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How to record your screen on a Samsung Galaxy S10, for recording any third-party app through the Game Launcher

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Samsung S10 Smartphone

The iPhone famously has a built-in screen recording feature, making it easy to capture all the action happening on your iPhone's display. 

If you have a Galaxy S10, there's no need to be jealous (for the most part); there's a screen recorder built into the Galaxy S10 as well, though it's not well known. You can use it to make video recordings of any third-party games or apps on your phone. 

The screen recorder is built into the Game Launcher and is designed to let you record gameplay within games, but it can record in any app that you can add to the Game Launcher. 

Because of that, it has an important limitation. You can only record video within third party apps, so you can't record built-in apps or action on the Home screen. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Samsung Galaxy S10 (From $899.99 at Best Buy)

How to screen record on the SamsungGalaxy S10

1. Start the Game Launcher app.

2. Drag the Library up from the bottom of the screen. You should see all the games currently in the library.

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3. Tap the three dots at the top right of the Library window and then tap "Add apps."

record 2

4. In the list of third-party apps installed on the phone, tap the apps you want to record and then tap "Add."

5. Start the app you want to record by tapping its icon in the Game Launcher Library.

6. Tap the Game Tools button in the lower left corner of the screen. 

7. Tap "Record."

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8. You're now recording your screen. When you're done recording, tap the Stop button in the lower right corner of the screen.

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How to change the audio settings for screen recordings

By default, the Game Tools recorder uses the audio from your microphone to record sound for the video. That means it will pick up some sound from your phone's speakers – capturing whatever sound the app is making – as well as ambient audio, so you can narrate to the phone's microphone. 

If you prefer to only capture audio from the app, here is how:

1. Start the Game Launcher app.

2. Start the app you want to record by tapping its icon in the Game Launcher Library.

3. Tap the Game Tools button in the lower left corner of the screen. 

4. Tap the gear-shaped icon at the top right of the Game Tools pop-up window. 

5. In the Game Tools settings screen, tap "Record."

6. In the Audio source section, tap "Game."

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How to find your recorded video

As soon as you stop recording, you'll briefly see a "Watch recorded video" appear near the bottom of the screen. Tap it to go directly to the video. 

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You can also find your saved videos in the Gallery app, along with your other photos and videos.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: We compared Samsung's Galaxy S10 and the Galaxy S10+ to determine which phone you should buy

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NOW WATCH: Jeff Bezos is worth over $160 billion — here's how the world's richest man makes and spends his money


Bugattis in Switzerland, yacht trips to Montenegro, and $50,000 watches: Take a look at how the 'Rich Kids of Instagram' are spending their summers

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With five years under its belt, the "Rich Kids of Instagram" Instagram— now renamed Rich Kids of the Internet — is still at it, curating photos of the lifestyles of the wealthy.

It's August and those featured on the blog are deep into their summertime celebrations — complete with private jets, luxury cars, and beach vacations.

Read more: These are the 15 hottest destinations billionaires are traveling to in 2019

Take a look at what the "Rich Kids" are up to during the summer so far. All featured photos are from users who have been featured on the "Rich Kids of the Internet" Instagram account.

Sarah Jacobs contributed to an earlier version of this post.

SEE ALSO: Snap CEO Evan Spiegel and supermodel Miranda Kerr are honeymooning on a luxurious island in Fiji

Last summer, many of the RKOI had their fun in the sun. Ibiza, the island off the coast of Spain that's gained notoriety as the home of 24-hour clubs and wild beach parties, was one of their destinations ...

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Read more: I visited Ibiza, home of legendary 24-hour clubs — but the island's hidden gems are far away from the glitz and glam

 



... as was Monte Carlo, the gambling spot of choice for the world's high rollers.

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Source: Business Insider



They also made time for must-see summer events, like the Royal Ascot in England.

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But if the RKOI Instagram account — which has 364,000 followers — is any indication, the summer of 2019 is just as extravagant.

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Some of the Rich Kids are waking up in Dubai, which has cemented its status in the world of high-end travel with the world's most luxurious hotel, the $1 billion Burj Al Arab (not pictured).

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Source: Business Insider



Others are waking up with breakfast by the pool.

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Plenty are spending time out on the water, whether yacht-side in Perast, an old, coastal town in Montenegro that's been described as a "chunk of Venice" ...

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Source: Lonely Planet



... or Jacuzzi-side in Mykonos, the glittering Greek island that's been described as the vacation spot of choice for billionaires.

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Source: Business Insider



And no summer would be complete for the RKOI without a classic pool shot — like this one in Positano, the colorful, Instagram-famous town on Italy's Amalfi coast.

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Source: Business Insider



Celebrities make their appearance on the account, too. Christian Combs, son of Sean Combs, seems to prefer to hit the water via jet ski.

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Meanwhile, Tyga stays dry with his Louis Vuitton duffel.

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Summer vacation isn't complete without a few lavish trips around the world, like to Montenegro, a tiny European country that's been called "the next French Riviera."

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Source: Business Insider



Portofino, Italy, is also a hot spot for the Rich Kids.

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And so is Switzerland, where @alexandremourreau is exploring via Bugatti.

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Some of the Rich Kids get around via the luxury of a private jet.

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Others have the luxury of their own personal plane, like the four-seater Diamond DA40.

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Meanwhile, others are shopping luxury brands until they drop, whether that's Gucci ...

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... or German luxury watchmaker A. Lange & Söhne, whose timepiece line can exceed $50,000.

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Source: Chrono 24



21 outlandish conspiracy theories Donald Trump has floated over the years

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After financier and alleged sex offender Jeffrey Epstein reportedly killed himself in a Manhattan jail cell, social media was ablaze with conspiracy theories offering alternative explanations for his death. Then President Donald Trump doused gasoline onto the flames.

He retweeted a video from a conservative comedian making a baseless assertion that former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton killed Epstein.

But this certainly was not the first debunked or unverified conspiracy theory Trump has entertained during his time in the political spotlight.

Throughout his presidency, on the campaign trail, and even in the years prior, Trump has floated theories fueled by the conspiratorial-minded corners of supermarket tabloids and the internet, something unprecedented in modern politics. He's often used them as weapons against his opponents.

Here are some of the most notable conspiracy theories Trump has entertained:

SEE ALSO: 19 photos of Trump discovering his inner child

Questions about Ted Cruz's father's potential ties to President John F. Kennedy's assassin.

On the eve of the Indiana primary in 2016, Trump attempted to undermine former Republican presidential rival Ted Cruz's father's legitimacy by parroting an unverified National Enquirer story.

It claimed Rafael Cruz was photographed in the early 1960s handing out pro-Fidel Castro leaflets with President John F. Kennedy's assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald.

The Cruz campaign denounced the piece as "garbage."



Questions about President Obama's birth certificate.

While mulling a potential 2012 presidential bid, Trump became the most high-profile figure to promote the rumors suggesting that President Obama was not born in the US.

Trump claimed he'd deployed private investigators who "could not believe what they're finding" about Obama's place of birth.

He also repeatedly clashed with reporters who pushed him on the issue. During one contentious interview, he told ABC's George Stephanopoulos that he'd been "co-opted" by "Obama and his minions" when the anchor tried to push back on Trump's claims.

When Obama eventually released his long-form birth certificate, Trump questioned the document's authenticity

Trump has since continued to push the conspiracy theory in recent months during his presidency, according to advisors who spoke with The New York Times. One sitting US senator echoed these reports.

"[Trump] has had a hard time letting go of his claim that Mr. Obama was not born in the United States," the senator told The Times.



Questions about a former Bill Clinton aide's suicide.

After Vince Foster, a former aide to President Bill Clinton, was found dead in 1993, various law-enforcement agencies and independent counsels determined he committed suicide.

But Foster's death spawned conspiracy theorists who questioned whether the Clintons themselves were involved in Foster's death.

In an interview with the Washington Post, Trump suggested Foster's death was "very fishy."

"He had intimate knowledge of what was going on," Trump said of Foster's role in the White House. "He knew everything that was going on, and then all of a sudden he committed suicide."

He added: "I don't bring [Foster's death] up because I don't know enough to really discuss it. I will say there are people who continue to bring it up because they think it was absolutely a murder. I don't do that because I don't think it's fair."



Questions about whether Syrian refugees are ISIS terrorists.

Trump has, in part, justified his plan to temporarily bar Muslim immigrants from entering the US by claiming that refugees coming from Syria "could be a Trojan horse."

"It could be one of the greatest coups of all time," Trump told Fox News' Sean Hannity in 2015. "They could be ISIS. It could be a plot. I mean, I don't want to think in terms of conspiracy, but it could be a plot."

But the process for vetting refugees typically lasts 18 to 24 months, and immigration experts maintain it is one of the most difficult ways for terrorists to attempt to enter the US legally.

"It is extremely unlikely that someone who is a terrorist will be sent through the refugee resettlement program," Greg Chen, the director of advocacy at the American Immigration Lawyers Association, told Business Insider.

He added: "It takes a great deal of time, and it wouldn't make sense for someone who is a terrorist for someone to go through that process. There are going to be easier ways for a terrorist to try to infiltrate, rather than going through the refugee resettlement program."



Questions about whether an ISIS-linked terrorist attempted to charge at Trump on stage.

After an attendee at Trump's March 2016 rally in Dayton, Ohio, attempted to charge the stage, Trump claimed a video he retweeted proved the attendee was a terrorist linked to ISIS.

"He was playing Arabic music. He was dragging the flag along the ground, and he had internet chatter with ISIS and about ISIS. So I don't know if he was or not," Trump said. "But all we did was put out what he had on his internet. He's dragging the flag, the American flag, which I respect obviously more than you."

He added: "What do I know about it? All I know is what's on the internet. And I don't like to see a man dragging the American flag along the ground in a mocking fashion."

Multiple news outlets and fact-checkers debunked the video's authenticity. No government agency has said the man was connected to ISIS or other terrorist groups.



Questions about Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia's death.

Law enforcement determined there was no evidence of foul play in Justice Antonin Scalia's sudden death in 2016.

Asked about the circumstances of Scalia's death, Trump said he was unsure about what caused Scalia's death. Trump noted a pillow was found over the justice's face, a claim authorities rebutted.

"I'm hearing it's a big topic," Trump said in a radio interview. "It's a horrible topic but they're saying they found the pillow on his face, which is a pretty unusual place to find a pillow."

He added: "I can't give you an answer. It's just starting to come out now."



Questions about whether childhood vaccines cause autism.

At a Republican presidential debate in 2016, CNN host Jake Tapper asked Trump about his position that vaccines can cause autism.

"We had so many instances, people that work for me, just the other day, 2 years old, a beautiful child, went to have the vaccine and came back and a week later got a tremendous fever, got very, very sick, now is autistic," Trump said.

Shortly after Trump's assertion, former presidential candidate and neurosurgeon Ben Carson corrected the real-estate mogul, pointing out that overwhelming medical evidence suggests that there's no link between autism and vaccines.

A 2013 study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found no connection between vaccines and an increased risk of autism.



Questions about whether Muslims in New Jersey were cheering after 9/11.

Trump emphatically claimed he saw televised news reports of Muslims cheering in New Jersey after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

"There were people that were cheering on the other side of New Jersey, where you have large Arab populations. They were cheering as the World Trade Center came down," Trump said during an ABC interview.

He added: "I know it might be not politically correct for you to talk about it, but there were people cheering as that building came down — as those buildings came down. And that tells you something. It was well-covered at the time."

However, there is no evidence to suggest there were any American celebrations aired on television following the attacks. Some media reports at the time cited rumors of celebrations in New Jersey. But reports were never substantiated, and there's no evidence these protests were broadcast on national television.



Questions about whether wives of 9/11 hijackers fled to Saudi Arabia before the attacks.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee repeatedly stated last year that the terrorists who carried out the September 11, 2001, attacks moved their families out of the US to Saudi Arabia several days before the hijacking.

"When you had the World Trade Center go, people were put into planes that were friends, family, girlfriends, and they were put into planes and they were sent back, for the most part, to Saudi Arabia," Trump said. "They knew what was going on. They went home and they wanted to watch their boyfriends on television."

The 9/11 commission report, the most extensive investigation into the events surrounding the attacks, determined that few of the hijackers kept in contact with their families, and none had family members living in the US.

PolitiFact also called the claim false.



Questions about the legitimacy of climate change.

Though many Republican leaders remain skeptical of climate change, Trump has taken his skepticism a step further. In 2012 he suggested that climate change is a "total, and very expensive hoax" perpetuated by China's government.

"The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive," Trump tweeted in 2012.

Trump backed off the tweet, telling Fox News that his comment was a "joke." Still, the real-estate mogul has repeatedly maintained that climate change was a hoax, and said climate-change studies are "done for the benefit of China."

According to NASA, 97% of publishing climate scientists believe that human activities such as burning of fossil fuels have caused climate change.



Questions about whether asbestos is a "great con."

In a 1992 interview with New York magazine, Trump suggested the mob's "strong lobby" in New York may be responsible for asbestos.

"One of the great cons is asbestos," Trump said. "There's nothing wrong except the mob has a strong lobby in Albany because they have the dumps and control the truck."

