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Millions of people around the world have fled their home countries and become refugees — here's what they go through to make it to the US

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Syrian refugees.

Millions of people around the world have been forced from their home countries due to war, genocide, or persecution.

They come from conflict-ridden countries like Syria, Somalia, and Sudan, and they wait for years in refugee camps before they can secure a spot in safe countries.

The United States takes in just a tiny fraction of the world's refugees — but it maintains perhaps the strictest, most rigorous vetting process.

Here's a look at where the world's refugees come from and what they endure to make it to safety in the United States:

SEE ALSO: 'I don't know how much harder it can get': What it takes to go from refugee to American

The UNHCR estimates that some 65.6 million people around the world have been forced from their homes. Some of them are refugees within their own countries, some have managed to flee their home countries altogether, and some have no citizenship — and therefore nowhere to go.

As of 2016, the most recent year with data available, just 0.8% of the world's refugees were resettled in safe countries. For 0.4% of refugees, that safe country was the United States.

Source: UNHCR



When refugees flee their home country, they often have to temporarily seek safety in a "host country," where they typically live in refugee camps until they can permanently be resettled. For instance, many of Syria's 5.5 million refugees sought temporary safety in neighboring countries such as Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan.

Source: UNHCR



The United States is one of 37 countries that offer resettlement programs, though refugees don’t get to pick where they’re sent. Instead, the UNHCR assigns them to the US. Then, they undergo a rigorous, years-long screening process by US officials. Here's how that works:

President Donald Trump has dramatically restricted America's refugee intake since he took office, and though he has demanded that "extreme vetting" be implemented for refugees coming from majority-Muslim countries, those closest to the refugee-vetting process say the current system is already as extreme as it gets.

The refugees undergo years of screening filled with intensive interviews, detailed background checks from multiple government agencies, biometric data collection, medical tests, and constant scrutiny from the US officials who vet them.

Sources: UNHCR, Business Insider



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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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People with less money may be more likely to share their wealth than the rich, according to a new study

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donations

  • A new study suggests that people may contribute more to society when they have less wealth themselves.
  • People who "earned" more wealth, rather than being assigned it at random, were the least likely to give money.
  • Although this may not be anything to do with the level of empathy, the researchers said.
  • Rather, it could be because less wealthy people have more to gain from everyone else contributing.


People who earn more money may be less likely to share their wealth than those who earn less. That's according to a new study from Queen Mary University of London, published in the journal Basic and Applied Social Psychology.

Researchers conducted a social experiment where people were recruited to play games for real money. People were assigned as "lower status" or "higher status," which determined how much money they were given at the beginning — signifying wealth.

The games involved the participants deciding how much money they wanted to keep and how much they wanted to donate to a group kitty, which would be shared out between everyone.

Sometimes people's wealth was determined by chance, other times it was based on their effort.

Overall, lower status participants would contribute more to the group pot than higher status ones. And those who earned their "high status" labels would contribute even less than when they received the wealth through chance.

"For the high status individuals, the way in which wealth was achieved, whether through chance or effort, appeared to be the key factor determining the level of cooperation observed," said Ma gda Osman, a professor at Queen Mary's School of Biological and Chemical Sciences and lead author of the study.

"This wasn't the case for the low status individuals. How they got to their low status made no difference to their behaviour in the game."

If you gain a high status through effort rather than chance, she said, you are more likely to want to keep what you earned. When your wealth is limited, you have more of an incentive to cooperate.

"The point here being that even if one is acting cooperatively, there is no reason to think that this is purely for altruistic reasons," she said. Rather, you hope that by contributing more, others will do so too, and ultimately you will profit from it.

Even so, there is no guarantee everyone else in the game would do the same as you. In other words, you take a bigger risk in contributing more as a lower status person, because you have no idea if others will reciprocate.

"The other surprising finding is that empathy has next to no impact on promoting pro-social behaviour, in other words contributing money to the group pot," said Osman. "This matters because there are a lot of claims that empathy is the glue that binds people to act socially. What we show is that when money matters, empathy plays virtually no role in improving pro-social behaviours."

SEE ALSO: Very unattractive people earn significantly more money, according to a new study

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I got the exit seat on a transatlantic British Airways flight — and it completely changed my economy experience

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british airways

  • I travel transatlantic often, so I normally book the cheapest economy flight — and seat — available.
  • A recent upgrade to the exit row on British Airways, which normally costs an extra £50 or $75, completely changed my experience.
  • Here's why it's worth the extra cash.


As a Canadian living in London for the past five years, I have to take a lot of transatlantic flights to keep up with friends and family.

And, as this comes at a cost, this usually means looking for the cheapest flight — and seat — available when I need to travel, and I always fly economy.

On the return leg of my most recent roundtrip flight from London to Toronto with British Airways, I nearly cheered when I was given the option of taking an economy exit row seat for free as, for once, the plane wasn't completely full.

An exit row seat normally costs a minimum of £50/€60/$75 extra with BA, so I happily accepted — and it completely changed my economy experience. Here's why.

No climbing over sleeping neighbours

I normally have to book an aisle seat so I can walk around as much as possible during the seven hours. However, when the aisle isn't available, this becomes tricky — waking up sleeping neighbours so you can get out every hour or so is really not ideal (and makes easy enemies).

With the exit row, you skip this hurdle completely. There is no seat in front of you, so you can simply undo your belt and stand up.

There's more leg room

With no seat in front of you to contend with — and plenty of open space — you can really stretch your legs out.

british airways exit seat

You can adjust your screen

With an exit row seat, the screen folds into the armrest of your seat — so you can completely put it away if you're not watching anything, or you can position it where you'd like for the best possible viewing experience.

