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A drone captured these shocking photos of inequality in Mexico's biggest city

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johnny miller unequal scenes mexico city 13

Greater Mexico City is home to over 21 million people, making it the biggest metropolitan area in the western hemisphere and the largest Spanish-speaking city in the world.

But the region is deeply divided between the haves and have-nots.

A mere four multimillionaires account for 9% of the country's GDP, according to a 2015 report by international aid organization Oxfam. For comparison, nearly half of the population lives under the poverty line. The wealth gap has widened in recent years.

In 2016, photographer Johnny Miller set out to capture Mexico City's inequality from above. The images, taken by a consumer drone, show the contrast as rarely seen before.

Miller shared his work from the Thompson Reuters Foundation series, Slumscapes, with us. You can check out more on his project website, Unequal Scenes.

SEE ALSO: A drone captured these shocking photos of inequality in South Africa

Mexico City is a bustling metropolis that sits atop a dried lakebed. The region once served as the heartland of the Aztec Empire, until the Spaniards conquered it in the 16th century.



There are reminders of its ancient history in street names and festivals. But in many ways, Mexico City is not unlike many US cities, with its triple-decker highways and skyscrapers.



One thing sets it apart. Mexico's capital city is one of the most unequal cities in the world.



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Inside the 'paparazzi-proof' building where celebrities are buying penthouses for millions

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It's common practice for high-end condo buildings to tout all kinds of amenities to attract buyers. But 443 Greenwich, a luxury building in the Tribeca neighborhood of New York, claims to have an entirely different perk: it's apparently "paparazzi-proof." 

While the building's management can't comment on the identity of its residents, it has been reported that the building's "paparazzi-proof" architectural features — such as its lower-level parking and interior courtyard garden — have proved attractive to clients who value their privacy.

Recently, actor Jake Gyllenhaal is said to have purchased a $8.63 million three-bedroom unit in the building, joining rumored neighbors like actress Rebel Wilson, singer Harry Styles, and Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel. Other big names like Jennifer Lawrence, Ryan Reynolds, and Blake Lively have reportedly also bought property there. Earlier this year, actor Mike Myers purchased a $14.65 million loft in the building, but just a week later, he put it back on the market. It later sold for $14 million.

As for the eight penthouses, one is still available for $55 million. Prices for the available lofts range from $3.9 million to $14.5 million.

Ahead, take a look inside one of the building's gorgeous four-bedroom condos.  

SEE ALSO: Stunning vintage photos show how Americans in every state spend their downtime

Built in 1882, the 443 Greenwich building was originally a book bindery. Today, it's a landmarked building with 53 residential condominiums, including eight penthouses.



Calling itself "paparazzi-proof," the building's privacy has been a big draw for celebrity buyers. Actress Rebel Wilson is said to have recently purchased a two-bedroom unit for $2.95 million.

Source: WWD



One of the building's major privacy-geared benefits is its lower-level lobby and parking space, guarded by wrought-iron gates. The building has on-site valet parking.



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8 things successful people do after getting back from vacation

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Coming back from a magical vacation isn't much fun.

One minute, you're lounging by the sparkling, blue sea without a care in the world. The next, you're back in your gray cubicle, jet-lagged and sunburned.

But your transition back to the office doesn't have to be a total nightmare. In fact, there are certain steps you can take on your first day back that'll make the whole process much easier.

With some simple strategizing, you'll get back into your usual work groove in no time:

DON'T MISS: 12 signs you desperately need a vacation from work

DON'T MISS: 7 things successful people do the night before a vacation

Get an early start

If you want to ease back into work, you've got to prepare.

"Get to bed early the night before, and get in a little early," Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job," tells Business Insider. "That will mitigate the workload avalanche and give you a head start, sans distraction."



Don't stretch yourself thin

Don't schedule a ton of meetings and deadlines during your first day back. That'll just leave you feeling overwhelmed and behind on your work.

