• I'm a registered dietitian and mom who's focused on feeding my family of four on a budget.
• I find many products cost less at Aldi than at other grocers, and they offer the same quality.
• During my weekly shop, I grab healthy staples such as nuts, eggs, oats, fish, and frozen berries.

I'm a registered dietitian feeding my family of four — including one teenage boy with an appetite for two — on a budget, so balancing nutrition and cost is my priority.

Before I became a dietitian, I was a frugal shopper who relied on store brands and sales that kept my family below our target budget.

When an Aldi opened nearby, I didn't expect switching stores to drastically impact our savings, nor was I convinced that its product quality could match that of other store brands.

It turns out I was wrong on both accounts. And once I began bargain shopping for organic milk to give my toddler, I became a true Aldi enthusiast.

Now, I visit the discount grocer weekly for nutrient-dense staples, such as fish, nuts, frozen fruits, and vegetables that help stretch our grocery bill even further.

Eggs are the one budget protein I always buy at Aldi.

I buy two dozen eggs every time I'm at Aldi since they cost much less here than at the other stores near me.

My family uses eggs for breakfasts like omelettes, waffles, and pancakes, and we also hard-boil them for an on-the-go snack (each one has over 6 grams of protein).

I use raw nuts as toppings and for baking.

I like to stock up on raw nuts, like walnuts and pecans, since I can use them in so many different recipes that I know my family won't waste them.

For example, roasted pecans with maple syrup and rosemary are a delicious snack. I also add nuts to Greek yogurt, overnight oats, banana bread, and various desserts.

I keep walnuts, which are packed with heart-healthy fats, in the pantry or the freezer when I want to store them for a long period of time.

My trip to the dairy aisle isn't complete without a large tub of Greek yogurt.

I always grab a 32-ounce tub of Aldi's Friendly Farms plain nonfat Greek yogurt with no added sugar.

Greek yogurt contains probiotics, also known as "good bacteria," which offer a range of health benefits. It's also a decent source of protein — this variety has 16 grams of protein per serving.

I eat it for breakfast often and add chia seeds, walnuts, and blueberries for extra flavor and nutrients.

Greek yogurt is also great to have on hand for substitutions in recipes calling for sour cream or mayonnaise.

Sliced sourdough serves as the perfect base for sandwiches and melts.

I like that Aldi's Specially Selected sourdough is made with only a few ingredients.

This bread has the natural tang of traditional sourdough even though it contains commercial yeast, which isn't an ingredient in authentic sourdough made with only water, flour, and salt.

However, I buy this loaf for its flavor and texture, as it works well with tuna melts, avocado toast, or fried eggs sprinkled with Trader Joe's Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend.

Jarred olives are an underrated find I use to flavor salads.

Olives are a low-carbohydrate staple filled with healthy fats and fiber.

Instead of relying on cheese and processed ingredients to flavor salads and grain bowls, Kalamata olives add a delicious briny taste.

For parties, I use olives to make homemade tapenades, which are a great addition to cheeseboards.

Frozen berries are one of the best bargain staples at Aldi.

Frozen berries, which are packed with antioxidants, are one of Aldi's best bargains. The cherry and berry medleys are great in smoothies with almond milk and chia seeds.

I always buy frozen blueberries since we use them almost every morning in overnight oats, yogurt bowls, or muffins.

I use canned fish and frozen seafood to make quick, protein-packed meals.

I often add canned tuna, a lean and inexpensive protein, to my cart.

Northern Catch chunk-light tuna has 20 grams of protein per serving, and my son loves using it to make tuna melts.

The store's canned salmon is another staple for us. I throw it over salads when I don't have anything prepped for lunch.

And if I want a seafood dinner that feels a bit more luxe, I grab Aldi's frozen tuna steaks to make sesame-crusted, pan-seared tuna.

I stock up on steel-cut oats to prep easy high-fiber breakfasts.

I buy Aldi's old-fashioned and steel-cut oats to meal prep overnight oats for the week. Each serving of them has a nice dose of fiber, and I top them with nuts for even more protein.