Trump has more recently embraced the reality.

Last year, the real-estate mogul cited how he increased the valuation of one of his properties by millions after embarking on a massive asbestos-removal operation.



Questions about Marco Rubio's presidential eligibility.

Trump has a long history of speculating whether potential presidential rivals are constitutionally eligible to serve.

In February 2016, the former reality-TV star retweeted a supporter who claimed Rubio was ineligible to run because his parents were not natural-born US citizens, a claim that no major constitutional experts support.

When confronted on ABC's "This Week" about whether he believed Rubio was not constitutionally permitted to occupy the presidency, Trump, whose mother was born in Scotland, refused to disavow the tweet.

"I've never looked at it, George," Trump said of the tweet. "I honestly have never looked at it. As somebody said, he's not. And I retweeted it. I have 14 million people between Twitter and Facebook and Instagram, and I retweet things and we start dialogue and it's very interesting."

He added: "I'm not sure. Let people make their own determination."



Questions about Fox News being owned by a Saudi billionaire.

Trump's war with Fox News' Megyn Kelly recently reached a detente.

But during the peak of Trump's rhetorical battle with Kelly, he perpetuated a prominent outlandish theory from one of his Twitter followers.

In January 2016, the real-estate mogul retweeted a photo purportedly showing Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal with Kelly. The photo claimed the prince was a partial Fox News owner, which multiple outlets found was untrue. Alwaleed's investment company owns a small share of 21st Century Fox.



Questions about the legitimacy of the "Access Hollywood" tape.

Toward the tail end of his presidential campaign, the 2005 "Access Hollywood" tape featuring Trump apparently admitting that he likes to grab women "by the p----" received broad coverage, and Trump apologized for his comments shortly afterward.

More recently though, after various allegations of sexual harassment in media and politics have begun to surface, Trump has walked back these comments.

"We don't think that was my voice," Trump reportedly told a senator, according to The New York Tiimes.

The Times' sources did not elaborate on why Trump has begun to doubt the authenticity of the tape's audio.



Claims that Joe Scarborough killed one of his interns.

In a tweet Trump sent in November 2017, he made references to a conspiracy theory that claims MSNBC anchor Joe Scarborough of "Morning Joe" murdered one of his staffers in Florida in 2001.

"So now that Matt Lauer is gone when will the Fake News practitioners at NBC be terminating the contract of Phil Griffin?" the tweet read. "And will they terminate low ratings Joe Scarborough based on the 'unsolved mystery' that took place in Florida years ago? Investigate!"

While Scarborough was serving as a Republican congressman in Florida's 1st district, one of his interns, Lori Klausutis, was found dead in the office. A coroner found no evidence of foul play, and indicated that the death occurred because of a heart problem that caused the intern to fatally hit her head on her desk.



Claims that Obama had wiretapped Trump's phone.

In March 2017, Trump sent a tweet accusing Obama of wiretapping his phones in Trump Tower.

"Terrible!" Trump wrote, "Just found out that Obama had my 'wires tapped' in Trump Tower just before the victory. Nothing found. This is McCarthyism!"

PolitiFact and other outlets have debunked the claim. An Obama spokesman also issued a response to the allegation, saying: "Neither Barack Obama nor any White House official under Obama ever ordered surveillance of any U.S. citizen."



Claims that voter fraud in the 2016 election cost him the popular vote.

In a tweet sent shortly after the November 2016 election, Trump wrote: "In addition to winning the Electoral College in a landslide, I won the popular vote if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally."

This unsubstantiated claim was repeated by Kris Kobach, the chairman of Trump's panel on voter fraud, in July. The fact-checking site Snopes has debunked the claim entirely, citing "zero evidence."



Retweeting anti-Muslim conspiracy videos.

In November 2017, Trump caused diplomatic havoc by retweeting three videos posted by Jayda Fransen of the ultra-nationalist, anti-Muslim organization Britain First that purportedly showed Muslims in Europe committing crimes and destroying Christian icons.

Britain First has frequently targeted mosques and Muslims in the UK in order to brand all Muslims as violent extremists, and Trump's retweet of the videos was widely seen as a tacit endorsement of the group's efforts.

Although the authenticity of the videos has been called into question, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders has maintained this doesn't matter.

"Whether it's a real video, the threat is real," she told reporters.



Claims 3,000 people didn't die in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria and that Democrats inflated the death toll.

In a September 2018 tweet, Trump claimed 3,000 people didn't die in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria and accused Democrats of inflating the death toll to make him "look as bad as possible," rejecting the findings of a government-funded study in the process.  

"3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico," he said. "When I left the Island, AFTER the storm had hit, they had anywhere from 6 to 18 deaths. As time went by it did not go up by much. Then, a long time later, they started to report really large numbers, like 3000…"

He then added: "This was done by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible when I was successfully raising Billions of Dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico. If a person died for any reason, like old age, just add them onto the list. Bad politics. I love Puerto Rico!"

A study commissioned by the Puerto Rico government that was released in August found that 2,975 people died in the wake of the storm.

Trump has been widely criticized for his response to Hurricane Maria, particularly by San Juan Mayor Carmin Yulín Cruz.

In response to Trump's claims on Thursday, Cruz tweeted, "This is what denial following neglect looks like: Mr Pres in the real world people died on your watch. YOUR LACK OF RESPECT IS APPALLING!"



Claims windmills cause cancer

In April 2019 Trump railed against wind power and claimed the noise fron windmills causes cancer.

If you have a windmill anywhere near your house, congratulations, your house just went down 75 percent in value," Trump said at a Republican congressional fundraising dinner. "And they say the noise causes cancer."

Iowa's two Republican senators, Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, called his remarks "idiotic" and "ridiculous," respectively.  

A 2014 report for the National Institutes of Health concluded while wind farms could cause disrupt a person's sleep or induce headaches, its negative impact health doesn't go beyond that.

"The weight of evidence suggests that when sited properly, wind turbines are not related to adverse health," the researchers wrote.



Claims the Clintons killed Jeffrey Epstein

In August 2019, Trump promoted a baseless conspiracy theory on his Twitter account connecting former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the death of financier and alleged sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Trump retweeted a video from conservative comedian Terrence Williams, who claimed without any evidence the Clintons were responsible for killing Epstein. The multimillionaire reportedly killed himself in a Manhattan jail cell in early August.

Law enforcement officials are investigating Epstein's death, but none have suggested so far there was foul play, much less allege political figures were involved.

Maxwell Tani contributed reporting.

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Here's what the average person spends on dining out in every state

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Whether it be grabbing a sandwich on your lunch break or sitting down at a restaurant for dinner, Americans love dining out. In fact, Americans eat out 5.9 times a week on average — and it can get costly. 

Business Insider's data team examined the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis to find out how much people spend, on average, on eating out every year. We compared that data to Foursquare's data, which shows how much a typical menu item costs in each state. 

Keep reading to find out if you're spending more or less on dining than the rest of the people in your state. 

People in Alabama spend $2,069 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $10.06



People in Alaska spend $3,572 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $11.99



People in Arizona spend $2,795 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $10.10



People in Arkansas spend $1,971 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $9.47



People in California spend $3,295 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $11.03



People in Colorado spend $3,387 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $10.26



People in Connecticut spend $2,663 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $10.92



People in Delaware spend $2,808 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $10.96



People in Florida spend $3,253 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $11.10



People in Georgia spend $2,462 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $10.57



People in Hawaii spend $2,556 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $13.00



People in Idaho spend $2,219 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $9.98



People in Illinois spend $2,782 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $10.85



People in Indiana spend $2,241 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $10.02



People in Iowa spend $2,117 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $9.74



People in Kansas spend $2,167 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $10.04



People in Kentucky spend $2,286 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $10.38



People in Louisiana spend $2,644 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $10.77



People in Maine spend $2,932 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $10.02



People in Maryland spend $2,888 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $11.18



People in Massachusetts spend $3,505 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $10.72



People in Michigan spend $2,288 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $8.82



People in Minnesota spend $2,646 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $10.69



People in Mississippi spend $1,973 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $10.33



People in Missouri spend $2,547 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $9.92



People in Montana spend $2,966 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $10.42



People in Nebraska spend $2,280 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $10.13



People in Nevada spend $1,782 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $12.82



People in New Hampshire spend $2,850 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $10.75



People in New Jersey spend $2,351 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $10.31



People in New Mexico spend $2,560 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $10.03



People in New York spend $3,470 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $12.00



People in North Carolina spend $2,415 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $9.98



People in North Dakota spend $2,856 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $9.74



People in Ohio spend $2,408 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $10.15



People in Oklahoma spend $2,320 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $9.99



People in Oregon spend $2,878 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $10.53



People in Pennsylvania spend $2,431 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $10.55



People in Rhode Island spend $3,262 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $10.62



People in South Carolina spend $2,601 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $10.31



People in South Dakota spend $2,608 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $10.23



People in Tennessee spend $2,515 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $10.03



People in Texas spend $2,656 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $10.78



People in Utah spend $2,206 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $9.33



People in Vermont spend $3,185 per year, on average, on dining out.

By comparison, people who live in New England spend $3,159 per year on eating out. 



People in Virginia spend $2,788 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $10.23



People in Washington spend $2,818 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $11.23



People in West Virginia spend $2,386 per year, on average, on dining out.

By comparison, people who live in the Mideast spend $2,918 per year on eating out. 

 



People in Wisconsin spend $2,271 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $9.74



People in Wyoming spend $3,399 per year, on average, on dining out.

Average menu price: $8.98



Plant delivery startup The Sill makes it easy to learn about which plants are right for your home — here's how it works

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  • Even if you live in a city hours away from the nearest forest, you can still enjoy the benefits of nature by bringing a houseplant into your life. 
  • The Sill is an online company that sells a wide variety of affordable indoor houseplants and delivers them to aspiring green thumbs in the continental US. 
  • I ordered a few plants from the informative, user-friendly site and loved the experience.
  • The site makes it easy to find a plant to fit your needs, preferences, and home conditions, plus the proper support to help it thrive. 

After living in all types of cities, including ones with evergreen trees lining every path and, on the other end of the spectrum, concrete jungles where parks are cherished respites, I've discovered I really like being near greenery. So, too, do my friends and peers. 

Whether for their aesthetic value, their tactile immediacy that social media and the internet can't offer, or our desire to care for something that doesn't require as much commitment as a pet or child, plants are the latest trend to grip millennial consumers.

In the age of online shopping, companies like The Sill are making it easy to order and take care of these delightful succulents, vines, and ferns. The Sill has been especially successful, experiencing 400% year-over-year revenue growth and making 50,000 deliveries across the continental US in 2018. 

The Sill launched in 2012 to help city-dwelling millennials who don't have access to traditional garden centers or the time and space to dive into full-on gardening enjoy the benefits of indoor houseplants. It knows that we like having something green in front of us, but we also want the whole process of obtaining and keeping the green thing alive to be convenient and affordable. 

It has physical stores in New York and Los Angeles, where you can take fun monthly workshops, but you don't have to live in these cities to bring some houseplants home. We tried out The Sill's online experience so you know what to expect. 

the sill houseplant delivery 4

Here's what you'll find on The Sill

The Sill sells a variety of indoor plants, shoppable by size, light required, and collection (e.g. for beginners, pet-friendly). You can also shop all plants ($5-$115.50) for a virtual garden of all types of plants, from the jagged and restless Calathea Rattlesnake ($44.50) to the nearly-impossible-to-kill Zanzibar Gem ($56). 

Some come in planters, which are made from either plastic or earthenware and will increase the total cost of the item, while others come un-potted. 

On each plant's product page, you can learn about the brightness, sun exposure, water, and humidity required to take care of it, as well as a brief "bio" about its origins. With this information on hand, you can pick out a plant that you can realistically take care of, not just the one that looks the prettiest. 

If you like the consistency of subscriptions, the company also offers $35 subscriptions, which delivers one potted plant to your door every month. 

The Sill ships to the contiguous 48 states, with free shipping on orders over $75. Otherwise, you'll pay a $10 flat-rate fee for standard 5-7 day shipping. 

Once you have your plant, there's a plant care resource center filled with helpful care tips, DIY ideas, and educational articles to support your emerging green thumb. 

the sill houseplant delivery 5

We ordered a few plants from The Sill— here's how it worked

I picked out three small plants to grace my apartment windowsill: 

Although I've ordered plants online before from another service called Leon & George, I still err on the concerned side about how these small plants would travel. 

They arrived together in one box at my door, packed in paper bags and wrapped in an additional protective layer of bubble wrap:  

the sill houseplant delivery

Despite their trip in a box that had shown up turned on its side, they emerged unscathed and with little mess. A layer of dry moss packed around each plant helped prevent soil from spilling everywhere. 

the sill houseplant delivery 2

They looked and felt healthy, and with the enclosed care instructions, I planned to keep them that way. So far (knock on wood), they've held up well. 

The bottom line

I'm still fairly new to the world of houseplants, but I liked that The Sill offered a large variety to choose and mix and match from. I didn't have to deal with transporting the plants back home, and once they did find their place by my window, I felt confident enough to care for them. 

