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NYC's first-ever Neiman Marcus just opened in Hudson Yards. The CEO has described the store as a 'magical' and 'immersive' experience — here's what I found inside

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neiman marcus nyc

  • Neiman Marcus opened its first New York City store in Hudson Yards, the city's new $25 billion neighborhood.
  • The 188,000-square-foot luxury department store spans three floors of the Shops and Restaurants shopping complex.
  • Geoffroy van Raemdonck, CEO of Neiman Marcus Group, said the new store will create "a personal customer experience that is seamless and magical."

Neiman Marcus, the luxury department store with the same owner as Bergdorf Goodman, just opened its first New York City store at Hudson Yards, the city's new $25 billion neighborhood. 

The 188,000-square-foot store, which opened March 15, spans three floors of the Shops and Restaurants at Hudson Yards, the site's seven-story luxury shopping complex.

Geoffroy van Raemdonck, CEO of Neiman Marcus Group, says the new store adapts to how the next generation of luxury customers shops. Unlike other Neiman Marcus stores, the location at Hudson Yards includes a beauty salon and spa, a pop-up florist, and a kitchen that offers cooking demonstrations, tastings, and mixology classes.

"Neiman Marcus Hudson Yards will be all about providing physical and digital experiences in a way not seen at other stores, creating a personal customer experience that is seamless and magical," van Raemdonck said in a press release.

I walked through the store a few days after its grand opening — here's what it looks like.

SEE ALSO: I got an inside look at the brand new, 7-story 'vertical shopping experience' in Hudson Yards, which the developers insist is not a mall — here's what I saw on opening day

DON'T MISS: I climbed Vessel, the $200 million, 2,500-step sculpture in Hudson Yards — and the view from the inside blew me away

New York City's first Neiman Marcus just opened at Hudson Yards, the new $25 billion neighborhood on Manhattan's west side that includes office buildings, luxury residential towers, a public plaza, and a 150-foot climbable sculpture called the Vessel.

The department store is part of a one-million-square-foot, seven-story shopping complex called the Shops and Restaurants at Hudson Yards. The developers don't call it a mall, instead referring to it as a "vertical shopping experience" or an "urban retail center."

Source: Hudson Yards, Bloomberg



Neiman Marcus occupies space on floors five, six, and seven of the building.

Source: Hudson Yards



I got a peek of the brand-new Neiman Marcus on opening day, but I went back a few days later to take a full tour.

Geoffroy van Raemdonck, CEO of Neiman Marcus Group, says the new store adapts to how the next generation of luxury customers shop.

Source: Neiman Marcus



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The perks of REI’s lifetime membership far outweigh its one-time $20 cost

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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.

REI

  • The $20 lifetime REI membership is a great deal. 
  • Members receive 10% off of almost everything in the store automatically (paid back in an annual dividend), access to members-only deals, deep discounts on REI classes, events, and adventures, and can vote on the company's board of directors, among other perks.
  • The $20 fee quickly pays for itself, especially if you or someone in your family plan to buy from REI. 

Chances are that you've likely heard of REI if you’re either an outdoor enthusiast or someone who has just had to buy a winter coat once in their lifetime. What might come as more of a surprise, though, is their $20 lifetime membership program.

Although paid retail memberships rightfully inspire some skeptical thinking, this is one that, all things considered, is actually an insanely good value.

There are the obvious benefits: REI is a household name in the outdoors world for good reason, and carries a dauntingly huge selection. They have a strong sense of community and awesome customer service, the latter of which I'm willing to wager is influenced by the former. If you spend over $50, you get free shipping. And if you want to look online to see if a product is stocked locally to buy and pick up in person at your convenience, you can do that, too.

Not to mention, they treat their employees pretty dang well, with some of the best benefits for a part-time job out there; and that’s always something worth supporting, especially if it doesn’t change your shopping experience.

If you're like most customers, you might be unsure the benefits are actually worth parting with $20 upfront — even if they are for a lifetime. You might be concerned you won't shop there frequently enough, being more price-tag loyal than retailer. Or, if you're already stocked with gear or just like to travel light, you might be wondering how frequently you'd really use it anyway. 

But keeping all these things in mind, I'm convinced REI's co-op membership is worth it, even if it's just for a new pair of boots in four years. REI has one of the best, no-questions-asked return policies (though curtailed in recent years due to policy abuse), meaning that if you do buy the same pair somewhere else for less, you may come to regret it when it's not as simple to replace after an unfortunate break. And if you happen to lose your receipt, like most of us are prone to do, your membership keeps a log of everything you've bought, for a seamless process. 

And when all are considered together, that $20 price tag turns out to be a great value.

Below, I take you through all the benefits that come with an REI membership, so you can see for yourself.

Receive 10% back on your purchases

Basically, everything at REI is perpetually on sale for you. As far as you are concerned, 10% is raining from the sky.

When you buy something using your member number, REI gives you 10% of the price back in an Annual Dividend in March. So essentially, they give 10% of your own money back to you.

Though you won't receive a refund on certain products (like those already discounted), you will essentially have a coupon to the store in general, which makes spending on best-selling products that never hit the clearance rack feel a little bit better. 

While the membership is $20, it's also for a lifetime, so it'll pay for itself over time.

And even if you don't have much faith in yourself ever dropping enough money to physically see that $20 fee in your pocket again, family members are able to use your membership as well, making it easier to rack up purchases and your annual return.



Get members-only special offers

Often, REI will host member-only sales where members can get up to 50% off. Though you only see 10% back of what you buy full-price, you might not have to use that benefit as much as you think.



Play, learn, and travel for less

When REI boasts about having a community, it's wise to believe them.

Most REI stores have frequent classes on subjects that might come in handy for anyone, whether you're looking to take up an activity outdoors and don't know where to start, or even if you want to dare something more dangerous in the wild where mistakes have serious consequences. In the REI outdoor school, you can learn everything from outdoor survival to fixing your bike.

For REI members, these outdoor classes, events, rentals, shop series, and REI Adventures are either massively discounted or completely free. In this case, the membership is often what you make of it. 



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Most people like PopSockets phone grips, but I think they’re overrated — here's why I prefer the Speck GrabTab instead

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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.

speck grabtab

  • While many of my colleagues and friends love their PopSockets grips, I think they're overrated. 
  • In my experience, the Speck GrabTab ($9.95) is a better phone grip and stand.
  • It might not come in as many colors or patterns, but it's more secure, more comfortable to hold, and less obtrusive. 

There are over 40 million PopSockets grips attached to phones around the world. Some of those grips belong to our very own editors, who regularly rave about the affordable phone accessory as one of the most useful things they own

Their usefulness is clear, plus they come in hundreds of different designs (including swappable ones) to suit your personality, but... I still don't love them. 

The accessory I prefer over PopSockets grips is Speck's GrabTab ($9.95). 

speck grabtab 3

Read more:20 innovative and cool accessories for the new iPhone you got for the holidays

The GrabTab also sticks to the back of your phone and works as a grip and a stand. Instead of a button that pops out, it's a sliding loop that can be adjusted to your finger size or locked tightly in place. 

Ever since I started using the GrabTab a few months ago, I can't imagine holding my phone without it. Because the loop is attached to the card-sized, 3 mm-thick backing, there's no way my phone will fall from my hands, unless my finger comes out of the loop. With PopSockets grips, I sometimes felt like I could drop my phone because there's nothing to catch the fall if my finger slips. With GrabTab grips, whether the train jolts unexpectedly or I fall asleep with my phone in hand, my phone is safe since I'm almost "wearing" it. 

The sliding design is also conducive to a range of finger sizes and holding positions. You can loop any of your fingers through, or loop more than one finger as well. Personally, I've found the most comfortable position (shown in the top image) is putting my middle finger through the loop while my other fingers rest lightly on the back and my phone sits in my palm. 

speck grabtab 2

Read more: I used to think PopSockets Grips were unnecessary — now they're my favorite iPhone accessory under $10

Despite the fluid flexibility of the grip "mode," the GrabTab is sturdy and secure as a stand. When you slide the loop all the way to the end, it clicks into place and lets you prop up your phone. I've never realized how convenient a stand is when watching videos, but I've discovered (likely light years behind the general populace) just how nice it is to keep my hands free as I follow along cooking and workout videos or watch a TV show while eating lunch. 

The GrabTab's slim construction is supposed to allow for wireless charging, but according to other reviewers, this capability can unfortunately be hit or miss. If you're looking for a wireless charging-compatible accessory, the GrabTab may not be reliable. However, as a general grip and stand, I've found it to be very reliable. It sticks firmly to my phone case and stays there, no matter how hard I try to pry it off, and always feels comfortable and secure in my hand. 

The one area I will say that PopSockets is miles ahead in is the range of color and design options. Though there are a handful of solid colored, striped, and patterned GrabTab styles, they can't compare to the full rainbow of PopSockets available.

With these flaws in mind, the GrabTab still prevails for me and is where I would spend my $10. 

Shop the GrabTab for $9.95 at Amazon here

Shop the GrabTab for $9.99 at Best Buy here

Join the conversation about this story »

7 celebrities who love to shop at Target (TGT)

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Jessica Alba Target

  • Target occasionally attracts celebrities to its stores.
  • Some of these famous individuals have a longstanding relationship with the brand, while others were likely just picking up odds and ends when they were spotted there. 
  • From Beyoncé Knowles to Ariana Grande, check out the stars who have been snapped shopping at Target.

Running to Target is a mundane chore for most of us. But when you're Beyoncé Knowles, a trip to the national retailer can cause a stir on Twitter. 

Cosmopolitan reported that the star appeared to be perusing the Los Angeles area store's baby aisle early in January.

Read more: Target is raising its minimum wage as part of its latest barrage in the war for talent

But Knowles isn't the only celebrity to flock to the famous red bullseye. A number of celebrities have been photographed frequenting Target stores and events.

Here are some celebrities who seem to love shopping at Target:

SEE ALSO: 2 major things Target employees would like to tell shoppers, but can't

DON'T MISS: Target is doubling down on a key advantage it has over Amazon — but one analyst is sounding the alarm

SEE ALSO: Fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli — whose self-titled brand once ran at Target — is accused of shelling out $500,000 to get his daughters into USC

Knowles' January Target run wasn't her first. She was previously spotted at the store in 2017, browsing with her mom, Tina Knowles Lawson, and her daughter, Blue Ivy. And back in 2011, the singer celebrated the anniversary of an East Harlem Target store.

