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Here’s how climate change is already affecting your health, based on the state you live in

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Climate change is already beginning to wreak havoc upon the planet. In the short term, we're facing more winter storms, miserably hot summers, and a longer allergy season. In the long term, entire coastlines will likely disappear, threatening communities and wildlife.

On a more local level, experts say the US will be unrecognizable in 100 years.

But just how is all of this affecting you — your state, your coastline — right now?

A new report from the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health reveals that different geographic regions in the US are facing a range of effects, many of which are already taking shape today. Some of them are as geographically specific as to affect only one state.

Check out how your area stacks up:

Medical Society Consortium on Climate Change and Public Health map

Here are a few of the changes the report outlines:

Heat, heat, heat

Climate change lengthens summer months and makes them hotter and more humid. During these episodes, it's more likely that people will suffer heat-related illness like heat stroke or dehydration. People most at risk include those who works outdoors, student athletes, pregnant women, and people without access to air conditioning. 

Some medications, including antipsychotics, also interfere with our body’s natural ability to regulate its temperature, so people using these drugs are also at a heightened risk.

Erratic weather

Louisiana floodDroughts, wipeouts, and floods like Hurricane Sandy have become increasingly common. As we saw with Sandy, these storms can have a devastating impact on infrastructure including public transit and electricity, interfering with access to health care facilities.

Dirtier air

Allergy seasons are already getting worse as a result of air pollution. Why? Carbon dioxide, one of the primary drivers of climate change, makes plants grow faster and increases the amount and potency of their pollen. Rising temperatures also lengthen allergy season, and drier, warmer conditions increase wildfire risk, which can exacerbate respiratory conditions like asthma.

Bugs and more bugs

deer tick size scale finger adult nymph lyme disease getty imagesShifting regional climates are allowing many diseases spread by insects like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas to flourish beyond their present confines. The mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus, for example, thrive in warm, moist conditions that are becoming more common around the US. Lyme disease-carrying ticks have also expanded their range to more northern and western regions of the country.

SEE ALSO: The US will be totally unrecognizable by the end of this century

DON'T MISS: New York is facing its biggest threat ever, and people are still in denial

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Neil deGrasse Tyson explains the real problem with climate skeptics


Obama ditched the cargo shorts — and so should you

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It's no secret that Obama has upped his style game.

The 44th POTUS has taken on a much more casual style than he had in office, even during leisure time on the golf course. But it's not just the style and formality of his clothing that's changed, but the quality and fit too.

Take, for instance, this picture of him on a golf course in Oahu, Hawaii, on Monday:

Obama is wearing a slim white golf shirt with similarly slim shorts that hit above the knee. The color, too, was on point: a more interesting deep blue color rather than a more typical khaki or gray.

The new outfit is a marked change for the former president, who in the past we've seen golfing in ill-fitting clothing that's a bit more on the typical frumpy side.

obama cargo shorts

The most important detail of his new look: no extraneous pockets or details that would weigh him down. Cargo shorts, as we've said before, are the worst thing a man can wear, and it's nice to see Obama has finally listened to conventional wisdom. It's an altogether more flattering look. 

SEE ALSO: Here's what to wear when it's freezing and style truly doesn't matter

DON'T MISS: Obama's casual off-duty style could be sending an important message

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The Obamas could earn more than $200 million in the next 15 years

People are claiming that the wool sneakers Silicon Valley is obsessed with may fall apart after repeated wear

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Allbird Sneakers 2

Silicon Valley's favorite wool shoe may have some durability issues, according to a new report in Yahoo Finance.

Allbirds are a unique kind of running shoe that uses a special wool to make it "the most comfortable shoe ever," in the company's own words.

Called the Wool Runners, the shoes have become a bit of a darling in Silicon Valley circles, and customers are "obsessed" with the shoe's combination of style and comfort, according to Business Insider's Melia Robinson. The cozy wool upper prevents stink, while the fuzzy style is generally deemed cool and office-appropriate (for Silicon Valley, at least).

