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8 things 'coasties' get wrong about the Midwest, according to people who live there

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Michigan

  • Midwesterners are sick of people thinking their region is just corn and white people. 
  • Nearly two dozen shared with Business Insider what they think "coasties" get wrong about the Midwest.
  • The most popular complaints: Don't think all Midwesterners are farmers. And don't call it "flyover country."

 

Just as coastal folks might call the Midwest "flyover country," Wisconsin native Wolfman said Midwesterners have their own slang to poke fun at those outside their region: "coasties."

"A lot of 'coasties' think that there isn't much out in the Plainstates, Heartland and Rustbelt," Wolfman, who witheld his last name, told Business Insider. 

But Midwesterners say those coasties are dead wrong. 

According to the US Census Bureau, the Midwest consists of two regions: East North Central and West North Central. The East North Central includes Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota comprise the West North Central. 

Nearly two dozen people from across the Midwest shared with Business Insider what they wish people from outside the region would stop saying or thinking about their home.

SEE ALSO: The US is split into more than a dozen 'belts' defined by industry, weather, and even health

DON'T MISS: 25 things every Midwesterner knows to be true

Everyone is polite

"Perhaps more people are more polite, but we still have rude, entitled people here, just like everywhere else," one Kansas resident told Business Insider.



There's no diversity

Many Midwesterners said they wish people knew the region isn't just a bunch of white people.

"The diversity is huge," Nebraska native Sandra Smith DuPree, who now lives in Florida, told Business Insider. "I felt that I grew up with a diverse mix of people. I love that and wish that all of America would show kindness to all people regardless of ethnicity."

Across the board, 10% of the Midwest is Black, 8% Hispanic, and 3% Asian. Here are some of the most ethnically diverse cities in the Midwest:

  • Dearborn, Michigan. Nearly half of this Detroit suburb is Arab American, the largest proportion in the country, and almost 40% speak Arabic at home. 
  • Chicago. African Americans, who comprise just under a third of Chicago's population, have a rich history in the Midwest's biggest city. Hispanics are also around a third of the population.
  • Minneapolis-Saint Paul. Minnesota's Twin Cities are majority white, but they have one of the country's biggest concentration of Hmongs and Somalis in the country. 


It's okay to make fun of Midwesterners

Wolfman, a Wisconsin native, told Business Insider there's a certain narrative about the Midwest that's overblown: "camo wedding cakes, bait shop gun fights, and ranch dressing-themed gender reveal parties."

He added that plenty of Midwesterners also don't mind making the occassional corn joke.

"We do have genuine, real hard working, educated people who happen to be in on the joke regarding our own culture of kitsch, and genuinely enjoying it," Wolfman said.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

8 photos show just how tense things were between Trump and other world leaders at the G7 summit

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g7 leaders trump merkel summit

  • The G7 summit took place over two days in Charlevoix, Quebec.
  • The summit ended in disarray: US President Donald Trump said the US would not endorse the joint statement from the summit.
  • Photographers captured images of the tension between Trump and other world leaders, including one in which French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron gripped Trump's hand so tightly that he left an imprint.

Seven world leaders met Friday and Saturday in Charlevoix, Quebec for what is known as the G7 summit.

As Business Insider's Michelle Mark reported, the summit ended in disarray: Late Saturday, US President Donald Trump tweeted that the US would not endorse the joint statement from the summit. Trump accused Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of making "false statements," and said the US is looking into automobile tariffs.

Mere hours earlier, Trudeau had announced that all G7 countries had signed the joint communique.

Throughout the summit, photographers captured photos of the tension between Trump and other world leaders. Here are some of the most revealing:

SEE ALSO: Trump says the US won't endorse the G7 joint statement, calls Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'dishonest & weak'

SEE ALSO: Larry Kudlow doubles down on Trump's 'dishonest & weak' insult after the G7 summit, accusing Trudeau of pulling an 'amateur political stunt'

On Friday, attendees posed for the traditional "family photo," featuring British Prime Minister Theresa May, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.

Source: Business Insider



Trump spoke privately with Merkel after the family photo. The two haven't always seen eye-to-eye in the past.

Source: Business Insider



Macron and Trump shared their usual intense handshake.

Source: Business Insider



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

People are fleeing San Francisco's housing market for sunny SoCal — here are 10 ways they compare according to people who have lived in both

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Beach happy woman smiling

People are getting more and more fed up with San Francisco's crazy-high housing prices.

The city's always tight housing market has only gotten even more competitive as people migrate across the globe to land jobs in the growing and high-paying tech industry.

A recent survey conducted by public-relations firm Edelman revealed that about half of residents in the Bay Area found the cost of living so insane, they have considered leaving.

And when they do leave, one top place they go is sunny Southern California, or SoCal, where cities like Los Angeles are seeing more Bay Area transplants.

So, how do the two cities compare?

We've rounded up 10 comparisons made by people on forum site Quora who have lived in both cities.