My family also uses oats to make energy bars, granola, and toasted oats. We've even used them as a high-fiber binder in place of breadcrumbs in some recipes.

Aldi's produce section is not to be missed.

Aldi's produce section has my favorite salad ingredients — prewashed arugula, peppers, red onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, and radishes — at an affordable price.

I also stock up on zucchini, red peppers, and red onions to make a large batch of grilled or roasted vegetables at least once a week.

I can reheat them as side dishes or mix them with quinoa, arugula, chickpeas, feta, and hummus for a delicious and easy-to-prepare lunch.

The jarred pesto I keep in my pantry gives any meal a low-lift upgrade.

I buy Aldi's jarred pesto because it tastes better than other brands I've tried, and it's less expensive than making it from scratch (plus, it's way easier).

I keep a few jars in the house at all times since I use the sauce to make one of my family's favorite quick meals: pasta with chicken or shrimp, broccoli, pesto, and grated Parmesan cheese.

I keep chia seeds in my freezer for quick add-ins to Greek yogurt and smoothies.

About 2 ½ tablespoons of these tiny seeds provide about 10 grams of fiber, 5 grams of protein, and 8 grams of fat. They're also heart-healthy.

Since we only use about a tablespoon at a time on yogurt or in smoothies for the extra nutrient boost, I store them in the freezer to extend their shelf life.

After all, these high-fat seeds can spoil at room temperature.

• I've been working at Costco for 20 years and always look forward to checking out the newest items.
• This month, the warehouse has everything from cold-weather essentials to delicious seasonal treats.
• Items like a robotic vacuum, cozy slippers, a candle warmer, and an electric cooler caught my eye.

One of the best parts of being a longtime Costco employee is that I get a front-row seat to the new products that arrive each month.

I especially love seeing the new items at the end of the year, as I get lots of great inspiration for entertaining and gifting.

This month, Costco is carrying everything from cold-weather essentials to delicious seasonal treats. Here are eight of the best items I'm seeing on shelves right now.

The Hudson women's puffer jackets are warm but lightweight.

Nothing says winter quite like a puffer jacket, and this month, Costco has a great selection of women's options from the Hudson brand. I like these coats because they're warm without feeling too bulky.

They come in classic colors like black and navy, and are available in sizes ranging from small to XXL.

I love the cozy Dearfoam slippers.

As temperatures continue to drop, the Dearfoam slippers have been a popular item at my store.

Perfect for gifting (or keeping for yourself), these cozy slippers are made with a comfortable memory foam insole. Plus, the knitted exterior is stylish enough for both indoor and outdoor use.

The Roborock QX Revo vacuum and mop makes cleaning a breeze.

The Roborock QX Revo is an all-in-one robotic vacuum and mop. It uses navigation technology to map out the space and create the best route for cleaning.

The best part? The mop cleans and dries itself after each use, and the vacuum dust bin automatically empties into a large bag that only needs to be changed once every seven weeks.

This month, Costco has the winter variety pack of Alani Nu energy drinks.

The Alani Nu energy drinks have been popular on social media, and this month, I noticed the winter variety pack hit Costco shelves.

Each box contains 18 cans in flavors like Breezeberry, Cherry Slush, and Winter Wonderland, which are sugar-free and have 15 calories or less.

Igloo's iceless electric cooler is a total game changer.

Let's face it — the worst part about packing a cooler is stopping to pick up ice along the way. But with the Igloo ICF40 electric cooler, no ice is needed to keep food or drinks cold.

The electric cooler essentially functions as a portable refrigerator or freezer, as the internal temperature can be set between 0 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. It can be plugged into a wall outlet or the auxiliary outlet in a car for on-the-go cooling.

It's great for long trips, tailgating, or simply keeping food and drinks cold outside.

I look forward to having the Kirkland Signature peppermint bark every year.

I always get excited for this time of year because of Costco's seasonal peppermint bark. It's made with dark and white chocolate, and topped with peppermint candy.

It's great on its own, but can also be crushed and used as a topping for other desserts.

The Mikasa Home Accents candle warmer is a great way to keep your home smelling nice.