First-year sales of the $95 sneaker beat projections five-fold, the company said. The Wool Runners have recently come under scrutiny for their durability, however.

"Silicon Valley's favorite sneaker has a wear-and-tear problem," the Yahoo report reads. A half-dozen tech workers complained to the website that they have to buy a new pair every 2-3 months.

One anonymous startup founder told Yahoo that they go through a pair every 4-6 weeks because they wear so quickly. AnyRoad CEO Jonathan Yaffe told the website that the inside liners wear quickly with repeated use. Even the writer of the article, JP Mangalindan, said that it's an issue he has personally experienced. 

"While the Wool Runners may be the most comfortable shoes they've ever worn, they just don't last. It's an issue I learned with a pair of my own after wearing them nearly every day for just six weeks," Mangalindan wrote.

Allbird Sneakers 1

Allbirds wearers in the Business Insider office could not corroborate the claims in the Yahoo story, however. One reporter who has been wearing theirs since August has not noticed any durability issues. Another, who owned the shoes for 10 months and wears them 2-3 times a week, had zero issues apart from a slightly misshapen toe box.

An Allbirds representative told Business Insider that Mangalindan was wearing an older version of the shoe, which has since been strengthened and reinforced based on customer feedback.

It's possible that the alleged longevity problem referenced in the Yahoo story could be blamed on too-frequent wear. Other causes could be failing to allow the wool to dry out from the previous day's sweat, or wearing the shoe in inclement weather. Wool and moisture don't mix, even in footwear.

The company released a statement in response to the Yahoo story's assertions:

Allbirds is committed to making better shoes in a better way and a key part of that is listening to the customer to create continuous improvements and upgrades to the Wool Runner — our signature style. Specifically, Allbirds frequently sends its customers a survey to gather feedback that supplements the information that the customer service team (which is based in the San Francisco headquarters) receives on a daily basis. Since the launch, Allbirds has made a number of improvements that include:

  • Reinforcing the tongue to reduce tearing and curling
  • Reinforcing the toe lining
  • Improving the insole
  • Redesigning the sole for flexibility and to reduce waste

These upgrades are reflective of Allbirds' philosophy of being responsive to the customer and we plan to continue to make changes to increase comfort and durability while reducing waste.

SEE ALSO: One of Vans' classic skater shoes is suddenly blowing up the fashion world

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: We finally learned the purpose of that extra shoelace hole on your sneakers

These are the most extravagant hotel amenities money can buy

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Private Firework Display   Ty Warner Mansion

For those of us who are content with a white robe and complimentary toiletries, the following list of hotel amenities may come as a massive shock.

These hotels are regarded as some of the most luxurious places to stay in the world, and here, good service is not just about breakfast in bed or a turndown in the evening. 

From personalized firework displays to ski trips with Olympic champions, here is a selection of the craziest amenities you can enjoy during your next stay.

Talia Avakian contributed reporting to an earlier version of this article.

 

SEE ALSO: The best places to visit abroad while the dollar is strong

The Lodge at Sea Island (Georgia): Butler service

You don't need to dread packing anymore. The Lodge at Sea Island has a 24-hour butler service who will do everything for you.

From packing your suitcase when you leave, to laying out milk and cookies at night or running you a rose petal bath, butlers are on hand to help with your every need. Their services are available to all guests who stay at the hotel, and the cost is included in the price of the room.

 



Hard Rock hotels: Fender guitars

The "Sound of Your Stay" program, which is available at any of Hard Rock Hotels' 23 hotels and 11 casinos, includes free rentals of a Fender guitar with a Mustang floor amplifier and Nixon headphones so you can rock out in your room.

You can also get exclusively curated playlists and DJ mixing systems sent to your room.

 



The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans (Louisiana): Recovery concierge

Nursing a bad hangover? Well you're in luck — during Mardi Gras, The Ritz-Carlton in New Orleans offers a recovery concierge who can help nurse you back to health.