"Ideally, try and keep your first day back schedule-free from any meetings or appointments — keep it as open as possible so that you have the entire day free to catch up and not feel overwhelmed," Michael Kerr, an international business speaker and author of "The Humor Advantage," tells Business Insider.

Kerr recommends strategizing before you begin your day: "Take several minutes to plan your day before diving in, focus on priorities, and don't be afraid to ask for support."

If you're facing an avalanche of work, try prioritizing your tasks, Taylor says:

"Handle emergencies first. Decide what's most important to your job, your boss, and your project list. Look at the big picture, not what comes to you sequentially. Learn to say 'no' to low priority items hurled your way."



Get caught up

Before diving back in to individual emails and projects, Ryan Kahn, a career coach, founder of The Hired Group, and author of "Hired! The Guide for the Recent Grad," tells Business Insider that it's important to get a broad idea of how things were while you were gone.

"Figure out if there were any major events or changes that occurred," he says. "This way, you'll be generally up to speed before diving in deep into the day-to day details of your work."



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AOL cofounder Steve Case is selling a $49.5 million estate where Jackie O. once lived

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1 Merrywood

AOL cofounder Steve Case and his wife, Jean, have put their McLean, Virginia, home up for sale for $49.5 million.

According to the Washington Post, the Cases are not the first notable figures to have owned the estate, which dates back to 1919. Dubbed Merrywood, it was also the childhood home of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. 

In addition to sweeping views of the Potomac River, Merrywood has nine bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, and some 23,000 square feet of space. 

Case is also the CEO of the VC firm Revolution.

Let's take a look around. 

SEE ALSO: Meet the rich and powerful people who live on 'Billionaire Lane' in the Hamptons

Merrywood is set on a seven-acre lot in McLean, Virginia.



It offers sweeping views of the Potomac River.



The home has four floors of living space, which can be accessed via this staircase or by elevator.



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Why you should stop eating 'stripped carbs,' according to a doctor

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White bread, white rice, and most breakfast cereals have one thing in common: refined carbohydrates.

Although the ingredient sounds positive, it isn't, at least when it comes to your health. In comparison with their whole-grain counterparts, which are digested slowly and fill you up for hours, refined carbs get processed quickly by the body and are rapidly turned into sugar.

It's no wonder then that a diet high in refined carbs can play a strong role in weight gain. Knowing which foods contain them is tough, though — refined carbohydrates lurk in dozens of processed foods, from granola bars and baked goods to pizzas and pastas.

To address the issue, Roxanne B. Sukol, a preventive medicine specialist and the medical director of the Cleveland Clinic's Wellness Enterprise, says people should think of the ingredient simply as "stripped carbs."

In the book "Grocery: The Buying and Selling of Food in America," Sukol tells author and chef Michael Ruhlman that carbohydrates "stripped of all their nutrition" is her chief nutritional concern.

Refined carbohydrates start out just like their whole-grain cousins. In the factory, however, food makers remove their nutritious, fiber-rich outer shells, such as the germ and bran. The end result is soft bread, smooth rice, and sweet cereal that gets processed by the body almost as quickly as it was ingested. But while refined carbs might taste delicious, experts agree that they don't belong in a healthy diet.

Cara Anselmo, a nutritionist and outpatient dietitian at New York's Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, said one of the problems with these foods is that they are easy to overeat.

beefsteak healthy food"It’s definitely easiest to overdo it with drinks, refined carbs, foods that have added sugar or are highly processed — those are things that we just tend to keep going," Anselmo told Business Insider.

This doesn't mean all carbohydrates are bad, however. Instead of telling clients to ban things like bread and rice from their diets, Anselmo advises swapping foods with refined carbs for whole grain alternatives, like brown rice and whole-grain bread.

These carbs are rich in nutrients like fiber, which keeps us full and helps regulate digestion, and protein, which helps sustain and build muscle. Their refined counterparts typically have very little of either ingredient.

"People need to understand there are nutritious carbohydrates," Sukol told Ruhlman. These include fruits, vegetables, many beans, and legumes, which Sukol said contain a "fiber matrix" that slows down how quickly they get converted to sugar.

