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

Mouth-watering photos show what different holiday feasts look like around the world

0
0

christmas dinner turkey champagne

  • Whatever holiday you celebrate, special occasions are often a time when people gather around the table to enjoy a holiday feast.
  • People celebrate Christmas all over the world, but they don't all eat a turkey and drink eggnog.
  • Koreans celebrate their harvest season with a feast of crops, and Iranians do the same for their Persian New Year. 
  • Observant Muslims and Jews abstain from food on their respective holidays, but they both look forward to their traditional meals when they break the fast.

Many people will describe a holiday by the food that gets eaten.

Religious holidays that are celebrated all over the world, like Christmas, can look different depending on where you're celebrating. And different religious holidays that get celebrated in the same parts of the world can sometimes look quite similar. 

Because we all love borrowing recipes from all over the world, take a look at what people will be putting on their plates during the holidays all year long.

Germans tend to celebrate Christmas with a roasted goose, dumplings, and red cabbage.



They might also snack on stollen cake — a bread made with dried fruits inside and powdered sugar on top.



Celebrators in the festive spirit may drink a mulled wine called Glühwein out of decorated, sometimes boot-shaped mugs.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Stunning photos show what holidays look like around the world

0
0

Christmas in Berlin

  • Every country and culture has it's own holiday customs.
  • Whether it's Christmas or New Year's Eve, festivities can vary drastically even within country borders. 
  • Some holidays like Day of the Dead have been around for centuries, and others like the celebration of Kwanzaa are relatively new. 

Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year's Eve, Halloween— you probably have a solid image in your mind of what each of these holidays look like. But that image all depends on where you come from and how you celebrated throughout your life. 

Santa Claus seems like a Christmas no-brainer, but there are countries across the globe that don't even include Santa as part of their celebrations. 

Every country and culture has their own version of the holidays. Here's what some of the major ones look like around the world. 

If you visit Sweden, Norway, and Swedish-speaking parts of Finland on December 13 you'll find yourself in the middle of St. Lucia's Day celebrations — a festival combining pagan and Christian traditions into one holiday.

Source: Encyclopædia Britannica



This Scandinavian festival honors one of the earliest Christian martyrs, St. Lucia. There's a procession of the town-elected, mock St. Lucia and young boys and girls dressed in white and singing traditional songs — the girls wear head wreaths featuring stars or candles.

Source: Encyclopædia Britannica



This festival of light is meant to brighten up the darkest time of the year while earmarking the start to the Christmas season. Observing families typically have their oldest daughter dress up in white and serve coffee, saffron bread, and ginger biscuits to family and guests.

Source: Encyclopædia Britannica



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

35 clever gifts for college students that they'll actually want to receive — according to a recent grad

0
0

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

Allbirds

If you're looking to make a big difference with a gift, shopping for a college student is a good place to begin. They have classes, internships, second jobs, social lives, and relationships to manage, and they probably have far less money to support themselves than they wish they did.

Useful, thoughtful gifts can make a disproportionate difference in their quality of life — especially when it's something they'll both use frequently and couldn't afford on their own.

As a recent college graduate, I can tell you from experience that the list below is a really good place to start your shopping.

Many of these items are available with two-day shipping if you have Amazon Prime, so don't stress too hard about your last-minute shopping — just remember that the sooner you order, the better your chances of a timely arrival.

Below are 35 of the best gifts for college students:

SEE ALSO: All of Insider Picks' holiday gift guides, in one place

DON'T MISS: The 18 best subscription boxes you can gift from Amazon this holiday season

Popular wireless over-ear headphones for quality noise-canceling during studying, traveling, and working out

Beats by Dre Wireless Solo3 Headphones, available at Best Buy and Amazon, $239.95

If there's one thing every college student needs, it's good wireless headphones. They'll use them at the gym, at the library, and commuting to class and internships. This pair has great sound, cushioned ear cups, and 40 hours of battery life so they have one less thing to think about. And if they let the battery run out, a five-minute charge is the equivalent to three hours of play time.

If they like to study in public spaces, you can't go wrong with Bose's pricey but unbeatable QuietComfort headphones for noise-cancellation. If they're a runner and need something lightweight and in-ear, you should opt for Jaybird RUN

Note: Some colors are expected to arrive after Christmas. 



An Amazon Echo Dot for hands-free calls, alarms, music, updates on the weather, recipes, and more

Echo Dot (3rd Generation), available on Amazon, $29.99

The Amazon Echo Dot is the most popular Amazon device for a reason — it's compact and has all the capabilities of Alexa (weather updates, recipes, music, news), which is the main reason most people buy an Echo device. The newest version — the third generation — has a speaker that's 70% louder than the second, and comes in a fabric design that better matches home decor. Find an Insider Picks comparison of the Echo devices for fast reference here

Note: Some colors are expected to arrive after Christmas. 

