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

8 ways to develop mental toughness, according to a Navy SEAL, Arnold Schwarzenegger, a 4-star general, and more

0
0

“We don’t rise to the level of our expectations. We fall to the level of our training.”
― Archilochus

Mental toughness can take many forms: resilience against attack, calmness in the face of uncertainty, persistence through pain, or focus amidst chaos.

Below are eight lessons from eight of the toughest human beings I know.

All are taken from the hundreds of tips and tactics in“Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers.”

SEE ALSO: 21 signs you're mentally stronger than average

1. If you want to be tougher, be tougher.

— Jocko Willink, former Navy SEAL Commander

“If you want to be tougher mentally, it is simple: Be tougher. Don’t meditate on it.”

These words of Jocko’s helped one listener—a drug addict—get sober after many failed attempts. The simple logic struck a chord: “Being tougher” was, more than anything, a decision to be tougher. It’s possible to immediately “be tougher,” starting with your next decision. Have trouble saying “no” to dessert? Be tougher. Make that your starting decision. Feeling winded? Take the stairs anyway. Ditto. It doesn’t matter how small or big you start. If you want to be tougher, be tougher.



2. I wasn’t there to compete. I was there to win.

— Arnold Schwarzenegger

TIM: In my interview with Arnold, I brought up a photo of him at age 19, just before he won his first big competition, Junior Mr. Europe.

I asked, “Your face was so confident compared to every other competitor. Where did that confidence come from?” He replied:

“My confidence came from my vision. . . . I am a big believer that if you have a very clear vision of where you want to go, then the rest of it is much easier. Because you always know why you are training 5 hours a day, you always know why you are pushing and going through the pain barrier, and why you have to eat more, and why you have to struggle more, and why you have to be more disciplined… I felt that I could win it, and that was what I was there for. I wasn’t there to compete. I was there to win.”



3. Push beyond, share privation, tackle fear.

— 4-Star General Stanley McChrystal

TIM: The following from Gen. McChyrstal was in response to “What are three tests or practices from the military that civilians could use to help develop mental toughness?”:

“The first is to push yourself harder than you believe you’re capable of. You’ll find new depth inside yourself. The second is to put yourself in groups who share difficulties, discomfort. We used to call it ‘shared privation.’ [Definition of privation: a state in which things essential for human well-being such as food and warmth are scarce or lacking.] You’ll find that when you have been through that kind of difficult environment, you feel more strongly about that which you’re committed to. And finally, create some fear and make individuals overcome it.”



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Trump's childhood home in New York City is going up for auction — take a look inside

0
0

Donald Trump's childhood home

The owner of an unassuming property in Queens, New York, is betting that a brief connection with President-elect Donald Trump will provide a happy return.

The two-story, Tudor-style home where Trump once lived as a child will hit the auction block on January 17.

The home is unremarkable except for its historical link to the president-elect, but that fact is key, the auction company's principal auctioneer told The New York Times.

"It's unique, and it has intangible value that goes beyond just the physical real estate," Paramount Realty USA's Misha Haghani told the Times. "You're not actually getting anything of tangible value for the Trump association."

The auction is blind and does not have a target price. The property was originally put up for sale for $1.6 million in 2016, though that price was later reduced to $1.2 million. The listing was taken down due to lack of interest, according to the New York Post, and the previous owners, Isaac Kestenberg and his estranged wife, Claudia, planned to auction it off in October 2016. It later sold to its current owner, real estate prospector Michael Davis, for $1.25 million in December.

Before this, the home last changed hands in 2008, when it was purchased for $782,500.

SEE ALSO: See inside the $5.5 million Washington, DC, home where Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner are reportedly moving

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

Donald Trump's childhood home is situated in the neighborhood of Jamaica Estates in Queens, New York.



The petite 40' x 120' suburban lot fits in with the rest of the neighborhood.



The rear of the Tudor-style home includes a sun porch.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 18 most exciting movies at this year's Sundance Film Festival you need to see

0
0

Sundanec Film Festival Michael Loccisano Getty

It’s that time again when Hollywood heads to the ski town of Park City, Utah, to showcase the best that independent film has to offer at the Sundance Film Festival.

Last year’s fest gave us the world premieres of current award-season staples like “Manchester by the Sea” and “OJ: Made in America.” We’ll find out when the festival kicks off on Thursday what titles will jump from obscurity to our must-see list for the rest of 2017, and we'll be writing about it in real-time.

Here are 18 movies we think you’ll want to seek out.

