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17 things every guy should have in his bathroom

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Though it often gets ignored, a well-stocked bathroom is essential to making a bachelor pad feel like home. 

For those minimalist gents who've been living without, we've rounded up 16 accessories and essentials that every modern gentleman should have in his bathroom.

From shaving tools to a towel warmer that will straight-up change your life, this is the checklist for a next-level bathroom. 

SEE ALSO: Why every guy should own more than one kind of cologne

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

Soft, luxurious towels are a bathroom essential. You'll appreciate them and your guests will, too. Monogramming is optional, but it's worth the splurge.

Buy the Matouk Marcus Collection Luxury Towels here for $30



When getting out of the shower, you'll want a soft place to put your freshly washed feet. A memory-foam bathmat is the perfect after-shower landing zone, and they come in all shapes and sizes.

Buy the Frontgate Indulgence Memory Foam bathmat here, starting at $35



A great showerhead is the difference between a good morning and a great one. This head, made by Grohe, mimics the pattern of rainfall on your skin for a luxurious wake up.

Buy the Grohe Rainshower Rustic Hand shower here, starting at $135



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Here's how to use Uber, the incredibly easy app that can change your life

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Uber

If you live in a major metropolitan city (and even if you don't), you're likely familiar with Uber. It's an on-demand, ride-hailing service that's available at the tap of a button, bringing a car to your location.

Uber is currently available in 70 countries on six continents in more than 400 cities

But if you've never used it before and want to learn how, have no fear! Here's how to use Uber.

Maya Kosoff wrote a previous version of this article.

Download the app. It's free.

Uber is available in the Apple App Store, Google Play, and in BlackBerry's App World. Mine only has the cloud there because I'm an active Uber user, but it will say "Get" if you're new!



Register for a new account (remember, all of this is free).

Uber makes it incredibly easy for new users to sign up. You'll need to enter your name, email address, phone number, and your credit card information. Don't worry, you aren't paying for anything — yet.



Choose your car type.

Uber has different ride options, each of which fits a different number of people and come with different price tags.

There are three main categories: UberX, UberXL, and Car Seat. UberX will fit four people while UberXL will seat six. The car seat category is self-explanatory. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

5 strategies that will help you figure out your most unique and valuable skills

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woman photographer

How do I find the work only I can do? The work I am uniquely talented at, enjoy, and is rewarded by the marketplace?

I've spent more than a few hundreds of dollars on tests and quizzes and whiled away more than a few hundred hours working out the best way to answer that question.

To the extent I've been successful, I've found five strategies more effective than the rest:

SEE ALSO: I've moved 8 times in the last 5 years — here's 4 proven ways to make friends in a new city

1. Find what you are scared of, and run toward it

"Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance." -Steven Pressfield, The War of Art.

Nothing in my life has been a better indicator of what I should do than finding where an inner resistance is blocking my path and then running toward it.

I've learned that any act which foregoes short-term pleasure in favor of long-term gain will create the feeling of an inner resistance.

That feeling before you make a cold call? The Resistance. The person telling you that you can't launch a new venture or lose another 10 pounds? The Resistance. That expensive qualification you think need before you can do the the work only you can do? Hellooo Resistance.

The only way to overcome it is to run toward it.

As part of my weekly review, the first question I ask is: Did I Move toward my Resistance?

Did I lean into the fear?

Asking this every week help you find out what it is that you are trying to subconsciously avoid, and where the biggest potential for growth lies.



2. Do an anti-productivity productivity day

Marc Andreessen, founder of Netscape and now a well-known venture capitalist, recommends not sticking to a schedule for a whole year. Everyday, pick whatever you most feel like working on when you wake up, and then go work on it.

No schedule, no commitments.

While that's difficult to do for a whole year, it's quite easy to do for one day. I like to schedule at least one Saturday a month as my 'anti-productivity productivity day'.

A friend that runs a high-end web design agency did this experiment a few times, and he always ended up setting up and attending meetings for the entire day with clients or potential partners.

Unsurprisingly, he found out that he is an incredible salesman and speaker, and has seen more growth in his business from speaking and meetings than anything else.

Writing has always been my personal anti-productivity activity — usually around the themes of systems, ritual, and entrepreneurship. Also — reading books. Lots and lots of books.

When you decide to be productive, but can work on anything you want, what do you do? That may be your natural strength talent.



