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A regular guy tests out Apple’s wireless AirPod headphones — here’s what he thought


I tried In-N-Out and Whataburger side by side — and it's clear who makes a better meal

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Whataburger, In-N-Out

Whataburger is to Texas what In-N-Out is to California. Both companies are still family-owned, regional chains — an anomaly in a market that's dominated by national multimillion-dollar fast-food companies.

In-N-Outs are scattered throughout the Southwest, while Whataburger locations line the South from New Mexico to Florida. They meet in the middle, in Dallas, Texas, where I ate both side by side in a taste test last fall.

While Texans swear by Whataburger's more Southern menu items — Texas toast, patty melts, biscuits — Californians rave about In-N-Out's fresh ingredients and "animal-style" burgers. I ordered a burger, large fries, and a chocolate milkshake.

SEE ALSO: We tested New York City's trendiest fried chicken next to its biggest fast-food competitor — here's who does it better

My first stop was Whataburger. The building is outlined in a classic orange trimming, making it hard to miss when you're cruising down a Texas highway at 80 mph.



Part of Whataburger's Southern charm is displayed right on their windows. There's an American flag and posters repping the neighborhood sports teams.



They take pride in their history — found in most Whataburger restaurants is a framed portrait of the chain's founder, Harmon Dobson, and the original location, which opened in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1950 (right).



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These eerie spider robots will let you nap in their web

We tested the high-tech suitcase meant to make business travel less stressful — here's the verdict

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Raden 2187

Air travel comes with its fair share of pain points. Your checked bag can't be over 50 pounds, so you might be forced to switch items between bags when you get to the check-in counter. Airports are also notorious for their lack of outlets, so you'll often see groups of people forced to hover around central charging stations.

In his mission to build a bag that would solve those traveling blues, Raden CEO Josh Udashkin observed travelers at the airport, taking note of what stalled their journey, he recently told Business Insider. The final design is a sleek, lightweight, and incredibly high-tech suitcase that has its own app and can charge your phone, weigh itself, and tell you its approximate location.

Raden sold $2 million worth of bags in its first four months of operation. It has raised $3.5 million from First Round Capital, Lerer Hippeau Ventures, and private investors to alleviate those struggles that can make traveling a stressful, hectic mess. 

Below, we take a close look at their A22 Carry case and tell you if it's worth the $295 price tag.

SEE ALSO: 19 stunning photos that show why this small Mexican beach town should be on your travel bucket list

Udashkin saw an opening in the travel gear market and went for it. "Younger people don't have an affinity to a [particular luggage] brand," he said.

Source: Business Insider



Raden was thoughtful about its design and branding. The A22 Carry suitcase arrives in a branded bag that you can keep for storage when you're not traveling.



You're greeted with a simple three-step process for hooking up your bag: 1. Turn on the battery. 2. Download the app. 3. Pair your case with the app so that it knows this is your bag.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This forgotten news clip shows the insanity of Burning Man in the '90s

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burning man 97

Today, we know Burning Man as an oasis in the Nevada desert where the tech elite and modern-day hippies gather in the shadow of some pretty crazy art installations.

Not too long ago, the annual festival was a bit more like "Mad Max" on the playa.

A video clip from 1997 resurfaced last week that shows a news crew from ABC's "Nightline" discovering Burning Man for the first time. The Huffington Post spotted it making the rounds.

This is Burning Man before it became a survivalist summer camp for adults, before the likes of Paris Hilton and Katy Perry turned out.

The reporter describes the event as "a loosely organized, frenetic explosion of community, creativity, and chaos," while footage plays showing attendees dance and riot around a burning human effigy (a long-standing Burning Man tradition). There are no luxury camps in sight, or electronic dance music DJs throwing it down before a crowd high on ecstasy.

A young man explains to the camera that he used to be shy and reserved.

burning man corset

"I thought if I came out here — in such an open atmosphere — I could really be myself," he says.

"It sounded like it was the last cool thing to do," another attendee, dressed in monk's robes and sunglasses, says.

The reporter mentions that the event is so remote, festival-goers must bring their own food, supplies, and lodging. Most so-called "burners" still rough it on the desert floor, but a growing number of attendees drop into luxe accommodations, known as "plug-and-play" camps.

burning man parking

Often at these sites, hired help assist the camp with production and concierge services around the cafeteria and lounge spaces. C-suiters shell out as much as $10,000 for a reservation.

