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What Frances McDormand meant when she referenced an 'inclusion rider' in her Oscar acceptance speech

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frances mcdormand

  • Frances McDormand mentioned an "inclusion rider" during her acceptance speech for best actress at Sunday's Oscars.
  • That means including a mandate in contracts for upcoming productions that guarantees race and gender diversity.


Frances McDormand's Oscar win on Sunday wasn't a surprise, but something she said in her acceptance speech was.

At the end of her speech, the actress said, "I have two words to leave with you tonight, ladies and gentleman: inclusion rider."

That's a very inside baseball term, even for people in the entertainment business.

McDormand was asking those with power in Hollywood to push for requirements in movie and TV contracts for race and gender diversity, with a specific clause or clauses that guarantee it. 

When McDormand asked every female nominee to stand in the auditorium during her speech, it was to drive home the point that these major players should now demand an inclusion rider when negotiating in the future. 

The Oscar evening was filled with female presenters and winners pointing out the rare diversity in this year's awards — from Emma Stone saying "these four men and Greta Gerwig" when presenting the best director award, to the original song winners pointing out the 50/50 gender representation in their category.

But McDormand's, though more insider talk, is an extremely important power play when increasing the gender and race equality in Hollywood going forward.

Backstage after her speech, McDormand went into a bit more detail about the issue with The Hollywood Reporter:

"I just found out about this last week. This has always been available to all — everybody who does a negotiation on a film — which means you can ask for or demand at least 50 percent diversity in not only the casting but the crew. The fact that I just learned that after 35 years in the film business — we aren’t going back.”

Watch McDorman's entire speech below:

 

SEE ALSO: How a guy who injected PEDs to see the effects scored an Oscar win and uncovered the biggest doping scandal in Olympics history

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: You can connect all 9 Best Picture Oscar nominees with actors they have in common — here's how


Why 31 will be the most expensive year of your life

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bridesmaids

  • Credit score website ClearScore has worked out the most expensive age on average is 31.
  • This is when you're likely to be getting married, having children, or saving for a house.
  • To afford everything, the typical 31-year-old needs to save £43,000.


Plenty of young people can relate to dealing with how expensive life is. But even when your 20s are over, and you're likely to be making more money, things aren't about to get easier.

Credit check company ClearScore surveyed 3,000 people and found that the most expensive year of your life will be 31.

It turns out that growing up and taking on more responsibility comes at a cost, with the typical 31-year-old needing to save as much as £43,000 ($60,000) to cover the cost of things like weddings and babies.

Overall, ClearScore found that the biggest expenses at this age are getting married (27%), buying a house (25%), having a baby (20%), and paying for a honeymoon (14%).

About 60% of those surveyed had savings to pay for everything, while 33% of 25 to 34 year olds still relied on their parents to help them out. Just 14% of people over age 55 said their parents helped them financially.

Future financial worries of 30-somethings included saving for retirement, saving money at all, and having enough financial stability to support children.

Hitting the credit card

With millennials being worse off than the previous generation— lower income growth and being less likely to ever own a house — it's not that surprising that the survey also found the use of credit has changed between the generations.

Some 20% of under 34 year olds said they use credit to fund big purchases, compared to just 8% of over-55s.

People taking part in the survey tended to agree that millennials are having a tough time financially, with 51% of 25-34 year olds and 57% of over 55s believing this to be true.

"Many of life's big milestones tend to happen very close together so we weren't shocked to discover how much people were spending during their most expensive year," said Justin Basini, the chief executive of ClearScore.

SEE ALSO: The 21 European countries where the average marriage age is the lowest

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NOW WATCH: FACEBOOK COFOUNDER: How I negotiated with Mark Zuckerberg for a $500 million stake

Here are 19 hot cars we can't wait to see at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show

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Ferrari 488 Pista

  • The Geneva Motor Show is the first major European car show of 2018.
  • It will be packed with the latest offerings from Aston Martin, Bentley, BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Ferrari, Porsche, Volvo, VW, and Hyundai.
  • The show will be open to the public from March 8 to the 18 at the Palexpo in Geneva, Switzerland.

The 2018 Geneva Motor Show is the first major European car show of the year. Usually, Geneva is a big to do. Car makers pull out all the stops to show off their latest and greatest.

Aston Martin CEO Dr. Andy Palmer offered up a spot on description of the show when he said, "Geneva is a highlight of the industry calendar and a motor show with a rich history and great atmosphere."

And what rich atmosphere it will be.

The world's top brands will be there. From Ferrari to McLaren and Aston Martin to Bentley, Geneva will be packed with the next generation of exotics. In addition, there will be a host of production-ready models from mass-market luxury brands, such as Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, and BMW.

The 2018 Geneva Motor Show will be open to the public from March 8-18 at the Palexpo Arena in Geneva, Switzerland.

