Tag: News

• Heather Nickens is a conservative Christian who moved from California to Texas in 2022.
• Nickens had grown tired of California's high cost of living and pandemic response.
• But after getting to Texas, she realized she missed California's beautiful weather and sunny beaches.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Heather Nickens, a 52-year-old radiation therapist who moved from Orange County, California, to Dallas in 2022 after growing frustrated by California's pandemic restrictions and high cost of living. But Nickens only stayed in Texas for two years before returning to California because she missed the weather and access to nature.

The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I'm a native Californian, raised here my entire life, minus seven years I spent in Houston as a child.

I moved from the Inland Empire to Orange County in 2016 after my daughter graduated from high school. I started being outdoorsy, and the beach became very therapeutic and healing for me. I made a lot of great friends, and I got involved in the community.

I was always proud of California and what it represented. Until 2020.

I'm a Christian conservative, and the last four years have been a struggle. Between wearing a mask, the pandemic, the politics, the decline of our state, and our governor, it was too much.

My daughter couldn't afford to live here. She was going to move with or without me, and my parents, who were nearing retirement, also wanted to leave.

I really didn't want to be left behind.

I felt a connection to Texas because my grandparents were from there. My daughter and I visited Austin, but it was way too liberal.

I knew Dallas had a lot to offer in terms of sporting events and other stuff. It felt like it had a little bit of everything.

I was so nervous to move

I was very hesitant and really dragging my feet. Looking back, if I had listened to my intuition, I probably wouldn't have done it. But at the same time, I think everything happens for a reason.

My daughter and I moved to Dallas in May 2022. We lived together for the first year, renting a place right outside of the city. It was good we had each other.

The first few weeks we were in Texas, we were really excited. We went to a country concert, we went to the stockyard, and we tried a bunch of new restaurants.

I really liked the Texas politics. I'm a big fan of Gov. Abbott.

Obviously, gas was cheaper. But the cost of living has gone up everywhere. When people say Texas is so much cheaper, I think, well, it is to some degree. My rent was cheaper, but my car insurance went up. There are no state taxes, but the property taxes are way higher. I just didn't see a big enough change in the cost of living.

Even so, we were gung ho on trying to get plugged in. But by August, I hit a wall.

I did nothing in Texas because the weather was so brutal. You couldn't even go outside. I didn't realize how much I really loved being outside until I moved to Texas.

I had given up the life I knew. I had major depression the entire time I was there. I started seeing a therapist and trying to work through my feelings.

I really, really missed the beach. In September 2023, I went to Galveston for Labor Day Weekend. Once I saw a mass body of water with waves, I broke down.

That's when I started crumbling. I didn't want to have to make the decision to come home, leave my daughter, and go further from my parents.

There was a lot of back-and-forth, but I thought long and hard about it. I started looking for jobs back in California.

Leaving was bittersweet

I moved back in May of this year, almost two years to the day I left.

My mom and my daughter both wanted me to be happy. But on the day I had to say goodbye to my daughter, I think reality smacked her in the face.

I've been very spoiled because for 52 years, I've lived with my mom, and for 26 years, I've had my daughter with me. So, for the three of us to be in different states is hard.

But my therapist told me the best example I could show my daughter is to choose myself and make myself happy.

It's amazing to be back in California. My mood is one hundred times better than it was in Texas. One hundred times.

I've had a housewarming party, and I'm going to an Angels game later tonight. I've been able to see my friends.

We take the weather for granted here in California. You can smell the salt in the air. You can see the palm trees and the mountains. You can have a connection to nature here.

Obviously, California is still super expensive. My rent is way more. But my mood is a hundred times better, regardless of the price.

These days, I try to keep my head off social media and out of the news. Fortunately, living in Orange County is a bit of a conservative bubble for the most part.

Maybe as I get closer to retirement I would consider going back to Texas where my daughter is. But for the foreseeable future, I see myself staying in California.

• My husband and I are a young couple on a budget who love hosting friends.
• Charcuterie-board ingredients can be pricey in some stores — but not at Aldi.
• These 11 tasty, budget-friendly items from Aldi help me make a gourmet-looking charcuterie board.

As a young couple saving for our first home, my husband and I can't afford to spend a lot of money on groceries. However, we also love hosting friends for parties with wine and a charcuterie board.

Unfortunately, at most grocery stores, these ingredients can sometimes cost upwards of $80. Given the high prices of groceries, I'm always looking for cheaper alternatives when available.

Luckily, Aldi offers great charcuterie-board ingredients that allow me to put together a jaw-dropping spread for under $30. Here are 11 Aldi items I use to create a gourmet-looking board while saving big bucks.

Prices may vary by location.

Pre-sliced Gouda cheese saves me prep time.

A charcuterie board needs a variety of flavors and textures. The Emporium Selection Gouda is creamy with a light, nutty flavor that my guests love.

What I especially like about this brand of Gouda is that the cheese is pre-sliced into perfect cracker portions. I save lots of prep time by taking this cheese out of the package and setting it right onto the board.

The pre-sliced cheese comes out to $2.70.

The Emporium Selection sharp cheddar is tender but has an earthy bite.

For more bite, the block of Emporium Selection sharp cheddar is a perfect choice. While tender, it offers a slightly more crumbly alternative to the Gouda, and its earthy flavor pairs well with rich meats like salami and prosciutto.

A little goes a long way, so I often have some left over to nibble on with a glass of wine at night.

A block of sharp cheddar costs $2.60 at my local Aldi.

The garlic-and-herb goat cheese is perfectly spreadable.

