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Save up to 40% at REI and $300 on the Samsung Galaxy S10 — plus 6 other deals happening now

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We rounded up the eight best sales and deals happening online today, with savings on outdoor gear and apparel at REI and The North Face, Samsung Galaxy S10 smartphones at Best Buy, and baby strollers at Target. For even more deals and savings across the web, check out Business Insider Coupons.

REI

1. Save up to 40% on select styles at REI

Now through July 4, you can save up to 40% on select gear, apparel, and footwear from all of your favorite outdoor brands at REI. Whether you're shopping for quality basics to wear casually, technical gear for extreme outdoor adventures, or styles for the outdoor sports you love, REI has deals on pretty much all of it.

Shop the REI sale now

samsung galaxy s10 lineup

2. Save $300 on the Samsung Galaxy S1o or S10 Plus at Best Buy

Right now, you can save $300 on the Samsung Galaxy S10 or S10 Plus with qualified activation at Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint. You can also get a free skin in Fortnite and six months of Spotify Premium for free with your purchase. For more deals and savings at Best Buy, visit Business Insider Coupons here. To learn more about the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus, read my experience using it for two months as an iPhone owner.

Shop Samsung Galaxy S10 smartphones at Best Buy now

Brooks Brothers

3. Save up to 50% on spring and summer styles at Brooks Brothers

Brooks Brothers is kicking off the official start of summer with a big sale on warm-weather styles. Now through June 28, you can save up to 50% on select spring and summer styles including polos, shorts, lightweight suits, linen sweaters, dresses, skirts, blouses, and more. For more deals and savings at Brooks Brothers, visit Business Insider Coupons here

Shop the Brooks Brothers sale now

The North Face

4. Save up to 30% on sale styles at The North Face

The North Face rarely holds sales, but right now you can save up to 30% on past-season sale styles along with some current basics. In addition to summer styles like T-shirts, tank tops, swimming trunks, and shorts, the sale also includes windbreakers, fleeces, parkas, hoodies, and snow pants for the upcoming fall and winter. It's a great opportunity to stock up on items to wear right now and later in the year. For more deals and savings at The North Face, visit Business Insider Coupons here

Shop The North Face's sale now

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5. Save up to 60% on laptops and computer accessories on Amazon

Today only as an Amazon Deal of the Day, you can save up to 60% on a handful of tech items including Dell two-in-one laptops, Alienware gaming laptops, cable modems, SD cards, external hard drives, and more. Now is a good time to shop for those tech purchases we all tend to put off until a solid deal comes around.

Shop laptop and computer accessories deals on Amazon now.

Graco

6. Save up to 25% on strollers at Target

Target is having a big sale on strollers, and right now, you can save up to 25% on top brands like Graco, Chicco, Britax, and Evenflo. The sale includes everything from jogging and multi-seat strollers to full-size and lightweight umbrella strollers, so you can find one that best fits your needs. Plus, you can save an extra 5% when you choose in-store pick-up. For more deals and savings at Target, visit Business Insider Coupons here

Shop the Target sale now

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7. Save $30 on all TRX Suspension Trainer

Going to the gym for a workout isn't always possible or preferred. Whether you're trying to save money on a gym membership or you're strapped for time during the day, TRX systems can be a great solution for high-impact training at home or on the go. For a limited time, you can save $30 on all suspension trainers and get free shipping on all orders over $99. If you're not sure which suspension trainer is best for you, TRX will recommend one based on a short quiz about your skill level, fitness goals, and workout preferences.

Shop the TRX sale now.

Helix Sleep

8. Save up to $200 on Helix Sleep Mattresses

While most mattress companies try their best to make mattresses that are comfortable for most people, Helix gets rid of the guesswork by designing mattress specifically for you. The brand uses a comfort and sleep quiz to accurately deliver on your preferences. In celebration of the Fourth of July, you can get $100 off and two free Dream Pillows with any mattress purchase by using the promo code "FOURTH100," $150 off and two free Dream Pillows when you spend $1,250 or more by using "FOURTH150," and $200 off and two free Dream Pillows when you spend $1,750 or more by using "FOURTH200" at checkout. To learn more about the customization process, check out my review.

Shop the Helix Sleep sale now.

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A Disney heiress who thinks private jets should be outlawed and has donated $70 million over the past 30 years just signed a letter begging for a wealth tax

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Abigail Disney

  • Taxing wealthy Americans is both fair and patriotic, a June 24 letter signed by Disney heiressAbigail Disney and 17 other ultra-wealthy Americans says.
  • The letter is addressed to 2020 presidential candidates and calls for a moderate wealth tax.
  • In a March interview with The Cut, Disney said that though her family had a 737 private jet, she decided to stop using it once she considered her carbon footprint and the cost her trips incurred.
  • Private jets are popular purchases among many millionaires and billionaires looking for quick and easy travel.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Mark Cuban, Jeff Bezos, and other billionaires may own private jets, but the heiress Abigail Disney has a different set of thoughts on the topic.

"If I were queen of the world, I would pass a law against private jets, because they enable you to get around a certain reality," Abigail Disney recently told The Cut. "You don't have to go through an airport terminal, you don't have to interact, you don't have to be patient, you don't have to be uncomfortable. These are the things that remind us we're human."

Disney — who is the granddaughter of Roy Disney, a cofounder of The Walt Disney Co. — has also criticized tax policies that benefit the 1%. Disney is among a group of 18 ultra-wealthy Americans who signed a letter asking presidential candidates to support a wealth tax on June 24. As outlined in the letter, the revenue generated by the tax would fund environmental initiatives, fuel economic growth, and provide funding for public health care. In addition, a wealth tax is fair, patriotic, and would strengthen our democracy by reducing inequality, according to the letter.

In a March interview with The Cut, she stayed mum on the exact size of her inheritance but said that she could be a billionaire if she wanted to be. Disney noted that she's donated more than $70 million since turning 21.

On the topic of private jets, she said that her dad's plane was a 737 with a queen-size bed and a shower.

"We would use the plane occasionally because I have four kids, so it was much easier, obviously, to ride on my dad's plane with them," Disney said. "Then, at a certain point, I just said, 'No, I think this is really bad for everybody.'"

That defining moment, she told The Cut, came after thinking about her carbon footprint and the cost of her trip while riding on the jet alone for a quick trip from New York to California.

Read moreAn heiress to the Disney fortune has given away $70 million, and teaches her kids that money is the least important thing about them

Owning a private jet is typically a hallmark among millionaires and billionaires, especially high-powered executives and investors working in the tech industry. For them, a private jet can allow for quick and easy travel if they need to be on the other coast on the same day, according to Business Insider's Paige Leskin.

Even the notoriously frugal Warren Buffett has his own private jet. He once told CNBC it's "the only thing that I do that costs a lot of money."

But design trends in planes are evolving: Business Insider's Katie Warren previously reported that the super-wealthy no longer want their private jets to look like private jets. Instead, they want them to look like extensions of their homes or offices, and they are designing them in clean lines and cool color tones.

Read the full story on The Cut »

SEE ALSO: People born into massive family fortunes go down 2 different paths, says a Disney heiress who has donated $70 million over the past 30 years

DON'T MISS: An NFL player who saves almost all his salary teaches a UPenn class called 'Life 101,' and his first assignment shocks students

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Mount Everest is not the hardest mountain to climb — here's what makes K2 so much worse

The best long-lasting lipsticks you can buy

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The Best Long Wear Makeup

  • One of the major grievances I have with lipstick is that after an hour, your lips are usually totally bare or it fades unevenly, leaving behind a weird lipstick ring on your lip line. 
  • The solution? Amp up your beauty arsenal with a long-lasting lipstick that will stay put all day or night long.
  • For a high performance lipstick that's long-lasting, looks amazing, and comes in a nice range of colors, Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipstick is our all-round winner.

Once upon a time, not only did long-wear lipsticks deliver patchy results, but they made your lips look parched as if you've just been stuck in the Sahara Desert.

Those days are over.

Now, long-lasting lipsticks are highly pigmented, which means you get concentrated color that lasts a lot longer too. They're also formulated to do a much better job of not drying out your lips.

But even the best long-lasting lipsticks can still be a little drying, so apply a lip balm or primer first and then blot the excess. This removes some of the moisturizing ingredients that can shorten the wear time of the lipstick, but still keeps your lips from looking pruny. If you want shine, lightly pat a clear gloss over lipstick.

There are still many lipsticks out there that don't live up to their promises, so finding a formula that doesn't smudge or wreck your lips, and actually lasts all day isn't easy. To save you time, we researched hundreds of buyer and expert reviews and put the best long-lasting lipsticks to the test to see which ones came out on top.

Here are the best long-lasting lipsticks you can buy in 2019:

Updated on 6/24/2019 by Jada Wong: Updated copy, formatting, links, prices, and swapped in Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick as our best long-lasting lipstick with a clean formula.

Keep scrolling to check out our top picks.

The best long-lasting lipstick overall

For a flawless, high color finish that lasts and lasts, Smashbox Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick is a clear winner.

This matt liquid lipstick is designed to feel comfortable, not dry out your lips, and last all day. Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipstick is formulated with jojoba, apricot, and sunflower oils to condition your lips and stop them drying out, while polymers help keep the color on your lips for up to eight hours. 

It comes in 37 shades, including neutral flesh tones, mattes for those who want a bit of shimmer, and rich shades of reds, purples, pinks, and even blues, greens, and black.

In testing, I liked the saturated color I got after just one coat. It felt lightweight and didn't feel sticky. Plus, it didn't flake or make my lips look cracked, although they did feel and look a little more dry than normal. This is easily remedied with a lip balm on top, or primer underneath.

There was minimal transfer onto my coffee cup and the color lasted a good few hours, although not the full eight hours it says on the packaging. It came off easily with an oil-based makeup remover too.

I'm not the only one who loves this lipstick. It's Best Review's "best of the best liquid lipstick" in its roundup, and is featured in Rank and Style's list of "top 10 long-lasting lipsticks."

Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipstick also gets an average 4.3 out of 5 from more than 1,000 Ulta shoppers, with happy reviewers commenting on how well it stayed put without drying out their lips. 

Pros: Incredible range of colors, metallic versions for those who prefer some shimmer, cruelty free, contains a primer oil to condition lips, lasts up to eight hours, formulated without parabens, phthalates, fragrance, or talc

Cons: Some might find their lips are drier after use, might not last a full eight hours

Buy Smashbox Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick at Ulta for $24



The best long-lasting lipstick to splurge on

If you prefer a traditional lipstick, but want long-lasting color that doesn't dry out your lips, Giorgio Armani's Rouge D'Armani is a winner.

Giorgio Armani Rouge D'Armani is a long-wear lipsticks designed to deliver intense, vibrant color, with a weightless matte finish.

The formula contains 50% more pigments than a traditional matte lipstick, while ester oils and hydrogenated jojoba oil moisturize your lips. It's also designed to last up to eight hours.

The lipstick is available in 15 shades ranging from rose to classic red to deep plum. My favorite is Fatale, a blush pink that is ideal for everyday wear. If you want to add some shine you can dab Giorgio Armani Ecstasy Lacquer on top.

Giorgio Armani Rouge D'Armani comes in a gorgeous sleek black and red tube with the iconic Armani magnetic closure — which makes the $38 price tag seem more justified.

But we're mostly here for the formula, so in testing, I loved the way it glided on easily and delivered a creamy yet matte finish in just one coat. It didn't feel sticky and in fact, I could barely feel anything on my lips. The brand suggests applying it with a lip brush for best results, but I didn't need it. 

The color lasted really well through a few cups of coffee and lunch, and even when the pigmentation began to wear off, it left a sheer tint underneath. One thing to note is that although it didn't dry out my lips, it didn't moisturize them either, so it's still worth using a lip balm underneath.

Rouge D'Armani is beloved by InStyle's and Self , and gets an incredible 4.7 out of 5 stars on Sephora with more than 97% of shoppers saying they'd recommend it to a friend.

Pros: Lasts up to eight hours, doesn't dry out lips, provides full coverage color

Cons: Expensive, doesn't provide extra moisture to lips

Buy Giorgio Armani Rouge D'Armani Matte Lipstick at Sephora for $38



The best long-lasting liquid lipstick on a budget

For a liquid lipstick that delivers bold lips with an ultra-matte finish and serious staying power without sticker shock, Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick is our top pick.

Cheap lipsticks can often under-deliver. But you get a lot of bang for your buck with Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick, and it even outperforms some of the designer brands.

The liquid formula has an arrow-shaped applicator for precise application and a matte finish that stays put for up to 16 hours. There is a dizzying array of 30 wearable and fashion-forward shades for a drugstore brand, ranging from high-impact neutrals to deep reds and even dark blue.

In testing, I found Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick has a sweet but obviously fake scent like a baked cookie, but I didn't mind it. This might irritate those with more sensitive skin or noses.

The liquid formula was thick but easy to apply using the wand, and felt creamy at first but dried quickly into a highly pigmented, very matte finish. I was impressed by how long it stayed on my lips, outlasting nearly all the other lipsticks I tested.

I would recommend using a primer or lip balm because like many liquid lipsticks, it did dry out my lips a little after a while. The choice of vivid and fun colors makes it the perfect handbag accessory for a night out.

Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick is also Best Review's budget pick and comes recommended by Byrdie. It gets rave reviews on Walmart, with one happy shopper commenting, "The staying power of this lipstick is the best I've ever found."

Pros: Very affordable, lasted about six hours personally but can last up to 16 according to the brand, easy to remove, wide range of colors, waterproof

Cons: Dries out lips a little, some might find the scent off-putting, liquid formula might not be for everyone

Buy Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick at Walmart for $7.94



The best clean long-lasting lipstick

If you're looking for a high-performance long-wearing lipstick that doesn't have questionable ingredients, try Bite Beauty's Amuse Bouche Lipstick.

For peace of mind that your lipstick isn't made with irritating or unsafe ingredients, Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick is an ideal choice. It has the Clean at Sephora seal, which means it's made without mineral oil, parabens, and more, and less than 1% of synthetic fragrance.

Instead, it's formulated with natural and organic ingredients, like beeswax, shea butter, 12 edible oils, and more, as well as resveratrol for skin-protecting antioxidants. In fact, there are so many good-for-you ingredients in here that the brand says it's almost good enough to eat. 

All delicious-ness aside, the formula is really creamy and moisturizing, and it leaves behind a plush, satin finish not unlike that of M.A.C's Liptensity. The saturation is also something to write home about.

I'm not totally sure how triple-milled pigments work, but I know that they result in really rich and vibrant colors that leave behind soft stains once it wears off — which took a few hours too, in my experience. 

There are 39 shades that span the usual reds, pinks, and plums, along with a few surprising ones like hot pink, dark blue, hunter green, and pastel lilac. According to Temptalia, 92 shades have been released, which isn't unusual given the brand has done limited edition runs, but the 39 shades are the brand's perennial offerings.

