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Here's how much a typical starter home costs in every state

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starter house

Millennials are waiting longer than ever to buy homes, partly because of rising housing costs.

Currently, the real estate market is a seller's market, according to Zillow. This causes home prices to shoot up, leaving minimal inventory at the middle and low end of the housing market, Spencer Rascoff, Zillow's CEO, previously told Business Insider's Alyson Shontell.

"As a result of limited starter-home inventory," he said, millennials "are renting longer." In the process, they're bypassing the need for a starter home.

But that doesn't mean starter homes are completely unavailable or out of reach — just how much do starter homes really cost in today's market? That depends on what state you're buying in.

We teamed up with Zillow to find the median value of a starter home in every state. Using its most recent data from March 2019, Zillow looked at homes valued in the lower one-third of all homes. They also ranked each state by population size using US Census data, called the "size of state rank."

The most expensive starter homes are in Washington DC, costing a median of $335,700, and the most affordable starter homes are in West Virginia, with a median value of $42,300.

See how much a starter home costs in your state. All median home values are courtesy of Zillow, and all median worker earnings are from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

SEE ALSO: The most expensive and affordable states to buy a house, ranked

DON'T MISS: Homeownership across America is on the decline for the first time since 2017, and millennials are partially to blame

Alabama

Median starter home value: $305,300

Size of state rank: 23

The median home value of all houses in Alabama is $130,900. The median worker in Alabama pulls in $41,382 in annual earnings.


Alaska

Median starter home value: $199,300

Size of state rank: 47

The median home value of all houses in Alaska is $306,100. The median worker in Alaska pulls in $52,060 in annual earnings.



Arizona

Median starter home value: $166,200

Size of state rank: 16

The median home value of all houses in Arizona is $252,700. The median worker in Arizona pulls in $52,060 in annual earnings.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

How to restart your Mac computer in 4 different ways, including when it's frozen

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Macbook Air

  • You should periodically restart your Mac computer in an effort to help the computer run faster, and allow it to install any pending system updates.
  • If your Mac is running slowly or failing to load certain programs properly, a restart is the best way to make it work smoothly again.
  • There are three easy ways to restart a Mac, and one override you can use to shut down a computer that's just not responding anymore.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

You would think that in this day and age, there would be a more advanced way of fixing a device's technical issues than the old "turn it off and turn it on again" technique, but for so much hardware, restarting is still the best solution to many issues.

In the restart process, a Mac closes all programs, allowing itself to start fresh when back up and running, and it installs any awaiting updates, theoretically meaning the system will be more optimized and running better than before.

Whether you know there are updates waiting or you just know there's something off about the way your Mac is running, knowing how to restart a Mac is critical knowledge. Here are three ways to restart and one to shut down.

How to restart a Mac computer in 4 ways

Restarting through the menu bar

1. Click the Apple icon in the top left hand corner of the screen.

2. In the dropdown menu that appears, hit "Restart..."

Screen Shot 2019 05 09 at 2.34.25 PM

3. The computer will shut down and come back on a few moments later.

Restarting with a keyboard command

1. Simultaneously hit the "control" key and the eject button, which is in the top row of the keypad and has an upward facing arrow atop a thin line.

2. Select "Restart" in the popup window.

Screen Shot 2019 05 09 at 2.36.41 PM

Force restarting with a keyboard command

1. Press the "control," the "command" and the eject keys at the same time.

2. Beware, this will immediately restart your computer and you may lose any files you're working with.

Restarting from a manual shutdown

If your computer is not responding to any of these restart methods, then you need to fully shut it down.

To force a manual shutdown, simply hold down the power button (the silver circle at the top corner of the keypad) for about six seconds. The computer will shut down and be turned off completely. Wait a short while to turn it back on.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: How to create folders on a Mac computer and organize your files

Join the conversation about this story »

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The best milk frothers you can buy

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  • If you love cappuccinos, you need a great milk frother.
  • After much research and testing, we found that the HIC Milk Creamer Frother is the best you can buy.

It's never been easier to make a perfect cup of coffee at home, but you need the right equipment to do it. If you're a big fan of cappuccinos and lattes with splendid milk foam, you're going to want a great milk frother in your collection of coffee-making products. 

We've researched dozens of milk frothers and tested a few of them ourselves to find the best milk frothers you can buy. There are many different kinds of milk frothers: manual, stationary electric, and handheld electric ones.

We first tried the handheld electric frothers because they were relatively cheap. However, the handheld electric frothers rarely delivered on their promise of making milk creamy and frothy. Many of them also involve batteries, which can be annoying to constantly replace. As such, we haven't included any battery-based electric options in this guide.

There are plenty of stationary, plug-in electric milk frothers that will produce excellent foamy milk, and we've put the best ones in this guide. However, the best electric milk frothers are significantly more expensive than handheld electronic ones and manual ones.

After much testing, our best experience has been with manual milk frothers that cost less than $20. Since there's no electricity involved, you do have to froth the milk yourself by pumping the milk full of air inside the jug. You also have to heat the milk after you've frothed it, but you'll have more control over how hot it gets. Even though there is more work involved with manual milk frothers, you'll get the best results for the least amount of money.

We've included two great manual milk frothers as our top picks for most people, but if you're dead set on having an electric milk frother, we've included three recommended options ranging in price from about $40 to $130.

Here are the best milk frothers you can buy:

Updated on 05/13/2019 by Les Shu: Updated links, formatting, and prices.

Keep scrolling to read more about our top picks.

SEE ALSO: The best coffee makers you can buy whether you want drip coffee or espresso

The best overall

The stainless-steel HIC Milk Creamer Frother whips up your milk for a beautiful foamy cappuccino or iced drink, for around $20.

You don't have to pay a fortune to enjoy a frothy, foamy cappuccino at home. The stainless-steel HIC Milk Creamer Frother costs approximately $20, but it produces the best milk foam of any milk frother we've tested.

The most well-loved feature of this simple manual milk frother is just how easy it is to clean. Many expensive electric milk frothers involve multiple parts that you have to wash and clean regularly. With the HIC frother, you just scrub out the stainless-steel jug with soap and water after every use and then wash the lid and mesh pump part.

Its stainless-steel design is also durable, so you don't have to worry about it breaking like you would with a glass manual milk frother. 

I've made cappuccinos at home every day for the past three years with a Bialetti Stovetop Espresso Maker and the HIC Milk Creamer Frother, and this milk frother has never failed me. 

It's all about the technique: I typically pour cold milk into the frother, froth it for 1-2 minutes, let it sit for a minute to thicken up, pour it into my ceramic milk pitcher, and heat it in the microwave for 45 seconds. The milk froth grows creamier and frothier as it heats until it's perfect for pouring over the espresso I have in my coffee mug. I've also used it to make frothy milk for iced drinks.

It's frequently recommended by reviewers as the best manual milk frother. Websites like Your Best Coffee Machine and Heavy also recommend the HIC Milk Creamer Frother. Many buyers on Amazon argue that it's often more effective than expensive electric frothers.

Pros: Inexpensive, easy to use, simple to clean, consistently makes great foamy milk, works with any kind of milk, froths cold milk for iced drinks

Cons: You have to heat the milk after you froth it

Buy the HIC Milk Creamer Frother on Amazon for $20.30



The second-best manual frother

The Bodum Latteo Milk Frother looks good on your kitchen counter and it makes excellent frothy milk, for less than $20.

If you want stylish manual milk frother, the Bodum Latteo is the one for you. It's made of borosilicate glass instead of stainless steel, so you can even pop the glass carafe into the microwave when you're done frothing the cold milk.

Bodum is a well-known brand that also makes French press coffee makers, so you know its products are trustworthy. 

Just like the HIC Milk Frother, the Bodum model is very easy to clean. You simply wash the glass carafe like you would any other glass and scrub the lid and mesh pump clean. In comparison, many expensive electric milk frothers involve multiple parts that you have to wash and clean, which is a real hassle. 

The only downside with Bodum's glass design is that you have to be more careful with it. The HIC milk frother is made of stainless steel so it won't break under most conditions, but this glass one could shatter.

To use Bodum's manual milk frother, you just have to follow the same technique we described for the HIC milk frother. Pour cold milk into the frother, froth it for 1-2 minutes, let it sit for a minute to thicken up, and heat it in the microwave for 45 seconds using the glass carafe the milk is in.

The milk froth grows creamier and frothier as it heats until it's perfect for pouring over the espresso in your coffee mug. You can also use it to make frothy milk for iced drinks.

The tech and reviews site Heavy recommends the Bodum Latteo Milk Frother as one of the best ones you can buy, and many buyers on Amazon say it's much better than any electric milk frother they've tried.

Bodum's Latteo milk frother is a steal for less than $20, especially when you compare it to the stationary electric milk frothers in this guide.

Pros: Glass design helps you see frothing progress, easy to clean, simple to use, consistently makes great foamy milk, works with any kind of milk, froths cold milk for iced drinks

Cons: You have to heat the milk after you froth it, glass is breakable

Buy the Bodum Latteo Milk Frother on Amazon for $17



The best premium frother

The Breville Milk Cafe is the cream of the crop with its easy-to-clean design and thick milk foam production.

If you're dead serious about the milk foam on your morning latte and you're not afraid of dropping more than $100 on a fancy milk frother, the Breville Milk Cafe is the best one you can buy.

The most popular feature of the Breville Milk Cafe is that you can customize the exact temperature, type of foam, and amount of foam you want to create. Its circular dial lets you easily set the milk temperature from cold to 160 degrees Fahrenheit. A spinning magnetized disk creates the foam and induction heating warms the milk.

The stainless-steel jug is easy to clean because it separates from the heating base; you can even pop it in the dishwasher. Breville's Milk Cafe produces enough milk foam for three big cups of coffee, too, which is excellent if you have a family (or just like lots of foam).

Reviewers are in love with this milk frother's ability to also make hot chocolate. All you have to do is toss some chocolate into the milk as it heats and froths to make decadent hot chocolate. 

Unlike manual frothers, the Breville heats the milk as it froths it up into foam, so there's no extra step. Many reviewers like the no-fuss process: You pour milk in and turn it on — done! According to reviewers, it's also quite durable, unlike other electric milk frothers.

Reviewers across the web agree that Breville's milk frother is the best premium electric model you can buy. HeavyLatte Art Guide, Coffee Gear at Home, and Espresso Gusto all highly recommend the Breville Milk Cafe frother. User reviews on Amazon are very favorable as well. 

The only downside is that it costs $129.95, making it $113.30 more than our top pick, the manual stainless-steel HIC milk frother.

Pros: Easy to use, great milk foam production, heats the milk for you, simple to clean, make hot chocolate

Cons: Very expensive

Buy the Breville BMF600XL Milk Cafe on Amazon for $129.95 (originally $149.99)



The best versatile frother

The Nespresso Aeroccino 4 Milk Frother has many different settings so you can get your milk foam exactly the way you like it.

Nespresso is famous for its fancy coffee and easy-to-use espresso machines that use special pods to make the ultimate latte, but the company also makes a number of other coffee products for those who don't want to buy the whole machine. The new Nespresso Aeroccino 4 Electric Milk Frother is a great option for milk foam lovers.

It produces lovely thick, creamy foam for your latte. Nespresso improved the design on this new milk frother to include a handle for easy pouring and now, the entire body is made of stainless steel. 

The design is slightly less easy to clean than Breville's nice jug style, but you just have to wash it by hand and gently scrub off any milk residue. Make sure to clean the Aeroccino4 every time you use it to keep the milk frother sanitary and in good working order.

The frother can make hot or cold milk foam and heat milk for lattes. The Aeroccino 4 uses induction heating to warm the milk and the magnetized spinning disk makes the foam. You can choose between two levels of foam density to make cappuccinos or lattes. Each setting has its own button, so it's easy to operate. On the downside, there's no temperature control like the Breville.

It's very easy to use, too. You simply pour the milk, press the button, and wait a few minutes for your foam. It automatically shuts off when you are done. I've tried a few lattes made with this milk frother at high-end kitchen stores, and I was impressed.

Pros: Multiple settings for different types of froth, hot or cold milk froth, nice design, stainless steel

Cons: A bit expensive, no adjustable temperature

Buy the Nespresso Aeroccino 4 from Sur La Table for $119.95



The best budget electric frother

The Epica Automatic Electric Milk Frother is easy to use and it produces lovely foam, for an excellent price.

If both the Breville and the Nespresso milk frothers are too pricey for you, but you still want to have an electric one instead of the manual milk frothers we recommend, you will love the Epica Automatic Electric Milk Frother.