Entrance to Burning Man in 1997 cost just $75. In 2016, it was $470, including a vehicle pass.

The costumes (or lack therof) were just as surprising two decades prior. People in the ABC news report wore Native American-inspired garb, tuxedos with masks made from tree branches, and pleather, lots of pleather. An occasional nude bicyclist rides across the frame.

Oh, yeah, and this happened:

burning man car

If you've seen "Mad Max: Fury Road," you might think that instrument-wielding "burner" looks familiar. The flame-throwing guitarist on wheels from the movie became a cult favorite.

mad max guitar guy

Watch the full news report below:

SEE ALSO: Vandals just decimated Burning Man's 'fancy camp' founded by the son of a Russian billionaire

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: A dancer created an incredible routine with geometric neon lights

I tried the new Fitbit for 2 weeks and it made me want an Apple Watch

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fitbit versus apple watch

I really wanted to like the Charge 2, a remake of Fitbit's most popular wristband.

The Charge 2 looks like a smartwatch, feels like a smartwatch, and even displays text messages like a smartwatch. But it lacks the coolness and convenience of a bona fide smartwatch.

Hence my dilemma when I recently decided to buy a fitness tracker.

When the health and fitness wearables company announced the launch of two new trackers in August, it was clear Fitbit wanted to double down on its play for the smartwatch market.

The company made the Charge 2's display four times larger, making it easier to read and allowing for more in-depth notifications, like text messages and calendar reminders. Thinner, more stylish bands are now interchangeable, so users can accessorize for work, workouts, and nights out. The device managed this makeover while maintaining a five-day battery life.

My Charge 2 and I fell into a groove almost immediately.

charge hr versus charge 2

I spent about an hour learning to navigate the smartphone app and providing information around my current health and fitness goals. The new Cardio Fitness Level feature gave me a personalized score based on my profile, resting heart rate, and exercise data that answered the question almost everyone wants to know but is too scared to ask: "Am I in shape?"

In my case, the answer showed room for improvement.

In the past, I've tracked the food I eat on a Weight Watchers app. The preeminent weight loss program helped me shed about 25 pounds in college — and more importantly, I kept it off. That is, until a year ago when I moved from New York to San Francisco and started walking less.

The Charge 2 keeps me moving constantly. In settings, I programmed the device to buzz if it's 10 minutes before the hour and I haven't walked 250 steps yet. The little nudges give me an excuse to get up and fill my water cup or take a few laps around the office every hour.

When I hit 10,000 steps for the day, my wristband celebrates with a gleeful vibration sequence and an animated fireworks display. I feel accomplished and better about my health.

fitbit calories

I also started tracking my diet on the app, which is helpful because the app displays the number of calories I can still consume in order to achieve my weight loss goals. I don't have to perform the mental math of subtracting calories in from calories out before indulging in a snack.

Fitbit's food tracker blows away the Weight Watchers app. Its database includes simple generic items, like bananas, but also packaged items from national and regional brands, such as Arnold bread. I even track meals out from certain restaurant chains.

When I input baby carrots, it recommends I add two tablespoons of Sabra hummus, as well, since the app knows I usually eat them together. The little things like that make the Charge 2 so robust.

Unfortunately, about a week into reviewing the Charge 2, I started to notice how it fell short.

When I get a text, the display will scroll through the sender's full name and display the first two or three words of the message's content. I have to whip out my phone to see the full text, which kind of defeats the point of getting notifications on my wrist.

Fitbit Charge 2_lunch_0201_CMYK

While the text, call, and calendar notifications were mostly a treat, I found myself wishing I could receive alerts from Slack and Gmail, as well. Being a remote employee based in Business Insider's West Coast Bureau, most of my communication lives on third-party messaging apps.

A few features could make drastic improvements to the experience you get with the Charge 2. The device already offers third-party app integration with some fitness apps, such as RunKeeper and FitStar Yoga. But it neglects the productivity apps I want to monitor throughout the day, like email and Evernote, where I keep a to-do list.

In an email to Business Insider, a spokesperson for Fitbit explained that the company has "carefully curated" the smart notifications that are on the Charge 2 to best match the device's form factor. It also completed customer research to assure text, call, and calendar notifications mattered most to their customers.

There are not currently plans to integrate more third-party apps, according to Fitbit.

