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Adidas has a secret weapon to beat Nike — and it's just about ready to deploy it

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adidasAdidas is on a tear as of late — and it has a plan to keep tearing it up, too.

As of March, the German sportswear maker had nearly doubled its market share in the US, from around 6% to 11%, according to data from NPD Group. Its sales in the US grew 31% in the first quarter of this year.

That celebration was dampened a little bit, however, by the news that the trend of classics — which up until that point had driven much of the growth Adidas was seeing in North America — had plateaued. 

"I think it's the cycle slowing down. Superstars and Stan Smiths have been around a long time and they have waves that they come through," Foot Locker CEO Dick Johnson said in an earnings call in May.

But according to Mark King, Adidas' head of North America, one of the brand's strengths is that it has been able to anticipate trends before they happen.

"We made a strong pivot about two years ago where we said the only way to stay up with the trends of society and the marketplace is really to listen to the consumer," told Business Insider in May. "A lot of companies talk about it — we're actually doing it."

One of the fastest-growing trends in shoes right now is a category called "lifestyle running" — shoes that are much more stylish than your typical running shoe, but with a similar silhouette. You can run in them, but many people don't.

Adidas

Adidas has many celebrated styles in this category already, including the sought-after NMD and UltraBoost sneakers. As the classics trend fades out and lifestyle running takes over, these styles will likely become the brand's best-selling shoes.

Other new products that have made a splash recently include a production of the shoes from the Wes Anderson film "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" and a new version of the blog favorite German Army Trainers.

Adidas is also working on improving its speed to market. 

"On the style side what is really required is newness," King said. "We need more franchises, and then we need to continue to be new and fresh ... That's really the magic: To have the right product in the right market at the right time."

In this way, Adidas' product always remains current and trendy, and there is much less reliance on one particular genre or style. Under Armour, for example, missed large trends like athleisure, and it doesn't currently have any trendy shoes on the market.

Nike, and especially its Jordan brand, is running into trouble as the style has fallen out of favor. Nike is now focusing on speed to respond more quickly to changing trends, in a similar way to Adidas.

SEE ALSO: Nike is finally going to start selling on Amazon for one simple reason

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NOW WATCH: Teens told us the brands they love and can't live without


This is the car that will lead Ferrari into the future — here's what it was like to drive (RACE)

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Ferrari Race 2015

A couple of years back, my son, James, and I drove up to Watkins Glen International, a storied racetrack, to watch a Ferrari race. We did not, however, make the drive in a Ferrari.

In 2015, Ferrari kindly lent us a California T, the company's "entry-level" car — its base price is $198,000 — to make a return visit. The Cali T is an important vehicle for the prancing stallion now that it's a public company and needs to grow beyond its traditional 7,000-cars-per-year in sales.

At the New York Stock Exchange when Ferrari, ticker symbol RACE, began trading, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO and Ferrari Chairman Sergio Marchionne said that many of the 9,000 cars the Italian sports car maker plans to sell in 2019 will be Cali Ts.

Thus far, since Ferrari's 2015 IPO, the spun-off exotics automaker has performed admirably; shares are up al ost 60% since then — and more than 100% over the past 12 months, making Ferrari the best investment in the auto sector of late (better even than Tesla). 

The first time James and I went up to the Glen, we watched a Ferrari Challenge race, where amateurs and pros are on the track at the same time, exclusively in Ferraris. In 2015, we attended the Six Hours of the Glen, an endurance race featuring teams from a variety of automakers — Porches, BMW, Aston Martin, Mazda, Corvette — alongside Ferraris.

It was an interesting weekend with a long drive in a cool car and a race that was heavily affected by the weather. Mixed in was a jaunt around the original Watkins Glen road course, where after World War II racers battled it out and before the now famous raceway was built.

We had a lot of fun — check it out.

A few years back, James and I checked out a race series organized by Ferrari and featuring teams running only Ferrari cars.



James had a blast ...



... because for a (then) 8-year-old what's cooler than Ferraris? (He's 11 now.)



