• 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."

• Federal data indicates wind-turbine technician is the fastest-growing job in the US.
• The US and other countries are building more wind farms to tackle the climate crisis.
• This article is part of "Trends to Bet Your Career On," a series about trending professional opportunities.

Dakota Carter was in middle school when a new wind farm went up near his hometown of Delavan, Illinois.

He was fascinated by the project's turbines, which can churn out enough power for 35,000 homes.

"I've always been passionate about the environment," Carter said. "So I thought a career in wind could actually make a difference."

Now Carter, 29, is the operations site supervisor at that project, known as the Rail Splitter Wind Farm, owned by EDP Renewables North America. He started as an intern in 2017 before becoming a wind technician and then advancing over the past seven years.

Carter entered the field at the right time. Federal data indicates wind-turbine technician is the fastest-growing job in the US, alongside nurse practitioner.

The jobs website Indeed said postings for wind-turbine technicians grew by 30% in 2023, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects about 1,800 openings each year over the next decade. Industry groups have forecast demand for about 240,000 new recruits by 2027 across Australia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Egypt, India, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, and the US.

These countries want to build onshore and offshore wind farms rapidly so they can meet renewable-energy targets and mitigate the climate crisis. The International Energy Agency estimates that for the world to achieve net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050, about 17% more wind capacity must be added to power grids every year. The US is expected to add 11% capacity from 2023 to 2025.

The UK has long been a leader in wind but was recently surpassed by China, which accounted for half of all the new wind capacity added around the world in 2022. The US is further behind, but the industry got a boost from the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022. The law authorized generous tax breaks for renewable-energy projects and companies that pay their workers well.

In the US, the jobs are mostly onshore, in states like Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, and Colorado. The first large-scale offshore projects recently opened up off the coasts of New York and Massachusetts.

Last year the median pay for a wind-turbine technician was $61,770, but listings on Indeed averaged $80,100

Harry Willats, an executive consultant at Darwin Recruitment who specializes in the wind sector, told Business Insider that the starting wage for a wind technician was typically $20 to $25 an hour. More-experienced technicians with specialized training could earn nearly $50 an hour. Offshore wind technicians can expect to earn an extra 30% to 40% compared to onshore workers. There are a lot of overtime opportunities as well. As technicians move into supervisor positions, they might get an annual salary.

Federal data indicates the average hourly wage for the position in the US in 2023 was nearly $30 an hour, or $61,770 a year. But listings on Indeed averaged $80,100 a year.

Willats said there are several pathways into the industry. Typically, people finish a one-year electrical certificate program at a technical or community college and then get hired as apprentices. Those interested in offshore wind need to complete Global Wind Organization courses in basic safety, first aid, and sea survival.

There's a lot of on-the-job training. Wind technicians in the early stages of their careers might do scheduled maintenance and cleaning. As they advance, their jobs involve more troubleshooting and repairing, as well as managing crews. Willats said the highest-paid technicians tend to have specialized equipment certificates, such as those from Siemens Gamesa and GE.

Carter earned a bachelor's degree in business management at Robert Morris University in Illinois. He realized he didn't want a desk job, so he returned to a local community college for a one-year sustainable-energy certificate program focused on solar, wind, and building systems before joining EDP Renewables.

Exposed to the elements

"The biggest con is pretty obvious: the weather," Carter said. "You're working in the heat or the cold, and you're high up in the air. That can be pretty brutal. It's also a very physical job."

But Carter said that working in renewable energy made him feel like he was leaving the world a better place. He also has work-life balance at Rail Splitter Wind Farm. EDP owns, operates, and repairs the site, meaning Carter doesn't have to spend time away from home. Technicians who work for a company that operates a lot of wind farms may have to travel from site to site for long stretches.

Now that Carter is a supervisor, he spends more time talking with developers and people in the community about new projects the company is considering.

• Camping didn't always involve fancy RVs, watching movies on iPads, or state-of-the-art campgrounds.
• Camping has evolved from sleeping under the stars to camping out at music festivals and events.
• These vintage photos show there's nothing more nostalgic than sleeping in a tent in nature.

While technology has been incredibly helpful in outdoor adventuring, making recreational camping simpler and more comfortable, there's something nostalgic about how basic the activity used to be.

