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Photos of the playful sleepy life on Japan's 'Cat Island,' where cats outnumber humans 8 to 1

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Just off the coast of Japan there is an island called Aoshima, which is also known as "Cat Island." The tiny fishing village is home to more than 140 cats, which roam around napping, playing, and snagging snacks from residents and tourists. They outnumber humans 8 to 1.

The cats were originally brought to the island to kill mice that hung around fishing boats. But as the human population dwindled from over 1,000 to 16, the cats stayed on and multiplied, as they continued to be fed by the remaining locals. 

The island has become a bit of a tourist destination, though the residents don't seem to mind, as long as it remains peaceful. And people donate cat food from all over Japan.

"If people coming to the island find the cats healing, then I think it's a good thing," 65-year-old fisherman Hidenori Kamimoto told Reuters in 2015"I just hope that it's done in a way that doesn't become a burden on the people who live here."

This is what life on Cat Island is like: 

SEE ALSO: The 45 original shows and movies Netflix will release by the end of 2016

Aoshima is a 30-minute ferry ride from the coast, and only has a handful of residents now.



There are, however, over 140 cats, which outnumber humans by more than 8 to 1, according to AFP.



Tourists have also begun to come to the island to gawk at the cats.



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I stayed at 'the most luxurious hotel in the world,' but the most luxurious thing about it isn't the walls of gold or the Hermès soap

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Dubai Burj Al Arab Most Luxurious Hotel (37 of 74)

  • One of the most decorated luxury hotels in the world, the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, was recently named the "best hotel in the world" by the Ultratravel Awards. The Burj has frequently been called "the world's first seven-star hotel" and "the most luxurious hotel in the world" by travel writers and critics.
  • I recently stayed at the hotel on a trip to Dubai to see if the Burj Al Arab could possibly live up to the hype.
  • While the hotel is full of extravagances, it's the service that puts it over the top.

When someone tells you a place is "the most luxurious hotel in the world," the natural response might be to ask incredulously, "What makes it so luxurious?"

That's how I felt before visiting the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, which was named the Best Hotel in the World by The Telegraph's ULTRA Awards this year and has often been called "the most luxurious hotel in the world" by travel writers and critics.

After spending a night at the Burj this past November, I think I have the answer. While the $1 billion hotel is full of extravagances, like a Rolls-Royce chauffeur, a 14-piece set of Hermès toiletries, and interiors decorated with nearly 20,000 square feet of 24-karat gold, it's the service that puts it over the top.

Dubai Burj Al Arab Most Luxurious Hotel (4 of 4)

The Burj Al Arab has a staff-to-suite ratio of 6:1. That means there are 1,300 employees for the hotel's 202 suites, everything from chefs and mixologists to florists, locker room attendants, and hosts. 

The ratio leads to a level of attention that I imagine most people have never experienced. Someone is always available to take care of your every whim or answer every question. Look around in the hotel with a puzzled look for more than a few seconds and someone comes over to ask what you need. That's assuming they don't already know what you are looking for.

The service reaches another level when it comes to your actual suite. Every floor has a team of personal butlers (I'm not kidding) who are there waiting to attend to your every desire. Whoever is on duty will stand up as you approach and greet you by name.

If you need anything — a dinner reservation, an Earl Grey tea brewed at 9 p.m. sharp, or, say, a bubble bath — they'll take care of it with gusto.

Dubai Burj Al Arab Most Luxurious Hotel (63 of 74)

Beyond that, the staff take their expertise and hospitality seriously.

I stayed at the hotel on Thanksgiving night. Knowing that I was American, my personal butler dropped off a tray of Thanksgiving-themed sandwiches and miniature pies so that I wouldn't completely miss out on the holiday.

Just before going to bed during my stay, I decided to make an impromptu stop to the 27th floor of the hotel for a nightcap at the Burj's lounge, Gold On 27. As I walked up to the host to ask for a table, he greeted me by name. 

As I sipped my $31 cocktail, I puzzled over how he knew who I was. I hadn't made any reservation and I was one of hundreds in the hotel that night. I theorized that the butler had tipped him off that I was heading to the bar.

When I asked him later by what magic he knew who I was, he told me that each night he researches all of the guests staying in the hotel and attempts to memorize the name and face of every single one. He confessed with a smile that he doesn't always get it right. 

That level of dedication is hard to fake. He was far from the only one among the staff that seemed to take the hotel's reputation as "the most luxurious hotel in the world" very seriously.

It showed.

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The 36 best products we discovered in 2018

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The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

best products 2018 6

Thousands of product tests and reviews later, here we stand at the end of the year, excited to present to you our 2018 Insider Picks Hall of Fame.

The point of Insider Picks has always been to discover and share with you the best of the best. Still, we have some personal favorites that are truly the cream of the crop and we want to make sure you don't miss them.  

These are all the tech gadgets, kitchen appliances, clothes, shoes, home products, and personal care products that impressed us and rose above everything else we reviewed in 2018. Some are new product launches, while others are just new to us.

You'll find an explanation for why we loved it, plus a link to the original review or related guide so you'll have all the information needed to decide whether you want to join each product's fan club.

See the 36 best products we reviewed in 2018 below.

Crane & Canopy sheets

Sheets and Sheet Sets, $35 to $249, available at Crane & Canopy

Read more about the best sheets you can buy for your bed here

Crane & Canopy is a startup that began selling easy-to-use duvet covers in 2012. Since then, the company has branched out into sheets, comforters, pillows, blankets, towels, washcloths, and more.

I tried a set of striped sheets from Crane & Canopy and I loved them. Not only are the sheets silky smooth and soft straight out of the package, they also come in several fun prints and colors. I chose the gray and white striped sheets, because they make for a nice, neutral base layer for my bedding. Malarie Gokey, Insider Picks guides editor



The Sonos soundbar

Sonos Beam, $399, available at Amazon

Read our review of the Sonos Beam here

Once a year I make a significant "treat yourself"-style tech purchase, and in 2018 that was the Sonos Beam. Sonos’ compact soundbar carries over the best features from the company’s Sonos One speaker: built-in Alexa, support for Apple’s AirPlay 2 software, and excellent, well-balanced sound.

The Beam gets louder than its small size would suggest, and it never sounds distorted. I’ve used it while watching movies, playing video games, and listening to music, and it’s sounded universally excellent. The Beam can’t quite compete with the immersion from a 5.1 surround sound setup, but it doesn’t have to. I live in a small, New York City apartment, and the Beam has given me a home theater system that was easy to set up and enjoy. Brandt Ranj, Insider Picks associate editor



A Peak Design backpack

Peak Design Everyday Backpack 20L, $259.95, available at Amazon

Peak originally began as a camera accessory company, but its Everyday backpack and travel bags are great for, well, everyday use — not just for carrying cameras. The reconfigurable internal shelves can be adjusted quickly for any needs. I use this bag for my daily commute to work, and even as my daypack when I travel. I'm also a fan of Peak’s travel backpack and packing tools. David Slotnick, Insider Picks senior reporter



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If you ever wondered what life will be like when climate change makes outside unlivable, Dubai can give you a good idea

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Dubai Development Property Real Estate (40 of 40)

  • A new report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released in October detailed how even just half a degree of rise in the world's temperature would result in severe, catastrophic effects, making the climate unlivable in the most severe cases.
  • If you are wondering what life might be like in such a scenario, Dubai can give you a good approximation. For more than half the year, temperatures are regularly around 105 degrees Fahrenheitand have gone as high as 119 degrees Fahrenheit, with plenty of humidity. It makes being outside for more than a few minutes unbearable.
  • Dubai has developed into a series of climate-controlled indoor spaces including more than 65 malls, apartment buildings with entire indoor cities attached, and car-centric design that discourages walking outside. You can spend entire days without ever stepping outside.

