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Science says parents of successful kids have these 16 things in common

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Tina Beyonce Knowles

Good parents want their kids to stay out of trouble, do well in school, and go on to do awesome things as adults.

And while there isn't a set recipe for raising successful children, psychology research has pointed to a handful of factors that predict success.

Unsurprisingly, much of it comes down to the parents.

Here's what parents of successful kids have in common:

SEE ALSO: 21 books successful people read to their kids

SEE ALSO: 19 things teachers say parents should do at home to help their kids succeed

They make their kids do chores

"If kids aren't doing the dishes, it means someone else is doing that for them," Julie Lythcott-Haims, former dean of freshmen at Stanford University and author of "How to Raise an Adult" said during aTED Talks Live event. 

"And so they're absolved of not only the work, but of learning that work has to be done and that each one of us must contribute for the betterment of the whole," she said. 

Lythcott-Haims believes kids raised on chores go on to become employees who collaborate well with their coworkers, are more empathetic because they know firsthand what struggling looks like, and are able to take on tasks independently.  

She bases this on the Harvard Grant Study, the longest longitudinal study ever conducted.

"By making them do chores — taking out the garbage, doing their own laundry — they realize I have to do the work of life in order to be part of life,"she tells Tech Insider.



They teach their kids social skills

Researchers from Pennsylvania State University and Duke University tracked more than 700 children from across the US between kindergarten and age 25 and found a significant correlation between their social skills as kindergartners and their success as adults two decades later.

The 20-year study showed that socially competent children who could cooperate with their peers without prompting, be helpful to others, understand their feelings, and resolve problems on their own, were far more likely to earn a college degree and have a full-time job by age 25 than those with limited social skills.

Those with limited social skills also had a higher chance of getting arrested, binge drinking, and applying for public housing.

"This study shows that helping children develop social and emotional skills is one of the most important things we can do to prepare them for a healthy future," said Kristin Schubert, program director at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which funded the research, in a release.

"From an early age, these skills can determine whether a child goes to college or prison, and whether they end up employed or addicted."

 



They have high expectations

Using data from a national survey of 6,600 children born in 2001, University of California at Los Angeles professor Neal Halfon and his colleagues discovered that the expectations parents hold for their kids have a huge effect on attainment

"Parents who saw college in their child's future seemed to manage their child toward that goal irrespective of their income and other assets,"he said in a statement.

The finding came out in standardized tests: 57% of the kids who did the worst were expected to attend college by their parents, while 96% of the kids who did the best were expected to go to college.

That parents should keep their expectations high falls in line with another psych finding — the Pygmalion effect, which states "that what one person expects of another can come to serve as a self-fulfilling prophecy" — as well as what some teachers told Business Insider was most important for a child's success.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 16 best Tom Hanks performances ever, ranked

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For over three decades, Tom Hanks has been almost every type of character.

Starting his career as a funnyman on the TV series "Bosom Buddies" and then taking his nice-guy style to the big screen in romantic comedies like "Splash" and "The Money Pit," Hanks moved to more dramatic work in 1993 with his Oscar-winning role as an AIDS patient in "Philadelphia."

Since then, Hanks has gone back and forth, showing his diverse talents but often playing characters who, deep down, are upstanding men.

In Hanks' latest role, playing "Miracle on the Hudson" pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger in the Clint Eastwood-directed "Sully" (out Friday), he again shows he's the Jimmy Stewart of our era.

Here are Hanks' 16 best performances ever, ranked:

SEE ALSO: The 12 best Matthew McConaughey performances ever, ranked

16. Rick Gassko in “Bachelor Party” (1984)

In one of his first movie roles, Hanks is great as a soon-to-be-married guy who tries to stay out of trouble after his friends throw a wild bachelor party for him.



15. Walter Fielding Jr. in “The Money Pit” (1986)

Another classic from Hanks' romantic-comedy days, in which he plays opposite Shelley Long as a couple who struggle to repair a broken-down house they've bought. Hanks' physical comedy is at its best here.



14. James B. Donovan in “Bridge of Spies” (2015)

For most actors, a role like this in a Steven Spielberg movie is a highlight in their filmography. For Hanks, it's a strong performance but hard to compare to the others higher on this list.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's what a showrunner — the top job in TV — actually does

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Even a casual TV fan has seen the word "showrunner" thrown around. But what does it really mean, and what is a showrunner in charge of?

