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13 of the best swim trunks guys can wear this summer

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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.

F9822_PA4553_mSwimming is one of my favorite summer activities. Whether I'm on the beach, or hanging out in a backyard pool while someone grills, it's one of the best ways to relax and enjoy the warmer weather.

But finding the right swim trunks takes some effort. Ideally, you want them to fit well without interfering with your backstroke.

It's also a good idea to find swim trunks you're comfortable wearing around all day, so you don't have to change immediately after leaving the water.

You can keep things simple with a dark, solid color or show off a little character by going with a print pattern. No matter which look you decide on, there’s a pair of swim trunks here for every guy.

SEE ALSO: One of my favorite watches for the summer is less than $100

READ MORE: 10 of the best chinos guys can wear this spring and summer

DON'T MISS: An expert shares the top automatic watches for every budget

Patagonia 20" Stretch Planing Board Shorts, $79



J.Crew 9" Board Short in Navy Floral, $69.50



Everlane Swim Short, $45



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I took a high-performance driving course in a 526 horsepower Ford— here's what I learned (F)

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Ford Track Attack Racing School

Ford sells seven thrill-inducing vehicles through its Ford Performance division. Anyone who buys one can take advantage of perhaps the greatest perk in the car world: a full-day of driving instruction at Ford's Performance Racing School. 

The program is free to all new owners of Shelby GT350s and 350R Mustangs, Focus RS and STs, Raptor pickups, and Fiesta STs. (And something is under construction for the $400,000 Ford GT supercar, which is just beginning to be delivered to the first of 250 customers in 2017.)

All that's required is that your get yourself to the Salt Lake City, Utah area and make your way to Utah Motorsports, where track-ready versions of your car will be waiting for you, along with a group of experienced instructors with serious racing credentials. 

It's called Track Attack, and while I was in Utah to test drive the new GT at the racing complex, I was put through the course, alongside a group of newly minted Shelby GT350 owners.

I'm under no illusions that I'm a good track driver, but I do have some track experience. Little did I know how much more I had to learn.

The Racing School and the Track Attack program are based at the Utah Motorsports Campus, a complex of two tracks complete with paddocks, pits, race-control towers, and even a karting course. The facility is about a half hour drive from Salt Lake City.



Welcome to the fun! I was preparing to participate in a drive of the Ford GT supercar and welcomed the chance to get some instruction before taking on the $400,000 Le Mans-winning beast and its 647-horsepower engine.



Any Ford customer who buys a Ford Performance vehicle is offered the chance to attend a one-day racing program for free. All they have to do is get to the venue.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The LA Riots began 25 years ago this week — here's how the city descended into total chaos

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LA Riots

It's been 25 years since a jury's decision to acquit the four cops who violently tasered and beat up 25-year-old Rodney King during an arrest in Los Angeles.

The incident sparked a series of protests known as the LA Riots. Tensions between law enforcement and Angelenos bubbled over, and by the end of the five-day riots, at least 55 people had died.

At a time when similar racial tensions are again at the forefront of the national conversation, we take a look back. On Saturday, people in Los Angeles marched and held vigils to commemorate the outburst of violence that erupted throughout the city in 1992.

Here's what happened during the LA Riots:

SEE ALSO: Bill O'Reilly's LA riot reporting has also been called into question

In March 1991, four LAPD officers arrested African American motorist Rodney King for speeding, and proceeded to Taser, tackle, and strike him with police batons over 50 times. King suffered a fractured skull and multiple other injuries.

Source: CNN



George Holliday, a plumber standing on the balcony of his Los Angeles apartment, filmed the officers beating up King on a home camera and sent it to the local press.

Source: CNN



Even though the video showed more than a dozen officers standing by during the attack, only the four directly involved in the beating were arrested.

Source: CNN



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The most controversial picks from the 2017 NFL Draft

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Mitchell Trubisky

The fireworks in the 2017 NFL Draft started early when the Chicago Bears surprised everybody by trading up one spot to select North Carolina quarterback Mitchell Trubisky.

