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Millennials are dragging down beer sales — but Gen Z marks a 'turning point' that will cause an even bigger problem for the industry

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college drinking spring break

  • Generation Z is the first generation to prefer other types of alcohol to beer, according to a new report. 
  • The generation is also drinking less alcohol in general — in part because they don't think drinking is "cool" anymore. 
  • Millennials kicked off beer's downward spiral.


While millennials have been blamed for beer's downward spirals, it seems that the next generation may be even worse news for the industry. 

A report from Berenberg Research found that Gen Z prefer drinks like vodka, gin, and wine to beer. 

"Generation Z marks a turning point, being the first generation to prefer spirits to beer," analysts led by Javier Gonzalez Lastra wrote in the report. 

While the exact year dividing Gen Z from millennials can be murky, Berenberg surveyed more than 6,000 16- to 22- year-olds across the US to determine the generation's approach to drinking. 

beer draught full hands

Like millennials, the younger generation seems to appreciate the options and perceived quality of other options. Meanwhile, it sees beer — especially certain Big Beer brands — as inauthentic and unappealing. 

Beer companies have also historically focused advertising to white men. This strategy is now backfiring, as women of all races, as well as Black and Hispanic men, are now drinking more alcohol compared to earlier generations. As a result, beer industry giants are scrambling to win over customers they historically ignored. 

Further, Gen Z is drinking less alcohol than the generations before them.

Berenberg found that respondents in their teens and early twenties are already drinking over 20% less per capita than millennials did at the same age. And 64% of Gen Z respondents said that, as they grow older, they expected to drink alcohol less frequently than older generations currently do. 

Gen Z respondents said they drink less because of health and hangover-related concerns, as well as worries about being judged by friends or parents, according to Berenberg analysts. Plus, 16- to 22-year-olds apparently just don't think drinking is that cool anymore. 

"Twenty years of anti-drug, anti-smoking and anti-alcohol education has done its job: it is no longer 'uncool' to not drink or take drugs," Berenberg analysts wrote in a previous beverage industry report, published in September. 

While that may be good news for Gen Z's long-term health, it's bad news for the beer industry. 

Beer penetration fell 1 percentage point in the US market from 2016 to 2017, while both wine and spirits were unmoved, according to Nielsen data. Beer already lost 10% of market share to wine and hard liquor from 2006 to 2016.

SEE ALSO: End of an era: Millennials brought about the downfall of one of America's most iconic beer brands

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NOW WATCH: The healthiest things you can get at McDonald's


Jimmy Kimmel explains his reaction to Fergie's 'unusually sultry' rendition of the National Anthem

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Fergie Allen Berezovsky Getty

  • Fergie gave a unique rendition of the National Anthem at the NBA All-Star game on Sunday.
  • It instantly went viral in part because of the reactions by the players and Jimmy Kimmel, who were all caught on-camera holding back laughs and smiles.
  • Kimmel explained why he was smiling during the song on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" Tuesday.


To kick off Sunday's NBA All-Star Game, singer Fergie had the honor of singing the National Anthem. But her unique rendition didn't go the way she planned, and it instantly went viral.

A big reason for it becoming an internet sensation was because of the reaction of the players and Jimmy Kimmel, who were all caught holding back smiles and laughs while Fergie belted out a sensual rendition of the anthem.

Jimmy Kimmel Nation Anthem NBA All Star ABCOn Tuesday's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," the late-night host explained why he was smiling during what he described as, an "unusually sultry" version of the song.

"The reason I was smiling is because I love the National Anthem so much," he jokingly told his audience. "That’s the face I make."

Kimmel went on to say, "I didn’t realize I was on camera, then my phone started buzzing and texting."

Fergie has released a statement saying, "I've always been honored and proud to perform the National Anthem and last night I wanted to try something special for the NBA. I'm a risk taker artistically, but clearly this rendition didn't strike the intended tone. I love this country and honestly tried my best."

"Here’s the thing about taking risks," said Kimmel Tuesday night, who noted that the singer didn't intentionally try to ruin the song. "When it comes to the National Anthem — don’t. Don’t take risks when you’re doing brain surgery, don’t take risks when you’re driving a school bus or singing the National Anthem. Just regular is fine."

Kimmel added, however: "In Fergie’s defense, we don’t know what Francis Scott Key was thinking when he wrote 'The Star-Spangled Banner,' maybe he wanted it to be sexy."

Here's Kimmel talking about being part Fergie's viral moment:

SEE ALSO: The 25 best supervillains of all time, ranked

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NOW WATCH: You can connect all 9 Best Picture Oscar nominees with actors they have in common — here's how

Meghan Markle's and Kate Middleton's fashion choices can lead to huge spikes in sales — here are 13 brands they love

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Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle

  • Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle are both fashion icons, and almost everything they wear immediately sells out online.
  • Middleton tends to have a more traditional sense of style, while Markle's clothes are more trendy. 
  • Some of their favorite brands include Line The Label, Stella McCartney, and Jenny Packham.


When Kate Middleton or Meghan Markle wear something, it sells out almost immediately. 

The so-called "Kate Effect" and "Meghan Effect" have had drastic effects on the brands they wear, launching them into popularity and immediately selling out styles online. Middleton's and Markle's stardom also contributes significantly to the British economy, with Brand Finance estimating that Markle's joining the royal family this year could bring an $677 million (£500 million) boost in the form of tourism, parties, and memorabilia sales, Forbes reported. Middleton's fashion-icon status contributed an estimated $205 million to the economy in 2015.

While Middleton opts for a more traditional wardrobe, Markle tends to be more trendy in her choices, though they both wear a mix of over-the-top expensive and surprisingly affordable clothes

Keep scrolling to see some of the brands that Middleton and Markle love:

SEE ALSO: Meghan Markle just proved her dominance over Kate Middleton, to the tune of $677 million

Line The Label

Markle wore this $750 white coat from Canadian brand Line The Label, which sold out and crashed the brand's website minutes after photos of her wearing it were released.  The label's president has decided to rename the coat "The Meghan" in her honor. The P.A.R.O.S.H. dress and Aquazzara shoes she wore also sold out and were renamed almost immediately.



