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.

As one of the few closet staples you can actually wear year-round, jeans are the piece of apparel that everyone owns at least a few pairs of and has years of experience wearing. 

Just as you probably have Hall of Fame jeans you wear any chance you get, the women of Insider Picks each have a pair (or four) of jeans they can't say enough good things about, from classic skinny jeans to flattering crop jeans. Our favorites include affordable, under-$100 styles and pricier investment pairs that we can assure you are worth the cost. 

If you're looking for new jeans, try these proven successes. 

See why we call these 19 styles our favorite pairs of jeans. 

Liverpool Lucy Petite Bootcut Jeans

Liverpool Lucy Petite Bootcut Jeans, $89, available at Liverpool and Nordstrom

Liverpool’s jeans are the most comfortable jeans I own. They have just the right amount of stretch to ensure that they fit like a glove. I also love that Liverpool has a petite line because I didn’t have to hem these jeans at all when I got them. These are the jeans I wear most often. —Malarie Gokey, Insider Picks guides editor

Madewell High-Rise Skinny Jeans

Madewell 9" High-Rise Skinny Jeans in ISKO Stay Black, $128, available at Madewell 

These Madewell jeans are like a slightly thinner and more moldable version of Everlane’s Authentic Stretch denim, though no less flattering or compressive. They’re the jeans I find myself living in on the weekends, because they’re more comfortable and flexible than my Rag and Bone jeans, but more flattering than any of my other comfortable pairs. They look great on, but I’m never uncomfortable in them. Madewell is also one of few quality denim options that offers a high enough high-rise (9-inch or 10-inch), which I respect. —Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter

Rag & Bone/JEAN Ankle Justine Trouser Jeans

Rag & Bone/JEAN Ankle Justine Trouser Jeans, $79.50 (originally $265), available at Shopbop

I wear jeans all the time and Rag & Bone is heavy in my everyday rotation. I love this pair in particular because they’re stretchy and soft (I wore them on a five hour car ride without issue), but they still have the look of a more rigid, authentic denim. I also think the ankle length and wide leg are super flattering and of-the-moment. I got these jeans on sale and although the original price tag is pretty high, seeing how much wear I’ve gotten out of this pair and how comfortable they are, I have to recommend them. —Remi Rosmarin, Insider Picks intern

Professor is more than just a therapy dog. 

In fact, in the 1.5 years he's been working at Mount Sinai's Kravis Children's hospital, he has become a VIP employee. 

Professor, whose full name is Professor Bunsen Honeydew, is a 3-year-old golden doodle and the first of the two facility dogs to arrive at Kravis. A three year grant of $350,000 from PetSmart Charities covers everything from veterinary care, grooming, food, trainers, Ubers, and the salary of the certified child life specialist he's paired with.

Shortly after he arrived in March 2017, the hospital realized that one dog wasn't going to be enough. So they procured Amos, another golden doodle, shortly afterwards. They're both part of the Paws and Play program in Karvis' Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department.

The main goal of child life is to facilitate psychosocial adjustment to hospitalization and illness. Kravis employs specialists in the ER, clinic, radiology wing, and inpatient units–which includes an intensive care unit. The specialists engage patients and their families in a variety of therapies and stress-reducing activities to decrease trauma and pain, and increase coping. 

The largest children's hospitals have been creating facility dog programs for the past 10 years, and Kravis was the first hospital in the New York metropolitan area to adopt this, according to Morgan Stojanowski, assistant director of the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department.

SEE ALSO: Mount Sinai teamed up with the designers who created projects for Nike and Beyonce to build a futuristic, new clinic — and it's reimagining how healthcare is delivered

Before the golden doodle duo arrived at Mount Sinai, there was a pet assisted therapy program in place. It serves as a completely separate program from the facility dog program and is run through the volunteer department at Mount Sinai.

Richard Schack, 65, has volunteered with his schnoodle Leia at Mount Sinai's Union Square location for over 8 years. He was part of a study funded by Pfizer Animal Health in 2015 that showed the positive effects therapy dogs had on patients' emotional and social well being. 

"You made my day, Leia," 65-year-old patient Yolanda Fajardo said as she scooped the tiny dog onto her lap. Fajardo loves getting visits from Leia while she's waiting to receive cancer treatment. "I took a picture of Leia, and someone asked if she was my dog and I said yes, basically."

Leia is certified and insured by the Good Dog Foundation, and to ensure that she's clean and safe for patients, she gets a bath the night before visiting the hospital. 

Schack and Leia visit every Wednesday for a couple of hours, during which they make rounds in the radiology waiting room, chemotherapy suite, and administrative staff offices. During these years, Leia has become a fabric of the staff, and her presence has made such an impact that some patients have changed their treatment schedules just so they can see her, said Alison Snow, assistant director of cancer supportive services at Mount Sinai Union Square. Mount Sinai has their own health clearance and screening process, and volunteering is a huge commitment that don't always fit with most schedules. 

"We've had dogs like that here prior to our facility dog program," said Diane Rode, director of the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department at Kravis. "As lovely as the dogs and their owners can be, being in a pediatric medical and surgical environment for four hours, some but not all weeks, doesn't create the same level of cohesion and rapport than a dog that's here eight hours a day." 

Unlike volunteer therapy dogs, facility dogs are workers first, pets second. "They carry business cards, they have a badge," Rode said. "They're going to rooms where there's been a referral request, with a specific goal."

Facility dogs like Professor and Amos are embedded into personalized treatment and recovery plans for patients and families at Kravis. All the doctors at Kravis carry with them a referral card for the services of Professor and Amos. They can provide procedural support, comfort and pain management, encouragement to walk, play opportunities, and family support. 

A child-life specialist assesses the needs of the patient, the caregiver and the family, and designs a concrete clinical intervention with the facility dog to meet that need. 

The dogs can encourage patients get out of bed or to walk on their own in order to be safely discharged from the hospital. They also create a relaxing environment for patients to process and discuss their experiences. 