At $25, the Epica doesn't cost that much more than our favorite manual milk frothers, but it's significantly less than the Nespresso and Breville. The Epica produces equally great foam, but you can only make thick cappuccino foam with it — not creamy latte milk.

This electric milk frother uses a motorized whisk on the bottom of the jug to make your foam and it uses induction heating to warm the milk as it froths. You can make enough foam for about one or two cups of coffee, just like the Nespresso Aeroccino. The milk can be either hot or cold, but the temperature won't exceed 140 degrees Fahrenheit. It's also relatively easy to clean by hand, but you need to be careful with it. 

According to many coffee enthusiast sites like Latte Art Guide and Espresso Gusto, the Epica Automatic Electric Milk Frother is a great deal. User reviews on Amazon are very positive, and the only negative comments seem to be about the milk not being hot enough. It's a fair criticism, given that most experts say the ideal temperature for milk foam is between 150-155 degrees Fahrenheit.

Its low price and nice foam production make it a top pick for anyone who wants an electric milk frother on a budget.

Pros: Easy to use, great milk foam production, heats the milk for you, cheap for an electric milk frother

Cons: Some users say milk doesn't get hot enough

Buy the Epica Automatic Electric Milk Frother on Amazon for $25



How to open and use the Terminal app on a Mac computer, with a few basic commands you can use to take control of your operating system

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Macbook Pro

  • The Mac Terminal is a command line system that can help you quickly take control of your operating system and make changes.
  • Getting to the Terminal app is easy — you can navigate via your Mac's Finder or through Spotlight.
  • You can use it to do things like open an application, open a file (through its default app), or open a file using a specific application or the text editor.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

If you're new to the Mac Terminal, think of it as the ultimate command shortcut hub, one that allows you to take control of your operating system in a super quick and efficient way (it's also something you might use if you're familiar with UNIX operating systems).

Learning to use the Terminal is kind of like speaking a different language — you'll have to familiarize yourself with at least the general rules to use it properly.

For example, every character you type matters, even spaces; you navigate through lines using your arrow keys; and you have to press the "return," or "enter," button to give a command.

(We'll run through a few basic commands you might want to use later on.)

But first, you'll have to open the Terminal. Here's how:

How to open the Terminal on a Mac

There are two primary avenues you can use to get to the Terminal: the Applications folder in your Finder, or searching in Spotlight. Here's a quick run-through of both processes.

Opening Terminal through the Finder

1. Click the Finder logo, located in the bottom toolbar of your screen (it looks like a two-toned smiling face).

2. On the left toolbar, click "Applications" (if that was the last folder you visited within the Finder, Finder will open to this folder automatically).

SCREENSHOTS OPEN TERMINAL MAC 2

3. Scroll down and open the "Utilities" folder.

SCREENSHOTS OPEN TERMINAL MAC 3

4. Double click "Terminal" to launch it.

Opening Terminal through Spotlight

1. Press the "Command" button and the space bar, simultaneously (this will open a search bar on your screen).

SCREENSHOTS OPEN TERMINAL MAC 4

2. Type "Terminal" (as you type, it should auto-fill).

SCREENSHOTS OPEN TERMINAL MAC 5

3. Double click "Terminal" in the left sidebar to open your Mac's Terminal

If you plan on using the Terminal a lot, it's a good idea to pin it to your computer's bottom toolbar (the "dock") for easier access. To do that, right-click the Terminal logo in the dock (it should appear there as long as Terminal is open). Then hover over "Options" and select "Keep in Dock."

A few basic commands you can use on a Mac's Terminal

Remember: After typing in each command, you'll have to hit the return button for the command to take hold. Here are a few useful commands to know, and make sure to copy the exact phrasing and spacing below into your commands:

Open an application:

Open -a APPLICATION

hfha

Or, if the application has a space in its name:

Open -a "APPLICATION NAME"

Open a file using the default application:

For this, you'll have to know the command pathway for the file you want to access. To do so, you can either drag the file to the Terminal window to add to the line, or right click the file and select "Copy [NAME]" and then use the Command+V shortcut to paste it into the Terminal. Even though the latter appears to only copy the actual file name, it actually captures the full pathway. In either case, hit the spacebar following the app name and then the command would take hold.

Open [FILE PATHWAY]

Open a file using an application you specify:

Again, you'll need the file pathway to use this command.

Open -a "APP NAME" [FILE PATHWAY]

Open a text-based file using the text editor:

Note that the file pathway is also fundamental here.

Open -a Text Edit [FILE PATHWAY]

If you need to get to your Terminal's settings, hold down the command key while tapping the comma button. And, in case you want to stop a command you've input, you can do that by tapping the window (if it isn't already selected) and holding down the "control" key and hitting "c." Or, if you want to repeat a command, simply use the up arrow key to cycle through previously used commands and, when you see the one you want, press "return."

Don't worry if you make a mistake in your command pathways: You'll just get a message back saying something along the lines of, "No such file or directory exists."

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: How to create folders on a Mac computer and organize your files

Join the conversation about this story »

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11 mind-blowing facts that show just how wealthy Bill Gates really is

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Bill Gates

Bill Gates is the second-richest person in the world. The Microsoft cofounder is worth an estimated $104 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

His wealth is surpassed only by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, who has a current net worth of $118 billion.

The next-richest person after Gates is Bernard Arnault, the French businessman who runs luxury-goods empire LVMH and is worth an estimated $92 billion.

Gates is so rich that an average American spending $1 is similar to Gates spending $1.06 million. And that's after the Microsoft cofounder has given away approximately 27% of his net worth to charity over the years.

Here are 11 mind-blowing facts that show just how wealthy Gates really is.

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1. Bill Gates has become nearly $12 billion richer in the past year alone.

On May 14, 2018, Gates' net worth was about $90 billion. 

He's $28 billion richer than he was five years ago in 2014.



2. Based on how much wealthier Gates got in the past year, he makes approximately $380 per second, according to Business Insider calculations.

That means it would not be worth his time to stop and pick up a $100 bill that he dropped on the ground.



3. If Gates spent $1 million a day, it would take him more about 285 years to spend his fortune, according to Business Insider calculations.

But although Gates indulges in a few luxuries — such as a private plane and a massive Washington home now worth $125 million— the billionaire is known for being relatively frugal in his spending.



4. Gates' $104 billion fortune could buy 81.1 million troy ounces of gold, according to Bloomberg.

According to Bloomberg, that's also the equivalent of 1.45 billion barrels of crude oil.

Today, a troy ounce of gold is worth $1,285.52.



5. Although Gates made his fortune cofounding Microsoft with Paul Allen, he now only owns 1.3% of the company — and he's still worth $104 billion.

That 1.3% share in Microsoft amounts to about 12.5% of Gates' net worth, according to Forbes.



6. Gates has remained the second-richest person in the world even after giving away approximately 27% of his net worth to charity over the years.

In 2010, Gates and Warren Buffett — the world's fourth-richest person— founded The Giving Pledge, a charity organization that encourages the world's wealthiest people to give the majority of their fortune to charity during their lifetime or after their death.

Gates has donated $35.8 billion in Microsoft stock to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, according to Forbes.

In 2017, he invested $50 million into Alzheimer's research and later gave another $30 million to a "venture philanthropy" fund called Diagnostics Accelerator, which has the aim of diagnosing Alzheimer's earlier.

Gates and his wife, Melinda, have also traveled to Tanzania and other countries for charity work. They've donated millions more to causes that include health and development and education.



7. Gates is so rich that an average American spending $1 is similar to Gates spending $1.06 million.

The median net worth of an average US household is $97,300. Dividing $104 billion by $97,300 comes to about $1.06 million.



8. Gates' net worth is greater than the GDP of Croatia, Cambodia, and the Bahamas — combined.

Croatia's GDP is about $63.8 billion, Cambodia's is $26.6 billion, and the Bahamas' is $12.8 billion.



9. Gates is richer than the richest man in Asia and the richest man in China, combined.

Indian businessman Mukesh Ambani, worth $55 billion, is the richest person in Asia. And tech tycoon Pony Ma, worth $38.2 billion, is China's richest person, according to Bloomberg's Billionaires Index.



10. Gates could give every single living person on the planet $10 — and still have more than $30 billion left over.

The world population was 7,346,235,000 as of August 2016.



11. According to the Social Security Administration, the average American man with a bachelor's degree will earn about $2.2 million in his lifetime. Gates makes that in a little over an hour and a half.

According to the SSA, the average American woman with a bachelor's degree will earn $1.3 million in her lifetime.

Based on his earnings of $12 billion in the past year, Gates makes about $22,831 per minute, according to Business Insider calculations. 



Angry JetBlue customers are slamming the airline after the company was hit with a software outage and flights were delayed (JBLU, SABR)

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Airbus A321 JetBlue sustainable jet fuel blend

A software outage from Sabre, a travel-industry information-technology provider, caused delays for JetBlue on Tuesday morning.

"One of network suppliers, CenturyLink, had a network failure this morning, impacting our customers communicating with our systems via CenturyLink's network," Sabre said on Twitter. "The issue has now been fully resolved and airlines are returning to normal operations. We apologize for any inconvenience."

Read more:The payouts to families of Boeing 737 Max victims could depend on whether and how long they knew they were about to die, lawyers say

Tuesday's incident followed a Sabre outage in April that affected a number of airlines, including JetBlue, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines.

A JetBlue representative confirmed to Business Insider on Tuesday that its Sabre-operated systems were working again.

"Systems have recovered after a brief Sabre outage impacting multiple airlines this early morning. We are not experiencing any significant operational issues today as a result of this outage," the JetBlue representative said.

JetBlue customers affected by the delays expressed their frustration on Twitter Tuesday morning. Here's what they were saying:

 

 

 

SEE ALSO: You can get up to 60,000 United miles by opening the airline's credit card, but the offer ends this week

Join the conversation about this story »

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This $24 shoe rack doubles as a shelving unit anywhere in your apartment — I use mine to organize books and video games

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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.

Seville Shoe Rack 4x3

  • The Seville Classics 2-Tier Shoe Rack helped me organize 16 pairs of shoes, and it only costs $23.99 on Amazon.
  • The shoe rack can also be stacked on top of another to form a shelving unit or give you more space to organize your shoes. 
  • Because of its espresso finish and sleek look, the Seville Classics shoe rack can function in any room of the house to hold dishes, books, toys, and more as long as the weight is under 50 pounds.

I recently came to the realization that my shoes had evolved into a heaping mound at the bottom of my closet.

Most of the time when I'm rushing out the door in the morning, I'm only ever able to find one shoe. Just like in my worst, most embarrassing dream, I run around my apartment with one shoe on, fearing I might actually have to show up to work looking like a mismatched fool. When I finally got frustrated enough to remember to buy a shoe rack, I put my foot down (you know, the one with the missing shoe) and went on Amazon to find a simple rack.

I needed something that was short, sturdy, and inexpensive. I found the Seville Classics 2-Tier Shoe Rack with more than 1,000 5-star reviews and a $23.99 price tag, and settled on it. It wasn't until it came in the mail that I realized it was a serendipitous find.

For starters, it was the perfect size for the bottom of my closet at 26.2 inches deep, 11.6 inches wide, and 15.4 inches high. Amazon advertises this rack as being able to organize up to nine pairs of shoes with three per shelf and three more on the floor, but with some skillful Tetris-like maneuvering, I was able to fit 14 pairs of shoes between the shelves and the floor. I also squeezed in two tall boots between the shoe rack and the wall right next to it, so while they weren't technically on the rack itself, I'm still adding them for a grand total of 16 pairs. 

Seville Classics 2-Tier Shoe Rack

It also looks great in my space — the frame is iron, the finish is a dark espresso, and the shelves are coated in resin. The whole thing is capable of holding up to 50 pounds, or 25 pounds per shelf. Now, I know I had a lot of shoes on the shelves but there was no way they weighed 50 pounds, so I decided to return to the product page to do a little investigating.

That's when it hit me — the shoe rack could hold a lot more than shoes. 

Because of its sleek look and ability to hold a good amount of weight, the rack doesn't need to hide in the closet and can double as a shelving unit in other rooms of the house. It can be used to hold dishes, books, toys — pretty much anything you want as long as it's under 50 pounds.

My roommates and I decided to purchase a second one so we can use it to stack our storage cubes, books, and video games. The best part is that no one even thinks it's a shoe rack when they come over.