3. Get rid of your least productive activities

As any truly prolific individual will tell you, productivity is an act of subtraction, not addition.

The process of eliminating or outsourcing our least productive tasks makes more space for us as far as what we can achieve in a day, as well as the size of the goals we can aim toward.

At the end of my daily ritual, I ask myself: What's the least productive thing I did today?

While it can be hard to see what you are amazingly good at, it's easier to see what you are bad at and then get that out of your life.

Eventually, you'll only be left with the things you are uniquely good at.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

14 weird jobs you'll be surprised to know exist

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cuddler

It seems as though we can pay people to do anything for us these days: walk our dogs, build our furniture, organize our homes ... cuddle with us when we're feeling lonely.

That's right: You care hire a professional cuddler to snuggle with you for about $60 an hour. You can also pay an "undercover bridesmaid" to stand next to you on your big day, or a professional mourner to cry with you at a loved one's funeral.

Those are just a few of the weirdest jobs we found while compiling our list of the most unusual professionals.

Steven Benna contributed to an earlier version of this article.

Keep scrolling to see all 14.

SEE ALSO: 'Aladdin' Actor Reveals A Typical Day In The Life Of A Broadway Star

Snake milkers extract venom from some of the world's most dangerous snakes, like rattlesnakes and cobras. The extracted venom is often used to create antivenom for hospital or laboratory use, and can be sold for up to $1,000 per gram.

Source: Kentucky Reptile Zoo



Professional bridesmaids are there to assist brides on their big day. Jen Glantz, the cofounder of Bridesmaid for Hire, a company that offers 'undercover bridesmaid' and personal assistant-type services to brides and their wedding parties, charges anywhere from $300 to $2,000 per wedding.

Source: Business Insider



Iceberg mover became a profession after the disastrous sinking of the Titanic in 1912. The International Ice Patrol (IIP), which was founded a year later, is operated by the US Coast Guard. It tracks the location of icebergs and provides safe routes around them. If necessary, the iceberg will be towed out of the area.

Source: The US Department of Homeland Security



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's what the US Navy will look like in the future

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The US Navy of the future is going to look a lot more... automated.

Much like the rest of the military, the Navy is researching and developing new technologies that sometimes take humans out of the driver's seat. That means everything from fully-autonomous ships to drones hiding deep under the ocean.

Tech Insider saw plenty of the Navy's next-generation projects at DARPA's "Demo Day" on May 11. We looked at a blend of projects currently being tested and some that are already out at sea.

The Pentagon is investing heavily in anti-submarine warfare technology of the autonomous variety, which means the solutions will automatically search for subs without humans behind the wheel.



One ship TI saw recently in San Diego before it began sea trials is the "Sea Hunter." It's an Anti-submarine warfare continuous trail unmanned vessel (ACTUV), which stays on the surface and looks for subs.



Once it spots one, it'll report it to the fleet while tracking it from two miles away. Besides not needing an operator, it has incredible range: “This vessel can go from [California] to Hawaii and back," Jerry Dejaco, test director for the US Navy, told TI.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The CEO of real estate startup TripleMint answers 6 of your biggest questions about finding a new home in New York City

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David Updated Headshot Square (1)

Real estate woes are all too common, especially in sought-after cities like New York.

Enter TripleMint, a real estate startup hoping to ease the pain of renting and buying in New York City. TripleMint brings the power of 21st-century search and a customer experience focus to the convoluted universe of old-school agencies, listings, and fees. 

It's a sleek end-to-end property solution, drawing in (and predicting) the full database of available properties. TripleMint then connects potential clients with one of their 30 agents, who are incentivized not by sales — which is the traditional agency approach — but instead by customer experience and satisfaction feedback. The startup will even help out with moving deals.

"TripleMint's platform really powers the whole transaction for buyer, seller, and renter by offering value directly to the consumer," CEO and co-founder David Walker told Business Insider. 

We recently sat down with Walker and TripleMint's head of sales, Tyler Whitman, to get the inside scoop on how to make the right choices around buying and renting in this competitive market.

SEE ALSO: The 21 most expensive houses for sale in the Hamptons

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

1. Where do I start?

The first step is to know what you're looking for: are you a buyer or a renter? If you're new to a city, not sure how long you'll be there, or wondering what you really want out of your living space, renting is a great starting point, Whitman said. 