For a cheese that spreads like butter, don't skip the Emporium Selection garlic-and-herb goat cheese. The hints of garlic and herbs elevate the cheese's natural flavor without overpowering it.

It's a new favorite of mine, and I'm not the only one who feels that way — only two logs were left at the store when I went.

The goat cheese costs just $1.90 at Aldi.

Simms’ summer sausage is a versatile meat.

When prosciutto isn't available, I grab Simms' summer sausage. It's fully cooked, easy to slice and has a rich, fatty flavor that stands out by itself and when piled onto a cracker with a subtle cheese.

It also makes a great breakfast sausage. I like to slice it thick, throw it in the pan, and serve it with eggs. Each package of sausage costs $4.

The cold-smoked Atlantic salmon levels up the board.

Smoked salmon adds an elegant flair to a traditional charcuterie spread. It's a departure from the land meats usually served, and its smoky flavor pairs well with both mild and sharp cheeses.

The Specially Selected smoked salmon comes in palm-sized deli slices, so it's easy to stage as the board's centerpiece. These cost me $3.20 a pack.

Aldi’s deli-sliced Genoa salami elevates a charcuterie board classic.

Aldi's fresh, deli-sliced Genoa salami is a step above regular salami, with its delicate seasoning and buttery, tender texture. It also doubles as a tasty addition to a deli-style sandwich.

Each pack of salami comes out to $3.10.

The Savoritz thin-wheat crackers are the ideal size, taste, and texture for boards.

Finding good charcuterie crackers is hard, but these Savoritz thin-wheat ones do the job well. They're thin and soft, making them a perfect foundation for stronger-flavored items on the board.

They also have a subtle sweetness comparable to graham crackers, so my husband likes to eat them with his coffee in the morning.

A box is only $2 at my local Aldi.

The Savoritz pita crackers are a showstopper by themselves.

The Savoritz sea-salt pita crackers are a new household favorite. They're thin and have a delicate toasted flavor, making them perfect for snacking.

When paired with meats and cheeses, they add an extra crunch without detracting from the meat's flavor. Each box costs $2.15.

The Specially Selected premium raspberry fruit spread is delicious and versatile.

Every board needs a sweet element to balance the savory, salty flavors. I like to grab the Specially Selected raspberry fruit spread, which has a vibrant flavor that's a dream to pair with crackers.

It also pairs well with the garlic-and-herb goat cheese. A jar comes out to $2.60.

Grapes are an easy palate cleanser.

Fruit Royals' green seedless grapes add that much-needed pop of color and textural interest to the board. They're tart and easy to pluck off the stem, making them an easy palate cleanser.

The grapes come out to $2.30 a bag.

Great Gherkins' Kosher dill pickles pack a punch.

These Great Gherkins kosher dill baby whole pickles have a punchy acidity to contrast the richness of the meats and cheeses. They also make a fun visual on a charcuterie board.

They're adorably sized and a perfect choice when I'm looking for a quick snack from the fridge. Each jar is only $1.45.

Click to keep reading Aldi diaries like this one.

• Tesla's US market share has fallen below 50% for the first time.
• While Tesla's dominance is waning, overall electric vehicle sales are growing.
• That's a sign Elon Musk made the right bet on electric cars.

Tesla's dominance in the EV market is slipping, but it's not time for CEO Elon Musk to panic just yet.

Tesla's share of US electric vehicle sales in the second quarter fell to 49.7%, marking the first time its share had fallen below 50% in a quarter, according to data from Cox Automotive. The slip followed disappointing sales results and tough first-quarter financial results.

While Tesla is certainly facing its share of challenges right now, losing market share is a sign of something much less threatening to the company's future.

It's proof that Tesla is growing into a somewhat normal car company — a status it has worked hard to achieve — and that the segment it pioneered is finally maturing.

"Despite Tesla's declining sales, with its EV sales share now below 50% for the first time, the overall competitive landscape for electric vehicles is intensifying," Cox Automotive Industry Insights Director Stephanie Valdez-Streaty said in the company's EV sales report. "This increased competition is leading to continued price pressure, gradually boosting EV adoption."

Tesla's chokehold on the US electric vehicle market has been waning for a few years as more companies release their own electric models. Tesla commanded about 55% of the US EV market last year, down from 65.4% in 2022 and a much higher 79.4% share back in 2020, according to data from Experian.

While this share drop looks staggering, it's important to remember that Tesla had previously enjoyed virtually zero competition in the US.

Tesla finally has solid competition

Tesla's success over the last two decades has sent legacy automakers — like GM, Ford, and Volkswagen — scrambling to catch up with Musk.

For the past few years, the US market has seen the release of one "Tesla fighter" after another. Meanwhile, Tesla has continued to grow its fleet of options, while enjoying the benefits of attracting wealthy early EV adopters who initially dominated the segment.

The result today is that EV shoppers simply have more choices. Just in the second quarter, BMW, Cadillac, Honda, and Kia all offered new entries to the market, according to Cox. Many of these models are stealing market share from Tesla simply by existing.

Take Chevrolet for example. The bowtie brand is executing its plan to flood the EV market with new releases this year, and it appears to be paying off so far.

Cox credits new releases like Chevy's electric Blazer, Equinox, and Silverado with adding 21,000 EVs to the market and chipping away at Tesla's dominance.

Musk made the right bet on EVs

Even as its market share diminishes and sales slow, Tesla remains the most dominant EV company in existence.

