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9 Vladimir Putin quotes that offer terrifying insights into his mind

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Vladimir Putin gun

• Vladimir Putin is likely on the verge of winning his fourth presidential term.

• As president of Russia, Putin has overseen the country's slide back into authoritarianism, according to the Economist's Democracy Index.

• Over the years, he's made a number of ominous or enlightening statements that shed some light into his way of thinking about the world.


 

Vladimir Putin is once again on track to win the Russian presidential election.

The former KGB agent served as Russia's prime minister from 1999 to 2000 and from 2008 to 2012. From 2000 to 2008 and 2012 to the present day, he has held the office of the presidency. While some praised Putin's partial reversal of Russia's economic fortunes, his tenure has sent the country sliding back into authoritarianism, according to the Economist's Democracy Index.

The Russian president has also been a fixture in global news lately due to — among other things — the ongoing investigation into President Donald Trump's campaign, tensions around Syria, and the poisoning of a Russian ex-spy and his daughter in Britain.

Here are some quotes that provide some insight into how Putin sees the world:

SEE ALSO: Vladimir Putin's hard-core daily routine includes hours of swimming, late nights, and no alcohol

'I am not a woman, so I don't have bad days.'

The Russian president has a history of making sexist commentsUSA Today reported. He let another one fly while speaking to Oliver Stone for his documentary "The Putin Interviews"— which was criticized for "pandering" to the Russian president.



'The task of the government is not only to pour honey into a cup, but sometimes to give bitter medicine.'

After announcing his intention to run for the presidency in 2012, the politician said that the Russian government would need to take controversial steps to deal with the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, NBC reported.



'It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation.'

Putin scoffed at the idea of American exceptionalism in his 2013 New York Times op-ed.



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13 questions from the US citizenship test that even Americans might get wrong

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naturalized american citizens ceremony

In the past decade, more than 7.4 million individuals have become naturalized American citizens. To do so, each one of them had to take a civics test, which covers various topics in US history and government.

To pass the test, applicants must correctly answer six out of 10 questions, chosen at random from a pool of 100. The full list of questions and answers is available to the public, although hopeful citizens are reminded to learn the most current responses to queries, given that some responses may change over time.

Many of the questions are relatively easy — "In what month do we vote for the President?" — or straightforward: "What is the name of the President of the United States now?" But some are arguably tricky or surprising, especially if you didn't pay attention in your history classes growing up.

Not to mention, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) encourages applicants to memorize the answers listed on its website, even if there may be additional correct responses to certain questions.

Test your knowledge below, but make sure you scroll down slowly since we've included USCIS' recommended answers below each question.

What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?

Possible answers: US diplomat; oldest member of the Constitutional Convention; first Postmaster General of the United States; writer of "Poor Richard's Almanac"; started the first free libraries.



What is the "rule of law"?

Answer: Everyone must follow the law; leaders must obey the law; the government must obey the law; no one is above the law.



The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the US Constitution. Name one of the writers.

Possible answers: James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and Publius.



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The best battery packs 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.

battery pack 4x3

The Insider Pick:

There's nothing worse than being caught with a dead phone. Sadly, most phones can barely last a day before they need to be juiced up again and outlets are few and far between. Instead of popping a heavy battery case on your phone for all eternity, you should carry around an external battery pack. Portable battery packs are the perfect solution to your charging woes. They come in all different shapes and sizes, and some of them even do double duty as a flashlight or car jump starter.

We've used dozens of battery packs over the years, and it's hard to narrow down the best ones because there are so many great ones. The battery packs we've chosen are the cream of the crop in terms of functionality, style, and price. 

How to choose a battery pack for your needs

The first thing you need to know is what charger your phone uses. Every battery pack that has a USB-A output can be used to charge up any phone whether it's a lighting-based iPhone, a Micro USB Android phone, or a USB-C Android phone. All you need is the charging cable for your phone that can plug into a USB-A outlet adapter. Some USB-C cords have USB-C on both ends, in which case you need a battery pack with a USB-C output. There are also battery packs with integrated cables built in, but we'll discuss that further below. 

Here are all the factors you should consider when buying a battery pack:

  • Portability and capacity: There are two kinds of people — those who buy giant battery packs with a very high capacity and those who buy skinny ones with very little capacity. Giant ones are obviously less portable and heavier to carry, but you don't have to charge them up as often. Small battery packs can fit in your wallet, purse, or pocket with ease, but you will have to juice them up after one or two uses.
  • Integrated cables or no cables: Some battery packs come with integrated cables so you don't have to remember to bring your charging cable and your battery pack with you at the same time. I personally love integrated cables and think every battery pack should have them, but they do have a downside — you're limited to that one cable type. So you're in trouble if you want to share the pack's power with a friend whose phone charges with a different cable than your phone or if you switch phones and the charging standard changes. If you don't want an included cable, many battery packs have no integrated cables, so you have to bring your own.
  • Quick Charging: Many Android phones offer some version of Quick Charge technology, so if your phone does juice up quickly, you should look for a battery pack that supports Quick Charge 2.0 or 3.0. That way, you won't have to wait 3-4 hours for a full battery.
  • USB-C ports: The new port on many phones, the Nintendo Switch, and the 2016 MacBook Pro is USB-C. If your device supports USB-C, you need a battery pack with the new port. Some USB-C battery packs come with cables, but they're few and far between at this point. That'll change over the course of 2017 and 2018 as more and more devices get USB-C charging.
  • Extra features: Some battery packs have special features like being solar powered, offering flashlights, or even adding jumper cables for your car. If you're a driver or someone who lives in remote areas, these special battery packs might be more your style. 