"Renting gives you the opportunity to test spaces out," Whitman said. Determine your must-haves, whether that's a safe neighborhood, upscale amenities, or low living expenses. If you're renting, you also won't have to worry about maintenance or other more serious, unexpected expenditures.

Buying, on the other hand, has two major perks: first, the potential upside on investment in a hot market is huge.

"If you timed your property right and made the right investments, it can be like the city paid you to live here, instead of vice versa," Whitman said.

For buyers, also determine if this is a primary residence, or if you intend to use it as a source of income. If you're looking to rent it out, that will narrow your search further, as many buildings — like co-ops — won't allow for that setup.  



2. When should I start looking?

For rentals, most properties start cropping up about 30 days before move-in, and they move very, very fast. In Manhattan, inventory is limited and competition is fierce. Vacancy rates can be as low as 1%, Walker said. In fact, it's not even worth it to start looking too far in advance.

"The average shelf life — especially in the summer market — can be less than 24 hours, easily," Whitman said. "Sometimes apartments are listed that morning and rented by lunch."

If you're ready to buy, you'll have a bit more breathing room. Whitman said you want to sit down with an agent about 6 months before your lease ends or you're going to be ready to move in. It takes about 90 days between the time you go into contract and the time you close, and the search itself can go on anywhere from 30 to 60 days.



3. How do I start looking for available properties?

You could go to listing sites: Zillow, Trulia, or even good old Craigslist. You could connect with a particular agent right from the start, who will come up with suggestions for you based on the criteria you present.

Or, said Walker, you could consider starting on a platform like TripleMint. 

"There's a huge issue in real estate that consumers don't even know exists, and that's that most property search sites are actually advertising sites for real estate agencies," he said. TripleMint, by contrast, is a direct feed of the internal broker database, drawing in all available properties and using predictive algorithms to also present properties that are coming to market in the near future. That search through the database is completely free.

TripleMint then connects you with one of their agents, who uses the tracking data from your site searches to get you straight to the properties you like, without having to start again from scratch.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

I tried the smart bra that tracks your workout — here's what it was like

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omsignal smart bra

When I heard the makers of the Ralph Lauren smart shirt created a smart bra, I was intrigued.

Created by OMSignal, the bra measures health metrics like breathing and heart rate. I decided to give it a go.

Here's what it was like:

My smart bra came in a sleek box that contained a little black box. That box on the lower left has an accelerometer, gyroscope, and heart rate monitor to monitor your workout.



The little box clips onto the smart bra via those buttons on the lower right. But the bra itself was pretty uncomfortable.

The version of the bra OMSignal sent me was a design prototype, not a final production version, so it makes sense it wasn't exactly the perfect fit. 

It was supportive enough, but I found it very tight around the lower band. And in general the bra just felt stiff with little give. The clasp was also fairly difficult to close on my own.

A spokesperson from OMSignal, though, said changes have been made after getting feedback from 200 female testers. Those changes include a simpler clasp. The compression has also been altered to be more comfortable.



Still, I wanted to test the thing out! So I created an account with the smart bra app, which compiles all the data collected by the bra. So far so good!



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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

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kelly and curtiss

In October 2014, Kelly Tousley and Curtiss O'Rorke Stedman vowed to quit their jobs, leave their home base in Juneau, Alaska, and see the US by "paying gas, not rent."

The couple bought a 14-by-seven-foot utility trailer and spent the next nine months converting it into what would be their new home for at least a year.

"We're proving we can spend the same amount of money (if not less) traveling across North America, than paying rent in one location," they write on their blog, "Pay Gas, Not Rent."

It's been seven months since they officially hit the road on May 31, 2015. They've been across the country and back, from Alaska to Michigan, down to Florida and around to Colorado, with stops in Ohio, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, and Alabama along the way.

The couple, both 27, spoke to Business Insider about their new lifestyle: What it looks like, the reality of working on the road, and how they afford it:

SEE ALSO: A couple who bought a house for less than $13,000 shares the reality of rehabilitating a home in downtown Detroit

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Before "going tiny," the couple was living and working in Juneau, Alaska. O'Rorke Stedman taught high school English and Tousley worked in social services while completing her masters degree in early childhood special education.

"After four years of being 'professional adults,' we realized we wanted more out of life,"they write on their blog. A passion for travel and desire to live lighter culminated in the plan to build and live out of a 98-square-foot tiny house on wheels.



