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Most food chains are failing this crucial test — here's how the biggest restaurants in the US measure up

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Dairy Queen Fast Food 24

Would you like a dose of antibiotics with that burger?

Even as some restaurant chains move to ditch antibiotics — in part due to customer backlash over the overuse of the drugs — most restaurant chains are still failing to make changes. 

There's evidence that antibiotic overuse is contributing to the rise of super-strong bacteria that no longer respond to antibiotics, something that could contribute to the rise of untreatable superbugs in the future. 

Despite this, 16 out of 25 of the biggest restaurant chains in America received a failing grade in new Chain Reaction report released on Tuesday. The report, compiled by six organizations dedicated to food safety and health, graded chains based on their policies, practices, and transparency regarding antibiotic use in their meat and poultry supply chains. 

Companies were given a numerical score (0-100%) and a letter grade (F-A). Here's the full list, ranking chains from the worst to the best. 

Applebee's — 0% (FAIL)

Applebee's was one of seven chains to receive a zero out of 100 in the report. The low score is due to the fact that the company did not respond to the Chain Reaction's survey or provide a public antibiotics policy. 



Buffalo Wild Wings — 0% (FAIL)

Buffalo Wild Wings also did not answer the survey, or provide public information about the chain's approach to antibiotics. 



Burger King — 0% (FAIL)

Ditto for Burger King...



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

10 chefs reveal their favorite foods to eat for a hangover

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kimchi ramen

A heavy, preferably carb-filled meal is a must after a fun night partying with friends. And in a city like New York, there's certainly no shortage of places to find a satisfying meal when you're nursing a hangover. 

ChefsFeed is an app that generates dining recommendations from a trustworthy source: the chefs themselves. Star chefs can use the app to recommend their favorite dishes from other restaurants. You can find recommendations for any kind of food you might be in the mood for, whether that's an extensive omakase meal or just a classic cheeseburger. 

We turned to ChefsFeed's guide to hangover meals to find out where top chefs get their comfort food fix in New York City.

SEE ALSO: This dining club treats toddlers to fancy meals at Michelin-starred restaurants — here's what it's like to eat with them

Chef Bryce Shuman, Betony

Pepperoni thin-crust pizza at Luzzo's — 211 1st Avenue, East Village

"This thin crust is awesome. Just get it. The pepperoni is great venture from the traditional Napoletana that I am also crazy about."



Chef Harold Dieterle, formerly of Perilla and Kin Shop

Soup dumplings at Grand Sichuan — various locations in New York City

"Biting into one of these whole dumplings makes for an amazing explosion in your mouth. Warm, comforting, sweet and salty. Make sure you go to the 7th Ave. location."



Chef Alain Allegretti, Beautique

Pho Ga at Thai Son — 89 Baxter Street, Chinatown

"The chicken broth is cooked perfectly, with the noodles and raw veggies getting steamed ever so slightly when they hit the hot broth. It reminds me of home with my mom. This is the perfect hangover food."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A grade-school philosophy teacher shares the most profound things kids have ever said

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boy thinking

As a philosophy teacher to grade-school students, Jana Mohr Lone is no stranger to getting her mind blown.

For the last 20 years or so, Mohr Lone has been the president of PLATO, a nonprofit focused on bringing philosophy to schools.

Though her students still have most of their baby teeth, Mohr Lone says a lack of life experience hardly deters them from reflecting on life's big mysteries: happiness, existence, knowledge, death.

Over the years, some quotes have really stuck with her. Here a select group she shared with Business Insider that are particularly profound.

SEE ALSO: Schools aren't teaching the most important subject for kids







See the rest of the story at Business Insider

RANKED: The 30 most creative people in advertising 2016

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susan hoffman

"Madison Avenue" may not still be where adland is based, but plenty of creatives are still keeping the spirit of advertising's glory years alive with their campaigns.

From glitzy Super Bowl spots, to apps that save lives, Business Insider's pick of the most creative people in the advertising industry in 2016 includes a portfolio of truly innovative work from across the globe.

