• As an interior decorator, there are a few things I'd never have in my backyard. 
• In my opinion, plastic furniture and vinyl fencing can disrupt the natural beauty of a garden.
• I find that solar-powered lights are unreliable and aren't bright enough during dark winter months.

Home improvements like landscaping projects and backyard renovations can range from a few hundred dollars to over $20,000, so it's important to make sure any changes to your outdoor space are a worthwhile investment.

As an interior decorator, I encourage my clients to create a comfortable backyard space with a no-frills approach that enhances the natural environment. However, there are a lot of materials and design choices I'd avoid when creating a classic-looking yard space.

Here are eight things I would never have in my backyard as an interior decorator.

Plastic furniture doesn’t feel sophisticated to me.

In my opinion, colorful plastic chairs and tables feel flimsy and distract from the yard's natural beauty.

Unless you're willing to spring for a more durable option like Polywood, which is made from high-quality recycled plastic, colorful furniture will likely fade and wear quickly in the sun.

Instead, I create a timeless garden space using heavy wrought-iron or wooden furniture.

A fully hardscaped backyard is my nightmare.  

Hardscaping, or incorporating non-natural elements like stone walls, decks, or fences, can help create functional outdoor spaces for entertaining. These non-natural elements can be especially appealing to people who don't want to take care of lots of live plants.

However, I find that many designers overdo it when it comes to hardscaping — and to me, a wall-to-wall concrete yard with little plant life is a bit sad-looking and difficult to update.

You don't need to remove all vegetation to have a low-maintenance backyard. I recommend researching native plants or consulting with a landscaper to establish a beautiful, biodiverse garden that's easy to care for. 

I wouldn't recommend outdoor rugs in most climates.

Outdoor rugs are great in dry climates or areas where a portion of the yard is covered. However, they can get moldy and become maintenance nightmares in areas with heavy rainfall or pollen. 

I like to create interest and dimension in the yard by using various ground coverings like stone, tile, or wood decking. By diversifying my materials, I get the same effect as a rug but in a durable, design-focused way.

I find solar-powered path lights to be unreliable.

I find that solar-powered lights are unreliable and aren't bright enough during dark winter months. Therefore, I recommend installing path lights or other outdoor fixtures with regular bulbs.

For easy maintenance, select fixtures that allow bulb replacements instead of options that require removing the entire structure. 

Outdoor ottomans and poufs are not worth the maintenance for me.

I avoid large, fabric-heavy furniture like ottomans and poufs because they need to be protected from the elements during harsh weather and require lots of storage space.

Instead, I opt for woven-rope furniture or high-quality metal pieces with cushions. However, I make sure the cushions are made from durable materials like Sunbrella, which is resistant to fading and UV rays.

These synthetic fibers still need annual cleaning, and the cushions should be stored during rainy days or the offseason. However, these types of pieces are made to last and are more forgiving for low-maintenance backyards. 

I find vinyl fencing lacks the charm of real wood.

Vinyl fencing is popular for its low-maintenance qualities, but I don't like the look of sleek plastic in a natural landscape.

I prefer traditional wooden fencing, which is usually less expensive to install than vinyl and can blend into the yard as it naturally fades. Instead of painting a wooden fence, I recommend staining it for a long-lasting treatment that matches the yard's natural color palette. 

I'm not a fan of too many lawn ornaments. 

I find plastic trinkets, wind spinners, and garden gnomes charming in moderation, but I prefer to use live plants and landscaping as the main decoration.

For a quirky backyard with sophisticated embellishments, I lean toward decor made from natural materials like stone and glass. These materials usually resist sun fading, which can make the decor look shabby. 

I don’t recommend stamped concrete.

Stamped concrete, which creates a design that mimics brick or stone, is usually budget-friendly. However, I don't recommend it over traditional pavers.

Stamped concrete often gets slippery when wet, is difficult to repair, and can crack over time. 

On the other hand, I find most pavers' natural imperfections visually beautiful. Pavers are usually very durable, making them an investment that adds value to the home.

• YouTube dominates streaming TV viewing, surpassing Netflix in 2023 viewership metrics.
• Streaming now accounts for 39% of TV viewing time, with YouTube leading for 12 months.
• Here's a breakdown of YouTube's rise to $8.1 billion in quarterly ad revenue.

People are catching on to the fact that YouTube is ruling TV.

Streaming is quickly replacing traditional TV, and the place people are spending much of their time watching streaming video is YouTube.

