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The 25 hottest restaurants in California, according to OpenTable

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toca madera

OpenTable recently announced its annual "100 Hottest Restaurants in America" list, and 25 California restaurants made the cut — much more than any other state. 

To craft the list, OpenTable combed through more than 5 million restaurant reviews submitted by verified diners. Restaurants that made the list needed to have both high overall ratings and a strong rating in the "hot spot" category. 

West Hollywood appears to be California's hottest neighborhood, boasting 8 of the restaurants. The broader Los Angeles area makes up the bulk of the list, with a smattering of restaurants in San Diego, San Francisco, and Palm Springs as well.

Mexican, Italian, and contemporary American cuisines are popular, and so are venues that take advantage of outdoor patios or rooftop spaces.

Keep scrolling to see California's 25 hippest places to make a night of it.

SEE ALSO: The 100 hottest restaurants in the US right now

DON'T FORGET: Follow Business Insider's lifestyle page on Facebook!

AsiaSF

201 9th Street, San Francisco

AsiaSF provides a unique "dinnerclub" experience, serving up Cal-Asian cuisine and specialty cocktails while transgender models put on an elaborate dance show on the in-restaurant runway.



Bestia

2121 East 7th Place, Los Angeles

A rustic Italian restaurant in downtown LA's hip arts district, Bestia dishes out homemade pizzas and pastas in an industrial space that turns into a hopping bar scene at night. 



Cassia

1314 7th Street, Santa Monica

A Southeast Asian restaurant with the decor of a French brasserie, Cassia is a buzzy, energetic spot known for its tasty, spiced dishes like green papaya salad and grilled pork belly vermicelli.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's everything Laurene Powell Jobs inherited from the late Steve Jobs, including a superyacht and a colossal stake in Disney

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Laurene Powell Jobs Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Apple cofounder Steve Jobs, is fourth-richest woman in the world and also among the 50 richest people on earth overall, according to Wealth-X.

Most of her wealth was inherited from her husband, who upon his death left behind a fortune now estimated at $14.1 billion. The bulk of it comes from an enormous ownership stake in Disney, but Powell Jobs also holds shares of Apple and controls multiple real estate properties, two private jets, and a 260-foot superyacht. 

Wealth-X's estimate of her fortune includes conservative valuations of her major assets. All values are approximated as of March 28, 2016. 

Read on to see a full breakdown of her $14.1 billion net worth. 

SEE ALSO: Meet Laurene Powell Jobs, the mysterious woman who inherited Steve Jobs' fortune

DON'T MISS: The 50 richest people on earth

The widow of Apple cofounder Steve Jobs, Laurene Powell Jobs now controls the tech mogul's assets, worth approximately $14.1 billion today.

Source: Wealth-X



Though Jobs was famous for his work at Apple, the majority of his wealth came from his stake in The Walt Disney Co., which he received after selling his animation studio Pixar to the company in 2006 for $7.4 billion. Since his death in 2011, the nearly 8% stake has ballooned to $12.7 billion — accounting for 90% of Powell Jobs' net worth.

Source: Business Insider, New York Times



Powell Jobs also inherited a stake in Apple, which Jobs cofounded 40 years ago, that's worth $560 million today. Why wasn't the Apple stake worth more? When Jobs was ousted from the company in 1985, he sold almost all of his 11% share — which would be worth more than $65 billion today.

Sources: Wealth-XThe Motley Fool 



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We tried the wildly popular better burger chain founded by the genius inventor of the McGriddle

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Smashburger 7

The vibrant fast-casual better burger sector is alive and well, with more and more chains offering their twist on the classic burger.

A few big names manage to stand out amongst the fray: Shake Shack, Five Guy's, and Smashburger

With locations in 32 states and seven countries and continuing expansion plans, Smashburger is easily proving itself in the better burger arena. 

Founded by fast-food visionary and McGriddle inventor Tom Ryan, the chain has scaled rapidly since its inception in 2007 — showing that America's love affair with the burger has only just begun. 

We ventured to Smashburger's midtown New York City location to see how it stacks up to the rest of the better burger joints.

 

SEE ALSO: We tried a customizable pizza chain that's taking over — here's what we thought

NOW WATCH: We did a blind taste test of popular french fries — the winner was clear

We arrived at Smashburger's Midtown location at 33rd Street and 5th Avenue, right in the shadow of the Empire State Building.



It's lunchtime so naturally there's quite a line, but it moves quickly and before we know it, our order is being taken.



Smashburger appears to be like most fast-casual burger joints, such as Shake Shack or BurgerFi, but its menu offers more options.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

11 famous products that were originally intended for a completely different purpose

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bubble wrap fan

Some of the best discoveries happen by accident. As a result, many of the world's most famous brands and products started out doing something completely different to that what they are known for today.