SEE ALSO: The "Deadpool" writers reveal everything you want to know about the sequel

“A Ghost Story”

Following his first studio movie, Disney’s “Pete’s Dragon,” indie-film titan David Lowery has secretly made a low-budget thriller starring Casey Affleck as a ghost who returns home to watch over his grief-stricken lover, played by Rooney Mara. Expect a gothic feel, which Lowery has built his career mastering.

A24 will release later this year.



“An Inconvenient Sequel”

A decade after Al Gore brought climate change to the nation’s attention with the Oscar-winning “An Inconvenient Truth,” his follow-up comes to Sundance at a crucial moment in the history of climate-change awareness. With the Trump administration perceived to push back on the progress made to save the environment in the last 10 years, Gore returns to shed light on a topic that can’t be ignored.

Paramount will release later this year.



“The Big Sick”

Produced by Judd Apatow and directed by Michael Showalter (“Wet Hot American Summer”), this comedy follows the hilarious but poignant relationship a Pakistan-born man (Kumail Nanjiani, “Silicon Valley”) has with his American girlfriend (Zoe Kazan). The movie is based on the real-life relationship Nanjiani has with fellow comic Emily V. Gordon. With all the talent involved, expect to hear a lot about this one. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

10 cities where college graduates owe more than they earn

0
0

Cleveland, Ohio

Students rack up thousands of dollars in loans working their way through college on the assumption that a degree opens doors to the high-paying jobs that will help them pay it all off and become financially independent. But unfortunately, that's not always true. 

Despite increases in student loan debt, not all local economies are equipped to offer the salaries necessary for graduates to get out of the red.

Credit Sesame, a credit and loan management company, took a look at the places where the median annual income for those with a bachelor's degree or higher is less than the average student loan balance. In short, places where graduates owe more than they're earning. 

To find these cities, Credit Sesame analyzed its database of over eight million people, comparing average student loan debt per person to median annual household income in locations with a minimum of 350 Credit Sesame members. 

While cities like San Francisco and New York have a high cost of living, the prevalence of lucrative jobs in tech and finance tempers the debt-to-income ratio. Credit Sesame found that cities without a major industry like these typically offer lower salaries, so residents remain saddled with debt.

Read on to see 10 cities where college graduates earn less per year on average than they owe in student loans. 

SEE ALSO: Here's what a 4-bedroom home looks like in America's most expensive neighborhoods

DON'T MISS: 25 colleges where students love life

10. Richmond, Virginia

Average student loan balance per person: $52,810

Median salary for graduates with at least a bachelor's degree: $42,499

Debt-to-income ratio: 124%



9. Nashville, Tennessee

Average student loan balance per person: $52,253

Median salary for graduates with at least a bachelor's degree: $42,016

Debt-to-income ratio: 124%



8. Dayton, Ohio

Average student loan balance per person: $43,144

Median salary for graduates with at least a bachelor's degree: $33,762

Debt-to-income ratio: 128%



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

No one wants to buy Celine Dion's lavish Florida mansion, which has gotten $34 million in price chops since 2013

0
0

Celine Dion

Another year, another price chop for Celine Dion's extravagant Jupiter Island property.

The price for the lavish house now stands at $38.5 million after a series of price chops over the last four years, according to The Wall Street Journal. It was originally asking $72.5 million in 2013.

The singer had previously lowered the price to $45.5 million after her husband, René Angélil, died last year.

Dion and her late husband bought the lot for $12.5 million in 2005 and the adjacent mansion for $7 million in 2008. They then razed the existing home to build the current spread.

The 5.5-acre property has views of the Atlantic Ocean, a four-bedroom guesthouse, a simulated golf range, pool house, and three separate pools. The main residence alone measures close to 10,000 square feet, with five bedrooms and a custom-designed walk-in closet. That closet even has an automated rack for clothing, as well as an automated carousel for shoes. 

Dion is selling the property because she spends most of her time in Las Vegas, where her residency at Caesars Palace will continue until 2019, according to the WSJ.

Cristina Condon of Sotheby’s International Realty now has the listing.

Megan Willett contributed to a previous version of this post.

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

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

Welcome to Celine Dion's 5.5-acre compound on Jupiter Island in Florida.



The singer is selling the property for $38.5 million.

Source: Sotheby's International Realty



She and her late husband custom-designed the property themselves after buying two lots and razing one of the existing homes.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

11 of the world's most luxurious vacations

0
0

15439702_1421679691472496_5951477387445193413_nThe INSIDER Summary: 

•Whether you are thinking of going to Los Cabos or the Canadian Rockies, there are some resorts that you will never want to leave. 
•These luxury escapes offer beauty, charm, amenities, and views that are incredible. 