Based on research and testing, we've come up with a full guide to the best battery packs you can buy. We have battery packs for people who want portability, tons of battery, integrated cables, cheaper options, and a battery pack that doubles as a car jump starter. Here are our picks:

Updated on 03/16/2018 by Malarie Gokey: Added the Fonesalesman QiStone+ and Mighty Purse Wristlet. Removed out of stock products.

Read on in the slides below to figure out which battery pack is best for your needs.

SEE ALSO: The best USB-C cables for your Android phone or laptop

DON'T MISS: The best lightning cables you can buy for your iPhone

SEE ALSO: The best Micro USB cables you can buy

The best battery pack overall

Why you'll love it: The Jackery Bolt 6,000mAh Ultra-Compact External Battery Charger can juice up any device twice, and it has built-in lightning and Micro USB cables. There's also a version with built-in Micro USB and USB-C cables.

If you have an iPhone or an Android phone with a Micro USB port, the Jackery Bolt 6,000 mAh External Battery Charger with Built-in lightning and Micro USB Cables is the best external battery pack you can buy. Those of you who own a new Android phone with a USB-C connection should buy the new Jackery Bolt Battery Pack with Built-in Micro USB and USB-C Cables.

The Jackery Bolt has two cables integrated into its design, so you can charge two devices with different charging ports at the same time without bringing your cables with you. If you have an iPhone, you'll want the one with built-in lightning and Micro USB cables. Those of you who just bought a Samsung Galaxy S9, Pixel 2, or another USB-C Android phone need the pack with built-in Micro USB and USB-C cables.

The Jackery Bolt also has a USB-A port, so you can plug in a third device to charge with its own cable, whether it be lightning, Micro USB, or USB-C. It even has a built-in flashlight. In other words, this battery pack does it all. 

It comes in two different capacities, so you can choose between a 6,000mAh/6,700mAh pack that can fully charge an iPhone 8 twice or charge a Galaxy S9 1.5 times and a 10,050mAh pack that can fully charge an iPhone 8 four times or charge a Galaxy S9 three times. 

The battery pack supports Quick Charge tech, too, with up to 2.4A output, so it should charge compatible phones very quickly. The battery packs themselves juice up with a Micro USB cable, which is included in the box.

Jackery offers an 18-month warranty and 24/7 customer service. User reviews on Amazon are positive, and The Wirecutter declared the Jackery Bolt its winner for best everyday use. 

It's great that the Jackery comes with two integrated cables and the option to charge a third device with your own cable. Now that there's a USB-C option, too, Jackery's battery packs truly are for everyone.

Overall, the Jackery Bolt is our top pick because it's a versatile battery pack that will suit every type of user, and it's less expensive than other highly rated battery packs with multiple integrated charging cables. 

Pros: Comes with lightning and Micro USB cables or Micro USB and USB-C cables, charges your phone more than once, it's relatively slim, it's and more affordable than the competition

Cons: Not super slim and not super giant

Buy the Jackery Bolt 6,000mAh External Battery Charger with Built-in Lightning and Micro USB Cables on Amazon for $26.99 (originally $69.99)

Buy the Jackery Bolt 10,050mAh External Battery Charger with Built-in Lightning and Micro USB Cables on Amazon for $35.99 (originally $89.99)

Buy the Jackery Bolt 6,700mAh External Battery Charger with Built-in USB-C and Micro USB Cables on Amazon for $24.99 (originally $65.99) or get the 10,050mAh pack for $32.99 (originally $80.99)



The best slim battery pack

Why you'll love it: The 4,000mAh Flux Portable Charger packs lightning and Micro USB cables into a super slim body that'll charge your phone fully at least once.

Some people don't want to carry around a bulky battery pack — even if it means getting only one extra charge out of it. If you prioritize slimness over capacity, the 4,000mAh Flux Portable Charger is the best one for you.

Although it's super slim at a mere 7.8mm, the Flux battery pack holds 4,000mAh of power inside. There are also two cables integrated into the battery pack's design: a lightning cable for your iPhone and a Micro USB for your Android friends. Unfortunately, there's no support for USB-C devices yet, but in the future, Flux is likely to make USB-C battery packs, too.

It will charge most phones at least once, and some may get 1.5 charges out of it — that's not bad for such a slim battery pack. The four tiny LED lights illuminate to tell you how much power you have left inside.

If you need more capacity, Flux also makes a 10,000mAh battery pack that's very slim. The larger Flux battery pack also includes two USB-A ports, so you can charge any device with its own cable, including USB-C devices.