 



An inexpensive way for them to get the iced coffee they love at home

The Takeya Cold Brew Maker is an inexpensive, easy way to make cold brew from home — something that can save them hundreds of dollars per year. Find a full review here.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Intimate photos show what it's really like to be a modern-day hermit

0
0

hermit

  • When you think of hermits, you probably envision someone living in solitude for religious reasons.
  • And while some hermits do live in seclusion from society for this reason, there are other people around the world who live in isolation for different reasons.
  • From former nuns to people who just prefer to live a life of minimalism, here is an inside look into the lives of some modern-day hermits.

From a former nun in the English countryside to an elderly man living naked and alone on an island in Japan, there is no one picture of what a hermit looks like.

Sister Rachel Denton, a former nun and teacher, has been living in solitude in a small English town since 2006. She has pledged to live as a hermit for the rest of her life, though she communicates with the outside world through social media.

Another hermit, Masafumi Nagasaki, took a more extreme approach to the solitary lifestyle. The 82-year-old was the only known resident of a small island off the coast of Japan until he left his life in seclusion for health reasons.

Keep reading for striking photos that show what life is like for Denton, Nagasaki, and more hermits around the globe.

Denton, who lives in a modest house in a village in Lincolnshire, England, begins her days early by praying, feeding her cat, and tending to her vegetable garden.

Source: Reuters



She usually spends her days praying, reading, and working on her calligraphy business that she runs out of her home.

Source: Reuters



But Denton's life isn't spent entirely in solitude. She owns several chickens and cats that keep her company.

Source: Reuters



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

25 of the most daring 'naked' looks celebrities wore in 2018

0
0

naked dresses 2018

The idea of the "naked dress" certainly isn't new, but its popularity seemed to be at an all-time high in 2018. According to global fashion search platform Lyst, naked fashion was one of the biggest trends influenced by celebrities in 2018.

Celebrities like Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid stepped out in the popular trend, with designs ranging from sheer bodysuits to dresses with revealing cutouts and lace detailing.

Here are the 25 best barely-there looks of the year.

Bella Hadid wore a sheer corseted bodysuit to a Harper's Bazaar event in September.

According to Lyst, Mugler experienced a 24% spike in search traffic following Hadid's appearance on the red carpet.



She then put her glamorous spin on the trend while attending the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show after-party.

She wore a see-through metallic dress with a plunging neckline and tons of beaded detailing throughout.

Read more:Bella Hadid wore a see-through dress with a V-neck down to her belly button, and it's one of her most daring red carpet looks ever
 



Rosie Huntington-Whiteley helped sparked interest in the trend by wearing this Versace dress in September.

According to Lyst, her ensemble for the GQ Men of the Year awards caused a 21% surge for black bondage-style items just 48 hours later.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

27 of the wildest office holiday party stories we've ever heard

0
0

Office work holiday party santa suit new year's

No matter how many times we warn you against letting loose at the company holiday party, some people just don't listen.

But it's important to remember that you're still on company time, and how you behave matters.

As a lesson to us all, we asked readers and combed the web for wild stories of office holiday parties past. Here are some of the most cringe-worthy:

Some answers have been edited for clarity.

SEE ALSO: 15 things you should never do at the office holiday party

DON'T MISS: The 17 best icebreakers to use at a holiday party where you don't know anyone

'Our new janitor has no idea why everyone is treating him so nicely'

"There was this quiet, old janitor that worked our office building who was scheduled to retire on Christmas, so our Christmas party kind of included his farewell; we gave gifts to each other, put up a Christmas tree, people brought cakes and pastries, Christmas stuff.

"Then here comes the old janitor and he leaves a fairly big bag of presents under the tree; we're all kind of surprised because no one seemed to interact with him that much, but nonetheless we thank him and wish him the best and stuff, then he leaves and presumably sets off to the Midwest. The next day, we open the presents, including his.

"Turns out, the retiring janitor gave everyone in the office a little bottle of sulfuric acid. Everybody got one, even me, I still have it. We don't know where he got them or how much they cost, but apparently, he hated our guts.

"Our new janitor has no idea why everyone is treating him so nicely."

—Anonymous Business Insider reader



'That was a mistake'

"My friend is in charge of a number of temporary hires, contract workers, and freelancers at an ad agency. Her company's HR department sent a mass save-the-date email for the holiday party to everyone, including the people she has under her. That was a mistake. She now has to contact each one and tell them they are not invited to the company party." 

—Anonymous Business Insider reader



'The guy who brought the brownies grabbed the wrong plate ... '

"A place that I worked at about eight years ago had a huge party. One of the managers brought brownies and the director of operations (let's call him Jack) was the first to try them as we were setting up the food table.

"About half an hour later, as we were finishing up, Jack starts giggling and talking about how tall he feels. The guy who brought the brownies grabbed the wrong plate as he left the house and accidentally brought pot brownies.

"Needless to say, we gathered as many of the stoners as we could to clear that plate before anyone else got to them and tried to keep Jack away from other management." 

