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Most popular HIIT classes aren't actually high intensity, according to a personal trainer — here's what a HIIT workout really is

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alice liveing

  • There's plenty of research to support the idea that high-intensity interval training, or HIIT, is just as beneficial as — if not more than — a longer, more traditional workout.
  • However, Alice Liveing, a personal trainer and Instagram star, said most HIIT workouts are actually moderately intense.
  • Real HIIT involves working to 90% capacity and can't be maintained for a long period, she said. 

There's a growing body of research supporting the idea that high-intensity interval training, or HIIT, is just as beneficial as — if not more than — a longer, moderately intense workout.

HIIT involves short bursts of exercise with brief (30 to 45 seconds) intervals of rest in between. You should be working at maximum capacity and out of breath by the end of the workout, even though it can be as short as seven minutes.

In a study published in the June issue of the journal Certified, scientists compared a group of people on a HIIT plan for six weeks with a group doing traditional workouts for the same period. The interval trainers saw the same improvements in heart health and muscle tone as exercisers in the other group — and they saw most of the benefits in less than half the time.

However, according to a personal trainer, most boutique-gym HIIT workouts, which tend to last about 30 to 60 minutes, aren't actually high-intensity workouts.

Alice Liveing, who shares photos of her workouts and lifestyle with her nearly 640,000 Instagram followers, is a trainer at Third Space and works with clients of all kinds, including the actress Suranne Jones ("Doctor Foster") and the British television and radio presenter Maya Jama.

‘There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me’ This is one of my favourite Jane Austen quotes. I can read her work time and time again and still find something new to appreciate within the pages. After having a day of feeling pretty low, I decided that I can’t let a few negative voices deter me from being authentically me. Because, like Jane Austen (although probably not as articulately) I am writing a story each day. I am learning lessons, making mistakes, choosing to do the right, and the wrong thing. In fact we all are. We’re all muddling our way through the story that is our life. There’s no rule book, no prior manuscript to look to, and reading other stories merely gives inspiration rather than hard guidance. It means that there will be total plot twists, moment of deep sadness and euphoric joy, but at the end of our life we can sit back with a masterpiece we are truly happy with. So yeah, that meant I sat in bed last night and devoured half my mini bar... but who the hell wants to look back with regret thinking, I wish I’d done that but didn’t? So it’s time to dust myself off, remove judgement of feelings of anxiety, and take this new day as a fresh start. Not only does even writing this feel cathartic, but the analogy of writing a story each day sits comfortably with me as a creative spirit. So, thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your kind words. You’re all having a big ass page in my book of my life under the headline ‘THESE PEOPLE ARE AMAZING’ ❤️

A post shared by Alice (@aliceliveing) on Mar 4, 2018 at 1:08am PST on

Speaking to Business Insider at Be:FIT London last month, Liveing said she started posting her "health and well-being journey" on Instagram a few years ago while touring as part of the musical "Annie" — she was previously a professional dancer, singer, and actress.

"I was really getting into training and wanted to understand more about my training, so I decided to qualify as a PT," she said.

When the tour ended, Liveing needed a break from performing, she said.

"My body was just wrecked, and I was exhausted," she said. "I decided that I would start PT-ing a bit on the side, and I just fell in love with it and enjoyed my time so much that I increased my hours, took on more clients, then was offered a job at Third Space."

Liveing has written three best-selling books, is a monthly columnist for Women's Health magazine, and just released a training app.

She works out four or five times a week — but you won't see HIIT training as part of her regimen.

"It's all weight training, resistance training, and a little bit of Olympic lifting," she said.

Drop sets, cluster sets, giant sets.. and the list could go on. Whether you’re working in the fitness industry, are an exercise enthusiast or a newbie lifter, this gym jargon can sometimes feel a little overwhelming, and most people become unsure of what sets are for when. So, I decided to break it down for you and give you a bit of brief information on each in order to help clear up any confusion that may surround this area of your training. 1. Straight sets: These are sets where you do only ONE exercise. These typically (although not exclusively) work best for your big lifts like your squats and deadlifts etc, where you don’t want to further fatigue yourself with a second or assistance exercise. 2. Supersets: These are sets where two exercises are paired together with minimal rest between them. Supersets are great for building muscle, aiding fat loss and for those who are time poor with their training. In terms of exercise choice here, really anything goes. Be it barbells, dumbells, resistance bands or bodyweight, the combinations are endless (and also may depend on where each superset falls within your workout). 3. Tri-sets: As the name suggests, these are sets consisting of three exercises. These sets are ideal for fat loss, muscle building and for people who are time poor and therefore want maximum training efficiency. Again, in terms of exercise selection, anything goes; they can focus on one muscle group, opposing muscle groups, or hit three separate muscle groups depending on the goal or intended training outcome. 4. Giant sets: These are sets with anything above three exercises. Again these types of sets are great for those aiming to achieve fat loss, build muscle and those who have limited time to train in the gym. 5. Timed sets: These are sets where your work/rest periods are timed. They can be used on any exercise selection, and are great for more endurance style training rather than strength work. An example would be doing bodyweight squats for 30 seconds with a 15 second rest. I typically use these with finishers (continued in the comments below).

A post shared by Alice (@aliceliveing) on Apr 4, 2018 at 3:57am PDT on

She added that while HIIT is certainly very popular at the moment, "true HIIT isn't what most people are doing."

Most 'HIIT' workouts are actually moderate intensity

"Most people are doing moderate-intensity-level exercise rather than it being high intensity," Liveing said. "For it to be high intensity, you have to be working at 90% capacity, so you're literally going into that anaerobic threshold where you're tapping into that energy system."

Anaerobic threshold refers to the point during a workout when lactic acid starts to build up in the muscles — something that, during a HIIT workout, doesn't occur until you're working at close to 90% capacity, according to Liveing.

Let’s talk cardio 👉🏻 who loves it, who loathes it? I don’t like labelling any form of training good or bad, as with anything in life, we are all unique and what works for one person might not work for another. I personally like to incorporate some cardio into my training and recently teamed up with @reebok_fitness to test out the GT40s treadmill. I went through a few ways in which I’d use a treadmill in my training, from slow steady state walking or an incline power walk to high intensity interval sprints and was impressed with the soft cushioning of the belt that reduces the impact of force and makes for a smooth run! As an added bonus Argos have a special deal on the treadmill at the moment so grab yours whilst you can and try it for yourself! What’s your favourite form of cardio? #ReebokFitness #ArgosUK

A post shared by Alice (@aliceliveing) on Jan 12, 2018 at 5:16am PST on

She added that most 45-minute "HIIT" workouts offered by boutique gyms aren't HIIT at all, as it's not possible to maintain that level of work for up to an hour.

"It's MIIT — moderate-intensity interval training — and it's basically cardio," Liveing said.

Instead, she suggests: "Reduce the time of your HIIT. You shouldn't be able to sustain that level of energy for a long period of time; it should be short, more intense, and not a long cardiovascular workout."

alice liveing

One big workout won't make a difference

Ultimately, Liveing said, it's important to note that one effective workout won't make an impact.

