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

15 animated movies from the '00s you already forgot about

0
0

brother bear 2

The INSIDER Summary: 

  • The '00s gave us some great animated films, though some were pretty forgettable. 
  • Not all of these forgettable animated films were bad, but some of them are best left forgotten. 
  • Some of the best forgotten films include "Flushed Away,""Over the Hedge," and "Bolt."

The aughts were an age of excellence for animated movies. Pixar continued the momentum they built up on the ’90s, releasing instant classics like "Finding Nemo,""Up,""Ratatouille,""Monsters, Inc.," and "WALL-E." Although Disney had always worked with Pixar, they formally bought the studio in 2006, and two giants became one supergiant.

Pixar was bulletproof in the ’00s, but Disney was not. Although Disney made a lot of great non-Pixar films like "The Princess and the Frog,""The Emperor’s New Groove,""Atlantis: The Lost Empire," and "Lilo & Stitch," they also made a lot of less memorable ones. They may have been a hit with kids, but they were received modestly at best by critics and stayed in our cultural consciousness for roughly one second.

Disney wasn’t the only one with some regrettable ’00s titles, though: DreamWorks and other studios made some forgettable films too. Are you ready to examine these faded films?

Not all of the movies on this list are bad. But, deservedly or not, they have faded from the memories of millennials.

Previously, we’ve looked at 15 forgotten animated shows of the aughts. We’ve also delved into second-tier teen fare of that decade, looking at both movies and TV. Now let’s take a take a refresher course in the movies of the aughts with 15 ’00s Animated Kids’ Movies You Completely Forgot About.

SEE ALSO: John Oliver is the new Zazu in Disney's live-action "The Lion King"

15. Dinosaur (2000)

Disney’s "Dinosaur" was a prestige animation project. The film used an innovative style: the dinosaurs were animated with CGI while the backgrounds were live-action, filmed on location. The idea was to make the dinos look as realistic as possible, and it was definitely a success.

However, "Dinosaur" is a pretty serious and somber affair. After all, it’s about meteors striking the Earth and putting the dinosaurs in peril. Much of the movie is about the dinosaurs dolefully trekking through the world to try to find a place where they’ll be safe from meteors.

"Dinosaur" received generally positive reviews from critics, although many took issue with the decision to create incredibly realistic dinosaurs and then break the illusion by having them talk. But excellent craftsmanship alone isn’t enough to make an animated movie memorable to audiences. You also need some heart, which "Dinosaur" lacked.



14. Robots (2005)

This intricately-animated film takes place in a world of robots and stars Ewan McGregor as an idealistic inventor named Rodney Copperbottom. Actually, all of the characters in this movie have imaginative names, and the voice cast is chock full of famous actors. There’s Fender Pinwheeler (Robin Williams), Piper Pinwheeler (Amanda Bynes), Phineas T. Ratchet (Greg Kinnear), Bigweld (Mel Brooks), and Madame Gasket (Jim Broadbent). And that doesn’t even scratch the surface of this goldmine of a cast.

The film, which is billed as being “from the creators of Ice Age,” has a 64% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics praised the movie for its animation but characterized the story as lackluster. Strangely enough, one of the movie’s three screenwriters is David Lindsay-Abaire, the critically-acclaimed playwright who authored "Rabbit Hole."



13. Chicken Little (2005)

This film is a retelling of the folk tale “Chicken Little,” in which a chicken sees an acorn fall from the sky and thinks the world is ending (that’s where the line “The sky is falling!” comes in). There are many different versions of this story, and thus different morals. One is to not be a chicken but instead to be courageous. Another is not to believe everything you’re told.

The 2005 Disney film had something much bigger than an acorn fall from the sky: an alien artifact. Chicken Little tries to tell the world about the weird object that fell on him from the sky, but they dismiss him as crazy, thinking that it was just an acorn that hit him. But aliens are actually invading, and eventually, everyone sees that Chicken Little was right.

"Chicken Little" was significant because it was a non-Pixar Disney movie animated with CGI. The film was met with a generally positive reception from critics.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Scientists say Miami could cease to exist within our children's lifetimes

0
0

Miami Beach, Florida

Miami, a city of 430,000 people, could disappear within the century if the worst climate change predictions come true.

New York Magazine's David Wallace-Wells spoke with dozens of climatologists and researchers in related fields for an investigation on the outcomes of climate change if aggressive preventative action isn't taken. The results were not pretty.

