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RANKED: The 15 best US senators for the environment

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pittsburgh climate

The year has already shaped up to be a flashpoint for environmental issues.

President Donald Trump pledged to withdraw the US from the Paris agreement, a move which led mayors, governors, leading academics, and some of the biggest businesses in the US to start a movement to remain by the Paris Agreement pledges even if the country won't.

And EPA administrator Scott Pruitt plans to pit "red" teams against "blue" teams to debate climate change.

With so much disagreement about environmental policy in the air, many people are turning to their representatives on the issue.

We dug into the League of Conservation Voters' annual scorecard to find the 15 most environmentally friendly US senators, based on the nonprofit political action organization's "lifetime score" of lawmakers' voting records on environmental legislation. The most recent scorecard is from 2016, so new senators who were elected in November weren't included.

Here are the 15 best senators for the environment, according to the scorecard:

SEE ALSO: Prime minister Modi could lecture Trump on climate change — India is leapfrogging the US on renewables

DON'T MISS: How Pittsburgh embraced a radical environmental movement popping up in conservative towns across America

1. Sen. Jeff Merkley, Democrat from Oregon: 99%

2016 score: 100%



2. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Democrat from Massachusetts: 98%

2016 score: 100%.



2. Sen. Cory Booker, Democrat from New Jersey: 98%

2016 score: 100%.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

His father's staunchest defender: The life of Donald Trump Jr.

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Donald Trump Jr.

Donald Trump, Jr., the president's eldest son, has always been the most detail-oriented, business-focused child, leaving the spotlight to his father and his sister, Ivanka.

"I know the entertainment stuff helps us," he told Forbes in 2006. "But somebody's got to stay here to remind everybody that we build buildings."

Today, Jr. is the one in charge of building those buildings, now leading The Trump Organization with his brother, Eric.

But his life hasn't been without drama, and he's always been one of his father's staunchest defenders. Now embroiled in the latest Russia revelation, many are wondering more about Jr. Here's what we know:

SEE ALSO: Donald Trump Jr.'s 'staggering admissions' about meeting with a Russian lawyer are skirting a huge question

DON'T MISS: From rich kid to first daughter: The life of Ivanka Trump

Donald Trump Jr. was born in Manhattan on December 31, 1977 to President Donald Trump's first wife, Ivana. As the first-born, was named after his father.



Jr. was whisked off to boarding school with his brother Eric after his parents divorce, and went to The Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania for high school.

Source: Vanity Fair



When he was 12, he didn't speak to his father for a year, after the elder Trump encouraged gossip magazines to chronicle his divorce from Ivana.

Source: The New York Times



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Amazon Prime Day's best tech deals you'd never find on your own

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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.

echo dot

Amazon's Prime Day is one of the best days of the year to pick up some great tech for a whole lot less.

Thousands of phones, tablets, computers, smart home gadgets, and accessories are on sale right now, but there's a catch: You need to have Amazon Prime to take advantage of these great tech deals. 

Non-Prime members can sign up for a free 30-day trial to get access to today's sale and a whole bunch of other Amazon perks.

Because there are literally hundreds of thousands of tech deals out there, we created this list to show you only the best of the best Prime Day tech deals. Whether you're looking for something from a particular category, or at a specific price, you'll find what you're looking for here. 

We'll be updating this page throughout the day, so check back here frequently for the best and most up-to-date flash deals.

CLICK TO GO TO:AMAZON GADGET DEALS | HEADPHONE AND SPEAKER DEALS | TV AND PROJECTOR DEALS | PHONE AND TABLET DEALS | COMPUTER DEALS | WEARABLE AND FITNESS TECH DEALS | TECH ACCESSORY DEALS | SMART HOME DEALS | GAMING DEALS | CAMERA DEALS | PRINTER AND ROUTER DEALS| UNDER $100 TECH DEALS |UNDER $50 TECH DEALS | UNDER $25 TECH DEALS |   

All the Amazon gadget deals

To get things started, and since this is Amazon Prime Day, here's a list of all the best Amazon gadgets on sale. At $89.99, the original Amazon Echo is available for its lowest price ever.

The best overall deals

The best deals on Kindle e-readers

The best deals on Fire tablets

The best deals on Amazon bundles

The best deals on Amazon services



All the headphone and speaker deals

Headphones and speakers can be expensive, so it's a good idea to snag them when they're on sale. Here's a list of all the best headphones and speakers on sale. 

The best overall deals

The best headphone deals

The best speaker deals



All the TV deals

TVs are big and expensive, so it's awesome when you can get one on sale. Here's a list of all the best TVs and projectors on sale. 

The best overall deals



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The best smart speaker you can buy: Amazon Echo is $90 off for Prime Day

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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.

