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I hacked my disorganized kitchen pantry using these DIY pull-out cabinet drawers, and they eliminated so much clutter

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  • Simplehuman products are designed to make everyday tasks as easy as possible; they employ a no-frills, all-function design that just happens to look great.
  • The brand backs their hardware with a five-year warranty and has excellent customer service (I know — I had questions!)
  • Installing Simplehuman pull-out racks takes all of 10 minutes and will save you untold hours searching about in pantry shelves over the years to come.

When my wife and I were designing our kitchen a couple years back, we opted for matching cabinets flanking either side of the fridge. In one of these cabinets, we chose shelving with built-in pull-out drawers; on the other side, we stuck with just the shelves. The logic was that we would use each side of the pantry area differently. The other part of the logic was that basic shelves cost several hundred dollars less than slide-out hardware. And thus it was that for about two years, one side of our pantry remained well-organized, easy to access, and was generally pleasant to use, while the other became a morass of half-empty chip bags, loose batteries, forgotten snack bars, expired condiments, and so forth.

But what could we do, rip out the whole cabinet and have a new custom piece built? Move to a new state and start the entire home organization process over from the ground up? Buy fewer groceries?

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Our solution to kitchen cabinet clutter ended up being a whole lot simpler than new cabinetry or relocating across state lines; we simply completed a DIY kitchen pantry upgrade using a pair of Simplehuman pull-out cabinet organizer drawers that took me all of 10 minutes to install.

(Ok, actually the installation took about 20 minutes, but I kid you not, the first half of that time involved simply removing all the junk collected over the previous months.)

The company Simplehuman doesn't make a lot of products — they offer a selection of trash cans, mirrors, soap dispensers, organization products, and that's about it — but what they do make are all top-of-the line in terms of quality and function. And as it happens, simple as most Simplehuman products are in their aesthetic, they also look great. Actually, let me restate that: Because of their simple design aesthetic, Simplehuman products look great.

I should know, because their 10-liter semi-round stainless steel trash can sits beside my desk where I sit every day, their 58 stainless steel touch-free voice activated trash can is in the corner of our kitchen, their dish rack is often on the counter, and a pair of the aforementioned cabinet organizers are permanently affixed to the pantry shelves. The immediate result of installing Simplehuman pull-out cabinet organizing drawers was a pantry with less clutter and easier access. The longer-term result has been less wasted food and a lot less stress and frustration.

And by the way, that 10-minute assembly I mentioned earlier? Yeah, I'm not kidding about that. With a drill, one drill bit, one Phillips bit, a ruler (which I used just to be extra sure I installed these things exactly flush with my shelves; you could easily eyeball it), and the provided screws, the install was so easy that I can all but guarantee anyone who was able to use these pull-out drawers could also install them. (For the record, I popped our shelves out and so I had easy access to them while screwing in the organizers; if yours are affixed in place the process will be more involved, but only because you will probably need to use a screwdriver or else buy a compact right angle drill to work in the confined space.)

These shelves can support 20 pounds each, which means we can load them with all sorts of eats which are then easily accessed when the organizer is drawn out from the cabinet. There are also adjustable divider inserts that allow you to customize the layout of the organizer shelf, something even our custom built-ins over on the other side don't offer.

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As for the Simplehuman dish rack ($80), when we're not using the dishwasher (whether it's filled or for extra large or extra fragile items), it's another game-changer, and for good reason: It works well.

Made entirely from stainless steel and a durable plastic with a hydrophobic coating, this rack sheds water like a duck's back, meaning that you don't have to worry about your drying rack for clean dishes itself being damp and/or dirty. It has slots for wine goblet stems, posts for drinking glasses, a utensil caddy, and plenty of rows of storage for dishes, bowls, pots, and pans.

If you don't have a dishwasher, you need this dish rack. If you have a dishwasher that, you don't need this rack, but you won't regret getting it, either. Your large stew pot and your delicate family china will thank you. And yeah, it's expensive as far as dish racks go. But it's also probably the last one you'll ever need to buy.

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Simplehuman also makes a touch-free, voice-activated trash can for $200.

With a wave of the hand near the top of the unit, this trash can automatically opens its lid. Hands full of raw meat trimmings, a dripping coffee filter, or the dreaded baby diaper? Then just say: "Open can!" and like magic, the lid rises. Actually, it's more like science, but you get the point.

Do you need a touch- and/or voice-activated trash can? No. But you didn't need that sweet dish rack or those amazingly convenient shelf organizers, did you? But do you want to get rid of them once they have been integrated into your life? No, I don't. I mean no you don't... that's what I meant.

Buy a 14-Inch Simplehuman Pull-Out Cabinet Organizer on Amazon for $50

Buy a 20-Inch Simplehuman Pull-Out Cabinet Organizer on Amazon for $60

Buy a Simplehuman Kitchen Steel Frame Dish Rack on Amazon for $80

Buy a 58L Simplehuman Touch-Free Voice Activated Trash Can on Amazon for $200

SEE ALSO: Why this $6 spatula should be in every kitchen

Join the conversation about this story »


16 major differences between successful and unsuccessful people

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Mark Cuban

  • Successful people and unsuccessful people often differ in key ways, says author and businessman Dave Kerpen.
  • People who listen to others, ask questions, compliment others, and have a positive mindset tend to succeed.
  • Unsuccessful people, meanwhile, blame others for their failure and talk too much.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. 

In 2014, Dave Kerpen, the New York Times best-selling author of "The Art of People," received a postcard that illustrated the traits and behaviors of successful and unsuccessful people.

The card came from fellow Entrepreneurs' Organization member Andy Bailey, the chief executive of Petra Coach, a business-coaching service. Although the two CEOs have never met, Kerpen said in a 2014 LinkedIn post that the postcard had a profound effect on him, "reinforcing values I believe in and reminding me on a daily basis of the attitudes and habits that I know I need to embrace in order to become successful."

Read more:Oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens left behind an incredible letter about the best life lessons he learned, and every line is a must-read

The postcard points out 16 big differences between successful and unsuccessful people. Below we highlight nine of our favorites, plus seven others Kerpen shared with us in a recent interview.

Read on to find out what distinguishes superstars from everyone else:

SEE ALSO: 12 science-backed tricks that will make you more attractive and help you make a good first impression

Successful people embrace change; unsuccessful people fear it.

"Embracing change is one of the hardest things a person can do," Kerpen says in his 2014 LinkedIn post.

With the world moving fast and technology accelerating at a rapid speed, it's imperative that we embrace these changes and adapt, rather than fear, deny, or hide from them, he says. Successful people are able to do just that.



Successful people talk about ideas; unsuccessful people talk about people.

Instead of gossiping about people, which gets you nowhere, successful people discuss ideas.

"Sharing ideas with others will only make them better," Kerpen says.



Successful people accept responsibility for their failures; unsuccessful people blame others.

Truly successful leaders and business people experience ups and downs in their lives and careers, but they always accept responsibility for their failures.

He says blaming others solves nothing: "It just puts other people down and absolutely no good comes from it."



Successful people give others all the credit for their victories; unsuccessful people take all the credit from others.

Letting people have their moments to shine motivates them to work harder and, consequently, makes you look better as a leader or teammate.



Successful people want others to succeed; unsuccessful people secretly hope others fail.

"When you're in an organization with a group of people, in order to be successful, you all have to be successful," Kerpen says.

That's why the most successful people don't wish for their demise — they want to see their coworkers succeed and grow.



Successful people continuously learn; unsuccessful people fly by the seat of their pants.

The only way to grow as a person, professional, and leader is never to stop learning.

"You can be a step above your competition and become more flexible because you know more," he writes. "If you just fly by the seat of your pants, you could be passing up opportunities that prevent you from learning (and growing!)."



Successful people ask how they can help others; unsuccessful people ask how they can help themselves.

Kerpen told Business Insider that the best question you can ask when you first meet an influential person isn't "How can you help me?" but "How can I help you?"

Of course, you should be willing and able to help the person if they take you up on your offer.

But regardless of whether they accept or decline, he says simply offering your assistance makes people feel warmer toward you, and makes them more inclined to help you when you need it.



Successful people take a chance and ask for what they want; unsuccessful people are afraid of failure.

"Rejection and failure are two of the most paralyzing fears," he says, and they often prevent people from asking for what they really want.

"If we don't ask for what we want we think on some level that we can't fail; we can't get rejected," Kerpen says. "But in reality we're almost guaranteed that we're going to fail because we're not going to get what we want."

In "The Art of People," he gives the example of a salesperson who was failing to win any customers, simply because she wasn't asking directly for their business at the end of her pitch. Once she started being more forthright, her sales increased.

If you want to be successful, your mantra should be something like "Embrace the fear of no; then ask for the yes."



Successful people are always looking to better understand themselves; unsuccessful people don't care about introspection.

"The first step in learning how to better influence others to get what you want in your career and in life, is to understand yourself," Kerpen writes in the book.

Specifically, he says you should understand your unconscious motivations, what shifts your mood, and how you best interact with others.

If you're looking to learn more about yourself, Kerpen recommends the Enneagram assessment, cowritten by Mario Sikora. The assessment divides people into nine categories, including those who strive to be connected and those who strive to be detached.

You can find the Enneagram in Sikora's book, "Awareness to Action," or in "The Art of People."



Successful people listen first and never stop listening; unsuccessful people talk too much.

Kerpen says that the single most important and underrated skill in business, social media, and life in general is listening.

It's hard to do, he said, because when we get excited about our ideas, all we want to do is talk about them. But the less we talk, the easier it is to persuade other people to like those ideas — and to like us.

Kerpen writes: "Listening and letting people talk is key to winning them over in life, in business, and in all human relationships."



Successful people are vulnerable and transparent; unsuccessful people are protected and secretive.

In the book, Kerpen writes that we learn from an early age that crying, and showing emotion in general, is a sign of weakness.

Yet he experienced firsthand the power that comes from letting yourself be vulnerable. At a management retreat for Likeable Media's executive team, Kerpen asked everyone to share the most difficult experiences they'd ever had and what they learned from them.

Several people, including Kerpen himself, ended up crying, and as a result they felt "super-connected as a group."

Kerpen writes:

As it turns out, sincerely powerful emotions — especially those powerful enough to cause tears — are quite influential in connecting with other people. If you can get yourself to experience a level of vulnerability with someone to the point where you're moved to tears, you will be able to relate to that person — and he or she can relate to you — on a much deeper level.



Successful people keep a positive attitude; unsuccessful people get negative too often.

Kerpen writes in the book that a positive attitude is contagious, especially when it comes from a leader.

At a conference he attended more than a decade ago, one of the speakers recommended that people answer "Fantastic!" instead of something lukewarm like "fine" when someone asks, "How are you?"

Kerpen writes that the speaker "claimed that by using this word, you'll attract whoever you're talking to and make that person want to be around you, because no matter how anyone else is feeling, fantastic is probably better, and who wouldn't want to feel fantastic?"