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Secrets of the Statue of Liberty

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Every year, more than 4 million people visit the Statue of Liberty. Perhaps the most famous American landmark, the statue has a rich history that spans a century and across the Atlantic Ocean. 

We went to Liberty Island and talked to a ranger from the National Parks Service about the story of the statue and many of the secrets about it that you might not know. 

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The 10 most expensive beach towns in the US — where you have to be a millionaire to buy a home

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Beach season is upon us. If you're in the market for an affordable summer home within spitting distance of the ocean spray, there are some under-the-radar places across the US where you can nab a beach house for less than $250,000

In other places, you'd better be a millionaire or billionaire if you want to get a showing.

In ritzy summer vacation spots like the Hamptons, Malibu, or Nantucket, for instance, the median price for property currently exceeds $3 million, according to a report from Realtor.com. 

Realtor.com dug through its database to find the most expensive beachfront locales in America. It limited its scope to beach cities with populations between 1,000 to 100,000 and that had at least 30 properties on the market. And to ensure some geographic diversity, Realtor.com capped its list to two towns per state separated by at least 30 miles. 

In Malibu, the most expensive beach town in the US, one neighborhood along the surf has earned the moniker "Billionaire's Beach." Music mogul David Geffen reportedly sold his home there last year for $85 million.

Read on for the rest of the 10 most expensive beach towns to buy a home — each of which has a median home price over $1.4 million.

SEE ALSO: The salary you need to earn to buy a home right now in 19 of the most expensive housing markets in America

DON'T MISS: The 10 most affordable places to buy a beach home in the US

10. Anna Maria, Florida

Population: 1,626

Median home price: $1.4 million



9. Avalon, New Jersey

Population: 1,297

Median home price: $1.46 million



8. Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts (Martha's Vineyard)

Population:2,114

Median home price: $1.5 million



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How often you should wash your bed sheets, according to a microbiologist — and what happens when you don't

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We spend more than a third of our lives in bed — but that place can quickly blossom into a "botanical park" of bacteria and fungus, according to New York University microbiologist Philip Tierno.

If left for too long, the microscopic life within the wrinkles and folds of our bed sheets can even make us sick, Tierno told Business Insider.

To stem the invisible tide, he said sheets should be washed once a week.

Humans naturally produce roughly 26 gallons of sweat in bed every year. When it's hot and humid outside, this moisture becomes what scientists call an "ideal fungal culture medium."

In a recent study that assessed the level of fungal contamination in bedding, researchers found that feather and synthetic pillows between 1.5 and 20 years old can contain between four and 17 different species of fungus.

And it's not just your own microbial life you're sleeping with. In addition to the fungi and bacteria that come from your sweat, sputum, skin cells, and vaginal and anal excretions, you also share your bed with foreign microbes. These include animal dander, pollen, soil, lint, dust mite debris and feces, and finishing agents from whatever your sheets are made from, to name a few.

Tierno says all that gunk becomes "significant" in as little as a week. And unclean bedding still exposes you to materials that can trigger the sniffing and sneezing, since the microbes are so close to your mouth and nose that you're almost forced to breathe them in. 

"Even if you don't have allergies per se, you can have an allergic response," Tierno said. 

Another reason your sheets get dirty quickly has little to do with your behavior or sweat patterns — the issue is simply gravity. 

"Just like Rome overtime was buried with the debris that falls from gravity, gravity is what brings all that material into your mattress," Tierno said. 

One to two weeks of this build-up is enough to leave anyone with a scratchy throat — especially those with significant allergies or asthma.(One in six Americans have allergies.) 

"If you touched dog poo in the street, you'd want to wash your hands," said Tierno. "Consider that analogous to your bedding. If you saw what was there — but of course you don't see it — after a while you have to say to yourself, 'Do I want to sleep in that?'"

Julia Calderone contributed to an earlier version of this post.

SEE ALSO: How often you should wash your bath towel, according to a microbiologist — and what happens when you don't

DON'T MISS: A geneticist says any new parent should 'roll their child on floor of the New York subway' — here's why

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NOW WATCH: This is what happens to your brain and body when you check your phone before bed

How the 'perfect body' for men went from chubby to skinny to muscular over the last 150 years

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Our concept of "the perfect body" is constantly changing. 