It holds a 4.6 out of 5 stars on Sephora with more than 5,300 reviews, and has won a Readers Choice award at Allure. — Jada Wong

Pros: Extensive shade range, saturated color pay-off, vegan, cruelty-free, has Clean at Sephora seal so it's free parabens and mineral oil

Cons: Expensive for a lipstick, saturated colors might be too bold for some people

Buy Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick at Sephora for $26



The best long-lasting lipstick with a satin finish

If you're not a fan of matte lipsticks, M.A.C Liptensity Lipstick is high-performance, long-lasting lipstick with a lovely satin finish. 

Traditionally, the best long-wear lipsticks have matte finishes, but not everyone likes that look.

It's a struggle to find a lipstick with a satin finish that lasts longer than breakfast because the hydrating ingredients can break down the long-wear formula. With M.A.C Liptensity Lipstick, you get full coverage, rich color with nice sheen said to last up to eight hours.

It contains extra amounts of pigments for color overload and has a gel base designed to melt on contact and keep the shade true to color. Shea butter and vitamins A and E helps prevent your lips from drying out. This lipstick comes in 23 shades with plenty of options for everyday wear as well as over-the-top hues perfect for a night out.

M.A.C Liptensity Lipstick has the brand's signature freshly baked cookies scent — this is a synthetic fragrance that some people with sensitive skin might find irritating, so my lips were fine when using. The lipstick goes on smoothly and easily, and leaves behind a bit of shine that looks like a slightly glossy balm, but it's not totally glossy either. I was also very impressed how well it moisturized my lips.

The one downside is that although it lasted longer than traditional lipsticks, it didn't last as long as the matte long-wear lipsticks so I had to reapply it by lunchtime.

It's also highly rated by The Zoe Report and gets 4.8 out of 5 on Saks Fifth Avenue with one delighted customer writing, "One of the most beautiful lipsticks I have owned so far. It is vibrant and stays on all day."

For even staying power, you can wear it over the M.A.C Liptensity Lip Pencil.

Pros: Keeps lips moisturized, cruelty-free, satin finish, nice range of shades, gel base keeps color true

Cons: Doesn't last as long as matte long-wear lipsticks, sweet scent might not be for everyone

Buy M.A.C Liptensity at Bloomingdale's for $13.20 (originally $22)



Check out our other makeup buying guides

The best mascara you can buy

If there's one thing many women never leave home without, it's mascara. It makes your eyes pop and brightens up your face in an instant. We tested dozens of mascaras to find the best, and Chanel Le Volume Mascara is our top choice because it delivers long, lush lashes that last all day. 

Here are the best mascaras you can buy in 2019:


The best blush you can buy for any skin tone

Blush can add some color to your cheeks no matter your skin tone. These are the best blushes we've tried.

The right blush can help bring an entire makeup look together, wake up your face on tired mornings, or reinstate some life on your cheeks after you've blotted out your natural color with foundation.

Here are the best blushes you can buy:


The best makeup setting powder you can buy

A good makeup setting powder must cut down on shine without caking, look natural but last for hours, mattify but enhance luminosity, and remain undetectable on most skin tones.

The right formula will lock your makeup into place and cut down on shine without mattifying you within an inch of your life or making you look cakey and overdone.

Hopefully this list of my five favorites will help you cut through the noise and find the one that's right for you.

Here are the best makeup setting powders you can buy:


The best concealer you can buy for any skin tone

Finding your ideal concealer shade is tricky, so we tested a bunch to find the best concealer you can buy.

The best formulas can make you look airbrushed with very little product required. I put a bunch of highly rated concealers to the test over several weeks. This list features my top five favorites.

Here are the best concealers you can buy:



The risk of traveling to every country in Africa, according to the US State Department

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namibia

  • The US State Department's travel advisories rate countries across the world to let Americans know what countries are safe to travel to and which ones they should reconsider visiting. 
  • Fourteen countries around the world are designated "do not travel," due to civil unrest, terrorism, and violent crime. Six such countries are in Africa. 
  • Here is every country in Africa and its rating from the State Department on travelers' safety. 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The US State Department's public travel advisories let Americans know what countries are safe to travel to and which ones they should be wary of.

With at least five Americans reported dead in the Dominican Republic in the past three months, it's worth checking these alerts before going on your next international vacation.

The State Department uses four levels of travel guidance to let Americans know what to expect in each country:

Level 1 - Exercise normal precautions;

Level 2 - Exercise increased caution;

Level 3 - Reconsider travel;

and Level 4 - Do not travel.

Fourteen countries around the world are designated "do not travel," mostly because of ongoing armed conflicts. In Africa, six countries are designated Level 4.

Here are the travel advisories for every country in Africa, ranked from most to least risky based on the State Department's designation levels.

SEE ALSO: The 29 riskiest countries for Americans to travel to

DON'T MISS: The riskiest vacation hot spots in Europe, ranked

Sudan - Level 4: Do Not Travel

The State Department warns of terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, armed conflict, and violent crime including armed robbery, home invasion, and carjacking.

In April 2019, the department ordered the departure of non-emergency US government employees.

Violence has flourished recently as protestors demonstrate against President Omar al-Bashir's 29 years in power. Government forces stoked chaos when they responded with unprecedented violence against civilians in the latest wave of violence since a 2013 response killed more than 170 protestors.

The country remains in limbo after al-Bashir declared a one-year nationwide state of emergency in February 2019 that would allow for uninhibited government actions against the protestors who are pushing back on his term that has seen atrocities against his own people.



South Sudan - Level 4: Do Not Travel

The State Department warns of armed conflict, kidnapping, and violent crime including carjackings, shootings, ambushes, assaults, and robberies. 

Conflicts among various political and ethnic groups have created widespread armed disputes and fostered a restrictive atmosphere. Foreign agents like journalists and US government officials have found the country difficult to navigate given the conditions, according to the report. 



Somalia - Level 4: Do Not Travel

The State Department warns of crime, kidnapping, piracy, and terrorism that could affect areas frequented by visitors. 

Widespread terrorist attacks and the subsequent violent government responses have claimed hundreds of civilian lives. Wide stretches of the country have also been devastated by famine, displacing residents and leaving them vulnerable to extreme poverty and violence. 

 



Mali - Level 4: Do Not Travel

The State Department warns of terrorism, kidnapping, and violent crime including kidnapping and armed robbery. 

Ethnic violence has reached a fever pitch across the country after years of militia conflict. The government has proved largely ineffective in controlling extremist groups and protecting civilians from fatal violence. 



Libya - Level 4: Do Not Travel

The State Department warns of terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, armed conflict, and crime.

Terrorist and militia groups including jihadist and Islamist militia collective Brigade Defend Benghazi and Islamist militant group Ansar al-Shariah are of particular concern for the threats they pose to travelers, including detaining them at random, without access to legal or embassy resources

The advisory says:

"Outbreaks of violence between competing armed groups can occur with little warning and have the potential to impact US citizens. The capital, Tripoli, and other cities, such as Surman, Al-Jufra, Misrata, Ajdabiya, Benghazi, Sabha, and Dernah, have witnessed fighting among armed groups, as well as terrorist attacks. Hotels and airports frequented by Westerners have been caught in the crossfire. Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence."



Central African Republic - Level 4: Do Not Travel

The State Department warns of common violent crimes including armed robbery, aggravated battery, and homicide. 

The warning also references armed groups that control large areas and often kidnap civilians, and the US government has limited ability to assist US citizens in the country. 

The government has been largely rendered ineffective as regional militant groups ramp up the violence that has plagued the country since it gained independence in 1960.



Burkina Faso - Level 3: Reconsider Travel

The State Department warns of terrorism, crime, and kidnapping throughout the country, where the US government has limited abilities to assist travelers. 

The warning also specifies several regions and neighborhoods in and outside of the capital city to which travel is completely prohibited due to a heightened threat of attack. 

The country has seen an uptick in violence perpetrated by Al Qaeda and other groups tied to the Islamic State that reached Burkina Faso after advancing from Mali and Niger. In May 2018, more than 12 people were left dead as national tensions over regional and religious differences that are stoked by extremist groups reached a fever pitch. 



Nigeria - Level 3: Reconsider Travel

The State Department warns of crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and piracy breaking out in rural and urban areas. 

US government authorities have limited access to provide emergency services to US citizens who may experience violence, according to the report.  

Violence waged in the country by Boko Haram in 2018 included the unresolved abduction of 110 schoolgirls, the kidnapping and execution of two aid workers, and twin suicide bomb attacks.

Failed efforts by state and federal authorities have complicated counter-terrorism efforts amid violence between herdsmen and farmers. Citizens' trust in the state has eroded. 



Democratic Republic of the Congo - Level 3: Reconsider Travel

The State Department warns of civil protests descending into violence and violent crime including armed robbery, armed home invasion, and assault sometimes committed by people posing as police or security agents. 

The warning specifies threats of crime, Ebola, and kidnapping in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces in the northeast and armed conflict in the east of the country. 

Ebola continues to pose a threat to the northeastern part of the Republic, where 1,506 people have died in the most recent 10-month outbreak. However, the US Center for Disease Control says the risk of infection for visitors is low. 



Guinea-Bissau - Level 3: Reconsider Travel

The State Department warns of civil unrest and violent crime, usually perpetrated by aggressive vendors, panhandlers, and criminals who target foreigners at popular spots in the country, including the airport and public market.



Mauritania - Level 3: Reconsider Travel

The State Department warns of terrorism and violent crime, including mugging, armed robbery, and assault.

The terrorist group Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb launched several devastating attacks between 2005 and 2011, targeting diplomatic and government facilities and killing American and foreign tourists and aid workers. 



Niger - Level 3: Reconsider Travel

The State Department warns of terrorism, kidnapping, and violent crime including armed robbery.

The advisory warns of heightened terrorist activity in the areas bordering Mali, Libya, Burkina Faso, and throughout northern Niger. The US government has limited abilities to provide emergency services to travelers as they are restricted to the country's capital and required to maintain thorough security escorts.

The country has worked to counter repeated attacks by groups like Boko Haram and its offshoot, ISIS-West Africa, who attacked both military and civilian targets, particularly in the south. Terrorist groups thrive among the expanses of rough terrain along which Niger's borders are drawn, which make border security a challenge to enforce. 



Burundi - Level 3: Reconsider Travel

The State Department warns of armed conflict and violent crime, including grenade attacks and armed robbery, which are common in Burundi amid fiery political tensions.

US authorities have limited abilities to deliver emergency assistance to travelers, even in the case of police raids and violent clashes at the border.

Power struggles between the Hutu majority and the Tutsi minority have crippled the country since it gained independence in 1962. A 12-year civil war that began in 1994 further damaged the country's functions.  



Uganda - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

The State Department warns of kidnapping and violent crime including armed robbery, home invasion, and sexual assault, particularly in the country's major cities like Kampala and Entebbe. 



Algeria - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

The State Department warns of terrorism across the country, but specifically includes a Level 4 danger designation for travel in the Sahara Desert and to the country's eastern and southern borders, where there is an elevated threat of terrorism and kidnapping. 

Years of devastating civil war between the Algerian government and Islamist rebel groups in the 1990s disrupted the country, and created regional instability with Algeria's neighbors Mali, Niger, and Libya, which have since experienced tensions and violence at their borders.



South Africa - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

The State Department warns of violent crime including armed robbery, rape, carjacking, mugging, and "smash-and-grab" attacks on vehicles, particularly after dark in cities. 

Widespread civil unrest in the country also poses a threat of demonstrations that could disrupt travel or spark violence. 



Republic of the Congo - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

The State Department warns of widespread civil unrest and crime, particularly armed robbery and assault. 

The Pool Region in the southwest is of particular concern for its violence, as the report notes that US government employees cannot travel to the area without special permission, making it difficult to assist Americans. 



Madagascar - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

The State Department warns of civil unrest and crime that peaked around the country's elections in late 2018 into early 2019. 

The warning specifies that crime is common in the Ankarana and Montagne d'Ambre national parks, in addition to the coastal areas of Antananarivo, Batterie Beach, Toamasina (Tamatave), Tolagnaro, and Mahajunga.

The country's May 2019 parliamentary elections came after months of fiery protests and allegations of rampant corruption in the country's latest bout of civil unrest. 



Kenya - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

The State Department warns of terrorism, kidnapping, and other violent crime including armed carjacking, mugging, and residential burglary. 

The warning also bars travel to the Kenya-Somalia border due to the threat of terrorism and the northwest Turkana County due to crime. Nairobi, the country's capital city, also poses threats of crime and kidnapping, according to the warning. 



Morocco - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

The State Department warns of terrorist activity that could mean attacks on public places frequented by tourists, including transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities.



Eritrea - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

The State Department warns of landmines in several remote areas and the government's restrictions on travel rights and services for visitors. 

The warning notes that Eritrean law enforcement often blocks communication between detained foreign nationals and their embassies and US government employees need special permission to travel outside of Asmara, the country's capital. 

Mines have posed a threat to several areas across Eritrea since World War II, but most recently in the aftermath of the struggle for independence that lasted from 1962 to 1991 and its armed conflict at the border with Ethiopia in 1998 to 2000.

Removal efforts by the government and outside organizations have found mixed success, and mines still pose fatal threats to Eritreans. 



Cameroon - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

The State Department warns of violent crime including robbery and carjacking, which local authorities lack the resources to confront. 

The report also identifies threats of armed conflict in the northwest and southwest regions and terrorism in the far north region. 



Cote d'Ivoire - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

The State Department warns of terrorism and violent crime including carjacking, robbery, and home invasion.

The agency also says that foreign government authorities are limited in their abilities to assist visitors, as "embassy personnel are prohibited from driving outside the major cities after dark."



Ethiopia - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

The State Department warns of civil unrest and communications disruptions. 

The warning also marks the Somali Regional State as off-limits, due to threats of civil unrest, terrorism, kidnapping, and landmines. Armed conflict and civil unrest plague several regions, including border regions and several ethnic regional states. 



Guinea - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

The State Department warns of civil unrest in Guinea, where demonstrations unravel into violence that can turn to criminals targeting travelers who happen to be nearby for muggings or robberies.



Egypt - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

The State Department warns of terrorism that could mean attacks on popular public places, with which the US government can't assist those affected. 

The threats are widespread across the country, but the warning cites an increased risk on the Sinai Peninsula. 



Zimbabwe - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

The State Department warns of widespread crime and civil unrest posing threats of violent crime including assault, carjacking, and home invasion. The warning also specifies that local police "lack the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents."



Tanzania - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

The State Department warns of crime, terrorism, and targeting of LGBTQ people.

Terrorists can strike without warning on areas frequented by tourists, the agency warns, and LGBTQ people have been arrested, targeted, harassed, and/or charged with unrelated offenses upon suspicion of their sexual identity and activity.



Sierra Leone - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

The State Department warns of violent crime including armed robbery and assault in addition to the limited abilities of local authorities and the US government to respond. 



Angola - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

The State Department doesn't have any alerts set for the country as a whole but stresses caution in urban areas where crime and kidnapping are common. 



Benin - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

The State Department doesn't have any alerts set for the country. 



Botswana - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

The State Department doesn't have any alerts set for the country. 



Cabo Verde - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

The State Department has no warnings for Cabo Verde. 



Comoros - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

The State Department has no warnings for Comoros. 



