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7 unforgettable leadership lessons from the ancient Roman conqueror Julius Caesar

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Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar was assassinated on the Ides of March over 2,000 years ago.

• Caesar held a number of roles over the course of his career, serving as a high priest, general, and dictator.

• His actions and assassination contributed to the downfall of the faltering Roman Republic.


 

Julius Caesar had a pretty bad day at work on March 15, 44 BCE. The dictator of Rome was lured to a meeting and stabbed to death by his coworkers.

He would've done well to beware the Ides of March.

Several years earlier, the politician and general had rose to power in a civil war. His assassination sparked yet another civil war that doomed the Roman Republic. The state ended up mutating into an empire, with Caesar's adopted heir Octavian at the helm.

Today, Caesar is still considered one of the greatest military commanders in history. His name is also synonymous with cults of personality and political strongmen.

So how exactly did the one-time high priest of Jupiter accrue so much power during his lifetime?

Business Insider looked through some of his own writings — as well as the less-reliable but still interesting works of contemporary ancient writers — to get a sense of his leadership style.

SEE ALSO: 9 timeless lessons from the great Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius

DON'T MISS: I read the 87-year-old book recommended by Elon Musk, and my favorite chapter reveals the dark side of innovation and adventure

1. Presentation matters

The best leaders don't just do amazing things — they know how to present a compelling story.

After a relatively brief war with a certain Pharnacles II of Pontus, Caesar had to sit down and write out a report to Rome detailing his conquest. According to both Greek biographer Plutarch and Roman historian Suetonius, the commander didn't go into too much detail, writing simply: "I came, I saw, I conquered."

The phrase proved so catchy that we still remember it, centuries later.

Caesar could have gone on and on about his military prowess (in fact, he was the author of several long military accounts). Instead, he realized that the simple note would convey the most powerful message.



2. Take risks

In ancient Rome, crossing the Rubicon River with an army was kind of a big deal. It was tantamount to a declaration of war and could be punishable by death.

When Caesar crossed the Rubicon with his legion, he put everything on the line. In "The Life of the Deified Julius," Suetonius writes that Caesar quoted an Athenian playwright as he crossed the river, declaring "the die is cast."

He risked it all and it paid off (in the short-term, at least).



3. There's nothing wrong with starting small

Oftentimes, you've got to start out as a large fish in a small pond in order to succeed as a leader.

Caesar understood this. He managed to climb back into a position of power, even after losing his inheritance in a coup as a young man.

According to the ancient Plutarch's "Parallel Lives," the general also made a rather curious remark while passing through a small village in the Alps: "I assure you I had rather be the first man here than the second man in Rome."



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15 of the best science podcasts that will make you smarter

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woman headphones

Podcasts are more popular every year, which means there's a wealth of audio storytelling to listen to — and many options to choose from.

We're here to help.

Whether you need something to listen to on your commute or just want a brain-boost while you pick up around the house, you can always trust a science podcast to teach you something new.

Some of our favorites tell fantastic stories, others examine the science behind controversial topics, and a few delve deep into the mysteries of how we exist in and understand the world. Many of these podcasts stretch beyond science, talking about tech or culture, but all examine scientific topics, including psychology, artificial intelligence, pharmacology, and more.

These are our 12 favorite science podcasts.

SEE ALSO: The 23 best science movies and shows streaming on Netflix that will make you smarter

"Hidden Brain"

The NPR show "Hidden Brain" takes deep dives into one of the most complex objects we know of in the universe: the human mind. Covering everything from psychology to neuroscience, host Shankar Vedantam investigates why people act, feel, and think the way we do.

Vedantam looks at how parents do (and don't) shape their kids minds, the ways humans cope with the unexpected, and why our attention can be sucked into the internet for hours at a time.



"The Story Collider"

In this personal storytelling show, individuals recite their own tales — similar to "The Moth"— but they're all focused on science and more specifically, the ways that science touches people's lives. It's a science-themed show about people.

In some cases, scientists tell stories about things that have blown their minds or gone horribly wrong. In others, you might get a heartwarming (or heartbreaking) tale informed by science. And some stories are just funny. 



"StarTalk Radio"

While some podcasts focus on humans or life on Earth, "StarTalk" takes a much larger-scale approach. Hosted by science-popularizing astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, the show takes on the cosmos.

Tyson discusses what it would be like to live on Mars, the search for extra-terrestrial life, and occasionally dabbles in other scientific topics like technology in football or the new science of LSD. 



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13 audiobooks narrated by celebrities that you’ll love listening to

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Scarlet Johansson

Experts have been touting the benefits of reading for years.

In fact, in 2016, researchers from Yale University School of Public Health found a link between reading more books and a longer life.

But what about those of us who don't have the time to curl up with a good book? Do audiobooks provide similar benefits? According to University of Virginia psychologist Daniel Willingham, to your brain listening to an audiobook is almost exactly like reading print.

With audiobooks, you are able to multitask while listening to a bestseller — clean the house, fold laundry, exercise, drive to work, or even go on a road trip. Many publishers have realized how important audiobooks are to today's readers and have recruited celebrities to narrate both new releases and some old favorites.

Here are 13 of the best audiobooks out there narrated by celebrities.

'Call Me By Your Name' by André Aciman, read by Armie Hammer

If you loved the Oscar nominated film "Call Me By Your Name" based on André Aciman's 2007 novel, you should absolutely dedicate a few hours of your life to the audiobook. The love story between 17-year-old Elio and grad student Oliver comes to life when read aloud by Armie Hammer, who stars as Oliver in the film.

His deep voice and careful diction will transport you to Italy in 1987, even if you are just sitting in traffic on the way to work. After listening to "Call Me By Your Name" you're going to wish that Armie Hammer narrated all of your audiobooks.



'The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao' by Junot Diaz, read by Lin-Manuel Miranda

Oscar de León is an overweight Dominican teen, living in New Jersey. He is obsessed with comic books, science fiction, and writing. This story by Junot Diaz spans Oscar's teen and young adult years plagued with insecurity, missing the Dominican Republic, and his fear of the fukú curse that has haunted his family.

The newest audio version of "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" is read by none other than Lin-Manuel Miranda, the composer who's best known for his hit Broadway musical "Hamilton."



'Lincoln in the Bardo' by George Saunders, read by 166 actors

"Lincoln in the Bardo" largely takes place in a cemetery after the death of Abraham Lincoln's son William "Willie" Wallace Lincoln. Willie has died and is in the bardo – the intermediate place between death and reincarnation – with hundreds of other souls who witness Lincoln cradling his dead son's body.

This unique novel is best experienced in audio form starring Nick Offerman, David Sedaris, Julianne Moore, Ben Stiller, Susan Sarandon, Megan Mullally, Bill Hader, Don Cheadle, and over 150 more voice actors.



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Millennials have been accused of killing everything from napkins to beer — but here are the industries that started dying when baby boomers were their age

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Diner

  • Millennials have been accused of killing dozens of industries including fast-casual restaurants, napkins, golf, and beer. 
  • Baby boomers— the name given to the generation born after World War II — are credited with ushering in lots of political and social change.
  • And with those changes, some industries faded out and eventually died. 
  • We've rounded up a list of industries that fell out of popularity when baby boomers were the age that millennials are now.

