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.

There's a lot to love about designer goods. The luxurious materials, quality craftsmanship, classic styles and one-0f-a-kind designs — the list could go on and on. But there's one thing I am confident in saying I hate about designer goods: the prices. Yes, I'm all for a splurge in the name of fashion every once in a while, but I'm not sure that my bank account feels the same.

Let's face it, no matter how much you're willing to spend on your wardrobe, you probably would not be opposed to spending less. Everyone loves a good deal, whatever their shopping budget may be. The good news is you don't need to have an unlimited budget (or only eat cereal for a month) to afford the luxury pieces of your dreams.

Nowadays, there are so many online businesses dedicated to selling designer goods at more affordable prices. From resale options to luxury brands warehouses, there are plenty of ways to find luxury items, both new and used, at prices that won't make you cringe when you enter your credit card information.

We rounded up some of the best sites out there for finding good deals on designer clothes, shoes, and bags, which you can find below.

SEE ALSO: 7 resale sites that help you declutter your life and make some money while you're at it

Rent the Runway

Shop designer discounts at Rent the Runway

How it works: Rent the Runway is known for their unique clothing rental service, which allows you to rent dresses for short periods of time instead of buying them, or subscribe to a rotation of items every month. This ultimately allows you to wear designer clothes at a fraction of the cost.  A lesser known asset of Rent the Runway though is their clearance section, where you can purchase designer goods that are finished with their rental rotation. The sale styles are gently used, but you can snag them at up to 75% off the retail price. Not only do they have dresses, but you can buy clothing, jewelry, and other accessories on sale.

Why you’ll love it: The site does a great job of helping you find what you’re looking for. They have advanced filters like weather, event formality, age, and more that help you find the right outfit for your needs. You can even put in the range of clothing sizes you usually wear, so you will only see products available in those sizes. You can also sort by price range, from under $50 to “splurge-worthy” where you can find deals on high-end designer dresses from the likes of Derek Lam and Nina Ricci.

Barney’s Warehouse

Shop deals on luxury brands at Barneys Warehouse

How it works: The Barney’s Warehouse Sale used to be a semi-annual event in a brick-and-mortar store where New Yorkers would line up to snatch deep discounts on Barney’s luxury goods. Gone are the days of playing tug-of-war for Gucci belts, because Barney’s has taken their whole warehouse sale concept online. Find discounts of up to 75% on the same luxury brands you would find at Barney’s.

Why you’ll love it: Complimentary shipping on all orders, plus a great selection of brands like Rag & Bone, Alexander Wang, and Maison Margiela. With offerings for women, men, children, and home, you really can find a designer deal for anyone.

The Outnet

Find high-end fashion at The Outnet

How it works: The Outnet is a go-to for fashion-forward shoppers on the hunt for discounted designer brands. New arrivals are added to the site every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, so there is always a fresh crop of great finds. The Outnet carries a wide array of luxury, trendy brands as well as their own exclusive brand, Iris & Ink.

Why you’ll love it: The Outnet has an amazing selection of trendy, new brands as well as classic, timeless staples. They offer styles that look like they’re straight from the runway and everyday, ready-to wear pieces as well. Discounts are up to 75% off, so you can score some serious deals on high-end pieces. Their “what to wear” section has curated collections that make it easy to peruse and shop by style, season, and occasion. Shipping is always free, too.

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.

• I asked a celebrity dermatologist, Dr. Dendy Engelman, to go over my skin-care routine with a fine-tooth comb to show me what I'm doing right, and what I'm doing wrong.
• Below, Dr. Engelman uses my routine as a template to offer product recommendations and helpful advice on how to make sure your products actually work together.

In the past few years, I've been lucky to work in a field that requires me to spend an extensive amount of time researching skin-care products and then testing them out on myself to see what's worthwhile. Quickly, you get good at spotting the winners from just the ingredient lists, and you become more adept at addressing your skin's needs as they arise. 

But back in the day, I was a high schooler dealing with my first round of acne that couldn't be solved by what my mother recommended: freshly washed sheets, a simple face wash, and drinking more water. At the end of the day, I just wanted someone to put my skin-care routine under a microscope, and explain to me in plain English why things weren't working. But the expense of dermatology appointments meant the resource was more of a luxury. A new salicylic topical treatment from CVS was cheaper and more accessible than to pay for ongoing prescriptions. 

Now, things are different. My skin is mostly clear, and I have the privilege of visiting a dermatologist continually.

I also have the encouragement and resources to regularly discover solid products, rather than buying whichever has the best marketing campaign. But, I'm still human, and I regularly and knowingly cut corners with my own routine. I don't always follow best practices. Plus, even if what makes a good product actually good is no longer a mystery to me, what makes a harmonious skin-care routine still is. 

To help myself, and anyone else reading, figure out how to construct a good skin-care routine, I asked a dermatologist to deconstruct my own.

Dr. Dendy Engelman is a nationally acclaimed dermatologic surgeon and renown dermatologist. Previously, she's offered expertise and been interviewed as a celebrity dermatologist in publications such as Glamour, Vogue, and W Magazine. Currently, Dr. Engelman sees patients at MDCS: Manhattan Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery and is a clinical assistant professor and director of dermatologic surgery at Metropolitan Hospital Center. 

Below, you'll find Dr. Engelman's input on what I'm doing right, wrong, and which products she personally recommends. 

Evening routine

What I do:

1. First, I free my skin of grime and makeup with Maelove Day Eraser ($19) and warm water or Bioderma Micellar water ($15), either lazily by hand or with cotton pads.
2. I wash my face with Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Pore Perfecting Cleansing Gel ($38) in warm water. 
3. Once dry, I apply Dr. Dennis Gross Clinical Grade IPL Dark Spot Correcting Serum ($92) to my face all over.

What Dr. Engelman says I should be doing:

This is a great start, but you are missing a step. In the evening, it's about removing the day’s grime and gunk off your face. I follow a double-cleansing ritual. (Which it looks like you do, too!). Step one involves removing the day's cream, makeup, and dirt with a nutrient-rich towelette or cotton pad to erase every trace of eye makeup with a liquid remover. Next, draw out sebum and bacteria using a gentle oil cleanser and lukewarm water. Oil eliminates impurities without drying out your skin. I use an oil-based cleanser first like Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Replenishing Cleansing Oil ($36).

Then you move on to a serum. Serums are the workhorse products that deliver actives deep into the skin that target specific concerns like fine lines, hyperpigmentation, and more. My favorites are SkinMedica HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator ($120) and SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic ($166). I also like Dr. Gross’ products. (Editor's note: There's a much more affordable $30 Maelove serum with has a similar ingredient list to SkinCeuticals that we also recommend.)

Lastly, you need a moisturizer. While you're sleeping, the body's hydration rebalances. Skin is able to recover moisture, while excess water in general in the body is processed for removal. How this works is that skin can lose water while you sleep, and serums and creams can create a permeable seal on top of your skin so that whatever you have underneath it can penetrate. When the body is in a deep, restful sleep, the skin’s metabolism increases and cell turnover escalates, so we want to support that crucial renewal process. I like First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Face Moisturizer ($24) and SkinCeuticals Renew Overnight Cream Dry ($61). Elizabeth Arden and Dr. Brandt also have a great overnight mask.

Morning routine

What I do: 

1. If I’m running behind, I just apply Maelove's The One Cream ($28) before heading out the door. 
2. If I have time, I wash my face with Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Pore Perfecting Cleansing Gel ($38) in warm water. 
3. Once dry, I apply Dr. Dennis Gross' Clinical Grade IPL Dark Spot Correcting Serum ($92) to my face all over.
4. Once the serum absorbs, I apply the Drunk Elephant Protini Lotion ($68) on top.

What Dr. Engelman says I should be doing:

When it comes to skin care, always start layering the products with the lightest consistency like toner, followed by serums and ampoules. Next are any prescription topical treatments and lotions and, finally, sunscreen. I definitely want to see a sunscreen in your skin-care routine!