The sleek Mikasa Home Accents candle warmer is designed to melt scented wax candles without the need for an open flame. Instead, a 50-watt halogen bulb heats the candle from above, slowly releasing fragrance while avoiding soot or smoke.

The height can also be adjusted to accommodate candles of various sizes.

The Kirkland Signature dry facial towels are great for daily use.

The Kirkland Signature dry facial towels are made from soft, plant-based fibers and can be used to gently remove moisture, makeup, and residue.

Each box comes with 200 towels, which can be used as part of your everyday skincare routine.

• I moved to Spain from the US, and instead of going home for the holidays, I went to Ireland.
• I didn't do a ton of planning, but I decided to limit my trip to West Cork and Dublin.
• I had a great time and met many friendly fellow travelers along the way.

Last year, I moved from New Jersey to Spain.

Instead of flying home for the holidays, I wanted to experience something new that would hopefully be a salve to the constant political disappointment I've been feeling as a Black woman living in the country. As much as I love my family, being in the US stresses me out.

Though Barcelona (my current city) comes alive during December with Christmas markets, festive lights, and a wave of tourists, I was craving greenery, the tranquility of nature, and maybe a sprinkle of luxury (at least for a few days).

I knew I'd find that in Ireland, which I've loved every time I've visited. Less than a month before Christmas, I did some last-minute planning to make my dream trip a reality.

I set my sights on County Cork

I've been to Ireland a few times, and multiple people I've met abroad have encouraged me to visit West Cork.

The somewhat underrated foodie destination is covered in farmland and remnants of Ireland's once-abundant temperate rainforests.

My curiosity was fully piqued, so I booked an extended weekend at Liss Ard Estate in the town of Skibbereen.

The luxurious estate was a bit of a splurge for me — the cheapest suites start at about 160 euros, or about $186, a night — but I considered it a Christmas gift to myself.

The area's natural views were straight out of a movie

I hoped to spend time in nature during my trip, but I wasn't expecting to see greenery similar to that of "Jurassic Park" in the Irish countryside in the winter.

I spent most of my time in West Cork wandering the Irish Sky Garden, which James Turrell created in the 1990s.

I didn't even know about the internationally renowned masterpiece of interactive natural art when I booked my stay, but it's safe to say I was forever changed by the beautiful installation.

The Sky Garden is basically just a giant concave oval. When standing inside it, the sounds of nature are amplified, and the sky becomes a massive portrait.

As I lay on the rock slab, staring at the sky and hearing blades of grass shuffle in the breeze, I was reminded how wonderful it is to just be present in the moment.

I returned to an old haunt for Christmas Day

I loved the solitude of West Cork, but I planned on spending Christmas Day in Dublin — more specifically, at Jacobs Inn.

I've stayed in this hostel every time I've visited Dublin. As an avid solo traveler, I rarely find accommodations that organically create the feeling of family among strangers, but this place does it for me every time.

Immediately after entering and putting my bags in storage, I met a travel buddy at the bar who mildly peer-pressured me into going to a reggaeton club (something I didn't even know existed in Dublin).

We had a blast.

There was plenty to do in the capital city

Though Dublin was crowded with a wave of holiday tourists and locals gathering with friends and family, I was still able to carve out dedicated time to rest, regroup, and explore the city at my own pace.

Two of my favorite adventures were finding The Little Pig Speakeasy and visiting the city's museums.

The four properties of the National Museum of Ireland and the National Gallery are all free to the public, so I took my time wandering through as many exhibits as I could.

The speakeasy was the most authentic-feeling one I've been to in years.

To enter, my hostel buddy and I had to find a pay phone, type in three numbers, say a code we had obtained from a local store owner, enter a trick wall, and then follow the neon pig. The tasty cocktails were worth the effort we made getting into the bar.

My trip ended up being the perfect way to spend Christmas

Aside from talking to my mom on Christmas Day, everything about this holiday was new to me.

At times, it was a bit overwhelming. But not knowing what each day would bring during a season that's usually steeped in tradition was also exciting.

Whether I return to Ireland next Christmas or set off to another country, I'm excited to make solo travel my new holiday tradition.

