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A tiny Philadelphia music conservatory is one of the hardest colleges in the US to get into. See why.

Written by admin on June 17, 2026. Posted in Uncategorized. No Comments on A tiny Philadelphia music conservatory is one of the hardest colleges in the US to get into. See why.

Outside view of the Curtis Institute of Music — The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia is one of the hardest US schools to get into.
Paul Marotta/Getty Images

Curtis Institute of Music admits only about 5% of applicants and has a total of 160 students.
It’s ranked among the hardest schools to get into in the US.
Every student accepted into the school receives a full-tuition scholarship.

When thinking about the hardest schools to get into in the US, your mind might immediately go to the historic brick walls of Ivy League institutions or to schools at the cutting edge of technology, like MIT and Caltech.

But there is a tiny music conservatory in Philadelphia that is just as selective as these schools.

At the Curtis Institute of Music, which has been operating for over 100 years, fewer than 30 students are admitted each year — and none of them pay tuition.

Only 5% of applicants are accepted

Each year, the Curtis Institute receives over 500 applications, but only 5% are admitted, according to the most recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics’ College Navigator tool.

When Business Insider looked at the hardest schools to get into, based on their admissions rate for the 2024-2025 school year, Curtis ranked 14th in the nation, placing it ahead of Duke, Johns Hopkins, and Cornell.

The school admits the same percentage of applicants as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, although it has a much smaller applicant pool and fewer seats available.

The school ensures that, at any given point, it has just around 160 students, enough to fill a full symphony orchestra and opera, along with select musicians in piano, guitar, composition, conducting, and organ, per the school’s website.

Over 40% of students at the school come from abroad, and musicians come from over 20 countries around the world. The school relies on a rigorous audition process.

“The most important factor is artistic promise,” the school writes on its website. “Though showing technical proficiency in the audition is a requirement, the strongest candidates for admission demonstrate the potential to develop into exceptional artists.”

Famously, Nina Simone was rejected from the program after auditioning at the age of 18. Two days before her death in 2003, Simone received an honorary degree from the institution.

Of all students admitted to the school, over 90% enroll, including 100% of male applicants, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Michael Stern leading the Curtis Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall on Tuesday night, April 28, 2009.This image;Michael Stern leading the Curtis Symphony Orchestra in Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet." — The Curtis Institute accepts just enough students to support a full symphony orchestra and opera programs.
Hiroyuki Ito/Getty Images

Admissions do not have a minimum age requirement (or age limit), and the school, which doesn’t offer preparatory programs, has a section on its website outlining specific academic and enrollment requirements for students under 17.

In April, the school accepted 7-year-old pianist Olivia Li, who will join the school on the same full-tuition scholarship that all students receive.

The school covers all tuition costs

All students admitted into the school receive a full-tuition scholarship, regardless of their financial situation. Additionally, need-based financial aid is available to cover living expenses.

The school has 120 artists and teachers on its faculty, giving students nearly full 1-on-1 support in their instruction.

While the school doesn’t report its students’ post-graduation outcomes, Niche reports that graduates have a 75% employment rate five years after graduation.

Curtis alums often go on to populate the world’s most prestigious orchestras and concert stages, from the Metropolitan Opera to the Berlin Philharmonic.

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Dario Amodei on why he left Sam Altman and OpenAI: ‘Why argue with someone’ when you ‘don’t trust them’

Written by admin on June 17, 2026. Posted in Uncategorized. No Comments on Dario Amodei on why he left Sam Altman and OpenAI: ‘Why argue with someone’ when you ‘don’t trust them’

Dario Amodei talks to Bloomberg's Emily Chang — Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said the public will have a say on who comes out ahead in his company’s rivalry with OpenAI.
Jason Henry/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei made it clear that trust was at the core of his decision to famously leave OpenAI and Sam Altman.
“Why argue with someone when you don’t have the same vision and you don’t trust them?” he said in an apparent jab at Altman.
Amodei said he does find others in AI “trustworthy,” citing his relationship with Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said he’s at “peace” with where the Anthropic-OpenAI rivalry stands even as a cold war brews between two of the world’s largest AI companies.

But he did throw some shade Sam Altman‘s way.

“At the end of the day, why argue with someone when you don’t have the same vision and you don’t trust them?” Amodei said in an apparent jab at the OpenAI CEO during a lengthy Bloomberg interview for “The Circuit with Emily Chang” published on Wednesday.

“The way to resolve it is you go off and do your thing, they go off and do their thing,” he said. “And I am completely at peace with the idea that we’re doing things our way and they’re doing things their way.”

