remains as strong and steadfast as ever in her commitment to pursuing justice," Dunphy's lawyer Justin Kelton told Business Insider in an email earlier this week. "If Mr. Giuliani's bankruptcy is dismissed, she will continue pursuing her claims in court, and we look forward to the day when we can present this case to a jury."

    Giuliani also has plenty of other legal woes stemming from his false claims that the 2020 election was rigged against Donald Trump.

    The ex-president's former attorney was disbarred in New York and may soon lose his law license in Washington, DC.

    He is also the subject of two criminal cases, in Arizona and Georgia, over his efforts to overturn the election results.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Sam Altman is seen driving a car that can cost $5 million. Everyone is thanking him for helping them pass their tests.

    Sam altman in a car
    Sam Altman was spotted driving a Koenigsegg Regera.

    • A car enthusiast posted a video of Sam Altman in a super rare Koenigsegg Regera.
    • The Swedish supercars are some of the fastest street-legal cars. They cost as much as $4.6 million.
    • Vroom vroom.

    Joseph Velyan was eating lunch at a restaurant with his family when he spotted something extraordinary rolling down the street: a Koenigsegg Regera.

    Only 80 of these Swedish sports cars were made — and they can cost as much as $4.65 million.

    "I've been into cars almost my whole life, and seeing a Koenigsegg was definitely a dream of mine — especially in public," Velyan, who runs the car fan pages @norcal.garage on TikTok and Instagram told Business Insider. "I go to car events and see some pretty rare cars often, but this is for sure the rarest one I've seen, and it caught my eye right away."

    He took a quick video of the car and posted it online in late April. But it wasn't until more than a month later, when he looked back at the footage, that he noticed something else interesting: The driver appeared to be Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI. (Representatives for Sam Altman didn't respond to a request for comment from BI.)

    Like Velyan, Altman is a Car Guy. According to a Wall Street Journal story about his vast fortune, he owns a McLaren in addition to the Koenigsegg and drove F1 cars on a racetrack for fun on vacation with his husband in Dubai.

    He also has mentioned owning a Telsa. (This might be amusing to Elon Musk, the former friend and current frenemy of Altman, who had an amused reaction to the video after Musk's henchman friend Jason Calacanis pointed out the irony of the head of a nonprofit driving such a fancy car. (Musk's beef with Altman is largely over how OpenAI has shifted from its nonprofit roots. And, of course, Altman has been an investor in companies including Reddit and Stripe, accounting for a fortune that's been estimated at around $3 billion.)

    In the video of Altman in the Koenigsegg, there's something totally uncanny about seeing such an unusual car — which looks unlike anything else and is capable of going zero to 250 miles per hour in under 30 seconds — at a stop light in a busy pedestrian area. Velyan is right — you'd expect to see something like this at a car show or a track, not a city street in Napa, CA.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaEpYc3YLz4?feature=oembed&w=560&h=315]

    There's something else sort of weird — tech moguls, for as rich as they are, don't typically drive incredibly noticeably ostentatious cars.

    Sure, they might own a fancy car in their collection (Mark Zuckerberg reportedly has a $1.4 million Pagani Huayra), but you don't typically see them driving them past a CVS in a supercar on a Tuesday.

    Koenigseggs are so rare that there's a fan community that keeps track of each model on a blog called Egg Registry. Based on the distinctive all-white paint job of the car in the video, it seems likely to be No. 7232, which the fans on the blog have traced to an owner in San Francisco. (BI couldn't independently verify this.) They say it's been seen driving around the streets and showing up to a local car show.

    The hoi polloi can often be a little harsh on seeing displays of tech mogul wealth (just check the comments anytime Zuckerberg posts himself surfing). But on TikTok, a lot of ChatGPT users seem pretty happy for Altman and his car.

    "This man helped me pass chem 🙏 enjoy that Regera" wrote one person."

    "Bro carried me through half of my classes last year I hope he enjoys that beauty," said another.

    "Countless assignments, countless tests passed enjoy it bro."

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Russia is already fighting NATO, just not with tanks and fighter jets, argues a former top US general

    Russian President Vladimir Putin looking through the scope on a rifle.
    Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has long been focused on the Russian military, looks through the scope as he shoots a Chukavin sniper rifle.

    • Russia has been engaging in hybrid attacks against NATO for a long time.
    • In recent months, aggression has included attempted assassinations, arson, GPS jamming, and other sabotage.
    • A former top US general said this week that in some ways, Russia is already at war with the alliance.

    Russia has been carrying out hybrid attacks, aggression in the blurry grey area between war and peace, against NATO, unnerving the military alliance and raising concerns that what has long been a low-intensity campaign could escalate into something much bigger.

    Recent covert acts of sabotage are far from the level of aggression and brutality that Russia has put on display in Ukraine. But make no mistake, a former top US general argued this week, Moscow is already fighting NATO.

    "We need to acknowledge that they are at war with us," said Ben Hodges, a retired lieutenant general and former commander of US Army Europe, on Wednesday at the NATO Public Forum in Washington, DC.

    "It may not be T-72s or Sukhois that are striking NATO countries, but they are absolutely at war," he said, referring to types of Russian tanks and aircraft, respectively. He listed off GPS jamming, sabotage, election interference, and the illicit movement of oil as a few examples of malign activity.

    NATO allies have seen a string of aggressive acts linked to Moscow over the past few months, ranging from signal jamming and incidents of arson to cyber hacks and attempted assassinations. Moscow does not necessarily claim responsibility for these, but leaders have suggested that it is Russian President Vladimir Putin's way of trying to interfere with Western support for Ukraine.