It's about making hard, challenging things feel more doable, said Stojanowski. 

"We have little tricks they know how to do like brushing their teeth. Because the kid has to brush their teeth, but they're not doing it. So we make it a game that they're teaching Professor," said Stojanowski. "Professor and Amos know how to get their teeth brushed, you say open, and they'll open."

There's also a syringe with colored water, and the kids pretend it's medicine for the dogs. They'll give the dogs their 'medicine' and that will help them take their own medicine. The dogs also know simpler tricks like high five, take a bow, and 'chill', where they lay on their side. 

These are all humanizing things that for a child who has been depressed and disempowered by trauma and illness, said Rode. Small things like this can really relocate a position of control and power for them.

The dogs have also been trained practically to respond to quick signals like getting off the bed in the event of a medical emergency. 

Professor loves Mondays. He mainly works in the outpatient hematology and oncology clinic. Child life specialist Ali Spike is his primary handler, and he goes home with her after work.

He works on Spike’s schedule, from Monday to Friday, 9-5, with nap breaks throughout the day. One hour a day, from 2-3pm, Professor goes with his secondary handler to visit patients at the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

On Mondays, Professor also attends the pediatric medical rounds from 1-2pm.

He’s also a part of certain physical therapy routines, so he does a lot of inpatient support too, including end-of-life support for patients who were close with him.

Professor sees between 8-12 patients a day, and sometimes as much as 15-16 patients when there's a special event.

Monday, Wednesday and Friday are usually oncology days, which are more active since he visits a lot of patients undergoing chemotherapy then. Fridays are fancy, so he wears a bow tie to work. 

Tuesday and Thursday are usually hematology days, and Professor does a lot of lying in bed with patients to help with pain management during blood draws and other procedures. Then, he'll stay with them until the pain medications kick in.

• The Midwest has a rep for friendly people, cheap land, and a stress-free lifestyle that differs dramatically from other US regions.
• Many people are flocking to the Midwest because of its affordable cost of living, open spaces, and relaxed pace of life.
• Here are 6 ways the Midwest is different than the rest of the country.

There's only one place in the US where traffic jams are often caused by tractors on the road and weekends consist of floating down rivers and modeling clothes through the aisles of Walmart.

Middle America has long been classified as a "flyover country," comprised of more corn fields than major metropolises and mom-and-pop shops than Fortune 500 companies, but the 12 states that constitute the Midwest have a richer culture than many people give it credit for — take it from me, a native of small-town Ohio myself.

In my hometown, "porch sitting" is a perfectly sound and popular pastime, the parking lot of our only supermarket is a common meeting place, and Friday nights out usually include a high school football game.

About 21% of the nation's population call this region — North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio — home, according to the 2017 US Census, and that number is growing. The Daily Beast reported that lately, Millennials are kissing big city dreams goodbye to seek lower housing costs in cities like Kansas City, Minneapolis, and Indianapolis instead.

But while this influx of 20- and 30-somethings is proof that America's "breadbasket" is undergoing significant change, some Midwest traditions are simply ingrained. Here are six ways the Midwest differs from the rest of the country.

SEE ALSO: 8 things 'coasties' get wrong about the Midwest, according to people who live there

1. The people are genuinely nice

It's true: some stereotypes are built on bold-faced lies. The archetype of Midwesterners being — sometimes alarmingly — nice, however, is rooted in truth. The University of Cambridge released a 2013 study assessing the personality traits of more than 1.5 million people and found that personalities of the Midwest had "moderately high levels of extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness."

Inhabitants of the so-called heartland smile and wave at every person they come by, friends and strangers alike, on sidewalks and in supermarket aisles. I speak from experience when I say they'll even show up on your doorstep with a home-cooked casserole if they see a wrecked car in the driveway or have gotten wind of the death in the family.

2. The weather is unpredictable and extreme

In Los Angeles, one could wear a summer dress nearly every day and rarely ever have to pack an umbrella at the last minute. Midwesterners, on the other hand, never know whether to don a parka, a crop-top, or a poncho.

The climate can change by the day, or by the hour, for that matter. According to a 2016 study by Save On Energy, the top 10 US cities with the most unpredictable weather — including Sioux Falls, Minneapolis, and St. Paul at the top — are all located in the Midwest.

Whatever the weather, it's almost always extreme. Without oceans to regulate temperature, USA Today reported, the summers tend to be sweltering and the winters outrageously cold.

3. Midwesterners are always finding new ways to have fun

Even though the University of Cambridge study ranked the East and West Coasts higher on the creative spectrum, anyone who grew up in the Midwest would probably agree that living in the region does require creativity when it comes to finding fun.

Nights out often entail bonfire parties, Euchre (a card game) competitions, and late-night trips to Walmart, according to Good Housekeeping, and on Sunday afternoons during summer, cornhole is king.

Architecture is a form of art. When a city constructs a new building, it should add beauty to its streetscape.

But that doesn't always happen. Every town across the United States likely has a tower, a government complex, or an office building that residents wish never went up.

Business Insider asked readers to name the one architectural eyesore they loathe in their state. Responses ranged from a building that looks like a giant wooden basket to a hotel painted solid gold.

The most unpopular buildings — two that were named by nearly a dozen readers — were Boston's City Hall, a concrete structure that one person described as "depressing," and Manhattan's 432 Park Avenue, a skyscraper that another reader said resembles "a very tall trashcan."

Here are the ugliest buildings in every US state, plus Washington, DC:

SEE ALSO: Panasonic is building a 'smart city' in Colorado with high-tech highways, autonomous vehicles, and free WiFi

Alabama — The Government Plaza in Mobile

Alaska — The Westmark Hotel in Anchorage

Arizona — The City Hall of Tempe

Dishonorable mentions: The Century Link Tower and BMO Tower in Phoenix

• With a reported net worth of $53.5 billion, Alphabet CEO Larry Page is the eighth-richest person in the world.
• Alphabet president Sergey Brin is No. 9, with a reported net worth of $52.1 billion.
• See how the two Google founders spend their fortune. 