Sometimes the journey really is about the destination. Secluded beach bungalows, glamorous mountain retreats, inns tucked into remote unspoiled landscapes, and romantic lodges in the heart of the bush are extraordinary experiences in and of themselves. Travel + Leisure consulted with travel advisors across the world—including many from our own A-List of power agents—to find these special places: the world’s ultimate luxury escapes.

These 21 properties are so spectacular that you might never want to leave your private villa—and you definitely don’t have to leave, either. Spend your days on your own private beach on a Polynesian island whose charms wooed a Hollywood legend (The Brando). Explore Chile’s prized Torres del Paine National Park from an “adventure spa” retreat right in the park itself (Tierra Patagonia). Charm your loved one at a Mexican resort where the amenities include helping you leave love messages in a bottle on the beach (Las Ventanas al Paraiso). Channel the sweeping romance of Out of Africa at the Kenyan game reserve where it was filmed (Angama Mara). And experience the Canadian wilderness firsthand from the comfort of a luxurious tented suite (Clayoquot).

Even that barely covers the splendor you’ll find across the world from the Swiss Alps to the Indonesian jungle, to the private islands of the Maldives, Seychelles, and the Caribbean.

Many thanks to travel experts who contributed advice, including Kristen Korey Pike, founder and CEO of KK Travel Worldwide; Andrea Malis with Camelback Odyssey Travel; Bobby Zur, founder of Travel Artistry; Valerie Ann Wilson, co-owner of Valerie Wilson Travel; Betty Jo Currie of Currie & Co. Travels Unlimited; Ginny Caragol, executive director of leisure for Valerie Wilson Travel; Kate Corey, founder of The Nomadic Souls; Stacy H. Small, president and founder of Elite Travel International; Jessica Maxwell with Currie & Co Travels Unlimited; and Julie Falconer of A Lady in London.

The Brando

Hollywood legend Marlon Brando bought the French Polynesian private island of Tetiaroa in the 1960s with an aim to preserve the beauty and biodiversity that he’d fallen in love with while filming Mutiny on the Bounty. Carrying on that legacy now is The Brando, a resort offering 35 luxury villas. Each lies on its own private beach with a plunge pool, outdoor dining area, and modern media room, while the property includes a spa, two restaurants, an organic garden, a tennis court, a library and cultural center, and an environmental research station. The Brando’s commitment to sustainability is one of the many reasons Betty Jo Currie of Currie & Co. Travels Unlimited recommends it, writing, “Not only does it hit all the marks for luxury... it is also cooling the villas with seawater and making compost from leftovers, which then fertilize the gardens. And they have a foundation on the island to protect the cultural history and future of the area—especially important in a society without a written language.”



Pikaia Lodge

Explore the Galapagos from the comfort of the luxury Pikaia Lodge, which sits atop an extinct volcano with views out across the savannah, a mountain range, and the Pacific Ocean. “One of our guests put it best when he reviewed the property by saying, ‘This place is better than Jurassic Park,’” writes Andrea Malis of Camelback Odyssey Travel. Pikaia Lodge offers land-based eco-adventure tours—choose from packages ranging from three to seven nights—that might involve traversing lava tunnels, visiting organic coffee farms, or stretching out on pristine beaches. Each package includes a yacht trip where you’ll get to hike, kayak, snorkel or otherwise enjoy the more remote islands of the Galapagos. For those nights when you’re staying at the Lodge, you can take advantage of the infinity pool, Sumaq spa, 3.5 kilometers of trails for walking, biking, and jogging. There’s also a private tortoise reserve on the property so guests have an excellent chance of spotting iconic giant tortoises during their stay. 



Laucala Island

“A treasure in the South Pacific, Laucala Island, Fiji, is set amidst 3,500 acres of turquoise lagoons, powder-sand beaches and lush green mountains,” writes Kristen Korey Pike, founder and CEO of KK Travel Worldwide. Lavish villas are designed to mimic traditional Fijian homes with thatched roofs, natural materials, and private gardens lit by Tiki torches—and are also updated with modern luxuries like infinity pools, personal chefs, hot tubs, and your own golf buggy for getting around the coconut-grove-dotted island. “With five dining options, a hilltop spa, an organic farm, and an 18-hole golf course, Laucala offers the ultimate in luxury for those seeking privacy and seclusion in an authentic destination,” Pike adds. Laucala offers all kinds of outdoor activities from horseback riding to kite surfing; both Pike and Andrea Malis of Camelback Odyssey Travel recommend an excursion on the resort’s new DeepFlight Super Falcon personal submarine.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 11 most scandalous popes in history

0
0

pope julius II worst popes in history

For centuries, the Catholic Church has elected a pope to don an intricate hat and lead the religion's 1.27 billion adherents across the globe. 