The Google-owned video platform dominated streaming TV viewing for all of 2023, ahead of Netflix, by one widely cited measurement. YouTube is increasingly becoming today's "must-see" TV for people, especially younger generations, with free videos uploaded by creators like MrBeast; free, ad-supported shows and movies from big Hollywood distributors like Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Paramount; and live sports via YouTubeTV add-on, NFL Sunday Ticket,

It's also pitching itself as a one-stop entertainment shop with Primetime Channels, a 2-year-old service that lets users subscribe directly to streaming services like Showtime, Starz, and Paramount+ through YouTube.

YouTube is winning with advertisers because it can service everyone from local pizza shops to CPG giants like Procter & Gamble.

Here's a breakdown of YouTube's rise and what it means for other entertainment players competing for people's attention and the advertisers trying to reach them.

How big is YouTube's viewership and user base?

Any way you slice it, YouTube is enormous. It's the most used Android app after TikTok, with users averaging 28 hours a month, according to a widely cited data report from January 2024. It was estimated to have the biggest social-media advertising audience, with 2.5 billion users per month, as of that January report.

In streaming, which now accounts for nearly 39% of people's TV viewing time, YouTube has been winning hands down for some time now. YouTube dominated view time for 12 months in a row, according to Nielsen. In May, YouTube accounted for 9.7% of viewing time, ahead of Netflix's 7.9%.

With 500 hours of videos uploaded every minute, YouTube pitches itself as a place that serves every possible interest, from creator content to music, news, educational videos, and more.

The Gauge, which Nielsen launched in 2021, isn't a complete picture of TV viewing. It only measures viewership on TV sets, not mobile devices. It also only includes free YouTube, not YouTube TV, YouTube's pay TV service. Based on paid subscriptions, Netflix still reigns, with about 270 million subscribers worldwide.

Meet the 33 people with the most power at YouTube, the world's biggest online video company

Looking at media consumption another way, Nielsen recently released its Media Distributor Gauge, which reflects total viewing by media distributors across broadcast, cable, and streaming. With those platforms included, YouTube takes second place in monthly TV viewing, behind linear giant Disney, with an 11.5% share.

Still, there's no denying YouTube's enormous reach, which it has leveraged to become an advertising powerhouse.

YouTube quarterly revenue hit $8.1 billion, but some brands still shy away

YouTube's user-generated content continues to concern big brands that insist on major quality control. It doesn't seem to have discouraged them too much, however. YouTube had $8.1 billion in advertising revenue in the first quarter of 2024, up 20% over the year-ago quarter, while linear TV revenue is declining as audiences shift over to streaming.

Learn how YouTube faces challenges as rivals offer TV streaming scale for the first time

YouTube also benefited when the Hollywood strikes shut down TV productions, leading advertisers to look for alternatives to network TV.

Read about how YouTube is pitching Madison Ave for TV dollars

How YouTube became a TV giant

YouTube touts its revenue-sharing model to fund creator content as a key strength, saying that, unlike the traditional Hollywood studio model, it ensures that it continually produces hits. YouTube trumpeted that in the past three years, it paid out $70 billion to creators, artists, and media companies, which makes it a bigger spender on content than Netflix.

Read Business Insider's analysis of YouTube's domination of the living room

Along the way, it's launched products that promise a high-quality environment for advertisers, like YouTube Select, which lets advertisers run ads on the top 5% of its most popular programming. In 2023, YouTube reached a deal to make NFL's Sunday Ticket games an add-on for YouTube TV subscribers.

Read Business Insider's story about how YouTube has become one of the biggest pay-TV services in the US

YouTube's reach in entertainment stretches beyond TV viewing. In February, it announced that it hit 100 million subscribers to YouTube Premium and Music, including free trials. YouTube Premium is a $13.99 a month service that includes features like ad-free viewing, offline viewing, and YouTube Music (which is ad-free). YouTube Music is $10.99 a month. YouTube TV is a $72.99 a month bundle of TV channels.

See new data showing how YouTube's push into other entertainment services is beating Netflix in the fight to be a 'must-have' service

How YouTube works with creators

YouTube has lately been touting how much it pays out to creators. It says it now shares revenue with 25% of creators in its YouTube Partner Program through Shorts, its TikTok competitor. Those creators get 45% of the ad revenue generated (after an undisclosed amount goes to record labels) on those videos, which run 60 seconds or less; creators of long-form videos get 55% of the ad revenue.

Read more about how YouTube pays creators

YouTube emphasized that creators are making money from the platform in other ways. YouTube is also promoting gen AI tools that it's giving creators to boost their videos and music.

