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These 25 companies are revolutionizing retail

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Peloton Tread

  • The retail industry is in a period of change.
  • 50 US retailers filed for bankruptcy in 2017, which was the highest rate since the recession. While some brick-and-mortar stores are scaling back and shutting down locations, others, including some digital-first brands, are expanding. 
  • We've highlighted 25 companies that are making the biggest changes to how we shop.

Retail isn't dying — it's evolving.

2017 was a tumultuous year for retail. 50 US retailers filed for bankruptcy, which was the highest rate since the recession. But as some withered, others have flourished by continuing to bring innovation to the shopping experience at a rapid rate. 

We've highlighted 25 companies — from online startups to some of the biggest and most established companies in the US — that are making the biggest changes to how we shop.

Keep scrolling to see the full list:

SEE ALSO: 9 innovations that revolutionized retail in 2017

Amazon is redefining the retail landscape.

Headquarters: Seattle, Washington

Year founded: 1994

Why it's revolutionary: Amazon has unearthed the retail sector.

In 2017, it made a beeline for the apparel market and solved one of the biggest ailments of shopping for clothing online by launching Prime Wardrobe, a try-before-you-buy and return service. 

It went deep into the US grocery market by buying Whole Foods for $13.7 billion in June. It started offering Whole Foods groceries on Prime Now, its two-hour delivery offering, and is now the largest seller of groceries online.

In January, it opened Amazon Go, a futuristic, cashierless store in Seattle. It plans to bring the technology to as many as six more locations this year. 



Walmart is trying to transform into an e-commerce company.

Headquarters: Bentonville, Arkansas

Year founded: 1962

Why it's revolutionary: America's largest retailer is taking its competition very seriously. In the past year, Walmart has launched or tested several new technologies to keep up in its race against Amazon. 

It rolled out "Scan & Go" technology in stores and introduced a system for customers to receive packages when they're not home. It's now expanding its grocery delivery service nationwide and developing a technology that can predict the shelf life of products. The cherry on the top? It's creating a store with no cashiers, similar to Amazon Go.



Everlane is making clothing costs transparent.

Headquarters: San Francisco

Year founded: 2010

Why it's revolutionary: Online apparel brand Everlane professes to create high-quality clothing through ethical processes. The company has also made its pricing completely transparent so that customers know what they're paying for.

It's resonating well with customers – in 2015, its sales were estimated to be $35 million, up 200% from 2013. In 2016, the brand reportedly brought in another $51 million, all the while solely selling its clothing online.

It has now opened twostores in the US.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

10 revolting facts about food that will make you second-guess everything you eat

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woman eating cake

They say the truth will set you free, but after learning these disturbing facts about food, you might wish you'd remained under a veil of blissful ignorance— at least until after dinner.

From ground-up maggots lurking in your canned foods to the brown beaver slime that's used to flavor vanilla treats, these 10 revolting facts about food will make you second-guess everything you eat.

The average jar of peanut butter may contain 4 or more rodent hairs.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed it: a typical jar of peanut butter is allowed to contain one or more rodent hairs, and an average of 30 or more insect fragments per 100 grams before it is considered to be unsanitary enough to pose a heath hazard.



The vanilla flavoring in some foods comes from a secretion made by beavers.

Some of your favorite vanilla-flavored treats are made with an ingredient called "castoreum," (sometimes referred to as "natural flavoring" on ingredient labels), which comes from the castor sac scent glands of male or female beavers — which are located by their anuses.

While castoreum was used predominately as a medicine in its early history (Roman women erroneously believed inhaling its fumes would induce abortions), castoreum has also been used in perfumes and as a food additive since the 20th century.

Apparently, the brown, fragrant slime smells delicious — just ask Joanne Crawford, a wildlife ecologist at Southern Illinois University.

"I lift up the animal’s tail,"  Crawford told National Geographic, "and I’m like, 'Get down there, and stick your nose near its bum."

"People think I’m nuts," she continued. "I tell them, 'Oh, but it's beavers; it smells really good.'"



Many gummy candies are made from pigskin, cattle bones, and cattle hide.

A main ingredient in your favorite gummy candies and wobbly desserts (such as certain puddings and Jell-O) is gelatina virtually colorless and tasteless water-soluble protein that is prepared from collagen.

Here's the catch: as French chef, nutrition therapist, and author Alain Braux explains in his book, "GMO 101,"collagen is actually extracted from the skin, bones, and connective tissues of animals, typically pigs and cattle.

If you want to see the gritty process for yourself, you can watch this graphic video on how gelatin candy is made.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

18 British words and phrases that don't mean what you think they do in America

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Barack Obama Prince Harry

  • Brits and Americans might speak the same language, but there are plenty of British words, phrases, and slang that mean something totally different in America.
  • These differences can cause embarrassment or even get you into trouble. If you ask a British woman about her pants, for example, she'll assume you're asking about her underwear, not her trousers.
  • Brush up on these British words, phrases, and slang that mean something completely different in America to avoid any trouble down the road.

 

It's been said that England and America are two countries divided by a common language.

Different words, different pronunciations, and different spellings have created two distinct separations in the English language: British English and American English.

Words, phrases, and slang that mean one thing in the UK often mean a totally different thing in the US – and vice versa.

As a British expat living in New York, I can tell you with absolute certainty that there's nothing worse than saying something to an American and being met with a blank stare or a stifled giggle. I'm ashamed to admit that I've accidentally ordered a doughy, cheesy, savory "biscuit" instead of a cookie more than once.

Here are some common British words, phrases, and slang that mean something entirely different across the pond in America:

SEE ALSO: 6 major differences between how Americans and Brits work

DON'T MISS: 11 things you say that will automatically ruin your chances in a job interview

Pants

Don't ask a British person about their pants. You'll get a very funny look, and maybe even a slap round the face, because you'll be inquiring about their underwear and not their trousers.

How we'd say it in Britain: "When you get dressed you put your pants on first, then your trousers."

 

 

 

 



Jumper

In Britain, a jumper isn't a sleeveless dress worn as part of a school uniform — we'd call that a pinafore dress in the UK.

What we call a jumper in Britain is a cozy, knitted pullover you'd put on when it's cold out, or as it's known in America: a sweater.

How we'd say it in Britain: "Can you pass me my jumper? I'm freezing."



Football

We're talking about the game that made David Beckham famous. The one where your kick a ball with your foot. Not the game where you throw a ball and catch it in your hands, with the occasional kick thrown in for good measure – that game has no business being called football.

