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12 under-the-radar podcasts for true crime lovers

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listening music headphones podcast

When it comes to podcasts, true crime rules. According to Apple, the genre dominates the downloads. With hundreds of thousands of shows to choose from, crime stories remain the most popular, particularly with people who identify as women. And with the success of shows like "Serial" and "S-Town," new true crime podcasts are popping up all of the time that explore all that is mysterious, scary, and even funny about the cases.

If you've gone through every episode of popular true crime shows like "My Favorite Murder" and "Serial," you may want to check out some of these under-the-radar podcasts. 

"Swindled" profiles some of the most notorious con artists.

If murder isn't your thing, you may want to check out "Swindled," a podcast all about deception, instead. The anonymous host, who calls himself "A Concerned Citizen," gives listeners details on some of the most compelling stories of corruption and scandal.

Past episodes have included a profile of a con man who targeted wealthy widows and a story of an American company's involvement in a deadly explosion at a pesticide plant in India.



"Heaven's Gate" examines the facts around a mysterious mass suicide.

"Heaven's Gate" podcast looks closely at a 1997 mass suicide which left 39 members of the Heaven's Gate cult dead. Host Glynn Washington walks listeners through how the cult leaders, Ti and Do, recruited cult members, promising them that they would be allowed to enter the kingdom of heaven via spacecraft.

Having spent some of his own childhood in a cult, Washington offers a unique perspective on the facts of the case.



A bestselling author looks at classic con jobs in "The Grift."

If you've ever wondered how people can become the victim of scams, "The Grift" is the podcast for you. In each episode, New York Times bestselling author Maria Konnikova gives listeners a look at con artists that have been able to pull off amazing con jobs on unsuspecting citizens.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Silicon Valley's ultimate status symbol is the sneaker — here are the rare, expensive, and goofy sneakers worn by the top tech CEOs

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Satya Nadella shoes

  • For many of the Valley's elite, the right pair of kicks is a trademark accessory carefully selected to convey a mix of power and nonchalance, creativity and exclusivity.
  • With help from the team at the sneaker marketplace Flight Club, Business Insider compiled some of the most fashionable, expensive, and downright wild sneakers worn by tech founders and CEOs.

The inhabitants of Silicon Valley are not exactly known for haute couture.

It's a land where jeans, T-shirts, and hoodies reign supreme, and where sneakers are the footwear of choice.

But don't let the pedestrian fashion item fool you. These sneakers can be as rare and as status-defining as the fine watches adorning the wrists of Wall Street bankers or the designer handbags clutched by elite art dealers.

For many of the Valley's elite, the right pair of kicks is a trademark accessory carefully selected to convey a mix of power and nonchalance, creativity and exclusivity.

With help from the team at the sneaker marketplace Flight Club, Business Insider compiled some of the most fashionable, expensive, and downright wild sneakers worn by tech founders and CEOs. The Flight Club team helped confirm the brands and styles and provided expert commentary and analysis.

We did our best to find photos of female tech executives wearing sneakers, but our search didn't yield many results. Women like Sheryl Sandberg and Marissa Mayer wore low heels, flats, or loafers, which says something about how much freedom women have to dress down in the corporate world.

If you dream of becoming the next Mark Zuckerberg, lacing up a pair of these sneakers probably won't get you very far. But at least you'll look the part.

Check it out:

SEE ALSO: Inside the crazy-successful, controversial life of billionaire Uber CEO Travis Kalanick

Mark Zuckerberg: Nike Flyknit Lunar 3 in Wolf Grey

Since Nike's Flyknit franchise was introduced in 2012, Flight Club says it has seen resale values in "the hundreds, and some well over a thousand."

The Wolf Grey sneakers favored by Zuckerberg, Facebook's CEO, aren't currently sold in stores, but you might be able to find them on eBay.

Price: A similar pair costs $110





Satya Nadella: Lanvin Suede & Patent Leather Low-Top Sneaker

When the Microsoft CEO took the helm in 2014, it quickly became clear he was stylish. So it's no surprise he opts for a more fashion-forward take on sneakers, with a pair from the French high-end brand Lanvin. Even sneaker lovers on Reddit have inquired about Nadella's kicks.

Price:$525



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10 things you should never say to someone who is trying to lose weight

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mindy project working out

Talking to someone about their effort to lose weight can be tricky. It's easy to unintentionally say something upsetting in your quest to offer support or learn more about a person's diet.

If someone close to you is making healthy changes to their lifestyle, it's important to learn the right way to talk to them about their weight loss journey.

Here are a few things you should never say to someone who is trying to lose weight.

"You don't need lose to weight."

This is a common reaction to the news that a friend is trying to lose weight. Though the comment might be intended to assure someone that you care about them no matter what the scale says, it actually can serve to negate a person's rationale for losing weight.

"Even if – in your opinion – they are 'fine,' I recommendsupporting their efforts with positive reinforcement – comment on their successes," registered dietitian Jenna Bell told US News.

As Bell pointed out, someone might be trying to lose weight for reasons other than appearance. They could want tobecome more athletic or reduce the chances of developing a medical condition that runs in their family.



"Have you tried [specific fad or trendy diet]? It worked so well for me."

Suggesting that someone try a specific diet can be problematic because it encourages people to favor extreme weight loss solutions over tried-and-true healthy lifestyle alterations.

"This suggestion often comes from friends who don't really knowhow unhealthy yo-yo dieting can be for you long-term," Frances Largeman-Roth, RD, health expert and co-author of "The CarbLovers Diet, told Health.

