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Who was Manuel Noriega? How the Panamanian dictator went from being a secret ally to an enemy of the US

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Manuel Noriega

Before getting overthrown by the American government, Manuel Antonio Noriega was paid to spy for the CIA.

On May 29, the former Panamanian dictator died after leaving prison briefly to receive surgery for a benign tumor in his brain. Over the last three decades, Noriega went from working as a CIA informant to spending years in US prison.

Here's what you need to know about the complicated and flip-flopping Central American figure who finished the last years of his life between American, French, and Panamanian jails:

SEE ALSO: How North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, 33, became one of the world's scariest dictators

DON'T MISS: Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega dies at 83

Before coming to power, Noriega served as head of Panama's secret police. Through the role, he worked closely with the American CIA.

Source: Al Jazeera



From 1967 to 1988, Noriega spent more than a decade on the CIA's payroll for helping the US install listening posts to monitor activity around the Panama Canal.

Sources: Time, The Guardian



After promoting himself to the rank of military general, Manuel Antonio Noriega served as the leader of Panama from 1983 to 1989.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The best Bluetooth keyboards you can buy

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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.

Insider_Picks_BT_Keyboard_Buying_Guide_With_Badge 4x3png

The Insider Pick:

  • Bluetooth keyboards help you cut the wires while still ensuring you can type and game. The Logitech K380 is the best one you can buy, thanks to its comfortable typing experience, cool design, and ability to connect to many different devices

The keyboard is an important part of any computer setup, especially for those that work on a computer or who game a lot. While some argue that the keyboard is a little outdated, the fact is that it’s still the best way to input commands into a computer with accuracy and speed.

Of course, just because the keyboard has been around for a long time, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it hasn’t evolved. In fact, it has. Bluetooth technology has helped cut down on all those annoying wires on your desktop, and many of the best keyboards available are wireless.

Once you’ve decided that you want to get a Bluetooth keyboard, there are a number of things to consider. For example, you’ll want to think about the purpose of the keyboard: Do you need one for gaming, or will you mostly be typing emails and writing documents for work or school on it? You’ll also want to consider the key layout. Windows and MacOS computers use slightly different layouts to accommodate for different key commands and shortcuts, and you probably won’t want to get a keyboard that’s for another operating system. 

Next up is the key mechanism, which can either lower or raise the keys themselves, giving a different feel to the keyboard. Some Bluetooth keyboards are rechargeable and others use batteries, so you'll want to keep that in mind, too. Another key point is portability. If you need to take your keyboard with you on the road or you want to use it with a tablet, you may want a more compact keyboard or one that serves as a case for your tablet. Finally, you’ll want to make sure that the keyboard is well-built and strong enough to last at least a few years.

Whether you’re looking for a Bluetooth keyboard to keep on your desk at home, or one to take on the road with your tablet, here are the best Bluetooth keyboards around.

Although the Logitech K380 is our top pick, for various reasons laid out in the slides below, you should also consider the Arteck HB030B Universal keyboard, the Apple Magic Keyboard 2, the Logitech K780, the Omoton Ultra-Slim Bluetooth keyboard, the Logitech Create Backlit iPad Pro Keyboard Case, and the foldable iClever Ultra Slim 3 Keyboard.

SEE ALSO: The best Android tablets you can buy

DON'T MISS: The best iPads you can buy

The best Bluetooth keyboard overall

Why you'll love it: The Logitech K380 is sleek and stylish, easy to use, and works well across multiple operating systems and devices.

Logitech is a powerhouse in the computer accessories world, and you’ll see that this isn’t the only time that the company will pop up on in our buying guide. While Logitech offers a range of different keyboards at a ton of different price points, we’ve determined that the Logitech K380 is the best Bluetooth keyboard for most people.

There are a number of things that make the Logitech K380 such a good keyboard. For starters, the keyboard can connect to a range of different devices, and it has a toggle so you can switch between your different devices. That way, you won’t have to disconnect and re-pair the keyboard if you want to use it with both your computer and tablet. The keyboard can connect to up to three devices and switch between them effortlessly.

The Logitech K380 also has a relatively small footprint – it measures 4.9-inches high and 10.9-inches wide. You can choose between four colors, too, including gray, cherry, orange, and blue. It's an attractive, modern-looking keyboard that's fun and funky.

The keyboard also works for multiple operating systems. Some of the keys are labeled with both the Windows-specific buttons and the Mac-specific buttons, so no matter which operating system you use, the keyboard should be easy to use. That’s even better for people who have both a Windows computer and a Mac because you’ll be able to use the same keyboard with both computers.

The Logitech K380 has been pretty highly reviewed, too. CNET gave the keyboard 8/10, while the keyboard has an average of 4.4 stars on Amazon.  

Perhaps the best thing about the keyboard is how inexpensive it is. While some Bluetooth keyboards can run into multiple hundreds of dollars, the Logitech K380 costs around $30. Unfortunately, the keyboard isn’t perfect. Instead of a rechargeable battery, it uses 2 AAA batteries, which can be a little annoying. It doesn’t have a number pad, either, which might be a necessary feature for some.  

Pros: Works well on multiple devices, classy design, relatively compact, excellent price

Cons: Uses AAA batteries, no number pad

Buy the Logitech K380 on Amazon for $29.99

Buy the 20-pack Duracell AAA Batteries Coppertop MN2400 on Amazon for $9.85



The best portable Bluetooth keyboard

Why you'll love it: The Arteck HB030B Universal keyboard is extremely thin, light, and inexpensive for a rechargeable Bluetooth keyboard.