Learn how influencers get paid and make money on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube

Young people prefer YouTube over Netflix and Disney+

A common knock on YouTube is that it's largely low value. Yet, tell that to younger people, who prefer to spend time with YouTube over entertainment stalwarts from Disney to Warner Bros. Discovery.

YouTube dominates in areas important to Gen Z (user-generated video) and not where it matters less (live sports).

New research from Deloitte shows members of Gen Z prefer to watch social video and livestreams (47%) about twice as much as TV shows (24%) and four times as much as movies (11%). Surveys also show similar patterns among Gen Alpha.

Those preferences could change as they age, but that would entail changing not just what they watch, but their preferred devices.

Explore why Gen Z's preference for YouTube is a problem for streamers like Netflix and Disney+

What YouTube's rise means for Netflix and other entertainment companies

YouTube's hold on young people suggests a brighter future for YouTube than Netflix and traditional media companies, whose businesses depend on subscriptions as well as advertising.

Deloitte found that Gen Zers were three times more likely to be influenced by ads on social media than streaming.

The survey found that people of all ages are questioning the value of streaming media, where subscription prices have been rising, and about half feel it's hard to find something to watch.

Legacy entertainment companies have come to treat YouTube as a distributor, acknowledging they can't very well ignore its enormous reach. But in doing so, they're playing on a platform whose rules they can't control.

Read how a new startup from 2 Twitch alums is trying to get Gen Z to watch TV

YouTube's dominance faces fresh challenges

YouTube's dominance has made it the target of critics. It's been accused of violating children's privacy. Critics have asked the government to probe Google and YouTube's dominance.

It also continues to face brand safety concerns by advertisers as well as increased competition now that all the major streamers have ad tiers. YouTube's user-generated content continues to concern big brands that insist on more quality control, while other streamers say they guarantee a low-risk environment for advertisers.

YouTube's reputation got renewed attention in June 2023 when advertising analytics company Adalytics shared research showing Google violated its standards when it ran advertisers' video ads on other websites. A subsequent Adalytics report alleged YouTube served ads that may have led to improper tracking of kids online. Google has disputed those reports.

Finally, many advertisers have become fed up with Google's dominance of the ad ecosystem (which is now under antitrust scrutiny) and have more options to spend their marketing budgets these days.

• I tried Applebee's for the first time to see which menu items were the tastiest.
• The chicken-tortilla soup was delicious but I wish I got a bigger portion for the price.
• The quesadilla burger and chocolate meltdown cake were definitely worth ordering again.

As fast-food prices increase, casual sit-down restaurant chains are swooping in to target budget-conscious diners with deals and special menu items. 

Among them is Applebee's, a chain with over 1,500 locations worldwide that's best known for its classic American dishes, such as burgers, pasta, and ribs, and discounted seasonal cocktails.

And, as the CEO of Applebee's parent company told CNN earlier this year, why eat a $10 burger from a bag in your car when you can enjoy it at a restaurant for the same price? 

So, I visited Applebee's for the first time to see what value I could find. Here's what my experience was like.

Editor's Note: This story was originally published on February 16, 2023, and most recently updated on June 24, 2024. Menu items, limited-time offers, and prices may vary by location.

The atmosphere was warm and friendly.

My nearest Applebee's is on Fort Apache and Tropicana in Las Vegas, which is a bit out of the way for me. Given how popular the chain is, I was surprised there isn't one closer to me.

I arrived just before the dinner rush on a Wednesday night. When I got there, the restaurant wasn't completely packed, but there were quite a few customers.

My party was seated quickly, and our server introduced herself right away. Music was playing, but it wasn't loud or overwhelming, and the entire restaurant seemed clean and well-lit.

As we looked at the menu, we realized it was the middle of happy hour, so we asked about any deals. Luckily, our server made sure our dishes were either charged at happy-hour prices or bundled in a mix-and-match deal, so we got the best bargain.

Though such deals may vary throughout the year, Applebee's usually offers at least one promotion, from all-you-can-eat meals to limited-time $1 margaritas. The chain's website even says, "When one promotion ends, another always begins."

The game tablet confused me a little bit.

Our waitress also pointed out the tablet on the table, which we could use to call her if we needed anything or play games while waiting.

At one point, we accidentally charged $2 to our table by playing a game. I was confused, but later noticed a small note on the top-right corner of the screen that said, "Games unlocked for $1.99."

I could see how navigating the tablet might result in unexpected charges to a group, especially if there are kids at a table and parents who might not notice the prices.

Once we realized we'd been charged, we decided to play the trivia game.

Still, the game was fun, even though our tablet seemed to have a few issues. In the middle of some questions, we'd be taken back to the main screen even if we didn't touch the tablet.

