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17 people who accomplished incredible things at a shockingly young age

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Statue Augustus Caesar Octavian

Picture a wunderkind.

The names of tech giants like Mark Zuckerberg, Evan Spiegel, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates tend to come to mind when we're thinking about people who achieved extraordinary success at a young age.

However, the idea of the young prodigy isn't really a modern phenomenon.

From Alexander the Great to Alexander Hamilton, here are 17 individuals throughout history who accomplished incredible things early in life:

SEE ALSO: 7 rich and famous people who started out living in their cars

DON'T MISS: Many founding fathers were shockingly young when the declaration of independence was signed in 1776

Alexander the Great conquered countries at 18

Hellenistic conqueror Alexander the Great accomplished extraordinary things during his short time on earth.

After the assassination of his father, Philip II of Macedon, Alexander ascended to the throne. Two years later, at the age of 18, he began expanding his domain. He spent most of his reign conquering lands from Greece to India. The result was one of the largest ancient empires and the spread of Hellenistic culture throughout the Mediterranean world.

Alexander never lost a battle. In the end, he simply burned out, succumbing to a fever at the age of 32.



Augustus Caesar (Octavian) became a Roman Senator at 20

Today, Augustus is remembered as the first emperor of Rome.

However, his career began long before securing this unprecedented role in 27 B.C.E.

In 44 BCE, Augustus was still known as Octavian. He was Julius Caesar's 19-year-old grand nephew, adopted son, and heir.

On the Ides of March, Caesar was assassinated while the teenage Octavian was undergoing military training. Instead of fleeing in the aftermath of the murder, Caesar's heir returned to Rome and threw himself into the simmering political intrigue.

For years, he navigated multiple shifting alliances, mass killings, and all-out war. Octavian finally prevailed in 31 B.C.E. when his forces defeated Mark Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium, according to Roman-Empire.net.



Joan of Arc turned a war around at 17

The bloody Hundred Years' War devastated medieval France.

However, in 1429, a teenage peasant girl helped turn things around for the country.

Backed by a small coterie of supporters, Joan of Arc managed to convince her country's leadership to give her a commanding role in the army. She was 17 years old when she chopped off her hair, donned men's clothes, and rode off to battle, according to History.com.

Nine days after she arrived at the besieged city of Orléans, Joan beat back the English forces and became a national hero.

Unfortunately, she was eventually captured, given a sham trial, and burned at the stake by the English. She was only 19 when she was executed. The charges were debunked and she was declared a martyr several decades too late. Centuries later, Joan of Arc was canonized as a saint in 1920.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 10 best places in the world to retire in 2017

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Playa del Carmen Beach Mexico

There’s a new best country in the world to retire, according to the experts at International Living (IL), an authority on global retirement and relocation opportunities. In its Annual Global Retirement Index, Mexico — one of the most popular countries among U.S. expats — has edged out last year’s No. 1, Panama.

But truth be told, Mexico (which was ranked No. 3 in 2016), Panama and Ecuador are within a hair of each other in the new International Living rankings.

“There’s just a tenth of a percentage point difference in their total rankings,” said Dan Prescher, an International Living senior editor who lives with is wife Suzan Haskins in Cotacachi, Ecuador.

Retiring Abroad Is Growing in Popularity

If you’re intrigued because you’re considering joining the expat community, you’re in good company.

According to a recent AP story by Maria Zamudio, the number of Americans retiring outside the U.S. grew 17 percent between 2010 and 2015. Currently, about 400,000 American retirees live abroad. And, Zamudio noted, that number is “expected to increase over the next 10 years as more baby boomers retire.”

Where the International Living Top 10 Countries Are

Six of IL’s Top 10 places in this year’s ranking are nearby, in Latin America — either in North America (No. 1 Mexico), Central America (No. 2 Panama, No. 4 Costa Rica and No. 8 Nicaragua) or South America (No. 3 Ecuador and No. 5 Colombia). Just three are in Europe (No. 7 Spain, No. 9 Portugal and a new addition to the winners’ list, No. 10 Malta); just one is in Asia (No. 6 Malaysia). Thailand, No. 7 in last year’s rankings, fell out of the Top 10. (See the slideshow below for specifics about each of the 10 countries atop International Living’s 2017 list.)