So far in 2024, Tesla is still the top seller of EVs with 304,451 deliveries through June, according to Cox. There's a seismic gap between Tesla and second-place Ford, which has sold 44,180 EVs so far this year.

Overall growth in the EV segment, regardless of Tesla's decline, also proves Musk right in his bet on electric vehicles more than a decade ago.

The EV market is still increasing in volume and share, just at a slower rate than when the segment first took off in 2020. And Tesla is still in a good position to benefit from that growth.

"The growth will, at times, be very slow, as all-time horizons in the automobile business are vast, but the long-term trajectory suggests that higher volumes of EVs will continue over time," Valdez-Streaty said.

• Kevin Costner's "Horizon" was a flop at the box office, making just $11 million on its opening weekend.
• But Costner is seemingly still moving forward with three planned sequels.
• The second film was pulled from its August release date following the first film's struggles. 

The second installment of Kevin Costner's "Horizon" film series will no longer be coming to theaters next month following the first film's disappointing box office performance — but that doesn't appear to be fazing the star.

"Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 2" had been set to land in theaters in August, but it was pulled from the release schedule in the hope of building a bigger audience for the first film, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"Territory Pictures and New Line Cinema have decided not to release Horizon: Chapter 2 on August 16 in order to give audiences a greater opportunity to discover the first installment of Horizon over the coming weeks, including on PVOD and Max," a New Line Cinema spokesperson said, per THR.

Despite the setback, Costner seems set on proceeding with the remaining two films of the "Horizon" tetralogy.

Production on the third film began earlier this year and is set to continue in August, while the star also has a script ready for the fourth film, Variety reported.

Speaking to the outlet in 2022, the Oscar-winning director indicated that he hoped to see each installment debut around "every three months."

But with the latest news about "Chapter 2," it's clear that Costner will have to overhaul his ambitious release strategy to see the franchise through to a fourth film.

Representatives for Costner, Territory Pictures, and Warner Bros., New Line Cinema's parent company, did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

To bring "Horizon" to audiences, the former "Yellowstone" star mortgaged his property in Santa Barbara and invested $38 million of his own money.

The first film had a $100 million budget, and Costner and his financial backers also paid for the film's marketing, which, according to unnamed sources who spoke to Variety, cost around $30 million.

The film was released in June and made just $11 million on its opening weekend.

It's not the first time Costner has put his own money into a film he's worked on.

For his 1990 film "Dances with Wolves," which he directed, produced, and starred in, Costner used $3 million of his own money.

It turned out to be a wise investment, as the film, which had a budget of $22 million, ended up being a huge success, earning multiple awards and taking home $184 million at the US box office and over $400 million worldwide.

In 2014, he also provided the entire $9 million budget for "Black or White," a drama also starring Octavia Spencer and Bill Burr. It brought back more than double his investment at the box office, taking home over $21.5 million.

However, the star hasn't always backed winners. He reportedly contributed an undisclosed sum to the 1997 action film "The Postman," which was a notable failure at the box office, returning only less than $18 million on a budget of around $80 million.

• My mom, Suzanne, died just before I turned 8 years old. 
• The love she had for me in the years we shared was strong, and it had a great impact on me.
• As I've grown older, I've become more and more like her, and I look like her, too. 

Suzanne had one of those laughs — the loud, sometimes too loud, cackle that would send her into a fit of snorts and wheezes. And her loud laugh matched her larger-than-life personality that lit up a room with her warm heart and personality. She was passionate, in both what she loved and what she argued. She was intelligent and read faster than anyone I have ever known. And that intelligence carved out her witty sense of humor, "quick as a whip," as stated by a childhood friend.

She was my mom, and I can't remember her as well as I would like to. I lost her 10 days before my 8th birthday, and I couldn't quite emotionally deal with her death until I turned 12 or 13. I just couldn't comprehend what it meant when someone died, let alone my own mother.

I only have eight years of memories with her, but I cherish them

She was the woman who would iron my clothes religiously, put matching bows in my hair before school, and always put notes in my lunchbox. I remember how the notes started. I saw another child at lunch who would get notes, and I went home, sheepishly asking if my mom would do the same. I never had to ask again.

I was my mom's miracle baby. She struggled with pregnancies and had fully given up on trying to have a child. That's how it almost always works, right? My mom gave birth to me in January of 2001 and spent the next eight years showering me with so much love, attention, and sheer dedication that even 15 years later, I can still feel her love. When I talk about my mom, I don't cry because I'm sad and I miss her. I cry because it's so moving to physically be able to feel her love after all of this time, and I feel so lucky to experience that.

I'm often told I'm just like her

Her love and impact were so strong that I have grown up to be just like her. Her nephew, 12 years younger than her and over two decades older than me — someone whose fondest memories are with her — has emphasized that I look just like her. We make the same facial expressions, have a very similar laugh (snort and all), and even talk the same way at times. Her nephew laughed when recalling that the way I text reminded him of her. We look alike, we sound alike, we talk alike. I keep her memory alive just by being myself.

My love for books, reading, and writing came from her. She read to me every single night before bed — "Little House on the Prairie" was our favorite — and I found solace in writing after I lost her. It made me feel close to her. I have vivid memories of her gardening and love for flowers; I was even told that I hoard plants the same way she did (I've only just started not killing them, so my green thumb didn't come as naturally as hers did). Her love for dogs must also be genetic because it is a downright obsession for me. She was an incredible cook; quite a few of my memories of her surround food, and one of my favorite parts of my day is making dinner.

