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A registered dietitian told us how to follow the low FODMAP diet — the complex regimen that can control symptoms associated with IBS

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watermelon

  • April marks IBS awareness month. 
  • Registered dietitian Evelyn Dorkel advises her clients with IBS symptoms, such as bloating, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea or constipation, to follow the low FODMAP diet.
  • The low FODMAP diet restricts a surprisingly wide range of foods at first.
  • This means cutting out wheat, barley, garlic, onion, beans, and lentils, as well as certain fruit and vegetables.
  • Dorkel said around 70% of people feel better after following the diet.


April marks IBS awareness month. According to the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is common, with prevalence estimated at 10% to 15%. Yet many people remain undiagnosed and even unaware that their symptoms could indicate a medically recognised disorder.

Business Insider spoke to Evelyn Dorkel, a London-based registered dietitian with over 12 years of experience, who talked us through the low FODMAP diet that restricts a surprisingly wide range of foods — and she says around 70% of people feel better after following it.

Dorkel works with time-poor city dwellers at firms like Deloitte, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and Goldman Sachs, to help them improve their eating habits. She recently created a Mediterranean menu that caters to gluten-intolerant, low FODMAP, and dairy-free diets at co-working space JOVA in Central London. 

Dorkel told Business Insider that one of the things clients come to her most with are digestive issues associated to IBS, such as bloating, excessive wind, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea or constipation.

To these clients she often recommends the low FODMAP diet which focuses on the reduction of certain fermentable carbohydrates.

Quinoa Greek salad 3

FODMAP stands for Fermentable, Oligo-, Di-, Mono-saccharides and Polyols. They are essentially carbohydrates that the body's small intestine struggles to digest and are found in wheat, barley, garlic, onion, beans, and lentils, as well as certain fruit and vegetables.

The low FODMAP diet was established in Australia several years ago. Research in this field has since confirmed the benefits and specialists treating patients with IBS now often recommend a trial of a low FODMAP diet to manage symptoms, Dorkel said.

It has since gained traction in the UK. It was adapted by researchers at King’s College London and implemented at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust in London.

How to follow the low FODMAP diet

First off Dorkel stressed the importance of discussing a low FODMAP diet with a dietitian to avoid misdiagnosis, nutritional deficiencies, and frustration.

"Improvement of symptoms is unlikely to occur if not followed correctly," she said, adding that there is a lot of misinformation on this topic out there.

Patients following the diet will first cut out certain high FODMAP foods. Dorkel said this typically needs to be followed, and strictly, for a month to six weeks to see any improvement. King's College suggests patients avoid these foods for up to eight weeks.

If patients have seen some improvement after following this diet, they will next gradually begin to reintroduce high FODMAP foods to work out where (and with which foods) their intolerance lie.

Once they've identified the food triggers of their symptoms, patients are encouraged to tailor their normal diet so that they only avoid the food causing the unwanted symptoms.

Coconut Porridge  & Homemade Jam 5 (1)

Which foods are high FODMAP?

The low FODMAP diet is considered by some to be an awkward one to follow because of the types of foods you must avoid while following it.

For example, because wheat is a high FODMAP food item, lunchtime sandwiches are strictly off the menu, and avoiding garlic and onion, ingredients found in most marinades and sauces, can make dining out at restaurants difficult.

Some high FODMAP fruits and vegetables are pretty surprising, too. Apples, pears, leeks, mushrooms, watermelon, and asparagus are all high FODMAP foods to be avoided. People following the diet may also need to reduce their lactose intake, Dorkel explained.

As for what you can eat, here are some of the types of low FODMAP recipes that Dorkel came up with for Jova's menu, that could be adapted for anyone wishing to give the diet a go:

Despite the hassle, Dorkel said that in her experience, 70% of people with IBS will find improvement in the low FODMAP diet. This statistic is backed up by King's College research.

She added that current research is still looking into long-term effects of the diet and potential impacts of changes in the microbiota.

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Why Costco food courts have charged $1.50 for hot dogs since 1985, according to employees

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Costco Food 4

  • Costco's food court is famous for its tasty hot dogs.
  • You'll be out $1.50 if you order the Costco menu staple with a soda.
  • That price hasn't changed since 1985, and there's a reason why not.


Costco food courts have a famous — and delicious — north star.

That'd be the hot dog and soda combo, which has been priced at $1.50 since 1985. While Costco menu items vary across the US — and around the globe— the hot dog meal is one major constant.

And the staple isn't just static — it's popular. The Daily Meal reported that Costco sells 100 million hot dogs a year.

Employees dig it, too.

One San Diego-based Costco worker told Business Insider that the combo was a "classic." Business Insider spoke with 36 Costco employees — four of whom told us that the hot dog and soda combo was their go-to food court order, while two said it was the best deal in the whole store.

Business Insider's Hollis Johnson wrote that the hot dog was "easily one of the best hot dogs we've tried, at least in terms of fast, cheap food. Our expectations were low, so the quality is all the more surprising."

So what's Costco's reasoning for keeping its hot dogs the same price since 1985? To understand, it helps to know a bit of the history behind Costco's hot dog meal — and the retail chain's food court, in general.

