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Why Netflix CEO Reed Hastings calls his company 'the anti-Apple'

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reed hastings

  • Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said at a TED conference on Saturday that his company's culture of open information sharing among its employees makes it like an "anti-Apple."
  • "We're like the anti-Apple. They compartmentalize, we do the opposite. Everyone gets all the information," he said. 
  • Hastings, a Facebook board member, also discussed Facebook's recent privacy scandals and explained how social networks like Facebook are "are clearly trying to grow up quickly."

Netflix CEO and Facebook board member Reed Hastings spoke on his company's culture and Facebook's recent privacy scandals at a TED conference in Vancouver on Saturday.

Hastings said that Netflix's open culture of information-sharing among its employees makes it an "anti-Apple," in that Apple witholds sensitive information and product developments from many within its company, Wired reports.

"We're like the anti-Apple. They compartmentalize, we do the opposite. Everyone gets all the information," Hastings said. "I find out about big decisions made all the time that I had nothing to do with."

Hastings, who is leading Netflix in a charge to spend roughly $8 billion on content this year, said that his company's tactic of information sharing fosters healthy debate in Netflix's decision-making processes. 

"We want people to speak the truth, and we say, 'To disagree silently is disloyal.'" He added, "It's not ok to let a decision go through without saying your piece. We’re very focused on trying to get to good decisions with a good debate." 

Hastings also discussed how criticism of Facebook over its Cambridge Analytica data-harvesting scandal was "not completely unfairly," adding that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was "leading the charge on fixing" the social network's issues. 

Hastings said that social media networks like Facebook "are clearly trying to grow up quickly," and he compared the rise of social media to the controversies that surrounded television in the 1960s, as Recode notes.

“When television was first popular in the 1960s in the U.S., it was called a 'vast wasteland.' And television was going to rock the minds of everybody," Hastings said. "And it turns out everybody’s minds were fine. There were some adjustments. So I think of it as all new technologies have pros and cons. And in social we're just figuring that out."

SEE ALSO: Netflix's 34 original drama series, ranked from worst to best

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12 things 5-star hotels don't want you to know

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mandarin oriental

  • A Quora user asked: 'What are things about 5-star hotels that they do not want you to know?'
  • Users with experience in the hospitality industry, including with roles at Rosewood Hotels and the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, replied to the thread.
  • Here are their most interesting behind-the-scenes secrets.


Whether your lifestyle allows you to stay in them or simply admire them on Instagram, five-star hotels are an appealing prospect.

From the doormen to the Champagne-filled suites, the most luxurious hotels in the world give off the idea that they have everything seamlessly under control. But there's more going on behind the scenes than you might think.

A Quora user asked the question: "What are things about 5-star hotels that they do not want you to know?"

A number of people who claim to have experience in hotels and hospitality replied to the thread — here's what they had to say.

Your social status matters...

Business Development Leader Cameron Nezam, whose LinkedIn profile cites senior roles at Rosewood Hotels & Resorts and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, noted that your status gives you more leverage when staying in a plush hotel.

"If you are a high-profile guest, VIP guest, loyal guest, you provide value for them by staying there so they will most likely put you on the 'special attention' list," he wrote. "How special your experience turns out to be all depends on who you come across whether it’s a front desk agent, reservations agent, front office manager, sales manager, etc.

"Notice when that manager comes around the desk quickly when an A-list guest is in their periphery, they want to make sure everything is okay."

He added that this "special attention" often happens behind the scenes through notes in the property management system.

"A celebrity or wealthy guest will definitely be watched after with more attention than a regular citizen at these hotels," he wrote.

...and they often know who you are before you arrive

hotel front desk

Nezam said high-end hotels try to Google every guest who stays with them "to get an idea of who they are, what they are like, and once again, rank the status of each. This will determine how good of a room they will get. A VP of a small company will likely get a better room than a Senior Associate of a large well-known company."

Your behaviour is recorded in a database

"If you flip out at someone, that goes in your 'profile,'" Nezam said. "If you make a big deal about being put in a room near an elevator, that gets recorded.

"This is so they can get better at anticipating your needs and providing intuitive service which is considered 5-star level. If you are a troublemaker they may have a manager handle your check-in/check-out."

They can't enter your room if your Do Not Disturb sign is on

hotel do not disturb

This is a legal matter, according to Nezam, and it's a "big deal" if they do it anyway.

They often give free rooms to celebrities and influencers...

This is in hopes they'll get a promotional Instagram post in return — and they usually do.

...but they'll never reveal who is staying there

hotel room keys

"This is a BIG rule and the reason they earn their reputation and they rather rely on the guests to promote on their own," Nezam said.

Bruce Claver, who claims to have over 25 years of experience in luxury hospitality, wrote: "In fact, the employees themselves are required at many upscale hotels to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement prior to employment.

"They have a duty to maintain supreme secrecy in order to continually attract and maintain their designated market, the affluent guest... They have money to spend and usually friends and family who also have money to spend and are potential guests."

He added: "Famous people never stay under their real name and we allow people to be registered under an alias or as an NRG, non-registered guest, so their name does not pop up on the computer screen if the front desk agent types it in."

They'll protect your privacy if you're having an affair

hotel room

"You will see people come with their side girlfriend/boyfriend one weekend and then with their family another," Nezam said. "The staff will look the other way and will make sure they don’t accidentally mention something."

You'll be treated better if you tip

While this one may seem obvious, Nezam added: "Once you tip well, word gets around and bellmen and other staff will act more nicely towards you in case you decide to tip well again."

Luxury hotels have cockroaches too

That's according to Claver, who, with "20 years of providing luxury hospitality experience at the five star/five diamond level" according to his LinkedIn profile, said that "even the best-maintained hotel kitchens have some roaches."

There are perks they don't advertise...

breakfast in bed

Andrea Lopez, an employee at Mexican Beach Resorts since 2010, says every good hotel has benefits and amenities they don't advertise because they don't want guests to make the most of them. This can include free Champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries, special decorations in your room, free breakfast, and even a room upgrade.

...and you'll get access to them by making friends with the concierge

"Since most people approach them mad or with a complaint, concierges always appreciate a guest who treats them nicely and will reciprocate with extras or good information," Lopez said. "There can be no better ally than the concierge, especially if you are on vacation."

Jim Stevens, the founder of jimsbeachdeals.com, added: "Hotel employees often are at the tail end of demanding customers and complaints. So a little kindness can go a long way."

If someone dies, you'll never know

Stephen J Serva Dei, who runs a catering service, wrote that people regularly die in hotels — and the establishment will do whatever it can to keep them quiet.

This can range from elderly people passing away in the night of natural causes to drug overdoses and even suicide. "No hotel advertises if someone ever died in a particular hotel room, for obvious reasons," Serva Dei added.

SEE ALSO: Frequent travellers tell us why you should always take the hotel room with the sofa bed — and reveal 9 other easy ways to make a cheaper room feel like a suite

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How The Rock conquered the China box office and proved he's the biggest movie star on the planet (TWX)

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Rampage 3 Warner Bros

  • With its $55 million opening-weekend take in China, Dwayne Johnson's latest movie, "Rampage," is further evidence he's one of the few actors who can bring in major coin across the world.
  • But his dominance in China, the world's second-largest movie market, has been years in the making.

For many studio heads these days, glancing at how their latest movie did in China is in some ways more important than seeing how it did in North America. That is because things are changing drastically for an industry in which the domestic box office had been considered the true indicator of a movie's worth for over a century.

Since the early 2000s, the movie market in China has gone from almost nonexistent to second behind only the US. And it could become No. 1 by 2020, as movie theaters continue to be built at a hurried pace to feed the interest of not just the Hollywood titles but those made by the country's burgeoning homegrown production industry.

Everyone in Hollywood is trying to figure out how to navigate this sea change. Which stories work best? Which are duds? And which movie stars can rake in the cash?

That last one has become an easy answer: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

His latest CGI (and testosterone) heavy blockbuster, "Rampage," won the US box office over the weekend with a $35.8 million take for its studio Warner Bros. But what the movie did in China has the studio ecstatic, as it took in $55.2 million there as part of a $115.7 million international gross.