That being said, it was fun to play against other Applebee's customers around the US and it kept us occupied during the short wait for our food.

I started off with a cocktail, which I thought was a great deal.

I'd heard about Applebee's $1 drink specials, but when I asked our waitress about them, she said the deal had been discontinued.

However, since we went in the wintertime, Applebee's offered a $6 holiday drink special. The restaurant regularly has limited-time drink offers, usually themed around a holiday. For example, Applebee's currently has a deal on Star-Spangled Sips — summery cocktails, a mocktail, and a beer, all under $10 a pop. 

On this trip, I went with the Tipsy Reindeer, which was made with vodka, cranberry juice, and passion-fruit-and-lemon sour. It came with a Santa-head-shaped gummy that sank to the bottom before the drinks got to our table. The gummy was a little hard and sticky from sitting in the drink, so I only ended up eating one bite.

The drink itself was bright and colorful and came in a giant fishbowl-style cup. It was fruity and sweet with a slightly sour tang at the end. I could taste a hint of the vodka, but it wasn't overwhelming.

I thought it was an amazing deal and it was an easily shareable size if you don't want to drink that much.

I devoured the quesadilla burger with fries.

I'm a fan of a good burger and quesadillas so I was delighted to see them combined into one meal. Applebee's quesadilla burger was tricky for me to eat because the bottom was greasy, and the chipotle sauce leaked out with every bite.

However, the flavor explosion of the burger topped with bacon, pico de gallo, and lettuce between crisp, cheesy tortillas was worth the messy hands. Luckily, there were plenty of napkins.

The burger was pink in the middle, which, to me, means it was cooked perfectly. Its light seasoning worked well with the other flavors of the quesadilla and toppings.

The meal came with a side of fries, which were excellently crispy on the outside, soft in the middle, and seasoned to perfection. I ate them all. For $14, I'd definitely order the quesadilla burger and the delicious fries again.

The three-cheese chicken penne was creamy and delicious.

I'm a big fan of pasta so I was curious how the three-cheese chicken penne would stack up.

It came in a big bowl with a breadstick on the side and looked perfectly cooked. The penne was firm but not hard, and the noodles themselves had a mild buttery flavor that paired well with the Parmesan sauce.

The sauce itself was thick and creamy, with a nice consistency, but I was worried there wasn't enough and the pasta dish would be a little dry. But once I mixed in the cheese, there was plenty of sauce to cover the pasta and chicken slices.

The dish came with Asiago, Parmesan, and white-cheddar cheese and tasted really cheesy with a nice texture. 

The penne also came with flavorful bruschetta tomatoes that created a pop of basil and garlic. I thought it brought a distinctly Italian flavor profile to the meal that made it stand out from a typical pasta dish.

Unfortunately, one thing about the dish let me down a bit.

The chicken's exterior was well-seasoned, and it was cooked thoroughly, but it tasted pretty bland to me. I ended up eating just the pasta, so if I got this dish again, I'd order it without chicken. 

The breadstick was buttery and super soft in the middle with a hint of garlic. It complemented the penne really well and I ate the whole thing.

Our server put this dish in the mix-and-match meal deal. For $13.80 plus a free appetizer, this felt like a good deal, but without the chicken, I'm not sure how filling it'd be on its own.

Applebee's riblets platter with honey-BBQ sauce was underwhelming to me.

The second half of the mix-and-match deal was the riblets platter. For some reason, I thought the riblets would be boneless so it was a bit of a surprise when they arrived at the table. Fortunately, the bones were easy to maneuver around.

I had the option of choosing between honey-BBQ and sweet-Asian-chile sauces and I went with the former. The riblets were slathered in plenty of sauce but it wasn't too much. The honey-BBQ sauce was tasty and a bit sweet with a smoky twist.

The riblets themselves were cooked well, though some of the meat was a bit tough and fatty. I thought they were also quite small so it didn't seem like much meat for the price.

The platter came with four riblets and fries for $13.80. I thought this seemed a little pricey for what it was so I wouldn't order the riblet platter again.

I loved the chicken-tortilla soup but it was tiny.

The chicken-tortilla soup, which came with a thick broth topped with a ton of tortilla strips, had a ton of flavor. The soup itself wasn't too spicy but definitely had a slight kick to it.

I could taste the tomato chunks and corn but the chicken and beans were on the lighter side. Given how small the bowl is, I thought the lack of protein made the soup a little less filling. The portion seemed small, but it was the perfect size for an appetizer or side dish.

I loved how many tortilla strips came packed on top, but if you let it sit, they start to sink and get soggy, so be sure to eat right away for that crunch. 

