Into the big blue Bezos on eve of New Glenn launch: If something goes wrong, well pick ourselves up "There are some things that can only be tested in flight." Eric Berger Jan 12, 2025 7:30 pm | 0 Blue Origin's rocket is seen at the launch pad on the day after Christmas. Credit: Blue Origin Blue Origin's rocket is seen at the launch pad on the day after Christmas. Credit: Blue Origin Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreUnderstandably, the main building of Blue Origin's sprawling campus in Florida buzzed with activity on Sunday evening as the final hours ticked down toward the company's historic, first orbital launch. The time had come to celebrate a moment long awaited.On one side of the large foyer, a multi-story print of the New Glenn rocket lit up on its launch pad hung from the wall. The striking image had been taken a day after Christmas, and put up in the lobby two days earlier. On the other side a massive replica of the company's "Mk. 1" lunar lander towered over caterers bustling through.My escort and I took the elevators to the upper floor, where a walkway overlooks the factory where Blue Origin builds the first and second stages of its New Glenn rocket. There I met the chief executive of the company, Dave Limp, as well as the person responsible for all of this activity.A few words with Jeff Bezos"It's pretty exciting, isn't it?" Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon and Blue Origin, said by way of greeting.Clad in a black polo shirt, emblazoned with the Blue Origin logo, Bezos appeared both affable and anxious on the eve of what is the biggest moment yet for this rocket company.I asked what his expectations were for the launch of New Glenn, which has a three-hour window that opens at 1 am ET (06:00 UTC) on Monday, January 13. The launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Base lay several miles away from the factory where we conducted the interview."We would certainly like to achieve orbit, and get the Blue Ring Pathfinder into orbit," Bezos said. "Landing the booster would be gravy on top of that. It's kind of insane to try and land the booster. A more sane approach would probably be to try to land it into ocean. But we're gonna go for it."Blue Origin has built a considerable amount of infrastructure on a drone ship, Jacklyn, that will be waiting offshore for the rocket to land upon. Was Bezos not concerned about putting that hardware at risk? A view inside the New Glenn rocket factory in Florida. Credit: Blue Origin A view inside the New Glenn rocket factory in Florida. Credit: Blue Origin "I'm worried about everything," he admitted. However, the rocket has been programmed to divert from the ship if the avionics on board the vehicle sense that anything is off-nominal.And there is, of course, a pretty good chance of that happening."We've done a lot of work, we've done a lot of testing, but there are some things that can only be tested in flight," Bezos said. "And you can't be overconfident in these things. You have to real. The reality is, there are a lot of things that go wrong, and you have to accept that, if something goes wrong, we'll pick ourselves up and get busy for the second flight."As for that flight, the company has a second booster stage deep in development. It could be seen on the factory floor below Sunday, and should be ready later this spring, Limp said. There are about seven upper stages in the flow as the company works to optimize the factory for production.A pivotal moment for spaceflightBezos founded Blue Origin a little more than 24 years ago, and the company has moved slowly compared to some of its competitors, most notably SpaceX. However, when Blue Origin has built products, they've been of high quality. Bezos himself flew on the first human mission of the New Shepard spacecraft in 2021, a day he described as the 'best' in his life. Of all the people who have ever flown into space, he noted that 7 percent have now done so on a Blue Origin vehicle. And the company's BE-4 rocket engine has performed exceptionally well in flight. But an orbital mission, such a touchstone for launch companies, has eluded Bezos until now."It's kind of hard to beat going to space yourself," Bezos said of his own flight. "That really was very meaningful for a whole bunch of reasons. But this is, you know, the culmination of a lot of hard work by a lot of people. And it's a really big deal. You know, you don't get very many first flights, yeah, and here we go."New Glenn is coming online at a pivotal moment in spaceflight. The incoming Trump administration is looking to shakeup NASA, and wants to work with companies that can deliver results. If New Glenn works, and can fly regularly, it could play an important role in a lunar exploration program. However, the company Blue Origin seeks to compete with, SpaceX, may have a lobbying edge as that company's founder, Elon Musk, has played a pivotal role in setting up the Trump White House.So is Bezos concerned that his rival, Musk, has a cozy relationship with Donald Trump?"He's been very clear that, you know, he's not doing this for personal gain," Bezos said. "He is going to do it for the public interest. And I take him at face value."Bezos understands that the best thing that Blue Origin can do now for itself, and the country's space exploration plans, is to deliver the goods. With luck, that will start early on Monday morning.Eric BergerSenior Space EditorEric BergerSenior Space Editor Eric Berger is the senior space editor at Ars Technica, covering everything from astronomy to private space to NASA policy, and author of two books: Liftoff, about the rise of SpaceX; and Reentry, on the development of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon. A certified meteorologist, Eric lives in Houston. 0 Comments