Incidentally, communities in Mexico, Colombia, Spain, Nicaragua and Portugal are also in the just-released Top 10 Best Places to Live Overseas in 2017 from Live and Invest Overseas.

Most of International Living Top 10 countries this year “have been heavyweight contenders in our Index for some time,” said Eoin Bassett, IL’s editorial director, who is based in No. 21 Ireland. This year, IL turned its sights on 24 countries, adding Bolivia to its list (No. 18, by the way).

Where the Buys Are

“The big news for U.S. citizens in the past year regarding retiring around the world was the strength of the dollar. It has made living in some countries, especially Latin America, incredibly cost effective,” said Prescher. “The exchange rate was outrageous in our favor. The Mexican peso today is 20 to 1 against the U.S. dollar, which has made Mexico an incredible deal.”

Expats in Mexico told IL that they live well there on as little as $1,200 a month. “My rent is $575 a month for a two-bedroom apartment with a great modern bathroom and nice kitchen,” San Francisco native turned Puerto Vallarta resident Jack Bramy told International Living.

How International Living Ranks Countries for Retirement

To compile its 2017 ranking, International Living’s editors, correspondents, contributors and contacts around the world crunched data and personal insights for 10 categories (from Cost of Living to Visas & Residence to Fitting In to Climate).

Cost of living is a major retirement concern for Americans, according to a recent Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies survey of U.S. workers. Respondents told Transamerica that an affordable cost of living was their most important criteria for where to live in retirement.

So what else made these 10 countries so great this year?

Mexico was best among International Living’s Top 10 for Entertainment & Amenities, but also had impressive scores in every other category.

I asked Prescher why Mexico scored so well for entertainment and amenities. Turns out, he and his wife were visiting the picturesque town of Ajijic, in western Mexico, at the time. “Oh man, there’s nothing like good quality Mexican food and music,” he said. “We’re just 50 minutes from Guadalajara, the second largest city in Mexico and a world-class city like Miami. If you can’t find it or do it in Guadalajara, it’s not worth finding or doing.”

What Made the Winners Win

Runner-up Panama received IL’s best scores for Benefits & Discounts and Visas & Residence. “Panama changed its visa situation a little and it’s now incredibly easy to get a residency visa,” said Prescher.

The country is also well known for its Pensionado program of discounts for retirees there who receive at least $1,000 a month in income. The deals, which Prescher says are “some of the best in Central America and South America,” include 50 percent off entertainment; 30 percent off bus, boat and train fares; 25 percent off airline tickets and 20 percent off doctor’s bills. Prescher also calls health care in Panama City “world-class.”

Ecuador had top scores for Buying and Renting (tied with Nicaragua) and for Climate. “Ecuador has always been one of the most affordable places for real estate in Central America and the strong dollar did nothing but improve that,” said Prescher. And don’t get the ex-Nebraskan started on the unbeatable weather in his now-home country; living near the Equator, he pays nothing for heating or air conditioning.

Costa Rica led the Top 10 for Healthy Lifestyle (tied with Nicaragua); Malaysia for both Fitting In (“it’s a nexus for world cultures,” said Prescher) and Health Care (it’s a popular medical tourism destination); Spain for Infrastructure (great mass transit and Internet) and Nicaragua for Buying & Renting, Cost of Living and Healthy Lifestyle.

Bassett calls Nicaragua “the lowest-cost retirement destination in Central America,” adding that “every year it offers more and more by way of amenities and opportunities.”

Along with Spain and Malta, Bassett noted, Portugal “is an even more appealing destination heading into 2017 with the strength of the dollar against the Euro.”

Advice for Retiring Abroad

Even the International Living folks don’t think you should move to a foreign country for retirement just because it scores well in their (or anyone else’s) ranking, though. Before relocating, said Prescher, “profile yourself ruthlessly about what you really want in a place. Find out what you can and can’t live without.” Then, be certain any locale you’re considering is a match.

And before making a permanent move to a particular place, Prescher added, “try it out for as long as you can. See what it’s like to be there not just on vacation, but long enough to set up Internet access and to open a bank account.”

I’d add one giant caveat about the International Living rankings: The political and economic climate in the U.S. in 2017 could change considerably, which could, in turn, affect the lure of some countries as retirement havens.

