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The 11 richest young musicians in Britain

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Zayn Malik

The Sunday Times Rich List calculates the wealth of the 1,000 richest people in Britain.

While the full list will be published on Sunday May 13, a list of the richest musicians has already been revealed — as well as the richest musicians under 30 years old.

The list is calculated by each star's "identifiable wealth," which includes land, property, assets like art and racehorses, and shares in public companies. It does not include the amount in any private bank accounts.

This year, the richest young musicians under 30 include members of bands as well as solo artists.

Scroll down to see the 11 richest young musicians under 30 in Britain, ranked in ascending order by wealth.

SEE ALSO: The 36 richest musicians in Britain

=11. Winston Marshall (Mumford & Sons) — £11 million.



10. Jessie J — £18 million.



9. Sam Smith — £24 million.



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The incredible rise of 'Avengers: Infinity War' star Chris Hemsworth, from Australian soap operas to playing Thor

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Liam Hemsworth

Chris Hemsworth is more popular than ever thanks to back-to-back hits as Thor with "Thor: Ragnarok" in 2017 and "Avengers: Infinity War."

But in an alternate world, there might be a different Hemsworth playing the god. The middle Hemsworth brother (all three are actors) had to compete against his brother Liam for the role of Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

But the brothers have a fun, professional sibling rivalry that doesn't interfere with their relationship.

Chris Hemsworth got his start on Australian soap operas and was cast on "Dancing with the Stars Australia." From there, he moved to the US and was swept up in Hollywood and cast as James Kirk's father in the 2009 "Star Trek" reboot. Hemsworth quickly rose to stardom from there.

But he's not all about his career. He is also an ambassador for an Australian children's charity, and takes great pride in how many Thor hammers he owns.

Find out where Hemsworth grew up, how many Thor hammers he has in his bathroom, and more below:

SEE ALSO: 'Avengers: Infinity War' director says fans 'could be equally upset with Thor' over the movie's ending

Hemsworth was born in 1983 in Melbourne, Australia, and eventually moved to the rural Phillip Island off the southern coast of Australia. His mom is a teacher and his dad is a counselor.



Hemsworth, 34, is the middle of two brothers: Luke, 37, and Liam, 28. All three are actors.



Their mother raised them on a vegetarian diet.



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I 'Netflix-cheat' on my partner — here's how it affects our relationship

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Netflix

  • Netflix binge watching is a common guilty pleasure, whether you watch after work, class, or a long weekend out partying.
  • Many opt to view the latest series with friends, family, or their significant other, but sometimes your Netflix partner may not have the time to binge watch an entire season on a Tuesday night like you
  • Here’s what happened when I cheated on my Netflix partner.

 

I like to consider myself a good partner. I’m attentive, supportive, and always go out of my way to show my significant other that I love and appreciate her.

I’m far from perfect, of course, but perhaps my most serious downfall in our relationship is my tendency to Netflix cheat. After all, who could blame me for wanting to power through every available episode of “Terrace House: Opening New Doors” in one sitting?

According to research from Netflix, 46% of couples who watch Netflix together have "cheated" and watched shows without their partner, as Business Insider previously reported.

It’s not my fault that I want to finish a full season in one night, while she prefers to space it out a bit. While our different viewing habits haven’t caused any major rifts — it’s just TV, after all — it has affected our relationship both negatively and positively.

SEE ALSO: All 65 of Netflix's notable original shows, ranked from worst to best

1. I sometimes accidentally reveal spoilers

I never mean to tell her what happens in episodes of series she hasn’t seen yet — it just slips out. If it’s a particularly important storyline, I tend to get excited and want to talk about it, so I’ll mention it to my partner without realizing that she’s five episodes behind. Oops!

While I’ve managed to keep most of the big stuff to myself, she now realizes that she needs to warn me about spoilers so I don’t inadvertently blurt them out.



2. We end up watching totally different things

While we obviously have shows in common that we want to watch together — ”Orange is the New Black,” “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” and “Jessica Jones” among them — my love of Netflix binge watching often leads me to browse through various categories and discover new shows, movies, or documentaries that I didn’t know existed and end up loving.

For example, she’s never seen “Dear White People,” while I watched the series at the gym every morning for 10 days and fell in love. Same goes for “Lost in Space.”

If this happens while my partner is working or not at home, I power on without her and our viewing habits end up seriously diverging. Luckily, we’re both cool with that.

That puts both of us squarely in the 32% of Netflix cheaters who don’t feel guilty about it, according the Netflix survey.



3. I get embarrassed when she sees what I’ve been watching

Netflix lets each viewer build their own profile, but my partner and I have never felt the need for that. My cheating often leads to my watching many more shows than she does.

She can see my recently viewed programs when she logs in, and it’s vaguely embarrassing when she sees that I’ve been powering through “Shut Ins: Britain’s Fattest People” all week.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The best pacifiers you can buy

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

best pacifier

The Insider Pick:

  • Nothing soothes a fussy baby quite like a pacifier. We've tested dozens of pacifiers over the years to find the best ones you can buy for every scenario, price, and age range. The MAM Perfect Pacifier is our top pick because it soothes babies, looks cute, won't disrupt tooth alignment, and a two-pack costs less than $10.

Binkies, doonies, pacis, soothies, bippies, buppies, hushies are all names for pacifiers. As many experienced parents know, your baby’s favorite pacifier will get you out of a lot of jams — especially when the breast or the bottle are not on the menu, and you all just need a little break. As the mother of a former pacifier-addict, I know my way around the binkie market.

Even though pacifiers have been around for hundreds of years, according to The New York Times, there has been and continues to be some controversy surrounding their use. From bizarre claims that they encourage masturbation (um, what?) to more fact-based assertions that they might cause “nipple confusion” in breastfed babies, or contribute to orthodontic issues down the road, not everybody is pro-pacifier.