Factors like the physical requirements of jobs, availability of food, and cultural trends have influenced our perceptions of humans' physical form. And in the future, journeys into space or the merging of humans with machines might change what we think of as ideal.

Artist Nickolay Lamm has done a significant amount of work on how understandings of an "ideal" female body differ from reality. He wanted to take a look at how Americans' standards for the ideal male body have changed over time as well, so he started collecting photos that depicted that body from the 1870s to today. Then he created models to show how that shape changed over time.

These generalizations don't represent everyone's preferences, of course. And this particular project was focused on body shape and didn't take into account other physical characteristics like skin tone, facial features, or hair color. But these illustrations help show how what we think of as the "ideal male" has changed significantly over the past 150 years.

SEE ALSO: 17 things that people driven to take extreme risks have in common

1870s: In the late 19th century, being overweight was a sign of wealth, since it suggested one had the means to feast.



This photo shows the members of a "Fat Man's Club" in Connecticut in 1894. The club was founded in 1866, and members had to weigh at least 200 pounds. The idea became popular and spread across the US.



1930s: By this time, excess weight started to get associated with lower classes. Hollywood actors — who had to be fairly fit to look good on camera — started to represent a new ideal.



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The most insidious type of cheating isn't physical — here are 9 signs your partner could be guilty

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An "emotional affair" is hard to define — it can be tricky to know if you're having one, and perhaps even trickier to figure out if your partner is.

That said, there are a few red flags to look out for if you suspect that your partner has romantic feelings for someone else, even if they haven't acted on them physically. In her 2012 book, "Chatting or Cheating," licensed marriage and family therapist Sheri Meyers outlines some key indicators that your partner might be involved in an emotional affair.

Below, Business Insider has rounded up nine of those warning signs. Remember: Just because you recognize some of these behaviors in your partner doesn't necessarily mean they've been unfaithful.

But if you're really starting to get worried, it's a good idea to articulate your concerns to your partner and give them a chance to explain themselves.

SEE ALSO: The most insidious type of cheating isn't physical — here are 8 signs it could be happening to you

Your partner is spending more time on the computer and/or phone

A sudden strong attachment to digital devices could be a red flag.

Meyers writes: "Your partner may 'stiffen' when you enter the room, or put the phone away suddenly. They may have increased activity or text messaging but are more difficult to get  ahold of when out of the house."



Your partner wants more space and time to themselves

If your partner really is having an emotional affair, they may try to distance themselves from you.

"They want to do their own thing more often and become indifferent to doing things together and offer excuses about not planning or committing to future trips, vacations, and family visits," Meyers writes.



When you argue, your partner's fallback position is about your relationship ending

During conflicts, your partner may say something like, "What would you do if our relationship ended?" or perhaps something even more alarming like, "If anything ever happened to us, I would always love you like a friend."

"In general," Meyers writes, "they seem overtly negative about your relationship," as opposed to interested in trying to repair it.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The chef at the best restaurant in the UK describes it as a 'grotty boozer by the sea' — and the food looks awesome


Apple is crushing the Swiss watch industry — and one brand is particularly vulnerable (AAPL, FOSL)

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swatch wristwatch

Smartwatches are taking over our wrists, and it's likely to get worse for traditional Swiss watchmakers, according to UBS. 

The Apple Watch is bigger than every Swiss watch brand except Rolex, analysts at the bank said in a note on Monday. And Swatch is most vulnerable in this environment, according to Helen Brand and her colleagues. 

Swiss watchmakers recognize the demand for wearables, but are reluctant to dive in because they would need to rely on the tech companies that make the microprocessors that replace the mechanical parts, UBS said.

Also, the high-end companies could hurt their status when they sell wearables cheaper than they would traditional timepieces. That puts Swatch at the most risk because it leans more heavily towards entry-level products than its peers, Brand said.

"Market share may be further eroded for the Swiss industry as smartwatches improve in functionality," Brand said. "The wider wearables market is now likely 30-40 million in volumes in total with Swiss watches industry volumes at 28m." 