The founders of Google have a salary of $1. But they're still among the wealthiest people in the world.

With Bloomberg reporting his worth at $53.5 billion, Alphabet CEO Larry Page is the eighth-richest person in the world. Alphabet president Sergey Brin is just behind at No. 9, with a reported net worth of $52.1 billion.

Here's a look at how both Page and Brin spend their fortunes: 

SEE ALSO: Tim Cook is worth $625 million and leads a $1 trillion company — but he reportedly buys discounted underwear and wants to give his money away after paying for his nephew’s tuition

Sergey Brin and Larry Page founded Google (now owned by parent company Alphabet) in 1998 in a garage in Menlo Park, California.

Source: Business Insider

Page was born in 1973 to two computer science professors at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. Even at a young age, he enjoyed taking machines apart and trying to put them back together to understand how they functioned.

Source:"Larry Page" 

Page went to the University of Michigan for undergrad. While there, he was a member of the solar car team, proposed an overhaul of the school's bus system, and developed other business plans.

Source:Business Insider

• Life lessons often only come with time and mistakes made.
• Figuring out financial responsibility, the importance of maintaining health, and having patience with my career would have helped me be more successful.
• Here are eight crucial life lessons that I wish someone had told me a decade ago.

When I was in my late 20s, my boss and I used to have epic lunches where we'd chat about life. One day, he told me that when you turn 30, you need to start being responsible. I didn't take him seriously, but now that I'm 40, I wish I had.

Here are eight of the hard-earned lessons I've learned leading up to my fortieth year that I wish someone had told me a decade ago:

SEE ALSO: The lesson I learned in my 30s that changed how I live my life

1. You may see some friends less often, but the bond remains strong

I've found that the closest friends I've had for the past 20 years are the ones from my fraternity — it truly is a forever bond. As life moves on, though, people do, too.

Some of your friends will move to different states, and some will get married, have kids, and end up immersed in a suburban bubble. Your inner circle will become smaller and smaller as you get older.

But that's not to say that the folks you see less often are gone forever. With many of my fraternity brothers, when we get together, we're still able to pick up right where we left off. It's like no time has passed. You just can't get bogged down with wondering when you’ll see them again or feel insecure about why they haven’t called.  

2. Your parents will need taking care of

My parents are on the verge of turning 70, and their health is becoming a concern. Between the two of them they have high cholesterol, hearing loss, and multiple medications, and doctor visits are becoming more and more frequent.

It's important to understand your family’s health and medical history, and to know all of their pertinent information so you can handle any medical situation that may arise.

3. An extravagant wedding is overrated

If there was ever a moment where the idiom "If I knew then what I know now" fits into this post, it pertains to my wedding. Yes, it was beautiful – everyone we wanted was there, we had an outdoor ceremony, the music was amazing, and the caterer's pigs-in-a-blanket were hand-rolled!

But weddings can be uber-expensive, especially in the New York City area. Planning a wedding often causes stress for the bride and groom and strife among the parents paying for it.

If you really want to have a wedding, focus on curating your guest list, paring it down only to the folks who must be there. Do what I would do now if I had the chance to do it all again: Take a long and lovely honeymoon and start your life together without this nuptial nonsense.

I’m not sure that books are necessarily the best medium for understanding the US military. I’m inclined to think that a combination of television and movies (the ultimate expression of American culture as they are) are probably more help in understanding the US military.

At the very least they show us (foreigners) how the Americans want to see themselves.

So here, in no particular order, are my five suggestions all Allies should watch before working with the Americans and why.

SEE ALSO: Trump just met with a classic-rock legend and a missile-defense expert — and it was the same guy

1. "Three Kings"

Showcases the idea that many of the most patriotic Americans sometimes have deep concerns about what they are doing for their country and why, but also shows that they will do the right thing in the end, even if it is against their orders and own best interests.

2. "Band of Brothers" (any episode)

An unmatched depiction of basic, unvarnished heroism. All American officers see themselves as Dick Winters, apart from the small number of odd balls who seem themselves as Lewis Nixon.

3. "War Machine"

Worth seeing if only for the moment when the General’s guard is down and he expresses his true feelings of contempt for a British Lt Colonel. I suspect that this is closer to a lot of senior officers’ viewpoints than they would wish to admit.

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

• Cats get bored with ordinary toys fairly quickly, but if you invest in a good interactive cat toy, your furry feline will stay entertained for hours on end.

• After scouring the reviews and testing some of the most popular interactive cat toys, we found that the SmartyKat Electronic Bird Sound Toy is the best for most cats because it engages your cat's hunting instincts and inspires hours of activity.

Cats often have a reputation for being lazy because they tend to spend most of their time sleeping or grooming. Though it is natural for your cat to do these things, staying active is important for his long-term health and wellness.

That’s where interactive cat toys come in.

Interactive cat toys engage your cat’s instincts for hunting and chasing, ramping up his energy and keeping him active. These toys encourage your cat to exercise, though he only thinks of it as play. There are many different types of interactive cat toys out there, but we’ve tested the most popular toys on the market to bring you our top picks in six different categories.

Here are the best interactive cat toys you can buy:

• Best overall: SmartyKat Electronic Bird Sound Toy
• Best toy with treats: PetSafe SlimCat Interactive Toy and Food Dispenser
• Best laser toy: Friends Forever Interactive Cat Laser Toy
• Best roller ball toy: PetStages Tower of Tracks
• Best spinning toy: Catit Spinning Bee Interactive Cat Toy
• Best play mat: SnugglyCat Ripple Rug Cat Activity Play Mat

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

The best interactive cat toy overall

Why you'll love it: With touch-activated real bird sounds, the SmartyKat Electronic Bird Sound Toy will stimulate your cat’s senses and activate his hunting instincts for hours of active playtime.

Cats are natural born hunters and they have strong instincts for chasing small animals. If you’re looking for an interactive cat toy that will play upon your cat’s hunting instincts to encourage healthy activity and exercise, consider a noise-making toy like the SmartyKat Electronic Bird Sound Toy. This toy comes in several different shapes, though the Chickadee Chirp bird shape is one of the most popular.

