<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11984945" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="chanel" source="Orion">Chanel</keyword> purchased more <keyword id="11984948" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="jasmine-fields" source="Orion">jasmine fields</keyword> in southern France to secure the key ingredient in its No. 5 fragrance. </li><li>According to Reuters, the luxury brand is wary of disappearing flower crops used in its 100-year old perfume.</li><li>The production of each bottle of <keyword id="11984946" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="chanel-no-5" source="Orion">Chanel No. 5</keyword> requires 1,000 <keyword id="11984947" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="jasmine" source="Orion">jasmine</keyword> flowers. </li></ul>Chanel purchased more land in southern France to secure supplies of jasmine, the key ingredient it needs to produce the iconic No. 5 perfume, Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/chanel-buys-up-more-jasmine-fields-safeguard-famous-no-5-2021-08-27/">reported</a>.According to Reuters, the luxury fashion giant purchased the extra flower fields in Grasse, France, because it is worried the crops used in its best-selling perfume are disappearing. Grasse is known as the perfume capital of the world. Chanel bought an additional 10 hectares (100,000 square meters) of land, adding to the 20 hectares it already uses in a partnership with the Mul family, a now-iconic family farm in Grasse that the luxury company entered into a deal with in the late 1980s, said Reuters. According to the <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/fashion/beauty/meet-the-farmer-who-grows-flowers-for-chanel-1.3304327">IrishTimes,</a> each bottle of Chanel No. 5 uses 1,000 jasmine flowers from the Mul farm. The head of the farm said that operations were not overly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, because pickers were able to work outside.2021 marks the 100th year since Chanel first created its No. 5 perfume.

Chanel is buying up more jasmine fields to ensure it can supply flowers for its iconic No. 5 perfume