"Most people talk as if Miami and Bangladesh still have a chance of surviving; most of the scientists I spoke with assume we'll lose them within the century, even if we stop burning fossil fuel in the next decade," Wallace-Wells said.

Located at the mouth of the Miami River on the lower east coast of Florida, Miami averages at around 6 feet above sea level, according to CityData.com and NASA. South Florida as a whole anticipates two feet of sea level rise by 2060.

Within the century, a combination of polar melting, carbon emissions, and ice-sheet collapses could cause chronic flooding to wipe out Miami — and as many as 670 coastal communities, including Cambridge, Massachusetts; Oakland, California; St. Petersburg, Florida; and four of the five boroughs of New York City, according to National Geographic.

In January, a report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency hinted at the possibility of an "extreme" sea-level rise scenario that would support these predictions.

Research group Climate Central took the projections laid out in NOAA's report and created a plug-in for Google Earth that shows how catastrophic the damage would be if the flooding happened today. You can install it (directions here) and see anywhere in the US.

Here's what Miami might look like in the year 2100.

SEE ALSO: Disturbing before-and-after images show what major US cities could look like in the year 2100

This is what Miami Beach looks like today.



In the year 2100, you might need a rowboat to pass through it.



Climate Central's plugin for Google Earth shows a sea level rise of 10 to 12 feet, which would cause the Atlantic Ocean to wash over Miami and the Miami River to overflow.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

HBO just released 8 new photos from the first episode of 'Game of Thrones' season 7

0
0

Daenerys Targaryen and Grey Worm Game of Thrones season 7 episode 1 photos

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Game of Thrones" season seven.

"Game of Thrones" season seven premieres Sunday, July 16, and HBO is ramping up excitement as the evening draws ever closer. Now they've released a look at what's to come in the first hour of the new season. The official description for the episode, titled "Dragonstone," is: "Jon (Kit Harington) organizes the defense of the North. Cersei (Lena Headey) tries to even the odds. Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) comes home."

Keep reading for a peek at 8 new photos from the "Game of Thrones" season seven premiere.

We see Cersei, glass of wine in hand (as usual) standing on a huge map of Westeros.



HBO gave us a bigger view of the map, which contains tons of detail.



Next we see another view of Daenerys and Grey Worm arriving at Dragonstone — an ancient Targaryen stronghold previously occupied by Stannis Baratheon.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

10 places to visit this summer where your dollar will get you the furthest

0
0

Bergen Norway

The INSIDER Summary:

  • Exchange rates are constantly fluctuating, which means that your dollar will go further in certain countries at certain times.
  • RewardExpert analyzed countries all over the world to see where the value of the dollar has increased the most over the past year.
  • They also compared the average expenses a traveler will incur in each country to come up with an overall affordability report.
  • The 10 countries where you'll get the most bang for your buck are Hong Kong, Norway, Singapore, Mexico, Japan, Canada, Sweden, China, the UK, and Argentina.


How much you spend on vacation has a lot to do with where you travel, but it also has a lot to do with when you travel — and that's not just because of high and low seasons.

Exchange rates are constantly fluctuating, which means that your dollar will go further in certain countries at certain times.

RewardExpert analyzed countries all over the world to find out where the value of the dollar has increased in the past year. They then compared the average expenses a traveler will incur in each of those places to come up with an overall affordability report.

Below, you'll find the 10 countries where the value of the dollar has increased the most in the last year, as well as the average amount of money you can expect to spend there.

10. Hong Kong — the dollar has increased 0.2%

How much the average visitor spends:

Drinks and dining: $71.53

Groceries: $26.30

Local transit: $2.93

Recreation: $20.26

Shopping: $317.25

Accommodation: $163.55

Click here to learn more >



9. Norway — the dollar has increased 0.3%

How much the average visitor spends:

Drinks and dining: $150.65

Groceries: $22.64

Local transit: $6.76

Recreation: $46.79

Shopping: $397.45

Accommodation: $170.20

Click here to learn more >



8. Singapore — the dollar has increased 0.3%

How much the average visitor spends:

Drinks and dining: $73.96

Groceries: $21.14

Local transit: $1.93

Recreation: $19.34

Shopping: $290.05

Accommodation: $162.91

Click here to learn more >



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The Newark Riots began 50 years ago today — here's why they still matter

0
0

Newark Riots

Fifty years ago, the city of Newark, New Jersey experienced a string of violent riots after two white police officers stopped and beat up a black taxi driver on July 12 in a community that had suffered decades of social frustration caused by poverty and racial profiling.