They range from soft drinks that were originally laced with powerful mind-altering drugs to, medicines with unexpected, but profitable, side-effects. 

We collected 11 examples of products that have been remarkably successful, despite being intended for a completely different purpose.

SEE ALSO: 16 famous brands that started off as products for the military

Coca-Cola started out as a cure for morphine addiction.

Dr. John Pemberton, who invented the original formulation of the black syrupy soft drink in 1886, had been badly injured in the battle of Columbus. After this, he became hopelessly addicted to prescription morphine, according to Jeremy Agnew in his book Alcohol and Opium in the Old West.

Being a trained pharmacist, Pemberton decided to come up with his own addiction cure. This resulted in "Pemberton’s French Wine Coca"— a dink that contained alcohol and cocoa leaf extract — the same ingredient that makes cocaine. 

When Coca-Cola was first launched, it was marketed as a nerve tonic that "relieves exhaustion." Cocaine was removed from the product in 1903.



Listerine started out as an anti-septic.

You might be alarmed, but maybe not that surprised to hear that the blue, stinging liquid you have been gargling every morning was originally marketed as as a floor cleaner and a cure for gonorrhea, according to Freakonomics.

Also used as a surgical antiseptic, the product did not become commercially successful until it re-branded as a cure for bad breath. Again according to Freakonomics, the company's revenues rose from $115,000 to more than $8 million in the seven years after the change of strategy.



Bubble Wrap was originally marketed as wallpaper.

Marc Chavannes and Alfred Fielding had been attempting to devise a new style of textured wallpaper,when they came up with bubble wrap in 1957, according to Forbes.

They created it through sealing together two shower curtains, which made the first layer of the bubbles. Unsuccessfully, the pair tried selling the product first as wallpaper and later as greenhouse insulation.

According to Sealed Air company legend, it was not until IBM launched the 1401 computer in 1959 that bubble wrap was first used for the purpose of keeping products safe in transit.



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25 old-school pranks that Wall Streeters used to pull on the trading floor

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german trader, trader, trader clown, trader prank, silly trader, Wall Streeter

It's April Fools' Day, and you can be almost certain that some pranks and jokes will be pulled on Wall Street.

But the pranks are nothing like they used to be.

If you ever get the chance to speak to a veteran floor trader (you really should), you will probably hear about the camaraderie on the floor and the epic pranks traders used to pull on one another.    

"Every joke was invented down there," a retired New York Stock Exchange specialist said.  

"I always tell people that it was like being in a fraternity," a former NYMEX clerk told us. "The biggest jokes that were played on new workers and even better when companies had their clients come to visit were the spurs, an arrow on their backs. When the arrow (which was made of paper) was placed on their back everyone would do a tribal dance and chants. The customers had no idea what was going on; it was comical."

The humor has subsided in recent years, however, as some of the exchanges are publicly traded and have more eyes and television cameras on them. There's also fewer people on the floors and in the pits nowadays.

"Fortunately, or unfortunately, you don't see those pranks anymore," another veteran floor trader said.

Veteran traders both in New York and Chicago from the NYSE, CBOT, NYMEX, and AMEX told us about some of the classic pranks and jokes they used to pull back in the day. 

* If you have another trading floor prank, joke or story you would like to share, please send Julia an email at jlaroche@businessinsider.com.  

If you were being annoying, they'd duct tape you to a chair and throw you in an elevator and push all of the buttons.

Location: NYSE

The Prank: One long-time NYSE floor broker told us that pranksters would duct tape an "irritating personality" to a chair, place him in an elevator and press all of the floor buttons.



Traders would ink or paint a newbie's phone receiver.

Location: NYSE

The Prank: Traders would ink or paint the phone receiver so that one's ear would turn black. 



Traders would also put shaving cream on the telephone receiver.

Location: CBOT

The Prank: Traders would carefully place shaving cream in a telephone receiver so that when someone picked up the phone they would get an earful of shaving cream. 



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35 of the most absurd texts people have gotten from their parents

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inside out mom and dad

Parents have a tendency to embarrass us, and one place they really shine is in text messages.

From corny jokes to just completely misreading everything, texting with parents can be both an annoyance and a total joy. And luckily there's an Instagram account that takes submissions of the best (worst) texts from parents.

The Instagram was started by Elan Gale, the "Bachelor" producer who also runs the "Texts from your ex" and "Tinder Nightmares" accounts. While we can't confirm that 100% of these are real, they certainly capture something about how silly parents can be.

If you have your own great examples, you can submit them here.

But without further ado, here are 35 of the most absurd texts people have gotten from their parents:

Please call, it's urgent.



Word.



"That face thing."