But this is far from an overnight success. The Rock has been big in China for a while.

Dominance years in the making

Johnson's elevation to a global box-office draw came when he joined the "Fast and the Furious" franchise with 2011's "Fast Five." But his potential worth in China expanded dramatically over the next few years.

In 2013, "Fast & Furious 6" became the first movie in the Universal franchise to play in China (though years' worth of bootlegs of the previous movies were undoubtedly floating around the country). It took in a respectable $66.5 million there. But when "Furious 7" played there in 2015, it went gangbusters, taking in $391 million in China. A few months later, Johnson showed he didn't need the "Fast" fam to make it in China, where "San Andreas" went on to earn $103.2 million.

fate of the furious the rockThe next movie starring Johnson that went to China was the 2016 animated film "Moana" ($32.7 million), and then in 2017 "The Fate of the Furious" once more found incredible success there with $392.8 million, helping the movie earn $1.2 billion worldwide.

With audiences in China already getting a glimpse of Johnson this year when "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" opened there in January ($78 million), the $55 million "Rampage" opening suggests it doesn't matter whether he's with an ensemble or solo: They want to see Dwayne Johnson.

"Johnson continues to prove that he is the most bankable star in the world with his growing global appeal," the comScore box-office analyst Paul Dergarabedian told Business Insider. "It's hard to imagine any other star who could have catapulted 'Rampage' to a nearly $150 million worldwide debut."

But in an indication of just how important China is, The Rock made sure to spend some time there before "Rampage" opened.

Mr. Johnson goes to Shanghai

It's pretty standard to tour the globe for publicity on a major Hollywood release, but when you're a huge star like Dwayne Johnson, the hustle can be narrowed down to some key regions. And Warner Bros. made sure one of Johnson's stops was in China.

Johnson went on a promotional tour in Shanghai for "Rampage," his first time visiting the country's largest city, a studio source told Business Insider.

And the way he was treated, he's certain to return.

The movie's press conference in the city was live-streamed through multiple partners across the country, there was a fan screening in Shanghai's biggest theater, and Johnson extended his likability across all ages after he befriended three kids who were dressed as the three monsters from the movie during the press conference (the movie is based on a popular video game in which giant monsters destroy cities).

"Dwayne, or 'Johnson' as they call him in China, was in great spirits and charmed all of the audiences with his signature enthusiasm and humor," the source said.

Along with the $55 million opening weekend, "Rampage" took in $15.7 million its opening day in China, the third-highest opening day ever for a Warner Bros. movie in the country.

"Dwayne Johnson and giant monsters — that's the perfect recipe for a hit in China these days," Jeff Bock, a senior analyst for Exhibitor Relations, told Business Insider. "In fact, I wouldn't be at all surprised if that was the tipping point for 'Rampage' getting greenlit in the first place."

In an era when the mega movie stars are considered less of a draw than a good superhero movie with "regular" stars, Johnson is showing he's an exception to the trend. He is already a household name in the US, and he's ahead of most stars in conquering China.

SEE ALSO: All the Marvel Cinematic Universe details you need to remember before seeing "Avengers: Infinity War"

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The new Ritz-Carlton luxury cruise ships for the '1% of global travelers' look like incredible super yachts — and you can start booking next month

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Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection 4

  • Ritz-Carlton cruise ships are designed like yachts and come with 149 suites — each with their own private terrace — accommodating up to 298 guests.
  • The Ritz-Carlton cruise line will begin sailing in 2020. 
  • This May, reservations will be open to Ritz-Carlton reward members, and all others in June.


Last year the Ritz-Carlton Hotel revealed plans for a luxury cruise line, with three cruise ships set to begin sailing in 2020. This May, reservations will be open to Ritz-Carlton reward members, and all others in June 2018. 

Somewhere between a private super yacht and a small ocean liner, the Ritz-Carlton cruise ships will accommodate the "the 1% of global travelers," according to Bloomberg.

The new Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is designed to defy all cruise ship stereotypes, with larger rooms, relaxing common spaces, and an on-board spa. The cruise ships boast 149 suites — each with their own private terrace — accommodating up to 298 guests. There will also be high-end dining options, including a restaurant from Sven Elverfeld of Aqua— the three Michelin-starred restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg.

"This unique combination of yachting and cruising will usher in a new way of luxury travel for guests seeking to discover the world," said Herve Humler, President and Chief Operating Officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company in the press release.

Ahead, a look at one of the designs for the Ritz-Carlton cruise ship, created by the firm Tillberg Design of Sweden.

SEE ALSO: Forget the Four Seasons and The Ritz-Carlton: The most luxurious hotel brands in the world are ones you've likely never heard of

The Ritz-Carlton cruise ships will explore the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and New England. Trip itineraries will offer less time at sea, and more time to explore the smaller ports.



Unlike most cruises, rooms will not be called staterooms, but rather, suites. Each will have its own private terrace.



There will be 149 suites onboard, accommodating up to 298 passengers — as well as two 138 square-meter duplex penthouse suites.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's what time Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal wedding will start where you live

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meghan markle prince harry engagement

  • The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will begin at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle at midday (UK time) on Saturday, May 19.
  • The Dean of Windsor will conduct the service and the Archbishop of Canterbury will officiate as the couple make their vows.
  • At 1 p.m. the newly married couple will embark on a carriage procession through Windsor Town.
  • A lunchtime reception hosted by Her Majesty the Queen will follow at St George's Hall for the couple and guests from the congregation.
  • Around 200 guests have also been invited to an evening reception at Frogmore House in the evening, hosted by Prince Charles.
  • Scroll down to see what time the celebrations will start where you live.


Prince Harry just got official consent from Her Majesty the Queen to marry Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on Saturday, May 19 — but wedding plans have been underway for months.

The wedding service will begin at midday, meaning it's unlikely to clash with the 2018 FA Cup Final that falls on the same date, but that usually kicks off later in the day, according to The Guardian.

The Dean of Windsor will conduct the service and the Archbishop of Canterbury will officiate as the couple make their vows.

Here's an outside look at the Chapel...

St George's Chapel Windsor Castle

...and here's a glimpse inside.

st george's chapel

At 1 p.m. Harry and Meghan will embark on a carriage procession from St George's Chapel through Windsor Town returning to Windsor Castle along the Long Walk, which will offer some members of the public a glimpse of the newly married couple.

Kensington Palace said the couple "hope this short journey will provide an opportunity for more people to come together around Windsor and to enjoy the atmosphere of this special day."

They'll also be inviting over 2,000 members of the public into the grounds of Windsor Castle to watch the couple and their guests arrive, and to watch the carriage procession as it departs from the castle.

There will be a reception for the couple and their guests from the congregation at St George's Hall following the service.

Here's a photo inside St George's Hall:

Prince Charles will host a private evening reception for the couple and their close friends and family later that evening.

If you want to mark it in your diary, here's what time the royal wedding will start in major cities across different time zones on Saturday, May 19:

  • London (GMT) 12 p.m.
  • Paris (CEST): 1 p.m.
  • Moscow (MSK): 2 p.m.
  • Tokyo (JST): 8 p.m.
  • Sydney (AET): 9 p.m.
  • Honolulu (HAST): 1 a.m.
  • Los Angeles (PT): 4 a.m.
  • Las Vegas (PT): 4 a.m.
  • Denver (MT): 5 a.m.
  • Chicago (CT): 6 a.m.
  • New York (ET): 7 a.m.
  • Seoul (KST): 8 p.m.

SEE ALSO: 'Knocked Up' and 'Grey's Anatomy' star Katherine Heigl has confirmed she's joining the cast of 'Suits' as Meghan Markle departs

Join the conversation about this story »

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Captain America versus Iron Man: We debate who's right in 'Civil War'

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captain america civil war

  • Captain America (Chris Evans) and Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.) will reunite in "Avengers: Infinity War" for the first time since they fought in "Captain America: Civil War."
  • The two disagreed about whether superhumans should be forced to register with the government, with Cap anti-registration and Iron Man pro.
  • Business Insider's Carrie Wittmer and Travis Clark argue their cases for who is right in this debate.