All 51 of Jennifer Lopez's music videos, ranked from worst to best

<ul class="summary-list"><li>This post originally appeared in the Insider Today newsletter.</li></ul>Welcome back! "The Bear," everyone's favorite kitchen dramedy, is back for its third season. We figured out <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bear-season-three-salaries-restaurant-workers-chicago-carmy-syndey-richie-2024-6">how much the characters would actually get paid</a> working at a restaurant in Chicago.In today's big story, we're looking at how <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/shadow-stand-ins-workers-secretly-outsourcing-their-jobs-2024-6">people are secretly outsourcing parts of their jobs</a>, but <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/promotions-salaries-cut-career-advancement-stagnation-2024-7">job promotions are harder to get than ever</a>.What's on deck:<ul><li>Markets: The boring, under-the-radar stocks <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/ai-stocks-to-invest-artificial-intelligence-data-center-energy-companies-2024-6">set to benefit from the AI boom</a>.</li><li>Tech: An expert explains how a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-taiwan-china-chip-war-2024-6">impact the world's chip supply</a>.</li><li>Business: Coach bags have made a comeback. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-coach-purses-became-popular-again-2024-6">But can it last</a>?</li></ul>But first, strange times.<hr />If this was forwarded to you, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/subscription/newsletter/insider-today">sign up here.</a><hr /><h3 id="7fa5f018-5b05-4a37-a8dc-d3f89138bcb3">The big story</h3><h2 id="5fd547b9-ec52-41fc-8e08-4f4b27dd8097">Bizarro workplace</h2><div type="image" title="Shadow workers are immersed in darkness behind a screen" height="1000" width="2000" msid="111408471" hostid="261" sizebytes="212450"></div>Let's be honest: Work has gotten really weird.The workplace has been in a constant state of change since the onset of the pandemic. There was the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/great-resignation-forever-turnover-job-quitting-remote-work-2022-5">great resignation</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/overachievers-leaning-back-hustle-culture-coasting-employees-work">quiet quitting</a>. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/super-commuters-hybrid-work-wfh-business-travel-office-2023-10">Super commuters</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/overemployed-workers-secret-two-multiple-jobs-salaries-tech-tips-2023-11">the overemployed</a>.But now the workplace has reached its most (or least) evolved form: People paying others to do their job for them.The use of "shadow stand-ins" — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/shadow-stand-ins-workers-secretly-outsourcing-their-jobs-2024-6">someone you outsource parts or all of your job to, unbeknownst to your employer</a> — is on the rise, writes Business Insider's Rob Price.Remote work, global social networks, and ubiquitous software tools mean workers can easily find low-paid helpers, often in India and Pakistan, to do their grunt work. Facebook and Telegram are home to thriving marketplaces for hiring this hidden labor.Workers hiring shadow stand-ins can be unqualified for their jobs, overwhelmed, greedy, or just lazy. And they often have, shall we say, less-than-ideal views of their employers."For-profit corporations are government-sanctioned psychopaths, existing only to predatorily and parasitically earn profit," one disciple told Rob. "Corporations are owed no moral obligation whatsoever."The irony is the shadow stand-in ecosystem operates similarly to the companies these outsourcers so despise. Shadow stand-ins are typically paid a fraction of the salary earned by the actual employee. One employee also described to Rob struggling to deal with a shadow stand-in's sub-par work and eventually "firing" them.<div type="image" title="Man in suit looking up at a red ladder leaning against a bar chart that is too short to be practical" height="900" width="1200" msid="111408474" hostid="261" sizebytes="30706"></div>Meanwhile, the people who are doing all the work themselves are having a tough time getting any recognition.The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/promotions-salaries-cut-career-advancement-stagnation-2024-7">percentage of promotions being handed out continues to shrink</a> as companies keep their belts tight amid high interest rates and uncertain economic conditions, writes BI's Aki Ito.And don't bank on this just being part of a broader workplace cycle. Hard lessons were learned in 2023 when companies issued wave after wave of layoffs. They now seem desperate to avoid ballooning back up in size and salaries.If promotions are out of the question, changing jobs has always been the best way to get a big salary bump.But that's proving difficult too, as the hiring of high-salaried employees <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hiring-slump-professional-white-collar-jobs-recession-high-salary-2024-4">has slowed considerably</a>. And even if you do find a job posting, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fake-job-listings-rampant-labor-market-employment-hiring-process-difficult-2024-5">there's a good chance it could be fake</a>.Ultimately, you're left working with colleagues who might not be working at all or are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/quiet-vacationing-rise-work-trends-among-millennials-2024-6">secretly on vacation</a>. You and your boss <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/loyalty-employee-employer-job-security-broken-work-companies-bosses-2024-1">probably don't trust each other</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/work-friends-are-over-remote-jobs-gen-z-relationships-pandemic-2024-6">you don't have work friends to commiserate with</a>.Oh, and don't forget the overarching fear of your job being replaced by AI at a moment's notice.Like I said, work has gotten really weird.<hr /><h3 id="77f31a4c-8462-4e3d-a71f-838cb79493fb">News brief</h3><h2 id="1fcd294b-3f53-425f-9f20-4093e8623b59">Your Monday headline catchup</h2>A quick recap of the top news from over the weekend:<ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-meets-family-at-camp-david-campaign-drop-out-2024-6">Biden's family is telling him to stay in the race even as calls to exit grow</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/france-elections-far-right-macron-le-pen-bardella-2024-6">The far-right has taken another step toward power in France's elections</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/robert-kraft-donates-1-million-yeshiva-university-ditching-columbia-university-2024-6">Robert Kraft donates $1 million to Yeshiva University to help Jewish transfer students after axing support for Columbia University</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-aide-top-donors-cash-kamala-harris-if-he-quits-2024-7">Biden aide told top donors their cash would go to Harris if he quits: report</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boeing-acquires-spirit-aerosystems-multi-billion-stock-deal-report-2024-6">Boeing is buying Spirit Aero — which makes the door plug that flew off the Alaska Airlines flight — in a $4.7 billion deal</a>.</li></ul><hr /><h2 id="8120060b-ae66-48dc-b149-f0489a30ffa2">3 things in markets</h2><div type="image" title="elderly couple staring into the sun with wife carrying golden piggy bank under her arm" height="552" width="1124" msid="111408468" hostid="261" sizebytes="42428"></div><ol><li>These boomers are all smiles in retirement. Plenty of Americans are worried about stretching their savings at the end of their life, but these boomers are sitting pretty. As the owners of rare pensions and with real estate and stock portfolios that have greatly appreciated over the years, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/retirement-savings-401k-pension-real-estate-investments-baby-boomers-2024-6">it's the golden age of retirement</a>.</li><li>No flash, but worth your cash. Construction, utility, and electrical companies in the data-center landscape <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/ai-stocks-to-invest-artificial-intelligence-data-center-energy-companies-2024-6">are poised to be big winners from the AI boom</a>. Traditionally viewed as a defensive and boring sector, data centers will play a key role in powering the AI models set to transform the world over the next decade.</li><li>Some retail traders won't stop betting on GameStop. After Roaring Kitty broke his silence last month, interest in GameStop stock has been revived. With its latest rally, <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/gamestop-roaring-kitty-gme-stock-price-rally-meme-traders-wallstreetbets-2024-6">many traders can't ignore the allure of striking it rich on the meme stock</a>, they told BI, even after losing it big the first time around.</li></ol><hr /><h2 id="f4b54806-7f81-450c-ba32-92560d4fae9b">3 things in tech</h2><div type="image" title="machine and robot arms" height="628" width="1118" msid="111408463" hostid="261" sizebytes="71386"></div><ol><li>Looking to integrate AI in your business? These consultants might be able to help. The generative AI boom has made businesses eager to implement the tech, but unsure where to begin. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-questions-consulting-firms-are-answering-for-clients-2024-6">Here's what Bain, McKinsey, and others are telling clients</a>.</li><li>What will happen to AI progress if China invades Taiwan? Major AI chip designers depend on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company to make crucial components. But TSMC's location puts AI — and its future — in a tricky geopolitical position. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-taiwan-china-chip-war-2024-6">BI spoke with "Chip War" author Chris Miller</a>, who warns about what might happen to the world's chip supply in the event of an invasion.</li><li>Inside Netflix's two-CEO strategy. Netflix is the rare company with two CEOs, Greg Peters and Ted Sarandos. It's a risky setup — but so far it seems to be working. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-netflix-co-ceos-make-decisions-ted-sarandos-greg-peters-2024-6">Peters explained how the big decisions get made</a>.</li></ol><hr /><h2 id="9260fa45-d397-4b3c-b4f8-4bb193976216">3 things in business</h2><div type="image" title="a vintage Coach bag morphs into a modern Coach bag." height="1000" width="1334" msid="111408462" hostid="261" sizebytes="39344"></div><ol><li>How Coach turned its flop era into a slay. Though the designer's once-coveted handbags fell out of fashion in the 2010s, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-coach-purses-became-popular-again-2024-6">Coach's post-pandemic renaissance has been swift and fruitful</a>. It's largely thanks to the brand's resonance with Gen Z.</li><li>Why your local pharmacy may be closing. Corner drugstores across the country are shuttering, with major retailers Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid shutting down hundreds of stores. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-your-pharmacy-may-be-closing-walgreens-cvs-rite-aid-2024-6">A string of short- and long-term challenges are contributing</a> to their contraction.</li><li>The weird, wild world of the US housing market. Real estate is defying an Econ-101 principle: the law of supply and demand. Demand is at a four-month low, supply is at a four-year high, and prices are at unprecedented heights. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-housing-market-outlook-record-prices-rising-supply-falling-demand-2024-6">"It's a real head-scratcher," economist David Rosenberg said</a>.</li></ol><hr /><h2 id="1ad7b482-3f4b-44b4-81b6-a864aa386478">In other news</h2><ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/psychic-price-cost-spending-habits-economy-psychology-tarot-astrology-2024-6">The tricks psychics use to part us from our money tell us a lot about America's spending habits</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/top-vc-firms-funding-creator-economy-startups-next-phase-2024-6">11 VC firms funding the next phase of the creator economy, from AI-powered tools to e-commerce startups</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-ultra-high-net-worth-investors-are-buying-family-office-2024-6">Ultra-high-net-worth investors are betting on 2 key sectors right now, and both can be purchased as ETFs, according to a global family office</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-espn-bet-struggles-say-about-future-sports-betting-penn-2024-6">Why ESPN's sports-betting app is falling behind — and how it could make a comeback</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/glossier-you-perfume-viral-tiktok-genz-millennial-saved-brand-2024-6">How Glossier's viral perfume saved the brand from the millennial dustbin</a>.</li></ul><hr /><h2 id="9f5d80ac-3466-429f-a50a-2ffbb70c65ff">What's happening today</h2><ul><li>Supreme Court is expected to rule on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-cases-supreme-court-hasnt-decided-trump-immunity-2024-6">Donald Trump's immunity from criminal prosecution</a> for his actions on Jan. 6, 2021.</li><li>Wimbledon begins.</li></ul><hr />The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Jordan Parker Erb, editor, in New York. Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. Grace Lett, associate editor, in Chicago. Annie Smith, associate producer, in London. Amanda Yen, fellow, in New York.