I have grown up to be so much like her, but I am also my own person with my own experiences. It's something special to have been so loved that all that love has inherently become part of who I am. Many of her interests, likes, and dislikes have all come naturally to me, and they make me feel closer to her; though I've never taken them on out of desperation, I feel lucky that we're so similar. It's something special to have been so loved that all that love has inherently become part of who I am.

• US-made Bradley fighting vehicles have been a highly effective tool for Ukraine.
• With lots of maneuverability and firepower, they have been used on the battlefield as light tanks.
• For Kyiv, Bradleys are also more expendable than other Western armor like Abrams tanks.

NATO members have equipped Ukraine with plenty of highly capable armored vehicles to take into battle against Russia, giving Kyiv a firepower, survivability, and maneuverability upgrade over the aging Soviet-era systems with which it started its grueling fight.

Among the wartime additions to Ukraine's arsenal is the US-made Bradley fighting vehicle, a formidable asset that continues proving its worth on the battlefield several decades after it first saw combat.

There was tremendous hype around the arrival of the American-made M1 Abrams tank, but that's faded. However, the Bradley, despite suffering significantly more losses, has consistently been celebrated for its effectiveness, in some ways overshadowing the Abrams.

Kyiv didn't get very many Abrams, limiting their ability to make an impact on the battlefield and making the tanks more precious than the far more plentiful and more expendable Bradleys.

These vehicles don't deliver the same overall combat strength as the Abrams, as they're essentially armored troop carriers and fighting vehicles, but the Bradleys can serve in ways akin to a tank and aren't without their advantages.

The American-made Bradleys, in the hands of the Ukrainians, are "in effect being used as a light tank," Mark Cancian, a defense expert and retired US Marine Corps colonel, told Business Insider.

A 'very effective' infantry fighting vehicle

The Bradleys were built as a response to the Soviet infantry fighting vehicles and entered service in the 1980s. It is a combat-proven system, having deployed in the Gulf War in the early 1990s and then again to Iraq in the following decade, and has been praised for its maneuverability, survivability, and firepower — especially its ability to take out enemy armor on the move.

With an operational range of around 300 miles and a crew of three, the Bradley can transport as many as six fully equipped soldiers to and from the battlefield at speeds of up to 40 mph. It is armed with tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided (TOW) missiles, a 25mm M242 Bushmaster chain gun, and a 7.62mm M240C machine gun.

The Bradley features a thermal vision system also found on Ukraine's Abrams tanks that is able to detect targets out to a distance of five miles. Its steel and aluminum armor, as well as a plate on the front of its belly, are durable enough to protect against some munitions and shield it against certain mine explosions.

The Bradley's armor can also be bolstered with explosive reactive armor, like a main battle tank, to further protect it.

A former US Army infantry officer told Business Insider "the capabilities that it brings in terms of speed, its ability to keep up with the tanks, your ability to move infantry squads in a protected manner across the battlefield very quickly, and its fairly robust armor package — along with the capabilities of the weapons systems on there — make it a very effective infantry fighting vehicle."

The US announced it would send dozens of Bradleys to Ukraine in early 2023 amid a push by other NATO countries to surge armored vehicles to the country ahead of a counteroffensive.

The Bradley isn't the only armor the US sent to Ukraine. Kyiv also has 31 Abrams tanks — a fraction of the more than 300 Bradleys it has received as of early July, according to Pentagon data.

Main battle tanks, like the Abrams, have not necessarily been a go-to armor choice for Ukraine and have been used more sparingly in combat. Part of that has to do with inventory, as Kyiv has many more Bradleys than Abrams to expend. Additionally, the battlefield conditions support the idea that a lighter vehicle could be better than something on the heavier side.

The Bradley infantry fighting vehicle is lighter than an Abrams tank by roughly 40 tons. It handles off-road action well and doesn't usually get "bogged down in the mud" as easily, explained the former US infantry officer. They added that there's "a certain amount of mobility that comes into play there."

"The Bradley is perhaps a bit more maneuverable than a main battle tank," said the former officer, who had experience with the IFV during their service. "It's taller than one, which makes it a pretty good target, but it's more compact and can sort of maneuver through the terrain a little more agilely."

In Ukraine, the battlefield is different than what US weapons saw in the Middle East. The skies are contested, preventing air cover for armored operations, and unmanned aerial vehicles, along with anti-tank infantry equipped with anti-tank missiles and helicopters equipped with the same, are now threatening tanks like never before. Such an environment could favor lighter, faster, more maneuverable alternatives.

Additionally, while the powerful, heavily armored Abrams was built to kill other tanks, those battles are being seen fairly infrequently. This top tank was also built for armored breakthroughs, but massed armored assaults aren't really happening.

The Bradley can hold its own in a tank fight. Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said previously that the Bradley isn't a tank, but it is a "tank killer," as well as an effective tool against infantry. Ukraine has used these to target bunkers, exposed infantry, machine gun nets, and other targets beyond armor

Bradleys can be easier to recover, repair, and maintain, offer maneuverability and mobility, deliver sufficient combat capability and crew protection, and are not considered as high value as the Abrams from a targeting perspective. Some Abrams crews have said the tanks make them the "number one target."

Since the first Bradleys arrived on the battlefield more than a year ago, Ukrainian soldiers have praised the vehicle for its role in combat, applauding its firepower and survivability and commending it for being an upgrade over the Soviet-era systems they were using beforehand, such as the BMP.

In an interview last fall, a Bradley crew from the 47th Mechanized Brigade called the IFV a "very serious machine," noting that its thermal imager is "very high quality."

