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There's a simple trick called the 'bar test' for deciding if someone is right for you — here's how it works

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woman bar

  • Internet dating, too many choices, and bad luck all make finding the right person a challenge.
  • One way to tell if you're into someone or not is by trying out the "bar test."


Sometimes when you're with someone, you just know it's working. Other times, you might need a bit of encouragement to come to the right conclusion. After all, you don't to waste your time on someone who's wrong for you.

Finding a partner is even more complicated because of how prolific online dating has become. While it gives us the chance to meet a whole range of new people, it can also make us too picky, meaning ultimately we end up missing out on opportunities.

According to marriage counselor Robert Maurer, one way to cut to the chase on a first date is by asking your partner how they are still single. However, other dating experts completely disagree.

A potentially more fail safe method is the "bar test." It was coined by Erika Ettin, dating coach and founder of dating site "A Little Nudge," and it's a simple way to work out if your heart is really into it or not.

"As simple as this may seem, I call it the 'bar test' to know if you're with the right person," she told Business Insider. "When you're at a bar (or restaurant, wherever) with your new partner, are you looking around to see who else is out there or who might see you two together? Or, are you perfectly content with your partner, and you want everyone there to notice you with him/her?"

According to Ettin, if it's the latter, then they've passed the test. It works the other way around too — if you see your date looking around and assessing their options, that's probably a sign they're not that into you.

SEE ALSO: Relationship experts say these are the 9 signs the person you're dating is right for you — and some are surprisingly simple

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Why most scientists don't care about these incredible UFO videos


You might still be single because of something called the 'paradox of choice' — here's what it means

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woman coffee robe

  • Dating apps mean we are given nearly endless choices of who we can date.
  • While this should make connections easier, it also makes us more picky.
  • This is because of the "paradox of choice" that makes us believe the grass is always greener on the other side.
  • By always looking for something better, you might miss the opportunity right in front of your eyes.


If you're single, don't worry. Science has shown it's actually better for you in a number of ways.

But if you're spending this Valentine's Day crying over the fact nobody wants to be in a relationship with you, there's a psychological reason that might help explain why.

It's called "the paradox of choice," and it essentially means that while we consider variety as a good thing, at the same time, it makes our decisions more challenging.

For example, you may have met someone on on Tinder, and the first date went really well. You probably want to see them again, but you can't help noticing their tiny flaws. You know your online profile is sitting there on your phone, and you just can't shake the feeling there could be someone else on the dating app that would be an even better fit for you.

In his book "The Paradox of Choice," Barry Schwartz describes this way of thinking as "maximising."

"Maximizers treat relationships like clothing," he writes. "I expect to try a lot on before finding the perfect fit. For a maximizer, somewhere out there is the perfect lover, the perfect friends. Even though there is nothing wrong with the current relationship, who knows what's possible if you keep your eyes open."

The opposite of maximisers are "satisficers," who have the ability to know a good thing when they see it, without obsessing over "what ifs."

It's not the same as settling for a bad option, because satisficing also means having high standards. But it does also mean ignoring the temptation of finding out if the grass really is greener on the other side.

In theory, it makes sense. If you're always holding out for something better, chances are you'll end up with nothing. That, or you'll realise you left all your good options in the cold, and you'll end up with someone who's wrong for you. By that logic, satisficers are more likely to end up happy.

In a blog post about this for Psychology Today, Jen Kim writes about how in modern dating life, we no longer have the feeling of scarcity, as there are always so many options at our fingertips. This doesn't just make us picky, but arguably unreasonably so.

"How quickly have we thumbed left simply because the face peering back at us had an eyebrow hair out of place or because the guy seemed short even though you could only see his head?" she writes. "How many amazing potential mates have we missed out on because we were convinced the next profile would be better?"

In the end, attraction is about more than just a photo. It's more than just an instant spark on a first date, or a Valentine's Day card.

Ultimately, while dating apps bring us closer to people we might not otherwise have met, the issues they cause paradoxically make it even more difficult to make a connection.

To avoid falling in the maximising trap, if you think you've met someone and it could be something good, try and give it a fair chance. Otherwise you might be holding out for a fairytale that could never happen.

SEE ALSO: Here's what you should do if you want to celebrate Valentine's Day but your partner loathes it — or vice versa

Join the conversation about this story »

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The 15 best restaurants in London to try in 2018

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restaruant story

Everyone should have a food bucket list, and a new year is the perfect opportunity to refresh it.

Last year, The Waitrose Good Food Guide selected the 50 best UK restaurants to try in 2018.

The guide reviews the best restaurants, pubs, and cafés across the UK based on feedback from readers and expert inspections. However, while each eatery makes our mouths water, making it through the best restaurants in one city can be hard enough, let alone an entire country.

In order to help you wade through the culinary options in the capital, we've compiled the 15 best restaurants in London, according to Waitrose.

The restaurants are awarded a score between 1 and 10, with 1 being "capable cooking with simple food combinations and clear flavours, but some inconsistencies" and 10 being "an extremely rare accolade" with "perfect dishes showing faultless technique at every service."

Scroll down to see the 15 best restaurants in London to try in 2018, ranked in ascending order along with their score.

SEE ALSO: The 13 best restaurants in the UK to try in 2018

15. Murano, Mayfair — 7 points. Coming in 48th in the UK, the Michelin-starred restaurant offers up melt-in-your mouth pasta dishes and Italian wines in a setting that feels like home.



14. Le Gavroche, Mayfair — 7 points. Known as "the last bastion in London of classically rich French haute cuisine," Le Gavroche has become a London institution partly thanks to its Chef Patron Michel Roux Jr. Expect dishes like Black Pudding, Fried Egg, Raw Asparagus Salad, and Spicy Tomato Chutney.



13. Restaurant Story, Bermondsey — 7 points. Tom Sellers tells his story and the story of British food through an ever-evolving tasting menu of seasonal dishes at this south London hotspot, which gained its Michelin star only five months after opening in 2013 and has retained it ever since.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This is the full schedule for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang

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Winter Olympics PyeongChang

  • The 2018 Winter Olympics are in full swing and end on Sunday, February 25.
  • The Olympic Games are being hosted in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
  • Winter Olympic sports include ice hockey, cross-country skiing, and bobsled.
  • You can see the full schedule of events below.

 

The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony kicked off at the Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium in South Korea on Friday February 9 — and audiences have been capitvated ever since.

With ice hockey, cross-country skiing, and bobsled among the Winter Olympic sports, there's something for everyone.

Scroll through each day below to find out when each event takes place.