Source: Harper's Bazaar



It's not surprising that Jessica Alba has been seen frequenting Target. Her Honest Company sells a wide range of products through the retailer, after all.

Source: Today, Ranker, Target, Radio.com



Liam Hemsworth has been spotted in Target at least twice. He visited an Alabama store solo in 2018 and visited a Target in California with his now-wife Miley Cyrus in 2017.

Source: Daily Mail, Hollywood Life



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The legendary hotelier behind some of the world's top boutique hotel brands says luxury hotels are going to transform in 2 major ways in the next 10 years

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ian schrager

  • Ian Schrager, legendary hotelier and Studio 54 cofounder, says luxury hotels will change in two main ways over the next 10 years.
  • Luxury hotels will get smaller, with only 80 to 90 rooms, but each room will be larger, Schrager says.
  • These hotels will also be very expensive with the finest details, "catering to that 1%," he said.
  • Schrager, credited with inventing the modern boutique hotel, has created successful hotel brands including EDITION and PUBLIC, as well as the Delano Hotel in Miami and the Mondrian Hotel in West Hollywood.

Ian Schrager, the legendary hotelier behind hotel brands like EDITION and PUBLIC, says luxury hotels are on the precipice of a transformation.

Schrager, who cofounded Studio 54, the legendary New York City nightclub known for its wild parties and high-profile guests like David Bowie and Andy Warhol in the 1970s and early '80s, says that hotels are "manifestations of popular culture and the people."

Read more: Ian Schrager, the cofounder of Studio 54, says the legendary NYC nightclub could be recreated today — but it would be different in 3 key ways

And according to Schrager, the US is headed in a direction where "you have the 1%, and then you have everybody else, with a declining middle class," he told Business Insider. "And I see hotels following the same thing."

Luxury hotels will change in two major ways over the next 10 years, Schrager says.

"For the luxury hotels, I see them getting much smaller, maybe 80 to 90 rooms," but the rooms will be "much larger," he said.

These more intimate hotels will also be "very expensive" with the finest details, "catering to that 1%," Schrager said.

Checkin’ in

A post shared by @ nicoleschumann on Mar 19, 2019 at 1:40pm PDT on

 

"I see nothing in the middle," Schrager said. "And I see a lot of less expensive, value-oriented hotels, but very sophisticated and very cool, with lots of entertainment and food and beverage possibilities."

Schrager's PUBLIC Hotel in New York's Lower East Side opened in 2017 offering a modern luxury experience at rates as low as $150 per night, as Business Insider's Noah Friedman and Lamar Salter previously reported.

His newest hotel, the Times Square EDITION in New York City, has 452 guest rooms and nightly rates that range from $430 to about $2,800.

SEE ALSO: Take a look inside the most expensive hotel room in the world, a 2-story sky villa designed by Damien Hirst that runs $100,000 per night

DON'T MISS: The top 14 boutique hotels in the world that should be on every luxury traveler's list

Join the conversation about this story »

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

Delta is running a last-minute deal on its credit cards — their bonuses are worth double the normal amount

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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.

Delta A330-300

  • Delta is currently offering the highest-ever public welcome bonuses on its three main credit cards
  • With just over a week left, there isn't much time left to get this deal — the offer ends April 3.
  • Even if you've had one of the cards before, you can still get the bonus on the others.
  • When you open the $95 Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express and spend $2,000 in the first three months, you can get 60,000 SkyMiles. The card normally offers 30,000 SkyMiles.
  • The $195 Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express is offering 75,000 SkyMiles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles when you spend $3,000 in the first three months.
  • Delta's premium credit card, the $450 Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express, is also offering 75,000 miles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles, although you'll need to spend $5,000 in the first three months.

Until April 3, Delta and American Express are offering the highest-ever publicly available welcome offers on their co-branded credit cards. These offers have been available a few times in the past, but we've never seen them go higher (other than for a few lucky, targeted people).

There are three offers available, and you're eligible only if you haven't had the card before. But because the three cards count as different products, you can earn a bonus on each of them. For example, if you've had the Gold Delta card before, you can still get the bonus on a new Platinum Delta card.

The three cards and offers are:

While Delta SkyMiles aren't necessarily the most valuable frequent-flyer mile currency out there, they definitely still offer value, and they remain worth collecting.

Read more: 7 travel-rewards credit cards that'll reimburse your Global Entry fee every 4 years

The cards have a lot of similarities

They all offer perks for Delta flyers, including one free checked bag for each person on the cardholder's reservation, priority boarding so you can settle in sooner and snag space in the overhead compartments, a 20% discount in the form of a statement credit on Delta in-flight purchases, and no foreign-transaction fees.

The cards all earn 2x SkyMiles for every dollar you spend with Delta and one SkyMile per dollar on everything else.

However, there are also a few differences between the three cards. The Gold Delta card has a $95 annual fee, waived the first year, which brings it in line with the less expensive, mainstream airline credit cards.

The Platinum SkyMiles card's annual fee is $195 and isn't waived the first year, but it has an exceptionally valuable benefit that makes up for it. 

Every year on your card-member anniversary, you'll get a free domestic companion pass. A companion pass is essentially a buy-one-get-one-free coupon. When you book an economy-class flight for yourself anywhere within the continental US, you can get a second ticket for free, other than minimal taxes and fees.

For me, the value of the pass at least cancels out the annual fee, and the card offers enough value to mean I'm making a profit in some cases. I used my first companion pass this past fall to book a flight for my wife and myself — the tickets were about $225 each, but when I redeemed the pass, we only had to pay $24 in taxes and fees for her ticket.

The Delta Reserve card has a higher $450 annual fee, but it has a few additional perks that can make it worthwhile for some frequent flyers. 

Like the Platinum SkyMiles card, it offers a domestic companion pass. However, that pass can be used for first-class tickets, not just economy. Additionally, the Delta Reserve offers full access to Delta Sky Club lounges whenever the cardholder is flying with Delta (the Gold and Platinum SkyMiles cards offer discounts on single-access Sky Club passes).

The Reserve has one other major perk, which can be crucial for travelers who hold Delta Medallion (elite) status.

Delta Medallion members are eligible for complimentary, space-available upgrades to first class and Delta One on flights within the US and the region, including Mexico and Central America, and extra-legroom seats on international flights.

Upgrades clear in hierarchical order based on a number of factors, including each passenger's Medallion status level, the original fare class they booked, and a few other factors. The first tiebreaker for people with the same Medallion level and fare class: whether they hold the Delta Reserve card. Reserve cardholders will be prioritized over those without it. If there's only one seat left and two members are still tied and both have the Reserve, it continues down the list of tiebreakers.

For travelers who fly a lot and frequently find themselves one or two upgrade-list spots away from getting that first-class seat, holding the Reserve can be extremely valuable.

The bottom line

Ultimately, all three of these cards offer a great value with useful perks. With the limited-time welcome offers, now is an ideal time to open one of them.

If you fly Delta with a partner, friend, or family members at least once or twice a year domestically, the Platinum SkyMiles card is probably more worthwhile for you because the companion pass can essentially pay for the annual fee. However, if you want a lower upfront fee, the Gold SkyMiles card still comes with useful benefits — and a fantastic bonus.

Finally, if you're looking for access to Delta Sky Clubs (and don't already have thePlatinum Card from American Express), or want an extra edge in your Medallion upgrade priority, the Delta Reserve might be the card for you.

$95 annual fee (waived the first year): Learn more about the Gold Delta AmEx card from Insider Picks' partner The Points Guy.

$195 annual fee: Learn more about the Platinum Delta AmEx card from Insider Picks' partner The Points Guy.

$450 annual fee: Learn more about the Delta Reserve AmEx 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 »

A software developer who retired in his 30s says he went back to work less than 2 years later because the free time didn't make him any happier

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early retirement

Early retirement isn't all it's cracked up to be.

At least, it wasn't for Tony, who retired at age 37 and prefers not to reveal his last name. He was able to retire with savings in the mid-six figures thanks to a high income working as a software developer and low expenses; he paid $400 a month for a house and land owned by distant relatives, where he started a farm.

However, not long after making the leap into early retirement, he found himself in a "spiral of thinking," he said in a recent podcast with Brandon of The Mad Fientist, who retired early at age 34. He had intended to build skills and learn new things but never followed through with them because he was depressed and anxious, he said.

"Because of privilege and just lucky timing, and then all the hard work that I did to save so much money, I just
felt like, 'I have all of [this] stuff. I have all [this] free time. I live in this beautiful valley on this farm. And yet, here I am, miserable,'" he said. "That was some of the lowest times I've ever had."

Less than two years into early retirement, Tony went back to work part-time in the tech world — an easy decision, he said, because there were three things he missed during early retirement.

Read more: 5 people explain how their life unexpectedly changed after retiring early

Early retirement lacks 3 things, according to one early retiree

Tony said the biggest thing he missed was human connection.
 
"After I retired, I kind of built my own lifestyle that didn't include a lot of habitual human contact that was not at work," he said. "And so that was a big thing. I think if I was going to do something different, the biggest part of it would be building human contact into your daily — not daily routine, but definitely your weekly routine."

Even on days he felt like being social, he added, all his friends were busy working their nine to five jobs.

He realized that he missed his own nine to five: Early retirement also lacked the fulfillment his work had brought him. "It's really fulfilling to work on something you're good at doing," he said. "So, I think me, especially, and a lot of people I'm sure, we like to learn new things and do things that are difficult. And a big part of that is failing over and over again. And that can get fatiguing after a while."

He continued: "So, I think just doing something that you're competent at is its own reward in a lot of ways. And then, I'd also say that working on hard problems with other people that you respect is totally a drug. I don't know, there's something juicy about that."

How close are you to being able to retire? Find out with this calculator from our partners:

 

The money didn't hurt either, he said. While one can pull from investments and savings during early retirement, the steady cash flow that comes from a job (unless you have passive income from a side hustle) is often missing. "I just view it as like a bounty now," Tony said. "It's like I don’t need to worry about taking care of my needs. I know they're taken care of."