More than just ship you beautiful, low-maintenance plants, The Sill is inspiring a generation of shoppers to get in touch with the natural world and showing them the benefits of plant care. If you're looking for affordable indoor houseplants and the support and information you'll need to make the most of the experience, I recommend trying out The Sill.

Order indoor houseplants from The Sill here

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The best steering wheel covers you can buy

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  • Steering wheel covers transform a part of your vehicle that you touch constantly, so you'll get a lot of use out of the right cover.
  • The Wheelskins Genuine Leather Steering Wheel Cover is the best one you can buy because it brings comfort, grip, and a stylish look to your car.

The idea of driverless vehicles is gaining a lot of attention, and rightly so. Just think: Because your hands will be free, you'll be able to enjoy that giant drive-thru triple cheeseburger with both hands without having to try to steer the car with your knees.

However, the driverless car is also a technology that's still several years away, so you'll be steering your own car for the foreseeable future … and settling for single cheeseburgers you can eat one-handed.

Until the car steers itself, to make gripping and using the steering wheel in your car more comfortable, a steering wheel cover is a smart purchase.

These covers don't cost a lot, especially compared to the price of most add-ons and parts for your car. They also keep the steering wheel cooler to the touch in the summer and warmer to the touch in the winter, plus, covers are great for personalization.

The best thing about steering wheel covers is that they're appropriate for any vehicle and any style of driver. Whether you want a cover that's stylish, provides a sturdy grip, or gives your car a whimsical feel, we've found the best steering wheel covers you can buy.

Here are the best steering wheel covers you can buy:

Updated on 08/12/2019 by Les Shu: Updated prices, links, and formatting.

The best steering wheel cover overall

Wheelskins' great-looking steering wheel cover is available in a dozen color options and adds a sense of style to any vehicle's interior.

The Wheelskins Original Genuine Leather Steering Wheel Cover is a high-quality and durable car accessory that's a good investment.

The genuine leather cover adds a sense of style and luxury to your car, while also improving your grip on the steering wheel. It has a sophisticated look and feel.

Wheelskins calls it a universal steering wheel cover, so it should fit most cars. The company says the outside steering wheel diameter should be 14-1/2 to 15-1/2 inches, while the grip circumference should be 3-5/8 to 3-7/8 inches.

As with any steering wheel cover, the leather can be difficult to stretch to fit properly over the wheel. Amazon reviewer Walter Bowser says it took him a while to tackle the task, so we recommend you set aside an hour or more to install the cover.

Even though it can be hard to put on the wheel, once this cover is in place, reviewers love it. Amazon shopper DocDenver appreciates the way the leather steering wheel makes driving more comfortable. The leather material feels great, especially on extended car trips, and it makes it easier to grip the steering wheel for long periods of time.

Pros: Stylish leather construction, a dozen different color options, good value and durability over time, very comfortable feel

Cons: More expensive than some other steering wheel cover materials, installation is time-consuming



The best odorless steering wheel cover

Vitodeco's Luxury Leather Steering Wheel Cover doesn't have an odor to it, which is especially nice inside an enclosed vehicle.

When there's a strange odor inside a car, whether it's fast food or the sweaty workout clothes from the gym, it seems like it's trapped inside the vehicle for weeks … hence the popularity of the tree-shaped air fresheners hanging from the rear-view mirror.

So when selecting a steering wheel cover, go with one that doesn't add to the odor of the closed atmosphere of the car. The Vitodeco Luxury Genuine Leather Steering Wheel Cover is odorless, thanks to the high-quality leather construction.

The color selection is more limited than our top pick, but you can get basics like black, gray, beige, and brown. The cover does come in small, standard, and large sizes, so you should be able to find one that will fit your vehicle.

V Best Reviews likes how the Vitodeco cover is easier to install than some other options, and it also has a dragon scale pattern on the surface of the cover to enhance your grip. Amazon reviewer Enrique also loves the added grip this steering wheel cover provides, as well as its stylish design.

Pros: Leather material doesn't give off an odor, thick and durable steering wheel cover design, installation is easier than with some others

Cons: Limited number of colors available, and they may not match your steering wheel very accurately



The best colorful steering wheel cover

Forget about trying to match the color of your current steering wheel and add a fun, colorful pattern with the A-Lightning cloth steering wheel cover.

If a dull colored steering wheel doesn't match your personal sense of style, the A-Lighting Cloth Steering Wheel Cover is the perfect alternative. This cover features fun colors in a cool geometric pattern, giving it a far different look than traditional steering wheel covers.

The A-Lighting cover is cheaper than some other options, mainly because it's made from woven flax cloth, but it still offers good grip. The cloth absorbs sweat from the hands nicely, according to Top Ten Review Pro, so the steering wheel won't slip in your hand. It should fit steering wheels that are 14.5 inches in diameter.

Amazon shoppers love this steering wheel for its fun design and pop of color. One reviewer named Robin Taylor says this cover is easy to install, and it doesn't gve off a bad odor in the vehicle.

Pros: Great mix of colorful patterns in the cloth, absorbs sweat to prevent a slick steering wheel, quite a bit different than most steering wheel covers

Cons: Doesn't match your current steering wheel color, doesn't provide the durability of a leather steering wheel cover



The best steering wheel cover for grip

With a PVC leather material and a weaved pattern along the edges, you'll easily maintain a sturdy grip on the steering wheel with Moyishi's cover.

The Moyishi Leather Steering Wheel Cover has an impressive woven leather design along the edges to help you easily maintain your grip on the steering wheel at all times. The texture in the weaved pattern makes this cover comfortable to use for long driving sessions.

The weaving in the PVC leather looks great and it will last a long time. Amazon shopper FFI Guy says the installation process was easier than with some other wheel covers, too, so it should be an easy task to handle. It should fit most steering wheels that fall between 14.5 inches to 15.25 inches in diameter.

Matching the color of the Moyishi cover to your current steering wheel cover should be an easy process, thanks to the many color choices. When the color matches, this cover will look like it was installed at the factory.

Amazon reviewer Norm DePlume says this cover didn't create an odor in the vehicle, but the coating on the PVC leather caused his hands to dry out uncomfortably.

Pros: Weaved pattern provides a good grip on the steering wheel, offered in multiple colors to match your current steering wheel, doesn't have an odor

Cons: PVC leather material may cause some skin irritation, durability is questionable



The best affordable steering wheel cover

SEG Direct's microfiber leather steering wheel cover looks like it should be expensive, but it's quite affordable.

When you want to save some money on a steering wheel cover, but you still want it to look amazing, you need the SEG Direct Microfiber Leather Steering Wheel Cover. It looks like it should be expensive, but it's surprisingly affordable.

It's made from a microfiber material, so it doesn't have the durability of more expensive leather steering wheel covers. However, the microfiber is very soft and offers decent grip. You can get it in several colors, too, so you can find one that suits your car's color scheme.

Amazon reviewer Jordan F says the SEG Direct cover installs faster than some leather covers, and it resists high temperatures nicely. It should fit most steering wheels with a diameter between 14 1/2 inches and 15 inches.

This cover will make a significant difference in the comfort you have while driving, according to Amazon shopper Andrew Hodgson.

Pros: Low price point versus others, provides a soft and comfortable feel for the driver, doesn't heat up when exposed to the sun

Cons: Not as durable as more expensive covers, may not perfectly match your steering wheel's color



How to choose a steering wheel cover

Steering wheel cover materials

As Car Outfitter explains, the three most common materials in use for steering wheel covers are leather, cowhide, and synthetic materials. Some covers will use cloth, too.

  • Leather covers are high quality and very durable. They naturally give the driver a good grip, too. You may have to sew the cover on for a perfect fit.
  • Synthetic materials like microfiber, rubber, polyester, or a blend are often cheaper alternatives to leather, but some of them can give off strong smells.
  • Cloth covers are the thinnest and they come in many colors and fun patterns. They're also easiest to apply to your steering wheel.

How to ensure a good fit with a steering wheel cover

One other consideration is the fit of the steering wheel cover. These covers need to fit tightly, or the wheel could slip in your hands when you're trying to turn a corner, and that could be catastrophic.

Even properly fitting steering wheel covers are difficult to stretch over the wheel, so buying a cover that's the wrong size for your car's steering wheel will magnify this problem and may cause tearing.

It Still Runs says you should measure the diameter of the steering wheel  — one outer edge to the opposite outer edge — as well as the circumference of the grip by wrapping the tape measure around the grip on the wheel, just like you'd wrap your hand around the grip while holding the wheel.



How to turn off read receipts for messages on your Samsung Galaxy phone

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Samsung Galaxy Note 9

  • You can turn off read receipts on a SamsungGalaxy phone from the settings menu in the Messages app.
  • Read receipts notify you when text messages are received and read by their recipients, and also allows other people to know when you have received and read messages. 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Read receipts are a great way to know when someone has received and read your text messages, but they're a double-edged sword – not only can it be annoying to get frequent notifications that your messages are read, but you also might not want other people to know if you have received or read their messages. 

Ordinary SMS text messages only have the ability to send notifications about the delivery of the message, while MMS multimedia messages can also inform the sender when the message has been opened and read. 

If you prefer to disable some or all of these read receipts, they are easy to turn off.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Samsung Galaxy S10 (From $899.99 at Best Buy)

How to turn off read receipts on a SamsungGalaxy

1. Start the Messages app.

2. Tap the three dots to open the pop-up menu.

receipt 1

3. Tap "Settings."

4. In the Messages Settings screen, tap "More settings."

5. Tap "Text messages."

6. Turn off "Delivery reports" by swiping the button to the left.

receipt 2

7. Tap the Back button to go to the previous screen.

8. Tap "Multimedia messages."

9. Turn off "Delivery reports" by swiping the button to the left.

10. Also turn off "Read reports" in the same way. 

receipt 3

After turning these settings off, you will no longer receive read receipts, and anyone you text will not get those notifications either.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: We compared Samsung's Galaxy S10 and the Galaxy S10+ to determine which phone you should buy

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How to blur the background in photos on your iPhone, with or without Portrait Mode

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Portrait mode

  • You can blur the background in photos you take on any iPhone by properly positioning your subject.
  • Starting with the iPhone 7 Plus and 8 Plus, newer iPhones feature a Portrait Mode that automatically focuses on foreground features, and blurs the background, creating studio-quality images.
  • Photo-editing apps can help you blur a photo's background even after it has been taken, and without Portrait Mode.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

There's nothing like a perfectly composed picture to capture the essence of a person or moment in time. Often part of that perfect composition is a foreground subject shown in crisp clarity, and a blurred background that frames the subject, enhancing the photo.

Taking a great photo with a blurred background and crisp subject is easy if you're using a professional grade single lens reflex camera with deep zoom capabilities and a fine-tuned focus ring. Taking such images with an iPhone is a bit harder. 

Because iPhone cameras have a large depth of field, getting that blurry background can be a challenge — unless you know these workarounds.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone Xs (From $999.99 at Best Buy)

How to blur the background in photos on an iPhone

Position your subject close to the lens

If you have an older iPhone, or you don't want to use the Portrait mode option on a newer phone, try simply placing the subject of the image within a foot or so of the lens. 

Usually, the phone's sensor will be forced to choose between the faraway background and the close-up face (or other object). Tap on your subject (on the screen, not in real life) to focus the camera on them.

Keep shifting a bit closer and farther until the subject comes clear and the background blurs.

IMG_5133

Use the iPhone camera app's built-in Portrait Mode

If you have any of the latest iPhones in the X series (X, XR, XS, or XS Max) or an iPhone 7 or 8 Plus, then you have Portrait Mode. 

Open the camera app and swipe right to PORTRAIT, then position your subject within two to eight feet from the lens, making sure the background is at least a dozen or more feet behind the subject.

If you are too close, the camera screen will say, "Move farther away." If the camera can't recognize who you're trying to take a picture of, it will tell you, "No person detected."

Once the words "NATURAL LIGHT" are framed in a yellow box at the bottom of the screen, snap away and enjoy that automatically blurred background.

IMG_5131

Use a third-party app to blur backgrounds

If you have an older iPhone that can't blur backgrounds, or an older image you want to enhance with a blur effect, consider the AfterFocus app

It can create an artificially blurry background around the focus area you choose in any image, enhancing photos to look as though they were originally shot in studio style.

Read more coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: The best iPhone for every type of person and budget

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How to save your Instagram stories manually or automatically, in 3 different ways

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Instagram Stories

  • Instagram stories are built to disappear after a day, but there are ways to save your Instagram stories for future viewing or future use.
  • There are several methods you can use to save your Instagram stories: You can archive them through Instagram app; use a web-based app to auto-save stories; or download stories to an iPhone.
  • Here's what you'll need to know to use those methods to save your Instagram stories.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Instagram stories usually come with an expiration date, and will disappear 24 hours after uploading them. But that doesn't mean they have to be gone forever. 

There are several methods you can use to save your Instagram stories. The best method will depend on how you want to save and use them once they've been saved.

Here are three ways to save your Instagram stories.

How to archive Instagram stories via the app

Archiving is an easy way to create a backup for your Instagram stories. The only catch is that you have to set it up beforehand — but once you do, you won't have to worry about saving your stories in the future. 

