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

6 things the president can do without needing anyone's approval

$
0
0

U.S. President Donald Trump waves as he walks from Marine One upon his return to the White House in Washington, U.S., April 9, 2017.      REUTERS/Joshua Roberts - RTX34UUD

Presidents don't have the power to declare war, make laws, or lower gas prices (however much public outrage there may be).

But there are a number of lesser-known abilities that come with the office  and they require no approval whatsoever.

Most are fairly harmless, although some could end in unintended disaster.

Here's just a sampling of those powers.

SEE ALSO: Trump has already signed 66 executive actions — here's what each one does

Send texts to everyone's phone.

There are three cases in which everyone's phone in the office might buzz simultaneously: an emergency alert in life-threatening situations, an Amber alert to signal a missing child, and an alert from the president.

The first two are blockable if you go into your phone's settings, but per FCC guidelines, the third is not.

If he so chooses, Trump could text everyone anytime he feels like it.



Launch a nuclear attack.

Trump isn't so powerful as to declare war by himself, but he can order a nuclear strike at the drop of a hat.

At all times, presidents are no more than several feet from a briefcase known as the "nuclear football." It contains the launch codes for America's nuclear arsenal.

If the president wants, he or she can pass on the order to the Secretary of Defense, who has no veto power in the matter, and the strike will commence.



Order searches of electronic devices.

In 2002, President George W. Bush authorized the Department of Homeland Security to search all electronics within 100 miles of a border without a warrant.

In certain places, such as Connecticut, Hawaii, and Florida, that freedom ends up applying to the entire state. Overall, it applies to some 200 million people, according to the ACLU.

It's also up to the president to create or dismantle such departments in the first place.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

15 habits of self-made millionaires, from a man who spent 5 years studying rich people

$
0
0

wealthy rich women

Success doesn't crop up overnight. All self-made millionaires had to start somewhere.

Much of their transformation from ordinary to seven-figure status can be attributed to "rich habits," a term coined by Thomas C. Corley, who spent five years researching the daily habits of 177 self-made millionaires.

"From my research, I discovered that daily habits dictate how successful or unsuccessful you will be in life," he writes in his 2016 book "Change Your Habits, Change Your Life."

"There is a cause and effect associated with habits. Habits are the cause of wealth, poverty, happiness, sadness, stress, good relationships, bad relationships, good health, or bad health."

The good news is all habits can be changed, Corley notes. Here are some "rich habits" of self-made millionaires that you can start developing today:

Previous reporting by Kathleen Elkins.

SEE ALSO: The 8 best pieces of saving advice from real people who banked a fortune

DON'T MISS: Top financial adviser: 'If all you do in life is work really hard, you're never going to get wealthy'

They read consistently.

The rich would rather be educated than entertained. As Corley writes, "Eighty-eight percent of the rich devote thirty minutes or more each day to self-education or self-improvement reading ... Most did not read for entertainment ... The rich read to acquire or maintain knowledge."

Corley found that they tend to read three types of books: biographies of successful people, self-help or personal development, and history.



They exercise.

"Seventy-six percent of the rich aerobically exercise 30 minutes or more every day," Corley reports. Aerobic exercise includes anything cardio, such as running, jogging, walking, or biking.

"Cardio is not only good for the body, but it's good for the brain," he writes. "It grows the neurons (brain cells) in the brain ... Exercise also increases the production of glucose. Glucose is brain fuel. The more fuel you feed your brain, the more it grows and the smarter you become."



They hang out with other successful people.

"You are only as successful as those you frequently associate with," Corley writes. "The rich are always on the lookout for individuals who are goal-oriented, optimistic, enthusiastic, and who have an overall positive mental outlook." 

To cultivate these relationships, he writes, wealthy people do six things: wish people a happy birthday, call to say hello, call when a life event happens, network, volunteer, and participate in "formal or informal mastermind groups," like a business group or weekly calls with people who share their same interests.

It's equally important to avoid negative people and influences, Corley emphasizes: "Negative, destructive criticism will derail you from pursing success."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Mesmerizing maps show where the most educated Americans live

$
0
0

dot map nyc

You may not know your neighbors by name, but you can at least know them by education level.

Kyle Walker, an assistant professor of geography at Texas Christian University, has created an interactive dot map visualizing US neighborhoods by educational attainment.

Each dot represents between 25-500 people over the age of 25, and each is color-coded based on how far those people have gone in school. Blue dots are graduate degrees, green are bachelor's, yellow are some college, orange are high school, and red is everything short of high school.

