Author: openjargon

Heavy storms and floods swamped southern Florida as residents are still recovering from 2023 flood damage. Some areas saw as much as 20 inches of rain in one day.

• Check out the season premieres of "The Boys" and "House of the Dragon" this weekend.
• Movies like "Monkey Man" are also newly streaming.
• You can also catch up on "Bridgerton" and "Love Island USA," too.

There's a jam-packed TV schedule this weekend.

The biggest news is that "House of the Dragon" finally returns on Sunday, two years after season one finished airing. If bloodshed and dragon fights aren't your thing, there's also the second half of "Bridgerton" season three to catch up on. And if bloodshed without dragons is your thing, "The Boys" just returned for season four.

If you're in the mood for a film instead, there's Dev Patel's directorial debut "Monkey Man," which he also stars in, or Andrew McCarthy's documentary "BRATS."

Here's a complete rundown of all the best movies, shows, and documentaries to stream this weekend, broken down by what kind of entertainment you're looking for.

If you want a new thriller, watch "Presumed Innocent"

Jake Gyllenhaal stars as a Chicago prosecutor suspected of a brutal murder, alongside "The Worst Person in the World" breakout Renate Reinsve. Based on the 1987 novel of the same name, the story was previously adapted into a 1990 film starring Harrison Ford in Gyllenhaal's role.

Streaming on: Apple TV+

Looking for something to watch with your kids? Check out "Camp Snoopy"

You really can't go wrong with the Peanuts — and the nostalgia is a great bonus for parents who grew up with it.

This new animated show centers on the beloved character and his band of Beagle Scouts after they find out their troop is on the verge of disbanding. The series is part of Apple's 2018 deal to produce more content based on Charles M. Schulz's series.

Streaming on: Apple TV+

"Bridgerton" season 3 concluded this week

Part two of the hit historical romance series got a whole lot sexier. The final four episodes of season three were released on Netflix, bringing a happy ending to Polin's love story, the unmasking of Lady Whistledown, and the reveal of multiple queer Bridgertons.

Streaming on: Netflix

Craving reality dating drama? Tune in to "Love Island USA"

The sixth season of "Love Island USA" kicked off this week — and this time, "Vanderpump Rules" fan favorite Ariana Madix is the host.

(If you're loyal to the UK version, don't worry. The new season of that one is streaming on Hulu.)

Streaming on: Peacock

If you're looking for an action movie, watch "Monkey Man"

Dev Patel stars in and directs "Monkey Man," an action-thriller about an underground street fighter. Patel also co-wrote the screenplay for the film, which is his directorial debut.

Streaming on: Peacock

Want comedy? Watch "Hannah Einbinder: Everything Must Go"

"Hacks" season three may have ended, but one of its stars is back on the streamer with a new comedy special.

Streaming on: Max

David Letterman's talk show is also back

The former late-night host kicked off his interview show on the streamer back in 2018. Now in its fifth season, the first episode, released Wednesday, features Letterman's conversation with Miley Cyrus.

Streaming on: Netflix

"House of the Dragon" season 2 premieres this weekend

House Targaryen is back, along with all its violence and drama. The action ramps up in season two as the Dance of the Dragons is on the horizon. HBO is already so confident in the fantasy series' success that the network renewed it for a third season ahead of the premiere.

Streaming on: Max

A new season of "The Boys" also premiered

The satirical superhero series returned for its fourth season on Thursday. The first three episodes are out now and have already given fans plenty of Easter eggs and references to the "Gen V" spinoff to mull over before the next episode airs in a week.

Streaming on: Prime Video

Are you a 1980s film buff? Check out "Brats"

The new documentary focuses on members of the Brat Pack, the name given to a group of young actors, including Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, and Rob Lowe, who starred together in many of the most iconic teen coming-of-age films of the 1980s. It's directed by Andrew McCarthy, another Brat.

Streaming on: Hulu

India's alcohol market is booming, but traditional spirits like coconut and cashew feni are struggling. We went to Goa, India, to find out how some distillers are hoping to cash in on feni and what sets this spirit apart from others on the market.

• Tesla's cult-like following was on full display at its annual shareholder meeting on Thursday.
• Fans wore "Cybertruck" shirts, signed shareholder banners, and cheered throughout the event.
• Shareholders praised the CEO in the Q&A segment and commented on his impact on history. 

