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Trump might make it more difficult to get a Cuban cigar — here's why they're the best

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Cuban cigar farm

Getting a Cuban cigar might become more difficult this week. 

President Donald Trump is expected to announce plans to follow through on his campaign pledge to restate the importance of the 56-year-old trade embargo with Cuba, and ban tourist travel to the country, according to Politico.

In 2016, former President Barack Obama had lifted restrictions on tourists who wanted to take home the souvenir of a Cuban cigar — a prized item to the island.  

Cuba's tobacco production can be compared to Napa Valley's wine culture — it's taken seriously, and some Cuban tobacco farmers have even gained income by hosting international visitors, giving guided tours through the beautiful countryside, and an inside look at how the cigars are produced.

One such farm is the family-run and owned Montesino. Located in Pinar del Rio, a little over an hour west of Havana, the farm is one of Cuba's most renowned tobacco producers. Here's how it makes a fine Cuban cigar.

SEE ALSO: Puerto Rico just voted to become the 51st US state — here are 15 stunning photos that will make you hope that happens

Tobacco plants are generally planted late in the year, and grown for three months before picking it, leaf by leaf.



Tobacco seeds are extremly small, and each plant can produce up to 30 leaves.



Tobacco farmer Raul Valdes Villasusa shows his hands, calloused from years of hard work.



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What happens if you take the pills Bill Cosby described as 'friends to help you relax'

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Bill Cosby Trial

Shortly before Andrea Constand says he sexually assaulted her, Bill Cosby passed her three blue pills that he called "friends to help you relax."

Cosby has said in a deposition that the pills were the allergy medication Benadryl.

Prosecutors at his sexual-assault trial on June 9 suggested there was reason to believe the drugs were something else, The Los Angeles Times reported. In testimony given last year, Cosby acknowledged that decades ago he got seven prescriptions for sedative drugs called quaaludes to give to women he wanted to have sex with.

A toxicologist called to testify by prosecutors last week said both drugs could have sedative effects that would make a user feel foggy-headed or sleepy.

Benadryl versus quaaludes

After Cosby gave Constand the pills at his suburban Philadelphia home in 2004, she says he penetrated her with his fingers against her will. She felt so limp, she said at the deposition, that she could not push him away or tell him to stop. When Constand called Cosby a year later to ask what the drugs he gave her were, she said he told her he didn't have the name on hand.

"He said he would write it down on a piece of paper and mail it to us," Constand said. "He said that he could not see right now the bottle that he wanted to see."

benadrylRegular Benadryl is pink. Only the kind that is marketed for allergies "and sinus" is blue.

In 2005, when Cosby provided police with some of the medication to show that he kept them on hand, the pills he handed over were pink. Montgomery County police officer James Reape, who investigated the case, said on the stand that he "found that to be odd," according to The Times.

Quaaludes, on the other hand, are more powerful sedatives that are now illegal.

By suppressing the central nervous system, quaaludes slow breathing and heart rate, often making users feel relaxed or sedated— effects that are similar to those of modern so-called date-rape drugs like "roofies" or Rohypnol, drugs that did not exist when most of Cosby's accusers say he assaulted them. Most of them can't pursue charges because of statute-of-limitations laws.

After quaaludes were produced in labs in India in 1955, doctors in the UK began prescribing them to patients who had trouble sleeping. Quaaludes didn't hit peak popularity in the US until the 1970s — people at dance clubs who took them called them "disco biscuits." Ten years later, the drugs were outlawed after they were found to be dangerous and potentially deadly.

On June 9, the forensic toxicologist Timothy Rohrig testified for the prosecution that Constand's symptoms could have been linked to several drugs, including quaaludes and Benadryl, according to The Times.

"Most people think of [Benadryl] as an antihistamine … but one of the actions is it can cause significant sedation," Rohrig said. Prosecutors then asked if the drugs could be strong enough to be used with criminal intent.

"It has been used in a drug to facilitate sexual assault," Rohrig said.

In February, the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center warned the public about the increasing prevalence of predators using Benadryl to incapacitate their victims, describing a mixture that people had created as a "Benadryl Cocktail."