Methodology: Earlier this year we put out a call for the advertising world to send in its nominations. To prevent nominations from being self-serving, we also asked each agency to nominate someone from a competing agency or brand. We also researched recent award winners, and the creatives who have generated new and buzzworthy work.

For the ranking, factors we considered included recognition within the industry, seniority in their respective agencies, size of the shop, and standout creative work that has garnered attention outside the advertising world over the past 12 months.

30. Kathleen Swanson, creative director at Anomaly LA

Swanson recently wrote Gatorade's Emmy-nominated retirement film for Peyton Manning, which was based on the hundreds of handwritten notes he had sent to family, teammates, and friends during his NFL career.

She joined Anomaly from TBWA\Chiat\Day LA in July this year.

Back at her former agency, she was also working on the Airbnb account and worked on the home sharing site's biggest global ad to date, "Never a Stranger," plus a Disney "Jungle Book"-inspired ad that showed treehouses you can rent on the site.



The "Dear Peyton" spot

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29. William Esparza, executive creative director at R/GA Hustle

Esparza was a teenage graffiti artist but after graduating at the Art Center College of Design he jumped into the ad industry, working at agencies including MAL, The Martin Agency, Cutwater, and TBWA\Chiat\Day.

At RGA Hustle, Esparza has been particularly instrumental in driving the agency's partnership with Apple's Beats.

The agency brought home a haul of nine Cannes Lions awards this year for its "Straight Outta Somewhere" meme generator, which allowed people to create their own NWA-style logos. More than 9 million memes were created, with everyone from The White House to other brands, such as Snickers, taking part.

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

10 entrepreneurs share their top ideas for creating passive income

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laptop

Passive income is all about creating systems that run on autopilot and deposit recurring income into your bank account with relatively low effort once established. It sounds like a dream, but there are more viable ideas for building passive income than ever.

Many high-performing entrepreneurs have more ideas than they have time to pursue, so we asked them what they would be doing to generate more passive income if they had more time.

If you aren't as busy, you can make one (or more) of these your own.

SEE ALSO: 10 things you can do to increase your confidence today

1. Upsell opportunities

In nearly every line of work, there are opportunities to create a passive (continuity) income stream. If you’re a dentist, you may only see patients once or twice a year but you can set up a teeth-whitening package to be paid and delivered monthly.

A personal trainer's income normally would come from meeting personally with clients, but they could create a passive income stream by selling a line of vitamin supplements that clients would purchase monthly. Assess your industry, and look for opportunities to create a continuous income flow.

—  Kevin Harrington, inventor of the infomercial, pioneer of the "As Seen On TV" industry, and original Shark on "Shark Tank"



2. Build a capital pool and invest in real estate

Someone once approached me and said he had 10 friends who had mortgages. If he got his friends to sell the mortgages, downgrade to rentals, take the equity out of the homes, and pool the capital together to purchase cash-flowing real estate, the cash flow could pay the combined rents indefinitely.

That means living for free, and they would save a fortune on interest payments. Anyone anywhere can put together a capital pool and invest into cash-flowing real estate and help people get out of mortgages.

—  Com Mirza, CEO of Mirza Holdings and "The $500 Million Man"



3. Internet marketing software

A business factoring company that seamlessly integrates with a particular sales-tracking software and provides real-time distribution of commissions. You would need to find a factoring company or an investor who specializes in funding direct-response companies, a risk analyst to audit risk associated with each sale within a company, and a third-party payment verification service.

Clients would be cash-flow poor, growth-oriented sales/marketing organizations. The benefits of this service would be: 1. Decreased cash-flow issues, 2. Less bookkeeping problems between clients/vendors 3. Unlimited tiers of sales/marketing distributors.

—  John Crestani, founder and CEO of Nutryst



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 20 most-watched TV episodes ever, ranked

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seinfeld 4

In today's streaming age, initial airings of important TV episodes are no longer the cultural events they once were.

According to Nielsen's measurements of the top network telecasts of all time, the top 20 most-watched TV episodes ever all date back at least a decade.

