Quantcast
Channel: Features
Viewing all 61683 articles
Browse latest View live

All the ways grocery stores trick you into spending more money

0
0

grocery checkout line cart

Everyone has dealt with this scenario before: you’re supposed to take a quick trip to the grocery store and two hours later you come home with tons of grocery bags and hundreds of dollars gone from your bank account. It’s no mistake; grocery stores actually strategize gimmicks to make you spend more money. Instead of being another victim of supermarkets’ games, keep an eye out for these slick tactics and keep your money in your pocket. And before you hit the store, be sure to check out the 46 Best Supermarket Shopping Tips Ever to save cash and stay slim.

Free samples

Anything labeled “free” would make you think that you’re saving money, but that’s not true. These bite-sized samples give you just enough of a taste to cause you to buy the full-sized item instead of sticking to your shopping list. Also, these are usually samples of fattening, processed foods, so make sure you do your research and avoid one of the 150 Worst Packaged Foods in America the next time you try some of these sample-sized bites.



Beefing up your meat

You may have noticed that some of the meat in the grocery store have a note that says saline solution has been added. That means that the giant piece of steak you’re holding has actually been injected or soaked with water. It may seem harmless, but it actually gives the meat more weight, causing you to pay more for less meat.



"Cage-free" eggs

We hate to burst your cruelty-free bubble, but some of those cage-free eggs aren’t actually cage-free. Some factories just use bigger cages that can be considered a “cage-free” environment, which jacks up the price of those eggs at little cost to the farmer.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

4 tech accessories that will make Apple's latest MacBooks a lot more useful

0
0

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.

MacBookOver the next couple of years, USB-C will become the dominant charging cable for phones, tablets, and even laptops, but there have been a few bumps in the road.

Well-made adapters that let you connect to your older peripherals have been few and far between, and the good ones tend to cost a small fortune. 

This is particularly frustrating if you own a new MacBook or MacBook Pro, since USB-C is the only port Apple built into them. Thankfully AmazonBasics, Amazon's house brand for tech products, now has a handful of solutions to this problem.

You can see all of the new adapters here, but we've called out the most useful ones below. Whether you're connecting to an external display, your favorite accessories, or want to use a wired internet connection, you can find what you need here.

DON'T MISS: These upgrades can help you extend the life of your MacBook Pro or Air for years

USB, HDMI, and USB-C

Arguably the most useful adapter, this one lets you connect to a regular USB peripheral and external display at up to 4K while also charging your MacBook.

AmazonBasics USB 3.1 Type-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter, $39.99



USB (4x)

This adapter replaces your traditional USB hub to connect to all of your old accessories.

AmazonBasics USB 3.1 Type-C to 4 Port USB Hub, $15.99



USB (3x) and Ethernet

This adapter forgoes one USB port, but includes Ethernet in case your wireless connection is spotty.

AmazonBasics USB 3.1 Type-C to 3 Port USB Hub with Ethernet Adapter, $23.99



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

11 fast food items that are surprisingly under 300 calories

0
0

burger king bacon cheeseburger deluxe


What if rolling through the drive-thru on your way home from work didn’t have to mean giving up on that calorie goal? Turns out there are some low-cal options amongst the not-so-great waist-wideners that are usually taking up space on fast food menus. From snacks to full-on meals, we've rounded up 11 orders that you can drive home with — and pencil into your food journal — guilt-free. They may be fast food, but they’re still better than
The #1 Worst Menu Options At 41 Popular Restaurants.

Jack in the Box Breakfast Jack

No need to feel bad the next time you can't resist a breakfast Jack. The sandwich may be filling, thanks to the eggs, cheese, and ham between the buns, but it stays just under 300 calories while still packing on the protein. Of course, if you can, always go for these 15 Healthy Breakfast Ideas instead for fresher ingredients from your own kitchen.



Arby's Jalapeno Bites

You might think five jalapeno bites won’t keep you satiated for long, but think again. With hot peppers and cream cheese dipped in fried batter, each bite will have you reaching for your water. You'll fill up on liquids while chewing on such a spicy snack. Plus, it's far less calories than a traditional Arby's sandwich, which averages about 500 calories!



Burger King Bacon Cheeseburger Deluxe

While this "deluxe" menu item may sound like it's crammed with calories, it's got even less than a small order of fries at Wendy's. With more grams of protein than fat and only 640 milligrams of sodium, this is a bacon burger you can brag about buying.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

MeUndies, a wildly popular LA underwear startup, is expanding into socks — and they're really comfortable

0
0

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.