The jury in the Cosby trial is deadlocked. If it can't reach a verdict, it will result in a mistrial.

SEE ALSO: Drug deaths in America are rising faster than ever before, and show no signs of slowing down

DON'T MISS: Bill Cosby has been charged — here's what happens if you take the drug he said he obtained for sex

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Popular new drug flakka is causing hallucinations and violent outbursts across Florida

25 books that will blow your mind

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a clockwork orangeThe best books have the potential to stick with you long after you've finished them. Some can even affect how you look at the world.

We've put together a list of 25 such books — taking inspiration from Amazon's list of 100 books to read in your lifetime, recommendations from Goodreads users, as well as some of our own personal favorites. 

These books' exploration of politics, history, and the human condition are so insightful, they've withstood the test of time.

The next time you're looking for a riveting read, consider picking up one of these 25 mind-blowing books. 

Talia Avakian contributed reporting to an earlier version of this article.

SEE ALSO: The 13 most over-the-top billionaire toys

"1984" by George Orwell

First published in 1949, George Orwell’s account of a chilling future is a timeless read.

His book is where the idea of Big Brother originated, and his messages of a restrictive government remain as insightful today as they did when they were originally written more than 60 years ago. 

Orwell presents readers with a vision of a haunting world that remains captivating from beginning to end. 

Buy the book here »



"Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley

Huxley's masterpiece is a powerful work of speculative fiction where "World Controllers" create the ideal society.

While most society members are content with a world where genetic engineering, brainwashing, and recreational pleasures meet all their needs, one newcomer longs to break free. 

Huxley's enthralling tale takes readers through a frightening and thought-provoking take on society.

Buy the book here »



"Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley

"Frankentein" tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a doctor who brings a creature to life, only to recoil at how hideous it is. 

Left tormented and in isolation, the innocent creature turns on his creator in this eloquent Gothic thriller, which touches the hearts of readers with its messages of the dangers of science and human judgment.

Buy the book here »



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Coconut oil's health benefits are a myth — here's what you should buy instead

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coconut oil

Most of us are familiar with those "health" foods that we've heard about on the news or seen health-conscious friends eat — almond milk, agave nectar, granola.

But many of these items aren't actually as good for you as you might assume.

Coconut oil is one of the latest in a handful of recent health food trends that nutritionists and registered dietitians wish never happened.

The American Heart Association recently updated its guidelines on fats to include the recommendation that people avoid saturated fats — which are primarily found in things like butter, beef, and coconut oil. While it acknowledges that the majority of saturated fats in the American diet come from animal products, it says that plant products like palm and coconut oil can contain saturated fats as well.

In terms of calorie and fat content, coconut oil is virtually identical to olive oil. But as opposed to a tablespoon of olive oil, which has just one gram of saturated fat, the same amount of coconut oil has 12 grams.

The AHA says the high saturated fat content in animal products like butter and coconut oil can raise levels of unhealthy "bad" cholesterol. Experts suggest avoiding saturated fats because they've been linked with high cholesterol and a risk of Type 2 diabetes.

So in this case, it's best to stick to the classics. And olive oil is an all-around winner.

SEE ALSO: Why exercise isn't the key to weight loss — and what you should do instead

DON'T MISS: A new show features ‘Biggest Loser’ winners who regained weight — and reveals a deeper truth about weight loss

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: You're eating a lot of fake, rotten olive oil — here's how to find the real stuff

Trump might make it more difficult to travel to Cuba — here are 19 gorgeous photos of what it's like there

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Cuba

President Donald Trump is expected to announce plans to follow through on his campaign pledge to restate the importance of the 56-year-old trade embargo with Cuba, and ban tourist travel to the country, according to Politico.

In 2016, former President Barack Obama had lifted restrictions on tourists who wanted to take home the souvenir of a Cuban cigar — a prized item to the island.  

Commercial flights are currently freely going in and out, and it's becoming a viable vacation destination for those who can qualify to travel there. 

Here's a look at daily life on the once-restricted island, which will enter its tourist high season in December.

