Since the article doesn’t mention it, Langlois founded Softimage before selling it to Microsoft in 1994 (who sold it to Avid, who sold it on to Autodesk). The chocolate plantation is Bois Cotlette, which seems mostly to offer tours.
My first house, I bought in 2009 (so right during the crash). We offered full asking price, only to be told there was 3 higher cash offers, which I couldn’t compete with as a mortgage (FHA) offer. The seller made living in the house for 1 year a condition of sale, and all the higher offers disappeared. Guarantee those were just flippers looking to make a profit, rather than homebuyers.
Not always possible, unfortunately. I do my best to shower in the morning and after work before I go anywhere, but if you’re catching me in the late afternoon I’ll probably be pretty ripe.