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6 discovery tools to help podcast listeners decide what to hear next

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podcasts app iphone

  • Podcasting is quickly gaining popularity, but plenty of people aren't familiar with the audio trend.
  • As more podcasts hit the market, so do new discovery tools that simplify the search process. 
  • Websites, apps, and even chatbots can make recommendations by things like category and chart data.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The podcasting space is getting saturated. Anyone with a minimal amount of equipment and training can make their own podcast, say executives at one of the top podcast production companies. 

Now, tools are emerging that can help people narrow their search. 

Websites like Podchaser, PodSearch, and Discover Pods let people filter podcasts by category and keyword as well as read show reviews and industry news.

Website Podchaser and Breaker app bring a social component to discovery by letting users make their own playlists to share with friends. 

A new app called Spkr curates playlists of short clips from podcasts and refines suggestions based on user activity. And there's even a Facebook chatbot, PodFinder, that makes recommendations.

Scroll down to read about six options for podcast discovery.

SEE ALSO: Former MTV exec Andy Schuon says his new app solves the podcast discovery problem

Podchaser

Podchaser is a podcast database that lets users access ratings, reviews, and recommendations in the form of playlists.

The website just launched a new discovery tool called Podchaser Feed, a feature that can be personalized by following podcasts, creators, existing lists, other listeners, and celebrities who might make guest appearances on shows.



PodFinder

PodFinder is a chatbot on Facebook Messenger that makes podcast recommendations. You can ask it for shows in a specific category, and if you're new to podcasting, the bot will give you a few options by genre.

The PodFinder team says it listens to every show before adding it to the database. It's also a big fan of sending GIFs, so be prepared to get plenty of those along with podcast recommendations. 



Discover Pods

Discover Pods mixes podcast recommendations with reviews for those wanting an in-depth description of a show before committing. It also provides industry news for podcast enthusiasts.

Users can sort shows by looking at top charts, category lists, and award winners.  



PodSearch

PodSearch is a website and app that sorts podcast recommendations into lists like chart-toppers and new releases.

PodSearch also has a large category index, which lets users choose from podcast genres they might not even know exist. A feature called MyPodSearch finds recommendations based on categories and lets you search by keyword to refine your search.

Listeners can access clips from shows, and for those who sign up, a bookmark feature saves favorites for later. 



Breaker

Breaker is a podcast discovery app with a social component. Users can follow their friends on the app, send and share podcasts on social media, chat in the app, and create playlists.

Breaker also has a "sleep timer" option that stops a podcast after a certain amount of time or at the end of a show for users who fall asleep while listening. 



Spkr

Spkr is a new app that autoplays short clips from mainstream and independent podcasts that users can skip, listen to in full, or save for later.

Business Insider beta tested the app and talked with founder Andy Schuon about how it works to facilitate podcast discovery.




Little-known facts about every American first lady

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first ladies Rosalynn Carter, Barbara Bush, Betty Ford, Nancy Reagan, Hillary Rodham Clinton

  • America's first ladies have rich histories to rival their commander-in-chief husbands.
  • Edith Wilson basically ran the government after her husband had a stroke; Grace Coolidge had a pet raccoon; and Melania Trump speaks six languages.
  • Continue to learn facts about each first lady, from Martha Washington to Melania Trump.
  • Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

The 41 women who have followed their husbands to the White House to become America's first ladies may have lived lives overshadowed by their partners.

But these women each have a unique story to tell — filled with tragedy, joy, and often accomplishments unusual for women of their time.

James Buchanan was the only bachelor president, but a few presidents' wives didn't act as official first ladies, or didn't live to see their husband's become presidents, so we've excluded them here. Sometimes first daughters or sisters acted as the official hostess, or no one filled the role.

Here are the most interesting little-known facts about the small club of women who have called 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. home.

Martha Washington

The nation's first first lady stayed by her husband's side during much of the Revolutionary War. General George Washington often asked her to join him at his winter encampment, and thought it so necessary that she be there that he "sought reimbursement from Congress for her traveling expenses," according to the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association.



Abigail Adams

John and Abigail Adam's love letters are world famous, but she also had a sweet correspondence with another president, Thomas Jefferson.

Thomas Jefferson and John Adams became friends when they were both sent to Europe as American diplomats shortly after the Revolutionary War, but other the years their political differences caused them to fall out.

However, when then-President Jefferson's daughter Polly died in 1804, Abigail immediately wrote to him to express her sadness at the loss.

There would be other periods when Abigail and Jefferson didn't talk after that, but they were on speaking terms at the end of Abigail's life.

In January 1817, a little less than a year before Abigail's death, Jefferson wrote her a letter saying "our next meeting must then be in the country to which [time] has flown, — a country for us not now very distant."



Dolley Madison

President James Madison's wife may be credited with instilling the importance of bipartisanship in US politics.

According to the New York Historical Society, Dolley Madison would invite members of different political parties to her social functions, at a time when tensions between parties were so high that debates could often devolve into physical violence and even duels.

Her parties stressed civility and encouraged cooperation, in part thanks to the presence of women.

 

 



Elizabeth Monroe

Before becoming first lady in 1817, Elizabeth Monroe followed her husband — the country's future fifth president — to France, where he was appointed United States Minister under George Washington.

The Monroes lived in France during the height of the French Revolution, and Elizabeth is credited with saving the Marquis de Lafayette's wife from execution at the guillotine.



Louisa Adams

The first foreign-born first lady was, perhaps unsurprisingly, one of the most well traveled.

Louisa Adams was born to a British mother and an American father in London, where she later met her future husband, John Quincy Adams. She didn't move to America until four years after their marriage.

Louisa spent much of her union following John around to his different diplomatic postings, from Berlin to Russia — but always felt most at home in her husband's native New England.



Anna Harrison

Anna Harrison was the first first lady to be widowed while her husband was in office. President William Henry Harrison died a month after catching a cold at his inauguration. His wife was still in the process of packing up to join him in Washington when she learned of his death.

She lived to be 88.



Letitia Tyler

Letitia Tyler was the first first lady to die while her husband was in office, at the age of 51 in 1842. Her death also made her the youngest first lady to ever die.



Julia Tyler

Julia Tyler was the first first lady to marry her husband while he was a sitting president, when she tied the knot with President John Tyler two years after his first wife's death. There was some criticism of the marriage at the time, due to the couple's 30-year age difference.



Sarah Polk

After her husband President James K. Polk's four years in office, the couple retired to their home, "Polk Place," in Nashville, where he died in 1849.

Sarah lived at the home for the rest of her life, standing her ground even when the Civil War broke out in 1861, and fighting came to Tennessee. Polk Place was considered neutral ground by both armies, and the former first lady is said to have entertained both Union and Confederate leaders at her house during this period. She too lived to age 88.



Peggy Taylor

While her husband was away fighting in the Mexican War, Peggy Taylor made an oath with herself that if he came back alive, she would never go out into society again. She continued to hold that vow when her husband became president in 1849, relegating all social duties at the White House to her youngest daughter, Mary Elizabeth.



Abigail Fillmore

Abigail Fillmore is sometimes credited with establishing the White House's library, but the National First Ladies Library casts doubt on this claim. She was, however, an avid reader and keen observer of the political happenings of the time, acting as an unofficial adviser to her husband. The couple amassed a personal library of more than 4,000 books.



Jane Pierce

Like many other first ladies, Jane Pierce was not exactly excited to fill the position. When her husband was nominated as the Democratic party candidate in 1852, she is said to have fainted hearing the news.



Mary Todd Lincoln

Before marrying Abraham Lincoln, Mary Todd dated Stephen A. Douglas, one of his rivals in the 1860 presidential election, according to The Ohio State University.



Eliza Johnson

There's a local legend in Greeneville, North Carolina, that when Andrew Johnson first came to town in 1826, Eliza commented to a friend as he passed by, "There goes my beau!" and that they were married within a year.



Julia Grant

Julia Grant was the first former first lady to write a memoir, blazing the way for similar books from the likes of Laura Bush and Michelle Obama, according to the History Channel. But it wasn't published until nearly 75 years after her death.

 



Lucy Hayes

Lucy Hayes was the first first lady to graduate from college. Her time as first lady is perhaps best known for banning alcohol from the White House, which earned her the nickname "Lemonade Lucy," according to the History Channel.



Lucretia Garfield

Moving into a White House made dry by her predecessors, Lucretia Garfield ignored pressure from the temperance movement and reversed the policy not to serve alcohol, according to the History Channel.

 



Frances Cleveland

Frances Cleveland was the only first lady to hold the position twice, when her husband was voted out of office after one term, and then voted back in four years later.

She was also the youngest first lady ever. She married 49-year-old President Grover Cleveland at the age of 21, in a ceremony at the White House.



Caroline Harrison

Caroline Harrison served as the founding president general of the Daughters of the American Revolution, an organization whose members can trace their ancestry to those who aided in the Revolutionary War.

She also helped raise money for Johns Hopkins University medical school, but only on the condition that they let women in.



Ida McKinley

Ida Saxton met her future husband while working as a cashier at her father's bank in Canton, Ohio, and the two appeared to share a deep love.

When he was shot by an assassin in September 1901, his first thoughts went to his wife.

"My wife — be careful how you tell her — oh be careful," he told his secretary.



Edith Roosevelt

Edith knew her future husband, Teddy Roosevelt, nearly her entire life, after becoming playmates with his younger sister when they were toddlers.

The two were married two years after Roosevelt's first wife, Alice, died in childbirth.

Edith lived to age 87.



Helen Taft

When William Howard Taft became president in 1909, his wife broke tradition by walking with him in the inaugural parade, something modern first ladies have held up, according to the History Channel.

Helen Taft was also the first woman to be both the wife of a president and the wife of a chief justice of the Supreme Court, when he was nominated to the highest court in the country eight years after leaving the White House.



Ellen Wilson

While her husband, future President Woodrow Wilson, was teaching at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania during her first pregnancies, Ellen Wilson insisted on going home to Georgia to give birth so that her children would not be born Yankees.

But she didn't embrace some of the darker aspects of the South. The descendant of slave owners, she worked to improve housing conditions in black slums.

Her time as first lady was short lived, as she died in August 1914, about a year-and-a-half into her husband's presidency.



Edith Wilson

President Woodrow Wilson married Edith Axson a little less than a year after the death of his first wife, Ellen. Edith Wilson has sometimes been called the "first woman to run the government" since she took over a lot of her husband's responsibilities when he suffered a stroke in 1919 that left him partially paralyzed.



Florence Harding

President Warren G. Harding was Florence Kling's second marriage, after her first husband — whom she married at 19— left her after she gave birth to their son.

Though she was born into privilege as the daughter of the wealthiest man in Marion, Ohio, proud Florence refused to move back home and went to work to make rent.



Grace Coolidge

First lady Grace Coolidge caused somewhat of a scene at the 1927 White House Easter Egg Roll, when she brought along the family's pet raccoon, Rebecca.

According to the History Channel, Rebecca clawed at the first lady and some children before she had to be taken back to to her quarters for safety.

The Coolidges adopted Rebecca when a Mississippi resident sent the animal to the White House as a Thanksgiving table offering. The president decided to pardon the raccoon instead of killing it for meat, and it quickly became one of his fondest companions.



Lou Hoover

Lou Hoover was a pioneer, becoming the first woman in the country to earn a bachelor's degree in geology from Stanford University, where she met her future husband, according to the National First Ladies' Library.

Her love of the outdoors also led her to act as president of the Girl Scouts twice in her lifetime.

And she was fluent in five languages, including English, Spanish, Italian, and French. She also learned Latin and Mandarin Chinese.



Eleanor Roosevelt

Orphaned at a young age, Eleanor Roosevelt was walked down the aisle on her wedding day by then-President Teddy Roosevelt, her uncle. Because she was marrying her fifth-cousin once removed, her uncle joked that "there's nothing like keeping the name in the family."



Elizabeth Truman

When her husband was elected to the US Senate in 1934, Elizabeth Truman worked in his office as a secretary. Harry Truman said his wife was a hard working and earned "every cent I pay her."



Mamie Eisenhower

As a military wife, Mamie Eisenhower was constantly moving from posting to posting. By the time he was elected president in 1952, she estimated that she had unpacked at least 27 times.



Jacqueline Kennedy

Before marrying John F. Kennedy, a young Jacqueline Bouvier worked as a reporter and photographer for the Washington Times-Herald, a now-defunct newspaper in D.C.. And in her later years, she went to work as an editor at the Doubleday publishing house, according to the History Channel.



"Lady Bird" Johnson

Like Edith Wilson before her, Claudia Alta "Lady Bird" Johnson helped run her husband's affairs. When Lyndon Johnson volunteered for Naval service in World War II, she helped run his Congressional office. And she did the same thing again while he recuperated from a heart attack in 1955 as Senate majority leader.



Pat Nixon

Patricia Nixon was born Thelma Catherine Ryan and earned her nickname at birth for being born on St. Patrick's Day.

She's also responsible for helping to bring pandas to the US. When she commented about her love for the animals during a visit to China in 1972, dignitaries giftedthe US two pandas, which lived at the zoo in Washington, D.C. To this day, three American zoos maintain relationships with China to lease pandas.



Betty Ford

A little more than a year after she and her husband left the White House, Betty Ford publicly admitted to being an alcoholic and checked into an addiction center. Her candor had a lasting impact.

Ford went on to use her personal struggle to help other addicts, a few years later opening the Betty Ford Center, a rehab facility in Rancho Mirage, California.

In 2014, the Betty Ford Center merged with Hazeldon to form the Hazeldon Betty Ford Foundation.



Rosalynn Carter

Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Smith grew up together in Plains, Georgia. In fact, the nation's 39th president can remember the day that his future wife was born. His mother, Lillian, was a nurse and helped deliver the girl, and brought her son over the next day to see the baby, according to Good Housekeeping.

The two families were so close that Rosalynn's younger sister was named after Jimmy's mother.

"It was the Depression and people didn't have money to pay a doctor and Jimmy's mother took care of everybody whether they had money or not. And my father just admired her for that and so he named my little sister for Lillian," Rosalynn Carter told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2011.

According to the book "Secret Lives of First Ladies", Rosalynn first developed a crush on her childhood friend when he left Georgia to enter the US Naval Academy at Annapolis and she saw a picture of him in uniform. They went on their first date while he was home for the summer in 1945, and they married a year later.



Nancy Reagan

The Red Scare brought Nancy Davis and Ronald Reagan together in 1951.

The future first lady was working as an actress at the time, when she sought out the help of Reagan, then-president of the Screen Actors Guild, in getting her name off a blacklist of possible communist sympathizers, according to the History Channel.

They married a year later.



Barbara Bush

Tragedy is the reason that Barbara Bush's iconic hair started turning white at the age of 28, when she suffered the loss of her toddler daughter Robin to leukemia, according to the Washington Post.

She told the "Today" show in 2018 that she had stopped dying it because of her active lifestyle.

"The white hair was because I wanted to play golf,'' she said. "I wanted to play tennis. I wanted to swim and my hair turned, as I'm sure someone else will tell you, orange, green, yellow, depending upon how much chlorine in the pool. So I decided to go white."



Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton met her husband, future President Bill Clinton, when they were both law students at Georgetown University. She told the "Today" show in 2015 that he had to ask her three times before she agreed to marry him.

As President Barack Obama's secretary of state, Hillary set the record for most countries visited: 112. She traveled 956,733 miles on the job, according to The Atlantic.



Laura Bush

In 1963, a 17-year-old Laura Bush got into a car crash with another vehicle that was driven by a friend, Mike Douglas, who died.

In her 2010 memoir, Bush wrote at length about the tragedy that she has shied away from talking about most of her life, saying the incident left her wracked with guilt for years.

"I lost my faith that November, lost it for many, many years," she wrote in the book, according to The New York Times. "It was the first time that I had prayed to God for something, begged him for something, not the simple childhood wishing on a star but humbly begging for another human life. And it was as if no one heard. My begging, to my seventeen-year-old mind, had made no difference. The only answer was the sound of Mrs. Douglas's sobs on the other side of that thin emergency room curtain."