Andrew Taylor, 70, left the US to retire in Malaysia a decade ago.He now lives in a 2-bedroom condo in Kuala Lumpur, the capital city, that costs about $620 a month."I probably would not be retired if I were still in the US," Taylor said.At 60, Andrew Taylor retired and left the US to move to Malaysia.Taylor, who used to do administrative work, started thinking about retirement when he was in his mid-fifties. However, the high cost of living in the US made it feel like a pipe dream."I realized that I was probably not going to be able to stay in the United States, or I was going to have to work until I was 80," Taylor, now 70, told Business Insider. Andrew Taylor moved to Malaysia from the US a decade ago. Andrew Taylor. He started considering retiring abroad, and it was through his then-partner who lived in Penang that he first learned about the Malaysia My Second Home, or MM2H, visa program. The MM2H program was introduced by the government in 2002 to attract foreigners to retire and live in Malaysia.The conditions for the visa have been tightened over the years.Based on the most recent rule changes announced in 2024, there are now three different categories: Platinum, Gold, and Silver. Depending on the category of visa they apply for, applicants are required to have minimum bank deposits of between $150,000 and $1 million and also buy property in Malaysia. The validity of the visa ranges from 5 years to 20 years.Having visited multiple times before, the idea of living in Malaysia appealed to him. He said he saw the visa program as something that could help him retire much earlier.In late 2014, he applied and was approved a few months later. In 2015, Andrew packed up his bags and moved from Washington, D.C. where he had lived for 40 years to start the next chapter of his life.Creating a dream apartment in the cityIt's been 10 years since Taylor arrived in Malaysia. He spent seven years in Penang, a state in northwest Malaysia, before moving to Kuala Lumpur, the capital city, three years ago. He spent seven years in Penang before he moved to Kuala Lumpur, the capital city, three years ago. Andrew Taylor. He's been in his current rental a two-bedroom condo for about five months.Taylor said that his previous unit was on two floors, and he had to climb 20 steps to reach the bedroom. "I'm 70 and the stairs are irritating to me now, so I want it to be all on one floor," he said.Taylor says he took just one weekend to find his apartment, which was about two miles outside the city center. The view of the city immediately caught his attention."I'm on the 22nd floor, and I can see the Twin Towers. I can see all the major towers in KL, and it's just a beautiful view. I think if I'm going to be in KL, that's what I wanted," Taylor said. The view from the windows of his apartment immediately caught his attention. Andrew Taylor. His rent costs 2,800 Malaysian ringgit, or $620, each month. It's a two-year lease with an option for a third year. Unlike his previous apartments, he opted for an unfurnished unit this time."I really never liked the furniture in the apartments that I was renting," he said, adding that he has always been interested in interior design. Most of his furniture is sourced locally."It's sort of eclectic," he said, describing his apartment. "I have oriental carpets and things like that, but with modern furniture."His apartment block is part of a five-building condo development, which offers amenities like a pool and a gym. Rent costs 2,800 Malaysian ringgit, or about $620, each month. Andrew Taylor. This is Taylor's fifth apartment in Malaysia, and he says he plans to continue renting and riding around the city on his Vespa for the foreseeable future.Lessons learned along the way have contributed to his decision. The first place he moved into after arriving in Malaysia was on the 35th floor of a building in Penang."The landlord said, 'Oh, they'll never build in front of it.' Well, yes, they built right in front of it immediately," he said. "If you buy a place, it's just harder to move on." The apartment has two bedrooms. Andrew Taylor. Americans are retiring abroadTaylor isn't alone in his decision to retire abroad.Analyses in the past year have estimated that a single person would need to earn $96,000 a year to live comfortably in many major US cities. It comes as no surprise that more and more Americans are being priced out of the US.There's also a retirement crisis sweeping across the nation, with more people over 65 still punching the clock because they can't afford to retire.An AARP survey of 8,368 people conducted in January 2024 found that 1 in 5 Americans 50 and over reported having no retirement savings. Over half of them also said they do not think they'll have enough money to keep them afloat in retirement.It's a sentiment that Taylor shares. "I probably would not be retired if I were still in the US," he said. The pool at Taylor's condo in Kuala Lumpur. Andrew Taylor. In contrast, the MM2H visa has made Malaysia an attractive destination for expats.As of January 2024, there were 56,066 active MM2H pass holders in the country, Malaysia's Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Tiong King Sin said during a parliament session, per local paper The Star. Chinese nationals form about 44% of pass holders, followed by those from South Korea and Japan. There were 1,340 pass holders from the US. The ministry did not respond to a request for comment sent by BI.'Pretty similar' lifestyles in both countriesWhile Taylor's lifestyle in Malaysia is "pretty similar" to the one he had back in the States, the lower cost of living here means that his money can go further each month."I would say I used to try to keep my budget to $2,000. Now it's a little bit more than that. I would say $2,500 is what I live on now," Taylor said, adding that he doesn't think he could live on the same amount back in the US.He has a basic health insurance policy that costs 340 Malaysian ringgit each month."There are other much better policies, but I went with the cheap option," Taylor said. He says it only covers hospitalization and related costs.He's also satisfied with Malaysia's healthcare facilities."And you don't have to wait long for an appointment or wait long at your appointment," he added.Cost of living aside, Taylor says he also feels safer in Malaysia."I've never felt safer anywhere. Where