Work is getting really weird

I tried 27 of Trader Joe's seasonal summer products, and there are only 6 I wouldn't buy again

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Candice Murray used to work three jobs to support her two children. </li><li>Now she works full time as a Poshmark reseller. </li></ul>Candice Murray says her 2016 decision to leave what she calls a "toxic" and "emotionally and mentally abusive" <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/toxic-workplaces-culture-work-leadership-social-culture-2022-9">work environment</a> changed her life.The 48-year-old New Yorker now works full time selling clothes, shoes, and bags exclusively through the reseller platform <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-mom-launched-poshmark-reseller-business-made-735k-income-2022-9">Poshmark</a>.But it hasn't all been roses.She say that she "loves" what she does and that the decision to leave her former employer "forever changed" her life. But the Poshmark life isn't an easy one. She made roughly $23,000 last year, according to documents viewed by Insider, and is on track to make a similar amount in 2022.She says the work of shopping, sanitizing, photographing, listing, packaging, and shipping could make it feel like a "24/7 job." She does everything by herself and says she typically works at least 12-hour days, shipping items every day except Sunday.Still, Murray says the extra income has been huge for her family."This is not play money for me. It's helped me put two kids through college," she says. "Electric bills, phone bills, this is very serious for me, and it helps my husband tremendously. It's nice to be able to take the occasional vacation every now and then, but this really helps pay my bills."Murray is one of millions of Americans who have found ways to generate income outside a traditional workplace. Researching large companies, the <a href="https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/how-to-fix-a-toxic-culture/?utm_source=outr2&amp;utm_medium=pr&amp;utm_campaign=sull0922">MIT Sloan School of Management</a> estimated that roughly one in 10 US workers think their workplace culture is toxic. The paths workers who feel that way have taken to escape that culture have varied. US workers filed over 5 million <a href="https://eig.org/new-start-ups-break-record-in-2021-unpacking-the-numbers/#:~:text=than%20in%202020.-,Nearly%205.4%20million%20applications%20were%20filed%20to%20form%20new%20businesses,pandemic%2C%20a%2053%20percent%20increase.">new business applications</a> in 2021, the most since 2005.A 2021 Upwork study estimated that 59 million Americans — or 36% of the US workforce — had performed <a href="https://investors.upwork.com/news-releases/news-release-details/upwork-study-finds-59-million-americans-freelancing-amid">freelance work</a> over the prior 12 months. Others have ditched <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/college-enrollment-declining-student-debt-reforms-2022-10">college</a> for <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-change-career-advice-stimulate-creativity-self-employed-locksmith-2022-10">trade schools</a> or apprenticeship programs.And some, like Murray, have embraced reseller platforms like Poshmark to effectively start businesses of their own. <div type="image" title="Candice Murray 2" height="384" width="512" msid="95807493" hostid="261" sizebytes="25418"></div><h2>She loves the 'thrill of the hunt' to find inventory</h2>Murray says she quit her previous job on four separate occasions but always returned because she needed the money. In 2006, she became a single mom and began working two more jobs, including as a bank teller and a "sprayer" for perfume companies in Macy's, to support her children.But by 2016, she'd remarried and was working only the one resale job. She'd created her <a href="https://poshmark.com/listing/MEET-YOUR-BUYERSELLER-53922008e6ce2816350f2f3c">Poshmark account</a> in 2014, selling only a few items here and there, when one day she concluded: "I think I could do this. I think I can do this on my own."She decided to quit her job and pursue Poshmark full time, a decision she says was "scary" because having dual incomes was "so important" to her family."I told my husband, 'We're going to be in a bad financial position for a couple of years,' and he said: 'Go for it. You need to get out of that environment,'" she says.Once she committed, she says, there was "no turning back."Given she spends "very little on inventory," she says that her profit margin is roughly 60%, but Poshmark's <a href="https://support.poshmark.com/s/article/297755057?language=en_US#:~:text=For%20all%20sales%20under%20%2415,from%20your%20sale%20are%20yours.">20% commission</a> on sales of $15 or more takes a chunk out. Between 2017 to 2021, that profit ranged from $9,000 to $28,000. While Murray had experience in the resale world, she says it took her some time to figure out which items sold best, the cheapest places to get them, and how to develop a returning customer base. She says she gets her inventory from "everywhere" — including friends' closets, thrift stores, and online — and has become an "expert" at finding things at great prices."The thrill of the hunt, the find, is such an adrenaline rush. It's incredible," she says. She recalls "almost having a heart attack" after finding a a rare Chanel "Coco Libre" sequin shirt in a bin at The Salvation Army. It was being thrown out, and because Murray was a regular customer, an employee told her she could "keep it" if she wanted. She says she ended up selling the shirt for close to $3,000.<div type="image" title="Candice Murray 3" height="384" width="512" msid="95807495" hostid="261" sizebytes="23282"></div><h2>3 tips for beginners on Poshmark</h2>For aspiring resellers, Murray has a few pieces of advice. First is "quality over quantity."She says some Poshmark stores list 200 items a day, but she says she does about 150 a week "so clients aren't overwhelmed" with too many new items to look at.Next, Murray says that while there's a "buyer for everything," she's selective about which items she puts in her store because "consistency is key," and she wants her customers to know what to expect."You have to make that decision. Do you want to create a brand or do you just want to be a garage-sale seller?" she says. "Both are fine, but it could also determine the amount of money that you make in the end."She says her items are "always below retail price" but she typically trusts her gut on what to sell them for — rather than doing a ton of online price comparisons — because "some things sell for less than they should."Finally, Murray says that while one doesn't necessarily have to quit their job to be successful on Poshmark, they do have to "go full time mentally."In addition to her core Poshmark responsibilities, she says, she answers questions from clients at all hours of the day, an important way to cultivate her customer base."You're never going to make any money unless you put yourself into something 100%," she says. Moving forward, Murray says it's been an "incredible journey," one she has no plans to conclude anytime soon. "Doing what I love is the most euphoric thing that could ever happen to me," she says. "I'll do this forever."