The map helps to solidify what are, for most people, likely abstract concepts. They confirm people with less education tend to live in the outer boroughs around Manhattan, for example, and that a single highway can separate rich and poor.

Here's how the maps shake out in various cities across the US.

SEE ALSO: Animated map shows the most and least educated US states

The San Francisco Bay Area is marked by high levels of education in Berkeley gradually shifting to less education further south in Oakland. Across the Bay, San Francisco is made up largely of graduate degrees — except for a pocket of red in Chinatown.



New York City residents cluster blue in Manhattan and affluent parts of Brooklyn but get less educated deeper into the outer boroughs. On the island, blue dots begin to fade into green and yellow near 100th St., as it turns into Harlem.



Walker's map reveals stark differences in Los Angeles, where Beverly Hills and West Hollywood are all green and blue, while downtown LA and east LA contain a heavy concentration of high school dropouts.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Why you need to be watching 'Feud: Bette and Joan'

$
0
0

feud susan sarandon jessica lange fx

"Feud: Bette and Joan" is the first installment of Ryan Murphy's new anthology series, in the vein of "American Horror Story" and "American Crime Story." Each season of "Feud" will follow a famous feud throughout history.

This first season, now airing on FX, tells the true story of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, competitive Hollywood stars who were in the 1962 movie "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" together, even though they hated each other. 

"Feud: Bette and Joan" is the perfect outlet for Jessica Lange, Susan Sarandon, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Kathy Bates, and other older actors to prove they have a lot of talent and don't need to be under 30 to take on juicy leading roles. Move over, Jennifer Lawrence! Actors who are actually the age of the people they're playing are getting the roles they deserve. 

It's the perfect weekend to binge-watch the season, since the eighth and final episode of "Feud: Bette and Joan" airs this Sunday on FX. 

Season two of the anthology series will focus on Prince Charles and Princess Diana. There's still no word on whether season three will follow the "feud" between Matt Damon and Jimmy Kimmel, but you heard that idea here first. 

Here's why you should watch "Feud: Bette and Joan":

SEE ALSO: Why you need to be watching HBO's 'Big Little Lies'

It's based on the real-life feud between two of old Hollywood's stars, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.

Bette Davis won two Oscars, for "Dangerous" (1935) and "Jezebel" (1938). In 1963, she was nominated (instead of costar Joan Crawford) for her role in "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?"

Joan Crawford won an Oscar in 1946 for her role in "Mildred Pierce."



It's a little Hollywood history lesson.

In its early days, Hollywood operated on the studio system. This meant that studios hired actors on contracts. So actresses like Joan Crawford and Bette Davis would sign a six-picture deal with a studio before knowing what those six movies were, or how long it would take to film six pictures.

When actors and actresses began saying no to projects, lawsuits started up. Davis was one of the actors who said no to projects she didn't believe in, and this upset studio execs. Studio contracts were also very strict, and often affected the social and personal lives of actors. 

 



The show totally calls out the men of Hollywood who manipulated these women into hating each other.

Studio execs, like Stanley Tucci's character Jack Warner, were the true masterminds behind the feud between Crawford and Davis. They created rumors and gossip, and used these women's vulnerabilities to sell tickets. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

13 Korean beauty products that will transform your dry skin

$
0
0

beauty routineThe INSIDER Summary:

  • Bustle rounded-up the best Korean skin care products for dry skin.
  • The products range from collagen face masks and hyaluronic acid serums to exfoliating cleansers and hydrating moisturizers.


Many things could be contributing to your dry skin — a weakened barrier, hormonal changes, the weather, or even dehydration have all been known to cause dryness. Korean beauty, however, has pretty much taken an oath to knock out dry skin one scaly patch at a time. The best Korean skin care products for dry skin aim to improve your skin's barrier function, so it can do a better job of keeping moisture in and irritants out, provide an instant boost of hydration and bounciness, and leave a thin, protective layer on the skin — think of this like a moat around the fortress that your skin's own barrier is meant to be.

You've probably heard about the 10-step Korean skin care routine, and I won't blame you if that feels excessive to you. But the reasoning behind this extensive regimen is that Korean beauty products are designed to work best when you layer them. And, you don't have to start using 10 products to see more hydrated skin, layering just a few of the right skin care products works amazingly well for treating dry skin.

