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A major South African city is about to run out of water, and officials say it will be the worst disaster since 9/11

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cape town

Cape Town, a coastal South African city of 4 million people, is about to run out of fresh water

After three years of persistent drought, the government is warning that "Day Zero"— when they will be forced to turn off the faucets — will be April 16, 2018. That's when reservoirs and water sources will hit 13.5% capacity, at which point the city will move most residents to a strict bucket- and jug-based water rationing system. 

As Cape Town's reservoirs of fresh water get dangerously close to running dry, locals are beginning to store water in jugs and fill up at spring-fed taps set up by local breweries. Those who can afford it are boring mini backyard wells to collect private water stashes, and some hotels are investing in pricey desalination plants to make ocean water drinkable.

Take a look at how people are dealing with the looming crisis:

SEE ALSO: A major coastal city is running out of water faster than anyone predicted — and people are terrified about 'Day Zero'

The drought is the region's worst in over a century.

The Theewaterskloof dam, the city's largest, is just 13% full



The South African weather service says climate change is making their historical models useless.

Long-term forecasters say it's impossible to predict how long the crisis might last. 



Cape Town's population has also been growing rapidly, compounding the effects of the three-year drought.

Data from the UN shows the percentage of South Africans living in cities has been climbing since the 1950s. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The best spice grinders 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.

spice grinder 4x3

The Insider Pick:

  • Freshly ground spices brighten just about any dish, so if you love to cook, you may want a versatile spice grinder. The Secura Electric Coffee & Spice Grinder is our top pick with its strong motor that is resistant to overheating and two bowls for chopping and grinding.

The idea of grinding your own spices may seem like a hassle when it’s just so easy to pick up pre-ground options at the grocery store. Yet, taste test after taste test reveals that freshly ground spices produce dishes with a superior roundness of flavor, vibrancy, and aroma. Therefore, a good spice grinder provides a fairly simple way to step up your culinary chops.

There are two main styles of spice grinders: electric and manual. Electric grinders are excellent because they make quick work of a variety of spices. Most can also do double duty chopping nuts and grinding grains and coffee beans. But, they can only be used for a few seconds at a time before the motor starts to heat up, and many models are difficult to clean. Also, electric grinders obviously require the use of electricity, and environmentally-conscious people may have trouble justifying using one when there are several suitable manual options.

Manual grinders take the cake when you want a more portable solution that isn’t tethered to an electrical outlet. Most electric grinders use blades, whereas their manual counterparts work by crushing the spices with gears made of ceramic or metal. They commonly have a knob you can turn to adjust the size of the grind. The downside to manual grinders is that they may be a pain for individuals with arthritis, carpal tunnel, or other hand/wrist conditions.

Though we did not include any in our guide, the herb grinder is a third type of spice grinder that is mainly designed for larger seeds, teas, tobacco, and herbs, including basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and more. Herb grinders are manually operated and generally have trouble handling most whole spices. If you decide to go this route, we recommend Zip Grinders.

We looked at dozens of different alternatives while researching the best spice grinders. The grinders included in our guide are highly rated by buyers and experts alike because of their ease of use, consistent performance, and how painless the cleaning process is.

Read on in the slides below to learn why the Secura Electric Coffee & Spice Grinder is our top pick and why you might prefer the Kuhn Rikon Ratchet Grinder, the Cuisinart Electric Spice-and-Nut Grinder, the KRUPS Electric Spice and Coffee Grinder, the Bazaar Anatolia Turkish Grinder, or the Peugeot Paris u'Select 9-inch Pepper and Salt Mills.

SEE ALSO: The best pepper mills and salt grinders you can buy

DON'T MISS: The best coffee grinders you can buy

The best spice grinder overall

Why you'll love it: If you are looking for an effective, mess-free way to grind spices quickly, the Secura Electric Coffee Grinder & Spice Grinder is an excellent option.

The Secura Electric Coffee Grinder & Spice Grinder comes with two stainless steel bowls. One has two stainless steel blades, which are designed for grinding spices. The other “chopper” bowl has four blades for chopping vegetables, oats, and nuts. The exterior of the grinder is also made of stainless steel.

The grinder is relatively easy to use because there is only one switch for turning the device on and off. For safety, the plastic, transparent lid must be in place in order for the motor to run. And, the motor features built-in overheat protection, which is meant to extend its lifespan. Secura backs up the grinder with a one-year limited warranty.

You can use it to grind just about anything from pepper and sea salt, to coffee beans and nuts.

Savant Magazine rated the Secura Electric Grinder highly because of the affordable price, versatile and user-friendly design, and the electric motor’s resistance to overheating. But, the testers did find the motor worked slowly and was a challenge to clean. 

The Secura Electric Coffee Grinder & Spice Grinder has five-star ratings from 70% of the buyers who reviewed it on Amazon. The most helpful reviewer points out that the bowls come off easily for washing and the grinder can handle everything from cumin to almonds.

One buyer did note that a piece broke on the four-blade bowl, but Secura quickly replaced both bowls when notified. Other verified purchasers echoed the fact that this grinder isn’t as messy as others, which is a bonus.