Screen Shot 2017 09 25 at 3.26.48 PMAlong with underwear, socks are one of the most important parts of everyone's wardrobe.

Chances are you wear both underwear and socks every day, so you can never really have too many pairs — unless you like doing laundry.

Going to the store to stock up might sound like the easiest way to keep a full drawer of underwear that are in good condition, but it's not.

Founded in 2011, Los Angeles-based startup MeUndies looked to change the way people buy underwear by making it fun and easy with cool patterns (you can even get matching pairs for your partner) and subscription box services. 

Now, the company that made millions of people feel good with just underwear, is expanding into socks.

Just like the underwear, MeUndies socks are available in classic and adventurous styles. For $8 a month, you'll receive a fun new pair of socks in the mail, and if you decide to skip a month or cancel, there are no additional fees. Subscribers will get to choose between four style, the Supima Crew Sock, ProModal Crew Sock, Supima No Show Sock, and ProModal No Show Sock.

MeUndies sent over a few pairs of their new socks for me to try out, and they're some of the best socks I've ever worn.

Many other members of the Insiders Picks team have tried underwear and apparel from MeUndies, so when the company announced that it would be selling socks, they were very happy. Based off of their reactions, I was excited to give the socks a try, too. 

My first impression upon receiving the socks was that my co-workers were absolutely right about MeUndies — these socks are amazing. 

There are plenty of brands that market cool, crazy, and fun socks, but what separates MeUndies from the pack is how they feel. First and foremost, socks should be comfortable, and MeUndies exceeded all of my expectations. 

Using an soft blend of Modal and Lyocell, the ProModal socks are the perfect balance between lightweight and good cushioning.

While the ProModals feel great on my feet, the Supima versions are my absolute favorite. Using long staple Supima cotton, they're a bit thicker and feel like pillows. Unlike thick boot socks, the Supima socks are ultra soft and provide a lot of cushioning. If your shoes have unforgiving insoles, I'm convinced that these can help your keep your feet comfortable during the day.

Whether you choose to sign up for a subscription or want to buy a single pair, you really can't go wrong with a pair of socks from MeUndies.

Shop all socks for men and women at MeUndies now.

Check out the variations, below: 

SEE ALSO: This startup makes the most comfortable pair of underwear I’ve ever worn

Supima Cotton Crew Socks

MeUndies Supima Cotton Crew Socks, $12



ProModal Crew Socks

MeUndies ProModal Crew Socks, $12 (or $10.67 when you buy 3 pairs)



Supima Cotton No Show Socks

MeUndies Supima Cotton No Show Socks, $12



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The highest-paid player on all 32 NFL teams

0
0

derek carr

The two most important aspects of building a successful football team are to find a franchise quarterback and to manager the team's salary cap.

Interestingly, only seven quarterbacks are their team's highest-paid player this season, down from 15 in 2016. Of the other 25 teams, 19 have a defensive player as their highest-paid player and of those, six are cornerbacks and six are defensive ends. This suggests teams are investing more and more money into stopping quarterbacks.

Here are the 32 players who will make the most money on their respective teams this season.

Contract details provided by Spotrac.com.

32. Jason Peters — $11,250,000

Team: Philadelphia Eagles

Position: Left tackle

2017 earnings breakdown: $3.0 million salary, $8.0 million signing bonus, and $250,000 workout bonus.

One thing to know: Peters has a salary cap hit of just $6.9 million and the Eagles do not have any players with a cap hit over $9.9 million. Of the Eagles' top ten cap hits, four are offensive linemen.



31. Drew Brees — $13,000,000

Team: New Orleans Saints

Position: Quarterback

2017 earnings breakdown: $13.0 million salary

One thing to know: Brees' contract expires after the 2017 season and speculation has already begun that the team will look to move in a different direction from Brees who will be 39 in 2018.



30. Gerald McCoy — $13,250,000

Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Position: Defensive tackle

2017 earnings breakdown: $13.25 million salary

One thing to know: McCoy is one of only two Buccaneers players with a cap hit over $8.0 million.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NFL players and teams around the league defiantly reacted to Trump's comments by protesting during the national anthem

0
0

Patriots protest

Sunday gave NFL teams their first chance to demonstrate during the national anthem in response to President Donald Trump's condemnation of such protests, and teams across the league participated.

On Friday while speaking at a rally in Alabama, Trump had derided NFL players who chose to kneel during the national anthem to protest police violence against black people, saying: "Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a b---- off the field right now, out — he's fired!'"

Teams, players, and commissioner Roger Goodell responded with statements defending players' right to kneel. Goodell said the president's comments showed an "unfortunate lack of respect for the NFL."

