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I lived in Japan for 20 years and saw business there change in 7 big ways that we'd be remiss to ignore

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tokyo japan shibuya

  • Adrian Shepherd is a British productivity consultant who's lived and worked in Japan for the past 24 years.
  • Over that time he's had a front row seat to how business has changed over time — and says other countries should learn from it.
  • For instance, more and more Japanese people are putting their family first — and it’s something companies are still struggling to adapt to.

I first stepped off the plane into Japan back in 1994 into Osaka airport, back when Kansai International Airport was still being built. I had no idea what to expect. I didn’t speak the language and while I’d lived in other Asian countries before, this was the first one I was entering alone. Who knew that a 6-month study abroad program would forever change my life?

After finishing college, I returned to Japan to start my career not knowing where it would take me. All I knew was that I enjoyed teaching English, and Japan was looking for teachers. Now it's 21 years later, and I’m still here. While some things haven’t changed, a lot has and I’ve been witness to it all.

Here are seven ways business in Japan has changed over the past 25 years.

Tourism leads the way

One of the biggest changes in recent years has been the surge in tourism. Long ago, I remember walking down the arcade in Shinsaibashi in Osaka, and I was the lone blond-haired person in a sea of black. Today, that’s no longer the case. Tourism has exploded in recent years with visitors from China, Korea, India, Australia, American and many more dominating the landscape. So much so that restaurants have started offering menus in different languages to cater to their clientele. The numbers say it all; in 2017, Japan welcomed 28.7 million tourists — up from 10.4 million just three years earlier, blasting through the government’s target of achieving 20 million foreign visitors by 2020.

The official business language

I’ve owned a school for 18 years. When I first started it, the student body consisted of 65% female, 35% male. Today, those numbers are reversed. I attribute this to a change in the policies of many companies which want to make their company more international. Today, to become a manager at many of the top firms, a TOEIC score of over 700 is a prerequisite. Honda, Uniqlo, Lawson’s, Rakuten, Bridgestone and Nissan are among the companies that made the decision to make English their “official language” among management. It’s clearer than ever that Japanese companies are making a push to be more international.

adrian shepherd

Smoking

Like in many other countries, smoking was once cool. But in Japan, it was more than that. Business would often be discussed over cigarettes and alcohol. Drink parties are still common, but cigarettes have become pretty much a relic of the past. Some companies have even gone so far as to offerholidays as a reward for non-smokers. Just this morning, chain operator Skylark just announced they will impose a smoking ban from September this year.  How times have changed.

Limited editions

Japanese people love “limited edition” anything. Over the years, food has been its biggest recipient. It’s commonplace to see “seasonally limited” plastered on packaging in Kanji for chocolate, potato chips, and candies. Fans go bonkers for them. Haagen-Dazs got into the act a few years ago and has met with great success.

Family first

Someone once told me that the Japanese approach work differently. In the West, family comes first. We love our family so we work. Here it used to be — we work, so we can have a family. That trend has all but disappeared with the current generation. Besides a few holdovers from the old days, today more and more Japanese people are putting their family first and it’s something companies are still struggling to adapt to.

Cool biz

This was introduced back in 2005 as a means to reduce electricity consumption by limiting the use of air conditioning. It was quite controversial when it started as companies in Japan had been all about suits. It started out as the summer dress code for government workers, but has since spread to the private sector. Slowly, more and more companies are introducing casual Fridays.

6 p.m.

Recently, Japan passed a law stating that companies would be limited to 100 hours overtime a month. It’s scary what to think it was before. It was so bad that some companies were designated as “black companies” due to this practice. Thanks to social media, though, things are changing for the better. A client of mine told me he used to come home, on average, at 2 a.m. in the 90s. Today, he often leaves at 6 p.m.. That’s quite a change.

SEE ALSO: 5 powerful productivity tips I learned in Japan transformed my life and my business

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NOW WATCH: 12 everyday phrases that you're probably saying incorrectly


Disappointing stories reveal what it's really like to win the lottery

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jack whittaker lottery winner

  • Lottery players everywhere dream of hitting a multimillion-dollar jackpot with a winning ticket.
  • But there's a dark side to coming into a windfall of sudden wealth if you're not careful.
  • Here's what it's really like to win the lottery.

Becoming substantially wealthier thanks to a tiny piece of paper would make your life so much better, right?

In fact, recent research has suggested that lottery winners are more satisfied with life than those who lost the lottery and that this happiness is lasting, Business Insider previously reported.

But winning a lottery jackpot can also have some unwanted side effects.

Here's what it's really like to win the lottery.

lottery winners

Lottery players everywhere dream of hitting the jackpot:  in fact, the idea of striking it rich is enticing enough for the average American to spend $207 a year on lottery tickets.

In reality, though, your chance of winning is pretty slim— you have a better chance of getting struck by lightning than you do of winning a Mega Millions or Powerball contest.

But eventually, someone — or some people — will win.

lottery

If the winning numbers are listed on your ticket, your next step is to turn it into the local lottery commission.

Winning is understandably a life-changing moment that can cause stress or excitement, which can lead to rash decisions. But there are a bunch of precautions to take before you even turn in your ticket.

celebration lottery winner

Robert Pagliarini, a financial adviser, told Business Insider that taking "a very deep breath" should be the first thing you do if you win a large jackpot, followed by hiring an attorney, a tax specialist, and a financial adviser. "This financial dream team can help you make smart financial decisions and help you plan for the future," Pagliarini said.

For example, they can help you decide whether you want to receive payouts over a certain number of years, or collect the prize up front as a lump sum, which is considerably lower than the official jackpot amount.

Another thing to remember is that the jackpot's dollar amount and what you will actually pocket are two very different numbers, because lottery prize money is taxed — the IRS will collect 24% of it. For example, if you scored a $900 million Mega Millions jackpot, you'd have to give $216 million to Uncle Sam.

Lottery winner

Andrew Jackson Whittaker in West Virginia won a $315 million lottery in 2002, but he actually walked away with $114 million after taxes.

And even when you do win in a draw, sometimes others do as well — meaning you have to split the prize. In September, 40 lottery players in New Zealand won a jackpot of 1 million New Zealand dollars (about $655,000). But since they were forced to split it 40 ways, each received only 25,000 New Zealand dollars (about $16,500).

Other winners have landed themselves in hot water for not splitting the jackpot with colleagues or friends who contributed to the winning ticket purchase.

A former construction worker, Americo Lopes, cashed in a $38.5 million lottery ticket in New Jersey without telling his coworkers who had pitched in to buy it. They took him to court, where Lopes was ordered to share the prize money.

Many lottery winners experience what Pagliarini calls "the honeymoon stage of sudden wealth." He wrote in Forbes that winning such a large sum of money is an unsustainable high, and that winners should not let the prize money dictate how their lives change.

lottery ticket winners

Avoiding feeling lost "involves exploring what they want their new lives to look like and creating a strategy that uses the money to help them achieve this," Pagliarini said.

Another thing lottery winners should be aware of is people taking advantage of them. Lottery winners have to be prepared for mooching friends who want to benefit from their newfound wealth.

Sandra Hayes of Missouri split a $224 million Powerball prize with 11 people, but she soon found that certain acquaintances were more interested in her assets than her friendship. She said that when she dined out with her friends, they would belatedly announce that they didn't have enough money to foot the bill.

"These are people who you've loved deep down, and they're turning into vampires trying to suck the life out of me," Hayes told The Associated Press.

Stacey Lowry of Oregon dealt with a similar issue. She won $5 million but moved to a different town after her entire neighborhood turned against her, she said. People she trusted began asking for money or gifts, which she refused, and started bashing her name, she said. "The town went crazy," Lowry's friend Melany Collins told TLC. "Lots of rumors."

lottery ticket winner

Your winning might also bring out the worst in family members too.

When Denise Rossi won a $1.3 million jackpot in 1996 she abruptly decided to divorce her husband without telling him about the prize money in order to keep it all to herself. Her plot backfired three years later, though, when a court ordered her to transfer every penny of her winnings to her ex-husband.

One Pennsylvania man, William Post, won $16.2 million in 1988, and was pursued by a hit man hired by his brother who hoped to inherit a share of the winnings.

When people know you have that much money, you're also in greater danger of being robbed.

Whittaker, the West Virginia lottery winner, was sitting in his car one day when he was robbed of $545,000, he said.

Winners also have an increased risk of bankruptcy.

home foreclosure

With such a vast amount of credit available to them, winners sometimes opt to make purchases using credit rather than use cash and overspend.

Coming into a substantial amount of money can also mean being thrust into the spotlight — some states require you to publicly announce your winnings.

It's likely you might never enjoy anonymity again — which is partly why Pagliarini suggests hiring a financial team to help with the flood of media attention.

And in addition to media attention, you might be bombarded with money requests from investors and scammers.

jack whittaker lottery winner

Whittaker spent at least $3 million fighting lawsuits, his attorney said. Whittaker told ABC News in 2007 that more than 400 legal claims had been made against him since he won the lottery five years earlier.

And some winners lose big time after hitting the jackpot, even faring worse than they did before.

One winner in Canada, Sharon Tirabassi, spent most of her $10 million jackpot on extravagant homes, cars, designer clothes, parties, vacations, and handouts to family and friends. Within a decade, she was riding the bus again to her part-time job and renting a house.