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The Insider Pick:

  • Thanks to advances in artificial intelligence, smart speakers can answer any question, control your smart home, play games, and so much more. The best smart speaker hands down is the Amazon Echo with its 15,000+ skills, ability to buy items on Amazon, support for dozens of smart home devices, and stellar audio quality.

Amazon's Echo was the very first smart speaker on the scene with artificial intelligence, and it still dominates the field. Since its launch, Amazon has grown the Echo lineup to include the original Echo, the cheaper Echo Dot, the touchscreen-enabled Echo Show, and the upcoming fashion-forward Echo Look.

However, Amazon is no longer alone in the smart speaker space. Google entered the fray last year with the Google Home smart speaker, and its smart Assistant now rivals Alexa for power. Apple is also about to get into the AI smart speaker space with its HomePod and you can bet your life that Samsung is looking into making its own smart speaker sooner or later with its Bixby voice assistant.

So which one is best for you and do you even need a smart speaker with artificial intelligence? We've tested the main smart speakers and done a lot of research on each of the main players in this space to bring you the answer to both of those questions. Before we get into the battle royale between Amazon's Echo lineup and the Google Home, let's go over the basics of what's going on in the smart speaker space and why you might want one in your home.

Want an Echo? Sign up for Amazon Prime and buy now

If you're not an Amazon Prime member yet, you may want to consider signing up before you buy an Echo smart speaker. Also, Tuesday, July 11, is the third annual Amazon Prime Day, during which thousands of items go on sale, including Amazon gadgets like the Echo lineup. These deals will be available only to Prime members, but you can sign up for a free 30-day trial, which will give you full access to Prime Day and the many other benefits of being a Prime member. 

Sign up and buy the Echo lineup now to get the best prices of the year:

What can a smart speaker with artificial intelligence do?

Smart speakers can do a number of different things, including answer questions, control smart home devices, set alarms, play music, and more. Each speaker has different strengths and weaknesses, but companies like Amazon, Google, and Apple are working hard to fill the gaps and make these speakers even smarter. 

Perhaps the best thing about having a smart speaker is that it frees up your hands and gets you away from your smartphone. You can ask Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri what the temperature is before you run out the door or ask if you need an umbrella. The voice assistants can also read you recipe instructions or set timers when your hands are occupied in the kitchen. They can play you soothing music after a long day or set the mood during a date. If you have smart home devices, you can control them with your voice instead of having to get out of bed or off the couch to turn your lights on and off. 

Smart speakers are also fun for parties and kids, because they can answer trivia questions and even play games. If you have an inquisitive child at home or you like to win arguments, you can just ask your voice assistant a question and get the answer immediately without typing a word or opening an app. Once you've used one, you won't want to be without it.

What services and smart home devices work with the Amazon Echo and Google Home?

Feature sets vary based on the speaker and you should take into account which compatible devices and services you already own or subscribe to before you pick one or the other. Amazon's Alexa has many more skills, compatible products, and compatible apps and services than the Google Home. It's undoubtedly more fully featured, and Google Home is playing catch up. Here's a breakdown of which services and products work with the Amazon Echo and Google Home:

Amazon Echo, Amazon Echo Dot, and Amazon Echo Show

amazon echo dot

  • Smart home devices: Phillips Hue, Ring, Schlage Smart Locks, TP-Link Smart Home Products, Leviton, Insteaon, SmartThings, Wink, Caseta Wireless, LI-FX Smart Bulbs, GE Link Smart Bulbs, WeMo, iHome Smart Plugs, iDevices Switches, Nest, Sensi Thermostat, EcoBee Thermostat, Lyric Thermostat, August Smart Lock, Arlo Pro, Nest Cam IQ, Rachio Sprinklers, Gargeio Garage Door, iRobot Roomba Smart Vacuums, and so many more. You can browse all of the Echo compatible products on Amazon and buy them by clicking this link. 
  • Services: Amazon's Alexa supports more than 15,000 skills, and it supports far too many services to list here. Big ones include Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Sirius XM, Uber, Domino's, StubHub, Audible, Dish, NPR, and so many more. You can also buy things from Amazon with a simple voice command.

Google Home

google home

  • Smart home devices: Chromecast, Chromecast-enabled TVs and speakers, Nest, SmartThings, Phillips Hue, LIFX Smart Lights, TP-Link Smart Home, Vivint Home Security, Rachio Sprinklers, Logitech Harmony, Geeni Connected Tech, August Smart Locks, Anova Precision Cooker, Insignia Wi-Fi Smart Plug, Belkin WeMo Insight Smart Plug, iRobot Roomba 960, Honeywell Wi-Fi Thermostat, Mr. Coffee Smart Coffee Maker, Lutron, Ring, and many more. See the full list here.
  • Services: Spotify, Pandora, Google Play Music, TuneIn Radio, YouTube, IFTTT, Netflix, Google Services, Domino's, Food Network, Headspace, MadLibs, and more. See the full list here.

