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SpaceX may still rocket 2 mystery customers around the moon — here's what Apollo astronaut Jim Lovell says the trip could be like

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SpaceX, the aerospace company founded by Elon Musk, is poised to launch people to the moon for the first time in more than 45 years.

In February, SpaceX successfully test-launched a Falcon Heavy rocket, making it the world's most powerful operational launch system.

As proof of its oomph, Falcon Heavy's maiden flight shot Musk's cherry-red Tesla Roadster— with a spacesuit-clad "Starman" dummy in the driver's seat — toward Mars.

However, Musk hopes to use his launcher to send two people around moon.

"We've been approached to do a crewed mission beyond the moon, from some private individuals. And they're very serious about it," Musk told reporters on a call in February 2017. "They've not given us permission to release their names yet. But they have placed a significant deposit."

Musk originally hoped to launch the mission before the end of 2018. However, SpaceX has since delayed any moon mission to no earlier than mid-2019, according to the Wall Street Journal. There's also a chance it may switch to an still-in-development launch system called Big Falcon Rocket.

If Falcon Heavy does end up launching a crew, they'd ride a fully autonomous version of the company's Crew Dragon— a space capsule slated to fly its first NASA astronauts in early 2019. The lunar mission would take a flight path similar to the one flown by Apollo 13, though ideally under more favorable circumstances.

To get a sense of what that trip will be like and what it means, Business Insider called former astronaut Jim Lovell, who piloted Apollo 8, the first lunar voyage, in 1968 and commanded the Apollo 13 mission in 1970.

"I think it's a step in the right direction," Lovell said in March 2017, referring to SpaceX's moon-mission plans. "There's a sense of satisfaction that they're still thinking about that."

This has been updated with significant new information. It was originally published on January 4, 2018.

SEE ALSO: 27 of the most iconic, jaw-dropping photos of the Earth and the moon from space

DON'T MISS: This seasoned NASA astronaut wore SpaceX and Boeing's new spacesuits — here's what she thinks of them

The first SpaceX lunar mission may launch on Falcon Heavy: a 230-foot-tall rocket that the company flew for the first time in February 2018.

Sources: Business Insider



Falcon Heavy has three boosters and 27 rocket engines — three times as many as Falcon 9, which is SpaceX's go-to launch system. This generates 5 million pounds of thrust, which can cart 70 tons of payload into orbit around Earth.



Falcon Heavy didn't dethrone NASA's now-retired Saturn V rocket — that machine remains history's most powerful. That Apollo-era vehicle was about 130 feet taller and could lift twice the payload.

Two Falcon Heavy launches would be enough to launch an Apollo-style moon-landing mission.

Source: Ars Technica



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Now you can order a beer at a baseball game with a text — and it's a great example of of how Apple is going after Facebook (AAPL, ARMK)

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  • The Philadelphia Phillies are trying a new way to order drinks directly to your seat.
  • The system uses Apple's iMessage and a feature called Business Chat.
  • Chatbots are a very competitive technology: Facebook, Microsoft, and Amazon are working on competing products. 

At most ballparks, if you're seated and want a refreshing beverage, you simply shout to the vendor: "Hey beer man!"

But starting today, at Citizens Bank Park, where the Philadelphia Phillies play, you'll be able to order beer and water with a text message — if you're seated in the right section and you have an iPhone with up-to-date software. 

It's part of a new pilot program that Aramark is trying out using Apple's Business Chat.

Basically, you scan a QR code on the back of your seat, and that brings you to an iMessage conversation that will let you order beers and water. You pay with your phone, and someone brings the refreshments to your seat. 

It's a new use for Apple Business Chat, which the company announced last summer to compete with other chat bots, like those that run on Facebook Messenger. Microsoft and Amazon have heavily invested in chatbots as well.

The idea behind Business Chat is that it's designed to improve customer service by letting iPhone users schedule appointments, make purchases, and ask questions directly through a chat interface. 

One big improvement is that you don't have to download an app — all you have to do is use the Camera app on your iPhone. 

Apple has announced a handful of Business Chat partners, including big brands like Home Depot, Marriott, and Wells Fargo, but the Aramark partnership is one of the first applications that I can see using.

Here's how it works:

The pilot is only taking place in a few sections (142, 143, 144 and 145) and only during 10 games this season.



If you're in the right section during the right game, you might find a QR code on the seat in front of you. Scan it with the Camera app on your iPhone. It will look like this:



That QR code will open up the Messages application and start a conversation.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale is going on now through August 5 — here are the best deals to shop before they sell out

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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.

anniversary sale main

Nordstrom's highly anticipated Anniversary Sale is finally here, and it's running now through August 5. 

It's not just any summer sale. The Anniversary Sale is one of only two sales events (the other being the Half Yearly Sale) that Nordstrom runs every year. Instead of trying to dump excess summer inventory on you, Nordstrom provides you the opportunity to preview and save on fall trends, including the blouses, jeans, and coats that you'll want to wear every day in just a few months. 

Popular brands like Theory, Rag & Bone, Adidas, and Sam Edelman and top-rated, Nordstrom-exclusive brands like Halogen and Zella will all be on sale. If you're not interested in clothes and shoes, you can shop discounted beauty, grooming, and home products as well. 

Though the sale does go on for a little over two weeks, we recommend shopping it sooner rather than later, before the best deals sell out. Because Nordstrom cardmembers had early access to the sale, some popular items, including Patagonia gear, a Longchamp bag, and Madewell mules, have already sold out. 