Here's how to set it up:

1. Open the Instagram app and log in, if necessary.

2. Toggle over to your profile (the person icon in the bottom toolbar).

3. Tap the three lines and select "Settings."

1 HOW TO SAVE INSTAGRAM STORIES

4. Tap "Privacy" followed by "Story."

2 HOW TO SAVE INSTAGRAM STORIES

5. Under "Saving" toggle on the option to save your Instagram stories to your archive (you can choose to save stories to your phone's photo gallery from this screen as well).

3 HOW TO SAVE INSTAGRAM STORIES

When you turn on the archive option, you'll be able to access your stories via the archive, which you access by going to your profile, then tapping the three lines in the top-right corner of the screen, and selecting "Archive."

How to save Instagram stories using a third-party app

As an alternative to using the Instagram app to auto-save your stories, you can also use a third-party, web-based app, like Embed Stories, to get it done. 

The benefit here is that you can be able to embed your stories on websites, and thereby get more use out of them. 

Embed Stories also offers paid plans, which allow you to manage multiple Instagram accounts at once, and convert your stories into different formats.

Here's how to use Embed Stories:

1. Create an account on Embed Stories and connect your Facebook account (once you give permission, this will grab any associated Instagram accounts as well).

2. Click "Select Source" next to your Instagram account — the site will then collect your stories from that account and set up auto-save for your future stories at the same time.

How to download Instagram stories on an iPhone

Downloading stories on an iPhone is a relatively easy process. However, if you want to download several stories as separate files, it will require you to go in and save each individual story manually.

Note, however, that this method only works on iPhones — Android users will have to use one of the other two options.

1. Open the Instagram app and log in, if you aren't already in your account.

2. Tap "Your Story" (located in the top-left corner of the screen) and view the story you want to download.

3. As it plays, tap the three dots and select "Save."

IMG_3684

4. Select "Save Photo/Video" to save that specific story, or to save all of your current stories as a single, vertical video, select "Save Story."

You can also download stories right when you make them by pressing the download button (a downward facing arrow above a straight line) before posting.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: The best iPhone for every type of person and budget

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The best leather protectors you can buy

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  • Nothing can completely prevent scuffs, scratches, and damage on leather goods, but a good leather protector can help.
  • Our top pick is the highly-rated Guardsman Protect & Preserve For Leather, which works on everything from ankle boots to car seats.

For Christmas, I received a pair of Everlane Day Boots in a limited-edition metallic color. I love these shoes, but I'm kind of afraid to wear them too often. They're super comfortable, but the leather is delicate — and did I mention limited edition?

If you, too, own precious leather goods you'd like to shield from the elements, it might be a good idea to invest in a leather protector. Most protectors come in spray or balm form and guard delicate leathers against rain, snow, liquid, or, if you are me, the wine spilled from your desk while working late into the night.

Leather protectors won't safeguard your items from all signs of wear-and-tear — abrasions, creases, and scuff marks are somewhat unavoidable — but it's an extra step you can take to ensure your leather goods age gracefully.

While leather protectors are especially useful for pieces you plan to take outside like jackets, shoes, and bags, it can't hurt to apply them to furnishings you want to keep in tip-top shape, either. And the kind of leather protector you should buy depends on the type of leather you're planning to use it on.

Here are the best leather protectors you can buy:

The best leather protector overall

The gentle Guardsman Protect & Preserve for Leather liquid keeps your leather goods looking brand-new and won't change the color or finish.

Most leather protectors are basically waterproofing sprays, but Guardsman Protect & Preserve for Leather goes above and beyond the call of duty. Massage the product onto your leather goods to protect them from the elements or to minimize signs of wear-and-tear on items you've had for a while.

Per the brand's claim, the product creates an "invisible barrier that protects against premature aging and irreversible damage from penetrating stains." You can use it on anything from clothing, shoes, cars, and furniture. The formula is pH-balanced and doesn't have a strong scent like many similar products.

Perhaps the best part is that it won't impact the color or finish of your leather items, which is a major drawback with some protectants.

One downside of this product is that it can't be used on suede or buffed leather. But Guardsman Protect & Preserve does what it claims to do, and it does it remarkably well.

Pros: Works on everything from furniture to shoes, protects and conditions, no strong smell, doesn't change finish or color of leather

Cons: Not for use on suede, nubuck, or brushed leather



The best suede protector

Scotchgard Suede & Nubuck Protector preserves your delicate suede clothing and accessories with a quick spritz.

Suede is even more sensitive than other kinds of leather and is definitely worth protecting if you ever plan on taking it outside or wearing it around liquids. Scotchgard Suede & Nubuck Protector is a great option for suede.

As many users have noted, this is an excellent pick for treating soft winter boots so they don't get those dreaded salt rings around the toes from walking on snow-treated sidewalks. It will also protect from liquids like water and oil without damaging the surface of the leather or suede. The spray nozzle makes for simple application — no rags or cloths required.

Scotchgard Suede & Nubuck Protector has been featured by Insider Picks in the past, as well as WhoWhatWear, Bustle, and The Strategist

The most helpful Amazon reviewer noted that, although the product works as advertises, the nozzle can be tricky to get right.

Pros: Works on suede and nubuck, spray-on

Cons: Nozzle can be tough to use



The best leather protector for boots

The Kiwi Boot Protector is heavy-duty enough for use on hiking and work boots that get pushed to their absolute limits.

Some leather boots are already designed for serious wear-and-tear. To add an extra layer of protection to these, consider the Kiwi Boot Protector. It's specially formulated for boots, especially outdoors and work boots that will be pushed to their absolute limits.

Per the product description, it contains silicone and "bonds to leather and fabrics to create an extremely tough barrier" without drying out the materials. You can use them for other leather shoes besides hiking boots and the like, as long as you don't mind the possibility that the color or finish might change slightly.

"I've now used this on two pairs of shoes and am happy to report that they are still looking great and wicking away water! I feel like the boot protector does more than just waterproof them and actually makes them far easier to clean as well,"one Amazon shopper wrote.

Overall, the spray has a 4.2 rating on Amazon based on more than 400 reviews and is recommended by WhoWhatWear and The Strategist.

Pros: Tough silicone-based formula, works for outdoor boots & on suede

Cons: Might change color or finish of leather slightly



The best leather protector cream

The Aqua Seal Leather Waterproof Cream shields and conditions your favorite leather items so that they're as buttery soft as the day you brought them home.

If you're looking to moisturize and protect your leather goods, look no further than the Aqua Seal Leather Waterproof Cream. This is a scent-free balm that hydrates dried-out leather while shielding it from further damage.

Specifically formulated for use on hiking boots, this is a heavy-duty protectant. But don't hesitate to use it on your everyday leather goods, from ankle boots to handbags or briefcases that could use the extra moisture. 

Aqua Seal is a popular expert-recommended brand for a leather protectant that has been featured by Good Housekeeping, and you really can't go wrong with anything from the range.

This is an especially good choice if you're looking for something that will moisturize and not strip the oils from your leather.

Pros: Moisturizing cream, no scent, waterproofs

Cons: Requires cloth or rag to apply



The best leather protector kit

The Apple Brand Leather Care Kit pulls double-duty as a conditioner and a cleaner.

If you want to step up your leather goods game big time, stock up on the Apple Brand Leather Care Kit. This set comes with two formulas designed to keep your favorite shoes, bags, accessories, and furnishings in mint condition.

First, apply the leather cleaner to clean off stains, scuffs, dust, and dirt. Follow it up with the leather conditioner, which "replenishes the natural oils found in leather and prevents drying, cracking, scratching, and splitting." Hello, yes!

Unfortunately, this kit isn't safe to use on suede or nubuck, but it's a godsend for other kinds of leather. The brand claims the formulations won't change the color of your leather goods, so it should be safe on lighter materials. This product doesn't waterproof like most of the others on this list, so it's best used in conjunction with a spray.

The kit has a 4.3 out of 5-star rating on Amazon, based on more than 400 shopper reviews, and has been featured by The Cut.

Pros: Comes with cleaner and protectant, doesn't alter leather color or finish

Cons: Not waterproof, not for nubuck or suede



Check out our guide to the best shoe polish

The best shoe polish you can buy

Shoe polish is an important part of ensuring that your leather shoes and boots last as long as possible.

Polishes are also great for casual shoes and boots, and there are special types made for these that offer additional leather protection. We've rounded up the best shoe polishes available today to suit just about any need, so read on to find the right one to help you keep your leather footwear looking great for years to come.

Here is the best shoe polish you can buy:



The IHG Rewards Premier Card is often overlooked, but it comes with some great perks — and it's now offering a 125,000-point sign-up bonus

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Intercontinental Bali

  • The IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card is now offering a sign-up bonus of 125,000 points to new cardholders who spend $3,000 in the first three months.
  • The standard bonus for this card is 80,000 points, so with this new offer you can get 45,000 additional points. This earns the IHG Premier Card a place on our list of the best current credit card sign-up offers.
  • Beyond a strong welcome bonus, the IHG Premier Card has a solid set of benefits, including a free night at hotels that cost up to 40,000 points each anniversary year, complimentary Platinum Elite status with IHG and an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

If you want to earn enough points to book a free hotel stay (or enough miles for a free flight), opening a rewards credit card and earning its sign-up bonus can be a great strategy. Most credit card sign-up bonuses get you at least 50,000 points, which can be enough for multiple hotel nights depending on where you want to use them. 

IHG encompasses several hotel brands — including Holiday Inn, InterContinental, Kimpton, and Hotel Indigo — so you shouldn't have trouble finding a property where you can use your points no matter where you're traveling, though some brands are fancier than others.

IHG Rewards Club Premier Card sign-up bonus details

The IHG Rewards Club Premier Card just launched a new sign-up bonus that gets you 45,000 more points than the standard offer. You'll earn 125,000 points after you spend $3,000 in the first three months.

Based on travel website The Points Guy's valuations, 125,000 IHG points are worth $625. That valuation is based on the range of options for using IHG points, from stays at lower-end properties like Holiday Inns to more expensive brands like InterContinental. 

There's another interesting aspect to this elevated IHG sign-up bonus: You'll earn more points on your purchases for the first 12 months of cardmembership. You'll earn 25 points per dollar on purchases with IHG for the first 12 months, compared to the card's standard rate of 10x points on IHG purchases. Based on TPG's valuations, 25x IHG points equals a 12.5% return, so if you have any paid IHG stays on the horizon and you're a new cardholder, the IHG Rewards Club Premier Card is a great card to use.

Additionally, you'll earn 4 points per dollar on all other purchases for the first 12 months. After the first 12 months, you'll earn 2x points at grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants, and 1 point per dollar on everything else. 

There isn't a public end date for this sign-up offer, so if you're interested, don't wait.

The IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card has a $89 annual fee, and it doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.

Long-term IHG Premier Card benefits

This card is appealing for more reasons than the sign-up bonus. It offers an anniversary free night that you can use at IHG properties that cost up to 40,000 points per night, and this alone can be worth more than the card's $89 annual fee.

The IHG Premier Card also comes with automatic Platinum Elite IHG status, which can get you perks like room upgrades and late checkout. 

Two other card benefits are a fourth night free on IHG award stays, and a statement credit of up to $100 to cover the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck once every four years.

Know before you apply

If you already know that 125,000 IHG points won't be enough to book the hotel you have in mind, note that you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to the IHG loyalty program. So if you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve, or the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card, the rewards you've earned can add to your stash of 125,000 points from the IHG Premier Card bonus.

Also, note that the IHG Premier Card is subject to Chase's 5/24 rule. This means that if you've opened five or more credit cards (across all banks) in the last 24 months, Chase is unlikely to approve you for this card.

Click here to learn more about the IHG Premier Card from our partner The Points Guy.

SEE ALSO: American vs. Delta vs. United — we compared the 3 most popular airline credit cards and named a winner

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We compared the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex Gold to determine the ultimate dining rewards card

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American Express Gold Card vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve 4x3

  • The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers generous rewards on dining, but a slate of newcomers have been trying to take its place as the best card for dining.
  • Last fall, the American Express® Gold Card was refreshed with new benefits, including an even better rewards earning rate at restaurants.
  • There are a lot of similarities between the two cards, but also some important differences. Here's what you need to know to decide which is right for you.

When it launched in 2016, the Chase Sapphire Reserve was the king of dining rewards. With 3 points for every dollar spent on dining — which was defined broadly enough to include everything from restaurants to cafés and bars — it was the obvious go-to to maximize points anytime you ate out.

Nearly three years later, the rewards landscape has become more crowded than ever, and the Sapphire Reserve, or "CSR," has some heavy-hitting competition. American Express refreshed its Premier Rewards Gold card, rebranding it the American Express Gold Card.

The two cards bear a lot of similarities: They have hefty annual fees but a handful of benefits and credits to offset it, they earn bonus points on dining, and they both have a handful of valuable ways to redeem points. But there are also a handful of differences, some of which are pretty significant. There's also the Citi Prestige card, which offers an incredible 5x points on dining, but Citi's rewards program is trickier to navigate to get top value.