Redditor



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

13 intense images of the rise and fall of ISIS, the feared terror group that has re-surged from previous defeats

0
0

isis dabiq syria

  • US President Donald Trump declared victory over ISIS on Wednesday, a controversial claim that he used to justify an abrupt and immediate withdrawal from Syria.  
  • Though he later walked back this claim, his position is a break from his own State and Defense departments, as well as the US-led coalition in Iraq and Syria.
  • Although the Islamic State caliphate holds nowhere near the territory it once held in Syria and Iraq, it retains a presence in the Middle East.
  • ISIS has weathered previous defeats and gained a loyal, global following of individuals and organizations who have pledged allegiance.
  • This is a short history in images of the rise and decline of the Islamic State.

The origins of the ISIS caliphate stretch back to the US invasion of Iraq, when the destruction of Saddam Hussein's government fostered the rise of militant groups throughout the country

The US invasion, which caused the government to topple, led to civil disarray. Militant groups became more powerful as a result.

One of the militant groups, led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, is said to have pledged allegiance to Osama bin Laden in 2004, and called itself al-Qaeda in Iraq.

  



Al-Zarqawi orchestrated strings of attacks against coalition forces in Iraq. Up to $10 million was offered as a reward for his death.



Al-Zarqawi was killed by a US airstrike in 2006, and the group was rebranded by his successors as the Islamic State in Iraq.

Abu Omar al-Baghdadi led the newly formed Islamic State in Syria, also known as the Islamic State in the Levant. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 13 most lavish, over-the-top celebrity weddings of 2018

0
0

Priyanka Chopra Nick Jonas wedding

2018 was filled with more than 80 celebrity weddings. Some couples had star-studded guest lists, and others brought their pets along to take part in the occasion. 

Couples like model Emily Ratajkowski and Sebastian Bear-McClard and "Younger" star Nico Tortorella and Bethany Meyers opted for low-key weddings at courthouses. But others went all out and had their weddings on islands, in European castles, and at palaces.

From Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra to Gwyneth Paltrow and Brad Falchuk, here are the most lavish celebrity weddings of the year.   

Kat Von D and Leafar Seyer had a gothic-themed wedding.

The beauty and tattoo guru married Seyer in February (days after getting engaged) and had a formal ceremony in June. Guests were asked to adhere to an all-black dress code and gathered at the Beverly Hills Hotel, which was transformed to fit the "en vida y en muerte" ("in life and death") theme. 

The venue was filled with red decor from the floor to the ceiling, including crimson curtains, furniture, goblets to drink from, a grand piano. The bride opted for a red dress designed by Adolfo Sanchez, complete with a lace veil, a long train, and red horns on her head. 

The couple also had a bright red vegan wedding cake shaped like a castle, with a bridge, a small digital screen displaying a photo of them, and gold trim. 

For the party favors, Von D and the musician teamed up to create a "one-of-a-kind black lipstick with large flecks of gold glitter" through the Kat Von D makeup line.

 



"Dancing With the Stars" pros Emma Slater and Sasha Farber blended their cultures together for a stunning wedding in March.

Slater is British while Farber was born in Russia and moved to Australia at a young age.

"There's a big difference between Russian weddings and English weddings, and even American weddings,"Slater told The Knot. "We wanted good food. Food is what everybody talks about it at a wedding, and we're foodies ourselves … We wanted European-style cold meats, cold seafood towers. We had a lot of seafood, a lot of shrimp, a lot of oysters."

As for the wedding cake, it consisted of chocolate, vanilla bean, carrot cake, almond cake, and banana cake. There was an ice sculpture with their initials on it, too. 

They were also joined at Bella Blanca in North Hollywood by plenty of celebrities who have appeared on "DWTS," including Joey Fatone, Derek Hough, Alfonso Ribeiro, Julianne Hough, Nick Lachey, Vanessa Lachey, Drew Scott, and Cheryl Burke.

Slater and Farber's first dance was a medley of three songs, including Ed Sheeran's "Perfect." Although the singer couldn't make it to the wedding, he recorded a message for them.

"Sasha surprised me,"Slater told The Knot. "We've met him before and he's super sweet. He filmed us a video to say congratulations to wish us well in the marriage as well. I had no idea that he recorded that."

According to Us Weekly, the pair gave guests scented candles from Greenleaf and tequila from Casamigos. Bridesmaids reportedly got fuchsia clutch handbags from Gigi New York and groomsmen received tan leather wallets from the same brand. 



Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal wedding at St. George's Chapel was a highlight of the year.

Markle's long-sleeve white dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller of Givenchy, had tons of personal details, like a five-meter-long silk tulle veil featuring unique embroidered flowers representing all of the Commonwealth countries.

"Ms. Markle wanted to express her gratitude for the opportunity to support the work of the Commonwealth by incorporating references to its members into the design of her wedding dress," the palace stated.

The bride also wore Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara, which was lent to her by Queen Elizabeth.