Successful people are committed to gratitude and acts of kindness; unsuccessful people put themselves first.

Kerpen concludes "The Art of People" by revealing the ultimate paradox, as explained by his wife: "The secret to getting everything you want at work and in life is treating people well, not trying to get everything you want."

In other words, nice guys finish first, he says.

Here's an example of how being nice may have helped Kerpen's career. After meeting with a venture capitalist named Rich, Kerpen sent him a bonsai tree as a way of thanking him for his time.

Unfortunately, before he even received the bonsai, Rich decided not to invest in Kerpen's business. Once the bonsai arrived, however, Rich moved to introduce Kerpen to another VC who might be a better fit, and that second VC ended up investing in Kerpen's business.



Successful people compliment others; unsuccessful people criticize people.

"A compliment gives a natural boost of energy to someone, and is an act of kindness that makes you feel better as well," Kerpen wrote on LinkedIn.

"Criticizing produces negativity and leads to nothing good," he added.

But beware sneaky sentences that sound like compliments but really put you down— things like "you look good for your age" or "you're not like other men/women."



Successful people have gratitude; unsuccessful people don't appreciate others and the world around them.

No one succeeds by themself, Kerpen writes. Often, other people helped you along the way. 

That's why it's important to thank those who helped you reach your goals.

"Thank everyone you come in contact with and walk with a spirit of gratitude and appreciation and even wonder, about the world around you," he adds. "Gratitude is the ultimate key to being successful in business and in life."



Successful people forgive others; unsuccessful people hold a grudge.

"Everybody makes mistakes; it's human," Kerpen writes. "The only way to get past the mistake is to forgive and move on. Dwelling on anger only makes things worse — for you."

If someone wronged you, psychologists recommend not trying to rush the forgiveness process. Instead, take time to work through your emotions and put yourself in the other person's shoes.



24 outlandish conspiracy theories Donald Trump has floated over the years

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  • President Donald Trump is swept up in an impeachment inquiry that seriously threatens his presidency — and an unfounded conspiracy theory that reached the Oval Office is largely responsible for it.
  • During a July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump pressured him to launch an investigation into former vice president Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, over unsubstantiated allegations of corruption.
  • Then reports of the call — and the disclosure of a whistleblower complaint filed against the president — spurred Democrats to initiate impeachment proceedings against Trump that could lead to his removal from office.
  • But this certainly was not the first debunked or unverified conspiracy theory Trump has floated and encouraged during his time in the political spotlight.
  • Here are 24 of the most notable conspiracy theories Trump has entertained over the years.

President Donald Trump is swept up in an impeachment inquiry that seriously threatens his presidency — and an unfounded conspiracy theory that reached the Oval Office is largely responsible for it.

During a July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump pressured him to launch an investigation into former vice president Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, over unsubstantiated allegations of corruption. Then reports of the call — and the disclosure of a whistleblower complaint filed against the president — spurred Democrats to initiate impeachment proceedings against Trump that could lead to his removal from office.

But that certainly was not the first debunked or unverified conspiracy theory Trump has floated and encouraged during his time in the political spotlight.

Throughout his presidency, on the campaign trail, and even in the years prior, Trump has floated theories fueled by the conspiratorial-minded corners of supermarket tabloids and the darkest corners of the internet.

Here are 24 of the most notable conspiracy theories Trump has entertained over the years.

SEE ALSO: 19 photos of Trump discovering his inner child

Questions about Ted Cruz's father's potential ties to President John F. Kennedy's assassin.

On the eve of the Indiana primary in 2016, Trump attempted to undermine former Republican presidential rival Ted Cruz's father's legitimacy by parroting an unverified National Enquirer story.

It claimed Rafael Cruz was photographed in the early 1960s handing out pro-Fidel Castro leaflets with President John F. Kennedy's assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald.

The Cruz campaign denounced the piece as "garbage."



Questions about President Obama's birth certificate.

While mulling a potential 2012 presidential bid, Trump became the most high-profile figure to promote the rumors suggesting that President Obama was not born in the US.

Trump claimed he'd deployed private investigators who "could not believe what they're finding" about Obama's place of birth.

He also repeatedly clashed with reporters who pushed him on the issue. During one contentious interview, he told ABC's George Stephanopoulos that he'd been "co-opted" by "Obama and his minions" when the anchor tried to push back on Trump's claims.

When Obama eventually released his long-form birth certificate, Trump questioned the document's authenticity

Trump has since continued to push the conspiracy theory in recent months during his presidency, according to advisors who spoke with The New York Times. One sitting US senator echoed these reports.

"[Trump] has had a hard time letting go of his claim that Mr. Obama was not born in the United States," the senator told The Times.



Questions about a former Bill Clinton aide's suicide.

After Vince Foster, a former aide to President Bill Clinton, was found dead in 1993, various law-enforcement agencies and independent counsels determined he committed suicide.

But Foster's death spawned conspiracy theorists who questioned whether the Clintons themselves were involved in Foster's death.

In an interview with the Washington Post, Trump suggested Foster's death was "very fishy."

"He had intimate knowledge of what was going on," Trump said of Foster's role in the White House. "He knew everything that was going on, and then all of a sudden he committed suicide."

He added: "I don't bring [Foster's death] up because I don't know enough to really discuss it. I will say there are people who continue to bring it up because they think it was absolutely a murder. I don't do that because I don't think it's fair."



Questions about whether Syrian refugees are ISIS terrorists.

Trump has, in part, justified his plan to temporarily bar Muslim immigrants from entering the US by claiming that refugees coming from Syria "could be a Trojan horse."

"It could be one of the greatest coups of all time," Trump told Fox News' Sean Hannity in 2015. "They could be ISIS. It could be a plot. I mean, I don't want to think in terms of conspiracy, but it could be a plot."

But the process for vetting refugees typically lasts 18 to 24 months, and immigration experts maintain it is one of the most difficult ways for terrorists to attempt to enter the US legally.

"It is extremely unlikely that someone who is a terrorist will be sent through the refugee resettlement program," Greg Chen, the director of advocacy at the American Immigration Lawyers Association, told Business Insider.

He added: "It takes a great deal of time, and it wouldn't make sense for someone who is a terrorist for someone to go through that process. There are going to be easier ways for a terrorist to try to infiltrate, rather than going through the refugee resettlement program."



Questions about whether an ISIS-linked terrorist attempted to charge at Trump on stage.

After an attendee at Trump's March 2016 rally in Dayton, Ohio, attempted to charge the stage, Trump claimed a video he retweeted proved the attendee was a terrorist linked to ISIS.

"He was playing Arabic music. He was dragging the flag along the ground, and he had internet chatter with ISIS and about ISIS. So I don't know if he was or not," Trump said. "But all we did was put out what he had on his internet. He's dragging the flag, the American flag, which I respect obviously more than you."

He added: "What do I know about it? All I know is what's on the internet. And I don't like to see a man dragging the American flag along the ground in a mocking fashion."

Multiple news outlets and fact-checkers debunked the video's authenticity. No government agency has said the man was connected to ISIS or other terrorist groups.



Questions about Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia's death.

Law enforcement determined there was no evidence of foul play in Justice Antonin Scalia's sudden death in 2016.

Asked about the circumstances of Scalia's death, Trump said he was unsure about what caused Scalia's death. Trump noted a pillow was found over the justice's face, a claim authorities rebutted.

"I'm hearing it's a big topic," Trump said in a radio interview. "It's a horrible topic but they're saying they found the pillow on his face, which is a pretty unusual place to find a pillow."

He added: "I can't give you an answer. It's just starting to come out now."



Questions about whether childhood vaccines cause autism.

At a Republican presidential debate in 2016, CNN host Jake Tapper asked Trump about his position that vaccines can cause autism.

"We had so many instances, people that work for me, just the other day, 2 years old, a beautiful child, went to have the vaccine and came back and a week later got a tremendous fever, got very, very sick, now is autistic," Trump said.

Shortly after Trump's assertion, former presidential candidate and neurosurgeon Ben Carson corrected the real-estate mogul, pointing out that overwhelming medical evidence suggests that there's no link between autism and vaccines.

A 2013 study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found no connection between vaccines and an increased risk of autism.



Questions about whether Muslims in New Jersey were cheering after 9/11.

Trump emphatically claimed he saw televised news reports of Muslims cheering in New Jersey after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

"There were people that were cheering on the other side of New Jersey, where you have large Arab populations. They were cheering as the World Trade Center came down," Trump said during an ABC interview.

He added: "I know it might be not politically correct for you to talk about it, but there were people cheering as that building came down — as those buildings came down. And that tells you something. It was well-covered at the time."

However, there is no evidence to suggest there were any American celebrations aired on television following the attacks. Some media reports at the time cited rumors of celebrations in New Jersey. But reports were never substantiated, and there's no evidence these protests were broadcast on national television.



Questions about whether wives of 9/11 hijackers fled to Saudi Arabia before the attacks.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee repeatedly stated last year that the terrorists who carried out the September 11, 2001, attacks moved their families out of the US to Saudi Arabia several days before the hijacking.

"When you had the World Trade Center go, people were put into planes that were friends, family, girlfriends, and they were put into planes and they were sent back, for the most part, to Saudi Arabia," Trump said. "They knew what was going on. They went home and they wanted to watch their boyfriends on television."

The 9/11 commission report, the most extensive investigation into the events surrounding the attacks, determined that few of the hijackers kept in contact with their families, and none had family members living in the US.

PolitiFact also called the claim false.



Questions about the legitimacy of climate change.

Though many Republican leaders remain skeptical of climate change, Trump has taken his skepticism a step further. In 2012 he suggested that climate change is a "total, and very expensive hoax" perpetuated by China's government.

"The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive," Trump tweeted in 2012.

Trump backed off the tweet, telling Fox News that his comment was a "joke." Still, the real-estate mogul has repeatedly maintained that climate change was a hoax, and said climate-change studies are "done for the benefit of China."

According to NASA, 97% of publishing climate scientists believe that human activities such as burning of fossil fuels have caused climate change.



Questions about whether asbestos is a "great con."

In a 1992 interview with New York magazine, Trump suggested the mob's "strong lobby" in New York may be responsible for asbestos.

"One of the great cons is asbestos," Trump said. "There's nothing wrong except the mob has a strong lobby in Albany because they have the dumps and control the truck."

Trump has more recently embraced the reality.

Last year, the real-estate mogul cited how he increased the valuation of one of his properties by millions after embarking on a massive asbestos-removal operation.



Questions about Marco Rubio's presidential eligibility.

Trump has a long history of speculating whether potential presidential rivals are constitutionally eligible to serve.

In February 2016, the former reality-TV star retweeted a supporter who claimed Rubio was ineligible to run because his parents were not natural-born US citizens, a claim that no major constitutional experts support.

When confronted on ABC's "This Week" about whether he believed Rubio was not constitutionally permitted to occupy the presidency, Trump, whose mother was born in Scotland, refused to disavow the tweet.