Since all you did was sleep after applying your nighttime skin care, cleansing is less important. I like this serum, [but] it does have lactic acid and glycolic acid, which could be exfoliating your skin too much. I like vitamin C serums during the day to help fight free radical damage. Then a moisturizer. I like this Maelove moisturizer— squalene provides intense hydration and I am a big believer of probiotics to keep the skin balanced.

Lastly, sunscreen should be applied daily. Incidental sun exposure for only 10-15 minutes a day adds up over time and can cause significant sun damage and accelerated photoaging. (Editor's note: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer ($8) is a popular and affordable non-greasy option.)

Masking and acne

What I do:

1. I use Differin Gel ($25) with nothing else on top of it at night to clear surface-level acne when necessary. 
2. Once a week, I use the Drunk Elephant Babyfacial ($80) to give me a glow.
3. For a bad breakout, I apply the Aztec Clay Mask ($11).

What Dr. Engelman says I should be doing:

Differin is great, and I highly recommend it. But retinol is drying. Apply a gentle moisturizer [like Maelove's The One Cream] over it; just use one without BHAs (since they'll deactivate each other) and vitamin C (which can be too active for the skin).

I love masks for many reasons, from replenishing hydration to exfoliating the skin. Masks are supercharged because they add concentrated active ingredients back into the skin in a short time frame. Some of my favorites are Derm Institute Antioxidant Gel Masks ($120), iS Clinical Tri-Active Exfoliant ($60) and Elizabeth Arden Probiotic Boost Skin Renewal Biocellulose Mask ($67). (Editor's note: Dr Brandt's popular overnight Hydro Biotic face mask is slightly cheaper at $52.)

Clay does a great job at absorbing excess oils, but if you put it on for too long, you will notice your face becoming really dry. The goal is to absorb excess oil but not absorb so much that your skin is dry and overcompensating by producing extra oil. Therefore the goal should not be to prolong the time the product is on your face but to stick to the recommended time or when you start to feel tightness from the mask, you should plan to rinse it off in two-five minutes.

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.

• Greed and the desire for power often lead to unconscionable acts of fraud and deceit — this theme isn't new, but the popular book "Bad Blood," detailing the rise and fall of healthcare startup Theranos, certainly reminds us of its truth. 
• If you're interested in similar well-written and well-researched books about business scams and scandals, these 16 fascinating books tell you everything you need to know. 
• From the financial industry to cars to sports, they paint a picture of how business scams are built, how they subsequently crash, and how all the involved players are affected. 

Like scores of other readers across the country, I was recently enraptured by the Silicon Valley nightmare tale of Theranos, the healthcare startup that promised to revolutionize blood testing and seduced notable investors, large pharmacy partners, and hopeful customers alike. It never delivered on this promise, but blew through hundreds of millions of dollars and harmed countless livelihoods along the way. 

Unfortunately, instances of corporate deceit and fraud like this aren't new. When power and money are at stake, people often trade in their consciences for more immediately gratifying rewards — and face the consequences when their elaborate schemes spiral out of control. 

Theranos now joins names like Bernie Madoff and Enron, forever cemented in history and the syllabi of business ethics courses, as lessons of questionable business practices that you don't want to believe actually took place. You often only hear about the devastating end result of these scandals, but these books bring you back to the beginning and weave fair, thoughtful tales about how they all transpired. 

For a fascinating and often horrifying look into how not to run a business, read these 16 books about some of the biggest corporate scandals and scams of our time. 

Captions provided by Amazon and edited for length. 

"Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup" by John Carreyou

Buy it here >>

In 2014, Theranos founder and CEO Elizabeth Holmes was widely seen as the female Steve Jobs: a brilliant Stanford dropout whose startup "unicorn" promised to revolutionize the medical industry with a machine that would make blood testing significantly faster and easier.

Backed by investors such as Larry Ellison and Tim Draper, Theranos sold shares in a fundraising round that valued the company at more than $9 billion, putting Holmes's worth at an estimated $4.7 billion. There was just one problem: The technology didn't work. A riveting story of the biggest corporate fraud since Enron, a tale of ambition and hubris set amid the bold promises of Silicon Valley.
 

"The Wizard of Lies" by Diana B. Henriques

Buy it here >>

Who is Bernie Madoff, and how did he pull off the biggest Ponzi scheme in history? These questions have fascinated people ever since the news broke about the respected New York financier who swindled his friends, relatives, and other investors out of $65 billion through a fraud that lasted for decades. Many have speculated about what might have happened or what must have happened, but no reporter has been able to get the full story — until now.

A true-life financial thriller, "The Wizard of Lies" contrasts Madoff's remarkable rise on Wall Street, where he became one of the country’s most trusted and respected traders, with dramatic scenes from his accelerating slide toward self-destruction

"Smartest Guys in the Room: The Amazing Rise and Scandalous Fall of Enron" by Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind

Buy it here >>

Like its subject, "The Smartest Guys in the Room" is ambitious, grand in scope, and ruthless in its dealings. Unlike Enron, the Texas-based energy giant that has come to represent the post-millennium collapse of 1990s go-go corporate culture, it's also ultimately successful. Penned by Fortune scribes Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind, the 400-page-plus chronicle of the scandal digs deep inside the numbers while, wisely, maintaining focus on the "smart guys" deep-frying the books.

The likes of paternal but disengaged CEO Ken Lay, cutthroat man-behind-the-curtain Jeff Skilling, and ethically blind numbers whiz Andy Fastow vividly come to life as they make a mockery of conventional accounting practices and grow increasingly arrogant and bind to their collective hubris.  

• Michael Cohen will tell Congress this week that President Donald Trump knew, when he was a Republican presidential candidate, that the GOP strategist Roger Stone was in touch with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange about a planned document dump days before the Democratic National Convention in 2016.
• According to prepared testimony that was obtained by several media outlets, Cohen will tell lawmakers that he was in the room when Trump and Stone had a phone call in July 2016, during which Stone allegedly told Trump he had just gotten off the phone with Assange and learned that "there would be a massive dump of emails that would damage [Hillary Clinton's] campaign."
• According to Cohen, Trump allegedly responded with something along the lines of, "Wouldn't that be great."
• Trump and his associates have repeatedly denied having advance knowledge of WikiLeaks' plans.

Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's longtime former lawyer and fixer, will tell the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday that when he was running for president, Trump knew the GOP strategist Roger Stone was in touch with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange about WikiLeaks' plan to dump thousands of hacked Democratic emails.

In prepared testimony that was obtained by several media outlets early Wednesday, Cohen describes an alleged phone call between Trump and Stone that he said took place in July 2016, days before the Democratic National Convention.

"I was in Mr. Trump’s office when his secretary announced that Roger Stone was on the phone," Cohen will say. "Mr. Trump put Mr. Stone on the speakerphone. Mr. Stone told Mr. Trump that he had just gotten off the phone with Julian Assange and that Mr. Assange told Mr. Stone that, within a couple of days, there would be a massive dump of emails that would damage [Hillary Clinton's] campaign."

The statement continued: "Mr. Trump responded by stating to the effect of 'wouldn’t that be great.'"

Trump and his associates have repeatedly said he had no knowledge of WikiLeaks' planned document dumps.

Stone, meanwhile, was indicted last month on several counts of obstruction, false statements, and witness tampering. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges and said he intends to go to trial.

Stone is central to the special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, particularly as it relates to Russia's role in the hack of the DNC and the subsequent dissemination of stolen emails via the Russian hacker Guccifer 2.0 and WikiLeaks.

In their charging document, prosecutors said that around June or July 2016, Stone "informed senior Trump Campaign officials" that WikiLeaks had damaging information about the Hillary Clinton campaign.

After WikiLeaks dumped the first batch of emails on July 22, which Russian hackers had stolen from the DNC, "a senior Trump Campaign official was directed to contact" with Stone "about any additional releases and what other damaging information [WikiLeaks] had regarding the Clinton Campaign," the indictment claimed.

Afterward, prosecutors allege Stone "told the Trump Campaign about potential future releases of damaging material by [WikiLeaks]."

The indictment did not say who the senior official was or who apparently directed them to maintain a line of communication with Stone. But the revelation was the first indication that a senior Trump campaign official was told by someone higher up to actively solicit information about documents that the Russians had hacked.