How we'd say it in Britain: "David Beckham was one of the best football players to ever play the game."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's what comfort food looks like in 26 countries around the world

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Ramen

While we rely on food to sustain us physically, we also depend on it for its comforting properties; sometimes a dish just knows how to convey so much more than words ever could.

From greasy fish and chips in Great Britain to the lasagna-like moussaka in Greece, here are 26 comfort foods from around the world that everyone should try.

FRANCE: French onion soup

French onion soup is winter comfort food as it should be: rich, warm, and blanketed under a generous portion of creamy cheese. It's best enjoyed with a slice of crusty bread.



JAPAN: Ramen

From the sodium-heavy instant packs found in every American college dorm to the Michelin-star winning joint in Tokyo, Japan, ramen has developed into a global obsession.

Here's where you can get the best bowl in every state.



CANADA: Poutine

We have Montreal to thank for Canada's unofficial national dish, poutine (which also sometimes goes by its informal nickname, "Canadian salad"). The iconic dish consists of crispy, golden fries topped with cheese curds and drenched in gravy.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

MLS has become a destination for many aging stars of soccer — here are the biggest names to make the jump

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic Manchester United

Soccer star Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be leaving Manchester United to play in Major League Soccer, the top domestic league in the United States and Canada. 

Ibrahimovic is only the latest example of a long tradition of European stars heading to MLS to extend the end of their careers, a tradition including luminaries of the sport such as David Beckham and Andrea Pirlo. 

Zlatan is one of the most talented and decorated (and quotable) strikers in the game, having won too many team trophies and individual honors to list. But he is also at the tail end of his career at 36-years-old, and other high profile stars before him have come to MLS only to underperform relative to their billing. 

So we have decided to take a look at the biggest names to come to MLS and how their moves ended up panning out. 

David Beckham

The first big-name star to make the jump to MLS, so much so that the league's designated player rule which makes most of these signings possible is also called the "Beckham rule." A pair of controversial loans abroad marred Beckham's early tenure in Los Angeles, but he eventually helped lead the Galaxy to two MLS Cup titles and Supporter's Shields. Beckham was also credited with helping to raise the profile of the league. 



Thierry Henry

The legendary France and Arsenal striker joined the New York Red Bulls in 2010. His tenure in New York didn't quite reach the same heights as Beckham in Los Angeles, but he still helped the club win a Supporter's Shield in 2013 and made three MLS Best XIs. 



One of the most successful examples of a late-career transition to MLS, Keane joined the LA Galaxy in the middle of the 2011 season. He was a part of two MLS Cup-winning campaigns and was selected to four MLS Best XIs, and even won the league MVP award in 2014. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

23 photos that will make you want to travel to Paris

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Pont Neuf Bridge Paris

Paris is one of the most romantic destinations in the world, as well as home to world-class museums, haute cuisine, and breathtaking architecture.

From the grandeur of the Eiffel Tower to the bustle of the city’s iconic cafés, here are 23 photos that will make you want to travel to Paris faster than you can say "Bonjour!"

First things first: dig into the pastries France is so famous for.

Don't leave without trying a traditional petit déjeuner (breakfast). The French typically eat a tartine (a sliced baguette with butter and jam) accompanied by a café au lait and a glass of fruit juice. 



Once you've fueled up, check out one of Paris' 73 museums.



The Musée du Louvre is the world’s most-visited art museum: you can't leave without exploring it.

It's the home of the "Mona Lisa" and more than 30,000 other works of art.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

6 easy ways to get more battery life out of the new Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+

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galaxy s9 case

Тhere isn't much for Samsung to brag about when it comes to battery life on the Galaxy S9 and S9+. They have the same battery capacity as their predecessors, and again fit squarely in the middle of the pack when it comes to endurance on a charge from flagships with QuadHD resolution displays. 

Granted, the default screen resolution is FullHD+, but there are still more than 4 million pixels that have to be lit up, as opposed to two and change on "real" 1080p displays, so that doesn't help nudging the battery life up one iota. Samsung's own official battery life stats peg the S9 as having absolutely the same battery life as the S8 while browsing or video playback, i.e. unremarkable.

Our own battery benchmarks, where none of the handsets cracked the 9-hour screen-on mark, showed that, indeed, if you don't play "Pokémon Go" too much, the Galaxy S9 may last you through the workday, with the Galaxy S9+ extending into the bar hopping afterwards, but that's about it. Granted, the phones offer wireless charging, which is still a slower method than the good old cable, and the Galaxy S9 and S9+ can be topped up in about an hour and a half with the supplied standard chargers, which is pretty svelte.

At their default, out-of-the-box settings, the Galaxy S9 and S9+ are firmly in the overnight charging camp, but there are a few tweaks you can make to those, to make them last longer on a charge, and avoid the need for a bulky battery case - unless you are gone for the weekend camping, that is. So, what can you do?

SEE ALSO: CAMERA SHOOTOUT: Samsung's new Galaxy S9 versus the best smartphone camera in the world, the Pixel 2

DON'T MISS: The Galaxy S9 versus the Galaxy S8 — is it worth the upgrade?

1. Turn off AOD

Seriously, this one should come at the top of your list. The new Always-on display on the Galaxy S9 and S9+ is a pretty thing, with even more pertinent info being placed there for your attention, and the ability to create custom colored graphics to showcase. It is a battery hog, however. 

Our modest observations show that leaving this setting on drains about 1% of juice per hour, meaning that even if you don't do jack with your phone, it will be like you have wasted 1-2 hours of screen-on time on a charge anyway, depending on the usage. Go to Settings>Lock screen and security, or type AOD in the settings search bar, and switch it off.



2. Turn on mid power mode

This one is good. It will turn off Always-on display for you, will throttle the processing speeds a bit on the most power-hungry top end, but not to the extent you'll notice in everyday interactions, will set a lower logarithmic brightness threshold, and will introduce a more aggressive background app management. 

  • Settings>Device maintenance, and tap on the Battery option below, or simply type battery in the settings search, then set the Power saving mode to the MID level


3. Staying alive: only the chat apps

After the display and/or a revved-up processor during gaming, the most power-hungry components in the daily life with your mobile are... the apps.

Yep, while you may think that changing the display resolution or choosing a darker theme since it's an OLED display, will do something, but those can't compare with reigning in rogue CPU wakes, and push notifications that keep the phone alive at all times. 