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Another reason the couple hit the road was so O'Rorke Stedman could pursue his dream of playing music professionally. He says touring full-time has offered him creative freedom that wasn't possible in Juneau, where he could only play on the weekends and during the summer while he wasn't teaching.

His one man band, known as "Cousin Curtiss" blends Americana, blues, pseudo-electronica, and root-stomp sounds.



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When it came time to build the framework of their tiny house, the options were slim.

"We looked into campers and RV's and there was nothing available in Juneau," they tell Business Insider.

Access to Juneau, Alaska's remote capital, is limited. Everything coming in and out must be flown or ferried in, so it would have been incredibly expensive to ship something as large as an RV. "To get anything to us — which would have been an older model of anything — was about $10,000. That instantly limited us."

"We chose to use a utility trailer because it was feasible to build it ourselves,"they write. "Not having any carpenter experience, we didn't trust ourselves to build a custom frame, like other tiny houses you may have seen. We decided to opt out of the van life because we wanted separation from our home. If we decided to camp out somewhere awesome for a week, we wanted the option to park our home and just take the truck."

They found a nearly new utility trailer in Petersburg, Alaska, just south of Juneau, and pulled the trigger.

"Without even seeing the trailer, we bought it for $4,750," they recall.

That was only the beginning. The couple spent the next nine months turning the trailer into their new home.

Above, they're pictured with their dogs Sawyer and Doug.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Fourth-graders have ingenious solutions to the world's biggest problems

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What would happen if we asked kids to solve some of the world's biggest problems — things like hunger, pollution, and homelessness? 

Alex Rappaport, a co-founder of Brooklyn-based education company Flocabulary, wanted to find out. In 2014, along with DUMBO BID, he created Big Idea Week. Each year during the free, week-long program, 1,500 students students in high-need schools across New York City are asked to identify problems and create their own solutions.

The students work with their peers, teachers, and mentors from the community, including myself, to help them with their projects. I started the week at P.S. 120 in Brooklyn talking to 60 fourth-graders about my job as a graphic designer for Tech Insider. The other mentors and I then spent the rest of the week guiding the teams through their ideas, prototyping, and making presentations. At the end of the week they pitched to us, Shark Tank style. 

While there were no investments made, the kids did come up with some imaginative solutions to very real problems happening all around us. I was blown away by the awareness and empathy these nine-year-olds had for their communities and the environment.

These are a few of the highlights: 

This is The Medical Bot. This group of students invented a robot to help people who can't get to a hospital quickly. The robot is able to scan your body to tell what is wrong and then can perform anything from putting on a Band-Aid to giving you stitches.



Another idea for better health was Vita-Ice, ice-cubes made from powder that has vitamins in it. The kids didn't like how their vitamins tasted, so this was their flavorful solution.



This group recognized that kids are eating too much sugar, causing diabetes and cavities. They invented the Fruity Candy vending machine that dispenses fruits and vegetables disguised as candy. Their prototype even had a refrigeration system to keep the food fresh.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

I've lived in New York City for 22 years, and here are my favorite places to eat for less than $20

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Born and raised in Brooklyn for the past 22 years, I have a knack for finding the best cheap eats that are not dingy, hole-in-the-wall restaurants. I love food, and there are plenty of restaurants throughout the city that offer it affordable and good. Living in New York City is expensive enough, but not every meal has to be.

Here are my favoriterestaurants to have a full meal, including a 15% tip — where it applies — for less than $20:

SEE ALSO: One couple fed themselves for 6 months on less than $200 by eating the food no one else wanted

Chive and pork dumplings at Vanessa's Dumplings, Lower East Side

For your dumpling needs, Vanessa's has an amazing selection of fried and steamed dumplings, along with sesame pancakes.

Their best-seller is the pork-and-chives dumplings — four for $1.25 — but you can't miss out on the sesame pancake with Peking duck. Not into pork? They also offer chicken, shrimp, and vegetarian dumplings.

118A Eldridge St.
New York, New York 10002

For more locations, check their website.



Artichoke slice at Artichoke Basille's Pizza, Chelsea

When you're craving a slice that's not your average Margherita, look no further than Artichoke Basille's Pizza. My favorite is their $5 artichoke slice, but they also offer the Staten Island, crab, burnt anchovy, and more.