I lived in my last place outside D.C., sometimes I would hear gunshots from outside my window, and that just is so foreign here. There's nothing like that," he said. "I've never ever felt any uncomfortable feeling when I'm out, even alone walking around."These days, Taylor spends his time filming YouTube videos about what it's like to live in Malaysia.However, he says that such a drastic move might not be for everyone especially for those who have children, grandchildren, or even aged parents. It only worked for him because he had loose family connections.Looking back, Taylor says he's learned not to be afraid of living outside his comfort zone."My family thought I would last about six months, and then I would come back. 10 years later, and I'm still here, and I have no intention of ever going back to the US," he said.Have you recently relocated to a new country and found your dream home? If you have a story to share, contact this reporter at agoh@businessinsider.com.

Shruti Dhumak navigated maternity leave amid Google's AI industry shift and layoffs.She split her leave to maintain visibility and manage family support from India.Dhumak focused on self-improvement and open communication to regain her work efficiency.This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Shruti Dhumak, a cloud customer engineer in Google's Boston office who gave birth in February 2023. It has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider has verified her employment history.Before I had my son, I always doubted how I was going to manage being this overly ambitious person with motherhood.I've been with Google for about four years. I had my first child in February 2022 and split up my maternity leave in three phases to make the most of temporary support I had when my family visited.Between Google's policy of six months of maternity leave, one month of prepartum leave, and one month of paid time off, I had a total of eight months of time away from work. I knew I was fortunate to have this time off because it is rare in the US, but going on leave and the anxiety of being replaced while I was away was one of the hardest things I have dealt with.I'm a customer engineer, and a large part of my role revolves around managing relationships with our cloud clients. If someone takes over for me, the customers end up being closer to that representative and I risk losing my accounts to someone else.I was also paranoid that my absence or my performance below my peak, once I returned, would make me more susceptible to a layoff. Two weeks before my delivery, Google announced its biggest, 12,000-people layoff. As someone on an H1-B visa, a layoff would mean I would have to find another job in a matter of weeks or risk having to move back to India with a newborn.When I came back to work, I was not a hundred percent myself not as a person and not as an employee. I was not a hundred percent efficient. I've had my moments where I broke down and lost my train of thought during a call.Despite my efforts, some other senior people were preferred by the business partners for some responsibilities. To add to it, Google was entering the artificial intelligence industry. Being away monthsBut I was able to turn my performance around. In 2024, I got awards for my performance, and it's just the opposite of how last year went.There were four things I did to make the transition easier on myself:1. Split up my leaveGoogle offers employees the flexibility to take their maternity leave for up to a year after the baby is born. I broke up my leave into three stages, which allowed me to come back to work periodically to ensure I was visible and my work was not forgotten.I took my first break a month before the baby was born. I returned in my third month after the delivery and went back on leave in the months of September, November, December and January. It was designed based on who was there to help me with the child throughout the year first my parents and then my in-laws.2. Highlight my workNobody is going to talk about me until I do, which is something I have struggled with in my previous companies.I made sure to speak up when things weren't going right and made sure to collect evidence of my efforts and achievements.I took advantage of the help I had and spent evenings and weekends taking exams and completing certifications to upskill myself and show others that I was coming up to speed.3. Have open, honest conversationsWhat helped me through the year was my manager. She saw what was happening when I missed things because I've been a good performer all these years.I shared everything with her openly during one-on-ones, which helped because she understood my challenges. She also helped me maintain visibility with upper management, because Google is strict with grades and the ratings you get.It made a world of a difference to have a female manager and a work culture where men could empathize, too. My job involves a lot of talking and explaining, and I suffered from shortness of breath during my third trimester. My male counterparts recognized this and asked me to take breaks and go off-camera, which helped me work until the day I left for leave.I also built my network and spoke to women who are managers in other teams in the company. Women who have been outperformers shared their experiences crying secretly after they became parents, and nobody said they had it all sorted out. Now, I share my journey with others.4. Taking it one day at a timeDuring the wave of tech layoffs in 2022, I had at least three close friends who were laid off from Google, Microsoft, and Meta, which lingered on my mind and made me paranoid about my own situation.The stress and postpartum depression is not behind me, but I decided to take it one day at a time.I decided to be laser-focused and do things as they come up. There have been times I feel like delaying a reply but do it anyway, because I know it could lead to more tasks that I can add to my annual review.Do you work in Big Tech and have a tip or story to share? Please reach out at shubhangigoel@businessinsider.com.