    Russia's leadership has regularly framed the conflict as not merely a fight with Ukraine but as a confrontation with NATO. Moscow routinely portrays itself as the victim while targeting other countries with direct and indirect aggression.

    The recent campaign prompted NATO in May to raise public concern over Russia's activities. In a pointed statement, the alliance expressed great concern over what it described as "hostile state activity" in a number of European countries.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin holding paperwork while sitting in a chair in front of the Russian flag.
    Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council via a video link at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow.

    "These incidents are part of an intensifying campaign of activities which Russia continues to carry out across the Euro-Atlantic area, including on alliance territory and through proxies," the NATO statement said, adding that "this includes sabotage, acts of violence, cyber and electronic interference, disinformation campaigns, and other hybrid operations."

    NATO called the situation a "a threat to allied security" and said that allies "will act individually and collectively to address these actions."

    A lasting headache for NATO

    Although the war in Ukraine has exacerbated tensions, the problem of Russian hybrid attacks is not a new hassle for the alliance, which has been dealing with this trend for quite some time.

    "The Russian threat isn't just directed at Ukraine. In fact, we all, in our own countries, have had warnings of this — we've all had knowledge of this and experience of this for a number of years," UK Defense Secretary John Healey said at the Public Forum.

    "We face wider Russian aggression directed at our own democracies, from hybrid attacks to threats in the high north," he added.

    Some allies know this better than others. The Baltic nations, which are on the alliance on its eastern flank, point to a long history of hybrid attacks by Russia to validate their concerns over neighboring Russia's aggression.

    "We've been advocating taking a strict position on Russia for years," Latvian Defense Minister Andris Sprūds said alongside Healey and Hodges at the forum this week. "We, ourselves, have been experiencing hybrid attacks from Russia for decades, so that's why the threat has been quite clear, what we're facing."

    "We are facing Russia, the country, which can change in every five years — in every 10 years — dramatically," the defense minister added. "But nothing changes in 100 years. So we pretty much see the same Russia. It's expansionist, it's imperialist, regardless what type [of] regime we are dealing with."

    The Russian hybrid attacks were a notable discussion point on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington this week. At one panel, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said every ally is "acutely" aware of the threat and is focused on the recent upticks in sabotage.

    "These are not one-offs," Blinken added. "This is part of a deliberate strategy by Russia to try to undermine our security and undermine the cohesion of the Alliance. It's not going to work because we see it and we're acting on it."

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • A James Webb Telescope scientist explains what it’s like to create the most beautiful space images of our time

    An illustration of the James Webb Space Telescope in space.
    The James Webb is often called the worlds most powerful space telescope.

    • JWST snaps thousands of photos of our universe, from sparkling stellar nurseries to clusters of distant galaxies.
    • But it takes human image processors, like Joe DePasquale, to turn these photos into works of art.
    • DePasquale gave BI a behind-the-scenes look at how he creates images like the Deep Field and the Tarantula Nebula.

    Two years ago today, NASA unveiled the first full-color space images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope.

    We often hear about the scientists who study JWST's space images and what they discover, but behind these beautiful works of art are image processors like Joe DePasquale who can spend days, or even weeks, transforming a single image.

    Webb's raw telescope images can look like empty black boxes when they first beam back to Earth. It takes science, intuition, and sometimes a bit of Photoshop to tease out the most important moments, DePasquale said.

    Cosmic cliffs
    "Cosmic Cliffs" was one of the first images captured by JWST. It showcases Webb's ability to peer through thick clouds of gas and dust to reveal young stars.

    DePasquale is a principal science visuals developer at the Space Telescope Science Institute. He processed some of the very first Webb images that the public got to see.

    While working on an image, DePasquale gradually unveils details that sometimes amaze him. For the Deep Field image, one of Webb's first images, he was astonished to see tiny dots around some galaxies at the center. These dots are globular clusters of stars that surround very distant galaxies.

    "To be able to pull out that much detail in just this tiny part of the sky — seeing that in such clarity was amazing," DePasquale said.

    Unprecedented detail

    James Webb Space Telescope
    Webb's enormous mirror is made up of 18 hexagonal, gold-coated segments. The mirror's size allows Webb to detect light from very distant galaxies.

    After Webb launched in 2021, the next few months were "nail-biting," DePasquale said. Before the telescope could begin photographing the farthest reaches of the cosmos, it had to unfold and fully deploy in space.

    "We watched every step along the way — the mirrors unfolding, the sunshield deploying, all of these things happening. There were 300 different single points of failure where if anything didn't work, the whole observatory would just be scrapped," he said.

    Webb deployed perfectly, and got to work photographing our vast universe. A single Webb photo, like the Deep Field image, can capture thousands of galaxies.

    Webb's first Deep Field image
    Webb's first Deep Field image contains thousands of galaxies.

    Pulling all that detail out of the raw Webb image was no easy task. The final photo is actually four different images stitched together. When DePasquale first lined them up, he noticed that the brightness was different in each panel. To get them to match, he had to use Photoshop to adjust the lighting of the panels by hand.

    It took about two weeks to process the Deep Field image from start to finish, he said. The end result is a sparkling portrait of the galaxy cluster SMACS 0723.

    Peering across the universe

    Tarantula nebula
    At the center of the Tarantula Nebula, young, hot stars burn bright blue.

    Webb is the most powerful telescope ever launched into space. It can see what the universe looked like around a quarter of a billion years after the Big Bang, when the first stars and galaxies started to form.