A mom of 3 quit her toxic job to be a reseller on Poshmark. She loves it but warns it's a '24/7' commitment.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A four-day electronic music festival took place in the socially conservative kingdom of <keyword id="11894587" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="saudi-arabia" source="Orion">Saudi Arabia</keyword>.</li><li>Martin Garrix, David Guetta, and Tiësto were among the internationally famous DJs to perform.</li></ul>A four-day music festival took place in a desert in Saudi Arabia this weekend, and a <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-19/giant-rave-in-saudi-desert-pushes-kingdom-s-changing-boundaries">Bloomberg report</a> says it looked remarkably similar to its' Western equivalents. <a href="https://mdlbeast.com/">MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2021</a> kicked off on December 16 on the outskirts of Riyadh, the socially conservative nation's capital, and it featured internationally famous DJs like Martin Garrix, David Guetta, and Tiësto.<div type="image" title="MDLBEAST in Saudi Arabia" height="3648" width="4864" msid="88377894" hostid="261"></div>The festival organizers say that 200,000 people attended on the second day alone, making it one of the best-attended music events in the world, the <a href="https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/614852/SAUDI-ARABIA/MDLBeast-draws-20000-visitors-on-day-two">Saudi Gazette reported.</a>"Women and men danced with abandon" as electronic music blared, Bloomberg said, only for the rave to be temporarily put on pause for 15 minutes while participants responded to the Islamic call to prayer.Bloomberg reported that the women at MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2021 wore everything from "skintight pants" to "full-length robes and face veils."<div type="image" title="A general view during MDLBEAST SOUNDSTORM 2021 on December 18, 2021 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia." height="3378" width="4504" msid="88377895" hostid="261"></div>Saudi women are required to dress modestly, per <a href="https://www.theweek.co.uk/60339/things-women-cant-do-in-saudi-arabia">The Week,</a> meaning that tight-fitting clothing is generally prohibited. Traditionally, women were expected to wear the abaya — a loose overgarment — in public, but Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman relaxed this dress code requirement in 2018.According to Bloomberg, other sights to behold were a sign of "pushing boundaries" as the kingdom transforms. Previously, religious police once punished restaurants for playing music — a far cry from this weekend's reported activities."Inebriated men stumbled through crowds perfumed with the distinct scent of marijuana," said Bloomberg, "alongside a limited but notable display of local queer culture."<div type="image" title="MDLBEAST SOUNDSTORM 2021 on December 18, 2021 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia." height="2649" width="3532" msid="88377896" hostid="261"></div>Cannabis, alcohol, and homosexuality are forbidden in Saudi Arabia, but Bloomberg described a "carnival-like" atmosphere where these rules were apparently snubbed.Critics have accused the festival organizers of "culture-washing." <a href="https://ra.co/features/3948">Resident Advisor </a>journalist Joe Siltanen said it was an attempt to distract from the "authoritarian regime."MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2021 was just one event in a roster of activities this month, spearheaded by the crown prince, to create the optics of a softer and more secular image of the kingdom. Recently, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dont-let-saudi-arabia-use-formula-1-to-hide-abuses-2021-12">Saudi Arabia hosted a Formula One race</a> and <a href="https://www.biennialfoundation.org/biennials/diriyah-biennale/#:~:text=Established%20in%202020%20by%20the,be%20held%20in%20late%202022.">two art biennials.</a>An oil-themed amusement park is also being opened as part of <a href="https://www.vision2030.gov.sa/">Saudi Vision 2030,</a> as <a href="https://www.insider.com/saudi-arabia-oil-themed-amusement-park-the-rig-offshore-platforms-2021-10">Insider previously reported,</a> which is a strategic framework to diversify the nation's dependence on oil and move towards entertainment and tourism.

A massive rave took place in a Saudi desert. It was just like any other festival, bar the electronic music pausing for the Islamic call to prayer, say reports

12 relaxing activities to revamp your bedtime routine and improve your sleep

<ul class="summary-list"><li>22-year-old Carmen Barbera is a receptionist at <keyword id="13479228" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="burj-al-arab" source="Orion">Burj Al Arab</keyword>, "the <a href="https://www.jumeirah.com/en/jumeirah-group/press-centre/awards-and-accolades/awards-received-in-2020">best hotel</a> in the world."</li><li>She started out in the luxury <keyword id="11970523" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="hospitality" source="Orion">hospitality</keyword> industry two years ago as a <keyword id="11899290" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="butler" source="Orion">butler</keyword> in the Maldives. </li></ul>The difference between a five-star hotel and Burj Al Arab, which has been described as the world's "only seven-star hotel," is not the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/burj-al-arab-dubai-worlds-most-luxurious-hotel-2018-12">gold-plated ceilings or complimentary Hermès perfume</a>. Once you're at the top, true luxury is defined by service. That's what Carmen Barbera, a 22-year-old receptionist from France, tells me. Recently crowned the UAE's 2021 Receptionist of the Year, the young pro speaks fluent French, Spanish, and English. On the phone, even her voice sounds luxurious.It's a repertoire that comes in handy when she checks in jet-setting guests to their Burj Al Arab suites, which range from $1,200 to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/travel/2021/10/11/inside-burj-al-arab-spc-intl.cnn">$25,000 a night</a>. To enter the hotel property, visitors cross a guarded bridge, and guests frequently arrive via a chauffeured Rolls-Royce escort or private helicopter.While one could imagine that catering to <keyword id="6354539" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="dubai" source="Orion">Dubai</keyword>'s affluent travelers would become tiresome, Barbera said talking to Burj Al Arab's guests is her favorite part of the job. "From the first day I stepped in, I realized that I was so passionate about it ... I love to meet people from all over the world," she told Insider."What is amazing about this hotel is the fascination that it creates in people's eyes," she later added.<div type="image" title="Burj Al Arab tennis" height="2295" width="3060" msid="90477854" hostid="261"></div>Barbera started working for Jumeirah <keyword id="11898228" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="hotels" source="Orion">Hotels</keyword> &amp; Resorts, which owns Burj Al Arab, two years ago as a butler in the Maldives. Before that, she worked part-time at the Four Seasons in Paris while studying entrepreneurship at Emlyon Business School.But it was in the middle of the Indian Ocean where she earned her stripes. For six months, Barbera completed butler training at Jumeirah Vittaveli, famous for its private overwater villas with water slides connecting them to the sea.When the hotel permanently closed during COVID-19, she transferred to Ozen Life on Maadhoo island. The all-inclusive luxury resort with 24/7 service has a separate, smaller island for staff, according to satellite imagery. <div type="image" title="Now-closed Jumeirah Vittaveli on Bolifushi Island in the Maldives (left), Ozen Life on Maadhoo Island (right)" height="900" width="1200" msid="90477856" hostid="261"></div>During training, Barbera said she rotated through the beverage, housekeeping, and front office departments, adding that butlers are expected to memorize the entire hotel layout.Beyond logistics and operations, Barbera said the key to success in the hospitality industry is emotional intelligence, as every day — and every guest — is different. "You can't really predict anything and you have to always react very fast to any situation," she told Insider. "Because when you are a butler, you are the person in the eyes of the guest who is able to solve everything and make anything happen."A few rules of thumb when it comes to guest interactions, according to Barbera: respect privacy and confidentiality, read the room, and go to the guest (never have them feel the need to come to you)."Some guests would like to have a strong presence during their day from their butlers and some guests would like to have more discretion," she said. "So you have to really use your emotional skills to understand the expectations."In her current role as a <keyword id="13479229" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="reception" source="Orion">reception</keyword>ist, a typical work day starts at 7 a.m. and ends at 4 or 5 p.m. In order for reception to remain open 24/7, staff rotate between day and night shifts. Burj Al Arab's <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/burj-al-arab-dubai-worlds-most-luxurious-hotel-2018-12">hotel staff outnumbers guests with a 6:1 ratio</a>, as Insider has previously reported. Preparation leading up to guest arrival begins a day or two before they arrive. There are dinner reservations to be booked, suite preferences to organize, and <keyword id="11894924" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="transportation" source="Orion">transportation</keyword> from the airport to arrange. While Barbera was hesitant to disclose her salary, she said Jumeirah has an active interest in ensuring employees can afford to live in Dubai, as it impacts staff attitude at work.Glassdoor <a href="https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/dubai-butler-salary-SRCH_IL.0,5_IC2204498_KO6,12.htm">estimates</a> that butlers at Jumeirah's Dubai location make between $544.51 and $816.77 a month, with additional pay of $3,267.08 a year. There is no current data available estimating the hotel's receptionist salaries. A spokesperson from Burj Al Arab did not respond to multiple requests for comment on the accuracy of this estimate."Here at Burj Al Arab we aim to provide what we call 'service beyond expectations,'" Barbera said. "This is where hospitality professionals can make a difference ... you can change a journey from a pleasing or comfortable journey to an exceptional one." Do you work in a luxury resort or unique hotel? Contact this reporter at htowey@insider.com to share your story.

