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How one of the most powerful Democrats in Washington lost his seat to a 28-year-old political novice in the most stunning political upset of the year

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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

  • On Tuesday night, a 28-year-old political newcomer and a self-described socialist, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, beat one of the most powerful and entrenched Democrats in Congress.
  • Rep. Joe Crowley, a 56-year-old Irish-American who has long ruled the Queens party machine, represented the party establishment, while Ocasio-Cortez galvanized the insurgent left-wing.
  • In one of the most diverse districts in the country, Ocasio-Cortez ran on a deeply progressive platform — calling for Medicare for all, a federal jobs guarantee, and immigrant rights.

On Tuesday night, a 28-year-old political newcomer and a self-described socialist, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, beat one of the most powerful and entrenched Democrats in Congress — a shocking primary win for the progressive wing of the party.

Ocasio-Cortez will likely be the youngest woman ever elected to Congress come November.

In his concession speech on Tuesday night, Rep. Joe Crowley appeared to acknowledge the broader movement Ocasio-Cortez is a part of — a younger generation of more progressive and anti-establishment Democrats, many of whom put their faith in Sen. Bernie Sanders' insurgent 2016 campaign.

"It's not about me; it's about America," the 10-term incumbent told his supporters. "I want nothing but the best for Ms. Ocasio-Cortez."

A reaction to Trump and the Democratic establishment

New York City is one of the most vibrant hotbeds of the Democratic "Resistance" in the country. And New York's 14th district, which includes parts of the Bronx and Queens, is home to many of the communities who feel most at risk under President Donald Trump.

Crowley, a 56-year-old Irish-American, has represented the district for 20 years and has long reigned as the leader of the Queens Democratic machine. With deep ties to the party establishment in New York and Washington, Crowley only faced a primary challenger once, in 2004.

A young Latina with a mother from Puerto Rico and a father from the Bronx, Ocasio-Cortez is a product of her Queens-Bronx district, which includes some of the most diverse neighborhoods in the country — and possibly in the world.

"NYC is home to millions of immigrants, and millions of others whose families fled the Nazis, the terror of the American south, or persecution elsewhere," wrote New York Times editorial writer Mara Gay. "The city is deeply anxious, angry, and sad about what is happening in the country. That is the context for yesterday's election."

A socialist platform

Ocasio-Cortez ran on a deeply progressive platform — focusing her message on reducing inequality and expanding opportunity for poor and working-class New Yorkers.

Pointing to the rising economic inequality and pervasive poverty in New York City, Ocasio-Cortez is calling for Medicare for all, a federal jobs guarantee, and affordable housing, among other progressive demands.

Setting her apart from the vast majority of Democratic candidates and lawmakers, she's also calling to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the agency tasked with deporting undocumented immigrants that's becoming a growing target of left-wing ire.

Sean McElwee, a progressive activist and pollster who has helped popularize a movement to abolish ICE, said Ocasio-Cortez will raise the profile of the effort to new heights.

"Ocasio Cortez has the most comprehensive vision of a world without ICE of any candidate in the country," McElwee told Business Insider. "Her opponent voted to establish ICE. She promised to abolish it and investigate its abuses. At the end of the day, voters made their choice, overwhelmingly."

A banner for progressive challenger Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

The insurgent challenger also rejected corporate donations. A whopping 70% of her campaign donations were under $200 — as compared to just 0.78% of Crowley's donations.

And while Crowley raised nearly $3 million for his reelection campaign — and spent about $1 million — his challenger raised just $600,000.

"Americans want a leader who's going to take a battle ax to the system and upend it," Anne Feldman, the press secretary for the campaign finance reform group End Citizens United, told Business Insider. "Candidates who reject corporate PAC money are tapping into that sentiment and showing — not telling — voters that they'll make a difference and that's leading to success at the polls."

Ocasio-Cortez, who was an organizer for Sanders during his presidential campaign, thanked her supporters late Tuesday night.

"This is the start of a movement," she tweeted. "Thank you all."

'Doors that had never been knocked on before'

Democratic strategists and Ocasio-Cortez herself attribute much of her victory to her aggressive door-to-door ground campaign.

"We won because I think we had a very clear winning message and we took that message to doors that had never been knocked on before," Ocasio-Cortez told CNN on Wednesday morning.

Just 27,658 people voted in the district's primary on Tuesday (with 98% of precincts reporting) in a district with just over 214,000 registered Democratic voters (as of April 2016). By all accounts, Ocasio-Cortez's grassroots-fueled campaign flooded the streets, knocked on doors, and hung signs for her campaign for months.

Meanwhile, Crowley, who lives in Washington, sent a surrogate to one debate to take on Ocasio-Cortez in his place.

SEE ALSO: A surge of Democratic women are running for office — and winning — in Texas

DON'T MISS: Meet Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the millennial, socialist political novice who beat her establishment Democratic rival in a huge electoral upset

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This top economist has a radical plan to change the way Americans vote


The 50 best places to live in America for 2018

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Austin, Texas

  • U.S. News & World Report releases a list of the best places to live in America every year.
  • The best places to live 2018 ranking looked at five metrics: job market, value, quality of life, desirability, and net migration.
  • The best place to live in America is Austin, Texas, followed by Colorado Springs, Colorado.

 

When deciding where to put down roots, many factors are in the eye of the beholder, such as climate, politics, or proximity to extended family.

Other aspects are coveted by nearly everybody: affordable housing, access to well-paying jobs, a low cost of living, good schools, and quality healthcare. In its ranking of the best places to live in America for 2018, U.S. News & World Report gathered data on these crucial components for more than 100 US cities.

They then categorized the data into five indexes for each city — job market, value, quality of life, desirability, and net migration — to definitively rank these major metro areas. You can read U.S. News' full methodology here.

Scores for "value," a blend of annual household income and cost of living, and "quality of life," which accounts for crime, college readiness, commute, and other factors, are included below on a 10-point scale, as well as the city's population and average annual salary.

Austin, Texas, came out on top for the second consecutive year, while Colorado Springs, Colorado, jumped from No. 11 to take the No. 2 spot, edging out the state's capital, Denver, which rounded out the top three.

Nearly a dozen cities made the top-50 list for the first time since 2017, including Huntsville, Alabama; Asheville, North Carolina; and Anchorage, Alaska.

Keep reading to discover the 50 best places to live in America.

