Tim Phillips Show, 8/4/26

When choosing a cheese for your cheeseburger, you want one that packs flavor, but you also want one that melts well. Food & Wine put some of the most popular burger cheeses to the test to find out which ones melt the best. The results? Not all cheeses are created equal when the heat is on. From classic American and cheddar to Swiss and provolone, the rankings reveal which cheeses deliver that gooey, burger-shop melt — and which ones fall short. Here’s a ranking of the best burger cheeses for melting.

American

Gouda

Havarti

Provolone

Gruyère

Pepper jack

Cheddar

Swiss

Two For Tuesday - THE GAME OF LOVE    MICHELLE BRANCH/SANTANA    #5 IN 2002 - GRAMMY FOR VOCAL COLLABORATION

MICHELLE BRANCH/NEW RADICALS (YOU GET WHAT YOU GIVE IN 1998)

It can be pretty pricey to travel, but for many, it’s usually worth the cost. This year, while a lot of us are watching our budgets more than ever, some are ready to splurge on a dream getaway. According to a new survey of 6-thousand adults by travel insurance comparison site Squaremouth, 45% are increasing their travel budgets for 2026. More than half admit they’re also cutting back on other expenses to do that, but 23% say they’re specifically spending more for a bucket-list travel experience.

To find out where these big spenders may be going, Squaremouth created an index of the most expensive travel destinations this year.

It’s based on reported trip costs from over 100-thousand travel insurance sales, the survey of 6-thousand customers, and data from external booking sites including Google Travel Flights and KAYAK.

They compared each destination’s cost in five areas: average cost of flights, accommodations, rental cars, everyday food and drinks, and per-day trip cost.

So, where is the most expensive place to visit this year? Greenland tops the list overall with an average per-day cost of $1,171, average flights of $1,357, the highest daily rental car cost in the study at $110, and some of the highest food and drink prices of all destinations analyzed.

The British Virgin Islands come in second, followed by French Polynesia.

But Antarctica has the highest average daily trip cost at $1,510. The average 18-day getaway will set travelers back $27,195.

The 10 Most Expensive Travel Destinations in 2026

Greenland

British Virgin Islands

French Polynesia

Antarctica

Maldives

Switzerland

Zimbabwe

Turks and Caicos

Botswana

Anguilla

Source: USA Today

Tim's News You Can't Use 

National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day: Nothing beats a chocolate chip cookie.
You can thank Ruth Graves Wakefield, owner of the Toll House Restaurant in Whitman, Massachusetts, for the chocolate chip cookie. She created the recipe in the 1930s, serving her “Toll House Chocolate Crunch Cookie” to go with the restaurant’s vanilla ice cream. The recipe actually happened by accident. Ruth added broken pieces of a Nestlé semi-sweet chocolate bar to her cookie dough, expecting them to melt into the batter. Well, the chocolate bits did not melt. They held their shape — and the chocolate chip cookie was born.
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According to a new study,  getting your sweat on just once a week can burn belly fat and boost your heart health almost as well as working out three times a week. Researchers found that just going for a brisk walk for 75 minutes in a single session resulted in the same fat loss as experienced by frequent exercisers. It seems this “weekend warrior” approach — cramming exercise into Saturdays and Sundays — could be an answer for anyone who doesn't want the hassle of working out all through the week.
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According to a new survey, 97% of Americans say they regret at least one trip they've taken. Las Vegas topped the list of most-regretted destinations among U.S. travelers, followed by New York City, Miami, Orlando, and Cancun.
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Microsoft is issuing a security warning about hotel Wi-Fi. The company says Russian hackers are using phony sign-in pages to break into accounts. It says the operation is nicknamed "CaptiveCrunch," and it involves a widespread compromise of Wi-Fi networks at hospitality-related organizations. Microsoft discovered the issue in May and is being questioned on why the reveal comes nearly three months later. The company suggested users rely on private connectivity, like phone hotspots, rather than public options whenever possible. They also say not to perform updates while in hotels.
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Oddity Central says a U.S. clothing brand recently released a shirt that can stay fresh for over a month without washing. The HercShirt V5.0 has seven ingredients woven into the fabric, including copper, silver, zinc, gold, volcanic ash, and two secret ingredients. The shirt is priced at $79 and is said to last longer than seven ordinary t-shirts. It will ship in early November in black, navy blue, burgundy, and dark green. A less expensive shirt sells for $39 and stays fresh for three days 
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AL.com says the owners of MySpace are relaunching the social media platform.  Chris and Tim Vanderhook acquired MySpace in 2011.  They are seeking to refresh the app and regain user interest.  No exact launch date was given
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WNCN says a Sanford, North Carolina man recently won his second lottery jackpot in three  months. Oscar Mendoza won $1 million off a $10 ticket he bought at a Circle K. Mendoza is taking the lump sum cash payout of $432,000 after taxes. He won $100,000 back in May from a scratch off ticket.
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Let’s go surfin’ now, everybody’s learning howl. Surfing dogs took over a California beach last weekend for the 10th annual World Dog Surfing Championships. The Saturday event at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica brought out 14 dogs of all shapes and sizes, along with thousands of human fans. The pups were judged on things like how long they rode, the size of the wave, their balance, their confidence, and any tricks they pulled off. A Labrador retriever named Rippin Rosie took top prize among the big dogs and also won the tandem paddleboarding contest alongside her owner. A French bulldog named Iza won the medium category, while a mixed breed called Bradley "Shortboard" Cooper was the best of the small dogs. Rough water forced organizers to cut the final round that would have named one overall champion. Instead, Rippin Rosie was given a special "spirit of surfing" award as the top dog. 
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A Loch Ness Monster hunter has captured two large objects submerging in the loch. Eoin Fagan caught the action on a live webcam and contacted the “Daily Star” afterwards. Fagan says he saw the two huge objects moving through the water from his home in County Donegal, Ireland on July 9. He noted that the objects were the size of cabin cruisers and "In the video clip the more northerly object submerges first, followed by the object behind it 15 seconds later. They gradually submerge, not just gone in a blink of an eye, but gradually." The legend lives on.
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Guessing Headlights says a Rosendale, Wisconsin man recently landed a helicopter in a Cabela’s parking lot in Richfield, Wisconsin because the drive was too long. Deputies say the pilot was properly licensed and landed safely. There were no violations or arrests. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office wrote, "We can honestly say this isn’t your everyday parking complaint."
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TMZ says a naked New York man recently jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge and into the East River. The man was rescued by the NYPD’s Harbor Unit and taken to a hospital. He was carry
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The Daily Star says a Cartagena, Colombia movie theatre was recently evacuated during a screening of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day”. A man had extreme flatulence and kept tooting.  The smell was overwhelming for the packed cinema.   Other screenings continued. Some people covered their mouths as they left the theater