Keep reading to see the deals we think you should be shopping. We've highlighted the best fall boots for women, best dress shoes and boots for men, and best beauty and skin care exclusives in separate roundups. We've also covered the best home and kitchen and best fashion and accessories deals to shop. 

You can also head directly to Nordstrom to shop the following categories:  

Shop the Anniversary Sale at Nordstrom here

Check out our top picks in each category, below:

Women's clothing

Shop all women's clothing deals here



Women's shoes

Shop all women's shoe deals here



Women's bags and accessories

Shop all women's bags and accessories deals here



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NASA astronauts first landed on the moon 49 years ago today. Here's what the landing looked like and how the US pulled it off.

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In 1961, President John F. Kennedy put a monumental goal before Congress:

"I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the Earth," Kennedy said. "No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish."

Indeed, it took eight years to reach the moon after that, and NASA burned through $25.4 billion dollars before the Apollo program was finished. But on July 20, 1969, as people throughout the world gathered around fuzzy television sets, astronaut Neil Armstrong announced: "the Eagle has landed."

Here's how the US made it to the moon 49 years ago.

SEE ALSO: Astronauts explain why nobody has visited the moon in more than 45 years — and the reasons are depressing

The first manned Apollo mission, Apollo 1, ended in tragedy in 1967. All three crew members died in a fire inside their capsule during a pre-launch test on the launch pad.

NASA said design changes after the accident made the Apollo spacecraft safer for journeys to the moon.



By July 1969, NASA astronauts had flown to the moon's orbit twice, and the crew of Apollo 11 was ready to land on the lunar surface.

The first two crewed missions to the moon flew astronauts into the moon's orbit (Apollo 8) and 50,000 feet above the lunar surface (Apollo 10.)



The Apollo team practiced their moon-landing plan on Earth first, flying this Lunar Landing Research Vehicle for the first time in 1964.

The flights didn't always go smoothly: Commander Neil Armstrong was at the helm of an LLRV in 1968 when he had to eject himself seconds before it crashed.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

10 of the most romantic date spots around the world

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There are surely local date locations in your area that are plenty romantic. But it’s fun to fantasize about where you could go with your SO if you had endless financial resources. Imagine jet-setting from place to place, seeing the world, learning about other cultures, and finding out more about your partner along the way. And if you actually have the money to make a trip to any of these places – I say do it.

The following list ranges from beautiful scenery, lush surroundings, historic sites, and you-must-eat-food destinations. Here’s a list of the most romantic date spots in the world.

1. Explore the beauty of Machu Picchu, Peru.

Take a train to the Andes Mountains, hike up yourselves, or enjoy an archaeological tour of the site. This historic landmark in Peru will definitely be a look out you and your date remember for the rest of your lives.



2. Be awed by the serenity of Santorini, Greece.

White and blue buildings, villages scattered through mountains, and an endless view of the rich blue sea. Santorini is ideal for couples needing that getaway – plus the delicious, fresh Greek food can’t hurt either.



3. Watch the sunsets and learn about animal rights efforts in Hua Hin, Thailand.

Visit the beautiful beaches of Hua Hin in Thailand. If you’re service-oriented, schedule a day trip to the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand, where you can see rescue animals and learn more about what you can do to help stop animal exploitation.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's what it costs to give birth in 18 places around the world

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Millions of babies are born every day, making birth the most common reason for a trip to the emergency room. But when the parents of these newborns leave the hospital, the postpartum experience can be vastly affected by the medical bills that follow them home.

Here's how much it costs to give birth around the world. A great deal of this information comes from the 2016 Coyne College study of birth costs around the world. (It's important to note that these numbers have likely changed since the study was conducted. )

The United States has one of the highest birth costs, with "surprise billing" skyrocketing some bills to six figures.

The average cost of a birth is in the US is around $10,800, but with the lack of transparency in the American healthcare system, the medical bills on the higher end can be outrageously high. Professor Gerard Anderson of the Johns Hopkins Centre for Hospital Finance and Management told BBC, “you … pay a fee for services a la carte in the US so if you are worried about the pain of the childbirth and have an epidural, you'll have to pay for it … And all those costs rack up.”

Make sure to check the average price of giving birth in your state, from Time.



Canada has low rates ,making it a destination for citizens and visitors.

Just across the Northern border, the average price for a natural birth is only $3,195. Canada’s low rates and high-quality facilities make it a destination for birth tourists, according to Maclean's.

Pregnant visitors do pay a larger price but take advantage of the comparatively low rates and on-soil citizenship.



Delivery in Argentina won’t break the bank.

The average delivery price in Argentina is $2,237, but only $2,972 for a C-section procedure.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The best men's dress socks 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 dress socks

The Insider Pick:

When it comes to traditional menswear, dress socks aren't exactly the most exciting topic to read about. But if you want to upgrade your style, then your sock game needs to be on point. The wrong socks can spoil an otherwise great outfit, and worse, poor socks can make your feet sweaty and uncomfortable, slide down your leg, and pool around your ankles, looking and feeling like a mess.

You likely already have some cheap dress socks in your closet, and if you're like most guys, you probably defaulted to black one. There's a good chance that they're not made of great materials, either. Attention to detail is one of the main principles of traditional menswear, as it's little things like your choice of necktie or pocket square that can make your break an outfit.

Your dress sock are no exception to this rule. If it's time to upgrade, then read on, keeping in mind these two basic rules for dress sock shopping: Avoid socks made from 100% synthetic fabrics and invest in well-crafted pairs that fit your feet and stay up properly. That pretty much rules out most of what you're likely to find at your local department store.