If you’re looking for a keyboard that's even more portable than the Logitech K380, the Arteck HB030B is for you. The keyboard is compatible with all kinds of Bluetooth-enabled devices and it's pretty cool looking. Although the keyboard itself comes in black, you can toggle between seven different backlight colors with two different brightness levels.

The Arteck Universal keyboard is also super small and light. The keyboard measures 9.3-inches wide, 5.3-inches tall, and only 0.24-inches thick — making it the perfect size to put in your briefcase, backpack, or purse.

Unlike the Logitech keyboard, you won’t have to worry about using batteries for this one. Instead, the keyboard has a built-in battery that lasts six months on a single charge. You’ll also get a 24-month warranty, so if the keyboard breaks in less than two years, you’ll be able to replace it.

While not too many experts have officially reviewed the keyboard, users on Amazon seem to love it. The keyboard comes in with an average rating of 4.3 stars, with 65 percent of users having awarded the keyboard 5 stars and 17 percent 4 stars. That’s not bad at all.

The Arteck HB030B Universal keyboard isn’t expensive, either. You can get it for only $20 on Amazon, which is far cheaper than many other Bluetooth keyboards out there.

A note of warning: According to the Amazon page, this keyboard does not support Windows 8 Mobile, and some users note some build quality issues such as keys falling off, though the keys can be somewhat easily clipped back on.

Pros: Compact, inexpensive, customizable backlight

Cons: No Windows 8 Mobile support, some build-quality issues

Buy the Arteck HB030B Universal keyboard on Amazon for $19.99



The best Bluetooth keyboard for Mac

Why you'll love it: If you’re a Mac user and need a new keyboard, the Apple Magic Keyboard 2 fits the beautiful Mac aesthetic and works great.

If you’re a Mac-only user and want a great Bluetooth keyboard, there’s nothing better than the Apple-built Magic Keyboard. A big part of owning a Mac is having a beautiful piece of technology, and the Magic Keyboard not only works great, but it matches your computer’s design, too.

The keyboard is currently in its second iteration, and if you want, you can buy it with the Apple Trackpad as well. Pairing the keyboard is a breeze. It’ll pair automatically with your Mac through a Lightning cable, so you don’t have to worry too much about messing around with the Bluetooth settings.

The keyboard’s sleek and stylish design is coupled with its top functionality. Apple’s scissor mechanism is placed under each key, and the company says it improves stability and “optimizes key travel.” Reviews are a bit mixed on the scissor mechanism — some claim it takes getting used to, while others suggest it feels great. 

In any case, the keyboard is generally well-reviewed by Amazon users, with an average rating of 4.3 stars.  

Last but not least, the Magic Keyboard has a battery that Apple says will last a month on a charge, which isn’t all that much compared to the other Bluetooth keyboards.

Pros: Beautiful design, great feel, pairs automatically with a Mac

Cons: Battery doesn’t last all that long, a little pricey

Buy the Apple Magic Keyboard 2 on Amazon for $95.99



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

12 signs you desperately need a vacation from work

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woman happy beach vacation smiling sunglasses summer

We're all terrible at taking vacations.

A recent Glassdoor report found that, on average, Americans don't use half of their vacation time or paid time off.

And once we're actually on vacation, we have trouble kicking back and relaxing.

According to the same Glassdoor report, 66% of Americans say that they work during their vacations — that's compared to 61% five years ago.

Harris Poll conducted the survey on behalf of the job site, interviewing 2,224 adults in the US. Only 771 — about one third — of those participants took vacation or paid time off in the past 12 months.

We all really need to get it together and start vacationing the right way. Taking a break from work can be great for productivity. On the flip side, working without any time off is a great way to burn yourself out.

Here are some signs that you seriously need a vacation:

SEE ALSO: 5 steps for returning to an almost-empty email inbox after a vacation

1. You begin to look like your passport photo

"It's an old joke with a lot of truth to it," says Michael Kerr, an international business speaker and author of "The Humor Advantage.""Any signs of chronic stress that might be signaling impending burnout are obvious red flags: irritability with colleagues, finding it difficult to concentrate on routine tasks, chronic tension headaches, back strain, stomach issues, or more serious health concerns."



2. You're having trouble sleeping

Whether you're having trouble falling asleep or waking up a 3:00 every morning, sleep issues can be a symptom of overwork and stress, or it can be a signal that you're too focused on your work at the expense of everything else, he explains.



3. Your personal life is suffering

If you find yourself having missed too many family dinners, school concerts, or family outings, it could be a clue that you need to reconnect with your family during some much needed vacation time, says Kerr.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Look down the barrel of this 120 mm mortar used by US Marine units

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120mm mortar Marine

The US Marines hosted Marine Day this weekend in New York City, where they held demonstrations and showed off some of their vehicles and weapons.

One weapon on display was a 120 mm mortar system— the biggest mortar system the Marines have.

It's moved to, from, and around the battlefield by an Internally Transportable Vehicle, which is basically a jeep that can be used for transporting multiple weapons systems and even for reconnaissance.

The 120 mm mortar system is actually a French design that entered service in that country in the 1990s. The US Marines began using it in Afghanistan in 2001.

SEE ALSO: Step aboard the USS Kearsarge, the US Navy workhorse that takes Marines into battle

This is how the 120 mm mortar hooks to the back of the ITV for transportation.



While the ITV is quick and highly mobile, it has no armor and is deployed mostly on the peripheries of the battlefield.



Here's a view of the gears and the inside of the ITV.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

What it really costs to live for a month in Zurich, one of the most expensive cities in the world

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zurich switzerland river swans

Ahh, Zurich: the perfect combination of ultra-modern city living and small town charm.