I loved how many tortilla strips came packed on top but they began to sink and get soggy as my soup sat. I wish I'd eaten them right away for maximum crunch. 

The bowl of soup was $4.80, and for the size, this wasn't worth it to me.

The classic Buffalo boneless wings were perfect.

I'm a huge fan of boneless wings with Buffalo sauce so I'm glad this dish didn't disappoint.

At first, I was worried there wouldn't be enough sauce on the classic Buffalo boneless wings, but there was enough to perfectly coat the ingredients. It came with nine wings, three pieces of celery, and a choice of ranch or blue cheese — I ordered both dips.

The meat was cooked perfectly and the breading was super crispy. The wings were juicy and tender, and each bite had just the right amount of crunch. Both dips were thick and creamy so they coated the wings and didn't drip off or run thin.

Thanks to happy hour, these would have been half-price, but they were also part of the mix-and-match meal deal, so they ended up being free. Without either deal, the Buffalo wings would have been $12, which I think is a little pricey for a plate of nine wings. 

They were really delicious so I plan on coming back for the half-price happy hour to get them again.

The triple-chocolate meltdown cake was spectacular.

I loved the triple-chocolate meltdown cake. The chocolate cake was delicious and the presentation was outstanding.

The cake was filled with a rich, chocolaty hot fudge, which oozed out when we dug into the cake. It also came with a large scoop of rich, creamy vanilla ice cream.

The dessert was moist and the sponge-cake texture soaked up all the ice cream and melted fudge. Both the cake and ice cream were large enough portions to share and cost $7.60. We ate the entire thing and I'd definitely order it again.

Overall, dining at Applebee's was an enjoyable experience.

For me, the experience of eating at Applebee's was good but it was the staff that made it stand out. Everyone in the restaurant was welcoming and friendly and the service stayed fantastic even as the dining room filled up. We never felt forgotten or ignored, and our server took care of every request we had.

Out of the food I tried, I really enjoyed the quesadilla burger and the triple-chocolate meltdown cake. Both dishes were satisfying, packed with flavor, and worth the price.

Other dishes, like the chicken-tortilla soup and the riblets platter, felt a little overpriced, though there are lots of menu options and deals to keep costs lower.

Next time I go to Applebee's I'd want to really look at the menu, deals, and reviews beforehand so I make sure I get the most bang for my buck and leave feeling fully satisfied. 

 

• Ukraine is aiming to field a diverse arsenal of ground robots to help support its war efforts.
• These robots can launch assaults, lay mines, and deliver supplies to the front lines. 
• One senior Ukrainian official said they could be the "next game-changer technology" of the war. 

Ukraine has its eyes set on a dynamic fleet of ground robots to fight alongside — and, sometimes, instead of — its soldiers in combat as Kyiv continues growing its arsenal of unmanned systems.

These robotic systems, also known as unmanned ground vehicles, can launch assaults on Russian positions, self-destruct next to enemy armor, and deliver ammunition to front-line positions, among various other tasks.

UGVs have already carried out these kinds of missions, though not on the same scale as Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicles and drone boats.

"Ground robotics is one of the solutions," Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's minister of digital transformation, said in translated remarks shared with Business Insider. "If robots can fight instead of people, why won't we try to do this?"

Fedorov set up UNITED24, a Ukrainian government initiative that has for over two years helped fuel Kyiv's war efforts by raising money to purchase weaponry like drones, and recently, it launched a fundraising campaign to acquire three types of ground robots for the military.

Ukraine hopes to use the new ground robots in different roles, supporting direct combat, minelaying, and logistical operations on the battlefield, according to a fact sheet about this initiative shared with BI.

The new ground combat robots can assault and defend positions, as well as conduct surveillance and reconnaissance, all while being operated remotely from up to two-and-a-half miles away. The systems are armed with machine guns, hardened against small-arms fire, and outfitted with thermal-imaging cameras for nighttime missions.

The minelaying and self-destruct robots can threaten Russian armor, positions, and supply routes. Strapped with anti-tank mines, these systems can charge into a target at over 15 mph before detonating, or they can drop explosives on the ground. They can be operated remotely from nearly three-and-a-half miles away.

The logistical robots, on the other hand, aren't necessarily capable of directly inflicting losses on the Russians, but they can be used for life-saving and resupply missions. These systems can quickly deliver ammunition and equipment to front-line positions and evacuate wounded soldiers with their ability to carry over 1,300 pounds. They also boast a 25-mile operational range.