But don't despair: To give your sartorial flair a leg up, we've picked out five pairs of dress socks that we think every man should have in his drawer, from timeless solid-colored classics to some more colorful pairs to wear when you're feeling bold.

Here are the best men's dress socks you can buy:

Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks

The best dress socks overall

Why you'll love them: Crafted in England of fine merino wool, the Turnbull and Asser over-the-calf dress socks are fit for a prince — literally — and they're worth every penny.

Whether you're buying your first nice suit or you're just starting to fill out your dress sock drawer, the basic rules of menswear always apply: Keep it simple, keep it solid, and invest in quality, as you're going to be wearing these staples a lot. Solid-colored basics are easily the most versatile clothes in your closet and will continue to get the most play well after you've built up a rotation that incorporates brighter colors and bolder patterns.

For most environments and occasions, you simply can't beat classic "workhorse" colors like navy blue and charcoal gray, because these two shades play nicely with almost everything in your closet. Our pick for the best solid dress socks money can buy come from Turnbull and Asser, a historic English menswear brand that holds a royal warrant from the British crown.

The socks, available in navy and charcoal as well as a number of other colors, are made in England from a blend of fine merino wool and nylon. The merino is warm yet breathable, while both the wool and the nylon are better at wicking moisture away from your feet than other common fabrics like cotton. The nylon adds some durability to the merino, too, and the hand-finished toes are seamless, giving them a better shape and fit over your feet compared to cheaply made machine-stitched socks.

When it comes to dress socks, I recommend keeping it over the calf for your workhorse pairs, for the simple reason that they will stay up better as you wear them throughout your busy day. Another nice touch regarding fit is that Turnbull and Asser offers these socks in a number of different sizes.

They're fairly costly at $45, but if you want the best, then Turnbull and Asser's socks are it. Do yourself a favor and treat your feet to at least one pair. These dress socks are fit for a prince — rather literally, in fact, given that the brand's royal warrant was granted by Prince Charles.

Pros: Made in England, merino wool is warm yet breathable and wicks moisture away from your feet, over-the-calf length is great for all-day wear, available in a wide variety of colors, and the seamless toe provides a proper fit and extra comfort

Cons: Fairly expensive at $45 a pair

Buy the Turnbull and Asser merino wool dress socks for $45



The best patterned dress socks

Why you'll love them: These English-made argyle dress socks from Brooks Brothers are ones that grandpa himself would be proud to wear.

In the world of patterned dress socks, argyle remains king. Your grandfather wore it, your dad wore it, and you should wear it. Unlike some other old-school patterns like paisley (which guys seem to either love or hate), argyle has stubbornly stood the test of time — at least for dress socks, if not for larger clothing items like sweaters. These ones, from the historic American menswear brand Brooks Brothers, hit that old-school style nail right on the head.

Argyle is a subtle and conservative way to add some color and character to your dressier outfits, the diagonal pattern slightly breaks up the sleek vertical lines of your suit without being distracting, and it generally doesn't clash with vertically or horizontally oriented patterns like stripes or plaid.

The Brooks Brothers argyle dress socks are made in England of merino wool and nylon, which is a very popular blend for sock fabric owing to the breathability and moisture-wicking properties of the materials. This stands in contrast to textiles like cotton which tend to absorb sweat instead of move it away from your foot for evaporation.

Brooks Brothers offers these socks in a variety of different colors with enough choices to pair with just about any suits or pants you own. Matching argyle to your outfit is pretty straightforward: Keep the sock's primary shade in the same family as that of your trousers, and use the other colors in the sock to complement your shirt, tie, or pocket square if you want to.

Pros: Made in England, nice blend of merino wool and nylon, the argyle pattern is timeless and versatile, and the socks are available in a number of colors

Cons: Unavailable in over-the-calf length, and no individual sizing

Buy the Brooks Brothers argyle dress socks for $27.50 

Shop all Brooks Brothers socks



The best lightweight dress socks for spring and summer

Why you'll love them: A unique cotton-linen blend makes these American-made dress socks the perfect choice for staying cool while you're rocking your spring and summer suits.

One of the biggest challenges men who wear suits face is how to stay cool in the summer without sacrificing style. To solve this problem, many men favor lighter fabrics, ditching the heavier wools and all-cotton clothing in favor of more breathable weaves like linen and linen blends.

U.S.-based clothing brand American Trench has high-quality, well-priced, and fully American-made cotton-linen dress socks that will keep your feet cool even on hot days.

American Trench makes socks at its factory in Reading, Pennsylvania. These socks are knitted from linen and Egyptian cotton yarn that was originally spun in Italy. The linen imparts lightness and breathability to the cotton fabric, while the linen and nylon render moisture-wicking properties to the socks. The cotton is there to add body to the linen and the nylon also offers extra durability and "cling" to better hug your leg.

This unique fabric blend is what sets the American Trench cotton-linen dress socks apart from the sea of wool and all-cotton socks and makes them a superior alternative to these for warm weather wear. The light pastel colors also pair beautifully with those brighter shades, like ivory and khaki, that characterize your lightweight summer suits.

Pros: Made in the United States of Italian-blended yarn, the cotton and linen fabric is lightweight and breathable, and the lighter colors are perfect for summer suiting

Cons: Limited color availability for over-the-calf length socks, and no individual sizing

Buy the American Trench linen and cotton dress socks for $18 to $20 (originally $26.50) 

Shop all American Trench socks



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Here's how to turn off the new Instagram feature that blows your cover when you're online

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Instagram Green Status Dot

Sometimes scrolling through your social media feed is more of an anti-social activity than it is about striking up a real-time conversation with a friend. 