Ultimately, someone else will decide who was right, Amodei said.

“We’ll see who wins in the market and we’ll see who wins in the court of public opinion,” he said. “I think those things speak louder than any drama about why who left what.”

As Chang told Amodei, the story behind why he, his sister Daniela, and nine OpenAI employees left in 2020 to start Anthropic has become Silicon Valley “lore.” Once the underdog, Anthropic is now widely viewed as having overtaken OpenAI in the generative AI race.

Amodei’s exit has received renewed attention in the wake of Ronan Farrow’s exposé in The New Yorker that examined whether Altman could be trusted. Amodei’s contemporaneous notes, which he took about his interactions with Altman during his time at OpenAI, are cited throughout the report. Days after the report’s publication, Altman’s home was attacked, an incident he partially blamed on The New Yorker report (without naming the publication directly), and later on how Anthropic talks about OpenAI.

“I think the doomerism talk hasn’t helped. I think the way certain other labs talk about us hasn’t helped,” Altman said during an April episode of the “Core Memory” podcast, adding, “I think the way Anthropic talks about OpenAI doesn’t help.”

Amodei chalked up the most viral moment in his rivalry with Altman, when the pair notably declined to join their fellow industry leaders in a show of unity, to the “extreme disorganization” of the India AI summit. The Anthropic CEO said other summits featuring world leaders are often a mess as well.

“Look, I don’t know what to tell you, OK? There was like Narendra Modi up there suddenly telling everyone to hold hands,” Amodei said of the Indian Prime Minister, who was positioned right next to Altman and Amodei. (Left unsaid is that both Altman and Amodei held hands with the other people next to them.)

Sam Altman and Dario Amodei’s hands did not make contact. At the time, the internet noticed.
Ludovic MARIN / AFP via Getty Images

While he did not name Altman directly, Amodei appeared to implicitly criticize OpenAI on multiple occasions during his over 1-hour interview with Chang.

Asked about how the world could trust AI companies to cooperate on major AI safety issues, Amodei suggested it was less about everyone getting along and more about who sets the agenda.

“What I think needs to happen is that the trustworthy actors need to get together and put the untrustworthy actors in a position where they kind of have to adopt the same standards,” he said. “With a lot of experience, I’ve learned that there are some folks who don’t do the right thing on their own, but if there’s a majority of the industry that’s doing the right thing, then I think the rest of the industry is kind of — they’re left in a position where there’s not much they can do.”

Amodei made it clear that the narrative that “no one trusts each other” in AI isn’t true, citing his relationship with Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis.

“I’ve known him for 15 years. We’ve worked together on a number of issues,” Amodei said. “We buy compute from Google. We swap safety ideas all the time. So my view of this is that one, there are some players who are more trustworthy than others, and I think there are players outside Anthropic who I trust, who I see as trustworthy.”

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I ate 31 different Blizzards at Dairy Queen and ranked the flavors from worst to best

Written by admin on June 16, 2026. Posted in Uncategorized. No Comments on I ate 31 different Blizzards at Dairy Queen and ranked the flavors from worst to best

Woman smiling, holding Dairy Queen Blizzard — I’ve spent the past few years trying every Blizzard I can find at Dairy Queen to see which ones are the best to order.
Savanna Swain-Wilson

A Dairy Queen Blizzard is typically made with soft serve and a range of customizable mix-ins
So far, I’ve tasted 31 Blizzards from the menu, including seasonal and limited-edition flavors.
I’ve ranked the Blizzards from worst to best, and my favorite flavor is still the seasonal s’mores.

Dairy Queen is one of Warren Buffett’s most famous businesses — he acquired it for almost $600 million in the late ’90s.

Decades later, it’s still worth millions and is considered one of the leading dessert and snack chains in North America. And at the core of its success might be one of its signature desserts: The Blizzard, a frozen treat blended with all sorts of mix-ins.

Blizzard flavors come and go, and I’m always hunting for the best one. So, since August 2020, I’ve been eating and ranking every Dairy Queen Blizzard I could get my hands on.

Here’s how the Blizzards I’ve tried so far stack up, ranked from my least favorite to my top pick.

Editor’s Note: Availability may vary. This list includes limited-edition and seasonal flavors that don’t always return.

Cotton Candy Blizzard

For me, the first problem with this seasonal Blizzard was the texture. It had these chewy, colorful bits of sugar sprinkles that felt a bit off — like they weren’t supposed to be there.

However, the almost unbearable sweetness of this Blizzard is what earned it a spot at the bottom of my list. This dessert tasted like pure sugar to me, and my teeth still ache a bit thinking about it.