It's no secret that Elon Musk has a cult-like following — and that was on full display at Tesla's annual shareholder meeting on Thursday.

Musk successfully mobilized his fanbase to help push through his $55 billion pay package, and some of Tesla's biggest supporters scored invites to the annual meeting.

Some also scored a factory tour with the CEO, which was one of many tactics Tesla used to boost the number of retail shareholders who voted on proposals, including Musk's pay package and Tesla moving its state of incorporation from Delaware to Texas (which was also approved).

Musk and Tesla's board did a full-court press in the lead-up to the vote, and it seems to have worked.

NYT's Dealbook reported that Tesla succeeded in getting a higher-than-usual number of retail investors to vote, and Musk's pay package passed with about 72% approval. Retail investors undoubtedly played a key role, but Tesla needed the support of some of its biggest institutional investors, like BlackRock and Vanguard, to get the pay package across the finish line.

Vanguard was Tesla's largest outside investor that voted in favor of the pay package, according to a report from Reuters. Vanguard's fund manager voted against the compensation package in 2018, the report said.

A triumphant atmosphere — and some dancing from Musk

For Muska and Tesla fans who made the journey to Texas for the meeting, the mood was celebratory.

Some wore "Cybertruck" shirts to the event and fans signed a large banner at the event emblazoned with the words "Don't mess with Tesla retail shareholders."

Musk danced his way onto the stage after it became official that his shareholders had re-approved his enormous pay package, jumping up and down to the crowd's cheers.

"I just want to start off by saying, hot damn! I love you guys," Musk said at the meeting.

Thursday's vote made one thing crystal clear: For many of Tesla's retail shareholders, the feeling is mutual. Most of the questions posed to Musk during the Q&A segment started with the shareholders singing their praises to the Tesla CEO.

One shareholder started by saying, "We love you so much, Elon," and another said he moved to Texas thanks to Musk. One shareholder referred to him as "an absolute idol" and asked if Musk was taking care of his safety and health because he cared about him as a person.

Musk ate it up. The CEO was in high spirits and even agreed to make one of the proposed changes from shareholders on the spot, like offering one more quarter of a limited-time Full Self-Driving transfer to new vehicles.

Musk's tendency to make bold and ambitious promises, even if they shift, is part of what excites his fanbase. His ability to achieve seemingly impossible goals, like the ones entailed in his performance-based compensation plan, has clearly fueled loyalty and passion for his vision.

• Russian unmanned aircraft can be seen destroying Ukraine's night bomber drones in videos from the war.
• Ukraine's Vampire drones have caused headaches for Russia's military, but the Russians are now intercepting them.
• Taking out a drone with another drone is a less expensive solution than some other air-defense options.

Recent footage from the war shows Russia using its own unmanned aerial vehicles to take down Ukraine's night bomber drones.

Russia has struggled to contain Ukraine's Vampire drones, which have caused significant damage to the Russian military at night, but recent combat videos circulating on social media suggest the Russians may have worked out a solution.

The videos show Russia successfully destroying the drones using UAVs of its own as interceptors, war watchers have reported. Business Insider was unable to independently verify the purported details for the footage.

Nicknamed "Baba Yaga" drones by Russian forces, a reference to an evil creature in Slavic folklore, Ukraine's Vampire drones are regularly able to avoid detection and can fly at high speeds, allowing them to wreak havoc on Russia's military.

The Ukrainian drones can find targets during the day with the standard camera and at night using thermal imaging. Their ability to operate during both day and night makes them significantly more useful compared to Ukraine's other drones, but they are not as cheap.

Drone-on-drone combat has been a less common occurrence over the course of the war, but it's starting to happen more often now. To combat Ukraine's significant use of UAVs, Russia has begun targeting them using first-person-view drones, Russian commentators have noticed lately.

They "will mow down the ranks of Baba Yaga drones," one commentator said of FPV drones, per a translation of the remarks by Samuel Bendett, a Russian drone expert. "This clumsy and slow-moving bomber is already shot down by experienced FPV drone crews."

The commentators predict that the FPV drone could evolve into a "super weapon," as powerful as the anti-tank guided missiles that are used to destroy armored military vehicles. In many ways, these systems are already reshaping modern warfare, threatening anything that moves, from top tanks to individual soldiers.