It's no secret that millennials have brought about significant change in recent years, but what about their predecessors?

We decided to give millennials a break and investigate the baby boomer generation. Baby boomers are defined by the US Census Bureau as those born in the years following World War II, from 1946 to 1964. 

For the purpose of this exercise, we looked at the period during which the boomers entered the workforce, between 1970 and 1990. 

"The boomers are rightly remembered for ushering in a lot of political and social change," Paul Taylor, a former executive vice president of Pew Research Center and author of "The Next America," told Business Insider.

But, the number of industries that died out during that period is "not the same level of magnitude," as today, he said. 

"Ultimately it is not really generations — it's technology that is the source of these changes," Taylor added. 

Even so, as baby boomers grew older, Americans started eating more fast food, using computers instead of typewriters, and shopping at big-box stores such as Walmart.

As a result, some major industries and products were phased out:

SEE ALSO: Millennials are waiting longer to get married, and it could wreak havoc on stores like Williams Sonoma and Bed Bath and Beyond

SEE ALSO: 'Psychologically scarred' millennials are killing countless industries from napkins to Applebee's — here are the businesses they like the least

Five-and-dime stores

Before Walmart existed, five-and-dime stores selling inexpensive household and personal products were the place to shop. 

The original five-cents discount store was opened by Frank Woolworth in Upstate New York in 1879. This grew into the Woolworth store empire, which boomed in the wake of the Great Depression.

Eventually, these died out after big-box stores such as Walmart and Target took over in the 1970s. In 1999, Woolworth closed its final 400 stores. 



Typewriters

Typewriters became common in offices in the 1980s and were critical to opening the doors to women in the workplace. The early machines paved the way for electronic versions, which were ultimately replaced by computers. 

The first widely used personal computer was launched by IBM in 1981 and cost $1,565. The PC was named "Machine of the Year" by Time magazine in 1982. 

One of the grandfathers of the typewriter movement, Smith Corona Corporation, filed for bankruptcy in 1995.



Cassette tapes

Cassette tapes took off in 1979, the year that the Sony Walkman was invented. These portable devices enabled consumers to listen to music on the go.

In the early '90s, they started to fade out as CDs became popular. In 1991, sales of CDs overtook cassettes – total global shipments of CDs surpassed one billion in 1992 and two billion in 1996, according to Statista

Sales of portable tape players have steadily declined since then – from 18 million in 1994 to 480,000 in 2007, according to the Consumer Electronics Association.



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We drove a $180,000 Porsche Panamera and now we're convinced it's the finest sports sedan in the world

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Porsche Panamera 4

  • The 2018 Porsche Panamera is Business Insider's 2017 Car of the Year.
  • The Panamera has always been amazing to drive, but people hated the looks.
  • Porsche restyled the second-generation Panamera, fixing the one thing that prevented the original from reaching greatness. 
  • The base Panamera starts at $85,000 while our loaded Turbo test car cost $180,000.


From the beginning, the Porsche Panamera has been one of the best sports sedans on the market. But the Panamera's odd styling kept it out of the car geek hall of fame.

What I'm referring to is the weird rear hatch that's too tall to be a fastback or a coupe, but too low-slung to be a wagon. 

The Panamera's ungainly looks can be attributed to the need for all Porsches to look, well, like a Porsche. In plain terms, all cars bearing the company's brand need to be instantly recognizable. That means they've all got to look like a 911. It's both a blessing and a curse.

Instant brand recognition is worth its weight in gold for a car company. However, for Porsche, that need for conformity has resulted in some truly odd looking cars. Another example would be the original Cayenne SUV, which the former hosts of "Top Gear" described as a Porsche that backed into a shed and got stuck.

Looks aside, the first generation Panamera was generally regarded as one of the finest performance sedans money can buy. The last first-gen Panamera GTS Business Insider tested blew us away with its luxurious cabin, pin-point-precise handling, and gutsy V8 engine.

In November 2016, Business Insider became the first journalists to drive the second generation Panamera in North America, after getting behind the wheel of a Panamera Turbo in New York.

Last Fall, Porsche dropped off another Panamera Turbo for us to take an extended look at its new high-performance luxury sedan. Here's what it's like to drive. 

The new Porsche Panamera Turbo starts at $150,000 while our option-laden test car came out to about $180,000. The base Panamera starts at a more affordable $85,000. 

SEE ALSO: The 10 most beautiful cars of 2017

FOLLOW US: on Facebook for more car and transportation content!

Here it is! The new Porsche Panamera! Even though it's built on VW Group's new Porsche-developed MSB platform, you won't mistake for anything other than a Panamera.



See the resemblance!



And have they changed that controversial rear end?



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20 moving photos reveal the secret lives of women growing up in Gaza — one of the most contested pieces of land in the world

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  • Photojournalist Monique Jaques first visited the Gaza Strip in 2012 to document Operation Pillar of Defense — one of many conflagrations between Israel and the military wing of Hamas.
  •  While there, Jaques was struck by the story the media wasn't telling — that of the everyday lives of Palestinians living in Gaza.
  • Jaques befriended many Palestinian women in Gaza and documented their lives over the next five years to show an untold perspective on the conflict.
  • Her photos have been collected in a book, called Gaza Girls, released earlier this year.

Photojournalist Monique Jaques first visited the Gaza Strip to document Operation Pillar of Defense in 2012, one of the many conflagrations between Israel and Hamas, which controls Gaza. 

While there, she was struck by the dissonance between what she saw on the ground in the blockaded territory versus what was shown and reported in the media. 

"Every image I saw was extremely violent and only had men in them. You never saw a woman and, if you did, she would most likely be covered head to toe," Jaques told Business Insider. "That image wasn’t matching up with the image I saw and the people I met."

That dissonance, and a budding friendship with her Palestinian translator, convinced her that there was a deep, untold story in the contested area. She knew that she had to tell the story of daily life of Palestinians, and women in particular, after the fighting stopped. 

Over the course of five years, Jaques returned again and again to speak with Palestinian women in Gaza and document their lives. Her commitment to telling their story allowed her to capture "stolen moments" and show a side of life in the territory rarely seen. 

The work has now been collected in a book, called Gaza Girls, which was published earlier this year.

Jaques first began documenting the women of Gaza after befriending her translator during her assignment covering Operation Pillar of Defense. The woman, a Palestinian, told her that she wanted to introduce Jaques to "a world no one is talking about."



Though photographing women was difficult due to Gaza's conservative culture, Jaques said that she was aided by a network of Palestinian women who understood the importance of telling the human-side of Gaza. Those women helped Jaques build relationships that lasted years.