That said, there are a host of positive findings about pacifier use, including their strong analgesic effect, and correlation with a lower instance of SIDS. With so many different kinds of pacifiers available on the market now, nervous moms and dads can choose the right size and shape for each stage of infant growth, greatly lessening any cause for orthodontic concerns. This good news, combined with safer, more advanced versions of pacifiers being sold, plus their incredible ability to comfort a fussy little one, make pacifiers a part of most parents’ must-have list.

All in all, most western babies use pacifiers during some stage of their infanthood, and plenty of hospitals, doctors, dentists, and other health professionals recommend them without hesitation. My husband and I purchased my daughter’s first pacifier from the lactation clinic in the hospital where she was born and where my husband is also a doctor.

Since there are so many kinds of pacifiers available now, choosing the right one for each stage and circumstance of babyhood can be confusing, but we did the research, consulted the trusted sources, and tested over a dozen kinds on my daughter.

Here are our top picks for the best pacifiers you can buy:

Read on in the slides below to learn all about our top picks for the best pacifiers you can buy.

The best pacifier overall

Why you'll love it: The MAM Perfect Pacifier is made from extra thin BPA/BPS-free silicone to reduce the risk of tooth misalignment, while the soothing shape stays in baby’s mouth.

The MAM Perfect Pacifier comes in different sizes for babies ages zero to six months, six months plus, and 16-months plus. From the moment my daughter was three months old, to the day she put her binkie down for good, MAM pacifiers were her favorite.

I basically bought them in bulk. We lost or misplaced so many pacifiers between home, daycare, baby music class, and rides on planes, trains, and automobiles, that we were continually buying and trying more brands on the go, based on whatever the nearest store was carrying. We tried probably over a dozen brands throughout her infancy and early toddlerhood, but we kept coming back to MAM.

When I was researching binkie brands for my family, I was attracted to MAM because of the company's impressive record of scientific and medical research, all of which went into product development. After reading up on the use of pacifiers the only possible negative that really worried me had been potential dental damage down the road. According to MAM's website, its pacifier design was developed with dentists and orthodontists to “reduce the risk of misaligned teeth” and was “clinically tested by the Dental University Clinic of Vienna,” which was good enough for me.

During my daughter’s prime days of binkie use she was too young to tell me exactly why she preferred the MAM brand, but I think the round, soft shape and subtly bumpy silicone texture that, according to the website, best approximates the real thing, felt most familiar to her, and also kept the point from simply falling out of her mouth while she wasn’t actively sucking. They also come inside a clear plastic storage case that can be used to disinfect the pacifiers in your microwave.

She used the MAM “original” pacifier. Recently, the company has come out with a brand-new “perfect” pacifier made from the same ultra-soft patented silicone (BPA and BPS free), which is now even thinner and softer.

The pacifier is also “…on average: 36–76% thinner, and two to eight times softer than regular silicone pacifiers,” meaning it stays comfortably nestled into your baby’s mouth without causing extra pressure. I picked one up on Amazon to see the new design for this article, and will definitely be keeping this one in the closet for my next kid.

Pros: Orthodontist-recommended design and high-quality materials make for a comfortable and soothing option with several safety features

Cons: A few moms have reported the air-flow design leaves marks on extra chubby cheeks (which is a really cute problem to have, honestly)

Buy a 2-pack of the MAM Perfect Baby Pacifier on Amazon for $8.99



The best pacifier for newborns

Why you'll love it: The Wubbanub with Philips Avent Soothie Pacifier is a life saver with its hospital-recommended shape and a weighted plushie animal that keeps it from falling out.

This pacifier is actually a two-for-one product, since the ingenious Wubbanub pacifier is really two products in one. The inventor, momtrepreneur Carla Schneider, started with the hospital-recommended all-star newborn pacifier, the Philips Avent Soothie for newborns, and connected it with a wide variety of small bean-filled, and adorable plushie animals designed to rest on baby’s chest and keep the pacifier from falling out when little ones fuss.

And believe me, if you’re a parent you already know this, but if you’re doing research for a future baby, you will soon learn: The struggle to keep a neonate’s pacifier in your baby's mouth comfortably is incredibly real.

As one 5-star reviewer on Amazon wrote, “[Before Wubbanub, the pacifier] would fall out, [the baby] would cry, and mom or dad would have to get up put it in many times a night. As sleep-deprived new parents getting up every few hours to feed him, this routine got old real fast. The problem is the infant pacifier that we started using when we came home from the hospital kept falling out and down next to him. He would start to cry. Put it back in and happy baby… [The Wubbanub] worked wonderfully. If it falls out of the baby's mouth and you have the baby on the back as almost every baby sleep expert recommends, the pacifier will stay on the baby's chest. The baby can then put it back in at will.”

Before my husband and I found the Wubbanub, we took turns popping the pacifier back in our sometimes-colicky tiny daughter’s mouth all night long. We even tried kind of wedging the top of her swaddle over the edge of her Philips Avent to keep it in place which, looking back, was probably not a great idea.

I’ve heard of moms with older kids even bribing their older toddlers and kids to sit by their newborns during the and pop their pacifier back in when it falls out. The Wubbanub isn’t a 100% solution for falling binkies, but it’s much better than the unweighted alternatives when you’re a desperate, sleep-deprived parent of a newborn.

One of the only drawbacks many parents discover is that the combination of a cloth plushie with a silicone pacifier tip is rather hard to disinfect. What I did (and what many reviewers on Amazon advise) is throwing the whole thing in the washing machine occasionally, and holding just the silicone tip in boiling water as needed.

Pros: Non-invasive shape less-likely to cause “nipple confusion” in newborn infants, while the attached weighted plush toy keeps things in place when baby fusses

Cons: Hard to disinfect

Buy the Wubbanub on Amazon for $14.88 (originally $19.08)



The best pacifier for toddlers

Why you'll love it: The Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Fun Pacifier has an orthodontic design that’s safe for toddlers who don’t want to give up their soother.