Prince Harry wore a full Blues and Royals military uniform rather than a tux or suit, reportedly to pay tribute to his past military service and out of respect to his regimen.

Even the small flower bouquet has a special meaning. The flowers were taken from Kensington Palace's private garden and included Forget-Me-Nots, which were Princess Diana's favorite flower.

There were also locally-sourced white peonies, white garden roses, and additional floral arrangements designed by Philippa Craddock, which lined the exterior of St. George's chapel. 

Plenty of celebrities made their way to the ceremony, like Oprah Winfrey, Markle’s "Suits" co-star Patrick Adams, "Pretty Little Liars" star Troian Bellisario, Priyanka Chopra, singer James Blunt, actress Abigail Spencer, Tom Hardy, David and Victoria Beckham, and George and Amal Clooney. Elton John also performed at the lunchtime reception, which was held at St. George’s Hall at Windsor Castle.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

10 holiday-themed brainteasers to get you in the Christmas spirit — can you solve them all?

0
0

christmas brain teaser thumb

  • Christmas-themed brainteasers contain hidden objects.
  • Artist Gergely Dudás creates puzzles of hidden images.
  • Companies such as GoSimpleTax and Solar Centre also got in on the fun.

Brainteasers with hidden objects challenge people to look closely in order to find one small detail.

Hungarian artist Gergely Dudás has even released two books of brain teasers — one of holiday puzzles called "Bear's Merry Book of Hidden Things," and another called "Bear's Spooky Book of Hidden Things."

Here are 10 festive brainteasers to get you into the holiday spirit. How many of them can you solve?

Can you find Santa's plain red hat?

One of the snowmen is wearing Santa's hat. 



A snowman in the top right corner is wearing it.

It's the only hat without stripes.



There's a money bag hidden among Christmas presents in this brainteaser — can you spot it?

There's a bag of money hidden somewhere.

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The ratio of men to women in every state in the US

0
0

hanging out

  • Most US states have a higher percentage of women than men in their populations.
  • There are only 10 states that have more men than women, and they include Alaska, Wyoming, and Hawaii.
  • INSIDER collected the information from the US Census Bureau’s 2013-2017 American Community Survey Five-Year Estimates on American FactFinder.

There are only ten states in the US that have more men than women.

If you live in Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, or Wyoming, the Census Bureau’s2013-2017 American Community Survey Five-Year Estimates, found onAmerican FactFinder, shows that you live in one of the few states where men outnumber women.

In the other 40 states, women outnumber men by varying percentages. Alaska’s population is 52% male, making it the state with the most men and Delaware’s population in 51.6% female, making it the state with the most women.

The states that are closest to equal are Washington and Idaho. Washington just barely has more women, at 50.1% and Idaho has barely more men, at 50.1%.

Scroll down to see how your state’s population is split between men and women.

Alabama has more women than men.

Men make up 48.4% and women make up 51.6% of the population in Alabama.



Alaska has more men than women.

Men make up 52.3% and women make up 47.7% of the population in Alaska.



Arizona has more women than men.

Men make up 49.7% and women make up 50.3% of the population in Arizona.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 18 best movies of 2018 that you absolutely need to see

0
0

Black Panther

  • 2018 has been a great year for movies, with major critical and box-office hits like "Black Panther" and "A Star Is Born."
  • We put together a list of the absolute best movies from 2018 that you have to see.

2018 has been a great year for movies, from box-office hits like "A Star Is Born" to smaller scale movies like dark comedy "The Favourite."

At the beginning of 2018, "Black Panther" set a great tone for the year in movies, being both a critical and box-office smash hit. Other big hits throughout the year include "Avengers: Infinity War,""Crazy Rich Asians,""A Star Is Born," and "Deadpool 2," all of which were major hits at the box office.

INSIDER's Kirsten Acuna and Carrie Wittmer put together a list of our favorite movies of 2018 from "Paddington 2" to "Bumblebee."

Here are the greatest films of 2018 you absolutely need to see.

"Crazy Rich Asians"

"Crazy Rich Asians" is a blast, and within minutes it will immerse you into its extraordinary extravagance and extraordinary talent. The groundbreaking romantic comedy is hilarious, emotional, and educational as it examines the differences between Rachel Chu, an Asian-American woman who grew up with a Chinese single mom, and her boyfriend, Nick Young, who comes from and incredibly wealthy and traditional Singaporean family. — Carrie Wittmer

Read our review here.



"Annihilation"

"Annihilation" came out amid the awards season, so a lot of people missed it. It's one of Natalie Portman's best movies and tells a a visually-stunning, imaginative story that will leave you thinking for hours or even days after you see it. Its strong female cast, which includes Gina Rodriguez and Tessa Thompson, is inspiring. If you haven't seen it yet, you can rent it on digital now to catch up. — Carrie

Did we mention Oscar Isaac is in this film? Because, he is, and he's great in it. — Kirsten

Read Business Insider's review here.