Jaques said it helped that she wasn't on assignment. She was able to spend as much time as she needed to build relationships and gain trust. Jaques ended up spending five years visiting Gaza, returning for weeks at a time every few months.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Best Buy isn't the only store that punishes shoppers for too many returns — these are all the companies that are tracking everything you return (BBY, HD, LB)

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Sephora

  • Best Buy, Home Depot, Victoria's Secret, and other stores are tracking shoppers' returns dating back several years and, in some cases, punishing people who are suspected of abusing their return policies.
  • Many shoppers are unaware their returns are being tracked.
  • Home Depot engages in the practice to combat return fraud, which "is believed to be feeding the opioid epidemic," a Home Depot spokesman told Business Insider.
  • Sephora says only customers with "excessive returns" are targeted.


At least a dozen major retailers are discreetly tracking shoppers' returns and punishing people who are suspected of abusing their return policies. 

Best BuyHome Depot, and Victoria's Secret are among the many retailers engaging in this practice.

Most of these companies have hired a third-party firm, called The Retail Equation, to mine their sales data and keep a database of customers' returns to flag potentially problematic shoppers. Customers who are flagged are often barred from making future returns. 

Retailers say they use the service to combat return fraud. Some critics say its raises privacy concerns, however, and dozens of shoppers have complained online about being unfairly punished by the system.

Business Insider compiled a list of all the companies that use The Retail Equation, based on information from the companies as well as recent customer complaints on social media. 

Here's the full list: 

SEE ALSO: Toys R Us gift cards will expire in 30 days

Home Depot

Home Depot spokesman Stephen Holmes said the company uses The Retail Equation to combat return fraud, which he said is "believed to be feeding the opioid epidemic."

"And returns fraud is also often the work of organized retail crime rings, thus funding serious crimes," he added. "These efforts not only protect the retailer’s bottom line, but they also help protect the communities where we do business. "

Unlike many other retailers, Home Depot only tracks returns that are not accompanied by a receipt, he said.

"The good news is that it’s pretty easy to avoid a non-receipted return these days because we can look up any card transaction or customers can opt to receive an email receipt rather than try to keep up with paper," he said.



CVS Pharmacy

CVS said it partnered with The Retail Equation (or TRE) last year.

"TRE's return management services are utilized by several major retailers representing more than 34,000 retail locations in the US," CVS said. "Since implementing TRE’s solution last year, approximately .003% (or one-third of 1%) of returns have been declined at our stores."

A customer whose return has been declined can dispute the decision through TRE, which will then initiate a review process with CVS, the company added.



Sephora

Sephora said it uses The Retail Equation, but only cracks down on customers with "excessive returns."

"We make every effort to accommodate returns, but a small fraction of customers take advantage of our policy, in many cases returning more than twice as much merchandise as they purchase," the company said. "This limits product selection and unfairly impacts other clients. When we identify excessive return patterns, we notify those customers that we may limit future returns or exchanges if no proof of purchase is provided."



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The best foam mattresses 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.

best foam mattress 4x3

The Insider Pick:

  • With the variety of high-quality foam mattresses available online, you no longer have to visit a local showroom, lounge on a mattress for half an hour, and hope that it’ll remain comfortable for the next decade or so. The Ultimate Dreams 12-inch Supreme Gel Memory Foam Mattress is our top pick because it has a firmness that suits most sleepers and you can try it out in your home risk-free for 120 nights.

When the economy is doing well and we have a little padding in our bank accounts, our thoughts turn to replacing old worn-out mattresses. In recent years, dozens of new companies have sprung up with the goal of delivering comfortable foam mattresses to your door. When ordering from the right company, this can be a pleasant experience.

However, you need to know what to look for and determine whether foam mattresses are right for you. Before making our recommendations for the best foam mattresses you can order online, we will explore what to look for as you shop.

What to Look for in a Foam Mattress

There is no single mattress that will work well for all types of sleepers. Fortunately, most mattress brands offer a risk-free return policy. The best companies let you try out the foam mattresses for around 100 nights, and if you are not satisfied, you get a full refund. Therefore, we strongly recommend selecting a mattress that comes with a trial period.

The mattresses we researched have between two and five foam layers. There is typically a thick bottom support layer meant for long-term stability and thinner upper layer(s) designed for support, comfort, and airflow for a cooler sleep.

The density of each layer is generally listed in pounds, but it’s really a measurement of how heavy a cubic foot of the material is (abbreviated PCF.) Basically, the denser a foam is, the more durable, high-quality, supportive, and expensive it will be. The Sleep Judge provides a more thorough explanation of how to assess quality based on foam density.

A queen-sized foam mattress typically weighs about 70 pounds when it arrives. Unless you regularly spend time hitting the weights, this is a bit much for an individual to carry on their own. We recommend getting help to carry the box, remove the mattress, and set it up.

You should also keep in mind that you will not be able to use your mattress right away. Most companies recommend that you allow 72 hours for your new arrival to expand to its natural size and to release any odors, or “off-gas.”

We combed through countless buyer and expert reviews and ratings for dozens of different mattress brands while preparing this guide. The five mattresses we chose to showcase in the following slides have a strong track record for durability, comfort, support, and customer service.

Read on in the slides below to learn why the Ultimate Dreams 12-inch Supreme Gel Memory Foam Mattress is our pick and why you might prefer the Tuft & Needle Mattress, the Zinus Memory Foam Green Tea Mattress, the Nest Bedding Alexander Signature Series Mattress, and the Leesa Mattress.

SEE ALSO: The best mattress you can buy

The best foam mattress overall

Why you'll love it: The Ultimate Dreams 12-inch Supreme Gel Memory Foam Mattress offers a medium firmness and competes with the luxury brands when it comes to comfort and support.

Dreamfoam Bedding is not a household name because the company doesn't spend a ton marketing the brand. With the lower overhead, Dearfoam Bedding can produce top-quality mattresses like this Ultimate Dreams mattress at an affordable price. This mattress tops our list because of its long trial period, iron-clad warranty, and a “Goldilocks” firmness level.

The 12 inches of the Ultimate Dreams Supreme Gel Memory Foam Mattress are made up of three layers: 8-inches of premium base foam, 2.5-inches of 4-pound memory foam, and a 1.5-inch top layer of 4-pound gel memory foam. You can count on a memory foam with 4-pound density to be durable and supportive. Dreamfoam Bedding positions this mattress as a more cost-effective alternative to Tempurpedic’s Cloud Supreme.

Per Dreamfoam Bedding’s website, there is a 120-night trial, which requires you to try out your mattress for at least 30 days. Plus, the 10-year warranty covers sagging, extreme body indentation, and tears from normal use. The Supreme Memory Foam Mattress comes in eight different sizes ranging from twin to California king.

Expert reviewers at Sleepopolis, The Sleep Advisor, and Oh! Mattress all recommend the Ultimate Dreams Supreme Memory Foam Mattress due to its impressive value and middle of the spectrum firmness. Oh! Mattress did note that after several months of use, there was a loss of support and firmness.

Around 74% of the people who reviewed the Ultimate Dreams mattress on Amazon gave it five stars. Buyers liked that it is made in the United States and maintains an even firmness when rotated regularly. One commenter noted that the room temperature greatly affects the firmness.