Marvel's "Avengers: Infinity War" comes to theaters April 27, and it's the first time some major characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe will be reunited since they butted heads in 2016's "Captain America: Civil War."

Most importantly, the "Big Two" of the MCU — Steve Rogers/Captain America (played by Chris Evans), and Tony Stark/Iron Man (played by Robert Downey, Jr.) — will join forces against Thanos after their "Civil War" disagreement, which ended with half of the Avengers escaping an underwater prison. 

The last time the two leading Avengers were on screen together, they were trading punches over the registration of superhumans, which would essentially make the Avengers government employees. This initiative, called the Sokovia Accords, was started by the Secretary of State and Tony Stark after the devastating events in "Age of Ultron" and an incident early on in "Civil War" in which Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), who is still learning to control her powers, accidentally destroys a building with innocent people in it. 

Rogers is against the Sokovia Accords because of his mistrust of the government that essentially made him ("The safest hands are still our own"), while Stark is pro-registration ("If we don't do this now, it's going to be done to us later").

Both heroes have fair arguments.

It's the kind of debate that even rages on in our own real-world politics, which is what made "Civil War" so powerful. Rogers argued that the superhumans' right to choose would be stripped away by the Sokovia Accords, while Stark argued that their powers needed to be put in check in order to prevent the destruction of cities like New York ("The Avengers") and Sokovia ("Age of Ultron"). 

The debate between Cap and Tony sparked heated debates between the biggest MCU fans on Business Insider's entertainment team. Here, Business Insider's Carrie Wittmer and Travis Clark make their cases below — Carrie for Captain America, and Travis for Iron Man.


captain america civil war iron man

Iron Man (Travis Clark)

If you compare the superhuman registration debate in "Captain America: Civil War" to the real-world debate of gun control in the U.S., then the answer — at least in my eyes — is clear: Tony Stark is right. 

I'm going to get this out of the way early: I admittedly admire Captain America more than Iron Man. I think Cap's heart is always in the right place, whereas Stark's decision-making is consistently questionable.

In fact, Stark is partly responsible for why the government proposes the superhuman registration in the first place. The destruction of the country Sokovia came during the battle with Ultron in "Avengers: Age of Ultron," and Ultron was created by Stark. 

But if you focus on the debate itself more than the personalities or history of either of them, I can't deny Stark is on the right side of this one. The Avengers have proven to be national security threats just as much as they may save the world from destruction. 

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is not grounded in reality, but the conflict of "Captain America: Civil War" reflects a very real debate raging in America. If we compare super powers to guns, it becomes clear the Avengers have powers that need to be controlled. That's evidenced by the beginning of the film, when Scarlet Witch accidentally kills a group of Wakandan diplomats. 

A main argument against gun control is that it is a slippery slope to the government banning guns entirely. That's where Captain America's head seems to be at: He doesn't want to see his friends, like Scarlet Witch, at the government's mercy. He thinks he can better handle her than the government can.

But Captain America, as good as his intentions may be, isn't thinking logically. At the end of the day, people like Scarlet Witch, the Hulk, and any other superhumans with both unimaginable power (and a lack of control) need to be controlled for the public's own good.

Stark thinks it will happen eventually no matter what, and if he can get ahead of it, he can manage it. Stark is thinking logically, whereas Cap is thinking with his emotions. That's the biggest difference between them, and while Cap is admirable, this isn't a debate settled by emotion.

Cap also wants to protect his friend Bucky Barnes, who is framed for an explosion at a United Nations conference in the movie. As noble and well-intentioned as this may be, at the end of the day Cap is putting the safety of one man over that of the public.

So, as questionable as Tony's actions have been in the past, he's the one trying to do the right thing in "Captain America: Civil War."

Your move, Carrie.


Captain America (Carrie Wittmer)

captain america civil war

OK. You really got me on the gun control thing. I absolutely believe that purchasing a gun should be more regulated. But this is different because these are human beings. I understand the point you're trying to make, but I don't think it's fair to compare these people, whether they chose to be superhuman (Stark) or not (Bruce Banner/Hulk) to gun control. 

Before I continue my rant, I will also admit my bias: Although I absolutely love "Iron Man" and "Iron Man 3" (a Christmas movie!), I hate Tony Stark. I get that being an alcoholic jerk who wears tinted sunglasses is his thing, but his character hasn't evolved since 2008. The only thing that seems to change is his ego — which only gets bigger — and his relationship status with Pepper Potts, which if we're being honest is completely dependent on Gwyneth Paltrow's availability. 

You say that the Avengers are a security threat. This is true, but they're a threat when there is already a more dangerous threat out there. This is Cap's point, which is clouded in "Civil War" by his bond with Bucky Barnes and by his distrust of the government. But Cap's distrust of the government is fair: while S.H.I.E.L.D. is not a government entity, it might as well be, and it was literally run by HYDRA in the past. Remember Robert Redford in "The Winter Soldier?" He told Cap what to do, and he was the enemy the whole time. How can Cap and other heroes trust and fight for an entity that is so vulnerable?

And what about the cases when one or more of our heroes see a threat, but the government either doesn't see it as essential, or they straight up don't believe them? If the UN, for example, doesn't see a worthy threat in the pink-headed man named Thanos who wants a bunch of stones so he can destroy half of the universe (very specifically not the whole universe), what are the Avengers going to do? Just let it happen? They most certainly will not. 

Cap is thinking logically because he's applying the limitations of the Sokovia Accords to his own experiences, like the mishap with Robert Redford that I already mentioned in "The Winter Soldier." And in "Captain America: The First Avenger," he goes on an unapproved mission in Germany to save Bucky Barnes, planned with the help of the late Agent Peggy Carter and Howard Stark.

Stark is the one thinking with his emotions. His approach is completely rooted in ego, not a concern for humanity. Minutes into "Civil War," Stark meets a woman whose son was killed in Sokovia, and is so threatened by the idea that someone out there hates him that he goes straight to the Secretary of State behind his friends' backs, writes legislation, and simply throws it onto a table in front of them. 

Do superheroes need to be controlled? Yes! But the Sokovia Accords is not the right way. My solution: There is a lovely bald man named Xavier who has a very nice school in upstate New York, and Disney bought Fox so this can be in the MCU canon now. 

CLOSING STATEMENTS

Civil War

Travis Clark: You make fair points, Carrie, but I don't think it's fair to assume that Stark is only pro-registration because of his ego. It shows progression in his character that he would be pushed by the pain he sees in that mom who confronts him. It would be natural for anyone with a conscience. Are we supposed to condemn him for having a conscience? Stark has power and influence, and ever since the first "Iron Man" after he escaped captivity, he's been using that power and influence to better not only himself, but the world. He doesn't always make the best choices, but he at least learns from his mistakes. Captain America is so stubborn and rooted in his ways that he will stand by Bucky out of pure emotion. There's no place for such blind loyalty when national security is at stake. Stark's entire point is to get in front of registration and handle it on his terms before the government handles it on its — things would have been much worse if he hadn't.

Carrie Wittmer: I'm not assuming that Stark is pro-registration because of his ego. I know he is. I understand that Stark's reasoning stretches beyond his own interests, but his ego is where it started, and it's the only reason he took any action in the first place. If the government initiated the Sokovia Accords on its own, "Civil War" would've been a completely different movie, more boring than any MCU villain, because I have a feeling everyone would be on Cap's side. Your points are great, but have not changed my mind because I disagree on Cap's motivations. Yes, he's trying to protect Bucky, but it's bigger than that. He knows the government has made the wrong calls before, and he's fairly anticipating that it will again.

Can we still be friends?

More on Marvel:

SEE ALSO: Where you can watch all 18 movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe before you see 'Infinity War'

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Here are all the confirmed original shows coming to Netflix in 2018

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luke cage

Netflix has a lot of original content in store for the rest of this year.

We've already seen the premiere of several new original shows, including the sci-fi series "Altered Carbon" and David Letterman's new talk show.

Among the shows still to come is the new series "Maniac," a dark comedy starring Jonah Hill and Emma Stone, along with second seasons of "Marvel's Luke Cage" and "GLOW."