The Tommee Tippee brand is a well-known maker of baby bottles that are built to resemble a mother’s breast. As the product description states, the “symmetrical orthodontic nipple has been specially designed to help optimize baby acceptance and in independent tests, more babies accepted these new pacifiers the first time.” Basically, Tommee Tippee bottle bases and nipples are made to approximate the experience of breastfeeding, so that babies who use both breast and bottle won’t get confused or prematurely self-ween. Tomie Tippee's pacifiers follow the same basic idea.

Instead of a big round bulbous tip on the end like many pacifiers, the Tommee Tippee“closer to nature” design is a bit larger at the tip, but is totally symmetrical and narrows into the base without a big curve. This means that the shape and feeling of the silicone is more like a real live nipple. It won’t stay put in baby’s mouth as well as brands that have a bulbous tip, but by the time your little one is a toddler, they can handle that part all on their own.

Lots of reviewers on Amazon state that this signature nipple shape is the only one their kiddos like, with one mom going so far as to say, “These pacifiers LITERALLY helped change my life.” The silicone is BPA-free and easy to disinfect, but according to another couple of reviewers, they’re easy to clean, but can sometimes get water stuck inside the nipple during washing.

Most of the negative reviews and comments about buying on Amazon are about the fact that you can’t choose which colors you get. I understand this bothers some people, but I’m one of those revolutionaries who thinks there’s no such thing as “boy colors” and “girl colors,” so that didn’t bother me.

Pros: A BPA-free symmetrical silicone shape that toddlers love

Cons: The design sometimes allows water to get trapped inside

Buy a two-pack of Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Pacifiers 18-36 months on Amazon for $6



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

10 mistakes you're making that are ruining your outfits

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clueless plaid outfits

We've all seen that person in the office or on our morning train who always looks like they have a complete glam squad helping them get ready. Their flawless look may leave you thinking you need way more time and money to even come close. But the truth is, when it comes to style, less is more.

You don't have to spend a lot of money to achieve a great look. When it comes to looking your best, a little effort can go a long way. Making sure that what you wear is clean and fits properly is a great place to start.

Whether you're spending a night out on the town or a day at the park, these simple tips can help you present a polished, pulled together look every time.

You're wearing clothes with wrinkles

Leaving the house in wrinkled clothing can turn even your most flattering outfit into a fashion disaster. There's nothing stylish about showing up to your meeting looking like you just rolled out of bed.

In fact, in a poll done by the dating app Zoosk, this was seen as the number one fashion turn-off. 

Give yourself a few extra minutes to iron the wrinkles out of your outfit. That little step can make a huge difference when you want to look your best. If you're reluctant to break out the ironing board because you're short on time or space, a handheld steamer is a quick, effective way to keep your clothes wrinkle-free.  



You're trying to be too trendy

There's nothing wrong with letting your outfits be inspired by looks from the runway. But don't try to create an exact replica of what you see. The result can leave you looking like you should be at a Halloween party.

Instead, try incorporating one of-the-moment piece into your basic wardrobe. Not only will you look more sophisticated, you can save a lot of money on trendy items that you may not wear again next year.



Your look is too matchy matchy

If you're known to play it safe with a monochrome look, try something new and get creative with your color combos.

"When you're wearing such a bold print, avoid matching your entire outfit so that your look doesn't become too overwhelming," StyleCaster suggested. 

Take some inspiration from the crayon bin and pull your look together using different shades of one color. Or try pairing a bold print with a simple, basic piece. If you need a little help, keep a color chart near your closet to help you determine what colors work best together.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

7 great movies you can watch on Netflix this weekend

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Spotlight 2015

Netflix has a lot of movies streaming at all times, and that can make it hard to figure which ones are worth watching in your free time.

To make that easier, we comb through Netflix's selection every week to find you a handful of movies that well worth your time.

We select a few that Netflix has added recently and mix in a couple that have been available for a while that you might have missed.

From the obnoxious '90s action thriller "Face/Off" to the 2016 Oscar winner "Spotlight," these are awesome movies on Netflix you can watch over the weekend.

Here are seven movies on Netflix you should check out (along with their scores from Rotten Tomatoes).

SEE ALSO: Why Disney rarely pays movie stars huge salaries

"Spotlight" (2015)

Netflix description: A team of reporters and editors at the Boston Globe relentlessly investigate a shocking child molestation cover-up by the Catholic Church.

Critic score: 97%

Audience score: 93%

"Spotlight" does an excellent job of making investigative journalism thrilling. Like "All the President's Men," it handles the sensitive topic as well as the real journalists who broke the story. It's made even better by its many great performances from Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo, and Liev Schreiber.



"Gangs of New York" (2002)

Netflix description: Amid the Irish and Italian rivalry that dominated New York City in the mid-1800s, young Amsterdam Vallon hunts his father's hateful murderer.

Critic score: 75%

Audience score: 81%

"Gangs of New York" is a bit of a drag at times, but the dense plot is captivating thanks to the performances from Daniel Day-Lewis and Leonardo DiCaprio. Don't let Cameron Diaz's terrible acting stop you from watching this movie — it's one of Martin Scorsese's most underrated movies and well worth a rewatch if it's been a while since you saw it.



"Bring It On" (2000)

Netflix description: Pressure mounts on the captain of a decorated cheerleading squad as she attempts to lead her crew to its sixth consecutive national title.

Critic score: 63%

Audience score: 66%

"Bring It On" is fun to watch for nostalgia's sake, and it dominated early 2000s culture. It also is a rare teen movie that's completely self-aware about what it is, making it better than the norm.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The most disproportionately popular job in the 40 biggest US cities

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fashion designer

  • Different jobs are concentrated in different parts of the country.
  • The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides a convenient measure for how concentrated certain jobs are in different metropolitan areas.

Different jobs are concentrated in different parts of the country.

Using recently released data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, we took a look at the most overrepresented job in the 40 biggest US metropolitan statistical areas, among professions with at least 1,000 employees in the region. Each of these metro areas has more people working these jobs per capita than the nation as a whole, based on the BLS' location quotients for those jobs, as described in our post looking at disproportionately popular jobs at the state level.

Here are the most disproportionately popular jobs in each of the 40 biggest US metro areas.