When it comes to the making of a TV show, the showrunner is the top of the food chain.

"It's a weird amalgam of a creative job and a management job that I'm sure exists in other industries, but I haven't yet come across the equivalent of it yet. It's pretty bizarre, I think," Remi Aubuchon, a veteran producer and the showrunner for Playstation Network's recently canceled "Powers," told Business Insider.

"Being a showrunner is basically like babysitting versus parenting," Bravo's "Odd Mom Out" co-showrunner Julie Rottenberg told us, "because suddenly the baby is yours. You can't just leave at six o'clock when it's time. And you're pretty much responsible for every aspect of the show."

Most showrunners start out as writers, and she said she thinks it's a bit of a miracle that anyone fits the job description.

"I find it amazing that writers, who are often not well suited for managerial roles, are the people who wind up running things," Rottenberg said. "I feel like if you find someone who's a great writer and then is also really great at managing people — it feels amazing to me that that happens as often as it does because they're really two very different parts of your brain."

Business Insider talked to several TV showrunners to shed some light on the "bizarre" but essential roles they play in the job:

SEE ALSO: Here are the 10 rising Hollywood stars who are taking over TV in the fall

DON'T MISS: The 10 best and worst TV shows this summer

Showrunners are in charge of making the most of a budget.

"A lot of the showrunner's job is figuring out how to balance the amount of money that you have, the time that you have with which to do it, and try to get the best product that you can out of what you've got available," Aubuchon said. "I think if everybody had $10 million an episode, it probably would be a no-brainer, but that's not how it works that I know of anywhere. If it does, let me know."



A showrunner has to make sure everyone feels valuable.

"A great showrunner isn't a dictator — they're curators," said Martin Gero, the showrunner for NBC's hit drama "Blindspot.""You're working with all these creative people, you don't want to be like, 'Here's what I want. You'll do exactly what I say.' You want it to be a collective, but at the end of the day, somebody's got to have the final word, and the showrunner's the final word."

Rottenberg agrees.

"You have to both be a very clear and strong leader, but also very open to people's ideas and making people feel that they're a part of the process because they are," she said. "This is such a collaborative medium, where everyone I think looks better and does better work when they feel invested in the finished product."



A showrunner protects the show's creative vision.

"A showrunner has to advocate for the creative aspect of the show, and that's harder than it looks sometimes, especially when I have to sign the budget every week," Aubuchon said. "And I have to be responsible and conscious, and 'Powers' is a really great example ... There's lots of elements to that show that could really jack up the cost of the show. And the tendency, especially in the production world, is to want to simplify and go for the easiest and less expensive version of that, and my job is to actually say, 'No, no, no, I want it to be like this, and we need to figure out a way to make it happen.'"

"Odd Mom Out" co-showrunner Elisa Zuritsky, who has known Rottenberg since they were both in elementary school, said, "The toughest balancing act, I think, as a showrunner is knowing what you want and having a clear sense of the show you want to put out there while still allowing for other voices to change your perception or make it better, ultimately. It's one of the most collaborative jobs, I think, a person could have."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

You can now live in a 300-year-old castle just minutes from central London — take a look inside

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One of the four homes that now occupy Vanbrugh Castle has entered the market at £2.75 million.

The "fabulous family home" sprawls over 3248 sq ft and is situated within 2.5 acres of verdant grounds.

Climbing four floors, 2 Vanbrugh Castle features a cellar and rooftop terrace. 

The 18th-century castle even boasts great transport links; residents are a stone's throw from Maze Hill station (13 minutes to London Bridge) and a short cycle from Canary Wharf, London's financial centre. 

The property is available through Winkworth estate agents.

 

Vanbrugh Castle is a 20-minute cycle from Canary Wharf.



Constructed in 1719 by architect John Vanbrugh, the Grade I listed property was divided into 4 wings in the 1970s.



The castle was Vanbrugh's own home, and he contrasted the Baroque style he'd used when designing Blenheim Palace and Castle Howard with a more gothic aesthetic for his private creation.



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PICTURES: Tom Hardy raise money in memory of 9/11

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Every year brokers BGC, which used to be part of Cantor Fitzgerald, holds a charity day to honour the memory of the 658 Cantor employees and 61 Eurobrokers employees who lost their lives in the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks.