A comment like this presents a simplistic view of weight management and might be insulting to someone who feels like they have tried everything to lose weight with little success.



"Didn't you try to lose weight last year?"

Reminding someone of their past attempts to lose weight can imply that you believe they have fallen short before and won't be able to reach their goals this time around.

"Such pessimistic feedback can take all the wind out of someone's sails and discourage them. Itreminds them of past failures and negative experiences," Leslie Heinberg, director of behavioral services for the Bariatric and Metabolic Institute, told US News.

Instead of commenting on how difficult someone's diet or weight loss plan seems, try offering positive words of encouragement and praising their dedication.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The best Alexa-enabled speakers you can buy that aren't made by Amazon

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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 alexa speaker

  • There are plenty of Alexa-based speakers out there, and that list is only growing, but they’re not all created equal, so we did the research to find the best Alexa speakers on the market.

  • We think the Sonos One offers the best cross-section of Alexa intelligence and excellent sound quality.

The Amazon Echo was a ground-breaking speaker. It was the first to introduce the world to the concept of a smart speaker, and although many were a little confused about the point of a smart speaker when the Echo first came out, the idea quickly caught on and created a whole new category.

Although the Amazon Echo is a very smart speaker, the fact is that it’s not always the best choice for those who want a smart speaker with excellent sound quality — even though it has improved markedly in the past few years. 

Luckily, Amazon has partnered with dozens of companies over the past few years to put Alexa in third-party speakers. These days, there is a ton of choice when it comes to buying speakers with Amazon’s digital assistant built right in.

There are, of course, a number of things to keep in mind when buying a new smart speaker. For starters, you’ll want to consider the form-factor that you’re looking for. There are plenty of standard-sized smart speakers designed for desktop use, but there are also other speaker form-factors with Alexa onboard, like sound bars, for example. You’ll also want to think about whether or not you want a speaker that can be portable, and if you do, you’ll need to look into battery life.

We've done the research for you to find the best Alexa speakers you can buy from a variety of top brands. We'll continue to add more as Alexa makes her way onto other excellent speakers.

Here are the best Alexa speakers you can buy:

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

The best Alexa speaker overall

Why you'll love it: The Sonos One is well-designed, super-smart, and sounds awesome — easily making it the best Alexa-enabled speaker that isn’t an Amazon Echo.

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: The Sonos One is the best smart speaker out there today. The device works with Alexa, to be sure, plus it’s getting Google Assistant support before the end of the year, and it works with Apple’s AirPlay 2 for the iPhone users out there. In other words, while you may buy the speaker for its Alexa support, you’ll be getting a ton of other smart features, too.

You can ask Alexa questions, have her play music, set reminders, buy items on Amazon, check your shipments, control your compatible smart home gadgets, and more on the Sonos One.

Smart features aside, the Sonos One is also an excellent-sounding speaker. It boasts plenty of volume without distorting, plus you’ll get plenty of bass response for a speaker this size and price, so if bass is important to you, this is the speaker to get. That doesn’t mean it does away with the high-end response, either. There’s plenty of clarity in the high end, helping things like cymbals shimmer, and vocals cut through a mix.

The reviews of the Sonos One are pretty great, too. Engadget scored it a 9/10, while TechRadar went a step further and gave it an impressive 9.5/10.

That doesn’t mean it’s perfect, though. Disadvantages of the speaker include the fact that Sonos has yet to push the Google Assistant update to the speaker, and that the app is a little buggy. The speaker is also a little more expensive than some of the other speakers on this list.

Pros: Great sound quality, tons of smart features, well-designed

Cons: A little expensive, buggy app

Buy the Sonos One on Amazon for $199



The best portable Alexa speaker

Why you'll love it: The UE Megablast sounds good and has a nice design, plus it’s one of the only portable speakers with Alexa.

If you’re looking for something a little more portable, then the UE Megablast speaker is the way to go. The speaker has consistently rated among the best portable speakers out there, and the fact that it boasts Alexa support is really the icing on the cake.

You can ask Alexa questions, have her play music, set reminders, buy items on Amazon, check your shipments, control your compatible smart home gadgets, and more on the UE Megablast.

There are a few things that make this such a great speaker. For starters, it’s got a nice design and comes in a range of different colors. On top of that, however, the speaker also sounds great, offering plenty of bass response and a nice, cutting sound to seriously deliver the music no matter where you are.

There’s also the fact that the speaker is well-built for portable use. For example, it offers a hefty 12 hours of battery life, plus it’s nice and water-resistant with a rating of IP67. That makes it great for taking to the beach without having to worry about it getting too wet.

There, of course, a few downsides to the speaker. For starters, while the Alexa integration is pretty good, it doesn’t work all that well when you’re not connected to Wi-Fi, and its Wi-Fi connection isn’t always the best. Still, despite the downsides, it’s gotten some pretty sweet reviews. Pocket-Lint and PCMag both scored it 4/5, which is pretty impressive.

Pros: Good battery life, nice sound quality, relatively durable

Cons: Some Wi-Fi issues, Alexa doesn’t work all that well when not on Wi-Fi

Buy the UE Megablast on Amazon for $174.99



The best Alexa sound bar

Why you'll love it: The Sonos Beam boasts that awesome Sonos sound, an excellent design, and Alexa support.

If you want Alexa in the living room, you don’t necessarily have to be limited to an Echo-sized device. Instead, you could go for a sound bar, like the Sonos Beam, which offers Alexa support, excellent speakers, and more.

There are plenty of things that make the Sonos Beam a great buy. For starters, like the Sonos One, it supports Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s AirPlay 2, and is getting Google Assistant support later in the year. On top of that, it boasts that awesome Sonos sound-quality. There’s plenty of low-end and tons of clarity in the high-end, making for a nice, crisp sound.