"The biggest piece of advice that I give people is that consistency is key," she said.

"It's not about coming to the gym with me and smashing out one session a week and thinking that's OK," she added. "That is great, but I also want you to be doing that consistently for the next 12 weeks to actually see results.

"One salad doesn't make you healthy. One pizza doesn't make you gain weight. It's the same with training — one workout is great, but you need to have a consistency with that that allows you to have physical change rather than just pinning your hopes on one gym session a week."

SEE ALSO: 'It is very scary': a Victoria's Secret model trainer was shocked by London's obsession with this high-intensity workout

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I'm a serial 'ghoster' in dating — here's why I do it

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Ghosting

  • Ghosting is much more common in online dating than I originally thought.
  • Though it doesn’t feel great to ghost someone, I think it’s the best way of getting out of a casual relationship if neither party is emotionally invested.
  • Here’s when I’ve ghosted, and why I do it.

 

Dating in your mid-30s isn’t easy. Many of your friends are either married or in serious relationships, and work or raising children has pushed them into the suburbs. It was hard enough meeting the friends I have, nevermind making new ones.

When my last serious relationship ended, I was slow to explore online dating. It took me a while to realize how sedentary my life had become, and that dating apps seem to be necessary to meet new people these days (and sometimes just to leave the house). I signed up and started swiping.  

After a few seemingly pleasant dates, a pattern emerged: I’d meet a woman for a drinks, have a good time, part ways with her, and never hear from her again. This happened regardless of whether the goodbye came in the evening or the next morning. In a word, I was “ghosted.”

This wasn’t the kind of dating that I was used to pre-apps. Within the confines of a common social group, dating, no matter how casual, always required a certain decorum. If you didn’t want “keep seeing” someone, you had to say so, because you were definitely going to see that person again.

Online dating has no such confines. When a woman I met through an app shared intimate secrets about her life with me, I assumed we were building trust. Not the case. She was opening up to me the same way she might open up to cab driver in Lisbon. There’s a certain safety in being yourself around someone you know you’ll never see again. She ghosted me soon after.

The first person I ghosted was Cara (fake name, for obvious reasons). We connected on a dating app and decided to meet at a bar in a neighborhood not far from mine. We had a few drinks and got along pretty well — so well, in fact, that she assumed that our next stop was my house. I was having a good time, so I considered her forwardness endearing.

The next morning, that forwardness had revealed itself to be a thoroughly off-putting entitlement.

“Do you have a bag?” she asked me after I came back from the bathroom.

“Sure. What for?” I asked.

“I’m going to borrow these books,” she said, and I looked down and saw that she was holding a stack of three books she had taken from my shelf.

“Uh, OK,” I said. I looked for a plastic bag while resigning myself to never seeing those books again and continued to get ready for work.

She then asked how to get back to her neighborhood. I gave her directions — how to walk to the subway and how to take the bus — and she decided that it was too much trouble. I told her she could take an Uber, but she didn’t have the app. So I ordered a car for her.

When I got the receipt, to my surprise, rather than go to the subway a mile away from my house, she had the driver take her to a suburban town more than ten miles away.

A week later she texted me, “wyd?”

I had to ask to find out that meant, “what are you doing?” I told her I was out of town (which was true), she told me to let her know when I got back, and I said I would (which was false).

I considered explaining to her that I wasn’t interested, but by this point I figured we were speaking different languages, so why bother?

Another time I ghosted was after a date with a woman named Melissa. I had an extra ticket for a play, and all of my friends were busy, so I went on Tinder looking for a theater companion.

After three hours of theater seats and actor-speak, we split a pizza at a bar in her neighborhood. I realized we didn’t have a whole lot in common, but we had a pleasant enough time. I laughed at her jokes, and she laughed at mine.

She spent the next week texting questions referencing topics that had come up during our conversation. I would respond when I saw them, but I wouldn’t ask her anything to further the dialogue — I just wasn’t all that interested.

Then came the question I wouldn’t answer: “So you wanna hang out again or not so much?” I know I could’ve politely declined, and I believed that I was going to — as soon as I got home, as soon as I finished this work, as soon as I was done with this ice cream ...

But after three or four days of silence, I had already rejected her. Why do it again? “Hey, it’s the guy who has been ignoring you for long enough that you probably think I’m not interested. Anyway, you’re right. I’m not.” That seemed needlessly cruel.

So I said nothing.

The reality is that meeting new people through a network of friends or a connection to a physical space tempers our interactions in a way that a one-on-one dating app simply can’t. When it’s your friend’s sister, your co-worker’s brother, or the waitress at the bar you always go to, you already have an emotional investment in the social world that introduced the two of you. And that remains true even if the date doesn’t work out. You can’t just ignore someone you’re going to see again.

While it’s true that being ignored can be very hurtful, for me, it really only stings when it’s coming from someone you love, someone with whom you’re deeply connected.

But someone with whom you share an initial attraction and little else? That’s a different story. I can’t say how the women I ignored felt about receiving the digital cold shoulder, but if their reactions were anything like mine when I was ghosted, my guess would be “not much.”

SEE ALSO: 9 terms that define modern dating

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Critics seem torn about HBO's new show 'Succession,' a drama that follows a wealthy family as they inherit an entertainment empire

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Succession

The new HBO drama series "Succession" is getting mixed reviews. Some critics find it tired and boring, but some say that it does an excellent job representing privilege.

"Succession," which debuted on HBO Sunday night, follows the Roy family, which controls one of the biggest media and entertainment conglomerates in the world.

The series comes from the producers of Oscar nominee "The Big Short" (2015) and follows the Roy family as they navigate the future of their company and themselves after their father, who is getting older, starts to step away from running the company.

The show currently has a 73% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 75% audience score. Some critics love it, especially once you get a few episodes into the first season. But other critics say it's a "slog" of a series, and that it isn't a very original take on a story about the extremely wealthy.

"Succession" stars Brian Cox, Hiam Abbass, Kieran Culkin, Sarah Snook and Jeremy Strong.

Here's what critics have to say about HBO's "Succession"— the good and the bad. 

SEE ALSO: 3 great TV shows you should watch on Netflix this month

The bad:



"At first engaging, then slowly, inexorably, 'Succession' turns into work."

Newsday



"'Succession' makes it clear that the Roys are not especially nice people. They are also, alas, not especially fascinating. Pink slips for everyone."

Boston Herald



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A private-jet company is offering 'Alice in Wonderland' tea parties at 45,000 feet for ultrarich kids

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VistaJet Alice in the Sky

  • VistaJet is offering high-flying kids numerous bespoke, in-flight experiences.
  • Clients can take part in an "Alice in Wonderland"-themed tea party in the sky.
  • The packages start at $4,000, or £3,000 — not including the $12,000-an-hour rate for renting the jet itself.

It's all well and good for the adults who fly around in private jets, but what about their ultrarich offspring?

Fortunately for its high-flying clients, VistaJet has launched numerous experiences for youngsters — including an "Alice in Wonderland"-themed tea party.

VistaJet, a subscription-based jet-charter company, collaborated with the London-based children's-events company Sharky & George to manage the program.