Teams across the league demonstrated in various ways during the early games Sunday, with some teams standing arm-in-arm together and some both with players kneeling and with players standing with linked arms. Over an hour after kickoff, the president tweeted about the protests again, saying, "Standing with locked arms is good — kneeling is not acceptable."

You can take a look at how different teams chose to show solidarity below.

Dallas Cowboys

The entire Cowboys team momentarily took a knee prior to the anthem for the "Monday Night Football Game" as a "statement for equality and as a representation of unity." The team then stood for the anthem.



Baltimore Ravens

Sunday's first game got started early in London. Some players on the Baltimore Ravens stood arm-in-arm during the anthem, while many others including Mike WallaceTony Jefferson, Terrell Suggs, and former Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis chose to kneel.



Jacksonville Jaguars

It was a similar scene on the Jacksonville sideline in London, with some players standing arm-in-arm and others choosing to take a knee. Eli Ankou, Tashaun Gipson, A.J. Bouye, and 10 other Jaguars all knelt for the anthem. Also notable was the presence of Jaguars owner Shahid Khan locking arms with players.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 19 British universities that produce the highest paid graduates

0
0

city uni facebook city, university of london

For many students attending university is a means to an end: securing a fulfilling and well-paid job once they graduate.

Money is often seen as the most important factor in choosing a job for graduates, so with that in mind, Business Insider decided to take a look at the British universities that produce the best-paid graduates.

The recently released Good University Guide, published by The Times and Sunday Times, shows that graduates of Britain's elite institutions like Oxford and Cambridge are among the best paid, but that many lesser known universities in London make the list.

This reflects the fact that graduates attending university in the capital are more likely to stay in the city, where salaries are generally higher. While pay might be higher, cost of living is much higher in London compared to most other cities in the UK.

Check out the top universities for graduate pay below. We've also included in brackets the universities' overall position in the Good University Guide:

T=18 (122). Birkbeck, University of London — Average graduate salary: £23,000



T=18 (59). Brunel University, London — Average graduate salary: £23,000



T=11 (=106). London South Bank University — Average graduate salary: £24,000



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 20 most unhealthy countries in the world

0
0

freedom fries USA

Clinic Compare, a British clinic comparison website, has put together a ranking of the most unhealthy countries in the world.

Using data from the World Health Organization (WHO), the CIA World Factbook, and the World Lung Association, the company analysed 179 countries, looking at alcohol and tobacco consumption per person, per year, as well as the prevalence of obesity.

The rankings for each factor were combined to give each country an overall score in order to determine which population has the unhealthiest lifestyle.

Eastern Europe dominated the top 10 most unhealthy countries, while Oceania came out as the "fattest region in the world." Scroll on to see the 20 most unhealthy countries in the world, ranked from best to worst.

20. Ukraine. The country took joint eighth place for alcohol consumption — each resident consumes the equivalent of 12.8 litres of pure alcohol every year.



19. United Kingdom. The UK ranks 19th for unhealthiness, with its residents being the ninth heaviest drinkers in the world.



18. Romania. On average, each resident smokes 1,619 cigarettes per year.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 30 most visited cities around the world in 2017

0
0

Singapore

This week Mastercard released its 2017 Global Destination Cities Index, which provides a ranking of the 132 most visited cities around the world.

Measured by the number of international overnight visitors, the study, now in its ninth year, predicts which countries will be the most visited in 2017.

From Mumbai to Miami, here are the 30 cities set to see the most visitors this year:

30. Johannesburg, South Africa — 4.8 million international visitors.



29. Berlin, Germany — 5.1 million international visitors.



28. Toronto, Canada — 5.3 million international visitors.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 13 best restaurants in the UK to try in 2018

0
0

Roast Grouse, smoked leg, Beetroot and Elderberry bohemia jersey restaurant michelin star

The UK is home to thousands of quality restaurants, pioneering street food vendors, and some of the best fine-dining experiences in the world.

In a country with such high standards and expectations from consumers, competition at the very top of the pile can be fierce — with the occupier of the top spot ever-changing.

The Waitrose Good Food Guide 2018 has released a list of the 50 best restaurants in the UK which will continue to blossom and prove themselves as the cream of the crop as they lead the British dining scene into the new year.

Including relaxed social eateries, blast-from-the-past conceptual menus, and fine dining excursions hidden away in unlikely places, scroll on to discover the 13 best restaurants in the UK that every foodie needs to visit in 2018 — ranked in ascending order.

13. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, London — A homage to the history of British gastronomy, creator Heston Blumenthal worked with a team of food historians to rediscover some of the quirkiest creations to hit dinner tables through the centuries and to bring a slice of their theatre to his own Knightsbridge restaurant.



12. Ynyshir, Powys — Perched on the edge of Snowdonia National Park near Aberystwyth, the relationship between Ynyshir's location and ingredients is a key factor in each of its set menus guided by seasonal ingredients and the local climate.



11. Bohemia, Jersey — Sat just 14 miles from the French coast, this British restaurant makes the most of both French and British produce with a menu for every occasion — including an ever-changing, six-course surprise dinner menu where guests have no clue what's coming until each course is served.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

10 must-have travel tech accessories

0
0

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.

luggage baggage airport travelRalph Waldo Emerson once said, "Life is a journey, not a destination." Yeah, well he never had to take a 10-hour flight in coach.

Vacations are fun (hopefully), but getting to the destination and losing out on some of the creature comforts of home is kind of a drag. Then you have to try to keep yourself entertained, hope your bag doesn't get lost, and make sure you don't fry your favorite gadget when traveling overseas.

The accessories on this list will help you out on all those fronts. They'll also help you drown out travel noise, keep your devices nice and charged, and help your phone survive a dunk in the water.

SEE ALSO: 5 great tech brands you’ve probably never heard of

DON'T MISS: 50 must-have tech accessories under $50

A high-capacity external battery

External battery chargers have become popular, but because they get bigger in size along with how much power they provide, many folks only have a small one. Do yourself a favor and invest in a slightly larger, but way-higher-capacity battery like this one from Anker. It weighs less than a pound, but has the ability to charge an iPhone 6 seven times. There's nothing worse than thinking you have enough power to get you through a trip, but getting stuck with a nasty layover or missed connection. Plus, this one has two USB ports, so you can help out a friend if you're traveling together.

Anker PowerCore 20100 Portable Charger, $39.99, available at Amazon



A power converter

Don't fry your electronics when you go overseas. This is coming from a well-seasoned traveler who still managed to slip up last summer. It's a little heavy-duty looking, but if you're going abroad for a significant amount of time, it's well worth investing in a power converter like this one from BESTEK.

In addition to its three outlets, this power converter has 4 USB ports, so you don't have to take up any outlets when you need to charge your phone or tablet. If you're picking one of these up you'll be all set for travel to Europe, the US, UK, or Australia. 

BESTEK International Travel Voltage Converter, $36.99, available at Amazon

 

 



A waterproof Bluetooth speaker

If you're going on a beach vacation, it's a good idea to bring a waterproof Bluetooth speaker along. You can listen to your favorite tunes without worrying about it getting destroyed if a big wave comes or it gets left in the rain. 

Out of all the durable options I've tested, JBL's Flip 4 has survived my most aggressive water test yet: 10 minutes of full submersion. It's also small enough to fit in a carry-on bag in transit, and a beach bag when it's time to hang out by the water.

JBL Flip 4, $88.66, available at Amazon



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

There are $3 billion of rare superyachts on sale at the Monaco Yacht Show — take a look inside

0
0

Legend yacht monaco

Yacht enthusiasts hailing from around the globe are gathering at the Monaco Yacht Show on Wednesday to see some of the most stunning superyachts on the market.

This year's show will showcase more than 125 superyachts valued at a total 2.5 billion (just under $3 billion). The luxury yachts feature hot tubs, helipads, and gorgeous living rooms with pianos.

IYC, a global firm specializing in the sale of luxury yachts, gave us a sneak preview of some of the biggest ones on display at the Monaco Yacht Show. Scroll down for a closer look.

SEE ALSO: Here's how the super rich buy mega-yachts

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

1. The BLISS yacht is built by luxury yacht manufacturer Heesen. The 40-meter (131-foot) ship will cost €14.5 million ($17 million).



Here's the main salon, which has a massive seating area and accompanying entertainment system. There's also a Jacuzzi and sauna on board.



There's also a bar with a direct view of the ocean.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

11 delicious ways to eat eggs for dinner

0
0

egg tacos

The INSIDER Summary:

  • There are so many ways to eat eggs for dinner.
  • Fried and poached eggs make great toppers on burgers, salads, and avocado toast.
  • Eggs also work in soup and tacos.


The average American eats 250 eggs per year, and it's easy to see why. They're cheap, versatile, and, obviously, delicious.

At the end of a long day, that carton of eggs sitting in your fridge can be the base of a quick and flavorful dinner.

Here are 10 hearty meals you can make with eggs.