Thankfully, Android Oreo has gotten better at background app management, and Samsung provides power-saving modes that kill extra rogue apps, but if those are too aggressive, you may lose notification abilities, which is especially hard when it comes to chat apps. 

  • Go to Settings>Device maintenance, and tap on the Battery option below, or simply type battery in the settings search.
  • Hit the "Unmonitored apps" option below, and pick as exclusion apps that won't be put to sleep your Facebook Messenger, Slack, Gmail, WhatsApp, Viber, and any messaging, chat or other app that you don't want to cease getting notifications from. App developers are getting better at circumventing power-savers, but it's a constant cat and mouse game between killin the app by the system, and resurrecting it only to get a notification, and the score is not in favor of developers.
  • Now, for the actual alerts, type "Notifications" in the settings search bar, and turn them off for all apps, then pick only those that you wish to get alerts from. 


See the rest of the story at Business Insider

5 mistakes you're making when cooking burgers at home that can be easily fixed

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Cheeseburgers with Bacon

  • INSIDER spoke to an expert about how to cook burgers at home.
  • Tips include not flipping the meat more than once and using fat and salt.
  • A thermometer and cast iron skillet are two good tools to use when cooking meat.


Cooking meat at home can be tricky.

You have to cook the meat to the right temperature to be safe to eat — yet not too long that it's no longer delicious.

This balance can take several burger patties — don't dive right into cooking raw meat with an expensive steak—  to perfect, but once you grasp the basics, branching out into more proteins should feel easier.

Perhaps the easiest way to start cooking meat, should you find yourself completely overwhelmed with a pound of raw beef, is with burgers, which can be cooked on a stovetop or outdoors on a grill.

Holistic nutritionist Angela Bicos Mavridis grew up flipping patties in her family's burger joint, but she also spent thirty five years as a vegetarian. Recently,  she's paused her abstinence from meat and has launched her own meat company, Tribali Foods.

Whether you've never cooked meat before or just want to up your weeknight burger game, we had Mavridis share some tips on cooking meat at home.

Over-flipping the meat.

The biggest mistake most people make when cooking meat: flipping it too many times."You should never flip it more than once," Mavridis says. While some meats require extra vigilance, a burger isn't one of them.

Other ways to quickly destroy your dinner: Pressing down on the meat and releasing the juices, as well as not letting the pan or grill heat up enough before starting to cook.



Not using fat.

According to Bon Appetit, "fat is essential for achieving the full spectrum of flavors and textures of good cooking."Cooking burgers without it will result in meat that's not nearly as juicy as it could have been.

In terms of what kind of fat to use, there's no one right answer. "You can't beat olive oil, but that's because I'm Greek," Mavridis says. "Grass-fed butter is also a great option."



Not using salt.

Salt not only adds flavor to meat, but also adds texture, helping to give it a seasoned crust.

"Kosher salt is the go-to salt for cooking," Mavridis says. "It's difficult to over-salt meat when using kosher salt as compared to table salt."

Sprinkle your meat with salt before cooking and try using flaky sea salt as a finishing salt after your meat is cooked, and cut, if necessary.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

12 fitness 'truths' that are doing more harm than good

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workout

  • Exercise is the closest thing to a miracle drug that we have, but much of the public wisdom surrounding fitness has been either too vague or conflicting to be helpful.
  • Scientists have been studying many of the same questions that you have probably encountered while structuring your workout routine.
  • Learn the best time to workout, how often you should be exercising to tone up, and the best pre- and post-workout fuels for your routine.

How many times a week do you need to work out to get in shape? If you're trying to lose weight, should you focus on exercise or diet? Is it better to hit the gym in the morning or at night?

Whether you want to tone up, slim down, or simply boost your mood, you've likely come across these questions, but the answers may have seemed either contradictory or too vague to be helpful. On top of that, dozens of fitness myths plague the wellness world, making it tough to separate fact from fiction.

Fortunately, exercise scientists and physiologists have been researching all of these topics too, and the emerging research from their work can help you dispel the myths and hit the track with confidence.

DON'T MISS: One type of exercise is the closest thing to a miracle drug that we have — and new research suggests intense workouts aren't the only option

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

Myth: For any real benefits, you need to hit the gym for at least an hour or sweat it out several times a week in a fitness class.

Truth: For better health and a reduced risk of death from all causes, any kind of movement is better than little or none.

That means that any effort that gets you moving and breathing — whether it's a twice-weekly heart-pounding kickboxing class or a 30-minute walk to work — has measurable benefits for your brain and body.

That's according to new researchpublished this month in the Journal of the American Heart Association. To arrive at their findings, researchers used data on physical activity and death rates from national surveys of more than 4,800 adults and found that so long as people moved around for at least 30 minutes per day — whether it was through a combination of brisk walking and stair-climbing or a spin class — they enjoyed significant benefits compared against those who didn't exercise at all.

"The key message based on the results," the authors wrote, "is that total physical activity (i.e., of any bout duration) provides important health benefits."



Myth: It takes at least two weeks to get 'out of shape.'

Truth: In most people, muscle tissue can start to break down within a week without regular exercise.

"If you stop training, you actually do get noticeable de-conditioning, or the beginnings of de-conditioning, with as little as seven days of complete rest," Shawn Arent, director of the Center for Health and Human Performance at Rutgers University, said. "It very much is an issue of use it or lose it."



Myth: Sit-ups are the best way to get 6-pack abs.

Truth: As opposed to sit-ups, which target only your abdominal muscles, planks recruit several groups of muscles along your sides, front, and back. If you want a strong core — especially the kind that would give you 6-pack-like definition — you need to challenge all of these muscles.

"Sit-ups or crunches strengthen just a few muscle groups," write the authors of the Harvard Healthbeat newsletter. "Through dynamic patterns of movement, a good core workout helps strengthen the entire set of core muscles you use every day."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Jared Kushner's brother is breaking his political silence following Trump's election — here's everything we know about the millionaire entrepreneur who's dating model Karlie Kloss

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Kushner Kloss

  • The millionaire entrepreneur and investor Joshua Kushner and his girlfriend, the model Karlie Kloss, voiced support for March for Our Lives over the weekend.
  • Kushner is a founder of the $2.7 billion healthcare startup Oscar Health.
  • The entrepreneur says he doesn't have any connections to the Trump administration, though he has said he talks to his brother, Jared Kushner, the president's aide and son-in-law, every day.