Djibouti - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

The State Department has no travel warnings for Djibouti. 



Eswatini - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

The State Department has no warnings for Eswatini. 



Equatorial Guinea - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

The State Department has no travel warnings for Equatorial Guinea. 



Gabon - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

The State Department warns of a slightly increased threat of crimes such as robbery, vehicle break-ins, and home burglaries that are common in cities Libreville and Port Gentil. 



The Gambia - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

The State Department doesn't have a warning for the whole country but warns that landmines common to The Gambia's southern border with Senegal pose a serious danger to travelers. 



Ghana - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

The State Department doesn't have a country-wide warning for Ghana, but urban areas and intercity highways are marked Level 2 for crime. Some regions are marked Level 2 for civil unrest that erupts among local leaders. 



Lesotho - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

The State Department has no warnings for Lesotho. 



Liberia - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

The State Department warns of increased risk of violent crime in some urban areas and public beaches. 



Malawi - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

The State Department has no travel warnings for Malawi. 



Mauritius - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

The State Department has no travel warnings for Mauritius. 



Mozambique - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

The State Department doesn't have any country-wide alerts set but warns of violent extremism in the northeast region, and crime in Maputo, Mozambique's capital. 



Namibia - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

The State Department doesn't have any alerts set for the country. 



Rwanda - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

The State Department has no travel warnings for Rwanda. 



Sao Tome and Principe - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

The State Department doesn't have any warnings for Sao Tome and Principe. 



Tunisia - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

The State Department warns of a widespread threat of terrorism that could target highly frequented public places, with increased risk in some areas. 

The country's borders with Algeria and Libya and a military zone in the southwest are listed among the more restricted areas for travelers. 



Senegal - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

The State Department has no warnings for the country as a whole but specified a Level 2 warning in the Casamance region because of the threat posed to travelers by crime and landmines. 



Seychelles - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

The State Department doesn't have any travel warnings for Seychelles. 



Togo - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

The State Department doesn't have a warning for the entire country but warns of terrorism and kidnapping in the northern border region and other areas where civil unrest is common. 



Zambia - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

The State Department doesn't have any alerts set for the country. 



10 cities where you can make 6 figures and still feel broke

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  • A $100,000 salary sounds like enough money to afford a comfortable lifestyle, but that depends on where you live.
  • MagnifyMoney recently found the top 10 most expensive metro areas in the US where a family of three can still be financially strapped on a six-figure salary.
  • Based on the study, six-figure earners in seven metro areas spend more money than they earn every month.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Earning $100,000 isn't all it's cracked up to be if you live in an expensive city.

In a recent study, MagnifyMoney found the top 10 metro areas where you can feel broke — even if you make six figures. They determined the monthly disposable income of a hypothetical family with one child in 100 metro areas by subtracting monthly expenses, savings, debt, and taxes from an $8,333 monthly paycheck (equivalent to a $100,000 yearly pre-tax salary).

Tax estimations were based on the couple filing jointly for 2019 with a standard federal deduction, earning a federal $2,000 credit for the child. Debt was assumed to be $393 — the average monthly student loan payment. Other debt, such as housing and auto, were calculated into monthly expenses, which were determined based on location from a range of sources.

Read more: How much money you have to earn to be considered rich in the biggest city in every state

Based on this analysis, seven metro areas have to spend more than they earn in a month. 

Below, see how far six figures will get you in the most expensive metro areas in the US, ranked from least expensive to most expensive. All numbers were rounded to the nearest dollar.

SEE ALSO: The 15 best cities in the US to find jobs that pay $100,000 or more

DON'T MISS: The top 15 cities around the world where people get paid more to work less

10. Minneapolis, Minnesota

Monthly after-tax income: $7,497

Estimated monthly expenses and debt: $7,348

Remaining income: $149



9. Worcester, Massachusetts

Monthly after-tax income: $7,632

Estimated monthly expenses and debt: $7,518

Remaining income: $114



8. New York, New York

Monthly after-tax income: $7,646

Estimated monthly expenses and debt: $7,581

Remaining income: $65



7. Oxnard, California

Monthly after-tax income: $7,734

Estimated monthly expenses and debt: $7,930

Remaining income: -$196



6. Honolulu, Hawaii

Monthly after-tax income: $7,526

Estimated monthly expenses and debt: $7,733

Remaining income: -$207



5. Bridgeport, Connecticut

Monthly after-tax income: $7,725

Estimated monthly expenses and debt: $8,213

Remaining income: -$488



4. Boston, Massachusetts

Monthly after-tax income: $7,632

Estimated monthly expenses and debt: $8,142

Remaining income: -$510



3. San Francisco, California

Monthly after-tax income: $7,734

Estimated monthly expenses and debt: $8,365

Remaining income: -$631



2. Washington, DC

Monthly after-tax income: $7,663

Estimated monthly expenses and debt: $8,363

Remaining income: -$700



1. San Jose, California

Monthly after-tax income: $7,735

Estimated monthly expenses and debt: $8,781

Remaining income: -$1,046



How to use the Live Photo feature on your iPhone to take motion-enhanced pictures

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  • Figuring out how to take live photos on your iPhone can be confusing, as it's hidden behind a very tiny icon.
  • The Live Photo option native to iOS allows you to take pictures that "come alive when you touch them" — in other words, photos that also record a second or two of motion after you press the shutter button.
  • Live Photos offers three different shooting modes: loop, bounce, and long exposure. 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Technology has come a long way over the past couple of decades. All but gone are the days of disposable cameras, Polaroids, or even point-and-shoot models — these days, most of us just whip out our phones and preserve a memory in photo form with the tap of a button. Digital photography offers plenty of advantages over its analog equivalents, and the iPhone takes things up another notch with its Live Photo option. 

Live photos allow you to capture a moment in time in a whole new way. Think of it as making a (very short) GIF image: the iPhone begins recording 1.5 seconds before and after you snap the pic, offering up a sort of living portrait rather than a straightforward 2D image. 

Using the option is simple and straightforward and will take your photography, whether amateur or professional, to the next level. Here's how to use it. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone Xs (From $999 at Apple)

How to take a live photo on an iPhone

1. From your iPhone's home screen, open the Camera app.

2. Before proceeding, ensure that the Live Photo option is enabled on your camera. This feature is enabled by default, but to double check, look for the small icon in the toolbar across the top of your screen that looks like a bullseye. 

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If the Live Photo icon is colored yellow, that means Live Photo is enabled. If it's white with a line slashed across it, it's off. You can enable or disable Live Photo at any time by tapping the icon.

3. Aim your phone at whatever you want to take a photo of and tap your shutter button as normal. Voila — you've taken a live photo! 

You can also use additional effects on your Live Photos to make them even more fun. To utilize the effects, here's what you need to do. 

How to edit a live photo on an iPhone

1. From your iPhone's home screen, open the Photos app.

2. Select the Live Photo you want to edit and tap on it to open, then swipe up to reveal a list of editing options. 

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3. Under "Effects," you can choose to keep the Live Photo as is or use a few different options: 

  • Loop, which will play the Live Photo in an endless video loop. 
  • Bounce, which will cause your Live Photo to bounce back and forth.
  • Long Exposure, which can capture time and movement for things like fireworks displays or birthday candles being blown out, just as an example. 

4. Save your desired effect simply by exiting out of the photo — no need to do anything else. You can, however, change the effect at any time by following the same steps outlined above.

Note that which effect will be right for your photo depends on personal choice and the subject matter of the photo, and some will work better than others depending on the image selected. 

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: The best portable battery packs you can buy

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's why it's so hard to switch from Apple to Android

This $50 heated massager is the perfect antidote to carrying around a heavy backpack — it relieves my shoulder and back tension

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  • I recently purchased the InvoSpa Shiatsu Back, Neck, and Shoulder Massager with Heat from Amazon for $50, and it is a game changer for anyone like me who struggles with back and neck pain on a daily basis.
  • My life is very different now that I get daily, professional-grade massages. If I were to visit a masseuse that regularly in New York City, I'd be down close to $100 per week at minimum.
  • What makes this at-home massager even better than going to a professional, however, is that you remain in total control as you use it.
  • This massager also has a timer, so it automatically shuts off every 15 minutes.

As a freelancer in New York City, I'm regularly hauling around a backpack filled with my computer, its charger, a work book, a fun book, hand sanitizer, a water bottle, a just-in-case umbrella, and about 14 inkless pens. My bag not only burdens my back, but it also strains my neck, shoulders, legs, and arms as I contort my body to fit into crowded subways and carry it in one hand while the other roots around for an elusive, working pen. Then when I arrive at my destination, I sit down and type for hours, hunching over my laptop like Golem guarding his precious.

None of this activity helps ease my back pain. After I tried repeatedly to hand-massage myself for relief (about as satisfying as scratching that itch at the middle of your back), my friend whose job entails a lot of upper body work let me try her at-home shiatsu back, neck, and shoulder massager with heat. I'm not exaggerating when I say it changed my life. I immediately went home and ordered my own off of Amazon for $50.

Those times when I've tried to get a knot out of my upper back by using the edge of a door frame? This kneading massager from InvoSpa is infinitely more effective in its ability to dig deep into my muscles, relaxing tensions I barely even knew I had. Its pack-like shape — featuring two straps you can slip your arms through while positioning dual massagers comfortably on your neck, back, or shoulders — mimics that of my backpack, allowing me to hit all the sore spots that wearing my bag daily creates.

The apparatus has a groove for your neck, with one massager on either side, each consisting of four, rotating nodes. The four larger nodes loosen up your muscles while the four smaller nodes really get in there, tackling the most stubborn knots. Four controllers on one strap let you turn the massagers off and on, change the direction of the rotation, alter the speed, and switch on and off the heat, respectively. I find that the direction of the nodes changes regularly enough, so I end up pressing the heat button most. Using heat at the start of the massage helps relax my muscles before I apply more pressure for heavy kneading, at which point I turn the heat off.

I mentioned that this massager has changed my life, and it's true — my life is very different now that I get daily, professional-grade massages. If I were to visit a masseuse that regularly in New York City, I'd be down close to $100 per week at minimum.

invospa

What makes this at-home massager even better than going to a professional, however, is that you remain in total control as you use it.

The straps make it very easy to manipulate its position, letting you reach the nagging sore parts that are nearly impossible to explain to other people ("No, a little more to the left…"). And even though it's called a "back, neck, and shoulder massager," it feels amazing on the soles of my (clean) feet.

However, you can't use the massager on any old body part. I learned this the hard way. The manual warns you're not supposed to put it on "joints and bony parts of the body," which I didn't read until after I'd ended up with some sore knees joints — a fate people who read manuals (or this article) can easily avoid. As with all massagers, it's also not good for you to use it for too long. Luckily, this one has a timer, so it automatically shuts off every 15 minutes.

This massager's only other minor downside is that it has to be plugged into the wall to work. That being said, the cord is plenty long. I've never had a hard time getting it to my couch, bed, or desk chair, some of which are closer to outlets than others. Impressively, it's still portable. It comes with a car plug and a convenient, handheld case.

Even if you don't lug around a full backpack every day and hunch over your computer, doing any kind of physical work, exercising, or even just experiencing stress can lead to tight, painful muscles. I use my at-home massager both after work and after runs, and I'd highly recommend others do the same. It's giving me a foot massage right now.

Buy the InvoSpa Shiatsu Back, Neck, and Shoulder Massager with Heat at Amazon for $49.97.

SEE ALSO: This $60 posture corrector from 'Shark Tank' might seem gimmicky — but it actually eliminated my back pain at work

DON'T MISS: 6 affordable products that have helped me deal with back pain and muscle tension

Join the conversation about this story »

Brooklinen's linen sheets won’t make you sweat on hot summer nights — here’s what sleeping with them feels like

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  • Brooklinen is one of the most popular direct-to-consumer bedding companies offering luxury sheets at accessible prices.
  • In addition to the Classic Percale and Luxe Sateen, it now offers a Linen collection, made out of high-quality Belgian and French flax fibers.
  • The sheets are available in 13 different solid colors and patterns, and prices start at $224.10 for a Full sheet set. Unfortunately, there are no linen sets for Twin beds.
  • They're not as soft as the sateen sheets and will naturally look more wrinkly as those are characteristics of the material, but they're also really breathable and perfect for hot summer nights. 

According to a recent survey conducted by theSleep Foundation, about 85% of people said that having comfortable sheets and bedding are important in getting a good night's sleep. Additionally, nearly 70% pointed out that bedroom temperature is also important — something many of us find a little difficult to manage in the summer when our bedrooms are scorching hot. 

That being established, the sheets that keep you all warm and snuggly during the winter months probably aren't going to do you any favors during a heat wave. If you want to get a good night's sleep in the summer without blasting the AC, consider investing in a set of Brooklinen Linen Sheets.

In case you're in the dark about one of our favorite bedding brands, here's the backstory. The five-year-old company launched in 2014 after a successful Kickstarter, and offers high-quality, beautiful sheets at reasonable prices. Itrecently added new colors and styles to its roster — the Linen collection being one of them.

I knew linen is breathable and appropriate for sweaty summer nights, so I decided to try out the Brooklinen Linen Hardcore Bundle for myself. I wasn't disappointed.

One of the first things you'll notice when you receive a set of sheets from Brooklinen is the really nice packaging. Each set comes neatly folded in a fabric bag, which is such a nice touch, but there's even more attention to detail with the sheets themselves. 

For instance, each fitted sheet has labels identifying the "short" and "long" side, so it's super easy to make your bed correctly every time. Each duvet cover also includes interior corner ties to keep your comforter from sliding around, and big, sturdy closure buttons that won't fall off in the wash. It's those little things that make me a repeat customer.

As far as the material, I instantly fell in love with it. They aren't soft and silky like Brooklinen's other sheets, but have a bit more texture to them. To me, there is something incredibly luxurious yet earthy about the feel of the sheets.

My husband didn't feel the same way. "These feel like sandpaper," he said to me when he got into bed. However, the tune of the hot-blooded man I married changed by morning. "Actually, these are pretty awesome," he backtracked. Not only did he get used to the sensation on his skin, but the breathable, looser weave fabric also made it possible for him — and I — to get through the night without sweating.

One thing to point out is that if you love the smooth look of bed sheets, linen is not for you. There's no way to keep these babies from looking anything less than slept in. Linen wrinkles, it's just a fact. You can have them dry cleaned, steamed, pressed with an iron, and it still won't matter. But to me, that adds to their unique characteristics.

The Fine Print

Fabric

The sheets are 100% linen, made out of Belgian and French flax, and constructed in Portugal. They are OEKO-TEX certified chemical-free so they won't irritate skin. Each set has also been individually pre-washed and garment dyed.

Colors

The sheets are available in 12 different solid colors (including four limited edition shades for summer) and one pattern (charcoal stripes on white), for a total of 13 styles. While the offerings aren't extensive, each shade is pretty gorgeous and there's a good chance you'll find one that you like.

Sizing

If you have a twin bed, sorry, you're out of luck. Brooklinen's linen sheet sets are only available in four sizes — Full, Queen, King and California King.