This story was originally published on January 6, 2025, and most recently updated on December 5, 2025.

• Larry Ellison and his son, David, own Paramount, which wanted to buy Warner Bros. Discovery.
• The Ellisons also have a close relationship with Donald Trump.
• Will the Ellisons convince Trump to stop — or at least try to stop — the Netflix/WBD deal?

Netflix wants to buy Warner Bros. Discovery for $72 billion.

It's an astonishing story about business, culture, and technology. Back in 2013, Netflix was starting to make its own shows, and floating what seemed like an audacious ambition: "The goal is to become HBO faster than HBO can become us," Netflix executive Ted Sarandos said.

Now Netflix has a deal to buy HBO, along with the iconic Warner Bros. movie and TV studio. Amazing.

But will Donald Trump let that happen?

Because the fact that Netflix and WBD announced a deal Friday morning doesn't necessarily mean that the deal will go through. It needs regulatory approval — and in 2025, that means it needs the approval of the president of the United States, who has dispensed with the notion that there's any distance between what he wants and what his regulators do.

That's why Paramount CEO David Ellison, who has been competing with Netflix and Comcast for the right to buy WBD, was reportedly at the White House this week, making the case that a Netflix deal to buy HBO and the Warner studio should be shut down based on antitrust grounds.

If he's persuasive, you could see Trump's Department of Justice suing to block the deal — just like Trump's DOJ sued to block the sale of Time Warner to AT&T in 2017, during his first presidency. The US lost that case, but only after a long court battle — something AT&T and Warner people complained about for years after the fact.

I've asked the White House for comment; a Paramount rep declined to comment.

If Ellison — whose father, Larry, is both the second richest man in the world and a longtime Trump backer — doesn't persuade Trump and his administration to shut down the deal, the Ellisons still have other options. They could mount a hostile takeover and try to persuade WBD shareholders to reject the deal and take their offer. And/or they could sue WBD themselves, arguing that WBD executives didn't really take their offer seriously.

Which was the not very subtle subtext of the letter Paramount's lawyers sent out early this week, alleging that WBD had "embarked on a myopic process with a predetermined outcome that favors a single bidder."

That didn't sway the WBD board, which agreed to a deal that requires Netflix to pay a $5.8 billion fee if the sale doesn't close.

The fact that WBD went with the Netflix offer — which buys part, but not all of the company, versus a Paramount bid for all of WBD — certainly seems like it has stung the Ellisons, who have been privately and publicly playing up their closeness to Trump. "We have a good relationship with the administration," David Ellison deadpanned in October.

Now we'll see just how strong that relationship is. Is it good enough to get the president to kill a rival's deal?

• In 1990, my parents moved our family from West to East Germany to build a new life.
• My kids now face the same distance I once had from my own grandparents.
• We've turned long-distance grandparenting into something deeply meaningful.

In 1990, one year after the Berlin Wall came down, my parents decided to move from Western Germany to Eastern Germany to become a Tupperware franchise partner.

For my parents, it was a goldmine. People were starved of luxury for almost 30 years, and they were hungry to discover the world and everything it had to offer.

I was 8 years old at the time, and I remember when my parents told my younger siblings and me that we would be moving.

My heart sank. I just started primary school and had to leave my friends behind and start over again. The worst part, though, was that I had to leave my grandpa behind. I remember missing him so much, even though we visited him a couple of times a year.

I unconsciously created the same situation for my kids

In 2017, I moved to the Netherlands because I fell in love with an amazing man, as well as the country, its people, and its language. We got married and have a daughter and a son, whom we are raising trilingual. I love my life here, but I hate that my kids can't see my parents whenever they want, since they live 400 miles away.

Although our kids don't know it any differently, I remember how it felt to miss my grandfather, which is why my husband and I actively worked to create ways to keep our kids and their grandparents connected.

It's essential to both of us that all four of them bond, get to know each other well, and create loving memories that they will cherish for a lifetime.

Ways we keep our kids connected with their grandparents

Our kids are 6 and 4 now, and since they were born, we have changed how we keep in touch with my parents.