While the range may be lacking, "the shrapnel density is crazy, the firepower density is just insane," one soldier said. "Target acquisition takes seconds, just seconds. At night, this machine is absolutely priceless, simply invaluable. You capture targets much faster. Visibility is better than during the day."

Videos shared by Ukraine's military, as well as open-source intelligence (OSINT) accounts, have documented multiple instances of Bradleys going up against Russian armored vehicles — and even Russia's prized T-90M tanks — in head-to-head fights, with the Bradleys holding their own or overpowering enemies.

Other videos have shown the American-made armored vehicles engaging drones and unleashing withering chain-gun fire on Russian infantry positions. And on defense, these vehicles have taken direct hits or run over mines, and the crews have survived.

Although the footage captures just a fraction of what is happening on the battlefield, it builds a strong case for the fighting vehicle's impact in the war.

Ukraine is using it in a light tank role

Much of the Bradleys' success comes down to how the Ukrainians are using them. Cancian, a senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, said that based on footage seen from the war, it is apparent that Ukraine is operating the Bradley as if it were a tank rather than an armored vehicle or transport.

"There's no question that the Ukrainians seem to be using it differently from the way the US Army would use it. They're using it much more in a scouting role, in a light tank role, than as an infantry fighting vehicle," he said, looking at open-source intel.

The US tends to operate its Bradleys in groups, with the vehicles working together with its Abrams. The armor is supported by infantry and air cover. Ukraine's limited arsenal of main battle tanks and insufficient airpower have led it to use its Bradleys differently. Drones and mines, too, have led to changes, with Ukraine usually sending only one or two out at a time.

The versatility of the Bradley fighting vehicle allows Ukraine to use it in whatever function is most useful in a given moment. They can transport troops, engage in battle on the front line, or scout out Russian positions miles away.

The Bradley was designed to be able to keep up with the Abrams across varying terrains. On the front lines in Ukraine, Cancian explained, the Bradley can scout, hide in the dense tree lines, and race across wide fields of mud and dirt.

Though it's using them differently than the US does, Ukraine has adapted quickly to the Bradleys and is using them well.

"What's impressed me is how quickly the crews have come up to speed on fighting the Bradley. The performance of the vehicle itself hasn't surprised me. It hasn't underwhelmed me either — it's what I would expect from well-trained crews," the former infantry officer said.

"You can't just jump into a Bradley and go into a battle and expect to be effective," they added.

This all adds weight to a narrative that has come to define Kyiv's side of the war for over two years now: the Ukrainians, often low on weapons or struggling to make ends meet, are scrappy fighters, fighting in ways Western armies like the US wouldn't. The Bradleys is one example of that, Cancian said, showing what Ukraine can do despite the odds.

Bradleys are good but not unbeatable

Though celebrated for their effectiveness, these battle-hardened vehicles are far from invincible, and many of them have fallen victim to Russian threats like artillery, mines, and drones.

So far, Ukraine has lost at least 90 of its Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, according to the open-source intelligence site Oryx, which uses visual confirmation to track war losses on both sides.

When the US employed the Bradleys in Afghanistan and Iraq, improvised explosive devices dealt damage to their vulnerable undercarriage.

That contributed to growing concerns about the future role of the vehicle, which is now set to be phased out with the Army's new XM30 Mechanized Infantry Fighting Vehicle replacing it in the coming years. A prototype of the vehicle is set to be delivered in late 2024. Cancian said it has likely been a surprise that the Bradley has done so well in Ukraine given the Army's concerns about its vulnerability.

There are advantages to using the Bradley over the Abrams or any other main battle tank for certain missions, but it remains unclear if Ukraine would be relying so heavily on Bradleys if it had received more Abrams tanks from the US, which would then allow them to employ the tanks more liberally on the battlefield.

Massed armor can be tremendously effective for offensive armored breakthroughs, but without certain force multipliers, such as airpower, Ukraine might be unable to leverage its armor to its full potential. It faced these challenges during last year's counteroffensive, which saw Ukraine's newly acquired Western main battle tanks stumble. F-16s are on their way, creating new possibilities, but their effectiveness remains to be seen.

For now, Ukraine's army is on defense, and the US hasn't offered any additional Abrams to supplement the ones already received. The Bradleys, though, remain in heavy use by the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade, a group that's seen practically non-stop fighting for a year. A US aid package earlier this year included more Bradleys to the brigade.

• An Upper East Side mansion built during the Gilded Age is for sale for $65 million.
• The seven-bedroom, 16-bathroom townhouse features ornate details and a massive floorplan.
• The property once housed the studio of fashion designer Oleg Cassini, Jackie Kennedy's stylist.

One of Manhattan's last surviving Gilded Age mansions — spanning about 18,000 square feet with a marble foyer, three terraces, and 14 fireplaces — is on the market for $65 million.

Located at 15 East 63rd Street, the historic townhouse was designed by architect John H. Duncan and built in 1901 by financier and philanthropist Elias Asiel.

According to the listing, Duncan was one of the most influential architects of the late 19th century and the designer of Grant's Tomb, the final resting place of Ulysses S. Grant also located in New York City.

Listed by Louise Beit and Sotheby's International Realty, the home is described as "a glistening survivor, one of the few remaining and most architecturally intact [mansions] of its Gilded Age splendor on the Upper East Side."

Here's a look inside the historic home and its tumultuous history.

The grand townhouse is located in New York City's Upper East Side.

The townhouse at 15 East 63rd Street has six floors above street level and is about 18,000 square feet and 25 feet wide, per the listing.