BGC gives its global revenues on the day to over one hundred charities worldwide, with celebrities taking to the trading floor in support.

Since inception, the charity drive has raised around $116 million (£87.4 million) for charities around the world and celebrities as diverse as rapper 50 Cent and Prince Harry have tried their hands at being a stock broker for the morning.

Monday markets BGC's 15th charity day. Here is who turned up to support:

Entrepreneur Levi Roots, pictured here with comedian Romesh Ranganathan, helped launch the event at BGC's London office.



TV presenter Davina McCall was one of the celebs manning the phones. She was representing the charity Action Medical Research, which funds research in children's medicine.



Cyclist Mark Cavendish popped in, fresh from winning gold in the men's team pursuit and silver in the men's omnium events at the Rio Olympics. Cavendish was representing the Oasis Charitable Trust, which helps provide housing, education, and healthcare to the poor.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

How the 'Rich Kids of London' spent their summer holidays

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London's rich kids live every day like they're on holiday. But when they're actually on holiday, they travel, party, and relax in even more luxury.

This summer was no different, according to the "Rich Kids of London" Instagram account, where the spoiled offspring of the city's wealthy post photos of their extravagant lives and receive thousands of likes (and hate-likes) from over 150,000 followers.

They travelled to destinations like Mykonos, Koh Samui, and Tokyo, and spent their time partying on yachts, posing with wild animals, and shooting champagne guns. And of course, they captured it all on Instagram.

Here's a selection of photos from their over-the-top travels:

London's rich kids don't fly on any mainstream airlines. Private jet was their preferred mode of transport this summer.

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They spent overnight flights lounging on full, lie-flat beds.

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Sometimes they get to travel with celebrities. Rich kid Maya Chigirinskaya got to fly in a private jet with Roman Abramovich.

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Britain's rental property market is counter-intuitively warped

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Rents in Britain are counter-intuitively cratering despite a severe housing shortage.

When there is too little supply to sate demand, property prices rise. And in turn, housing becomes increasingly less affordable. That leads to more and more people turning to the rental sector because they cannot afford to buy a home. That should push up rents as more people fight for the same rental properties.

Technically, rental prices should be going up alongside purchase prices.

However, according to a huge new chartbook by HSBC on Britain's housing market, rental prices are falling dramatically, turning market fundamentals in on their head.

 

Property prices have continually risen for over a decade, bar the two-year drop due to the credit crisis of 2007/2008.



This is because Britain's housing market has a severe lack of supply — there aren't enough houses on the market to meet demand from buyers.



This means properties are becoming more and more unaffordable because people are not earning enough money to keep up with rising house prices. In turn, people who cannot afford to buy a house, rely on the rental market.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

40 questions we have after the 'Game of Thrones' season 6 finale

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WARNING: Spoilers ahead for "Game of Thrones" season six.

The next season of "Game of Thrones" feels like a lifetime away, but with the first potential spoilers of season seven popping up, we're looking ahead to next year.

Sure, the season six finale was explosive, dark, and satisfying in many ways — but it left us with some burning questions about what's ahead.

From the order of succession in Westeros to where Jon Snow is keeping his direwolf Ghost, these are the things we still really want to know and hope are answered in the show's final two seasons.

Do dragons get tired?

Daenerys is finally heading off to Westeros. While she and her army are sailing on ships, her trio of dragons are in flight. But can a dragon fly all the way from Meereen to Westeros without needing to take a break?

It could take weeks for Daenerys' fleet to arrive, so what do the dragons do to rest? Surely, they're not sleeping on those ships!



Also, is Daenerys' armada going straight to King's Landing or are they making a pit stop in Dorne?

We saw Martell and Tyrell ships in the background when Daenerys was sailing off to Westeros, and either Dorne or Highgarden could be a good place for Daenerys' army to rest and gather more troops.

However with King's Landing in turmoil and Cersei's grasp on the Iron Throne tenuous at best, it could be an ideal time to seize the capital.

What's the game plan here, Mother of Dragons?



Will Daenerys choose a husband when she gets to Westeros?

Daenerys hinted to Daario that she may want to take a husband to form alliances when in Westeros. Fans seem keen on a Daenerys-and-Jon pairing, but now that we know they're officially related is that something that we really want?