On Thursday, Instagram released a new feature that's going to make it a little more difficult to stay under the radar, as Instagram shared in a post on Thursday. Whenever you're online, a green dot that screams "Hey, I'm online if you want to chat!" will now appear next to your profile picture in the direct message inboxes and Share menus of anyone you follow or you've ever direct messaged.

The green dot itself is new, but Instagram has incorporated statuses like "Active now" and "Active today" in users' direct message inboxes since earlier this year. It's a similar concept to what Facebook has done with its other two platforms: WhatsApp has the "Available" status and Facebook Messenger shows a green dot or a number within a green dot showing the amount of time since the user was on.

Thankfully, unlike Facebook's other platforms, Instagram has a built-in way to disable this feature — to give you control and let you "hide your status altogether."

Here's how to turn off Instagram's Activity Status and the green dot that blows your cover when all you want is some peaceful scroll time:

Right now, this is what you'll see in Instagram: green dots next to people's names in your direct messages inbox, and in your share menu. If the green dot hasn't rolled out for you yet, you'll still see statuses like "Active now."

The Activity Status is only seen by people you have a direct message conversation with, or people you follow. You won't see green dots for people who follow you or random other users unless you've direct messaged them in the past. 



In order to disable all the green dots, click the Settings button on your profile.



Scroll down to the Privacy and Security section, and go into the Activity Status menu.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 30 best dog photos of the year

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1st Dogs at Play Elinor Roizman ©

Make no bones about it — The Kennel Club's Dog Photographer of the Year contest curates some adorable snapshots of dogs.

Photographing dogs can be challenging. Often time, it takes several tries and lots of treats to get the perfect portrait. Spontaneous cuddles and playful leaps are also difficult to capture. But these photographers were up to the task.

Featured categories in the 2018 contest include Oldies and Puppies as well as Dogs At Work, Dogs at Play, and a category for up-and-coming-photographers under 11 years of age.

Here are the 30 best dog photos of the year.

Third Place, Puppies: "Let's call it Roly Poly Puppy" by Robyn Pope

"In this image, I knew the moment Snickers began rolling around on the blanket that I had to embody his zest for life in a photo that would help him find the perfect playful home. I truly love working with dogs of all backgrounds to capture extraordinary photos worthy of even the most sophisticated pet parents and discerning commercial clientele. At home, we have six gentle giants of our own who serve as ambassadors on our seven-acre pet photography property and the ultimate creative muses."



Second Place, Puppies: "Sticking Together" by Charlie Nunn

"Since early last year, my partner Raymond Janis and I have had the honor of supporting the Vanderpump Dogs Foundation in Los Angeles by photographing their adoptable dogs. In July 2017, we met these adorable beagle mix puppies. As Raymond tried to wrangle them, something magical happened and I was able to capture a perfect moment of a puppy family sticking together."



First Place, Puppies: "Little Ceylin" by Klaus Dyba

"Ceylin was the second dog of my friend Birguel. The photo means much too me since her first dog, also an Italian greyhound died at puppy age in a car accident. Thirteen weeks old, Cylin has the whole life in front of her. You can see it in her expression."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

We shopped at Dollar Tree and Dollar General to see which offered a better experience, and the winner was obvious (DG, DLTR)

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Dollar Tree

  • Dollar Tree and Dollar General are the largest dollar stores in the United States and are neck-and-neck in terms of store count and annual sales.
  • Based on numbers alone, the two chains are almost identical. However, there are some big differences in the shopping experiences you'll have at these stores.
  • We decided to put them to the test.

Bargain-hunting has been the flavor of the past decade.

Since the recession, cost-conscious consumers have flocked to off-price, thrift, and dollar stores in search of good deals. As a result, these stores have seen a surge in sales.

From 2010 to 2015, US dollar-store sales grew to $45.3 billion from $30.4 billion, and hundreds of stores have opened. The credit-rating agency Moody's said in a report on Dollar Tree that it was expecting 8% growth for the dollar-store segment in 2018. That's about double the growth of 3.5% to 4.5% it expects for US retail in general during the same time.

Dollar General and Dollar Tree are the two largest dollar stores in the United States and based on numbers alone, the two chains are almost identical.

Dollar Tree – and its newly acquired Family Dollar chain – have slightly more locations than Dollar General, but both have about 14,000 to 15,000. In terms of sales, Dollar Tree is a close second, generating $22 billion in sales in 2017 compared with $23.5 billion at Dollar General.

But there is a massive difference in the shopping experience at these no-frills stores. First and foremost, Dollar Tree sells only products that are $1 or under, whereas Dollar General, which once did the same, is now more like a discount retailer.

Dollar Tree was also recently voted one of the top 25 beloved brands by a pool of millennial shoppers surveyed by market research firm Morning Consult. 

We visited both stores in March to see how they compared:

SEE ALSO: The UK's favorite chocolate tastes completely different in the US — and we put it to a taste test to prove it

We visited Dollar General and Dollar Tree stores that were a 15-minute walk from each other in Brooklyn, New York.



Our first stop was at Dollar General. The chain has 14,761 stores in the US, most of which are located in rural areas.

Dollar General was initially rolled out to areas that were not already served by a Walmart. As these stores are generally in rural markets, they cost less to operate.

Walmart launched a series of mini express stores in 2014 with the aim of winning back the midweek shopper from Dollar General. The strategy was not successful, and Walmart ended up closing these stores and selling 41 of the locations to Dollar General.

