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Post-airpocalypse: Before and after photos of Beijing’s ‘smog season’

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A general view shows Beijing's skyline on a sunny day, China January 10, 2017.

Residents of China's capital are enjoying some much-needed respiratory respite this week, as suffocating smog finally subsided to clear blue skies.

In mid-December, for just the second time ever, Beijing issued a red alert for air pollution — warning of severe smog expected to last more than 72 hours.

The measures to combat the red alert were extensive. Traffic was cut in half when a new number-plate system was introduced, forcing odd-numbered cars off the road one day and even numbered plates the next. Meanwhile, workplaces and schools were shut and industrial plants operated under limited production.

Fortunately for Beijing's 21 million citizens, a breath of cold air lifted the blanketing smog from the gasping city earlier this week.

Below are some images that demonstrate the stark contrast, a tale of two cities, between Beijing under 'airpocalypse' and Beijing under azure skies.

The people in the background of this photo taken outside Tiananmen Square aren't out of focus — in December, visibility dropped to below 50 metres because of the smog.

Source: Reuters.



China's 'smog season' is largely down to the burning of coal, hence its occurrence — and worsening — in winter as families light fires to stay warm.

Source: South China Morning Post.



Flying conditions were far from ideal. On New Year's Day, 126 flights that should have been full of families returning from the holidays were cancelled.

Source: Reuters.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The bizarre moment a Liverpool player read a memo from his manager during a game

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Daniel Sturridge

LONDON — Football managers often nominate a player to communicate a tactical message to their fellow teammates during a game, but Liverpool took this to the extreme on Wednesday night.

Late on in an English Football League (EFL) cup semi-final clash with Southampton, Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge was handed a piece of paper containing manager Jürgen Klopp's instructions.

Sturridge proceeded to run around flashing the note to his teammates and bizarre pictures capture him reading the instructions while the ball is in play. Not that it made much difference: Liverpool lost the game 1-0.

Here's how the odd incident unfolded.

Losing 1-0 at Southampton's St. Mary's Stadium, Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp wanted to get a message out to his team about a tactical switch. Daniel Sturridge was summoned and handed a note.



Touchline cameras captured the striker reading the instructions while the ball was in play.



Sturridge shared the message with his teammates.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

25 of the strangest things people have done in a job interview

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toilet

Every job seeker wants to stand out from the competition, but some candidates go about it all wrong.

For instance, according to recent surveys from CareerBuilder, one interviewee sang her responses to questions, while another did a phone interview in the bathroom — and flushed.

"It's hard to say why a candidate would do some of these things," Rosemary Haefner, chief human-resources officer for CareerBuilder, tells Business Insider. "Maybe he or she is nervous, thinks an employer would find it funny, or perhaps the candidate simply has no boundaries."

"Regardless," Haefner says, "it could cost the candidate the job, so funny or not, it's likely not worth risking it with these actions. Your nerves can make you freeze up under the spotlight, and that's normal. How you handle that is what matters."

More than 2,600 hiring managers and employers shared with CareerBuilder the most memorable job-interview mistakes candidates have made. Here are 25 of the most unusual things that happened:

SEE ALSO: 12 things you say that can immediately disqualify you in a job interview

DON'T MISS: Here's what Elon Musk, Richard Branson, and 29 other successful people ask job candidates during interviews

Wrong answers

When asked what the candidate's ideal job was, they said "painter of birdhouses," even though they were interviewing for a data-entry clerk position.

A candidate said her hair was perfect when asked why she should become part of the team.

When asked why he wanted the position, a candidate replied, "My wife wants me to get a job."

A candidate said he wouldn't be willing to wear slacks because they don't feel good.

A candidate stated that if the interviewer wanted to get to heaven, she would hire him.



Childish behavior

A candidate asked to step away to call his wife to ask her if the starting salary was enough before he agreed to continue with the interview.

A candidate brought his childhood toys to the interview.



Rude behavior

A candidate started screaming that the interview was taking too long.

A candidate ate a pizza he brought with him (and didn't offer to share).



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 25 best beaches in the world

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Buzios Brazil

There's never been a better time to head for sunnier climes.

Luckily, Passport Magazine has released its list of the Best Beaches in the World, according to its in-the-know editors.

Whether you're looking for a secluded spot to relax or a lively, swelteringly-hot beach for a daytime party, add these stunning stretches of sand to your bucket list to get rid of the January blues.

