Quantcast
Channel: Features
Viewing all 61683 articles
Browse latest View live

How to get a job at Netflix, and what it's like to work there

0
0

Reed hastings

  • Netflix has a notably unique company culture, which its CEO Reed Hastings once outlined the philosophy of in a 2009 slide deck. 
  • Drawing from a recent LinkedIn Q&A with Netflix and from a 2016 Reddit AMA hosted by a Netflix employee, we've compiled a list of quotes on the company's hiring process and culture.

 

Netflix is famous for its unique company culture, which does not tolerate either failing employees or "brilliant jerks."

The company recently held a LinkedIn Q&A where users could ask questions about its culture and philosophy, and its answers largely echoed a famous slide deck CEO Reed Hastings released in 2009 to summarize Netflix's management philosophy.

Though the company has morphed significantly since then, diving into original content and expanding across the globe, Netflix has maintained a commitment to its culture.

That means that working at Netflix isn’t quite like working anywhere else, and neither is getting hired there.

Drawing from a 2016 Reddit AMA hosted by a purported Netflix employee and from last week's LinkedIn Q&A, we've compiled the following essential quotes on Netflix's hiring process and company culture:

The interview (via Reddit):

About 40-50% of the interview is about making sure your personality is compatible with our company culture. The rest is about making sure you're technically capable … They flew me out and interviewed me for eight hours. It seemed really easy at the time, but I now realize that a lot of the questions were checking that my personality was a fit for the company. No crazy technical questions that I hate.”

Culture fit was a big part of the hiring (via Reddit):

“You'll talk to about eight or so people, some from HR, some higher-ups, some of the team you're applying to. Typically if even a single person doesn't like you, it's unlikely you'll be hired. Ultimately the decision is with the team that's hiring but it's very rare for them to overrule a single ‘no.’”

There's a list of qualities they expect in an employee (via LinkedIn):

"You need to have relevant experience for the role you are applying for and on top of that, when you interview in person, demonstrate qualities that showcase Netflix values. Are you courageous? Are you humble? Are you curious and passionate and ask thoughtful questions about the business? Are you able to and open to providing and receiving feedback to be better? Are you scrappy, have grit and willing to roll up your sleeves regardless of your title? Are you a team player? Are you inclusive and self aware? These are all things we look for."

No one cares where you went to school (via Reddit):

“I'm a college dropout. I haven't heard a single person discuss education or degrees. When you're working with people who have 5, 10, or even more years of experience education doesn't matter anymore. It's all about what problems you have the knowledge to solve.”

There’s independence with responsibility (via Reddit):

“At every other place I've worked, there's a very strict hierarchy and everyone is working on whatever the orders from up high are. In a sense that's also true at Netflix, but the orders are less orders and more context about what the big picture is and what is going on with the numbers. And everyone is expected to pitch in in their own way. You can give someone a problem and they can solve it without going back and asking you for the exact procedure.”

On whether you can binge-watch Netflix at work (via LinkedIn):

"Freedom and responsibility — you choose how you want to spend your day doing what," a company representative responded on LinkedIn. "No one is saying you can or cannot do something, but you have to be responsible in moving the business and making an impact. For some teams it is necessary to watch our titles because they work on them."

"To be candid, there are a lot of fast-paced and exciting projects happening, so there probably isn't time or as much of a priority to catch up with personal Netflix viewing."

You have to perform (via Reddit):

“Netflix is definitely more cutthroat about firing ‘dead weight’ than every other company I worked for. If you're not working out for whatever reason, there's no reason to keep you.”

This person also said there weren’t any real “entry-level positions.” So if you were looking to get hired straight out of college, you’re probably out of luck. Though there are definitely people who have begun their Netflix careers in their mid-20s.

The "best" and "worst" part of the job are the same (via LinkedIn):

"The best thing is the freedom to do whatever you think is necessary to move the business forward. The worst thing is that nobody will tell you how to spend your time or what exactly you should be working on (outside of setting larger goals for your role). Determining which projects will truly be impactful is up to you, and sometimes that is really hard."

If you want to take a look at Reed Hastings' famous 2009 slide deck, scroll down:

SEE ALSO: Netflix held a Q&A on LinkedIn, and everyone seemed to have the same 2 burning questions







See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Meet Yusaku Maezawa, a Japanese musician turned billionaire art collector who's going to be the first person to travel to the moon with SpaceX

0
0

yusaku maezawa

Elon Musk and his rocket company, SpaceX, revealed on Monday that the first private person to ever fly around the moon will be Japanese entrepreneur and billionaire named Yusaku Maezawa.

Maezawa revealed that he had purchased all the seats on the first crewed flight of SpaceX's new Big Falcon Rocket that is being designed to colonize Mars, and has decided to select six to eight artists to accompany him on the journey, though they have not yet been selected.

He says the artists will be part of a project called #dearmoon, which will involve them creating work inspired by their lunar journey. 

It's unclear how much the moon's first space tourist paid for access to the lunar flight, though SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said Maezawa is "paying a lot of money that would help with the ship and its booster."

"He's ultimately paying for the average citizen to travel to other planets." 

Here's what we know about the man who could be part of the space travel revolution.

 

 

 

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk just revealed who will fly to the moon on SpaceX's new rocket ship

Yusaku Maezawa was born in Japan's eastern Chiba prefecture in 1975.

Instagram Embed:
//instagram.com/p/BgZr1tKjr5C/embed
Width: 540px

 



He started an indie rock group called Switch Style, and released an EP in 1995.

He went by the stage name YOU X SUCK and played the drums. 