Your USB and headphones jacks, as well as the remote that allows you to control your TV screen and lights or call the cabin crew, are also all in your arm rest.

british airways exit seat

You get served first

When it comes to drinks and meal service, the cabin crew usually start with the first row in each section — meaning the exit row gets served first.

This is particularly great for those who like to sleep on a flight — you can order your glass of wine or collect your meal then kick back knowing you won't be interrupted again.

british airways exit seat

You have some wall storage

With most economy seats, you can just about fit a book, some headphones, and a water bottle into the seat pocket in front of you, if you're lucky.

While there is no "pocket" for seats on the exit row, there is a small amount of wall storage beside the window seat. It's technically meant for the whole row to use, but you're better off booking the window seat so you can make sure you get first dibs.

british airways exit seat

All in all, this was the best economy experience I can remember. I got up and walked around plenty of times without disturbing anyone, received drinks and meals ahead of the rest of the cabin, and even managed to sleep, feeling more comfortable than normal with the extra leg room.

Definitely worth shelling out an extra £50 or $75 for — something I plan to do from now on.

SEE ALSO: A flight comparison expert says 3 unusual travel hacks could help you beat expensive last-minute and summer flights

Join the conversation about this story »

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Here's what the terms DOC and DOCG mean on your prosecco bottle — and how to spot a fake

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prosecco

  • Conterfeit fizz is reportedly on the rise.
  • There are certain markers on a bottle that will tell you whether it's a certified prosecco DOC or DOCG.
  • Read on to learn the difference between the two.


It's summertime and the fizz should be well and truly flowing. 

While crémant and English sparkling wine are steadily gaining popularity among those who don't have the spare cash to invest in champers, our old friend prosecco is still mighty popular. 

Counterfeit fizz, however, is reportedly on the rise. So that you can rest assured that your bubbles are the real deal, it's worth knowing how to spot a fake. 

And have you ever wondered what the terms "DOC" and "DOCG" refer to? 

Business Insider spoke to Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo, the fashion executive husband of Jessica Chastain, who also owns his own premium prosecco brand Fiol. 

Prosecco is made in certain territories in north-east Italy, using mainly "glera" grapes, although other varieties such as chardonnay and pinot grigio can also be mixed in. 

Passi de Preposulo told us that back in 2009, when the prosecco boom began following the financial crisis, around 20% of bottles were fake.

DOC vs. DOCG

That year a consortium of producers made efforts to regulate the industry and created two classification labels, DOC and DOCG, that could confirm a bottle's status. 

DOC means designation of controlled origin, while DOCG means designation of controlled origin and guaranteed.

The latter is more stringent. The production area of DOCG is the Conegliano Valdobbiadene area, a hilly area in north-east Italy 50km from Venice, where the prosecco produced is considered "superior." DOCG guidelines also stipulate that government licensed representatives must taste the prosecco before it is bottled, according to Follador.

The rolling lush hills of Valdobbiadene are pictured below. 

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Region

Meanwhile, production of prosecco DOC falls within four provinces of Friuli Venezia Giulia — Gorizia, Pordenone, Trieste, and Udine — and five in Veneto — Belluno, Padua, Treviso, Venice, and Vicenza.

You can see an illustration of the "quality pyramid" here.

Spotting a fake 

According to the prosecco DOC's online guidelines, there are a few markers that will help you to detect whether you have a real bottle of prosecco on your hands.

Firstly, look out for a unique alphanumeric code and data matrix on the bottle collar.

Meanwhile, on the back of the bottle the label should read "Prosecco DOC" and "Product of Italy."

tulip flute

Don't drink it from a regular flute

To make your experience even more authentic, it may come as a surprise that regular champagne flutes are not recommended by the prosecco experts in the know. Passi de Preposulo suggests that you enjoy prosecco in a tulip-shaped glass to make the most of the "mineralogy and bouquet." 

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

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The simple rule this couple follows to avoid fighting about money

21 signs you're a narcissist

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Narcissistic personality disorder

  • Narcissistic behavior includes self-righteousness, a pattern of cheating in relationships, and taking advantage of other people.
  • We put together a list of 21 typical behaviors of narcissists, based on research and expert opinion.
  • This list isn't intended to be diagnostic, but it can give you a good idea of whether you or someone you know might be a narcissist.

You're more likely to find a narcissist in the C-suite than on the street, research suggests

That's because the traits that make narcissists so difficult to hang out with or date — including a constant need for validation, a willingness to control people, and a ruthlessness in getting their needs met — happen to make them super effective at rising up the ranks.  

To help you figure out if you, or perhaps your boss, are a narcissist, we combed through the psychology literature looking for patterns of narcissistic behavior. We also spoke with Joseph Burgo, Ph.D., a psychologist and the author of "The Narcissist You Know."

Here are 21 common signs of narcissism.

This is an update of an article originally written by Vivian Giang, with additional contributions by Drake Baer. 

SEE ALSO: 4 reasons narcissists can be highly effective leaders

You are a bad sport.

Burgo says some narcissists are bullies — and one of their most troublesome traits is their tendency to be a sore loser and a sore winner.

For example, when they lose in a sports match, they might try to humiliate the referee. When they win, they might gloat excessively or act abusive to the losing party.



You constantly feel underappreciated.

The kind of people that Burgo calls "grandiose" narcissists always hold a grievance against the world.

They typically feel entitled to something better and think they're not getting the recognition they deserve from others.



If you're not grandiose, then you're introverted, hypersensitive, defensive, and anxious.