Cohen is now the first individual to publicly come out and say Trump himself, then the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, had advance knowledge of WikiLeaks' planned document dump.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Meet the three women who married Donald Trump

• Volvo's high-performance Polestar brand unveiled the all-new Polestar 2 EV on Wednesday.
• The Polestar 2 is a compact electric sedan designed to rival Tesla's hot-selling Model 3. 
• Polestar 2 should have a range of 275 miles on a single charge.
• Its electric motor develops 408 horsepower and draws power from a 78 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. 
• In the US, the fully-loaded Polestar 2 Launched Edition starts at $63,000. 
• Production is expected to start in early 2020. 

Volvo's high-performance Polestar brand unveiled the all-new Polestar 2 EV on Wednesday. The Polestar 2 is a compact electric sedan designed to rival Tesla's hot-selling Model 3. 

"Polestar 2 is our first fully electric car and first volume model," Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath said in a statement. "Everything about it has been designed and engineered with passion and dedication."

According to Ingenlath, the mass production Polestar 2 is a major step in the company's quest to deliver environmentally friendly, high-performance automobiles. 

"As an electric performance brand, and through the forthcoming launch of a portfolio of fully electric cars, Polestar is determined to address the world’s air quality challenges," he said. "Polestar delivers electric performance cars that are great to own and drive."

Volvo Car Group owns 50% of Polestar while Volvo's parent company Geely Group owns the other 50%.  

Polestar 2 is expected to have a range of 275 miles on a single charge. Its pair of electric motors develop 408 horsepower drawing electricity from a 78 kWh LG Chem battery pack. (China market cars will get a 72 kWh locally produced battery pack.) 

Polestar 2 is built on Volvo's Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform.

Read more: Porsche just confirmed that the best-selling Macan SUV will soon be all electric.

According to the automaker, Polestar 2 can hit 60 mph in less than five seconds. 

The Polestar 2 is available with a Performance Pack with added goodies like Öhlins dampers, Brembo brakes, and 20-inch wheels. 

The Polestar 2's interior features an 11-inch vertically-oriented touchscreen. It will be one of the first cars in the world to feature an Android-powered infotainment system that offers features such as Google Assistant and Google Maps. 

The Polestar 2 will go into production at the company's Chengdu, China factory in early 2020 in both right and left-hand drive. 

The fully-loaded Polestar 2 Launch Edition will start at $63,000 in the US. A $7,500 federal tax incentive can knock the price down to $55,500. 

A shorter range version of the Polestar 2 will be sold in Europe. However, there are no current plans to offer that variant in the US. 

As with all Polestar models, the Polestar 2 will only be available for sale online. 

The Polestar 2 will make is official auto show debut in March at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. 

SEE ALSO: The 10 best cars of 2019

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

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Take a look inside the 'Scarlet Lady,' Virgin's first adults-only cruise ship sailing to the Caribbean in 2020

• North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in Vietnam on Tuesday for a summit with US President Donald Trump.
• It is the second nuclear summit between the two world leaders.
• During their first summit in June 2018, they laid out an agreement for denuclearization and "lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula."
• Here's how the second summit unfolded.

SEE ALSO: Inside Kim Jong Un's personal train — which is bulletproof, has all-white conference rooms, and its own red carpet ramp

The two leaders' first summit was in Singapore in June 2018.

Their first meeting was a ceremonial, historic affair filled with pomp and circumstance.

Trump and Kim laid out an agreement between the two countries:

1. The United States and the DPRK commit to establish new US-DPRK relations in accordance with the desire of the peoples of the two countries for peace and prosperity.
2. The United States and the DPRK will join their efforts to build a lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula.
3. Reaffirming the April 27, 2018 Panmunjom Declaration, the DPRK commits to work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
4. The United States and the DPRK commit to recovering POW/MIA remains, including the immediate repatriation of those already identified.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in Dong Dang, Vietnam, at the border of China, on Tuesday.

As Business Insider's Alexandra Ma reported, Kim took a two-and-a-half day ride on an armored train to get to Vietnam.

Kim Jong Un's sister, Kim Yo Jong, also traveled to Vietnam.

Kim Yo Jong has become "an important aide" to her brother. She serves as the vice department director of the Workers' Party's Central Committee.

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.

• Cats who gulp down their meals often deal with other problems, including obesity and post-meal vomiting. 
• We've rounded up the best cat feeders that are designed to slow your cat's food intake for a healthier and more satisfying meal. They may also help overweight cats shed a few pounds.
• Petmate and Jackson Galaxy teamed up to create the best cat feeder for weight loss overall: the Go Fish Slow Feeder Puzzle Bowl.

Do you have a cat who bolts down every meal? It seems that no sooner than you've fed him in the morning, he's done and waiting for more. Maybe your cat vomits because he's eaten so quickly, or maybe he doesn't even chew and puts himself at risk of choking. Either way, with an empty dish, boredom can set in, and obesity can become a serious issue that threatens his health.

Enter cat weight loss feeding products. These products can slow down your cat's ability to eat, and most of them require your cat to put forth some physical effort in order to get his meal. For indoor cats, activity is an important part of staying healthy, and these products may help your cat to lose weight.  

These cat feeders are designed to enhance your cat's natural instincts, like his desire to hunt, paw, and chase. Many of them allow you to adjust their difficulty levels as your cat becomes adept at working with them, and they're also easy to clean. While we would love to see some products that accommodate wet cat food, all of these products are designed to be used with dry food.

Here are the best cat feeders to help your cat lose weight:

• Best cat feeder overall: Petmate Jackson Galaxy Go Fish Slow Feeder Puzzle Bowl
• Best cat feeder for natural feeding: Doc & Phoebe’s Indoor Hunting Cat Feeder
• Best cat feeder for multi-cat homes: Petsafe SlimCat Meal Dispensing Cat Toy 3-Pack
• Best cat feeder for feline entertainment: Catit Senses 2.0 Digger for Cats
• Best cat feeder for customizable difficulty levels: Catit Senses 2.0 Food Tree

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

The best cat feeder for weight loss overall

Why you'll love it: Not only is the Petmate Jackson Galaxy Go Fish Slow Feeder Puzzle Bowl effective at slowing your cat's eating, but it stimulates play and is fun to watch, too.

If your cat is in the habit of gulping down his food, the Petmate Jackson Galaxy Go Fish Slow Feeder Puzzle Bowl can slow him down while adding in a bit of fun, too. This feeder is equipped with seven fish tails that can twist, be rearranged, or even be removed. The tails make it a bit more difficult for your cat to access the food, making him work for his meal.

This feeder addresses the common issue of cats eating too quickly by requiring cats to paw through the tails for a more gradual feeding experience.

This feeder has been well thought out, and you're sure to appreciate many of its features. The entire fish tail platform can be removed from the bowl base, allowing you to start your cat off with eating straight out of the bowl like normal. Because you can remove the fish tails, you can introduce your cat to the idea of having to work for his food gradually, then install just a tail or two at a time so your cat isn't overwhelmed or frustrated.

The raised outer rim of the bowl catches stray pieces of food so you don't have to clean up a mess after each meal. Plus, removing the fish means it's easy to clean this feeder.

The Petmate Jackson Galaxy Go Fish Slow Feeder Puzzle Bowl has a 4.0 out of 5-star rating on Amazon, based on 11 buyer reviews. A reviewer named Melissa shared that "This puzzle feeder works perfectly for our cat. She is now unable to eat her entire bowl in a sitting. This is life-changing and has helped our cat become an active eater." 

Another shopper named Janet R. praised the feeder's adjustable design: "Very well made. Sturdy and heavy so it does not move around. Took the cat a little time to adapt while I increased the obstacles slowly. Even without using all of them it slows her down substantially so she no longer eats too fast."

The feeder is versatile, effective, and, let's admit it, pretty darn cute. It can accommodate multiple cats and can help to keep your cats entertained even when mealtime is over.