SEE ALSO: San Francisco is losing more residents than any other city in the US, creating a shortage of U-Hauls that puts a rental at $2,000 just to move to Las Vegas

1. San Francisco has less of a "show off" culture.

There's less of an obsession with self image and more freedom for people to be themselves in San Francisco. 

Women in particular feel less pressure to wear tight clothing and lots of makeup to be attractive.

"There’s a saying that 'in LA, the poor pretend to be rich; and in SF, the rich pretend to be poor' and it’s completely spot-on," said Quora user Li Xuo.



2. People in San Francisco seems to be smarter, or at least more intellectual.

Not that people in LA really aren't as smart, said Quora user Irene Avet: The city still attracts top entrepreneurial and business talent.

But the Bay Area's tech presence has grown exponentially, meaning that there's a concentration of people who identify as "geeks" in the area, with all the stereotypes of high IQ associated with that.

And it is true that some of the brightest minds in the tech world live in the Bay Area's Peninsula. 



3. More people in San Francisco are introverted.

Because of that concentration of brilliant-but-geeky-types, Bay Area residents have a reputation for being more introverted than those in LA.

Meanwhile thanks to the higher concentration of people in the performing arts in LA, people there have a reputation for being warmer and friendlier, or at least more outgoing.

"If I had a make a specific comparison, LA and Dallas are quite similar culturally, while San Francisco and Boston are similar in many ways," said Li Xuo.

Some Silicon Valley legacies can back this up: Larry Page, cofounder of Google, and Apple's Steve Wozniak are both introverts.

Source: The Wall Street Journal



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

These 10 major games already leaked ahead of the biggest gaming event of the year

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With just a few weeks left until the biggest game show of the year, the unthinkable has happened: A massive leak.

The image below was taken from Walmart's Canadian website, which accidentally posted placeholder artwork for just shy of 40 games.

Walmart Canada game leak (E3 2018)Many of the games are known quantities, but a bundle of them were accidentally revealed by the listings — and at least one major surprise was already confirmed in an announcement, which lends a lot more weight to the rest of the listings. 

Here's everything new that was revealed:

SEE ALSO: The 34 hottest video games you shouldn't miss in 2018

First, some context:

Retail listings with placeholder artwork aren't confirmation of anything, and it's entirely possible that the list is nothing but guesswork.

But there's at least one good reason why that's unlikely in this particular case: "Rage 2." 

It's been years since the first "Rage" came and went — seven years. "Rage" is far from a beloved franchise, nor is it a hated franchise. It's more of a forgotten game than anything else. It had a relatively forgettable open-world, and a story to match. It sold well enough, but wasn't a runaway success either.

In short: It's not the kind of game that was demanding a sequel.

So when it showed up on Walmart's Canadian site, it was held up as evidence that the list was false. Which is why it was so interesting when "Rage 2" was announced soon after — an apparent response to having been outed by Walmart — much to the surprise of people like myself.

If "Rage 2" is real, then the more obvious stuff in the leak is all the more likely to be true.



1. "Gears of War 5"

It's been about two years since "Gears of War 4," and a new entry in the series is a foregone conclusion.

Not only is "Gears of War" a marquee Xbox franchise directly produced by Microsoft's own studios, but the previous game in the series introduced a whole new slew of protagonists. It would be more surprising if there wasn't a follow-up to "Gears of War 4." 

Microsoft has yet to announce "Gears of War 5," but it would be entirely unsurprising if it debuted on stage during Microsoft's press briefing at E3 2018 in mid-June.



2. "Forza Horizon 4" (mislabeled as "Forza Horizons 5")

Perhaps the only game more expected than "Gears of War 5" on this list of rumored announcements is a new entry in the "Forza Horizon" series.

The "Forza" franchise operates on a rotating schedule. In 2016, "Forza Horizon 3" came out; in 2017, "Forza Motorsport 7" came out. The simulation-style racing series, "Forza Motorsport," is the big highlight one year, and the arcade-style racing series "Forza Horizon" is the big highlight the next.

Thus, 2018 is the year for "Forza Horizon 4."

The game is labeled in the leak as "Forza Horizons 5," which would indeed be a big surprise — what a bizarre name change! I'm guessing that's just an error, but who knows.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

San Francisco housing is so out-of-control, this gorgeous home sold for $9.6 million — $1.6 million over the asking price

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san francisco housing market over asking price million dollars 1

San Francisco's crazy housing market just reached a new level.

A 6,350-square-foot home listed at $7.99 million sold for $9.6 million after spending a short nine days on the market. At 20 percent over asking price, it's the city's "highest overbid" so far this year, according to a spokesperson for the real estate firm that sold it.

But the transaction will likely be eclipsed by larger ones in the near future. With the amount of affordable housing increasingly dwindling, home listings selling over the asking price, as well as other anomalies like condemned homes selling for $1 million a pop, is the norm around here now.

This particular listing is for a single-family house at 2219 Scott St., 15 minutes from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco's ritzy Pacific Heights neighborhood with the area's inviting Alta Plaza Park just yards away from the front steps.  

