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There's a strange forest in Poland that's filled with crooked trees — and no one can explain how it got that way

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Crooked Forest

Deep in the woods of the West Pomerania region of Poland, an entire section of trees bends at sharp angles near their bases, forming an odd and entrancing phenomenon known as "The Crooked Forest." 

Why do the trees bend like this? No one is quite sure. 

Some have theorized that harsh weather conditions made them this way. Others have said that man-made development uprooted the trees. 

Landscape photographer Kilian Schoönberger shared some of his photos of the forest, as well as the folklore surrounding it. 

SEE ALSO: 15 surreal images captured by a photographer who chases wildfires

According to Schoönberger and the region's oral tradition, the trees were planted around the year 1930. During that time, and throughout World War II, Germans controlled the area.

To this day, there are rumors that some type of man-made method or technique was used to cause the strange shapes of the trees — although it's not clear what purpose that would have served.



"There is no final explanation yet," Schoönberger said. One theory, according to Schoönberger, is that the trees could have been planted specifically for growing bent wood to help construct things like ships, rocking chairs, and sleighs. 

Others have speculated that the war had a significant impact on the landscape. "Some people speak about imprints of the war, since there was so much fighting between the Red Army and the Wehrmacht in this area," he said. "More obscure theories talk about witchcraft and energy fields ... but perhaps there will never be a final answer."

 



Schoönberger ventured to the Crooked Forest for the first time a few years ago. When he came back to photograph it this year, he got lucky with the weather conditions. During heavy fog is one of his favorite times to shoot.

For these images, he took a spontaneous 450-mile night ride from his home in Cologne, Germany to Poland. 

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

'Don't cry my love... you'll get out of there soon': A 7-year-old boy wept down the phone to his mom after being taken from his family at the US border

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Border US family separation

  • A recording obtained by Vice News features a seven-year-old boy crying down the phone to his mother.
  • He was calling his mom back in Guatemala after being taken from his father at the US border when the two crossed in May.
  • The mother asks her, who cries throughout, whether he has a place to play, and tells him to stay strong.
  • More than 2,000 children have been separated from their parents under the Trump administration's immigration policies.
  • A judge signed an order on Tuesday saying that the government must reunite families within 30 days.

A new recording shows a seven-year-old boy crying down the phone to his mother after being separated from his family at the US border.

The boy and his mother spoke on Tuesday, where she tried to reassure her son that he would see his family soon. They have been apart for almost a month, according to Vice News, which obtained the audio.

In the exchange, translated from Spanish, she says: "Don’t cry, my love. Be happy. You’ll get out of there soon.

"Your dad is going to call you. Do you want to talk to him? Remember that God exists, honey. Kneel and pray to God. Ask him to help you get out of there."

The boy crossed the US-Mexico border with his father in May, when the two were separated, Vice said.

The boy was placed in an Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) shelter in Arizona and his father was detained in a detention facility in Texas. The boy reportedly hasn't been able to talk to his father.

The mother, speaking to her son for the second time since he was placed in the shelter, asks from Guatemala: "Do you have a place to play?"

"Don’t be sad," she tells her crying child. "It will be no time until your dad gets there and you can be with him again."

"Don’t be afraid. You’ll get out of there. Nobody is going to take you to a different place. So, don’t be afraid. Nothing is going to happen to you there. So honey … take care of yourself and don’t cry, baby."

The mother told her son she did not know that the US government intended to separate him from his father.

She said: "God will help you. We didn’t know that things were like this. If we had known, I wouldn’t have let you go with your dad. But we thought everything was OK there. Look, the government did that."

Under the Trump administration's "zero-tolerance" immigration policy, over 2,000 migrant children were taken from their parents between April 19 and May 31, according to official figures. The policy continued beyond that point, though it was unclear how many children were separated from their parents.

Following public outcry, Trump signed an executive order last week to end the separation of migrant children from their families.

But charities and legal groups say that many parents that have already been detained have been unable to contact their children by phone or learn where they are being held.  

A lawyer told CNN on Friday that 25 of her adult clients have children, but only two have been able to contact them their children by phone.
Those parents don't know where their children are, she said: "I've had clients that have been detained for two and a half weeks and they still don't know where their children are."

A federal judge ordered on Tuesday that the government must provide phone contact between parents and their children within 10 days and reunited with their parents within 30 days.

Join the conversation about this story »

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Jessica Chastain's fashion executive husband has his own brand of fizz — and he wants to make it the Belvedere of the prosecco world

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  • We met with Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo, the fashion executive and husband of Hollywood actress Jessica Chastain.
  • He and two childhood friends created their own prosecco brand, Fiol, in 2010.
  • Passi de Preposulo says that the industry's obsession with keeping prices low has led to a compromise in quality in some cases.
  • The trio are on a mission to position Fiol as a recognisable, premium prosecco brand.


Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo popped up on the media radar last June when he married Hollywood actress Jessica Chastain in the grounds of his family estate in Italy.

The wedding was attended by a number of celebrities, including Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt, as well as some of the fashion elite — and it sparked a flurry of news reports titled asking "Who is Jessica Chastain's husband?"

CHASTAIN

Passi de Preposulo is PR director of events and entertainment at Italian fashion house Moncler, and previously worked for Armani. He splits his time between Milan and New York.

However, when Business Insider met him at Mark's Club in London, it was to discuss his premium prosecco brand Fiol, a partnership between him and his childhood friends and co-founders, brothers Pietro and Giovanni Ciani Bassetti.

Passi de Preposulo told Business Insider that he tasted his first glass of fizz aged nine or 10 at his family home,
Villa Tiepolo Passi, a 17th-century estate in Treviso which is less than an hour's drive from Venice.

The Passi de Preposulos are a family of counts and countesses, although Italy no longer recognises the aristocracy. Meanwhile the Ciani Bassetti family have been making wine for over 400 years.

Giovanni Ciani Bassetti (left) is pictured with Gian Luca below.

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"We grew up surrounded by prosecco," Passi de Preposulo said. "The harvest was a very specific time of year for us.

"Every year we would do the harvest with our parents and grandparents and at the end there was a big celebratory lunch and dinner with all of our family and friends — that was where I had my first prosecco tasting."

At 19 he moved to Milan and began working in the fashion industry, while Pietro and Giovanni went into banking.