For example, the "Seinfeld" series finale, in 1998 — which had a very mixed reaction — was the most recent episode to crack the top 100.

Decades-old miniseries like "Roots" and "The Thorn Birds" and finale episodes of the most popular shows in TV history dominate the list.

We compiled the data from Nielsen on the most-watched broadcasts ever to create this list of the top episodes of TV.

Note: We've excluded all live broadcasts, including Super Bowls and award shows, as well as movies broadcast on TV, all of which appear prominently in Nielsen's top 100.

Check out the top 20 most-watched episodes of TV ever:

SEE ALSO: Here are the best TV shows of the past year, according to critics

20. "All In The Family"— "Edith's Problem"

Ratings: 25.2 million viewers*

Date aired: January 8, 1972

Plot (from IMDb): "Edith's irritability as of late may be a sign of her going through menopause. Archie is frustrated when he finds out she can't possibly have her 'change of life' in 30 seconds."

*Nielsen's viewer ratings are determined by measuring the average audience in each minute of a program as a representation of the total number of people who watched the show.



19. "The Fugitive"— "The Judgment: Part 2" (Series Finale)

Ratings: 25.7 million viewers

Date aired: August 29, 1967

Plot:"Lt. Gerard agrees to work with Kimble for 24 hours to prove his innocence, because someone who may have been there when his wife was killed, posted bail for the one-armed man."



18. "Roots"— Part 1

Ratings: 28.8 million viewers

Date aired: January 23, 1977

Plot:"A dramatization of author Alex Haley's family line from ancestor Kunta Kinte's enslavement to his descendants' liberation."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

27 books that can change your life forever, according to my coworkers

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reading

Books can be incredibly powerful. They have the ability to suck us in, take us on adventures, and influence the way we think.

They can teach us, move us, give us new perspectives, and help shape us. And the most powerful ones change our lives forever.

I asked my Business Insider colleagues to share the one book that has significantly influenced them.

If you're looking for life-changing books to read this fall, you may want to check these out:

SEE ALSO: 24 books that will make you a more well-rounded person

'The Road' by Cormac McCarthy

"This book gave me a real sense of my own mortality. I'm usually grateful for this, but not always! It also made me appreciate fatherhood more."

Nicholas Carlson, editor-in-chief of INSIDER

Amazon synopsis: A father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don't know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food — and each other.

"'The Road' is the profoundly moving story of a journey. It boldly imagines a future in which no hope remains, but in which the father and his son, "each the other's world entire," are sustained by love. Awesome in the totality of its vision, it is an unflinching meditation on the worst and the best that we are capable of: ultimate destructiveness, desperate tenacity, and the tenderness that keeps two people alive in the face of total devastation."

BUY IT HERE »



'The Tao of Pooh' by Benjamin Hoff

"This book introduced me to the idea that simplicity isn't the enemy of satisfaction; it's the essence of it. The inclusion of such familiar and beloved characters also helped the ideas stick in my mind."

Christina Sterbenz, weekend and features editor

Amazon synopsis: The how of Pooh? The Tao of who? The Tao of Pooh!?! In which it is revealed that one of the world's great Taoist masters isn't Chinese — or a venerable philosopher — but is in fact none other than that effortlessly calm, still, reflective bear. A. A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh! While Eeyore frets, and Piglet hesitates, and Rabbit calculates, and Owl pontificates, Pooh just is.

"And that's a clue to the secret wisdom of the Taoists."

BUY IT HERE »



'Anna Karenina' by Leo Tolstoy

"It was the rare work of fiction that actually changed how I saw the world. It made me want to be a more moral and better person."

Paul Schrodt, entertainment editor

Amazon synopsis: "Considered by some to be the greatest novel ever written, 'Anna Karenina' is Tolstoy's classic tale of love and adultery set against the backdrop of high society in Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

"A rich and complex masterpiece, the novel charts the disastrous course of a love affair between Anna, a beautiful married woman, and Count Vronsky, a wealthy army officer. Tolstoy seamlessly weaves together the lives of dozens of characters, and in doing so captures a breathtaking tapestry of late-nineteenth-century Russian society. As Matthew Arnold wrote in his celebrated essay on Tolstoy, 'We are not to take 'Anna Karenina' as a work of art; we are to take it as a piece of life.'"

