• President Donald Trump's lead defense lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, doubled down on his earlier claim that the White House should get to review and edit the special counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russian election interference before it's released to Congress or the public.
• Giuliani first made the claim in a September interview with INSIDER, arguing that the information in the report is all protected by executive privilege and thus needs a sign-off from the White House before the public can see it.
• On Friday, Giuliani told The Hill, "As a matter of fairness, they should show it to you — so we can correct it if they’re wrong. They’re not God, after all. They could be wrong."

Rudy Giuliani, President Donald Trump's lead defense lawyer, is doubling down on his contention that the White House should get to review and edit the special counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russian election interference before it's released to Congress or the public.

Giuliani first made the argument in an interview with INSIDER in September. As prosecutors put together the report, Trump's current and former lawyers said the information contained in it is protected by executive privilege.

For that reason, they said the White House needs to sign off on the report's final version in the event that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein — who is overseeing Mueller — chooses to release it to Congress or the public.

Giuliani told INSIDER that Trump's team would waive executive privilege if "we had an adequate opportunity to review the report before it was released to the public; if we felt that — even if we disagreed with its findings — it was fair; and if we had the chance to release a rebuttal report simultaneously that addresses all of Mueller's allegations."

But as of now, he said, the White House "reserves its privilege." He added that Trump's legal team had a commitment to that effect from Mueller. When he was asked whether Mueller agreed to allow Trump's team to review a draft of the report before it is released, Giuliani said he wasn't sure if the two sides had reached a consensus on that.

Read more: Giuliani lays out 3 conditions Mueller has to meet for the White House to waive executive privilege in the Russia probe

Giuliani doubled down on his argument in an interview with The Hill on Friday.

"As a matter of fairness, they should show it to you — so we can correct it if they’re wrong," Giuliani told the outlet. "They’re not God, after all. They could be wrong."

Renato Mariotti, a former federal prosecutor in Chicago, told INSIDER earlier that while the White House could theoretically claim that certain information in a report from Mueller is protected by executive privilege, a court would most likely strike that argument down.

"What the White House would essentially be saying then is that a prosecutor can obtain information from the president or the White House, but they can't do anything with it," Mariotti said. "That's a very weak argument."

Jeffrey Cramer, a former federal prosecutor who spent 12 years at the Justice Department, said there were three main reasons why broadly asserting executive privilege would be "a hard argument to make legally, and a foolish one to make politically."

In the political realm, he said that if the White House tries to "start redacting the report before it even gets to Congress, which could weigh impeachment proceedings, that's not going to fly."

Legally, he said that based on his interpretation, the independent counsel is not part of the executive branch even though he is supervised by the Department of Justice.

"He's a separate entity," Cramer said of Mueller. "The point of an independent counsel is to have an independent voice determine what happened. So, asserting privilege over material he's gathered seems to defeat the point of having an independent reviewer in the first place."

Trump may have also limited himself when it comes information related to some of the most pivotal events in the obstruction inquiry — for instance, the firing of then FBI director James Comey.

Cramer said Trump "eviscerated" any privilege assertion when he tweeted about Comey after ousting him.

"It's like attorney-client privilege," Cramer said. "You don't have attorney-client privilege once you bring a third person into the room. And Trump didn't bring a third person in, he brought the entire American public into the room when he tweeted about why he fired Comey and talked about it to Lester Holt."

The bottom line, he said, is that for the White House to assert executive privilege over information in Mueller's report, "it would have to be something that Trump didn't tweet or talk about. And I don't think there's much left in that universe."

SEE ALSO: Here are all the key developments you might have missed in Russia news this week

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: MSNBC host Chris Hayes thinks President Trump's stance on China is 'not at all crazy'

• Menorca is a protected nature reserve whose diverse species of seaweed, fish, and shellfish make it the Mediterranean's equivalent of the Great Barrier Reef.
• But while the land on Menorca is protected, the sea around it is plagued by unregulated fishing, tourism, and pollution.
• According to the Blue Marine Foundation, 90% of fish stocks are overexploited in the Mediterranean, and 90% of large fish have also disappeared from the oceans since 1950.
• Large fish eat jellyfish, but because most of them are gone the jellyfish population has exploded — making many beaches in the Med unswimmable.
• Charities are working to preserve marine life in places like Menorca. But there are some simple things ordinary visitors can do, too.

With canyons, woodlands, plenty of wildlife, 216km of coastline, white sand, and sparkling blue water, the small island of Menorca is a beach-lover's dream. Menorca's waters, known for their bluefin tuna, are considered to be one of the last unspoiled areas of the Mediterranean, with a diverse range of species of seaweed, fish, and shellfish living there. Its stunning abundance of sea creatures and plants make it the Mediterranean's equivalent of the Galápagos Islands or the Great Barrier Reef.

The island is a Unesco Biosphere Reserve. It's home to five natural reserves and parks, including a marine reserve off the north coast. Development on the island is highly restricted.

But while the land on Menorca is protected, the island's waters are threatened by unregulated fishing, tourism, and pollution.

Rory Moore, Senior Projects Manager for the Blue Marine Foundation, a charity which aims to create marine reserves and models of sustainable fishing, told Business Insider: "It's important to remember the Mediterranean was once one of the most productive seas on the planet, with a huge amount of biodiversity from habitats to fish."

However, he added that over the last 50 or 60 years we've fished the sea heavily, and that the Mediterranean has suffered badly because of the number and size of countries that border it.

"There's a huge amount of human influence and pressure on the Mediterranean, and 90% of all fish stock are unsustainably fished," he said. 

According to the Blue Marine Foundation, 90% of large fish have also disappeared from the oceans since 1950.

'You don't see any fish because there's hardly any left'

Moore said many people visiting the Mediterranean "don't have a good understanding of what's there in terms of the marine environment."

Despite the fact that at least hundreds of marine species are still present, he said: "You swim around and you don’t see any fish because there’s hardly any left."

With a huge demand in the Mediterranean for fish, the most traded food commodity on the planet, according to Moore, he added that "anything targeted by fishing boats" is at risk, including lobster, grouper, octopus, and sea.

The Mediterranean sea is also the most important bluefin tuna fishery in the world, according to the WWF — but the animal is endangered due to overfishing.

Moore said that while stocks of bluefin tuna have rebounded since a quota was set by the EU on the amount that can be caught each year, they are still under threat as the quota is increasing.

Meanwhile, most other species of fish don't even have a quota, and rely on fishermen themselves "fishing sustainably," he added.

To try to counteract overfishing, particularly by big companies, the Blue Marine Foundation has launched a number of projects in the Mediterranean, including Project Menorca, a collaboration with Sunseeker International.

"We're trying to engage with small-scale fishermen," he said. "In the Med about 70% of fishermen are small-scale, low impact, but they only catch about 20% of the fish. Other big commercial boats use tons of diesel, have a high impact, and catch most of the fish."

He added that smaller, local fisheries tend to support marine protection because they "see that within a few years the fish come back."

Protecting the waters

Menorca's status as a Biosphere Reserve means its plant and animal habitats have been protected since 1993, when it was given the nomination due to its diversity of species and ability to use its resources to benefit the island.

Moore said that the current protection exists in one area in the north of the island, with a new area planned in the south in 2019.

However, as part of its Project Menorca initiative, the Blue Marine Foundation is trying to extend the current protection to 12 miles offshore, which would include the marine area, hopefully allowing it to be better managed by regulating fishing.

"The problem seems to be, the local fisherman are out-competed by fishermen in Spain who can fish in these waters," he said. "There's no exclusivity for them. The biosphere has the capacity to manage the waters."

The seabeds are shallow, and are home to coral which makes snorkeling a popular pastime.

However, the seagrass beds, which absorb 35 times more CO2 than a rainforest, are also being impacted.

The seagrass is a plant which creates and preserves the sand, protecting the beaches and keeping the water transparent, according to Spain-Holiday.com.

"It's a nursery area for small fish, and what generally happens in the Med, either pollution or anchoring of boats are the two main damages to seagrass," he said, adding that the grass is "dragged up" by anchors and wiped out.

"The pollution side is slightly difficult to tackle, [but we're working on] putting down eco-moorings. People can attach their boats to these moorings so people don't have to put anchors down on the seagrass."

He added that the moorings are supported by an app which provides information about the environment.

Other initatives Project Menorca is behind include replacing fish packaging with paper instead of plastic, removing "ghost" fishing nets, beach cleanups, and distributing recyclable bags across the island.

It's not just Menorca

It's not just Menorca that's suffering.

Hordes of jellyfish in the waters of southern Spain are proof that both climate change and human impact is destabilising the ecosystems, according to international German broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW).

Earlier this year, beaches on the island of Mallorca and the seaside town Benidorm were closed due to a plague of jellyfish-like creatures.

Their abundance is partly due to unsustainable fishing practices, with overfishing depleting the jellyfish's natural predators, like sea turtles, swordfish, ocean sunfish, and Atlantic bluefin tuna.

Chemicals also play a role, since the water that makes it into the Mediterranean is often polluted and full of nitrates which are key to phytoplankton growth, which means more food for jellyfish, DW reported.

In a study by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) published last year, scientists warned that the pressures on the Mediterranean Sea "might push the ecosystem beyond the point of no return," emphasising the need to "act now."

Outside of the Med, the global impact of overfishing and pollution on the oceans is also well documented.

An analysis by the Wildlife Conservation Society released in July and published in the journal Current Biology found that just 13% of the world’s oceans remain untouched by the damaging impacts of humanity, and just 5% of the remaining ocean wilderness is within existing marine protection areas.

"The vast majority of marine wilderness could be lost at any time, as improvements in technology allow us to fish deeper and ship farther than ever before," Kendall Jones, at the University of Queensland, Australia, and the Wildlife Conservation Society, said.

Meanwhile, in February 2018, new maps revealed half of the world’s oceans are now industrially fished. 

'Know where your fish is coming from'

While charities like the Blue Marine Foundation are working to preserve the marine life in places like Menorca, there are also some simple things tourists can do to help prevent the situation from worsening, according to Moore.

"Know where your fish is coming from," he suggested. "Ask if it’s local, when was it caught, who caught it. Read up on what's there, what's good for that season.

He added that the charity is currently designing guides for each area for tourists can read about what's being caught when, and how it's being caught.

"There are restaurants serving up fish from all over the world, [and] it doesn’t allow local fishermen to have local value for their catch, which there should be awareness of," he said.

He added that other "obvious things" involve not eating endangered species, or not dropping plastic on the beach.

"Awareness of seafood is important," he said. "There's not enough understanding of what the sea once was."

This article is part of a collaboration with James Blunt and the marine conservation charity Blue Marine Foundation. The charity is dedicated to creating marine reserves and establishing sustainable models of fishing, with a mission to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030. To find out more visit www.bluemarinefoundation.com.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: You've probably been folding your shirts and socks all wrong, according to organizing expert Marie Kondo

• This extremely ugly fish is in danger.
• The population of Atlantic wolffish has dwindled dramatically, and it's going to be hard to recover.
• Despite their unattractive visage, wolffish are remarkable creatures and have an important role in their ecosystem.
• They're particularly threatened by bottom-trawling vessels that unintentionally scoop them up as bycatch and destroy their habitats.

The Atlantic wolffish (pictured above) is not an attractive beast.

Its appearance is characterized by its large, fang-like teeth (where it earns its name), which are used to crush prey like crabs, lobsters and sea urchins. Its throat is also peppered with more serrated teeth.

It may come as a surprise then to hear that their numbers have dwindled relentlessly over the last century partly as a result of overfishing.