The most helpful review is from Jack Kennedy, who compares this mattress to the expensive Tempurpedic mattresses he tried at local mattress stores. He found this mattress to be just as good if not better at a quarter of the price. He has updated his review over the past few years and continues to be happy with his purchase.

Pros: Medium firmness, excellent 120-night return policy, 10-year warranty, made in the US

Cons: May lose firmness and support if not rotated regularly

Buy the Ultimate Dreams 12-inch Supreme Gel Memory Foam Mattress on Amazon for $449 (twin), $459 (twin XL), $539 (full), $549 (queen), $699 (king/CA king)



The best foam mattress for firm support

Why you'll love it: If you like your mattress to offer comfortable yet firm support, the Tuft & Needle Mattress should help you sleep soundly.

The Tuft & Needle Mattress is 10-inches thick and consists of two layers: a 3-inch 2.8-pound density top comfort foam layer infused with gel and graphite to keep you cool and a 7-inch 1.8-pound poly-foam layer for support. The foam is covered with a fire sock that meets federal regulation for flame retardants. And, the cover complements the mattress’s heat wicking and breathability properties using a blend of polyester and nylon.

This mattress comes in six sizes ranging from twin to California king, and there is a mattress and pillow bundle option. As with most foam mattresses, the company recommends that you allow three days for this product to expand and release any odors before using it. Tuft & Needle offers a 100-night trial along with a 10-year warranty, which allows you to minimize risk with your purchase.

The Mattress Nerd recommends the Tuft & Needle Mattress because it provides proper alignment for both stomach and back sleepers. However, the reviewers found it was too firm, which may bother side sleepers with wide hips or broad shoulders. Mattress Clarity gave this mattress a score of 4.4 out of 5. Sleepopolis also had positive comments about this mattress.

More than 10,700 buyers have left five-star reviews of the Tuft & Needle Mattress on Amazon. T. King has the most helpful review and provided extensive details about how quickly the mattress compressed and was too soft on his body yet too firm on his shoulders. Yet, Tuft & Needle responded quickly and replaced the product, which has since maintained its firmness.

Other buyers mention that this model beats the other competitors they’ve tried because of the firm support and the top comfort layer. People do note that there is some off-gassing.

Pros: Provides firm support, terrific customer support, 100-night trial, 10-year warranty

Cons: May be too firm for some

Buy the Tuft & Needle Mattress on Amazon for $375 (twin XL), $575 (queen), $700 (king), $665.92 (CA king)



The best foam mattress on a budget

Why you'll love it: The Zinus Memory Foam Green Tea Mattress is a cost-effective and firm mattress for short-term use or sporadically-used beds.

The Zinus Memory Foam Green Tea Mattress has four thickness options: 6 inches, 8 inches, 10 inches, and 12 inches. For the purposes of this review, we’re going to focus on the 12-inch option, but if you like firmer mattresses, consider one of the thinner alternatives. The mattress has four layers: 3.5-inch airflow high-density base support foam, 3.5-inch airflow high-density foam, 2-inch comfort foam, and 3-inch memory foam.

The mattress is covered with a soft-knitted jacquard fabric, which is breathable and provides a stylish look. There are eight different sizes ranging from narrow twin to California King. We could not find any sort of trial offer beyond Amazon’s standard 30-day return policy, but there is a 10-year limited warranty.

The Wirecutter lists the Zinus Memory Foam 12 Inch Green Tea Mattress as its top budget pick, but the reviewer mentioned that the top layer is quite squishy, the core is stiff, and that it tends to run warm. The reviewers recommend it for guest rooms. The Sleep Sherpa rated this mattress 9.5 out of 10. And, The Sleep Advisor found this mattress worked best for people who are not hot sleepers.

More than 12,900 people have left four- or five-star reviews of the Zinus Memory Foam Mattress on Amazon. The most helpful review is by Jen P. She initially posted a glowing review of the mattress because of its comfort and the motion isolation. However, she updated her review more than a year later to say the mattress did not age well and no longer provided proper support.

There are other reviewers who had the same experience. The positive reviews mention that there is little odor associated with this mattress and that it pairs best with a good gel memory foam mattress topper.

Pros: Inexpensive, 10-year limited warranty, good for guest rooms

Cons: Tends to trap heat, questionable durability, no trial period

Buy the Zinus Memory Foam Green Tea Mattress on Amazon for $200 (full), $234 (queen), $319 (king), $329 (CA king)



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A Harvard researcher invented these $139,000 stackable homes that can be built in under three weeks

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kasita stack

Jeff Wilson spent one of his two years as dean of Huston-Tillotson University in Texas living in a dumpster.

The experience made him embrace minimalist living, and inspired him to launch a tiny home startup, called Kasita, in 2015.

"While the experiment was extreme, the experience I gained by living small and simple made a big impression," said Wilson, who is a former postdoctoral researcher at Harvard and IBM project manager. "At the end of the year, I left the dumpster with the concept for a new category of housing — a beautiful, small footprint home designed as a solution for the growing housing crisis."

Based in Austin, Texas, Kasita offers housing units that can sit by themselves or stack to form apartments. The pre-fabricated homes can be assembled off-site and delivered in two to three weeks, Wilson says.

In 2017, the startup started selling its first tiny homes, which measure 352 square feet and cost $139,000. A newer iteration of the home — which features additional storage — was shown at this year's SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. The latest Kasita homes are now on sale for the same price.

Check out the newest units below.

SEE ALSO: New York's tallest rental skyscraper will have a rock-climbing wall, library, and basketball court

Kasita sells tiny housing units. The startup gets its name from "casita," the Spanish word for "little house."



At 352 square feet, white walls help the units look larger than they are.

(For comparison, the average one-car garage measures about 260 square feet.)



The main, open-layout space functions as both a living room and bedroom.



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NASA astronaut Scott Kelly shared what it was REALLY like live in space for a year

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NASA astronaut Scott Kelly

  • AstronautScott Kelly spent a year aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to study the effects of space travel on the human body.
  • His identical twin brother and former NASA astronaut, Mark Kelly, remained on Earth.
  • NASA's Twins Study confirmed preliminary findings that 7% of astronaut Scott Kelly's DNA no longer matches his identical twin brother's after landing two years ago.
  • During a Reddit AMA while he was still aboard the International Space Station, Kelly shared some of the more nuanced details about what it's like to live in space for a year.

 

What's it like to not walk on solid ground for a year?

That's one of the questions NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and companion Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko set out to answer during their year-long mission on board the International Space Station (ISS).

In 2016, the men succeeded in their mission to discover how a long-term, low-gravity environment affects the human body, becoming the first humans to ever spend a year in zero gravity. Their mission was twice as long as typical US missions, and their journey of more than 143 million miles is considered critical in preparing astronauts for future expeditions to Mars. Kelly's identical twin brother and former NASA astronaut, Mark Kelly, remained as a control subject on Earth.

When Kelly initially returned from space two years ago, he was 1.5 inches taller, slower and less accurate, and his genetic code had changed significantly. While most of that returned to normal, preliminary findings from NASA now show that that 7% of his DNA has not returned to normal after landing and no longer matches his identical twin brother's.