• Bethenny Frankel is popular on TikTok for her quippy beauty and skincare product reviews.
• Frankel told Business Insider that she's probably tried "thousands" of products on screen.
• She shared some of her favorites and said many drugstore options are just as good as luxury ones.

Bethenny Frankel first became famous from "The Real Housewives of New York" and her SkinnyGirl alcohol brand. But these days, she is just as well-known for her lucrative career as a TikTok influencer.

Fans tune in to hear her dating advice or beef with Chanel, but most stay for her brutally honest takes on viral beauty products.

Frankel told Business Insider that she's probably reviewed about one thousand products in the few years she's been active on the platform.

She first got on TikTok because she wanted to learn how to do her own makeup. "I didn't know that people were being paid, and I did not know that there were filters," she told BI. "I spent probably $10-50,000 in that year on stuff because I thought that everyone was telling the truth."

She eventually decided that most of the positive reviews were "99.9% bullsh*t," particularly for the higher-end items. "I didn't realize that everybody copies everybody, that every single brand copies Charlotte Tilbury or Drunk Elephant, and it's widely accepted in the beauty industry," she said.

If you're looking for quality skincare products, "the drugstore is every single bit as good as the luxury," she said. "Hard Candy lip gloss is every bit as good as Dior. No stuttering, it really is."

Frankel shared some of her all-time favorites, including drugstore picks.

L'Oreal sunscreen and moisturizer

Frankel is a big fan of L'Oreal, which she's also partnered with.

"L'Oreal does the best job of any brand in bridging luxury and drugstore," she said.

In particular, she loves the Revitalift SPF 50 sunscreen ($28) and Midnight Cream ($35), which she said is a "good, rich, excellent cream" and is popular for its anti-aging benefits.

Bio-Oil body oil

Frankel loves Bio-Oil body oil ($7), a product she recently spoke about on TikTok. She uses it as a body and hair oil because of how hydrating it feels.

"It's in every single drugstore, it's not expensive," Frankel said. To replicate a more high-end oil, she said "you could add some lavender or some fragrance and make it yourself."

Drugstore lotions

When it comes to body lotions, Frankel's cycled through many affordable drugstore brands such as Palmer's ($7). "I don't love the packaging, but it's inexpensive," she said. She's also a fan of Pond's, Vaseline, and Aquaphor.

Gerber washcloths as makeup removers

Another product Frankel recently mentioned on TikTok is Gerber's baby washcloth ($8 for a 6-pack), which she told BI is an excellent substitute for standard makeup remover wipes.

She said adding some gentle soap and water "will clean your face better than anything" because it's gentle enough to be a baby product but "has those grains that will exfoliate your skin."

Beekman 1802 cuticle cream

Another low-budget pick, Frankel told BI that Beekman 1802 "has the best cuticle oil" ($20) because of its easy sponge-tip applicator. She said on TikTok that it helps keep her nails from drying out when she travels.

TruSkin vitamin C serum

Frankel said she likes TruSkin's "comprehensive range" of serums and retinol, and particularly is hooked on its vitamin C serum ($39). Vitamin C is an antioxidant that has anti-aging benefits like fading fine lines and dark spots. TruSkin's version is on the lower-end, price-wise, and contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin.

• Pixar movies are those unique kinds of films that entertain both children and adults alike.
• Here we highlight all of them and rank which one is the best of them all.
• Find out where movies like "Toy Story," "The Incredibles," and its latest release, "Inside Out 2," rank.

28. "Cars 2" (2011)

Taking Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) and Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) away from Radiator Springs and going international (plus making Mater a spy) didn't grab critics. This sequel became the first "rotten" Pixar movie on Rotten Tomatoes. Deservedly.

27. "A Bug's Life" (1998)

In the second movie ever released by Pixar, an ant named Flik (voiced by Dave Foley) sets out to find others to help save his colony against grasshoppers and ends up recruiting a unique group of allies.

Though the movie was successful at the box office, with the release of DreamWorks' "Antz" a month earlier, you're more likely to remember the Lasseter-Katzenberg feud than the films. 

 

26. "Cars 3" (2017)

Though the "Cars" movies are the least acclaimed of anything Pixar makes, the company continues to churn them out. "Cars 3" touches on some interesting themes like mortality and self-confidence, but it feels like everyone involved in the making of it was on cruise control.

25. "The Good Dinosaur" (2015)

Perhaps one of the more serious stories in the Pixar inventory, this coming-of-age tale about an Apatosaurus and his human friend Spot trying to return home didn't catch on nearly as much as Pixar's other release in 2015, "Inside Out."