SEE ALSO: The most expensive college in every state

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA: Fashion designers

Number employed: 6,740

Employment per 1,000 workers: 0.724

Location quotient: 5.45

Median annual salary: $76,940

 



Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA: Theatrical and performance makeup artists

Number employed: 1,750

Employment per 1,000 workers: 0.290

Location quotient: 11.69

Median annual salary: $67,250



Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI: Occupational therapy aides

Number employed: 2,020

Employment per 1,000 workers: 0.440

Location quotient: 8.11

Median annual salary: $26,470 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This cupcake shop made famous by 'Sex and the City' is about to take over the US — here's what it's like to visit

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magnolia bakery 9141

  • Magnolia Bakery, a cupcake shop that started in Manhattan's West Village and was popularized by "Sex and the City," is planning on expanding across the United States.
  • The bakery already has nine locations in the US and 17 internationally. 
  • We visited the original location of the famed cupcake chain to see what it was all about. 

Magnolia Bakery, a little cupcake shop that started in Manhattan's West Village and was popularized with help from "Sex and the City," is about to take over the United States.

The cupcake chain has been slowly expanding under CEO Steve Abrams' guidance since he took over Magnolia in 2006. Currently, there are six Magnolia Bakery locations in New York, plus outposts in Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles. The chain also operates 17 international locations across seven different countries.

Earlier this week, Abrams told the Wall Street Journal that the company plans to open as many as 200 additional franchises across the US in the next five years. 

While some have argued that the cupcake craze has long been over, Abrams said that cupcakes only make up about a third of the company's sales. It also sells popular cakes and banana pudding. 

We recently stopped by the original Magnolia Bakery in the West Village to see what it was all about: 

SEE ALSO: Trader Joe's execs are revealing the grocery chain's secrets in a new podcast — here are 11 of the most surprising facts

Magnolia Bakery's original location is in a small building on the corner of Bleecker Street and West 11th Street in New York City.



The inside of the bakery was smaller than I expected it to be, and it smelled overwhelmingly like sugar.



The windowsills are lined with decorative cakes and cupcakes, carefully arranged on a pink-and-white polka-dot tablecloth.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The worst TV show of 2018 on each network — from Fox to Netflix to HBO

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our cartoon president worst shows

The first half of 2018 has seen the release of some great television, but it's also brought on a number of shows that are not so stellar. 

From Netflix's Kathy Bates-led, weed-dispensary sitcom, "Disjointed;" to Stephen Colbert's lackluster, animated Trump parody, "Our Cartoon President;" duds abound in the crop of new and returning shows that have aired so far this year.

To figure out which shows are worth avoiding, we turned to the reviews aggregator Rotten Tomatoes to select the most critically loathed scripted show that each network and service has released in 2018 so far. 

We excluded children's shows, talk shows, and docuseries, and we only selected from networks with multiple scripted shows that aired episodes in a 2018 season that had enough reviews to receive a "Fresh" or "Rotten" designation.

We also excluded a number of networks whose lowest-rated show was not under 70% on the critic scale, and used audience scores to break any ties within networks.

Here is the worst TV show of 2018 on each network so far, according to critics:

SEE ALSO: The best TV show of 2018 on each network so far — from FX to Netflix to HBO

ABC: "Splitting Up Together" (Season 1)

Critic score: 38%

Audience score: 86%

Summary: "Lena and Martin were once madly in love. But, like many marriages, time and circumstance eventually took their toll, and they decide that everyone's lives would be better if they got a divorce."

What critics said: "Oh, the romantic comedy series. Such a vexing format. When did this work? Does it ever?"— Newsday

Status: Pending



AMC: "McMafia" (Season 1)

Critic score: 69%

Audience score: 85%

Summary: "A multi-generational epic telling of the story of America's birth as a superpower through the bloody rise and fall of one Texas oil empire."

What critics said:"Simmering moral conflict within Alex is meant to create the hub of tension around which McMafia revolves, but that pot doesn't quite boil down as the writers may have intended."— Salon

Status: Renewed



CBS: "Instinct" (Season 1)

Critic score: 57%

Audience score: 59%

Summary: "Stars Alan Cumming as a former CIA operative who is lured back to his old life when the NYPD needs his help to stop a serial killer."

What critics said:"For a hardened CIA operative, Cumming's Dylan is more Pee Wee Herman than Homeland."— Boston Herald

Status: Pending



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Critics say these devices could ruin Ethereum and weaken faith in cryptocurrency altogether

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Ethereum ether cryptocurrency

So far, the device of choice to mine the ethereum cryptocurrency has been the traditional computer graphics card. 

That could soon change when specialized devices commonly known as "ASICs" are introduced later this year, which are much more efficient at mining cryptocurrencies than graphics cards.

Developers behind the ethereum cryptocurrency are worried about the introduction of ASIC devices, according to a story on Bloomberg. ASICs "could have a negative impact on the Ethereum community and therefore on Ethereum price," said Sam Doctor, a managing director at Fundstrat Global Advisors who spoke with Bloomberg. 

Check out what ASICs are, and why ethereum developers are concerned: 

SEE ALSO: How to make money mining bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies without knowing anything about it

First of all, a quick recap of what cryptocurrency mining entails and why people do it.

When someone is mining for cryptocurrency, they're making their computers verify digital cryptocurrency transactions, like a ledger. Verifying these transactions involves solving incredibly complex mathematical problems. The problems are so complex that your computer is most likely just a small contributor towards solving the problem – it's a mere "node" among several other nodes. 

Every computer that's verifying cryptocurrency transaction is part of the ledger, which helps make cryptocurrencies become decentralized compared to the centralized nature of traditional banking. Decentralization is one of the main selling points for cryptocurrencies. 

The allure of tasking your computer to solve these problems and verify crypto transactions is getting rewarded with a small bit of the cryptocurrency itself. Built-up over time, that reward could be pretty tempting, especially when the price of a cryptocurrency skyrockets, like bitcoin did in early 2017.