Of course, nothing’s perfect, and there are some downsides to the device. For starters, the Sonos Beam is pretty pricey, coming in at $399 for the sound bar alone, or more if you want rear speakers or a subwoofer, too. Despite that, however, the device has been getting excellent reviews. TechRadar scored it a massive 4.5, while WhatHiFi stepped things up to a whopping 5/5.

Pros: Excellent sound-quality, nicely, designed, very smart

Cons: Expensive

Buy the Sonos Beam on Amazon for $399



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The life of Afghan Gen. Abdul Raziq, whose assassination Thursday was a huge Taliban victory

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Brig. Gen. Abdul Raziq, Kandahar chief of police, speaks to the assembled locals of Kajran in Daykundi province during a shura Oct. 22.

The Taliban carried out an insider attack on Thursday inside the governor's palace in Kandahar province, killing the provincial intelligence chief, wounding two Americans and barely missing the top US commander in Afghanistan, General Austin "Scott" Miller. 

But the attack also killed Brig. Gen. Abdul Raziq, Kandahar's powerful police chief. 

A fierce Taliban fighter, Raziq, 39, had previously survived several assassination attemps, and was seen as an invaluable US ally, largely credited with pacifying Kandahar province just a few years earlier.

But he was also a fierce critic of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, and had been previously accused of torture and corruption. 

Here's a look at his life and impact. 

SEE ALSO: A US base in Syria is a huge thorn in Russia and Iran's side — but they can't do much more than complain about it

Brig. Gen. Abdul Raziq was an ethnic Pashtun who was born in southern Kandahar province's Spin Boldak district.

Raziq's friends said he picked up a gun for the first time when he was 17 years old, according to The New York Times, and he repeatedly bragged about killing Taliban fighters. 

In 1994, the Taliban killed his dad and uncle, the latter of whom was a fierce Taliban fighter himself, before Raziq fled with his family to Pakistan.

In 2001, after the US-led invasion ousted the Taliban, he returned and began fighting against the Taliban, eventually overthrowing them in the area.

Source: Al Jazeera



Soon afterwards, Raziq became a police officer, operating along the border between Kandahar and Pakistan's Balochistan province. He would quickly rise through the ranks, becoming a trusted ally of the US as he was seen as a fierce Taliban fighter.

Source: The New York TimesAl Jazeera



In 2011, after the Taliban assassinated Khan Mahammad Mojayed, the former Kandahar police chief, Raziq was made the provincial police chief, charged with securing Kandahar City from the Taliban.

Source: The New York TimesAl Jazeera



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

10 viral dog adoption stories that rocked the internet in 2018

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syrian dog and kitten

While the internet isn't always the nicest place, there is a corner that is filled with genuinely beautiful content: dogs.

We've rounded up 10 dog adoption stories so wholesome and pure that they went viral. They're all about dog adoption, whether it's a soldier that served in Afghanistan who was finally able to adopt his former canine partner after years of separation, or a dog that did the adopting itself, by taking care of a group of abandoned ducklings.

Keep scrolling, and keep the tissues on hand.

In June 2018, a soldier that served in Afghanistan was finally able to adopt his former canine partner after seven years of separation.

After seven years apart, Nick Montez was finally able to adopt Mally, a bomb-sniffing dog that he had worked together with in Afghanistan in 2011.

Montez was honorably discharged in 2013, but continued to check in on Mally to see if he could adopt her. However, she was still needed in the armed forces. Finally, he received a letter from Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, informing him that Mally was finished with her service and ready to be brought home.

The pair shares such a special bond that Montez got Mally's paw print tattooed on his calf, along with her identification number.



A cyclist found an injured puppy in the woods and biked seven miles into town with the dog on his back. The dog, Columbo, was rescued by Andrea Shaw in Georgia and has since made the cross-country move to Maine.

Columbo was only five months old when he was found abandoned on the side of a bike path with a couple of broken bones. A group of bikers came across him outside of Columbus, Georgia, and one of them picked Columbo up and biked him seven miles into town.

The bikers bumped into Shaw, who formed an immediate bond with Columbo. She quickly brought him to the vet, alerted her husband, and brought Columbo back up to Maine to live with her.

 



Fred, a 10-year-old labrador, adopted an entire family of ducklings after their mom vanished.

Fred, resident dog of Mountfitchet Castle in England, took in the ducklings after they were found wandering the grounds by themselves. Their mom, sadly, had disappeared.

But you don't need to feel bad for them — Fred is doing a great job parenting. He lets them ride around on his back, takes them swimming in the castle moat, and even allows them to share his dog basket.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Meghan Markle's best outfits during her pregnancy so far

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Meghan Markle Australia white dress

Kensington Palace announced on Monday that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are expecting their first child in the spring of 2019. The news comes five months after their grand royal wedding in May.

Markle's sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, has served up some iconic looks during her pregnancies with her three children, and now it's Markle's turn to serve as the ultimate maternity style inspiration.

According to People, the duchess was 12 weeks along when the palace made the announcement, which means that, without knowing it, we've likely been seeing Markle experiment with her maternity style since July.

Here are the best outfits she's worn during her pregnancy so far.

In July, Markle wore a $2,190 denim dress by Carolina Herrera to a charity polo match.

The duchess paired her dress with Aquazurra pumps and a woven clutch by J. Crew for a casual-chic look.



In August, Markle wore a tuxedo-style suit-dress while attending a charity gala performance of "Hamilton."