He had a passion for collecting CD's and records, and began a CD and record mail-order business in 1995.

Instagram Embed:
//instagram.com/p/BRzP98nD7Lz/embed
Width: 540px

He decided early on that he did not want to become a white-collar worker in Japan "after seeing all the tired faces on my morning commutes." 

Source: The Daily Beast



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

19 hilarious photos of people walking through one of North America's most famous haunted houses

0
0

haunted house funny photos nightmares fear factory niagara falls 6

Canada's Nightmares Fear Factory in Niagara Falls, Ontario, has been terrifying visitors for over 30 years. 

The attraction prides itself on being one of the scariest haunted houses in the world, as well as the longest-running one in North America.

Nightmares Fear Factory is also known for sharing hilarious photos of its many guests, captured by several cameras hidden inside its building.

Ahead of Halloween this year, take a look at 19 candid shots of people walking through this famous haunted house below.

Located on Victoria Avenue in the Clifton Hill Tourist District, Nightmares Fear Factory is a popular destination for thrill-seekers in Ontario.

The haunted house has been in operation for over three decades.



According to the attraction's website, walking through the entire haunted house takes an average of 10 to 15 minutes.

The company says some visitors don't even last 10 seconds in the building.



At any point in the experience, visitors can choose to leave.

All they have to do is stop and scream, "Nightmares!" At that point, a staff member will take them out of the haunted house.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This $446 million mansion in Hong Kong could break the record as the most expensive home ever sold in the world's most expensive housing market — and it's surprisingly modest

0
0

hong kong mansion

 

A mansion for sale in Hong Kong's exclusive and wealthy Peak neighborhood could break the record for the most expensive home sold in the territory — and possibly in all of Asia.

The $446 million home, which was built in 1991, went on the market in April 2018 and was available for lease before that, Joyce Lee, a representative for Christie's International Real Estate, told Business Insider. 

Hong Kong, which is now home to more super-rich individuals than any other city in the world, is seeing property prices continuing to climb, particularly in the luxury market. 

Christie's International Real Estate named Hong Kong the prime luxury market in the world for the second year in a row in its 2017 "Luxury Index" that evaluated growth and demand of premium real estate.

Hong Kong claimed the world's first and second most expensive home sales of 2017, according to the South China Morning Post, breaking several property records in the process, as Business Insider's Rosie Perper reported. An estate on The Peak was sold for $360 million to billionaire technology manufacturer Yeung Kin-man in January 2017, the South China Morning Post reported.

In November 2017, the most expensive apartments in Asia sold for a combined $149 million. And the city-state continues to break records in the luxury housing market in 2018.

In March 2018, a buyer paid $178.4 million, or $19,400 per square foot, for a mansion in Hong Kong's super-exclusive and wealthy Peak neighborhood, making it the most expensive residential sale in all of Asia, according to Bloomberg.

But this $446 million home could break even those staggering records. Here's a look inside the mansion and the exclusive, super-wealthy neighborhood where it sits. 

SEE ALSO: Inside the Hong Kong billionaire enclave name-dropped in 'Crazy Rich Asians,' where Alibaba founder Jack Ma may have bought a $191 million mansion

DON'T MISS: Hong Kong now has more mega-millionaires than New York City

The four-bedroom mansion sits on 7,725 square feet on Middle Gap Road, one of the most prestigious gated communities in Hong Kong, according to the real estate listing. The home is surrounded by dense woods.

Source: Landscope Christie's International Real Estate



The colonial-style home was built in 1991 and includes an outdoor swimming pool.

Source: Landscope Christie's International Real Estate



Views of the hilly, greenery-filled neighborhood surround the pool area.

Source: Landscope Christie's International Real Estate



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A music exec who lived through the industry’s darkest period reveals what to do when a technological tsunami is about to crush your business

0
0

taylor swift concert

 

To hear the experts tell it, if your business is connected to healthcare, energy, financial services manufacturing or call centers, then there's a chance you'll soon be toast.

A group of companies, including Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, and Intel are investing big money to develop artificial intelligence and other game-changing technology. These new AI superpowers are expected to pay your industry a visit in the not-so-distant future, leaving key parts of your product obsolete and the economics of your business in tatters.

The good news is that some people have faced the dramatic changes brought on by a technological tsunami  and seen their sectors not only survive, but eventually flourish again.

Cary Sherman, CEO and Chairman of the Recording Industry Association of America, the lobbying group for the three top music labels, is one of those survivors. 

The advent of digital music files and online sharing that started in the late 1990s plunged the music industry into its darkest period — in 2009, at the low point, US annual music sales fell to $6.3 billion, less than half of the $14.6 billion posted for 1999.

Now, nearly a decade later, annual music sales are growing again and consumers are paying for streaming services that provide access to an unprecedented trove of music. 

It wasn't easy. Sherman and the record labels endured numerous false starts, surprises and setbacks. They erred. The number of labels fell from five to three. They laid off hundreds of workers and alienated fans. They were mocked and vilified by the tech press

What follows is the story of how recorded music clawed its way back. Sherman's account is a playbook of tips for other industries that may soon find themselves in the fight of their lives:

SEE ALSO: EU lawmakers vote for new online copyright rules

1. Remember, it may take time to grasp the nature of the threat

Napster, the file-sharing service cofounded by Shawn Fanning, launched in June of 1999.

Sherman and his staff immediately recognized it as a threat but didn't appreciate how big of a threat it was.

"I think everybody underestimated the speed at which it would grow and the size that it would grow to," Sherman tells Business Insider. 

Before a court ordered Napster shut down in 2001, the service had enabled maybe as many as  8o million people around the world to share countless numbers of songs, free of charge. 