Meet a 22-year-old receptionist who works at 'the most luxurious hotel in the world,' where rooms cost up to $25,000 a night

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Loss of <keyword id="84707" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="taste" source="Orion">taste</keyword> or <keyword id="12466075" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="smell" source="Orion">smell</keyword>, once a hallmark COVID-19, has become a relatively rare symptom.</li><li>Less than 20% of people with COVID-19 in the UK are reporting loss of smell, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhTwYb3b99g">new data</a> suggests.</li></ul>Loss of taste and smell has gone from <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/difference-between-coronavirus-symptoms-flu-allergies-common-cold-chart-2020-9">a hallmark symptom of COVID-19</a> to a relatively rare one.Until recently, many people with the disease reported <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-loss-taste-and-smell-how-long-does-it-last-2020-6">trouble detecting strong scents</a>, like perfume, or tasting sweet, bitter, or spicy foods that went <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-coronavirus-smell-taste-loss-differs-from-common-cold-2020-8">beyond the sense-diminishing symptoms associated with the common cold</a>. In 2020, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and King's College London found that loss of taste and smell was <a href="https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/06/app-reveals-loss-of-taste-smell-coronavirus-indicators/">the strongest predictor</a> of a <keyword id="11893194" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus" source="Orion">coronavirus</keyword> infection, based on the daily symptoms of 2.6 million people. But the <keyword id="12616995" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="omicron-variant" source="Orion">Omicron variant</keyword> has made traditional <keyword id="12118171" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid-19-symptoms" source="Orion">COVID-19 symptoms</keyword> less common, while coldlike symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing, and a sore throat, have become more prevalent — particularly among vaccinated people. "Loss of smell was something that many people used to report with COVID-19-symptom onset. With Omicron, that doesn't seem to be reported much at all," Dr. Andy Pekosz, a virologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told Insider, adding that there was "much more talk about coughs and scratchy throats with Omicron than we saw with other variant infections previously."According to the latest data from the <a href="https://covid.joinzoe.com/about">Zoe COVID Symptom Study</a>, which uses a smartphone app to log how hundreds of thousands of people are feeling every day across the UK, less than 20% of people who recorded a positive test for COVID-19 in the past few weeks <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhTwYb3b99g">reported a loss of smell</a>. The data didn't distinguish between vaccinated and unvaccinated people, but 70% of the UK population has had at least two vaccine doses.Loss of smell now ranks 17th on Zoe's list of COVID-19 symptoms, which means it's "relatively rare," the study's principal investigator, Tim Spector, wrote Sunday <a href="https://twitter.com/timspector/status/1480298810253402112">on Twitter</a>. By contrast, loss of smell was the sixth most common COVID-19 symptom among fully vaccinated people in June, when the Delta variant was dominant in the UK. In March, before Delta was detected and vaccines were widely available, 60% of UK adults ages 16 to 65 on the Zoe app <a href="https://covid.joinzoe.com/post/new-top-5-covid-symptoms">reported loss of smell</a> at some point in their illness.Other countries have noticed a similar pattern. A <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7050e1.htm?s_cid=mm7050e1_w">December report</a> from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified just three instances of loss of taste or smell among the first 43 Omicron cases confirmed in the US.After <a href="https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.50.2101147">an outbreak at a Christmas party in Norway</a>, just 23% of people infected with Omicron reported reduced taste, and 12% reported reduced smell, compared with 83% who reported a cough and 78% who reported a runny or stuffy nose. Most of the infected people were vaccinated with two doses of an mRNA vaccine.<h2>Scientists are still trying to understand the link between COVID-19 and loss of taste or smell</h2><div type="image" title="covid taste smell" height="3588" width="5208" msid="88861862" hostid="261"></div>Some people with COVID-19 may have temporary issues tasting or smelling because their nasal passages are blocked, much like what happens with a run-of-the-mill cold.But a small <a href="https://www.rhinologyjournal.com/Rhinology_issues/manuscript_2564.pdf">2020 study</a> found that participants with COVID-19 lost their sense of smell even when they could breathe freely and their noses weren't runny or congested. What's more, the patients had a harder time detecting bitter or sweet tastes than patients with bad colds did.The researchers theorized that loss of taste or smell may be related to the coronavirus interfering with the nervous system. Another <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abc5801">2020 study</a> suggested that the virus invaded cells that support olfactory neurons — the brain's messengers that help us process tastes and smells. Damage to these supporting cells could trigger swelling in the nose and inhibit a person's sense of smell, even when that person isn't congested. In severe cases, inflammation from COVID-19 could cause direct damage to olfactory neurons, leaving patients <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-covid-19-makes-people-lose-their-sense-of-smell1/">without their sense of smell</a> for several months, years, or, perhaps, permanently.<div type="image" title="A man receives a omicron covid-19 test at an airport" height="3568" width="5429" msid="88861865" hostid="261"></div>Still, loss of taste and smell is commonly associated with mild COVID-19 symptoms. A <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/joim.13209">January 2021 study</a> found that 86% of people with mild COVID-19 cases across 18 European hospitals had a reduced sense of smell.Scientists aren't sure why the symptom is rarer now that Omicron is spreading."I would not be surprised if the answer is due to differences in viral behavior in terms of where the virus best replicates," Scott Roberts, an assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine, told Insider. "With Omicron compared to Delta, we know this replicates <a href="https://www.med.hku.hk/en/news/press/20211215-omicron-sars-cov-2-infection">70 times faster in the bronchi</a> but 10 times slower in the lung tissue."But there's a lot left to understand about Omicron infections, Pekosz said."There are three things Omicron is doing — transmitting more efficiently from person to person, causing different symptoms, and showing less severe disease," he said. "We just don't know if these things are related to each other or if they are completely separate things that changed in Omicron at the same time." At the very least, experts said, Omicron has changed the nature of a mild COVID-19 case."These are coldlike symptoms," Dr. Claire Steves, a scientist involved with the Zoe study, said of the latest Omicron data in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhTwYb3b99g">a video</a> last week. "All the classic symptoms — fever, cough, and loss of smell — are much less prevalent in the current positive cases."