The Flux doesn't support Quick Charge tech, so it will take longer to juice up your devices, but it should charge smaller phones reasonably quickly.

Most user reviews on Amazon are positive, and several tech sites love it, including Digital Trends and PC Advisor.

Pros: It's as slim as your smartphone, includes lighting and Micro USB cables, fits anywhere, lightweight, and it'll charge your phone at least once

Cons: No USB-C support on the 4,000mAh pack

Buy the 4,000mAh Flux Portable Charger on Amazon for $29.95

Buy the 10,000mAh Flux Portable Charger on Amazon for $59.95



The best giant battery pack

Why you'll love it: The AUKEY 30,000mAh Portable Charger with Quick Charge 3.0 can charge any of your devices, and it can juice them up more than once.

Sometimes you just need a ton of power. The AUKEY 30,000mAh Portable Charger with Quick Charge 3.0 fits the bill with its giant capacity and ability to charge all your devices quickly multiple times.

AUKEY says it can fully charge your iPhone 7 10 times or a 9.7-inch iPad Pro 2.5 times, which is absolutely crazy. You can also charge multiple devices at the same time, and it has ports for every device. There are two USB-A ports for charging with any USB-A to Micro USB, lightning, or USB-C cables. 

For those of you with USB-C devices, there's a USB-C charging port, too. AUKEY also includes a USB-A to USB-C cable to help ease the transition for you. When you finally run out of juice, the AUKEY charges up with either a Micro USB or a USB-C cable. The battery pack comes with a 24-month warranty, too, in case something goes wrong.

Buyers on Amazon love the giant battery pack, and many seem to use it for traveling. TechRadar and Best Products highly recommend AUKEY's giant battery packs for people who need tons of extra juice. 

Larger battery packs like this one are also very helpful if you live in an area where you may lose power from snowstorms or extreme weather. You can easily recharge all your devices with the AUKEY and have battery left to spare. It's available for a decent price, too.

Pros: Supports Quick Charge 3.0, has a huge capacity, supports USB-C, compatible with Micro USB, and works with lightning cables for the iPhone

Cons: It's huge, heavy, and expensive

Buy the AUKEY 30,000mAh Portable Charger with Quick Charge 3.0 on Amazon for $59.99 (originally $81.99)



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All the important details in the latest 'Avengers: Infinity War' trailer, and what they mean

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avengers infinity war

The new "Avengers: Infinity War"trailer dropped Friday, and it teases plenty of action and peril for the characters we have come to love (or hate) for the past 10 years.

Beloved characters like Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America face dire situations as the villain Thanos terrorizes the Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy. But it's not all doom and gloom. The trailer teases much-anticipated reunions, like Bruce Banner and Black Widow; and meetings, like Doctor Strange and Spider-Man, and Iron Man and the Guardians of the Galaxy.

For most viewers, the trailer will be a riveting tease at the blockbuster, but more eagle-eyed fans may notice a few key details.

For those confused as to what the glowing stones are that are so prominent in the trailer and what they mean for the fate of our heroes, we have you covered. And what's up with Spider-Man's new suit?

We broke down the trailer to highlight those details and more, both the hidden and the not-so-hidden — and what it all means.

Below are key details you may have missed in the "Avengers: Infinity War" trailer:

SEE ALSO: 'Avengers: Infinity War' advance tickets are now on sale — get them while you can

Thanos is after the Infinity Stones.

To understand what's going on in the new trailer, you have to understand what Infinity Stones are. The big bad guy of the movie, Thanos, wants to "wipe out half the universe," as his adopted daughter Gamora says in the beginning of the trailer. To do that, he has to acquire six Infinity Stones, which are immensely powerful, reality-bending stones that give the user unimaginable power when collected into one glove, called in the comic books the Infinity Gauntlet. 



So, where exactly are these stones? Well, it looks like Thanos has the blue space stone...

The space stone was last seen aboard that giant space ship we see Thor and his pals escaping the planet Sakaar in at the end of "Thor: Ragnarok." It's inside the Tesseract, that glowing-blue cube we see in "The Avengers"— until "Infinity War," when Thanos seems to get his hands on it, as evidenced by the above and previous photos. Recall that an even larger ship finds Thor and his friends at the end of "Rangarok." That's probably Thanos.



...and Loki probably helps him get it because he's the worst.

This is Loki with some of Thanos' minions, known as the Black Order. They are standing among rubble that could be the aforementioned ship Thor and friends are on at the end of "Ragnarok." If Thanos attacks, it would make sense for this to be where the devious Loki betrays his brother Thor (again), and hands the space stone over to Thanos.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

How to watch March Madness online and on TV

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march madness

March Madness is here. 

The tournament is 67 basketball games played over a 21-day period, culminating with the national championship on April 2. The games will be happening at all times of the day, meaning you might need to watch the games on your tablet, phone, or computer at work. 

Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to watch the games — both online and on TV. 

Here's your guide for streaming the NCAA Tournament online:

You can stream all games on the NCAA's website.