But not all of the church's 260-odd popes have been models of piety. Actually, a handful of popes are best remembered by their violent tempers, shocking sex scandals, and shady financial practices. 

Here's a chronological list of some of history's most outrageous papacies. 

Stephen VI dug up his predecessor's corpse and put it on trial.

Grotesque but true: Pope Stephen VI, elected in 896, decided to exhume the body of the previous pope, Formosus, and put it on trial. Formosus's body was dressed up in papal clothes and propped up on a throne while Stephen shouted out obviously unanswerable questions. 

Formosus was found guilty of perjury that day and his body was tossed into the Tiber River. Later, it was recovered and given a proper burial.

Stephen VI, on the other hand, was eventually imprisoned then strangled to death by supporters of Formosus.

Source: Royal ScandalsThe Smart Set



John XII was accused of "homicide, perjury, sacrilege" and even incest.

John XII came to the throne in 955, when he was just 18. Shortly thereafter, he turned his residence into a brothel, gambled with church offerings, and was even accused of castrating a cardinal.

German ruler Otto of Saxony once wrote to the young pope, saying, “Everyone [...] accuses you, Holiness, of homicide, perjury, sacrilege, incest with your relatives, including two of your sisters, and with having, like a pagan, invoked Jupiter, Venus, and other demons.”

John XII actually met his demise because of a tryst: A jealous husband discovered his wife in bed with the pope, and the man proceeded to severely beat him. John XII died three days later. 

Source: Royal Scandals



Benedict IX was a three-time pope described as "a demon from hell."

Benedict IX was "placed" into the papacy in 1032, when he was likely just 12 years old. Not much is known about his policies, but it's clear that he wasn't well liked. (Historian Ferdinand Gregorovius called him "a demon from hell.")

Soon, political opponents tried to murder him, so he fled St. Peter's Basilica and spent time in Rome, where he "stole, murdered and committed other, unspeakable deeds," according to one account.

But he came back for more: In 1045, Benedict IX deposed his replacement and became pope again. His second round of popedom lasted just two months, though. He was reportedly offered a large sum of money and, in essence, sold the papacy to his successor. 

Benedict IX actually became pope a third time, seizing the throne after Pope Clement II died in 1047. Eight months later he was driven out by Henry III of the Holy Roman Empire — and he never returned.

Source: INSIDER



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The biggest game coming to Nintendo's new console is gigantic and gorgeous

0
0

The biggest video game company in the world, Nintendo, is on the verge of releasing a new video game console. It's called the Nintendo Switch, and it arrives on March 3 for $299. 

The gimmick with the Switch is simple: It's a portable game console and a home game console, all at once.

Nintendo Switch

But a neat gimmick isn't enough to sell a game console, and Nintendo knows it. For a console to sell, it needs games. To that end, Nintendo has an elfin ace up its sleeve in "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild." 

The game is gorgeous, massive, and arriving alongside the Switch on March 3.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

With just a few weeks to go until the game launches, we've put together everything we know right here:

SEE ALSO: I played Nintendo's new game console, the Switch — this is what it's like

DON'T MISS: Forget about that 'Super Mario' game on your iPhone — this is the new Mario game you're looking for

Let's start with the simple stuff: This is Princess Zelda. The design on her necklace is trademark of the series, echoing designs tracing back to "Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time."



Princess Zelda appears to play several roles in "Breath of the Wild"— here she is looking more warrior than princess:



And here she is in despair:



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

THE FUTURE OF RETAIL 2016 [SLIDE DECK]

0
0

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

21 pictures that show why Iceland is the one destination you need to visit in 2017

0
0

Reykjavik Iceland

If you feel like your Instagram feed has become one big ad for Iceland, you're not alone.

Iceland is definitely having a moment — and it's only getting started.

Iceland made our list of top 50 places to travel in 2017, and Reykjavik in particular was just named the second most popular destination by travel search engine Kayak's annual Travel Hacker Guide, as it has seen a 77% increase in KAYAK searches over the past year.

