There's a reason Maine is often called "Vacationland." Though the winters are bitterly cold, during the summer and fall the state's coastal cities buzz with tourists looking to make the most of the state's beaches, harbors, and growing culinary scene.

Portland, especially, has become a destination for food-loving travelers, with innovative local restaurants like Eventide, with its 12 varieties of Maine oysters, and the wildly popular sandwich shop Duckfat.

Maine is an enormous state packed with towns worth visiting, but for the purpose of this story, we're focusing on what you can get done in a summer weekend in Portland, the state's biggest city. 

SEE ALSO: How the 'Rich Kids of Instagram' are spending their summers

Portland is a city of roughly 65,000 people on the southern coast of the state.

Portland is about an hour-long flight away from New York City, or a two-and-a-half-hour train ride from Boston.

Much of the city's tourist activity is centered in the Old Port, which has plenty of boutiques, restaurants, and bars.

When it comes to grocery stores with cult followings, two legendary chains stand out: Kroger and Wegmans. 

Krogeris famous for its low prices, while fans say that the Wegmans shopping experience is second to none. 

In an effort to determine which grocery brand reigns supreme, Business Insider decided to visit both chains and take stock of what each have to offer. 

Here's how the two grocery stores compare:

Driving up to the Wegmans in Charlottesville, Virginia, it was immediately clear that this wouldn't be a normal shopping trip.

Wegmans is huge. Once we entered the store, however, we realized that it isn't just large — it's a behemoth.

According to the company, locations stock up to 70,000 products. That's a ton, compared to the slightly more than 40,000 products that the average supermarket stocks, according to the Food Marketing Institute.

To celebrate Independence Day many American's will be cracking open a beer to celebrate the country's founding fathers. 

No one knows more about political drinking than author Mark Will-Weber, whose book "Mint Juleps with Teddy Roosevelt: The Complete History of Presidential Drinking" explores the stories behind each president's favorite alcoholic beverage.

"Presidents drink for the same reasons we all drink," Will-Weber recently told Business Insider. "Sometimes because it's part of the job, sometimes it's because they're lonely or depressed — there's a whole gamut of reasons of why people drink."

For Will-Weber, knowing what the former presidents like to drink brings a "human side" to those who we "normally hold on a pedestal."

Ahead, take a look at the president's favorite alcoholic beverages, rounded up from Will-Weber's book and The New York Post.

SEE ALSO: Stunning vintage photos show how Americans in every state spend their downtime

Our first president, George Washington, was a whiskey drinker, as were Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, Zachary Taylor, and Andrew Johnson. According to Will-Weber, Johnson was so inebriated when he arrived at the 1865 inauguration as Lincoln's vice president that he had to be pulled off the stage.

John Adams reportedly started every morning with a hard cider. William Henry Harrison was also a big fan.

According to Will-Weber, Thomas Jefferson purchased so much wine it put him on the brink of financial ruin.

There are people who are proud to be American, and then there are cities that bust out the red, white, and blue like it's nobody's business.

To celebrate the Fourth of July, we found the most patriotic cities in the US.

We based this list of several criteria, including the percentage of people who are veterans — according to the 2012 American Community Survey— and the percentage of residents 18 and over who voted in the 2012 presidential election. Personal finance site Wallet Hub releases an annual ranking of the best places to celebrate the Fourth, which we also considered.

Melissa Stanger contributed reporting to a previous version of this article.

SEE ALSO: Disturbing before-and-after images show what major US cities could look like in the year 2100

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Virginia is for lovers, veterans, and government employees — with more than 150,000 people working for the government in some capacity. On the national holiday, residents of Virginia Beach head to the shoreline to enjoy a concert from the Quantico Marine Corps Band's Concert Band and Rock Band, food, and fireworks.

St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis bills its annual Fourth of July festivities as "America's Biggest Birthday Party"— and it's only a slight exaggeration. Forest Park, the grounds that once hosted the 1905 World Fair, host a music festival — which this year features Akon, 3 Doors Down, and country superstar Jake Owen — as well as fireworks displays and air shows.

Omaha, Nebraska

Fireworks enthusiasts flock to Omaha each year for the seven fireworks displays spread between July 1 and 4. This year, the largest city in Nebraska hosts Kool & the Gang for its concert and fireworks spectacular at Memorial Park. Locals can also catch a historical reenactment at the 19th-century military fort or partake in patriotic-themed activities at the Omaha Children's Museum.

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

Moving is a stressful experience no matter how you slice it, and taking on the job of finding and outfitting your first apartment as an adult is even more so.

Your first apartment is a perfect storm: an intersection of many needs and low resources. Chances are high that your college roommate might have bought the kitchen utensils... or the vacuum... or the pots and pans...  and now you’re trying to furnish an entire apartment on your own with less money than it seems the job will demand.