"Avengers: Infinity War"

When's the last time you've finished a superhero movie and were left in stunned silence? That's what happened at opening weekend showings of "Infinity War" as fans watched beloved superheroes literally vanish before their eyes.

The culmination of Marvel Studios' first 10 years marked the first time over two dozen of the Marvel Cinematic Universe characters are on screen together and the directing team of Anthony and Joe Russo handled it with deft. There probably weren't many dry eyes in the theater by the time Thanos' snap did its damage.

The good news? If you missed it in theaters, you can watch it on Netflix starting Tuesday, December 25.

Read our review here

Read more: Here's where every major character is after the Thanos snap in 'Avengers: Infinity War'



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

10 things we won't miss from 2018

0
0

katy perry taylor swift

  • With 2018 coming to a close, there are some things that won't be missed.
  • Taylor Swift and Katy Perry's feud went on for years and it finally seems to be over. 
  • 2018's "Tide Pod Challenge" was flat-out dangerous and we're happy to leave it behind.
  • The "Yanny" or "Laurel" debate has finally come to an end and it won't be missed in 2019. 

After a long year of backlash, viral challenges, and dangerous false alarms, it's time to start 2019 with a clean slate.

Here are some things from 2018 that we won't miss. 

Taylor Swift and Katy Perry's feud went on for years and it finally seems to be over.

The tension between Taylor Swift and Katy Perry reportedly dates back to 2013 or 2014, but in 2018 it finally seems like their feud has come to an end.

On the first night of her Reputation tour, Taylor Swift took to her Instagram story to share her gratitude for receiving a handwritten note and a literal olive branch from Katy Perry. 

Read More: Katy Perry and Taylor Swift made up and fans can't handle it



The "Tide Pod Challenge" was flat-out dangerous.

In 2017, teenagers began jokingly commiserating about their "forbidden desire" to consume Tide Pods. But this joke got a bit too dangerous when it morphed into the "Tide Pod Challenge," where teens would eat laundry detergent pods and post their reactions onto social media. The news about the "Tide Pod Challenge" extended into 2018 when The American Association of Poison Control Centers had to issue an alert because they were receiving an abundance of calls about people consuming the detergent.

Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube began taking the videos down in an effort to stop the viral and dangerous challenge. Tide also led an entire advertising campaign encouraging people to only use Tide Pods for laundry.

 



Following Roseanne Barr's racist tweet, there were so many questions about what would happen with the newly rebooted series "Roseanne."

This year marked the quick return and demise of the '90s-hit-television show, "Roseanne." When the reboot debuted in March, it was welcomed with a high 8.1 rating and 27.3 million viewers. But things quickly tuck a turn for the worse when its star, Roseanne Barr, sent a racist tweet about Valerie Jarrett,a former advisor to President Barack Obama.

ABC canceled the show in response to the backlash and then brought it back without its namesake character. The new reboot, "The Connors," debuted with 12.9 million viewers and it wrote off Roseanne's character. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Business Insider ranks the 11 best movies of 2018

0
0

Mandy Sundance Institute

It was an amazing year in movies, and not just because of the countless record-breaking box office figures throughout it, but also because of the quality of the work.

So, needless to say, it was tough to come up with a list of my best movies of the year. (Guess it's a good problem to have.)

So after days of putting in, taking out, shifting in ranking — and at one moment wondering why I don't just make a top 15 list this year and make my life easier — here are my 11 favorite movies of 2018.

SEE ALSO: Sebastian Stan talks about working opposite Nicole Kidman in "Destroyer" and playfully dodges some Marvel questions

11. “Bodied”

I seriously laughed more watching this movie than any other this year. And not just at the disses in the battle rap scenes, but also because the reaction shots are so well done. Joseph Kahn taps into the country’s oversensitiveness about practically everything to tell a fantastic story and showcases an art form that (outside of “8 Mile”) has never really gotten its due on screen.



10. “Blindspotting”

Rafael Casal and Daveed Diggs are an incredible one-two punch playing best friends on two very different paths. The movie explores Oakland gentrification, race, Black Lives Matter, and other topics. There’s a lot to absorb, but director Carlos López Estrada shapes the story (penned by Casal and Diggs) in a way that flows perfectly. This results in one of the most unique movies of the year.



9. “Icebox”

After coming on the scene at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival in September, “Icebox” didn’t get a release until HBO aired it in early December (sadly, it never got a theatrical release for an Oscar push). Despite the time past, the timeliness of this movie is scary. Looking at a 12-year-old’s journey from Honduras to the US border, it mirrors the plight of many who have tried to find a better life in the US. “Coco” star Anthony Gonzalez gives an incredible performance in the lead role, and director Daniel Sawka shows why he’s one to watch.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

19 unforgettable quotes from legendary Marine Gen. Jim 'Mad Dog' Mattis, who just quit as Trump's defense secretary

0
0

U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis receives military honors before his meeting with Brazil's defense minister, in Brasilia, Brazil, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is a legendary and highly quoted Marine general who led the US military for two tumultous years before quitting in protest over differences with President Donald Trump.

