Quantcast
Channel: Features
Viewing all 61683 articles
Browse latest View live

19 jobs to avoid if you hate people

0
0

nurseAs it happens, we can't all, in fact, just get along — which can be bad news when you're looking for a job.

Some gigs require more social skills than others, and if you fall too far outside the realm of "a people-person," you'd be well-advised to simply avoid them.

To find these jobs, we averaged data from the Occupational Information Network, or O*NET, a US Department of Labor database full of detailed information on 974 occupations.

O*NET rates each occupation on a scale from zero to 100 on how much a job requires workers to be in contact with others and how much a job requires workers to be pleasant with others. We averaged these ratings to find which jobs had the highest overall score. 

Here are 19 jobs to avoid if good-natured interaction with others just isn't in your wheelhouse:

DON'T MISS: 16 high-paying jobs for people who hate people

SEE ALSO: The 20 college majors that lead to the most satisfying careers

Registered nurses

Average sociability score: 95

They assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records.



Physical therapist aides

Average sociability score: 95

They often clean and set up the physical therapy treatment area, move patients, and perform clerical duties.



Financial services sales agents

Average sociability score: 95

They sell financial services like loan, tax, and securities counseling to customers of financial institutions and business establishments.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

I spent 7 grueling hours waiting in line for an iPhone 7 (AAPL)

0
0

williamsburg brooklyn dawn

I stood for seven hours while waiting in line for the iPhone 7 on Friday.

Now, I’m very familiar with the iPhone launch day lines. Judge me as you will, but since 2011, I’ve stood in line for hours to get a new iPhone — partly because I think it’s a little crazy and fun on a personal level, and partly because I want to write and report on the newest iPhones for my job. (It’s mostly the former, to be honest.)

I've stood in line at AT&T stores, Verizon stores, and plenty of different Apple stores around New York City. But this experience at Apple’s newest store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, was by far the worst.

SEE ALSO: Here's how to decide between the jet-black iPhone 7 and the matte-black one

I woke up early and got in line around 6:15 a.m. The line wasn't very long at all! There were maybe 30 people in front of me. In past years, that meant I’d probably wait around an hour to get in and out of the store with the new phone.



At 8 a.m., the doors opened. Ten people from our line walked into the store, but Apple employees created a new, second line next to ours. This was for pre-order customers, employees told us.



At 8:30 a.m., our line hadn't budged. The other line, however, was completely empty. That’s because anyone who entered that line was immediately ushered inside the store.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Sarah Palin has sold her lavish Arizona compound for $2.275 million, slightly less than what she was looking for

0
0

Sarah palin Arizona ranch

Former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin has finally sold her Scottsdale, Arizona, home after 8 months on the market. Though originally listed for $2.4 million, the house has recently sold for $2.275 million, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The nearly five-acre gated compound includes an enormous 8,000-square-foot main house flanked by a full-size lighted basketball court, a pool and spa house, and a hot tub.

The home last changed hands in 2011 for $1.695 million, according to public records obtained by the LA Times. Richard F. Barker of Keller Williams Arizona Realty had the listing.

SEE ALSO: Take a tour of the 63-acre Connecticut 'island' that just hit the market for $175 million

DON'T FORGET: Follow Business Insider's lifestyle page on Facebook!

Sarah Palin's gigantic Arizona ranch has a new owner.



It's a gated estate with room for six cars in its huge garage.



As you walk the wrap-around driveway, you get a sense of just how large the estate is.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

INSIDER FOOD 100: The best things to eat right now

0
0

Amazebowls Acaii Coconut Bowl

From a colorful birthday cake croissant covered in sprinkles to a spaghetti and meatball pizza, Instagrammable foods are everywhere these days.

We rounded up 100 foods from around the world that are worth their social media hype.

Keep scrolling to see what should be on your plate (and Instagram feed) this year. 

Milky Bun, Afters Ice Cream

The milky bun is Afters Ice Cream's claim to fame. The California shop sandwiches ice cream between a plain or glazed doughnut and then adds a topping of your choice.

 



Hummus, Dizengoff NYC

Dizengoff started in Philadelphia before coming to NYC's Chelsea Market this summer. The menu changes daily, but this is authentic Israeli hummus with fresh toppings and warm pita, so you really can't go wrong.



Milkshake, Buns Bar

NYC's Buns Bar is known for its unique sliders, but diners also come for its hefty milkshakes, whose glasses are completely covered in toppings that range from marshmallows to sprinkles to cookie crumbs.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

9 dumb money choices you will probably always regret

0
0

windy

We all do dumb stuff with our money, especially when we're young. Most of the time, we make mistakes that won't cripple us in the long run. But there are a handful of bad financial moves that almost always come out negative.