BUY IT HERE »



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

We're paying off $124,000 in student loans using this handy spreadsheet

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millennial moola travis hornsby

Early in our relationship, my girlfriend let me know she had $124,000 in medical school loans.

I never had to deal with student loans myself, as I had an undergraduate scholarship and did not have to go to graduate school.

While helping her navigate through a myriad of options, I realized that choosing the right student loan repayment plan is confusing and complex.

There was some information out there to help with the process, such as student loan repayment calculators, but none accounted for details important to income-based repayment programs, such as family size, marital status, and income growth.

I steeped myself in the federal student loan program rules and studied the growing private loan refinancing market so we could make a plan. As an ex-bond trader, I decided I needed to create a spreadsheet in May 2016 to navigate the bureaucratic maze that is the federal student loan program.

Once I finished the tool, I realized the need is so great to understand the world of student loan repayments that I started doing consultations for people on the side. We decided that we want to pay off her loans as quickly and cheaply as possible.

Our goal was to find the lowest cost option among the various federal income-based repayment and private refinancing plans to repay her debt. All the numbers I will use in this article are real. The only thing I am anonymizing is her salary information. I will use $200,000 as an estimate for the starting salary of a new doctor at an academic teaching hospital.

SEE ALSO: A man who retired at 34 shares a spreadsheet that helped him get there

I enter all the relevant information on the first tab, as seen below.

I only need to input information into the 'Student Loan Inputs' tab to see the results of the analysis. I enter all of my girlfriend's information relevant to calculating her costs under the different repayment plans available. I will zoom in on each section to explain why each part matters and what to enter.



First, I need to enter in her total loan balance.

For the purposes of this analysis, I only include what she owes under the federal student loan repayment program. After all, if she had loans with a private lender, the analysis would be much simpler.

She could just apply to other lenders to see if they would give her a better deal. Then I estimate her average interest rate across all her loans and enter that information in as well. Typically, anyone with grad school debt usually has an average interest rate of 6% to 7%.



Next, I enter the income for a starting doctor at an academic hospital and future salary growth expectations.

This information determines the size of her monthly payments under the income-based repayment plans.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's what the young breakout stars of Netflix's 'Stranger Things' look like in real life

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Stranger Things

Once in a while, magic happens and a star is born. That's the case with Netflix's newest hit series, "Stranger Things."

The first season of the series, set in the 1980s, from brothers Matt and Ross Duffer ("Wayward Pines"), follows the disappearance of a young boy, Will Byers (Noah Schnapp), and the monstrous chain of events it launches in the small town.

Viewers weren't just enraptured in the series' references to some of the most memorable movies in cinema, but also they fell in love with the show's cast, especially its young stars.

“All the kids are getting tons of praise for feeling 'real,'" Carmen Cuba, the casting director on "Stranger Things," told the Los Angeles Times of the young actors' newfound fame.

Who are these kids and what's next for the talented bunch?

Here's a quick look at the young breakout stars of "Stranger Things":

SEE ALSO: The actress who plays Barb on 'Stranger Things' says she didn't think anyone would care about her

DON'T MISS: Everything you need to know about 'Stranger Things' — the Netflix show people are obsessed with

Noah Schnapp ...



... as Will Byers

Noah Schnapp plays Will Byers, whose disappearance becomes the obsession of his family and friends and leads to a monstrous chain of events.

Fun facts: Born in Scarsdale, New York, 11-year-old Schnapp started his acting career in school and community plays. When he was eight years old, his acting teacher recognized his talent and suggested he go professional.

Biggest credits so far: Schnapp voiced the lead character, Charlie Brown, in 2015's "The Peanuts Movie." That same year, he appeared in Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks' "Bridge of Spies."