The NCAA website will stream all 67 basketball games. You can find the NCAA's live stream here

Like last year, there will be a boss button on the website that you can click to hide the live stream in case your boss happens to walk by you and your device. 



Games will also be streamed on the NCAA March Madness Live app.

The NCAA March Madness Live app is free for Apple and Android.



21 of games will be aired on CBS.

These include both quarterfinal games on March 25. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

7 popular online courses in STEM and gaming that are taught by female leaders in their fields

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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.

intro to complex analysisIt's well-known by now that there are fewer women getting a degree and working in STEM than there are men. More specifically, a report by the US Department of Commerce found that while nearly as many women hold undergraduate degrees as men overall, they make up only about 30% of all STEM degree holders. Furthermore, they filled 47% of all US jobs in 2015 but held only 24% of STEM jobs. 

One way for women to break into STEM is education, but you don't need to go back to school, or a physical one anyway, to gain the knowledge that you need. Online learning sites are an affordable and flexible way to teach yourself the foundations and get a feel for the industry, whether you're interested in STEM or other traditionally underrepresented fields like gaming. 

Since men hold more jobs in these fields, it's not surprising that when you browse online learning sites, there tends to be more male teachers in those subjects as well. However, for a woman looking to approach something like STEM or gaming, the impact of seeing a teacher who looks like her cannot be understated.

Similar to how representation in media affects how groups of people perceive themselves and are perceived in the world, representation in STEM and gaming plays an important role in motivating women to overcome and fight back against gender-related barriers in their own career journeys. 

With this in mind, we found some popular online courses that teach skills in development, game design, math, and more — and they're all taught by women who have achieved great success in their fields. 

You can learn more about each course and its instructor below.

iOS 11 & Swift 4 - The Complete iOS App Development Bootcamp

The course: The highest-rated course on Udemy, this iOS app development class has everything you need to know to create beautiful apps, even if you have no prior programming experience. It's packed with over 50 hours of video content, 100 articles, and other resources to help you ultimately create a portfolio of 20 fully-fledged apps. 

The instructor: Angela Yu is an iOS and WatchOS developer fluent in Swift and Objective-C. She's also the founder, managing director, and lead iOS instructor at the London App Brewery, a bootcamp where she's taught over 900 students. Yu's first foray into programming was at 12 years old, when she wanted to figure out how to build her own video games. Since then, she's made over 70 apps and games. 

iOS 11 & Swift 4 - The Complete iOS App Development Bootcamp, $11.99 (originally $199.99) [You save $188], available at Udemy



Game Design Foundations: Ideas, Core Loops, and Goals

The course: This course explains practical strategies for starting a career in game design, drafting game ideas, and turning concepts into designs that a team can implement. You'll also learn more about the role of a game designer, how to define the core loop of your game, create features of a core, and more. The next course in the series teaches game systems, chance, and strategy. 

The instructor: Brenda Romero is a game designer, artist, writer, and creative director who entered the video game industry in 1981 at the age of 15 and has worked at Atari, Sir-Tech Software, and Electronic Arts. She received the 2013 Women in Games Lifetime Achievement Award from by Microsoft and the 2015 Game Developers Choice Ambassador Award. Romero is now the game designer in residence at the UC Santa Cruz and the cofounder and COO of Loot Drop, a social and mobile game company.

Game Design Foundations: Ideas, Core Loops, and Goals, $24.99/month for unlimited access to all courses on Lynda

 



Introduction to Complex Analysis

The course: Aimed at anyone interested in exploring "a beautiful and important corner of mathematics," this Wesleyan University eight-week math course provides an introduction to complex analysis, which is the theory of complex functions of a complex variable. Topics include the algebra and geometry of complex numbers, differentiation, integration, complex dynamics, power series representation, and the Laurent series. 

The instructor: Dr. Petra Bonfert-Taylor was a mathematics professor at Wesleyan University until 2015 and is now an engineering professor at Dartmouth College. Though she originally intended to study computer science, she was drawn to mathematics after taking a course on complex analysis. Her other research interests lie in geometric function theory, hyperbolic geometry and the mathematics of medical imaging. 

Introduction to Complex Analysis, free to audit or $49 to earn a certificate, available at Coursera



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HBO dropped 15 new photos from 'Westworld' season 2 — here are the new characters you'll see

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Dolores white dress Westworld Season 2 photos 11

Warning: Minor spoilers ahead for "Westworld" season two.

"Westworld" returns for its second season on April 22, and fans have yet another peek at what's to come. In 15 new photos released by HBO, we have a look at new characters and familiar faces — including the return of Charlotte Hale (Tessa Thompson).

Keep scrolling for a look at all the new pictures from "Westworld" season two.

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

First we have the Man in Black — aka William — standing among the carnage left after the season one finale robot-revolution.



William is comfortable among brutal violence in the park.



It looks like Bernard/Arnold will meet up with Charlotte Hale in the day following the giant massacre.