The SmartyKat Electronic Bird Sound Toy has several features that make it highly attractive to cats. First and foremost, it takes the shape of a plush little chickadee — perfectly sized for your cat to bat around or carry in his mouth. It also makes intriguing real bird noises that are touch-activated. Finally, the toy is filled with certified organic catnip to stimulate your cat’s senses and to ramp up his activity. All in all, this interactive toy is sure to drive your cat wild.

Our test cats couldn’t get enough of this noise-making toy. They received just as much joy from batting it around as they did from clamping on with their claws and teeth.

Bustle says this noise-making toy is sure to capture even the laziest cat’s attention. Plus, the soft materials are safe and chewable for cats of all ages. 

The SmartyKat Electronic Bird Sound Toy has nearly 1,000 reviews on Amazon and nearly a 4-star rating. Buyers report that their cats loved the realistic bird noises, though there are some comments that heavy chewers were able to destroy the toy.

Pros: Touch-activated real bird sounds, refillable catnip pouch, perfect size for batting and carrying, plush materials, comes in several different shapes, good for older cats

Cons: May not withstand heavy chewing, battery will eventually wear out, can be noisy

Buy the SmartyKat Electronic Bird Sound Toy on Amazon for $4.99

The best treat-dispensing cat toy

Why you'll love it: The PetSafe SlimCat Interactive Toy and Food Dispenser Ball is affordable, easy to use, and you can fill it with your cat’s favorite treats or kibble. 

If you have an older or inactive cat, you may be looking for a way to stimulate some healthy exercise. When mouse toys and ribbons don’t do the trick, you may want to try enticing your cat to play with some food rewards. A treat-dispensing toy encourages your cat to play by rewarding him for doing so. Our top pick for the best treat-dispensing interactive cat toy is the PetSafe SlimCat Interactive Toy and Food Dispenser Ball.

The PetSafe toy features a simple ball-shaped design that rolls along, capturing your cat’s attention and stimulating his natural instincts for chase and play. Fill the ball with your cat’s favorite treats or kibble and watch him bat it around, gobbling up the treats as he goes along.

The ball itself is lightweight but durable and it is completely dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. Our test cats couldn’t get enough of this toy. We found that it worked well as a daily feeder for a cat who tends to eat too fast.

Mashable says that this toy provides cats with mental stimulation as well as physical exercise. A review from Pet Life Today comments on the adjustable openings, which allow you to customize the level of difficulty and adapt the toy for treats of different sizes.

The PetSafe SlimCat Interactive Toy and Food Dispenser Ball has more than 2,700 reviews on Amazon and carries an Amazon’s Choice award in addition to a 4-star rating. Cat owners love how easy the ball is to clean. 

Pros: Rewards cat for healthy activity, stimulates natural instincts to chase, adjustable openings for different treat sizes, very affordable, dishwasher safe for easy cleaning, can be used for feeding meals

Cons: May not work for all treats, smaller treats may dispense too quickly

Buy the PetSafe SlimCat Interactive Toy and Food Dispenser on Amazon for $5.95

The best laser pointer cat toy

Why you'll love it: With three different laser modes and several speeds, the Friends Forever Interactive Cat Laser Toy will keep your cat busy for hours. 

Cats love laser pointers, that’s a simple fact. But sometimes you don’t have an hour to spend shining the laser pointer for your cat. If you want your cat to gain the benefit of exercise and mental stimulation without having to do the work yourself, a laser pointer interactive cat toy may be just what you need. Our top pick is the Friends Forever Interactive Cat Laser Toy.

The Friends Forever Interactive Cat Laser Toy features a unique diamond-shaped head that sets it apart from other laser cat toys. This interactive laser toy offers a full 360-degrees of rotation with three adjustable laser modes, so you can create a custom workout for your cat. With quiet operation, replaceable battery power, and an automatic shut-off after 15 minutes, this toy is beloved by cats as well as their owners.

Best Reviews says the adjustable laser modes cater to cats with different levels of agility. My Pet Needs That includes this toy in its top picks for the best laser pointers for cats. The reviewer's only concern is that rambunctious cats might knock the device over. In testing, we found that the wide base was adequate for stability and that our test cats were more interested in the laser than the device itself.

The laser toy has more than 400 reviews on Amazon and carries a stable 4-star average rating. Cat owners love the different operating modes, though there are some comments about cats being uninterested in the laser and the device being knocked over by cats who get too excited.

Pros: Adjustable settings for different agility levels, wide base for stability, automatic shutoff after 15 minutes, 360-degree rotation, quiet operation, unique diamond-shaped design on top

Cons: Screws holding battery compartment may be hard to remove, rambunctious cats might be able to knock it over

Buy the Friends Forever Interactive Cat Laser Toy on Amazon for $24.99

• The automotive data and research site iSeeCars.com has compiled a list of the 10 cars that experience the highest amount of depreciation over a five-year period.
• Luxury sedans took six of the 10 spots on the list, including three vehicles from BMW, the most of any automaker.
• General Motors and Daimler each had two.

Over time, some cars lose more value than others for reasons that don't necessarily have to do with their quality. For example, the year an auto company releases an updated version of a vehicle, prior versions of that vehicle lose value, even if the average consumer might be satisfied with them. This presents opportunities for used car buyers to find deals on cars they may think are undervalued.

The automotive data and research site iSeeCars.com has compiled a list of the 10 cars that experience the highest amount of depreciation over a five-year period. (The site also looked at which models experience the lowest amount of depreciation.) To create the list, the site examined over 4.3 million sales of vehicles from model year 2013 to determine which models lost the highest amount of value five years after they were first sold.

Luxury sedans took six of the 10 spots on the list, including three vehicles from BMW, the most of any automaker. General Motors and Daimler each had two.