Victoria Beckham

After Markle wore this sweater from the Victoria Beckham collection, which is available at Nordstrom, it sold out nearly immediately online.



Strathberry

This Strathberry bag sold out onlineseconds after Markle was seen carrying it. It has since been renamed "The Meghan."



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'Black Panther' villain Erik Killmonger is so compelling that #KillmongerWasRight was trending on Twitter

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Black Panther

  • The "Black Panther" character Erik Killmonger is such a compelling villain that #KillmongerWasRight was trending on Twitter after the film's release.
  • Many Twitter users expressed sympathy with Killmonger's argument.

 

Michael B. Jordan's turn as the "Black Panther" villain Erik Killmonger has earned praise from critics and fans alike as one of the most compelling supervillain performances in movie history since the film's release last week.

What makes the plight of Killmonger so compelling for both critics and fans is the strength of his argument despite his violent methods. And the strength of Michael B. Jordan's sympathetic performance as the character is also a major factor, as Business Insider's Jason Guerrasio noted in his review of the film.

Many fans of the film have thus taken to Twitter after seeing "Black Panther" to voice their agreement with Killmonger's argument against the seclusion of the film's fictional African nation Wakanda, which is rich with resources and the precious metal Vibranium.

Here are some of the best #KillmongerWasRight tweets:

 

Many Twitter users that tweeted #KillmongerWasRight also disagreed with the character's approach.

 

However, Jordan's performance is just one factor in an exceptional film that has taken the country and world by storm. "Black Panther" scored the second-highest four-day opening in US history with $242 million earned domestically, and it stands at a 97% "Fresh" rating on the reviews aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. 

SEE ALSO: The 25 best movie supervillains of all time, ranked

Join the conversation about this story »

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I drove a $40,000 Buick Regal TourX station wagon for a week — and it was just as good as most family SUVs (GM)

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Buick Regal TourX

  • Buick has expanded its lineup with a wagon.
  • The Regal TourX is a capable family hauler that has way more style than an SUV.
  • Performance and tech are also strong points.


I grew up in a Buick station wagon — an Estate wagon, to be precise. It was the large-and-in-charge suburban family hauler before SUV sent wagons into near-extinction, leaving surviving examples to be gently nurtured by car writers with a thing for sedan handling and decent cargo capacity.

One can still find wagons for sale, even as full-size SUVs and compact crossovers dominate the US markets. The Subaru Outback will probably never vanish from this realm, and Volvo's V90 is a nice, big wagon that we enjoyed when we tested it last year. The Volvo V60 Cross Country and Audi Allroad are also in the fight.

Buick Estate Wagon

Enter the Buick Regal TourX, an unlikely new combatant in the, um, wagon wars. Buick is certainly well known for its popular crossovers. The Enclave, Envision, and Encore saved the brand, and the Regal GS sedan is a great sleeper sporty four-door. 

And now, a wagon joins the party. It's actually a proper European estate (that's what they call wagons across the pond — they call sedans "saloons," too, those nutty Euros), sharing a platform with the Opel Insignia. Buick let us borrow a 2018 TourX with all-wheel-drive in the "Essence" upmarket trim level, tipping the price scales with numerous options at just north of $40,000.

I drove it around the Manhattan island and through the 'burbs of New Jersey for a week. And a good week it was. 

Buick Regal TourX

Normally, I'd start with the Buick tri-shield badge and work my way back, but this time around, we'll begin with the almost comically capacious cargo area. Drop the rear seats and you have a small pickup truck, with over 70 cubic feet of space. With the rear seats up, the area is still vast, at over 30 cubic feet. I have the hauling needs that three children, one wife, and one dog create, and I couldn't come up with anything the TourX couldn't handle. 

Buick argues that the low-slung wagon will be superior for sporting-lifestyle duty than a higher-riding crossover. Mount a roof rack and you'll be better able to hoist bikes, skis, etc. on and off. Makes sense, but the TourX isn't exactly a rugged-looking ride. Truthfully, its elegance and chic evoke Buicks of yore, with sleek surfaces and pleasing curves here and there. Our tester was stunning in a Smoked Peal Metallic paint job, with a Shale leather interior.

Buick Regal TourX

The 250-horsepower, turbocharged four-banger can propel the Buick wagon from o-60 mph in about 6.5 seconds, while the eight-speed automatic helps post 24 mpg combined (21 city/29 highway). An auto shutdown/restart at idle might annoy some drivers, as it can't be deactivated. But it bumps up fuel economy and reduces emissions. For a vehicle of decent size, the TourX offers moderately crisp handling and some pep off the line, as well as steady and quiet freeway cruising with ample passing power. 

You could give the TourX a push and it would probably respond happily, but its natural desire is to be smoothly piloted with one-hand on the wheel, just like it's 1978 again.

Buick Regal TourX

Tech-wise, the TourX is like almost every other vehicle in the General Motors fleet. The Intellilink skinning of GM's excellent infotainment system runs off responsive touchscreen that while not large isn't dinky, either. Bluetooth connections are a snap, and with OnStar 4G LTE wifi connectivity on board, you can run seven devices without sucking any wireless data from your plan. You have AUX and USB ports for devices, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and in the case of my tester, a tasty Bose audio system with SiriusXM satellite radio. 

My final impression of the TourX is that it's a great option for stylish suburbanites who will like the cargo capacity and the big back seat for kids. This demographic is suppose to buy SUVs, but if you don't like to ride high and truck-like, then wagons continue to be a dandy alternative. And with the Buick Regal TourX, you have a handsome newcomer that's as suited to a night on the town as it is for runs to the beach or the lake. 

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Ryan Reynolds just bought a gin company he called 'the best on the planet' — but his email reply to us makes it seem like a joke

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RYAN reynolds 1 (small file)

  • Actor Ryan Reynolds is now the owner and chairman of American drinks brand Aviation Gin.
  • The company told Business Insider Reynolds will "play an active leadership role in the business and creative direction."
  • However, an automated email reply from Reynolds suggests the actor is more likely to sit around being photographed and drinking gin.


Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds is well known for his roles in the likes of Deadpool and The Proposal, and for frequently making headlines for his hilarious relationship with his actress wife Blake Lively.

What you may not know is he's also the owner of a gin company.

The actor announced today that he is now the official owner and chairman of Aviation Gin, owned by Davos Brands — and it all came about after he tried the gin for the first time, declared it the "best-tasting gin in the world," and decided to invest.

Aviation, which was founded in Portland, Oregon, is one of the world's best-rated gins, according to data from Wine Enthusiast, a drinks magazine. The company told Business Insider that it sold around 25,000 cases in 2017.

It claims to have a "much smoother, easier drinking flavor than typical London Dry gins."

"Once I tried it, I knew I wanted to get involved with the company in a big way," Reynolds said. "If you think all gin tastes the same, you’d be mistaken. Aviation is in a completely different league and I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of the company."

The company told Business Insider that as owner and chairman, Reynolds "will play an active leadership role in the business and creative direction of the Aviation Gin brand."

However, his public statements so far suggest that this might be less hands-on than this suggests.

Reynolds is hardly the first celebrity to jump on the liquor bandwagon, with the likes of Drake, Jay-Z, and P.Diddy also buying into booze brands.

Last year, George Clooney's Casamigos tequila company sold for $1 billion to drinks giant Diageo— so it's easy to see the appeal.

When we dropped the new gin owner an email to hear more about the deal, we, understandably, received an automated reply.

In the message, Reynolds joked that he doesn't have a desk or an assistant, and is likely to spend his days being photographed, and drinking gin.

He also added: "I don’t know whose idea it was to allow me into the gin business, but I can assure you, there are smarter, more reasonable people in charge."

Here's the email reply in full:

Thank you for your email and interest in Aviation American Gin! I’m away from my desk at the moment but will respond the moment they give me a desk.

About a year ago, I tried Aviation for the first time. Since that day, I’ve spent my time finding some way to infiltrate the company. I did this for one simple reason:  It’s the best damn gin on the planet. Period.

My responsibilities here at the company are vast. I’ll spend my days being photographed intermittently clinching my jaw muscles while pointing at things and nodding. I’ll drink Aviation Gin. I’ll sit in board meetings, imagining my very own Red Wedding.

I don’t know whose idea it was to allow me into the gin business, but I can assure you, there are smarter, more reasonable people in charge.

Thank you again for your email... If the matter is urgent, please contact my secretary, Bruce, who’ll respond the moment I get a secretary named, Bruce.

His tweets about the brand were equally light-hearted.

It's possible that he's controlling the Aviation Gin Twitter account, too, which called him a "professional goodlooking person."

Whatever his involvement, it'll be interesting to see if it works as well for him as it did for Clooney.

SEE ALSO: George Clooney's tequila company just sold for $1 billion — here's the story of how it was set up by accident

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: You can connect all 9 Best Picture Oscar nominees with actors they have in common — here's how

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

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McDonald's Egg McMuffin Breakfast Sandwich 6

  • The egg sandwich is an integral part of any fast-food breakfast menu.
  • Every chain has their own special takes on it, especially the "Big Three" chains: McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's. 
  • We taste-tested each chain's egg breakfast sandwiches to find out which is the best — and in the end, we were surprised by what we found. 


Egg, cheese, and bacon or sausage: the classic breakfast sandwich. It's ubiquitous, yet the simple breakfast sandwich enjoys eternal popularity.

And with breakfast habits changing, breakfast sandwiches on-the-go have become all the more popular. 

But of all the national chains, who makes the best classic sandwich?

I tried the egg, cheese, and meat iterations from three major fast-food chains — Burger King, McDonald's, and Wendy's — to see which one comes out on top. At the end of the test, the winner surprised us all — and it gives a huge incentive for a huge chain to step up its breakfast game. 

SEE ALSO: We ranked everything on McDonald's All Day Breakfast menu from worst to best — here's the final verdict

ALSO READ: A Mediterranean fast-casual chain that people are obsessed with is planning to take over America — here's what it's like

The Big Three all serve some version of the sandwich; at first glance, the only difference seems to be the bread.



Let's dive into Burger King's Supreme breakfast sandwich. It's a breakfast limousine wreck of two eggs, two sausages, and two servings of bacon topped with cheese and served in a "toasted hoagie bun," which appears to be crushed in a car compactor before serving.

Source: Burger King



If this is a toasted hoagie bun, I don't know what a hoagie is. It's an elongated hamburger bun with all the sogginess and disappointment that buns are heir to — a bun to be wished away. The sickly yellow egg is gelatinous and tastes of complete nothingness. With fast-food sausage and bacon all in one sandwich, the entire thing comes off as incredibly salty. I didn't finish this one.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Science says you may be drawn to people who look like your parents — here are 9 face traits that can make someone more attractive

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attractive face

It's sometimes hard to pinpoint exactly what it is that attracts us to someone. It might be their confidence, or their sense of humour, or you might just like the way they look.

A lot of research over the years has gone into trying to work out what it is that makes us fancy each other. Results have varied, showing women may like the smell of men who have a particular kind of diet, and men may find women in groups more attractive.

Some research has suggested we often go for people who share some of the same characteristics we do.

We've looked at a number of a studies to try and get to the bottom of what makes us like the look of one person over another.

Here are 9 face traits that can make someone more attractive to us, according to science.

SEE ALSO: Love and obsession are two different things — here's how to tell them apart

1. Symmetry

Studies such as this one published in the Journal of Comparative Psychology, and this one published in the Journal of Evolution & Human Behaviour, have shown that in experimental conditions, men and women both prefer faces that are more symmetrical.

A study on identical twins found that the twin with a more symmetrical face was considered more attractive. Even macaque monkeys have been observed gazing longer at symmetrical faces than asymmetrical ones.