Netflix has said it will spend $8 billion on shows and movies in 2018 — up from the $6 billion it spent in 2017. 

To help you sort through all of the upcoming content, we've compiled a list of original shows that Netflix has confirmed are coming out in 2018. This excludes movies, kids' shows, and series that might not come out until 2019 or later.

Here are all the shows we know Netflix is for sure putting out in 2018, along with their release date if available:

SEE ALSO: All 65 of Netflix's notable original shows, ranked from worst to best

"Lovesick" (Season 3) — Released January 1

Netflix description: "In his quest for true love, Dylan found chlamydia. Joined by friends Evie and Luke, he relives past encounters as he notifies all his former partners."



"The End of the F***ing World" (Season 1) — Released January 5

Netflix description: "A budding teen psychopath and a rebel hungry for adventure embark on a star-crossed road trip in this darkly comic series based on a graphic novel.



"Disjointed" (Season 1 - Part 2) — Released January 12

Netflix description: "Pot activist Ruth Whitefeather Feldman runs a medical marijuana dispensary while encouraging her loyal patients to chill out and enjoy the high life."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

There's a better way to get smartphone notifications that makes people less stressed — and it doesn't require eliminating them all

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Smartphone

  • The average person gets between 65 and 80 phone notifications a day, according to research being conducted at Duke University that was presented at a recent American Psychological Association Conference.
  • The researchers found that giving people notifications in three batches during the day made them happier than getting them normally, getting them once an hour, or turning them off completely.
  • Turning notifications off completely made people feel stressed and worried about what they were missing.


After you feel a buzz in your pocket or see a flash on your phone, your attention is already fractured.

You could pick up your phone and see if what's called you away is something you really need to address immediately — or you could try and focus on your work, all the while wondering what you're missing out on.

Since it can take close to 25 minutes to get back on track after a distraction, according to researchers who study productivity, this is obviously a recipe for a distracted day where not much gets done.

Fortunately, we are learning better ways to handle smartphone notifications, according to research being conducted at Duke University's Center for Advanced Hindsight, which was presented by senior behavioral researcher Nick Fitz at a recent American Psychological Association conference. The research was conducted in collaboration with the startup Synapse, which is incubated at the Center.

Fitz and collaborators have found that batching notifications into sets that study participants receive three times a day makes them happier, less stressed, feeling more productive, and more in control. That works better than getting notifications normally, getting them once per hour, or even than blocking them of completely.

"Turning them off doesn't really work," Fitz said in a follow-up interview after the conference. "But we can [get notifications] in a smarter way."

ios new notifications

So many notifications

For the particular study Fitz discussed at the conference, they analyzed the notifications that people got on their phones and found that the average person got between 65 and 80 notifications per day (people may check their phones more frequently, that's just the number of notifications that show up).

So for their study, for two weeks they had a control group check their phones normally, one group receive notifications in a batch every hour, another group that received three batches of notifications (at 9 a.m., 3 p.m., and 9 p.m.), and one group that got no notifications.

While not receiving notifications people could check their phones normally but wouldn't see anything on their lock screen — the phone would ring for calls but not leave a "missed call" on the lock screen.

In general, people report that phone notifications make them feel stressed, unhappy, interrupted, and non-productive. That held true for the study control group. Receiving notifications even once an hour was so similar to this that it didn't make much of a difference.

Surprisingly for Fitz, turning notifications off completely didn't work either. People did feel that they checked their phones more "intentionally," which the researchers considered positive, but people were also anxious about what they were missing out on. It's possible that over a longer period of time, several months, people may have adjusted and enjoyed this experience more, according to Fitz. Or, perhaps a system that let some notifications through — emails from a boss or calendar reminders about important meetings — could have assuaged that anxiety.

But three batches of notifications seemed to be the sweet spot, with people feeling more productive, positive, and in control.

meditation

Building an even better system

According to Fitz, the ideal system would be context-aware — it would recognize the best times for a person to get a batch of notifications and might allow certain particularly important notifications through.

"Interruptions in general aren't great but it's better if they come at opportune times," said Fitz.

The ideal system might be location aware and give you your first batch of notifications as you arrive at work or hop on the subway, a second batch at the end of a lunchbreak, and a third batch as you head home for the evening. Perhaps emails might come through that way, but less-important notifications from Facebook would only be delivered once per day in the evening.

The fact that this worked was somewhat surprising for Fitz, as notifications are just one component that can add stress to complicated lives. But it turns out that even adding some element of control can really improve people's lives.

"It's not as if this is some panacea, we're not going to solve ADD with this," said Fitz. "But it certainly has an effect on people."

The Synapse team plans on releasing the app they built to regulate notifications, Daywise, to the public within the next few weeks. (The study was conducted only with Android phones, since it wasn't possible to have that level of control over Apple devices for now.)

SEE ALSO: Night owls have a higher risk of dying than morning people, according to a study of nearly half a million people

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NOW WATCH: How humans evolved to become the best runners on the planet


Allegiant Air responds to scathing report that questions its safety record after a history of mechanical failures (ALGT)

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Allegiant Air MD83

  • A CBS 60 Minutes report has found that Allegiant Air's planes are three and half times more likely to have mid-air mechanical failures than rival US airlines
  • The report alleges that the low-cost carrier operates with a culture that puts profits ahead of safety.
  • Allegiant Air attacked the report, calling it grossly misleading.

Allegiant Air's planes are three and half times more likely to have mid-air mechanical failures than American, Delta, United, JetBlue, and Spirit Airlines. This is according to Federal Aviation Administration documents obtained by CBS 60 Minutes in a scathing report on the low-cost carrier's safety record.

"Public documents show an alarming number of aborted takeoffs, cabin pressure loss, emergency descents, and unscheduled landings," CBS 60 Minutes correspondent Steve Kroft said in the report that aired on Sunday. "Yet for the most part, Allegiant's difficulties have managed to stay under the radar of the flying public."

The report also alleges that Allegiant has a culture of putting profits ahead of the safety.

Allegiant Air, which is owned by Allegiant Travel Company, was not immediately available for comment. However, the airline did send customers a letter from its vice president of operation Captain Eric Gust which attacked the 60 Minutes report and defended Allegiant's safety record.

"I want to tell you personally that I am outraged and astounded by the irresponsible, grossly misleading story aired by CBS 60 Minutes," Gust said in the letter. "The story is outdated, bears no resemblance to the Allegiant I know, and shows a real and troubling misunderstanding of the FAA’s rigorous oversight of Allegiant and all US airlines."

In addition, Gust alleges that the 60 Minutes report was "instigated" by an ex-employee that is trying to extract money from Allegiant.

The Nevada-based low-cost carrier boasts a fleet of around 100 mostly second-hand Airbus A320-family and McDonnell-Douglas MD80 series jets. According to Airfleets.net, the average age of Allegiant's fleet is 18.7 years. 

According to the report, most of the mechanical issues can be attributed to Allegiant's fleet of around 30 MD80s which are an average of 28 years old, ancient by modern aviation standards. However, the airline expects to retire its MD fleet by November.

The CBS segment also hit out at the FAA's lack of enforcement actions against Allegiant's systemic safety issues. 

In the agency's defense, the FAA Associate administrator Ali Bahrami said in a letter that "The FAA is vigilant in scrutinizing the actions of all airlines and is prepared to act on all information."

In addition, Bahrami said the FAA ongoing evaluation of the airline's safety compliance has not discovered any significant or systemic issues with Allegiant's current operations during its 2016 audit of the airline. 

The FAA also reported a sharp decline over the past three years in the number of issues experienced by Allegiant flights. 

SEE ALSO: Airlines are making more money than ever — but they're facing a mountain of problems

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NOW WATCH: A $700 billion investor explains why traders should brush off an ominous market signal that's flashing

Women often say they prefer taller men — but the reality is more complicated

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nicole kidman keith urban height difference

  • Men are an average of about 5 inches taller than women.
  • Scientific studies suggest that while women might say they have a preference for taller male partners, actual height differences in heterosexual couples aren't as wide as stated height preferences.
  • Shorter men do tend to marry younger and lower-educated women, and psychologists think that might be because they're "compensating" for their shortness.