First of all, we decided to visit my parents as often as possible. Since I am an entrepreneur who can work from anywhere, and my husband is working from home a lot, that wasn't a problem for the first four years. Since our daughter started school, we've had to juggle a bit more, but we always make it work because it is our priority. Often, that means we'll leave home at 2 p.m. and arrive at my parents' around 9 p.m. to spend the weekend together.

Once a year, my parents and their dog come to the Netherlands for one to two weeks. They park their motorhome on our driveway and live with us during that time. They bring the kids to school and pick them up; they do fun stuff together, and in the evening, we cook and eat together.

And every summer we go on a 14-day vacation together. That's our kids' favourite time of the year. And frankly, mine, too, because I don't have to work and can enjoy time with my parents. Another upside is that my husband and I can also spend quality time together, while the four of them create memories.

Besides that, they video call at least once a week to share what they're experiencing in their lives. Well, sometimes the kids only want to see the dog and wave at her, but even that is a great bonding moment with lots of laughter.

Don't dismiss the smaller things

Besides those active moments together, we also created an environment with smaller things we do to keep their grandparents in our daily life.

Our daughter has just started writing and sends a WhatsApp message occasionally. But we also share photos and videos whenever we can. For example, when our daughter learned a new move in her breakdance class, or our son proudly started his first swimming lesson.

We also craft and draw things for grandma or grandpa. We have a photo calendar in the living room that reminds us of the time we spent together.

We celebrate Halloween and Christmas together, and whenever possible, we meet for birthdays as well.

Sometimes it's hard not to have them around every day. Still, distance doesn't have to mean disconnection, and I've learned that with a bit of creativity and consistency, kids can grow up to truly know their grandparents, no matter how many miles separate them.

• Netflix will maintain its short theatrical movie runs despite acquiring the Warner Bros. studio.
• Co-CEO Ted Sarandos confirmed Netflix's focus on streaming over long exclusive theater windows.
• Warner Bros. will continue to put movies in theaters for longer runs, though.

Netflix is buying the iconic Warner Bros. movie studio as part of its mega-deal for Warner Bros. Discovery's streaming and studios business. Does that mean Netflix will start putting its movies in theaters for long, exclusive runs?

The answer is no, according to Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos.

Sarandos said Netflix plans to continue to put Warner Bros. movies in theaters if and when the deal closes. But he said Netflix, which won the streaming wars by delivering entertainment to people in their homes, will continue its practice of short runs for its movies in theaters.

On a call with investors Friday to discuss the deal, Sarandos said Netflix doesn't have an opposition to movie theaters but that his "pushback has been mostly in the fact that the long, exclusive windows" aren't "consumer-friendly."

Sarandos added that he thinks over time, theatrical windows will continue to shrink so they become available faster to people via streaming.

Netflix's stance has at times created tension with big-name talent who want the prestige and audience experience of the big screen.

As to whether Netflix will adopt WBD's model of licensing its movies and shows to competing media companies, Sarandos shot down that idea. He said Netflix plans for Warner Bros. to keep producing for third parties, but Netflix doesn't plan to change its own model.

"We've not produced for third parties," he said. "They do, and they're quite successful at it. And we want to keep that successful business operation. Netflix doesn't plan to have any change in that model."

Bottom line: Netflix is doing what it has to do to get Warner's prized HBO and studio assets, but it's not fundamentally abandoning the model that's made it a success.

• This post originally appeared in the Business Insider Today newsletter.
• You can sign up for Business Insider's daily newsletter here.

Like a helicopter too heavy for lift off, tech companies are ditching anything they don't view as essential to get their AI plans off the ground.

Meta is planning to cut its metaverse division's budget by as much as 30% and considering job cuts as part of the move, writes BI's Jyoti Mann and Pranav Dixit. The decision comes as tech companies look to pare back anything not directly focused on giving them an edge in the AI wars.

Investors loved the move, with the stock finishing the day up almost 3.5%.

For Meta, ditching the metaverse has been a long time coming. (We actually declared it dead back in checks notes May 2023.) During Meta's most recent earnings call, the word "metaverse" wasn't even used once.