VisaJet Alice in the Sky

The experience starts with fancy dress.

"Once on board, boys and girls can get into costume and will be guided through the 'Alice in Wonderland' story by one of our trained entertainers," the company says.

"For the duration of their flight, children will have the chance to play games and try themed crafts and activities tailored to their age and interests. From hosting their own Mad Hatter's Tea Party, through to flamingo croquet with hedgehogs as balls, and the Contrariwise game, where everything is done back-to-front and the wrong way around."

Kids can also get involved in teacup decorating, "giant pocket watch creations," card-soldier making, and build-your-own Kaleidoscope workshops.

VistaJet Alice in the Sky

The experience at 45,000 feet starts at $4,000, or £3,000 — which is on top of the minimum $12,000-an-hour cost of renting the jet, Bloomberg reports.

The rates shouldn't be too much for VistaJet's clientele, though. Private-jet "members" reportedly have an average net worth of $670 million to $1.1 billion.

VistaJet Alice in the Sky

Matteo Atti, the executive vice president for marketing and innovation at VistaJet, told Bloomberg that there was a gap in the market for children's in-flight entertainment.

"Given that one in every four VistaJet flights has a child on board, we saw the opportunity to build something incredibly special for our younger passengers," Atti said. "If you can trust us with your family, you can trust us with anything."

SEE ALSO: I flew on the cheapest private jet in the world and it's truly a game changer

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These are the sexual-assault allegations against Bill Clinton

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Bill Clinton

  • Four women over the past few decades have publicly accused Bill Clinton of sexual assault or harassment. One woman accused Clinton of raping her.
  • Amid ongoing national attention on issues of sexual assault and workplace harassment, Democrats and others on the left are beginning to reexamine their response to the allegations against Clinton.


President Bill Clinton's decision to lie under oath about his consensual affair with the White House intern Monica Lewinsky almost forced him from the presidency.

But allegations made by four other women that Clinton either sexually assaulted or harassed them have done little to discredit him among his supporters. Clinton has denied all of the allegations against him, including those made by four other women who say they had consensual extramarital relationships with him.

As a national spotlight focuses on sexual assault and harassment following a flood of accusations of misconduct against dozens of prominent men in Hollywood, the media, and politics, Democrats and others on the left are beginning to reexamine their response to the allegations against Clinton.

"Everybody in the mainstream press is calling all of Bill Clinton's crimes infidelities," Kathleen Willey, one of the women who has accused Clinton of harassment, told the Fox News host Sean Hannity in October 2016. "Rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment are not infidelities. They are crimes and they are misdemeanors."

Here are the allegations of sexual assault and harassment against him:

SEE ALSO: Democrats are reckoning with the sexual assault allegations against Bill Clinton in light of the #MeToo movement

Juanita Broaddrick

Juanita Broaddrick has made the most serious allegations against Clinton, accusing him of raping her in 1978 while Clinton was Arkansas' attorney general.

Broaddrick, then a 35-year-old nursing-home administrator, met Clinton when he visited her nursing home on a campaign stop. After Clinton asked to meet with her on her next trip to Little Rock, the two set up a meeting in a hotel coffee shop.

Broaddrick, who first made the accusation publicly in 1999, told BuzzFeed News last year that when Clinton arrived at the hotel he asked to meet in Broaddrick's room instead and, after he arrived, violently raped her. Broaddrick said he bloodied her lip by biting it.

"There was no remorse," Broaddrick told BuzzFeed News. "He acted like it was an everyday occurrence. He was not the least bit apologetic. It was just unreal."

The Washington Post reported that two people close to Broaddrick said she described the rape to them at the time.



Kathleen Willey

Kathleen Willey said Clinton kissed her, fondled her breasts, and forced her to touch his crotch during a meeting in the Oval Office in 1993, while Willey was a volunteer in the White House correspondence office.

Willey made her allegations public in 1998, and Clinton "emphatically" denied that the interaction was sexual, arguing that he hugged Willey and may have kissed her on the forehead.

Willey says she was "friends" with Clinton and confided in him during the meeting that she and her husband were having financial troubles. She asked him for a promotion from her volunteer position to a paying job and says that Clinton was sympathetic and asked to talk with her in a small room off of the Oval Office. Willey says Clinton cornered and assaulted her in that room.

"My mind was racing and I thought: 'Should I slap him? Or should I kick him? Or knee him?'" Willey recalled thinking during an October 2016 interview with the Fox News host Sean Hannity. "What do I do? Scream? Is the Secret Service gonna come in and descend upon me with guns?"



Paula Jones

A former Arkansas state employee named Paula Jones said that in 1991, at a government quality-management conference that Clinton attended, she was approached by the state police and told that Clinton, then the governor, wanted to meet with her. Jones said that a police officer escorted her to Clinton's hotel room in Little Rock and that Clinton then propositioned her for sex and exposed his genitals to her.

"He sat down, pulled down his pants, his whole everything and he was exposed, and I said, 'I'm not that kind of girl, and I need to be getting back to my desk,'" Jones recalled to Hannity.

Jones said the state police officer was standing just outside the hotel room during the encounter.

She said that she tried to leave after Clinton exposed himself but that Clinton rushed over and grabbed the door.

"He said, 'You're a smart girl — let's keep this between ourselves,'" Jones said.

She said when she left the room the state trooper was smirking.

Jones made her allegations public in 1994 and brought a sexual-harassment lawsuit against Clinton. A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit in 1998 on the grounds that Jones didn't prove that she was harmed, either personally or in her career, by the incident, and Jones appealed the ruling.

Clinton ultimately paid Jones $850,000 as part of an out-of-court settlement agreement but did not admit guilt or apologize to Jones.



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4 signs you're being manipulated — and how to stop it

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manipulation

  • Manipulation is a deceptive tactic that people employ to accomplish their own ends.
  • Signs of psychological manipulation include lying or other forms of deception, appealing to fear, and establishing a power imbalance.
  • It’s important to recognize the signs of manipulation and use appropriate measures to combat it. Here’s how.

 

Psychological manipulation is any action that’s designed to help someone accomplish their own agenda through deceptive or otherwise shady tactics. It usually involves creating a power imbalance within the relationship or interaction — and isn’t all that uncommon.

“Most of us have to deal with it on a regular basis, from untrustworthy relationships to commercial advertising and political rhetoric,” said Preston Ni, communication coach, professor of communication studies at Foothill College, and author of "How to Successfully Handle Manipulative People.”

The pervasiveness of manipulation can make it difficult to distinguish from persuasion. But there is a key difference, Ni said. “Healthy social influence occurs between most people, and is part of the give-and-take of constructive relationships. In psychological manipulation, one person is used for the benefit of another.”

To help you figure out if you’re being manipulated, here are four signs it’s happening to you (and ways to stop it):

SEE ALSO: 5 signs that you're dating a manipulator

1. Their case is overstated

Exaggeration is a common trick used by manipulators, Ni explained in a post in Psychology Today. If you aren’t comfortable with a direct approach, you can counteract this attempt at manipulation by focusing on the facts, as well as asking for more information and sources, he wrote.