Seville Classics 2-Tier Shoe Rack

Insider Picks reporter Connie Chen also owns the Seville Classics shoe rack and is impressed by the sheer strength: "In my small bedroom, every inch of space matters, which is how my shoe rack ended up jammed underneath my bed. Fortuitously, it fits perfectly, meaning that the edge of my full bed is stacked right on top of the rack. My shoes themselves aren't heavy, but I do finagle a lot of pairs onto the two rows. Sometimes I sit on the edge of my bed, putting both my and the mattress' weight directly on the rack, but it has never slipped or shaken under pressure."

If you're looking for a little extra storage with just one rack, I'd suggest the Seville Classics 3-Tier Shoe Rack instead. But if you want something shorter so you can stack them, the Seville Classics 2-Tier Shoe Rack is the way to go. You'll have the peace of mind knowing it's sturdy and won't crumble to the ground in the middle of the night, and you can assemble multiple racks wherever and however you want based on your organization needs. 

Buy the Seville Classics 2-Tier Shoe Rack from Amazon for $23.99

Join the conversation about this story »

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The best dental floss you can buy

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the best dental floss

It may come in a tiny little dispenser, but dental floss can have a huge impact on your oral health. The American Dental Association recommends brushing for two minutes twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing at least once a day because dental floss is very effective at removing plaque and food from between your teeth.

We take flossing our teeth very seriously, so we've done a lot of research and flossing to find the best dental floss you can buy. You may think that all dental floss are created equally, but they are not. Finding the right dental floss for your needs may even encourage you to floss more often. 

Here is the best dental floss you can buy:

Updated on 05/14/2019 by Les Shu: Updated links, formatting, and prices. Added note on a recent study concerning dental floss and the use of PFAS chemicals.

Keep scrolling to read more about our top picks.

The best dental floss overall

True to its name, the affordable and shred-resistant Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Comfort Plus Dental Floss glides easily between even tightly-spaced teeth.

Oral-B is one of America's leading oral hygiene companies, and its Glide Pro-Health Comfort Plus Dental Floss is the best you can buy. It was first developed in 1971 when the inventor of Gore-Tex used a Gore-Tex fiber to floss his own teeth. Oral-B didn't have good luck with this kind of floss for decades, but now the Glide floss is the most popular kind among dentists.  

There are several different varieties of Glide floss, and all of them are designed to slide easily into tight spaces. Our top pick, the Pro-Health Comfort Plus, is a shred-resistant, mint-flavored, monofilament floss that is coated with beeswax. It slides easily between teeth to pull out the plaque and food between your teeth. This is the dental floss our guides editor Malarie Gokey uses.

The reviewers at Pearly Whytes chose the Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Comfort Plus Dental Floss as one of their top picks, and buyers agree. There are more than 1,300 customer reviews on Amazon, and the floss has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. Fans of the floss note that it is gentle on gums, doesn't fray, and gets between tight teeth easily.

One reviewer wrote: "This is actually my favorite brand of floss. My teeth are pretty close together … and I find that especially on my back molars, traditional floss is pretty hard to get in between them, and often times I actually rip through or fray more traditional flosses. This stuff goes in without ripping, and because it slides in easier, I can get it to contour easier around my teeth."

Another verified buyer on Amazon wrote: "Best floss I've ever had, flavor is just subtle enough to not be overwhelming while pleasant enough to make flossing less unappealing, smooth enough to get between a couple of my teeth which have become nigh unassailable with normal floss since my dentist put fillings that all but connected my teeth together."

If you prefer all-natural products, however, the Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Comfort Plus Dental Floss may not be right for you. This floss is made with polytetrafluorethylene, or PTFE, a man-made chemical also used in Gore-Tex and Teflon products. Read more about the use of PTFE in dental floss further below.

Pros: Glides easily between teeth, gentle on gums, minty flavor, non-fraying, affordable

Cons: Some users complain that the floss breaks easily

Buy a two-pack of Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Comfort Plus Dental Floss on Amazon for $5.69



The best dental floss for sensitive gums

Dr. Tung's Smart Floss has a unique, biodegradable dispenser and thick, expandable floss that offers exceptional cleaning. 

Dr. Tung's is best known as the company that first introduced Americans to the concept of a tongue cleaner, but the company has been producing a range of healthy, natural-based oral care products ever since. Its Smart Floss is exceptionally well made.

Everything about Dr. Tung's Smart Floss is different than traditional floss, starting with the circular, rotating dispenser, which is biodegradable. The thick, stretchy floss is notably softer than other types of floss, making it perfect for people with sensitive gums.

Free of gluten, PTFE, and BPA, the floss is lightly waxed with a blend of vegetable and beeswax. Dr. Tung's says that the floss has been "clinically proven" to remove up to 55% more plaque than regular flosses, though we haven't verified that personally.

The only downside is that this multifilament floss is available in only one flavor: cardamom. However, many people like the sweet, spicy flavor as an alternative to mint.

A wide variety of professional reviewers and bloggers, including those at Tools of Men and Pearly Whytes, list Dr. Tungs Smart Floss as one of the best flosses. Buyers agree — nearly 700 Amazon reviewers gave the floss an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars.

One customer said, "I am a dental hygienist and absolutely love this floss. It's textured and tough and cleans so much better between the teeth than any floss I've ever used. I will say if your teeth are extremely tight (and I mean extremely tight ... like you have a hard time using glide) then this probably wouldn't work for you. I use this floss every day on patients and very rarely does it shred ... I've personally seen a difference in gum health of my patients after using this floss for six months." 

Another wrote: "I have a periodontal condition and after trying a number of floss products, I decided to use Dr. Tung's. It's soft enough so that it won't damage the gum tissue but it still cleans effectively. This floss is woven and tends to expand a bit when you use it — this allows it to fill the space under the gum line for more thorough cleaning."

Pros: strong, expandable, soft, superior cleaning ability, biodegradable dispenser

Cons: expensive, only one flavor

Buy a six-pack of Dr. Tung's Smart Floss on Amazon for $21.95



The best dental floss that's all-natural

The thick string and all natural ingredients in Tom's of Maine Antiplaque Flat Spearmint Floss will leave your mouth feeling oh-so fresh.

Tom's of Maine has been producing natural personal care products for more than 45 years. Its popular flat dental floss is so wide it could almost be considered dental tape. But whatever you call it, this spearmint-flavored floss is perfect for people with wide-set teeth.

Made of multiple nylon filaments, this thick, rope-like floss resists fraying and is covered in three natural waxes, including beeswax. If you prefer your oral care products to be all natural, you're in luck. Tom's proudly proclaims that the floss contains, "No synthetic waxes, artificial sweeteners or preservatives, no artificial color or flavor, and no animal ingredients."

Many professional reviewers and bloggers, including those at Tools of Men, Women Dentists, and Pearly Whytes, recommend the all-natural toothpaste. Our guides editor Malarie Gokey has also used this floss off and on for years, and it works well.

There are more than 350 customer reviews on Amazon, too. One verified buyer wrote: "I first tried this brand in a kit that the company sent me in a prize that I won. I instantly fell in love. I really like how the thicker string makes your teeth feel [so much cleaner]. I also don't have any issues with plaque buildup when using this brand."

Another buyer added: "I really like this floss. Some say it is like 'rope.' I guess I can understand that after using some of the other flosses that really slip and slide and glide. Personally, I like a little texture and roughness so that it feels like it's actually doing some cleaning and scrubbing instead of just sliding over the gunk."

Pros: All-natural, slides easily, strong and flat floss works well for wide-set teeth

Cons: Expensive

Buy a six-pack of Tom's of Maine Antiplaque Flat Spearmint Floss on Amazon for $17.04



The best dental floss for kids

Easy-to-use dual grip handles, bright colors, and fruity flavors make Plackers Kids' Dual Gripz great for encouraging your kids to floss.

The main goal of Plackers Kids' Dual Gripz is to entice children to engage in regular flossing. With colorful dual grip handles in orange, green, and blue, these flossers are more fun than your avergae dental floss. They also have a yummy fruit smoothie flavor so your kids don't get annoyed by the traditional mint flavor.

The ergonomically-designed handles on these flossers work better for most children, so your little ones can start using the flossers by age three. Of course, Plackers suggests that parents supervise children under age 10, but many children can floss by themselves at a younger age. The actual floss is unwaxed and there is no added sugar, plus, the flossers are BPA-free.

Mom bloggers, like the Southern Carolina Family, say these kids' dental floss is an ideal way to get kids hooked on regular flossing, and buyers agree.

More than 200 Amazon shoppers gave the product an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars. One buyer said: "My 4-year-old loves brushing his teeth and now we can make flossing fun. I had a problem with conventional floss and didn't have any luck with other gimmicky flossers. These were wonderful to get into the tight spaces of little mouths without breaking and taste great. Fun flavors, cool colors and easy to use. Parent approved!"

Another parent wrote: "We've tried a couple of different brands, but this is the best … First, the string is pretty strong and doesn't usually break. Second, they're the perfect size."

Pros: Colorful, easy-to-use grip handles, strong, string-like floss, fruity flavor, contain fluoride

Cons: Expensive, some parents complain that they (but not their kids) find the fruity scent sickening

Buy four-pack (75 in each) of Plackers Kids' Dual Gripz on Amazon for $8.70



The best dental floss for braces

The Platypus Orthodontic Flosser quickly allows you to clean and floss behind your braces.

In the old days, flossing when you had braces was a difficult chore. Now, the Platypus Orthodontic Flosser eliminates the time-intensive ritual of threading the floss through each tooth and makes oral hygiene easier.

The innovative spatula end of the flosser actually fits under the wire of your braces. By gently pressing against your teeth, the floss tightens and starts cleaning. The opposite end of the flosser has a brush for cleaning other hard-to-reach areas. Most people should be able to floss their entire mouth in 1-2 minutes.

Dental professionals and bloggers applaud this revolutionary device. "Using these flossers eliminates frustration due to ease of maneuverability and also cuts down on time, making the flossing process quicker. With consistent use, these small, disposable, plastic flossers promote cleanliness between teeth and gums," wrote the Tooth Sayer blog.

On Amazon, the Platypus Orthodontic Flosser has an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars. One buyer wrote: "These are the ONLY flossers that fit with my daughter's braces. Otherwise, flossing takes forever with threading regular floss through her braces. Blessedly, she's fastidious and dedicated to flossing. The price tag is a bit steep for flossers, but we are investing in orthodontia for her teeth so we may as well invest in something to keep them healthy while she has the braces."

Another buyer called the Platypus "an excellent product … I have tightly placed teeth and brackets that are close together on some teeth, but I am still able to fit the flossers under the brace wire and between my teeth."

The flossers may be more expensive than thread flossers but the cost is worth it for speedier more effective flossing.

Pros: Fast cleaning around braces, effective

Cons: Some complain that it does not fit under braces, expensive 

Buy a six-pack of the Platypus Orthodontic Flossers 30 Count Bag on Amazon for $30.49



How to choose a good dental floss

Waxed dental floss comes in different flavors and glides between your teeth easier than unwaxed floss. It's also less likely to shred. However, some waxed flosses contain chemicals like PTFE (the same material used in Gore-Tex fabric) and they may be too thick for tightly spaced teeth.

Dental floss is made of strands of filaments or fiber. Mono-filament floss is made from a single string, usually nylon, and it's the cheapest type. Multifilament flosses are made of several filaments, composed of either nylon or synthetic fiber. They are wider and are thought to clean better than single strands, but they're more likely to shred.

Those with braces and bridges often turn to super-floss to get their mouths clean. This versatile floss, made of a yarn-like fabric, has a rigid end which makes it easy to maneuver and is usually extra spongy. If your teeth are spaced widely apart, dental tape, which is flatter and stretchier than regular floss, is likely the best option for you.

A recent study of 178 women found that those who flossed with certain dental floss, including Oral-B Glide products, had higher levels of a PFAS chemical, PTFE, than those who didn't. PTFE, used in Gore-Tex and Teflon, is used in making Oral-B Glide floss. PFAS chemicals are used in industrial and consumer products, and high levels of exposure could lead to health problems in people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC already lists dental floss as a product that could contain PFAS. According to the agency, "Research has suggested that exposure to PFOA and PFOS from today's consumer products is usually low, especially when compared to exposures to contaminated drinking water." The CDC says people are already exposed to PFAS chemicals because they are so widely used.

Procter & Gamble, Oral-B's parent company, said it can "confirm that none of the substances in the report are used in our dental floss," while the study's authors said more research is needed.