Read more: It's been 2 years since I retired at 52 with a $3 million net worth — here are some of the biggest challenges of early retirement

Early retirement isn't for everyone

Tony experienced some of the early retirement drawbacks that early retiree John of "ESI" Money previously highlighted in a post published on Business Insider. They included loss of income and reduced social security, mental and physical decline, loss of social interaction and identity, boredom, and lack of challenge or purpose.

Tony's not alone. After retiring early at age 34, Sam Dogen of Financial Samurai suffered an identity crisis, felt stuck in his head, was disappointed he wasn't that much happier than when he was working, and felt like he lacked purpose.

Seven years later, he decided to go back to work full-time because there was nothing more he wanted to do in early retirement and he wanted to "feel normal again." And, like Tony, he missed the camaraderie at work and wanted to make even more money.

Read more: I retired early and the freedom is priceless, but there are some downsides to early retirement that nobody likes to talk about

"Having the freedom to do what you want cannot be overstated," he wrote. "However, your mind will play games with your spirit during the first few years after leaving work. Some of you won't be able to handle early retirement life and will go back to work."

According to Brandon, a job can offer opportunities you can't access on your own. For example, he noted, working for a big corporation might give you more leverage.

"I think people get so hung up on the early retirement part, but the whole point is happiness," he added. "So if you step away from work and realize that you're missing a lot of these things, and the easiest and best way to get those things is to get another job — a full-time job, even a part-time job, or whatever — there's no shame in that."

SEE ALSO: I asked 3 early retirees how people know they're ready to stop working, and they all said the same thing

DON'T MISS: People retire early for 2 reasons, and neither of them is money

Join the conversation about this story »

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

22 celebrities, professional athletes, and politicians Trump has golfed with as president

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trump golf

  • President Donald Trump's well-documented golf habit has paired him with some famous names.
  • In his first two years in office, Trump has played golf with dozens of athletes, celebrities, and politicians at his properties and golf clubs around the world.
  • Here are some of Trump's most notable playing partners.

In March 2019, President Donald Trump paid the 174th visit of his presidency to one of his golf courses, according to NBC's tracker.

From visiting his course close to the White House in Sterling, Virginia to playing a diplomatic round in Japan, Trump has partnered with several high-profile athletes, celebrities, and fellow politicians on the course.

Trump's outings and who's joining him are sometimes slated as part of official visits, recorded in White House press pool reports, and often captured on camera.

Here are some of the most notable people who have joined Trump on the course:

SEE ALSO: On his 590th day in office, Trump had visited his golf courses on 25% of the time

DON'T MISS: How often Trump golfed during the first 100 days compared to Obama, Bush, and Clinton

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

Trump and Abe have bonded over golf in both of their respective countries, with a February 2017 round in Mar-a-Lago and a November 2017 round near Tokyo.



Japanese professional golfer Hideki Matsuyama

Matsuyama, an international golf champion, was also in tow for one of Trump's rounds with Abe while the two met in Japan. 



Fox News host Bret Baier

Baier and Trump played through the wind and rain in April 2018 at Trump National in Virginia, Politico reported.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

How to buy alcohol online and where to shop

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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.

How to buy alcohol online

  • All online orders of alcohol in the US must be submitted by, shipped to, and received by an adult who is 21 years or older.
  • Not all states allow for alcohol to be delivered, and many regions have statutes limiting alcohol delivery, so check your state's laws before you shop.
  • Here is how to buy alcohol online and get your favorite wine, beer, or spirits delivered to your door conveniently and, better yet, legally.
  • We like Naked Wines, Harry & David, and Wine.com for wine; Tavour and Carftshack for beer; Reserve Bar for spirits; and Drizly for same-day delivery.

If you live in Alabama, Oklahoma, or Utah, you might as well hop to a different article, as these states have outright bans in booze deliveries to private people. If you live in Mississippi, it's kind of a gray area. Alcohol delivery is not banned, but also not specified as legal.

In almost all other states, wine deliveries are perfectly legal, though they will require an adult signature in most places. AZ, DC, DE, FL, HI, OH, OR, MA, MO, NE, NH, ND, and VT expressly permit beer delivery, while only AZ, FL, HI, NE, and NH "authorize the direct shipment of all spirits," as stated by the National Conference of State Legislatures' Direct Shipment of Alcohol Statutes page.

When in doubt, take the time to consult your state and local laws on booze shipment and delivery. But unless you're in AL, OK, or UT, you're probably good to go. We've broken down how to buy alcohol online and the best places to order from. You can also check out our guide to the best wine delivery subscription services.

Here are the best places to buy alcohol online:

Read on in the slides below to learn how to buy alcohol online and the best places to order from.

How to order wine online

Wine is about the easiest booze to order online for delivery directly to your home or workplace. There are many places that do it, but we decided to stick with three tried and true options that we've used.

Wine.com

Wine.com has a vast selection of wines, and the site organizes its bottles cleanly by Varietal, Region, Featured offers, and Gift ideas. They also cleverly curate the site by legal restriction; put in UT as your ship to location, for example, and all the booze disappears, leaving behind wine glasses, insulated beverage backpacks, and so forth.

Click here to order wine online from Wine.com


Harry & David

If you want to order or send some delectable foodstuffs along with your wine, Harry & David has long been a great place to do it. You can order everything from soup to steak to sweets, and you can add a bottle of vino or two or three to all of those orders. Or you can sign up for a wine club and send multiple bottles with a thoughtful theme.

Click here to order wine online from Harry & David


Naked Wines

If you are more concerned with good wine at a good price and aren't as hung up on consistently getting the same wines, then check out Naked Wines. You can join at a monthly rate of $40 and enjoy up to 60% savings on many bottles of wine, and at least 40% of most others. Or you can shop without being what they call an Angel and pay more, of course.

Click here to order wine online from Naked Wines



How to order beer online

Ordering beer online is an option fewer people have than with wine orders, but most Americans can still probably get their brew delivered. Here are two great sites to check out.

Craftshack

Craftshack delivers beer to every state but AK, AR, KY, MN, and UT, so most Americans can make use of this fine craft beer delivery service. The company stocks more than a thousand beers and uses a simple flat rate shipping charge. You order either the smaller box or the larger box and, depending on what region of the nation you live in, you always pay the same shipping price no matter what you stocked your box with. Of course things still get pricey if you order lots of fancy beers.

Click here to order beer online from Craftshack


Tavour

Tavour is a beer subscription service wherein you can regularly curate beer deliveries. This isn't the place to shop if you're stocking up for a party or the holidays, but if you love great beer and want to try all sorts of varieties, this is a great go-to.

Click here to order beer online from Tavour



How to buy liquor online

Liquor is a bit trickier when it comes to online sales. Only eight states explicitly permit direct to consumer ordering and delivery, though people in many more states squeak by. 

Reserve Bar

ReserveBar.com ships liquor across a vast swath of categories, including Scotch, rum, cognac, moonshine, mezcal, and more. The site is crisp and easy to navigate and each bottle offered comes with a detailed description of what you'll be getting. Which is appreciated, as many offerings here cost hundreds of dollars.

Click here to order liquor online from Reserve Bar



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Mueller found that there was no Trump-Russia conspiracy but did not 'exonerate' the president on obstruction

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robert mueller

  • Attorney General William Barr delivered his summary of the special counsel Robert Mueller's main findings in the Russia investigation on Sunday.
  • Mueller was tasked with investigating Russia's interference in the 2016 US election, whether members of the Trump campaign colluded with Moscow to tilt the race in his favor, and whether Trump sought to obstruct justice when he learned of the investigation's existence.
  • According to Barr's summary, Mueller "determined not to make a traditional prosecutorial judgement" with respect to whether Trump obstructed justice.
  • But Barr and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein concluded that Trump did not commit an obstruction-of-justice crime.
  • Mueller also found that neither Trump, nor anyone on his campaign, "conspired or coordinated with Russia" during the election.
  • Mueller also "states that 'while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.'"

Attorney General William Barr on Sunday delivered his highly anticipated summary of the special counsel Robert Mueller's report on the FBI's Russia investigation.

Mueller was appointed special counsel in May 2017 and was tasked with investigating Russia's interference in the 2016 US election.

Mueller turned in his final report to Barr on Friday.

Barr's conclusions were as follows:

  • "The Special Counsel states that 'while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.'"
  • "The Special Counsel’s investigation did not find that the Trump campaign or anyone associated with it conspired or coordinated with Russia" during the election.
  • Russia's interference operation consisted of two main elements: a social-media influence campaign aimed at swaying American voter opinion, and a hacking operation aimed at stealing and disseminating information to tilt the 2016 election.
  • Mueller "determined not to make a traditional prosecutorial judgement" on whether President Donald Trump obstructed justice in the Russia probe and did not draw a conclusion one way or the other. Instead, he laid out all the evidence prosecutors had collected and left it up to Barr to determine whether Trump committed a crime.
  • Barr consulted with other Justice Department officials, and he and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein concluded that "the evidence developed during the Special Counsel’s investigation is not sufficient to establish that the President committed an obstruction-of-justice offense."
  • Barr and Rosenstein came to that conclusion because "that the Special Counsel recognized that 'the evidence does not establish that the President was involved in an underlying crime related to Russian election interference,' and that, while not determinative, the absence of such evidence bears upon the President’s intent with respect to obstruction."
  • Mueller catalogued Trump's actions, many of which took place in public view, and his report "identifies no actions that, in our judgment, constitute obstructive conduct, had a nexus to a pending or contemplated proceeding, and were done with corrupt intent, each of which, under the Department’s principles of federal prosecution guiding charging decisions, would need to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt to establish an obstruction-of-justice offense."
  • There is some information contained in Mueller's report that cannot yet be made public because it relates to "matter[s] occurring before [a] grand jury."
  • Mueller has not obtained any sealed indictments that have yet to be made public.

FILE PHOTO: Special Counsel Robert Mueller (R) departs after briefing members of the U.S. Senate on his investigation into potential collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., June 21, 2017.   REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File Photo

A look back: 8 guilty pleas and nearly 200 charges against 34 people and 3 entities

The FBI's investigation began almost a year before Mueller's appointment, after the Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos bragged to a top Australian diplomat in May 2016 that Russia had dirt on Hillary Clinton's campaign in the form of "thousands" of hacked emails.