The tuxedo-style minidress is a $595 design by Canadian brand Judith & Charles that created a look similar to the popular "no pants" trend.



In early September, the duchess rocked an all-black pantsuit while attending the WellChild Awards.

She paired the Altuzarra blazer and pants with a matching black blouse by Deitas.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

10 differences between Halloween in the US and the UK

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Halloween

Common language aside, there are numerous differences between the US and the UK. When it comes to Halloween, Americans and Brits each have their own way of doing things.

Keep scrolling to learn 10 ways in which people celebrate Halloween in the US and the UK, from the costumes they wear to the kinds of candy they eat.

In Scotland and the Isle of Man, Halloween's Celtic roots are honored through Samhain celebrations.

While Americans don't usually emphasize Halloween's Celtic roots, the holiday's ancient, Pagan forebear ― Samhain ― is still celebrated in Scotland and on the Isle of Man, one of the British Channel Islands, as well as Northern Ireland and Ireland. 

Meaning "summer's end," Samhain (which takes place from October 31 to November 1) marks the end of the harvest season and symbolizes the divide between the world of the living and the world of the dead.

Samhain celebrations feature rituals such as bonfires and dancing.

 



Another fall holiday is actually a bigger deal than Halloween in the UK.

Guy Fawkes Day (also known as Guy Fawkes Night and Bonfire Night) has historically been more significant than Halloween in the UK.

Celebrated with parades, bonfires, and fireworks on November 5 ― you might be familiar with the rhyme "Remember, remember the fifth of November"― Guy Fawkes Day commemorates the failed Gunpowder Plot. The scheme, orchestrated by Roman Catholics in 1605, was an attempt to blow up Parliament in response to King James I's refusal to expand the religious freedom of Catholics.

The commercialized, American version of Halloween, however, is also taking off.

"I have a distinct sense that Halloween is overtaking or has overtaken Guy Fawkes Night," James Sharpe of the University of York told Smithsonian Magazine in 2014.



In the US, costumes aren't always "scary."

Brits tend to wear more traditional Halloween costumes, dressing up as ghosts, zombies, and other fearsome creatures.

"In the US, when kids go trick-or-treating, it seems any costume goes, even costumes that aren't necessarily 'Halloween-y' (including princesses, Spider-Man and so on),"wrote a Quora user with dual US/UK citizenship. "In the UK, we stick to the more traditional horror-inspired ghost/vampire/zombie/Frankenstein/ghoul costumes."

According to a 2017 survey from the Halloween Industry Association, witch costumes were the most popular choice for adults in the US, while action/superhero costumes topped the kids' category. In fact, Americans spent a total of $3.4 billion on costumes last year.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

10 foods you didn't realize were vegan

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oreos oreo cookies

You don't have to be vegan to eat vegan food. In fact, some of your favorite store-bought snacks are accidentally vegan, and you probably didn't even know it.

Aside from pre-made salads, vegan-identified foods, and pre-chopped fruit, below are just a few of the many foods you have probably eaten that are accidentally vegan.

Lay's Barbecue Potato Chips are vegan.

Smothered in salt and a host of other seasonings, Lay's BBQ chips are 100% vegan approved. It's a little ironic when you consider the fact that BBQ sauce is typically meant to top a host of red meats and chicken, but this is an accidentally vegan snack.



Apple Cinnamon Cheerios are a delicious vegan breakfast.

Non-strict vegans and non-vegans alike can enjoy Apple Cinnamon Cheerios throughout the day. These Cheerios do include white sugar but are technically vegan as they contain no animal products whatsoever.



Vegan candy is real.

AirHeads, Dots, Dum Dums, and Sour Patch Kids are just a few of the many vegan candies you have definitely consumed at some point in your life. 



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17 essential quotes from Kim Kardashian, from her brutal honesty to her offbeat sense of humor

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kim kardashian

Kim Kardashian West has built a career on making the public feel privy to her private life and secrets. And, indeed, throughout her life in the public eye, she has rarely flinched in the face of speaking her mind.

Here are 17 of her best — funniest, bluntest, and most outrageous — quotes, in no particular order.

"Honey, would you put a bumper sticker on a Bentley?"

Kim uttered this now-infamous quote when Wendy Williams asked if she had any tattoos back in 2009 — sitting right next to her sister Khloe Kardashian, who has multiple.

"But you would on a Ferrari. 'Cause Khloe's a Ferrari," she continued sheepishly.



"I'm kind of shocked I'm getting a fashion award when I'm naked most of the time."

Kim showed off her keen sense of humor when she joked that she was surprised to be given a prestigious fashion award.



"Nicole Richie reminds me of my jeep."

There's a lot to unpack here. It's unclear exactly what inspired Kim to share this comparison back in 2010, but it's weirdly perfect.



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Disappointing photos show what owning a yacht is like in real life

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Wolf of Wall Street

  • Owning a yacht certainly sounds like a dream come true. And if you have a nice chunk of change burning a hole in your pocket, you might want to make that dream a reality.
  • But you should know first that there are several hidden expenses, headaches, and disappointments that come with yacht ownership. 
  • As Business Insider's Hillary Hoffower writes, "really, yachts are just floating money." Here's what you're really in store for if you buy one.

Picture it: It's a beautiful summer day and you're laying out in the sun, a cold drink by your side, your favorite music playing softly in the background, and you're slightly rocking to the motion of the waves.

Someone comes to refill your ice bucket and tells you lunch is almost ready.

That's the dream, isn't it? Spending the weekend on a yacht of your very own. Cruising around the Mediterranean just because you can.