The few purchases you do make will need to last you longer than the cheap, seasonal models you bought in college so you’re not in the same spot, dumping more money into a dresser next year. You’ll likely want nicer belongings than plastic storage bins for all of your clothes as an adult now anyway.

Since it's unlikely you have a carte blanche at West Elm, the purchases you do make are best when backed up by the advice of people who’ve been there before and can help you choose wisely. While I went through my post-graduation apartment search recently, I decided to make use of an incredible resource and survey my colleagues on their most valuable first apartment purchases. We spend around 40 hours a week thinking of ways to optimize peoples' lives with valuable products, so the purchases we make for our own homes carry special significance for me.

Below, you'll find the 17 things the Insider Picks team is most glad we bought for our first apartment.

SEE ALSO: This bedding startup's pillows are some of the best I've used, and they're worth every penny

Breton Fischetti, senior director of commerce: Brooklinen sheets

This pick is one that I did with a bit of hindsight, but I lived in a four-bedroom apartment, so my bedroom was the only bit of space in the apartment that was truly mine.

I really enjoyed having a good set of sheets. Once I got them it really made a difference in making the place feel more grownup and put together compared to whatever sheets I had leftover from high school/college. I recently bought a set of Brooklinen sheets and they are a great option. It's definitely a stretch of a purchase for a first apartment, but you use sheets every day so it's worthwhile. 

Brooklinen Luxe Hardcore Sheet Bundle (Queen), $228

A mirror to open up a small room

A first apartment or home is probably going to be smaller, and the easiest way to make a small space feel bigger is with a good mirror. It reflects light and adds depth to any room.

Umbra Mira Wall Mirror, $80

Ellen Hoffman, commerce editor: OXO Mixing Bowl and Colander Set

I bought this set of mixing bowls and colanders when I moved into my first apartment, and years later it’s up there with my tea kettle and cow mugfor most-used items in my kitchen.

The set includes three mixing bowls and three colanders in various sizes with a space-saving, nesting design. So simple, but so practical for anyone who cooks at home a lot.  

OXO Good Grips Nesting Bowls and Colanders Set, $49.99

A little over a year ago, Google unveiled Gboard, an on-screen keyboard for Android and iPhone devices. 

I wasn't an early adopter. In fact, I wondered why anyone would need an alternate keyboard when Apple's is perfectly fine. 

How wrong I was. 

I've now been trying out Gboard for a little over a week and can definitively say it's changed how I type, send messages, find emoji, use GIFs, and search Google. 

In fact, it's such a upgrade from the standard iPhone keyboard that I don't know if I'll ever go back. 

Here are some of my favorite features:

SEE ALSO: 17 helpful Google products and services you never knew existed

1. It's easier to find and send GIFs

Gboard makes it easy to find GIFs and share them without leaving a conversation. You can either search through categories like "High five,""Cheers," or "Thumbs up," or you can type in a search term and scroll through Google's suggestions. To share the GIF, you just tap on it to copy it and then paste it in the text field. 

2. You can search for a specific emoji

One of the iPhone keyboard's major flaws is in how it organizes and helps you find emoji. Apple sorts emoji by category. But it can be hard to remember where to find the more obscure or abstract symbols. (I, for one, can never remember where the heart emoji live).

Gboard makes it a lot easier to quickly find emoji. If you type in a search term, it will display all the relevant emoji so you can choose the one you want to send. This particular feature has already saved me several minutes of hunting. 

3. Google search is built in

Probably the best part of Gboard is that it has Google search built in. That means you never have to leave a conversation when you're trying to look something up or make plans. If you find something worth sharing via the search tool, you can paste it directly into your conversation without having to leave the app. 

The internet may be made up of millions of anonymous strangers, but those strangers can still share some pretty great life advice.

One of the most common questions to come up on Reddit's AskReddit threads is young people asking how to live without regret.

Thousands of people have weighed in over the last several years, offering advice to people of all ages.

Here are some of the shiniest pearls of wisdom from people over 40 to people still in their 30s.

SEE ALSO: Redditors give 20-somethings advice on how to enter your 30s without regrets

"Big goals are just checkpoints and have far less punch in hindsight."

"Big goals are just checkpoints and have far less punch in hindsight. The day-to-day moments of sitting around with friends, cuddling on the couch, laughing together at a funny joke, those moments burn in memory and hold all of the real importance. Attaining or not attaining goals seems to have nothing to do with happiness. Looking back, some of my biggest failures that seemed so catastrophic at the time, feel meaningless. They are just part of my story. The people I've lost, I miss every day. It's only about the people."— clickclickfizzle

"Multitasking is an oxymoron."

"I regret ... living in a shallow blur, by doing too many things adequately vs. a few meaningful things really, really well.