Psychologists talk about the "two faces of narcissism." On one end there's the hyper-aggressive, super-loud type. But there's a softer form of narcissism, too. It's called "covert narcissism," which is denoted by introversion, hypersensitivity, defensiveness, and anxiety.

"Both shades of narcissism shared a common core of conceit, arrogance, and the tendency to give in to one's own needs and disregard others," Scientific American reports.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

I asked 3 relationship experts about the biggest mistakes people make on dating apps

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Tinder Bumble Jess Carbino

  • Dating apps are still pretty new, meaning they're still really confusing.
  • Three relationship experts weighed in on the biggest mistakes people make while online dating. For example, many people hesitate to say what they really want in a relationship.
  • This post is part of Relationships 101, a series which aims to help us all be happier and healthier in love — and to stop fighting over who should take out the trash.


Online dating is new enough that there's still a lot of confusion over how (or if) it works.

So if you're staying up until 3 a.m. struggling to craft a Tinder bio that screams "single and ready to mingle!" but also "totally chill about this," know that you're not alone.

Over the past year or so, I've spoken to experts including a psychologist, a sociologist, and a dating app founder about the best approaches to online dating — as well as the worst. And boy, are there are a lot of worsts.

Here are the biggest mistakes people make on dating apps — and what to do instead:

1. Spending more than 30 minutes a day browsing profiles

According to Jess Carbino, Bumble's in-house sociologist (she previously worked at Tinder), 30 minutes is a sufficient amount of time to spend on dating apps: 15 in the morning and 15 at night.

"People are busy, and they need to think about dating as a part of their life, as a component of their life," Carbino said. "It shouldn't feel like a job. Dating should feel like something that you're doing in order to meet somebody."

Instead of spending hours swiping, Carbino said, "It would be better if you were spending a couple hours a week on a date, or two dates, or three dates, and trying to get to know people that you've matched with."

Carbino did add that, if you're really active on dating apps, meaning you're messaging with multiple people at once, 30 minutes in the morning and 30 in the evening is fine.

2. Obscuring what they're really looking for in a relationship

Dawoon Kang, cofounder and co-CEO of dating app Coffee Meets Bagel, emphasized the importance of being upfront in your dating profile. If you're looking for something serious, say so.

"I sense we feel a little bit embarrassed about saying what we want in a relationship or a person," Kang said. "There is, culturally, a trend of 'caring too much is not cool.'"

Kang thinks this is kind of ridiculous: How will you get what you want if you pretend you don't want it?

She said, "What I really want to encourage people to be is yourself. Cool or not, if that's what you want, say that, because otherwise how is the other person going to know? And you really want to not waste time attracting the wrong people."

3. Relying on an 'algorithm' to find their soul mate

Psychologist Eli Finkel recently co-authored a study that suggests supposed algorithms on dating sites don't actually work.

For the study, published in the journal Psychological Science, Finkel and colleagues had students fill out questionnaires before a speed-dating session and used a mathematical model to predict who would like who. As it turned out, the mathematical model they used did a worse job of predicting attraction than simply taking the average attraction between two students in the experiment.

Finkel says apps like Tinder and Bumble are the best options out there, simply because they allow you to meet the greatest number of people.

He said, "These companies don't claim that they're going to give you your soul mate, and they don't claim that you can tell who's compatible with you from a profile. You simply swipe on this stuff and then meet over a pint of beer or a cup of coffee.

"And I think this is the best solution. Online dating is a tremendous asset for us because it broadens the dating pool and introduces us to people who we otherwise wouldn't have met."

SEE ALSO: I asked a marriage counselor for the 3 most common sex and relationship problems she sees, and they turn conventional wisdom on its head

Join the conversation about this story »

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This is the one thing you should never do when wearing a pocket square, according to men's style experts

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David Gandy attends the Huntsman and The Gentleman's Journal LCM Cocktail Evening on June 11, 2016 in London, England.

  • It's not just the suit that counts, it's how you wear it.
  • "A nice shirt, tie, and pocket square can change the look," tailor Will Davison says.
  • However, a nice suit can be ruined by matching accessories.

Sometimes, it's not enough just to own a nice suit— it's how you wear it that counts.

Luckily, this doesn't have to mean spending a fortune at a tailor, and accessorising well can help upgrade a look effortlessly.

According to tailor Will Davison, "A nice shirt, tie, and pocket square can change the look."

However, the co-founder of Jack Davison Bespoke told Business Insider that there's one mistake guys often make — and that's matching the pattern of their pocket square exactly to their tie.

"Lots of people get hung up on having a matching tie and a matching pocket square, but we don't personally like it," Davison says.

Instead, he suggests: "Pick out a colour from the tie or the suit and have that in the pocket square so they're similar tones to each other but not completely matching."

Jack Stammers (L) and Will Davison (R) of Jack Davison Bespoke.

The City of London tailors aren't the only ones to have a distaste for matching accessories.

"One of the big pocket square no-nos for me is when they directly match the tie like they came together in a set," Dan Rookwood, US Editor at Mr Porter, told FashionBeans. 

"A pocket square should be used to add some interest in terms of colour and/or pattern," he added.

how to wear a pocket square graphic

Pocket square makers Rampley & Co agree.

"If your pocket square has a pattern or print, for example, then pick a colour from that palette to bring your look together and match it to a primary colour in your ties," they say on their website.

In short, your pocket square should complement your look — not match or clash with it.

SEE ALSO: This is the suit you should build your wardrobe around, according to the tailor duo who dress celebrities and City of London bankers

Join the conversation about this story »

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Capital Gazette staffers describe minute-by-minute what happened the day of the shooting

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capital gazette shooting

  • Five employees of the Capital Gazette were killed on Thursday when a gunman fired into the newspaper's office.
  • The Capital newspaper and The Baltimore Sun have the full account of the tragic day, reporting what multiple employees were doing before and after the fateful event.