Care requirements

Brooklinen suggests machine-washing them in cold water with a natural detergent and tumble drying them on low.

Even though the sheets are pre-washed, I'd still suggest you run them through the wash before sleeping on them the first time. I washed my sheets prior to placing them on my bed, but I opted to throw the duvet cover on straight away and it shed a bunch of fibers. The first few times that I laundered my set, I noticed quite an abundance of lint in my dryer filter too.

That said, I haven't noticed any color bleeding in the wash, or fading in general. 

Lifetime warranty

Brooklinen offers a great lifetime warranty on all of its sheets. If you experience any pilling, ripping, or fraying, Brooklinen will repair it — no questions asked. If a repair isn't possible, it'll go the extra mile and replace it free of charge.

60-day free trial

The company also offers a 60-day trial, giving you the opportunity to try the sheets out before fully committing. If you hate them, just send them back. However, if you return washed or used sheets, they will be refunded minus a processing fee of $10.

Price

The only con about these sheets is that the price may be a bit prohibitive — even more so when compared to Brooklinen's other sheets.

For example, a set of the luxury hotel style Classic Percale sheets retails for $99 and its popular Luxe Sateen goes for $129, while a set of the Linen will set you back $249.

But you can look at these as an investment, which I do. You can use them year round, but chances are you'll reserve them just for the summer months, so they'll end up lasting years.

Bottom line

Do yourself a favor this summer and invest in your sleep.

These sheets will look gorgeously rumpled on your bed, feel amazing against your skin, and keep you cool all night long. It managed to win over my husband in just one night, but with a great free trial, there's not much to lose either.

Shop Brooklinen Linen sheets from $224.10

Shop all Brooklinen here

Join the conversation about this story »


8 dermatologist-recommended sunscreens under $50

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  • Even 10 minutes of incidental sun exposure can cause significant damage over time.
  • Part of taking care of your skin in the summer includes investing in a good sunscreen to protect your face and body. 
  • We asked dermatologists to share the sunscreens they like best and recommend most. Below, you'll find eight of them — all under $50. 

If every dermatologist had to condense their wisdom into one thirty-second elevator pitch for patients, my guess is it'd probably be "wear sunscreen." No matter who I've interviewed, or what questions I've asked in doctor's appointments, this is by far the most consistent — and vehement — advice. Every time you go outside, your skin is exposed to UVA and UVB rays and free radicals, which can lead to premature aging and health risks like cancer. According to Dr. Dendy Engelman, a nationally acclaimed dermatological surgeon and renown dermatologist, incidental sun exposure for only 10-15 minutes a day adds up over time and can cause significant sun damage and accelerated photoaging.

As summer rolls in, it's important to invest in your skin — and, by extension, your long-term health — by picking a sunscreen you will reliably apply (and re-apply). This means finding one that fits with your lifestyle, has adequate protection, and actually inspires you to use it every day. 

Choosing the right sunscreen

If you're out shopping for your new summer sunscreen, Dr. Engelman's advice boils down to a few rules of thumb: You should look for broad-spectrum coverage (this means UVA and UVB protection), ideally SPF 50 coverage or higher, and antioxidants that protect skin against free-radical damage. Dr. Engelman recommends using about an ounce of product at a time for your entire body (depending on body shape and size) to cover up exposed skin, and "reapplication is non-negotiable." If you use a chemical sunscreen, apply it 30 minutes before you head outside; some of its compounds take up to 30 minutes to activate. So, if you're sitting at the beach and only applying it then, you could risk going unprotected for longer than you think. 

If you're acne-prone, try mineral sunscreens (also known as physical blockers) before the chemical kind.

Chemical sunscreens work by absorbing UV rays, converting them into heat, and then releasing that heat. Since key ingredients in a chemical sunscreen are absorbed into your skin — rather than laying on top of it like a mineral formula — they're more likely to cause a breakout and allergic reactions, skin irritations, or skin ailments related to heat. 

You shouldn't use sunscreen sprays, unless you a)  started with cream first and are just using the spray to re-apply coverage, or b) rub it in and spread it across the skin equally. If you don't spread it everywhere, UV light can get between the molecules. Make sure that, if you do use a spray, it doesn't contain oxybenzone: "While safe to be on the skin, when ingested [as in, inhaled while spraying] it acts as a hormone and disrupts the body's reproductive tract," says Dr. Engelman.

But, aside from the formula, Dr. Engelman says the best sunscreen is simply the one you actually wear 365-days per year — even in cloudy weather.

To help narrow the field, I've rounded up six sunscreens under $50 that come recommended to us by dermatologists. Some are good for acne-prone skin, some are good for the reefs, and all are used and loved by dermatologists themselves.

Read on for 8 sunscreens dermatologists recommend and why — all under $50:

For the face: Supergoop! City Sunscreen Serum SPF 30

Supergoop! City Sunscreen Serum SPF 30, available on Amazon, Dermstore, Nordstrom, Sephora, and Overstock, from $42

Supergoop!'s City Sunscreen Serum is a silky, multitasking moisturizer that combines broad-spectrum protection with antioxidants that increase radiance, like vitamin E and B5. A bioactive complex works simultaneously to accelerate the skin's DNA- and UV-repair mechanism, and it claims to keep skin hydrated for a full 24 hours. 

"This multitasking cream works to moisturize your skin, fight environmental damage and UV pollution, and nourish your skin with antioxidants, which protect from free radical damage, all while protecting your skin from sun damage. If you work in a city during the summer months like I do, this is a great daytime product to wear under your makeup." — Dr. Whitney Bowe

Another plus is that it comes with a hand pump for easy application. 



For the face and body: La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Melt-In Sunscreen Milk

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Sunscreen Milk, SPF 60, available on Amazon, Dermstore, and Ulta, from $35.99

A multi-award winner, this sunscreen is ideal for sensitive, oily, and acne-prone skin types and works well on your face or body. It multitasks by bringing SPF (this time SPF 60) and antioxidants together to protect skin against both UVA/UVB rays and free radicals thanks to Cell-OX Shield technology. But, the real standout is that it's fast-absorbing and leaves a dry, non-greasy, velvety finish — something that works to the advantage of oily skin on multiple levels. It also lists Salicylic Acid as a key ingredient, which is an advantage for acne-prone skin. 

"I have long been a fan of the Anthelios Melt-In Milk Sunscreen. For my acne prone patients, I recommend non-comedogenic products like this one, meaning the product will not clog your pores. This dry-finish sunscreen actually has ingredients which absorb excess oil on the skin and contains antioxidants to promote your skin's health." — Dr. Whitney Bowe

Bonus: it's also water-resistant up to 80 minutes. 



For the face: EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum

EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum, SPF 46, available on Amazon, Walmart, Dermstore, and Overstock, from $26.49

Another good option specifically for acne-prone skin, EltaMD's mineral-based UV Clear formula was designed to calm and protect sensitive skin types prone to acne, rosacea, and/or discoloration. It's lightweight and silky, but a combination of niacinamide (a vitamin that helps restore the skin's natural barrier), hyaluronic acid (a molecule capable of retaining over 1,000 times its weight in water), vitamin E, antioxidants, and lactic acid work to protect the skin and reduce shine while clearing pores. 

"Not only is this oil-free and fragrance-free, but it also has lactic acid, which will gently exfoliate the skin and regulate sebum build-up. It has zinc oxide to protect from UV/UB rays and antioxidants to repair damage. Fragrances are usually made up of other harmful chemicals, like parabens, benzene derivatives, aldehydes and more that are linked to cancer and nervous-system issues. Short term, they can cause irritation and redness on the applied area. There is no need for a sunscreen to contain a fragrance." — Dr. Dendy Engelman



For the face: Powder-Me SPF 30 Dry Sunscreen

Powder-Me Dry Sunscreen, SPF 30, available on Dermstore, from $47

Jane Iredale's powder dry sunscreen is good for those looking for a fast, easy, and non-greasy reapplication tool throughout the day — especially one that can be placed over makeup. Its key ingredient is titanium dioxide and a clay naturally rich in minerals. It's relatively sheer, and comes packaged in a small bottle with a mirror and attached sponge for on-the-go application. 

"One of my go-to products is Jane Iredale's Powder-Me SPF Dry Sunscreen which contains natural clay to shield against redness and 17% titanium dioxide, providing broad-spectrum coverage against both UVA and UVB. This product is a physical sunscreen and does not contain any harmful chemicals. It is also very easy to apply and re-apply throughout the day and even over makeup. Added bonus: It's water-resistant for up to 40 minutes!"— Dr. Lian Mack



For the face: HydroPeptide Solar Defense Non-Tinted Sunscreen

HydroPeptide Solar Defense Non-Tinted Sunscreen, SPF 50, available at Dermstore, Overstock, Walmart, and Amazon, from $29.99

HydroPeptide's Solar Defense Sunscreen, like most of the HydroPeptide line, is designed for two purposes: one being to rejuvenate tired skin and minimize the appearance of fine lines, and the second to protect skin against present aggressors like free radical damage that can lead to fine lines. Zinc and titanium dioxide sit on top of the skin to deflect UV rays, and are the only two sunscreen ingredients generally recognized as safe by the FDA currently. It's also scent-free.

"This amazing mineral SPF 50 sunscreen protects from UVA, UVB and Infrared damage with a combination of physical blockers, weightless hydration, and a smooth finish. It also contains other helpful antioxidant botanicals like acai and green tea as well as aloe and hyaluronic acid, which helps to fight free radical damage and both soothe and moisturize sun-exposed skin." — Dr. Joyce Imahiyerobo-Ip



For the face: Amarte Ultra Veil Facial Sunscreen

Amarte Ultra Veil Facial Sunscreen, SPF 50, available on Dermstore and Amazon, from $39

Amarte's Ultra Veil Sunscreen is a fast-absorbing formula that combines the gold standard ingredients of both chemical and mineral sunscreens — titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, mica, peptides, hyaluronic acid, dimethicone, and antioxidants — all into one. Amarte credits the elemental sulfur for brightening and clarifying the skin, while hyaluronic acid moisturizes. Peptides promote healthy cell function, and antioxidants help combat free radicals. 

"Ultra Veil is water resistant, broad spectrum, and SPF 50+. It goes on like silk and absorbs quickly leaving a moist, touchable, and aesthetically improved skin appearance. Its sheerness can be enjoyed on all skin tones without being tarnished by a grayish-white reflection. Amarte has perfected processing methods for the titanium and zinc raw ingredients, improving their optical and reflective properties." — Dr. Craig Kraffert



For the face: Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield

Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield, SPF 50, available at Amazon and Dermstore, $39

Colorescience's Sunforgettable product is a sheer, lightweight, mineral-based sunscreen that's also water- and sweat-resistant for up to 40 minutes. It'll work on pretty much any skin type (sensitive, acne-prone, combination, dry, normal, and oily), offer protection against UVA/UVB, and combines zinc oxide with dimethicone, niacinamide, and other pollution defenders and moisturizers for invisible, hypo-allergenic coverage. Instead of hyaluronic acid, you'll find phytomoist in here — an ingredient that's 100% natural and 400 times as moisturizing as hyaluronic acid.

"This 100% mineral sunscreen provides protection while still feeling lightweight. It is also oil-free, yet calming with niacinamides." — Dr. Dendy Engelman



For the face and body: All Good Sport Sunscreen

All Good Sport Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30, available on Amazon and ThriveMarket, from $12.89

This relatively cheap option is water-resistant up to 80 minutes and leans on zinc oxide and natural ingredients like aloe and calendula to keep skin hydrated and protected, with a biodegradable, reef-friendly formula that also doesn't harm the earth. 

"All Good is a reef-friendly, zinc oxide-based sunscreen with a lightweight, water-resistant formula. It's rich in organic green tea and rose hips." — Dr. Whitney Bowe



APPLY NOW: Insider Inc. is hiring video producers, fall fellows, business reporters, and more

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Insider Inc NYC

Insider Inc. has a number of editorial openings across both Business Insider and INSIDER. If you're interested in joining a fast-paced, growing newsroom, apply at the links provided below. Unless otherwise stated, positions are located in our New York City headquarters and begin immediately.

Editorial fellowships

Full-time positions

For a constantly updated list of openings, see our careers page.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Mount Everest is not the hardest mountain to climb — here's what makes K2 so much worse

How to set up an Amazon Fire Stick, Amazon's portable media streaming device, for the first time

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new amazon fire tv stick

More than five years ago, Amazon released its very own streaming device where you can watch all your favorite TV shows, movies, and more — the Fire Stick. It also comes with equipped with Alexa for voice commands. 

Today, an Amazon Fire Stick costs about $40, and it's simple to set up. All you need is a television with an HDMI port, batteries for the remote, and an internet connection. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Amazon Fire Stick (From $39.99 on Amazon)

Amazon Prime Membership (From $12.99/mo on Amazon)

How to set up an Amazon Fire Stick

1. When you receive your Amazon Fire Stick, there will be 3 items: the remote, power adapter, and the Fire Stick. First, find the Fire Stick. 

Amazon Fire TV Stick, $39.99.

2. Plug the Fire Stick into one of your TV's HDMI ports, which can usually be found on the back of the television. 

3. Connect the power cable to the Fire Stick. 

4. Then, plug the power cable into a wall outlet, or into the USB port of the TV.

5. Turn on your TV. Using the television's remote, find the correct input channel or source that  you plugged the Fire Stick into (for example, HDMI 1), and select it.

6. Once you've inserted batteries into your Fire Stick remote, press any button. 

fire tv stick

7. Now, you should see the Amazon Fire Stick start-up screen. Follow the instructions on screen to finish setting up your Fire Stick. This includes pairing the remote, setting up the language, connecting to Wi-Fi, and signing into your Amazon account. 

Once you've signed into your Amazon account, you can download video-streaming apps like HBO, Hulu, and Netflix as well as games and music. 

If you are a Prime member, you will have access to Prime Video. You can also use Alexa to check the weather and add items to your Amazon cart. 

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: The best smart speaker you can buy: Amazon Echo vs. Google Home vs. Sonos One

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Watch Ford's delivery robot that walks on two legs like a human

This timeline shows exactly how the Thai cave rescue unfolded and what's happened since

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  • On June 23, 2018, 12 members of the Wild Boars soccer team and their coach entered caves in Northern Thailand to perform a ceremony.
  • Things drastically changed when torrential rains caused flooding that trapped them all in the Tham Luang Nang Non cave system.
  • Hundreds of rescuers from around the world teamed up to rescue the boys. It took nine days for the divers to find the boys and their coach. It took another eight days to rescue them all.
  • After surviving with little food and water in the flooded cave, all of of the boys soccer team and their coach have since recovered after 17 days trapped in the cave. Here's a timeline of how it all unfolded.
  • Visit Businessinsider.com for more stories.

A year has passed since 12 young soccer players and their coach were trapped for 17 days in a flooded cave in Northern Thailand.

Book deals, a Netflix film, Thai citizenship, a defamation case, and boosted tourism have all resulted from the ordeal.

Here is a timeline showing exactly how the Thai soccer team rescue unfolded and what's happened in the year since.