Here's a closer look at the 19 hot cars we can't wait to see:

SEE ALSO: These are the best cars, trucks, and SUVs to buy in 2018

FOLLOW US: on Facebook for more car and transportation content!

Geneva will mark the auto show debut of Aston Martin's new Vantage sports car.



Aston CEO Dr. Andy Palmer hinted at a big surprise. It's possible this surprise may be a production DBX crossover.



Bentley is expected to unveil a new plug-in hybrid model and that could come in the form of a hybrid Bentayga.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 19 best things to do in San Francisco, according to people who live there

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San Francisco

San Francisco tourism is in a bit of a slump, though over 25 million people visit every year. 

Visitors might be drawn to the obvious attractions like the Golden Gate Bridge and the "Full House" home, but San Francisco has more to offer than tourist traps and trolley cars.

To help you experience the best of the city, we surveyed Business Insider employees based in San Francisco on their favorite local spots. From the nature trails at Lands End to happy hour at the Tonga Room, these off-the-beaten-path destinations showcase the best of the city.

DON'T MISS: A 58-story skyscraper in San Francisco is tilting and sinking — and residents say their multimillion-dollar condos are 'nearly worthless'

The best cure for a sweet tooth is a visit to Mr. Holmes Bakehouse, a bakery that's famous for its hybrid desserts and drool-worthy Instagram. We recommend the sushi croissant.

Address: 1042 Larkin Street

See more: San Francisco has done it again with the 'sushi croissant' — here's what it's like



Some of the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge are to be had on the rocky and windswept shoreline trails at Lands End. Wear sneakers. The hike includes many stairs.

Address:680 Point Lobos Avenue



And don't miss the rock labyrinth at Lands End for a memorable photo.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A mysterious supplement with a viral following has been linked to salmonella and 44 deaths — here's what it is

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kratom

  • Kratom is a psychoactive drug that has been classified as an opioid.
  • The drug has also been loosely tied to 44 deaths.
  • Kratom remains legal in a majority of US states but is banned in several countries.

The Food and Drug Administration calls it a dangerous opioid, but kratom advocates call their pill of choice a life-saving supplement.

Kratom is a psychoactive drug derived from the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa, a plant in the coffee family that is native to Southeast Asia. Research suggests the drug taps into some of the same brain receptors as opioids do, spurring the FDA to classify it as one this February.

But unlike most opioids, which are either illegal or must be prescribed by a doctor, kratom is widely available online. It was even sold for a time out of an Arizona vending machine.

Marketers tout kratom as capable of delivering super-human strength and feelings of euphoria along with powerful pain relief and better focus. Kratom is also sometimes hailed as a way to treat opioid addiction.

Experts say that as with any unregulated supplement, kratom may be dangerous and even deadly. But they also say it makes sense that some people are flocking to a drug with kratom's properties as a means of dealing with addiction to more powerful opioids like fentanyl.

Is kratom deadly?

Kratom_PillsSince last November, kratom has been loosely connected to 44 deaths and 40 cases of illness, according to the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Ultimately, however, kratom has not been definitively implicated in either all of the illnesses or all of the deaths, though the drug seems to be the likely culprit for the salmonella. Except for one individual, all of the people whose deaths were traced to kratom were also taking other drugs, in some cases including other opioids — making it impossible to definitively label kratom as the cause of death.

Among the people interviewed by the the CDC who had salmonella, the majority said they had consumed kratom, and officials in two states found Salmonella bacteria in the kratom powder used by people who had gotten sick. 

Many kratom users appear to be turning to the drug as a means of stepping down from opioid painkillers like heroin and morphine.

Because kratom's main psychoactive ingredient (a compound called mitragynine) functions like an opioid, it would make sense that people who are suffering withdrawals from a stronger drug are using it to reduce their symptoms, David Juurlink, a professor of medicine at the University of Toronto, told Business Insider.

"People who go through opioid withdrawal, they’re going to get sick," Juurlink said. "It's a horrible thing to go through. We have ways of dealing with that at the doctor’s office. But I can see how someone who’s suffering could derive meaningful benefit from something like this."

That said, trying a drug that hasn't been tested for safety in the absence of a medical professional is very dangerous, and may be deadly. People will likely encounter difficulties determining the proper dose, verifying the drug's contents, and assessing if there are any potentially harmful interactions with other drugs or medications.

Kratom is currently banned in Australia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand. While it is banned in several US states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, it is legal elsewhere. Still, the Drug Enforcement Administration has placed kratom on its list of "drugs and chemicals of concern" and in 2016 proposed a nationwide ban.

SEE ALSO: We took a scientific look at whether weed or alcohol is worse for you — and there appears to be a winner

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Flakka — the drug they call '$5 insanity' — is overwhelming police and hospitals in Florida

Kids at every income level reveal their favorite toys

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  • A project from the Gapminder Foundation photographs families around the world to give a glimpse into their lives.
  • This slideshow contains families who make $45 a month to those making more than $3,000 a month.