Apple HomePod

Apple WWDC 2017 HomePod

Apple's HomePod isn't available yet, so we don't know how many services and devices it will support at launch, but it's safe to say that Apple apps, Apple Music, and HomeKit smart home products will work with the speaker. We'll keep you updated.

Should I be worried about privacy, hackers, and companies selling my data?

There is a trade-off when you buy a smart speaker like the Amazon Echo or Google Home. Both devices are listening all the time for the wake words — "Hey Alexa," or "Okay Google/Hey Google"— that trigger actions.  You can mute the speakers, so they're not listening, but that defeats the purpose of being able to wake the AI assistants up whenever you need them. 

The companies say that nothing is being monitored or recorded until the wake words are spoken, but once they are, Amazon and Google tend to hold on to that voice data to improve the services for you. Luckily, it is all encrypted, so it should be fairly safe. You can delete that voice data from your Echo every now and then, and you should. Just go to Manage my device and delete recordings one by one or clear your search history. With Google Home, you can alter your permissions to limit the data it collects here.

Of course, neither situation is ideal, as Naked Security by Sophos points out. Gizmodo's Fieldguide has more tips on how to tighten your security and privacy a bit on both devices. The worry here is twofold: either hackers will use that data against you or Amazon and Google will mine it for advertising dollars. Unfortunately, it's the risk you take right now.

In contrast, Apple's upcoming HomePod advertises that its system is more secure and private than any other smart speaker. The promo page says that HomePod has, "multiple layers of security — including anonymous ID and encryption" to "protect your privacy." 

Both Google Home and Amazon Echo encrypt your voice data, too, but there are two big differences. One, Amazon and Google associate your data directly with you and your account to learn how to serve you better. Meanwhile, Apple does not associate your data with you or your account, but rather with a randomized set of numbers. Secondly, Apple deletes the association between the data and the random code every six months, whereas Amazon and Google just hold on to it forever unless you bother to delete it yourself, Wired explains.

This becomes important when government requests for data come in. Amazon and Google can find that data and trace it back to you directly, but Apple literally can't because the numbers are randomized and the data is regularly deleted. Apple has the upper hand here, so if data security and privacy matter to you, you'll want to wait and buy a HomePod.

Should you buy a smart speaker?

Smart speakers are helpful, fun to use, and a sure sign of things to come in the future of artificial intelligence and the smart home. If you like to be ahead of the curve, you enjoy having a good speaker at home, you own lots of smart home devices already, and you don't mind some of the trade-offs; you'll love these smart speakers.

Apple fans should hold off until the verdict is in on the HomePod, but Amazon Prime subscribers would do well to pick up an Echo, Echo Dot, or Echo Show. Finally, Google fans who aren't into Prime should spring for a Google Home because it's bound to pick up as many tricks as Amazon's Alexa before too long. Read on to learn all about these different smart speakers and to figure out which one is best for you.

If you're looking for more great tech, you should check out our guides to the best e-readers, the best computer mice, the best wireless Bluetooth headphones, the best smartwatches, the best Bluetooth keyboards, the best home projectors, the best home security cameras, the best Android tablet, the best battery packs, the best Micro USB cables, the best lightning cables, the best USB-C cables, and more on Insider Picks.

Although the Amazon Echo is our top pick, for various reasons laid out in the slides below, you should also consider the Google Home, the Amazon Echo Dot, and the Amazon Echo Show. We also look forward to testing the Apple HomePod in December, so we've included a preview of what it does in our guide.

SEE ALSO: The Amazon Echo is one of the most useful tech gadgets on the market — here’s how I use mine

The best smart speaker overall

Why you'll love it: The Amazon Echo is the uncontested best smart home speaker with its 15,000+ skills, smart home support, and strong audio.

If you want a smart speaker that does it all, the Amazon Echo is the best one you can buy. Amazon got a head start on the competition, and it shows. Alexa has more than 15,000 skills, supports dozens of smart home products, and works with too many apps to count. You can even order things on Amazon with your voice.

This slim, modern cylinder plays audio that matches great Bluetooth speakers for quality, and it'll fit in with any room's decor. When you awaken Alexa, a subtle blue light flicks around the round top of the speaker as it listens in.

You can play music from Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, and more, and the sound quality is very good. If you subscribe to Audible's audiobook service, the Echo will also play the narration for you while you cook, relax, or work around the house.

Alexa can read you recipes, play audio news shows, tell you the score, look up local businesses, check the weather, and complete just about any other basic task that springs to mind. She'll even order you an Uber to the airport and read out your text messages.