Nobody's perfect, but if you avoid these mistakes, you'll probably be in good shape, money-wise.

SEE ALSO: The financial editor of NBC's Today Show shares the biggest mistake people make with their money

1. Failing to invest when you're young

If you've read Wise Bread long enough, you should know about the power of compounding investment returns. This is the notion that the earlier you invest, the better off you'll be financially because your investments will have time to grow.

A $500 per month investment from age 45 to 60 will grow to about $161,000, assuming a 7% annual return. But if you start at age 30, it would represent $606,000. And if you started at age 20? $1.28 million.



2. Buying a house you can't afford

There are many reasons why the economy and stock market took a dive in 2007 and 2008, but one of the main culprits was the subprime mortgage crisis, which stemmed from a flurry of people who purchased expensive homes with unfavorable loan terms.

People bought homes with little or no money down, with mortgage payments that began high and only got higher. This led to a massive number of foreclosures, as homeowners were left unable to make payments.

Banks these days try to avoid lending to anyone who would have to pay more than 28% of their net income each month toward the mortgage. Lenders are also reluctant to provide home loans to those who would have an overall debt-to-income ratio of 43% or more. If you find that you may be exceeding these limits, it's likely that you are stretching yourself too thin and are putting yourself at risk of foreclosure, and possibly bankruptcy.



3. Racking up credit card debt

Debt stinks, and credit card debt may be the worst kind. That's because credit card interest rates tend to be so high that's hard to make a dent in what you owe. An interest rate on a credit card is at least 11% even for low-interest cards, according to Bankrate.com. That means that for every $100 you owe, you're paying an additional $11 annually.

These extra payments then make it harder for you to save for other important things, and to make matters worse, high debt hurts your credit score, and a bad credit score affects your ability to get things like a home loan. So in summary, credit card debt can lead to an endless spiral of despair.

Take heart, however. It's possible to avoid credit card debt by living within your means and paying off all credit card balances in full each month. If you do end up with credit card debt, focus on paying off credit cards with the highest interest rates first, then work your way down.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 5 most talked-about moments from the Emmys

0
0

GettyImages rami malek emmy win 2

What moments had viewers buzzing the most during the Emmys on Sunday?

The technology and marketing platform Amobee took a close look at Twitter activity during the awards show and identified the minutes where conversation peaked.

What's clear from the data is that viewers reacted most to the real and unplanned moments of the show – whether they tugged on the heart strings or generated huge laughs.

From the historic win for "Game of Thrones" to Sarah Paulson's apology to Marcia Clarke, here are the Emmys' most buzzy moments:

SEE ALSO: The 6 most surprising moments from the Emmys

DON'T MISS: 'Game of Thrones' just beat an incredible all-time Emmys record

5. Sarah Paulson apologizes to Marcia Clark during her acceptance speech.

9:25 p.m. ET– 5,076 tweets

Sarah Paulson won her first Emmy on Sunday for portraying prosecutor Marcia Clarke on FX's "The People v O.J. Simpson." But the part that had people talking was when she apologized to Clarke for being superficial in her judgment of Clarke during the actual trial.



4. "SNL" star Kate McKinnon cried during a heartfelt speech for her first Emmy.

8:25 p.m. ET– 5,337 tweets

Fans were captivated by McKinnon's tearful speech while accepting her first Emmy for her performances on NBC's "Saturday Night Live." She went on to thank her mother and even Hillary Clinton, whom she plays on the sketch show.



3. Tatiana Maslany held her ringing phone in her hand while accepting her Emmy.

10:45 p.m. ET– 5,850 tweets

There are so many reasons why fans were buzzing over Tatiana Maslany's surprise win for best drama actress for "Orphan Black." Her fans really created a movement for her to be noticed by the TV Academy and it worked.

Not only that, she was so frazzled by the unexpected win that she was still holding her phone in her hands. She revealed later that it was also going off during her speech.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The best behind-the-scenes photos from the most glamorous Emmy after-parties

0
0

jld bryan cranston seinfeld

What do the biggest stars in television do after the Emmys? Head to an after-party ... or two.

From the AMC and Amazon parites to the coveted HBO after-party, here's a look at where the stars headed after the three-hour awards show. 

SEE ALSO: The 5 most talked-about moments from the Emmys

"Mr. Robot" star Rami Malek couldn't wait to get his Emmy engraved.



Claire Danes caught up with her "Homeland" costar Mandy Patinkin at the Governors Ball.