If a 19-year-old college kid with minimum resources could create a worldwide phenomenon and flip the music industry on its head, what might be accomplished by seasoned technologists who were backed by big bucks? 

 



2. Accept that the competitive threat may evolve, morph and quickly adapt

Napster was a centralized peer-to-peer service. A central server indexed the users and their libraries of MP3 song files so others could access them. The music industry had seen earlier, clunkier, and far less popular versions, called File Transfer Protocol technology. 

"We started with FTP sites," Sherman said. "Napster was the next form of piracy in 1999 and then a couple of years later came a decentralized form of piracy. Then, came cyber lockers and so on… each generation of formed piracy had a completely different scale beyond anything we had seen before. And so we saw very quickly that things were spinning out of control." 



3. Expect your entry barriers and moats to be breached

The year before Fanning invented Napster, the big recording companies thought they had piracy-proofed their business thanks in large part to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which outlawed the cracking of anti-piracy protections on CDs and the distribution of pirated songs by Internet services. 

But the new breed of services let users store music files on their computers, rather than on centralized servers owned by internet providers. That meant that internet service providers weren't liable for the pirated music and it left the record labels with no effective way to stop the problem. 

The DMCA, the record industry's main bastion of defense against piracy, was "obsolete within eight months," says Sherman.

 

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Take a look inside Johnson & Johnson's new startup incubator in NYC's SoHo neighborhood, that feels more like a rustic-chic coffee shop with jewel-toned couches

0
0

JLabs SoHo

Johnson & Johnson's Manhattan outpost of its startup incubator, JLabs, is the new kid on the NYC-health-tech block. 

First opened in June, JLabs host startups looking for a space to grow their businesses — whether that be developing drugs, coming up with new medical devices, or applying new technology to the world of healthcare. In addition to NYC, there are JLabs in San Francisco, Toronto, Houston, Boston and Shanghai as well as another planned in Belgium. 

The incubators provide J&J, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, with a front-row view of what's happening at the startup level. Though J&J doesn't take an immediate stake in the companies, it does end up investing in some in the long-run. The relationship works like this: J&J will provide all the infrastructure, operation management, network, and programming, and the startups just have to bring new and innovative ideas.

It's part of J&J's plan of looking to the future and adapting to become more nimble as it evolves for the new generation of consumers

"We're the leading healthcare company," Kate Merton, head of the NYC and Boston JLabs, told Business Insider. "In the future we want to be the leading digital healthcare company."

Take a look inside JLabs' NYC digs, which with its coffee-shop vibes looked unlike any startup space we've ever seen. 

SEE ALSO: Mount Sinai teamed up with the designers who created projects for Nike and Beyonce to build a futuristic, new clinic — and it's reimagining how healthcare is delivered

DON'T MISS: Inside Flatiron Health's swanky, new NYC headquarters, where the cold brew coffee flows and the conference rooms give off a serious living room vibe

The 30,000-square foot facility is located on the 8th floor of the New York Genome Center in New York's trendy SoHo neighborhood.



Right when you come in, you see the investor hub, where incubator companies can meet with potential investors as well as mentors. This front of the house layout is the same in many other JLabs across the country, which are designed by San Francisco-based firm Gensler.



On the wall next to the reception desk is a presentation of all the companies housed at JLabs. There are 25 presently. The companies living at JLabs have a wide-ranging set of interests and ideas – from Curie Co's biologic enzymes intended to replace abrasive chemicals in our cosmetics and drugstore products, to Nanowear's high tech undergarment equipped with sensors that can monitor heart conditions.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Apple just made a few big updates to its $350 HomePod smart speaker — here's everything that's new (AAPL)

0
0

HomePod

Apple's HomePod is getting a bit smarter thanks to a new software update. 

Apple rolled out iOS 12 on Monday, the latest update to its operating system for iPhones and iPads. The update — which is free and available for download now for anyone with an iPhone 5S or later — includes a few key updates to HomePod, Apple's $349 smart speaker. 

When HomePod made its debut earlier this year, it didn't exactly win over critics with its smarts. While the speaker sounds great, the version of Siri inside HomePod isn't as "smart" as competitors like Google Assistant or Amazon's Alexa. 

But the new updates to HomePod, while subtle, should make it easier to use and more useful for most people. 

Here's everything that's new with HomePod. 

SEE ALSO: There were two major no-shows at Apple's big iPhone event

You can ask Siri to play a specific song, even if you only know a few of the lyrics.

Apple added a new feature to help you out in those instances where you can't remember the name of a song. 

Now, you can say, "Hey Siri, play the song that goes..." followed by the lyrics. Apple says Siri should be able to recognize the song, even if you don't know the title, artist, or band. 



You can finally make and receive phone calls on HomePod.

For me, one of the biggest shortcomings of HomePod when it came out was the inability to make and receive phone calls on the device. While you could use the HomePod as a speaker phone, you were required to use your iPhone to begin and end a call. 

But Apple has fixed that with iOS 12. Now, incoming calls will be automatically routed to your HomePod, and you can ask Siri to pick up the phone. To make a call, you can ask Siri to call one of your contacts, or dial a specific phone number. 

There are three extra features that will likely come in handy, too:

  • If you miss a call, you can ask Siri who just called you
  • You can hand off the call from HomePod back to your iPhone
  • Anyone on your network can hand off a call from their iPhone to your HomePod


You can now set multiple 'named' timers on your HomePod.

HomePod will now support multiple named timers at once, like one for cookies, one for pizza, and one for your laundry. Apple says you can set "as many as you need," so it appears that there's no limit on the number of timers you can have going at one time. 