Michelle Obama

As the nation's first black first lady, Michelle Obama grew up encountering racism and bias.

In her memoir, "Becoming," she told an emotional story about how a college counselor discouraged her from applying to Princeton, even though she was at the top of her class at her magnet school, in student government, a member of the National Honor Society, and the sister of a current Princeton student.

She applied anyway and got in. She later came to the realization that her peers at Princeton were no smarter than she was.



Melania Trump

Melania Trump is the second first lady to be born outside the US and the first first lady to have grown up under communism. Melania was born in Slovenia in 1970, when the Baltic country was a part of now-defunct Yugoslavia, which had a socialist government.

According to her official profile on the White House website, she moved to the US in 1996 and became a citizen 10 years later.

She also speaks six languages— more than any other first lady.



What it costs to go to an NFL game at every stadium in the league

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Packers fans

  • Attending an NFL game is an expensive outing.
  • Prices vary wildly across the league, depending on the popularity and quality of the home team in any given year.
  • With data provided by SeatGeek, we've broken down what it costs to attend a home game for every team in the NFL so far this year.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Attending an NFL game is no cheap outing.

Between tickets, food, beverages, and maybe some merchandise, fans can spend hundreds of dollars on a Sunday outing to see their favorite team.

But all tickets are not created equal — depending on the popularity of the team, how their season is going, and how many seats are in the stadium, prices vary wildly across the league, especially when it comes to resale sites.

Ticket platform SeatGeek provided Business Insider with data on NFL ticket sales this year, averaging the prices sold for each team's home games across the league at the halfway point of the 2019 season.

Take a look below to get an idea of how much it costs to attend a home game for every team in the NFL.

32. Cincinnati Bengals

Stadium: Paul Brown Stadium

Capacity: 65,515

Average ticket cost: $99



31. Jacksonville Jaguars

Stadium: TIAA Bank Field

Capacity: 69,132

Average ticket cost: $104



30. Indianapolis Colts

Stadium: Lucas Oil Stadium

Capacity: 67,000

Average ticket cost: $112



29. Arizona Cardinals

Stadium: State Farm Stadium

Capacity: 63,400

Average ticket cost: $120



28. Buffalo Bills

Stadium: New Era Field

Capacity: 71,608

Average ticket cost: $126



27. Miami Dolphins

Stadium: Hard Rock Stadium

Capacity: 65,326

Average ticket cost: $132



26. Los Angeles Rams

Stadium: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Capacity: 78,500

Average ticket cost: $136



25. Carolina Panthers

Stadium: Bank of America Stadium

Capacity: 75,523

Average ticket cost: $139



24. Detroit Lions

Stadium: Ford Field

Capacity: 65,000

Average ticket cost: $145



23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Stadium: Raymond James Stadium

Capacity: 65,890

Average ticket cost: $154



22. Washington Redskins

Stadium: FedEx Field

Capacity: 82,000

Average ticket cost: $160



21. Tennessee Titans

Stadium: Nissan Stadium

Capacity: 69,143

Average ticket cost: $161



20. Atlanta Falcons

Stadium: Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Capacity: 71,000

Average ticket cost: $162



19. Baltimore Ravens

Stadium: M&T Bank Stadium

Capacity: 71,008

Average ticket cost: $167



18. New York Jets

Stadium: MetLife Stadium

Capacity: 82,500

Average ticket cost: $169



17. Oakland Raiders

Stadium: RingCentral Coliseum

Capacity: 56,057

Average ticket cost: $182



16. Houston Texans

Stadium: NRG Stadium

Capacity: 72,220

Average ticket cost: $186



15. New York Giants

Stadium: MetLife Stadium

Capacity: 82,500

Average ticket cost: $198



14. Pittsburgh Steelers

Stadium: Heinz Field

Capacity: 68,400

Average ticket cost: $210



13. San Francisco 49ers

Stadium: Levi's Stadium

Capacity: 68,500

Average ticket cost: $210



12. Minnesota Vikings

Stadium: U.S. Bank Stadium

Capacity: 66,655

Average ticket cost: $211



11. Cleveland Browns

Stadium: FirstEnergy Stadium

Capacity: 67,895

Average ticket cost: $213



10. Kansas City Chiefs

Stadium: Arrowhead Stadium

Capacity: 76,416

Average ticket cost: $221



9. Denver Broncos

Stadium: Empower Field at Mile High

Capacity: 76,125

Average ticket cost: $247



8. Los Angeles Chargers

Stadium: Dignity Health Sports Park

Capacity: 27,000

Average ticket cost: $250



7. New Orleans Saints

Stadium: Mercedes-Benz Superdome

Capacity: 73,208

Average ticket cost: $256



6. Green Bay Packers

Stadium: Lambeau Field

Capacity: 81,441

Average ticket cost: $267



5. Seattle Seahawks

Stadium: CenturyLink Field

Capacity: 69,000

Average ticket cost: $284



4. Philadelphia Eagles

Stadium: Lincoln Financial Field

Capacity: 69,596

Average ticket cost: $305



3. Dallas Cowboys

Stadium: AT&T Stadium

Capacity: 80,000

Average ticket cost: $331



2. Chicago Bears

Stadium: Soldier Field

Capacity: 61,500

Average ticket cost: $358



1. New England Patriots

Stadium: Gillette Stadium

Capacity: 66,829

Average ticket cost: $490



Now check out our picks for the most iconic stadium in all 50 states...

The most iconic stadium in every state



Here's what the oldest colleges in America used to look like — and what they look like today

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Harvard University

  • The history of higher education in America is older than the Declaration of Independence.
  • The oldest known college in the US that still exists today is Harvard University, which was founded in 1636.
  • Since Harvard's founding, thousands of other higher learning institutes have been established across the nation.
  • Here's a look back at Harvard's history and the histories of the other oldest colleges in America. 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The history of higher education in America is older than the nation's founding.

The oldest known college to continuously exist on US soil is Harvard University, which dates back to 1636 — 140 years before the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. In fact, the first images of Harvard are so old, they predate the invention of photography; rather, they're sketchings of the buildings which stood then, many of which still stand today. 

Since Harvard's founding, many other postsecondary institutions have been established. Today, there are more than 4,000 degree-granting intuitions in the nation, according to US News & World Report.

Keep reading to learn which colleges are America's oldest and to see what they looked like centuries ago compared with how they look now.

SEE ALSO: The hardest colleges and universities to get into in every state

DON'T MISS: The most bizarre things you can find at 10 colleges and universities

10. Columbia University

Columbia is located in New York City, New York, and was founded in 1754. Previously known as King's College, it received a royal charter from King George II of Britain. It was renamed Columbia after the American Revolution.

Source: Columbia



Columbia is currently ranked as one of the top schools in the nation.

It's also one of America's eight Ivy League institutions.

Source: Columbia



9. Washington and Lee University

Located in Lexington, Virginia, Washington and Lee University was founded in 1749. It used to be known as Augusta Academy and Liberty Hall, but it was eventually renamed for George Washington (the first benefactor of the school) and for Robert E. Lee, who was president of the university from 1865 to 1870.

Source: W&L



As noted in an email to Business Insider, there are apparently no original photographs of Lincoln Hall, as it burned down in 1803 — years before the invention of photography.

"Only a modern rendering and vintage shots of the ruins from around the turn of the 20th century are available," said Seth McCormick-Goodhart, assistant director of Special Collections and Archives at Washington & Lee.



8. Princeton University

Located in Princeton, New Jersey, Princeton was founded in 1746 as the College of New Jersey. It was originally meant to train ministers by New Light Presbyterians, according to Top Universities.

Source: Princeton, Top Universities



Princeton University's oldest building, Nassau Hall, was even the temporary US Capitol in 1783, when Congress held meetings there.

Pictured above is a recent shot of Blair Hall, another historical building at Princeton.

Source: Princeton, Top Universities



7. University of Delaware

Located in Newark, Delaware, the University of Delaware was founded in 1743 as "Free School." It was not chartered until after the American Revolution — mostly because Delaware was then part of Pennsylvania, and given that Pennsylvania already had the University of Pennsylvania, they didn't want a rivalry between the two schools.

Source:University of Delaware



Today, the University of Delaware ranks within the top schools in the nation.

University of Delaware tied for No. 91 in US News & World Report's 2020 ranking of National Universities.



6. Moravian College

Located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Moravian College was founded in 1742, by 16-year-old Countess Benigna von Zinzendorf.

Source: Moravian College



Moravian started off as the Bethlehem Female Seminary school, which was, at the time, the first and only boarding school for young women in the US.

America's sixth-oldest college became coed in 1954.

Source: Moravian College



5. University of Pennsylvania

Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the University of Pennsylvania was founded in 1740 and chartered in 1755. It was founded by Benjamin Franklin and was the first US college to offer both an undergraduate and a postgraduate education.

Source: University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania



In 1765, the University of Pennsylvania became the first US college to have a medical school.

Today, it's ranked No. 16 on US News & World Report's list of the Best Global Universities.

Source: University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania



4. Yale University

Now located in New Haven, Connecticut, Yale was initially established in nearby Saybrook in 1701 as the "Collegiate School." In 1718, is was renamed after Elihu Yale, a governor of the British East India Company, who had donated a gift to the school.

Source: Yale



Yale was once located in Connecticut's Middlesex and Hartford counties, before moving to the current location in 1716, where it still stands today.

It is currently ranked as the twelfth best college in the world, and was, as Top Universities reports, the first US college to offer a PhD, making it available starting in 1861.

Source: Yale, Yale



3. St. John's College

Located in Annapolis, Maryland, St. John's was established in 1696, making it the third oldest college in the US.

Source:St. John's College



Originally known as King William's School, the school changed its name in 1784 and is now one of the top liberal arts schools in the nation.

It also has a campus in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Source:St. John's College



2. The College of William and Mary

Located in Williamsburg, Virginia, The College of William and Mary was officially established in 1693. It was named after William III of England and his wife Mary II of England, the reigning monarchs in Britain at that time, who signed the charter calling for a "perpetual College of Divinity, Philosophy, Languages, and other good Arts and Sciences" to be created in the then-British colony of Virginia.

Source: William & Mary



The College of William and Mary was also the first to receive a royal charter from Britain and is the oldest school in the South.

Today, it's ranked at No. 40 in the nation and has a total enrollment just under 9,000.

Source: William & Mary



1. Harvard University

Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard was founded in 1636 and chartered in 1650. It is the oldest known college in the US that still exists today. Pictured above is a rendering of what it looked like in 1638, only two years after it first opened.

Source:Harvard College Handbook for Students



Harvard was named for John Harvard, the university's first benefactor.

It has since become not only one of the most prestigious institutions in the country, but in the world.

Source:Harvard College Handbook for Students



The best hammers

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  • Sure, hammers have a pretty simple design, but that doesn't mean all hammers are created equal.
  • The advanced anti-vibration handle on the Stanley 20-Ounce FatMax Xtreme Hammer makes it the perfect hammer to handle all kinds of jobs around the house without putting stress on your wrists and forearms.

A hammer looks like a simple tool, and, at its core, it is. Hammers have been around for centuries after all.

However, not all hammers are created equal. Different designs work well for different jobs. Think of it this way: You wouldn't use a tiny artist's paintbrush to paint your ceiling, even though you could. You'd use a more efficient tool, such as a paint roller.

Although you could, you wouldn't use a ball pein hammer to take out a wall for a remodeling — you'd use a strong claw hammer. It's just more efficient. Even though it can be fun to paint a target on the old drywall, blindfold yourself, and try to hit the target with the ball pein hammer's perfect circles because it puts an adult spin on Pin the Tail on the Donkey.

Types of hammers

After you've had a bit of fun and you're ready to return to work, it's important to pick the right type of hammer for the job. Here are some common hammers you may need for various jobs around the house.

  • Ball pein: The ball pein hammer design has a round end on one side of the hammerhead, which works for shaping metal and removing dents … and putting perfectly round holes in drywall.
  • Curve claw: A curve claw hammer is great for general carpentry work around the house. It drives nails efficiently, and the curvature of the claw gives you leverage when pulling nails.
  • Framing: The framing hammer design is heavier and longer than a typical claw hammer. It works well for heavy carpentry work and provides extra power for driving nails with fewer swings.
  • Rip claw: The rip claw hammer has a mostly straight claw versus the curve claw. It's more efficient at tearing out boards than pulling nails, although it works for nail-pulling. It does a great job with general household tasks.
  • Soft-face: A soft-face hammer consists of rubber or other soft materials to strike wood without damaging it. They're not tough enough to drive nails, but you can use them to gently tap a finished piece of wood into place.
  • Specialty: Other hammers are made for special jobs, such as a sledgehammer for tearing down walls or a bricklayer's hammer for cutting and setting tile or brick.

If you only plan to have one hammer on hand at home, a curved claw hammer is the most common choice. It provides the most versatility. As your home repair skills and requirements expand, you'll need some of the other types of hammers, so you can perform specific jobs more effectively.

Key considerations for hammers

hammer

Once you've settled on a design for a hammer, you then will have multiple choices within that design. Some of these choices will make the hammer more comfortable to use or will give you more nail-driving power. See? The simple hammer offers a lot of complex decisions.

  • Anti-vibration: Hammer manufacturers will use curved handles, handles of varying thicknesses, and a soft grip material to avoid vibration for the person operating the hammer. Excessive vibration can cause fatigue in the wrists and forearms.
  • Face surface: A smooth face on the hammerhead will protect the wood should you have a mishit on the nail head. Having a bit of friction on the face, called a milled face, will allow the hammer to remain in contact with the nail head without slipping.
  • Handle material: Wood handles have represented the standard for hammers for centuries. Wood can break or splinter though. Fiberglass handles will have less weight than steel handles, but they aren't as durable as steel. Additionally, many handles have a rubber material that provides a sturdy grip. Some use leather in the handle grip area.
  • Hammerhead material: Steel hammerheads are clearly the most common in the market, and they perform very well. However, if you want a lighter weight material that delivers more power than steel, look for a titanium hammerhead.
  • Weight: Most hammers weigh between 16 ounces and 20 ounces. Lighter hammers are available that are easier to control but that require more strikes to drive a nail. A heavier hammer will drive the nail faster but could cause arm fatigue if used for long periods of time.
  • Wide face: An oversized face on the hammerhead should make it easier to strike the nail than a small face. However, some large faces on hammers obscure your view of the target, which can cause mishits.

Here are the best hammers you can buy: 

Updated on 11/6/2019 by Caitlin Petreycik: Updated prices, links, and formatting. Added related guides. 

SEE ALSO: The best basic tool kits for DIY home projects

The best hammer overall

The Stanley 20-Ounce FatMax Xtreme Claw Hammer is a sturdy all-around hammer with a comfortable handle and a reasonable price.

The Stanley 20-Ounce FatMax Xtreme Claw Hammer may be a heavy tool, but you'll be able to handle it comfortably throughout an entire DIY project. Stanley gave the FatMax an anti-vibration design, which prevents fatigue in the forearm and wrist when nailing.

Additionally, the design features a type of grip and handle that works to reduce torque on the wrists and elbows, according to the My Hardware Store review. Basically, if you've ever wished for a hammer that's easy to use without any pain, this is it.

The Family Handyman likes the solid feel of this Stanley FatMax hammer. The hammer is made from one piece of steel, so you know the hammer won't just fall off one day and break your toe.

However, there are some disadvantages to this big hammer. The Wirecutter says both the 20-ounce FatMax rip claw hammer and the 16-ounce FatMax curve claw hammer have striking faces that are too large, which obscures the view of the person using the hammer, occasionally causing mishits.

Pros: Comfortable hammer to use for long sessions because of design of handle, includes anti-vibration feature, solid one-piece steel design, reasonable price point, very nice all-around hammer for many jobs

Cons: Large strike face that can obscure your view, 20-ounce hammer may be too heavy for some



The best soft-face hammer

The Vaughan & Bushnell 12-Ounce Soft-Face Hammer has two ends that work perfectly when you need a gentle hammer.

If you want one of the most versatile soft-face hammers on the market, the Vaughan & Bushnell 12-Ounce Soft-Face Hammer is the one for you. This hammer gives you the option to use either end of the hammerhead to achieve the desired results.