    In its last two years of observations, Webb has fundamentally changed our understanding of the universe with groundbreaking discoveries like capturing the first images of stars forming inside the Pillars of Creation and the four most distant galaxies ever observed.

    pillars of creation towering clouds of dust two pictures side by side left is hubble's version faint dusty colors right is webb's version with way more stars and darker blue backdrop
    Hubble's 2014 image of the Pillars of Creation (left), versus Webb's 2022 snapshot of the same formation (right). Webb peered through the surrounding gas and dust to reveal stars forming inside.

    "Both Hubble and Webb are extremely high-angular-resolution telescopes. They're able to resolve very small details in these really distant objects," like the Tarantula Nebula, DePasquale told Business Insider.

    The Tarantula Nebula is a star-forming cloud of gas and dust located in the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy, 170,000 light-years away from Earth. That's really far away, but the extremely high precision of Webb's huge mirror allows the telescope to collect a lot of light from any object it observes, so it can photograph distant objects in striking detail, DePasquale said.

    A collage of images that shows the process of processing JWST's Tarantula Nebula image.
    These images show DePasquale's process of adding color to Webb's Tarantula Nebula image.

    Processing raw space images is both a science and an art.

    When processing the Tarantula Nebula image, DePasquale wanted to emphasize the cluster of hot, young stars in the center. To do that, he enhanced the contrast between the light and dark parts of the image, and made the billowing clouds of the nebula glow in whites and made the young stars burn bright blue. He does a lot of this work by hand, manipulating the images using Photoshop.

    "Our work transitions from being analytical and scientific into a more subjective realm, where it's more like a photographer. We make scientifically-informed aesthetic judgments about how to process the data to highlight key scientific features within it," he said.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • My first visit to Japan left me in culture shock, but I wish the US would adopt some of its norms

    line to get on a subway in Tokyo
    I saw many people waiting in line to board the subway in Japan.

    • In Japan, I saw how the local culture and etiquette are different from what I'm used to in the US. 
    • With self-cleaning toilets and an absence of trash, Japan models an impressive level of cleanliness.
    • The public toilets and hotel freebies in Japan were also far superior to what I've seen in the US. 

    As soon as I arrived in Tokyo to a near-silent Narita Airport, I knew I was in for a bit of culture shock.

    Already, the Japanese culture felt far different from what I'm used to in the United States: Most US airports are incredibly noisy.

    As I left, I was surprised again when I got into a taxi on the right side of the car. I quickly learned from the driver's panicked reaction that I was apparently supposed to enter from the left.

    The next few days were a crash course in learning the local etiquette.

    Although I'm considered pretty soft-spoken back home, in Japan, I felt too assertive and found myself quieting my voice and being more gentle in my body language to adapt to my surroundings.

    I found myself appreciating Japan's politeness, extreme cleanliness, and order, whether I was lining up to board the subway or using the immaculate public bathrooms.

    The harsh return to loud and chaotic New York City made me miss many of the norms I witnessed on my trip. Here are some I wish the US would adopt.

    The public bathrooms are impressively clean, with fancy toilets

    Compared to the public bathrooms in the US, Japanese public bathrooms feel like they belong in a five-star hotel.

    Each one I encountered in Japan looked spotlessly clean, and the toilets were more technologically advanced than anything I've seen back home.

    They don't just flush automatically when you're finished — they can also sense when you're approaching and lift the lid accordingly.

    Almost all have multi-functional, electronic bidets. Some have heated seats, and many are self-cleaning.

    Many hotels provide complimentary pajamas, slippers, and toiletries

    Baskets of toiletries in Japan hotel
    At some hotels in Japan I had access to as many toiletries as I needed.

    I returned home from Japan with a full tube of toothpaste because I barely touched my toiletry bag during my trip.

    Every hotel in Japan I stayed at had an impressive toiletry kit that included a toothbrush, toothpaste, hair brush, and single-use size packets of facial cleanser and moisturizer — often from a luxury skincare brand.

    I've never gotten freebies on this scale at nice hotels in the US, where the standard is just one tiny bottle each of shampoo, conditioner, and lotion.

    Boxes of toiletries in Japan hotel
    Some toiletries in Japan also came nicely packaged.

    In Japan, I'd usually also find a set of pajamas and slippers in the closet for guests to use. At some of the finer hotels I stayed in, they were from designer names. The Derek Rose set I wore at The Ritz-Carlton, Fukuoka was so silky I considered buying them.

    The complimentary items made traveling more efficient since I barely had to unpack at each new hotel I stayed in.

    The airports often have separate slippers for walking through security

    Slippers in bins at airport in Japan
    Airport slippers were a nice touch.

    As someone who awkwardly tip-toes through security because I'm grossed out by walking on the airport floor, I was thrilled to find slippers available to borrow at several airports throughout the country.

    In Japan, it's customary to remove your shoes before entering many indoor spaces. I loved that this extended beyond the airport to hotels, spas, and sometimes restaurants, where I'd often have to leave my outdoor shoes at the door.

    It helped indoor spaces feel even cleaner, especially on rainy days when shoes can get wet or muddy.

    There are hardly any public trash bins, yet the streets are spotless

    Every time I had a receipt I wanted to toss, I faced the impossible task of finding somewhere to throw it out. Even in big cities like Tokyo, garbage bins are almost completely absent from public spaces.

    I thought this would incentivize people to litter, but it actually seemed to have the opposite effect. A local told me Japanese residents often just hold onto their trash until they can dispose of it at home.