One conclusion scientists have reached to explain this is that in evolutionary terms, we may consider a symmetrical face a result of good health. Having a face that developed in a symmetrical way could show you have "good genes," because you developed more successfully in the face of environmental pressures when you were in the womb.

However, in 2014, research from Brunel University in London compared facial symmetry of about 5,000 teenagers, and found there was no correlation between symmetry and overall health.



2. Asymmetry

It's not an absolute rule, though. In fact, you can probably think of many celebrities you fancy who don't have symmetrical faces at all. Sometimes, like in the case of Milo Ventimiglia, a crooked smile is what adds to someone's charm.

In fact, absolute symmetry can make people look pretty weird. When attractive celebrities' faces are made to look symmetrical, they don't look quite right.



3. Averageness

People tend to like faces that are distinctly average, or those that resemble others in the general population.

In 1878, a paper in Nature first noted that a bunch of faces blended together was considered more attractive than those on their own.

One study, published in the journal Human Nature, argued it could be because average faces represent a more diverse set of genes, which is often a genetic advantage in fighting off illnesses and parasites.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

'4-Hour Workweek' author Tim Ferriss follows a strict morning routine to maximize productivity — and after a week on his schedule, I can see why it works

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Lead image tim shana

  • Tim Ferriss follows a strict — and elaborate — morning routine.
  • I tried the routine for a single work week and found that it was energizing, though it was somewhat challenging to start the work day after 11 a.m.
  • I also learned the importance of taking care of yourself, whether you do it before or after work.


Tim Ferriss' morning routine is long. If you're the kind of person who needs to ease into the day (my hand is raised), his schedule is probably for you.

Ferriss is the bestselling author of "The 4-Hour Workweek," a podcast host, an entrepreneur, and an investor.

I followed Ferriss' routine for a single work week and found that, while pushing back my schedule several hours so I could drink tea and meditate was a challenge, I felt pretty great. Plus, it beats waking up at 5:30 a.m. a la Donald Trump, whose daily routine I'd tried two weeks prior.

Throughout this experiment, I kept a running log of what I loved — and loathed — about the routine. Here's what I learned:

SEE ALSO: Tim Ferriss follows the same routine every morning to maximize his productivity

Ferriss' routine

Ferriss has written before about how he wakes up and goes to bed later than most people. He confirmed in an email that generally, he wakes up around 9 or 10 a.m.

My colleague Richard Feloni had already reported on Ferriss' morning routine, which I've summarized briefly below:

  • He makes his bed.
  • He meditates for 20 minutes.
  • He drinks strong tea.
  • He journals for five to 10 minutes.
  • He eats a small breakfast.
  • He exercises for 20-90 minutes.


My new routine

I made some tweaks to the steps above, so my new, Ferriss-inspired morning routine looked like this:

  • I woke up naturally, which typically ended up being between 7:30 and 8 a.m.
  • I made my bed.
  • I meditated for 5-10 minutes.
  • I drank strong tea.
  • I journaled for 10 minutes.
  • I practiced yoga for 20 minutes.
  • I ate breakfast.

For the purposes of getting to the office before everyone else had left for the day, I curtailed some of the morning activities, like meditating and exercising. (Also, to be quiet honest, 20 minutes of meditation sounded like torture.)

I also switched the order of eating breakfast and exercising, so as not to down-dog on a full stomach.



Day 1: Wednesday

In a moment of absentmindedness, I'd set my alarm for 7 a.m. the night before. When I woke up and remembered I was on Ferriss time (nice!), I turned off the alarm and went back to sleep for another hour or so.

After wake-up round two, I promptly made my bed and tidied up the bedroom. The next step — the one I was dreading — was meditation. It had been years since I'd had a regular meditation practice, and even then, I'd found it frustrating and surprisingly exhausting.

Ferriss uses the Headspace app, which offers guided meditations, and I'd used the same app years ago. This time around, I simply set my iPhone timer for five minutes, plopped down on the couch, closed my eyes, and breathed.

Five minutes flew by. Perhaps I was feeling especially calm that morning, but I found it easier than I remembered to concentrate on my breath and to resist the tugging of thoughts and worries.

I prepared some green tea and pulled out a notebook to journal. Here again, I diverged slightly from Ferriss' routine. He uses either the 5-Minute Journal or Morning Pages— I stuck with free-form writing, which proved surprisingly cathartic.

At this point, I looked up and realized it was almost 9 a.m. I frantically messaged my editor letting her know I'd be in late, around 10:30 a.m. — an estimate that turned out to be off by almost an hour because I'd forgotten to take into account the time it took to shower and dress.



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We drove the $65,000 Audi S5 Coupe — and it's pretty much flawless

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Audi S5 2018

  • The second generation Audi A5 Coupe is all new for 2018.
  • The A5 shares a platform with the highly touted A4 sedan.
  • Business Insider had a chance to test out a sportier version of the A5 Coupe called the S5.
  • The 2018 A5 starts at $42,800 while our S5 Coupe test car cost $64,750.

In late 2016, Audi dropped off a brand new 2017 A4 sedan for Business Insider to check out.

After just a week behind the wheel, it became apparent that the current fifth generation A4 is, without a doubt, the most exquisitely executed sedan ever to emerge from the Ingolstadt, Germany-based automaker.

The A4's solid driving dynamics, handsome styling, state-of-the-art tech, and luxurious cabin blew us away.

We liked the A4 so much that it finished second only to the Acura NSX for our 2016 Car of the Year award.

Fast forward a year or so and Audi is back with the second generation A5 coupe. It's based on the current A4 sedan, but with two fewer doors and a sleeker body.

Recently, we got a chance to experience Audi's new coupe first hand on the roads in and around Atlanta, Georgia.

Our test car turned out to be a sporty S5 variant clad in a striking Daytona Gray Pearl Effect paint job. The A5 and S5 are virtually identical apart from the S5's more powerful engine and a few custom design treatments.

In the marketplace, the S5 is a direct competitor against the BMW 440i xDrive Coupe and the Mercedes-AMG C43 Coupe. 