SEE ALSO: 13 places to visit in May for every type of traveler

DON'T MISS: Millions of tourists are flocking to Waco, Texas, to see 'Fixer Upper' stars Chip and Joanna Gaines' small hometown — here are all the best things to do there

50. Lansing, Michigan

Population: 470,348

Average annual salary: $47,550

Quality of life: 7.0

Value index: 7.1

Lansing, the diverse capital of Michigan, earns a spot on the list for its affordability, abundance of jobs, and local flavor. The area is home to everyone from career government workers to recent college graduates, and "you can go from a college campus to a waving wheat field in 10 minutes," one local expert said.

Residents love Lansing for its sports culture and fine arts scene, and although it gets chilly in the winters, the sunny summers more than make up for it.



49. Cincinnati, Ohio

Population: 2,146,410

Average annual salary: $48,130

Quality of life: 6.4

Value: 7.7

Cincinnati is a city that loves its food, sports, and culture. There's something for everyone in the Midwest's Queen City, from a strong job market to a busy event calendar filled with museums, baseball, and local heritage events.

Residents appreciate the city's affordability — housing there is cheaper than the national average, despite Cincinnati being one of the 30 biggest metro areas in the US.



48. Syracuse, New York

Population: 660,652

Average annual salary: $48,530

Quality of life: 7.1

Value: 7.6

It might get 124 inches-plus of snow per year, but don't let the blustery climate deter you: Syracuse boasts a low cost of living, easy access to both the city center and surrounding suburbs, and a host of cultural activities, including the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology and the Rosamond Gifford Zoo.

Home to Syracuse University, the town also rallies behind the Orange during basketball season, cheering the team to victory.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

MEET THE WALTONS: How America's wealthiest family spends its Walmart fortune (WMT)

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Wal-Mart family Jim Walton, Alice Walton and Rob Walton

  • The Walton family is the richest family in America.
  • Sam Walton founded Walmart in 1962. It is now the world's largest retailer by revenue with sales of $500 billion from its nearly 12,000 stores worldwide. 
  • Walton's descendants have a combined wealth of $151.5 billion, according to Bloomberg. This is more than Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and Warren Buffett, and $52.8 billion more than the second-richest family in the United States, the Kochs. 
  • In public, the Waltons live a pretty modest life despite their wealth. Here's how they spend their fortune.

The Waltons are the richest family in America, but they're pretty discreet about it. 

According to Bloomberg's Billionaires Index, the Walmart heirs have a combined wealth of $151.5 billion, which is more than Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and Warren Buffett. In fact, they are worth $52.8 billion more than the second-richest family in the United States, the Kochs. 

The three children of Walmart founder Sam Walton co-own Walton Enterprises, which is the biggest shareholder of the company and the reason behind their wealth. Walmart is the world's largest retailer by revenue with sales of $500 billion from its nearly 12,000 stores around the world. 

Only one of the siblings, Rob Walton, sits on the board of the company. James Walton, his brother, served on the board until 2016, before being replaced by his son Steuart in 2016.

Alice Walton, the youngest sibling, has never taken an active role running the business and has instead become a patron of the arts.

When the company has a good quarter, the family makes millions of dollars in dividends. However, despite their fortune, the Waltons seem to live a pretty modest life, at least in public.

Here's what we do know about how the wealthy family spends its fortune: 

SEE ALSO: Walmart's Alice Walton is the richest woman in the world — here's how she spends her $43.7 billion fortune

Sam Walton, who died in 1992, opened the first Walmart store in Arkansas in 1962.



He was married to Helen Ronson. Together, they had four children: Rob, John, Jim, and Alice.

The Walton family own 50% of Walmart's total stock between them. 



This is Samuel Robson "Rob" Walton, the oldest Walton son. He served as chairman of Walmart until 2015.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

One asylum-seeker was warned his son could be taken from him at the border — but he crossed anyway, because Honduras was too dangerous for them to stay

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honduran asylum-seeker migrant son mcallen texas

  • A Honduran asylum-seeker said he was warned about the Trump administration's harsh border policies before he crossed with his young son last week — but he came anyway.
  • José told Business Insider he had no choice. Three of his brothers have already been killed in Honduras, and he said the police threatened him, too.
  • José's story raises questions about the effectiveness of the government's now-halted "zero tolerance" policy, which according to some officials was intended to deter illegal immigration.

MCALLEN, TEXAS — José had been warned about the "zero tolerance" policy that had separated thousands of families before he and his young son approached the US-Mexico border last week.

But he felt he didn't have a choice. He had to cross.

José, who asked to be identified only by his first name, said he and his son traveled by bus, truck, and boat for six days to reach Texas. They fled Honduras, a Central American country where rampant gang violence has prompted tens of thousands of citizens to seek asylum elsewhere.

Three of José's brothers have already been killed, he said, and he feared he might be next.

"There's no security, period," José said. "It's all driven by bribes, there's no security, and bribes are the only thing they take seriously in that country."

He spoke with Business Insider through a translator on Sunday, just days after his crossing. He and his son had just arrived at the Catholic Charities respite center in McAllen, where he thanked God that President Donald Trump had halted the family separations last Wednesday — just in the nick of time.

jose asylum seeker migrant mcallen texas"By the time I arrived, Donald Trump had a change of heart and decided to allow children to continue to stay with their parents, so I was able to stay with my child," José said.

José's dilemma, and his choice to cross despite the possibility of being separated from his son, raises a key question about the Trump administration's harsh border-enforcement policies: How effective are they in deterring asylum-seekers from illegally crossing the US-Mexico border.

Though the Trump administration has often contradicted itself on the intent behind the "zero tolerance" policy, several top officials have openly said the family separations were meant to deter illegal immigration.

John Kelly, the White House chief of staff, said in May that the policy could be a "strong deterrent," and Attorney General Jeff Sessions gave a similar warning about the separations: "If you don't like that, then don't smuggle children over our border."

But it's still unclear whether the "zero tolerance" policy actually had Kelly and Sessions' desired effect on migrants. No immediate drop in illegal border-crossing was apparent in May — the only full month the policy was in place — according to Customs and Border Protection data.

The agency said it made 51,912 arrests at the US-Mexico border in May, up from 50,924 in April.

But a CBP estimate for June's arrest numbers project a slight drop. Just 37,000 arrests at the border are expected for the month, Politico reported on Tuesday, citing a Homeland Security official.

There's no doubt in José's mind that he made the correct choice in seeking safety in the US. He knew his journey and his upcoming asylum case would be tough, but he feels welcome and happy in his new country.