"Multitasking is an oxymoron, and your inbox will always be full — that is its job. But being excellent in a few cherished things (playing piano, skiing, photography, whatever) gives a lasting reward."— mustlovecash

"Stay fit and healthy guys. It's a long way back once you lose it!"

"I got married in my late 20s and really settled into a sedentary lifestyle right through my 30s. Stacked on too much weight and the lack of exercise and terrible diet now sees me having some fairly significant health issues before I even hit 45.

"Stay fit and healthy guys. It's a long way back once you lose it!"— Ozguy23

Owning a big apartment in New York City is great, but having a mansion in the Hamptons is a privilege only the 1% of the 1% can enjoy.

And there may be no more exclusive place to own an East End home than Southampton's Meadow Lane, which Forbes once dubbed "Billionaire Lane."

Take a look at some of the most exclusive properties and their billionaire owners, below:

Megan Willett contributed reporting to an earlier version of this story.

SEE ALSO: The future of the Hamptons is uncertain as prices plummet and luxury buyers head north

DON'T MISS: 27 photos that show why New Yorkers are ditching the Hamptons for a hot destination to the north

Meadow Lane is one of the most expensive addresses in the country, and no wonder — it runs along a coveted beachfront strip in one of the most exclusive towns in the Hamptons. The millionaires and billionaires who live there all reside within throwing distance on the same stretch of road.

Source: Forbes

They also live within easy access of the Southampton Heliport, useful to anyone who travels from Manhattan to the Hamptons by helicopter.

Source: Forbes

In mid-2014, the Hamptons home where Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson holed up in "Something's Gotta Give" sold for $41 million to hotel mogul Jimmy Tisch of Loews Corp. The 8,000-square-foot mansion has 11 bedrooms.

Source: New York Daily News

Good company, delicious food, and plenty of sunshine: That's the winning formula for any summer vacation.

But in certain corners of the country, the summer soirées seem a bit more extravagant.

We turned to Instagram to find out how the most expensive vacation town in America— Southampton, New York — is celebrating this 4th of July.

The occasion is filled with pool parties, fancy backyard dinners, and beautiful views.

Scroll through the photos below to see for yourself:

SEE ALSO: How the 'Rich Kids of Instagram' are spending their summers

DON'T MISS: The 20 most common hobbies of the richest people in the world

Southampton, New York, is located on the East End of Long Island in the Hamptons.

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At least 5% of the homes in Southampton are occupied seasonally, and it doesn't come cheap. The median listing price for a home in the area is $1,950,000, making it the most expensive vacation town in America, according to Trulia.

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The seaside town is a hotspot for travelers during the summer, especially for those looking to escape New York City for a long weekend.

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In his Instagram bio, 12-year-old Jenk Oz calls himself an "actor,""musician,""entrepreneur," and the "CEO/Founder of iCoolKid.com."

He had a role in an Idris Elba film, has appeared in Sky Atlantic's "Fortitude," has acted in West End theatre productions, and has even released his own music.

However, there's even more to the impressive pre-teen.

Along with his mother, ex-Goldman Sachs Managing Director Carmen Greco, he's using his company — a digital media platform aimed at 8-to-15-year-olds — to prove that social media and online communities can be a safe place "for young people to hang out, and never get bored."

For Oz, that means his day to day life involves interviewing celebrities, attending red carpet events, playing extreme sports, and DJing, all the while trying to get some great content for the site and his social media channels.

We caught up with Oz — and Greco — to hear about how the 12-year-old tycoon — who still attends school every day — fits it all in.

From running daily editorial meetings before class to mingling with James Corden, scroll down to see the insane life of 12-year-old Jenz Oz, the youngest CEO in Britain.

This is 12-year-old actor, singer, model, dancer, and musician Jenk Oz. He also happens to be Britain's youngest CEO.

Along with his mother, Carmen Greco, he runs iCoolKid Ltd, a digital media platform aimed at 8-to-15-year-olds that's a safe place 'for young people to hang out, and never get bored.'

Born and raised in London, Oz has worked professionally in TV — he appeared on Sky Atlantic's 'Fortitude', 'A Hundred Streets' starring Idris Elba and West End performances of ‘The Last of De Mullin’ and ‘Taming of the Shrew.'

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He has appeared in documentaries, commercials, print and video campaigns, music videos, has recorded original music, done film voice-over work, and has studied music theory, singing, acting, street dance, ballet, tap, jazz, and plays four instruments to a "high level."

"I've been performing since I was about four years old," he told Business Insider.

"I started doing acting and music very young. I learned to play piano when I was I can't even remember how old — four or five – then adopted the drums and guitar. As of very recently, I've started playing the saxophone, and I'm now highest grade piano."

This Fourth of July marks the 241st anniversary of the United States of America's independence from Britain. Across the US, we'll celebrate, as we always do, with fireworks, barbecues, and car deals.