Each end of the hammerhead has a different soft material on it. One side features a hard consistency and the other end is soft. With two different ends, the 12-ounce hammer works well in a multitude of situations. 

Each of the two faces on the hammerhead is replaceable should it become worn down after repeated use.

Top Products loves the hickory wood handle on this Vaughan & Bushnell hammer, which serves to reduce vibrations. However, we found a few buyer reviews that say the grain orientation of the wooden handle was off in the models they received, which will eventually cause a crack.

Pros: Well-made soft-face hammer, specialty hammer that won't damage the surface of delicate materials, very good price point, two-headed hammer with different consistency in the two faces

Cons: Specialty hammer won't work for all jobs, occasional problems with wooden handle construction



The best titanium hammer

The Stiletto TiBone 15-Ounce Titanium Milled-Face Hammer drives nails in without putting stress on your wrists and forearms.

Some things just seem more desirable than others. When we hear something is made of gold, it feels like it should be better than a silver object. Super-size French fries may not taste better than regular-size fries, but you'll be able to enjoy them longer. And it just feels like titanium tools should be better than steel tools.

In the case of the Stiletto TiBone 15-Ounce Titanium Milled-Face Hammer, the improvements over steel hammers are more than just a feeling. By using titanium in the construction of this hammer, you'll receive more power and durability than a steel hammer with the same weight.

Some buyer reviews say swinging the TiBone all day won't cause fatigue, thanks to its ability to drive nails with less force than a steel hammer. 

Additionally, the titanium material in this hammer is able to absorb shock better than steel hammers, meaning you won't have concerns over wrist and forearm fatigue from vibration when using this hammer during long work sessions, according to the Research Core review

The Tough Ass Tools review loves the durability of this Stiletto hammer, which features a one-piece construction.

The biggest downside to this hammer is the price. You will pay almost 10 times as much for this hammer as you'd pay for a steel hammer, so it really will only appeal to those who plan to use the hammer frequently.

Pros: Drives nails with less force required versus steel hammers, long-lasting hammer with titanium one-piece construction, workers can use the hammer all day without the fatigue found with steel hammers

Cons: Extremely high price versus steel hammers



The best framing hammer

If you want some extra power and drive in your hammer, the huge Estwing 25-Ounce Big Blue Framing Hammer delivers.

Hammers are all about power, as in the power to drive nails into tough wood, or even the power to easily break apart a wall during a home improvement project. The destruction part of home improvement is always more fun than the improvement part, after all.

The powerful Estwing 25-Ounce Big Blue Framing Hammer takes power to a new level. This hammer is huge, weighing more than 1.5 pounds and measuring 18 inches in length. If you can control this heavy hammer, you'll love its ability to drive through walls or hit nails quickly.

A writer at Pro Tool Reviews says the Estwing framing hammer offers good balance, despite being much heavier and longer than typical hammers. However, we did come across some buyer reviews that say using this hammer for certain jobs is awkward because of its size.

Estwing includes a molded grip on the hammer to reduce the amount of vibration you'll feel. The 25-Ounce Big Blue Framing Hammer features a one-piece construction, and it's available with a smooth face or a milled face on the hammerhead.

Pros: Made in the USA, much larger than typical hammers, molded grip reduces vibration and fatigue in forearms and wrists, sturdy and durable construction, made for heavy construction work

Cons: Can be awkward to use for some because of size, may feel fatigue using this heavy hammer all day



The best ball pein hammer

One of the Tekton Jacketed Fiberglass Ball Pein Hammer models is sure to meet whatever metal working needs you have around the house.

Ball pein hammers primarily are used in metalworking, setting rivets by hand, or removing dents in metal. This isn't the type of hammer you'll use regularly at home, as it's not made to drive nails. But it doesn't hurt to have this special use hammer on hand because your kids are sure to put a dent in something at some point.

Regardless of why you want or need a ball pein hammer, the Tekton Jacketed Fiberglass Ball Pein Hammer ranks well. It comes in a variety of weights and sizes, ensuring you can find the exact model to meet your needs.

Garage Tool Advisor says the build quality of the Tekton hammer ensures it will work well for many years, even though the hammerhead is epoxied to the handle in a two-piece design. The Best Covery review says the fiberglass handle is tough, yet lightweight, which leaves most of the hammer's weight in the hammerhead.

Some online customer reviews do mention that the finish on the hammerhead is poor, which may yield problems with rust for the Tekton Ball Pein Hammer down the road.

Pros: Excellent price point for a ball pein hammer, multiple weights available in this family of hammers, tough build quality, fiberglass handle delivers a lightweight feel, works well for jobs around the house

Cons: Finish on the hammerhead may wear off, two-piece hammer design



Check out our other buying guides for tools

The best tape measures

No toolkit is complete without a great measuring tape. From the professional contractor's work to the DIY home repair, countless projects call for precise measurements. The QuickDraw DIY Self Marking Measuring Tape is our top choice because its innovative built-in pencil ensures you mark the same spot you measured.


The best ladders for working around the house

From painting the nursery to changing a light bulb or hanging holiday lights, everyday life often calls for a ladder. The Little Giant 22-Foot Multi-Use Ladder is our top choice because it allows for safe use up high, in stepladder configuration, and even on the stairs. We've also included step ladders and heavy-duty ones for outdoor use.

 



The best backpack coolers

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  • Backpack coolers are a convenient and comfortable way to carry cold food and drinks with you when you're camping, hiking, or wandering about the wilderness.
  • Yeti's Hopper Backflip 24 backpack cooler sets a high standard of quality for backpack coolers with a durable, insulated, leakproof design and a comfortable load system that evenly distributes weight.

A staple of any camping trip or sunny day at the beach, coolers or ice chests offer a convenient way to keep drinks and food properly refrigerated. However, no matter their size, hauling one around when it's full of ice and your beverage of choice is no easy task. Backpack coolers solve that problem by making the cooler much more portable. For those who haven't heard of backpack coolers before, it's exactly what it sounds like: a cooler you can strap to your back like a knapsack.

The advantages to backpack coolers are many. For starters, these packs make hauling a day's worth of chilled goods less of a back-breaking chore. No more dragging an awkward cooler across beach sand or shuffling along a dirt path as you and a friend try your best to share the load. Instead, these portable ice chests simply strap onto your back and you're free to lug whatever else you brought along or just enjoy your surroundings.

Don't worry about these backpack coolers offering inadequate insulation, either. Thanks to modern manufacturing, many (if not all) backpack coolers are capable of keeping the entirety of their contents cooled and chilled for two, three, or sometimes four whole days. That's impressive for any kind of cooler, let alone one that merely sits on your back.

Since we know you want to spend less time researching these packs and more time enjoying their contents, we've sifted through all the backpack coolers to find the best of the bunch. While companies like Yeti or IceMule are who you'd expect to see, brands like Hydro Flask and OtterBox surprised us with their own unique products. So, throw away that old Coleman your folks gave you. A backpack cooler isn't just an inventive new way to chill beverages – it's the best way.

Here are our top picks for the best backpack coolers:

Updated on 11/6/2019 by Caitlin Petreycik: Updated prices, links, and formatting. Added related guides. 

The best backpack cooler overall

The Yeti Hopper Backflip 24 does it all and does it all extremely well with a tough as nails DryHide Shell, a 100% leak-proof zipper, and insulation that can keep ice cold for several days.

Yeti's hard cooler success is widely known, so it should come as little surprise the company also makes some of the best backpack coolers. With the Hopper Backflip 24, an impeccable construction quality, ice retention, and durability make it an easy choice as our top pick.

Taller and wider than other Yeti offerings like the Hopper Flip, the Backpack can carry upwards of 20 cans of beer or soda or 25 pounds of ice.

To make hauling the Hopper Backflip's contents a breeze, Yeti designed it to evenly distribute its weight, no matter if you pack it top-heavy or not. With comfortable, ergonomic shoulder straps and a removable hip belt and chest strap, even longer hikes are made easy when toting along a heavy pack. In other words, pack this to the brim and don't look back.

But what makes the Hopper Backflip truly stand out rests with three of Yeti's proprietary technologies: Its DryHide Shell, Hydrolok Zipper, and ColdCell Insulation. The brand's DryHide Shell is a high-density material that makes the pack resistant to mold, mildew, and UV rays while still remaining waterproof.

Its Hyrdolok Zipper helps avoid any errant spills, keeping liquids where they belong — inside the cooler. Finally, the Hopper Backflip's ColdCell Insulation promises to keep ice as well, if not better, than any pack on the market. We found it achieved several days of ice retention, no matter how hot it got outside.

Though it sports a premium price tag of $300, for everything Yeti's Hopper Backflip offers, it's well worth the investment. 

Pros: Tough exterior is puncture-proof and protects against UV rays, HydroLock zipper offers superior waterproofing, ColdCell Insulation means drinks stay cold for days, and holds up to 20 cans of soda or beer

Cons: No shoulder strap for short trips, expensive



The best backpack cooler for easy access

Hydro Flask's Unbound Series backpack cooler keeps cold for 48 hours, and it has a unique self-standing design and hinged top that's super easy to access. 

Since it burst on the scene with its innovative insulated water bottles, Hydro Flask has made a name for itself designing and manufacturing high-quality products. As it moves into the market of backpack coolers with the Unbound series, that trademarked quality is met with supreme convenience.

Featuring a molded base that allows it to sit upright on its own, Hydro Flask's Soft Cooler also boasts what's called a True Access hinged top that easily flips back when unzipped, making it incredibly easy to fish out any ice cold beers. There's just one exterior zippered pocket and one water bottle mesh pocket, which makes for a subtle design.

We liked using Hydro Flask's Soft Cooler Pack on shorter day trips. Since it weighs just three pounds when it's empty, it won't weigh you down if those short day trips turn into longer day hikes. Featuring the brand's innovative cold-retaining technology, the pack was designed to sport more insulation in areas where cold is lost quicker — i.e. the base. Because of this, it's capable of keeping contents cold for up to 48 hours, despite its smaller size.

If you do find yourself on the trail for more than two days, the pack's construction is watertight and backed by YKK Aquaseal zippers that won't let even a drop of liquid out (or in). At $275, it's a little cheaper than Yeti's Hopper or the IceMule Boss, and it's much smaller, too, but the Hydro Flask Soft Cooler Pack is anything but second-rate.

Pros: Weighs just three pounds when empty, Hydro Flask's insulation keeps pack cold for up to 48 hours, True Access hinged top makes it incredibly easy to access contents, woven sternum strap and carry handles are comfortable to haul, features unsupported self-standing design, and watertight zippers are 100 percent leakproof

Cons: Small capacity



The best multi-purpose backpack cooler

Versatility is the name of the game with OtterBox's Trooper LT backpack cooler, which features an inventive mounting system, a backpack-to-shoulder strap conversion, and Duraflex tie-downs to conquer any adventure. 

Known mostly for its smartphone cases, OtterBox has diversified its product offerings in recent years by elbowing its way into the cooler market. Though this may seem an odd choice for the brand, its Trooper LT backpack cooler is one of the best we've tested, proving to be as versatile as it is tough.

It has an exterior mounting system that's perfect for attaching a bottle opener or dry box, and the Trooper LT also offers two Duraflex tie-downs for extra attachments. This means not having to decide what to leave behind on your next trip.

With a massive opening, loading and unloading the Trooper LT is easy, and its thermal insulation keeps ice for a whopping three days. No need to worry about a tipped cooler spilling water all over your back seat either, as its leak-proof seal keeps its interior contents secure. Additionally, its 30 liters of interior capacity means you can pack upwards of 24 cans of soda or beer and still have room for ice.

OtterBox also included an easy-open compound latch that you can open with just one hand and its exterior storage pocket is water-resistant, making the Trooper the perfect rafting companion. 

Pros: Large 30-liter capacity, offers shoulder or backpack carry options, versatile accessory-mounting system, keeps contents cold for around three days, durable exterior construction, and is capable of being opened with just one hand

Cons: Can feel bulky when on your back, expensive 



The best heavy duty backpack cooler

The Cadillac of backpack coolers, the IceMule Boss has supreme ice retention of nearly three days, a large 30L capacity capable of holding 24 cans of beer or soda, and a backpack suspension system some hiking packs would be envious of. 

The words "behemoth" and "heavy duty" only skim the surface of how durable and long-lasting the IceMule Boss is. Manufactured out of MuleSkin 1000-denier fabric, it's designed to take an absolute beating without sacrificing even the slightest in performance.

Because of its bombproof-type construction, the IceMule Boss is best used for serious campers and hikers, who intend to spend a few days digging through it while on the trail or deep in the backcountry. Its 30-liter capacity also means it offers enough storage space for at least 24 cans of beer or soda and ice — a capacity not many other backpack coolers on the market can claim.

The Boss achieves the ultimate in ice retention thanks to its close-cell PolarLayer XT Insulation foam and IceMule's innovative IM AirValve. In essence, this valve adds extra air into the insulation layer, thus boosting the pack's overall insulating ability. So, even if it's touching triple digits outside, the Boss keeps any packed food and drink chilled to perfection. Its wide-mouth enclosure also makes it easy to load and unload whatever you want to bring along.

Of course, its insulation and durability get high marks, but perhaps the most underrated aspect of the Boss is its actual backpack design. Featuring the kind of suspension system you might find on an actual backpacking pack, it's able to pack up to 60 pounds of contents with ease.

Its air-mesh back pads, cushioned hipbelt, and comfortable sternum strap also help keep you cool on hot days and allow you to stay comfortable on longer treks.

Pros: Wide-mouth enclosure makes it easy to load or unload, 30-liter capacity holds 24 cans of soda or beer plus ice, is capable of taking on extra air to boost insulation, suspension system and mesh back pads makes it comfortable to wear (even with up to 60 pounds of weight), features oversized exterior pockets, and is extremely durable

Cons: Anyone other than serious hikers or campers won't make use of entire pack



The best budget-friendly backpack cooler

If you're interested in trying out the backpack cooler lifestyle but don't want to break the bank, the $80 Barebones Backpack Cooler is for you. 

With every other pick in our guide costing no less than $275, it's clear backpack coolers aren't exactly cheap — if you want quality, that is. However, the Barebones Backpack Cooler costs less than $100 and still provides a high level of quality and insulation.

Featuring an interior capacity of 17.5 liters that can hold roughly 20 cans of beer or soda, the Barebones may not be the largest pack on our list, but it's smaller size is perfect for a short day hike or a couple's trip to the beach.

With a top-access zippered compartment, the pack's wide-mouth opening makes it easy to load and unload a day's worth of food and drink. The pack's square base allows it to stand freely without falling over, which is great for picnic time. Barebones also designed its water-resistant shell to feature an antimicrobial silver foil lining and its removable liner is easy to clean between trips.

No matter how many cans of your favorite chilled beverage you pack along, the pack's soft straps allow it to stay comfortable while on your back and its leather handle is perfect for unloading from the car or transporting it over short distances.

At $80, you'd have a hard time finding as quality a backpack cooler for as cheap of a price. The Barebones Backpack Cooler isn't just a budget-friendly model, it's a reliable summertime companion for anyone.

Pros: Small design makes it perfect for day hikes, features comfortable soft straps, manufactured with water-resistant fabric, removable liner allows for easy cleaning, and $80 price tag is hard to beat

Cons: Not meant for anything other than a day hike for one or two people



Check out our guide to the best coolers you can buy

The best coolers you can buy

Whether you're heading out for a weekend camping trip, an afternoon in the park, a tailgating party, or you're grilling in the backyard, you'll need a cooler if you like cold drinks and fresh food.

The coolers we chose are all distinct from one another in multiple ways. There's a good chance that a few of them will be the outright wrong choice for some people, but there's a great chance that at least one will be the absolute best cooler for you. 

Here are our top picks for the best coolers you can buy:



The best food storage containers

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  • Food storage containers keep your food fresh and can handle the microwave, freezer, and dishwasher without staining, taking on odors, or experiencing damage.
  • Our top pick, the Snapware 8-Cup Airtight Rectangle Food Storage Container, does all this and more, plus, it provides an airtight seal that snaps tight.