    Public spaces are incredibly quiet, creating a calm atmosphere

    Mall in Fukuoka Japan
    Even shopping malls in Japan felt pretty quiet.

    In Japan, it's the norm for people to keep to themselves in public.

    I first noticed it at the airport, where I saw seats separated by small walls instead of armrests, creating semi-closed pods for travelers. It was a dream for introverts like me.

    Whether I was at the airport, on the train, or even a busy shopping mall, my surroundings were quiet — so quiet, I often thought I had my headphones in when I didn't.

    In New York City, I'm used to hearing strangers' full conversations or music blasting from their headphones. In Japan, I rarely even heard someone on their phone — and if people were traveling together, they were silent or speaking quietly.

    As a result, public spaces in Japan maintain an air of tranquility that feels like a novelty compared to many public spaces in the United States.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Another nail in the coffin for ‘Summer Fridays’

    PwC logo on the facade of one of it's office buildings in front of a blue sky.
    PwC has gradually decreased its Summer Fridays perk in recent years.

    • PwC has gradually curtailed Summer Fridays in recent years. 
    • Some partners expected the perk to be eliminated altogether, The Financial Times reports.
    • Top firms are tightening their belts as demand slows.

    PwC staff in the UK are bracing for a popular perk cutback.

    The Big Four accounting firm is slashing its "Summer Fridays" to a span of six weeks this year, The Financial Times reported.

    PwC first introduced Summer Fridays in 2021, and gave Friday afternoons off for a three-month span in 2022.

    It reduced that period to two months in 2023, according to FT, before cutting it further this year.

    Some partners thought Summer Fridays would be eliminated entirely this year, FT reports.

    In a memo, PwC chief people officer Ian Elliott cited "market conditions" for the shift, saying employees should balance summer hours "with the needs of our clients, teams and work commitments, which should continue to take priority," according to FT.

    In addition to cutting Summer Fridays, PwC is handing out smaller bonuses and salary increases to some of its UK staff, which numbers 26,000 workers, FT reports.

    PwC offered UK buyout packages earlier this year as advisory work has slowed at top consulting firms.

    PwC told Business Insider in a statement that the "vast majority" of its employees "received a bonus and a 3% pay rise," adding, "our summer working hours are continuing once again, albeit for a shorter period."

    A perk on the decline

    A recent study shows that Summer Fridays are getting phased out across the industry.

    Eleven percent of North American workers reported having the perk, CNBC reported last month, citing a 2023 Gartner survey of 1,100 people. By comparison, 55% of companies offered the benefit in 2019, according to a Gartner survey of 94 HR leaders.

    CNBC reported the shift could be attributed to the rise of hybrid work and work-from-home Fridays — as well as companies cracking down on flexible work paradigms that emerged during the pandemic.

    Other companies are keeping Summer Fridays but adding a catch. Kellogg's global snacks unit this year lets its workers take off for half the day on Fridays — but makes them make up the time at other points in the week.

    Despite the decline in Summer Fridays, some business titans think the 4-day workweek is an inevitability.

    "You know, between the advent of AI, generally, we hear from people that Fridays are just not — people are not as productive on Fridays, and so I just think it's an eventuality," billionaire hedge fund manager and New York Mets owner Steve Cohen said in April.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Costco unexpectedly sold out of chickens this week — 22-inch garden statue roosters, that is

    A steel chicken garden statue from Costco.
    Costco's chicken garden statues appear to be a hit.

    • It's often said that you can buy anything at Costco, and that includes 22-inch chicken statues.
    • A comically proportioned steel garden chicken has apparently struck a chord with Costco shoppers.
    • The $38 product unexpectedly sold out online, leaving some Costco fans feeling left out.

    If there are two things Costco is well known for, it's finding items you didn't know you wanted, and selling a lot of chickens.

    This week, those two things converged — in a way — when the company unexpectedly sold out of a 22-inch tall garden statue of a rooster.

    So, while the comically proportioned steel bird wasn't $5 (and obviously isn't edible), the $38 price tag was arguably a bargain, compared with comparable offerings from other online sellers.

    Several Reddit users said they ordered the chicken only to be informed that the item had been oversold and the order canceled.

    The product listing page for a steel chicken statue from Costco.

    "We regret to inform you that the item you had ordered, 1793860 STEEL CHICKEN, has been accidentally oversold and we are unable to fulfill your order," Costco said to one shopper, in an email that was shared with Business Insider.

    In a follow-up note, the company said she would receive a $10 Costco Shop card "as compensation for your inconvenience."

    "I'm super bummed! Honestly, I'd rather have the chicken than an extra $10," she said in a Reddit post about the experience.

    Soon other users began posting (and boasting) about the chickens they were able to buy, with many making comparisons to the feathered sidekick Hei-Hei from the Disney film Moana.

    As of Friday, the steel chicken has not yet made its way to eBay and Facebook Marketplace, but we wouldn't be surprised if the early enthusiasm leads to some resales while shoppers wait for a restock.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Gen Z’s latest fashion hack is using iPhone Notes to plan outfits. Here’s how to do it yourself.

    Composite image of Jordan Hart posing and an open Notes app page
    Keep track of your outfits and plan ahead with your Notes app.

    • iPhone owners are uploading photos of their outfits to the Notes app on their phones.
    • The Gen Z viral style hack is helping people to remember and plan their looks.
    • Here's which iPhone features to use if you want to try it.

    Gen Z fashionistas are taking closet organization into their own hands — and using a simple iPhone feature to do it.