 While not unsafe, the decision is ultimately up to you as a consumer. If you would rather use an all-natural alternative or a product that explicitly says it does not contain PTFE or BPA, try Tom's of Maine Anti Plaque Flat Spearmint Floss or Dr. Tung's Smart Floss.



Check out our other great oral health product guides

The best toothbrushes you can buy

There's plenty to be said for the classic manual toothbrush: It can't run out of batteries and it's compact, lightweight, and portable. The Oral-B Pro-Health All-in-One Soft Bristle Toothbrush is our top pick because its myriad bristle types and built-in tongue, cheek, and gum cleaners leave your whole mouth clean and fresh.

You might also like the Primal Life Organic Charcoal Infused Bamboo Toothbrush, the SmileMakers Pre-Pasted Disposable Toothbrushes, the Colgate Premier Extra Clean Toothbrushes, and the Fridababy SmileFrida Toddler Toothbrush.

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The best toothpaste you can buy

Nobody likes going to the dentist, but if you take good care of your teeth between visits, the cleaning will go easier. We researched and tested many kinds of toothpaste to find the best ones you can buy. Sensodyne's Pronamel Gentle Whitening Toothpaste is our top pick because it whitens gently while building up tooth enamel to lessen sensitivity.

We've researched and tested many tubes of toothpaste to find the best ones you can buy. Whether you want an all-natural toothpaste, one with fluoride, one with charcoal, one with whitening powers, or one that rebuilds your enamel to reduce sensitivity, we have a toothpaste for you.

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The best electric toothbrushes you can buy

If you want clean teeth and healthy gums without breaking your budget, you can't go wrong with the highly effective Oral-B Pro 1000 electric toothbrush.

You might also like the Waterpik Complete Care Water Flosser and Sonic Toothbrush, the Philips Sonicare for Kids, the Oral-B Pro 7500 Electric Toothbrush, the Philips Sonicare 2 Series Plaque Control, and the Fairywill Sonic Electric Toothbrush.

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The best teeth whitening kits you can buy

The best teeth whitening kits come with everything you need to whiten your teeth, are easy to use, and do not irritate your gums or teeth. The Active Wow Teeth Whitening Charcoal Powder has all of these features, plus it's affordable, does not use harmful chemicals, and comes in different flavors.

You might prefer the Crest 3D White Professional Effects Whitestrips, the GLO Science Brilliant Personal Teeth Whitening Device, and the Miswak Club Natural Teeth Whitening Kit.

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The best mouthwash you can buy

Used in tandem with brushing, flossing, and avoiding salt water taffy before bed, a good mouthwash can play a pivotal role in your oral health and hygiene regimen. Listerine Cool Mint Antiseptic Mouthwash is our top choice thanks to its ADA-accepted, clinically-proven ability to kill off germs that contribute to plaque buildup, bad breath, and gum disease.

You should also consider the Crest Scope Outlast Mouthwash, the CloSYS Gentle Mint Mouthwash, the Uncle Harry's Natural Products Miracle Mouthwash, and the ACT Anticavity Fluoride Rinse Mouthwash.

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AmEx Platinum vs Chase Sapphire Reserve: Which card offers superior airport lounge access, according to a frequent flyer

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  • Both the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Platinum Card® from American Express offer airport lounge access among their many benefits, rewards, and perks.
  • However, I find the Platinum card's lounge access more useful — that's because it includes the same lounges as the Sapphire Reserve, plus dozens more within the US.
  • Priority Pass— the lounge network that both cards offer a membership to — has more than 1,200 locations around the world, although I find the offerings abroad more useful.
  • The AmEx Platinum also offers access to its own Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when you're flying with that airline), and more.

As someone who flies relatively often, whether for work, to see family, or for fun leisure trips, having access to airport lounges is something I find increasingly necessary. While I enjoy flying itself, airports can be pretty unpleasant. Thankfully, airport lounges — even when they're crowded — offer an escape from the worst of it.

When I'm taking an early-morning flight, the lounge is a place to have breakfast and coffee while relaxing. If it's a daytime or early evening flight on a workday, it's somewhere with solid Wi-Fi where I can work and have a snack. If I'm heading on vacation or it's the end of a week, it's a great place to enjoy a free cocktail (or two), and in some cases even dinner.

In fact, I'm writing this article in a lounge while I wait out a long flight delay.

The best way to get lounge access — unless you're flying international first or business class, or you're a top-level frequent flyer with certain airlines — is to buy a membership from an airline so that you can use its own lounges, or, more effectively, open a credit card that offers lounge access as one of its perks.

In addition to airline-specific premium credit cards — the Delta Reserve credit card from American Express, Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard, and United MileagePlus Club card— that offer access to just that airline's lounges, the two most popular lounge cards are the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the AmEx Platinum Card

While each card offers lounge access as a published benefit, the lounge access that comes with the AmEx Platinum is far more inclusive, especially if you're flying within the United States.

Both cards come with a membership in Priority Pass, a network of more than 1,200 airport lounges around the world, including 60-70 in the US (lounges occasionally join or leave the program). However, a frequent criticism of Priority Pass-affiliated lounges is that they can get too crowded and end up not allowing guests in. In fact, some Priority Pass-affiliated lounges — particularly those that belong to an airline, but allow third-party access through the network — limit hours that Priority Pass cardholders can use the lounge, in order to save space for their own passengers. 

While my experience with Priority Pass has been more positive than negative, I've had a couple of experiences where I couldn't access a lounge due to crowding or capacity controls. Especially as the Chase Sapphire Reserve's popularity has led there to be more Priority Pass members, network lounges within the United States and the Americas generally — as well as popular international gateways for Americans, such as London's Gatwick airport — have become more and more packed. In fact, the only way to be sure that you can access one of the lounges in Gatwick is to pay a small fee to reserve a spot beforehand.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX Priority Pass

In my experience, though, Priority Pass is still useful within the Americas

I've used it to access lounges at a number of airports including New York-JFK, Las Vegas, Cancun, Toronto, Santiago, Boston, and others. Additionally, the only time I've ever had an issue abroad is at that London Gatwick lounge — I've gotten in without issue in Edinburgh, Amsterdam, London Heathrow, Copenhagen, and presumably others that I'm forgetting.

That said, for American travelers who receive a Priority Pass membership as a benefit of their Sapphire Reserve cards, the network does have weaknesses. Accessible lounges tend to be in international terminals at North American airports, or "general" terminals that serve a number of airlines, so domestic flyers usually have to schlep to other terminals to use the lounges before their flights.

However, I ultimately find the AmEx Platinum more useful for getting into airport lounges.

In fact, since opening it last year, I've stopped bringing my Priority Pass card on most domestic trips.

That's because in addition to the Priority Pass membership, the AmEx Platinum card offers access to several other types of lounges.

The first are Delta Sky Clubs. As long as you're flying Delta, you can access one of the 33 Delta-owned-and-operated lounges around the US. While the value of this obviously varies, depending on what airline you fly, I've found this invaluable as a Delta loyalist.

The second type is AmEx's own Centurion Lounges. There are currently eight locations in the US, one in Hong Kong, and five more set to open between 2019–2020— with more likely to be announced. While these lounges can sometimes get a bit crowded — AmEx is expanding the Dallas location due to crowding, with the new, expanded location set to open this fall — they offer ample seating, fast Wi-Fi, complimentary meals, cocktails, and coffee, and snacks.

There are also 11 international AmEx-branded lounges that you can access as a Platinum cardholder, including in Mumbai, Delhi, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Sydney, and, most recently announced, Melbourne.

Then, there are a handful of other random lounges, including ones that fall under the Plaza Premium, Air Space, and Escapes brands — these number more than 50. 

Delta Sky Club ATL Sky Deck

Although lounge access is a major talking point of the Sapphire Reserve— and its Priority Pass membership is certainly useful — my personal use case sees the card as being more useful for its rewards, which are far more useful, easy to earn, and valuable than the AmEx Platinum's. The Platinum, meanwhile, gets me into a lounge in just about any airport I happen to find myself in — even though Gatwick remains a problem.

However, if you're concerned about having consistent lounge access, the AmEx Platinum is likely a better choice to rely on. I personally hold both cards, despite the high annual fees — I find that the rewards and benefits of the Sapphire Reserve, and just the benefits of the Platinum Card, actually get me more value in return than I pay for the fees. You can read more about why I pay for both cards here.

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

Click here to learn more about the Sapphire Reserve from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.

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

READ MORE: The best credit card rewards, bonuses, and benefits of 2019

Join the conversation about this story »

The biggest threat to a company is how managers treat people, says an exec coach. Here are 3 budget-friendly ways they can get better at their jobs

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Erica Keswin

  • Erica Keswin is a workplace strategist and former executive coach at New York University. She's also the author of "Bring Your Human to Work."
  • In this op-ed, she writes that the biggest thing separating your company and its optimal productivity isn't some big scary global trend outside of your control; it's just people — managers — and they way they treat other people.
  • A Gallup poll of 2 million employees found that if it's a superior team you're after, hiring the right manager is about 70% of the battle.
  • Gallup calls this "the single most profound, distinct, and clarifying finding" in its 80-year history.
  • Good managers need to know and understand a company's values, take professional development personally, and create opportunities for genuine connection among employees.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

In a recent WSJ article, business writer Sam Walker presents the challenge of growing our economy "back to the glory days of 7% growth."

He writes: "Here's a crazy idea: What if it's something simple? What if companies could fix the problem by hiring better middle managers?"

When I read this article, I immediately knew he was onto something. As I researched my book, "Bring Your Human to Work," and spoke to employees across industries, I heard over and over again how much employees want to connect with their managers. Study after study shows that better managers lead to less turnover, higher engagement, and a deeper feeling of connection, which is what talent demands.

And based on everything I was seeing, hearing and reading, I was getting a strong sense that by shining a light on managers, we'd be solving a big problem. But I wasn't 100% sure.

Now I am. AsWalker writes:

"Five years ago, the Gallup organization embarked on one of the most ambitious deep dives it has ever conducted; an analysis of the future of work based on a decade of input from nearly 2 million employees and more than 300,000 business units. The results confirmed something Gallup had seen before: a company's productivity depends, to a high degree, on the quality of its managers."

But there's more — something that "no one saw coming."

What Gallup found about managers is that they don't "just influence the results their teams achieved, they explained a full 70% of the variance. In other words, if it's a superior team you're after, hiring the right manager is nearly three-fourths of the battle."

Gallup calls this finding, about the sheer impact of a manager on a company, "'the single most profound, distinct and clarifying finding' in its 80-year history." Wow!

As Walker writes, "No other single factor, from compensation levels to the perception of senior leadership, even came close." This was such big news that it nearly "blew me out of my chair," recounted Jim Clifton, Gallup's CEO.

Okay. Let that sink in. The biggest thing (70%!) separating your company and its optimal productivity isn't some big scary global trend outside of your control. It's just people — managers — and they way they treat other people.

Read more: An executive coach says practically everyone forgets to ask the job interview question that exposes a big red flag

Managers who 'get it' do these 3 things

And even though we often think big, complicated, expensive problems require big, complicated, expensive solutions, re-orienting managers — helping them "get it" — does not have to break the bank.

As my hero, Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, says, "It's a way of being."

So here are three simple and bottom line-friendly ways to help managers become managers who get it.

 

 

SEE ALSO: It’s better to hire a pleasant employee than a superstar, according to Harvard

1. Take the values off the walls and into the halls

Managers need to know and understand a company's values. But that's just the beginning in today's workplace. According to Walker, "For most workers, the real company they work for is the team they're on.The only way to make a culture stick is to install middle managers who transfer it to their teams." In other words, these managers need to get the values off the walls and into the halls. Managers need to model the values and show employees what they look like, sound like, and feel like — and why it matters.

Fast-growing luggage startup Away set up a Slack channel called "Team Love" to share stories about their values. On Team Love, managers and employees at any level can recognize someone for living the Away values by sharing a story about how an employee brought one of their values to life. To scale the values even more, a survey goes out each week in advance of the company's all-hands meeting, asking for examples of "core values in action," and each week five or six examples are shared with the whole company. The result is a living repository of values at work.



2. Take professional development personally

It makes sense if professional development seems like a nice-to-have because that's how so many of us were raised. But go ask any millennial employee and almost 90% of them will tell you they find career growth and development opportunities important, according to a 2016 Gallup poll. Quite simply put, millennials have shown us all how important it is to grow on the job. So it's a manager's job to get it, and to connect their employees with the right opportunities.