"My son has been taken care of; I've felt welcome. At the center I've been fed, I've been given vitamins and medicine. I'm just thankful to be here in America," he said.

Michelle Mark contributed reporting from New York.

SEE ALSO: 'I'm just thankful to be here in America': An asylum-seeker speaks out about narrowly escaping getting separated from his son

DON'T MISS: Texas landowners on the border say they see immigrants crossing their property almost every day, and they still feel safe

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This top economist has a radical plan to change the way Americans vote

The primatologist who helped popularize the term 'alpha male' says we're using it all wrong

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Gladiator

  • Not all alpha males are bullies, in fact, research in chimpanzees suggests that most aren't.
  • In a recent TED talk, primatologist Frans de Waal, who popularized the term "alpha male" in the 1980s, says we've been using it all wrong, and the best leaders are both impressive and caring.
  • Other research on power dynamics in humans suggests that the same holds true for us.

Franz de Waal says it's time for us to stop insulting the chimps. 

In a recent TED talk, de Waal lamented the popular perception of "alpha males" as brutish, harsh leaders.

"I am actually partly responsible for the term alpha male because I wrote this book 'Chimpanzee Politics,' which was recommended by Newt Gingrich to freshmen congressmen," he said.

But his research in chimpanzees shows that leadership is more nuanced than that.

Alpha chimpanzees are impressive and intimidating leaders, but the majority of those who rise to the top are also generous and kind to others, because they know respect will help them maintain their position at the top, de Waal says.

"You should not call a bully an alpha male," de Waal said. "Someone who is big and strong and intimidates and insults everyone is not necessarily an alpha male."

He says that many chimpanzees know being kind and loving is a way to win over fans — tickling babies, sharing food, engaging in a kind of primate political campaign.

Other scientists who've studied the way power dynamics work in humans are uncovering similar truths. 

Research suggests that we are more likely to perceive "physically formidable" men as better leaders, but that doesn't hold true if they're jerks. Still, power is a dangerous drug. It can chill your ability to empathize with others, because it disengages the prefrontal cortex and deactivates the vagus nerve, which promotes compassion, gratitude, and appreciation.

There is a way to counteract these effects. If leaders feel a heightened sense of social responsibility, they can remain in tune with needs and views of others.

It seems the chimps are on to the strategy.

"You don't need to be the biggest and strongest male. The smallest male, if he has the right friends and keeps them happy, or he has female support, he can be the alpha male," de Waal said.

You can watch de Waal's full 15-minute talk on the "surprising science of alpha males" here: 

SEE ALSO: What power does to your brain and your body

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The 'alpha dog' myth is leading countless owners to mistreat their dogs

31 beloved snacks you'll never be able to eat again

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carnation breakfast bar

  • Many snacks, sodas, and candies that were once hugely popular have been discontinued.
  • Many of the products, like Altoids Sours, were discontinued because sales were poor or the product was unpopular.
  • Some products, like Lemon Ice Gatorade and Keebler Magic Middles, have fan-made Facebook pages or petitions demanding they be brought back.
  • Some of these petitions and Facebook pages actually work. Planters Cheez Balls were discontinued in 2006, but after hearing fans' pleas for over a decade, Planters announced that the beloved snack would be making a return on July 1.

These food and drink items used to grace the pantry shelves of many American households. But their glory days have passed, and now they have been discontinued.

An old Reddit thread explored the items that people are most nostalgic for, so we decided to do our own research on some of Americans' most beloved lost brands. 

Some soda varieties just didn't click with consumers. There are also many lost fast-food and snack items. Sometimes, fans of these discontinued snacks and sodas, like Lemon Ice Gatorade or Keebler Magic Middles, take action, starting online petitions or Facebook pages demanding their favorite snacks be brought back. 

While it may seem silly, sometimes the Facebook pages and pleas for '90s junk food actually work. On Wednesday, Planters announced that their beloved Cheez Balls would be making a return on July 1, 12 years after they were discontinued. They will be available at select stores and online.

Here are some other snacks fans are hoping will make a comeback:

Ashley Lutz contributed reporting to an earlier version of this story.

SEE ALSO: These photos reveal what it's like to shop at Walmart in Japan

Altoids' Tangerine Sours were discontinued in 2010 because demand was low and sales were falling.

Source: Bustle



Butterfinger BB's were mini peanut butter and chocolate candy balls. They were discontinued in 2006.

Source: The Daily Meal



Black Pepper Jack Doritos were released about a decade ago and discontinued around 2008.

Source: MSN



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

People are buying up New York City condos as investments like never before

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new york nyc empire state building

  • Investors are buying New York City condos to rent out instead of live in at a record pace, according to Bloomberg, citing StreetEasy data. 
  • The three buildings that generated the most investor interest were in Brooklyn and Queens, showing that investors don't only have their eyes on Manhattan. 
  • Builders of higher-end homes are under pressure to lower prices and speed up sales, which should give more negotiating power to buyers with bigger budgets. 

People are buying up New York City condos and turning them into rentals like never before.

Last year, 1,313 condos were purchased as investments instead of residences, according to data compiled by listings website StreetEasy and cited by Bloomberg. That's the highest since StreetEasy started keeping track in 2010. 

The buyers are betting that property values in America's most-populated city will continue to appreciate, even though the pace of rent growth is slowing down. 

A separate StreetEasy analysis published late last year found that studio apartments generated more income per dollar invested than one, two, or three-bedroom apartments. In general, more expensive properties returned less; apartments that cost under $750,000 yielded a median 3.3% return, while those that cost over $3 million yielded 2.6%. 

As Bloomberg's Oshrat Carmiel reported, investors don't only have their eyes on Manhattan, the city's most populous borough. The three buildings that generated the most investor interest were in Brooklyn and Queens. 

These buyers could be coming in at an advantageous time when lots of new buildings are shooting up across the city. StreetEasy found that in May, the inventory of homes in the city reached an all-time high. Although it's typical for many homes to get listed before the busy home-shopping season, the spike this year was more than usual.

In addition, buyers are in a good position to score a discount, because that's one way builders can get their properties off the market faster. Even though more condos were available in May, sales dipped for a third straight month, according to StreetEasy. 

"More affordable homes are the hardest to find, and are sure to sell quickly," Grant Long, StreetEasy's senior economist, said in a report. "But higher-end homes, particularly those joining the market from the ongoing stream of new development, will be pressured to lower prices or linger on the market. This summer is poised to offer an excellent negotiating opportunity for buyers with big budgets." 