    While Pinterest boards offer style inspiration, some young people are using the Notes app instead. There, they can upload photos of their own wardrobe and outfits and plan looks based on clothes they already have.

    One big benefit: There aren't any special apps or tools to download. This closet-organizing hack is doable with an up-to-date iOS device.

    iPhone Notes App with outfit pictures
    As the trend grows, people are using it to plan their vacation outfits.

    It's unclear who was the first to figure it out, but it was popularized by influencer Morgan Riddle in 2023. It's particularly helpful when planning outfits for a vacation, and many people break them down by location or occasion.

    TikTokers praise the hack for helping them remember their favorite outfits and plan for trips. Some compared it to dress-up toys like Polly Pocket or the changeable avatar skins in the video game Fortnite.

    Here's how to make your own version of Cher Horowitz's closet from the "Clueless" movie.

    Start in your Photos app

    Jordan Hart posing with the "copy" button above her
    Pressing and holding a picture of yourself should prompt some options to pop up.

    You can either try on potential outfits or use photos you've already taken, but you'll want to use full-body pictures of yourself.

    Pro tip: For the best results, choose images in which you're the main focus and the only one in the photo.

    Once you've chosen your first picture, press down on your body until it's highlighted with a glowing outline and a list of options at the top. Then, press "copy."

    Now head to the Notes app

    Composite image of the notes app
    You can copy and paste your pictures into the notes app.

    Once you've copied the outfit, open the Notes app and select a note to paste your image onto. You can use a generic title like "Outfits" or name your note based on a trip or occasion.

    Press anywhere on the empty note to paste your outfit. It'll probably take up most of the note at first, but don't worry.

    To shrink it down and make room for more pictures, press the three dots in the top right corner of the note. When the options come up, press "attachment view," then select "set all to small." That should make your images smaller. You can do this after adding all of your attachments, but doing it after the first one made it easier for me to organize them.

    Repeat and customize it based on your needs

    Screenshot of Notes App with outfit photos characterized by season
    You can customize your note to fit your fashion needs.

    Once you've uploaded all of your ensembles, it's time to organize them how you see fit. Since I'm not going on a trip soon, I sorted some past outfits based on which season they're best suited for.

    You could also sort them by a particular aesthetic or the type of event to which they'd be worn.

    As someone who tends to plan her outfits about an hour before walking out of the door in them, I was skeptical of this hack.

    However, being able to keep a record of my favorite looks from over the years has made this a useful tool.

    I might not want to repeat my 'fits, but having them side by side is giving me new inspo on how to mix and match my clothes.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Heavy rain could put a dampener on the lavish Ambani wedding, with flight delays and flooded roads in Mumbai

    Red flowers and yellow lights decorate an archway to the Antilia tower as security guards stand outisde
    The entrance to the Ambani family's Mumbai home, a 27-story tower called Antilia, was decorated ahead of the wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant.

    • An orange alert for heavy rainfall has been issued in Mumbai for the coming days.
    • The weather warning coincides with the Ambani wedding, featuring a star-studded guest list.
    • Over half the flights arriving in Mumbai on Friday are delayed, and Air India is warning travelers to leave extra time.

    Heavy rain could put a dampener on the celebrations of Anant Ambani and his wife-to-be, Radhika Merchant at their lavish wedding in Mumbai this weekend.

    The India Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for the Maharashtra region, where Mumbai is situated, due to the possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next five days.

    Anant Ambani, the son of India's richest person, Mukesh Ambani, is celebrating his ceremony across an opulent three days of festivities, with a star-studded guest list including Kim Kardashian and John Kerry, the former US secretary of state, according to CNBC TV-18, which obtained the guest list from event organizers.

    After a string of extravagant celebrations beginning in March, billionaire Ambani's youngest child will marry Radhika Merchant, the daughter of Viren and Shaila Merchant, both pharmaceutical tycoons, in Mumbai.

    The weather warning is attributed to a monsoon trough and cyclonic circulation over the state of Maharashtra. Heavy rain is common during India's monsoon season, which runs from June to September.

    Mumbai recorded almost 30 centimeters of rain in a single day earlier in the week, Bloomberg reported.

    Children play near a rickshaw in a flooded street in Mumbai, India on July 8, 2024
    Children playing in a flooded Mumbai Street this week.

    An orange warning is an "alert" under the IMD's system, and according to the Times of India, it can include weather that disrupts transport and travel, lowered visibility, and, in some areas, can cause landslips.

    Heavy rain on Friday caused some roads in the city to flood, the Times of India reported.

    Due to the heavy rains, Air India issued an important update in a post on X on Friday, encouraging passengers to depart early to the airport to avoid delays.

    "Flights to and from Mumbai are getting affected due to heavy rains," the post said.

    "Guests are advised to start early for the airport, as slow traffic and waterlogging may delay movement."

    The Press Trust of India uploaded a video to X showing waterlogging following heavy rainfall at terminal two of Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, the airport's terminal for international flights.

    According to data from FlightRadar24, as of 12 p.m. ET Friday, around 57% of flights arriving in Mumbai had been delayed, while around 79% of departures were late.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Photos show the most scenic road to drive in every state

    Highway 1
    The Overseas Highway, Florida.

    • If you're thinking of taking a road trip this summer, there's a must-see road in every state. 
    • Among them, Florida's Oversea Highway offers scenic views of piercing blue waters.
    • The Valley of Fire Highway in Nevada travels through the Mojave Desert.