It's become more clear than ever this year that climate change is very real and that we are already seeing the effects.

A new report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released in October detailed how even just half a degree of rise in the world's temperature would result in severe, catastrophic effects.

As Business Insider's Kevin Loria summed up: That half of a degree will make drought-prone regions much more likely to experience severe drought, and areas prone to heat waves or intense hurricanes will get more of those disasters, too. These factors could trigger huge migrations of people and mass extinctions of animals. 

In short, the climate will get a lot less livable, particularly in places already vulnerable to high temperatures.

As I hung out in Dubai last month, it struck me that the city's severe climate and its adaptation to that climate was a good approximation of what I imagine living with the severe effects of climate change to be.

During Dubai's long summer, stretching from mid-April through October, temperatures make it unbearable to be outside for more than a few minutes. Temperatures are regularly around 105 degrees Fahrenheit (41 degrees Celsius) and have gone as high as 119 degrees Fahrenheit (48 degrees Celsius), with plenty of humidity.

The city's adaptation to that climate? A proliferation of interconnected climate-controlled spaces, including more than 65 malls, residential and office buildings with entire indoor cities attached, metros, and indoor parking lots. 

Dubai Development Property Real Estate (25 of 40)

For a certain social millieu — I'm talking native Emiratis and the wealthy expats with white-collar jobs — one could go entire days or weeks during the summer without stepping outside. You go from your air-conditioned apartment in a residential skyscraper to the indoor parking lot, and then drive to your office, park in the indoor lot, and head upstairs to the office skyscraper.

If you need to do grocery shopping or pick up a present, there are likely retail stores, grocery stores, or an entire retail complex attached to your office building or apartment building.

Dubai Mall Worlds Second Largest Mall (60 of 61)

If you want to spend a Saturday out with your family, grab coffee with a colleague, or enjoy an "al fresco" dinner and a movie, you are likely doing it inside at The Dubai Mall, a $2 billion complex with  1,200 stores, hundreds of restaurants, a movie theater, a luxury hotel, an Olympic-size ice-skating rink, a virtual-reality theme park, and an aquarium. Or, perhaps you'll visit one of Dubai's dozens of other megamalls with similar amenities that blur the line between mall and city block.

Meanwhile, for the hundreds of thousands of migrant workers in Dubai who aren't lucky enough to live in air-conditioned megacomplexes, Dubai can be a hellscape during the summer — just as the climate might be for the developing countries that will be hardest hit by the effects of climate change.

Dubai is getting so good at simulating the outdoors inside that its next megaproject is dedicated to just that. Dubai Square, set to become the world's largest mall, is built around a four-lane "boulevard" that mimics a wide city street, a piazza, and an entertainment center for concerts and theater shows. It will even have the Middle East's largest Chinatown.

Boulevard at Dubai Square

The net effect of this kind of development is that nearly all "public" or "social" space in the city is a corporatized shopping destination.

"[In the UAE] the mall is a social space, not just a shopping space," Justin Thomas, an associate professor of psychology at Zayed University, wrote for The National in 2014.

"The mall is where three generations of the same family take an evening stroll; the mall is where the Abu Dhabi Readers (a book club) meet to discuss works of literature."

When you can't hang out in social spaces outside, whether it's due to a severe climate or pollution, you find indoor spaces to do so.

It's hard to say that's de-facto bad when such malls and climate-controlled spaces are providing livable spaces outside of the home in a city that desperately needs them. But there is a creeping feeling that something is lost when all public spaces exist solely so large corporations can make a profit.

If I was going to take a guess at where our hyper-consumerist world is heading in the event the world can't get its act together on climate change, I'd say it's going to look a lot like Dubai.

And Dubai, for its part, will have to keep adapting to its extreme climate. The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi found in a report last year that under its most severe climate change scenario, nearly all of Dubai would be underwater due to rising sea levels.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 4 tricks that will make hosting Thanksgiving dinner much easier this year

The top 10 most expensive watches sold by Christie's in 2018, ranked

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  • The 10 most expensive watches sold at Christie's this year ranged in price from $566,000 to $3.2 million.
  • The auction house also celebrated 25 consecutive years as the leading jewelry auction market in 2018.
  • Topping this list, a rare Patek Philippe wristwatch sold for a whopping $3,234,905 at Christie's.

 

In a time when smartphones reign supreme, it's fascinating to find that there are still people willing to pay a pretty penny for a good old-fashioned watch.

Whether they simply value the old way of telling time or are looking for a way to display their style on their wrist, watch buyers were willing to drop some serious cash with Christie's this year.

Read more: I went to NYC's biggest luxury watch show, and the most memorable part wasn't the $1.8 million diamond watch or the $182,000 piece they let me try on

In 2018, the auction house said it made $492.3 million in total jewelry sales ($484.5 million in live auction and $7.8 million online). The sales total earned Christie's its 25th consecutive year as the leading jewelry auction market. It also saw a new record being set with a bottle of Macallan 60 Year Old selling for a whopping $1.5 million (incidentally, that bottle broke the record set by another bottle of Macallan 60 Year Old, which had sold for $1.1 million just two months prior).

Here are the top 10 most expensive watches sold by Christie's in 2018, ranked from least to most expensive.

SEE ALSO: 5 signs you're probably not part of the middle class

10. Designed and signed by Richard Mille, this rare platinum and baguette-cut, diamond-set tourbillon wristwatch sold for a cool $566,014.

Source: Christie's



9. A unique Patek Philippe chronograph wristwatch, 18k white gold and diamond-set with a degradé black dial, brought in $614,766.

Source: Christie's



8. This Patek Philippe 18K gold perpetual calendar chronograph watch with moon phases and a tachymeter scale sold for $668,862.

Source: Christie's



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I never understood the hype around Patagonia — but this one sweater changed my mind and now I'm a member of the cult fan base

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The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

patagirl

I used to not understand why Patagonia had such a cult following. If I'm being honest, I always though it was just an expensive outdoor gear company.

Maybe it's because I grew up in Florida where my "outdoor gear" included flip flops, bathing suits, bug spray, and loose T-shirts that kept me cool in the scorching heat. I never really had to consider the need for warm performance clothing, even when camping. All that mattered was keeping the mosquitoes and love bugs from flying into my mouth while I searched for sharks' teeth in the creek. 