• In the US, catches of Atlantic wolffish declined from over 1,200 tons per year to around 30 tons per year between the 1980s and the 2000s.
• In the UK, wolffish have declined in English and Welsh trawl fisheries by 96% since 1889.
• In the Baltics, the fish's population has been classed as endangered, meaning it has a high risk of extinction in the wild.

But we don't eat them. So why are they being overfished to the point of extinction?

Why are their numbers in decline?

The causes of decline in the Atlantic wolffish population are predominantly three-fold: overfishing, "bycatch" and habitat disruption via bottom-trawling vessels.

Wolffish are particularly prone to overfishing because of their size and relatively late breeding age, which means it takes a long time for their stock to recover.

Wolffish are no longer targeted by commercial fishing vessels, though you can still purchase the fish in some places. However, this doesn't mean they escape our fishing nets.

The species prefers colder water temperatures: between 0.5 and 3 degrees Celsius, Fisheries and Oceans Canada say, and so are generally found towards the seabed, between 100 and 500 meters below the surface.

Wolffish are, therefore, often caught as bycatch (fish or other marine species that are caught unintentionally in the hunt for certain target species). They're killed via bottom trawling, whereby a large net with heavy weights is cast underwater and dragged along the seabed, scooping up everything in its path.

"Atlantic wolffish live and feed on the seabed and also 'nest' there in the sense that the eggs are laid in a specific place and then guarded by the male," Chris Middleton, who runs Britishseafishing.co.uk, told Business Insider in an email.

"These can then easily be destroyed by any trawlers operating in the area."

According to the Marine Conservation Institute, bycatch can sometimes amount to 90% of a trawl's total catch and is extremely damaging to seafloor ecosystems.

"Given the widespread destruction of seafloor habitat in the Gulf of Maine, the habitat available to sustain Atlantic wolffish populations has been greatly reduced," wrote marine scientist Dr. Les Watling who co-petitioned for endangered species protection for the Atlantic wolffish in New England in 2008.

"Absent some action to reduce or eliminate the destruction of seafloor habitat in the few remaining areas of United States waters that harbor remnant populations of the Atlantic wolffish, it is probable that it will be faced with extinction in those waters in the near future."

The wolffish therefore faces the worst of all worlds: It is being hunted to extinction by accident, and — unlike the tiger or the panda or the snow leopard — isn't cute enough to have attracted any humans passionate enough to save it.

Why should we care about this ugly fish?

It won't win any beauty pageants, but the Atlantic wolffish is actually a remarkable creature.

In order to survive the cold depths of its habitat, wolffish secrete antifreeze proteins, which keep their blood moving fluidly.

Its characteristic teeth, worn down by the violent grinding and crushing of hard-shelled prey, are replaced every year. For a few months, the fish either fasts or eats soft-bodied animals until its teeth are regrown and ready for action.

Furthermore, Atlantic wolffish play a crucial role in their ecosystem because of their unique diet. They regulate the population size of prey species like sea urchins and green crabs, which, if left unchecked, could have dramatic ramifications on their environment.

They are also an important indicator of the health of Atlantic cod, which similarly dwell in the ocean's depths.

What's being done for the ugly fish?

Basically, not a lot.

"Information regarding Wolffish populations are certainly 'data deficient' and with the species categorised as a 'Species of Concern' there is certainly the need for more research and understanding," Sarah Russell of the Blue Marine Foundation told Business Insider in an email.

In 2008, researchers filed a scientific petition with the federal government seeking endangered species protection for the Atlantic wolffish in New England, USA.

In the same year, a recovery strategy was proposed Fisheries and Oceans Canada, which advised the mitigation of human activities in their ecosystem, habitat conservation and increasing public awareness.

Russell said that Blue Marine Foundation was supporting, collaborating with and facilitating a Voluntary Marine Reserve in Scotland, which protects a number of species — the Atlantic wolffish among them.

She added that Blue Marine Foundation projects will hopefully get underway in the near future. 

This article is part of a collaboration with James Blunt and the marine conservation charity Blue Marine Foundation. The charity is dedicated to creating marine reserves and establishing sustainable models of fishing, with a mission to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030. To find out more visit www.bluemarinefoundation.com

Here are all the stories James Blunt asked us to write:

• We're accidentally driving this extremely ugly fish to extinction
• 'Electric pulse fishing' is illegal and it's turning the ocean into a graveyard — here's why fishermen are doing it anyway
• Oysters play a huge role in keeping the oceans clean — but we're killing up to 90% of them in some areas
• Huge swarms of jellyfish are making it difficult to swim in the Mediterranean — and they're there because tuna is disappearing from the sea
• '90% of the larger fish in the ocean are gone': Why James Blunt is campaigning for sustainable fishing
• How a 'blue belt' could save 4 million square kilometres of the world's oceans

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's how many children you can have in a lifetime

• We asked James Blunt to be the editor of Business Insider for a day, and tell us which stories he wanted us to cover.
• We were not expecting the singer — famous for his mega-hit "You're Beautiful" — to tell us he believes that ocean management and conservation doesn't get enough coverage in the media.
• He assigned us a package of stories on marine pollution and the damage we're doing to the sea.
• You're probably not aware of "pulse" fishing, in which trawlers electrocute vast areas of the ocean, killing everything, and sweeping up the mess.
• You may never have heard of the Atlantic wolffish, either. It's a species we are driving to extinction by accident — and no one cares because the wolffish is extremely ugly.
• See the full list of stories at the bottom of this article. 

James Blunt lives for part of the year he spends in Ibiza. The singer — best-known for his hit "You're Beautiful," and more recently for his hilarious presence on Twitter— grew up on Cyprus where his dad was in the military, and has always been close to the sea. But the idyllic island he calls home is under siege.

From jellyfish.

Last summer, crowds gathered on the beach at Ibiza's Cala d'Hort, famous for its view of the cloud-topped island of Es Vedra in the bay. (You have probably seen it on Instagram or in a movie.) But in 2018, no one could go into the water. Sunbathers gathered on the sand but did not enter the crystal-clear sea. They stood at the water's edge, warning their children to stay out.

Cala d'Hort was surrounded by huge swarms of red jellyfish. If they touch you, it's like being stung by a wasp, and they leave a painful, curved scar on your skin that lasts for weeks. Several beaches on the island were unswimmable due to the out-of-control jellyfish population.

The reason? The fish that eat jellyfish have mostly been killed. By us.

The Mediterranean was once Europe's equivalent of the Great Barrier Reef, as far as fish are concerned. For decades, from Greece to Southern France, honeymooners ate at dockside restaurants watching huge schools of fish swimming just beyond their ankles. But most of those fish are now gone.

Just 10 years ago, a jellyfish was a rare sight on Ibiza. Today you are more likely to see a jellyfish than a dreamfish, the yellow-and-silver porgy that snorkelers see hugging the rocks at the edge of Ibizan beaches.

According to the EU, 90% of the Med's fish stocks have been over-exploited — meaning that the larger fish have been taken, leaving behind diminutive specimens who may not be old or numerous enough to sustain their populations.

The Med used to be home to Atlantic bluefin tuna, an astonishing beast that can live for 40 years and grow up to 900 kg in weight (2,000 lbs).

Tuna eat jellyfish.

But most of the large tuna are gone from the Med. We have turned them into canned sandwich meat and sushi. And the toxic, inedible, Pelagia Noctiluca jellyfish have bloomed in their place. Their presence is now so threatening to Mediterranean beaches that several websites track their blooms.

Business Insider learned all this because we asked singer James what he would do if he was the editor of Business Insider for a day. What issues are close to his heart? What stories does he feel the media is ignoring?

We gave him free rein to assign our reporters any story he wanted. Each story was James' idea, and each one has been reported independently by Business Insider staff. You can read them all via the links below.

James chose to assign a package on the fate of the world's oceans. (He is also an ambassador for the Blue Marine Foundation — a charity that works for the preservation and management of ocean wildlife.) We present them here as part of Business Insider's ongoing campaign for "Better Capitalism."

We think James' assignments are both counterintuitive and vital: It's not news that we're killing our oceans. But most people aren’t aware of the specific ways we're doing it. You’re probably not aware of "pulse" fishing, in which trawlers electrocute vast areas of the ocean, killing everything, and sweep up the mess. You may never have heard of the wolffish, either. It’s a species we are driving to extinction by accident — and no one cares because the wolffish is extremely ugly.

If you want to know more about the work of the Blue Marine Foundation — which campaigns for areas of the ocean to be off-limits to fishing — visit their website.

Here are all the stories James Blunt asked us to write:

• We're accidentally driving this extremely ugly fish to extinction
• 'Electric pulse fishing' is illegal and it's turning the ocean into a graveyard — here's why fishermen are doing it anyway
• Oysters play a huge role in keeping the oceans clean — but we're killing up to 90% of them in some areas
• Huge swarms of jellyfish are making it difficult to swim in the Mediterranean — and they're there because tuna is disappearing from the sea
• '90% of the larger fish in the ocean are gone': Why James Blunt is campaigning for sustainable fishing
• How a 'blue belt' could save 4 million square kilometres of the world's oceans

This article is part of a collaboration with James Blunt and the marine conservation charity Blue Marine Foundation. The charity is dedicated to creating marine reserves and establishing sustainable models of fishing, with a mission to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030. To find out more visit www.bluemarinefoundation.com

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The worst thing people do to wake up in the morning, according to a sleep scientist

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

• High-quality pizza cutters come with a sharp blade that stays sharp, have comfortable non-slip grips, and are simple to clean.
• The OXO Good Grips Easy to Clean Pizza Wheel and Cutter is our top pick because it comes apart for effortless cleaning by hand or in the dishwasher, has a safety cover to protect your fingers, and is backed by OXO’s satisfaction guarantee.

Whether you like your pizza frozen, homemade, or delivered, a good pizza cutter is a must to keep toppings in place and to eat pizza like a normal human being: by the slice. Sure, there are ultra-efficient hungry people out there who — like my giant (6 foot 5 inch) teenage son — just fold the pizza in half and eat it taco style. For the rest of us, we want a tool that can slice our pie into manageable portions. Fortunately, there are several excellent options available.

The two main types of pizza cutters are wheels and rockers. Pizza wheels are what you commonly find in most American homes. They usually consist of a sharp blade wheel that is attached to a long handle. However, direct-grip pizza wheels are becoming more popular. They don’t have the long handle. Instead, the wheel has a cover that you grip it by. This can give some users more leverage than the long-handled wheel, but it’s also harder to see where you are cutting since the cover and your hand may obstruct your vision. A direct-grip wheel tops our list.

Also called a mezzaluna, which is Italian for "half moon," rocker cutters are what you typically find in a commercial kitchen. These have a long, curved blade that you "rock" across the pizza to cut it in half. Rockers are efficient, easy to clean, and toppings are less likely to stick to the blade and end up where you don’t want them. Yet, since the blades are generally 14 inches or longer, rockers tend to take up a lot of drawer space.

Scissor-style and pie server-shaped cutters are less common but growing in popularity. We didn’t include any of these in our guide because they require you to make a series of shorter cuts in order to slice your pizza, and we found this to be inefficient compared to wheels and rockers.

Many pizza cutters advertise that they are dishwasher safe. However, like other cutlery, we strongly recommend washing your pizza cutter by hand. This is because the banging around during the wash cycle can dull the knife and dishwasher detergent is incredibly abrasive.

While researching the best pizza cutters, we read through hundreds of expert and buyer reviews and ratings of dozens of models. Our guide features cutters that seamlessly cut through several types of pizza, are durable, and clean up easily.

Here are the best pizza cutters you can buy:

• Best pizza cutter overall: OXO Good Grips Easy to Clean Pizza Wheel and Cutter
• Best novelty pizza cutter: ThinkGeek Star Trek Enterprise Pizza Cutter
• Best rocker-style pizza cutter: Checkered Chef Pizza Cutter
• Best easy-to-clean pizza cutter: OXO Good Grips 4-Inch Pizza Wheel
• Best high-end pizza cutter: Rösle Stainless Steel Ergonomic Pizza Wheel

Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks.