Yara and Daenerys also had a flirtacious scene in season six, and some fans were intrigued by the prospect of seeing them get together. Though we doubt this will happen, their queenly banter will be interesting to watch in season seven.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's how Tesla's cars have changed over the years (tsla)

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Tesla announced a big update for its cars on Sunday.

CEO Elon Musk revealed details for its software Version 8.0, saying that it will bring significant improvements to Autopilot. In fact, Musk said that it will make Tesla cars three times safer than vehicles without Autopilot.

We decided to take a look back at just how far Tesla cars have progressed, and within just the last year there's been a lot of change. Scroll down for a closer look.

SEE ALSO: RANKED: 10 best car innovations of 2016 so far

Tesla garnered a lot of attention in 2008 when it released its very first electric car — the wildly sexy Tesla Roadster.

The Roadster Sport boasted a range of 245 miles and could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds. Its base price in 2008 was $98,000, according to Car and Driver.

Tesla sold more than 2,400 Roadsters across 30 countries, the company wrote on its webpage.



In 2012, Tesla released its Model S — the first luxury electric sedan on the market.

The car could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in five seconds and had a range of 265 miles per charge. It was named Motor Trend’s 2013 Car of the Year.

But the car was pricey at $106,900 before federal tax exemptions.



In late 2014, Tesla released two dual motor all-wheel drive configurations for the Model S, the world's first dual electric motor car.

It was also the first time Tesla made autopilot standard on every car. The car came in three versions — the 60D, 85D and the top-of-the-line P85D. Above you see the P85D.

The P85D could reach a top speed of 155 mph and could accelerate to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds, outperforming the McLaren F1 supercar, Tesla wrote on its blog at the time.

The P85D had a range of about 285 miles and cost $71,200 MSRP, according to Car and Driver. But that model was discontinued in February.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

23 successful people who wake up incredibly early

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They say the early bird catches the worm, and research suggests there might be some truth to the old adage.

Waking up with (or before) the sun allows executives like Apple CEO Tim Cook and "Shark Tank" investor Kevin O'Leary to get a head start on the day, knocking out tasks before the rest of the world has rolled out of bed.

Those "extra" hours with less distractions and fresh energy also give them a chance to do some creative thinking, fit in a workout, and spend time with family. And it should be noted that waking up early doesn't necessarily mean losing sleep — some of the smartest leaders understand that being effective means getting a full night's sleep.

Here are 23 early risers who may convince you never to hit snooze again.

Max Nisen, Aaron Taube, and Rachel Sugar contributed to earlier versions of this article.

SEE ALSO: 7 bedtime rituals that are hard to adopt, but will pay off forever

DON'T MISS: 12 bedtime habits of unsuccessful people

Apple CEO Tim Cook wakes up at 3:45 a.m. and gets a head start on email.

The tech titan is known for getting up early.

According to a Time profile, "He wakes up at 3:45 every morning ('Yes, every morning'), does email for an hour, stealing a march on those lazy East Coasters three time zones ahead of him, then goes to the gym, then Starbucks (for more e-mail), then work. 'The thing about it is, when you love what you do, you don't really think of it as work. It's what you do. And that's the good fortune of where I find myself.'"



FLOTUS Michelle Obama is working out by 4:30 a.m.

While the president is known for getting very little sleep, he's got nothing on the first lady, who tells Oprah she starts her days with a 4:30 a.m. workout before her kids wake up. 

"If I don't exercise, I won't feel good. I'll get depressed," she says, noting that it's easier to pull that off at the White House, where she has "much more support" than the average person.

 



AOL CEO Tim Armstrong starts his day at 5:00 a.m. but tries not to send too many early-morning e-mails.

The former Google executive tells The Guardian that he's "not a big sleeper" and wakes up at 5 a.m. or 5:15 a.m. every day to work out, read, tinker with the site, and hang out with his middle daughter, who is also an early riser.

Armstrong says he tries to hold off on sending emails until around 7:00 a.m.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

11 amazing bike accessories that will make your ride smarter and safer

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When you buy a bike, it doesn't don't come with the bells and whistles that would make it as safe or as handy as it could be. You could settle for a helmet, a lock, and a pair of lights, but there's a world of innovative accessories that can make keeping and riding your bike go so much further.