Then I moved around the country a few times and started working at Business Insider. When my coworkers (all loyalists, or at least fans) found out that I literally didn't own anything from the company, they were what the youth these days call "shook." And so began my induction into the Cult of Patagonia. 

I was given the chance to try out a few items both in an effort to bring me to the Dark Side and an opportunity to spread the good word of Patagonia to our readers. And I am now officially a convert. 

patpullover

The thing that really hooked me was this Organic Cotton Quilt Snap-T Pullover ($149). I've been familiar with Patagonia's Synchilla Fleece sweaters for a while by virtue of their ubiquity at the Washington, DC university I went to, but this pullover felt new and fresh enough to differentiate itself.

At this point, and please forgive me for this cliche, I'm just wondering how I lived without it for so long. 

The sweater is buttery soft and incredibly warm considering how very medium the thickness is, and the snaps on the neck allow me to bundle up or cool off as needed. Somehow the outer layer of material also manages to be slightly water-resistant despite feeling like the softest cotton you've ever touched. Plus, it doesn't hurt knowing that the pullover is made from organic cotton, which means no harmful fertilizers or pesticides were used in the growing process.

I'm usually a medium, but I sized up on this sweater to a large to give myself a roomier fit — and I'm really glad I did. I think it would have been too tight around the hips if I'd gone with the medium. The arms are slightly long, which probably has something to do with the fact that I'm only five feet tall, but I don't mind being able to pull them over my hands if I get cold while walking around. 

Overall, this was the thing that brought me into the fan club. I suddenly "got" what everyone was so obsessed with. Yes, you'll pay a high price for quality, but it's exactly that quality that makes Patagonia so worthwhile. When you invest in something you know will work well, it feels better than buying two of the lesser versions. I think that's the feeling people who love Patagonia are after. It's a place for pragmatists to shop.

hoody

The other item I got to try out was this lightweight but powerful Raven Rocks Hoody jacket ($229), and though it hasn't been cold enough for me to wear it, I now understand why it's a better idea to buy a performance jacket that's actually meant to combat the cold rather than an expensive but maybe more fashion-forward alternative (however, I do think this brown color is awesome). It wasn't Patagonia that taught me that lesson, but now I trust that this is the place to go when I need something to do its job. 

You can bet I'll be writing a review of the coat soon enough, but for now, suffice it to say that I've officially fallen in love with Patagonia. I have multiple items (including a Synchilla Fleece... so help me) on my wish list, and I'm looking forward to the camaraderie that is to follow once my coworkers find out that I'm now an official, card-carrying member of the cult. 

Shop the Women's Organic Cotton Quilt Snap-T Pullover, $149, at Patagonia

Shop the Women's Raven Rocks Hoody, $229, at Patagonia

Shop all products at Patagonia

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9 places to shop for bedding when you've outgrown the set of sheets you had in college

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The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

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There are many perks of online shopping — it's easy, convenient, and can be a huge time-saver. There are some products, though, where online shopping can become a gamble. These are the things you need to feel in order to truly get a sense of whether you want them or not. Before you spend your hard-earned money on an expensive mattress, you want to be sure you'll find it comfortable. The same goes for sheets — if you're going to buy a nice pair, you want to know that you'll like the way they feel. 

While we can't provide you with fabric samples through the screen (although that would be pretty cool), we can provide you with what we think is the next best thing — reviews from a team whose literal job is to test out sheets (and lots of other products, too). If you're going to buy your first "adult" set of sheets online, we have plenty of in-depth reviews to help inform your purchase. To make it a little easier on you, we put that all together in this article. 

And, if you're looking for some more resources or in the process of upgrading your whole bedding setup, check out these posts:

Keep scrolling to find out more about nine of our favorite places to buy sheets online:

Brooklinen

Shop all Brooklinen sheets here

Queen sheet sets start at $129

With over 30,000 rave reviews, including some from our own team, it's no doubt that people are obsessed with Brooklinen sheets. Thoughtful design and a cozy feel that gets better with time are a big draw to the brand, but it's the high-quality at a reasonable pricepoint that keeps customers coming back. You have many options for how to shop for sheets at Brooklinen — they offer a range of bundles that include different combinations, but you can also buy pieces individually. Their twill, linen, sateen, and percale options all offer superior comfort and value — and their newest launch of baby bedding called Brooklittles might just be the cutest thing you see today. 

Read our full review of Brooklinen sheets



Bed Bath & Beyond

Shop Bed Bath & Beyond sheets here

Queen sheet sets start at $24.99

If you're looking for more options or sheet shopping on a stuffer budget than the startups allow for, check out Bed Bath & Beyond. If the name wasn't enough of an indicator, Bed Bath & Beyond has a serious selection of sheets. The breadth of materials, colors, patterns, brands, and prices, is impressive. You can find sheet sets or buy pieces individually. I'm partial to the silky-soft feel of their Wamsutta PimaCott sheets, but there are plenty of options that accommodate all kinds of tastes. If you're on a budget, Bed Bath & Beyond frequently has sales and offers other ways to save money, like an annual membership

Right now you can save 20% off your entire purchase and get free shipping with code "ALLYEARLONG". 



MagicLinen

Shop MagicLinen sheets here

Queen sheet sets start at $227

If you like to sleep cool, breathable linen sheets will help you get a better nights rest. No, they're not cheap, but these ones are relatively more affordable than the luxury brands charging $400 a set. MagicLinen is a company from Lithuania (a country that has deep traditions of growing and weaving linen) specializing in linen goods — including sheets, aprons, towels, curtains, and more — so you can rest assured that they're focused on quality and craftsmanship. Considering the fact that linen sheets can be harder to find than other materials, MagicLinen is a no-brainer if linen bedding is your preference. We were impressed by MagicLinen's breadth of colors and patterns and their "deep mattress" option, which is made to fit over thicker mattresses and toppers.

Right now you can save 10% off your purchase at MagicLinen with our exclusive code "MAGICINSIDE".

Read our full review of MagicLinen sheets



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I tried Veestro, a plant-based meal delivery service — and it's great for busy people who want to eat healthy

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The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

veestro main

  • Healthy eating often falls by the wayside when you lead a busy lifestyle. 
  • Veestro is a meal delivery service that makes it easy to get more plant-based foods into your diet without sacrificing taste or convenience. 
  • If your New Year's resolution is to eat better or lose weight, and you've realized that it's difficult to fit it into your packed schedule, give Veestro a try. 

Eating a healthy, balanced diet seems fairly straightforward. Years of health research and doctors everywhere tell us we should eat more vegetables and fruits, try to get our daily recommended vitamins, and limit our sugar and fat intake. If my life revolved purely around feeding myself, I'm sure I could become a glowing, nutritionally sound health goddess because I'd actually have the time to carefully grocery shop and cook healthy meals. But like most people, I'm otherwise occupied with work, hobbies, and social obligations, and eating healthy really isn't that easy. 

When I think about eating healthy or "clean," my mind automatically jumps to salads and raw foods. Don't get me wrong, I love a good salad, but the thought of eating salads all the time makes my heart sink a little. It turns out this approach is pretty narrow-minded and uncreative of me because there are tons of tasty meals that can be made with real, unprocessed ingredients.