The decked-out RVs people can now travel in can cost $20,000 to $100,000, but the price of luxury RVs can reach as high as $2 million, according to HomeGuide. 

In the 1930s and following decades, however, recreational campers primarily set up simple tents or basic caravans to spend time with their friends and family outdoors. And today, simpler camping can be a great option for families wanting to spend time together — without spending a fortune — as the cost of living climbs.

These photos show what recreational camping used to be like. They might even inspire you to try it for yourself this summer.

Recreational camping looked different 100 years ago.

In 1940, the Regional Review called camping "an American tradition," according to a copy of the article shared by the National Park Service.

Starting in the mid-to-late 1800s, people camped for fun in North America, according to Britannica. As people increasingly sought to escape cities, organizations such as the Appalachian Mountain Club began to crop up. At the turn of the 20th century, books such as "The Camper's Handbook" continued to ignite interest, and throughout the century, organized camping grew in popularity.

In 1930, before the Great Depression really took hold, there were more than 3 million campers across the US, The Dyrt reported, citing Terence Young, the author of "Heading Out: A History of American Camping."

While the basic idea of camping was the same as we now know it — sleeping outdoors — the gear was markedly different.

Camping originally just involved the campers, the outdoors, and some simple cooking ware. The shelter was simple, too: People would often sleep beneath a sheet held up by sticks and string.

If you went camping like this group in France in 1930, you were unreservedly experiencing nature. 

These simple tents were used regardless of weather conditions.

There was usually no electricity for miles, and campers had to make do with whatever heat sources they had — whether that be fires, blankets, or even huddling together for warmth. 

The lack of technology made the experience much more authentic.

Friends and families would go camping to spend time together outside of their homes.

… but also a lot more work-intensive.

There was a lot more manual labor involved with getting set up and making food than in campsites of the future, which might have access to full kitchens or electricity. 

Regular morning routines had to be done without a bathroom or mirror.

Basic grooming was still expected.

Even just making tea could be a chore.

Campers had to gather everything from the outdoors if they didn't bring water or other supplies with them.

Hammers had to be schlepped to the campsite.

Tent pegs were often wooden, not plastic, and had to be hammered into the ground.

But the work was part of the fun.

Part of the allure of going camping was the authenticity of living outdoors — even if just for the night.

People still found ways to make their camping trips a little more comfortable.

Campers would bring furniture, books, and other items from home to make their time in the great outdoors more comfortable.

Forget the paper plates — some campers brought actual porcelain dinnerware.

While this may seem impractical today, it certainly made for a more sophisticated camping excursion.

Early on, camping was often done out of necessity during long travels. But over time, it became a more common recreational activity for people.

The appeal of having no distractions while enjoying quality time with friends endures.

Boy Scouts went on camping trips every year after their establishment in 1910.

Campgrounds, as we know them today, weren't really established until the 1930s when the National Park Service developed "Recreation Demonstration Areas," according to the National Park Service.

The Girl Scouts were established in 1912, and wilderness survival was also at their core.

Apparently, the first official mention of s'mores appeared in a Girl Scouts manual in 1927, according to Reserve America.

As the years passed, camping became more involved.

People started bringing more with them on camping trips.

Rather than just setting up tents, people began bringing RVs.

RVs have also evolved a lot. Starting as small cabins built onto the back of regular cars in the 1910s, they eventually evolved into homes, and even mansions, on wheels.

The famous Volkswagen Westfalia Camper was an instant classic for campers and road trippers alike.

While the VW bus, as it is better known, came out in the '50s, it reached peak popularity in the '70s. It is one of the most iconic road trip vehicles in history, and synonymous with wanderlust.

Having camper vans meant being able to bring more of the luxuries of home, from barware …

Camping, as a result, became easier.

… to decorative lanterns.

Who says camping needs to mean roughing it?

Camper vans also allowed campers to be more comfortable.

Instead of sleeping outside, you could have some protection by staying inside your car, or even kick back on a seat that converted into a bed.

One could now avoid truly living in the elements.

Everyone wants to be close to nature … but not too close.

Once campers were able to have more cover from nature, they did that instead.

Camping became more comfortable, meaning campers could now spend days or even weeks at a time in the wilderness.

Camping also became a way to get good seats at events.

People sometimes spent days camping outside ahead of an event.

People would camp to stake out good spots at festivals.