From fixing you a Bloody Mary to delivering you a smoothie, this concierge can help make your stay all the more comfortable and hangover-free. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

2 former Wall Streeters turned startup founders share their best advice for dressing for every kind of office

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of mercer emelyn northway dorie smith

"Dress for success" is an oft-repeated motto. But recent studies have shown that wearing nice clothes in the office can actually be an effective strategy — dressing professionally can affect the way people perceive you, how confident you're feeling, and even how you're able to think abstractly.

And yet, finding clothes that are both in line with a professional dress code and reflective of your personality is no easy task.

Back when they were both MBA students at The Wharton School, Emelyn Northway, formerly an analyst at Merrill Lynch, and Dorie Smith, a former consultant at Deloitte, bonded at a networking event after they realized they were wearing the same black dress. It was out of that encounter that the idea for Of Mercer was born.

Of Mercer, now a favorite of Wall Streeters and celebrities alike, specializes in workwear that's versatile enough to wear in a variety of offices. The products are manufactured in New York City and sold both online and out of a store in the Flatiron District. 

We recently caught up with Northway and Smith to get their best tips for conquering all kinds of office dress codes.

"Whatever you wear, make it something you feel comfortable in," Smith told Business Insider. "We're all in this world where we want to make the woman successful as possible, and she needs to feel confident in what she's wearing to do that."

Here's what they recommended.

SEE ALSO: It turns out that dressing well can actually make you more successful

If your office dress code is: Business formal

Just because you're working in a formal environment doesn't mean you need to stick to the classic black-suit uniform. 

"This is probably the hardest because you want to make sure you're dressed appropriately, but you also want to stand out," Northway said. "As offices become more casual in general, we actually recommend ditching the boring black suits and embracing pieces that are a little more unexpected. You can show you're confident by incorporating colors." 

That could mean wearing a traditional piece — whether that's a suit, dress and blazer, or a skirt — but in an interesting color like navy or even a very-bright cobalt.

"You can do the matchy-matchy thing, but not in black," Northway said. "Research shows that dressing in a non-conventional manner can make you feel more professional." 



If your office dress code is: Business casual

Last June, JPMorgan sent out a company-wide memo encouraging employees to dress in business casual unless they were meeting with clients. Other firms like PricewaterhouseCoopers and BlackRock (which has had a business casual dress code since the '90s) followed suit in relaxing the office dress requirements. 

The term "business casual" is still confusing for many, however. 

"This one is the murkiest for our customers and for other people we speak to. Part of the problem is that there are so many trends that are so casual," Smith said.

The rise of athleisure has made this in-between category even trickier for people in the workplace. Since more and more people are wearing leggings and other performance-centric materials as they socialize and do errands on the weekends, the look has bled into the outfits people are choosing to wear to work.

"We've even gotten emails from HR at some of these firms that say, 'Help our analysts realize it's not OK to wear leggings to work,'" Smith said. "People go too casual."

You can, however, incorporate some elements of athleisure into your work wardrobe, like tailored pants that have some stretch to them — just no sweatpants. 

Northway added: "Our rule of thumb is to make sure you're dressing one step above everyone around you. If people are wearing jeans, wear nice black pants instead. It goes a long way to making you feel good about yourself and to making other people feel like you know what you're doing."

The Of Mercer founders recommend going for a dress with a fit-and-flare silhouette or a wrap dress in a bold color.



If your office dress code is: Casual

Casual dress codes are becoming more and more common these days, especially in creative and entrepreneurial environments. Still, that doesn't mean you should show up to the office in jeans and a hoodie everyday. 

"Our overarching advice is to always make sure you have one piece that's more formal than your dress code," Northway said. "If you're in an environment with jeans, throw on a blazer. Blazers also have a psychological power of making you feel like you're ready to get down to business."

Try adding a piece of statement jewelry like a bracelet or necklace, or get a pair of heels or flats in a fun color. 