Michael Kelly, Keegan Michael-Key, Angela Bassett, and Leslie Jones posed for quite the picture at the party.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A top education VC says these 6 startups could transform how we teach kids

0
0

kids school bus

Ever since the days of overhead projectors and microfilm readers, American schools have had to play catch up with the rest of society in the technology they offer.

"Teachers have very complex jobs, and traditionally have had archaic tools to do that complex job," Jennifer Carolan, co-founder and senior partner at Silicon Valley venture capital firm Reach Capital, tells Business Insider.

Carolan's firm has made it a mission to seek out companies that help schools go from Luddites to early adopters, all in the hopes of personalizing kids' education as much as possible.

Here are some of the companies Reach has invested in that Carolan believes could transform the American education landscape.

SEE ALSO: This education startup you've never heard of is in 75% of American classrooms

Kaymbu

Carolan says early education is one of the hardest areas to invest in, because "you just don't want to put kids in front of screens at all." One company taking a unique approach to using screens in early education is Kaymbu.

Kaymbu, founded in 2015, is a communication portal that lets teachers send pictures, video, and notes to a child's parents. That may seem unremarkable at first glance, but Carolan says the program has led to greater attendance rates — a critical component of achievement later in life, according to some research. The company claims it saves teachers 1.5 hours each day and 5,000 sheets of paper each year from moving communication online.

"I think this is the first wave of this tool, because preschools are non-tech places, which is a good thing, but when you can capture the learning you can use it as professional development tools to train other teachers," says Carolan.



Newsela

Only 3 years old and already in 75% of American classrooms, Newsela is a sophisticated literacy program designed to build reading skills for K-12 students.

The program has two main components: intelligent software that adjusts news stories to the reader's ability; and real-time, in-text feedback that teachers can use to see how kids are handling the text.

Newsela has already managed to raise literacy among kids below the 50th percentile on standardized tests by an average of 12 percentage points, according to the company. "That's like passing hundreds of thousands of kids,"  says Matthew Gross, Newsela's founder and CEO.



Tynker

Coding has gotten a lot of attention in the last decade since many education policymakers see it as a vital skill in the modern student's arsenal. Carolan says the K-8 platform Tynker is one of the stronger companies in the space. More than 34 million kids have used the platform since its launch in 2012.

Kids can use Tynker either at home or in school to learn basic coding at their own pace. They can build apps and games and use their code to control drones and robots.

Earlier this summer, Apple chose Tynker as its go-to platform for the many Apple Camps held in the company's retail stores.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

All the coolest features on the new Ferrari 488 GTB (RACE)

0
0

Ferrari 488GTB 1

Ferrari builds three types of cars: sports cars, Grand Touring or "GT" cars, and of course rare and exotic hypercars, such as the current LaFerrari, which sells for more than a million bucks.

Of these three, without question the most important for Ferrari's reputation are the sports cars. The only things more important are Ferrari's Formula One race cars, but they are squarely beasts of the track. The road cars define the critical fantasies that animate the brand, that evoke its deep history, and that provoke sane people to part with hundreds of thousands of dollars for the privilege of being what Ferrari calls a "client."

And among the road cars, the sports cars rule.

But while Ferrari calls them sports cars, nobody else does. We call them supercars, for good reason.

Until 2015, Ferrari could claim that its core supercar, the 458 Italia, was indeed the finest car ever made by human hands.

"What a machine!" enthused former "Top Gear" host Jeremy Clarkson when he hooned a 458 around the track.

The late, great 458

The 458 was the peak achievement of Ferrari's commitment, decades old, to the mid-engine, naturally aspirated V8 sports cars. It began, effectively, with the 308 in the mid-1970s (the "Magnum, P.I." Ferrari) and extended to the 458 in the second decade of the 21st century.

And it was served on a rosso corsa platter that the Ferrari lover craves beyond sexiness and speed: sound. The flat-crank V8 produced and otherworldly scream at its redline, like a wild thing torn from a wild place and barely domesticated behind the driver's head. The sound was the sound of fear and pleasure and raw life raised to type of brutal art. The sort of thing that Ferrari does so, so well.

The 458 was also gorgeous, sleek, and fine-boned but intensely purposeful. I've had my eardrums blown out by them at pit stops on racetracks, and I have still always, always been in love with those lines. You have your drive-for-your-life cars and your die-behind-the-wheel cars, and, given a choice, I would perish dashingly and with a smile in a 458.

Enter the 488 GTB (it stands for "Gran Turismo Berlinetta") and the dawn of a new age in Maranello, Ferrari's home in Italy. It was necessary. A 570-horsepower V8 that sucks in air and uses that process of transforming gasoline into velocity is a politically unpalatable dinosaur, so the 458 had to be retired.