As Prescher said presciently: “The presidential situation has changed completely, so everyone will be watching. What we will do with our relationship with Mexico and European countries is anybody’s guess.”

The following are the Top 10 countries to retire abroad in 2017, according to International Living (IL), an authority on global retirement and relocation opportunities. The ranking comes from IL’s Annual Global Retirement Index, sizing up 24 countries in 10 categories from Cost of Living to Climate.

SEE ALSO: A couple who quit work at 43 to travel Europe on $18,000 a year share their best advice for retiring early

DON'T MISS: How much money you need to save each day to become a millionaire by age 65

1. Mexico

Mexico knocked off last year’s No. 1 Panama because you can live well there for under $1,200 a month, it’s close to the United States, the locals are friendly, English is widely spoken in popular retiree spots, the expat community is large (more than 1 million Americans live there), health care is affordable and high quality and the culture and lifestyle are fantastic. And after becoming a legal resident, retirees over 60 can grab special discounts on airlines, restaurants, groceries and medical care.

Although IL’s experts say there are parts of Mexico they can’t recommend due to crime, the country overall offers “arguably the easiest transition to expat life around.”

Best of all, says IL, “your dollars now buy nearly 50 percent more pesos than they did just a few short years ago.”

Expat Jack Bramy told IL’s editors: “The cost of living in Mexico allows me to live a fun life on my Social Security check.”



2. Panama

International Living editors describe their second-best place in the world to retire as “modern, comfortable and tolerant.” Panama’s also extremely convenient for Americans. Better still, says IL, Panamanians usually treat foreigners like VIPs.

Says IL Panama Editor Jessica Ramesch: “With top-notch cellular and internet connections, Panama offers a user-friendly and familiar environment you may not have expected to find in the warm, sunny tropics.”



3. Ecuador

Ecuador has been at or near the top of International Living’s annual best places to retire index for years. A few reasons: excellent weather (you can choose almost any climate you like by moving up or down in altitude); affordable health care and real estate and an assortment of retiree benefits.

“Fitting in once you arrive is remarkably easy,” said IL Senior Editor Dan Prescher, who has lived in Ecuador with his wife for years.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

All the most important car tech that came out of CES 2017

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mercedes eq paris

Automakers once again made a big splash at the Consumer Electronics Show this year. 

Ford, Mercedes, BMW, FCA, Volkswagen and more showed off new automotive tech ranging from self-driving systems and electric cars to new user interfaces.

In total, some nine automotive manufacturers, 11 tier-one auto suppliers, and more than 300 vehicle tech-related exhibitors were in attendance at the massive tech conference.  

Here's a breakdown of the most important car tech to come out of the show. 

SEE ALSO: 16 high-tech features you need in your next car

Ford debuted its new autonomous test vehicle.

Ford showed off its next-generation Fusion hybrid autonomous vehicle, which will be used in Ford's test fleet. It features more processing power and new hardware, including improved lidar sensors with a sleek design that makes them less obvious. 

 



Ford also officially announced that it was adding Alexa to its vehicles.

The integration will let Ford users with SYNC 3 access Alexa, Amazon's cloud-based voice service, inside the car to do things like check the weather, play audiobooks, add items to shopping lists, and even control Alexa enabled smart home devices.

For example, you could tell Alexa to set your smart thermometer to a certain temperature or turn on the lights at your house while you're driving. Ford will begin rolling out this feature in its vehicles with SYNC 3 this summer.

What's more, though, the automaker also announced that owners of some vehicles will be able to also use Alexa while at home to perform certain vehicle functions beginning later this month.

Owners of the Ford Focus Electric, Fusion Energi, and the C-MAX Energi will soon be able to use their Amazon Echo or Dot at home to do things like lock or start the car remotely by simply saying "Alexa, ask my FordMobile to lock my car," or "Alexa, ask my FordMobile to start my car."

 



BMW showed off its new HoloActive Touch system.

BMW debuted a new user interface concept for the interior of the car called the HoloActive Touch system at the show. 

The system is a virtual "free floating" display that's controlled via finger gestures, not a touchscreen. The system is designed so that the user receives haptic feedback so that it feels like touching a button. 

It's a little complicated, but basically the system uses sensors to detect where your finger is pointing and then a vent shoots air to that location to provide haptic feedback. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Tesla is rolling out its new Autopilot system this week — here's everything you need to know (TSLA)

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elon musk champagne

A few lucky Tesla owners will get to try out new Autopilot features this week.