Swatch's biggest threat is from China. 

"This has been a region where we have seen strong momentum, notably for Tissot and Longines driven by the emerging Chinese middle class," Brand said. "If this consumer prefers the Apple Watch over these brands it could be a threat to Swatch's medium-term growth prospect." 

Bloomberg reported that Swatch was working on a smartwatch to launch around the end of 2018. 

US watchmaker Fossil has already entered the smartwatch market, but its foray has not prevented a sales decline. Kosta Kartsotis, Fossil's CEO, cited "a watch category undergoing significant change" when the company reported weaker-than-expected earnings in the first quarter. 

This chart shows that traditional watchmakers' sales peaked right as the first-generation Apple Watch launched in Q2 2015. 

Screen Shot 2017 06 26 at 1.26.28 PM

More wearables are shipping than Swiss watches. 

Screen Shot 2017 06 26 at 1.53.33 PM

A redeeming factor for Swiss watchmakers is that their products are essentially jewelry, meaning they are timeless and can hold emotional value when gifted. A smartwatch, however, would become obsolete after a few years if the battery goes flat or its maker stops providing operating-system updates.

Also, there remains the perception that the Apple Watch is a smartphone on your wrist, which it arguably isn't. UBS' survey of nearly 8,000 smartphone users in May found that the biggest reason why people didn't want an Apple Watch was that they thought it wasn't needed. 

Screen Shot 2017 06 26 at 2.02.01 PM

 

SEE ALSO: The most important charts in the world from the brightest minds on Wall Street

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NOW WATCH: An economist explains the key issues that Trump needs to address to boost the economy

Why an energy bar might be the worst thing to eat before a workout

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Getting ready to work out is often the hardest part of exercising. You need a plan, a place to do it, the right kind of clothes, good shoes, and enough energy.

Caffeine can help you feel more energetic — but so can certain foods. Unfortunately, some of the same foods that athletes rely on for quick energy — including protein bars and some fruits — may also cause a range of unwelcome symptoms including gas, bloating, and even diarrhea. (Endurance athletes might know the symptoms linked with some of these foods as "runner's trots.")

The problem is that many so-called "power" foods contain a type of simple carbohydrate known as FODMAPs (Fermentable, Oligo-, Di-, Mono-saccharides and Polyols) that our small intestine has a rough time processing. Ironically, they're also a frequent ingredient on many protein and energy bars. Oligosaccharides, for example, are also typically found in wheat and some types of legumes — two ingredients that are repeat offenders on protein bars since the carbohydrates in wheat are a great source of quick energy and the protein in legumes (i.e. soy-based protein) help power muscles. The same goes for disaccharides, the kind of FODMAP frequently found in milk (i.e. whey protein).

apple slices 2Other FODMAPs include fruits like apples, pears, and watermelon; vegetables like asparagus and celery; dairy products like milk and cheese; legumes like lentils and chickpeas; and many breads or wheat-based cereals.

Most of what we know about FODMAPs today comes from Peter Gibson, a professor of gastroenterology at Monash University in Australia. In 2011, Gibson spearheaded a study into gluten sensitivity which found that in many cases, people who believe they are sensitive to gluten are really sensitive to another ingredient in many gluten-containing foods — FODMAPs. When Gibson placed the people with self-identified "gluten sensitivity" on a low-FODMAP diet, their symptoms — gas, bloating, discomfort — vanished.

In later studies, Gibson found that people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) were especially sensitive to FODMAPs. Similarly, slashing these foods from their diet was recently found to be helpful for many.

If you're a healthy person who also happens to be an athlete, FODMAPs may also be a source of discomfort.

Whether you're a long-distance runner, a swimmer, a sprinter, or a power yogi, intense physical training can put the body under a significant amount of stress. That includes the digestive system. A study in the journal Current Sports Medicine Reports found that up to 71% of long-distance runners experience abdominal cramping and diarrhea.

A case study published last year in the International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism on a male athlete with no diagnosed gastrointestinal disorder found that six days on a low-FODMAP diet (compared with six days on a traditional diet) appeared to significantly reduce his symptoms, which included gas, bloating, and cramping.