"Squads of robots will save the lives of our military and civilians," the Ukrainian fact sheet says. "They will fight alongside people and for people. The first robots are already proving their effectiveness on the battlefield, but there are many more required."

Fedorov said there's no exact number of robots that Ukraine is seeking because there's a "constant need" for them, so they are just trying to get as many as possible. The cost of the robots varies, as each type has different variants manufactured across the defense industry.

Systems that have more sophisticated technologies, like those with machine guns, for instance, are naturally going to be more expensive than those used primarily for medical evacuations without any weaponry attached.

Fedorov explained that the goal right now is to pump money into the defense industry so production facilities can invest in research and development and scale-up the operation — leading to cheaper, faster, and better products. He said that Ukraine's drone industry has already seen this big push in other areas, and now robots are the next focus.

"I believe robotics [is] the next game-changer technology of this war," Fedorov said. "The same one as were drones at some point."

Both Ukraine and Russia have employed UGVs in this war, giving the two militaries another domain in which they can wage war with unmanned systems beyond the air and sea. Ground robots have even been involved in drone-on-drone combat, underscoring a level of depth and sophistication to these operations.

The evolution of unmanned systems has been one of the defining elements of the Ukraine war. Beyond being used to conduct one-way attacks on enemy personnel and armor and keep soldiers out of harm's way, they have also given the world an unprecedented — and often terrifying — look at the conflict.

These developments observed in Ukraine, meanwhile, have prompted Western forces like the US military and its partner forces to reexamine how they can better prepare for future conflicts.

"This is the most technologically advanced war in human history," Fedorov said. "Technologies make a difference on the battlefield, and we are basically re-inventing their use every day."

• Travis Kelce made a surprise appearance onstage at Taylor Swift's Eras Tour show in London.
• It's the first time Swift has invited a boyfriend to share the spotlight during one of her concerts.
• The cameo recalls the 1989 World Tour — before Swift pulled back from the public eye.

Taylor Swift is no stranger to bringing guests onstage. But during her last show in London on The Eras Tour on Sunday, she had a very special one: Her boyfriend, Travis Kelce.

Dressed in a ringmaster ensemble, the football star popped up during a costume change skit that acts as the prelude to Swift's performance of "I Can Do It With a Broken Heart." Before she delivered the first lyric, Swift even broke character to blow Kelce a kiss.

Of course, Swift and Kelce haven't been shy about kissing, cuddling, and supporting each other's endeavors since they began dating last summer. But Kelce's cameo gave PDA a whole new meaning. Never before had Swift invited a boyfriend to share the spotlight during one of her concerts, never mind one on a legacy-cementing, billion-dollar tour.

The move seems even more surprising and extravagant in contrast to Swift's previous relationship with British actor Joe Alwyn. During their six years together, both stars fiercely protected their privacy and were rarely seen together in public.

But for longtime Swifties, those who predate her relationship with Alwyn, Sunday's events will feel more familiar than strange — almost like a callback to simpler times.

In the first half of her career, Swift wasn't shy about her most romantic whims. She posted photos of heart-shaped lockets and tropical getaways; she took seaside strolls with her boyfriend's mom; she wore ballgowns and belted starry-eyed ballads while suspended in the air on flying balconies. Swift loved a grand gesture, both real and imaginary.

This was especially evident during The 1989 World Tour, which ran for nearly seven months in 2015. No, Swift's boyfriend at the time, Calvin Harris, did not make a surprise appearance. But pretty much everyone else did — from close friends like Karlie Kloss and Lena Dunham to athletes like Kobe Bryant and all manner of musicians and rock stars. Every night brought a new face, a new thrill, a new thread in the vast web of Swiftian lore.

At the time, the "1989" era marked the highest peak in Swift's fame. Mostly thanks to her talent and partially thanks to her self-spun underdog narrative, she had enjoyed years of headlines like "Taylor Swift: America's Sweetheart" and "Taylor Swift Is the Music Industry."

With her new synth-pop sound, inescapable singles like "Shake It Off" and "Blank Space," a so-called "squad" full of supermodels, and a cameo-packed tour, Swift was everywhere. And so, as often happens with female celebrities, her success went from charming to grating. A new kind of headline began to pop up, immortalized by Dayna Evans' Gawker essay, "Taylor Swift Is Not Your Friend," which criticized her tour antics as "opportunistic and sinister."

Then came the infamous phone call. When Kim Kardashian shared a snippet of Swift's conversation with Ye about his song "Famous" that seemed to contradict Swift's version of events, the world was already ready to turn on her. In Swift's own words, she was "canceled within an inch of my life and sanity."