Smith added: "Boyfriend jeans with black pumps is super chic, and it looks like you're taking your outfit and your job seriously."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 25 most popular Irish pubs in America

The border area between North and South Korea may be the tensest place on earth

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Korean DMZ guard tower

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Friday it may be necessary to take preemptive military action against North Korea if the threat from its weapons program were to reach a level "that we believe requires action."

Tillerson's comments came after he visited the demilitarized zone separating North and South Korea — a heavily fortified strip of land that may be the tensest place on the planet.

Although the Korean War is technically over for the U.S., the North and South are still very much at war — maintaining guard towers and thousands of troops facing each other, waiting for the next invasion.

The buffer zone created by the 1953 Armistice between North and South is called the demilitarized zone (DMZ), although there's a huge military presence. This border is filled with fencing, mines, and troops on both sides with itchy trigger fingers. 

This relic of the Cold War has seen plenty of very hot engagements: Over 300 American and South Korean, and almost 400 North Korean soldiers were killed in firefights in 1969, and there are numerous instances of infiltrators from the North being scared back only by the sound of warning shots.

We've picked out the highlights from National Geographic's Inside North Korea and other sources.

SEE ALSO: 72 years ago, the Nazis launched their last great offensive of World War II — here are 13 photos of the Battle of the Bulge

The Korean War may seem like it's over, but the armistice of 1953 only brought on a stalemate and both North and South are still at war.



At the 38th parallel lies the de-militarized zone (DMZ), with troops stationed along both sides in case the other decides to attack.



And attacks have happened many times. North Korean soldiers killed two US Army officers here in 1976 at "The Bridge of No Return" — named because captured NK prisoners hardly ever wished to go back home.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

10 things you didn't know about St. Patrick's Day

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St. Patrick's Day in Dublin, Ireland

Irish and Gaelic descendants have been celebrating St. Patrick's Day for over 1,000 years. The holiday, which falls on the anniversary of St. Patrick's death, is accompanied by parades, drinking beer, and eating traditional foods like corned beef and cabbage or shepherd's pie. More than 100 parades are held across the United States including the largest ones in New York City, Chicago and Scranton.

Although the US is home to some of the largest St. Patrick's Day celebrations, festivities take place around the world from Ireland to Australia. 

Here is a breakdown of St. Patrick's Day by the numbers:

Source: WalletHub



Source: WalletHub



Source: WalletHub



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The backstory of the man behind St. Patrick's Day has pirates, 'snakes,' and no green beer whatsoever

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St. Patrick Ireland

Why do we wear green and consume 13 million pints of Guinness on St. Patrick's Day?

Well, mostly for reasons that don't have much to do with the fifth-century missionary behind the day itself.

In fact, Patrick — or Pádraig — actually led a life filled with problems far bigger than picking a good spot to day drink at a parade.

Patrick hailed from a Romano-British background. His dad was a deacon and his grandfather was a priest, but he wasn't very religious growing up.

As he writes in his "Confession," that changed when he was about 16 years old. Patrick was attacked and kidnapped by Irish pirates who had broken into his family's villa.

He was sold into slavery in Ireland. Patrick credited the experience with renewing his religious faith.

"After I arrived in Ireland, I tended sheep every day, and I prayed frequently during the day," he wrote.

Six years passed by before Patrick said he heard a voice telling him to return home. He escaped and walked 200 miles to a port, where he found a ship preparing to leave for England.

"I said I needed to set sail with them, but the captain was not at all pleased," he wrote. "He replied unpleasantly and angrily: 'Don’t you dare try to come with us.'"

Later on, the captain apparently had a change of heart.

"I began to pray while I was going; and before I even finished the prayer, I heard one of them shout aloud at me: 'Come quickly — those men are calling you!' I turned back right away, and they began to say to me: 'Come — we’ll trust you. Prove you’re our friend in any way you wish.'"

Despite almost starving on the journey, Patrick made it back home, became a cleric in continental Europe, and then headed back to Ireland as a missionary.

His life didn't get less weird from there. As a foreigner, he was not plugged into the land's kinship networks and would therefore receive limited legal protections, according to "The Irish in Early Medieval Europe."