A Texas man, Billy Bob Harrell Jr., won a $31 million jackpot in 1997. He spent it on things like vacations, homes, and cars, but he also obliged too many money requests.He eventually squandered all his money.

Another winner, Michael Carroll, won a $15 million British jackpot in 2002, but lost it all within five years.

These things might have been prevented had winners taken better financial precautions.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Take a look inside a $28.5 million NYC apartment on Billionaires' Row

I drove a $42,000 VW Golf R to see if the 'performance hatch' is worth the price — here's the verdict

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VW Golf R

  • The VW Golf R is a performance hatchback that adds premium touches and tech to the VW Golf GTI.
  • The Golf R is a bit expensive, but it's a versatile vehicle that's bliss to drive.
  • The best part is that a driver can access all the power the Golf R's 288-horsepower engine puts out. This is an ideal daily commuter for a grownup who still wants to enjoy the occasional track day or just likes to carve up winding roads.

The 2018 Volkswagen Golf R might be the most fun I've had behind the wheel so far this year.

True, I sampled the $41,735 compact four-door in Los Angeles, with access to all my favorite driving roads from the 10 years I spent in the City of Angels — not to mention the kind of traffic that tries men's souls, and provide an excellent test of whether an "enthusiast" car can handle everyday commuting duty.

The VW Golf has been a Golf for many years now in the US, but the nameplate, introduced in 1974, was first encountered by many Americans as a Rabbit. The Golf designation came later. VW has also restored the Rabbit moniker from time to time, and the car is now in its seventh generation.

Gen 7 has been around since 2012 (refreshed in 2014), so an obvious question is, "Has the Golf gotten long in the tooth?"

Maybe, but the design is sort of automotive perfection, the highest expression of premium European hatchback. And when you add the "R" treatment, upping the horsepower and handling, you aren't going to care if Golf could stand an update. (A new Golf is scheduled to arrive sometime next year.)

I had a grand time with the Golf R in SoCal. Read on to find out how it went.

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I picked up my 2018 Golf R at LAX, and the weather was completely spectacular. It would hold up for the two days I was in the City of Angels.



The car was sharp with a "Lapiz Blue Metallic" exterior and a "Titan Black" leather interior. For a sporty car, the Golf R in this tailoring was downright conservative.



I got to test the cargo capacity right away.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

I spent a day in one of America's richest cities, a town an hour from New York City where hedge fund managers live in multimillion-dollar homes. It was immediately clear why it's a haven for Wall Street types.

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greenwich ct

  • Greenwich is a town on Connecticut's coast, an hour outside of New York City.
  • In its 2019 ranking, Bloomberg ranked Old Greenwich as one of the wealthiest towns in the US.
  • The town is home to several hedge funds and is known for drawing wealthy Wall Street buyers who snap up summer homes or permanent residences.
  • I spent a day in Greenwich, and I could immediately see why the quiet, clean, and charming town is a haven for finance types.

On an unseasonably cold March morning, I got on the Metro North from Grand Central Terminal in New York. My destination: Greenwich, a town on Connecticut's coast about an hour from the city.

Greenwich is consistently ranked as one of the richest towns in America. In 2018, the average household income in its Old Greenwich neighborhood was $336,692, the 12th highest in the nation, according to Bloomberg.

The year before, two Greenwich ZIP codes— 06878 in Riverside and 06831 in Greenwich — ranked among the wealthiest in the US.

It's been known as a wealthy enclave for years.

"For more than a century, Greenwich, Connecticut, has attracted some of the biggest, newest, shiniest fortunes in America," Nina Munk wrote in Vanity Fair in 2006. "Today that money comes from the trillion-dollar hedge-fund business, which occupies a third of the town's office space, and whose managers are behind a decade of over-the-top real-estate deals, teardowns, and mega-mansions."

Greenwich's "hedge fund capital" nickname is well-earned: The city is also home to hedge funds including AQR Capital Management, Viking Global Investors, K7 Investments, and Axiom Investors.

Robin Kencel, a real-estate broker at Compass and one of the founding agents of the Greenwich office, said that about half of her buyers work in finance.

"The others are entrepreneurs, they work for corporations, they're in the entertainment business," Kencel told me. "Finance is still very important to Greenwich, but I think you'll find it's much more diversified in terms of occupations than when people were first coming out in the turn of the century and the trains came out and it was the summer homes for finance folks."

Kencel said she gets about 45% of her sales from Manhattan. Buyers from the city are "always surprised how quick it is to get here," she said.

I took the train out to Greenwich for a day to get a feel for the affluent community. Here's what it was like.

SEE ALSO: Inside the most expensive town in America, where tech moguls live in multimillion-dollar mansions and the average household income is over $450,000

DON'T MISS: See inside the secretive Seattle suburb that's home to Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, where streets are lined with opulent waterfront mansions behind tall gates and security cameras

My day began at Grand Central Terminal in New York City.



I got on a Metro North train toward Stamford, Connecticut, which would stop in Greenwich in under an hour. The train was fairly empty, but I imagined the train from Greenwich to New York City at the same time of day would be full of people commuting into the city.



My peaceful train ride lasted a little less than an hour. I got off the train at the Greenwich station.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

I slept on Casper's new adjustable bed frame with a built-in massage function — here's what it was like

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Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Casper Adjustable Pro Bed Frame

  • The Casper Adjustable Pro bed frame does it all, keeping the useful features of an earlier version of the bed frame, while piling on the luxury with an added massage function, a headrest tilt option, and an under-bed light.
  • If you're looking for a high-quality, adjustable bed frame with all the bells and whistles, the Casper Adjustable Pro won't disappoint.
  • At $1,695 for a Queen, it is an investment, but it's a worthwhile one if you want an adjustable bed frame that's easy to use and does more than just raise and lower your head and feet.

An adjustable bed frame can be a helpful solution for a better night's sleep if you suffer from nightly heartburn, have poor circulation in the legs, or you tend to snore.

Even if you don't experience any of these issues, this type of bed frame is great if you like to watch TV and work on your laptop in bed, or just want another way to elevate your bedroom to a calm, yet functional oasis.

While it comes with a hefty price tag, the Casper Adjustable Pro Bed Frame makes for a worthwhile investment thanks to its long list of features, like a built-in massage function, and ease of use.

Delivery and assembly

For testing purposes, I had the Adjustable Pro delivered to our back door.

However, it's important to note here that Casper offers free in-home setup with every purchase of an Adjustable Pro. I highly recommend taking advantage of this service, as the bed frame is extremely heavy. It came in two boxes — and each one required at least two people to carry up the stairs to our bedroom. If upper strength isn't your strong suit (it isn't mine), I would recommend a third or fourth person to make the job easier.

Initially, the setup looked like it would be quite complicated, but it turned out the biggest project was carrying the pieces of the frame up the stairs.

Once they were in the bedroom, the set up took a mere 15 minutes thanks to the color-coded control box that showed where the cables needed to be plugged in. No additional tools are needed for assembly, as the two pieces of the frame were easily fastened together with the provided Allen wrench.

After the frame was put together and the cables were plugged in where they needed to go, all that was left was screwing on the bed legs and attaching the retainer bar to the end of the frame. The retainer bar is what helps hold the mattress securely in place as the bed frame is adjusted, and it works — we had no issues with the mattress slipping around no matter what position it was in.

The frame is controlled by a clearly labeled remote that comes with batteries so you can start using it right away.

Read more: Casper also makes really impressive sheets — and they're all 30% off right now

Construction

The frame is sturdy, built from solid wood, steel, and foam, and features "wall hugging technology" that allows you to put the head of the frame right up against the wall. Thanks to this technology, there is no awkward gap needed in between the wall and frame, so you can keep your mattress aligned with your nightstand, and your bedroom aesthetics on point.

The bed frame itself is high enough to allow for under-bed storage, which doesn't get compromised by the frame's movement. Instead, the lower portion of the frame remains in place while the top layer of the frame is the part that adjusts the mattress.

Compatibility

As with most adjustable bed frames, the Adjustable Pro is only compatible with flexible foam mattresses, and will not work with spring mattresses or box springs.

The metal in a spring mattress doesn't allow for enough flexibility for this type of mattress to move with the frame, making the purchase of an adjustable frame a moot point. It will work with Casper mattresses like the Essential, the Casper, and the Wave, but you don't necessarily need a Casper mattress to get the most out of the frame.

We actually tested it with our foam AmazonBasics mattress and it functioned just as well, while giving the mattress even more support than the traditional platform bed frame we had been using. To me, this is another upside: You could splurge on the Adjustable Pro bed frame, while going with a more budget-friendly mattress like the AmazonBasics to offset that cost without sacrificing comfort.

Read more: The best foam mattresses you can buy online

Special features

Now for the fun part!

I was truly impressed with all the features the Adjustable Pro bed frame offers.

It has the ones you would expect in an adjustable bed frame, like the ability to raise both your head and your feet, but also comes with high-end features like the massage function that help justify the price. The built-in USB ports allow you to keep your phone and electronics charged, and if you do utilize the space underneath for storage, an under-bed light can help you find what you need.

I was especially a fan of the anti-snore preset button, and the head tilt function was ideal for watching TV and the days I wanted to work from home in bed. This is truly a game changer if you want to watch a movie in bed and maybe even eat some popcorn while doing so, and will make the days of having to prop up a bunch of pillows behind you a thing of the past.