"Our base was Treviso (under an hour's drive from Venice) where our family are still nowadays, so we'd go back there every summer, Easter, and Christmas holidays. We always loved being back to our roots."

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Almost a decade later, the trio decided to go into business together. "We said, 'Why don't we do something together as friends, leverage our experience in business?'"

This coincided with the beginning of the prosecco boom, he said, thanks in large part to the financial crisis of 2008.

"Before then people just considered prosecco a cheap version of Champagne," Passi de Preposulo said. "But following the crisis those seeking an affordable sparkling wine found prosecco and this incredible wave of success started that just didn’t stop and is still growing now."

'The war of the poor'

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While prosecco is undoubtedly a hugely popular category, Passi de Preposulo says people lack knowledge on the brands they're ordering and purchasing, and ultimately make decisions based purely on price.

"When people ask in a bar 'Can I have a glass of prosecco,' the bartenders don't know what they're giving you, and you don't know what you’re drinking.'

"It's pretty fascinating," he went on. "Because when you order anything else you know exactly what brand gin, whisky, beer, coffee, juice, even water — you know what you like."

The industry, he says, has been so solely focused on keeping the price point low, which has generated what he calls "the war of the poor," causing some producers to also compromise on quality.

It's certainly true that supermarkets, in the UK at least, have gone big on Italian bubbles — and it's not unusual to see a bottle on offer for £7 or £8, especially in the summer months.

The growth of the sparkling wine category in Britain, however, slowed in 2017, according to UHY Hacker Young, after years of double-digit growth. It led the accountancy group to suggest we could be approaching "peak prosecco."

"Prosecco may have reached a 'Burberry moment' — where the brand suffers from overexposure and loses its luxury/aspirational image through overstocking at supermarkets and over appearance on novelty t-shirts etc," the firm wrote.

Making Fiol the Belvedere of the prosecco world

FIOL_Bott_Flute_01_

Passi de Preposulo told Business Insider he believes that the industry has wasted an opportunity — one that Fiol wants to seize — to create a premium, recognisable brand. He sees an opportunity to position Fiol as the Belvedere or Grey Goose of the prosecco world.

"One thing I learned from the fashion industry is that if you start low you can only go lower, you have to position the brand high to begin with," he said.

On the other hand, he added that when it comes to prosecco there is a certain scale to take into consideration. "If you're selling it for £25, you'd be out of the market, people would just spend £5 more and buy Champagne."

Fiol is now sold in the US, Canada, and in Europe, and currently retails in the UK for £13.95 a bottle at Great Western Wines.

Passi de Preposulo says the trio wanted to created a blend that combines the traditional taste of the wine they grew up drinking, but also to "dispel the myth of prosecco being acidic with lots of bubbles."

The extra dry prosecco is light in colour and has a thin and constant bubble. It has won a number of awards, most recently gold in the Prosecco Masters in 2017 and 2018.

It is a prosecco DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) classification which means the quality is assured to a certain standard, and that it comes from specific territories in north-east Italy.

A bottle of prosecco, which is primarily made with "glera" grapes, shouldn't be kept beyond two years, according to Passi de Preposulo.

The beauty of this is that — unlike with a "grand cru" Champagne or equivalent — "when you pop a bottle you don't have to worry about whether this is this the perfect occasion, 'Should I save it?" according to Passi de Preposulo. "You just open another and another."

SEE ALSO: Mistakes you're making buying, ordering, and drinking tequila — and how to do it the Mexican way

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London's riverside pods have been revamped for summer — and they received 9,000 bookings in a single day

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  • London restaurant Coppa Club has seven Paradise Pods.
  • They offer amazing views of the river Thames.
  • The pods are made of timber perspex glass.
  • Coppa Club first launched Winter Igloos in 2016.

 

London restaurant Coppa Club has seven Paradise Pods where people can dine with amazing views of the River Thames.

The pods are made of timber perspex glass and have a wooden base to keep them stable.

Coppa Club first launched Winter Igloos in 2016. They have been given a summer makeover and turned into Paradise Pods.

"This summer we wanted to mix it up," head of Marketing Isabella Kirkton told Business Insider. "We just wanted to create like a paradise and a oasis right next to the Thames."

There are seven pods in total, with two available for walk-in guests.

Produced by Claudia Romeo. Filmed by Claudia Romeo and Amanda Villa-Lobos.

SEE ALSO: Prime beef ribs worth £360 are cooked over an indoor fire pit in the middle of this London restaurant

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LIONEL MESSI: How the most expensive soccer player in the world spends his millions

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Lionel Messi



Lionel Messi is arguably the greatest soccer player alive, and with that incredible success comes fabulous wealth. 

Messi is the second highest-paid athlete in the world, and the highest paid soccer player, according to Forbes, after boxer Floyd Mayweather and ahead of his rival Cristiano Ronaldo. 

Despite his insane wealth and popularity, he's is one of the most private people in the sport.

He drives a $200,000 car and lives in a nice house, but the rest is a mystery.

He has made $111 million so far in 2018.

Source: Forbes



He signed a new contract in 2017 which pays him over $80 million annually.

Source: Forbes



He makes an additional $27 million in endorsements.

Source: Forbes



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

AT&T is adding $1.23 onto your wireless bill, which will make it an extra $800 million this year

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cell tower

  • AT&T recently raised the price of its administrative fee for monthly AT&T wireless customers. 
  • The admin fee hike could bring in an extra $800 million annually for AT&T. 
  • The company said the admin fee helps cover the cost of cell maintenance and interconnection with other carriers.

AT&T has increased its admin fee from $0.76 to $1.99 for every AT&T monthly customer, according to BTIG Research analyst Walter Piecyk.

The admin fee hike will make AT&T an extra $800 million per year, according to Piecyk.

AT&T hadn't announced the admin fee hike to its customers from what we could tell, and it didn't really explain why it's doing so. Business Insider reached out to AT&T to ask about the company's reasoning behind the fee hike, but the company yet to respond. Speaking to The Verge, an AT&T spokesperson said that the admin fee is standard among other wireless carriers, and that it helps cover the costs of cell maintenance and interconnection between carriers. 

While it may come as a minor sting to AT&T customers, the new higher admin fee isn't the highest we've seen. On my Verizon bill, for example, the administrative fee is $3.69 for a three-line account.

Carrier admin fees are part of the small line items you'd usually find at the bottom of your wireless bill among the surcharges.