A miner is rewarded because the process of verifying crypto transactions actually uses up a lot of electricity, which can run up your electricity bill quite considerably. Without some kind of incentive, there would be few reasons to pay higher electricity bills to mine cryptocurrency. 



The best way to mine ether so far is to use computer-graphics cards.

The standard graphics card is primarily designed to render the visuals and graphics of pretty much anything you see on your computer screen. That includes your operating system whether it's Windows 10 or macOS, your apps, and video games. Graphics cards are also used by professionals for photo and video editing. 

These graphics cards are widely available consumer products used by pretty much anyone with a need for one. They can be bought at regular tech stores like Best Buy or at online stores like Newegg. 

It also turns out that graphics cards are good at solving the complex math problems to verify a crypto transaction. But they're not as good as ASIC mining devices. 

 



ASICs are basically devices that are designed to do one thing, and they're really good at it.

ASIC stands for "application-specific integrated circuit." In other words, an ASIC is a device that's designed for a specific purpose or use. By focusing on a single application, ASICs are often better than other devices that are designed around a broader set of applications. 

With that in mind, an ASIC can actually be any electronic device with a specific application, not just a cryptocurrency-mining device. Still, dedicated devices used for mining cryptocurrency are generally known as ASICs.

ASIC-mining devices are generally rectangular devices with barely any styling. Inside the utilitarian metal chassis are components that are much more efficient than traditional graphics cards at solving the math problems to verify crypto transactions because they're purely designed to mine cryptocurrencies. Traditional graphics cards have a much broader job description than ASIC devices, like rendering the graphics for visually intensive jobs like video games and video editing, and so they're not as efficient at mining cryptocurrencies as mining ASICs.

inside an asic mining device

You can think of it like the difference between soccer cleats and regular sneakers. Sneakers are extremely versatile – you can wear them pretty much anywhere and even play soccer with them. Soccer cleats, on the other hand, wouldn't be comfortable for taking a walk. They're specifically designed to offer traction and control on the slick grass of a soccer field, and they'll offer much better performance for playing soccer, if that's your intention. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

I rode China's superfast bullet train that could go from New York to Chicago in 4.5 hours — and it shows how far behind the US really is

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BeijingBullettrain Bullet train

  • China has the largest high-speed railway in the world, with 15,500 miles of track and most major cities covered by the network.
  • I recently took China's fastest "G" train from Beijing to the northwestern city of Xi'an, which cuts an 11-hour journey — roughly the distance between New York and Chicago — to 4.5 hours.
  • I found the experience delightful, with relatively cheap tickets, painless security, comfortable seats, air-conditioned cabins, and plenty of legroom.
  • It left me thinking about how far behind US infrastructure has become, when most comparable journeys still require expensive and tiring air travel.

 

Traveling to China can often feel like visiting the future. The cities stretch out for what seems like forever, while new skyscrapers, bridges, and futuristically designed landmarks spring up every year.

Nowhere is this feeling more apparent than when you encounter China's high-speed railway network. At 15,500 miles, the country's "bullet train" is the world's largest.

And it's getting larger.

The China Railway Corp., the country's government-owned train operator, is getting close to finishing the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, a high-speed rail line spanning more than 80 miles. And the country's plan is to create an extended network that covers 24,000 miles and connects all cities with a population greater than 500,000.

Currently, there are over 100 cities in China with a population greater than 1 million, a figure projected to grow to 221 cities by 2025.

The practical result of this is that you can pretty much travel in anywhere in China via high-speed rail. It's usually comparable in speed to air travel (once you factor in security lines and check-in) and far more convenient, as I found on a recent trip to China.

I had made plans to travel from Beijing to Xi'an, the capital of northwestern Shaanxi province and the imperial capital of China for centuries.

The distance between the two cities is around 746 miles, making it slightly more than two hours by plane, 11 hours by car, and anywhere between 11.5 hours and 17.5 hours on a regular train.

On China's top-of-the-line "bullet train," the journey takes 4.5 hours.

If I wanted to travel a comparable distance in the US by train — at 712 miles, New York to Chicago is the closest — it would take 22 hours, with a transfer in Washington DC. And that's with traveling on Amtrak's Acela Express, currently the fastest train in the US with a speed up to 214 km/h (150 mph).

Traveling on one of China's fastest bullet trains is an entirely different experience:

SEE ALSO: China's 'bullet train' network is the largest in the world — and it's about to get even bigger

I arrived at Beijing West Railway station a little over an hour before my train at 2:00 p.m. Built in 1996 and expanded in 2000, the railway station is the second largest in Asia, serving up to 400,000 people per day. It was very busy when I arrived.



China's railway network served nearly 3 billion passenger rides in 2016, a figure that has increased by about 10% each year. It's little surprise. The nationwide system covers 15,500 miles, a figure made more impressive when you consider the first line was built in 2008 for the Beijing Olympics.

China's first high-speed rail line was a single 70-mile demonstration line built specifically for the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

The country has set aside $550 billion in its current five-year plan (2016-2020) for expanding China's railway system, with an emphasis on high speed rail.

The massive development plan hasn't all gone smoothly. The country's top economic planning agency found that many cities and provinces were building far too expensive and ostentatious train stations far from city centers in an effort to get in on the development extravaganza, Beijing-based media company Caixin reported earlier this month. 

One railway expert told Caixin that local governments have been developing the stations far from city centers in the hopes that the facilities, which they want to link with the high-speed rail, can boost development and real estate prices. 

 

 

 



I had bought my rail ticket on CTrip, China's top e-travel agency. But for some reason, you still have to pick up your ticket in person, which requires navigating to the ticket lines and finding the one counter designated for English speakers. If there's one aspect of the high-speed rail system that could be improved, it's ditching hard tickets for e-tickets. But, knowing China's obsessive adoption of mobile phones and QR codes, I'm sure it won't be long.

Tip: Instead of using CTrip's website, book your rail ticket on the company's mobile Trip app. In November last year, CTrip acquired US online travel agency Trip.com and rebranded Trip as their global brand app.