Pros: Motor resistant to overheating, removable bowls for chopping and grinding

Cons: Motor can only run for several seconds at a time

Buy the Secura Electric Coffee Grinder & Spice Grinder on Amazon for $28.49



The best manual spice grinder

Why you'll love it: The Kuhn Rikon Ratchet Grinder is ideal for people who don’t want to waste electricity on tasks they can easily perform with a little muscle.

Unlike most manual spice grinders that utilize a rotating crank, the Kuhn Rikon grinder works using a back-and-forth motion.

First, you load the spices you want to grind into the front door. Then, you adjust the desired coarseness by turning the knob on the bottom of the device either clockwise for a finer grind or counterclockwise for a coarser grind. To operate, you move the ergonomic BPA-free hard plastic handle back and forth. This causes the ceramic stone grinder to break the spices into smaller particles.

You can use it to grind all kinds of spices, including pepper, sea salt, and more. Its ceramic grinder won’t corrode, and the large capacity makes it easy to grind a lot of your favorite spice quickly. On the finest setting, the grinder produces a true powder. 

A reviewer from the site All Free Slow Cooker Recipes tested out the Kuhn Rikon Ratchet Grinder and was impressed overall. The tester found it ground spices effortlessly and quickly. Reviewers also liked that it is easy to fill through the little opening on the front. Best Reviews included this grinder on its list of the top five spice grinders, too. On the downside, the reviewers mentioned that its performance is affected by humidity.

Around 90% of the people who rated the Kuhn Rikon Ratchet Grinder on Amazon gave it four or five stars. Buyers appear to mainly use this grinder for coarse salts and peppercorns. They are particularly impressed with how easily the ratchet system works as opposed to a pepper mill.

Reviewers warn against overfilling the grinder because it then becomes difficult to close the compartment. There was some concern about the product’s durability. A reviewer named Anne noted that her grinder broke after just five weeks of use when the metal broke free from the handle.

Pros: Doesn’t require electricity/batteries, easy on the hands

Cons: Reports of durability problems

Buy the Kuhn Rikon Ratchet Grinder on Amazon for $16.60 and up (price varies by color — originally $19.99)



The best spice grinder for fast and smooth grinding

Why you'll love it: If you are looking for an electric grinder that makes quick work of spices and produces an even grind, the Cuisinart Electric Spice-and-Nut Grinder is your best bet.

The design of the Cuisinart Electric Spice-and-Nut Grinder is similar to our top pick, the Secura Electric Grinder. The main differences are that the Cuisinart grinder only comes with one removable bowl, and the Secura grinder tends to perform better.

This Cuisinart grinder features heavy-duty stainless-steel blades that can grind seeds, nuts, spices, and more. The bowl holds 90 grams of spices at a time, and the suggested grind times range from 10 seconds for black peppercorns to 45 seconds for whole cinnamon sticks. The grinder is covered by an 18-month limited warranty.

Expert reviewers also like the grinder. Serious Eats was impressed with how easy it was to detach and clean the grinding cup and lid. As for downsides, reviewers found was that spices leak from between the lid and metal cup sometimes, which gums up the motor housing, making it tough to clean. Savant Magazine liked this grinder's powerful motor and superior stability.

Around 62% of the people who rated the Cuisinart Electric Spice-and-Nut Grinder on Amazon left a positive review. Verified buyers are impressed with how easy it is to clean and that it grinds quickly and smoothly with just a touch of the lid.

One buyer said that the grinder worked well for about a year before the motor died, but the reviewer had experienced similar problems with electric grinders before. This does not appear to be the norm, though. 

Pros: Dishwasher-safe lid and grinding cup, fast grinding, 18-month warranty

Cons: Accumulates spice residue on motor housing, emits an electrical odor

Buy the Cuisinart SG-10 Electric Spice-and-Nut Grinder on Amazon for $36.12 (originally $39.95)



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A 32-year-old with ties to Elon Musk wants to upend America with these 4 utopian ideas

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Sam Altman

Sam Altman often finds himself imagining a brighter future.

As the president of Y Combinator, the tech world's most prestigious startup accelerator, Altman makes a living discovering world-changing ideas and helping them grow into giants.

YC has given life to companies like Dropbox, Airbnb, Zenefits, and Reddit. But Altman also dabbles in a host of side projects that center on making society more equal and giving artificial intelligence the means to flourish.

Here are a handful of projects Altman believes could someday change the world for the better. 

SEE ALSO: The inside story of one man's mission to give Americans unconditional free money

YC is experimenting with giving people free money to avoid poverty.

In May 2016, Altman published a note on YC's blog announcing his interest in pursuing universal basic income, a solution to poverty that involves people receiving a standard salary just for being alive, no strings attached.

Almost two years later, YC has completed a trial study in Oakland, California that involved roughly 100 people getting between $1,000 to $2,000 a month. The study was successful enough that YC will be conducting a larger trial later this year, now including 3,000 people getting money until 2022.

Altman believes the idea could spread nationwide over the coming decades, particularly as robots threaten to displace American workers from their jobs.