This fashionable city is a hotspot for expats, ranked second in the world when it comes to quality of living. Benefitting from Switzerland’s highly efficient transportation system, many world-class establishments, unparalleled healthcare, and exceptionally low crime rates make Zurich a very attractive city to live in. Couple that with a backdrop of mountains and lakes at a central location in Europe, and Zurich sounds like a jackpot.

It is also the most expensive city in the world.

Transportation, food, and accommodation, none of which is cheap, will be the bulk of your expenses. However, if you’re moving to Zurich as an expat, you will have to shell out even more for taxes, license fees, and mandatory insurance premiums. The good news is that all these potential stress-inducing expenses can be mitigated by high salary rates and overall quality of life in the city. It will be almost necessary to have an idea of what your living expenses look like so you can negotiate an appropriate salary, plan your relocation, and fully enjoy this beautiful city.

Let’s break down the cost of living in Zurich:

SEE ALSO: The 15 US cities where it's easiest to save money

Food

Eating out in Zurich is expensive. You will find restaurants and cafés in every district, and chances are they serve good quality food. However, a meal at a mid-range restaurant can cost anywhere from $20 to $40, and fast food isn’t all that cheap either.

The best way to save money on food is to cook it yourself. The major supermarkets in Zurich are COOP, Migros, and Spar. Just keep in mind that meat is expensive. If you can manage to stick to vegetables and some basic pantry items, a week’s worth of meals can cost around $75 to $100. If you can’t go without meat your bill will skyrocket. For example, a pound of meat can cost between $12 to $14, and higher if you crave a juicy beef filet. Try going for deli meats and cold cuts to satisfy your protein lust.

Understandably, meal prepping for a full week isn’t always the most convenient option, especially when you have a city to see. Try scoping out some local restaurants as most of them offer lunch specials at $10 to $20. Most Swiss eat their biggest meal at lunch.

The most bang for the buck would be Asian cuisine like Chinese and Indian, as well as Middle Eastern food, which all tend to be served in bigger portions at reasonable prices.



Drink

It goes without saying that ordering drinks with your meals will jack up your expenses, but going for a night out does that at a whole other level.

Most beers in local bars and pubs will cost around $8, and a bottle of wine will be $10 to $25 (at least). Of course, nobody sits alone at a bar and just orders one drink, right? So a full night of moderate drinking can easily set you back $50 to $75 if you’re not careful. And even more if it’s a great night out!

Clubbing is another experience altogether, which is very tempting with Zurich’s thriving techno scene. Most of the city’s more popular clubs have a door charge up to $100, and cocktails in these clubs will cost around $20 per glass.



Accommodation

If you’re visiting Zurich alone, your best bet would be Couchsurfing. If you’ve been part of this community for a while with good reviews and testimonials, it won’t be too difficult to find someone to stay with for free. However, if you’re not comfortable with this kind of living arrangement, Airbnb is another good option. Private rooms can go as low as $20 per night, but you’ll have to deal with living far from the city center or in university districts. If you’re traveling with someone else, a room at a more convenient location will cost around $60 to $80 a night to be shared between two people.

Dorms in hostels can also be an option, but this will still cost you around $50 to $80 per night.

Living in the center Zurich is a different matter altogether.

Apartment rentals are extremely expensive, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything below $1,000 per month. Even then, these properties are found way outside the city and are most often unfurnished studios.

Another hurdle would be the fickleness of landlords and agencies when it comes to tenants. With more and more students and young professionals moving to Zurich, landlords tend to review every applicant before choosing the one with the best credentials. Sometimes there are lines to the end of the block. And all that trouble for a small space at a high cost. Crazy, huh! On average, an apartment at a relatively convenient location will cost around $2,000 to $3,000 per month.

Long-term living arrangements in Zurich are best done by living in a Wohngemeinschaft, or WG (pronounced as “vay-gay”), otherwise known as “Shared Living”. You get to enjoy larger spaces with lower rental costs, and, if there is already an existing tenant, you won’t have to worry about furnishing the place. There is also the benefit of less paperwork, and you get to meet new people who can help you get to know Zurich.

The most popular website to look for a WG is WG Zimmer. You have the option of either browsing through existing ads, or posting your own ad to receive alerts about rooms that match your criteria. Another site you can look through is Ron Orp English or Ron Orp German.. Students and young professionals tend to use these sites more, which means possibly cheaper rental rates at relatively good locations. A good classified ads site is tutti.ch, although it is not available in English.

If you are successful with your WG hunting, you will be spending $700 to $1,000 per month for rent. Your room will still most likely be unfurnished, but you’ll be benefitting from a livable communal space, a convenient location, and (hopefully) good social interaction.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

From rooftop gardens to secret bars, check out the cool spaces where employees at companies like Facebook and Twitter spend their downtime at work

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LinkedIn NYC office speakeasy

At top companies, hard work is key. You're not going to be able to land and retain a role at the most well-known companies unless you're really willing to put in your hours.

But that doesn't mean that workers at high-profile companies never take breaks. And that's a good thing. Taking breaks at work is pretty crucial for long-term success.

That's why, when Business Insider tours different offices, we're never surprised to see pretty interesting spaces for workers to chill when they need some time to recharge.

Here are some of the cool places employees at top companies can hang:

SEE ALSO: A look inside Kickstarter's Brooklyn office, where employees enjoy perks like a secret rooftop garden, coffee on tap, and plenty of dogs

DON'T MISS: A look inside Facebook's New York office, where employees of the $280 billion company enjoy virtual reality games and an in-house pastry chef

In-office bars aren't unusual. At Yelp's Manhattan office, there are of kegs on tap to help the team kick back and relax — and throw office happy hours.