And while more research is needed to show that the experiences of this individual could be generalized to larger groups of athletes, the evidence base suggesting that a low-FODMAP diet could help reduce gastrointestinal issues is growing.

If you experience these symptoms before, during, or after your workout, it could be worth talking to your physician about it and perhaps trying out an alternative source of fuel.

SEE ALSO: The best thing to eat before and after you exercise, according to the physiologist behind the viral 7-minute workout

DON'T MISS: An Olympic marathoner pooped himself and collapsed — here's why marathons wreak havoc on your body

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NOW WATCH: I tried the 7-minute workout for a month — here's what happened

Stunning vintage photos show how Americans in every state spend their downtime

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National Geographic photographers have been documenting human life since the early 1900s, capturing historic moments as well as more mundane routines.

In the book "National Geographic: The United States of America," 700 captivating images from the magazine's archives have been pulled together in one place, highlighting each state in a range of dynamic images.

This collection gives us an insight into how Americans have lived their lives — and how they engage with their community and others. Below, 51 images that help show how Americans spend their time.

All captions by National Geographic.

SEE ALSO: Stunning photos show how American food consumption has changed in the past 100 years

Alabama, 2014: "Showplace of the South" — and indeed it was when those doors first opened in 1927. Birmingham's Alabama Theatre was Paramount's showcase movie palace, beckoning patrons from across the Southeast into its plush, gold-leafed Moorish Revival interior.



Alaska, 1956: Wreathed in a penumbra of luxurious fur, the winner of the 1955 Miss Arctic Circle contest stands beneath a blue sky at the annual Fourth of July celebration in Kotzebue, Alaska.



Arizona, 1955: At Hopi Point Overlook, Arizona, afternoon shadows repaint the Grand Canyon's ever-changing landscape. "Forms unrivaled by the mountains," the 19th century explorer John Wesley Powell said of his encounter with the canyon, "colors that vie with sunsets."



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The White House spends $263,000 each year on calligraphers — here's why

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On June 30, the White House released a 16-page document listing the salary of every executive employee under President Trump.

Most of those salaries are paid to people in advisory or assistant roles, such as Assistant to the President and Senior Counselor Kellyanne Conway, who makes $179,700 a year.

But three salaries go to calligraphers, whose combined income amounts to $263,140. Chief Calligrapher Patricia Blair gets the largest sum: $102,212 a year.

It might seem odd that the White House spends more than a quarter of a million dollars on fancy penmanship, but calligraphers have been held in rather high esteem at the White House for years. Blair, for example, has been chief calligrapher for at least five years — her job is to create official greetings from the president, place cards for White House dinners, handwritten proclamations, military commissions, and service awards. 

Elegant calligraphy has come to be an important factor in seeming presidential, whether that be in letters to heads of state or invitations to balls and other events. Blair consistently out earns the average White House employee. But after the salaries were made public, people on Twitter had a hard time reconciling her six-figure salary. One called it "strange," while another said it was "kind of cool and kind of weird."

But it's not first time presidential calligraphy has made waves over the internet. The same thing happened in 2013, when the Obama administration released its salaries — the calligraphy staff at the time made a combined $277,000.

Amid an impending sequestration, people called it "calligraphy gate."

"Like all Americans, I want White House invitations and name cards to look as first-class as possible," Nick Gillespie wrote for Reason at the time, but "shelling out a quarter of a million bucks a year" on three calligraphers "undercuts the idea that President Obama thinks there's a spending problem for sure."

Cutting those salaries would have only saved one one-millionth of the $28.7 billion in cuts in domestic spending, though — a small price to pay for world-class cursive.

SEE ALSO: Here's how Trump's salary compares to other leaders in countries with the biggest economies

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NOW WATCH: HENRY BLODGET: Seeing more skepticism around Trumponomics

How a bowl of raw fish became the next big thing in fast food

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If you haven't yet heard of poké (pronounced POH-kay), that's bound to change soon.

A wave of restaurants serving this Hawaiian raw-food specialty have crashed into the New York City — and national — dining scene, bringing the next phenomenon in fast-casual food.