SEE ALSO: Meet the heroes of the daring rescue mission that brought 13 Thai soccer players to safety

SEE ALSO: ALIVE: All 12 boys and their coach are safely out of the Thai caves after a 17-day ordeal that gripped the world

Saturday, June 23: 12 members of a Thai boys soccer team and their coach get trapped in the Tham Luang Nang Non cave by torrential rain.

The boys were apparently performing a sort of initiation ceremony in the cave, and got stuck when the cave flooded, blocking their way out.

Park officials discover the boys' bikes at the entrance to the cave, and worried parents call the police when they realize their children are missing.

A major search and rescue operation is launched to find them.



Monday, July 2: The Thai soccer team and their coach are found showing "signs of life" after being trapped for nine days in the flooded cave.

Nine days later, divers find all 12 boys and their coach, huddled together above the lapping water in the cave — 2.5 miles from the entrance.

The coach of the soccer team, Ekkapol Chantawong, taught his players how to meditate so they could stay calm and conserve energy while they waited to be rescued. Divers found the team meditating when they arrived at the cave.

 



Getting into the cave wasn't easy — and getting the team out would be even harder.

Thai Navy SEAL divers and rescue workers entered a narrow passageway after passing through a key chamber where high, murky waters had previously blocked their progress.

In the course of their search, rising water filled sections of the cave, repeatedly forcing them to withdraw for safety reasons.

When water levels dropped, the divers went forward with a more methodical approach, deploying a rope line and extra oxygen supplies along the way.



Tuesday, July 3: Rescuers prepare plans for getting the team out of the cave.

There are three options available: teach the boys to swim out with scuba gear, drag them out of the cave, or leave them with supplies to wait until the water drains away after the monsoon season ends in four months.

While they try to figure out the best option, divers and medical professionals stay with the boys and deliver medicine and food to increase their strength.



Wednesday, July 4: The team begins taking swimming and diving lessons.

Swim lessons are rare in Thailand, where the leading cause of death for children under 15 is drowning. So the boys had to learn how to swim and dive before they could start their journey out of the cave.

Thai Navy SEAL divers worked on installing a fiber-optic cable so the team could get on the internet and talk to their families.



Countries including Australia, Britain, China, Israel, and the United States begin providing resources and helping out in the rescue.

Three expert cave divers from the UK and a team of 30 divers from the US military's Indo-Pacific Command begin working with the Thai Navy SEALSChina and Australia also send experts and rescue workers to Thailand.

Israel's Maxtech Networks provide radio devices that helped rescuers maintain communication with the soccer team after they were discovered in the cave. The devices provided voice, data, and video access.



Thursday, July 5: Authorities drain water from the cave.

Rescuers can now enter the cave up until the third chamber, located about 1 mile from the cave's entrance without using scuba gear.

Hundreds of pumps drain floodwaters from the cave, and water levels are reduced about 40% in some areas. But miles of the tunnel is still full of water. According to The Guardian, about 3,400 gallons of water are being pumped out of the cave per hour.

If they can drain enough water out of the cave, the boys could maybe even walk out.



Experts worry the soccer team is not well enough to be moved from the cave yet.

Oxygen is pumped into the cave to aid in their recovery. At least two of the boys and the coach are exhausted and malnourished.



Friday, July 6: A Navy SEAL working with the rescue team dies.

The diver, identified as 38-year-old Saman Kunan, had been delivering oxygen along the cave for the boys and coach, when he died due to lack of oxygen.

It was the only fatality from the rescue.



Saturday, July 7: Oxygen levels in the cave continue to drop as authorities become more concerned that it won't have enough time to save the team.

Oxygen levels in the cave have been quickly depleted by an influx of rescue workers in the cave, and levels in the area where the boys are trapped have dropped from the usual 21% to 15%.

Officials begin working to supply the boys and their coach with oxygen through a 3-mile cable running through the cave's winding chambers.



Sunday, July 8, 11 a.m.: A rescue operation begins to save the 12 boys and their coach from the cave.

The only way to bring them out of the cave is by navigating dark and tight passageways filled with muddy water and strong currents. The path out is considered especially complicated because of twists and turns in narrow flooded passages, some only 2 feet wide.



About 0.6 miles of the journey out of the cave is underwater.

Two divers accompany each boy, guided by rope. The boys then walk from Chamber 3 to the mouth of the cave, which has been mostly drained over the last few days of the rescue operation.

For the trickier bits, the boys and their coach were heavily sedated withketamine, xanax, and atropine — a saliva suppressant — to keep them calm before cave divers pulled them out of the complex.



7:55 p.m.: The first four boys are out of the cave.

The four children were healthy and taken to the local hospital after being rescued. The rescue mission concludes for the night because of low oxygen levels.



Monday, July 9, 5 a.m.: Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk posts photos and video from inside the cave, but his rescue idea ultimately proves too complicated to be useful.

Elon Musk said on Twitter July 4 he was "happy to help" the Thai government in its rescue effort "if there is a way to do so", and continued to post about the rescue mission over the coming days.

Thai authorities and representatives for Musk begin discussing the possibility of using resources from Musk's companies to help rescue the boys' in the cave, including using technology from SpaceX, Tesla, or The Boring Company.

Musk suggests a series of tubes could be sent through the cave network and inflated, creating a tunnel for the team to travel through without needing to scuba dive. He later scraps that idea, and starts testing a "kid-size submarine" in Los Angeles to put the boys in and bring them out of the cave.

On Tuesday, Musk posts photos on his Twitter account from inside the cave. "Mini-sub is ready if needed," he wrote. "It is made of rocket parts & named Wild Boar after kids' soccer team."

Narongsak Osatanakorn, the Thai official leading rescue operations, said they didn't need Musk's sub.

"Although his technology is good and sophisticated, it's not practical for this mission," the rescue chief said.



9 p.m.: Four more boys are rescued from the cave, bringing the total to eight who have been rescued.

Some of the same rescue divers who got the boys out on Sunday went back in on Monday. They would have traversed about 10 miles total on the two trips.

On the second day, four more boys make it out with the divers.

All eight boys are recovering in the hospital well and are expected to stay there for a week to get fully healthy.

Four of the boys and their coach remain stranded in the cave. The rescue team takes another break Monday night to rest and reset the oxygen tanks.



Tuesday, July 10, 6:38 pm: The remaining four boys and their coach are rescued from the cave.

All 13 members of the soccer team are now rescued out of the cave and safe. They join their teammates in recovery at the hospital.

They were in the dark for so long that they had to wear protective sunglasses when they emerged from the cave.



The world celebrates: "Mission accomplished."

The world watched as the heroes found the boys, and successfully got them all out of the cave over three days of daring rescues. Tributes pour in as everyone celebrates their safe return.

"We are not sure if this is a miracle, a science, or what," the Thai Navy SEALs wrote on their Facebook page. "All the thirteen Wild Boars are now out of the cave."

Thai authorities held a celebratory press conference where they said: "We have done what others thought was impossible."



Wednesday, July 11: The soccer team recovers in the hospital.

Health officials are keeping the team in isolation for a few days, treating any cuts or scrapes they have, re-nourishing their bodies, and monitoring whether they develop lung infections from any fungi or bacteria in the cave.

Video shows them smiling and waving from their hospital beds.

After 17 days trapped inside the cave, they are safe.



July 18: Video shows the boys leaving the hospital for the first time.

The boys left the hospital in Chiang Rai after eight to 10 days of recovery, and attended their first press conference with their parents.



August 8: Three of the boys, and their coach, are granted Thai citizenship and passports.

They were considered stateless, Reuters reported, and got citizenship after authorities reviewed their documents and determined they were born in Thailand.

Sometimes people who are "stateless" in Thailand lived in areas where national borders have changed, or are part of the "hill tribes" in remote areas, according to Reuters.



September 2018: British diver Vernon Unsworth files a defamation lawsuit against Elon Musk.

Vernon Unsworth alleged that Musk falsely accused him of being a pedophile on Twitter, when a fight developed between them after Unsworth criticized Musk in a television interview, The Guardian reported.

Musk's lawyers have argued that the tech mogul was merely sharing his opinion. The case is expected to go to trial in October, the Daily Beast reported.



October 2018: The Wild Boars travel the world to play soccer and tell their story.

They also went on a short tour in the United States. As INSIDER's Susanna Heller reported, they went on the "Ellen" show and said they only intended to be in the cave for one hour — until things went wrong.

The boys explained how rising waters complicated the matter. "At the intersection inside the cave, they just saw that the water had risen too high. So they knew then that they wouldn't be able to get out," the translator said.

They had no food or water in the cave and said they subsisted off the clean water dripping off stalactites.

The team measured time in the cave with a digital watch one boy had. That's how they knew four boys had birthdays in the cave.

None of them remember being rescued, which they said was an eight-hour process for each person, because they were sedated.

Inside the cave, they didn't know anything that was happening outside. They knew they were supported, but they didn't realize the whole world was watching.

While they were in the cave, the boys "weren't scared and they always had hope." They said they mainly stayed calm because their coach told them to pray and meditate.



December 2018: A bronze statue of Navy SEAL diver Saman Gunan, who died during the operation, is installed in front of the cave.

A massive crowd reportedly turned out to pay tribute.



April 2019: Netflix announces a deal for a film about the rescue.

Netflix will join with the production company behind "Crazy Rich Asians" to make the film, the AP reported.

Jon M. Chu who directed "Crazy Rich Asians," will also direct this film.

Parts of the proceeds will go to the soccer team and to disaster relief charities.



The retelling of the story isn't limited to screens. Multiple books about the ordeal are published in the months after the rescue.

Multiple books have been published about the rescue, including one by ABC News chief national correspondent Matt Gutman's and another by Australian journalist James Massola.



June 2019: A year later, the boys, though wary of the media, are said to be doing just fine.

A local monk, Abbot Prayutjetiyanukarn, told The Associated Press that, while some of the boys were wary of media, they were fine.

"Both physically and spiritually, there's nothing to worry about," he said.



The cave and Mae Sai town have become tourist destinations.

The cave's surrounding features, which last year was mostly dirt roads and thick mud, have been renovated with facilities being built, roads paved, and shops settling in, Time reported.

Local souvenir shopkeepers said the boys' ordeal had boosted sales. Before the kids were trapped there were no shops, but now the area is a financial hub for the district.



June 23, 2019: To fundraise money for the area where they were trapped, the boys and their coach run a marathon.

About 4,000 people including nine of the Wild Boars and their coach — took part in a marathon and biking event to raise money to improve the Tham Luang cave complex, the AP reported.



The team also honors Navy SEAL Saman Gunan, who died during the rescue.

"This place is very important to us. Partly because of Lt. Saman, who is like a second father to us," one of the boys, 15-year-old Adul Sam-on, said at a news conference, DW reported.

"He was the one who helped us, and we need to remind ourselves that every day."



I didn’t get the hype around weighted blankets until I tried this one that has a cooling side and a warming side

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  • Weighted blankets use Deep Touch Pressure (DTP) to help ground our bodies and release serotonin, which ultimately makes us more calm. 
  • While they've been used for decades for therapeutic treatments, weighted blankets are now making it to the mainstream. Plenty of sleep brands are releasing their own iterations, like Layla Sleep — a mattress company that has expanded into other sleep-related products. 
  • We've been using the Layla Weighted Blanket ($159 for a queen) and love it's soft materials, cooling and warming sides, evenly distributed weight, and how it helps us relax before bed and stay asleep through the night. 

Sleeping with a blanket filled with weights sounds like it would be anything but comfortable. Surprisingly, though, sleeping with a weighted blanket may help you get your best sleep yet. 

What's the deal with weighted blankets?

Weighted blankets are just what they sound like — regular blankets filled with some sort of weight, typically small glass beads. The weight provides a gentle pressure across your body (think of the feeling you get from a good hug), which helps you relax. And it's not just in your head. While there aren't many studies out about weighted blankets specifically, the idea of grounding our bodies with pressure has been used for decades as a therapeutic treatment for depression, insomnia, sensory disorders, and more. That's because this gentle pressure, or Deep Touch Pressure (DTP), actually helps our bodies release serotonin which has a calming effect and ultimately helps us feel better. 

Now, weighted blankets have made it into the mainstream and are touted as a trusted way to relieve anxiety, restlessness, and ultimately get a really good night's sleep, every time.

To see if weighted blankets live up to the hype, my colleague and I each tried one from Layla. Ultimately, we were impressed with how comfortable the blanket is, and how well we slept.  

layla weighted blanket back

What makes the Layla weighted blanket special

The Layla Weighted Blanket comes in three options: twin, queen, or king. Each weighs 15, 20, or 25 pounds, respectively. Small glass beads are evenly distributed and sewn between layers of poly-fill, so the blanket is free of any lumps and doesn't make any noise when you move it around. A hexagon quilting pattern is what keeps the weight spread evenly across the blanket, so no one spot is ever too heavy. 

One of my personal favorite aspects of the blanket is that it's double-sided. One side is made of a clean, soft 100% cotton. This side sleeps cool, which is particularly nice now that's it's summertime. On the other side is a plush, mink-like fleece layer. It is so soft and toasty, perfect for bundling up on a cold night. Being able to easily alternate between these two sides definitely gives this blanket an advantage — it's almost like having two weighted blankets in one. As an added bonus, the Layla Weighted Blanket is machine washable, making taking care of it a breeze. 

In terms of pricing, the Layla Weighted Blanket is relatively affordable. With most weighted blankets falling in the $100 to $200 range, Layla is competitive: a twin is $129, a queen is $159, and a king is $179 (though, by the way, they're all $10 off right now). You'll get a 120 day warranty to try the blanket, so you can return it after a few months if you don't like it, though I think you will. 

layla

Our experiences with Layla

I'm a fairly restless sleeper, so I was thrilled to try out this weighted blanket.

I have a full-size bed and the blanket covered the surface of my bed perfectly. I placed it on top of my sheets and under my quilt so that it couldn't be seen unless someone were to actually get in bed. The blanket was hard to get used to the first couple nights because I felt trapped under the weight, but on the third night, I finally got used to the heavy feeling and slept better than I had in a while.

Since it's summer, it does get a bit warm, but I use a fan pointed toward my bed so it wasn't a huge problem. I also found that if you're one of those people who likes have one leg out from under the sheets, then it becomes more difficult to do with a heavy blanket sitting on top of you.

I've used it for a few weeks now and I'm thrilled with it. I can finally sleep through the night without feeling restless and uneasy. — Megan Foster, Insider Picks intern

I will try almost anything in the name of getting a good night's sleep. I've used melatonin lotions, lavender pillow sprays, and a slew of other interesting sleep products to try to maximize my eight-or-so hours every night. 

I was excited to try a weighted blanket after hearing my coworkers rave about them (see here, here, and here), but I have to say this product exceeded my expectations. Carrying home the queen size, which weighs in at 20 pounds, was difficult, so I was nervous that it would be too heavy on my body. In actuality, since the weight is distributed across the blanket, there isn't one point that's too heavy. When I first started using it, my body felt almost weightless — the grounded pressure really made me feel much more comfortable. I chose to use the cotton side, (since it's summer I think the plush is a little heavy for me) and I love the smooth, cool feel of it. 

