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Incredible photos a son found of his father in Okinawa

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world war 2 ii ww2 okinawa japan us troops soldiers

The 718th Amphibian Tractor Battalion shipped out just in time to participate in the invasion of Leyte Gulf, where they took part in raids behind Japanese lines.

Though seeing a fair amount of action, they only suffered one KIA.

After the Philippines, they participated in the invasion of Okinawa where their duties were more supply and logistical in nature, rather than engaging the enemy.

The son of Jerry Smith, of the Army’s 718th Amphibious Tractor Battalion, has shared the following photos.

 

SEE ALSO: The B-17 Flying Fortress debuted exactly 80 years ago — here's its legacy

Jerry Smith served in the Army’s 718th Amphibious Tractor Battalion. He was a driver and armorer on an LVT-4 amphibian tractor.



The Okinawa countryside.



Jerry Smith on duty in Okinawa.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

BUY FACEBOOK! 15 analysts explain why they're gaga after earnings

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facebook mark zuckerberg

Facebook had a big quarter.

The social network generated earnings of $0.50 per share, beating expectations for $0.47. This was on better-than-expected revenue, which jumped 39% year-over-year to $4.04 billion.

"This was another strong quarter for our community," CEO Mark Zuckerberg said. "Engagement across our family of apps keeps growing, and we remain focused on improving the quality of our services." 

Daily active users climbed 17% to 968 million, but that was a little bit lower than the 970 million expected by analysts.

The stock closed at $96.99 on Wednesday and slipped by around 2% after the news.

Wall Street analysts covering Facebook are one-sidedly bullish. Of the 16 research notes read by Business Insider, 15 analysts maintained a "buy" or "outperform" rating on the stock. Their price targets range from $105 to $125. Just one analyst is neutral. No one is saying to sell.

From what we've read, much of the excitement about Facebook isn't really about Facebook in the traditional sense.  It's a more about the newer platforms — like Instagram, Oculus, WhatsApp, and FB Messenger — and the opportunities to monetize.

Here's some of what they had to say:

SEE ALSO: What 16 Twitter analysts are saying about the depressing outlook and stock-price crash

SunTrust: BULLISH

Rating: Buy

Price Target: $125 

Comment: "Monetization of mobile users continues to improve at a rapid pace, and as total mobile users continue to expand we see this as a key growth driver moving forward. We think there is an inordinate amount of optional value for Facebook as it addresses these large target markets with its tremendous established user base and hence our Buy rating."



Jefferies: BULLISH

Rating: Buy

Price Target: $120 (revised from $105)

Comment: "FB continues to post impressive mobile ad revenue above our estimates, even on very tough comps. FX again negatively pressured results in 2Q. We continue to see multiple meaningful go-forward growth levers in Instagram, new ad formats including video ads, the Facebook Audience Network, improved ad pricing, and WhatsApp. Management tightened the range for full year opex guide, a positive."



FBR: BULLISH

Rating: Outperform

Price Target: $118 (revised from $94)

Comment: "Facebook's results are supportive of our thesis that the company is uniquely positioned to grow its share of the high-growth mobile ad market, a function of its product format, unique data asset (i.e., definitive IDs and cross-device login), and strong track record of innovation."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

14 Easter-egg questions you can ask Siri to get a hilarious response

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Siri Funny

Executive assistants are rapidly vanishing from the workplace, and in their place has come Siri, the voice-activated virtual assistant created by Apple. Siri is incredibly talented — in a matter of seconds she can make a dinner reservation, tell you how many calories are in a bagel, and sort through your music library.

But it seems that Siri's creators decided to give the virtual assistant a sense of humor, too. Siri will occasionally provide a hilarious response to your questions.

Most recently, iPhone users discovered that when asked to divide zero by zero, Siri responds, "Imagine that you have zero cookies and you split them evenly among zero friends. How many cookies does each person get? See? It doesn't make sense. And Cookie Monster is sad that there are no cookies, and you are sad that you have no friends."

 

 

So that you don't have to, we spent a few hours chatting with our iPhone to find Siri's funniest responses. Check out our favorite 14.

 







See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Everything we know so far about the next iPhone (AAPL)

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iPhone 6

If history is anything to go by, the successor to the iPhone 6 is due for release in September.

That's only a little over a month from now, so we've compiled a list of everything we know about the next iPhone.

Here's what (we think) we know so far.

SEE ALSO: The iPhone is unstoppable

It will probably look identical to the iPhone 6.