It's far more user-friendly than the CTrip website (Chinese tech still has a lot to learn about UX). 



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The 30 best-selling cocktails in the world in 2018

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sidecar cocktail

From floral touches to smoke and fog, there seems to always be a new trend in the world of booze — but some cocktails simply stand the test of time.

Drinks International has released its list of the best-selling cocktails around the world in 2018, and it proves that most of today's popular drinks are new takes on the classics.

The website compiled the list by asking 106 of the best bars in the world — using the results of the World's 50 Best Bars list — to rank their 10 best-selling cocktails.

From Sidecars to Sazeracs, scroll down to see the 30 best-selling cocktails in the world, ranked in ascending order.

SEE ALSO: The 25 best-selling cocktails in the world in 2017

SEE ALSO: The biggest mistake people make when drinking wine is choosing the wrong glass — here's exactly how to drink Bordeaux, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, and pinot noir

30. Gimlet. Down 14 places since last year, this drink is essentially gin and juice — a 75/25 gin-to-lime-cordial ratio is what's most common.



29. Champagne Cocktail. There are variations of this drink, but they all aim to make fizz even more fancy. To make it, cover a sugar cube with bitters then pour Champagne over that.



28. French 75. Up two places since last year, this cocktail — made popular in Paris in the 20s — is made with London dry gin, lemon juice, sugar, and Champagne.



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People are shining a spotlight on companies' racial discrimination after Starbucks arrests — here are 6 incidents that show how common the problem actually is (SBUX)

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Starbucks Boycott

  • In April, two black men were arrested at Starbucks after asking to use the bathroom without having made a purchase. 
  • Footage of the event went viral and Starbucks apologized, announcing plans to close all stores for an afternoon to conduct racial-bias training.
  • In the weeks since, many similar incidents of seemingly unequal treatment have emerged, with companies including Airbnb, Waffle House, and Nordstrom receiving backlash.

 

The arrests of two black men at Starbucks have put a spotlight on how people of color — especially black people — are treated at restaurants and stores across the United States. 

Since footage of two men being arrested at a Philadelphia Starbucks went viral in April, countless other stories have emerged of similarly unfair treatment by other companies.

As many people of color have shared, these experiences are common. However, in 2018, people are now able to capture footage of the incidents on their cell phones. And, social media allows this footage to go viral, forcing companies to respond. 

Over the last month, a growing list of companies has faced backlash over the treatment of people of color in stores and restaurants. From a man who was choked while being arrested outside a Waffle House to three black teens who were accused of shoplifting by Nordstrom workers, people's stories are making the news. As a result, companies are being forced to grapple with how to best respond and, in many cases, apologize. 

Here's a list of incidents from the last month that reveals how common instances of seemingly unfair treatment actually are in 2018:

SEE ALSO: Starbucks will allow all people to use bathrooms '100% of the time' after the arrests of 2 black men who tried to use a shop's restroom without buying anything

Two black men arrested at Starbucks

In April, a video of two black men being arrested at a Philadelphia location of the coffee chain went viral. Employees called the police after the men refused to leave the Starbucks after asking to use the restroom without having purchased any drinks.

Starbucks apologized and announced plans to close all locations in the United States for the afternoon of May 29 to "conduct racial-bias education geared toward preventing discrimination in our stores." On Thursday, chairman Howard Schultz announced plans to open bathrooms to all people, 100% of the time. 



LA Fitness forces two black men out of the gym without reason

LA Fitness forced two black men to leave a gym in Secaucus, New Jersey, saying that they had not paid to be there. The men — one member and one using a guest pass — said they were repeatedly confronted by employees and police while trying to work out in April, soon after the Starbucks arrests. 

LA Fitness blamed the incident on employees' confusion. 

"We have spoken to the member to apologize and assure him that he and his guests are welcome in our clubs at all times," the company said in a statement to NBC."I can confirm that the 3 employees most closely associated with this incident are no longer with the company."



Woman forced to the ground, exposing her breasts, at Waffle House

Chikesia Clemons was arrested at a Waffle House in Saraland, Alabama, in April. Cell-phone footage of the arrest, taken by Clemons' friend, shows multiple officers physically wrestling Clemons to the ground, exposing her breasts.

Waffle House said in a statement that while the company was still "obtaining and reviewing information,""the information we have received at this point differs significantly from what has reportedly been attributed to Ms. Clemons."

"After reviewing our security video of the incident and eyewitness accounts, police investigation was appropriate," Waffle House's statement continued.



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I travel all the time, and these are the 10 things I never get on a plane without

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Airplane landing sunrise morning early flight

I've been living in New York City for the last five years, and over that time I've gotten used to frequent traveling. My family still lives in the Midwest and until recently my dearest friends lived in other states, so at least once a month I could be seen filing onto a bus, train, or plane to another destination.

And as with all things, practice makes (closer to) perfect.

Because of this, I've become much more discerning about what I travel with, in part because my job involves testing products to see which ones are worthwhile.

Below are 10 things I love to travel with, be it for their space, versatility, convenience, or reliability:

DON'T MISS: The 11 gadgets and tech accessories I used the most while traveling abroad

(Actually) wireless earbuds that save on space and add convenience.

I rarely travel with a checked bag anymore, so space is a top concern. For shorter trips where I don't want my Marshall over-ear headphones to take up prime real estate or get crushed, I bring along my Jaybird RUN truly wireless buds. They're tiny enough to keep in my pocket, and their charging case takes up less room than a pair of rolled socks. Plus, they've got an 8-hour playtime and on the off-chance I forgot to charge them beforehand, 5 minutes in their charging case gives me an hour of listening time. 

Jaybird RUN True Wireless In-Ear Headphones, available at Best Buy, $179.99



A carry-on that holds an impossible amount of things and can function as a duffel or backpack.

Plain and simple, this is the best carry-on bag I've ever found. Ever since Cotopaxi sent me a test unit almost five months ago, I haven't gone on a single trip without it.