The Costco food court that fans know and love can trace its lineage back to 1984, when the then-eight-year-old chain decided to stick a "single hot dog cart in front of a San Diego warehouse," according to David Wight's article in the 2009 edition of the company magazine Costco Connection. Employee Jay de Geus was tasked with hawking the Hebrew National hot dogs.

From there, Costco launched Café 150 — named for the fact most of its menu items cost $1.50. In 1993, Costco merged with Price Club and inherited the chain's pizza kitchen, too.

Then in 2008, Costco switched out its traditional kosher dogs for new Kirkland hot dogs. Wight cited the inability to square the "availability of kosher raw materials and kosher production-plant capacity" with the chain's demand for hot dogs.

While the food itself changed, the price has remained the same

So what's Costco getting out of its $1.50 hot dog? Employees have some theories.

An anonymous Costco employee told Pop Sugar that Costco charges $1.50 for a hot dog and soda "just so your last experience before leaving is one of a pleasant cashier treating you well and giving you a good deal."

On Quora, a former competitive buyer at Costco wrote that the food courts are actually "the main contributor to the dividends its shareholders get."

"Do not think for one minute that Costco does not make a huge margin on food court products," user Lenin Lobaton wrote. "That is where the profit of Costco comes from. In short, the food court is a gold mine for Costco."

In response to another Quora question, he wrote that "the $1.50 hot dog and soda, pizza, and churros are all bottom-line contributors."

Other Costco employees say the hot dog deal is bait to draw in hungry shoppers.

"We do not make money off of our food," food court employee Josh Smith wrote on Quora. "The $1.50 hot dog deal is called a 'loss leader,' which means that it is used to draw in buyers for other higher-priced items like the chicken bake, brisket sandwich, and our new item, chili."

"The whole thing is mainly a 'member service' which is just to keep them happy," he wrote.

What's the real answer?

In the 2009 edition of Costco Connection, assistant vice president of publishing David Fuller settled the debate, writing that Costco wanted to prove that "a business can operate on a fair markup and still pay all of its bills."

"Holding a price that steady for that long sends a clear message about what is possible when you decide to operate your business model on a 'cost plus' basis, instead of a 'what the market will bear' basis," Fuller wrote.

Are you a Costco employee with a story to share? Email acain@businessinsider.com.

SEE ALSO: Costco employees share the 7 best parts of working at the retail chain with a cult-like following

DON'T MISS: 8 Costco food court menu items employees swear by

SEE ALSO: 30 Costco food court items you'd never guess were on the menu

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: We tried the Costco food court and it totally blew us away

Where you can watch all 18 movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe before you see 'Infinity War'

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Doctor Strange Cumberbatch Marvel

Not interested in a daylong Marvel Cinematic Universe marathon right before seeing "Avengers: Infinity War"?

We figured most people aren't but commend the brave souls who stick it out for every "Avengers" premiere.

To accommodate MCU fans who want to catch up at a more leisurely pace, we found out where all 18 movies in the MCU are streaming online so you can play catch-up before seeing "Infinity War," which is scheduled for release April 27.

Most movies in the MCU are available to rent on Amazon or iTunes, while a select few are on Netflix including "Doctor Strange" and "Captain America: Civil War," which is probably the most important movie to watch before seeing "Infinity War."

Here's where you can stream all 18 MCU movies before seeing "Infinity War":

SEE ALSO: All 53 movie and TV sequels or reboots coming out in 2018

Here are the titles available on Netflix:

"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2"

"Doctor Strange"

"Captain America: Civil War"



And here's a title-by-title breakdown for the whole MCU. First up: Phase I



"Iron Man" — released May 2, 2008

Available to rent or purchase on iTunes, YouTube, Vudu, and Google Play.



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Stephen Colbert gleefully jokes about the FBI's raid of Trump attorney Michael Cohen: 'They got everything'

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colbert

  • Stephen Colbert joked about the FBI's raid of President Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen's Manhattan office on Monday night's "Late Show."
  • Colbert referenced the New York Times article that broke the story of the raid, which reported that the FBI had seized records related to Cohen's $130,000 payment to the pornographic actress Stormy Daniels, who alleges she had an affair with Trump in 2006.
  •  "They got everything," Colbert said of the FBI. "They got all of his information about porn in a folder marked 'finances' and all of his information about finances in a folder marked 'porn.'"

Stephen Colbert opened his "Late Show" on Monday night with a series of spirited jokes on the FBI's raid of President Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen's Manhattan office.

Colbert started the monologue by playing a clip of Trump speaking with reporters on Air Force One last week about the $130,000 payment Cohen made to the pornographic film actress Stormy Daniels in October 2016. (Daniels has alleged that she said had an affair with Trump in 2006.)

Trump told reporters of the payment: "You’ll have to ask Michael Cohen. Michael is my attorney. You’ll have to ask Michael."

"Well, guess who watches TV?" Colbert said in response to the clip. "Robert Mueller."

The "Late Show" host then cited the New York Times article that broke the story of the raid, which reported that the FBI had seized records from Cohen "related to several topics including payments to a pornographic film actress."

"They got everything," Colbert said of the FBI. "They got all of his information about porn in a folder marked 'finances' and all of his information about finances in a folder marked 'porn.'"

"And remember, Michael Cohen said he paid Stormy Daniels out of his own pocket, which is crazy," Colbert continued. "Who pays for porn?"