While more than half a century has passed, many of the issues at the heart of the protests continue to divide the country today. 

Here's how the riots started, how the police responded, and how it set the stage for the future police brutality protests.

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

In the late 1960s, Newark was suffering from high poverty rates, lack of good job opportunities, and chronically underfunded schools. The largely African American population was also dealing with police profiling and lack of political representation.

Source: Seton Hall University



While problems such as these festered for many years, frustration came to a head when two white police officers pulled over and beat up black taxi driver John William Smith.

Source: The Guardian



After a false rumor spread that Smith had died in police custody, people gathered around the station and started throwing rocks and bottles.

Source: NBC News



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

I've been traveling on a budget for years — here are my 10 best tips to book luxurious getaways at enviable prices

0
0

travel tourist vacation

Lay in the lap of luxury, and while you're at it, close your eyes and stay the night. Planning a vacation on a budget doesn't mean you can't experience the best of the best; it simply means you have to be resourceful. As my thirst for travel has only grown stronger with age, I've learned to book luxurious getaways at enviable prices.

When I was 21, I spent four amazing months in Europe. I remember exploring Paris for the first time, surviving strictly on inexpensive street crêpes and only splurging on escargot and other French delicacies on my very last night in the City of Lights. I spent a beautiful long weekend in Amsterdam, getting lost on canal-lined streets and visiting outstanding museums and, of course, the extraordinary Anne Frank House. However, the memory of the filthy hostel in which I resided with 20 somewhat-unsanitary strangers still haunts me to this day.

By the time I traveled to Italy, I began to pick up on some tricks of the trade. I learned how to book flights for under a dollar (yes, I once flew to Barcelona for 50 cents) and found out how to stay in some pretty nice hotels. Now, years later, I have become a savvy traveler. I learned from my mistakes and look back at my youthful missteps with fondness. Luckily, you do not have to learn from your own mistakes; you can learn from mine.

While my budget has increased since the ripe old age of 21, I still refuse to spend an arm and a leg on my adventures. Instead, keeping both arm and leg intact, I book deals some might think are unattainable, but they are not unachievable. They are simply well-planned and thoroughly thought out.

Follow this guide and live that luxe life for less.

SEE ALSO: The 17 best places in Europe to visit this summer that don't cost a fortune

DON'T MISS: The 17 best places to go this summer that don't cost a fortune

1. Choose a destination where your home currency is worth more

Get the most bang for your buck by traveling to a destination where your currency is strong. In fact, this should be a major factor in deciding where to travel. The US dollar has hit monumental heights, meaning international travel has become significantly cheaper and far more feasible than in years past.

As a senior in college, I studied abroad in London when 1 USD was equivalent to 2.04 GBP, which forced me to live on cookies, crackers, and the occasional granola bar. Conversely, when I traveled to Thailand in 2014, 1 USD was equivalent to roughly 32 THB. What does that mean? While staying in five-star luxury resorts throughout the country, I explored each city, ate authentic Thai food, and shopped for unique goods at extremely low prices. Check those exchange rates and get going. You never know when scales might tip in the other direction.



2. Use Skyscanner to find cheap flights

Skyscanner's "Search Everywhere" function is a godsend for those with insatiable wanderlust. If you have no specific destination in mind, simply enter your home airport and dates you are available to travel. The flight aggregator, also available as a mobile app, will then prepare a list of multiple destinations presented in order of least to most expensive flights. Not only does Skyscanner help you plan your next vacation, but it is also a great way to learn more about locations to add to your travel bucket list.

Already have a date and destination in mind? Don't sweat it. Sign up for Skyscanner Price Alerts and receive emails letting you know when your flight prices have increased or decreased. How long you want to play the waiting game is up to you, but the benefits of Skyscanner are incredible. If you don't believe me, take it from Skyscanner's 60 million monthly users.



3. Be open to a range of accommodations

You don't need to stay at a five-star hotel or villa to experience extraordinary luxury. That's not to say you shouldn't book at least one five-star hotel during your vacation. From stunning Airbnbs and boutique hotels to glamping and B&Bs, luxury can be found anywhere. Discover different cultures by booking a variety of accommodations. Don't let the term "boutique hotel" scare you away.