Leaked photos of the alleged "iPhone 6s'" shell were obtained by 9to5Mac. They show that the next iPhone is probably going to look the same as the iPhone 6. 

Every "S" model of Apple's iPhones have been physically identical to its non-S predecessors, so this leak is entirely likely.



There will be two different sizes again.

In apparent discussions with Apple's suppliers, the Wall Street Journal reported that the next iPhone will be available in the same 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch variations that are currently available. 



There might be a pink edition...

The same Wall Street Journal report claims that Apple's supposed suppliers said there would be a pink option for the iPhone's aluminum casing. (The model shown here is the pink iPhone 5C, which is made of plastic.)

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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9 brilliant business books you can read in an afternoon

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man reading book london

It's no secret that reading can help you get ahead. The most accomplished people tend to love to read.

However, starting a new book can seem daunting and overly time-consuming. The good news is there are several short business books loaded with powerful information about selling, managing, and investing. 

We compiled a list of the best business books with less than 150 pages that you can start and finish in an afternoon.

'Who Moved My Cheese?' by Spencer Johnson

"Who Moved My Cheese?" made it on "Shark Tank" investor Daymond John's list of business books that changed his life

Johnson's parable was an instant hit when it came out in 1998 and has continued to be a bestseller over the past decade. It tells the story of two mice, Scurry and Sniff, and two sprite-like people, Hem and Haw, living in a maze where the location of the cheese suddenly begins changing every day.

Johnson wrote the book as the internet started becoming more accessible, causing companies around the world to adapt and learn new ways of doing business. Its lessons on how to let go of a fear of change are timeless.



'As a Man Thinketh' by James Allen

This short classic should be on every entrepreneur's bookshelf. Published in 1902, "As a Man Thinketh" contains wisdom that transcends time. Author and coach Tony Robbins says he often recommends it to people "because it's so small and easy to read and so profound." He's read it at least a dozen times. 

In the book, Allen emphasizes that your life is completely under your control rather than in the hands of fate, luck, or external circumstances. To be successful, he says you must first be successful in your mind. 

 



'How to Lie with Statistics' by Darrell Huff

If "How to Lie with Statistics" worked for Bill Gates, it could work for you. The business magnate and bookworm included Huff's 150-page book about how statistics can be deceptive on his list of summer must-reads.

Although it was written in 1954, Gates promises it doesn't feel dated. Rather, it will make you feel smarter and more skeptical of the things you read.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

9 of the coolest celebrity auction items on eBay right now

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The prized possessions and memorabilia of the rich and famous are easier to come by than ever. 

Just log onto eBay.

There you can find everything from Jon Stewart's Armani suits to a still-stylish moto jacket worn by Bruce Lee. 

According to eBay policies, sellers of such items must provide evidence of their complete authenticity. However, documents can be forged and counterfeit goods have been a problem on the site. The burden is on the buyer to have the seller's proof of authenticity verified. 

Keep scrolling to see some of the most rare and incredible celebrity auction finds on eBay. 

 

SEE ALSO: Steve Jobs' high school yearbook is being auctioned off on eBay

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Armani suits worn by Jon Stewart on "The Daily Show"

"The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart recently put his collection of Armani suits (made-to-measure, size 40 short) that he wore on the show on eBay. Proceeds will benefit the sports disability charity Achilles International. At present, bidding for the individual suits starts at $740.

See the full collection here >



John Lennon's mohair suit

This suit owned by John Lennon was part of a private collection exhibited at “The Beatles Story Liverpool” from 2007 until May of this year. Beatles manager Brian Epstein originally donated it to Madame Tussaud’s back in 1964.

It's being sold with a blazer worn by Paul McCartney and a banjo purchased by George Harrison. The "buy it now" price is $156,515.

See the listing here >



The infamous cat-face oven mitt from the set of "Seinfeld"

You may remember this cat-face oven mitt that hung on Jerry's refrigerator. The random set item actually has its own Facebook page made by dedicated fans. The mitt comes with a certification of authenticity from NBC. The "buy it now" price is $10,000.

See the listing here >



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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6 books every modern gentleman should read in 2015

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Being a modern gentleman is about more than just knowing what to wear or what to put in your bathroom. It's also about knowing what to read.

We asked our friends at Goodreads to put together a list of essential books every man should read in six categories, ranging from love to business.

Keep scrolling for the book recommendations you shouldn't miss — they just might change how you look at things.