SEE ALSO: How a real Cuban cigar is made, shown in 13 gorgeous photos

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

From Havana's National Museum of Fine Arts to the smaller art markets in the streets, tourists can find beautiful and colorful art all across the city.



Soccer games are played everywhere, even in the street.



Cubans are known for their love of vintage cars.



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There's a lesson anyone can learn from couples who are in arranged marriages

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Rain wedding couple married

At my friends' wedding a few years ago, the officiant shared some thoughts on what it really means to love someone.

Love, he said, is a commitment. There will be mornings when the kids are screaming, and the dog needs to be let out, and your partner is hogging the bathroom, and you're not exactly feeling "in love" — and still, you stay with your partner because you've agreed to love them.

It was hardly the most romantic image he could have painted, and maybe that's why it's stuck with me since then. I thought about his words again this week, when I spoke with Pamela Regan, a psychologist at California State University, Los Angeles who studies romantic relationships.

Regan and her colleagues published a paper in 2012 with findings that surprised even them. After comparing Indian-American individuals who were in arranged and love-based marriages, they'd found no difference between the two groups when it came to commitment, love, or marital satisfaction.

Regan was careful to caveat that all participants in her (relatively small) sample were educated and highly assimilated to life in the United States. The same findings might not generalize to people of different socioeconomic status, living in other countries.

But that research helped shape her view on relationships today:

"I think of [relationships] as being on a sea, like waves. They go up; they go down. Things like passion, things like desire, things like romantic love and satisfaction — the good stuff, the positive, the warm fuzzies that we seek to find in our relationship — these things aren't absolutes. They're not there or not. They are more or less, depending upon the day."

It's something that couples in arranged marriages probably understand, she said. Presumably, they don't feel much passion, desire, or romance at all when they first meet their partner — but they know that those feelings can develop.

couple kissing oceanIndeed, research by the psychologist Robert Epstein and colleagues found that love does grow over time in arranged marriages.

Regan suggested that it's easy to leave or give up on a relationship prematurely. She's not advocating that people stay in unhappy or unfulfilling relationships — there's no shame in calling it quits.

But if you and your partner are having a rough day, or even a rough few months, that doesn't mean there's something wrong with your relationship. It's worth remembering that sea metaphor.

If you hold fast to the belief that, "when I find the right person, I will always be happy; I will feel passionate desire for this person always," she said, you're pretty much "doomed to disappointment because life isn't like that."

Again, it's not the most romantic insight. It's easy to believe that your relationship will be different — the one where the spark doesn't fade over time, as psychologists say it almost always does.

Because arranged marriages tend to be more about the needs of the families than the individuals, Regan said, people generally stay in the relationship.

Obviously, this isn't always a good thing — but what those couples know that everyone else could use to learn is: "Even when maybe passion isn't very high, they don't leave. And what they may find is that it comes back."

SEE ALSO: 15 relationship facts everybody should know before getting married

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's how you can use math to find your soul mate — and why we're so resistant to that idea

11 life questions to answer before you turn 30

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man thinking

Over on Quora, there are multiplethreadsdevoted to existential quandaries everyone should be pondering.

We're not talking, "What's the meaning of life?" so much as, "What do I want to achieve in my lifetime?"

Some of these questions — none of which have easy answers or right answers — are key to consider during young adulthood.

Below, we've highlighted 11 questions you'll want to start thinking about today. They'll help you gain clarity about the kinds of jobs, relationships, and life dreams you should be chasing.

SEE ALSO: 10 things to try before you're 30

If I were to die tomorrow, would I feel satisfied with my life?

At this point in your life, you may assume you've got decades ahead. Hopefully, you're right.

Still, that's no reason to put off personal fulfillment until later. Make the necessary changes today.

As Quora user Matthew Jones writes, "If you're dissatisfied with your life as it is right now, spending time re-evaluating how you manage your time is important. There are no certainties in life and there may not be a tomorrow, so while setting long-term goals and planning for the future is important, you need to find a way to soak up life."



What is my unique value proposition?