It's also a good time to think about American history — namely, the people who made the decision to break away from the Mother Country and found a new system.

The Founders were largely a group of politicians, lawyers, military men, and wealthy landowners. That being said, some members of this group held pretty weird jobs, too.

Here are nine particularly unexpected gigs that the Founding Fathers held before (or, in some cases, after) they made it big:

SEE ALSO: The amazing true story of America's coolest founding father

Alexander Hamilton was a 13-year-old shipping prodigy

If you've been lucky enough to see "Hamilton," Lin-Manuel Miranda's smash Broadway hit, you already know this story.

Alexander Hamilton had a rough childhood. His father abandoned the family and his mother died of a fever. To support himself and his brother, Hamilton started clerking at Beekman and Cruger, an import-export firm on the Caribbean island of St. Croix, according to City Journal.

He was only 13 at the time. This teenager ran the entire firm while its owner was at sea. 

Hamilton was basically a child prodigy of maritime commerce.

Thomas Jefferson was a hemp farmer

Don't believe everything you read on the internet. Thomas Jefferson wasn't a pothead.

Along with George Washington and other Virginia planters, Jefferson grew hemp on his plantation, Monticello. He even received a patent for a machine to break hemp and extract fibers, according to Robert Deitch's "Hemp: American History Revisited: The Plant with a Divided History." 

But that doesn't mean he was out celebrating 4/20. Monticello's official website notes that the quote popularly attributed to Jefferson that mentions "smoking hemp" has not been found in any of his writings.

Benjamin Franklin was a rebellious printer

Philosopher, statesman, inventor, author — Benjamin Franklin was a true Renaissance Man.

His curious and independent nature was clear early on in his career. Franklin had been apprenticed to his older brother, a printer. This meant that he was legally bound to serve in the role for a set number of years. 

The static situation wasn't ideal for him. 

According to "Bonds of Citizenship: Law and the Labors of Emancipation" by Hoang Gia Phan, Franklin wrote that he "lik'd [the printer's profession] much better than that of [his] Father, but still had a Hankering for the sea."

So he ran off. Franklin absconded to Philadelphia, where he worked as a rogue printer, before traveling to London to work as a typesetter.

Summer's here, and with it comes a whole new wardrobe — and a whole new opportunity for wardrobe mistakes.

But it doesn't have to be that way.

We've identified five of the most common mistakes that happen when men try to dress for the warmer months.

We also included solutions to those problems, so there's no excuse now.

SEE ALSO: 4 big mistakes guys make with their business attire, according to a menswear expert

The mistake: Going too far with sandals and flip flops.

Just because the weather is warm doesn't mean you should let your feet fly free. Many men see the warmer months as a chance to show everyone their disgusting, unpedicured feet. It shouldn't be this way.

Unless you're going to the beach, all heels, toes, and nails should remain inside the safe confines of a shoe at all times. 

"Men's toes are, in general, unsightly," Donnie Kwak, editor at Complex magazine, told Mashable last year.

It doesn't matter how hot it is — there's absolutely no need to wear sandals or flip flops with casual clothes. Beyond etiquette rules, this is just unsanitary.

If you won't take our word for it, just listen to Mick Jagger.

The solution: Wearing actual shoes.

The mistake: Wearing sunglasses that don't quite fit your face.

Everybody loves the look of Ray-Ban Wayfarers and the classic aviator shape. Unfortunately, regardless of what you might believe from seeing these styles in your favorite movies, they really only fit larger faces. If you don't have the face for it, the styles will look awkward and disproportionate.

The solution: Try sunglasses on before you buy them. Go to an actual store with a friend who will tell you honestly what they think of them.

Another method, if you're a fan of Warby Parker's styles, is to take advantage of its home try-on program. That way, you can try on five styles at your leisure for a few days, asking everyone from your mother to strangers on the street how they think you look.

The mistake: Wearing shorts in the wrong environment.

Look, shorts are great. We're big fans of men wearing shorts in the warmer months — provided they're doing it right.

What we don't like? Shorts where they don't belong. Any dress code above "casual" requires pants, including most workplaces. 

Solution: Know when it's appropriate to wear shorts, and, in general, err on the side of pants. No man should ever think he's going to impress his date with a slick pair of chino shorts. When the sun goes down, the shorts go away, too.

Here they are: the most important charts in the world. 

Once again, we asked dozens of top strategists, economists, and writers for one chart that is top of mind right now. The slideshow includes their verbatim analysis of the trend they picked. 

All of these charts were submitted by June 16, so some of the data may have evolved since then.

With assistance from Rachael Levy, Elena Holodny, and Jonathan Garber.