Chase Sapphire Reserve vs Amex Gold: the biggest differnces

The Sapphire Reserve has a higher annual fee than the Amex Gold ($450 vs $250), but perhaps the biggest difference to consider up top is that they earn different rewards currencies. With the Sapphire Reserve, you'll earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, while with the Amex Gold you'll earn Amex Membership Rewards points. Travel website The Points Guy values the two points currencies equally: at 2 cents per point. However, the two programs have different airline and hotel transfer partners, so you'll want to investigate which points are the most useful to you.

Both cards earn bonus rewards on select spending categories, and some of them overlap. For example, with the Amex Gold, you'll earn 4x points at restaurants, while you'll earn 3x points on dining with the Sapphire Reserve. The Amex Gold also offers 4x points at US supermarkets (on the first $25,000 spent each year; then 1x), and supermarkets aren't included in the Sapphire Reserve's dining category.

Another difference between the Sapphire Reserve and Amex Gold is the type of statement credits you'll get each year as a cardholder. On the Sapphire Reserve, you'll get an annual $300 travel credit that automatically applies to eligible purchases, while the Amex Gold offers an airline incidental fee credit and up to $10 in statement credits toward eligible dining purchases each month. 

With that in mind, which card — the Sapphire Reserve or Amex Gold— is best for you? Read on to find out.

Keep in mind that we're focusing on the rewards and perks that make these cards great options, not things like interest rates and late fees, which can far outweigh the value of any rewards.

When you're working to earn credit card rewards, it's important to practice financial discipline, like paying your balances off in full each month, making payments on time, and not spending more than you can afford to pay back. Basically, treat your credit card like a debit card.

Click here to learn more about the Chase Sapphire Reserve from Business Insider's partner The Points Guy.

Click here to learn more about the American Express Gold Card from Business Insider's partner The Points Guy.

SEE ALSO: The best credit card rewards, bonuses, and benefits of 2019

The annual fees — and the credits that offset them

Both the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Amex Gold have hefty annual fees — the Sapphire Reserve is $450, and the Amex Gold is $250.

However, both cards offer a few annual statement credits on purchases that — if you would have made those purchases anyway — significantly offset the fees.

The Sapphire Reserve comes with a straightforward and easy-to-use $300 travel credit. The first $300 you spend on travel-related purchases every cardmember year is credited back to your account. The "travel" category is expansive, including everything from subways, taxis, parking, and tolls to airfare and hotels.

When you subtract that credit from the annual fee, the Sapphire Reserve only costs $150 per year.

The Amex Gold has two different statement credits.

The first is up to $120 each year in dining credits, broken into monthly $10 portions. These credits only apply to a few participating chain restaurants — specifically Cheesecake Factory, Ruth's Chris Steak House, and some Shake Shack locations — but they also apply to popular food ordering services GrubHub and Seamless. The credits apply automatically to any qualifying purchase.

The Amex Gold also offers up to $100 in airline fee credits each calendar year. Every January, you pick one airline for that credit to apply toward. While the credit doesn't cover tickets, it covers incidental fees like checked bags, seat assignments on basic economy tickets, change fees, and more. Sometimes you can even be reimbursed for airline gift cards that you can apply toward tickets, even though this is an unpublished benefit — do some Googling to see whether that works on your airline of choice.

Assuming you take full advantage of both credits, the effective annual fee for the Amex Gold is just $30.



Rewards: The earning on both cards is substantial

The Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 3 points per dollar spent on every dining or travel purchase (except for the first $300 of travel each year that is covered by the travel credit).

Both categories are broadly defined: Dining includes things like bars, cafes, restaurants, food trucks and booths, pubs, and in many cases, bakeries or ice cream shops. Travel, meanwhile includes everything from subways, taxis and Ubers, parking, and tolls, to flights, hotels, cruises, and more.

Travel website (and Business Insider e-commerce partner) The Points Guy subjectively values Chase Ultimate Rewards points at 2¢ each (more on that later), meaning you'd earn about 6% of value back on every dollar you spend.

The Amex Gold Card offers a higher 4 points per dollar spent at restaurants, as well as 4x points at US supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year — 1 point per dollar for anything beyond that) and 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with the airline or with Amex Travel.

The Amex card's restaurant category is similarly broad as the Sapphire Reserve's — I've gotten the category bonus at restaurants, bars, pubs, and cafes. The supermarket category excludes big box stores where you might buy groceries, like Target or Walmart, but includes most dedicated US supermarkets.

The Points Guy also subjectively values Amex Membership Rewards points at 2¢ each, so going by that metric, you get a huge 8% of value back from the Gold Card — beating the Sapphire Reserve.

The travel category is much more restrictive. If your spending is more split between travel and dining, you may be better off with the Reserve. There may also be room in your wallet for both, especially considering that the Amex Gold's effective annual fee is so low.



Welcome bonuses: Earn a lot of points right away.

When you sign up for the Chase Sapphire Reserve you can get 50,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in the first three months— assuming you haven't opened a Sapphire-branded card in the past four years.

That bonus is worth $500 as cash back, $750 when used to purchase travel through Chase's booking portal, or potentially more when you transfer it to airline partners to book flights — more on all of that in a moment. Using The Points Guy's general valuation, which is a subjective aggregate of the realistic potential values you can get from points, it would be worth about $1,000.

The Amex Gold Card offers 35,000 points when you spend $2,000 in your first three months with your new card.

The Gold has a lower bonus, but also a lower spending requirement to earn it. The higher earning rate on restaurants, plus the rate at US supermarkets, might make up for that.

The value Amex offers when you use points for cash back is poor, although you can get around $350 toward flights if you book through Amex travel, but potentially more by transferring to airline partners. Based on The Points Guy's valuation, that's about $700 in value.



There are a ton of different ways to use your points

Chase offers a few different ways to use Ultimate Rewards points

You can use them to make purchases at a handful of retailers like Amazon or Apple, or for gift cards, but since you usually get less than 1¢ per point of value, this isn't advisable.

If you're set on using them for purchases, a better option is to just redeem them for cash back. Each point is worth 1¢, so 1,000 points = $10.

A better option: Book travel through Chase using your points. Normally, each point is worth 1¢ towards travel booked through Chase, but Sapphire Reserve cardholders get a 50% bonus — that makes them worth 1.5¢ each. Redeeming them this way, the 50,000-point sign-up bonus is worth $750.

However, the best option — potentially — is to transfer them to airline frequent flyer partners and book flights that way. You might be able to get a dramatically higher value for points this way.

That's because booking frequent flyer "award tickets" is different than buying reservations outright — you can read more about how it works here. In most cases, the cash price and the miles price of a ticket aren't linked, so it's possible to get exponentially increased value from your points by transferring them and booking an award ticket instead.

That means potentially being able to fly long-haul in first or business class with points, among other things.

For example, my wife and I recently flew first class to Japan and back by transferring credit card points to Virgin Atlantic, then booking flights on Virgin's partner airline All Nippon Airways. You can read about exactly how we booked the flights here.

The only catch is that you may need to search for saver availability — which are lower-priced award tickets. This can be tricky, but there are a ton of helpful guides online. Once you have a flight in mind, if you're having trouble figuring out how best to use your points, just do a Google search for that specific trip.

Chase partners with a few airlines (and hotels), including: Aer Lingus, Air France/KLM, British Airways, Iberia, JetBlue, Singapore Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Hyatt, Marriott, and IHG. By taking advantage of airline partnerships, you can usually find a way to book any flight at the saver level, even if that airline isn't listed.

Amex similarly offers a few ways to use Membership Rewards points.

Redeeming for anything aside from travel offers a poor value, usually 0.5–0.8¢ each, and is generally a poor use of points.

Like with Chase, you can get a better value by booking travel through AmEx Travel, either online or by phone. However, unlike with the Sapphire Reserve, there's no bonus. Points are only worth 1¢ each towards flights, or 0.7¢ each towards anything else.

Another option is to use points to bid for upgrades on a flight. You'll only get 1¢ per point, but it can be a decent redemption if you want to try for an upgrade but don't want to pay cash.

The best use — like with Chase, again — is to transfer them to frequent flyer partners. AmEx has a different list of partners, although thanks to some overlapping partners you can pool points from each issuer's cards into those airlines' accounts.

AmEx's partners include: Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air Canada, Air France/KLM, Alitalia, ANA, Cathay Pacific, Avianca, British Airways, Delta, El Al, Emirates, Etihad, Iberia, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue, Singapore Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic, as well as Choice Hotels, Hilton, and Marriott.

Click here to learn more about the Chase Sapphire Reserve from Business Insider's partner: The Points Guy.

Click here to learn more about the American Express Gold Card from Business Insider's partner: The Points Guy.



Other benefits and perks

Both cards come with a few other benefits, too.

The Sapphire Reserve comes with a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, which gets you free access to more than 1,200 airport lounges around the world. While the Platinum Card® from American Express is the absolute best option for airport lounges within the US, the Sapphire Reserve is still incredibly useful.

It also offers a statement credit up to $100 every four years to cover your application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, primary rental car insurance, trip and baggage delay coverage, travel insurance, and more. You can learn more about the other benefits here.

The Amex Gold Card features a few additional benefits as well, including baggage and travel insurance, secondary rental car insurance, roadside assistance, and shopping protections. You also get a complimentary membership with ShopRunner, a service that gives you free two-day shipping at a wide range of online retailers. It works like Amazon Prime in a lot of ways, but outside of Amazon. You can learn more about the card's other benefits here



Other cards to consider

By redeeming strategically for flights — whether in economy and in first or business class — you can get much more value from a transferable points credit card than you could from a cash back card.

However, if you're not interested in points or travel and want to consider cash back instead, there are two stellar options for dining.

First is the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card. The card offers unlimited 4% cash back on dining and entertainment, 2% at grocery stores, and 1% back on everything else. It also offers 8% back on tickets purchased at Vivid Seats through May 2020, and a monthly statement credit to cover a Postmates Unlimited membership through December of this year.

Plus, the card offers a massive $500 cash sign-up bonus when you spend $3,000 in the first three months. All of that is even more impressive considering that the card has an annual fee of just $95.

Next is the Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card. The card earns 3x points — each worth 1¢, so effectively 3% cash back — on dining, most travel and transit, and 1x (or 1%) on everything else. It's a bit less on the dining category than the Savor card, but the Wells Fargo Propel has no annual fee.

Plus, the Propel offers a welcome bonus of 30,000 points — worth $300 as cash back — when you spend $3,000 in the first three months. This is one of the best-available bonuses for a no-annual-fee card, and led us to argue that the Wells Fargo Propel is one of the best credit cards of 2019.

 

 



Bottom line

No matter which card you choose, both the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the American Express Gold Card offer valuable rewards on dining and flights, and a ton of value in benefits.

Click here to learn more about the Chase Sapphire Reserve from Business Insider's partner: The Points Guy.

Click here to learn more about the American Express Gold Card from Business Insider's partner: The Points Guy.



This $218 ice cream maker lets me make gelato and other cold treats with minimal effort — here's how it work

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Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker 3

  • A high-quality ice cream maker is easy to use, versatile enough to make all sorts of creations, and it makes satisfying ice cream in minimal time.
  • I like the Cuisinart ICE-100 Ice Cream and Gelato Maker because I can have fresh ice cream in under 60 minutes with minimal prep work, it's easy to clean, and it makes a wide array of frozen treats.
  • Though it's more expensive than most ice cream makers (currently $217.99 at Amazon and The Home Depot), it doesn't require pre-freezing any parts and is backed by a three-year limited warranty.

There are a lot of painful, labor-intensive ways to make homemade ice cream, and I think I've tried them all. I experimented with a ball that you're supposed to pour your ingredients into and roll around until you give up and drink the batter. I've evaluated a crank churner, which is mainly designed for people who want a second helping of "arm day." And, I tested an attachment for my stand mixer that requires significant freezer space.

None of these options are as quick and effortless as the Cuisinart ICE-100 Ice Cream and Gelato Maker.

For nearly half a century, Connecticut-based Cuisinart has produced cookware, ovenware, kitchen tools, and kitchen accessories. I tested the company's top-of-the-line ice cream maker and was impressed with its versatility and minimal pre-planning. Read on for my full review of the appliance.

Specs for the Cuisinart ICE-100 Ice Cream and Gelato Maker

Cuisinart ice cream maker 2

The 1.5-Qt Ice Cream Maker has a compressor so there's no need to freeze the mixing bowl, paddle, or any other parts before using it. Two kneading paddles allow you to switch seamlessly between ice cream and gelato. And, to get you started, the unit comes with a recipe book featuring dozens of recipes for ice cream, gelato, sorbet, frozen yogurt, and more. 

It's small enough to fit on your counter under the cabinets with dimensions of 16.7 inches deep by 12 inches wide by 9.3 inches high. The housing material is made of stainless steel for a nice, clean appearance. The transparent lid that covers the mixing bowl features a mix-in opening where you can add ingredients without stopping the churning.

You control the appliance using a touchpad with a blue LCD. It's fairly basic, offering only time adjustments, an on/off button, and a start/stop button.

The Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker has a limited three-year warranty, and when you purchase it from The Home Depot, you're covered by a 90-day return policy.