Altman runs an AI research company to ensure robots are forces for good.

Altman, together with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, is the co-chair of the nonprofit OpenAI.

The organization researches and develops safe, benevolent uses for artificial intelligence. Instead of using use his tech background to create fleets of robot soldiers, Altman wants to create AI that help people live healthier, richer lives.

He considers the organization one of his most treasured projects.

"Because of AI's surprising history, it's hard to predict when human-level AI might come within reach," he wrote in December 2015, when the company launched. "When it does, it'll be important to have a leading research institution which can prioritize a good outcome for all over its own self-interest."



He is working to make housing more affordable.

A major issue Altman has grappled with is the crisis of unaffordable housing, particularly in his home city of San Francisco.

However, his involvement with OpenAI could help alleviate the problem, he said. Someday, robots could be so advanced that their labor is both sophisticated and dirt-cheap.

"Let's imagine we get to a world where AI gets so good that robots can mine raw materials out of the ground, refine them, and build them into a house," he told Business Insider. (These robots, he clarified, are solar-powered.)

"You can imagine a world," he continued, "where you own a small piece of land, you can say, 'Hey, robot. I would like a house here,' and you come back like a month later and there's a fully constructed house built for you for free."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

15 celebrity couples you totally forgot dated

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celeb couples you forgot dates

The life of a celebrity seems so glamorous — fame, fortune, and oftentimes, an equally successful significant other.

But just like everyone else, their relationships don’t always work out — and even they have exes they probably would love to forget about.

Here are some celebrity romances from the past that you definitely forgot about.

Justin Timberlake and Jenna Dewan-Tatum

Dewan-Tatum was a backup dancer for Timberlake around the time of his high-profile split with Britney Spears in 2002.

In a recent interview, Dewan-Tatum said, "[We didn’t date] that long. We were friends. Then we dated."



Cameron Diaz and Jared Leto

The actor and the Thirty Seconds to Mars lead singer dated from 1999 to 2003 and may have even been engaged.

Diaz reportedly wore a $15,000 engagement ring to the Golden Globes in January 2003.



Kim Kardashian and Nick Cannon

The reality star dated the rapper from 2006-2007.

Cannon told The Howard Stern Show that he ended the relationship because Kardashian, "Lied and told [him] that there was no [sex] tape" between her and rapper Ray J.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

11 ways to update your résumé when you get a new job

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BI Graphics_Resume Makeover_BEFORE

BI Graphics_Resume Makeover_AFTER

When you land a new job, it's hard to imagine there's any need to update your résumé once again.

Perhaps you just updated it to land the role, and, at the very least, you don't have plans to pursue a new gig after just landing this one.

If you're like most people, you're probably going to wait until something happens that triggers your need to update your résumé.

But Amanda Augustine, the career advice expert for TopResume, says this is the worst time to write your résumé.

"The best time to update your résumé is when you don't need it right away, when there's no pressure or tight deadline hanging over your head," she told Business Insider. "You want to approach the résumé-writing process — whether you're planning to work with a professional résumé-writing service like TopResume or go it alone — when you have access to important information and there aren't any emotions clouding your judgment."

According to a study by TopResume, 73% of employed professionals are open to exploring new job opportunities, even though they enjoy their current job. 

But if your résumé isn't up to date, you may not be ready when that opportunity comes your way.

Beth (not her real name) recently got a promotion at work, and she wanted to update her résumé to reflect her new role so she could be ready should an interesting job opportunity come her way.

As part of Business Insider's résumé makeover series with TopResume, we thought we could help.

We asked TC Paulson, a résumé writer with TopResume, to rewrite Beth's résumé now that she's moved into her first management role to help reflect her progression. 

With an up-to-date résumé, she'll be prepared should a networking contact or a recruiter reach out with an interesting opportunity, Augustine said.

Overall, TC adjusted the format and presentation of Beth's résumé to make it easier to read and scan through electronic applicant tracking systems. TC also beefed up Beth's résumé to match the strength of her career's trajectory and crafted statements to reflect her creativity, her communications expertise, and her talents in diplomacy.

"This can often be an intangible, yet essential aspect of a résumé for someone in her field of PR," TC told Business Insider.

Augustine explained in more detail some of the specific changes TC made to Beth's résumé to help prepare her for her next step. While your résumé may look different, these pointers should help you overhaul your own résumé:

SEE ALSO: 38 things you should remove from your résumé before it ends up in the 'no' pile

DON'T MISS: 10 ways to fix your résumé when you're not entry-level anymore

SEE ALSO: These real résumé makeovers will teach you exactly how to fix your own résumé

1. Remove the street address

Augustine said she encourages candidates to include their city and state if they're local candidates, but there's no reason to provide additional details about where you live.

"They take up precious space on your résumé and can be considered a security threat — think about all the places you post your résumé online," she said.



2. Add links to social media

TC added a link to Beth's LinkedIn page, while Beth made sure her other relevant social media accounts, such as her Twitter account, were linked to her LinkedIn profile.