Developed in 1946 by Earl Tupper, Tupperware not only gave us an airtight way to keep food fresh, but it also introduced the direct marketing strategy to the post-World War II United States. The "Tupperware party" was a way for women to earn an income after much of the labor market closed to them as soldiers came back from war.

These days, you can still attend Tupperware parties, but they are nowhere near as popular as they were in their '50s and '60s heyday. And, for most of us, it's more convenient to buy food storage containers from brands that make their wares available online or in brick-and-mortar stores.

When shopping for food storage, you still need to look past the marketing to find out what you are really paying for. For example, brands will advertise "X-piece sets." You should know that X rarely refers to the number of containers you are getting. Instead, they also factor in the lids as separate pieces. So, a 42-piece set will have 21 container bases and 21 lids.

Food storage containers are generally made of glass, plastic, or stainless steel. Each material has its benefits, though we did not include any of the stainless steel options on our list because they are generally expensive and not as useful. Glass containers cost more than plastic, but they tend to hold up better in the microwave, don't take on the characteristics of the food they hold, and some of them can even go in the oven.

Plastic still reigns supreme in this space mainly because of the affordable price, tight seals, and ability to handle being dropped. Though most containers are BPA-free and brands claim they are microwave safe, our research shows that microwaving plastic can lead to stains, odors, and damage to the containers.  

We closely examined the expert and consumer ratings and reviews of dozens of options while searching for the best plastic storage containers. The solutions we chose to include in our guide have demonstrated a long history of durability, strong seals, and ease of use.

Here are the best food storage containers you can buy: 

Updated by Caitlin Petreycik on 11/6/2019: Updated prices, links, and formatting. Added related guides. 

SEE ALSO: The best lunch boxes you can buy

The best food storage container overall

If you are looking for a container that snaps closed easily and provides a tight seal, the Snapware 8-Cup Airtight Rectangle Food Storage Container is your best bet.

The Snapware Airtight Rectangle Food Storage Container comes with a BPA-free polypropylene container and lid, which measure 10.2 by 8.5 by 2.5 inches. The containers are designed to be freezer, top-rack dishwasher, and microwave safe. The lid features snaps on each side and a silicone seal for airtight, leak-proof storage. For an optimum seal, Snapware recommends removing the gasket and washing it before using your container.

This container comes with a lifetime warranty and is made in the United States, specifically Mira Loma, California. The 8-Cup Airtight Rectangle Food Storage Container earned the top spot in our guide, but if you are interested in container sets, Snapware offers excellent plastic and glass sets that use technology that is similar to this container. 

The Snapware Airtight earned the best plastic storage containers distinction from Cook's Illustrated because it passed a submersion test after dishwashing, stacks easily, and is designed for quick heating or cooling. The Wirecutter found that Snapware could handle dropping and did not retain food smells or stains. Reviewers also liked that Snapware backs their products with a lifetime warranty.

Pros: Tight seal, durable, snaps ensure a quality seal, lifetime warranty

Cons: Some reports of difficulties closing the container



The best glass food storage container

The GlassLock 14-Piece Oven-Safe Box Set with Lids is ideal for people who like to heat their leftovers and are nervous about the toxins released by heated plastic.

The GlassLock 14-Piece Oven-Safe Box Set with Lids comes with seven containers: one 1.6-cup round, one 3.1-cup round, two 1.5-cup square, one 3.3-cup square, and two 1.6-cup rectangular containers. Note that the largest container holds less than a quart.

Each component is completely recyclable and BPA free. These containers are made of limestone, soda ash, silica and other natural compounds. The containers are also FDA-approved for use in the food industry and can be used in the oven, dishwasher, freezer, and microwave, though the lids should not be used in the microwave or oven.

The Spruce liked that you get an excellent value for your money with GlassLock's sets, and the lids are effective. The reviewer also noted that the containers stack well. The Wirecutter recommends a similar GlassLock set, but we chose not to include this set in our guide because of too many buyer complaints of glass shards breaking off the containers. 

Again, the containers are rather small, so pay special attention to the sizes listed above to make sure this set fits your needs.

Pros: Versatile, oven-safe, can handle dropping, durable locking lids

Cons: Lids are not microwave-safe, containers are on the smaller side



The best bento box food storage container

The EasyLunchboxes 3-Compartment Bento Lunch Box Containers are a quick and easy way to pack your lunch for work, school, or play.

"Bento" is Japanese for "convenient," and bento boxes are generally single-serving meals that you can take with you on the go. They are basically healthy Lunchables that adults can eat without losing face. The EasyLunchboxes Bento Lunch Box Containers are all about convenience. They are stackable, portable, microwaveable, and freezable. However, they are not leak-proof so it's best to avoid putting runny food or liquids in these containers.

The containers are made of polypropylene number 5 plastic and are free from phthalates, PVC, and BPA. The overall size of the lunch box is 9.4 by 6.1 by 2 inches with the largest compartment measuring 4.5 by 5 by 1.75 inches and fitting 2.5 cups of food. The smaller sections fit ¾ and ½ cups of food each.

A Merry Life likes the EasyLunchboxes containers because they are healthy, convenient, kid-friendly, and they help provide portion control for any meal. However, the containers are a bit tough to close and they're not completely spill-proof. That will be a deal-breaker for some people. 

We came across a few buyer reviews that mentioned that the tab will eventually break off the lid. Though, much of the time, the container is still usable. 

Pros: Makes packing lunch effortless, good quality, stackable, fits in many types of lunch bags

Cons: Not leak-proof, doesn't have hinged lid snaps, tab breaks off the lid



The best food storage container set on a budget

For around a dollar per container, the Rubbermaid Easy Find Lids Food Storage Container set will keep your food fresh and portable.

The Rubbermaid Easy Find Lids Food Storage Containers come in a variety of sets, but we're going to focus on the most popular option, the 42-piece, red-lidded set. What sets these containers apart is that the lids attach to the bottom of the base for storage. Stacking both lids and containers is a breeze.

The 42-piece set comes with two 7-cup, two 5-cup, two 3-cup, five 2-cup, five 1.25-cup, and five 0.5-cup bases. Rubbermaid states that the containers are freezer, dishwasher, and microwave safe, though you will see below that the microwave safety of this product is questionable. The set comes with a one-year limited warranty.

Your Better Kitchen has been using the Rubbermaid Easy Find Lids for three years, and the reviewer reports that the lids store easily inside of each other, don't crack in the freezer, and don't absorb food flavors. Reviewed rated this product the best plastic set because it can handle being dropped and will not leak unless you shake it violently. However, the reviewers found that when they microwaved tofu inside the container, there was a slight plastic odor produced.

We came across a few buyer reviews that claimed the containers didn't hold up in the microwave: the heated food would scald the interior of the base and leave permanent markings.

Pros: Affordable, durable, easy storage and stacking

Cons: Issues associated with microwaving the container



The best food storage container for large items

If you are looking for an airtight box for your bread or other large items, consider the Lock & Lock Airtight Rectangular Food Storage Container.

The Lock & Lock Airtight Rectangular Food Storage Container is made of FDA-approved, BPA-free polypropylene with a hollow-center silicone gasket between the base and the lid for a tighter seal. The lid features four locking hinges – one on each side.

Lock & Lock bent the hinges 1,000,000 times with a flexing test machine to ensure that they wouldn't break. This container comes in five sizes. Each is stackable, watertight, airtight, and microwave, dishwasher, and freezer safe.

There are not many expert reviews of the Lock & Lock Airtight Rectangular containers. Cook's Illustrated recommended this container because of the secure seal and sturdy build. The reviewers put it through its paces, including dishwashing the container 50 times, and they found that the seal only improved. During the submersion test, though, they found that it leaked a few drops. They also found the deep, tall shape to be less practical and noticed some staining when microwaving chili in it. Overall, they were impressed with the durability.

Some buyer reviews mentioned that a loaf of specialty (non-Pullman) sandwich bread will not fit in the 64-ounce, small-sized container (despite Lock & Lock's marketing photos.)

Pros: Large capacity, secure seal, durable build, doesn't absorb odors

Cons: Too bulky for many uses, stains when microwaving liquids



Check out our other guides for home cooks

The best baking sheets

A baking sheet is just one of those tools that you need in your kitchen. Whether you are baking cookies, roasting vegetables, reviving frozen foods, or making a fancy jelly roll, you need a baking sheet (also known as a cookie sheet). Here are the best baking sheets you can buy: 


The best loaf pans

High-quality loaf pans cook your baked goods evenly, release them with little fuss, and are made of heavy-duty materials. These are the best loaf pans you can buy: 


The best Dutch ovens 

Crock Pots and pressure cookers get all the headlines these days, but for centuries, people have been using Dutch ovens as the go-to, one-pot cooking device. No matter how hard the new-fangled instant pots of the world try, they have not been able to achieve the delicious, complex flavors Dutch ovens produce. These are the best Dutch ovens you can buy: \



We tried Away’s first-ever tote bags — here’s what we thought after using them for work and travel

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away totes lifestyle

  • Away recently released its first-ever tote bags in two styles — the vertical Longitude and the horizontal Latitude Tote Bag, that can be used as an everyday bag or attached to the back of the popular suitcases during travel. 
  • The Longitude and Latitude Tote Bags ($245) come in four colors: Black, Pine, Buff, and Ruby.
  • We tested them out and found that while Away's totes are practical and simple bags that we would happily take to work, the bags would need a few extra touches, most notably a zippered interior and a cross-body strap, to be travel-friendly totes.

Whenever you go to the airport, you're bound to see direct-to-consumer startup Away's sleek and simple hardshell carry-on suitcases. These suitcases are practical (most have built-in chargers for extra convenience) and minimalistic, which has helped make Away's luggage popular. 

Away sells other products aside from luggage, such as packing cubes and weekender bags. Recently, Away debuted two new leather tote bags, the Longitude Tote Bag and the Latitude Tote Bag, to complement its luggage. 

The vertical Longitude Tote can hold up to a 13-inch laptop, and the horizontal Latitude Tote can hold up to a 15-inch laptop.  The tote bags are made from Italian leather and have a detachable band on the back that can attach to the handle of your Away suitcase. A magnetic strip keeps the totes closed, and each bag has a removable key clip and pouch, both of which are secured by small post and ring attachments. The bags also have a personalization option for an extra $25 — you can get up to three letters stamped in either metallic gold or silver. Other than these features, the tote bags have no other frills.

We tested out Away's newest leather tote bags, using them as our work bags and while traveling. You can read our full reviews below, but to summarize: Our consensus is that this bag makes a great everyday bag and can hold a surprising amount of your possessions. However, the fact that the bags do not close completely with a zipper or have a crossbody strap for extra traveling convenience makes us second-guess the bag's practicality as a dedicated travel bag.

We tried Away's $245 tote bags. Here's what four women thought: 

Longitude Tote Bag, $245

As much as I try to streamline my bag, I always wind up schlepping 20 pounds of stuff on a daily basis. I usually carry a Cuyana zippered tote with an organizer inside, so I was disappointed when Away's tote didn't have a built-in organizer or even the option of a separate insert. Instead, the tote is a bottomless pit in which I'm always stabbing myself as I search for my keys, water bottle, or anything else.

What the tote has going for it is the structure and cool magnetic clasp. No matter how much I throw in there, the tote always holds its shape and the bottom doesn't sag unlike my Cuyana one. The magnetic clasp comes in clutch and is much more convenient than unzipping every two minutes, though it's not very secure if I overstuff my tote.

I also like the additional strap that can loop around the handle of a suitcase. I haven't used it yet, but I imagine it'll come in handy when I use the tote as my personal bag when traveling.

The long detachable key strap has been the most handy feature. Instead of searching for my keys every time I leave and enter my apartment, I just pull out the strap and my keys are right there. It's a longer strap than most other key loops so I don't have to unhook my keys for it to reach the security plate on my building door. —Jada Wong, Insider Picks editor



Longitude Tote Bag, $245

I've been carrying this bag as my work tote for a while now, but I'm just going to warn you before you keep reading that I don't think this is a particularly great travel bag. 

The things I love about it are plenty, so I'll tell you about that first: The handles are long enough to fit over my shoulder even with a giant puffer coat on. It's also roomy, goes with anything, and the monogram is a sweet touch. I like the little pouch and key loop that snaps onto the inner wall of the bag, though I've found that they come detached from the bag a little too easily. 

As a travel tote, I do feel that it's missing a couple of key elements. There's no laptop pouch in the bag, which shouldn't be a deal-breaker if you only intend to use it for vacation travel, but it might be inconvenient for people who plan to use it as a daily tote for commuting to work.

There's also no zipper, which, if you're storing your bag underneath a seat on an airplane, means your stuff is going to spill out onto the floor and be difficult to access. The small leather strap meant to hold it upright on your suitcase handle is great, but it would be even greater if that strap were adjustable and extended to let you carry the tote as a cross-body bag. 

I carried my Away bag on a trip to Paris where I used it as my daily tote, and to make it a little more versatile, I took the strap from another black purse and hooked it into the same ring that the small suitcase strap was attached to. I carried it cross-body for most of my trip, and I truly did love having this bag with me — I just wish Away would have thought to include that longer strap themselves and add a zipper to the tote. —Sally Kaplan, Insider Picks editor



Longitude Tote Bag, $245

I have a love-hate relationship with this bag. While I can only say positive things about Away's suitcase, it's not as simple here. 

The leather is light but substantial, the dark green pine color is beautiful, the main compartment is spacious and sleek, and the straps are the perfect length. I love the monogram touch. And there are plenty of design hacks that I appreciate, like the effortlessly useful magnetic closure, the removable exterior strap, and the removable key leash. But, like Connie and Sally, I wish there was a zippered interior so I could shove this under the plane seat in front of me, and I would like if the next generation also included a removable cross-body strap for sightseeing. 

After a month of daily use, I've also noticed that the once-stable interior pocket has started to pop off occasionally, as the leather rings have begun to stretch out and don't hold securely to the posts. This isn't the end of the world, but it is an annoyance that could maybe be solved by longer metal connecting pieces. 

All in all, I still opt to use this as my daily bag because the positives outweigh the negatives. But I have high hopes the next generation will make this an even better travel bag. —Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter



Latitude Tote Bag, $245

A roomy tote is essential for travels light and involved. You never know what you'll need throughout the day, which is why I like carrying bags like Away's Latitude Tote. Its main compartment fits my laptop, large water bottle, notebook, and small knick-knacks, and there's still somehow room to spare for a cardigan or anything else I have to store. I like the magnetic snap closure that adds some security to the bag, but I would agree with Sally that it would need a zipper to make it a truly travel-friendly tote. Still, it's a nice work or everyday tote that looks sophisticated and is comfortable to carry. —Connie Chen, Insider Picks reporter



Longitude Tote Bag, $245

Typically, I try to stay very far away from any bag that doesn't shut completely with a zipper because I'm always worried that everything will fall out if the bag winds up on its side. However, in the nearly two months that I've used this bag, none of the contents have gone astray. Would I have preferred a zipper? Definitely, especially if I were going to store this under the seat in front of me on a plane. 

I love how this bag is pretty much just a black hole for all my possessions and appreciate the removable pouch so that I can easily access my essentials. The only issue I have with the pouch is that if it's filled, and it usually houses my wallet, keys, and hand sanitizer, the bag will fall into itself on the side where the pouch is, and I wish it would just stand up on its own.

This tote bag has braved some New York rain, but I wipe the water away when I get home, and the leather still looks brand new. Sometimes I use the tote to transport my 13-inch Macbook Pro with a somewhat bulky laptop sleeve, and when I do, getting the magnetic strip to shut the bag is a pain, but I can ultimately get it to close, which is all that matters to me. Overall, I enjoy how easy it is for me to throw everything into this tote and take it with me wherever I go. —Ciannah Gin, Insider Picks editorial fellow




YouTube made a few subtle changes to its homepage that will now give you more control over your recommendations (GOOGL, GOOG)

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YouTube 2019 Resdesign

  • YouTube is rolling out a new homepage design for computers and tablets with an emphasis on larger thumbnails and easier navigation.
  • YouTube's new desktop design also includes an "Add to Queue" feature to make it easier to bookmark multiple videos from the home page for later viewing.
  • In the next few months, YouTube plans to release more tools to let users customize their homepages with their favorite topics and channels.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

After months of testing in the YouTube Android app, YouTube has officially launched a new homepage design for users on desktop computers and tablets. The new design features larger thumbnails, allowing for higher-quality video previews.