Apart from the admin fee, AT&T also raised the price for those with grandfathered unlimited data plans in early June, according to Mac Rumors. Originally, the plan cost $30 per month. It was later raised to $40 per month, and most recently AT&T hiked the price up again to $45 per month. 

AT&T also recently closed a massive deal to buy Time Warner for $85 billion

SEE ALSO: Here's how the 'unlimited' plans from Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile compare

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This $530 Android phone is half the price of an iPhone X and just as good

The best states for a summer road trip, ranked

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Road Trip

  • 64% of American families will take a road trip this summer, according to the American Automobile Association.
  • To determine the best states for a summer road trip, WalletHub evaluated more than 30 data points related to cost, safety, and activities.
  • Wyoming is the best state for a road trip this summer, thanks to cheap gas and affordable camp sites and hotel rooms.

A successful summer road trip boils down to one essential task: planning.

Americans spend an average of $718 billion on vacations every year, but there are different factors to consider when planning a road trip compared to a destination vacation. Everything from the car you drive to the stuff you pack will impact your road trip experience.

Though gas prices are the highest they've been since 2014, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA),  64% of American families plan to take a road trip this summer.

But with a car as your primary mode of transportation, you need to plan for emergencies like breaking down and theft. Sleeping in your car is a perk (for some), but probably isn't suitable for large families. Camping out is less expensive and provides an authentic road trip experience, but costs vary by state.

To determine the best destinations for a summer road trip, WalletHub evaluated cost, safety, and activities in all 50 states. Those themes were evaluated on 31 metrics (gas, crime, amusement, etc.) and graded on a 100-point scale (read the full methodology here).

Below, check out the best states for a summer road trip. The score for each category shows how the destination compares to the remaining 49 states, with 1 being the best and 50 being the worst.

SEE ALSO: These are the 30 best cars for summer road trips

DON'T MISS: 30 roads that everyone should drive in their lifetime

50. Rhode Island

Costs score: 48
Safety score: 6
Activities score: 49


49. Connecticut

Costs score: 46
Safety score: 26
Activities score: 42


48. Delaware

Costs score: 36
Safety score: 39
Activities score: 48


See the rest of the story at Business Insider

I tried 85-year-old Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's workout routine for 2 weeks, and it's harder than it seems

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Ruth Bader Ginsburg

  • Many began to speculate when Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg would step down from the bench after Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement on Wednesday.
  • But Ginsburg is not defined by her 85 years of age. She works out with her personal trainer, Bryant Johnson, twice a week for an hour.
  • Her workout is a series of full body strength exercises that target arms, chest, legs, back, shoulders, glutes, and abs.
  • I decided to give Ginsburg's workout a try for two weeks — here's what happened.

If you are looking for evidence that 85-year-old Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg isn't retiring anytime soon, just try her workout.

After Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement, people began speculating when the liberal bastion might step down from the bench. But Ginsburg works out with her personal trainer, Bryant Johnson, twice a week. She has called him "the most important person in her life."

Johnson and Ginsburg have been doing the one-hour workout that he details in his book, "The RBG Workout: How She Stays Strong and You Can Too" for 18 years, aside from the three years he was deployed in Kuwait.

The workout starts with a five-minute warm-up and light stretching followed by a strength training session that includes push-ups, planks, chest presses, squats, and hip abductor exercises, then another round of stretches to cool down.

Here's what happened when I tried the workout for two weeks.

SEE ALSO: I tried intermittent fasting for 10 days — and I understand why people in Silicon Valley love it

DON'T MISS: Justice Kennedy announces retirement, setting Trump up to reshape the Supreme Court for years to come

I am no stranger to working out.

I have completed four half-marathons and go to fitness classes frequently, but I haven’t done much strength-training recently because I was training for my races. I was expecting to be sore after the RBG workout.



I was up for the challenge of working out like Ginsburg, especially if it came with an honorary JD from Columbia University, a seat on the Supreme Court, or just great biceps.

But I didn't realize that I would want to recuse myself when I saw that pushups were followed by medicine ball pushups and two different types of planks.



If you work out from home, you'll need dumbbells, resistance bands or tubes, a door anchor, a medicine ball, a Swiss ball, and a stool or ottoman.

I worked out at my local gym, because I didn't think I'd be able to get into the Supreme Court gym where Justice Elena Kagan and Ginsburg work out.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A former Pixar employee wrote a scathing column criticizing the company's culture of 'open sexism'

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FILE PHOTO: John Lasseter, Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, speaks during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, U.S. on January 8, 2017.  REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo

  • A former Pixar employee wrote a column for Variety criticizing the "open sexism" of the film company's corporate environment under Pixar cofounder John Lasseter.
  • In her column, Cassandra Smolcic, a former graphic designer at Pixar, said she personally experienced sexual harassment over her five years of employment with the company, from Lasseter, her unnamed former department head, and other male coworkers.

A former Pixar employee has written a column for Variety criticizing the "open sexism" of the film company's corporate environment under the leadership of Pixar cofounder and former chief John Lasseter. 

Disney announced earlier this month that Lasseter would depart the company at the end of this year. Lasseter took a six-month sabbatical in November shortly after The Hollywood Reporter published a report on allegations of Lasseter's inappropriate workplace behavior with his employees, which included "grabbing, kissing, [and] making comments about physical attributes."

In her column for Variety, Cassandra Smolcic, a former graphic designer at Pixar, said that Lasseter's "open sexism" had the effect of "emboldening others to act like frat boys in just about any campus setting" at the company.

Smolcic wrote that she personally experienced sexual harassment over her five years of employment with Pixar, from Lasseter, her unnamed former department head, and other men at the company. She said her harassment included "many unwelcome, objectifying interactions" and a physical groping from one male coworker. 

"Just after starting on 'Cars 2,' I was told by a superior that I would be uninvited from all our weekly art department meetings because Lasseter 'has a hard time controlling himself' around young women," Smolcic wrote. 

Smolcic described how "management teams across the studio were well known for cleaning up the messes of powerful male superiors, regardless of their poor behavior or challenging leadership styles," while Pixar's "few female leads lacked backing and basic respect from the institution and the masses."

Smolcic said she left the company at 30 after being "physically and mentally burnt out after years of bumping up against the glass ceiling" at the company.

Smolcic closed her column by praising Pixar's decision to move forward with Jennifer Lee and Pete Docter as chief creative officers at Disney Animation and Pixar, respectively.