Pros: Removable fish tails allow you to customize the difficulty, outer trough catches food, adds play to mealtime

Cons: Only suitable for use with dry food

Buy the Petmate Jackson Galaxy Go Fish Slow Feeder Puzzle Bowl on Amazon for $21.80

The best cat feeder for natural feeding

Why you'll love it: Doc & Phoebe’s Indoor Hunting Cat Feeder not only promotes activity in your cat, it stimulates him to follow his natural instincts and hunt for his food.

Cats are hunters at heart, but by domesticating them and feeding them one or two meals per day, we’ve removed that natural behavior from their routines. This results in a number of problems, including the "scarf and barf" behavior and even prompting cats to wake us up at night out of boredom or hunger.

Doc & Phoebe’s Indoor Hunting Cat Feeder is veterinarian-designed to restore that hunting behavior for a healthier, happier cat. The three interactive feeders look just like mice and allow your cat to hunt for his food. Just fill the feeders, hide them throughout your house, and let your cat go to work hunting for his meal.

The whole system is easy to use. It comes with a spoon so you can scoop food into the feeders. The removable cloth exterior stimulates play and is machine washable, while the feeder itself is BPA free and dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.

The kit also comes with a trainer feeder, which has no cloth exterior and is designed to be easy for your cat to eat from, preparing him for the other three more challenging feeders.

Doc & Phoebe’s Indoor Hunting Cat Feeder has a 3.9 out of 5-star review on Amazon, based on 192 reviews.

Cat behaviorist Anita Kelsey tried the system out with her own two cats, Kiki and Zaza. She wrote, "The actual bowl inside the material, designed to look like a mouse with ears and a tail, is easy to clean and has two main holes for the food to fall through, with a bit of batting from our cat’s paws! Doc & Phoebe’s Indoor Hunting Feeder comes with a kibble scoop to easily enable the human guardian to place the kibble inside. Freeze dried treats can just be popped in. Cat’s pick up things very easily when it involves food and so Kiki and Zaza had no trouble working out that to get the treat inside they had to bat and roll the ‘mouse’… Any product that is designed to tap into a cat’s natural behaviours gets my vote and I love the simple yet effective design which can be hidden around the home for your cats to hunt out without getting in anyone’s else’s way… All in all the Doc & Phoebe’s Indoor Hunting Feeder is a win win 5 star product."

Pros: Stimulate a cat’s natural hunting instinct, easy to clean, easy to fill

Cons: Usable only with dry food

Buy Doc & Phoebe’s Indoor Hunting Cat Feeder on Amazon for $19.99

The best cat feeder for multi-cat homes

Why you'll love it: With three durable dispensers, the Petsafe SlimCat Meal Dispensing Cat Toy makes feeding time fun for all of your cats.

Sometimes the simplest solutions prove to be the best ones, which is the case with the Petsafe SlimCat Meal Dispensing Cat Toy. This toy is easy to use and easy to understand. Just load up the dispenser with your cat's dry food and let your cat have fun. As your cat pushes the toy around, bits of food fall out, making for a gradual feeding experience that also keeps your cat active.

One of the benefits this toy has over other systems is that it requires relatively low-impact activity from your cat to get a reward. If you're working with an obese, elderly, or arthritic cat, this toy is still a practical option that won't push your cat too hard or be too challenging.

It's also arthritis-friendly in terms of loading, too — a small cap on top turns and snaps into place, but it's easy to operate. And with this three-pack of toys, you can use a toy for each of the cats in a multi-cat home.

The Petsafe SlimCat Meal Dispensing Cat Toy has a 4.6 out of 5-star review on Amazon.

One shopper named Amanda wrote, "I don't free feed my cats, they eat wet food in the morning and in the evening. I got these to leave out during the day and overnight. It keeps them occupied and prevents them from eating too fast. They are also dishwasher safe which is convenient. I originally bought 2 but ended up getting 2 more so I can have a couple extra filled and ready to go. One of my cats caught on pretty quickly, the other wasn't too happy having to do extra work but she's started using it. Very satisfied with this purchase!"

I've used these for my two cats, myself, and they've been a big hit. My cats figured out the concept right away, and now at mealtime the eagerly wait as I load up their toys.

If you have a large home, I'd advise having a spare one of these toys on hand — they have an impressive ability to go missing. Then, just remember to watch out for kitties racing across the floor during mealtime.

Pros: Increases exercise and slows ingestion, BPA-free plastic and dishwasher-safe, holds 2/3 cup of dry food

Cons: Only suitable for use with dry food or toys, will crack if you accidentally step on it

Buy the Petsafe SlimCat Meal Dispensing Cat Toy 3-Pack on Amazon for $20.85

• As North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meets with President Donald Trump for a summit in Hanoi, Vietnam, all eyes are on the Hermit Kingdom — one of the most closed-off places in the world.
• Propaganda runs rampant and presents a very different outlook on day-to-day life for North Koreans.
• But much of the country lives in poverty, thousands of people are held as political prisoners, and the government controls most aspects of life.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un keeps a close watch over the media in his country, controlling much of what citizens know of the outside world, and vice versa.

Though Kim has fought to present the Hermit Kingdom to the world as a bastion of military might, nuclear power, and anti-West sentiment, the reality of daily life is grim.

Much of the country lives in poverty, tens of thousands of people are held as political prisoners, and the government tightly controls most aspects of life.

Here's what Kim's North Korea really looks like:

SEE ALSO: The mysterious life of Kim Jong Un's wife, Ri Sol-ju, who probably has 3 children and frequently disappears from the public eye

DON'T MISS: Mystery children and sibling rivalries — this is Kim Jong Un's family tree

READ MORE: A photographer captured these dismal photos of life in North Korea

Day-to-day life in North Korea can be bleak. Sanctions put in place to punish the nation for its nuclear weapons tests have crippled the economy.

Source: Business Insider

The Hermit Kingdom, one of the most closed-off places in the world, has experienced increasingly severe food shortages in recent years.

Source: Business Insider

Childhood in North Korea can be difficult. Many children in rural areas have to work on farms, and forced labor drives much of the country's economic output.

Sources: Business Insider, Human Rights Watch

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 pre-tax money you contribute to your FSA must be used on eligible healthcare products and services, which can be as mundane as Advil.
• FSA dollars work on a use-it-or-lose-it provision. If you don't use your FSA money by December 31 of each year (or March 15 of the new year for many), you lose it. 
• Every year, more than $400 million of earned money is forfeited because employees either miss or forget the deadline.
• FSAstore.com makes it easy to spend that money before it's gone. They've got over 4,000 items that are guaranteed to be covered by your FSA, so you don't have to waste time researching just to use your own money.
• From now through March 31, use our code "BINSIDER25" to get $25 off orders of $250 or more. Get $50 off orders of $375 or more with the code "BINSIDER50" or $70 off $500 purchases with the code "BINSIDER70" at checkout.

It's time to use or lose your FSA dollars. Read on to learn more about what that means, and how you can avoid letting your money go to waste. 

What is FSA?

Many employers offer access to Flexible Spending Accounts, which lets you put away pre-tax dollars for eligible healthcare products and services (think everything from a surgery and medical bills to smoking cessation programs to thermometers and first aid kits).

According to the IRS, the maximum you can put into these accounts is $2,650 in 2018, ($50 up from 2017). If you're in the 30% tax bracket and contribute the full amount, you'll have saved $795 in 2018 that would have otherwise gone toward taxes. In 2019, the FSA contribution level maximum will be $2,700.

Storing money in an FSA account is a great deal, provided that you spend it; FSA operates on a use-it-or-lose-it provision. You must spend the money in your FSA account by the end of the year or risk losing it for good. Many employers offer either more flexibility with a two-and-a-half months grace period (until March 15, 2019, rather than December 31, 2018) or let you roll $500 into the next year. They can't offer both.

More than $400 million is forfeited every year in FSA funds because employees either miss or forget their spending deadlines. It's your money — and it's pre-tax. It doesn't make sense not to use it. 

You can use FSA dollars to pay for medical expenses that aren't covered by a health plan, like co-pays, deductibles, dental and vision care or dependent day care, though eligible expenses can vary based on the plan. But if it's nearing the end of the year and you haven't used your money to help meet your deductible or pay medical expenses, you have the option of spending it on supplies like over-the-counter medication.