From Bora Bora to Wales, here are the 25 best beaches in the world.

Matira Beach, Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Bora Bora is exactly what you'd hope to find in the South Pacific — blue lagoons, calm water, palm trees, dolphins, and volcanoes in the background.

 



Karekare Beach, Auckland, New Zealand

New Zealand’s Karekare Beach is just 20 miles from Auckland, but is packed with natural wonders — think lagoons or a walk through the volcanic cliffs of Waitakere Ranges Regional Park.



L’espiguette Beach, Aigues-Mortes, France

Unlike the stylish beaches found in Cannes, Nice and Saint-Tropez, the remote L’espiguette Beach is known for its natural beauty and spans for six miles, giving you a good shot at finding a quiet area. Only a 40 minute drive from Montpellier, the beach is also close to the town of Aigues-Mortes. 

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NYC's dinosaur museum is getting a major addition in 2020 — here's what it looks like

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The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) is known among New Yorkers as "the dinosaur museum."

It's the gorgeous old museum that Ben Stiller explores in "Night at the Museum"— the one with room after room of hulking dinosaur skeletons:

The American Museum of Natural History

Even if you've never been, you've probably heard of it. The museum has existed in one form or another since the 1870s, which means it's coming up on a big birthday: 150 years! As such, the museum's board is embarking on a $340 million, 235,000-square-foot addition to the already sprawling museum. 

Plans for the addition were announced on Wednesday morning in a press conference. Here's what we learned.

SEE ALSO: Step inside the Smithsonian's incredibly organized hidden collection rooms

This is the current model for the new "Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation."



The project's chief architect, Jeanne Gang, demonstrated the model during an event at the American Museum of Natural History on Wednesday morning.



Rather than focusing on one particular subject, the center instead focuses on education.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 10 best wines you can order on Deliveroo, ranked by a sommelier

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Matt Shot Hi

Food delivery apps like Deliveroo can save you the hassle of cooking by bringing your favourite restaurant food to your doorstep with the click of a button.

However, they can also save you a trip to the shop to pick up a bottle of wine to accompany your meal.

British online food delivery company Deliveroo launched its wine delivery service last year, and has since got a number of well-known wine merchants on board.

We teamed up with Deliveroo and Matt Day, chief wine officer and in-house sommelier at wine and food pairing app Corkscrew, in order to determine which bottle to order with your next delivery.

See the 10 most-ordered bottles on Deliveroo below, ranked from worst to best: 

10. 2015 TERRAPURA Pinot Noir Viña Terrapura, Chile from Lea & Sandeman Wine Merchants — £11.50

The lowest rated of Deliveroo's top wines by Day, he says it is “sweet-fruited and soft" and "could suit chargrilled tuna or wild mushroom dishes.”



9. Tinto Negro Malbec, Mendoza (Argentina) from Cellar.sw4 — £15.45

While this wine is one of the most popular in the UK, Day warns that it is "very alcoholic and therefore overpowers even rich meat dishes."



8. 2015 De Chansac Sauvignon Blanc Cotes de Gascogne from Jeroboams — £9.95

"Clean and fresh but a bit light for most dishes," Day said. "Try with creamy goat cheese or salads." And a bargain at £9.95.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Porsche now sells 21 different versions of the 911— here they are

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Porsche 911 GTS 991.2

On Monday, Porsche introduced five new versions of its iconic 911 sports car at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show.

All five models bear the GTS nomenclature. They include the Carrera GTS Coupe, the Carrera 4 GTS Coupe, the Carrera GTS Cabriolet, the Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet, and the Targa 4 GTS.

The GTS cars are all powered by a 450 horsepower variant of Porsche's new 3.0, twin-turbocharged, flat-six. According to Porsche, the Carrera 4 GTS Coupe can hit 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds while the rear-drive Carrera GTS Coupe can reach a top speed of 193 mph. 

All GTS cars come standard with a seven-speed manual transmission while a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch unit is available as an option. 

The 2017 Porsche 911 GTS cars are expected to hit US showrooms in April with a price range starting at $119,000 for the Carrera GTS Coupe up to $138,200 for the Targa 4 GTS. 

With the introduction of the GTS models, all 2017 model year 911s have been upgraded to next generation 991.2 specifications. The 991.2 features an updated chassis, upgraded aerodynamics, and a new twin-turbocharged, flat-six-cylinder engine.