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After working in corporate America for 20 years, one man quit his job to build a new life traveling abroad

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dan givens 2

Two decades in the corporate world was enough for 47-year-old Dan Givens.

In April 2015, he quit his job as the head of financial planning and analysis for OpenTable, rented his house in San Francisco, and set off for the coast of southern Chile.

"I got tired of working so hard for corporate America and longed for work that was more impactful to others and more meaningful to me," he tells Business Insider. "I decided to take time off from the working world to explore the 'actual' world. I didn't have a formal plan, but I figured this was as good a time as any to do something radical. I was single and I had a few passions that I wanted to explore: sailing, travel, photography, and helping others."

Since trading in his home and career for a backpack, camera, and life on the road, he has spent time in Chile, Germany, and Thailand, volunteering for "host families" in exchange for room and board.

We spoke to Givens about his new lifestyle: what it looks like, the reality of living and working abroad, and how he's affording it.

SEE ALSO: One couple quit their jobs to build a new life traveling the US in a 98-square-foot tiny home

"The thought of building a career and lifestyle around travel has been percolating in the back of my mind for as long as I can remember," he says.

He pulled the trigger in April 2015, when he quit his job and spent the next couple of months preparing for a new life on the road. He packed up his home and made it "rental ready," set up his website, Dannyboy Travels, finished his sailing certifications, and looked up visa requirements in various countries.

Having worked full-time for the past 20 years while supporting only himself, Givens had a substantial savings built up, despite living in the pricey Bay Area. He was able to save about a year's worth of after-tax salary to spend on the road. He also built a financial plan before jet-setting, factoring in expenses, income, investment return, and tax rate.



His adventure officially began August 25, 2015, when he set off for Tenglo Island, off the coast of southern Chile, where he would do volunteer work for three families.

He finds his hosts through internet bulletin boards, such as Help-X, World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF), and Find a Crew. In exchange for labor, he gets a roof to sleep under and at least one meal a day.

The work is usually physical — in Chile, he pruned apple trees, painted houses, and cleaned sailboats — but he's also taught English and done some web and multimedia work. While his schedule varies depending on the type of work, his host, and the weather, he spends about four to five hours a day doing volunteer work, Monday through Friday.

"I like the variety of the work, the physical nature of the work, and the impact of the work," Givens says. "I like the fresh air, fresh faces, and fresh perspective on life."



The duration of his stays varies. There is no contract, so he can stay as long or as short as he wants.

After a month in Chile, he returned to San Francisco to regroup for a few days before heading to Germany to spend time with friends. In late October, he bought a one-way ticket to Thailand, where he would spend the next three months helping a family run a resort, which consisted of 15 bungalows and a restaurant.

"I helped install outdoor lighting and walkways, prepared the foundation for a beach bar, and painted the buildings," he explains. "I also built a spreadsheet for them to manage their bookings online, instead of using pen and paper. Lastly, I implemented a set of procedures for cleaning rooms and public areas."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

15 science-backed tricks to instantly seem smart

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Some people are smarter than others — intelligence, scientists believe, is the result of a combination of complex factors, including everything from our genetics to the environments in which we grow up.

But that doesn't mean anyone can't appear to look more intelligent than they actually may be.

In fact, there are plenty of science-backed ways to convince others that you're a modern-day Einstein as soon as you meet them.

We rounded up 15 of them so you can impress your boss and buddies with your seeming brainpower.

SEE ALSO: 9 everyday behaviors that make you look dumber than you really are

Walk at the same speed as everybody else.

A study led by Boston University marketing professor Carey Morewedge found that if you walk faster — or slower — than the people around you, they might think you're stupid.

For the study, 49 undergrads watched films of three different people walking at either slower-than-average, average, or faster-than-average speed. Then they indicated how competent and intelligent that person appeared.

Results showed that people were perceived as smarter and more competent when they moved at the same speed as everyone else.



Put on thick glasses.

Research suggests that if you're wearing glasses, you'll appear less attractive but more intelligent.

In one small study, researchers at the University of Vienna had 76 participants look at 78 images of faces — some without glasses, some with full-rim glasses, and some with rimless glasses — and rate them on a number of traits, including intelligence and attractiveness.

According to the researchers' findings, people wearing glasses — rimless or with rims — were rated as more intelligent than people without glasses. Yet those without glasses were seen as more attractive than those with full-rim spectacles.

Go hipster, look smart.



If you're going to hold something, make it something other than a beer.

People often do idiotic things after they've had too many drinks.

No wonder that even holding a beer can make you look less intelligent, according to a joint study by the Universities of Michigan and Pennsylvania.

"People who hold an alcoholic beverage are perceived to be less intelligent than those who do not, a mistake we term the imbibing idiot bias," write authors Scott Rick and Maurice Schweitzer.