Nicolas Cole writes: "This is the fancy, adult way of saying, 'What can only I do?' In business, there is always a lot of talk about 'value proposition.' What are you proposing and how much value will it bring?"

It's similar to a question from Fred Landis: "Is there anything I can do easily that others find hard?"

Once you uncover your unique value proposition or talent, you can work on becoming an expert in that area. As A.J. Agrawal writes at Inc.: "Have three to four news outlets that specialize in your value proposition, and make sure you take time to read them every day. Start sharing articles on your social media, and then begin blogging or writing articles about the subject. Over time, more and more people will recognize you as an expert in your field."



Who inspires me most?

Sanchit Jain highlighted this question, originally featured in Relevant Magazine:

“Think about the one person you most want to emulate. Who is it? Now what is it about their story or character that draws you to them? Write down the words that come to mind. The person you want to be like the most tells you a lot about who you hope to become.”



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

9 famous quotes that people get wrong

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Leo 4x3

Wordsmiths like Shakespeare and Robert Frost loved their sarcasm.

But when you take comments out of context, they can mean the exact opposite of the author's intention.

That hasn't stopped people from spouting famous lines, many from classic literature, however they see fit.

We created a list of some frequently used quotes that people just don't understand.

SEE ALSO: The 3 books Stanford is asking incoming freshman to read over the summer

1. 'Money is the root of all evil.'

Not really. The love of money is the root of all evil, according to Timothy 6:10 from the King James Bible. 



2. 'I took the road less traveled.'

In Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken," he tries to decide which of two paths he should take. He looks down one but chooses the second, "just as fair" and "worn really about the same."

If you read the entire poem, the last stanza regales how he'll say "with a sigh" that his decision "made all the difference." In reality, Frost arbitrarily chose his path, which didn't matter in the long run. Today most people use the quote as evidence of "forging your own path."



3. 'Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo?'

In most high school adaptations of Shakespeare's well-known play, Juliet raises a hand to her furrowed brow, searching for her lover from a balcony. But "wherefore art" doesn't mean "where." It means "why." Juliet questions why fate made Romeo a Montague, her family's sworn enemy.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Martha Stewart says millennials are driving the the biggest change in interior design today — and it has nothing to do with millennial pink

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Martha Stewart

As millennials upturn industries and attempt to claim the color pink, Martha Stewart says there's one way that the generation is contributing to the biggest change in home decor today. 

"I think kids — when I say kids, I mean anybody from like 40 down — nobody wants a lot of stuff," Stewart told Business Insider.

Gone are the superfluous knick-knacks and elegant carved chairs ("I don't even know if they know what Chippendale is," Stewart said). Instead, millennials are embracing a "more edited" style for their Instagram-able homes. 

While some experts have said that Trump is ushering a "more is more" take on home decor in America, Stewart disagrees. 

"I don't think they have the instinct to get a lot of of tchotchkes," Stewart said. 

Minimalism has been the biggest trend in interior design for the last few years, from budget brands like Ikea to more pricey options such as Room & Board. Lifestyle gurus have made careers out of preaching the gospel of living simply with minimal surroundings, such as Marie Kondo, who encourages fans to throw away everything except what is essential and gives you joy. 

afternoon nap 🔜

A post shared by millennial pink (@millennialpink) on Jan 24, 2017 at 10:40am PST on

However, there's one thing that Stewart says millennials "absolutely" can't claim credit for — millennial pink, a specific shade of pink that recently peaked in popularity. 

"I have a pink, millennial bed room in East Hampton," Stewart, who is "of course" familiar with the shade, said. "My whole bedroom is pink! Linens, I have pink towels, and my daughter has pink velvet sofas."

In other words, millennials may be to blame for minimalism, but Martha knows all about millennial pink.  

SEE ALSO: Norwegian teens celebrate a bizarre month-long holiday full of drinking, sex, and wild dares — here's what it's like

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Why almost every pair of jeans has a zipper that says 'YKK'

10 common mistakes that will kill your dating life

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master of none dev rachel

For a single person, there are few experiences more frustrating than having someone break things off without explaining why. One day you two are really vibing; the next you get a "let's just be friends" text.