"While it's important for most candidates to add LinkedIn to their résumé, it's even more so for Beth, since she is in PR, and social media is a critical area of expertise for her career progression," Augustine said.



3. Create a professional profile

TC created a qualifications profile for Beth "that set the tone for the rest of the résumé," Augustine said.

"The professional title clearly states Beth's current job, leaving no room for ambiguity," Augustine said. "However, the word 'manager' in the title can be swapped out at any time to reflect whatever specific position Beth is targeting."

Below that, TC included Beth's professional summary, which Augustine said gives the reader a sense of Beth's most marketable soft skills and hard skills and the extent of her experience.

"While you might be able to get away with omitting a professional summary from your entry-level résumé, you must include something at the top of your mid-level résumé that summarizes your goals and value proposition," she said.

"Think of it as the place where you incorporate your elevator pitch into your résumé," Augustine said.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A former Apple engineer who worked on the first iPhone is making a super-smart camera for your car — here's how it works

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  • A former Apple executive who worked on the iPod and Dropcam has a new startup making a super-smart dashboard camera. 
  • The company and camera are called Owl, and the camera comes with a built-in LTE connection so it can alert you to fender benders and break-ins even when you're not in your car or it's not turned on.
  • The company has raised $18 million in venture funding from firms including defy.vc, Khosla Ventures, and Menlo Ventures.

People in Silicon Valley often spend a lot of time driving. It's just what you have to do if you work in tech at a big company. 

Perhaps that's why one of the most interesting new car gadgets is coming from a Palo Alto startup led by former Apple and Microsoft engineers.

Owl is a new kind of car camera that combines both a dashcam and a camera pointed into the interior of the car. But unlike cheap dashcams, Owl has a cellular LTE connection and can store 24 hours of video — it's a real computer, which allows it to provide a much slicker user interface than saving recorded video on a removable SD card, which is how most dashcams store video.

It's the first product out of Owl, a startup co-founded by CEO Andy Hodge, who worked on the iPod at Apple back in the Steve Jobs era. More recently, he spent some time at Microsoft and then Dropcam, the camera startup that was bought by Google. It was at Dropcam where he realized how important video cameras are, and his experience there led him to start Owl, he told Business Insider in an interview. 

The Owl camera is a security camera for your car, but it also can be used to share fun clips to social media, Hodge said, including "Carpool Karaoke"-style moments happening inside the vehicle.

The Owl is currently on sale for $349, which includes a year of LTE service, which will eventually cost $10 per month. 

Here's how it works: 

The Owl is a smart camera that lives on the dashboard of your car.



Here's a closer look at the device. It has cameras on both its front and the back.



It films the road in front of the car, like a dash cam, allowing you to get footage of interesting things that have happened on the road in front of you.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

12 things Europeans think are weird about the US

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American flag sunglasses USA

American culture is full of quirks and odd traditions that often leave foreign travelers scratching their heads.

Europeans visiting the States will immediately notice how different American culture is from their own — Americans fly flags everywhere, they measure things differently, and they can't stop saying "thank you," for some reason.

Read on to find out 12 of the most bizarre aspects of the United States from the perspective of Europeans who have visited:

SEE ALSO: 13 ways other countries are leaving the US in the dust

DON'T MISS: This map shows the US really has 11 separate 'nations' with entirely different cultures

Americans say 'thank you' to everything

Every language has a way to express thanks, but not every culture says "thank you" quite as much as Americans do, according to Healthy Travel.

Visitors coming from Europe are often shocked that Americans say "thank you" after the most mundane of interactions, like a waiter bringing a glass of water.



Bathroom doors have wide gaps in the US

Many foreign visitors to the US get a shock when they head to the bathrooms — for some reason, the public bathroom stalls in America have wide gaps that don't appear in other countries' facilities.



They can't drink until they're 21

The drinking age in most European countries is 18, and in some countries it's as low as 16, if it's enforced at all.

Meanwhile, Americans have to wait until they're 21 to drink — the highest minimum drinking age in the world.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Taco Bell is taking aim at its fast-food competition with $1 fries — here's how they stack up against the other major chains

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French Fries 10

  • Taco Bell has come out with seasoned french fries in a clear jab at McDonald's and other burger and fry chains. 
  • We compared them to fries from other major fast-food chains, including Burger King, Chick-fil-A, McDonald's, and Wendy's.


Tex-Mex chain Taco Bell has done the unthinkable and added french fries to its menu— albeit only for a limited time. But with Taco Bell's status as a major fast-food chain, one wonders: how do its fries stack up to the rest?

Burger King, Chick-fil-A, McDonald's, and Wendy's — the fast-food giants — all offer signature takes on the classic food. McDonald's fries have had the same signature taste for years, while Burger King and Wendy's have changed their recipes in recent times. And Chick-fil-A's distinct waffle variation holds a fierce cult following.

French fries are an art form. The perfect fry is starchy and crispy and a sturdy vehicle for our favorite vegetable: ketchup. Their acceptance in American cuisine is far-reaching: The french fry can be a gas-station grab-and-go item or a gourmet delight.