Wednesday, February 7

Alpine Skiing — Training

Curling — Mixed doubles

Thursday, February 8

Curling — Mixed doubles round robin

Ski Jumping — Qualification

Friday, February 9

Opening ceremony — 11.00 a.m GMT / 6.00 a.m ET

2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony

Curling — Mixed doubles round robin

Figure Skating — Men's and pairs

Freestyle Skiing — Qualifying, men's and women's moguls

Saturday, February 10

Biathlon — Women's 7.5km sprint

Cross-Country Skiing — Women's 7.5km skiathlon 

Curling — Mixed doubles round robin

Women's Hockey — Preliminary round

Luge — Men's heat races

Short Track — Qualification: women's 3000m and 500m relay, men's 1500m

Ski Jumping — Normal hill

Snowboarding — Men's slopestyle qualifying

Speed Skating — Women's 3000m

Sunday, February 11

Alpine Skiing — Men's downhill

Biathlon — Men's 10km sprint

Cross-Country Skiing — Men's 15km skiathlon

Curling — Mixed doubles round robin

Figure Skating — Short dance, ladies short program, pairs free skate

Freestyle Skiing — Women's moguls

Women's Hockey — Preliminary matches

Luge — Men's heat races

Snowboarding — Men's slopestyle final, women's slopestyle

Speed Skating — Men's 5000m

Monday, February 12

Alpine Skiing — Women's giant slalom

Alpine skiing

Biathlon — Men's and women's pursuit events

Curling — Mixed doubles semifinals

Figure Skating — Men's and ladies free skate, ice dance free dance

Freestyle Skiing — Men's moguls

Women's Hockey — Preliminary matches

Luge — Women's heat races

Ski Jumping — Women's competition

Snowboarding — Women's slopestyle final, women's halfpipe qualifying

Speed Skating — Women's 1500m

Tuesday, February 13

Alpine Skiing — Men's alpine combined

Cross-Country Skiing — Men's and women's individual sprint finals

Curling — Mixed doubles bronze and gold medal matches

Women's Hockey — Preliminary matches

Luge — Women's heat races

Short Track — Women's 500m final, men's 1000m qualifying, men's 5000m relay qualifying

Snowboarding — Women's halfpipe final, men's halfpipe

Speed Skating — Men's 1500m

Wednesday, February 14

Alpine Skiing — Women's slalom

Biathlon — Women's 15km individual

Curling — Men's and women's round robin

Figure Skating — Pairs short program

Men's Hockey — Preliminary round

Snowboarding — Men's halfpipe final

Snowboard halfpipe

Speed Skating — Women's 1000m

Thursday, February 15

Alpine Skiing — Men's super-G

Biathlon — Men's 20km individual

Cross-Country Skiing — Women's 10km individual

Curling — Men's and women's round robin

Figure Skating — Pairs free skate

Freestyle skiing — Women's aerials qualifying

Women's hockey — Preliminary matches

Men's hockey — Preliminary matches

Luge — Team relay competition

Skeleton — Men's competition: heat races

Snowboarding — Men's cross

Speed Skating — Men's 10,000m

Friday, February 16

Cross-Country Skiing — Men's 15km individual

Curling — Men's and women's round robin

Figure Skating — Men's short programs

Freestyle Skiing — Women's aerials final

Men's Hockey — Preliminary matches

Ice hockey

Ski Jumping — Men's large hill qualifying

Snowboarding — Women's cross

Speed Skating — Women's 5000m

Saturday, February 17

Alpine Skiing — Women's super-G

Biathlon — Women's 12.5km mass start

Cross-Country Skiing — Women's 4x5km relay

Curling — Men's and women's round robin

Figure Skating — Men's short program final

Freestyle Skiing — Women's slopestyle qualifying, final; men's aerials qualifying

Men's Hockey — Preliminary matches

Women's Hockey — Two knockout round matches

Short Track — Men's 1500m, women's 1000m

Skeleton — Women's heat races

Ski Jumping — Men's large hill

Sunday, February 18

Alpine Skiing — Men's giant slalom

Biathlon — Men's 15km mass start

Bobsled — Two-man sled heat races

Cross-Country Skiing — Men's 4x10km relay

Curling — Men's and women's round robin

Freestyle Skiing — Men's slopestyle qualifying, final; men's aerials final

Men's Hockey — Preliminary matches

Women's Hockey — Classification matches

Speed Skating — Women's 500m, men's team pursuit qualifying

Monday, February 19

Bobsled — Two-man heat races

Curling — Men's and women's round robin

Figure Skating — Ice dancers

Freestyle Skiing — Women's halfpipe qualifying

Women's Hockey — Semifinals

Ski Jumping — Team competition

Snowboarding — Women's big air qualifying

Speed Skating — Women's team pursuit qualifying

Tuesday, February 20

Biathlon — Mixed relay

Bobsled — Women's heat races

Bobsled

Curling — Men's and women's round robin

Figure Skating — Ice dance, free dance

Freestyle Skiing — Women's halfpipe final, men's halfpipe qualifying

Men's Hockey — Knockout rounds

Women's Hockey — Classification matches

Nordic Combined — Large hill competition

Short Track — Women's 1000m qualifying, men's 500m qualifying, women's 3000m relay final

Wednesday, February 21

Alpine Skiing — Women's downhill

Bobsled — Women's heat races

Cross-Country Skiing — Men's and women's sprint semifinals

Curling — Men's and women's round robin

Figure Skating — Ladies short program

Freestyle Skiing — Men's cross

Men's Hockey — Quarterfinals

Snowboarding — Men's big air qualifying

Speed Skating — Men's and women's team pursuit finals

Thursday, February 22

Alpine Skiing — Men's slalom

Biathlon — Women's 4x6km relay

Curling — Men's semifinals

Freestyle Skiing — Men's halfpipe final

Women's Hockey — Bronze and gold medal matches

Nordic Combined — Team competition

Short Track — Men's 500m finals, women's 1000m finals, men's 5000m relay

Snowboarding — Men's and women's parallel giant slalom qualifying

Friday, February 23

Alpine Skiing — Women's alpine combined

Biathlon — Men's 4x7.7km relay

Curling — Men's and women's semifinals

Figure Skating — Ladies free skate

Freestyle Skiing — Women's cross

Men's Hockey — Semifinal matches

Snowboarding — Women's big air final

Speed Skating — Men's 1000m final

Saturday, February 24

Alpine Skiing — Team event

Bobsled — Four-man competition heat races

Cross-Country Skiing — Men's 50km mass start

Curling — Men's gold and silver match, women's bronze match

Men's Hockey — Bronze medal match

Snowboarding — Men's big air final, men's and women's giant parallel slalom finals

Speed Skating — Men's and women's mass start

Sunday, February 25

Bobsled — Four-man heat races

Cross-Country Skiing — Women's 30km mass start

Curling — Women's gold medal match

Figure Skating — Exhibition gala

Men's Hockey — Gold medal match

Closing ceremonies

SEE ALSO: The Olympic Village will be stocked with 37 condoms per athlete — and it could be because of Tinder

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: No one wants to host the Olympics anymore — will they go away?