Here's something else I can't do using the Charge 2:

apple watch call 5

Granted, the Charge 2 isn't billed as a smartwatch. The Fitbit Blaze is. It's very good at being a fitness tracker, while also letting users control music playback on their phones and receive notifications. But as my colleague Jeffrey Dunn explains, there's a difference between "doing smartwatch things" and "being a smartwatch," however.

What I learned from this review is that what I really want is an Apple Watch. So, last week when Apple announced the high-tech Apple Watch Series 2, I ordered one.

I will be able use the Apple Health data that the watch collects in Fitbit's app, which gives me the best of both worlds. The only real sacrifice you make by buying the Apple Watch is the affordability of a Fitbit product. The Charge 2 comes in just under $150.

If you're looking for a device that is strictly fitness-focused, the Fitbit provides a fantastic experience. But if you, like me, find yourself itching for more information from your gadget, it's best to keep shopping.

SEE ALSO: This sneaker startup is boycotting logos and now it's blowing up

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This 7-minute workout is all you need to keep fit

How actor, tech entrepreneur, and 'Shark Tank' investor Ashton Kutcher spends his millions

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Ashton Kutcher

Ashton Kutcher wears many hats.

If you know him primarily from films and television, including "Dude, Where's My Car?" and "That '70s Show," it may surprise you to hear that the 38-year-old actor has also become an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and successful venture capitalist in the tech space. He has even appeared on ABC's "Shark Tank."

Read on to see what else the successful former star of the MTV prank show "Punk'd" is up to — and what he's doing with his millions.

SEE ALSO: Ashton Kutcher says the best investment he's ever made is something anyone can afford

Born in downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1978 — minutes ahead of his fraternal twin, Michael — Kutcher comes from humble beginnings. His parents, Larry and Diane, were both factory workers and raised their three kids on a farm.

Source: Biography.com



Kutcher started earning and saving from a young age. His odd jobs included mowing lawns and roofing as well as skinning deer at a meat locker and baling hay. "When I was 13, I saved $1,400 for a snowmobile," he tells Grow. "I worked after school and on weekends for one and a half years, and put every cent into a savings account."

Source: Grow



Kutcher continued working a variety of jobs to pay his tuition at the University of Iowa, where he enrolled in 1997 and planned to major in biochemical engineering. He dropped out and ended up going the modeling and acting route, but his interest in science and technology would resurface years later when he started investing in tech companies.

Source: TechCrunch and Biography.com



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Take a look inside Donald Trump's new $200 million hotel in Washington, DC

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September 12 marked the soft opening of the latest hotel in Donald Trump's empire: the Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC. The hotel is located inside the Old Post Office Pavilion, which dates back to 1899 and required $200 million in renovations.

Although the Boston Globe has reported that Trump hotel reservations are down nearly 60% compared to this time last year, the DC location stayed on track to open ahead of schedule— however, it wasn't without a few hiccups. A group of protesters gathered outside during the soft opening Monday. Earlier this year, celebrity chefs José Andrés and Geoffrey Zakarian both backed out of their agreement to oversee restaurants inside the hotel, citing the GOP presidential nominee's inflammatory comments on immigration.

In honor of the opening, let's take a look inside the hotel. 

SEE ALSO: We tested the high-tech suitcase meant to make business travel less stressful — here's the verdict

The hotel is located near the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 12th Street, just a short 15-minute walk to The White House North Lawn.



The atrium of the Trump International Hotel, which hosts the largest ballroom in Washington, DC, was named the "Presidential Ballroom."



Crystal chandeliers hang in the lobby.

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Airbnb is extending an olive branch to landlords — but it means you'll make less on your listing

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landlord with keys

Airbnb is teaming up with landlords in an effort to make peace with one of the home-sharing service's biggest critics.

Airbnb — which landlords and property managers have long been wary of — has created a new service: the Airbnb Friendly Building Program. According to Fortune's Kia Kokalitcheva, the program is essentially an olive branch to the real estate industry and will allow landlords to keep tabs on how their tenants are listing and renting their apartments on Airbnb — for a price. 

Here's how Fortune explains it: The program will allow building owners to apply for the program and, if accepted, decide on the terms for renting a unit in their building. The owners can submit those terms to Airbnb and change the tenant's lease to reflect the agreements. Tenants then sign up for the Friendly Building Program through Airbnb, while Airbnb will handle payment. 