"But dismantling John’s legacy will take more than just replacing a single executive, because such deeply ingrained biases require deliberate, conscientious effort to identify and dismantle. Disney and Pixar must recognize that women and underrepresented minorities are just as capable, talented, complex, and dimensional as the white fraternity of men who have monopolized animation thus far," she wrote.

Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider on the matter.

Read Smolcic's full column at Variety.

SEE ALSO: The co-founder of Pixar is leaving Disney, months after allegations of inappropriate behavior

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A look at the demanding schedule of Elon Musk, who works in 5-minute slots, skips breakfast, and largely avoids emails

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Elon Musk Nasdaq Tesla

  • Elon Musk splits much of his time between SpaceX and Tesla, since he is the CEO of both companies.
  • As such, his daily routine is fairly demanding.
  • Musk plans every minute of his day, and often works through meals.


Elon Musk is one busy guy.

The Tesla and SpaceX founder generally spends a full workweek at each of his two companies, wolfing down lunch in five minutes and skipping phone calls for productivity's sake.

So it's not surprising that his daily life is pretty jam-packed.

Based on previous interviews, Business Insider pieced together an estimation of what an average day looks like for this real-life Tony Stark.

Take a look at a day in the life of Elon Musk:

SEE ALSO: It took me over a month to hunt down an 87-year-old book Elon Musk recommended, and I'm glad I did

DON'T MISS: Inside the turbulent personal life of Elon Musk, who called his estranged father 'a terrible human being' and who says he must be in love to be happy

SEE ALSO: I read the 87-year-old book recommended by Elon Musk, and my favorite chapter reveals the dark side of innovation and adventure

Musk kicks off his day bright and early, rising at about 7 a.m. In a Reddit AMA, he said he usually got six hours of shut-eye.

Source: EntrepreneurBusiness Insider



Musk usually skips breakfast. Occasionally, he will slow down long enough to grab a quick coffee and an omelette.

Source: Auto Bild



One thing he always makes time for, no matter what? Showering. He once told Reddit it was his most important daily habit.

Source: Business Insider



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Rapper XXXTentatcion fights his own corpse in a new video for his No. 1 single 'SAD!,' released after he was shot and killed

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  • Rapper XXXTentacion fights his own dead body in a new, posthumous video for his No. 1 single "SAD!"
  • XXXTentatcion, whose real name was Jahseh Onfroy, wrote the script for the video and served as its creative director before his death, per the video's opening credits.
  • "SAD!" hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 last week after Onfroy was shot and killed in South Florida.

The team behind rapper XXXTentatcion has released a posthumous video for the rapper's single "SAD!," which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 last week following his death in South Florida.

In the video, XXXTentacion, whose real name was Jahseh Onfroy, attends his own funeral and fights his reanimated corpse. Onfroy wrote the script for the video and served as its creative director before his death, per the video's opening credits.

"You have done well at battling yourself. Are you satisfied?" the cryptic, subtitled script for the video ends. 

Onfroy was shot and killed last week in his car outside of a motorsports store in Deerfield Beach, Florida. Broward County police arrested 22-year-old Dedrick D. Williams last week on suspicion of the first-degree murder of Onfroy. 

At the time of his death, Onfroy was awaiting trial for a 2016 domestic-abuse case. He faced charges of aggravated battery of his pregnant girlfriend, domestic battery by strangulation, false imprisonment, and witness tampering.

This week, "SAD!" made Onfroy the first artist to achieve a posthumous No. 1 song since Notorious B.I.G.'s "Mo Money, Mo Problems" and "Hypnotize" both topped the chart in 1997. "SAD!" topped the chart on Monday, after it previously peaked at No. 7 in March. The song jumped from No. 52 on the chart to No. 1 last week.

Watch the video for "SAD!" below:

SEE ALSO: Murder suspect arrested in investigation into death of rapper XXXTentacion

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Floyd Mayweather just bought an $18 million 280-carat diamond watch called 'The Billionaire' — take a look

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Floyd Mayweather

  • Floyd Mayweather has evolved from the king of the ring to the king of the bling.
  • The retired boxer, who finished his career unbeaten after 50 wins as a professional, has just bought an $18 million watch.
  • It is made of a lot of shiny diamonds.

 

Floyd Mayweather was the king of the ring for over two decades but now, in retirement, the "Money" man has evolved to become king of the bling.

The retired boxer broke numerous pay-per-view records during his fighting days, and even made a billion dollars in prize money according to Forbes.

And breaking that billion dollar barrier may have been the inspiration behind his latest purchase — an $18 million dollar watch, dubbed "The Billionare" by jeweller Jacob&Co, which is made of 18k white gold and comes complete with 260 carats of diamonds.

There are numerous shiny, expensive diamonds surrounding the clockface, and Jacob&Co says each stone is around the 1.5 carat mark.

It is certainly a striking timepiece and Mayweather couldn't help but take a video of it to upload to Instagram— as you do.

Here it is:

"This [is] my new timepiece, it's called 'The Billionaire Watch,' Mayweather told his followers. "If you don't know about it, Google Billionaire Watch. That's $18 million on the price tag."

Mayweather is renowned for extravagant purchases

Mayweather concluded his boxing career with a 10th round demolition job on UFC fighter Conor McGregor. The win moved Mayweather to a 50-0 record — all wins, no defeats.

The 41-year-old is renowned for extravagant purchases. After all, this is a man with numerous private jets, a private chef, who has ambitions of buying an NBA team.

Mayweather had been rumoured to sign a billion-dollar fight deal to compete in UFC earlier this year. However, he appears to have shelved those plans so he can focus on building his real estate empire. His latest project includes work on One Vanderbilt— a skyscraper currently under construction in New York City.

Yes, Mayweather may spend big, but it also appears he still earns big, too.

SEE ALSO: Floyd Mayweather's latest business venture involves building 'the tallest' skyscraper in New York City — and it suggests he has given up on a UFC deal

DON'T MISS: Floyd Mayweather's over-the-top birthday celebrations included a 'Fifty Shades of Grey' themed party and presents like a multi-million dollar private jet

UP NEXT: This is everything boxing champion Floyd Mayweather eats and drinks for breakfast, lunch, and dinner

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13 places to travel in July for every type of traveler

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13 best places to travel in july map

  • The best places to visit in July are already on savvy travelers' lists.
  • Business Insider looked at airfare trends, climate data, and peak travel times to find the best places to visit in July 2018.
  • The destinations include tropical getaways, natural wonders, and America's oldest Independence Day celebration.