If you want to understand the world, look at how people live. Toys are a good place to start.

Dollar Street, a project from the Gapminder Foundation, went into hundreds of homes at different income levels around the world to photograph people’s possessions. The photographs provide an intimate glimpse into the lives of hundreds of families. The difference in income is striking. Yet there are a number of similarities between people of vastly different income levels, too.

"It's striking to see how similar our lives are," Gapminder co-founder Anna Rosling Rönnlund told Business Insider. "It makes the world less scary to see that most people struggle with everyday business most of the time and they are not so exotic and it's not so scary."

Below, check out some favorite toys around the world.

Gus Lubin contributed to a previous version of this story.

SEE ALSO: The 10 most critical problems in the world, according to millennials

In an Indian home living on $29/month per adult, the favorite toy is a plastic bottle.



In an Ivorian home (Cote d'Ivoire) living on $61/month per adult, the favorite toy is a shoe.



In a Burundian home living on $29/month per adult, the favorite toy is dried maize.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

'The Shape of Water' won the Oscar for best picture but some critics still hated it

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Not everybody loves award-winning movies.

Guillermo del Toro's "The Shape of Water" won four Oscars: best picture, best director, best original score and best production design. 

The film, which has a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes (and an audience score of 78%), has received mostly positive reviews.

But some critics hate it.

A lot of the negative criticism stems from a lack of fleshed-out, three-dimensional characters, leaving some wondering if Del Toro sacrificed character development for stunning visuals.

A few negative reviews haven't stopped the success of this movie so far, but they are still interesting to look at.

Here are some of the worst reviews of  "The Shape of Water" from critics:

SEE ALSO: All the winners at the 2018 Oscars

"The movie's worldview is as easy to like as the protagonist and her friends, but del Toro lays it on so thick that there's no room for counterargument or even independent thought."

Chicago Reader



"The more I try to find some kind of justifiable meaning and relevance, the more I find 'The Shape of Water' a loopy, lunkheaded load of drivel."

New York Observer



"I felt nothing for the characters which makes the premise of rooting for the misunderstood a moot point."

The Sun



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 'Phantom Thread' costume designer ended up winning Jimmy Kimmel's $18,000 Jet Ski at the Oscars

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  • "Phantom Thread" costume designer Mark Bridges won both an Oscar and a Jet Ski at the 90th Academy Awards.
  • In his opening monologue, Oscar host Jimmy Kimmel announced that a Jet Ski worth nearly $18,000 would be given to the Oscar winner who gave the shortest acceptance speech.

 

"Phantom Thread" costume designer Mark Bridges had arguably the most impressive night of anyone at the 90th Academy Awards on Sunday, taking home both an Oscar and a Jet Ski worth $18,000. 

In his opening monologue for the ceremony, Oscar host Jimmy Kimmel offered up the Jet Ski as a game-show-like prize to the Oscar winner who gave the shortest acceptance speech.

Kimmel held a stopwatch, saying, "I will be timing you," while actress Helen Mirren showed off the Jet Ski in the manner of a game-show assistant. 

Numerous winners, including Jordan Peele (winner of best original screenplay for "Get Out"), jokingly mentioned the Jet Ski as they began their speeches. But Bridges ended up giving the shortest speech at 36 seconds.

As the ceremony closed, Bridges got on the Jet Ski with his Oscar in hand and Helen Mirren sitting behind him. 

Bridges took home the only Oscar for Paul Thomas Anderson's "Phantom Thread," which was nominated for five other awards, including best picture.

SEE ALSO: All the winners at the 2018 Oscars

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: You can connect all 9 Best Picture Oscar nominees with actors they have in common — here's how


A man tried to steal Frances McDormand's Oscar at an aftershow ball

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Frances McDormand

  • An unidentified man tried to steal Frances McDormand's best actress Oscar award at an aftershow ball, according to a tweet from a New York Times reporter.
  • USA Today reported Sunday night that McDormand was eventually "reunited" with her award after "a scary post-show celebration separation."
  • McDormand's representative wrote an email to USA Today saying that "Fran and Oscar are happily reunited and are enjoying an In-N-Out burger together."

An unidentified man tried to steal Frances McDormand's best actress Oscar award at an aftershow ball, according to a tweet from New York Times reporter Cara Buckley.

USA Today reported Sunday night that McDormand was eventually "reunited" with her award after "a scary post-show celebration separation."

But Buckley's tweet provided further detail into the seeming attempted theft: Wolfgang Puck's photographer apparently stopped the man from leaving the ball with the trophy. The man then "disappeared back into the ball," after McDormand said to let him go.

McDormand won the best actress award for her performance as a grieving mother in "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri." (The film was nominated for six other Oscars, including best picture. McDormand's costars, Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell, both received nominations for best supporting actor, and Rockwell won the film's only other Oscar for best supporting actor.)  