Oftentimes, these smaller digs offer as much luxury and amenities as five-star resorts but offer a more appealing price tag. Also, don't write off bed and breakfasts. The uptick in luxury B&Bs is remarkable. They are both upscale and charming, and they can definitely save you a bundle. Finally, save the best for last. Stay at a variety of different hotels, and spend the last few nights of your vacation at the most insane five-star villa around. These frequently include a private plunge pool and personal butler. Want luxury? You got it!



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The best places to celebrate Bastille Day

0
0

Paris Bastille

When it comes to France, there's a lot to celebrate.

One of the most popular destinations in the world, millions of people travel to France each year to snap a selfie in front of the Eiffel Tower, admire the Mona Lisa at the Louvre, indulge in cheese and wine, or laze at beaches along the French Riviera.

So it comes as no surprise that French expats and Francophiles alike want to join in on Bastille Day celebrations in cities around the world, commemorating the storming of the Bastille and the start of French independence, which began on July 14, 1789.

Don your red, white, and blue garb once more this summer, and join one of these epic Bastille Day fêtes.

Liège, Belgium

Bastille Day celebrations in Liège are so extravagant they're deemed bigger than Belgian's own national day. Honoring France's efforts against Germany in the Battle of Liège, Bastille festivities include military parades, concerts, and late-night DJ sets. You won't want to miss the icing on the cake: a dazzling firework extravaganza at Congress Hall.

Find out more about Liège's Bastille Day events here.



New Orleans, Louisiana

Named the third best Bastille Day celebration in the world, America's most French city does it up for an entire week leading up to the holiday. Their signature celebration, Bastille Day Fête, involves live music, food, and, of course, drinks, at the New Orleans Museum of Art. The city also hosts a massive block party in the historically French Creole neighborhood of Faubourg St. John.

Find out more about New Orleans' Bastille Day events here.



Pondicherry, India

Pondicherry was under French governance for 300 years, so it's no surprise that the town goes all out for Bastille Day, with various fairs and festivals. You won't want to miss the city's torchlight procession, where participants light up the city with red, white, and blue lanterns. 

Find out more about Pondicherry's Bastille Day events here.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The most technologically advanced bike at the Tour de France is made by a German company that's coming to America and sells direct online only — and it could give veterans Trek and Specialized a run for their money

0
0

Kristoff Canyon Aeroad CF SLX Disc Tour de France 2017

BELFORT, France — The most technologically advanced bike at the Tour de France, the world's biggest cycling race, is Alexander Kristoff's Canyon Aeroad CF SLX with disc brakes, SRAM eTap, and ZIPP 454 NSW wheels.

Canyon is a German consumer-direct brand that manufactures a variety of bicycles and is well known in the sport for its high-end road bikes. It sells online directly to customers and is coming to the US later this year, according to the trade publication Bicycle Retailer.

Several industry insiders Business Insider spoke with at the Tour said they expected Canyon to make a considerable impact on the high-end road-bike market in the US and give the big veterans Trek, Specialized, and Giant a run for their money.

Canyon USA had 20 employees as June, and it's hired several people from rival Specialized, including Keith Hnatiuk as its director of operations and Frank Aldorf as its chief brand officer.

Canyon has good exposure in the sport as it sponsors one of the most successful teams, Movistar, led by Colombian star Nairo Quintana. Trek owns a WorldTour team outright, and Specialized sponsors two teams in the Tour, those of sprint ace Marcel Kittel and double world champion Peter Sagan. Meanwhile at the Tour, Trek rolled out its new lightweight Émonda SLR 9 and Specialized its newly redesigned Tarmac.

"The demand for Canyon bikes in the U.S. is already very high. But we also want to deliver an exceptional Canyon customer experience, on par with the quality of our products," Roman Arnold, founder and CEO of Canyon, said last year, according to Bicycle Retailer. It also reported that Canyon had seen revenue grow 30% year-over-year for the past six years. Canyon said it had generated revenues of 160 million euros in 2015.

Trek is already a $1 billion company while Specialized is one of the leading race brands.

Canyon says US customers who order online can expect delivery of a nearly fully assembled bike to their home in two to six weeks. Customers who buy a Trek online must pick up their bikes at an authorized Trek retailer, which handles final assembly. Specialized does not sell bikes online at all; customers have to buy bikes in a shop.

Business Insider got a close-up look at Kristoff's machine during the Tour's first week. See the photos below, and check back for a test-ride review of the Canyon Aeroad CF SLX.