The 2018 Audi A5 Coupe starts at $42,800 while the mid-grade S5 starts at $54,600. Our option heavy 2018 Audi S5 Coupe 3.0T quattro tiptronic test unit costs $64,750.

SEE ALSO: We drove a $96,000 Porsche Macan Turbo to see if it's worth the price tag — here's the verdict

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The new Audi S5 is the epitome of understated style.

Audi can certainly make an eye-catching machine. The R8 supercar and the RS7 Sportback come to mind. 

But the A5 Coupe and its sportier sibling, the S5, don't fall into that category. Like the A4 sedan on which they are based, the A5/S5 are restrained in their styling. 

Don't get me wrong, our S5 test car was exceedingly pretty. But it doesn't wow you or blow you away with its looks. Instead, it requires a closer examination of its subtle lines to fully appreciate the intricacies of its design. 

Under the sculpted sheet metal, the A4 sedan and the S5 both share VW Group's well regarded MLB Evo platform. The same platform also underpins the Audi Q7 and Bentley Bentayga SUVs. 

However, the S5 is more than just an A4 with two doors lopped off. Instead, Audi gave it bespoke sheet metal that allows the coupe to stand apart from its corporate sibling. 



The S5's interior delivers the quality and style expected of an Audi.

In recent years, Audi interiors have been an exercise in minimalist chic. It's a design aesthetic that we've come to appreciate here at Business Insider. 

The understated feel of the S5's exterior continues inside the cabin. It's attractive and luxurious without verging on the tacky and overdone. The material quality is also excellent. We were particularly impressed by the Fine Nappa leather upholstery and metallic inlays. 

 



The heated, power seating provided the front seat passengers with more than adequate support while its quilted stitching looks simply amazing.



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Netflix's latest addictive drama is 'The Frankenstein Chronicles,' a cult hit that stars 'Game of Thrones' actor Sean Bean

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frankenstein chronicles

  • Netflix's latest foreign find, the UK cult hit "The Frankenstein Chronicles," is a binge-worthy detective drama that stars "Game of Thrones" actor Sean Bean.
  • Netflix released its first two six-episode seasons to US and global audiences on Monday.

 

Netflix has found yet another great foreign series in the UK cult hit "The Frankenstein Chronicles," which the streaming service released the first two seasons of on Monday for US and global audiences.

Set in London in 1827, "The Frankenstein Chronicles" follows detective John Marlott (played by "Game of Thrones" star Sean Bean) as he tracks down a killer who combined the bodies of eight missing children. 

The show's plot parallels Mary Shelley's classic 1818 novel "Frankenstein," but it's more a reimagining of that story than an adaption of it.

Its first two six-episode seasons aired on ITV's now-defunct Encore channel.

Netflix's decision to pick up the series globally and label it a "Netflix Original" has some criticsspeculating that the service could carry the series for subsequent seasons if it performs well.

"The Frankenstein Chronicles" has yet to find much traction with US critics a few days after its domestic release, but the series has earned consistent praise in the UK.

The Telegraph called it "bold, eerily effective and chillingly atmospheric," and The Guardian labeled it a "genuinely rather good" series that "offers real rare shivers."

Watch the first two seasons on Netflix.

SEE ALSO: Netflix's binge-worthy series 'Babylon Berlin' is a decadent and dark crime series set in pre-Nazi Germany

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: You can connect all 9 Best Picture Oscar nominees with actors they have in common — here's how

Gucci models carried replicas of their own heads in a terrifying runway show — and people are freaking out

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gucci heads

  • Gucci's Fall/Winter 2018-2019 collection was unveiled at Milan Fashion Week on Wednesday.
  • During the show, models hit the runway carrying severed heads that were identical replicas of their own.
  • These heads reportedly took six months to create.

 

Gucci lost its head at Milan Fashion Week. 

On Wednesday, the brand released its Fall/Winter 2018-2019 collection, produced under the creative direction of Alessandro Michele.

Michele pulled out all the stops, sending some of the models down the runway carrying severed heads that were exact replicas of their own. 

These heads reportedly took six months to create and were made using molds from the models' heads, according to Vogue. They were designed by techno-artisans in a factory in Rome. The Gucci runway had been designed to look like an operating room. 

Some people seemed to love it, though they were definitely confused.

"Gucci severed heads... yeah I love it," one commenter wrote on Twitter

@gucci is next level #schmoood 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

A post shared by Marc Goehring (@marcgoehring) on Feb 21, 2018 at 6:41am PST on

Others said they were a little freaked out.

Gucci's show contained a few other mysterious elements, including models carrying chameleons, snakes, and what appeared to be a baby dragon. 

SEE ALSO: Gucci just opened a luxurious complex complete with a boutique and a restaurant run by a three-Michelin-starred chef

Join the conversation about this story »

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

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

  • The Waltons are the richest family in America. 
  • They have a combined wealth of $133 billion, according to Bloomberg.
  • In public, they live a pretty modest life. This is 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 $133 billion, which is more than Jeff BezosBill Gates and Warren Buffett. In fact, they are worth about $33 billion more than the second richest family in the US, the Kochs. 

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

There's a knockoff Dunkin' Donuts chain called Duffin Dagels — and it's hilariously similar to the real thing

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duffin dagels

  • Duffin Dagels is a Spanish knockoff of Dunkin' Donuts, and it's strikingly similar to the international chain.
  • Duffin Dagels is almost exactly the same as Dunkin' Donuts, serving many of the same menu items under different names.
  • There are multiple Duffin Dagels locations across Spain, but it's not to be confused with Dunkin' Coffee, which is an actual Dunkin' Donuts brand.  

 

In Spain, you won't find a traditional Dunkin' Donuts store — instead, in many places, you'll find Duffin Dagels. 

Despite having no association to the actual Dunkin' Donuts brand, Duffin Dagels looks nearly identical to Dunkin' Donuts, inside and out. Both use a bright orange-and-pink color scheme, with very similar logos and nearly identical store designs. The menus, product names, websites, and social media pages are also nearly exact replicas of each other — at first glance, it's easy to think Duffin Dagels is the real deal. 