"I've never looked at it, George," Trump said of the tweet. "I honestly have never looked at it. As somebody said, he's not. And I retweeted it. I have 14 million people between Twitter and Facebook and Instagram, and I retweet things and we start dialogue and it's very interesting."

He added: "I'm not sure. Let people make their own determination."



Questions about Fox News being owned by a Saudi billionaire.

Trump's war with Fox News' Megyn Kelly recently reached a detente.

But during the peak of Trump's rhetorical battle with Kelly, he perpetuated a prominent outlandish theory from one of his Twitter followers.

In January 2016, the real-estate mogul retweeted a photo purportedly showing Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal with Kelly. The photo claimed the prince was a partial Fox News owner, which multiple outlets found was untrue. Alwaleed's investment company owns a small share of 21st Century Fox.



Questions about the legitimacy of the "Access Hollywood" tape.

Toward the tail end of his presidential campaign, the 2005 "Access Hollywood" tape featuring Trump apparently admitting that he likes to grab women "by the p----" received broad coverage, and Trump apologized for his comments shortly afterward.

More recently though, after various allegations of sexual harassment in media and politics have begun to surface, Trump has walked back these comments.

"We don't think that was my voice," Trump reportedly told a senator, according to The New York Tiimes.

The Times' sources did not elaborate on why Trump has begun to doubt the authenticity of the tape's audio.



Claims that Joe Scarborough killed one of his interns.

In a tweet Trump sent in November 2017, he made references to a conspiracy theory that claims MSNBC anchor Joe Scarborough of "Morning Joe" murdered one of his staffers in Florida in 2001.

"So now that Matt Lauer is gone when will the Fake News practitioners at NBC be terminating the contract of Phil Griffin?" the tweet read. "And will they terminate low ratings Joe Scarborough based on the 'unsolved mystery' that took place in Florida years ago? Investigate!"

While Scarborough was serving as a Republican congressman in Florida's 1st district, one of his interns, Lori Klausutis, was found dead in the office. A coroner found no evidence of foul play, and indicated that the death occurred because of a heart problem that caused the intern to fatally hit her head on her desk.



Claims that Obama had wiretapped Trump's phone.

In March 2017, Trump sent a tweet accusing Obama of wiretapping his phones in Trump Tower.

"Terrible!" Trump wrote, "Just found out that Obama had my 'wires tapped' in Trump Tower just before the victory. Nothing found. This is McCarthyism!"

PolitiFact and other outlets have debunked the claim. An Obama spokesman also issued a response to the allegation, saying: "Neither Barack Obama nor any White House official under Obama ever ordered surveillance of any U.S. citizen."



Claims that voter fraud in the 2016 election cost him the popular vote.

In a tweet sent shortly after the November 2016 election, Trump wrote: "In addition to winning the Electoral College in a landslide, I won the popular vote if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally."

This unsubstantiated claim was repeated by Kris Kobach, the chairman of Trump's panel on voter fraud, in July. The fact-checking site Snopes has debunked the claim entirely, citing "zero evidence."



Retweeting anti-Muslim conspiracy videos.

In November 2017, Trump caused diplomatic havoc by retweeting three videos posted by Jayda Fransen of the ultra-nationalist, anti-Muslim organization Britain First that purportedly showed Muslims in Europe committing crimes and destroying Christian icons.

Britain First has frequently targeted mosques and Muslims in the UK in order to brand all Muslims as violent extremists, and Trump's retweet of the videos was widely seen as a tacit endorsement of the group's efforts.

Although the authenticity of the videos has been called into question, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders has maintained this doesn't matter.

"Whether it's a real video, the threat is real," she told reporters.



Claims 3,000 people didn't die in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria and that Democrats inflated the death toll.

In a September 2018 tweet, Trump claimed 3,000 people didn't die in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria and accused Democrats of inflating the death toll to make him "look as bad as possible," rejecting the findings of a government-funded study in the process.  

"3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico," he said. "When I left the Island, AFTER the storm had hit, they had anywhere from 6 to 18 deaths. As time went by it did not go up by much. Then, a long time later, they started to report really large numbers, like 3000…"

He then added: "This was done by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible when I was successfully raising Billions of Dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico. If a person died for any reason, like old age, just add them onto the list. Bad politics. I love Puerto Rico!"

A study commissioned by the Puerto Rico government that was released in August found that 2,975 people died in the wake of the storm.

Trump has been widely criticized for his response to Hurricane Maria, particularly by San Juan Mayor Carmin Yulín Cruz.

In response to Trump's claims on Thursday, Cruz tweeted, "This is what denial following neglect looks like: Mr Pres in the real world people died on your watch. YOUR LACK OF RESPECT IS APPALLING!"



Claims windmills cause cancer.

In April 2019 Trump railed against wind power and claimed the noise fron windmills causes cancer.

If you have a windmill anywhere near your house, congratulations, your house just went down 75 percent in value," Trump said at a Republican congressional fundraising dinner. "And they say the noise causes cancer."

Iowa's two Republican senators, Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, called his remarks "idiotic" and "ridiculous," respectively.  

A 2014 report for the National Institutes of Health concluded while wind farms could cause disrupt a person's sleep or induce headaches, its negative impact health doesn't go beyond that.

"The weight of evidence suggests that when sited properly, wind turbines are not related to adverse health," the researchers wrote.



Claims the Clintons killed Jeffrey Epstein.

In August 2019, Trump promoted a baseless conspiracy theory on his Twitter account connecting former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the death of financier and alleged sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Trump retweeted a video from conservative comedian Terrence Williams, who claimed without any evidence the Clintons were responsible for killing Epstein. The multimillionaire reportedly killed himself in a Manhattan jail cell in early August.

Law enforcement officials are investigating Epstein's death, but none have suggested so far there was foul play, much less allege political figures were involved.

 



Claims former vice president Joe Biden was corrupt in his dealings with Ukraine during the Obama administration.

In a July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump repeatedly pushed his foreign counterpart to probe Biden over baseless allegations that he helped oust Ukraine's top prosecutor in the midst of an investigation into an energy company his son held a board position on.

"There's a lot of talk about Biden's son, that Biden stopped the prosecution and a lot of people want to find out about that so whatever you can do with the Attorney General would be great," Trump said in a rough memo of the call released by the White House. 

There isn't any evidence to support that allegation, which has been spread by Trump and his conservative allies. Nothing has come to light that proves Biden tried helping his son in Ukraine. Biden instead had been pressing Ukraine to dismiss a prosecutor who failed to curb corruption in the country in a campaign backed by other world leaders and institutions like the International Monetary Fund.

The investigation into Burisma Holdings, the natural gas company, was dormant around the time Biden started traveling into Ukraine in 2014. And Ukraine's general prosecutor Yuriy Lutsenko recently told the BBC he didn't "know any reason to investigate Joe Biden or Hunter Biden according to Ukrainian law."



Claims a cybersecurity company named Crowdstrike framed Russia for election interference.

Trump floated the baseless conspiracy theory during the same July phone call with Zelensky. 

"I would like you to do us a favor though because our country has been through a lot and Ukraine knows a lot about it. I would like you to find out what happened with this whole situation with Ukraine. They say CrowdStrike," Trump said in a rough memo of the call released by the White House.

Crowdstrike was the cybersecurity company that the Democratic National Committee contracted to investigate its hacked servers during the 2016 presidential election, and it concluded Russia was behind the attack.  The theory, however, maintains that Crowdstrike framed Russia — exonerating it from interfering in the election to aid Trump's victory.

According to NBC News, the thoroughly debunked theory originated on 4chan and has also been spread on far-right blogs and Fox News.



Claims Ukraine may be hiding Hillary Clinton's missing emails.

Trump recently said he believed that Hillary Clinton's deleted emails could be on a server hidden away in Ukraine.

Asked by a reporter if he believed some of Clinton's deleted emails could be in Ukraine in September, Trump said, "I think they could be."

Then he doubled down on it: "I think one of the great crimes committed is Hillary Clinton deleting 33,000 emails after Congress sends her a subpoena."

This theory is grew out of the unfounded Crowdstrike allegation and its been debunked as well. NBC News reports that Clinton's team sorted her emails into private and work-related batches to turn them over to the State Department in 2014. Then the employee managing the server was ordered to delete the 33,000 personal emails in December, around four months before Congress subpoenaed them.

Weeks after the subpoena was issued, the employee deleted the emails when he realized he hadn't done as he was instructed.

In a 2016 statement, then-FBI Director James Comey said the investigation"found no evidence that any of the additional work-related emails were intentionally deleted in an effort to conceal them." FBI agents later recovered many of them and the agency concluded Clinton was careless in handling her emails.

 



Here are the best ways to charge your Xbox One controller

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  • You can charge an Xbox One controller with the Xbox One Play & Charge Kit by connecting your controller to the console via a USB cable.
  • Your Xbox One controller can be used while it's charging with the Play & Charge Kit, and it should take about four hours for it to charge completely.
  • Once fully charged, your Xbox One controller should last for up to 30 hours of use.
  • You can also connect your Xbox One controller directly to your console with a micro USB cable, or get a different rechargeable battery pack. 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

There are a few different ways to charge an Xbox One controller

You can use the Xbox One Play & Charge Kit, a standard micro USB cable, or any compatible, rechargeable battery pack. It's also possible to just use standard AA batteries for your controller, but it may be annoying to keep buying new batteries. 

Here's what you need to know to charge your controller. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Xbox One Controller (From $59.99 at Best Buy)

Xbox One Charge and Play Kit (From $19.99 at Best Buy)

YCCTeam Xbox One Controller Battery Pack (From $19.99 at Best Buy)

How to charge an Xbox One controller 

With the Xbox One Play & Charge Kit, you can expect to get up to 30 hours of use out of your Xbox One controller after four hours of charging its battery pack. 

The even better news? You don't even need to stop playing to charge the controller. 

You can simply connect your controller to the Xbox One console with the cable and the charging will commence.

Screen Shot 2019 10 08 at 4.21.21 PM

If you don't want to purchase the Xbox One Play & Charge Kit, you can use any USB cord to connect your controller to the console, although Microsoft says charging times may vary with this method. 

But connecting an Xbox One controller to the console isn't the only way to charge it.

You can also use any micro USB cord connected to a USB power source — even a wall outlet — as long as you have a proper adapter. 

In addition, you can use AA batteries to power the controller. It will run for many hours off a pair of AA batteries, just note that the manufacturer recommends alkaline batteries with designation LR6.

Finally, there is always the option to swap out the Xbox One controller's battery pack with another rechargeable unit, especially if the battery life on your controller is permanently diminished.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: 8 affordable Xbox One accessories that'll help you make the most of your console

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Facebook's scandals aren't enough for people to stop using it. Here's how the company has held up through data hacks, lawsuits, and massive security threats.

I'm a millennial who went from earning $30,000 a year to earning $30,000 a month by launching my own business. Here are the 5 steps I took to bring my income to the next level without fancy marketing.