Watch the clip below:

SEE ALSO: Why the FBI's raid on Michael Cohen's office could spell trouble for Trump

Join the conversation about this story »

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A Saudi Arabian millennial ambassador flies in a private Boeing 767 that costs $30,000 per hour — take a look inside

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boeing 767

  • Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the US, Khalid bin Salman al-Saud, rents a private Boeing 767 jet for $30,000 an hour
  • The 1,066-square-foot jet has over 60 seats and can hold eight tons of luggage.
  • Passengers are served by at least five attendants per flight.


Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the US, Khalid bin Salman al-Saud, has a lavish lifestyle. Al-Saud is part of Saudi Arabia's royal family, as his father is King Salman and his older brother is Crown Prince Mohammad.

Al-Saud, who's 28 years old, served as a fighter pilot in the Royal Saudi Air Force before becoming the country's US ambassador in 2017. Since then, he's met with President Donald Trump, spent time in a $12 million mansion he purchased as a Georgetown student, and chartered a private Boeing 767 jet that costs $30,000 per hour, according to the Daily Mail.

The 1,066-square-foot jet is suited for royalty. It has dozens of seats, a master bedroom, an office, and plenty of TVs. 

Here's a look inside:

SEE ALSO: The fabulous life of the Saudi Arabian millennial ambassador who bought a $12 million DC castle as a Georgetown student and flies in a private jet for $30,000 an hour

The jet can fly for 15 hours without refueling.



Its cabin covers 1,066 square feet and is almost eight feet tall.



It can seat 63 passengers and hold eight tons of luggage, which is equal to about 300 standard suitcases.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A new TV show will send a self-made billionaire 'undercover' to see if he can build a million-dollar company from nothing in 90 days

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robert downey jr bruce lee

  • Discovery is about to begin production on a new show called "Undercover Billionaire."
  • In the show, an unnamed self-made billionaire will try to create a million-dollar company from scratch in 90 days.
  • They will not be allowed to access his previous contacts or wealth, and will be sent to an unfamiliar city.
  • Succeed or fail, the show will be a commentary on the American dream.


If you dropped a self-made billionaire off in a random city, with just a few dollars and the drive to build something, could they make a million-dollar business in a few months?

That's the question Discovery is trying to answer with its new show, "Undercover Billionaire," which is about to begin production on a 90-day shoot.

"The billionaire came to us with the idea of wanting to test himself," Discovery's chief brand officer, Nancy Daniels, told Business Insider in an interview. He was someone "who had come from nothing" before making it big, and was "100% confident" he could do it again, she said.

Here's the test they devised: He'll be given three months to build a million-dollar company from scratch in an unfamiliar midsize city, without the benefit of his past contacts, and something like $200 dollars in his pocket (the exact amount is still being worked out).

Daniels wouldn't reveal the billionaire's name or industry — because of concerns about spoiling the shoot — but said he wouldn't be recognizable to most people.

In the show, the audience will know who he is from the start, but the people he's working with won't know until the end, when he will gift them whatever business he ends up creating (they'll have a cover story to explain the cameras).

"We truly are following him do this," Daniels said.

He could succeed or he could fail spectacularly. But whatever happens, good or bad, will be a commentary on American capitalism and the idea of the self-made man. How much of his initial success was luck, and how much was his innate drive and ability? Can entrepreneurial lightning strike twice for someone without huge financial backing?

The show is fundamentally about "taking your own life into your own hands," Daniels added. And the results will say a lot about the extent to which that is possible.

The billionaire has explained to the producers a few business avenues or industries he thinks he could explore in the show, and none are in his previous wheelhouse, Daniels said. He's really trying to get back to his own origin story: no contacts, no expertise, no money.

"Before I met him, I was suspicious [of his chances]," Daniels said. But after meeting him, she thinks he just might be able to pull it off. He'll have 90 days to prove her right.

SEE ALSO: Netflix’s ‘Wild Wild Country’ directors explain how they unraveled the story of a cult famous for sex, Rolls Royces, and bioterrorism

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Fans are rallying to save Netflix's 'Everything Sucks' after it was canceled

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everything sucks

  • Netflix recently canceled the coming-of-age comedy set in the 90s, "Everything Sucks."
  • The show's main character is a lesbian teenager, which a lot of fans loved and found relatable.
  • Fans are rallying to get the show renewed, and have created a Change.org petition. 
  • One fan of the series who wants Netflix to save it is "House of Cards" creator Beau Willimon. 

Since 2017, Netflix has been on a canceling spree, cutting more original shows than ever before.

The most recent show to get the axe is the 90s-set, coming-of-age comedy "Everything Sucks," which made its debut in February. But many people are disappointed that the show has been cut, including the Beau Willimon, the creator of Netflix's "House of Cards."

"Everything Sucks" tells the story of Kate Messner, a high school sophomore, who's coming to terms with her sexuality (she thinks she's a lesbian). Her journey showcases how hard it is to be an LGBTQ+ teen, especially two decades ago. The season also follows a lovely romance between Kate's dad and her friend Luke's mom, which is one of the few "parent" stories on a teen show that's not a complete waste of screen time. 

While the show started off on a bit of a lazy note, and was a little too reminiscent of "Freaks and Geeks," by the end of the season the show became something truly special, making many (including me) excited for a second season. 