In addition to its seven bedrooms and 12 full baths, the home has four powder rooms and three terraces, two of which are roof terraces with views of the city and Central Park.

The property is listed at $65 million, and according to the listing, monthly taxes will total $15,816.

It's in one of the city's most desirable neighborhoods, just off Fifth Avenue and less than a block from Central Park.

It's also centrally located to the Museum of Modern Art and the Frick Collection.

According to the listing, past residents on the block include Frank Winfield Woolworth and Oscar Hammerstein, while Neil Diamond still maintains a residence on the street.

True to its Gilded Age roots, the home features historic fireplaces and chandeliers fit for royalty.

There are 14 fireplaces scattered throughout the massive single-family home.

Many of the home's details are original to its construction, including a winding marble staircase.

The staircase leads to a unique circular dining room upstairs.

The dining room features ornate wood paneling and 12-foot ceilings.

You enter the dining room, which features herringbone wood floors, through glass doors.

The luxurious details don't end there. Each of the home's seven bedrooms has an en-suite bathroom and six have their own fireplace.

The home has been decorated to reflect the building's lengthy history.

Paintings and busts inside the home's marble foyer reflect its history, making the home look almost like a modern Palace of Versailles.

The opulent home has had multiple famous owners through the years.

The Real Deal reported that the home was once owned by fashion designer Oleg Cassini, who was the stylist to former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis during her White House years.

Cassini's namesake label is still a popular wedding dress brand.

It was most recently owned by Marianne Nestor Cassini, Oleg Cassini's widow, and her sister Peggy Nestor.

Nestor is the primary owner involved in the sale of the home, which is being listed by Louise Beit and Sotheby's International Realty.

However, the home's sale doesn't come without its fair share of scandal and intrigue.

After Oleg Cassini's death in 2006, his estate was marred by controversies concerning the distribution of his assets.

The dispute even resulted in a $350 million lawsuit filed by Nestor Cassini against Nassau County officials, whom she accused of trying to "loot" the late designer's $55 million estate, The New York Post reported in 2022. None of the defendants listed in the case agreed to the Post's request for comment on the claims, and the case is still pending as of March, according to The Real Deal.

The Real Deal also reported that before the home was reconverted into a single-family residence, the Nestor sisters fought a 30-year-long eviction battle with interior designer Thomas Britt. He lived in the building from the 1970s until he agreed to move out in 2018.

According to court documents, Nestor Cassini transferred her ownership share in the townhouse to Nestor in an "unrecorded deed" in 2016. In 2018, Nestor became the sole owner of the property.

The spacious property has faced threats of foreclosure in the past.

The Real Deal reported that the home first faced foreclosure action in 2019 after Nestor reportedly missed three payments on a $9.5 million loan taken out on the property.

By filing bankruptcy just one day before the house was set to hit the market, she narrowly avoided foreclosure on the house or having to repay the massive loan immediately.

Nestor filed for bankruptcy in April 2023, according to court documents.

The sale of the property could mean a fresh start for its current owners.

According to a statement given to The Real Deal by an attorney for Nestor, the townhouse's imminent sale is included in Nestor's bankruptcy plan.

If a judge allows it, the sale may also allow Nestor to refinance the debt owed or create an alternative debt repayment plan.

The property could be kept as a single-family residence or split into apartments.

The home occupies eight floors — six above ground level and two below — making it possible for it to be reconfigured into multiple apartments.

The next owner should definitely have a taste for grandiose details.

Many of the rooms were modeled after traditional French architecture styles, like this mirrored room that leads out onto one of the home's three terraces.

There's no backyard, but the home gets plenty of natural light from the terraces.

In addition to the conservatory, there's also a drawing room, fitness room, and a library.

The home is one of the last surviving Beaux-Arts mansions in New York City.

There are only a handful of Beaux-Arts-style mansions left in New York City.

According to the Chicago Architecture Center, the key characteristics of Beaux-Arts architecture include "a focus on symmetry," classical features like columns or pediments, and "highly decorative surfaces," such as carved doorways and crown molding, and statues and figures, such as the face adorning this mirrored wall arch.

The home's fate is uncertain.

No buyer has been confirmed for the listing, yet.

• Costco is raising its membership fees, but its fans don't seem to mind.
• The warehouse retailer has built up a loyal following of shoppers over the decades it's been operating.
• It has low prices, rarely raises its membership fees, and pays its workers well.

Costco announced this week that it's raising its membership fees — and Reddit users seem indifferent. Some even said they didn't mind paying more, as the news came hand-in-hand with an announcement that Costco was raising wages for retail workers.

Nearly as well known as Costco's giant blocks of cheese, $4.99 rotisserie chicken, and $1.50 hot dog combo is its league of loyal superfans.

The wholesale retailer has cultivated a huge following of shoppers who discuss their love for its stores and their latest bargain buys — both among friends and online. One Facebook group dedicated to finding the best buys has over 1.7 million members.

Here's why they love the retailer so much.

Membership fees rarely get hiked

Costco just announced that it will raise its annual fees to $65 from $60 for Gold Star and Business members in September. This will be the retailer's first membership fee hike in seven years.

Members don't seem to mind the increase in fees, either.

"I'm ok with it," one person wrote on Reddit. "Doesn't even catch up with inflation since I've been a member." Another Redditor wrote that membership prices had only gone up by $10 since they first joined 13 years ago.

Cheap goods

The myths aren't true: You don't have to buy in bulk when you shop at Costco. And you can still get good deals, even on items that aren't sold in huge boxes or massive multipacks. Its famous rotisserie chicken, for example, costs just $4.99 for a whole bird.