Head over to Bloomberg for the full story »

SEE ALSO: Housing affordability in America is its worst in nearly a decade, and there's one clear culprit

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Why Apple is having so many problems right now

'Ant-Man and the Wasp' is the perfect summertime movie with its light tone and fun action

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ant man and the wasp 2 disney

  • "Ant-Man and the Wasp" is a fun action movie that will put you in a pretty good mood coming out of the movie theater.
  • It does reference what happens at the end of "Avengers: Infinity War," but that's all you're getting out of us.


If you’re still trying to get over the shocking ending to “Avengers: Infinity War” then “Ant-Man and the Wasp” (in theaters July 6) is a welcome sight.

Like the first movie, director Peyton Reed (“Bring It On”) mixes action and laughs to deliver one of the most enjoyable moviegoing experiences you’ll have this summer.

It’s been three years since “Ant-Man” came into theaters and proved that the MCU could even make the likes of Paul Rudd an international box-office draw. The origin story of burglar Scott Lang’s (Rudd) transformation into a micro-sized do-gooder brought in an impressive $519 million worldwide. That's not too shabby for one of the lower-tier Marvel characters.

Since then, Ant-Man has been seen in “Captain America: Civil War,” as he joined Team Cap in the movie’s big battle sequence between all the Avengers. And the aftermath of that is where we pick things up with Lang in “Ant-Man and the Wasp.”

Joining in on the Avengers’ infighting during “Civil War” led to Lang being put on house arrest for two years because he broke the Sokovia Accords, and as the “Ant-Man” sequel starts he’s just days away from getting his ankle bracelet taken off. Lang has been on the straight and narrow, mainly because since “Civil War,” Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), the mind behind the Ant-Man shrinking and enlarging tech, along with his daughter Hope (Evangeline Lilly), have turned their backs on Lang for taking the suit and rushing off with Team Cap.

ant man and the wasp 3 disneyBut, as you’d expect, the two-year blackout finally ends between the three. The big reason for the change of heart is Lang calls Hank to let him know he just had a dream about Hank's wife, Janet (Michelle Pfeiffer). Janet, the original Wasp, was thought to be lost forever in the quantum realm decades ago on a mission to save the world from nuclear war.

This news from Lang is important to Hank. Since Lang came back from the quantum realm at the end of the first “Ant-Man,” which was previously thought to not be possible, Hank and Hope (the new Wasp) have been trying to build a pathway to get his wife back. Hank believes the dream confirms that she is still in the quantum realm waiting to be saved and is sending a message to them.

This kicks the movie into gear as Lang helps Hank and Hope in their quest to get Janet back home. But things get more complicated when Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) shows up and interferes with their building of the pathway, as she wants to use the energy from the quantum realm to heal herself.

What’s great about both “Ant-Man” movies is that they give all this exposition with a whole lot of comedy. There’s Rudd’s gifted talents as a comedian (he’s a credited screenwriter on both movies) as well as the comedy of the tech involved in “Ant-Man.” When you have the power to shrink or enlarge anything at any moment, that gives you an incredible tool to keep the story from getting stale.

And having Michael Peña isn’t a bad thing either.

A gifted character actor for most of his career, jumping from dramas to comedies, in “Ant-Man” he’s really found his sweet spot. Playing Scott’s buddy Luis, he is the glue to the franchise. Every time he’s on screen the movie gets a jolt. The most memorable moment in this movie is when Luis is given a truth serum by small time crook Sonny Burch (Walton Goggins) and provides way more information than what Sonny is looking for.

Now you’re probably wondering how “Infinity War” plays into all of this. The events of “Ant-Man and the Wasp” are going on at the same time the Avengers are battling Thanos.

All I’ll say is be sure to stick around for the end credits to see how the two movies connect.

SEE ALSO: Morgan Spurlock's #MeToo confession crippled "Super Size Me 2," and a main subject of the movie feels abandoned

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Sneaky ways Costco gets you to buy more


Leonardo DiCaprio shares first photo, in-costume with Brad Pitt, for Quentin Tarantino's upcoming 1969-set movie

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First look. #OnceUponATimeInHollywood

A post shared by Leonardo DiCaprio (@leonardodicaprio) on Jun 27, 2018 at 6:00am PDT on

  • Leonardo DiCaprio on Wednesday shared the first on-set photo from Quentin Tarantino's upcoming movie, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood."
  • DiCaprio and Brad Pitt appear in the photo in-costume for the 1969-set film, which also stars Margot Robbie, Al Pacino, and Damian Lewis in a large ensemble cast. 
  • "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" is set for release on August 9, 2019.

Leonardo DiCaprio took to Instagram on Wednesday to share the first on-set photo from Quentin Tarantino's upcoming tenth movie, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood." 

Brad Pitt and DiCaprio, the film's lead actors, appear in the photo in-costume for the 1969-set movie, which partly involves the Manson family murders of the actress Sharon Tate. 

DiCaprio stars in the film as Rick Dalton, a former star of a Western TV series, and Pitt plays Dalton's longtime stunt double, Cliff Booth. Margot Robbie stars in the movie as Sharon Tate, and the film features an impressive ensemble cast that includes Al Pacino, Damian Lewis, Dakota Fanning, Burt Reynolds, and an extensive list of other actors.

Tarantino announced the film in February, calling it "a story that takes place in Los Angeles in 1969, at the height of hippy Hollywood." DiCaprio and Pitt's characters "are struggling to make it in a Hollywood they don't recognize anymore. But Rick has a very famous next-door neighbor ... Sharon Tate," Tarantino said. 

Leonardo DiCaprio, who starred as a villainous slave owner in Tarantino's Oscar-winning 2012 film "Django Unchained," had high praise for Tarantino's latest script at CinemaCon in April.

"It's hard to speak about a film that we haven't done yet, but I'm incredibly excited ... to work with Brad Pitt, and I think he's going to transport us," DiCaprio said. "I'm a huge fan of 'Singin' in the Rain' — movies about Hollywood. As an LA native, having read the script, it's one of the most amazing screenplays. We are going to do our best job to make it fantastic."

"Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" is set for release on August 9, 2019, the 50th anniversary of the Manson family murders. 

Below are several Twitter posts from fans reacting to DiCaprio's "first look" photo on Wednesday: 

SEE ALSO: All the details of Quentin Tarantino's new movie, which stars Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Margot Robbie

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The world is running out of sand — and there's a black market for it now

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

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John Adams

  • John Adams served as the second president of the US.
  • His daily routine varied a bit over the years.
  • That's understandable given that, before he rose to the presidency, Adams worked as a lawyer, colonial delegate, commissioner to France, and vice president.
  • Generally, though, Adams liked to make time in his daily life for long walks and lots of letter-writing.