Tesla is rolling out new Autopilot features enabled by its second-generation hardware system this week, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Twitter over the weekend. Musk first announced in October that cars currently in production will be equipped with new hardware that will improve Autopilot and enable full autonomy later on.

Tesla is rolling out some of the new Autopilot features enabled by the second-generation hardware system to a group of 1,000 testers on Monday. People outside the test group with the new cars will get the update by the end of the week "if all looks good," Musk said.

Here are the features going live this week and a breakdown of how the new Autopilot system works:

 

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk: Fully autonomous Tesla will drive across the country by the end of 2017

Tesla vehicles built between September 2014 and October 2016 were equipped with one camera used for Autopilot. But new Tesla cars now have eight cameras that provide 360-degree visibility and 250 meters (820 feet) of range.



New Tesla cars still come with one radar sensor, but it has enhanced processing that allows it to see through heavy rain, fog, dust, and even a car in front of it.



Tesla is also still using 12 ultrasonic sensors — however, they have been updated to detect hard and soft objects at nearly twice the distance of the previous sensors.

RAW Embed



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12 parents reveal their best money-saving tips

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Parent kids cooking kitchen family

Ask any parent for their best money-saving tips and they're bound to have a trick or two up their sleeve. 

After all, raising kids is expensive: The average American family pays over $11,000 just in the first year of a child's life, and nearly $250,000 by the time they're 18

Business Insider asked parents with children of all ages to weigh in on the financial side of having kids, and they shared their best advice for keeping their household bills in line while supporting a family. 

Below, we've anonymously included 12 of these parents' best money-saving hacks (Note: Responses have been edited for length and clarity.):

SEE ALSO: Real parents reveal 16 kid expenses that are worth the money

DON'T MISS: The biggest money mistake parents make before having their first child

"Shop consignment shops for kid's clothes. Save 'new' clothes for special occasions."



"Know what you're trying to accomplish and understand your values. It's easier to say no to impulse buys and pointless spending when you know your values and have an idea of how to use your money to accomplish your most important goals"



"Use free technology programs that can help you payoff loans or save more. Student Loan Hero allows you to learn how to manage student loans, Acorns to roundup change towards savings, and Level Money to create a budget."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

17 mouthwatering foods you need to try in Cuba

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Plantains

The stabilized relationship between the US and Cuba has inspired many travelers to finally visit the enigmatic country.

Cuba has some beautiful scenery — and some delicious food.

From croquetas stuffed with melted cheese and ham to sticky sweet plantains, Cuba's cuisine offers rich and tasty flavors.

Frita

Known as a Cuban hamburger, the frita is a patty of seasoned ground beef — sometimes mixed with chorizo — topped with crunchy shoe string fries, all sandwiched in between a Cuban bun. Some places even add a fried egg.   



Elote

Corn on the cob in Cuba is known as elote, and it's done a little differently than in the US. The corn is grilled, rolled in cojita cheese, sprinkled generously with chili powder, and finished off with some lime juice, making for a richer and spicier taste.



Paella

Although Spain is the traditional destination for paella, Cuba offers its own version made with ham, chicken, mussels, chorizo, shrimp, scallops, and lobster. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The Internet of Everything — $12.6 trillion ROI expected over the next decade [SLIDE DECK]

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future of retail deck slide 10

Everything around us is becoming connected. As a result, we are seeing shifts in investments and returns. There is already a great demand for network expansion, cyber security and insurance. And generally, the prices of hardware will fall as IoT becomes less of a novelty.

All of this opens up a huge opportunity for everyone to make and save a lot of money. We will invest $6 trillion in IoT between 2015 and 2020, which will yield $12.6 trillion ROI over the next decade. Enterprise will make up the majority of the investment dollars, followed by government and consumer.

BI Intelligence has created a slide deck exploring the most disruptive trends in IoT. To get a more detailed view of the progression, landscape and projections of the Internet of Everything, access the complete slide deck by clicking here.

Some of the topics covered include:

  • The market drivers for the IoT.
  • Forecasts for the IoT market.
  • A breakdown of how many industries are utilizing IoT devices.
  • A look at how governments are using the IoT to revolutionize their cities and defense.
  • An examination of the smart home and connected car market.
  • And much more.