But hold on a minute.

Before you get there — you know, to all the relaxation — there's a lot that needs to happen first, like actually buying the yacht, hiring the staff, making sure everything is being cleaned and fixed when necessary, and being prepared for a lot less isolation than you've been imagining.

So as you contemplate buying yourself a yacht, keep in mind that it's not always the dream it's cracked up to be.

SEE ALSO: Disappointing photos show what cruise ships look like in real life

DON'T MISS: I spent 3 years writing about yachts, and owning one takes way more money than you think

Owning a yacht and living the yachting lifestyle may be a dream of yours.



Whether you want to cruise around the Mediterranean or sail up and down the east coast of the US, you might think the best way to spend any time off would be on your own boat.



If you're not up for creating your own custom yacht, you can go to a boat show and tour a bunch until you find the perfect one.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A Floyd Mayweather rematch, the GGG trilogy, and an all-Mexico showdown: Canelo Álvarez's $365 million DAZN deal could include the biggest fights in the modern era

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Saul Canelo Alvarez next fight

Saul "Canelo"Álvarez is kind of a big deal.

Now Floyd Mayweather has retired, Álvarez, with his stocky pressure-fighting style, is boxing's biggest box office attraction.

The Mexican has already competed in four of the 54 best-selling pay-per-view (PPV) events in combat sports history, according to this Business Insider list. And, at 28, age is clearly on his side to compete in even more of the biggest fights in the modern era.

But Álvarez has just signed an agreement that moves him away from PPV and into the subscription model, having struck a $365 million deal with the over-the-top platform DAZN to contest 11 fights exclusively on the startup's channel, over the next five years.

The first of those bouts has already been booked, as Álvarez takes on British fighter Rocky Fielding in America on December 15, but DAZN will be banking on "Canelo" taking on boxing's best — and that means fights against the biggest combat athletes on the planet in and around the middleweight divisions.

Keep scrolling to find out who Álvarez could be fighting on DAZN based on legitimate rumour and industry chatter.

SEE ALSO: Mayweather attacks Canelo Álvarez on Instagram over failed drug tests, and says their fight was the 'easiest night' in his whole career

DON'T MISS: Canelo Alvarez signs monster 5-year, $365 million contract, the biggest in sports history

UP NEXT: Gennady Golovkin rode out this insane punch during his epic fight with Canelo Alvarez

This is Saul Álvarez. Nicknamed "Canelo" because of his cinnamon-coloured hair, Álvarez is one of the most popular boxers on the planet right now. The 28-year-old has been competing professionally since he was 15 years old, and has victories over Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto, Amir Khan, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, and Gennady Golovkin. It is perhaps this pedigree that made world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua rank "Canelo" as the best fighter in the business when he spoke about Álvarez last year.

Saul "Canelo"Álvarez record: 50 wins from 53 fights (34 by way of knockout), with two draws and one loss.

Álvarez has been involved in four of the 54 best-selling pay-per-view events in the history of combat sports, according to this Business Insider list.

Source: Business Insider.



Canelo Álvarez, a middleweight, will jump a division to challenge British super middleweight Rocky Fielding next, an opponent he is expected to bowl through with ease in a WBA championship fight at Madison Square Garden in New York on December 15. The Fielding fight will be Álvarez's first of 11 contests under the DAZN broadcasting banner.

Rocky Fielding record: 27 wins from 28 fights (15 by way of knockout) with no draws and one loss.



Fielding is not expected to give Álvarez much of a contest, so DAZN will want to see a return on the investment it made in luring "Canelo" to its channel. The way to achieve this would be by securing big-name opponents for its star fighter. A trilogy bout against Gennady "GGG" Golovkin would certainly be on the agenda considering the two back-and-forth battles they have already engaged in. The first was a draw, while the second was awarded to Álvarez, but the Mexican would welcome a third. He said: "If the people want a third fight with pleasure I would give him a third fight."

Gennady Golovkin record: 38 wins from 40 fights (34 by way of knockout) with one draw and one loss.

Golovkin has been involved in the 21st and 34th best-selling pay-per-view events in combat sports history, and both fights have been against Álvarez. A trilogy bout between the two rivals would surely generate big business once again, albeit for DAZN's subscription numbers rather than PPV figures alone.

Source: Sky Sports and Business Insider.



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We visited the weird, subtropical white-sand island off the far southern tip of Britain where angry monks beheaded 120 pirates in an afternoon

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10 Tresco

  • There is a group of small subtropical islands off the southern tip of Britain that have their own unique weather and climate.
  • The Isles of Scilly are sunny most of the year round. They feel like the Caribbean. The flowers and trees are spectacular, and the beaches have white-powder sand.
  • They also have a crazy history of pirates and shipwrecks.

THE ISLES OF SCILLY, Great Britain — Britain is famous for its rain and grey skies. But off the far southern tip of the mainland, a short flight into the Atlantic Ocean from Land's End, are the Isles of Scilly, a subtropical archipelago of 140 tiny white-sand islands. Only five are inhabited.

The islands have year-round sunny weather, and that gives them a weird, otherworldly vibe: You're in Britain. But it feels like the Caribbean.

The islands also have a dark history of profiting from shipwrecks and suffering attacks by pirates. In the year 1209, the locals captured 112 pirates and beheaded them all a single day.

We visited in October to see what the fuss was about.

The Isles of Scilly lie right in the middle of the Gulf Stream, the river of warm water that flows from the Gulf of Mexico into Northern Europe, keeping the temperatures here higher than they would otherwise be. Because the islands are low-lying, they don't block the air mass above them, and thus get little rain.