After using the blanket for a few weeks, I've definitely noticed how its improved my sleep. I don't usually have trouble falling asleep, but I'm restless, tossing and turning through the night. Using the Layla Weighted Blanket has helped me stay put while I sleep, which ultimately helps me stay asleep for longer and sleep more soundly. I now see why a blanket has the power to ease not just your body, but mind as well. Just like a massage may make us less stressed, or a hug may make us less sad, the pressure of the weighted blanket really made me less anxious and restless. — Remi Rosmarin, Insider Picks reporter

Bottom line 

If you're looking for a weighted blanket, Layla's is a great choice. It's comfortable, made with high-quality materials, and provides an evenly distributed weight that grounds you while you sleep. It's relatively affordable and so easy to take care of, plus there is no set up — all you have to do is take the blanket out of the box. 

Of course, everyone's different, especially when it comes to how we sleep. But, based off of our experiences, we'd definitely recommend the Layla Weighted Blanket to anyone who's looking for a simple way to sleep better. I mean, who wouldn't want to feel like they're wrapped in a hug?

Get the Layla Weighted Blanket, from $129, at Layla and Amazon

Join the conversation about this story »

Google is warning employees who want to march with the company at San Francisco's Pride parade that they're not allowed to protest YouTube’s LGBTQ+ policies (GOOG, GOOGL)

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  • Google employees planning on marching with the company at this weekend's San Francisco Pride parade have been warned that protesting against YouTube's LGBTQ+ policies would be a violation of company policy. 
  • The confirmation of Google's stance came by way of an email exchange between a leader of the Gayglers, an internal LGBTQ+ employee group, and the company's Global LGBTQ+ Community Inclusion Lead. 
  • A Google spokesperson confirmed with Business Insider on Monday that employees would be in violation of its corporate policy if they were to protest the company while marching with its float.
  • The spokesperson said employees were free to protest however they like if they are part of a contingent other than Google's or if they show up in their own "personal capacity." 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Google employees planning on marching with the company at this weekend's San Francisco Pride parade have been warned that protesting against YouTube's LGBTQ+ policies would be a violation of company policy. 

The confirmation of Google's stance towards employee protests at Pride was first reported by The Verge and came by way of an email exchange between a leader of the Gayglers, an internal LGBTQ+ employee group, and the company's Global LGBTQ+ Community Inclusion Lead. When the employee asked if they could be apart of Google's contingent, while also protesting YouTube's recent policy decisions, the inclusion lead said that doing so would violate the company's communications policy. 

Frustration with the company's LGBTQ+ policy erupted earlier this month when the company decided that homophobic and racial slurs about a Vox journalist in a video posted by conservative commentator Steven Crowder did not violate YouTube's terms of service. Crowder — who has 3.8 million subscribers — frequently refers to the sexuality and ethnicity of Vox journalist Carlos Maza on his show, using phrases like "lispy queer" and a "gay Latino" to describe the journalist. YouTube eventually suspended Crowder's ability to make money from his videos, but decided that the videos could remain on the site. 

Google has scrambled to contain the fallout following the controversial Crowder video incident, with CEO Sundar Pichai stating in an email to LGBTQ employees that YouTube's management was "taking a hard look" at harassment policies. 

Read more:YouTube's week from hell: How the debate over free speech online exploded after a conservative star with millions of subscribers was accused of homophobic harassment

A Google spokesperson confirmed with Business Insider on Monday that employees would be in violation of its corporate policy if they were to protest the company while marching alongside its float. The spokesperson said employees were free to protest however they wish if they attend the parade with a group other than Google's or if they show up in their own "personal capacity." 

'Because you're representing the company, you can't be protesting the company at the same time.'

A current employee who spoke to Business Insider said that because one must be affiliated with a particular group, or contingent, to march in the parade, Google's restriction is a meaningful one. 

When asked which part of the company's policy protesting employees would be in violation of, the spokesperson told Business Insider: "Because you're representing the company, you can't be protesting the company at the same time." 

An email was sent to all Google employees on Monday by the Gaygler group leader to notify them of the company's position. In part of the email obtained by Business Insider, the employee wrote: "If you are marching with a Google sponsored float you are representing the company and the statement the company is making (i.e. it supports LGBTQ+ Rights, Pride, etc.). Employees are free to make whatever statement they want personally, apart from our corporate sponsored float/contingent, but they are not permitted to leverage our platform to express a message contradictory to the one Google is expressing."

In terms of how employees would be punished should they decide to protest this weekend as part of Google's contingent, the inclusion lead said that employees would need to follow up with the team responsible for enforcing the Code of Conduct, according to the current employee who spoke to Business Insider. 

A second current employee told Business Insider that the potential consequences of violating the communications policy could potentially follow a few steps: first a verbal warning, then signing a formal complaint, and finally, a clear statement that they would be terminated should they continue to violate the policy in the same way. 

That employee said on Monday that because Google had already made itself clear about protest restrictions at San Francisco's Pride parade, any violators would likely "jump faster along that escalation." 

Got a tip? Contact this reporter via Signal or WhatsApp at +1 (209) 730-3387 using a non-work phone, email at nbastone@businessinsider.com, Telegram at nickbastone, or Twitter DM at @nickbastone.

SEE ALSO: Some Googlers are reportedly fearful of speaking out against YouTube's decisions about Steven Crowder's channel because they're worried their colleagues will retaliate

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: We tried a fermentation-tracking device and highly recommend it to find out which foods are making you bloated

How to back up the photos on your Galaxy S10 automatically by using Google Photos, or manually through Samsung's Smart Switch app

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  • It's a good idea to learn how to back up your photos on the Galaxy S10, so they're preserved if your phone is lost or damaged.
  • If you allow the Google Photos app to upload your photos to the cloud, it backs up every image you take with your Galaxy S10 automatically.
  • You should also occasionally use Samsung's Smart Switch program to back up all the data on your phone to your computer.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Your photos, like almost everything else on your phone, are priceless. To avoid losing a lot of important files if your Samsung Galaxy S10 suffers a catastrophe, you should have a reliable backup. 

There are several ways to back up your photos on a Galaxy S10.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Galaxy S10 (From $899.99 at Samsung)

How to back up photos on the Galaxy S10 using Google Photos

Your Galaxy S10 comes equipped with Google Photos, part of Google's suite of apps. Google Photos makes it easy to effortlessly back up all of your photos online, completely automatically. You just need to make sure the feature is turned on.

1. Open the Google Photos app.

2. Tap the three horizontal lines at the top left of the screen to open the menu. 

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3. Tap "Settings."

4. On the Settings page, tap "Back up & sync."

5. At the top of the page, make sure that "Back up & sync" is enabled with the button slid to the right.

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You can customize the backup settings. For example, by default, Google Photos backs up a high quality but slightly compressed version of each photo. If you want to back up uncompressed photos, tap "Upload size" and then tap "Original" (but remember that each photo will count against your Google storage limit). 

How to back up photos on the Galaxy S10 using a computer

If you prefer (or if you want a second backup solution in addition to Google Photos), you can back up your data to your computer. While it can be inconvenient to connect your phone to a computer to perform the backup, the good news is that it's a one-step process that backs up not just your photos, but the contents of your entire phone, and you can restore the data to the same or a different phone just as easily.

1. Install the Samsung Smart Switch program on your computer. 

2. Start Samsung Smart Switch and connect your Galaxy S10 to your computer using a USB connection cable. 

3. If necessary, allow the program to install drivers and perform its initial setup.

4. When the program is ready, click "Backup."

backup 3

5. It may take a few minutes to perform the backup. When completed, you will have a full backup of your phone, including photos, on your computer. 

backup 4

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: The best portable charging stations you can buy for your Galaxy S10

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's why it's so hard to switch from Apple to Android


How to shop on Amazon Prime Day 2019 — all the tips and tricks you need to save the most money possible

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How to shop amazon prime day

  • First introduced four years ago, Amazon Prime Day has quickly become a well-known fixture of the online shopping world. 
  • Below, we show you how to take advantage of all the great deals featured during the sales event, which will be on July 15-16, 2019. 
  • Most importantly, you'll want to make sure you're an Amazon Prime member, or else you won't be able to shop on Prime Day. 
  • Every year, we round up the best Prime Day deals worth shopping. Shop the best deals of Amazon Prime Day 2019 here

For any event — a half-marathon, a surprise party, a trip to a new city — preparation is key. And yes, even shopping counts as an event, especially when you plan on buying the products you need most in your life all at once. 

Amazon's yearly sales event, Prime Day, certainly warrants some extra preparation ahead of time since it lasts more than a day, features more than 1 million deals worldwide, and essentially pits you against hordes of other online shoppers who also want that kitchen appliance or pair of headphones you've been eyeing. 

Though Amazon Prime Day is still some weeks away, we've been doing the equivalent of getting up for early morning runs and putting in work at the gym for what is sure to be a whirlwind of a race: analyzing the deals and best sellers of past Prime Days, figuring out all the ways Amazon Prime Day will save you money beyond physical products, and more. 

This isn't Insider Picks' first Amazon Prime Day rodeo, and even if it's not yours either, the following guide to how to shop Prime Day will be good refresher on everything you need to succeed during the sales event. 

And if this summer is the first time you'll be shopping Prime Day, welcome to the party. Despite constant reminders that Amazon's website crashed due to overwhelming traffic last year, you shouldn't feel intimidated.

Insider Picks will be here to make shopping during Prime Day as smooth as possible, with deal roundups and resources like the guide below. 

Read up on everything related to Amazon Prime Day 2019 here.

1. Become an Amazon Prime member

Sign up for a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime here

More than 100 million people worldwide have already signed up for a Prime membership — Prime Day is a timely opportunity to see why. Unlike many online membership trials, it's one you'll want to keep beyond the first 30 days because there are dozens of useful benefits of being a Prime member. If you're not already a member, you'll want to time your sign-up for the month of July so you can take advantage of Prime Day. 



2. Mark your calendar

Amazon Prime Day 2019 will be July 15-16, 2019. It will be live for 48 hours, starting at 12 a.m. PT on July 15 and ending at 11:59 p.m. PT on July 16.



3. Narrow down what you want to buy

See what Insider Picks readers bought on Prime Day 2018 here

Learn more about the devices that will be on sale during Prime Day here

It's smart to go into Prime Day with at least some idea of what you want to buy (and save on). If you need some inspiration from your fellow Insider Picks readers, these were the 30 top-selling products from Prime Day 2018

Aptly, Amazon devices on Amazon's special day will be enjoying significant discounts. If you're able to, we recommend holding off until Prime Day to make your next Echo or Kindle purchase. Amazon now makes tons of different devices, from tablets and TVs to speakers and yes, even microwaves, so refresh yourself on all the different options here

Your Prime Day wish-list doesn't have to include a best seller or an Amazon device — but you should compile some type of list to make shopping more efficient. 



4. Download the Amazon app

Learn more about how to use the Amazon app here

You can use the Amazon app all year long to streamline your mobile shopping experience, but it's particularly useful for Prime Day. Before Prime Day goes live, go to the "Deals" section of the app, where you'll be able to view all upcoming deals. Click "Watch this deal" to receive an alert the moment it goes live. The app organizes all the deals you're interested in, so just pay attention to your phone notifications if you want to grab a deal before it's gone. 

The Amazon app also sends periodic tips and tricks for how to make the most of Prime Day. 



5. Familiarize yourself with Lightning Deals

Learn more about how Lightning Deals work here

During Prime Day, some deals will run all day, but others will only be available for a limited amount of time, while supplies last. These Lightning Deals are usually open to everyone shopping on Amazon, but on Prime Day, they'll be exclusive to Prime members. 

As their name suggests, Lightning Deals go quick, which is why you'll want to watch the deals you want (the app is the easiest way to do this). It is still possible to get a deal that has been 100% claimed if you add yourself to the deal's waitlist and another shopper bails on their purchase. 

 



6. Create your grocery list

Shop Whole Foods at Amazon here

Last year, Prime members who spent $10 at a Whole Foods Market in the week leading up to Prime Day received a $10 Amazon credit to use online during Prime Day. First-time Prime Now shoppers received $10 off their Whole Foods delivery order, as well as $10 off a future order. They also enjoyed exclusive offers on select seasonal items such as organic strawberries and bagged coffee. 

This year will be the second Prime Day collaboration between Amazon and Whole Foods, so we expect similar, if not better, grocery deals. Try doing your grocery shopping at Whole Foods during the week of Prime Day to save on your weekly food essentials. 



7. Bookmark our guides to the best Amazon Prime Day deals of 2019 to save you time and energy on the day of the event

Read all of our Prime Day 2019 coverage here

Find the best deals across all categories of Prime Day 2019 here

Shop early Prime Day 2019 deals here

The Amazon Prime Day 2019 category page on Business Insider is where you'll be able to find all related coverage of the sales event, from massive deal roundups to special deal spotlights. You can count on us to cut through the clutter of Prime Day and highlight only the deals worth shopping.

We'll be rounding up all the best deals sitewide in a master deals post, as well as the best deals by popular categories like tech, home, and kitchen. Check out the Prime Day 2018 page from last year for an idea of what to expect from the Insider Picks team. 

 



Delta is offering the highest welcome bonus we've ever seen on all 3 of its main credit cards, but only for one more week

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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.

Delta A330-300

  • Delta's three main credit cards are all offering some of the highest welcome bonuses we've ever seen, but there's only one week remaining on the offers.
  • If you apply before July 2 and meet the minimum spending requirements, you can get as many as 80,000 bonus miles — there are personal and small business versions of each card.
  • Each of the three cards offers useful benefits, but there are some major differences between them. Read on to see which is best for you.
  • Keep in mind that even if you've had one card before, you can still get the bonus on the other ones to pad your Delta SkyMiles frequent flyer account.
  • You can also read our guide to the best credit cards of 2019 overall.

A common misconception is that it's impossible to earn enough frequent-flyer miles for a free flight unless you fly all the time. Plenty of people figure that if they only fly once or twice a year, the miles they'll earn are effectively useless.

Luckily for those of us who don't travel for work every other day, there are a ton of opportunities to earn miles that don't involve flying. One of the easiest: rewards credit cards.

In addition to the rewards you can get from actually spending on a card, you can typically earn a large welcome bonus when you open a new one.

The catch is that these bonus offers can change, and in many cases, you can only earn it once, so you'll want to make sure to get the highest bonus you can.

For those looking to earn miles on Delta — or, if you're just looking for benefits that can make flying a little bit easier — now is the time to open one of the airline's co-branded cards, thanks to newly increased offers on the personal and small business cards.

Hurry, though — these offers are only available until July 2.

There are three main Delta credit cards, issued by American Express, and each one is available in a personal and a small business version. 

If you've had any of them before, you can still earn the bonus on one of the others.

Aside from the initial bonus, each card offers a ton of ongoing value, whether you're a casual, once-or-twice-a-year flyer, or a hard-core Delta loyalist.

Read on to learn more about the three cards, and see which one is best for you.

Best for the casual Delta flyer: The Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express

Welcome offer: 60,000 Delta SkyMiles when you spend $2,000 in the first three months. Plus, get a $50 statement credit when you make any Delta purchase in the first three months.

