Complications are one of the ways you can customize your Apple Watch face (in addition to choosing from a multitude of designs and colors). Complications display information from apps and can be directly added to Watch faces. Some basic examples include the date, weather, and battery life.
Adding complications to a Watch face is a convenient way to view the information you're looking for with just a quick glance at your Apple Watch. Additionally, you can have multiple Watch faces on your device, each with different combinations of complications to best suit your needs for specific activities.
For example, I have a Modular watch face (which has five complication slots) that displays the date, weather, and battery life, plus shortcuts to the Activity and Heart Rate apps; and an Activity watch face (which has three complication slots, of which I've opted to use just one) that displays my activity progress both numerically and visually (by the degree to which each ring is closed), with a shortcut to the Workout app.
How to add and change complications on your Apple Watch
1. Swipe left and right on the Watch face until you reach the face you'd like to customize.
2. Press firmly on the display until you feel a small tap. Tap Customize.
3. Swipe all the way to the left. You'll see boxes where complications already exist or can be added. Tap the complication slot you'd like to change.
4. Turn the Digital Crown to scroll through the different complications that can be added to the Watch face.
5. Press the Digital Crown to save your changes.
How to add and change Apple Watch complications using your iPhone
You can do the same process outlined above on the Watch app for iPhone, which I personally find to be the easier method of adding and changing complications.
1. Open the Watch app for iPhone. Go to the My Watch tab.
2. You'll see all of the faces currently installed on your Apple Watch under My Faces. Select the Watch face you'd like to edit.
3. Tap on the complication you'd like to change, then scroll through the list and select the desired complication. If you don't want to have a complication in a specific slot, scroll to the top of the list and select Off.
4. View a current list of Watch faces with their customizable features and available complications here.
How to add Watch complications from third-party apps
You can add certain third-party apps to Watch faces as complications.
1. To see which third-party apps have complications, open the Watch app for iPhone. Go to the My Watch tab.
2. Tap "Complications." If you don't have any third-party apps that can be added as complications, you'll see a message that reads, "You have no apps with watch face complications installed on your Apple Watch yet."
3. To add a third-party Watch complication, tap "Edit," then the "+" symbol. To remove a third-party complication, tap the "-" symbol, then "Remove."
4. By tapping "+," you've added the complication in the Watch app and can now add it to your Watch using the steps outlined above.
5. If you're looking for third-party apps with complications, check out these lists by iMore and Lifewire.
Boeing made a flight-control system that engaged during two deadly crashes stronger and more aggressive for its 737 Max aircraft, The New York Times reported.
Boeing reportedly made the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) four times stronger than the version that was first sent to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for review and increased the number of situations in which it would engage.
The FAA knew about the changes Boeing made to MCAS but did not fully evaluate them, according to The New York Times report.
"The change to MCAS didn't trigger an additional safety assessment because it did not affect the most critical phase of flight, considered to be higher cruise speeds," an FAA representative told Business Insider. "At lower speeds, greater control movements are often necessary."
Boeing made a flight-control system that engaged during two deadly crashes stronger and more aggressive for its 737 Max aircraft, The New York Times reported.
In October, a Lion Airflight crashed and killed all 189 people on board, and in March, an Ethiopian Airlines flight crashed and killed all 157 people on board. The Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS)activated because of false sensor readings on both flights.
Boeing reportedly made MCAS four times stronger than the version that was first sent to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for review and increased the number of situations in which it would engage. The FAA knew about the changes Boeing made to MCAS but did not fully evaluate them, according to The New York Times report.
Under the agency's rules, it did not have to launch a new review of the aircraft following the MCAS modification because it was not deemed to be of sufficient importance to the aircraft's operation, according to the report. The agency ultimately assessed MCAS based on a prior version of the system that was less powerful and aggressive than the updated one.
"The change to MCAS didn't trigger an additional safety assessment because it did not affect the most critical phase of flight, considered to be higher cruise speeds," an FAA representative told Business Insider. "At lower speeds, greater control movements are often necessary."
Boeing told The New York Times that the FAA evaluated the final version of MCAS when it approved the 737 Max.
"The FAA considered the final configuration and operating parameters of MCAS during Max certification, and concluded that it met all certification and regulatory requirements," the company said.
Boeing did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.
MCAS points an aircraft's nose downward if the plane is flying at too steep an incline. Boeing installed the system on the 737 Max because the planes feature larger engines that are mounted in a different way from those on previous 737 aircraft. The new enginescreated a tendency for the 737 Max to tilt upward, which makes it more likely that the engines will stall in midair. The MCAS was designed to counter this tendency.
Gregory Craig, a former top aide to former President Barack Obama, was indicted in a case connected to the special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.
Craig is charged with making false statements to investigators about work that his former law firm did with former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort for the Ukrainian government in 2012.
Several associates of President Donald Trump have been indicted or have pleaded guilty as part of the Russia probe or in cases stemming from that inquiry; Craig is the first prominent Democrat to join that group.
Craig's lawyers say he is innocent of any wrongdoing.
Gregory Craig, the first White House counsel under former President Barack Obama, was indicted on Thursday for making false statements to investigators in a case stemming from the special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.
The indictment is related to lobbying work that Craig's former law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom did with former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort for the Ukrainian government in 2012.
So far, several associates of President Donald Trump have been indicted or have pleaded guilty as part of the Russia investigation or in cases stemming from the inquiry. Craig is the first prominent Democrat to join that group.
Craig resigned from Skadden in April 2018, and his lawyers say he is innocent of any wrongdoing.
"Mr. Craig is not guilty of any charge and the government’s stubborn insistence on prosecuting Mr. Craig is a misguided abuse of prosecutorial discretion," Craig's lawyers said in a statement.
The law firm was catapulted into the spotlight in the Russia probe when the Dutch lawyer Alex van der Zwaanpleaded guiltyto making false statements to the FBI in relation to his work for the firm and Manafort.
In 2012, Manafort asked Skadden to compile a report about the 2011 trial of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko — an effort Van der Zwaan was involved in. Manafort's request was madeat the behestof Viktor Yanukovych, the Ukrainian president at the time and Tymoshenko's rival in the country's 2010 election.
Tymoshenko was jailed in 2011 after the Ukrainian government convicted her of abuse of power. Her trial and subsequent conviction were criticized by human-rights groups and deemed politically motivated by the US, the UK, German, Italy, Spain, and other European countries.
The report Skadden produced for Manafort found that while some of Tymoshenko's rights were violated during the trial, the conviction was valid based on the evidence. But the scandal over the Tymoshenko report grew when it emerged that the former Ukrainian Justice Minister Oleksandr Lavrynovych was charged with embezzling more than $1 million to pay the law firm for its work.
Skadden has done a significant amount of consulting for Russian oligarchs in Moscow and abroad. It has also represented Alfa-Bank, a large Russian bank linked to the Kremlin, in a number of financial disputes stretching back years.