The backlash forced the self-described "mastermind" to recalculate her strategy and pull back from the public eye. She still released big pop bangers and went on tour, but her movements felt more careful, sparing, and protective.

Ever since Swift kicked off The Eras Tour last year (and split from Alwyn shortly after), she's gradually returned to her pre-cancellation mentality. It's arguably the most classic Swiftian ideology: More is more. This can apply to everything and anything. More songs, more hours onstage, more CD variants, and, naturally, more photo ops with her hunky boyfriend. She threatens to become overexposed again, but maybe this time, she knows she'll survive.

Indeed, Swift told Time in December that she's not interested in being "locked away" anymore — in exerting "an extreme amount of effort" to hide her passion and enthusiasm from the world, including her bond with Kelce.

"When you say a relationship is public, that means I'm going to see him do what he loves, we're showing up for each other, other people are there and we don't care," she said.

In this respect, Kelce may be the perfect match for Swift. After all, their relationship started after he mentioned wanting to meet her on his podcast; he's a businessman (and a ham) in his own right. His managers have been open about their plan to make him "as famous as the Rock."

For these two peas in a pod, personal triumphs are communal by trade, whether it's a touchdown at the Super Bowl or a first kiss that inspires a smash hit.

"Ultimately, we can convolute it all we want, or try to overcomplicate it," Swift told Time. "But there's only one question: Are you not entertained?"

Ever the performer, Swift knows exactly what she's doing. As much as maximalism is true to Swift's brand, it's also good for business.

Swift's music indicates that she is expressive, theatrical, and sentimental at her core. Her net worth proves that she's skilled at monetizing those qualities. After all, Swift made her name as a confessional songwriter, transforming her intimate moments into morsels for public consumption.

Perhaps bringing Kelce onstage felt as natural to Swift as writing a love song about him. But as Swift well knows, both will generate headlines.

• I went to Il Mulino for the first time to try the upscale Italian chain's prix-fixe dinner.
• The main-course options were diverse, and the scallops and risotto I had were excellent.
• For $60 a person, I think a round of drinks and coffee should've been included.

When I entered the Il Mulino on Long Island, I was shocked by just how quiet it was. The upscale Italian chain is located right next to a major thoroughfare, and I went to dine at the height of rush hour. But inside, things were perfectly tranquil.

That alone should've foreshadowed the kind of fine-dining experience I was about to have. The chain has been operating its flagship Greenwich Village location in New York for 40 years, but it also has five other locations in New York, New Jersey, and Florida.

Although many restaurants struggled to regain their footing during the COVID-19 pandemic, fine-dining establishments in the US have seen a 2.7% revenue increase over the last five years. Il Mulino exemplifies that success as the brand has continued to expand to include casual and steak-house restaurants over the years.

I brought my father-in-law — a good home cook who's fiercely proud of his Italian heritage — with me to try the chain's $58 prix-fixe weeknight dinner for the first time.

Here's what it was like.

Il Mulino has a large menu of specials, à la carte offerings, and prix-fixe meals.

Similar to most Italian restaurants, Il Mulino's menu is full of appetizers, soups and salads, meats, chicken dishes, pasta, fish, and sides. Starters cost between $24 and $32, and mains range from $34 to $95.

When we sat down, we listened to the server list out the sumptuous-sounding specials, but I was already committed to trying the $58 three-course, prix-fixe menu.

The special dinner, which is only offered Monday through Friday, consists of a starter, a main dish, and a dessert.

The bread was included, but we had to pay extra for drinks.

The prix-fixe menu notably doesn't include drinks, which I found a little disappointing.

The chain's wine menu has glasses ranging from $16 to $40, and I paid $15 for two 10-ounce bottles of ginger ale. It felt steep, to say the least.

We sipped on our drinks and snacked on the complimentary bread basket while mulling over the menu.

I started my meal with a nice salad.

Among the first-course options, I closely considered the arugula salad with pear, goat cheese, walnuts, and a lemon dressing; the minestrone soup; and the house-made burrata with tomato and basil.

But in the end, I went with the Mediterranean salad, which included organic tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, green olives, and feta cheese.

I figured a simple salad would be a good way to judge the place against the comparable Italian restaurants I've dined at.

As it happened, I made the wrong choice — but not because the salad was bad.

My salad was quite delicious. All the ingredients were fresh and well-balanced — aside from it being a touch salty.

But I know I made the wrong choice because the burrata my father-in-law ordered looked amazing.

Since the portion was rather small, I declined his offer to share.

There are more than a dozen choices for the main course on the prix-fixe menu.

It took me twice as long as usual to pick my main course because there were so many options on the prix-fixe menu.