And so Ferrari replaced it with a 661-horsepower turbocharged V8.

Ferrari hasn't done turbos in this type of car since the 1980s with the F40, so there was concern, possibly even overt panic, among the Ferraristi.

You might be wondering how the Great Shift is going. Well, Ferrari kindly let us borrow a $360,000 488 GTB for a few days. We adored the car. Here are its best features.

Photos by Hollis Johnson, unless otherwise credited.

SEE ALSO: Elio's tiny car gets 84 mpg and costs only $7,300 — we checked it out

THE COLOR: The color is new: "Rosso Corsa Metallizzato," which is Ferrari red with what appears to be a touch of orange. It's a $12,500 option.



The 488 isn't a major departure from the 458, seen here. But Ferrari's in-house designers made a few tweaks.



The family of mid-engine Ferrari sports cars, starting with the 308 GTB on the far left and moving through the 348, the 360, and the 458.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 13 countries with the most powerful passports

0
0

passports

If you have citizenship in Switzerland, you have a great deal of traveling power  Swedes can fly to 157 countries without ever showing a visa. This makes international travel cheaper and easier than it is for citizens of many other countries, like those of Afghanistan, who can only enter 24 countries without a visa.

The stark differences are revealed in the Passport Index, which ranks countries based on the number of nations where residents can go without purchasing a visa in advance or on arrival. Global financial advisory firm Arton Capital compiled government data from 193 countries and six territories to create the 2016 ranking.

Here are the 13 highest-ranking countries and the number of countries their citizens can visit without a visa.

SEE ALSO: You can now rent a replica of the hobbit house from 'The Lord of the Rings' on Airbnb

13. Norway — 156 countries

Instagram Embed:
http://instagram.com/p/BA50tTTvg2q/embed/
Width: 700px

 



12. South Korea — 156 countries

Instagram Embed:
http://instagram.com/p/9H6zWStgJ9/embed/
Width: 700px

 

 



11. Belgium — 156 countries

Instagram Embed:
http://instagram.com/p/8_0fyKm4UD/embed/
Width: 700px

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

We went to Red Lobster for 'Endless Shrimp' and stayed for 8 hours — here's what happened

0
0

Red Lobster Endless Shrimp 13

Two reporters.

Seven-and-a-half hours.

Thirty-four plates of shrimp. 

Red Lobster's "Endless Shrimp" promotion is a yearly phenomenon. However, as two shrimp-loving reporters, we couldn't help but wonder: how endless is the shrimp?

Early in September, Red Lobster announced the return of its famed deal. For $21.99 — likely cheaper in markets outside of New York City — you can go and eat as many shrimp as you can.

But this deal seems to good to be true. Surely, Red Lobster wouldn't want you to gorge on shrimp for hours on end? And there's no way that the 100th shrimp would taste nearly as good as the first, right?

Wrong.

Here's our intrepid crustaceous crusade from sweaty "Shrimp Madness" to shrimp ecstasy.

September 15, 2016: a perfect day for eating shrimp.

The cool, late summer breeze made us feel as though we belonged on a pebble beach with a shrimp cocktail in one hand, and a regular cocktail in the other. 

We arrived to the Times Square Red Lobster with a plan in mind: to stay as long as possible, eating shrimp the entire time. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner: shrimp.

We had called ahead and told Red Lobster of our intentions — for journalism's sake — hoping to reduce the chance of being expelled for our time-consuming shrimp consumption. The restaurant said it should be no problem, with no formal time limits to the promotion.



The rule of the game: "When you're ready, we'll bring more."

In 2015, Red Lobster increased the size of its shrimp by 47% in an effort to combat complaints of sub-par shrimp size. 

With the larger shrimp in mind, we were concerned regarding how many shrimp we could actually down in a day. We decided upon a goal of 100 shrimp between us, hoping to try each of the five types of shrimp under the promotion. 

While there are other shrimp items on Red Lobster's menu, only these five are part of the "Endless Shrimp" deal. Although there is a secret Endless Shrimp menu — but let's not get ahead of ourselves.



We had high hopes as we were seated.

Red Lobster's Times Square location is the epitome of upscale nautical chain decor: dim lighting, no windows (not unlike a casino), rich and dark varnished wood, and a playlist ranging from Mumford & Sons to dulcet, smooth Dad-rock tones. 