In his stunning resignation letter Thursday, the revered retired general rebuked Trump for devaluing America's alliances and not being more clear about American adversaries like Russia.

"My views on treating allies with respect and also being clear-eyed about both malign actors and strategic competitors are strongly held and informed by over four decades of immersion in these issues," he wrote in the letter.

Mattis, 68, is a seasoned national security leader who spent more than four decades in uniform. He was seen as a institutional leader who moderated many of Trump's impulses, from using armed troops to stop migrants at the US-Mexico border to pulling thousands of troops long-stationed in countries like Germany and South Korea.

Read more: US allies and adversaries are in shock and bracing for an unchecked Trump as Mattis resigns

Mattis is a legendary figure in the US military. Viewed as a warrior among Marines and respected by members of other services, he has been at the forefront of numerous engagements.

If you look back on his storied 44-year career leading Marines in battle, and the many colorful quotes he has given over the years, it's pretty easy to see why.

Read more: Mattis' departure leaves Trump unleashed to to enact his wildest military visions

We've gathered some of Mattis' best sayings, taken from this San Diego Union-Tribune profile (archived with the Wayback Machine) unless otherwise specified.

Geoffrey Ingersoll contributed reporting on a previous version of this article.

SEE ALSO: Legendary Marine Gen. James Mattis may be tapped to be Trump's defense secretary

"You cannot allow any of your people to avoid the brutal facts. If they start living in a dream world, it's going to be bad."

Mattis has often talked to Marine leaders about staying sharp.

The "dream world" he mentioned is a reference to a complacent attitude, and it's one that can cost lives if troops aren't vigilant.



"If in order to kill the enemy you have to kill an innocent, don't take the shot. Don't create more enemies than you take out by some immoral act."

As a coauthor of the military's counterinsurgency manual (with retired Army Gen. David Petraeus), Mattis has often spoken about following the rules of engagement and being disciplined against a ruthless enemy.



"I come in peace. I didn't bring artillery. But I'm pleading with you, with tears in my eyes: If you f--- with me, I'll kill you all."

After the initial Iraq invasion, "Chaos" (his radio call sign) sent home his tanks and artillery and used the "carrot and the stick" with Iraqi tribal leaders.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Americans received a record-breaking 5.1 billion robocalls in November — here are some ways to stop them

0
0

angry phone

In November alone, Americans received an estimated 5.1 billion scam calls from automated machines — more than any month on record, according to YouMail's robocall index.

That number was about 2.9 billion in the beginning of 2018, and the spike didn't come out of nowhere.  Consumer advocates worry the number will only continue to increase, now that the FCC has removed an Obama-era definition of auto-dialers that the agency thought was too broad.

Federal agencies are taking action, holding robocallers accountable and searching for new ways to regulate as robocallers continue to become more sophisticated with their tactics. FCC chairman Ajit Pai sent a letter in November to more than a dozen phone providers demanding they adopt "a robust call authentication system to combat illegal caller ID spoofing." Pai warned that the FCC "will take action" if it doesn't see any progress in creating such a system by 2019.

"Combatting illegal robocalls is our top consumer priority at the FCC," Pai said in a statement last month. "By this time next year, I expect that consumers will begin to see this on their phones."

Policies are in the works to address "neighborhood spoofing," which is the extremely effective tactic used by robocallers to make calls look like they're coming from recipients' own area code so they're more willing to answer. So far, no policy has been successful in preventing those. 

Even when consumers don't fall for the scam and share personal information, being inundated with robocalls can be a liability: there's no way to know whether the unknown number dialing you is a time-wasting scam, or a real-life emergency. So while lawmakers and regulators work to figure out the best way to subside the number of outgoing scam calls, agencies and companies have come up with solutions to block the ones that get through. 

It's nearly impossible to be 100% robocall-free, but here are some tactics you can adopt to limit your number of robocalls:

Add your name to the FTC's "Do not call" registry, and report the calls you get anyway.

Registration for the service began in 2003 and sign-ups don't expire, yet the FTC reported receiving 4. 5 million complaints in 2017, at "an average of more than 375,000 robocall complaints per month," compared to 2013's 2.18 million.

It it isn't completely effective, but the people who signed up probably get fewer calls than they would have if they hadn't. 



Use your phone's Do Not Disturb mode so that you only get calls from people in your contact list.

This way you don't have to see the calls come through or have to ignore them. Keep in mind this strategy won't work for any professional hoping to hear from new clients or those who receive regular calls from unknown numbers are part of their job, but it's a great option if you have a separate, non-work phone.

 



If you don't want to block all new numbers, block them as they come by going into the callers' contact information in your phone.

This is especially helpful if there are a few numbers you get calls from frequently. If you choose the route of answering unknown numbers instead of waiting for a voicemail, keep a couple of things in mind: 

Don't engage by speaking OR by pressing a number even to be taken off a list, according to the FTC: "Doing so will probably lead to more unwanted calls. Instead, hang up and file a complaint with the FTC." 