Poké is a mix of raw cubes of seafood (usually ahi tuna or salmon) in a soy sauce-based marinade. It's often garnished with seaweed, cucumber, avocado, or tobiko, and served over rice or greens. Ubiquitous in Hawaii — you can pick it up at grocery stores or even gas stations — poké is a deconstructed, flavorful version of sushi. It's also generally healthy and endlessly customizable.

It also doesn't hurt that, as Bloomberg has pointed out, it's much more economical to open a poké spot compared to a traditional restaurant, which requires industrial-strength cooking equipment and a venting system. 

Raisa Bruner contributed reporting to an earlier version of this article. 

SEE ALSO: The new king of New York power lunching has arrived — here's what it's like to eat there

Already a mainstay in the Los Angeles dining scene, poké spots are popping up all around New York City.

Source: Gothamist



They're a middle ground between quick salad bowls (think Chop't, Just Salad, or Sweetgreen) and the more calorie-filled offerings of Chipotle. Poké bowls fit that niche: they're flavorful, packed with protein, and don't feel like "rabbit food," but they're still light and healthy.



By allowing endless customizations, poké bowl restaurants are playing into our modern desire for new tastes and changing options.



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The founder of the doomed Fyre Festival drives a $110,000 Maserati and rents a $21,000-a-month penthouse

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Billy McFarland

Billy McFarland, the cofounder of the musician-booking app Fyre Media and its disastrous Fyre Festival, was arrested by federal authorities on Friday on a wire-fraud charge.

He was released Saturday on $300,000 bail, but not before aspects of his lifestyle were revealed in a hearing.

According to The New York Times, McFarland is making payments on a Maserati with a suggested retail price of $110,000 and renting a Manhattan penthouse apartment for $21,000 a month.

He is currently being represented by a public defender. At the time of his arrest, he had $5,000 in cash on him.

McFarland's "lavish lifestyle" was a cause of concern for the court, said Assistant US Attorney Kristy Greenberg. She questioned whether McFarland was of the limited means typically required to be appointed a public defender.

McFarland had retained both a crisis public relations firm and a legal team to defend him from several pending lawsuits, but his previous lawyers had not been paid enough to continue to represent him, his current lawyer said, according to The Times.

"There are real questions about where his money is," Greenberg told the judge at McFarland's bail hearing.

McFarland is facing allegations that he lied on financial-disclosure forms and defrauded investors in Fyre Media by overstating the company's income and cash on hand.

SEE ALSO: The foreclosed $50.9 million penthouse on Billionaire's Row is reportedly owned by a Nigerian tycoon who could be hiding on his yacht

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NOW WATCH: Fyre Festival expectations vs. reality — here's what attendees thought they were getting when they bought $12,000 tickets

A photographer captured these surreal photos of North Korea's capital on a state-sanctioned tour

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The Trump administration is weighing new legislation that would ban US citizens from traveling to North Korea, following the death of American student Otto Warmbier.

Despite warnings from the US Department of State over the years that visitors stepping into the DPRK risk arrest and long-term detention, approximately 100,000 people— including some Americans — visit the hermit kingdom annually. Tourists may travel independently or go through a state-sanctioned travel agency. They are supervised from the moment they arrive.

In 2016, photographer Raphael Olivier booked an architecture-themed tour of Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, and captured these remarkable images.

SEE ALSO: North Korea has been branded as a 'weed-smoker's paradise' — but the truth is more complicated

"The first word that comes to mind would be eerie," Olivier told Business Insider of the general atmosphere in Pyongyang, North Korea.



There are some three million people living in the nation's capital, and yet, most of Olivier's photos show vacant streets.



He said people work, study, and keep busy out-of-sight in the daytime. Oddly, dramatic music blares throughout the downtown area.



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A veterinarian reveals a surprisingly easy way to improve your dogs diet

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Danny Tufaro, a veterinarian based in New York City, explains a simple way to add some variation to your dog's diet. Following is a transcript of the video. 