July is peak travel season for Americans, and if you're a savvy traveler, you're already thinking about where you'll escape.

Choosing the right destination isn't always easy — the summer months bring unrelenting heat in some places, and the threat of monsoon season in others. On top of that, travelers must contend with the throngs of other people who picked the same place for their summer getaways.

We looked at airfare trends, climate data, and cultural calendars to select 13 vacation spots that are some of the best places to visit this July. They include spiritual temple sites in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, the stunning Iguazu Falls in South America, and the charming town of Bristol, Rhode Island — the site of America's longest-running Fourth of July celebration.

Read on to find the 13 best places to visit in July.

SEE ALSO: The 13 best places to travel in June for every type of traveler

DON'T MISS: 13 places to visit in May for every type of traveler

Chicago, Illinois

July is the hottest month of the year in Chicago, so if cold weather turns you off, now's your chance to visit the Windy City.

Timeless tourist classics that are perfect for the warm weather include Millennium Park, Wrigley Field, and the shores of Lake Michigan, and you could spend hours and hours at renowned museums like the Chicago Institute of Art and the Field Museum.

Outdoor festivals abound in July, too, from the Irish American Heritage Festival to the Chinatown Summer Fair. And of course, it wouldn't be the Fourth of July without a robust lineup of fireworks displays at several points throughout the city.
 



Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon, is blessed with natural beauty — an "almost unfair abundance" of it, according to Lonely Planet— and summer is the perfect time to explore it.

Popular activities for visitors in July include bike tours through the scenic Willamette Valley wine region and hikes through the winding trails of Forest Park.

Beer lovers will appreciate the many, many breweries that call the City of Roses their home, and the area is well-established as a haven for local music, food, and art. 



Bristol, Rhode Island

Don't have plans for the Fourth of July? Take a trip to Bristol, Rhode Island, to witness America's longest-running Independence Day celebration.

The Fourth of July festivities in this small seaside town date back to 1785. And one month isn't enough to contain the party — it actually starts midway through June, and includes several nights of concerts, carnivals, dances, and other entertainment.

Apart from the patriotic celebration, there are plenty of other activities to do in Bristol, including boating, bicycling, and indulging in some delicious New England seafood.



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Using money as a weapon is called financial abuse — and it's the ultimate form of manipulative control

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woman no money

  • Financial abuse is when somebody controls how and when you spend money.
  • Sometimes, they are the breadwinner and withhold or hide their money.
  • Other times, they are a financial leech. 
  • Shannon Thomas tells the stories of many victims of financial abuse in her new book "Exposing Financial Abuse: When Money is a Weapon."
  • She spoke to Business Insider about the signs of financial abuse, and how it manifests in people's lives.


If someone is able to withhold your finances it is a sign you are completely under their control. One woman who Shannon Thomas spoke to for her new book "Exposing Financial Abuse: When Money is a Weapon" was so financially controlled by her partner, she had to eat green beans out of a tin because it was all she could afford.

Another had to sleep on a mattress for her entire pregnancy because she was told they couldn't afford a bed — despite her husband making $8,000 a month.

When Thomas started out on her research for the book, she was coming at it from a therapist's perspective of what she thought financial abuse looked like. But after more than 450 people responded with their stories, she realised how broad the topic actually is, and how insidious the abuse can really be.

"I think I asked the question about the lies and the threats and the basic needs, because I had a feeling there were going to be some common themes, but I was surprised at how many different ways financial abuse showed up," she said. "I also thought I would hear more about entrepreneurs and business partners, and financial abuse in the workplace. And I didn't, the majority of responses were personal."

Thomas wanted her book to be a platform for all the stories, which is why they are printed in raw, unedited detail from the people who wrote them. Their tales range from the bizarre to the downright frightening, as they highlight some of the most deceitful aspects of controlling, abusive relationships — and just how far that mistreatment can go.

A financial abuser isn't always the breadwinner

Something that surprised Thomas about financial abusers was how many of them operated in a covert way. There were many cases with the traditional head of the household controlling all the money, such as a man who pretended the family was in poverty when really he had $200,000 in the bank, or the ones who would withhold funds for bills and living expenses unless they submitted sexually.

But in other stories, the abuser didn't keep regular employment, and lied about trying to find work. Some even stole from their partner or their children.

"We think of a financial abuser as somebody who dominates and controls all this money," Thomas said. "But I think there's also this behind the scenes way — keeping people in debt, and keeping family in debt, so the partner doesn't feel like there's money to live on."

For example, one abuser kept all financial information from their partner, so she would have to leave all of their shopping at the till when her cards were declined. They were overdrawn and she was none the wiser.

On the other end of the spectrum was the high end socioeconomic abuse, where women in families considered to be in the higher income bracket were actually scraping by, never treating themselves to clothes, and struggling to pay bills.

broke

One woman was denied access to the joint bank account, and had to ask for free lunches for her children, all while living in a big house in an affluent neighbourhood. Others experienced similar things, like not being able to afford a coffee, even though from the outside, their lifestyles were enviable.

"The money is used by the abuser for the billboard of the lifestyle, but they have no problem having their family really live within marginal means," Thomas said. "It's a form of gaslighting for sure."

The abuser essentially warps their victim's reality, Thomas said, because it's a way of taking away their humanity. When the victim tries to complain or get their needs met, the abuser will say things like "look at this house, look at the car you drive, look at the trip we just took." They make the victim feel guilty for not appreciating what they have, even though they have no control over their own life.

"It's very hidden, and I think people in those situations suffer more than anyone realises because nobody knows," Thomas said. "Nobody knows what's happening. It's very hard to talk about it."

The cruelty knows no bounds

Some of the stories were incredibly cruel. One man drained his partner's checking account so she couldn't even afford feminine hygiene products. Another man refused to buy another car for the family, even though he always took the only one to work, while their daughter had a heart defect and would need to be taken to the hospital. Meanwhile, he would have no issue with spending money on his own hobbies and interests.

Most of the experiences were with male abusers, but Thomas said men and women can both be financial abusers. For instance, one woman wrote her partner down as the sole person to pay for her plastic surgery, and he was left having to pay for it — even after she left him. Another woman would become physically abusive if her partner ever bought anything for himself.