What can you buy with your FSA money?

The nitty-gritty details depend on the plan your employer has in place, but you can skip the burden of research by shopping the selection at FSA store. They do the homework for you, and curate more than 4,000 products that are guaranteed to be covered. If they're somehow not, you get your money back. 

Here are a few items on FSAstore.com that you can buy with your pre-tax money before you lose it: sunscreen, first aid kits, vitamins, condoms, high-tech healthcare (at-home defibrillator, nausea relief bands, vibrating shoe insoles, ovulation predictors), and travel pillows with orthopedic neck support. View all categories here.

And since the new Affordable Care Act required over-the-counter medications (like Advil and Benadryl) to come with a prescription from a doctor for FSA reimbursement, FSAstore created a Prescription Process (pictured below) which will contact your doctor for you, so you can get the information you need to complete the purchase. 

How to save even more money with Business Insider's exclusive offer:

From now through March 31, use our code "BINSIDER25" to get $25 off orders of $250 or more. Get $50 off orders of $375 or more with the code "BINSIDER50" or $70 off $500 purchases with the code "BINSIDER70" at checkout. (Cannot be combined with other offers).

Shop thousands of FSA-eligible items here for before you lose those dollars for good.

Join the conversation about this story »

• A Big Mac costs more in Switzerland than it does in the US. McDonald's famous burger goes for 6.50 Swiss francs, which comes out to around $6.63.  
• Senior Video Correspondent Graham Flanagan visited a McDonald's in Zürich, Switzerland to try the world's most expensive Big Mac. 
• The Economist released the Big Mac Index, which ranks the price of Big Macs in countries all over the world. The index is intended to illustrate "Purchasing Power Parity." It says that in the long run exchange rates ought to adjust so that a basket of goods and services costs the same in countries around the world. 
• Flanagan also sampled some unique menu items that you can't get in the United States, such as the Quinoa Curry, the Steakhouse Classic, and the Toblerone McFlurry. 

Join the conversation about this story »

• Running for president is like a marathon, and candidates often don't get enough time to eat, sleep, or cook on the campaign trail.
• Many 2020 candidates suffer health consequences as a result, like dehydration and gout.
• But some have developed science-backed strategies for staying healthy. 

Amy Klobuchar has eaten salad with a comb, while Elizabeth Warren is a big fan of Dunkin Donuts.

Politicians' eating habits may have little to do with their policy platforms, but when candidates hit the campaign trail, people can't help but notice their diet quirks — and mistakes. 

"Um Kiki, do we use our fingers or forks for the chicken?" New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand recently asked during an awkward fork-versus-finger moment at Kiki's chicken and waffles in South Carolina, prompting a social media explosion. 

Across the political spectrum, running for president often means subsisting on a terrible diet of diner breakfasts, lunch on the go, and state-fair cheese curds. Long hours on the campaign trail also mean that candidates often finish their days famished, irritable, and parched. 

In 2016, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton was so chronically dehydrated that someone "in her orbit" anonymously told Politico they were at a loss for how to get her to hydrate, even with stores of Gatorade and bottled water on hand.

 “She won’t drink water, and you try telling Hillary Clinton she has to drink water,” the person said. 

Here are just a few of the most recent diet mistakes the crew of 2020 hopefuls — including President Donald Trump — have made so far. Don't try these at home. 

SEE ALSO: Congress just got a bumper-crop of scientists. Meet the 11 new science whizzes on Capitol Hill.

Don't get so hungry that you eat salad with a comb, as Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar reportedly did.

Klobuchar, who was on an airplane with no forks in sight, reportedly ended up pulling the comb from her purse and using it to down the salad. Afterwards she apparently asked an aide to wash the comb, as the New York Times recently reported. 

While the hygiene and management behaviors at play here might be questionable, filling your plate with dark leafy greens and colorful vegetables can be a great way to incorporate fiber and cancer-fighting phytochemicals into your diet. Be careful which salad you choose, though: the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine says there are easily 100 chain-restaurant salads that are worse for you than a Big Mac based on metrics like calories, cholesterol, and salt content. 

California Senator Kamala Harris recently told Daily Show host Trevor Noah that she also gets hangry on the campaign trail. That's a recipe for unhealthy eating.

"You know, when you have been working for a long period of time and you're really hungry, you can get kinda primal!" Harris told Noah, laughing as she mimed hunching over and shoveling food into her mouth. "Everybody back the you-know-what off, I'm hungry!"

Waiting hours to eat leaves people ravenous and therefore more likely to reach for calorie-rich convenience foods. To avoid hanger, nutritionists recommend keeping some healthy snacks on hand, like a handful of nuts or some cheese cubes. Staying hydrated helps, too.

Dietitian Jason Ewoldt from the Mayo Clinic recently told Business Insider that a lot of people also misinterpret thirst for hunger.

"A lot of times, people just seem to be a little dehydrated," he said.

Studies suggest that well-watered people not only consume fewer calories than dehydrated folks, they also take in less sugar, fat, salt, and cholesterol on a daily basis.

When she's not campaigning, Harris says cooking a Sunday meal for her family is one of her favorite things to do. That is a healthier way to stay nourished.

Studies show that people who cook at home eat less sugar and consume fewer calories than restaurant-goers. 

"Last weekend I made swordfish and I toasted cardamom and cumin seeds and did that with garlic and onion and lemon and kind of marinated it, and it was really delicious," Harris told The Cut in August. 

Nutritionists agree that a Mediterranean-style diet that's rich in fresh fish and produce is the best eating plan for a long, healthy life.

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.

• Each year, thousands of new movies are produced and released, but only a handful make it to the prestigious Academy Awards. 
• An interesting, engaging plot is a critical factor of any great movie. You may be wondering where these films get inspiration for such unique stories, but for some, you need not look beyond your local bookstore.
• Here's a roundup of 11 written works that have been made into Oscar-winning films. You may be surprised at what you find.

After watching the Oscars, I couldn't help but wonder what inspired these unique stories. Whether it's a drama, romantic comedy, or thriller, plenty of great movies find story inspiration in written works. Over the years, many books, plays, and short stories have actually been adapted to become films, which then went on to win the prestigious award of Best Picture of the Year.

Whether you're a movie buff looking for a new book to read, an awards-show aficionado, or are just curious, we hope this list can provide some cool insight on films that have been heralded as some of the best of our time. 

Keep reading for 11 written works that inspired Oscar-winning films:

"In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue" by Tarell Alvin McCraney

This collection of plays, written in 2010 by playwright Tarrell McCraney, draws on West African myths to tell a range of dramas set in the Louisiana Bayou. One of the collection's coming-of-age stories, "In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue," became the basis for the Best Picture of 2017, Moonlight.

Buy it here >> 

"Twelve Years a Slave" by Solomon Northup

Solomon Northup's 1853 memoir, detailing his experience being kidnapped and sold into the slave trade, was the basis for 12 Years a Slave. the drama was well-received and awarded the award of Best Picture of 2013.  

Buy it here >>

"Argo: How the CIA and Hollywood Pulled Off the Most Audacious Rescue in History" by Antonio Mendez and Matt Baglio

In this non-fiction read, former CIA operative Tony Mendez and best-selling author Matt Baglio team up to tell the fascinating story of a complex hostage rescue back in the 1970s. Later that year it was adapted into a movie of the same name, which went on to win the award for Best Picture of 2012. 

Buy it here >>

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. For even more deals and savings across the web, check out our coupons page.

1. Save up to $300 on Apple MacBook Pro Laptops at Best Buy

Apple MacBooks, especially the Pro models, are undeniably expensive. Luckily, Best Buy is running a promotion with up to $300 off the latest 13-inch versions. You'll also receive three months of Apple Music for free and a six-month subscription to Trend Micro Internet Security. They're on sale for today only, so if you've been waiting to buy a MacBook at a lower price, this is your chance. For more deals and coupons at Best Buy, check out our coupons page here.

Shop all MacBook Pro Laptops at Best Buy now. 