David Rosenberg

"This is where the power and influence still reside, and nothing is going to stop the inevitability that nearly two million of this critical demographic group will be turning 70 annually for the next 15 years. And they are very likely to make it to 85 or even older with medical advancement.

This has crucial implications for the financial markets because it is when you turn 70 that you undertake the most profound asset mix shift since you were in your 30s and loaded up on equities — when you turn 70, preservation of capital and cash flows becomes much moreimportant, and yet in a world where 'safe yield' has become extremely scarce, the investment challenges for the aging but not yet aged boomers are going to be daunting, to say the least." 

Rick Rieder

"This crisis has under-appreciated negative side effects for the US economy as a whole. Most significantly, student loans are making it harder for first-time home buyers to afford their own home, with more than 70% of would-be first-time buyers saying student loan debt is delaying their home purchase, according to the National Association of Realtors. As a result, the homeownership rate in the US has fallen each of the last six years despite a solid economic recovery, according to the US Census Bureau, with the biggest impact coming from the 25-34 year old cohort as seen in the chart above. 

The student loan burden is not just curtailing young adults’ home buying; it is weakening their consumption in general, posing a major headwind to US economic growth. In addition to the direct economic impact, the student loan crisis could also worsen the class divide. Home ownership levels at age 30 are much lower among those with college debt than those without, and when faced with today’s high college costs coupled with the prospect of taking on significant debt, more students from lower-income households may choose not to attend college, worsening their outlook for employment and wage income over the course of their career. The bottomline: This crisis is likely to be a major drag on the US economy for years to come if it remains unaddressed, and an elegant fiscal-policy solution is needed, the sooner the better."

Torsten Slok

Beer has been around for thousands of years. And though it's one of the most popular beverages in the world, it's also commonly misunderstood. 

Even regular drinkers frequently cite myths about how beer can get skunked or how many calories dark beers contain.

We talked to Sheri Jewhurst and Xavier Jirau, respectively the "dictator" and scientific adviser for Brooklyn homebrew club The Brewminaries, to get to the truth about beer.

How many of these facts did you already know?

SEE ALSO: Why IPA beers have 'India' in their names — and how they fit into a key part of human history

1. When beer gets skunked

2. The relationship between color and strength

3. Ideal serving temperature

The US has a long history of scientific discoveries.

From the invention of the steam-powered boat engine in the 18th Century to the sequencing of the human genome at the turn of the 21st, each state can claim its own scientific advancements.

To celebrate those achievements, we've compiled a list of important science discoveries in every state. Scroll through to find out more.

Tanya Lewis and Melissa Stanger contributed reporting. 

SEE ALSO: 15 ways to stay focused all day, according to scientists

DON'T MISS: What extreme heat does to your body and brain

ALABAMA: The first rocket to send Americans to the moon was built in this state.

The Saturn V rocket that sent the first Americans to the moon in 1969 was primarily designed and built at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The rocket was used to ferry astronauts on all 13 Apollo missions between 1967 and 1973.

ALASKA: Paleontologists spotted a T Rex subspecies.

A new T Rex subspecies was discovered in 2014 on the Pine Creek Formation of Alaska by paleontologists Anthony Fiorillo and Ronald Tykoski. They named it Nanuqsaurus hoglundi. 

ARIZONA: Clyde Tombaugh picked Pluto out of the sky.

In 1930, Clyde Tombaugh, a young astronomer at Flagstaff's Lowell Observatory discovered Pluto, which was our solar system's ninth planet before it was demoted to a "dwarf planet." And in 2015, NASA's New Horizons spacecraft flew by Pluto for the first time, snapping this stunning image.

You know an airport is bad when the President of the United States calls it "third world."

"Our airports are like from a third world country," Trump said in late 2016, calling out LAX and New York City’s three international airports.

Many Angelenos and New Yorkers apparently agree, according to a recent J.D. Power study of airport satisfaction. These are among the airports that fared worse=t in a survey of more than 36,000 travelers who made round-trip flights between January and October 2016. Participants were asked about everything from the airport's level of congestion to flight delays to the cleanliness of the restrooms.

Here are the five least satisfying airports from the study:

SEE ALSO: Donald Trump called LaGuardia Airport ‘third world’ — here’s the design that will transform it

6. Los Angeles International Airport

On a 1,000-point scale, travelers scored LAX a 702.

The airport is know for its long waits to get through security, immigration, and customs, according to the LA Times. Some travelers have also complained of poor signage, limited seating, unclean restrooms, and crowded terminals.

There are renovations planned for the airport, including a $1.6-billion midfield terminal that will add 12 gates for aircrafts. In February 2016, a revamped Terminal 2 also opened, which now features a mix of 20 new local and chain restaurants, more open space, and luxury retail.

5. Boston Logan Airport

On a 1,000-point scale, travelers scored Boston Logan Airport a 689.