The best pizza cutter overall

Why you'll love it: If you are looking for a tool that not only makes quick work of your pizza but also cleans up effortlessly and has a safety cover, the OXO Good Grips Easy to Clean Pizza Wheel and Cutter is your best choice.

OXO has a number of excellent pizza cutters, but the Good Grips Easy to Clean Pizza Wheel and Cutterappears to be the best. Since you are pressing down against the blade instead of at an angle, this wheel gives you extra leverage to get through a variety of crusts.

The handle opens up so you can remove the blade and clean it easier — by hand or in the dishwasher. And, the blade cover and circular design allow for compact and safe storage.

MomDot recommends the OXO Good Grips Easy to Clean Pizza Wheel and Cutter because the reviewer found it to be easy to clean and use. She liked how comfy the non-slip handle was to grip. And, it came apart effortlessly for cleaning. Her only complaint was that it felt weird to use at first since she was used to the long-handled wheel cutters.

The Spruce Eats and Cooking Detective both recommend this model as the best overall pizza cutter. And, it’s the cutter that many of the staffers at The Kitchn use in their kitchens.

About 92% of the buyers who reviewed the OXO Good Grips Easy to Clean Pizza Wheel and Cutter on Amazon gave it a positive rating. There are several comments about how this model lives up to its name.

Buyers appreciate that they can just pop the blade out and put the unit in the dishwasher to clean. The safety cover is also a hit since it protects fingers as they rummage through drawers. The only consistent complaints seem to be from commenters who couldn’t seem to get the hang of using this style of pizza cutter.

Pros: Comes apart for easy cleaning, features safety blade cover, comfortable handle

Cons: Has a little bit of a learning curve for people used to long-handled cutters

Buy the OXO Good Grips Easy to Clean Pizza Wheel and Cutter on Amazon for $12.99

The best novelty pizza cutter

Why you'll love it: The ThinkGeek Star Trek Enterprise Pizza Cutter is not only a great gift for the sci-fi fan in your life, it also works well.

Whether you are a fan of the more popular The Next Generation Series or prefer the old-school The Original Series (TOS), you are likely to appreciate the ThinkGeek Star Trek Enterprise Pizza Cutter.

This blade is made of stainless steel and has "U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701" from TOS laser-etched on it. The body is chromium-plated zinc alloy. The cutting wheel is a standard 4 inches in diameter, and at 8.5 inches in total length, the cutter offers plenty of leverage for an easy cut.

The ThinkGeek Star Trek Enterprise Pizza Cutter is perhaps the only model reviewed by most of the top tech websites. But, it is also recommended by sites that specialize in kitchen tools, including Best Advisor and Food Shark Marfa.

The reviewer at ZDNet tested out this wheel cutter and found it was one of the sharpest he’d ever used. He had his six-year-old use it and was impressed with how even a child could make quick work of a pizza with it.

Approximately 91% of the people who reviewed the ThinkGeek Star Trek Enterprise Pizza Cutter on Amazon gave it four or five stars. Bob Joiner, the most helpful reviewer, purchased this utensil as a gift and found his friend absolutely loves it and uses it all the time.

Another reviewer liked that the cutter isn’t just a gimmick: The blade and primary hull are sharp and solid, the handle is made of durable metal and is comfortable in the hand, and it comes in a collectible box. Others mention that they now ask pizza parlors to leave their delivered pizza uncut so they can use this gadget.

Pros: Made of durable metals, has unique stylish shape, comfortable grip

Cons: Not dishwasher safe

Buy the ThinkGeek Star Trek Enterprise Pizza Cutter on Amazon for $19.63 (originally $29.99)

The best rocker-style pizza cutter

Why you'll love it: The long sharp blade of the Checkered Chef Pizza Cutter lends itself to fast and efficient pizza cutting as well as easy cleanup.

The Checkered Chef Pizza Cutter is great because it simply has one long blade made of commercial-quality 18/0 stainless steel. The blade is long enough to cut a 14-inch pizza in half with just one rocking motion. This helps you avoid dragging the toppings across the pizza, which can sometimes be a problem with wheel cutters.

A plastic sheath comes with the blade to ensure you don't cut yourself while rummaging through a drawer. The unit is dishwasher safe, or you can easily wipe off the single blade by hand.

Epicurious recommends the Checkered Chef Pizza Cutter because it works well and looks great. The reviewer was accustomed to pizza wheels and was surprised how quickly she got the hang of this device. In her tests, it was one of only a few blades that got through the crust on the first go. And, she was impressed with how easy it is to clean the blade. However, the reviewer noted that this is a larger cutter that takes up significant space in the kitchen. 

Approximately 83% of the Amazon buyers who reviewed the Checkered Chef Pizza Cutter gave it five stars. The most common comment about this model is that the blade is incredibly sharp, which allows for the quick and efficient cutting of pizza and other items. In fact, buyers report using this for quickly cutting up paninis, sandwiches, waffles, and more.

The blade guard is another popular feature since many users keep the cutter in a utensil drawer. Reviewers with arthritis also noted that they were able to use this item without a problem.

Pros: Affordable, snug-fitting safety blade guard, sharp blade for clean cuts, easy to use

Cons: Is larger than other models and may demand more drawer space

Buy the Checkered Chef Pizza Cutter (Large) on Amazon for $12.95

Buy the Checkered Chef Pizza Cutter (X-Large) on Amazon for $19.95

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

• Water flossers have recently gained a lot of hype online, like this Waterpik model with over 7,800 5-star reviews on Amazon.
• The company points to studies that found it to be more effective than traditional flossing in a variety of important areas.
• I tested the Waterpik out, and overall it's a great option for people who either don't enjoy traditional flossing or want a more effective clean.

As a kid, my teeth grew in straight but with ample gaps. To avoid the cost of braces, the powers that be (who also respond to "mom" and "dad") decided that I would be getting bonds to fill in the spaces rather than braces. My underbite would have to remain quirky.

Thanks to instant gratification and the opportunity to leapfrog right over the foundational years of losing a retainer in a lunch napkin, I was excited.

A decade later, I’m still thankful, but I might have opted for braces if it had all been the same. I’ve chipped those bonds on toasted bread and, yes, even just whilst flossing — and they’re not cheap fixes.

But it’s not exactly an excuse to stop practicing great oral hygiene; my dentist and I both agree that flossing is a necessary habit. There’s no way around it. Without it, plaque can build up in places toothbrushes can’t reach and lead to gum disease and cavities, according to the ADA.

So, imagine my excitement about the fanfare water flossers were receiving on the internet. This one by Waterpik has over 7,800 5-star ratings on Amazon. If they lived up to the hype, I could save myself a lot of anxiety, and potentially a lot of money. Even for people who don’t have the exact same situation, water flossers are supposed to be way easier to use than string floss and also more effective.

Dental floss only works if you’re doing it regularly and in the correct motions and intensity. So for string floss, it comes down to two things most users are arguably less-than-confident about: perfect execution and consistency. 

Waterpik is the leading name in water flossers, and offers studies that show it to be 51% more effective than dental floss for reducing gingivitis, 2X as effective as dental floss at reducing gingival bleeding, and 29% more effective as dental floss at removing plaque. It's also ADA-accepted.

We were sent one of their units to test out, and my overall impression is that for people who prioritize their oral health and/or hate traditional flossing, this is a great option. It takes some getting used to, and was messier (in the beginning) and louder than I expected, but it has definitely made a difference in the consistency and effectiveness (as well as the possibility) of flossing. Especially for those with braces or permanent retainers, for whom flossing is a long and annoying process, this is certainly worth looking into.

Some of the nitty gritty details to keep in mind:

1. You can personalize brush heads and settings based on need.

There is a setting for flossing and massaging, so you can do either one. Start with the lower water pressure settings to help you acclimate, then customize based on preferences.

Waterpik also sends along different tips for different uses.

You'll get 3 Classic tips, 1 toothbrush tip, 1 plaque seeker tip, and 1 pik pocket tip.

• Classic tip: This is the one that you'll use to replace flossing/is meant for general use. Unless you have crowns and other more serious dental work, in which case you'll want to opt for the Plaque seeker tip.
• Toothbrush tip: This is in case you want to Waterpik at the same time as you brush your teeth. While a good idea, I agreed with most reviews that found it to be less efficient than using their own toothbrushes.
• Plaque seeker tip: If you've got anything more serious than fillings in your mouth, you'll likely want to use this tip as your daily option.
• Pik pocket tip: Meant for people with periodontal pockets or furcations and is meant to be used at the lowest pressure.

2. At first, it's going to be messy. But there are ways to avoid this.

The first time I used this, the water ricocheted off my teeth and hit the mirror. I was startled by both the amount of water used and how messy it was. I quickly learned to close my mouth around it while using the water flosser/leave only a very small gap — pretty much exactly like you do at the dentist.

And after using, make sure to empty the remaining water to keep the device clean. 

3. It isn't silent, so plan accordingly.

It uses a little motor to work, which you will hear while using it. If you have roommates, you'll probably want to use it before they head to bed. It will also need countertop space, so don't buy one if you have nowhere to put it.

All in all, if you're looking for a more effective mode of flossing and have the countertop space, this might be one way to improve consistency and efficacy. And if you, like me, find the normal process of flossing painful or horribly long and dull, then this is a great buy if you still want the benefits of clean teeth. 

Waterpik Aquarius Water Flosser, available on Amazon, $70.98

SEE ALSO: I tried the best-selling teeth whitener on Amazon, and it really worked

Join the conversation about this story »

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we may get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

• Suavs are stylish, packable shoes made from 3D-printed knit material.
• They're lightweight, breathable, and can be bent into compact, travel-friendly shapes. 
• Prices range from $50 - $110, putting them on par with other slip-ons like Allbirds and Vivobarefoot.
• We tested out the company's $95 Zilker and $110 Legacy and were impressed. Find our full thoughts below.

In the dreamscape of breathable, comfortable, (actually) good-looking sneakers, there are some noteworthy new players.

The cult-favorite startup Allbirds makes comfortable sneakers and loungers from proprietary merino wool and tree leaves respectively, Vivobarefoot makes barefoot-like shoes that roll up to the size of a pair of socks, and Suavs — a name you likely recognize from targeted ads on Facebook or Instagram — is the latest addition to the scene. And it's a rather great one at that.

Suavs are essentially flexible sneakers made from a soft, breathable 3D-printed knit. They have lightweight, non-slip rubber soles and removable, washable insoles so you don't have to wear socks. The ventilated uppers and sweat-wicking technology keep feet dry, and the flexible materials like rubber and knit make the shoes feel responsive and seamless to move in. They've been designed specifically to prevent blisters, and are sustainably manufactured to reduce material waste. For traveling, they can be bent into virtually any shape (ie. balled up to fit into a carry-on).

All in all, Suavs are shoes primed for either traveling or everyday life: compact, lightweight, and low-maintenance. In terms of cost, they're pretty much on par with other breathable slip-ons, ranging from $50 - $110.

Like many popular online startups, Suavs launched on Kickstarter. Its founders proposed creating one go-to pair of shoes for the office, happy hour, and your next trip. They raised over $150,000 altogether.

Suavs shoes are unisex, but the site categorizes them by gender. For men, the shoe options are the classic $95 Zilker (shown above), the $50 Zilker in Air Mesh, and the $110 Legacy (a high-top). For women, it's the same with the addition of the $95 Barton (a loafer). Colors range from fiery red and salmon pink to neutrals, with emphasis on the latter.