After facing mounting pressure from prosecutors, Skadden refunded about half the amount it was paid for the Tymoshenko report to the Ukrainian government in June 2017. Three months later, Mueller's office raised more questions to Skadden about its work for Yanukovych in 2012.
In January, Skadden reached a settlement with the Justice Department to pay the government $4.6 million — the amount the firm was paid for the Ukraine work — and retroactively registered as a foreign agent for Ukraine.
Manafort eventually said Skadden's report was used to bolster Yanukovych's influence in the West. He was sentenced earlier this year to 7 1/2 years in federal prison for his financial crimes related to his foreign lobbying work.
Self-made millionaires didn't get to the two-comma club without doing things a little differently from the rest.
Various researchers who studied hundreds of self-made millionaires for several years have found that many tend to practice different habits or display heightened traits that help them build wealth. Many millionaires, for example, allocate their time differently — they spend more time focusing on personal growth, planning for investments, and working, and less time sleeping.
While some of the behaviors above may also ring true for non-millionaires, millionaires often exhibit them at a stronger level and with more consistency.
Here's what sets millionaires apart from everyone else — besides a seven- to nine-figure net worth.
Frugality — a commitment to saving, spending less, and sticking to a budget — is one of the wealth factors that help millionaires build wealth, according to Sarah Stanley Fallaw, the director of research for the Affluent Market Institute and an author of "The Next Millionaire Next Door: Enduring Strategies for Building Wealth," for which she surveyed more than 600 millionaires in America.
Many of the millionaires Stanley Fallaw interviewed stressed the freedom that comes with spending below their means.
"Spending above your means, spending instead of saving for retirement, spending in anticipation of becoming wealthy makes you a slave to the paycheck, even with a stellar level of income," she wrote.
She said that most of the millionaires she studied had never purchased a home that cost more than triple their annual income. The median home value for millionaires in her latest study was $850,000 (3.4 times their current income), with a median original purchase price of $465,000.
They save a lot of their income.
Being frugal and living in an affordable home enables millionaires to save. They recognize that income isn't enough — they have to save what they're making.
John, who runs the personal-finance blog ESI Money and retired at 52 with a $3 million net worth, has interviewed 100 millionaires over the past few years and found that the median millionaire spent $90,000 a year while earning $250,000 in income — a 64% savings rate. Saving it, he said, allows for investment.
While this savings rate might be slightly off because of things like not counting taxes as spending, the main takeaway, he said, is that millionaires "save a large portion of their income."
If you make $250,000 and spend $250,000, "you are no better off at the end of the year," he wrote.
Personal Finance Insider writes about products, strategies, and tips to help you make smart decisions with your money. We may receive a small commission from our partners, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
The Waldorf Astoria Bangkok, which opened in late 2018, is a thoughtful, tranquil, luxurious hotel in Thailand's capital.
From its rooftop bars, fantastic restaurants, and spacious rooms, to its infinity pool, fitness center, and spa, I found the hotel offers a calm and relaxing escape from Bangkok's hustle and bustle.
The storied Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York has been an icon for nearly a century. One of a few standards for elegance, class, and luxury in urban hotels — the Plaza, the original Ritz, and a few other historic spots — the Waldorf was, until recently, one-of-a-kind.
In 2006, Hilton Hotels — at that time owner of that first Waldorf — launched a new global brand based around the New York original. (Hilton no longer owns the New York Waldorf Astoria. It was purchased by Chinese conglomerate Anbang in 2014, but Hilton still manages it and owns the brand.)
Today, Waldorf Astoria is a powerhouse brand of luxury hospitality comparable to brands like Four Seasons. With more than 30 properties open around the world — some newly acquired or rebranded legacy properties, and some new hotels — and more locations set to open in 2019, the past decade-plus has been transformative.
One of the flagship openings in 2018 was the Waldorf Astoria Bangkok, a new and massive addition to a burgeoning luxury hotel market. In just the past few years, Bangkok has seen an explosion of its tourism market, with a record-breaking 38.3 million international visitors to Thailand in 2018.
With 171 rooms and suites, five restaurants, and two breathtaking bars on the top floors, the Waldorf Astoria makes an elegant and spacious addition to the local hotel scene, offering an elegant oasis in a city that can otherwise be overwhelming in its crowded, traffic-jammed signature chaos.
My wife and I had the chance to stay in the Waldorf for three nights last month.
From the hotel's food and service, to its architecture, amenities, and design, I was thoroughly impressed. While less expensive accommodations are available in Bangkok, I would likely opt to spend on the Waldorf again.
Keep reading to see why I was so impressed by the Waldorf.
The ground floor of the Waldorf serves as the hotel's entrance, with the bell and concierge desks near the door, but it isn't the lobby.
The hotel sits in a 60-story tower in Bangkok's central business district near the busy Ratchaprasong intersection, occupying floors six through 17, plus 55 through 57. Near shrines, luxury malls, and more traditional stall markets, the tower is steps from the BTS Skytrain, and easily accessible by taxi.
Rather than at the front desk, check-in takes place at comfortable seating areas throughout the lobby — the front desk staff brings everything you need to check in while you enjoy a welcoming cup of tea.
When you arrive at the hotel, you're escorted to the 16th floor, a spacious, airy lobby with floor-to-ceiling windows offering copious natural light and an unobstructed view of nearby Royal Bangkok Sports Club park.
High ceilings, neutral colors with orchid-inspired splashes of gentle colors, and natural light define the space, and introduce the palate used throughout the property. It isn't necessarily eye-catching; instead, it feels calm, clean, and tranquil, a contrast to the hustle of the city surrounding it.
Subtle touches of Thai culture bring a pleasing effect to the space, never allowing it to feel like a fully Western hotel.
The hotel has 171 rooms and suites. We were on the 12th floor in a King Deluxe room, which is the standard baseline room type.
Everything in the room, from the curtains to the toilet seat, could be controlled by touchscreen panels and tablets strategically placed throughout.
Deleting photos from Facebook can be useful whether you’re applying for a new job, dealing with a breakup, or trying to cover a bit of youthful indiscretion.
When you delete a photo from Facebook, it disappears everywhere, meaning from your Timeline and from others' feeds.
There are a lot of good reasons to delete photos from Facebook, so knowing how to do it as efficiently as possible is a useful skill if you want to make best use of the giant social media platform.
You might simply have uploaded an image in error, or you might simply come to dislike a given picture. And cleaning up your social media persona is important to do before you apply for a new job or to a new school, both of which require putting your best foot forward.
How to delete your Facebook photos from a computer
First, log into your Facebook account and find the photo in question, whether it's in an album or just in "Your Photos," and don't click on the picture to open it.
1. Hover over the image to be deleted; a gray box with a pencil icon will appear in the top right corner of the thumbnail image.
2. Click the pencil icon, which will display a popup message "Edit or Remove."
3. At the bottom of the menu that appears, click "Delete This Photo."
4. On the next popup window, click the blue box that reads "Delete."
And like that, it's gone from Facebook.