Two months later, in July, when the radical pro-transparency group WikiLeaks posted a trove of hacked Democratic National Committee emails online, Australian officials informed their American counterparts of Papadopoulos' conversation with Downer, the Times reported. The FBI began scrutinizing the Trump campaign's Russia ties that month.

Read more:We now know the tipping point that prompted the FBI to launch its Trump-Russia investigation

Broadly, the Russia investigation consists of three main threads: whether there was a conspiracy between the Trump campaign and the Russian government to tilt the 2016 race in his favor, whether Russia has kompromat on Trump that could affect his ability to effectively govern the US, and whether Trump and his associates sought to obstruct justice after the public learned of the investigation's existence in March 2017.

Papadopoulos is one of six top Trump associates who have been charged in the investigation.

  • Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to one count of lying to the FBI. He cooperated with investigators and served 12 days in jail.
  • Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was convicted of eight counts of tax fraud, bank fraud, and failure to report foreign bank accounts. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy and obstruction. Manafort initially cooperated with investigators, but his plea deal was voided after a federal judge ruled that he lied to prosecutors after agreeing to cooperate. He was recently sentenced to seven and a half years in prison.
  • Trump's longtime former lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, pleaded guilty to one count of lying to Congress. He also pleaded guilty to eight counts of tax evasion, bank fraud, and campaign-finance violations as part of the Manhattan US attorney's office's investigation into Trump's business dealings during the 2016 campaign. He is cooperating with investigators and is set to report to prison for a three-year sentence on May 6.
  • Former Trump campaign deputy chairman Rick Gates pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of lying to the FBI. He is cooperating with investigators, and earlier this month, prosecutors asked for a fifth time that his sentencing be delayed, citing his continued cooperation in "several ongoing investigations."
  • Former national security adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to one count of lying to the FBI. Flynn recently finished cooperating with prosecutors and is due for a second sentencing hearing after his lawyers said at his first hearing that he would continue to cooperate.
  • The longtime GOP strategist and informal Trump adviser Roger Stone was indicted on seven counts of obstruction, witness tampering, and false statements. Stone has pleaded not guilty to all counts and intends to go to trial.

roger stone

Mueller's office also charged others who weren't directly linked to the Trump campaign but were connected to Russia's interference in the election.

  • 13 Russian nationals and three Russian entities were charged with conspiracy, and some were charged with identity theft. They are accused of running a wide-ranging social media disinformation campaign to either sway American voters toward Trump in the election or to dissuade Democratic voters from casting their ballots by denigrating the Clinton campaign.
  • 12 Russian intelligence officers working for the GRU (Russia's primary military intelligence unit) were indicted on conspiracy and hacking charges related to the theft and release of Democratic emails in 2016.
  • The former Russian intelligence officer Konstantin Kilimnik, a top Manafort associate, was indicted alongside Manafort and charged with attempting to obstruct justice by tampering with witness testimony in early 2018 — months after Manafort and Gates were first indicted as part of the Russia probe.
  • The Dutch lawyer Alex van der Zwaan pleaded guilty to one count of lying to the FBI about his contacts with Gates and another unnamed person based in Ukraine.
  • The California resident Richard Pinedo pleaded guilty to one count of identity theft in connection to the indictment of the 12 Russian military intelligence officers.
  • The GOP operative and lobbyist Sam Patten was initially investigated as part of the Russia investigation, but Mueller later handed his case over to other Justice Department offices. He eventually pleaded guilty to failure to register as a foreign agent.

William Barr 1

Dozens of ongoing threads and court cases

On Friday, after Mueller submitted his final report to Barr, a senior Justice Department official told several media outlets that the special counsel would not be recommending any more indictments or criminal charges.

Trumpworld erupted into celebration at the news, slamming the "collusion truthers" whom they claimed were determined to undermine the president but to no avail. They also said the fact that Mueller had investigated Trump for two years but did not charge him was proof that the investigation was a "witch hunt" and a "hoax," as the president has long claimed.

But legal experts say their celebration may be premature because the release of Barr's summary of Mueller's findings does not necessarily signify the end of the Russia investigation. There are a plethora of court cases, cooperation agreements, and potential future indictments that could drop well into the future, given the complex nature of the investigation.

Read more: Mueller turned his final report in to Attorney General William Barr, but the Russia probe is nowhere near finished

Mueller's office began handing off casework to other Justice Department offices — primarily the US attorney's offices in Washington, DC, and the Southern District of New York — weeks ago. Those offices are also conducting their own investigations into Trump's and his associates' dealings before, during, and after the election.

Both Cohen and Gates are cooperating with some of those investigations. The US attorney's office in Washington, DC, will also take over prosecuting Stone's case.

  • The Manhattan US attorney's office is probing Trump's involvement in several hush-money payments during the election to women who said they had affairs with him. Cohen and several Trump Organization executives are cooperating with the ongoing investigation. Trump's longtime bookkeeper, Allen Weisselberg, also testified before a grand jury in the investigation.
  • New York federal prosecutors subpoenaed Trump's inaugural committee for documents related to its finances. The committee has long been under scrutiny from investigators examining whether foreign governments — such as Russia and the United Arab Emirates — illegally funneled money into the operation to influence White House policy.
  • Paul Erickson, a GOP strategist and the boyfriend of the Russian spy Maria Butina, was charged by the Justice Department in an unrelated fraud scheme, and if he strikes a plea deal, it could open up new investigative threads for prosecutors.
  • The House Intelligence Committee recently sent the Justice Department the transcripts of testimony from several individuals that lawmakers believe may have lied to Congress, including Donald Trump Jr. and the Trump associate Erik Prince.
  • Mueller was locked in a legal battle with an unknown foreign corporation that's fighting a grand-jury subpoena for documents and testimony. The US attorney's office in Washington, DC, is now handling the case.
  • Prosecutors are also in a court fight with Andrew Miller, a Stone associate who's fighting a separate grand-jury subpoena to provide witness testimony.
  • The US attorney's office in Washington, DC, is also taking over a case involving a Russian social-media conspiracy.

Indeed, one former senior Justice Department official who worked closely with Mueller characterized the release of his findings to INSIDER as a "halfway point" in the investigation, predicting that Trumpworld's legal troubles are far from over.

Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump

Unanswered questions

Mueller's office has shed light on many of the key questions in the Russia investigation: the nature and extent of Russia's influence campaign; Manafort's deep financial ties to Russian and pro-Russian interests; the extent of the Trump Organization's efforts to erect a Trump Tower in Moscow and Trump's and Cohen's attempts to conceal those negotiations; Stone's continued overtures to WikiLeaks and those connected to it to find out more about the timing and release of hacked Democratic emails; and more.

But there are still myriad unresolved threads about Trump-Russia contacts that have yet to be answered even after the release of Barr's summary.

  • Did Stone coordinate with anyone on the Trump campaign about a WikiLeaks email dump that happened minutes after the release of the Access Hollywood tape? In their charging document, prosecutors wrote that a "senior Trump campaign official" was directed by someone to stay in touch with the GOP strategist about WikiLeaks' dumps. It's not known who that official was or who directed them. Cohen also testified to Congress that Trump had advance knowledge of the 2016 DNC hack.
  • Was there any connection between Trump's statement during an infamous July 27, 2016 press conference — "Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 [Clinton] emails that are missing" — and the start of the Russian hacking campaign against Clinton? In their charging document, prosecutors wrote that on the same day as Trump made his overture, "the Conspirators attempted after hours to spearphish for the first time email accounts at a domain hosted by a third-party provider and used by Clinton's personal office."
  • What was the purpose of a January 2017 meeting in the Seychelles between Trump adviser Erik Prince and the Russian businessman Kirill Dmitriev, who is known to be an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin?
  • Why did Flynn and Jared Kushner, Trump's senior adviser and son-in-law, meet with then Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak in December 2016 to discuss setting up a secret backchannel between the two sides using Russian diplomatic facilities?
  • Why did Kushner meet with the Russian banker and Putin ally Sergey Gorkov around the same time? Gorkov is the head of a top sanctioned Russian bank, and Reuters reported that investigators were probing whether Gorkov offered funding for Trump associates' business dealings if the US relaxed sanctions on Russia.
  • Why were Kushner, Manafort, and Donald Trump Jr. keen on meeting two Russian lobbyists offering dirt on the Clinton campaign at Trump Tower in June 2016 even after they were told that the meeting was "part of Russia and its government's support" for Trump? The people involved have said that nothing came of the meeting and that the lobbyists instead wanted to discuss the Magnitsky Act.
  • Why did Manafort share confidential 2016 Trump campaign polling data with Kilimnik? And why did Manafort offer the Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska "private briefings" on the campaign while he was spearheading it?
  • Why did Cohen meet with the Russian energy tycoon and Putin confidant Viktor Vekselberg at Trump Tower 11 days before Trump's inauguration in January 2017?
  • Why did Ivanka Trump repeatedly try to connect Cohen with the Russian athlete Dmitry Klokov in connection to the Trump Tower Moscow project?
  • Why did Flynn lie to the FBI about his conversations during the transition with Kislyak about US sanctions on Russia?

Mueller also demonstrated a keen focus on the obstruction thread of his investigation. The New York Times reported last year on the nearly 50 questions Mueller had for Trump, which Trump in turn sent written answers to. Among other things, the special counsel wanted to know:

  • Why Trump fired FBI director James Comey. The White House initially said Comey was fired because of the way the FBI handled the Clinton email investigation, but Trump later said on national television that he ousted Comey because of "this Russia thing." He also reportedly told two top Russian officials that firing "nut job" Comey had taken "great pressure" off of him.
  • Whether Trump knew about Flynn's conversations with Kislyak about US sanctions, and why Trump went so far to protect Flynn after he was forced to resign (one day later, Trump asked Comey to "let go" of the FBI's investigation into Flynn).
  • Trump's role in allegedly dictating an initially misleading statement that his son, Donald Trump Jr., put out after The Times revealed the existence of the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting with Russian lobbyists. Cohen testified to Congress that Trump had advance knowledge of the meeting but did not provide corroborating evidence, and Trump denies the claim.
  • Why Trump was so angry at then Attorney General Jeff Sessions for recusing himself from overseeing the Russia investigation. In the months following Sessions' recusal, Trump called the attorney general "weak" and "beleaguered" and reportedly raged to his advisers about why "my guys" at the "Trump Justice Department" weren't doing more to shield him from Mueller's scrutiny.
  • Why Trump tried, on multiple occasions, to engineer Mueller's removal as special counsel. In one reported instance, Trump asked then White House counsel Don McGahn to fire Mueller but backed off when McGahn threatened to resign.
  • In a unique twist, the special counsel also focused on several tweets Trump sent out about the Russia investigation. In one tweet Mueller expressed interest in, Trump warned shortly before Comey's congressional testimony that he "better hope there are no 'tapes' of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!" In another, Trump raged against Sessions for having a "very WEAK position" on investigating Clinton.
  • Mueller also wanted to know more about Trump's tweets and statements in September and October 2017, regarding an investigation into Comey and his repeated criticisms of former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe.