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Celinne da costa

  • Celinne Da Costa, age 28, went from earning $27,000 a year after taxes to earning $32,000 a month in just six years.
  • She quit her NYC advertising job to travel the world — in one year, she couch-surfed across 100 homes in 20 countries.
  • She made a name for herself by promoting her journey on her social channels and in the media.
  • When she returned from her trip, she began freelancing for a marketing consultant at $150 an hour. Nine months later, she had earned $100,000.
  • Today, she helps entrepreneurs create powerful brands.
  • Da Costa didn't use fancy marketing tactics — she took her business to the next level by focusing on 5 key areas: her standards, mindset, self, offers, and sales approach.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

I used to look upon the posts of people claiming to have made their yearly salary in a month with such disbelief. Until that person became me.

It's hard to believe that I just rang in a $32,000 month when a few years ago, I accepted my first job at an advertising agency in New York City making just $35,000 ($27,000 after taxes) a year.

Considering living expenses (rent, electricity, food, etc.) in NYC added up to around $2,000 a month and I was earning about $2,200 after taxes, a significant portion of my day-to-day consisted of pinching pennies, living paycheck-to-paycheck, and stressing about money.

I was absolutely miserable — sharing a crowded apartment with three strangers in a room so small that I had a loft bed in order to fit my things, working 60-hour weeks, slapping hummus onto crackers when I got home because I was too tired to make dinner (and too broke to buy it), and watching reruns of Breaking Bad on Netflix until I passed out.

Was this really the American Dream I'd signed up for?

In 2015, I went on a volunteer trip to Cambodia — and everything changed.

A public figure stumbled on my travel blog (which only had a couple hundred followers at the time) and invited me to spend two weeks teaching at an orphanage in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and document my experiences.

The first day I arrived, I found out my grandfather passed away. The combination of my already broken heart, learning about the country's traumatic history, and witnessing innocent people suffer from poverty and an unjust system snapped something inside of me. I realized how little I was doing to contribute to anything other than my own misery.

The day after I got back to New York, I made a decision: I would not spend another minute of my life consciously living in fear. I had to change.

I needed a project I could be proud of, to keep me busy while I figured out my next steps. I'd always wanted to travel the world, but I couldn't backpack around aimlessly without any purpose.

I came up with a social experiment, where I challenged myself to circumnavigate the globe by couch-surfing using only human connection (no website): This meant staying in the homes of friends, friends of friends, and strangers I'd meet on the road.

Over the course of a year, I stayed in the homes of 100-plus people (mostly strangers), in 20-plus countries across five continents … and spent less than $8,500.

I learned how to share my story in a compelling way, which led to earning five figures a month.

I leveraged my background as a brand strategist and writer to grow my social media channels — specifically my Instagram and Facebook pages — document my journey on my blog, and get myself in front of the media and publications. Every day, I wrote a story about the people I met, the experiences I was going through, and the changes I was making.

From the beginning, my goal was to create a powerful brand that was so captivating, compelling, and relatable that people would have no choice but to pay attention. Refining and mastering this skill is what set the foundation for my business.

As I'd predicted, people started to notice — my community started growing by the thousands, and I was invited to document my journey on Forbes, and my story was featured on large publications including Matador Network, Business Insider, and Intrepid.

 

About halfway through my journey, I started getting approached by entrepreneurs, publications, and even boards of tourism. They'd heard about me through word-of-mouth. They'd read or watched my stories. Some of them wanted to know how I was getting visible so quickly so they could do it, too. Others just wanted to take a part of my project. They came to me because they saw in me something they saw in themselves, and they wanted to learn what that was.

That year after leaving corporate, I focused on doing what I absolutely loved without worrying about the consequences or money. I was smart and strategic about growing my online presence, and used storytelling as the glue to create a powerful personal brand.

When I returned from my trip, I started freelancing as a marketing consultant for $150 an hour and quickly grew from there. My clients were people who'd heard about me, who I'd collaborated with during my trip, or who I'd helped for free before.

Within nine months of officially launching my business, I'd hit my first $100,000 year. This evolved into what I do now, which is working with entrepreneurs to master their story to create powerful brands that grow their reach, visibility, and sales.

Fast forward to today, and I've just earned in a month what I used to earn in a year — no crazy launches, no big marketing pushes, nothing fancy outside of my regular marketing activities.

I earned my $32,000 month from one of my favorite islands in Greece, waking up in a cozy bed and breakfast overlooking the ocean, working from my laptop from charming outdoor cafes, and spending my precious time and energy on projects that I choose and that set my soul on fire.

Here are five key steps I took to grow my online business to the next level.

1. Raising my standards

I decided to dramatically raise my standards for the quality of client I'm willing to work with, what I earn, and how I spend my precious time. Before, I'd work with difficult clients because I "needed" the money. I'd settle for $10,000 months because I thought it was enough.

I would spend a lot of energy doing free work and letting people who weren't actually serious about my work waste my time, instead of focusing on my own projects. No more. I let go of a bunch of distractions and people who were holding me back.

2. Ruthlessly committing to mindset

As Tony Robbins says, "80% of success is psychology and 20% is mechanics."

I've religiously focused on maximizing my wellness routine, meditation practice, and filling my mind with information that improves me. All the strategy in the world won't save you if you don't believe in yourself and aren't maximizing your focus, expertise, and mental well-being.

You need to be able to handle the shit that life throws at you with grace and patience instead of stress.

3. Investing in myself

I've spent over $20,000 on coaching, events, and masterminds in the past month and made it back almost instantly. I've invested over $50,000 on my self-development this year because I'm serious about being the absolute best at what I do, and that means learning from the best.

Plus, when you put your skin in the game, you'll be more motivated to show up and do the work. I've yet to meet someone who earns six figures or more who hasn't invested in themselves somehow.

 

4. Strengthening my offers

I did an audit of my packages and asked myself, "What do my clients need to get the best possible results?"

I increased the value of my services to ensure my clients get all the support they need from me. It's not just about what you want to sell, but rather about what your client wants and needs. Pay close attention to that … without happy clients, you can't have a thriving business.

5. Approaching sales with love 

I used to be scared of selling because I thought it was slimy and unethical. I learned that selling is as good or bad as your intentions.

I reframed my perspective — instead of "selling," why not have genuine conversations where I actually listened to what people needed and offered them the perfect solution? I have no doubt of my ability to deliver, so selling is an act of service. If you genuinely believe that your product or service will transform the lives of your clients for the better, then selling is an act of love.

We are so scared to do what we love because we think we will fail. But think of the consequences if you don't take action — for me, I'd still be in some miserable corporate job somewhere in New York City, in my nicer but more expensive apartment, wondering "what if?" I actually followed my dreams instead of being CEO of my own company by age 27.

Don't allow fear to run your life. Believe in your future earning potential, and most importantly, believe that you will show up for yourself when life calls you to rise. And then, just do the damn thing.

SEE ALSO: A day in the life of a 34-year-old early retiree who lives in NYC, grew his net worth to $1.25 million in just 5 years, and wakes up at 7:30 a.m.

DON'T MISS: Here's exactly what millennials should be doing every five years to become rich, according to a financial planner

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Meet the photographer behind the 'I Spy' books that captured millions of readers' imaginations

7 defining differences between the ultra-wealthy and the 'millionaires next door'

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Not all high net worth individuals have the same approach to their money.

The "millionaires next door" — those with net worths between $1 million and $5 million — manage and spend their fortunes quite differently than the ultra-wealthy, whose net worths exceed $30 million.

Some of the differences are superficial, like a preference for subtle displays of wealth over flashy labels. Others, like their preferred investment vehicles, can have substantial impacts on their fortunes.

Read more: 5 things the ultra-wealthy are doing to prepare their portfolios for a possible recession, from ditching bonds to stockpiling cash

Keep reading to learn more about the differences between ultra-high net worth individuals and the millionaires next door. For the purposes of this article, Business Insider also examined the differences between millionaires' and billionaires' money habits. While the differences highlighted below speak to trends among the different levels of wealth, they are by no means exhaustive.

SEE ALSO: Ultra-rich Americans are selling off luxury real estate faster than they're snapping it up, and it's not the only change they're making to their portfolios as recession fears linger

DON'T MISS: 5 things the ultra-wealthy are doing to prepare their portfolios for a possible recession, from ditching bonds to stockpiling cash

1. The ultra-wealthy work because they want to, not because they have to.

Millionaires and billionaires almost always answer the question "What do you enjoy more, making money or spending it?" differently, Business Insider's Hillary Hoffower previously reported.

The difference between "financially successful people (millionaires) and financially super successful people (billionaires) boils down to the fact that the latter get pleasure making money, but don't enjoy spending it," according to Rafael Badziag, an entrepreneur who spent five years conducting face-to-face interviews with 21 self-made entrepreneurs.

Billionaire businessmen Michal Solowow — the wealthiest person in Poland — and Lirio Parisotto — the wealthiest person in South America — both credited their savings habits to their financial success, Business Insider previously reported.



2. When the ultra-wealthy do display their wealth, they prefer to do it subtly.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg isn't known for his fashion sense, but his uniform of grey t-shirts, blue jeans, and Nikes is more expensive than one might think. Zuckerberg special-orders his shirts from Italian luxury brand Brunello Cucinelli for between $300 and $400 each, Business Insider previously reported.

The ultra-wealthy increasingly favor displays of wealth that are discreet, Business Insider's Hillary Hoffower previously reported. They are increasingly investing in luxury travel, wellness and fitness experiences.

Millionaires, on the other hand, are more likely to spend their wealth on flashy purchases like designer clothes and bags, Business Insider previously reported.

Read more: Mark Zuckerberg's summer involved paddleboarding at his $59 million Lake Tahoe compound and selfies with his wife in Paris. Here's how the CEO spent his time.



3. If the ultra-wealthy retire at all, they do it later.

While speaking at on a panel in July, Brazilian financier Jorge Paulo Lemann said, "It's a horror that everybody in Switzerland retires at 60 and thinks it's all right," Business Insider previously reported. Then there's Warren Buffett, who, at age 88, still goes to work every day and said in an interview with the Financial Times that he has no plans to retire.

However, the prospect of retiring young is gaining popularity with self-made millionaires, Business Insider's Hillary Hoffower reported. One community of early retirees known for the acronym FIRE — "financial independence, retire early" — have even developed a unique way of congratulating each other on their retirement. "Go f--- yourself," they tell each other, because that's how outsiders tend to respond when FIRE members discuss their financial goals.

Read more: The 80-year-old billionaire investor behind AB InBev and Burger King calls it 'a horror' that the Swiss retire at 60, and it's a mindset shared by some of the other biggest names in business



4. Millionaires next door are younger than the ultra-wealthy, on average.

The average age of an ultra-high net worth individual across the globe is 63.3, according to market research firm Wealth-X told Business Insider. That's nearly five years older than the average age for all high net worth individuals.