Below are 8 sample slides from the 60-page deck. Want the full deck? Access it here for FREE >>

Want the full 60-page slide deck?  Access it Here - FREE >>



Want the full 60-page slide deck?  Access it Here - FREE >>



Want the full 60-page slide deck?  Access it Here - FREE >>



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

The 19 best photos from the 2017 Golden Globes

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ryan gosling emma stone

You've seen the show and the best-dressed celebs at the Golden Globes, but you probably didn't see every moment that went on during the show and behind the scenes. 

INSIDER rounded up some of the best moments from the red carpet, the show, and the after-parties you may have missed. 

"Preacher" and "Loving" actress Ruth Nega dazzled on the red carpet.



Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake were picturesque.



While all eyes were on the dresses, Sarah Paulson kissed Amanda Peet on the Globes' red carpet.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Taiwan's smog-eating twisting tower will feature luxury apartments — take a look inside

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taiwan tower

A twisting, smog-eating tower is going up in Taipei, Taiwan.

On the outside, 23,000 trees and shrubs — nearly the same amount found in New York's Central Park— will fill the skyscraper's facade, roof, and balconies. And inside, it will feature 40 luxury condos.

The plants will absorb 130 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year — the equivalent of about 27 cars, lead designer Vincent Callebut tells Business Insider.

Called the Tao Zhu Yin Yuan Tower, it's set to open by September 2017. Take look inside.

SEE ALSO: The 7 cities with the most green space around the world

The 455,694-square-foot structure, a double-helix twisting 90-degrees from base to top, is modeled on a DNA strand, Callebut says.



The 20-story skyscraper will sit in the Xindian District, in the heart of Taipei City, between the mountains and the Tamsui river.



The photo on the right is what the tower will look like once the trees and shrubs are planted.



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5 restaurant chains that will dominate in 2017 (PNRA, BWLD, HABT, PLAY, RRGB)

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habit burger 3975

2017 is poised be a difficult year for the restaurant industry. 

However, some restaurant chains are still expected to shine. 

Every year at the annual retail-centric ICR Conference, which is taking place this week in Orlando, Florida, sell-side equity research analysts make bets on which restaurant stocks will soar in the new year. Analysts pick just one of the public restaurant companies attending the conference as the "best restaurant stock pick" of 2017. 

Out of public restaurant companies attending the event this year — which include chains like Chipotle, Shack Shake, Domino's, and Panera — here are the five that analysts are predicting will dominate in 2017. 

SEE ALSO: 7 chains that will dominate the restaurant industry in 2017

Panera

Panera Bread was the most popular pick, with four analysts from Barclays, Piper Jaffray, Cowen and Company, and Jefferies betting on the fast-casual chain. 

One reason for Panera's popularity is its efforts to modernize, including its push to replace human cashiers with kiosks dubbed Panera 2.0 and, more recently, its investment in delivery. 

"With Panera 2.0 effectively implemented across the company base, investor attention has turned to the implementation of delivery, which our delivery model suggests will annually contribute ~1-2% same store sales and 2-3% to [earnings per share] growth through 2020," wrote Andrew Charles of Cowen and Company. 

These changes, coupled with the company's doubling down on menu transparency, resulted in analyst agreement that the company was about to transition from recovery mode to a period of growth. 



Buffalo Wild Wings

Guggenheim Securities Matt DiFrisco made the controversial call that Buffalo Wild Wings will be one of the biggest winners of 2017, due to new strategies, more efficient labor usage, and a favorable football schedule (there will be a five more bowl games in the first quarter of this year than there were last year). 

"During the August Analyst Day, management highlighted 4 [same-store sales] drivers: Lunch, Takeout/ Delivery, Value and Loyalty giving tangible progress updates," wrote DiFrisco. "In our opinion, these categories should differentiate BWLD and if executed, meaningfully reverse the negative 2016 [same-store sales]."

DiFrisco also noted that the involvement of activist investor Marcato Capital and the appointment of a new CFO in October could have a positive impact on the company, especially when it comes to increasing the percentage of franchised locations — something that he believes will help the company.



Dave & Buster’s

Dave & Buster's caught analysts' attention as the experience-focused chain has gained momentum in the last few years, with Andy Barish of Jefferies and Sharon Zackfia of William Blair & Company choosing the company as their top pick for 2017. 