On Sunday night, a representative for McDormand confirmed to USA Today that McDormand was "happily reunited" with her trophy.

"Fran and Oscar are happily reunited and are enjoying an In-N-Out burger together," the rep wrote.

SEE ALSO: All the winners at the 2018 Oscars

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: You can connect all 9 Best Picture Oscar nominees with actors they have in common — here's how

Sunday's Oscars TV ratings are pacing to be the show's worst ever

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  • The 90th Academy Awards had an overnight rating of 18.9, that's down 16% from last year's show.
  • When final numbers come in, this year's show could turn out to be the least-watched in Oscar history.


It turns out giving away a Jet Ski and surprising a theater full of people watching "A Wrinkle in Time" wasn't enough to suck people into watching the 90th Academy Awards on Sunday.

Overnight ratings of the ABC telecast, which didn't wrap up until midnight eastern time, indicate that the show is down 16% from last year's, averaging a 18.9 rating among households between 8 p.m. and 11 a.m. EST, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The 2017 show, which included the best-picture fiasco, earned a 22.4 overnight rating, and ultimately had 32.9 million viewers for the night. That amounts to the second-lowest viewership in Oscars history. 

And the way things are looking with this year's overnight figures, the 2018 edition is flirting with being the show's all-time lowest.

90th Oscars 2 GettyWith general audiences not interested in the favorites for best picture, and many of the major categories predetermined by Oscar pundits, the show going in didn't have much drama for the casual movie lover. 

Though Jimmy Kimmel kept a steady hand with the hosting duties for a second year, his bits — including bringing stars like Gal Gadot, Emily Blunt, Mark Hamill, and Armie Hammer to surprise a theater filled with people watching Disney's "A Wrinkle in Time" — weren't that memorable. 

But audiences have generally been ignoring the telecast for years.

The 2017 rating was down by 4% from the Chris Rock-hosted 2016 year. The lowest rating ever for the Oscars is 2008, hosted by Jon Stewart, which was seen by 31.8 million viewers (that year "No Country for Old Men" won best picture).

Here are the total viewers for the Oscars since 2000, according to Programming Insider:

2017 — 32.9 million
2016 — 34.4 million
2015 — 37.3 million
2014 — 43.7 million
2013 — 40.4 million
2012 — 39.5 million
2011 — 37.9 million
2010 — 41.6 million

2009 — 36.9 million
2008 — 31.8 million

2007 — 39.9 million
2006 — 38.6 million
2005 — 42.2 million
2004 — 43.6 million
2003 — 33.0 million
2002 — 40.5 million
2001 — 42.9 million
2000 — 46.5 million

SEE ALSO: What Frances McDormand meant when she referenced an "inclusion rider" in her Oscar acceptance speech

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: You can connect all 9 Best Picture Oscar nominees with actors they have in common — here's how

Meghan Markle always follows this routine when flying to avoid getting jet leg and travel sick

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  • US actress and future royal Meghan Markle is used to travelling for work.
  • She shared her secrets on beating jet lag and sickness in a blog, which is being recirculated from her now-closed website, The Tig.
  • Invest in a hand sanitiser, a high-strain probiotic, and hydrate like you’re dying of thirst, she advised.


Many people would agree that the reality of travelling for work is a lot less glamorous than it might sound. And it appears that US "Suits" actress and future royal Meghan Markle knows this all too well.

A post she wrote about travel essentials on her former lifestyle blog The Tig in 2016 has been circulating online again — and it reveals some details about the routine she follows when she boards a plane. Here's an archived version of the post.

"If you’ve been tracking my social media of late, you’ll notice that not a week goes by without me finding my derrière on a plane," she wrote.

"Yes, it’s fun, and yes, it’s purpose-driven, and yes, it can sometimes feel quite glamorous; but, jet-setting (for work or pleasure) comes with its own set of complications. The foremost issue is self-care.

"It’s easy to run yourself ragged, hopping from one locale to another, sometimes feeling homesick, and other times just feeling plain-old sick (tummy, head cold, you name it)," she went on.

So, Markle shared some trusty travel tips with her readers — and some of them might well come in handy on your next flight.

Meghan Markle

Take some sanitiser

First, while she claimed to be "no germophobe," she revealed that the first thing she does when she gets on a plane is wipe down her surrounding area.

"I always use some quick hand wipes or a travel sanitizer spray to wipe it all down: that includes the little TV, the service tray, and all the buttons around your seat. Sure, the person next to you may give you a side eye, but at the end of the flight, you’ll be the one whistling dixie with nary a sniffle."

And she could certainly have a point, there are plenty of studies that have found plane trays to be among the dirtiest parts of an aircraft, and could even harbour more germs than the flush handle in the toilet.

Swab your nose

Next up, Markle shared a flying tip which said was originally from Leonardo DiCaprio — albeit indirectly, via a friend who she called a "good source."