That turned out to be just the first big twist in a draft that was filled with surprising picks, big reaches, and players falling because of off-the-field issues.

Below we take a look at 14 picks that are creating the most buzz now that the draft is over.

Mitchell Trubisky, QB — Chicago Bears (first round, No. 2 overall)

Pros: If Trubisky turns into a franchise quarterback, there is no price that is too high. The Bears gave up three draft picks to move up from No. 3 to No. 2 to make sure they got their guy. Peter King of The MMQB noted that there is, in essence, a different scale for quarterbacks. There is a draft for the quarterbacks and there is a draft for everybody else. The Bears got the top quarterback in this draft.

Cons: The Bears may have been duped into giving up a lot to trade up for a player who may have still been there at No. 3. Those three extra picks they gave up to move up — 2017 third and fourth rounders and a 2018 third-round pick — are the equivalent of giving up a mid-first-round pick to move one spot. And they gave up those picks for a player who was graded more like a late-first-round quarterback than the more typical top-of-the-draft quarterback. On top of that, the Bears had just seemingly given the reigns to free agent quarterback Mike Glennon, and seemingly outbid themselves to do it.

Telling quote"I'm going to be the first one to put my hand up and say I obviously did not see that coming. I really thought that Chicago was excited about Mike Glennon. So they paid him pretty well and then to move up and give up that draft capital for Trubisky, for me, is a big risk."– Mike Mayock



Corey Davis, WR — Tennessee Titans (first round, No. 5 overall)

Pros: The Titans got another weapon for Marcus Mariota and they got a guy who does nothing except produce. He is a small-conference wide receiver, but he was looked at as a "man among boys," catching 97 passes and 19 touchdowns as a senior and being named the Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

Cons: Davis was a first-round talent and the Titans needed a wide receiver. But considering he suffered an ankle injury that kept teams from being able to work him out, most felt Davis would still be on the board when the Titans second first-round pick came at No. 18. By taking Davis early, the Titans were late with their other big need, defensive back. Instead of getting the first defensive back off the board at No. 5 and possibly getting Davis at No. 18, they got the fifth defensive back and the third cornerback overall, in Adoree' Jackson.

Telling quote"He wasn't even able to work out since his college season. Had an ankle injury. So the NFL just pulled the trigger on a receiver from the MAC that they weren't even able to work out."— Mike Mayock of the NFL Network



Patrick Mahomes II, QB — Kansas City Chiefs (first round, No. 10 overall)

Pros: The Chiefs gave up a 2018 first-round pick and a third-round pick this year (No. 91 overall) to move up 17 spots to No. 10 to get the second quarterback off the board. The Chiefs still have a dependable veteran quarterback on the roster in Alex Smith. But that also gives the Chiefs a good mentor for Mahomes and a chance to let him sit, watch, and grow for a couple of years and hope they can turn him into the next Aaron Rodgers.

Cons: The 2018 first-round pick isn't as costly as it sounds on the surface since the Chiefs should be a playoff contender this season. But moving up 17 spots is a big jump for a quarterback that many felt was a second-rounder just a few weeks ago. On top of that, Mahomes is a gunslinger who now needs to be molded into a West Coast-offense QB that more typically takes the short and safe options.

Telling quote: "He is extremely raw but has undeniable arm talent." — Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN.com



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

These California 'nuns' are making a living selling pot products on the internet

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sisters of the valley marijuana nuns 7035

Christine Meeusen, who goes by the name Sister Kate, grew up going to a private Catholic school and was taught by nuns. The sense of sisterhood and honorable work appealed to her.

But these days, Sister Kate, 58, answers to a different, higher calling.

Sister Kate is a self-proclaimed nun, though not of the Catholic order, and the founder of a medical cannabis company that operates out of her home in California's Central Valley. Her mission is to erase the negative stigma around the plant and create jobs for women who believe in its healing powers. In 2016, Sisters of the Valley generated roughly $750,000 in sales.

"No matter what we read about cannabis in the last 20 years, we didn't listen to it," Sister Kate told Business Insider last year. "Because we knew we were dealing with a healing plant. We knew, intuitively, without having the science [to back us], that it was being demonized."