There's only one issue: while the upside of the program is that tenants will now be in accordance with their lease and won't face eviction if they list their place without consent, they'll also stand to make less money off the listing. Airbnb says it recommends landlords take 5% to 15%, but it's left entirely up to the landlords to determine how much of a cut to take. 

 

SEE ALSO: Meet the startup that wants to help sublet your apartment — and is totally legal in New York

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: It's going to be a bad year for the iPhone — here's why

A former chef at the 'world's best restaurant' created these gourmet school lunches that cost under $4 to make

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Dan Giusti

Daniel Giusti, a former chef at Noma — a Copenhagen restaurant consistently deemed the "world's best" — has left the world of fine dining. Now, he's taken on an even more daunting task: redesigning the public school lunch.

In January, Giusti launched Brigaid, a startup that aims to put professional chefs in public school cafeterias in order to improve their lunches.

"We’re constantly asking ourselves: 'What can be better tomorrow?' Just like you would do at a restaurant ... 'How can we make this better every day for these students?'" he tells Business Insider.

This summer, Giusti got approval to pilot his program in New London High and Bennie Dover Jackson Middle, two schools in Connecticut. After receiving more than 275 applications to work in the schools, he chose April Kindt and Ryan Kennedy, two trained chefs ready to take on the challenge of making the schools' lunches tasty, nutritious, and cheap.

The US Dept of Education mandates that lunches cost under $3.18 to produce, an amount the government reimburses schools for free lunches. That amount (which the Brigaid team has been able to meet) includes the ingredients, transportation, labor, and maintenance costs.

Classes started on September 1 for the two schools. Keep scrolling to check out what the Brigaid team has come up with so far.

SEE ALSO: 16 incredible gadgets under $50 that every kitchen should have

The ingredients for Brigaid's lunches each cost around $1.35, and Giusti's team has been able to keep the total cost under $3.18. Six Connecticut schools will have their own Brigaid chef by November 1.

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With the new year starting, the team is testing all kinds of dishes, including these meatballs cut with mushrooms.

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The main entrees rotate every day. On some days, kids get their choice of a sandwich. Options include chicken salad, hummus with roasted vegetables, tomato with pesto, and roasted turkey and cranberry sauce.

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Here's what a 4-bedroom home looks like in America's most expensive neighborhoods

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Pasadena California home

If you're planning to buy a home in one of the most expensive housing markets in America, come prepared to shell out over $1 million — or $2 million, or $3 million — for a four-bedroom. 

Coldwell Banker recently released its annual Home Listing Report, which ranks the most expensive places to purchase homes in America, and the top 25 locations boast average listing prices no less than seven figures. 

To determine the most expensive cities, Coldwell Banker analyzed the average listing price of more than 50,000 four-bedroom, two-bathroom homes for the period between January 2016 and June 2016. The ranking covered 2,168 markets across the US, excluding any with fewer than 10 listings.

From backyard pools to mountain views to granite countertops galore, here's what a four-bedroom home looks like in the 25 most expensive housing markets across America. 

SEE ALSO: The 25 most expensive housing markets in the US

DON'T MISS: The 10 most affordable housing markets in the US

25. Walnut Creek, California

Average cost of a 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom house: $1,004,900

Median household income: $80,399

Located about 16 miles east of Oakland, Walnut Creek is a community of around 70,000 people. 

This four-bedroom, two-bathroom home lists for $1,150,000 and features a backyard that takes full advantage of California's sunny weather with a swimming pool, citrus orchard, vegetable garden, and bee hives. 

 



24. San Jose, California

Average cost of a 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom house: $1,011,871

Median household income: $83,787

Situated in the heart of Silicon Valley, San Jose has become a hub of technology. It's home to the Tech Museum of Innovation, where visitors can learn about tech through hands-on experiences.

This 1,668-square-foot home includes a newly-painted sun room, hardwood floors, and a wood-burning fireplace. It's priced at $1,149,000.



23. Concord, Massachusetts

Average cost of a 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom house: $1,040,290

Median household income: $132,385

Part of the greater Boston area, Concord sits northwest of the city and is home to around 17,000 people. 

This Colonial home is listed for $875,000 and boasts an open kitchen that bleeds into a spacious family room and outdoor deck.



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A wine expert says these cheap wines are the most underrated bottles on the shelf

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a to z wineworks, blended wines

Deb Hatcher knows wine like she knows the alphabet.