"Everything Sucks" received mixed reviews, with a 69% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes. But the people who were fans really loved it, and are rallying to save it from cancellation. Judging by how quick Netflix was to cancel the show, it seems like it didn't get a lot of viewers, but the people who did watch it are very passionate. There's even a Change.org petition begging Netflix to bring the show back.

It's evident from the production quality and the cast, which was filled with up-and-comers, that the show didn't cost Netflix much. The creators confirmed this to Business Insider when we spoke in February. So maybe the show's budget is small enough that it could be saved. But the cancellation also confirms that "Everything Sucks" didn't become the "sleeper hit" that Netflix programming boss Ted Sarandos expected.

That doesn't mean it didn't find a fan base, though.

Here are some of the most passionate tweets from "Everything Sucks" fans: 

SEE ALSO: Where you can watch all 18 movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe before you see 'Infinity War'

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Theresa May isn’t invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding — even though former PM David Cameron went to Will and Kate’s

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Theresa May

  • Theresa May is not invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal wedding on May 19. 
  • A spokesperson for Prince Harry said: 'It has been decided that an official list of political leaders — both UK and international — is not required for Prince Harry and Ms. Markle's wedding.'
  • This is despite the fact that her predecessor David Cameron attended Kate and William's wedding in April 2011.


A spokesperson for Kensington Palace has announced that British Prime Minister Theresa May will not be attending the royal wedding on May 19. 

According to Sky News, Prince Harry's official spokesman said: "It has been decided that an official list of political leaders — both UK and international — is not required for Prince Harry and Ms. Markle's wedding.

"Her Majesty's Government was consulted on this decision, which was taken by The Royal Household."

A Downing Street spokesman also confirmed to CNN that the Prime Minister has not been invited

May will not be attending the wedding, despite the fact that her predecessor David Cameron attended the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's wedding on April 29, 2011. 

david cameron

This means that President Donald Trump and Barack and Michelle Obama will also not be attending Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding, according to reports.

However, the Obamas were not invited to Will and Kate's wedding, so it's not surprising that Prince Harry and Markle didn't extend the invite either. 

Join the conversation about this story »

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Airbus wants to add bunk beds, playground slides, and hospital rooms to its new planes

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Airbus Zodiac sleep Module mock up

  • Airbus is working with Zodiac Aerospace on sleep modules for its A330 family of airliners.
  • The modules, located in the cargo area under the plane's main cabin, will feature bunk-bed-style sleeping berths.
  • Airbus and Zodiac also showed off plans for other modules including a children's play area, a bar, an infirmary, and a conference room.

Airbus is working on sleep modules complete with bunk beds for its A330 and A350 airliners. The sleep module, announced Tuesday, will be developed in conjunction with the seat manufacturer Zodiac Aerospace.

In addition to a sleep module, Airbus and Zodiac revealed plans for a children's play module complete with a playground slide, a hospital infirmary module, a bar/lounge module, and a conference-room module.

Airbus Zodiac children Module 1Airbus expects the modules to be available by 2020 on its A330 family of wide-body jets. The company is also studying the possibility of installing the modules on its new A350XWB airliners.

"This approach to commercial air travel is a step change towards passenger comfort," Airbus' cabin and cargo program head, Geoff Pinner, said in a statement. "We have already received very positive feedback from several airlines on our first mock-ups. We are pleased to partner with Zodiac Aerospace on this project which will introduce a new passenger experience and add value for airlines."

Airbus Zodiac bar Module 2Airbus will make the modules available for both new aircraft and for retrofit on existing airframes.

The various modules will be located in the cargo compartment under the main cabin of the A330. Since the modules are interchangeable with regular cargo containers, the aircraft's existing cargo floor and cargo-loading systems will not require modification.

Both Airbus and Zodiac have experience with sleeping quarters located under the main cabin of airliners. In fact, the crew rest areas of the Airbus A330 and A340 can be located under the main passenger cabin.

Virgin Atlantic 22

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We compared Target's new $5 wines against Trader Joe's cheapest options — and the winner is crystal clear (TGT)

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Target Wine Trader Joe's Wine 4

  • Target has a house brand wine that's only $5 a bottle.
  • It's a direct competitor of Trader Joe's legendarily cheap store label.
  • Both brands' reds are surprisingly good — but for the selection, Trader Joe's offers the better deal. 

Ruthless millennials have placed the beer industry square in their crosshairs, and retailers are taking notice.

Target has just added a new rosé to its line of cheaply priced wines — every bottle is $5 — which could be a smart move to attract thrifty millennial oenophiles. Trader Joe's has long been the go-to for cheap, decent wines for those in the know, but Target's new line could draw some attention.

We grabbed some bottles of Target's new California Roots line and pitted them against similarly priced options from Trader Joe's. We were curious to see if Target could unseat the famed "Two Buck Chuck" from its perch atop the cheap wine throne.

SEE ALSO: We visited the regional chain that beat Trader Joe's for the title of best grocery store in America — here's what it's like

SEE ALSO: We ranked everything on McDonald's new Dollar Menu from worst to best

Every bottle of Target's California Roots wine is $5. It's an extremely, almost suspiciously fair price, though it is higher than Trader Joe's iconic "Two Buck Chuck" wines, which now go for $2.99 in most locations.



California Roots offers a cabernet, a red blend, a pinot grigio, a moscato, a rosé, and a chardonnay. We managed to find everything but the last.