2. Save up to 30% on watches and sunglasses at MVMT

MVMT is a great place to buy style-elevating accessories, namely sunglasses and watches. Right now, the brand is having last-chance sale with up to 30% off a bunch of timepieces and shades that are going out of production. If you're looking for new sunglasses to walk into spring with or a new watch to add to your collection, this is a great time to shop.

Shop the MVMT sale now. 

3. Save 20% on orders of $99 or more at Foot Locker

Winter is almost over and you should be getting ready to pack away your heavy boots in exchange for a nice pair of sneakers. To help you save on a new pair, Foot Locker is having a sale. Now through February 28, you can save 20% on orders of $99 or more by using the promo code "SAVE20" at checkout. For more deals and savings at Foot Locker, check out our coupons page here. 

Shop the Foot Locker sale now. 

4. Buy one, get one 50% off on swimwear at Target

Although it's not quite spring yet, vacation season will be here before you know it. If you're planning to travel somewhere warm in the coming months, you're going to need swimwear — and Target is having a sale just for you. For a limited time, you can buy one suit and get the second one for 50% off. Whether you're buying two for yourself or mixing and matching for your family, this is a good chance to save. For more deals and promotions at Target, check out our coupons page here.

Shop the Target swimwear sale now. 

5. Get $35 off and a $10 Wayfair gift card when you sign up for Home Chef

Home Chef is a meal kit subscription service that includes fresh, pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions. Right now, you can get $35 off your first order, plus a $10 Wayfair gift card when you sign up on Wayfair's website. Insider Picks associate editor Brandt Ranj reviewed Home Chef and was, overall, impressed with the service. For more deals and coupons at Wayfair, check out our coupons page here.

Sign up for Home Chef meal kits now.

6. Save 30% on new arrivals, plus an extra 10% at J.Crew

J.Crew is running different promotions every day of the week, and today only, you can automatically save 30% on new arrivals, plus you can get an extra 10% off by using the promo code "WEDNESDAY" at checkout. Although there will be a new sale tomorrow (and the next day), there's no telling how good they'll be, so you may as well shop today's amazing sale while it's still live. For more deals and promotions at J.Crew, check out our coupons page here.

Shop the J.Crew sale now.

7. Save up to 30% on past season sales at The North Face

Even if winter gear isn't super useful to you right now, The North Face is having a huge sale that will make you want to stock up for next year. For a limited time, you can save up to 30% on past-season styles including popular picks like the Nuptse Jacket and the Denali Fleece. Instead of paying full price for warm gear at the height of winter next year, buy it now and save. For more deals and savings at The North Face, check out our coupons page here.

Shop The North Face sale now.

8. Save up to $200 on a Bear Mattress

As one of the leading mattress startups, the comfort of Bear Mattresses goes far beyond plush memory foam. The brand uses Celliant mattress toppers, which are designed to convert heat from the body into far infrared — a type of energy that's been proven to help rebuild cells. The technology can help you wake up better rested and free of aches and pains. Right now, you can save $100 on any purchase of $500 or more by using the promo code "NAP100" or get $200 off any purchase of $1,200 or more by using the promo code "NAP200" at checkout. 

Shop the Bear Mattress sale now. 

Join the conversation about this story »

• San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California, is the most expensive metro area in the US.
• San Jose is the bona fide capital of Silicon Valley.
• About one-quarter of households earn over $200,000 a year, but that still may not be enough to buy a median-priced home.
• Meanwhile, an affordable housing shortage has left thousands of working San Jose residents homeless.

Outsiders may consider San Francisco synonymous with Silicon Valley, but locals know the epicenter of tech culture is San Jose. 

The metro area defined by the US Census as San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara is the proverbial heart of Silicon Valley — and the most expensive place to live in the US. Goods and services are about 27% more expensive than the national average in San Jose, and the median home sale price is over $1 million.

But San Jose isn't all engineers and programmers flush with cash (or stock options). A dire affordable housing shortage has left teachers, landscapers, security officers, and thousands of minimum-wage workers virtually homeless.

Here's a look inside San Jose:

SEE ALSO: Inside the most expensive town in America, where tech moguls live in multimillion-dollar mansions and the average household income is over $450,000

DON'T MISS: The top 10 places in the US where millennials are dominating the mortgage market

The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro is home to nearly two million people.

Two counties make up the metro area: Santa Clara and San Benito.

It's the second-most populous metro in the Bay Area behind San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, which is often synonymous with Silicon Valley and tech culture.

• Michael Jackson's famed Neverland Ranch just came back on the market for $31 million, less than half its previous asking price.
• The property has been on the market for four years despite millions of dollars in renovations, price cuts, and a new name.
• It was originally listed for $100 million in 2015 and discounted to $67 million two years later.
• Jackson's former 2,700-acre property boasts a French Normandy-style 12,598-square-foot main residence, two guest houses, a lake, a 50-seat movie theatre, a tennis court, a 14-foot lagoon-style pool, a barn, and a Disney-themed train station.

Michael Jackson's famed Neverland Ranch is back on the market for $31 million, less than half of its previous listing price of $67 million.

In 2015, the 22,700-acre property hit the market for a whopping $100 million under a new identity as Sycamore Valley Ranch.

But the 12,598-square-foot French-Normandy style residence located in Los Olivos, California sat on the market for two years before its price was slashed to $67 million in 2017.  

Jackson, who bought the property for $19.5 million in 1987, defaulted on a loan after financial hardships and entered Neverland into an ownership agreement with private investment firm Colony Capital in 2008 for $23 million, according to ABC News.

After millions of dollars in renovations, the 2,700-acre ranch boasts a main residence with five bedrooms and eight bathrooms, two guesthouses, a four-acre lake, a 50-seat movie theatre, a tennis court, a 14-foot lagoon-style pool, a dance studio, barns, and separate staff facilities.

The listing is held by Suzanne Perkins and Kyle Forsyth of Compass.

For $31 million, the King of Pop's former home could be yours, although you'll have to pass "extensive prequalification," according to The Wall Street Journal. Here's what Sycamore Valley Ranch has to offer.

April Walloga and Alyson Penn contributed to an earlier version of this story.

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: I toured the first residential building to open in Hudson Yards, NYC's new $25 billion neighborhood — and it was clear it's selling much more than just real estate

Welcome to Sycamore Valley Ranch, the former Neverland Ranch that once belonged to Michael Jackson. Jackson originally purchased the property for $19.5 million in 1987.

Source: Variety

The 2,700-acre property is back on the market for $31 million.

Source: Bloomberg

That's a discount of $69 million — or nearly 70% — from its original $100 million listing price in 2015.

Source: Bloomberg

• President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un are set to meet this week in Hanoi, Vietnam.
• Business Insider met with 39-year-old North Korean defector Kim Young-il last summer to talk about his escape from North Korea at 19 years old.
• Now the founder of nonprofit People for Successful Corean Reunification (PSCORE), Kim said that it is obvious to North Koreans that the government of Kim Jong Un is lying to the people about the country's situation and its reality.
• The one thing it is impossible for North Koreans to understand, however, is how big the difference in prosperity is between their country and developed nations like the US and South Korea.

North Koreans understand that their government regularly lies to them and feeds them propaganda that contradicts their current situation, but few understand the true discrepancy between their country and the outside world, according to North Korean defector Kim Young-il.

Kim, the 39-year-old founder of People for Successful Corean Reunification (PSCORE), escaped North Korea when he was 19 years old. PSCORE is a nonprofit that promotes reunification, raises awareness about human rights issues in North Korea, and helps defectors adjust to life in South Korea.

In 1997, Kim and his father left the country in the midst of a four-year-long famine and economic crisis that some estimates suggest claimed the lives of between 240,000 and 3.5 million North Koreans, out of a population of 22 million.

The dire situation made it obvious to North Koreans at the time that the government was not telling the truth about country, Kim told Business Insider in a recent interview. Kim, whose organization helps defectors escape North Korea and China and assists them once they reach South Korea, said that, even now, the situation is much the same; North Koreans know their government is lying.