The younger brother of the White House adviser Jared Kushner is breaking his political silence since President Donald Trump's election.

Joshua Kushner, a millionaire entrepreneur, and his girlfriend, the model Karlie Kloss, posted photos from the March for Our Lives, the anti-gun-violence rally in support of stricter gun-control measures that took place in many US cities and towns over the weekend.

Kushner and Kloss had remained quiet on politics, including about their connections to the Trump family. And while the duo have dated for more than five years, they rarely speak publicly about their relationship.

In light of the well-connected couple's rare political gesture, here's a look at the life of Joshua Kushner.

SEE ALSO: 2 under-the-radar members of the Trump family are quietly speaking out in support of gun control

Joshua Kushner rose to prominence in his 20s as an entrepreneur and venture capitalist.

In 2009, at age 24, Kushner founded the venture-capital firm Thrive Capital.

Two years later, he raised $40 million from investors including Princeton University and Peter Thiel, a venture capitalist known for his investments in tech companies such as Facebook and his support of Trump in the 2016 presidential campaign.

Thrive was an early investor in Instagram, as well as in startups including Warby Parker, Kickstarter, and ClassPass.



Kushner helped found Oscar Health in 2012.

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The health-insurance startup, which aims to use tech to provide a more consumer-friendly insurance option, is now worth $2.7 billion.



Karlie Kloss, meanwhile, has been working as a model since her teenage years.

Kloss skyrocketed to prominence in 2007, when she was 15.

By 2010, she was a big enough name to appear on "Gossip Girl" as herself. (Ironically, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner also appeared on the show in 2010, though in a different episode.)

The model has often made headlines because of her close friendship with Taylor Swift. In 2015, Kloss started Kode With Klossy, a charity that encourages girls to get involved in coding and tech.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's how Amazon's Subscribe & Save program works — and how you can use it to save money

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

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If you'd like to outsource a few of your most dependable monthly purchases (toilet paper, Tide pods, Clorox wipes, toothpaste, your favorite breakfast bars, etc.) to Amazon rather than having to go through the tedious process of re-ordering them every month, you might be interested in the Subscribe & Save section of Amazon.

Subscribe & Save lets you sign up for automatic monthly deliveries of your favorite items, save up to 15% on them, and skip or cancel your deliveries anytime. You'll also get free shipping on every automatic delivery. 

Though not every product is eligible, many basics are. If they are, you'll see a "Subscribe & Save" note under the price in the long list of products Amazon churns out for whatever you just searched for. 

To select an item for those automatic deliveries and discounts, click "Subscribe & Save" on its detail page (underneath the traditional pricing information) or shop the Subscribe & Save Store.  

You can select the quantity and schedule that works best for you (based, for instance, on how quickly your family runs out of paper towels), from monthly to every six months.

With Subscribe & Save, you'll save more if you subscribe to more. When receiving 5 or more products in a single month to a single address, you'll save up to 15% on them. Under the same restrictions, Prime members automatically unlock 20% off diapers, baby food, and more.

There's no commitment to the service either, so if you accidentally order too many paper towel rolls for the hall closet, you can cancel anytime or skip your next delivery easily. Amazon sends you a reminder email showing the items, price, and any applicable discount for your upcoming delivery in advance. Just head to Manage Your Subscriptions to skip or cancel.

SEE ALSO: Jet.com is often compared to Amazon — here’s how the startup is different

Grocery

Find all eligible groceries here.

 

 



Household

Find all eligible household purchases here.

 

 



Pet Supplies

Find all eligible pet supplies here.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

9 bizarre beauty treatments celebrities have done to make themselves look younger

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Kim kardashian facial

Behind every luminous celebrity complexion is a team of professional stylists — but the ways celebrities stay so young-looking aren't always easy. We've learned some strange skin care tips from celebrities, but the journey doesn't end there.

From applying hemorrhoid cream under their eyes to treating themselves to leech facials, these 9 beauty treatments celebrities have undergone are freaky at best — and lethal at worst. 

The 'penis facial' is the newest beauty trend celebrities are trying.

Penis facials are the newest bizarre beauty practice celebrities are admitting to.

While its formal name is the Hollywood EGF facial, the treatment lives up to its moniker, considering it relies on progenitor cells taken from Korean newborn baby foreskin to "rejuvenate" the face-skin of those undergoing the procedure.

The penis facial's famous clientele include Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett, the latter of whom shared with Vogue Australia that the treatment smelled "a bit like sperm."



Some stars put hemorrhoid cream under their eyes.

Some stars swear that hemorrhoid cream can get rid of the puffy bags under your eyes.

"My favorite beauty-pageant secret: I didn’t realize that putting hemorrhoid ointment on your face is acceptable in the beauty business,"Sandra Bullock said back in 2005, at the premiere of "Miss Congeniality 2.""But apparently butt cream does help lines around the eyes."

Bullock is hardly the first star to utilize the cream for beauty purposes. Kim Kardashian's make-up artist also recommends the treatment, despite the ointment's purported stench.



For skin tightening purposes, some celebrities have turned to placenta-based beauty products.

The placenta is a large, flat organ that develops in a person's uterus during pregnancy; it functions as a life support system for fetuses, providing it with nutrients through the umbilical cord.

Some believe that topical application of placenta-based products helps smooth out skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, due to their high collagen levels.

According to Mirror, Simon Cowell has tried the treatment, saying that "I also had a sheep placenta facial once, which was quite out there."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Inside the turbulent personal life of Elon Musk, who called his estranged father 'a terrible human being' and who says he must be in love to be happy

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Elon Musk Talulah Riley

• Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk prefers not to speak about his personal life regularly.

• But in an intensely candid Rolling Stone profile, Musk discussed topics he usually doesn't, from his breakup with Amber Heard to his estranged relationship with his father.

• Musk has had a stormy personal life at times. He's been through two divorces and his estranged from his father, who made headlines in March after it was reported he had a child with his 30-year-old former stepdaughter Jana Bezuidenhout.



In 2010, Elon Musk said he would "rather stick a fork in my hand than write about my personal life."

But the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX is a fascinating figure, and along the way, he's opened up here and there about his childhood, his parents, and his relationships.

In an an in-depth November 2017 Rolling Stone interview, he got uncharacteristically candid.

He spoke of his breakup with ex-girlfriend Amber Heard, expressing his heartbreak over their parting. Musk also touched upon his estranged relationship with his father Errol, calling him a "terrible human being."