Set-up process

Setting up the ice cream maker was simple. After removing all of the packaging, I washed the mixing bowl, paddle, and lid with soap and warm water. This only took a few minutes. Then, I put the mixing bowl in the machine. For the system to work correctly, the bowl must be positioned just right. This can be a little tricky but gets easier with practice. To operate the ice cream maker, the lid also needs to be locked in place. 

As with an appliance that uses a compressor, the Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker has to sit upright for at least 24 hours before each use. I wasn't sure if it remained upright during transport so I waited 24 hours just to be safe.

No matter what you're making, all of the recipes tell you to refrigerate your batter for at least two hours and preferably overnight. This is a common step no matter what ice cream maker you use. It's meant to help the batter "age" and to bring the temperature down so the ice cream maker doesn't take as long. But, if you're in a hurry, you can conceivably skip the refrigeration period.

What makes this ice cream maker stand out

Cuisinart Ice Cream maker

For my first batch, I let my 5-year-old sous chef choose the recipe. He asked for s'mores ice cream. So, per the ice cream maker's recipe, I made a batter for chocolate ice cream and refrigerated it overnight. The next day, I put the ice cream paddle into the mixing bowl and poured the batter in. Then, I started the machine. 

The recipe called for running the maker for 40 to 50 minutes before adding marshmallow cream. So, I set an alarm on my phone and worked on other projects. After 30 minutes, my sous chef yelled, "It stopped!" The ice cream was too thick for the churning to continue. I wasn't able to mix in the marshmallow cream, graham cracker, and chocolate. Fortunately, my teenager wasn't excited about s'mores ice cream in the first place and preferred the plain chocolate. And, my kindergartener was happy with the mix-in ingredients served on top.

We're a big ice cream family so we mainly make ice cream with the machine, though we did branch out into gelato a bit with delicious results. Our favorite ice creams are vanilla, chocolate, and fresh strawberry. My wife and 16-year-old son say the chocolate is the best they've ever had. I like fresh strawberry most. The vanilla gelato was also a big hit.

The desserts from the Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker are not as hard as what you'd expect from the treats that come straight out of the freezer, but the soft consistency is still good enough. And, my family likes it softer anyway. If you want the rock-hard treats, put the finished ice cream in a food storage container and freeze it for two or more hours.

Cleaning the parts was a breeze. The paddles and lid are top-shelf dishwasher safe, but I found they were easy enough to wash by hand. The mixing bowl also cleans up effortlessly with just a few swipes of a sponge and a little soapy water.

Cons to consider

Though the ice cream maker is easy to clean, I tended to make messes. When I first started making ice cream, I'd mix and chill the batter in a mixing bowl. But, this was difficult to pour into the Cuisinart without splashing and dripping all over. So, I started mixing the batter in a plastic pitcher. This worked well, and the spout allowed for more precise pouring.

I don't like that I can't just turn the ice cream maker on and let it work its magic until its done. You need to check it occasionally to see if it's close to being done. I had one incident where the ice cream started to overflow and made a mess on my counter. 

I recommend not using metal utensils to scrape the ice cream out of the mixing bowl. I noticed some light scratching on the bowl when I tried to use a metal spoon. A plastic kitchen scraper worked better for this task.

The bottom line

Cuisinart ice cream maker 4

The Cuisinart ICE-100 Ice Cream and Gelato Maker is the best I've used. You don't have to remember to freeze any of the components before using it. You just pour the batter in, press a few buttons, and the ice cream is ready in about 40 minutes. Plus, it's versatile enough to handle a broad range of frozen treats.

Should you buy it?

The Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker is expensive so I'd only recommend it if you're a true lover of ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt, or sorbet. In the long run, it may help you save on dessert costs. But, this unit is exceptional because it allows you to let your imagination run wild as you make healthy, top-quality concoctions with minimal fuss. If this sounds appealing to you and your budget supports it, definitely pick up the Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker.

What are your alternatives?

KitchenAid ice cream maker

As I mentioned in the opening paragraph, I've tried several styles of ice cream makers. Here are a few of them:

  • YayLabs Softhshell Ice Cream Ball ($46.99): If you have kids who like playing with balls for hours on end, this might be a good option for you. You add rock salt and ice into one end of the ball and ice cream batter into the other. Then, you shake, pass, and roll the ball. It's nice that it doesn't use electricity, but rolling the ball for the 20-plus minutes it takes to make ice cream is tedious.
  • White Mountain Hand Cranked Ice Cream Maker ($123.75): With this model, you use a crank to churn the batter. In about 40 minutes, you get 4 quarts of ice cream. But, over time, your arm gets tired, the ice cream gets harder, and cranking becomes more difficult. It isn't an easy appliance to use. Fortunately, there are several electric alternatives.
  • KitchenAid KICA0WH Ice Cream Maker Attachment ($44.99): If you have a KitchenAid stand mixer, this is your best bet. I like that it can make two quarts of ice cream in about 20 minutes. The main downside to the attachment is that you have to freeze the mixing bowl for at least 15 hours before using it. When freezer space is limited, this may pose a problem.

You should also check out our guide to the best ice cream makers.

Overall, I think I've found an ice cream maker that best fits my needs. If you are looking for the best around, pick up the Cuisinart ICE-100 Ice Cream and Gelato Maker.

Pros: Features a compressor, easy to clean, paddles for ice cream and gelato, versatile, requires minimal prep work

Cons: Expensive, not completely "set-it-and-forget-it"

Buy the Cuisinart ICE-100 Ice Cream and Gelato Maker from Amazon or The Home Depot for $217.99

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Bill Gates just learned how to cook a chicken thanks to Washington's Teacher of the Year

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Bill Gates eats a chicken

  • Washington state's 2019 Teacher of the Year, Robert Hand, spent the afternoon with Bill Gates.
  • Hand teaches family and consumer science, or what folks used to call "home economics" back in the day.
  • He taught Gates how to make a BBQ chicken as Gates admitted that cutting and cooking a chicken is something he's never done before. 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Washington state's 2019 Teacher of the Year is Robert Hand. And one of his prizes was to spend an afternoon Bill Gates, which Gates captured for his blog and YouTube channel, Gates Notes.

Hand teaches family and consumer science or what folks used to call "home economics" back in the day. This includes the ever-popular cooking class. It also includes a class called "life after high school" which helps students apply for jobs and manage money.

The Gates Foundation contributes heavily to all sorts of educational causes. So it's not surprising that Bill Gates would agree to meet his home state's Teacher of the Year.

But it's a bit more surprising that he agreed to take a cooking lesson from him. Gates walks into the room and immediately warns. "I have to admit. You've got a very entry level student here."

Hand first teaches Gates how to cut up a whole chicken. Buying whole chickens is a more economical choice and cutting one, as every home cook knows, is not hard to learn.

You can tell how little Gates' cooks from his one and only mistake: he was about to add too much salt to the homemade spice mix the two were working on.

"I like mine salty," Gates graciously said when the teacher gently corrected him.

Perhaps the cutest part is the very end, when they pull the chicken out of the oven and Gates bites into the one he made and his face lights up with surprise. The food he made was "really good," he says.

"It's inspiring to hear what you do. This is a first for me. I might surprise my family and show them I know how to do it," Gates said, smiling and pointing to the cooked chicken.

Not that Gates is a total stranger to the kitchen. He's often the one who washes the dinner dishes.

 

SEE ALSO: 16 of the biggest leaders in Silicon Valley reveal the one thing they would tell their teenage selves

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NOW WATCH: I cleaned my entire apartment with 4 of Amazon's highest-rated cleaning robots, but I could've done a much better job myself

The 15 states where $1 million in retirement savings will last the longest

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retired couple beach walk

  • New data from GOBankingRates shows that $1 million in retirement savings could last more than two decades in some states. In Mississippi, a retiree could live on $1 million for 23 years. 
  • The 15 states where $1 million in savings would last the longest include New Mexico, Wyoming, Georgia, and Michigan. 
  • GOBankingRates estimates that on average, $1 million in retirement savings will last 19 years. Meanwhile, $1 million in retirement savings will last at least 21 years for retirees living in every state in the top 15.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Where you decide to retire might have a big impact on how long your retirement money lasts, according to new data from GOBankingRates

On average, GOBankingRates estimates that $1 million in savings will last about 19 years in the US. In some places, those savings will cover many fewer years: Those retiring in expensive states like Hawaii can expect their $1 million of savings to last 10 years and three months from their retirement funds, while those in California will see 13 years.

Meanwhile, $1 million in retirement savings will last at least 21 years for every state in the list below. 

To find this data, GOBankingRates looked at the total annual expenses of people 65 and older, including housing, transportation, healthcare, utilities, and groceries, as well as a cost of living index. Dividing $1 million by the annual cost of living then yielded the years those retirement savings could last. 

Here are the 15 states where $1 million in retirement funds will last the longest:

15. Ohio

With low costs of living and three major cities to choose from, Ohio is a great place to stretch your retirement dollars over 20 years.

Time $1 million would last: 21 years and 11 months

Total cost of living for one year: $32,995

 



14. Nebraska

Nebraska offers low costs of living, and affordable housing makes it a very attractive option. 

Time $1 million would last: 22 years and 11 months

Total cost of living for one year: $37,862

 



13. Iowa

Affordable housing in Iowa makes it a very attractive option for retirees. 

Time $1 million would last: 21 years and 1 month 

Total cost of living for one year: $33,862

 



12. Indiana

Indiana's low costs of living will help retirees live comfortably for 20 years. According to GOBankingRates' data, housing costs come out to just about $12,280 per year. 

Time $1 million would last: 22 years and 1 month

Total cost of living for one year: $33,048

 



11. Alabama

In Alabama, affordable living costs helps $1 million stretch pretty far. A warm climate and many beaches on the Gulf Coast make it a good alternative to Florida for those looking to live affordably. 

Time $1 million would last: 22 years and 3 months

Total cost of living for one year: $31,966

 

 



10. Wyoming

While many states in the west have higher costs of living, Wyoming has managed to hold onto its affordability. 

Time $1 million would last: 22 years and 3 months

Total cost of living for one year: $32,584

 



9. Georgia

Georgia residents will find low costs of living and mild winters to be nice perks. 

Time $1 million would last: 22 years and 3 months

Total cost of living for one year: $33,069

 



8. Kansas

Kansas' housing costs are very affordable, and it makes it very easy to live over 20 years comfortably on $1 million.  

Time $1 million would last: 22 years and 4 months

Total cost of living for one year: $32,925

 



7. Michigan

Michigan offers lots of rural communities and small towns that are perfect for retirees. And with such low costs of living, $1 million can last a long time. 

Time $1 million would last: 22 years and 4 months

Total cost of living for one year: $32,724

 



6. Tennessee

With an abundance of mountains and urban areas, Tennessee offers residents a variety of lifestyles while still being affordable. 

Time $1 million would last: 22 years and 5 months

Total cost of living for one year: $32,724

 



5. New Mexico

With lower costs of living, New Mexico retirees will have plenty of leftover funds to spend on leisure activities. 

Time $1 million would last: 22 years and 9 months

Total cost of living for one year: $33,324

 



4. Missouri

Missouri's low costs of living and second-lowest housing costs on this list make it a very affordable place to retire. 

Time $1 million would last: 22 years and 10 months

Total cost of living for one year: $31,877

 



3. Oklahoma

Oklahoma is the third best state for making retirement dollars last — with some of the lowest overall costs in the US, retirees can get a lot of time with the $1 million they have saved. 

Time $1 million would last: 22 years and 10 months

Total cost of living for one year: $31,814

 



2. Arkansas

Arkansas boasts both the Ozarks and many natural hot springs, and it might just be ideal for retirees on a budget with such low costs of living. 

Time $1 million would last: 22 years and 10 months

Total cost of living for one year: $30,960

 



1. Mississippi

Mississippi offers the lowest housing costs in the US. In Mississippi, $1 million will last over twice as long as it would in the most expensive state, Hawaii, where the same amount would last just 10 years.

Time $1 million would last: 23 years and 1 month 

Total cost of living for one year: $31,039

 




I spent 3 days in Jackson, Wyoming — the most unequal place in America, where the 1% makes more than $16.1 million a year. The experience was nothing like I expected.

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jackson hole

The most economically unequal place in America isn't a major city like San Francisco or New York.

Instead, it's a tiny Western resort town where billionaires go to ski: Jackson, Wyoming.

A 2018 report published by the Economic Policy Institute found that in the Jackson metro area, which encompasses Teton County in Wyoming and Teton County in Idaho, wealthiest residents make, on average, 132 times as much as everyone else: The average income of the 1% is more than $16.1 million, and the average income of the bottom 99% is $122,447.

In the report, researchers looked at 2015 tax return data to analyze the average income of the top 1% and the bottom 99% of a population, broken down by state, metropolitan area, and county.

Compared with the commonly used Gini coefficient measure of inequality, EPI's measure captures very high incomes better because, as the report said, "it represents all the taxable income people earn in market transactions, such as the income earned from working for a wage or salary at a job, through interest on a savings account, or from selling a financial asset for more than its purchase cost (a capital gain)."

I recently spent three days in the Wyoming side of the Jackson metro area. Here's what it looks like in the most unequal place in America.

Andy Kiersz contributed to reporting.