In other kitchen-related features, Siri on the HomePod also now knows several nutrition facts, like the amount of calories in red wine or the amount of fat in a burger. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The best vitamin C serums you can buy

0
0

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 vitamin c serum

  • Vitamin C serums brighten your complexion, nourish your skin, and decrease inflammation as well as irregular pigmentation to leave your face glowing.
  • Maelove’s Glow Maker serum is the best vitamin C serum we've tested because it's affordable and effective.

Getting a face lift doesn’t have to mean going under the knife. Really, all you need is vitamin C. Over the last few years, a mysterious elixir known as vitamin C serum seems to have made its way onto every makeup and skincare trend in the world, and while you may not totally get what it is, you’ll certainly get why it’s so popular.

Vitamin C is key to reducing skin inflammation and irregular pigmentation and is also important for collagen production. Taken together, these aspects make your skin look brighter, smoother, and generally younger. And while you may think that your 20-something face doesn’t need any help (yet), it is certainly the case that the sooner you begin taking care of your skin, the later your skin will look youthful.

While this antioxidant appears naturally in many of the foods you consume on a daily basis (think fruits, kale, broccoli, and the like), it’s actually quite difficult to get the vitamin straight to your skin. Enter vitamin C serums, compounds that are spiked with the powerful natural substance and meant to keep your skin looking tight and bright.

When choosing your serum, you’ll want to keep a few things in mind. First off, be sure to read the label for ingredients. While this seems like an obvious tip, you are putting this stuff directly on your face, so you’ll want to be sure that everything is as natural and organic as possible. You’ll also want a relatively high proportion of vitamin C. If it’s only 5% or so, you’re really not getting a vitamin C serum anymore.

Second, think about how sensitive your skin is. If you tend to react strongly to all sorts of different compounds, you’ll want to be sure that you choose a serum that is safe for you and your complexion. After all, there’s no point in giving yourself a rash while trying to improve your skin. Similarly, you might want to consider whether or not you want a fragrance in your serum. If you’d rather keep things simple, look for an option that doesn’t have any perfumey additives.

Third, consider what you really want your serum to do. Are you looking to brighten your skin? Smooth it? Hide spots? Various serums will serve various purposes, so it’s good to go in with a game plan. We have an explainer piece where we break down the benefits of vitamin C serums.

Finally, you’ll want to keep price points in mind. Some vitamin C serums can run well over a hundred dollars and considering that you’re only buying a small bottle at a time, that can be quite the investment. There are, luckily, more affordable options on the market as well.

Here are the best vitamin C serums you can buy:

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

The best vitamin C serum overall

Why you'll love it: Maelove’s Glow Maker Vitamin C serum is as good as the expensive stuff, but it will only cost $28.

Maelove CEO Jackie Kim had a simple goal when she created her company. She wanted to make skincare “radically affordable,” and it’s safe to say that she’s achieved that with her cult-favorite $28 Glow Maker Vitamin C serum. It’s sold out multiple times, and it’s currently available for pre-order.

The Glow Maker’s goals are threefold: hyperpigmentation, smoothing, and hydration, and its ingredients all lend themselves to one of those goals. In the Glow Maker, you’ll find vitamins C (15% L-ascorbic acid), E and ferulic acid for antioxidation protection, hyaluronic acid for hydration, and a proprietary mix of botanicals (grape seed extract, aloe, aurantium dulcis, and magnolia) for nourishment and easier makeup application. Thanks to the aforementioned extracts, folks with sensitive skin shouldn’t have negative reactions to this particular serum.

As we’ve mentioned previously, the $28 Glow Maker is remarkably similar to the much pricier SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum. If you check out the ingredients of each solution, you’ll find that they’re nearly identical, but have a $138 price difference.

We’ve found that Maelove’s offering does a fantastic job brightening your complexion and lightening your dark spots, and has the added benefit of absorbing quickly into your skin. And while “glowing” skin often seems to be code for oily skin, that’s not the case with the Glow Maker. Really, it just makes you look brighter.

My skin is generally on the drier side, which made me a bit nervous that Maelove’s serum would add to this problem if I were to apply the Glow Maker consistently. Happily, that hasn’t been the case at all. Rather, it seems that the serum has helped alleviate flakiness and peeling, something I wasn’t necessarily expecting from the get-go.

If you don’t love the Maelove Glow Maker, you have 100 days to try it out and return it for a full refund. We don’t anticipate you using that option.

Pros: Extremely affordable, quick absorbing, makes skin look brighter without looking oily, good for sensitive skin

Cons: Due to its popularity, the Glow Maker is frequently on backorder

Buy Maelove Glow Maker Vitamin C Serum for $27.95

Read our full review on Insider Picks



The best serum for fading acne scars and dark spots

Why you'll love it: For folks fighting skin discolorations from acne, the sun, or age, the No B.S. vitamin C serum will work wonders.

Far be it from me to ever suggest that your skin is in any way imperfect, but if you’re looking to make it more perfect by reducing the number of sunspots, acne scars, or other discolorations that may have come about over time, there’s a serum for you. The aptly named No B.S. vitamin C serum is one of the best in the market for getting rid of hyperpigmentation, and as an additional bonus, it won’t break the bank.

As its name suggests, the No B.S. serum hangs its hat on what it doesn’t include in its compound. You won’t find any parabens, sulfates, phthalates, or synthetic fragrances (which means that it does smell a little funky). But you will find plant-based ingredients like Aloe Vera, coconut oil, and jojoba oil, as well as hyaluronic acid, retinol, and salicylic acid, all of which help to smooth out your skin and give it that healthy glow associated with such serums.