If you have smart home devices already, chances are the Echo works with them. Major ones like the Phillips Hue and other great smart bulbs, as well as Nest and other smart thermostats, work with the Echo. Smart switches, garage doors, sprinklers, locks, and security cameras also play nice with Alexa. The Echo supports more smart home devices than any other smart speaker currently. You can browse compatible smart home devices here.

The only downsides are a lack of privacy, the general fear that Amazon is slowly but surely taking over the world, and the fact that Alexa's search chops aren't as good as Google's.

If you're a Prime member, this is the smart speaker for you, and if you don't have Prime yet, sign up, because all the perks like two-day shipping, free music streaming, free ebooks, and free video streaming on Prime Video are well worth the annual fee.

Pros: Strong speaker, you can buy things on Amazon, best smart home support, cool design, good voice recognition, huge support network, 15,000+ skills and counting

Cons: Some limits with search

Buy the Amazon Echo on sale for $89.99 (originally $179.99) [You save $90]

Buy Echo compatible products on Amazon (price varies based on the product)

Sign up for Amazon Prime now for $99 a year

Read more about Echo skills on Insider Picks



The best smart home speaker for Android fans

Why you'll love it: The Google Home is great for anyone who's all-in with Google and doesn't have Amazon Prime in their lives.

Google has the search smarts to rule the artificial intelligence space, but its just getting started with the Google Home smart speaker and its artificially intelligent Assistant.

It's a great little smart speaker that's customizable and cute enough to fit in with any room's decor. You can choose from a variety of cloth and metallic bases in fun colors. The top portion is white and angled gently so the touch-sensitive surface is positioned perfectly for your hands. Although some people say it looks like the air freshener in your bathroom (it does, to be perfectly honest), we think the Home looks more subtle than Amazon's futuristic-looking Echo lineup.

When you say, "Hey Google," or "Okay Google," little lights dance along the top touch surface in Google's signature colors: red, blue, green, and yellow. You can ask Home to play music from Google Play, Spotify, YouTube Music, Pandora, and TuneIn. The sound quality is decent and even at top volume, it sounds as good as most Bluetooth speakers you can buy for the same price.

Google Home has lots of smart features, including the ability to read you a daily briefing, give you a recap of the day's news from NPR and BBC World News, and answer your questions on just about any topic. Since Home uses Google's search graph to answer you, the entire knowledge of the internet is open to you. Ask about weather, traffic, stocks, or trivia, and Google will know the answer.

Google also has lots of experience with different accents, so Home is likely to understand you easily even if you have a strong Colombian accent like my boyfriend. One of my favorite features is playing trivia games with Google. The Assistant will play cheesy game show music and act as the goofy host, giving you a weird nickname when you say, "Okay Google, play a game." She also tells really bad dad jokes that'll have you groaning and guffawing. 

Home works with a variety of smart home devices, too, so you can use it to turn off your Phillips Hue light bulbs, control your Nest thermostat, or stream media to your Chromecast. If you have any of these devices in your smart home, Google Home is a great compliment to those products. I've been using Google Home since it came out, and I love it.

There are still funny limitations, and Google Assistant may tell you she "doesn't know how to help with that yet," but "yet" is the operative word here. Google will only continue to improve Home, so it's a truly fabulous option for a smart speaker — especially at its price of $129.00 on Jet.

Expert reviewers across the web agree that Google Home is a great smart speaker, including CNET, Pocket Lint, The Guardian, and The Wirecutter.

Pros: Customizable base, best at search, good voice recognition, good sound, blends into decor, works with some smart home devices, plays games, affordable, works best with Google services

Cons: Ecosystem isn't as fleshed out as it could be, limitations with cross-platform support, not as much smart home support as Alexa

Buy the Google Home on Jet for $129.00 (originally $134.99)



The best affordable smart speaker

Why you'll love it: The Amazon Echo Dot is the most affordable smart speaker you can buy, and it's just as smart as the original Echo.

If you don't want to pay more than $100 for a smart speaker, you're in luck, because Amazon's Echo Dot is wildly affordable. For $50, you get all the smarts of the original Echo in a smaller package that can sync up with bigger speakers and other Echo Dots to make your home smarter.

Just like on the Echo, you can use the Dot to ask Alexa to play music, trigger smart home devices, make calls, read and dictate messages answer questions, play news casts, set alarms, read audiobooks from Audible, and more.

Since it's a smaller speaker, the Dot doesn't have the same level of sound quality you'd get from a bigger speaker like the Echo or Google Home. However, it can sync up with multiple Dots or you can connect other speakers you have via Bluetooth or the 3.5 mm stereo cable. The Echo Dot supports streaming from Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and TuneIn.

If you have smart home devices, you can use the Echo Dot to control lights, fans, switches, thermostats, locks, garage doors, and more. You can browse compatible smart home devices here. 