As I discovered while trying Veestro, a plant-based meal delivery service, they don't even have to include meat or dairy to be delicious, either. 

Veestro sends fully prepared 100% plant-based meals to your door, virtually knocking out all your previous excuses not to eat healthier. All the meals are preservative-free and organic (96% of all ingredients used), and the recipes are conceived by a vegan chef with 30 years of experience. There's no prepping of ingredients and cooking involved — all the meals can be microwaved, reheated on the stove, or baked in the oven, so you can eat a hot meal within half an hour. 

Veestro offers a variety of options to choose from and incorporate into your busy lifestyle: 

  • A la carte mealsPick and choose from 50 meals, like baked mac and "cheese," Tuscan calzone, portobello steak, and quinoa soup. Available for one-time delivery, start at $10/meal.
  • Meal packs:Options include an introductory starter pack, protein pack, and gluten-free. Available for one-time delivery or subscription, start at $8/meal.
  • Weight loss plans:3, 5, or 7-day plans that ship every two weeks and help take the guesswork out of weight loss. Start at $8/meal.
  • Juice cleanses:3 or 5-day plans of half pressed, half blended juices. Available for one-time delivery or subscription, start at $6/juice. 

I was sent the $99 Starter Pack, which comprises 12 meals and one juice, to try. Everything arrives in a box packed with dry ice. Make sure your fridge has enough room because everything needs to go in the fridge or freezer. 

I ate the meals throughout the week, weaving them into my regular diet. The menu included veggie empanadas, country fried chick'n (seitan), three layer scramble, soba noodles, mushroom risotto, and a green juice. In general, I found the thawing and cooking times to be longer than suggested, though they were never grossly off. Because I was usually either impatient or low on time, I tended to microwave or reheat the meals on the stove instead of baking them. 

veestro red curry

While there were a couple misses, overall I really liked the taste and variety of the pack. I'll admit, I was surprised. Usually for frozen food to taste good, it contains artificial ingredients or preservatives, but I didn't see any of those while scanning the nutritional labels. My personal favorites were the red curry, Thai chick'n stew, and mushroom risotto.

The week I tried Veestro was particularly busy for me, so I truly appreciated not having to think about preparing food or give in to greasy takeout. I saw Veestro as a convenient way to incorporate plant-based meals into my diet so I could make a smoother transition into a healthy lifestyle, rather than forcing an unrealistic, abrupt change. Research has shown that a plant-based diet leads to lower rates of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. A longer life free of these complications sounds pretty great to me. 

At $8 to $10 per meal, is it cheaper than making your own food? No, but what you're paying for is the convenience and freedom to concentrate on other parts of your life while still enjoying healthy, tasty food.

Browse all of Veestro's meal options and try the plant-based meal delivery service here.

SEE ALSO: 15 kitchen gadgets for terrible home cooks that make life easier

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This $52 green moisturizer is so good at reducing redness I don't even need foundation after I use it

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Color Correcting moisturizer

  • Color-correcting is a common makeup trick that uses principles from the color wheel to neutralize discoloration like redness, sallowness, and more.
  • The mint-green color in Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30 helps neutralize redness on my cheeks and around my nose so well that I don't even need foundation.  
  • It also moisturizes and protects with SPF 30 so I can streamline my skin-care routine.

Even though I've been writing about beauty for several years, I haven't tried any color-correcting makeup in fear that I'll wind up looking like a Twister map with multi-colored dots all over my face.

But I finally decided to try this color-correcting moisturizer from Dr. Jart+ after several recommendations and seeing more than 1,000 reviews on Sephora — and I'm so glad I did.  

Color-correcting is a makeup technique that uses color wheel principles to help neutralize redness and dark spots, brighten up dark undereye circles, or perk up a dull complexion. Products range from primers, moisturizers, concealers, foundations, and more in shades of green, peach, purple, and yellow to neutralize discoloration before you apply makeup.

When done correctly, color-correction can help make your skin look like you slept 10 hours and drank a gallon of water. But if you use too much product or don't blend completely, you might end up looking patchy.

"I don't think it's super necessary to use so much color-correction daily, but it helps brighten under the eyes, and for redness," makeup artist Deanna Melluso says. "Just remember to keep it super light."

Dr. Jart+2

One of the more common color-correctors on the market are green-tinged products meant to counter redness.

Cue Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30. It's light green in the jar, but transforms into a beige color as you blend the product onto your skin.

After my usual skin-care routine of cleanser, essence, toner, and serum, I'll use a bit of the Dr. Jart moisturizer all over my face, focusing on my cheeks and around my nose where I have some redness. It's slightly thick so a little goes a long way, and I have to work the product into my skin well otherwise I wind up looking like a ghost. But the extra 15 seconds of work is worth it for me because I can skip foundation and concealer afterwards. It also has SPF 30 so my skin is protected from sun damage too.

Most (if not all) mornings, I'm running late so I'm always looking for ways to streamline my beauty routine. This little green tub of magic takes care of my moisturizer, sunscreen, foundation, and concealer — so yea, it's pretty clutch.

I have a fair skin tone so the beige color (once the product is blended) works for me, but I can see how this moisturizer might not work for everyone. It contains titanium dioxide, an ingredient that powers mineral sunscreen and dries opaque. According to Emmy award-winning makeup artist Andrew Sotomayor, titanium dioxide can look gray or ashy on deeper skin tones. If you have a deeper skin tone but still want to use this moisturizer to help cut down on redness, you might find that you still need to use your regular foundation or concealer afterwards.   

There are a ton of green color-correctors out there if you're looking for one, but this moisturizer from Dr. Jart+ checks all the boxes for me. It's easy to use, it simplifies my beauty routine, and because a little bit goes a long way, the $52 investment will last me for a while.

Buy the Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30 for $52 from Sephora

Buy the Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30 for $51 from Amazon

SEE ALSO: I tried the buzzy new Billie razor for women — and now I actually look forward to shaving my legs

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This $8 reusable K-cup filter saves me more than $1,000 a year on coffee

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The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Keurig K Cup Coffee

  • After a year of using plastic, single-use K-cups, I bought an $8 reusable filter. It's saved me more than $1,000 on coffee.
  • It can be used with all Keurig-brand coffee makers, so you literally don't have to think about whether it fits with your own machine.
  • You can use any ground coffee you'd like instead of being forced to choose from Keurig's offerings.
  • It's also so small and inexpensive that you can buy a second to keep at your office desk.

Coffee is life. But when you start adding up those morning and mid-afternoon coffee runs, it can cost a lot — like more than $1,000 a year. And that's only if you get basic hot black coffee; iced coffee can set you back more than $1,500.

So after years of waiting in line for my misspelled cup of coffee, I finally decided to get an at-home machine. My Keurig was great— it made OK-ish coffee (I'm not picky, I just need caffeine) whenever I wanted and the cost of the pods were really cheap compared to how much money I'd spend on coffee every year.