We're not promising to have uncovered the reason why things went south with the object of your affection. But it's worth checking out the list below to see if perhaps you've been guilty of any of these unappealing behaviors.

To compile said list, we asked a panel of dating and relationship experts to tell us about the biggest turn-offs in budding relationships. Some have to do with your physical appearance; some have to do with the way you treat the other person.

Read on to learn about some potentially huge obstacles standing between you and true love. And if you're getting paranoid, remember: most of these things are easily fixable.

SEE ALSO: 12 things that can make you less attractive, according to science

Bad self-care habits

Examples include bad breath, body odor, terrible hygiene, and lack of etiquette.

"These are qualities that are seen early in the dating process," said Dr. Terri Orbuch (PhD), relationship expert, Oakland University professor, and author of "Finding Love Again: 6 Simple Steps to a New and Happy Relationship." "They are obvious right away."

"They turn people off because they seem simple to attend to or address. It doesn't take that much effort to have good hygiene. And people infer that the bad self-care habits infer something about the person's habits in a relationship.

"The potential partner can't or doesn't have the time/effort/inclination to take care of him/herself — why then would they have the care/effort/inclination to put forth with someone else?!"



Criticizing or trying to control the other person

"People don't like being told what to do," Orbuch said, "particularly at the beginning of a relationship — and to do that at the beginning seems too self-centered and ego-oriented.

"Also, negativity and criticizing you at the beginning isn't what people are attracted to. In general people are attracted to the opposite — positivity, optimism, and giving compliments!"



Emotional neediness

"We don't like constantly having to support someone who's not available to support us," said Hal Runkel, marriage and family therapist and author of "Choose Your Own Adulthood."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

8 morning rituals that are hard to adopt but will pay off forever

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morning job run beach exercise

The early birds will inherit the earth.

At least that's what a 2009 University of Leipzig study found. The researchers concluded that "morning people were more proactive than evening types."

But being an effective early riser isn't just about waking up before everyone else. It's about putting yourself in a positive mindset and getting important things done before everyone else.

So there's no point in setting your alarm clock at a crazy-early time if you're just going to zone out in front of the television for a bit before slouching off to work.

To start your day right, you've got to get into some good habits.

Following are eight morning rituals that may seem hard to adopt but will ultimately help you reap major rewards, if you stick with them.

SEE ALSO: I tried waking up at 4 a.m. every day like Pepsi CEO Indra Nooyi, but I ended up creating a perfect morning routine for myself

DON'T MISS: I followed Benjamin Franklin's daily schedule for a week, and the most rewarding part was also the most difficult

Wake up painfully early

Sorry, night owls. It's time to adapt.

In a poll of 20 executives cited by Laura Vanderkam, a time-management expert and the author of "What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast," 90% said they wake up before 6 a.m. on weekdays. PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, for example, wakes at 4 and is in the office no later than 7. Disney CEO Bob Iger gets up at 4:30 to read. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey is up at 5:30 to go jogging.

Yes, this might sound awful, but if you get to sleep earlier, that'll numb the pain of such early wake-ups over time. The bottom line: Productive mornings start with early wake-up calls.



Start the day right with exercise

Yeah, there are superhumans among us who crave that pre-sunrise workout (that, or they're just really good liars). Still, for everyone else, waking up at the crack of dawn to sweat and get sore probably doesn't sound ideal.

But the morning is probably the ideal time to exercise. By starting your day with exercise, you'll prevent yourself from putting it off.

Think about it this way: If some of the busiest people in the world can find time to workout, so can you. For example, Vanderkam notes that Xerox CEO Ursula Burns schedules an hourlong personal-training session at 6 a.m. twice a week.

US President Barack Obama starts out each day with strength and cardio training while Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey does three repetitions of a seven-minute workout, Anisa Purbasari reported for Business Insider.

"These are incredibly busy people," says Vanderkam. "If they make time to exercise, it must be important."