At Trader Joe's, the Charles Shaw label offers cabernet and pinot grigio, as well as several other varietals. To compare to Target's red blend, moscato, and rosé, we found wines at Trader Joe's that match their price point: a Terrain Vineyards California red blend for $3.99, a Blue Fin California moscato for $4.49, and an Emma Reichart pinot noir rosé for $4.99.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 32 movies coming out this summer you can’t miss — from 'Infinity War' to 'Incredibles 2'

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This might come as a shock for those in the Northeast, but summer is just around the corner.

That means we're coming up on the multiplexes being filled with Hollywood's big blockbusters. 

In the coming months that includes titles like "Deadpool 2," "Solo: A Star Wars Story," and "Incredibles 2."

And we can't leave out the movie a decade in the making: "Avengers: Infinity War."

Here are 32 movies we think you should go out and see this summer:

SEE ALSO: 12 of the worst TV reboots of all time, ranked from bad to unbearable

April 27 - “Avengers: Infinity War”

You might have heard about this little movie. It has a few superheroes in it and they finally battle a big purple guy. Yes, it’s going to make a couple of dollars at the movie theaters. Get ready for the most ambitious crossover event in history.



May 4 - “Overboard”

The classic Goldie Hawn/Kurt Russell 1987 romantic comedy gets a gender swap for its reboot, as Anna Faris plays the overworked employee of a spoiled Mexican playboy (Eugenio Derbez) who gets some payback when he gets amnesia after falling off his yacht.



May 4 - “Tully”

Jason Reitman reteams with "Young Adult" screenwriter Diablo Cody (“Juno”) and star Charlize Theron for his latest movie about a mother (Theron) who forms a unique bond with her nanny (played by Mackenzie Davis).



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 50 best places to live in America for 2018

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Austin, Texas

  • U.S. News & World Report releases a list of the best places to live in America every year.
  • The best places to live 2018 ranking looked at five metrics: job market, value, quality of life, desirability, and net migration.
  • The best place to live in America is Austin, Texas, followed by Colorado Springs, Colorado.

 

When deciding where to put down roots, many factors are in the eye of the beholder, such as climate, politics, or proximity to extended family.

Other aspects are coveted by nearly everybody: affordable housing, access to well-paying jobs, a low cost of living, good schools, and quality healthcare. In its ranking of the best places to live in America for 2018, U.S. News & World Report gathered data on these crucial components for more than 100 US cities.

They then categorized the data into five indexes for each city — job market, value, quality of life, desirability, and net migration — to definitively rank these major metro areas. You can read U.S. News' full methodology here.

Scores for "value," a blend of annual household income and cost of living, and "quality of life," which accounts for crime, college readiness, commute, and other factors, are included below on a 10-point scale, as well as the city's population and average annual salary.

Austin, Texas, came out on top for the second consecutive year, while Colorado Springs, Colorado, jumped from No. 11 to take the No. 2 spot, edging out the state's capital, Denver, which rounded out the top three.

Nearly a dozen cities made the top-50 list for the first time since 2017, including Huntsville, Alabama; Asheville, North Carolina; and Anchorage, Alaska.

Keep reading to discover the 50 best places to live in America.

SEE ALSO: 13 places to visit in May for every type of traveler

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50. Lansing, Michigan

Population: 470,348

Average annual salary: $47,550

Quality of life: 7.0

Value index: 7.1

Lansing, the diverse capital of Michigan, earns a spot on the list for its affordability, abundance of jobs, and local flavor. The area is home to everyone from career government workers to recent college graduates, and "you can go from a college campus to a waving wheat field in 10 minutes," one local expert said.

Residents love Lansing for its sports culture and fine arts scene, and although it gets chilly in the winters, the sunny summers more than make up for it.



49. Cincinnati, Ohio

Population: 2,146,410

Average annual salary: $48,130

Quality of life: 6.4

Value: 7.7

Cincinnati is a city that loves its food, sports, and culture. There's something for everyone in the Midwest's Queen City, from a strong job market to a busy event calendar filled with museums, baseball, and local heritage events.

Residents appreciate the city's affordability — housing there is cheaper than the national average, despite Cincinnati being one of the 30 biggest metro areas in the US.



48. Syracuse, New York

Population: 660,652

Average annual salary: $48,530

Quality of life: 7.1

Value: 7.6

It might get 124 inches-plus of snow per year, but don't let the blustery climate deter you: Syracuse boasts a low cost of living, easy access to both the city center and surrounding suburbs, and a host of cultural activities, including the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology and the Rosamond Gifford Zoo.

Home to Syracuse University, the town also rallies behind the Orange during basketball season, cheering the team to victory.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

I tried to eat only vegan fast food for a week — and my failure revealed one of the industry's biggest mistakes

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vegan fast food 2

  • A study by market-research firm GlobalData found that the number of people who choose to eat vegan in America has grown from 1% to 6% since 2014
  • Though many restaurants and fast-casual spots have updated their menus to include more vegan options, fast food is lagging behind.
  • I tried to survive on only the vegan options at popular fast-food chains, and I found it was nearly impossible to do at most of them.

Being vegan in New York City is hardly a challenge. Most restaurants now have vegan-friendly options on their menus, and affordable vegan restaurants are popping up all over the five boroughs. In the three years I've been vegan, I've found that most restaurants and grocery stores have a lot of options readily available — except for fast food. 