During a Reddit AMA while he was still aboard the International Space Station, Kelly shared his observations about life in space. Here are some of the most interesting things the astronaut revealed:

SEE ALSO: A day in the life of a United Airlines flight attendant, who woke up before 3 a.m. and ran circles around me for 9 hours

DON'T MISS: Here's what it's REALLY like to be a Delta Air Lines flight attendant, one of the most competitive jobs out there

Space isn't as scary as you might think

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"I don't feel alone or afraid. I was up here for six weeks as the only American on the US side of the space station and I was fine. I have been afraid when the ground has called and privatized the audio generally meaning something bad has happened. So I have been a little afraid."

This is a response to the question, Do you ever feel alone/afraid? If so, how do you combat those feelings?



The Bahamas are just as beautiful from space

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"My favorite spot on Earth to see from space is probably the Bahamas. The brilliant and varied colors of the blue water and contrast from here is pretty spectacular."

This is a response to the question, What is your favorite part of Earth to see from space?



Kelly's first meal upon returning to earth wouldn't be fast food

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"The first thing I will eat will probably be a piece of fruit (or a cucumber) the Russian nurse hands me as soon as I am pulled out of the space capsule and begin initial health checks."

This is a response to the question, What will be the first thing you eat once you're back on Earth?



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

10 celebrities who have reportedly left Scientology

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Celebrity Scientologist

To say that Scientology is a source of controversy in Hollywood would be an understatement. Though it labels itself a religion, many havecalled it a cult, claiming that it holds members hostage and separates members from their non-Scientologist family members.

Celebrities like Jada Pinkett-Smith and Elisabeth Moss have been vocal about their involvement in Scientology on both sides of the fence, but others have told their stories about leaving the self-proclaimed church.

Leah Remini

Leah Remini has been outspoken in leading the charge in the fight against Scientology, which she says her mother brought her into when she was only 9 years old. The actress left Scientology, which she calls "a cult," in 2013.

Her TV show "Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath" has earned acclaim for exposing the harsh realities of families trapped in Scientology. Remini's goal is for the FBI to investigate Scientology's practices as well as to strip the "church" of its religious tax-exempt status.



Demi Moore

Actress Demi Mooreallegedly practiced Scientology until marrying her now ex-husband Bruce Willis. It's reported that Willis asked Moore to quit practicing once they had children due to his own religious beliefs.

Willis also allegedly told Moore that he didn't want her raising their three daughters in the Kabbalah faith, which was particularly popular with celebrities in the early 2000s.



Candice Bergen

Hollywood legend Candice Bergen also allegedly dabbled in Scientology, but not within recent years. According to Obsev.com, the actress was interested in Scientology in the 1960s but left before it rose to prominence.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

6 details you may have missed on the latest 'Riverdale' episode

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Warning: Spoilers ahead for season two, episode 15 of "Riverdale," titled "There Will Be Blood."

Wednesday's episode of The CW's "Riverdale" introduced some new characters to the town. 

The CW drama brought in Clifford Blossom's twin brother Claudius during a drama-filled will reading. Fred Andrews almost ran for mayor until the Lodge's big secret was revealed and resulted in Hermione running for mayor. And of course, the show managed to fit in some pop culture references and callbacks to the comics.

INSIDER worked with Archie Comics to reveal six references you might have missed.

Toni has a direct callback to one of Kevin's lines from the first season.

When the will reading is interrupted by an angry Alice Cooper, Toni says, "This is riveting. I can't breathe." 

This is verbatim what Kevin says to Joaquin on season one during Jughead's birthday party after Veronica accuses Cheryl of being too close to her brother. 



Polly mentions Dr. Patel, a character from the comics.

Polly wonders how quickly Dr. Patel can get their blood tests back to them.

Ravi Patel is a character from the comics. He's a doctor and the father of Raj Patel, a friend of Archie and company. 



Veronica tells Archie their life isn't the "Manchurian Candidate."

Veronica and Archie get into a fight after Archie spills the beans about the Lodges buying Pop's Diner. He tells her that he's just trying to protect his dad after her parents want him to run for mayor. 

"This isn't 'The Manchurian Candidate,'" she shouts at him.

"The Manchurian Candidate" is a novel — and film — is thriller about the son of a political family who has been brainwashed into being an assassin for Communists. Her reference implies that Archie thinks her parents will use Fred for bad things.



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Birth control can make your period so much better — here's how 5 common types affect most women

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Ring Birth Control

  • The form of birth control you use can impact your period.
  • Some women choose to go on birth control in order to manage their period.
  • The pill, the patch, the shot, the ring, and some IUDs can lessen your period or make it stop altogether.
  • The ParaGard copper IUD, however, can actually make your period worse.


People
choose to use birth control for a wide variety of reasons besides just preventing pregnancy.

There are many different issues that birth control can help manage, and these benefits (plus the added benefit of preventing pregnancy) are generally considered to outweigh any negative side effects or potential risks.

Most forms of contraception have some sort of affect on your period, too, something that many people would consider a perk.

INSIDER spoke with several OB-GYNs to sort out how each form of birth control might impact your time of the month.

The pill

When taking birth control pills, you might notice that your period isn't as heavy or generally frustrating as it was before you gave birth control pills a try. Dr. Iris Orbuch, MD, an OB-GYN, told INSIDER that the pill should "should lighten your period as well as regulate your menstrual cycle."

Orbuch also noted that when you first start a new form of contraception, some periodic spotting is completely normal. And there's a chance you might stop getting your period altogether while you're on the pill.

"The birth control pill essentially prevents ovulation and so therefore does not allow a woman to have a ‘natural period.' All too often women think that if they are bleeding on birth control it is a real period," Dr. Cherie A. Richey, MD, FACOG, an OB-GYN at Columbus Women's Care, told INSIDER.

A natural period, as Richey called it, happens when the thickened uterine lining is shed from the body after an egg isn't fertilized. When you're taking a birth control pill, the lining of your uterus doesn't thicken in the same way.

"On the pill this process is stopped for the most part and the only reason you see blood is because the components of the pill taken during your period week don't contain hormones so you have what we call a hormonal withdrawal bleed. So it follows that if you don't take the hormone free/placebo pills, the lining doesn't respond to the hormonal withdrawal...so no bleeding."



The patch

The birth control patch works in a way that's very similar to the pill. Dr. Cindy M.P. Duke, MD, PhD, FACOG, a gynecologist, told INSIDER that if you change the patch each and every week — as required— it can, in fact, make your period stop altogether while you're using it, just as the pill and implant can.



IUDs

IUDs are a little less straightforward when it comes to having a period. There are two different kinds of IUDs (and five different brands) — one is hormonal and one is not. While the hormonal IUDs can lessen or stop your period completely, the non-hormonal IUD can actually make your period worse.