    The American Automobile Association, or AAA, is expecting record-high numbers of summer road trips in 2024, with over 75% of American adults planning to hit the road for vacation this summer, according to a survey conducted by The Vacationer.

    US gas prices have decreased to a national average of $3.538 as of July 12 after soaring to an average of $4.059 per gallon in 2022, making long drives more affordable for consumers.

    WalletHub named Texas the best state for summer road trips, but all 50 states offer scenic drives. Take a look at the prettiest road to drive in every state.

    ALABAMA: State Road 9
    State Road 9 in Alabama. A country road with mountains in the background.
    State Road 9.

    Driving through Talladega National Forest along State Road 9 will give you bucolic views of tree-covered hills and small mountains, Alabama Byways reported. There are also several small side roads off the highway that lead to waterfalls and walking trails.

    ALASKA: Alaska Route 3
    Aerial image of Alaska Route 3, a road through mountains.
    Alaska Route 3.

    Denali National Park is known for being home to North America's tallest peak. Driving on Interstate A-3 offers stunning views of the mountains, wildlife, and greenery throughout the park. 

    ARIZONA: The Apache Trail
    The Apache Trail in Arizona. A lake with mountains in the background.
    The Apache Trail.

    The Apache Trail is one of Arizona's oldest highways. The partially unpaved drive takes you through stunning canyons, desert scenes, and geologic formations just outside of Phoenix. 

    A 5-mile section of the road has been closed since 2019 due to damage from a wildfire, AZ Central reported.

    ARKANSAS: The Pig Trail Scenic Byway
    The Pig Tail Scenic Byway in Arkansas, a winding road surrounded by trees.
    The Pig Tail Scenic Byway.

    The Pig Trail Scenic Byway takes you through canopies of greenery in spring and summer and stunning fall foliage in autumn. The road winds its way through the Ozark Mountains and is a favorite among motorcyclists, according to the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism.

    CALIFORNIA: The Pacific Coast Highway
    Bixby Bridge on the Pacific Coast Highway overlooking the ocean.
    The Pacific Coast Highway.

    The Pacific Coast Highway is one of the most famous drives in the world, and for good reason. The cliffside drive on State Route 1 offers epic vistas and stunning views of the Pacific, and if you take the road long enough, you'll pass the famous redwoods and the Golden Gate Bridge

    COLORADO: The Trail Ridge Road
    The Trail Ridge Road winds through the mountains of Colorado.
    The Trail Ridge Road.

    The Trail Ridge Road through Rocky Mountain National Park was specifically designed for optimal views — drivers and passengers can enjoy stunning panoramas from every turn.

    CONNECTICUT: Route 169
    Route 169 in Connecticut during the fall with a tree blooming with red leaves.
    Route 169.

    There are several back roads, interstates, and byways that show off Connecticut's incredible autumn colors, but Route 169 might be the best. The small, two-lane road passes through quaint towns and offers stunning views of the state's famous fall foliage.

    DELAWARE: Brandywine Valley
    Brandywine Valley, a scenic overlook in Delaware.
    Brandywine Valley.

    Delaware's Brandywine Valley along the I-95 corridor makes for a unique road trip by offering a glimpse into history. The 1777 Battle of the Brandywine took place in its rolling hills when George Washington and his army faced British General William Howe, National Geographic reported. It is also dotted with picture-perfect mansions and gardens.  

    FLORIDA: The Overseas Highway
    The Overseas Highway in Florida, with thin bridges stretching over the ocean.
    The Overseas Highway.

    To get to the southernmost point of the continental US you have to take Florida's Seven Mile Bridge to The Keys. You'll be surrounded by piercing blue water for your entire drive on the Overseas Highway. 

    GEORGIA: US 41
    US 41, a highway in Georgia surrounded by scenic mountains.
    US 41.

    The Cohutta-Chattahoochee Scenic Byway travels along several roads, the best of which is US 41. The route takes drivers through Chattahoochee National Forest and offers can't-miss views of the Cohutta Mountains, according to the scenic byway's official website.

    HAWAII: Hana Highway
    A car drives along the road in Hana Highway, Hawaii, overlooking the ocean.
    Hana Highway.

    The Hana Highway in Hawaii is another one of America's most iconic roads. The coastal highway takes over 600 twists and turns along the outskirts of Maui, according to Hawaii Guide. You'll see waterfalls, rainforests, and dramatic cliff sides.

    IDAHO: Sawtooth Scenic Byway
    Sawtooth Scenic Byway in Idaho with snow-covered mountains in the distance.
    Sawtooth Scenic Byway.

    The Sawtooth Scenic Byway takes cars driving northbound on State Highway 75 into Sun Valley, a region famous for its many resorts and its white-capped mountains, according to the Idaho Department of Commerce.

    ILLINOIS: Lake Shore Drive
    Lake Shore Drive along the Chicago skyline.
    Lake Shore Drive.

    Chicago traffic may be a bit tedious, but Lake Shore Drive will offer a view like no other. With the big cityscape on one side and the Lake Michigan shoreline on the other, you'll get the best of both worlds. 

    INDIANA: Highway 36
    A covered bridge on Highway 36 in Indiana.
    Highway 36.

    Parke County is the covered bridge capital of the world, and takes a lot of pride in its 31 covered bridges, many of which are from the 1800s, according to the Parke County Convention and Visitors Commission. Highway 36 is the perfect road from which to explore this historic infrastructure.

    IOWA: Loess Hills, Interstate 29
    Plains along the road of Loess Hills, Interstate 29 in Iowa.
    Loess Hills, Interstate 29.