"[H]e puts a little Neosporin on a cotton swab and coats the inside of his nostrils. Not only does it create a barrier for germs, it also lubricates the skin in the nose. That’s important because when the skin cracks, germs can come a running in, so the coating of the Neosporin doubly protects you," she wrote.

Another item she'll always bring with her is a high-strain probiotic (a type of supplement for gut health). Then, she says, "hydrate like you’re dying of thirst – because even if you’re not, for your body – the thirst is real."

"This dynamic duo of probiotics and agua will keep your gut health in check and honestly stave off jet lag if you’re globetrotting on your travails."

Meghan markle edinb

Take something cosy

Markle added that she'll never travel without a scarf or cashmere blanket "that feels like a hug."

"Throw it in your purse or backpack, and no matter how far you travel, you will always feel comforted both on and off the plane with something that feels and smells like home. This has become invaluable to me when catching some Zzzzzs on a flight, or feeling swaddled in a hotel room," she added.

Markle also advised travellers to invest in a travel wallet and a chic and efficient carry-on "that makes you feel like a frequent flier, things will speed along so you can avoid less airport hiccups and can focus on the vacate part of the vacation."

Away luggage

Eat to beat the jet lag

And finally, while many seasoned travellers will tell you to tune in your sleep pattern with your destination when flying long-haul, Markle also recommends doing this with your meals, a tip she says she learned from fashion designer Misha Nonoo.

"Misha Nonoo, once told me that if you eat on the schedule of wherever you’ve landed, you won’t feel jet lagged. I was skeptical at first, but as Misha shared, it’s your stomach that tells your brain when it’s feeling wonky."

"By simply eating a meal at the time the locals are when you land, you trick your brain a bit and stay much more on track, and much less cranky," she wrote.

SEE ALSO: Here's how Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are picking the 2,640 extra guests coming to their wedding

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The surprising reason why NASA hasn't sent humans to Mars yet

'I go crazy if I don't have it': American teens are going wild over an addictive e-cigarette developed by Stanford graduates

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  • Juul, the best-selling e-cigarette on the market, is rampant in American high schools.
  • Teens are bragging about "juuling" in front of teachers and in school bathrooms. 
  • Some schools are locking up bathrooms or removing the doors of bathroom stalls to try and control the issue. 
  • "At first it was just fun and it was something that you could do anywhere," one 15-year-old said. "Now, I go crazy if I don't have it. I don't even feel a buzz anymore."
  • The nicotine content of a Juul pod is 0.7mL per pod, which is equivalent to about one pack of cigarettes.


The best-selling e-cigarette on the market is rapidly infiltrating American high schools. 

The nicotine vaporizer, called Juul, is popular among students because it's easy to hide. The device is sleek and small with "flavor" pods that look identical to flash drives, enabling students to discreetly fire it up during class and in school hallways. 

The pods contain a cocktail of chemicals, including a potent dose of nicotine, that's designed to mimic the feeling of smoking a cigarette. They come in enticing flavors like crème brûlée, cool cucumber, and mango. And the device can  easily be charged using a laptop's USB port.

Juul

While it was launched in 2015, the Juul only recently began spreading like wildfire across school campuses. It's now the best-selling e-cigarette on the market, with 32% of the market share of the total e-cigarette category, according to Nielsen data.

"All my friends in college have one," Mil Schooley, an 18-year-old student in Denver, told NPR. "It just blew up over the summer."

High school senior Jack Waxman said the bathrooms at his school in Westchester, New York, are overrun with Juul smokers.

"The bathroom has become a very, very scary place for kids because kids are using these products and teachers are unaware," Waxman said.

One Connecticut high school has locked up all but one set of bathrooms to try and control the issue. A suburban DC high school is attacking the problem by removing the doors of its bathroom stalls.

A Juul "starter" kit costs between $35 and $50, and flavor pods cost $16 for a pack of four. Juul advertises the device — which was developed by two Stanford graduates — as "the satisfying alternative to cigarettes" on its website. The company also says it's "actively combating underage use of nicotine products."

Meanwhile, teens have been bragging on social media about "juuling" at school and posting videos of themselves firing up the devices in classrooms.

"Me and Kaitlyn stay behind to hit the juul before leaving class and the art teacher waits to lock door behind us and peeks in mid-juul exhale and goes 'woah! what are we vapin’ in here?!'... and all I could respond with was 'Heck yeah dude!'" @nicmazz tweeted on March 1.

"When you teacher catches you rippin your juul in class and asks if you’re 'vaping a juul' LMAO" @KrisTelhami tweeted on February 20.

Many high schools are sending out alerts about the new trend to parents.

An October 31 e-mail to parents in Newton, Massachusetts, showed an evidence photo with the caption: "Here is a Juul device disguised as a Sharpie Pen," the Boston Globe reported.