"ParaGard is a non-hormonal IUD, which is great if you don't want any added hormonal fluctuations during the month," Orbuch said. "The big negative about ParaGard is that it can worsen your cramps and make your menstrual flow even heavier. As such, ParaGard is not a good option for women with heavy, crampy menses."

Hormonal IUDs, if used consistently without time between, could potentially stop your period, according to Duke. This is because they operate in much the same way that hormonal pills and patches work.

"The hormone-containing IUD works by keeping the lining of the uterus thin, and thus women with that IUD in place notice their periods getting lighter and for about 20% of women.""Their periods stop for the duration on having the IUD in place (usually 5 years)," she said.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

9 foods you thought were healthier than they are

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Countless products in the health foods isle of your local grocery store don't belong there.

Many of them boast labels like low or reduced fat.

The problem with low-fat products is simple. To accommodate for the loss of flavor that comes with removing the cream or richness in a product, food manufacturers tend to add sugar. The end result is a product that may have fewer calories and less fat, but has more sugar instead.

While high-fat diets have not been implicated in weight gain, high-sugar diets have.

The authors of a review of 50 studies on diet and weight gain published in the journal Food and Nutrition Research found that, on average, the more refined carbohydrates (such as sugar) that someone ate, the more weight they tended to gain over the study period. Similarly, the researchers behind a large review of 68 studies published in the British Medical Journal found that the more sugar someone consumed, the more they weighed.

In other words, the amount of sugar in a participant's diet could be used to roughly predict their weight, the researchers found.

Read on to find out what other high-sugar, low-fat foods truly don't deserve a healthy label.

SEE ALSO: The best ways to lose weight and keep it off, according to science

Peanut butter and jelly

The problem: PB&J is a ubiquitous lunch item among American kids — there's even a song about it — but it's actually a less-healthy alternative to sandwiches made with hummus or lean meats.

Most peanut butter contains added sugar; jelly is replete with the ingredient. Slap those ingredients between two slices of white bread and you've got a sandwich that packs 20 grams of sugar, 14 grams fat (3.5 grams saturated), and 400 calories.

How it happened: The Great Depression popularized peanut butter on bread as a cheaper-than-meat substitute for protein. When it was combined with Welch's Grapelade— one of the first iterations of jelly — in the rations of WWI soldiers in the US, the PB&J became an official hit.



Egg whites

The problem: For decades, we've been led to believe that eggs are bad for us because they're packed with cholesterol. Flavorless egg substitutes ranging from Egg Beaters to pre-blended cartons of egg whites packed grocery store shelves in the 1990s and early 2000s.

How it happened: As it turns out, the cholesterol in eggs doesn't significantly raise blood cholesterol for the vast majority of us; and the majority of the initial research which suggested it did was done in rabbits, who are vegetarians.



Bottled juices and fast-casual smoothies

The problem: Just because they pack lots of fruit, bottled smoothies and those sold at places like Jamba Juice are not necessarily healthy. But most are also incredibly high in sugar and calories. A 15-ounce bottle of Mighty Mango-flavored Naked Juice has 290 calories, 68 grams of carbs, and a whopping 57 grams of sugar. For comparison, a 16-ounce bottle of Coke has 44 grams of sugar.

How it happened: The first blender was invented in the late 1930s, and Steve Kuhnau, who was reportedly experimenting with blending fruits and veggies to combat some of his own allergies and health problems, founded the first Smoothie King restaurant in Louisiana in 1973.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

20 of the most exciting under-the-radar retail startups to watch in 2018

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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.

daily harvestIt's an exciting time to be a shopper.

Today, there are more options than ever for whatever you want to buy, be it a simple pair of underwear or a king-size mattress. A growing number of these options are offered not by the decades-old brands you see all the time at your neighborhood retailer, but by online-only companies that boast better quality products, more memorable personalities, and middlemen-free distribution methods (sorry, middlemen). 

Once a fledgling concept still finding its feet, direct-to-consumer retail has clearly proven that it's here to stay. The names Everlane, Warby Parker, Bonobos, and Glossier now ring a bell for — if not incite passionate exclamations of love from — most people, so we're surveying the retail startup scene in search of the next big success story.  

We've had our finger on the pulse of these 20 startups that are shaking up their industries and have great futures ahead of them. If you haven't heard about them before, you'll know to pay attention to their names in the future.

See the retail startups you should keep an eye on this year below.

Daily Harvest: For putting a fresh smoothie in your hand in minutes

Daily Harvest's healthy smoothies, soups, parfaits, and sundaes arrive at your door in pre-portioned cups, ready to be blended and consumed in just a couple minutes. Eating healthy is not easy, partly because it takes so much time to shop and prepare food, but Daily Harvest makes it easy with its convenient, superfood-packed combinations. It recently launched a new latte line and we're eagerly watching it to see what other creative recipes it comes up with. 

Read more about how Daily Harvest works here and our review of its Harvest Bowls and lattes here

Shop ready-to-blend drinks and meals at Daily Harvest here

 



Helix: For personalizing your sleep experience

Casper, Leesa, and Tuft & Needle are just a few popular direct-to-consumer mattress startups you've probably heard of. But Helix is different because it makes a custom mattress just for you based on your sleeping style and preferences. This personalization brings an unparalleled sleep experience, and if you're still not happy after 100 nights, you can return the mattress. 

Read our review of Helix's mattress here and pillow here

Customize your Helix mattress here

 



Allbirds: For using unique materials to make comfortable shoes

Sneakers made out of wool — and a sustainably-farmed merino wool at that — don't sound like they would work or be very practical, but Allbirds is the innovative brand that pulls it off. It even recently figured out how to make shoes from eucalyptus pulp. The shoes are soft, comfortable, moisture-wicking, and temperature-regulating. And did we mention they're machine-washable? They're a favorite in Silicon Valley, but we wouldn't be surprised if we saw more and more Allbirds taking to the streets very soon. 

Read our review of Allbirds' Runners here, Loungers here, and new Tree collection here

Shop shoes at Allbirds here



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The best laptops 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.

best laptop 4x3

The Insider Pick:

  • If you’re looking for the best laptop out there, there are a ton of different choices. However, there's none better than the Dell XPS 13 with its incredibly gorgeous edge-to-edge screen, powerful processor options, and sleek portable design.

A great laptop is essential when it comes to studying and working — and one that doesn’t work well can bring plenty of unwanted distractions.

If you’re looking for a new laptop, there are quite a few things to consider. After all, laptops are pretty complex machines. Here are a few key terms and features to keep in mind when you’re looking for a laptop:

  • Operating system: While you will want to consider hard specs, the way that you interact with your laptop is through the operating system. You’re probably familiar with Windows, which is by far the most popular computer operating system, but there’s also Apple’s macOS, which is also very capable. Last but not least is Chrome OS, which is best for those who want a simple, affordable, no-fuss laptop for web browsing and other basic tasks.
  • Specs: Computers vary widely in terms of processing power and other specifications. The processor and RAM will essentially dictate how fast your computer is, while the storage will determine how many files you can store on the computer. The screen resolution is another important spec, and you'll probably want at least a Full HD, 1080p resolution. Battery life should be at least eight to ten hours.
  • Size: Another thing you’ll want to think about is how big the computer is. A smaller laptop will ultimately be more portable, but a larger one will have a larger display, which is better for watching movies and video production. Common sizes for laptops are 13 inches and 15 inches, though 11 inches and 17 inches also appear every now and then.