Several recent studies suggest that the best diets are based around whole grains, vegetables, and lean proteins. In its most recent report on the best eating plans, US News and World Report described plant-based diets— which have whole grains and vegetables as their cornerstone — as "good for the environment, your heart, your weight, and your overall health."

If you're looking to make a simple, healthy change to your diet, this might be the one to try. 

SEE ALSO: The biggest mistake people make when they decide to eat healthy, according to a nutritionist

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: A neuroscientist explains how being bilingual makes your brain more robust

The Atlantic City casino Trump built for $1.2 billion is having a liquidation sale — here's everything up for grabs

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Trump at the Taj Mahal

President Donald Trump's failed Atlantic City casino, the Trump Taj Mahal, is having a liquidation sale starting Thursday.

The casino, which opened in 1990, was once dubbed the "eighth wonder of the world" by Trump. But by 1991 the casino had declared bankruptcy, as Trump had financed it with $900 million in junk bonds. CNN recently reported that the casino broke anti-money laundering rules 106 times during its first year of business.

In 2009 Trump had severed most of his ties with the Atlantic City casino, though he retained a stake in the parent company so that the casino could still use his name until 2016, when it officially closed under the ownership of Carl Icahn.

Hard Rock International bought the casino for $50 million in May, and it's now planning a $375 million renovation and rebranding. This month, it's having a liquidation sale to get rid of all the items inside. See what's for sale, below. 

SEE ALSO: Here's the favorite drink of every US president

The 60-day sale will start on July 6. Items in hotel rooms like this one can be bought for a package deal of $299.



Everything except slot machines, card tables, and anything with Trump's name on it is for sale.



National Content Liquidators, who have worked with Trump at Barbizon Plaza in the past, is conducting the sale.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Inspired by 'Beachgate,' artists made a sand sculpture of Chris Christie lounging on the Jersey Shore

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New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's "Beachgate" scandal was immortalized in a sand sculpture on the Fourth of July.

It all began when he shut down the government after the legislature couldn't pass a budget on Friday, closing state parks and beaches.

Then, NJ Advance Media photojournalist Andrew Mills took photos of Christie lounging with friends and family on the empty Island Beach State Park outside the state-owned summer house of the governor.

The photos went viral, many New Jerseyans were outraged, and Christie defiantly defended his actions, sarcastically saying it was a scandal that he'd been caught enjoying time with his family.

Late Monday night, the legislature agreed to a budget deal, and Christie signed it into law, ending the government shutdown. This allowed state-run beaches to open for the Fourth of July.

Around 9 a.m. on Tuesday at Seaside Heights beach, where, as NBC 4 New York reports, Larry and Tom make a sand sculpture every Independence Day, the sculptors began their masterpiece. Four hours later, they had completed Christie, lounging in his beach chair:

But before the sun set, someone had destroyed the sculpture, according to NBC, leaving a smiley face in its place.

SEE ALSO: 'I didn't get any sun': Photos show Chris Christie lounging on state beach he closed in government shutdown

DON'T MISS: 'I'm sorry they're not the governor': Chris Christie's many defenses for lounging on the beach when New Jerseyans couldn't

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: People on Twitter are loving how baffled Buzz Aldrin appeared by Trump's 'space' talk

5 scientifically-proven things that can make you less attractive


How to take the perfect vacation, according to science

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girl suitcase vacation

Vacations are deceptively complex.

By their very nature they're meant to be stress-free, so we assume we shouldn't put too much thought into them.

But behavioral science research actually tells us that certain strategies will almost always make certain types of trips better than others — both in cost and overall satisfaction.

Here's how to take the perfect vacation.

MORE: Gypsy moth caterpillars have decimated large portions of New England forests this summer

Plan as far ahead as you can to build anticipation.

Behavioral economist Dan Ariely points out that a week-long trip to Disney World is actually composed of three things: months of anticipation, the trip itself, and the pangs of nostalgia you experience for years afterwards.

To maximize your enjoyment, you should cater to all three stages.