The average American woman, standing at just over 5 feet 3 inches tall, is around five and a half inches shorter than the average American man.

It's a height difference that holds true in most places around the world, from Brazil to China. Men tend to universally level-off around five inches taller than women as fully-grown adults.

Still, the science of what constitutes the "perfect" height difference for a modern couple is far from settled. 

Women say they prefer tall men

Shaquille O'Neal and Nicole Alexander height difference

Social scientists who study online dating platforms find that when you're dating online, your height can alter your chances of finding love, a lot. Researchersconsistently find that women will say they prefer taller men online, and the taller women are, the more important they say it is that their partner be even taller. Men, likewise, tend to rate shorter women as more attractive. One 2005 study found that those preferences can play out in how often people approach each other online: women who were 6'3" tall received 40% fewer messages than women who were a more average 5'5", while men who were 6'3" and 6'4" got about 60% more messages than men who were 5'7" or 5'8".

Polish scientists have shown that male and female preferences for a height difference (known scientifically as sexual dimorphism) change based on how tall they are, perhaps so that people can widen their own dating pool.

But there are signs that these stated height preferences are a result of societal expectations, not evolutionary biases. Perceptions of the right height for a couple may be largely rooted in cultural expectations. One 2014 study in the Journal of Family Issues found through online surveys that daters "were not always able to articulate a clear reason why they possess their given height preference, but they somehow understood what was expected of them from the larger society."

Adding more evidence to the pile, a 2013 study found that while short women and tall men might say they prefer sexually dimorphic pairings, their actual choices for mates didn't necessarily stick to such a strict criteria. And most men dating on eHarmony said they wanted a partner that was close to their own height, as FiveThirtyEight reported. 

Being tall is a power play

There's a history of power dynamics at play with height differences, and it extends beyond romance. A 2014 working paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that short men tend to marry younger and disproportionately lower-educated women.

"Gender ideals are linked to stature such that tallness is associated with dominance, masculinity, and higher status among men," the authors said.

tiger woods erica herman height difference

Plenty of other studies have shown it's not just women who factor this in: tall men get a better deal when it comes to pay and status at work, too. They make more money, and they may even be more likely to get promoted. (Most Fortune 500 CEOs are taller than average men.) Evolutionary psychologists argue this is because being tall is a sign that a man can dominate a predator and protect his family. 

Height, like other physical attributes, can be a "form of capital on the spousal market and then bargained with or compensated for within relationships."

But some scientists think this ingrained social preference for tall husbands and fathers may not be doing us any good anymore. As one pair of sociologists from The University of North Texas and Rice put it, "in a society that encourages men to be dominant and women to be submissive, having the image of tall men hovering over short women reinforces" the very idea that men must be the aggressors and the chasers when it comes to romantic relationships. That's a paradigm that actresses, dominatrixes and porn stars are all working to challenge. 

SEE ALSO: How women can wield power to get what they want at work and in their personal lives, according to a former dominatrix

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How couples improved their sex lives in one week

Ketamine could become the first new depression drug in more than 30 years

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man silhouette alone sunrise sunset

  • Ketamine is emerging as a potential new drug for depression — the first of its kind in 35 years.
  • Johnson & Johnson is actively pursuing a nasal formulation of the drug. Researchers plan to present the results of an advanced clinical trial of the formula next month at the American Psychiatric Association meeting.
  • An early glimpse at some of the results suggests that the formula is safe and linked with sustained improvements in depressive symptoms over a year.


Ketamine, which has been called "the most important discovery in half a century," just got a step closer to becoming the first new drug for depression in 35 years.

The compound has a reputation as a party drug, but many experts say that's unfair, since ketamine is increasingly being studied for its potential use as a rapid-fire treatment for depression.

In people who live with the disease, thoughts of suicide can strike suddenly and without warning. Fast-acting, successful interventions are hard to come by. But a spate of recent research suggests ketamine could provide quick and powerful relief — even to people whose depression has repeatedly failed to respond to other medications, as well as to individuals who are suicidal.

The promising studies on the treatment so far have come with one important caveat, however: the drug has to be taken intravenously, or via an injection, over roughly 45 minutes. That makes it a lot harder to get and take than a typical antidepressant pills such as Lexapro.

With that in mind, Johnson & Johnson company Janssen Research and Development has been actively pursuing the development of a formulation of the drug that would be safe and more convenient to administer. They're not alone: Allergan is in the last phase of clinical trials with a drug that acts on the same receptor as ketamine.

Yet Johnson & Johnson may be the furthest ahead in its research. The company received breakthrough therapy designation for its nasal formulation from the US Food and Drug Administration in 2016, an elite and competitive status that is designed to speed the drug through the complex federal approval process.

Earlier this month, the company shared with Business Insider some early results of a clinical trial of the nasal-spray formulation of the drug. The results suggest that the formula is well-tolerated by patients and linked with long-lasting improvements in depressive symptoms.

The promising science on ketamine

Ketamine's utility as an antidepressant has recently started to gain attention.

A recent study out of Columbia University Medical Center found that ketamine worked significantly better at curbing suicidal thoughts in depressed patients than a commonly used sedative.

A spate of other studies over the past several years have suggested that ketamine may provide swift and powerful relief to people suffering from some of the hardest-to-treat forms of depression — an illness that is the leading disability worldwide

However, most studies of ketamine for depression have only lasted several weeks, which makes it difficult to say whether the drug has long-lasting potential. But Johnson & Johnson's clinical trial took place over nearly a year. Additionally, rather than addressing people's depression with ketamine alone, the researchers gave them the ketamine nasal spray along with an oral antidepressant.

Data from their clinical study — which used esketamine, the chemical mirror image of ketamine — suggest that patients tolerated the drug well. Most importantly, the treatment was also linked with sustained improvements in depressive symptoms over more than 11 months — making it one of the longest-lasting studies of ketamine to date.

"Janssen is committed to developing esketamine for treatment-resistant depression, a serious biological illness with high unmet need," Jaskaran Singh, Janssen's senior director of clinical research in its neuroscience therapeutics area, said during a presentation of the results on March 23 in Oxford.

Their research currently is focused on people with one of the hardest to treat forms of depression (known as treatment-resistant depression). But company representatives told Business Insider that they also have plans to study the formula in adults and teens with major depressive disorder who are at imminent risk for suicide.

How ketamine is being administered now

sf ketamine clinicAfter a 45-minute infusion of ketamine, clients at a clinic in San Francisco's Nob Hill neighborhood are not partying.

Instead, they're in a state of quiet contemplation — reclining on cushioned chairs, listening to music, or occasionally striking a tranquil yoga pose.

These clients are patients at one of 10 ketamine clinics operated by Actify Neurotherapies, a network that offers the drug via intravenous injection to people diagnosed with severe forms of anxiety and depression.

While ketamine is a powerful dissociative that can induce feelings of being separated from one's own body, it is also one of the safest and most widely used legal anesthetics. Because the drug is federal approved for anesthesia, Actify — along with an estimated 50 to 100 other providers across the US — are legally able to administer it for depression.

But using it for depression is considered "off-label" since that application of the drug is not outlined in its federally-approved designation. That means many patients must pay for the treatments out of pocket. Some insurance companies may reimburse some of the cost, but many do not. And the treatments aren't cheap — they typically range from $400 to $1,000 per infusion; at Actify, they are $570 each.

At Actify's San Francisco office, each two-hour visit includes 45 minutes of ketamine infusion, 45 minutes of a saline drip, and a consultation with Alison McInnes, a physician who founded a regional ketamine therapy program with Kaiser Permanente. Most patients receive 10 infusions over the course of 10 weeks — three in the first week, two in the second, and one infusion in the third, fourth, and fifth weeks. The last two infusions are spread between weeks seven and 10.

"These are people who've been sick for decades and heard from multiple doctors that there's nothing else they can do," Steve Levine, a psychiatrist and the CEO of Actify, told Business Insider during a recent visit to the clinic. "We're enabling them to get back to their normal lives."