There are few cars in the world more iconic than the Porsche 911. Over the years, the rear-engined sports car has gotten bigger, faster, and more technologically advanced. But its spirited driving dynamics and on-track capabilities have continued to make it a favorite among enthusiasts worldwide. 

However, you often hear the complaint that all current 911s pretty much look same. And if you ask critics such as ex-"Top Gear" host and longtime newspaper columnist Jeremy Clarkson, he'll tell you that all Porsche 911s since the model's debut in 1963 look identical.

The truth is, most of the various versions of the current generation of 911s do look similar, but they can all be identified by numerous subtle, but important differences.

Like Taco Bell in the fast-food industry, what Porsche has managed to do so successfully is create multiple iterations of the 911 by mixing and matching the same ingredients, and packaging them in a lot of different ways. And if you've ever driven a 911, you'll probably agree with me in saying ... there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

So here it is — the most current lineup of Porsche's 911 Taco Bell menu.

SEE ALSO: Kia has a new car that should scare BMW and Audi

Carrera: The Carrera is the "base" 911, if there is such as thing. The 991.2 Carrera powered by a 3.0-liter, 370-horsepower, twin-turbocharged, flat six ...



... and the Cabriolet is the convertible version of the Carrera.



The Carrera 4 Coupe is a Carrera Coupe with all-wheel drive ...



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The top 15 American cities for young college grads

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san franciscoAs the semester resumes for college seniors around the US, the next important decision many will make is where they should move after graduation.

A ranking of the best major metropolitan areas from the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER) may help students having trouble making the call.

AIER calculated its list using nine economic, demographic, and quality-of-life factors. AIER defines major metropolitan cities as having over 2.5 million residents.

The report states that the most important factor in determining where recent graduates should relocate is the prevalence of other young recent grads.

"The location you choose to go to college determines where you will likely spend the next four years of your life, and possibly where you will start your career," Amanda Knarr, program coordinator at AIER, said in a press release. "Our ranking reflects the characteristics that make cities attractive to the average college student."

Aside from the overall ranking, we included cities' individual scores for noteworthy metrics including rent, earnings, and bars and restaurants. Of the nine metrics cities were rated based upon, we chose the one for which they scored highest.

Scroll through to find out the 15 best American cities for young college grads.

SEE ALSO: A high school student shared the powerful essay about growing up in one of America's 'snobbiest' cities that got her into Stanford

15. Miami, Florida

Population: 5,930,416

College student population in the metro area: 445,865

#4 Bars and Restaurants



14. St. Louis, Missouri

Population: 2,801,285

College student population in the metro area: 193,985

#1 Rent



13. Atlanta, Georgia

Population: 5,580,601

College student population in the metro area: 407,257

#1 Bars and Restaurants



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

China's new topsy-turvy bridge actually has three bridges woven into one

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NEXT Architects_Lucky Knot_Photography Julien Lanoo_08_resize

A bridge doesn't need to include the standard, gray concrete beams, cables, and deck. They can twist and turn and pop with color.

That's the philosophy behind the Lucky Knot bridge in Changsha, China, which was designed by Next Architects. 

Spotted by Designboom, the whimsical pedestrian bridge actually has three bridges woven into one structure. Next Architects was awarded the project after their design proposal won an international competition in 2013, Michel Schreimachers, a partner at the firm, tells Business Insider. The steel bridge in Changsha's newly redeveloped city center was completed in late 2016.

Check it out below.

SEE ALSO: 7 billion-dollar mega-projects that will transform New York City by 2035

The Lucky Knot stretches over a highway and the Dragon King Harbor River, sitting 78 feet above the river so boats can travel beneath it.



The 600-foot bridge is actually three separate bridges intertwined into one. Pedestrians can access it from eight street entrances.



The three walkways overlap at five points, which Schreimachers calls "moon gates."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

21 new shows coming to Netflix in 2017 that will keep you busy all year long

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a series of unfortunate events

The INSIDER Summary:

• Netflix is releasing 21 new television shows in 2017. 
• Everything from long awaited remakes like "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events" to big name spin offs such as "Marvel's The Defenders" will hit the small screen soon. 


Not so long ago, you used Netflix mostly just to rewatch some of your favorite old TV series. But thanks to its rapidly increasing amount of original content, you might end up watching more original Netflix series in 2017 than shows from any other network. Back in September, Netflix's CFO David Wells said that the goal was for Netflix to one day have 50 percent original programming — and thanks to these exciting new shows coming to Netflix in 2017, that goal seems like it will be a reality sooner than later.