Airfare is cheapest approximately 57 days before a flight, so it's wise to hold off on finalizing until then. But you can still browse hotels or take virtual Mad Tea Party rides on YouTube months before that. One 2010 study found that the majority of people were happier before their trip than they were after they returned.

That's because anticipation is a powerful thing — it's essentially the same reason you're happier on Friday than on Sunday.



Limit yourself to a few options to minimize regret.

Do you take a cruise in the Caribbean? A hike through the Rockies? What about a food tour in New Orleans? And how do you guarantee that selecting one won't make you regret not choosing the others?

Psychologists have shown that when the human brain encounters too many options, it shuts down. Psychologist Barry Schwartz calls it the "paradox of choice." Some choice is better than none, he says, but it doesn't hold that more is always better than less.

Before your trip, narrow down your choices to just two options. You'll feel better knowing you picked the best one.



Take a one-week vacation; you won't remember two.

Famed behavioral economist Daniel Kahneman argues we're made up of two selves: our experiencing self and our remembering self. The experiencing self lives in the moment. The remembering self lives in the past.

Our remembering self has a hard time telling apart a one-week vacation from a two-week one because, as Kahneman says, "there are no new memories added.You have not changed the story." From the perspective of the remembering self, short and long vacations are effectively equal.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 9 coolest signatures of famous people throughout history

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Nowadays, most of us sign our names on checks and documents in plain ol’ cursive.

But some signatures are way better than others, whether they’re elaborate illustrations, cool designs, or simply gorgeous handwriting.

We’ve chosen the 9 famous people with the coolest signatures throughout history. 

Produced by Alex Kuzoian. Original reporting by Megan Willett and Skye Gould.

Join the conversation about this story »

9 genius products under $100 to take to the beach

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Going to the beach in 2017 looks a lot different from your trips as a kid.

These days, you can listen to your whole e-book collection on your phone. There are plastic baggies made just for keeping your devices dry and portable solar panels for charging them.

To help make your visit to the beach a relaxing one, we rounded up nine must-bring gadgets and accessories — all for under $100.

SEE ALSO: People are paying $115 to fall asleep in San Francisco and wake up in Los Angeles

Stash your valuables in an underground container.

The Beach Vault secures your group's phones, wallets, and keys under the sand — so one person won't be relegated to the shore to look after things.

It twists into the sand like a corkscrew, which you can cover with a throw or the Beach Vault's custom towel, which has a hole for easy access to your belongings.

Buy it here: $49



Lean back in a chair that does it all.

The Tommy Bahama Backpack Cooler Chair is a mouthful of a name for a reason. The reclining beach chair features backpack straps for easy carrying, a large zipper pocket, a cup holder, and a built-in cooler.

Plus, the chair has five seating positions for your comfort.

Buy it here: $54.88



Tune into your favorite beach read.

In the age of the audiobook, Audible is the book seller to rule them all. 

A monthly subscription unlocks access to over 180,000 titles across best sellers, new releases, mysteries, thrillers, romance, sci-fi,and more. Plus, your first month is free.

Buy it here: $14.95 per month



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's everything we know about Trump's 26-year-old executive assistant who makes $95,000 a year

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Jonathan Ernst Reuters 2

Madeleine Westerhout became a familiar face in late 2016, when she was frequently photographed guiding then president-elect Donald Trump's guests — such as Rick Perry, Mitch McConnell, and Goldman Sach's Gary Cohn — through the lobby of Trump Tower.

While some media outlets dubbed her  the "elevator girl," Westerhout was quickly establishing her role within the Trump transition team. In January, it was announced that she would be an executive and special assistant to the president himself — making calls for the president and helping schedule his days. On June 30, the White House published the Staff Salaries report, revealing Westerhout's $95,000 annual salary. 

Here's everything we know about 26-year-old Westerhout.   

SEE ALSO: Kellyanne Conway started a company when she was 28, and it has made her millions

DON'T MISS: How a 28-year-old with no political experience found herself in Trump's inner circle

Westerhout grew up in California, and went to the College of Charleston in South Carolina. She graduated in 2013 with a degree in political science.