Captions by Goodreads.

SEE ALSO: These 12 online services can help you dress like a modern gentleman

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BUSINESS: "Creativity, Inc" by Ed Catmull

"Business doesn't have to be boring. Liven up your 9-to-5 with inspiration from this book by one of the co-founders of Pixar, a workplace specifically organized to foster team creativity.

Goodreads reviewers love the book's special mix of management know-how and Buzz Lightyear anecdotes. "

Buy it here.



BIOGRAPHY: "Surely you're joking, Mr. Feynman!" by Richard Feynman

"An instant classic, the Nobel prize-winning physicist’s mischievous memoir touches on everything from his childhood to his work on the atomic bomb.

Goodreads members note that although Feynman’s attitude towards women may be outdated (a good thing for any Modern Gentleman to remember!) his testament to the importance of curiosity is enduring."

Buy it here.



PHILOSOPHY: "The Righteous Mind" by Jonathan Haidt

"We all think we're right — and a lot of us are quick to assume the worst of those who disagree. Jonathan Haidt challenges why we do this, presenting a unique basis for morality grounded by history, psychology, and biology.

Goodreads reviewers praised the book’s refreshing, down-to-earth dissection of intricate (and often controversial) topics."

Buy it here.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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The best dessert in 25 countries around the world

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Skyr Iceland

A meal isn't complete without dessert.

That's true around the world, but desserts differ from country to country.

Some are light and fruity, and some are rich and chocolaty.

From Japan's mochi to Poland's poppy seed rolls, read on to see what people use to satisfy their sweet tooth in 25 different countries.

SEE ALSO: The best dessert from every state

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Crème brûlée is a favorite dessert all over France. It contains rich, creamy custard topped with a layer of hard, crunchy caramel that is just slightly browned.



In Indonesian, dadar means pancake and gulung means to roll, so it's no wonder this dessert — popular on the Indonesian island of Java — is named dadar gulung. It's a green pancake made from pandanus leaves that is rolled and then filled with coconut sugar.



It doesn't get any more American than apple pie. The pie — consisting of apple pieces wrapped in a flaky crust — can be served with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or even cheddar cheese.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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8 classic novels that will make you a better leader

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don draper mad men dante

When we think about "leadership books," we think about non-fiction titles: "Talent Is Overrated.""High Output Management." The perennial favorite "How to Win Friends and Influence People."

But according to Scotty McLennan, a lecturer in political economy at Stanford Graduate School of Business, and the school's former dean of religious life, limiting ourselves to manuals and biographies and case studies means we're missing something big. Because some of the most valuable insights into the heart of leadership don't come from the business aisle. They come from the literary classics.

Unlike traditional business books, literature allows you access to the inner lives of its characters. "You see them not only in their work environment, and in decision-making moments, but in their larger life," McLennan explains in a video produced by Stanford GBS. Literature can "show you reality in a way that case studies and biographies and other things that are supposedly about reality can't touch," he says. He even teaches a course on the topic for MBA students: "The Business World: Moral and Spiritual Inquiry through Literature."

 Writing for Insights by Stanford Business, Beth Rimbey outlines some of McLennan's favorites. Using that list (and McLennan's talk, which you can watch here), we put together what might be the most thought-provoking — and most beautiful —  summer business reading list of all time. 

SEE ALSO: 10 novels that will make you smarter about business

'The Last Tycoon,' by F. Scott Fizgerald

In the video, McLennan raves about Fitzgerald's final (and unfinished) novel, which offers insight into the always-relevant crisis of work-life balance.

Fitzgerald follows the life of Hollywood mogul Monroe Stahr (based on the real-life film producer Irving Thalberg) — a staggeringly successful business executive who's thriving in public and flailing in private.

 "What we begin to see is the lack of a fully integrated life — somebody who is literally working himself to death, but doing very well," McLennan says. "And then you need to ask, could he do as well if he had a more balanced life?" (For the record, McLennan says his students seem split on the question.)

Buy it here>>

 



'Siddhartha,' by Hermann Hesse

Another of McLennan's favorite literary lessons in work-life balance and living well? Hermann Hesse's "Siddhartha."

The novel follows a man who is struggling to "combine business and spirituality," McLennan explained in a (different) interview  with Insights' Deborah Petersen this past winter. "He becomes a rich merchant who is at first unattached to material success, concentrating on putting his customers first and acting ethically with all stakeholders. But then he becomes covetous, succumbs to the 'soul sickness of the rich,' and becomes not only mean-spirited but also suicidal."