Loss of taste or smell isn't a common COVID-19 symptom for Omicron infections, disease experts say

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Most cats have unique personalities and quirks — like eating grass or being picky about their food. </li><li>Sudden behavior changes, like hiding in the litter box or refusing to use it, could suggest stress. </li></ul>Cats sometimes behave in puzzling ways — like running outside to chow down on grass and promptly throwing up. Or maybe they love to roll around with your shoes, or chill in their litter box instead of on the fancy cat furniture you got them. Of course, cats are curious, intelligent creatures, with individual personalities that make them unique. So, you might not always know for certain which odd behaviors fall into the category of "cat quirks" and which might suggest a health issue or other cause for concern. Most of the time, you don't have any reason to worry, since your feline pal is probably just doing cat things. When it comes to eating grass, for instance, experts have yet to link this behavior to any health issue. Read on to learn more about six common — but potentially confusing — cat behaviors and when you'll want to reach out to a veterinarian. Important: If your cat seems very distressed, suddenly begins to spend most of the day hiding, or has lingering signs of illness, you'll want to call a vet right away. <h2>1. Eating grass</h2>There's no one accepted theory as to why cats like to eat grass, says <a href="https://vetster.com/en-us/p/georgina-ushi-lutz-fl-06g9760" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr. Georgina Ushi</a>, a veterinarian at <a href="https://fuzzy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fuzzy</a>, an online platform that connects pet parents remotely with vets. Research remains limited, but current theories suggest: <ul><li>They may be trying to settle their tummies: "In small amounts, grass can act as a natural laxative, aid digestion, and prevent constipation," Ushi says.</li><li>They may have a nutrient deficiency: Ushi says some experts theorize that cats may crave grass, which contains folic acid, to supplement a deficiency. But no hard evidence supports this.</li><li>They like the taste: Some cats might nibble on grass because they just like the flavor, Ushi says.</li><li>They may be trying to vomit: "Cats do not have the proper enzymes to digest grass," Ushi says. They may eat grass to help expel indigestible things like hairballs, though no current studies confirm this. </li></ul>If you're concerned about digestive issues or signs of a potential nutrient deficiency, like lethargy, appetite loss, or weight loss, your vet can offer more guidance and recommend tests for your pet. Latest research: A <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8300339/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2021 study</a> asked cat owners why they believed their cats ate plants. One of the most common theories? Cats eat grass to expel hairballs or induce vomiting. But the researchers found that less than 50% of the cats included in the study vomited after eating plants, so this may not be a key motivation for grass eating.In short, cats eating grass is a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8300339/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fairly common behavior</a> and probably not a big deal — unless they're munching on treated grass. If you treat your lawn with chemicals to kill weeds or insects, you'll want to keep your cat inside and off the grass. Eating treated grass — or walking on treated grass and then licking and grooming their paws — can make your cat very sick and may even be fatal. A few chemicals commonly in lawn care that pose a risk to cats include: <ul><li><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258057783_Glyphosate_toxicity_in_animals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Glyphosate</a>, a common weed killer</li><li><a href="https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/livestock-and-animals/animal-welfare-victoria/cats/health/common-cat-poisons" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Insecticides</a> containing pyrethrins and pyrethroids, organophosphates, and carbamates </li><li><a href="https://icatcare.org/weed-killers-what-are-the-dangers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ferrous sulphate</a>, a moss killer </li></ul>Important: If your cat may have eaten grass treated with pesticides or herbicides and they have vomiting or diarrhea, mouth lesions, increased salivation, or seem lethargic, head to a vet right away. These signs can suggest poisoning, Ushi says. A cat grass kit offers a safe alternative to chemically-treated lawns. These kits, which contain <a href="https://vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk/eating-your-greens-the-basics-of-cat-grass/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">edible grasses like rye, wheat, or oat grass</a>, make a great indoor option for cats that love nibbling on grass, according to Ushi. You can buy these kits <a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FCat-Organic-Complete-Rustic-Planter%2Fdp%2FB08DWJTDW9" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">online</a> or in your local pet shop. <h2>2. Sneezing</h2>Achoo! Yes, cats sneeze just like humans do — and often for many of the same reasons, Ushi says, such as:<ul><li>Airborne irritants like dust or chemicals: Irritants like dust or smoke, perfume, pollen, and cleaning products may all cause random sneezing. Foreign objects lodged in your cat's nose, like small pieces of kibble, can also make your cat sneeze, Ushi says.</li><li>Upper respiratory infections: Symptoms of respiratory infections, including sneezing, nasal discharge and congestion, fever, and watery eyes, are similar to the human common cold, Ushi says. It's a good idea to reach out to a vet if you notice these symptoms in your cat.</li><li>Sinus infection: According to Ushi, other signs of sinus infection include nasal congestion, green or yellow nasal discharge, and snorting or throat-clearing sounds. But this is less likely to cause sneezing, compared to upper respiratory infections. </li><li>Allergic rhinitis: This condition — called hay fever in humans — happens when allergens like pollen or mold irritate the nasal passages. It's uncommon in cats, but it can cause sneezing, Ushi says. </li></ul>While sneezing due to airborne irritants doesn't typically require intervention, other causes of sneezing, such as infection, may require treatment from a vet. Ushi says your vet may recommend the following medications for chronic respiratory conditions, depending on whether the cause is bacterial or viral:<ul><li>Antibiotics </li><li>Antihistamines</li><li>Saline drops</li><li>Steroids</li><li>Nebulization, or the delivery of medication, saline, or water in mist form to the lungs</li></ul><h2>3. Scratching or grooming constantly</h2>All cats groom and scratch themselves to some degree. But overgrooming or excessive scratching can suggest an underlying medical issue or stress, says <a href="https://www.catbehaviorsolutions.org/about-molly" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Molly DeVoss</a>, certified feline training and behavior specialist. Signs of overgrooming may include:<ul><li>Bald spots or missing patches of hair</li><li>Skin trauma due to overgrooming or scratching </li><li>Constant licking, biting, or chewing</li></ul>DeVoss says scratching due to allergies typically ebbs and flows with exposure to allergens and the change of seasons. Other <a href="https://www.mspca.org/angell_services/overgrooming-cats/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">medical reasons</a> for excessive scratching or grooming include: <ul><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/pets/best-flea-prevention-cats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fleas</a> or mites</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/pets/best-cat-shampoo-medicated" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Atopic dermatitis</a></li><li>Chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs) </li></ul>Cats might also overgroom due to <a href="https://www.mspca.org/angell_services/overgrooming-cats/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">anxiety</a>, <a href="https://daws.org/signs-of-boredom-in-your-cat/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">boredom</a>, or <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3552586/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)</a>, Ushi says. If your cat's overgrooming relates to stress, they'll likely have other behavioral symptoms. For instance, they might: <ul><li>Have less interest in eating or drinking</li><li>Meow more frequently</li><li>Seem more withdrawn than usual </li></ul>Treatment for overgrooming involves addressing the underlying issue. For example, a cat with allergies that cause itchy skin may benefit from taking antihistamines. For behavioral overgrooming, DeVoss says identifying the trigger is crucial. Many cats have trouble with natural cat behaviors — grooming excessively or not at all, for instance — due to stress, DeVoss says. As a start, it may help to consider any changes in your cat's environment or daily life. For example, maybe you've recently spent more time away from home, changed their feeding time, or donated their favorite piece of furniture. Quick tip: DeVoss recommends contacting a feline behavior specialist if you're struggling to identify your cat's stress or anxiety triggers. In some cases, overgrooming <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5911546/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">can suggest</a> poor overall well-being, due to things like a lack of nutrition, boring environment, or underlying health concerns. <h2>4. Not eating</h2>Sometimes, a lack of appetite can mean your cat is sick — but cats may also ignore their food because: <ul><li>They don't like it: Cats have taste preferences, too, and they might refuse to eat if they don't like a certain flavor, Ushi says. She suggests offering a different diet to pique your cat's interest. "Most cats love wet food and will eat it with gusto," Ushi says.