In one case, an abuser used a cheque scam to commit fraud. Others took out credit in their partner's name. One stole from his own child to pay for an Ashley Madison account — the website where married people go to have affairs. Some people, Thomas said, would rather go through convoluted illegal schemes than simply get a job.

"I think it's hard for some people just to show up every day and be disciplined and go to work," she said. "Because they're selfish and they want to do what they want when they want. It's very narcissistic thinking. And so for them, a lot of times their ego gets in the way of being able to maintain employment."

It's almost easier for them on some level to be a con artist and be a criminal than to actually have the interpersonal skills and the employment skills to thrive in a job, she said, because there is a massive sense of entitlement.

They'll have no issue with forging documents to make it seem like they make less money than they do, and they won't think twice about taking their former partners to court and taking everything they have left.

It's all about control

Some financial abuse does occur as a result of mental health problems like addiction. But Thomas said in the majority of stories she heard, it was paralleled with emotional and psychological abuse too.

"The parallel between the financial and emotional is the degrading of the victim," she said. "Because the financial just cuts to people's everyday life and lifestyle... It's that overwhelming breakdown of another person. And controlling their finances... that's a huge lever for brainwashing."

It's the ultimate control over somebody, because they essentially have power over your everyday decisions. By controlling your money, they keep you right on the edge, and take away your humanity. This can be seen in how some of the abusers would treat their victims.

One man wouldn't allow his partner to buy even a new bra or pajamas, so they would fall apart. Then he would shame her for her looks, and tell her nobody would want her when she was a single mother on welfare — even though he was the one who manufactured the situation. He set her up to fail because he enjoyed seeing her life crumble.

"I think the financial abuse is perhaps the most insidious, because it starts off very, very slow," Thomas said. "It's almost like a spectrum where the financial control comes in really towards the end. The grooming, the self esteem, the emotional abuse, and controlling how somebody looks, how they dress, what they do, how much they spend... Once they get to the point of controlling the money, they've got all the control."

It doesn't happen early on, because you tend to be in a long term committed relationship to your finances with someone. For this reason it can be difficult to spot the red flags in the early stages. In fact, Thomas said there may be so much other chaos going on in the victim's life, they don't see the financial abuse happening until it starts to spin out of control.

But there are signs you can look out for, she added, such as how someone manages their money, or whether they always seem to be hard off, or borrowing from other people. Basically, behaving inappropriately for someone who is out of that stage in their 20s where they are still figuring out their finances.

Going through abuse can reveal your strength

There is an inner strength to be found from going through financial abuse, Thomas said. The people who told their stories went through truly cruel treatment from people who were supposed to love them, but somehow, many came out the other side knowing just how much strength they really have.

"They know they can persevere and they trust themselves better," said Thomas. "And I think they learn to celebrate the small victories. So paying that bill is a victory, going to bed at night, or having all of their needs met that day is a victory."

They also learned to be more more hopeful in the moment. Often, we look at the whole picture to see if we're successful, whereas survivors of financial abuse and exploitation learn to be grateful for the small victories.

"I think when you've gone through something like this, and the whole picture is too overwhelming, they have to train themselves to look at the small moments that are good," said Thomas. "I've heard a lot of people saying 'I know I can survive a lot now.' There is that inner trust. Like, I can handle a lot."

Perhaps most importantly, there's the realisation that there's no coming back from being financially abused. When someone has controlled you to that level, or even stolen from you, there's just no way to rationalise that.

"Gaslighting and love bombing and devaluing and discarding, and all of that can be murky," said Thomas. "When it gets to the financial abuse, sometimes it's painfully clear."

SEE ALSO: 7 positive lessons you learn when you leave a toxic, abusive relationship behind

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The 10 stunning winners from the 2018 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year contest

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Photo and Caption by Alessandra Meniconzi / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest TEA CULTURE For a long time, I have been fascinated by the ancient Mongolian method of hunting with Golden Eagles. In early 2018, I followed one family of eagle hunters during their migration from winter camp to spring camp. Mongolia is sparsely populated, but the inhabitants have a very hospitable and welcoming culture. Tea for Kazakh culture is one of the attributes of hospitality. Tea isn't just a drink, but a mix of tradition, culture, relaxation, ceremony, and pleasure. Damel, seen here wrapped in heavy fur clothes, drinks a cup of tea to keep warm from the chilly temperatures in Western Mongolia.

  • National Geographic announced the winners of its 2018 Travel Photographer of the Year contest.
  • The winner was a photo of a humpback whale calf taken off the coast of Japan.
  • Scroll down to see the other winners in the Nature, Cities and People categories.


The winners of the 2018 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year contest have been announced — and they're as stunning as ever.

13,000 entries were competing for a $10,000 grand prize and international acclaim.

The overall winner was Reiko Takahashi of Japan whose photo subject was a humpback whale calf. Takahashi took her photo, titled "Mermaid," off the coast of Japan’s Kumejima Island.

"It was a special scene for me, to be able to take a photo of the calf, completely relaxed in gentle waters," said Takahashi. "I really cannot believe it. It was my dream to win. I am honored and it will be the driving force for my future shooting."

Entries were split into three categories: Nature, Cities and People.

Scroll down to see the first, second and third place winners in all categories — as well as one honorable mention.

SEE ALSO: The most mesmerizing photos from the World Cup so far

Grand Prize Winner and First Place, Nature: 'Mermaid' by Reiko Takahashi.

"I was fortunate to have encountered a humpback whale with her calf on my first day snorkeling near Japan’s Kumejima Island. Most of the time, the calf stayed close to her mom. At one point, the calf began jumping and tapping its tail on the water near us—it was very friendly and curious.

"Finally, the mother, who was watching nearby, came to pick up the calf and swim away. I fell in love completely with the calf and it’s very energetic, large and beautiful tail."



Second place, Nature: 'Flamingos Taking Of' by hao j.

"Thousands of flamingos are seen taking off from the colorful Lake Natron in Tanzania. Before taking off, flamingos need to take a short run on water to build up some speed. At that moment, their long, red legs create a series of water ripples on the surface of the lake.

"Looking down from the helicopter, these ripple lines look like giant aquatic plants flowing in the water. This photo was taken from a helicopter."