These are the sneaky ways apps like Instagram, Facebook, Tinder lure you in and get you 'addicted'

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How apps are addictive 2x1

If you own a smartphone, you've likely experienced the feeling: you've got a few moments of downtime so you take out your phone to see what's new. 

Maybe you feel an urge to see what your friends are up to, a need to connect to other people. Maybe you want to squeeze in an extra bit of reading or language-learning or mate-finding or game-playing.

Does this mean you are addicted to your smartphone? Not necessarily. There are technical definitions of addiction that don't apply to excessive smartphone use. And using apps on your smartphone is often just a form of wasting time. Before smartphones, you'd likely have wasted time some other way. In fact, Jonathan Kay, chief operating officer of app analytics firm Apptopia, has a term for it: "displaced time."

"I think what's happening is that people are displacing a lot of time that they would spend on TV and spending it on their phones," Kay told Business Insider. "It's not an added time — it's a displaced time from one medium to another."

But there are some key differences about spending our spare time using our phones, rather than other mediums. For one, they're full of content we’ve chosen for ourselves, rather than content that's chosen for us, like a sitcom on TV, and that can make our phones more enticing, Kay believes.

For another, app makers are using deliberate techniques to attract your attention. They aren't simply relying on you to come to them whenever you have downtime.

"I think people want to be sucked in," Kay said. "Then it becomes a game of who can be more clever at grabbing that attention."

And some app makers use techniques proven to be very successful at luring us in.

Thanks to input from app experts, research on the topic and our own app use, we've identified the tactics used by some of the most popular smartphone apps on the planet to grab your attention. Some of these techniques clearly serve no purpose other than to manipulate your behavior, whereas others are not necessarily insidious and are part of what make the product useful. 

But they all have the common goal of reeling you in and holding your attention.

This list is by no means exhaustive, but it highlights specific tactics used by specific apps across several categories. Take a look:

SEE ALSO: Confessions of a screen addict — I wake up at 2 a.m. every morning to use my phone and I'm a little worried

Instagram sends dozens of push notifications each week and uses "Stories" to attract you

Out of every app out there, Instagram has got to be one of the most addicting. 

There are several reasons you can get hooked on Instagram: the habit-forming nature of taking pictures and videos, the immediate payoff of pretty filters, and the intimacy of building a social network. 

But Instagram has its own tactics to keep you engaged. 

If you've enabled push notifications on Instagram, you likely receive a message about any number of things: someone's first Story on Instagram, when a Facebook friend has joined the platform, and when one of the people you follow on Instagram is filming live video on the platform. 

You can customize and limit these notifications. But it takes some digging through your settings, and the default is to notify you about everything.

The simple fact is that push notifications, though obvious, actually work. According to research from mobile analytics firm Urban Airship, sending out weekly push notifications can double user retention on iOS devices and have 6-fold increase on Android devices. 

"Push notifications are the first line of this strategy," Randy Nelson, an analyst for app intelligence firm Sensor Tower, told Business Insider. "They address you directly and say, 'Hey, come back to the app.' It's the most overt thing these apps do, and it's integral to the process of re-engaging users."



Instagram has a multitude of other ways to grab your attention, most notably within Instagram Stories.

When Stories was originally introduced in August 2016, it was widely considered a copycat of Snapchat's version, also called Stories. But Instagram Stories eclipsed Snapchat in just one year, and it's not hard to see why. 

Instagram Stories contain fun face filters, animations, and stickers that can be customized to your location or current temperature. They're a great time-waster on their own. 

But it's the way Instagram encourages you to watch Stories at every turn that makes them addicting. Stories are the first thing you see when you open the app — they're housed at the top of the screen — but they also periodically show up in the middle of scrolling through your feed, like in the image above.

And once you're watching one person's Story, you're automatically shepherded into the next person's Story without ever even leaving the interface. If you don't manually swipe or "X" out of Stories, you could end up watching them for minutes on end. 



Twitter uses a psychological trick to lure you in — the same one used in slot machines.

One of the most popular methods used by apps and platforms to keep your attention wasn't invented by techies at all. It's a psychological tool often employed in casinos called a "variable ratio schedule."

The concept refers to when an action is rewarded, but at various times. The user doesn't know when they'll be rewarded, just that they will be — and in no particular pattern. That's what slot machines do. Each time you pull the lever, you may win a small payout, the giant jackpot or no reward at all. 

As Tristan Harris points out, many apps are no different. Harris, who spent three years working at Google as a "design ethicist," frequently writes about the topic of smartphone addiction and started a non-profit dedicated to the subject. In a 2016 essay, Harris likens the "variable ratio schedule" concept — the slot machine method — to a tactic several apps also employ.

When you swipe your finger downward on Twitter, for example, a spinning wheel indicates that the app is loading more content. You don't know what you're getting, but you're hoping to see something new and something that interests you. Sometimes you do, sometimes you don't. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Confessions of a screen addict: I wake up at 2 a.m. every morning to use my phone and I'm a little worried

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Your brain on apps

  • I am a middle-of-the-night smartphone user.
  • I know I'm not alone. The tech industry is accused these days of deliberate "brain hacking" to encourage so-called "app addiction."
  • Are those accusations just fear and hyperbole? Or are there true dangers to the way we use our devices?
  • Business Insider is launching a new series to investigate.


There was a time not long ago when I considered it crazy to keep a smartphone by the bedside.

My phone charger was on a shelf by the front door. Every night, I would dutifully plug in the device, tucking it in bed for the night, before heading to my room.

I remember this detail because one day my wife began bringing her phone to bed and it bothered me. The glowing gadget seemed like an unnecessary and unwelcome intruder in our sanctuary, competing for attention and disrupting the natural order of things. Why have a phone when you could be watching TV or reading a book? And was it healthy to have a wireless device so close by?

But that was about three years ago. At some point between then and now, I dropped my objections and moved my iPhone's white power cord to the bedside table. It made a lot of sense. The phone could charge overnight and be within reach in case I received a late-night message; in the morning, I could get a head start scanning work emails. The iPhone's alarm clock function even replaced the Sony clock radio in our room.

Whether at the dinner table or in the driver's seat, everyone I know struggles to detach themselves from a device that didn't even exist 11 years ago.

Then one night, I woke up in the wee hours and couldn't fall back asleep. Without giving it much thought, I began flicking through the device, skimming news headlines and social media posts. Those midnight digital snacks became increasingly frequent; so much so that I even started to wonder if I was purposefully waking up at 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning to get updates on the latest Trump controversy, on some distant flood or volcano, or just to check if a friend living in another time zone had posted something new. 