The massage feature offers three different intensities for both the head of the bed and the foot of the bed, and there is also a zero-gravity button, which is apparently a position developed by NASA that helps relieve pressure on the body. Personally, I didn't find this one to be a setting I'd be using often as it raises both your head and feet, but the massage function was actually pretty relaxing.

Everything is run from the remote that comes with the mattress, which is clearly labeled, so you can tell what you're about to have the frame do. You can also save your favorite positions. It would have been nice to have the option of controlling the frame via an app on my phone for added ease, but the remote definitely gets the job done.

If you and your partner tend to sleep in very different positions, or if they snore and you don't, you can take it a step further with the Split King size option for an additional $995, which offers you the ability to each have control of your own side of the bed. In this case, two Twin XL mattresses are laid side by side on the frame, and the Split King frame has two sides that work independently. For example, you could choose to lay flat while your partner has their head raised to watch TV on the other side of the bed. This option also comes with two remotes for added convenience.

Casper Adjustable Pro Bed Frame (2)

Who is it for?

If you have the budget and you're someone looking to elevate (no pun intended) your bedroom from average to luxurious, this is a good way to do so thanks to all the features this frame has to offer.

From a more functional standpoint, it's also ideal if you suffer from indigestion and heartburn, or tend to snore. Being able to adjust your head to different heights can help eliminate some of these issues, allowing for a better night's sleep.

After testing this with a compatible foam mattress, both my partner and I also felt that it made our mattress even more comfortable, and offered additional support.

Final thoughts

In my opinion, the Casper Adjustable Pro Bed Frame is a worthwhile investment if you have the budget to allocate to it.

While testing, I had no issues with the functionality, found the frame extremely easy to use, and I loved all the features it offered. Perhaps most importantly, it made the mattress we were using even more comfortable.

If you aren't sure that this will be the bed frame for you, Casper offers a 30-night, risk-free trial. If you do change your mind within the trial period, you'll get your money back and a free return with pick-up service included, so there's no need to try and cram everything back in a box.

While we set this up ourselves, which was definitely doable, I highly recommend using the free, in-home setup service offered. It's free, so you have nothing to lose. For added peace of mind, a 20-year limited warranty is included.

The Casper Adjustable Pro bed frame is available in four sizes, including Twin XL, Queen, California King, and Split King, the last of which gives you and your partner the ability to control your own sides of the bed.

Buy the Casper Adjustable Pro Bed Frame, starting at $1,345 (Twin XL) to $2,690 (Split King and California King)

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The Steele dossier's most damning allegation against Michael Cohen is back in the spotlight after a new Czech media report

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Michael Cohen

  • The Steele dossier's most damning allegation against Michael Cohen is back in the spotlight this week following new reporting.
  • The dossier claims Cohen went to Prague in the summer of 2016, in part, to discuss paying off hackers working "under Kremlin direction against the Clinton campaign."
  • Earlier this week, the Czech magazine Respekt published a lengthy investigative piece that said the FSB, Russia's main counterintelligence agency, was running two hacking networks posing as private IT firms based in Prague several years ago. Czech intelligence services shut down the networks in 2018.
  • The report also raises new questions about a hotly-debated McClatchy story from December, which said investigators have learned that a cell phone traced back to Cohen sent signals that ricocheted off cell towers in the Prague area in late summer 2016.
  • During that same period — around late August or early September 2016 — the report said an Eastern European intelligence agency picked up surveillance of a conversation among Russians, one of whom remarked that Cohen was in Prague.
  • Cohen claims he has "never" been to Prague. But he told Mother Jones' David Corn in late 2016 that he "was in Prague for one afternoon 14 years ago." He also told The Wall Street Journal he had been to Prague in 2001.

One of the most hotly-contested allegations in the Steele dossier is back in the spotlight this week following new reporting that bolsters some of its claims.

The dossier was compiled by the former British spy Christopher Steele and consists of an explosive collection of memos alleging collusion between President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign and the Russian government.

One particularly damning memo in the dossier said Trump's longtime former lawyer, Michael Cohen, traveled to Prague in August 2016 to conduct "clandestine meeting/s" with Kremlin representatives.

According to the dossier, Cohen made the trip for two reasons:

  • To contain fallout resulting from damaging revelations about former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort's and former Trump campaign aide Carter Page's Russia ties.
  • To meet with Russian government officials, Romanian hackers, and others to discuss "how deniable cash payments were to be made to hackers in Europe who had worked under Kremlin direction against the Clinton campaign," and to do so in a way that could not be "fully established or proven."

This week, the Czech magazine, Respekt, published a lengthy investigative piece that said the FSB, Russia's main counterintelligence agency, was running two hacking networks posing as private IT firms based in Prague several years ago.

The group conducting the hacking operation reportedly did so using computers registered to the companies that had been transported within the Czech Republic by vehicles under Russian diplomatic cover.

According to Respekt, Czech intelligence services shut down the two networks in 2018.

Read more: Grading the Steele dossier 2 years later: what’s been corroborated and what's still unclear

vladimir putin

The author of the story, Ondrej Kundra, reportedly said the group operating out of Russia appeared to be part of a larger "international network, with similar groups of Russian spies based in [European Union] countries."

Kundra's reporting raises fresh questions about the merit of Steele's allegations against Cohen.

Cohen, meanwhile, claims he has "never" been to Prague. But he told Mother Jones' David Corn in late 2016 that he "was in Prague for one afternoon 14 years ago." He also told The Wall Street Journal he had been to Prague in 2001.

Respekt's story also brings a December story from McClatchy back into focus. McClatchy has consistently put out pieces that outline evidence investigators are said to have that corroborates some of the dossier's claims about Cohen's activities in the summer of 2016.

The outlet reported in December that investigators have learned that a cell phone traced back to Cohen sent signals that ricocheted off cell towers in the Prague area in late summer 2016.

During that same period — around late August or early September 2016 — the report said an Eastern European intelligence agency picked up surveillance of a conversation among Russians, one of whom remarked that Cohen was in Prague.

Read more: Evidence corroborating a key dossier allegation against Michael Cohen is stacking up

Michael Cohen and Donald Trump

Respekt's story this week said the BIS — the Czech Republic's primary counterintelligence agency — claimed it was responsible for shutting down tens of Russian and Chinese spies, including one Russian intelligence operation on Czech soil.

Earlier last year, McClatchy also reported that the alleged trip was a subject of focus for lawmakers on the House Intelligence Committee. Their interest in Cohen's whereabouts in 2016 was said to be fueled by what they considered to be weak documentation Cohen provided to show them where he was — New York and Los Angeles — at the time of the alleged Prague visit.

After he was widely criticized last year for tweeting out a photo of his passport cover as proof that he didn't visit Prague in 2016, Cohen showed the inside of the document to BuzzFeed News. According to the publication, Cohen's passport did not contain a stamp for the Czech Republic.

However, investigators working for the special counsel Robert Mueller have reportedly obtained evidence that Cohen first flew to Germany in late August or early September 2016, and then traveled to the Czech Republic through another means of transportation.

Were that the case, Cohen may not have needed a passport because both Germany and the Czech Republic lie within the Schengen Area, which encompasses 26 European countries and functions as a single jurisdiction for international travel.

Cohen pleaded guilty to several counts of tax evasion, bank fraud, campaign-finance violations, and lying to Congress as part of two ongoing criminal investigations: the FBI's Russia probe and the Manhattan US attorney's office's investigation into Trump's and Cohen's business dealings prior to the election.

Cohen has been cooperating with prosecutors and lawmakers since last year. He is set to report to prison on May 6 to begin a three-year sentence for his crimes.

SEE ALSO: Evidence corroborating a key dossier allegation against Michael Cohen is stacking up

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is being praised for her line of questioning at Michael Cohen's hearing — watch it here

The fan I rely on to keep me cool in my overheated NYC apartment is only $35

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Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Fan thumbnail 4_3

  • In recent years, I've moved from my childhood home to a college dorm to my own apartment, leading me to purchase a lot of new home goods.
  • One of the only products that's been with me through all of these phases is this $35 fan
  • The Vornado 573 Panel Air Circulator is small, affordable, and powerful enough to circulate air up to 60 feet, keeping my entire bedroom cool, and making it a valuable product that any room could benefit from having. 

We all have those products that hold a special place in our heart. Maybe it's the blanket that you've been sleeping with since you were a child, or the panini press that made you many a late-night snack in college. Whether it's value lies in it's usefulness, affordability, longevity, or your own nostalgia, there's something there. 

For me, it's the Vornado 573 Panel Air Circulator

You may be wondering why anyone would hold a fan near and dear, so — if you are — I can tell you. 

Where it all began — I don't even remember; that's how long I've had this thing! As a child, I spent my summers at a sleepaway camp and slept in cabins without any sort of air conditioning. This one did its job so well, I brought it with me when it came time for college too. Now I'm on my own in New York City, but in an apartment that lacks central air to keep me cool. 

One of the best parts of this fan is its price —  it's just $35. That's just about a week's worth of fancy lattes or a few months of a Netflix subscription. There are a lot of ways you could spend $35, but most do not offer a lifetime of cool, well-circulated air. 

Then, of course, there is the functionality. Interestingly, this fan is different than most you've probably used before. Technically, it's not even called a fan at all, but rather an air circulator (though I've been using the names interchangeably). A traditional fan moves the air directly around it, providing you with a cool blast. Air circulators, on the other hand, are more aerodynamic and keep air in the room moving continuously. So, rather than a quick blast of cool air when you're facing the fan, you get a cooler room, no matter where you are in relation to the device. 