Or, for a different vibe, they can hop on this office swing.

See the full Yelp office tour »



Uber's Manhattan office has its own ping-pong room. Apparently, tournaments can get pretty competitive here.

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

These are the dress shirts that finally sold me on the idea of non-iron

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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.

9k=Guys looking for a new dress shirt have more options than ever for where to shop. While staples of the industry still loom large, some manufacturers have shifted to a direct-to-consumer strategy that allows them to keep prices down and quality up.

Twillory isn't a very well-known name yet, but it's definitely one to keep on your radar. We got the opportunity to try out the the company's new SafeCotton non-iron shirts, and we came away impressed.

As it turns out, all non-iron shirts are not created equal. Guys love non-iron and wrinkle free shirts for their convenience and ease, but one of the active ingredients that makes your favorite wrinkle-free shirt stay wrinkle-free is formaldehyde. While the formaldehyde helps to bond the fibers of your shirt and keep it looking good for longer, it’s also gross.

Twillory’s SafeCotton technology completely removes formaldehyde from the equation. After two years of research and development, Twillory came out with SafeCotton, which it claims to be the world’s first and only 100% formaldehyde-free non-iron shirts.

"We refused to sell toxic shirts, but demand from our customers for non-iron was so overwhelming we had to find better way," said CEO and founder Asher Weinberger on Twillory's.

The final result is a high-quality, non-iron shirt without the formaldehyde that comes in at an amazing price — Twillory shirts go for $99 each or for $49.75 when you order four or more and use the promo code "STOCKUP" at checkout.

You can read what we had to say about Twillory's SafeCotton shirts below, or check them out for yourself here.

SEE ALSO: Cole Haan just made the most comfortable shoes you can wear to the office

Breton Fischetti, senior director, commerce: Non-Iron Blue Houndstooth

Twillory has been on my radar for a few years, but I did not have the chance to test out their quality until they sent us a shirt recently. We have covered a few different places to get some solid dress shirts for not that much money, but I have to say that Twillory is my favorite so far. For being off the rack, the fit in the body was spot on, and you can feel the sturdiness of the fabric as soon as you touch it. The collars and cuffs feel good and don't get too floppy.

This is the first non-iron shirt I’ve worn that doesn’t feel like it’s non-iron. I’m not a fan of non-iron in general, because I don’t like chemicals and I also don’t need to wear a pressed shirt every day at work, but these didn’t wrinkle and didn’t make me feel like I was wearing a treated shirt.

As a bonus, they included several extra collar stays, which are definitely nicer than the ones I've gotten with other shirts, so even when I'm not wearing a Twillory shirt I'll be taking advantage of their ability to go the extra mile. If I didn't already have a ton of button down shirts in my closet, I'd hit Twillory up for a few. These would be great shirts for any upcoming college grad who needs to get several work shirts quick for their first job.

Twillory SafeCotton Non-iron Blue Houndstooth, $99



Brandt Ranj, associate commerce editor: Non-Iron Sky Check

I have a pretty high bar for dress shirts, but I can confidently say Twillory has cleared it. Both the fit and feel of this shirt are great, and I’ve already worn it multiple times in the past 10 days. I’m a pretty tall guy, so while large shirts fit me best, they can sometimes look a little awkward. Twillory’s shirt doesn’t, which is one of the reasons I’ll be inclined to pick it over some of the other shirts in my closet for more important events.

Twillory SafeCotton Non-iron Sky Check, $99



Tyler Lauletta, commerce reporter: Non-Iron Pink Check

Non-iron shirts are an important part of my wardrobe since I am terrible at ironing and always looking for a convenient way to passable fashion. So far, Twillory’s SafeCotton non-iron shirts have treated me splendidly. They feel sturdy and well-made but remain comfortable and breathable, and the fit is perfect; they take measurements for your neck, chest, and arm length instead of going by a catch-all "S/M/L" sizing strategy.

One thing always worth noting with Twillory is the superiority of their collar stays. Even if you don’t especially need a brand-new rotation of shirts, investing in a few sets of collar stays from Twillory will be immediately beneficial to your wardrobe.

Twillory SafeCotton Non-iron Pink Check, $99



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A salad chain backed by Shake Shack's founder is expanding to New York City — here's what it's like

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tender greens salad restaurant 1372

Tender Greens wants to give Sweetgreen a run for its money.

The Los Angeles-based salad and comfort-food chain just announced its first outpost on the East Coast, located in New York City's Union Square neighborhood. The expansion has been in the works since 2015, when Tender Greens received a minority investment from Danny Meyer, the founder of Shake Shack and CEO of one of the most successful restaurant groups in New York.

The chain, founded in 2006, has 25 locations in California. In 2016, it made over $80 million in sales — and company executives say annual revenue is growing 20% year-over-year.

We stopped by Tender Greens in downtown San Francisco to see what the buzz is about.

SEE ALSO: A healthy fast-food joint that got panned by a New York Times food critic is crushing it

In 2015, Shake Shake founder Danny Meyer said in a statement that he visited a tiny California salad chain and loved the idea so much "that I wish I'd thought of it myself."

Source: Business Insider



Meyer's restaurant company, The Union Hospitality Group, made an investment of an undisclosed sum in Tender Greens — its first time taking stake in an outside concept.



I visited a Tender Greens location in downtown San Francisco during the late afternoon. During the typical lunch hour, long lines wind outside the door.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

I've studied happiness for years — here are the 12 best pieces of advice I'm giving my daughter

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gretchen rubin

It’s graduation season.