But once I realized just how many cups I was drinking now that I could make unlimited amounts of coffee at home and actually added up how much the pods were costing me (not to mention how much space they took on my counter), the savings weren't that much. The effect that plastic single-use pods have on the environment was also a huge problem for me. Then I found the My K-Cup Universal Reusable Ground Coffee Filter.

It's a reusable coffee filter that fits any Keurig-brand at-home coffee machine, so you can use it however many times you want without guilt or coughing up more money. You just fill the gray filter up to one of two fill lines with whatever ground coffee you want, pop it into the plastic black canister, lock the lid, and brew. There's an adapter attachment that latches onto the side of the canister depending if your machine is part of the Classic or Plus series, but it comes with the filter so you don't need to hunt down the extra piece.

Did I mention the filter costs $8?

71DcitLAy1L._SL1500_

Compared to the $1,000 spent on coffee a year, this is a serious life-changing, budget-saving item. If you feel like splurging, get a second one to keep at the office for a mid-afternoon cup, as long as it's an at-home style and not an industrial one.

I've had mine for a year now and it's still going strong — the filter hasn't broken, leaked, or gotten misshaped even after several hundred uses. I also keep the empty filter in my Keurig machine when I'm not using it so I haven't lost any of the pieces either. There's no real con to the filter; if anything, having to fill up the filter myself is a tiny annoyance but one that stems from years of paying money for something I could've made — and made better — at home.

Buy My K-Cup Universal Reusable Ground Coffee Filters on Amazon for $8

SEE ALSO: All of Insider Picks' holiday gift guides, in one place

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Here's why you should never put vodka in the freezer, according to the creator of Grey Goose

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Vodka and ice

  • Putting your vodka in the freezer is a big mistake, according to the creator of Grey Goose, Francois Thibault.
  • Thibault stipulated that keeping cheap vodka in the freezer would hide any "aggressive, burning notes."
  • However, with a premium vodka, keeping it at a low temperature will block the more sophisticated aromas and flavours.
  • He recommended storing Grey Goose at 0-4 degrees Celsius (32-39 degrees Fahrenheit).
  • Thibault added that even good vodkas kept at room temperature might be a little too aggressive, though.

It turns out storing your vodka in the freezer might not be such a great idea after all — depending on how good your tipple is.

Business Insider recently spoke to Grey Goose vodka creator, Francois Thibault, who shared some spirits wisdom.

Thibault told us that one of the biggest mistakes people make is putting their vodka in the freezer.

It may seem like an appealing idea to keep your vodka ice cold as, thanks to its ethanol content, it won't freeze to a solid block unless temperatures hit -27 degrees Celsius.

If the vodka you're drinking is cheap and low-quality then keeping it at such low temperatures will hide any "aggressive, burning notes," Thibault says.

However, premium vodkas like Grey Goose should be naturally soft and not aggressive, which means that you'll actually be hiding the more sophisticated aromas and flavours when storing it at a really low temperature.

grey goose summer martini

"The best temperature for Grey Goose is 0-4 degrees Celsius," Thibault says, "which is the temperature of a slight dilution with ice in a mixing glass."

He added that at room temperature, even Grey Goose vodka would be a little aggressive.

Basically, putting your vodka in the freezer will subdue any flavours within the liquid, which is great if your vodka is cheap and unrefined but not so much if you've bought something nice.

For any vodka beginners, Thibault recommends learning to make a dry Martini, as it's "the perfect cocktail to compare different vodkas."

You can check out his recipe, in full, here.

SEE ALSO: The creator of Grey Goose vodka has revealed whether the perfect martini should be shaken or stirred

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NOW WATCH: History of the Christmas tree: Evergreens were sacred to ancient Egyptians. Then people started decorating them.

The 50 best restaurants in the world in 2018

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Quintonil, Mexico City

The best restaurants in the world were revealed earlier this year — and some serious bucket list-worthy eateries are on the list.

The winners of the annual World's 50 Best Restaurants 2018 awards were announced at a glamorous ceremony in Bilbao, Spain on Tuesday, June 19.

The ranking is based on the opinions and experiences of over 1,000 international restaurant industry experts — from food writers and critics to chefs, restaurateurs and "well-travelled gourmets" — from 26 regions around the world.

Scroll down to see the 50 best restaurants in the world in 2018, ranked in ascending order.

SEE ALSO: The 15 best restaurants in London to try in 2018

50. Test Kitchen (Cape Town, South Africa)



49. Nahm (Bangkok, Thailand)



48. Hiša Franko (Kobarid, Slovenia)

Instagram Embed:
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15 photos we can't stop looking at that highlight tech's wild, apocalyptic year

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Alex Jones Jack Dorsey

  • It's been a wild year for tech, marked by scandal, political clashes, and bizarre product launches.
  • From Mark Zuckerberg's Congress grilling to the mass Google protests, some of the drama has been captured in candid detail on camera.

Business Insider has compiled some of the wildest pictures from an apocalyptic year in tech. Scroll on for 15 moments that defined 2018. 

JANUARY: Yes, it really was this year Logan Paul posted *that* YouTube video of a Japanese forest and what appeared to be a dead body.

Paul was removed from Google's preferred partner program — which guarantees YouTube's biggest stars more ad revenue — and later said the mistake cost him $5 million.



MARCH: Pursued by reporters, Cambridge Analytica CEO Alexander Nix is bundled into the firm's London offices.

Just days before this photo was taken, The Observer reported that Nix's company had harvested the data of 50 million Facebook users and weaponized the information for political campaigns, including Donald Trump's run for president. He was unflatteringly compared to a James Bond villain.



MARCH: This self-driving Uber car killed Elaine Herzberg. It was the first pedestrian fatality involving an autonomous vehicle.

The incident shocked people inside Uber's Advanced Technologies Group, the company's 1,100-person self-driving unit, according to Business Insider's detailed retelling of the incident.



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We asked over 1,000 Americans how long is reasonable to keep a New Year’s resolution, and expectations are low

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new year's resolutions

  • INSIDER polled more than 1,000 people living in the US about  New Year's resolutions, specifically how long they should last. 
  • Most Americans agree that, if you're going to resolve to try something new in 2019, you should try to stick to it for at least a few months. 
  • That advice squares well with what scientists know about behavior change, but they also say it's best to start small and be specific.

On New Year's Eve, when spirits are bright, it can feel like a hopeful moment to pin one's ambitions on being a far better person in 2019. The truth, however, is a bit bleaker. We often aim too high with our new year's goals, with 80% of people failing New Year's resolutions by February.

But still, year after year, we continue to make (and break) these goals. Perhaps because we think we can make it last a little longer. 

To get a sense for how long people think resolutions should last, INSIDER, a sister publication of Business Insider, asked more than 1,000 Americans "how many months is it reasonable to expect someone to keep a New Year's resolution?" 

Here's a month-by-month breakdown of their expectations, and some tips to help you stick to your goals for longer than what others might expect. 

 

SEE ALSO: How to actually make and keep New Year's resolutions, according to a behavioral scientist

94% of respondents said people should keep their resolutions for at least one month.