The airport deals with extreme congestion: there were more than 5.5 million arrivals and departures in 2015, the Boston Globe reported. In the past, TSA lines have also stretched up to three hours. And the Globe notes that it's still not uncommon to have over five flights land within the same hour.

In 2016, the Massachusetts Transportation Authority approved a $45 million redevelopment plan, which includes expanding some terminals, for the airport.

4. Chicago O'Hare Airport

On a 1,000-point scale, travelers scored O'Hare a 689.

Due largely to weather, O'Hare can be a nightmare for flight delays — a major reason for its low score in the study. Thunderstorms and snow storms were relatively mild for O’Hare in 2016, which reduced flight delays compared to previous years, according to the researchers.

The outrage caused by weekend photographs of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie lounging on a public beach amid a statewide shutdown carried a familiar tone.

With scandals that range from shutting down a major bridge to get back at a democratic mayor to saying that teachers unions need a "slap in the face," Christie's career has been rocked by repeated controversies — and, as of June 2017, approval ratings of no more than 15%.

Once trying his luck as a presidential candidate, here is how Christie became one of the least popular governors in the country today.

SEE ALSO: 'I didn't get any sun': Photos show Chris Christie lounging on state beach he closed in government shutdown

Since assuming office as 55th governor of New Jersey in 2010, Chris Christie has become known for his combative politics and repeated scandals during his tenure.

Source: Biography.com

After finishing a law degree at Seton Hall University in 1987, Christie spent several years working as a lawyer before becoming involved in politics. Over the next two decades, he would lobby for large energy companies and help fundraise for George W. Bush's presidential campaign.

Source: Biography.com

In 2001, Bush named Christie US Attorney for the District of New Jersey despite his limited experience in politics.

Source: White House Archives

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

The Insider Pick:

• When trying to beat the summer heat outdoors, a glass of lemonade at the pool works great. Beating the heat indoors works best with an electric fan. The best electric fan is the Vornado 660 Large Whole Room Air Circulator fan, as it provides the best mix of versatility, good airflow, and quiet operation. 

Most people love summer, but there are three little things that make it rough: Excessive heat, the stinky sweat that heat causes, and nasty tan lines. You wear high socks one time while mowing the lawn, and you have to live down the bad tan line all summer.

Fortunately, the best electric fans can help you with the first two problems. Electric fans move a volume of air around your body, allowing you to feel cooler and sweat less. When a larger fan moves air, it circulates the air throughout a room, eliminating hot spots and cold spots.

Electric fans have been around for decades, but that doesn’t mean they’ve stood still, just spinning their wheels … or blades. Even a simple home appliance like an electric fan has seen impressive gains in function and performance over recent years. With all of the available designs, finding a fan that can meet your specific needs has never been easier.

Considerations for a fan

Although a fan seems like a simple device, it actually has a variety of uses that make it a valuable appliance for your home. Sure, you could buy a basic fan with no features for a really low price. But missing out on these features means you might as well go back to the Victorian era with fancy handheld fans. Just don’t go back to wearing heavy, long clothing in the summer, or that stinky sweat problem we mentioned earlier will grow about ten-fold, fan or no fan.

• Keep cool: Having air move across your skin helps keep you cool, so a fan is a great option. Not only does the moving air feel good against your skin, but, as Gizmodo discusses, it also evaporates sweat on the skin, which is the body’s method of cooling itself.
• Circulating air: Your furnace and air conditioner will run less often when you have better air circulation in the room. The fan can distribute the air more evenly, allowing the temperature to be uniform throughout the room.
• Oscillating: An oscillating fan turns back and forth, allowing the air movement to shift throughout the room. If you have multiple people in the room — or if your big dog likes to lay directly in front of the non-oscillating fan — the rotation of the fan works well, making sure everyone feels some air movement.
• Power source: Most electric fans run from an electrical cord plugged into an outlet. Some small fans will run from batteries, though.
• Room size: Larger fans will distribute air more evenly throughout a larger room. A smaller fan works better in a small room or if you only want to move air near a desk, for example.
• Variable air movement: Many fans offer multiple settings for air movement by spinning the blades at different speeds, as The Sweethome explains. A lower setting moves less air through the room, but it runs quieter than higher settings. By changing the power settings, you can control the noise and air movement of the fan.

Different fan designs

As discussed in The Independent, Galt Technology, and The Sweethome, several different fan designs exist. No matter what design you select, we don’t recommend trying the “stop the fan blades with your tongue” trick. Leave that one to the crazy YouTube stars.