I’m particularly aware of this, because my daughter Eliza is graduating from high school in two weeks. The days are long, but the years are short.

I’m trying to hold back the urge to follow her around the apartment giving her little bits of advice and wisdom. To relieve my mind, here’s what I would tell her, or anyone graduating from high school, college, or graduate school:

SEE ALSO: The best advice that college grads never hear

1. Know yourself

Something that’s clearer to me every day is that there’s no magic, one-size-fits-all solution for building a happy, healthy, and productive life. You have to know yourself: your temperament, your interests, your values. For instance…

• are you an Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, or Rebel?

• are you a Lark or Owl?

• are you a Marathoner or Sprinter?

• are you a Simplicity-lover or Abundance-lover?

• are you a Finisher or Opener?

• are you an Abstainer or Moderator?

• are you an Under-buyer or Over-buyer?

The better we know ourselves, the more readily we can construct a life that will work for us.



2. Beware of drift.

“Drift” is the decision we make by not deciding, or by making a decision that unleashes consequences for which we don’t take responsibility.

You go to medical school because both your parents are doctors. You get married because all your friends are getting married. You take a job because someone offers you that job. You want the respect of the people around you, or you want to avoid a fight or a bout of insecurity, or you don’t know what else to do, so you take the path of least resistance.

The word “drift” has overtones of laziness or ease. Not true! Drift is often disguised by a huge amount of effort and perseverance. For me, law school was drift, and it was hard every step of the way, from the LSAT to my clerkship with Justice Sandra Day O’Connor to the New York Bar exam. In the end, I’m happy I did go to law school — and that’s another tricky thing about drift. Sometimes drift does make you happy. But don’t count on it.

One of my drift-related Secrets of Adulthood is “You can choose what you do, but you can’t choose what you like to do.” And here’s another one: “Approval from the people we admire is sweet, but it’s not enough to be the foundation of a happy life.”

One of the problems of drift is that we try to deny we’re drifting. To see if you’re drifting, take this quiz.



3. Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good

I cribbed this from Voltaire, and I remind myself of it often.

I can’t let the perfect, fantasy Gretchen crowd out the actual, real Gretchen.

I remind myself that the 20-minute walk I take is better than the 3-mile run I never start; having friends over for take-out is better than never having people to an elegant dinner party.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The healthiest breakfasts you can order at 11 fast-food chains

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McDonald's Breakfast Menu 2

If you're on a budget and low on time, a fast-food breakfast might be your best bet every once in a while.

Whether you're headed to Burger King or Starbucks, there are usually a few healthier options to choose from.

For this list, we tried to prioritize breakfasts that contain whole food ingredients like eggs and whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Most are 400 calories or fewer and pack a hefty amount of protein to fill you up and fuel your body for the day ahead.

Still, one caveat with most of these items, is that they pack a lot of salt, so watch your sodium intake on the days you eat them.

SEE ALSO: Our obsession with calories can be traced back 100 years — and it hides a bigger problem

DON'T MISS: 15 of the healthiest fast-food menu items

McDonald's — Egg McMuffin, no ham (300 calories)

The fruit and yogurt parfait isn't the only healthy morning item McDonald's offers. Avoiding the meat is an easy way to lighten up the chain's traditional breakfast items. An Egg McMuffin has:

300 calories— not too high, not too low

17g protein— a hefty amount to strengthen muscles and fill you up

12g fat— not too high, not too low

29g carbs— pretty low

730mg sodium — high; a little less than half your recommended daily allowance



Starbucks — Spinach and Feta Wrap (290 calories)

While the yummy pastries at Starbucks are sure to catch your eye, sugary muffins and scones can leave you hangry. Their hot breakfast items, like this wrap, are likely a healthier, more filling AM meal, with:

290 calories— on the lower side

19g protein— a pretty good amount to strengthen muscles and fill you up

10g fat— not too low, not too high

33g carbs— pretty high; replace sugary or carb-heavy snacks with protein-rich ones

830mg sodium — just under half your daily allowance



Subway — Egg and Cheese Sandwich (360 calories)

"Eating fresh" in the a.m. is pretty easy at this chain, where you can get an egg sandwich on flatbread loaded with veggies. Our only caveat is that the sandwich is very high in sodium, which research suggests may be bad news for your heart.

360 calories— not too high, not too low

19g protein— a good amount to strengthen muscles and fill you up

12g fat— not too high, not too low

44g carbs— roughly 15% of your daily allowance

860mg sodium— high; more than half your daily allowance



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Ivanka Trump's Instagram put her at the center of a controversy over her lavish art collection worth millions — here's what she's displayed

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ivanka trump art

Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, have a valuable collection of artwork, but if it weren't for Instagram, we might not know anything about it.

According to Artnet, the couple has been criticized for failing to disclose their collection in financial documents, despite some pieces being worth as much as $500,000.

According to the Office of Government Ethics, federal employees are required to report any artwork that is kept for investment purposes and worth more than $1,000. Kushner is a senior adviser to President Donald Trump.

Experts say the couple's collection could be worth millions, but a lawyer for Kushner told Artnet that the art was "for decorative purposes" only.

Ivanka has posted many images on Instagram of her and her family against the backdrop of their expansive art collection.

Take a look at some of those photos:

SEE ALSO: Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner failed to disclose an art collection that experts say is worth millions

Ivanka Trump frequently takes pictures of herself and her family posing in front of artwork that lines the walls of their $4 million condo on Park Avenue in New York.

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Some of these pieces are worth as much as $500,000, but the couple did not disclose this information in financial reports when Kushner became a federal employee.