Eat a decent breakfast

Skip the cereal and whip yourself up a breakfast with protein. As Entrepreneur reported, it's better to kick off the day with some eggs than digging into carbs. Everyone's busy. It might seem difficult to find the time to cook a whole meal in the morning, but it'll energize you and help keep your appetite in check.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Kids tell us what they think the most important job in the world is

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We asked kids what they think the most important job in the world is. While many agreed that the president is one of the most important jobs, others mentioned police officers, medical professionals, and people who recycle.

Join the conversation about this story »

28 photos of ripped Wall Streeters testing their physical limits at the most intense competition out there

In less than 10 minutes, this powerful $400 hair dryer gave me the best hair of my life

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Dyson Supersonic

The hair care space isn't one that's seen much tech innovation since handheld hair dryers went mainstream in the 1950s.

While there are flashy new products from time to time, most of us settle for the same-old, same-old: Gadgets that may help us look our best, but are a total pain to use.

So I jumped at the chance to test out the Dyson Supersonic, a $400 hair dryer that looks like something used in outer space. This product is said to be extremely powerful, super-fast, and capable of much more than turning my hair from wet to dry. 

Not only did the Supersonic live up to my expectations, it went above and beyond. Here's what using it was like:

SEE ALSO: Amazon Prime members can upload their outfits and get a fashion expert's opinion — here's what it's like to use in person

Overcoming the sticker shock

The Supersonic is Dyson's first foray into hair care. The company is predominantly known for its powerful and expensive vacuum cleaners, but it also makes hand dryers, lighting, and air purifiers. 

Let's get over the biggest hurdle first: Yes, the Supersonic costs $400. 

It's very difficult to get over the price tag. I'm almost positive I paid $18 at the drug store for my last hair dryer, and even a "nice" hair dryer costs in the $50-$100 range. Spending $400 seems absurd, and maybe it is. 

But if you're someone with challenging hair, or just someone who uses a hair dryer every day of your life, is it that crazy to invest?

After using the Dyson for a few weeks, I can definitively say yes. 



Powerful yet quiet

The dryer is small and lightweight — about the general shape and size of a rubber mallet or maybe a meat tenderizer. Compared to current hair dryers, that alone is revolutionary: there's no long snout and no extra weight to hold up while trying to dry the back of your head. 

There are four heat settings and three fan settings, and the dryer comes with three interchangeable nozzles: A diffuser, a smoothing nozzle, and a concentrator, all of which snap onto the end with magnets. And the dryer itself is made out of a soft-to-the-touch material that looks and feels luxurious. 

 



The first thing I noticed when turning it on is that there's no slow ramp up or power down like other dryers. When you turn it on, you're immediately hit with the full force of the air, and when you shut it off, it's immediately silent. The Supersonic has 1,600 watts of power and an airflow of 85 cubic feet per minute (To give you some perspective, a typical Shop-Vac runs at 120 CFM. This thing is powerful). 

The other difference from other dryers is the sound: It's incredibly quiet for such a powerful machine and the frequency is different. I was able to use the dryer in the morning without bothering my sleeping roommates. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's everywhere Obama has traveled since leaving the White House

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Former President Obama has been globe-trotting for the past five months.

After leaving office in January, Obama traveled to Palm Springs with his wife, Michelle, before heading to entrepreneur Richard Branson's private Necker Island.

He made a quick pit stop in his home state of Hawaii, then flew to French Polynesia to check in to The Brando, an exclusive island resort that can only be reached by boat or by two-engined Air Tetiaroa planes. It was here that the Obamas were pictured aboard billionaire David Geffen's yacht, alongside Bruce Springsteen, Tom Hanks, and Oprah Winfrey. 

In May, Barack headed to Europe to deliver a speech at the Food Innovation Summit in Milan. Afterward, he was joined by Michelle for a six-day vacation in Tuscany. 

Obama has since traveled around Europe on business for the Obama Foundation. 