The average of all people with net worths above $1 million was 58.8 in 2018, according to Wealth-X's 2019 High Net Worth Handbook.



5. The ultra-wealthy favor riskier investments than millionaires.

Millionaires next door tend to choose less risky investments that perform better in volatile markets, Chirag Thakral, the Deputy Head of the Global Financial Services Market Intelligence Strategic Analysis Group of French consulting firm Capgemini, previously told Business Insider.

Billionaires, on the other hand, often include riskier investments like commercial real estate, hedge funds, and private equities in their portfolios.

Read more: Billionaires tend to make riskier investment choices than millionaires, and it helps explain why ultra high net worth individuals lost so much of their money in 2018



6. Millionaires' fortunes are more stable than those of the ultra-wealthy.

Their equity-heavy portfolios make the net worths of the ultra-wealthy extremely susceptible to market volatility.

Approximately $15 billion was wiped off the net worths of Hong Kong's 10 richest people between late July and mid-August as protests upheaved the city's stock market, according to the Financial Times. Li Ka-Shing, Hong Kong's richest citizen, lost $3 billion alone. Li took out advertisements in local Hong Kong newspapers calling for an end to the protests on August 15, The South China Morning Post reported.

Read more: The richest man in Hong Kong has lost $3 billion since July, and now he's joining the chorus of wealthy citizens calling for the 10-week protests to end



7. The ultra-wealthy are more likely to spread their portfolios across the globe.

Having assets in multiple markets doesn't necessarily give the ultra-wealthy an advantage over other investors, Wealth-X Director of Research & Data Analytics Maeen Shaban told Business Insider.

"The thing about that is that the individuals at this level wealth are very exposed to stock markets," Shaban said, "but these individuals are also kind of exploded at a global level. You have wealthy individuals from even markets that experienced a positive performance [in 2018], but they are strongly invested in other markets as you would expect at this level of wealth. So a 20% or 15% drop in the stock market may have a smaller impact on an average investor, but had probably proportionally much bigger impact on an individual at this level of wealth."



How to block pop-ups on a Samsung Galaxy S10 in its default browser or Google Chrome, or from apps

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galaxy s10 plus front

  • You can block pop-ups on a Samsung Galaxy S10 in both Google Chrome and the Samsung Internet browser.
  • The feature is on by default, but if pop-up blocking has been disabled on your Galaxy S10, you can re-enable it in the Settings menu of both browser apps.
  • Some apps can create pop-ups as well, so you should delete unneeded apps from your S10, especially if they're sending you pop-ups. 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

You can't block every pop-up ad in the world — even with advanced ad blocking software, some get through. But it is possible to prevent pop-up ads from appearing on your Galaxy S10.

The pop-up blockers are turned on by default. But if the pop-up blockers in your Galaxy S10's web browsers have been turned off for some reason, here's how to re-enable blocking for more convenient web browsing. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Samsung Galaxy S10 (From $899.99 at Best Buy)

How to block pop-ups on a Samsung Galaxy s10 in Google Chrome

1. Start the Chrome app.

2. Tap the three vertical dots at the top right of the screen, and then tap "Settings" in the drop-down menu. 

popups 1

3. Tap "Site settings."

4. Look for "Pop-ups and redirects." It should say "Blocked." If it does not, tap it and then turn off pop-ups by swiping the button to the left. This can be a little confusing — the feature is turning off pop-ups, not turning on a pop-up blocker, so be sure the button is in the off position to block pop-ups. 

5. On the Site settings page, also ensure that "Ads" are turned off. It should say "Blocked on some sites." 

popups 2

How to block pop-ups on a Samsung Galaxy S10 in the Samsung Internet browser

1. Start the Internet app.

2. Tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner of the screen. 

3. In the pop-up window, tap "Settings."

4. Tap "Sites and downloads."

5. Turn on "Block pop-ups" by swiping the button to the right. 

popups 3

How to block pop-ups that come from apps on your Galaxy S10

In addition, it's possible for malicious apps to open unwanted pop-up ads on your phone. Unfortunately, there's no specific pop-up blocker for apps like this.

You should only install reputable apps from the Google Play or Galaxy Store, and delete apps that are questionable or unwanted. 

To see how to delete unwanted apps, read the article, "How to delete apps on your Samsung Galaxy, or disable apps that can't be removed."

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: The best wireless chargers you can buy

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: If you want an emoji that isn't available, you can create it. Here's how everyday people send their submissions.

How to mute messages on a Mac computer using its Do Not Disturb feature

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mac computer

  • There are two ways to mute messages on your Mac to help you get more done or take time away from your various screens to recharge.
  • You can either set a general "Do Not Disturb" across your notifications, or you can select individual conversations within the iMessage app to mute. The best option will depend on your needs.
  • Here's how to mute messages on a Mac using either method.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Whether it's to give yourself more time to get things done or to simply have time away from other people, sometimes you just need to take a break from constant, virtual interaction with others. 

If you use the Messages app on your Mac to communicate with people who use iMessage on their iPhone or iPad, muting conversations by turning on the "Do Not Disturb" option is a great way to accomplish this.

Here's how to get it done:

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

MacBook Pro (From $1,299.99 at Best Buy)

iPhone 11 (From $699.99 at Best Buy)

iPad (From $329.99 at Best Buy)

How to mute messages on a Mac

Before you get started, be aware that you can set a general "Do Not Disturb" by going to the "Notifications" section of your System Preferences. 

How to mute messages on Mac

But keep in mind that this will apply to all of your notifications, not just messages. So if you want to be more selective, another option is to go into specific conversations within iMessage and turn on the "Do Not Disturb" feature.

Here's how:

1. Open the Messages app — it's the blue and white speech bubble icon in your dock; if it's not in your dock, use Spotlight (the magnifying glass icon at the top-right of your screen)  and enter "messages" in its search box to locate the app.

2. Sign in using your Apple ID, if necessary.

3. Select the conversation you want to mute in the left sidebar.

4. Click "Details" in the top-right corner of the conversation.

How to mute messages on Mac

5. Tick the box next to "Do Not Disturb."

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: The best MacBooks you can buy

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Amazon is reportedly seeking a new space in New York City. Here's why the giant canceled its HQ2 plans 5 months ago.


The 20 best shoe deals from Cole Haan's semi-annual sale

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Cole Haan

  • Cole Haan's big semi-annual sale is going on now through October 15. Customers can save 30% on new arrivals and sale items online and in stores with few exclusions.
  • Cole Haan's collaborations with Rodarte, Chinatown Market, and GreyLayers are excluded from the semi-annual sale, but other than those collections, basically everything else gets the 30% discount. 
  • We put together a list of the 20 best deals on men's and women's shoes, from boots to dress shoes to sneakers. With the 30% off, many of the shoes in this list are less than $100, and none cost more than $210.
  • Visit Business Insider Coupons to potentially save more at Cole Haan
  • Shop the Cole Haan semi-annual sale now

Men's 2.ZERØGRAND Chukka

2.ZERØGRAND Chukka, $175 (Originally $250) [You save $75]



Men's ZERØGRAND Hiker Boot

ZERØGRAND Hiker Boot, $210 (Originally $300) [You save $90]



Men's GrandPrø Chukka

GrandPrø Chukka, $97.96 (Originally $150) [You save $52.04]



Men's Kennedy Grand Chukka Boot

Kennedy Grand Chukka Boot, $132.96 (Originally $320) [You save $187.04]



Men's Wagner Grand Chelsea Boot

Wagner Grand Chelsea Boot, $210 (Originally $300) [You save $90]



Men's 2.ZERØGRAND Laser Wingtip Oxford

2.ZERØGRAND Laser Wingtip Oxford, $98.97 (Originally $200) [You save $101.03]



Men's Somerset Link Bit Loafer

Somerset Link Bit Loafer, $62.96 (Originally $160) [You save $97.04]



Men's 3.ZERØGRAND Wingtip Oxford

3.ZERØGRAND Wingtip Oxford, $132.96 (Originally $300) [You save $167.04]



Men's Pinch Grand Classic Penny Loafer

Pinch Grand Classic Penny Loafer, $118.96 (Originally $200) [You save $81.04]



Men's GrandPrø Classic Running Sneaker

GrandPrø Classic Running Sneaker, $69.96 (Originally $150) [You save $80.04]



Women's Harrington Grand Slouch Bootie

Harrington Grand Slouch Bootie, $140 (Originally $200) [You save $60]



Women's 3.ZERØGRAND Chelsea Boot

3.ZERØGRAND Chelsea Boot, $83.98 (Originally $250) [You save $166.02]



Women's Mara Chelsea Bootie

Mara Chelsea Bootie, $125.96 (Originally $250) [You save $124.04]



Women's Denise Boot

Denise Boot, $188.96 (Originally $300) [You save $111.04]



Women's Nitasha Bootie

Nitasha Bootie, $154 (Originally $220) [You save $66]



Women's ZERØGRAND Explore Hiker Boot

ZERØGRAND Explore Hiker Boot, $196 (Originally $280) [You save $84]



Women's ØriginalGrand Plain Oxford

ØriginalGrand Plain Oxford, $97.96 (Originally $150) [You save $52.04]



Women's 2.ZERØGRAND Laser Wingtip Oxford

2.ZERØGRAND Laser Wingtip Oxford, $105 (Originally $150) [You save $45]



Women's GrandPrø Downtown Sneaker

Cole Haan GrandPrø Downtown Sneaker, $62.96 (Originally $150) [You save $87.04]



Women's Marlee Mule

Marlee Mule, $83.96 (Originally $140) [You save $56.04]



More Americans say they'd give up vacation days if their boss paid off their student loans

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stressed job seeker

  • 63% of job seekers with student loan debt said they would give up PTO in exchange for help paying off student loan debt, according to a new survey by job-listing site ZipRecruiter.
  • The weight of student loan debt is heavy: it's driving borrowers to file for bankruptcy and delay life milestones like buying a home and having kids.
  • However, exchanging vacation time for help paying off student loan debt may not be a good idea, as it could end up losing you money in the long run.
  • Visit BusinessInsider.com for more stories.

American workers have a record amount of student debt — and they'd rather have it gone before going on vacation.

For people with student loan debt who were looking for a job, 63% said they would give up paid time off in exchange for help paying off student loan debt, according to a new survey by job-listing site ZipRecruiter provided exclusively to Business Insider. The survey polled 10,500 active job seekers in the US on SurveyMonkey in July 2019.

The average amount of vacation time people would give up in exchange for student debt relief was 2.3 months, but nearly a quarter of surveyed workers would give up five months of paid time off for help with loans.

While only one-tenth of job postings on ZipRecruiter advertise help paying off employee student debt, the company told Business Insider this perk is increasing in popularity. Major companies like Fidelity, Aetna, and Penguin Random House now have some sort of student debt relief program for employees.

"The big picture is that student loan debt puts an enormous pressure on job seekers," Julia Pollak, a labor economist at ZipRecruiter, told Business Insider.