"With about half of its revenue stemming from games, Dave & Buster’s has an inherently experiential nature that has been a strong driver of same-store sales gains and traffic well ahead of the industry average over the past several years," Zackfia wrote. 

Another bonus for Dave & Busters is that the chain has "no direct competitors," according to Barish. Despite the fact restaurants are increasingly focusing on "experience," Dave & Busters is the largest chain to make about half of its revenue from games and not food. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

THE FUTURE OF RETAIL 2016 [SLIDE DECK]

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future of retail deck slide 10

The retail industry is on the cusp of a fundamental transformation driven by digital technologies. And as retailers adapt to the digital age, the line between physical and digital commerce is becoming increasingly blurred.

BI Intelligence has created a slide deck exploring the most disruptive trends in e-commerce.  Access the full deck now for free by clicking here.

Some of the topics covered include:

  • The size of the retail and e-commerce markets.
  • The breakdown of e-commerce sales by product category.
  • How legacy retailers are adapting to digital.
  • Which e-commerce companies are leading the way.
  • What omnichannel strategies retail companies are adopting.
  • And much more.

The companies mentioned in this year's presentation include:  Sports Authority, Amazon, Best Buy, Apple, Wayfair, Target, Dollar Shave Club, Instacart, Walmart, CVS, and Sam's Club.

Below are 8 sample slides from the 65-page deck.  Want the full deck? Access it here for FREE >>

Want the full 65-page slide deck?  Access it Here - FREE >>



Want the full 65-page slide deck?  Access it Here - FREE >>



Want the full 65-page slide deck?  Access it Here - FREE >>



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.



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GOLDMAN SACHS: 17 stocks that have a long way to fall

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goldman sachs traders

Goldman Sachs has some ideas about what US stocks to sell in 2017.

Shares of Kohl's Corp., the American retail chain, have the most downside among US stocks, closely followed by Boeing and Transocean, according to the most recent US quarterly outlook published by Goldman Sachs.

The firm arrived at the downside ranking of a stock by looking at the percent difference between its current trading price and Goldman's target price set for the stock.

We provide a list of the top 17 US stocks with the most downside, according to Goldman's rankings, below.

1. Kohl's

Ticker: KSS

Current price: $49.38

Target price: $35

Downside to target: -29.1%

Source: Goldman Sachs



2. Boeing

Ticker: BA

Current price: $155.68

Target price: $113

Downside to target: -27.4%

Source: Goldman Sachs



3. Transocean

Ticker: RIG

Current price: $14.74

Target price: $11

Downside to target: -25.4%

Source: Goldman Sachs



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The 30 best things to drink at Disney

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The INSIDER Summary

• There is plenty to do throughout the day while visiting Disney World, but be sure to save time to sip on great cocktails or take a flavored lemonade on-the-go. 
• Some of the great drinks include a Birthday Caketini, Safari Amber Lager, and a Matcha Frappe. 


You may think you’ve sipped and slurped it all before, but there are plenty of under-the-radar options across Walt Disney World worth taking note of. Whether you’re into a boozy high-end slushy, a creative new cocktail, or simply some of the best iced tea in the parks, there’s something memorable for every type of park guest. Explore Disney’s flavored lemonades, festive milkshakes, and a few unexpected surprises, right this way:

Tastes of the World

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Skip the Sprite! At Disney Springs' Coca-Cola Store, guests can sample a tray of sixteen sodas from around the globe or even enjoy them as miniature ice cream floats.



LeFou's Brew

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Take a cool-down break at Beauty and the Beast-themed Gaston's Tavern, whose fruity foam-topped frozen apple juice is one of the best signature slushes in the Magic Kingdom.



Night Monkey

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This powerful blend of rum, guava, mint, and coffee is one of the showstoppers at Animal Kingdom's Nomad Lounge, and is so flavorful, it can even be made without alcohol.



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I'm a 22-year-old New Yorker who makes $32,000 a year — here's what I spent in a week

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Welcome to Money Diaries, where we're tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working women: money. We're asking millennial women how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we're tracking every last dollar. (Thanks, New York mag, for the inspiration.)

Today, a web editor in New York City, putting down a security deposit for a new apartment.