Though it might seem outrageous to pay $5 for a slice of pizza, this one is a meal in itself. You can find slices at one of three locations in Manhattan — I frequent the Chelsea one.

114 10th Ave.
New York, New York 10011

For more locations, check their website.



Any pasta dish at San Marzano, East Village

Craving fresh pasta and authentic Italian food? Try not to get sucked into the Little Italy joints by eager hosts. Pay a visit to San Marzano instead. You will find fresh pasta made in-house for just $9 a dish. They also have pitchers of sangria for just $15.

117 Second Ave.
New York, NY 10003



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Here are all the jaw-dropping looks from the Cannes Film Festival red carpet

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Bella Hadid Andreas thumb Rentz Getty thumb

It's Cannes time again.

That is, when Hollywood's elite travel to the French Riviera for the industry's most glamorous event of the year: the Cannes Film Festival.

This year, things kicked off with the latest movie from Woody Allen, "Cafe Society," which stars Kristen Stewart, Jesse Eisenberg, and Blake Lively, among others. The premiere also put the sex-abuse allegations against Allen back in the spotlight.

The latest Jodie Foster-directed movie, "Money Monster," starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts, is also in the festival, as is the animated family movie "Trolls," with Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick lending their voices.

Below, see the stars as they walk the historic Cannes red carpet, and how they enjoy their time basking in the French Riviera:

SEE ALSO: The 22 most exciting TV shows this summer you need to see

Model Bella Hadid set the red carpet on fire with this revealing dress that can be pulled off only at Cannes.



The photographers were on their game when she arrived.



Robert De Niro stopped by for the "Hands of Stone" premiere.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

We tried the electronic Chewbacca mask that became the most viral Facebook Live video ever — here's what it's like

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A woman named Candace Payne became an Internet sensation on Friday morning when she posted a Facebook Live video that attracted more than 50 million viewers— the most popular video so far on Facebook Live ever.

Payne went to Kohl's and purchased an electronic Star Wars Chewbacca mask that growls and whimpers when you open your mouth. For nearly four minutes, she cackled with pure joy.

Naturally we had to get our hands on Payne's mask.

With some Googling, we found the mask was available at a local Toys R Us in Manhattan for $28. We purchased it for in-store pickup and used Task Rabbit, a startup that lets you hire local people to run local errands, to pick up our Chewie toy and deliver it to Tech Insider's headquarters in Flatiron.

Culture reporter Kim Renfro unboxed the mask and put it on.

Turns out, Payne was right in her video — the mask is worth every penny.

The Chewbacca mask costs just under $30. You can get it at local toy stores like Toys R Us. Ours cost $24.99

It's sold out nearly everywhere, but there are also some masks floating around on Amazon.



To get our mask to the office, we paid about $30 more for TaskRabbit, a startup that hires local people to run errands for you, to bring it to us. Our Task Rabbit, Kyle, picked up our mask from Toys R Us and delivered it to Tech Insider within an hour.



By 2 p.m., we had Chewbacca's mask in our hands.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's an introduction to the new characters joining 'Thor: Ragnarok'

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More Asgardians are joining Marvel's cinematic universe.

The studio just announced new cast members who will be joining "Thor: Ragnarok," the third "Thor" film.

Those announced were Cate Blanchett, Jeff Goldblum, Tessa Thompson, and Karl Urban. 

"The sheer, raw talent each of these actors brings to the screen can't be quantified," Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige said in a statement. "Having any one of them join the Marvel Cinematic Universe would be an honor, and having all of them is incredible."

The film is set for release November 3rd, 2017.

Here's a quick introduction to the new characters:

SEE ALSO: 47 new TV shows coming in the next year that just got announced

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Two time-Oscar winner Cate Blanchett ("The Aviator,""Blue Jasmine") will play villain Hela, the Asgardian goddess of death, and the daughter of Loki.



She rules over the dead in the realms of Hel and Niffleheim.



Jeff Goldblum ("Jurassic Park") was cast as Grandmaster.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A 2-in-1 mansion belonging to a former World Bank vice president is back on the market for $8 million

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A Washington, DC, mansion belonging to Moeen Qureshi — former interim Prime Minister of Pakistan and a former vice president of the World Bank — is back on the market.

The home, which Qureshi originally purchased as two separate properties and combined into one, has been on and off the market at various listing prices for years. This time, it's listing for $8 million.