Camping is still used as accommodation at modern festivals like Bonnaroo.

By the 1960s, camping was no longer just a necessity — it was a popular recreational activity.

However, many campsites were still segregated, meaning only white visitors had access to certain parks and campgrounds. 

Writers of the Beat Generation popularized camping the old-fashioned way in the '60s.

The Beat Generation was a literary movement made up of a group of writers who wrote about American culture using a stream-of-consciousness writing method.

Jack Kerouac, a popular writer of the time, wrote about the times he slept outside on the beach in Big Sur, which he later published in his 1962 novel "Big Sur."

The Beat Generation romanticized the idea of living on the road.

To this day, their raw stories about traveling constantly and taking odd jobs to survive encourage readers to live more in tune with nature.

Many state and national parks upheld segregation until the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, limiting access to these outdoor spaces for Black citizens.

However, Black people and families still made use of desegregated parks and campsites or used parks and campgrounds that were designated only for Black citizens. These parks, like Virginia's Shenandoah National Park, became places of community for Black families and received thousands of visitors each year, Atlas Obscura reported.

After state and national parks were mandated to be desegregated, many of the Black-only parks closed or were absorbed by surrounding parks, according to the National Park Service.

Traditional camping will likely remain a popular activity for years to come, regardless of technological advancements.

In fact, the more dependent we become on technology, the more people might like to retreat into nature for a few days.

Camping may keep changing, but it will never go out of style.

There's been a statistical rise in camping over the past decade. According to Kampgrounds of America's 2024 Camping and Outdoor Hospitality report, active campers have increased by 68% in the last 10 years, and six out of 10 US households identify as campers. 

As families try to find affordable summer activities due to the rising cost of living, we may see even more campers seeking the great outdoors this summer.

• Recent drone footage shows a Russian soldier killing a wounded comrade in combat.
• Experts say the incident highlights violence and disregard among Russian forces.
• Similar past incidents suggest a deep-rooted issue with discipline and internal violence.

Drone footage showing a Russian soldier shooting a comrade hurt in combat highlights the "brutal culture" of "callous" behavior in the Russian armed forces, war experts say.

"The attempted or deliberate killing of a fellow soldier is unprofessional," experts at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War reported in a June 23 assessment.

ISW analysts noted there have been many instances showing "a callous disregard for the lives of Russia's own soldiers throughout the war thus far, both within Russia and amongst Russian troops on the battlefield."

From high-casualty human wave frontal assaults that have been characterized as "meat assaults" to war crimes to videos of a defector being beaten to death with a sledgehammer, there have been numerous incidents.

Last October, the US condemned Russia's treatment of its own forces as "reprehensible" and "barbaric," with National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby saying Russia continues to have "no regard for the lives of its soldiers."

Another apparent example of such brutality was posted to Telegram on Saturday and depicts a Russian soldier shooting and killing a fellow Russian service member at point-blank range who was injured in a first-person view drone strike.

The Russian soldier who pulls the trigger, ending his comrade's life, noticeably does not attempt to evaluate the wounded servicemember, treat the injuries, medically evacuate them, or even collect their identification. They simply move on afterwards.

Business Insider was unable to independently verify the details of the video, including the extent of the wounded soldier's injuries.

ISW experts said there have been other instances of fragging, or the deliberate killing of fellow soldiers, often a superior officer, among Russian forces. In 2022, for instance, Russian soldiers ran over a commander with a tank following a streak of losses against Ukraine.

"Fragging is generally indicative of extremely poor discipline amongst troops, a disconnect between tactical level commanders and their subordinates, as well as a blatant disregard for human life," the experts noted. The situation goes deeper, though.

Russia has faced criticism for its mistreatment of wounded soldiers in the past, and there continue to be concerns. Russian military bloggers recently reported that injured troops with the 1st DNR Slavic Brigade are being held in "prison-like conditions" in Donetsk City without proper treatment.

"The fragging incident and the milblogger claims against the DNR command are indicative of a very poor culture within the Russian military, particularly the command's disregard for their subordinates and a generally low level of discipline," ISW experts concluded.

• The US was Germany's top trade partner in the first quarter of this year, replacing China.
• Geopolitical tension over the Russia-Ukraine war and electric vehicle competition are shifting global trade.
• Germany's economy minister visited China over the weekend to discuss EU tariffs on Chinese EVs.