The Dot may be small, but it still has Alexa inside, so all those 15,000+ skills are just a voice command away. This is the best smart speaker you can buy on a budget. you can also use it to supplement the original Echo or other Dots in a large home.

Pros: Affordable, small, 15,000+ skills, tons of smart home devices supported, lots of app support, connects to other speakers, works with other Echo Dots

Cons: Not as strong a speaker

Buy the Amazon Echo Dot on sale for $34.99 (originally $49.99) [You save $15]

Buy Echo compatible products on Amazon (price varies based on the product)

Sign up for Amazon Prime now for $99 a year



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

How 25-year-old Aaron Judge became the face of the Yankees and a home run king

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Aaron Judge high fives Yankees

Yankees rookie phenom Aaron Judge has been one of the most compelling stories in baseball so far this season.

Standing 6-foot-7 and weighing 282 pounds, Judge is already the largest position player to ever take the field. He is also already has the record for most home runs by a Yankees rookie and won the All-Star Game Home Run Derby in convincing fashion.

But beyond his imposing size, it’s his quick rise to success that is catching the eyes of baseball fans across the league.

Despite his current high-profile, Judge didn’t come into the league as highly touted as many other recent young breakout stars have.

Below, we’ll take you through Judge’s meteoric rise as one of the most must-watch players in the Major League Baseball.

SEE ALSO: 15 pictures of Aaron Judge making other players look tiny

Aaron Judge was born on April 26, 1992 in Linden, California.



The day after his birth, Aaron was adopted by his parents — two teachers, Patty and Wayne Judge. Aaron credits his mother with much of his success, and claims he wouldn't be a Yankee without her. "She's molded me into the person that I am today."

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[Source: MLB.com]



Growing up, Judge attended Linden High School, where he was a three-sport athlete playing football, basketball, and baseball.

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16 pictures of Home Run Derby champ Aaron Judge making other players look tiny

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Aaron Judge and Jose Altuve

Aaron Judge has played fewer than 150 big league games and he is already creating MVP buzz, he has already set the Yankees' record for rookie home runs, and he is a Home Run Derby champ.

What Judge lacks in experience, he more than makes up for with one huge advantage over other players — his size. At 6-foot-7, 285 pounds, Judge is the largest position player in Major League history, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.

With that size comes shear strength, and with strength, Judge can hit the ball harder than most. That not only means more home runs, but with the ball coming off the bat faster, it increases the chances of balls being hit where fielders can't reach them.

To truly appreciate how big Judge is, one needs to just see him standing next to his peers. Below we take a look at some recent pictures of Judge making other players look tiny.

Aaron Judge is not built like most baseball players. Just ask his fellow outfielder, Brett Gardner.



His teammates often look like high schoolers next to him.



A giant among men.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The most underrated food destinations in the world, according to 9 celebrity chefs

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Istanbul_(8274724020)

The INSIDER Summary:

  • INSIDER interviewed nine celebrity chefs about their favorite unexpected food destinations around the world.
  • Marc Murphy touts Istanbul for its popular local dish: lamb intestines.
  • Alex Guarnaschelli recommends staying stateside in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

If you want to try some of the best food in the world, look beyond predictable destinations like Paris, New York, and Barcelona.

We asked nine of the most popular chefs in America for their favorite unexpected food destination around the world.

From stateside sleepers like Minneapolis to exotic tropical locales like Sayulita, Mexico, here are 9 of the world's most underrated food destinations.

Calabria, Italy — Eataly's Lidia Bastianich

"The region of Calabria is known for peperoncino and ‘Nduja [spreadable pork salumi], which I love on top of grilled Cacciocavallo cheese," Bastianich told INSIDER. "In Bagnara, I had the most delicious swordfish parmigiana...A risotto made with the local licorice was unexpectedly delicious, and the meal finished with a licorice ice cream. Calabria is also the region that has one of the largest selection of little known indigenous wine varietals."



Vancouver, British Columbia — Toro's Jamie Bissonnette

"The ethnic Asian food, and the French-Canadian food is so great, and the people are unbelievably kind," the James Beard award-winning chef said.

Make sure to visit this bakery in Vancouver that makes colorful cakes so shiny, you can see you reflection in them.



Copenhagen, Denmark — The Meatball Shop's Michael Chernow

Copenhagen's culinary darling may be the recently-closed (and reimagined) Noma, but the city is more than just René Redzepi's gastronomic legend.

"Before Noma, Denmark was not much of a food destination," Chernow said. "I've been going for 13 years, the food is wholesome, hearty, unique and delicious. If you have never experienced a Danish Christmas, you are missing out on a real treat."

If you can't quite afford Michelin-starred fare, there's always these popular waffles on a stick.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This may be the most impressive use of Apple's new AR software yet

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We've seen developers do some really cool things with ARKit, Apple's new augmented-reality development software, ever since the toolkit was announced and released in early June. But this new example just might be the best one yet. 