SRAM Red eTap HRD is one of three standout features on Kristoff's bike. The electronic-shifting system is different from rivals Shimano Di2 and Campagnolo EPS in that it has no wires. Instead, the shifters wirelessly transmit a signal to the derailleurs. Tapping the right lever, seen here, makes it harder to pedal (upshifting), and tapping the left lever makes it easier (downshifting). Tapping both levers shifts the front derailleur.



Another standout feature are the disc brakes. Discs on high-end road bikes are becoming more popular, and we saw a handful of bikes at the Tour equipped with them. They allow for shorter stopping distances and perform better in wet conditions than rim brakes. The downside: They add up to a pound to a bike.



Another high-tech spec is the ZIPP 454 NSW wheelset, which Team Katusha is riding at the Tour. SRAM says the unique rim shapes, which resemble fins, reduce aero drag as well as side forces. (Kristoff opts for Continental Competition Pro Ltd ALX tires.)



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Antarctica just shed one of the largest icebergs the world has ever seen — these size comparisons reveal how big it really is

0
0

antarctica larsen c ice shelf rift crack nov 2016 john sonntag nasa gsfc.JPG

A crack in an Antarctica's Larsen C ice shelf birthed one of the largest icebergs ever recorded, scientists announced Wednesday morning.

"The calving of this iceberg leaves the Larsen C Ice Shelf reduced in area by more than 12%, and the landscape of the Antarctic Peninsula changed forever,"Adrian Luckman and Martin O'Leary, two glaciologists at Swansea University, wrote in a July 12 blog post for the MIDAS Project, which has been monitoring the ice.

They also said the iceberg weighs more than a trillion metric tonnes.

The following size comparisons will give you a sense of just how colossal this new iceberg is.

 

 

SEE ALSO: Here's what Earth might look like in 100 years — if we're lucky

DON'T MISS: Antarctica just shed a 1.1-trillion-ton iceberg — here's where it may float

The iceberg weighs almost as much as 20 Titanics.



Its surface area is roughly equivalent to the state of Delaware.



It could fill Lake Erie twice.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The BMW M240i Convertible is the bimmer that puts the F in FUN

0
0

BMW M240i Convertible

These are not good times for high-performance sports sedans, much less sports coupés. People want crossovers and SUVs, and all the German carmakers have responded.

For BMW, this is something of a tough pill to swallow, because the Bavarians invented the sports coupé and brought it to America in the 1970s with the magnificent BMW 2002. Many iterations have followed, with convertibles and four-doors added to the pack.

These have always been fun to drive yet relatively practical. And give the BMW M-Sport the high-performance treatment, and the fun becomes excessive. So who cares if all people want are crossovers? That just means more cars like the BMW M240i for the rest of us.

BMW sells both proper M-cars and vehicles that live a notch lower on the price and performance ladder. So in the 2-Series realm, there's the M2 — a stonking machine — and the M240i, which replaces the wonderful M235i.

We got our hands on the M240i convertible recently and could see how it does the job of serving up open-air motoring fun during some spirited driving in suburban New Jersey.

The M240i replaces the M235i in BMW's lineup. I richly enjoyed the hardtop a few years ago.

Read the review »



But BMW has also rolled out the spectacular M2 — the 2-Series given the high-performance M-Sport treatment. It's insanely good.

Read the review »



The new M240i occupies a rung below the M2. It's what you might call near-high-performance, versus the M2's full-on performance orientation. Out test car was the convertible version.

The engines aren't hugely different. The M2 and M24oi are running turbocharged inline six-cylinder units of 3.0 liters each, but the M2 cranks out more horsepower. Beyond that, the M2 has a limited-slip differential, which makes for more sure-footed handling at speed and has a stouter suspension.

Bottom line: The M2 is something of a track weapon, while the M240i likes winding country roads.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

These innovative cups keep my drinks at the right temperature all day long

0
0

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

Hydro Flask True PintIt's not every day that you find a cup that out performs every other one you've tried.

That's because all they do is hold liquid, right? Wrong. When it comes to drinks — whether hot or cold — there's nothing worse than when it turns lukewarm.

HydroFlask has earned a reputation for making great beverage containers, and the brand is back with two more new bottles — the True Pint and the Rocks. As both of their names suggest, both were made for alcoholic drinks. 

Coming in at 16 oz., the True Pint is just the right size and will never leave you with a warm beer. Its TempShield insulation eliminates condensation you'd experience with a typical cup and keeps your drink cold until the last sip. Its stackable design makes it perfect for a backyard barbecue or camping trip.