• Floor or window fans: A fan that sits on the floor is the largest type of fan. Floor fans include box fans and round fans with large bases that sit low. You might wedge this type of fan into an open window to help circulate air, too.
• Non-traditional fans: A non-traditional fan won’t feature spinning blades. Some of these types of fans also will work as heaters by flipping a switch. These uncommon fan designs will carry a higher price point than bladed fans. Some non-traditional fans use a decorative design to hide the fact that they are fans, allowing them to work well in a room’s décor, according to Air-N-Water.
• Pedestal fans: A pedestal fan uses a long pole to elevate the fan’s blade housing. You can change the elevation of the housing to meet the needs in different rooms. The base of the pedestal fan is large, allowing the fan to run without wobbling.
• Personal fans: A small personal fan may include a clip, allowing you to place it almost anywhere … even on a shirt collar. These tiny fans don’t move air around an entire room but may help you feel cooler while sitting at a desk or at a baseball game. Some of these fans run from batteries.
• Tower fans: A tower fan is a specific non-traditional fan design. Towers are tall and thin, meaning they occupy less space than a traditional fan that has a large, round fan blade housing. Tower fans tend to run quieter than traditional fan blade designs.

We've rounded up the best electric fans you can buy for any room or need. We've included highly rated normal fans, tower styles, personal ones, and other special fan designs.  Read on to learn all about our top picks and find the fan for you. If you're in the market for an air conditioner, too, you should check out our guide to the best window ACs on Insider Picks.

If you're outfitting your new home or apartment, check out more of our great buying guides like the best memory foam pillows, the best mattress toppers, the best sheets, the best mattresses, the best pillows, the best bar stools, the best light bulbs, the best coffee tables, the best area rugs,  the best clothes hangers, the best cordless vacuum cleaners, the best laundry baskets and hampers, and more on Insider Picks.

Although the Vornado 660 Large Whole Room Air Circulator Fan is our top electric fan pick, for various reasons laid out in the slides below, you should also consider the Seville Classics Ultra Slimline Tower Fan, the Avalon Convertible Table-Top and Clip Fan, the Rowenta VU5551 Turbo Silence Oscillating Fan, and the Dyson Air Multiplier AM06 Table Fan.

SEE ALSO: The best window air conditioners you can buy

The best electric fan overall

Why you'll love it: The Vornado 660 Large Whole Room Air Circulator fan sets itself apart from the crowd with multiple air flow settings and a small footprint.

For a versatile electric fan, the Vornado 660 Large Whole Room Air Circulator earns high marks. It works in a number of different situations and locations, so it should fit almost everyone's needs. The fan is small enough to set on a desk and keep you cool as a personal fan, but the Vornado 660 has enough power at the highest setting to circulate the air properly in a large room, too.

Gizmodo's review highlights the high level of air circulation power you’ll receive with the Vornado 660 versus its size. It only measures about 15 x 13.5 x 12 inches, so it can fit just about anywhere. Don't let its small size fool you, though. The Boing Boing review praises the power of the 660 fan and points out that it offers four air speed settings, as well as a longer than average power cord, which frees you up to place the fan in multiple locations.

One Amazon reviewer loves the fact that the Vornado 660 runs silently on the lowest power setting, while delivering an impressive level of air flow at the highest power setting, if you don’t mind a bit of noise. However, another Amazon buyer felt this fan didn’t deliver enough airflow power for its high price. 

Most buyers seem to agree that the Vornado fan is more than powerful enough to cool large or small spaces, and expert reviewers consistently praise this fan. It is pricey, but it's a worthwhile investment for a powerful fan that's built to work in a variety of situations.

Pros: Four power settings to precisely adjust airflow, small footprint versus some fans of equal power, longer than average power cord, available in black or white colors, silent operation on low setting

Cons: High price point, some noise on high setting

Buy the Vornado 660 Large Whole Room Air Circulator Fan on Amazon for $99.99 (originally $139.99)

The best quiet electric tower fan

Why you'll love it: The Seville Classics Ultra Slimline Tower Fan offers the best combination of silent operation and airflow in an attractive tower fan design.

One of the most common complaints we all have about electric fans is noise. Sure, almost any electric fan can move a lot of air. However, it may sound like a fleet of airplanes have invaded your home when your old box fan gets going on the high setting.

If you need a quiet fan that also moves a decent amount of air, the Seville Classics Ultra Slimline Tower Fan is a terrific option. This tower style fan runs far quieter than most blade style fans, while offering a good price point, according to The Sweethome review.

Your Best Digs says that although the Seville tower fan runs a little noisier than other tower fans, its noise is not a deal breaker because of its strong air flow performance versus other tower fans. It's also much quieter than your average box fan just by virtue of being a tower fan.

Another plus is the helpful remote control unit that comes with the Ultra Slimline fan, AMZ Shopping Reviews points out. You can adjust the fan speed without having to leave your perch on the couch. Additionally, this Seville fan has some nice versatility, as it’s available in either 17- or 40-inch models, as well as in black or white shells. It should look decent in any room, and it's less ostentatious than a big box fan.