Fried rice

It's easy to make a ton of fried rice and stock up for busy weeknights. Just make sure you store it properly.

Get the recipe here.



Shakshouka

Shakshouka is a North African dish in which eggs are simmered in a spicy, tangy tomato sauce.

Get the recipe here.



Egg tacos

Most vegetables work well with egg tacos, so it's a great way to use up leftover produce as well.

Get the recipe here.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The iPhone 8 Plus beats the best smartphone camera from Samsung

0
0

iPhone 8 plus cameras

Could Samsung's reign as the top smartphone-camera maker be coming to an end?

Samsung has enjoyed the top spot ever since it released the Galaxy S7 in early 2016. But the iPhone 8 Plus has made an incredible impression, and I can safely say that Apple's latest device takes better photos.

In judging the photos taken with each device, I looked at which photos I'd prefer to show friends and family, and which device I'd rather use to capture my memories.

Check out the photos taken with both smartphones:

SEE ALSO: If you think the iPhone X's $1,000 price tag is expensive, see how much it costs around the world

Here, the iPhone 8 Plus takes a brighter and less dreary photo than the Galaxy Note 8. I'd rather show the iPhone 8 Plus' photo to my friends or family.

 



This photo was taken with both phones' secondary "telephoto" lens, which uses optical zoom. The contrast between darker and brighter parts in the Note 8's photo is technically better, but it's so dark that I'd pick the iPhone's photo.

 

 



Zooming 100% into each of the photos reveals just how much better the Note 8's contrast is on a cloudy day — it makes it appear more detailed. Still, I'd prefer the iPhone's photo overall.

 

 

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's the Boeing jet that will become a vital link between Australia and Europe

0
0

787 9 QAN #615_ Paint Hangar Roll Out_072

Next March, Qantas will inaugurate its new non-stop flight from Perth, Western Australia to London. The first ever non-stop flight between Europe and Australia.

"When Qantas created the Kangaroo Route to London in 1947, it took four days and nine stops," Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said in a statement during the flight's announcement last December. "Now it will take just 17 hours from Perth non-stop."

In fact, the 9,008 mile-long flight will be the third longest scheduled commercial flight in the world, right after Air India's 9,400-mile flight from Delhi to San Francisco and Qatar Airways' 9,032-mile flight from Doha to Auckland, New Zealand.

The Perth to London route will overtake the airline's 8,531-mile non-stop flight between Sydney and Dallas, Texas. That flight is operated by Airbus A380 superjumbos. 

Last week, Boeing rolled out the new plane Qantas will use to operate the Perth to London flight, a 787-9 Dreamliner. It's one of eight Dreamliners Qantas has on order. 

The Sydney-based airline is expected to take delivery of the plane on October 16 before it enters service in December on Qantas' flight between Melbourne and Los Angeles. 

Here's a closer look at Qantas' shiny new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. 

SEE ALSO: Here's the Bombardier jet at the heart of a simmering trade war between the US and Canada

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

The Qantas' first 787-9 Dreamliner recently rolled out of the Boeing's paint hangar in Everett, Washington.



For the new Dreamliner, Qantas updated its famous Flying Kangaroo livery.



In total, it took Boeing 250 liters of paint and more than four days to apply to the new livery.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 'It' sequel just got an official release date — here's everything we know

0
0

It 2 Warner Bros

The amazing box office for "It"— the adaptation of the classic Stephen King book — just keeps climbing.

After taking in over $123.4 million its opening weekend, the biggest opening ever for the month of September, the movie is now the highest-grossing R-rated horror of all time.

Now Warner Bros. has officially pulled the trigger on a sequel. Chapter two of the story will be released September 6, 2019, according to the studio. 

Always intended to be two movies, the first, called "Chapter One" at the end of the movie, looks at the Losers Club as kids when they first encounter Pennywise. The second will then jump to present day when the losers are adults and must return to Derry to take on Pennywise one last time. This mirrors the structure King did with the book. 

"It" director Andres Muschietti revealed some plans he has for the sequel to Entertainment Weekly.

Below is everything we know that will happen in the sequel:

Warning: Spoilers coming!

SEE ALSO: 15 things Netflix's "Stranger Things" took from Stephen King's "It"

We'll still see the kid version of The Losers Club.

Despite the movie taking place 27 years after the events in the first "It" movie, Muschietti said there will be a place for the younger version of the losers as they will appear in flashbacks. 

This will continue on one of the best elements of the first movie: the wickedly fun interactions between all the friends. But also flashing back brings more depth and understanding in the internal fears each loser still struggles with as an adult.