A wave of hope from experts

Experts who study depression say they're onto something promising with ketamine. In a field that hasn't seen a new class of drugs in nearly four decades — and in which patients are often desperate and suicidal — that kind of sentiment holds a lot of weight.

"Imagine arriving in the emergency room with severe pain from a kidney stone — pain so bad that you can't think. You'll do anything to make it go away. And the doctors say, 'here's a drug that we've been using for 30 years, it works 50-60% of the time, and it should start to work in 4-6 weeks'" Cristina Cusin, a psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital and an assistant professor at Harvard University, told Business Insider in March

For someone who is suicidal, "that's currently the best we can do," she said. 

Cusin co-authored a large recent review of the existing research on ketamine that was published in March in the Harvard Review of Psychiatry. Her findings shed light on the need for new treatments, but she also advises caution for patients.

"We are just scratching the surface of the mechanisms of action with ketamine," Cusin said. "In the next few years I'm really hopeful that we're going to see new drugs that are completely different than what we have now." 

Don Mordecai, Kaiser Permanente’s national leader for mental health, echoed some of Cusin's sentiment. Despite many questions about how to determine the right dose of ketamine and how long its benefits might last, Mordecai's overall assessment seems positive.

“There’s still enough there to be excited about its potential,” he said.

SEE ALSO: Ketamine could be the new drug for depression that researchers have been looking for

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NOW WATCH: Animated map of Mars reveals where humans should build the first Martian cities

A look inside Boston Marathon champion Des Linden's daily routine, which features 12-mile morning runs and 2 breakfasts

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Des Linden Marathon run Boston

  • Boston Marathon champion Des Linden is the first American woman to win the event since 1985.
  • Linden told Business Insider about the daily routine she sticks to when she's training for a race.
  • The marathoner's average day revolves around long runs, but she leaves plenty of time for recovery too.

Boston Marathon champion Des Linden wasn't always drawn to her signature event.

"Actually, when I first started watching marathons, I was, like, 'That's insane. Crazy. I would never do that,'" Linden told Business Insider. "So it wasn't love at first sight by any means."

But when the professional runner joined the Hansons-Brooks Original Distance Project, she saw the transformative effect that training for the marathon had on her teammates.

"They just came out the other side as different people," she said.

Linden was sold. Since then, she's represented the US at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics. Linden made history in April by becoming the first American woman to win the Boston Marathon since 1985.

She told Business Insider that running marathons has taught her that she's capable of handling adversity.

"When we think we're down and out, there's still a little bit more," the runner said. "It's figuring out where the very bottom of your well is. And every time you're, like, 'Wow, that was a little more than I thought.' You can keep pushing that threshold. It's kind of the same lesson over and over, but it's just going a little further each time."

Here's a look at Linden's daily routine when she's training for a marathon:

SEE ALSO: You're probably running all wrong

DON'T MISS: US Olympian Mikaela Shiffrin just won gold in Pyeongchang — here's the grueling morning routine that helped her do it

When she's in training mode, Linden packs a ton of mileage into each day. She said that training for a marathon is "really teaching your body how to run when it's really fatigued."



Linden said she wakes up around 6 and starts off the day by reaching for the coffee.



She'll also eat a light breakfast — a bagel or a piece of toast with some peanut butter.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Furious shoppers who showed up to stores in droves say Target botched its rollout of its highly anticipated Hunter collection (TGT)

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Target

  • Target teamed up with the British company Hunter to launch a limited-edition collection of clothing, shoes, and accessories this weekend. 
  • Furious customers have taken to social media to complain that there was such limited stock that the collection sold out instantly online and never made its way into some stores. 
  • Target also had to recall one of its products. 

This weekend, shoppers flocked to Target to buy items from a hotly anticipated 300-piece collection of clothing, shoes, and accessories it designed in partnership with the British company Hunter.

But upon arrival, hundreds of angry customers found that the stock had either already sold out or was never available. 

"That's the nature of our designer collaboration — they are available for a limited time only and in limited quantities. We don't restock the collection," a Target spokesperson told Business Insider.

One product was even recalled. On Friday, the company issued a statement on its website informing customers that its "women's tall rainboots" would be "delayed" and unavailable in stores and online when it launched on Saturday. Target could not confirm to Business Insider why the boots were recalled. 

However, it seems this message didn't make its way to all of its stores, as some customers were able to buy the boots.

 

Target

"Please don't come confiscate my tall boots," the customer later tweeted, realizing that the store had made a mistake in allowing her to buy them.

Other customers didn't make it that far and had the boots removed from their baskets at checkout.

Target

While Target claims this was a limited collection that sold out quickly, some customers have said that they were misinformed about the availability of inventory.

"They seriously did a lot of people dirty this morning. Tons of stuff was never available to ship and is not being sold at stores near us. It's really pretty bad," one customer commented in response to a tweet from Target.

"Sounds like quite the marketing scam if you ask me! #expectedmoregotless," another wrote on Twitter

Target

"Drove 35 minutes away to find that no Hunter stuff actually came in. Went to another @Target to be told the website was wrong & they also actually didn't have most of the stuff. Why not just delay the launch until everything was available for sale online and in stores?" one customer wrote on Twitter.

Many of these products now appear to be on sale at eBay.

Target confirmed to Business Insider that it will not be getting more stock of the Hunter colletion.

SEE ALSO: 30 of the best things you can buy at Target

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NOW WATCH: Inside Cook Out, the South's most underrated restaurant

'Westworld' season 2 has critics gushing and a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes

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Westworld season 2

Critics love season two of "Westworld," with many saying it's even better than the first, which premiered in 2016 on HBO.

The second season currently has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and premieres its first episode on HBO Sunday.

The first season was a hit with critics and audiences, but it ended on a somewhat disappointing note because a lot of people predicted where all the storylines would end up.

But critics at outlets including Business Insider have given season two glowing reviews because it expertly expands the world into more parks than just Westworld, and increases the stakes for all of its characters, both human and host. 

Here's what critics are saying about season two of "Westworld" (HBO made the season's first five episodes available to the press).

SEE ALSO: 'Westworld' season 2 is even better than the first and transcends the last sci-fi tropes holding it back

"A bigger, bolder, and bloodier season that improves on season 1 in nearly every possible way."

Chris Evangelista, Slashfilm



"With a thrilling sense of possibility and a fleetness in telling multiple stories, the new season's first five episodes grow exponentially in appeal."

Tim Goodman, The Hollywood Reporter



"The second season feels less like a freewheeling experiment and more like a TV show that knows what it's doing and where it's going."

Kelly Lawler, USA Today



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Kendrick Lamar just became the first rapper to win a Pulitzer Prize for Music

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kendrick lamar damn

  • Rapper Kendrick Lamar won the Pulitzer Prize for Music on Monday for his critically acclaimed 2017 album, "DAMN."
  • Lamar is the first non-classical or jazz artist to ever win the award.

Rapper Kendrick Lamar won the Pulitzer Prize for Music on Monday for his critically acclaimed 2017 album "DAMN.," making him the first non-classical or jazz artist to ever win the award.

Last year's prize in the category went to composer Dun Yu's album "Angel's Bone," and the past several decades of awards in the category have largely gone to instrumental LPs.

Lamar's "DAMN.," Billboard's best-selling album of 2017, lost out in the album of the year category at the 2018 Grammy Awards to Bruno Mars' "24k Magic."

The Pulitzer website described Lamar's work with the following entry:

"Recording released on April 14, 2017, a virtuosic song collection unified by its vernacular authenticity and rhythmic dynamism that offers affecting vignettes capturing the complexity of modern African-American life."

Listen to "DAMN." below:

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The winner of the Boston Marathon explains how to complete a marathon, from signing up to crossing the finish line

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Des Linden boston marathon

  • Boston Marathon champion Des Linden is the first American woman to win the event since 1985.
  • Linden shared some tips on how to run a marathon successfully with Business Insider.
  • The marathon is a grueling event, but Linden's advice can help you make the most of your training — not to mention succeed on the day of the big race.


Boston Marathon champion Des Linden made history. The professional runner is the first American woman to win the Boston Marathon since 1985.

She also previously represented the US at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics.