Costco can keep its prices low for a number of reasons: It has no-frill stores, it sells a limited range of goods, and it stocks a lot of own-brand products. Low prices are offset by its membership fees, too.

And with such a broad range of products on offer, you never know what you'll find.

It pays its workers well

Costco is known for paying its staff well — it has some of the best hourly starting wages in the retail industry. This week it increased starting wages for service assistants, service clerks, and meat cutters by $1 an hour, bringing them up to $19.50.

It's understated

Costco doesn't advertise itself.

Superfan Susan Schwartz previously told Business Insider that the retailer was "inherently modest."

"They don't brag about themselves," she said.

She added: "They do the right thing when no one's looking."

Unlimited returns

Costco generally allows you to return any item at any time. Some electronics are exempt from the policy, though, and need to be returned within 90 days of purchase for a refund. Items that can't be refunded include gold bullion, airline tickets, and gift cards.

Costco also says it will refund membership fees if customers are "dissatisfied."

The $1.50 hot dog and soda combo

Costco's food court has long lured in hungry shoppers. It's perhaps best known for its $1.50 hot dog and soda combo, which has been on the menu since 1985. If the price had increased in line with inflation it would cost nearly $4.50 now.

The food court is also known for other items like its massive pizza slices and chicken bakes.

Are you a Costco superfan? Email this reporter at gdean@insider.com.

• I started dating a guy nearly 20 years younger than me until I realized he was dating another woman.
• When I reached out to the other woman, we learned we were both lied to.
• A bond was formed between us; now we are good friends. 

In the fall of 2019, a man I didn't know sent me a friend request on Facebook. Usually, I delete messages from total strangers. But I was single and feeling insecure and lonely after a bad breakup. Our chat about fitness and nutrition turned into a fling.

One day, after a particularly steamy encounter, he commented about his upcoming birthday. He said he'd be turning 30 next week and felt so old. I almost choked on my spit as I tried to process the fact that meant he was 19 years younger than me. How had we never discussed age?

Things remained casual for over a year until I committed to seeing only him, as he assured me that he was 100% mine.

That was until I learned the truth, and he brought me to my new best friend.

Our relationship was rocky

When we were together, everything was great. When we weren't, communication was hit-and-miss. I found myself crying more than smiling.

Once, he was three hours late for our Valentine's dinner date at my house, and I believed the excuses for his silence: "I left my phone in the car," "My phone died," or "I was out of the service area.

In September 2022, a random conversation with his mother became a grenade when she casually mentioned his new girlfriend. She didn't know we were an item; he had asked me not to tell her, so she assumed I was only his friend.

Hours later, I emerged from my daze. I finally told his mom that we had been dating for two years but that I was done. His mother gave me the other woman's number.

The other woman and I built a friendship

I took her phone number and held my breath as I dialed — not knowing what to expect. The conversation was a bit awkward at first, as neither of us knew where to start. There were stunned moments of silence, laughter, and tears. We both kept muttering the words: "How could I have been so stupid?"

We both thought we were the only one in his life. We both had received the exact same Thanksgiving text. We had been with him within hours of each other on multiple occasions.

We met and went for a hike. We had similar features and body types, were educated, and had dry senses of humor. We talked multiple times a day, cutting our therapy bills by thousands of dollars since we were able to validate each other and unravel the lies from the previous two years. Case in point, I learned that he had not been out of cell range; he had been with her on Valentine's Day when I was trying to keep our dinner warm for three hours.

People raised an eyebrow when they heard that we were friends. "Isn't that weird?" they'd ask. It really wasn't so strange. After all, there was a reason he picked both of us: He had a type, and we weren't dissimilar. There was also now a trauma bond between us, and we tried to sort through our disbelief and pain together.

This year, we celebrated Valentine's Day together on a tropical vacation. We still workout together and talk daily. It's not about him anymore, as we recognize that we were both victims of an elaborate emotional con.

We reflect on how far we've come, having picked up the pieces of distrust and lies. We have constructed new, healthier paths forward for ourselves.

Our silver lining is that we now have each other — even if the way we met was through him.

• Meet the Roadmap Generation: A professional cohort of recent graduates laser-focused on their futures.
• These ambitious Zoomers are playing the long game as they plan their careers.
• They're taking a holistic approach to the employment experience. 

When Javi Galarce graduated from the University of Iowa in December 2022, she had several good job offers to consider.

Sure, salary was important, but Galarce, 23, was much more concerned with securing a comprehensive benefits package and finding a company that would facilitate her personal and professional development, she told Business Insider.

"For me, salary had an impact, but only to a certain extent. It was more about finding the right work environment and being at a company that would allow me to grow," Galarce said.

Galarce is part of what could be called the Roadmap Generation — a cohort of accomplished recent graduates and early-stage professionals with their eyes firmly fixed on the future. As this ambitious subset of Gen Z launches their careers in the shadow of a pandemic and amid economic woes, some are prioritizing long-term financial security over short-term gains and seeking out values-based workplaces that cater to the entire employee experience with perks like strong 401(k) matching and skills development, according to young workers, older bosses, and data.

Business Insider spoke with two members of the Roadmap Generation and several of the HR professionals and executives who hire and oversee them.

Members of this co-called Roadmap Generation, like those generations that came before them, are driven by a desire to stand on their own two feet, said Astad Dhunjisha, vice president of HR and talent acquisition at AT&T. But these Gen Z employees are taking a more holistic approach than their older colleagues once did in planning out the long-arc of their professional lives, said Dhunjisha, who works closely with new hires.