Third place, Nature: 'Mars' by Marco Grassi.

"These natural sand towers, capped with large stones, are known as the Earth Pyramids of Platten. They are situated in Northern Italy’s South Tyrol region. Formed centuries ago after several storms and landslides, these land formations look like a landscape from outer space and continuously change over the years and, more accurately, over seasons.

"This natural phenomenon is the result of a continuous alternation between periods of torrential rain and drought, which have caused the erosion of the terrain and the formation of these pinnacles. As the seasons change, the temperatures move between extremes and storms affect the area, pyramids disappear over time, while new pinnacles form as well."



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All the TV shows that have been canceled in 2018

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jane the virgin

As the year flies by, the list of canceled TV shows piles up.

Networks have been cutting more and more shows since May, including Fox which canceled comedies "The Mick," "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," and "The Last Man on Earth." "Nine-Nine" will continue on NBC, though.

ABC also canceled the previously renewed "Roseanne" revival in late May, after Roseanne Barr posted a racist tweet about former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett. However, ABC announced a spin-off called "The Conners" without Barr coming this fall.

Amazon kicked off the year with a slew of cancellations, announcing the end of three quirky comedies, including the Golden Globe nominee "I Love Dick" and the comedian Tig Notaro's semi-autobiographical show, "One Mississippi." It canceled Golden Globe nominee "Mozart in the Jungle" in April, after four seasons, and recently canceled "Transparent," which will end after the upcoming fifth season.

The long-running "The Jerry Springer Show" is ending after 27 seasons and 4,000 episodes. NBC's "Timeless," was also canceled for the second year in a row. NBC reversed its first decision to cancel the show last year after fan outcry. However, fans may have a movie to look forward to that gives the series a proper finale, though no official decision has been made.

There are many more cancellations to come, as networks announce the fate of newer shows as well as older ones.

We'll update this list as more are announced.

Here are all the shows that have been canceled this year, including those from networks and Netflix:

SEE ALSO: The worst TV show of every year since 2000, according to critics

Amazon



"Jean-Claude Van Johnson" — Amazon, one season



"I Love Dick" — Amazon, one season



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5 surprising etiquette differences between the US and Japan

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I have traveled to Japan more than five times. Each time I’ve been there, I have experienced "omotenashi," which roughly translates to "the spirit of selfless hospitality," according to The Japan Times.

When I first visited Tokyo, I met locals who, despite the language barrier, would spend 15 minutes assisting me with directions on the street. People walked me out of a restaurant after finishing a meal or bowed and said thank you after I made a purchase in their store.

It's an amazing place to visit, and it seems the rest of the world is catching on. Between 1995 and 2012, the number of foreign tourists who visited Japan increased by 6% each year, Quartz reported. And some Japanese residents are not too happy about tourists' behavior — smoking, littering, and noisy, unruly travelers are disturbing the peace in Kyoto, for example, according to the South China Morning Post.

Japanese people do not expect you to adopt all of their traditional manners, but any attempts to learn some of them will likely be appreciated, according to Fodors.

Here are five major etiquette differences between the US and Japan.

SEE ALSO: A quick guide to business etiquette around the world

1. While Americans greet each other with a handshake or hug, Japanese people usually nod or bow

Americans often greet each other with a handshake, kiss on the cheek, or hug.

But in Japan, people greet each other by bowing or giving a simple nod. Traditionally, there are four different types of bowing, according to Slate. Each represents a different emotion, such as gratitude, remorsefulness, and respect. Generally speaking, the deeper the bow, the more gratitude or appreciation you are showing.

When it comes to formal business engagements, foreigners sometimes miss the mark when trying to master the Japanese bow. For instance, greetings between US officials and Japanese prime ministers have occasionally sparked controversy, according to Reuters.

 



2. Tipping in restaurants is essentially mandatory in the US, but not in Japan

 In most restaurants in the US, servers and bartenders rely on tips to make a living. As tipped workers, they usually get paid less than minimum wage, according to Crains. Customers to decide how much they want to give in gratuity, but a typical suggestion is 18-20% of the bill.

While tipping is considered a standard practice in the US, it is not part of the culture in Japan, as INSIDER previously reported. Japanese people don’t see tipping as necessary for standard services. Instead of leaving money on the table, they may show their appreciation in a creative way, like folding chopstick sleeves into origami, according to Lonely Planet.



3. Table manners differ between the 2 countries

In the US, diners should know their utensil locations and not rest their elbows on the table. As soon as Americans are seated, the usual practice is to unfold the napkin and put it on their laps until the meal is finished. Americans also should not start eating before everyone at the table is served.

When you sit down for a meal in Japan, the rules are quite different. First and foremost, polish your chopsticks skills — do not stick them into your food so they stand upright or cross them on top of your bowl, according Makiko Itoh of the Japanese food blog Just Hungry. Both of these things are reminiscent of funeral rituals in Japan, and are considered rude.

Prior to eating, Japanese people will often say "itadakimasu" to show respect to the food or the chef who made the food.



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I went to Ford's Track Attack racing school. Here's what I learned from professional drivers. (F)

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Ford Track Attack Racing School

  • Ford's Performance Racing School is free to anybody who buys a Ford Performance vehicle.
  • It's a one-day course taught by experienced drivers and instructors who show you what your car can do.
  • All you have to do is get yourself to Utah.
  • I've driven plenty of tracks, but I had a lot to learn in the Shelby GT350 Mustang I was assigned.


Ford sells several thrill-inducing vehicles through its Ford Performance division. Anyone who buys one can take advantage of perhaps the greatest perk in the car world: a full day of driving instruction at Ford's Performance Racing School.

The program is free to all new owners of Shelby GT350's and 350R Mustangs, Focus RS's and ST's, Raptor pickups, and Fiesta ST's. (And something is under construction for the $400,000 Ford GT supercar, which started deliveries to the first of 250 customers in 2017.)

All that's required is that your get yourself to the Salt Lake City area and make your way to Utah Motorsports, where track-ready versions of your car will be waiting for you, along with a group of experienced instructors with serious racing credentials.

It's called Track Attack. I was put through the course, alongside a group of newly minted Shelby GT350 owners. We spent a full day learning how to be better drivers before we took it the track and put some 'Stangs through their paces.

I'm under no illusions that I'm a good track driver, but I do have some track experience. Little did I know how much more I had to learn.