Burnout may have been at play here, but mostly Pixar challenged its core audience with a darker story than they were used to.

 

24. "Brave" (2012)

With perhaps a little too much old-school Disney gloss, the movie nevertheless featured a princess who's one of the most strong-willed we've seen in an animated feature. But it just didn't work as well as Pixar titles before or since.

23. "Onward" (2020)

In this touching story that centers a family story in the fantasy world, we follow two elf brothers as they set out on a magical quest to bring their father back from the dead.

Like all Pixar movies, there's a lot of self discovery in this one that is hit or miss throughout.

22. "Lightyear" (2022)

"Lightyear" is the movie that Andy from "Toy Story" is obsessed over and what leads to him getting the Buzz Lightyear toy.

Wish we could say we were as obsessed over the movie as he was.

It's fun, and Chris Evans is great voicing the "real" Buzz. But it just misses that quality that makes the great Pixar movies so special.

Still, the action sequences are exciting and the theme music from composer Michael Giacchino is a standout.

21. "Cars" (2006)

The final Pixar movie that the company produced independently before being bought by Disney, "Cars" — a look at a hotshot racing car that finds humility and true friends in a dusty country town — was one of those for-the-whole-family, feel-good stories that was light on the clichés.

20. "Monsters University" (2013)

In the prequel to the popular "Monsters, Inc.," Pixar does impressive work to make the backstory of how Mike (Billy Crystal) and Sully (John Goodman) met as fun and original as the classic first film.

Setting the story in the college life of monsters opens the door to easy traps, but the movie mostly steers clear and has a strong ending.

19. "Soul" (2020)

In Pete Docter and Kemp Power's latest directing effort for Pixar, the two take us into the world of a struggling musician, who dies on the day of his big break.

On the verge of going to the great beyond, or an alternate universe for souls, he tries to get back into his own body.

Jamie Foxx is great voicing the main character, Joe. Tina Fey, as the difficult spirit 22, can get annoying at times, but that's likely the point of her bratty character who doesn't want to live on Earth.

The real hit of this movie, however, is the amazing digital animation that makes New York City pop.

18. "Elemental" (2023)

Pixar has created its first ever rom-com with this touching story set around a girl made of fire and a boy made of water.

Directed by Peter Sohn ("The Good Dinosaur"), the movie has lots of layers like immigration, different cultures, tolerance, and family, as the movie sets around a family made of fire that has to try to live in a city that doesn't accommodate them. 

But at its core, the movie is a lighthearted look at young love. This is one that's going to make you feel good when you leave the theater.

17. "Turning Red" (2022)

After gaining an Oscar for her beloved short film "Bao," director Domee Shi delivers a moving look at what it's like to be a teenage girl in her directorial debut.

Following 13-year-old Meilin as she navigates being a teen and her overbearing mother, she also comes to learn that thanks to a family curse whenever she gets excited she turns into a giant red panda.

This one is definitely a mother-daughter watch.

16. "Inside Out 2" (2024)

Nine years after the Oscar-winning original, we're back inside the mind of Riley. Now 13, she's got a lot more swirling in her head besides "Joy," "Anger," "Sadness," "Fear," and "Disgust."

With puberty hitting, there's now "Envy," "Boredom," "Embarrassment," and "Anxiety."

Like the first movie, the sequel cleverly examines how emotions fuel our everyday lives, especially in our youth. Here, the main focus is Riley trying to fit in at hockey skills camp, which leads to a lot of anxiety and repressing her key emotions.

Though the middle of the movie gets a bit stale as Joy tries to race back before Anxiety goes too far, it gets points for having one of the better endings in the Pixar filmography.

15. "Coco" (2017)

Marking the first time Pixar based a movie around a holiday, director Lee Unkirch ("Toy Story 3") gives us a powerful story about family and never forgetting your past all set around Dia de los Muertos. Make sure to bring the tissues for this one.

14. "Luca" (2021)

Director Enrico Casarosa delivers a beautiful look at friendship and Italian culture with this movie that follows two boys who are sea creatures but long to explore above the surface. 

Looking like regular boys when they are out of the water, they embark on a journey through the small fishing town near where they live.

It results in an adventure that speaks to expanding your horizons and never being scared of change.