In one of five experiments the researchers conducted, 300 managers saw photographs and read transcripts from a hypothetical dinner interview. Results showed that the managers perceived the candidates who ordered wine instead of soda as significantly less intelligent and less hirable.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This Instagram trick totally changed how I used the iPhone app (FB)

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Kylie Jenner phone selfie

Instagram is one of the most popular social networks in the world. But while the vast majority of users like to browse through their customized feed, I prefer to surf Instagram by user profile. 

Recently while browsing, I found a shortcut that's completely changed how I use Instagram. It's simple, and it works across all iPhone models, so you don't need the latest and greatest device to take advantage of it. 

It's simple: Whenever Instagram shows you a grid of photos, and you want to take a closer look at one, instead of tapping on the photo, you should press and hold on the photo. Then, if you want to comment or like, simply swipe up.

Here's how it works: 

 

SEE ALSO: The 73 most popular people on Instagram

The key to the trick is not to tap. Hold your finger down on the screen instead. It's a subtle difference that pops up an image preview, instead of linking you to the image's comments page.



Here's what the preview screen looks like when you hold down. The photo won't be quite as large as it is on its own page, but it's pretty close. If you stop pressing on the screen, you'll be booted back to a grid view. But if you swipe the photo up, you'll get options to like the photo, add a comment, or send to a friend.



You won't see the photo's caption, nor how many likes or comments it has. But that could be a plus because it keeps the focus on the image.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

20 actors who completely transformed themselves into music legends

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jamie foxx ray

The larger-than-life musicians we worship have been brought to the big screen for decades, in biopics that range from transformative to middling.

And finding actors who can accurately portray those artists often requires musical training, studying mannerisms, and physical transformations.

While some roles merely require learning some choreography and slight makeup, others are more intensive, such as Jamie Foxx having his eyes glued shut to portray Ray Charles. 

This year, a number of musical biopics are hitting the screen, including one with British actor Tom Hiddleston as Southern musician Hank Williams and Don Cheadle as jazz artist Miles Davis. 

Here are 20 of the most notable transformations: 

SEE ALSO: Here's how 'Daredevil' star Charlie Cox got ripped to be a superhero

Tom Hiddleston — Hank Williams

The English actor transformed into the folk singer, Southern drawl and all, for "I Saw the Light." Hiddleston stayed with singer-songwriter Rodney Crowell for five weeks and was coached in Williams' mannerisms and singing style. The film hit theaters March 25. 

 



Don Cheadle — Miles Davis

Cheadle was first roped into this project back in 2006 when Miles Davis, who died in 1991, was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Afterward, Davis' nephew said Cheadles would play his uncle in a film of his life. Cheadle eventually cowrote a script, signed on to direct, and portrayed the jazz musician in "Miles Ahead," which will be released April 6. 

(Cheadle also portrayed Sammy Davis Jr. in 1998's “The Rat Pack,” for which he won a Golden Globe.)



Jason Mitchell — Eazy-E

Jason Mitchell's transformation into the late N.W.A rapper Eazy-E for "Straight Outta Compton" blew critics away. The relatively unknown "consistently out-acts the rest of the performers," a New York Times review said. Mitchell, who has a similarly built frame to Eazy-E, gained weight, practiced a South Los Angeles accent, and learned how to rap for the role, according to the Los Angeles Times. Corey Hawkins became Dr. Dre and O'Shea Jackson Jr. transformed into his father, Ice Cube, for the film.

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

'A candy store for smugglers': Step inside the million-dollar drug tunnels that 'riddle' the US-Mexico border

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Mexico drug tunnel US agents

US federal prosecutors announced on March 23 that authorities had uncovered a 400-yard tunnel between Mexicali, Mexico, and Calexico, California, and 1,350 pounds of marijuana traveling through it.

Just four days later, US border agents in Arizona discovered another tunnel, an incomplete one stretching only 80 feet, reaching into Nogales.

Finding two tunnels under the US-Mexico border in such a short period of time wasn’t just dumb luck.

“Drug traffickers love using tunnels,” journalist Ioan Grillo told Business Insider. “The Mexico-US border is like a block of cheese with holes in it, with tunnels across it.”

“US-Mexico border is literally riddled with tunnels,” Mike Vigil, the former head of international operations at the Drug Enforcement Administration and author of "Deal," told Business Insider. “They have to move those drugs across the border and probably the most secure method is through the use of tunnels.”

Traffickers have dug tunnels all along the 2,000-mile frontier between the US and Mexico, and the hard-to-detect nature of those passages, and the highly lucrative cargos that pass through them, ensure that there will always be more to find.