It fits a lot, while still meeting airline restrictions for a carry-on, and since Cotopaxi is technically an outdoors gear brand, the bag itself is reminiscent of that. The Allpa inherited innovation from that space, like a low-profile harness that helps evenly distribute the weight of the pack so it's comfortable to wear even when stuffed to the brim.

It also opens like a suitcase, so you don't have to waste time digging to the bottom of a traditional backpack.

There are many great selling points to the Allpa, but for a frequent traveler, it's the versatility, durability, comfort, and roomy design that are perhaps the best of the best.

Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack, available at Cotopaxi, $199.95

Note: This bundle is currently backordered



The most comfortable and supportive socks that you'll ever wear.

It might seem silly to have a favorite pair of travel socks, but to be fair they're my favorite pair of socks for anything. While traveling, though, you're likely on your feet for hours on end, and it's nice not to have to worry about soreness or blisters. The honeycomb support system on Bombas' socks took two years to design, and is just one upgrade that makes them the most comfortable pair you'll own. 

Shop Bombas entire selection here.



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Here's what the cast of 'Solo: A Star Wars Story' looks like in real life

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Alden Ehrenreich is Han Solo and Joonas Suotamo is Chewbacca in SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY Star Wars

"Solo: A Star Wars Story" is the latest anthology film to join the franchise and the stars hit the red carpet Thursday night. 

The film follows a young Han Solo in his early smuggling days and features young versions of other icons including Chewie and Lando. Early reviews are surprisingly good, with many critics calling the movie "fun" and a "delight." 

"Solo" hits theaters May 25. 

See what the cast looks like in real life.

Alden Ehrenreich steps into iconic shoes to play a young Han Solo.

Ehrenreich met with Harrison Ford, who originated the role, to learn some valuable lessons.

"Tell them I told you everything you needed to know, and that you can't tell anyone," was one piece of advice Ford shared with Ehrenreich, the new Han Solo actor told Entertainment Weekly. 



Ehrenreich looked dashing in blue on the red carpet.

He is best known for his role in the Coen brothers' "Hail, Caesar!"



Woody Harrelson introduces Tobias Beckett, a criminal and Han's mentor, to the "Star Wars" universe.

"He is a very tough criminal," screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan told Entertainment Weekly of the new character. "And, as you might think with Woody, who has enormous humanity, it's not just that."



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The 11 best dog breeds, ranked

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queen elizabeth corgi

Dogs are the best.

Incredibly loyal, they comfort, protect, and love their humans unconditionally, making dogs superior to any other pet out there.

But not all dogs are created equal. These are the 11 best dog breeds, based on factors including health, personality, and overall popularity.

11. Portuguese Water Dog

Portuguese water dogs were originally bred to herd fish, retrieve lost tackle or broken nets, and act as couriers from ship to shore.

They’re good for people with allergies and make excellent companions since they are loving, independent, intelligent, and easy to train.

Portuguese water dogs also enjoy being petted and are friendly with strangers. Just be warned that like many larger dogs, boredom can cause them to become destructive.



10. Newfoundland Dog

Known as "nature's babysitter," Newfoundland Dogs are the absolute sweetest. Perhaps the best-known Newfoundland is the fictional Nana from "Peter Pan," who was so wonderful with children.

These gentle giants are highly loyal and easy to train, and are legendary for their docile temper.

Newfoundland dogs are also strong swimmers, and the breed was trained to rescue people from drowning — one dog even famously saved Napoleon Bonaparte.



9. Maltese

One of the most ancient of the toy breeds, Maltese dogs were bred to be sweet and adoring of their owners. The Greeks even erected tombs for their Maltese dogs, and in Elizabethan times, they were called "The Comforter" because it was believed they could relieve pain and cure illness.

Maltese dogs are also extremely hypoallergenic, with silky coats that don't shed.

And because of their size, these dogs are good for apartment living, too.



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I tried one of the most famous hot dogs in Chicago and it was delicious — but I made one huge mistake while ordering

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Hotdog, Portillo's, Chicago

  • Hot dogs in Chicago are a big deal.
  • Portillo's is a fast-casual restaurant that's located throughout Illinois and serves a classic Chicago-style hot dog.
  • Chicago is famous for its hot dog, which is an all-beef Vienna dog topped with mustard, neon-green relish, tomatoes, white onions, a pickle spear, sport peppers, and a shake of celery salt.  
  • The perfect Chicago hot dog needs to have 'OBR' — the optimal bite ratio of toppings — according to Chicago food expertSteve Dolinksy

 

The hot dog has historical significance in the city of Chicago. The all-beef Vienna dogs with the essential seven toppings nestled in a poppy-seed bun is a thing of culinary legend.

Even the award-winning, Michelin-star chef Grant Achez of Alenia — one of the best restaurants in America— tips his hat to his city's most classic food.

Portillo's, a chain resturant with a majority of its 53 locations scattered throughout Illinois, serves among other things, a classic Chicago-style dog.

Portillo's started as a simple hot dog stand in 1963. Known as "The Dog House," owner and founder Dick Portillo invested $1,100 into the business — only to grow his empire and reportedly sell it for nearly $1 billion in 2014 to Berkshire Partners.    

While in town for the James Beard Awards this month, I stopped at Portillo's to see what all the fuss is about.

It's obvious the people of Chicago love Portillo's.

In 2014, right after the company was sold, The Chicago Tribune reported that the newer Portillo's locations brought in an average of $7 to $8 million annually. In 2018, at around 11:30am on a Monday, I expected the Portillo's on W. Taylor Street near down town Chicago to be mostly empty — but upon walking in, I found diners already wrapping up their finished meals and heading out for the rest of their work day. 

I tried my first ever Chicago hot dog, and chatted about my experience with Chicago food expert and tour guide, Steve Dolinksy, whose insight into the city's favorite and most historic dish helped me appreciate it even more.     