SEE ALSO: The 13 most unequal places in America, ranked

DON'T MISS: A 3-day trip to Jackson Hole during what I thought would be the low season ended up being a valuable lesson in writing off ski towns as winter-only destinations

Jackson is a resort town in northwestern Wyoming with a population of about 10,400 people. The Jackson metropolitan area, which includes part of Idaho, is the most unequal place in the US, according to a 2018 report published by the Economic Policy Institute.

In the Western resort town, the wealthy make, on average, 132 times as much as everyone else, according to the EPI report.



The average income of the richest 1% is more than $16.1 million, while the average income of the bottom 99% is $122,447, the report found.

On a recent July weekend, I drove down to spend a few days in Jackson and get a feel for what it's like in the most unequal place in the country.



I drove down from Montana and passed through Idaho.

I had to drive through the iconic Grand Teton mountain range to get to Jackson.



Jackson sits in the middle of the Jackson Hole valley, which is between two mountain ranges: the Teton range and the Gros Ventre range.

At least 12 peaks in the Teton range reach over 12,000 feet.



Jackson Hole is known for its world-class skiing.

It's home to three ski resorts: Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Snow King Mountain, and Grand Targhee Resort.

A day pass to ski at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, which USA Today recently ranked as the second-best ski resort in the US, starts at $99 for an adult — and that doesn't include equipment rental.



While I always knew of Jackson as a skiing destination, I quickly realized that it can't be written off as a summer destination.

In fact, more people visit in the summertime than in the winter, Kate Sollitt, the executive director of the Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism Board, told me.

"Summertime is very busy in Jackson, as we are the gateway to two national parks," Sollitt said.

Read more:A 3-day trip to Jackson Hole during what I thought would be the low season ended up being a valuable lesson in writing off ski towns as winter-only destinations

When I visited, the streets of Jackson were brimming with tourists sightseeing, shopping, eating, and drinking. Traffic through the center of town at times rivaled that of New York City, where I live.



Jackson has come a long way from its origins as a "little quaint cow town," as Jane Golliher, a local rancher, put it.

"We've seen it change from a nice little quaint cow town to millionaires," Golliher told me. "And now billionaires are coming in buying out the millionaires."



Jackson's downtown area embraces its Western charm.

Marking each corner of the town square are four elk-antler arches, which make for popular photo ops.



One shop sells hundreds of cowboy hats in varying colors and styles.

Many of Jackson's shops, such as the Jackson Hole Jewelry Company and Workshop, sell locally made products.



The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar is an iconic cowboy-themed tavern in the heart of town. It has real saddles for bar stools.

When I went on a Saturday night, I paid a $5 cover charge and my cocktail was about $10, which seemed a bit pricey for Wyoming but not at all outrageous compared with the New York City prices I've gotten used to.



The town center has breweries, restaurants, ice-cream shops, gift shops, and more.

On my first evening in town, I ate at a restaurant called Thai Plate while sitting outside and enjoying a live music performance from an adjacent bar.



Jackson Hole real estate doesn't come cheap. The average price of a home in Jackson Hole is $1.62 million, according to Ed Liebzeit of Jackson Hole Sotheby's International Realty.

A three-bedroom home in Jackson Hole listed for $1.7 million has 1,771 square feet of living space and sits on just under an acre of land.



The high end of the housing market is growing faster than ever, with more than 30 homes currently listed for $10 million or more in Jackson Hole, Liebzeit said.

One of these is a 280-acre ranch listed for $80 million that comes with a 7,984-square-foot main house and a guest house.



It's the most expensive property currently listed for sale in Jackson Hole, according to Liebzeit.

Many wealthy people buying homes in the area either come from Silicon Valley or are Wall Street types who work in private equity and venture capital, Liebzeit said.



Many celebrities and high-profile people have also bought homes in Jackson Hole.

Harrison Ford, Sandra Bullock, the Walmart heiress Christy Walton, and former Vice President Dick Cheney have all owned homes in the area.



Wealthy Americans may be drawn to Jackson for its tax benefits as well as its natural beauty.

Liebzeit calls Wyoming "the most tax-friendly state in the country" because it has no personal or corporate income tax and no estate or inheritance tax.



The town of Jackson is a short drive from two national parks.

Grand Teton National Park is less than 10 minutes from the town of Jackson. Yellowstone National Park is about a 40-minute drive.



At the national parks, visitors can go camping, hiking, fishing, biking, boating, climbing, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing in the winter.

Visitors can also book guided trips and wildlife safaris.



The Jackson metro area is served by Jackson Hole Airport in Grand Teton National Park.

American, Delta, and United Airlines fly in and out of Jackson Hole Airport year-round, and Frontier Airlines offers direct flights between Jackson Hole and Denver in the summertime.



Jackson Hole Mountain Resort isn't just a skiing destination. In the summer months, it offers numerous activities for visitors, from rides on the ski lifts and trams to mountain biking and outdoor concerts.

A ride on the resort's aerial tram, which climbs 4,139 vertical feet to the top of Rendezvous Mountain, at an elevation of 10,450 feet, costs $37 online or $44 in person.



For those who want to go horseback riding, try their hand working with cattle, and experience life on a Western ranch, dude ranches are an important part of Jackson Hole culture.

At a dude ranch, or guest ranch, people can sleep in cabins or lodges, ride horses, and get a taste of modern cowboy life.



Gros Ventre River Ranch, a dude ranch in Kelly, Wyoming, hosts 30 to 40 guests per week, only during the summer months.

Guests can book stays at the ranch for only six nights, from Sunday to Saturday. They can choose among four lodges, four cabins, and a multibedroom homestead.

Rates start at $2,170 per person for six nights, which comes out to about $362 per night, with all meals and activities included. Guests at the ranch can go horseback riding, fly fishing, or swimming in a nearby pond, or they can play games and relax in the main lodge.



On the other end of the spectrum, ultra-wealthy visitors to Jackson Hole can stay at luxury resorts like Amangani, where a night's stay will cost you between $975 and $2,100.

I took a tour of Amangani and found that its tailored outdoor activities, wellness amenities, and secluded location on a private mountain road in the least populated state in America gives affluent travelers the privacy and unique experience they crave.



Trying to book a hotel in Jackson made me realize how inaccessible the town is to many tourists.

The 1% might stay at places like Amangani — but when I, a member of the 99%, was looking for a place to stay, I found that a room at the Motel 6 on the outskirts of town cost more than $200 per night. And it was completely booked.

I ended up at the second-cheapest option, the Super 8, for $245 per night.



After seeing so many signs of wealth in Jackson and not many obvious signs of its vast inequality, I wondered where the other 99% lived.

Liebzeit of Jackson Hole Sotheby's International Realty told me that the communities of Alpine, Wyoming, and Victor, Idaho, were much more affordable towns where some of the 99% live.

They're about 30 to 35 minutes away, and a bus service connects them to Jackson, Liebzeit said.

Victor lies within the borders of the Jackson metropolitan area, while Alpine is on the outskirts.



Even though I spent three days in the most unequal place in America, I have to say that spending time in Jackson certainly doesn't leave you feeling like that's the case.

The restaurants and shops in town were stylized, polished, and catering to wealthy residents and tourists; the homes were beautiful and well maintained; and tourist amenities like Jackson Hole Mountain Resort were pristine.



Ultimately, I didn't encounter the glaring signs of wealth inequality that I had been expecting to see in Jackson. That can largely be attributed to the fact that even the bottom 99% are earning well over the statewide median.

Though the income gap in Jackson is extreme, the spectrum is skewed extremely high because of just how rich the area's 1% are, with an average income of more than $16.1 million.

The average income of the metro area's bottom 99%, on the other hand — $122,447 — is still almost double the state of Wyoming's average income of $62,593.

So while Jackson is technically the most unequal place in America, as far as I could tell, it's hardly a typical example of stark inequality.



The most expensive racing pigeon sold for $1.4 million in China. Here's why people drop millions on these prized birds.

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  • A pigeon sold for a record-breaking $1.4 million in China in March 2019. That's the most that a racing pigeon has ever been sold for.
  • Messenger pigeons were used across ancient Egypt and Rome, and their high value isn't new.
  • In 2018, two men tried to win the prize money at a pigeon race by smuggling their birds on a bullet train. In Taiwan, an organized criminal ring was kidnapping valuable racing pigeons and holding them at ransom. 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. 

Pigeons are one of the oldest domesticated birds. They have been kept for thousands of years and used for food, sending messages, and entertainment.

They are appreciated not only for their speed but for their looks, too. And there are over 800 breeds of pigeon, many bred specifically to be exhibited at shows. 

Messenger pigeons were used across ancient Egypt and Rome, and their high value isn't new. According to Pliny the Elder, "Many persons have quite a mania for pigeons — building towns for them on the top of their roofs, and taking a pleasure in relating the pedigree and noble origin of each." And in about 50 BC, a single pair of pigeons were sold for 400 denarii, almost twice the annual pay of a Roman foot soldier at the time. 

And right up until the invention of the telegraph, in 1844, homing pigeons remained the fastest way to send messages across long distances. The birds can fly for 1,000 miles in one race and can reach 90 miles per hour over shorter distances. 

They even played big parts in the world wars — thousands of pigeons were used in the First World War alone. Submarines, minesweepers, and tanks often carried pigeons on board to send urgent messages back to base. 

Their role in the war wasn't limited to delivering messages, though. In 1907, Julius Neubronner, a German pharmacist who used the birds to deliver medicine, invented a miniature pigeon camera that the German military used briefly in the war for aerial reconnaissance. 

These days, you won't see many pigeons delivering messages, but the birds are still used in races across the world.

After the war, the sport became a pastime of the working class, and affordable to many. But in recent years, the sport has transformed. Its rising popularity in China and the huge surge in wealth there has led people to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in the birds, and the prize money for winning some of the races can be equally high. 

Chinese bidders have spent millions of dollars on pigeons over the last few years, often buying them from Belgium. Animation: [Bolt (310,000 euros in 2013), Nadine (400,000 euros in 2017) and New Bliksem (376,000 euros in 2018)]

And Armando's value rose to $1.3 million only because of a bidding war between two wealthy Chinese bidders. Despite reaching this record price, Armando is likely to never race again and instead be used for breeding.

While the number of British pigeon fanciers has fallen from 60,000 in 1990 to about 21,000 today, there are 100,000 fanciers in Beijing, and Taiwan alone has half a million fanciers. And the numbers are rising. The sport is even rapidly growing in Iraq, and a pigeon recently sold for $93,000.

This recent surge in value has caused problems. In 2018, two men tried to win the prize money at a pigeon race by smuggling their birds on a bullet train. And in Taiwan, an organized criminal ring was kidnapping valuable racing pigeons and holding them at ransom. 

This new world of pigeon racing across China has changed the reputation of the sport, and for those with the money to buy the prize winners, these birds are a status symbol. But for those who have been doing it for years, it's not about the money, but the dedication and love of the sport.

Anthony Martire: "She came home at 9 p.m. at night in the dark like a bat. I jumped out of my shoes. It's all about the work that you put in."

Geoff Barker: "And nobody can really tell what's going to breed a perfect pigeon. You could pay a fortune for a pigeon. I think there's one been sold in China, and it could never breed a decent pigeon. But you could get two pigeons for a tenner and they hit it on and breed a perfect pigeon." 

Join the conversation about this story »

2 former Tumi executives helped launch a startup that lets you customize your luggage down to every last detail — so we tried it out

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roamXL

  • There are a lot of things to be excited about when traveling, but luggage usually doesn't make the list.
  • Roam— a startup founded by two former Tumi executives — is changing that by making completely customizable suitcases that match your style, taste, and personality.
  • There are four different suitcase options, which retail for between $450 to $550.
  • I personalized my own Jaunt XL carry-on ($475) and used it while I traveled — it's super light, easy to carry, and I love that it's so unique and easy to identify.

Most of us have just come to accept that what we wear when we travel is less representative of our personal style, and more representative of the functionality we crave for those hours spent on planes, trains, and the like. You'd think by 2019, where suitcases are equipped with batteries and you can customize everything from shoes to curtains, you'd be able to find a luggage option that stands out in a sea of black and navy, without sacrificing the structural integrity necessary to make it through the baggage claim. 

If you're looking to add some personality and practicality to your packing game, it's time you check out Roam

Roam was founded with the idea of individuality in mind. While suitcases with more high-tech capabilities seemed to be popping up everywhere, there seemed to be a gaping hole in the market — there were no suitcases that you could really make your own. That's what propelled the brands founders, who count two former Tumi executives among their ranks, to make high-quality luggage that's fully customizable. 

Roam offers four sizes of luggage that range in price from $450 to $550: The Jaunt (carry-on size), The Jaunt XL (wide carry-on), The Journey (medium checked bag), and The Globetrotter (large checked bag). Each bag is made with 100% virgin U.S. polycarbonate, a lightweight but sturdy material that wards off scratches and dents. You'll also find a practical, TSA-approved lock fully integrated into the bag, so you don't need to purchase an additional lock. Additionally, every bag includes ergonomic handles and ball-bearing wheels that make rolling the bag down even the most uneven roads a breeze. 