Taco Bell and White Castle seem to be the only fast-food chains actually working on meeting the growing demand for food that's free from animal products. According to a study by market-research firm GlobalData, the number of Americans who choose to follow a vegan diet has increased from 1% to 6% since 2014.

The population of vegans, vegetarians, and people who are simply trying to eat less meat is growing rapidly, and most fast-food chains are doing little to nothing to make a vegan lifestyle more accessible.

To see which fast-food chains are best prepared to keep up with the growing demand for vegan food, I tried to eat only vegan fast food for five days. My rules were simple: eat only at fast-food chains, and eat three meals a day.

Here's what happened: 

SEE ALSO: 13 popular fast-food menu items that are surprisingly perfect for vegans

I kicked off the week with Fruit & Maple Oatmeal from McDonald's, prepared without cream.

This is the only vegan-friendly breakfast option at McDonald's, and I made it about three bites into the oatmeal before tossing it out. McDonald's oatmeal has nearly twice as much sugar as a Hershey bar and more than 300 calories per serving. It was sickeningly sweet and packed with sugar — I couldn't stomach it that early in the morning. 



For lunch I wanted something lighter, so I headed to Wendy's for a salad. I ordered the Garden Side Salad with no croutons, no cheese, and no dressing. I also ordered a side of apple slices.

The salad was plain and disappointing, and it had to be made twice because the first time it still had cheese on top. Wendy's has tested a black bean burger, but unfortunately, it isn't available anywhere in the Northeast. 



I was ravenous by dinner, so I went out of my way to get Taco Bell — a supposed fast-food haven for vegans. I ordered a Seven Layer Burrito with no sour cream or cheese.

Taco Bell has the most vegan options on its menu out of all the popular fast-food chains. It definitely was the most filling thing I ate all day.

After day one, I realized that eating the right amount of nutrients would be nearly impossible unless I wanted to snack on french fries all day. It was an unhealthy start to the week, and I was still hungry at the end of the day. 

Day 1 Total: 

Calories: 687

Fat: 15.5g

Sodium: 1146mg

Sugar: 36g

Protein: 17g

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

These are the 10 clothing brands that teens are obsessed with

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nike 7230

  • Piper Jaffray surveyed 6,000 teens across the US to find out how they are spending their money.
  • Overall, teen spending was up 2% this year compared to the previous year. 
  • Athletic brands continued to dominate the apparel and footwear rankings, with Nike coming in first place. 

Teen shoppers are big business for retailers. 

According to Piper Jaffray's semi-annual survey of teen spending habits, Gen X is responsible for 7% of retail sales in the US. In the past year, their spending increased 2%.

These younger consumers are driving change in retail – the report showed that, overall, teens are spending more on food than anything else, shopping online, and continuing to drive growth in athletic wear. 

The survey was done of 6,000 teens across the US, with an average age of 16. Here are their 10 most popular apparel brands:

SEE ALSO: These are the biggest sibling rivalries in the clothing business

10. Rue21

Despite filing for bankruptcy in 2017 and being saddled with debt, teen retailer Rue21 is still winning over the hearts of teen shoppers. It was ranked in fifth place overall for female shoppers.



9. PacSun

PacSun also filed for bankruptcy in 2016, but it still remains popular among teens. Continuing to attract young customers will likely put it on the path toward long-term stability.



8. H&M

H&M has come under scrutiny recently, being accused of failing to stay on top of trends and losing out to more fashionable rivals such as Zara and ASOS. 

However, it's still the world's second-largest retailer (after Zara's parent company Inditex) and has nearly 700 stores in the US, which means it's reaching a ton of teens.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

13 things I wish someone had told me before I had a second baby

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  • When you have a second baby, things are a bit different than the first time around.
  • You will less concerned about being the perfect parent.
  • Time alone with your partner and friends is even more important.

 

Everything changes once you become a parent. Your sleep is cut in half, you eat standing up, and you may be unsure which day of the week it is — and that's just after you have your first child.

Just when you think you have this whole parenting gig figured out, the second baby comes along and life gets a lot more interesting.

If you're getting ready to have your second child, you might be wondering how your life is going to change, or if it's going to change at all. When I was pregnant with number two, friends and family members gave me tons of tips on what to expect when a second child joined the family.

While some of the advice was helpful, most of it made no difference at all — especially when I was knee-deep in parenting a toddler and breastfeeding a new baby.

Here are the 13 things I wish someone had told me before I had a second baby.

SEE ALSO: There are 4 styles of parenting, but one raises more successful kids than the rest, according to a psychotherapist

1. It's actually easier than you think

To be honest, I was scared to death about how hard it was going to be with a second baby. My first was barely two years old, and I was still trying to figure her out.

During the first few months after I had my second child, I often felt like I was walking in a fog. But after I found a routine that worked for me, I started feeling less like a hot mess. In fact, it wasn't until I started getting out of the house and becoming more comfortable with being a mom to two kids that things got easier.



2. You will 'wing' it a lot more than you did with your first child

During your first pregnancy, you probably had every baby book under the sun lined up nice and neat on your bookshelf. You may have even read all of them cover to cover — I know I did.