Layering your skin care might sound like tricky business but is actually quite simple — you always want to apply your products from thinnest to thickest. To illustrate this a bit, imagine if you applied your night cream before your serum. Your serum  might be filled to the brim with skin-loving ingredients, but it will have to make it through a hearty, viscous layer of cream before those ingredients even have a chance to reach your skin. But, if you apply your serum first, your night cream actually helps seal in your serum, preventing it from evaporating while you sleep.

Layer this deeply hydrating essence under your serum to boost its benefits.

belif Hungarian Water Essence, $40, Amazon

Essences are an essential part of any Korean skin care routine. Think of them as light serums, packed with nourishing and hydrating ingredients. Their light consistency makes them absorb easily into the skin for the perfect boost before applying serum or moisturizer. Belif's Hungarian Water Essence is formulated with an impressive cocktail of beneficial herbs — including rosemary, lavender, and sage — and humectant ingredients that increase your skin's hydration levels instantly.



This hyaluronic acid serum packs a powerful punch of moisture.

MizonOriginal Skin Energy Hyaluronic Acid 76 Premium Hydrating Serum, $14, Amazon

This serum from Mizon is 76 percent hyaluronic acid, a powerful humectant that draws moisture to the skin. It also contains Centella Asiatica extract, which is rich in antioxidants that nourish the skin, as well as hydration-hero, Ceramide 3. To get the most bang for your buck, apply this fragrance-free serum after an essence.



Improve your skin's own barrier with this protective cream.

LJH Dr.'s Care BIO+N Barrier Cream, $13, Amazon

When your skin's natural moisture barrier becomes weakened, it has trouble retaining moisture. The LJH Dr.'s Care BIO+N Barrier Cream is formulated with glycerin, hyaluronic acid, Ceramide 3, milk lipids, and a variety of other super hydrating ingredients that can help your skin reset its barrier over time.

Many moisturizers can make you feel like your face is burning when applied to very dry skin, but this moisturizer is formulated without alcohol, fragrance, or other common irritants — making it safe for sensitive and extremely dry skin.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

8 affordable watch companies every guy should know

$
0
0

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

avi 8Some people might not see the necessity of having a watch when you’re never more than three feet away from your phone that can tell you the time, weather, and the day's latest news; but watches are still functional accessories, and they can also instantly elevate your style.

I was a late-comer to the world of watches myself. Since I began covering watches for Insider Picks, though, I’ve taken an interest in timepieces and gotten to try out more than my fair share of them.

Below you can find some of the best watch brands I've tried and written about over the past year or so. If you’re in the market for a new timepiece and haven’t found one you’re totally in love with yet, this list is a good place to start your search. 

SEE ALSO: 12 pairs of sunglasses under $100 that don't look cheap

READ MORE: I tried Bespoke Post, the subscription box introducing guys to cool gear they haven’t heard of yet

DON'T MISS: This might be our new favorite commuter backpack

MVMT

MVMT was the first brand to really bring me into the world of watches. The brand made the first watch I ever wore on a regular basis, and still makes some of my favorite minimalist pieces on the market. Founded in 2013 by Jake Kassan and Kramer LaPlante after they dropped out of college to pursue their passion, MVMT started after the duo recognized a weakness in the market that they thought they could best. "There are plenty of giant watch brands, but their business models are stuck in the age of wholesale," Kassan told Business Insider.

Thus, MVMTmarketed their product directly to consumers through social channels and gained a substantial Instagram following that helped them cross $1 million in sales in the company’s first year. The brand now also makes sunglasses.

What you should expect to spend: $95-$150

What I recommend: My first favorite watch was the Chrono in Gun Metal and Sandstone, and I think plenty of people could benefit from having a piece like it in their collection. Also, any watch from the 40 Series line is a great, lightweight option for everyday wear.

You can check out all of MVMT's watches here.



AVI-8

AVI-8 prides itself on making affordable pilot watches. The company's watches are bolder than some of the others on this list and feature complications that serve purposes in addition to telling the time. These complications can be anything from the date to moon phases to chronographs. Complications allow you to more personally tailor a watch to whatever information you’d like to see every time you look down at your wrist. For WWI and WWII pilots, these complications were common, as it was often important for more information to be readily available to them than simply the time of day. 

What you should expect to spend: $150-$300

What I recommend: The bold look of the Hawker Hurricane is a personal favorite. If you’re looking for a pilot watch that makes a statement, it’s a great pick for you.

You can check out all of AVI-8's watches here.



Linjer

An up-an-coming brand, Linjer was launched in 2014 by Jennifer Chong and Roman Khan. After a successful Kickstarter campaign brought in $350,000, the brand went on to make $1 million in sales in its first 14 months. Linjer focused its efforts on quality over quantity, spending 18 months perfecting two watch designs that strive for minimalist elegance. The final products are a fantastic middle ground of quality and affordability.