Check out the map below to see exactly where he has been:

Obama map

SEE ALSO: The Obamas have been touring the world since leaving the White House — here's where they've been so fa

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The Obamas just shelled out $8.1 million for the DC mansion they've been renting since leaving the White House


12 words you're probably mispronouncing

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Sherbet 4x3

The English language is hard. But sometimes people just flat out mispronounce words. 

Take a look, for example, at the 11 words below. We bolded the emphasized syllable and included links for audio (click the word to listen).

While some words have multiple acceptable pronunciations, the audio links include the standard pronunciation.

The true pronunciations might surprise you.

1. comptroller

(noun): a person in charge of the financial accounts of a company or organization

The standard pronunciation is the same as "controller."

This word began as a variant of "controller," with influence from an unrelated French word, "compte," meaning "an account."

2. kibosh

(noun): something that serves as a check or stop; "put the kibosh on that"

The standard pronunciation is "ky-bosh," not "kih-bosh."

Charles Dickens' "Sketches by Boz" gave us the first written example in 1836. He spelled the word, possibly phonetically, as "kye-bosk."

3. sherbet

(noun): a frozen sweet dessert made from fruit or fruit juices

Many say "sher-bert," though there's no second "r" — not even a silent one. It's not to be confused with "sorbet" (sor-bay), which contains no milk. Sherbet does.

4. mischievous

(adjective): showing a playful desire to cause trouble

The standard pronunciation is "mis-chiv-us," not "mis-chee-vee-us."

This mispronunciation also lends itself to spelling errors. When people add the extra syllable, they often add an "i" and incorrectly write "mischievious."

5. prestigious

(adjective): having prestige, honored

The preferred pronunciation is "pre-sti-jus," not "pre-stee-jus."

6. banal

(adjective): boring or ordinary, not interesting

Standard pronunciation is "buh-nal," not "bay-nul."

7. peremptory

(adjective): used to describe a command you must obey without question or excuse

It's pronounced "pe-remp-tory," not "pre-emp-tory."

When people pronounce "peremptory" as "preemptory," they're probably mistaking it for another adjective entirely: "preemptive," which means "done to stop an unwanted act from another group from happening." 

8. Realtor

(noun): used for a real estate agent who is a member of the National Association of Realtors

It's pronounced "real-ter," not "real-a-tor."

Latin links "real" and "estate" together, but Realtor was created, capitalized, and trademarked to describe brokers who are members of the national association, according to Robert Willson, an English professor turned real estate agent.

Willson speculates that the mispronunciation comes from metathesis, or transposing certain letters within words. Saying "aks" for "ask" is another common example.

9. cache

(noun): a hiding place; a part of a computer's memory where information is kept

It's pronounced exactly the same as "cash." 

Some confuse "cache" with "cachet" ("cash-ay"), which means "carrying great prestige."

10. supposedly

(adverb): claimed to be true or real

This mispronunciation involves two words: "supposedly" and "supposably."

The first is usually the one most people want to use, while the second means "capable of being supposed." It's a slight distinction but an important one.

11. triathlon

(noun): an athletic contest that is a long-distance race consisting of three phases (such as swimming, bicycling, and running)

Most people add an extra syllable to this word. It is pronounced "tri-ath-lon" not "tri-ath-a-lon."

12. niche

(noun): a job, activity, etc., that is suitable for someone

There are three acceptable pronunciations here: "nich," "neesh," and "nish." 

English borrows the word from French, in which the correct pronunciation is "neesh." Over time, we've Americanized the word to sound like "nich," now considered the preferred pronunciation.

Some dictionaries, such as Merriam-Webster, even list the third pronunciation.

Christina Sterbenz contributed to a previous version of this story.

SEE ALSO: Tony Robbins says intelligence alone won't help you create an extraordinary life

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The best steakhouse in every state

The chef of the best restaurant in the world reveals the keys to making the perfect spaghetti marinara

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Daniel Humm is the chef of the best restaurant in the world, Eleven Madison Park. Humm believes everyone should know how to make the perfect spaghetti with tomato sauce. Following is a transcript of the video.

I think chefs are very, pretty basic people. You know, simple. We get — we're happy when we have some good bread or a good pasta or you know what I think my go-to restaurants are, are either Italian or Japanese. I think that's kind of where I go. Yeah.