Train yourself to answer questions by repeating them instead of saying "yes," because that can be used as a vocal signature to make unauthorized credit card charges. For example, the answer to "Can you hear me?" should be "I can hear you," instead of "Yes."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The most expensive home for sale in the Hamptons is a massive $175 million estate that's been on the market for over a year

0
0

jule pond

  • A massive $175 million estate is the most expensive home for sale in the Hamptons.
  • The 42-acre property, which includes 1,350 feet of beachfront, was originally built for Henry Ford.
  • In addition to the 20,000 square foot main house, the property includes a guesthouse, a 20-foot pool, a greenhouse, tennis courts and basketball courts, a hot tub, and a garage with room for at least six cars.
  • It's been on the market for over a year.

The most expensive home for sale in the Hamptons is a massive $175 million estate — and it's been on the market for over a year with no price change.

Once part of a larger property called "Fordune," the 42-acre estate has hit the market for $175 million. It was originally built for Henry Ford but has reportedly been owned by portfolio manager Brenda Earl since 2002.

Cody and Zach Vichinsky of Bespoke Real Estate have the listing, which is now referring to the home as "Jule Pond."

If it sells at its current price, Jule Pond would be the most expensive home to ever change hands in the US. The current record is held by hedge funder Barry Rosenstein, who bought an East Hampton property for $147 million in 2014. 

The main house has 20,000 square feet of space, 12 bedrooms, and 12 bathrooms. The property also has tennis and basketball courts as well as a greenhouse and about 1,286 linear feet of oceanfront.

Take a look inside.

SEE ALSO: This $245 million Los Angeles mansion is the most expensive home for sale in the US — and it costs 960 times more than a typical US home

DON'T MISS: The most expensive house for sale in New Jersey is a sprawling $29.5 million estate with a private English-style pub, and it's only 25 miles from NYC

The Jule Pond estate is set on 42 acres in Southampton.

Source: Bespoke Real Estate



With a $175 million price tag, it's the most expensive home for sale in the Hamptons, a community known for its multimillion dollar homes.

Source: Bespoke Real Estate, Zillow



The home includes a stretch of beach that spans nearly a quarter mile, the largest ocean frontage in the Hamptons, according to Bespoke Real Estate.

Source: Bespoke Real Estate



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

8 actors with the most Golden Globes who don't deserve them — sorry

0
0

Meryl Streep

  • A handful of actors across television and film have three or more Golden Globes.
  • Jennifer Lawrence has won for a movie that was poorly received by critics and viewers.
  • Actors like Sarah Jessica Parker have just won multiple Golden Globes for the same role year after year.

The Golden Globe Awards are known for recognizing outstanding film and television industry achievements, but that doesn't mean every nomination and winner is always the best choice. The Golden Globes recently announced its nominations for 2019 and the nomination announcements always leave viewers and critics with mixed reactions. 

Over the past few decades, there have been surprising wins that seemed undeserving and wins that seemed a bit too repetitive. 

Here are some of the actors with the most Golden Globes who don't really deserve them all, in my opinion. 

Hugh Laurie's recent win felt like an upset to some.

Laurie won two Globes for his work on "House M.D" before critics felt the show jumped the shark, but it is his most recent win that some felt was puzzling.

In 2017, he won TV's best supporting actor award for his role in the critically acclaimed miniseries "The Night Manager." Some critics felt like this was a bit of an upset and a snub, with Laurie taking the Globe over John Lithgow for "The Crown" and Courtney B. Vance for "American Crime Story: The People Vs. OJ."



Sarah Jessica Parker won multiple Golden Globes for the same role.

Sarah Jessica Parker won four Golden Globes in six years for her role as Carrie Bradshaw in "Sex and the City." She was also nominated every year the show ran. Despite its eventual place in popular culture, it was not a series that critics particularly revered, especially in the first handful of seasons.

I feel her multiple wins might've been more impressive if she'd been nominated for a wider variety of roles.



Michael J. Fox won for a show that isn't the most memorable.

Michael J. Fox won three of his four Golden Globes for "Spin City." The show was well-liked at the time, but I don't think his performance was necessarily worthy of three Globes for the same role. 

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

7 foods that you can leave out overnight

0
0

Apple Pie

  • The USDA says food that has been left out of the fridge for more than two hours should be thrown away.
  • At room temperature, bacteria grows incredibly fast and can make you sick.
  • Reheating something that has been sitting at room temperature for longer than two hours won't be safe from bacteria.
  • There are some types of foods that don't necessarily need to be stored in the fridge and some things like bread, that shouldn't be kept in the fridge at all, so if you leave them out overnight, they're still safe to eat.

You've probably accidentally left food out on your kitchen counter overnight at least once or twice, but is it still safe to eat?

According to theUSDA, food that has been left out of the fridge for more than two hours should be thrown away. That's because between 40° F and 140° F (what the USDA calls the "Danger Zone"), bacteria grows incredibly fast and can make you sick.