2. The primary focus is on fear

Some manipulators resort to scare tactics to get others to go along with their plan, Ni told Business Insider. This could involve anything from saying things that play into a fear of rejection or monetary losses to threats of bodily harm or backlash if the other person goes against their wishes.

This can create a heightened sense of danger, so it may make sense to use less direct methods to de-escalate the situation, like finding a way to end the conversation or, if possible, moving to a more public location.



3. The power imbalance is a big part of the discussion

Though this is less subtle than other manipulation tactics, Ni said it’s not uncommon for a manipulator to attempt to establish control over the situation by constantly reminding others of their own importance and power.

This helps them seem more dominant while putting the other person at a disadvantage. It can help to respond by asserting your own importance, thereby leveling the playing field.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Jon Stewart defends Samantha Bee after Trump suggested she should get fired for calling Ivanka a 'c---'

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jon stewart samantha bee

  • Jon Stewart defended Samantha Bee in a question-and-answer session on Sunday after President Donald Trump called for her firing last week over her remarks about Ivanka Trump.
  • Bee drew criticism from the Trump administration and subsequently apologized after she called Ivanka a "feckless c---" on her TBS show, "Full Frontal."
  • Stewart said the controversy surrounding Bee represented a "game" and "strategy" from right-wing politicians at large.

In the eyes of Jon Stewart, the backlash against Samantha Bee from the White House last week represented a "game" and "strategy" from right-wing politicians at large.

Bee faced intense criticism from President Donald Trump after she called his daughter Ivanka a "feckless c---" on her TBS show, "Full Frontal."

Writing on Twitter, Trump asked why TBS wouldn't fire Bee for "horrible language," suggesting there was a double standard after ABC canceled "Roseanne" over a tweet by its star Roseanne Barr.

Stewart worked with Bee on "The Daily Show" from 2003 to 2015.

"Please understand that a lot of what the right does, and it's maybe their greatest genius, is they've created a code of conduct that they police, that they themselves don't have to, in any way, abide," Stewart said during a question-and-answer session at the Clusterfest comedy festival on Sunday, as reported by The Daily Beast.

"It's a game, it's a strategy, and it's working," Stewart added.

Bee apologized for her remarks last week after Trump called for her firing. Bee used the phrase in question during a segment urging the president's daughter to "do something" about her father's immigration policy that had resulted in the government separating children living in the country illegally from their parents.

Stewart addressed Bee's controversy and apology first by addressing "liberals" at large.

"Don't get caught in a trap of thinking you can live up to a code of integrity that will be enough for the propagandist right," he said. "There isn't. And so, create your own moral code to live by, but don't be fooled into trying to make concessions that you think will mollify them."

Stewart then turned to Bee's comments in particular.

"They don't give a shit about the word 'c---,'" Stewart said of the Trump administration. "That is probably — he says that instead of 'please,' I'm guessing," he added of Trump.

As The Daily Beast notes, various reports since the 1980s have indicated Trump has used the derogatory word to describe women.

SEE ALSO: Advertisers are starting to ditch Samantha Bee over her snipe at Ivanka Trump

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We ordered from McDonald's new kiosks to see if they're better than real cashiers — and the winner is surprising (MCD)

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McDonald's Kiosk

  • Order automation is sweeping the quick-service industry, with digital kiosks and mobile-ordering apps being introduced at major chains like McDonald's, Starbucks, and Panera.
  • A recent MSN poll suggests that most Americans prefer cashiers over automated kiosks.
  • But automated ordering can help wait times and improve order accuracy, and it doesn't negatively affect labor as much as some think. 

Gone are the heady days of cashiers asking if you want your order "supersized."

Not only has the infamous upgrade gone by the wayside, but cashiers at fast-food restaurants are becoming increasingly uncommon. McDonald's started rolling out ordering kiosks at its US locations in 2015, and the chain hasn't looked back since: by 2020, most of its 14,000 locations will have kiosks installed. 

It plans to add the kiosks to 1,000 stores every quarter for the next two years, according to CNBC.

Panera Bread has also committed to digital ordering. Admittedly, when I first tried it in 2015, I found it had decidedly dystopian vibes. But it ended up being a fairly pleasant and painless experience.

A recent poll conducted by Business Insider's partner MSN suggests that diners aren't big fans of automated kiosks: 78% of customers said they would be less inclined to go to a restaurant that has automated ordering kiosks. 

The popular narrative is that kiosks and mobile ordering are here to take jobs and hours away from underpaid cashiers, ultimately saving companies money in the face of rising labor costs — but the data suggests that isn't true. It may be true for some, but most chains are simply reallocating labor behind the scenes. And with such a tight labor market, many chains are struggling to hire and retain customer-facing employees. 

Americans don't seem too threatened by automation in general. Nationally, only 21% of responders to MSN's poll believe their job may one day be done by machines. And restaurants like automated ordering because of it offers increased accuracy and efficiency as more chains look towards cashless options. 

But for now, a question remains: are kiosks, in fact, better for customers? I headed to a McDonald's to find out:

SEE ALSO: We tried biscuit breakfast sandwiches from major fast-food chains, and the winner is shockingly clear

ALSO READ: I tried classic breakfast sandwiches from McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's — here's how they stack up

The Chambers Street McDonald's near our office in New York City's Financial District now has kiosks and mobile ordering after undergoing an extensive renovation. There, by the grace of the Hamburglar, go I.



It's the middle of the lunch rush, so the place is packed. Luckily, the kiosks seem to be moving fairly quickly compared to the lengthening line at the registers.



Using the kiosks is straightforward and surprisingly user-friendly.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Inside the marriage of LeBron and Savannah James, who met in high school, had their first date at Outback Steakhouse, and are now worth $275 million

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LeBron James Savannah

  • LeBron James and his wife Savannah met in high school and have been together ever since.
  • They became engaged at a star-studded New Year's Eve bash in 2011, and tied the knot in 2013.
  • The couple has three children, and James is the one of the highest-paid athletes in the world.


In 2013, LeBron James married his longtime girlfriend Savannah Brinson. Their lavish wedding included a performance of "Crazy in Love" from Beyonce and Jay-Z, according to Deadspin. The three days of festivities also featured plenty of celebrity cameos, from family friend and fellow NBA star Dwayne Wade to singer Neyo, wrote The Hollywood Reporter.

The couple started off as high school sweethearts, who grabbed dinner at Outback Steakhouse on their first date and stuck together through James' meteoric rise through the NBA.

Today, they have three children and two sprawling mansions: a $21 million mansion in Los Angeles, and a $9.2 million one in Akron, Ohio. The three-time NBA champion is worth $275 million as of 2016 and is one of the highest-paid athletes in the world, according to Forbes.

Here's a look inside their 16-year-relationship:

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk has finally spoken out about his personal life — here's his complicated history of marriages, divorces, and dating

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James and Savannah both grew up in Akron, Ohio and attended rival high schools. He was a sports prodigy, excelling at basketball and football. She was a cheerleader and softball player.