John Adams had quite a career.

After graduating from Harvard in 1755, he worked as a schoolmaster in Worcester, Massachusetts. The role wasn't a great fit.

From there, Adams began studying law and was admitted to the bar in 1758. Over the years, Adams would become a legal powerhouse in New England.

He was also an early rebel against the Crown, writing essays criticizing measures like the Stamp Act and helping to prod the colonies into war with England.

Adams would become a crucial member of the Continental Congress. He helped draft the Declaration of Independence. He also teamed up with Benjamin Franklin to work as a diplomat in France.

After the war, Adams became the first-ever US vice president. In 1796, he was elected the second president of the new United States.

So what did this very busy Massachusettsan get up to all day?

David McCullough's "John Adams" includes plenty of details on what an average day looked like for this Founding Father.

Here's a breakdown of a day in the life of John Adams:

SEE ALSO: The 6th US president rose before dawn for his favorite morning habit: skinny-dipping

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

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

Adams usually rose before dawn, beginning his day as early as 5 a.m.

Source: "John Adams"



As President, Adams typically ate breakfast at 8 a.m.

Source: "John Adams"



As a student at Harvard, Adams picked up one peculiar habit — drinking a morning "gill" of hard cider. He later wrote that he would "... never forget how refreshing and salubrious" he found the beverage in college.

Source: "John Adams"



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

I flew on a $9 million Swiss private jet that's trying to disrupt the industry — here's what it was like

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Pilatus PC-24 2

  • Switzerland-based Pilatus Aircraft recently delivered its first jet, the PC-24, a $8.9 million private jet. 
  • The PC-24 is the first in a new class of "Super Versatile Jets," or SVJs, which combine the performance of a jet with the versatility of a turboprop plane.
  • It can land on and take-off from shorter runways than similar jets, as well as unpaved surfaces like grass, gravel, or dirt.
  • PlaneSense, a fractional ownership company that took delivery of the first ever PC-24, recently invited Business Insider on a demo flight. Here's what it was like to fly privately in the world's first SVJ.

While a private airplane might seem unnecessary and unreasonable, there are a few compelling reasons to fly private — at least, if you or your business can afford it.

The number one advantage is flexibility. While this can be a convenience for most private flyers, it can also be essential for someone with constantly changing business needs and demands.

"Mid-flight, you can decide 'actually, let's go to this place instead' and land somewhere else," said George Antoniadis, founder and CEO of PlaneSense, a fractional aircraft ownership company. "On a commercial flight, that would be hijacking. On a private flight, that's a standard day."

Of course, owning a plane can require a major investment of time, energy, and resources. That's where fractional ownership, which is what PlaneSense offers, comes in.

Fractional aircraft ownership basically means instead of owning an aircraft outright and having to manage maintenance, operations, staffing, licensing, and so on, you own a share of an aircraft which is managed by a company like PlaneSense. After purchasing the shares, you simply pay a monthly maintenance fee, and an hourly fee when you're onboard the plane — that covers fuel and staff.

"Because we operate an entire fleet, there are no outages during maintenance, or when a pilot is out, like if you own and staff your own aircraft," said Antoniadis.

PlaneSense, which was founded in 1995, has more than 40 aircraft in flight. The average age of the fleet is under five years, because PlaneSense frequently purchases new planes, and sells older ones on the second-hand market in an effort to keep its fleet top-of-the-line.

PlaneSense has had a couple of lite jet aircraft, but until recently has focused on turboprop — or propeller — planes.

In February, however, the company took ownership of a brand new jet, the first one of its model to ever be delivered.

The PC-24, made by Switzerland-based Pilatus Aircraft, is a natural fit for PlaneSense — and not just because the company already owns a large number of Pilatus turboprop PC-12s.

Although it's powered by jet engines and has the speed, range, and maximum altitude associated with similar jets, the plane is able to land on and take-off from much shorter runways than any other jet — more like a flexible propeller plane.

Recently, PlaneSense invited Business Insider and other outlets to tour the PC-24 and take a demo flight. We flew from Teterboro in New Jersey to Chatham in Cape Cod, a notoriously short airstrip about 45 minutes away by air, so that the company could demonstrate the jet's ability to handle runways like that. We stopped for quick lunch, and — almost to prove just how flexible private flying can be — Antoniadis offered to detour to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to tour PlaneSense's operations center, rather than flying straight back.

The plane — which is equipped with speedy air-to-ground Wi-Fi — was surprisingly comfortable for a light jet, and was quite impressive — especially on those short take-offs and landings.

Here's a look at the world's first PC-24, and what it's like to fly private.

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

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This PC-24 — registration N124AF — was the first one ever delivered. PlaneSense took delivery in February this year, and, following testing, pilot training, and certification, began flying it for customers on March 30. The company has five more on order.



It's the first of a new class of airplane called "Super Versatile Jets," or "SVJ," according to Pilatus.



It earns the "SVJ" moniker because it's able to land and take-off on shorter and more rugged runways than similar jets — it can even safely land on non-paved surfaces like dirt, grass, or gravel.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Justice Kennedy announces retirement, meaning Trump could reshape the Supreme Court for years to come

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justice anthony kennedy

  • Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy announced he will retire on July 31.
  • The centrist has been on the bench since 1988, and was often considered the swing vote in a number of major cases.
  • President Donald Trump is expected to fill the vacancy, and has previously released a shortlist of conservative judges he may choose from.

Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy is retiring from the bench on July 31, he announced Wednesday.

The news means that President Donald Trump will get to nominate another justice, further tilting the court to the right, potentially for decades to come.

Kennedy, who turns 82 in July, has served for over 30 years and four months. He is the longest-serving justice currently on the court.

"It has been the greatest honor and privilege to serve our nation in the federal judiciary for 43 years, 30 of those years on the Supreme Court," Kennedy said in a statement.

Kennedy, a centrist, was often considered the swing vote on a number of major decisions. He cast the deciding vote on cases such as the landmark Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission in 2010, which loosened campaign finance restrictions.

Rumors that Kennedy could retire in Trump's first term had been swirling for more than a year. Trump has even written up a shortlist for potential nominees, each of them conservative judges.

Trump's last nominee, Justice Neil Gorsuch, was confirmed by the Senate in April 2017 and has filled a similar role on the court as the ultra-conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, who died in March 2016.