Will the adult losers be known actors or unknowns?

Almost instantly people took to social media after seeing "It" to throw out names of actors who could play the adult version of the Losers Club (Jessica Chastain as the fiery Bev? Chris Pratt as the once chubby Ben?). And though Muschietti admits he and his producers have been thinking about what do to since filming wrapped on the movie, there's still no official decision on how they will handle the casting.

The 1990 "It" TV movie was prominently made up of character actors (John Ritter was the only recognizable name), but times have changed, and with the success of the first movie there may be pressure to get at least a few stars in the club.



The one who stays in Derry becomes a librarian junkie.

One knock on "It" is Mike doesn't get a lot of screen time compared to the other losers. But that will likely change in Chapter Two.

Mike is the one member who doesn't leave Derry. He stays to watch for the return of Pennywise while working as a librarian, and staying behind, he ends up taking the brunt of Pennywise's powers.

“My idea of Mike in the second movie is quite darker from the book,” Muschietti told EW. “I want to make his character the one pivotal character who brings them all together, but staying in Derry took a toll with him. I want him to be a junkie actually. A librarian junkie. When the second movie starts, he’s a wreck.”

Mike will also take part in a ritual that will bring him better understanding of the origins of the alien behind the Pennywise clown, and how the defeat it for good. This is a portion of the book that was cut out of the first movie, but will certainly be of importance in the sequel. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A 300-square-foot NYC apartment is on the market for hundreds of thousands — and it's surprisingly impressive inside

0
0

smallest studio apartment

One of the tiniest apartments for sale in New York City is a 300-square-foot studio. 

The apartment is listed for $355,000 in historic Tudor City, Manhattan in a full-service co-op building.

We visited the apartment and discovered it's impressive for its small size. 

Tudor City is a sprawling apartment complex on the far east side of Manhattan near the Turtle Bay neighborhood.



The studio is located in Windsor Tower, an elite building tucked away in Tudor City.



Windsor Tower gives the impression of being from a more elegant time period. The 24-hour doorman warmly greets people as they enter. The spot has an in-building convenience store, laundry, and expansive gym.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The oldest hotel in every state

0
0

dunleith historic inn

The INSIDER Summary:

  • Many hotels in the US date back to the country's founding — and some are even older.
  • The Seaside Inn in Kennebunk, Maine, for example, has been run by the same family for nine generations. 
  • Many flock to historic hotels in the hopes of spotting a ghost: The Gold Hill Hotel in Virginia City, Nevada, is allegedly haunted by former guests. 


The US is filled with glamorous, modern hotels, but there is something special about staying in a history-filled establishment that helps tell the story of a destination's local culture.

From colonial bed and breakfasts in New England to stagecoach stops from the Old West, there are plenty of places to spend the night that history buffs will love.

With the help of Historic Hotels of America, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, INSIDER has  compiled a list of the oldest (or nearly the oldest) hotel in every state. 

ALABAMA: The Battle House Hotel, Mobile

While it opened to guests in 1852, the Battle House Hotel in Mobile, Alabama, was built on the same spot as a military headquarters that Andrew Jackson set up during the War of 1812.

After a devastating fire in 1905 and falling into disrepair several times over the years, the Battle House Hotel re-opened for good in 2009. 



ALASKA: The Historic Anchorage Hotel, Anchorage

After it first opened in 1916, the Anchorage Hotel quickly became an important fixture in the city. 

Today, the hotel is said to be haunted by some of Anchorage's historical figures. For example, guests often report sightings of Anchorage’s first Chief of Police, Jack Sturgus, who died mysteriously near the hotel in 1921. 

 



ARIZONA: Hotel San Carlos, Phoenix

The site where the historic Hotel San Carlos stands was once home to Phoenix's first school house and the city's fourth brick building. 

The Italian Renaissance-style hotel was built in the 1920s. It became a hot spot for actors visiting from Los Angeles and prominent members of Phoenix society. The hotel underwent its last major renovation in 2003, but it has stayed true to its historic roots. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The best smart thermostats you can buy

0
0

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.

nest 4x3

The Insider Pick:

  • A smart thermostat can save you money and allow for easy temperature control straight from your smartphone whether you're at home or miles away. The Nest Learning Thermostat is the best smart thermostat you can buy, thanks to its super easy setup, energy savings, and excellent learning capabilities.

The humble thermostat has come a long way over the past few years. While the thermostat, in general, remained largely unchanged for years, that all shifted when Nest launched the original Nest learning thermostat. Now, there are plenty of smart thermostats out there, and many of them are great options.