For over 14 years, she and a few friends have run Oregon's largest winery, A to Z Wineworks.

The company is somewhat unique in that instead of sourcing grapes from one or two so-called "single-origin" vineyards, A to Z Wineworks has worked with over 100 vineyards using biodynamic or organic farming principles in order to create its blended wines.

According to Hatcher, blended wines make up some of the most underrated bottles on the shelf. They offer the complexity and breadth of several wines, without the price tag.

"People think single-origin vineyards are the end-all-be-all," Hatcher tells Business Insider during a retreat for companies honored by Best for the World, an annual list that celebrates businesses that use sustainable practices and serve as a force for good.

The A to Z Wineworks Oregon Pinot Gris is a ripe and juicy blend formed from 40 vineyards' grapes. The company boasts of its "exuberant aromas" and lush fruit underpinnings. It comes with a price tag of $15, which is roughly two to three times cheaper than single-origin bottles.

Winemakers can charge a premium for single-origin wines because of their "boutique" quality.

A chardonnay made down the road at Big Table Farm in Gaston, Oregon, retails for $85, which is not unusual. A blended chardonnay from A to Z Wineworks costs just $15, while a comparable blend from the state's Seven of Hearts retails for $24.

a to z wineworks, blended wines

Hatcher isn't alone in saying blended wines deserve more recognition.

Food & Wine calls blending an "extraordinarily useful winemaking technique," that allows winemakers to accentuate a wine's virtues and hide its weaknesses.

Winemakers have been blending wines for hundreds of years, but it's only recently that branded and blended American wines have begun dominating liquor store shelves. A Nielsen's report from 2015 showed domestic red blends generate $900 million in sales annually and make up one of the fastest growing wine sales categories in the US.

The newfound interest is good news for wineries, who can make alterations to their blended formulas year-to-year. Customers also benefit, thanks to blended wines' bargain prices.

Hatcher calls the company's network of partners the "basis of our success."

Some would call it "delicious."

SEE ALSO: A wine expert shares the 5 things every wine drinker should have

Join the conversation about this story »

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Ivanka Trump says working women are punished for having kids, and her father has a plan to fix it

How a startup from Amsterdam turned suit-buying upside down to become the go-to brand for American guys

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Suitsupply Dallas 2

It's not glamorous. There are no fancy Fifth Avenue storefronts or Fashion Week shows. Even its name sounds more utilitarian than upscale.

But the European suit-maker Suitsupply has quietly made a name for itself as the place where convenience, quality, and price all meet — the place to reliably get a decent suit in a trendy cut.

Founded in 2000 in Amsterdam, the company landed in New York 11 years later and made a bit of a splash. GQ called it the "JetBlue of suits" for its aim to provide better service and quality at a lower price point.

But what really made tailoring aficionados take notice was a 2011 Wall Street Journal article, where in a blind test two suit experts compared a $614 Suitsupply getup with a $3,625 Armani suit and saw "little difference," ranking the suits in a tie for first.

Suitsupply holds up that article as evidence of its approach to keeping costs down with vertical integration and what it calls "destination" stores — locations that are off the beaten path and away from major shopping thoroughfares, like its rooftop store in Chicago and its villalike store in Greenwich, Connecticut.

"We shifted the whole category upside down," Suitsupply CEO Fokke de Jong told Business Insider.

Suitsupply attracts the man looking to buy his first decent suit without breaking the bank. The suits start at $500, trending upward based on fabric and style choice. But it doesn't only attract first-timers — even fashion industry icon Tim Gunn shops there, as he says it gives him options with quality fabrics to "have fun."

"Because if I spend thousands on a suit, I'm going to have to wear it over and over again," Gunn told Business Insider in January.

Suitsupply CEO Fokke de Jong and VP Nish de Gruiter at Miami location

Suitsupply uses imported Italian fabrics, sews its suits in China, and includes details you'd usually only find in suits that cost twice as much, like functioning button cuffs. De Jong compares Suitsupply's model to the way H&M and Zara brought more affordable clothing to a segment of the population — Suitsupply is just doing it in a higher tier of the market.

"We've proven that we can make a product that's a lot higher in quality than people would normally expect for the price," de Jong said. "And I'm not saying a little bit. It's a lot."

Suitsupply considers itself a bit of a nonconformist and has been known for its provocative ad campaigns — one too hot for London that was later banned, and another that caught flak in America that showed women in bikini tops in censored and uncensored versions.