This gives the islands a weird micro-climate all of their own. They get abundant sunshine and elevated year-round temperatures, compared to mainland Britain.



It's not as warm as the Caribbean, but it's sunny enough to grow tropical plants all year. You need to wear sunblock on most days. It never freezes.



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Disappointing photos show what going to Harvard is like in real life

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harvard campus students

  • Harvard University is one of the most prestigious, and expensive, schools in the country.
  • So you'd think life as a student there would be wildly more luxurious and comfortable ... right?
  • It turns out that going to Harvard looks a lot like attending any other US college.

It's no question that Harvard is considered one of the most prestigious universities in the world.

Some of the greatest minds have come out of the 400-year-old institution, like Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, eight presidents — the list goes on.

As a result, people apply that same level of prestige and luxury to how they perceive life at the college.

Fancy dormitories with spacious rooms and spectacular meals 24/7 are some of the things people think Harvard students are treated to during their college experience.

But in reality, going to Harvard looks a lot like going to any other university in the US.

Check it out:

SEE ALSO: NFL cheerleaders reveal what it's really like to have their job

Harvard University is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, about 20 minutes west of downtown Boston by car.

Source: Google Maps



It's the hardest college to gain acceptance to in the US.

Source: Business Insider



The school rejects more than 90% of applicants.

Source: Business Insider



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Walmart made a game that lets you see what it's like to work at one of their stores — here's how to play (WMT)

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Walmart

If you have ever, for whatever reason, wondered what it'd be like to work at Walmart — well, now's your chance.

The retail giant has released a game for your smartphone that lets you live a day in the life of a Walmart manager. Over the course of your workday, you monitor inventory, stock shelves, adjust prices, and perform tasks to the satisfaction of your boss and customers alike.

The app, which Buzzfeed News first spotted, started out as a training tool for employees, Walmart spokesperson Michelle Malashock told Business Insider. The game, which is called Spark City, was piloted in a dozen Walmart stores over the summer before it was made public in Apple and Android app stores at the start of October. As of Oct. 16, the free app had around 60,000 downloads, Malashock says.

If you've ever played a Diner Dash-type simulation game (Sally's Spa, Cake Mania, Jane's Hotel to name a few), Walmart's Spark City works pretty similarly. I played through a (virtual) week of the game, which took about an hour.

I present to you, the exciting life of a Walmart retail worker in Spark City:

walmart spark city game

SEE ALSO: This card-sized smartphone may be world's thinnest and lightest ever made

Before you start work, you can customize your character.

The customization options for your avatar may not be as sophisticated as those in Sims, but you can pick your character's gender, skin color, clothing and general hair and face features.



Congrats, you work in Walmart's dry grocery department! Say hello to your boss Cynthia, who will be looking over your shoulder the entire game.

Like any good boss, Cynthia will be there throughout your workday to provide feedback and criticism. She also introduces you to a bunch of complicated acronyms about customer satisfaction, sales and shelf stocks, which are used to measure your success and guide you through your tasks. 

I forgot what Cynthia told me almost as soon as I started to play. You can pick up on the general idea of the terms as you play, although I can't guarantee you'll ever fully understand what's being measured and how you're evaluated.



You're provided with this handy (and useless) floor plan that shows the layout of the store.

You use the map, which sits in the corner of your screen, to switch between the places you need to perform tasks. You start each day in the back room, where you have to complete all your work before you can move into your assigned department.

I played through five workdays in the game, and in that time, the only locations that I needed to toggle between were the back room and the grocery section — so the floor plan seems kind of unnecessary. Walmart's spokesperson says that developers are in the process of adding a new level to the game that would take place in the "lawn and garden" section of the store.

If they really want to put the floor plan to good use though, Walmart's developers should consider adding a "Battle Royale" mode.



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These are the 15 best video games to put your 4K HDR screen to the test

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Shadow of the Tomb Raider (22)

Televisions with 4K and HDR functionality are more affordable than ever, but there's still a lack of actual 4K HDR content to watch. Luckily, video game developers are constantly pushing the boundaries of new visual technology, and there's no shortage of new games to showcase the power of modern displays.

Also known as Ultra HD, or UHD, 4K describes the display resolution. 4K images are 3,840 by 2,160 pixels, making them about about four times the size of an image at 1080p, the highest resolution currently offered by cable broadcasts. HDR is used to describe images with a high-dynamic range. As the name implies, displays with HDR have a higher contrast between lights and darks and a larger overall range of colors than older displays.

Video games are especially good for showing the effect of 4K and HDR due to their wide range of environments, dynamic animations, and dramatic shifts in perspective. From basketball courts and race tracks to ancient tombs and foreign planets, video games give the viewer the greatest control over what appears on their screen. They also have a higher frame rate than movies, meaning more images appear on the screen per second.

Middle-earth: Shadow of War

To play video games in 4K or with HDR, you'll need a console or PC strong enough to output the high resolution graphics. Gaming PCs capable of 4K and HDR vary in specs, but you can certainly build your own to turn your TV into a full-fledged media center.

For those looking for a more standard 4K solution, there are two main console options: the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. 

The standard PlayStation 4 costs $299 and can output HDR images, but it's not capable of 4K. A more expensive version of the console, the PlayStation 4 Pro, is 4K ready for $399.

The Xbox One has more variations, but both the $299 Xbox One S and the $399 Xbox One X are capable of 4K and HDR output. Certain games on the Xbox One X, even those without 4K or HDR output, will have better visual performance and load times compared to the S model.

Unfortunately some of the best looking games were developed specifically for Xbox One or PlayStation 4, so it's important to choose your console wisely.