Musk went on to discuss how difficult it is for him to meet people, saying he is looking for a long-term relationship — and a soul mate. Musk, who has been divorced twice, even asked interviewer Neil Strauss if there was anyone Strauss thought he should date.

"If I'm not in love, if I'm not with a long-term companion, I cannot be happy," he told Rolling Stone. "I will never be happy without having someone. Going to sleep alone kills me. It's not like I don't know what that feels like: Being in a big empty house, and the footsteps echoing through the hallway, no one there — and no one on the pillow next to you. F--. How do you make yourself happy in a situation like that?"

Here's a look back at the tech titan's personal life:

SEE ALSO: A look inside the marriage of world's richest couple, Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos — who met at work, were engaged in 3 months, and own more land than almost anyone else in America

DON'T MISS: A look at the demanding schedule of Elon Musk, who works in 5-minute slots, skips breakfast, and largely avoids emails

Musk told Rolling Stone he's struggled with loneliness since childhood. "When I was a child, there's one thing I said," Musk said. "'I never want to be alone.'"

Source: Rolling Stone, Business Insider



Born in 1971 in Pretoria, South Africa, Musk was the eldest of three children. His mother Maye Musk is a Canadian model who's appeared on the cover of Time and became a CoverGirl spokesperson at 69. His father Errol is an engineer.

Source: Vanity Fair, Town and Country, Vogue, Forbes



Musk's childhood was far from idyllic. He was ruthlessly bullied in school, and even ended up hospitalized after his tormentors shoved him down a staircase. When his parents split in 1980, Musk went to live with his father.

Source: Business Insider, Business Insider



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A photographer's before-and-after pictures reveal the truth about those 'perfect' Instagram photos

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gilmar photos before and after

  • Gilmar Silva posts incredible before and after shots of photoshoots on Instagram.
  • They show the effort that goes into professional photography and what the locations of his shoots really look like.
  • He edits unsightly backgrounds and adds dramatic lighting.

 

Photographer Gilmar Silva works hard to get the perfect shot, but snapping the photos is only the beginning.

With some clever angles and Photoshop magic, he's able to transform dull locations into stunning settings that make for some incredible images.

He contrasts how the location of a photoshoot looks (labeled "LUGAR," Portuguese for "place") with how different the final edited photo makes it appear (labeled "FOTO") on his Instagram account.

Here's how he does it.

Gilmar Silva is a Brazilian photographer.



He's the mastermind behind breathtaking maternity photoshoots.



And romantic couple photos.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The best coffee grinders you can buy

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best coffee grinder

The Insider Pick:

  • Freshly ground coffee is addictive and delicious. If you want to make the perfect brew each morning, you need a coffee grinder. After much research and some testing, we found that the Baratza Encore Conical Burr Grinder is the best option for most people with its affordable $139 price tag and consistently great grinds.

There's nothing better than a perfect cup of coffee. If you're a coffee snob, you probably know that freshly ground coffee makes for a better cup of Joe. Coffee goes stale relatively quickly, so when you buy pre-ground beans, you may be losing some of your coffee's flavor. A good grinder will grind your beans to a uniform size so that you get the most out of your beans. Grinding beans every day before you make coffee may sound like a hassle, but a grinder can quickly pulverize your beans to maximize their flavor.

Coffee grinders range from the incredibly affordable to the absurdly expensive. You can get grinders at any point in between as well. We've tested a few coffee grinders and researched dozens more to find the best ones you can buy. Before we get into our picks, these are the key terms and features you need to know.

Blade versus Burr grinders

There are two main types of coffee grinders: blade and burr grinders. Purists say that you shouldn't even consider blade grinders because they don't grind the coffee beans to a nice uniform particle size, which results in an uneven and unpredictable brew. Blade grinders are much cheaper than burr grinders, though, and not everyone will be able to afford the pricier burr grinders. As such, we've included one blade grinder and the rest are burr grinders at varying price points.

When you start looking at burr grinder machines, there's a lot more to know. As The Wirecutter explains, "burrs work by using two serrated pieces of metal or ceramic that are positioned a specific distance apart from each other (depending on the grind) and rotate to crush the beans to the exact size you want." Here are the different types of burrs used on most machines:

  • Flat versus Conical burrs: There's much debate over which type of burr is better, but they perform pretty similarly, so you shouldn't worry too much about this point. Flat burrs are two parallel rings with a space between them where the beans enter to be sheared into coffee grounds, while conical burrs involve a cone in a ring that grinds your beans down to the right size.
  • Steel versus Ceramic burrs: Steel burrs are more affordable and more common in coffee grinders, but they don't last as long as ceramic ones do. Ceramic burrs are typically used in manual hand grinders and for grinding espresso beans perfectly.

Having a powerful, consistent, and well-made grinder is essential to making the most out of your beans. These are the best grinders you can buy, ranging from less than $20 to $230.

Updated on 03/26/2018 by Malarie Gokey: Updated prices, added links to other coffee gear guides, removed the KRUPS GX5000 Professional Electric Coffee Burr Grinder due to longevity concerns after prolonged testing, added the Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill as our new under $50 pick.

Read on in the slides below to learn why the Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder is our top pick and why you should also consider the Capresso 560.01 Infinity Burr Grinder, the Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill, the Baratza Virtuoso Conical Burr Coffee Grinder, the KRUPS F203 Electric Spice and Coffee Grinder, and the Hario Mini Mill Slim Hand Coffee Grinder.

SEE ALSO: The best espresso machines you can buy

The best coffee grinder overall

Why you'll love it: The Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder produces consistently uniform coffee grounds for all grind settings, and it costs far less than other high-end models.

Every coffee expert will tell you that the least amount of money you should spend on a coffee grinder is $100 because you get what you pay for in the coffee world. Although there are fancier high-end models that cost hundreds more than the Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder, this really is the best grinder for most people.

The Encore is considered the ultimate entry-level burr grinder for coffee enthusiasts at home. You really don't need more than what the Encore offers. It has 40 individual grind settings, ranging from fine to coarse and everything in between. Once you find the perfect setting for your tastes, you're all set.

It runs on a DC motor with electric and gear speed reducers that slow the burr to 450 RPM to reduce noise, static, and unwanted variations in particle size. The Encore is a great all-around grinder that performs nearly as well and consistently as the pricier competition.

Baratza also has a great repair program, so if your machine needs a repair or a full cleaning, they'll take care of it for you for a fee.