</li><li>It's expired: If your cat suddenly seems uninterested in its usual meal, Ushi recommends checking the food's expiry date. Expired food may taste bad to your cat.</li><li>They're saving it for later: "When most cat parents see their cat pawing to 'cover' their food, they think the cat doesn't like it," DeVoss says. But your cat may simply want to prevent other cats from sniffing it out so they can eat it later. </li><li>They have an underlying medical condition: If you've tried offering wet food or switching their kibble and your cat continues to turn the other way, Ushi recommends making a trip to the vet. She adds that it's crucial not to let your cat skip meals for more than two days. Ideally, contact a vet even sooner for guidance since a cat that's not eating can quickly become very ill.</li></ul>Quick tip: If you've recently introduced a puzzle feeder and your cat suddenly seems uninterested in its food, it may be worth swapping back to its regular bowl or container to check if they start eating again. As one <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10071-021-01530-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2021 study</a> suggests, many cats don't like working for their meals.<h2>5. Sitting in their litter box</h2>Your cat sitting in their litter box may seem a little gross, but it's probably not a reason to worry. "Cats love to be in small cozy places. Some litter boxes provide that space for them, so they can rest, hide, and take a short break from play," Ushi says.Additionally, DeVoss says cats gravitate toward familiar scents and that shelter cats often show a preference for a litter box filled with familiar smells. "In a home environment, a cat hiding or lying in the litter box could indicate a medical issue, feelings of stress, or territorial insecurity," she says. If your cat is sitting in a litter box for lengthy periods — over 12 hours at a time, for instance — something might be wrong, Ushi says. If you don't want your cat to hang out in their literal bathroom all day, you might try creating new, appealing hiding spots around your home. Aiming for variety can give your cat options. For instance, you might try a mix of: <ul><li>Boxes</li><li>A cushioned <a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FCat-Cave%2Fs%3Fk%3DCat%2BCave" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">cat cave</a></li><li><a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fproduct%2FB07PFYLLVZ" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">A window perch</a> or cat hammock</li><li><a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.chewy.com%2Ffrisco-62-in-faux-fur-cat-tree-condo%2Fdp%2F119896" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">Cat trees with hiding cubbies</a></li></ul>Important: Ushi recommends heading to the vet if this behavior persists — particularly if your cat doesn't eat for 24 hours, seems to have no energy, or shows persistent changes in their usual behavior, like avoiding you if they typically come running when you call. <h2>6. Urinating and defecating outside the litter box</h2>One of the <a href="https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-behavior-problems-house-soiling" target="_blank" rel="noopener">most common</a> reasons cats do their business outside the litter box is a urinary issue. These include urinary cystitis, or an inflammation of the bladder wall, and urinary tract infections (UTIs). <a href="https://www.avma.org/resources/pet-owners/petcare/feline-lower-urinary-tract-disease" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Signs</a> your cat may have a urinary issue include:<ul><li>They strain while urinating and produce only small drops of urine. </li><li>They frequently try to urinate throughout the day.</li><li>They cry while urinating.</li><li>They won't stop licking their genital area.</li><li>You can see blood in their urine.</li></ul>Other <a href="https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-behavior-problems-house-soiling" target="_blank" rel="noopener">potential medical reasons</a> for this behavior include:<ul><li>Kidney disease</li><li>Diabetes mellitus</li><li>Thyroid disease</li><li><a href="https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-behavior-problems-house-soiling" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mobility or cognitive issues</a></li></ul>Addressing underlying medical issues with the help of a veterinarian may prevent defecation and urination outside the litter box. Reasons for soiling outside the litter box aren't always medical, though. A cat <a href="https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-behavior-problems-house-soiling" target="_blank" rel="noopener">may avoid the litter box because</a>:<ul><li>They don't like it: Some cats may prefer a hooded box to an open one, or vice versa. A too-small box can also make it uncomfortable for them to do their business </li><li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6770919/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">They don't like its location</a>: If the box is hard to access or doesn't offer enough privacy, your cat may find another place they prefer — like your closet or a dark corner.</li><li>They don't like the litter material you chose: Cats <a href="https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/setting-your-cat-litter-box-success" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tend to prefer</a> unscented, clumping litter with a sand-like consistency. And while most manufacturers recommend using 2 to 3 inches of litter, you may need to experiment to find out what level best suits your cat.</li><li>They're trying to mark their territory: Your cat may do this because they're in heat or <a href="https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-behavior-problems-house-soiling" target="_blank" rel="noopener">threatened by something in their environment</a>, like new cats in the home or nearby stray cats. </li></ul>Identifying non-medical reasons for skipping the litter box can take some time and experimentation. As a start, you might try changing the box, moving it, or opting for a <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/pets/best-cat-litter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">different litter material</a> to see how your cat responds. If your cat has a habit of marking its territory, your vet <a href="https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-behavior-problems-house-soiling" target="_blank" rel="noopener">may recommend</a> anti-anxiety drugs in addition to environmental changes. But medications don't offer a permanent solution, and they may not work for all cats.<h2>When to contact your vet</h2>Any major changes in your cat's behavior may suggest an underlying health concern. If you notice any of the following red flags, you'll want to make an appointment with your vet right away: <ul><li>Your cat hasn't eaten in a day or longer.</li><li>They seem unusually lethargic. </li><li>They haven't moved from the same spot in at least 12 hours.</li></ul><h2>Insider's takeaway</h2>Weird behaviors like eating grass and ignoring food can be signs of underlying health issues, but your cat may also just be acting like a cat. Knowing their usual quirks can make it easier to spot signs of potential health problems. Keeping track of how much they usually eat and drink, for instance, can make it easier to recognize when they suddenly want more or less than usual. You can help your cat live a full, healthy life by making sure to keep tabs on their routine and habits, Ushi says. And it's always a good idea to schedule yearly vet visits and provide plenty of enrichment in the form of activities and toys.