Business Insider visited the Sisters of the Valley in March 2016. Take a look inside the most pot-friendly abbey in America.

SEE ALSO: Inside the $1 billion marijuana 'unicorn' that operates out of a once-abandoned Hershey's factory

In a California ranch house, the seven members of the Sisters of the Valley wear white blouses, long denim skirts, and habits made from old pillowcases.



They might look the part, but the Sisters of the Valley are hardly the convent types.



The sisters make a line of salves, tinctures, and oils derived from hemp, a type of cannabis plant that contains only trace amounts of the psychoactive ingredient in weed.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

11 crazy concept cars already unveiled in 2017

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volkswagen bus concept

Concept cars are only getting crazier.

As automakers invest more heavily in self-driving tech and artificial intelligence, they're using bizarre concepts to showcase their vision for future production models. Concept cars tend to be packed with features you may not see for decades, but they provide an interesting glance at where the auto industry is heading.

Scroll down for some of the crazier concepts we've seen this year so far:

SEE ALSO: Porsche is building a stunning Tesla rival — here's everything you need to know

1. Fiat Chrysler unveiled a concept car geared for high-tech millennials at CES this year. The car isn't all that eye-catching purely from an aesthetic perspective. It's large, boxy, and heavy looking.



But the car is really meant to showcase what tech-oriented millennials are looking for inside a car, FCA said. It's electric with 250 miles of range and gets just over 50% of its charge back in under 20 minutes with a DC Fast Charger.



It also comes with lidar and sensors to handle Level 3 autonomous driving, meaning it can handle urban environments, but it still requires human oversight.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's what all the celebrities wore to the 2017 Met Gala

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met gala thumb

Every year, A-listers and designers flock to the storied Metropolitan Museum of Fine Art in New York City for the annual Costume Institute Gala on the first Monday in May.

Known commonly as the Met Gala, this so-called "Oscars of the East" gives the elite a chance to rub shoulders and dress to the nines as they party inside one of New York's oldest museums.

Here's what all of your favorite celebrities wore to this year's event with the theme "Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: The Art of the In-Between":

Vogue's editor-in-chief Anna Wintour is the chairwoman of the gala, and arrives first every year.



Her daughter Bree Shafer wasn't far behind. We love the pattern of her dress.



Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen were matching in metallics.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here were the 28 best looks from the 2017 Met Gala

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best dressed met gala

The annual Costume Institute Gala on the first Monday in May is the time for celebrities and designers to shine.

Known commonly as the Met Gala, this so-called "Oscars of the East" gives the elite a chance to rub shoulders and dress to the nines as they party inside one of New York's oldest museums.

This year, the theme was "Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: The Art of the In-Between." Some stars missed the mark on their looks, but these 28 celebrities looked incredible and nailed the theme.

Keep reading to see the best outfits:

Rihanna nailed the theme and her look in this intricate Comme des Garçons dress, complete with a top knot and bright pink eye shadow.

Source: Time



Allison Williams was unrecognizable in this Diane von Furstenberg white gown with black bodice and bright blonde hair.

Source: The New York Times



Kim Kardashian West also wore white. She chose a Vivienne Westwood slip dress.

See how she keeps her hair looking this healthy here.

Source: Vogue



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here were the 26 worst looks from the 2017 Met Gala

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worst met gala looks

The annual Costume Institute Gala on the first Monday in May may be one of the most fashionable times of the year, but that doesn't mean that everyone shines on the carpet.

Known commonly as the Met Gala, this so-called "Oscars of the East" invites celebrities to test the boundaries of fashion and dress to the nines. This year, the theme was "Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: The Art of the In-Between."

Though some stars nailed their looks, others fell short. Here are the worst looks from the gala:

Bella Hadid wore the look everyone will be talking about. And not in a good way.



Jennifer Lopez looked gorgeous, but her pale blue dress resembled a nightgown.