Source: Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Sports Illustrated



They met at a football game. She told Harper's Bazaar she wasn't aware of his athletic prowess when she accepted his invitation to a basketball game: "I had no idea who he was."

Source: Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Sports Illustrated



Later, Savannah joked to Vogue, "He met me! I didn't meet him!"

Source: Vogue



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

31 Target employees shared the most useful thing they've learned at work, and 5 lessons kept coming up

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  • Target store employees gain firsthand experience in the world of retail.
  • Business Insider corresponded with 31 current and former Target team members to get a sense of what they've learned from the experience.
  • From what they told us, it sounds like working at Target brings about plenty of potential learning opportunities.


Target store team members have to deal with all sorts of customers and situations.

Whether those interactions are troubling, funny, or just plain exasperating, they all offer employees an opportunity to learn on the job.

Business Insider recently corresponded with 31 current and former Target employees. We asked them to share the most important lesson they've learned from working at the retail giant.

For the most part, their answers were all over the place.

Some of their responses reflected frustration with the sometimes bewildering nature of retail work. Others said they felt that their experience at Target helped them to become tougher, more flexible, and more empathetic.

Here's what Target team members said they've learned on the job:

SEE ALSO: Target employees shared 4 of their worst horror stories — and it will make you appreciate how hard their job is

DON'T MISS: 8 insider facts about shopping at Target that only employees know

SEE ALSO: Target employees share the most ridiculous returns they've seen customers make

Navigating conflicts requires skill — and a sense of humor

Three Target team members told Business Insider that their experience on the job made them realize that they never wanted to work in retail again.

But five other Target employees told Business Insider that they learned how to deal with conflict and brush off rudeness. 

And the biggest weapon in their arsenal? Having a sense of humor when conflict arises.

"Overall, I would say that my way of dealing with difficult people — particularly guests — is to simply remain polite yet stay firm on company policy," the team member told Business Insider. "Also, I constantly remind myself that these people are making complete fools of themselves and that the experience will make a great story in the break room later."

The team member said that many "difficult customers" get mad because they won't lower the prices of certain products or return items "that exceed the 30 day return policy."

"So basically, they're a bunch of — usually — middle-aged to older individuals throwing literal temper tantrums because we won't change the rules for them," the team member said. "And that, to me, is hilarious. I've been called incompetent, stupid, rude, and who knows what else. I never take it to heart because, at the end of the day, I'm not the full-grown adult yelling at the college kid because she won't accept the four year old coupon you want to use. "

A Target team member in Colorado added that they learned to expect people to be "super rude for no reason," while a Texas-based employee said they learned "how to hold back anger" when conflicts arise.

"People are wild," one employee in North Carolina told Business Insider.

And one Target employee from Texas told Business Insider that sometimes it's best to just "smile and nod" when dealing with unhappy people.



Working in retail also presents a good opportunity to hone certain soft skills

Five Target team members told Business Insider that they had gained valuable soft skills through working at the chain.

"It has benefited my confidence and made me come out of my shell, because you have to be more outgoing and bold," an employee from Pennsylvania told Business Insider. "I deal with all kinds of bull-crap — sorry — everyday. So it, in a way, forces you to step up or you'll get walked all over."

Two employees said that they learned that patience is important, while another team member from Colorado said they learned "how to talk to people."

And a team member from California told Business Insider that they learned they were a "strong a-- person."

"I know how to do so many things now, and, even if I don't I know, I'm capable of learning," the team member added. "And I'm fast. Adaptability is key, and Target has really helped me to hone that flexibility in my work life and my personal life."



Everyone has stuff going on in their lives, and being nice goes a long way

"People may not remember your name, but they'll remember the way you made them feel," one Target team member told Business Insider.

The team member said they always tried to remember that "you never know what kind of day someone is having" and that a smile "can make someone feel important."

The team member described an encounter with a woman who called the store. The customer, who said they were facing a family tragedy, was frantic because the store's pharmacy was set to take two hours to fill her anti-anxiety prescription.

"The woman on the phone was in the middle of the worst panic attack of her life," the team member said. "I can never forget how shaky and frantic her voice sounded. At this point, I realized that I was the only person she had to keep her sane."

"I hope I helped her enough until she could get the proper assistance she urgently needed..." the Target team member added. "I think about her a lot and want to give her the biggest hug ever."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Having too much empathy can lead us to burn out — but there are ways to use it as a superpower

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couple hugging empathy

  • Some people have very high levels of empathy.
  • But if they take on everyone else's baggage all the time, it can lead to an "empathy burnout."
  • This is essentially like running out of fuel to care.
  • To stop this, they need to learn to be discerning and build strong boundaries.
  • As psychologists say, you can't honour someone else properly unless you honour yourself.


Empathy is a really great thing. It helps us become better people by understanding and relating to other people's emotions, and sympathise with what they are going through.

But if you are in tune with too many people's emotions too much of the time, you may experience "empathy burnout," which is when you get completely overwhelmed and exhausted by always taking on everyone else's baggage.

"It's almost like another person's emotions or physical sensations even become contagious," Perpetua Neo, a doctor of psychology, told Business Insider. "We're talking about having an energetic boundary. There isn't one and you take it all on. If you get burnout, you tend to stop feeling so empathetic, and you can go the other way."

Empathy can become kryptonite, and it can start to cause you harm. But it can be a challenge to take a step back from it because people with high levels of empathy sometimes believe part of caring for others is suffering yourself.

This isn't true, and caring for others isn't synonymous with feeling pain. If you start to wear your empathy like a badge of honour, and blame your caring nature for every time you get hurt, Neo said it has essentially become your biggest burden.

"Really importantly, [people] don't ask themselves, 'who am I if I don't take on other peoples' pain?' Because it has become confused with their identity," she said.

"Perhaps they are seen as the listener of the group, the agony aunt of the group, and they don't know who they are without it. So they take all that bad stuff — the burnout, the contagion, all the pain, all the over-giving, and being around bad people — they think that is part of the price to pay."

Some people may over-give because they were taught to do this by their parents. For instance, some very religious communities are focused on giving until it hurts, Neo said. Or, in some cases, people might empathise to the extreme because they were in an abusive relationship, or had narcissistic parents, and it's a habit they fell into to make the rage go away.

Reining in your empathy can make it more powerful

You can learn to use empathy as a superpower, Neo said, and the journey starts by being discerning. Sometimes people are irritating, or thoughtless, and it feels like they are dragging you down. Part of learning to use empathy effectively is recognising these facts and not beating yourself up over noticing them.

We are taught from a young age not to be judgmental of others. But there is always a limit, and judgment is actually essential for survival, according to Neo. Taking a step back from someone who is draining you of energy isn't selfish when you are starting to find their actions detrimental to yourself, she said.

"Paulo Coelho said 'we all have one foot in a fairytale, and the other in the abyss,' and I think that is essentially what our lives are about," said Neo. "You can judge what some people are about. Nobody is perfect and that's ok. Write down your worst thoughts. Be cool with that fact. It will help you to be discerning and that will help you shepherd and grow empathy in a way that suits you."