Vets explain 6 odd cat behaviors, from eating grass to sitting in the litter box

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5ceff82a11e2054413379aa5-800/us-mall-investors-set-to-lose-billions-as-retail-gloom-deepens.jpg" border="0" alt="A woman walks by a discount sign at an Abercrombie &amp; Fitch store at a shopping mall in Garden City, New York, U.S. on November 28, 2014. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo" data-mce-source="Thomson Reuters" data-mce-caption="A woman walks by a discount sign at an Abercrombie &amp; Fitch store at a shopping mall in Garden City New York" />Thomson Reuters</div></div></div><ul><li>Abercrombie &amp; Fitch plans to shut all of its flagship stores worldwide in a bid to cut costs and reshape its business.</li><li>The teen-apparel retailer has already announced five closures as it works to double its profit margin.</li><li>"Year by year we're looking to pick these things off one by one," said CFO Scott Lipesky on the first-quarter earnings call.</li><li><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/anf-stock">Watch Abercrombie &amp; Fitch trade live</a>.</li></ul><hr /><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/anf-stock">Abercrombie &amp; Fitch</a> plans to shut all of its flagship stores around the world as it works to cut costs and reshape its business.The teen-apparel retailer has shuttered flagships - larger stores often located in expensive parts of major cities - in Copenhagen and Hong Kong already. It <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/abercrombie-and-fitch-closing-stores-flagship-2019-5?r=US&amp;IR=T">intends to close two more</a> in New York's SoHo neighborhood and Milan, Ital, within the next year, and shut another in Fukuoka, Japan, by early 2021. The remaining 15 flagships among the company's <a href="https://abercrombieandfitchcompany.gcs-web.com/static-files/cf48692d-1831-4f8c-afde-fcecf15ea87f">roughly 850 stores</a> are also set to go."Year by year we're looking to pick these things off one by one," said CFO Scott Lipesky on the company's <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/article/4267087-abercrombie-and-fitch-co-anf-ceo-fran-horowitz-q1-2019-results-earnings-call-transcript?part=single">first-quarter earnings call</a>. The store closures are part of Abercrombie &amp; Fitch's plan to <a href="https://abercrombieandfitchcompany.gcs-web.com/static-files/7788dc49-1892-4244-a7b7-bbfb1f6153a0">double its adjusted operating margin</a> from 2.9% in the year to February 2018 to nearly 6% in fiscal 2020. The flagships are "drags to [comparable sales] and profitability," Lipesky said.The company -which owns the Abercrombie &amp; Fitch, Abercrombie Kids, and Hollister brands - has resized more than 30 stores in recent years to remove 30% of their square footage, Lipesky said. It wants to shrink the typical size of its stores from around 8,000 to 10,000 square feet to roughly 5,000 to 6,000 square feet, he added.Getting rid of flagships including the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/20/business/20fifth.html">25,000-square-foot Abercrombie Kids and 30,000-square foot Abercrombie &amp; Fitch stores on New York's Fifth Avenue</a>, and the <a href="http://www.cblltd.co.uk/portfolio/abercrombie-fitch-london/">9,000-square-foot store on London's Savile Row</a>, would contribute towards that goal. After closing the five flagships announced so far, Abercrombie &amp; Fitch will have eliminated more than 140,000 square feet of real estate that was generating sales below the company average, Lipesky said.Shuttering its biggest overseas stores is also part of the retailer's efforts to "pivot away from large tourist-dependent flagships to smaller-format and mall-based locations, enabling us to cultivate a more local customer base and drive incremental digital sales," said CEO Fran Horowitz on the <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/article/4246735-abercrombie-and-fitch-co-anf-ceo-fran-horowitz-q4-2018-results-earnings-call-transcript?part=single">fourth-quarter earnings call in March</a>.Eliminating the flagships would be the latest in a series of steps intended to revitalize sales and appeal to the current generation of shoppers. Under former CEO Mike Jefferies, Abercrombie &amp; Fitch was perhaps best known for its shirtless models, branded attire, and dark, loud, perfumed stores. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/abercrombie-is-making-3-drastic-changes-2014-8?r=US&amp;IR=T">Since his departure at the end of 2014</a>, the company has covered up its employees, ditched logos, turned up the lights, turned down the music, and cut back on spritzing clothes.The four flagships on the chopping block and the shuttered Copenhagen store generated less than 1% of total revenues last year. However, the costs and complexities of closing stores and escaping leases mean the remaining flagships won't close overnight or suddenly transform the company's cost base.Management previously shelled out about $16 million to terminate the lease on the Hong Kong flagship, and expects to stomach $45 million in net lease-related charges tied to the SoHo and Fukuoka closures this quarter. As a result, they expect adjusted operating expenses to rise between 4% and 5% to around $2.12 billion this fiscal year, a sharp increase from their previous forecast of 2%."There's not a silver bullet whenever it comes to these flagships by closing one or two or three that's going to save the day," Lipesky said on the call. "It's going to be a methodical approach to get through these things over the years.""While each one in itself is small, in the future...they'll add up," he added.SEE ALSO: <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/trump-tariffs-victorias-secret-fashion-stocks-suffering-2019-5-1028200571">Victoria's Secret got whacked by Trump's tariffs. Here's why fashion stocks are suffering. »</a>READ NOW: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/abercrombie-and-fitch-closing-stores-flagship-2019-5?r=US&amp;IR=T">Abercrombie &amp; Fitch is the latest retailer to cut back on flagship stores »</a> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ingredients-processed-foods-red-bull-twinkies-doritos-kraft-cheese-2016-10">This stunning visualization breaks down all the ingredients in your favorite processed foods</a></h3> <div> <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/X3e5FNqV-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script> </div> </div>

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