On Thursday afternoon, a gunman walked into the newsroom of the Capital Gazette where 11 employees were working and opened fire, killing five people and wounding two.

On Sunday, the front pages of The Capital and The Baltimore Sun, which bought the Capital Gazette in 2014, told the full accounts of the tragic day, reporting what multiple employees went through minute-by-minute.

Multiple employees told the papers they hid under their desks as soon as they heard shots ring out, even though some never saw the shooter.

Reporter Selene San Felice said she curled around summer intern Anthony Messenger. San Felice told The Sun she thinks she may have bit him to prevent herself from screaming out and revealing their hiding spot to the shooter.

From under his desk, staff writer Phil Davis texted somebody who was able to call 911. The Anne Arunderl county police chief said the first officer pulled up to the office building within a minute of the first call to the station.

"It is a different feeling when it happens around you," Davis told The Capital. "You are helpless. You are hopeless. To then walk over the bodies of those people who were shot for something they had nothing to do with, it is probably something I’ll never be able to walk away from. I feel so terribly for everyone’s family."

Multiple employees were out of the office at the time of the shooting, The Sun reported. The majority of the advertising staff happened to be off-site at a meeting with The Sun. Editor Rick Hutzell was in Ocean City at the time of the shooting. Political reporter Chase Cook (who wrote The Capital's story) and photographer Josh McKerrow were spared, too.

Rob Hiaasen was not as lucky as some of his colleagues. Thursday was his wife Maria's 58th birthday. She told The Sun she was going to open her present from her husband when he got home that night. But Rob never returned home.

Maria said she read the card her late husband wrote but hasn't opened the bag with her present. "I can't bring myself to open it just yet," she said in a text.

Read the The Capital's full story of the shooting here »

And read the Baltimore Sun's story here »

SEE ALSO: These are the people killed in a mass shooting at the offices of the Capital Gazette

DON'T MISS: Trump condemns 'horrific' attack on newspaper, saying journalists 'should be free from the fear of being violently attacked while doing their jobs'

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NOW WATCH: Stop blaming violent video games for mass shootings

Russia pulled off one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history when their keeper made an incredible save on the final kick

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World Cup PK save by Igor Akinfeev of Russia

  • Russia defeated Spain in the knockout stage of the World Cup, 4-3, on penalty kicks.
  • Russia's goalkeeper, Igor Akinfeev, made an incredible save with his foot on Spain's final kick.
  • It is the biggest upset ever in the knockout stage and the third biggest upset overall in World Cup history.


Russia pulled off one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history when they defeated Spain on PKs.

The two sides were still tied, 1-1, after 90 minutes plus 30 minutes of extra time, with Spain scoring on a Russian own goal and Russia converting a penalty after Spain committed a handball in the box. It was the first match of the tournament to go to penalty kicks.

After both teams converted their first two PKs, Russia took the lead in the third round when Igor Akinfeev stopped Koke's attempt. In the fifth round, Iago Aspas needed to convert his try to keep Spain alive.

Akinfeev made an incredible save, kicking the attempt down the middle away with his boot and sending the host nation on to the quarterfinals.

Based on Russia's ranking of 70th in the world, this match was the biggest upset ever in the knockout stage of the World Cup, and the third biggest upset overall.

Spain entered the knockout stage as one of the favorites to reach the final as the best team on the weaker side of the bracket. Instead, this side of the bracket is now wide open.

More World Cup coverage:

Join the conversation about this story »

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Jessica Chastain explains why she thought her new Western would never get made

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Woman Walks Ahead A24

  • "Woman Walks Ahead" stars Jessica Chastain playing Catherine Weldon, a 1800s portrait painter who befriended Sitting Bull.
  • Business Insider spoke to Chastain and director Susanna White about making the $12 million Western and why many of the issues addressed in the movie are still being addressed in the country today.


In Jessica Chastain’s latest movie, “Woman Walks Ahead,” she continues her quest to get powerful female stories to the big screen. But to make things more challenging, this one is a Western.

“Woman Walks Ahead” follows the true story of Catherine Weldon (played by Chastain), a 1800s portrait painter from Brooklyn who travels out West to seek out Sitting Bull (Michael Greyeyes) to paint him. But the two quickly build a friendship leading to Weldon assisting the legendary Native American leader and the Lakota people in their struggle over land rights.

Shot on location in Santa Fe on a low budget of $12 million, the movie’s director, Susanna White (“Boardwalk Empire,” “Billions,” and “Trust”), does a lot with a little to give the movie the feel of the vast Westerns that were once a staple in the movie business.

Business Insider sat down with Chastain and White to discuss the importance of casting the movie with indigenous people and why the issues of immigration and racism that are affecting the country today make the release of “Woman Walks Ahead” (available on DIRECTV Cinema and in theaters on Friday) even more vital.

Jason Guerrasio: So you two voiced interest in working with each other, but it all comes down to that first meeting, right? If you two don't get along it doesn't really go beyond that I would imagine. 

Jessica Chastain: Yeah, we clicked at our first meeting. I really liked Susanna's work and we talked about the film and she talked about the story she wanted to tell and the point of view. We had a conversation about how all the indigenous characters would be played by indigenous people. That was incredibly important to me and I was on board. But in all fairness, I didn't think the movie was going to get made. That was the hard line: I was not going to play Catherine Weldon alongside Sitting Bull if he was a famous actor wearing a wig and who wasn't indigenous. And I didn't think a financier would finance the film. But then [producer] Erika Olde, thank goodness for her. 