Industry: Digital Media/Editorial
Age: 22
Location: NYC
Salary: $32,000, plus freelance work
Paycheck Amount (2x a month): ~$1,200
Roommates: 1

Monthly Expenses:

Rent: $760
Loan Payments: They haven’t kicked in yet; I just graduated in May and don’t have to begin making payments for six months. My parents also offered to make my loan payments until I have a more permanent/higher-paying job.
Utilities: $25 for internet, around $40 for electricity
Transportation: Monthly Metrocard, $116
Phone Bill: Still on family plan, all paid for by my parents
Health Insurance: Still on parents’ insurance
Savings: I opened a Mutual Funds account several years ago and make deposits whenever I come into extra cash. (There’s around $8,000 in there currently.)

Day 1

9 a.m. — Grab a coffee at Starbucks to fuel up for a morning of apartment hunting. $3

1 p.m. —Weekly Whole Foods trip for groceries. Splurged on Halo Top ice cream. Also pick up zucchini, hummus, mozzarella, popcorn, granola, fruit, and some other things. $31

3 p.m. — Found a new apartment through Craigslist! Paid the security deposit. Will be moving to Park Slope with two roommates. $200

7 p.m. — Made caprese salad for dinner from my WF haul.

Daily Total: $234



Day 2

9 a.m. — Cereal for breakfast at home. I’m not a huge breakfast person, but my commute is pretty long right now, so if I don’t eat before work, I show up super hangry. Honey Nut Cheerios are the solution. 

1 p.m. — Brought my own lunch to work, but some coworkers invited me to join them in the cafeteria, so I paid $5 for a sandwich. Seems worth it to socialize at my new job! $5

7 p.m. — Mac 'n' cheese for dinner. It’s Kraft-style, but since it’s from Whole Foods, it’s healthy, right?

Daily Total: $5



Day 3

10 a.m. — Have breakfast at the office since I slept through my alarm and didn’t eat at home. They have fruit, peanut butter, coffee, and some other snacks, so I don’t have to spend any money.

12 p.m. — Office coffee #2. The Starbucks around the corner is tempting, but I can’t justify spending money on lattes when they’re free at work.

2 p.m. — Brought my lunch to work; some frozen Trader Joe’s meal I found in the back of my freezer, supplemented with snacks from work.

7 p.m. — It’s unreasonably hot, so I pop into Starbucks mid-commute for an iced tea. $3

8 p.m. — Stop by Trader Joe’s to grab something for dinner. Craving Kung Pao cauliflower I got there last week. $5

Daily Total: $8



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10 awesome and weird iPhone accessories you probably need

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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.

Light KeyboardAs smartphones have become more ubiquitous, the number of things they can actually do has expanded.

There's a whole industry devoted to making add-ons for the computer in your pocket, and while a good chunk of them aren't exactly necessary for day-to-day life, they're often fun and creative enough to be worth it for the right niche of people.

No one device gets more of these weird little add-ons than the iPhone, so here are a few accessories for Apple's flagship device that we enjoy, even if they aren't totally practical.

This article was original published on 6/13/2016.

SEE ALSO: Bose’s latest Bluetooth headphones are one of the most well-rounded pairs you can buy

SEE ALSO: Amazon has slashed the prices of its newest Echo smart speaker and Kindle e-readers

External camera flash

If you find the flash of the current iPhone camera to be subpar, Concepter wants to help with the iBlazr 2. It connects to your phone via Bluetooth and integrates right into the default camera app on iOS — all you have to do is point and shoot.

You can adjust the iBlazr 2's light temperature and power on the device itself, and activate the flash by double tapping its back. Its creators say the light created by the iBlazr 2 is comparable to a "small but powerful flashlight." So while you shouldn't expect the same results you'd get in broad daylight, the iBlazr 2 will provide significantly more light than the standard iPhone camera's flash.

Concepter iBlazr 2 LED Wireless Flash, $55.61, available at Amazon.



Attachable shutter button

If you're looking for a way to protect your phone and bring back memories from your old point-and-shoot camera days, consider the SNAP! PRO by bitplay. The case is made out of shock-absorbing material to help your iPhone from the perils of the laws of physics, and the physical shutter button works with the default camera app. The SNAP! PRO also has a grip, which should help cut down on your number of blurry photos.

bitplay SNAP!Pro, $43.99, available at Amazon.