13. "Monsters, Inc." (2001)

The first directing effort by Pete Doctor ("Up," "Inside Out"), "Monsters, Inc.," the story of how monsters use the screams of children to power their world, was a genius idea that was elevated by the performances of Crystal and Goodman as the leads. With laughs and a heartwarming story, the movie showed that Pixar had more up its sleeve than the "Toy Story" movies.

12. "Incredibles 2" (2018)

14 years after the hit original, director Brad Bird finally returns to continue the story of the superhero Parr family. Starting up right where we left off at the end of the first movie, the sequel has all the fun and thrills of the original while still cleverly keeping those family strife undertones that ground the story. (You have to have something for the parents to relate to.)

11. "Finding Dory" (2016)

The highest-grossing animated movie of 2016, the sequel to "Finding Nemo" did not disappoint with audiences as we follow Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) on her journey to find her parents. With many characters from the original returning and some great new ones, Pixar proved the 13-year gap from when the original opened didn't affect their storytelling or our love for this world.

10. "Inside Out" (2015)

Pixar's Oscar-winner for best animated feature touches on all the things that have made its movies so beloved. The original story of a young girl growing up told through personified emotions, and the journey to finding one's true self, could've been corny. But Pixar's execution was flawless.

9. "Toy Story 2" (1999)

The second "Toy Story" puts Woody (Tom Hanks) in the clutches of a toy seller who's ready to ship the antique cowboy off for some major coin. Buzz (Tim Allen) and the rest of the toys have to figure out how to save him. Like the first time, the movie has some great drama and thrills that proved a lot more could be told about these plastic toys.

8. "Up" (2009)

"Up" is a perfect example of the adult topics Pixar began to take on once it was on steady ground in Hollywood. Focusing on love and the inability to let go, the story of an elderly man's journey to a far-off land on his floating house after his wife dies is equally heartbreaking and life-affirming — a triumph that led to it getting a best-picture Oscar nomination.

7. 'Toy Story 4' (2019)

Though many thought the third "Toy Story" was a beautiful close to the franchise that launched Pixar into a giant in the animation world, "Toy Story 4" doesn't do a bad job in trying to match up to its predecessor. Though it doesn't pull the emotional strings as dramatically as "3," it is definitely a worthy addition thanks to new characters like Forky and Duke Caboom, as well as a strong storyline for Bo Peep. 

6. "Toy Story 3" (2010)

Hailed by critics when it came out, and nominated for a best picture Oscar, the third "Toy Story" is the franchise's most emotionally charged to date. Woody, Buzz, and the gang find themselves mistakenly delivered to a day-care center, where they encounter some interesting new toys. 

 

5. "The Incredibles" (2004)

Playing on the big Hollywood secret agent/superhero movies, Pixar's curveball turned off some who didn't want it meddling in the genre. But the story of a superhero past his prime and realizing he's even more powerful when his family is by his side indicated the emotional depths Pixar wanted to explore.

4. "Ratatouille" (2007)

This touching examination of the sanctity of art and how it can be commercialized into watered-down muck — cleverly using the setting of a restaurant kitchen — is one of the most emotionally fulfilling movies ever made, Pixar or otherwise.

3. "Finding Nemo" (2003)

From the sarcastic comedy of Albert Brooks opposite the sweetly naive tone of Ellen DeGeneres, to the attention to detail in the gorgeous CGI-rendered underwater world, "Finding Nemo" provided a lot for everyone to love. And the giant box-office numbers speak for themselves.

2. "Toy Story" (1995)

The movie that started it all. Lasseter directed it and pretty much put all the company's chips into one basket. "Toy Story" elevated what kinds of stories animated movies could tell. And its computer-generated animation was the nail in the coffin for Disney's traditional hand-drawn work.

1. "WALL-E" (2008)

Director Andrew Stanton ("Finding Nemo," "WALL-E") gives us a remarkable story that celebrates old cinema (the silent movie, the musical) while delivering a message about the need to protect the planet (and our health) as flashy technology takes over.

Pixar is known for making us care about fictional creatures and objects, but with "WALL-E," that connection to the characters — the sense that they're living beings — is so intertwined with our experience of watching that you have to remind yourself it's just a story.

And that's the best kind of storytelling.

• Kate Middleton will attend the 2024 Trooping the Colour parade in London on Saturday. 
• The celebration in honor of King Charles' official birthday is Kate's first royal event in 2024.
• It marks the first time she's officially been seen in public since revealing her cancer diagnosis. 