Susanna White: Basically the movie was written 14 years ago for Ed Zwick to direct. I came across it three years ago. I grew up loving Westerns, as a genre. It's one of the first things that got me into cinema. Those big John Ford films, this huge sense of scale. There's a magic to that. But at the same time it was a world that I didn't connect with. It was a man's world, a very violent world, and where women were very marginalized characters — as were the Native Americans in the stories. So what I fell in love within a few pages was the Native American characters were very layered, sophisticated, we were seeing that culture from a different point of view and discovering it through the eyes and ears of this extraordinary woman. So there were two levels on which I loved it. It was a story of a strong female character but also the inverse of the Western as we've seen it. People without a voice having a voice. 

Guerrasio: Did either of you know about Catherine before making this?

woman walks ahead 2 a24 final

Chastain: I didn't know about her. I started Googling her and then I started reading her letters, which were fascinating. Also, when I read the script I thought, "Did they really love each other?" I didn't know if that was just something added [to the script], but in one of her letters she said that he proposed to her. So I just thought that was fascinating. These people from different parts of the country who, like Susanna said, were not being acknowledged as equal human beings, and this great love and friendship that they developed for each other. 

White: Spending time on the reservation with the Lakota people, whenever I asked about Sitting Bull they said, "He was a great spiritual leader," and that became important to me in the casting. As I read stuff he'd written I would hear this phrase that I can't get out of my head, "The greatest strength is in gentleness," and so when I was casting and came across Michael [Greyeyes] I thought I needed someone who had this spiritual quality.

Guerrasio: You were working with a $12 million budget, how did you pull off the movie’s beautiful look on that kind of low budget, in regards to making a Western?

White: It was tight. We had to shoot it in 31 days, we had no time for pick ups. We never [could have] afforded it at the end of the movie. It was mind over matter. But we managed it and here's the film after 14 years, so that's all that matters. 

susanna white jessica chastain a24Guerrasio: You made the movie around 2016, do you think it would have been easier to get attention to the movie and get more money for it if you made it now? With how aware the industry is now for female-focused stories. 

White: I don't know. People are seeing that female stories actually can do well at the box office, and numbers do talk in this industry, so I think there's more of a conversation now. I don't know how much the needle has really moved. We'll see. But in how the movie is being received, I can see a shift.

Guerrasio: Do you see the needle moving, Jessica?

Chastain: Well, I can tell you with this film there's a shift since it premiered at Toronto. In Toronto I remember there was an article that in the headline from a very reputable paper it said something like "Catherine Weldon Talks to Savages." I found it so offensive, Michael Greyeyes pointed it out. If it came out now there would be greater repercussions to a headline like that. 

standing rock

Guerrasio: The movie was shot while the Standing Rock protest was going on, what was it like shooting this movie and the going back to your room and seeing that on the TV?

Chastain: It was always present on set. It was always spoken about. We were taking pictures and sending them to Standing Rock with our support. There was a big indigenous community working on our film so we weren't separate from what was happening.

Guerrasio: Something like that going on in the present, can that get you deeper into the character you’re playing?

Chastain: It can help you put more into it. The story we're telling is still happening. So if anything, it just made me understand why the story needed to be told. Sam Rockwell's character says in the film that history is moving in a circle and that's true. Look at what's happening in the world today. We need to look at our history and examine and acknowledge what we've done and really learn from it in order to not repeat it.

Guerrasio: That must have been strange to experience, seeing Standing Rock was where Sitting Bull was killed. But it also has to be strange to go and promote a movie like this and then see what's in the headlines today in regards to immigration, racism, these are all touched on in the movie.

Chastain: Children being taken from their parents.

Guerrasio: Yes.

Chastain: That's what happened to that community [in the movie]. 

Guerrasio: What's the biggest thing you’ve seen an audience take away from the movie?

White: The most moving thing for me was I went and showed the movie at Rapid City a week ago and to show it to that Lakota community, they were so moved to be given the validation of their community being taken seriously. At the end of the movie they started drumming. They had this whole ceremony to give me an Indian name to welcome me to that community. They gave me the name, "Woman Who Gets Things Done," which is a beautiful name. 

 

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

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NOW WATCH: 5 science facts that 'Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom' totally ignored

A look at the zodiac signs of all the US presidents

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  • Some zodiac signs are more presidential than others.
  • Aquarius and Scorpio were the two most popular among the 44 US presidents.
  • Virgo and Aries were the rarest signs.
  • But, all in all, the presidents were spread out across the board when it comes to their horoscopes.


The United States is currently being run by a Gemini.

That's right. US President Donald Trump was born on June 14, 1946, toward the tail end of Gemini's horoscope range.

To recap, twelve astrological signs make up the classic Western zodiac, which dates back to ancient times. Sun sign astrology, which focuses on the position of the Sun on your birthday, took hold in the 20th century. It seeks to link each astrological sign with vaguely-worded personality profiles.

So can these astrological symbols tell us anything about the tenures of individual US presidents?

No. Of course not.

But, whether you think horoscopes are fluff and nonsense or you religiously check if Mercury is about to retrograde, it's fun to look back on what constellation each president was born under.

Here's a look at the zodiac signs of each US president:

SEE ALSO: 14 US presidents who were members of one of the most mysterious and powerful secret societies in history

DON'T MISS: The 17 weirdest jobs of US presidents

SEE ALSO: What every president's signature looks like

Each zodiac sign boasts at least two presidents

When it comes to the frequency of presidential zodiac signs, Aquarius and Scorpio are tied for first.