Here are 15 of the best games to test your 4K HDR screen:

SEE ALSO: The game developer behind 'Grand Theft Auto' and 'Red Dead Redemption' is embroiled in an ongoing controversy — here's what's been going on

"Shadow of the Tomb Raider" (PS4, X1, PC)

The jungle environments of "Shadow of the Tomb Raider" are great for showing off the effect of HDR. Heroine Lara Croft makes her way through dimly lit caverns, sparkling canopies, and crystal clear water as she searches for ancient artifacts.

The game has added enhancements on Xbox One X, and the developers took great detail in rendering Lara's hair and her acrobatic climbing animations. "Shadow of the Tomb Raider" and many of the other games on this list feature a camera mode to let players capture their favorite visuals from all angles.



"Middle-earth: Shadow of War (X1, PS4, PC)"



"God of War" (PlayStation 4 Exclusive)



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A Palestinian-American billionaire built a $1.4 billion luxury city from scratch in the desert to be a 'Marshall Plan' for Palestine's economy

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Rawabi WestBank Palestine (39 of 53)

  • Rawabi is the first planned city in the West Bank built by and for Palestinians. 
  • The $1.4 billion project is the brainchild of Bashar al-Masri, a Palestinian-American billionaire. Masri hopes the city can form the economic backbone of the nascent Palestinian state.
  • I found the city to be beautifully constructed with the facilities one might expect of a luxury real estate development. And though around 4,000 people are already living in the city, it feels very much like a place waiting to come alive. 

As I sat in a French cafè al fresco, chatting with Palestinian-American billionaire developer Bashar al-Masri, it occurred to me that I could be anywhere.

But I wasn't anywhere. I was in the West Bank, the occupied territory home to 2.6 million Palestinians,  400,000 Jewish settlers, and scores of Israeli soldiers.

More specifically, I was in Rawabi, a $1.4 billion planned city constructed to serve as a model city for the new Palestinian state. At least, that's according to Masri, who came up with the plan over a decade ago.

"I'm a believer that we have a state in the making," Masri told Business Insider. "The question in my mind is not when we will have the state, but rather what shape the statehood will be in."

Masri believes Rawabi, whose master plan calls for housing for 40,000 and everything from a nightclub to a hospital, could form the economic backbone of Palestine.

"A Marshall Plan to pick up the economy," said Masri, noting the West Bank's 18% unemployment rate and moribund economy.

At first, sitting in the mixed-use public square that forms the heart of Rawabi, I couldn't shake the feeling that I might as well be in Maryland, where such shiny new developments abound. But as we sat, Masri pointed out the details: the pedestrian town center and the tiled walkways are based on the old cities of Nablus and Hebron, the city has five gates like the old city of Jerusalem, and the corniches and arches are drawn from Arabic architecture. Above us towered American-style office buildings.

Rawabi has received criticism from Palestinian activists who say it sugarcoats the occupation and Israelis who worry about having a large Palestinian city near Jewish settlements, but ultimately the success of Masri's vision will rest with the Palestinian people. Are they interested in what he's selling?

Masri and his associates gave me a tour of the nascent city. Here's what it was like:

SEE ALSO: I visited the most contested city in the Middle East, where Israelis and Palestinians are separated by a gauntlet of military checkpoints — and the harsh, complicated truth of the conflict was immediately clear

DON'T MISS: Trump is meeting with Netanyahu after a tense summer in Israel when his party championed a law many call 'outright racism.' I was there when it passed — here's what it was like.

Rawabi is the first planned city in the West Bank built by and for Palestinians. With a price tag of $1.4 billion, it is the largest private sector project in Palestinian history.



The project is the brainchild of Bashar al-Masri, a Palestinian-American billionaire who made his fortune on building projects in Morocco, Jordan, and Egypt. While Masri told Business Insider his goal is to make money, he hopes that Rawabi serves as a model for future Palestinian cities and economic projects.

Source: Washington Post



The master plan calls for building 8,000 apartments across 22 neighborhoods with a population of about 40,000. So far four neighborhoods have been built and approximately 4,000 people live in the city.

Source:The Globe and Mail



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We drove a $46,000 Subaru Ascent SUV that will take on Toyota and Ford — here are its best features

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Subaru Ascent 0386

  • The 2019 Subaru Ascent is the newest contender in the mid-size family SUV market.
  • Recently, Business Insider spent a week with a new Subaru Ascent Touring in Magnetite Gray Metallic.
  • The Ascent impressed up with its well-designed cabin, peppy driving dynamics, strong infotainment, and a solid suite of standard safety features. 
  • The base 2019 Subaru Ascent starts at $31,995, while our top-of-the-line Ascent Touring starts at $44,695. With fees, our test car carried an as-test price of $45,670.

In 2017, more than 2.4 million new mid-size crossovers and SUVs rolled out of American dealerships accounting for 14% of US auto sales for the year.

Subaru's Outback off-road wagon has long been a big seller in the segment. But it has been years since the brand had a true three-row family SUV to take on the likes of the Ford Explorer, Toyota Highlander, and Honda Pilot.

Subaru tried to crack the mid-size SUV market in 2005 with the B9 Tribeca. The Tribeca's odd styling, diminutive size, and tepid performance prevented it from gaining traction in the market. Even a 2008 facelift and the addition of a more powerful engine couldn't save the Tribeca, which soldiered on for nearly a decade before Subaru pulled the plug on the SUV in 2014.

For 2019, Subie is back with the all-new Indiana-built Ascent.