Here are some of the more useful ones.

The Garmin Rearview, to watch out for tailgating

Ever been tailgated on a bike before? It's not fun, and you don't have the shell of a 4,000-pound car to protect you.

The Garmin Varia Rearview is a tail light that brightens and then flashes if a car comes too close to you. If you pair it with a Garmin GPS device, you can make the GPS beep when a car is threatening to bump you. It's about as close as you'll get to a warning system on a bike.

You can grab one on Amazon for $200.



A Blaze Laserlight, to project a bike signal in front of you

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The Blaze Laserlight is a 300-lumen LED light that projects a bright green bike symbol up to 20 feet ahead of you, alerting turning drivers and pedestrians to your presence.

The light is USB chargeable, encased in a heavy steel enclosure, lasts 13 hours with each charge, and easily pops on and off your mount — a definite plus since this is an accessory you wouldn't want anyone to steal.

The LaserLight is available on Blaze's website for $200.



Revolights, to create a lightshow

It might not be enough to just light your front and back — side collisions are always possible.

You can mount these USB-rechargeable LEDs to your spokes to give your wheels an impressive lighting system that drivers can't possibly miss.

You can grab some lights on Amazon for $199.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The world's best spa has 24-carat gold facials and treatments that cost thousands of dollars

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Emirates Palace Spa in Abu Dhabi just won the title of World's Best Hotel Spa by The World Spa Awards

While the luxurious resort and in-house spa is not an actual palace, it's easy to mistake for one.

With 1,500 square meters of Moroccan-inspired steam rooms, 24-carat gold facials that cost just under $1,000, and massages tailored to all kinds of guests, the Emirates Palace Spa is relaxation fit for royalty.

Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi is home to the Emirates Palace Spa, which lives up to its name.



The award-winning spa is 1,500 square meters of bliss, with two Jacuzzis, two steam rooms, heated marble, and an ice cave.



It has all the fixings of a top-notch spa experience.



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Inside the new luxury London flats that come complete with its own butler and tailoring services

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The Park Crescent by Amazon Property Kitchen and Living area

Real-estate developers Amazon Property are currently carrying out a £300 million ($398 million) re-development of The Park Crescent, an exclusive set of properties overlooking Regent's Park.

New residents in the crescent, which was originally designed to house the Royal family, will enjoy a concierge service, extensive gardens, and enormous luxury residencies.

However, the properties come at a premium — prices start from £3,950,000.

Here is what it looks like inside:

The Park Crescent is London’s only Royal crescent, designed by renowned architect John Nash and built between 1812 and 1820.



The crescent fronts onto the 410 acres of Regent’s Park.



Now, the Nash crescent is being transformed to provide 20 two to four bedroom residences.



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How to efficiently travel to as many countries as possible

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I have been to all 198 countries in less than 10 years, while maintaining a full-time job throughout — and managing to write a book about the mad and often outrageous experiences.

In Norway that means 5 weeks of holiday annually plus around 2 weeks worth of national holidays.

So, how in the world is it possible to visit every country in such a relatively short amount of time?

1. You can travel quite far on a weekend. And there are 52 weekends a year. I have, at the busiest of times travelled over 30 weekends in a year. Even I enjoy the odd weekend at home.



2. Take time off work instead of accepting overtime pay. Then take out those hours before or after a weekend or a holiday trip to extend your available traveling time.



3. Heading back Sunday night is great, especially if you can sleep on the plane (if not, consider taking a sleeping pill). You will then land back home early in the morning, and you can pop by your house for a shower (unless there are such facilities in the office) and go straight to work.

I have had trips where I have visited Seoul, New York and Sydney for less than 24 hours before returning to Norway. Of course the journey to and from Australia took much longer than the stay itself, but it was exhilarating to do such a crazy trip just for a weekend. I have naturally been there before and after to explore the country properly.



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9 must-have tech gadgets under $100

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The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships so we may get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Computer   tumblr_nlf2j19yvG1ts8049o2_1280The world of computer accessories and gadgets is huge. Even if you've got brand loyalty, in most cases, a single brand has two or three lines of headphones, speakers, or smart devices. 

More annoying is the fact that accessories and gadgets vary in price substantially, so it can be difficult to decide whether the step-up to the next price tier will ultimately be worthwhile.