But which chain has truly mastered the art of the fryolator? We set out to discover who makes the best fries.

Marina Nazario contributed reporting to an earlier version of this story.

SEE ALSO: We compared McDonald's new Chick-fil-A killer with the real thing — and the winner is unmistakable

First, we tried McDonald's. Salty, thin, and crispy, these classic fries have stayed consistent over the years.



A large order of McDonald's fries costs $3.15 in Manhattan. They're crispy on the outside but have an unusually hearty center for how thin they are. Loaded with salt, these fries are absolutely addictive.



Right away, we notice that Wendy's are the only fries that have the potato skin still on them. A large order runs for $2.60 in Manhattan.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

11 mothers describe what giving birth really feels like — and it will leave you horrified

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Rachel friends birth

As mothers everywhere know, babies are cute – but the process that brings them into the world can be anything but. While mothers' birthing experiences vary greatly with factors like epidurals, C-sections, and medical complications, the miracle of life is a transformative event burned in many women's brains forever.

We've rounded up some of the most colorful, descriptive, and passionate recounts of giving birth from Reddit users.

Warning, these accounts are frank, and a little graphic. 

"As if a bowling ball landed on my spine."

"Each contraction felt as if a bowling ball landed full force on my spine (near the lower rib area) and then, with the initial force continued throughout, the bowling ball would roll down my spine (like it was crushing it the whole way) and THEN land in my pelvic area with DOUBLE the initial force. Every. Single. Contraction." -Redditor MaMaJillianLeanna



"Didn’t feel much."

"I had an epidural, so honestly I didn't feel much. Just a lot of pressure, really."–Redditor BannaMonster



"Ripping your insides out from the inside."

"The best way I can explain is, if you've ever had gastrointestinal cramps, it is slightly similar to that. But the cramps start more intense and get progressively harder and stronger until it feels like someone is ripping your insides out, from the inside. Nothing you can do relieves the pain of a hard & fast delivery."–Redditor bluecirc

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

13 books on science Bill Gates thinks everyone should read

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bill gates books

For decades, Bill Gates made billions in technology. Now he's spending that money on fighting disease and climate change.

It's no wonder the man loves science.

Over the years, Gates has recommended a number of science-related books to the public. Some deal with the environment, others with the cosmos, and others with stopping tiny biological invaders.

Here are some of his favorite titles.

SEE ALSO: 28 books Bill Gates thinks everyone should read

"Enlightenment Now" by Steven Pinker

Gates recently declared this book his new favorite book of all-time.

A follow-up from cognitive scientist Steven Pinker's book "The Better Angels of Our Nature," which looked at the widespread decline of violence through history, "Enlightenment Now" broadens the scope to examine humanity's progress across 15 domains.

People have unprecedented access to knowledge, technology, and other people, according to the book, all of which has made life easier, healthier, faster, and safer.

"I read the book slowly since I loved it so much," Gates wrote on his blog, "but I think most people will find it a quick and accessible read. He manages to share a ton of information in a way that's compelling, memorable, and easy to digest."



'Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words' by Randall Munroe

Munroe, the mastermind behind the xkcd web comic, published a book in 2015 that explained pieces of modern technology using only the 1,000 most common words in the English language.

Gates said that it's a "brilliant concept" because if "you can't explain something simply, you don't really understand it." One of Gates' favorite explanations is why microwaves ("radio boxes") cook frozen foods unevenly:

When you put iced food in a radio box, after a while, parts of it start to turn to water. But since radio boxes are really good at heating water, those parts start to get hot really fast. They can even get so hot they start turning to air—before all the ice is even gone!



'The Gene: An Intimate History' by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Genome science can hardly be considered a topic of mainstream interest, but Gates says Mukherjee manages to capture its relevance to people's daily lives. He seeks to answer big questions concerning our personalities and what makes us, us.

"Mukherjee wrote this book for a lay audience, because he knows that the new genome technologies are at the cusp of affecting us all in profound ways," Gates wrote.

Mukherjee is what Gates calls a "quadruple threat." He's a practicing physician, teacher, researcher, and author. 



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Rita Ora's recent fashion choices are baffling

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rita ora first time grammy nominee event jan 25

Rita Ora can pull off anything — even a bathrobe. But lately, the singer has worn some downright strange outfits while in Paris for Fashion Week and New York City for the Grammys.

From an all-orange ensemble straight out of the '70s to a cowboy-inspired look, keep scrolling to relive some of her most puzzling outfits.

On January 23, Ora wore a hooded minidress that resembled a sweatshirt with a fanny pack and matching sneakers to Chanel's Paris Couture Week runway show.

She completed her outfit with matching light pink lipstick and heaps of blush.



In New York City on January 23, Ora went out to dinner in what appeared to be a cowboy-inspired getup.

Ora paired her cowboy hat with a button-down yellow T-shirt, black jeans with leather details, a choker, and over-the-knee boots.



On January 25, Ora attended a Grammys event in an all-denim outfit with baffling layers.