User reviews on Amazon are mostly positive, and many say there's no need to pay more for a high-end grinder. The Wirecutter named the Encore its best coffee grinder. Home Grounds highly recommends it, as does Lifehacker and Foodal.

Pros: Conical burr grinder, 40 grind settings, easy to use, reliable, consistent, relatively affordable, a good repair program

Cons: One-year warranty is a bit short, it's entry-level — not high-end

Buy the Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder on Amazon for $139.00



The best burr grinder for less than $100

Why you'll love it: The Capresso 560.01 Infinity Burr Grinder consistently grinds coffee beans to the ideal size for great coffee, and it costs less than $100.

High-end burr grinders are very expensive, but luckily, there are many great options out there for less than $100. Of the more mid-range grinders, the Capresso 560.01 Infinity Burr Grinder is the very best.

This 100-watt conical burr grinder has 16 grind settings, which range from super fine Turkish ground coffee to very coarse grounds that are perfect for French Press coffee. The grinder's conical burrs come from Switzerland and they're matched for a better fit and more consistent grind.  

The clear bean container at the top holds 8-1/2 ounces of coffee beans, and the clear grounds container holds four ounces of freshly ground coffee. The Capresso Infinity has a built-in timer to ensure that your beans aren't ground too fine. It's relatively easy to clean and comes with a 1-year limited warranty.

It may not be quite as consistent as high-end expensive grinders, but the Infinity is an excellent deal for a burr grinder costing less than $100. Buyer reviews on Amazon are mostly positive, and The Wirecutter named it the best budget pick for a burr grinder. 

Pros: Conical burr grinder, reasonable price, 16 grind settings, timer, easy to clean

Cons: Not as consistent as high-end models

Buy the Capresso 560.01 Infinity Burr Grinder on Amazon for $96.52 (originally $120)



The best burr grinder under $50

Why you'll love it: The Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill costs just $40 on sale and it produces a good quality grind that tastes great.

Not everyone has hundreds of dollars to spend on a coffee grinder, but if you've got $40 burning a hole in your pocket, check out the Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill. This burr grinder originally cost $90, but since it's discounted on Amazon for about $40, it's an incredible deal.

It has 18 different grind settings, so you can get your beans down to a fine grind for espresso or a coarser grind for French press coffee. The dial is easy to twist and the settings are clearly labeled, making it easy to adjust the grind. The grind isn't perhaps as fine or precise as you'd expect from a fancier grinder, but with some experimentation, you should be able to find a setting that works for your taste. 

Cuisinart says the chamber holds enough ground coffee for 32 cups of coffee, but your mileage will vary based on how coarse or fine you grind your beans. The 8-ounce bean hopper holds a decent amount of beans at a time, too. It'll automatically turn off when it's gone through all the beans in the hopper.

Expert reviewers give the Cuisinart grinder good marks given its affordable price tag. Best Reviews calls it the best bang for your buck, but the testers mention that the grind isn't quite as fine or consistent as serious coffee fanatics might like.

Coffee-loving bloggers at Home Grounds, Coffee Aficionado, and Know Your Grinder all agree that while it's certainly not a high-end grinder, for $40, it's a good deal, and most people will be happy with it.

Buyers on Amazon also give it good ratings, and reviews largely say the same thing: If you want an affordable grinder that's good, buy the Cuisinart Burr Mill; if you want the best, buy a more expensive high-end grinder.

Pros: Affordable on sale, burr grinder, easy to use, grinds a good amount of coffee

Cons: Not as precise as more expensive grinders

Buy the Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill on Amazon for $40.41 (originally $90) 

Buy the Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill at Walmart for $40.41



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Despite the grueling work environment, high turnover rate, and growing concerns about leadership, White House staffers would still recommend the job to a friend

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Donald Trump interns

• The White House currently has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from Glassdoor reviewers.

• Business Insider looked at 67 Glassdoor reviews written between 2009 and 2018 (or through President Barack Obama's administration and President Donald Trump's) by full-time and part-time White House staffers.

• Reviewers mentioned a number of recurring themes, including a wealth of post-White House job opportunities and an intense, demanding work schedule.

• For the most part, staffers had nicer things to say about President Barack Obama than they did about President Donald Trump.



White House jobs come with highs and lows, just like any other gig.

Unlike most jobs, however, workplace turbulence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue spawns headlines. The high turnover rate among President Donald Trump's senior staffers has attracted much scrutiny, in particular.

But what's the environment like for White House employees who aren't necessarily high profile?

Business Insider looked through 67 Glassdoor reviews written by people who said they were part-time or full-time White House staffers and interns. There isn't too much data specifically focused on the Trump White House just yet. Of the reviews that Business Insider looked at, 57 were posted before January 20, 2017, the day Trump took office.

Still, the White House's Glassdoor ratings provide an interesting glimpse into the working environment at the most famous address in the world.

Overall, the White House earned a 4.6 out of 5 rating from reviewers — quite a high score. But some categories raked in more praise than others. And reviewers consistently complained about intense work hours and low pay.

At the same time, a whopping 98% of reviewers would recommend working at the White House to a friend, and that number has held steady from President Barack Obama's administration through Trump's administration right now.

Here's a look at what it's like to work at the White House, according to Glassdoor reviewers:

SEE ALSO: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?: Everyone who's fled or been fired from the Trump White House

DON'T MISS: When Trump fired Rex Tillerson, he may have committed one of the worst sins as a boss

The job is frequently all-consuming

Long hours and a "sporadic" workflow are apparently the order of the day at the White House.

"There is an insane amount of work," wrote on anonymous employee on October 18, 2017.

Reviewers rated the work-life balance at the White House a measly 2.7 out of five, indicating that it's not for people who hope to balance their personal and professional lives.

And, while many news reports have focused on the reported chaos gripping the Trump administration, the intense work environment for lower level staffers isn't a recent development. According to reviewers, it's just the nature of the White House.

One program analyst described a "pressure cooker environment" in a February 11, 2012 post, back during Obama's administration.

"You have to be available 24/7, including holidays," a general director of public opinion wrote in September 2, 2014. "Be aware that sometimes management can be vague about what they want or what they need, so you have to be very cautious about each situation."



The compensation has mixed reviews

A White House gig isn't necessarily a ticket to a high salary. Reviewers gave the compensation and benefits a score of 2.9 out of five.