Claire Danes' avant garde shirt looked a bit of a mess.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 9 richest couples in Britain

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wedding1

Some of the richest people in Britain are power couples that have a combined wealth that dwarf the fortunes of the Queen.

When the Sunday Times Rich List, which ranks the 1,000 richest people in Britain, first began in 1989, it was dominated by aristocratic or people who had inherited wealth.

But now it seems that "wealth is often gained and lost within three generations" and wealthy individuals marrying each other means fortunes can balloon into the billions.

A preview of The Sunday Times' Rich List, which will be published later this month, highlights the fact that most of the wealthiest women in the UK owe their spectacular fortunes to marriage.

Others inherited their vast wealth and became among the richest people in Britain when they combined it with their spouses.

"This year's Sunday Times Rich List will show how the make-up of Britain's richest 1,000 people is changing - with a record number of women and more husband and wife partnerships than before," said Robert Watts, the Compiler of The Sunday Times Rich List 2017.

"Starting a business with your other half may not appeal to everyone. A bit of pillow talk about balance sheets wouldn't suit all marriages, but there are clearly some couples who are making it work - and very well.

"The growing number of women we're seeing in the Rich List is part of a greater diversity, with more people from ethnic backgrounds and more surprising walks of life, with soft toy makers and dating app developers lining up with private-equity barons and hedge-fund managers."

Business Insider decided to take a quick look to see who made the top spots in the couples ranking:

9. Poju and Anita Zabludowicz — £1.5 billion ($1.9 billion). The couple are world famous art collectors with a 3,000-strong Zabludowicz Collection in London. Poju mainly derives the family's wealth through property and hotels. Only four years ago, he sold the family's British Israel Property operation for £484 million.



8. Douglas and Dame Mary Perkins —£1.6 billion ($2 billion). The couple own 50% each of the giant opticians chain they founded, Specsavers.



7. Chris and Sarah Dawson — £1.9 billion ($2.4 billion). Chris is a self-made retail billionaire who founded The Range, which stocks everything from lawnmowers to sketchpads. He also cannot read or write and left school with no qualifications.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's how May Day rallies unfolded around the world

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may day new york

May Day rallies and marches were held worldwide on May 1, 2017.

Some of the demonstrations, which are also celebrated under the International Workers' Day banner, reflected cultural traditions, and many others were a rallying cry for equal rights, equal pay, and a renewed focus on social, environmental and civil-rights issues.

Here are 12 photos from May Day marches worldwide.

SEE ALSO: Protesters around the world hold defiant May Day rallies for workers' rights

Hamburg, Germany's march revolved around the upcoming G20 summit that the city is set to host in July.



Demonstrators clashed with police in Paris, where protestors shouted 'Fascists out!'.



In Berlin, riot police kept a close eye on May Day rallies.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Fascinating maps show where the most and least diverse parts of the US are

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us diversity

The United States is sometimes billed as a melting pot of racial and ethnic diversity. 

But a new map created by astrophysicist Tomasz Stepinski shows how much racial segregation persists in many American towns, cities, and suburbs. 

Using census data and NASA satellite maps, Stepinski created a detailed map that shows racial composition levels in nearly every neighborhood in the US.

Six categories of race — non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, American Indian, Asian, Hispanic, and other — are represented by six different colors on the map (as indicated on the key to the right). 

diversity map keyIf an area has a high density of a particular race and low overall diversity, it is shaded a dark tone of that color (from the left column in the key to the right). If an area has a high density of a certain race but medium overall diversity, it's shaded in a less dark color (from the right column in the key). For example, neighborhoods with a high density of white residents and low overall diversity are shaded orange. Places with a high density of Hispanic residents are dark purple. The lighter the shade, the less densely populated that group is.

Areas with high racial diversity levels overall are shaded gray. 

The interactive map chronicles data from 1990 to 2010, so users can zoom in and see how areas have changed over time. Stepinski presented his work on April 27 at the annual Population Association of America conference in Chicago.

Here is the state of diversity in seven US cities as of 2010, according to Stepinski's map.