Many people think only in the realm of dog food. I think you should try to feed an assortment of different things. Many people fear giving their dog or cat anything that they eat, varying their diet, but I think that’s an error. People like to feed a specific brand of food for whatever reason. I encourage these people to mix an assortment of different things into the food, like breakfast cereal, lettuces, various meats, carrots.

If your dog’s doing well on a dry dog food or a canned dog food, there’s really no reason to vary it, but if you wanted to there is no reason not to. So if you wanted to introduce lettuces and carbohydrates, things that we eat, that would be fine to mix it with their food. If you wanted to feed things that you’re preparing for a meal, cooked meats, cooked carbohydrates, cooked vegetables, raw vegetables, those are all very good things to feed. I don’t think we feed our pets enough vegetables in terms of dietary intake. Fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, bananas. There are some things to stay away from, like grapes, onions, chocolate, various sugars like xylitol.

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5 famous 'facts' about the Fourth of July that aren't true

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For Americans, the Fourth of July is all about fireworks, food, and freedom.

In the United States, Independence Day commemorates the 13 colonies' decision to rebel against England and declare their independence.

But be careful before you start regaling your friends with Fourth of July lore.

There are plenty of popular myths about Independence Day disguised as common knowledge.

Here are a few "facts" about the Fourth of July that are actually historically bogus:

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

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The founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776

On a hot summer day in Philadelphia, Continental Congress declared the 13 colonies independent from England. Massachusetts delegate and future US president John Adams was certain that he'd witnessed history — and that the date would live on in memory.

"The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America," wrote Adams, in a July 3, 1776 letter to his wife, Abigail.

Poor Adams. He was only off by two days. The Continental Congress actually issued an initial resolution asserting independence from England on July 2, which was then revised and finalized on July 4.

However, historians believe that the signing didn't take place till about a month later. Emily Sneff, research manager of the Declaration Resources Project at Harvard University, writes that 49 of the 56 signers didn't even add their signatures the declaration until August 2, 1776: "It took several months, if not years, for all of the signatures to be added."

She cites the Journals of the Continental Congress, which include this August 2 entry: "The declaration of independence being engrossed and compared at the table was signed."

So, why do we gather together to blow things up and grill meat on the Fourth? The Declaration was technically agreed to on that day, and the copies distributed throughout the colonies were dated July 4, 1776.

As a result, that was the date that stuck in people's minds.



The Revolutionary War was all about the American colonies and England

As any American student can tell you, Independence Day in a nutshell was the rebellious, teen-aged colonies finally having it out with their overbearing mother country. And France helped too.

It's probably more helpful to look at the war through the lens of the power struggle between France and England. The Revolution was, in many ways, more of an episode in their drama, as opposed to an earth-shaking event, in and of itself.

The Revolution took place on the heels of the French and Indian War — one of the theaters of the Seven Years' War between the two European powers.

That North American clash provided a prelude to the Revolution, launching George Washington's military career and prompting a victorious but cash-strapped England to raise taxes on its colonies.

France's eventual decision to dive into the fight on the side of the colonists was a chance for payback.

That being said, it's understandable why the American Revolution is a bigger deal in the US than other countries— it is our history, after all. Plus, it's probably fair to say that the rebellion, along with the spread of the Enlightenment, sparked future global changes, including the French Revolution.



The Liberty Bell cracked on Independence Day

The Declaration of Independence and the Liberty Bell are forever tied together in the popular imagination.

You see, after the colonies declared independence, the citizens of Philadelphia partied so hard that they cracked the bell, which was first made in 1751.

While it's a great story, this tale is total nonsense. First of all, the official announcement about the Declaration didn't go out until July 8.

"On that day, lots of bells were rung to celebrate public readings of the Declaration, and the Liberty Bell was probably one of them," writes historian Joseph Coohill — who blogs about historical myths under the name Professor Buzzkill.

We have no way of knowing for sure, though, since the state house steeple in which the bell was housed was kind of falling apart and under repair at the time, according to the Independence Hall Association.



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11 fun, free places to watch Fourth of July fireworks in New York City

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Fireworks July 4 Independence Day New York City

You can't beat celebrating Independence Day in New York City.