According to a post on the official YouTube blog, the larger thumbnails will lead to fewer videos on the homepage overall, but users will still be able to see specific categories for topics like news and music, and a new "Add to Queue" feature will let you quickly add multiple videos to your watchlist from the homepage.

Users can find this feature by clicking the three-dot dropdown menu next to each video. The same menu also has a new tools to customize your recommendations. You can now remove entire channels from your recommended videos, so YouTube won't keep showing videos from those creators in the future.

YouTube said it's planning to introduce more features that let you pin specific topics to your homepage and decide how videos show up in the "up next" queue. These features have been in a testing phase on the YouTube Android app, but will be coming to desktops and tablets soon.

Here's a quick rundown of YouTube's new design:

SEE ALSO: YouTube banned a former White House advisor after he refused to stop playing an Imagine Dragons song in his videos

The new YouTube design will have bigger thumbnails and fewer videos overall.



The Add to Queue feature lets you add multiple videos to your watch list from the homepage without extra navigation.



You can also use the quick menu to remove specific videos or entire channels from your recommendations.



This $200 AI toothbrush was the most fun I've ever had brushing my teeth

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Genius X toothbrush

  • Oral hygiene company Oral-B released a new electric toothbrush that uses AI to improve brushing.
  • The toothbrush tracks brushing patterns to give specific feedback when users brush too hard, or miss certain areas.
  • An accompanying app lets you set goals and track brushing habits over time.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Oral-B's new Genius X toothbrush with AI technology went on sale in October, and I got a test version to try out. 

Artificial Intelligence has become available in more household items than ever, from washing machines to ovens to toilets, so a toothbrush isn't exactly unexpected. AI products are typically more expensive than their non-smart counterparts, and this is no exception. One of the best-selling and top-rated electric toothbrushes on the market sells for $40, while the Genius X goes for $220, or as much as $280 on Amazon.

Oral-B isn't the first company with the idea to apply AI to brushing your teeth. Last year, Colgate released a $100 AI toothbrush, which sold at Apple stores.

Oral-B says the AI for its toothbrush has "learned from thousands of brushing styles" to direct users to improve brushing. It tracks areas in the mouth that weren't brushed enough, and areas with too much pressure, which it displays in an accompanying app. 

Here are my thoughts and experiences using a $200, AI toothbrush:

SEE ALSO: A TikTok creator used a clever $5 hack to make an older iPhone look like the new $1,000 iPhone 11 Pro

I opened the Genius X box, which came with body, 3 heads, a charging case, and a manual.



The manual instructed me to download the app, which I did. From there, using it was really straightforward, and I didn't refer to the manual again.



The app syncs with your toothbrush to store your brushing data. When you brush, you can either have the app open or sync afterwards.



In the beginning, the app takes you through some settings and basic tutorials. You also have the option to connect with Amazon and set up refills of brush heads.



You can set a notification for when it's time to replace your brush head, which was one of the features I appreciated most.



You have the option to start a "dental care journey" if you have specific health goals you want to focus on. I chose gum protection.



The app asked me to assess my gums, then gave me a daily routine to follow, even telling which brush head was best and adjusting the settings on the toothbrush. This was probably the next best thing to have a dentist personalize a regimen.



Other features seemed less helpful. I couldn't imagine a scenario in which I would share my tongue cleaning streak on Facebook, for example.



The feedback from brushing was really useful. I found it made more sense to keep an eye on the app as I brushed, which updated in real time to show how I was doing, rather than checking afterwards and feeling like the app was scolding me.



Maybe it's silly, but it felt weirdly good to have the app tell me I did a great job.



There are also badges you can earn if you do certain things well.



Overall, this toothbrush is definitely more powerful than my $20-something electric toothbrush, and I like the ability to see the areas I'm missing, but until my dentist tells me it's life or death I can't justify spending hundreds of dollars on a toothbrush.



Photos from space reveal what climate change looks like, from melting Arctic ice to rampant California fires

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camp fire california satellite image nasa 8nov2018

  • Earth has warmed, on average, 1 degree Celsius in the last century due to greenhouse-gas emissions that trap heat on the planet.
  • The consequences are becoming increasingly visible on the ground and even from space.
  • July 2019 was the hottest month ever recorded. This summer, vast areas of the Arctic were engulfed in flames.
  • A recent United Nations report projected that sea levels could be 3 feet higher by 2100 due to warming oceans and melting glaciers. 
  • Here's what that all looks like from above.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

News on the climate front has been dire this year.

Atmospheric carbon-dioxide hit its highest concentration in recorded history in May: 415 parts per million. The more greenhouse gases we emit, the more the planet warms, and the more we experience extreme and often deadly weather events.

Many of these disasters are so devastating that they can be seen from space. 

In 2019 alone, satellites captured images of the northeastern US ravaged by a polar vortex event, Europe's back-to-back deadly heat waves, and wildfires that spread through California as well as parts of Russia, Greenland, and Canada. Photos from space also show how Antarctic and Arctic glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates: The extent of Arctic sea is currently the second smallest it has been since 1979.

These 19 images show what our warming planet looks like from afar.

SEE ALSO: The northernmost reaches of the Earth are on fire. Here's what this record-breaking hot summer looks like from space.

SEE ALSO: Photos from space show the Kincade Fire's spread across California wine country

Every September, Arctic sea ice hits its minimum extent. Since the 1980s, that minimum has decreased by about 13% per decade.

In 1979, Arctic sea ice spanned about 2.7 million square miles (7 million square kilometers). By last month, the extent had dropped to 1.7 million square miles (4.3 million square kilometers). According to NASA data, this year has tied 2007 for the second-lowest sea ice extent on record. The worst year was 2012, when the ice shrank to under 1 million square miles (2.6 million square kilometers).

The decline is accelerating. Researchers at the European Space Agency have warned that the current rate of carbon emissions means we could see an ice-free Arctic in just decades.



The Northwest Passage, a sea route that connects the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, is often choked with sea ice, but in August 2016, it was nearly ice-free.

The Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet, so a section of Northwest Passage has been open nearly every year since 2007. 



Greenland's ice sheet is melting six times faster than it was in the 1980s.

An April study estimated that the Greenland ice sheet is sloughing off an average of 286 billion tons of ice per year. In 2012 alone, Greenland lost more than 400 billion tons of ice.

Two decades ago, the annual average was just 50 billion.



Antarctica's melting is also speeding up. In the 1980s, Antarctica lost 40 billion tons of ice annually. In the last decade, that number jumped to an average of 252 billion tons per year.

Together with Greenland's ice sheet, Antarctica contains more than 99% of the world's fresh water, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center

If both Antarctica and Greenland's ice sheets were to melt, that would lead sea levels to rise more than 200 feet.



Melting glaciers, coupled with warming oceans (because water, like most things, expands when heated), present a grave threat to coastal communities in the form of rising seas.

In the last 150 years, global sea levels have risen about 6 inches (15 centimeters). According to a recent report from the United Nations, sea levels are expected to rise by more than 3 feet by the end of the century.

The report found that by the end of the century, higher seas and flooding could displace or affect 680 million people who live in low-lying coastal zones, along with 65 million citizens of small island states.



Sea-level rise also increases the risk of flooding during high tides and storm surges.

During hurricanes and tropical storms, strong winds cause deadly and destructive storm surges— an abnormal rise in sea-level above the normal tide height. 

As sea levels rise worldwide, that increases the amount of flooding storm surges can cause.

In September, Hurricane Dorian hit the Bahamas a Category 5 storm. With sustained wind speeds of 185 mph, Dorian brought up to 23 feet of storm surge in some areas.



Climate change also appears to be making hurricanes wetter and more sluggish.

Warming overall causes hurricanes to grow stronger and cause more devastation than they otherwise would because warmer air holds more water vapor, which enables tropical storms to unleash more precipitation.

Climate change is also causing hurricanes to move more slowly: Over the past 70 years or so, the speed of hurricanes and tropical storms has slowed about 10% on average, according to a 2018 study.



Hurricane Dorian was a prime example of this trend: After it made landfall, the storm stalled over the Bahamas for 24 hours, dumping 30 inches of rain and causing devastating flooding.

Dorian wasn't the only hurricane to stall in recent years. In 2018, Hurricane Florence hovered over a small region of North Carolina for more than 50 hours. The year before, Hurricane Harvey lingered over the Houston area for two days, plummeting the city with more than 60 inches of rain and causing an estimated $125 billion in damages.



Rising temperatures may also be linked to more frequent cold-weather snaps like the one that hit the US in January.

In general, a polar vortex is the term for the mass of low-pressure cold air that circulates in the stratosphere above the Arctic and Antarctic.

When the circulation of the polar vortex weakens, surges of frigid air splinter off and drift south. The freezing air is carried by the jet stream, a current of wind that extends around the northern hemisphere and divides the air masses in the polar region from those farther south.

But climate change may be altering the jet stream. Because temperatures are rising in the Arctic at double the rate of the rest of the planet, the difference between temperatures at the North Pole and continents at lower latitudes is decreasing. Less disparity in temperatures means less difference between air pressure levels, which weakens the jet stream. That can lead the jet stream to take longer, less direct paths.

If the jet stream wanders enough, that can disrupt the natural flow of the polar vortex.



The frequency of winter polar-vortex events has increased by up to 140% over the past four decades, a 2017 study found.

The January polar vortex forced 84 million Americans in the US Midwest and East Coast to contend with subzero temperatures. Some parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin saw windchill temperatures are as cold as minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit.



Temperature spikes are also linked to higher wildfire risk. This year, plumes of smoke that engulfed parts of Russia and Greenland were big enough to see from space.

More than 13.5 million acres of Siberia burned between June and August. All told, the European Union's Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service said its team observed more than 100 intense and long-lasting fires in the Arctic Circle this summer.

Fires also spread through parts of British Columbia, Canada and Alaska.This year, 2.4 million acres of Alaskan forest burned. In June and July, plumes from the Swan Lake fire engulfed Anchorage.

 



Individual wildfires can't be directly linked to climate change, but accelerated warming increases their likelihood, size, and frequency.

"Climate change, with rising temperatures and shifts in precipitation patterns, is amplifying the risk of wildfires and prolonging the season," the World Meteorological Organization wrote.

That's because warming leads winter snow cover to melt earlier, and hotter air sucks away the moisture from trees and soil, leading to dryer land. Decreased rainfall also makes for parched forests that are prone to burning.



That warming trend is becoming more and more apparent. This year is on pace to be the third hottest on record globally, according to Climate Central.

July was the hottest month ever recorded, period. The month prior, meanwhile, was the hottest June ever in Earth's history, with temperatures nearly 20 degrees Fahrenheit above average.

The three hottest years ever were 2016, 2015, and 2017.



In the US, large wildfires now burn more than twice the area they did in 1970, likely due to climate change.

The Kincade Fire, pictured above, burned more than 77,000 acres between October 23 and November 6. 

"No matter how hard we try, the fires are going to keep getting bigger, and the reason is really clear," climatologist Park Williams told Columbia University's Center for Climate and Life. "Climate is really running the show in terms of what burns."



In the western US, the average wildfire season is 78 days longer than it was 50 years ago, according to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions.

"We're really seeing that window expanding, not only earlier into the spring but also later into the fall as things stay drier, longer," Leah Quinn-Davidson, a fire adviser for Humboldt County, California, previously told Business Insider. "We are at the point where we are in a crisis."



In California specifically, the portion of the state that burns from wildfires every year has increased more than five-fold since 1972, a recent study found.

Nine of the 10 biggest fires in the state's history have occurred since the year 2003.



In addition to wildfires, rising temperatures make extreme heat waves more frequent. Europe was hit by back-to-back deadly heat waves over the summer.

In France alone, 1,435 deaths  were linked to the pair of heat waves that struck Europe in June and July. According to France's national weather agency, the number of heat waves in the country has doubled in the past 34 years and is expected to double again by 2050. 

A study by researchers at the World Weather Attribution organization concluded that climate change has made such heat waves at least five times more likely.

"Every heat wave occurring in Europe today is made more likely and more intense by human-induced climate change,"the scientists wrote in July.



The frequency and severity of droughts are increasing, too.

Last summer, parts of England, France, and Germany faced one of the worst droughts in decades.

NASA models predict that droughts will become more common and extreme as temperatures rise. That could lead to food and water shortages and, consequently, conflicts between people competing for limited resources.

Droughts also exacerbate wildfire risk, since parched soils and dry vegetation burn more easily.



Lakes and reservoirs around the globe are also drying up, since evaporation rates skyrocket when temperatures climb.

The water level in the US' Lake Mead dropped 135 feet between 1984 and 2016. Many US farmers, as well as some cities in Arizona, Nevada, California, and Mexico, all rely on water from the lake (which comes from snow melt in the Rocky Mountains). 

A 24-month projection released in 2018 by the US Bureau of Reclamation revealed that the reservoir water levels are barely skirting the 1,075-feet threshold. A drop below that levl would trigger a federal shortage declaration and mandatory usage cuts. Currently, Lake Mead is 1,082 feet high.

Other lakes around the world are also shrinking. Iran's Lake Urmia is currently at 10% of its maximum size, and Lake Poopó in Bolivia has completely disappeared



The Home Depot has a surprisingly great selection of artificial Christmas trees — here are 13 of the best ones

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home depot happy tree

If you're not one to buy a fresh Christmas tree each year, an artificial one can be a great alternative. Finding one that fits your budget and decor though might be tricky, but surprisingly enough, The Home Depot has a ton of great ones to choose from.

There are almost 1,500 artificial Christmas trees on the site right now, which is way more than what you'd find in store. You can order one online for in-store pickup or delivered straight to your place for convenience. Either way, there are so many styles to choose from — pre-lit, unlit, tall, short, traditional green, multi-colored, and more. 

Here are 13 of our top picks from The Home Depot across different styles and prices (some even start at just $7.99). And if you need more Christman décor inspiration for tree skirts, tree stands, ornaments, and more, check out some of our buying guides: 

Shop all Christmas trees at The Home Depot here.

A 2-foot-tall unlit Christmas tree with no assembly needed

$7.99, available at The Home Depot

This 2-foot-tall tree comes in one piece, requiring no assembly. It looks a little like the Charlie Brown tree, and is great for small spaces and table tops.

Tree height: 9 feet (also available in 7.5 feet)

Base diameter: 10 inches

Light count: unlit



A pre-lit spruce Christmas tree with 300 color changing lights

$108, available at The Home Depot

This 6.5-foot-tall spruce tree has 900 artificial branch tips for a full look and comes with 300 color changing LED lights.

Tree height: 6.5 feet (also available in 7.5 feet or 9 feet)

Base diameter: 46 inches

Light count: 300



A pre-lit fir Christmas tree with 2,000 warm white lights

$438, available at The Home Depot

This 7.5-foot-tall artificial fir tree is easy to assemble and comes pre-lit with 2,000 energy-efficient LED lights.

Tree height: 7.5 feet (also available in 9 feet or 12 feet)

Base diameter: 63 inches

Light count: 2,000



A tall pre-lit fir Christmas tree with 1,200 clear lights

$479, available at The Home Depot

This 10-foot-tall artificial fir tree comes in four sections for easy setup. The 1,200 clear incandescent lights peppered throughout the 5,090 branches are fire-resistant and non-allergenic.  

Tree height: 10 feet (also available in 4 feet, 6.5 feet, 7.5 feet, 10 feet, and 12 feet)

Base diameter: 70 inches

Light count: 1,200



A pre-lit pencil Christmas tree with 500 clear lights

$169, available at The Home Depot

This slim 9-foot-tall tree is pre-lit with 500 incandescent lights that give a nice warm glow. The thin pencil shape is great for small spaces, and ideal for showcasing many ornaments.