What's next: The second season of "Stranger Things."



Finn Wolfhard ...



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

10 obscure words that will help you beat anyone at Scrabble

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Scrabble championship

Check out the final board from a World Scrabble Championship and you might feel like you're reading a foreign language.

You'd only know all those words if, like many Scrabble champions, you'd spent months poring over the dictionary, learning names for plant parts and ancient instruments.

We dug up the words from the last four years of Scrabble championships and highlighted some of the weirdest below. See if you can guess what they mean — we've included the definitions, too.

SEE ALSO: Here's How To Completely Destroy Your Opponents In Scrabble

From Merriam-Webster: Plural of gynoecium, or "the aggregate of carpels or pistils in a flower"



From Merriam-Webster: Archaic variant of piragua, or "a 2-masted flat-bottomed boat"



From Merriam-Webster: An alternate spelling of catty, or "any of various units of weight of China and southeast Asia varying around 1 1⁄3 pounds"



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 25 coolest new businesses in New York City

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coolest new businesses in nyc

New York City is known around the world for its diversity in food, culture, shopping, and recreation. But what truly makes it a standout city are the small businesses that bring its innovative and entrepreneurial spirit to life.

We've scoured the city to spotlight some of the coolest small businesses founded within the last three years.

From a pencil collector's paradise to a hip coworking community space to a chromotherapy spa, here are 25 of New York's coolest new businesses:

DON'T MISS: The 50 coolest new businesses in America

App of Joe

Select locations around Manhattan

What it is: An app for scoring $1 coffee around the city.

Why it's cool: Frequent visits to your local coffee shop for a $2 or $3 coffee can add up — especially if you're ditching the commercial chains for indie spots. The folks behind App of Joe, an iOS and Android app that launched in June, offer a membership-free solution: You can order tea and drip coffee for a flat fee of $1 and "fancy drinks" like a latte, macchiato, or cappuccino for $2 from indie coffee shops — currently about 20 — around Manhattan.



Archestratus

160 Huron St., Greenpoint, Brooklyn

What it is: A combination cafe and bookstore that only sells books about food.

Why it's cool: Inspired by her Sicilian grandparents, Paige Lipari, a former rare-books seller, wanted to open a shop that combined her love of books and food. In fall 2013, she opened Archestratus.

The book selection at Archestratus — named after an ancient Sicilian poet — includes cookbooks as well as fiction and nonfiction books inspired by food. Its cafe offers Sicilian-inspired pastries and dishes like rice balls. Archestratus also holds a number of workshops, cooking classes, and other weekly events.



Common

Williamsburg and Crown Heights, Brooklyn

What it is: A co-living community with full amenities.

Why it's cool: Common opened its first shared living space — dorm-style living for working adults — in Crown Heights last fall and has since opened two more locations in Brooklyn as well as one in San Francisco. In the past year, the company has received over 5,000 applicants looking for a room in one of its community-minded residencies.

Rent commonly runs upward of $1,500, though that includes all fees and utilities. The houses also come fully furnished and fit anywhere from 19 to 50 people.

But it's not just about finding a living space — Common encourages its members to build a strong community and get to know their roommates. Each household has member-led events like potlucks, wellness events, and book clubs.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

There is really only one investment banking business to be in right now

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lazy suit depressed sad business man banker

It has been a quiet year for dealmaking activity so far in 2016.

There has been much less deal activity in the equity markets, while mergers and acquisitions activity has also slowed. Syndicated loan activity has also dropped. 

That has led to a 14% drop in global investment banking revenue for the year to September 23, according to Dealogic. 

There is one bright spot, though.

Debt capital markets is the only business to see an increase in revenue, with fees up to $15.9 billion.

Here's what's driving the strong activity:

It's all about the highest quality bonds

Investment-grade bond issuance stands at a record $1.54 trillion, through 4,193 deals, up from $1.41 trillion last year.

That has fees from these kinds of deals at a record high, with banks earning $9.4 billion for running investment-grade bond deals. 