How to delete your Facebook photos from a mobile browser
Go to the Facebook website on mobile and make sure you're logged in.
1. Locate the photo to be removed (remembering you can only delete images you uploaded) and tap on the photo to select it.
2. Under the image, tap the words "More Options."
3. Tap "Edit Photo."
4. Tap "Delete."
5. Under "Are you sure you want to delete this photo?" tap "Delete" to do so permanently.
And with that your picture is gone, deleted from Facebook on mobile, desktop, and everywhere else.
How to delete your Facebook photos from the mobile app
The process of deleting a photo from Facebook's mobile app differs slightly from a mobile browser deletion.
1. Open the Facebook app.
2. Go to your photos and tap the photo you'd like to delete.
3. Tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner of the photo's page.
Insider Pickswrites about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Most swimwear companies use fit models to design and tailor their bathing suits, but Helen Jon fits all of its styles on their employees who provide feedback to get a supportive fit that works for more women.
Five women from the Insider Picks team tried bathing suits from Helen Jon and found that they fit exceptionally well and offered great support and coverage (plus, they're cute!).
It's happened to nearly all of us; we await with excitement the arrival of a newly ordered swimsuit, only to try it on and realize "this was definitely not designed with my body type in mind." That's because, in the most literal sense, it likely wasn't.
Most swimsuit companies use what are called "fit models" to measure and tailor the way their suits lay on the body. A fit model generally has the perfect proportions for a given size, is slightly taller than most women, has a cup size that errs on the smaller side, and doesn't have any particular quirks about her shape like most of us do. She offers feedback to brands about what adjustments need to be made to the fit. Swimsuits are literally made to fit her body, but not so much ours.
It's a strange concept. Don't brands want more women to feel comfortable in their clothes? Wouldn't they seek out the opportunity to design swimwear that fit more people? Between fashion and undergarments, it seems that concept has just evaded most designers and manufacturers.
Which is exactly why we need more brands like Helen Jon.
If you've never heard the name, you wouldn't be alone. When I first received their pitch, I wasn't familiar either. Sure, I'd probably seen the brand's suits while scrolling around online, but I never knew what made it special until they reached out to tell me.
It says a lot about the industry that I was honestly amazed to hear that Helen Jon actually measures the fit of its suits on the employees that work there. "We are fitting women's swimwear on real figures, not models. If a suit is (or is not) sitting properly on our bodies, we know what to add, adjust, or revamp."
That's not to say that fit models and the women who are proportioned similarly don't have "real" figures — they are still human women, after all — but it is to say that the company clearly understands how using those bodies exclusively to fit their suits may not always be the best approach. So they came up with a different one, and one that seems to really work.
I put the ladies of the Insider Picks team to work by asking them to each try on and go swimming in a different suit from Helen Jon (it's a hard job, I know!). All five of us have different body shapes and very different considerations in terms of fit, but each of us has a high standard for what makes something truly great.
Spoiler alert: We loved them. All of us agreed that Helen Jon's suits are stylish, relatively affordable, universally flattering, and exceptionally comfortable. You can read our personal reviews below, but if you're ready to start shopping for a trusty suit that you can wear for everything from lounging around by the pool to snorkeling in the ocean, we recommend Helen Jon hands down.
I generally have a really hard time with swimsuits. Aesthetically, I'm drawn to the one-piece styles that have very little support, like low scoop-backs or super low-cut fronts. Not great for someone with a DD chest, to be honest. I was attracted to this style because it was just sexy enough while still promising a good amount of support due to the seam under the bust.
I got the "fatigue" green color for something different since I usually opt for black. Wearing it on the beach, I felt covered and secure, but not at all suffocated or overly conservative. When I got home, I actually lounged around in it for a few more hours because it was just that comfortable! I would literally never do this with any other bathing suit I own.
The one thing I would have appreciated was the option to buy petite sizes because the torso was a tiny bit long for me (I'm just over five feet tall), but that definitely wasn't a deal-breaker given how well everything else about the suit fit.
When I look for swimsuits, I look for support that doesn’t come in something that looks like a waterproof balconette bra; it helps maintain the illusion that swimwear is different from underwear, and — most importantly — it impedes my movements less.
I picked the Lace-Back Bralette in the "indochine" print and Reversible Tunnel Hipster with braids in the "fatigue" green color. While not all the prints fit my aesthetic, I did like the indochine a lot. The real standout for Helen Jon, though, is how well the suit ticked off my concerns. It managed to feel sporty (i.e. you can climb around in it at the cabin), and it was supportive without adding bulk or staying lodged in place (i.e. it moves with you).
All in all, I really liked Helen Jon. The style I tried was comfortable, cute, and supportive without being bulky or restrictive — something I actively search for and rarely find to my satisfaction. The "laced" detailing on the back added just enough personalization and support, and I like that the bottoms will see many uses thanks to being reversible, even if I do wish there were more color options.
Buying swimsuits online is fraught with peril for any woman, but if you have a large cup size like I do, it's even harder. Helen John's swimwear collection made it super easy for me to choose a swimsuit that would fit because there are tops specifically designed for D/DD women like me.
The D/DD cup twist underwire bra bikini top fits me perfectly, offers excellent support, and looks exactly like a normal bra under clothing when you're en route to the beach. The Slimmer hipster bottom I chose also fit perfectly and was comfortable. I swam in the Atlantic Ocean and ran around on the beach in this swimsuit without any problems. Plus, the suit dried fairly quickly afterward.
Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider, Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Don't be fooled by the warmer days and sunnier skies. Rainy season is still in full effect, so make sure to keep an umbrella on hand.
Instead of banking on an overpriced, shoddy umbrella from the first store you see, get one of these 10 top-rated umbrellas, all under $20.
A few years ago, I got caught in an unexpected torrential downpour while waiting outside a restaurant to be seated. Desperate to prevent my entire body from getting soaked, I popped into the nearest drugstore to grab one of the few remaining $15 umbrellas left on the stand.
Salvation! Or so I thought. I'm not exaggerating when I say I didn't even make it down one block before the umbrella broke. There goes $15 along with any hope of staying dry that night.
Warm, dry months are just around the corner, but in the meantime, spring still has some surprise showers up its sleeve. If you're currently without an umbrella, you can still equip yourself with a good one without spending more than $20.
Unlike the model that literally only lasted seconds in my tragic tale above, the umbrellas below are sturdy and reliable, and they have the satisfied reviews to prove it. Most are also available on Amazon and with Prime shipping, so you can receive your umbrella quickly if you notice the upcoming week has rain in store for your city.
Ultimately, they're probably not going to be as long-lasting as more expensive styles, but for now, and for less than $20, they'll do the trick.
Shop 10 top-rated umbrellas under $20 to get you through the rainy season.