Five presidents were born between January 20 and February 18, and five presidents were born between October 23 and November 21.

Meanwhile, Aries and Virgo proved to be the rarest zodiac signs among the 44 presidents.



Some of the most famous — and unlucky — presidents were born under the sign of Aquarius

What about the sign of the water-carrier is so seemingly presidential?

Well, those born under Aquarius are characterized as smart, stubborn, and brutally honest, according to INSIDER.

But, strangely enough, four of the five Aquarius presidents died in office.

William Henry Harrison succumbed to a pneumonia a month into his tenure. Franklin D. Roosevelt died 11 weeks into his fourth term, just months before the end of World War II.

Assassins' bullets cut down both Abraham Lincoln and William McKinley.

Ronald Reagan was the lone survivor of the bunch, although he was shot in the chest in a 1981 assassination attempt.



There hasn't been a Pisces president since 1897

Pisces presidents had a good run for a while.

George Washington, the first US president, was born under the sign of the fish. This zodiac is linked with dreaminess, good judgment, and impracticality.

James Madison and Andrew Jackson followed Washington. Decades later, another Pisces — Grover Cleveland — became the first and only president to ever serve two non-concurrent terms.

But, since Cleveland left the White House in 1897, it's been a dry run for Pisces. 



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See inside the California estate actor Rob Lowe is selling for $47 million, where Oprah and Ellen DeGeneres are neighbors

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  • Rob Lowe and his wife Sheryl are selling their 10,000 square-foot estate, listed for $47 million with Sotheby's International Realty.
  • It's in Montecito, California, the area hit with mudslides earlier this year that killed at least 17 people. 
  • The home sits on 3.4 acres of land and has views of the Pacific Ocean and nearby Santa Ynez mountains. 

"Parks and Recreation" actor Rob Lowe and his jewelry designer wife Sheryl are selling their 3.4-acre estate in Montecito, California, for $47 million, according to a new listing from Sotheby's International Realty.

The couple bought the land, near Santa Barbara, in 2005 and designed the home from the ground up, recruiting an architect, interior designer, landscape architect, and even a feng shui master. It was inspired by the Virginia countryside where the famous actor grew up and was featured on the cover of Architectural Digest in November 2010. 

The couple is selling the home because their children are grown and have moved out, they said in statement.

Earlier this year, the Montecito area was hit with recurring mudslides that destroyed hundreds of homes and resulted in more than a dozen deaths, but Lowe's estate was unharmed, partly due to its elevation. The neighborhood is home to many celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, and Jeff Bridges.

Below, take a tour of the $47 million estate.

SEE ALSO: A mountaintop mansion with an indoor basketball court and parking for 80 cars just went on the market in Los Angeles for a whopping $135 million

DON'T MISS: The 35-year-old billionaire president of In-N-Out Burger is selling her California mansion for $19.8 million — here's a look inside

Actor Rob Lowe and his wife Sheryl listed their Montecito mansion with Sotheby's International Realty for $47 million. They bought the land back in 2005.

Source: Sotheby's International Realty



They completed the home in 2009. It was the vision of architect Don Nulty, interior designer David Phoenix, landscape architect Mark Rios, and feng shui specialist David Cho.

Source: Sotheby's International Realty



The estate sits on 3.4 acres of land and totals 10,000 square feet of living space, offering ocean and mountain views. "I always wanted that house where everybody wants to go," Lowe told Architectural Digest.

Sources: Sotheby's International RealtyArchitectural Digest



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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.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

'Sicario' sequel director says not having Emily Blunt led to a movie with no morals

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  • The "Sicario: Day of the Soldado" director Stefano Sollima said the difference between this movie and the original is that the sequel has no "moral guidance" for the audience.
  • The stakes are also higher, leading to some unforgiving scenes, including one of a graphic suicide bombing.
  • Sollima said the scene was vital to show that, in this movie, its stars Benicio del Toro and Josh Brolin are not playing by any rules.
  • The director hopes the movie sparks a discussion, especially as it comes out amid the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" policy for people caught crossing the US-Mexico border illegally. 

The Italian director Stefano Sollima's fascination with the underworld has fueled his career.

From a look at how organized crime influenced politics in Rome for 2015's "Suburra" to the TV-series version of "Gomorrah" (based on Roberto Saviano's book and Matteo Garrone's feature film), which gave a glimpse inside one of the Italian Mafia's most powerful regimes, his projects are gritty portrayals of the clash between law enforcement and criminals.

Now Sollima brings his style to Hollywood with "Sicario: Day of the Soldado" (in theaters Friday), the sequel to Denis Villeneuve's 2015 critically acclaimed "Sicario."

In the first movie, we follow Kate Macer, an idealist FBI agent played by Emily Blunt who is enlisted by a government task force, led by Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) and flanked by the mysterious Alejandro (Benicio del Toro), to assist in the escalating drug war on the US-Mexico border.

With the movie's breathtaking cinematography by the legendary Roger Deakins and powerful script from Taylor Sheridan ("Hell or High Water"), Villeneuve created an instant classic.

sicario bluntSo Sollima admits he was confused when he was approached to make a sequel to a movie that felt like such a standalone. However, he became a little more interested when it was explained to him that the plan was to make a movie simply "in the spirit" of the first.

He was completely sold when he read Sheridan's script. By the time he finished reading it, the "different kind of sequel" pitch was certainly accurate, as Blunt's character was nowhere to be found.

"Emily Blunt is an amazing actress, but her role was sort of a moral guidance for the audience," Sollima told Business Insider over the phone. "In 'Soldado,' we don't have that. This is closer to my vision of storytelling. I prefer not to have a moral guidance for the audience."