Just over a week ago, France-based consulting agency Nedd released a 44-second clip that shows a really cool ARKit application: an inter-dimensional portal.

SEE ALSO: 13 things everyone is going to love about iOS 11

DON'T MISS: Google built a tiny Street View car to map out one of the world's largest model cities, and the results are incredible

In the clip below, which was shot with an iPhone, the camera superimposes a virtual door that leads into a virtual jungle on top of the real world. The door stays in place as the camera moves around.



When you step through the portal, you can see the real world through that same doorway.



It's a very good effect. Here's the full video.

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Here's how much you need to earn to rent a 2-bedroom apartment in 15 of America's biggest cities

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Los Angeles

One-third of Americans overpay for housing, and renters have it the worst.

In fact, almost half spend over 30% of their incomes on rent, exceeding the standard measure of affordability, according to the 2017 State of the Nation's Housing report, published by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.

In addition to transportation and food, housing is one of the biggest expenses Americans have. Cutting back on these things could mean more savings in the bank and even a ticket to early retirement.

In its latest report, SmartAsset calculated the income needed to afford rent in 15 major US cities. That is, the salary a household must earn to spend a comfortable 28% of its income on rent for a two-bedroom apartment. Rent prices were pulled from RENTCafé's January 2017 report.

Below, check out how much you need to earn to pay rent in San Francisco, New York, Boston, and 12 more of America's major metro areas.

SEE ALSO: Here's how much you need to earn to comfortably afford a home in the 25 most expensive ZIP codes in America

DON'T MISS: The hourly wage needed to rent a two-bedroom home in every state

15. Phoenix, Arizona

Average 2-bedroom rent: $958

Income needed: $41,057



14. Detroit, Michigan

Average 2-bedroom rent: $1,087

Income needed: $46,586



13. Houston, Texas

Average 2-bedroom rent: $1,088

Income needed: $46,629



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Here are the key parts of the Donald Trump Jr. emails before his meeting with a controversial Russian lawyer

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Donald Trump Jr.

Donald Trump Jr. tweeted Tuesday what he claims is the full email correspondence between himself and the music publicist who reportedly arranged the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting with a Russian attorney who reportedly promised dirt on soon-to-be Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

In a statement attached to the tweet, Trump Jr. said he was releasing the emails "in order to be totally transparent" about the ordeal. He said the first email was from Rob Goldstone, the music publicist for a Russian pop star with connections to Trump, on June 3, 2016.

Goldstone has said he set up the meeting between Natalia Veselnitskaya, a Russian lawyer, and a few top members of the Trump campaign.

The emails appear to show Donald Trump Jr. trying to arrange an exchange of information with a lawyer he understands to be connected to the Russian government. Senior adviser Jared Kusher and former campaign manager Paul Manafort were copied on the final email tweeted by Trump Jr.

Here are the key parts:

The first email: Goldstone offers "sensitive information" to Trump Jr., who responds he would "love it."



The subject line of the ensuing email thread is "Russia - Clinton - private and confidential."



In later emails, Goldstone refers to "The Russian government attorney" and suggests that another person will join Trump Jr. in the meeting.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Snapchat's dancing hot dog is taking the internet by storm (SNAP)

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Snapchat Hot Dog

Augmented reality is a technology full of promise. There are so many exciting possibilities for the future of AR that Apple CEO Tim Cook has said it makes him want "to yell out and scream."

It has also birthed a juggernaut of a meme. 

If you've spent any time on the internet over the past few days, you've likely seen come across a 3-D rendering of a smiling hot dog wearing headphones and jamming out to some tunes. This hot dog, one of many available Snapchat AR filters, has taken the internet by storm and captured the imaginations of comedians and meme creators. 

Here's what you need to know:

SEE ALSO: 14 tips you need to master Slack

To access the dancing wiener, open Snapchat and select the front-facing camera. Then tap on the screen and scroll through the filter options until you find the hot dog. From there, simply drag it to whichever part of the screen you'd like, and pinch/expand to resize it.



Snapchat's hot dog had humble beginnings, appearing in a short YouTube video of a woman getting her nose pierced.

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From there, the smiling sausage began to show up elsewhere on the internet.

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22 signs it's time to quit your job

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women, interview, meeting, boss

We've all had bad days at the office. Maybe even a bad week or two.

But if you can't remember the last good day you've had at work, it might be time to seriously consider quitting.

Of course, you'll want more to go on than this, which is why we compiled a list of signs indicating it may be time to quit your job.

If you've noticed a number of these issues for at least a few months now, you should seriously consider packing up that miserable desk for good.