She finished off her outfit by tucking her jeans into a pair of strappy white heels. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

I used one of the worst airports in the US — here's what it was like

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laguardia terminal b

  • LaGuardia has a reputation for being one of the worst airports in the US.
  • When I used the airport in December 2017, I noticed it was dirty, cramped, and poorly lit.
  • The airport is undergoing significant renovations over the next few years.


While innovators like Elon Musk want to reinvent American transportation with self-driving cars, supersonic jets, and flying Ubers, our current transportation infrastructure needs some work.

Airports, in particular, have struggled to keep up with an increasing demand for air travel. The American Society of Civil Engineers gave the American aviation industry a "D" grade in its 2017 Infrastructure Report Card

"Progress at the nation’s airports and in the air traffic control system is slow, as investment has been consistently lagging in the past 18 years, unable to keep up with demands of increased traffic and new technologies,"the report said.

New York's LaGuardia Airport has a reputation for being one of the worst airports in the US. A 2017 study of more than 34,000 travelers by J.D. Power found that respondents were less satisfied with their experiences at LaGuardia than at any other large or medium airport in North America. While renovations to the airport's terminals, parking system, and drop-off and pick-up areas are underway, the airport is cramped, poorly-lit, and dirty in its current state.

I used LaGuardia when I flew to Chicago in December 2017 and realized why its reputation is so horrible.

Here's what I saw.

SEE ALSO: The 100-year evolution of the airport Trump called 'third world'

Construction for the renovations began in 2016, and for the moment, it made the airport look like even more of an eyesore.



The pick-up and drop-off areas were narrow, and anyone who wanted to take an Uber or Lyft home from the airport had to take a shuttle to a designated pickup area.



The ticketing area wasn't a complete mess, but the lighting wasn't great and the ceilings were low.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

21 tough interview questions you may have to answer if you want to work at Amazon

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Jeff Bezos

  • Amazon goes to great lengths to ensure that they are hiring the right people.
  • We sifted through hundreds of Glassdoor reviews to find some of the company's toughest interview questions.
  • Questions about employee behavior and past performance were asked most frequently inside the interview rooms.


Amazon goes to great lengths to ensure that they are hiring the right people.

"I'd rather interview 50 people and not hire anyone than hire the wrong person,"CEO Jeff Bezos once said.

In fact, Bezos used to interview every single applicant to ensure that the right people were tasked with moving his company forward. 

So it should come as no surprise that aspiring Amazon employees have to answer several difficult interview questions to find out if they have what it takes to be hired with the top tech company.

Business Insider sifted through hundreds of Glassdoor interview reviews and found 21 of the toughest questions that Amazon has asked its candidates in the past year.

SEE ALSO: 25 tricky job-interview questions the best companies in America are asking

DON'T MISS: The 50 best places to work in 2018, according to employees

'Amazon is a peculiar company. What is peculiar about you?' — Area manager candidate



'Jeff Bezos walks into your office and says you can have a million dollars to launch your best entrepreneurial idea. What is it?' — Product development specialist candidate



'If you had 5,623 participants in a tournament, how many games would need to be played to determine the winner?' — Area manager candidate



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19 celebrity couples you didn't realize are together

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Leighton Meester Adam Brody Tony Awards 2014

With abundance of red carpet premieres, A-list award shows, and lavish parties, it's no wonder so many famous people end up together.

In fact, these star-studded events probably contribute to some of your favorite celebrities meeting, hitting it off, and becoming power couples in Hollywood. 

Aside from the familiar celebrity couples like Jay-Z and Beyonce, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, and Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, there are other couples that have kept their relationships under wraps and out of the public eye.

Amy Daire contributed to a previous version of this article.

"Game of Thrones" actor Jason Momoa has been married to Lisa Bonet since 2007 and they have two children together.

When Vulture asked him how he felt about working with his wife on the set of "The Red Road" his response was next-level cute:

I had to make sure I was on point because I knew she'd throw me under the bus if I didn't have any backup. But I'm always excited to have her around because I really respect her opinion. If anything, it amps me up. It's like showing off in front of your girl. You want your girl to be like, "Look at my man over there. Look at him go at it. Yeah he's all emotional and shit. He's so vulnerable. I love my man."



Lauren Graham and her "Parenthood" co-star Peter Krause have kept their relationship under the radar.

Graham says one thing that has made their love last is sharing a career.

"It's hard to explain to people when you have a fancy job like being an actor what is challenging about it," Graham told People in November. "So we just kind of have that shorthand, a shared language, which is helpful."



Teen drama stars Adam Brody and Leighton Meester tied the knot in 2014 and had a daughter together in 2015.

In August 2016, Brody took to Reddit to answer fan questions. When someone asked what his favorite thing about Leighton was he replied, "Too many to count. She's the BEST." 



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9 podcasts that will change how you think about human behavior

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woman headphones

Pretty much everyone is interested in learning what makes people tick.

Fortunately, there are no shortage of podcasts designed to cater to that interest — whether it's a short one-one-one chat about building good habits or an hour-long compilation of novel ideas.

Here are some of the best podcasts that help put life in perspective.