Source: Dollar General and Business Insider



On first impression, the store looked great. It was modern and bright.



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The world's busiest air route is between Seoul and the 'South Korean Hawaii'

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What's the most popular air route in the world?

New York to LA? London to Paris? Beijing to Shanghai?

Chances are your first guess wasn't the domestic flight between Seoul and Jeju, the capital of Jejudo island in South Korea. Last year, almost 65,000 flights made the journey between the two cities. The next busiest air route, Tokyo to Sapporo, didn't even come close with just under eight million passengers.

Flights from Seoul to Jeju are so popular that you can board one every 15 minutes. There are around 250 flights that make the journey in either direction every day, according to Google.

Most of the tourism is domestic — Jeju is often touted as the "Hawaii of South Korea"— though it is not just Koreans that are lured by its beauty. In 2014, Jeju was behind the spike in Chinese tourists visiting the Republic of Korea, according to Chinese travel giant Ctrip. The Chinese are largely flocking to the island because of its visa-free entry requirements and abundance of casinos, which are banned in China.

The pictures below show why honeymooners and holidaymakers come in droves to bask in Jeju's natural beauty.

The world's most popular plane journey, from Seoul to Jeju (the capital of Jejudo island in South Korea), takes just under an hour. You can buy tickets for around £50-£120 ($65-$157) each way.

Source: Google Flights.



According to the Republic of Korea's official Flickr page, Jejudo is "a special self-governing province ... the only special autonomous province of Korea, situated on and coterminous with the country's largest island."

Source: Flickr.



This means the island retains a level of autonomy — hence why almost every country in the world is allowed a temporary visit, visa-free.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

9 celebrities who have — or had— 'momagers'

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Kris Jenner Kendall Kylie

Although family and business don’t always mix, there are many "momagers"— mom managers — in the entertainment industry today. Some parents are able to lead their celebrity children to successful careers while maintaining great relationships whereas others weren't so fortunate.

Here, we take a look at 10 celebrities who currently have — or have had — momagers in their careers.

Dina Lohan put Lindsay Lohan on the path to stardom early.

You can thank Dina Lohan for her daughter, Lindsay’s, entertainment career. Dina signed her up with Ford Models at age 3, according to Rolling Stone, and Lindsay went on to become a child actor and tabloid fodder. She later parted ways with her momager, professionally but they still seem close personally.



Deb Antney manages big names – including son Waka Flocka Flame.

Deb Antney already had experience managing the likes of Gucci Mane and Nicki Minaj by the time she took over the career of her son, rapper Waka Flocka Flame, according to Rolling Stone. While running Mizay Entertainment and managing other artists, she continues to tirelessly promote her son’s career.



Lynne Spears helped make Britney Spears a star.

Determined to make her a star, Lynne Spears enrolled her young daughter Britney at a performing arts school in New York, and Britney later landed an off-Broadway role, according to Rolling Stone. Britney’s career obviously took off, but Lynn eventually left her daughter’s side to focus on her younger daughter, Jamie Lynn’s, career, according to Rolling Stone.



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12 people share how their sex lives changed after they had kids

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bed sheetsAfter having a baby, a lot changes for the parents— including their sex lives. When it comes to doing the deed after having children, some parents say that things are business as usual in the bedroom, whereas others say that it’s just not the same.

These Redditors share the details of what their sex life is like after having kids. Note that these are just for fun and INSIDER can’t authenticate these stories.

"Sex was attempted, no sex was had."

"My husband really thought that six weeks marked ‘everything back to normal’ vs. ‘it would be medically inadvisable to attempt sex before this point.’ He bought condoms and everything, super cute.

“Sex was attempted, no sex was had."– Redditor Gluestick05



"A crying child doesn’t put anyone in the mood."

"One of the things I knew deep down but wasn't truly ready for was how much having a child gets in the way of sexy times, especially early on. A crying child every couple hours just does not seem to put anyone in the mood. Two pieces of unsolicited advice: Your best bet is nap times in the afternoon, and if she does the housework, congratulations! You now do all of the housework. Wash the dishes, vacuum the floor, clean the stove. And you have to do the little things, too, like clean the sink after you're done doing the dishes. This, more than flowers, more than any other romantic gesture you can imagine, will do the most to increase your chances [of having sex]."– Redditor nordic_barnacles



"We’re making it work."

"I'm three months postpartum [and] we’ve had sex six times since the six-week mark. Dryness has been the main issue, and needing to stop every few minutes to reapply copious amounts of lube is a bit of a mood killer, but we’re making it work"– Redditor espressofueledaskhie



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

6 science-backed ways to become smarter

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Woman Reading Book in Cafe

It turns out some of the things that you do on a regular basis can actually help you become smarter. And if it is a goal that you’re trying to actively work towards, there are some techniques that you need to know about.

Becoming smarter might sound like a daunting task, but it actually might be easier than you think.

Exercising often will give your brain a boost.

Your workout affects more than just your cardiovascular health, muscles, and mood.

“Exercise increases the blood supply to the brain, and it basically brings food to the brain, and this changes the brain from the molecular level to the behavioral level,” Aideen Turner, PT, Cert MDT, a physical therapist and the CEO of Virtual Physical Therapists, told INSIDER. “There’s something called neurogenesis. This is the process where you build new brain connections or neurons, and it’s enhanced with exercise. Exercise also helps to improve the brain plasticity, or the ability of the brain to change and adapt.”

So now you have another reason to make sure you don’t skip your workout too often. In addition to all of the other ways that exercise can benefit your body, it might also give your brain a serious boost.



Mimicking how smart people learn might, in turn, make you smarter.