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A popular Instagram account displays the ugliest homes in the world — and the pictures are horrifying

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ugly house

  • Home decor is usually a matter of personal taste, but there are a few instances where "ugly" is undisputed.
  • @pleasehatethesethings is an Instagram account that documents the most epic fails in design and home decor.
  • Some of the worst offenses are a blood-red bathtub, carpeted walls and ceilings, and a shower head that sprays the toilet.

 

Home decor is usually a matter of personal taste, but there are a few instances where "ugly" is undisputed.

The Instagram user @pleasehatethesethings is keeping tabs for the rest of us with an ongoing catalog of "Absurd, ill conceived & just plain stupid things in home decor." 

Dina Holland is an interior designer based outside of Boston and her alternate social media account has taken off. Apparently people hate the same things she does — horrendous houses with humorous design flaws. Her account now has over 16,000 followers.

Holland's business account — @honeyandfritz— showcases work from Dina Holland Interiors. She said the origin of @pleasehatethesethings came from posting photos of designs she didn't like on her business account.

"Then people started messaging me the things they hate and I kept posting it to share," Holland told Business Insider. "It was going on for days and one of my followers was like, 'You need to make a whole other account for this.'"

Holland said the reaction has been mostly positive: "People think it's funny."

Holland previously told Architectural Digest these design disasters happen because "a lot of younger designers don't have the confidence to go in and say, 'No, that's not the right look.'"

From misplaced toilets to poor carpeting decisions, the design faux pas Holland highlights on her Instagram page all have one thing in common: They look terrible.

Below are some of the funniest design flaws featured on @pleasehatethesethings:

SEE ALSO: The way Trump decorates the Oval Office could influence design trends across the entire US

DON'T MISS: Shoppers are dropping hundreds of dollars on 'ugly' clothes — here are some of the worst examples

The color scheme may be harsh on the eyes, but at least there is knit carpeting for when you decide to walk on the ceiling.

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Live. Laugh. Love. Garlic. All good wall-pasted quotes need a smelly clove.

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No word if this room, complete with purple carpeted walls, belonged to a Prince superfan.

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How to use Robinhood, the popular app rumored to be worth $5.6 billion that lets you trade stocks and cryptocurrencies without paying any fees

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Robinhood stock trading app

Robinhood is an app built around one promise: no-fee stock and cryptocurrency trading.

The app first launched in December 2014 and quickly became a favorite among younger people looking to invest. It allows users the freedom to complete a transaction without paying a processing fee, and became the first finance app to win an Apple Design Award thanks to its simple-but-stylish design.

In short: It makes stock trading cheap, intuitive, and mobile, which is apparently exactly what young investors were looking for. It began as invite-only, and by the time it opened to the public in March 2015, the waitlist rose above 700,000 according to Fortune. By November of that year, TechCrunch reported that it had facilitated over $1 billion in transactions.

Three years later, it's on the brink of completing yet another funding round, at the end of which it could be valued at $5.6 billion — more than four times its 2017 valuation of $1.3 billion. This spike could be attributed to its recent decision to expand into cryptocurrencies (bitcoin, ethereum, and litecoin), which have had a lot of market success themselves. 

Here's what it's like using Robinhood, the app that wants to democratize stock trading.

SEE ALSO: Robinhood, an app backed by Snoop Dogg and Marc Andreessen that lets you buy and sell stocks without a fee, just raised $50 million

This is what the Robinhood icon looks like on an iPhone.



The sign up process doesn't take long. It automatically prompts you to sign up with your email address, and then asks you a series of questions.

It used to give you the option to sign up with Touch ID, but I don't see that option on there anymore. 

After you sign up with email, it asks you to create a password (at least 10 characters), and then you have to share some personal information: your legal name, email address, phone number, date of birth, residential address (U.S. law apparently requires that brokerages collect this information), citizenship, and social security number.

It also asks you how much investment experience you have. I selected None. Then a few more questions about your employer and ties to companies or brokerages, review, and submit.

The whole process took only a few minutes. 



To start trading with Robinhood, you must first link your bank account.



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We tried the Costco pizza that people are crazy about — here's the verdict (COST)

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Costco Food 2

  • Costco is one of the largest pizza retailers in the country.
  • A slice costs $1.99, and a full pizza costs $9.95. 
  • It's a decent pizza considering the context — and the deal alone makes it more than worth it. 

Costco is one of the largest pizza chains in the US.

Yup, you read that right — with over 700 locations and, therefore, food courts, Costco is considered the 14th largest pizza chain in the country. It's technically bigger than California Pizza Kitchen and nearly as large as CiCi's. 

That's an impressive feat for a retailer that also sells coffins, cars, safari vacation packages, and gallon jugs of peanut butter all under the same roof. With that in mind, we decided to head over to the nearest Costco to see just how good the pizza is — is it really worth the visit?

SEE ALSO: What the FDA-recommended daily intake of 2,000 calories looks like at every major fast-food chain

Costco is a veritable land of plenty — and its food court reflects that. While its faded signs and dated '80s food photography aren't much to look at, it may end up being one of the best lunch deals around.

It serves a strangely wide selection of food, from barbecue pork sandwiches to smoothies. In 2011, the chain sold 100 million hot dogs— four times as many sold by the entirety of Major Baseball League stadiums that year.