Dunkin' Donuts does have some stores in Spain, but the name for the brand's Spanish outposts was changed to Dunkin' Coffee in 2007 because it was more in line with the chain's business plan, according to Dunkin' Brands

Scroll down to see what it's like inside a typical Duffin Dagels store: 

SEE ALSO: 14 of the craziest knockoff fast-food chains from around the world

At first glance, Duffin Dagels is easily mistaken for Dunkin' Donuts.

Instagram Embed:
http://instagram.com/p/4yfl22Pnns/embed/
Width: 658px

 



It's not to be confused with the Spanish chain Dunkin' Coffee, which is actually a Dunkin' brand.

Instagram Embed:
http://instagram.com/p/BCfdtRmqOK-/embed/
Width: 658px

Source: Dunkin' Coffee



A Duffin Dagels storefront looks eerily similar to a Dunkin' Donuts storefront.

Instagram Embed:
http://instagram.com/p/pdeALWuqhF/embed/
Width: 658px

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

How to figure out if you have a cold or the flu — and the best way to treat it

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sick woman working at home in bed contagious

  • The symptoms of a cold and the flu can often look similar, but there are some key differences.
  • Seasonal allergies are a third variable to consider.
  • The only way to get properly diagnosed is with a doctor's visit. Knowing what you have can help determine the best treatment.


It can start with a sniffle. But before your symptoms turn into full-blown illness, you want to know: is it a cold or the flu?

Both illnesses can share a variety of symptoms. They're also both caused by viruses. And, of course, there's a third potential culprit to consider: allergies.

Most diagnostic detective work is best left to a doctor. But in the meantime, there are a few variables to consider that can help you narrow in on the cause of your illness.

The chief symptom of a cold is a stuffy or runny nose

If your nose feels stuffed or runny — but not itchy — and you don't have a fever, it's likely that you've been hit by a cold. Paying attention to the time of year is helpful, too. During the fall, roughly 75% of all circulating viruses are rhinoviruses, the most common cause of colds.

Here's the good news: most colds only last three to seven days, though symptoms can linger for another week or so.

To start feeling better, avoid stocking up on vitamin C supplements, which studies suggest won't do much for your symptoms. Instead, try a zinc lozenge — some research indicates zinc may help shorten the duration of a cold by interfering with the way rhinoviruses replicate.

sick woman on train contagious

If it's allergies, you'll probably be itchy and sneezy

Seasonal allergies, which typically crop up in the spring and summer, are also accompanied by nasal symptoms, but they differ in several key ways from those that characterize a cold, according to the National Institutes of Health. You'll usually have an itchy — as opposed to a runny — nose, and your eyes will likely feel scratchy too. You'll also probably be sneezing.

Your doctor can tell you if you suffer from an allergy and prescribe the right treatment for you. If you're suffering from allergies, symptoms can last as long as whatever allergen triggering them remains in the air, which can be more than a month.

The flu is the worst of the three

Flu season strikes from late fall to late winter, typically peaking in February. The first thing you should do if you suspect you've come down with the flu is to take your temperature. Most flu cases are accompanied by a fever of more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Flu sufferers also typically experience body aches, coughs, and extreme tiredness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In people who are especially vulnerable, like older people, children, and individuals with weakened immune systems, the virus can also cause serious complications like pneumonia.

The flu can stick around in your system for longer than a cold, with symptoms like fatigue persisting up to three weeks. Individuals infected with the flu can pass it to anyone within 6 feet, and only stop being contagious once they've been fever-free for a full 24 hours (without the help of medication). 

If you're already sick with the flu, make sure you rest, since sleep is key to a properly functioning immune system, and keep an eye on your symptoms to be sure you don't develop more severe complications. 

If you're not sick yet, the best defense against the virus is the flu shot. Getting vaccinated can also make the flu less miserable if you do get it.

Lauren Friedman wrote a previous version of this story.

SEE ALSO: Here's the only supplement you should take for your cold

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NOW WATCH: When you're sick, staying in bed all day might not be such a good idea


Stop worrying about the period in your Gmail address — Google says it doesn't matter (GOOG, GOOGL)

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google pixel phone

  • Google ignores the periods in your email address.
  • That means johnsmith@gmail.com and john.smith@gmail.com are the same email address.
  • You can use this trick to filter out spammers and companies that sell your email address.

My personal email address is my name at gmail.com. Most of the time, it looks like this: kif.leswing@gmail.com.

But if I end up giving you kifleswing@gmail.com, don't worry. I'll still get the email.

In fact, if you're a Gmail user, the periods in your email address don't matter at all. Gmail completely ignores them. You can add or remove as many periods as you'd like. 

Here's how Google explains it on a help page

If someone accidentally adds dots to your address when emailing you, you'll still get that email. For example, if your email is johnsmith@gmail.com, you own all dotted versions of your address:

john.smith@gmail.com
jo.hn.sm.ith@gmail.com
j.o.h.n.s.m.i.t.h@gmail.com

Gmail is one of the few services in which the dot doesn't make any difference in your username. Slate writer Will Oremus previously found that Facebook doesn't care about username dots, either, but nearly every other online services does. 

Also, if your workplace uses Gmail, that doesn't mean you can stick periods in your work email — it only applies to @gmail.com addresses. 

A secret spam address 

Gmail Smart ReplyWhile periods in Gmail usernames can be a fun quirk, they can also be a useful way to sort your inbox and filter what lands there.

Because the dots effectively give you scores of alternate email addresses, you can pick one and make it a defacto spam folder.

For example, if everyone emails me at john.smith@gmail.com, that should remain my main email address. But every time I'm giving my address to someone who might spam me, I give them john.smit.h@gmail.com.

Then, in my gmail, I can create a folder for all mail sent to john.smit.h@gmail.com, and automatically star, or archive, or delete those notes. You can also use extra periods to sign up for a second account on a website without creating or using a new email address. 