He also clashed with local power-brokers, possibly even writing an open letter chastising one for selling some of his followers into slavery. Patrick reported getting robbed, beaten, accused of financial fraud, arrested, and nearly executed over the course of his career.

Legends have him battling armies of witches and druids, turning his walking stick into a tree, and banishing the snakes from Ireland (although those reptiles were probably just a metaphor for Ireland's polytheistic roots). He supposedly died on March 17, which became his feast day.

Today, Patrick is Ireland's primary patron saint (a role which he shares with St. Brigit of Kildare and St. Columba), and also has a pretty long and random list of patronages, including engineers, paralegals, Nigeria, Montserrat, the Archdioceses of New York, Newark, Missouri, Murcia, Melbourne, and Loíza, and Rolla.

And, of course, he's invoked against snakes.

SEE ALSO: The ancient story behind Valentine's Day is more brutal than romantic

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's the Irish island where they filmed the most gorgeous scene from the new Star Wars

There's finally a smartwatch for watch aficionados

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Tag Heuer Connected Modular

Tag Heuer is well-known for making a solid Swiss timepiece at an accessible price point.

What is lesser known is the brand's well-received foray into wearables— uncharted territory for a Swiss watchmaker.

Its newest, the Tag Heuer Connected Modular 45, is a watch it claims blends the traditional timepiece with the convenience of tech.

First off, the watch looks more like a regular watch than most other tech-enabled watches on the market. It's even considered "Swiss-made."

Inside, it's got Intel-provided technology that uses Google's Android Wear OS. It does all the things you'd expect a smartwatch to do, like tell the weather and check your email. It also contains a GPS system and tracks all the activities that needs tracking.

The interesting part is where the "modular" part of the name comes from. The parts that make up the Connected Modular 45 are interchangeable with other Tag Heuer mechanical watch modules, like the Heuer-02T Tourbillon and Calibre 5. Simply take out the Connected module and slip in a mechanical one when you're looking to switch it up.

"While there is no future where the world is not connected, it doesn't mean a smartwatch is the best choice for every occasion," Tom Foldesi, VP for connected technology at Tag Heuer, told Esquire. "Which is why we offer our mechanical timepieces as part of the collection."

It also allows small parts like lugs and bezels to be interchanged for personal preference.

Tag Heuer Connected Modular

The watch also comes with 30 original traditional Tag Heuer faces to switch through, and it's water-resistant up to 50 meters.

The Connected Modular 45 will start at $1,650. The deluxe set in titanium — which comes with both a rubber and leather strap as well as a separate Heuer-02T Tourbillon mechanical module — will retail for $17,000.

Tag Heuer Connected Modular

SEE ALSO: This watch company is the perfect example of why Trump's 'made in America' initiative is easier said than done

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The best watches for under $400

16 sayings you'll only understand if you're Irish

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irish saint patrick's day

Each year on March 17, the Irish and Irish-at-heart come out in droves to pubs and parade routes to celebrate the patron saint of Ireland.

In the US, St. Patrick's Day serves as a valid excuse to wear green and drink. But there's enough rich Irish culture to last the whole year round.

We scoured Celtic folklore, online forums, the Bible, and even our favorite Irish pub in New York City to find some beautiful and just plain weird sayings used on the Emerald Isle.

Some of the sayings are historic, out-of-use proverbs with original Irish Gaelic translations (today, as little as 30% of the population in the Republic of Ireland speak Irish). Others are examples of modern slang said in English, the shared official language.

SEE ALSO: The most famous author from every US state

1. "What's the craic?"

Greetings like "Any craic?" and "How's the craic?" most likely confuse tourists because craic is pronounced like "crack."

The most straightforward definition is fun or enjoyment, and it can substitute for "How are you?" A typical response is "divil a bit," which means "not much."



2. “Away with the fairies.”

This phrase got its origin thanks to the folk tales about fairies picking people up and taking them away. 

Today, this Irish saying is used when someone isn't facing reality or is living in la la land.



3. "Quit acting the maggot."