Source: The College Today



In 2012, Westerhout took time off school to work as an intern for the Mitt Romney presidential campaign.

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In 2013, she worked as a special projects and volunteer coordinator for South Carolina's former state senator, John Kuhn, during his unsuccessful Congressional bid.



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7 things you never knew people could be allergic to — and the insane ways they cope

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We're all familiar with allergies — in the US, approximately 30% of adults and 40% of children suffer from them, and they are unfortunately getting worse for many.

These reactions are triggered by immune system responses to substances that are generally considered harmless. Symptoms range from itchy eyes and runny noses to skin hives to life-threatening, throat-closing anaphylaxis.

Most people are aware of common allergens like pollen, peanuts, dogs, and cats. But allergy and immunology specialists sometimes encounter more mysterious allergies. 

Here are some of the strangest and rarest allergies doctors encounter — and how patients with these conditions try to cope. 

 

SEE ALSO: The tick that makes people allergic to red meat with one bite seems to be spreading

Red meat: People bitten by infected Lone Star ticks can develop an allergy that makes them unable to consume mammalian meat like beef, pork, or lamb.

Something in the ticks' bite can make people allergic to a sugar compound called alpha-galactose that exists in meat.

This allergy is becoming more common as the tick that delivers the infected bite expands its range. Some people become more allergic to meat than others do, but reactions can be quite severe. Unlike most other allergies, symptoms often take hours to kick in.

No one knows whether the allergy goes away with time or if it can be treated, but scientists think that both additional tick bites and meat consumption might worsen the condition.



Water: People who suffer from aquagenic urticaria, also known as 'water allergy,' develop hives and itchiness shortly after their skin is exposed to water.

This condition, considered a rare disease, mostly affects women and can develop during puberty. The underlying cause is unknown, and experts think it could be caused either by allergens dissolved in water (in which case water wouldn't really be the cause) or by interactions between a person's skin and water that create a substance that triggers hives.

There is limited data on successful treatments, but for some patients, antihistamines — which are often used to counteract allergic reactions — help. Some other medications, light therapy, and sodium bicarbonate have been found to be helpful as well.



Semen: Certain unlucky individuals have experienced an allergic reaction to semen — even their own.

Semen allergies are rare, but they're actually one of the more common on this list. People with this condition experience burning, itching, and swelling after coming into contact with seminal fluid. This condition more frequently affects women but can be found in men. Doctors have even found men who are allergic to their own semen.

There are various treatment options, but most often people are simply advised to avoid the substance — either completely or with protective barriers like condoms. Some also try gradual exposure to build up a tolerance. Women with this condition who want to become pregnant may need to undergo in vitro fertilization, or may need to be provided with sperm that has certain proteins washed off. Severe cases may require an EpiPen.



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The top 10 beers chosen by beer enthusiasts across the US

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One of the most prestigious beer rankings in America has crowned a new champion in a major upset.

For 15 years, Zymurgy Magazine — the official magazine of the American Homebrewers Association — has asked the group's tens of thousands of members to cast votes for the best beers in the country. The idea is that Zymurgy readers, as homebrewers, have more refined palates than most and can suss out the winners.

Pliny the Elder, a double IPA from Russian River Brewing Company, had held the top spot for eight straight years — until now. Read on to find out the best beers in America and which IPA dethroned the king.

SEE ALSO: A pizza chain created by a former Starbucks exec should worry Pizza Hut and Domino's

10. Ballast Point Brewing Co. Sculpin IPA

San Diego, California

The Sculpin is an IPA for people who think they don't like IPAs. The award-winning brew is a bright and not overly astringent beer (doesn't have as much of a puckering quality). Its use of hops creates hints of apricot, peach, mango, and lemon flavors, but it still packs a bit of a sting at 7% alcohol.



8. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Celebration (TIE)

Chico, California

Few things signal the holiday season like Celebration. First brewed in 1981, the ale was one of the earliest American-style IPAs. It's loved for its intense citrus and pine aromas and hop flavor on a pleasant malt base.



8. Deschutes Brewery Fresh Squeezed IPA (TIE)

Bend, Oregon

This mouthwatering IPA gets its juicy flavor from a heavy helping of Citra and Mosaic hops. Touches of grapefruit, orange, tangerine, lemon, and lime settle onto both the nose and the palate — making it a beer worth drinking for breakfast.



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I went on the Silicon Valley diet craze that encourages butter and bacon for 2 months — and it vastly improved my life

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A diet that goes against conventional wisdom on healthy eating is gaining momentum among Silicon Valley tech workers. And it involves eating a lot of fat.

The ketogenic, or "keto," diet — which first became popular in the 1920s as a treatment for epilepsy and diabetes— limits carbohydrates to no more than 50 grams a day, which is the rough equivalent of a plain bagel or a cup of white rice. By comparison, dietary guidelines laid out by the US Department of Agriculture recommend consuming between 225 and 325 grams of carbs a day.

On the keto diet, the body goes into starvation mode and taps its fat stores for fuel. Studies suggest the low-carb, high-fat diet may promote weight loss, dull hunger, and stave off age-related diseases. More research is needed on its long-term effects, especially in healthy people.

An increasing number of health nuts — from the internet entrepreneur Kevin Rose to the podcaster Tim Ferriss — swear by the keto diet. I spent the past two months eating bacon, butter, and avocados to see why the keto movement is so popular.

SEE ALSO: Health nuts from Hugh Jackman to Tim Ferriss are trying 'intermittent fasting' — the dieting fad that lets you eat anything

I am no stranger to diets. I've cut sugar, counted points on Weight Watchers, and swapped solid food for Soylent, a venture-capital-backed meal-replacement shake.

I gave up breakfast for a week and drank this caffeinated meal-replacement shake instead »



But those usually don't last long. I love food. I'm a chronic snacker.



When I first learned about the keto diet, it caught my interest because dieters could eat seemingly unlimited amounts of healthy fats, like cheese, nuts, avocado, eggs, butter — foods that have high "point values" on Weight Watchers and are severely restricted.

The keto diet reorganizes the building blocks of the food pyramid.

It cuts down carbs to between 20 and 50 grams a day, depending on a person's medical history and insulin sensitivity. (There are about 30 grams in one apple or one-half of a plain bagel.)

On the diet, healthy fats should account for approximately 80% of a person's daily calories, while protein should make up about 20%. On average, Americans get about 50% of their calories from carbs, 30% from fat, and 15% from protein, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.



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Hope Hicks gets paid a huge salary that's as high as Trump's top aides — how a 28-year-old with no political experience wound up in the president's inner circle

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Hope Hicks, 28, was born in Greenwich, a town of 60,000 on the southwest tip of Connecticut that's a favorite spot for hedge fund headquarters.

She was a model, actress, and lacrosse player as a child, before getting her English degree at Southern Methodist University.

Hicks didn't intend on playing such a large role in a presidential campaign, instead falling into the gig through a job at the Trump Organization.

But she now finds herself as one of President Donald Trump's youngest advisers, serving as assistant to the president and director of strategic communications in the White House.

Hicks has been with Trump — to use his words — "from the beginning." She stuck on his campaign through multiple staff revamps, including two high-profile changes at the campaign-chair position.

Here's what we know about Hicks.

SEE ALSO: Just don't call it 'climate change': What Republicans in Dallas can teach us about saving the planet

DON'T MISS: MEET THE NEW EXECUTIVE BRANCH: Here's who Trump has appointed to senior leadership positions

Hicks and her sister, Mary Grace, were successful teen models. Hicks posed for Ralph Lauren and appeared on the cover of "It Girl," a spin-off of the best-selling "Gossip Girl" book and TV series.