The White House has previously said that Trump intends to pick more justices "in the mold of Justice Gorsuch."

The oldest member currently on the court is Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who is 85 years old. She's one of the most liberal justices, and Democrats hope she and the other three liberal-leaning members of the court can stay in order to ward off Trump getting to appoint a third justice.

Supreme Court justices get lifetime appointments, which usually only end if they decide to retire.

This is a developing story. Refresh for updates.

SEE ALSO: 'Kennedy's Court': Meet 81-year-old Supreme Court justice Anthony Kennedy, who just announced his retirement

DON'T MISS: Here's Donald Trump's list of potential Supreme Court nominees

Join the conversation about this story »

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'Kennedy's Court': Meet 81-year-old Supreme Court justice Anthony Kennedy, who just announced his retirement

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Anthony Kennedy

Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement from the Supreme Court on Wednesday after serving on the bench for 30 years.

"It has been the greatest honor and privilege to serve our nation in the federal judiciary for 43 years, 30 of those years on the Supreme Court," Kennedy wrote in a statement announcing his retirement.

The 81-year-old Justice was appointed to the nation's highest court in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan. 

A conservative who leaned moderate in cases that concern individual freedoms, Kennedy often provided the deciding fifth vote on cases without a clear majority. As someone who frequently voted to support women's and LGBT rights, Kennedy's absence could definitively swing the Supreme Court to the right.

Here is a look at the Supreme Court justice who often shifted the balance on some of the court's most controversial cases — so much so that many have even called it "Kennedy's Court."

SEE ALSO: Justice Anthony Kennedy announces retirement, meaning Trump could reshape the Supreme Court for years to come

DON'T MISS: Supreme Court Justice Kennedy took several veiled shots at Trump while upholding his controversial travel ban

Anthony McLeod Kennedy was born in Sacramento, California in 1936. Kennedy grew up with parents who were politically active, and often met well known lawmakers as a young boy.

Source: Biography.com



After finishing college at Stanford, Kennedy graduated from Harvard Law School, spent a year in the army, and then went on to teach constitutional law at the University of the Pacific in California.

Sources: SCOTUSBiography.com



A devout Roman Catholic, Kennedy has often been described as a "goody-goody" in his early years. While on a summer trip to Europe, Kennedy once kept a bottle of whisky given to him by his father intact throughout the trip.

Source: U.S. News



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

We didn't let our son look at screens until he was 3 years old — here's why we're raising him with limited technology

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Technology

  • Technology can have serious effects on our health, and Americans consume over 10 hours of media per day.
  • Living technology-free is nearly impossible in this day and age, yet my wife and I decided to raise our son with very limited technology to avoid these risks.
  • Here's how we're raising our son with very little technology.

 

In today's world, it's nearly impossible for anyone to live technology-free. The more pressing issue is how much time people spend in front of a screen — especially our children.

I watched way too much television growing up, got sucked into the rabbit hole of AOL chat rooms, and played Heretic online in high school. And now, as a writer and editor, I stare into a screen all day every day.

When our son was born, my wife and I agreed he would not be exposed to any screens until he was two years old — and even then we were skittish.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests limiting screen time to one hour per day of high-quality programming from ages two through five. Kids ages six and older should have "consistent limits" on time spent with screens, set by parents.

When our son was approaching age 3, we gradually introduced clips from age-appropriate quality television programming: "Curious George" (which is designed to help kids learn) and "Thomas & Friends." He watched these on my laptop.

As my son grew older, watching these clips became part of his bedtime routine. Soon, the clips turned into episodes. We would watch an episode of "Curious George," which is two 12-minute episodes in one, with closed captions on. My wife and I would watch with him. To transition him to brushing teeth or reading books, we'd remind him that after the second episode, we'd move on in his routine.

It wasn't until our son turned five that he started watching movies at home. First up, "Ghostbusters" (the original!). Now, we find ourselves watching one movie every weekend: "Captain Underpants," the "Lego" movies, and "Night at the Museum," to name a few.

At his sixth-year checkup this year, I asked our pediatrician about watching television and movies. As a "Star Wars" fan himself, he couldn't say no to our letting him watch it.

He said that healthy viewing habits come down to two questions:

  1. Is the program age-appropriate / do you feel comfortable with him watching it?
  2. Are you watching it with him?

The latter, co-watching, is helpful because you know what they're viewing and can turn it into a way for your child to learn. (We started playing a series of "Star Wars" trivia games, for example.)

Moderating tech use in a sea of screens

As a parent, I watch my own screen time as much as I do my son's.

When I'm at the playground, I actually play with my child, or if I'm speaking with another parent, I have my eyes locked on his location. As I scan the playground for my son, I often see other parents sitting on benches with their heads down, staring at their phones.

Schools are a sea of screens, as well. Every classroom at my son's public school has a smartboard, and they're often used to watch videos. What happened to teachers teaching? My wife and I have already committed to sending him to a different school, still in our neighborhood, where not one smartboard exists and children get to interact more freely with one another.  

Additionally, Cleveland Clinic recently reported that a study found up to 42% of children have access to tablets, which may be contributing to eye strain and nearsightedness in children. "Nearsightedness progression is far more detrimental to children at a young age because this is when they're developing their eyes and their eyes are still growing, especially kids in their teens and preteen years," Dr. Mariana Eisenberg, of Cleveland Clinic, said.

As parents, we have to understand how detrimental too much screen time can be. American adults are already consuming over 10 hours worth of media a day, CNN reported. It's common to see parents use iPads and other devices to keep their children occupied during dinner at a restaurant. Why can't parents draw with them, read them a book, play I-Spy, or let the kids play with cars?

There are times, like traveling, when you need to cut yourself and your child some slack and simply give in to temptation. However, as with anything you want your child to do, it's all about modeling the behavior. So, if you want to limit your child's screen time, think about unplugging yourself.

SEE ALSO: 4 reasons I gave up Facebook — and why I'm not going back

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41 jobs to avoid if you hate stress

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Surgeons perform a total knee arthroplasty operation in an operating room at the Ambroise Pare hospital in Marseille, southern France, April 14, 2008.   REUTERS/ Jean-Paul Pelissier

  • Certain jobs are much more prone to stress than others.
  • Careers in medicine and law enforcement tend to be high-stress, along with customer service roles like telephone operator or event planner.
  • Roles that deal in mental health, like social work and psychiatry, are also high-stress.