The Suavs site and option range is limited, but don't be fooled: the product is surprisingly good. The company sent us pairs to test, and we were impressed by how much we liked them. You can find our full thoughts below, but the consensus is that Suavs are one of the better options out there for travel-friendly and style-friendly shoes. The sizing can be off (read below for our tips), but they're generally comfortable, versatile, and worth the $90+ if their claims appeal to you. 

Find our personal experiences with the Suavs shoes below:

Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter: Suavs Zilker, Charcoal, $95

These shoes will sneak up on you. You'll realize on Friday that you've already worn them three times to work this week. You're pulling them on to grab groceries and when you wake up knowing it's going to be a four-cups-of-coffee kind of day. Or, at least, that's how they've been for me.

The Zilkers surprised me because they're just your average, un-offending sneaker in style. This makes them versatile, but I prefer my Allbirds Runners ($95) in terms of looks alone. What makes them so easy to default to, though, is how totally lightweight, packable, versatile, and comfy they are to wear. They go with jeans at the grocery store, leggings at the airport, and work pants at the office. They're generally breathable, have never given me blisters, and have a slender, flexible composition that makes them ideal for stuffing into a carry-on. The machine-washable insoles are also a big hygienic and low-maintenance plus.

My one piece of advice is to size up if you're considering it and/or wear a half size. They only come in full sizes, and the shoes run on the snug end of the spectrum. 

Connie Chen, Insider Picks reporter: Suavs Zilker, Heathered Grey, $95

The Suavs Zilker is one of the few pairs of shoes I can honestly say requires zero break-in time. As much as I love my Allbirds Runners and Skippers ($95), even those admittedly rubbed up against my heel when I first wore them. The soft, knitted Suavs shoes, however, were ready to go from the moment I slipped my feet in. They’re light and very flexible, and even in the midst of a late summer heat wave, breathable. I got them in the versatile Heathered Grey, and plan on wearing them often, especially while traveling.

Sally Kaplan, Insider Picks editor: Suavs Zilker, Heathered Grey, $95

I found the Suavs to be almost exactly as comfortable as my Allbirds, albeit slightly less supportive. But that doesn't matter to me so much when I'm just out running errands or hanging out in my neighborhood, which is exactly what I'll continue using these shoes for. I wouldn't think twice about wearing these while walking around the city, but it's worth mentioning that they're not extremely cushioned, and the arch support isn't quite as significant as some other people might require on long walks. In terms of sizing, I'm a 7.5, but I ordered an 8 because they say to go up a half size. I can definitely confirm that advice.

David Slotnick, Insider Picks senior reporter: Suavs Zilker, Heathered Grey, $95

When I travel I always fight the impulse to bring an extra pair of sneakers or shoes, since they tend to take up so much room in my luggage. Suavs work perfectly as an exception — they pack flat and can even be folded or rolled up, so they’re easy to shove in the corner of your bag. They’re comfortable, too. I might not wear them as my primary shoe when I’m on a trip and know I’m going to do a lot of walking on paved city streets, but if my main pair gets soaked or ruined, they’ll definitely do the trick. You can wear them with socks, but they’ll look a bit weird — these shoes are definitely meant to be worn sockless or with no-shows.

Owen Burke, Insider Picks guides reporter: Suavs Legacy, Jet Black, $110

I love how lightweight and flexible SUAVs are. They’re simplistic, comfortable, and supportive. If I have any bones to pick, they'd be that it's not as breathable as I had hoped, and I’ll probably put mine away until the summer humidity lifts. As far as sizing goes, I have trouble fitting into a size 12 in these shoes, though I'm usually no more than an 11 (though the company does recommend going up one size). Otherwise, they seem like they’ll last a while, and compress almost flat and are great for packing.

Shop Suavs shoes here >>

Join the conversation about this story »

• A $180 million lottery winner is selling a massive California mountain estate for $26 million.
• It includes a 16,000-square-foot house with a sauna, a 17-seat movie theater, a three-story elevator, and a 4,000-square-foot garage. 
• The estate also comes with a fully operational buffalo ranch and a four-star steakhouse and saloon.

A lottery winner is selling a massive California mountain estate for $26 million.

The sprawling estate sits on 845 acres near the town of Oak Glen and includes a 16,000-square-foot house with a sauna, a 17-seat movie theater, a three-story elevator, and a 4,000-square-foot garage. 

Rick Knudsen won the $180 million California Mega Millions jackpot in 2014, quit his job, and bought the house — which was still under construction — for $5.5 million, according to The Wall Street Journal. He went on to buy an adjacent buffalo ranch and another swath of land, piecing together 845 acres in total. The estate also includes commercial property in the nearby town of Oak Glen, where he established a steakhouse and saloon.

The Eagle Crest Estate, listed with Craig Strong at Compass, is described as "the embodiment of natural luxury within an expansive mountainside setting."

Here's a look at the massive estate.

SEE ALSO: Shaq is selling his lakeside Florida mansion for $22 million, and it comes with a 17-car garage and a 6,000-square-foot basketball court — here's a look inside

DON'T MISS: Jeff Bezos and his family own at least 6 massive properties across the US. Here's a look at the homes, from a sprawling Seattle estate to a set of historic NYC condos

A lottery winner is selling his 16,000-square-foot mountain home that sits on 845 acres on Little San Gorgonio Mountain in Oak Glen, California, for $26 million.

Source: Eagle Crest

The owner, Rick Knudsen, won the $180 million California Mega Millions jackpot in 2014, quit his job, and bought the $5.5 million home, which wasn't yet finished and sat on about 50 acres at the time.

Source: Wall Street Journal

Knudsen went on to spend millions more on an adjacent 155-acre buffalo ranch and another 640-acre piece of land, as well as a steakhouse and saloon in town. It cost him about $11.5 million total.

Source: Wall Street Journal

• Condé Nast Traveller recently released its 2019 Gold List ranking of the best hotels in the world.
• Of the 78 best hotels selected by the editors, 27 hotels are located in Europe.
• Italy swept the rankings with eight hotels, followed by France with four hotels.
• London was the most represented city with three hotels between the Kensington and Covent Garden areas alone.

This year, Condé Nast Traveller featured 78 hotels on their 2019 Gold List, including 27 European hotels.

The best hotels in Europe range from a farmhouse in the English countryside to an oceanfront resort with private pools on the Greek islands.

Italy accounts for the biggest chunk of top-ranking hotels, tallying eight hotels across the country. The majority of these hotels are on the water, whether lakeside in the Monte Baldo mountains, canal-side in Venice, or seaside along the Amalfi Coast.

Read more: Luxury hotels around the world have private rooms that are so elite they're not even listed online — and some are available only via email booking

The hotels are scattered across Europe and represent a large range of prices, from $250 per night for a hotel in Mallorca up to $2,600 per night at an exclusive spot in Iceland. Many of these luxury hotels have been Gold List and Readers’ Choice winners in the past, such as Sweden's Ett Hem and Italy's Le Sirenuse.

Keep reading to learn more about the best hotels in Europe. We noted prices for rooms booked one month in advance or the first available date.

SEE ALSO: The 13 best hotels in America that every traveler needs to visit in 2019

The Kensington, London, UK

Rates starting at: $270/night

Claridge's, London, UK

Rates starting at: $1,340/night

Covent Garden Hotel, London, UK

Rates starting at: $440/night

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships so we may get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

• A great juicer can help you create better eating and drinking habits to ensure you get enough nutrients for the day.
• The best juicer for most people is the Omega NC800HDR Nutrition System Juicer because it's durable, easy to use, and extremely powerful.

Juicing is largely considered to be a great habit to start if you want to improve your health and form better eating and drinking habits. A fresh juice with a good combination of fruits and vegetables can be a great way to get more vitamins, antioxidants, enzymes, and minerals — many of which don’t come through when the fruits and vegetables are processed in other cooking methods.

If you want to get into juicing, a great juicer can make a huge difference. Not only does a good juicer help you get the nutrients your body needs, but it also extracts them so quickly and easily without the mess. There are a ton of different juicers to choose from, and some are better than others. There are a number of factors to take into consideration when deciding which juicer to buy:

• Type of Juicer: In general, there are two main types of juicers – centrifugal juicers and masticating juicers. Centrifugal juicers are generally cheaper and higher speed, making for faster juicing, but they also produce a slightly lower yield and are noisier than masticating juicers.
• Noise level: The machinery inside of a juicer can be a little noisy at times, and that's problematic if you’re planning on juicing early in the morning before work. You wouldn’t, after all, want to wake up the rest of the family while juicing. In general, high-speed juicers with a centrifugal design are the noisiest, while masticating juicers are quieter.
• Ease of use: If you’re just getting into juicing and don’t necessarily know if it’s a habit you’ll get into long-term, you may want to get one that's easier to use rather than a more complex juicer with advanced features.
• Warranty: No matter what kind of juicer you’re getting, you want it to last. You should always get small appliances with some level of warranty, but normally the longer the warranty, the better. Not only does it show that a company is confident in its product, but it also means that if something does break, you won’t have to shell out any extra cash.

No matter what kind of juicer you’re looking for, and no matter what your budget is, there's a juicer for you in our guide.

Here are our picks for the best juicers you can buy:

• Best juicer overall: Omega NC800HDR Nutrition System Juicer
• Best slow juicer: Hurom’s H-AI Slow Juicer
• Best juicer less than $100: Hamilton Beach 67650A Juicer
• Best juicer for $150: Breville JE98XL Juice Fountain Plus
• Best citrus juicer: Hurom Citrus Juicer

Updated on 01/14/2019 by Owen Burke and Lulu Chang: Updated prices and formatting, changed our top pick to the Omega NC800HDR Nutrition System and added the Hurom Citrus Juicer and Hurom H-AI Slow Juicer based on personal testing.

Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks.

DON'T MISS: The 25 best kitchen gadgets you can buy for under $25

The best juicer overall

Why you'll love it: The Omega NC800HDR Nutrition System isn’t just a great juicer — it’s also great at making nut butter, baby food, and many other foods.

If you're the kind of person who wants to get a lot out of one appliance, look no further than the Omega NC800HDR Nutrition System Juicer. It may be pricier than some juicers, but the trade-off is that it’s powerful and versatile.

It goes far beyond juicing with the help of many different attachments. The Omega juicer can even extrude vegetable noodles and home-made pasta, grind nuts, chop things up, or make frozen desserts and baby food. The motor produces the equivalent of two horsepower and runs at low speeds of 80 RPM to get the most juice out of your produce.

We tested the Omega juicer in our kitchen to see how it fared against all sorts of vegetables and fruits, including everything from carrots and beets to apples and pineapple. No matter what we fed into the juicer, it produced a ton of juice with very little effort. The pulp collected quickly in one bin, while juice mounted up in the other. This juicer is very easy to use, even for a novice.

We got a lot of carrot juice out of a standard bag of carrots and a good amount of apple juice out of half a dozen apples. It's a masticating juicer, so it's much more adept than centrifugal juicers at getting the most juice out of your produce. We also tried out the other functions and attachments to make veggie noodles and grind some carrots.

Best of all, the Omega NC800 is well-built and easy to use. When it comes time to clean it, the juicer comes apart very easily and the parts are dishwasher-safe.

I don't have a dishwasher, so I scrubbed each component by hand after juicing, and it only took a matter of minutes. Omega includes a cleaning brush in the box so you can get all the little food particles off of the filters and other pieces. I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to clean.

The only downsides here are the $300+ price tag and the amount of space it takes up on your counter. However, if you want a versatile, high-powered juicer that can do more than produce juice, this is the one we'd recommend. — Malarie Gokey

Pros: Extremely versatile, powerful, easy to clean and use

Cons: Expensive, small opening

Buy the Omega NC800HDR Nutrition System Juicer on Amazon for $363.55 (originally $430)

The best high-end juicer

Why you’ll love it: Hurom’s H-AI Slow Juicer is quiet, user-friendly, takes up little counter space, and yields the most juice and the least waste of any juicer we’ve tested.