Kate Middleton is set to attend her first royal event in 2024 this weekend, she announced on Instagram.

The Princess of Wales will join other senior members of the British royal family, including King Charles III and Queen Camilla, at Trooping the Colour on Saturday. The annual event marks the sovereign's official birthday.

As part of the announcement, the palace shared a new photograph of Kate.

The event, which takes place at the Horse Guards Parade near Buckingham Palace, will mark the first time Kate has made an official public appearance since attending the traditional walk to a Church service in Sandringham, Norfolk on Christmas Day 2023.

Kate's return to the public eye also comes nearly four months after she announced that she has cancer and had been undergoing treatment preventative chemotherapy. She shared the news in a video released to the public on March 22.

The announcement followed months-long speculation about Kate's whereabouts and well-being after Kensington Palace announced in January that she had undergone "a planned abdominal surgery" and would likely be taking time to recover in private until Easter.

At the time, the palace did not share further details about the type of surgery Kate underwent and told the Associated Press that it was not cancer-related.

However, in her video to the public, Kate revealed that in tests following the procedure, her medical team found that "cancer had been present." She also said the results were a "shock" and that she and Prince William were doing what they could to "process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family."

"As I have said to them, I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal in my mind, body, and spirits," Kate said in the video.

In another press release shared with BI, Kensington Palace said that she would be returning to work "when she is cleared to do so by her medical team."

Kate's return to the public eye follows her father-in-law's. Charles is also undergoing treatment for cancer, discovered after he underwent surgery for an enlarged prostate in January. He first appeared in public in April.

As sovereign, Charles will be taking part in this year's Trooping the Colour, Buckingham Palace confirmed to the BBC.

However, the BBC reported he likely will be joining the festivities in a carriage instead of riding a horse like he did in 2023.

• I moved from the US to Germany 14 years ago and am now raising a kid here. 
• I get a lot of questions about my ethnicity in Germany and struggle with the language.
• Still, I love living so close to many European cities and have met great people here. 

Since moving to Germany in 2010 for love, I've been mostly satisfied. My German partner and I have been raising a child here, and our quality of life and affordable healthcare have been especially great.

However, the road to finding my own joy in this country has been a bit bumpy. In a 2023 InterNations survey of over 12,000 expats, Germany was voted one of the countries expats hate to live in the most.

Although I certainly don't hate living here, I must admit it's not always perfect.

While living here, I've been questioned about my ethnic background many times

Though I was born and raised in the United States, my mother is Filipina, and my father is American. Because of my mixed-Asian appearance, I've received many questions and comments I'd rather not deal with.

When asked where I'm from, saying I'm American" doesn't suffice. Almost immediately after, the follow-up question comes: "But where are your parents from?"

This "dance" of questions has been a topic of national discourse, especially for Germans who are not perceived as "German." Here, I don't fit into many people's image of a stereotypical American.

After years of enduring this, I now just say that I'm Asian American.

During these interactions, I miss the idea that anyone can be American without questioning it. In the US, I was rarely asked about my ethnic background except on official documents.

Speaking German can be difficult even after living here all these years

The complex German language is another humbling aspect of everyday living here. Nouns have three grammatical genders, and adjective declensions are challenging.

It's frustrating that a sentence can go on and on until the verb comes at the end — it's literally an exercise in hanging onto every word in a conversation. Try doing that at a party with loud music.

Sadly, I'm also still stuck in my native English head, which doesn't delineate between a formal and informal "you," either. It's hard to know when to use formal "sie" or informal "du."

In cafés, most young people exchange the informal. In office environments or with older adults, it's safer to use the formal. I've bounced between both so many times with my doctors and kid's teachers that it's cringeworthy.

As a non-native speaker, I usually get a free pass — if I mess up the formal and informal, it's acceptable. Just don't tell anyone how long I've lived here.

Even so, I think Germany is a pretty decent place to live

Though I miss the comforts of my hometowns of Los Angeles and New York, my family and friends have made living here a bit lighter.

My writing group alone has been a therapeutic salve: We've bonded over stories of cold customer-service interactions (I can barely get anyone to acknowledge my existence in a clothing store) and linguistic gaffes.

More importantly, I've encountered genuineness. Friendships here run deep — asking someone, "How are you?" feels like a sober gesture of checking in that can lead to longer conversations. I've found strangers tend to look out for each other here, too.