From icy glaciers to volcanic deserts, here's why you should make Iceland number one on your bucket list this year.

In 2015, Iceland saw 1,289,140 foreign visitors — an especially stunning number considering that only around 330,000 people actually live on the frosty island.

Source: Icelandic Tourist Board



Many of these visitors came to see the Northern Lights, which are one of the most iconic things to see in Iceland.



The ION Luxury Adventure Hotel in Iceland’s Golden Circle was designed for optimal Aurora Borealis viewing.

Check it out here »



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Audi just announced a slew of electrified vehicles for China — here's a glimpse of the cars to come

0
0

audi e-tron quattro concept

Audi is setting its sights on China.

On Tuesday, the Volkswagen subsidiary said it has teamed up with its local manufacturing partner FAW to introduce a series of electrified vehicles as part of a 10-year plan to expand in China. As part of the plan, the company has committed to rolling out five new electrified vehicles in China by 2022. 

China is a natural target for an EV expansion as the government looks to grow the market as part of an effort to reduce air pollution.

Volkswagen, for its part, plans to produce 30 electric or hybrid vehicles by 2025 in response to its emissions scandal.

Here's a glimpse of the electrified Audi vehicles the company plans to launch in China.

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

1. Audi said it plans to produce additional e-tron models for the Chinese market, including purely battery-powered cars with ranges exceed 310 miles. Audi actually unveiled an e-tron quattro concept in 2015 with that exact range, pictured here.

Source: Business Insider



At the time of the concept's unveiling, Audi said it could fully recharge in just 50 minutes with a DC faster charger. It was also equipped with induction charging technology so it could juice up wirelessly over a charging plate.



The e-tron concept was also loaded with tech, like cameras that replaced the sideview mirrors and piloted driving technology that creates a real-time model of the car's surroundings.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The truth behind your favorite celebrity diets

0
0

heidi klum

The INSIDER Summary: 

•Most of us strive to eat healthier at the start of every new year. 
•While we often look at celebrities including Beyoncé, Heidi Klum, and Katy Perry to see how they maintain great bodies and healthy diets, we must be wary that many aren't healthy and should not be incorporated into our daily lives.


We love to eat and we want to eat well, but doesn't it seem like famous people have a specific penchant for taking this totally understandable desire to wacky extremes? Perhaps it's because we can control what we eat, unlike so many other things in life. So, it can be easy to get caught up in the idea that if we just had a perfect diet, we'd feel perfect, too. And maybe celebrities, with their seemingly infinite resources and specific pressures, are just more prone to turn to intense measures — juice cleanses, eating clay, restricting everything else — in pursuit of that perfection.

It's hard to say why, exactly, but what we can say for sure is that many of the dieting habits celebrities love to talk about just aren't healthy — or sustainable. And, because so many of us take our cues from celebrities, we're encouraged to follow along and incorporate these habits into our own lives.

That's not always a bad thing (many celebrities have excellent, balanced fitness regimens, for instance). But it definitely can set us on the disappointing and self-defeating track of fad dieting, a path many of us know all too well already. So click through to see a few of the wackiest celebrity diet tips — and why you should not try them at home.

Gisele Bündchen & Tom Brady

According to an interview with their personal chef, these two have one of the most high-maintenance diets we've ever seen. It's about 80% plant-based and 20% lean meats, which sounds totally reasonable. If we had a chef, we'd probably ask for the same thing. But then come the other rules: no dairy, no sugar, no flour, no olive oil, no nightshade vegetables (e.g. tomatoes, peppers, eggplants), and, for Tom, no strawberries, ever, for no reason except that he has never tried them and never will (?!?!).

The nonsensical strawberry rule aside, why all the other restrictions? "If you just eat sugar and carbs — which a lot of people do — your body is so acidic, and that causes disease," explains chef Allen Campbell. And the nightshade thing is apparently because they're "not anti-inflammatory."

How do we put this nicely? Although we applaud the couple for a veggie-heavy diet, it seems like they may have gone overboard. For one thing, you don't need to worry about how acidic your body is (it's got that under control all on its own). And while there is some evidence that foods can help us keep chronic inflammation in check, it turns out that tomatoes (a nightshade) and strawberries are some of the best choices out there for that.



Gwyneth Paltrow

While the rest of us were shaking off a hangover on January 1, Gwyneth was over here on a week-long detox to, as she put it, "reset the palate" for 2016. Of course, many of us start every year vowing to be at least a little bit healthier, but this detox business pushed that to the extreme. For those seven days, she went without gluten, soy, dairy, alcohol, caffeine, red meat, white rice, nightshades, shellfish, or corn.