SEE ALSO: Mexico's defense chief: 'We have committed errors' in the war on drugs

“Many, many years ago, they were a very unsophisticated. They weren't very long. They were relatively short,” Vigil said. The first so-called narco tunnel was built in 1989, by the Sinaloa cartel of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.

Source: The New Yorker



"You look at some tunnels which are very, very basic, and I've been to look at some of these from the US side," Grillo said. "And you see that they're quite basic, you know, shovel, get in there, and kind of dig through under the border quite basically."



Over the past 25 years, authorities have found 181 narco tunnels under the US-Mexican border, according to The New Yorker. Most of those have been short, narrow passages, or "gopher holes."

Source: The New Yorker



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Zaha Hadid's final apartment building in New York looks magnificent, and we went inside

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hadid

Zaha Hadid, one of the most visionary architects of our time, died at age 65 on March 31.

Over the span of her career, the controversial and uncompromising architect created award-winning museums, condos, stadiums, and pavilions. In her last years, she took on a new challenge: designing a luxury apartment complex over the High Line, Manhattan's famed elevated park.

The new apartment building will be nothing short of impressive, with an intricate metal and glass facade sculpted piece by piece. Inside, the high-rise will boast a parking garage with robot valets and the city's first private 3D IMAX theater.

Developer Related Companies broke ground in 2014, and the building should open by early 2017. Since it was both Hadid's first residential building in NYC and one of her last designs, it will remain a testament to her legacy.

In March, Tech Insider toured one of the units, the most expensive of which sell for up to $50 million. Take a look inside.

Hadid's 135-foot-tall building lives at 520 West 28th Street on Manhattan's far west side. It's two blocks away from Hudson Yards, the new $20 billion neighborhood set to open in 2024.



Hadid was known for her curved buildings, many of which featured geometric forms.



520 West 28th Street is no exception.



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A mental-strength expert reveals 5 ways to turn around a bad mood quickly

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bad mood

As a therapist who talks and writes about mental strength, I often hear people say things like, "I can't control my emotions." Occasionally, readers will even make comments like, "You shouldn't try to control your emotions. It's not good for you."

But it appears as though people who make that assumption are confusing emotion regulation with suppression. And it's not the same thing.

Just because you wake up grumpy doesn't mean you have to stay in a bad mood. Or, just because you're nervous about something, doesn't mean you can't calm yourself down.

Regulating your emotions is about choosing to take charge of how you feel. That doesn't mean you should force yourself to be happy all the time — in fact, research shows forcing yourself to feel happy all the time backfires. But, it does mean you can make choices to boost your mood when you're down or calm yourself when you're upset.

Here are five skills that will change how you feel:

SEE ALSO: 15 great interview questions that measure emotional intelligence

1. Distraction

The more you think upsetting thoughts, the worse you'll feel. So rather than rehash that mean thing your spouse said, or worry about that stressful meeting tomorrow, distract yourself with an activity.  Listen to music, go for a walk, or do whatever you can to change the channel in your brain.

Studies show distraction is the most effective way to deal with intense distress. So if you're sitting in the dentist's office waiting to undergo a root canal, distract yourself with a magazine or text a friend about an unrelated topic. And try to find something to occupy your mind during the root canal too — distraction can be effective in reducing physical pain as well.



2. Reappraisal

Changing the way you look at a situation changes the way you feel. Telling yourself that your overly talkative friend is just in need of emotional support or reminding yourself that your co-worker's annoying questions stem from his desire to do his best, can help you stay calm.

Cognitive reappraisal is one of the quickest ways to shift your emotions. Research shows changing the way you think about a situation changes your body's physiological response.

So your heart is less likely to race so fast when you're angry, and your palms might not sweat so much when you're nervous, which can be key to keeping intense emotions at bay.



3. Humor

Laughter creates changes in your brain and gives you a positive boost in mood right away. A good sense of humor has been linked to everything from improved physical health to a better social life.

Whether you crack a joke or your friend says something funny, good-natured humor is key to managing your emotions.

Studies show mean-spirited humor is much less effective in changing your emotional state, however. So keep a great joke on hand or hang out with a funny friend and you'll boost your mood fast.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 26 best comedy movies you can stream on Netflix right now

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Whether it's this insane election year or the everyday stress of work or gearing up for Hollywood's unloading of its best summer comedies in the coming months, there's always a need to have a good laugh. And thankfully, Netflix has some great comedies that you can watch right now to brighten up your day.

Whether it be a classic like “Groundhog Day” or an under-the-radar gem like “Sleepwalk with Me,” there’s something to stream for all comedy tastes.

Here are 26 we highly recommend.