Of course, apart from all these things, you’ll want to think about price. Although the very best laptops will cost you $1,000 or more, we’ve tried to offer a range of different laptops in different price ranges in this guide. You can also check out the best Chromebooks and the best budget laptops if money is tight.

Updated on 03/15/2018 by Christian de Looper: Added the Dell XPS 13 as the top pick, updated prices, and removed out of stock items.

Read on in the slides below to learn why the Dell XPS 13 is our top pick and why you should also consider the HP Spectre x360 13t, the Huawei MateBook X, the Apple MacBook Pro 13 and 15, the Asus Chromebook Flip C302A, the Dell Chromebook 11, the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro, the Dell Inspiron 15 5000, and the Google Pixelbook.

SEE ALSO: The best budget laptops you can buy

The best laptop overall

Why you'll love it: The Dell XPS 13 has awesome specs, but it’s also beautifully designed with an edge-to-edge screen and slim profile for portability.

The Dell XPS 13 has long been a top choice for those of you who are looking for a great new laptop, but the 2018 model of the XPS 13 really pushes it over the edge into best laptop territory. Why? It’s beautifully designed, extremely powerful, and very portable.

Let’s start with the design, which is one of the best things about this laptop. While edge-to-edge screens are now commonplace in the smartphone industry, they’re not as common in computers. The XPS 13, however, is one of the few laptops to break that trend. It has a beautiful big display with tiny bezels.

Sure, that means the webcam has been moved to a less than flattering position under the screen, but many will find it worth it. That display is absolutely beautiful, too. While the base model of the computer has a Full HD resolution, you can swap it out for a 4K resolution if you want to go all out.

The laptop can also be configured to be very powerful. The base model packs an 8th-gen Intel Core i5 chip, along with 4GB of RAM and a 128GB solid-state drive. If you want to spend more to get more power, the XPS 13 can be configured with up to an 8th-gen Intel Core i7 chip, with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB solid-state drive.

Around the edges, the laptop has two ThunderBolt 3 ports, along with one USB-C 3.1 port, and a microSD card slot.

So what are the downsides? Well, apart from the webcam placement, there aren’t many. It can get a little pricey, but then again that’s to be expected from a top-of-the-line laptop like this.

Pros: Beautiful big display, nice design, highly powerful

Cons: Webcam placement is awkward

Buy the Dell XPS 13 on Amazon for $1,499



The best 13-inch laptop

Why you'll love it: The HP Spectre x360 13t is well-designed, high-powered, and versatile thanks to its convertible design.

HP has been a top company in the computer industry for some time now, and for good reason. The company has long offered computers that aren’t just high-powered and extremely capable, but that also come at a great price. The HP Spectre x360 13t is no exception to that rule.

The HP Spectre x360 13t comes in a few different variants, and the one we’re looking at is decked out with Intel’s latest 7th-generation i7 chip, a nice 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of solid-state storage. Beyond the hard specs, though, this computer has a lot more to offer. Like, for example, its 1,920 x 1,080-pixel touch-enabled display.

The laptop is convertible, too – that’s to say, you can use it in laptop mode, or you can flip the keyboard around to use it in tablet mode – which is great for watching Netflix in bed or drawing with the included stylus. It’s a perfect size for that, too, coming in at only 0.55 inches thick.

As far as ports go, the HP Spectre x360 13t comes equipped with two USB 3.1 Type-C ports, as well as a USB 3.1 Type-A port. And, you’ll get a headphone/microphone port. It also has built-in Bang & Olufsen quad speakers, so if you’re not using the headphone jack, the sound should still be relatively good.

Not everything is perfect though. While there are a good amount of USB ports, there’s no SD card slot or other ports, so you’ll need adapters if you have any peripherals that use ports other than USB. And, the computer isn’t necessarily cheap, either. It comes at $1,568.88 on Amazon, though you can get less high-powered versions for less.

Expert reviewers give this laptop high praise, including PCMag, Laptop Mag, and CNET.

Pros: High-powered, convertible, plenty of USB ports, touch display

Cons: Expensive, no SD card slot

Buy the HP Spectre x360 13t from HP for $995 and up



The best lightweight laptop

Why you'll love it: The Huawei MateBook X is super slim and lightweight, so you can carry it with you all day without breaking your back.

Huawei is new to laptops, but its new lineup of MateBooks is impressive. Of the three new models, the most portable, powerful, and attractive one is the MateBook X. At first glance, you'll think it's a MacBook because it is so slim and gorgeous in gold or dark gray.

If you want a portable laptop that won't weigh you down, the MateBook X delivers. It weighs just 2.3 pounds and measures 12.5mm thick. Huawei brags that it's the size of a magazine, and it truly is. The 2K screen has a resolution of 2,160 x 1,1440 pixels and a 4.4mm bezel to give you a gorgeous 13-inch screen that's great for watching Netflix, or you know, doing actual work.

You can get the MateBook with your choice of 7th Generation Intel processors, including Core i5 or Core i7. Both models have 8GB of RAM, but the Core i7 version gets 512GB of storage to the Core i5's 256GB of storage. The Core i5 version should be more than enough for most people, and you'll save $200 if you opt for it over the Core i7 MateBook X.

Rounding out the specs are a Dolby Atmos Sound System, a slick fingerprint sensor, and Windows 10 Home. We tested the MateBook X and came away impressed by the slick design, slim build, gorgeous screen, and fast fingerprint sensor. Our favorite thing about it is undoubtedly its portability. When you have to carry your laptop to work or school every day, this is exactly what you want: a laptop that weighs just 2.3 pounds and takes up very little space in your bag.

The only tangible downsides to the MateBook X— besides its high price tag — is its lack of ports. It only has two USB-C ports: one for charging and the other for your peripherals. That means you need a dongle or a dock to connect to anything that's not USB-C. Luckily, Huawei remedies that problem with an included Mate Dock 2, which includes a USB-A port, USB-C port, HDMI port, and VGA port.

Expert reviewers agree that the MateBook X is a great buy for those who prioritize style and portability, including Digital Trends, TechRadar, The Guardian, and Laptop Mag.

Pros: Super slim and lightweight, powerful, attractive display, portable, good speakers

Cons: Expensive, few ports

Buy the Huawei MateBook X on Amazon for $814.99 (originally 1,099.99 with Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB storage) or $951 (originally $1,299.99 with Core i7, 8GB RAM, 512GB storage)



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6 real-life tech startups funded by actors from HBO's 'Silicon Valley'

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  • At least three actors in the HBO TV series "Silicon Valley" have invested in six or more real-life tech startups.
  • The actress Amanda Crew actively promotes of some of them.


In their day jobs, the actors in HBO's "Silicon Valley" pretend to be involved in the world of tech startups. But some of them have real-life involvement in tech investments too.