It’s not entirely clear what percentage of the serum is vitamin C, but seeing as it’s the fourth listed ingredient, chances are it’s pretty potent. Plus, vitamin C is the primary ingredient for actually fighting pigmentation, and given how well the No B.S. formula completes that task, it’s safe to say that there’s enough of the antioxidant.

The hyaluronic acid coupled with pomegranate and green tea extracts help to smooth away lines and makes the serum safe to use underneath your eyes. Plus, you can rest easy knowing that No B.S. formulas are never tested on animals, and better still, the company donates one product for every product sold.

Using the No B.S. serum on the daily hasn’t proven to be problematic for me. I generally put it on in the morning before applying moisturizer and have certainly noticed an improvement in my overall complexion when it comes to smoothness and brightness. And for just $40, it feels like a steal.

Pros: Great for scar and hyperpigmentation reduction, cruelty free, safe for sensitive skin

Cons: Doesn’t smell great

Buy No B.S. vitamin C serum for $40 

Read our full review on Insider Picks



The best super concentrated vitamin C serum

Why you'll love it: For folks who don’t want to play around with their vitamin C, the COSRX Triple C Lightning Liquid is the way to go.

There are vitamin C serums and then there are vitamin C serums, and if anything deserves the italics, it’s the COSRX Triple C Lightning Liquid. This beloved product is part of part of the Korean beauty regimen, which automatically gives it an extra dose of legitimacy. I mean, seriously — Have you ever tried a K-beauty product that doesn’t work wonders?

The first time the Lightning Liquid launched on Soko Glam, it was gone within the hour. Successive restocks have proven just as popular, and even today, it’s one of Soko Glam’s best-selling products. Once you’ve tried it, it’s not difficult to see why.

Created as a collaboration between Korean skin-care line COSRX and online beauty retailer Soko Glam’s CEO, COSRX Triple C Lightning Liquid is no ordinary vitamin C serum. Rather, it’s packed to the brim with an impressive 20.5% ascorbic acid, aka vitamin C. That makes it one of the most potent serums on the market, and one of the most effective.

The high dosage of vitamin C allows Lightning Liquid to help reduce scarring and other irregularities in your skin extremely quickly. And even if you think that you don’t have these sorts of issues with your skin, you’ll be able to benefit from this particular serum. It helps remove dead skin cells, which gives your skin more room to glow.

Plus, Joshua Zeichner, the director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, told Allure, "[Vitamin C] may even help protect the skin from pre-cancerous changes from UV light exposure by neutralizing free radicals." Of course, you need a high concentration of the antioxidant for this to prove true, which makes Lightning Liquid particularly unique.

Using the COSRX product requires a bit more care than some other serums due to its potency. Rather than applying it directly to your skin, you’ll likely want to add a couple drops to your moisturizer. If you don’t see any irritation in a couple weeks, then you can start applying one or two drops to your skin every other day, but always follow it up with a good moisturizer to provide dry-out.

Pros: Extremely high vitamin C concentration allows you to reap all the benefits, inexpensive, extremely effective at reducing discoloration

Cons: Could cause skin to dry out, not the best for sensitive skin

Buy the COSRX Triple C Lightning Liquid for $27



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

36 examples of Tom Brady's insane competitiveness

0
0

Tom Brady

Now 41 years old, Tom Brady enters another decade as dominant as he's ever been.

To be as good as Brady is at age 41 requires a super-natural desire to compete.

During Brady's 18 years in the NFL, his competitiveness has become legendary.

Across the league, there are stories of Brady's intense desire to win, top-notch preparation off the field, and extreme self-confidence that prove nobody loves competing as much as Brady.

Check out 36 of the best examples of Brady's competitiveness below.

Former Patriot Dan Koppen said that Brady is the most competitive person he's ever met.

Source: CSNNE



Former teammate Darrelle Revis described Brady's desire to win as a "sickness."

Read more: Teammate describes the trait that makes Tom Brady so great



He doesn't take losing well. He admitted that he had to work on his body language so as not to be too hard on his teammates.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

I tried Julianne Hough's workout routine — and it made me realize how hard she works for her body

0
0

Julianne Hough

Julianne Hough, is best known for being a professional dancer turned judge on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars."

But her moves go beyond TV. Hough has taken on dance-heavy roles in movies like "Footloose" and "Burlesque," and performed in the "Move Live Tour" with her brother Derek Hough.   

In order to keep up on the floor, Hough makes fitness a big part of her life. She is also a big fan of her Fitbit and an ambassador for the company, tracking her steps and workouts.

Armed with my Fitbit and a determination to get Hough's abs, I decided to try out her workout routine for a week. I work out pretty regularly, and I figured that this would be a great way to switch up my routine a little.

Hough has talked about her workout routine with several different sources, including a detailed weekly routine with Self, which is what I followed closely.  

Here's how my experiment went. 

Hough weight-trains three times a week, even if it's just one part of a workout video.

Hough told InStyle that, three times a week, she does "weight training or something like Body by Simone, Tracy Anderson, or Anna Kaiser."

I'm a big fan of Jillian Michaels' Bodyshred, a class that involves circuits of cardio, weights and an active recovery (aka abs). This class is a good mix of cardio and weight lifting, and I feel like it was something that Hough would like if she attended the free workout classes at her gym.

I didn't feel more sore than usual after today, as I do attend this class regularly. It definitely kicks your butt though, as the moves are always changing.





Hough is a fan of yoga, as well as dance cardio — so I combined the two.