Having too much empathy can also mean you don't grow your boundaries effectively. You let other people drain you because you haven't drawn a line in the sand which people can't cross. This is particularly important for those in caring professions, Neo said.

"So if you're a councilor, working as a nurse, working in a trauma centre, or if you are a listening ear in your friendship circle, you can end up having vicarious traumatisation, or what they call 'compassion fatigue,'" she said. "What's really important here is putting boundaries up for others. You need to choose to not take on somebody else's pain."

Otherwise you become a magnet for other people's stories, she said. Actually detaching yourself from them can make you a better listener, because you don't take on their pain, so you're not triggered by their story, and you don't confuse your own ethos and feelings with theirs.

"It doesn’t mean you don't feel empathy, but it means you allow yourself to have that distance, and that actually makes you a wiser and better person," Neo said. "There is no shame in knowing that. When you can be detached sometimes, you model resilience for that person... If you honour yourself, you can honour somebody else better."

Essentially, you can be empathetic in a healthy way by saying to yourself: "This is how I want to live my life because this is what I don’t want done to me." Neo said it means rather than the golden rule — "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" — there is a more shrewd way to approach life.

"How do you know what others want done to them?" she said. "I think more important is the silver rule: don't do unto others as you would not have them do unto you. And that makes life a lot easier."

SEE ALSO: The opposite of a narcissist is an 'empath' — here are the signs you could be one

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Here's why the Queen always wears gloves to royal engagements

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Britain's Queen Elizabeth waves to wellwishers as she walks on Pariser Platz in Berlin, Germany, June 26, 2015. Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh are on a three day state visit to Germany.

  • Have you ever wondered why the Queen is always wearing gloves?
  • Fortunately the royal glove makers have shed some light on the situation.
  • The gloves are likely a layer of protection against the countless hands she shakes every day.
  • They're also just a staple of Her Majesty's iconic style, and mean she doesn't need to show her arms.


The Queen likes to wave — a lot.

If you've seen her waving in the last 65 years, you might have noticed one constant throughout her long reign: she's always wearing gloves.

Queen Elizabeth's gloved mitts are as much a staple of her royal uniform as her hats and bright colours — but why? Fortunately, Reader's Digest spoke to the Queen's glove maker to find out just that.

Queen Elizabeth Prince Charles

Cornelia James has been the Queen's glovemaker for over 70 years and has had a royal warrant since 1970.

Genevieve James, creative director and daughter of the founder, told Reader's Digest that her gloves offer her protection from dirt and germs when shaking hands with countless people every day.

"I imagine she always has two or three pairs in her handbag to spare," James said.

However, she added that Her Majesty is more likely to get the £110 ($140) gloves repaired than replaced.

"I think the royal family wants to be seen as being economical, not wasting money on things like that. She'll wear her gloves for 40 years and will pull some out from a long time ago."

Queen Elizabeth Prince Charles

The gloves do, of course, serve a style purpose, too. "When you're the Queen and you're shaking hands, you don't really want to show your arms," says James. "The glove goes a bit under her [sleeve], so you don't actually see any arm."

For years, the Queen's gloves were made from brushed cotton. However, James says Her Majesty recently requested something a bit lighter — so she ordered 70 metres of cotton jersey from Switzerland. "[It] is a lot of gloves, but it's the Queen," she said.

Each pair takes roughly 45 minutes to an hour to make.

"They're an integral part of her outfit," James says. "You never see her without gloves."

SEE ALSO: The Queen and Princess Diana's bra-fitter has been stripped of its royal warrant after its former owner revealed royal secrets in a tell-all memoir

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This is everything NBA star LeBron James eats and drinks for breakfast, lunch, and dinner

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LeBron James

LeBron James may be 33 years old and in his 15th season, but the NBA veteran remains a force to be reckoned with.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are currently trailing the Golden State Warriors 2-0 in the 2018 NBA Finals, despite extraordinary headline-grabbing performances from James — the small forward scored 80 points in those two games alone.

James is renowned for the dedication to his craft, for his basketball intelligence, and has even been described as a "freak athlete" by the NBA coach who knows him better than most.

But what sort of food does this "freak" eat?

Here's everything James likes to have for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

SEE ALSO: This is what makes LeBron James a 'freak athlete' according to the NBA coach who knows him better than most

DON'T MISS: LEBRON JAMES: How the king of the NBA spends his millions

UP NEXT: This photo of a very upset LeBron James sums up the brutal way the Cleveland Cavaliers blew the win in the final seconds

This is LeBron James. Considered the greatest NBA player of all time, James has extraordinary career averages including 27.2 points per game, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.2 assists. James, contesting the 2018 NBA finals with the Cleveland Cavaliers, is currently hoping to become a four-time NBA champion.

Source: Fox Sports.



James apparently spends seven-figure sums per year just looking after his body — but his favourite cereal is Fruity Pebbles, which he probably eats for breakfast on occasion.

Sources:Business InsiderInstagram.



He even has his own pair of Nike shoes — the LeBron XV — in colours that honour the cereal.

Instagram Embed:
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We evolved to find sex disgusting, according to a new study — and women may feel it more than men

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kiss romance relationship passion making out kissing couple

  • Researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine have identified six distinct types of disgust.
  • Among them are rotting food, infected wounds, and risky sexual behaviour.
  • Women in the study rated every category as more disgusting than men did. 

There are plenty of reasons to be a fan of sex. There's increasing evidence that it's good for the brain, and the act of kissing might help us figure out who is biologically compatible with ourselves.

But if you also think sex can be a little bit gross, you aren't alone. In fact, we all probably evolved to feel a certain level of disgust for sexual behaviour, according to new research from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

The new study, published in the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, found that there are six distinct types of disgust and that women may feel it more than men.

Researchers surveyed more than 2,500 people, giving them 74 potential revolting scenarios — including seeing someone with an obvious infection and listening to sneezes and bodily functions — and asked them to rate how disgusted they were on a scale from "no disgust" to "extreme disgust."

The six categories of disgust were atypical appearance, lesions, sex, hygiene, food, and animals.

Infected wounds were found to be the most disgusting scenario overall, followed by the violation of hygiene norms, like bad body odour.

Scientists have long recognised disgust as an emotion that evolved to help us avoid infection, known as "parasite avoidance theory," but this new research suggests it is also structured around our social norms.

For example, rotting food could lead to diseases like cholera, and being in close contact with unwashed, unhygienic people could help spread leprosy. Open wounds could spread plague and smallpox. And sex could put you at risk of infections like syphilis — still a relatable problem, especially with the recent appearance of super-gonorrhoea.

"Although we knew the emotion of disgust was good for us, here we've been able to build on that, showing that disgust is structured, recognising and responding to infection threats to protect us," said Val Curtis, a senior author of the paper who teaches at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. "This type of disease avoidance behaviour is increasingly evident in animals, and so leads us to believe it is evolutionarily very ancient."

The team also found that women rated every category as more disgusting than men did — something the researchers said was consistent with the tendency of men to indulge in riskier behaviours. Women in the study cited risky sexual behaviour and animals carrying diseases as the most disgusting scenarios.