There are a ton of reasons to buy a smart thermostat. For starters, they learn your routine, which basically means that you won’t have to worry about adjusting them and scheduling temperature changes quite as much. Smart thermostats will also save you money because they can adapt to your schedule and switch off when they’re not needed. These high-tech thermostats basically ensure that you don’t waste money by accidentally leaving your heater or air conditioning on all day.

So what should you consider when buying a smart learning thermostat? You’ll want to think about compatibility, because not all smart thermostats will work with your home's heating and cooling system, and there’s no point in buying one that won’t work. Some, for example, require a “C,” or Common wire, while others can draw enough power without it.

Next up, you’ll want to think about the rest of your home, especially if you’re building a smart home. You’ll want a thermostat that works well with other smart home devices. For example, Nest works pretty well with Google Home, and will also integrate with things like the Philips Hue range of lights. Other smart thermostats work best with Apple's HomeKit or Samsung's Smart Things, and so on. You’ll want to think about the phone you use, too, because these thermostats connect with an app on your smartphone for remote controls and programming.

We've researched and tested the best smart thermostats you can buy to come up with our picks. Read on to see which of these smart thermostats is best for your needs. You can also check out our favorite regular thermostats here.

Although the Nest Learning Thermostat is our top pick, for various reasons laid out in the slides below, you should also consider the Honeywell Lyric Round, the Ecobee 4, the Nest Thermostat E, and the GoControl.

SEE ALSO: The best thermostats you can buy

The best smart thermostat overall

Why you'll love it: The Nest Learning Thermostat is extremely easy to use, super powerful, energy efficient, and beautifully designed.

The Nest Learning Thermostat may be among the first smart thermostats to launch, but it’s now on its third-generation and it's still the best. Not only is Nest beautifully designed, it’s also extremely easy to install and use, plus, it works a charm.

Let’s start with the beautiful, simple design. The thermostat features a sleek metallic ring around the screen, which is used to control the super user-friendly interface. All you have to do is rotate that ring to navigate through different options or select a temperature, then press on it to make that selection. In our tests, it was the easiest thermostat to use by far.

It works with most 24V heating and cooling systems and can function with three-stage heating, two-stage cooling, and three-speed fans. The thermostat has 10 temperature sensors inside and another sensor for humidity.

One of the best things about Nest is its compatibility with a huge range of other products, including other Nest products like its carbon monoxide detectors, security cameras, and so on. It’ll also work with a big range of third-party devices. It's extremely fun to control your thermostat with your voice if you have a Google Home smart speaker or Amazon's Echo.

Nest has some cool sensors built into its thermostat. For example, it’ll switch the display on if it detects motion nearby, and it can display the current temperature or the time, depending on what you choose. It’s a small touch, but still a very nice one.

The app is also pretty easy to use. You’ll be able to pair the thermostat with it relatively quickly, and then you can control the temperature and set schedules straight from your phone.

Of course, while we love Nest's thermostat, it’s not perfect. We would have loved it if Nest offered support for external temperature sensors, and it is a little pricey. Still, rumors suggest external sensor-support is on its way, and it’s important to keep in mind just how much it will save you in the long run when thinking about the price.

Nest has gotten largely great reviews. TechHive gave it 4/5, while PCMag went one better by giving it a hefty 4.5/5.

Pros: Easy to use, voice support, compatible with many smart home systems, big energy savings, nice design, automatic heating and cooling, remote control with the app

Cons: Kind of expensive, no external sensor support

Buy the Nest Learning Thermostat on Amazon for $248.85 and up



The best smart thermostat for Apple's HomeKit

Why you'll love it: The Honeywell Lyric Round thermostat is well-designed and easy to use, but the best thing about it is that it works well with Apple’s HomeKit.

HomeKit, Apple’s smart home control system, lacks a notable partner – Nest. Because of that, you’ll have to turn elsewhere to find a good HomeKit-enabled thermostat, and we think the Honeywell Lyric Round is the best one.

The Lyric Round has a similar shape to the Nest and can be controlled using the ring outside the device, though it also has a few capacitive buttons on its face. The device is pretty well-designed, too. While it doesn’t offer the same beautiful display as Nest, it’s nice to look at in its own way and it will blend in with your home easily.

Another great thing about the Honeywell Lyric Round is that it’s relatively quick at learning. For the first few days, it will learn your routines, but after that, it’s easy to forget that it’s even there, according to our tests.

While the Lyric Round works with most heating, cooling, and heat pump systems, it does not work with electric baseboard heat (120-240V). It can use 24 VAC power from a "C" wire, but it's not required.