 



And the dollar

Yankee bonds — or bonds issued by foreign companies in the US in dollars — are also at a record, with yankee volume hitting $753.8 billion. 

Sovereigns, supranational and agency (SSA) issuers are responsible for a big chunk of this issuance, adding up to a record high $252 billion.

The volume of US dollar-denominated debt issued by issuers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa is also at a record high, at $513.1 billion. 



There have been a bunch of mega bonds

There has been a big increase in the number mega bonds — or $10 billion plus bonds — in the past year.

These deals add up to $179.8 billion for the year to September 23, a record high and up 7% from last year. Most recently, Microsoft raised $19.8 billion in a bond deal. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's what it takes to enter the US as a refugee

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bi graphics what it takes to become a US refugee

In light of the UN General Assembly adopting its recent New York Declaration on Refugees and Migrants, there has been much discussion on various aspects of the acceptance of refugees in the US.

Due to concerns over security risks and financial constraints, the subject of increasing the amount of refugees has been broached by the US presidential nominees and will most likely be fiercely argued in the upcoming election debates as well.

Having announced that the US will accept 110,000 refugees in 2017, which equates to a 57% increase since 2015, President Barack Obama drove home the commitment of the US in what he referred to as "a test of our common humanity."

Regardless of where one stands in the matter, it would be difficult to build upon the White House's seemingly scrutinizing process, or involve more agencies than the ones currently being utilized in the screening.

Here's a step-by-step guide of the US's process in permitting refugees to enter the country according to the TheWhite House.

SEE ALSO: This is what ISIS's 'human shield' looked like during their retreat

1. Applicants provide identification to the UN Refugee Agency.

As thousands of refugees apply to be processed, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees collects identifying documentation from the applicants, such as biodata (name, address, birthday, place of birth), biometrics (iris scans); and personal interviews. 

During this process, only applicants who are strong candidates for resettlement (less than 1% of global refugees) proceed to the next step.

The Department of Homeland Security also notes that there's recurrent vetting during this stage: "If there is doubt about whether an applicant poses a security risk, they will not be admitted."



2. A federally-funded Resettlement Support Center receives the applicants information.

As all of the identifying documents are collected, an applicant file is finally created.

Then, information to conduct a biographical security check is compiled.



3. US security agencies screen each applicant for security risks.

* FBI

* Department of Homeland Security

* US State Department

* National Counterterrorism Center

All of the above groups perform enhanced interagency security checks — the highest level of any category of traveler to the US — to look for anything that might lead them to believe that they're a security risk.

For Syrian applicants, an additional "enhanced" review is conducted by the Department of Homeland Security.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

9 innovative features in the 2017 Chevy Volt (gm)

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CV

You don't have to spend a fortune to get a teched-out car these days. 

Recently, I had the chance to try out the 2017 Chevrolet Volt. Pricing for the Volt begins at about $33,000  and I was blown away with the number of innovative features inside the car at that price.

Here's a look at some of technology in the car that makes it such a great deal. 

SEE ALSO: AOL's Tim Armstrong used a word that should have Yahoo employees shaking in their boots

The 2017 Chevy Volt has the range.

The Volt has an all electric range of 53 miles on a full charge. But with a full tank of gas and a full charge, the Volt can drive for up to 420 miles.



Once your charged up, you can select from a number of different 'Drive Modes.'

"Normal,""Sport," and "Mountain" modes are all electric. To tap into the gas power, you can select "Hold."



The Volt is compatible with Apple Car Play, so you have easy access to all of your data.

Connect your iPhone via the USB port and your apps supported by Apple Car Play will appear on the center screen. 

The 2017 Chevy Volt is also compatible with Android Auto. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

If you're refrigerating these foods stop

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Bowl of Eggs

Since coming onto the scene in the late 19th century, modern refrigeration has made a bunch of great things possible -- we're talking ice cream, lager beer, strawberries in December, meat that doesn't kill you, the list goes on. But those early ice-chipping inventors never could have fathomed just how reliant modern Americans would become on their electric iceboxes, cramming them full with no clue as to which foods actually require refrigeration. But believe it or not, some foods just have no chill.