I could picture younger kids absolutely loving this, but I can’t see myself ordering this again.

M&M’s Blizzard

m&M — M&M Blizzard.
Savanna Swain-Wilson

Many people picture M&M’s candies when they think of a classic ice-cream mix-in. That symphony of crunchy, chocolaty bits with smooth, creamy dessert is a kid’s kryptonite on a summer afternoon.

My M&M’s Blizzard came exactly as expected — with the bite-sized candies slightly crushed and evenly dispersed throughout the vanilla soft serve. It was a simple yet satisfying option.

Even so, this Blizzard was pretty underwhelming, especially when compared to the other ones on the menu. I think it could’ve benefited from the addition of brownie chunks to make the chocolate flavor of the candies stand out more.

Royal Rocky Road Trip Blizzard

rocky road blizzard — Royal Rocky Road Trip Blizzard.
Savanna Swain-Wilson

Full disclosure: I don’t care much for rocky-road ice cream, so I knew I wasn’t going to be wild about this one from the start.

This Blizzard contains all the essential flavors typically found in rocky-road ice cream: chocolate, peanuts, and marshmallow.

This dessert also contained brownie chunks, plus a gooey marshmallow core in the center of the cup. I can see this being a dream for anyone who loves marshmallows, but I felt that the core overpowered the rest of the Blizzard.

At one point, I thought the peanuts were missing, but they’d really just collected at the very bottom of the cup, which made every bite pretty inconsistent.

Very Cherry Chip Blizzard

This Blizzard absolutely lives up to its name. To me, it tasted exactly like a cherry slushie.

It’s very, very sweet, but I didn’t find that totally off-putting. The bits of cherry in this offered a nice pop of tart flavor that made my lips pucker.

My order also contained plenty of tasty chocolate chunks, which cut through some of that intense fruity sweetness.

I believe this Blizzard will appeal to a lot of people (Shirley Temple fans, looking at you), but it was too sweet for me to find it enjoyable after a few bites.

If I wanted a fruit-forward Blizzard, I’d go with the Raspberry Fudge Bliss instead. (More on that one later).

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Party Blizzard

Peanut butter cookie blizzard — Peanut-butter cookie Blizzard.
Savanna Swain-Wilson

I’m still confused about what the Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Party was supposed to be.

I thought it would have chunks of peanut-butter cookie dough, but it actually contained chocolate-chip cookie dough.

Peanut-butter topping was swirled into DQ’s signature vanilla soft serve and — even more confusing — it had a crunchy peanut-brittle topping and sprinkles, which, for me, just added an awkward crunchiness.

Still, it wasn’t bad. The sauce was blended so seamlessly into the vanilla soft serve that it tasted like peanut-butter ice cream.

However, I think DQ would be better off pairing peanut butter with something that contrasts its nutty flavor more, like dark-chocolate brownies.

Wonder Woman Cookie Collision Blizzard

Wonder Woman Cookie Collision 2 — Wonder Woman Cookie Collision Blizzard.
Savanna Swain-Wilson

With such a fun name, I had high hopes for this limited-edition Blizzard. Unfortunately, it underwhelmed me.

Essentially, it’s a hodgepodge of chocolaty flavors. Mix-ins include chocolate-chip and chocolate-chocolate cookie dough, which were pretty much indistinguishable from each other.

This had potential, but the similar toppings didn’t add much flavor. I had a hard time distinguishing this from the regular cookie-dough Blizzard, which is disappointing.

Heath Blizzard

I was eager to try the Blizzard because I think Heath is an excellent, underrated candy bar.

The Heath candy bits were finely chopped and distributed well throughout the soft serve. This gave the entire Blizzard a strong toffee taste, which I personally loved.

However, the biggest issue with this one was the texture. Toffee is notoriously sticky and hard, especially when paired with a cold substance.

As I ate my Blizzard, I noticed small bits of the candy getting stuck to my teeth, which made me unwilling to finish it.

Oreo Dirt Pie Blizzard

Although I never attended summer camp myself, I have many fond childhood memories of eating Oreo dirt pies at birthday parties.

Normally, the dessert is made using pudding as a base, but here, DQ is putting its own spin on this with its soft serve.

I appreciate the sentiment DQ was trying to convey here, and I’m sure kids will go nuts for this, but I’m not sold on the idea of gummy worms mixed into soft serve.

As a topping, gummy worms are fine. However, I didn’t care for getting random bites of chewy candy in my Blizzard. There was already enough texture from the cookie pieces and fudge. Plus, it’s not like the gummies added that much flavor.