What you should expect to spend: $249

What I recommend: I wear Linjer's Minimalist Watch more than any other in my collection at the moment. It looks great with casual clothes, but also works phenomenally with a suit and tie.

You can check out all of Linjer watches here.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

11 things never to send over work email

$
0
0

computer laptop work hackers tech

What happens in your inbox doesn't always stay there.

In fact, one stupid email from your work account can have serious real-world consequences.

"Email can be a wonderfully efficient time-saving tool — if used properly,"Michael Kerr, an international business speaker and author of "The Humor Advantage" told Business Insider.

"Unfortunately, survey after survey reveals that email has also become the bane of many a workplace, often cited as one of the top sources of workplace stress, both because of the sheer volume of email and because how people misuse email. So as a general rule of thumb, before you hit the send button always ask yourself if this is a message that you need to send, period, and if this is a message that would be better delivered in person or over the phone."

Don't let your email habits land you in hot water. Make sure to avoid sending these materials over your work account, point blank:

SEE ALSO: 6 things you should never store on your work computer

Excessively large videos or photos

"Yes, that cat video you shot last weekend is hilarious, but most of your colleagues will not appreciate an email than takes ten minutes to download and open," Kerr said.



Chain letters

You're not a tween living in the early 2000s. You shouldn't be sending chain emails in general — especially not over your work email.

"You know the ones — those goofy chain letter requests you receive from cousin Ralph on your home computer telling you to forward this email on to 14 more people so good luck will fall your way," Kerr said. "They are annoying and unprofessional in a work context."



Inappropriate humor

"Inappropriate humor — especially sexist or racist humor, which will easily come back to bite you, in some cases resulting in employees facing severe reprimands or even dismissal," Kerr said.

In fact, it's probably better to be careful about the jokes in general. Your inbox isn't the place to workshop your new material, so skip on bombarding your colleagues with silly emails.

"Yes, humor in the workplace is a fabulously invaluable thing that any workplace can benefit greatly from, but when your colleagues already feel buried under a pile of never-ending emails, adding to the deluge is rarely appreciated," Kerr said.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's what it was like to drive the Ford Focus RS with The Stig from 'Top Gear' (F)

$
0
0

Ford Focus RS Drive

Wannabe racers can rejoice. Ford brought its 350-horsepower "hot hatch" Focus RS from Europe to the US. The RS went on sale last year, and for about $36,000, you'll be hard-pressed to find a more trackworthy ride that can also serve as a daily driver and errand-runner.

I headed up to the Monticello Motor Club, about a two hour drive from where I live in New Jersey, to check out the RS in its preferred environment: on a race track.

And who did I find up in the lovely Catskills on a glorious afternoon? Why, none other than Ben Collins, who was once the "Stig" on the hit BBC car show "Top Gear." He was out of his anonymous white full-face helmet and racing suit and kitted out in blue Ford Performance threads. He was on hand to truly put the RS through its paces, with merciless hot laps on half the MMC's course.

I got my crack at the car afterwards. Was it any good?

Read on:

The Monticello Motor Club is located about two hours north of New York City. It's nestled among quiet country roads.



The speed limit is 40 mph outside. It's rather more than that on the track.



If you don't look hard, you might miss it.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Meet Emmanuel Macron, the 39-year-old former investment banker tipped to beat Marine Le Pen in the French election

$
0
0

French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron arrives at 10 Downing Street, London, where he met Prime Minister Theresa May for talks.

Emmanuel Macron is currently the favourite to win the 2017 French election.

At 39 years old, he is the youngest candidate in the race — and the only one with no experience in running a campaign.

He served under President François Hollande as Minister of Economy, Industry, and Digital Data, but only truly entered the public consciousness when he rebelled against the socialist party he served, and run as an independent presidential candidate for his 'En Marche!' movement.

Now, he is tipped in the polls to go through to the second round of the elections, and face-off with Marine Le Pen for the presidency.

From a political nobody, to one of the front runners of the 2017 French elections, this is everything you need to know about Emmanuel Macron, leader of En Marche!.

Emmanuel Macron was born on 21 December 1977 in Amiens, a city in northern France. He is the eldest child of Jean-Michel Macron and Françoise Macron-Nogues and only family member not to have pursued a career in medicine.