SEE ALSO: 15 books that will change the way you understand human behavior

TED Radio Hour

Each episode of TED Radio Hour, put on by NPR, unites several different TED talks around a common topic, even bringing in sounds from the actual TED stage.

The talks often approach the topic, which can be a question or idea, from varying perspectives. Recent topics include happiness, religion, giving, and mental well-being.

Though TED talks have received some criticism for watering down the science behind their research, the podcast provides an easy on-ramp for people looking to explore new ideas.



Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Gretchen Rubin has written extensively on happiness — both her own and others' — and distills many of the big concepts in her weekly podcast, which she co-hosts with her sister, Elizabeth Craft.

Many of the episodes center around cultivating happiness through the building of good habits (and the avoidance of bad ones).

For something that is so elusive for many people, the co-hosts present happiness as something well within reach.



Hidden Brain

In Hidden Brain, host Shankar Vedantam guides listeners through their own cognitive missteps, biases, and blind spots. 

He reveals the many hard-to-see ways our decision making and judgment are influenced by various forces, such as our built-in fear of losing money and our tendency to romanticize the past.

There's a lot we don't know about the human brain, but Vedantam shows listeners that even what we do know can be almost impossible to notice.



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11 crazy photos of micro-apartments around Hong Kong

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tiny apartment hong kong

Just over a year ago, Hong Kong politician and then-chief executive Leung Chun-ying made a dire announcement about his territory's lack of affordable housing, calling it "the gravest potential hazard" to society.

Roughly 7% of land in Hong Kong is zoned for housing, most of it going to wealthier families. (For perspective, 75% of New York City is zoned for housing.)

The shortage has led to young people, the elderly, and families sometimes living in squalid conditions where they pay hundreds of dollars per month for less than 100 square feet of living space.

Here's what the crisis looks like up close.

SEE ALSO: 27 crazy pictures of micro-apartments around the world

Hong Kong has announced plans to build more affordable homes over the next decade. By 2027, it plans to add 280,000 public homes and 180,000 private homes. Until then, parts of Hong Kong will remain claustrophobic as ever.



Until they can move up the ranks at their jobs, thousands of newly employed workers turn to ultra-tight spaces as their first homes.



But families also find their way to these micro-apartments. In a 60-square-foot apartment in Hong Kong, a mother spends $487 a month to house herself and her son. Families who are less fortunate must split up due to lack of space.



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5 simple ways to stay in shape while you're on vacation

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SnorkelingBali

I'm not going to pretend that maintaining health and fitness goals while on vacation is easy because it's not. It's your time off to relax, sip a margarita by the pool and not think about anything. I get it. But for me, there's always this little voice in my head saying, "Maybe walk more than 300 steps today." And I know I should listen to that nagging voice because traveling doesn't mean I should stop taking care of myself.

I know that a few days off of working out won't hurt, but if it's the longer vacations — say, two weeks or three months — that you might want to pay attention to your well being. I'm no nutritionist or fitness instructor, but I am a frequent traveler and I was a D1 athlete back in the day. I'm simply using what I've learned on the road to share a few tips to take with you on your next holiday.

Pack what you'll need.

Maintaining your health and fitness on the road starts with what you pack. Don't forget your sneakers and bring clothes that you can sweat in. If you have a jump rope or TRX trainers at home, roll them up and stuff them in your bag. I carry a resistance band with me because I can easily loop it around the outside of my bag.

When you pack things that you might need for a workout, you're already putting it in your mind that you're going to try to exercise. Throw in a few snacks like almonds or protein bars while you're at it. That way you have all the necessities you need to crush a workout on the road.



Get up early.

I know it's not an appealing thought to wake up early on vacation, but it's a great way to get yourself out of bed and moving. If you wake up early enough, it gives you time to have the rest of the day dedicated to adventures or reading a book by the pool. Plus, you won't have to make time later in the day to get a little exercise in (and you won't have to skip happy hour either).

If you're not a morning person, take seven minutes out of the day to do a quick workout. I usually do this when I'm feeling lazy and don't want to commit to a 30-minute run. It's pretty simple and definitely breaks a sweat.



Get creative with your activities.

The thought of going to a gym while on holiday is suffocating. So when you're on the road, get creative with your workouts. Running paths usually have a fitness area with a few bars for pull-ups and an ab station. Parks are great because you can find a patch of grass for an interval cardio workout or use a bench for impromptu leg exercises.

The best thing I've seen while traveling was from travel blogger, Jackson Groves. He incorporated coconuts into his workout while visiting Bali, so I asked him if he had any more advice for a beach workout.

 

“If you're on an island in the Philippines with no gym, your workout might be a body-weight circuit at the beach. I often use a rock or a piece of driftwood to do shoulder presses, lateral raises or squats,” Groves explained to INSIDER. “Coconuts are heavier than you think when full of juice and are a great addition to your core workouts. They're also an awesome thirst quencher for after the session.”


If you want to get really creative, challenge yourself to do an adrenaline pumping activity. A person weighing 150 pounds can burn up to 122 calories per bungee jump. Who knew?