I'm Daniel Humm and I'm the chef and co-owner of Eleven Madison Park, The NoMad, and Made Nice.

One of my favorite dishes is spaghetti with tomato sauce. Very simple but, you know, it's all about the slow roasting of the tomatoes. I use a little bit of anchovies in my sauce and ... and then there's some fresh tomatoes but there's also some canned tomatoes. And the best ones are the San Marzano. And some onions and then just cook the spaghetti just right you know nice al dente. And, and I use some fresh basil in the end but I love, I love the simple recipes because you get to perfect them over and over again. And they might seem simple but there's so many moments where you either make it really great or you can kind of go wrong.

I love the spaghetti, the dried spaghetti because they're nice al dente, you know?

I love to cook at home and I like to be at home because we're running around so much that sometimes it's nice to really find that peace in your own four walls, you know? And definitely pasta is a go to. Salads are a go to. Sometimes you order in as well when you're really lazy. But, no, it's nice to cook at home and, and being at home for sure.

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Here's how to create your own custom fragrance at a 'Scentarium'

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We visited the Scentarium to have a 1-on-1 custom fragrance workshop with owner and expert perfumer Sue Phillips. Following is a transcript of the video. 

Sue Phillips: Perfumery is both an art and a science.

So the quiz will help you determine what fragrance family you like. Many people say they love fragrance but they really don’t know what type of fragrance they like. What type of message would you like to impart when you wear fragrance? Would you like something fresh and clean or smoky and sophisticated or … ?

Business Insider: I think I’d like to try something smoky and sophisticated.

SP: Really?

Fragrance ingredients are found in nature and now in the lab. There are plants such as beautiful petals. Do you know where musk comes from? So, when the deer or the civet cat gets a little frisky, shall we say, they make certain secretions. How or why those perfumers found those secretions, we’re not going to go there, but they did. Today, we don’t use anything from animals in modern day perfumery.

Not too many men, American men, like florals, but what’s interesting is a lot of European men really happen to love florals. We had the top notes, we had the middle notes, now we’re starting on the deeper, the more sort of long-lasting, warm …

BI: So these are kind of like the aftertastes?

SP: Yes, we call them the dry down. So go back through your list and see which ones you like. And what does it remind you of? Does it remind you of anything? Does it remind you of a childhood memory or somebody you want to be? It’s really a question of self-expression, so why wear what everybody else wears when you can really create your own?

 

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The healthiest lettuces and leafy greens for you, ranked

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sweetgreen strawberry field

When it comes to the leafy greens you put in your salads, not all are created equal.

So which leaves and lettuces should you use in your salad to justify the croutons, bacon, and tasty dressing you add?

We're here to help you find the most nutritious ones.

In the past rankings, we've relied on  the CDC's 2014 list of "powerhouse foods". But this time, we factored in how many nutrients (specifically potassium, fiber, protein, riboflavin, niacin, folate, B6, calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamins A, C, and B6) the greens pack per calorie. 

Of course, none of the veggies on this list are bad for you, and you won't necessarily be worse off for picking one over another. With that said, here are the healthiest greens for your salads. 

SEE ALSO: RANKED: The 17 most nutritious berries for you

DON'T MISS: Not all condiments are created equal — here are the best and worst ones for you

12. Arugula (sometimes called rocket)

Arugula's distinct peppery taste doesn't quite correlate with a high nutritional content. While it does have some vitamins, it lacks in other nutrients that other greens boast.

Calories per cup: 6



11. Iceberg lettuce

It's no surprise that iceberg lettuce is among the least nutritious greens to put in a salad. In fact, Chick-fil-A has even banned the veggie from its stores, allegedly because of its low nutritional value. Iceberg lettuce has about only 7% of your daily vitamin A per cup, and only 3% of daily vitamin C — among the lowest on this list.

Calories per cup: 10



10. Radicchio

Radicchio is a member of the chicory family. It's also packed with vitamin K, containing more than 100% of your daily value.

Calories per cup: 9



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