Clear up some much-needed shelf space by transferring these curiously durable edibles from the cooler to the counter -- food will taste better, keep longer, and hey, there will suddenly be a lot more room for beer.

Hot sauce

No shame in Bey's game. Acidity is the key to hot sauce's durability, a quality that can dull when left in the fridge. Leaving it out maintains that spicy swag.



Maple Syrup

As a former Vermonter, this is a huge pet peeve of mine. Like honey, real maple syrup (i.e., none of that "pancake syrup" or "breakfast syrup" nonsense) will turn gritty and congeal when submitted to colder temps.



Apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, cherries & plums

While some people prefer their apples a cool 35 degrees, pitted and stone fruits actually keep better at room temperature where the chilly air can't make their sensitive internal structures mushy.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

7 behind-the-scenes pieces of concept art from the most iconic 'Star Wars' artist ever

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ralph mcquarrie star wars art book

"Star Wars: Episode VIII" isn't out for another year, but that doesn't mean you can't get your fix on a bunch of original "Star Wars" art.

On September 27, publisher Abrams is releasing a collection of concept art and behind-the-scenes work from renowned "Star Wars" artist Ralph McQuarrie who designed not only Darth Vader, but also R2-D2, C-3PO, and more.

"Star Wars Art: Ralph McQuarrie" contains storyboards, paintings, posters, and Lucasfilm's holiday cards which were all rescanned and photographed for the release. For the ultimate collector, the book contains hundreds of never-before-seen illustrations and unpublished interviews.

Abrams shared several images from the upcoming book exclusively with INSIDER ahead of its debut. Keep reading to check out some of McQuarrie's artwork.

McQuarrie came up with the concept design for C-3PO, a robot who was inspired by the character Maria from 1927's "Metropolis."

There's a small notation in the bottom righthand corner which reads, "This one is right." It's thought that this was from George Lucas himself saying he approved of this concept sketch.



This illustration of Cloud City was drawn in January 1978. The drawing was based on the Imperial City production illustration McQuarrie did for "Star Wars."



Here's McQuarrie's take on the iconic showdown between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker — right before Luke finds out Vader is his dad. This production illustration, made in August 1978, is simply titled "Sword fight on antenna."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

11 movies you should watch on Netflix before they’re gone next month

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back to the future

It's hard to tell what's more surprising: the fact that it's almost October already, or the fact that there are some really good movies leaving Netflix this month. The departures of some aren't surprising, while others might just come as a shock, but all are worth the time and queue space you'll allow them to take up. Keep in mind that the following ten films are disappearing throughout the month, so check the individual listings to be sure how much time you have left. And now, without further ado, let's see what's coming up to the chopping block for Netflix Instant.

Back To The Future

It seems like only yesterday that Back To The Future and its two sequels were added to the Netflix streaming lineup. Yet just as quickly, Marty McFly's adventures through time are vanishing like a photograph being altered by time itself. While most of you may already own the trilogy on Blu-ray or DVD, it's still comforting to know that the kids of the Netflix generation can discover all three adventures, much as we discovered them through multiple HBO showings in our childhood. So get 'em while the getting is good, kids!



The Exorcist

How in the world does Netflix decide to pull The Exorcist right as Halloween celebrations are starting to get into full swing? If we're being honest here, we're ready to blame the "early celebration" crowd who keep pushing Halloween earlier and earlier, forcing Netflix to dump this classic chiller before everyone gets to show it at their annual Halloween party. Though, to be fair, if you're hosting an annual Halloween party, you really should be varying the lineup from year to year. Still, one last time before watching the new TV series couldn't hurt, could it?



Beverly Hills Cop II

Eddie Murphy's been making the rounds lately for his role in the drama Mr. Church, but if CBS had zigged instead of zagged, we could have been talking about his role in the Beverly Hills Cop series they were looking to create. Instead, we have a Lethal Weapon series on Fox, and Tony Scott's entry into the Axel Foley franchise is leaving Netflix. Besides being the high gloss action/comedy hit we all know and love, any viewing of Beverly Hills Cop II is capped off with Bob Seger's underrated 80's hit "Shakedown." If we need to convince you any further, then maybe you should just press play and come back to us afterwards.