On a more positive note, I loved how the added extra fudge crumbles really doubled down on the chocolate flavor.

Ultimately, I’d much rather get the regular Oreo Cookie Blizzard, which tastes similar but has no unpleasant gummy-worm additions.

Nestlé Drumstick with Peanuts Blizzard

dairy queen blizzard — Savanna Swain-Wilson

This Blizzard brought me back to childhood days at my grandma’s house, where I’d often dig in her freezer in search of chocolaty Drumsticks.

And every time, I’d devour the cone in minutes, and my fingers (and the floor) would end up covered in chocolate.

Years later, I’m still a fan of Drumsticks, but I rarely eat them to avoid the mess. Thankfully, DQ has largely solved that issue by creating a Blizzard with Drumstick bits blended right in that I can enjoy with the convenience of a spoon.

And let me tell you, it did not disappoint. As is the case with most of its Blizzards, the vanilla soft serve made for the perfect base, accentuating the peanut-waffle-cone-Nestlé chocolate flavor in the mix-ins.

Peanut was definitely the predominant flavor, but it wasn’t so overpowering that I didn’t taste the chocolate.

I wish the peanut bits were larger, though, since they kept getting stuck in my teeth. I understand the peanuts on a drumstick are tiny as is, so there was no changing this.

Still, if you’re looking for a peanut-butter dessert that’s not too chocolaty or sweet, try this Blizzard.

Picnic Peach Cobbler Blizzard

In my mind, peach cobbler is usually served warm and topped with ice cream, so I was curious about this deconstructed Blizzard version.

Overall, this was so-so. The tiny chunks of cold cobbler were easily the star of the show, offering a buttery flavor that was delicious against DQ’s basic vanilla soft serve and a shortbread-like texture that was pleasantly crumbly.

That said, I don’t know if the peach-topping swirls worked for me. It could have been how my Blizzard was mixed, but I found the flavor distribution to be wildly inconsistent — I had to dig around before I got any peach flavor.

Oreo Cookie Blizzard

Although I enjoyed this Blizzard, it seemed super similar to cookies-and-cream ice cream.

On a positive note, DQ’s signature vanilla soft serve tasted mellower and had a more delicate finish than what you’d find at the grocery store. I also liked that I could taste the Oreo icing.

However, I probably wouldn’t order this one again unless I was on the go and craving something familiar. For the price, I would rather purchase a pint of high-quality cookies-and-cream ice cream from the grocery store.

Mixing Bowl Mashup Blizzard

Given its name, I expected this would contain a mix of brownie and cookie-dough chunks, but I only found the latter.

The dough provided more texture than flavor under the blend of vanilla and chocolaty brownie-batter soft serve.

More than anything, this tasted like a Wendy’s Frosty to me — not bad, just underwhelming.

Ultimate Cookie Blizzard

Introduced in 2024 as June’s Blizzard of the Month, this Ultimate Cookie Blizzard is made for people who appreciate lots of texture.

Featuring a blend of vanilla soft serve and Nabisco’s finest — Chips Ahoy, Oreos, and Nutter Butters — every spoonful from start to finish contained some bit of cookie chunk. Yum!

Sadly, the Chips Ahoy cookies were barely detectable under the flavor from the Nutter Butter and rich cocoa notes coming from the Oreos.

I’m not complaining because it’s all tasty, but I wouldn’t call this as memorable or impressive as the Oreo Brookie Blizzard.

Choco Brownie Extreme Blizzard

As a chocolate lover, I was surprised that I didn’t like this one as much as I’d hoped. This Blizzard is proof that there can be too much of a good thing.

This comes with brownie pieces, chocolate fudge, and chocolate chunks. I enjoy all those things individually, but it’s almost too much when they’re all packed together in an 8-ounce cup.

It was clear to me that the chewy brownie chunks were the star of the show, and the other two chocolaty components didn’t add much. The brownies were so fudgy that they blended together with the fudge chunks, too.

Part of me feels like the fudge chunks were thrown in just to give this Blizzard its “extreme” name.

The kicker of this dessert is that it came with vanilla soft serve — not chocolate — but I honestly couldn’t taste it underneath all of the toppings.

Butterfinger Blizzard

This Blizzard consists of vanilla soft serve and a generous amount of nutty, scrumptious Butterfinger bits. I immediately noticed the little orange bits sticking out of the creamy soft serve when it was handed to me.

Taste-wise, this Blizzard was good but not incredible. The candy bar seemed ground to a fine powder, allowing the nutty flavor to blend seamlessly into the soft serve.