Aria Finger, the dynamic CEO of DoSomething.org, asks her employees thoughtful questions like, "What's important to you? Do you want to become a better speaker? Do you want a byline? Do you want a fellowship?" By tuning into the individual development needs of her employees, they not only feel seen and heard, but they also build critical skills that are both important to the employee and boost the bottom line. Everyone wins through Finger's commitment, including the company. And while not everyone is born "getting it," like I think Finger was, we can all watch and learn how to tune in and offer people on our team meaningful opportunities.

And if you're still on the fence, consider this: LinkedIn's 2018 Workforce Learning Report found that 93% of employees would stay at a company longer if it invested in their careers.

 



3. Curate connection

Managers who get it see that (excuse the cheesy pun) left to our own "devices," we just aren't connecting. The days of company happy hours where everyone hangs out are pretty much over. Even if people show up to our scheduled bonding session, so many are in the corner on their phones that relationships aren't built or deepened. Managers who get it know better than to leave connections to chance.

At Zendesk, a successful company that builds customer service software for giants such as Slack, they change up their happy hour by getting their execs behind the bar mixing drinks. Curating connection by "turning the tables" gets employees' attention, and it's a creative way to encourage employees to be present. A law firm I visited invited a reporter to come and interview the top brass to add some content to the experience of getting together.

The now-famous best friend study by Gallup didn't find that being in proximity with others (though that's important, too) boosted productivity at work; instead, people have to feel personally invested in their relationships to thrive.

As another of my heroes, Priya Parker, puts it, when it comes to gathering, "a category is not a purpose." In other words, managers need to keep in mind what they're bringing people together for, and it's definitely not milling around together in the same room. It's genuine connection.

I've seen it with my own eyes: Managers who get it will make the employee experience better, which will make them happy.

All well and good, you may say. Values, professional development, curating connections...but what's the impact on the bottom line? "According to Gallup, the top 10% of companies, ranked by engagement, posted profit gains of 26% through the last recession compared with a 14% skid at comparable employers.

I tell audiences all over the country, from companies big and small, that becoming a human leader isn't rocket science, but that doesn't mean it's easy.But what have you got to lose? Managers who get it bring their human to work, which is good for people, great for business, and just might change the world.

Erica Keswin is the author of Bring Your Human to Work

 



Popeyes is selling heart-shaped biscuits for National Biscuit Day

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popeye's biscuit

Popeyes is selling heart-shaped biscuits — for one day only

The fried chicken chain is rolling out heart-shaped buttermilk biscuits on Tuesday, to celebrate National Biscuit Day. The "Love That" biscuits are only available at locations in in Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans and New York.

Read more: The new CEO behind Burger King, Popeyes, and Tim Hortons reveals his plans for the future of the chains

"For more than 40 years, our biscuits have been celebrated as a very beloved menu item," Amy Alarcon, Head Chef of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen said in a statement. "With our buttermilk biscuits at the heart of our menu, it only made sense to celebrate with heart shaped biscuits on National Biscuit Day."

Last year, the chicken chain says it sold 292 million of its iconic buttermilk biscuits. 

SEE ALSO: Insiders reportedly worry Steak 'n Shake is headed for extinction, as the chain loses millions, temporarily closes dozens of restaurants, and the CEO fantasizes about eliminating cherries from milkshakes

Join the conversation about this story »

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How to manually update your Mac computer (when you've been putting off automatic updates)

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apple mac update logo

  • Macs give you the option to put off updates, which is convenient in the moment, but can leave you with older versions of software that can leave your computer vulnerable.
  • You can update a Mac manually with a few clicks, as long as you know where to go.
  • Before updating, it's a good idea to backup your Mac so nothing is lost.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

In a lot of ways, Macs are built for convenience: They have backlit keyboards, there's the option to use split-screen viewing for different apps, and they come with a wide assortment of shortcuts that can speed up your work.

When you're in the thick of an important assignment (or just in the middle of streaming a good movie on Netflix), the option to put off an automatic software update is just another convenience.

Unfortunately, doing so also means working with outdated apps that don't have the latest software patches in place to protect your device. (And if you put those off long enough, it may even slow you down.) If you're behind on updates, you can still install those manually. You just have to navigate to the correct screen to do it.

Here's your quick guide to getting there:

How to check for and install updates on your Mac

It's a simple three-step process that should take less than a minute to complete:

1. Click the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your screen.

2. Select "App Store…"

SCREENSHOT UPDATE MAC 1

3. Click "Updates" in the left sidebar of the App Store.

SCREENSHOT UPDATE MAC 2

From there, you may see one of several potential messages, like: No updates required (in which case, you're good to go), a list of recently made updates, or, if available, you'd be given the option to update your Mac.

Before going forward with updates, however, it's a good idea to backup your computer to ensure nothing is lost in the process. After that, keep in mind that the updates may take several minutes to install, depending on how many of your apps are due for updates.

There is another way to check for updates that you might want to use: You can go up to that top toolbar, click the Apple icon, and select "About this Mac." Then, under "Overview," click "Software Update…" and it will automatically check for available updates.

SCREENSHOT UPDATE MAC 3

If there are updates available, click "Update Now" to activate them. The main advantage to this method is that you can enable the automatic updates from that screen, if for some reason you had previously disabled them.

And, for future reference, don't worry about accepting an update and then having your computer unexpectedly restart — you'll be notified beforehand if a restart is required.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: How to AirDrop files from a Mac computer to other Apple devices

Join the conversation about this story »

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The incredible life of Roger Federer, the highest-paid tennis player in the world

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Roger Federer of Switzerland poses for a photo on the black court at La Rotonde ahead of The Laver Cup Press Conference on February 08, 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland. (Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images for The Laver Cup)

  • Roger Federer, now 37, is still winning trophies.
  • The tennis star won his first Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 2003 — his first of a record 20 Grand Slam singles titles.
  • He's also the highest-paid tennis player in the world, with an estimated net worth of $450 million.
  • While Federer's competition winnings are significant, the majority of his earnings come from lucrative sponsorship deals with the likes of Rolex, Mercedes, and Uniqlo.
  • Read on to find out how he spends his enormous wealth.
  • Visit Business Insider's home page for more stories.

At 37 years of age, Roger Federer is still playing some of the best tennis of his career, and turning it into tournament trophies.

The former world number one is one of the most successful players of all time. He has won the men's singles tournament at Wimbledon alone eight times since 2003, as well as 20 Grand Slam singles titles all over the world.

Federer is not only one of the most talented athletes on the planet, but also the most profitable. Forbes named him the world's highest-paid tennis player in 2018, earning $77.2 million (£58.3 million) from professional wins and sponsorship deals with companies from Rolex to Credit Suisse.

Read more:The most expensive watches worn by 21 of the world's most elite athletes

That figure is only likely to go up, as the Swiss star signed a $300 million sponsorship deal with Japanese clothing brand Uniqlo last July.

From tailored tennis rackets to Swiss mansions, here's how Federer makes and spends his fortune.

SEE ALSO: Everything tennis icon Roger Federer eats and drinks for breakfast, lunch, and dinner

This is 37-year-old Roger Federer, the highest-paid tennis player in the world. He has an estimated net worth of $450 million.

Source: Celebrity Net Worth.

 



Federer has been a force to be reckoned with on the hard courts this year, winning the Dubai Championships, the Miami Open, and reaching the final of Indian Wells. He's risen from seventh in February back up to third in the ATP world rankings.

Source: ATP.



He's not too interested in his current ranking, though. "For me, the ranking, at 37 years old, is no longer really the priority," Federer said at a media event earlier this year. Instead, he's focusing on his health and winning the big tournaments, which might mean skipping smaller events here and there.

Read more:Roger Federer is sliding down the world tennis rankings, but there's a very good reason why he won't care



His success trails back to the age of eight, when he started playing tennis. Born in Basel, Switzerland, on August 8, 1981, his Swiss father, Robert Federer, and South African mother, Lynette Du Rand, encouraged him to play from an early age.

His parents both worked for the same pharmaceutical company.



At 14, Federer became the national junior champion in Switzerland. He joined the junior tennis circuit in 1996, and won the junior Wimbledon title in 1998. In this photo, from Wimbledon 2000, he is 19 years old.

Source: Biography.com



Federer's big break came in 2003, when he won his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon against runner-up Mark Philippousis. He was just 21 at the time. He received £575,000 ($714,460) for his victory.

Source: British Tennis.



One year later, he signed a sponsorship deal with watchmaker Maurice Lacroix. Later, Rolex struck an endorsement deal with Federer worth a reported $15 million. Here he is wearing an impossible-to-find, $14,000 Rolex Sky-Dweller back in 2018. Perks of being an ambassador.

Roger Federer is one of Rolex's best-known ambassadors, and you won't see him lifting a trophy without one of the luxury watches on his wrist, each of them hand-picked to match the tournament.

Read more:The most expensive watches worn by 21 of the world's most elite athletes

Source: Bob's Watches.



The majority of his $77 million income is thanks to endorsement deals and partnerships, which he is known for across the globe. He's won $3 million in prize money from tennis tournaments in 2019, bringing his career total prize winnings to more than $123 million.

Sources: Forbes, ATP.



In 2007, he was signed by Gillette, starring in a number of adverts for the company.



In 2008, Federer signed a 10-year sponsorship deal with Nike worth almost $120 million. The partnership ended in March 2018.

Source: Forbes.



Last summer, Federer made headlines when he swapped Nike for lesser-known Uniqlo in a 10-year deal estimated to be worth $300 million. The deal with the Japanese brand had been "a long time coming," Federer said at Wimbledon 2018.

Read more:Roger Federer's new sponsorship deal is reportedly worth $300 million as he replaces Nike with a lesser-known brand



In a recent Uniqlo ad, Federer tried his hand at the piano, and said he'd like to practice more so he can surprise his wife.

Watch the video here.



In 2009, Federer signed another 10-year contract, this time with Credit Suisse. The firm declined to comment on the contract's value at the time, but it's thought to be worth around $20 million.

Source: The Telegraph.



The player is also known for his charity work. He founded the Roger Federer Foundation in 2003, which has since raised $40 million and recently hit its goal of educating one million children in Africa by the end of 2018. He still finds time to visit children who benefit from his charity.

Source: Forbes, Tennis World USA.



As a dedicated athlete, he spends a lot of money on his equipment. He has his rackets made by P1, a company which also counts Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray as clients.

Source: The New Yorker.



He likes the finer things in life, too. In 2014, Federer completed the construction of a modern-looking mansion on Lake Zurich worth around $8.1 million.

As well as owning other properties in Switzerland, he also keeps a penthouse in Dubai, where he spends much of the year training.

Source: Basel Shows.



Thanks to his role as a brand ambassador for Mercedes-Benz, Federer also has a large car collection. He partnered with the German auto-maker in 2008, and renewed the deal in 2018. The multiyear partnership is estimated to earn the tennis star $5 million a year.

Source: Tennis World USA.



When he's not on the court, Federer is a keen hiker. Last year, he appeared on "Running Wild with Bear Grylls." "Just slightly upset that he beat me at mini ping-pong on the top of the cliff face," Grylls said.

Source: Tennis World USA.



That's not to say the athlete doesn't like to party in his downtime. He's an ambassador for Moet & Chandon champagne, which recently released a limited-edition bottle to mark his 20th year in professional tennis. The 20 bottles sold for $23,000 a pop — but all the proceeds went to the Roger Federer Foundation.

Source: Adweek.



After winning his eighth Wimbledon title in 2017, Federer complained of a "head-ringing" hangover the day after. "[I] got to bed at 5 a.m., then woke up, and just didn’t feel good. The last hour or so I’m somewhat okay again. I'm happy with that."

Source: Business Insider.



When Federer goes out for dinner, variety is clearly the spice of life. "I am a lover of Italian, Japanese, and Indian restaurants," he said recently.

Source: International Business Times.



Some of his fortune also went on his wedding to former professional tennis player Mirka Vavrinec in Basel, Switzerland. They had their first kiss at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, and got married in 2009.

Source: Telegraph, MailOnline.



They have two sets of twins together. Daughters Charleyne Riva and Myla Rose are nine, while sons Lenny and Leo are five.



His wife is his source of fashion advice. "I used to wear jogging shoes, jeans and a practice shirt, then when Mirka met me, she would look and go, 'Errr, are you sure about this look?'"

Source: GQ.