Actor Kumail Nanjiani recently said he was"very worried" about the ethics of some entrepreneurs last November. "Often we'll see tech that is scary. I don't mean weapons etc. I mean altering video, tech that violates privacy, stuff w obv ethical issues,"he tweeted.

Some of his colleagues have jumped over to the other side of the fence. Amanda Crew, Martin Starr and Thomas Middleditch have, together, invested in half a dozen startups, the Hollywood Reporter reported on March 7.

"I think Silicon Valley, the environment is actually very similar to Hollywood," Amanda Crew said in an interview with Business News Network (BNN) in September 2017. There are "a lot of really interesting personalities, and then a lot of people where they are nothing one day, and then next day they are the biggest thing, and then two days later they're nothing again."

She described how the HBO series, known for its cynical take on the real Silicon Valley, helped her better understand the tech world. "It only kind of came to me in season three that I was like, you have access to companies, you could invest if you wanted to."

Scroll on for 6 startups in which the actors of "Silicon Valley" have invested.

SEE ALSO: Apple's finances show it is going nowhere in video until it acquires Netflix (or something like it)

Wright Electric - electric planes

"I’ve always been a big flight nerd, and I’ve got my pilot’s license," Thomas Middleditch said in an interview with Dinner Party Download on April 21, 2017. Wright Electric launched in 2016 in the hope of creating planes that make short trips only on battery power.



Beyond Meat - replacing meat with vegetable protein

Beyond Meat wants to be "the future of proteins." The US start-up founded in 2013 creates meat-like substitutes from vegetable protein, which are sold in Whole Foods supermarkets.

Bill Gates and two co-founders of Twitter, Evan Williams and Biz Stone, have also invested, as reported by Business Insider in 2015. Middleditch invested in December.



Randian— in-video e-commerce

Amanda Crew invested in Randian in January 2017. It is an American startup co-founded by Randall Scerbo and Ian Truitner. The platform lets users view video content with an e-commerce interface. Users can click on items they see and receive product specs for an item of clothing, for instance. Then they can add the product to a shopping cart, all without leaving the video interface.



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The 100 best comedy movies of all time, according to critics

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The comedies that film critics have deemed the greatest in history have often wrapped their humor in an inventive or thought-provoking package. 

From Charlie Chaplin's silent-film antics to quote-worthy parodies like "Airplane!," to the animated movies of the new millennium, comedy classics have taken many forms over the decades.

To find out which movies in the genre have gained the most critical acclaim over time, we turned to the reviews aggregator Rotten Tomatoes for its list of the top-rated films labeled "comedy" on its site.

As happens with many films and the idea of "genre," some may argue that certain of these entries are dramas rather than comedies (or horror in the case of "Get Out"). But we went with their categorization on Rotten Tomatoes.

We arranged the films in chronological order by decade, stretching from the 1920s to the present.

Here are the 100 best comedy movies of all time, according to critics:

SEE ALSO: The 13 movies that made $1 billion at the box office the fastest, including Marvel's 'Black Panther'

1920s:



"The Gold Rush" (1925)

Critic score: 100%

Audience score: 93%

Summary:"A prospector goes to the Klondike in search of gold and finds it and more."



1930s:



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A $43,000 secure phone booth and a 24-hour security detail — Pruitt has taken extraordinary measures to protect himself from potential enemies

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The Environmental Protection Agency spent nearly $43,000 to install a soundproof phone booth in administrator Scott Pruitt's office, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday.

When news of the unprecedented phone booth first surfaced last year, it was believed to have cost $25,000. At the time, Pruitt argued the Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility, or SCIF, as he called it, was "necessary for me to be able to do my job."

But new invoices obtained by the watchdog group American Oversight show the phone booth actually cost taxpayers much more.

This isn't the first time a questionable security measure at the EPA has drawn the ire of taxpayers and some lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

Here are six other times Pruitt's EPA has taken a tough approach to security.

SEE ALSO: $139,000 doors and private planes — 6 Trump Cabinet members under scrutiny for their lavish spending of taxpayer money

DON'T MISS: Scott Pruitt came to Earth Day Texas, and the whole thing was pretty weird

Pruitt limited employee access to his office

Upon assuming his position as the head of the EPA, Pruitt reportedly locked the doors to the floor where his office is located and implemented a new rule that requires agency employees to have an escort to gain entrance.

Some employees, according to a New York Times report last August, said they weren't allowed to bring their cellphones with them to meetings with Pruitt. Sometimes, the Times said, they sometimes weren't allowed to take notes either.

"There's a feeling of paranoia in the agency — employees feel like there's been a hostile takeover, and the guy in charge is treating them like enemies," Christopher Sellers, a professor at Stony Brook University, told the Times.

An EPA spokeswoman called the allegations "rumors."



The EPA approved a 24-hour security detail to protect Pruitt

Pruitt is the first EPA chief to have round-the-clock security.

Last year, as the agency planned to hire a dozen more agents to protect Pruitt, the EPA's inspector general announced he would look into whether the excess security was a necessity or a waste of taxpayer money, CNN reported at the time.

But Pruitt's office argues the security is needed.

"We have at least four times — four to five times the number of threats against Mr. Pruitt than we had against Ms. McCarthy," assistant inspector general Patrick Sullivan told CNN, referring to Gina McCarthy, who served as the EPA administrator during former President Barack Obama's second term.

 



The EPA paid for a surveillance sweep of Pruitt's office

Last March, the EPA paid $3,000 to a contractor to do a sweep of Pruitt's office to make sure there weren't any covert or illegal surveillance devices.

Pruitt's spokesman, Jahan Wilcox, defended the sweep by pointing to the "unprecedented amount of threats against [Pruitt]," according to The Hill.

Wilcox also said former Obama-era EPA chief Lisa Jackson had a similar security sweep while she was in office, but a former EPA employee who worked with Jackson told The Hill that she never personally requested it.



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Meet the kids of the richest black billionaires in the world

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Michael Jordan kids

Life is anything but ordinary when your mom and dad are some of the richest people in the world.

We already met the world's richest black billionaires, so it is time to take a look at their kids. 

Being born into a billionaire family can certainly make life interesting. Many of these kids followed in their parent's footsteps, whether that meant playing basketball or running an oil company.

Despite growing up in undeniable privilege, many of the kids of billionaires have made an impact in their own right.

Keep scrolling to meet the children of the world's richest black billionaires.

SEE ALSO: A Nigerian businessman is half as rich as he was 3 years ago — but he's still the richest black billionaire in the world

DON'T MISS: Meet the kids of the world's richest tech billionaires

Michael Jordan is perhaps the greatest basketball player of all time, but also one of the richest African Americans on the planet with a net worth of $1.65 billion.



His son, Marcus Jordan, played basketball at the University of Central Florida from 2009 to 2012 where he scored an average of 12.3 points per game.

Sources: Sports-Reference 



Like his father, Marcus also got into business after his playing days. He opened a boutique sneaker shop in Disney World called Trophy Room.

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Source: Bleacher Report



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