For someone who claims to not have any rules when it comes to food, that definitely seems like a lot of, you know, rules. Although there may be totally great reasons not to have all of these things every day (e.g. eating too much red meat may increase your risk for cancer), that doesn't mean you have to rid them from your whole diet — even temporarily. That unnecessarily deprives your body of the fuel it needs, and is, honestly, a pretty unpleasant experience with no proven benefits.

What's better: balanced and mindful eating on a daily basis. While taking a break from every "bad" food you can think of may sound like a "reset," all it really does is reinforce an unhealthy relationship with food. Repeat after us: There is no such thing as good or bad when it comes to foods.



Beyoncé

Bey seems to have found what works for her, with a vegan diet that's expanded into her own food-delivery service (and we're all for doing whatever works for you). However, back when she was prepping for Dreamgirls, she decided to try out the Master Cleanse, thus bringing this decades-old horrible idea back into the spotlight.

If you aren't already familiar, this requires you to drink a mixture of lemon juice, cayenne pepper, and maple syrup several times a day in lieu of actual food. Do we really have to go through why this isn't a good idea? Aside from the fact that you're depriving yourself of essential calories and nutrients, extreme diets like this also raise your risk for heart problems. Please eat food.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 20 best college towns in America

0
0

boulder

Boulder, Colorado, is the top-ranked college town in the US, according to a new list from the American Institute for Economic Research.

The city of roughly 200,000 earned the top spot thanks to its accessibility — more than 20% of commuters take public transportation or cycle around Boulder Creek Corridor — and diverse and educated population. Boulder also has an active bar-and-restaurant scene, with plenty of coffee shops and microbreweries.

AIER compiled its list using nine economic, demographic, and quality-of-life factors. It defines small towns as having fewer than 250,000 residents.

Aside from the overall ranking, we included cities' individual scores for noteworthy metrics including rent, earnings, and bars and restaurants. We chose the one metric that the city scored the highest in out of the nine.

Scroll through to find out the 20 best college towns.

SEE ALSO: 14 things that are harder to get into than Stanford

20. Bellingham, Washington — home of Western Washington University

Population: 208,832

College student population in the metro area: 24,926

No. 4 in arts and entertainment



19. La Crosse, Wisconsin — home of the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse

Population: 136,824

College student population in the metro area: 16,081

No. 1 in youth unemployment



18. Jacksonville, North Carolina — home of the University of Mount Olive

Population: 186,684

College student population in the metro area: 15,297

No. 3 in rent



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

There used to be only one Chinese-made car you could buy in the US — and we drove it

0
0

Volvo S60 T5 Inscription China

I was a broken record. For years, I said that it would be impossible for Chinese carmakers to crack into the US market, following the example of the Japanese and the South Koreans.

I had good justification for this extreme view: there's no room.

Simply put, there's was no market share to take in the US. And the old game of coming in with a great car in a segment that had been neglected or abjured — fuel-sipping Hondas in the 1970s, reliable family sedans in the 1980s, small SUVs in the 1990s, hybrid drivetrains in the 2000s — wasn't going to work.

Competing on price, as Hyundai and Kia had, wasn't really an option, either, as all the automakers selling cars in America had greatly improved their offerings on that front. You no longer needed to spend very much to get a lot of car.

Then in the midst of the financial crisis, Ford decided to streamline itself and shed its premium brands.

Geely makes its move

Among these were Volvo — the no-nonsense, yet romantic Swedish brand beloved by Los Angeles hipsters and hidebound preppies. A rare opportunity presented itself to international carmakers with aims to enter the US market.

Auto brands almost never go up for sale. More often, they fade away — or are swiftly executed. When Ford was selling Volvo, GM was also trying to unload Hummer, Saturn, and Saab. 

Enter Geely, a major Chinese automaker that jumped at the chance to buy a luxury brand, paying almost $2 billion for it in 2010.

Since then, we've been waiting to see what a Chinese-built car from a Swedish brand would be like. When one finally landed on American shores, I was especially intrigued.

The long-wheel base S60 Inscription sedan was the only Chinese-made car on sale in America. But the Buick Envision arrived in 2016, and I drove it to Detroit, an nice big road trip that gave me the chance to get to know the vehicle better. Look for a review soon.

In any case, we sampled a 2016 S60 Inscription "Platinum" in 2015. Business Insider's Ben Zhang lent an assist, driving it in sporty fashion, while I used the car as a limo to chauffeur around a bunch of tweenage friends of my daughter for a weekend.