Our fearless server Jonathan — truly our Virgil through this crustaceous Divine Comedy — gave us a full spiel on the menu and the Endless Shrimp deal. He dutifully told us of Red Lobster's fresh fish offerings and the like, but we only had eyes for one special snack of the sea: shrimp. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

PRESENTING: The most important charts in the world from the brightest minds on Wall Street (SPX, SPY, DJI, IXIC, GSPC, IWIM, TLT, TLO, USD, DXY, JPY)

0
0

Here they are: the most important charts in the world. 

2x1

Once again, we’ve asked some of the sharpest strategists, economists, and reporters for one chart that’s at the top of their minds right now.

We asked for a chart that reflects something that concerns them in markets and the economy right now. Or, for something that shows a trend they think everyone should be paying more attention to. Any commentary below the charts comes from them.

All the charts were submitted before Monday September 19, so some of the data may have evolved since then.

Here they are: 

Gary Shilling

To close the gap, the S&P 500 P/E would be 63 compared to the current 25 on trailing 12-months earnings. So by this logic, stocks are 60% undervalued. Wow!”

But be careful. The 25 P/E is well above historical averages, and stocks need to fall 36% to return to Shiller's long-run cyclically-adjusted P/E of 16.7.  Also, Brexit will depress already-slowing global growth.  With worldwide excess capacity and wage-depressing labor surpluses, deflation is unfolding. Corporate profits are shaky and central banks are impotent in promoting economic growth.



Jack Bogle



Rich Bernstein



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The house in 'Ex Machina' is actually a stunning hotel in Norway — take a look inside

0
0

Juvet 25_architecture_©.jpg

In the 2015 film "Ex Machina," a neurotic tech billionaire creates an artificially intelligent humanoid robot inside his mansion in the woods.

In real life, the mansion isn't even a home at all — it's the Juvet Landscape Hotel in Valldal, Norway.

The surrounding nature is an integral part of the experience of staying at Juvet, which is tucked inside a rural village surrounded by mountains and a river.

Keep scrolling for a tour of the hotel, which costs about $200 a night.

SEE ALSO: A woman built this charming 'Hobbit house’ inspired by 'The Lord of the Rings'

The Juvet Hotel is made up of nine wood-paneled pods scattered throughout the woods, owner Knut Slinning tells Business Insider. Two guests can stay in each pod.



To reach some of the pods, guests need to traverse this curved, steel bridge that hovers above the rapids.



Every room (except the bathroom and bedroom) in the pods has floor-to-ceiling windows. The transparent walls are angled in different directions, maximizing privacy.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 25 colleges where students go on to earn the most money

0
0

Harvard University graduationSalary potential shouldn't be the sole thing that attracts you to a particular college or university. But with average student-loan debt hovering around $37,000, students and parents can't afford not to consider average post-graduationearnings while looking at schools. 

PayScale, the creator of the world's largest compensation database, recently looked at the starting and mid-career pay for over a million college grads — including professionals who graduated with a bachelor's from 963 colleges and universities.

For its College Salary Report, which was compiled using data from employees who successfully completed PayScale's employee survey, PayScale sorted the results by college major, degree, and school.

Here are the colleges where students with a bachelor's degree go on to earn the most money 10-plus years into their career: 

SEE ALSO: 25 college majors with the highest starting salaries

24. (tie) Colgate University

Early career median pay: $56,500

Mid-career median pay: $113,000

Sector: Private

Undergraduate enrollment: 2,875



24. (tie) Rice University

Early career median pay: $62,300

Mid-career median pay: $113,000

Sector: Private

Undergraduate enrollment: 3,926



22. (tie) Georgetown University

Early career median pay: $55,400

Mid-career median pay: $114,000

Sector: Private

Undergraduate enrollment: 7,595



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

5 states could legalize recreational marijuana use this year — here's what we know

0
0

Nearly half of the US has already legalized marijuana, for either medical or recreational use. This November, another eight states could continue the trend. 

marijuana colorado

Of those eight states, five have ballot initiatives that could result in outright recreational legalization. Most significantly, California could legalize recreational use — thus making the entire west coast a legal enclave for recreational cannabis. 

All the initiatives below can be voted on this November alongside the presidential election. Here's everything we know.

SEE ALSO: Marijuana legalization is facing a major challenge from the alcohol industry

DON'T MISS: These are the 9 most popular weed strains in Colorado

1. Massachusetts

In Massachusetts on November 8, voters will choose yes or no on "Question 4"— a bill to legalize the recreational use, possession, cultivation, and sale of marijuana. The bill calls for regulation along the lines of alcohol, if passed.