It has eight bedrooms, eight full bathrooms, and three half-baths, in addition to staff quarters that house another three bedrooms and two bathrooms. 

In addition to his work with the World Bank, Qureshi also co-founded private-equity firm EMP Global and served in various leadership roles in the International Monetary Fund over a span of 10 years. 

Stewart Coleman, Edward Poutier, Amanda Mitchell, and Douglas Blocker of Coldwell Banker have the listing. 

SEE ALSO: Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein has finally sold his $13 million Hamptons home — take a look inside

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

The Mediterranean-style home is situated on a half-acre lot not far from Embassy Row in Washington, DC.



The S-shaped staircase, marble floors, and chandeliers make for a dramatic entrance.



The 11,478-square-foot home was built in 1927 and renovated in 2001.



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The 10 most inspiring inventors under 18

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Kids are titans of innovation, from the way they play to the way they create. Despite their short tenure on Earth, we should respect their ability to generate great ideas.

In recent years, some of the brightest young minds have come up with cheap and effective ways to purify water, keep perishable medications cold without electricity, and keep elderly family members safe.

These inventions go way beyond macaroni art.

Kylie Simonds — Designed a backpack that lets kids feel stylish while they undergo chemotherapy.

When she was 8 years old, Kylie went to the doctor complaining of a sore throat. In the three years that followed, she received a cancer diagnosis, underwent chemotherapy, emerged as a survivor, and invented a backpack that gives kids like her an alternative to clunky, ugly IV poles.

The young inventor, now 13, has set up a GoFundMe campaign to bring the backpack, which she calls the "i-Pack," to life. The prototype features stabilizing internal rods, a pump, a controller, and a coil to hold the medicine bag.

Kylie received a patent in 2014 for the innovative design after attending the UCONN Invention Convention and winning the "Patent Award," the highest prize available.



Raymond Wang — Invented a cheap way to stop airborne pathogens from spreading on airplanes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a person infected with the flu virus could spread the disease to up to 17 other people on an airplane, mostly through coughing and sneezing.

When Raymond Wang learned that fact in 2014, the high school junior got to work on a device that could minimize the virus' spread.

He's the inventor of the $10 Global Inlet Director — a curved piece of plastic that can redirect the flow of air inside an airplane cabin. When multiple units are installed, they can reduce disease transmission by up to 55 times.

The invention earned Wang the top prize at this year's Intel Science and Engineering Fair, the Gordon E. Moore Award.



Paige Brown — Developed a cheap and effective method for cleaning polluted streams.

Martin, a 17-year-old native of Bangor, Maine, created a device that captures phosphorus from water.

She spent just $3 on materials and managed to extract more phosphorus than would ever conceivably enter a water supply, she tells Tech Insider. The device is made up of a few parts: clumps of gel extracted from seaweed, known as "alginate," which are stuffed inside a claw hair clip, and a block of foam.

The invention earned Martin the the Global Good Prize and $150,000 in college tuition at this year's Intel Science Talent Search (STS). The overwhelming success of the device has inspired her to pursue further research into purification systems when she attends college in the fall.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

How actor, tech entrepreneur, and 'Shark Tank' investor Ashton Kutcher spends his millions

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Ashton Kutcher

Ashton Kutcher wears many hats.

If you know him primarily from films and television, including "Dude, Where's My Car?" and "That '70s Show," it may surprise you to hear that the 38-year-old actor has also become an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and successful venture capitalist in the tech space. He has even appeared on ABC's "Shark Tank."

Read on to see what else the successful former star of the MTV prank show "Punk'd" is up to — and what he's doing with his millions.

SEE ALSO: Ashton Kutcher says the best investment he's ever made is something anyone can afford

Born in downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1978 — minutes ahead of his fraternal twin, Michael — Kutcher comes from humble beginnings. His parents, Larry and Diane, were both factory workers and raised their three kids on a farm.

Source: Biography.com



Kutcher started earning and saving from a young age. His odd jobs included mowing lawns and roofing as well as skinning deer at a meat locker and baling hay. "When I was 13, I saved $1,400 for a snowmobile," he tells Grow. "I worked after school and on weekends for one and a half years, and put every cent into a savings account."

Source: Grow



Kutcher continued working a variety of jobs to pay his tuition at the University of Iowa, where he enrolled in 1997 and planned to major in biochemical engineering. He dropped out and ended up going the modeling and acting route, but his interest in science and technology would resurface years later when he started investing in tech companies.