Is this a bad thing? If the phone wasn't there, would I have just laid there, awake for an hour anyway until falling back asleep? Or was this new habit actually causing some unknown damage to my sleep schedule and, maybe, my psyche?

I don't know the answer to those questions. But I do know that the allure of the phone in my everyday life, and in the lives of others, is incredibly powerful. Whether at the dinner table or in the driver's seat, everyone I know struggles to detach themselves from a device that didn't even exist 11 years ago.

That's remarkable. And a bit terrifying.

Keep calm, but don't just carry on

It's easy to freak out about new technology. People have been worrying about shortened attention spans since the day MTV went on the air, and probably even before that. When radios proliferated in the 1920s, there were concerns that it was dumbing down children's intellectual abilities. 

Even before television and radio, people fretted about the health impact of new technologies, often envisioning truly bizarre effects. When the railways were being built, some people apparently worried that women should not travel on trains, convinced that speeds of more than 50 miles per hour could cause the uterus to fly out of the body.

social media

Any new technology that changes our relationships – how we spend our time,  our perceptions of space or the ways we interact with each other – is likely to trigger a bout of social anxiety, Genevieve Bell, a professor at Australia's National University College of Engineering and Computer Science, told the Wall Street Journal a few years ago.

The smartphone certainly checks all those boxes.  

But before we simply dismiss any concerns over the impacts of smartphones as unjustified panic, we need to take a closer look.

Because, unlike other new technologies, it is becoming increasingly clear that at least some part of our obsessive smartphone use is no accident.

The makers of our beloved gadgets and apps operate on business models that, directly or indirectly, depend on our constant use — and they design their wares accordingly. 

For instance, we all love getting a "like" on a social media post for the same reason a casino visitor enjoys seeing three watermelons align on a slot machine: it's a variable reward, one of the most powerful concepts in the field of behavioral psychology.

Nir Eyal WorkshopNir Eyal, the author of "Hooked: How to Build Habit-forming Products" — the bible of Silicon Valley product managers — strenuously objects to the notion that smartphones are "addictive" (it's only an addiction if it overcomes your willpower to stop) and argues for designing habit-forming products that are "ethical."

But the reality is that the products that have captivated our attention are made by profit-driven corporations, and ethics are only valued until they conflict with fiduciary duty. 

The CEOs of Facebook, Google and Apple — the pillars of the smartphone age — are all obligated to give Wall Street a progress report on their businesses every 90 days. And whether progress is measured by the amount of time users spend on an app or the sales of devices for using these apps, Wall Street only wants one thing: more.

The consequences of our new screen habit

We're still years away from understanding the consequences of our collective screen habit. The generation growing up today will never know what it was like to live without smartphones, just as most adults today can't fathom a world without television, airplanes and automobiles.

baby smartphoneThat's why Business Insider is taking this moment to explore how mobile phones and apps are changing our lives, how children and parents are adapting to the new reality and how the tech industry is coming to terms with its own role in all of this.

In a series of stories over the coming weeks and months, Business Insider's "Your Brain on Apps" project will try to help us understand the world we're rushing into and the one we're leaving behind.

Is our excessive use of smartphones a cause for alarm? Or is it simply a natural result of really good technology that drives progress? Do we know the things we may be sacrificing in the name of that progress? 

It's a debate that's becoming more important every day. The rapid pace of innovation means our gadgets and apps are only going to become more appealing and irresistible. Now is a smart time to read and think about it — even if you're doing it on your phone at 2 a.m.

SEE ALSO: These are the sneaky ways apps like Instagram, Facebook, Tinder lure you in and get you addicted

Join the conversation about this story »

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11 things unsuccessful people do over long weekends

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man snow slip ice

• Presidents' Day is Monday — which means some workers in the US will be getting an extra long weekend.

• Business Insider reached out to three experts to get a sense of some pitfalls to avoid during long weekends.

• They recommended protecting and being intentional with your time off.



Some people across the US will have Monday off, thanks to Presidents' Day.

We already know what successful people will be doing over the long weekend. And we know that President's Day is meant to be a day to celebrate George Washington's birthday, commemorate Abraham Lincoln's birthday, or just honor  the US presidency— depending on what state you're in.

But what about the unsuccessful people among us? What mistakes can we watch out for and avoid?

After all, you don't want your free time go down the drain.

With that in mind, let's discuss some behaviors to avoid. Here are 11 things unsuccessful people do over long weekends:

SEE ALSO: 11 things unsuccessful people do over the weekend

DON'T MISS: 14 things successful people do over 3-day weekends

1. They neglect their loved ones

"A three-day weekend lets you schedule this critical quality time," said 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."

That being said, spending a long weekend getting away from everyone isn't necessarily a bad thing.

But unsuccessful individuals don't avoid people because they're mindfully trying to unwind — they do it because something's holding them back from connecting.



2. They stress out

We all need to rest and recharge our batteries from time to time. Unsuccessful people are unable to do this, even over long weekends. This leads to misery during a time that should be filled with relaxation and happiness.



3. They spend a ton of money (needlessly)

You don't want to blow all your cash right before the holidays.

Unsuccessful people don't know how to control themselves over long weekends and end up with empty wallets as a result. Squeezing too many impulse purchases into such a short amount of time is a really bad idea.

If you're looking to have a ton of fun on a budget, consider a staycation or just carefully budgeting your fun in the sun.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

We went to a Goodwill store and saw how it's 'overrun' with stuff millennials and Gen Xers refuse to take from their parents

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Goodwill

  • Many millennials are waiting until later to buy their first homes, which means they often don't have the space for the heirlooms their parents are passing down to them.
  • That trend, combined with the minimalist movement, has led to an uptick in donations to thrift stores.
  • We visited a Goodwill thrift store in New York City to see the trend for ourselves.

 

Millennials are living with less. 

Young people are scaling back on what they need, taking inspiration from experts such as Marie Kondo, the author of two best-selling books on minimalism, to live a clutter-free life.  

This has led to a generation of consumers who donate, and thrift stores like Goodwill are the biggest beneficiaries.

"We are definitely getting overrun with furniture and about 20% more donations of everything than in previous years," Michael Frohm, the chief operating officer of a Goodwill thrift store in Greater Washington, told The New York Times in August 2017. 

Many young people are also waiting longer to buy their first home, meaning they may not have the space for the furniture, keepsakes, and clothing their parents are passing down to them. 

"We value a mobile lifestyle," Erin Hendrickson, a minimalist expert who runs the blog Minimalist RD, told Business Insider. "We aren't living in 2,500-square-foot homes, so don't have space."

In Middle Tennessee, Goodwill donation director Danny Rhodes has seen an uptick in donations in urban areas where a high concentration of millennials live. He says there's been an increase in donations of dining-room furniture in particular, as it's a room that millennials often don't have in their homes. 

"I'm always surprised to see such nice vintage and furniture items being donated rather than inherited," he said. 