SEE ALSO: 29 jobs to avoid if you hate feeling stressed

DON'T MISS: The 14 best jobs for people who don't like stress

You're bored all the time

"If you're no longer challenged in your position and have tried communicating with your boss to no avail, this may be a sign that it's time to leave," says Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert, leadership coach, and author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant."

Although boredom is a very standard feeling, researchers believe prolonged feelings of boredom while at work are a warning sign that you are not doing what you want to be doing and are searching for more meaning.

If you're spending most of your workday on the internet shopping or playing games, or if you're checking the time frequently at work, those are key indicators, Taylor says.



Your skills aren't being tapped

We all know that sometimes you have to take whatever you can get, stick it out for a while and, hopefully, prove to your boss that you're capable of managing more responsibilities.

But if you've been doing this awhile, and you're still stuck in a position that doesn't allow you to utilize your skills, then it's time to start considering other options, Taylor says.

"When you know you have more to offer the world, don't second-guess yourself — get ready for change," she says.



Your employer's goals and your personal mission don't match up

People don't stay put in a job for as long as they can stand it anymore, former GE CEO Jack Welch and author Suzy Welch wrote in a LinkedIn post. These days, people consider whether they are investing their time at the right or wrong company.

As Business Insider previously reported, the Welches suggest asking yourself if your company "jibes with your life's goals and values.""Does it require you to travel more than you'd like, given your chosen work-life balance? Does it offer enough upward mobility, given your level of ambition?" they say.

How you answer these questions could signal whether it's time to move on.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

China's dizzying 'Bicycle Skyway' is the longest elevated cycleway in the world — take a look

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cycleway

If residents of Xiamen, China want to avoid the city's gridlock, they can now travel by bike on a new elevated cycleway.

Completed in February 2017, the Xiamen Bicycle Skyway covers five major residential areas and three business centers in the city.

Dissing + Weitling Architecture, the Danish architecture firm behind the structure, told Business Insider that the cycleway is the longest of its kind in the world.

Check it out below.

SEE ALSO: California once imagined a future without cars with this bike superhighway

Located in China's Fujian province, the Xiamen Bicycle Skyway stretches nearly five miles and can handle 2,023 bikes at a time.



It hovers nearly 17 feet above the road ...



... but just below the raised bus transit line, known as the BRT, in Xiamen's downtown area. It connects with the city's existing public transit at certain points, too.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

25 photos that show why San Miguel de Allende was named the best city in the world

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San Miguel de Allende Mexico

Travel + Leisure just released its World's Best Awards for 2017.

The awards are based on a survey that includes responses from thousands of experienced travelers.

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, was voted the best city in the world for the first time — beating out major travel destinations like Florence and Capetown.

With San Miguel de Allende's charming streets, stunning architecture, and vibrant color, it's no wonder travelers ranked the city so high.

The views of Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel from the city center look straight out of a fairytale.



There are many colorful streets to explore.



Visitors can also stay at one of the city's top hotels, such as Hotel Matilda.

Click here for more information about Hotel Matilda >>



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Inside the beautiful mountain lodge where the biggest names in tech and media are staying for Allen & Co.'s annual 'summer camp for billionaires'

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Sun Valley

Every year in July, investment bank Allen & Co. holds an exclusive conference in Sun Valley, Idaho. It's a time for the top executives of America's media, technology, and sports industries to hobnob and make deals. 

Past attendees have included the likes of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Apple CEO Tim Cook, and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. The annual congregation of wealthy businesspeople has earned itself the name "summer camp for billionaires," and it's credited with kindling major mergers like that of Comcast and NBC Universal. 

Let's take an inside look at the massive and beautiful venue that plays host to this star-studded event: the famous Sun Valley Lodge. 

Brittany Kriegstein contributed reporting to an earlier verison of this article.

SEE ALSO: Goldman Sachs president David Solomon is selling his enormous Aspen estate for $36 million

Sun Valley Lodge's grand entryway is complete with wildlife.

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Imagine how many business secrets have been discussed among these wood-paneled walls.

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The hotel's impeccable decor complements its high-profile guests.

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11 of most colorful beaches in the world

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black sand beach hawaii

From sand to palm trees to sparkling seawater, beaches are known for their abundance of beautiful colors. We all know and love the beauty of white sand beaches that represent the ideal tropical vacation.

However, due to geological factors, many beaches have red, black, or even green sand that provides an equally beautiful yet unconventional seaside experience.

 Here are 11 beaches full of color all over the world that will blow you away.

Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda



Punalu'u Beach, Big Island, Hawaii



Kaihalulu Bay, Maui, Hawaii



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The 11 best colleges for business majors

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university of california berkeley

The price of college in the US continues to tick upward. Today, the average annual cost to attend a public university is about $19,000, and for a private university that figure is about $42,000.

Now more than ever it seems that college students must think carefully about choosing their college majors and the future earning power of their chosen degrees.