The biggest and most lingering question of all, however, makes up the crux of the FBI's counterintelligence investigation: is the president acting as a witting or unwitting agent of the Russian government?

The bureau reportedly launched that line of inquiry after Trump fired Comey in May 2017. At the time, investigators were almost a year into probing Russia's interference in the election.

FBI agents had already been suspicious of Trump's ties to Russia since his 2016 presidential campaign but, according to The Times, there was some concerns within the agency about how to approach the situation given its sensitivity. His decision to fire Comey, however, prompted them to move forward with the investigation.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Paul Manafort faces over 7 years in prison for conspiracy and obstruction. Here's what you need to know about Trump's former campaign chairman.

How to zest a lemon three different ways — and the tools you need to do it

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how to zest a lemon

  • Lemon zest adds zing to many different dishes, including desserts, salads, seafood, poultry, pasta, and even cocktails.
  • Its flavor is stronger than lemon juice, and along with the citrusy sweet and tart taste, zest adds a little bit of color to your recipe.
  • With the right tool, it’s very easy to zest a lemon — or any other citrus fruit — so if you’ve been skipping this kitchen technique thinking it was only for the pros, it’s time to add some zest to your cooking.
  • Here's how to zest a lemon and the tools you need to do it, including a zester, a grater, and a vegetable peeler.

Sprinkles of lemon zest are a must on top of any lemony dessert, including lemon bars, lemon pie, or a lemon-glazed pastry. Zest also adds punch to soups, salads, meat dishes, and even pasta. You don’t need a lot — just a little bit of zest goes a long way. As a general rule, you’ll get one tablespoon of zest from a medium-sized lemon.

While you can purchase dried, bottled zest, it doesn’t have quite the same fragrance and flavor as freshly grated fruit rind. And that’s okay, because it’s so easy to zest a fresh lemon, you really don’t need to bother with a bottle. All you need is a basic kitchen tool — a zester, a grater, or a vegetable peeler.

Regardless of which tool you use, the most important rule in zesting citrus is to only grate the outer, colored rind. Never zest down into the white, spongy pith that lies right below the rind. The pith is bitter and will spoil the flavor of your recipe.

Once you have your lemon zest, you can use it right away, or store it in the freezer for up to six months. To prevent the zest freezing into a hard clump, first lay it out on a dish or tray in a single layer, and then pop it into the freezer for several hours or overnight. Then, transfer it into a plastic freezer bag and keep it frozen until you need it. There’s generally no need to thaw the zest before you use it. It will thaw out very quickly once added to your cooking.  

Here are the three basic ways to zest a lemon, along with the tools you need to do so. Whichever tool you choose, remember to first wash the citrus thoroughly under warm, running water, and then wipe it dry with a clean dish towel to remove any dirt, wax, or potentially harmful bacteria. Also, if you plan on juicing the lemon as well as zesting it, zesting comes first.

Here are the tools you can use to zest a lemon:

Read on in the slides below to learn how to zest a lemon three different ways.

How to zest a lemon with a zester

Lemon zesters have a palm-length handle and a slightly angled metal head with small holes that lift away thin, curly ribbons of citrus rind without penetrating into the pith. This is the perfect zest for decorating the tops of baked goods, as well as garnishing cocktails, soups, and salads. This is also the tool to use if you want to candy your lemon zest by cooking it in sugar water.  

A lemon zester is definitely a one-trick pony — this handheld kitchen tool is good only for zesting citrus. But zesters are inexpensive — the OXO Good Grips Lemon Zester costs less than $10 — and the tool won't take up much room in your kitchen drawer.

Using the zester is easy: Just run the sharp end of the tool along the rind of your citrus, taking care not to use too much pressure. You'll quickly get a feel for how hard you need to press to produce perfect ribbons of lemon, orange, tangerine, grapefruit, or lime zest. Circle the citrus fruit while you work, and don't go over the same area more than once, or you risk hitting the pith.

Once you're finished, pop the zester into the dishwasher, or clean it by hand.

Buy the OXO Good Grips Lemon Zester on Amazon for $8.99



How to zest a lemon with a vegetable peeler

Every kitchen needs a good vegetable peeler, and it's hard to beat the comfortable-to-hold OXO Good Grips Swivel Peeler. This basic tool is the perfect way to peel potatoes, carrots, apples, and sweet potatoes.

When it comes to using a vegetable peeler on citrus, you'll end up with large slices that are excellent for use as garnishes on drinks and desserts, candying, or infusing lemon flavor into vinegar, oil, or sugar syrups. Of course, you can always chop the zest into finer bits if you want to use it in a baked dessert, meat dish, or to sprinkle on a salad.

To use your vegetable peeler as a zester, start at one pointed end of the lemon and carefully peel down to the other end. It's much easier to hit the pith with a vegetable peeler than with a lemon zester, so work slowly and don't apply excessive pressure. Work your way around the lemon, and don't peel over the same spot twice. Once finished zesting, juice the remainder of the lemon, or slice it for use as a garnish or to flavor water.

Buy the OXO Good Grips Swivel Peeler on Amazon for $8.99

Check out our guide to the best vegetable peelers



How to zest a lemon with a grater

No, not the grater you use for onions or potatoes, but a zester grater — often called a microplane, which is actually a brand name — has a handle at one end, and a long, skinny metal body covered with small, sharp raised edges that produce very fine pieces of zest.

Another handy and inexpensive tool that belongs in every kitchen, you can use a zester grater not only to zest your lemons and other citrus, but also to finely grate cheese, ginger, garlic, coconut, and chocolate. We recommend the Microplane Premium Zester Grater if you don't have one yet.

When using a zester grater, you don't drag the tool across the citrus. Instead, you hold the grater steady in your dominant hand and rub the lemon over the sharp edges of the grater, dragging the fruit in a downwards motion over the grater's blade. Like other zesters, you'll want to position a plate or bowl to catch the zest. As with the other tools, take care not to zest too enthusiastically, or you'll end up with bitter pith mixed into your zest.

Zester graters are very sharp, so watch your fingers as you work.

Buy the Microplane Premium Zester Grater on Amazon for $10.31 and up, depending on color (originally $14.95)



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The Reddit starter pack: These are the 41 best subreddits everyone should follow

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Reddit redesign

  • Reddit.com, to most people, might look totally alien and drab.
  • But if you're familiar with Reddit, you know what an incredible tool it can be.
  • Reddit is made up of smaller internet communities, called "subreddits," and we've rounded up the best ones.

At first glance, Reddit just looks like a list of seemingly random links. But Reddit's front page is actually comprised of posts that thousands of people recently voted to the top of their respective communities, or "subreddits," which are areas of Reddit dedicated to a topic or idea.

There are subreddits for just about everything. If you have a particular hobby or interest, there's a good chance there's a subreddit for it. Just type www.reddit.com/r/____ , and fill in that blank. No, really. It works most of the time.

You'll find subreddits for advice (like r/AskReddit, or r/PersonalFinance), for movie lovers (r/Movies and r/MovieDetails), and even subreddits for your favorite TV shows (like r/TheBachelor, or r/FreeFolk for "Game of Thrones" fans).

But if you're new to Reddit, where should you start?

Here are the 41 essential subreddits everyone should follow:

SEE ALSO: I've used the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR — here's which one I'd recommend buying

1. r/EyeBleach

For when you need to get a terrifying or disgusting image out of your mind.



2. r/ShowerThoughts

Because the best and funniest ideas always happen in the shower.



3. r/NeverTellMeTheOdds

For proof that nothing is impossible.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Barr's summary of the Mueller report is out. Here are the key Trump-Russia questions we still don't have answers to.

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robert mueller

  • Following the release of Attorney General William Barr's summary of the special counsel Robert Mueller's findings in the Russia investigation, there are myriad questions we still don't have answers to.
  • Mueller found no evidence that there was a conspiracy between President Donald Trump's campaign and the Russians during the 2016 election, but he did not "exonerate" Trump on obstruction of justice.
  • Barr said he will try to make as much of Mueller's report public as he can, consistent with Justice Department guidelines.
  • In the meanwhile, scroll down for a running list of questions we still have about the slew of contacts and meetings between Trump associates and those linked to Russia; Trump's continued and often public attempts to exert control over the Russia probe; and the biggest mystery of them all: whether Trump acted as a witting or unwitting agent of Russia.

Attorney General William Barr released a highly anticipated summary of the special counsel Robert Mueller's findings in his investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 US election on Sunday.