"Although we only really came to understand how diseases transmit in the 19th century, it's clear from these results that people have an intuitive sense of what to avoid in their environment," said Micheal de Barra, a psychology professor at Brunel University London who helped lead the study. "Our long coevolution with disease has 'wired in' this intuitive sense of what can cause infection."

SEE ALSO: We share 80 million bacteria when we kiss each other — here's why we enjoy it anyway

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This strategy for coping with heartbreak could help you feel less love for your ex, according to new scientific research

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heartbreak

  • Heartbreak is tough.
  • After a raw breakup it can feel like nothing will ever be the same again.
  • But new research suggests that the use of certain cognitive strategies could help those suffering from heartbreak to recover.
  • In a small study, some strategies made participants feel less love towards their exes, or feel happier.
  • Methods tested included thinking negatively about your ex, accepting your feelings of love towards an ex-partner, and distraction. 
  • While it 'doesn’t work like an on/off switch,' the authors told TIME, they say that 'love regulation' is a promising phenomenon with important everyday life implications.


Breakups are tough. Love is one of the most powerful emotions we can feel, making heartbreak one of the most traumatic.

After a particularly raw breakup, it can feel like nothing will ever be the same again, with many sufferers reporting feelings of depression, anxiety, exhaustion, and even insomnia. And the one piece of advice so often doled out to those in this situation — that time will heal — can feel empty, even useless.

Luckily, new scientific research suggests there are some cognitive post-breakup strategies that can be employed to make you feel less love for your ex, or even feel happier after a breakup.

A small study conducted by researchers at the University of Missouri–St. Louis and published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General in May tested a series of strategies for coping with a breakup.

It analysed 24 participants between the ages of 20 to 37 who had been in long-term relationships for an average length of 2.5 years, and who were suffering from heartbreak.

They were asked to test different cognitive strategies to help them recover.

The first involved thinking negatively about their ex.

The second tested a strategy called "reappraisal of love feelings," in which they were told to accept their feelings of love towards their ex-partners, without judgement. This, TIME reports, involved being encouraged to read and believe statements such as: "It’s ok to love someone I’m no longer with."

The third strategy was distraction. Participants were told to think about positive things that did not involve their ex at all.

In the fourth controlled test, the subjects were not asked to think about anything in particular.

The next stage of the experiment involved the researchers showing the respondents photographs of their exes and recording the intensity of their emotions using an electroencephalogram. They also answered a questionnaire about their feelings.

The results

The scientists found that all three strategies decreased the participants' emotional response to the photos of their exes, which they deduced could help them deal with real-life encounters of reminders of them, say on social media, for example.

The first strategy of "negative reappraisal" decreased love feelings but also made subjects feel more unpleasant. The second — love reappraisal — did not change how in love or pleasant or unpleasant participants felt.

Meanwhile, distraction did not change love feelings, but made participants feel happier. Lead author Sandra Langeslag, assistant professor of psychology and director of the Neurocognition of Emotion and Motivation Lab at the university, told TIME: "Distraction is a form of avoidance, which has been shown to reduce the recovery from a breakup." So this method should perhaps be reserved as a short-term coping mechanism.

The researchers concluded that the results of this experiment suggest that "negative reappraisal is an effective love down-regulation strategy, whereas distraction is an effective positive emotion up-regulation strategy" in the context of a break-up.

They added that so-called "love regulation," which they define as "the use of behavioral or cognitive strategies to change the intensity of current feelings of romantic love," is a promising phenomenon, but Langeslag also told TIME that it "doesn’t work like an on/off switch."

"To make a lasting change, you’ll probably have to regulate your love feelings regularly," she said.

SEE ALSO: This is the only way to get over heartbreak, according to 'love life strategist' Matthew Hussey

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This is the one thing you should never do when wearing a pocket square, according to men's style experts

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David Gandy attends the Huntsman and The Gentleman's Journal LCM Cocktail Evening on June 11, 2016 in London, England.

  • It's not just the suit that counts, it's how you wear it.
  • "A nice shirt, tie, and pocket square can change the look," tailor Will Davison says.
  • However, a nice suit can be ruined by matching accessories.


Sometimes, it's not enough just to own a nice suit— it's how you wear it that counts.

Luckily, this doesn't have to mean spending a fortune at a tailor, and accessorising well can help upgrade a look effortlessly.

According to tailor Will Davison, "A nice shirt, tie, and pocket square can change the look."

However, the co-founder of Jack Davison Bespoke told Business Insider that there's one mistake guys often make — and that's matching the pattern of their pocket square exactly to their tie.

"Lots of people get hung up on having a matching tie and a matching pocket square, but we don't personally like it," Davison says.

Instead, he suggests: "Pick out a colour from the tie or the suit and have that in the pocket square so they're similar tones to each other but not completely matching."

Jack Stammers (L) and Will Davison (R) of Jack Davison Bespoke.

The City of London tailors aren't the only ones to have a distaste for matching accessories.

"One of the big pocket square no-nos for me is when they directly match the tie, like they came together in a set," Dan Rookwood, US Editor at Mr Porter, told FashionBeans. 

"A pocket square should be used to add some interest in terms of colour and/or pattern," he added.

tie pocket square derby fashion

Pocket square makers Rampley & Co agree.

"If your pocket square has a pattern or print, for example, then pick a colour from that palette to bring your look together and match it to a primary colour in your ties," they say on their website.

In short, your pocket square should complement your look — not match or clash with it.

SEE ALSO: This is the suit you should build your wardrobe around, according to the tailor duo who dress celebrities and City of London bankers

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Airline CEOs are warning that plane tickets are about to get more expensive

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American Airlines Boeing 787

  • Fuel prices have shot up nearly 57% a barrel over the past year.
  • Airlines around the world are expecting profits to fall 12% during 2018.
  • American Airlines CEO and others warn that the extra costs could be passed onto passengers through higher ticket prices.

The big news coming out of this year's International Air Transport Association Annual General Meeting is that airlines are feeling the pain from skyrocketing fuel prices and soon consumers will too.

Over the past year, the price of Brent crude oil has shot up nearly 57% to more than $75 a barrel. And things are only expected to get worse for airlines.

IATA's latest projections show that the price of jet fuel is going to reach as high as $84 a barrel.

With fuel representing roughly 25% of an airline's overall operating expenses, expect the airlines to pass on the cost to consumers.

According to Reuters, American Airlines CEO Doug Parker, once again, cautioned the crowd at IATA's yearly get together of industry leaders, that ticket prices will go up as airlines reduce the number of seats available for sale to save on fuel costs. 

The CEOs of Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia both echoed Parker's sentiment, Reuters reported

Brent Crude 6/4Parker made a similar prediction during the airline's latest earnings call.

"Oil is our second largest expense, so when it increases, the cost of air travel increases," the American Airlines CEO said in late April. In fact, Parker noted that fuel prices surged by an incredible 12% just in the two weeks preceding the call. 

The effect of rising fuel prices is expected to be industry-wide.