Take a look inside.

SEE ALSO: San Francisco's housing market is so out of control that this 385-square-foot studio home is selling for $500,000

The beige three-story Grand Victorian home was built sometime in the late 1800s, before the cataclysmic San Francisco earthquake.



The abode sports five bedrooms and five and a half baths, as well as a wine cellar, two laundry rooms, two family rooms and space to park three cars.



Its ceilings are carved into coffers and large windows throughout the main level afford views of the greenery that surrounds the property.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

These are the 10 best-selling sneakers of the year so far (NKE)

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1 Nike Tanjun

  • The NPD sports-industry analyst Matt Powell recently revealed a list of the 10 top-selling sneakers of the first quarter of 2018.
  • All 10 were shoes made by Nike. Nine were either Nike or its Jordan brand, and the 10th was a shoe by Converse, which is also a Nike subsidiary.
  • For the first time in months, there were no Adidas shoes among the top 10.
  • None of the top-selling sneakers were performance shoes, continuing the trend away from performance sneakers.

Nike is dominating the sneaker industry.

According to the NPD sports-industry analyst Matt Powell, nine of the 10 best-selling sneakers in the first quarter of 2018 were made by either Nike or its Jordan brand. The remaining sneaker was the Converse All Star Low, which is also made by a Nike subsidiary. Powell also noted that for the first time in months, no Adidas shoes were among the 10 best-selling sneakers, in part because the company is diversifying its portfolio.

He explains in his note that the first-quarter sales figures show a continuing shift away from performance and toward lifestyle, thanks to the ongoing athleisure trend. The $65 Nike Tanjun remained in the No. 1 spot based on sales. In February, Powell told Business Insider the affordable shoe posting such strong sales reflected a shift toward a more moderate market.

See which other sneakers are top sellers based on sales:

SEE ALSO: We shopped at Under Armour and saw why it's still struggling to win over women

10. Nike Flex Contact



9. Nike Air Force 1 Low



8. Jordan IX Mid



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

North Dakota's oil boomtowns are facing an uncertain future — here's what it's like to live there

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watford city north dakota oil town

  • North Dakota towns exploded in size as part of the state's oil boom.
  • But the end of the boom spelled economic disaster for many of the new residents in towns such as Williston and Watford City.
  • Now, the towns are facing an uncertain future.


The discovery of oil in northwestern North Dakota turned several small towns into unexpected boomtowns from 2006 to 2014.

In places like Williston and Watford City, town populations more than doubled as lucrative jobs in the oil industry attracted workers from all over the world. 

By 2016, the price of oil plummeted from more than $100 a barrel to $30, sending the same towns into an economic tailspin. Now, with fewer jobs to go around and local schools and police departments straining, their residents are facing an uncertain future.

Here's what it's like to live in North Dakota's oil boomtowns.

SEE ALSO: 'High school now, it's a whole other level': 7 adults who posed as teenagers for a semester were shocked by how much things have changed

DON'T MISS: The tallest building in every US state

The North Dakota oil boom peaked in 2012, six years after oil was discovered in the northwest corner of the state.



In 2014, North Dakota was producing 1.2 million barrels of oil every day.

Source: Star Tribune



During the boom, thousands of people flocked to small towns like Williston and Watford City as lucrative jobs in the oil industry became readily available.

Source: Billings Gazette



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Walmart employees share 7 things they want to tell customers, but can't

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Walmart employee

  • Walmart store employees aren't always able to speak their minds when dealing with customers.
  • Business Insider spoke with a number of associates to find out what they'd like to tell shoppers, but can't.
  • For one thing, an employee said, check the website before going to the store: If the price is lower on Walmart.com, the store will price-match.


Walmart stores employees have something to say to shoppers.

But they can't always share those thoughts with customers — not if they want to keep their jobs. Business Insider spoke with a number of Walmart associates, and scoured the net for posts from employees, to find out what they'd like to tell customers.

Some shared thoughts on habits and behaviors they'd like shoppers to drop. Others gave explanations on why certain things are the way they are at the store.

Here's what Walmart employees would like to share with shoppers, but can't:

SEE ALSO: Walmart employees share 8 insider facts about shopping at the big box store

DON'T MISS: Employees from Costco, Walmart, and Target share their worst horror stories — and they'll make you rethink how you act when you shop

SEE ALSO: 31 Target employees shared the most useful thing they've learned at work, and 5 lessons kept coming up

Look out for store associates who are being 'aggressively' nice

Keep an eye out for intensely friendly associates in areas of the store where valuables are sold, like the electronics department.

In a 2018 Reddit AMA, a Walmart department manager described how associates in the electronics section of the store take steps to prevent shop-lifting.

"They're instructed to use 'aggressive hospitality' and ensure every customer is asked if they need anything — so they know they're being watched," the manager wrote. "This is just based on my experiences in my store, other stores may differ."



Don't expect associates to know where everything is

One employee from Jacksonville told Business Insider that they wished they could tell shoppers, "I don't know where everything is in the store."