During an interview with Business Insider last year, Linden said that she thought the event was "insane" when she first became involved in the world of running. But, since joining the Hansons-Brooks Original Distance Project, she's established herself as a dominant figure in marathon running.

The event is no walk in the park. It's ancient origin story involves a soldier named Pheidippides dropping dead after running 26.2 miles in order to report news of the Greeks' victory in the Battle of Marathon.

But Linden has some tips on how to set yourself up for success in the big race.

Here's Linden's advice on how to run a marathon:

SEE ALSO: A look inside Boston Marathon champion Des Linden's daily routine, which features 12-mile morning runs and 2 breakfasts

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

SEE ALSO: US Olympian Mikaela Shiffrin just won gold in Pyeongchang — here's the grueling morning routine that helped her do it

Make sure you've decided to run a marathon for the right reasons

"A lot of first-time runners think, 'Oh, the marathon is sexy,'" Linden said. "It's what you want to put on your bucket list."

She said it's better to test yourself with shorter 5K and 10K races, rather than just throwing yourself into a marathon.

"If you're not really ready for it, you're probably not going to love it," she said. "Give yourself a chance to fall in love with it, and you get that by being patient and slowly building towards it. If you can create a love of the process, then you can run for your entire life, which is pretty incredible."



Take the plunge and sign up

For runners who've yet to conquer the marathon, Linden said that just signing up can be a huge motivator.

Signing up — and putting your money down for a race — will establish your commitment and heighten your resolve.



Get the right shoes

Linden said you should never "just pick a shoe because it looks cool or because the price is right or it's what's there in front of you."

Instead, she recommended heading to a store that specializes in running shoes, especially if you need help picking one that's right for you.

As a member of the Hansons-Brooks Original Distance Project, Linden said she wears Hansons-Brooks shoes.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

We tried Shake Shack's new veggie burger — here's the verdict (SHAK)

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Shake Shack Veggie Burger

  • Shake Shack is testing a new veggie burger in three cities.
  • This is Shake Shack's first vegan-friendly burger. 
  • We tried the burger and while it tastes nothing like the chain's classic Shack Burger, we were impressed nonetheless. 

Shake Shack is known for one thing: burgers. Shack Burger, Shack Stack, Smoke Shack — beef is the chain's primary concern.

But as vegetarians and vegans make up an increasing proportion of customers, the demand for meat-free burgers also grows. Starting this Thursday, April 19, Shake Shack is debuting a new $7.29 veggie burger test item at select locations in New York City, Los Angeles, and Austin. 

We got a sneak peek and a chance to eat this veggie treat — and we were shocked by the results. 

SEE ALSO: Wawa is giving away free coffee — we visited and discovered why it's the greatest convenience store chain in America

The "Veggie Shack" is made with black beans, brown rice, and roasted beets and is topped with provolone cheese, lettuce, onions, pickles, and a vegan mustard mayo.

If you want a vegan-friendly version, just order it without cheese and ask for the gluten-free bun. 



The patty itself avoids two of the biggest issues of veggie burgers: mushiness and dryness. Shake Shack manages to replicate the crisp char of a grilled burger by adding a textural grain coating.



Each bite is crisp and fresh — the raw white onions and pickles add a bright and crunchy note to the savory, bean-based patty. This burger doesn't try to be a hamburger, and that's its greatest strength. It embraces the texture and flavors of the patty's ingredients.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Silicon Valley techies get free food and dazzling offices, but they're not very loyal - here's how long the average employee stays at the biggest tech companies

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Bikes on the Google campus

Software and internet companies had the highest level of employee turnover in 2017 when compared to other major industries, according to data gathered by employment-focused social network LinkedIn.

Silicon Valley is famous for showering employees with perks like free meals, transportation and childcare, not to mention thein some casesmulti-billion dollar, state-of-the-art office spaces. 

However, data available to LinkedIn Premium users, and compiled by the San Francisco Business Times, showed that these perks aren't enough to encourage longevity at even some of the largest tech companies in the world. 

Here's a look at the average tenure for employees in the Valley's most famous tech giants:

SEE ALSO: Apple warned its staff that it caught 29 leakers and 12 were arrested last year: leaked memo

Uber was at the bottom of the list, with a short average employee tenure of just 1.8 years.

Uber's latest valuation: $72 billion

Perks enjoyed by Uber employees (according to self-reported former employees on Glassdoor): Free meals and snacks, unlimited paid time off, gym memberships, discounts for Uber and UberEats services.

 



Dropbox, which just had a giant IPO, also struggles to retain talent. The average employee stays for 2.1 years.

Latest valuation: $11.76 billion

Perks (according to self-reported former and current employees on Glassdoor): Three catered meals a day, an on-campus gym, and cellphone bill reimbursement.

 



Tesla is in the same league, with employees staying at the electric car maker 2.1 years on average. Tesla employees work famously long hours and weekends, which could explain the relatively early burnout.

Latest valuation: $50.73 billion

Perks (according to self-reported former and current employees on Glassdoor): Relocation packages and travel stipends, stock options.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

These are the US states where people live the longest, healthiest lives — and the shortest

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old people the golden years

  • Life expectancy increased in the US from 1990 to 2016. Today, overall average life expectancy is up to 78.9 years old. 
  • But researchers are worried that increasingly, Americans are smoking and drinking too much, eating bad food, and suffering from more drug use disorders.
  • It's all having an effect on how long people can live healthy, disability and disease-free lives.

Americans born today can expect to live to a ripe old age of nearly 79 years old.

Life expectancy in the US is nearly four years longer than it was back in 1990. But researchers say while Americans might live longer today than they used to, they're not necessarily living much healthier lives. 

That's according to a new JAMA study that tracked the state of health in the US from 1990-2016. The study traced the prevalence of 333 different health problem causes and 84 risk factors for death over a 26 year period.

The researchers found that the average American born today can expect to live 67.7 years illness and injury-free, a healthy life expectancy average that's just 2.4 years longer than it was in 1990.

The researchers are especially worried about growing rates of health problems like obesity and diabetes, as well as the prevalence of drug use disorders (including opioid addiction) and alcohol use. Other health issues on the rise in the US include cognitive diseases like Alzheimer's and hearing loss, which are edging out what used to be some of the most common health issues in the country, like major depression, low back pain, and car crash injuries. 

Lead study author Christopher Murray, who directs the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington has said before that obesity and substance use disorders are increasing health problems around the globe, and his most recent data shows us that the US is no exception to the trend.

In 1960, Americans had the highest life expectancy of any country in the world. But today, the US has plummeted to the bottom of the list of countries with a similar GDP and high average income, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation

The number of years people can expect to live healthy, illness and injury-free lives in the US is over 70 years old in only two states: Minnesota and Hawaii. Take a look at where your state ranks. 

healthy life expectancy in every state

Here's the full list, in order from longest healthy life expectancy to shortest*.

  1. Minnesota - 70.3 years 
  2. Hawaii - 70.1 years 
  3. California - 69.9 years 
  4. Washington - 69.1 years 
  5. Vermont - 69 years
  6. Connecticut - 69 years 
  7. Iowa - 68.9 years 
  8. Massachusetts - 68.9 years
  9. Colorado - 68.9 years 
  10. New Jersey - 68.8 years 
  11. North Dakota - 68.8 years 
  12. Nebraska - 68.8 years 
  13. Wisconsin - 68.6 years 
  14. New Hampshire - 68.5 years 
  15. New York - 68.5 years 
  16. South Dakota - 68.4 years 
  17. Oregon - 68.4 years 
  18. Illinois - 68.3 years 
  19. Utah - 68.2 years 
  20. Rhode Island 68.1 years 
  21. Maine - 68 years 
  22. Maryland - 68 years 
  23. Virginia - 68 years 
  24. Florida - 67.9 years 
  25. Idaho - 67.9 years 
  26. Kansas - 67.8 years 
  27. Arizona - 67.7 years 
  28. Montana - 67.7 years 
  29. Texas - 67.4 years 
  30. Wyoming - 67.4 years 
  31. Washington, DC - 67.4 years 
  32. North Carolina - 67.4 years 
  33. Alaska - 67.3 years 
  34. Delaware - 67.2 years 
  35. Michigan - 67 years 
  36. Nevada - 66.9 years 
  37. Pennsylvania - 66.8 years
  38. Georgia - 66.6 years 
  39. Missouri - 66.5 years 
  40. New Mexico - 66.3 years 
  41. Ohio - 66.1 years 
  42. Indiana - 66 years 
  43. South Carolina - 65.8 years 
  44. Arkansas - 65.5 years 
  45. Tennessee - 65.4 years
  46. Louisiana - 65 years 
  47. Mississippi - 64.9 years 
  48. Alabama - 64.6 years 
  49. Oklahoma - 64.5 years 
  50. Kentucky - 64.3 years 
  51. West Virginia - 63.8 years 

*This list includes Washington DC, which is why there are 51 entries.