This trick also works with the + symbol, which can be used in any email address to create even more alternative addresses. "For example, if your name was hikingfan@gmail.com, you could send mail to hikingfan+friends@gmail.com or hikingfan+mailinglists@gmail.com," Google explains on a help page.

"You can also use this when you register for a service and think they might share your information. For example, I added "+donation" when I gave money to a political organization once, and now when I see emails from other groups to that address, I know how they got it. Solution: filtered to auto-delete," Google continued

So while you don't have to stop telling people about the period in your email address, you should be aware of the superpowers it gives your Gmail account. 

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The NFL is using this football helmet that morphs on impact to reduce head injuries

A mysterious supplement with a viral following has been linked to salmonella

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kratom

  • Kratom is a drug derived from a plant native to Southeast Asia.
  • On Tuesday, the CDC issued a warning that the herbal supplement had been linked to a salmonella outbreak involving 28 people.
  • It's still unclear what is at the root of the outbreak, since only eight out of 11 people interviewed said they had taken the supplement, but the warning is not unusual for the CDC.


A pill that's been credited with delivering super-human strength, feelings of euphoria, powerful pain relief, and better focus has now been linked with salmonella.

Kratom, or Mitragyna speciosa, is a plant in the coffee family that's native to Southeast Asia. When ingested, the drug taps into some of the same brain receptors as opioid painkillers — a finding that prompted the Food and Drug Administration to classify it as an opioid earlier this month.

On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control reported that the herbal supplement had also been tied to 28 cases of salmonella — a bacterial infection from contaminated food or water that typically causes diarrhea and abdominal pain lasting up to a week.

"At this time, CDC recommends that people not consume kratom in any form," the agency wrote in a statement on Tuesday. "The investigation indicates that kratom products could be contaminated with Salmonella and could make people sick."

As with most of its bacterial outbreak warnings, the agency interviewed people reporting symptoms of the infection to try to nail down the cause by asking sick people what foods and beverages they ate in the previous months and if they'd been traveling. Out of 11 people interviewed, eight (roughly 73%) told the CDC they had consumed kratom in pills, powder, or tea.

That means it's still unclear precisely what caused the outbreak, though kratom seems to be a likely culprit.

Salmonella warnings like this from the CDC are not unusual. Just last week, the agency issued one for shredded raw coconut. In that case, 10 (63%) of 16 people interviewed said they had eaten or "maybe eaten" coconut, with eight of those 10 saying they'd eaten a dessert drink made with frozen shredded coconut.

Last month, the CDC sent out a warning about raw sprouts. In interviews the CDC conducted when it was investigating that case, seven people reported eating at the sandwich chain Jimmy John's, and all of them said they'd eaten sandwiches with raw sprouts. 

Kratom is increasingly raising eyebrows

Kratom_Pills

Beyond this recent salmonella outbreak, kratom is becoming a topic of concern across multiple agencies, including the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration, for other reasons.

Kratom has never gained FDA approval and is largely unregulated — meaning that, as with most supplements, it's almost impossible to verify what's actually in "kratom" pills, powders, or teas.

Nevertheless, the supplement is available widely online and was even being sold for a time out of an Arizona vending machine.

In addition to being marketed as a concentration booster and workout enhancer, kratom has been advertised as a replacement for opioid painkillers. It's also sometimes touted as a way to treat addiction to opioids.

Last month, the FDA released a new warning officially classifying the supplement as an opioid based on a series of case reports and computer models.

Those reports loosely connected kratom to 44 deaths, but in all but one case, the people who died were found to have been taking multiple drugs, including other opioids in many cases. That makes definitively labeling kratom as the cause of death impossible.

Still, concern about kratom is mounting, especially because some people appear to be using the supplement as a way to step down from opioid painkillers like heroin and morphine.

"Patients addicted to opioids are using kratom without dependable instructions for use and more importantly, without consultation with a licensed health care provider about the product's dangers, potential side effects or interactions with other drugs," FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb said in a previous statement in November.

While this concern is legitimate, there is no way to know precisely how kratom does — or doesn't — work without rigorous scientific testing, which has not yet been done.

Kratom is banned in Australia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and several US states (Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Tennessee, and Wisconsin). Across the US, several reports of deaths and addiction led the Drug Enforcement Administration to place kratom on its list of "drugs and chemicals of concern." In 2016, the DEA proposed a ban on kratom but backtracked under pressure from some members of Congress and outcry from kratom advocates who said it could help treat opioid addiction.

"I want to be clear on one fact: there are currently no FDA-approved therapeutic uses of kratom," Gottlieb said.

SEE ALSO: A mysterious supplement with a viral following has been officially declared an opioid by the FDA

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Silicon Valley is so expensive, people who make $400,000 think they're middle class — here's what middle class actually is in the 25 largest US cities

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wealthy dinner

  • The middle class is defined by the US government in terms of income.
  • Middle class Americans earned between $39,560 and $118,080 in 2016, according to Pew, but middle class income ranges vary at the state and city levels.
  • Some Silicon Valley residents earning $400,000 consider themselves to be middle class, even though they're far from it.


Residents of Silicon Valley self-identify as middle class, even when their salaries dwarf the true definition.

Middle class in America is defined by Pew as those earning 67% to 200% of the median household income — $39,560 to $118,080 in 2016 — but that number shifts as its broken down by state and even city.

The Palo Alto Weekly, a local paper in Palo Alto, California, asked residents to report their household income and perceived social class. Eighty-one of the 250 respondents with incomes between $10,000 to $399,999 said they were "middle class."

Middle class continues to be a broadly, and often incorrectly, used term even though it is precisely quantified by the federal government. And while the American middle class has been shrinking for decades, a majority of people still consider themselves part of it. In the case of the high-earning Palo Alto residents, they noted the high cost of living as one of the reasons they identified as middle class.

In actuality, the definition of middle class varies depending on where you live. To get a sense of what it looks like in the 25 biggest US cities, Business Insider pulled U.S. Census data from the 2016 American Community Survey for the largest metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). For clarity below, we listed the largest city that makes up the MSA.