SEE ALSO: 12 celebrities you didn't realize are absurdly rich

1. “Adventureland”

Nothing beats a good coming-of-age romantic comedy, and this is one of the better ones. Directed by Greg Mottola ("Superbad"), it follows James (Jesse Eisenberg) working his summer job at a broken-down amusement park who encounters a summer crush (Kristen Stewart).  



2. “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure”

The fact that many of us get excited whenever Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter say they are willing to do another "Bill & Ted" movie proves how great this movie still is. The two play dim-witted high school students who must travel through time in a phone booth to ace their history presentation, and save the world (sort of). Bill S. Preston, Esq. (Winter) and Ted "Theodore" Logan (Reeves) are so likable that we can't help but laughing with them through their adventure.



3. “Boogie Nights”

Paul Thomas Anderson's glimpse inside the adult-film world of the late '70s/early '80s is still one of Mark Wahlberg's best performances, as he plays "gifted" newcomer to the industry Dirk Diggler. The dark comedic moments throughout the film are what make it stand out: It never takes itself completely seriously.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 50 smartest private high schools in the US

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The Westminster Schools

Top private high schools offer a lot of perks, from the newest classroom technology to pristine athletic fields. But when it comes down to it, nothing is more important than the quality of a school's academics.

Niche, a company that researches and compiles information on schools, just released its 2016 rankings of the best private high schools in the US, from which it also ranked the schools with the best academics— the smartest private high schools across the country.

It determined the bulk of the ratings by weighing the composite SAT/ACT score, caliber of colleges graduates attend, and percentage of seniors who go on to four-year colleges for more than 8,000 schools. Niche also looked at student-teacher ratios and survey responses from parents and students. You can read the full methodology here.

Read on to see the 50 private high schools with the smartest students in the country:

SEE ALSO: The 50 best private high schools in America

DON'T MISS: The 24 best private high schools in the Northeast

No. 50. The Pingry School

Location: Martinsville, New Jersey

Average SAT score: 2060

Four-year matriculation rate: 100%

Popular college choices: Georgetown University, University of Pennsylvania, Vanderbilt University

"The curriculum here is top-notch," one junior said. "Many students go to Ivy Leagues and other prestigious universities. The schedule is awesome and provided like a college schedule. Workload is heavy, but students deal with it."



No. 49. Newark Academy

Location: Livingston, New Jersey

Average SAT score: 2080

Four-year matriculation rate: 100%

Popular college choices: University of Pennsylvania, New York University, Columbia University

"Teachers are always happy to provide extra help, and for the most part create fun and engaging classroom environments," one senior said.

Students point out that excellent teachers make the hard work worth it.

"Definitely one of the best schools in the state," another senior noted. "Rigorous academics but the teachers make it possible for everyone to succeed as long as they apply themselves."



No. 48. Noble & Greenough School

Location: Dedham, Massachusetts

Average SAT score: 2080

Four-year matriculation rate: 100%

Popular college choices: Georgetown University, Vanderbilt University, Cornell University

"Noble typically has one of the most impressive matriculation rates in the country and definitely prepares its students for college and the real world," one Niche user shared. "I've been a step ahead of my peers in college and I know many of my fellow classmates can agree to this."

"Students and alumni are all well connected and the school has given me valuable life skills," they added. "I did plenty of internships in high school and the networks that I have been able to create will benefit me later on in the future."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The fascinating origins of 13 everyday English expressions

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surprised kid girl

Have you ever had to "separate the wheat from the chaff"? Or "fly by the seat of your pants"?

Linguistic researchers found the origins of these and other everyday phrases that don't make sense to non-English speakers, in a study commissioned by Privilege Insurance.

Keep scrolling to see the 12 origins of everyday phrases, as well as one bonus phrase no one can agree on.

SEE ALSO: The origins of 13 everyday sayings non-English speakers don't understand

If you are very drunk, you may be "three sheets to the wind." The phrase comes from having a ship's sails properly fastened.

According to researchers, "sheets" refer to the ropes that fasten a sail. If one of your sheets isn't properly tied down, the ship would become difficult to control and would be "to the wind," or moving erratically.



To "fly by the seats of your pants," or improvise without a clear plan, was popularized after Douglas Corrigan's 29-hour flight from Brooklyn to Dublin in 1938.

The phrase was used in a 1938 headline in The Edwardsville Intelligencer to describe Corrigan's off-book flight. He was meant to fly to California, but diverted his plane to Dublin instead.

"Corrigan had filed for a transatlantic flight two days earlier but it was rejected because his plane was not considered fit for the job," the researchers wrote. "Upon landing in Dublin he claimed his compass had packed up."

One mechanic said Corrigan "flies by the seat of his pants," which was said to be an old flying expression for going aloft without instruments or radio.



"Bite the bullet," or doing something unpleasant, comes from when soldiers would bite a bullet when they were being operated on without anesthetic.