The salmon in a Champagne-grape sauce was a contender, and the chicken Sorrentina almost won out. There were also steaks and other seafood dishes to consider.

But I chose the pan-seared scallops with saffron risotto. An overcooked scallop is like a piece of dry rubber, so this would be a real culinary test.

The entrées were simply excellent.

The chicken my father-in-law ordered featured tender meat, a thin cut of eggplant, and just enough cheese to add flavor and texture without upstaging the meat.

Despite my concerns, my scallops were perfectly cooked and rested on a bed of risotto with a rich yellow hue and a deep, savory flavor.

I'm used to getting extra vegetables or potatoes with my entrées at Italian restaurants. But I suppose the lack of sides made the entrées shine brighter.

I focused on every bite, enjoying the tender scallops with the perfectly al dente risotto and appreciating the seafood notes, herbs, and butter.

I never get dessert, but it was already paid for.

I really never order desserts at restaurants, but it came with the prix-fixe menu. I asked for a scoop of the pistachio gelato.

I also spent an extra $7 on a cup of decaf coffee, which I think should've been included with the meal.

In terms of taste and texture, the gelato was some of the best ice cream I've had all year. Rich, creamy, and lightly sweet, it was a perfect pairing to my black coffee and a good way to end a fine meal.

I’d return to Il Mulino, but I'd stick to what's included on the prix fixe next time.

Compared to the regular dinner menu at Il Mulino — where an antipasti plate of caprese costs $31 and a main course of English Dover sole is $90 — the $58 three-course meal is a solid deal.

That said, when I spend nearly $60 on dinner (well over $75 after the tip), I usually like to have a beverage and be well stuffed at the end. The fact that I had to pay extra for drinks and coffee annoyed me a bit, and the portions here were definitely on the smaller side.

But if you want superb Italian food at a decent price, Il Mulino can still be a worthwhile weeknight reservation. Better yet, the chain also offers an even cheaper four-course Sunday supper (salad, appetizer, main, dessert) for $52 a person.

• BPA is an industrial chemical that scientists have linked to hormone disruption and diabetes risk.
• Plastic water bottles and food containers can leach BPA into what you eat and drink. 
• A new study found it can be risky at levels previously considered safe by government agencies. 

Scientists have long suspected that industrial chemicals used in plastic water bottles can disrupt human hormones.

But, to date, evidence has been observational, meaning it shows an association between plastics exposure and certain diseases, but can't prove a causal effect.

Now, a groundbreaking new study shows direct evidence that bisphenol A — or, BPA, a chemical used to package food and drink — can reduce sensitivity to insulin, a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar.

An impaired ability to respond to insulin, known as insulin resistance, can mean chronically high blood sugar levels and a much higher risk of type 2 diabetes.

The researchers, who presented their findings at the 2024 Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association, said this study shows the EPA may need to reconsider the safe limits for exposure to BPA in plastic bottles, food containers, and other containers.

Even so-called safe levels of BPA may cause health issues

Researchers from California Polytechnic State University studied 40 healthy adults who were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or a small dose of BPA daily.

After four days, the participants who were given BPA were less responsive to insulin, while the placebo group did not experience any change.

The dose of BPA that participants received, 50 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day, is an amount currently classified as safe by the EPA.

"These results suggest that maybe the US EPA safe dose should be reconsidered and that healthcare providers could suggest these changes to patients," Todd Hagobian, senior author of the new study and professor at California Polytechnic State University, said in a press release.

The FDA considers BPA to be safe at low levels occurring in food containers, up to 5 mg per kg body weight per day, or 1,000 times the amount the new study found to be risky. Some researchers argue the FDA guidelines are outdated.

Other regulatory agencies around the world have taken a tougher stance on the chemical — the European Commission proposed to ban BPA in products that come into contact with food or beverages by the end of 2024.

Environmental contaminants can be a major threat to human health

The concern about BPA is part of a broader alarm being raised about our everyday exposure to substances that may be harmful to our health.

Other recent research has found microplastics, particles so tiny they can infiltrate human cells, may potentially wreak havoc with our health. They've been found everywhere, from human lungs to reproductive organs.

Understanding how the substances we encounter every day may affect our health long-term could help us make better decisions about how to reduce the risk of chronic illnesses like type 2 diabetes.

"Given that diabetes is a leading cause of death in the US, it is crucial to understand even the smallest factors that contribute to the disease," Hagobian said in the press release. "We were surprised to see that reducing BPA exposure, such as using stainless steel or glass bottles and BPA-free cans, may lower diabetes risk."