Below, find out how much income you have to earn to actually be considered middle class in 25 metro areas, ordered from smallest to largest by population.

SEE ALSO: Silicon Valley is so expensive that people who make $400,000 a year think they are middle-class

DON'T MISS: How much income you have to earn to be considered middle class in every US state

Portland, Oregon: Up to $137,352

• Middle class range: $45,784 - $137,352

• Median income: $68,676

• Metro area population: 2,425,325



San Antonio, Texas: Up to $112,210

• Middle class range: $37,403 - $112,210

• Median income: $56,105

• Metro area population: 2,429,609



Orlando, Florida: Up to $104,770

• Middle class range: $34,923 - $104,770

• Median income: $52,385

• Metro area population: 2,441,257



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The late Billy Graham met every US president since Truman, stayed in the White House on the eve of the Gulf War, and helped Hillary Clinton endure the Monica Lewinsky scandal

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Billy Graham George Bush

• Prominent evangelical Christian and Southern Baptist minister Billy Graham has counseled presidents over the years, from Harry Truman to Barack Obama.

• Graham got along with some presidents more than others.

• The influential minister was particularly close with Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush.



For many, Billy Graham was truly "America's Pastor."

He was certainly one of the most influential American evangelical Christians of the 20th century. He died February 21, 2018 at the age of 99.

The Southern Baptist minister earned this renown thanks to his highly influential preaching. He held massive rallies, and broadcast his sermons using a variety of media, including television, radio, and, eventually, webcasts. His religious zeal and embrace of mass media allowed him to shoot to international prominence in the late 1940s.

Given Graham's fame, it's not surprising that appeared to be a regular presence in the White House over the years. But his circle of connections wasn't limited to the United States. He met with heads of state and prominent individuals from around the world — even Queen Elizabeth II.

During his life, Graham broke boundaries, advocating for Civil Rights, befriending Martin Luther King Jr., and desegregating his "crusades." He also stirred controversy. When taped conversations between Graham and President Richard Nixon were released in 2002 and 2009, it was revealed the minister had made anti-Semitic statements.

Throughout his career, however, Graham exerted influence on the White House and beyond.

Here's a look at his history of rubbing shoulders with some of the most influential people in the world:

SEE ALSO: Evangelist Billy Graham dies at age 99, who went from sermonizing in a swamp to personally preaching to 210 million people worldwide

In 1950, 31-year-old Graham met with Harry Truman to talk about combatting communism in North Korea. But this first presidential encounter didn't end well. Graham shared details of the conversation with the press, and Truman severed their fledgling relationship.

Source: Christian History Institute, "Billy Graham, God's Ambassador: A Celebration of His Life and Ministry"



But Graham got his second chance with Dwight Eisenhower, whom he helped craft an inaugural prayer. During the 1957 Little Rock Crisis, when African American students were prevented from attending Little Rock Central High School, Graham reportedly urged the president to intervene. In later years, the preacher and the president prayed together before the latter's death in 1968.

Source: Politico, Charlotte Observer



Graham didn't just stick to American leaders. In 1955, he met Queen Elizabeth II — an event depicted on the Netflix show "The Crown." He delivered a sermon for her in the royal family's chapel on Easter Sunday. "She is unquestionably one of the best-informed people on world affairs I have ever met," he later wrote in his book "Just As I Am." In 2001, he was given an honorary knighthood.

Source: Telegraph, The Washington Post, "Just As I Am," The Telegraph



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San Francisco's housing market is so dire, people need to make over $300,000 a year to afford the typical home

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painted ladies home tour4; san francisco housing crisis affordability

  • The household income required to buy a typical home in San Francisco is now $303,000, according to a report from Paragon Real Estate.
  • Only 12% of households in the city can afford the median-priced home.
  • The high cost of living is making it harder for tech companies and non-profit organizations to recruit and retain employees in San Francisco.

 

Being part of San Francisco's middle class doesn't mean you can afford middle-class living.

A new report from Paragon Real Estate reveals that the household income now required to buy a median-priced home in San Francisco reached an all-time-high of $303,000 in December.

That means a person who wants to buy property in the city needs a mid-six-figure salary in order to afford the 20% down payment on a $1.5 million home — the median sale price of a single-family home in San Francisco last quarter.

According to Paragon Real Estate, only 12% of households in San Francisco can afford it.

Patrick Carlisle, the chief market analyst at Paragon who worked on thereport, has said low housing affordability is the greatest economic and social issue issue facing the Bay Area.

San Francisco, one of the epicenters of the tech industry, does not have enough dwellings to house all of its workers. Tech companies frequently locate their campuses in areas without much nearby housing, and tech workers often use their high salaries and stock options to bid up home prices.

Even tech workers can't afford to live in the Bay Area

The report was unsurprising but still unsettling for Bay Area residents.

Katherine Maher, executive director of the Wikimedia Foundation, wrote on Twitter, "As a non-profit employer, I cannot see how we reconcile this with a future for our organization in San Francisco."

The non-profit was founded in St. Petersburg, Florida, and moved to San Francisco in 2008. Maher said that fewer than two-thirds of Wikimedia Foundation's staff work out of the city office. The organization has embraced remote work and seen "tremendous benefits."

Maher said the findings of the Paragon Real Estate report are "nonsensical" to the group's staff and donors, and the high cost of living hurts their ability to recruit and retain employees.

"Our local employees, particularly the younger ones, struggle to make ends meet. They leave when they start families. How can we be an equitable employer when only those who can afford to work for us, do?" Maher said on Twitter.

Mike Rosenberg, a reporter with the Seattle Times who previously worked at the San Jose Mercury News, responded to the report with some free advice for millennial homebuyers.

"You'd need to avoid eating 33,600 avocado toasts a year to generate $303,000," he said.

SEE ALSO: Silicon Valley is so expensive that people who make $400,000 a year think they are middle-class

Join the conversation about this story »

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