A sturdy, compact umbrella that also comes with a leather cover
Insider Pickswrites about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
I bought the highly-rated Zinus Modern Studio 14-Inch Platform Bed Frame when I moved into my apartment over a year ago. I didn't know it at the time, but it would become one of my best new apartment purchases.
This steel frame is not only strong and incredibly easy to assemble, but it's also affordable.
Available in four heights and five mattress sizes, it has a clean, modern look and creates instant storage space for bins and suitcases.
If you're on a budget as you furnish your room but don't want to compromise on quality, this is the bed frame you should buy.
The post-graduation transition can be a whirlwind, and if you're relocating to start a job or continue your education, an expensive whirlwind at that.
Two weeks after my college graduation, I moved cross-country to New York into a shiny, empty apartment. Hoping to settle in as quickly as possible and regain some semblance of stability, I began filling my room with affordable, easy-to-assemble living essentials.
One of these pieces was a simple steel bed frame from Zinus. More than a year later, I can safely say it's one of the best purchases I've made for my bedroom.
As a generally patient and cool-headed person, I admit the Achilles heel that consistently challenges this characterization is furniture assembly. Even so, I managed to have this bed frame up and running in 15 minutes — no sweat or frustrated outbursts necessary. The assembly involves a simple system in which you match up the corresponding steel parts, then lay two sets of wooden slats on top of the frame. The slats stick securely to the frame with Velcro, and two of the slats have a non-slip tape to prevent your mattress from slipping.
The frame comes in six, 10, 14, and 18-inch styles. I bought the 14-inch model for a moderate level of elevation that I could climb onto comfortably. Despite its slim construction, the steel frame is strong. In all the months I've slept on it, it has always felt sturdy and supportive, and it doesn't squeak. If it does start squeaking, the likely culprit is a loose bolt, which is a quick fix.
My room is small (it can fit a full-sized bed at most), so the frame also created some much-needed storage space. If you want to fit suitcases and large storage bins under the frame, I would recommend the 14- or 18-inch model. You'll have a large amount of empty space to work with thanks to the frame's minimal style.
For all of its strengths, the frame is surprisingly inexpensive. The 14-inch Zinus frame starts at $95 for the Narrow Twin size, and the King size is $135.
When I started my apartment shopping list, I wanted to keep my purchases budget-friendly, but I also didn't want to sacrifice price for quality and spend even more money in the long-run replacing shoddy products. Though I'm certainly not opposed to splurging (particularly for tech or skin care products), this affordable bed frame proves you don't always have to spend a lot on big projects like furnishing your apartment.
Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider, Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Sand Cloud, best known for its colorful beach towels and appearance on "Shark Tank," is more than just a summer accessory brand — though its cozy towels are a personal favorite.
While its summer-ready products are what initially draw people in, Sand Cloud's mission is what has ultimately propelled it to $20 million in sales to date.
The soft, lightweight, and sand-resistant towels cost $39 to $65. While not as thick or absorbent as heavy-duty beach towels, they're still durable and comfortable.
As a native southern Californian who, surprise surprise, loves the beach, I can assure you that a nice and comfortable towel is instrumental to enjoying a long summer afternoon spent lounging lazily on the sand.
Founded in 2014 by three friends, Sand Cloud is an online company that's making the soft, eye-catching beach towels you'll see everyone enjoying by the shores this summer — including me. More importantly, though, is its mission to support the conservation of marine life.
Founders Brandon Leibel, Bruno Aschidamini, and Steven Ford met while working at an insurance call center in San Diego, and bonded over their love of the beach and marine conservation. They decided to combine these passions into a product that helps people enjoy the beach right now and for years to come.
Sand Cloud actually started out making towel pillows. However, at a trade show in 2015, buyers were more interested in a mandala towel style that didn't have a pillow attached. Sand Cloud's first big break was when Quiksilver bought $20,000 worth of these mandala towels, which are still a best seller today. The company went on to appear in a 2017 episode of "Shark Tank," where it received an investment and the national exposure to propel its growth.
Though it has expanded past beach towels into apparel, other eco-friendly accessories like reusable metal straws and reef-safe sunscreen, and even a bedding collection with Bed Bath & Beyond, its original beach towels are still what I recommend shopping first. Sand Cloud sells a variety of sizes and patterns of its 100% Turkish cotton towels, as well as towels made of 45% recycled cotton, 25% recycled polyester, and 30% Turkish cotton.
They're not very thick or heavy, so they won't weigh down your beach bag, and they easily shake out sand and other small debris. While decently absorbent, I wouldn't rely on them entirely to dry yourself off if you come back from your swim soaking wet (I'd recommend Snowe's beach towels for this task). Instead, I think they're better suited for light drying jobs and lounging. The soft feel makes it practically irresistible to wrap yourself in the towel as the sun sets and the temperatures cool down.
Ranging in price from $39 to $65, they are more expensive than your average beach towel, but they're also an easy purchase to justify if you're looking for additional ways to support marine conservation causes. Because Sand Cloud works with multiple partners, each product sold contributes to local beach cleanups, marine mammal rehabilitation, improved access to environmental education in coastal communities, and other initiatives.
For Khosrowshahi, being a superstar in the tech industry is a family business. Khosrowshahi's cousins, uncle and brothers all made their marks within Silicon Valley and beyond.
Here's everything you need to know about Dara Khosrowshahi's impressive family.
Khosrowshahi, who took over Uber in 2017 from founder Travis Kalanick, wrote in a letter to the filing that Uber's success will come from "stellar execution and the strength of the platform we have worked so hard to build."
For Khosrowshahi, one of today's most powerful tech CEOs, success runs in his blood, Fortune reports. The chief executive's brothers, cousins, and uncles have impressive resumes that include founding their own multimillion-dollar startups, running Fortune 500 companies, and earning diplomas from Harvard, Brown and Stanford.
Here are some of the impressive careers of Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi's family members:
Dara Khosrowshahi took over at Uber's helm in 2017.
Before Uber, he acted as CEO of travel site Expedia.
After earning his degree from Brown University, Khosrowshahi began his career at boutique investing firm Allen & Company. From there, the young Khosrowshahi took an executive role at what was then known as USA Networks, where he was considered a protégé of media industry icon Barry Diller.
The company spun off Expedia Inc in 2005, and Khosrowshahi served as CEO for 12 years. During that time, he turned the site into the largest online US travel agency and saw revenues balloon from $2.1 billion in 2005 to $8.7 billion in 2016.
Kaveh Khosrowshahi, Dara's brother, is currently managing director at investment firm Allen & Company.
Like Dara, Kaveh went to the prestigious Hackley School, the Ivy League prep school that charges around $44,000 in tuition. He then got a bachelor's degree in history from Williams College, according to his LinkedIn, and has been at Allen & Company since 1989.
Mehrad Khosrowshahi, Dara's other brother, is managing partner of the boutique consulting firm Confida Inc.
Mehrad runs the company's Strategy and Performance Reporting division.