Federer's worst fashion mistake came when he won Wimbledon in 2007. "I went to receive the trophy, and as I walk down I'm a bit nervous, and as I put my hands in my pockets I realise that the pockets are going backwards. "I was like: 'It's too late! I can't change them anymore!' I lifted the trophy, and the pants were on backwards." If you look closely in this picture you can see that his trousers are on back-to-front.

Source: Business Insider.



With his 38th birthday closing in, Federer has taken some time to consider his retirement. He recently told a Swiss newspaper that he has bought "an old bus from the 60s," which he plans to drive around Europe once he has some spare time.

Read more:Roger Federer says he bought an old bus and plans to drive it around Europe when he retires from tennis

This is an updated version of a post originally written by Edith Hancock published on January 31, 2017.



Meet Mohammed bin Salman, the 33-year-old crown prince of Saudi Arabia, who is at the center of human rights issues and drops hundreds of millions of his family's fortune on yachts, mansions and paintings

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Mohammed bin Salman

Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Al Saud, known as MBS, is the future king of Saudi Arabia.

The 33-year-old heir will ascend to the throne after the death of his father, 83-year-old King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

Prince Mohammed is known for his lavish spending. He has bought a $500 million yacht, a $300 million French chateau, and a $450 million Leonardo da Vinci painting. According to one estimate, the Saudi royal family — which has about 15,000 members — is worth up to $1.4 trillion.

The crown prince has become a controversial global political figure, particularly in the fall of 2018, when he faced global outcry over the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who the CIA later concluded was assassinated on the prince's orders

Here's a look at the lavish — and controversial — lifestyle of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

SEE ALSO: Meet Vladimir Potanin, the richest documented man in Russia, who made his $22 billion fortune in the nickel industry, has owned at least 3 yachts, and plays ice hockey with Vladimir Putin

DON'T MISS: Saudi Arabia runs a huge, sinister online database of women that men use to track them and stop them from running away

Mohammed bin Salman is the 33-year-old crown prince of Saudi Arabia.

He was born to King Salman and his third wife, Fahda bint Falah, in 1985.

He was named crown price in June 2017 after his father, King Salman, decided to remove Muhammad bin Nayef from the position.

Rumors later emerged that Mohammed bin Salman had secretly plotted to oust bin Nayef and take his place, The New York Times reported.



The prince has a bachelor's degree in law from King Saud University, the oldest university in Saudi Arabia.

After graduating, he worked for several state agencies before being appointed as a special adviser to his father in 2009, who was serving as governor of Riyadh at the time.

In 2012, Prince Mohammed's father was named crown prince after the death of Nayef bin Abdul Aziz. Three years later, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz died and the prince's father took the throne at the age of 79.



Prince Mohammed is not yet king, but he "essentially runs the country for his father," 83-year-old King Salman bin Abdulaziz, according to Bloomberg.

The prince is known to be a "workaholic" who spends 18 hours of the day in his office, according to The Guardian.

But he reportedly doesn't take criticism well.

"People who tried to say no even gently and diplomatically faced consequences," one source from Saudi Arabia told The Guardian.



The total wealth of the Saudi royal family is unknown, but it could be worth as much as $1.4 trillion, according to House of Saud, an English language Saudi Royal Family news resource.

The royal wealth has been accumulated over decades of oil revenue-generated expansion.

There are about 15,000 members of the Saudi royal family, but the majority of the vast fortune is distributed among 2,000 of them, according to CNBC.

The British royal family, for comparison, is worth an estimated $88 billion.



Prince Mohammed and his father, King Salman, are often found in "a network of marble-columned palaces and countryside retreats" in Riyadh, according to The New York Times.

Foreign dignitaries and politicians are often hosted at the Al-Yamamah Palace.

During a visit from President Obama to the opulent Erga Palace, reporters spotted gold-plated Kleenex dispensers and gold chairs, according to CBS News.

The royal family is rumored to own several other lavish residences around the world, including in Switzerland, London, France, and Morocco.



Prince Mohammed is known for his extravagant purchases.

He's spent hundreds of millions on superyachts, private jets, helicopters, French chateaus, and rare paintings.



The crown prince reportedly owns a $500 million, 440-foot yacht named Serene, which includes an indoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi, two helipads, a helicopter hangar, a gym, and a movie theater.

The yacht can sleep 24 guests in 15 cabins.

The prince reportedly bought the superyacht after spotting it while vacationing in the south of France.



In 2015, Prince Mohammed bought a chateau in France for $300 million, which was dubbed "the world's most expensive home" by Fortune at the time.

It wasn't until 2017 that news broke that it was the Saudi prince who had bought the Chateau Louis XIV in Louveciennes, which is located west of Paris.

The 17th-century chateau reportedly includes fountains, a sound system, lights, and air conditioning that can all be controlled by an iPhone.

The lavish property also has a wine cellar, a movie theater, and a moat with a transparent underwater chamber.



The prince also picked up a Leonardo da Vinci painting for $450 million at a Christie's auction in 2017.

Prince Mohammed made the winning bid on da Vinci's "Salvator Mundi" anonymously by phone.

The painting had been estimated to sell for around $100 million leading into the auction.



Prince Mohammed has been in the news in recent years for a variety of scandals.

Saudi Arabia has faced criticism for human rights abuses and repressive laws, such as the one that says all Saudi women must have a male guardian.

In February 2019, INSIDER published an investigation detailing how a Saudi app called Absherallows men in Saudi Arabia to track and control where women travel. The reporting prompted Apple CEO Tim Cook to launch an investigation into the app, which is sold on the App Store.

In the fall of 2017, the crown prince was reportedly behind a corruption crackdown that saw more than 200 people arrested and some detained for weeks in a Ritz-Carlton hotel.Saudi Arabia reportedly use coercion and physical abuse during the interrogations.

And according to Al Jazeera, the number of executions in Saudi Arabia has been on the rise: 133 people were executed in the first eight months after MBS became crown prince.



In the fall of 2018, the crown prince faced global outcry over the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi embassy in Istanbul.

In November, the CIA concluded the journalist was assassinated on the prince's orders.

Saudi Arabia has repeatedly denied that the crown prince had any role in Khashoggi's death.

The Saudis denied for weeks that Khashoggi had been killed and repeatedly changed their story. The kingdom later announced that 18 people had been arrested in connection with the killing and said in January that prosecutors would be seeking the death penalty for five suspects.



While many world leaders have publicly condemned Prince Mohammed after Khashoggi's death, President Trump has said we may never know if Prince Mohammed ordered the killing of the journalist or not.

After the CIA concluded that MBS ordered the killing of Khashoggi, Trump expressed support for MBS, Al Jazeera reported in December 2018.

As Business Insider previously reported, Trump has had deep business ties with the Saudi Arabian court for more than two decades.

And Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law, has reportedly pushed for closer ties with Saudi Arabia and particularly with Prince Mohammed.

Kushner and the crown prince have had a close relationship for more than two years, Business Insider's Ellen Cranley reported.



At the G20 Summit in Argentina in December 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin was seen enthusiastically greeting the Saudi prince.

Putin's enthusiastic greeting of the Saudi prince at G20 came right after other world leaders had condemned Saudi Arabia for the killing of Khashoggi.

Other world leaders appeared to ignore the crown prince in a group photo at the summit.



Beyond politics, the prince has ties to top US technology companies and has toured some of Silicon Valley's top firms, including Google and Apple.

In the spring of 2018, Prince Mohammed met with Apple CEO Tim Cook, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin.

His west coast tour also included a stop in Seattle to meet with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund owns 5% of Uber, according to the ride-sharing company's most recent S-1 filing. The fund is also a top investor in Softbank's massive Vision Fund, which owns 16% of Uber as well as sizable stakes in companies like Slack, WeWork, and DoorDash.



Walmart isn't using its biggest weapon against Amazon for next-day delivery — here's what it's doing instead

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FILE - In this Nov. 9, 2018, file photo, Walmart associate Alicia Carter fulfills online grocery orders at a Walmart Supercenter in Houston. Amazon and Walmart on Thursday, April 18, 2019, are kicking off a two-year pilot established by the government to allow low-income shoppers on government food assistance in New York to shop and pay for their groceries online. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

Walmart is using a surprising strategy to execute on free, next-day shipping that doesn't involve any of its 4,700 US stores.

Walmart started rolling out free, next-day shipping on Tuesday. It would make sense for the company to speed up shipping by utilizing its vast network of stores, which are located within 10 miles of more than 90% of US shoppers and are often touted as Walmart's most valuable asset against Amazon.

But none of Walmart's next-day orders will ship from stores. 

Read more:Walmart blows Amazon out of the water with its own free, next-day delivery

Instead, Walmart will fill next-day orders from its six US fulfillment centers. This is a cheaper and more efficient strategy than shipping orders from stores, according to Walmart ecommerce CEO Marc Lore.

Here's why: 

Each next-day order will ship from a single fulfillment center, which is cheaper than shipping orders in several boxes from multiple stores or distribution facilities, Lore told Business Insider. (As a result, customers will have access to next-day shipping only for items that are stored at distribution centers closest to them).

Walmart plans to further drive down the costs of next-day shipping by making "aggressive investments" in automation and boxing technology, and fulfillment centers are better equipped for those kind of investments, he said.

Shipping from fulfillment centers also prevents stores from becoming crowded with order pickers and packers. 

"Most of the picking capacity in the store is being utilized for same-day pickup and same-day delivery," Lore said. 

Read more:Walmart and Kroger are rethinking stores as the online grocery battle intensifies

Walmart is already considering adding separate fulfillment stations to its stores to avoid impinging on customers' in-store shopping experience.

While Walmart won't be using its stores for next-day shipping, the company will continue leveraging them in its battle against Amazon, particularly when it comes to same-day pickup and delivery.

"Walmart's biggest advantage is definitely the fact that we have 4,700 stores within 90% of the population, and in those stores we have 100,000 products and fresh and frozen items available for either pick up for free or delivered same-day," Lore said.

SEE ALSO: Forget one-day shipping: same-day is the 'real battleground' where Amazon, Walmart, and Target, are sparring

Join the conversation about this story »

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Save 25% on Schwinn bikes at Target — and 7 other sales and deals happening now

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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.

We rounded up the eight best sales and deals happening online today, with savings on Schwinn bikes and helmets at Target, SanDisk storage at Best Buy, and Sperry shoes. For even more deals and savings across the web, check out Business Insider Coupons.

Schwinn

1. Save 25% on Schwinn bikes at Target

If you and your family want to enjoy bike rides this season, Target is having the perfect sale for you. Right now, you can save 25% on Schwinn bikes and 10% on Schwinn helmets for riders of all ages. You'll find everything from toddler bikes with training wheels to full-size cruisers and mountain bikes. To go along with your new bikes, you can also save 10% on Schwinn helmets. To potentially save more at Target, visit Business Insider Coupons here.

Shop the Target sale now

SanDisk

2. Save up to 55% on SanDisk storage at Best Buy

It goes without saying that having ample storage space is essential to using your electronics. Best Buy is currently having a huge sale with up to 55% off all your storage needs. The sale includes internal hard drives for laptops and desktops, portable external hard drives, SD and MicroSD cards, and flash drives. To potentially save more at Best Buy, visit Business Insider Coupons here

Shop all SanDisk storage products at Best Buy now.  

Keurig K475

3. Save $50 on the Keurig K475 Coffee Maker on Amazon

Perfect for small kitchen counters, the Keurig K475 is compact in size, while maintaining all the necessary features of a great coffee maker. It has a large 70-ounce water reservoir, lets you brew eight different sizes, and has five different temperature settings. Originally priced at $150, you can save $50 on one today on Amazon. Prime members will also get free one-day shipping.

Keurig K475 Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker, $99.99 (Originally $149.99) [You save $50]

Kindle Paperwhite

4.Save 25% when you trade in your old Kindle for a new model on Amazon

If you're still using your old Kindle e-reader, Amazon is making it easier than ever to upgrade. Right now, you can trade in select previous models and receive an Amazon gift card for the appraised value of the device, plus a 25% off credit towards a new Kindle.

Learn more about upgrading your Kindle now.

AHAlife

5. Save 20% on all orders of $100 or more at AHAlife

Unlike traditional department stores, AHAlife is home to products from some of the most unique designers and artisans. The store sells home, kitchen, and fashion accessories, all of which make for truly special gifts. Right now during the friends and family sale, you can save 20% on orders of $100 or more and get free shipping when you use the promo code "FF20" at checkout.

Shop all items at AHALife now.