Much has been made about Gen Z's apparent apathy toward employment. The COVID-19 pandemic hampered scores of early-career aspirations, while student loan debt has limited Gen Z's ability to pursue passion over pocketbook. But even as Gen Z continues to challenge workplace conventions, a growing cohort of recent graduates are eager to prove that they are anything but indifferent about their careers.

According to a 2024 Deloitte survey of nearly 23,000 Gen Z and millennial respondents worldwide, 86% of Zoomers say having a sense of purpose is very or somewhat important to their overall job satisfaction and well-being.

"In many of my conversations with members of Gen Z, I find that they aren't just looking to get any job," Dhunjisha told BI. "They understand a job is part of their identity."

The whole package

Where first-time job seekers may have once been wooed by the loftiest income offer, today's high-achieving entry-level employees are considering both the quantity and quality of a company's employment benefits when choosing a professional landing spot.

Strong 401(k)s, expansive wellness programs, and a company's reputation are all key considerations for many job seekers, said Galarce, who accepted a client solutions position with AT&T soon after graduating.

In other words, the Roadmap Generation is looking for the whole package.

Older executives told BI Gen Z interviewees almost always inquire about benefits and ask pointed questions about retirement options, continuous learning opportunities, and work-life balance.

"They're looking to get ahead," Dhunjisha said. "What kind of job will not just give me emotional satisfaction and fulfill my needs but will also set me up for the long term?"

Gen Z has already lived through several economic downturns and a pandemic. Meanwhile, college costs continue to skyrocket, and student loan debt has ballooned. More than half of Gen Z respondents in a 2023 EduBirdie survey said their biggest fear was never becoming financially stable.

Many members of the Roadmap Generation are trying to set themselves up for future financial success by starting and stoking their portfolios early.

Cassie Fields, president of auto-repair software company AutoLeap, said her Gen Z employees are not only keyed in on securing quality 401(k) plans but also dabble in alternative investment options, like cryptocurrency and ESG funds.

"They're proactive in seeking advice on how to diversify their portfolios and are keen on understanding the long-term implications of their financial decisions," Fields said.

Skills development is another top concern for the Roadmap Generation. Amid an ever-tightening job market and the looming specter of generative AI, Gen Z is eager to stand out and stay ahead, embracing a Jack-of-all-trades mindset, Fields said. Marketing professionals may be a dime a dozen, but a marketing professional with graphic design experience and data analysis skills will likely have the upper hand come hiring time.

A 2021 World Economic Forum report found that skills development and continuous education are central to Gen Z's attitudes toward career progress. About 76% of Gen Z employees at the time said they directly tie learning to future professional advancement — much more than previous generations, according to the report.

Job seekers can sharpen their skills on their own time, but members of the Roadmap Generation want a company that encourages its employees to learn and grow on the clock, whether that be via tailored training, mentorship programs, industry conferences, or company support for further education.

Austin Curtis, 22, who graduated from the University of Oklahoma last year, was specifically seeking a professional development program to kick off his career. After interning for AT&T in college, Curtis applied and was accepted into the company's early-career financial development program. Now a senior financial analyst at the company, Curtis credits the skills development he prioritized early on with his rapid professional growth.

"I think Gen Z expects a challenge. We're not complacent. We want to go out and learn," Curtis said.

Determined and open-minded

Members of Gen Z know what they want and aren't afraid to go after it, BI previously reported.

More than 60% of Gen Z believe they have the power to drive change within their organizations, specifically when it comes to workload, wellness, social impact, and learning and development, according to the Deloitte survey.

The Roadmap Generation is coming into the workplace — be it a job interview, professional development program, or full-fledged career — more prepared and knowledgeable than past generations, Dhunjisha said.

"They are a lot more informed about what kinds of potential careers exist than in the past," he said.

Recent graduates may be better informed about all aspects of their professional lives and workplace rights. Mark Pierce, founding partner of Wyoming Trust and LLC Attorney, estimates that up to 30% of his workforce are members of Gen Z. These younger employees come into the workplace with a deep knowledge of employer obligations around things like overtime pay, benefits offerings, and mental health support, Pierce told BI.

"That's a huge different from previous generations, and one you have to respect," Pierce said.

For all of their clear-eyed assuredness, however, the Roadmap Generation is also open-minded and curious, older bosses said. Gen Z is willing to put in time and effort on the early ends of their careers to figure out precisely what they like to do and maximize their chances for long-term professional success.

Today's young professionals are driven by a desire to experience as much as they can in the workplace and often try on several different positions before settling on their favorite. A 2023 ResumeLab survey found more than 80% of Gen Zers take a "dynamic approach to their careers" that often involves frequent changes. Recent graduates understand that the world is rapidly changing and don't want to corner themselves too early, career experts said.

After graduating, Curtis accepted the AT&T offer because the company's rotational development program allowed participants to spend six months in one department and six months in another area.

"I wanted a job that gave me the opportunity to see multiple views of finance because not all organizations are the same," he told BI. "It gave me the chance to hone my skills in different areas."

With Gen Z's penchant for newness, young employees have earned a reputation for being professionally disloyal and quick to jump ship for a better opportunity.

But Jon Hill, managing partner at Texas-based recruiting firm The Energists, said his younger employees are keenly aware of their generation's negative stereotypes and often go out of their way to try to disprove them.

Dhunjisha agreed and suggested there's a simple way for a company to keep its Gen Z employees long-term.

"Gen Z is more comfortable staying with an organization for a long time — if they're getting what they need," he said.