Eventually, he finds something like balance ferrying travelers across a river, "providing spiritual mentoring to some, but finding that most people simply want good transportation services." 

Buy it here>>



'The Stranger' (or 'The Plague,' or 'The Fall'), by Albert Camus

Every now and then, McLennan recommends turning to the existentialists.

"Books like 'The Stranger' or 'The Plague' or 'The Fall'"— all by Albert Camus — are "pretty powerful ways of clearing the deck,"he says in the video.

Temporarily shelving questions of spirituality and religion, these books probe at something even more basic: what is the meaning of life, if there is any meaning at all?

 Buy it here>>

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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Canon's new $30,000 camera could let photographers shoot in extreme darkness like never before

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Canon 4 Million ISO

Canon unveiled a new camera this morning that could completely change how we take photos and videos in the dark.

The camera, called the ME20F-SH, can see things in the dark that the human eye can't, and captures it all with HD photo and video.

The camera could potentially be used to pioneer new formats for everything from surveillance video, movies, reality TV, and nature documentaries.

Canon says the camera will go on sale in December 2015, but it won't be cheap. The ME20F-SH is expected to retail for $30,000. It will go for sale in Decemeber 2015.

What makes this camera so unique?

The new ME20F-SH model is able to shoot at up to 4,000,000 ISO.

ISO is a photography term that basically refers to how your camera handles light around you. The higher ISO you take a picture at, the more you can capture in a low-light situation.

To put the 4-million range into perspective, consider that the cameras on the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus only go as high as 2,500 ISO. Most entry-level DSLR cameras only go up to 3,200. Higher level cameras usually go anywhere from 10,000 to 100,000 ISO, and there's a Nikon with 200,000 ISO capabilities. But Canon's new device is next-level.

Canon 4 Million ISO

Basically, this new camera is a tremendous feat that will let photographers and videographers explore dark spaces in a way that was never possible before.

SEE ALSO: Canon is expanding into the surveillance market

Join the conversation about this story »

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Scientists took these award-winning photos of nature, and they're absolutely stunning

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BMC Ecology Greater Adjutant Stork in Guwahati City, India

Most of us never get the chance to travel the world and take in all that nature has to offer.

Luckily for those of us chained to a desk, there are talented photographers who do have that privilege — and also happen to be scientists.

Each year the scientific journal BMC Ecology hosts a photography competition to hand out awards to scientists for their best photos of the natural world.

BMC Ecology's contest this year didn't disappoint. Scroll through the collection of Earth's amazing landscapes and creatures below.

We'll start with the highly commended photos. These critically endangered greater bamboo lemurs live in Madagascar and consume ten times the amount of cyanide that would be lethal to similarly sized mammals. Scientists don't know how they do it.



This Amblypygi, a distant relative of the spider, is eating a giant golden silk orb-weaving spider. They live in Amazonian Ecuador, one of the most biodiverse areas on land.



The Mozambique tilapia carry their babies around in their mouth after hatching. This photo captured a baby tilapia hanging out on its mother's lip.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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I tried the latest rival to Snapchat, but I'm not convinced it'll be the next big thing

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livetext yahoo

Judging by the promotional photos for Yahoo's new app Livetext, which show tanned, college-aged models on the beach and the ski slopes, I seem a little bit beyond the demographic the huge internet company is going for.

Yes, I'm a, cough, "millennial," (and I like to go to the beach and ski!) but at 31, I'm on the older side of those born between 1982 and 2002

But I was still excited to give it a shot. 

Livetext, which Yahoo announced Wednesday but didn't come out until Thursday, is a new messaging app that allows you to make video calls. But the catch is that the app has no sound — all of the communicating is done through text, emoji, and facial expressions. 

Think of it like a video call like FaceTime or Skype, but on mute, and with the ability to overlay the video with text and emoji.

Yahoo says the app is designed to be a simpler form of communication like texting, but include video to make it more expressive and personal.

I understand what Yahoo is getting at. Taking selfies in public has somehow become socially acceptable, but holding the phone out in front of you while someone's voice is blaring out of the speakers just shouldn't be done outside of your own home.

But I still found that making a video call, without actually being able to hear anything, was awkward and not actually that useful.

Here's what it's like using Livetext.