But we're here for the pizza.

 



The price point, like the rest of the menu, is extremely attractive: $1.99 for a slice, and a bargain-basement $9.95 for an 18" wide pizza. That's ... insane.

There are three pizza types to choose from: cheese, pepperoni, or "combo," which is essentially a supreme pizza. Whether you buy it by the slice or by the pie, the process is incredibly quick. Obviously, the chain has slices ready and waiting under heat lamps, and the baking process is streamlined so that the wait is minimal for a freshly baked pizza.

Plus, Costco members can call ahead and place an order to pick up. 



But the question remains: how is the pizza?

First of all, the slices are enormous. Gargantuan. They fill up an entire normal-sized paper plate — they practically have their own zip code. If anything, they're unwieldy because of the size.

The size also plays into the floppiness of the slice — there's no way something that wide and flat can be structurally sound, no matter how crispy the crust is. And we're not saying it's crispy; it's rather doughy, although it's important to note that it's not soggy. It's just a more flexible, chewy crust. 



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The 25 highest-paid coaches in college basketball

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Mike Krzyzewski

College basketball coaches can make a lot of money.

As revenue deals increase and schools compete to stay atop their conferences, both long-tenured coaches and impressive journeymen can come to make a ton of money with just a few years of repeated success.

That said, in order to get to the top of the coaching world in terms of compensation, you have to have been in the game for a long, long time.

A recent report from USA Today ranked the top-paid coaches in college basketball, including what's known about their bonuses and the cost of a potential buyout.

You can check out the highest-paid coaches for the 2017-18 season below. All conference title notes reference coaches' tenures with their current team.

25. Mike Anderson — $2.6 million

School: Arkansas

Conference: SEC

Potential Bonus: $1 million

Conference titles (reg. season/tournament): 0/0

National championships: 0

One thing to know: While Anderson might not be the winningest head coach in college basketball history, he's one of the most consistent, as he's one of just four coaches in the game who have led a team for 15 years and never suffered a losing season.



24. Jay Wright — 2.6 million

School: Villanova

Conference: Big East

Potential Bonus: Not available

Conference titles (reg. season/tournament): 5/2

National championships: 1

One thing to know: Wright finally brought a championship to Villanova with a thrilling win at the buzzer of the 2016 national title game, but aside from that, the Wildcats still have a tendency to disappoint in the postseason. The team has been eliminated before the Sweet Sixteen in seven of their past 10 appearances in the tournament.



23. Steve Alford — $2.6 million

School: UCLA

Conference: Pac-12

Potential Bonus: $310,500

Conference titles (reg. season/tournament): 0/1

National championships: 0

One thing to know: While he hasn't won a national championship as a coach yet, Alford did win the title while playing for Bob Knight at Indiana in 1987. He made seven of 10 three pointers attempted in the championship game, scoring 23 points for the Hoosiers.



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WHERE ARE THEY NOW: The cast of 'The Suite Life of Zack & Cody' 13 years later

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"The Suite Life of Zack and Cody" made living in a hotel look like a dream. 

The Disney Channel series featured twin brothers Dylan and Cole Sprouse as Zack and Cody Martin. The twins lived in the Tipton Hotel, because their mother was the lounge singer. With the help of some of the hotel's wacky employees, hijinks ensued and often landed the kids in trouble. 

It's been 13 years since the show first premiered, so here's what the cast has been up to since. 

Cole Sprouse played the studious twin, Cody.

He was the smart brother. 



Cole took a break to attend New York University where he studied archaeology, but he's back to acting.

He currently plays Jughead Jones on The CW's hit drama "Riverdale." 



Dylan Sprouse played the troublemaker, Zack.

He came up with a lot of hijinks. 



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10 differences between American and European hotels that might surprise you

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Hotel Paris

  • European and American hotels have many different features you should be aware of before traveling.
  • The room sizes and beds are often smaller.
  • Bathrooms are designed with different features, like bidets.
  • You need to buy a converter for outlets.


Planning a vacation to Europe is no small feat.

You have to deal with all of the headaches related to traveling by plane, figure out how to transfer your money without losing too much of it, and make your way around the language barrier.

On top of that, you have to be aware of the many cultural differences that will come up, otherwise you're going to feel like a fish out of water. One worth noting is the differences between European and American hotels.

Whether you're heading on a vacation to London, Paris, Rome, or Madrid (or really anywhere in Europe), you should know that the hotel situation may not be the same as you're used to experiencing in the US. While most major cities in Europe offer American chains, like Hilton, many of the options are smaller boutique hotels.

Below are some of the biggest differences you might come across at these hotels. Of course, not all European hotels are the same so this is by no means a definitive guide.

The rooms are smaller.

One of the main differences between European and American hotels is the size of the rooms. The first time I stayed in a European hotel, I was shocked when I was presented with a room that barely had enough space to hold the bed and a dresser.

This, as it turns out, is perfectly normal and expected. You may not notice it from photos online — it's all about the angles — but just keep it in mind. Of course, not every room is tiny. I've stayed in hotels in Rome that offered rooms that were quite large — but for the most part, they're on the smaller side.