While there is perhaps nothing as epic as the Gilmore Girls revival in Netflix's 2017 programming, you are still going to find something in this list that will more than pique your interest. I mean, with Netflix's plan to release 1,000 hours of original programming in 2017, how could there not be? Along with new takes on stories that have previously existed as movies, books, or TV shows, there are also brand new series with some majorly talented actors. And the types of shows that Netflix will release in 2017 range from sitcoms, psychological thrillers, animated miniseries, superhero stories, and everything in between.

Although most of these 21 shows coming to Netflix don't have release dates yet, here's what you have to look forward to in 2017. These series will definitely give you hope that 2017 is going to be a very good year — at least when it comes to TV.

1. "One Day At A Time"

A reimagining of the sitcom from the '70s and '80s, Netflix's One Day at a Time features a Cuban-American family and stars Justina Machado and icon Rita Moreno. It's also the first new series to premiere in 2017 since it hits Netflix on Jan. 6.



2. "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events"

Neil Patrick Harris will be terrorizing Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire as Count Olaf in this adaptation of the book series. Jim Carrey was already Olaf on the big screen over a decade ago, but Harris should also slay in this villainous role when the series premieres on Jan. 13.



3. "Frontier"

Jason Momoa has been gone from Game of Thrones for quite some time, but he'll be leading this bloody series about the North American fur trade in the 18th century that premieres on Jan. 20. You might as well get invested since the series, which premiered in Canada in November, was already renewed for a Season 2.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A motivation expert explains why businesses go about motivating people all wrong — and how to do it better

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dan pink

Everyone likes getting a little extra cash, but we shouldn't think it makes us work any harder.

Author and motivation expert Dan Pink knows this better than anybody. In his 2009 TED talk "The puzzle of motivation," which was based on his hit book "Drive," Pink explains the "fundamental mismatch" that exists between science and business.

Science, Pink says, knows that incentives don't work. Business, however, has yet to catch up.

You can watch Pink's talk here, or keep scrolling down for the advice he gives to make the current system as good as can be.

SEE ALSO: A former Stanford dean reveals the keys to successful parenting

Pink begins his talk outlining a popular psychology experiment known as the "candle problem." The goal is to use tacks and matches to fix a candle to the wall.



Most people come up with clever, but ultimately misguided solutions. The right answer involves emptying the box of tacks and pinning the box to the wall, thereby creating a platform for the candle.



Business is full of candle problems, Pink claims. All around the world, companies ask employees to solve problems that require non-obvious answers. But there's a problem...



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

These 19 companies are racing to build self-driving cars in the next 5 years

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google waymo

There's no question that self-driving cars are coming — the real debate at this point is who will get there first.

We rounded up a whopping 20 companies — from traditional automakers to Silicon Valley start-ups — who are working to build a self-driving car by 2021. Naturally, when we will see a fully driverless car hinges just as much on the regulatory environment as advancements in self-driving tech.

But companies are plowing ahead with getting their self-driving cars ready by as early as 2021. Scroll down to see all the players in the self-driving car space:

SEE ALSO: Tesla is rolling out its new Autopilot system this week — here's everything you need to know

Tesla recently made a big move to meet its goal of having a fully self-driving car ready by 2018.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced in late October that cars currently in production — which includes the Model S, Model X, and future Model 3 — will be built with new hardware that will enable them to be fully driverless, pending regulatory approval and further software validation.

It's a smart move on Musk's part — equip the cars with the necessary technology now so they are ready once self-driving cars gain federal approval. Musk said a Tesla will drive itself from Los Angeles to New York City as a demonstration of the technology by the end of 2017.

Musk has been committed to having a fully self-driving car ready by 2018.

 



Uber is letting people take a ride in its self-driving cars in both Pittsburgh and Arizona.

Uber released Ford Fusion cars modified with the company's self-driving tech as part of its Pittsburgh pilot in September. In December, Uber launched another pilot program in San Francisco, but shut it down after the DMV threatened legal action for not obtaining the proper permits.

Now, the Uber cars are being testing in both Pittsburgh and Arizona.

A select few Uber users can hail the cars as part of the program. But the cars still have a safety driver as well as an engineer up front because they do fail from time to time.

Uber and Volvo have also agreed to a $300 million alliance to develop driverless cars. Uber has made a play for the self-driving car space by poaching staff from Carnegie Mellon University's robotics department.