SEE ALSO: 26 photos that show the US-Mexico border's evolution over 100 years

Chicago — one of America's most racially segregated cities — is highly siloed by neighborhood. There are distinct pockets of Hispanic and black residents living downtown, while first-ring suburbs have mostly white residents.

As CityLab notes, decades of racial discriminatory housing policies (some of which still persist today) contributed to segregation in Chicago. For example, following WWII, the Federal Housing Administration explicitly denied home loans for black people in Chicago and other cities across the US.



New York City's neighborhoods are also pretty segregated by race. Manhattan has a fairly high density of white residents, while the most dense populations of black, Hispanic, and Asian New Yorkers are found in upper Manhattan, the Bronx, and parts of Brooklyn and Queens. Jersey City (located west of Manhattan) does not appear to be as segregated.



Gaithersburg, Maryland and other areas north of Washington, DC are fairly racially diverse, as indicated by the dark grey shading.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

22 annoying things job candidates do that make hiring managers cringe

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models selfie photograph phone

When you go in for a job interview, it's imperative that you make a stellar first impression.

There are tons of small mistakes you can make that could end up costing you the job.

Reddit users recently discussed some of these pet peeves in the the thread "Employers of Reddit, what is a prejudice you hold against the people you interview?"

A similar question "What words should you never say while being interviewed for a job?" was asked on Quora, which received many answers from recruiters and employers as well.

With that in mind, here are 22 important tips on how to avoid ticking hiring managers off:

Jacquelyn Smith and Natalie Walters contributed to a previous version of this story.

SEE ALSO: 16 interview mistakes people think will cost them the job — but won't

SEE ALSO: 31 annoying words and phrases on your résumé that make hiring managers cringe

1. Guilt tripping the employer into giving you a job

"Telling me about how badly you need this job because of all the problems you have will get your application thrown in the trash," says Reddit user pinkiepieisbestpony, because candidates who have a lot of "baggage" usually turn out to be problem employees.

Fellow commenter WhizmoAlke agrees and says they had someone actually cry during an interview. While it made them feel awkward, they say they were no more inclined to give them the job.

SoundBearier put it more bluntly: "This is a business, not the Red Cross."



2. Graduating late with no work experience on your résumé

Reddit user creaoiumm— a lawyer — says they are tired of seeing applications from law-school students who are over 26 years old and have no job experience (not even babysitting!).

Instead, he says their résumés tend to be filled with different hobbies or trips they took during the summer. "As someone who started working at age 16, I'll admit I think less of someone in their late 20s who has never held any kind of job, however small."



3. Making spelling mistakes on your résumé

Redditor Gibberish_talk says if they see a misspelled word on a résumé, it gets thrown out.

"We obviously all make mistakes, but if you can't take the time to proofread something so important then I don't need you," the Reddit user says.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here are the 26 best — and worst — outfits celebrities wore to the Met Gala after-party

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met gala afterparty 2017

The annual Costume Institute Gala (the Met Gala, for short) took place in New York City on Monday night — and big celebrities brought both excellent and disastrous looks to the carpet. 

But the evening didn't end when the Gala did. Late that night, many stars stepped out in brand-new outfits to attend an after party at New York's Standard Hotel. Here are some of the best and worst getups seen as guests arrived for the next round of partying. 

BEST: Felicity Jones glowed in this feminine dress.



WORST: Jessica Chastain's mini dress kind of looks like a doily.



BEST: Supermodel Adriana Lima glittered in her tight-fitting mini dress.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

32 books that will make you a more well-rounded person

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Girl Reading

Do you aspire to be one of those people who knows at least a little bit about everything?

There's any easy way to do it: Read everything!

You can't just stick to the mystery novels, anthologies, or biographies you've grown partial to. If you really want to become a more well-rounded person, you'll need to force yourself out of your comfort zone at the bookstore.

If you're not sure where to start, you've come to the right place. We've selected 32 timeless books on all different topics — politics, science, history, culture, and more — that may help you become the well-rounded person you strive to be.

Jacquelyn Smith and Natalie Walters contributed to a previous version of this article.