The type of resolution you make could play a part in the success rate. Yale psychology Professor John Bargh previously told Business Insider that the most successful resolutions are small, reasonable changes that we can seamlessly incorporate into existing daily routines.

He says you shouldn't even try to bust a big bad habit or start a new regimen unless you really, really want to, because otherwise the resolution likely won't stick. Behavior change is hard. 

 



By the end of February, 22% of people have decided it's OK to give up on new habits.

Still, a majority of Americans — 86% — say it's best to keep chipping away at your New Year's goals.

To maintain new behaviors, psychology professor Wendy Wood at the University of Southern California says you should put them into practice in routine, easy-to-follow ways. In other words, if you make a New Year's resolution a habit or daily reflex, it's more likely to stick.



78% of those surveyed think it's still a good idea to maintain new year's ambitions at the three-month mark.

But by the end of March, 35% of respondents think it's fine if your resolutions have gone by the wayside. 



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'We've seen this coming': Why migrant children are dying in Border Patrol custody

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felipe gomez alonzo

  • Two young Guatemalan children died in Border Patrol custody in December, prompting an uproar over the conditions of the facilities in which migrants are held.
  • Experts and advocates have decried the Border Patrol stations known as "hieleras," which migrants have alleged are freezing cold, with inedible food, undrinkable water, and open toilets.
  • But the Trump administration has said the uptick in the number of families with young children that have been crossing the border recently are the main driver, acknowledging that the government facilities weren't built to shelter sick children.

The deaths of two migrant children in Border Patrol custody this month have triggered an uproar over the US government's practice of detaining young children after they cross the border and the alleged lack of medical care they receive in custody.

But advocates say the problem began long before President Donald Trump — and that the recent deaths in Border Patrol custody have been years in the making.

Jakelin Caal Maquin, 7, died on December 8, roughly 24 hours after Border Patrol detained her. Felipe Gomez Alonzo, 8, died late on December 24, after spending nearly a full week in various Border Patrol facilities.

US investigators are still determining the exact causes of the children's deaths, but New Mexico's medical examiner said in a statement that Alonzo tested positive for the flu.

In his first comments on their deaths, Trump blamed Democrats.

"Any deaths of children or others at the Border are strictly the fault of the Democrats and their pathetic immigration policies that allow people to make the long trek thinking they can enter our country illegally," the president tweeted on Saturday. "They can't. If we had a Wall, they wouldn't even try!"

Experts say the facilities are unsuitable for children

Both children were eventually brought to hospitals for care, but the temporary facilities that the children were initially detained in have come under particular scrutiny for what experts have described as poor conditions that are unsuitable for children.

"They're designed to be problematic and not safe," Anne Chandler, the executive director of Tahirih Justice Center's Houston office who's been doing this work for 20 years, told INSIDER.

She added: "They are designed and meant for punishment and deterrence, and this is nothing unique about this administration. These [Customs and Border Protection] facilities have been nasty and ugly since I started this work."

Read more: 'Dog cages,' dirty water, and freezing temperatures: Immigrants describe squalid conditions at border facilities

migrant children mcallen texas facility

Migrants have long complained about the conditions in the Border Patrol facilities where they're taken immediately after their arrests. They have nicknamed the stations "hieleras," Spanish for "icebox," because of the freezing temperatures.

Dozens of migrant children and their parents even submitted sworn declarations that alleged they had experiences involving inedible food, undrinkable water, overcrowding, and few opportunities to shower or clean themselves.

Those declarations were filed over the summer as part of a long-running lawsuit over the US government's treatment of detained migrant children. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) defended itself by pointing to a government report filed in June that declared the agency "continues to comply" with court-ordered rules governing how to treat migrant children.

But Colleen Kraft, president of the American Association of Pediatrics, told INSIDER she wasn't surprised when she learned of the deaths of Caal and Alonzo after they were detained.

"We've seen this coming," she said. "When you take a child and you put them into a facility that's cold, and they don't get proper sleep because the lights are on, and they have risk of infection from open toilets, it's a really bad combination of things that could really result in some very sick children."

'I've never seen a criminal baby'

jakelin caal maquin

One unique problem facing the Trump administration is the number of families with young children crossing the border and being placed in detention.

Border Patrol arrests for illegal entries remain at historically low levels, but the type of migrants coming to the US has evolved over time and begun posing its own set of challenges.

In previous decades, most of the immigrants crossing the US-Mexico border were Mexican men entering alone, seeking work. But now, more and more Central American families and unaccompanied children are crossing together in large groups, often directed by smugglers.

The Trump administration has pinned much of the blame on the migrants themselves, urging parents to avoid taking their children on long, dangerous journeys to the US, where they will then spend at least several days in detention.

"The unprecedented number of families and unaccompanied children at the border must not be ignored," Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said in a statement on Wednesday. "I once again ask — beg — parents to not place their children at risk by taking a dangerous journey north. Vulnerable populations — including family units and unaccompanied alien children — should seek asylum at the first possible opportunity, including Mexico."

Read more: After a 7-year-old migrant girl died in Border Patrol custody, Kirstjen Nielsen said 'this family chose to cross illegally', and critics are outraged she's blaming the death on the family

kirstjen nielsen

But Kraft said the migrants are "fleeing violence, and death, and recruitment into gangs," and don't make long, difficult journeys to the US on a whim.

"I've seen a need to try to tone down the rhetoric on people coming to the border as 'criminals,'" Kraft said. "Half of them are children. And I've never seen a criminal baby."

Kraft said she was heartened that CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan reached out to her on Wednesday to ask for assistance. CBP confirmed to INSIDER that the discussion took place, and said McAleenan will continue to seek AAP's input going forward.

"The fact that he reached out to us is very positive," she said. "We have 67,000 medical experts — use our expertise. Allow us unfettered access to these facilities. Allow us to train your personnel. Allow us to monitor and make recommendations on these conditions, and we can help you out."

After Alonzo died, DHS asked the US Coast Guard, the Department of Defense, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help provide healthcare to migrant children in its custody, partly because the agency didn't have enough trained personnel to handle all the cases itself.

'Why do we have these kids sleeping on cement?'

migrants cages mcallen texas

Trump administration officials, including Nielsen, have acknowledged in recent weeks that the holding facilities were originally designed for adult men — not families with young, sick children.

But despite Border Patrol's own rules stating that migrants should generally not stay in holding facilities longer than 72 hours, Chandler said she routinely encounters migrant children like Alonzo who have been held much longer.

Chandler said the conditions in Border Patrol stations may not always cause a child to fall sick — they are often already in "bad shape" after dayslong or weekslong journeys to the US through the desert with little access to food or water.

But she added that the Trump administration could implement simple measures to avoid worsening their conditions.

"Why do we have these kids sleeping on cement? We can't afford, as a nation, some type of warm beverage and warm food? These are children, right? It's cruel and unhealthy to say the least," she said. "If kids are coming over and they're sick, that is only going to get worse through this structure."

border patrol station

But part of the blame, she added, lies not just with the facilities, but on broader border policies the US government has implemented for decades. Increased fencing, heightened surveillance technologies, and expanded Border Patrol staffing have pushed migrants away from crossing in heavily patrolled areas.