"The people know these are all lies because it's obvious. When the government says, there is prosperity in terms of food and rice, we see it ourselves and see that there is a drought and there is no food for us," Kim said.

"When they see that what they say doesn't match with what is actually happening, they understand the government is lying."

The one thing that North Koreans can't know, according to Kim, is the actual disparity between the country and other nations like the US, South Korea, or China.

"They know [those countries are more prosperous and developed], but they don't know at what level and how different the countries are. They have no frame of reference. All the government says are lies, Kim said. "They have no way to obtain information about what South Korea or the United States look like."

As Kim told the International Business Times in 2017, he and his family thought it was normal to "have our freedoms restricted." It was only upon arriving in South Korea that Kim said he realized "how unhappy we were."

SEE ALSO: Trump understands North Korea better than South Korea does, but the summit won't solve anything, according to a defector

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: What El Chapo is really like, according to the wife of one his closest henchman

• Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff paid more than $7 million to buy a carving of the Hawaiian god Ku at auction.
• The Benioffs, who own land in Hawaii, donated the carving to Bishop Museum in Honolulu, where they felt it belongs.
• Now some experts have called into question whether the statue was carved as far back as previously thought, according to the New York Times.
• One expert told the Times that the statue could be worth as little as $5,000, depending on when it was created.

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff's love for the Hawaiian islands knows no bounds.

The San Francisco billionaire and island enthusiast purchased a rare carving of the Hawaiian war god Ku at a Christie's auction in November 2017. Benioff got in a bidding war and ultimately paid more than $7 million for the idol, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. 

Benioff and his wife Lynne gave the statue to the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, in an donation announced by the museum in May.

Now some experts have called the legitimacy of the piece into question and say it could be worth less than $5,000, according to the New York Times.

“It’s the sort of thing you see in a tiki bar,” Daniel Blau, Munich-based Pacific Island art expert, told the Times.

At the heart of issue is when the sculpture was actually carved. Initially, the 20-inch-tall carving was believed to be created between 1780 and 1819.

One expert told the Times he believed the piece was made later than was previously reported, and that if it was much later, it would be valued at a four-figure sum. Though other experts told the Time they remain convinced of its origin story.

Before the Benioffs won it at auction, the piece lived in a private collection in Paris since the 1940s. It's unclear how it got to Paris, though the museum said back in May that it resembles another idol which was brought back to Europe by British missionaries who visited Kona in 1822.

Melanie Ide, president and CEO of the Bishop Museum, told the Times that the museum is aware of “a question about its history and provenance,” and said that curators are doing more research, including possible DNA testing.

Questions about the carving's authenticity go back to the time of the auction, with a report on a local Hawaiian television stations' website citing an expert who said he believed the piece was not genuine.

For now, the piece remains open to viewers at the Bishop Museum, though the placard doesn't say when it was carved, according to the Times. The statue was returned back to Hawaii right before then, just one week before the Kilauea volcano erupted. 

“We felt strongly that this ki‘i belonged in Hawai‘i, for the education and benefit of its people,” Benioff said in a statement back in May.

The timing was not lost on Benioff, according to a San Francisco Chronicle report at the time. 

“It’s a spiritual item,” Benioff told the Chronicle. “It’s not really something that should be held to help the power of one person.”

Benioff, who owns a five-acre estate in Hawaii, has found ways to integrate Hawaiian culture into the day-to-day at Salesforce. "Ohana," Hawaiian for family, is a core tenant of the company's culture. The company also regularly invites Hawaiian singers and dancers to perform at conferences and events.

Whatever the value of the sculpture turns out to be, it represents only a small portion of a broader pattern of philanthropy by the Benioffs, who have donated $200 million to San Francisco children's hospitals, and $11.5 million to fight family homelessness, among other things. 

SEE ALSO: Marc Benioff has taken to wearing an American flag pin — what could it mean?

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Bud Light's 'Dilly Dilly' just made a comeback at the Super Bowl with a weird crossover ad with Game of Thrones — here's what the phrase means

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.

• Nutrition bars are packed with all the nutrients you need so you can fuel up on the go without stopping for a full meal.
• The Untapped Maple Waffle is the best energy bar you can buy because it is sensibly portioned, all natural, and so delicious we wanted to eat waffles even when we weren't exercising.

Whether you train at the gym, on the trail, or out on the road you'll need to fuel your workout if you plan to be sweating for more than an hour or so. Even if you only train during your lunch break, it can be hard to balance eating and exercising to make sure you feel fueled up not full up.

Energy and nutrition bars make a great choice for athletes, adventurers, or anyone who can be too busy to sit down and snack. Gone are the days of the putty-like bar that required a significant jaw workout before you could swallow it, today's energy bars use natural ingredients in delicious combinations and deserve a place in every pantry.

We've picked our favorite bars to stuff in our pockets for bike rides and keep handy in our gym bags and glove compartments.

Here are the best nutrition bars you can buy:

• Best nutrition bar overall: Untapped Maple Waffle
• Best pre-workout nutrition bar: Honey Stinger Organic Cracker N' Nut Butter Snack Bars
• Best filling whole food nutrition bar: Bonk Breaker PB and J
• Best nutrition bar for sensitive stomachs: Picky Bar
• Best nutrition bar for digestibility: Science in Sport Go Energy Bar

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

The best nutrition bar overall

Why you'll love them: These Untapped Maple Waffles are just the right portion size, use natural ingredients, taste great, and have a solid nutritional composition.

Ten years ago, I was making a living racing bicycles in Belgium. If there's one thing that bike racers know, it's snacks. When races top out at over 130 miles, you really need to bring along something to chew on.

Back then, Untapped wasn't around, and we'd roll over to local bakeries to buy stroopwafels, a kind of flat caramel filled waffle, to stuff in our pockets before races. On cold days, we'd warm the waffles up on top of our pre-race cups of coffee and enjoy a moment of delicious indulgence before several hours of riding over cobbles in the snow.

Ted King, one of the founders of Untapped was also a pro cyclist and has now retired in Vermont. It only makes sense then that he has combined his need for snacks with the local maple syrup to produce untapped waffles.

King brings years of experience eating sugary things out of packets to the company, which might be why their serving size is exactly right for a mid-exercise snack. Many bars are a bit large to eat all at once, and end up in our gym bag or backpack gathering lint. These waffles, at 140 calories each, are a perfect single serving.

These Untapped Maple Waffles are so delicious you'll struggle to store them in your house for long. The delicious maple syrup based filling seems to be a favorite of purchasers on Amazon, one of whom said he could eat them "all day long."

Expert testers agreed, with one saying "I would rather have a maple waffle in my pack than any other energy bar on the market." These waffles only use natural ingredients and are organic and vegan, making them a healthy and delicious choice for nearly every diet.

I'm not getting paid to race bikes anymore, which is a good thing because after a few years of doing so I was running out of bones to break! If I was to make a return, as Untapped's Ted King has done, it would be with a pocketful of these breakfast treats.

Pros: Organic, vegan, and natural, delicious, sensible portion

Cons: Can be hard to eat if you don't have water, fewer calories per dollar than other options.

Buy a Box of 16 Untapped Organic Maple Waffles on Amazon for $31.95

The best nutrition bar for a pre-workout snack

Why you'll love it: This Honey Stinger Organic Cracker N' Nut Butter Snack bar tastes more like a treat than a healthy snack, but the natural ingredients and salty-sweet taste make it a great choice for health-conscious adventurers and athletes alike.

If you ever find yourself in a supermarket before a triathlon, century ride, or marathon, you'll notice there's not a jar of nut butter left to be seen. Peanut, almond, and other nut butters are the kind of protein and healthy fat packed fuel that endurance athletes crave.

Honey Stinger must have noticed this, because the company took those nut butters, sandwiched them between two crackers, and sprinkled on a little sea salt for the perfect pre-workout snack.

During a workout, nutritional wisdom suggests that you should stick to easily digestible carbs to avoid GI distress. But in the hours leading up to the workout, you're going to want something that sticks with you a little more in order to keep hunger from ruining your performance.

This is where snacks like the Cracker N'Nut Butter bars come in. They make a great mid-morning snack if you exercise at lunchtime or a good breakfast choice if you tend to be rushing out of the door in the morning.