Just when you think you've got everything figured out from your first baby, number two comes along and "mom intuition" — aka "winging it" — takes over.

Who has time to Google anything when you're feeding a baby and changing diapers on a toddler — both at the same time (probably something NOT recommended in the baby books).



3. Your firstborn might revert to baby behavior to get attention

I made the mistake of trying to cram potty-training my toddler into the last few weeks of my second pregnancy. While it worked initially, she quickly went back to using diapers after my son was born. I chalked it up as a parenting failure, when in fact, it's quite common for children to revert to baby-like behavior when a sibling joins the family.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 19 jobs in the US with the biggest gender pay gaps

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woman factory worker car

Gender pay gap statistics aren't simple.

• The gender pay gap varies quite a bit between different occupations.

• Using census data, Business Insider analyzed which jobs tend to have larger gender pay gaps.



Gender pay gap numbers can be disheartening — but they're not always easy to interpret.

Many statistics — like the popular "79 cents to the dollar" adage — fail to take into account women of color. What's more, the gap often varies based on location. That goes for occupations, too.

Business Insider analyzed data from the US Census Bureau's 2016 American Community Survey to find out which occupations have the largest gender wage gaps in the US.

The survey focused on the median earnings for both male and female full-time, year-round workers over the age of 16. Many of the jobs that we found to have high wage gaps are blue collar roles, where women make up a fraction of the employee pool.

Here are the jobs with the biggest gender pay gaps:

SEE ALSO: Equal pay for equal work is not the way to close the gender pay gap

DON'T MISS: 9 places in the US where job candidates may never have to answer the dreaded salary question again

Paperhangers

Average wages for men: $51,503

Average wages for women: $30,208

Number of male workers: 1,494

Number of female workers: 636

Female paperhangers make 58.7% as much as male paperhangers.



Lifeguards and other recreational protective service workers

Average wages for men: $36,282

Average wages for women: $21,087

Number of male workers: 15,453

Number of female workers: 8,895

Female lifeguards and other recreational protective service workers make 58.1% as much as male lifeguards and other recreational protective service workers.



Financial clerks

Average wages for men: $80,037

Average wages for women: $45,021

Number of male workers: 47,844

Number of female workers: 54,806

Female financial clerks make 56.3% as much as male financial clerks.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Comedian TJ Miller was arrested on suspicion of calling in a fake bomb threat from an Amtrak train

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  • Former "Silicon Valley" actor TJ Miller has been arrested on suspicion of calling in a fake bomb threat to authorities from an Amtrak train.
  • Miller was taken into custody Monday night at LaGuardia Airport in New York City for what prosecutors say is "intentionally conveying to law enforcement false information about an explosive device on a train traveling to Connecticut."
  • Miller appeared before the US district judge in New Haven, Connecticut, on Tuesday, and was released on a $100,000 bond. 
  • His charge "carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years," according to the Justice Department.

The comedian and former "Silicon Valley" actor TJ Miller has been arrested on suspicion of calling in a fake bomb threat to authorities from an Amtrak train.

Miller was taken into custody Monday night at LaGuardia Airport in New York City for "intentionally conveying to law enforcement false information about an explosive device on a train traveling to Connecticut" on March 18, the US Attorney for the District of Connecticut said in a statement

The Hollywood Reporter first reported the news.

Miller appeared before the US district judge in New Haven, Connecticut, on Tuesday, and he was released on a $100,000 bond. 

His charge "carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years," the US attorney's office in Connecticut said.

The criminal complaint alleges that Miller called a 911 dispatcher and said a female passenger had "a bomb in her bag." According to the complaint, the responding officer is said to have detected that Miller was slurring his speech and asked if he had consumed alcohol. Miller replied that he had "one glass of red wine," the complaint said.

When asked if he suffered from mental illness, Miller allegedly replied, "No, absolutely not. This is the first time I’ve ever made a call like this before. I am worried for everyone on that train. Someone has to check that lady out." 

No evidence of an explosive device or materials were recovered from the train, according to the US attorney's office.

Miller left the hit HBO series "Silicon Valley" after the show's fourth season aired in 2017. He does not appear in the show's fifth season, which premiered last month. Miller said that he left the show to "have the time to develop animated features," after the release of his critically panned "The Emoji Movie," which he starred in in 2017.

This is not the first time Miller has run into legal trouble.

In March, Miller reached a settlement with a driver who accused him of physical assault in 2016, according to TMZ. Miller was arrested and released for the charge in December 2016, and his attorney told THR last year that the driver's complaint was part of "a plan to try and extort money" from the actor.

In December 2017, allegations that Miller sexually assaulted a woman in college resurfaced in a report from The Daily Beast. Miller and his wife denied the allegations in a joint statement to the outlet.

Miller's representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Join the conversation about this story »

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One of the happiest countries has one of the highest divorce rates — but new rules may change that

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sad couple having coffee

  • Denmark, one of the world's happiest countries, has the highest divorce rate in western Europe.
  • Currently, couples there can complete an online form, pay a $60 fee, and get a divorce in less than a week.
  • New rules set to go into effect next year would require couples with kids to go through a three-week "reflection period" and get free counseling before a divorce is made final.


Denmark is consistently ranked as one of the happiest countries in the world. It also has the highest divorce rate in western Europe: Nearly half of all marriages ended in divorce as of 2017.