The Rocks has a smaller 10 oz. design, but in this case, less is more. When it's time to sit back, relax, and enjoy some scotch or rum on the rocks, it's the perfect size, and because of TempShield, your ice won't melt. You'll never have to experience a watered down drink again.

For the last week, I've been testing both the True Pint and Rocks, and I'm very impressed. While I'm not a drinker, these cups can be used for any kind of beverage. Working in an office, it's always nice to have something to drink nearby, and for me, there's nothing worse than drinking iced tea that's been watered down from melted ice or room temperature water.

Before I got the True Pint, I had no choice but to continuously go to the office kitchen for a new cup of water if I wanted it to be cold. Now, I fill up the True Pint with water, and I'm set. I can honestly say that the True Pint has kept all of my drinks cold until I've finished them — the ice hasn't melted once. Not only does it keep me refreshed, but having a drink that's always cold has also been great for my productivity at work.

The Rocks is just as useful because it comes with an insulated press-in lid, making it the perfect container for a small coffee or hot tea in the morning. More often than not, I end up dumping half of my coffee or tea for a fresh one because it's not hot anymore. The Rocks is the perfect size and kept my drinks hot while I slowly sipped.

Both of these cups work so well, I'll be keeping both at my desk for all of my drinks.

You can check out all of HydroFlask's bottles here, or check out the True Print and Rocks below:

Hydro Flask 16 oz. True Pint

Buy the 16 oz. Hydro Flask True Pint for $24.95. Available in eight colors.



Hydro Flask 10 oz. Rocks

Buy the 10 oz. Hydro Flask Rocks for $29.95 now. Available in five colors.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

We tried the pizza chain that LeBron James turned down a $14 million deal with McDonald's for — here's the verdict

0
0

blaze pizza 5606

Build-your-own pizza chain Blaze Pizza is fit for a king — King James, that is.

In 2015, basketball legend LeBron James walked away from a $14 million endorsement deal with McDonald's to become part of Blaze Pizza's marketing campaigns. He's also an early investor in the Chipotle-style pizza chain.

James's selection of an unknown upstart over an established brand appears to have paid off. Blaze was recently named the fastest-growing chain in history after opening its 200th location in Mentor, Ohio, on Tuesday. Revenue is on track to hit $300 million in 2017, according to a company spokesperson.

We visited Blaze in Fremont, California, to see if the pizza meets the hype.

SEE ALSO: A pizza chain created by a former Starbucks exec should worry Pizza Hut and Domino's

On a weekday night, I stopped by Blaze Pizza's sunny Fremont, California, location.



The chain's blend of industrial design pieces and reclaimed wood was influenced by fast-casual competitor Chipotle, according to Blaze Pizza CEO and president Jim Mizes.



Executive chef and cofounder Bradford Kent greeted us at the door. Blaze Pizza's founders enlisted the help of the so-called "Pizza Whisperer" at the start.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The best dressed athletes at ESPN The Magazine's 'Body Issue' party

0
0

Professional Softball Player AJ Andrews at BODY at ESPYS

On Wednesday night, the Staples Center will host the 25th annual ESPY awards, celebrating the best that sports have to offer, both in terms of plays on the field play and good deeds done off the court.

In anticipation of the event, ESPN The Magazine hosted their "Body Issue" party on Tuesday night, allowing some of those that will be participating in the awards an extra day to go out and show off their best looks.

While some athletes were dressed to the nines, others wore outfits that kept them comfortable in their skin and on the red carpet. Everyone looked great in their own way, except for Julian Edelman, who could've stood to button another button or two on his shirt.

Below you can find some of our favorite looks from the ESPN "Body Issue" red carpet.

Body Issue cover star Ezekiel Elliot went for a more casual look, but included a jacket that guys everywhere will be looking to add to their fall wardrobes.



Paralympian Swimmer Victoria Arlen and anchor Lindsay Czarniak were both more than ready for the runway, two of the best-dressed women of the night.



Nick Young arrived on the red carpet with as much swag as his nickname implies.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NASA's $1 billion Jupiter probe just sent back breathtaking new images of the Great Red Spot

0
0

juno jupiter nasa

NASA's plucky Juno probe has returned its first close-up photographs of Jupiter's Great Red Spot, and they are stunning.

On Monday, Juno flew about 5,600 miles above the mysterious tempest — more than a million miles closer than any previous spacecraft has flown.