However, I felt the candy’s chocolate coating got completely lost in the mixing process.

Snickers Blizzard

The symphony of textures makes Snickers one of the US’s most beloved candy bars, and the same holds true when it’s paired with delicious vanilla soft serve.

Yummy chocolate, smooth caramel, and crunchy peanuts gave this one a pleasant blend of flavors without overpowering the soft serve itself.

Of the candy-themed Blizzards I tried, this was one of the better ones.

Brownie Batter Blizzard

Don’t ever try to tell me that brownie flavor and brownie-batter flavor are the same thing — they’re not.

This Blizzard is evidence of that, as it had an almost malted flavor, making it slightly sweeter than other chocolate ones I tried. I absolutely loved it.

This tasted like someone froze a bowl of brownie batter. Even better, DQ was not skimpy about the brownie chunks.

I got a bit of chewy, fudgy brownie in every single bite — even as I approached the bottom of the cup.

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Blizzard

reeses blizzard — Reese’s peanut-butter cup Blizzard.
Savanna Swain-Wilson

As advertised, this Blizzard came with vanilla soft serve and noticeable chunks of Reese’s peanut-butter cups.

As expected, everything tasted great. The Reese’s chunks had that familiar melt-in-your-mouth flavor that I know and love. However, the further I got into my Blizzard, the fewer peanut-butter cups there were, and the less enjoyable it became.

Still, if I had to choose a candy-themed Blizzard, I’d probably order this one again over some of the others.

Peanut Butter Puppy Chow Blizzard

Dairy Queen peanut butter puppy chow bllizzard in a car with a red spoon in it holding creamy mixture and a chex cereal piece — Savanna Swain-Wilson

Puppy chow — or “muddy buddies” depending on where you grew up — is a common snack at many a childhood sleepover, movie night, holiday party, or school event. It’s a treat made using basic cereal like Chex, melted chocolate, peanut butter, and powdered sugar.

I’m not surprised Dairy Queen turned it into a mix-in. Still, I wasn’t blown away by this flavor.

It was tasty, and the peanut-butter flavor came through nicely on every bite.

However, in my order, the few squares of puppy chow in the mix were clumped toward the bottom. When I did eat a piece, though, it was delicious and nicely softened under the weight of the soft serve while still retaining a slight crispiness.

The pieces also seemed to add a subtle salty taste that I felt was missing with the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Blizzard.

Oreo Fudge Brownie Blizzard

Like the chain’s traditional Oreo Cookie Blizzard, this comes with vanilla soft serve and chewy Oreo bits. The main difference is that this takes the Blizzard to the next level by adding fudge and yummy brownie pieces.

This was good, but it wasn’t much of a standout to me because the Oreos seemed to fade into the background.

The brownies dominated the dessert, which wasn’t a problem for me as a chocolate lover, but it made me question whether the Oreos were necessary at all.

Turtle Pecan Cluster Blizzard

tyrtle pecan dairy q — Turtle pecan cluster Blizzard.
Savanna Swain-Wilson

The blend of buttery pecans, caramel, and vanilla on this Blizzard was absolutely divine. I also liked that my order contained pieces of whole pecans.

However, I found the chocolate fudge shavings to be unnecessary because they weren’t noticeable at all. That said, this Blizzard earns high marks for its uniqueness and great taste.

Caramel Drumstick with Peanuts Blizzard

You may be thinking, “Wait a second, Dairy Queen has always had a Drumstick Blizzard with peanuts.” Correct. This one is different — it has all that and caramel.

Visually, it looks no different from the other Drumstick Blizzard. However, as soon as I took that first bite, it was clear this was a huge step above the original.

The caramel topping was blended seamlessly into the soft serve, offering a tasty touch of sweetness that paired incredibly well with the peanuts and chocolaty Drumstick pieces.

In all, it’s a wonderful combination of slightly salty, sweet, and nutty flavors.

People who are hoping to get huge globs of gooey caramel might be disappointed. However, if you want something that’s delicious and sweet but not quite as intense as some of the candy-flavored Blizzards, this will hit the spot.

Oreo Brookie Blizzard

Just when you think DQ hasn’t done enough with Oreo, the chain adds tiny, dime-sized chunks of brownie-and-chocolate-chip-cookie hybrids. The more cookies, the better.

Upon the first spoonful, I thought this Blizzard tasted like a typical cookies-and-cream one. Once I got a piece of the brookie, though, I understood why this was so special.

The brookie pieces brought a yummy, fudgy chewiness that was absolutely delightful in contrast to the slightly crunchy Oreos.