His dad was a neurologist at the University Hospital of Amiens, while his mother was a paediatrician. His younger brother and sister also kept to the family tradition to become a cardiologist and nephrologist respectively.

Macron, on the other hand, has had a fairly non-linear career path. In high school, Macron studied sciences, before going on to take philosophy at Nanterre university. The apprentice philosopher then left Nanterre to head to the Institute of Political Science (Sciences Po), before studying at the "École nationale d'administration (ENA)", two of the most prestigious French schools.

After studying, he became a financial investment banker at Rotschild & Cie. which he left in 2012, before becoming deputy secretary-general at the Elysée. He then served in François Hollande's cabinet as economy minister.



An unconventional romance

In 2007, Macron married his former high-school French teacher Brigitte Trogneux, who is 24 years his senior. They met at the private, catholic school La Providence in Amiens. At the time, he was 15-years-old. 

Brigitte Trogneux was, according to the IB Times, charmed by young Macron's intelligence and once stated: "Emmanuel's skills are totally above average. You can say I say this because we're married, but this is the teacher speaking."

During a speech at their wedding, Macron thanked family and friends for "accepting" and "supporting" the couple throughout the years. 

 



The beginning of a political career

Macron was asked by Hollande to replace Arnaud Montebourg as Minister of Economy, Industry, and Digital Data in 2014.

Macron's predecessor was considered a protectionist, and his most famous campaign was probably "Made in France," where he pushed individuals to buy French products over foreign goods. 

Macron on the other hand, is pro-businesses, pro-EU, and even urged American scientists, academics, and entrepreneurs, who feel uneasy about President Donald Trump's administration, to move to France. 

Montebourg was essentially sacked because he was outspoken about government cuts. A threat the Hollande government averted by ousting Montebourg from his position.  



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The rise and fall of Aaron Hernandez: How he went from a rising star to a convicted murderer in the blink of an eye

$
0
0

Aaron Hernandez

Former NFL tight end Aaron Hernandez was found dead of an apparent suicide in his jail cell on Wednesday, authorities said. 

Hernandez was serving a life sentence for after he was convicted of the murder of semiprofessional football player Odin Lloyd, 27, whom Hernandez knew socially, in 2013.

Hernandez's life was a tragic roller coaster that began with the death of his father, saw him rise to stardom in both college and the NFL, and then fell apart when he was charged in the deaths of three people before taking his own life.

Below is a look at how Hernandez went from football star to convicted murderer.

Hernandez grew up in a tough area of Bristol, Connecticut, and his dad died when Hernandez was 16 years old.



Hernandez spoke about the death of his father while in college: "It was more like a shock. Everyone was close to my father, but I was the closest. I was with him more than my friends. When that happened, who do I talk to, who do I hang with? It was tough."

Source: USA Today



Hernandez was the No. 1 tight end recruit in the country as a sophomore and originally committed to play football at the University of Connecticut, where his father had played and where his brother D.J. was the starting quarterback at the time. However, after the death of his father his junior year, Hernandez decided to attend the University of Florida.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? The players NBA teams are kicking themselves for drafting before Isaiah Thomas in 2011

$
0
0

isaiah thomas

The 2011 NBA Draft has proven to be one of the deepest classes in recent memory.

The draft was so deep that 29 teams missed one of the best prospects — Isaiah Thomas.

The Kings took Thomas with the very last pick, No. 60, completely unaware that the diminutive 5-foot-9 guard from Washington would become this generation's Allen Iverson — a spunky, athletic, crafty scorer defenses can't stop.

After stops in Sacramento and Phoenix, Thomas has become the star of the Celtics, helping them win the No. 1 seed in the East this year.

Here are some of the players drafted before Thomas that NBA teams are probably kicking themselves over today.

Some picks still look good today. The Cavaliers took Kyrie Irving with the No. 1 pick.



Irving is still on the Cavs today, of course, forever cherished in Cleveland for sealing the 2016 championship with the game-winning three-pointer.



The Cavaliers also drafted Tristan Thompson with the fourth pick.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The all-new Lincoln Navigator takes the luxury SUV to a higher level (F)

$
0
0

2018 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR

Lincoln has some positive history with the New York Auto Show. In 2015, Ford's luxury brand unveiled its Continental concept car, and then in 2016, it repeated the move with its Navigator concept.

The Continental is now Lincoln's flagship sedan, reviving a storied automotive nameplate. We checked it out and were impressed.

The Navigator is just as important — it was the first luxury SUV, hitting the streets in the 1990s. It's large and in charge, and in 2016 Lincoln showed it as a spectacular yacht-like concept, complete with massive gull wing doors.