Before receiving the Hurom Slow Juicer for review, I’d had a juicer or two in my day, but while I love fresh juice, I looked at them as a nuisance: loud, clunky, counter space hogs that are a pain to clean.

Then a magical device appeared before me, and I’ve been off to the races ever since. The past few months have seen me juicing just about everything one can juice — and a few things, evidently, that one cannot. Another masticating juicer like the Omega, Hurom's juicer is a less versatile but more powerful machine for the devout juice fiend.

Assembly was quick, which is good because juicers are things that require disassembly and reassembly with every use. The other thing I took quick note of upon assembling the Hurom Slow Juicer was how little counter space it took up. Because it is vertically built, its footprint is only as large as a tea kettle, which is something even the most limited countertops can bear.

In use, the Hurom H-AI Slow Juicer delights even further. A self-feeding hopper means all you have to do is load the thing up with your selection of fruits, vegetables, and/or whatever else you’d like to run through it, twist on the lid, turn the thing on, and walk away — just make sure that the basin is in place to catch your juice first. This saves me a ton of time in my morning routine which would otherwise be spent feeding fruits and veggies into the machine one by one, which does take some time to produce a cup.

Slow juicers (also known as masticating and cold press juicers) take a while to produce juice, but the only difference is that you can walk away and brew your coffee, get dressed, or read the paper, as you like.

Here’s a video by Tested highlighting and explaining the differences between a masticating juicer and a centrifugal (blade) juicer. What’s more is that if you have any members of the household you don’t want to disturb, this is the quietest juicer I’ve ever heard.

Cleaning slow juicers can be easier or more difficult than centrifugal juicers depending on what you’re juicing. And while they’re best for every kind of juice, they really excel at leafy greens, which can take a little work to clean out. Pro tip: Clear out the pulp and at least soak your juicer in hot, soapy water the moment you’re done juicing and cleanup will be exponentially cleaner than hours later when things have started to dry, solidify, and ferment.

Hurom has been around since 1974, and has had a loyal following since. With the H-AI Slow Juicer, though, the company has outdone itself. CNN Underscored agrees.

The Hurom Slow Juicer is an investment. There’s no denying that, but like any good appliance, this thing pays off in dividends, and using it daily justifies the expense within a couple of years at most. — Owen Burke

Pros: Convenience, takes up little counter space, extremely quiet

Cons: Expensive, not terribly easy to clean (though no juicer is)

Buy Hurom’s H-AI Slow Juicer on Amazon for $699.99

The best juicer for less than $100

Why you'll love it: If you don’t like the prep time involved with juicing, then the Hamilton Beach 67650A might be the best juicer for you because of its large mouth.

Looking for a juicer that doesn’t require you to cut up your fruit into bits and pieces first? The Hamilton Beach 67650A Big Mouth Pro might be the right juicer for you. This juicer, as the name implies, has a mouth that measures an extra-wide 3-inch mouth, which should be enough for many fruits and vegetables to go in whole.

The advantages to this juicer don’t stop at the big mouth. It also offers a stainless steel cutter and strainer that are dishwasher-safe, and according to Hamilton Beach, it’s able to make up to 24 percent more juice than competitors.

The juicer is also pretty powerful, boasting a hefty 800-watt motor, and it has a large pulp catcher, so you can juice a lot of fruit before having to replace the catcher.

There are some disadvantages to consider. For example, the Big Mouth Pro is relatively noisy, and the juice jug is relatively small, coming in at 20 ounces. The juice also oxidizes relatively fast because of the fact that the motor sucks in a lot of air.

However, most reviewers agree that for a juicer that costs quite a bit less than $100, the Hamilton Beach 67650A Big Mouth Pro is a great deal. CNET gave it 3.5 out of 5 stars and was impressed by how well it handled kale and other tough fruits and vegetables for a juicer in its price range. — Christian de Looper

Pros: Wide mouth, powerful motor, easy to use and clean

Cons: Quite noisy, small-ish juice jug

Buy the Hamilton Beach 67650A Big Mouth Pro on Amazon for $54.99

• Only four US states have legal names that include the term Commonwealth: Kentucky, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
• Here's the historical (and global) significance behind the label.  

Maybe you first came across the term on a US history test or while watching a documentary.

But have you ever stopped to ponder what the word "Commonwealth" really means and why it's applied to some states and territories but not others?

The global and historical answer behind it might surprise you.

SEE ALSO: 4 polls show Americans blame Trump for the government shutdown, over a border 'crisis' they don't see

The Commonwealth states

There are four US states whose legal names include the term Commonwealth: Kentucky, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. However, this term does not affect laws or life in these states today, nor did it when they were first created either.

According to the Massachusetts State Government, the term "Commonwealth" was incorporated into their constitution in 1780 and was used to express the ideal that "the people [of Massachusetts] ... form themselves into a free, sovereign, and independent body politic, or state."

This framing of the state as a commonwealth derives from language of 17th-century thinkers like Thomas Hobbes and John Locke and refers to the goal of creating a political community for the common good.

This was common language for politicians at the time aiming to express the ideals of a democratic state, but the term has never had an effect on the legal relationship of the state to the government.

The states of Pennsylvania and Virginia included similar language in their state constitutions in 1776, as did Kentucky in 1850.

Commonwealth territories

The question of commonwealths becomes a bit more complicated when we move beyond the continental United States to look at a few of its island territories.

The US has five major territories: American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Of these five, only two of them are considered commonwealths — the Northern Mariana Island and Puerto Rico.

Like their state counterparts, the use of the term commonwealth in the full titles of these territories does not affect their legal status.  

Though it legally has no significance, the title of "commonwealth" has come into question during disputes over the future of Puerto Rico's status as a territory — namely, in the debate over whether the territory should remain as it is, become independent, or become a fully integrated US State.

Some supporters of Puerto Rico's independence have supported a kind of fusion status that would utilize the term commonwealth and grant the territory rights similar to those of a Free Associated State, including the right to manage their own international affairs while still maintaining a special relationship with the United States.

Beyond the US

The term commonwealth is also still used beyond the US, notably in the Commonwealth of Nations – a 53 country intergovernmental group which includes countries such as Canada, Australia, South Africa, and India — where nearly all the countries share a history of being ruled by the British Empire as a territory or colony.

While most of these commonwealth countries are independent from the United Kingdom today, Queen Elizabeth II still serves as head of state for 16 countries in the Commonwealth of Nations, including Canada, Jamaica, and New Zealand.

Despite these countries having no legal obligation to one another, they do share a set of common goals. In its charter, the group commits to "the development of free and democratic societies and the promotion of peace and prosperity to improve the lives of all peoples of the Commonwealth." Again, the term commonwealth here is used to emphasize the vision of a democratic and prosperous political community.

These countries also share a common appreciation for friendly competition and participate every four years in a sporting event — much like the Olympics — called the Commonwealth Games. Hosted most recently in Australia in 2018, athletes from these commonwealth countries come together to compete in sports like swimming and diving, table tennis, and gymnastics.

While the term commonwealth can be almost entirely dismissed as a remnant of political language from centuries ago, it is also a lasting reminder of the goals and ideals of politicians who shaped these nations — and a reminder of what those nations are still striving to achieve every day.

• George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston, Texas has closed the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints in one of its terminals due to a lack of security staff amid the government shutdown.
• Ticket counters and the security checkpoint in Terminal B closed down over the weekend. 
• The airport told Business Insider that the checkpoint will remain closed until the TSA can provide enough people the staff it.
• Terminal B's gates will remain open and passengers flying through the facility will need to be screened at other terminals.
• United Airlines is Terminal B's largest tenant.

George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston, Texas has closed the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints in one of its terminals due to a lack of security staff amid the government shutdown.

In an alert posted on Twitter, the airport announced on Sunday that ticket counters and TSA checkpoint in Terminal B have been shut down. 

Authorities at IAH announced that the checkpoint will be closed on Monday as well. 

"Due to staffing issues associated with the partial shutdown of the federal government, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security checkpoint and the ticketing counter in Terminal B at George Bush Intercontinental Airport remains closed," the airport said in a statement. 

An airport official told Business Insider that the checkpoint will remain shuttered until the TSA can muster up enough employees.

The TSA was not immediately available for comment on the matter.

Terminal B remains open amid the closure of the checkpoint. As a result, passengers with flights operating out of Terminal B will go through security screening at Terminal C or E. 

Read more: The TSA is giving unpaid security screeners a $500 bonus during the government shutdown.

Houston mayor Sylvester Turner advised passengers to arrive at the airport at least two hours ahead of their flight. 

According to United Airlines, Terminal B's main tenant, its operations at IAH is running normally at this time. 

Miami International Airport also experienced a shortage of security screeners. As a result, the airport shut down one of its terminals for part of the weekend. 

Read more: Miami's airport is shutting down one of its terminals this weekend over a shortage of TSA screeners amid the government shutdown.

TSA staff have been working unpaid since the government shutdown commenced on December 22. Even though the workers are eligible to receive back pay once the shutdown is over, many live paycheck to paycheck.

This has resulted in a dramatic spike in the number of employees who are calling out of work or quitting altogether.

On Friday, TSA Administrator David Pekoske announced that screening officers will receive a $500 bonus for working during the holidays. 

• Read more:
• United, Alaska, and Spirit flight attendants are warning Trump, Pelosi, and McConnell that the government shutdown is doing real damage to the airline industry
• TSA airport screeners have been working without pay during the shutdown and now many don't have money to get to work
• Delta, United, and JetBlue pilots are warning that flying will become more dangerous as the government shutdown continues
• The government shutdown could spur more flight delays making travel a nightmare, air traffic controllers claim

SEE ALSO: The FAA is reportedly about to bring airline inspectors back to work during the government shutdown

FOLLOW US: On Facebook for more car and transportation content!

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's what it's like to drive trains on London's Tube — one of the most complicated subway systems in the world

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

• Wearing a bike helmet is incredibly important for a cyclist's safety, so we've rounded up the best bike helmets you can buy.
• The POC Octal X SPIN is the best bike helmet we've tested with its great ventilation, protective design, enhanced visibility, and other great safety features.

Bike helmets have moved a long way from the polystyrene buckets that many of us grew up with. So specialized have they become that I have a shelf by my door that is just for bike helmets. It's a little embarrassing how many of them I own, and I'm considering passing my collection off as a conceptual art piece next time my mother comes to visit so I won't have to explain why anyone needs half-a-dozen pieces of safety headwear.

Cycling helmets can be aerodynamic, lightweight, high visibility and super protective. That's why the helmet I reach for to ride home from work in the dark is different from the one I pull down if I'm off for a Sunday session on the local trails.

In general, cycling helmets are designed to prevent a traumatic brain injury in the event of an impact. All helmets sold in the US have passed a Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) test, which means they satisfy certain criteria that the CPSC determines will help reduce the risk of brain injury.

In recent years, systems such as MIPS (Multi-Directional Impact Protection System) and SPIN (Shearing Pads Inside) have been included in helmets to help prevent brain injuries when there are multiple impacts or oblique collisions. These technologies go beyond CPSC requirements but can be helpful if a specific type of collision happens.

Obviously, the most important element of a helmet is its protection against brain injury, and this isn't something we could test. But the safest helmet is the one you always wear, and so we tested the fit, ventilation, weight, and practicality of dozens of helmets to determine which ones are the best you can buy.