SEE ALSO: 67-year-old Arnold Schwarzenegger's Snapchat is full of bodybuilding videos and tons of emoji

This is what you see after you first download the app. Click the "Get started" button to start using it.



Instead of talking, you communicate with text, emoji, and facial expressions.



So share your best duckface in silence.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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Why people pay $34 a class for the most popular cycling workout in America

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soul cycle studio class

I’m surrounded by men and women, all biking to the beat of a fast-paced song, trying to keep up with the ripped female instructor cycling on stage in front of us.

“What makes you beautiful?” she shouts into her microphone at all 40 of us as we stand up and sit down in unison on our bikes, pedaling with the beat of the music. “Are you beautiful because of your strength? Is your perseverance your beauty?”

Welcome to SoulCycle, the exercise class with a cult following. Founded in 2006 by Julie Rice and Elizabeth Cutler, the brand is known for attracting celebrities like Charlize Theron and David Beckham, and it has 31 studios (soon to be 37) in New York, Long Island, New Jersey, Connecticut, Westchester, Massachusetts, California, and Washington, DC.

They even plan to go worldwide with a studio in London.

soulcycle lobby

“It’s way more than an exercise class,” Jaime Gleicher, who’s been going to SoulCycle since 2011 at a rate of roughly 10 times a week, told Business Insider. “It’s equal parts dance party, killer workout, meditation, therapy, and social setting where I know, without fail, I can see my friends and gain a piece of mind.”

For lovers of the high-intensity cycling class, SoulCycle is a lifestyle — and the studios reflect that. Aspirational words like “WARRIOR,” “ROCKSTAR,” and “ATHLETE” are plastered on the walls. Lululemon SoulCycle-branded clothing hangs in the lobby ($42 for a tank top), and you can even buy the grapefruit-scented Jonathan Adler candles they have burning in the studio.

In a typical 45-minute class, students can expect to do choreographed, high-resistance sprints and “climbs” with an arm-workout section and a yoga-esque cool down. The lighting in the studio itself is dim with candles at the front of the room and music blaring.

For riders, it’s not about calories or how many reps they can do, but about letting go — it’s not uncommon to be asked to close your eyes or to cycle through a song completely in the dark.

I wasn’t sure what I was expecting when a helpful woman strapped me and my cycling-shoe loaners into the bike at SoulCycle’s Union Square location. The class excitedly chattered and started peddling at minimal resistance while waiting for our instructor to finish helping newcomers like me adjust our bikes. Some people who knew one another were talking about the Tribeca studio’s recent renovation, while others compared favorite ‘Soul’ instructors.

spinning indoor cycling class

Then our instructor hit the music and we were riding, increasing our resistance and biking faster and faster to the beat. Sometimes we were standing up and trying to keep as still as possible as our legs cycled beneath us. Other times we were seated and learning forward and doing push ups to the rhythm of the music.

After a five-minute arm section and cool down, we were stretching and finally unhooking our shoes from the bikes.

I left the class sweaty and with a new understanding of why people pay $34 a pop in New York City for this experience. (Their best class package deal brings the cost down to $28.) The class flew by, and I felt motivated to keep going the entire time.

And though the instructor was filled with exultations to keep us pumped, I was especially inspired by the front row of fit men and women who, judging by how hard they pedaled, were obviously SoulCycle adherents.

For them, $34 is the small price to pay for a community that makes them want to workout and push themselves harder. The expensive classes, gear, and candles are just a way of distinguishing themselves (and each other) as a part of a very cool club.

“I believe it’s worth every cent,” Gleicher insists. “The price of the class is also a motivating factor: It encourages me to work my absolute hardest and get every cent out of my investment.”

“Whatever mood I am in, whatever kind of day I am having, SoulCycle has never not given me what I needed,” she added. “And that is why I keep going back.

soul cycle studio

Interested in trying SoulCycle? Here’s our advice for trying the spinning phenomenon.

1. For curious first-timers, SoulCycle has a $20 introductory class. Reserve a bike in the second row — the first row is usually filled with the more intense SoulCycle clientele and it can be helpful to watch both them and the instructor when you start out.

2. Wear sweat-wicking clothes that won’t ride up, like leggings and a tank top. Most SoulCycle locations charge $3 to rent shoes.

3. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. You sweat a lot in this class, and will want to be as hydrated as possible before entering the room. Bring a water bottle, too.

4. Have the staff adjust your bike, but make sure it works for you. Having the seat pushed too far or not far enough forward can make all the difference in your comfort level. Start out with their advice and adjust accordingly.