"We put in measures to try to hamper the abilities of individuals to cross our border, pushing individuals into more desolate areas," Chandler said. "Most of the time these immigrants present themselves to CBP border people, but when they are pushed into these more remote areas to cross the border, their vulnerability and their health situation escalates."

Caal, for instance, had crossed with a group of 164 migrants in a distant part of the New Mexico desert, where Border Patrol staff struggled to accommodate them.

According to a government timeline, the "remoteness" of the area where Caal was detained meant that an hours-long bus trip to a different Border Patrol facility was "the best means to provide the child with emergency care."

Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Texas Democrat who sits on a subcommittee overseeing border funding, told the Associated Press he has pushed for border-security measures that research has shown work, including using ankle monitors to track migrants as their cases proceed through the court system instead of detaining them.

"There's so much money that the wall sucks up that it's hard to address some of the other issues," Cuellar said. "I wish the administration would understand that."

The US government has been partially shut down since December 22 because of Trump's demand for $5 billion to fund his long-promised wall along the US-Mexico border, and Congress can't pass a spending bill.

SEE ALSO: Trump threatens to close the border over a new caravan forming in Honduras that reportedly isn't even headed for the US

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NOW WATCH: Anthony Scaramucci claims Trump isn't a nationalist: 'He likes saying that because it irks these intellectual elitists'


We drove a $36,000 Honda Civic Type R to see if the most powerful Honda ever sold in the US lives up to the hype. Here's the verdict.

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Honda Civic Type R

  • The Honda Civic Type R is the fastest and most powerful car the company has ever sold in the US. 
  • The Civic Type R debuted in the US market in 2017. Sky high demand saw some dealers mark up the British-built car by as much as $10,000.
  • The Honda Civic Type R is powered by a 306 horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with VTEC. 
  • The 2018 Honda Civic Type R starts at $34,700 with an $895 destination fee pushing the as test price to $35,595.
  • We were impressed by the Type R's powerful engine, slick six-speed-manual transmission, confidence-inspiring handling, and surprising versatility. 
  • We were less than enthused with the boy racer styling, uncomfortable racing seats, and frustrating infotainment system. 

The Honda Civic is the best-selling compact car in America and has been a sales leader since its introduction more than four decades ago. 

However, it is hard to ignore how far the compact cars segment has fallen. According to Kelley Blue Book, sales of small passenger cars in the US fell nearly 7% last year. This year things are even worse with sales down roughly 14% over the first 11 months of the year. And there's no indication America's mass exodus to crossovers and SUVs seems will end anytime soon. 

But even a shrinking compact car segment will still account for roughly two million units sold this year and comprise around 11% of the entire auto market.

Read more: Honda just unveiled a new all-American SUV to take on Ford, Nissan, and Chevy.

The Civic's combination of fuel efficiency, reliability, and enthusiastic driving dynamics has helped it achieve long-lasting success around the world. 

In spite of the Civic's popularity in the market, US consumers have never had the chance to own the Type R, the performance halo atop the Civic lineup. That all changed in 2017 when Honda finally corrected this glaring omission with the introduction of the 10th generation Honda Civic Type R. 

It's the fastest and most powerful car ever sold in the US with the Honda badge. (The NSX is sold as an Acura in the US.)

The response from consumers was swift. The initial batch of 2,500 cars quickly sold out with many less scrupulous dealers selling the Type R for more than $10,000 above the sticker price. According to Honda, it's a practice the company's executive actively discourage. 

Read more: The Kia Stinger is Business Insider's 2018 Car of the Year.

This year, Honda imported another 5,000 Type Rs into the US and they have sold quickly well in spite of the price markups.

Recently, we spent a week with a 2018 Honda Civic Type R in Rallye Red. 

The base 2018 Honda Civic LX sedan starts at $18,940. However, the Type R's impressive performance credentials means it lives at a considerably higher price point and starts at $34,700. However, with the $895 destination fee, the as-tested price shoots up to $35,595.

Here's a closer look at the Honda Civic Type R.

SEE ALSO: We drove a $67,000 Audi RS3 and found that it's a 400-horsepower speed demon designed to take on the best from BMW and Mercedes

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The Honda Civic made its US debut in 1973.



During the 1980s and 1990s, the Civic became one of the best-selling cars in America.



It also cemented its status as a go-to for fun, reliable, and fuel efficient motoring.



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This 'herbal coffee' tastes just like the real thing — it helped me quit for good and clear my skin

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The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Dandy Blend Herbal Coffee Replacement

  • Dandy Blend, an herbal coffee substitute, features dandelion root, chicory root, barley, and rye and tastes just like the real thing.
  • Coffee, with its high acid content and diuretic properties, can lead to dry, inflamed skin, but Dandy Blend is packed with vitamins and nutrients that aid in the overall health of the body — including skin health.

Quitting coffee is one of those things I dabble in, without fail, at the beginning of every new year.

Intellectually, I know the habit isn't great for my body — but I always go back to it because, as researchers have shown, caffeine addiction is real. Some of the symptoms of coffee withdrawal prove it: Headaches, fatigue, and irritability set in when the caffeine-spiked morning Venti goes away.

I have another theory about coffee addiction, though. In my experience, the habit of making, pouring, grabbing, and sipping on a cuppa is just as addictive as the caffeine itself. When my hand is grasped around a warm mug and that sweet-bitter taste hits my tongue, I feel like the day has officially begun. So when I made up my mind to quit coffee once and for all, I knew I needed a replacement habit — something that would easily fit into my already-established morning routine and trick my body into perking up.

Enter herbal coffee, or more specifically, Dandy Blend.

Dandy is an herbal blend featuring dandelion root, chicory root, barley, and rye. It looks strikingly similar to instant coffee and is just as easy make; you simply scoop a heaping tablespoon or two into a hot cup of water and stir. Voilá! "Java" is served. But where Dandy differs from other herbal coffee alternatives I've tried is that it actually tastes like the real thing. Chicory root mimics that full-bodied coffee taste I've grown to love, but in a slightly earthier way.

With Dandy Blend in my cup, my first two coffee-free weeks flew by without any of the headaches and irritability I anticipated… probably because Dandy Blend is more than just a coffee substitute — it's actually healthy. Whereas coffee is highly acidic (which can cause heartburn and stomach issues) and a diuretic (which leaves the body dehydrated), Dandy Blend can reduce inflammation in the body (thanks to dandelion root) and regulate digestion (courtesy of barley and chicory root).

But the biggest change I noticed from cutting out coffee? My skin started to G-L-O-W.

"Coffee may cause insulin resistance, which is your body's ability to process sugar, and that can stimulate your sebaceous glands to produce extra oil," Jill Therese, a skin and nutrition specialist and the founder of Heal Your Face With Food, tells Business Insider. "Excess oil can lead to blocked pores on the skin and potential breakouts." Additionally, the caffeine content in coffee directly stimulates the adrenal glands. "This overstimulation of the adrenals over time can lead to dehydration and premature aging down the road," Therese says. So if you struggle with problem skin and consume coffee on a daily basis, you may want to cut back to see if caffeine is the culprit.