What was a concept is a reality. The gullwing doors are gone. But the big Lincoln is still a sight to behold. We saw it at an event right before the 2016 New York Auto Show kicked off.

Have a closer look:

SEE ALSO: The new Lincoln Continental lives up to its name

The 2016 concept car was a stunning show-stealer. Those gull wing doors are NUTS!



The Navigator concept followed the Continental concept, which was one of the stars of the 2015 New York Auto Show.



The Navigator is part of the large SUV segment. Heck, it more or less created the segment.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

5 tips to decorate your home like a rich person, when your bank account is anything but

$
0
0

Homepolish

Luxury and richness come at varying price points, and creating a space that feels and looks expensive doesn't always have to be costly.

"Sometimes when working with a limited budget, it's easy to say 'let's play it safe,"Homepolish designer Ariel Farmer told Business Insider. "More often than not this route leads to the blah and boring world of beige walls and matching sofas and love seats."

However, says Farmer, "You can just as easily achieve your aspirational home goals through sensible purchases and investing in foundational pieces with high impact."

Below, Farmer shares five tips for decorating your home to feel rich when you're on a budget.

DON'T MISS: HGTV’s Chip and Joanna Gaines choose the opposite of trendy when designing a home

SEE ALSO: 13 things that will trash your home's value

1. Invest in a few primary pieces of furniture

If you're designing a living room, for example, Farmer suggests investing in statement furniture, like the sofa or media console, because as "the largest and most utilized pieces of the room ... it's imperative they be functional and stylish."

Farmer says it's important to "steer away from anything too bulky, rounded or 'of the moment.' The pieces you invest in should be timeless and able to evolve with you."



2. Or try a high-quality accent piece

Furniture doesn't always need to be the big investment, says Farmer, especially if you already own an older or inexpensive piece you want to keep. Buying high-quality accent pieces, like pillows and throw blankets, can elevate the overall look of a room, too.

"Sometimes, that $200 lumbar pillow makes your thrift store find of a lounge chair seem like it was ripped out of the pages of the latest design magazine," she said.

Ultimately"it's more about the mix of high and low and buying the best quality that your budget can allow," Farmer says.



3. Get a good paint job

According to Farmer, "a good paint job goes a long way."

She says it's an "inexpensive way to add drama and glamour to a space," without breaking the bank. "Life is too short to live in a white box (unless it's intentional to the design of course!)."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

We took a helicopter to dinner at the Rockefeller Estate with the most powerful business players you've never heard of

$
0
0

Kairos Dinner 2017

Last Thursday evening, some of the world's most innovative minds joined each other for dinner at one of the country's most storied old-money estates.

The dinner was held by the Kairos Society, an elite group of young business entrepreneurs working to solve global issues, as part of its annual Global Summit. The summit brings together leaders from across industries — from Amazon CTO Werner Vogels to Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides — for a three-day event filled with discussion on how to solve market failures in industries like social security and retirement, affordable access to healthcare, and fake news, among others.

Guests were helicoptered from Manhattan to Tarrytown, New York, to kick off the weekend with a dinner at the 3,500-acre Rockefeller Estate. Business Insider was invited to cover the event — here's what we saw. 

SEE ALSO: Politicians have been dining at this secretive Washington, DC restaurant since the '90s — take a look inside

Guests gathered inside a lounge belonging to on-demand helicopter startup Blade, which flew guests north of Manhattan toward the Rockefeller Estate.



We were escorted into our six-seat helicopter, and soon we were flying high over the Hudson River.



When we landed at the heliport, guests were kindly greeted by Kairos Society members and transferred to luxury shuttles.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Working a 9-5 job, buying a home, and saving in a 401(k) will no longer make you rich

$
0
0

susie mooreIn her new book, "What If It Does Work Out?," Susie Moore interviewed James Altucher about why you should work for yourself.

Susie: What facts do you tell people who still believe in the old world order (safe corporate job, 401(k), single paycheck)?

James: I don't like to tell people they are wrong. Nobody listens when you tell them that.

We want to believe (I want to believe) that I am right all the time.

So I don't tell people when I think they are wrong. I just point out the times I realized I was wrong.

SEE ALSO: After more than a year of earning up to $4,000 a month on the side, here’s what I can tell you about starting a side hustle

1. 401(k)s

I thought it was good to save away every month in a 401(k). Little did I realize the amount of fees and wrong decisions 401(k) managers constantly make. Nor did I realize that even when the company matches, I would have been far better off investing in myself, or simply having my own cash in the bank rather than waiting until I am near 60.