SEE ALSO: 10 books everyone is reading right now

Classic: 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee

First published in 1960 and winner of the 1961 Pulitzer Prize, "To Kill a Mockingbird" was an overnight successIn its first week, it sold 1.1 million copies, and in its lifetime it's sold more than 40 million copies and has been translated into more than 40 languages.

In this American classic, lawyer Atticus Finch agrees to defend a black man who was accused of raping a white woman. The fictional story takes place in the town of Maycomb, Alabama, and is told through the innocent perspective of Finch's tomboy daughter, Scout.

This classic novel hits on a few important topics, such as parenting and racism in America.

BUY IT HERE »



Classic: '1984' by George Orwell

George Orwell wrote this anticommunist novel in 1948 to predict what 1984 would look like in London. His prediction? A totalitarian state where "Big Brother," the government, was always watching you and telling you what to think and believe.

Some of his predictions came true, like cameras being everywhere and our bodies being scanned for weapons.

This book is a must-read because it's a cautionary tale of what happens when the government is given too much control over the people and their lives.

BUY IT HERE »



Classic: 'Walden' by Henry David Thoreau

In "Walden," first published as "Walden; or, Life in the Woods" in 1854, transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau details his experiences of living in a cabin he built near Walden Pond, close to Concord, Massachusetts, for about two years.

By retreating into the woods, Thoreau tried to reach a state of complete self-sufficiency and simple living. His experiment was not only a commentary about civilization and society, but also an experiement in enlightenment through personal introspection.

The classic remains a relevant read for anyone interested discovery through minimalism.

BUY IT HERE»



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Why TV and film writers just came close to almost completely shutting down Hollywood

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the simpsons movie mob

In the late hours on Monday night, Hollywood was holding its breath as writers and producers were trying to hammer out a deal that would keep much of the entertainment industry from shutting down.

As the timer ticked down to a midnight deadline before a strike, the Writers Guild of America — which represents the people who write films and scripted TV, as well as a growing number of nonfiction and reality writers — worked to come to an agreement with the group that represents the studios, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

What was at stake? It really isn't outlandish to say that a writers' strike would shut down Hollywood. The last time the WGA members striked from 2007 to 2008, hundreds of writers walked out of their jobs. That meant many TV series had to cut their seasons short or end production. Many new series couldn't even launch production and died on the vine. The film industry came to a relative standstill.

Back then, TV's saving grace was reality television. In fact, that writers' strike marked a big wave of nonfiction programming, the staffs of which weren't part of a union then. But guess what? The WGA unionized many nonfiction writers and story producers in the years that followed. So if a strike did happen this week, it would've been an unprecedented shutdown of the TV industry, one that would've hit variety and late-night shows instantly.

What were the writers fighting for? It's essentially the same things any union — from auto workers to educators — fight for: more money, better and affordable health care, and some job security as modern advancements in technology have affected their jobs.

Thankfully for entertainment fans everywhere, the WGA and the AMPTP were able to come to agreement that would cover the next three years. The next step, ratification by the WGA members, is a formality at this point. But Hollywood certainly slept better Monday night after news of the deal broke.

Here's why writers came so close to shutting down Hollywood:

SEE ALSO: Here are all your favorite TV shows that are coming back for another season

DON'T MISS: Here are the surprising salaries for jobs in TV

Increased backend payments for streaming viewership.

Clearly, streaming companies have become major players in the entertainment industry over the past five years. We've seen the rise of Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and a growing number of single-network streaming services, such as HBO Now and CBS All Access.

Payments for show reruns and movies that play on traditional TV are well-covered, but residuals for streaming and other digital viewing became a big issue in this round of talks. While the public has adopted a new binge-watching culture, writers realized they deserved a bigger piece of the streaming pie.

According to the WGA, the new agreement covers "a 15% increase in Pay TV residuals, roughly $15 million in increases in streaming video residuals, and, for the first time ever, residuals for comedy-variety writers in Pay TV."



Fair pay for TV's shorter seasons.