On a recent bikepacking trip in the Laguna mountains, I started every day with one of these bars and a cup of coffee and found myself comfortable riding an hour or two until I could find something more substantial to eat, and that's never the case when I eat more sugary bars.

On Amazon, one happy shopper declared them a favorite snack for long bike rides, and another said they were "by far the most delicious ride food I have ever tried." Snews declared them "crazy good" and noted the respectable 5 grams of protein and 9-12 grams of sugar.

The bars are also certified kosher and organic and don't have any artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. With peanut butter and milk chocolate, Almond butter and dark chocolate, and Cashew butter and milk chocolate to pick from there is a flavor for everyone.

Pros: Delicious, a balanced snack

Cons: The chocolate coating can melt in high temperatures, higher fat content than some people can tolerate during exercise

Buy a 12-pack of Honey Stinger Organic Dari Chocolate Almond Butter Cracker N' Nut Butter Snack Bars on Amazon for $26.40

The best filling whole food nutrition bar

Why you'll love them: Bonk Breaker's compressed whole food bars might look like a traditional energy bar, but the list of ingredients features healthy pantry favorites in delicious combinations.

Who among us has not felt the sort of hunger that yearns for a PB&J only to find themselves tragically distant from the nearest jar of Skippy? Well, you need suffer no longer! Bonk Breaker's delicious Peanut Butter and Jelly energy bar contains real peanuts and delicious strawberry jam, but unlike the sandwich we all love, it isn't going to get squashed in your backpack.

Bonking, if you were wondering, is the state you find yourself in when you underfuel for a long workout and are suddenly hit by an incredible hunger, sense of dizziness, and often a feeling of impending doom. I should know, I have found myself crying in a gas station parking lot more than once in my life. Luckily, consuming some carbohydrates and having a short rest is all you need to banish your bonk.

Jason Winn, the founder of Bonk Breaker, discovered what bonking was when he began training for an ironman triathlon. Unsatisfied with the bars on the market, he wanted something portable, delicious, natural and calorie dense. What he came up with was a home baked energy bar that used the same recipe as these bars today.

Bonk Breaker bars still have the taste and texture of a homemade snack and, unlike some of the bars we tried, don't require a massive effort to chew and swallow even when you're gasping for air.

Bonk Breaker mage a huge range of flavors but each bar only uses 9-12 ingredients. They're all certified gluten free and dairy free and use fresh natural products. The bars themselves have a soft and chewy texture that should leave you full up but not bloated or stuffed.

Amazon reviewers loved their real-food taste and easy digestibility on long bike rides and runs, another said the PB&J flavor was an "absolute favorite."

We loved the easily portable Bonk Breaker bars, which didn't crumble or get crushed even when we stashed them in our carry on for a long flight. Much like the coaches at Carmichael Training Systems, we loved that the bars didn't stick to the wrapper on warm days or get too stiff to bite in the cold. The cookie dough like texture and trustworthy ingredients made this a go-to for us on cold days and during long hikes and bike rides.

Pros: Short and natural ingredient list, portable and calorie dense, filling enough to serve as a meal replacement

Cons: Hard to digest in intense exercise, not suitable for people with nut allergies

Buy a 12-pack of Bonk Breaker Peanut Butter & Jelly Bars on Amazon for $24 or $25.26

• Kim Jong Un's sister and right-hand-woman, Kim Yo Jong, accompanied him to Hanoi, Vietnam, for a second summit with President Donald Trump this week.
• Kim Yo Jong, like many members of the Kim family, is a mysterious figure whose life has piqued international curiosity.
• She has rapidly become North Korea's most powerful woman, who is frequently seen side-by-side with her brother and plays a key role in his administration.
• She's not above the more menial tasks, though. Kim Yo Jong was most recently spotted holding an ashtray for her brother during one of his smoke breaks as they traveled to Hanoi.

As North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has sought to raise his international standing, a figure seen by his side almost constantly during his meetings with world leaders is none other than his sister, Kim Yo Jong.

During last year's summit between the United States and North Korea, Kim Yo Jong was front and center during the historic show of diplomacy with President Donald Trump.

It looks like she's playing a similar role again this year for a second summit between Kim Jong Un and Trump in Hanoi, Vietnam. She was even spotted on Tuesday holding a crystal ashtray as her brother took an early morning smoke break.

It's not the first time Kim Yo Jong has made headlines — she traveled to South Korea during the 2018 Winter Olympics in February, becoming the first member of North Korea's ruling family to visit the south since the Korean War in the 1950s.

Like her brother, and much of the rest of their family, few details are known about Kim Yo Jong and the life she lived before reaching a prime leadership role in the North Korean government.

Here's what we know about her so far:

SEE ALSO: The mysterious life of Kim Jong Un's wife, Ri Sol-ju, who probably has 3 children and frequently disappears from the public eye

DON'T MISS: Mystery children and sibling rivalries — this is Kim Jong Un's family tree

Like many of Kim's family members, Kim Yo Jong's exact age is difficult to pin down. But she's believed to be between 29 and 31.

She's the youngest child of former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and his consort Ko Yong Hui, a former dancer.

Source: Business Insider

She was partly educated in Switzerland, at the same school Kim Jong Un attended. But she returned to North Korea in 2000 after completing the US equivalent of the sixth grade.

Tweet Embed:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/961416981013344256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Kim Yo Jong as a girl: this is the earliest photo we have of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's sister, taken while she was at school in Switzerland. pic.twitter.com/LrDFgGBzdt

Source: North Korea Leadership Watch

• Volvo's performance EV brand Polestar unveiled its new Polestar 2 compact sedan on Wednesday. 
• Polestar 2 is one of the first cars in the world to feature an infotainment system powered by Google'sAndroid operating system. 
• According to Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath, turning to Google for its infotainment system is an example of his company avoiding the mistakes other car makers have made by trying to build a system on their own. 
• The Polestar 2 is a compact electric sedan designed to rival Tesla's hot-selling Model 3.
• In the US, the fully loaded Polestar 2 Launched Edition starts at $63,000.

Swedish automaker Polestar unveiled its new Polestar 2 compact sedan on Wednesday. It's the latest offering from Volvo's new performance EV brand.

One of the Polestar 2's most interesting features is an infotainment system powered by Google's Android operating system. It's one of the first cars in the world to be equipped with a system that boasts built-in apps like Google Maps and artificial intelligence capabilities through Google Assistant. 

According to Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath, the Android system will embed traditionally smartphone-bound apps natively into an infotainment system. As a result, drivers will be able to effectively access the infotainment system through voice commands and will no longer need to fiddle with phones.

"I think that will be a very good step towards driving without distractions," he said in an interview with Business Insider. 

For Ingenlath, using Google's infotainment and artificial intelligence technology is an example of his company avoiding the mistakes others in the industry have made by trying to build these systems on their own. 

"The traditional car industry made the mistake of thinking you have to develop and do these things yourself and really failing because it's not your core business," the veteran car designer turned CEO said. "We realized that this is something where we need a specialist. Where we need to rely on them doing the best thing and us simply giving it to our customers."

Read more: Volvo's high-performance Polestar brand just unveiled Sweden's answer to the Tesla Model 3.

The use of Android technology also offers Polestar 2 drivers a high level of app flexibility.

"Here in Europe, and in the US as well, Google Maps is a great system to use for navigation but if you like something else, Waze or whatever,  you can use that as an app and it will run seamlessly just like Google Maps," Ingenlath said. 

This capability also allows Polestar to tailor its infotainment system to the requirements of specific markets such as China where Google Maps is not available. 

The Polestar 2, aimed directly at the Tesla Model 3, has an expected range of 275 miles and boasts a 78 kWh battery pack. In the US, a fully-loaded Polestar 2 Launch Edition starts at $63,000. Production is expected to start in early 2020. 

SEE ALSO: HondaJet's CEO explains why the $5.25 million private jet's nose is inspired by a pair of Ferragamo high heels

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

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Why Tesla's Model X was the first SUV to receive a perfect crash-test rating