Writing on April 19, 2017, one anonymous employee wrote that, not only do White House employees receive "low pay," but there's also "little focus on professional development and personal growth."

And another earlier reviewer, a senior analyst and project manager, bemoaned bringing home "government pay in a pricey city" on July 20, 2016.

Then again, these Glassdoor reviews and ratings include those of both part-time staffers and interns; the latter group has historically been unpaid.

Meanwhile, other reviewers have praised "the full suite of standard employee benefits" that come with federal positions, as a former marketing communications worker wrote on April 13, 2015.



Service is valued — but some reviewers have expressed concerns for the future

Overall, the White House's culture and values category obtained a 3.6 rating out of five. The value of service, in particular, is a common theme in these Glassdoor reviews.

"I was surrounded by professionals whose service-oriented values systems mirrored the one in which I had grown up," wrote an anonymous employee on July 3, 2014, during the Obama administration.

And, on February 16, 2018, an anonymous employee expressed appreciation for having "the opportunity to make a real difference in people's lives."

But the outlook for the White House seemed to sour a bit after January 20, 2017.

One reviewer referred to Trump as "a dumpster fire" on July 20, 2017, while another wrote on April 19, 2017 that they disapproved of the current president and that the workplace experience is "completely dependent" on the administration.

These negative reviews come from a small sample, but Trump has claimed to promote "conflict" and turnover in the past, Business Insider reported. What's more, the Trump administration has attracted controversy for reportedly having West Wing employees sign un-enforceable NDAs.



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The top pop song from the year you were born

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Cher oscars 1998

Every year, the Billboard 100 chooses the best performing pop song from the previous year, based on units sold and chart performance.

Some of these songs never even hit number one, like "Hanging by a Moment," but it was on a Billboard chart for almost a full year, ubiquitous on the radio and in pop culture.

There are also a few one-hit wonders on the list, ranging from "Bad Day" of "American Idol" fame to "Somebody That I Used to Know," by Australian singer Gotye.

Scroll on to see what the top pop songs have been for the past 50 years.

1968: "Hey Jude"— The Beatles

"Hey Jude" was originally titled "Hey Jules," after John Lennon's son Julian.

Watch the music video here.



1969: "Sugar, Sugar"— The Archies

The Archies were a virtual band comprised of characters from the Archie comics: Archie, Betty, Jughead, Veronica and Reggie.

Watch the music video here.



1970: "Bridge Over Troubled Water"— Simon and Garfunkel

"Bridge Over Troubled Water"won five Grammys in 1971.

Listen to the song here.



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3 charts show how MoviePass is changing the movie theater business, but 'playing a dangerous game'

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moviepass business insider

Since MoviePass dropped its monthly subscription price to $9.95 in August, there’s been talk around the industry about how the company can sustain itself over a long period of time.

While that's still yet to be determined, MoviePass is already giving some of the biggest movie chains in the country a lot of business, according to Second Measure, a firm that analyses US consumer spending on anonymized debit and credit card transactions.

Here are three charts provided by Second Measure that show the influence of MoviePass:

SEE ALSO: "Solo: A Star Wars Story" actor says they were doing 30 takes per scene before the original directors were fired and Ron Howard took over

MoviePass membership climbs with each subscription price cut — but that's a 'dangerous game'

MoviePass’ numerous price cuts on membership have helped drive up its subscription numbers to over 2 million and CEO Mitch Lowe hopes to pass 5 million by the end of the year.

The initial $9.95 cut led to a subscription growth of more than 16-fold in one month. November’s $6.95 per month cut led to 14% opting for the full-year deal and a quarter of those annual subscribers purchasing more than one membership. That month, sales were five times greater than October.

However, Second Measure believes MoviePass is playing a “dangerous game.” The lower the subscription price drops, the more money the company stands to lose every time it buys a full-price ticket for its millions of users.



Theater sales have skyrocketed since the growth of MoviePass members spiked

Theater owners will like this one. Theaters are making substantially more money from MoviePass subscribers compared to how those people spent before having a membership.

MoviePass subscriptions brought in 81% more sales at AMC than one year prior, and 101% more sales to Cinemark. And that’s not counting the concessions these folks paid for with cash.



Competition is coming

It was only a matter of time before MoviePass imitators came on the scene and Cinemark’s Movie Club is the first major one. For $8.99 a month, you receive one ticket per month (it can be rolled over to the next month if not used). Though it’s not as sexy as MoviePass’ one-movie-a-day deal, people are doing it.

Since its launch in December, Movie Club has enrolled 1/5 as many new users as MoviePass did in that time period.

Nothing MoviePass has to worry about just yet. But there’s now someone in its rear-view mirror.



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6 books to read if you want to improve your mental strength

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  • Successful sports-people and competitors use a number of mental strategies to enhance their physical performance. 
  • Olympian Matthew Syed investigates the psychology of resilience, identifying the best ways to persevere when facing mental hurdles. 
  • If we are fully engaged while practicing a task, our subconscious will later enable us to carry out the same task effectively under pressure. 

Editor's note: This post originally appeared on Quora, in response to the question, "Which are the best books to read for mental strength?"

I've always been fascinated by the mental aspect in sports, music, and personal development. I'm a firm believer that we can train our minds, just as we train the muscles in our bodies to grow stronger and more adept.

When I was in competitive athletics during high school and college, I felt mentally weaker than my peers. That's probably the reason why I've always studied approaches that would strengthen this muscle.

Unfortunately, there are no quick fixes or easy hacks for mental strength. There's no way of getting around the process. But you can learn how to make the process work better for you.

Over the years, I've picked up a number of great books about the mental game, the mind-body connection, and the secrets of learning new skills.

Here are six of my favorites:

Screen Shot 2018 03 22 at 5.11.01 PM

1. Effortless Mastery: Liberating the Musician Within by Kenny Werner

2. Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance by W. Timothy Galloway

3. The Mental ABC's of Pitching: A Handbook for Performance Enhancement by H.A. Dorfman

I've grouped the first three books together because they all reflect on the same aspects of the mental game—the connection between your conscious mind, your subconscious, and your performance.

Each of these books provides great instruction in the individual fields of music, tennis, and baseball. But they're also incredibly helpful for anyone who wants to master a skill.

Taking pitching, for example. When you get up on the mound, you don't actually want to focus on all the little details you have to do to throw a strike. You want to let your subconscious take over, so you're in a near-meditative state and your movements are on autopilot.

