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• I took the Catalina Express ferry to Catalina Island, a gorgeous spot off the coast of California.
• For $61 each way, I enjoyed an upgraded ferry experience with snacks and priority boarding.
• On the island, I had a great time exploring and taking a guided kayaking tour.

When I recently flew out to Southern California to visit my two young-adult children, I had some time to myself while they were both busy working. So, I decided to plan a day trip to Catalina Island, a spot many travelers describe as a stunning locale with a European feel.

One of the state’s Channel Islands, Catalina is located about 22 miles off the coast of Los Angeles and is easy to reach by ferry. So, I decided to book the one-hour journey from Long Beach to Avalon, Catalina’s main tourist hub, with Catalina Express.

There were four departures scheduled that day, a Wednesday in October. I selected 9:50 a.m., the Goldilocks of departure times — not too early or too late. Luckily, I was even able to use my first-ever senior discount and secure $5 off my ticket.

For $61 each way (after the discount), I booked an upgraded ticket with priority boarding, access to a special seating area called the Commodore lounge, a drink, and a snack. This was only about $20 more than I would’ve paid for a standard adult ticket, which I thought seemed like a solid value.

Here’s what the experience was like.

I started my day at the Catalina Landing in Downtown Long Beach.

I arrived at the Catalina Express terminal in Long Beach an hour early. I gave myself ample time to get there, since I know how awful Los Angeles traffic can be.

Luckily, plenty of indoor seating and clean restrooms made the wait pleasant, and I read the Los Angeles Times to pass the time.

About 25 minutes before the ferry was set to depart, I heard the announcement that Commodore lounge passengers could go outside and board first. The process was easy and organized.

The Commodore lounge wasn’t crowded.

Upon entering the lounge, I saw individual packets of Chex Mix and chocolate-chip cookies in a basket.

I took one of each and selected a padded window seat; I had the row to myself. The seats were wider than those offered in the standard class of tickets, and I thought they were comfortable.

Then, a crew member came by with a drink menu. There were plenty of choices included in the price of the ticket, like beer, wine, cocktails, and soft drinks.

I had a cup of coffee and was able to select from a variety of milks or half-and-half.

I also went outside to enjoy the fresh air.

I wanted to get some fresh air, so I left the Commodore lounge and sat on the spacious outdoor deck for about 20 minutes. The sea breeze and autumn sunshine felt great. I kept an eye out for sea life, but only saw gorgeous blue water.

Before I knew it, the smooth, one-hour trip was over, and we arrived on Catalina Island.

After disembarking, I took some time to explore Avalon.

After getting off the boat, I gazed out at the fishing boats in the harbor and at the pastel-colored buildings that lined the mountainside.

I followed my fellow passengers toward Avalon’s main shopping street, Crescent Avenue. There were souvenir shops and a candy store, Lloyd’s of Avalon, selling a tempting array of confections.

I quickly learned how walkable Avalon is. In fact, most residents don’t even have cars and use golf carts to get around.

Then, I rested on the beach for a bit.

I strolled under palm trees along the seaside promenade to the Descanso Beach Club. Although I could’ve paid for a daybed or cabana rental, I was happy to lay my towel down on the sand for free.

I even decided to join a guided kayaking tour.

Then, I spotted a kiosk for Descanso Beach Ocean Sports, which rents out paddleboards, kayaks, and snorkeling equipment.

I was interested in kayaking and was told I could rent one on my own or join the 90-minute guided tour that was leaving in a few minutes. I chose the latter and was placed in a double kayak with another solo traveler.

As we paddled, our guide shared tidbits of island history, and we saw dozens of colorful fish swimming in the clear water.

After grabbing a bite to eat, I headed back to the ferry.

After the tour, I had something to eat at the Descanso Beach Club, and made my way back to the ferry.

My Commodore lounge ticket once again allowed me to board first, and I soaked up the final views of Catalina Island.

Overall, for $61 each way, my ferry trip wasn’t inexpensive, but it was so worth it. I felt relaxed and refreshed, as if I’d taken a real vacation rather than just a day trip. I’m already looking forward to the next time I can head back to this beautiful island.