It might sound sort of obvious but figuring out the ways that smart people think and learn can help you implement these same strategies yourself and, in turn, become smarter.

“Becoming smarter requires developing good learning strategies,” Nancy Cramer, a master practitioner and trainer in neuro-linguistic programming and leadership consultant, told INSIDER. “Learn how smart people learn and then you will be smarter, too. Good spellers, for example, are not necessarily smarter than someone else. They just have a better strategy for memorizing words and accessing them on command. To remember how to spell a word, good spellers take a picture of the word in their minds and then blow it up. When it is time to spell something, they recall the picture and literally see the word in front of them. The smarts is in the strategy. There are all kinds of strategies for learning. By learning the strategy, one can improve their results.”



Try dancing or golfing to exercise your brain.

If you really want to boost your brain, choose an activity that not only works your body, but also your brain. Turner said that activities like dancing and golf can be really good for the brain because they require thinking as well as movement. She noted that these kinds of activities have been found to even protect you against developing Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia as you age.

A 2003 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that dancing — and some other activities — can potentially help lower the risk of dementia. Because you have to think about the choreography — and remember it — when dancing, it challenges your brain.



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The HR exec who helped build Netflix into a $161 billion juggernaut has some harsh advice for tech companies and their employees (NFLX)

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Patty McCord

  • At a time when Uber is weathering a new round of HR troubles, and Google is seeing employee revolts, Patty McCord's advice seems more pertinent than ever.
  • McCord is Netflix's former chief talent officer — the person who helped hire Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos, who has become one of Hollywood's most powerful figures. 
  • She says HR execs have to stop worrying about lavish employee perks, and start thinking more about how they can make a difference to the bottom line — just like every other department.
  • Asked about handling the employee revolt at Google, McCord says "I might go: 'okay, quit.'"

If the events of the past couple of years have taught us anything, it’s that if company leaders treat human resources as an afterthought, then they risk running into troubles like those of Uber.

Patty McCord — former Netflix chief talent officer, and the co-architect of the streaming video company's famous corporate culture policy — has some thoughts on the proper way to run an HR department.

Had McCord not helped Netflix cofounder Reed Hastings piece together his original management team, we might all still be standing in line to rent movies. Or worse. We might still be forking over late fees. 

During her 14 years there, Netflix's management team included Barry McCarthy, now Spotify’s CFO, and Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s chief content officer and one of the most powerful figures in Hollywood. These are some of the people who helped Netflix prevail over the much larger movie distributor, Blockbuster.

Since departing Netflix in 2012, McCord has become a sort of sage for startup founders and human resources execs, coming in as a consultant. Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg turned McCord's famous Netflix culture document into a sacred text for startups when she said it "may well be the most important document ever to come out of the Valley."

In her book, “Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility” McCord has included a lot of advice that seems more pertinent than ever.

In two recent interviews with Business Insider, McCord speaks frankly about the lack of innovation in Silicon Valley HR departments, and the need to sometimes say 'no' to employees. She also offers some encouragement and advice to startup founders and job seekers.

SEE ALSO: Here's the memo Uber's CEO sent after the company's chief HR officer resigned following an internal investigation

Job seekers: Don't be passive about the process. Do your due diligence about potential employers.

McCord has interviewed thousands of people for jobs, but she hasn't forgotten what it's like to be the applicant. She says one of her worst career decisions was taking a job at a certain software company, so she could stay closer to her home and children. 

"I’m a recruiter so I made them want me," she said.  "I spent so much time and energy convincing them that I was the one, that I spent almost no time finding out who they were."

That would cost her. Her new employer put her desk right outside the men's bathroom. They gave her an outdated Wang 286 computer and a rotary phone.

Then came her first meeting with her new boss. 

"She said, 'You know, Patty, you have a lot of ideas and we’ve had them all, and they don’t work so it would be really helpful if you’d just stop having them. You know you’re making the other people uncomfortable. You’re too aggressive and you know [HR is] here to make the rules and make sure that everybody follows them.'" 

But that disaster would lead her into two important areas that would help shape the rest of her career. 



See every job, no matter how unpleasant, as an opportunity to learn.

Though McCord didn't find much job satisfaction at Borland, it was there that she learned a lot about computer engineers and how they think. That was good, she said, because she would over the years eventually need to hire scores of them. 

"Because it was so awful I had to find solace somewhere," McCord said of her time at the company. "So, I discovered software engineers and I just started hanging out with them all the time."

The experience meant she "discovered my love for technologists and technology." From there, she would follow one of her bosses to a startup that made software tools for other software engineers. 

"By that time I had a little geek cred, and I went to Pure Software and that's where I met Reed [Hastings]," who founded Pure, and would go on to become the founder of Netflix. 



In interviews, the best thing to be is sincere.

McCord remembers interviewing Ted Sarandos back when Netflix was exclusively a DVD-by-mail business.

Sarandos has become a star at Netflix, rising to the role of chief content officer. Along with Hastings, Sarandos is the architect of Netflix's film-production strategy, which has made the company less dependent on Hollywood, even as its original movies and TV shows become huge hits in their own right. Now, Sarandos hobnobs with the biggest names in film and TV. 

But back in 2000, Sarandos was a vice president at a chain of video-rental stores and seemed the unlikeliest of future movie moguls when he interviewed with McCord. But she remembers he had two attributes that stood out from the other candidates.