The chocolate-chip-cookie component brought in a buttery sweetness that popped against the vanilla soft serve. It was kind of like eating chocolate-chip-cookie-dough and cookies-and-cream ice cream with brownie chunks all at once. It was delicious.

Even though the chocolate was the standout flavor here, I didn’t find it as intensely cocoa-flavored as the Oreo Brownie Blizzard. Since the chunks of brookie were smaller than a coin, they didn’t really overpower the Oreo flavor.

Oreo Cheesecake Blizzard

This Blizzard came with chunks of cheesecake, crunchy fudge pieces, and Oreo cookies.

I accidentally ordered this with chocolate soft serve instead of the default vanilla, but I didn’t feel that made too much of an impact on the flavor.

In my opinion, this is a great option for the cheesecake lover who also wants a little bit of chocolate.

The ratio between the two star mix-ins was fairly even, which meant no one taste dominated the other. In fact, they enhanced each other. The cocoa in the Oreos popped each time I got a bite of them with the creamy cheesecake.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Blizzard

Cookie dough is one of the most popular ice-cream flavors in the US, and I get why.

The dough bits in this Blizzard were just the right size — and, best of all, there were so many of them. This Blizzard was heaven with a great ratio of soft serve to cookie dough.

The chocolate fudge really made this Blizzard stand out from basic store-bought cookie-dough ice cream.

The fudge made the soft serve extra chocolaty, which brought out the sweetness of the doughy bits.

Girl Scout Thin Mints Blizzard

Frozen Thin Mints are a thing for a reason, and I’m glad DQ found a way to harness that perfectly cool, chocolaty deliciousness into a Blizzard.

Here, the soft serve had a delicate minty flavor that tasted like a dead ringer for the iconic cookie. The vanilla soft serve with mint swirled into it created a pleasant, refreshing sweetness.

The bits of Thin Mint cookies were basically the cherry on top here: perfectly chewy, with their smooth chocolate flavor dancing on the creamy, cool vanilla-mint swirl.

This turned out to be one of my favorite Blizzards. The addition of a fudgy chocolate swirl is the only thing that could make this even better.

Raspberry Fudge Bliss Blizzard

My initial thought on seeing this Blizzard was that it seemed the most “adult” to me because it’s got actual fruit in it.

By far, the best part of this Blizzard was the fresh raspberries. They added a layer of tartness that counteracted the intensity of the chocolate-fudge chunks.

I just wish there were more of them in the Blizzard because once I got a quarter of the way in, all that I tasted was vanilla and chocolate.

Frosted Animal Cookie Blizzard

Frosted animal cookie pieces and confetti frosting combine to give this Blizzard the perfect level of sweetness.

The sugary cookies also had a nice chewiness and stood up well to the soft serve without getting soggy.

Best of all, after a few bites, the colorful icing and sprinkles on the cookies melted into the Blizzard, which made the entire thing taste like a delicious confetti cake.

Royal New York Cheesecake Blizzard

I’m always a fan of a good dessert within a dessert when it’s executed well — fortunately, this Blizzard was a hit.

The creamy cheesecake chunks made for a superb mix-in: They had a slightly chewy yet smooth texture that stood up well to Dairy Queen’s soft serve. I also found that they had a pleasant, sweet flavor that didn’t taste artificial or overly sugary.

However, it was the strawberry mixture in the center that seriously elevated this Blizzard. As soon as I got to the core, strawberry flavor began to seep into every corner of the cup, giving every subsequent bite a burst of fruity flavor.

Dipped Strawberry Cheesecake Blizzard

Bright, fruity, and delicious, this Blizzard tasted like something you’d pay big bucks for at a creamery.

The cheesecake chunks were plentiful and melt-in-your-mouth soft, and the strawberry topping was blended so fine that it permeated through every corner of the ultra-smooth vanilla soft serve.

I hardly noticed the chocolate chunks mixed into this one, but I didn’t mind because the rest was so delicious.

I’d happily take 10 more of this Blizzard.

S’mores Blizzard

When two classics come together, you’re bound to end up with something delicious. That’s exactly what happened with the S’mores Blizzard, which is why it was my absolute favorite.

Unlike the Royal Rocky Road, which was overpowered by marshmallow, and Chocolate Brownie Extreme, which was too chocolaty, the S’mores Blizzard had just the right amount of everything.

Instead of mini marshmallows, which can easily turn rubbery when cold, this contains chocolate chunks with marshmallow filling and a marshmallow topping. It also has graham-cracker pieces and dust coursing throughout the entire Blizzard, giving the soft serve that irresistible, toasty flavor.