Read more:10 mind-blowing facts that show just how dire the student-loan crisis in America is

Paying off student debt is one of the biggest challenges American workers face

Today, the average student debt per graduating student in 2018 who took out loans is $29,800, and the national student loan debt total now exceeds $1.5 million, according to Student Loan Hero.

Student loan debt is so crippling that it's leading some borrowers to file for bankruptcy. And as many as 40% of borrowers could default on their student loans by 2023, according to the 2018 Brookings Institution report.

It's even harder to pay off when coupled with the financial fallout from the Great Recession and rising living costs. It's one of the key drivers causing millennials to delay traditional life milestones like buying a home and having kids

"I feel like buying a house is a total pipe dream at this point in my life," a water-resources engineer who graduated from a public university with roughly $25,000 in debt previously told Business Insider.

The burden is so stressful that nearly half of indebted millennials think college wasn't worth the student loans, according to an Insider and Morning Consult survey. 

But while getting your boss to help pay off your student loans sounds nice, it may not be wise to give up your vacation time for it. The average monthly student loan payment for grads is $393, while the median weekly salary for full-time workers is $908— meaning giving up a week of vacation for one student loan payment loses you money.

"We would highly encourage job seekers to make sure it's a fair trade," Pollak said. "We would encourage workers to think very carefully about the numbers or do whatever they can to consolidate their loans or look into cheaper consolidation options before giving up valuable benefits."

SEE ALSO: Your vacation is stressing out your millennial coworkers, and social media is only making it worse

SEE ALSO: 8 startling facts that show just how hard the student-debt crisis is hurting black Americans

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32 kitchen gifts from Williams Sonoma for the cook and foodie in your life

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Specialty store Williams Sonoma is one of the biggest online retailers in the US. It's also one of the best places to find anything you need for your kitchen.

It's impossible not to find a good gift for the cook and foodie in your life from Williams Sonoma because it carries cookware, kitchen appliances, cutlery, small tools, bakeware, and barware.

Your recipient's favorite high-quality kitchen brands all live at Williams Sonoma — from legacies like KitchenAid, Le Creuset, All-Clad, and Mauviel to modern classics like Instant Pot and GreenPan. Drawing from decades of experience in the culinary world, the company also designs and sells its own collection of kitchen products, which are often a little more affordable.

Williams Sonoma doesn't only sell the products that help your recipient make food. It offers delicious gourmet food gifts that you'll be tempted to keep for yourself too.

As you shop for gifts at Williams Sonoma, keep an eye out for sitewide sales, exclusive products you can't find anywhere else, and limited-edition collaborations. They'll help you save money and find a unique, memorable gift.

We combed through the site's vast offerings and found the best 32 kitchen and food gifts. Find them all below. 

A gadget that keeps their wine fresh

Coravin Model Two Elite Pro Wine Preservation System, $399.95

Coravin's patented wine system preserves the quality and taste of your wine after you first uncork the bottle, so your recipient can enjoy a taste or glass without ruining the entire bottle. It works by penetrating the cork with a thin needle to let them pour out the wine. Then, as they pour, it fills the interior of the bottle with argon gas to protect the wine from oxidizing.

 



An herb wand

Chef'n Herb Wand, $14.36

The two-in-one tool has a removable brush head that lets them slather the flavor of fresh herbs on roasted or grilled food.



An electric salt and pepper mill

Trudeau Graviti Electric Salt & Pepper Mills, $39.95-$79.95

They've already worked hard enough preparing the bulk of their meal. With these battery-operated mills, they can dispense the finishing touch of ground-up salt and pepper with just one hand. They come pre-filled with salt crystals and whole peppercorns.

 



A beautiful Dutch oven

Le Creuset Signature Cast-Iron Fleur Round Dutch Oven, $300

The iconic cast iron Dutch oven, which shines in slow cooking recipes, has a pretty floral design circling the lid.



A Santoku knife

Shun Classic Hollow-Ground Santoku Knife, $89.95-$149.95

The Santoku knife is the unsung hero of the kitchen. Like a chef's knife, it's excellent for slicing and dicing, but it's also great for chopping. This Japanese-crafted knife features 34 ultra-thin layers of stainless steel on each side of the blade, and there are indentations along the bottom to prevent sticking.

 



An illustrated, monogrammed mug

Rory Dobner Monogram Mug, $12.95

Monogrammed mugs are easy and affordable gifts to give to anyone in your life. We love the intricate illustrations by British designer Rory Dobner.

 

 



Old-fashioned glasses hand-painted with 24-karat gold

Schumacher Chiang Mai Dragon Double Old-Fashioned Glasses, $79.95

Enjoy an Old Fashioned in style with these artistic glasses created in collaboration with American design house Schumacher.

 

 



A set of olive wood cheese knives

Antonini Olivewood Cheese Knives Set, $59.95

A mouth-watering cheese spread deserves equally sleek tools to serve it. There are four knives — curved, semi heart, wide, thin — to slice through a variety of cheese. The handles are carved from a handsome Mediterranean hardwood. 

 

 

 



A cheese board that stands out

Aerin Figural Leaf Cheese Board, $39.99

Forget plain marble, slate, or wood. This whimsical board is made from hand-painted earthenware and decorated with touches of wildlife.

 



Everything they need to make a viral rainbow cake

Flour Shop Basics Cake Set, $139.95

Flour Shop is the bakery known for its "Rainbow Explosion Cake," a colorful six-layer cake with a sprinkle-filled core. If they have a sweet tooth and a penchant for anything rainbow, they'll love this all-inclusive kit.

 

 



An assortment of ready-to-bake croissants

Le Marais Assorted Pastry Sampler, $59.95

Flaky, buttery croissants, pain au chocolate, and kouign-amann are the focus of this gift. They come frozen from Le Marais Bakery in San Francisco and will make your recipient's kitchen smell like a Parisian cafe.



Flavorful marinades to enhance grilled and roasted foods

Williams Sonoma Marinades, $41.95

The three different marinades ensure they'll never be stuck with a bland piece of meat, seafood, or vegetable. They're made in small batches with fresh, high-quality ingredients.



A French-inspired pie dish

Emile Henry Ruffled Pie Dish, $38.99

Burgundian clay is known for distributing and retaining heat evenly, giving them a warm, perfectly browned pie every time. And the ruffled edge makes it look as good it tastes. 

 



A crate of rich truffle products

Williams Sonoma Truffle Pantry Crate, $119.95

With this gift, they can incorporate black or white truffle into every part of their meal, whether they sprinkle it over popcorn to elevate movie night or spread it over crostini for an exciting appetizer. 

 



A charming Wookiee apron

Star Wars Chewbacca Adult Apron, $31.96

The comfortable apron is charming, too, with its felt appliques and striking resemblance to the lovable copilot. 



A retro stand mixer celebrating a 100-year-old brand

KitchenAid Heritage Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixer with Ceramic Hobnail Bowl, $499.95

The limited-edition mixer is a slightly smaller version of the commercial-size models, but doesn't sacrifice power and efficiency. It features 10 mixing speeds that allow them to make a variety of recipes, a beater that scrapes both the sides and middle of the bowl, and most obviously, a vintage-style, textured ceramic bowl. 



A machine that will make them want to make pasta every night

Philips Pasta Maker, $299.95

The machine is expensive, but it also does the bulk of the work: mixing, kneading, and shaping. All your recipient needs to do is measure their ingredients and add them to the machine. As they become more comfortable with it, they can experiment with different flavors and recipes. 



Cookie cutters for your family's resident "Harry Potter" fan

Harry Potter House Crest Cookie Cutters, $16.95

While a Hufflepuff will bake more than enough cookies to feed everyone at the party, a Slytherin might keep them all to themselves, or only relinquish the burned ones. Just be warned that the detailed designs might be challenging to decorate for beginning bakers. 

 



A grill-cleaning tool

Grand Grill Daddy Grill Cleaning Brush, $69.95

The first step to a successful grilling session is having a clean grill. This brush steams up their grill so they can scrub away all the grease and residue quickly and thoroughly. 



A wine-chilling tool

Corkcicle Wine Chilling Wand, $29.95

In addition to keeping their wine preserved, you can help them keep it chilled at the perfect temperature with Corkcicle's stainless steel wand. It also aerates the wine as it's being poured out. 

 



A travel-friendly coffee press

Espro Coffee Travel Press, $34.95-$39.95

For the person who can't go a day without their coffee, get this portable press. It'll caffeinate them on the go, and it works as a traditional press or a pour-over press. Their coffee stays hot thanks to the double wall insulation. 



The secret to perfectly shaped chocolate chip cookies

Oxo Cookie Scoop, $13.95-$14.95

The handy scoop dispenses rows and rows of uniform cookie dough balls every single time. Get the small size for 2-inch diameter cookies and the medium size for 2.75-inch diameter cookies. 



A screen that protects them from hot oil splashes

Williams Sonoma Silicone Splatter Screen, $24.95

The screen protects not only skin but also the nearby walls from stubborn, oily grease. It's a clever design because it has perforations to allow steam to escape and prevent the food from becoming soggy. 



A cookbook that revolves around the most important meal of the day

Williams Sonoma Breakfast Bible Cookbook, $19.95

Make no mistake — these aren't your basic breakfast recipes. There are more than 100 recipes covering every category of breakfast you can think of: eggs, pastries, smoothie bowls, and more. One morning, they can make huevos rancheros, and the next, a Vietnamese breakfast sandwich. 



A madeleine pan with more than one use case

Nonstick Madeleine Pan, $25

While the nonstick pan is formally designed to make fluffy madeleines, the shape of the molds also works for any other similar type of batter, like corn cake or biscuit. 



A small device that grinds spices and nuts

Cuisinart Spice & Nut Grinder, $39.95

The compact tool's sharp blades and powerful motor grind everything from cinnamon sticks to nuts into a fine dust. Or, if you'd prefer a more chunky texture, press on the lid a fewer number of times. 



A spiralizer that can turn a vegetable into four different shapes

Paderno Spiralizer, $49.95

Angel hair, spiral cut, shoestring, or ribbon — they can pick any of these cuts that will make eating vegetables more interesting. The spiralizer works will all firm fruits and vegetables, including apples, carrots, and zucchini. 



A set of rustic, woven coasters

Nito Coasters, $24.95

Nito is a type of fern found abundantly in the Philippines. As it turns out, it also makes for an eye-catching and easy-to-maintain material for drink coasters. 

 



A mini beer station that turns their kitchen counter into their favorite neighborhood bar

Vacu Vin Home Bar Beer Station, $29.95

The affordable station includes a beer blade to skim off excess foam and a draining tray that helps keep the counter dry. 



A cookware staple made from powerful and durable materials

All-Clad d5 Stainless-Steel 8-inch Fry Pan, $125

Everything in All-Clad's d5 Stainless Steel line features five layers of stainless steel and aluminum, a construction that's durable and highly heat conductive. A fry pan may not be the most exciting kitchen gift, but it'll certainly be one of the most useful. 