"Luxury vehicles depreciate at a higher rate because they are often leased, which leads to a surplus of three-year-old off-lease versions of these vehicles that lowers the demand for the older models," iSeeCars CEO Phong Ly said in a release accompanying the study. 

The top two spots are occupied by electric vehicles, which Ly said resulted from government tax credits, the fast pace of technological change in the EV market, range anxiety, and the limited charging infrastructure available to the public.

These are the ten cars that experience the largest amount of depreciation over five years.

SEE ALSO: The 11 new cars people most regularly ditch after just one year of ownership

SEE ALSO: 10 cars that are most likely to last 200,000 miles

10. Chevrolet Impala — 66.2%

Chevrolet Impalas lost 66.2% of their value, on average.

9. Jaguar XJL — 66.4%

Jaguar XJLs lost 66.4% of their value, on average.

8. Mercedes-Benz E-Class — 67.2%

Mercedes-Benz E-Class vehicles lost 67.2% of their value, on average.

• Dating apps are now a common way to meet people, though there are many who prefer not to use them.
• People have various reasons for not using them, from saying they're a waste of time to preferring natural, in-person chemistry.
• Here, 21 people reveal why they don't use dating apps— and how they meet people instead.

Though dating apps are a common way to meet people these days, there are still many people who prefer to meet romantic prospects in real life for the first time.

According to a 2017 report by Statista, 61% of Americans aged 18-29 and 44% of Americans 30-59 are currently using a dating site/app or have used one in the past. However, a 2018 survey by polling platform The Tylt found that almost 84% of millennials would rather find love “in real life” than online.

"Meeting people ‘in the wild' makes conversations more organic and easygoing," Maria Avgitidis, founder ofAgape Match, a matchmaking service based in NYC, told Business Insider in an email.

Avgitidis said that meeting in person provides an opportunity for exploration, curiosity, and a different kind of sexual tension. "More significantly, you're not hiding behind a screen and turning a soulmate into a pen pal," she said.

Here, 21 people reveal why they don't use dating apps— and how they meet people instead. The answers have been condensed and edited for clarity.

SEE ALSO: Relationship experts agree that dating apps can be useful — but not necessarily for finding love

DON'T MISS: The 13 biggest mistakes you're making on dating apps — and how to stop

1. Charlene, 40

I'd been in long-distance relationships up until a few years ago and had no desire to try dating apps since becoming single. My friends use them, and their complaints about the quality of matches, the dilemma of too much choice, and the buildup of chatting with someone for weeks only to meet in person and not have chemistry completely put me off of dating apps. Swipe and chat my day away on yet another app? I don't have time for that!

Luckily, I'm an extrovert who's OK with alone time, so being by myself and striking up conversations is my zone. Meeting men is easy because I'm living my life and doing what interests me and, luckily, since they're there, too, it's something they're interested in, as well.

I think men can sense that I don't have an agenda — I'm not focused on dating just to date or find "The One," but am interested in connecting with people and cultivating knowledge and building relationships (not just one Relationship with a capital "R").

2. Supriya, 29

I am not a fan of dating apps at all! Though a lot of my friends use them and narrate the fun experiences they've had, the idea doesn't resonate with me — they're nothing but an algorithm.

I think the probability of meeting a person through friends or family at a party or a get-together is more convincing to me. Meetups for like-minded people with common interests sound great, too. Meeting someone in a situation like that sets the tone and a topic for conversation, whereas my friends who use apps get so nervous about how they'll be perceived on their coffee date!

3. Chris, 29

I can't stand dating apps — it takes the whole chase out of the equation, which is the fun part for both parties. I used one for about a month and people would respond once or twice, then never message back again. It seemed like they were on there to get validation, but not to follow through with actually going out. It was a big waste of time.

I meet girls at the gym — which is a healthy habit anyway! — and it works out great. I feel in my element there, and that is where your self-esteem is most high, in your element or place or expertise. I highly recommend it.

So, we wrote about that "four-barrel" rifle last week and posed a few questions to the inventor, Martin Grier, in an email. He got back to us that day with our initial query and has now responded to some more of the questions we posited in the original article.

His answers make us even more excited about the weapon's promise, assuming that everything holds true through testing in Army labs and the field.

SEE ALSO: 'A fighting war with the main enemy': How the CIA helped land a mortal blow to the Soviets in Afghanistan 32 years ago

First, a bit of terminology. The weapon is a rifle. Most people have described it as having four barrels, but it's really a barrel with four bores (the original prototype had five). The inventor prefers to call it a "ribbon gun," which we'll go ahead and use from here on out.

Just be aware that "ribbon gun" means a firearm with multiple bores that can fire multiple multiple rounds per trigger squeeze or one round at a time. The bullets are spinning as they exit the weapon, stabilizing them in flight like shots from a conventional rifle.

If you haven't read our original article on the weapon, that might help you get caught up. It's available at this link.

So, some of our major questions about the rifle were how the design, if adopted, would affect an infantryman's combat load, their effective rate of fire, and how the rounds affect each other in flight when fired in bursts. We're going to take on those topics one at a time, below.

Weight

How much weight would an infantryman be carrying if equipped with the new weapon? Grier says it should be very similar, as the charge blocks which hold the ammunition are actually very light

"In practice, Charge Block ammo, shot-for-shot, is roughly equivalent to conventional cartridge ammo," he said, "depending on which caliber it's compared to. It's lighter than 7.62 and slightly heavier than 5.56. It outperforms both."

Since the weapon fires 6mm rounds, that means the per-shot weight is right where you would expect with conventional rounds. The prototype weapon weighs 6.5 pounds. That's less than an M16 and right on for the base M4.

And those blocks of ammo provide a lot of benefits since they can withstand 80,000 PSI. That lets designers opt for higher muzzle velocities if they wish, extending range and increasing lethality. For comparison, the M4 and M16 put out about 52,000 PSI of chamber pressure.

Even better, the blocks snap together and can be loaded as a partial stack. So, if you fire six blocks and want to reload, there's no need to empty the rifle. Just pull the load knob and shove in your spare stack. The weapon will accept six blocks, and you can snap off the spares and put them back into your pouch.