Source: Artnet 



In the background of this photo of Trump posing with two of her children, Arabella and Joseph, is a Nate Lowman painting from his "Bullet Holes" collection. Two of his similar works sold at Sotheby's for about $177,000 in 2016 and $665,000 in 2013. On the right-hand side is a Dan Colen chewing-gum painting.

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According to Bloomberg, a similar Colen piece sold for $578,000 at Phillips New York in 2012.

Source: Bloomberg, Sotheby's 2013 and 2016



These paintings have appeared in the background of Trump's Instagram posts for months.

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BMW just unveiled an electric scooter concept that looks straight out of the future

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BMW Motorrad Concept Link

BMW just unveiled a new addition for its Vision Next 100 concept line that explores how driving will evolve in the next century.

The newest vehicle is an all-electric scooter called the BMW Motorrad Concept Link. The scooter made its debut at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, an Italian motor festival.

Scroll down for a closer look at the brand new concept:

SEE ALSO: BMW just unveiled a stunning motorcycle concept that comes with augmented reality glasses

BMW's latest scooter concept features a "low-slung design": a flat seat with a stretched body. That's because BMW installed the bike's energy packs along the underfloor.



Here you can see the bike's electric drive, which is placed on the rear wheel. BMW did not reveal specs for the scooter, like range or horsepower.



The scooter comes with two screens. The black touchscreen between the handle bars shows navigation, battery information, and speed. But secondary information is displayed on the larger touchscreen below the handle bars, like music.



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Eerie photos show a neighborhood of abandoned, million-dollar McMansions

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Seph Lawless

In June 2013, heavy rains led to a catastrophic flood in the Canadian province of Alberta, causing an estimated five billion Canadian dollars in property damage.

One of the hardest-hit areas was the town of High River, a suburb of Calgary.

In Beachwood Estates, a High River neighborhood full of million-dollar homes, floodwaters rose so high that residents had to abandon their properties, according to the Calgary Herald.

Photographer Seph Lawless documented the homes before they were sold or demolished earlier in 2017. He captured them, abandoned and eerie, awaiting their final fate.

 

SEE ALSO: No one wants to buy this $20 million townhouse owned by a real-life 'Wolf of Wall Street'-er

Beachwood Estates was once a thriving community full of pricey homes tucked among more modest ones.



Now the homes sit empty and abandoned, virtually untouched for four years.



As part of a relocation platform, the homes were bought by the Alberta state government, according to the Calgary Herald.

Source: Calgary Herald



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29 incredible tiny homes from around the world

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ecocapsule

Tiny homes are all the rage. Real estate is getting expensive, and younger people are more worried about paying off student loans than saving up for a house. Tiny homes offer a way to live somewhere on the cheap, pare down your life to the essentials, and not necessarily skimp on some of the nicer things in life.

And if you don't want to buy one, they're great to rent for the weekend. Tiny homes are a popular category on Airbnb, and there's even a company worth millions of dollars dedicated to renting out tiny cottages.

On roofs, wheels, and in backyard, here are 29 of the most beautiful small homes in the world.

Melissa Stanger contributed to an earlier version of this story.

KODA Walking Concrete can be taken apart and easily rebuilt in a new location.

Size: 250 sq. ft

Location: Tallinn, Estonia 

The KODA Walking Concrete made the World Architecture Festival's shortlist of the best "Small Projects" in 2016. It's completely mobile, and can be unassembled and reassembled if it needs to move to a new location. The company that developed it, Kodasema, designed the two-tiered home so that it can be assembled in as little as four hours.

The simple design allows it to function as whatever space is needed, be it a beach house, mountain hut, café, or office.

 



This 196-square-foot home cost its architect less than $12,000 to build.

Size: 196 sq. ft.

Location: Boise, Idaho

Boise architect Macy Miller decided to downgrade from a full-size home to a tiny one, which she designed and built herself. She lives there with her partner and dog.

The home, which sits on top of a flatbed trailer, cost about $11,500 all in. The most expensive component is the composting toilet — about $2,000 — which uses barely any water.



A young American filmmaker converted an old van into a mobile studio so he could travel the country.

Size: 2003 Chevrolet Express, L x 79″ W x 82″

Location: United States 

Zach Both, a 23-year-old filmmaker, lives and works out of a converted van. It took Both six months to transform the vehicle into a fully functional home and studio, complete with a bed, kitchen, and desk. 

 



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Just missed millions: These 8 people walked away from early jobs at billion-dollar companies

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Ali Fedotowsky

Ali Fedotowsky walked away from Facebook when she opted to be ABC's Bachelorette.

Robert Cezar Matei missed his chance to join early Facebook, Square and Instagram teams.

It's impossible to know which startup is going to become the next billion dollar success story, and the risk of letting a golden opportunity slip through your fingers is something that tech workers grapple with every day.

While some who turn down lucrative offers still achieve success — Instagram's Kevin Systrom is a prime example — others may come to live in regret.

Here are how some Silicon Valley techies missed opportunities to make millions at companies like Facebook and Instagram:

SEE ALSO: Here's where Google's first 21 employees are now

Instagram wanted Amanda Wixted to be its first hire but she was cozy at Zynga.

First, we should note that Wixted is plenty successful. She joined Zynga as an early employee and stayed through its IPO. But she probably could have made even more millions if she had left for Instagram when it came calling in 2010.

Wixted writes about her missed opportunity on Quora:

In June 2010, Mike and Kevin were just getting started on their mobile web app which they called Burbn.  I was a lead engineer on the mobile team at Zynga at the time.  Mike contacted me about coming on board as their first hire.  We met, and they showed me their ideas for where they were thinking of heading with Burbn: a photo-sharing mobile app.