Do you crack under pressure? Crumble when you're stressed? If so, you'd be better off pursuing a career in science or education than you would in healthcare or law enforcement.

Using data from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET), a US Department of Labor database full of detailed information on jobs, we found the 41 professions you should avoid if you really don't like stress.

O*NET rates the "stress tolerance" for each job on a scale from zero to 100, where a higher rating signals more stress. To rate each job, O*NET looks at how frequently workers must accept criticism and deal effectively with high stress at work.

The following are jobs that earned a stress tolerance rating of 93 or higher. We've also included how much they pay, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

If you're the type of person who thrives under pressure or can stay cool, calm, and collected in high-stress situations, these jobs may be perfect for you. If you're the crack-or-crumble type, you may want to avoid them:

SEE ALSO: 43 high-paying jobs for people who don't like stress

DON'T MISS: The 40 highest-paying jobs you can get without a bachelor's degree

Umpires, referees, and other sports officials

They officiate at competitive athletic or sporting events. 

Stress tolerance: 93

Average annual salary (2017): $26,800

 



Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselor

They counsel and advise individuals with alcohol, tobacco, drug, or other problems, such as gambling and eating disorders. 

Stress tolerance: 93

Average annual salary (2017): $46,740

 



Respiratory therapist

They assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. 

Stress tolerance: 93

Average annual salary (2017): $59,710



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

What the Founding Fathers were doing before their act of rebellion made them famous

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Writing Declaration Thomas Jefferson John Adams Ben Franklin



The Fourth of July means summer fun, fireworks, and lots of red, white, and blue decorations, for most of us.

It also marks the day that the Second Continental Congress approved a resolution to declare independence from Britain 242 years ago.

Historians believe that most of the founders didn't actually sign the document until about a month later. But July 4 was the date on the copies that got circulated around the colonies, so that's what the US went with.

Many Americans learn about famous founders like Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson in school.

But many of the guys who showed up in sweltering Philadelphia during the summer of 1776 were relatively obscure. And a good number of Founding Fathers, like Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, James Madison, and John Jay, didn't even sign the Declaration.

So let's take a look at the lives and careers of some of these lesser known founders. Perhaps unsurprisingly, many of the signers were prominent members of their communities. They worked as lawyers, physicians, merchants, and planters before being elected to the Continental Congress. A vast majority of them also owned slaves.

Here's a breakdown of the career paths of all 56 signers and what brought them to Philadelphia in the sweltering summer of 1776:

SEE ALSO: The 9 weirdest jobs of America's Founding Fathers

DON'T MISS: The top 20 presidents in US history, according to historians

John Hancock was a wealthy smuggler

The man with the most famous signature in American history led an allegedly illicit career before he entered the political realm.

On the surface, the president of the Second Continental Congress was a prominent New England merchant and a major financial backer of the revolutionary cause in Boston.

However, Hancock's mercantile fortune was allegedly bolstered through the illegal smuggling of products like Dutch tea, glass, lead, paper, and French molasses, according to the Boston Tea Party Historical Society.

He was charged with smuggling, but was acquitted thanks to his savvy lawyer — John Adams.



Samuel Adams was an incompetent tax collector

The founding father — and inspiration behind the modern day beer company— had a rocky start to his career after graduating from Harvard in 1740.

His first few business ventures ended poorly, and he dropped out of studying law. Even worse, he was an incompetent tax collector, neglecting "to collect the public levies and to keep proper accounts," according to Encyclopedia Britannica.

He later achieved great influence in local politics, founding the Sons of Liberty, Boston's revolutionary group. This activity allowed Adams to become a driving force in the growing movement against Britain's series of new taxes, which ultimately snowballed into the Revolution.



John Adams was an unfulfilled teacher before becoming a lawyer

John Adams established a reputation as a talented lawyer that would launch him on the path to the presidency. However, his first job mostly involved keeping order in the classroom.

After graduating Harvard, Adams took his first job as as a schoolmaster in Worcester, Massachusetts, according to the University of Groningen's biography of the second US president.

The career was not fulfilling for Adams and he was often filled with self doubt, as evidenced by the personal entries in his famous journal, which the Massachusetts Historical Society has posted online. To keep up with his own reading and writing, Adams would sometimes ask the smartest student to lead class.



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

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bojack horsemanNetflix has a lot of original content in store for the second half of this year.

2018 has already seen the premiere of a handful of new original shows, including the sci-fi reboot "Lost In Space" and David Letterman's talk show.

Among the shows still to come is the new series "Maniac," a dark comedy starring Jonah Hill and Emma Stone, along with new seasons of "Ozark" and "Orange Is The New Black."

On Wednesday, Netflix announced that it will release the fifth season of its animated comedy "BoJack Horseman" on September 14. 

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

This CEO says his hot startup is working on a fix for the most annoying thing about the San Francisco scooter craze

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Skip scooters

  • After electric scooters descended on San Francisco, city dwellers voiced their outrage over scooters routinely blocking sidewalks and building entrances.
  • Parking startup SpotHero says it's in talks with several, unnamed scooter companies to help them move scooters off the sidewalks and into garages.
  • The SpotHero CEO said the benefits of doing so are twofold: Scooter users can more easily find the vehicles after parking their cars, while more scooters will find homes in garages instead of taking up street space.

 

The scooter armageddon in San Francisco was over almost as quickly as it began.

After the city received complaints of scooters routinely blocking sidewalks and building entrances, causing people to trip, and making sidewalks less accessible for people with mobility issues, it slapped the three high-profile scooter companies with cease and desist orders. Those startups are now vying for a limited number of permits from the city.

Now, Mark Lawrence, the CEO of parking startup SpotHero, tells Business Insider that his company is very close to a solution for the complaint that largely led to the scooter crackdown in the first place: The fact that because there's no dedicated scooter parking, they tend to get dumped anywhere and everywhere on streets and sidewalks. 

Several scooter companies are in talks with SpotHero, an app that makes it fast and convenient to book a parking spot across 49 cities, to dock scooters in parking garages or share data to ensure scooters are located where they will most likely be used.

Lawrence said since the drama around scooter-sharing has unfolded, several companies — which he declined to name — approached SpotHero about working together to find a solution for scooter parking.

One of the most well-funded players in the scooter market, Lime, told Business Insider it's in conversation with several partners that will "allow us to extend access of our scooters to more riders."

"SpotHero is an example of an innovative company that would complement Lime's overall rider experience," a Lime spokesperson said.

Mark Lawrence SpotHero

The other top two scooter companies, Bird and Spin, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Bird, the most valuable of the three, is said to be valuing itself at $2 billion as it pursues new funding.