Source: New York Times



Hicks' first brush with the Trumps came in 2012 when she was at the public-relations firm Hiltzik Strategies working on Ivanka Trump's fashion line. Trump's eldest daughter hired Hicks away in 2014, and she became an employee of the Trump Organization.

Sources: New York TimesGQNYMag



Hicks met patriarch Donald Trump and quickly "earned his trust," Ivanka Trump told the New York Times for a June 2016 profile on the spokeswoman.

Source: New York Times



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There’s new evidence that painkillers might be sabotaging your workout

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When you're hurting, it's natural to want to do something about the pain.

So after an intense workout — the sort that leaves your body aching — many of us reach for an over-the-counter painkiller like ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve).

These drugs, called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), do effectively reduce inflammation, which is what makes them effective at treating certain types of pain. But according to a study recently published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, when taken after exercise the drugs also seem to dampen the muscle growth effect provided by exercise.

If your goal is to get stronger, trying to eliminate the pain with drugs may make the workout less effective.

In the most recent study, researchers took a look at injured muscle tissue in mice. Without intervention, the mice would generate compounds known as prostaglandins that stimulate muscle stem cells and regeneration, or healing. But NSAIDs blocked the production of those prostaglandins. Those mice didn't generate as many muscle stem cells or heal as much as they would have otherwise.

Mice aren't people, so one study alone should be taken with a grain of salt. But there's other research with similar findings.

Other studies in mice have shown that ibuprofen cancels out some of the skeletal muscle growth that would normally happen after distance running.

And in humans, researchers have found that both ibuprofen and acetaminophen (another type of pain reliever, often branded as Tylenol) suppress the protein formation that occurs in muscles after high-intensity exercise. Even more research has found that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen (aspirin is also in this category) inhibit bone healing. There's even some evidence showing that using ibuprofen regularly for soreness may damage cellular tissue and generally prevent your body from even being able to take full advantage of exercise.

How healing works

Inflammation hurts, but it kickstarts the physical adaption process that makes you more able to handle damaging physical stress in the future.

Some research has found that certain pro-inflammatory compounds produced by exercise trigger the release of powerful anti-inflammatory substances that help damaged muscles heal and have other long-lasting health benefits. Artificially suppressing the initial inflammation could prevent that healing process, neutralizing some of the real benefits of exercise.

Plus, there are other reasons why over-the-counter painkillers, which most people think of as safe enough to take on just about any occasion, are far more dangerous than we think. The FDA warns they can raise the risk of heart attack or stroke, even in patients without heart disease. They're also linked with stomach bleeding and ulcers. Acetaminophen, a common non-NSAID painkiller, can cause permanent liver damage and sends tens of thousands of people to the emergency room every year.

For some injuries, these drugs are the best choices. But just because they're available over-the-counter doesn't mean they should be taken freely for injuries or soreness. If your doctor recommends them, that's one thing.

But if you're just sore from a workout, take pleasure in knowing that your body is healing.

SEE ALSO: 7 things you never knew people could be allergic to — and the insane ways they cope

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This 12-time Olympic medalist reveals her ultimate 6.5-minute ab workout that helps keep her fit

'This shows who he's actually keeping out': Instagram account posts photos of 'banned grandmas' to protest Trump's travel ban

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President Donald Trump's travel ban has a new opponent: grandmothers.

Since the Supreme Court allowed parts of the White House's travel ban from six Muslim-majority countries to take effect in June, an Instagram account called "Banned Grandmas" has been posting photos of grandmothers who now can't see their families in the US.

Holly Dagres, a 31-year-old Iranian-American political analyst now based in Jerusalem, started the account in order to put faces to the people who would be affected by the travel ban.

Meet some of the banned grandmas:

SEE ALSO: Here's how Trump's travel ban will be implemented

DON'T MISS: Supreme Court allows most of Trump's travel ban to take effect, will hear arguments this fall

The ruling specified that anyone who has a "bona fide" relationship with an American citizen could enter the US. The Trump administration interpreted this includes parents but excludes grandparents, aunts, and uncles.