The Great Red Spot is a massive storm about twice as wide as Earth. It has tumbled in the planet's atmosphere for at least 350 years.

Juno took the new photos on it's seventh pass around the gas giant planet. The spacecraft swings by Jupiter once every 53.5 days, at speeds approaching 130,000 mph, which makes such close-ups very hard to capture.

 


After each flyby, NASA provides JunoCam's raw image data to the public, and a community of amateurs and professionals turn the muted, unprocessed photos into striking color images.

Below are fresh images of the Great Red Spot, along with some other unbelievable shots from previous flybys.

SEE ALSO: The 15 most incredible nuclear-powered space missions of all time

DON'T MISS: 25 photos that prove we're stowaways on a tiny, fragile spaceship

"This monumental storm has raged on the solar system's biggest planet for centuries," Scott Bolton, the Juno mission's leader, said in a NASA statement.



At its closest point, Juno flew so close the Great Red Spot that it couldn't capture the whole thing in one view. The image below shows the approximate angle that JunoCam was able to see at that point.

Making the task even more challenging: The probe zoomed by at about 34 miles per second. That's speedy enough to traverse the continental US in a little more than a minute.

As a result, JunoCam strafed the planet with a series of images.



Getting within a cosmic breath of the storm allowed Juno to beam back images that show the Great Red Spot in unprecedented detail, like the ones below.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 15 best desserts at Trader Joe's

0
0

speculoos cookie butter trader joe's

The INSIDER Summary: 

  • Trader Joe's has plenty of affordable desserts, but the options can be overwhelming.
  • You can't go wrong with any of the cookie butter flavored treats.
  • The macarons and lemon bars are also must-buys. 

Trader Joe's has a lot of delicious options at super affordable, college budget friendly prices. But sometimes all of the great options can be overwhelming and you can spend way too long wandering the aisles just trying to decide what to buy. To help you better navigate Trader Joe's dessert selection, here is a list of some of the best of Trader Joe's desserts. 

1. Cookie Butter Cheesecake

Instagram Embed:
http://instagram.com/p/BCB6nojKkcZ/embed/
Width: 800px

These cheesecake bites take cookie butter to the next level. With a delicious speculoos crust and creamy cookie butter swirls, good luck not eating the whole box in one go. 



2. Matcha Joe-Joe's

Instagram Embed:
http://instagram.com/p/BUcPbEVhaRA/embed/
Width: 800px

Whether you're a fan of Joe-Joe's creative flavors or you're a die-hard Oreo lover, you have to admit that Matcha Joe-Joe's are one of the most creative cookie sandwiches out there. Try them with milk or paired with one of Trader Joe's many other matcha flavored snacks. 



3. Birthday Cake Bar

Instagram Embed:
http://instagram.com/p/BTouZV8hnO3/embed/
Width: 800px

Although the reactions to Trader Joe's newest chocolate bar are a little bit mixed, this birthday cake bar is the perfect treat for people anyone who prefers white chocolate to dark chocolate. Plus, it comes loaded with sprinkles and who doesn't love sprinkles?



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Science says happier people have these 9 things in common

0
0

smile smiley people happy

Everybody wants to be happy. 

That's why the science of happiness has gained more attention in recent years —researchers have started to produce reports on happiness around the globe, and positive psychology, which focuses on what makes individuals and communities thrive, has skyrocketed in popularity.

At this point, we actually know a fair amount about how certain behaviors, attitudes, and choices relate to happiness, though most research on the topic can only find correlations.

Researchers think that roughly 40% of our happiness is under our own control; the rest is determined by genetics and external factors. That means there's a lot we can do to control our own happiness.

Here are nine happiness-promoting behaviors backed by science.

SEE ALSO: 12 science-backed reasons you should spend more time outside

1. Relationships are essential. A major study followed hundreds of men for more than 70 years, and found the happiest (and healthiest) were those who cultivated strong relationships with people they trusted to support them.

Source: The Harvard Study of Adult Development



2. Time beats money. A number of studies have shown that happier people prefer to have more time in their lives than more money. Even trying to approach life from that mindset seems to make people more content.

Source: Business Insider



3. But it helps to have enough money to pay the bills. People's well-being rises along with income levels up to an annual salary of about $75,000, studies have found. (That number probably varies depending on your cost of living, however.)

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The Kia Niro is a fun and zippy hybrid for under $30,000

0
0

Kia niro hybrid review

Kia took its very first shot at a hybrid hatchback-crossover this year — the Niro — and the results are commendable.