We visited a Goodwill store in Manhattan to see what it's like to shop there now:

SEE ALSO: Millennials have a new attitude about weddings — and it's sending bridal stores into a downward spiral

We visited a Goodwill store near Union Square in Manhattan, New York. Goodwill has more than 3,200 stores across the US, in addition to an online auction site.



The store is an easy dumping ground for New Yorkers to get rid of unwanted products that could otherwise end up in a landfill. Goodwill sells items at reduced prices — dresses start at $12.99, and men's suits start at $29.99, for example.



This store has a mix of men's, women's, and children's clothing, along with a small home section.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Scientists think they’ve discovered a fourth type of human fuel beyond carbs, fat, and protein — and it could have key health implications

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hvmn

  • Ketones could supercharge the body in a way unlike any other source of fuel.
  • The San Francisco-based startup HVMN launched a ketone ester drink that it says can help people harness those performance-boosting qualities.
  • A new study of the product's effects on blood sugar — a metric that may be helpful for healthy eating and weight loss — found positive results.


One swig of the stuff and I'd had enough. The colorless, odorless liquid tasted like nail polish remover — but I was told it offered unparalleled benefits for my body, so I chugged away, if somewhat skeptically.

The small plastic bottle contained pure ketone ester, a substance that a team of scientists and entrepreneurs at the San Francisco-based startup HVMN are convinced can supercharge the body in a way that no other performance product has before.

"It's not a fat, it's not a protein, it's not a carb, but your body gets fuel from it," Geoffrey Woo, HVMN's co-founder and CEO, told Business Insider in November when the product was first made available to the public.

Unlike caffeine, Ketone is not a stimulant; and unlike a granola bar, it isn't a source of carbohydrates. Instead, it's beta-hydroxybutyrate, one of the substances the body naturally produces when it is fasting or starving. Ingesting the substance directly provides a burst of energy that could have once helped our ancestors survive long periods without food.

If ingested before a high-carb meal, Ketone also appears to keep the body's glucose levels from soaring dangerously high.

Ketones may help stabilize blood sugar

This blood-sugar effect is HVMN's latest area of research. In a new paper, some of the researchers working with Woo found that a ketone drink (HVMN simply calls its beverage "Ketone") could actually help reduce one's glucose levels

In people with diabetes, high blood sugar can be dangerous and even deadly. But scientists are learning more about the link between blood sugar control and performance, weight maintenance, and overall well being in non-diabetics, too.

For their study, published in February in the Journal of Physiology, the HVMN-affiliated researchers worked with 20 healthy men and women aged 18 to 35 over the course of two mornings to see how drinking Ketone might impact their blood-sugar levels. The participants fasted overnight both days, then half drank the HVMN Ketone liquid and the other half got a control drink that tasted equally bad. Thirty minutes later, the researchers had everyone consume a sugary drink to see how the Ketone intake impacted their blood-sugar levels. On the second morning, the groups swapped — half were given the Ketone while the other half were given the control drink.

"It made for interesting mornings seeing how the participants would respond to the taste of their drinks!" Jonathan Little, an assistant professor at the University of British Columbia and the lead author on the paper, said in a statement.

The study showed marked differences between the volunteers who drank the Ketone and those who drank the placebo. Instead of spiking as expected, the blood-sugar levels of the Ketone drinkers stayed relatively low.

"Our study was done in healthy young participants but if the same responses were seen in people with or at risk for type 2 diabetes, then it is possible that a ketone monoester supplement could be used to lower glucose levels and improve metabolic health," Little said. "We are working on these studies at the moment."

Blood sugar may be emerging as the next big metric in health

The findings about ketones could also have important implications for people without diabetes who are interested in weight loss or healthy eating.

Scientists are learning more about the importance of keeping blood-sugar levels steady, also known as glycemic control. When we eat a balanced meal that is rich in protein, fat, fiber, and carbs, our blood-sugar levels stay relatively flat. But when we indulge in a carb-heavy food with no protein or other nutrients, like a bagel or muffin, our glucose levels skyrocket then plunge a few hours later. That can lave us hungry, tired, and paradoxically craving more sugar— which can potentially lead to weight gain. 

avocado smoked salmon blueberries healthy food meal bowl tomatoes lunchKeeping blood-sugar levels steady avoids these symptoms and may play a key role in overall health, but scientists have only recently begun to study this phenomenon in people without diabetes.

In a review of studies published in the journal Obesity Reviews, Ellen Blaak, a professor of fat metabolism and physiology at the Maastricht University in the Netherlands, found links between poorly controlled blood-sugar levels and obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

"Tight glycemic control is necessary to maintain health and to prevent disease," Blaak wrote.

Combined with carbs, ketones give athletes a "stacking effect"

Cyclists in full tuck position.JPGHVMN Ketone was designed with athletes in mind.

In studies with elite cyclists, researchers at the University of Oxford found that combining HVMN Ketone with a high-carb snack like a granola bar produced what they call a "stacking effect" — a sizable boost in performance that athletes barely notice, even as they are blowing through their speed and distance goals.

In a 2016 study published in the journal Cell Metabolism, athletes on Ketone went an average of 400 meters farther than those who'd had a carb- or fat-based drink instead.

Kieran Clarke, a professor of physiological biochemistry at Oxford, is leading the charge to translate her research on ketones and human performance into HVMN's Ketone drink. She told Business Insider in November that the athletes who outperformed probably didn't even realize it. 

"If you're not watching what you're doing, you think, 'Oh, I'm doing all right, everything feels normal,' but then you look down, and all of a sudden you see, 'Oh, wow, I've gone a lot further than usual!'" Clarke said.

SEE ALSO: A little-known technology that Fitbit and Apple are exploring could be the answer to healthy eating and peak performance

Join the conversation about this story »

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We compared the Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, and Aman luxury hotels — and the winner is clear

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Aman Aegean Sea Greece

  • Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, and Aman Resorts are luxury hotel chains with locations all over the world.
  • We compared the luxury hotel chains on price, locations, design, amenities, and perks to find out which is the best.
  • Four Seasons and Aman Resorts were close, but one was the clear winner.


To be a luxury hotel, a resort has to be more than expensive — although you should definitely expect to pay high prices if you want to stay in splendor and indulgence.

As defined by Travel + Leisure, "a luxury hotel promises something all travelers dream of: a lavish break from daily life and a sumptuous journey into an opulent otherworld. Luxury hotels promise the best service in the best settings, from room to restaurant."

Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, and Aman Resorts are among the most popular luxury hotel chains in the world. All three have resorts in the United States and around the globe with stellar service and consistent elegance. 

We took an in-depth look at the three luxury hotel chains and compared them on price, number of locations, design, standard amenities, and extra perks.