One reason for the relatively high divorce rate might be that splitting up in Denmark is a relatively seamless process. The New York Times reported that couples can complete an online form, pay a $60 fee, and get a divorce in less than a week.

Yet according to The Times, all that could change next year, when new rules around the divorce process are set to go into effect. Couples who have children and want to dissolve their marriage will now be required to take a three-month “reflection period” and get free counseling before they’re granted a divorce. The goal is to protect children, who will also receive counseling during this time.

As for couples without kids — and in cases of abuse — a speedier divorce will still be possible.

Kathryn Smerling, a New York City-based psychotherapist who helps couples going through divorce, told Business Insider that Denmark’s current divorce process is “absolutely an anathema towards emotional wellbeing and health.”

On the other hand, “the idea of a three-month reflection period is actually a wonderful idea when there are children involved,” Smerling added.

“Marriage and families are not disposable. You do need time to think about how you’re going to deal with the children, how you’re going to tell the children, how are the children going to live with both [parents] if they’re going to do that.”

Divorce in the US is often much more complicated

In the US, divorce is typically a much lengthier and more expensive process. The average divorce filing fee is $215; the average divorce attorney’s fees are $10,180. (One lawyer previously told Business Insider that a divorce in Manhattan can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.)

Smerling said she has couples in her practice who have been trying to get divorced for half a decade, held up by things like delayed court dates.

But as INSIDER’s Louis Baragona reported, celebrity-divorce lawyer Laura Wasser recently launched a website that gives couples the tools to get divorced online. The site, It’s Over Easy, is only available to couples in California and New York, and the cost of the process starts at $750.

Smerling said divorce is a completely different story for couples with and without kids. In the latter circumstance, she said, “It’s very easy to say goodbye and you never see the person again.”

SEE ALSO: 8 things science says predict divorce

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: One type of marriage that's most likely to end in divorce — according to a relationship scientist

I waited in line to go to a mysterious cult-favorite skater store worth $1 billion to see why teens are so obsessed

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Supreme

  • Supreme is a streetwear brand founded in 1994.
  • It has risen from cult status to more mainstream acceptance and is particularly popular with teens.
  • I visited one of Supreme's New York stores to see why it's so popular.

Supreme is red-hot.

The streetwear-apparel brand had an amazing 2017, with a roughly $500 million cash infusion from the Carlyle Group valuing it at $1 billion. Adding to the good news for the company is a primo ranking on Piper Jaffray's semiannual "Taking Stock of Teens" survey, which indicates teens are eating it up — or at least desiring it — like never before.

It first appeared in the fall 2017 version of the survey as the 10th most desirable brand for upper-income teens. By spring 2018, it had moved up the rankings to become the seventh.

Supreme was founded in 1994 by James Jebbia and is catered to skaters. There's an air of mystery about the brand, and Jebbia gives few media interviews.

Now, celebrities including Justin Bieber and Milo Yiannopoulous have been seen wearing Supreme's clothing, and its cachet only seems to grow. It operates 11 stores around the world.

I went to Supreme's store on Lafayette Street in New York City to see how the brand became the phenomenon it is today.

SEE ALSO: Teens are abandoning Under Armour in droves — and it's turning into a huge crisis for the brand

Every journey to Supreme starts with standing in line. It doesn't matter when you go — there will be a line. The store allows only about a dozen customers inside at any time, and it's relatively tight inside.



But if you're new to the experience, there's nothing there to explain the process to you. There was an empty set of ropes in front of the door, so I tried to walk into the store as I would any other. I was blocked. I was told the line started around the block.

Around the block, I found another set of empty ropes, and a family of four entered right in front of me. I got my hand stamped in one line, was held for 30 seconds, then moved to the other line and got my hand stamped again.



Only with both stamps are you allowed to enter the store. After the bizarre ritual, I was finally inside.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

These are the 37 jobs in the US where women earn more than men

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woman laptop computer

• The gender pay gap typically focuses on industries where women earn less than men.

• But, in the United States, that doesn't hold true for every occupation.

• Census data indicates that in certain jobs, women actually earn more than men on average.



Gender pay gap statistics tend to focus on situations where women are paid less than men for the same work.

And it's true that, in most locations and in the majority of jobs, women earn less money than their male counterparts.

But Business Insider analyzed data from the US Census Bureau's 2016 American Community Survey and found that women actually out-earn men in a handful of occupations.

The survey focused on median earnings for both male and female full-time, year-round workers over the age of 16. Women earn more than men in a number of jobs, ranging from blue collar to white collar. 

Here are the jobs where the gender pay gap favors women:

SEE ALSO: The 19 jobs in the US with the biggest gender pay gaps

Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers

Average wages for men: $43,659

Average wages for women: $43,673

Number of male workers: 129,949

Number of female workers: 15,644

Female computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers make 100.0% as much as male computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers.



Wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products

Average wages for men: $41,612

Average wages for women: $41,637

Number of male workers: 71,088

Number of female workers: 68,783

Female wholesale and retail buyers make 100.1% as much as male wholesale and retail buyers.



Conservation scientists and foresters

Average wages for men: $60,340

Average wages for women: $60,827

Number of male workers: 14,086

Number of female workers: 4,149

Female conservation scientists and foresters make 100.8% as much as male conservation scientists and foresters.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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