Wendy Altschuler has traveled around the world with her husband and three sons.Her kids agree that Japan has been their favorite destination.Sumo wrestling was the highlight of their trip.My kids have been fortunate to enjoy the benefits of my main work perk as a longtime travel writer: accumulating airline miles. Of all of the places we've traveled around the world including Peru, Greece, Dominican Republic, Thailand, India, Singapore, UAE, and Aruba Japan remains the absolute favorite for all three of my boys.During our summertime trip to Japan, we explored incense-heavy shrines, wandered through gardens bursting with hydrangeas, marveled at castles, indulged in street food, met wild monkeys, and sauntered through a bamboo forest. The kids made it clear that Japan lights up all five of your senses no matter what age you are.We all enjoyed finding a beach full of smooth pottery pieces, remnants from a long-ago shipwreck; and watching a crazy robot show in Tokyo with swirling lights and loud music while eating dinner.But the highlight of their trip was learning about sumo wrestling.The whole family tried sumo wrestlingIn Nara, near Kyoto and Osaka, we encountered sacred deer that bowed when we fed them crackers. It was near there, at the foot of Mt. Nijo in Katsuragi City, where I had another quest for my boys to learn about Japan's oldest sport: Sumo wrestling.Katsuragi is the origin of sumo, Japan's national sport with 1,500 years of history. At Kehayaza Sumo Museum, we took our shoes off and sat in a box seat on top of cushions to watch. We were the sole spectators at the event that aims to educate visitors on the art of sumo. Rather than attend a Grand Sumo Tournament, which can be difficult to visit with only six tournaments held each year, the museum is much more open, affordable, and accessible for families on a year-round basis.There was beautiful singing, a display of flags, and rice throwing to purify the elevated ring, which was made of clay and covered in rough sand. Two massive rikishi, or sumo wrestlers, entered the circular ring, the dohyo, wearing only a mawashi, or loin cloth. We observed as the two athletes lifted and stomped each leg, slapped their stomachs, and prepared for the match. Sumo wrestlers in a ring at the Kehayaza Sumo Museum in Katsuragi City, Japan. Wendy Altschuler They learned about Japanese cultureSumo originated as a ritual dance to entertain the gods at shrine festivals. Nowadays,professional sumohas six divisions. Wrestlers move up the ranks depending on their skill, and their pay increases as they progress and evolve. The Grand Champion, or Yokozuna, is an exclusive title that can earn the wrestler 2.8 million yen, or $18,000 per month, pertheSouth China Morning Post.Tickets for standard seats to the tournaments start at around 2,500 yen and go up to around 20,000 yen for ringside seats. Box seats, which accommodate four people, can cost up to 60,000 yen per box. A benefit of visiting the museum is that entrance is free for visitors with foreign passports. The author's husband and three sons battled it out in the sumo ring. Wendy Altschuler We all stepped into the ringWith eyes wide, my boys were dialed in as the straight-faced men collided while endeavoring to push each other to the ground or out of the ring to win the match. We were told that in sumo, often, the opponents aren't the same size or weight, like in American boxing, which allows spectators to root for an underdog.After the match, my husband was asked if he wanted to try. He cautiously stepped into the ring with the largest of the two wrestlers and went through the entire ritual tossing the rice in the air, bowing, clapping, crouching down with his fists on the ground, mirroring the correct footwork, and facing his opponent. I went next. Then each of my boys got a chance to test their mettle.While a referee dressed in a long red and gold robe, black pointed hat, white belt, and holding a small paper fan officiated, my boys followed the ceremonial tasks and squared off with their skilled challenger. I'll never forget how the athlete, who seemed so imposing when he was brawling with his opponent, morphed into a playful fellow when my kids each entered the ring. The author's youngest son was picked up by the sumo wrestler. Wendy Altschuler When the near-naked wrestler picked up my firstborn son, who was 12 at the time, and swung him around by his mawashi, I roared with laughter. I still smile when I think about how high-pitched the wrestler's giggle was, completely contrasting his size and power.My youngest pressed firmly into his challenger's belly, not moving him an inch, and then, par for the course, he became airborne, just like his older brother. My middle son took a different strategy: he stood on his tippy toes and went for the shoulders, attempting to drive his adversary off balance. The final match was unfair: all three boys were against their dad. After the match, we thanked the sumo wrestlers for the immersive education. Later, at home, I organized a postcard writing project in which short travel stories were mailed to isolated seniors. My youngest wrote about getting in the ring with a 400-pound sumo wrestler in Japan: "I was only 8, I obviously lost."