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This tiny McLaren is all-electric — and can be yours for $485

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Toy McLaren P1

The McLaren P1 went on the market for a cool million in 2014, and some early owners are now selling it for far more than that to people who just have to have the high-tech supercar.

But let's say you don't have a cool million. Let's say you aren't even gainfully employed. Let's say you aren't even finished with first grade!

Plus, maybe you're six years old and a real proponent of electric cars. Now you won't be left out when it comes to your McLaren dreams.

Yep, it's an all-electric McLaren P1, complete with scissor doors. Here's how McLaren described, in a statement:

McLaren Automotive has already revealed that one of the key strategies of its ... business plan is the development of a Pure Electric Vehicle (or EV) to one day sit in its Ultimate Series. Meanwhile a Pure EV based on today’s McLaren P1 is now available but only to a limited group of potential customers ... those under the age of six.  At least that’s the official guidance.   

The diminutive McLaren P1 differs from its larger brother in two important areas. Firstly, it has a central driving position, just like the iconic McLaren F1.  Then secondly, the young will be able to experience what adults never could: an open-top McLaren P1. Yet cleverly the design still retains McLaren’s signature dihedral doors. And like every McLaren, its acceleration is startling. The zero to maximum speed dash takes just two seconds. 

Check it out:

 

SEE ALSO: We drove the most important car McLaren has ever made

Here it is next to its big brother. It only comes in one color: Volcano Yellow. But it's all McLaren. Except that it doesn't have a 900-plus-horsepower twin-turbo V8 engine working with a hybrid electric motor.



Up close. If you look really, really close, you might be able to make out some carbon fiber. Kidding!



And yes, it has the famous McLaren doors. Because what self-respecting six-year-old would accept anything less?



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How Clinton and Trump compare on all the hot-button issues this election

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On November 8, voters all over the country will go to the polls to cast their ballot for the next president of the United States. 

In one of the most divisive contests in modern political history, Republican nominee Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton have sparred over important issues at stake this election, including immigration, national security, gun control, healthcare reform, and much more. 

During Monday's presidential debate, voters will get their first in-depth look at the candidates' platforms on domestic and foreign-policy questions. 

Here's how Clinton and Trump stack up in terms of policy proposals and public statements made on a number of topics that voters deem to be the most crucial in determining their choice.

SEE ALSO: Trump and Clinton are set to face off in what's expected to be the most watched debate ever

On immigration:

Read more about the candidates' stance on immigration here.



On the economy:

Read more about the candidates' stance on the economy here.



On gun control:

Read more about the candidates' stance on gun control here.



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A brand new '13th-century castle' in France has been under construction for 20 years — take a look inside

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Guedelon castle_view

When marveling at grand old buildings, it’s common to think, “They just don’t build them like this anymore.” But at a new castle in France, that saying does not apply.

In northwest Burgundy, two hours south of Paris, a castle is being built with the same materials, tools, and techniques that would have been used during the 13th century. The Guedelon Castle has been under construction for nearly 20 years, and serves as an immersive research and education project about medieval life and architecture.

Take a look.

SEE ALSO: The biggest real estate development in US history will have a puzzling centerpiece

The design of the castle is based on the architectural canons of the 12th and 13th centuries, which include high stone curtain walls and round flanking towers.



The venture was started by local chateau owner Michel Guyot and businesswoman Maryline Martin, who still orchestrates the project. 70 staff members currently work on the castle, with 35 directly involved in the construction. All the techniques they use — from how stone is cut to the makeup of the mortar — are modeled after 13th-century practices.



The construction site was opened to the public in 1998, and visitors are welcome to watch the building process in action. They're even encouraged to walk around and talk to the workers. According to the Independent, the project was entirely funded by that tourism as of 2014.

Source: The Independent



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