It's quite the reversal from when the metaverse was the literal inspiration for the entire company's rebrand from Facebook. But it's tough to keep making the case for funding something that burns billions of dollars and doesn't directly generate a ton of revenue.

Especially when you need to make room for AI plans that are burning billions of dollars and have yet to directly generate a ton of revenue.

Meta is unlikely to be the last company to cut non-AI-related fat.

AI projects are really expensive. From hardware to talent to power, there doesn't appear to be a "cheap" way to do it. The space is also incredibly competitive, and even the first movers are feeling the heat.

That's forcing companies to rethink their allocation of resources, particularly when it comes to projects that don't get them to their AI goals.

Even those focused solely on AI are recalibrating their approach. OpenAI is sidelining ancillary projects to solely focus on beefing up ChatGPT.

Tech companies with business lines already benefiting from the AI boom hold an advantage. Amazon, Google, and Microsoft's cloud businesses are experiencing an uptick from AI investments.

Those players aren't standing still, though. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella tapped a new advisor to "rethink the new economics of AI."

Next month could be a good indication of how much tech companies are willing to throw overboard to keep their AI dreams afloat. Several companies conducted layoffs at the start of the year as part of their annual culling.

Where companies draw the line will be interesting to watch. Money-losing endeavors not tied to AI will be obvious targets, but what about the stuff that is bringing in money but doesn't fit a company's future AI vision? How much will companies cut from what already is to support what could be?

• Growing up in Portland, Oregon, was magical, but I hated my hometown the way angsty teens often do.
• To my surprise, I moved back to my hometown in my 30s and realized it's the perfect city for me.
• I love Portland's quirks, strong sense of community, natural beauty, food, and LGBTQ+ nightlife.

Portland, Oregon, isn't perfect.

It's not particularly diverse, and most restaurants close way too early for anyone under the age of 60. The "Pacific Northwest freeze" is a real thing: People here can be simultaneously too nice and impossible to befriend.

When I left Portland in my early 20s to travel the world for almost a decade, I didn't think I'd ever move back. Growing up there was pretty magical, but I hated the city in the way most angsty teens hate their hometown.

Then, amid the coronavirus pandemic, I booked a flight back to Portland to be near family. Five years later, I'm still here — and I can't see myself living anywhere else. Here's why.

The access to nature is unbeatable

Portland is surrounded by natural beauty.

Locals love to brag that you can be in the mountains or on the coast within an hour and a half — a luxury few cities can claim.

Believe it or not, you can even be in the rainforest in half an hour, surrounded by ferns and fluorescent-green moss.

I regularly make the scenic drive to the Columbia River Gorge, a historic stretch dotted with tunnels and waterfalls, when I need to clear my mind. Stopping to stand at the base of a 620-foot waterfall and get misted in the face never fails to do the trick.

The natural beauty really is everywhere. On a casual walk around my neighborhood, I've found everything from fresh blackberries and wild bunnies to roaming chickens and secret gardens filled with dahlias and roses.

Our local food scene is on par with major metropolises

I'm convinced Portland has more outstanding restaurants per capita than any other city.

Though the city is predominantly white, my taste buds have been thrilled in recent years to see diversity reflected in Portland's rise to foodie fame.

The star of the show is Kann, a James Beard Award-winning restaurant by Gregory Gourdet, where "Haitian cuisine meets Pacific Northwest bounty," and an absolutely mind-blowing plantain brioche meets my mouth.

Then there's Jinju Patisserie, named the country's most outstanding bakery at the James Beard Awards earlier this year. There, two Korean-born pastry chefs whip up croissants that rival any I've had in Paris.

But award winners barely scratch the surface. My personal list of outstanding local Thai restaurants is longer than my Trader Joe's receipts.

Plus, Portland is especially known for its food trucks, which is how I first tried Guyanese food (at Bake on the Run), snow-cheese Korean fried chicken (at Frybaby), and Puerto Rican-Philly fusion dishes (at Papi Sal's).

The LGBTQ+ nightlife feels truly queer

I came out after leaving Oregon, and before moving back, I'd only lived in areas where the LGBTQ+ community was either small or centered on gay men.