Since I was finishing up a long weekend at home, I decided to attend a class at a new yoga studio. Hough likes to attend hot yoga classes at CorePower Yoga, as well as dance cardio classes and hot Buti yoga was basically both of those in one.

This was also not your typical yoga class — starting with the fact that I sweat more than normal.  

I usually find yoga pretty boring, but this class had inspiring music and went at a faster pace than your typical yoga class. I think Hough would approve of the mix of power yoga, dance cardio, and a great playlist.





Hough swears by Tracy Anderson, a celebrity trainer who happens to have workouts available on YouTube.

Hough loves celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson's workouts, and personally trains with her. I decided I should try some of her workouts online before dishing out the big bucks for her classes or video workouts.

I found three workouts on Youtube that seemed very simple but seriously sweat-inducing. In an 8-minute workout she planned for Health Magazine, Anderson recommended doing 30 reps of each move. I attempted that on all of them with almost complete success, but it was definitely a struggle.

I also tried one of Anderson's exclusive 15-minute workouts for goop readers, as well as another goop exclusive 10-minute workout.

Honestly, these were some of the hardest workouts I've ever done, and it was shocking because the moves looked so simple. Hough works hard for the body that she has, and Anderson's workouts definitely contribute to those iconic toned arms and abs.





See the rest of the story at Business Insider

We tried the first lab-grown sausage made without killing animals. It was smoky, savory, and tasted like breakfast

0
0

clean meat san francisco 29

  • Silicon Valley clean meat startup New Age Meats made history on Monday by letting journalists taste the first cultured pork sausage made in a lab.
  • New Age Meats' sausage is the first cell-based meat to be made using both fat and muscle cells, which could prove key to nailing the flavor of traditional meat.
  • Here's what the farm-free sausage was like.

On a Monday night at a brewery in San Francisco's hipster Mission District, the co-founders of a startup called New Age Meats helped cook up samples of pork sausage made entirely out of cells grown from a live pig named Jessie.

As scientists-turned-entrepreneurs Brian Spears and Andra Necula watched, the sausage they'd spent the past two months making at a nearby lab began to sizzle. Slowly, its sides turned brown and, as the aroma of breakfast meat filled the room, samples were doled out to taste.

New Age Meats aims to make meat from animal cells without killing any actual animals. They are one of roughly half a dozen nascent companies aiming to create an alternative to factory farming. In so doing, they hope to reduce waste, improve health, and eliminate animal suffering.

New Age Meats' sausage was the first in history to be made with fat and muscle cells — an important combination that could prove key for nailing the taste of "cell-based" or "cultured" (meaning simply: not from slaughter) meat. Here's what it was like.

SEE ALSO: 40 AND UNDER: The Silicon Valley biotech stars who are backing startups aiming to cure disease, prolong life, and fix the food system

DON'T MISS: The startup behind Silicon Valley’s favorite ‘bleeding’ veggie burger has scored a major victory in its battle for legitimacy

Around 5 PM on Monday evening, a group of journalists and potential investors gathered at Standard Deviant Brewery for a taste of the first pork sausage made in a lab from the cells of a live pig.



After filling up on vegan appetizers and snacks, New Age Meats co-founder Brian Spears told us what to expect. He also shared a photo of Jessie, whose cells — taken from a small biopsy on her side — went into the meat we'd be eating.



Spears and co-founder Andra Necula teamed up with Matt Murphy, a butcher and sausage chef, to get their recipe just right. Because the sausage casing they used was vegan, it was extra delicate — meaning Murphy had to be careful to avoid too much blistering, which could cause the links to break apart in the pan.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

18 answers to the most uncomfortable pregnancy questions you were too embarrassed to ask

0
0

pregnant woman pregnancy

Pregnancy is a time of immense change in the human body — and with it comes a swath of symptoms and worries that mothers-to-be may be embarrassed or just scared to talk about. It's tough to up and ask a doctor or a friend about baby bump size, "pregnancy brain," bowel movements during labor, or how vaginas change after birth, to name just a few topics.  

So INSIDER spoke with Dr. Talitha L. Bruney, medical director of OB-GYN at the Comprehensive Family Care Center, Montefiore Health System, to ask some common questions about pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. 

Read on for her answers. 

1. What are the early signs of pregnancy — and when will I notice them?

Bruney said the most common sign of pregnancy is a missing period, but you might also experience nausea, heartburn, constipation, tiredness, or breast tenderness. 

"These can occur within the first six to eight weeks of pregnancy," she added. 



2. What are the odds of a false positive or a false negative on a pregnancy test?

At-home pregnancy tests work by detecting the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in your urine, Bruney explained. That hormone is only released when you're pregnant.

In very uncommon cases, a miscarriage, some cancers, or certain medications may create a false positive result, she said, but most of the time, a positive result means you're pregnant. 

"It's very unlikely to have a false positive," Bruney said. "But all positive tests should be confirmed at a doctor's office."

False negatives are far more common, she added, because many women test too early. All pregnancy tests are most accurate when you take them after a missed period, according to Planned Parenthood. If you take one before a missed period, you'll get less reliable results. 



3. Is it really that dangerous to get pregnant after 35?

Women are born with a fixed amount of eggs in their ovaries and, as they get older, they're left with fewer eggs that are more likely to have genetic abnormalities. This is why a woman's fertility decreases with age. This decline starts around age 30 and speeds up in the mid-30s, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

When women get pregnant in their late 30s or 40s, there's a higher risk for certain complications, including birth defects, miscarriage, stillbirth, multiple pregnancy (like twins or triplets), the ACOG website adds. Bruney explained that older women also have a higher risk of diabetes and high blood pressure in pregnancy. 