Here are the best bike helmets you can buy:

• Best bike helmet overall: POC Octal X SPIN
• Best budget bike helmet: Bern FL1 Trail
• Best high-end bike helmet: Giro Aether MIPS
• Best portable bike helmet for bikeshare: Priority Bicycles Stack
• Best bike helmet for commuters: Lumos Kickstart

Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks

SEE ALSO: The best bike locks you can buy

The best bike helmet overall

Why you'll love it: The POC Octal X Spin is well ventilated, comfortable, and offers enhanced visibility and safety features that will benefit cyclists and commuters alike.

Some people like shoes, some people like bags, and some people like watches, but I like bike helmets. I will admit that it is a bit strange to have half a dozen pieces of protective headwear hanging by more door, but I like to be sure I always have the right tool for the job, and I figure there are worse ways to spend your money than protecting your brain.

What's even weirder is that I tend to pull down the same helmet every day. Whether I am riding a hundred miles on the road or five miles to the shops, the OCTAL X SPIN is the helmet I pick for 90% of my riding, and that's why it earned the title of best bike helmet overall.

POC is relatively new to the cycling game, but its focus on safety and a distinctly Scandinavian aesthetic has won the brand a loyal following. The POC brand has become associated with placing rider safety above aesthetic or aerodynamic concerns, but its recent models have proved popular with the racing crowd thanks to their support of the Cannondale pro cycling team.

POC tends to favor bright colors to make riders more visible in traffic, and this has the added benefit of making their athletes stand out from the crowd and giving the brand a strong image.

To make the Octal X SPIN, POC took its popular road cycling helmet — the Octal, and gave it a few tweaks to make it equally suitable for trail use. Along with a shell that fully covers the lining — a common feature of off-road helmets — POC added SPIN technology. SPIN, which stands for Shearing Pads Inside, is designed to protect against oblique impacts — something that many standard helmets don't do so well.

While CPSC regulations don't require protection against these impacts, POC offers SPIN technology to people who want protection above and beyond the legal minimum. The main function of a helmet is protecting your brain, so POC made this its main selling point for the Octal X SPIN.

Safety might be a good reason to pick the Octal X SPIN, but you won't be let down in terms of performance either. Reviewers love the comfy straps and 21 vents, which make the helmet disappear in use. One biker said the new helmet "seems to move air a little better" than the previous model.  

The easy-to-use and highly adjustable retention system also garnered praise from experts. They appreciated the light weight of the helmet, which makes it equally appropriate for road or mountain use. Lastly, the quick adjustment saw one reviewer taking the Octal from box to bike ride in two minutes.

When I first put on the Octal X SPIN, I noted how much more of the back and sides of my head were covered compared to a conventional road helmet. This makes the Octal a safer choice, especially for riding off-road where low-speed falls and hits to different parts of the head are likely.

Despite its larger size, the Octal didn't feel heavy in use, and the scales confirm that it weighs in at a very competitive 267 grams for medium. The larger footprint didn't seem to impact ventilation, either, even on slow climbs, the helmet provided ample airflow. On evening commutes, I felt reassured by the high visibility orange shell, and found the "Eye Garage" useful for holding my sunglasses without them slipping out.

Pros: Lightweight, well ventilated, highly visible, enhanced coverage and SPIN system for better protection

Cons: Some riders may have to size up from the non-SPIN models, the appearance will not appeal to everyone, POC's crash replacement policy is not as generous as some brands, expensive

Buy the POC Octal X Spin on Amazon for $250-$275

The best budget bike helmet

Why you'll love it: The Bern FL1 Trail combines the styling of helmets five times its price with great venting and an adjustable fit for a performance that belies its incredible value.

Two-hundred-and-fifty bucks can seem like a lot to spend on something that is designed to break. While it is true that you only get one brain, and it is worth protecting, starting cycling can be expensive enough as it is. Luckily, all helmets approved for use in the US have to pass the same tests, meaning that while cheaper helmets might weigh more or offer less venting, they’ll protect you just as much as their higher-end brethren.

With the FL1 Trail, the compromises are pretty minimal. Bern uses the same in-mold 18 vent construction as its top of the line helmets, but save money by using a non-brand-name adjustment dial on the rear closure mechanism. The helmet offers a visor, to protect from rain, sun, and trailside vegetation. It doesn’t feel that much different in use to more expensive helmets thanks to its light weight of just 271 grams and plenty of venting.

Bicycling magazine loved the F1 trail with its four-level height adjustment for fit and snug-fitting chin strap and color options to suit every rider. The helmet did seem to sit rather high on the head of reviewers at Bike Rumor, which might be a concern for low-speed impacts.

The helmet does not offer MIPS (Multi-Directional Impact Protection System), either, but BERN offers an FL1 model with MIPS  for $30 more. Some reviewers found the sizing ran a little small, but Amazon users note that Bern has great customer service if size is an issue.

Pros: Great value, highly vented and adjustable, looks and weight on par with top brands

Cons: Sits a little high on the head, non-MIPS, visor is not adjustable

Buy the FL1 Trail Helmet on Amazon for $69.99

The best high-end bike helmet

Why you'll love it: Giro's Aether is a slimline helmet that doesn't compromise on breathability, aerodynamics, or safety, making it a great choice for the racer who wants to go fast uphill and down.

Giro has long been a name associated with the highest level of performance in bike racing. Its helmets have won bike races in just about every category, and the brand has innovated not only in performance but also safety.

Two of the biggest trends in cycle helmets recently have been aerodynamics and multiple impact protection (MIPS). Both have been driven by Giro but, until recently, both required compromises resulting in racers often owning several helmets. Aerodynamic helmets, such as Giro's first generation air attack, were fast on the flat but tended to be heavy and poorly vented and thus a poor choice for hilly days.

Giro Pioneered Multiple Impact Protection Systems in bicycle helmets in 2015, but in its previous generation of MIPS helmets, sometimes sizing was a little off and the MIPS liner tended to squeak annoyingly and catch on sunglasses or long hair.

The Aether is a no-compromises racing helmet. Instead of placing the MIPS layer by the riders' head, Giro has sandwiched in between EPS foam layers, resulting in a more comfortable and aerodynamic helmet. Eleven huge vents make the helmet virtually disappear on climbs.

Expert reviewers said that the Aether was "among the coolest and best ventilated helmets, at high and low speed, we have ever ridden." Of course, the big benefit of the Aether is one that nobody wants to test. Impact protection with the MIPS spherical system is better than ever before, and now the helmet's fit and ventilation are uncompromised meaning that, should the worst happen you'll always be the best protected.  

Gone is the yellow MIPS liner of previous models. Instead, the new Spherical MIPS system is built into the helmet and provides more impact protection and less inconvenience. The adjustable Roc-Loc 5 fit system means that the helmet will retain the fit, which one expert described as "exceptionally comfortable, for all shapes and sizes of head.

Giro also claims that the helmet is slightly more aerodynamic than its current Synthe model, and weight is about the same. One biker did note that this integration of the MIPS system meant they had to size up from a medium to a large, and this has been my own experience as well. Giro provide a handy sizing guide that should help you pick the right helmet size for your head.

Pros: One of the safest helmet son the market, lightweight and aerodynamic, comes in a variety of colors to match your bike or kit

Cons: The Aether is expensive, but you only get one brain, this is more of a road style helmet and off-road riders will have to wait for mountain bike appropriate model

Buy the Giro Aether MIPS on Amazon for $325

• A divorce is likely when one or both partners in a marriage feels hopeless.
• That's according to both couples therapists and scientific research.
• People who feel hopeless about their relationship have come to terms with the fact that nothing can be done to save it.

"When you're in a healthy relationship," said Rachel Sussman, "it can throw a little sunshine on everything in your life."

Even when you've had a harrowing day at work, or an argument with a friend, you know you'll come home and get to hang with the person who makes you the happiest.

"You feel hopeful," said Sussman, who is a couples therapist. You're watching each other's backs, and "that can give you a real feeling of comfort and security."

So when Sussman tries to discern a couple's status — in terms of whether they're heading for divorce — she looks for one sign in particular: hopelessness.

"You just feel that there's nothing else that can be done to save the relationship," Sussman told Business Insider of her clients who are on the verge of a breakup. "You are coming to terms with the fact that it's ending, and that can make you feel hopeless about the relationship, but also hopeless about your life."

Indeed, a 1992 study by researchers at the University of Washington found that marital disappointment and disillusionment — which encompasses feelings of depression and hopelessness — "was the most powerful single predictor of divorce." Specifically, couples who felt hopeless at the study's outset were more likely to be divorced three years later.

The researchers write that, among the couples they interviewed who showed signs of disappointment and disillusionment, some said they'd had unrealistic expectations about what marriage would be like.

Read more: 8 things science says predict divorce

From marriage and family therapist Hal Runkel's perspective, a relationship's prognosis comes down to the couple's willingness to invest effort into it. "When one spouse is indifferent," as opposed to enraged, he wrote in an email to Business Insider, "they no longer care that much about how their spouse feels and behaves."

He added, "They don't care that much about staying in a relationship at all, much less doing whatever it takes to make it work."

SEE ALSO: 7 unavoidable questions to ask your partner before it's too late

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

• The government shutdown is now in its 24th day.
• As part of the shutdown, Food and Drug Administration is not conducting many food-inspection duties.
• The US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service is still operational, but employees are not getting paid.
• According to Bill Marler, an attorney specializing in food-poisoning outbreaks, these changes could lead to problems including more outbreaks of food poisoning.

The government shutdown could lead to a perhaps unexpected negative consequence: more food-poisoning outbreaks.

With the fight over President Donald Trump's demands for a wall along the US-Mexico border dragging on into a record-shattering 24th day, some food-safety functions of the US government are going untended. According to some experts, the shutdown's effects should make Americans concerned about food-poisoning outbreaks.

Two major agencies oversee food-safety inspections in the US: the Food and Drug Administration, a division of the Department of Health and Human Services; and the Food Safety and Inspection Service, a division of the US Department of Agriculture.

The FSIS oversees inspections of meat, poultry, and eggs, while the FDA looks after the rest.

According to the USDA's shutdown plan, FSIS employees are deemed "essential," and inspections conducted by the agency will continue. But employees carrying out those inspections are not paid.

By contrast, the FDA's plan determined that while limited inspections would continue during the shutdown — such as inspections of imported foods — a majority of food operations would be shut down.

Read more:The effects of the shutdown will get exponentially worse if the fight drags on

"FDA would be unable to support some routine regulatory and compliance activities," the FDA plan said. "This includes some medical product, animal drug, and most food related activities. FDA will also pause routine establishment inspections, cosmetics and nutrition work, and many ongoing research activities."

In addition, the FDA deemed that employees responsible for responding to outbreaks of foodborne illness were essential. But those measures are for response, rather than the inspections that could prevent an outbreak.

"I'd say you should be very worried about your food safety, in part because the work that's not being done right now is the work that's needed to prevent the next outbreak of foodborne illness," Sarah Sorscher, a deputy director of regulatory affairs at the consumer watchdog Center for Science in the Public Interest, told Public Radio International.

According to the FDA's plan, 41% of all employees are on furlough, meaning the workers are not receiving pay and are barred from coming to work. Only 11% of FSIS workers are furloughed in that agency's plan.

Following public concerns about food safety, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb tweeted Sunday that the agency is reassessing its shutdown plan and will bring back some employees to work on food safety operations. The change, Gottlieb said, was due to the unprecedented length of the funding lapse.

"Given the prolonged shutdown and compounding risk as time accrues; FDA is working to operationalize additional activities that exceed what we’ve done in past shutdown situations," the FDA Commissioner tweeted.

According to Gottlieb, the resumed activities include expanded "for-cause" inspections, increased sampling of high-risk food and drugs, and more. It was not immediately clear how many employees this change will affect.