Before joining Confida, Mehrad spent five years at Symmetrix, a management consulting firm serving Fortune 500 companies, the Confida website states. He received an MBA from Columbia Business school with high distinction and graduated magna cum laude from Brown University.
Hassan Khosrowshahi, Dara's uncle, founded the Canadian electronics chain Future Shop.
Hassan immigrated to Canada in 1981 and founded Inwest Investments, now part of holding company Persis. Hassan now serves as chairman of Persis Holdings, and is a member of the Order of Canada, the country's highest civilian honor, according to Persis Holdings' website.
Hadi Partovi, Dara's cousin, is the CEO of education non-profit Code.org.
Hadi graduated from Harvard in 1994, and went on to have an illustrious career, working as a general manager at Microsoft and sitting on the board of directors at trucking company Convoy Inc., his LinkedIn states.
Hadi was also an angel investor in Facebook, DropBox, Uber, and more.
Ali Partovi, Hadi's twin brother, helped his brother start Code.org.
Ali now serves as CEO of Neo, an engineering mentorship company. Like his brother, Ali backed numerous successful startups like Facebook, Zappos, and DropBox, his LinkedIn states.
Amir Khosrowshahi, Dara's cousin, co-founded IT company Nervana.
He graduated from Harvard and then completed a Ph.D. at the University of California-Berkeley. Amir also served as a vice president at Goldman Sachs for six years, his LinkedIn states. Amir now serves as VP of Intel.
Upon graduating from Columbia, Farzad opened a Subway shop with his wife in 1993 in Mamaroneck, New York. He then worked at Lehman Brothers and JP Morgan before arriving at Google, according to a Wall Street Journal profile of him written in 2012.
Darian Shirazi, Dara's cousin, was one of Facebook's first 10 hires, he says on his LinkedIn.
He went on to create Radius, a marketing software company.
Darian served as CEO of Radius until 2018. Darian says he reported directly to Mark Zuckerberg while at Facebook, and then left the company to pursue his undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley, his LinkedIn states. He dropped out within a year at college.
Avid served as the World Economic Forum's Young Global Leader for over 3 years, she states on her LinkedIn. She got her undergraduate degree from Stanford University and MBA from Harvard Business School.
Personal Finance Insider writes about products, strategies, and tips to help you make smart decisions with your money. Business Insider may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
As American students get ready to return to college — or to move in for their first semester — they should start thinking about something in addition to course schedules and extracurriculars: their credit scores.
College is an ideal time to start building a credit history, which is vital later on when it's time to open utility accounts, apply for car loans and mortgages, and even apply to rent an apartment.
For those without credit history, the best way to start is to be added to a parent's account, or open a secured credit card, like the Discover it Secured.
After that, the smartest move is to open a "real" credit card, like the Chase Freedom Unlimited.
Credit card debt can be brutal and punishing — as the total amount of credit card debt in the US surpassed $1.02 trillion late last year, there's no question that it's something you generally want to avoid, especially if you're younger and less financially stable.
This is a message that younger generations seem to have received loud and clear. Data suggests that millennials have been wary of cards, although a recent study shows that they may be starting to embrace them.
While that might seem like bad news, it's actually a positive for the millennial generation, and as Generation Z reaches adulthood, it's vital that they follow suit — responsibly, of course.
That's because the responsible use of credit cards is an essential part of establishing a healthy credit history, which is vital for securing major consumer loans and mortgages. While this is a little more relevant for millennials, right now, than it is for Gen Z, it's smart to start thinking about this early. I've known people five, six, and seven years out of college who've had trouble opening utility accounts, or signing up for a now-needed credit card, because they had no credit history. That created a ton of headaches that would have been easier if they had started building credit during school.
Once you have a credit card, the key is to simply use it exactly as if it was debit cards.
Practicing healthy financial habits, not spending more than you can afford, and paying off your cards in full each month — or even each week — helps you avoid debt, interest fees, and negative data points on your credit report.
A lot of the fear of credit cards comes from a misunderstanding of how they work. Just because you use one doesn't mean you're taking on debt — you can (and should) pay more than the minimum required payment each month. If you pay the full statement amount — or the full balance — before the due date each time, you won't be charged any interest. Plus, you'll be able to earn rewards or take advantage of various protections and benefits.
If you (or your child/dependent) is starting college this fall or getting ready for another new semester, it may be worth thinking about your credit.
Here's a quick primer on how credit and your credit score work, why it's important, and the best options for a first (or first "real") credit card.
What's your credit score, and why is it important?
Virtually every American has a credit profile associated with them, which is a history of their use of credit, including accounts held, past borrowing, and payment history. Banks that issue loans and credit cards use the information in your credit profile to determine how trustworthy you are, and how likely it is that you'll pay back whatever you may owe in the future.
Your credit score, meanwhile, is a numerical representation of all of the raw information in your credit profile. It's made up of a few components, including your history of on-time payments, how much outstanding revolving debt you have proportionate to your total credit line, the average length or age of your credit history, how often you've requested new credit recently, and different types of credit you have like car loans and credit cards (having more types is better).
In addition to banks, other parties might use the information in your credit profile to determine your trustworthiness. For example, most landlords will run a credit check before approving your application to rent an apartment. Similarly, companies like utility providers and cell phone carriers check your credit score to make sure you've displayed responsible payment behavior in the past.
Starting to build credit
For college students, there are three good ways to start building credit.
Become an authorized user on a parent's account
If you're 18 or 19, chances are you have virtually no credit history. Even if you've taken out student loans (which go on your credit report) you won't have started repaying those, so there won't be any positive data.
To start building credit history, the best option is to be added as an "authorized user" on a parent's account.
When you're added as an authorized user, you'll get a card with your name on it, but connected to your parent's account. A lot of parents might want to do this so that you have a card to use in case of an emergency, but there's a second benefit.
Even if you never make a charge on the card, the entirety of that single account's history will be added to your credit profile. Of course, it's important that the account you're added to doesn't have any negative marks, so that you only have positive data points.
When I left for college, my mom added me to her oldest account, an Amex card. When I checked my credit report a few years later using Credit Sesame, I saw her entire account history on my profile as if it were mine — it showed "my" account as being older than I was!
Open a secured credit card
If you've never been added to a parent's account, or you aren't able to be, or your parent doesn't have an unblemished account to add you to, you still have an option — get a secured credit card.
A secured credit card is one where you put down a deposit — for example, $200 — and then you get a card with a credit limit of the same amount. You can pay the card on time and prove that you're responsible, and eventually upgrade it to an unsecured credit card and get your deposit back.
You can usually get a secured card from the primary bank you use for your checking account. Alternatively, Discover offers a solid option that even earns cash back.
Open a "real" credit card
Although being an authorized user on an account, or having a secured credit card, is definitely a useful way to build your early credit, you should still open a "real" credit card as soon as you have that early history established. You can open a student credit card through wherever you bank, but a better option is to open a solid cash-back or rewards card.