Some users say it's highly addictive. The nicotine content of a Juul pod is is 0.7mL per pod, which is equivalent to about one pack of cigarettes, or 200 puffs, according to BuzzFeed News.

"At first it was just fun and it was something that you could do anywhere," one 15-year-old told the student newspaper at Loy Norrix High School in Kalamazoo, Michigan. "It’s so easy. Then it just became something I was doing nonstop, but I still felt a buzz. Now, I go crazy if I don't have it. I don't even feel a buzz anymore."

SEE ALSO: McDonald's just had its worst day ever after its new Dollar Menu gets slammed as a failure

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: What it's really like inside Amazon's new no-line grocery store.

Jimmy Kimmel was right: Data shows that Oscars acceptance speeches have gotten dramatically longer over time

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  • Oscars acceptance speeches have grown dramatically in length over time, according to a Ceros analysis of the Academy's speech database. 
  • Between 1950 and 1954, the median Oscars acceptance speech consisted of 29 words. 
  • From 2011 to 2017, the median speech ran 174 words. 
  • The growing length of Oscar speeches was the tongue-in-cheek reason for host Jimmy Kimmel's decision to award a Jet Ski to the Oscar winner who gave the shortest acceptance speech on Sunday.

Jimmy Kimmel's decision to award a Jet Ski for the shortest acceptance speech at Sunday's Oscars was not only a great comedic bit, but a practical attempt at curbing a historical trend. 

While Kimmel joked in his opening monologue that he would be timing all Oscars acceptance speeches, which he said have gotten longer over time, data analysis from Ceros shows just how dramatically these speeches have extended since the Oscars' early days.

The company analyzed the median word count in all Academy Award acceptance speeches from the Academy's database, dating back to the 1950s.

Between 1950 and 1954, the median acceptance speech consisted of 29 words. From 2011 to 2017, the median speech ran 174 words. 

OscarsSpeechLengthChart_BI-Graphics

On Sunday, Kimmel's award for the shortest acceptance speech went to the "Phantom Thread" costume designer Mark Bridges, who received a green Jet Ski worth nearly $18,000. 

While Bridges' speech clocked in at a quick 36 seconds, many other Oscar winners skirted their shot at winning the Jet Ski by going long.

Gary Oldman, who won the best actor award for his performance as Winston Churchill in "Darkest Hour," gave an acceptance speech that reached nearly 3 minutes in length.

Frances McDormand, who won the best actress award for her performance in "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri," gave a speech that lasted around two minutes and thirty seconds, but it also included a striking, wordless tribute to all of the women who were nominated.

SEE ALSO: All the winners at the 2018 Oscars

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: You can connect all 9 Best Picture Oscar nominees with actors they have in common — here's how

Gary Oldman's best actor Oscar win sparked an online backlash due to a previous allegation of domestic violence against him

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GAry Oldman oscar

  • Best actor winner Gary Oldman is receiving some backlash online for his Oscar win due to a years-old allegation of domestic violence.
  • In 2001, Oldman's ex-wife accused him of beating her with a telephone in front of their children.
  • Some people are not happy Oldman won the Oscar, especially considering previous frontrunner James Franco wasn't nominated after allegations of inappropriate behavior toward women surfaced against him.  
  • Last year's best actor winner Casey Affleck has been accused sexual harassment as well. 

Actor Gary Oldman received applause Sunday night when he won the best actor Oscar for his performance as Winston Churchill in "Darkest Hour." But he's facing a backlash online due to a years-old allegation of domestic violence. 

In 2001, a report in The New York Daily News detailed Oldman's alleged domestic abuse against his (now) ex-wife, Donya Fiorentino. The report was published on September 11, 2001, and the allegation did not circulate widely. But it has come back to the forefront as a result of the #MeToo movement and Oldman's Oscar nomination and win. 

Oldman's ex-wife alleged to the L.A. Superior Court that he choked her and hit her “in the face with the telephone receiver three or four times.” She also said he did this in front of their children.

In 2001, Oldman's manager told the Daily News that Fiorentino's claims were "completely investigated by police and the district attorney's offices. No charges were ever filed." And Oldman said she was lying, according to the Daily News.

Oldman has since remarried twice. He's currently married to Gisele Schmidt, who he wed in 2017. His first marriage of five was to 2018 best supporting actress nominee Lesley Manville, and his second was to actress Uma Thurman.

Fiorentino's account saw a bit of increased traction this awards season, but Oldman was nominated and won the Oscar despite being up against some tough competition, including Timothée Chalamet's performance in "Call Me by Your Name."

But after he accepted the award Sunday night, many online spoke out against Oldman's Oscar win:

 

It's especially interesting that Goldman won best actor considering James Franco didn't get an expected nomination for "The Disaster Artist" after allegations of inappropriate behavior toward women surfaced in January (before voting for the Oscar nominees closed). The allegation against Oldman also heavily contrasted with the themes throughout the ceremony, which focused on supporting women in the industry, #MeToo, Time's Up, and diversity. 