• At Business Insider’s Long Play event, Noa Argamani described her optimistic outlook on life.
• Argamani was held in Hamas captivity for 246 days.
• She’s now pursuing a career in venture capital to help Israeli founders and Israel.

Noa Argamani said she never doubted that she would return home alive when she was held hostage by Hamas.

That optimism was unwavering, she said in a conversation with editor in chief Jamie Heller at Business Insider’s “The Long Play” event on Thursday, even as two friends died in captivity and she regularly heard rockets and bombs exploding.

“I was by myself in a tiny room,” Argamani said.

She said she found something to be grateful for in the smallest of comforts, like half a liter of water, a sock, or a blanket.

“I said thank you for everything that I have at that moment,” said Argamani, who was rescued after 246 days in captivity after being kidnapped in the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

She said optimism has become a defining part of how she moves through the world. Each morning, she said, “I see the cards that I have in my hand, and I play in the best way that I can.”

Argamani said she has reflected on her special skills and resources and how they align with her goals. In the past several years, she said, she has improved her English and sharpened her public speaking skills, taking to the global stage to advocate for the release of the other Israeli hostages and share her experience.

At the time she was taken hostage, Argamani was studying AI in her third year of college, with the idea of becoming a software engineer or, eventually, maybe a founder. While in captivity, Argamani told herself she loved the life she was living and would finish her degree when she returned home.

But after that, so much changed, she said.

Following an internship this year, she joined venture capital firm Vine Ventures as head of platform. The company backs early-stage startups, with a focus on AI, cybersecurity, and defense tech. She’s now working with Israeli founders and companies with the goal of helping them expand globally and strengthening Israel’s security through economic success.

Argamani said she still has much to learn about VC. She joined Vine in part because of the relationship she developed with its founder and managing partner, Eric Reiner, who helped her advocate for the release of the remaining hostages.

For now, she said, she sees the role as her opportunity to build her career and help her country.

“Now I have the opportunity to be on this stage and talk about all of the things that I’ve been through, and also how I want to build the future,” Argamani said.

• Villa Vie CEO Kathy Villalba apologized to residents in an emotional internal message on Friday.
• “The ship was my baby, but it was your home,” Villalba wrote.
• Soon afterward, the message was deleted, Villa Vie residents told Business Insider.

On Friday, the CEO of the company behind the doomed Odyssey cruise ship apologized to residents, many of whom are now stranded in Cambodia. Hours later, that apology was gone.

Villa Vie Residences CEO and founding partner Kathy Villalba sent Odyssey residents a message on Circle, the ship’s internal messaging platform, saying she was sorry for the “pain, the loss, and the uncertainty” they face after the voyage came to an abrupt halt this week.

Villa Vie had promised residents of its 509-cabin ship a chance to live permanently at sea and circumnavigate the world every three-and-a-half years. On Tuesday morning, residents were given only a few hours’ notice to disembark.

Business Insider reviewed screenshots of the memo, which was deleted hours after it was posted. Three Villa Vie residents with access to Circle confirmed the memo’s contents and that it was no longer visible.

In it, Villalba said the media attention had become “overwhelming” and that she had been advised to refrain from making further public comments.

Villalba and Villa Vie did not respond to requests for comment on the memo or why it was deleted.

In the apology note, Villalba said the company was still in talks with potential investors and expressed hope that a resident-led initiative to buy the ship would succeed.

You can read the full text here:

Dear Residents,

I owe all of you a message, and I am sorry if it has taken me this long to find the words.

I think part of me has been in denial that this could really be happening. Even now, we continue to speak with potential investors, holding on to whatever hope remains because I simply cannot imagine letting this dream go.

The media attention has become overwhelming, to the point that reporters are now contacting our families, including people who have nothing to do with the company.

On the advice of counsel, I have been asked to refrain from making further public comments, particularly as even conversations within Circle are no longer private.

But I couldn’t remain silent without telling you how deeply sorry I am for the pain, the loss, and the uncertainty so many of you are facing.

I know so many of you are hurting, scared, and angry, and I wish more than anything that I could take that pain away.