Customer service is another important aspect to look at for hotels, but we found that guest services at all three of these companies is so strong that they were impossible to rank. All of them have marvelous concierges and staff that will go out of their way to make sure each guest loves their stay.

Each chain had their greatest strengths, but at the end of the day, one stood out above the rest.

Keep reading to find out how they stacked up. 

SEE ALSO: 25 of the best luxury hotels around the world right now

SEE ALSO: Owning a $1 million home is no longer considered a luxury in America

Value

We compared the nightly rates of each hotel chain in three cities where all of them operate: Marrakech, Morocco; Shanghai, China; and Tokyo, Japan. All prices are available on hotel websites and are for a one night stay for two adult guests.

In Marrakech, the lowest nightly rates at the Mandarin range from $1,059 to $1,303. On a typical night at the Mandarin Oriental Marrakech, the most expensive room would be $2,545.

At the Aman in Marrakech, the cheapest room goes for $807 most nights but the most exquisite option will set you back $3,352.

At the Four Seasons, the cheapest stay is usually less than $620 and often less than $497 in Marrakech. In addition to the lowest rate, the Four Seasons provides the most options for rooms and thus the greatest price flexibility. The panoramic two-bedroom presidential suite costs $3,476 most nights. 

Similar results were found in Shanghai and Tokyo.

Four Seasons wins here because it offers the cheapest hotel rooms, but also has the widest range of room types, including suites as expensive as anything Mandarin or Aman offers.

Best value: Four Seasons



Locations

Mandarin Oriental and Aman have similar global presences. Each has 32 destinations in 20 countries. Aman has only three locations in the US, while Mandarin Oriental has twice as many.

The majority of Aman's resorts are in Asia, where the company was founded and is headquartered. Mandarin Oriental is dispersed equally between Asia-Pacific, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. 

Four Seasons is the largest luxury hotel chain by far, with 109 resorts in 46 countries. Four Seasons has four resorts in Central and South America, Mandarin has one, and Aman has none. And even with Aman's centrality in Asia, Four Seasons still has more resorts on the world's most populated continent.

Most locations: Four Seasons



Design

Each of the three hotel chains has a distinct design that often mimics the local architecture in a given destination.

Four Seasons describes its interior guest rooms as "refined, relaxed, and stylish" while "the design of each room reflects the architecture of its building."

Aman shares the same approach as Four Seasons. "The key element, I think, is that the design must be relevant to the location of the resort," Adrian Zecha, founder of Aman said.

Case in point: Aman's new Shanghai resort,  Amanyangyun, is made up of villas preserved from Ming and Qing dynasty homes. The antique structures were restored and set amid serene courtyards for guests to enjoy. 

Meanwhile, Mandarin Oriental uses design that traces back to its Asian roots with a combination of traditionally Asian decor and a hyper-modern twist. Less so than the other hotels, Mandarin sticks to a single template and designs all of its hotels without regard for the locality. 

Mandarin describes its own hotels as having "elegant classical design" combined with "contemporary detailing." The consistency between hotels ensures a Mandarin hotel has the same style whether in Jakarta or New York.

For the lengths Aman goes to make sure each hotel fits naturally into the climate, it gets the upper edge here.

Best design: Aman



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A little-known company supplies Chipotle with a special vegan ingredient even meat-eaters love — take a look inside

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Burrito Sofritas Chipotle

An ardent meat-lover never forgets her first taste of Chipotle's Sofritas.

In 2014, the fast-casual chain added its first new menu item: organic shredded tofu that's braised and marinated with chipotle chiles, roasted poblanos, and a sizzling spice blend.

When Chipotle offered a promotion to try its looks-like-meat, smells-like-meat vegan substitute, in exchange for a free burrito coupon, Sofritas sold out at a bunch of locations nationwide.

Today, even meat-eaters (like me) often opt for Sofritas as a healthier alternative to meat that doesn't compromise taste. People say it's spicy, flavorful, and almost mistakable as ground beef.

I recently toured the factory where Hodo, an organic tofu company based in Oakland, California, makes the tofu for Chipotle's Sofritas. Take a look to see how it's made.

SEE ALSO: The Bill Gates-backed veggie burger that 'bleeds' has raised another $75 million — see how it's made

In a factory in Oakland, California, a team of over 100 Hodo employees work on making tofu products that Americans — historically, a tofu-adverse bunch — will enjoy eating.



Many Americans know tofu as a chalky white brick that crumbles when you bite into it. Minh Tsai, founder and CEO of Hodo, set out to make tofu that's creamy and flavorful on its own.



By selling products wholesale to chains like Chipotle and Sweetgreen and partnering with fine-dining chefs across the country, Hodo lets consumers taste the possibilities.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle are modern royals — and their lives couldn't be more different from Queen Elizabeth's at their age

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queen elizabeth and kate middleton

  • Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle are both 36 years old. Queen Elizabeth II was 36 in 1963.
  • Queen Elizabeth's life then looked a lot different than Middleton's and Markle's lives look today.
  • For example, Markle and fiancé Prince Harry don't yet have kids — Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were already married for 15 years and expecting their fourth child.


Being a member of the British royal family today is a drastically different job than it was half a century ago.

Across the globe, people look at Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, both 36 years old, as the picture of elegance. People saw Queen Elizabeth II the same way in 1963, when she was 36 — but her lifestyle was rather more traditional. She'd been married for years, sported white gloves and pearls ... and definitely didn't use Instagram.

Below, we highlighted the starkest contrasts between Middleton's and Markle's lives today and Queen Elizabeth's when she was their age.

SEE ALSO: Meghan Markle's whirlwind romance is the opposite of Kate Middleton's 10-year courtship — and it shows how different their marriages will be

At age 36, Queen Elizabeth had already been queen for 11 years. She was born into royalty: Her father was King George VI and her mother was Queen Elizabeth.

Source: INSIDER, Associated Press



Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, on the other hand, didn't come from royal blood. Middleton is still called the "Duchess of Cambridge," and Markle will likely be known as the "Duchess of Sussex" when she marries Prince Harry.

Source: Business Insider



At 36, Queen Elizabeth had been married to Prince Philip for 15 years.

Source: INSIDER



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The world's richest people are abandoning London, Rome, and Paris for an unexpected destination

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Diani Kenya

  • Cities like London, Rome, and Paris have always attracted rich people in search of a pied-à-terre.
  • But Kenya, famous for its African safari, is one of the most popular second-home destinations for rich Africans. 
  • Increasingly, wealthy buyers from places like the UK, America, and Italy, are looking to buy vacation property in Kenya.  

 

Kenya is often recognized as one of the best and most beautiful travel destinations for African safari in the world.

Kenya's 19 game reserves and vast Indian Ocean coastline drew more than 1.4 million tourists to the country last year, many of whom were visiting from other parts of Africa.