The cardearns unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, and has no annual fee. Plus, it features an introductory 0% APR for the first 15 months, so if you want to break the rule and carry a balance for a few months (for instance, if you need to replace an aging laptop but it's a bit too pricey right now) without paying interest, this provides a great opportunity (after the introductory APR offer, a variable APR of 16.74-25.49% applies — so you should definitely make sure to pay off the balance by then).
The cardalso offers a sign-up bonus of $150 when you spend $500 in the first three months.
You can read moreabout the card here, and see how I've previously taken advantage of the 0% APR offer.
While there are a few cards out there that offer 2% cash back, the real appeal of the Freedom Unlimited is that while the card is marketed as "cash back," it actually earns Chase's proprietaryUltimate Rewards (UR) pointsthat you can redeem for cash (1 point = $0.01).
Israel Folau, one of the top rugby players in Australia and the world, is losing his job over controversial statements he made against the LGBT community on social media.
Folau, a member of the Assemblies of God and outspoken religious advocate, posted a graphic to Instagram on Thursday which said that "hell awaits" those "living in sin," including homosexuals, drunks, and liars.
"Those that are living in Sin will end up in Hell unless you repent," he wrote in the caption next to the graphic. "Jesus Christ loves you and is giving you time to turn away from your sin and come to him."
A post shared by Israel Folau (@izzyfolau) on Apr 10, 2019 at 1:18am PDT on
Shortly after the post was published, Rugby Australia and the NSW Rugby Union announced plans to terminate Folau's contract with them.
The two sporting authorities wrote in a joint statement on Thursday: "As a code we have made it clear to Israel formally and repeatedly that any social media posts or commentary that is in any way disrespectful to people because of their sexuality will result in disciplinary action."
"In the absence of compelling mitigating factors, it is our intention to terminate his contract."
Folau met with rugby heads on Friday afternoon, but Rugby Australia and the NSW Rugby Union announced that their position remained "unchanged."
The star player for the Sydney Wallabies has made similar comments in the past that prompted backlash.
Last year, when asked by an Instagram user what God's plan for homosexuals was, Folau replied: "HELL... Unless they repent of their sins and turn to God."
He subsequently penned a column in which he defended his religious views, and claimed his statements were not homophobic.
Rugby Australia has reprimanded Folau in the past for his public statements against the LGBTQ community, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), and stated that his views were against the values of the sporting governing body.
Politicians weigh in Folau's case
Folau's case has prompted politicians, including the Australian prime minister, to speak out.
On Friday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison told ABC News that Folau's latest comments were "terribly insensitive."
"It is important that people act with love, care and compassion to their fellow citizens and to speak sensitively to their fellow Australians."
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told reporters on Thursday that she "totally disagree[s]" with Folau's comments, adding that they could be harmful to members of the LGBTQ community that may look up to him.
"Obviously at a personal level I clearly don't agree with what he said, and very mindful of the fact he is for many a role model," she said. "He's a person in a position of influence, and with that comes responsibility."
"I totally disagree with what he says and how he's using his platform."
The leader of Australia's Labor party, Bill Shorten, also told reporters on Friday that rugby authorities were right to take action against Folau.
"There is no freedom to perpetuate hateful speech," he told reporters.
Qantas, which sponsors Australia's national rugby team, also released a statement on Thursday explaining that Folau's comments "clearly don't reflect the spirit of inclusion and diversity that we support."
Freedom of speech versus hate speech
While some critics slammed Rugby Australia's decision to sack Folau, saying that players should be free to express their religious views, many others defended the authority and its right to protect its brand and values.
Rugby Australia specifically outlines in its Code of Conduct that all members need to "use social media appropriately" and specifies that players should not make comments that "would likely be detrimental to the best interests, image and welfare of the Game, a team, a club, a competition or Union."
Rugby Australia's chief executive, Raelene Castle, and NSW Rugby Union CEO Andrew Hore in their joint statement on Thursday doubled down on this point, saying that Folau's views were inconsistent with rugby values.
"Whilst Israel is entitled to his religious beliefs, the way in which he has expressed these beliefs is inconsistent with the values of the sport," the statement said. "We want to make it clear that he does not speak for the game with his recent social media posts."
The executive bought the home in 2006 after Aniston and Pitt's divorce.
The two actors reportedly spent three years renovating the home, adding heated marble kitchen floors, a private screening room, and a pub room with wood floors from a 200-year-old French chateau.
The Beverly Hills pad also includes a swimming pool and a championship tennis court.
The current owner is hedge fund executive Jonathan Brooks, founder of Smithwood Partners, who bought it from the actors in 2006 after their divorce, according to the Journal.
The French Normandy Revival-style house has four bedrooms and comes with a swimming pool, ample outdoor space, and a championship tennis court. It's listed by Susan Smith of Hilton & Hyland.
A hedge fund executive is selling a 12,000-square-foot Los Angeles estate that was once the home of actors Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt for $56 million.
The house is in Beverly Hills, one of LA's most upscale neighborhoods. The area is beloved by celebrities and is about 11 miles from Downtown Los Angeles and 13 miles from Los Angeles International Airport.
Aniston and Pitt bought the California house for $13.1 million in 2001 from entertainment attorney Ken Ziffren. They sold it to Jonathan Brooks, founder of Smithwood Partners, in 2006 after their divorce.
Insider Pickswrites about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
It's likely that I've tried more at-home workout tools than the average person as a result of my job at Insider Picks.
Below, I rounded up my all-time favorites, plus a bit about why I like them. If you're concerned about versatility, storage space, and convenience, then they may be a fit for you too.
For better or worse, I hate being idle. If I’m watching TV, sitting at my office desk, or on the phone catching up with my mom, I’d prefer to be moving. Call it internalized Midwestern sensibility, but repose always feels like a missed opportunity to me.
This, plus my job as a member of the Insider Picks team, has made me the unwitting tester of more at-home exercise gear than any one New Yorker has any right in owning. In all my time researching, testing, and deliberating what gets to stay in my shoe-box apartment, I've also become a much more discerning shopper.
Below, I've rounded up the eight at-home workout tools I personally believe are most worth the money, and which I use frequently. However, as with any workout, the key to finding the right at-home gear is figuring out what your own needs are, and which recurring roadblocks to staying active you can address with products. For me, my main priorities are storage space, convenience, and the versatility to go from light and mindless workouts that complement a Netflix marathon to very challenging ones.
In general, the simplest tools are the ones that reliably work the best — and they're the ones you'll find yourself picking up most often, which may amount to more effectiveness than what gives you the biggest bang for your buck. There are a few hidden treasures on the internet, camouflaged by cheesy photos of what look like standout gimmicks — but, by and large, the classics are what will age the best.
Below, I'll walk you through my personal favorite at-home products, plus why I like them — and why you may too.