Sperry

6. Save an extra 30% on sale styles at Sperry

Sperry's shoes are comfortable, casual, and go with pretty much any kind of casual outfit — and right now, they're also on sale. For a limited time, you can save an extra 30% on sale styles by using the promo code "SAVE30" at checkout. While there are plenty of new arrivals to shop, the Sperry's designs are timeless, meaning on-sale options are just as stylish. For more deals and promotions at Sperry, visit Business Insider Coupons here.

Shop the Sperry sale now

Jomashop

7. Save up to 75% on watches at Jomashop

Mother's Day may have passed, but Jomashop is still celebrating moms with up to 75% off designer watches. The sale includes watches from big names like Rolex, Omega, Breitling, Hamilton, and Seiko — all at dramatically reduced prices. The sale in sitewide, so you can even save on something nice for yourself. You can also get free next-day air delivery on orders over $1,000 by using the promo code " FREENDA" at checkout.

Shop the Jomashop sale now.

leesa

8. Save 15% on Leesa mattresses and get 2 free pillows

Named the best mattress you can buy in our guide, Leesa provides comfort at a great value (mattress prices start at just $595). Right now, you can gain early access to the Memorial Day sale and save 15% on Leesa mattresses, which is up to $300 in savings. Additionally, you'll receive two pillows for free. 

Shop the Leesa sale now

Join the conversation about this story »

This is the best credit card for Delta flyers in 2019 — and it isn't what you'd expect

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Business Insider may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network if you apply for a credit card, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Boeing 737 900ER Delta

  • Although Delta offers a few co-branded credit cards, there's a different credit card that's actually a better choice for the airline's regulars.
  • The Platinum Card® from American Express is more useful for Delta passengers, since it offers much more extensive airport lounge access than Delta's equivalent card, up to a $200 airline fee credit each calendar year, and earns more points on purchases with Delta and other airlines.
  • Since you can transfer AmEx points to Delta SkyMiles, you can pool them with the miles you earn by flying — there are plenty of other ways to use them, too.
  • However, depending on your traveling habits, it might still be worth considering one of the Delta cards, either on its own or in addition to the AmEx Platinum Card.

If you're a Delta loyalist, chances are you've considered opening a Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express, or possibly the Platinum version of the card

However, if you're looking to earn Delta miles on your normal spending, and enjoy certain perks on the airline, there may be a better card for you. While it has a high annual fee of $550, the Platinum Card from American Express— which is also issued by AmEx, but isn't co-branded with Delta — offers a massive amount of value for Delta flyers, easily enough to make up for the annual fee.

Read on for a few reasons the AmEx Platinum Card can be a better option for Delta flyers — particularly those who hold elite status or only check their bags a few times a year.

1. The Platinum Card earns more miles than the Delta cards.

The most valuable rewards credit cards tend to earn miles in bonus categories, and the Platinum Card is no exception. The card earns an incredible 5x points/dollar spent on airfare, whenever you purchase directly from the airline or through the AmEx Travel booking portal. That includes your Delta flights, as well as virtually any other airline.

You can also earn 5x points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmEx, including Fine Hotels and Resorts stays.

Often, co-branded cards offer bonus categories too, but they're usually confined to the co-brand. That's the case with Delta's cards — they earn 2x SkyMiles on Delta purchases. (It's worth noting that the United and American Airlines cards are starting to offer bonus points on additional categories, so Delta might follow suit later).

A major benefit to earning AmEx Membership Rewards (MR) points instead of Delta SkyMiles from your credit card spending is that there are more ways to use them— and you'll still earn Delta miles every time you fly. Plus, if you do want to book Delta award flights, AmEx MR points can be transferred to Delta at a 1:1 ratio, and combined with the miles you earned in the air. They can also be transferred to a few different airline and hotel partners, or used to book directly through AmEx Travel.

2. The Platinum Card offers access to Delta Sky Club lounges any time you fly on the airline, as well as more than 1,200 other lounges around the world no matter what airline you fly.

In my personal opinion, this is one of the most compelling reasons to have the card if you're even a semi-regular traveler.

I love flying, but there's no denying that airports are...not the best. While I don't fly nearly as often as some business travelers, I still find myself spending a lot of time in airports, and having lounge access is a game-changer.

Lounges are exclusive areas where you can enjoy seats, an internet connection, food, drinks, and sometimes other amenities. Although lounges were traditionally reserved for first class and business class passengers, many are accessible to any traveler who holds either a lounge membership or certain credit cards.

When you fly Delta, regardless of which cabin, the Platinum Card grants you access to any Delta Sky Club. If you're traveling with anyone who does not have their own card, you can purchase discounted guest access for $29 (usually, a day pass is $59).

In addition, whenever you fly, regardless of airline, you and two guests can access AmEx's proprietary Centurion lounges, available at 10 major airports, with several high-profile locations scheduled to open next year. The Platinum Card also comes with a Priority Pass Select membership — Priority Pass is a network of over 1,200 lounges around the world. You and two guests can access these lounges as long as you're flying on the same day.

Read our full review to learn more about the lounges that the Platinum Card gets you access to.

The premium co-branded Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express also comes with access to Sky Clubs when you fly Delta, but it doesn't get you access to Centurion Lounges or Priority Pass locations.

3. The Platinum Card offers up to $200 each year in airline fee reimbursements — and up to $200 in Uber credits annually.

Every calendar year, the Platinum Card offers a $200 credit toward incidental fees on one airline (that you can choose at the beginning of each year). Naturally, a Delta loyalist can pick Delta.

After that, any eligible charges you make with that airline will automatically receive statement credits to cover them. While it doesn't cover tickets, it applies to a wide variety of charges and fees, such as checked bags, change fees if you need to change your flight, in-flight food and drinks, fees for traveling with a pet, day passes for lounge guests, and more.

The best part of the airline credit is that because you get it each calendar year, not cardmember year, you could get it twice in your first year of having the card. Say you opened the card in February — you can earn the full $200 credit before the calendar year ends, then once the credit resets on January 1, get it again before your next annual fee posts, meaning you can get up to $400 in value from this credit each year.

While the Delta co-branded cards offer the cardholder a free checked bag on each flight, this fee credit would apply to baggage fees.

The Platinum Card also offers up to $200 in Uber credits each year, broken up into 12 monthly chunks. At the start of each month, you'll get $15 of credits added to your Uber account, with a $20 bonus each December (for a total of $35 that month).

Why you may still want to consider a Delta credit card, either instead of, or in addition to, the AmEx Platinum Card.

While the AmEx Platinum Card earns more miles than the Delta co-branded cards, offers lounge access, and credits you for $200 in airline fees each calendar year, there are some perks that make the airline cards worth having for Delta flyers who might not fly enough to make use of the lounge access, or others.

All of the three primary Delta cards — the Gold Delta SkyMiles card, the Platinum Delta SkyMiles card, and the Delta Reserve AmEx — offer a free checked bag for each person on the cardmember's account, as well as priority boarding. They also feature discounted access to Delta Sky Clubs — the Reserve offers complementary access, but doesn't include Centurion or Priority Pass lounges. The Platinum and Reserve versions also offer an annual companion certificate— in the case of the Platinum, the companion pass can make up for the annual fee. (There's also a Blue Delta SkyMiles card, but that doesn't come with similar benefits.)

These benefits can be extremely useful, and anyone flying Delta may get enough use from them for it to make sense to carry the card. Theoretically, it can be worth keeping the Delta co-branded card for the Delta-specific travel benefits, and the AmEx Platinum Card for the lounge access and the points-earning.

That's what I do, since the Delta Platinum's companion pass essentially pays for the card's fee each year. However, the regular Platinum Card's benefits are much more useful, and if I had to pick just one card, I'd go with the latter.

Additionally, it can be worth opening the Delta co-branded cards to earn their sign-up bonuses.

Bottom line

Keep in mind that if you have Delta Medallion elite status, you already get free checked bags and priority boarding. Whether it makes sense to carry a co-branded card as well as the AmEx Platinum Card will be different for each person.

However, if you only want to have one card, if you travel enough to have elite status, and you can afford to float the annual fee (remembering that you'll get value back), the AmEx Platinum Card is the best choice. Between the lounge access, airline fee credits, and increased points earning rate, it makes an ideal card for Delta flyers.

Click here to learn more about the Platinum Card from American Express from Business Insider's partner, The Points Guy.

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

READ MORE: The best credit card rewards, bonuses, and benefits of 2019

Join the conversation about this story »

7 smart buys that protect your eyes from harmful blue light — from computer glasses to screen protectors

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

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  • Blue light is just one wavelength that makes up white light. Blue light is emitted naturally by the sun and artificially by electronic devices we use every day like computers and smartphones.
  • Our eyes aren't naturally built for prolonged direct exposure to blue light. This is thought to be a factor contributing to eye strain, headaches, and fatigue. 
  • Thankfully, there are products like specialized light bulbs and screen protectors designed to reduce blue light exposure and help alleviate the symptoms associated with this type of light.

Blue light is a tricky thing to understand. As of recent, we've been led to believe that blue light is evil. I think it's more ... misunderstood. The sun admits natural blue light — it's always been this way, so why all of a sudden are people experiencing eye strain, headaches, and fatigue from it? 

This is how blue light works: The sun admits light known as white light. White light compromises various wavelengths that make up the visible spectrum (think: Roy G. Biv). An object exposed to white light absorbs all of the wavelengths (or colors of the rainbow) but the one you see. So, the sky is blue because red, orange, yellow, green, violet, and indigo are absorbed by the molecules in the atmosphere, while the color blue (or blue light) is reflected back to our eyes.

Blue light is actually important to our natural sleep cycle. It gives us energy and boosts our mood during the day, and helps our bodies know when it's time to go to sleep at night. So, what's the problem? It's not natural blue light, it's artificial blue light.

Artificial blue light is light that's admitted from electronic devices like computers, tablets, and phones. A large portion of people these days spend all day and night either staring at a computer screen or glued to their phones. The short-wave, blue light emanating from electronic screens flickers quickly and has the ability illuminate for long periods of time. Our eyes aren't naturally built for prolonged direct exposure to blue light. This is thought to be a factor contributing to eye strain, headaches, and fatigue. 

Not to mention the other beast. When we use blue light electronics at night, it throws off our natural melatonin-production leaving us restless and wide awake.

What's a girl to do when she works for an online media company and constantly works with blue-light devices? Thankfully there are products like specialized light bulbs and screen protectors designed to reflect and reduce blue light exposure to help alleviate eye strain.

Here are seven ways to help protect your eyes from daily blue light exposure:

A light bulb that emits less blue light

Lighting Science Goodnight Sleep Bulb, available on Amazon for $15.99

Many light bulbs emit a crisp, cool form of light due to the blue light wavelength. Lighting Science uses a soft, warm light that emits more of a soothing glow instead. It's still strong enough to light the entire room, but it illuminates with 95% less blue light than your average light bulb.

The Lighting Science Goodnight Sleep Bulb only needs to be used in the room that you spend the last 90 minutes before bed in. The lack of blue light allows your body to naturally produce melatonin so can you fall asleep faster and easier. These light bulbs have an average lifespan of 22.8 years.

An Amazon user who gave this product a 4 out of 5 stars says, "I was skeptical that this would work but now I am a believer. The soft light allows me to read and then fall asleep quickly, sometimes forgetting to turn light off!"



A protective screen with a blue light filter for your smartphone or tablet

Invisible Shield Glass+ VisionGuard+, available on Zagg for $44.99 (for smartphones) and $54.99+ (for tablets)

Zagg has created a multi-purpose screen protector that not only protects your device, but protects your eyes from harmful blue light. Made with industry-leading impact technology, the screen now protects your device from drops and scratches.

Most importantly, the Zagg invisible shield filters out the blue light before it even leaves the screen to travel toward your eyes. As a plus, this technology doesn't effect the clarity or true color of images on your screen.



A pair of non-prescription computer glasses

Eyekepper Slim Vintage Computer Readers with Anti-Eyestrain Lens, available on Amazon for $10

Previously reviewed by Insider Picks reporter Mara Leighton, these Eyekepper glasses are perfect for someone who doesn't require prescription glasses. Totaling a whopping $10, Eyekepper uses a slightly tinted lens to reflect about half of the blue light that's entering your eye. Additionally, these lenses offer 100% UV protection.

The frames are built to fit most medium-to-wide heads and come in 10 color patterns for both men and woman. If you feel like you might need a slight strength prescription, you can opt to add that feature at no additional cost to you.



A pair of prescription computer glasses

Felix Gray prescription lenses with blue light filter, available on Felix Gray starting at $145

Felix Gray is a pioneer in blue-light-filtering lenses. For a while you could not add the filtering feature to your prescription lenses, but as of recent, Felix Gray made that combination possible and Insider Picks has tested several styles in the past.