Clean up after yourself

If you encounter a particularly messy Walmart, one employee said not to blame associates.

"It's really their fellow customers who refuse to clean up after themselves," an employee with 12 years of experience told Business Insider.

"No, people aren't really hired to clean up after you — it's just another hiccup added to our workload because people won't sort their own mess," the associate added. "Do you really think associates make that mess and leave it there?"



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

We asked South Koreans what they think will come out of the Trump-Kim summit

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TrumpKimNorthKoreaSummit3

  • The historic summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is set to take place in Singapore on Tuesday.
  • Public approval in South Korea toward Trump and Kim is higher than it has ever been, but a majority of Koreans doubt North Korea's intentions, according to a recent poll.
  • Business Insider spoke to many South Koreans in Seoul this weekend, who said they are hopeful the summit will help the peace process, but many doubt Trump and Kim's intentions.

As the world gears up for historic summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, South Koreans are looking on with a mixture of hope and skepticism.

The summit, due to take place Tuesday at the Capella Hotel in Singapore, could mark a historic turning point for both US-North Korea relations and inter-Korea relations.

While the US will push for comprehensive denuclearization of North Korea, South Korea will hope to build on the Panmunjom Declaration that President Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un signed in April, which called for the Koreas to pursue a "permanent and solid peace regime."

Of course, after nearly 70 years of war, it is perhaps unsurprising that South Koreans are cautious. According to a Gallup Korea poll from early June, 49% of South Koreans believe North Korea will work toward peace on the Korean peninsula or denuclearize, a decrease from 58% in early May.

Business Insider spoke to numerous South Koreans at a peace rally on Saturday organized by Solidarity for Peace and Reunification of Korea (SPARK) and on the streets of Seoul near City Hall on Sunday.

The South Koreans we spoke to expressed a mixture of skepticism toward the summit, hopefulness toward the prospect of lasting peace, and wariness of Trump's intentions, who many thought was simply after a "grand event to boost his image."

Here's what they said:

SEE ALSO: North Koreans understand their government lies, but there's one thing they don't know, according to a defector

DON'T MISS: A North Korean defector says Trump understands Kim Jong Un better than South Korea does, but the summit won't solve anything

"People might think Trump’s approach is unorthodox, abnormal, and amateurish, but I think this could all happen because of his approach," said Park Tae-hoon, a 27-year-old political science graduate student from Seoul.

"I think that Trump, Kim, and Moon is the perfect combination — this meeting would not have happened with Hilary Clinton, or Park Geun-hye.

Moon Jae-in acted as a successful facilitator in making this summit happen, while Trump wants to make a deal.

As for Kim Jong Un, he was raised in Switzerland and has experienced Western culture. He wants to make progress with the US, and open up his economy making North Korea a "prosperous nation." I don't think this will be a one-time summit: There will no doubt be more negotiations and summits, but this is a great starting point.

I don't think anything significant will happen after the summit. It's a stepping stone to bridge the gap. They will no doubt try to reach an agreement to denuclearize and provide economic support, but this will take time.

Yes, people might think Trump's approach is unorthodox, abnormal, and amateurish, but I think this could all happen because of his approach. No other politician in the US could have had a summit because no one has ever recognized North Korea as a proper nation. But this could happen because it's Trump.

Ultimately his approach might actually have a positive impact."

—Park Tae-hoon, a 27-year-old political science graduate student from Seoul



"This summit will be an opportunity to liberate ourselves from" the "constant uncertainty" of war, said Lee Tae-ok, a 51-year-old Won Buddhist from Gyeonggi, the province that surrounds Seoul.

"I want peace to come to the Korean Peninsula as soon as possible. Of course the summit is a good thing. We've been in a state of war for 70 years. While there might not be actual fighting, the fact is we are still in a state of constant uncertainty. This summit will be an opportunity to liberate ourselves from this.

Kim Jong Un and Trump are unpredictable, but this is the start of the conversation — the first time they speak. I think something good will happen. I just hope that Trump won't miss this opportunity."

—Lee Tae-ok, a 51-year-old Won Buddhist from Gyeonggi



"No matter what [Trump's] real intentions are, there can still be a positive result," said Park Jin-gyun, Secretary General of the Justice and Peace Committee of the Catholic Diocese of Uijeongbu, from Uijeongbu, a city north of Seoul.

"I wish to the see the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the signing of a peace treaty. I hope it goes well, but it’s very difficult to predict what will happen.

It was through the power of the people that we were able to bring political change to this country [with impeachment of Park Geun-hye, South Korea's previous president who is currently serving a 24-year prison sentence for corruption] and I believe if we the people put our efforts into bringing peace, it will happen.

Regarding Trump, it's not a matter of how or what he is doing. No matter what his real intentions are, there can still be a positive result."

—Park Jin-gyun, Secretary General of the Justice and Peace Committee of the Catholic Diocese of Uijeongbu



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The new World Cup uniforms for every country

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Lionel Messi

Soccer (or football, depending on where you are in the world) isn't just the beautiful game on the pitch, it's often a stylish one as well. As the world's most popular game, and one played in just about every country, soccer uniforms naturally come in a vast array of styles and colors. 