Though Massachusetts is a long-running blue state, the legalization effort in the commonwealth faces serious opposition from sitting leadership in both parties. Republican Governor Charlie Baker and Boston Democratic mayor Marty Walsh oppose recreational legalization. The two joined Massachusetts attorney general Maura Healey in a Boston Globe op-ed this past March, opposing the measure:

"Our state has already decriminalized the drug for personal use, and we’ve made it legally available for medical use. The question before us now is whether marijuana should be fully legal and widely available for commercial sale. We think the answer is 'no.'"

All that said, a majority of voters support the measure, according to the current polling average on Ballotpedia. And two previous measures — to decriminalize use and legalize medical use — passed by a wide margin. If it does pass, the bill would fully legalize recreational possession, use, cultivation, and sale of marijuana starting on December 15, 2016.

Name:Question 4

Chance of passing: Good. The average of polls, according to Ballotpedia, is 48.5% support over 42.5% oppose. 



2. Maine

In Maine on November 8, voters will choose yes or no on "Question 1"— a bill to legalize the recreational use, possession, cultivation, and sale of marijuana to adults over 21. Maine already allows for medicinal marijuana use. 

Though Maine is a Democrat-leaning state, and this bill looks destined for passing with overwhelming support, several prior legalization efforts have failed. This time, things look more certain: Over $1 million was raised in pursuit of legalization in Maine, much of which was already spent gathering the signatures necessary to get Question 1 on the ballot this November. Attorney general Janet Mills and governor Paul LePage both oppose legalization, but there appears to be no formal opposition groups to this November's ballot measure.

Name:Question 1

Chance of passing: Good. According to the Bangor Daily News, multiple polls show overwhelming support to legalization (in the range of 50-55% in favor, with 35-40% opposed).



3. Arizona

In Arizona on November 8, voters will choose yes or no on "Proposition 205"— a bill to legalize the recreation use and cultivation of marijuana. If passed, regulation of marijuana would be handled on a state level, while regulation of individual retail stores would be handled on a town/city level. Legalization would only apply to residents age 21 or older.

Despite Arizona senator John McCain's support of marijuana legalization in the state, Republican governor Doug Ducey opposes the initiative. Overall, Arizona is an overwhelmingly red state and has been for decades. Both of its senators are Republicans, as is its governor. Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney took the state's 11 electoral votes from President Obama in 2012.

That said, Arizona is a state with rapidly changing demographics — and with that demographic shift, so too comes a political shift. Polling shows a close race in the battle over marijuana legalization, but the proposition, currently, looks like it won't pass.

Name:Proposition 205

Chance of passing: Not good. The average of polls puts support at 44.3%, and opposition at 46.6%, according to Ballotpedia. With a margin of error of +/- 3.6%, it's possible the proposition will pass, but it's not looking great.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The best museum in every state, according to Foursquare

0
0

MET

There are a lot of great museums to see in America. 

From art museums to science museums to living history, there's almost too many to choose from. Luckily, we've partnered up with city-app Foursquare to make it a bit easier. 

This is the best museum in every state, according to the around 50 million active users on Foursquare.

Alabama: U.S. Space and Rocket Center

Location: Huntsville, Alabama

Foursquare rating: 9.30

As one of the best comprehensive space flight museums — it includes NASA's Space Camp and Official Visitor Information Center — this museum is out of this world.



Alaska: Anchorage Museum

Location: Anchorage, Alaska

Foursquare rating: 8.92

The Smithsonian Institution has loaned indigenous artifacts to the Anchorage Museum for study by Alaska Native elders and scholars. Over 600 are displayed in the permanent exhibition "Living Our Cultures, Sharing Our Heritage: The First Peoples of Alaska."



Arizona: Phoenix Art Museum

Location: Phoenix, Arizona

Foursquare rating: 9.42

Enjoy live music on the first Friday of every month while you peruse over 17,000 works of American, Asian, European, Latin American, modern and contemporary, and Western American art.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

10 TED talks that will help you sound smarter

0
0

headphones

So many TED talks, so little time. It's impossible to watch them all.

If you need help figuring out which ones to watch, you're in luck. TED has curated playlists so you can dig into a particular topic.

Here are TED talks from linguists, literary critics, psychologists, dictionary editors and the word-obsessed that will pique the interest of any verbivore.

SEE ALSO: A technologist turned life coach explains why 20-somethings can't make decisions

RAW Embed

1. Anne Curzan: What makes a word "real"?

English historian Anne Curzan is fascinated by how slang becomes commonplace. She even asks all new students to teach her two new slang words. In her talk, she gives insight in how new words get introduced into the dictionary. You might be surprised to learn how the editors of dictionaries make "the rules" about language usage that we follow as standard.