Barr's conclusions were as follows:

  • "The Special Counsel states that 'while this report does not conclude that the President committed [an obstruction-of-justice] crime, it also does not exonerate him.'"
  • "The Special Counsel's investigation did not find that the Trump campaign or anyone associated with it conspired or coordinated with Russia" during the election.
  • Russia's interference operation consisted of two main elements: a social-media influence campaign aimed at swaying American voter opinion, and a hacking operation aimed at stealing and disseminating information to tilt the 2016 election.
  • Mueller "determined not to make a traditional prosecutorial judgment" on whether President Donald Trump obstructed justice in the Russia probe and did not draw a conclusion one way or the other. Instead, he laid out all the evidence prosecutors had collected and left it up to Barr to determine whether Trump committed a crime.
  • Barr consulted with other Justice Department officials, and he and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein concluded that "the evidence developed during the Special Counsel's investigation is not sufficient to establish that the President committed an obstruction-of-justice offense."
  • Barr and Rosenstein came to that conclusion because "that the Special Counsel recognized that 'the evidence does not establish that the President was involved in an underlying crime related to Russian election interference,' and that, while not determinative, the absence of such evidence bears upon the President's intent with respect to obstruction."
  • Mueller cataloged Trump's actions, many of which took place in public view, and his report "identifies no actions that, in our judgment, constitute obstructive conduct, had a nexus to a pending or contemplated proceeding, and were done with corrupt intent, each of which, under the Department's principles of federal prosecution guiding charging decisions, would need to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt to establish an obstruction-of-justice offense."
  • There is some information contained in Mueller's report that cannot yet be made public because it relates to "matter[s] occurring before [a] grand jury."
  • Mueller has not obtained any sealed indictments that have yet to be made public.

Trumpworld celebrated the release of Barr's summary, pointing specifically to Mueller's conclusion that there was no conspiracy between the Trump campaign and the Russians during the election.

But even with the release of Barr's summary, there are still myriad unresolved threads in the Trump-Russia investigation that have yet to be answered. Barr said in his letter that he will work to make as much of Mueller's report public as he can consistent with department guidelines.

Read more:Mueller found that there was no Trump-Russia conspiracy but did not 'exonerate' the president on obstruction

Lingering questions in the Trump-Russia saga

  • Did the longtime GOP strategist Roger Stone coordinate with anyone on the Trump campaign about a WikiLeaks email dump that happened minutes after the release of the Access Hollywood tape? In their charging document, prosecutors wrote that a "senior Trump campaign official" was directed by someone to stay in touch with the GOP strategist about WikiLeaks' dumps. It's not known who that official was or who directed them. Cohen also testified to Congress that Trump had advance knowledge of the 2016 DNC hack.
  • Was there any connection between Trump's statement during an infamous July 27, 2016 press conference — "Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 [Clinton] emails that are missing" — and the start of the Russian hacking campaign against Hillary Clinton? In their charging document, prosecutors wrote that on the same day as Trump made his overture, "the Conspirators attempted after hours to spearphish for the first time email accounts at a domain hosted by a third-party provider and used by Clinton's personal office."
  • What was the purpose of a January 2017 meeting in the Seychelles between Trump adviser Erik Prince and the Russian businessman Kirill Dmitriev, who is known to be an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin?
  • Why did Michael Flynn, the former national security adviser, and Jared Kushner, Trump's senior adviser and son-in-law, meet with then Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak in December 2016 to discuss setting up a secret backchannel between the two sides using Russian diplomatic facilities?
  • Why did Kushner meet with the Russian banker and Putin ally Sergey Gorkov around the same time? Gorkov is the head of a top sanctioned Russian bank, and Reuters reported that investigators were probing whether Gorkov offered funding for Trump associates' business dealings if the US relaxed sanctions on Russia.
  • Why were Kushner, then Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, and Donald Trump Jr. keen on meeting two Russian lobbyists offering dirt on the Clinton campaign at Trump Tower in June 2016 even after they were told that the meeting was "part of Russia and its government's support" for Trump? The people involved have said that nothing came of the meeting and that the lobbyists instead wanted to discuss the Magnitsky Act.
  • Why did Manafort share confidential 2016 Trump campaign polling data with the Russian intelligence operative Konstantin Kilimnik? And why did Manafort offer the Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska "private briefings" on the campaign while he was spearheading it?
  • Why did former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen meet with the Russian energy tycoon and Putin confidant Viktor Vekselberg at Trump Tower 11 days before Trump's inauguration in January 2017?
  • Why did Ivanka Trump repeatedly try to connect Cohen with the Russian athlete Dmitry Klokov in connection to the Trump Tower Moscow project?
  • Why did Flynn lie to the FBI about his conversations during the transition with Kislyak about US sanctions on Russia?

Mueller also demonstrated a keen focus on the obstruction thread of his investigation. The New York Times reported last year on the nearly 50 questions Mueller had for Trump, which Trump in turn sent written answers to. Barr's letter did not lay out the specific evidence Mueller included in his report. But based on prosecutors' list of questions, the special counsel wanted to know:

  • Why Trump fired FBI director James Comey. The White House initially said Comey was fired because of the way the FBI handled the Clinton email investigation, but Trump later said on national television that he ousted Comey because of "this Russia thing." He also reportedly told two top Russian officials that firing "nut job" Comey had taken "great pressure" off of him.
  • Whether Trump knew about Flynn's conversations with Kislyak about US sanctions, and why Trump went so far to protect Flynn after he was forced to resign (one day later, Trump asked Comey to "let go" of the FBI's investigation into Flynn).
  • Trump's role in allegedly dictating an initially misleading statement that his son, Donald Trump Jr., put out after The Times revealed the existence of the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting with Russian lobbyists. Cohen testified to Congress that Trump had advance knowledge of the meeting but did not provide corroborating evidence, and Trump denies the claim.
  • Why Trump was so angry at then Attorney General Jeff Sessions for recusing himself from overseeing the Russia investigation. In the months following Sessions' recusal, Trump called the attorney general "weak" and "beleaguered" and reportedly raged to his advisers about why "my guys" at the "Trump Justice Department" weren't doing more to shield him from Mueller's scrutiny.
  • Why Trump tried, on multiple occasions, to engineer Mueller's removal as special counsel. In one reported instance, Trump asked then White House counsel Don McGahn to fire Mueller but backed off when McGahn threatened to resign.
  • In a unique twist, the special counsel also focused on several tweets Trump sent out about the Russia investigation. In one tweet Mueller expressed interest in, Trump warned shortly before Comey's congressional testimony that he "better hope there are no 'tapes' of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!" In another, Trump raged against Sessions for having a "very WEAK position" on investigating Clinton.
  • Mueller also wanted to know more about Trump's tweets and statements in September and October 2017, regarding an investigation into Comey and his repeated criticisms of former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe.

The biggest and most lingering question of all, however, makes up the crux of the FBI's counterintelligence investigation: is the president acting as a witting or unwitting agent of the Russian government?

The bureau reportedly launched that line of inquiry after Trump fired Comey in May 2017. At the time, investigators were almost a year into probing Russia's interference in the election.

FBI agents had already been suspicious of Trump's ties to Russia since his 2016 presidential campaign but, according to The Times, there were some concerns within the agency about how to approach the situation given its sensitivity. His decision to fire Comey, however, prompted them to move forward with the investigation.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Paul Manafort faces over 7 years in prison for conspiracy and obstruction. Here's what you need to know about Trump's former campaign chairman.

The legendary hotelier credited with creating the boutique hotel says there's a major difference between luxury today and 'what my parents thought luxury was'

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Ian Schrager

  • Industries from retail to hospitality and travel are struggling to keep up with consumers' evolving views on luxury, as people gravitate toward spending their money on authentic experiences rather than lavish material goods.
  • Ian Schrager, the legendary hotelier credited with creating the boutique hotel, says luxury in 2019 is "totally different than what my parents thought luxury was."
  • For Schrager, luxury today is about great service, unique experiences, and feeling good about yourself.

What does luxury mean in 2019?

It's a question that global industries, from retail to travel, have struggled with as the public moves away from traditional ideas of luxury, choosing unique experiences over sheer opulence and investing in habits and lifestyle choices rather than material goods.

Not many people have their fingers on the pulse of modern luxury more than Ian Schrager, the legendary hotelier behind brands like EDITION and PUBLIC.

Schrager, who also cofounded Studio 54, the New York City nightclub known for its wild star-studded parties in the 1970s and early '80s, says the whole notion of luxury has changed.

Read more: Cushy hotel rooms and fussy amenities in luxury hotels are the latest casualty of Instagram

Today, luxury is "not about wearing a big brand on your sweater," Schrager told Business Insider. "It's really about being involved in a unique experience and one that makes you feel really good about yourself and really comfortable. I think that's totally different than what my parents thought luxury was."

He says his newest hotel, the New York EDITION in Times Square, isn't about design.

"It's about how it makes somebody feel when they're in here," he said. "That they feel good, that they've been treated respectfully and with courtesy ... You actually feel comfortable and warm being here. That, to me, is true luxury."

Ian Schrager recreates and reinvents the golden age of the iconic location with the @TimesSquareEDITION. Premiering soon #TimesSquareEDITION

A post shared by EDITION Hotels (@editionhotels) on Feb 13, 2019 at 11:38am PST on

 

That's not to say that luxury hotels shouldn't pay attention to aesthetics. 

"The fact that it looks good makes a good hotel great, but it doesn't make a great hotel," Schrager said. "What makes a great hotel is great service."

Not too long ago, the most luxurious hotel rooms might have been spacious suites with gold walls and ornate furniture.

But today, many hotels are instead going for "lean luxury," as Business Insider's Lina Batarags previously reported. These hotels, designed with clean lines and minimalist décor that looks good on Instagram, are meant to be "far more functional and user-experience-oriented than a standard grand hotel room," Quartzy's Rosie Spinks wrote.

This evolving view of luxury extends well beyond the hotel business. Another industry cashing in on the idea of making yourself feel good as the ultimate luxury is the booming wellness business.

"Wellness is increasingly regarded as a modern embodiment of luxury, and accordingly, an array of spas and studios offering treatments like cryofacialsweeklong retreats, and vitamin IV drips are delivering those experiences," Batarags wrote for Business Insider.

And then there's the restaurant world, where diners are becoming less interested in the stuffiness and "fancy trappings" of traditional fine dining and more attracted to informality, fun, and authenticity, as Business Insider's Hillary Hoffower reported.

SEE ALSO: The legendary hotelier behind some of the world's top boutique hotel brands says luxury hotels are going to transform in 2 major ways in the next 10 years

DON'T MISS: Cushy hotel rooms and fussy amenities in luxury hotels are the latest casualty of Instagram

Join the conversation about this story »

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

These are the restaurant chains that Gen Z eats at most, according to a survey of more than 1,800 young Americans

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McDonald's teens kids

  • Generation Z has a clear favorite when it comes to fast-food and casual-dining chains.
  • Business Insider surveyed over 1,800 Americans between the age of 13 and 21 to learn more about their restaurant preferences.
  • We found that McDonald's dominated the list.