This year's World Cup will certainly be no exception to that rule. Team's like Brazil will be going with a simple yet classic design, a yellow shirt with blue shorts, while Germany's uniforms to the ones from its 1990 World Cup-winning squad. Meanwhile, teams such as Nigeria and Iceland have gone for a sleek, modern vibe. 

Below is a look at the new uniforms for every country.

Argentina Home Kit



Argentina Away Kit



Australia Home Kit



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

9 items you should always buy from Costco's Kirkland Signature brand (COST)

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Costco

  • Costco's Kirkland Signature brand has a well-earned reputation for quality products that meet or beat name-brand competition.
  • While buying in bulk certainly costs more up front, you can save money in the long run by stocking up on nonperishable goods.
  • Kirkland Signature wine, golf balls, coconut water, diapers, and bagged nuts are some of the best deals you can find from Costco's in-house brand.
  • Here are nine Kirkland Signature products from Costco that are worth every penny. 

Costco's Kirkland Signature brand has a reputation for high quality at often unbeatable prices, something that has inspired a cultlike following among Costco members.

Even in the venerable Kirkland line, however, not all products are created equal.

From wine and vodka to golf balls and diapers, here are nine Kirkland Signature products that are surefire winners in the quality-to-price ratio. They're worth spending a little extra up front for that big bulk discount.

SEE ALSO: I just went to Costco for the first time, and it was unlike any other shopping experience I've had

1. Wine

You can get great wines at Costco, from everyday sippers to special-occasion bottles. Costco wine is marked up by only 10-14%, compared with 25-45% at other liquor retailers, Fox News reported.

That means good bargains for just about any label, but Costco's Kirkland Signature wines, many of which are made by reputable wineries and white-labeled for Costco, are particularly affordable.



2. Vodka

In my experience, Kirkland Signature liquor can be a little hit or miss, but one line that consistently scores top marks is the brand's vodka.

Kirkland Signature vodka has outperformed Grey Goose in more than one blind taste test, and it costs half as much as Grey Goose.



3. Diapers

If you have a newborn, Costco is a budget blessing. Its bulk diapers have received high marks from parents and family publications alike and cost as little as $0.16 per diaper (and that's online, where Costco often has slightly higher prices than in stores).

The average newborn will need about 2,700 disposable diapers in their first year, at an average cost of $0.20 per diaper, according to Investopedia. In other words, that $108 savings — figuring a $0.04 difference per diaper — could pay for Costco's $60 Gold Star membership.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's what handwriting analysts say about the signatures of Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and 13 more successful people

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signatures

  • Handwriting analysts claim you can learn about someone's character by looking at their writing style.
  • We asked two of them to analyze the signatures of Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Oprah Winfrey, and other successful leaders.

Handwriting is like fingerprints: No two people have exactly the same.

Although handwriting analysis has plenty of detractors, experts in the field claim that one's handwriting can telegraph clues about their personality, work style, and psychological state.

Handwriting analysts are known as graphologists, and we asked two of them — Kathi McKnight and Elaine Charal— to analyze the signatures of 15 well-known business leaders and tell us what they saw.

Note that graphology isn't a foolproof method, and we have no way of confirming the personality suggestions below. Rather, take this exercise in the spirit it's meant: fun, and as a reminder that as you advance in your career, just about everything you do matters.

Here's what they said about the signatures of Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Oprah Winfrey, and other icons.

SEE ALSO: What your handwriting says about you

DON'T MISS: I've traveled to 25 countries and everyone wanted to ask — or tell — me the same things about the US

Tim Cook, Apple CEO

Elaine Charal:"Tim’s illegible signature indicates he is a private person who is particular about who he allows close. The circling within his signature reflects a protective stroke that helps him admit only those to his inner circle that he can absolutely trust.

"His high capital letters indicate his strong level of confidence, his ambition and his promotional talent. The hooks at the end of each portion of his signatures are known as tenacity hooks that indicate that Tim will achieve whatever he sets out to do, and won’t give up until every avenue has been explored; they also suggest that once he achieves something, it is his — he doesn’t let it go."



Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway CEO

Kathi McKnight:"The far right slant of this signature reveals a true extrovert who is sentimental about his friends and family and is prone to impulsiveness. Even the best billionaires amongst us can be impulsive.

"But he has the north-to-south running loop kick-starting the letter W in Warren, which reveals he will definitely take responsibility. He is a man of vision who can see the end result quickly. He will always be eager to get to the end game."



Jeff Bezos, Amazon CEO

McKnight:"The left slant of his first name shows someone who will need to pull away from the maddening crowd from time to time and withdraw to his cave for some introspection. The 45-degree angle of the final stroke in Bezos reveals he will come out with a new insight one that is full of courage and a philosophy that says, 'there are no problems, only solutions.'"