One Amazon reviewer praises the Seville Classics Ultra Slimline for its quiet performance and good air movement. The most common complaint among Amazon customers regarding these Seville tower fans is a lack of longevity. However, if you take good care of it, it should last at least a few years.

Pros: Nice looking tower design, outperforms other tower fans in terms of air flow, runs much quieter than most blade style fans, offers a reasonably good price point, available in black or white shell colors

Cons: Longevity is a question mark with these fans, runs a little louder than other tower style fans

Buy the Seville Classics Ultra Slimline Oscillating Tower Fan on Amazon for $25.99 (17-inch) or $59.99 (40-inch)

The best personal electric fan

Why you'll love it: If you want a little fan that works well for personal use in multiple locations, the Avalon C0nvertible Table-Top and Clip Fan is the one for you.

Most clip-on products carry a stigma of geekdom with them. Clip-on necktie? Geeky. Sunglasses that clip over your prescription glasses? Really geeky. Clip-on electric fan? It may look geeky, but the Avalon Convertible Table-Top and Clip Fan works so well that you’ll put up with any sarcastic comments sent your way. Plus, you have the option of reconfiguring your Avalon fan to make it a small table top fan with a base, no clip required.

In its review, Bustle review appreciates the strong clip on the Avalon Convertible fan, because the clip will hold the fan sturdily on the side of a desk or back of a chair. You can even adjust the angle of the fan housing to ensure the proper direction of the airflow.

The Woot review mentions the versatility of personal uses for this fan, whether you need a fan at your workspace during the day, near your bedside at night, or anywhere in between. One Amazon reviewer loves using the Avalon Clip fan in the bathroom to avoid sweating while applying makeup. However, another Amazon customer disliked the excessive noise this little fan generates, so it may not be the best bedside fan.

The plastic six-inch Avalon Convertible Table-Top and Clip fan is available in white, blue, or pink at an extremely low price point. It offers two operational speed settings, too, which isn't too shabby for a tiny fan.

Pros: Extremely low price, versatile fan with a clip or a base, sturdy clip keeps fan in place, three different color options, two speed settings, works well as a personal fan in numerous locations

Cons: No option to run from battery, runs a little noisily

Buy the Avalon Convertible Table-Top and Clip Fan on Amazon for $14.99 to $19.99 (price varies based on color)

Heavy is the head that wears the crown of largest seafood restaurant in the US. 

Long John Silver's is a 48-year-old chain with a long history of serving up fried fish and other seafood inspired fare.

However, in recent years, the chain has experienced significant struggles. Yum Brands, the parent company of KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut, sold the chain to franchisee groups in 2011, after the chain — along with sibling brand A&W — failed to substantially grow under Yum's nine years of ownership.

In 2015, CEO James O'Reilly said the chain needed to "fix what we've got," a promise that the company has followed up with store redesigns, new uniforms, and fresh leadership. 

Turning around a chain that seems past its prime is no easy accomplishment. In an effort to see what exactly Long John Silver's needs to "fix," Business Insider visited a location in Staunton, Virginia. 

Arriving at the Long John Silver's/A&W co-branded location — one of many that were created under Yum Brand's leadership — hopes of a true seafaring experience were quickly squashed.

The location immediately felt grubby and claustrophobic. Still, it takes a lot of scare us off — this was the 10th chain restaurant we had visited in 48 hours, and sometimes the finest fare lurks behind the most questionable counters.

Walking up to the counter, my colleague and I were told by an exhausted cashier it was going to be a significant wait. A few minutes later, she locked the restaurant's door, hanging a sign: "Closed for 30 mins. VAT has shut down. Sorry."

Greater Mexico City is home to over 21 million people, making it the biggest metropolitan area in the western hemisphere and the largest Spanish-speaking city in the world.

But the region is deeply divided between the haves and have-nots.

A mere four multimillionaires account for 9% of the country's GDP, according to a 2015 report by international aid organization Oxfam. For comparison, nearly half of the population lives under the poverty line. The wealth gap has widened in recent years.

In 2016, photographer Johnny Miller set out to capture Mexico City's inequality from above. The images, taken by a consumer drone, show the contrast as rarely seen before.

Miller shared his work from the Thompson Reuters Foundation series, Slumscapes, with us. You can check out more on his project website, Unequal Scenes.

SEE ALSO: A drone captured these shocking photos of inequality in South Africa

Mexico City is a bustling metropolis that sits atop a dried lakebed. The region once served as the heartland of the Aztec Empire, until the Spaniards conquered it in the 16th century.

There are reminders of its ancient history in street names and festivals. But in many ways, Mexico City is not unlike many US cities, with its triple-decker highways and skyscrapers.

One thing sets it apart. Mexico's capital city is one of the most unequal cities in the world.