In the Emerald Isle, if your friends are getting rowdy or making a fool of themselves, you'd say they are "acting the maggot."

This phrase could also be used to talk about anything that isn't acting properly, like if your phone is on the fritz or the trains are running way behind schedule.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here are 15 of the most notable members of Mar-a-Lago, Trump's 'Winter White House' that costs $200,000 to join

10 weird jobs you probably didn't know exist

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It seems as though we can pay people to do anything for us these days: walk our dogs, build our furniture, organize our homes ... cuddle with us when we're feeling lonely. That's right: You can hire a professional cuddler to snuggle with you for about $60 an hour. You can also pay an "undercover bridesmaid" to stand next to you on your big day, or a professional mourner to cry with you at a loved one's funeral.

Those are just a few of the weirdest jobs we found while compiling our list of the most unusual professionals.

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We visited Wawa and discovered why it's the greatest convenience store chain in America

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Wawa   Sheetz 14

Any Pennsylvanian knows the magnetic allure of Wawa.

The convenience store chain has recruited an army of steadfast shoppers; however, many Americans don't know of the superior chain, as its locations are limited to six states on the East Coast.

Recently, we ventured into Wawa country to get an idea of what the fuss is all about at the convenience chain and its rival, Sheetz.

We came away with a new understanding of the fabled chain and its fiercely loyal fans.  

Here's how Wawa won us over:

SEE ALSO: Applebee's, TGI Fridays, and Chili's are trying to claw their way out of a restaurant death trap

Our quest started off in the parking lot of a Wawa in south Phillipsburg, New Jersey, off Route 22. The gas pumps were plentiful and bustling with activity, but we were more interested in what waited within.



Wawa, with more than 720 locations in six states on the East Coast, is renowned for its high-quality inexpensive food. The vibe is clean and professional, yet unassuming. Muted yellows and browns are the key colors, leading to a relaxed but often bland visual landscape.



It takes a few minutes to even comprehend the array of food options available at Wawa. The well-stocked prepackaged section is ambitious and diverse in scope. Even packaged food appears fresh — not as though it has been abandoned on the shelf for untold lengths.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

These are the 10 trendiest hairstyles for guys right now

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BI Graphics_Coolest men's hairstyles_4x3_2

If you can't keep up with the times, your hairstyle might quickly become outdated.

Let's ensure that doesn't happen. We've illustrated below the prevailing trendy haircuts, according to our friends at Men's Hairstyles Now and their infographic on cool hairstyles for men in 2017.

Whether you go with the trendy fringe or the close-cropped style of the fade, one of these 10 hairstyles is sure to fit your personality.

SEE ALSO: 13 things every guy needs in his wardrobe for spring







See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Millennial tech workers are paying an exorbitant amount to live in cramped, dorm-like conditions in San Francisco

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San Francisco The Negev tech house

Millennials will go to great lengths to live in San Francisco to pursue their careers. Some have even gone so far as to live in boats, tiny homes, or even inside homemade wooden crates

With the second-highest median rent in the US, the city has some new graduates spending up to 79% of their salary solely on rent. It's no surprise that residents are coming up with unique living situations in order to stay.

One such place is The Negev, a communal living space aimed towards those working in tech. One of The Negev's San Francisco homes houses 40 residents, many of whom sleep in bunk beds and pay $1,900 a month to stay there. Ahead, take a look inside that particular outpost of The Negev.

SEE ALSO: Immigrant tech workers in Silicon Valley share how Trump's travel ban has changed their lives

Located in the tech-centric neighborhood of SoMa, The Negev boasts on its website that this particular location "is home to dotcom giants like LinkedIn and Dropbox, [and] the San Francisco Giants stadium." There are three outposts of The Negev in San Francisco, in addition to locations in Oakland and Austin.



Residents like 25-year-old Zander Dejah pay about $1,900 a month in rent, according to Reuters.