But some of the wealthiest tourists aren't just one-time visitors; they're actually buying property there, according to a new report from Knight Frank, a London-based real estate consultant.

Kenya is among the top-five most popular second home locations for the wealthiest people in Africa. While the market for beachfront vacation homes is, at present, dominated by rich families from Nairobi, about 4% of the global high-net-worth population has interest in owning a home in Kenya, according to Knight Frank research.

Brits represent the largest group of potential buyers interested in Kenyan property, followed by 16% of wealthy South Africans, and 11% of Spanish, Mauritian, and Americans.

Below, take a look at what is drawing the world's wealthiest people to Kenya.

SEE ALSO: In each of the top 10 richest places in the world, residents have a combined wealth of at least $1 trillion

DON'T MISS: 10 luxury hotels around the world that are frequented by the ultra rich

Nairobi is a melting pot and a regional hub for the technology and hotel industries, but many visitors are eager to spend time outside the bustling city.

Source: Knight Frank



Coastal areas and countryside regions in Kenya are popular spots for vacationers.



Kenya's tourist season last about 40 weeks out of the year, one of the longest of any beach locale. Plus, there's no typhoon season or extreme weather conditions.

Source: Knight Frank



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Bill Hader has no clue if he's getting residuals for voicing BB-8 in 'The Force Awakens'

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Bill Hader AP

  • Bill Hader helped bring to life the voice of "Star Wars" favorite BB-8.
  • "The Force Awakens" director J.J. Abrams had Hader speak in a talk box while he used an effects app to come up with the voice BB-8 uses. 
  • Hader did not do any BB-8 voice work on "The Last Jedi," and he doesn't know if he's getting residuals for the work he did on "The Force Awakens."


Bill Hader is known for his characters while doing eight seasons of "Saturday Night Live," playing the lovable leading man in "Trainwreck," and his voice work on everything from "South Park" to "Inside Out." 

But he also helped bring to life one of the most memorable characters of the current "Star Wars" trilogy: BB-8. 

It's a highlight in his filmography Hader is shy to discuss because, he said, "Anybody could do what I did."

While making "The Force Awakens," director J.J. Abrams called on Hader to voice the droid (previously, Abrams had actor Ben Schwartz come in to do an English-language dub of the droid).

"That is J.J. Abrams being a really nice guy," Hader told Business Insider while promoting his upcoming series on HBO, "Barry" (airing March 25). "That's him saying, 'I know you like "Star Wars," do you want to come and do this?'"

BB8 Jordan Strauss APHader said he tried to come up with a voice for BB-8, but it wasn't working. He left and felt he blew his chance at being a part of the saga. Then the actor said Abrams called him back again, "I mean, there were billboards already out for the movie," said Hader in describing how close it was to the movie opening when he got the second call.

This time, Hader spoke into a talk box while Abrams messed with an effects app on his iPhone and out of that came the basis for the BB-8 voice and it put Hader into "Star Wars" lore.

"I mean, I'm signing BB-8 pictures now," Hader said.

But is he getting residual checks from it? 

Hader said that he did not take part in any of the work that went into BB-8 for "The Last Jedi," but he does have a credit on "The Force Awakens." Actors receive yearly payments when movies begin getting sold on Blu-ray, DVD, streaming, or begin to air on TV (actors in television series get residuals when the shows are sold to syndication).

Will Hader get that sweet Disney money for years to come?

"That's a good question, I should ask my business manager," Hader said with a laugh. "You're finding out how bad I am at this. If my dad reads this he would lose his sh--. 'You gotta know how much f---ing money you have, you moron!'"

Processing it all for a moment, all Hader could answer was, "I mean, I would hope so." 

SEE ALSO: The 100 best movies on Amazon Prime right now

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: What happens to your body when you start exercising regularly

A look inside the daily routine of Abraham Lincoln, who started working before breakfast, forgot to eat regular meals, and was known to walk through the White House late at night

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Abraham Lincoln

• This Presidents' Day, Americans celebrate the legacy of the United States presidency.

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president, is widely regarded as one of the greatest presidents of all time.

• Lincoln's daily work routine reflects his intense work ethic.



Abraham Lincoln is widely considered America's greatest president.

Monday, February 12, marks the 209th anniversary of his birth. Born on the Kentucky frontier, Lincoln would grow up to lead America through one of its bloodiest conflicts. He cleared the path for the abolition of slavery, preserved the Union, revolutionized the federal government, and lost his life in the process.

And the US certainly hasn't forgotten his legacy. Since 1948, there have been 18 major surveys that asked American scholars to rank the presidents. Lincoln came in first in 10 of those surveys — and claimed second or third place in the other eight. That means that Abraham Lincoln took the top spot more than the other 42 presidents featured in the rankings. CBS reported that former US President Barack Obama also listed Lincoln has his all-time favorite president.

But what was everyday life like for Lincoln in the White House? As it turns out, the president's typical routine reflected his singular commitment to his work.

Here's a look at Lincoln's daily schedule:

SEE ALSO: A look at the daily routine of John Adams, who woke before dawn, walked 5 miles at a time, and drank hard cider at breakfast

DON'T MISS: A look at the daily routine of Thomas Jefferson, who rose early, drank coffee, and wrote a lot

DON'T FORGET: A look at the daily routine of James Madison, who owned 4,000 books, was too embarrassed to be seen without a hat, and drank up to a pint of whiskey a day

Lincoln typically woke up around 7 a.m. He'd work for an hour before breakfast, and sometimes headed out into the early morning to grab a newspaper from a newsboy.

Source: "Lincoln's Last Months," "Abraham Lincoln: A Biography"



First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln knew that her husband often simply forgot about meals. She'd sometimes invite guests to eat breakfast with the family, in order to ensure the president would remember to come.

Source: "Lincoln's Last Months," "Abraham Lincoln: A Biography"



Lincoln typically took a simple breakfast: eggs, toast, and coffee.

Source: "Lincoln's Last Months," "Abraham Lincoln: A Biography"



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Disturbing before-and-after images show what major US cities could look like in the year 2100

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washington dc memorials climate change

The world's oceans levels are rising at faster and faster rates as waters warm and ice sheets melt.

Researchers, led by University of Colorado-Boulder professor Steve Nerem, looked at satellite data dating back to 1993 to track the rise of sea levels.

Their findings, published in the journalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, show that sea levels aren't just rising — that rise has been accelerating over the last 25 years.

Even small increases can have devastating consequences, according to climateexperts. If the worst climate-change predictions come true, coastal cities in the US will be devastated by flooding and greater exposure to storm surges by the year 2100.

Research group Climate Central has created a plug-in for Google Earth that illustrates how catastrophic an "extreme" sea-level rise scenario would be if the flooding happened today, based on projections in a 2017 report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency.

You can install the plug-in (directions here) and see what might become of major US cities.