For nearly two years, this wasn’t just a business to me. It was my entire life. I poured my heart, my soul, and everything I had into it The ship was my baby, but it was your home, and in so many ways, all of you became my family. I care for this community as though it were my own children, through the good days and the difficult ones.

My team used to call me the “Resident Wikipedia,” because I knew all of you by name and by story. That meant so much to me, because getting to know each of you individually was the best part of all of this.

The thought of losing it leaves a hole in my heart that I cannot begin to describe.

Thank you for believing in two ordinary people with an extraordinary dream. Together, we created something truly special. We traveled the world, built friendships, shared laughter and tears, and experienced a way of life that so few people ever get to know.

I still don’t want this to be the end.

I sincerely hope the resident initiative succeeds, and we stand ready to assist wherever we reasonably can to help preserve the lifestyle you have all grown to love.

Please know that we love and care about each and every one of you. Through the good and the bad, even through the disagreements and disappointments, that has never changed.

Above all, I hope everyone is safe, supported, and looking after one another during this incredibly difficult time.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being part of this dream.

With love,

Kathy <3

• The story of Miami’s first zoo is a sad one.
• A hurricane destroyed the coastal attraction, leaving the cages empty.
• The animals that live there today are free.

Elephants, monkeys, tigers, and reptiles once lived on a corner of a South Florida beach, where I found empty cages covered in graffiti and greenery.

The Crandon Park Zoo opened in 1948 as Miami’s first zoo, according to the Miami Herald. Then a hurricane in the 1980s left it in shambles. The park closed, and animals that survived the hurricane were moved to a larger area. In 1991, the zoo ruins reopened as gardens.

I visited the park in October 2021 to see what remained of the abandoned zoo, and I found a natural wildlife sanctuary.

The first thing I noticed was a sign at the entrance warning visitors that crocodiles were present.

According to Atlas Obscura, the ruins are also home to wild alligators, iguanas, and peacocks.

The walkways through the park made me feel as if I were in a zoo — one where the animals were free.

Parts of the park were paved, while others felt wild. Some of the land was once a coconut plantation, according to the Miami Herald.

In one shaded area, I spotted what appeared to be an abandoned animal cage embedded in the rocks.

I thought it looked like it could have been a unique, immersive attraction and wondered what animals may have lived there decades ago. 

Some of the abandoned structures were fenced off and covered in graffiti.

I peered over high, chain-linked fences and spotted remnants of vandalized structures.

But one large structure remained accessible.

It appeared to once house multiple cages.

Around the back, I noticed caged doors that looked as if they were used to feed the animals inside.

I was able to see inside a few of the animals’ quarters, which were now empty aside from some leaves, branches, and overgrown vines. The doors were still locked.

The view inside the structures was somewhat haunting.

Peering inside made me think about the animals that might have gotten stuck inside as hurricane waters filled their enclosures.

I tried to imagine what kind of animals could live in these spaces. Based on their size, maybe monkeys, I thought.

I left the park thinking it’s probably a better home now for the wildlife that has taken over.

After my visit, the zoo celebrated its 75th anniversary of serving the community in November 2022.

Berg Insight just released new findings about the market for electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Europe and North America

The number of connected EV charging points in Europe and North America reached an estimated 12.9 million units in 2025.

Europe represents the largest share comprising around 9.4 million of these charging points, corresponding to a connectivity penetration rate of 78 percent.

In North America, about 3.5 million of the total number of charging points were connected, equivalent to a connectivity penetration rate of 66 percent. Growing at a compound annual growth rate of 23 percent, the number of connected charging points in the two regions is expected to reach 35.6 million in 2030.

The connected EV charging station market is served by a variety of players serving the different segments. Back-office software platforms for charging station management are offered by a variety of companies, including software companies specialised in charging station management, hardware providers and charge point operators (CPOs). The back-office platforms developed in-house by CPOs are in some cases also offered as white-label solutions to other CPOs.