5. Don’t be intimidated by the sense of community.“It can seem as if everyone knows each other and the instructor, and that is true,” Gleicher told us. “The sense of community at SoulCycle is a huge part of the experience. Make yourself open to becoming a part of it. We want you there!”

6. Go at your own pace and stay in the saddle. Observe the form and pace of the instructor and others around you. Listen to the music and do the best you can.

SEE ALSO: 6 Truths About Exercising That No One Wants To Hear

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Join the conversation about this story »

Poland’s Prime Minister loves this spectacular video game so much he gave it to Obama as a gift

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obama donald tusk

The popular role-playing game series "The Witcher" is beloved in Poland — so much so that back in 2011, the country's prime minister at the time Donald Tusk presented Obama with the collector's edition of "The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings" to commemmorate his visit.

President Obama visited Poland again last June and had kind words to say about the game:

The last time I was here, Donald [Tusk] gave me a gift, the video game developed here in Poland that's won fans the world over, "The Witcher." I confess, I'm not very good at video games, but I've been told that it is a great example of Poland's place in the new global economy. And it's a tributre to the talents and work ethic of the Polish people as well as the wise stewardship of Polish leaders like prime minister Tusk.

If you're wondering why President Obama was given a copy of "The Witcher" in the first place, it's important to understand that "The Witcher" is not your average video game. 

It's an incredible achievement for so many reasons. 

SEE ALSO: Seven amazing creations that players made with famous games

"The Witcher" games are based on a series of popular fantasy books by the same title, penned by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. He's won numerous awards for "The Witcher" including the Gloria Artis Medal for Merit to Culture in 2012.



In "The Witcher" games, you play a professional monster hunter (a.k.a. "witcher") named Geralt of Rivia — the protagonist from Sapkowski's books — who has developed supernatural abilities to battle monsters terrorizing the countryside.



As Geralt, you'll face tons of moral choices that have real consequences in the game, either immediately or several hours after your decision is made.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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30 things you can buy for a dollar

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While a dollar won't get you two movie tickets, 20 bottles of Coca-Cola, or six McDonald's burgers like it used to, you can still get quite a few fun and practical things out of it.

We surfed the internet and did some exploring in New York City to find the best options for your four quarters.

Here are 30 ways to spend your dollar: 

SEE ALSO: 15 things you're better off buying used

A new razor every month with the Dollar Shave Club.

Subscription startup Dollar Shave Club will give you two stainless-steel blades and five cartridges per month for just $1. Business Insider tried the service — check out our review.



A slice of pizza in NYC.

A meal will cost you a fortune anywhere else in New York City, but not at the dollar-pizza joints. Check out 2 Bros Pizza or 99¢ Fresh Pizza for an inexpensive and delicious slice. 

 



A song from iTunes.

If you're into the latest hits, you'll probably have to shell out $1.29, but you can still find songs for $.99 on iTunes. Blogger Len Penzo recommends sorting by song title instead of popularity to find the cheaper versions.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

7 scientists who are helping us understand how the world works

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michio kaku

Even within concrete sciences like math and physics, there are plenty of discoveries to be made.

From a physicist who is creating a hacker-proof way to transmit information to a mathematician developing a new type of alegbraic geometry, we've highlighted seven people who are changing the landscapes of math and physics.

All of these scientists also appeared on our list of groundbreaking scientists who are changing the way we see the world

SEE ALSO: 50 groundbreaking scientists who are changing the way we see the world

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Andrew Shields is creating a better system for keeping hackers out of confidential information.

Last spring, Andrew Shields and his colleagues successfully transmitted secure quantum key distributions (QKDs) through the fibers used for traditional telecommunications, such as computers and telephones, creating a safer way to send confidential data over long distances.

Traditional data-encryption systems use a standard "key" of 1s and 0s, leaving their messages vulnerable to hackers. But when QKDs are intercepted, the act of eavesdropping on the key automatically changes it, making it impossible for hackers to use it to gain access to the information and alerting the senders of a security breach. While other teams had successfully transmitted QKDs in protected lab environments, Shields' team is the first to find a way to use the technology in real-world settings.

Shields is a quantum physicist at Toshiba Research Europe in Cambridge, England.



Francis Halzen helped discover what happens inside black holes and supernovas — some of the most powerful cosmic sources in the universe.