Small business version: Gold Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express (70,000 SkyMiles after spending $4,000 in the first three months. Plus, get a $100 statement credit when you make any Delta purchase in the first three months).

The Gold Delta SkyMiles card is the best of the three for the casual Delta flyer, someone who finds themself on the airline a couple of times a year, but doesn't fly regularly enough to use the heftier cards' perks (more on that later).

One of the biggest perks: The card offers a free first checked bag for the cardholder and up to eight people on the same reservation. Delta charges $30 each way for a checked bag, so this can save up to $60 per person on a round-trip itinerary.

Cardholders and travel companions also get Zone 1 priority boarding. This means you can board the plane sooner, giving you plenty of time to settle into your seat or find overhead space for any carry-on luggage. Zone 1 is after most Delta elite frequent flyers and extra-legroom passengers, but is usually within the first half of passengers to board.

Other perks include discounted day passes to Delta Sky Club airport lounges— $29 per day pass — as well as a 20% discount on in-flight purchases (in the form of a statement credit), such as food or drinks, and no foreign transaction fees.

Like the other Delta cards, the Gold SkyMiles card earns 2x Delta SkyMiles on eligible Delta purchases, and 1x mile on everything else.

The Gold Delta card has an annual fee of $95, which is waived the first year. This is a great value considering the perks, not to mention the welcome bonus — 60,000 SkyMiles is more than enough for two round-trip flights across the United States, and is just shy of enough for a round-trip to Europe. The card normally offers 30,000 SkyMiles.

Best for more regular flyers: The Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express

Welcome offer: 75,000 Delta SkyMiles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) when you spend $3,000 in the first three months. Plus, get a $100 statement credit when you make any Delta purchase in the first three months.

Small business version: Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express (80,000 SkyMiles and 5,000 MQMs after spending $6,000 in the first three months. Plus, get a $100 statement credit when you make any Delta purchase in the first three months).

If you fly somewhat regularly, the Platinum Delta SkyMiles card is a better option, thanks to an often-overlooked benefit that can completely cover the $195 annual fee each year.

The Platinum Delta card has most of the same perks as the Gold version, like priority boarding, free checked bags, 2x SkyMiles on Delta purchases and discounted Sky Club access.

However, the Platinum Delta comes with a huge perk — it's so useful that I'm planning on keeping my card indefinitely.

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

The companion pass completely blows away the annual fee for me, which is $195 and isn't waived the first year. My wife and I fly domestically at least a few times a year, whether it's to visit family or friends, or to go on vacation. So I save my companion pass until we're taking a flight together that costs more than $195 each. You can read more about the Delta companion pass benefit here.

While you don't get a companion pass the first year, the 75,000 SkyMiles from the welcome offer more than outweigh the annual fee — that's enough to fly from the US to just about anywhere in Europe round-trip.

The MQMs in the welcome bonus can be a boost for anyone looking to earn or keep Delta Medallion frequent-flyer status. Plus, each year that you spend $25,000 or more on the card, you earn a bonus 10,000 SkyMiles, 10,000 MQMs, and have the Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) requirement for most elite status levels waived.

When you have Medallion status, you can enjoy things like free upgrades to first class or extra-legroom seats whenever you fly, subject to availability.

Best for Delta Medallion frequent flyers: The Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express

Welcome offer: 75,000 Delta SkyMiles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) when you spend $5,000 in the first three months.

Small business version: Delta Reserve for Business Credit Card (80,000 SkyMiles and 5,000 MQMs after spending $6,000 in the first three months).

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

Like the Platinum SkyMiles card, it offers a domestic companion pass. However, that pass can be used for first-class tickets, not just economy.

Additionally, the Delta Reserve offers full access to Delta Sky Club airport lounges whenever the cardholder is flying with Delta (the Gold and Platinum SkyMiles cards offer discounts on single-access Sky Club passes).

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

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

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

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

$95 annual fee: Click here to learn more about the Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.

$195 annual fee: Click here to learn more about the Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy

$450 annual fee: Click here to learn more about the Delta Reserve Credit Card from American Express from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy

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

Join the conversation about this story »

The best car seats you can buy for your baby, toddler, or kid

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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.

the best car seats

  • Car seats are one of the most critical pieces of gear parents with young kids need, but they're also one of the most overwhelming items to buy.
  • We've cut through the myriad options to find the best ones for kids of all ages.
  • Among our picks are the Chicco KeyFit 30, the Chicco NextFit Zip, the Britax Frontier ClickTight, and the Graco Affix, which are seats that are all safe, comfy, and easy to install.

All car seats sold in the US have to meet the same federal safety standards, but that's where the similarities end. Some are better than others for taller kids, some are more comfortable for long-haul trips, and some are much easier to install. It's crucial to have the right car seat because a poorly installed seat can compromise your child's safety. Add all that to the fact that many car seats are expensive, and choosing the right one can feel impossible.

Few baby and kid products are subject to as much scrutiny as car seats, so we had plenty of expert tests and reviews to look at while making our picks. Of course, it's also important to consider real-world use from parents who aren't lab testers or child passenger safety technicians. That includes my own experiences – I've been through six car seats and counting between two children.

All of that feedback led to our picks: an ultra-easy-to-install infant seat, a similarly easy-to-use convertible for older toddlers and preschoolers, a harness-to-booster that can keep kids safe before they're completely ready for a booster, and a versatile booster that might be the last car seat your child needs. We also chose alternative car seats in each category that are less expensive for parents on a strict budget. 

Here are our top picks for the best car seats you can buy:

Updated on 06/25/2019 by Les Shu: Updated selections, prices, links, and formatting.

Keep scrolling to read more about our top picks.

SEE ALSO: The best diaper bags you can buy

The best infant car seat

The Chicco KeyFit 30 is a breeze for nervous new parents to install, it's easy to use, and fits even the tiniest babies well.

Got a tiny baby? A chunker? Either way, no worries: The Chicco KeyFit 30 accommodates babies from 4 to 30 pounds. A plush, full-body newborn insert is included with the seat to fit smaller babies and is recommended for use up to 11 pounds. The height limit is 30 inches or whenever your baby's head is an inch from the top of the seat's shell.

The secret sauce of the KeyFit is extreme ease of use. This is not a car seat you'll have to do battle with during installation, and I can vouch for that, as it installed quickly and simply for both my sons. As CarSeatBlog notes, the instructions are very clear whether you're installing the seat using LATCH connectors or a seat belt (choose one or the other – never both). The base is easy to adjust to change the seat angle, and there is a built-in bubble level to tell you when you've got it just right. 

I also loved being able to leave the handle in any locked position, up or down, while driving. Some car seats stipulate that you put the handle down, which is just one more thing for an overloaded mom brain to remember. I never had to fuss with the smooth-to-adjust harness, and the seat cover is extremely easy to wipe down. It can even be detached and thrown in the washer after that inevitable diaper blowout.

One long-standing criticism of the KeyFit that the Baby Gear Lab mentions is that it has a skimpy sun canopy compared with other infant seats. That's true, but it's also easy to rectify the issue by draping a very thin muslin blanket over the handle in bright sunlight. The KeyFit also isn't the lightest car seat at 9.6 pounds, though it is a pretty average, weight-wise, for infant car seats these days. An easy-to-use stroller frame like the Chicco Keyfit Caddy can be an arm-saver if you want to stroll for a while.

Pros: Very easy to install, fits all sizes of babies well, machine-washable cover, padding is plush, harness is easy to adjust, reasonably priced compared with other high-end car seats

Cons: Smaller canopy, heavier than some other infant seats

Buy the Chicco KeyFit 30 on Amazon for $199.99



The best budget infant car seat

The Graco SnugRide Click Connect 30 is affordable, lightweight, and has ample padding and a large canopy to ensure your baby's comfort.

Like the Chicco KeyFit 30, the Graco SnugRide Click Connect 30 can accommodate babies from 4 to 30 pounds and up to 30 inches long. It comes with a newborn head support to keep a small baby's head stable, but not full-body support like the one that comes with the KeyFit. Because of that, CarSeatBlog notes that you may need to add rolled washcloths outside the harness to stabilize a very small baby.in the seat.

This Connect 30's biggest strong point: Unlike the KeyFit, it's very lightweight at only 7 pounds (without base), so you won't break your back hauling it from the house to the car. It's also compatible with Graco's large Click Connect line of strollers and many non-Graco strollers, owing to its popularity. The cover is machine-washable, and it has a large sun canopy that offers more coverage than the KeyFit, too.

On the flipside, its downfall is ease of use. It's not a hard seat to install, but it's definitely not as easy to manage as the KeyFit. It has harder-to-use hook-style LATCH rather than push-button connectors. There is no level indicator to tell you when you have the seat at the proper installation angle, so you'll have to eyeball a single line on a seat label instead. However, reviewers say adjusting the harness during day-to-day use is smooth and easy, and this seat also allows the handle to be left in any locked position while driving.

Pros: Inexpensive, very lightweight, compatible with many strollers, large canopy, machine-washable cover, easy-to-adjust harness

Cons: Not as easy to install, skimpy infant insert

Buy the Graco SnugRide Click Connect 30 from Walmart for $89



The best lightweight car seat for infants

The Nuna PIPA Lite LX infant car seat can accommodate babies weighing up to 32 pounds, yet it weighs just 5.7 pounds itself.

Try picking up a ten-pound weight and carrying it around for a few minutes — you'll probably find the task no big deal. Now swap out that weight for a car seat that you have to lean over at an awkward angle to keep level, and then add a couple-dozen pounds of kid and then see how you do. Ten pounds is a pretty average weight for infant car seats and having used one weighing that much with my son, I can tell you that what seems like a tolerable weight at first becomes quite a load as your kid grows.

And for the record, I'm a 6'2" man who weighs 180 pounds, and yes, I still found our old heavy car seat a burden. For our newborn daughter, my wife and I switched to the Nuna PIPA Lite LX infant car seat. We did so partly because it's compatible with our Nuna DEMI Grow stroller, but mostly because the PIPA Lite isn't joking around with its name.

This infant car seat weighs less than 6 pounds, and that's with inserts. Even when our kid passed her two-month mark, I can still lift the thing in and out of a car with one arm extended and with a 45-pound preschooler in my other arm to boot.

The safety stats of the Nuna PIPA Lite LX are stellar. Also, it has a good sun shield, it pops into and out of the base or onto the stroller with ease, and it has an adjustable handle. The light weight is the true selling point here, but there's one more godsend to highlight: On either side of the seat is a little slot into which you can tuck the buckles while settling or retrieving your kid, thus keeping the straps and hardware out of your way. If that seems like a pointless flourish, then you have not spent much time dealing with babies in car seats.

Car Seat Blog calls the Pipa Lite LX an "outstanding rear-facing-only seat" in terms of safety and ease of use, and called it "so light you can literally carry it with one finger." — Steven John

Pros: Amazingly lightweight, quick installation, easy to get baby in and out of seat

Cons: Very expensive for category

Buy the Nuna PIPA Lite LX and base from Pottery Barn Kids for $419.95



The best convertible car seat

The Chicco NextFit Zip convertible is one of the easiest-to-install convertibles, and its high height and weight limits mean you can keep your toddler safely rear-facing for a longer time than with other seats.

If you're thinking about skipping the convenience of an infant seat with a base and going straight to a convertible, the Chicco NextFit Zip has you covered.It can be used for babies and young children from 5 to 40 pounds rear-facing, and 22 to 65 pounds forward-facing. It also includes a newborn insert for infants from 5 to 11 pounds.There is a 49-inch height limit. Still, this seat can keep kids rear-facing for a while, and many kids will also be able to stay in it forward-facing until they're ready for a booster, notes CarSeatBlog.

Like the Chicco KeyFit 30, the NextFit is almost mind-bogglingly easy to install. It features a "SuperCinch" LATCH system that is simple to tighten, eliminating that annoying side-to-side seat wiggle that means your installation needs work. The NextFit also has nine recline positions that make getting the proper installation angle a sure thing in any vehicle. You can double-check that you've got it right using the convenient bubble level.

The Chicco NextFit Zip has a zippered seat cover that can be removed in a flash. Finally, the harness height can be adjusted from the front of the seat, which is a great feature. It means you won't have to uninstall the seat to tinker with it when your kid grows a foot overnight.

What's not to love about the NextFit? Like many premium convertibles, it's quite heavy at 25 pounds. While you won't be walking around with it like an infant seat, that's still worth considering if you know you'll want to move the seat from car to car. It's definitely too heavy for convenient travel – dragging this seat through the airport will leave you hating life.

Some Amazon reviewers also complain that the seat is bulky, with side-impact protection panels that come up too far, making it too hard to get a growing child in and out. As Car Seats For The Littles notes, the harness can be hard to tighten on smaller babies.

Note: Our original recommendation, the Chicco NextFit, has been discontinued. We have switched our recommendation to the Chicco NextFit Zip, which has a zippered seat cover and it now has a lower price.

Pros: High height and weight limits, also good for young infants, good side-impact protection, very easy to install, machine-washable cover, harness height can be adjusted from front of seat

Cons: Expensive, heavy, bulky, harness can sometimes be hard to tighten

Buy the Chicco NextFit Zip on Amazon for $299.99



The best budget convertible car seat

The Evenflo Triumph LX is very affordable, but it has many features you'd normally find on a much pricier car seat.

Budget-friendly convertible car seats keep kids just as safe as pricier ones, but they often skimp on comfort and convenience. The Evenflo Triumph LX requires no such compromise, offering a lot of the features of seats twice its price.

Let's get one of the biggest downfalls out of the way early: The Evenflo Triumph LX is not going to last as long as other convertibles when it's rear-facing. While you can use it from 5 to 40 pounds rear-facing and 22 to 65 pounds forward-facing — just like the Chicco NextFit Zip— it has a rear-facing height limit of 37 inches. That means this seat likely won't get a taller kid rear-facing much past the age of two, so keep that in mind if you don't want to turn your child around that early.

That said, there's a lot to like about the Triumph LX. It uses thick, gel-infused padding, uncommon among less expensive seats. CarSeatBlog loves the convenient buckle pockets, which mean you don't have to dig around under your child's back and rump for the straps when it's time to buckle up. The reviewer also says the cover is easy to remove, and machine-washable to boot.

Testers with Car Seats For The Littles say installation is simple despite the older, hook-style LATCH. Its reviewers also love the Infinite Slide harness feature that means the straps can be adjusted up or down without moving the seat. Experts give this seat great marks for crash protection, too.

There are potential pitfalls, of course. Baby Bargains notes that the Triumph is wide, so look elsewhere if you're short on space. There are also no strap covers, and the knobs used to adjust strap tension get mixed reviews. Some Amazon buyers love them, but some say they're stiff and can be hard to turn when the seat is rear-facing.

Pros: Good fit for small babies, easy to install, harness height can be adjusted from the front of the seat, thick padding, buckle-keeper pockets, machine-washable cover

Cons: Low rear-facing height limit, wide, no strap covers, knobs that adjust harness tension can be hard to use

Buy the Evenflo Triumph LX on Amazon for $129.99 (originally $149.99)



The best harness-to-booster seat

With the Britax Frontier ClickTight, you can keep your child in a five-point harness for as long as you want, then convert the seat to a belt-positioning booster when your child is finally ready.