The Vornado Panel Air Circulator comes in a small, medium, and large size. I have the small, which is powerful enough to circulate air up to 60 feet — perfect for use in a smaller bedroom. The device itself is small — it weighs just over 3 pounds, and is just over 10 inches tall, 10 inches wide, and 7 inches deep, making it small enough to keep on my windowsill. 

There are three speed controls, which come in handy depending on the cooling and noise levels you're looking for. I have a heat pipe right next to my bed, so my room can get very hot, even in the winter. On the high setting, this fan really does cool the air so I can actually sleep comfortably. It's not particularly loud, but it provides some nice white noise. Even when I don't need to cool down, I like to turn it on to the lowest setting at night to lull me to sleep.

Over the years, I've gotten a lot of use out of this product. Even more impressive than its longevity is the fact that it's sustained being dropped multiple times, but still works just as well.

This fan probably won't change your life, but if you're in the market for a fan (or an air circulator if we're being technical), it's a great product at a great value that you'll likely be able to use for years to come. 

Get the Vornado 573 Small Panel Air Circulator, $34.99, available at Amazon and Walmart

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How much a bottle of beer costs in the world's 9 cheapest cities

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  • You can get a bottle of beer for mere cents in some places around the globe.
  • The Economist Intelligence Unit's 2019 global cost of living survey identified the cheapest cities in the world.
  • The report also noted how much an average bottle of beer goes for in each location.

Want to crack open a cold one on the cheap?

Well, depending on where in the world you live, you might have to book a flight or two. The Economist Intelligence Unit recently put together the Worldwide Cost of Living 2019 survey. 

Read more: Here's how much a beer will cost you in 10 of the world's most expensive cities

The report looked into how much the average bottle of beer cost in some of the cities with the lowest costs of living on the planet. The prices ranged from $0.53 to $4.15.

Here's how much it costs to buy beer in the cheapest cities around the world:

SEE ALSO: The weed-killing chemical in a Monsanto lawsuit was found in beer and wine. Here's how worried you should be.

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SEE ALSO: Here's what happened after Marines and sailors in Iceland drank all the beer in town

9. Chennai, India

Chennai has a number of establishments that sell beer, from tapas bars to barbecue joints, according to Foursquare.

Current average price of one beer bottle in US dollars: $2.05

Last year's average price of one beer bottle in US dollars: $2.11

The average price of one beer bottle in US dollars five years ago: Data not available

The average price of one beer bottle in US dollars 10 years ago: Data not available



8. Buenos Aires, Argentina

In 2017, Paste magazine reported that a craft beer craze had swept through Buenos Aires, inspiring a number of bars and breweries to spring up.

Current average price of one beer bottle in US dollars: $0.89

Last year's average price of one beer bottle in US dollars: $1.45

The average price of one beer bottle in US dollars five years ago: $1.30

The average price of one beer bottle in US dollars 10 years ago: $0.44



7. Lagos, Nigeria

Lagos has hosted its own beer festival in the fall for the past two years.

Current average price of one beer bottle in US dollars: $0.53

Last year's average price of one beer bottle in US dollars: $0.50

The average price of one beer bottle in US dollars five years ago: $0.94

The average price of one beer bottle in US dollars 10 years ago: $1.78



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

How to remove the SIM card from your iPhone

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sim card iphone

  • Remove a SIM card from one iPhone and move it to another device in order to make and receive calls there to your existing phone number.
  • iPhone SIM cards only store small amounts of customer data, including your phone number and billing information.
  • They do not store contacts, images, apps, and other data, which must be transferred separately when you get a new iPhone.

Whether you're selling your old iPhone, trading it in for a new model, or sending it away for repairs, it's important that you remove the phone's SIM card.

A SIM card — or Subscriber Identity Module card — is both a phone's ID tag and its key. SIM cards store your phone number, and without the card in place, you cannot make or receive calls. 

Transferring your number and billing data from one iPhone to another is as easy is popping your SIM card into the new device. (You will have to transfer your contacts, photos, apps, and other data separately.)

How to remove the SIM card from an iPhone

First remove your iPhone's case (if you have one) to expose the phone itself. Then get your SIM card ejection tool, which you can purchase online. Or better yet? Grab a paperclip.

1. Locate the SIM card tray; it will be on the right hand side of your phone (as viewed from the front) and is shaped like a long, narrow oval with a small recessed hole.

iphone

2. Gently press the tip of your ejection tool or paperclip into the hole and press into the bottom of the SIM card tray until the tray pops out a bit. 

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3. After the tray pops open, slide it out and remove the small SIM card laying there within.

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4. Reinsert the empty tray to ensure the phone maintains its resistance to dust and water damage.

(Note that iPhones newer than the iPhone 7 are reliably dust and water resistant, but only when intact; older iPhones are not safe around water.)

5. Follow the same steps to insert the SIM card into your new phone.  

When should you remove your SIM card?

In the movies, the hero pops the SIM card out of his or her phone, ducks into a crowd, and disappears. In reality, your phone can usually be tracked even without a SIM card in place.

But it can't make calls, pull up contacts, or recall past SMS messages. So when you get a new phone, don't forget to pop your SIM card out of the old one and place it in the new device.

Removing a SIM card from an old phone is also a good idea even if you won't need it in a new device, as the card will be linked to your old phone number.

And before you have your phone repaired, spend the 30 seconds to remove your SIM card. SIM cards are not very expensive (and are even given out for free by many companies), but they do contain data that could lead to some costly problems if you lose the card or it falls into the hands of a scammer.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech

SEE ALSO: The best iPhone for every type of person and budget

Join the conversation about this story »

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I hate flying in basic economy — but there's an easy hack to get around some of the restrictions on American, Delta, and United flights

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Personal Finance Insider writes about products, strategies, and tips to help you make smart decisions with your money. Business Insider may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

suitcase bag travel woman traveler airport luggage

Ready for the least controversial opinion ever? Here it is: I hate basic economy.

The principle of it is what really irks me.

Basic economy is essentially a pared-down version of a regular economy ticket. Your seat is still in the main cabin of the plane, and you're generally entitled to the same on-board service as the rest of the economy cabin (things like free soft drinks and snacks), but there are more restrictions on the fare.

Each airline's rules are slightly different, but in general you won't be able to pick your seats, you'll board in the last group, and in some cases, you can't even bring a normal carry-on bag.

The three major US airlines — American, Delta, and United — have introduced basic economy fares over the past few years, claiming that the basic tickets enable them to lower the cheapest economy fares in order to compete against low-cost competitors like Spirit and Southwest. Basic economy fares are even being rolled out on international routes.

However, travel bloggers like Gary Leff point out that that's not really how these fares work. Since they've been introduced, the lowest prices haven't dropped — those same prices just get you less than they used to, trying to incentivize flyers to spend more money to get the same old level of service and amenities.

At best, basic economy is an inconvenience. At worst, it ends up costing you more, either to buy up in regular economy, or because you end up having to pay various additional fees for things like carry-on bags.

Fortunately, there's an easy hack to get around some of restrictions of basic economy: hold an airline credit card. In most cases, you don't even need to use it.

The credit cards for the "US3" airlines each come with perks and benefits that can cancel out the worst parts of basic economy. Here's how.

Click here to learn more about the Gold Delta SkyMiles card from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.

Click here to learn more about the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select card from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.

Click here to learn more about the United Explorer card from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.

SEE ALSO: American vs Delta vs United — we compared the 3 most popular airline credit cards and named a winner

Delta Air Lines

Delta's basic economy restrictions are the most generous of the big three. With a basic economy fare:

  • You can't reserve a seat before check-in, and are not guaranteed seats near traveling companions.
  • There are no same-day ticket changes — including if you miss your flight or standby for an earlier flight.
  • You're ineligible for complimentary upgrades (if you have elite status) or paid upgrades.
  • You'll be in the last boarding group, meaning all the overhead storage space may be gone by the time you board.

In the grand scheme of things, that's not too bad. But not being able to sit near traveling companions — or getting stuck in a middle seat — can be inconvenient, as can running out of overhead room and having to check your bag.

While there's no way to get around the inability to pick your seat — besides paying to upgrade to a regular economy fare — holding any of the regular Delta co-branded credit cards gets you priority boarding on any flight, regardless of whether you use the card or not.

The best version is the Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express. With priority boarding, you'll virtually always be able to find overhead compartment space. The card also offers a free checked bag for each traveler on your reservation, so you can just drop your bag off when you get to the airport if that's what you prefer.

Until April 3, the card offers 60,000 SkyMiles when you spend $2,000 in the first three months, plus a $50 statement credit when you make a Delta purchase in the first three months. The card's $95 annual fee is waived for the first year.

Click here to learn more about the Gold Delta SkyMiles card from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.



American Airlines

When you buy one of American Airlines' basic economy fares:

  • You can't choose your seat in advance.
  • No changes to your ticket are allowed.
  • You're ineligible for any kind of upgrade.
  • You'll board in the last group.

Like with Delta, you might have trouble finding overhead bin space since you'll board last.

Also as with Delta, the American Airlines credit cards offer priority boarding to cardholders, regardless of whether you use the card or not. Because of that, American specifically exempts cardholders (and elite status holders) from the carry-on restriction.