Portland is the first time I've felt included, and the queer community here is at the heart of why I chose to stay. This city's LGBTQ+ community feels refreshingly queer.

My friends and I joke that most bars in Portland are gay bars just because the local population has so many queer folks. Many popular nightlife spots regularly host LGBTQ+ events, even if they aren't specifically "gay bars."

On any given weekend, I might have to choose between a "Twilight"-themed drag show, an LGBTQ+ storytelling event, a queer pie-eating contest, a lesbian dance party, or a trans wrestling match.

Because it rarely takes me longer than 15 minutes to get anywhere around the city, I can try to squeeze all the events in.

And when I wake up exhausted and hungry on Sunday morning, I can join my fellow Portland gays doing what we love most — waiting in inordinately long brunch lines.

Portland has a community for even the quirkiest hobbies

If you've got a special interest, you're bound to find a group of people here who are loudly and proudly into the same thing, no matter how niche or offbeat.

Can you guess where I've made the most friends in Portland? If you said, "a weekly '80s-themed mall walk in the city's half-abandoned Lloyd Center mall," you'd be right.

When I picked up rollerskating during the pandemic, I was thrilled to learn that the city runs a "secret roller disco" every week in undisclosed pop-up locations like warehouse parking lots (and the same half-abandoned mall).

Over the summer, I participated in a watermelon-wrestling fundraiser. In the fall, I got to take an entire four-week class about 1970s cult horror in the back room of Movie Madness, one of the country's only remaining video-rental stores.

All in all, I've fallen for the city

The older I get, the more I appreciate that Portland doesn't feel like a city, but rather it's a bunch of neighborhoods quilted together.

It's easy to feel welcome here when there are free tiny libraries and flyers for different clubs and events around every corner.

Everything I love about Portland, from the hiking trails to my favorite Thai soup spot (shoutout to Khao Moo Dang) to the drag scene, comes down to one thing: community.

It's an elusive concept I spent most of my 20s searching for in far-off places. In an ironic twist of fate that really pleases my mother, I ended up finding it in my hometown.

• Korean Air is the latest airline to sign up for Elon Musk's Starlink WiFi.
• 22 other carriers have also announced deals for the ultra-high-speed internet.
• It's already available on some airlines — here's the full list.

Elon Musk's Starlink has gained yet another airline customer as the ultra-high-speed WiFi service continues to gain popularity.

Korean Air announced in early December that it's installing Starlink and expects it to enter service between July and September next year, becoming the 23rd airline in total to do so.

Business Insider previously tested Starlink on Qatar Airways' first flight with it last October. The connection speed peaked at 215 megabits per second, more than enough for a lag-free video call, and faster than many cable-based internet services.

Starlink functions thanks to a constellation of over 7,000 satellites, which allows internet connections in remote locations, such as flying over an ocean. The satellites are in low-earth orbit, which means faster internet speeds — but also disrupts astronomers.

Starlink isn't the only game in town, however.

JetBlue has signed up for Amazon Leo, which functions similarly, but has only launched 150 satellites so far.

Another in-flight WiFi rival is Viasat, which is used by Delta Air Lines and American Airlines. It only has a handful of satellites in a geostationary orbit, which have a longer time delay.

While it has rivals, Starlink wants to cement its dominance. As Starlink grows in popularity, it could be that more carriers sign up to Starlink to keep up with competitors. All airlines with Starlink offer it free of charge, although some require passengers to sign up for their loyalty programs.

As of the Korean announcement, here are all the airlines that have publicly announced plans to launch Starlink:

Aer Lingus

The Irish flag carrier is part of International Airlines Group, which announced its Starlink deal in early November. It's set to roll out Starlink from early 2026, but plans are still being finalized across the conglomerate.

Air Baltic

Latvia's airBaltic flies around Europe and the Middle East only using Airbus A220 jets. It was the first European airline to adopt Starlink, and hopes to complete installation on all its planes by the end of the year.

Air Busan

Air Busan is a budget carrier and a subsidiary of Korean Air, which announced in December that it's adding Starlink.