Uber also acquired self-driving truck start-up Otto in August. The self-driving truck completed a 120-mile route in October.



Google spun out its self-driving car unit into an independent company, called Waymo, in December. Waymo is now operating under Google's parent company Alphabet.

Waymo CEO John Krafcik said the company is getting "close to bringing this to a lot of people," during the company's media launch. Waymo has teamed up with Fiat Chrysler and there are reports that the two will launch a robot taxi service by the end of 2017.

Waymo has yet to confirm the reports on the taxi service, but is testing a fleet of 100 Chrysler minivans in Arizona and California. The company is also building all of its self-driving hardware in-house.

Waymo ditched its vision for a steering-wheel-less car after suffering a series of executive departures. Waymo has said it's not interested in building a car, but in selling the tech to automakers. Building its own self-driving hardware is in-line with this strategy.

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

13 ways you're better at adulthood than you think

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better at adulthood than you think_2 14 14

The Great Secret of Adulthood is that no one ever really feels like an adult.

All around you, 30-somethings in business suits eating fancy salads and sending important client emails are desperately hoping you won't discover that they're really an eight-year-old who'd so much rather be watching cartoons and eating ice cream.

But adulthood is less about the salads and the suits and more about things like handling challenging situations at work, knowing yourself well, and showing compassion for other people. In other words, the more subtle stuff.

Below, we've rounded up 13 of those subtle signs that you are, in fact, a real, live adult. It's okay if you don't feel like all 13 signs describe you — even if only a few of them fit, you're well on your way.

SEE ALSO: 19 signs you're a functioning adult — even if it doesn't feel like it

You work hard, but you know your limits

So long to those college all-nighters.

Decades ago, Henry Ford discovered that employees' productivity started to decline after about 40 hours a week.

More recently, researchers have learned that after a few 60-hour workweeks, the quality of your output starts to go down.

It might be tempting to regularly log 12-hour days when you've got a ton of work to tackle. But adulthood is about recognizing that this strategy will ultimately backfire and you'll end up burning out.

Interestingly, some research suggests that much of the time we spend working isn't very productive — meaning that if you cut back your hours, you might not see your productivity decrease.



You're happy to help, but you don't say 'yes' to every request

Declining a coworker's request to work on a project together, or a fellow parent's request to drive their kid to school might seem rude. But it's important to realize that you can't possibly agree every single time someone asks for help.

You'll wind up disappointing everyone.

"Every time you say yes to something, you're really saying no to something else," psychotherapist Amy Morin previously told Business Insider.

Interestingly, she added that "when you say yes to everything, it's about me. I want to feel good about myself; I want people to like me more."

A more adult response whenever someone asks you for something? "I'll think about it," so you can consider whether you really have the bandwidth to help them.



You stick to a budget ... or at least you try to. Sometimes.

There are few worse feelings than logging into your bank account and realizing that you have way fewer funds than you thought. And that next month's planned vacation is definitely out of the question.

If you've managed to avoid that feeling (for the most part), because you stick to a weekly or monthly budget, you're definitely on your way to full-fledged adulthood.

If this is a problem area for you, start with some of the best budgeting tips from readers who have shared their budgets with Business Insider.

For example, you'll want to anticipate any major costs in the near future — like if you're planning to have a kid or go back to school. It's also wise to set aside an emergency fund with several months' worth of expenses in case the unexpected occurs.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

How to be successful in Hollywood, according to movie legend Roger Corman

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Death Race 2050 Roger Corman Universal Home Entertainment

Independent film producer Roger Corman is known the world over for being one of the most successful producers ever in the movie business, thanks to his ability to create popular low-budget films since the 1950s.

Whether working on cult B-horror movies like “Attack of the Crab Monsters” and “Teenage Cave Man” or helping future iconic directors like Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese get their start, Corman has always had a knack for making movies that are relevant to the times we live in while also turning a profit.

At 90 years old, Corman hasn’t slowed down. His latest, “Death Race 2050” (released on Blu-ray January 17), is a sequel to the 1975 cult classic he produced, “Death Race 2000,” which starred David Carradine and a then-unknown Sylvester Stallone. Like the original, “2050” is a political satire that’s also an action race-car movie in a dystopian future where the winner is the driver who runs over the most people.

We asked Corman to give four tips to filmmakers on how to succeed in the movie business. Here’s what he told us:

SEE ALSO: The 20 most popular shows on Hulu.