SEE ALSO: 37 incredible drone photos from across the globe that would be illegal today

In a worst case scenario, flooding caused by polar melting and ice-sheet collapses could cause a sea level rise of 10 to 12 feet by 2100, NOAA reported in January 2017.



Here's Washington, DC today. The famed Potomac River runs through it.



And here's what Washington, DC, might look like in the year 2100 — as seen on Climate Central's plug-in for Google Earth. Ocean water causes the river to overflow.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

I got a job at Nordstrom and discovered the 'best company to work for' has a shark tank culture no one ever talks about

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Nordstrom exterior

All jobs have their highs and lows. 

Nordstrom has a great reputation when it comes to their employee's happiness and overall workplace culture. In fact, the retailer has made the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For List for 20 consecutive years in a row. 

Still, day to day life as a retail associate can be challenging. During my three year tenure at Nordstrom, I learned many valuable lessons and experienced some shocking customers.

Here's what it's really like to work at Nordstrom:  

SEE ALSO: We visited Walmart in India — and it's shockingly different from what you'll see in America

Employees are driven to extremes for commission checks

Nordstrom employees are paid a commission of all the sales they make — and it sometimes brings out an ugly competitiveness amongst floor associates. Many employees aggressively court customers in pricey departments of the store in hopes of hooking a customer and their commission before other colleagues. 



If you don't reach your sales goals you run the risk of being demoted or fired

Nordstrom sets daily, weekly, monthly and yearly goals that all employees are expected to meet. When managers suspect an employee may be missing their marks, they set up mandatory mini-training sessions on how they can better approach his or her sales. 



Pressure to perform has led some Nordstrom associates to go rogue

In the past, employees looking to steal their co-workers sales and commission glory have attempted to reverse payment transactions. Once a previous transaction is reversed, the rogue associate can personally ring the customer up a second time and receive credit for the purchase. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

We visited Walmart in India — and it's shockingly different from what you'll see in America

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Walmart India

INDIA — Walmart stores in India may not look like anything out of the ordinary from the outside, but the interior of the stores couldn't be more different from U.S. counterparts.

Indian Walmart stores have strict membership rules, locally sourced fruits and vegetables and sacks instead of shopping bags. 

All of these differences have been incorporated by Walmart managers to appeal to foreign customers — and it has become the key to their success abroad.

Here's a look at what it is like to shop at Walmart in India.

SEE ALSO: We compared grocery shopping at stores in the US and the UK — and it was shockingly clear which country does it better

The first Walmart in India opened in 2009.



Locally known as Best Price, the stores may look similar to their counterparts in the US, but they operate quite differently.



Walmart in India has adapted to the demands of its customers by providing items based on their needs.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

15 photos of former US presidents hanging out together

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Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan (L) presents then, president-elect Bill Clinton (R) with a jar of jelly beans during Clinton's visit to Reagan's office in Los Angeles in this November 27, 1992

It's not easy to join the President's Club, but once you do, only few can understand the effect it has on you.

That might explain why former presidents have a bond that seems to transcend politics.

From formal events, to galas, fundraisers, and funerals — presidents stay within the same circle and see each other throughout the course of their lives.  

In honor of President's Day, we've rounded up the best photos of former US presidents enjoying each other's company.

SEE ALSO: What Donald Trump and other US presidents looked like when they were young

Former Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, George H.W. Bush, and Jimmy Carter joined each other on stage at the opening of a hurricanes relief concert in College Station, Texas, in October, 2017.



Obama, Bush and Clinton posed during the first round foursomes match of The President's Cup golf tournament at Liberty National Golf Course in New Jersey in September, 2017.



Bill Clinton and George W. Bush shared a moment after Bush gave Clinton advice on how to be a grandfather, during an onstage conversation at a Presidential Leadership Scholars event at the Newseum in Washington, September of 2014.



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94% of all BAFTA film award nominees have been white, according to a new report

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i, tonya

  • Only 6% of BAFTA — or British Academy Film Awards — have been non-white.
  • That's according to a new report from business psychology firm Pearn Kandola.
  • This year, all nominees for Best leading actress are white.


94% of all BAFTA film award nominees have been white, according to a new report.

The analysis, conducted by business psychology firm Pearn Kandola, also revealed that 92% of nominees for "Best Supporting Actor" and "Best Supporting Actress" have been white.

The firm looked at 11 of the glitzy award show's key categories to produce the analysis ahead of Sunday night's 71st BAFTAs — or British Academy Film Awards — happening at London's Royal Albert Hall.

The categories analysed were Best Leading Actor, Best Leading Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Rising Star, Best Director, Best Film, Outstanding British Film, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Screenplay, and The BAFTA Fellowship.

The analysis found that only five BAME (Black and minority ethnic) males have ever been nominated for the "Best Leading Actor" award, and just six BAME females for "Best Leading Actress."

Further, the research also showed that all BAME actors who have won at the BAFTAs were in roles that "could only have been played by someone for an ethnic minority background." For Best Leading Actor, this includes Mahatma Gandhi (Gandhi), Ray Charles (Ray), Idi Amin (The Last King of Scotland), Solomon Northup (12 Years a Slave), and Dith Pran (The Killing Fields).

South Asian and Latino/Hispanic actors are also underrepresented, according to the report, being nominated for Best Leading Actor just three and five times respectively, while no East Asian actor has every been nominated. The same applies for Best Leading Actress, with Latina/Hispanic and East Asian women each getting only one nomination over time, while South Asian women have only been nominated twice.

Professor Binna Kandola OBE, Senior Partner and Co-Founder of Pearn Kandola, said: "This analysis clearly illustrates the lack of diversity in the BAFTA awards.

"It’s true that times are changing, and we must recognise the fact that many of the successful BAME candidates were nominated for their respective awards in the more recent part of the BAFTAs' extensive history. Despite this, the fact that even in this year's awards, nominees from BAME backgrounds are overwhelmingly outnumbered by their white counterparts, suggests that there is still a great deal of progress to be made."

When Business Insider reached out to BAFTA for comment, a spokesperson said: "As an industry we have a long way to go to achieve a level playing field in all areas of diversity.

"As a leading player in our industry BAFTA is committed to driving change. We work hard to ensure that our policies and practices across all of our activity enable us to be open, accessible and inclusive. In recent years we have seen those changes start to take effect. We are continuing to address the challenge of encouraging inclusivity while maintaining BAFTA’s standards for excellence.

"One of the ways we are addressing this is by implementing the BFI Diversity Standards within our awards criteria for Outstanding British Film and Outstanding Debut from 2019."

You can see the full list of this year's nominations here.

SEE ALSO: This is everything celebrities will be eating and drinking at the BAFTAs

DON'T MISS: These are all of the 2018 BAFTA nominations

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: What happens to your body when you start exercising regularly

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