"So, I had been interviewing people for Ted’s job," McCord recalled. "And they were just nauseating. All they did was name drop. I remember one guy said,: 'Yeah I just came down from the city and I was having lunch with Francis Ford Coppola and yesterday I was out at Lucas Ranch cause George and I are like this.' I looked at him and said 'I slept with Bill Gates.' And he said 'Did you?' And I go, 'No, but you didn’t have lunch with Francisco Coppola either. Why are we having this stupid conversation?" 

Sarandos took a different tact.

"I finished interviewing Ted and we're standing in the hallway waiting for Reed to get out of a meeting," McCord recalled. "And Ted’s telling me that his son is going to his first dance and I go 'Oh man, are they going to disco? And then Ted starts singing Disco Duck and we’re dancing in the hallways. Reed comes out and says 'Oh, you guys have met.' Ted is sincere and genuine."

 

 

 



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5 mesmerizing Greek islands that American tourists don't know about

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Kythnos Greece remote Greek islands travel Kolona beach

  • When Americans picture the Greek islands, the first images that come to mind are likely the white stucco buildings and deep blue waters of Santorini and Mykonos. 
  • Travel writer, Kastalia Medrano, is the daughter of a Greek immigrant and grew up visiting her grandmother in Athens most summers. 
  • Her family wouldn't stay in Athens for long, opting for the more remote islands most tourists haven't heard of. 
  • Medrano shares five small Greek islands that offer just as much beauty and adventure as the tourist attractions on the main islands. 

You probably think you know what the Greek islands look like, and to a certain extent you do. The rocky terraces and blinding-white houses with blue shutters, and the grey footpaths with white paint separating each stone. But if your imagination veers from there into the Pinterest-y direction of Santorini and Mykonos, you're missing out. Islands like that have exploded with Western tourists — in part because those are the islands with their own airports. The ones without have long been the vacation spots of primarily Greek tourists, and it's both ironic and of course deeply inevitable that the hordes of American tourists who flock to the more name-brand islands in pursuit of fetishized "authenticity" are overlooking the spots where that exists in its purest form.

As the daughter of a Greek immigrant, I grew up visiting my grandmother in Athens most summers, except that upon arrival we would promptly flee Athens in favor of a distant dry rock in the sea. Don't misunderstand — the Greek islands are not lush or green or in any way remotely tropical in appearance. They're arid and dusty and charming, home to small fishing villages and tavernas with the tables wedged unevenly in the sand on the beach. Most have a population of a few thousand for the entire island; in the off-season, maybe a few hundred. You'll eat octopus, and sea urchins, and fresh fish, and every honey-drenched pastry imaginable. I've spent mornings swimming out to a church on a spit of land that I climb up to from the sea, and had tiny silver fish jump from the water and arc back and forth over my head. It's almost as if they'd never seen a person before, which is more like the sort of adventure you also may be chasing.

Here's where to find it.

SEE ALSO: The 10 most incredible roads in Europe you should drive at least once

Kythnos

Kythnos (also spelled Kithnos, depending on the translation) is quiet and lovely, and the particular magic of it is that for an island so very off the grid it's actually the easiest one to get to. If you're coming from the port of Piraeus, which you probably are, it's the first stop on the Cyclades ferry route I can still recite by heart if you get me tipsy. In a way, it's almost the Aegean equivalent of flyover country — everyone passes it on their way to somewhere else, and we all see the port town of Merichas every trip but most of us never actually get off there. Head to the town of Loutra for the thermal springs. The real move is just to rent a scooter and explore the infinite remote beaches for yourself; much of Kythnos is a time-capsule from the days before Western tourism.

 



Kea

Kea is actually even closer to the mainland than Kythnos, it just doesn't always appear on the same ferry routes. If you are a licensed scuba diver or even remotely interested in snorkeling, Kea is is your place. There are some fantastic wrecks, and caverns, most notably the steamship Patris, which sank in the 1860s after hitting the island's reef. That reef, by the way, means Kea is also rich in marine life. Sure, there's good diving in Mykonos, but a dive is going to be, like, one afternoon of your trip tops, and then you're stuck spending the rest of it with all the other people who go to Mykonos.



Folegandros

Folegandros is a pipsqueak, with well under 1,000 residents during the off-season. There are no chain hotels. No cruise ships come here. Few people in general come here; mostly Greek families in the summertime. This is not because Folegandros is any less beautiful than any of its peers, just that it's small and out of the way, and as a result one of those places that inspires descriptions like "hidden gem" and "off the beaten path" and the ever-heinous "undiscovered." Charter a fishing boat from the port to explore (there's good diving here, too) and set aside a sunrise and/or sunset for hiking the trails that traverse the island.



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The life and career rise of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, the richest person in modern history (AMZN)

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Jeff Bezos

Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon, reached a new milestone recently: his net worth reached $150 billion, making him, as Bloomberg put it, the richest person in modern history.

As his Amazon empire continues to expand, Bezos continues to amass his fortune. He first nabbed the title of world's richest person last summer, and is now worth $55 billion more than Microsoft founder Bill Gates, according to Bloomberg's Billionaires Index.

But Bezos' rise to the top is has taken decades. He got his start in the hedge fund world, then left a cushy job to launch his own startup. 

Here's how Bezos got his start, and built one of the largest tech companies in the world.

SEE ALSO: Everything I loved and hated about the $120 Fire TV Cube, Amazon’s ambitious vision for the future of TV

Jeff Bezos' mom, Jackie, was a teenager when she had him in January 1964. She had recently married Cuban immigrant Mike Bezos, who adopted Jeff. Jeff didn't learn that Mike wasn't his real father until he was 10, but says he was more fazed about learning he needed to get glasses than he was about the news.