Because of the graham-cracker dust, every bite tastes like a s’more. In other words, this Blizzard is the perfect summer treat, and I can’t wait to order it again soon.

This story was originally published on August 17, 2020, and most recently updated on June 16, 2026.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Rivian trims its workforce as the EV maker pursues profitable growth

Written by admin on June 16, 2026. Posted in Uncategorized. No Comments on Rivian trims its workforce as the EV maker pursues profitable growth

RJ Scaringe, Rivian's CEO, looks at the EV-maker's Illinois production line, where the midsize R2 is built. — Rivian confirmed to Business Insider that it’s cutting some sales and marketing staff as it aims for profitability.
Scott Olson/Getty Images

Rivian confirmed that it laid off less than 2% of its workforce on Tuesday.
The carmaker faces a crucial year as it launches the R2 midsize SUV, its most important product.
The carmaker says it remains confident in the new car after its June 9 launch.

Rivian is doing a small round of layoffs hot on the heels of its latest vehicle launch.

The EV maker is cutting less than 2% of its workforce amid a make-or-break year.

“We recently restructured a handful of teams within Rivian as we work to profitably scale our business,” a company spokesperson told Business Insider in a statement.

The cuts affected some teams in Rivian’s service and customer organization, which includes go-to-market functions such as sales and marketing, the spokesperson said. The company said the changes are intended to help Rivian scale more efficiently as it works toward building a healthy and profitable business.

A person familiar with the layoffs told Business Insider that some affected employees were notified directly by managers.

The layoffs come as Rivian launches its third — and most important — consumer product, the midsize R2 SUV. The company’s two other passenger vehicles, the R1T pickup and the R1S three-row SUV, have helped establish Rivian as a premium EV brand but have not made the company profitable on a net income basis.

A Rivian R2 electric vehicle drives over a dirt obstacle course set up on Congress Avenue during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals in Austin on Thursday, March 12, 2026. — Rivian started deliveries of its R2 EV earlier in June.
Jay Janner/The Austin American-Statesman via Getty Images

Rivian began delivering the first R2s to customers on June 9. The midsize SUV slots into America’s most popular vehicle segment and competes with Tesla’s Model Y, one of the world’s best-selling cars.

The spokesperson said Rivian remains confident in the R2 and the company’s ability to deliver and ramp the five-seater to customers.

Affected workers are eligible for rehire and are encouraged to apply for other open roles at Rivian, the spokesperson said. The company is providing severance packages, benefits, and career-transition services.

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The subtext of Robinhood’s layoff memo: It’s not us, it’s you

Written by admin on June 16, 2026. Posted in Uncategorized. No Comments on The subtext of Robinhood’s layoff memo: It’s not us, it’s you

In announcing layoffs, Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev said the company must “continuously raise our own bar.”
Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Robinhood’s CEO says business is thriving and it’s cutting jobs to “maximize our talent density.”
“Our ambitions require us to continuously raise our own bar,” Vlad Tenev wrote in a layoff memo.
The trading platform isn’t the only company that’s drawn connections between worker performance and cuts.

Robinhood has a message for workers losing their jobs: The company isn’t struggling. You are.

That’s the crux of Tuesday’s layoff memo from the CEO of the trading platform. It’s the latest example of a high-profile company trimming head count while simultaneously saying it’s doing well.

“Robinhood’s business has never been stronger,” wrote Vlad Tenev while announcing plans to reduce 10% of the company’s workforce. Robinhood had 2,900 full-time employees at the end of 2025, according to a February securities filing.

Tenev didn’t explicitly call the “Robinhoodies” being let go low performers, as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg did of staff booted from his Facebook parent last year. Tenev did, though, draw a clear contrast between the workforce Robinhood is shedding and the one it wants to keep.

“Our execution is strong today, but our ambitions require us to continuously raise our own bar,” he wrote, while saying he was grateful to those departing. “The goal is to maximize our talent density.”

Anthony Klotz, a professor at the University College London School of Management, said the memo’s subtext is clear: “This was a performance-based decision.”

‘No job is 100% secure’

Tenev’s statement illustrates how the rationale for layoffs has evolved in recent years. Instead of citing weak business conditions, some executives are arguing that cuts are necessary to create leaner organizations staffed by fewer, higher-performing employees. For workers losing their jobs, though, the distinction may offer little comfort.

“The overarching message for everybody is that no job is 100% secure,” said Lee Harding, a recruiter for a global search firm.

For those at Robinhood in particular, he expects the takeaway to also be personal: If he were among those let go, he said he’d interpret Tenev’s message as meaning “I’m not good enough.”