    Iowa's vast plains might seem repetitive, but Loess Hills along Interstate 29 gives drivers a unique look into rural America. The route is dotted with small towns, state forests, and museums, according to a guide published by the Iowa Legislature and Golden Hills Resource Conservation and Development.

    KANSAS: Interstate 70
    Castle Rock, a tower-shaped rock, off of Interstate 70 in Kansas.
    Interstate 70.

    Kansas' Castle Rock is an off-road attraction just off the seemingly endless Interstate 70. The small detour offers some much-needed excitement if you're on a cross-state road trip through the plains. 

    KENTUCKY: Route 77
    The Nada Tunnel, a dark cave-like opening in a rock along Route 77 in Kentucky.
    Route 77.

    One of the best parts of Route 77 in Kentucky is the 900-foot, one-lane Nada Tunnel, according to the travel guide website Hiking in the Smokeys.

    LOUISIANA: Bourbon Street
    Bourbon Street lined with shops in Louisiana.
    Bourbon Street.

    Bourbon Street in New Orleans is one of the most iconic streets in the world. You can easily drive through it during the day, but be wary of party-goers and tourists at night.

    MAINE: Park Loop Road
    Park Loop Road in Acadia National Park along the ocean.
    Park Loop Road.

    Park Loop Road in Acadia National Park is a 27-mile drive along the coast and through the park, which takes fall foliage to a new level every autumn. 

    MARYLAND: Old Frederick Road
    A red covered bridge on Old Frederick Road in Maryland.
    Old Frederick Road.

    The Loys Station bridge is a historic, 90-foot-long covered bridge that you can still drive through, according to the Tourism Council of Frederick County. It's located on Old Frederick Road just south of Route 77.

     

    MASSACHUSETTS: Route 6
    Route 6 in Cape Cod, Massachussetts, a road with historic buildings lining both sides.
    Route 6.

    Massachusetts' Route 6 starts at the very tip of cozy Cape Cod. The road takes drivers through the southern part of the state until it reaches Providence, Rhode Island. 

    MICHIGAN: M-77
    M-77, a road in Michigan with lots of fall foliage.
    M-77.

    Taking M-77 into Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore will lead straight to the south shore of Lake Superior. The relaxing drive will provide a bright, colorful scene during the spring and summertime, or a deep cascade of orange and red hues in the fall. 

    MINNESOTA: US 10
    US 10 in Minneapolis, a road with views of the Minneapolis city skyline at night.
    US 10.

    US 10 in Minnesota takes you through a variety of landscapes. It's part of the Great River Road, which offers stunning views of the Mississippi River before continuing into Minneapolis, where you can see the state's grandest city skyline. 

    MISSISSIPPI: Great River Road
    A bridge with a road sign reading "Mississippi River" in the foreground.
    Great River Road.

    For scenic views of the Mississippi River, take the aptly named Great River Road. It'll drive you over, under, and alongside the river until Minnesota if you stay on it long enough. 

    MISSOURI: Route 66
    Route 66 in Missouri, a bridge over a forested area.
    Route 66.

    The iconic Route 66 makes its way through Missouri and past a quaint town named Devil's Elbow. A rusting bridge named the Devil's Elbow Bridge takes travelers over the Big Piney River and through scenic bluffs, according to the Pulaski County Tourism Bureau.

    MONTANA: Beartooth Highway
    Beartooth Highway in Yellowstone National Park, a scenic road with views of the surrounding mountains.
    Beartooth Highway.

    Beartooth Highway makes its way into Yellowstone National Park, thus providing picturesque views of the world-famous vistas the park is internationally famous for.

    NEBRASKA: Highway 61
    Highway 61 in Nebraska drives through green landscapes.
    Highway 61.

    Highway 61 in Nebraska propels drivers into true American farmland. There's not a lot of action on this drive, but it will give you a good look into the classic Midwest agricultural scene. 

    NEVADA: Valley of Fire Highway
    nevada valley of fire
    Valley of Fire Highway.

    The Valley of Fire Highway travels through the Mojave Desert for a little over 10 miles. The fiery red formations are a stunning sight, and several parking areas are available if you want to see them up close, according to Travel Nevada.

    NEW HAMPSHIRE: Kancamagus Highway
    Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire with bright fall foliage.
    Kancamagus Highway.

    New England's fall foliage is world famous. See it in all its glory on New Hampshire's Kancamagus Highway. 

    NEW JERSEY: Palisades Parkway
    The George Washington Bridge leading to the Palisades Parkway.
    The George Washington Bridge, which leads to the Palisades Parkway.

    Located just over Manhattan's George Washington Bridge, the Palisades Parkway features views of New York City's famous skyline and New Jersey's scenic cliffs overlooking the Hudson River.

    NEW MEXICO: The High Road To Taos
    The High Road To Taos in New Mexico.
    The High Road To Taos.

    The High Road to Taos is a scenic, winding drive that runs through several small Pueblo Indian villages, according to New Mexico's Tourism Department. It offers a glimpse into the high desert and the lives of those who live in it.

    NEW YORK: Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway
    Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway in New York with views of Whiteface Mountain and greenery.
    Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway.

    Driving through the Adirondacks is much more relaxing than navigating the crowded streets of the Big Apple. The Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway, also known as State Route 431, shows off the surrounding peaks as you make your way up Whiteface Mountain, according to its official website.

    NORTH CAROLINA: Blue Ridge Parkway
    Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina with views of mountains and fall foliage.
    Blue Ridge Parkway.