Source: Wired



When Bezos was 4, his mother told his biological father, who previously had worked as a circus performer, to stay out of their lives. When Brad Stone interviewed Bezos' father for Stone's book "The Everything Store," Bezos' dad had no idea who his son had become.

Source: The Everything Store



Bezos showed signs of brilliance from an early age. When he was a toddler, he took apart his crib with a screwdriver because he wanted to sleep in a real bed.

Source: The Everything Store



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The 20 best college towns in America

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young people women beautiful millennials

  • A list from the American Institute for Economic Research ranked top college towns.
  • It looked to economic, demographic, and quality-of-life factors.
  • Boulder, Colorado was the top-ranked town.


Boulder, Colorado, is the top-ranked college town in the US, according to a list from the American Institute for Economic Research.

The city of roughly 200,000 (for its metro area population) earned the top spot thanks to its accessibility — more than 20% of commuters take public transportation or cycle around Boulder Creek Corridor — and diverse and educated population. Boulder also has an active bar-and-restaurant scene, with plenty of coffee shops and microbreweries.

AIER compiled its list using nine economic, demographic, and quality-of-life factors. It defines college towns as having fewer than 250,000 residents.

Aside from the overall ranking, we included cities' individual scores for noteworthy metrics including rent, earnings, and bars and restaurants. We chose the one metric where the city scored the highest out of the nine.

Scroll through to find out the 20 best college towns.

SEE ALSO: The 11 best colleges for business majors

20. Bellingham, Washington — home of Western Washington University

Metro area population: 208,832

College student population in the metro area: 24,926

No. 4 in arts and entertainment



19. La Crosse, Wisconsin — home of the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse

Metro area population: 136,824

College student population in the metro area: 16,081

No. 1 in youth unemployment



18. Jacksonville, North Carolina — home of the University of Mount Olive

Metro area population: 186,684

College student population in the metro area: 15,297

No. 3 in rent



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The 30 most beautiful places in the US

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Niagara Falls Birds Eye View

From breathtaking natural wonders to architectural marvels built by humans, America is a beautiful place with no shortage of gorgeous destinations to visit.

Based on travel rankings from INSIDER and other publications, as well as travel sites such as TripAdvisor, we rounded up the most beautiful places in the US.

In no particular order, here are 30 destinations that put their postcard photos to shame.

Oak Alley Plantation — Vacherie, Louisiana

Oak Alley Plantation was built from 1837 through 1839 and named for the 800 feet of oak trees that predated its construction. Country Living named the property the most beautiful historic home in America.



Clearwater Beach — Clearwater, Florida

Voted the best beach in the US by TripAdvisor, one user wrote"Having flown from upstate New York, with its snow and cold blowing wind, Clearwater was a wonderful respite. The white sand, and calm ocean waves made for a wonderful break!"



Skagit Valley Tulip Fields — Skagit Valley, Washington

Skagit Valley hosts an annual blink-and-you'll-miss-it Tulip Festival in April. People come from all over the world to see the colorful fields of tulips in bloom. Last year, the festival attracted people from all 50 states and 93 countries.



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These photos reveal why women are abandoning Victoria's Secret for American Eagle's Aerie underwear brand (LB, AEO)

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Victoria's Secret

  • Aerie has doubled down on its efforts to promote female empowerment, and this seems to be resonating well with customers.
  • Meanwhile, Victoria's Secret's customers are complaining on Facebook that its ads, which feature scantily dressed models, are targeted more towards men than women.
  • We visited the two stores to see how their ad campaigns differ. 

In May, American Eagle Outfitters-owned underwear brand Aerie reported a record-high 38% increase in same-store sales for the first quarter of 2018

"Aerie is simply on fire," Jennifer Foyle, Aerie's global brand president, said in a call with investors.

"We have only just begun," she added, stating that the goal is now to grow the brand into a $1 billion business and open between 35 and 40 this year across the United States.

Aerie has doubled down on its efforts to appeal to female shoppers, ditching photoshopped images and partnering with women activists to promote female empowerment. It seems to be resonating well with consumers. 

Meanwhile, rival lingerie brand Victoria's Secret has been accused of failing to appeal to customers with its racy ad campaigns, which also threaten to negatively impact its teen-centric brand, Pink. It reported a more modest 1% increase in same-store sales growth for the first quarter of 2018, following negative growth in the previous quarter.

In January, Business Insider reported that mothers of teenagers who shopped at Pink were revolting online because of the oversexualized ads in Victoria's Secret's stores. 

"It is basically pornography that everyone (children and teens) are subjected to viewing because there is only one area to check out between Pink and Victoria's Secret, which happens to have the most obscene photos behind the registers," shopper Jessie Shealy wrote on Victoria's Secret's Facebook page.

Pink has become one of the most successful parts of Victoria's Secret, reporting stronger sales than other parts of the store in recent years.

But it's not only Pink customers who are being put off by these racy photos. Some Victoria's Secret customers are also complaining that its ads are targeted more at men than women.

We visited Aerie and Victoria's Secret in March to see just how extreme the differences are:

SEE ALSO: Victoria's Secret could be heading for a crisis as angry customers flood its Facebook page with complaints about 'shoddily made' lingerie

We visited two stores in Manhattan's Soho area. The stores were on the same block and therefore in direction competition with each other.



American Eagle's Aerie lingerie brand is known for its body-positive ad campaigns using "real" women.



The brand famously doesn't Photoshop any of the images in its ads. In 2014, it swapped its airbrushed ads for unretouched photos and launched a body-positive campaign known as #AerieReal.



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