For most, the biggest draw of Roam is the endless customization opportunities — there are over 1 million unique color combinations. If you love the idea of personalizing your own bag, but aren't really sure where to start, you can find a selection of designs curated by Roam's own design team — buy them as is, or make a few tweaks to add a personal touch. If you want to make your bag totally your own, you can do that too. Choose from the simple customization or full customization options — simple lets you pick the bag's primary color and accent color, while full lets you customize all nine parts of the bag. No matter what kind of customization you decide on, you can add a monogram to your bag so it's known that it's yours. 

The Roam Difference 

I got to create my very own Roam carry-on suitcase, and the chance couldn't have come at a better time. My tried and true eBags polyester carry-on was showing its first signs of wear and tear after years of my flagrant overpacking. With a weekend trip looming a few weeks in the distance, I needed something new — something sturdy and simple to take my belongings from point A to point B without any issues. Roam provided all that and then some. 

roam

I went for the Jaunt XL ($475), a carry-on that's a little wider than usual for some extra storage space. I took the full customization route, which lets you customize everything down to the stitching. There are eight shell color options available, and even more colors for the smaller details like the zipper and zipper binding. It took me a while to decide just how to personalize the carry-on, after all there are so many choices — and customizing stuff is really fun, so I could have spent another hour just playing around with different colors. Ultimately, I chose to make just about everything on the case pink, except for all-black wheels and a purple monogram patch on the back. I don't even like pink that much, but something about the combination felt right. 

The suitcase arrived wrapped in a large dust bag to keep it clean. It's sleek with just enough shine, and I have to admit that the whole monochromatic thing looks really nice, even in a bright color like pink. What surprised me most, though, was the weight. It says this bag weighs 6.2 pounds, but it feels even lighter. When taking weekend trips, I always dread taking the subway because the turnstiles and stairs offer a particularly inhospitable environment for maneuvering heavy luggage around. Roam takes the lug out of luggage, and I don't just mean that in a kitschy way — even when filled to the brim, I could easily lift this bag over the subway turnstile, carry it up flights of stairs, and safely put it in the overhead bin on a flight.

When I had to check my bag, finding it at baggage claim was a breeze — I guess not many people out there have an all-pink suitcase. 

Since it's such a bright pink color, I knew it would be susceptible to scratches and stains. There were what looked like stains, but when I got home from my trip I simply wiped the suitcase down with a damp paper towel and it looked good as new. 

Bottom Line

Roam may not be the most high-tech suitcase out there, but it's a really high-quality product with a fun option of customization. Plus, everything is made in the USA and shipped straight to your door with no middlemen or extra markups. You'll also get a 60-day trial to give the luggage a test run, and it comes with a five-year warranty in case you encounter any bumps down the road. If you're looking for a travel companion that complements your personal style, Roam is definitely worth a try. 

Get the Jaunt XL at Roam, $475

Shop all Roam suitcases

Join the conversation about this story »

Kylie Jenner just celebrated her 22nd birthday by chartering a $250 million superyacht that was once owned by a fugitive businessman — take a look inside

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Equanimity Yacht for sale

Makeup mogul and billionaire Kylie Jenner celebrated her 22nd birthday on August 10th, and she spared no expense to do it in style.

According to Robb Report, Jenner chartered a 300-foot superyacht called Tranquility that costs €1.1 million (or just over $1.2 million) per week. The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star is currently cruising through the Mediterranean with friends and family.

Read more: Jeff Bezos partied on billionaire David Geffen's $590 million superyacht in the Balearics — here's a look at the yacht, which has hosted everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Barack Obama

As expected, the Kylie Cosmetics founder has been sharing plenty of glamorous photos of herself on social media, but none showing off much of the luxurious yacht itself.

Here's a closer look at Tranquility, and more about the yacht's surprisingly sketchy history.

SEE ALSO: I spent 3 years writing about yachts, and owning one takes way more money than you think

DON'T MISS: The world's most expensive superyachts come with helipads, movie theaters, and swimming pools — take a look

Kylie Jenner turned 22 on August 10th. Earlier this month, she rented a 300-foot superyacht for the occasion and set sail on a tour of the Mediterranean with friends and family.

Source: Robb Report



Tranquility — which is roughly the size of a football field — is reportedly worth $250 million.

Source: Page Six



Chartering the superyacht costs €1.1 million (or over $1.2 million) per week — which is a lot, but not all that much for the billionaire makeup mogul.

Source: Camper & Nicholsons



According to charter company Camper & Nicholsons, the Tranquility was built by the Oceanco shipyard in the Netherlands and set sail back in 2014. It was awarded "Yacht of the Year Over 82 Meters" at that year's World Superyacht Awards.

Source: Camper & Nicholsons



The interior was designed by Andrew Winch, an internationally renowned English yacht designer.

Source: Camper & Nicholsons



The yacht features a number of over-the-top amenities, including a beach club, swimming pool, plunge pool, experiential showers, and a spa with a sauna, a Turkish bath, and a massage room.

Source: Camper & Nicholsons



Tranquility's master suite and nine additional guest cabins can accommodate as many as 22 guests.

Source: Camper & Nicholsons



There's also plenty of room for the 31-person crew it takes to man this massive vessel.

Source: Camper & Nicholsons



Pre-Jenner birthday extravaganza, the yacht had a surprisingly dramatic history. Per Robb Report, Tranquility was, in its former life, called Equanimity — one of the assets involved in a major money laundering and fraud scandal in Malaysia.

Source: Superyacht Times, Robb Report, Business Insider



Equanimity was seized by the Malaysian government in August 2018.

Source: Business Insider



The yacht was, at that time, owned by a fugitive banker named Low Taek Jho.

Source: Business Insider



The Malaysian government put the recovered superyacht up for sale shortly after to recover some of the money Low and others stand accused of stealing from 1Malaysia Development Berhad, the now-dissolved Malaysian strategic development company that was once wholly owned by the country's Minister of Finance. Equanimity was eventually sold for $125 million — half its original price.

Source: Business Insider



Low is currently still a fugitive, sought by the government authorities of Malaysia, Singapore, and the US in connection with the scandal.

Source: Business Insider



Jenner and Tranquility, meanwhile, are somewhere near Genoa en route to Saint Tropez at last check, per Marine Traffic.

Source: Marine Traffic



What life is really like in the 'best place to live in America,' where live music and jobs are plentiful but you have to battle daily traffic jams and scorching summers

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austin texas tech scooters 138

  • If you're looking for the best place to live in America, look no farther than Austin, Texas, according to a 2019 U.S. News report.
  • The report analyzed the 125 most populous US metro areas based on the quality of life, job market, value for money, and desirability.
  • Austin's booming job market, the availability of live music, and its vibrant restaurant scene are just some of the perks that place this city in the No. 1 spot.
  • Here's what it's like to live in the Lone Star State's capital city.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

SEE ALSO: Silicon Valley tech talent is flocking to Austin, Texas, trading sky-high rent costs for live music and a newer tech scene — here's what it's like in 'Silicon Hills'

DON'T MISS: Big tech has so heavily invaded Austin, Texas, that the capital city now has its own $1 million neighborhood. Here's what it's like in the affluent and exclusive Barton Creek district

Austin is the best place to live in America, according to a 2019 U.S. News report.

Source: U.S. News



The city may be best known for housing the state’s capitol, which was erected in the late 1880s.

Source: Austin History Center



But it has also evolved into one of the nation's largest cities, with a booming job market, vast nightlife and restaurant scenes, and a focus on outdoor experiences.

Source: U.S. News



These cultural offerings have brought young professionals, in particular, flocking to the capital city for all that it has to offer.

Source: U.S. News and Brookings



And that influx is noticeable: Austin is the fastest-growing major metro area in the country, according to US Census Bureau estimates from mid-April 2019.

Source: Curbed Austin



There are about 2 million people residing in the Austin metro area, according to U.S. News.

Source: U.S. News



For those looking for a progressive culture, Austin’s got it. A 2017 survey by housing website Nestpick found that Austin is the third-best city for LGBTQ people in the US and 24th best in the world.

Source: Nestpick



Only two other US cities were ahead of Austin in the ranking: New York (No. 1) and San Francisco (No. 2).

Source: Austin Culture Map



While the weather in Austin is mild generally, summer temperatures can be scorching, often breaching the triple digits.

Source: U.S. News and KEYE



And although Texas is typically a conservative state, the city of Austin skews left. As the Austin-American Statesman’s Eric Webb writes, Austin is a "blueberry in the tomato soup of Texas."

Source: Austin Culture Map and Austin-American Statesman



But it’s Austin’s vibrant music scene that may be one of the city's biggest draws.



The history of the city’s current music reputation — its "musical rebirth" — can be traced to the 1970s.

Source: Austin History Center



That’s when country artist and Texas native Willie Nelson led the charge in shining a national spotlight on Austin as the place to be for the music industry.

Source: Austin History Center



Now, decades later, you’ll find music pouring out of bars, restaurants, and venues on any given day.



There are also several annual events held in Austin celebrating music of all kinds.



There's the annual Austin City Limits festival, now held in Zilker Park during two weekends in the fall.

Source: Austin City Limits Festival



The festival was named after the long-running TV show Austin City Limits that invited musicians from an array of genres to perform onstage at the KLRU studio in Austin.

Source: Austin Relocation Guide



Nelson was the first musician to perform on the show's pilot episode, filmed in 1974.

Source: Austin Relocation Guide



The live concerts are now filmed at the Moody Theatre.

Source: Austin Relocation Guide



There's also the South by Southwest Conference, SXSW, an annual festival that kicked off in 1987 and is held every March.

Source: CNN



SXSW has since evolved from a music-only event and now includes, among other things, a prominent tech conference where techies and startups discuss industry trends and new innovations.

Source: Curbed



The annual SXSW festival isn't the only aspect of Austin that's been infiltrated by the tech industry.



Tech has had a foothold in the city for a long time. But particularly in recent years, the industry’s influence on Austin has begun to show considerably more, bolstering the region's job market as a result.

Source: Bloomberg and U.S. News



According to U.S. News, Austin has a healthier job market than other similarly sized metro areas in the country.

Source: U.S. News



Tech companies like Atlassian, Oracle, Google, Facebook, Apple, and Amazon collectively employ thousands of workers in the Austin area.

Source: City Lab, Austin American-Statesman, Silicon Hills News, Business Insider, and CNBC



State agencies based in Austin constitute another sizable source of local employment.

Source: U.S. News



And the University of Texas employs more than 24,000 staffers. The school is one of the largest public universities in the US.

Source: U.S. News



According to U.S. News, the average annual salary in Austin is $51,840, compared to the national average of $50,620.

Source: U.S. News



And Austin's unemployment rate in 2018 was 2.9%, roughly one percentage point lower than the national average.

Source: U.S. News



While jobs in Austin may be plentiful, getting to them each morning is sometimes painful.



Austin has some serious traffic congestion — the worst in Texas, according to a 2018 TomTom report.

Source: TomTom



An estimated 86% of Austinites drive to work — on par with the national average — and they spend 25% more time in their cars than they would without traffic congestion.

Source: U.S. News and TomTom



For those not wanting to drive, there's Capital Metro, the public transportation system servicing the Austin metro area, as well as Amtrak trains and intercity bus lines.

Source: U.S. News



Alternatively, 1% of Austinites opt to bike instead of drive or take public transit to work.

Source: U.S. News



Outside of regular commuting, cycling plays a big role in Austin's infrastructure.



In 2015, Austin was dubbed a Gold Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists, meaning that the city has gone to great lengths to cultivate a bike-friendly transportation system throughout its territory.

Source: The League of American Bicyclists



Many of the city’s streets have bike-protected lanes, and there's an extensive network of bike trails across Austin's hilly terrain.

Source: Trip Savvy



The hills get particularly steep in West Austin, which is an area of town known for its wealth, specifically in the real-estate market.

Source: U.S. News



West Austin is home to the city’s first million-dollar neighborhood, Barton Creek, where the median real-estate value is now at least $1 million.

Read more: Big tech has so heavily invaded Austin, Texas, that the capital city now has its own $1 million neighborhood. Here's what it's like in the affluent and exclusive Barton Creek district



The overall average home value in Austin isn’t quite that high, but it is around $368,300, compared to the national average of $226,800.

Source: Business Insider



Renters in the city don't have it much easier. The average rent price has grown substantially in recent years to $1,750, which is higher than the national average of $1,715.

Source: Zillow and Zillow



And as more millennials that usually rent instead of buy flock to the city, the market will grow even more saturated, likely raising the rent in the process.

Source: Business Insider



They'll likely keep flocking, thanks in part to everything there is to do in Austin.



For adventurous folk, there’s Barton Springs Pool, the Greenbelt, and over 250 parks.

Source: U.S. News



And then there’s the city’s bar and eatery scene that keeps Austinites entertained from morning to night.



Many of the liveliest places are on the city’s well-known Sixth Street stretch in downtown Austin.



You’ll find plenty of popular spots here, like Voodoo Doughnuts.



Austin’s South Congress district is another favorite.



In the heart of it is Amy's Ice Cream, if you've got a sweet tooth.

Source: Visit Austin



And not far away is Rainey Street, a drag of historic houses turned into bungalow bars.

Source: Visit Austin



Those are just a few of the many parts of the city where you can enjoy yourself.



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