Several anonymous Academy voters told Vulture they didn't vote for Franco because of his alleged behavior, yet Oldman prevailed.

Last year, Casey Affleck, who was accused of sexual harassment on his 2010 film "I'm Still Here," won best actor for his role in "Manchester by the Sea." He did not present the best actress Oscar this year, breaking with tradition.

SEE ALSO: Casey Affleck, previously accused of sexual harassment, isn't presenting the best actress award at the 2018 Oscars

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These 9 electric bikes are stylish and loaded with innovative features

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10 vanmoof ebike

  • Electric Bikes, or e-bikes, are battery powered bicycles that can usually go upwards of 15 mph and can be charged in a few hours.
  • E-bikes are less expensive and can be much more convenient than electric cars, with some models costing under $1,000.
  • They often come with features like USB ports, security systems, and the ability to fold in half for easy storage.

Electric bikes — that is high-tech battery-powered bikes — are becoming more popular as a means of practical transportation.  

According to the New York Times, the number of electric bikes purchased in 2017 far surpassed the number of electric cars sold, with over 35 million e-bikes purchased. One reason electric bikes are so popular is the convenience — many e-bikes can be charged in under three hours and bought for under $1,000. If it runs out of a charge while you're riding it, you can still pedal like a regular bike so there's no risk of getting stranded if the battery dies. Some e-bikes also fold in half, making them easy to store and travel with. 

While some people view them as "cheating," electric bikes can help riders go up to 20 mph with minimum effort, and often come with features like USB ports that make them far more advanced than a traditional bike.

Here are some of the most innovative electric bikes on the market:  

SEE ALSO: The 7 most extravagant car interiors in the world

1. The Lopifit electric walking bike is powered by a treadmill.

The Lopifit electric walking bike combines a treadmill and bike. It's powered by walking on the treadmill and can go up to 18 mph for upwards of 50 miles per charge. Lopifit describes the bike as "low physical impact, high cardio, high-calorie burn exercise" and eco-friendly way to commute. It starts at $2,895.



2. The Gi Fly Bike has USB ports and can fold in half in one second.

The Gi Fly Bike is made from 100% recycled materials and comes with USB ports to charge devices when using. It can charge in four hours and go up to 40 miles on one charge. The coolest part about this bike is that it can fold in one second for easy storage and travel. The bike starts at $2,879. 

 



Here's another look at the Gi Fly Bike when its folded up.



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No one knows Putin's exact net worth, but many speculate he's the wealthiest person on the planet — his $1 billion palace and $500 million yacht explain why

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Vladimir Putin

• Vladimir Putin may be the wealthiest man in the world.

• Forbes won't even estimate his net worth, because it can't verify his financial assets, Newsweek reported.

• The Russian president does indulge in some displays of immense wealth, however.

• Putin is reported to own luxury watches, a fleet of yachts, and multiple expensive properties, including a $1 billion palace.

• American financier Bill Browder estimated that Putin had "accumulated $200 billion of ill-gotten gains," according to the Atlantic.


Vladimir Putin very well may be the richest man in the world.

But it's impossible to say for sure. According to the Kremlin, the Russian president earns around $133,000 a year and lives in a small apartment.

That description doesn't jive with most accounts of Putin's lifestyle. Former Russian government adviser Stanislav Belkovsky estimated his fortune is worth $70 billion. Hedge fund manager Bill Browder, a noted critic of Putin, claimed it was more like $200 billion. A fortune that enormous would propel him straight past Amazon founder and richest man in the world Jeff Bezos, who Forbes estimates has $125.6 to his name.

So why can't we pin down Putin's net worth with any certainty? The 2015 Panama Papers revealed that Putin may obscure and bolster his fortune through proxies.

We've put together a list of all the clues that indicate Putin is likely one of the richest people on the planet:

SEE ALSO: 9 Vladimir Putin quotes that offer terrifying insights into his mind

DON'T MISS: Vladimir Putin's hard-core daily routine includes hours of swimming, late nights, and no alcohol

DON'T FORGET: Trump and Putin's morning routines contain a striking parallel

As President of Russia, Putin's official residence is the Moscow Kremlin. However, he spends most of his time at a suburban government residence outside of the city called Novo-Ogaryovo.

Source: Business Insider



He reportedly has access to 20 different palaces and villas.

Source: Up North



Official records published in 2016 by the Kremlin would have us believe that Putin has a very modest real estate portfolio. The report said he owned a small plot of land and an apartment with a garage.

Source: Newsweek



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What it's like to live inside one of the iconic 'Painted Lady' homes in San Francisco

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painted ladies home tour4; san francisco housing crisis affordability

Imagine coming home from work and finding dozens of tourists camped across the street, snapping photos and singing the theme song from '90s sitcom "Full House."