A smoker box

Smoker Box, $49.95

A smoker box is a shortcut to infuse any meat with smoke. It's not as large as a full smoker (it can fit inside a grill), but it'll trap and circulate the smoke to give their chicken, fish, and beef an enhanced barbecue taste. 

 



A high-tech toaster oven

Breville Mini Smart Toaster Oven, $179.95

The oven gets its "smart" moniker from its internal sensor tech that automatically adjusts power and calculates cooking time. There are eight preset cooking functions to accompany the large nonstick interior and a heat setting that goes up to 450°F. 

 



Less than 15% of ultra-high net worth individuals around the world are women. That's the highest it's ever been.

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  • Out of the 265,490 people worth more than $30 million a piece on the planet, only 38,700 are women, according to the research firm Wealth-X's 2019 World Ultra-Wealth Report.
  • That's an all-time high.
  • The number of women who made their own fortunes is increasing, too.
  • However, wealthy women tend to be less rich than the average ultra-high net worth individual.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Just one out of every seven individuals worth more than $30 million in 2018 is a woman, a report by research firm Wealth-X found.

And that's the most it has ever been.

"I think what we're seeing is that over the years women are becoming increasingly entrepreneurial," Wealth-X Director of Thought Leadership & Analytics Maya Imberg told Business Insider. "Over a long time period, that began to show itself within the data of who makes up the ultra-wealthy."

Out of the 265,490 ultra-wealthy people on the planet, defined by Wealth-X as those with net worths over $30 million, 38,700 are women, according to the research firm's 2019 World Ultra-Wealth Report. The share of ultra-high net worth individuals who are women jumps to 18.8% when only those under 50 are studied, suggesting that women's share of the 1% will continue to increase with time.

Read more: Luck vs. skill: The founders behind major businesses like Bumble, Shopify, and Away explain what their success boils down to — and they all have different takes

Wealthy women used to primarily inherit their fortunes; now, they're also building them on their own

In past decades, ultra-high net worth women primarily inherited their fortunes, according to Wealth-X. Increasing numbers of female entrepreneurs are directly correlated with increasing numbers of ultra-wealthy women, Imberg told Business Insider.

However, women still face substantial headwinds when launching their own companies, Business Insider's Megan Hernbroth previously reported. In the first half of 2019, investment in female-founded startups accounted for 2.9% of total venture investments. That figure put 2019 on track to be the best fundraising year for female founders ever.

Entrepreneurship is one of the most common ways to create wealth. The proportion of the ultra-wealthy who made their own fortunes has been on the rise throughout the past decade, reaching over 67% in 2018, according to Wealth-X.

Tadashi Yanai, the founder of Uniqlo and the richest man in Japan, said in August that his job as the founder of one of the fastest-growing clothing retailers on the planet is actually "more suitable for a woman" because women are more "persevering, detailed oriented and have an aesthetic sense."

Wealthy women also tend to be less rich than the average ultra-high net worth individual, Wealth-X found. While women comprise 14.6% of the world's ultra-high net worth population, they hold only 10.3% of that group's cumulative wealth. This wealth gap is even more significant in ultra-wealthy people over age 70.

SEE ALSO: Melinda Gates just promised to put $1 billion towards gender equality over the next 10 years, and she says she has 3 priorities she wants to focus on

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A CEO who writes 9,200 employee birthday cards a year explains the value of gratitude

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  • Sheldon Yellen, CEO of the property-restoration company BELFOR Holdings, Inc., hand-writes birthday cards to each of his 9,200 employees as a way to say thank you.
  • He travels with a suitcase full of stationary. He also pens handwritten notes for thank-yous, anniversaries, and other occasions.
  • Researchers and career experts say the most successful corporate managers are those who can thank their employees and give them words of encouragement.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

If you happen to sit next to Sheldon Yellen on your next flight, chances are he'll be writing birthday cards — lots and lots of them.

Yellen is the CEO of BELFOR Holdings, Inc., a disaster-relief and property-restoration company. And since 1985, long before Yellen was chief executive, he has written a birthday card to every employee of the company every single year.

Today, as CEO, he says he handwrites 9,200 cards annually — one for every employee.

"There is an inside joke with acquisitions that I ask prior to closing: 'How many more people?'" he told Business Insider's Chris Weller in 2017— meaning, How many more birthday cards do I have to write? — "since I am constantly calculating that in my mind rather than 'What is the EBITDA [earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization]?'" 

Read more:The Fed made one key recruitment change to hire more women and minorities, and it's a model for any company struggling to diversify

Yellen started the practice in 1985. He says he started doing it after he was hired by his brother-in-law, since many of the current employees felt he was being given special treatment. If nothing else, the birthday cards would encourage people to stop by his desk to say thank you, he thought.

"And it worked," he said. "It got people talking, we started to communicate more, and I like to think it helped me earn respect within the company."

The importance of workplace gratitude

Fast forward to today, and Yellen is now bringing suitcases full of stationary with him on every plane trip he takes.

But the practice isn't just for the thank you — Yellen writes thank-you notes, anniversary cards, holiday cards, and writes to his employees' kids when they are sick, company director of marketing communications Alexandra Gort told Business Insider in 2019.

Yellen has found taking the time to write out a card for each and every person has created a culture of compassion through the whole company.

"It's also something that doesn't have to cost a thing," he said. "When I learn of random acts of kindness being performed in the field, I take it upon myself to again, reach out in writing, and send a thank you card so that person can know they are appreciated and that their efforts don't go unnoticed."

Yellen has a point: career experts say the best managers are ones who often dole out positive reinforcement to hard-workers. Workers told Business Insider that the traits they admire in their bosses are when they can call attention to career accomplishments, and expresses genuine interest in their well-being.

Survey research even indicates good employees will quit their jobs if they aren't recognized enough for their efforts.

Yellen, for one, said his gesture made for a more compassionate, gracious workplace. Some managers have even taken up the habit themselves to write cards for their team members, clients, and loved ones.

Other CEOs may consider the gesture frivolous or a waste of time, but Yellen is quick to disagree. He said his experience has taught him that the value keeps coming back in spades.

"When leaders forget about the human element, they're holding back their companies and limiting the success of others," he said. "Focusing only on profit and forgetting that a company's most important asset is its people will ultimately stifle a company's growth."

Chris Weller contributed to a previous version of this article. 

SEE ALSO: The Wing's cofounder just became the first visibly pregnant CEO featured on a business magazine cover

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'How does an iPhone track steps?': How to use the step-tracking feature in the Health app

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Whether you like it or even realize it, the modern smart device knows a lot about your day-to-day choices. 

Apple's iPhone has one lifestyle tracking feature that you may actually find useful, rather than invasive or creepy: it can track how many steps you take over time. 

Using an accelerometer and other high-tech sensors, your iPhone can detect when you are walking, and how much, using data based on the speed and movement of the phone. 

And given that we're rarely apart from our iPhones, the data it gathers on average steps can be a solid measure of health — with no Fitbit required.

Here's how to access your step count in the Health app on your iPhone

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How to use your iPhone to track steps

1. Open your iPhone's Health app. 

2. At the bottom of the screen, click "Browse."

3. Under "Health Categories" select "Activity."

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4. Tap "Steps."

Whether you've been using the Health app or not, you'll already have data gathered for all the step activity recorded when you've been carrying your iPhone. 

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The app will also automatically graph your average steps over time, and highlight any trends or changes.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

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A 36-year-old New York lawyer who makes $270,000 says he lives off rice and beans so he can save 70% of his salary — and he's part of a growing movement pinching pennies to retire early

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Some people will do anything to escape the rat race.

Just ask 36-year-old Daniel, a Manhattan corporate lawyer earning $270,000 a year, who told Suzy Weiss of The New York Post that he lives in New Jersey to avoid city taxes, lives on rice and beans, owns one patched-together suit per weekday for work, and layers up during the winter instead of turning the heat on — all so he can save 70% of his salary and retire early.

It's working: He's saved more than $400,000 and is set to retire in three years, Weiss wrote.

Other six-figure earners Weiss talked to have similar goals and are pulling out all the stops to reach them, from banning buying drinks out to wearing shoes that are falling apart.

They all hope to join the Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE) movement, which was first popularized when "Your Money or Your Life" was published 20 years ago. It's nothing new — but more millennials are becoming interested in the community, according to Weiss.

Read more: What 8 people wish they knew before retiring in their 20s and 30s

Living on less helps early retirees stay on track

Being content with less and refusing to succumb to lifestyle inflation are the tickets to staying on track to retire early.

J.P. Livingston, who runs a personal finance blog called The Money Habit, built a nest egg of more than $2 million before retiring at 28. Livingston worked in Manhattan's finance industry and earned $100,000 in her first post-grad job, she previously told Business Insider.

But, determined to retire early, she tucked 70% of her take-home pay away. In an effort to be more frugal, she bought furniture from Craigslist and chose a living situation more modest than one she could have afforded — with a roommate in a three-floor walk-up on the Upper East Side for $1,050 a month (reasonable rent in a New Yorker's eyes).

Even those not working in traditional high-salaried careers make do with a frugal lifestyle. Consider Joe and Ali Olson, who quit their jobs as public school teachers in their early 30s with $1 million in the bank. They saved 75% of their income and lived in a 400-square-foot home, keeping their annual expenses to about $20,000, Business Insider previously reported.

Read more: A day in the life of a 34-year-old early retiree who lives in NYC, grew his net worth to $1.25 million in just 5 years, and wakes up at 7:30 a.m.

Frugality is the key to building wealth

Regardless of early retirement goals, frugality is the key to building wealth.

Look no further than Warren Buffett, who still lives in the modest home in Omaha, Nebraska, that he bought for $276,700 (in today's dollars), or Richard Branson, who is famously frugal when it comes to buying luxury items.

Frugal lifestyles help millionaires get rich in the first place, according to Sarah Stanley Fallaw, the director of research for the Affluent Market Institute and an author of "The Next Millionaire Next Door: Enduring Strategies for Building Wealth," in which she surveyed more than 600 millionaires in America.

During her research, she studied the characteristics most predictive of net worth and found that six behaviors, which she called "wealth factors," were related to net-worth potential, regardless of age or income. One of those is frugality: a commitment to saving, spending less, and sticking to a budget.

"Spending above your means, spending instead of saving for retirement, spending in anticipation of becoming wealthy makes you a slave to the paycheck, even with a stellar level of income," she wrote.

Read the full article at The New York Post »

SEE ALSO: A woman who retired at 38 says 4 strategies can help anyone save big without pinching pennies

DON'T MISS: 5 people explain how their life unexpectedly changed after retiring early

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How to minimize a window screen on a Mac in 2 different ways, so you can use your screen space more efficiently

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  • You can quickly minimize a window screen on a Mac, as well as exit full-screen mode to minimize a window, so that you can more efficiently use your computer's screen space.
  • If you aren't used to using a Mac, the various keyboard commands and locations of simple tools can be confusing. That includes finding the minimize button for your windows.
  • That said, all it takes to adjust to Mac's system is a bit of time familiarizing yourself with its various quirks. 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

For those who are unfamiliar with a Mac's setup, it can be confusing, and doing things as simple as minimizing the screen or getting out of full-screen mode can present a small challenge. 