As TV programming has become year-round, instead of sticking to the traditional fall and spring seasons, the number of TV shows has increased, but the number of episodes in a typical season has decreased. Limited and anthology series like HBO's "Big Little Lies" and ABC's "American Crime" are examples of this. 

Why is this a problem? TV writers are typically paid by the episode, so fewer episodes mean less money, including less in backend residuals. But more shows don't necessarily mean more work to make up for shorter seasons. Production schedules can overlap, making it hard for writers to find work on another show.

The new agreement would provide better protections for writers, according to the WGA:

"We also made unprecedented gains on the issue of short seasons in television, winning a definition (which has never before existed in our MBA) of 2.4 weeks of work for each episodic fee. Any work beyond that span will now require additional payment for hundreds of writer-producers."



Affordable healthcare coverage.

Yes, healthcare is a large issue for everyone, including Hollywood writers. Since many creative jobs in the entertainment industry can be considered freelance work or fail to meet the standards for a typical full-time job, many creative people depend on their unions for health insurance. 

The health-insurance plan administered by the WGA was facing insolvency, having run under a deficit for three of the past four years. The options to keep it alive included decreasing benefits, raising member payments, raising the minimum salary to qualify for coverage, or increasing the studios' contributions to the plan.

The first few options were clearly not okay for WGA members, who already complain of lesser pay and fear for their access to health care in today's political climate. So having the studios pitch in more was a central part of the contract negotiations.

WGA says the tentative agreement with the studios included "contribution increases to our Health Plan that should ensure its solvency for years to come."

To read the full WGA memo about the deal with the studios, visit its website.

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

30 gorgeous, winning images from this year's Sony World Photography Awards

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1389_8_3123_AmiVitale_UnitedStatesofAmerica_Professional_NaturalWorld_2017The Sony World Photography Awards is the largest photo competition in the world. Now celebrating its 10th year, the awards program has received more than a million submissions since its inception.

For the "Professional Competition," photographers must submit a body of work — at least five images — that explores a single subject. There are ten categories, and first-, second-, and third-place winners are chosen within each.

The highest honor within the competition is the "Photographer of the Year" award, which is chosen regardless of which category photographers submitted their work to. Keep scrolling to see this year's winners. 

SEE ALSO: The best photos from 66 countries, according to the largest competition in the world

DON'T MISS: A photographer spent 25 years documenting rich people — here's what she learned

First place, Architecture — Dongni, China



First place, Conceptual — Sabine Cattaneo, Switzerland



First place, Contemporary Issues — Tasneem Alsultan, Saudi Arabia



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The top 10 cities in America for working parents

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Irvine, CaliforniaWhen it comes to paid family leave, the United States is behind the curve. The U.S. is the only industrialized country in the world without a paid parental leave policy for new parents in place at the national level.

And according to the U.S. Department of Labor, only 12% of private sector workers had access to paid family leave through their jobs in 2015. Since most parents in America are working parents, these are startling statistics.

The number of parents choosing to work outside of the home is increasing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of families with at least one working parent rose from 88.7% in 2014 to 89.3% in 2015. In 61.1% of families with married couples, both parents work.

Paid parental leave is more necessary than it has ever been. But even in states that rate well for their family leave policies (like California and New York), there’s a need for additional legal protections for new and expecting parents.

Read the 2016 edition of this annual study

Study specifics

SmartAsset wanted to find the best cities for working parents. So we ranked 464 of the largest U.S. cities using nine factors, including the unemployment rate, the average high school graduation rate and the violent crime rate. We also looked at household income, average childcare costs, housing costs and average commute time.

Much like we did in the 2016 edition of our study, we considered a rating of the family leave policies in every state. To learn more about how we conducted our analysis, read the data and methodology section below.

Key findings

  • Orem does it again. For the second consecutive year, this small town in Utah ranks as the best place for working parents.
  • Childcare costs are rising. Since we published the 2016 edition our study, the cost of childcare for children up to age 4 has risen in almost every state. In places like Colorado, it has risen by more than 15% since 2014.
  • California earns an A for its family leave policies. Seven cities in California rank among the top 25 cities for working parents. In 2015 the Golden State passed laws that offer paid sick days to many parents who need time off for prenatal and children’s doctor’s appointments. 