The best option is the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard. In addition to priority boarding, the card offers a free checked bag to you and up to four companions, and a 25% discount on in-flight purchases. It also earns 2x points at restaurants and gas stations, as well as on American Airlines purchases.

For a limited time, the card is offering an increased sign-up bonus of 50,000 miles when you spend $2,500 in the first three months. The card has a $99 annual fee, waived the first year.

Click here to learn more about the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select card.



United Airlines

Generally, United's basic economy is considered to be the worst of the three, partly because the costs of buying up to regular economy can be exorbitant. Restrictions include:

  • No advance seat assignment unless you pay extra (you'll get your seat at check-in or at the gate).
  • No upgrades.
  • No flight changes or refunds.
  • MileagePlus elite credits won't be earned.
  • You'll be in the last boarding group.
  • You're not allowed to bring a full-size carry-on — only a small "personal item."
  • You can only check-in online or through the United app if you're checking a bag. Otherwise, you'll have to check-in at the airport.

If you have a United credit card, you'll get priority boarding, and, in effect, be able to bring a regular carry-on bag on board — that's because the rule is enforced by not allowing anyone in the last boarding group, all of whom are on basic economy fares, to bring a carry-on with them.

You'll also get a free checked bag, although you must use the card to purchase your ticket in order to get that benefit.

If you try to bring your larger bag and you don't have priority boarding from the credit card (or elite status), you'll have to pay the checked bag fee plus an additional $25 "gate handling" charge.

The best card option for United flyers is the United Explorer Credit Card from Chase. The card offers 40,000 miles when you spend $2,000 in the first three months. While the card has occasionally offered higher targeted offers, those typically don't waive the $95 annual fee for the first year — this current public offer does.

In addition to the free checked bag, priority boarding, and ability to bring a carry-on when flying basic economy, the card also offers two complimentary passes to United Club lounges each year.

Click here to learn more about the United Explorer card from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

An attorney explains why she thinks the students involved in the college-admissions scandal probably knew about it

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2017 Teen Choice Awards – Arrivals – Los Angeles, California, U.S., 13/08/2017 - Actress Lori Loughlin with daughters Isabella Rose Giannulli (L) and Olivia Jade Giannulli (R). REUTERS/Mike Blake

  • Thirty-three parents were indicted on charges of paying up to $6.5 million in bribes to get their children admitted into top colleges in the recent college-admissions scandal.
  • Rick Singer, who is accused of being the ringleader of the $25 million scam, said the students involved did not know that their parents were negotiating behind closed doors to secure their admission. 
  • One attorney said the students likely knew about the fraud, especially when it came to being recruited as athletes for a sport they may never have even played. 

The wealth and fraud at display in the college-admissions controversy has stirred conversations about privilege and the flaws within the application process. Thirty-three parents have been indicted on charges of paying to fabricate their children's credentials to bypass the college-admissions process. 

The backlash has been widespread, even prompting responses from the White House. Colleges have already started to take action against coaches and administrators. Parents accused in the scandal have faced professional repercussions

However, aside from Sephora canceling its partnership with Olivia Jade Giannulli, the Instagram-famous daughter of Lori Loughlin — one of the parents accused in the scandal — there have been few updates about the repercussions the students involved have faced.

Rick Singer, who is accused of being the ringleader of the $25 million scandal, said that many of the students involved in the scandal were not aware of the measures their parents underwent to secure their admission.

Singer organized for students' exams to be corrected  after they completed them or taken for them, court documents saidProsecutors also alleged parents worked with Singer to create false, nonexistent athletic profiles, even going so far as to edit their kids' heads onto stock photos of athletes. 

The actions the parents are accused of raise the question of whether the students themselves were complicit in the plot.

"The idea that [the students] would sort of miraculously get in and not think that they had some assistance, it just doesn't make any sense," said Midwin Charles, attorney and founder of the law firm Midwin Charles & Associates LLC, on a recent episode of Business Insider Today.

Some cases of the alleged fraud entailed parents or the coach securing students a spot on a sports team they never played. One private equity firm executive agreed to have his son pose as a prominent football player on his USC application, despite his school not having a football team, according to the criminal complaint. 

"If you've never rowed crew and all of a sudden you show up on a college campus and you're part of the crew team, something's up," Charles said. 

The criminal affidavit suggests one student knowingly cheated on the SAT in 2015, and that a proctor who fed exam answers to a student "gloated" with her and her mother, Elizabeth Henriquez, "about the fact that they cheated and gotten away with it."

The argument of whether these involved students deserve their spot at these schools echoes the debate over affirmative action. 

"What people fail to recognize is that affirmative action is an admission policy where they are allowed to consider the race of the person for purposes of diversity. But it doesn't mean that that person isn't also qualified," Charles said. "If you come across a person of color [in] a highly elite school or even job, trust and believe that that person of color is qualified for the job."

The outrage over the scandal can be attributed to the fact that privileged students already have an advantage in the admissions process, Charles said. The practice of legacy admissions has also faced criticism. Because a parent had the means to attend or donate money to a school, some argue legacies could be considered a form of affirmative action.

"People tend to forget there is affirmative action for wealthy students," Charles said. "You cannot get certain jobs without having a higher-education degree. The system is stacked in favor of those who can afford the tutor. Those students [invovled in the scheme] fell within that group, and yet their parents still chose to bypass that hard work and just cut a check."

To hear the full interview with attorney Midwin Charles and her opinion as to why the students in the college scandal probably knew about it, watch the full episode of Business Insider Today below. 

 

Read more:

SEE ALSO: 8 colleges were named in the massive college-admissions scandal. Here's how they're responding.

SEE ALSO: 14 ridiculous things people actually put on their college applications

Join the conversation about this story »

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11 smarter buys that can help curb your plastic bottle use — from a $32 reusable water bottle to a $210 filtration system

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Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

shutterstock_407755582

With roughly 9.2 billion tons of plastic flowing into our oceans each year, it's hard to fathom the impact we're having on our big, mostly blue marble. According to a recent study conducted by some 10,000 volunteers on behalf of Greenpeace and theBreak Free From Plastic movement, the majority of these plastics are coming from single-use plastic bottles produced by brands like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Nestlé.

But, while the world is beginning to recognize and consider that soda and other soft drinks are little more than sugar, water, and carbonation (as the case may be), there's one habit many of us still can't shake: bottled water. But what's a poor bottled-water fiend to do?

"Filtering water at home," it turns out, "is the best and most cost-effective solution," senior scientist at the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Dr. David Andrews tells Insider Picks.

"In many cases, bottled water may not necessarily be better than tap water," Andrews says, "and oftentimes companies do not provide much disclosure in terms of where that water came from and whether it is any better than municipal water."

So, now that you have no reason not to kick your plastic water bottle habit, how do you know which kind of filtration system to get, or whether it's even worth getting one at all? The EWG has a Tapwater Database of 30 million state water records. Enter your zip code, and you'll learn all about all the terrifying things that may be coming out of your tap and which contraptions or systems will help eliminate, or at least neutralize them. 

Friday, March 22 is World Water Day, and whether you have a shred of concern for the environment or not, here are a few ways to give the oceans and your bank account — a break. You're welcome.

SEE ALSO: I'll never use plastic straws again after finding these metal ones that don't change the taste of my drinks at all

A plastic-free, reusable water bottle

Klean Kanteen Reflect, available at Jet, $31.95

Far and away the easiest solution, Klean Kanteen makes a single-walled reusable water bottle called the Reflect, which is made without even a speck of plastic. Pretty cool, huh?



Alkaline water in (mostly) eco-friendly packaging

Flow Alkaline Water (6-pack), available at Amazon, $12.69

Shop all flavors of Flow at Amazon

Alkaline water is a big hit these days, but most of it is presented to us in the form of pesky, ephemerally useful plastic bottles. Flow is not only made using 68% renewable materials, including a plant-based cap. Better yet, it's cheaper than most other Alkaline water brands.

 



A faucet-mounted water filter

PŪR Advanced Faucet Water Filter with LED Filter Status Indicator, available at Amazon, $49.99

Shop all PŪR filters at Amazon

A faucet-mounted filtration system is probably the easiest, most affordable solution for those looking to improve the taste of their water. Mercury, lead, chlorine, and some 60-odd other contaminants are removed using a PŪR water filter.

What PŪR doesn't pull out is fluoride, and it probably won't rid your water of any heavy sulfur smells either. Still, this is a quick and easy solution to bad-tasting or chlorine-rich water (some municipalities add a great deal of chlorine to tap water), and it doesn't take up any counter or kitchen space.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

American Express has a little-known program called AmEx Offers — you can use it to get huge discounts and bonus points

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Personal Finance Insider writes about products, strategies, and tips to help you make smart decisions with your money. Business Insider may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

amex gold card

  • Almost every American Express card includes a card benefit called AmEx Offers, which gives huge discounts or a lot of bonus rewards points when you use your card for purchases at certain retailers, restaurants, or services.
  • When you have different cards, such as the Platinum Card® from American Express and the Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express, you'll receive different offers on each card.
  • In the past, I've taken advantage of offers like a $25 statement credit when I spent $100 at a clothing store, or a 3,000-point bonus when I spent a total of $300 at grocery stores over a few months.
  • AmEx Offers frequently change, so make sure to check out your current offers often.