Source: TechCrunch and Biography.com



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47 new TV shows coming in the next year that just got announced

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lethal weapon fox

Right now in network TV it's time to kick out the old and pray that the new catches on.

The broadcast networks are unveiling their new series for the 2016-2017 seasons this week in an annual event known as upfronts.

At upfronts, the networks present their fall schedules and upcoming new shows to advertisers in order to entice them to spend their commercial dollars.

This year's fleet of new shows has several name actors attached, including Geena Davis, Kiefer Sutherland, Queen Latifah, Dermot Mulroney, and Jennifer Beals.

There's also a host of remakes, sequels, and spin-offs, ranging from Fox's "The Exorcist" and "Lethal Weapon" to CBS's "MacGyver" and NBC's "Emerald City."

Here are the new shows that have just been picked up by the networks:

Note: updated as networks announce decisions and release photos and trailers.

SEE ALSO: Here are your favorite TV shows that are getting renewed for another season

DON'T MISS: 19 TV shows that were just canceled

"24: Legacy" (Fox)

Stars:Corey Hawkins, Miranda Otto, Jimmy Smits, Teddy Sears, Dan Bucatinsky, Anna Diop, Ashley Thomas, Charlie Hofheimer, Coral Pena, and Sheila Vand.

Network synopsis:The series chronicles an adrenaline-fueled race against the clock to stop a devastating terrorist attack on US soil — in the same real-time format that has propelled this genre-defining series.

Expected premiere: After the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 5, then at its normal time Mondays at 8 p.m., midseason 2017

Watch the trailer:

Youtube Embed:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/sOWpUB_Xdqs
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"APB" (Fox)

Stars:Justin Kirk, Natalie Martinez, Ernie Hudson, Taylor Handley, Caitlin Stasey, Tamberla Perry, and Eric Winter.

Network synopsis: After billionaire engineer Gideon Reeves (Emmy Award and Golden Globe nominee Justin Kirk, "Tyrant,""Weeds") witnesses his best friend's murder, he takes over Chicago's troubled 13th District and reboots it as a private police force, challenging the district — including an ambitious, street-smart cop (Natalie Martinez, "Kingdom,""Under the Dome") — to rethink everything about the way they fight crime.

Expected premiere: Mondays at 9 p.m., midseason

Watch the trailer:

Youtube Embed:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/bsbVnrOkcr8
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"Lethal Weapon" (Fox)

Stars:Damon Wayans, Clayne Crawford, Jordana Brewster, Kevin Rahm, and Keesha Sharp.

Network synopsis:Based on the hit movie franchise of the same name, "Lethal Weapon" follows iconic cop duo Riggs and Murtaugh as they work a crime-ridden beat in modern-day Los Angeles. From the moment the brash and impulsive Martin Riggs (Clayne Crawford, "Rectify") meets prudent, by-the-book Roger Murtaugh (Emmy Award nominee Damon Wayans, Sr., "My Wife and Kids,""In Living Color"), it seems as if this partnership is doomed. But after their first case together, both realize this arrangement might just work out after all — but only if Riggs doesn't get them killed first.

Expected premiere: Wednesdays at 8 p.m., fall 2016

Watch the trailer:

Youtube Embed:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/cXZdEmvcFdU
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A CEO explains how to overcome your fear of public speaking

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public speaking

Since the publication of my LinkedIn post on speaking and deepening audience engagement, I  have heard back from a few people who basically said, "All this is well and good, but how can I deepen audience engagement when I have such a fear of public speaking?"

Good point.

Fear of public speaking is not new. There's even a term for it — glossophobia. I can appreciate the feeling – as my staff will tell you, I'm a hive of anxiety just before I give a speech.

My pulse races, I think I am going to forget everything, and, heaven forbid, what if I'm asked a question that I can't answer?!

I'm going to tell you what I tell myself: Get over it. Speaking engagements are great for many reasons; they enhance your professional standing, allow you to showcase your expertise directly to your target market, differentiate you from your competition, and can lead to new business opportunities.

So, with that in mind, here are some tips that not only have helped me overcome speaking jitters, but have assisted my clients as well.