But even those FSIS and FDA employees who are still on the job are facing financial woes because of the lack of pay. Unpaid employees in other agencies, such as the Transportation Security Administration, are said to be calling in sick in large numbers, and problems in those departments are adding up.

In its shutdown plan, the FSIS said problems with safety would worsen as a shutdown dragged on.

"A lengthy hiatus would affect the safety of human life and have serious adverse effects on the industry, the consumer and the Agency," the report said.

Bill Marler, an attorney specializing in food-poisoning outbreaks who has won more than $600 million for clients in foodborne-illness cases, pointed out that the real possibility of not receiving a paycheck on January 15 was also most likely affecting the inspectors remaining on the job.

"Seriously, can we expect, as the shutdown stumbles into week two, that inspectors' focus are solely on preventing the next E. coli, Salmonella or Listeria outbreak?" Marler wrote in a blog post.

When asked by Business Insider what people could do to avoid another food-poisoning outbreak, Marler had just one suggestion.

"Call and write the president," Marler said in an email.

SEE ALSO: Fast-food workers are striking after a McDonald's customer attacked an employee

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here are some of the odd 'defects' the FDA allows inside processed food

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

• A good winter coat will keep you warm and dry even when the snow is falling and the wind is howling. A great winter coat will keep you warm, dry, and looking good, too.
• The Patagonia Men's Topley Jacket is our top pick because it's well insulated, water resistant, and imbued with understated but undeniable style.

Winter is coming, and depending on where you live, that means freezing temperatures, snow, rain, and biting wind that always seems to find the gap between your pants and jacket. But just because the winter weather can be unrelentingly savage, that's no reason not to get outside and get on with your day. With the right winter coat, you can keep the chill at bay while you work or play, and you can even look good while you're at it.

The primary job of a winter coat is pretty straightforward: It needs to keep you warm. This is both a comfort and a safety matter, so make sure to consider the insulation capabilities of a winter jacket over all other factors. It's better to not to die of exposure than it is to look good, so you might have to sacrifice style for welfare. Keep in mind that water resistance plays a big role in warmth. A sodden jacket loses most of its insulation capacity, so if you live in or frequently visit areas with lots of precipitation, you need a jacket that is waterproof (or at least highly water resistant) to ensure that you'll remain warm enough.

You also need to be able to complete a given set of tasks without your coat impeding your abilities. You wouldn't go skiing or work on a construction site in a wool pea coat because the material would restrict your motion and also there's the whole looking ridiculous thing. But you also wouldn't wear a super puffy 800-fill down parka while meeting your friends for a drink in the city on a chilly but clear winter evening. That would be overkill and also look a bit silly. So also make sure to consider when and where you'll wear your coat in terms beyond the environmental factors.

The good news is that lots of men's winter coats are warm, water-resistant, and stylish. Once you have assessed a jacket and determined that it meets your needs in terms of safety and performance, you should absolutely shop based on looks. After all, your winter jacket is the garment people see any time you are out and about in those colder months. Read on to see which of our picks is best for your needs.

Here are the best men's winter coats you can buy:

• Best winter coat overall: Patagonia Topley Jacket
• Best waterproof: Columbia OutDry Ex Gold Down Hooded Jacket
• Best for working: Caterpillar Heavy Insulated Parka
• Best for extreme cold: Mountain Hardware Absolute Zero Parka
• Best versatile parka: Fjällräven Kyl Parka
• Best classic wool coat: Woolrich Classic Peacoat

Updated on 1/14/2019 by Owen Burke: Updated prices and formatting and added a list of other places to shop.

Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks.

The best men's winter coat overall

Why you'll love it: The Patagonia Men's Topley Jacket offers the warmth of a parka in a handsome, stylish jacket that looks right at home above a pair of jeans or dress slacks.

At a glance, the Patagonia Men's Topley Jacket looks like a casual and rather simple jacket. Its design would not have looked out of place in any decade since the 1940s and will likely remain fashionable many decades into the future. Although this jacket may be unassuming in appearance, it's actually quite capable in terms of performance.

The outer shell of this two-layer coat is made from 100% recycled polyester and is waterproof yet breathable. The inner layer is quilted and features 600-fill-power recycled down that provides excellent insulation. Thanks to a zipper secured with a buttoned storm flap, even a harsh, cutting wind will be kept at bay.

But frankly, lots of jackets look rather like this one and can keep you warm and dry, too. What sets this jacket apart from the pack are the details. Its exterior pockets are lined with brushed jersey to keep your fingers warm and cozy. Its removable hood is well insulated, adjustable, and features a laminated visor to keep precipitation off your face (and out of your eyes, most notably). The left chest pocket has a waterproof zipper and a port for headphones. The waist can be cinched shut with an adjustable drawcord that keeps out that biting wind.

Most people who have worn the Topley give it at least a 4.5-star rating, though the latest version of this retro classic is too new to have many reviews. Most professional apparel writers love the jacket, while a writer from WyomingFlyFishing.com loves the way the "urban-friendly" jacket "wraps you in compressible warmth."  

Pros: Stylish appearance, dual-layer design offers excellent insulation, clever design features

Cons: Rather expensive

Buy the Patagonia Men's Topley Jacket at Patagonia for $399.00

Shop all men's jackets and coats at Patagonia

The best waterproof winter jacket

Why you'll love it: You could have a friend spray you with a hose and still stay dry in the Columbia OutDry Ex Gold Down Hooded Jacket, plus, you'd stay nice and warm.

I own a Columbia Sportswear OutDry Ex Gold Down Hooded Jacket and I wear it dozens of times in the winter. When I'm doing any winter camping or hiking, I use it for the duration of the trip, day and night — balled up, the jacket makes a decent pillow for sleeping. By day, it keeps me warm and, as you likely surmised, 100% dry. When you see Columbia's proprietary OutDry tag on one of its garments, you can count on it to be totally waterproof.

I've worn my Ex Gold Down jacket in heavy snow and in driving rain and on some very cold days, and frankly, when paired with a couple layers of innerwear, the jacket kept me too warm once my heart rate was up. But that's a lot better than too cold. The jacket features multiple slender horizontal baffles that keep the 700-fill-power down in place and evenly distributed, and all seams are coated with an external tape, keeping out cold air and wetness.

Another thing you will love about this jacket is its remarkable compressibility. This thing can keep you warm in freezing temperatures, but then pack down small enough to tuck away into your pack or even into a glove compartment or a drawer. Or, like I do, you can roll the jacket up, fold it into its hood, and use it as a pillow. When you're exhausted after hiking all day, it will offer more than enough comfort.

The Columbia OutDry Ex Gold Down Hooded Jacket scores mainly five-star reviews online, with one customer saying he "highly recommend[s] it for anyone who goes backpacking in varying weather conditions." Another owner says it is "the best rain barrier I have owned."

A writer with Trailspace Outdoor Gear Reviews reported staying dry after a five-mile hike in the rain, and noted that the "nylon interior material is soft against the skin and comfortable." A gear tester with GearJunkie.com praised the coat for being waterproof and warm.

Pros: Exceptional waterproofing, compresses well for packing, lightweight

Cons: Limited breathability can cause sweating issues

Buy the Columbia OutDry Ex Gold Down Hooded Jacket at Columbia for $250.00

Shop all men's jackets and coats at Columbia

The best winter jacket for working outside

Why you'll love it: The Caterpillar Heavy Insulated Parka will help to keep you warm and safe as you get the job done despite the winter weather. 

When there's work to be done, you can't let a little thing like blizzard conditions stop you from doing your job. With the Caterpillar Heavy Insulated Parka, winter weather is no obstacle for the hard working man. The exterior of the parka is water resistant and will keep you dry in snow and in moderate rain. The coat features ample insulation for temperatures well below freezing, and thanks to a drawstring waist and hood and adjustable cuffs, the cold air won't be able to seep in anywhere.

But lots of parkas can keep you warm. That's kind of their job, in fact, isn't it? This coat has a leg up on the competition when it comes to use by workers for two primary reasons. The first is the highly reflective strips emblazoned across the chest and back of the parka, which ensure its wearer is highly visible even in low light conditions. The second is the abundance of pockets. The parka has two interior pockets and multiple exterior pockets, perfect for stashing smaller tools and hardware, a pen and pad for notes, a phone or radio, and so forth.

There's one more thing that everyone will love whether you want this coat for work or for warmth while you walk the dog: It costs well under one hundred dollars.

With more than 1,300 reviews in, the Caterpillar Heavy Insulated Parka has a 4.5-star average rating on Amazon. One owner says the "only complaint is that it is almost too warm," while another says it keeps him "toasty warm without being too bulky, has so many pockets I haven’t even found them all yet."

In a winter coat write up, one reviewer with TestFacts.com called the Caterpillar Heavy Insulated Parka the "best winter jacket for men as it boasts a number of features that make it beneficial for the winter season."

Pros: Warmth maintained by secure closures at wrists, hem, and neck, reflective patches, multiple pockets

Cons: Not fully waterproof, sizes run too large

Buy the Caterpillar Heavy Insulated Parka on Amazon from $79.99-$109.99 (prices vary by size)

Shop all Caterpillar Workwear men's jackets on Amazon

• William Barr, President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Justice Department, will tell the Senate Judiciary Committee this week that the special counsel Robert Mueller should be allowed to "complete his work" on the Russia investigation.
• Barr will also tell lawmakers that Congress and the public should be "informed" of the results of Mueller's investigation after it concludes.
• His statements come amid a firestorm surrounding an unsolicited memo he sent to the White House and Justice Department this year in which he called Mueller's obstruction probe "legally insupportable" and said the Justice Department should not support the Russia investigation.
• Barr's confirmation hearing will kick off on Tuesday.

William Barr, President Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general, will tell the Senate Judiciary Committee this week that the special counsel Robert Mueller should be allowed to conclude the FBI's Russia investigation.

Barr's confirmation hearing will kick off on Tuesday. In prepared remarks released Monday, the former attorney general under President George H.W. Bush said, "On my watch, Bob will be allowed to complete his work."

Barr's statement comes amid a firestorm surrounding an unsolicited memo he sent to the White House and Justice Department in June in which he called Mueller's obstruction of justice investigation "legally insupportable."

In his 20-page memo, Barr argued that Mueller's obstruction probe is based on an overly expansive reading of the special counsel's powers.

He also wrote that Mueller shouldn't be allowed to demand an interview with Trump about obstruction of justice.

"As I understand it, his theory is premised on a novel and legally insupportable reading of the law," Barr wrote. "Mueller should not be permitted to demand that the President submit to interrogation about alleged obstruction."

The investigation, Barr added, shouldn't be sanctioned by the Justice Department.

Barr appeared to walk back his remarks in his prepared testimony.

"I believe it is in the best interest of everyone — the President, Congress, and, most importantly, the American people — that this matter be resolved by allowing the special counsel to complete his work," Barr will say. "The country needs a credible resolution of these issues. If confirmed, I will not permit partisan politics, personal interests, or any other improper consideration to interfere with this or any other investigation."

Barr will also say that Congress and the public should be "informed of the results" of Mueller's investigation.

"For that reason, my goal will be to provide as much transparency as I can consistent with the law," he will say. "I can assure you that, where judgments are to be made by me, I will make those judgments based solely on the law and will let no personal, political, or other improper interests influence my decision."

Read more: Meet William Barr: What you need to know about the possible future attorney general

Questions about Barr's recusal will 'take front and center' at his confirmation hearing

Democratic lawmakers erupted after Barr's memo was first reported on in December, and many legal experts said it was a sign that he would need to recuse himself from overseeing the Russia probe if confirmed.

Barr did not indicate whether he would do so in his prepared testimony.