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Source: Business Insider



Dagres, whose own grandmother died in 2013, has family living in Iran who can't come to the US to meet her new husband. For the account's first photo, she posted a shot of her and her Mamani (grandmother in Farsi).

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Source: Time Magazine



"Let's be real. Whose grandmother has ever committed a terrorist attack?" Dagres told Time Magazine, where we first spotted the photos.

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Why it's harder to build muscle now than when you were young — and the best way to overcome it

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plank woman fitness gym exercise workout

People who were athletes in high school or college may remember coming out of the first few weeks of training with a noticeably contoured body.

Today, it might seem the opposite is true. You have to hit the gym several times a week just to avoid losing the muscle you do have.

In fact, the average 30-year-old loses about a quarter of her muscle strength by her 70th birthday and half of it by age 90, according to a Harvard Medical School health report called "Strength and Power Training for All Ages."

This isn't just because you become less physically active with age.

Age-related muscle loss, or sarcopenia as it's known in the medical community, is the result of a handful of factors that doctors still don't fully understand. For starters, your body becomes less efficient at turning protein into fuel; you also have fewer of the nerve cells responsible for sending signals from the brain to the muscles. But researchers believe a cascade of other issues including hormonal changes, inflammation, and other illnesses that become more common as we get older play a role too.

That doesn't mean muscle loss is completely inevitable, though. Experts at Harvard and the Mayo Clinic suggest strength (or resistance) training is best way to overcome it.

"Strength training is critical to preserving the ability to perform the most ordinary activities of daily living," wrote the authors of the Harvard Healthbeat newsletter, which summarizes the report's takeaways.

At its most basic, strength training involves using weight to create resistance against the pull of gravity. That weight can be your own body, free weights like barbells or dumbbells, elastic bands, or weighted ankle cuffs.

Research suggests you can use either heavy weights and a small number of reps or lighter weights and more reps to build stronger, more sturdy muscles.

Chris Jordan, the exercise physiologist who came up with the viral 7-minute workout (officially called the "Johnson & Johnson Official 7 Minute Workout"), told Business Insider that healthy adults should aim to work out at least three to five days each week, and incorporate resistance training on two to three of those days.

The results you see will vary based on your current fitness level. If you're new to regular workouts and start doing resistance training two or three days each week, you may start building muscle in just a few weeks. But if you've been a regular at a gym or yoga studio for several months, you'll want to step it up a notch and work your body at least four days per week.

Research suggests you can also use high-intensity interval training (HIIT), which combines the cardiovascular benefits of cycling or running with resistance training, to achieve the same or similar results. If you like HIIT, the 7-minute workout is a great place to start.

Whichever workout you try, however, the most important thing is to keep doing it.

"To achieve results," said Jordan, "consistency is key."

SEE ALSO: The best way to build muscle may not be lifting the heaviest weights

DON'T MISS: Harvard doctors say this overlooked move is the quickest way to get strong abs

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Trump and Merkel met again, finally shook hands, and took some pretty awkward photos

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A day before world leaders descend on Germany for the highly anticipated G20 summit, President Donald Trump met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in her hometown.

As Trump and Merkel don't see eye-to-eye on some issues, many expected the latest meeting between the two foremost world leaders to be tense.

After Trump failed to shake Merkel's hand on her visit to the White House, the world was watching to see what would happen this time.

The photos perfectly capture the awkwardness of the encounter:

SEE ALSO: Trump and Merkel don't shake hands during awkward interaction in Oval Office

DON'T MISS: Trump arrives in Germany for G20 risking isolation on climate policy and the wrath of anti-capitalist protesters

In March, Trump hosted Merkel inside the Oval Office. He then made headlines for appearing to ignore Merkel's offer of a handshake.

Source: Business Insider



After a quick visit to Poland on Thursday, Trump met with Merkel on the eve of the annual G-20 meeting in Hamburg, Germany.

Source: CNN



Many expected the encounter might be awkward and uncomfortable. Earlier in the week, Merkel implied that Germany could not "fully rely" on the US anymore.

Source: Business Insider



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