However, there are types of foods that don't necessarily need to be stored in the refrigerator or won't be as harmful to you if you leave them out for a while. Some foods, like bread, shouldn't even be stored in the fridge in the first place.

Read on to find out what foods are still safe to eat after they've been left out overnight and be sure to throw out anything else that's been left out for longer than two hours,or one hour if it's a hot day.

Bread shouldn't be put in the refrigerator at all.

Though some people believe putting bread in the fridge makes it last longer, it actually does the opposite. Bread kept in the fridge goes stale, according toStillTasty.com, because the cooler temperatures dry it out.

On the counter, bread generally lasts for about a week, but freezing your bread is a safe way to help it last longer.



Certain kinds of pies are safe to leave out for a couple of days before refrigerating them.

Fruit pies are safe to leave at room temperature for two days before refrigerating them as long as they're covered. After that, they can be put in the fridge for another two days before going bad, according tokitchn.

However, pies that have custard or cream fillings should be kept refrigerated at all times and pies made with eggs (such as pumpkin pie or pecan pie) can be warmed up to be served, but should be stored in the fridge.



Pasteurized, salted butter can be left at room temperature for a couple of days.

Though other dairy products have to be stored at or below 40° F to avoid going bad, pasteurized, salted butter is the exception because of its high-fat content, according toan FDA report.

Even though it is unnecessary, refrigeration does help the butter last longer, according toState Food Safety, which also said butter can be left out from a couple of days up to 10 days.

However, homemade or unpasteurized butter should always be kept refrigerated.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Jomashop is offering up to 75% off luxury watches and free delivery before Christmas

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.

Jomashop

Christmas is just a few days away and the window for buying gifts online is quickly closing.

Fortunately, luxury watch site Jomashop is having a huge sale with up to 75% off top timepiece brands ,and they're offering super fast and free shipping. Orders placed by Saturday, December 22 at 8 p.m. EST will arrive before Christmas. Simply use the promo code "CHRISTMAS" at checkout to take advantage of the offer.

There's definitely a watch for anyone you might be shopping for — even yourself. No matter how big or small your budget is, it won't be hard to find something you or they will like.

Shop all watches in the Jomashop Pre-Christmas sale now or check out some of our favorites below.

If you're considering dropping money on a luxury watch, as with any other major purchase, be sure to compare prices and do some research first. While all of the watches are guaranteed to be 100% authentic, they do not come with a manufacturer's warranty. If you have any concerns at all,you can view Jomashop's full warranty policy here.

Men's Tissot Tradition Black Dial

Tissot Tradition Black Dial, $159.99 (Originally $375) [You save $215.01]



Men's Movado SE Pilot Chronograph

Movado SE Pilot Chronograph, $495 (Originally $1,695) [You save $1,200]



Men's Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Automatic

Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Automatic, $4,345 (Originally $6,550) [You save $2,205]



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

20 Disney movies that you probably never knew existed

0
0

the biscuit eater

  • Disney released its first animated film "Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs" in 1937.
  • Since then, Disney films have become favorites with children and adults alike.
  • Lesser-known movies include "Make Mine Music,""The Great Locomotive Chase," and "The Third Man On The Mountain."

Although most people are familiar with animated heavy-hitters like "Cinderella,""Peter Pan," and "Mulan," Disney produced many movies that have gone under-the-radar over the years.

Disney's first animated feature film "Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs" was released in 1937, and has been cited as the number one animated feature of all time. After the success of "Snow White," Disney began producing a variety of films, ranging from animated musicals to live action westerns and everything in between.

Here are some Disney movies from the vault that you may never have heard of.

"The Reluctant Dragon" (1941) is half live action and half animation.

This 1941 film provides the audience with insight into how the animation process works in a mix of live action and animated sequences. The plot centers on a visit to the Walt Disney Studios by comic Robert Benchley. Benchley tours the facility while trying to convince Walt Disney into creating a film about a shy dragon. The film is based on Kenneth Grahame's 1898 short story of the same title.



"Saludos Amigos" (1942) is set in South America.

"Saludos Amigos" is the sixth feature-length film in the Disney Animated Canon. It features a series of short stories, in a mix of live action and animated styles. The film is heavily influenced by South American cultures and is set in Chile, Peru, Argentina, and Brazil. Disney favorites Donald Duck and Goofy are involved in two of the feature's four short stories, which paved the way for the release of Donald Duck's "The Three Caballeros" just two years later.



"Make Mine Music" (1946) was released during WWII.

The eighth movie in the Disney Animated Canon, "Make Mine Music" is one of six "package" films released by Walt Disney Studios. These package films were produced when most of the production staff was being drafted into World War II, and consisted of small segments set to music. "Make Mine Music" has 10 different sections, including "Johnny Fedora and Alice Bluebonnet" accompanied by music by The Andrews Sisters, and "Without You" sung by Andy Russell.



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




Latest Images