American Express issues a number of different credit and charge cards that have unique perks, benefits, and rewards.

For instance, the AmEx Platinum offers access to more than 1,000 airport lounges around the world, while the American Express® Gold Card earns bonus points at US supermarkets and restaurants, and the AmEx Gold Delta earns Delta Air Lines frequent-flyer miles and comes with perks like priority boarding and free checked bags.

One perk that all AmEx cards have in common, though, is a program called AmEx Offers. The AmEx Offers program provides cardholders with discounts at various stores, restaurants, or services, or, if not a discount, then chances to earn extra points.

The interesting part of the program is that each offer is specifically targeted to individual users and cards. That means that you and I might get different offers, and I might even see different offers across my several different AmEx cards.

For example, earlier today I saw on Twitter that a blogger I follow had gotten an offer for a $20 statement credit or 2,000 bonus Membership Rewards points after spending at least $50 at Amazon — however, I didn't get that offer on my cards. I did, however, see an awesome offer for a statement credit after making a purchase at J.Crew on one card, and an offer for 2x points at Best Buy on another.

Obviously, the purpose of this is the same as any coupon, to incentivize you to make a purchase you wouldn't normally. In the case of AmEx Offers, it's to prompt you to use your card when you otherwise might not. For example, I'm currently looking at AmEx Offers available on my Delta SkyMiles card, and I see offers for a few restaurants near my home in New York City. Normally, if I were eating at one of these restaurants, I would pay with my Chase Sapphire Reserve, since that earns 3x points on all dining. However, the AmEx offer is for a $15 statement credit after spending $75. That's up to a 20% refund on dinner, which is worth more than the 225 Ultimate Rewards points I'd earn on the check with my Sapphire Reserve.

Read more: I pay $1,000 in annual fees for the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Amex Platinum — and as far as I’m concerned, the math checks out

With AmEx Offers, the more cards you have, the more likely you get a valuable offer or find something worthwhile to you. While that's not necessarily a reason to open a ton of AmEx cards, it does provide an extra benefit should you choose to open a few cards to earn the welcome bonuses (and work on your credit score), or if you're debating whether or not to keep a card.

AmEx Offers can change frequently, and you have to choose to add them to your cards. The best way is to do it on a computer by logging into your account, or through the AmEx mobile app.

Here's how to find your AmEx Offers:

  1. Log in to your online AmEx account.
  2. You'll see icons in the top right for each of the cards you hold. Click which one you want to find offers for.
  3. Once you're viewing the correct card, scroll down on the main account page. Keep scrolling and click "View All" to see all available offers on that card.
  4. When you find one you want to use, click "Add to Card." If you want to confirm that it's been activated, click the "Added to Card" tab.
  5. Repeat for each card you have.

In the AmEx app, just click the "Offers" button at the bottom, and follow the same steps.

It's important to note that many offers have expirations dates, so be sure to keep an eye on them to make sure that you use them in time. Also remember that while you'll get some different offers on each card, there will also be some overlap.

The bottom line

AmEx Offers is a great way to save money with discounts — or earn bonus points — on your normal shopping.

While I don't often go out of my way to take advantage of an offer somewhere that I wouldn't otherwise shop, there have been plenty of times where I've earned tons of bonus points or gotten a huge discount by loading an AmEx Offer onto one of my cards, then remembering to use it for the relevant purchase later.

Click the links below to learn more about some of Insider Picks' favorite cards that feature AmEx Offers.

$550 annual fee: Click here to learn more about the AmEx Platinum Card from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.

$250 annual fee: Click here to learn more about the AmEx Gold Card from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.

$95 annual fee (waived the first year): Click here to learn more about the AmEx Gold Delta Card from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.

SEE ALSO: The best credit card rewards, bonuses, and benefits of 2019

Join the conversation about this story »

Brooklinen's $100 bathrobe is the little luxury I never thought I needed

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Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider, Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

blrobe

After a long day, there's nothing better than coming home, kicking your feet up, and getting away from it all. But living in a crowded city like New York and coming home to a first-floor walk-up with unpredictable heat pipes isn't always the picture-perfect vision of relaxation. That's why I've come to appreciate my little luxuries — small splurges that make me feel great and indulgent every time I use them. 

A nice aromatic candle, some fun face masks, and cozy slippers that keep your feet toasty are the kinds of things I crave for those "treat yourself" moments — and now I'm adding a super cozy bathrobe to that list. Specifically, Brooklinen's new Super-Plush Robe

Brooklinen has already made its name as a beloved bedding startup, and the brand's recent venture into towel territory was met with just as much praise. One of our reporters was impressed by how luxurious they felt for towels that are relatively inexpensive. And it makes sense; Brooklinen is known for providing a great value by delivering high-quality products at relatively affordable prices. With all of the hype around the brand, both from my coworkers and beyond, I had some big expectations for this robe. Within moments of putting this thing on, it was clear that whatever my expectations were, this robe would exceed them.

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When they say Super-Plush, they mean it. This robe is so luxuriously soft, like the kind you would expect to find at a fancy spa — except you can actually wear it from the comfort of your own couch. It's thick without being too heavy, so it keeps you nice and warm when you hop out of the shower, but it doesn't smother you with heat. That's because this robe isn't made with a thick fleece, but rather 100% long-staple Turkish Cotton, a premium material that's equally soft and absorbent. Before the robe even gets to you, Brooklinen washes it with enzymes that act as softening agents so you get that just-washed, soft feeling immediately. 

I already had a robe before getting this one. It was a terry cloth, fleece-lined thing that I loved wearing to lounge around, but when I tried to use it in place of a towel I was unimpressed. It barely helped me dry off and I was left with a robe that would stay damp for hours. That's not a problem with this Brooklinen robe at all. As I mentioned before, it's absorbent. If you want to get technical, it has 380 GSM (grams per square meter), which refers to the towel's density. The more dense, the more absorbent, and in this case 380 GSM is pretty substantial.

If you're not one for technicalities and would prefer a more personal anecdote, I've been using this robe in place of my usual towels and it does an exceptional job. Not only does the robe absorb water faster than my usual towels, but it dries super fast, so you can count on it keeping you toasty and warm — not chilly and wet.

Another important thing to note is that this robe is Oeko-Tex certified, which means it's been tested and is made without harmful chemicals or production processes. If you're going to be wrapping your body in something, it's nice to know it's totally safe.

It's clear that Brooklinen paid attention to all the tiniest details when designing this piece. There are just three unisex sizes to choose from — XS/S, M/L, XL/XXL — as well as only three neutral colors. I opted for an XS/S in Smoke, a light gray-ish blue color, which fits just right. There's a sturdy waist tie which helps adjust the robe's fit, whether you want it looser or tighter at any given moment. The sleeves are cuffed at the edges, though you can uncuff or cuff them even higher if you find the sleeves to be too long or too short. There's a piped collar which you can really bundle up in for some extra warmth.  You'll also find two pockets on the sides, which are deep enough to actually hold something like a phone — but work just as well as a place to keep your hands when they're chilly. 

The Super-Plush Robe is Brooklinen's first wearable item, and it did not disappoint. I've been wearing it a lot — after a shower, lounging around after work... I've even fallen asleep wrapped up in it. It really is that cozy. While $100 might seem like a lot for an item you can't even wear outside of the house, when compared to robes of similar quality from similar brands like Coyuchi and Snowe, Brooklinen offers an average, if not more affordable price.

I didn't think I needed a new bathrobe, but now this is a little luxury I don't want to go without. Cuddle up in one of these and I have an inkling you'll feel the same way. 

Shop the Brooklinen Super-Plush Robe, $98, here

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This $50 posture corrector from 'Shark Tank' might seem gimmicky — but it actually eliminated my back pain at work

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Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider, Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

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  • The BetterBack (as seen on "Shark Tank") is a $49.99 posture corrector that has completely eliminated any back pain I usually experience while sitting at a desk. 
  • I have two slipped discs in my spine and suffer from chronic back pain. I've tried plenty of treatments and products, but this is the only one that has worked.
  • If you have any sort of back pain or posture problems from sitting at a desk all day, this product is actually worth your money. 
  • See also: 25 indispensable desk accessories we use to stay focused and comfortable at work

Take it from someone with two slipped discs in her spine — sitting at a desk all day is no walk in the park. In fact, sometimes my back is in so much pain that an actual walk in the park is no walk in the park, either. 

According to the American Chiropractic Association, half of all working Americans experience some form of back pain — including the youngest rung of the workforce. That means the "aching backs" we used to hear about from our parents now often apply to us, too.

This is often a result of the poor posture that desk jobs cause us to develop. I know for a fact that I'm not the only 26-year-old with bad posture, but there aren't quite as many people my age who also suffer from severe and chronic back pain. 

In addition to things like stretch, yoga, chiropractic treatment, physical therapy, and massage, I've tried a ton of different ergonomic chairs, quite a few back rests, seat cushions, balance balls, etc. to combat the constant stress on my back that's caused by my slipped discs and generally terrible posture. After dumping way too much money into treatments that didn't help much, I found one thing that has worked for me — a $49 product you might have seen on "Shark Tank" by the name of the BetterBack

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The BetterBack isn't particularly pretty, and yes, its name is a little gimmicky, but it is extremely effective at reducing back pain. It looks almost like a harness, with a soft pad that sits behind your back and a connected set of straps that are placed over your knees as you sit. It uses the tension from the straps to correct your posture and relieve pressure from improper spinal alignment, effectively eliminating discomfort.   