Kopihub Restaurant / Does studioSave this picture! ShootativeRestaurantNai Mueang, ThailandArchitects: Does studioYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Shootative Lead Architects: Doesstudio More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Interior Design Project: Kopi Hub, Korat - This interior design project for Kopi Hub, Korat, is inspired by the concept of "Mud-Mai" (Thai silk weaving), a cultural hallmark of Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. The design harmonizes the main building with the interior spaces, which are divided into three distinct zones:Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Zone 1: Reception and Seating Area - This zone is arranged within a circular space, allowing customers to enjoy the surrounding garden views. A large red backdrop, designed with a modern reinterpretation of the Mud-Mai pattern, incorporates red silk threads that represent the signature color of the Kopi Hub brand. The centerpiece of this area is a large infinity-shaped chandelier, symbolizing the fluidity and elegance of silk weaving.Save this picture!Save this picture!Zone 2: Seating Area and Open Void - This area features an open void with a vertical garden and a koi fish pond in the center, creating a refreshing ambiance. Customers seated here can enjoy views of the gardens on both sides. Additionally, a playful detail of "Si Sawat Cats" (a local symbol of Korat) is incorporated into a large painted mural, adding a touch of local identity.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Zone 3: Semi-Outdoor Seating and Patongko booth - Designed to immerse customers in the outdoor garden atmosphere, this zone features seating arranged along the curved lines of the building and garden. Partitions, inspired by the Mud-Mai pattern, serve both as decorative elements and functional dividers, including for the VIP room. This Kopi Hub branch is envisioned as a unique breakfast destination that offers customers a refreshing and culturally enriched dining experience.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Nai Mueang, ThailandLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeDoes studioOfficePublished on January 13, 2025Cite: "Kopihub Restaurant / Does studio" 12 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1025565/kopihub-restaurant-does-studio&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Without the repercussions of real life, being placed into the shoes of a bad guy in a video game can be a great way to go wild and let off some steam. Playing the virtuous hero who saves the day game after game can get stale pretty quickly, after all, so it's always interesting when a game lets the player take control of the villain instead.

Chadwick Boseman left behind an incredible legacy for himself due to the career he put together, but playing the part of T'Challa is what he's best known for. He was the lead actor in the original Black Panther movie, and his performance helped make that a success. However, there have now been reports that Marvel is considering recasting the character moving forward in Black Panther.

The Apothecary Diaries was one of the biggest surprises in 2024. On paper, a slice-of-life story about the life of a maid in the inner court of ancient Chinas Imperial Palace sounds quite dull. However, that statement couldnt be further from the truth. This series manages to weave politics, mystery, drama, deceptions, betrayals, assassination attempts, and detective works into a highly engaging story.

You can publish your game using localhost, a tunnel, and splattersocial, where you can showcase your games created on splattersocial.com. You can check out the tutorial; although it's in Spanish, it's easy to understand. Here it is :

Hello! It seems that if a variadic function returns an object on the stack, it causes a crash when calling SetReturnObject in asIScriptGeneric object.If I'm not mistaking, the data for the variadic function on the stack is like this:[{return object address}, {arguments count}, {arguments values}]stackPointer in the asCGeneric object points to the beginning of args values, but receiving the address of returning object is calculated as (void*)*(asPWORD*)(stack Pointer - AS