... It was a great team fit, but I just couldn't get excited about a photo-sharing app.  I felt, and I still feel, that I need to be working on more complicated things, so I've stayed in the games space...Of course, I'm kicking myself now.  Hindsight is 20/20 and all.

Now, Wixted is the founder of Meteor Grove Software and serves as CTO for e-learning company Homer. 

 



Ali Fedotowsky left Facebook to become the lead on ABC's "The Bachelorette." Sadly, she and the guy she picked didn't work out.

In 2009, Ali Fedotowsky faced a dilemma: She was a contestant on "The Bachelor" dating pilot Jake Palveka. In a tearful goodbye, she left Palveka to return to her job at Facebook. Fedotowsky had run out of vacation days while filming the show and didn't want to miss out on millions.

But when ABC offered to make her its Bachelorette, Fedotowsky left her sales rep gig at Facebook. Two years after her March 2010 departure, Facebook had a massive IPO that turned many of its employees into millionaires.

Fedotowsky's engagement to contestant Roberto Martinez ended shortly after the show aired and while Facebook didn't re-hire her, she went on to be a host on NBC's "1st Look." Now, Fedotowsky is married to TV and radio host Kevin Manno and writes a blog called Ali Luvs.



Julian Targowski was offered a role at Instagram in 2011 but walked away to launch his own app.

Julian Targowski was offered a role at Instagram in October 2011 but walked away to launch his own app.

He says he wasn't even interested in the offer because he was loyal to his own team.

"I don't regret a thing," he says on Quora. "You realize a lot of things about yourself (how content you are with your current situation, how hard you're working, where you want to be in the next few years, etc) when things like this happen."

Targowski went on to work at a startup called DailyBooth, which was acquired by Airbnb in 2012. 



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Xbox is about to launch a Netflix-style game service: Here are its best games (MSFT)

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Unbelievably, there's no Netflix-like service for video games on the Xbox One. On June 1, that changes with the introduction of Xbox Game Pass for the Xbox One.

Xbox Game Pass

The concept is simple: Pay a monthly fee for unlimited access to a library of content.

The service costs $10 per month, and offers unlimited access to a library of over 100 games. You can download as many games as you want, play them for as long as you want, and new games are added monthly.

Xbox Game Pass is slightly different from a Netflix-type service in that the games aren't streamed over an internet connection — they're downloaded, meaning you can play them online or offline. The service lights up on June 1, and there's a 14-day free trial available to anyone with an Xbox One.

But with over 100 games, you might be wondering where to start. We've got some ideas below!

SEE ALSO: There's a simple, frustrating reason you can't play Xbox games with PlayStation owners online

1. "Spelunky"

"Spelunky" is simple to understand, impossible to master, and troublingly addictive. You're an explorer in a 2D environment, fighting spiders and skeletons and aliens, on a quest to reach a door that will lead to the next level.

More enemies, more treasures, and always a different adventure — "Spelunky" is a "procedurally-generated" game, which is a complicated way of saying the levels are different every time you play the game. They'll always look the same, but the way they're laid out is unique on each playthrough. It's just one of the many aspects in "Spelunky" that make it such a delight. 



2. "Halo 5: Guardians"

"Halo 5: Guardians" isn't as revelatory as the original "Halo" and its sequel were, but it's certainly the best-looking, best-playing "Halo" game ever made. It's a more fully-realized universe than ever, with vegetation and animals and ancient structures and all sorts of other pretty stuff to gawk at. Better still, the multiplayer is still thriving with players — which is good, because it's the finest multiplayer the series has ever had.



3. "Sunset Overdrive"

"Sunset Overdrive" is a ridiculous game. It can't be overstated — much of its aesthetic resembles a Monster energy drink commercial crossed with a Good Charlotte music video, which is entirely intentional. Don't let that dissuade you: "Sunset Overdrive" is a fantastic game that's like nothing else on the Xbox One. It's a third-person action game with a focus on high-speed movement — think "Tony Hawk Pro Skater" meets "Gears of War." It puts a premium on fun over all else that makes it a standout here.



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These 30-something school teachers retired with over $1 million after only 8 years of work — now they travel the world

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Joe and Ali_Prague, Czech Republic

Joe and Ali Olson spend their days traveling around the world with their one-year-old daughter, Annabelle.

Each in their early 30s, the couple were able to quit their jobs as public school teachers in August 2015 and retire after just eight years in the workforce.

How do you retire early as a public school teacher? The key: minimizing cost of living and finding a good side hustle. 

The Olsons met in 2004 when they were both college students, and got married during winter break of their senior year. Straight out of college they moved to Las Vegas, where Joe had accepted a teaching position with Teach For America. Ali started as a substitute teacher and eventually joined TFA as well, teaching English at a local high school.

"Luckily, Las Vegas has a really low cost of living — but it also has a low teacher pay," Ali told the Mad Fientist on an episode of his "Financial Independence Podcast."

So they took on any extra jobs they could — teaching summer school, running clubs, after-school tutoring — to bulk up their salaries. "It's a big difference percentage-wise because if you're making $35,000, and you teach summer school for $3,500, it's like, 'Wow, there's a 10% boost in my salary,'" Joe explained.

Some years, they were able to boost their income by as much as 50% through these supplemental positions.

Eventually, the couple realized they wanted to achieve financial independence and have the freedom to pursue whatever dreams they wanted, whenever they wanted. They continued to live frugally, saving around 75% of their teaching incomes, and in 2008, they bought their first rental property in Vegas.