2. Owning a home

I get it. Many people want "roots." Many people think rent is throwing money out. But you never really own your home. Try missing a mortgage payment, or a property tax payment, and see how quickly the land from underneath you is taken away. And I learned the hard way that the amount of equity I build is no match for maintenance, renovation, and the thousand other little nicks and expenses that owning a house entails.

Sure, some of the time (and there are a million anecdotes), homeownership works. But as an investment, it has all the worst qualities. You would never invest in a company/stock, for instance, where:

• You use 400% leverage.

• It can go down as much as 50% while you hold it.

• It is totally illiquid. (You can't sell it during the times you most NEED to sell it.)

• It requires constant payments to hold onto the investment.

I could go on.



3. Jobs are "safe."

Many people go to college thinking that even if they can't do their highest passions in life, they at least can have a "Plan B" that includes a safe job.

Unfortunately, incomes have been going straight down while inflation is going up.

The average salary for people ages 18-35 has gone from $36,000 in 1992 to $33,000 now, and it's only getting lower.

Meanwhile, the people I know who are doing the best financially have multiple streams of income, do not have a single job, and often the work they do is 100 percent related to their experience and not their education.

"But what about the arts?" I get it. You can learn the arts and humanities in school. And you can have many social experiences in school.

But the reality is, with $1.3 trillion in student loan debt (and rising), there are many other, cheaper, safer ways to learn these things.

Ways that would be just as enriching, valuable for your future (even more valuable since you will not have debt), and positive socially.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Audi is building an electric SUV to take on Tesla — and it just became available for pre-order (TSLA)

$
0
0

Audi E tron quattro

Tesla's Model S and Model X are soon going to have some serious competition.  

In September 2015, Audi revealed its all-electric e-tron quattro concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The SUV, which is slated to come to market by 2018, will have three electric motors, a range of about 300 miles on a single charge, and quick charging capabilities. 

The company has not yet given a final price for the vehicle, but on Monday Audi opened up reservations to buyers in Norway. Customers in the country can pay about $2,500 to reserve the car. 

Here's a look at some of the features in the e-tron quattro concept that we hope to see in the production version. 

SEE ALSO: Audi just revealed a stunning all-electric SUV that's primed to take on Tesla

Like the e-tron concept, Audi will most likely include piloted driving technology in its upcoming all-electric SUV.

The e-tron quattro concept has piloted driving technology, which uses radar sensors, a video camera, ultrasonic sensors, and a laser scanner to collect data about the car’s environment and create a model of the vehicle’s surroundings in real-time.

Audi currently has a lot of this tech in its newer vehicles, so it's likely we will see a more advanced piloted system in the production version of the e-tron quattro. 

 



Cameras could replace side view mirrors.

The e-tron quattro has curved displays built into the front section of the doors that lets the driver view what is around them. There's no guarantee we'll see this in the production version, but automakers are beginning to experiment with new kinds of mirror designs. 

For example, GM's a digital mirror in the Chevy Bolt and the Cadillac CT6 that uses cameras to stream whatever is behind you. 



It will likely be covered in screens.

The e-tron quattro concept features two touch displays in the cockpit, one to the driver's left to control lights and the piloted driving systems and one to the right where media and navigation is controlled. 

The center console has two more OLED displays for climate control and infotainment. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Everything you need to know about Amber Heard, the actress who seems to be dating Elon Musk

$
0
0

Amber Heard

Actress Amber Heard just revealed to the world that she's dating Tesla billionaire Elon Musk, or at least that was the appearance from a photo of the two of them enjoying a meal together at a restaurant, with a lipstick stain planted on Musk's cheek.

If Heard looks familiar, it's because she has been around Hollywood for a while, and she got her start in TV and small roles in movies you've probably seen.

She gained a higher profile after she started dating and then married Johnny Depp, who left his longtime partner for her. Their marriage ended after divorce proceedings in 2016.

Heard is only 31, but she has had quite a career and continues to take on bigger roles. In 2017, she'll appear as Mera, the queen of Atlantis, in "Justice League," and she'll probably have a more substantial role in 2018's "Aquaman." She's also an advocate for women, especially those who are victims of domestic violence.

SEE ALSO: 35 movies coming out this summer that you need to see

Heard was born in Austin, Texas, in 1986. When she was 17, she dropped out of high school and moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting and modeling career.