Questions about whether Barr will recuse himself if confirmed will "take front and center" among Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee during his confirmation hearing, a committee aide told INSIDER over the weekend.

"William Barr's memo raises significant questions about whether he can remain independent of the White House while overseeing the special counsel," the aide said.

California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the ranking member on the panel, also said she plans to question Barr extensively about his oversight of Mueller if confirmed.

"My intention will be to get that on the record before I'm satisfied," she said in a statement. "It's very important that Mueller be able to have no interference whatsoever."

People familiar with Barr's plans told the Washington Post that he intends to publicly repeat his pledge not to interfere with or shut down Mueller's work, but will not make broader or more specific promises about how he will approach the Russia probe or any ethics review of his involvement in it.

"He will promise to do the right thing, and he will promise to protect the integrity of the Justice Department," one person familiar with Barr’s preparations told The Post.

If the Republican-controlled Senate confirms Barr as attorney general, he would have the power to fire Mueller.

Both Republican and Democrats expect Barr's controversial memo to loom large over his hearing.

Matthew Miller, a former Justice Department spokesperson, wrote on Twitter that Barr's memo "raises major questions about whether he should be allowed to oversee the Mueller probe."

While it's true that former officials sometimes relay their thoughts on legal issues to the Justice Department, "20-page memos that are sent to counsel for the subject of an investigation" are "not common, and it doesn't happen by accident," Miller added.

Ultimately, experts said, Barr's views on executive power and his decision to defend Trump in a memo to both the Justice Department and to Trump's lawyers may indicate that if confirmed, he would need to recuse himself from overseeing Mueller.

In his memo, Barr argued that a president can only be accused of obstructing justice if he destroyed evidence or told a witness to lie. But firing Comey, he said, was perfectly within his powers.

In a 2017 Washington Post op-ed, Barr also argued that Trump made "the right call" by firing Comey.

SEE ALSO: Grading the Steele dossier 2 years later: what’s been corroborated and what's still unclear

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: MSNBC host Chris Hayes thinks President Trump's stance on China is 'not at all crazy'

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

• The personal-finance startup Empower is part of new wave of online banks giving customers better banking features. Without overhead costs, they can offer attractive cash-back rewards, higher savings interest rates, and no-fee transactions. 
• Its debit card, accepted like a Visa card and compatible with Apple Pay, gets 1% cash back on the first $1,000 spent each month. 
• Its savings-account interest rate is 2%. Compare that with the national-average interest rate, which ranges from 0.1% to 0.2%, with some traditional banks offering rates as low as 0.01%. 
• These features work with Empower's artificial-intelligence-powered assistant to help members earn more money with their bank and make smarter financial decisions. 

Mention thousand-people wait lists, and I would assume you're talking about the latest product launch from a millennial startup darling like Everlane. Personal-finance startups, however, can be equally skilled at generating buzz. 

As much as millennials love spending money on clothing and beauty brands that do business differently, they're also looking for new and different ways to manage that money, which is why, in late 2018, the personal-finance app Empower had more than 10,000 people put themselves on the wait list for its new mobile-banking product. 

The first product from Empower, cofounded by a former Sequoia Capital partner and backed in part by Alexis Ohanian's Initialized Capital, is a free personal-financial adviser that connects all your financial accounts, tracks your money, and helps you discover hidden savings. 

The next step for the nearly 500,000-user-strong company was to take the traditional banking industry head-on. Empower CEO Warren Hogarth told Business Insider:

Our users were so frustrated with their existing banks and wanted something more seamless, more personal, and more rewarding. For the industry, it changes the game. Consumers can now get paid to bank and have complete control of their finances from their pocket.

Empower banking consists of a debit card and savings account, both insured up to $250,000 by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Members get 1% cash back on the first $1,000 charged to the debit card, which can be used anywhere Visa is accepted, and they have access to a network of 25,000 free ATMs, plus one out-of-network ATM reimbursement per month. The card can also be added to Apple Pay and used anywhere Apple Pay is accepted.

Rewards and a generous savings interest rate are key to hooking members. The cash-back reward is boosted to 2% when users refer their friends to Empower. The savings account has a 2% APY, which gets a boost to 3% with a friend referral. One user said he made more in interest in one month with Empower than he did in one year with Wells Fargo (with its 0.01% APY), capping off his review with: "Online banking is the future, people!" 

Empower also gets rid of some of the most inconvenient features of traditional banking: fees and minimum balances. The usual list of add-on conditions, including monthly, overdraft, insufficient fund, and international transaction fees, are notably missing from its model. 

All the while, the company's artificial-intelligence-powered assistant is there to analyze your financial decisions and help you make better ones. It takes note of your spending behavior and patterns, sends instant notifications of debit-card transactions, and is available 24/7 via chat message. 

If you're one of the many who feel held back by their banking accounts, Empower is a competitive option to consider. It's easy to set up and, with its friendly user interface, enjoyable to use. 

To get started with this new mobile bank, download the Apple or Android app from Empower's website here.

Join the conversation about this story »

• In 2018, Singapore was named the world's most expensive city to live in for the fifth consecutive year. That's partially thanks to the cost of buying and running a car in the city.
• Paris and Zurich are tied for second place in the Economist Intelligence Unit's Worldwide Cost of Living report.
• Asian and European cities dominate the list; the highest ranking American city is New York City (No. 13).

Singapore has spent five years dominating the list of the world's most expensive cities. 

That's according to the Economist Intelligence Unit's Worldwide Cost of Living report, which compares more than 400 individual prices across 160 products and services including categories like food, drink, clothing, household supplies, rent, transport, and utility bills.

Singapore's placement in rankings comes down, in part, to one specific category: It is the most expensive place in the world to buy and run a car.

As CNN reported, the government regulates car ownership in the city-state by issuing a limited number of permits. Citizens have to purchase these permits, which are valid for 10 years and cost, as of October 2017, as much as $37,000 a piece.

"Vehicles are also subject to huge price markups because of various taxes and import duties, which means a small SUV can set you back more than 100,000 Singapore dollars ($74,000)," the 2017 CNN report continued.

Read more: I stayed in the $6.6 billion mega-hotel in the heart of Singapore, and it wasn't anything like 'Crazy Rich Asians'

Beyond car ownership, the city also ranks among the most expensive places in the world to buy clothes (No. 3).

Singapore is followed by Paris and Zurich in a tie for second place; these three cities lead the way for a list of primarily European and Asian cities.

The highest-ranking American city on the list is New York City in 13th place, followed closely by Los Angeles in 14th. According to the EIU, despite a rise in the cost of living in American cities, both cities fell relative to their 2017 rankings (9th and 11th respectively), largely thanks to the weakening American dollar.

In addition to being the most expensive city in the world, Singapore is one of the most popular cities in the world for tourists: In 2018, it ranked third on Euromonitor International's annual list of the biggest cities for international tourism. With a projected 18.5 million arrivals in 2018, it was outranked only by Bangkok and Hong Kong.

It has also named the best city in the world for expats, most recently in 2018.

But, while the city might be known for its opulence, wealth, and futuristic architecture — as recently depicted in the movie "Crazy Rich Asians," Business Insider's international correspondent Harrison Jacobs found the city to be accessible and fun even without billions of dollars to spend.

"... I found that the city was full of cheap, delicious food, efficient public transportation, top-notch museums, a budding nightlife scene, and beautiful parks," he wrote. "As I quickly learned, if you do as the Singaporeans do, you can easily have a blast in the city without breaking the bank."

SEE ALSO: I visited the No. 1 airport in the world — and it blew me away with a free movie theater, a butterfly garden, and a blazing-fast 15-minute process from check-in to the gate

READ MORE: Singapore is ranked the best place in the world for expats, and after visiting I can understand why

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Japanese lifestyle guru Marie Kondo explains how to organize your home once and never again

TheInsider Picksteam writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Since you don't have all day to scour the web for noteworthy sales and discounts, we rounded up the best bargains for you to shop in one convenient place.

1. Save up to 65% on sale styles at Club Monaco

Club Monaco, a favorite for its mastery of the minimalist aesthetic, is having a massive end-of-season sale for men and women. Right now, you can save an extra 40% on already-reduced sale styles. With the discount, the potential total savings are up to 65% off. No promo code is necessary.

Shop the Club Monaco sale now. 

2. Save up to 30% on office furniture at Amazon

It's hard to be productive in a bare or poorly-furnished office. To help you fix that, Amazon is having a sale on office furniture. As a deal of the day, you can save up to 30% on office chairs, lounge chairs, coffee tables, desks, and much more. 

Shop the furniture sale on Amazon now. 

3. Save up to 40% on sale styles at Bonobos

Bonobos is preparing for the next season, so its clearing out past inventory to make room for spring styles with a huge buy-more-save-more sale. For a limited time, you can save 20% on orders of $75+, 30% on orders of $125+, or 40% on orders of $175+ by using the promo code "GOAWAY" at checkout. Whether you're shopping for pieces to wear during the west of winter or warm-weather styles to hold on to until summer, you'll want to stock up on as much as you can while this sale is still valid.

Shop the Bonobos sale now.

4.Save $70 on a TRX Duo Suspension Trainer

Not being able to go to the gym every day isn't an excuse for not being able to get your workout in. With the TRX Duo Suspension Trainer, you can get a great workout in from home. The system allows you to use body weight and gravity instead of heavy machinery, making it ideal for pull-ups, dips, lower body workouts, and core strengthening exercises. Right now, you can get one for $70 off.

TRX Duo Suspension Trainer, $69.95 (Originally $149.95)[You save $70]

5. Save an extra 20% on sale items at Madewell

J.Crew's popular sister brand Madewell is having a sale on clearance items. Now through January 16, you can save an extra 20% on sale styles by using the promo code "REALDEAL" at checkout. The sale includes denim, outerwear, and other wardrobe essentials. Last year, Madewell expanded beyond its women's-only lineup to create men's clothing, so you'll find great items on sale for everyone.

Shop the Madewell sale now.

6. Save 15% on beauty and wellness items at AHAlife

It's difficult to put a price on wellness, but AHAlife doesn't want you to spend a fortune on the products that go along with it. Right now, the retailer is offering 15% off beauty and wellness products with the promo code "GLOW15" at checkout. The sale includes items like facial masks, moisturizers, makeup, anti-aging serums, and much more. 

Shop the AHAlife sale now. 

7.Save 10% on Brigade Kitchen cookware

Direct-to-consumer cookware startup Brigade Kitchen specializes in quality stainless steel cookware at affordable prices — and right now, the prices are even more affordable. You can save 10% on your order by using the promo code "JOINTHE" at checkout. One Insider Picks reporter tested out the cookware and was pleased with the price, quality, and modern polished finish. You can read her full review here.

Shop all cookware at Brigade Kitchen now.

8. Save 10% on orders of $150 more at Brooklinen

In celebration of the new year, bedding startup Brooklinen is offering 10% off orders of $150 or more. Although the discount may not be huge, it's worth taking advantage of as the Brooklinen rarely has sales and we strongly recommend its sheets sets even at full price. Whether you're a first-time buyer of the brand or you want to pick up some of your favorite pieces at a lower price, this is the sale for you. Brooklinen will prompt you to add your email address, but we opted out of that step and the promo still seemed to apply. 

Shop all bedding at Brooklinen now. 

9. Save big on big-screen TVs at Best Buy

The NFL Playoffs are heating up and Super Bowl Sunday is just a few weeks away. If you've been watching this year's games on a tiny old TV, it's time to upgrade. Just in time for the big game, Best Buy is having a huge sale on TV. Whether you're looking for a huge screen, a smart TV with built-in apps, or crisp 4K Ultra HD picture quality, you'll find many options here.

Shop on-sale TVs at Best Buy now.

Join the conversation about this story »