Suitsupply Vice President Nish de Gruiter says this risk-taking attitude also comes through in its suits, which are cut slimmer and tailored to be a little more experimental than those of traditional suppliers.

Suitsupply New York Soho

Now the company is poised to take over the rest of the country. Suitsupply has 19 stores in North America and six more opening before the end of the year, each offering in-house tailoring with most procedures done while you wait. Ten more stores will open on the continent in 2017.

"We base our store locations out of our online sales," de Jong said. "We have a very strong online business in the US, and that's a good pointer on where we want to be with our stores."

The company is experiencing success with online sales. About 30-40% of Suitsupply's sales are done online — a high percentage for a category in which shoppers might think they need to have a tailor's expert opinion before they purchase a product.

Suitsupply New York Madison Avenue

Suitsupply may have hit US shores at a good time — just when American men were finally waking up to the importance of both wearing a suit and how important it is to fit well, de Jong said. Suit sales in the US grew 10% from 2009-13, according to Fortune, and it's possible that Suitsupply's irreverent take on the serious classic propelled it to the forefront of the trend.

It hit about €170 million ($190 million) in worldwide revenue in 2015, with a growth rate of about 25% year over year, according to a report by the Dutch newspaper Het Financieele Dagblad. De Jong also said he expects the company to hit €200 million in revenue in 2016, according to the newspaper.

SEE ALSO: The appropriate men's attire for every occasion

DON'T FORGET: Follow Business Insider's lifestyle page on Facebook!

Join the conversation about this story »

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How one 24-year-old runs a $70,000-a-month business while traveling the world

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Aileen Adalid Norway

Aileen Adalid entered the corporate world at age 19 after graduating from De La Salle University in Manila, Philippines, with a degree in business management.

But the trilingual Philippines native quickly grew envious of the flexible lifestyles of "digital nomads" she met while freelancing on the side in Manila.

At 21, Adalid quit her entry-level job at Deutsche Bank — which paid just $300 per month — to transition to a life of perpetual travel.

For the next year, Adalid freelanced in graphic design, web design, SEO management, and online marketing, sustained largely by one stable client contract that earned her more than double her previous salary. The best part: The flexibility enabled her to travel frequently to places like France and Thailand.

In May 2014, Adalid partnered with a friend to start an online Amazon retail business called Adalid Gear, a health and outdoor accessories company, and relocated to Belgium.

She also revived her one-time teenage diary blog, I Am Aileen, fashioning it into a lifestyle and travel blog that has gained traction among online travel communities.

Adalid now earns about $5,000 a month from her online ventures, and she travels from her home base (now back in the Philippines) at least once a month to destinations throughout Europe and Asia.

You can follow her adventures on her blog, I Am Aileen, or through her Facebook or Instagram.

Adalid told Business Insider about cutting ties with the corporate world to chase after the "digital nomad" lifestyle, and finding a balance between traveling the world and running two successful ventures. Read on to find out how she did it. 

DON'T MISS: A 31-year-old who's been traveling the world for 5 years explains how she affords it

SEE ALSO: 14 things I learned when I quit my job to travel the world

Back in college, Adalid studied business management and had a combined year of training experience under her belt at huge multinational companies like Nestlé, Unilever, and Siemens.

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 In Belgium.



But after graduating college at 19 and spending two years working as a product controller at Deutsche Bank, she realized the corporate life wasn't for her. She was increasingly intrigued by both entrepreneurship and travel, so she left her job with about $600 in savings in April 2013.

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In Dubrovnik, Croatia.



"I started working as a remote freelance graphic designer, web developer, and marketing assistant taking on different projects but with a main stable client who employed me. My pay at this point was more than double of what I earned at my office job and I was able to control my time more for working as I started to travel around more."

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15 things every guy should have in his closet this fall

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fall man

With the changing of the weather comes the turning over of the wardrobe.

From cozy sweaters to sharp flannels, you only need a few items for a compete fall wardrobe — but it's important to have them all.

Keep in mind that these are only the basics. If you don't have all of these, we suggest filling the holes in your closet quickly.

You're going to need them.

SEE ALSO: How a startup from Amsterdam turned suit-buying upside down to become the go-to brand for American guys

DON'T FORGET: Follow Business Insider's lifestyle page on Facebook!

A seasonally appropriate tweed sport coat.