The bed situation might not be as comfortable.

When searching for rooms in various European cities, I have often wondered if they were all created with just two guests in mind. The majority of American hotels offer similar bed options: a king, queen, two twins, maybe a double bed. If you want a room for four people, you get one with two twin beds.

In Europe, it seems to be different. For one thing, king size beds are not as popular. I personally have never seen one there. Instead, a large bed is usually two beds pushed together. European hotel rooms also almost always use a futon or a pull-out couch as a second or third bed.



The floor numbers are different.

One weird difference is the floor numbers. In Europe, the first floor is often considered the first floor off of ground level. In America, we typically consider this the second floor. In Europe, most hotels say the lobby is on level zero, while in the US, we would say the lobby is on level one.

And if there is something below the lobbies, most hotels will refer to that as level -1. This is something to keep in mind when looking for your room or getting in an elevator.



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The 13 biggest differences between restaurants in Italy and America

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Italian restaurant

 

  • Restaurants in Italy offer a different experience than restaurants in America.
  • The menus and prices will look different.
  • The food isn't always what you expect.
  • Tipping customs vary.  

 


When you plan a trip to Italy, there is a seemingly endless amount of things to do and see, no matter which region you're visiting. But let's be real: everyone knows that the number one thing to do is to eat. Italy is known for its delicious food, cheap wine, and incredible restaurants. Do you really need to be reminded about the fresh pasta, the authentic pizza, and the creamy gelato?

Before you go out to eat in Italy, though, you should know one thing: there are a lot of differences between restaurants in Italy and in America.

It's not just about the quality of the food (which is better in Italy; I'm sorry America!), but it's also about small cultural differences that are probably going to catch you off guard if you've never been there before. I just returned from my first trip to Italy (I am now obligated to bring this up as much as possible), and while I was there, I found myself constantly surprised by the experiences I had when going out to eat.

I visited Rome and Florence, so my experiences are based on these two cities, although I have heard that restaurants throughout the company are the same way.

Here are a few of the biggest differences between restaurants in Italy and America, so that you can come across as less clueless than I did:

You have to pay for water.

In the US, it's basically a rule that when you sit down at a restaurant, someone immediately pours you a glass of (free) water. It's very rare that someone orders a bottle of water they have to pay for, because really, why would they?

In Italy, as in most of Europe, water isn't usually free— in fact, it isn't even automatically given to you. A waiter will typically ask if you want a bottle of still or sparkling water after you sit down, and you always have to pay for it.



Menus have different courses.

In the US, restaurants usually have three-course meals: an appetizer, entree, and dessert. In Italy, there is a different structure: antipasti (an appetizer, usually shared), primo (the first main course, usually soup and pasta), secondo (the second main, usually meat or fish — sometimes these are split up), contorno (vegetable side dishes), and dessert (self-explanatory).

At first, this might make you nervous, but don't worry: you don't need to order one thing from each (although you may want to), and the portions for each main are all large enough for a full meal).



Most restaurants offer food typical in their region

One of the unique things I noticed when in Italy was that many of the restaurants offered the same dishes, especially when it came to pasta. In Rome, it was nearly impossible to go out to eat without seeing cacio e pepe or pasta with amatriciana sauce.

In Florence, it was hard to find a restaurant that didn't have ribollita on the menu. I didn't see dishes that I knew were Italian and that I thought were popular. After a few days, I discovered that the restaurants tend to serve the food that is popular in their region.

There are other types of restaurants, of course — I went to a Tuscan restaurant in Rome that served Tuscan food — but the majority of them offer what is typical of their region. And there aren't that many restaurants that serve food from different countries either. As someone coming from NYC, this was pretty shocking to me.



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15 St. Patrick's Day facts that might surprise you

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st patrick's day suits

On St. Patrick's Day, the whole world gets to be Irish.

Financial website WalletHub put together an infographic that highlights some of the most interesting facts about how Americans spend St. Paddy's Day.

For instance, did you know that St. Patrick's Day is the fourth most popular drinking day in America? Or that cabbage shipments increase 70% in the week leading up to the big day? Keep reading for more fun facts about the holiday.

Chicago dumps 45 pounds of green dye into the river every St. Patrick's Day.

Don't worry, it's just vegetable dye.



Over half of Americans plan to celebrate St. Patrick's Day this year — 60% to be exact.

The population of Irish Americans is seven times the population of Ireland.



And 83% of those celebrating plan to rock some green.

Even though St. Patrick's traditional color is blue.



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These photos reveal what it's like to shop at Costco in Japan (COST)

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costco

  • The first Costco store opened in the US in 1976.
  • Since then, it has expanded to Europe, Australasia, and Asia.  
  • We compared the experience of shopping in its stores in Japan versus the US.

A love of Costco transcends all geographical borders.

While America created the Costco phenomenon, its operations now extend far beyond the confines of this country and into Australasia, Europe, and Asia. 

Costco opened its first Japan location in 1999 and since then has grown its presence to 26 stores, which span the breadth of the country. 