This is going to sound really dramatic, but hear me out: The Better Back has had a drastic impact on my quality of life at work. 

After attempting so many ineffective and expensive treatments and testing out so many products to help my back, I honestly never thought that I'd be able to feel "normal" again, or that I'd ever experience what it was like to have zero pain in my spine. But the first time I tried the Better Back, it completely eliminated the buzzing discomfort I was so (frustratingly) accustomed to, which was usually at its worst when sitting at my desk.

When I try to describe to people the sense of physical relief it gave me, I pretty much come up short of words. And for a writer and someone who generally just talks too much, that's an extremely rare occurrence for me. I'm talking like, angels singing in a choir from above, children throwing flowers at your feet, suddenly a whole new person type of pain relief — I hope that gives you somewhat of an idea. 

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The company suggests that you use the Better Back for about 15-30 minutes a day to help correct posture and re-train your body's sitting position — but I just tend to keep mine on all day. Plus, because it folds up neatly into a built-in zippered pouch, it can also be easily transported for use at home or on airplanes. 

You don't need to have a diagnosed spinal injury for the BetterBack to help out your discomfort. It wasn't necessarily invented to help severe spinal problems — it just happened to make an extra significant difference for me because of the intensity and persistence of my pain. But if it helped me as much as it did, I can only imagine how helpful it would be to others who experience general discomfort from misaligned posture. 

If you suffer from back pain, particularly as a result of sitting at your desk all day, I cannot recommend the BetterBack enough. 

Check out the BetterBack on Amazon for $49.99

SEE ALSO: The 32 best things we ever bought on Amazon for under $25

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The 23 top Marvel Cinematic Universe sidekicks and supporting heroes, ranked from worst to best

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black panther danai gurira

When you think about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, popular heroes like Captain America, Iron Man, and Black Panther probably spring to mind first. Or you might even think about the notable villains like Loki and Killmonger.

But the MCU is also rich with memorable supporting characters that have made their mark on their respective movies. Standouts like the rock-man Korg in "Thor: Ragnarok" or Black Panther's technologically savvy sister Shuri stole the show in great movies.

With Nick Fury getting the supporting treatment in "Captain Marvel," Business Insider has gathered 23 of the most memorable (some more than others) supporting heroes and "sidekicks" in the MCU and ranked them worst to best. 

Love interests like Natalie Portman's character in "Thor" and Rachel McAdams in "Doctor Strange" were left off the list because the MCU unfortunately casts talented actresses in wasted, underwritten roles. There are, though, a couple exceptions, like Gwyneth Paltrow's Pepper Potts in the "Iron Man" movies and Lupita Nyong'o's Nakia in "Black Panther," who have memorable roles that stand apart from the main character.

Below are 23 notable supporting heroes and sidekicks in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, ranked:

SEE ALSO: After several 'Fantastic Four' flops, Disney should use its upcoming Netflix competitor to revamp the franchise

23. Erik Selvig ("Thor" and "The Avengers")

Played by Stellan Skarsgård

The astrophysicist Selvig was first introduced in 2011 in "Thor" and reprised his role in "The Avengers," and then the sequels to both of those movies. You probably wouldn't realize that he's shown up that much in the MCU, even though he's been a big help to Thor and the Avengers, because he's kind of forgettable. And he spends much of "The Avengers" brainwashed. 



22. Sharon Carter ("Captain America: The Winter Soldier" and "Civil War")

Played by Emily VanCamp

Sharon, the great-niece of Peggy Carter, gets in on the action in "The Winter Soldier" as an undercover operative, but in "Civil War," her character is downsized to a very weird love interest for Captain America (weird, because Cap was in love with Peggy back in the 1940s).



21. Harley ("Iron Man 3")

Played by Ty Simpkins

Harley is a very, very supporting character who shows up in "Iron Man 3" and helps Tony Stark after his armor shuts down and leaves him stranded. The movie is so divisive, though, that perhaps the one thing most people can agree on is that this kid is the best part of the movie. 



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Shaq is joining the board of Papa John's — here's his simple piece of advice for NBA players who don't want to lose their millions

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  • Retired NBA player Shaquille O'Neal just invested in nine Papa John's pizza chain restaurants and joined the company's board of directors.
  • With career earnings that totaled $292 million, Shaq currently ranks as the third-highest-paid player in NBA history.
  • We asked Shaq what financial advice he gives young NBA players who want to hang on to their fortunes.

With career earnings that totaled $292 million, Shaquille O'Neal currently ranks as the third-highest-paid player in NBA history. Shaq stopped by Business Insider to talk about his collaboration with home security technology company Ring, to raise awareness about how homeowners can better protect their property. We asked Shaq what financial advice he gives young NBA players who want to hang on to their fortunes.

Following is a transcript of the video:

[Shaq is the third highest-paid player in history. His career earnings totaled $292 million.]

I would simplify it for them. I would do what one of my friends did to me. I would take a $100 bill and rip it in half. And I'd say "$50, don't even look at it. Don't look at it."

Now, this other $50 you can play with. Do whatever you want. But if you're smart, you'll rip this $50 up and you save that. And now this $25, do whatever you want. You want a house, 10,000 square feet? Do it. You want cars? Do it, but keep it right here.

If my son makes it to the NBA, that's exactly what I'm gonna tell him. The NBA does a great job of, you know, preparing people and warning people, but you know, sometimes you just get so much money and you forget — like if you've got a five-year deal worth $100 million, you're making $20 million, you spend like, $20 million in the first year, you'll be like "You know what? I've got another $20 million coming."

That's how guys are thinking. I always tell them "Don't think about what's going on now. Think about what has to happen in the future."

I never spent, like, an NBA check like my first four years. Then, when I got married and had kids, all that changes, but that's, to simplify it for them because, you know, a lot of people don't have the business mind or the business tact, so you have to break it down in their language.

So, I would say save 75%, and this 25%, do whatever you want to do with it. Take care of your family — boom, bam. House, apartment, car — but don't ever do more than this.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This video was originally published on November 13, 2017.

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Amazon's baby registry is easy to use and offers tons of benefits to expecting parents — here's how it works

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Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider, Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

baby registry

  • There are many places to start a baby registry, but Amazon is an increasingly popular option.
  • The huge selection of products on the site, great discounts, return rates, and Prime shipping deals make Amazon a great choice for many expecting parents.
  • If you're considering starting an Amazon baby registry, we've outlined everything you need to know below.

Becoming a new parent is an exciting, albeit stressful, time for many. Preparing for your little one to enter the world is no small task. There are a lot of products to consider buying, but luckily, you don't have to take on the process alone. 

Making a baby registry clues your family and friends in to what products you actually want and need as you prepare for your baby's arrival. There are many retailers where you can start a baby registry and each offers a different model and benefits for parents-to-be.

Amazon's baby registry is becoming an increasingly popular option. It makes sense — Amazon Prime has over 100 million subscribers globally and many people admit that they're most likely to start their online shopping search at Amazon. So, chances are some (or all) of the people who'll be purchasing gifts from your registry have Amazon Prime, or are at least pretty familiar with the shopping experience on Amazon. The familiarity, along with Amazon's huge selection of products, low prices, and some special bonuses, make the site a great choice to start your baby registry.

If you're an expecting parent who's looking to create a baby registry and are considering using Amazon, keep reading for an overview of how the service works. If you're someone who will soon be buying gifts for a parent-to-be, we'll cover how you can use the service too. 

Read more: 38 clever baby shower gifts that new parents will undoubtedly appreciate — all under $100

Amazon Baby Registry for expecting parents

Head to the Amazon baby registry landing page and click the "get started" button. You'll be led to the sign-up page, which asks a few questions that cover pretty much everything surrounding the registry, from where gifts should be sent to your due date. 

Once you've created your registry, start adding the gifts you'd like. Amazon has a selection of millions of products, but if there happens to be something you want that isn't on the site you can add it using Universal Registry.

Simply add the Universal Registry button as a browser plug-in, and you can add items from any site to your registry. With the Amazon app you can access and update your registry whenever you want, from wherever you are. Once your registry is full, Amazon will organize it by categories to make it easy for gifters to search and decide what they want to buy. 

You can choose to make the registry public, so anyone can find it by simply searching your name. You also have the opportunity to make it visible to only the select people who you've shared the link with. You even can make it completely private and only visible to yourself, in case you just want to keep a running list of the products you need but aren't looking for gifts. 

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Other benefits of registering with Amazon

Beyond how easy it is to make a baby registry on Amazon, the retailer offers a few other great benefits if you choose to use their service.

When you sign up, you'll get a welcome box filled with up to $35 worth of baby products. They also offer the option for group gifting. If you plan on choosing particularly pricey items, this is a great feature, as it allows your friends and family to contribute to bigger gifts together. 

The Diaper Fund is another unique and practical feature. Amazon realizes that one of the biggest costs parents will incur while caring for their newborns is diapers — the average annual cost of diapers is $550. In anticipating that cost, you can choose to opt in to the Diaper Fund, which allows friends and family to contribute any amount of money, up to $550 total, toward diapers. You'll get this money in the form of an electronic Amazon gift card, which can be used toward diapers and a variety of other eligible baby products as well.