There is some debate over whether or not this is true. The phrase has been in use since 1796 and has always meant to have a "stiff upper lip" before doing something you don't want to do.

It may have come from a belief that people can derive courage from biting a bullet, according to researchers.



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9 signs your coworker is a psychopath

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The Shining

Bullying isn't just for school kids on the playground.

Andrew Faas, a former senior executive with Canada's two largest retail organizations, found this out the hard way when he blew the whistle on a corrupt colleague, and subsequently had his phone and email hacked and even received an anonymous death threat.

To help others, Faas says in his new book, "The Bully's Trap," any worker being hired or promoted in a supervisory position should be required to take a psychological test.

What would it test for? The 20 signs listed in the Hare Psychopathy Checklist, as developed by renowned psychologist Robert Hare.

A psychopath may not show all the signs, but they will likely demonstrate at least some of them, Faas says.

Here are nine signs that one of your coworkers may be a psychopath:

SEE ALSO: 21 signs you have a terrible boss

DON'T MISS: The 27 jobs that are most damaging to your health

They have sadistic motives and intents.

"I think the most telling sign is their sadistic nature," Faas says.

A psychopath motivates others through fear, rather than respect, he says, and they intend to destroy rather than correct.

This one characteristic is what separates psychopaths from a boss or coworker who is simply "firm," he says.

"I've led and managed workforces that are in the thousands, and I've always been and still am a very demanding leader, but I motivate through respect because I want people to improve," Faas says.



They're glib and constantly turn on the superficial charm.

Psychopaths are masters at presenting themselves well.

They are great conversationalists who can easily sprinkle chit-chat with witty comebacks and "unlikely but convincing" stories that make them look good, writes Hare in a post on PsychologyToday.com.

Confronted with such charm, you may believe that the psychopath is a decent — delightful, even — person by the end of the conversation.

Hare writes that one of his raters once interviewed a male prisoner who threw in some compliments about her appearance, and by the end of the interview she felt unusually pretty.

"When I got back outside, I couldn't believe I'd fallen for a line like that," she said.



They have a grandiose estimation of self.

Much like a parasite, psychopaths see themselves as the center of the universe, writes Hare, on PsychologyToday.com. They are so important in their minds that normal societal rules don't apply to them, Hare writes.

"It's not that I don't follow the law," said one of Hare's subjects. "I follow my own laws. I never violate my own rules."



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17 tips to save money, from a woman who lived on $14,000 a year

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Expenses can add up quickly.

Danielle Wagasky, who stretched $14,000 a year to cover her family's needs for five years, would know.

Before becoming such a savvy saver, she dug herself into a financial hole when her husband was deployed to Iraq, leaving her in charge of the family finances. "I went shopping way too often," she writes in her book, "Living a Beautiful Life on Less.""I was constantly dipping into our savings to cover our checking account. I was late on bills and overdrafting like it was going out of style."

Little by little, she curbed her overspending habits, dug herself out of debt, and started documenting her frugal journey on blog, "Blissful and Domestic."

Here, we've rounded up tips and tricks from Wagasky's book and blog that she used to turn around her financial life:

SEE ALSO: How to cut your monthly grocery bill in half, from a woman who lived on $14,000 a year

Record every expense.

You have to know how much money is leaving your pocket.

"When we spend money, we put it into our spreadsheet," she writes. If you don't want to keep a spreadsheet on your computer, there are apps out there that will automatically track your expenses for you, such as Mint, You Need a Budget, and LearnVest.

Particularly if you're using cash for purchases, get in the habit of saving your receipts: "I save all my receipts, so I know what each purchase was made for and what category it goes into. If I didn't save my receipts, then I may forget why I spent $15 at the store."

Read more about Wagasky's budgeting strategy.



Cut cable.

The average American household pays $64 a month for cable, which comes out to $768 a year. That's a large sum to pay for a service that people often don't take full advantage of.

"You do not need cable television to live," Wagasky assures. "With companies like Netflix and Hulu taking center stage, you can also pay less money and still watch all of your favorite shows. If you are paying for cable television, you're paying for hundreds of stations you never watch."

Check out more cable replacements.



Look for ways to downsize.

"Downsizing applies to cars, homes, and overall lifestyle," Wagasky writes.

Do you really need a fancy sports car or gas-guzzling SUV to get you to and from work? As for homes, keep in mind that the bigger they are, the more expensive they are to run and maintain. And when it comes to downsizing your lifestyle, this could mean cutting back on dining out or shopping at expensive stores.

"Look at your life, the way you spend your money, and see where you can downsize," she says. "What can you cut down on or cut out completely to make the numbers crunch?"