This list is full of high-quality tech products, some of which I use regularly, that cost under $100. There are certainly great deals to be had for less than the price of the products here, but these are a little more substantial, and perfect for folks looking to up their tech game.

SEE ALSO: Sony's entry-level Bluetooth headphones are the cheapest they've ever been

SEE ALSO: Why there's no reason for most people to spend over $1,000 on a laptop

A Bluetooth speaker

Of all the bluetooth speakers I've tried so far, the Sony SRS X5 is my favorite. For a small-sized speaker, I'm consistently impressed with it's ability to fill an entire room — even a big one, with non-distorted sound.

All of the speaker's controls are located on its top; instead of physical buttons, they're touch targets that let you control the speaker's volume, audio input, Bluetooth pairing, and enable a preset EQ setting. Having an audio-in for non-Bluetooth devices is a nice touch, as is a full USB port, so you can charge your smartphone or tablet while playing tunes. The SRS X5 has been replaced by a newer model, the SRS X55, but I find that speaker way too bass-heavy to recommend over this one. They're still available new, so pick one up while you can.

Sony SRS X5, $98, available at Amazon



The Echo Dot

My feelings about the Amazon Echo are very well documented: Long story short, I love it.

The Echo Dot is the least expensive way to get into the Echo ecosystem, and has one great advantage over the other members of its family. Unlike the standard Amazon Echo and Echo Tap, the Echo Dot has an audio-out jack. While this is to compensate for it's lackluster internal speaker, it also means you can connect it to any stereo system and instantly have a smart stereo.

Because of all of the apps that can hook into the Echo, hearing your favorite song is as easy as "Alexa, play 'America' by Simon and Garfunkel." While the Echo Dot will search Amazon Prime music by default, if your favorite song isn't on there, you can ask it to play the song from Spotify. This functionality is so compelling that I'm considering picking up an Echo Dot just to have it. 

Echo Dot, $89.99, available at Amazon

 



High-quality headphones

If you're looking for bassy headphones, buy Beats. If you're looking for comfortable, luxurious, slightly exaggerated-sounding headphones, buy Bowers and Wilkins. But if you want totally neutral-sounding headphones, buy this pair by Sony.

We've recommended them before, and will continue to until they're unseated in this category and price point. The only flaw of the Sony MDR7506 is their long and winding cable. It might have been acceptable in 1990, when these headphones were first released and most "serious music listening" took place near a stereo, but it isn't in 2016. Sonically, however, you'd be hard pressed to find much wrong here. Music from all genres sounds "right" when listening to these headphones, although they might take some getting used to if you've grown accustomed to headphones that accentuate bass or treble. 

Sony MDR7506, $79.99, available at Amazon



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11 rules for writing the perfect email subject line for job hunting

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laptopWith an estimated 116 billion business emails sent around the world every day (that's about 123 work-related emails per person in a day), it's harder than ever to get yours noticed.

And since email is often the first point of contact for job seekers and hiring managers, the subject line can make all the difference.

It not only communicates who you are and what you want but also can be a marketing tool that shows off your qualifications and helps you stand out.

So how do you motivate a reader to click on your email and give you their time?

Career and communication experts offer the following advice that job seekers should bear in mind when crafting their subject lines during a job search:

SEE ALSO: 19 unprofessional email habits that make everyone hate you

Make sure you include one

As Amanda Augustine, a career expert for TopResumepreviously told Business Insider, not including a subject line can be irritating to the recipient, who is forced to open the email to figure out what it's about.

What's more, not including an email subject line is a missed opportunity to market yourself.



Keep it short

A typical inbox reveals about 60 characters of an email's subject line, while a mobile phone shows just 25 to 30 characters, Augustine says. 

With such limited space, eliminate any unnecessary words like "hello," and get right to the point in about six to eight words. 



Place the most important words at the beginning

Most emails are now read on mobile phones, says Dmitri Leonov, a VP at email management service SaneBox.

Since you don't know how much of the subject line hiring managers would be able to see from their smartphones, it's important to put the most important information at the beginning of the subject line. Otherwise, compelling details could get cut off.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

What it's like using Apple's new AirPods

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AirPods are Apple's new wireless headphones launching in October.