RAW Embed

2. Terry Moore: Why is "x" the unknown?

Why is it that the letter "x" represents the unknown? The X-Files, Project X, even TEDx. In his pursuit to learn Arabic, director of the Radius Foundation Terry Moore found the answer.



RAW Embed

3. Parul Sehgal: An ode to envy.

In her salon-style talk, the editor of The New York Times Book Review explores one little word that drives human behavior, but hasn't been extensively studied. Parul Sehgal is fascinated by jealousy, and looks to fiction to explain why humans can so easily become overcome by envy. She poses a provocative question: "If we didn't have jealousy, would we even have literature?"



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's how you can make a pumpkin spice latte at home

0
0

pumpkin spice latte

Pumpkin Spice season is coming to a close at Starbucks — but it doesn’t have to in your dorm room.

The pumpkin spice latte came out on Sept. 2 this year and usually lasts about four months. A 12-ounce or ‘Tall’ PSL from Starbucks will cost you $4.00 on average.

So, if you were to buy one from Sept. 2 until Christmas, it would cost over $448.00.

Say you only buy the tall pumpkin spice latte 13 times within the next four months, it would cost $52.00 not including tax.

To avoid dropping all that cash and going through pumpkin spice withdrawal after January, here’s how to make your own PSL, any time of year.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

Servings: 1

Indredients:

½ cup whole milk
3 ½ tablespoons pumpkin spice flavored coffee (I used Trader Joe’s pumpkin spice coffee, but any medium/dark roast will do)
½ teaspoon pumpkin spice mix
1 tablespoon whipped cream

Steam the milk

Steam the milk. You can do this in the microwave. Put the milk in a microwave safe cup with a lid for 30 – 60 seconds. Take off the lid and place it in for another 30 – 60 seconds depending on your microwave. It should look foamy and bubbly without boiling. If on the stove, just keep stirring until it starts to heat up then leave it covered. It should also look foamy at this point.



Brew the coffee

While the milk is heating up, brew the coffee. To give the coffee a bolder flavor, use less water and place more coffee in the filter.



Spice your mug

Prepare your cup with a little bit of sugar and a dash of pumpkin spice.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This 26-year-old with $148,000 in the bank is on track to retire at 37 — here’s his playbook

0
0

Money Wizard graphics 4x3

Most people don't start saving for retirement until they land their first "real" job as a 20-something. Even then, they're often lazy about setting up their 401(k) and putting any extra cash away with consistency.

But the story is different for the Money Wizard, a 26-year-old financial analyst and blogger with a six-figure net worth who started saving before he could even get behind the wheel of a car.

"I remember my 8th grade math teacher posed the magical doubling penny question to us, which opened my mind to the power of compound interest," the Money Wizard — who goes by the pen name Sean online — told Business Insider.

"I still remember his exact quote," he said. "'Instead of buying a few CDs with your money, you could be a millionaire.'"

A few years later, Sean realized that his grandfather, "one of the cheapest guys" he knew, was actually a millionaire. "He never made more than a low five-figure, blue-collar salary, but he used the stock market to save his way to $1.2 million in investments [by age 60]."

Inspired by his grandfather's financial finesse, he started saving any extra cash he earned from his first job at age 16. Later, after reading a book called "Early Retirement Extreme" by Jacob Lund Fisker, he became determined to reach financial independence by age 37.

At 22, he graduated college with a degree in finance and economics and got hired as a financial analyst in Denver making $45,000 a year. He immediately set up his employer-sponsored 401(k) and contributed 5% of his pre-tax salary, which was fully-matched by the company.

Now, three and a half years later, Sean's salary is $70,000 and his 401(k) contribution — just one of his vehicles for saving — is up to 25%.

Last year, at age 25, his net worth reached $100,000. That's when he started his blog, My Money Wizard, to share his ambitious journey to early retirement.

As of August 2016, Sean's net worth was nearly $150,000. Below, he talks us through the growth of his savings accounts and why each one is vital to achieving his goal of retiring before 40.

Although Sean requested anonymity, Business Insider reviewed tax and bank statements that confirmed the figures he's reported.

DON'T MISS: A man who retired at 34 shares a spreadsheet that helped him get there

SEE ALSO: 13 strategies to save a fortune, from real people who retired before 40

Sean shares monthly net worth updates on his blog, My Money Wizard, where he breaks down his progress. 

In August, his net worth reached $147,913. He plans to continue his current savings strategy for the next 11 years to retire with enough money — his current goal is $750,000 — to live comfortably using the 4% rule. "The idea is that if you have assets earning 7% per year, and inflation is about 3% per year, you can safely withdraw 4% of your portfolio each year without ever running out of money," he said. 