SEE ALSO: I spent an entire day with top chefs and culinary leaders from around the world — this is what they served us from brunch to the after-party

I went to the Portillo's located at 520 W. Taylor Street. Like their other locations, this Portillo's serves a variety of foods including ribs, burgers, chicken sandwiches, salads, and more — but my plan was to eat the only menu item that matters: the hot dog.



Each Portillo's location is decked out in the theme of a different decade. This particular location is 1930s themed.



Portillo's hot dog menu options are straight forward. You're either ordering a classic Chicago style hot dog (regular or jumbo-sized), a chili cheese dog, or a Polish style dog.



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The 15 biggest differences between British and American weddings

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weddings america england

With the fast-approaching nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle— maybe you’ve heard of them? — it is quite likely that the topic of weddings is at the forefront of your mind.

But, if you are an American, one thing you may not realize is that the wedding you’re envisioning for Harry and Meghan isn’t exactly the one that’s going to happen.

This isn’t only because their wedding will be fit for royalty. As it turns out, there are a bunch of interesting, and fundamental differences between weddings in America versus those across the pond.

So, while you wait for your invite to the wedding of the year check out these surprising differences between British and American weddings.

British wedding toasts are more like roasts

At an American wedding, you can generally expect the toasts and speeches to rely heavily on sap and sentimentality. But at British weddings, the toasts might seem, well, rather rude.

According to Vogue, the goal of wedding speeches in the UK is to fully mortify its recipient. So, if you’re giving a toast in the US, you can prepare your standard touchy-feely fare. If you’re giving one in England, just pretend like you’re getting ready for a roast.



If you’re a woman, you probably won’t give a toast

According to Cosmopolitan, British weddings traditionally only have three sets of speeches —one from the groom, one from the father of the bride, and one from the best man. 



British wedding guests wear hats

One thing you can definitely be prepared to see at the upcoming royal wedding is some fancy headwear. According to PureWow, it is royal protocol for all royal women to wear hats on official occasions. (So, yes — Kate Middleton is going to be wearing one at the upcoming royal wedding.)

And if you were wondering, this isn’t just a royal thing — according to Vogue, almost every wedding outfit in the UK tends to be topped off (literally) with a fancy hat or fascinator.



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The 20 hardest colleges to get into in America

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Harvard Yale University College Football Students NCAA Bulldogs Crimson Fans

  • The hardest US college to gain acceptance to is Harvard University.
  • More than 90% of applicants get rejected.
  • Academic review site Niche ranked American colleges based on acceptance rate and standardized test scores.

With an acceptance rate of just 5.2% and typical SAT scores between 1430 and 1600, Harvard University is America's hardest college to get into, according to a list from the academic review site Niche.com.

The rankings are based on 2017 acceptance rates and SAT and ACT scores reported to the US Department of Education. College acceptance rates received a weighted average of 60% in the ranking computation, and SAT/ACT scores received a weighted average of 40%. Niche rounds acceptance rates to the nearest whole percentage.

Acceptance rates are listed below, along with the mid 50% SAT scores, which indicate the range in which 50% of students score.

Take a look at the top 20 hardest colleges to get into in the US:

SEE ALSO: The hardest college to get into in every state

20. Claremont McKenna College (Claremont, California)

Acceptance rate: 9%

Mid 50% SAT scores: 1320-1490



19. Swarthmore College (Swarthmore, Pennsylvania)

Acceptance rate: 13%

Mid 50% SAT scores: 1305-1530



18. Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, Maryland)

Acceptance rate: 13%

Mid 50% SAT scores: 1400-15670



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8 times crimes were solved by the internet

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woman doing research computer laptop

  • Volunteer sleuths have two advantages over traditional detectives when it comes to cold cases.
  • First, they have no deadlines.
  • Second, they don't have as many cases to juggle as full-time detectives.
  • This flexibility has allowed amateur sleuths to help authorities solve crimes.


The idea of brilliant amateur sleuths solving crimes in their spare time has always fascinated people. That's why old-school franchises like Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys stayed popular for so long — everyone wanted to do what they did.

Then, the internet came along. Suddenly, everyone was able to communicate with other online sleuths and armchair detectives became a thing. And although not every single hunch will turn into a successful arrest — just like for real detectives — it's still pretty fascinating what they can accomplish on the web.

From stolen laptops to decades-old cold murder cases, here's what can happen when regular people use the internet to solve crimes the police can't or won't.

When someone stole a laptop, the owner was able to turn on its camera and send the internet after who took it.

In 2011, Canadian web consultant Sean Power had his bag stolen while he was in the middle of flying home to Toronto. In it was his trusty MacBook Pro.

Four days after the fact, a free tracking tool called Prey alerted him to use of his laptop at some bar in Manhattan. Bonus: It provided him with active screenshots from his laptop — and then turned on the laptop's camera so he could see what was happening.

Power — who had around 12,000 Twitter followers at the time — promptly alerted Twitter and his followers were on the case. Since Power hadn't filed a police report, the police refrained from intervening.

Power's Twitter followers were able to get the whole bag back without incident.



When a 17-year-old girl ran away, her dad turned to the internet to help get his daughter back home safely — and it worked.

In 2011, Haley Wilson was a 17-year-old growing up in Amarillo, Texas. Right after Christmas, she decided to run away and left a note for her dad.

Her dad, Ray, was distraught. But instead of only filing the usual reports with police, he also decided to use all the online tools at his disposal.

He took to YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter to send out this video, which quickly went viral.

Not long afterward, Haley was found safe and sound in Carlsbad, California — much to her dad's relief.



Solving hit-and-run cases involving deaths can be especially tough — until you get the car experts at Jalopnik involved.

Telling someone that a vehicle is "a blue late-model Ford" doesn't narrow things down very much. But what if you could turn car part identification over to a small, dedicated group of people who absolutely live to discuss the intricate details of all things automotive?

In 2012, commenters on the automotive site Jalopnik helped the Waynesboro Virginia Police Department solve a fatal hit-and-run by correctly identifying a part that had fallen off the vehicle in question.

The item in question could only have come from an early 2000s Ford F-150 pickup truck — and that information directly led to two suspects being apprehended.



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