Rate of fire

But what about effective rates of fire?

Well, the biggest hindrance on a rifle's effective rate of fire is the heat buildup. Grier says that's been taken care of, thanks to the materials used in the barrel as well as the fact that each chamber is only used once per block.

"In the L4, ... the chamber is integral with the Charge Block," he said. "Every four shots, the Block is ejected, along with its heat, and a new, cold one takes its place. The barrel is constructed with a thin, hard-alloy core, and a light-alloy outer casing that acts as a finned heat sink. In continuous operation, the barrel will reach an elevated temperature, then stabilize (like a piston engine). Each bore in the L4 carries only a 25 percent duty cycle, spreading the heat load and quadrupling barrel life."

FD Munitions expects that the military version of the L4 would have a stabilized temperature during sustained fire somewhere around 300-400 degrees Fahrenheit, but they took pains to clarify that it's a projected data point. They have not yet tested any version of the weapon at those fire rates.

But, if it holds up, that beats the M16 during 1975 Army tests by hundreds of degrees. The M16 barrels reached temperatures of over 600 degrees while firing 10 rounds per minute. At 60-120 rounds per minute, the barrels reached temperatures of over 1,000 degrees. That's a big part of why the military tells troops to hold their fire to 15 rounds per minute or less, except in emergencies.

All of this combines to allow an effective rate of fire somewhere between 60 and 100 shots per minute. That's about five times more rounds per minute than a M4 or M16 can sustain. And that's important; paratroopers in a 2008 battle died as their weapons malfunctioned. One soldier had three M4s fail while he was firing at an average rate of 14 rounds per minute.

Princess Eugenie and her new husband Jack Brooksbank got married on Friday morning, bringing the world another extravagant royal wedding this year.

The pair wed at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, the very same place Prince Harry and Meghan Markle said their vows earlier this year.

For those who missed the nuptials (or for the many Twitter users wholly confused on the subject of who Princess Eugenie is) we have rounded up some of the best photos from Eugenie and Jack's wedding day.

Princess Charlotte tripped up the stairs.

As 3-year-olds are bound to take a tumble once in a while, poor Princess Charlotte did so in full view of the cameras. The royal bridesmaid recovered like a pro and smiled big once seated inside the chapel.

Guests had to literally hold onto their hats.

With 20 mph winds, dramatic hats were less than practical. Guests were forced to clutch their hats and fascinators to them or risk chasing them down the street (which several had to do). It was a blustery morning, but it made for some hilarious photos.

Prince William and Kate shared an adorable PDA moment.

Prince William and Kate Middleton surprised onlookers with a rare moment of PDA, with Middleton resting her hand on her husband's thigh and the duke resting his hand on top of hers.

• In New York City, a boutique micro-hotel offers 150-square-foot guest rooms — some with bunk beds — and a "bodega" in lieu of room service.
• Arlo Hotels operates two boutique hotels in Manhattan: one in SoHo and one in NoMad, with another set to open near Hudson Yards in the next year or two. 
• We visited the SoHo location, where average rates range from $335 to $535 a night.
• The rooms were definitely small, but for someone who doesn't plan to spend much time in their hotel room and isn't traveling with multiple large pieces of luggage, I think it would be a fun and memorable place to stay. 

Measuring just 150 square feet, the guest rooms at Arlo Hotels aren't meant for people who plan on spending most of their time holed up in their rooms.

At Arlo's boutique micro-hotels in New York City, the rooms are less than half the size of an average hotel room, there's a 24-hour "bodega" in lieu of room service, and you can sleep in bunk beds. What the individual guest rooms lack in size, they make up for in creative, space-saving design, according to managing director Javier Egipciaco.

The average size of a hotel room in the US was about 330 square feet in 2015, CNBC reported, and the average rate for a hotel room in Manhattan is about $216 per night in 2018, according to The Real Deal. 

On Yelp, a couple of people compared Arlo to a hostel, with one calling it "overpriced fancy hostel" that lacks storage and space to work.

But Arlo's philosophy is to offer an abundance of welcoming common space and activities to offset the smaller rooms. 

"The micro-room concept was one that we came to market with in the beginning, but then we realized pretty quickly that Arlo was a lifestyle and not necessarily a micro-concept lifestyle," Egipciaco told Business Insider.

Inclusivity is a large part of their brand, he said, which is why the common areas are all open to the public without requiring anyone to buy anything. The hotel includes expansive, open shared space that comprises a lobby bar, an airy lounge area, a courtyard, a rooftop bar, and a restaurant that serves healthy, seasonal fare and is run by chef Harold Moore.

We took a tour of Arlo's SoHo location to see just how small the rooms actually are and met the managing director to hear what Arlo Hotel is all about.

Here's what it was like.

SEE ALSO: I stayed at Robert De Niro's ridiculously swanky new hotel in Ibiza — and it makes you feel like a celebrity, if you can afford it

DON'T MISS: 45 hotels around the world with stunning views

We got to Arlo's SoHo location at 9 a.m. to meet with the hotel's managing director, Javier Egipciaco.

Source: Arlo Hotels

The hotel is in the trendy SoHo neighborhood, near the Holland Tunnel.

Source: Arlo Hotels

I immediately noticed the chic Arlo-branded bikes outside the entrance of the hotel, which Egipciaco later told us were available for guests to borrow free of charge.

Source: Arlo Hotels

When Princess Eugenie married Jacks Brooksbank in an elegant royal wedding ceremony, all eyes were on the bride's wedding dress and emerald tiara.

But before the couple exchanged their vows, female wedding attendees turned heads with bold statement hats and lavish fascinators. 

Here's a roundup of the best ones seen throughout the wedding.

Kate Middleton wore an eye-catching fuchsia design by Philip Treacy.

Her hat perfectly matched her Alexander McQueen dress, which was a big departure from her usual style.

Meghan Markle opted for a navy blue fascinator.