1. Make a sly statement in your movie.

“‘Death Race 2050’ above all is an action car-racing futuristic picture with some black humor connected with it,” Corman said. “That's what I hope the audience will come to see it. But there are some thoughts behind it. I always try when possible to put some theme of my own into the picture. Always in the subtext. The audience will come to see a car-racing black-humor action film, but there's some social commentary, which is something science fiction is very good at doing. For instance, the United States of America is now the United Corporations of America. The president is now the chairman. Make statements at how society is going.”



2. Understand making movies is a business.

“Somebody who is working on a basis of pure art is forgetting the fact that it costs a lot of money to make a motion picture,” he said. “You must be aware of what is going on in the world and what is going on in the business of motion pictures. You must recognize certain genres, certain pictures that have records of winning and losing, and you must think about that in your planning right from the beginning. Yet at the same time you must be aware that just repeating what has been successful in the past doesn't work. Even from a business standpoint you must have something original, you must include the creativity. It's good business to include creativity into your business planning.” 



3. Don’t be complacent.

“‘Death Race’ started out as a futuristic car-racing picture in which drivers knocked each other off the road,” Corman said. “Car-racing pictures have always done well yet at the same time I feel I must bring something original, I can't make the same car-racing picture over and over. Cars knocking each other off the road brought an element of originality, but then I thought it needed something even more outrageous and that brought in the killing of the pedestrians. Nobody had ever made a car-racing picture where the drivers got points for killing pedestrians, so it followed some of my thinking in that I was working in a genre of car-racing pictures but I was bringing something new to a successful genre.”



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Why the Lily drone that was cancelled, despite raising $34 million, was so highly anticipated

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Founders of the highly anticipated drone called Lily, which raised $34 million in pre-orders in early 2015, announced on Thursday that it will not be going into production.

Despite raising such a large sum in pre-orders without the help of crowd-sourcing platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo, as well as receiving $14 million in VC funding, and having discussions with Snap Inc. just last month, Lily informed pre-order customers on Monday that it was "unable" to secure the necessary financing for manufacturing and shipping.

Lily drone camera

Customers who pre-ordered the Lily drone will get refunds, but it's not a stretch to assume that they'd rather get the Lily.

Back when Lily was accepting pre-orders, there were few, if any, user-friendly drones that didn't require a lot of time and practice to master the controls and to capture good video with the drone's camera. I have some experience with the DJI Phantom 4, and I can say it's not easy to get good, appealing footage.

The Lily drone sought to fix that. Here are all the reasons why the Lily drone caused so much excitement and managed to collect $34 million from consumers: 

SEE ALSO: I tried Google Wifi, Eero, and Orbi — here's which one you should buy

Lily was designed so that owners could "throw and go." The drone would turn on and hover automatically when you threw it up it the air.

 



You could even chuck it in water, and Lily wouldn't care because it was water proof. It would have been able to take video from underwater, too. It wasn't fragile like the majority of drones available at the time.

 



The most appealing feature was a tracker that you could carry around in your pocket or backpack.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Jeff Bezos reportedly just dropped $23 million on the biggest home in Washington, DC — see inside

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Bezos DC house

Jeff Bezos is Washington, DC's newest resident.

The billionaire founder of Amazon and owner of The Washington Post has been revealed as the buyer of a pair of mansions in the Kalorama section of DC, according to the Post, who cited a source familiar with the deal.

The property totals 27,000 square feet, and Bezos reportedly intends to turn it into a single-family home, the largest in Washington, DC. The deal closed for $23 million on October 21, with the buyer named as Cherry Revocable Trust. It was most recently listed for $22 million. 

The homes sit in the Kalorama section of DC, a popular destination for well-heeled Washington residents. The Obamas will move to a house in the neighborhood after the president leaves office on January 20, and Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner's newly purchased DC home sits just a stone's throw away.

Bezos has an estimated net worth of $69.5 billion.

The Post notes that Bezos and his family will likely use the space as a pied à terre, maintaining his primary residence in Washington state. Renovation plans are currently under review by the neighborhood historical commission.

SEE ALSO: A look inside the exclusive Washington, DC, neighborhood where the Trumps and Obamas will live as neighbors

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

The property includes two historic mansions that were sold together in 2015 for $19 million, and then again in 2016 for $23 million, reportedly to Bezos.



The homes were most recently listed together for $22 million.



They were used as part of a textile museum until 2013, when the museum moved to George Washington University's campus in Foggy Bottom.