Editor's note: Business Insider surveyed 1,884 young Americans about their buying attitudes and beliefs. This is part of a series of stories that will be rolled out over the next several weeks.

Teens like their food cheap.

So it makes sense that they'd like fast-food and casual-dining chains. Everyone who's ever been a teen — or parented one — won't be surprised to see young people hitting up the local burger joint during lunch period, sliding ino the drive-thru after snagging their licenses, or congregating at the local casual-dining restaurant.

But which chain come first for Generation Z?

Read more: These are the brands that Gen Z shops at most, according to a survey of more than 1,800 young Americans

To find out, Business Insider surveyed 1,884 Americans between the age of 13 and 21 to get a better sense of their spending habits. The national poll was conducted with SurveyMonkey Audience partner Cint on behalf of Business Insider. It ran from January 11 through January 14.

In the survey, we asked participants: "Which of the following fast-food chains have you bought food or drink from in the last six months?" and then gave them the option to check multiple restaurants.

Here are the top restaurant chains that Generation Z frequents:

SEE ALSO: Instagram has avoided Facebook's trust problem, beating its parent as app of choice for Generation Z

19. Five Guys

A decent number of young folks said they'd recently purchased a meal at Five Guys.

Percentage of respondents who bought food or drink from this chain in the past six months: 17.20%



18. Panera

Panera's soups, sandwiches, and, of course, signature bread remain popular with teens.

Percentage of respondents who bought food or drink from this chain in the past six months: 18.84%



17. Applebee's

Plenty of young people said they're still "eating good in the neighborhood" at Applebee's.

Percentage of respondents who bought food or drink from this chain in the past six months: 19.85%



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This 22-piece kitchenware set from a new online startup contains everything you need to cook well at home — and it costs less than $300

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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.

potluck cookware main

  • Potluck is a new online startup that sells home and professional cook-approved sets of cookware, knives, and utensils for half the cost of traditional retail. 
  • We tried its 22-piece Essentials Bundle ($270), which provides an easy way to upgrade your current collection of kitchen supplies in one buy. 
  • Not a single piece in the bundle will go to waste — you'll be using the tri-ply stainless steel cookware, sharp knives, and durable tools again and again regardless of your cooking level or experience, making the value of Potluck's products unbeatable. 

If you could press a hard reset button and replace the pots, pans, knives, and cooking utensils in your kitchen with high-quality pieces, how much do you think it would all cost?

Have a number in your head?

Now halve it and you're closer to the surprisingly affordable number you would pay at new online kitchen company Potluck. $270 will get you its Essentials Bundle, a set that equips home cooks with the 22 pieces you'll need to cook basic ramen, the ambitious multi-ingredient seafood stew you've had marked in your cookbook for months, and everything in between. 

Two former senior managers from Glossier, Minsuk Kim and Jessica Sheft-Ason are the founders behind Potluck who love cooking and don't think the tools you use should be complicated.

In developing Potluck's offerings, they consulted numerous cooks to understand how they cooked at home and in professional kitchens. The insights directly led to a thoughtful curation of the tools you're likely to need and to the product design decisions like opting for tri-ply stainless steel construction (which they favored over five-ply because a friend who cooked at Chez Panisse told them she only used tri-ply during her time there). 

Read more: Subscription service Knifey sharpens your kitchen knives so you don't have to — here's how it works

potluck utensil set

The Essentials Bundle combines the company's Cookware Set ($160), Knife Set ($60), and Utensil Set ($80) into an ultimate kit teeming with straightforward and durable pieces. It includes a 10-inch skillet, two saucepans, a large stock pot, two mixing bowls, three knives, two spatulas, tongs, a wooden spoon, and a ladle. Small tools like a peeler, grater, measuring cups, and measuring spoons round out the no-frills assortment. 

For me, some highlights were the sturdy colander that didn't let a single strand of angel hair slip through, the versatile skillet that distributed heat quickly and evenly, and the light, flexible fish spatula that snuck under fillets with ease. 

Read more: 30 appliances and tools that we swear by in the kitchen, from a $6 fish spatula to a $350 Dutch oven

If you're looking for colorful or heavily branded cookware, you might want to look elsewhere because everything at Potluck is stripped of distractions. You never have to think twice about which tool to reach for or fiddle with unnecessary bells and whistles, which is the type of set-up that's really ideal for cooking because you can focus your energy on ingredients, tasting, and technique. 

Creating an effective kitchen environment and cooking experience starts with the right cookware and tools, but all too often, we waste time shopping for and stumbling through poor experiences with them. Potluck removes these tensions by picking out the essential tools for you and offering them at a great price. 

Shop the Essentials Bundle for $270 at Potluck here

Shop all kitchen sets at Potluck here

Join the conversation about this story »

The best products to keep your indoor cat entertained

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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.

best indooor cat entertainment products

  • Indoor-only cats tend to need extra entertainment and incentive to stay physically active.
  • Our top pick, the CatastrophiCreations Cat Mod Garden Complex, encourages your cat to climb, perch, play, and lounge all while safely indoors.

In many cases, keeping cats indoors helps to keep them safe, especially if you live in urban areas or locations with predators, such as coyotes.

While cats tend to do just fine indoors, there are some issues that occur, such as boredom and obesity. Houses aren’t designed with a cat’s needs and instincts in mind, but by introducing products to keep your indoor cat entertained, you can make your cat happier and healthier.

Cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy refers to this process as “catification.” According to Galaxy, introducing changes that cater to your cat’s deep-rooted instincts can make your home feline-friendly. The goal is to replicate aspects of a cat’s life in the wild by introducing spaces where they can get up off of the floor and perch, areas where they can climb and jump, and areas where they can play and hunt.  

The products in this guide are all designed to keep your cat entertained. You’ll find products that let your cat climb, perch, lounge, and soak up the sun in your windows. Some of these products even allow your indoor-only cat to safely enjoy some time outside. By encouraging play and movement, these products can help to keep your cat healthy and happy, avoiding boredom which can lead to overeating and behavioral issues.

Here are the best products to keep your indoor cat entertained:

Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks.

The best cat complex

Why you'll love it: The CatastrophiCreations Cat Mod Garden Complex has everything your cat needs to satisfy his instincts indoors.

Satisfy your cat's desire to climb, scratch, perch, and lounge indoors with the CatastrophiCreations Cat Mod Garden Complex. This innovative modular system features interchangeable accessories so that you can customize the system to your walls, your space allotment, and your cats' preferences. You can follow design templates to get started, or put your creativity to work and come up with your own design.

This complex includes canvas fabric for hammocks and climbing, a sisal-lined scratching pole, a sisal-lined escape hatch, eight mounting planks, and two ladder pieces. Additionally, this set includes planters where you can plant cat-safe plants like catnip and cat grass.

Thanks to the specialized bracket design, this system's elements appear to be floating on the wall, and you can even choose different wood and canvas colors so the system makes a beautiful addition to your home.

The CatastrophiCreations Cat Mod Garden Complex satisfies your cat's natural instincts, indoors. The complex gives your cat a safe space high up where he can observe all the action while feeling safe and secure. Cats will fulfill their need to climb and scratch as they navigate the complex and scratching post.

If you have multiple cats who are having territorial issues, giving them the ability to use the vertical space in your house can help to resolve some of these behavioral issues. From playing to napping, this complex can keep your cat entertained and active.

This garden complex has a 4.8 out of 5-star review on Amazon. The Cat Mod Garden Complex gives you everything your cat could possibly ask for, but if its price is too steep, CatastrophiCreations offers many smaller kits at lower price points.

Pros: Modular, sleek design, satisfies cats' natural instincts to climb and scratch

Cons: Live plants aren't included, installation requires some basic carpentry skills

Buy the CatastrophiCreations Cat Mod Garden Complex on Amazon for $549.99



The best window perch

Why you’ll love it: Easy to install and comfy for your cat, the K&H Kitty Sill Deluxe with Removable Bolster is ideal for cats who love to gaze out windows.

The K&H Kitty Sill Deluxe with Removable Bolster is a great way for your cat to spend his time watching out of the windows in comfort. Unlike some other window perch options that you’ll find, this perch is sturdy and can support cats up to 40 pounds.

You can install this perch over a two inch window sill without any tools, but screws are included for a permanent installation if you’d like.

If your cat loves the sun that streams through a window sill, this perch will give him a comfortable spot where he can relax and soak up those rays. The bolster gives a nice shape to the perch, and the perch is covered in soft orthopedic foam for maximum comfort.

The washable cover and the bolster are both removable for easy and convenient cleaning to save you time. Plus, your cat will have an excellent vantage point to watch birds, squirrels, and other outdoor activity so that he can stay entertained.

The K&H Kitty Sill Deluxe with Removable Bolster has a 4.4 out of 5 star Amazon rating based on 2,214 reviews. One reviewer who goes by KC Man wrote, “I'm not the handyman I used to be, but putting this together was totally simple. It seems to be of excellent quality, and was occupied immediately upon installation.”

Another reviewer named Erin K. also shared that her cats love the Kitty Sill: “My cats love this!!! I even bought 2 because they love it that much. They are 2 full sized cats that can both sleep in the bed at the same time, but it definitely seems more comfortable for just one to stretch out in (my cats are about 11 and 16 pounds).”

Pros: Easy installation, removable and washable cover, sturdy perch can hold cats up to 40 pounds

Cons: Inserting legs into the frame requires some force

Buy the K&H Kitty Sill Deluxe with Removable Bolster on Amazon for $28.45



The best cat tree

Why you’ll love it: The Kitty Mansions Amazon Green Cat Tree will keep your jungle cat climbing, playing, and active indoors.

If your indoor cat has been feeling lazy lately, the Kitty Mansions Amazon Green Cat Tree may be just the thing to get him moving again. This deluxe cat tree includes two enclosed cubbies, two round perches, two hammocks, and multiple level platforms to encourage your cat to climb, perch, and scratch.

At 78 inches tall, the tree allows your cat to climb and play at height for an added sense of security and confidence. This cat tree is far more substantial than your typical single-pole cat tree, and because of that, it’s more stable. In fact, this is more of a jungle gym for your cats.