That is evident in the first 10 minutes of "Soldado."

In the movie, we are taken deeper into the Mexican drug cartels and the shady politics played by the US government. But Sollima believed that to have the audience fully buy into the plot, he first had to show them that this one had even higher stakes than "Sicario."

To open the movie, several terrorists walk into a big-box store on US soil and detonate bombs attached to themselves. The way Sollima shot the scene, the audience is pulled into the chaos rather than watching it play out from a safe distance.

The camera follows the men to the entrance of the store. As they continue to walk in, moments later, you see them explode in different areas of the store. The camera stays on one girl crying by the registers. Her mother comes into the frame to grab her, and as they turn to leave, they freeze in shock, looking at something off camera. The shot pulls back to reveal another suicide bomber in front of them. As the mother pleads with the man to let them go, the bomber, whispering a prayer, triggers the bomb, and the explosion kills them all as the screen goes to black.

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It's revealed that the terrorists were trafficked across the border by a Mexican cartel, leading to Graver and Alejandro getting the call to devise a plan for some payback.

Sollima said Sheridan wrote the terrorist-bombing scene differently. In the script, the camera is pulled far back to show the attack. But the director said the intimacy of that moment was needed.

"I think it was the best way to get inside the story," he said. "You want the audience to be fully into the plan: 'Let's have revenge.'"

And the shot of the mother and daughter being killed was to show that no one is safe in this movie.

"When you see the kid, you are thinking, 'It's impossible, this is not going to happen,' and when it does happen, you realize anything can happen in this movie," Sollima said. "That was really important."

Things only get more intense; the movie features a child kidnapping, drone strikes, and a whole lot of shootouts.

However, what Sollima — or anyone involved with the movie — could never have predicted was that it would be released at a moment when the topic of borders and immigration are dominating the news cycle and social media.

In the wake of President Donald Trump's controversial "zero tolerance" immigration policy, coverage has turned to the thousands of children who were separated from their families at the US-Mexico border due to the policy. (Trump last week signed an executive order designed to end the family separations.) Now, "Soldado" is suddenly thrust into the narrative.

As ads for the movie show violent acts on the border, it's safe to say that Sollima's "no morals" storytelling could turn off some people going to the theaters looking for some escapism.

sicario 2 Sony

There's another possibility: "Soldado" could be used as a tool for those who agree with the zero-tolerance policy.

Is Sollima concerned?

Sollima said he wasn't, but he believes it's healthy for a movie to launch a conversation.

"It's what you expect — people are going to discuss it," he said. "You provoke a discussion."

He said that was what's great about making gangster movies: Topics can be explored, and discussions can be launched.

"You have some code of the genre that you're playing with, and this means you are going to tell the dark side of something with a lot of action," Sollima said. "But if you're smart enough, through the lens of the genre, you can reflect on the reality of the world around you."

Regardless of how "Soldado" performs in its opening weekend in theaters — it has a 73% Rotten Tomatoes rating with a 97% "want to see" rating — don't expect Sollima to make a Part Three in the "Sicario" franchise. When asked whether he was interested, he made it pretty clear that this was a one-and-done for him.

"It's more interesting to have a saga where you have completely different directors doing each movie," he said. "They will hire another director with their own vision and style."

SEE ALSO: Jessica Chastain explains why she thought her new Western would never get made

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: What the future of Apple looks like

LeBron James is now a Laker — take a tour of the $23 million mansion he bought in Los Angeles

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Lebron James House

  • LeBron James is signing with the Los Angeles Lakers.
  • Before James decided to sign with the Lakers, he purchased a home in Los Angeles for $23 million.
  • The mansion is his second in Los Angeles and his third house overall.
  • LeBron and his family of five can live in great comfort and style in the luxurious, newly-built palace.

 

The king of the NBA is now a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, but he won't have to look for a new house.

The star athlete spent $23 million on a brand new home in the swanky Brentwood neighborhood. The home is actually King James' second in LA, in addition to his house in Akron, Ohio. 

This purchase clashes with the image LeBron tries to create of the frugal basketball star. Perhaps the Cleveland Cavilers' forward is prudent with other purchases in order to afford his three mansions. 

When he played for the Miami Heat, James resided in a south Florida home he sold for over $13 million. His newest purchase is a 2017-built home that cost him slightly more than the $20 million he handed over for his first LA mansion.

Everyone — even non-sports fans — can appreciate the splendor of his new digs.

Check out LeBron's sweet buy, photos and information courtesy of Trulia:

SEE ALSO: The world's richest people are flocking to these 17 cities

DON'T MISS: The 35-year-old billionaire president of In-N-Out Burger is selling her California mansion for $19.8 million — here's a look inside

When LeBron isn't shooting hoops, he can feed house guests thanks to his custom chef's kitchen. With a combination of natural French oak and marble on the floor, LeBron can cook in great comfort. Or he can just hire a chef to make him a meal high in protein.



The hard oak floors are reminiscent of a basketball court. And if LeBron's legs get sore, there's an elevator that will take him to the rooftop terrace.



The James' home has eight bedrooms, so the starting five for the Cavilers can stay over when they're in town. The master suite has a massive walk-in closet and a private patio.



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This 14-year-old boy is bossing social media with his colorful cakes

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  • Ryan Wilson has a big following on social media.
  • He films cake making tutorial videos and posts them to YouTube and Instagram. 
  • He has also competed on the Food Network's Kids Baking Championship.

Ryan Wilson is a 14 year-old from San Francisco who's has been making cakes since he was eight. 