This doesn't mean that every person who gets pregnant after 35 will experience these problems. Bruney said she's seen plenty of women around 35 or slightly older who have uncomplicated pregnancies. 

But, statistically speaking, you are less likely to get pregnant and more likely to have certain issues if you get pregnant past 35. 

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

15 TV show theme songs that were performed by famous musicians

0
0

Gilmore Girls

There are so many different elements that go into creating a television show, but perhaps no factor is as key as a good theme song. Title sequences introduce you to the vibe of a show, whether it's a dramatic ballad for a romance series or a peppy pop tune for a guilty-pleasure reality show.

Whether you grew up watching cartoons during an after-school special or use Netflix binges to keep up with more intense shows, it's easy to get attached to a series' theme songs (after all, you do listen to it every time you stream an episode), but do you truly pay attention to who performs them?

Some of your favorite singers in the game didn't just create hit songs for themselves, but they also set the mood for some of the classic television shows we all know and love. Read on to find out which theme songs of TV past and present were actually performed by famous artists.

Hilary Duff brought the drama for "Laguna Beach."

Before the Kardashians took over the reality TV show world on "Keeping Up With the Kardashians," there was another California-based reality show in the early 2000s that got the ball rolling: "Laguna Beach."

Lauren Conrad, Spencer, and Heidi Pratt, and Brody Jenner all got their start on this so-called reality show, and to amp up the drama, show creators borrowed Hilary Duff's now-iconic song "Come Clean" to ring in each episode.



She also introduced the glam lives of teens on "My Super Sweet 16."

Remember that cringe-worthy MTV show "My Super Sweet 16"where a camera crew followed around super rich and super spoiled teenagers as they planned over-the-top sweet sixteen parties? Then you can probably already imagine that theme song performed by none other than Hilary Duff.

That's right, the Disney royalty lent her voice to not one, but two different reality shows. We can already picture the show's end card as Duff's croons "Sweet 16!" 

 



Regina Spektor brought her own her indie-pop twist to "Orange Is The New Black."

Anyone who watches the hit Netflix show "Orange Is The New Black" will immediately recognize the catchy and ironically upbeat theme song of the show, sung by indie pop sweetheart Regina Spektor.

Spektor wrote "You've Got Time" specifically for the show, and OITNB creator Jenji Kohan told Entertainment Weekly it was her plan all along: "I listened to Regina's albums obsessively while writing the series, so I immediately thought of her for our theme song … I had total faith in her and she nailed it."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

10 abandoned mansions around the world that likely used to be worth millions

0
0

abandoned mansion carleton villa

  • Even the most expensive, extravagant homes can fall into disrepair without proper care.
  • These mansions were likely worth the equivalent of millions of dollars when they were built.
  • Years later, they sit abandoned in varying states of deterioration. 

 

When they were built, these lavish homes were likely worth today's equivalent of millions of dollars. Now, they're falling apart.

From a villa that's been sitting empty for 70 years on an island in upstate New York to a Gothic manor in Scotland, here are 10 abandoned mansions around the world that were once worth millions of dollars.

SEE ALSO: The most expensive home for sale in every US state

DON'T MISS: 10 abandoned underwater sites and the history behind them

The Carleton Island Villa, a dilapidated mansion that sits on an island in Cape Vincent, New York, hasn't been inhabited for 70 years.

Source: Realtor.com



The 11-bedroom mansion was constructed around 1895 for William O. Wyckoff, who made his fortune from the Remington firearm and typewriter company. Around the World War II Era, contractors went in and removed the interior and doors and windows.

Source: Realtor.com,Curbed



The mansion is now for sale for $495,000 — but whoever buys it will certainly need to spend much more than that on repairs and restoration.

Source: Realtor.com



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

6 things you should always keep at your desk

0
0

desk

  • Your desk is your space at work where you complete all of your job-related tasks.
  • You should organize your desk in a way that enhances productivity, rather than clutter it with items that hinder it or distract you.
  • Here are six things, like a good office chair and desk planner, you should always keep at your desk.

 

When I became a full-time freelancer and transitioned to working remotely about eight years ago, I was terrible with organization.

My "desk" was the couch, and my organization strategy was scribbling notes on Post-Its and randomly sticking them to my laptop, only for them to get lost. A few years of this system resulted in lost emails and forgotten deadlines, and I realized that it was time to buy a proper desk and get organized.

While I do occasionally work in coffee shops or from my bed, most of my working hours are spent sitting upright at my desk. Everything I need to stay organized is at my fingertips, so I’m able to complete my tasks more efficiently.

Whether your working at home or in an office, here are six things you should always keep at your desk to be organized and enhance productivity:

SEE ALSO: 5 organization tips for people who hate organizing

1. A good office chair

Sitting in an uncomfortable chair all day can result in back pain and distract you from concentrating on your job tasks.

A decent desk chair should provide lumbar and pelvic support to remove stress from your back muscles. Since poor posture may lead to headaches or muscle fatigue, a supportive chair is a worthwhile investment.



2. A desk planner

While I often use Google Calendar to note important dates and there are no shortage of online planners, it also can be helpful to have deadlines, appointments, calls, and other reminders written on paper as well.

Keeping a written to-do list near your desk can help you stay on-task, remind you of what's coming up, and help eliminate the possibility of a scheduling error.



3. A wireless printer

While mostly everything is done online these days, from shopping to filing your taxes, there are still times when you'll need a printer.

Going paperless is great for the environment, but when you need to print out a form to send to an employer or you prefer editing with a paper and pen, a wireless printer comes in handy.