With that in mind, Money.com ranked the best undergraduate colleges for business majors.

The ranking looked at colleges and evaluated them on 27 factors within three broad categories: educational quality, affordability, and alumni success. Money.com analyzed data on student loans and median career earnings on students with business majors five years after graduation. See the full methodology here.

Below are the top 11 schools on the list, including total annual tuition price for each school, the tuition price when factoring in the average financial aid students receive, and the median career earnings of students five years after graduation.

SEE ALSO: The 14 best colleges for your money

10. Georgetown University

Washington, District of Columbia

Annual price without aid: $71,355

Annual price with aid: $28,889

Early career earnings: $61,400



10. Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, California

Annual price without aid: $67,215

Annual price with aid: $40,174

Early career earnings: $69,000



9. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Annual price without aid: $29,495

Annual price with aid: $17,018

Early career earnings: $562,600



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

'Lying is not a rookie mistake': Senators condemn Trump Jr.'s emails about meeting for dirt on Clinton

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donald trump jr trump tower

Donald Trump Jr. on Tuesday tweeted what he said was the full email correspondence between himself and the music publicist who arranged a meeting in June 2016 at Trump Tower with a Russian attorney who the publicist said would provide damaging information about the soon-to-be Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

Shortly after, Democrats lined up to criticize Trump, who in the emails appeared to try to arrange an exchange of information with a lawyer he understood to be connected to the Russian government.

Republicans largely have stayed quiet on the latest revelations, instead focusing on trying to postpone the August recess to pass their healthcare bill. No Republican senator had tweeted about the emails as of Tuesday evening, but Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham commented.

Here is a roundup of senators' reactions to Trump's emails:

This story is developing; we will add reactions from lawmakers of both parties as they release statements.

SEE ALSO: THE EMAILS: Trump Jr. posts exchange that promised dirt on Clinton as 'part of Russia and its government's support for Mr. Trump'

DON'T MISS: The life of Donald Trump Jr., who once lived out of a truck, didn't speak to his father for a year, and is now embroiled in a Russia scandal

Sen. Lindsey Graham, Republican from South Carolina: "Anytime you're in a campaign and you get an offer from a foreign government to help your campaign, the answer is 'no.' ... Definitely, he has to testify. That email is disturbing."



Sen. John McCain, Republican from Arizona: "There'll be many more shoes that will drop. ... It's certainly another shoe that's dropped that needs to be pursued and looked at."



Sen. Tim Kaine, Democrat from Virginia and Hillary Clinton's running mate: "This should have set off alarm bells and red lights and instead what it seemed to do is it activated their salivary glands. ... This is just wheelbarrows full of new evidence for the special prosecutor and the Senate Intelligence Committee."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This 150-year-old colonial mansion houses one of the world's fanciest McDonald's restaurants

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"Fancy" and "McDonald's" usually don't belong in the same sentence.

But this Mickey D's location in Freeport, Maine looks pretty classy, considering it was built inside a 150-year-old mansion.

It's actually the only McDonald's in the town. Take a look below.

SEE ALSO: 7 food startups that could change the way you eat

Located in the small seaside town of Freeport, Maine, this McDonald's was first the historic Gore House. William Gore, a prominent Freeport merchant, built the mansion in 1850.

Source: The New York Times and The Freeport Historical Society



The building was converted into Freeport's only McDonald's in 1984.



The town of Freeport has strict building design codes, and McDonald's wanted to build a location in a residential zone.

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9 questions to ask in a job interview that make you look smart

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woman smiling work happy job interview

You should always have a few questions prepared going into any job interview.

But it's not as simple as throwing out a bunch of random queries. The wrong questions could make you look unprepared, ignorant, or just plain foolish.

Your questions should be thoughtful, intelligent, and demonstrate that you are serious about the role and the company.

Here are nine questions to ask during a job interview that will make you look smart:

SEE ALSO: 15 terrible conversation starters you should avoid in a job interview

DON'T MISS: 19 unprofessional habits that make hiring managers hate you

'Beyond the hard skills required to successfully perform this job, what soft skills would serve the company and position best?'

Smart people want to know exactly what they're getting into.

Knowing what skills the company thinks are important will give you more insight into its culture and management values, so you can evaluate whether you would fit in, Amy Hoover, president of Talent Zoo, tells Business Insider.



'How would you score the company on living up to its core values? What's the one thing you're working to improve?'

Peter Harrison, CEO of Snagajob, tells Business Insider this is a respectful way to ask about shortcomings within the company — which you should be aware of before joining.

As a bonus, he says, it shows that you are being proactive in wanting to understand more about the internal workings before joining.



'How do you evaluate success here?'

Knowing how a company measures its employees' success is important. It will help you understand what it would take to advance in your career there — and can help you decide if the employer's values align with your own.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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