Charal:"The final stroke of his signature zooms upward, indicating optimism, ambition and an ability to ‘shoot for the stars.’ His signature moves up on his page, indicating his optimism."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Google will force you to switch to the new Gmail whether you want it or not — here's when you'll get it

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new gmail

Google recently announced a massive update to its popular email platform. So far, it's given personal account holders and company admins (who run company's G Suite accounts) the choice to leave their Gmail inboxes as-is, or to opt in to the new Gmail, which comes with a new look and a lot of new features. If they don't enjoy the experience, users and admins are welcome to opt back out.

That's no longer going to be the case in a matter of months, as Google announced in a post to its G Suite blog on Tuesday. Users attached to the "old" Gmail and companies wary of the changes will have to get on board, because Google will be pushing the update on all users over the course of the next few months.

To prepare users and IT departments for the inevitable changes, Google laid out a timeline that basically says "this is happening, whether you like it or not." Take a look:

Currently: The new Gmail is only available to users and companies participating in the Early Adopter Program.

"We encourage you to begin testing the new Gmail and preparing your users now," Google says in its blog post.  

If you want to get ahead of the curve, opt into the program by going to Settings, checking "Enable experimental access," and hitting Save at the bottom. After a few hours, "Try the new Gmail" should be the first option under the Settings cog. Opting out is done the same way. 



July: The new Gmail becomes available to the general public.

All personal account holders and company admins will start to see "Try the new Gmail" under their Settings. And if you're one of those people itching for the upgrade on your work account, here's when things might start to change for you.

Corporate admins will have three options:

1. Transition employees immediately, but give users the choice to opt out.

2. Allow everyone to opt in whenever they want.

3. Stall for four more weeks, at which point it'll no longer be in your control. 



August: All users, including individuals with company accounts, will have the choice to opt in.

Admin decisions no longer matter, and everyone is able to opt in and back out, freely. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Meet Queen Elizabeth's 6 great-grandchildren — half of whom are commoners

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queen elizabeth grandchildren


When Prince William was a child, he reportedly called Queen Elizabeth "Gary" because he couldn't say "Grandma." Now, his three children are forging their own special relationship with their great-grandmother.

The queen does have other great-grandchildren aside from Prince William and Kate's kids. She has six in all — three are royals and three are commoners.

Here's the who's who of Queen Elizabeth's extended royal family.

Savannah Phillips

Seven-year-old Savannah Phillips is the queen's oldest great-grandchild. She's the daughter of the queen's oldest grandchild, Peter Phillips, and his wife Autumn.

She is 15th in line for the throne, but doesn't have a royal title because her father doesn't have one. When Peter was born, his parents Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips declined the queen's offer to give him one. According to the Washington Post, they didn't want a title interfering with his future career. In turn, Savannah is also a commoner and reportedly lives a normal life in London.

She still attends royal events like this year's Trooping the Colour, where she hilariously shushed Prince George.



Isla Phillips

Savannah's younger sister Isla is six years old. Her full name is Isla Elizabeth, likely a tribute to the queen. Like her sister, she doesn't have a royal title, but can be spotted at royal events like the Christmas Day church service at Sandringham and the Trooping the Colour parade. She's 16th in line for the throne.



Prince George

As the future king (he's third in line for the throne), Prince George is perhaps the most well-known of the queen's great-grandchildren. The four-year-old is the oldest of Prince William and Kate Middleton's three children. He attends Thomas's Battersea in London, where he goes by "George Cambridge." He's been known to make some humorous faces when accompanying his parents on royal engagements.



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6 expensive things that are totally worth the money

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Money

  • Money priorities differ from person to person, depending on what you value.
  • There are some things, like a college education, that cost a lot of money but can give you a great return on investment through your salary later on.
  • Here are six pricey things, from a financial expert, that are well worth the money.

 

We all like to be — or at the very least try to be — smart with our money. But that doesn’t always mean choosing the least expensive option. In fact, sometimes the pricier item or experience can be the one that is most worth your hard-earned cash, while the cheapest can be the biggest waste.

“Most of us spend money on things we don't really care about at the expense of the things we do without even realizing it,” Stefanie O’Connell, financial expert and author of “The Broke and Beautiful Life,” told Business Insider. “So step one is defining your priorities, then tracking your spending (an app or a simple pen and paper works) to see if you're actually spending in alignment with those priorities, and making adjustments as needed.”

You should also weigh the added value something can bring to your life. “Before spending a lot of money on an item or service, it may be good to understand what value it brings to you,” Roger Ma, certified financial planner and founder of Life Laid Out, told Business Insider. “Does it help you save time or help you avoid doing something you don't enjoy, does it make you feel more confident, or will the experience be something you remember for a long time?”

Here are six expensive things, from financial experts Ma and O’Connell, that are completely worth the money.

SEE ALSO: 5 things you may be wasting your money on

1. Education

About 70% of students graduate from college with student loan debt, and there have been plenty of debates on whether getting a higher education is even worth it. Despite this, Ma said that education is most definitely worth spending money on.