Tree height: 9 feet

Base diameter: 23 inches

Light count: 500



A pre-lit flocked Fraser Christmas tree with 1,500 multicolor lights

$328, available at The Home Depot

This 7.5-foot-tall artificial Fraser tree comes pre-lit with 1,500 multicolor and warm white lights that can be customized 10 different ways. The tree has 1,910 branches made with memory wire that require minimal shaping so the tree will maintain its shape throughout seasons and years.

Tree height: 7.5 feet 

Base diameter: 52 inches

Light count: 1,500



A pre-lit spruce Christmas tree with 650 color changing lights

$269, available at The Home Depot

This spruce has 1,750 artificial branch tips and stands at 9 feet tall. It also comes pre-lit with 650 color changing lights that can be controlled by the included remote. 

Tree height: 9 feet (also available in 6.5 feet or 7.5 feet)

Base diameter: 55 inches

Light count: 650



A slim fir Christmas tree

$108, available at The Home Depot

This 7-foot-tall unlit artificial fir has 787 realistic branch tips. It's tall but still slim, making it great for small spaces. 

Tree height: 7 feet

Base diameter: 30 inches

Light count: unlit



A 3-foot Tacoma pine Christmas tree

$21.98, available at The Home Depot

This petite 3-foot-tall, unlit tree looks like a Tacoma pine and is perfect for table tops or small spaces. The 180 branch tips are a mix of light and dark green for a realistic look, and are not lit or ornamented so you can decorate as you'd like. 

Tree height: 3 feet 

Base diameter: 20 inches

Light count: unlit



A short pre-lit fir Christmas tree with 450 multicolor lights

$112.69, available at The Home Depot

Standing at just 4.5 feet, this artificial fir comes in two sections and is simple to set up. The lights are strung onto the branches (instead of being built into the branch tips), but the bulbs are secured with bulb locks so they won't fall off.

Tree height: 4.5 feet 

Base diameter: 35 inches

Light count: 450



A pre-lit spruce Christmas tree with 900 color changing lights

$438, available at The Home Depot

This 7.5-foot-tall tree resembles a spruce tree with 4,769 branches of various shades of green for a realistic look. There are 900 color changing lights, which can be customized using the included remote. 

Tree height: 7.5 feet (also available in 9 feet)

Base diameter: 66 inches

Light count: 900 



A pre-lit mixed pine Christmas tree with 500 warm white lights

$299, available at The Home Depot

This artificial mixed pine is flocked, so it looks like it's been snowed on and has a textured effect too. The tree comes pre-lit with 500 LED warm white lights that can be controlled by a foot pedal. 

Tree height: 7.5 feet 

Base diameter: 20 inches

Light count: 500



A pre-lit Swiss mountain spruce Christmas tree with 600 twinkly lights

$849, available at The Home Depot

This 9-foot-tall tree resembles a Swiss mountain spruce tree with a whopping 6,144 artificial branches — it still just takes as little as 10 minutes to assemble. The 600 energy-saving LED lights can be controlled with an app, which can detect the exact position of every light using your phone's camera.

Tree height: 9 feet (also available in 7.5 feet)

Base diameter: 72 inches

Light count: 600



What deals to expect from Amazon's Black Friday 2019 sale — and the best early deals you can start shopping now

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Black Friday Amazon Deals  4x3

Black Friday is a big time of year to shop kitchen appliances, TVs, smart home devices, and other tech. You can shop Black Friday sales at a large variety of retailers, but more likely than not, you'll find yourself lingering on one specific online shop: Amazon.

Amazon has already released early holiday deals on its HoliDeals page, which updates every day with new, limited-time deals. You can learn more about Amazon's Black Friday deals and shop the best early holiday deals below. 

What is Amazon's Black Friday Deals Week? 

Though Black Friday is technically on November 29, the holiday is part of a five-day period that Amazon calls "the Turkey 5." Every year, it smashes previous sales records during the Turkey 5 — last year, Amazon sold more than 180 million items and the Echo Dot was the number one bestseller globally. 

Throughout this period, Amazon will be releasing deals, including Lightning Deals, across a wide range of categories. 

Why should you shop on Amazon on Black Friday 2019? 

The promises of free same-day and two-day shipping for Prime members make it all too tempting to stick to shopping on Amazon this Black Friday for all your personal and gifting needs. If you need a product at your door quickly, try looking for it on Amazon first. 

What Black Friday deals can you find on Amazon? 

In addition to deals from top brands and small businesses, Amazon is sure to offer can't-miss discounts on its own line of products and services. These include:

Big brands will have the same deals across all the major retailers (Target, Walmart, Best Buy), so where you shop those deals might come down to a matter of personal preference. Where Amazon sets itself apart is on the exclusive products and services above, as well as quick-moving, limited-time Lightning Deals and exclusive deals on its collection of Handmade items.

Amazon Black Friday deals: Our predictions based on previous years

Below is a sampling of the best Black Friday deals from Amazon last year. We expect similar deals and featured brands during Black Friday 2019. Note: All prices reflect last year's Black Friday deals. 

  1. Amazon deviceKindle Paperwhite and six months of Kindle Unlimited, $129.99 (originally $189.93) [You saved $59.94]
  2. Amazon deviceAmazon Echo (2nd Gen) $69 (originally $99.99) [You saved $30.99]
  3. Amazon service: Kindle Unlimited, $0.99 for 3 months (originally $29.97) [You saved $28.98]
  4. Media streamerRoku Streaming Stick, $29.99 (originally $49.99) [You saved $20]
  5. SpeakerHarman Kardon Onyx Studio 3 Speaker, $154.95, (originally $449.99) [You saved $295.04]
  6. SpeakerSonos One Smart Speaker with Alexa, $174 (originally $199) [You saved $25]
  7. TVSony 65-inch 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV, $998 (originally $1,398) [You saved $400]
  8. Curved TVSamsung Curved 65-inch 4K  Smart LED TV (2018), $1,097.99 (originally $1,799.99 ) [You saved $702]
  9. Smart lightsPhilips Hue White and Color Ambiance A19 Smart Light Bulb Starter Kit, $79.99 (originally $149.99) [You saved $70]
  10. Gaming laptopGigabyte Aero 5-inch Ultra Slim Gaming Laptop, $1,899 (originally $2,299) [You saved $400]
  11. SmartphoneSamsung Galaxy S9, $519.99 (originally $719.99)[You save $200] AND Samsung Galaxy Note 9, $799.99 (originally $999.99) [You saved $200]
  12. HeadphonesBose SoundSport Wireless Sport Headphones, $169 (originally $199) [You saved $30]
  13. HeadphonesBose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphones II, $299 (originally $349) [You saved $50]
  14. SmartwatchFitbit Versa Smartwatch, $149 (originally $199.95) [You saved $50.95]
  15. MattressRivet Queen Mattress, $399 (originally $499) [You saved $100]
  16. Kitchen applianceInstant Pot DUO60 6-Quart, $69.95 (originally $99.95) [You saved $30]
  17. Kitchen applianceChefSteps Joule Sous Vide, $143 (originally $179) [You saved $36]
  18. Robot vacuumiRobot Roomba 960 Robot Vacuum with Wi-Fi, $449 (originally $699) [You saved $250]
  19. Personal careOral-B Pro 5000 SmartSeries Electric Toothbrush, $79.94 (originally $159.99) [You saved $80.05]
  20. DNA test kitAncestryDNA Test, $59 (originally $99) [You saved $40]
  21. CameraPanasonic Lumix GX85 Camera with 12-32mm and 45-150mm Lens Bundle, $497.99 (originally $999.99) [You saved $502]

Here's everything else you should know about Black Friday: 

Amazon has released early holiday deals ahead of Black Friday, including a preview of soon-to-be-released deals on many Amazon devices. Shop the best ones below, and keep this page bookmarked to stay updated on more early and anticipated deals. 

Tablet and Kindle deals



Echo deals



Security camera deals



Fire TV deals



23andMe DNA Test - Health + Ancestry

23andMe DNA Test - Health + Ancestry, $99 (originally $199) [You save $100] 



Nikon D3500 DSLR Two Lens Kit

Nikon D3500 DSLR Two Lens Kit, $447 (originally $597) [You save $150] 



Dyson Cyclone V10 Vacuum Cleaner

Dyson Cyclone V10 Vacuum Cleaner, $349 (originally $499) [You save $151] 



Quility Weighted Blanket

Quility 60" x 80" 15-Pound Weighted Blanket, $93.24 (originally $129.70) [You save $36.46] 



TP-Link N300 WiFi Range Extender

TP-Link N300 WiFi Range Extender, $15 with coupon (originally $30) [You save $15] 



Trump and Warren have the biggest rallies in the 2020 election. They couldn't be more different.

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Elizabeth Warren and President Donald Trump.

  • In September, Democratic presidential candidate Warren spoke to 20,000 people at a rally in Washington Square Park, in New York. She spoke about taxes and empowering women. 
  • In October, President Donald Trump spoke to 20,000 people at the American Airlines Center, in Dallas.  He spoke about the border wall between America and Mexico, the economy, and impeachment proceedings against him.
  • Both politicians were cheered on. Warren for her proposed tax on wealthy citizens, Trump for "draining the swamp." 
  • But the two crowds were quite the contrast. Warren's rally had people dressed in everyday clothes, who were willing to speak to reporters, while Trump had a crowd dressed in red, white, and blue, who weren't so fond of the media.
  • Here's how different the two rallies were
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Two rallies, a world apart.

President Donald Trump is back on the campaign trail as he runs for his second term as president. And Sen. Elizabeth Warren is furiously campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination, joining Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden at the front of the pack.

In September, Warren spoke to 20,000 people at a rally in Washington Square Park in New York. In October, Trump spoke to 20,000 people at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. 

We compared the two. They had almost nothing in common. 

SEE ALSO: Trump's al-Baghdadi raid Situation Room photo has one big difference from Obama's Osama bin Laden picture ⁠— and it tells you everything about their styles

DON'T MISS: Photos capture how Elizabeth Warren rose from a nearly broke Midwestern upbringing to a top Democratic presidential contender — and Wall Street's worst enemy

In September, Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren spoke for 50 minutes to an estimated 20,000 people in New York's Washington Square Park. It was her largest crowd to date, and one of the largest Democrat candidate rallies of the year.

Sources: Vox, The New York Times 



In October, Trump spoke to 20,000 supporters in the American Airlines Center in Dallas for 87 minutes. It was one of the longest speeches in his career and an important rally for him as he tries to connect with voters while facing impeachment proceedings in Washington.

Sources: Texas Tribune, NBC News



Warren spoke about corruption in US politics, taxes, and the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. The rally was near the former site of the factory, which burned down and killed about 150 mostly female workers. She threaded it through her speech, which focused on corruption and the empowerment of women.

Sources: Vox, The New York Times 



Trump spoke about building the wall on the US-Mexico border, his trade war with China, the US economy, and the impeachment inquiry, calling leading Democrats "hateful" and "enraged," as well as attacking then-Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke.

Source: Texas Tribune



Because Warren's spoke at night in Washington Square Park...



...the spotlight was all on her.



But Trump spoke inside the American Airlines Center...



...which meant the crowds rose up above him.



Since Warren's rally was in a well-trod section of Manhattan, attendees were a mixture of supporters, people relaxing in the park, and people trying to get across it.

Source: Vox



In contrast, some of Trump's Texas supporters had waited in line from dawn, and some people (Trump said thousands, but that hasn't been confirmed) had to be turned away because the stadium was at capacity.

Source: Dallas News



Warren's audience was young, racially diverse, and filled with women.

Source: USA Today



Trump had a lot of male supporters in what looks to be a predominantly white crowd.



Although there were women, too.



And veterans.



Those waiting to see Warren wore their everyday clothes.



While Trump's supporters wore bright colors and lots of red.



Some of them covered their faces in paint.



Warren's supporters were happy to talk to reporters. Business Insider's Joseph Zeballos-Roig went along and spoke with Mehdji Belizaire, a 19-year-old Warren volunteer who said she's "still on the fence" about Warren.

Source: Business Insider



He also spoke to Ellen Friedman, who was a die-hard Warren supporter and thought Warren was a "personable candidate" who could address the issues that kept her up at night.



Andre Mirabelli was also at the rally. He was happy to see Warren release a plan to tackle corruption, saying it was one of the big problems with American politics.



Trump's supporters, on the other hand, weren't so fond of the media.



Some heckled. Although a few attendees did speak to the Texas Tribune, including Ronnie Drury, who arrived 12 hours early to hear Trump speak. Drury said he was there to hear about Trump's social security and immigration policies.

Source: Texas Tribune



There were emotional moments in both rallies. Here, a woman has her hand on her heart.



Here, a woman in the audience held her hands together as she listened to Trump speak.



At Warren's rally, signs said: "I'm a Warren Democrat." The signs were white and blue, muted compared to the bright red and blue of the signs at Trump's rallies.



At Trump's rally, there appeared to be substantially more signs being held by supporters.

Source: CNN



Warren supporters wore blue hats.



And Trump supporters wore red ones.



Warren received cheers, and the crowd started chanting "two cents" in response to Warren's proposal to impose a 2% tax on the wealthiest US citizens.

Source: The New York Times



Trump's supporters cheered for him, too, and chanted "four more years," and "drain the swamp."

Source: Vox



Warren finished her address by returning to the topic of workers' rights. She spoke about Frances Perkins, who was at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire and became an advocate for workplace safety reform. She said Perkins had a plan, and she did, too.

Source: Rolling Stone



After Warren finished, she stuck around for four hours, not leaving until 11:40 p.m. Many of her supporters were happy to wait in line for a selfie.

Source: The New York Times



Trump finished his rally saying his 2016 election victory might have been the best ever, except for those won by former presidents Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. He told his supporters to vote for him to keep him in office for another four years.

Source: CBS News



10 pink Christmas trees that are much more unique and fun than green ones

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Best pink Christmas trees 4X3

  • Deviate from traditional green Christmas trees this year with pink ones — they're more 10x more fun and festive. 
  • From unlit trees to ones that double up on color with pink branches and lights, here are 10 of our favorite pink Christmas trees you can buy this year — some starting at just $10.99.  

Green Christmas trees are classic, but if you really want to switch things up this year, opt for a pink one

They're 10x more fun and festive, and because the color is so eye-catching, you might not want to decorate it so it can save you time too. In fact, some of our favorite ones come pre-lit with clear or pink lights, so all you have to do is fluff out the branches and plug in the tree. 

There is a surprisingly extensive selection of pink Christmas trees available online, so we've chosen 10 of our favorites from Amazon, Walmart, Wayfair, and more — some start at just $10.99.

While these pink trees are gorgeous on their own, if you need additional Christmas décor inspiration for tree skirts, tree stands, ornaments, and more, check out some of our buying guides: 

A 6-foot-tall unlit Christmas tree

$84.99, available at Amazon (eligible for Amazon Prime)

This 6-foot-tall tree has more than 1,400 artificial pink branch tips that can be easily fluffed out for a fuller look. Decorate it however you want, or don't — the pink is festive enough. 

Tree height: 6 feet (also available in 7.5 feet)

Base diameter: 44.5 inches

Light count: unlit



A slim pink tinsel Christmas tree

$45.71, available at Home Depot

This slim tinsel tree is perfect for corners or areas with limited floor space. The deep-pink tree has more than 500 shiny tinsel branch tips and can be set up quickly. 

Tree height: 6 feet (also available 7.5)

Base diameter: 20 inches

Light count: unlit



A pink pine Christmas tree with 200 clear lights

$209.99 (originally $280.99), available at Wayfair [You save $71]

Standing at 4 feet, this pink pine tree comes pre-lit with 200 lights and branches are flocked to resemble frost. The 250 branches are bendable, so you can fluff them out however you want.

Tree height: 4 feet

Base diameter: 29 inches

Light count: 200



A tabletop bright pink Christmas tree

$10.99, available at Walmart

This bright pink Christmas tree is perfect for desks, counters, or tables as a small centerpiece. But don't think that the branches aren't strong — they'll still support the weight of many ornaments. 