For San Francisco residents Come Lague and Charlene Li, it's part of their everyday routine.

The couple lives in one of the Victorian homes in the Alamo Square neighborhood, known collectively as the "Painted Ladies." Made famous in part by their appearance in the "Full House" intro, the homes are among the city's most photographed tourist destinations.

In 2016, Business Insider had the chance to tour the home. Take a look inside.

SEE ALSO: A 58-story skyscraper in San Francisco is sinking and people are fighting over whose fault it is

Look familiar?

full house intro



The Painted Ladies rocketed to fame in the 1990s after their cameo in the "Full House" intro, but they've been featured in dozens of commercials, TV shows, and movies.

Source: NPR



The iconic row is located in San Francisco's ritzy Alamo Square neighborhood.



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San Francisco is losing more residents than any other city in the US, creating a shortage of U-Hauls that puts a rental at $2,000 just to move to Las Vegas

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San Francisco

  • More residents are leaving San Francisco than any other city in the country, according to data from real estate website Redfin.
  • A growing number of those considering the move are Silicon Valley investors, The New York Times reports.
  • The migration has become so intense that it's creating a shortage of U-Haul vans in the Bay Area, and inflating prices so that it costs thousands to go from San Jose to Las Vegas, but only $100 to go in the opposite direction.
  •  Startup founders and venture capitalists have little reason to stay and invest in expensive real estate, especially since today's technology makes working remotely so seamless. 

The sky-high rent and cost of living that we’ve come to expect from the Bay Area might have finally taken their toll on a large proportion of residents. A huge wave of people are considering more affordable cities outside of the tech capital of the world, and they're taking their startups — and investors — with them, as Kevin Roose reported in The New York Times.

San Francisco lost more residents than any other city in the country in the last quarter of 2017, according to data from real estate website Redfin, which sampled a million users. The data factored in the number of residents that cities gained, meaning San Francisco lost a net 15,489 residents; about 24% more than the next highest loser on the list, New York City.

This is expected to continue into 2018, considering that as of February 2018, 49% of Bay Area residents were looking to move out of San Francisco, according to a survey by public relations firm Edelman.

If that data isn't enough evidence of a heavy migration, consider the shortage of U-Haul moving vans in the Bay Area, which has inflated costs so much that it costs $2,000 to rent a truck from San Jose to Las Vegas — but only costs $100 the other way around, according to local news reporter Michelle Robertson from SFGate. In fact, it costs twice as much to rent a truck from San Jose to almost any other destination city than to rent the same vehicle in the opposite direction.

The migration away from San Francisco isn’t a completely new phenomenon, since rent has been increasing at an incredible rate for years. But the recent tax reform has made life even more expensive for residents, pushing entrepreneurs (and their ideas) towards fast-growing metros. Others, like Peter Thiel, who can afford the price to live there, have attributed their move to a more left-leaning and less tolerant cultural atmosphere that leaves little room for freedom of opinion.

Many investors, like those referenced in Roose's New York Times article, are finding that cities outside of San Francisco are thriving with opportunity. Startup founders and venture capitalists have little reason to stay and invest in expensive real estate, especially since applications like Slack, the inter-company messaging platform, and video conferencing tools make working remotely so seamless.

You can read more about how Silicon Valley investors are feeling about life outside of the Bay Area over at The New York Times.

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12 of the smartest things Elon Musk has said about the future of our planet

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elon musk

Business Insider covers Elon Musk quite a lot, because let's face it — he's a visionary.

From making electric cars the standard with Tesla to making space travel affordable with SpaceX, Musk is the Thomas Edison of our time.

Here are 12 of our favorite things that he's said about the future of the planet.

SEE ALSO: A look at the demanding schedule of Elon Musk, who works in 5-minute slots, skips breakfast, and largely avoids emails

DON'T MISS: I watched SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket thunder into space for the first time — here's what it was like on the ground

On flying cars:



On SpaceX:



On invention:



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The science-backed 7-minute fitness routine is a great way to get in shape

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plank woman fitness gym exercise workout

  • The 7-minute workout combines aerobics and cardio for a great session you can do at home.
  • It's based on a science-backed routine called interval training.
  • Although the workout is short, it'll get your heart racing if you do it right.

Looking for a way to get the benefits of a trip to the gym at home with no equipment? The Johnson & Johnson Official 7-Minute Workout can help.

Admittedly, when I first heard about the app, I assumed it was all hype. I was wrong.

Designed by exercise physiologist Chris Jordan, the app gets your heart pumping and helps build muscle using a type of fitness routine called interval training, which alternates short and powerful bursts of exercise with periods of rest. Here's how it works.

DON'T MISS: It might be healthier to run a mile than a marathon

SEE ALSO: There's even more evidence that one type of exercise is the closest thing to a miracle drug that we have

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