While the legacy carrier has clearer plans for its wide-body jets, Korean said Air Busan will review which planes to prioritize.

"Rollout schedules will vary by carrier, with the earliest service introduction expected as early as the third quarter of 2026," it added.

Air France

The French flag carrier announced its Starlink deal last September, available to Flying Blue loyalty members. Installation began across its fleet, including regional planes, this summer.

Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand first said it was working with Starlink two years ago. It then rolled it out on two domestic aircraft in June, saying that it was "currently in the test phase."

Air Seoul

Air Seoul is a budget carrier and another subsidiary of Korean Air. Like with Air Busan, it is not yet clear which jets will get Starlink.

Alaska Airlines

After merging with Hawaiian Airlines — the first major carrier to offer Starlink — Alaska Airlines announced its deal in August. It says it will first be available next year and will be rolled out across the fleet by 2027.

Asiana Airlines

Asiana Airlines is another subsidiary of Korean Air.

The two airlines merged in 2024, while the Asiana brand is set to be phased out by the end of next year.

"Following the integration with Asiana Airlines, the airline plans to complete fleetwide installation by the end of 2027," Korean said in its Starlink announcement.

It also said it will prioritize installation on its Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 jets.

British Airways

The UK flag carrier is also part of IAG. BA said it would start rolling out Starlink next year and that it would be available free of charge to all its passengers.

Emirates

Dubai's airline is starting to roll out Starlink this month and plans to add it to all 232 in-service aircraft by mid-2027. It's also set to operate the first double-decker Airbus A380 with the service.

FlyDubai

The Emirati budget airline also announced its Starlink deal during this month's Dubai Airshow. It only operates Boeing 737s and plans to install Starlink on 100 of them from next year.

Iberia

The Spanish flag carrier is also part of IAG. The conglomerate said it would roll out Starlink across its fleets from 2026.

Jin Air

Budget airline Jin Air, another subsidiary of Korean Air, will also get Starlink on its planes.

It will first install the high-speed WiFi on its Boeing 737-8 jets, the announcement said.

JSX

JSX is a charter air carrier and was the first carrier to equip Starlink back in 2023. Its fleet is mostly made up of regional Embraer jets.

Korean Air

Korean Air announced in December that it's adding Starlink, with service starting as early as the third quarter of 2026.

It said it will prioritize installation on its Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 jets, aiming for Starlink to be across the fleet by the end of 2027.

Level

Level is a budget airline based in Barcelona and is part of IAG. The airline's parent company said it would roll out Starlink from 2026.

Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways outpaced its regional rival, Emirates, by announcing Starlink back in May 2024. As of November, it operates the most wide-body aircraft with the service, numbering over 100. Starlink is installed on all Qatar's Boeing 777s and is being rolled out to its Airbus A350s.

SAS

Scandinavian Airlines, or SAS, is the flag carrier for Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. It announced Starlink in January and said the rollout would begin at the end of the year. Passengers would need to sign up for its EuroBonus loyalty program for free access.

United Airlines

United Airlines was the second US airline to announce a Starlink deal, but the first of the Big Three. It has installed the service on over half of its regional planes, and is continuing to roll it out across its whole fleet. The airline says customers will get a notification before their flight if it is equipped with Starlink. Passengers need to sign up for its MileagePlus loyalty program for free access.

Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic was the first UK airline to announce its deal with Starlink, which it did in July. Installation is planned to start in the second half of next year. Passengers will need to sign up for the airline's Flying Club loyalty program to use it.

Vueling

Another IAG subsidiary, Vueling is a Spanish budget airline. Its parent company said it would roll out Starlink from 2026.

WestJet

Canada's WestJet started installing Starlink in February, and it's now equipped on over 100 of its Boeing 737 jets. It plans for all its 737-800 and 737 Max 8s to have Starlink by the end of the year. Free access requires signing up for its loyalty program.

Zipair

Zipair is a Japanese budget airline and a subsidiary of Japan Airlines. It was an early adopter of Starlink, announcing its deal in early 2023, but doesn't appear to have yet launched the service.