Thanks to Germany's central location, I've also seen some incredible corners of Europe. We're three hours by train from Amsterdam, three and a half hours by train from Paris, and four hours by train from London.

Despite all the mistakes, misunderstandings, and episodes of embarrassment, I can honestly say that I'm grateful for everything living in Germany has brought me.

• I tried the same order from In-N-Out and McDonald's to see which was the better meal and value.
• I ordered a double cheeseburger, fries, and a soft drink from both chains.
• I preferred the thicker burger from In-N-Out over McDonald's smaller, but still tasty, burger.

McDonald's may be the biggest fast-food burger chain in the US, but In-N-Out — with its vast array of celebrity fans and mouthwatering burgers — could give the chain a run for its money in terms of taste and value. 

While In-N-Out is slowly expanding, it's still largely a West Coast chain, with around 400 locations in eight states and territories. The chain also has no immediate plans to come to the East Coast anytime soon, much to the chagrin of many fast-food fans. 

McDonald's, on the other hand, is both nationwide and global, with about 34,000 McDonald's locations around the world. 

I tried the same order from In-N-Out and McDonald's — a double cheeseburger, fries, and a soft drink — to see which was the better meal. 

Here's which fast-food burger meal I'd order again.

I ordered a Double-Double burger, regular fries, and a soft drink from In-N-Out.

My meal cost $9.15, not including tax, which I thought was a good deal considering the amount of food I received.

Most Double-Double burgers come with lettuce, tomato, onions, and spread.

To keep my burger similar to the burger I tried from McDonald's, I ordered it with onions, pickles, and spread. It cost me $4.90, which I thought was an excellent deal for the large burger sitting in front of me.

The burger patties were much thicker than other burgers I've tried at a similar price point, including the McDonald's burger.

The cheese slices were perfectly melted and enveloped the burger patties in a thick layer of gooey cheese.

The bun on the burger was pillow-soft. I also enjoyed the special sauce, which had a creamy yet tangy flavor.

In-N-Out's double cheeseburger had a lot of flavor for a low price.

I thought the West Coast chain really nailed the double cheeseburger, and of all the burgers on In-N-Out's menu, this is the one I'd probably order again. The burger's toppings made it very flavorful, it was large but not too big, and it was shockingly inexpensive.

But the fries were a tad underwhelming, in my opinion.

That said, the regular fry cost me only $2.15, which I thought was a good deal.

The fries were crispy but could have used a touch more salt.

The inside was also not fluffy at all, which I thought gave them an odd texture. Overall, I was just slightly underwhelmed by the regular fries, an opinion that I happen to share with other In-N-Out diners.

I also ordered a double cheeseburger, medium fries, and a medium soft drink from McDonald's.

The meal from McDonald's came to $14.37, not including tax, making it over $5 more expensive than the In-N-Out meal.

The McDonald's double cheeseburger cost me $5.79.

The double cheeseburger from McDonald's comes with two beef patties, pickles, chopped onions, ketchup, mustard, and two slices of American cheese.

I thought this burger's ingredients came together well, but I thought the bun was a little dry.

The bun held everything together and was a good size, but it wasn't as fluffy as the bun from In-N-Out. 

The burger was covered in a generous amount of condiments, and the pickles were tart and crunchy, though thinly sliced.

The chopped onions added a lot of flavor, and the burger patties were juicy despite being much thinner than the In-N-Out ones.

The fries were crispy and well-salted. I preferred them to the In-N-Out fries.

While the In-N-Out fries were slightly bland, in my opinion, the McDonald's fries were flavorful and perfectly crispy. They were also slightly more expensive at $6.09, which I thought was high, even for New York City prices — keep in mind that McDonald's menu prices vary by location. 

Since In-N-Out doesn't serve many condiments besides ketchup, I decided to eat both fries plain. While the In-N-Out fries were underwhelming without any sauces, the fries from McDonald's held up on their own.

Overall, I had to give the win to In-N-Out.

While I enjoyed both burgers, the double cheeseburger from In-N-Out simply blew me away. It impressed me so much that I forgot all about the fries. Frankly, the burger was filling enough without them, anyway. 

I also thought that In-N-Out was an excellent value, even compared with a larger chain like McDonald's. If I were to eat one meal again, I would definitely go for In-N-Out.