These are the home workout tools I personally love most, and why:
If I could only buy one home gym system, it would be the TRX. It's a portable, highly-effective (not to mention storage- and travel-friendly) workout that was built by a former Navy SEAL as a way to stay in peak physical condition whilst traveling without access to designer gyms. The TRX system turns your body into your own ideal workout tool, and it's now used widely by supermodels, pro athletes, Ivy League college sports teams, and the US army.
You can find more details in a personal review here, but the idea is simple: leverage your body’s weight and a full range of motion to increase its overall flexibility and strength. All you need is a door jam, tree, wall stud, or the rafters in a garage and you can begin using it.
Plus, similar to rolling around in a pool, your range of motion is more fluid and complete, so you can build lean muscle while simultaneously gaining flexibility and mobility — like you would be able to do with yoga and pilates exercises, just a bit more drastically.
There’s also an app to help you find new and challenging workouts (free for 14 days, $4.99 per month or $39.99 for a year after).
It can be difficult to find room to jump rope in an NYC apartment (there was enough trouble finding room for a nightstand), but I try to use a jump rope as often as possible for a fun, effective workout.
Just jumping rope is one of the best cardio exercises, if not the best, that anyone can do. It torches calories quickly, works your entire body, and a widely-cited study found that 10 minutes of jumping rope is as effective as a 30-minute jog. The Rx Jump Rope ($47) with its multi-directional swivel has been recommended by celebrity trainers, but you could just get this $10 version with over 4,000 five-star reviews.
They may seem ridiculously expensive, but Bowflex Dumbbells are worth the hype for their versatility and efficacy. It's basically 15 sets of weights combined into one adjustable set, minimizing your costs and storage space considerably.
Each dumbbell can adjust from five to 52.5 pounds (going up in 2.5-pound increments up to the first 25 pounds) with the turn of a dial.
You can findmuch cheaper dumbbells, but you'll probably need to commit to either one stagnant weight (which may not translate to as many workouts, or which you may outgrow) or buy multiples and deal with the storage.
Coachellatickets cost $429 for general admission, but how much Coachellacosts depends on what you want.
I decided to go to Coachella for the first time this year.
I thought the festival wouldn't cost that much when I was given press passes to the festival, but costs for airfare, a rental car, transportation, lodging, and food and drink still added up to over $2,000.
I'll be honest — I never really thought I'd go to theCoachella Music & Arts Festival. Living in New York, I never thought it made much sense to ship out to Indio, California for one of Coachella's two weekends of music and fun.
This year, New York's homegrown festival, Governor's Ball, had a disappointing lineup and Coachella's East Coast edition, Panorama Festival, was not happening.
So when Business Insider asked me to cover the festival, I checked out the lineup: this year's edition features Childish Gambino, Anderson .Paak, Janelle Monae, and Tame Impala, some of my favorite artists.
After I scored some last minute press passes, I was all-in. Then I started calculating out the budget.
Coachella is notorious for costing festival-goers an arm and a leg. Ticketscost $429 for general admission for the weekend, and that's just the beginning of it. Because Coachella is located at the Empire Polo Club two hours outside of Los Angeles, you have factor in transportation, parking, lodging, and more into your budget. Money's Megan Leonhardt estimated the typical cost to be $2,347 in 2018.
I figured that was all hype. I'm a very frugal traveler and I pride myself on saving as much as I can, but my budget for Coachella 2019 is already over $2,000 and I didn't even pay for a ticket.
Here's how that breaks down.
Airfare: $339
After scouring Kayak, Priceline, and every other travel aggregator for a week, I found an Alaska Airlines sale on airfare that netted me a nonstop round-trip flight from New York to Los Angeles for $339.
The only catch: I would have to fly in and out on the Wednesday before the festival, meaning I'd have to figure out extended lodging. Tickets flying in/out closer to the festival were double the cost.
Rental Car: $464
With a couple of days in Los Angeles before and after the festival, I decided to book a rental car rather than pay $150 for the Coachella shuttle between Los Angeles International Airport and Indio.
I settled on a reputable budget option from Avis: a Ford Fiesta. I only paid for liability insurance, as my Chase Sapphire Reserve has rental car insurance on it. It still came out to $464. Yeesh.
Lodging: $1,139
Lodging is the most expensive part of Coachella. As I was coming from New York, I didn't want to deal with buying or bringing camping gear, so car camping was not an option — and because I was booking so last minute, the pickings on Airbnb were expensive and very slim. I decided to look at hotel options. Even budget hotels like Holiday Inn Express or Motel 6 were charging $350 or more a night.
After searching Hotel Tonight and other last-minute deals sites for a week, I found a room at a boutique hotel called the Hideaway Hotel in Palm Springs for $379 a night. I booked it for three nights. The hotel costs closer to $200 per night if you book a stay outside of Coachella weekend.
A friend in Burbank agreed to let me crash in her home office for the nights before and after Coachella, saving me more than a few bucks there.
Getty photographer and Pulitzer Prize winner John Moore shared what it's like to take pictures of detained immigrant families at the border.
He has covered the US-Mexico border for a decade, and taken many iconic photos of the scene there over the years.
The one he took of a Honduran girl crying as her mom was questioned at the border won the 2019 World Press Photo of the Year.
"As a father myself, it was very difficult for me to see these families detained, knowing that they would soon be split up," Moore said.
Getty photographer and Pulitzer Prize winner John Moore has taken some of the most iconic photos to emerge from the US-Mexico border, including one of an asylum-seeking young girl crying as Border Patrol agents questioned her mother.
Moore shared what it's like taking pictures of detained immigrant families at the border, many of whom were separated this summer as part of President Donald Trump's "zero tolerance" immigration policy, to Getty's blog Foto in June.
"As a father myself, it was very difficult for me to see these families detained, knowing that they would soon be split up," he said at the time. "I could see on their faces that they had no idea what was about to happen."
The girl and her mother were not separated from each other
After the photo was published in news outlets worldwide, US Customs and Border Protection said Yanela Sanchez and her mother Sandra Sanchez were not separated from each other.
"Our photographs sometimes take on a life of their own later on," he told the paper. "As photojournalists, we can’t always control that narrative."
On June 20, Trump signed an executive order ending his administration's practice of separating migrant families, and later that month, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to reunite migrant children who were separated from their parents.
He was 'almost overcome with emotion' taking the photograph
Moore said he doubted many of the migrant families coming to the border last spring and summer knew about the Trump administration's policy that separated families.
"Most of these families were scared, to various degrees," Moore told Foto in June. "I doubt any of them had ever done anything like this before — flee their home countries with their children, traveling thousands of miles through dangerous conditions to seek political asylum in the United States, many arriving in the dead of night."
Border agents appeared to have a feeling of "resignation" about implementing and enforcing the family separations, according to Moore.
A post shared by John Moore (@jbmoorephoto) on Jun 19, 2018 at 7:29am PDT on
"Generally speaking, agents find the bureaucracy of processing so many asylum seekers tedious," Moore told Foto. "Once families cross the Rio Grande from Mexico into Texas, they seek out Border Patrol agents and then turn themselves in. I'd say that many agents do have some compassion for them, but they don't think that the US should be responsible for accepting them."