    Visiting North Carolina without taking a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway would be a huge mistake. The Lynn Cove Viaduct, which wraps around Grandfather Mountain, is easily the best part of the entire drive. 

    NORTH DAKOTA: Interstate 94
    Interstate 94 in North Dakota with views of the badlands.
    Interstate 94.

    The endless plains of North Dakota become more dynamic at Theodore Roosevelt National Park, where the badlands begin. You can catch a glimpse of them from Interstate 94, or take a detour on one of the side roads. 

    OHIO: Buckeye Falls Drive
    Buckeye Falls Drive in Ohio, a road surrounded by yellow leaves and fall foliage.
    Buckeye Falls Drive.

    Sharon Woods may seem like a hotspot for hiking and other outdoor activities, but it also offers a scenic drive in the fall. Cruise down the tree-lined Buckeye Falls Drive for a breathtaking break. 

    OKLAHOMA: Highway 49
    Highway 49 in Oklahoma, an empty road with scenic views of the countryside.
    Highway 49.

    Highway 49 leads right to the Wichita Mountains. Watch out for free-range buffalo, which are known to crowd the roads here, as well as other wildlife, according to the National Scenic Byway Foundation

    OREGON: US 101
    US 101 in Oregon along the Pacific coast.
    US 101.

    Similar to California's Pacific Coast Highway, US 101 in Oregon travels along the Pacific coast, and offers over 300 miles of seaside driving and rugged cliffs, according to Oregon.com.

    PENNSYLVANIA: US Route 30
    An Amish buggy drives along US Route 30 in Pennsylvania.
    US Route 30.

    US Route 30 will take you straight through several Amish and Mennonite towns and into Lancaster, one of America's oldest Amish communities. Don't be surprised if most of the traffic consists of horse-drawn carriages.

    RHODE ISLAND: Ocean Drive
    Ocean Drive in Newport, Rhode Island, is a road over the water.
    Ocean Drive.

    Ocean Drive in Newport will take you through the Ocean Drive Historic District past the many ostentatious homes built here in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when it was a favorite spot to summer for the wealthy. If your legs need a stretch, take a stroll down Cliff Walk. 

     

    SOUTH CAROLINA: Botany Bay Boulevard
    Botany Bay Boulevard in South Carolina, where the trees create an arch over the road.
    Botany Bay Boulevard.

    South Carolina's Botany Bay on Edisto Island is one of the most famous roads in the South. Its canopied trees make for a stunningly shaded — and super Instagrammable — drive.

    SOUTH DAKOTA: Needles Highway
    Needles Highway in South Dakota features narrow roads with tall rock walls.
    Needles Highway.

    Needles Highway, or Highway 87, is named for the granite "needles" along its route. But be prepared to take it slow — the road, which is in Custer State Park, includes 14 miles of tunnels and turns, according to the Custer State Park Resort.

    TENNESSEE: Tail of the Dragon
    Tail of the Dragon in Tennessee, a road surrounded by trees.
    Tail of the Dragon.

    The Tail of the Dragon attracts many motorcyclists and driving enthusiasts thanks to the 318 curves that snake along the 11-mile, two-lane road, according to RoadTrippers.

    TEXAS: Highway 118
    Big Bend Park Road, also known as Highway 118, in Texas, with a stone arch over a desert road.
    Highway 118.

    Big Bend National Park, which sits on the border of Mexico, can be seen by driving on Highway 118. You'll travel through a stone tunnel and get epic views of the Chisos Mountains. 

    UTAH: US Route 163
    US Route 163 in Utah, also known as the road to Monument Valley. The photo shows a desert road with red rock cliffs in the distance.
    US Route 163.

    US Route 163 is also known as the road to Monument Valley. The highway cuts straight through the center of the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park.

    VERMONT: Route 100
    Route 100 in Vermont with lots of fall foliage.
    Route 100.

    Route 100 travels nearly the entire length of Vermont and is famous for its fall foliage.

    VIRGINIA: Skyline Drive
    Skyline Drive at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.
    Skyline Drive.

    Skyline Drive through Shenandoah National Park runs along the ridge of the mountains for 105 miles — pretty much the entire length of the park. Its views are some of the best in the state.

    WASHINGTON: Olympic Peninsula Loop Drive
    Hurricane Ridge at Olympic National Park in Washington. A road with mountain views and lots of pine trees.
    Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park.

    Loop around Olympic National Park, and get breathtaking scenery that ranges from mountains to forests to the ocean, as well as several different ecosystems.

     

     

    WEST VIRGINIA: New River Gorge Bridge
    New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia. A bridge stretches over a river with mountains on either side.
    New River Gorge Bridge.

    The New River Gorge Bridge allows cars to continue on US 19 over the New River. The 3,030-foot bridge is the longest single-span steel arch bridge in the US, according to the National Park Service. It offers breathtaking views of the surrounding Appalachian Mountains.

     

    WISCONSIN: US 61
    The shores of Lake Superior in Wisconsin.
    Lake Superior.

    US 61 runs along the Mississippi River offering stunning views of the northern parts of the river. 

    There's also the Lake Superior Byway, which runs on Highway 13 and shows off Wisconsin's quaint, northernmost towns and the Lake Superior shoreline they all share.

     

    WYOMING: Beartooth Highway
    Beartooth Highway in Wyoming.
    Beartooth Highway.

    Wyoming's section of Beartooth Highway runs on US 212 and is dotted with wildlife, mountain views, and scenic plateaus.

    Read the original article on Business Insider