Source: The Telegraph



Her first movie role was in the 2004 sports drama "Friday Night Lights," which starred Billy Bob Thornton. (It later became a TV show.)



Before that, she had supporting and guest-starring roles on teen dramas including "Jack & Bobby" and "The O.C."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

9 stunning photos that capture what it's like to be depressed

$
0
0

depression/dangling

The INSIDER Summary:

  • Janelia Mould is a fine art photographer and conceptual artist working on a photo series about her struggles with depression.
  • Her images show the subject with her head and limbs missing to symbolize the numbness that accompanies the condition.
  • She hopes the photos help people who don't have depression better understand those who do.


Janelia Mould, a fine art photographer and conceptual artist known as Cheeky Ingelosi, uses her art to express what words can't about struggling with depression. She's been channeling her flair for surrealism into an ongoing photo series entitled "A Girl Called Melancholy. The Story of Depression."

Here is a selection of her photos.

Janelia Mould is a fine art photographer and conceptual artist from South Africa.



She's working on a photo series about depression called "A Girl Called Melancholy. The Story of Depression."



Mould said the photos are "essentially self-portraits" based on her own experience with depression.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Google Photos is Google's best service — here's why you should be using it

$
0
0

There are moments in life when your phone's camera is crucial: your child's first steps, or their graduation from high school, for instance.

But your phone is likely full of stuff, and you could end up facing this obnoxious message:

storage full on iPhone

There are few things as frustrating in our convenience-filled world as repeatedly running into your phone's storage limit. It means an action as simple as taking a photo is delayed while you free up space ... often by deleting old photos.

For most people hitting that storage limit, there's one culprit: photos. 

Mike Pence Selfie

They take up a lot of space, and you take a lot of them — you might even be taking "HDR" photos (which are even larger files than standard photos). So, what do you do? You have two main options:

  1. Buy a phone with more internal storage, which costs more money.
  2. Regularly offload photos and delete them from your phone, which costs your time.

But there's a third, totally free, amazingly simple option: Google Photos. Here's everything you should know about Google's secret-best service.

If you have a Google account — Gmail, for instance — you already have Google Photos.

It's true, and it's incredibly simple:

-Navigate to photos.google.com (while signed in to your Gmail account).

-Start using Google Photos!

If, for some reason, you don't already have a Google account, you'll need one to use Google Photos. Signing up is free and easy.

But let's not kid ourselves — y0u probably have a Google account already, right? Almost certainly.



But you're here to free up space on your phone, right? For that you're going to need the Google Photos app — it's available for free on both the iTunes App Store and Google Play:

The app is really where the best Google Photos stuff is. I'll explain why momentarily, but first and foremost you need download links — here they are:

-iTunes App store

-Google Play store



Now that you've got the app installed, what's so good about it? While there are many answers to that question, prime among them is Google Photos' "Back up & Sync" function.

Despite logic dictating that you should click the "Free up space" option in the main menu, the first place you should navigate is the "Back up & Sync" menu in Settings. 

This is the main reason that Google Photos is so great: It takes your entire photo library — every photo you've ever taken on your phone, as well as screenshots and photos taken within Instagram and whatever else — and uploads it to the internet. The photos remain private, hidden behind your Google account information, but now you can access them anywhere. On your laptop? Yep. On a new phone? Yep. On your tablet? Yep, there too. 

This unto itself is pretty incredible — but what's even more incredible is what this means for the concept of storing photos on your phone. Specifically: You can straight up delete your entire photo library, thus freeing up a tremendous amount of your phone's free space.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The Galaxy S8 is a beautiful phone, but it's also extremely fragile

$
0
0

galaxy s9 scratch test

Samsung's new Galaxy S8 is mighty tempting with its gorgeous design.

However, with beauty comes compromise, at least when it comes to the Galaxy S8's durability.

Two YouTube channels, SquareTrade and JerryRigEverything, perform durability tests on new smartphones, and the Galaxy S8 was certainly not going to be left out.

They found that the Galaxy S8 was fragile in big impacts, but its screen stood up well against scratches. SquareTrade also found some issues with the Galaxy S8's water resistance.

Check out the results of their tests:

SEE ALSO: The 20 best smartphones in the world

SquareTrade dropped both Galaxy S8 models — the S8 and S8 Plus — on their fronts and backs from a height of 6 feet.

 



It found that both Galaxy S8 models cracked on the front and back on their first drops.



The previous Galaxy phones, the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, weren't much less fragile either. SquareTrade found that the S7 cracked on the first fall on its front and the S7 Edge cracked on the second.



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




Latest Images