The hybrid hatch market is pretty well defined. Toyota's Prius has consistently reigned supreme in sales, and competitors like the Ford C-Max and Kia's corporate stablemate, the Hyundai Ioniq, have been slow to catch up.

Kia may not be a household name, but the Niro is already the second best-selling hybrid for 2017 and has received fairly consistent praise across the board.

At a time where the crossover segment is hot, the Niro boasts solid mileage without skimping on space — all with a price tag that's difficult to overlook.

We took the 2017 Niro hybrid out for a spin to see if it really lives up to the hype. Here's the verdict:

SEE ALSO: These are the 9 best hybrid cars you can buy for under $40,000

I tested the Kia Niro over the course of a sunny weekend in New Jersey. Here it is at Palisades Interstate Park after making a few trips around Fort Lee.



As you can see, the Kia Niro is a very no frills car. It has a clean design, unobtrusive grille, and sleek headlights. The Niro isn't a luxurious vehicle, nor does it try to be.



I drove the Niro EX in a very practical gunmetal gray. At 171.5 inches long, this is a true compact SUV. It offers just the right amount of space, especially under the hatch, but is the perfect size for quick handling on a highway or difficult parallel parking jobs.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon will battle for the same Emmy — here are all the other costars directly competing

0
0

riz ahmed john tuturro the night of hbo

There were a lot of great performances on television in 2017. And that's great, but it also creates a little problem: A lot of actors are nominated in the same categories as their costars, who are, when you really think about it, coworkers.

This makes the competition even more intense, since it becomes a question of who was better on the same show.

With amazing performances from the cast of "Big Little Lies,""The Night Of,""The Handmaid's Tale,""Saturday Night Live,""Feud: Bette and Joan," and more, these are all the actors competing with their costars for an Emmy this year. 

SEE ALSO: Here are all the 2017 Emmy nominees — Netflix, HBO, and 'SNL' lead the way

Lead Actor in a Drama Series



Sterling K. Brown, "This Is Us"



Milo Ventimiglia, "This Is Us"



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

12 jobs robots are taking over the fastest

0
0

Robot surgery

At least for now, surgeons can breathe a sigh of relief. It'll be 36 years until they're outperformed by robots in the operating room, according to AI researchers.

But while we have yet to see any completely automated jobs, there are plenty of jobs that are already on their way there.

To find the most automated jobs in America right now, we combed through the Occupational Information Network (O*NET), a US Department of Labor database that compiles detailed information on hundreds of jobs.

O*NET rates the "degree of automation" for each job on a scale from zero to 100, where a higher rating signals more automation. Jobs with scores around 50 are considered moderately automated, while jobs with scores around 75 are considered highly automated. (A score of 100 has yet to be attained, but it would indicate that a job is completely automated.)

Here are 12 jobs with the highest degrees of automation, as well as what they pay and how much the job will grow or decline by the year 2024 (where the average projected employment change is 6.5% growth), according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

These jobs earned a degree of automation rating of 65 or higher and are ranked in order from lowest to highest automation score.

SEE ALSO: 37 jobs that are quickly disappearing in the US

DON'T MISS: 22 signs it's time to quit your job

12. Reservation and transportation ticket agent or travel clerk

Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks make and confirm reservations for transportation or lodging, or sell transportation tickets.

Degree of automation: 65

Median annual salary: $35,230

Projected decline by 2024: 1.4%



11. Air traffic controller

Air traffic controllers control air traffic on and within vicinity of airport and movement of air traffic between altitude sectors and control centers according to established procedures and policies.

Degree of automation: 65

Median annual salary: $122,410

Projected decline by 2024: 8.6%



10. Telephone operator

Telephone operators provide information by accessing alphabetical, geographical, or other directories.

Degree of automation: 66

Median annual salary: $37,000

Projected decline by 2024: 42.4%



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 20 best college towns in America

0
0

Pearl Street, Boulder, Colorado

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

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

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

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

Scroll through to find out the 20 best college towns.

SEE ALSO: The 11 best colleges for business majors

20. Bellingham, Washington — home of Western Washington University

Metro area population: 208,832

College student population in the metro area: 24,926

No. 4 in arts and entertainment



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

Metro area population: 136,824

College student population in the metro area: 16,081

No. 1 in youth unemployment



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

Metro area population: 186,684

College student population in the metro area: 15,297

No. 3 in rent



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




Latest Images