Fall and tweed go hand in hand, making a tweed sport coat an absolute necessity.

You don't have to go for a classic brown or tan, either. This smart gray blazer from J.Crew is perfect for a night on the town, when you need an extra layer.



A denim jacket will become your weekend go-to.

For the early days of fall, a casual-cool denim jacket is all you need. Later on it will become an essential layering piece for tons of outfits.

The Levi's Denim Trucker Jacket is the indisputable icon in this segment.



A fleece jacket for days when the leaves and the mercury fall.

Fleece jackets are that perfect transitional layer for gray mornings. The heavy down insulation keeps you warm without adding the bulk of a full parka or winter coat.

Patagonia's Better Sweater jacket is a great option that comes in a variety of colors.



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All the best features of Bentley’s $229,000 SUV

32,000 people in Japan turned 100 this year and the economy can't keep up

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japan oldest woman  Misao Okawa

Japan doesn't really believe in dying young.

At least, not according to conventional timelines.

New data from the country's Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare reveal Japan has broken its own record for most centenarians by population for the 46th straight year.

With 32,000 new 100-year-olds, there are now more than 65,000 people in Japan who've lived 100 years or more. Though it trails first-place US by roughly 10,000 centenarians, Japan's population is only a third of America's.

In other words, no country on Earth has a larger percentage of people who have reached their 100th birthday.

The feat sounds positive, especially in a country where longevity is so prized that September 19 — Respect for the Aged Day — is a national holiday in which members of the 100-plus club traditionally receive a silver sake dish. But having so many people live that long is actually becoming a burden on the nation's economy.

Seniors, though revered, are eating up resources at a pace younger generations can't match.

In 2014, for instance, awarding 59,000 centenarians the silver dish cost the country approximately $2.1 million. Compare that to 1966, when the country only had to give out a few hundred. By 1998, the number had climbed to 10,000, and today the Ministry puts the total at 65,692.

Since the country only seems to be getting older, the government has decided that 2016 will mark the first year Japan swaps out its pure-silver dish for a cheaper, silver-plated alternative. New inductees will also receive a letter congratulating them on the accomplishment.

And the fall of the sake dish is not the only challenge Japan faces in dealing with its aging population.

Nationwide, an entire generation of Japanese citizens — going on two generations, in fact — are entering retirement age. Of the 127 million people who live there, roughly 25% are over 65. (Baby Boomers, by comparison, only make up 13.5% of the total US population.) By 2060, the proportion of people 65-plus in Japan could rise to 40%.

On top of that, the generations that are supposed to replace the elderly aren't reproducing. Countries need a "replacement fertility rate" of 2.1 births per woman to keep the population from shrinking. Japan's fertility rate is 1.4 — the result of women focusing more on their careers and the long hours workers typically spend at the office.

As a result, the country's economy has been shrinking for decades.

This dangerous mixture has led to what economists call a "demographic time bomb"— a doomsday-type scenario in which Japan could actually go extinct if it doesn't encourage its young people to start having kids.

In the face of these looming economic threats, spending less on sake dishes starts to seem like a pretty smart idea.

SEE ALSO: This doomsday clock tells you when Japan's sex problem will cause the country to go extinct

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The 15 US cities where it's easiest to find a date

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couple

If your search for love has so far been fruitless, maybe it's not you — it's them. Specifically, the fact that there's not enough of them where you live.

For example, if you're a single woman looking for romance in the Big Apple, you might consider hitching it to Silicon Valley.

As "Date-onomics" author Jon Birger reports in Fast Company, Manhattan has a whopping 39% more women than men among college graduates ages 22 to 29. The Silicon Valley area, on the other hand, has 12% more men than women in this category, Birger writes.

You'll also want to take into account the sheer number of singles in your area. According to Census data, about 70% of Washington, D.C. residents are unmarried. That's compared to roughly 45% of all American adults.

We were interested in the geography of online dating in particular. To get a feel for online dating across the US, Business Insider asked Tinder to pull data on its top cities — the locales with the greatest number of active users.

Tinder's in-house sociologist, Jess Carbino, told us that the most active cities don't top the rankings just because they're the most populous cities in the country — it's also because they're home to highly educated young professionals who are most likely to use dating apps.

Here are the top 15:

SEE ALSO: The most active cities for Tinder users reveal something intriguing about who's using the app

15. Austin, Texas



14. Las Vegas, Nevada



13. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania



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