He creates beautiful and varied designs that are shared on Instagram on YouTube.   

Produced by Amanda Villa-Lobos

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

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These are the 10 clothing brands that teens are obsessed with

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  • Piper Jaffray surveyed 6,000 teens across the US to find out how they are spending their money.
  • Overall, teen spending was up 2% this year compared to the previous year. 
  • Athletic brands continued to dominate the apparel and footwear rankings, with Nike coming in first place. 

Teen shoppers are big business for retailers. 

According to Piper Jaffray's semi-annual survey of teen spending habits, released in April, Gen X is responsible for 7% of retail sales in the US. In the past year, their spending increased 2%.

These younger consumers are driving change in retail – the report showed that, overall, teens are spending more on food than anything else, shopping online, and continuing to drive growth in athletic wear. 

The survey was done of 6,000 teens across the US, with an average age of 16. Here are their 10 most popular apparel brands:

SEE ALSO: These are the biggest sibling rivalries in the clothing business

10. Rue21

Despite filing for bankruptcy in 2017 and being saddled with debt, teen retailer Rue21 is still winning over the hearts of teen shoppers. It was ranked in fifth place overall for female shoppers.



9. PacSun

PacSun also filed for bankruptcy in 2016, but it still remains popular among teens. Continuing to attract young customers will likely put it on the path toward long-term stability.



8. H&M

H&M has come under scrutiny recently, being accused of failing to stay on top of trends and losing out to more fashionable rivals such as Zara and ASOS. 

However, it's still the world's second-largest retailer (after Zara's parent company Inditex) and has nearly 700 stores in the US, which means it's reaching a ton of teens.



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Fitness apps can help people get in shape — here's how to use one of the top science-backed workout apps

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Most Americans don't get enough exercise.

Less than a quarter of adults ages 18 to 64 met the government's recommended physical-activity guidelines from 2010 to 2015. Those guidelines call for healthy adults to do a minimum of 2 1/2 hours of moderate-intensity activity — or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity — plus at least two muscle-strengthening days a week.

Exercise is essentially the closest thing that exists to a miracle drug— something that can extend life, boost mood and improve mental health, fight disease, and just make you feel better as you live your day-to-day life.

But once you decide it's time to get fit, it can be hard to know where to start. Fitness apps can help.

No app is a solution on its own, but there's more and more evidence that whether your goals are to start running or get stronger, apps seeking to guide workouts can help.

One of the top apps for getting in shape is the Sworkit app, which functions as a sort of playlist for exercise, whether you want to do bodyweight strength exercises, stretches, cardio, or yoga. The company behind the app received a $1.5 million investment from Mark Cuban after appearing on "Shark Tank," and there's scientific evidence backing the use of Sworkit for training, too.

In 2015, a team of sports scientists analyzed 30 popular free fitness apps and found that Sworkit was the most closely aligned with the American College of Sports Medicine's training guidelines. (At the time, Sworkit had a free version, though new users now need to sign up for the paid version of the app, for which there is a 30-day free trial.*)

Those guidelines say a workout should include aerobic, strength, resistance, and flexibility components; it should follow evidence-based guidelines for frequency, intensity, and types of workouts; and it should include safety measures to help make sure beginners start at a safe point.

No app was perfect, the analysis found (and most were terrible). The biggest concern that researchers had was that by getting a workout from an app instead of from a trainer, a person might try to do too much and injure themselves.

But overall, that analysis found that Sworkit provided useful guidelines for strength training, cardio, and flexibility exercise, and I personally have found it a fun and effective way to fit in a workout on busy days.

(It is worth noting that another recent analysis that compared apps to the ACSM's training guidelines had many of the same concerns about injuries, and that analysis didn't rank Sworkit as highly as several other popular apps worth trying, including NikePlus and the top choice in that analysis, the The Johnson and Johnson Official 7-Minute Workout, highly recommended by my colleague Erin Brodwin. Those apps are free.)

But if you're interested in a playlist of exercises that can be done without equipment and for a variable duration of time, we'd recommend giving Sworkit a try. Here's how it works.

*Correction: Sworkit used to have a free version, which this writer had been able to continue to use, since the app had been previously downloaded.

But readers have alerted us that new users now have to sign up for the premium version of the app, for which there is a 30-day free trial. Sworkit Premium costs $9.99 a month or $6.66 a month for people who pay by the year. It includes a number of customization options and the option to communicate with trainers about your workouts. This review was written based on the free version.

SEE ALSO: How much you have to exercise and what kind of workout to do to get different types of benefits

The initial interface is simple and clean.

When you open the app, you can choose whether you want to focus on strength, cardio, yoga, or stretching.

All the exercises are bodyweight-based, so you don't need equipment for any of the workouts. While I wouldn't use this as my only fitness option, it's a nice way to get a varied workout that can be done at home or on the road.



There are custom or sport-specific workouts.

If you want some variation from the initial options, there are also custom workouts on the home screen.

Some are targeted toward beginners, older athletes, or people with a specific fitness goal.

These routines include a number of sport-specific workouts or routines targeting specific body parts.



After choosing from one of the four main categories of workout — strength, cardio, yoga, or stretching — you get to select a focused workout from within that category.

Within the "strength" category, for example, you can choose between a full-body workout, an upper-body workout, a core workout, or a lower-body-focused workout.

The full-body workout is a great go-to option here. While I like to go for a run, ride a bike, or climb when I can, this is a nice alternative for particularly hot or freezing days.

Still, if you are going to use the app regularly, it's good to switch things up to stress different parts of your body.

You can work up a good sweat and push yourself hard enough that you get the mental clarity that's one of the best benefits of exercise.



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