Amazon Baby Registry for gifters

You have the easy part — simply head to the designated baby registry, and pick what you'd like to gift them. If they've opted into group gifting, you can go in on a gift with other friends or family members.

If you don't have Amazon Prime, you'll have to spend at least $25 to be eligible for free shipping. If you have Prime, you'll get the regular, two-day free shipping rates you've come to know and love. 

Read more: 29 useful Amazon Prime benefits to know that go beyond free two-day shipping

What's next?

Congrats on welcoming you're new little one to the world.

Once you're registry is closed, you may wonder what will happen to all of the items that were never purchased. If you still want them, buy them yourself and Amazon will give you a discount to help you out.

The registry-completion discount is 10% normally, but 15% if you're a Prime member. This is a great way to stock up on baby products for less, so definitely take advantage of the savings. 

You'll likely be pretty tired taking care of a newborn and returning gifts from your registry will probably be one of the last things on your mind.  Amazon totally understands and gives you a full 90 days to make free returns of the items on your registry. Plus, you don't have to drive to a store and return it; you simply have to ship the box back. 

Amazon's baby registry wants to make it easy, so when your baby comes you can just sit back, (try to) relax, and enjoy the time with your little one.

Start your Amazon baby registry today

Read more Insider Picks parenting buying guides 

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How to unfriend and unfollow people on Facebook

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FILE PHOTO: Silhouettes of mobile users are seen next to a screen projection of Facebook logo in this picture illustration taken March 28, 2018. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo

  • You can unfriend someone on Facebook in two clicks, but it can't be undone without your former Facebook friend accepting a new friend request.
  • Your Facebook "friend" won't be notified when you unfriend them, but you'll disappear from their friend list.
  • Blocking offers a more complete solution to ending all contact on Facebook, while unfollowing is a gentler, less permanent solution than unfriending or blocking.

There are a lot of good reasons to cut ties (in some form) with Facebook friends.

Maybe your sister-in-law just won't stop posting pictures of her dog or your cousin is cluttering up your feed with political screeds. Or maybe you just went through a breakup and you'd like to not see photos of your ex back out on the dating scene.

And in many cases, a quick look through your list of "friends" will reveal dozens of people you hardly know at all and really don't need to stay in touch with.

Whatever reasons you have for wanting to unfriend, unfollow, or block a Facebook friend are your business; fortunately, the actual unfriending process is a lot simpler than the complex weavings of the interpersonal issues behind your motivation to do so.

Unfriend someone on Facebook in just two clicks

A word of warning: it's almost too easy to unfriend someone on Facebook, and while they won't know you did it (until they check their list of friends), if you want to re-establish the connection, they'll realize you unfriended them when they get a new Add Friend request.

So make sure you want to go through with it, then...

1. Go to the person's Facebook page or locate them on your list of friends.

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2. Locate the gray box that says "Friends" with a checkmark before the word and click on it.

FB Unfriend 2

3. At the bottom of the dropdown menu that appears, click "Unfriend."

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And just like that, the connection is severed. You will no longer see their posts and yours won't be shared with them.

But do you really need to unfriend someone, or is there a better solution here?

Unfollow someone on Facebook

You automatically "Follow" all of your friends on Facebook, and you can follow other pages, like that of an artist or business, without being friends. The posts made by anyone you follow can pop up in your feed and can often be the source of annoyance that's making you consider unfriending in the first place.

Instead, consider just not following the person anymore by going to their page and finding the box that says "Following" at the top right of the screen. Click it and then hit "Unfollow [Their Name]."

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You will no longer be served content the person creates or shares, but you will still be friends. You can change back to following any time.

Block someone on Facebook

If unfriending isn't enough, and you don't ever want to have contact with someone on Facebook again (someone you unfriend can still send you messages and new friend requests), it's time to block them.

Click on the three dots in a gray box beside the word "Message" at the top right of the screen on their profile (as pictured above), then hit the word "Block" from the dropdown menu.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: 14 of the most important early Facebook employees — and where they are now

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NOW WATCH: Watch Google unveil Stadia, its new video-game platform that streams across devices without a console

We tried 'Game of Thrones'-themed scotch, wine, and beer — and we threw anything we didn't like out the Moon Door

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Game of Thrones booze

  • HBO's "Game of Thrones" debuts its eighth and final season on April 14.
  • To celebrate the season premiere, HBO worked with Johnnie Walker, Ommegang, and several other purveyors to make themed collections of scotch, wine, and beer.
  • If you want to drink and know things like Tyrion Lannister, fill up your goblet with these "Game of Thrones" beverages. 
  • It's important to note that not all states allow alcohol deliveries, so check your local laws before you buy.

"Game of Thrones" eighth and final season has inspired tons of companies to join forces with HBO to launch "Game of Thrones"-themed products ahead of the April 14 premiere date, from board games and clothes, to action figuresfurniture, and more. Several alcohol purveyors have also released limited-edition, themed scotches, wines, and beer.

Each scotch bottle represents one of the prominent houses in Westeros, the wine bottles bear the house sigils, and the beer bottles showcase the Iron Throne in all its terrible glory. If you or someone you know randomly has the urge to shout, "DA KING IN DA NORF" every time you pour a drink, these bottles are a must-have.

Like the Night's Watch, our team at Insider Picks has taken a binding oath to protect our readers from sub-par products, so we tested each of these bottles and threw anything we didn't approve of right out the Moon Door. Luckily, there was no boar hunt scheduled after we tried the wines, so no one wound up in bed nursing a gouged gut with some milk of the poppy. 

These scotches are limited edition and may not be available for delivery in your area at this time. Click here to learn more about availability and for further updates to see when they are available in your area.

Game of Thrones scotch

While dark wings may bring dark words, dark liquor tends to have the opposite effect in my experience. Each of the major distilleries in Scotland were assigned a House to represent with a limited-edition batch of single malt whiskey that displays the unique characteristics of the families.

For example, Lagavulin is one of the most well-known scotch brands in the world, so it makes sense that it produced the House Lannister edition, who boast some of the most well-known figures in Westeros.

Similarly, the distillery for Talisker Select Reserve is located on the Isle of Skye, making it a perfect match for House Greyjoy, which hails from the Iron Islands in Westeros.

In addition to these limited-edition batches, Johnnie Walker has also released a special blend of its famous scotch whiskey, representing the ultimate opposing force in Westeros, the White Walkers. While most dark liquors are best served at room temperature, this blend was designed, like the Wights themselves, to thrive in the cold. Plus, the bottle reveals a hidden message when frozen.

Note: Prices and availability vary depending on your location

Buy the Oban Bay Reserve The Night's Watch Scotch Whiskey on Drizly

Buy the Cardhu Gold Reserve House Targaryen Scotch Whiskey on Drizly or from Reserve Bar

Buy The Singleton of Glendullan House Tully Scotch Whiskey on Drizly or from Reserve Bar

Buy the Talisker Select Reserve House Greyjoy Scotch Whiskey on Drizly

Buy the Lagavulin Aged 9 Years House Lannister Scotch Whiskey on Drizly

Buy the Clynelish Reserve House Tyrell Scotch Whiskey on Drizly

Buy the Dalwhinnie Winter's Frost Highland House Stark Scotch Whiskey on Drizly or from Reserve Bar

Buy the Royal Lochnagar Aged 12 Years House Baratheon Scotch Whiskey on Drizly

Buy the White Walker by Johnnie Walker from the Whiskey Exchange or from Reserve Bar



Game of Thrones wine

There are many differences that separate the various regional communities in Westeros, but one thing that connects them all is alcohol consumption. Wine is one of the most popular drinks in Westeros, with original blends created from the southern lands of Dorne all the way through Winterfell, and even the free folk north of the wall have their own concoctions.

To honor wine's role in this world, the show has partnered with master winemaker Bob Cabral to create original blends specifically dedicated to represent "Game of Thrones." We tried two such blends, the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Dornish wines tend to have the best reputation among Westerosi sommeliers, and the Pinot Noir is most similar to those flavors. It possesses a delightful sweetness while maintaining a sharp bite so you don't feel like you are drinking grape juice.

Similar to the Pinot Grigio, Insider Picks senior reporter Owen Burke noted that the 10% Riesling included in the Chardonnay, "was not offensively sweet," and that the wine had a, "buttery, dry taste," which would go great paired with Sansa Stark's favorite food, lemon cakes. 

Beyond taste, one of the main selling points of these bottles is the beautiful labels, which display the different house sigils. 

Buy the Game of Thrones Pinot Noir for $24.99 from Wine.com

Buy the Game of Thrones Chardonnay for $24 from Reserve Bar



Game of Thrones beer

The Ommegang Brewery elected to produce a "Game of Thrones"-influenced beer. Unlike standard brews, the "For The Throne" beer is truly designed for royal consumption. It is a Belgian-style golden ale that is fermented with Pinot Grigiot, viognier grape juices, and champagne yeast, served in a Clegane-sized bottle.

While the bottle itself is not as artfully crafted as the wines or the scotches, uncorking the top like it is a bottle champagne definitely makes it feel like a special occasion. Winter is here, so make sure that you are equipped with a goblet of this unique beer when it is finally revealed who winds up sitting on the Iron Throne.

Note: The beer has not been released for online sale yet, but you can use the brewery's beer finder to see where it is sold near you. 

Click here to use Ommegang's Beer Finder to locate a For The Throne vendor near you

 



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