They cost $159 and can do a lot more than just let you listen to music. Here's a quick look at how they work.

The AirPods come with this magnetic charging case.



Each AirPod has its own battery that lasts up to five hours.



The case has a battery too.



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22 maps that explain America

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US satellite map night

At Business Insider, we love maps. There is no better way to convey data about people and places than with a map.

To that end, we've put together 22 maps that explain various economic, social, demographic, and linguistic aspects of the United States of America. Check them out.

Rob Wile contributed to an earlier version of this post.

This map shows jobs that are held at a much higher rate in each state than in the country as a whole.



And here are jobs that pay much more in a state than they do in the country as a whole.



America's population is always dynamic. This map shows overall population change between 2014 and 2015, and the next few maps show the various components of that change.



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Costa Rica went 76 days without fossil fuels, but that's not the only reason it's the future of the planet

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From hiking in its lush cloud rainforests to getting close-ups of its thriving wildlife, Costa Rica has thousands of unique opportunities for visitors.

But these attractions aren't just tourist gimmicks — they represent the key ways Costa Rica is preparing for the future.

As the world warms, Costa Rica will likely depend on its carbon-sucking national forests. Similarly, as the price of fossil fuels goes up, the country will lean more and more on sources of clean, renewable energy.

Check out the numerous ways Costa Rica is setting an example for the future.

SEE ALSO: I went to the source of the world's best coffee — and saw firsthand why the industry is in trouble

DON'T MISS: I spent a day at a Costa Rican sloth sanctuary, and it was one of the most magical moments of my life

It's a hotspot for wildlife, and the country doesn't forget it.

More than 500,000 species of plants and animals call Costa Rica home. That's just about 4% of all of the world's species.

Costa Rica is among roughly 20 countries who rank as having the highest biodiversity on the planet. Part of it owes to its spectacular location between two giant continents — North and South America. The country also is estimated to have the highest sheer number and diversity of plants and animals for its size, meaning it's the most dense country for biodiversity in the world.

During my visit, I got to put my finger on a feeder at a hummingbird sanctuary and watch the bird land on my hand.



It's figured out how to run without fossil fuels.

Costa Rica recently made headlines when its state-run utility company said it had gone a full 76 days without using fossil fuels, beating their own record of 75 days last March. It's the longest historical record for a country powering itself entirely on renewables.

Most of the country's renewable power is geothermal (the country is a hotspot for volcanoes, which engineers can tap and siphon to the grid) but sizeable portions are hydroelectric. The remainder are wind and solar. Keep in mind that its small population — just under 4.9 million — means it doesn't have to generate as much energy as most nations.

The country also has plans to be entirely carbon neutral (meaning it would put out just as much carbon as its forests and other carbon-sucking resources suck in) by 2021. They first began working toward this goal in the 90s, when the government taxed fossil fuels and put 3.5% of all that money towards its national forests. 



A large portion of the tourist industry is focused around educating people about the country's natural resources.

Costa Rica's ecotourism boom got its start in the 1960s, with scientists flocking to the country to study biology and environmental science.

The industry took off in earnest about a decade later, with the country quickly expanding its national park system to include 70 protected areas. Today, roughly 20% of the country is classified as a national forest or reserve.

The photo above is from inside Manuel Antonio National Park, the country's smallest national park. Despite its tiny size, Manuel Antonio is unique for its dazzling wildlife diversity, with close to 300 mammal and bird species calling the park home.



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These are the 18 free demos you get with PlayStation VR

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If you're going to drop $400 on a fancy new accessory for the game console you already own, it better come with some games to play. 

Luckily, PlayStation VR will come with a demo disc with 18 small slices of VR games and experiences for your pleasure. That way, you don't need to buy a game to see how the future's made of virtual insanity.

PlayStation VR comes out on October 13, starting at $400. These demos will give you the option to buy the full game if you like it enough. The prices of these games will vary.

Here are all 18 games that are packed onto this PlayStation VR demo disc (if you live in North America):

SEE ALSO: Here's what it's like to watch NFL games on a PlayStation 4

"Allumette" isn't a game so much as it's a VR short film with a stop-motion animation style.



"Battlezone" is a modern VR take on the classic arcade tank battling game of the same name.



"Driveclub VR" is a VR-exclusive version of the 2014 driving simulation game of the same name.



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