SEE ALSO: 4 powerful public speaking tips from TED curator Chris Anderson

1. Start small

I started my public speaking schedule about ten years ago. My first engagement was at the Science, Industry and Business Library in Manhattan to about 20 attendees who were mostly early-stage entrepreneurs. By starting with a small group, I was able to get acclimated to the role of being a public speaker.

Eventually, I began to address larger audiences at venues such as the 92nd Street Y. This year, I was a keynoter for the first time and spoke at Brown Brothers Harriman’s "Women's Summit," where audience members included managing directors and partners.

Begin at places such as your local library, chamber of commerce, or business group. This will greatly assist you in becoming more comfortable and allow you to polish your speaking skills.



2. Rehearse

The CEO of Ketchum, a global public relations firm where I worked as a vice president before launching my own PR agency, suggested that one rehearse no more than three times. Any more, you may sound stilted, too rehearsed. Any less, and you may overlook potential kinks in your address.

When you rehearse, concentrate on the process. Don't take calls, don't look at your email and don't shoehorn it between meetings. Set aside time in your calendar to solely focus on your presentation. Get comfortable with what you're going to say. Depending on the length of the speech, I usually hold an hour in my schedule for each rehearsal.



3. Stand up

Most of us are seated when rehearsing. However, I strongly suggest you do at least one rehearsal standing up. The majority of speaking engagements require you to stand. Get comfortable talking on your feet. It is a very different feeling than when you're in a chair.



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The 18 best movie sequels that never happened

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the goonies

We've jumped into the summer blockbuster movie season, and that means a whole lot of sequels to be seen.

In an era when it seems every idea in Hollywood has been made into a franchise or rebooted for one, several famous titles missed the boat.

In some cases, the filmmaker moved on to other projects (including franchises). But rumors about potential sequels for a number of these titles are spreading.

Here we rank the 19 movies that we think deserve a sequel.

SEE ALSO: Here are the best-dressed celebrities hitting the Cannes Film Festival red carpet

19. “Unbreakable” (2000)

Following the huge success of "The Sixth Sense," director M. Night Shyamalan combined comic books with the supernatural with this story in which Bruce Willis plays a man who after an accident slowly realizes that he has superhuman powers. 

Though the movie had a poor box-office performance, over the years there have been rumors of a sequel, but they seem to be just that. However, it would be great to see Samuel L. Jackson's character from the movie, Elijah Price (aka "Mr. Glass") fleshed out in a sequel as a villain.

Likelihood of a sequel: Probably not going to happen. Now with the superhero craze studios are looking for ways to bring existing comic book characters to the screen, not ones from an underperforming movie.  



18. “Good Will Hunting” (1997)

Alright, give this one a second to sink in. A sequel to the movie that made Matt Damon and Ben Affleck stars (and Oscar winners) could work.

Have Damon's Will Hunting character return to South Boston and be the one who is the mentor of a troubled teen, while reconnecting with his buddy Chuckie (Affleck). Or we can always go with the idea Kevin Smith teased in "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.

Likelihood of a sequel: Never. Damon and Affleck are on bigger projects and heading franchises like Jason Bourne and Batman to worry about what Will and Chuckie are up to.



17. “True Lies” (1994)

Arnold Schwarzenegger playing a suave secret agent searching for a terrorist while also dealing with the idea that his wife (Jamie Lee Curtis) might be cheating on him had all the makings of a franchise. 

But as the years went on, director James Cameron found less interest, and then the idea finally deflated after the attacks of September 11, 2001. 

Likelihood of a sequel: You can never say never when it comes to Schwarzenegger and Cameron. But with Cameron focused on his "Avatar" franchise, it's unlikely. 



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Here's everything you need to know about 'Overwatch,' one of the biggest games of the year

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overwatch winston

Are you a fan of giant gorilla scientists with guns that shoot lightning? Or robotic ninjas that can scale walls?

I have good news: "Overwatch" is the game for you.

Even if the aforementioned character descriptions didn't pique your interest (which they should), there are so many other reasons why "Overwatch" is a game you should be keeping your eyes on:

"Overwatch" is a chaotic multiplayer shooter where you can play as any of these crazy and totally unique characters:



It's made by Blizzard Entertainment, the same company behind behemoths like "World of Warcraft,""Diablo," and "StarCraft."



"Overwatch" belongs to the "hero shooter" genre, which means that every character has a completely unique set of abilities, allowing players to find a character that perfectly fits their play style.



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