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MORGAN STANLEY: Here are the 10 healthcare companies most likely to get bought this year

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Brent Saunders Allergan

It's shaping up to be a big year for healthcare M&A. 

In the month of January alone, there was a total of $27.5 billion worth of deals, including a $9 billion deal for a cancer drugmaker and a bidding war for a Belgian biotech

US tax reform has freed up a lot of cash companies had overseas— cash that might be spent on more acquisitions to boost their businesses. 

While it's easy to determine who might be in the mood to do some acquiring, spotting the targets can be a bit more difficult. 

To help out, Morgan Stanley compiled a list of large and liquid companies it thinks will get at least one tender offer over the next 12 months. While the Morgan Stanley note contained 21 companies, we stuck to just the top 10 by market cap and trading volume. 

SEE ALSO: The biopharma companies that could be getting ready to spend big following tax reform

Mylan

Ticker: MYL

Company summary: Mylan, known for its generic drug business and as the maker of the EpiPen, got a boost in October 2017 when the FDA approved its generic version of the multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone. 

Market cap: $22.7 billion



Iqvia Holdings

Ticker: IQV

Company summary: Iqvia, formerly known as Quintiles IMS Holdings, does both clinical trials for pharmaceutical companies and analyzes industry data. It's one of the largest contract research organizations, companies that have been going through a lot of M&A.

Market cap: $23.1 billion



Edwards Lifesciences

Ticker: EW

Company summary: Edwards Lifesciences is a medical device company that makes heart valves and other devices used in surgical procedures. 

Market cap: $23.8 billion



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Hitler's abandoned Olympic Village is now a decaying concrete wasteland — take a look

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1936 berlin olympic village

The 1936 Berlin Olympics are shrouded in myth and tragedy.

Just as Hitler was rising to power, the International Olympic Committee in 1931 granted the German capital the right to host. Banners bearing the swastika hung beside the Olympic flag.

Today, the Olympic Village located in Elstal, Wustermark, on the edge of Berlin, sits in ruins.

In 2008, photographer Sylvain Margaine visited the decaying concrete wasteland for his website and book, "Forbidden Places: Exploring our abandoned heritage." Take a look inside.

SEE ALSO: What it's like in Pyeongchang, South Korea — the host city of the 2018 Olympics

In 1931, Berlin won the right to host the 1936 Summer Games. The city threw all available resources behind an extravagant village, with 145 buildings and a 120,000-seat stadium.



As construction of the Olympic Village ramped up, so did the Nazis' reign. The newly passed Nuremberg Laws marginalized the Jewish people and stripped them of most political rights.

Source: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum



Here we see Hitler, center, entering the Olympic Village for an inspection before the games began. The gateway inscription said, "To the Youth of the World."



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5 ways to get rid of body acne that actually work

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Kristen Bell

Facial acne may be hard to ignore, but why is everyone so ashamed to admit they have body acne, too? 

We talk so much about solutions for facial acne thanks to experts or kitchen treatments, but it seems as though we're at a loss for admitting that we suffer from "bacne."

The first step is acknowledging that we're all human and that we've probably all popped a back zit or random arm pimple at some point or another. The second step is seeking a solution and luckily, these five ingredients are all proven methods of fighting body acne.

Charcoal

Charcoal is a powerful, natural exfoliant that's known to detoxify and purify the skin. It scrubs away at the excess oils, clogged pores, leftover product, and congestion of the day, all of which are the main causes of body acne.

Bonus: According to Women's Health, charcoal is “inert, meaning that it won't cause allergic reactions or irritate sensitive skin.”

There are tons of charcoal products out there, and not only do many of them look aesthetically pleasing, they're also budget-friendly. Bioré's Pore Penetrating Charcoal Bar, which boasts that it provides the skin with 2.5 times cleaner pores, is available at drugstores or Ulta for only $7.49. Herbivore Botanicals' well-reviewed Bamboo Charcoal Detoxifying Soap Bar is available at Sephora for $12.



African black soap

African black soap is a long-time acne-fighting, all-natural product that originated in Ghana. It's safe for all skin types, rich in antioxidants, and can be used on the face, body, or hair.

African black soap gently exfoliates at areas of the body prone to stubborn acne, helping to moisturize them healthily while getting rid of the bad things like sweat and oil.

Nubian Heritage's African black soap bar is $4 and has been known to also combat discoloration and eczema. SheaMoisture's African black soap with shea butter is free of synthetic fragrances and colors and can also be used for calming the skin after shaving.



Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil tends to be anyone with oily skin's best friend. According to WebMD, tea tree oil kills bacteria, fungus, and allergens, all of which can cause a widespread outbreak of acne. It can be a bit drying or harsh for already dry, flaky skin, so if you tend to be on the dryer side, it's best to use tea tree oil in moderation.

There are many different tea tree-based products on the market, but The Body Shop's Tea Tree Skin Clearing Body Wash has earned rave reviews, and it's affordable at only $10.50. Other well-reviewed options include Jason Natural's body wash, $9.45, and Dr. Bronner's liquid soap, $6.09.



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