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25 changes to make in your 20s to set yourself up for lifelong success

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How you spend your 20s is hugely important for determining who you'll become — personally and professionally — in the future.

In fact, one psychologist calls this time period the "defining decade," since it sets the stage for the rest of your life.

We understand that might sound intimidating. To reduce some of the pressure, we put together a road map of sorts based on severalQuorathreads on how to make the most of your 20s.

Find out what you should start (and stop) doing in your 20s to lay the foundation for lifelong success.

SEE ALSO: 10 changes to make in your 30s that will set you up for lifelong success

1. Start writing down your goals.

Toward the end of his 20s, Quora user Dirk Hooper started envisioning his ideal lifestyle five, 10, and 20 years down the road.

To ensure that he wasn't just fantasizing, he wrote down what he hoped to achieve and how he might get there.

"The act of writing your goals and dreams do[es] a couple of things for you," Hooper writes. "It forces you to nail down what's really in your mind, and it gives you a tangible record that you can refer to over time."

There's research to back up Hooper's theory. In one study, college students were instructed to write down a path toward achieving their future goals. Unsurprisingly, many of those goals involved finishing their education. Results showed that students who completed the writing exercise were more likely to stay in school than those who didn't do the exercise.



2. Start letting go of your ego.

A number of Quora users mentioned some variation on the idea that you shouldn't let pride or vanity get in your way, and should stay open to alternate viewpoints.

Michael Elijah writes: "Learn how to kill your ego. It blinds and fetters us from possibility and progress. Learn how to burst your bubble with simple questions [such] as, 'What if things aren't what they seem to be?' and vitally, 'What if I am wrong?'"



3. Start reading a lot.

After college, Hooper realized there was still a lot he didn’t know.

"So, I became a voracious reader," he said. "I engaged in a campaign to educate myself on any subject that inspired me. One book led to another. Over the years I've learned 10 times more than I ever learned in high school or college."

We're not advocating autodidactism over formal education, but reading is a great way to learn more about topics that aren't necessarily covered in class. Get started with this list of 30 books to read before turning 30.



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Everything you need to know to buy and smoke a high-quality cigar like a pro

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Once a mark of status akin to the shoes you wore or the watch on your wrist, cigars today are — for most of us — more a hobby than a lifestyle. You've probably smoked one at special events or celebratory occasions, but do you know how to smoke one properly? And can you tell the good stuff from lower quality?

Turns out, cigars are a lot like wine: complex, full of variety, and with a whole world of rituals to discover. We spoke with Michael Herklots, vice president of brand and retail development of the historic Nat Sherman cigar brand and certified retail tobacconist, to learn more. Herklots has been working in the world of tobacco for decades, and is an expert on the subject. 

Below, find his advice on how to approach the world of cigars with the knowledge you need to make sure you're getting the best experience. 

SEE ALSO: Go inside the family-owned business where big shots like Frank Sinatra and Rudy Giuliani have gotten their cigars for decades

DON'T FORGET: Follow Business Insider's lifestyle page on Facebook!

What kinds of cigars are out there?

Like food or wine, Herklots says, the variety is endless. "Where do you begin?"

"Premium" cigars come in a countless combination of shapes, sizes, and origins, with an infinite number of tobacco ages and species. They can be mellow and creamy or full and spicy, short and fat, or any variation of the above.

In Herklots' opinion, the greatest quality premium cigars today are being made in the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico, using tobaccos from around the world. 



Where can I buy a cigar — and where can I smoke it?

You can learn about and buy cigars online or at smoke shops or specialist tobacconists. But where to smoke them? With anti-smoking regulations clamping down across the country, your best bet (besides the great outdoors or the comfort of your own home) is a dedicated smoking parlor.

"Perhaps one of the things that make the tobacconist so special – besides the fact that enjoying cigars is almost never allowed indoors — is that you're able to engage with the employees of the tobacconist who have chosen to make their hobby a profession," Herklots says of the smoke shop experience.

"No other place brings together lovers of the leaf the way a tobacconist does." In Manhattan, the Nat Sherman Townhouse near Grand Central Terminal is one prime spot to settle in with a cigar.



How can I tell a good quality cigar from a poor quality one?

A few factors separate a premium cigar from something of lower quality. Premium cigars are made entirely by hand, and use 100% long-filler tobaccos, meaning the leaves on the inside of the cigar run its entire length. The three primary components are filler tobaccos, a binder, and a wrapper; if a cigar doesn't have these three things, it's not premium.

Cigars should be stored at the right temperature and humidity (70 degrees Fahrenheit with 70% humidity is what you should aim for), keeping it in condition to smoke.

"At the end of the day, a good cigar is one you enjoy," Herklots said. A lot comes down to taste and preference.



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