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30 movies we can't wait to see in 2017

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Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets cara delevigne dane dehaan

2016 was filled with great films, a few bombs, and a number of movies that demand a new look. 2017 is shaping up to be just as exciting for movie lovers.

Here are the films we're most looking forward to seeing in 2017, from big tentpole sequel films to adventurous indies. When available, we included a link to the trailer, too.

SEE ALSO: 15 unforgettable quotes from Carrie Fisher

"The Lego Movie" gets a superhero-themed spinoff with "The Lego Batman Movie."

Release date: February 10

Watch the trailer here >>



Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele will try — and definitely succeed — to have a relationship again in "Fifty Shades Darker."

Release date: February 10

Watch the trailer here >>



"John Wick" was one of the biggest surprises of 2014, a low-budget, badass, and totally fun revenge thriller starring Keanu Reeves. "John Wick: Chapter 2" looks like it's going to be just as fun.

Release date: February 10

Watch the trailer here >>



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56 photos that show how Jennifer Lopez's style has evolved over two decades

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jennifer lopez evolution

While Jennifer Lopez hasn't aged at all throughout the two-decade span of her career, her style has changed quite a bit.

But there has been one constant in her fashion choices: The singer and actress has always embraced looks that flaunt her flawless figure, from ultra low necklines to super high slits.

Keep scrolling to see how JLo's style has evolved from 1997 until now.

JLo's first big break came when she starred in the 1997 film "Selena." For the LA premiere, she chose a turquoise sequin-studded gown with a fur stole.



That same year, Lopez rocked curls and a tight-fitting beige, floral dress for the premiere of "Anaconda."



Flaunting those rock-solid abs in a look that would become a signature of hers, JLo (and Mark Wahlberg) posed at the 1998 MTV Music Video Awards.



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23 pairs of celebrities who look nearly identical

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amy adams isla fisher

We all likely have a doppelgänger in the world somewhere. It's not just everyday people who are running into their look-alikes. Celebrities do, too.

Amy Adams and Isla Fisher get mistaken for each other all the time. Fans are convinced others share such a resemblance that they must have been separated at birth.

If you've ever felt like you're experiencing déjà vu, these 23 pairs of celebrities may be the reason you're seeing double.

1. Sarah Hyland and Mila Kunis

The "Modern Family" and "Ted" actresses say they get mistaken for the other all the time. Upon meeting each other in December 2010 at a Nylon party, the two decided they'd pretend to be each other in public.

"She came up to me and said she gets called me all the time too,"Hyland told InStyle. "She said that sometimes she pretends she's me because it makes her feel young. I asked if I could pretend to be her next time somebody asks me if I'm her, and she said OK."



2. Natalie Portman and Keira Knightley

Short, long, curly, or straight hair, Keira Knightley and Natalie Portman look strikingly similar no matter how you pair them. 

The two look so similar, Knightley played Portman's double, Sabé, in "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace." 



3. Ralph Fiennes and Liam Neeson

Neeson has said people often confuse the "Harry Potter" and "Taken" stars. That shouldn't be too much of a surprise since the two have starred in multiple films alongside each other ("Schindler's List,""Wrath of the Titans"). The only difference is that Fiennes usually plays the bad guy while Neeson's the hero. 

"He is one of my best, best, dearest friends. I keep getting fans and stuff mixing me up with Ralph because we have very similar profiles," Neeson said on The Jonathan Ross Show in 2014. "So I've been complimented on winning a Tony Award for my Hamlet, he's been complimented on the 'Taken' movies."



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Lexus just unveiled a gorgeous yacht concept that's perfect for tech tycoons

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lexus yacht

Lexus is trying its hand at designing more than just cars. 

The Japanese-based automaker unveiled its proof of concept for a high-tech yacht on Thursday. Lexus said the yacht highlights the carmaker's interest in expanding into "new areas of lifestyle and recreation."

Scroll down for a closer look:

SEE ALSO: Aston Martin just revealed its first luxury boat — but it costs a lot more than one of its supercars

Lexus' yacht concept is powered by twin V8 engines that together produce 440 hp and a top speed of 49 mph (43 knots.)



It's made of carbon-fiber reinforced plastic, reducing the weight by nearly 2,200 pounds compared to similar-sized yachts made of fiberglass reinforced plastic.



Lexus said its carbon fiber exterior is also used on the LFA, which can reach 202 mph.



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