The home has three floors and roughly 50 rooms.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

What alcohol does to your body and brain

The inside story behind the Marvel movie you were never supposed to see

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In 1993, a German producer teamed up with legendary "King of the B-Movies" Roger Corman to produce a low-budget, feature-length adaptation of the popular Marvel comic book "The Fantastic Four." The movie was never officially released. 

Producer Bernd Eichinger owned the film rights to the comic, but a clause in his contract stated that he would lose the rights if he didn't go into production on a "Fantastic Four" movie by December 31, 1992. Up to that point, Eichinger had failed to convince a Hollywood studio to commit to a big-budget version of the story. 

The producer crafted a clever way to hold onto the rights so that he could later make a big-budget version of "The Fantastic Four." He called on Roger Corman, a legendary producer famous for his ability to crank out movies with low budgets and short schedules. 

It turns out that Eichinger never had any intention of releasing this low-budget version of the comic — a fact that he withheld for the movie's cast and crew. After Corman announced plans to release the film theatrically, Eichinger paid Corman $1 million to stand down, and all available prints were reportedly destroyed by then-Marvel chief Avi Arad. 

Arad didn't respond to our request for a comment for this story. 

Thanks to bootlegged copies that surfaced online, the unreleased "Fantastic Four" movie has become a cult classic.

Business Insider recently sat down with Corman at his office in Los Angeles to talk about his most recent project, "Death Race 2050,"  a sequel to the cult hit "Death Race 2000," which Corman produced in 1975. 

We also talked to the director of "The Fantastic Four," Oley Sassone. Corman and Sassone give an enlightening account of one of the most bizarre Hollywood tales you'll ever hear. 


Join the conversation about this story »

There may be a 3rd pillar of physical fitness beyond diet and exercise

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Wim Hof

Most of us know that to be healthy, we need to eat well and exercise.

But focusing on just those two things may not be enough, according to a theory investigated (and experienced) by journalist and anthropologist Scott Carney in his recent book "What Doesn't Kill Us: How Freezing Water, Extreme Altitude, and Environmental Conditioning Will Renew Our Lost Evolutionary Strength."

This theory suggests that along with diet and exercise, our bodies might need environmental stress — like exposure to cold and hot temperatures — if we're to reach our full potential. Humans had no air conditioning or heating to help protect us from extreme conditions for most of our existence, after all.

The logic behind this idea is similar to explanations for why we need to eat healthy food and work out. Nature is brutal, and we have evolved to survive in a harsh world, but now modern technology shields us from those physical challenges.

We're built to move and run; being sedentary leads to higher incidences of heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes — many of the most common causes of death in the modern world.

And our bodies thrive when we eat natural foods similar to what we'd be able to grow and find in the wild; they experience negative consequences when we consume too many processed materials. We seek out sugar and fat because of their high caloric content, but those foods have become so accessible that we're eating in more unhealthy ways.

The idea behind environmental conditioning is the same, as Carney describes it:

"Anatomically modern humans have lived on the planet for almost 200,000 years. That means your office-mate who sits on a rolling chair behind fluorescent lights all day has pretty much the same basic body as the prehistoric caveman who made spear points out of flint to hunt antelope. To get from there to here humans faced countless challenges as we fled predators, froze in snowstorms, sought shelter from the rain, hunted and gathered our food, and continued breathing despite suffocating heat. Until very recently there was never time a when comfort could be taken for granted — there was always a balance between the effort we expended and the downtime we earned. For the bulk of that time we managed these feats without even a shred of what anyone today would consider modern technology. Instead, we had to be strong to survive."

And though our newfound ability to live in comfort is pleasurable, Carney thinks it may not be healthy.

"With no challenge to overcome, frontier to press, or threat to flee from, the humans of this millennium are overstuffed, overheated, and understimulated," he wrote.

There are some important caveats to that opinion, of course. Modern technology helps us avoid freezing to death in winter and allows us to remain productive through the hottest days of summer.