These glasses filter through blue light to eliminate the harsh glare that strains our eyes on the daily. Felix Gray developed lenses that won't distort the colors you see, yet the lenses still have a transparent look.



A protective screen for your laptop or computer

Adaptix Monitor Privacy Screen, available on Amazon for $44.99 (18.5-inch wide screen) to $149.99 (32-inch widescreen)

If you're someone who doesn't normally wear glasses and don't wish to wear glasses, you can opt to use a protective screen on your wide-screen laptop or computer. The Adaptix filter can be attached to your monitor's screen using 3M adhesive strips. Not only is this protective screen a privacy shield, but it also blocks up to 96% of blue light and UV radiation emitted. 

Amazon users have attributed their increased productivity at work to the this product, saying, "I feel as if I'm able to work longer because of this filter and its ability to block out blue light. I no longer have to wear my amber-colored glasses that don't even work as well as the filter."

Another user says, "... You barley notice that it's there sometimes because the quality of the images displayed aren't diminished by the filter."



A shield to cover fluorescent lights

Patterned Fluorescent Light Filters (2-pack), available on Amazon for $14.99

I can't be the only one who hates how tired fluorescent lights make me feel. Fluorescent lights create a harsh flicker that irritates many people's eyes. These two-foot by four-foot, heat-resistant shields help diminish the harsh glares of office and classroom lighting. 

Attach the light shield to the light fixture with the sewn-in magnets at each corner. Amazon users have noted, "I've noticed that my eyes feel less tired at the end of the day ... If you can get past the jokes about your office looking like an aquarium, it's a great purchase."



Utilize nighttime features on your device

Turn on night shift mode on your Apple devices, blue shade on your Kindles, the blue light filter on your Galaxy phones, and other nighttime modes on your smart devices.

Many popular electronic devices now have a blue-light-reducing feature that can be toggled on once the sun goes down. They work by switching your display from a cool, blue light to a warm, yellow light that's supposed to help signal to your brain that it's time for sleep.

These features are great options to helping protect your eyes from blue light, but many people don't use them during the day. That's why products, like the ones mentioned previously, are great options to reduce the amount of blue light your eyes are exposed to.



13 startups that make daily rituals like brushing your teeth and taking vitamins more enjoyable

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

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  • The comfort and consistency of rituals bring us back down to earth. 
  • They take many different forms, from putting on a favorite record to shaving. 
  • Online startups are adept at selling the entire experience of these beloved rituals. At the center is a product that solves daily problems while providing a respite from the stresses of life. 
  • We took a look at startups you already know, like Casper, along with ones that may be unfamiliar, like Dripkit, to illustrate how companies are using the comfort of rituals as a selling point.

Rituals are an important part of daily life. In the midst of what can often feel like a rollercoaster of work and personal obligations, they allow you to hop off for a brief moment, take a breather, and regain a sense of stability. 

Even something as innocuous as making a cup of coffee or watering a house plant can improve your mental wellness. It may seem like you're simply going through the motions, but it's exactly those repetitive movements and consistent practices that provide the all-too-needed comforts of familiarity.

Everyone's rituals look different (mine include writing in my journal, winding down every night with music and a book, and going to my favorite bagel shop every Sunday) and take various forms, from skincare to cooking.

Online startups across a variety of categories are great at tapping into this love for consistency and comfort, selling not a product, but the entire experience of owning it, using it, and making it part of a recurring ritual. They hope to be there for you as one of the constants in your life. 

Learn how these 13 startups are selling the experience of a daily ritual:

Sleeping: Casper

Shop mattresses and more at Casper here

Getting ready for bed is a universal ritual enjoyed by all — we've met few people who don't look forward to climbing into bed each night. For the last few years, Casper has been making the process inviting with its supportive, comfortable mattresses, but a recent new product, the Glow Light ($89), is intended to get you to dreamland even faster. The adjustable light will help your body wind down at night and wake up gently in the morning, while the ambient light sensor turns it into a portable night light. 



Brushing your teeth: Quip

Shop electric toothbrushes at Quip here

We hope you're brushing your teeth twice a day. If the idea doesn't enthuse you, Quip is a startup that might inspire you to concentrate on and enjoy your teeth-brushing habit more. Its sleek, American Dental Association-approved brushes are easy to use, can mount to your wall or mirror, and have replaceable brush heads available through a subscription. They come in a variety of colors and sets so you can get your loved ones in on two minutes of blissful respite at a time. 



Washing your face: Panacea

Shop skin care at Panacea here

When you say "skin-care ritual," I imagine you must mean a routine that involves no less than eight products and perhaps a song and dance thrown in there, too. While I appreciate that these long rituals have their own pros, some might consider them excessive, and will more realistically be drawn to companies like Panacea. Panacea's three-step kit consisting of a cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen will get you out the door in five minutes, but your skin will still feel nourished and pampered because they're made with clean, lightweight formulas. 



Taking your vitamins: Ritual

Shop multivitamins at Ritual here

This growing vitamin startup has "ritual" right in its name and makes taking your daily multivitamin the most simple it's ever been. The Ritual vitamin contains nine essential nutrients that women most commonly lack in their diets and costs $30 for a month-long supply, encouraging you to clean out your vitamin cabinet for good. 



Relaxing through scent: Vitruvi

Shop Vitruvi essential oils and diffusers at Amazon and Nordstrom here

Fragrance is a highly effective way to set the mood of your surroundings, and startup Vitruvi is the new brand of choice for anyone looking to create a soothing atmosphere. Breathe in its delightful essential oils, which include grapefruit, eucalyptus, and peppermint, and you'll be transported to a place far, far away from your stresses. To fill your entire room with the scent, get its elegant ceramic diffuser, and make a habit of using it often. 

 



Staying active: Fitbit

Shop Fitbit fitness trackers at Amazon, Target, and Best Buy here

Running one long and exhausting burst of a couple dozen miles is ultimately less effective and helpful than splitting up that mileage over a period of multiple days. A Fitbit fitness tracker motivates you to get up each day and continue your running streak by recording your activity and sending reminders to keep it up. Even if you're not a runner, it'll tell you to leave your office chair and take a stroll outside. Before long, you'll look forward to these daily walks or runs and see them as a welcome break. 



Caring for a plant: The Sill

Shop indoor plants at The Sill here

Can't commit to a human being or animal? Plant parenting is on the rise for a number of reasons, but one is that it allows for the satisfaction of caring for a live being — just without the huge cost or commitment. You can shop all types of beautiful, mood-lifting house plants at The Sill, which will ship them to your door and show you how to keep them alive. Checking up on your succulents or snake plant and watching them thrive may just become the highlight of each day. 



Shaving: Harry's

Shop shaving products at Harry's here

Whether you shave daily, weekly, or monthly, it's a ritual that you don't necessarily enjoy, but it has to be done anyways. Ineffective tools and high costs prevent us from fully embracing this common ritual, but grooming brand Harry's solves both with its super sharp blades and affordable kits. To make sure you're never caught with a dull blade, it also offers subscriptions. On the women's side, its new brand Flamingo sells the same ideals of affordable quality



Listening to music: Vnyl

Shop vinyl records and players at Vnyl here

While headphones plugged in during a commute or at work often translate to idle listening, sliding a record out of its sleeve and placing it carefully on the player signals intent and full commitment to the music-listening experience. Vnyl, a record subscription service and maker of the Trntbl smart record player, personalizes the music discovery process by sending you records based on your music profile and preferences. The event of listening to a new vinyl becomes more exciting because it's almost certain you'll love it. 



Drying off: Weezie

Shop towels at Weezie here

Hair wrapped in a towel as you get ready for a night out. Falling asleep in a large towel post-shower. Wiping off makeup, dirt, and grime after a long day. If you experience any of these scenarios regularly, you'll love the luxe towels from Weezie. You can add custom embroidery (and you have many more stylish options than other custom services) so your rituals feel even more personal and enjoyable, but even by themselves, the towels are wonderfully soft, fluffy, and absorbent. 



Enjoying a meal: Year & Day

Shop dinnerware at Year & Day here

Don't buy nice table settings and save them only for special occasions. Year & Day wants you to use its European ceramics for everything from canapés to greasy diner leftovers — and trust us, these sturdy, simple, and beautiful pieces of dinnerware make a difference in how you enjoy any type of food. The startup shows customers how each bite and sip, no matter the event, matters — and its plates, glasses, serving tools, and utensils will help you appreciate that. 



Taking your dog for a walk: Wild One

Shop pet accessories at Wild One here

Taking your dog out for a walk every day takes a toll on its leash and collar, so you want ones that are tough and durable, but also comfortable for your dog. Both owner and pet enjoy the walks taken with Wild One's Walk Kit ($105), which contains a collar or harness, leash, and poop bag carrier. They're made from non-toxic materials and importantly, are stain-, odor-, and dirt-resistant, so your pet can continue exploring the great outdoors without being held back. 



Drinking coffee: Dripkit

Shop coffee at Dripkit here

One of the most revered rituals of all time, making and drinking coffee is an instrumental part of many people's days, but is prone to falling by the wayside when traveling. Dripkit lets you savor a fresh cup of pour over coffee anywhere, anytime, with its single-serve packets that reduce prep and clean-up. All you need is water to make this coffee that tastes consistently great. On the site, you can shop individual bags or gift subscriptions. 



How to lock your iPhone with a passcode and make it 'virtually impenetrable' to strangers — from your phone or remotely, if it's lost or stolen

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iPhone XS Max

  • You should use a passcode to lock your iPhone, so only you can wake it from sleep and access the data and apps on it.
  • You can set the passcode and the delay before the phone auto-locks from the Settings app.
  • If your phone is lost or stolen, you can use Find My iPhone to put the phone in Lost Mode, which locks the screen (even if you never set a passcode) and shows a message on the lock screen.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Locking your iPhone— which turns off the display and makes a passcode required to turn it back on again – is an easy way to protect your data and personal information.

If you don't have a passcode enabled on your phone, you're missing out on a virtually impenetrable way to prevent strangers from accessing your phone if it gets lost or stolen. And it keeps your phone safe from run-of-the-mill prying eyes as well.

In addition to enabling the passcode, you may want to adjust the time it takes the iPhone to auto-lock. You can choose a time from 30 seconds to 5 minutes.

How to lock your iPhone using a passcode

1. Start the Settings app.

2. Depending upon which model iPhone you have, tap "Face ID & Passcode" (for iPhone X or later), "Touch ID & Passcode" (for iPhones 5s and later) or "Passcode" (for the iPhone 5 or older).

3. Tap "Turn Passcode On."

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4. Enter a six-digit passcode that you'll enter whenever you want to unlock your phone. If you don't want to use the default 6-digit number, first tap "Passcode Options" and choose the kind of passcode you want to use: an alphanumeric password, a 4-digit number, or a custom number.

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5. Confirm the passcode by entering it a second time on the verification screen.

6. Your iPhone may ask you to enter your Apple ID password. This allows you to use your new passcode instead of the Apple ID password for some tasks.

Your phone now has a passcode assigned to it, which means when it turns off automatically after a couple of minutes, or when you turn it off immediately with the Power button, it will be locked and require a passcode to wake.

Change the time to auto-lock

1. Start the Settings app.

2. Tap "Display & Brightness."

3. Tap "Auto-Lock" and then choose a time from 30 seconds to 5 minutes.

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How to lock your phone by putting it in Lost Mode

No one looks forward to losing a phone, but it sometimes happens. The good news is that Apple provides a tool for locking and helping you recover it. When put into Lost Mode, your phone will automatically lock, even if you had never set up a passcode before — though it can only do that if it still has battery life remaining and has access to a phone signal. The lock screen also displays a message of your choice, including as a phone number to call if it's found.

1. In any web browser, open the Find My iPhone web page.

2. Log in with your Apple ID password.

3. When the map appears, click the device menu at the top of the screen and choose your lost iPhone.  

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4. In the box that appears on the right, click "Lost Mode."

5. Enter a phone number which will appear on the phone's lock screen, so if found, you can be notified. Then click "Next."

6. Enter a message that you want to appear on the lock screen — or accept the default message. Click "Done."

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7. Your phone is now locked remotely (assuming it's in range of a wireless signal).

If your phone is later recovered, you can return to this web page and click "Lost Mode" again. You'll need to confirm by clicking "Stop Lost Mode" several more times.

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Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

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

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