A wireless printer also means one fewer cord to get in the way. Plus there are some inexpensive, high-quality options out there.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

I embedded with US Marines on a Hurricane Florence search and rescue mission — here's what happened

0
0

tropical storm florence us marines

JACKSONVILLE, North Carolina — Camp Lejeune faced criticism from some journalists for not ordering a mandatory evacuation before Hurricane Florence. 

But what then looked like a Category 4 hurricane later became a tropical storm, and US Marines at Camp Lejeune ended up assisting with search and rescue missions around the their installation. 

And while on the ground covering the storm in North Carolina, which has killed more than a dozen people and caused catastrophic flooding and damage, I had a chance to embed with some US Marines as they went on a search and rescue operation. 

Here's what happened. 

More Hurricane Florence stories from Business Insider:

17 photos show Hurricane Florence's devastating flooding from the sky

A victim of Hurricane Florence described losing his wife and son at the same time when a tree smashed into their home

SEE ALSO: I'm on the ground for Tropical Storm Florence, which has caused catastrophic flooding and damage. Here's what I'm seeing.

I met up with the Marines at an emergency operations center in Jacksonville, and quickly jumped in the back of one of their medium tactical vehicle replacements, or seven-ton trucks, before the convoy took off.

The Marines were assisting the disaster relief operations known as Joint Task Force 60, and their main mission here was to drive about five miles north to Richlands and pick up 30 residents stranded at a fire station.



The creek outside of Richlands had completely flooded, making the town accessible only to the seven-ton trucks. The video below shows the massive flooding surrounding the town.

 



And the flooding was incredibly deep in many spots.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

28 celebrities who had some of the shortest runs on 'Dancing with the Stars'

0
0

nick lachey peta dancing dwts

It doesn’t always pay to be first. Just ask all the contestants who have had the unfortunate distinction of being the first eliminated from the ballroom on the hit ABC reality show "Dancing with the Stars."

We rounded up some of the celebrities that lasted the shortest on the show — whether they deserved it or not. 

Johnny Damon and Jamie Anderson were victims of a double elimination

During season 26’s special truncated athlete’s edition, former baseball outfielder Johnny Damon and Olympic snowboarder Jamie Anderson were sent packing in a double elimination in the season premiere. Damon received 18/30 for his foxtrot with partner Emma Slater and Anderson didn’t fare much better with 19/30 for her Viennese Waltz with Artem Chigvintsev.



Barbara Corcoran did not find as much success in the ballroom as the boardroom.

The real estate mogul is a boss in the business world but failed to win over the public during her season 25 stint. She and partner Keo Motsepe were the first eliminated in the second week after posting a 17/30 for their foxtrot.



Chris Kattan couldn’t keep up in season 24

Actor and former "Saturday Night Live" comedian Kattan and partner Witney Carson said goodbye to the competition in week two despite posting a respectable 22/30 for their jazz routine.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's what the 'Game of Thrones' cast looks like in real life

0
0

emilia clarke

"Game of Thrones" creates iconic characters with the help of a talented costume and style department. While some of the cast is nearly unrecognizable behind wigs and makeup, others generally look the same. 

While fans of the hit HBO show patiently wait for the premiere of the eighth and final season, here's what the stars of "Game of Thrones" look like in real life. 

SEE ALSO: RANKED: The 20 best acting performances on 'Game of Thrones'

Jon Snow is rugged as the King in the North.



Kit Harington is still brooding, but he's a little more suave.



Arya Stark's hair is now a little longer, and it looks like she's dressed for colder weather.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A woman recreates Instagram influencer's photos to show what life is really like — and the side-by-side photos are hilarious

0
0

geraldine west

  • Geraldine West shows what life is really like behind those flawless Instagram photos.
  • Her snaps poke fun at the calculated way Instagram influencers craft their posts to make their lives seem perfect.
  • In less than a year, her relatable photos have garnered over 40,000 followers on Instagram.

Who doesn't secretly wish their life was more like the flawless ones seen in Instagram photos? But what you see on Instagram is seldom real life, and that's what Geraldine West set out to prove.

The 33-year-old Instagrammer from Germany pokes fun at those perfectly curated photos, putting her own self-deprecating spin on pictures that influencers upload.

Her hilarious side-by-sides have already garnered her over 40,000 followers in less than a year. Keep scrolling to see why.

West was born in Frankfurt and now lives in Cologne.

"As a child I loved to make people smile and laugh. It still makes me very happy," West told INSIDER.



She got the idea for her posts after a frustrating day in which she saw dozens of Instagrams showing blonde women peering through doughnuts.

If you've spent some time on Instagram, you've probably had a lot of déjà vu.



West noticed that Instagram influencers' followers would take their photos and reconstruct them for their own accounts.

"I just want to make people laugh about this chase for perfection by making fun of myself," she said.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

25 pairs of celebrities you had no idea were the same age

0
0

lopez zellweger

All celebrities are fabulously attractive, no matter their age — but it can be surprisingly tough to guess how old they really are. 

Case in point: Check out these pairings of famous actors, musicians, and models who were born less than a year apart. As of this writing, most are currently the exact same age.

Musicians Cardi B and Ariana Grande are both currently 25.

A tweet pointing out their shared age went viral in September 2018. A lot of Twitter users were surprised by the revelation, as BuzzFeed reported. 



Actors Paul Rudd and Matthew Perry are 49.

This quiz proves that it's nearly impossible to determine Paul Rudd's real age based on photos alone.



Actresses Halle Berry and Cynthia Nixon are 52.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider
Viewing all 61683 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images