Tree height: 2 feet

Base diameter: 13 inches

Light count: unlit



A 6-foot-tall pale pink Christmas tree

$69.99, available at Amazon

If you're not into bright Barbie pink, try a lighter one like this. The 6-foot-tall light pink Christmas tree has dense branches for a full and realistic appearance. A sturdy metal stand is included to keep the tree secure.

Tree height: 6 feet (also available in 7 feet)

Base diameter: 46 inches

Light count: unlit



A 7.5-foot-tall Christmas tree with 800 pink lights

$553.23, available at Lowe's

For an even more subtler look, try a white tree with pink lights. The 800 lights peppered throughout the tree will save you tons of time decorating, and the tree comes in five sections (including a metal stand) that swing out via hinge, so you just have to stack them together and fluff out the branches. 

Tree height: 7.5 feet

Base diameter: 65 inches

Light count: 800

 

 



A wavy Christmas tree with 100 pink lights

$73.99, available at Walmart

This unique wavy Christmas tree will serve as a great conversation starter when your friends come over. It's slim enough for hallways, but tall enough that it won't get mistaken for a coat rack. It also has nearly 900 branch tips and 100 pink lights, and comes with a sturdy metal base to keep it secure.

Tree height: 5 feet 

Base diameter: 24 inches

Light count: 100



A mini pink bonsai Christmas tree

$30.15, available at Amazon 

This mini pink bonsai Christmas tree is only about 20 inches tall, so it'll be a wonderful decoration to display on tabletops or even desks. You could hang some tiny ornaments and lights throughout, or leave it as is — the flocked branches are cute enough on their own. 

Tree height: 20 inches

Base diameter: N/A

Light count: unlit



A slim pink Christmas tree with 200 lights

$169.99, available at Walmart

This slim pink tree is great for hallways or small spaces. It comes pre-lit with 200 lights so you don't have to awkwardly string lights in a tight corner.

Tree height: 4.5 feet

Base diameter: 24 inches

Light count: 200



A 4-foot Christmas tree with 250 pink lights

$129.99, available at Amazon

This tree is shorter and wider compared to some of the others here, but just as festive. It doubles up on the pink color story with matching branches and lights that can be controlled by a foot pedal. 

Tree height: 4 feet

Base diameter: 38 inches

Light count: 250




19 special-edition holiday gifts that help fight HIV/AIDS with every purchase

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(RED) gift guide

  • (RED) works with global brands to create limited-edition branded products that drive monetary contributions to the Global Fund — an international organization that fights to end the spread of AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.
  • When you purchase a PRODUCT(RED) item, a portion of the retail price is given to the Global Fund where 100% of that money is used to combat and end the spread of HIV/AIDS specifically. 
  • Many popular brands participate and design special edition (RED) products like Apple, PopSocket, Alex and Ani, Vizio, and more.
  • With the holidays and World AIDS Day (December 1) coming up, consider purchasing a PRODUCT(RED) gift for friends and family.
  • Looking for more gift ideas? Check out all of our holiday gift guides here.

Regardless of how you choose to celebrate the holidays, one commonality is buying a gift or two for your loved ones. This might be something as small as a charm bracelet or as big as a new smartphone. Since the holidays are all about giving, it might be beneficial to buy from socially aware companies who turn around and give back to other organizations like the Global Fund.

The Global Fund is an international organization that fights to end the AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria epidemics. Governments, technical agencies, and communities all over the world pull their resources together to educate, treat, and prevent the spread of these three diseases. One major initiative, and probably the most well known, is (RED).

(RED) works with global brands to create limited-edition branded products that drive monetary contributions to the Global Fund. When you purchase a PRODUCT(RED) item, a portion of the retail price is given to the Global Fund where 100% of that money is used to combat and end the spread of HIV/AIDS specifically. 

Many popular brands participate and design special edition (RED) products like Apple, PopSocket, Alex and Ani, Vizio, and more. With the holidays and World AIDS Day (December 1) coming up, consider purchasing a PRODUCT(RED) gift for friends and family.

Learn more about the Global Fund and (RED).

Below are 19 of our favorite PRODUCT(RED) gifts:

A smart TV to watch your favorite holiday movies

(VIZIO)RED M-Series Quantum 50-inch 4K HDR Smart TV, available on Amazon, $479.99

When purchasing this limited edition (VIZIO)RED TV, you'll also be donating 10% of the purchase price to the fight against HIV/AIDS. The (VIZIO)RED comes with built-in Apple Airplay 2 and Chromecast and is compatible with Siri, Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa. Plus, it comes with a signature red remote.



A pair of wireless headphones to listen to Mariah Carey

Beats Solo³ Wireless Headphones Product(RED), available on Amazon, $263.44

These headphones won't have an issue delivering your favorite music to your ears with its Bluetooth capabilities. One full charge will give you 40 hours of battery life, and if you're in a hurry, just five minutes of charging will give you three hours of playback.

Check out our full review here.



A basic cookware set to make Grandma's famous baked ziti

(Rachael Ray)RED 13-Piece Aluminum Cookware Set, available on Amazon, $132.17

Not only is the (RED)-inspired design sharp, but each piece of the set is built to last with a strong nonstick coating. The cookware set is made with silicone safety handles and shatter-resistant glass lids.



A new charm bracelet for someone special

Alex and Ani Charity by Design Heart of Strength Bangle, available on Amazon, $22

Alex and Ani's heart charm is beautiful on its own or as an addition to an existing charm bracelet. When you purchase this Charity by Design bangle, 20% of the purchase price will be used to fight AIDS via (RED). 



An affordable electric toothbrush

(RED) metal electric toothbrush, available on Quip, $40

Quip's recent rise to fame has made oral care more manageable and affordable. Quip has taken their health stance one step further by partnering with (RED). Each Quip purchase will provide 30 days worth of life-saving medicine.

Check out our full review here.



A phone grip to help keep your phone safe

(RED)IFINE PopSocket, available on PopSockets, $15

PopSocket encourages new designs that represent a nonprofit's goals and mission. When you purchase any Poptivism-inspired PopSocket, 50% of the sale goes to the assigned charity.



A vibrant workout band for your Apple Watch

(PRODUCT)RED Apple Sport Band, available on Apple, $49

This (PRODUCT)RED sport band is made from the same durable and comfortable material as all other Apple Watch bands, but when you purchase this band, you are helping the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa.



A pillow that can help you nap wherever you are

(CASPER)RED Nap Pillow, available on Amazon, $35

The Nap Pillow is the perfect headrest wherever you may need a quick nap. When purchased, 15% of the retail price will be donated to (RED).



A portable Bluetooth speaker to spread holiday cheer

Beats Pill+ (PRODUCT)RED Portable Speaker, available on Apple, $179.95

With 12 hours of battery life, you'll always have music ready to go. Should you run out of juice, just three short hours gives you another 12 hours of listening. 



A versatile towel

Balthazar & Rose (Product)RED Fouta, available on Amazon, $45

Fouta towels make great gifts because of their absorbent and soft material. This multipurpose gift can be used as a towel, shawl, and even tablecloth. Plus, 10% of the retail price will be donated to (RED).



A carry-on suitcase you can use to visit family

Montblanc x (RED) Cabin Trolley, available on Montblanc, $865

This carry-on is the perfect size for business or weekend travel and is generally accepted as cabin luggage. For each trolly purchased, they donate €5 to support treatments aimed at reducing HIV transmission from mother to child.



A tea infuser for cold winter mornings

Alessi Tea Infuser, available on Amazon, $30

Brew your favorite cup of tea with this cone-shaped tea infuser. The metal holes are small enough to keep loose tea leaves inside but large enough to allow for a perfectly infused cup of love. For every infuser sold, 10% of the price will be donated to (RED).



A warm and cozy bathrobe

Alexander Del Rossa Fleece Robe, available on Amazon, $49.99 and up

With the weather growing colder, a full-length fleece robe is just what's needed to stay warm and cozy. The zipper is a nice touch for keeping the robe from slipping off the shoulders.



A moisturizing lip balm to fight dry, cracked lips

EOS Pomegranate Raspberry Lip Balm, available on Amazon, $4.99

EOS is a popular lip balm brand that makes an all-natural, paraben-free product. The formula is packed with shea butter and jojoba oil for hydration and maximum moisture.  



A powerstation to keep your phone charged while making holiday plans

Mophie EMPOWE(RED) Powerstation, available on Zagg, $35.95

Charge your smartphones and tablets separately or even at the same time with the dual charging port powerstation. The powerstation can add an additional 24 hours of playback time for smartphones and an additional nine hours of playback time for tablets. (RED) will receive 5% of sale proceeds.



A bottle of extra-hot hot sauce for family meals

TRUFF Hotter Sauce, available on Amazon, $17.98

If heat is what you like, look no further than TRUFF's Hotter Sauce made with jalapeños. TRUFF's has partnered with (RED), pledging $25,000 which equates to 125,000 days of HIV medication. 



A Vespa helmet for scooter-enthusiasts

VESPA (RED) VJ1 Helmet, available on Amazon, $314

This sharp helmet blends the signature Vespa-style with topnotch safety from the chrome trim right down to its removable padded liner. Ten percent of every sale will be used to fight AIDS through the Global Fund.



The new iPhone is a sharp-, charitable-color

(PRODUCT)RED iPhone 11, available on Best Buy, $699.99

The new iPhone is one of the more reasonably priced iPhones to hit the market, and it offers some pretty high-tech features like a dual-camera, fast processor, and sharp LCD screen.

Check out the best iPhones here.



A deck of cards that saves lives

Theory11 Product(RED) Playing Cards, available on Amazon, $9.49

Most people have a random deck of playing cards that they've acquired from a street fair or vacation rental, but they probably don't have a deck of cards that saves lives. Each deck purchased means $1 toward the fight against AIDS, meaning three days worth of necessary medicine.



15 mouthwatering photos of stylish restaurants around the world

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delicious places restaurant photo

  • The owners of restaurants around the world want to make sure their diners have the best experience possible — and that doesn't stop at the food.
  • From colorful cafés in France to a Wes Anderson-inspired restaurant in India, eateries across the world have taken interior design to the next level.
  • Dozens of beautifully designed restaurants are featured in an art-filled book, "Delicious Places."
  • Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

In today's culture, having a great meal isn't always just about digging into delicious food — it's also about dining in a beautiful place.

The book "Delicious Places," published by gestalten, takes readers on a visual journey through impeccably designed restaurants around the world. Filled with stunning photos of global eateries, the book explores how food culture has evolved to become more than just about what's on the menu — but the surroundings in which you're eating it.

From colorful cafés in France to a Wes Anderson-inspired restaurant in India, here's a look inside some of the world's most incredibly designed restaurants that will inspire your next trip.

Piada, a pastel-colored eatery in Lyon, France, is a whimsical spot for Italian street food.

Piada was opened by siblings Mathilde and Arthur Plaza, who were born to Italian parents in France. With their restaurant, the Plaza siblings brought a dream to reality; their mother had always wanted to bring a piadina shop, or Italian sandwich shop, to France. 



Piada was designed with 1950s Italian pop culture in mind, complete with mosaic tiling and arched metal structures.

The colorful restaurant was designed by Spanish design firm Masquespacio.



The neon sign translates to "a little Italian flair," which exemplifies the restaurant's mission.

Complete with fresh plants and ombré wall décor, Piada offers meals that are made even more special with its fun atmosphere.



The food at Piada looks just as beautiful as the colorfully curated restaurant interior.

Here, some of Piada's most colorful plates show the flavor of the restaurant — from piadas filled with vegetables and salads drizzled with balsamic vinegar.



Pink Zebra in Kanpur, India, is named appropriately: Its mesmerizing interior makes for a dizzying but memorable visual experience.

The restaurant's design was inspired by filmmaker Wes Anderson with its whimsical stripes and combination of kitschy styles.

When creating the concept for the restaurant, designers from the firm Renesa Studio wanted to give the restaurant the illusion of "dipping a zebra into a deep pink sea," according to the "Delicious Places" book.



The restaurant's pink, black, and white zig-zag pattern continues on the exterior.

The restaurant occupies two stories of a colonial building in the city of Kanpur.



At Legacy Records in New York City, diners can enjoy Italian cuisine and artisan cocktails in a former recording studio.

Sophisticated seating and textures like marble, leather, and brass make the restaurant ultra-stylish.



The trendy eatery has a shiny plated ceiling and leather banquette booths that give it a sense of warmth.

The geometric floor tiling is reminiscent of a bygone era, adding even more interest to the luxuriously designed restaurant and bar.



In Paris, Pink Mamma serves up Italian comfort food in a sun-soaked atmosphere.

Pink Mamma is located in a four-floor building, where each level has a different color scheme. Here, the eatery's greenery-filled space makes for a romantic dining experience, where guests can enjoy heaping amounts of Italian food and fresh mozzarella. 



At Poke Poke in Shanghai, the colorful restaurant exterior also serves as a bar seating area.

The Shanghai eatery Poke Poke specializes in Hawaiian seafood cuisine, specifically the trendy poke bowl. With its bright blue and red décor, the restaurant exudes a sense of beachiness. 



Poke Poke is known for its colorful bowls filled with a rainbow of vegetables and the freshest seafood.

The restaurant's minimalist design lets the rainbow-colored foods — like this traditional Hawaiian poke bowl — stand out.



Prado Restaurante in Lisbon, Portugal, exudes vibrancy and freshness, which matches its commitment to seasonal ingredients.

The restaurant's tagline — "If it's not in season, it's not on the table"— is apparent in the elegant eatery's green-centric design.



It's known for serving beautiful charcuterie boards with local meats and cheeses.

We'll take one of everything, please.



Next door to the restaurant is an accompanying grocery shop, which looks like it's straight out of a movie set.

The neatly arranged fruits and vegetables look incredibly inviting.



Tacofino Oasis in Vancouver, Canada, is filled with peachy colors and patterned fabrics.

Complete with stunning skylights that let natural light flow into the restaurant, Tacofino Oasis serves Mexican cuisine with a retro feel.



The book "Delicious Places" is filled with plenty more eye-catching restaurant photos that will satisfy your taste for culinary adventures.

You can find "Delicious Places" online at the publisher's website, gestalten, and on Amazon.



12 secrets behind Walt Disney World's magical holiday decorations

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Screen Shot 2019 11 07 at 4.17.46 PM

The holiday season begins early at Walt Disney World, with the official kick-off date this year being Friday, November 8.

And as the park gets festive, guests may not notice all of the work that goes on behind the scenes

Here are some interesting things you might not have known about how Walt Disney World decorates for the holidays. 

One special team does all of the decorating for the park.

The holiday-services team provides decor for almost 800 locations across Walt Disney World, the Disney Cruise Line, and Disney Vacation Club Resorts. 

This team consists of about 41 cast members who work year-round and an additional 90 people who seasonally help with all of the decorations. 



You're not imagining it — Magic Kingdom really does get decorated overnight.

Thanks to a dedicated decorating crew, the park transforms into a festive wonderland overnight. 

After the final Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party of the year, the park swaps out its Mickey-shaped pumpkins for Mickey-shaped wreaths. 

 



During the holidays, a Toy Story Land ride gets special sound effects.

Toy Story Land embraces the holidays with a 10-foot-tall Hamm sugar cookie and it also has some fun with sound. 

While riding the Slinky Dog Dash during the holiday season, guests can hear jingle bells as each car goes by.



There are 29 different custom trees across Walt Disney World and every ornament on them is custom-made.

Across Walt Disney World there are 29 custom-created Christmas trees that range from 15-feet to 70-feet tall. 

Disney's Contemporary Resort is home to the tallest tree that, at 70 feet, has more than 15,000 lights and over 200 custom-made ornaments.



Disney Springs is the largest decorated area at Disney World, and it contains over 2,000 different decorations.

Disney Springs is 120 acres of shopping, dining, and entertainment — and it's also the largest space that Disney decorates for the holidays.

To spruce the place up for the season, the team uses over 2,000 individual decorations and a 45-foot decorated tree.

 



Each holiday season, Cinderella Castle gets covered in over 200,000 lights.

One of the best parts of the holidays at Walt Disney World is the nightly lighting of Cinderella Castle.

Throughout the season, the castle twinkles and shines with over 200,000 lights.