It completed her all-navy ensemble by Givenchy, which was much more low-key than expected.

The queen arrived wearing a baby blue hat with feathered detailing at the front.

It was yet another brightly colored ensemble that the queen has made her signature style.

• To find the best places to visit in December 2018, Business Insider looked at climate data, cultural calendars, and peak travel times.
• December offers all kinds of travel experiences, from unforgettable Christmas and New Year's celebrations to relaxing getaways on tropical islands.
• The best places to visit in December include the "Hamptons of South America," a European capital filled to the brim with Christmas markets, and the rugged wilderness of Australia's southernmost state.

As December nears and the year draws to close, travelers are looking for the site of their last big vacation.

Thanks to the popularity of Christmas and New Year's Eve vacations, December is often one of the most expensive months of the year to travel to the world's tourism hotspots. 

Whether you want to indulge in the holiday festivities or escape to a sunny island paradise, there are endless options for travelers in December. 

SEE ALSO: 13 places to visit in November for every type of traveler

DON'T MISS: The 13 best places to visit in October for every type of traveler

Miami, Florida

No city knows how to party quite like Miami, and on New Year's Eve, the city takes it to another level. You'll have your pick of parties, from sparkling rooftop soirees to thumping ragers on South Beach.

There are plenty of other non-party activities to keep you busy, too. It's always beach weather in Miami, with December highs typically reaching the mid-70s Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, tourist favorites like the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens and Zoo Miami host special holiday-themed events in December. 

Note that December is a huge month for traveling in Miami, so book airfare and hotels early for the best rates.

Atlanta, Georgia

Another Southeastern city that should be on your radar for December is Atlanta, Georgia.

Only Chicago and New York City see more visitors than Atlanta each year, and for good reason. Must-sees for first-time visitors include the World of Coca-Cola and a studio tour at the CNN Center— both companies are headquartered there — the Georgia Aquarium, the Center for Civil and Human Rights, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, which includes the civil rights leader's childhood home and church.

If you can tolerate temperatures in the 40s and 50s Fahrenheit, Piedmont Park and Centennial Olympic Park are always good for a daytime stroll, and nearby Stone Mountain offers an epic lights-filled Christmas celebration each night. 

San Antonio, Texas

The end of the year is the perfect time to visit San Antonio, as hotel rates plummet but the temperature stays mostly warm.

The Alamo is San Antonio's biggest claim to fame, and there are plenty of other activities that make the city worth an extended stay. Locals love the quickly growing Pearl District for its eclectic mix of food, shopping, and art, as well as the 15-mile River Walk and its unique canals, pathways, and architecture. First-time visitors should hop on a cruise for a guided tour.

"Pokémon: Let's Go" is the newest Pokémon role-playing game, and the first entry of the main series to arrive on the Nintendo Switch.

Launching this November, "Pokémon: Let's Go" presents a more interactive version of the Pokémon world, showing wild pokémon running around for the first time in a main-series game, and adding new ways for players to bond with their Pokémon partners.

"Let's Go" takes clear cues from the mobile game "Pokémon Go" and appears to be more accessible for fans interested in the core Pokémon games. Veterans of the series may be disappointed by the limited number of Pokémon and some missing features, but "Pokémon: Let's Go" offers plenty of new gameplay improvements.

"Pokémon: Let's Go" takes place in the same region as 'Pokémon Red & Blue,' with the original 151 pokémon.

"Pokémon: Let's Go" returns to the Kanto region from the first games in the series, "Pokémon Red & Blue." This means that the original 151 pokémon will also be making a return, too, along with their Alolan variations from "Pokémon Sun & Moon." Players will explore updated 3D versions of the same cities, forests and destinations from "Red & Blue," and battle against the classic gym leaders like Brock and Misty. The notorious Team Rocket will play the role of villain once more.

There are key differences between "Let's Go Pikachu" and "Let's Go Eevee."

While the gameplay and story of both versions of "Pokémon: Let's Go" is the same, there are a few key differences. Most obviously, the version of the game you pick will determine your partner Pokémon: Pikachu or Eevee. Each version of the game will also have some exclusive wild Pokémon, and the version will determine how frequently some types of Pokémon appear.

The confirmed exclusive Pokémon in "Let's Go: Pikachu" include Oddish, Sandshrew, and Growlithe. "Let's Go Eevee" has wild Bellsprout, Vulpix and Meowth. There are certainly more exclusive Pokémon to be found in both games. In order to catch all of the Pokémon in either game, you'll need to trade with someone who has the opposite version to obtain the other set of exclusive Pokémon.

Bonding with your partner Pokémon will unlock special abilities, and you can customize their appearance.

Forming a bond with your Eevee or Pikachu is a key part of the game: Players will be able to customize their partner's outfit, play with them and give them treats. Improving your friendship with your partner Pokémon will unlock special abilities that can be used both in and out of combat. Your partner will constantly follow you throughout the Pokémon world and will react when spoken to. 

Princess Eugenie's wedding to Jack Brooksbank is the second royal wedding of this year, five months after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in May.

While Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding had lots of personal touches to it, including a few that departed from royal tradition, Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank's wedding was more traditional. But they also brought their own style to the occasion.

Princess Eugenie — Prince Harry and William's first cousin and granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II — doesn't have to abide by the same protocols as other royals because she isn't a "working royal." This means that she also typically has fewer royal protocol rules to consider.

Princess Eugenie's wedding ended up being a mix of traditional and conservative with modern twists and elements that were very personal to the couple.

Here are 22 photos to compare the two royal weddings of the year.

Princess Eugenie and Prince Harry chose the same venue for their royal weddings.

Meghan and Harry had the same venue for their wedding: St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. The Gothic-style chapel is also where Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, had their civil ceremony.

The smaller venue made sense for both couples.

For their royal wedding in April 2011, Prince William and Kate Middleton chose Westminster Abbey, which can seat up to 2,000 guests and has a rather long aisle.