With hammocks, platforms, and more, your cat can use this tree in countless different ways. The elements of the tree are all interconnected, which helps to reduce sway and make for a sturdy platform that your cat can feel confident climbing.

The Kitty Mansions Amazon Green Cat Tree has a 4.4 out of 5 star rating on Petco. One reviewer who goes by Eclecticco wrote, “Easy to put together. Takes a bit of time but worth the effort. We had three cats who could not wait to try it out. Large and impressive and does not disappoint.”

Another reviewer named Eric LA wrote, “Our cats love it. The youngest ones took to it like gangbusters and the older ones warmed up after a little while.”

Pros: 78-inch height gives cats plenty of climbing opportunities; perches, cubbies, and hammocks encourage cats to play and relax in this tree

Cons: Assembly is required, though all hardware is included; 145-pound weight makes it difficult to move within your home without help

Buy the Kitty Mansions Amazon Green Cat Tree on Petco for $196.49



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's how much a bottle of beer costs in the 11 cheapest cities in the world

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Caracas beer pour Venezuela brewery

  • 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.

DON'T MISS: 2 men found a mysterious fridge full of beer 'sent from the heavens' in a muddy Nebraska field

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

11 (tie). New Delhi, India

According to TripSavvy, the legal drinking age in Delhi is 25. New Delhi, which is the capital of India, is a district located within the city of Delhi.

Current average price of one beer bottle in US dollars: $2.23

Last year's average price of one beer bottle in US dollars: $2.50

The average price of one beer bottle in US dollars five years ago: $2.34

The average price of one beer bottle in US dollars 10 years ago: $3.04



11 (tie). Algiers, Algeria

Alcohol isn't widely consumed in Algiers, Lonely Planet reported

Current average price of one beer bottle in US dollars: $1.91

Last year's average price of one beer bottle in US dollars: $1.86

The average price of one beer bottle in US dollars five years ago: $2.20

The average price of one beer bottle in US dollars 10 years ago: $2.21



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



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Prince Harry is reportedly asking for paternity leave when his child is born — here's what his job is really like, according to experts

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harry meghan children

  • According to recent reports, Prince Harry— also known as the Duke of Sussex — is asking for paternity leave.
  • The primary job of a royal is to support the queen in her role as monarch, Leslie Carroll, author of several books about the royals, told Business Insider.
  • Since retiring from the military, Prince Harry has been considered a full-time senior royal. He devotes his time to a variety of public engagements, including his work with the Invictus Games.

Prince Harry reportedly wants to be a "modern dad."

The royal prince and Duke of Sussex is expecting a baby with his wife Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, this spring. Reports say he is asking for paternity leave, a move that, studies have shown, has proven benefits for new families.

"Harry will likely take at least two weeks paternity leave, and then he’ll enjoy a month off in August which is regular for the royals," Katie Nicholls, author of the forthcoming royal biography "Harry and Meghan: Life, Loss, and Love," told Business Insider. "He and Meghan are currently looking for a new private secretary and assistant private secretary who will hold the fort while he is off work.”

Read more: Prince Harry will reportedly take 2 weeks of paternity leave from his royal duties to be a 'modern dad,' and piles of research shows why that's so important

As for the question of what Prince Harry's job entails, Leslie Carroll, author of several books about the British monarchy, told Business Insider that all the royals' responsibilities are directed at the same goal.

"Their first job is to support the queen in her role as monarch, not just for Great Britain but for the Commonwealth nations," Carroll said.

prince harry Invictus games

Since retiring from active duty in the military, Prince Harry has been considered a full-time senior royal. Senior royals include Prince Harry's grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, and her husband Prince Philip, along with his father Prince Charles, his stepmother Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and his brother and sister-in-law, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

As Carroll put it, “Senior ranking is by prominence, not by age.”

Carroll added that while Harry has been a full-time senior royal since completing his required military service, he has taken on even more responsibilities since his marriage in 2018.

“Absolutely his duties have increased,” said Carroll. “Now instead of Harry making these visits as a solo bachelor, you have these visits that are made and organized with Harry and Meghan as a couple."

These appearances, which are known as "engagements" and are documented in the royal family's Court Circular, include Prince Harry's charity work with nonprofit organizations, ranging from African wildlife conservation to military programs. Prince Harry is the creator and Royal Patron of the Invictus Games, an organized competition for wounded veterans. Carroll called the games his "brainchild" and said Prince Harry attends every game, along with delivering an opening speech. The next competition will take place in 2020 in The Hague, Netherlands.

Last year, the prince also received two new appointments: Commonwealth Youth Ambassador and Royal Marines Captain General, a position he took over for his grandfather, Prince Philip. Nicholls said Prince Harry is particularly involved with his office, making daily check-ins and sometimes unannounced visits — a side the public doesn't get to see.

Nicholls added that Prince Harry will likely still make frequent trips to his new office at Buckingham Palace after his child is born, and the new parents — whose combined net worth is estimated at $30 million— are already planning engagements for October. 

meghan harry kid beard

Studies show millennials are raising their children differently than their parents did, and both Nicholls and Carroll agree that those changes extend to the way Prince Harry will likely approach parenthood.

Read more: Prince Harry reportedly wants to be a 'modern dad' and to ask the queen for paternity leave. Here are 20 ways millennials are raising kids differently than any generation before them

“I would venture to say, as a parent, Harry will certainly be more hands-on," said Carroll. "One generation later, much has evolved. Harry will have more to juggle ... in terms of juggling the duties of being a full-time senior royal with the duties of parenting. He will be much more of a hands-on parent, like we see William is."

“These are signs of the royal family modernizing, and that’s a good thing,” added Nicholls. “For William and Harry not to take paternity leave would make them appear out of touch. Part of their appeal is the public’s ability to relate to them.”

SEE ALSO: Prince Harry is reportedly asking the queen for paternity leave — here are 6 things millennial dads do that their parents didn't

NOW READ: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may send their child to an American school over traditional Eton, reports say

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Save up to 70% on shoes at Cole Haan — and more of today's best deals from around the web

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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.

Since you don't have all day to scour the web for noteworthy sales and discounts, we rounded up the best bargains for you to shop in one convenient place. For even more deals and savings across the web, check out our coupons page.

Cole Haan

1. Save up to 70% on sale styles at Cole Haan

As one of the most comfortable and stylish footwear brands on the market, Cole Haan shoes are always a good value, but a huge sale is making them an even better buy. Now through March 29, you can save up to 70% on sale styles. Prices are as marked, so you won't need a promo code to save. Whether you're looking for casual spring shoes, comfortable dress shoes for the office, workout sneakers, or heels, you'll find many impressive pairs at reduced prices at Cole Haan. For more deals and promotions at Cole Haan, visit Business Insider Coupons here

Shop the Cole Haan sale now

Brooklinen bedding

2. Stock up on Brooklinen sheets before the price increases

Tomorrow, Brooklinen will be increasing prices on its Classic and Luxe sheets up to 15% in order to maintain its premium level of quality. Rather than hitting shoppers with an unexpected price increase, the brand is giving you a heads up so you can stock up now. Whether you've been thinking about giving Brooklinen's popular sheets a try or you're a return customer, this is a good opportunity to buy them.

Shop all Brooklinen sheets now.

ipad pro

3. Save $124 on the 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro on Amazon

With a vibrant 12.9-inch edge-to-edge Liquid Retina display, FaceID security, a 12-megapixel camera, and enough processing power to compete with some laptops, the iPad Pro is far from your average tablet. In addition to basic functions like web browsing and video watching, the iPad Pro is great for photo editing, drawing, and more. Right now, you can save $124 on the latest Pro model with 64GB of space and Wi-Fi connectivity.

Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch Wi-Fi 64 GB, $874.99 (Originally $999) [You save $124.01]

Nike

4. Save big on thousands of brand name shoes at Zappos

If you're shopping for shoes of any kind, Zappos' massive inventory of products is a great place to begin your search. Right now, the on-sale shoe section features more than 22,000 items including products from all of your favorite brands. Nike, Adidas, Puma, New Balance, Vans, Crocs, UGG, and ASICS are just some of the brands available here.  For more deals and savings at Zappos, visit Business Insider Coupons here.

Shop the Zappos sale section now

Wayfair

5. Save up to 70% on outdoor furnishings at Wayfair

As the weather continues to warm up, you'll be spending more and more time outside of your home — and Wayfair has everything you need to make the best out of your outdoor space. The brand is giving early access to its outdoor sale with up to 70% off. You can save on gazebos, dining sets, hot tubs, grills, and much more. Get ready for the spring and summer seasons with these amazing deals while they last. For more deals and savings at Wayfair, visit Business Insider Coupons here

Get early access to the Wayfair outdoor sale now

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6. Save $100 on a Braun Series 9 Electric Shaver at Best Buy

The Braun Series 9 is the ultimate electric shaver for men. The device can be used for wet or dry shaving, and features an innovative blade design that protects the skin while giving a super close shave. A trimmer on the rear allows you to clean up mustaches, beards, and sideburns. Originally priced at $300, you can get it for $100 less at Best Buy. For more deals and savings at Best Buy, visit Business Insider Coupons here

Braun Series 9 Wet/Dry Electric Shaver, $199.99 (Originally $299.99) [You save $100]

Fossil

7. Save up to 40% on watches at Fossil

Ranging from classic analog displays to hybrids and smartwatches, Fossil has a watch style for almost every preference. As part of the brand's spring sale, you can save up to 40% on styles for men and women. Whether simplicity is key for your style or you like smartphone integration and fitness tracking, you won't have trouble finding something that works for you. In addition to watches, the sale also includes handbags, sunglasses, wallets, belts, and more. For more deals and promotions at Fossil, check out our coupons page here.

Shop the Fossil spring sale now.

Avocado Mattress

8. Save $150 on green and vegan mattresses at Avocado Mattress

Avocado separates itself from other legacy brands and startups by making organic and vegan mattresses. Not only are they sustainably made and good for the environment, but they're also very comfortable. Right now, you can save $150 on the brand's mattresses by using the promo code "NATURE150" at checkout. Verified military personnel can save an additional $50. If you prefer two free pillows (valued at $198) rather than the $150 discount, you can use the promo code "2FREEPILLOWS" at checkout.

Shop the Avocado Mattress sale.

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