We thought it as worth a look back, now that number of Chinese-made cars in the US market has doubled:

SEE ALSO: The XT5 is Cadillac's hottest selling SUV — but it has just one problem

The S60 Inscription has a pleasing, unobtrusive stance that says, "I'm new" without saying "I'm not a Volvo." The "Seashell Metallic" paint job also looked very much at home in the New Jersey suburbs.



Solid, simple, dependable. All very Volvo, right down to the fuss-free grille and the familiar Volvo badge. But not stodgy, either. The S60 has a more-or-less contemporary appearance, far sleeker than the brick-like Volvos of yore.



In case you thought it was a Toyota Camry.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here are all the new games that will be available on Nintendo's new video game console

0
0

legend of zelda breath of the wild

Thursday evening, Nintendo revealed its anticipated next video game console, Switch. It will be released March 3 and will cost $299.

Among the info unveiled about the new console, Nintendo showed off a bunch of new games that will be available for the Switch. Nintendo says 80 games are in development for the upcoming console.

Here are the games that will be released this year for the Switch:

SEE ALSO: The biggest game coming to Nintendo's new console is gigantic and gorgeous

"Super Mario Odyssey" is a new 3D Mario game.



It's the first large Mario-themed world game since "Super Mario 64" on the Nintendo 64 and "Super Mario Sunshine" on the Gamecube.



Among his adventures, Mario will head aboard an airship.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

McDonald's just made a major change to the Big Mac — here’s how its new burgers stack up (MCD)

0
0

McDonald's Grand Mac 6

The Big Mac — America's burger— just got better. 

Well, bigger. And smaller. 

McDonald's is rolling out the "Mac Jr." and the "Grand Mac" this week after months of testing

The Mac Jr. is a smaller, single-patty cheeseburger with all the other Big Mac accoutrements. The Grand Mac is an even larger version of the Big Mac, with 61% more beef than its precursor. 

We grabbed the three members of the Mac family to see how they compare.

SEE ALSO: We tried the regional burger chain many people say is the best in America to see if it lives up to the hype

The Big Mac stands alone no more with the arrival of the Mac Jr. and the Grand Mac.



The Mac Jr. is a tad underwhelming. Given the dainty name, I half-expected it to be a puny, novelty-sized burger. But alas, it's merely a normal single patty cheeseburger with Big Mac sauce.



In a word, it's fine. It doesn't have the panache of the Big Mac double-patty, triple bun stack, but the sauce still tastes delicious and the pickles still add a satisfying crunch. It's hardly filling, but it may be good for a quick snack on the go.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The best thing to eat in every EU country

0
0

chimney cake

Traveling through Europe is likely to be at the top of anyone's bucket list — in fact, people probably even have a whole other bucket list for it.

But forget the sites for a moment and think of the food, which is as varied as the many different countries themselves.

Whether you're high up in the Alps or down by the sparkling Mediterranean seas, here's the one thing you should eat in every EU country.

AUSTRIA: Wiener Schnitzel

There's nothing quite like a Wiener Schnitzel — a super thin, breaded and fried veal (or pork or chicken) cutlet, named after the country's capital. Not surprisingly it's Austria's national dish.



BELGIUM: Carbonnades Flamandes

Forget Belgian waffles and forget their delicious fries. Instead, try the hearty Carbonnades Flamandes, a meaty stew similar to France's Beef Bourguignon, but in which the wine is replaced with beer — another thing Belgium is famous for.



BULGARIA: Banitsa

Bulgarian cuisine is an eclectic mix of Russian, Italian, Greek and Middle Eastern dishes. The one thing you should try, however, is a banitsa, an egg and cheese mix wrapped in filo pastry, which has many variations, both sweet and savory. For New Year's Eve, charms are hidden in it.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here are all the lawmakers skipping Trump's inauguration

0
0

Donald Trump

It looks like A-list celebrity performers may not be the only ones skipping President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.

While several political figures, including George W. Bush and Hillary Clinton will be in attendance when Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States on January 20, a number of lawmakers who oppose Trump are refusing to show up.

Some have signaled their boycott of the inauguration as a preview of how they will oppose Trump's incoming administration.

Here are the lawmakers who are not going to Trump's inauguration:

SEE ALSO: John Lewis' constituents are fighting back after Trump attacked him

Rep. John Lewis of Georgia

Civil-rights icon John Lewis said he will skip the inauguration ceremony for moral reasons.