IATA expects total profit for airlines around the world to shrink by 12% during 2018 to $33.8 billion even though air travel is projected to grow at a healthy 7%. Airlines from North American are expected to account for $15 billion or 44% of the industry's global profits. That's down from the $18.4 billion in profit generated in 2017. 

Between mid-2014 and early 2015, crude prices fell by more than 55% to roughly $50 a barrel. In the years since cheap fuel and cautious growth coupled with booming demand for air travel have ushered in the most profitable era in the history of US airlines. Lower crude prices have also translated to lower ticket prices. According to the US Department of Transportation, the average price of a plane ticket in the US fell by 15% from $410 in 2014 to $347 in 2017.

SEE ALSO: How JetBlue, Southwest, WOW and other airlines can sell insanely cheap tickets and stay in business

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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 US city, according to data from real-estate site 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 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 the world's tech capital, and they're taking their startups and investors with them, as Kevin Roose reported for The New York Times.

San Francisco lost more residents than any other city in the US in the last quarter of 2017, according to data from real-estate site 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, 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 from San Francisco isn’t a 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) toward 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 Times article, are finding that cities other cities 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 more seamless.

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

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A personal trainer who eats only 2 meals a day reveals why he won't touch a protein shake

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Max Lowery

  • With the rise in popularity of gruelling, high-intensity workouts, protein shakes have become a post-workout go-to for many. 
  • There's no doubt that protein is an important part of post-exercise muscle recovery.
  • But not everyone's convinced we need to be consuming shakes in this way.
  • Personal trainer Max Lowery, 28, says he has never had a protein shake in his life — and doesn't intend to.
  • He believes they're unnecessary for about 90% of people.


As summer kicks off, many people will be well into a healthy regime, whether that's following a new diet or a fitness plan.

With the rise in popularity of gruelling, high-intensity workouts, protein shakes have become a post-workout go-to for many. We're constantly promised they'll repair destroyed muscles and prevent the dreaded two-day burn. 

It's also no wonder gyms are promoting their fancy new shake bars, which come in at more than £7 ($9) a pop sometimes, as a nice little add-on to your already pricey gym class. 

There's no doubt that protein is an important part of post-exercise muscle recovery. But not everyone's convinced we need to be consuming shakes in this way.

Before becoming a personal trainer, Max Lowery, 28, who created the 2 Meal Day intermittent fasting plan, was a professional sprinter for four years.

He told Business Insider why he has never taken a protein shake in his life — and doesn't intend to. 

W e e k l y G o a l s -- If it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you. Challenge yourself this week 👍🏻 Photo: @tomjoyphoto

A post shared by Max Lowery (@max.lowery) on Oct 30, 2016 at 1:35pm PDT on

"The only people who might benefit from them are vegans who aren't being so careful with their diets — so it's an easy way to get some protein — or elite athletes who are training twice a day six days a week," he said.

"The average untrained person needs as little as 60-75g of protein and the average trained person who exercises three times a week needs 1.2g-2g per kilo of body weight. You can easily get enough protein from eating real food.

"In fact, too much protein can actually be broken down into sugars that create an insulin response which can facilitate fat storage. This is called gluconeogenesis."

He's also unconvinced by what's going into these blended concoctions.

"Lots of shakes are packed with artificial sweeteners like corn syrup solids, sucralose, and acesulfame potassium —companies use these because they are addictive and send a signal to the brain to keep drinking or eating without an off switch — even if they, themselves, don't contain any calories."

He went on: "A lot of whey protein comes from very poor sources as well, most commercial whey powders are high-heat-treated, acid-flushed, and stripped of vital nutrients, creating an imbalanced, acidic 'whey isolat,' that's frequently contaminated with synthetic additives, chemical detergents, and heavy metals.

"It's no wonder they have to use all these sweeteners to cover the taste."

If you're hell-bent on shakes, then Lowery recommends vegan proteins, such as Form Nutrition. "They're generally healthier and take pride in the quality of their ingredients," he said.

There are studies, however, that support the consumption of protein shakes after a hardcore workout.

Lowery said: "Like with many food products the companies funding studies have an interest in positive results. There have also been a few recent unbiased studies that suggest your protein consumption over the course of the day is what's important — the emphasis that has been put on the hour after exercise is false."

Protein shakes are part of the hard sell in fitness

Lowery has another issue with protein shakes: the way they are marketed.

"Sports-drink manufacturers have been incredibly successful in convincing us that we need to consume copious amounts of their product in order to look and feel good," he said. "It's a multimillion-pound industry with clever marketing and celebrity sports gurus promoting it."

That look you give someone when they tell you they finished the almond butter 😤 #2mealday

A post shared by Max Lowery (@max.lowery) on Apr 25, 2017 at 11:32pm PDT on

And the rise of the Instagram fitness stars has only intensified things, he added.

"Influencers are being paid thousands to promote their products. They prey on people's emotions. Unfortunately, people look at these influencers and believe that they look like that because they take protein shakes.

"This is untrue. They look like that because they train hard and eat well. There is no quick fix to getting fit and healthy. Don't waste your money consuming dust. Eat real food."

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'Solo' is expected to lose Disney at least $50 million, and become the first 'Star Wars' movie to lose money

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  • "Solo: A Star Wars Story" could lose at least $50 million for Disney and Lucasfilm, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
  • A Wall Street analyst told THR that "Solo" will lose more than $50 million, while other industry financing sources told the outlet that the film's loss could exceed $80 million. 
  • "Solo" dropped 65% at the box office in its second weekend, and it is reportedly unlikely to gross past $400 million at the global box office against an estimated total budget that would exceed its gross.

The box-office struggles of "Solo: A Star Wars Story" could result in a loss of at least $50 million for Disney and Lucasfilm, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"Solo" is reportedly unlikely to gross past $400 million at the global box office against an estimated $250 million production budget and marketing costs that likely doubled its total budget. 

B. Riley FBR senior analyst Barton Crockett told THR that "Solo" will lose more than $50 million, while other industry financing sources told the outlet that the loss could exceed $80 million, depending on auxiliary revenues and the undisclosed, exact terms of Disney's deal for the film.

"Solo" dropped 65% at the box office in its second weekend of release, and its global box office total currently stands at $264.3 million, according to Box Office Mojo.

"Solo" also bombed in its opening weekend in China, as Business Insider's Jason Guerrasio reported. The film brought in only $10.1 million over Memorial Day weekend in China, a record low for "Star Wars" films in the country, though the franchise itself has historically never grabbed the attention of China, the world's second-largest movie market. 

If it doesn't see a late surge, as analysts are predicting it won't, "Solo" will become the first movie from Disney and Lucasfilm to lose money.

2017's "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" brought in $1.332 billion at the global box office, while the first "Star Wars" spin-off "Rogue One" grossed $1.056 billion in 2016.

The first collaboration from Disney and Lucasfilm, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," grossed $2.068 billion in 2015, setting off a renewal of the "Star Wars" series that is now likely to see its first miss in "Solo."

SEE ALSO: 'Solo' is the latest 'Star Wars' movie to bomb in China, and Disney has a big problem on its hands

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