 

 



Attachable camera lens

Speaking of interchangeable lenses, Loha Life's solution lets you take macro and wide-angle shots on the go with a level of detail that the iPhone's default shooter can't quite match. This is a newer entry in the add-on market, but it's got stellar reviews on Amazon, it comes with a lifetime warranty, and it works with Android phones too. 

LOHA Premium Camera Lens, $17.99, available at Amazon.



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Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and 12 other banks hiring for high-paying jobs like crazy right now

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Goldman SachsIf you're looking for a new job in finance, you may want to check out openings at Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase, or Wells Fargo.

Those three companies are doing some of the heaviest hiring right now for jobs in the US that pay more than $100,000 base salary a year, according to Indeed.

The job search engine compiled a list of big banks currently trying to fill the most full-time jobs that pay over $100,000. The salary data is a combination of company and user input.

Here are the 14 big-name banks with the largest number of job openings in the US right now for high-paying jobs:

DON'T MISS: Amazon, IBM, and 8 other big companies hiring for high-paying jobs like crazy right now

SEE ALSO: The 50 best places to work in 2017, according to employees

14. UBS

Job openings (for positions paying more than $100,000 a year): more than 50

Percent of jobs paying more than $100,000 on Indeed: 0.55%

The Swiss global financial services company employs more than 60,000 employees.



13. Goldman Sachs

Job openings (for positions paying more than $100,000 a year): more than 100

Percent of jobs paying more than $100,000 on Indeed: 0.98% 

The American multinational finance company was founded in 1869 and employs more than 34,000 people.



12. HSBC

Job openings (for positions paying more than $100,000 a year): more than 150

Percent of jobs paying more than $100,000 on Indeed: 1.08%

With more than 266,000 employees, HSBC is one of the world's largest banking and financial services organizations.



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12 innovative features in Nissan's stunning new concept car

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Nissan vmotion concept car

Nissan unveiled a stunning new concept car at the Detroit Auto Show on Monday.

Called the Vmotion 2.0, the concept shows off Nissan's vision for its ProPilot system that makes cars partially self-driving. Nissan's Serena car in Japan features the ProPilot system, but it will make its way into cars in Europe this year and the next generation Nissan Leaf.

Scroll down for an in-depth look at Nissan's latest concept car:

SEE ALSO: Volkswagen just unveiled a self-driving, electric microbus concept with a range of 270 miles

Nissan's concept car highlights the automaker's vision for self-driving technology as well as its cars' general design features going forward. Starting with design, the concept comes with the new version of Nissan's "V" grille design, which now takes up the entire front of the car.



The car comes with a "floating roof," meaning it flows seamlessly from the A Pillar to the trunk without interruption. The roof also has silver thread accents.



The vehicle's geometric nature and sharp lines draws from Nissan's Maxima, though it has a slightly larger wheelbase (112.2 inches, to be exact) to increase the interior space.



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9 parents reveal the money habits they refuse to pass on to their kids

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BI Graphics_9 parents revela the money habits that won't be passing on to their kids_lead

From when to say "please" and "thank you" to how to drive a car, we learn a lot from our parents. 

Oftentimes, that includes picking up on their money habits as well. 

And while some of that financial wisdom consists of worthwhile advice that we'll turn around and pass along to our own kids, other habits are better off forgotten. 

Business Insider asked parents with children of all ages to weigh in on the financial side of having kids, and several respondents shared the habits and beliefs they learned from their own parents that they don't plan to pass down. 

Below, we've anonymously included nine money lessons real parents don't plan to instill in the next generation. (Note: Responses have been edited for length and clarity.)

 

 

 

SEE ALSO: 13 kid expenses that are not worth the money, according to real parents

DON'T MISS: Real parents reveal 16 kid expenses that are worth the money

"My parents had more kids than they could afford and had a 'trust it will all work out' attitude. I would like to teach my kids to be more practical about their life decisions and weigh the financial side of everything, including becoming a parent and choosing to grow their families."



From a purely financial perspective, fast food is deceptively expensive. Not exactly a smart way to feed a family on the cheap, health concerns aside.



"My parents didn't emphasize investing at all. I didn't learn about it until I was well into my 20s. My son already has an IRA (funded with earnings from work he does for my home business) and he follows its performance."



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