"You cannot be at home with something that you feel that is wrong," Lewis told MSNBC's Chuck Todd in an interview set to air on Sunday. 

Lewis has also cast doubt on the veracity of Trump's electoral victory, citing the US intelligence community's findings that Russia employed cyberattacks to boost Trump and hurt his rival Hillary Clinton: "I don't see this president-elect as a legitimate president," Lewis said.

It's worth noting the congressman also skipped the inauguration of President George W. Bush in 2001. The Washington Post reported at the time that he didn't view Bush as a legitimately elected president.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that Lewis skipped Bush's inauguration ceremony in 2001. A previous version incorrectly stated he had attended every inauguration since 1986.



Rep. Barbara Lee of California

On Inauguration Day California Rep. Barbara Lee said she will be gearing up to oppose Trump's administration. 

"Donald Trump has proven that his administration will normalize the most extreme fringes of the Republican Party," Lee said in a statement. "On Inauguration Day, I will not be celebrating. I will be organizing and preparing for resistance."



Rep. Luis Gutierrez of Illinois

Illinois Rep. Luis Gutierrez cited Trump's hard-line immigration policies and his views on women's rights as his reason to boycott the inauguration. 

"I cannot go to [the] inauguration of a man who's going to appoint people to the Supreme Court and turn back the clock on women and turn back the clock on immigrants and the safety and freedom that we fought for them," Gutierez said in an interview on CNN



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

21 European cities that Londoners can visit in the morning and be back by dinner time

0
0

guinness brewery

From booking affordable Airbnb accomodation to buying cheap holiday essentials, there are plenty of ways to travel to beautiful places in Europe when you're on a budget. However, things can be difficult if you can't book time off work.

Luckily, it's possible to visit dozens of cities abroad without paying for an overnight stay at all.

We've listed iconic cities all over the continent where flight times from London are less than two and a half hours.

Prices relate to the next available direct flights leaving for each city on a weekend.

From watching perfectly executed equestrian stunts in Vienna to sampling Guinness in Dublin, here are 21 European cities you can see in a day, ranked by the time it will take you to get there:

21. Vienna, Austria — It takes just two hours and 20 minutes to reach the Austrian capital, one of Europe's most visited cities. Make sure to see a performance at the Spanish Riding School, which sells tickets to shows throughout the year.

Duration of journey: Two hours, 20 minutes

Cost of a return ticket: From £93

For more information, click here



20. Barcelona, Spain — Architecture fans should spend the day in Barcelona to see Antoni Gaudi's (still unfinished) cathedral — the Sagrada Familia.

Duration of journey: Two hours, 15 minutes

Cost of a return ticket: From £74

For more information, click here



19. Venice, Italy — Flights to Venice from London are cheap at £71. Gondola rides are slightly more expensive, averaging at around £70 (€80) but visiting for the day means saving money on hotels.

Duration of journey: Two hours, 10 minutes

Cost of a return ticket: From £71

For more information, click here

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Comparing 25- to 34-year-olds now with 25- to 34-year-olds in 1989 is super depressing

0
0

Occupy Wall Street

A new analysis of data on the financial health of young people in the United States tells a frightening story about declining opportunity in America — a story of a generation saddled with crippling debt and forced to compete with older members of the workforce during a time of deep economic uncertainty.

The data was compiled by the Washington, DC-based think tank Young Invincibles.

Thanks to macroeconomic forces, like the Great Recession, and technological change, millennials are "the most educated, most diverse, and most indebted generation in America's history."

What's worse, little is being done on Capitol Hill — or in state capitols around the country — to secure their futures and the future of this country. Young Invincibles looked at a number of economic statistics for 25- to 34-year-olds in 2013 and compared them with the same age group in 1989.

"The declines across education levels were so steep that young people today that have a degree with debt earn roughly the same as young workers with no degree in the late 1980s," the report said.

Racial disparities, especially between white Americans and African-Americans, worsened dramatically. For example, white young adults accumulated four times as many assets and are twice as likely to own a home as African-Americans and Latinos, according to the report.

So it's not a pretty picture.

SEE ALSO: How Baby Boomers became the most selfish generation

Millennials have accumulated about half as many assets as the same age group had in 1989. They also make about $10,000 less on average.



Median income declined dramatically for white Americans, less so for African-Americans. Latinos, who started with a significant disadvantage in 1989, saw gains.



Young adults with debt and a degree today make about the same as young adults with no degree in 1989. That said, it's still much better to have a degree than not.



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




Latest Images