On Tuesday, the annual Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks will mark its 41st celebration. The event is set start at about 9:20 p.m. ET and last 25 minutes, according to Pix 11 News.

The pyrotechnic displays will be a bit different this year — the five barges launching the fireworks will be positioned on the East River off Manhattan between 24th and 41st streets, meaning they will no longer be visible from Brooklyn Bridge Park, which had been a hotspot for viewing the Fourth of July fireworks. Plus, because of the government shutdown in New Jersey, the Garden State's celebrations have been thrown off.

If you don't want to watch the Macy's show, you have other options, such as Coney Island's Fourth of July celebration and Jersey City's fireworks festival at Exchange Place.

Most shows start at about 9 p.m., but it's suggested that people arrive earlier to secure a good viewing spot. If you're unsure whether your chosen park is open, you can give 311 a call the day of your preferred show to verify.

That said, here are some great, free places where you can catch the fireworks this Fourth of July:

SEE ALSO: 7 things successful people do the night before a vacation

Macy's lists the intersection of 42nd Street and FDR Drive as an official viewing spot.



It's a convenient location if you want to stay in midtown.

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The folks at 34th Street and FDR Drive may have the best seat in the house. According to Macy's, onlookers here will be positioned "almost directly in front of the barges."



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The terrifying amount of calories, fat, and sodium consumed at the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest

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joey chestnut hot dog eating

The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, held in Coney Island every Fourth of July, is (perhaps regrettably) an American staple.

Over a dozen participants scarf down as many Nathan's Famous franks and buns in 10 minutes as they possibly can. Last year's winner, Matt Stonie, unseated the eight-time defending champion Joey "Jaws" Chestnut by eating 62 hot dogs and buns (HDB, in contest parlance).

However, Stonie still fell short of the all-time record Chestnut set in 2013: 69 HDB.

To get a sense of the impact that gustatory meteor leaves on the body, we plugged the contest's menu into the mathematical search engine Wolfram Alpha. Optimistically, we entered 69 HDB and let Wolfram Alpha add up all the calories, grams of fat, and (yes) vitamin and minerals.

Here's what the winner will likely consume:

hot dog contest nutrition info

On the bright side, the contestants won't eat any trans fats. On the other hand, someone who eats 69 HDB will consume nearly 19,000 calories, 2.2 pounds of fat, 276 grams of sugar, and 43 grams of sodium. That's about 10 days worth of nutrition in 10 minutes.

The hot dog eaters will also put away 690 grams of protein and 700% of their daily recommended calcium intake — though those are small consolations given the inevitable acid reflux.

In reality, competitive eaters train their bodies year-round to handle this kind of stress, and their stomachs are generally acclimated to expanding well past the normal limits. Physically, these eaters tend to be on the leaner side, since any excess body fat hinders how far the stomach can expand.

Given that they'll consume about the same number of hot dogs the average American eats in a year, they need all the room they can get.

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about the 100-year anniversary of Nathan's hot dog eating contest

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NOW WATCH: We did a blind taste test of fast-food hot dogs — the winner blew us away

14 photos that show the complicated relationship between the US presidents and the media

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The US president's relationship with the press has long been a complicated one, and it has varied from administration to administration. To name just a few examples, President Lyndon B. Johnson attempted to thwart certain stories from going to press, while President Gerald Ford was friendly with journalists and even invited some to White House state dinners. 

The Associated Press has been documenting the lives of presidents since the early 1930s, capturing candid moments of each commander-in-chief since President Franklin D. Roosevelt.  

From press briefings to interviews aboard Air Force One, here are 14 AP photos of presidents interacting with the press.

SEE ALSO: Here's everything we know about Trump's 26-year-old personal assistant

President Franklin D. Roosevelt would invite members of the press into the Oval Office for briefings twice a week.

Source: The New York Times



Press briefings don't come to a halt while the president is on vacation. Here, Harry S. Truman had the press visit his Winter White House in Key West, Florida.



It was President Dwight D. Eisenhower's press secretary, James Haggerty, that established some still-standing traditions between the president and the press, like regularly scheduled news conferences.

Source: The New York Times



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