To study neutrinos — tiny, subatomic particles that fly through all matter — Francis Halzen helped build the largest particle physics detector ever, known as the IceCube Neutrino Observatory.

In 2013, the Antarctica-based observatory finally discovered cosmic neutrinos, the highest-energy neutrinos ever observed. The discovery gives astronomers a unique look at what happens at the core of many powerful cosmic sources, such as black holes and supernovas.

Halzen is a physicist at the University of Wisconsin at Madison.



Jacob Lurie is rewriting how mathematicians understand complicated geometric objects.

Jacob Lurie is changing how mathematicians understand complicated geometric objects. He is a specialist in the field of algebraic geometry — the study of curves, surfaces, and their higher-dimensional counterparts intimately linked to the solutions of algebraic equations. Lurie has developed a radical new framework for this field called "derived algebraic geometry" that combines concepts from algebraic geometry and the related field of topology.

This new way of looking at the interplay between equations and shapes promises to lead to a much deeper understanding of geometry, and could also lead to breakthroughs in other areas of mathematics. Lurie is also a MacArthur fellow and recipient of the 2014 Breakthrough Prize in mathematics, and his work has been published in two books, "Higher Topos Theory" and "Higher Algebra," and numerous other journals and papers.

Lurie is a professor at Harvard University in the department of mathematics.



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The 12 best things to do in Rome

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4 Piazza Navona

It may be a cliché, but there’s no better advice for visitors to the Eternal City than the old adage, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

This is where la dolce vita originated, after all.

Of course, after more than 2,000 years in existence, there’s enough to explore to keep you busy for years, with decadent pasta and gelato to indulge in, places to shop for everything from handicrafts to haute couture, archeological sites, Baroque churches, villas-turned-museums, and enough art to overload your senses.

Whether you’ve never visited Rome or return often, here are 12 things you absolutely must do.

SEE ALSO: 20 genius hacks that will make traveling stress-free

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Admire ancient ruins at the Roman Forum

Entering the huge archeological site of the Roman Forum and strolling through the ruins, you can almost imagine the citizens of Ancient Rome walking the cobblestoned streets in togas and bringing sacrifices to the temples. Of course, it helps to have a guide who can bring the stories to life, or you might mistake Augustus’s house for Livia’s, as there are no signs within the complex indicating what’s what.

The site dates back to around 500 B.C., but was enlarged by Julius Caesar, Augustus Caesar, Domitian, and Trajan. In fact, you’ll see remnants of Imperial Rome extending beyond the limits of the Forum to include Trajan’s Column, the Arch of Titus, and the Circus Maximus, just to name a few.

After visiting the Forum, try your luck with theBocca della Verità, an ancient stone carving of a bearded man’s face. According to myth, it will bite off the hand of anyone not telling the truth.



Visit the Colosseum

The most internationally recognized symbol of Rome, the Colosseum has a long and bloody history. It was inaugurated in 80 A.D. with 100 days of games, including gladiatorial combats and animal fights. It was the largest amphitheater in the Roman Empire and is believed to have packed up to 50,000 people inside. Despite centuries of neglect—it was used as a quarry until the eighteenth century—it has remained intact (for the most part).

Today nearly 4 million people visit annually. Buy your tickets in advance or be prepared to wait in a very long line. A combined ticket for the Roman Forum, Colosseum, and Palatine Hillgrants access to all three sites and lets you skip the line at the Colosseum.



Gaze at the architectural marvel that is the Pantheon

Though the name refers to a temple for all the gods, the Pantheon is actually the burial place of Rome’s kings and other prominent figures, including Raphael. The temple was built between 118 and 128 A.D. on the site of an older temple.

A feat of architectural ingenuity, it was the world’s largest dome until the modern era, has been called the world’s only architecturally perfect building, and is the best-preserved monument of Imperial Rome. Walk inside and look up—the oculus in the dome is open to the sky, letting sunlight filter in.



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Facebook is making a solar-powered drone to deliver the internet with lasers

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aquila facebook connectivity

Facebook is designing, developing, and building a giant, solar-powered, drone called Aquila that will beam internet data down to remote places.

It might be hard to believe, but there are still 4 billion people around the world who don't have access to internet, according to Facebook. 

This is how Aquila is being built and how it will bring internet to the remotest of regions.

 

This is Aquila, the high-altitude, long-endurance aircraft designed by Facebook's aerospace team in the UK. It will deliver internet service to extremely hard-to-reach places around the world.