Sean's model for saving is built conservatively and assumes he'll never get another work raise, enjoy a second stream of income now or during retirement, or combine savings with a future spouse. He's confident he'll be able to afford to start a family, buy a house, and cover life's unexpected expenses.

"Probably what’s most driving me [to retire early] — I just want freedom," he said. "So many people get caught up in the race of materialism, thinking that next house or next car is what will make them happy. I think happiness comes from freedom. I just want to be able to do what I want, without financial worry."



Cash: $8,546

Despite popular financial advice suggesting every person set up an emergency fund, Sean doesn't believe in them.

"I want my money invested and working for me, not lazily sitting around getting eaten by inflation. I like to keep enough cash to pay off all credit cards and to have about $2,000 leftover at any given time," he said. 

 

401(k): $38,292

"Maxing out my 401(k) is my primary investment goal each year," Sean said. "Not only are employer matches possibly the greatest investment ever, the tax advantages of taking it a step further and contributing the IRS-allowed $18,000 maximum each year are just too amazing to ignore."

By contributing the maximum to his 401(k), Sean said he's saving more than $5,000 each year in taxes. He calls it "the smartest investment I ever made."

And he'll be able to access his account prior to age 59.5 without penalty by using the Roth IRA conversion ladder. Under this IRS rule, any money transferred from a traditional IRA — like his 401(k) — to a Roth IRA is tax and penalty free.

He'll have to wait five years after the first conversion to access the money — and pay any applicable ordinary income taxes on the funds when he converts them — but he plans to live off his taxable investments during that time. Then he'll transfer sums of money into his Roth IRA year after year — referred to as "climbing the ladder"— giving him early access to his 401(k) savings throughout retirement.

 

Vanguard: $59,145

Sean's second investment goal each year is to contribute the $5,500 maximum to his Roth IRA (held in his Vanguard account). Since he doesn't own a home, his Roth IRA is invested into REIT index funds, which invests his money into diversified real estate interests.

In addition, the account holds a Vanguard Total Stock Market Fund— a low-cost way to invest in the US stock market — which houses all of his taxable savings.

"It's 100% equities, which some people would consider risky, but it's important to consider allocations across all of your money, not just an individual account," he said. It's also easy to maintain, he said, and a great choice if you aren't "a stock-picking genius."

When he has cash overflow, he transfers $1,000 over to invest in his index fund. "I then sit back and move on with my life, knowing this fund will track the overall market," he said.

 

Merrill Lynch: $45,347

Before opening his Vanguard account in 2014, Sean used his Merrill Lynch account as his primary taxable investment account.

"A portion of this account was formed when a younger, more naive version of myself was convinced I could beat the stock market by picking individual stocks," he said.

Today, his account comprises low-fee, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), a small percentage of individual stocks, and about $6,000 worth of bonds.



Sean says he's able to save about 65% of his take home pay. His expenditures may seem minimal, but he assures us he doesn't feel shorted.

"The challenge comes in deciding what will actually make my life better and what's just unnecessary waste," he said.

Last year, he relocated from Denver to Minneapolis and moved in with his girlfriend. They now split rent, reducing his living expenses by about $6,000 to $7,000 annually.

Traveling and eating out are his biggest "vices," but he tries to keep his recurring costs low so he has the flexibility to enjoy the finer things.

"I feel like I already live like a king — I travel frequently, eat at delicious restaurants all the time, and don't worry about money," Sean said. "If I spent another $20,000 each year on random stuff, the only change would be that I'd start worrying about money."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

How Angelina Jolie Became The Most Famous Actress In The World [PHOTOS]

0
0

Angelina Jolie red carpet

On Tuesday, Angelina Jolie published an op-ed in the New York Times revealing she has undergone a preventative double mastectomy.

The news was a surprise, for however hard Jolie tries to keep her private life just that, the actress and her fiancé Brad Pitt are often front page fodder.

From her scandalous beginning with Pitt to her most current medical confession, see how Angelina Jolie went from wild child indie actress to celebrated humanitarian and arguably the most famous woman in the word.

Angelina Jolie was born in 1975 in Los Angeles to actor parents, Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand. She was raised primarily by her mother, who quit her career to raise Jolie and her brother, essentially as a single mother.



Jolie made her screen debut as a child alongside her father Jon Voight in "Lookin' to Get Out" in 1982.



But her film career truly began a decade later with the low-budget production "Cyborg 2" in 1993.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider
Viewing all 61683 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images