In the following couple of years, the couple scooped up 14 more rentals. Though they lost money on these during the financial crisis, the market eventually turned and their properties starting bringing in steady profits, eventually pushing their net worth over $1 million.

Now, they're completely financially independent, traveling the world with Annabelle in tow, and occasionally sharing their experiences on their blog, Adventuring Along. Read on to see how they did it. 

SEE ALSO: A man who retired at 34 explains one bad savings habit that everyone should avoid

DON'T MISS: The simple strategy one man used to save enough money to retire at 30

The Olsons graduated from college with a combined $30,000 in student loans to pay off — no small amount, but not as much as it could have been, thanks to the low tuition costs of their public, in-state college and assistance from relatives. But they lived frugally and made consistent payments, quickly watching that number shrink.



In 2007, Joe and Ali bought their Las Vegas condo at a steep discount. At the end of 2008 — amid the financial crises when housing prices were battered — they also purchased a rental property nearby and started trying to turn a profit. It didn't work out at first, and they took a financial hit.



"It seemed like a good deal because the price of the property was $120,000, and at the peak, it had sold just two years before for $360,000," Joe said. "But then the prices kept falling. And it kept falling in 2009 in 2010. And that property actually bottomed out being worth around $80,000. So we were under water on it, but we were still making money every month because the rent was higher than the mortgage payment by a decent amount."



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Injuries, infidelities, and poor choices: How Tiger Woods unraveled from the greatest golfer in the world

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Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods is once again back in the headlines for something other than playing golf, as he was arrested and charged with DUI at 3 a.m. on Monday morning.

This is just the latest ugly chapter in what was once one of the greatest careers in the history of sports. It is a career that has spiraled out of control thanks to injuries, infidelities, a car wreck, and some poor decisions with his golf game.

Below we take a look back at where everything went wrong for Tiger Woods.

Things started to go downhill for Woods in 2008, a year before his famous car accident. That year, Woods won the U.S. Open, what would turn out to be his final major championship to date.



However, he played that tournament with stress fractures in his tibia and his knee, injuries that occurred because he rushed back from a knee surgery earlier in the season. Woods would need another surgery after the US Open, his fourth on his left knee, and would miss the Open Championship and the PGA Championship.



Woods' former coach Hank Haney would later claim that Woods originally injured his knee while training with the Navy SEALs in 2007. Woods had previously claimed to have injured his knee while jogging.

Read more: Did Tiger Woods Suffer His Career-Shattering Injury While Training To Become A Navy SEAL?



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I tried a cooler by a company with a cult-like following, and it lived up to its hype

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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.

yeti 16038 bo 1 2234_2_This isn't the first time I've written about YETI, the company behind the virtually indestructible cooler.

YETI's most popular cooler, the Tundra, retains ice for up to nine days while closed and is durable enough to survive a bear attack. It's designed to be the last cooler you ever need to buy.

Beyond the Tundra, YETI makes other summer-ready products, including a portable soft cooler called the Hopper Flip 12 that is the perfect size for picnics and hiking and fishing trips.

YETI sent me a Hopper Flip 12 to try, and it exceeded my expectations. 

At $280, the Hopper Flip 12 is more expensive than a typical cooler, but you might not need to buy another one again. 

Take a closer look at the YETI Hopper Flip 12 below. If you're interested in getting one, you can here

SEE ALSO: I put this speaker’s waterproof claims to the test and came away impressed

The Hopper Flip 12 is a portable soft cooler that keeps your lunch and drinks cold all day long.



Its compact size (the longest side is just over 12") makes it easy to bring with you — whether you're kayaking or hiking.



The HydroLok Zipper that seals the Hopper Flip 12 is completely waterproof, and the cooler's wide-mouth design makes it easy to access what you've packed once it's open.



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Why movie critics are in love with 'Wonder Woman'

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Wonder Woman

The long-anticipated "Wonder Woman" hits theaters this weekend, and the reviews are in. The great news: It's better than "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice." Like, a lot better.

Many critics are saying that "Wonder Woman" (starring Gal Gadot and directed by Patty Jenkins) is not only one of the best superhero origin stories ever, but it's also one of the best superhero movies ever.

The action is amazing, Gadot is amazing, Chris Pine and his blue eyes are charming, and Jenkins has made a watchable (and re-watchable) superhero movie that gives us hope for more satisfying installments in the so-called DC Extended Universe. "Wonder Woman" proves that women can direct action and lead a successful superhero movie.

We rounded up what the critics are saying below: 

SEE ALSO: 'Wonder Woman' is one of the best superhero movies ever made

It's reminiscent of classic action movies, like "Superman" and "Indiana Jones."

“It gives us the kind of hero a lot of us fell in love with back in those 12-cent days of truth, justice, and the American way — and the kind of movie we haven't seen since Christopher Reeve first flew into our lives.” —Newark Star-Ledger

"‘Wonder Woman’ feels like the real deal, a rollicking action adventure in the tradition of ‘Indiana Jones,’ with a fully functioning sense of humor and the year’s most lip-smackingly evil baddie."—Time Out London



It's smart and satisfying, in a way that none of the other DCEU movies have been.

“Wonder Woman is smart, slick, and satisfying in all of the ways superhero films ought to be.” —Entertainment Weekly



The film's action is great — and the stakes are heightened in the World War I setting.

“The film's action is explosive and engaging, and a sequence where Diana ventures into no man's land in the middle of a trench battle is stunning to behold.” —USA Today

"'Wonder Woman's'  WWI setting also provides a landscape that is ripe for action, since the war’s level of carnage was due to the advancement of weapon technology (while militaries continued to use traditional tactics and strategies)."—ScreenRant



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