SEE ALSO: Zillow is launching a new site just for millennials looking for their first home

DON'T MISS: Here's what you'll pay for a babysitter in nine of the most expensive cities in the US

10. Wichita Falls, Texas

Americans across the country have long and stressful commutes. And traveling back and forth to work is costly. A recent report from the Citi ThankYou Premier Commuter Index revealed that the average cost of commuting is around $2,600.

Fortunately, the average commute in Wichita Falls isn’t that long. Local residents spend just 14.5 minutes traveling to work. That’s the third-shortest commute in our study.

Median annual housing costs in Wichita Falls have risen by 2.84% since we published the 2016 edition of our analysis. But a low cost of living and good schools make the city a great place to raise a family. The average high school graduation rate (96%) is among the highest rates in our study.



9. College Station, Texas

Living in College Station, Texas has its perks. Unemployment is relatively low (3.2%) and the average high school graduation rate is high (92%). Plus, the Lone Star State doesn’t have a personal income tax. This means that working parents have more room in their budgets for childcare costs. The average annual cost of childcare in Texas is $8,510.



8. Oshkosh, Wisconsin

Oshkosh ranks at the eighth-best place in America for working parents, down from seventh place in the 2016 edition of our analysis. The city rates particularly well for its affordability. The average household only spends 21.35% of its income on housing-related expenses.

A recent report from the National Partnership for Women & Families gave the state of Wisconsin a C for its family leave policies. There’s still plenty of room for improvement. But the Badger State earned points for giving workers more access to job-protected family leave than federal laws. There’s also flexible paid sick time that parents can use to care for a new child.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 25 highest paying internships in the US in 2017

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Oculus headset Facebook's F8 Developer Conference

Summer internships may seem like lowly gigs, but interns can make a ton of money.

It all just depends on the industry, company, and role.

To figure out where interns make the most cash, career site Glassdoor put together a report on US-based internships that pay the most.

In order to make the list, the company needs at least 25 US-based interns needed to report their salaries, and salary tiebreakers are determined by whichever company has more reviews.

Here are the companies that snagged the top spots, along with some reviews from the interns themselves and the median monthly pay they reported on Glassdoor:

SEE ALSO: The top 15 organizations business majors want to work for after graduation

DON'T MISS: The 25 highest-paying companies in the US in 2017

25. Bank of America

Median monthly pay: $4,570

Bank of America, a banking and financial services company based in Charlotte, North Carolina, was first founded as the Bank of Italy in 1904.

"Good corporate culture, good intern pay, great training, great coworkers. Possibility for full time employment once the internship is over."— Former summer credit analyst intern



24. AIG

Median monthly pay: $4,616

Insurance corporation American International Group was first founded in 1919.

"The people there are really nice and eager to help me with all my questions. Got to learn a lot of different line of business and models they use."— Former summer analyst intern



23. Deutsche Bank

Median monthly pay: $4,640

The global banking service Deutsche Bank is based in Frankfurt, Germany.

"There were a number of fun networking activities for summer analysts, including opportunities to meet senior employees in various divisions. The pay was good, too."— Former summer analyst intern



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These 25 universities produce the most tech employees

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University of Washington Seattle

Students at California schools have a leg up when it comes to getting hired by the top tech companies. 

Recruiting company HiringSolved pulled data from more than 10,000 public social media accounts and measured the volume of hires made by the top 25 tech companies in the last year.

The data showed that graduates from schools like University of California, Berkeley, UC San Diego, Stanford, and California Polytechnic Institute end up at the top tech companies in Silicon Valley. And out of the top 25 schools, most were public universities and only one Ivy League school — Cornell University — made the list. 

Here are the schools that produce the most tech employees. 

SEE ALSO: An elite university is offering a fast-track program for tech leaders that's more competitive than Stanford

25. Penn State University



24. University of California, Davis



23. University of California, Santa Barbara



See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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