However, once you get more familiar with the system, it can become quick, easy and even intuitive.

To get you started, here's what you need to know to minimize a window screen on a Mac:

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MacBook Pro (From $1,299 at Best Buy)

How to minimize a window screen on a Mac

There are two primary ways you can get this done:

1. Click the yellow button in the top-left corner of the window — when you do, the screen will disappear and a small icon of it will appear in your dock. 

How to minimize screen on Mac

2. Use the keyboard command "Command+M" to minimize the screen. 

On the other hand, if you're viewing a window in full-screen mode, you can quickly exit using one of the following methods, and then use either of the above methods to minimize your screen:

1. Press Control + Command + F.

2. Move your cursor to the top left corner and when the top toolbar appears click the green button.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech

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How to add music to a video on your iPhone using the iMovie app, and choose from stock music or your own library

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Imagine those underwater scenes in "Jaws" without the menacing strains of those stringed instruments. Or try to picture Indiana Jones swinging a whip without his theme music playing.

Music can make the movie, and that's true whether we're talking about classic Hollywood hits or your own home clips. 

Fortunately, you can easily make your own iPhone videos more enjoyable by adding music with iMovie. 

Here's how to do it. 

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How to add music to a video on your iPhone using iMovie

1. Open the iMovie app and click the big plus (+) symbol near the top of the screen to create a new project, then tap "Movie."

2. Tap the movie, series of movies, or the series of stills you wish to add to the project, then hit "Create Movie" at the bottom of the screen.

IMG_5880

3. On the project-editing screen, the easiest way to add music is to tap the gear icon on the bottom right corner, then toggle "Theme Music" on from the next screen. You can select from about a half dozen "themes" by tapping the images above to add stock music.

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4. To add songs of your choosing rather than iMovie's stock music, on the project-editing page, tap the plus (+) symbol below and to the left of the video.

5. On the next screen, tap "Audio" and then tap "My Music."

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6. Find the song you want to add (you can search by artist, album, or song name) and tap the song, then hit the plus (+) symbol.

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That's it. The song has been added. Now you can use the export (arrow pointing up out of box) link to save the finished video to your media library and enjoy it with sound.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

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

Join the conversation about this story »

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The best online deals and sales happening now

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best online sales deals

We rounded up the nine best sales and deals happening online today, with savings on winter outdoor gear at Backcountry, Anker charging accessories on Amazon, and Leesa Mattresses.

Deals in this story are subject to change throughout the day. The prices listed reflect the deal at the time of publication. For even more deals and savings across the web, check out Business Insider Coupons.

The best sales and deals happening today at a glance:

SEE ALSO: The best mattresses you can buy

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1. Save up to 40% on Anker charging accessories on Amazon

Shop the Anker sale on Amazon now

Keeping all of your electronic devices fully charged can be tough when you're on the go, but Anker makes a great selection of products for fast and efficient charging. As an Amazon Deal of the Day, you can save up to 40% on charging accessories, including power banks, USB-C and lightning charging cables, car chargers, and wireless charging pads. Whether you want to use a normal wall outlet, your car's 12-volt socket, or an external source, you'll find it all here.



2. Save up to 70% on clearance items at Nordstrom Rack

Shop the Nordstrom Rack sale now

Nordstrom Rack's selection of products usually consists of past-season and overstocked items from its parent store, Nordstrom — and because of that, the prices are always discounted. A bunch of new clearance items just arrived from Nordstrom, and they're up to 70% off now. In addition to the massive savings on top brands, Nordy Club members will get extra savings. Now through October 14, you can get a $15 Bonus Note when you spend $75, a $30 Bonus Note when you spend $150, and a $60 Bonus Note when you spend $250.



3. Save $200 on Leesa Mattresses

Shop the Leesa sale now

In celebration of Columbus Day, popular direct-to-consumer mattress brand Leesa is putting its original foam and hybrid (foam and spring) mattresses on sale. Now through October 16, you can save $200 automatically. Leesa is also running a great deal on pillows. When you buy three Leesa Hybrid Pillows, you can get one for free (valued at $109-$119).



4. Save up to 80% on winter gear at Backcountry

Shop the Backcountry sale now

Outdoor retailer Backcountry is having a huge sale on winter gear for their daily deal. Right now, you can save up to 55% on ski goggles, ski poles, snowboarding boots, sleeping bags, tents, and more. Remember the deals only last for 24 hours, so don't wait to shop.

 



5. Save 25% on select Hydro Flasks

Shop the Hydro Flask sale now

Staying hydrated is important year-round, and Hydro Flasks bottles are an excellent way to keep your drinks cold for hours on end (just ask anyone at Insider Picks — nearly all of us have one!). For a limited time, you can save 25% on select Hydro Flasks in discontinued colors. This discount will be taken off automatically, but you can use the promo code "RAPIDSHIP19" to upgrade for expedited free shipping.



6. Get $750 worth of travel points when you sign up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred

Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred from our partner The Points Guy.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is a great option if you're new to earning points and miles, as it has a reasonable $95 annual fee. You'll earn 2 points per dollar on all travel and dining purchases and 1 point on everything else, and the card includes some valuable benefits like trip delay coverage and primary car rental insurance.

You can earn 60,000 Chase points with the Chase Sapphire Preferred when you spend $4,000 in the first three months from account opening. That's worth at least $750 toward travel. Read our review to learn more about the card's benefits.

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.



7. Save 15% on mattress and bedding at Allswell

Shop the Allswell sale now

Mattress and bedding brand Allswell was founded with the firm belief that a good night of sleep shouldn't be expensive to attain — and its affordable prices are a direct reflection of that.  While their prices are generally lower than other bedding companies, we teamed up with the brand to create an exclusive offer for Business Insider readers. You can save 15% sitewide by using the exclusive promo code "INSIDER15" at checkout. 



8. Save 15% on all orders at Framebridge as a new customer

Shop the Framebridge sale now.

In addition to offering customizable framing options for your prints and original paintings, Framebridge will turn your favorite digital images and smartphone pictures into beautifully framed artwork that's suitable for display. Simply pick a frame, upload your image, and Framebridge will ship it to you ready to be hung and shown off. Right now, new customers can save 15% sitewide by using the exclusive promo code "INSIDER15" at checkout. 



9. Save 15% on your first purchases at ASOS

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With over 850 popular brands and a few lines of their own, ASOS is a great place to find a variety of fashionable clothes all in one place and at an affordable price. To help you update your fall wardrobe, ASOS is offering new customers 15% off their first order until October 31. Simply use the promo code "ASOSNEW15" at checkout to save

 



How to upload a video to YouTube from your iPad in 4 steps

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ipad youtube

  • You can upload a video to YouTube from your iPad in just a few steps. 
  • To upload a video to YouTube from your iPad, you'll need to give the YouTube app permission to access your media library, camera, and microphone.
  • YouTube allows you to edit the video clip you are uploading from your iPad, as well as add a title and description.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Once you have the YouTube app on your iPad, you can easily add any videos so that your friends, family, and others can enjoy the clips. 

Just note that in order to share videos to YouTube from your iPad, you will have to allow the app considerable access to your device. 

That said, the ease of the upload process once your iPad is configured is pretty remarkable. Just follow these steps to share your clips with the world.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPad (From $329 at Best Buy)

How to upload a video to YouTube from your iPad 

1. Open the YouTube app and then tap the camera icon at the top of the screen. If you have never uploaded a video from your iPad before, you'll have to grant YouTube access to your library, camera, and microphone.

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2. Tap the video you wish to upload, trim it as you wish, and if you want, add a filter using the icon at the center bottom of the screen.

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3. Tap "NEXT" in the top right corner of the screen, then add a title and description.

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4. Tap "UPLOAD" in the top right corner and that's it, your video will be posted to your YouTube channel.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: The best iPads you can buy

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People are mourning the loss of Instagram's Following tab, which let users snoop on partners and keep tabs on celebrities (FB)

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instagram following tab

  • Instagram has started phasing out its Following tab, which let users see what their friends and acquaintances were liking and following on the platform.
  • Since users noticed the tab has disappeared, they've taken to Twitter and Reddit to mourn the loss of a tool used for watching for signs of cheating partners, keeping tabs on crushes, and stalking the activities of celebrities.
  • Some users have said they preferred the Following tab over the Explore page for discovering new content and accounts on Instagram thanks to who they follow.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The Following tab on Instagram has started to disappear for some users, who have taken to social media to say just how unhappy they are that one of their favorite tools for stalking and spying on their friends is gone too soon.

Instagram confirmed earlier this week that it was getting rid of the Following tab — a feature showing the most recent liking and commenting activity of the people you follow  — after it was first reported by BuzzFeed News' Katie Notopoulos. Instagram 's head of product, Vishal Shah, told BuzzFeed that users didn't "frequently" use the tab, and that many likely didn't even know it existed and was surfacing their activity to their friends.

However, take a quick look at Instagram users' response on social media to the loss of the Following tab, and you may get a slightly different impression. People have taken to Twitter and Reddit the mourn the tab's disappearance, and question what they're supposed to do without their favorite tool for quietly snooping on the antics of their friends, crushes, partners, celebrities, and everyone else they follow on Instagram.

Read more:Instagram is getting rid of the feature that let you see what everyone else was liking

For many, Instagram's Following tab has become a gold mine for keeping tabs — pun intended — on the not-so-secret actions of your friends when they think they're not being noticed. While your Facebook feed shows both your friends' posts and their real-time cyber-actions (liking statuses, commenting on photos, RSVPing to events, following pages), your Instagram homepage is a manicured feed of photos that the people you follow knowingly and purposefully publicize.

Meanwhile, the Following tab was the antithesis to that. Users are already mourning the inability to keep an eye on the types of photos and accounts that their partners are liking and following. Others are questioning how they're supposed to stay updated on the latest drama and gossip regarding their friends and coworkers. And celebrity stan accounts are racing to figure out how they can keep other superfans updated on the latest social media happenings of their favorite singers, actors, and influencers.

For other users, the Following tab was a better way to discover new content and accounts to follow than the Explore page, which is meant to do just that by surfacing posts you may like. Several users on the Reddit thread r/Instagram have lamented that their Explore pages are often full of curated content they really don't have an interest in, while their Following tab let them discover accounts that the people they follow also like — and are therefore more in line with their actual interests.

"I used that feature a lot to find other businesses like mine & to explore what my friends found interesting," one Reddit user wrote. "Not everyone is a stalker or uses Instagram for nefarious activity they want to keep hidden."

SEE ALSO: Angry Instagram users are leaving 1-star reviews on the wrong Threads app on Google's app store

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