In comparison, St. George's Chapel holds up to 800 guests and doesn't have as long of a walk to the altar. It is also located further away from Buckingham Palace.

A smaller venue seems to suit both Princess Eugenie and Prince Harry, given that, unlike William, both are unlikely to see the throne.

Like Harry and Meghan, Eugenie had a star-studded guest list.

Ellie Goulding, Cara DeLevigne, Demi Moore, and Naomi Campbell were just a few of the A-list celebrities on Princess Eugenie's guest list. 

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.

It's never too early to start thinking about holiday shopping. While the gift-giving season is months away, if you like to get ahead and do your holiday shopping early, Amazon has you covered. Amazon's 2018 Holiday Toy List showcases 100 of their top picks of toys and games for this holiday season.

On the list, you'll find classic and simple toys, eccentric card games, STEM educational toys, and more. We scoured through it for you, and here's what we found.

Check out Amazon's top 100 toys and games for the 2018 holiday season:

A kit that lets you grow your own crystal

4M Crystal Growing Experiment, $12

This kit is educational, fun, and only costs $12. Kids will love making their own crystals and watching them grow. The set comes with the materials and directions to conduct seven crystal growth experiments, plus a fact sheet so kids can learn a little bit about geology along the way.

A lifelike baby doll

Baby Alive Potty Dance Baby, $48.82

Little kids get to feel like grown-ups when they take care of their own dolls. This one blinks, goes to the bathroom, and can say over 50 phrases — in both English and Spanish. Each doll comes with an outfit, water bottle, mini toilet, soap dispenser, and a rewards chart with stickers so kids can nurture their dolls.

Cute characters that smell like your favorite fruit

Banana's Collectible Toy 3-Pack Bunch, $9.99

Peel open these colorful plastic bananas to reveal cute "Crushie" characters and accessories. Kids can collect and trade them, and they can be placed back in their banana case and sealed up to take on the go. They even smell like real bananas!

The US Navy is perhaps the most visible aspect of American military power, and it turned 243 years old Saturday.

The Navy was established on October 13, 1775, when the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution creating the Continental Navy, calling for two swift sailing vessels to be armed with 10 carriage guns and a proportional number of swivel guns, manned by a crew of eighty, and sent to intercept transport ships delivering munitions to the British army in America.

Since its establishment, the US Navy has evolved into an unmatched military force. These 15 awesome photos from the past year show the Navy in action.

Sailors maneuver a rigid hull inflatable boat alongside the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) while participating in visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) training during Exercise Bright Star 2018 on Sept 10, 2018.

"Today, we celebrate 243 years of our #USNavy’s critical role in protecting and promoting American interests worldwide and honor our shipmates' immense contributions to our nation’s history and security," the US Navy tweeted Saturday morning.

An F/A-18F Super Hornet, assigned to the Mighty Shrikes of Strike Fighter Attack Squadron (VFA) 94, prepares to launch from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) on Dec. 21, 2017

U.S. Navy Divers, assigned to Mobile Diving Salvage Unit (MDSU) 1, conduct an underwater pier survey with divers assigned to Underwater Construction Team (UCT) 2 in Apra Harbor on Dec. 14, 2017

Hurricane Michael made landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast on Wednesday before making its way toward Georgia, the Carolinas, and Virginia. Already, the storm has killed at least 13 people and left hundreds of thousands more without power.

As experts draw comparisons to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the world is reminded yet again of the extreme devastation made possible by climate change.

Scientists have uncovered mounting evidence that climate change influences major events — like heat waves, droughts, and heavy rains — which have become more frequent and severe.

A new report by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found that the world's temperatures could escalate to catastrophic levels by 2040. The resulting damage could trigger a $54 trillion global economic loss and force many people to migrate from their homes.

Where can people go to avoid these financial and physical effects of climate change?

We put the question to a group of actuaries, who use statistics to determine economic risk. They gave us their picks for the "least risky" cities for effects of climate-related disasters.

Many highlighted coastal locations, which they found less vulnerable to extreme temperature changes. Others preferred Midwestern areas, given the escalating concerns about sea-level rise. Most warned against the southeastern coast, where Hurricane Michael is wreaking havoc.

While no area is impervious to disaster, a home in one of these cities could be a relatively safe investment, according to the actuaries.

SEE ALSO: We asked 11 climate scientists where they'd live in the US to avoid future natural disasters — here’s what they said

Minneapolis

To determine climate-based financial risk, many insurance workers turn to the Actuaries Climate Index, a tool for measuring extreme changes in temperature, wind speed, drought levels, precipitation, and sea level. (It's kind of like the consumer price index for climate change.)

The tool is a collaborative effort from four actuarial societies in North America. They plan to release a new index by the end of the year that takes into account vulnerable populations and property.

Based on these considerations, Minneapolis qualifies as a "relatively risk-free" city, said Doug Collins, the chair of the Climate Index Working Group. Not only is it less vulnerable to hurricanes and flooding, but its summers also tend to avoid persistent heat.

Portland, Maine

"Climate risks are relatively low here," Collins said of Maine, where he lives.

When asked which city in Maine is the least vulnerable, he pointed to Portland, the most populous.

Collins said that while Portland might eventually be vulnerable to sea-level rise, these changes would be likely to affect those closest to the water as opposed to the many homes on the western side.

His choice is echoed in the research of Kristy Dahl and Astrid Caldas, two senior climatologists at the Union of Concerned Scientists. In studying the number of homes exposed to frequent high-tide flooding, the scientists found that coastal Maine had less property risk compared with most coastal states.

Salt Lake City

Those looking to avoid the more devastating effects of climate change should consider a home near a lake in a mountainous region, said Chandu Patel, a fellow at the Casualty Actuarial Society. Lakes provide access to water in the event of a drought, and a high elevation makes residents less vulnerable to sea-level rise.

One community that meets these qualifications is Salt Lake City, a place Collins considered to be relatively low-risk. In September, the city hosted a Global Climate Action Summit. It's also one of four local governments in Utah to pledge to achieve 100% renewable energy and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.