My improved skin tone wasn't just a result of eliminating coffee — it turns out, Dandy Blend is full of glow-inducing vitamins and minerals, too. "Dandelion root is like the nectar of the gods for your skin because of its ability to support the liver's detoxification process," Therese notes.

The liver has long been connected to skin issues, since it's basically the body's detox center. When the liver isn't functioning properly, it doesn't filter toxins out of the body, and these toxins can show up on your skin in the form of pimples, rashes, and even eczema and psoriasis. "Dandelion increases the flow of bile in the liver and as a result, all excess hormones and toxins are efficiently processed out of the body," Therese explains. "This leads to better digestion, less stress, and much clearer skin."

The chicory root in Dandy Blend helps as well. It's packed with antioxidants to neutralize the effects of pollution on the skin (like wrinkles, fine lines, inflammation, and age spots) and features high levels of Vitamins A and K — two of the most important vitamins for skin health. Vitamin A is famous for its anti-aging and anti-acne properties, while Vitamin K boosts the body's ability to heal, so skin issues clear up faster and don't leave scars behind.

As soon as I realized that ditching my daily cup of joe in favor of Dandy Blend would lead to better skin, I knew I'd be off coffee for good. I've even altered my go-to Dandy recipe to include additional skin-boosting benefits.

Want my clear skin recipe?

In an eight ounce cup of hot water, I mix together one tablespoon of Dandy Blend, a half tablespoon of bone broth collagen (for plumper, firmer-looking skin), and one tablespoon of coconut oil (since healthy fats help to keep skin moisturized from the inside out). You can also make this with cold water and add ice cubes, if you're into a cold brew-esque experience.

After a week of Dandy, I promise you won't miss coffee — or the inflammation, dehydration, and dull skin that come with it — at all.

Buy Dandy Blend Herbal Coffee at Amazon from $13

SEE ALSO: This $12 magnesium and vitamin C serum brightened my dull, tired skin practically overnight

DON'T MISS: This $8 reusable K-cup filter saves me more than $1,000 a year on coffee

Join the conversation about this story »

An exercise scientist reveals exactly how long you need to work out to get in great shape

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  • If losing weight is part of your New Year'sresolution, setting a timeline can help you achieve your fitness goals and have the best chance to keep it off.
  • This also helps if you want to get in shape before a big event coming up in 2019, like a wedding or reunion.
  • Exercise scientist Shawn Arent tells us just how long you'll need to lose those pounds and make the most progress in a short amount of time.

Shawn Arent is the director of the Center for Health and Human Performance at Rutgers University and a Fellow in the American College of Sports Medicine.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This piece was originally published on January 1, 2017.

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We drove a $58,000 Jeep Grand Cherokee and a $65,000 Land Rover Discovery to see which is the better SUV — here's the verdict

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Jeep Grand Cherokee HEMI

  • Jeep and Land Rover are two of the most experienced brands in the world when it comes to building SUVs.
  • With the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Land Rover Discovery, car buyers can get a dose of rugged off-road capability with everyday luxury.
  • At the end of the day, the Land Rover Discovery's modern design and superior driving dynamics came out on top. 

Jeep and Land Rover. Few can rival the duo when it comes to building rugged SUVs. But with the SUV market surging, everyone is jumping into the pond. As a result, that pond is quickly filling with posers — passenger car-based crossovers masquerading as the "real deal." Let's just say you might not want to take one of these vehicles down a rocky trail.

Fortunately for the off-roading faithful, the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Land Rover Discovery aren't just surviving. They are thriving.

The current fourth-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee has been a critical and sales success since it debuted in 2011. It's widely considered to be the best and most complete vehicle to ever carry the vaunted Jeep badge. On the other hand, Land Rover's fifth-generation Discovery arrived new for the 2017 model year. It's been a solid hit for Jaguar Land Rover's burgeoning lineup of premium SUVs.

Read more: We drove a $40,000 Jeep Cherokee SUV to see if the American icon is still one of the best in the business — here's the verdict.

With the Disco and the Grand Cherokee, off-road ruggedness is also complemented by a healthy dose of luxury, which is becoming more and more prevalent these days. After all, the vast majority of these SUVs will never see anything more rugged than an unpaved driveway.

Over the past year, we were able to experience both the Grand Cherokee Summit and the Discovery HSE Luxury on the roads in and around New York City. So which one is better? The grizzled veteran or Britain's newest hot shot? Let's take a look at the Grand Cherokee and the Discovery:

SEE ALSO: We drove a $32,000 Subaru Forester and a $35,000 Mazda CX-5 to see which one is the better compact SUV. Here's the verdict.

FOLLOW US: on Facebook for more car and transportation content!

Up first is the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Our test car was a posh Summit edition. It's one of the 10 trim levels offered by Jeep. The base Grand Cherokee starts at $30,695, while our luxurious Hemi-powered Summit edition with four-wheel-drive starts at $57,790.

In case you're wondering, the top-of-the-line 707-horsepower Trackhawk starts at an eye-watering $86,000. 



Aesthetically, the Grand Cherokee is quite the looker.



Seven years in, the styling remains fresh and modern.



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10 best-selling online classes from Udemy on sale for New Year's — all only $10 each

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Udemy 9

 

After the holidays, it's always tempting to cruise along the wave of relaxed holiday indulgence until the end of the year. We're all thinking, "I'll start anew in 2019," but no great endeavor ever starts with an arbitrary date on the calendar.

If you truly care about the goals you want to accomplish, just put your head down and take that first step.

Right now, you can give or get educational courses and start on your New Year's learning resolutions early with online-learning platform Udemy.

For the next 10 days, Udemy will be slashing prices on all its courses for its annual $10-a-course New Year's sale.

You can get more than 80,000 courses on the site for only $9.99. You'll get full lifetime access to the course, so you can always go back and reference specific lessons if you need to.

Click here to check out all the courses on the site or use the links below to go directly to a category and browse classes there:

Not sure what you want to learn? Keep scrolling to get inspired and see some of the top courses, which range from development to music theory, on Udemy.

SEE ALSO: How to get ebooks on your Kindle — and other expert tips and tricks

The Web Developer Bootcamp

The Web Developer Bootcamp, $10 (originally $200) [You save $190]

This popular class is packed with 42.5 hours of HTML, CSS, and Javascript lessons. You'll learn how to make real web applications, a blog application, and browser-based game.



Cryptocurrency Trading Course 2018: Make Profits Daily!

Cryptocurrency Trading Course 2018: Make Profits Daily!, $10 (originally $200) [You save $190]

Learn when to buy and sell cryptocurrency so you can maximize profits and minimize losses.



Learn to Code by Making Games - Complete C# Unity Developer

Learn to Code by Making Games - Complete C# Unity Developer, $10 (originally $195) [You save $185]

Learn C+, a powerful programming language, through game creation. Students rave about the quality of the course and instructors.



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