But there are others who think that many of our current struggles with physical and mental health have to do with the ease of modern life. Anxiety, for example, is one of the most common mental-health issues people face now, but some researchers think it may be an evolutionary adaptation that has gone out of control. Anxiety can be part of our "fight or flight" response, which helps keep us alive in dangerous situations, but because we no longer fear predators and other threats, it can kick in when we have to give a speech or ask someone out.

What doesn't kill us Scott CarneyIn his book, Carney investigates the idea that incorporating some environmental challenges back into our lives could lead to health benefits. He embarks on a journey to see if "environmental conditioning" — guided by Wim Hof, a Dutchman who goes by the nickname "Iceman" — can help him unlock new levels of fitness.

Hof advocates (and practices) a method of physical transformation that combines environmental exposure, mostly in the cold, with conscious breathing techniques to try to gain more control over naturally involuntary physical reactions. He claims that doing so can not only strengthen the body in ways that go beyond what exercise can achieve, but also help people heal from injuries and diseases.

It's hard to know how much to buy into Hof's theory. On the one hand, it's appealing to those of us who believe that an almost always comfortable life is probably not physically challenging enough. And it does seem to have some observed health benefits — Carney relates a series of anecdotes in which students of Hof's method experience relief from injuries or symptoms of Parkinson's disease and Crohn's disease. Some scientific studies have independently verified a few claims Hof makes, including that a method of cold immersion and conscious breathing can give people some ability to voluntarily activate or suppress their immune system.

At the same time, it's possible that all or some of the pain and symptom relief that Hof's trainees have experienced is due to the placebo effect — something Carney readily acknowledges.

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It's also worth noting that some of the things Hof has done — swimming in icy water, for example — have almost killed him and have killed other people who tried to replicate his feats. Carney's book begins with a warning that readers should not attempt these methods without the approval of a doctor and serious training and preparation. Even then, it says, "readers must be aware that these practices are inherently dangerous and could result in grave harm or death."

Danger aside, some athletes — like the legendary big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton, whom Carney trained with while embarking on his investigation — cite Hof's methods as influential. And there's promising data that suggests cold exposure could play a role in weight loss and help counteract the effects of type 2 diabetes.

The idea that it's possible to gain control over seemingly involuntary physical responses isn't limited to Hof's work. People like the open-water swimmer Lewis Pugh and certain monks have also been found to exercise some control over their internal body temperature — a seemingly superhuman ability.

Whether those skills can be taught and learned is the question. Hof thinks so, and though Carney leaves room for skepticism, he seems convinced, too.

"If you've been wrapped up in a thermogenic cocoon for your whole life, then your nervous system is aching for input," he wrote. "All you need to do is get a little bit outside of your comfort zone and try something out of the ordinary. Try finding comfort in the cold."

SEE ALSO: Researchers figured out what's special about the brains of super-memorizers

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This sandwich shop that's like a souped-up Panera sells 'sandwich environmentalism' — take a look

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If the proprieters of a new West Coast restaurant chain get their way, the next iteration of the farm-to-table revolution might be what they call "sandwich environmentalism."

Homegrown Sustainable Sandwiches uses ingredients that come from the company's certified organic farms in Washington and California and other local farms. 

"Our idea is that if we thoughtfully curate every little thing about the sandwich — where the grains for the bread come from, how the animals behind our meats and cheeses are raised, what chemicals we're keeping off our fruits and vegetables — each sandwich will be a little bit healthier for the planet and for the people who enjoy eating them," the website reads.

We recently tried the food at Homegrown's first San Francisco location. Take a look.

SEE ALSO: San Francisco's trendiest coffee roaster is now making a $12 marijuana-infused cold brew

Homegrown, with its wood-paneled counters, chalkboard-inspired décor, and tablets for ordering, has the vibe of a Whole Foods produce supplier swallowed by an Apple store.



Menu boards showed the company's sourcing guidelines and suppliers. This level of transparency is hard to come by outside high-end restaurants and "Portlandia" sketches.



I ordered three menu items and a cup of coffee from boutique San Francisco roaster Sightglass Coffee. My total came to a whopping $48.19, including a 15% tip.



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