Big kids often move to booster seats before they're mature enough to use a seat belt properly. The Britax Frontier ClickTight has a crazy long lifespan, which is why I chose it for my taller-than-average kids after they were out of their convertibles. In harness mode, it can be used for children from 25 to 90 pounds (yes, 90) and 30 to 58 inches tall. Switch it to a booster, and it's good from 40 to 120 pounds and 45 to 62 inches. It also has souped-up side-impact protection. In other words, this is the seat you want to buy if you hope to keep a bigger kid as safe as possible for as long as possible.

Another boon with the Frontier: It's super easy to install, thanks to the Britax ClickTight system. You open a hidden panel in the seat back, thread the seat belt over the armrests and through the panel, close it, and voila — rock-solid install, no profanity necessary. For a demonstration, check out this video. It really is that simple.

Of course, the Frontier can also be installed using LATCH, but ClickTight actually makes a seat-belt installation easier. More ease-of-use goodness: The fabric is easy to wipe, there are two integrated cup holders, and you can adjust the harness height from the front of the seat without uninstalling it. That's such a nice feature during those inevitable growth spurts. It's also an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety"best bet" in booster mode, and it has gotten very good marks for crash protection in separate expert tests.

The Frontier isn't without its downsides. Obviously, the high price is one. Next is weight: At 25 pounds, it's a tank. The seat cover is not machine-washable, either, and although that's not quite as crucial at this age, it's still something to think about if you have a kid who gets carsick or constantly leaves crushed Goldfish crackers in his wake.

Pros: Very high height and weight limits, good side-impact protection, very easy to install, harness height can be adjusted from the front of the seat, dual cup holders, converts from harnessed seat to booster

Cons: Expensive, heavy, seat cover is hand-wash only

Buy the Britax Frontier ClickTight on Amazon for $279.99



The best budget harness-to-booster seat

The Evenflo Maestro is lighter and slimmer than many bulky harness-to-booster seats. 

No, the Evenflo Maestro can't keep your kid harnessed to 90 pounds like the Britax Frontier ClickTight, but it will still keep most kids harnessed until age 5 or 6, when parents often opt to switch to a belt-positioning booster seat anyway. It can be used in harness mode from 22 to 50 pounds and 28 to 50 inches tall. When switched to booster mode, it can be used from 40 to 110 pounds and 43 to 57 inches.

Other than its low price, its low weight is one of the Maestro's best features, Amazon reviewers say, because it weighs just 12.7 pounds, making it only half the weight of the Frontier. This seat is a candidate for parents who need a seat that's light enough to travel with or one they can frequently switch between cars.

As CarSeatBlog points out, it's also a fairly narrow seat that may work for families who have to squeeze three car seats into one row. There are dual cup holders – always a plus – and the seat cover is machine-washable. Like the Frontier, it also earns "best bet" certification from the IIHS for properly positioning kids in booster mode, and receives other experts' nod for crash protection as a harnessed seat, too.

Though buyers might expect a cheaper seat like the Maestro to be a pain to install, reviewers say that's not the case. Instead, one of the seat's main limitations is comfort. The headrest can't be adjusted, for instance, and Amazon reviewers dislike the cover-free straps that can rub a child's neck. The shell of this seat is not that tall, and once the tops of a child's ears are higher than the top of the seat, they're too big to use it – even if they are shorter than the stated 57-inch limit. That means they may yet need another booster after this one.

Despite the downsides, it's still a great car seat for those who need a harness to booster setup.

Pros: Very inexpensive, lightweight, narrow, machine-washable cover, excellent marks for crash protection, converts from harnessed seat to booster

Cons: Lower height and weight limits, child may outgrow booster quickly, headrest can't adjust as child grows, straps aren't comfortable for some kids

Buy the Evenflo Maestro on Amazon starting at $69.99



The best booster seat

The Graco Affix gives you options, including a high-back version that converts to a backless booster and a backless version that's easy to use and install.

Congratulations: Your kid is old enough for a booster seat. No more fussing with harnesses – just the regular old seat belt, which your child can learn to buckle on his or her own. The Graco Affix can keep your big kid safe from 30 to 100 pounds and 38 to 57 inches in high-back mode, or 40 to 100 pounds and 40 to 57 inches in backless mode. Graco says the seat is suitable for kids as young as 3, but take note — experts at Car Seats For The Littles recommend children stay in a harnessed seat until age 5 at an absolute minimum.

One of the nicest features of the Affix is the LATCH connectors that secure it to the vehicle's seat. That means the booster won't slide around if you're driving without your child belted into the seat. Even better, the connectors can be tightened with one hand from the front of the booster. The Affix also has a cup holder and a nifty slide-in storage compartment ideal for stashing small toys or snacks.

Car Seats For The Littles says the belt guide is wide and easy to use, and belt fit is good on a range of kids. It's also an IIHS "best bet" seat. The headrest is fully adjustable, and the seat is lightweight – even with the back on, it's shy of 11 pounds. Finally, the seat cushion is machine-washable.

Given their simplicity, there usually aren't as many complaints about boosters. The Affix garners only minor criticism. It's not the narrowest booster you can buy, so it might not work for some families who are short on space. And some Amazon reviewers complain that the belt guide doesn't always keep the shoulder belt in place, making it hard for their kids to buckle up independently.

Pros: Available as high-back or backless seat, high-back converts to backless seat, LATCH keeps seat stable when not in use, good belt fit for most children, headrest can adjust as child grows, lightweight, machine-washable cover

Cons: Wider than some boosters, seat belt sometimes slips out of belt guide

Buy the Graco Affix on Amazon starting at $66.66



The best budget booster seat

The Harmony Youth Booster is just what you need for an older kid who still needs a boost, but who also needs something easy to take along while carpooling to school or soccer practice.

Once your child is officially in big-kid territory, with gangly limbs, real friends, and after-school sports, it's hard to resist the allure of an easy-to-carry, easy-on-the-wallet backless booster like the Harmony Youth Booster. The Harmony can be used for kids from 30 to 100 pounds and 34 to 57 inches tall, though it's worth repeating that experts say kids younger than 5 typically aren't ready for boosters. It also weighs only 2.5 pounds — yes, you read that right — so it's a great option for an on-the-go family.

The Harmony isn't just light, it's also relatively narrow, experts with Car Seats For The Littles say. That's helpful for packed carpooling situations or families who may need to squeeze their big kid in alongside younger siblings in bulkier car seats. It's also an IIHS "best bet" for belt fit and gets good expert marks for crash protection. The seat belt is simple to route under the Harmony's low armrests, and a seatbelt positioning clip is included for situations where the seat belt doesn't fit well enough on its own.

Keep in mind that the Harmony Youth booster is quite basic, so you won't be getting any extras. There are no cup holders, or LATCH connectors to keep the seat in place when it's unoccupied. Padding is somewhat thin, some Walmart reviewers say, so it might not be the most comfortable seat for a long trip.

Pros: Inexpensive, lightweight, narrow, good belt fit for most children

Cons: No LATCH, no cup holder, thin padding

Buy the Harmony Youth Booster at Walmart for $14.99



Check out our other great baby gear guides

The best toothbrushes for kids you can buy

For kids, the fallout of improper care for the teeth may only be as serious as cavities, but the habits parents help their kids establish early in life can lead to a lifetime of good oral health or a lifetime plagued by plaque, root canals, and worse. Start the process early with one of these toothbrush options.


The best baby swaddles you can buy

While swaddling does come with some controversy, it's hands-down one of the best ways to get a fussy baby to sleep. But like all baby products, swaddles come in all shapes and sizes.

The swaddle you choose will depend on the following: material, ease of use, effectiveness, safety, size, and cost. We used these factors when reviewing baby swaddles. We looked at hundreds of reviews, consulted other moms, and used personal experience to narrow down the list to the best baby swaddles you can buy.


The best bottle warmers you can buy

You might think a baby bottle warmer is something extra that's not necessary. But when your little one is screaming in the middle of the night for warm milk, having a warmer will save your sanity, and hopefully, some sleep. These gadgets can heat formula and breast milk without hot spots so you don't have to boil water in a pan. Here are the best bottle warmers.


The best cloth diapers you can buy

Cloth diapers are easy to use, offer money-savings, and are nothing like the ones your grandma used to use. When you get down to finding the perfect cloth diaper, it comes down to four factors: cost, sustainability, absorbency, and cuteness (your baby has to look good, after all). These are the best cloth diapers available.


The best breast pumps you can buy

If you're a nursing mom who plans to spend more than a couple hours away from your baby, pumping is a necessary evil: It keeps your milk supply up and ensures your kiddo has enough to eat. The Medela Pump In Style Advanced is a great option for moms who want to get their pumping done quickly and easily.

You should also consider the Spectra Baby USA S1, the Freemie Freedom, the Yunbaby Portable, and the Philips Avent Manual Comfort Breast Pump.


The best cribs and cradles

A good crib or cradle can buy you some much needed time to yourself while your baby takes a nap or snoozes the night away. Of all the cribs and cradles we've researched, the DaVinci Kalani is our top pick. This crib is attractive, sturdy, versatile, and inexpensive enough to free up your budget for other baby essentials.

You should also consider the Babyletto Hudson, the Stokke Sleepi, the BabyBjorn Cradle, and the Guava Family Lotus Travel Crib.


The best diaper bags

It's no secret that babies require a lot of stuff for a successful outing, so a good diaper bag is one of the most important purchases a parent-to-be can make. Based on personal testing and research, the Skip Hop Duo Signature is the best diaper bag for most parents, with a reasonable price tag, loads of pockets, several stylish patterns, and easy-to-wipe fabric that can take a beating.

You should also consider the Ju-Ju-Be B.F.F. Backpack, the Storksak Elizabeth Leather Bag, the Skip Hop Grand Central Bag, and the Diaper Dude Messenger Bag


The best baby monitors

Keeping tabs on your little one has never been easier. Based on our research and tests by experts, these are the best baby monitors you can buy.


The best nursing pillows

Breastfeeding is natural and amazing for your baby, but that doesn't mean it always comes easy. We've tested and researched many nursing pillows, and the My Brest Friend is the best one for keeping your baby in the right spot during feeding, and it gives you great back and arm support.

You should also consider the Boppy Nursing Pillow, the Blessed Nest Nesting Pillow, and the Twin Z Pillow.


 



A billionaire who built 2 Fortune 500 companies just joined the chorus of ultra-wealthy Americans begging to be taxed more

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Eli Broad

Entrepreneur and philanthropist Eli Broad is the latest in a series of billionaires asking the government to raise their taxes in hopes of closing the wealth gap.

"Our country must do something bigger and more radical, starting with the most unfair area of federal policy: our tax code," Broad wrote in an editorial for The New York Times published June 25. "It's time to start talking seriously about a wealth tax."

Policies such as a $15 minimum wage, public school reform, affordable housing initiatives, and Medicare expansions have not done enough to close the wealth gap on their own, Broad wrote.

Broad's editorial comes one day after a group of 19 ultra-wealthy Americans, including George Soros and Abigail Disney, published an open letter asking presidential candidates to support a moderate wealth tax. The revenue, they argued in the letter, could be used to fund environmental initiatives, fuel economic investment, and fund health care in addition to protecting America's democracy by reducing inequality.

Broad's editorial has the support of at least one of the letter's signatories: heiress and investor Liesel Pritzker Simmons shared the editorial on Twitter.

 

"I guess there are more of us," Simmons tweeted alongside a link to Broad's editorial. "A clear-eyed view on why Americans deserve more, much more than philanthropy."

Read more: Billionaires from George Soros to Abigail Disney are begging to be taxed more

Now a full-time philanthropist, Broad has a net worth of $6.7 billion, according to Forbes. The son of Lithuanian immigrants, Broad made his fortune founding homebuilder KB Homes and insurance company SunAmerica, which he sold to AIG in 1998.

"I'm not an economist but I have watched my wealth grow exponentially thanks to federal policies that have cut my tax rates while wages for regular people have stagnated and poverty rates have increased," Broad wrote.

Broad also asked other ultra-wealthy Americans to join him in the call for a wealth tax.

"I can afford to pay more, and I know others can too," Broad wrote. "What we can't afford are more shortsighted policies that skirt big ideas, avoid tough issues and do little to alleviate the poverty faced by millions of Americans. There's no time to waste."

Read the full editorial in The New York Times »

SEE ALSO: Less than 1% of the world's billionaires donate to housing and shelter charities. Here are the top 10 causes the world's richest people give their money to.

DON'T MISS: The Disney heiress who's begging for a wealth tax says income inequality has created a 'superclass' in the US — and it's putting the American dream at risk

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How $100,000 custom pool tables are made for celebrities like Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift

We compared the Chase Sapphire Preferred to the AmEx Platinum — and this time, the winner isn't clear-cut

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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.

Chase Sapphire vs Amex Platinum 4x3

A few friends have asked me lately about the Chase Sapphire Preferred, and whether I thought it was better card than the AmEx Platinum.

I thought it was an interesting question. While we've compared the beefier Chase Sapphire Reserve to the Platinum Card before, and we've covered all three cards in the past, we've never looked at the accessible Sapphire Preferred in the context of the ultra-premium AmEx Platinum.

To be honest, they're such different cards that it's hard to say which is better: Depending on your spending habits and how you travel, it could be worth having both.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers 2x points on all dining and all travel. Dining includes everything from bars and restaurants to fast food, and travel includes everything from taxis, parking, and trains, to travel agencies, flights, hotels, vacation rentals, cruises, and more. It earns 1x point per dollar spent on everything else.

The Sapphire Preferred also offers trip delay and baggage delay coverage for any travel you book through the card (you can read more about that here).

The AmEx Platinum offers 5x points on flights, but only if you book directly with the airline or through AmEx Travel. If you book through a website like Expedia or Orbitz, you only get 1x point per dollar. You'll also get 1x point per dollar on everything else. The card only offers major trip cancellation coverage — not delay insurance.

However, the AmEx Platinum offers much better benefits and perks than the Chase Sapphire Preferred. It offers extensive access to airport lounges, a yearly credit up to $200 for incidental airline fees, up to $200 of annual credits for Uber (or UberEats), and up to $100 in annual credits for Saks Fifth Avenue. It also offers free elite status at Hilton and Marriott hotels, and a few other perks. Without spending much on the card, I got $2,000 worth of value from it in my first year.

I personally hold the AmEx Platinum for the perks and services — especially lounge access and hotel elite status — but do most of my spending on a Chase card, since it earns better rewards faster (and makes it easier to spend them). I use a Sapphire Reserve, rather than a Preferred, though that means I pay $1,000 in annual fees for the two cards.

While that's the best option for my personal case, the Sapphire Preferred is still an excellent card — with a substantially lower annual fee, and a better sign-up bonus. You can read more about why you might want to choose the Sapphire Preferred over the Reserve.

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

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

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

READ MORE: 5 reasons the decade-old Chase Sapphire Preferred is a powerhouse within the increasingly competitive credit card space

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