To do so, internet data will be beamed up from terrestrial relay stations to an Aquila aircraft, where the data will be transmitted among other Aquilas in the air.



Then, internet data is transmitted down to regions where traditional internet delivery methods can't realistically reach.



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The 20 hottest startup hubs in the world

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startup entrepreneur

While Silicon Valley may stand undefeated as the most prominent name for tech entrepreneurs and startup visionaries, other regions all over the world are worthy competitors.

Compass, a San Francisco-based benchmarking software company, has published a 2015 Startup Ecosystem Ranking Report that identifies the top 20 startup "ecosystems" in the world. The report — which last came out in 2012 — ranked cities in five categories: performance, funding, talent, market reach, and startup experience.

To compile the list, Compass consulted with entrepreneurs from 25 countries to conduct more than 200 interviews and 11,000 startup surveys. Startup ecosystems excluded from this report were China, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea, which Compass said it plans to include in its index later this year.

SEE ALSO: The 20 hottest startup metro areas In America

20. Montreal, Canada

Montreal makes its debut on the rankings this year. Its cultural diversity, top engineering schools, and angel investor groups make it ripe for novel ideas and successful startups.

Montreal also has four reputable engineering schools that teach 5,000 computer science graduates every year, according to Compass. 

Performance: 19
Funding: 17
Market Reach: 16
Talent: 13
Startup Experience: 17



19. Amsterdam, Netherlands

While not as large of a startup hub as London or Berlin, Amsterdam's startup infrastructure has attracted successful companies like Startupbootcamp — a global network of startup accelerators.

Moreover, the tech giant Uber has a major office there.

Performance: 15
Funding: 20
Market Reach: 10
Talent: 18
Startup Experience: 16



18. Vancouver, Canada

Vancouver today is powered by software development, biotechnology, and entertainment. By contract, its local economy used to be sustained by mining, forestry, and shipping industries.

The up-and-coming startup Slack opened an office there because of Canada's immigration policies and a time zone in Canada that matched up to San Francsico, according to the report.

Performance: 18
Funding: 19
Market Reach: 15
Talent: 14
Startup Experience: 11



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11 LinkedIn analysts react to the earnings stunner and stock price surge

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LinkedIn Jeff Weiner

LinkedIn stock has been bouncing around in after-hours trading when, after an initial spike of 14%, it dropped down to almost -5%.

The turbulence came after the professional social networking company reported its Q2 earnings. It beat expectations, with revenue at $712 million versus analyst expectations of $679.80 million, and an non-GAAP EPS of $0.55 versus an estimated $0.33.

But the stock still dipped because, as the Wall Street Journal notes, investors realised some of LinkedIn's unexpected strength came from the acquisition of skills video library lynda.com.

The price is currently sitting at $227.39.

So what lies ahead for LinkedIn? Business Insider has reviewed research notes from 11 analysts covering the company — and they're overwhelmingly positive. Just one recommended sell, with the majority maintaining an overweight rating on the stock.

Take a read:

Credit Suisse: BULLISH

Rating: Outperform

Price target: $311 (revised from $307)

Comment: "Strength in Talent Solutions and greater-than-expected contribution from Lynda (closed in 2Q15) were overshadowed by mgmt commentary around continued declines in legacy display - as this is now 3% of revenue and de-indexed as a contributor, it presents little incremental downside risk to estimates. We hence look past this transitory headwind to highlight: 1) strong corporate customer additions/ARPU growth, 2) growing contribution from Sponsored Updates/Bizo, 3) continued ramp of Sales Navigator, 4) accelerating user engagement, and 5) ongoing ramp of LNKDs presence in China (>10m members) as signs that our LT positive investment thesis remains intact and as such we maintain our Outperform rating."



Jeffries: BULLISH

Rating: Buy

Price target: $300 (revised up from $290)

Comment: "LinkedIn reported results ahead of guidance in part due to the early closure of Lynda, but also because of strength in Talent Solutions. The company is still early in large market opportunities, including Sales Navigator, Lead Accelerator, Bizo and Lynda."



Morgan Stanley: BULLISH

Rating: Overweight

Price target: $280

Comment: "We remain bullish as 2Q showcased the Talent Solutions runway, momentum in Sponsored Content, and LNKD's ability to deliver higher earnings power. Programmatic is negatively impacting the legacy ad business, but LNKD's higher-quality assets (inc lynda.com) keep driving platform monetization higher."



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