ChargePoint is a leading player in North America and offers proprietary hardware and software solutions as well as operates as a CPO. The company is also a leader in terms of charging points connected to its software platform in North America. Additional companies having a notable number of connected charging stations on their platform in the region include Blink Charging, Flo, EV Connect, SWTCH and Tesla. Specialized software vendors with a significant number of charging points connected to their platforms are more prolific in Europe. Examples include Chargecloud, Last Mile Solutions, Monta, Virta, GreenFlux, Driivz and AMPECO. Some more hardware focused actors like Easee, Zaptec and Pod have many connected charging points but usually support a less comprehensive set of use cases with their software offering. Full-service providers like ChargePoint are not as prominent in Europe, with actors such as Shell Recharge Solutions and BP Pulse narrowing their focus significantly in recent years. Signs of increasing specialisation in the European market can also be seen in several CPOs, which have opted to migrate their charging stations to platforms from specialised software providers.

“The EV charging markets in Europe and North America have been turbulent in recent years”, said Caspar Jansson, IoT Analyst at Berg Insight. Sales of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure have continued to grow, but at a slower and more uneven pace. Political support has also become less predictable amid shifting priorities and economic uncertainty. Nevertheless, incentives and regulations continue to support the market, particularly in Europe. Slower growth and difficult market conditions have contributed to consolidation, cost reduction efforts and strategic changes among charging equipment manufacturers, software providers and charge point operators alike. Large and intermittent charging loads can raise operating costs significantly through demand charges, while volatile electricity prices add further uncertainty. “Connectivity allows operators to adjust charger output according to electricity prices, grid capacity and vehicle needs, helping limit demand peaks and control costs”, continued Mr. Jansson. He added that home users can achieve similar savings.

Mr. Jansson concluded:

“Connected home chargers allow users to charge when electricity is cheaper, coordinate charging with household consumption and solar generation, and record company-vehicle charging for reimbursement.”

The post The number of connected EV charging points in Europe and North America to reach 36 million by 2030 appeared first on IoT Business News.

• The world’s biggest creator, MrBeast, has found his first CMO.
• The company promoted Feastables head and marketing vet Michelle St. Jacques to the role.
• Her remit will include leading marketing and defining the MrBeast brand.

MrBeast has found his first CMO, Business Insider exclusively learned.

The top YouTuber’s company promoted Michelle St. Jacques to the role. St. Jacques has led consumer goods, including Feastables, MrBeast’s snack and candy company, since February.

In her new role, she’ll add marketing duties for Beast Industries, the star’s holding company, while continuing to oversee consumer goods. She’s based in Chicago.

Beast Industries started the search earlier this year, a move that reflected the company’s growing ambitions. It’s been expanding far beyond its core YouTube channel — which has over 524 million subscribers — and seeks to become a Disney-style entertainment giant.

Beast Industries CEO Jeff Housenbold said in a memo to staff, viewed by Business Insider, that he considered external candidates for the CMO role but decided St. Jacques was the best person for the job.

“In her time at Beast, MSJ has shown she can set clear strategy and deliver strong execution for our products and partners,” he wrote. “She has served as both CMO and Chief Commercial Officer and built iconic consumer brands like Dove, Heinz, Miller Lite, and Coors Light. She’s also a world-class people leader who knows how to build high-performing teams.”

St. Jacques joined the company following a slowdown in Feastables’ growth.

Housenbold wrote that St. Jacques’ remit would involve defining the MrBeast brand and making sure everything the company does ladders up to the same positioning; leading marketing for MrBeast and partner brands; and overseeing the viral marketing team. He said that he saw an opportunity to lean into e-commerce and performance marketing to drive customer acquisition and retention.

St. Jacques steps into a role overseeing a brand that’s looking to lessen its reliance on its famous founder. Her job requires someone who can do everything from getting people to theatrical releases — Donaldson lent his voice to “Angry Birds Movie 3,” which is scheduled for a December release — to selling snacks and toys in stores, or pitching fans on phone plans and financial products.

Beast Industries has made a string of big hires to bulk up its executive suite. Along with Feastables, the company has begun to move into financial services with the acquisition of the Step app and has planned a mobile phone service.

The company is also laying the groundwork to expand into ad and marketing services for brands and additional services for other independent content creators like MrBeast, and has teased a membership program.