The Japanese arm of the business is a wholly owned subsidiary of Costco US. While it stocks several US brands and Costco private-label products, there are some big differences between the experiences of shopping in both locations. 

Find out how different the two stores are below:

SEE ALSO: People are obsessed with booking their vacations through Costco — and now there are even more benefits

From the outside, the warehouse-style layout of this Costco store in Tokoname, Japan, looks similar to Costco in the US.

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One of the biggest bonuses about shopping in Costco Japan is that its stores are open seven days a week, 364 days a year. It closes on January 1. US stores, on the other hand, are closed for major national holidays. Inside, walls of bulk-sized products line the store ...

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... which is exactly what you might see in the US.



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These 35 cars dominated the 2018 Geneva Motor Show

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Lamborghini Huracan Performante Spyder.

  • The Geneva Motor Show is the first major European car show of 2018.
  • It will be packed with the latest offerings from Audi, Aston Martin, Bentley, BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Volvo, and VW.
  • The show is open to the public from March 8 to the 18 at the Palexpo in Geneva, Switzerland.

The 2018 Geneva Motor Show is the first major European car show of the year. Usually, Geneva is a big to do. Car makers pull out all the stops to show off their latest and greatest.

Aston Martin CEO Dr. Andy Palmer offered up a spot on description of the show when he said, "Geneva is a highlight of the industry calendar and a motor show with a rich history and great atmosphere."

And what rich atmosphere it is.

The world's top brands will be there. From Ferrari to McLaren and Aston Martin to Bentley, Geneva will be packed with the next generation of exotics. In addition, there will be a host of production-ready models from mass-market luxury brands, such as Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, and BMW.

The 2018 Geneva Motor Show opens to the public until 18 at the Palexpo Arena in Geneva, Switzerland.

Here's a closer look at the 35 coolest cars at the show:

SEE ALSO: We drove a $95,000 Porsche Cayman to see if the sports car lives up to the hype — here's the verdict

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

Geneva will mark the auto show debut of Aston Martin's new Vantage sports car.



Dr. Andy Palmer wasn't kidding when he said he had a big surprises in store for everyone. In fact, he had a couple. The first one was the debut of the 1,100 horsepower Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro track-only hypercar.



And then Aston Martin unveiled the futuristic Lagonda Vision Concept electric car.



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Here's every way the London Tube bomber tried to cover his tracks — and failed

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On September 16, 2017, Ahmed Hassan was arrested by police officers in Dover, in southern England.

Less than 24 hours before, a bomb had partially detonated on the London Underground, injuring 30 people.It had been Hassan who planted the bomb — and he was apprehended as he was waiting to board a ferry to flee the country. 

On Friday, the 18-year-old was found guilty of attempted murder.

In the aftermath of the verdict, the Metropolitan Police released a video explaining his attempts to evade capture in the aftermath of the attack, from destroying his SIM card to a series of disguises — and how investigators managed to track him down anyway.

Here's what he tried, and how the police managed to find him:

On September 15, 2017, after priming the bomb in a public bathroom, Ahmed Hassan boarded a District Line tube train before getting off at Putney Bridge, leaving the bomb behind.



The bomb exploded two minutes later, as he left the station.



Here's a CCTV still from the moment of the explosion.



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The 16 MBAs where graduates can earn the highest salaries

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Northwestern University graduation

Given the huge cost of undertaking a master's degree in business administration (MBA), prospective students will be interested to know which institutions turn out the highest earners.

Salary benchmarking website Emolument looked at pay data from almost 11,000 MBA holders to see which universities offer their graduates the highest earnings potential.

America dominates the list, but universities in the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and Switzerland also feature.

"While MBA represent a substantial cost for professionals, their impact on one's earning potential and career is undeniable," Thomas Drewry, one of Emolument's co-founders said.

"All the data shown in these rankings stands way above what the average professional with an undergraduate degree can reasonably expect to earn during his career."

Check out the universities below.

SEE ALSO: The world's 21 best universities by subject — from biology to business management

16. London Business School, UK — $178,000 (£127,380)



15. IESE, Spain — $179,000 (£128,100)



14. Cambridge University Judge Business School, UK — $180,000 (£128,810)



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Here's a roundup of Google's St. Patrick's Day doodles over the years in case you didn't know what you needed today

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Google St. Patty's Day doodle 2018

St. Patrick's Day is here, and that means another one of Google's annual customized holiday doodles.

Every March 17 since 2000 (save for the year 2003), Google's homepage has displayed different variations of its logo celebrating Irish culture with shamrocks and Celtic designs. This year's St. Patrick's Day Doodle features a design by Irish artist Ross Stewart with a picturesque Irish countryside scene and "Google" spelled out in stones next to a river bank. 

In honor of today's festivities, we've rounded up every St. Patrick's Day doodle featured on Google's website since 2000. Have a scroll and find your favorite.

Read more about the holiday: Everywhere from New York to Egypt celebrates St. Patrick's Day — see the photos of raucous celebrations around the world

2000



2001



2002



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