The interesting part is that while you should be on autopilot during the game—or on stage in the concert hall—you don't want to be on autopilot while practicing. You should avoid it like the plague. To practice well, you have to be fully conscious and engaged with what you're doing. This lets you focus fiercely on the techniques involved.

But when you perform under pressure, fierce concentration is not an option. Batters don't have time to think, "I need to hit the ball." They remove their conscious mind from the picture and let their muscle memory take over.

That's why each book gives techniques for practicing consciously, so you perform unconsciously.

SEE ALSO: How to break up with someone the right way

4. 'Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance' by Alex Hutchinson

The premise of Endure is that our brains have something called a "central governor." It kicks in when your body becomes stressed. Your brain starts telling you that you're fatigued, and you need to slow down or stop what you're doing to survive.

Hutchinson suggests that our brains include a margin of safety in that survival response. It starts sending signals that you're fatigued when you still have 20-40% more to give. Your brain doesn't want you to go all the way to the edge, because that could lower your chances for survival.

But the edge is where athletes find success.

That's why Endure is an interesting read for runners, or anyone who has to push themselves physically on a regular basis.



5. 'Bounce: Mozart, Federer, Picasso, Beckham, and the Science of Success' by Matthew Syed

Written by two-time Olympian Matthew Syed, Bounce looks deep into the psychology of resilience. How do we stay focused and think of the long game when we're trying to achieve our goals? How do we handle ups and downs, and stay resilient as we slowly move forward?

This isn't a purely research-based book. Syed was an Olympic ping pong athlete who choked horribly in his first Olympics. The story revolves around how he came back from that experience and went on to win gold in the Commonwealth Games.



6. 'Peak: Secrets From the New Science of Expertise' by Anders Ericsson

Thanks to Malcolm Gladwell, most people know about the oft-misunderstood "rule" that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to achieve mastery. But that idea actually originated from research performed by Anders Ericsson. He discusses this research in Peak, which is essentially the Bible of building expertise.

One of the most interesting points Ericsson makes is about mental representations. Specifically, that there are vast differences between the mental representations of novices and experts. For example, I'm not an expert chess player. And that means the way I see a chess board is very different from the way a world class chess player sees it.

As people increase their skill levels, they begin to see things differently, breaking representations of physical objects into different "chunks." They recognize patterns and develop much more sophisticated mental representations. Chess boards, piano keys, and guitar frets are all seen differently by experts. And Ericsson dives into how to develop these sophisticated representations for yourself.

If you're interested in the mental game for personal or professional reasons, each of these books is useful in it's own way. The overarching theme that connects them all is this: You can develop your mental abilities in order to affect your physical actions.

Ultimately, developing mental skills is about developing behavior. Your mental effort is meant to change your behaviors, which in turn, helps you reach your goals and build your mental strength.



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A Chinese mother raising her son in the US reveals the biggest differences between American and Chinese parenting

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  • There is a lot to learn from looking at the cultural differences between Chinese and American parenting styles. 
  • For example, Chinese parents coach their children into learning new skills, whereas American parents are inclined to wait until the child shows initiative.
  • As her son grows older and experiences more, author Yan Mei knows that her cultural values and parenting strategies will grow and change as well.

My son was born in the US to a Chinese mother and a British father. He may speak fluent Mandarin, use chopsticks, say "lift" instead of "elevator," and enjoy Weetabix and crumpets at breakfast, but he calls New York home.

There's much more to multicultural parenting than language and food. In the past five years, I've gobbled up reams of parenting books, but I don't believe that there is such a thing as the perfect parent. We can't choose our parents, but we can choose what kind of parents we want to be, regardless of our cultural background.

Here are four major differences I've noticed between how Chinese parents and American parents raise their kids:

SEE ALSO: 20 things only Americans say

Americans parents are perennial cheerleaders for their kids in a way Chinese parents often are not

I used to roll my eyes when American parents lauded their children, exclaiming, "Good job!" or "You're great — I'm so proud of you!" Chinese parents drill into their little ones the philosophy that "Modesty leads to progress, and conceit makes one drop behind" (谦虚使人进步, 骄傲使人落后).

Instead of praise, I remember my dad often said to me, "You can do even better next time if you work harder." I wondered why Americans acted like their kids' cheerleaders.

That changed when I read Amanda Ripley's " The Smartest Kids in the World, And How They Got That Way. " Ripley explains that back in the 1980s and '90s, "American parents and teachers had been bombarded by claims that children's self-esteem needed to be protected from competition (and reality) in order for them to succeed." Now I see that the self-esteem movement was a quintessentially American phenomenon.

Since then, research has instead pointed out that it's better for parents to applaud children's effort (rather than their talents). I've been using these praise strategies with my son, and his response makes me chuckle: "Yes, because I've worked really hard and used my brain."



Chinese parents take the lead, while Americans let their kids call more of the shots

One of my first insights into the different parenting strategies between American and Chinese cultures came at an unexpected milestone in my son's life: potty training.

In China, potty training is a parent-led job: The child is held over a potty, and a parent whistles or makes a "shh" sound. "Kids eventually associate the sounds with 'need to go,'" my mother claimed. "It's quick to learn. You were potty trained just after 1."

Well, it's safe to say that all my child's daycare friends were happily in diapers at that age. "Follow your child's lead," many American parents said. Our pediatrician also assured me starting potty training after age 3 was absolutely normal for a boy.

This disparity was demonstrative of a larger trend in parenting culture. Americans try to respect children's individuality and natural signs of interest, while Chinese parents tend to coach as early as possible and push kids to get on with it.



Chinese parents have great expectations for their children's achievement

"Parents can't always tell kids what to do, right?" my son asked recently asked me. We were discussing our favorite short films after returning from the New York International Children's Film Festival.

"I can now, but who knows in 10 years?" I said to myself.

Confucian culture emphasizes one's importance to the family, society, and other people, so Chinese parents often project their hopes and decisions onto the next generation. Almost every child growing up in a Chinese family heard their parents say, "I do it all for you!"

A tragic story of an immigrant family puts a spotlight on this traditional Chinese parent-child relationship.

Paul Li told his son Calvin that he would never be a professional football player because he was Chinese, and asked him to focus on his studies instead. Calvin died in a car crash just before he was about to start college.

"Even though I know maybe in reality he would not be a football player. But it was just the way I shattered his dream when he was small ... and I know for sure, there are other Chinese parents who are doing the same to their children right now. And I don't want that to happen," Li said.



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