SEE ALSO: FOLLOW US on Facebook for more car and transportation content!

The Racing School and the Track Attack program are based at the Utah Motorsports Campus, a complex of two tracks complete with paddocks, pits, race-control towers, and even a karting course. The facility is about a half-hour drive from Salt Lake City.



Welcome to the fun! I was preparing to participate in a drive of the Ford GT supercar and welcomed the chance to get some instruction before taking on the $400,000 Le Mans-winning beast and its 647-horsepower engine.



Any Ford customer who buys a Ford Performance vehicle is offered the chance to attend a one-day racing program for free. All they have to do is get to the venue.



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Ed Sheeran sued for $100 million, accused of copying Marvin Gaye's 'Let's Get It On'

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  • Ed Sheeran is facing a $100 million lawsuit accusing him of copying Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" for his 2014 song "Thinking Out Loud," TMZ reports.
  • Sheeran was also sued in 2016 over "Thinking Out Loud" by the family of Ed Townsend, a cowriter of "Let's Get It On."
  • Sheeran responded to the 2016 suit in documents obtained by TMZ last week. He reportedly claimed that similar elements in "Let's Get It On" were in the public domain and unprotectable.

Ed Sheeran is facing a $100 million lawsuit accusing the singer-songwriter of copying Marvin Gaye's 1973 hit "Let's Get It On" on his 2014 song "Thinking Out Loud," TMZ reported.

The suit was filed by Structured Asset Sales, a company that owns one-third of the copyright to "Let's Get It On."

"According to the lawsuit, Sheeran's song has the same melody, rhythms, harmonies, drums, bassline, backing chorus, tempo, syncopation, and looping as 'Let's Get it On,'" TMZ reported.

Sheeran was also sued over "Thinking Out Loud" in 2016. The family of Ed Townsend, a cowriter on Gaye's "Let's Get It On," sued Sheeran, arguing that "Thinking Out Loud" lifted the melody, harmony, and other rhythmic components from Gaye's track.

Sheeran responded to the 2016 suit in documents obtained by TMZ last week. He reportedly claimed that the chord progressions and drum patterns of the two songs were "extremely commonplace" and that similar elements in "Let's Get It On" were in the public domain and unprotectable.

"Thinking Out Loud" peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2014 and has been certified "diamond" by the RIAA for streaming-equivalent sales of over 10 million copies. "Let's Get It On" topped the Billboard singles chart in 1973 and is certified platinum by the RIAA.

Sheeran's representatives have not responded to a request for comment from Business Insider on the latest suit.

Listen to "Let's Get It On" and "Thinking Out Loud" below:

SEE ALSO: The 50 best-selling music artists of all time

Join the conversation about this story »

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

I tried Silicon Valley's favorite diet using a meal-replacing keto shake — here's the verdict

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For years, Silicon Valley has tried to engineer methods for living better, longer, and easier, with mixed results.

Some have even opted out of real food altogether, instead relying on products like Soylent, a bland but nutrient-rich liquid.

But for those looking to not just simplify their eating, but lose weight and curb their appetite, the ketogenic diet ("keto," for those in the know) has become something of a cult-favorite eating plan, even attracting the likes of Kim Kardashian and LeBron James.

People credit the fat-fueled-diet craze with helping them lose weight and stay full, because it turns on the same metabolism mode, called ketosis, triggered by starvation. It moves the body into a fat-store-burning state, instead of relying on carbohydrates for energy.

But as I recently discovered, the keto diet is not easy to follow.

It's true that by sticking to a low-carb, high-fat routine you're allowed to eat some traditional diet no-no's, like bacon, eggs, butter, and plenty of creamy salad dressing. However, keto dieters are limited in what else they can eat — not too many carrots, watch the berry intake, and forget about quinoa.

Ketolent (not the same brand as Soylent) theoretically takes all the work out of the keto diet, providing a ready-to-mix shake. When I found out about the product, I thought it was worth a try.

I had no idea what kind of wild ride I was about to endure.

SEE ALSO: An exercise scientist says Silicon Valley's favorite diet is a scary 'experiment that the population is doing on itself'

The recipe for Ketolent was developed by Ted Tieken, a 35-year-old who's been on the keto eating plan since 2014. Tieken says the high-fat diet has turned around his chronic pain, left him more energized, and helped him lose 35 pounds.

"When I first started making the shakes, I loved that I didn't have to worry about what to eat for lunch and I could focus on everything else going on in my life," Tieken told Business Insider in an email.

He started selling Ketolent in December 2014 and now says he averages one shake a day (sometimes two) and recommends other keto fans with a busy schedule do the same.

"I usually either have one for breakfast and skip lunch, or skip breakfast and have one for lunch," he said. "Too many calories is a real problem in the modern food system, and we've engineered our product to give our customers as much satiety as we can so we can give them control over their calories."

Tieken's company, Sated, says the insta-blend isn't just designed for time-pressed techies — it's for anyone who wants to avoid the difficult work of figuring out what to eat on the keto meal plan.

A 30-serving supply costs $90, meaning a single keto shake comes out to $3.



The shake consists of Sated-branded powder mixed with water, plus a fatty oil blend. It includes olive, flax, and coconut oils and packs a whopping 280 calories per scoop, providing the heft of my 400-calorie breakfast shake.

People on the keto diet usually get at least 60% of their calories from fat — nearly double the recommended daily dose.

When prepared as a 12-ounce shake, Ketolent packs 35 grams of fat into my breakfast, providing nearly half of my recommended total fat for the day (45%) and 60% of my daily saturated fat.

It's not even 10 a.m. They weren't kidding about this "eat more fat" business.



The keto diet is focused on healthy fats. But when I'm not slurping shakes, it can be a confusing eating plan, because some healthy foods like carrots and beans are banned.

I freaked out on Day One of my new experiment when I realized that I'd inadvertently added half-and-half into my coffee.

A couple of teaspoons added to mellow out my morning cup amounts to more than one additional gram of carbohydrates a day, which is a lot when you're trying to stay under the rigid "20 grams of carbs a day" version of the keto plan.

And I have to completely ban carbohydrate-rich foods that are staples of a cheap, healthy diet, like beans, quinoa, and whole grains.

It all makes me glad I don't have to worry about what keto-approved food to eat for breakfast, before my brain (and caffeine) kicks in — instead, I just mix up a Ketolent shake.



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