An investment in yourself is typically worth it,” Ma said. “Increasing your knowledge could ultimately increase your human capital — that is, how much money you're able to command from your employer. Besides, learning new material keeps life interesting and exciting.”



2. Travel

Travel can be good for your body and your overall well-being, NBC reports. O’Connell said that it’s something she spends money on herself. “I love to splurge on travel because it brings me joy,” O’Connell said.

As Business Insider previously reported, people are happier when they spend their money on experiences rather than things.



3. A mattress

Sleep is essential to good health, according to the National Institute of Health. It only makes sense to invest in a mattress that provides optimal comfort, even if we can’t get the suggested seven to nine hours nightly.

“We spend 5-8 hours a night on our mattress, depending on our sleeping patterns. Getting a good night's rest affects every other part of our life,” Ma said. “If we don't get a good night's rest, we won't be productive at work, may not get that promotion, and may just feel like crap. A good mattress is good for your health and will pay for itself in the long run.”



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20 fun and meaningful Father’s Day gifts that new dads will love

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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.

baby footprint print

A new dad's first Father's Day is one he won't forget. You don't really know what it takes to be a parent until you actually become one, so it's a great time to celebrate all he's accomplished so far as a new father. 

He's probably loving this new role, but he's also probably looking for some much needed rest and relaxation, which is why, in addition to the gifts that will support him as a father, we included some picks that simply treat and reward him. 

The first Father's Day only comes once — make it thoughtful and memorable with these 20 gifts. 

For more great gift ideas, check out these Father's Day gift guides:

Light and comfortable sneakers

Gift the Allbirds Tree Runners, $95

Allbirds are the comfortable shoes that will make him forget he's on his feet all day. The eucalyptus fiber Tree Runners are lightweight and cool, which is ideal for the summer ahead. 



An Instant Pot

Gift the Instant Pot DUO60 (6-Qt), $99.95

He can whip up dinner for the whole family with little effort and even less cleanup afterwards. The Instant Pot is an investment that will give back over and over again as it makes meats, stews, soup, rice, casseroles, and even dessert. 



Matching Papa Bear and Baby Bear shirts

Gift the Papa Bear and Baby Bear Matching Set, $52-$54

Help him step out in adorable style with a soft baby bodysuit and matching t-shirt. 



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Inside Trump's 35-year war with the NFL that has spanned the USFL, Bon Jovi, and Deflategate — and for the first time he is winning

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Donald Trump

Despite the NFL's attempt to appease President Donald Trump, their worst nightmare became a reality when he made it clear that he was not going to take his foot off their neck.

When Trump canceled the Philadelphia Eagles' White House Super Bowl celebration and called out the league for its new national anthem policy, it was just the latest salvo in a 35-year war with the NFL, his oldest rival.

Trump has battled the NFL over the USFL, players, a coach, ownership of a team, safety issues, Deflategate, and social injustice protests. The difference now is that for the first time Trump is winning, and the NFL is in trouble.

Here's a look inside Trump's first war, The Pigskin War:

In 1983, the then-37-year-old Trump made his first foray into the world of professional football when he purchased the New Jersey Generals of the USFL after their first season of existence. It was here where Trump would fight the first battles of his brewing war with the NFL.



It was estimated at the time that Trump paid $8-9 million for the team, or about $20-22 million in today's dollars.

Source: New York Times



According to Trump at the time, he passed on several opportunities to buy NFL clubs, but he did not believe they had good growth potential.

Source: New York Times



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The top 25 companies where American business students dream of working

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Google employees

  • Google, Disney, and Amazon are the companies where business students most want to work.
  • That's according to research firm Universum, which asked over 20,000 undergraduate business students to pick the most desirable employer.
  • Google is the top pick for the fourth consecutive year.

Google is at the top of the list yet again.

The tech giant consistently performs well on Glassdoor's annual rankings of the top workplaces in America. It pays well, too. So it's no surprise that US undergraduate business students find the search giant to be the most desirable employer.

Universum, a global research and advisory firm, surveyed 20,879 undergraduates studying business at 352 different universities in the US. The business students were asked to choose the companies and organizations where they'd most like to work. 

Google, which specializes in online advertising technologies, cloud computing, software, and search, landed at the top of the list for a fourth consecutive year. Apple, Netflix, Morgan Stanley, and the FBI also made an appearance on the list.

Here are the top 25 institutions where business students want to work:

SEE ALSO: The top 50 dream companies for business students around the world

25. National Geographic

The National Geographic Society is a non-profit educational institution that owns a TV channel and a magazine.



24. Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Bank of America's corporate and investment banking division was first created when Bank of America acquired Merrill Lynch in 2009.



23. The Coca-Cola Company

The flagship Coca-Cola product of this Atlanta-based beverage corporation was first invented in 1886.