The Ascent will slot in above the Outback wagon in Subaru's lineup and will be its most expensive offering.

Recently, Business Insider had the chance to spend a week with a new Magnetite Gray Metallic Subaru Ascent Touring.

The base 2019 Subaru Ascent starts at $31,995, while our top-of-the-line Ascent Touring starts at $44,695. With fees, our test car carried an as-test price of $45,670.

The Subaru Ascent is available with an impressive array of standard and optional tech, safety, and luxury features.

Here's a look at the coolest of the bunch: 

SEE ALSO: We drove a $39,000 Volkswagen Tiguan and a $35,000 Mazda CX-5 to see which is the better compact crossover SUV — here's the verdict

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1. All versions of the Ascent are powered by a brand new 2.4-liter turbocharged, flat-four-cylinder engine. The motor produces a stout 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. The new engine felt strong and robust with a solid punch off the line.



2. A well-designed interior. The cabin is traditional Subaru — very conservative but effective and easy to use. Ergonomics are terrific, with no oddly placed buttons or knobs to report. The interior feels solidly put together with good-quality materials. The leather upholstery is soft to the touch, and the plastics look and feel robust.



3. The Subaru Ascent can be configured to hold up to eight people. Our Touring test car came with the optional second-row captain's chairs.



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12 devices and services that could help you ditch Amazon completely (AMZN)

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Jeff Bezos Sad

  • Amazon's formerly sterling reputation has taken a hit from all sides recently.
  • That has led some customers to threaten to boycott and cut themselves off from Amazon completely.
  • Amazon relies on the interconnectedness of its services — and Amazon Prime in particular — to keep customers in its ecosystem.
  • But there are plenty of alternatives to nearly all of its offerings, if you're willing to do a little research.

Amazon is quickly growing to be one of the most powerful companies on earth, spreading into so many categories and offering so many services that it can be difficult to keep track of them. 

With such rapid growth, it was bound to catch the eye of both scrutinizing politicians and customers who might be inherently distrustful of such a large organization.

Amazon's repuation has taken a beating over the last year, with high-profile detractors like Sen. Bernie Sanders repeatedly criticizing the company over its workplace practices and pay standards. Amazon is one of Sanders' top examples of a company that has become too powerful, and he frequently makes reference to CEO Jeff Bezos' incredible wealth in his criticisms.

He recently scored a victory when Amazon raised its starting pay to $15 an hour for all US employees. The company was hailed as forward-thinking, and even Sanders praised the move. 

But employee pay is far from the only reason customers have criticized the company, as the rise of e-commerce has long been blamed for putting brick-and-mortar — and, especially, locally owned — stores out of business.

Whatever the reason for wanting to file for divorce from Amazon, the fact remains that it's daunting to find a place to start.

We've rounded up some of the most commonly used Amazon services and found the closest alternatives to them. Some of them are easy, like shopping. Many other retailers now have perks like free two-day shipping, though they often come with different stipulations. Others, like Amazon's Kindle devices, aren't quite a one-for-one replacement.

SEE ALSO: There's more evidence that the race for Amazon's HQ2 is still wide open

Instead of checking Amazon.com first, look at competitors like Walmart and Target.

Amazon.com is the first URL many online shoppers type into their browser. 

But Amazon is not always the cheapest or fastest option, despite its sterling reputation. Other general merchandise sellers like Walmart and Target have caught up after years of online investment, and they both have low prices and a similar two-day shipping promise.



Instead of Whole Foods, try Sprouts or another natural-foods store.

Amazon-owned Whole Foods is certainly the largest US grocer focused on organic and locally sourced foods. 

But there are others. Sprouts Farmers Market is one of the largest chains, with 280 stores across 15 states. Many local players also replicate Whole Foods' model.



Instead of Twitch, use YouTube Gaming.

Twitch is Amazon's gaming streaming platform. And while it is still the go-to service for follow-along gaming, it's far from the only one doing it.

YouTube now has its own similar service with YouTube Gaming



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

8 things you should never do while shopping at Aldi's and 8 things you should

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aldi shopper

  • Aldi might seem daunting when you first shop there, but it's really not as confusing as you might think.
  • There are a few tips on shopping cart etiquette that are important to know — like how you should always keep a quarter on hand and never take a cashier's cart if you forget to grab one on your way inside.
  • Don't forget to bring reusable bags on your shopping trips, either.
  • Here are more things you should know about Aldi to get the most out of your grocery shopping. 

Anytime a person goes to Aldi for the first time, it’s a little strange. We’ve previously documented some basics for the newcomer in our post Going to Aldi for the First Time: A Simple Guide. Here we’ll dig a little deeper into some of the dos and don’ts of Aldi etiquette.

Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.

Before You Go — Do: Bring your own bags

One of the big differences between Aldi and many other stores is that bags are not complimentary. You can purchase bags at checkout, but you’ll find things run a little smoother if you can bring some of your own. Reusable bags are invaluable if you shop regularly at Aldi.



Do: Bring a quarter

You’ll need a quarter to get a cart. (Don’t worry; you get it back when you leave.) It’s part of the system Aldi has devised so they don’t need to hire extra employees to return carts, and it ultimately saves you money. When you arrive, you simply slide a quarter into a slot on top of a cart, which releases the cart to you from the rest of the carts. When you leave, you plug the cart back in and retrieve your quarter.



Don’t: Expect to find everything

It’s a low-inventory store, and while we find well over 80%-85% of what we need, it’s probably inevitable that you’ll be unable to find a few key items. On the other hand, if you keep tabs on Aldi’s Special Buys, those elusive things you’re looking for may show up at special times of the year.



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