Robinhood declined to comment.

In a securities filing Tuesday, Robinhood said the cuts come as June’s month-to-date average daily trading volumes hit record levels across equities, options, and prediction markets. That follows the company’s April report that first-quarter cryptocurrency revenue dropped 47% year over year to $134 million, reflecting weaker retail trading amid a slump in crypto markets.

Operating lean

Microsoft, Block, and several other employers have also described their businesses as robust while conducting layoffs. Some have cited AI as a reason for job cuts while also encouraging still-employed workers to embrace the technology.

A common thread in recent layoff memos is a desire to cut down on middle-management layers. The change reflects lessons from companies’ overhiring during the pandemic, AI’s automation capabilities, and economic uncertainty, said Melissa Swift, founder and CEO of organizational consultancy Anthrome Insight.

“When you operate lean, you can pivot more quickly,” she said.

Robinhood framed the job cuts around removing layers, demanding “high performance,” and creating opportunities for its “most talented people.” Those words appear to be aimed as much at the workers who remain as those who are leaving, said Richard Smith, a professor at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School who runs the Human Capital Development Lab.

“Organizations aren’t firing their top talent,” he said, meaning that others could be at risk.

Moving forward

On one hand, the memo could create anxiety for those who remain.

“Workers left behind are likely thinking: ‘I could be the low performer tomorrow,’ ” Swift said.

Alternatively, Robinhood’s language could reassure workers who survived the cuts that management views them as part of the company’s future and believes it has retained its strongest people, Smith said.

Signaling an intent to “take care of the remainder” can ease concerns among workers — and prospective employees — who could worry that more layoffs are coming, he added.

At the same time, he cautioned against assuming everyone affected by Robinhood’s cuts was a low performer. Businesses often eliminate jobs as roles become less necessary, Smith said.

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Pizza Hut is getting a new owner: private equity firm LongRange buys chain in $1.5 billion deal

Written by admin on June 16, 2026. Posted in Uncategorized. No Comments on Pizza Hut is getting a new owner: private equity firm LongRange buys chain in $1.5 billion deal

An illuminated Pizza Hut sign on the side of a building at night. — Yum! Brands has sold Pizza Hut in a $2.7 billion deal that will split the property between two buyers: PE firm LongRange Capital and Yum China Holdings.
Klaudia Radecka/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Yum! Brands has sold Pizza Hut amid declining sales and market competition challenges.
LongRange Capital and Yum China Holdings will acquire the iconic chain in a $2.7 billion deal.
Yum! Brands will refocus on its other brands: KFC, Taco Bell, and Habit Burger.

Pizza Hut is getting a new owner after years of weak sales and growing questions about the future of one of America’s best-known pizza brands.

Yum! Brands said Tuesday it entered into agreements to sell Pizza Hut for $2.7 billion, splitting the business between two buyers. LongRange Capital, a private equity firm, will acquire Pizza Hut outside mainland China for about $1.5 billion, while Yum China Holdings will buy the chain’s mainland China business for about $1.2 billion.

The sale follows Yum’s strategic review of Pizza Hut, which began last year after the chain posted its eighth consecutive quarter of same-store sales declines, Business Insider previously reported. At the time, Yum CEO Chris Turner said Pizza Hut needed “additional action” to unlock its full value and suggested that work “may be better executed outside Yum! Brands.”

LongRange is pitching itself as a hands-on operator rather than a financial buyer. In a statement announcing the deal, the firm said it plans to invest in Pizza Hut’s growth and build on its franchise system and global footprint. Yum said Pizza Hut would be “well positioned for future growth” under LongRange and Yum China.

Across the two transactions, Yum expects to receive about $2.3 billion in net proceeds after taxes, closing adjustments, and transaction-related fees, excluding a potential $75 million earn-out by 2030. The company said it expects roughly $85 million in one-time costs to complete the separation.

The deal comes as Pizza Hut faces challenges beyond slowing sales. Business Insider previously reported that Yum planned to close 250 underperforming Pizza Hut locations during the first half of 2026. In May, a Pizza Hut franchisee sued the chain over its Dragontail restaurant management system, alleging it caused operational disruptions and customer service problems. Pizza Hut said at the time it was reviewing the claims and would respond through the appropriate legal channels.

For Yum, the sale sharpens its focus on its other brands: KFC, Taco Bell, and Habit Burger & Grill. For LongRange, it is a bet that operational improvements can revive a chain whose red roof remains iconic while its business has struggled to keep pace with rivals.

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