In the instance of the young girl crying as her mother was questioned by border patrol agents, Moore said she Yanela was two years old and from Honduras. The mother, Sandra, told him they had been traveling for a month to get to the US border and apply for asylum.
When Sandra set her daughter down so that she could be searched and the young girl began to cry, Moore admitted that he "was almost overcome with emotion myself."
Moore caught up with the Sanchezes in February, and learned that they were detained in three different facilities in Texas for 18 days, then released. Awaiting a court hearing outside Washington, D.C., Sandra can't get a job without a work permit, and she told Moore she hadn't been able to afford an immigration attorney to help with her case.
Insider Pickswrites about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
The new Trtl Pillow Plus features adjustable support, breathable fabric, and extra cushioning.
I used to be one of those people who scoffed at travel pillows. Frankly, they look ridiculous, especially when people wear them around the airport, walking around with a miniature life preserver around their necks. The thing is, they're so bulky that you can't really fit them in your carry-on bag without wasting a ton of space.
Over the past few years, I've done a 180 as I've taken more red-eyes and found the routine that works best for me. In addition to eating dinner in the airport, rather than on the plane, I've started using a travel pillow — the trick is that I position it so it supports my head when I nod forward or to the side. I've also given up on sleeping on most shorter red-eyes, but even if I'm awake the whole time, and least I'll be comfortable!
Instead of using a traditional U-shaped pillow, I've been sticking with the Trtl Pillow, a light and soft fleece wrap that holds a plastic neck support on one side. It looks more like a scarf, but a hidden pocket contains the stiff plastic ribs that provide the support, while the wrap cushions them.
The Trtl is Insider Picks' favorite travel pillow, and an informal survey of my friends shows that we're not alone — I was actually surprised by how many people had heard of the brand, let alone own the pillow. After all, travel pillows aren't quite as flashy as some other product categories.
Building on the original pillow's success, Trtl is back with a brand-new iteration: The Trtl Pillow Plus.
The new Trtl Plus has a similar design to the original — ribs inside a fabric wrap provide support on one side of your neck, allowing you to lean toward your preferred position.
However, it features a number of enhancements over the first version.
The biggest difference is that the ribs on the Trtl Plus are height adjustable. There are two levers on either end of the supports to raise or lower the supports. They work independently of each other so you can raise one end and drop the other, making it easy to customize the fit based on your preference.
The support also has significantly more padding, making it even more comfortable to lean your cheek on as you doze. The wrap's fabric is also more breathable than the fleece from the first pillow, which could get a tad sweaty. Like the original, the Trtl Pillow Plus folds up into a small, easy-to-pack (or carry) package.
I had a chance to test a prototype of the pillow on a recent red-eye flight to Ireland, and found it to be excellent. While I was already a fan of the old model, I definitely preferred the Plus and found it more comfortable.
One of the great aspects of America is that each state is unique. No two are alike, no matter how close they are in geography or even demographics. The same goes for their driving laws and insurance rates.
WalletHub.com took a look at the laws of all 50 states, along with the District of Columbia, to find the best and the worst places in America to get a speeding ticket.
The methodology Wallethub.com used in its study included looking at how states respond to two offenses — speeding and reckless driving — using 12 subcategories, assigning various points to each. The more strict or severe the response, the higher the point value.
For speeding, the subcategories included: the mph over the speed limit where speeding is automatically considered reckless driving, the type of speed limit, the average increase in cost of insurance after one speeding ticket, the laws in place prohibiting racing on highways, whether the state uses automatic speed cameras, whether the state has additional penalties for aggressive driving, and how much speeding tickets count toward a suspension.
In terms of reckless driving, the categories were: mandatory license suspension for a first conviction, minimum jail time for a first conviction, maximum fine for a first conviction, minimum jail time for a second conviction, and maximum fine for a second conviction.
The study returned some interesting results. Texas finished 51st as the most lenient state in the US, and Delaware finished as the strictest state. According to the study, 42% of states and Washington, DC, use speed cameras to catch speeders. The study also found that the average maximum cost of reckless driving tickets in the US is $845, with the cheapest being $100 in states such as Kentucky, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Ohio. The most expensive maximum fine for reckless driving is approximately $6,250 in Oregon.
However, these figures pale in comparison to the $40.4 billion in economic cost to society caused by speeding-related crashes.
According to WalletHub.com, its study used data from its own research as well as from the US Department of Transportation, Department of Motor Vehicles, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Here's a closer look at how US states and Washington, DC, react to speeding and reckless driving, from the most lenient to the most strict:
The shrinking middle class among millennials worldwide means that millennials won't have the same opportunities as their parents, according to Partington.
This can be seen in homebuying trends — unlike their parents, American millennials are renting longer and buying later because of a more expensive real estate market.
According to the OECD, the middle class and its influence have gotten smaller in 40 countries for every generation since baby boomers, and the living standards of the middle class have lowered in the past 30 years, Partington wrote. The OECD's analysis included the 36 nations it's comprised of, plus South Africa, China, Russia, and Brazil.
About 60% of millennials are middle class, compared to 70% of baby boomers at their age, he said, citing data from the OECD.
The middle class is particularly shrinking in the US — middle-income Americans represented about 61% of the country in 1971, but only 52% of American adults were classified as middle-income in 2016, reported Business Insider's Katie Warren, citing data from the Pew Research Center.
And Americans know it — just less than half said they were middle class in 2014, while more than half said they were middle class in 2008, according toPew.
The Pew Research Center defines the US middle class as people earning two-thirds to twice the median household income, which was $60,336 in 2017, meaning middle-class Americans were earning about $40,425 to $120,672. But that number shifts as it's broken down by state and even by city.
About a quarter of American millennials earning $100,000 a year or more consider themselves below middle class — nearly 7% think they're poor, and almost 20% think they're working class, according to an INSIDER and Morning Consult survey. Of those who responded, about 38% of millennials earning $100,000 a year or more think they're middle class, and 23% think they're upper middle class.
Millennials don't have the same opportunities as their parents
But, as the OECD's findings show, the disappearing middle class is a worldwide trend. "The snapshot of modern life for middle class households around the world suggests that younger generations are increasingly being denied similar opportunities to their parents," Partington reported.
The ability to buy a home is one of the main things millennials can't do that their parents did. Homes are 39% more expensive than they were nearly 40 years ago, according to Student Loan Hero. A report by SmartAsset found that in some cities, the average home outweighed the average income by so much that it could take nearly a decade to save for a 20% down payment.
While millennials have benefited from a 67% rise in wages since 1970, according to Student Loan Hero, this increase hasn't kept up with inflating living costs: Rent, home prices, and college tuition have all increased faster than incomes in the US.
Ultimately, high costs of living, along with effects of the Great Recession, have made it harder for millennials to save and build wealth.