SEE ALSO: Hand dryers can blow fecal bacteria onto your hands, a study found — and the researchers are now switching to paper towels

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NOW WATCH: 100-year-old math teacher reveals the formula for a long and happy life

SCOOTER WARS: 3 startups are raising hundreds of millions to speed up your commute — but they're annoying everyone in San Francisco

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electric scooter san francisco limebike

  • Electric scooters for grown-ups are taking over San Francisco.
  • Three startups — Bird, Spin, and LimeBike — have raised a combined $225 million in venture capital funding and rolled out hundreds of vehicles.
  • On Monday, San Francisco's city attorney issued a cease-and-desist order for the unlawful operation of scooters in the city, after receiving complaints.
  • We talked with the founders of two electric scooter sharing startups about their bumpy rides in San Francisco, and how they're trying to work with cities moving forward.

 

Imagine tech workers dressed in hoodies and Allbirds sneakers cruising down the streets of San Francisco on electric scooters — like Razor scooters for grown-ups. At the end of their journey, riders discard their vehicles on the sidewalk with little regard for the pedestrians behind them.

"San Francisco, I give you your mascot," said a local artist on Twitter after such a spotting.

Since March, three startups have rolled out hundreds of electric scooters in downtown San Francisco. Their vehicles appeared suddenly, without much warning, and have since covered the sidewalks.

On Monday, San Francisco's city attorney issued a cease-and-desist order against Bird, Spin, and LimeBike for the unlawful operation of scooters in the city, ABC7 News is reporting.

These startups let people reserve a local scooter from a smartphone app, ride for a small fee, and, at the end of the journey, leave the scooter wherever to be claimed by the next rider. Unlike existing bike-sharing programs, there's no dock, so the scooters can be left anywhere.

Now, like Uber and Lyft in the ride-hailing market before them, electric scooter sharing startups are warring for the hearts and minds of customers and investors alike — while also battling with local authorities to be recognized as a legitimate mode of transport. Scooter startup Bird has already gotten into hot water with city officials in the Los Angeles area.

Between them, Bird, Spin, and LimeBike have raised $255 million in venture capital funding to expand across the US. Spin and LimeBike, which started off by renting out electric bikes, expanded into scooters in February of this year, thanks to an influx of investment cash.

bird scooter electric review 15

The clash isn't limited to San Francisco: Spin and LimeBike cover dozens of US cities from coast to coast, while Bird operates in six cities, mostly in Southern California, as well as Washington, DC.

But San Francisco has become the key battleground, as some people living there find the proliferation of electric scooters has turned the city into a "petri dish for transit innovation." The grand scooter experiment makes commutes trickier and headaches plentiful.

"A few weeks ago, I had not noticed any electric scooters in SF. Now you can't exit a building without tripping over one," said M.G. Siegler, a general partner at GV, the venture arm of Google's parent company, in a tweet earlier this month, echoing the sentiments of many.

Amid the controversy, the scooter startups are starting to clash with authority. On Friday, San Francisco seized 66 electric scooters after receiving complaints. The day before, city officials were forced to deny an accusation from Bird that San Francisco was trying to shut it down.

Now, San Francisco's city attorney, Dennis Herrara, is threatening to pull the plug on scooter sharing. His office sent cease-and-desist letters to Bird, Spin, and LimeBike on Monday, saying that their "unlawful" business practices have created a "public nuisance" that must be corrected.

The city attorney's office has given these startups until April 30 to provide a written report showing that they have taken steps to stop users from illegally riding and parking scooters on sidewalks.

"The bottom line is our sidewalks need to be safe for pedestrians," Herrera told Business Insider in a statement last week. "They are not dumping grounds for commercial scooters."

The state of the scooter wars

Data from analytics firm App Annie shows that the market for these scooters is booming. Bird saw its biggest week of iOS and Android downloads to date in the first week of April, up 15% over the previous week. It's now been downloaded over 250,000 times. LimeBike, which has been around longer, is closer to one million downloads. App Annie didn't offer data for Spin.

Founded in 2016, bike-sharing startup Spin is the oldest startup of the trio that includes Bird and LimeBike. It's the only one based in San Francisco, and it has the least amount of funding. Spin raised $8 million in a Series A investment in 2017 to get its bikes on the road, and launched its scooters in February.

LimeBike, based in Silicon Valley, was founded in 2017. It, too, expanded from bikes to scooters in February, around the same time that it closed a $70 million funding round — an influx that brought its total funding to $132 million.

The newest competitor, Bird, landed in San Francisco about a week after Spin and LimeBike.

Bird has raised $115 million in venture capital funding, so far. Bird CEO Travis VanderZanden, a former Uber and Lyft executive, told Business Insider that because his company skipped bikes and went straight to scooters, it deserves credit for pioneering the market.

"We invented the electric scooter sharing industry," VanderZanden told Business Insider.

As for why scooters at all, VanderZanden said that it's pretty straightfoward: "Not only is it the most functional way to get around, but people are reminded of being a kid," he said.

Getting ahead of controversy

Bird came to San Francisco in the wake of a controversial launch in the Los Angeles are. Not long after launching in Santa Monica, California, the city filed a criminal complaint against the startup over its failure to obtain a permit for operation.

Eager not to repeat history, Bird started a "dialogue with the city" of San Francisco in January ahead of its launch, and waited to see how the city responded to Spin and LimeBike before delivering 175 scooters. It's also committed to cleaning up its scooters nightly and paying $1 per vehicle every day to improve local transit infrastructure, though those donations have not started.

"Ahead of regulations, we said, 'Look we want to work with you,'" VanderZanden said.

Travis VanderZanden

All three startups say that they're keen to work with city authorities, even as regulations loom.

"We've always been on the side of working with cities and being the ones that have been leading the way on policy front, and we continue to keep doing that," Euwyn Poon, cofounder and president of Spin, told Business Insider.

The Board of Supervisors is expected to consider legislation on Monday to create a permitting process that will allow the city to regulate electric scooter sharing. It could potentially designate areas for leaving scooters or cap the number of vehicles that each startup is allowed to deploy in each neighborhood.

The scooter wars are far from over

Still, while the electric scooter sharing startups say they want to be part of the solution for crowded roads and congested public transit, many in San Francisco still find them to be a problem.

Critics argue that the avalanche of scooters is a product of Silicon Valley's arrogance. People have claimed on Twitter that these startups set out to disrupt transportation, but they acted without sufficient input from the city or the people who have to share San Francisco's streets and sidewalks.

"Silicon Valley has a long history of looking at a real problem and seeing an opportunity to exploit vs [sic] solving an issue," Alan Graham, cofounder of a cryptocurrency-related startup, said on Twitter. The London resident added: "It's one of the reasons I left and moved overseas."

Carol Scott, a web developer, fired off a tweet addressed to city officials, saying that she watched an elderly couple sidle their way around a Bird scooter turned over on a sidewalk.

"Our sidewalks should be for walkers, joggers and wheelchair users," she said on Twitter.

Chris Kosek, a graphic designer, described the scooters as "a cool idea with flawed execution" on Twitter. He said it's ironic that startups would preach empathy for users and design-centered thinking and "throw a tantrum when an entire city gives negative feedback."

He added: "They prefer to design for hypothetical personas over real people."

SEE ALSO: An ex-Uber employee is littering the streets of San Francisco with scooters that people can rent and toss anywhere — here's how they work

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