The lights are made into custom nets that lay over certain parts of the castle, and each individual light on the strand is tested every year to ensure it hasn't gone out. 

 



Magic Kingdom is filled with hundreds of garlands.

For the holiday season, Magic Kingdom gets decked out with about 590 garlands and nearly 150 wreaths.

And, as you may notice, these decorations change to fit the vibe of the area you're in. Main Street USA features classic decor whereas Tomorrowland's festive embellishments are silvery and ultra-modern.



During the holidays, Hollywood Studios' iconic dinosaur gets a hat that's big enough to fit four people inside of it.

Located near Echo Lake in Hollywood Studios, Dinosaur Gertie towers over the park year-round. But during the holidays she wears a Santa hat that can fit four people inside of it.



Some of the seasonal statues at Hollywood Studios are inspired by vintage ornaments.

Up until recently, Disney's Hollywood Studios was the park with the most minimal holiday decorations. 

But over the past few years, the area got seasonal decorations around Echo Lake and they're all designed to be retro, with pale colors and custom designs. For example, the deer statues are inspired by vintage ornaments from the 1950s.



One Disney resort annually has a full-sized gingerbread house that takes hundreds of hours to make.

There's a reason Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa smells like gingerbread during the holiday season — the resort annually has a massive gingerbread house in the middle of its lobby.

In past years, it's been 14-feet tall and has taken 560 hours to complete, from baking to construction. 



Disney's Contemporary Resort gingerbread display contains thousands of cookie shingles.

This year, the Cinderella Castle gingerbread display is celebrating 10 years at Disney's Contemporary Resort. Interestingly, it is crafted in the same style as the Mary Blair mosaic that can be found in the resort's atrium.

The impressive house has over 5,000 decorative gingerbread shingles — and a number of hidden Mickeys. 



During the holiday season, the American Adventure at Epcot gets a special display that is made out of over 50 pounds of gingerbread.

Inside the American Adventure at Epcot, visitors can find a seasonal gingerbread display of the US Capitol Building, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Washington Memorial.

This display, which has hidden Mickeys throughout, is built using over 50 pounds of gingerbread and 20 pounds of icing.

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An artist makes elaborate portraits of influential people of color like Beyoncé, Cardi B, and Tupac Shakur entirely out of Skittles for a powerful reason

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  • Florida-based artist Harold Caudio creates elaborate portraits of influential people of color using Skittles.
  • Caudio has featured Beyoncé, Tupac Shakur, Will Smith, Bob Marley, and others in his series, titled "The Colored Collection."
  • He first drew inspiration for the project after the death of Trayvon Martin, the 17-year-old Florida teen who was shot and killed in 2012 after buying Skittles at a convenience store.
  • Caudio told Insider that he uses the multicolored candies because "Skittles represents us coming together as a culture."
  • Caudio created a Skittles portrait of the late rapper and activist Nipsey Hussle shortly after his passing.
  • Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Florida-based artist Harold Caudio has channeled his creative vision using an incredibly unconventional approach.

In his art series, titled "The Colored Collection," Caudio creates portraits of influential people of color entirely out of Skittles candies. His works have featured Beyoncé, Tupac Shakur, Will Smith, Bob Marley, and others.

Caudio produced a Skittles portait of Nipsey Hussle, a Grammy-nominated rapper and activist who was shot and killed outside of an apparel store he owned in Los Angeles on March 31, 2019.

Check out some of Caudio's Skittles portraits below.

Artist Harold Caudio began his series of Skittles portraits after the death of Trayvon Martin, who was shot and killed in 2012 after buying Skittles from a convenience store.

The death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, who was shot and killed in 2012 while walking home after buying Skittles from a convenience store, marked the beginning of a nationwide increase in consciousness surrounding the shooting deaths of unarmed men of color.

It also inspired many, including Florida-based artist and designer Harold Caudio, to take action. A Haitian-American man, Caudio decided to channel his artistic vision into creating a portrait of Martin. But, instead of using conventional methods like drawing or painting, Caudio opted to make a portrait of the late teen entirely out of Skittles candies, which became a symbol of the high schooler's innocence and the injustice of his untimely death.

"My initial inspiration was the Trayvon Martin incident that happened," Caudio told Insider. "The fact that I went into a store and my son wanted Skittles around the same time is what sparked it. [...] I figured Skittles represents us coming together as a culture."

Caudio told Insider that he planned to meet Martin's mother, Sybrina Fulton, to gift her with his piece.



Caudio's vision has since expanded into an art series titled "The Colored Collection."

He told Insider that he hopes this project will draw attention to people of color's "huge impact on society and culture." It's no wonder, then, that he chose to devote a Skittles portrait to Bob Marley.

The Jamaican singer and songwriter helped bring reggae music to prominence with hits like "Get Up, Stand Up" and "I Shot the Sheriff." Caudio titled his Bob Marley Skittles portrait "Sweet Redemption."



And he honored Will Smith with a portrait titled "Everybody loves Will."

Caudio told Insider that it takes him approximately three weeks to create each portrait.

"It's about the amount of Skittles," Caudio said. "When I'm running out I have to make a run to get bags of Skittles and then sort them by hand."



Caudio made a portrait of Beyoncé out of Skittles, which he titled "King B."

Beyoncé has been lauded as an icon for empowering women through her lyrics. Songs like "Run the World,""Pretty Hurts," and "Survivor," have become anthems for women across the globe.

Caudio told Insider that he has an event planned with Beyoncé's mother, Tina Knowles, this summer.



As one of the most iconic figures in the history of hip-hop, Tupac Shakur helped shape the genre before he was killed in a drive-by shooting.

Caudio creatively named the portrait "All Eyes on Sweets" in reference to Shakur's fourth studio album, "All Eyez on Me."



Caudio memorialized up-and-coming rapper XXXTentacion with a Skittles portrait titled "Barely Legal."

According to police, XXXTentacion was fatally shot on June 18, 2018, during a confrontation with men who intended to rob the rapper of his Louis Vuitton bag containing $50,000.

Read more: 4 indicted on murder charges over killing of rapper XXXTentacion

Caudio told Insider that he met XXXTentacion's mother and gave her the portrait.

"That experience was surreal," Caudio said. "It meant a lot for me to meet her and present her with the piece. She was extremely happy and started calling and FaceTiming a lot of people."



Caudio produced a Skittles portait of Nipsey Hussle, the Grammy-nominated rapper and activist who was shot and killed on March 31, 2019, just after his death.

Hussle was known for his philanthropic and community-building efforts in his hometown of Los Angeles.

Read more: Barack Obama praised Nipsey Hussle in a statement read at his memorial service: 'Nipsey saw potential'



In a similar vein, Caudio recently created a portrait of American activist Korey Wise.

Caudio debuted his Korey Wise Skittles piece in New York City with That Game Social.



He also created a portrait of popular rapper Cardi B.

Caudio told Insider he will be featured in a solo exhibition on November 16 in Miami.



Caudio told Insider that he plans on making former first lady Michelle Obama the subject of one of his next portraits.

Caudio isn't done yet.

"I have a lot more pieces coming up," he told us. "Mona Lisa and then Michelle Obama as my next piece."



18 players to start or sit in fantasy football for Week 10

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  • Each week, we're listing players to start or sit in fantasy football.
  • As always, these are less obvious choices — players fantasy owners might be on the cusp of starting or sitting.
  • Here are our start 'em, sit 'ems for Week 9 of the NFL season.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

We return for fantasy football start/sits in Week 10 coming off a strong week, albeit with four big misses.

Each week, we determine a successful pick by whether quarterbacks or tight ends finished in the top 12 in scoring in their respective positions and if running backs and wide receivers finished in the top 30. By that measure, we nailed 12 of 18 picks last week.

Unfortunately, we guessed wrong on two games: Kenyan Drake and Jimmy Garoppolo, two of our "sits," went off on "Thursday Night Football." Meanwhile, Gardner Minshew and D.J. Chark, two "starts" who looked sure to post big weeks, completely flopped in London. So goes fantasy football.

As usual, we try to pick less obvious choices — players fantasy owners might be on the cusp of starting or sitting.

Check out our start 'em, sit 'ems for Week 10 below.

START: Philip Rivers, QB

Team: Los Angeles Chargers

Week 10 opponent: at Oakland Raiders

Why you should start him: The Chargers' offense finally got untracked in Week 9, scoring 26 points, their most in five weeks, while Melvin Gordon had some success in the run game. Rivers didn't throw any touchdowns last week, but this week, he gets the Raiders, who boast a solid run defense and weak pass defense. We're betting Rivers gets involved again and has a solid outing.



SIT: Jared Goff, QB

Team: Los Angeles Rams

Week 10 opponent: at Pittsburgh Steelers

Why you should sit him: It makes us a little queasy to bet against Sean McVay coming off a bye week, but the Steelers don't present a good matchup for the Rams. Goff turned it around in the two weeks before the bye, but he is also only four weeks removed from a 78-yard performance against the Niners, so it's hard to rely too much on his recent production. The Steelers haven't allowed a top-15 fantasy QB finish since Week 3.



Start: Brian Hoyer, QB

Team: Indianapolis Colts

Week 10 opponent: vs. Miami Dolphins

Why you should start him: The Dolphins are a juicy matchup for anyone, even third-stringers. Hoyer played well against the Steelers when he had to come in for the injured Jacoby Brissett. While he doesn't offer a huge ceiling, he should be a fine streamer this week for those desperate at QB. The same applies to Brissett if he does play this week.



SIT: Kirk Cousins, QB

Team: Minnesota Vikings

Week 10 opponent: vs. Dallas Cowboys

Why you should sit him: Cousins has been one of the hottest quarterbacks in the league over the last five weeks, but the Cowboys present a tough matchup. Dallas has allowed just seven passing touchdowns in eight games. Cousins will be without Adam Thielen again, and the Vikings could lean on the run game more. Cousins should be fine, but we're not anticipating the top-five production he's had recently.

 



START: Aaron Jones/Jamaal Williams, RB

Team: Green Bay Packers

Week 10 opponent: vs. Carolina Panthers

Why you should start him: The Panthers are allowing a league-best 5.1 yards per carry and rank as the worst run defense in DVOA. Both Jones and Williams have proven to be fantasy-viable, even as they take touches away from each other. Over the past four weeks, Jones is RB6, and Williams is RB8. Note, of course, that Williams' ceiling is lower, barring a score, as Jones still gets the bulk of the touches.



SIT: Todd Gurley, RB

Team: Los Angeles Rams

Week 10 opponent: at Pittsburgh Steelers

Why you should sit him: Again, it makes us a little nervous to bet against Sean McVay after a bye week.  What we do know is Gurley hasn't topped 51 yards since Week 2, with touchdowns saving his fantasy performances. He also has averaged over four yards per carry once in his last six games. Gurley was out-touched by Darrel Henderson in Week 8, though perhaps Gurley will handle the ball more after a week off. Our bar for a successful pick in these columns is a top-30 finish in fantasy scoring. Gurley should be able to manage that, but we doubt he's in the top 20 (he's 19th on the year in standard scoring), which is where owners probably expect him to finish most weeks.



START: Ronald Jones II, RB

Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 10 opponent: vs. Arizona Cardinals

Why you should start him: After being in a split with Peyton Barber through the first half of the season, Jones was finally named the starter going forward by Bruce Arians. In his first start, he gets a great matchup with the Cardinals. Jones is RB32 on the season while ranking 32nd in overall touches. He should thrive with a greater workload.



SIT: Kenyan Drake, RB

Team: Arizona Cardinals

Week 10 opponent: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Why you should sit him: We got burned on our call to sit Drake last week, as he went off for 162 yards and 2 TDs. However, we're calling for a benching again this week, as he gets the No. 1 run defense in the NFL. David Johnson is also back, meaning Drake's touches could be limited.

 



Start: Latavius Murray, RB

Team: New Orleans Saints

Week 10 opponent: vs. Atlanta Falcons

Why you should start him: Murray was a monster in his two starts while Alvin Kamara was injured. Kamara should be back this week, but the Saints may try to balance the two players' touches going forward, especially given Murray's recent production. With the Saints expected to lead big, Murray may also handle the touches late against a weak Falcons defense.



SIT: Kalen Ballage, RB

Team: Miami Dolphins

Week 10 opponent: at Indianapolis Colts

Why you should sit him: Ballage is now the starter after the Dolphins traded Kenyan Drake and lost Mark Walton to suspension. Full-time starting running backs are rare in fantasy, but Ballage doesn't inspire much confidence. He has just 110 total yards on 39 touches this year, and the Dolphins are rarely in a position to use their running backs.



START: Keenan Allen, WR

Team: Los Angeles Chargers

Week 10 opponent: at Oakland Raiders

Why you should start him: Few players have had as strange a drop-off as Allen this year. He began the year with 404 yards and three touchdowns in his first three games and has just 253 yards and 0 touchdowns in six games since then. However, the opportunity has been there, as he has averaged over seven targets per game the last six weeks. We're betting he breaks out of the slump this year.



SIT: Josh Gordon, WR

Team: Seattle Seahawks

Week 10 opponent: at San Francisco 49ers

Why you should sit him: Gordon is set to make his debut with the Seahawks. While he figures to be a solid addition down the road, we're hesitant to start a player in his first game with a new team, particularly since Gordon has been banged up and hasn't played in four weeks. A matchup with the 49ers' elite defense doesn't help either.

 



START: Emmanuel Sanders, WR

Team: San Francisco 49ers

Week 10 opponent: vs. Seattle Seahawks

Why you should start him: Sanders has been productive since joining the 49ers. Hescored a touchdown in Week 1, then went off for 112 yards and a TD in Week 2. Also encouraging: he has 11 catches on 14 targets in two games. The Seahawks have fallen to 27th in defensive DVOA, so Sanders has a chance to keep building this week.



SIT: Jarvis Landry, WR

Team: Cleveland Browns

Week 10 opponent: at Buffalo Bills

Why you should sit him: Landry's fantasy weeks have been tough to predict, but this isn't an encouraging matchup. The Browns have another mouth to feed beginning this week in Kareem Hunt, and Baker Mayfield said on Thursday that he wants to get Odell Beckham Jr. more targets. According to Mike Tagliere of FantasyPros, the Bills haven't allowed a touchdown from the slot yet this year.



START: Golden Tate, WR

Team: New York Giants

Week 10 opponent: at New York Jets

Why you should start him: Tate has topped 60 total yards in four of his five games and had 80 or more in three of them. He's had a safe floor as the clear-cut top receiver and should stay there with Sterling Shepard still out with a concussion. He gets a nice matchup this week against the Jets, who rank 25th in pass DVOA.



SIT: Devante Parker, WR

Team: Miami Dolphins

Week 10 opponent: at Indianapolis Colts

Why you should sit him: Since Week 4, your WR17 is... Devante Parker! A Dolphin! Parker has hit 50 yards or scored a touchdown in seven of eight games this season, a nice floor for the league's worst team. We're worried that comes to an end this week. The Colts' pass defense has improved, and the Dolphins are on the road. Though the Colts defense has been somewhat friendly to fantasy wide receivers this year, it's still a tough script for Parker, who has been anything but consistent in his career.



START: Jared Cook, TE

Team: New Orleans Saints

Week 10 opponent: vs. Atlanta Falcons

Why you should start him: Cook appears to be healthy after two weeks off. He recently told reporters that he's looking at the second half of the season as a fresh start after a disappointing first half. There was buzz during training camp that the Saints would lean on Cook a lot. Perhaps with Drew Brees and Alvin Kamara healthy, that turns out to be true. With tight end virtually unpredictable this year, Cook looks like a solid bet against the Falcons' poor defense.



SIT: Jacob Hollister, TE

Team: Seattle Seahawks

Week 10 opponent: at San Francisco 49ers

Why you should sit him: Hollister has become a red-zone weapon with Will Dissly on the IR. That gives him some appeal each week, but it also might make him a touchdown-or-bust option, a tough position with Josh Gordon also entering the mix in Seattle. With six teams on bye and tight end relatively weak, taking a shot on Hollister is fine, but it's a risk, especially against the 49ers defense.



Now, pick these guys up if you haven't already...

Top 14 waiver-wire pickups for Week 10 of fantasy football >



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