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These are the best cars, trucks, and SUVs to buy in 2018 (F, GM)

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Ford Raptor

  • Consumer Reports released its annual Top Picks list.
  • Ten cars all from different segments of the market were selected based on its performance in road testing, predicted reliability, safety, and owner satisfaction.
  • Toyota led the way with four cars on the list while Chevrolet followed with two entries. 
  • Ford, Subaru, Audi, and BMW are all represented on the list.

Consumer Reports recently released its annual list of the top cars on sale in the US. The venerable consumer publication picked out 10 cars — all representing different segments of the auto market — for its Top Picks list. 

The segments covered include best compact car, best compact green car, best luxury compact car, best mid-size car, best large car, best compact SUV, best luxury compact SUV, best mid-size SUV, best minivan, and the best full-size pickup truck. 

In order to become a Consumer Reports Top Pick, a vehicle must prove to be outstanding all-around performers — living up to the publication's stringent road testing regime, exhibit stellar predicted reliability, safety, and consumer satisfaction. 

Toyota led the way with four vehicles on the list while GM's Chevrolet had two vehicles in the top 10. Three models, the Chevrolet Impala, Subaru Forester, and Toyota Highlander were holdovers from last year's list

The Impala's return appearance can be attributed to its refined ride and premium feel. While the Forester earned praise for its practicality, efficiency, and smart packaging. The Toyota Highlander earned plaudits from the publication for its performance, fuel economy, and reliability.  

The only EV to make the list is the Chevrolet Bolt. The staff at Consumer Reports were impressed by its 250 miles of range and 60 kWh battery pack.

The test cars on the list ranged in price from $20,000 for the compact Toyota Corolla to nearly $54,000 for the BMW X3. 

Here's a closer look at Consumer Reports' Top Picks for 2018:

SEE ALSO: The 12 coolest features inside the Tesla Model 3

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

1. Compact car: Toyota Corolla

Price as tested: $20,650

Why it's here: "This practical, fuel-efficient sedan has all the virtues that small-car shoppers seek, backed by its strong reliability track record," the publication said in a statement. Consumer Reports praised the Corolla for its roomy interior, secure handling, superior ride, and solid 32 mpg fuel economy. 



2. Compact green car: Chevrolet Bolt

Price as tested: $38,424

Why it's here: "We put the Bolt through our battery of rigorous tests and drove it thousands of miles, both at our test track and on public roads," Consumer Reports’ director of automotive testing, Jake Fisher said in a statement. "With the ability to go up to 250 miles on a charge, the Bolt is a good option for someone who might never have considered an EV before."



3. Luxury compact car: Audi A4

Price as tested: $48,890

Why it's here: "The A4 shines by being sporty, luxurious, and polished in a competitive category," Consumer Reports wrote. "It’s very satisfying to drive, with nimble, secure handling helped by its minimal body roll and responsive steering."



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10 things people deal with in the city that people in the suburbs don't understand

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city

  • City living often offers an easy commute to work, 24-hour food options, and a never-ending list of things to do — all at a very high cost.
  • Urbanites eventually learn to adapt to the sights, sounds, and smells of cities and accept things that would drive those residing in the suburbs crazy — like insane rent prices and garbage everywhere.
  • Here are the things that people deal with in the city that those in the suburbs don't understand.

 

For many people, living in the city means an easy commute to work, around-the-clock food options, and a way of life where nothing is really that far out of reach. But there’s a price to pay for all that goodness, and well, it’s high — both in numerical figures and casual everyday annoyances.

As someone who lives in New York, I’ve adapted to the sights, sounds, and smells of the city. I grew up in the suburbs of New Jersey, so the city in all of its natural glory took some getting used to. There used to be green grass, fresh air, and even stars at night.

City annoyances certainly bother me sometimes, but I’ve accepted that the city life can’t be glamorous 100% of the time. But when out-of-towners come to visit, I’m reminded of those dis pleasures, and they can be difficult to defend.

Here are 10 things city-dwellers deal with that could make suburbanites cringe:

SEE ALSO: New York City is the priciest city to build in the world — and it's not getting any cheaper

1. You spend WHAT on rent?

Personal finance experts often say that you shouldn’t spend more than 30% of what you earn on rent and utilities. According to the United States Census Bureau, the median income in Manhattan is $75,513. That means someone earning that much shouldn't spend more than about $1,880 on rent.

But renting a good apartment for less than $2,000 in Manhattan is a proverbial unicorn. That’s why New Yorkers have roommates way past college while many suburbanites can afford to live by themselves if they choose.



2. Garbage is the perfume of the city

When my husband first moved to New York from Chicago, he catalogued every time he saw a pile of trash bags on the street with a photo as a joke. While the photos have dwindled, the garbage is most definitely still there.

But in the suburbs? People store it in their garages or in cans until it gets picked up, like civilized humans.



3. We don’t melt in the rain

We walk everywhere, even in the rain. If there’s even one raindrop, hailing a cab or getting an Uber or Lyft is virtually impossible. We’ve also learned not to stand at the corner waiting for the light, because you don’t want to get splashed by a passing car.

The luxury of having your own vehicle and barely spending a moment outside in the rain is a novelty for those not in the city.



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