China has been Germany's top trade partner for the last eight years, but something has shifted this year — the US could be moving into the top spot.

Trade between the US and Germany was 63.2 billion euros in the first quarter of 2024, edging out the 60 billion euros of trade between China and Germany, according to data from the German government.

While the gap is relatively small and the data is only for January through March, it highlights an underlying trend: Trade dynamics are shifting as geopolitics and competition influence new tariff policies and the international flow of goods.

Amid conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war and concern over China's overproduction of goods like electric vehicles and solar panels, trade between the West and China is coming under increased scrutiny – and Germany's economic ties to China exemplify the shift.

Electric vehicles are causing rifts

Automobiles are at the center of a new dispute between China and Germany. The European Union recently imposed tariffs up to 38.1% on Chinese electric vehicles, following the Biden administration's decision to impose 100% tariffs on Chinese EVs.

The tariffs counter what European officials say are unfair advantages from Chinese government subsidies that bolster Chinese EV production. According to Bloomberg, the Chinese EV industry has received up to $231 billion in government subsidies since 2009.

According to the European Commission, the number of Chinese cars sold in the EU increased from less than 1% of the market in 2019 to 8% in 2023.

The number of Chinese EVs sold in Germany increased nearly tenfold from 2020 to 2023. From January to April, according to government data, about 41% of Germany's imported EVs came from China.

On the other hand, German car companies like BMW, Porsche, and Volkswagen rely heavily on the Chinese market. Nearly a third of German car sales in 2023 came from China, according to Reuters, leaving the industry vulnerable to a trade war.

Robert Habeck, Germany's economy minister, visited Beijing over the weekend to discuss trade with Chinese officials. According to Reuters, he was the first senior European leader to visit China since the EU announced its tariffs.

During Habeck's visit, Chinese officials said they hope the EU will drop their tariff proposals. Bloomberg reported China is even considering luxury perks for German automakers in a bid to persuade the government to ease tariffs.

Previously, China has taken a retaliatory stance, launching probes into French brandy and Spanish pork imports — steps that tend to precede tariffs.

China's support for Russia and supply chain problems bolstered tensions

German government data released Friday revealed a 14% decline in German exports to China in May year-over-year, while exports to the US increased 4.1% during the same period.

The slump in German exports to China is a sign of vulnerability in trade relations, according to the FT.

In 2022, trade between China and Germany was 50 billion euros greater than that between Germany and the US. In 2023, that margin decreased to 0.7 billion euros, according to government data.

Habeck said China's support for Russia's war in Ukraine is the main reason the nations' economic ties have faltered, Bloomberg reported.

Trade between China and Russia reached a record $240 billion in 2023. Meanwhile, according to a survey by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, just 13% of EU companies see China as a top investment destination.

Still, according to a report by the Atlantic Council, a think tank, a European decoupling from China is far from materializing, and Germany's economic ties to Beijing remain strong.

Trade data can change from month to month, and some economists said May's decline in German exports to China should not be examined too closely, as monthly numbers can differ before a long-term trend.

Oliver Rakau, an economist at Oxford Economics, told the FT that the decline in German exports is also affected by other issues, such as supply chain delays due to conflict in the Red Sea.

US trade policy is clear

While changes in trade between Europe and China are less certain, in the US, Trump and Biden have different approaches to the same goal: protecting American manufacturing through tariffs on China.

Notably, Biden's tariff hike on Chinese EVs coincides with his goal for electric vehicles to make up half of new US sales by 2030.

Only 0.4% of Chinese EV exports by value from January to April went to the US, according to Bloomberg, and major Chinese EV companies like BYD do not sell cars in the US.

In effect, the Biden administration's 100% tariff is a preventative measure to shut Chinese EVs out of the US market.

According to Martin Wolf, the FT's chief economics commentator, the use of industrial policy — like tariffs — has risen significantly in past years, highlighting a new era of government intervention in trade.

According to Bloomberg, 37% of China's EV exports by value from January to April went to the EU.

According to Reuters, Chinese and European officials will meet in Brussels this week to discuss trade further, deciding whether to follow the US course of stiff tariffs or chart a more lenient path.

While tariff debates in the West ensue, China's EV production continues — and there's certainly demand from the rest of the world.