SpotHero works by linking drivers with over 5,000 parking lots, garages, and valets across the US and Canada. In the app, a driver can find, reserve, and pay for a spot with just a few clicks. SpotHero takes a commission on every reservation made.

Lawrence said some commuters want to drive into the city, park somewhere, and book a scooter the rest of the way to their destination. Someday, scooter companies might put scooters in SpotHero locations to make their lives easier and rake in their business.

Data could also help scooter companies be smarter. If SpotHero knows there's a big event coming up and lots of parking spots in a certain radius are booked in advance, the startup could tip off scooter companies to deploy their scooters there, Lawrence said.

"We know where millions of people are already going to pay to park and where they're going to be. A percentage of those are going to need a scooter, and so the question is, is that scooter going to be physically available where people need it?" Lawrence said.

The benefits are twofold: Scooter users can more easily find the vehicles, while more scooters will find homes in garages instead of taking up space on sidewalks.

It would be a surprising twist in the scooter saga, because all of these scooter companies market their vehicles as "dockless." People reserve a local scooter on their phone, ride for a small fee, and at the end of the journey, leave the scooter wherever to be claimed by the next rider. Not having docking stations is part of what makes them convenient.

Lawrence said the talks with scooter companies are still early, but he's optimistic that his startup will partner with others to improve the scooter situation for everybody.

"The way we do it isn't so much important as the why, which is, so we can make mobility better, so we can reduce congestion, so we can get people to move in and out of cities," he said.

SEE ALSO: A startup in the West Coast scooter sharing craze is already worth $1 billion — here's what it's like to ride a Bird scooter

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An asylum-seeker who crossed the border with his young son says he's surprised by how welcoming Americans have been

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jose asylum seeker migrant mcallen texas

  • An asylum-seeker from Honduras says he's surprised about the warm welcome he and his young son have received in the United States.
  • Despite the Trump administration's tough border policies, José and his son were able to cross the US-Mexico border last week without being separated — and have been treated kindly by Americans ever since.
  • José told Business Insider he knows he has a tough journey ahead of him to claim asylum, but he's grateful for the treatment he's received in the US so far.

MCALLEN, TEXAS — At the Catholic Charities respite center 5 miles from the Mexican border, "Finding Dory" played on the TV while migrant kids played with toys.

Days earlier, many of these kids would have been separated from their parents and housed in different detention centers for crossing the border illegally.

But today, fresh from a shower and a hot meal, a Honduran father and son were safe, and allowed to stay together.

José, who asked to be identified only by his first name, told Business Insider that he knew his journey would be tough, and was even warned before he crossed the border that his son could be taken from him when he crossed the US-Mexico border last week.

Speaking through a translator with his son on his lap, José said he was surprised by the warm welcome the Americans have given him so far.

Despite the lengthy and complex asylum case ahead of him, which could take years to unfold, José said the people he has encountered so far have made him and his young son feel safe.

"I am surprised by the treatment I've got in the center, and the treatment I've gotten in this country," he said. "My son has been taken care of; I've felt welcome."

honduran asylum-seeker migrant son mcallen texasJosé and his son crossed the border at the perfect time — just days after President Donald Trump signed an executive order halting his administration's practice of separating migrant families.

The Trump administration's now-halted "zero tolerance" policy had split more than 2,300 children from their parents and placed them in the custody of the Health and Human Services department's labyrinth of shelters and foster families across the country.

Meanwhile, the adults were kept in separate detention facilities or deported, often with no idea where there child was being held.

José and his son had heard rumors during their journey that the US government was splitting up families like theirs, but there was no chance of turning back, José said.

The pair were fleeing gang violence and police corruption in Honduras, where José said three of his brothers were killed. Facing "unbearable" violence and fearing he might be next, José and his little boy fled.

His first surprise came when he crossed the border and immigration authorities approached him. They were unexpectedly kind to him and his child, José said, and placed them both in a truck and brought them to an ice-cold holding facility known among migrants as "hieleras," Spanish for "icebox."

Though many asylum-seekers have complained about their treatment at the hands of Border Patrol — and accused officers of tricking or coercing them into giving up their children — José said he was fortunate.

"I'm just thankful to be here in America," he said.

Michelle Mark contributed reporting from New York.

SEE ALSO: One asylum-seeker was warned his son could be taken from him at the border — but he crossed anyway, because Honduras was too dangerous for them to stay

DON'T MISS: Texas landowners on the border say they see immigrants crossing their property almost every day, and they still feel safe

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Almost half of millennials say they would rather give up shampooing for a week than stop using their phones

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smartphone

  • A survey conducted by an app-based phone service Visible asked 1,180 millennials a series of "Would you rather?" questions, to find out what they would be willing to give up for their smartphones. 
  • Of those surveyed, 41% said they would rather give up shampooing for a week than forego their phone for a week, effectively their need to stay connected over personal hygiene.
  • Similarly, other results showed some consumers are willing to prioritize their smartphones over entertainment, personal belongings, and caffeine. 

What would you be willing to give up in order to keep your smartphone privileges for a week?

A lot of consumers say they would be willing to temporarily stop using household items or give up their favorite pastimes; some are apparently willing to adopt questionable hygiene standards. 

As it turns out, 41% of millennials ages 18 to 34 said they would be willing to quit shampooing for a week if it meant keeping their phone for that same period of time, according to a survey conducted by app-based phone service Visible. All 1,180 respondents owned a cell phone and were split almost evenly by gender using the census' breakdown. 

Entertaining as it might be, this statistic brings to mind the conversation surrounding smartphone addiction that has been consuming various companies, adults, and teens. While some argue that it's on the product and platform creators to help control our dependence on mobile devices, others say it's our own responsibility — and a good first step is knowing where you stand. 

In the survey, a similar number of respondents (54%) said they would be willing to give up movies and TV for a month, while 28% said they would be willing to give up their pet for the week, 23% chose their phone over caffeine, and a small 17% took the 'take my toothbrush but not my cell phone' approach. 

Given the capabilities of today's smartphones, it doesn't come as a huge surprise that consumers would be willing to prioritize them more than they did a decade ago. But these results — particularly the ones about habits we're taught are crucial from an early age — are an interesting look at just how a generation that has lived with smartphones for all or most of their adult life sees their mobile devices as necessity over luxury. 

SEE ALSO: 18 months after being deployed, Amazon's program for underperforming employees may be doing more harm than good

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