Like everything, the Honeywell Lyric Round isn’t perfect. For starters, its geofencing feature, which is aimed at automatically adjusting when it detects that you’re in the area, rarely worked as it was supposed to, and the setup process was a little cumbersome and required multiple attempts. Still, once you set it up, the thermostat was more than capable, and it worked excellently with Apple’s HomeKit.

CNET gave it three stars back in 2016, and TechHive went one better with a 3.5-star rating.

Pros: Well-designed, nice app, learns relatively quickly

Cons: Difficult setup, some features unreliable

Buy the Honeywell Lyric Round on Amazon for $198 (originally $249.00)



The best smart thermostat with Alexa voice control

Why you'll love it: The Ecobee 4 is well-designed, easy-to-use, and powered by Amazon’s Alexa, making it the first thermostat with a digital assistant built right in.

Nest has a lot to offer, but some people swear by Ecobee instead. The Ecobee thermostat is currently on its fourth generation, and it’s a beautifully-designed, fully-functional device. In fact, it even has Amazon's Alexa voice assistant built right into it.

The Ecobee 4 has a responsive touchscreen with both a thermometer and a proximity sensor. You can control the temperature with your voice, thanks to Alexa. It also supports the likes of HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, and scores of smart home products. Not only that, but its design is stunning, so it’ll fit right at home among other premium appliances.

One downside to the Ecobee 4 is that it requires a C-wire to operate, but if you don’t have one, you may still be able to use the thermostat with the included “Power Extender Kit.” Ecobee works with conventional heating and cooling systems (2H/2C) as well as with heat pumps (4H/2C) including two-stage auxiliary heat, gas, oil, electric, and dual fuel systems.

The thermostat is pretty expensive, especially if you don’t really care about the Alexa feature, but for those that do, it will be well worth it. It’s also compatible with HomeKit, which is an important feature for many Apple users.

The Ecobee 4 has been highly-reviewed by a ton of outlets. CNET scored it 4.5/5 and called it the “thermostat to beat,” while Tom’s Guide gave it an equal 9/10.

Pros: Beautiful design, Amazon Alexa built-in, HomeKit-compatible, easy to use

Cons: Requires C-wire, expensive

Buy the Ecobee 4 on Amazon for $249



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

15 of the best companies for working moms

0
0

mom-laptop-baby

More and more, working moms are telling their employers that they need and deserve more support — and some companies have really been listening.

To honor those organizations setting the standard for work-life practices in the US, Working Mother magazine identified the 100 best companies for working moms.

To compile the list, which is now in its 32nd year, Working Mother surveyed hundreds of companies with more than 400 questions about their paid time off and leave policies, workforce profile, benefits, women's issues and advancement, flexibility policies, and company culture, among other things.

Every company on the list offers fully paid maternity leave, and the majority also offer flextime, backup childcare, professional development opportunities for women, mentoring programs, and career counseling.

Subha Barry, vice president and general manager of Working Mother Media, says these companies are also beginning to embrace a number of emerging trends, including phasing new mothers back into work, the care of elderly family members, and mental health and well-being.

​"All of the companies have created compelling policies and programs that create stickiness — flexible work, generous ​paid leave policies, ​eldercare and bereavemen​t programs, ​plus advancement initiatives tied to ​mentorship​ and ​sponsorship,​" Barry told Business Insider.

Head over to Workingmother.com to check out the comprehensive list of the 100 best companies for working moms — and keep scrolling for some of the best companies that made the list.

Note: Working Mother does not rank the companies; they're listed in alphabetical order. Below are 15 companies Working Mother chose to highlight from the overall list.

SEE ALSO: The science behind why paid parental leave is good for everyone

DON'T MISS: 15 incredible perks for new parents beyond paid parental leave

Abbott

In addition to eight weeks of paid maternity leave, the healthcare company has an on-site childcare center at its headquarters in Abbott, Illinois, that serves 471 kids and charges sliding-scale fees. Managers at Abbott are also said to help working moms when faced with personal challenges and often offer reduced hours and the ability to work remotely.



Accenture

Women at this professional-services company can take 16 fully paid weeks of maternity leave, choose to work locally for a full year afterward, and ship breast milk home (for free) when they travel for business. Moms can also access up to 120 hours of subsidized backup-care services a year, and flexible work arrangements are encouraged.



Bank of America

Parents receive 16 weeks of paid leave for birth or adoption, as well as childcare reimbursements of up to $240 a month. Employees can also talk to a doctor by phone or video chat and receive diagnoses and prescriptions almost instantly.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider
Viewing all 61683 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images