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What happens when a night owl lives like an early bird

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There is a lot of advice out there about how to get the best night of sleep. But the fact that you can't sleep might not be your fault. It turns out, night owls have an internal clock that functions differently. Forcing them to wake up early could have serious health consequences. The following is a transcript of the video.

There is plenty of advice for how to improve your sleep. Go to bed at the same time. Avoid digital screens after dark. And don’t hit snooze. But it all comes down to the same assumption: That YOU’RE doing something wrong. When, in fact, it may not be your fault, at all.

Inside practically every organism on Earth there’s a clock that keeps order. Known as the circadian rhythm. For humans, it’s located in the part of our brains called the hypothalamus. And while it’s most famous for controlling our sleep cycles…it’s also responsible for helping primary organs like the brain, heart, and lungs, work in harmony. But not everyone’s circadian rhythm is the same. Night owls, for instance, generally feel tired later than early birds. Often because they produce high amounts of the sleep hormone, melatonin, later at night.

And for most of human history that didn’t matter — since night owls could protect their tribes from nocturnal predators or their cities from cunning conquerors — but society has MADE it a problem in recent decades. An estimated 80% of Americans follow daily schedules that fall between 6 am and 6 pm. Yet, nearly a third of the population considers themselves night owls. Which means they’d be better off with a schedule that looks more like this. This phenomenon is called social jetlag. It’s like the jetlag you feel after a long plane trip…but worse because it doesn’t disappear after a few days.

And social jetlag is taking its toll on night owls of the world. Because, even if you get the recommended amount of sleep…knocking your circadian rhythm out of whack has consequences. For example, one study found that for every hour your circadian rhythm is out of syn …your risk of obesity increases by 33%. Also increasing your risk of the many health complications associated with obesity. And the problem isn’t just a physical one. In another study, people whose circadian rhythms were more than 2 hours off…reported notably more severe symptoms of depression.

And since your circadian rhythm tends to shift as you age…social jetlag is especially apparent in teens. In fact, the CDC warns that most public schools across America start too early, before 8:30. Which, according to the nonprofit “Rand Corporation,” is costing the country $9 billion a year from mainly lost academic performance and car crashes from tired teens behind the wheel. Luckily, the circadian rhythm isn’t set in stone. Turns out, it’s largely triggered by light signals that strike your eye. So, when you first wake up, get outside and soak up some morning sun…or if that’s out of the question, make sure your home is well lit. It might just brighten your morning a little more.

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Tech workers in San Francisco are pining for the return of electric scooters, after first putting them on blast for hogging the sidewalks

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lime eletric scooter 1

  • The electric scooter armageddon in San Francisco was over almost as quickly as it began.
  • When the scooters arrived seemingly overnight in San Francisco, tech workers took to social media to express their outrage. That's no longer the case.
  • After the city passed a temporary ban on scooters, tech workers in San Francisco have been on Twitter declaring how much they miss scooters.

 

After taking to social media to gripe about the avalanche of electric scooters, tech workers in San Francisco are now begging the city to allow their return.

"Seriously though, when are we getting these scooters back in SF?" Parsa Saljoughian, an investor at venture firm IVP, which recently backed Lime, posted on Twitter.

Sarah Guo, a general partner at Greylock, said in a tweet, "Come back to SF, scooters."

"Yes please!" said Dennis Yang, founder of bot analytics company Dashbot.io, in a response to Guo's tweet. "So many short trips here in SF that they are perfect for."

Yang added that he has 70 credits left for Lime scooters, some of which expire in 13 days. But the chances he will be able to use them in San Francisco in time are slim.

After scooters hit the streets of San Francisco in March, many residents — including some tech workers— raged against the electric vehicles for routinely blocking sidewalks and building entrances, causing people to trip, and making sidewalks less accessible for people with mobility issues. The city attorney's office heard their complaints, and it eventually slapped three, high-profile scooter startups with cease and desist orders.

A dozen companies, including Lime, Bird, Uber (via its acquisition of bike-sharing startup Jump), and Lyft, are now vying for a limited number of permits. The city said in a blog post last week that scooters probably won't return to San Francisco until August.

While some tech workers cheered the demise of scooters, others are pining for their return in San Francisco. We've noticed entrepreneurs and venturecapitalists sharing how much they miss scooters on Twitter in recent weeks.

On Monday, Lime — the scooter startup backed by Andreessen Horowitz — released a report looking back at its first year. More than six million rides have been taken on the company's vehicles, which include pedal bikes, electric bikes, and electric scooters.

The report showed that San Franciscans cannot get enough of the company's scooters. In a survey sent to over 7,000 users living in the area, 93% of riders said they thought the city needed more scooters to satisfy demand. Lime booked about 300,000 rides on its electric scooters in San Francisco before the city temporarily banned all scooters.

lime eletric scooter 5

In June, Lime told Business Insider it's already working on a solution for the complaint that largely led to the scooter crackdown in the first place: The fact that because there's no dedicated scooter parking, they tend to get dumped anywhere and everywhere.

The company is in talks with SpotHero, an app that lets drivers find, reserve, and pay for parking spots on their phones, to dock some scooters in parking garages. The idea is that dedicated parking will help riders find scooters more easily, and it gives scooters a home inside of SpotHero's garages and lots so they take up less space on streets and sidewalks.

According to SpotHero, it's in conversation with several scooter companies. SpotHero CEO and cofounder Mark Lawrence said the talks are still early, but he's optimistic that his startup will partner with others to improve the scooter situation for everybody.

"The way we do it isn't so much important as the why, which is, so we can make mobility better, so we can reduce congestion, so we can get people to move in and out of cities," Lawrence told Business Insider.

See also:

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How The Rock's popularity in China led 'Skyscraper' to rebound and become the global box-office winner of the weekend

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Skyscarper Universal

  • After a soft opening in North America last weekend, Dwayne Johnson's "Skyscraper" rebounded big time in its second weekend in theaters.
  • It was the highest-grossing movie in the world over the weekend, with a global box-office take of $85 million.
  • A big reason for that is its performance in China.

It looks as if you can table all of the "Rock fatigue" chatter.

After Dwayne Johnson's latest movie, "Skyscraper," opened domestically last weekend with a very soft $24.9 million on more than 3,700 screens, the trades were quick to attribute the worst opening for The Rock in three years to overexposure of the larger-than-life superstar.

But many seemed to forget one thing: The movie hadn't opened in China yet.

In the past few years, Johnson has put extra time into ensuring that his brand is prevalent in the Middle Kingdom, and Universal/Legendary Entertainment, the backers of "Skyscraper," are now reaping the rewards.

"Skyscraper" opened in China over the weekend and was the top movie, with a $48.4 million opening. The movie became the top-earning title of the weekend worldwide, with a box-office take surpassing $86 million (it earned $11 million in North America and $27.3 million in other international territories).

For the most part, it's a moral victory for Johnson. With a slew of popular holdovers in theaters and stiff competition coming this weekend from "Mission: Impossible - Fallout," "Skyscraper" will not have much time on the mountaintop. But what this weekend did prove was why Johnson is the biggest — and most savvy — movie star working right now.

Doubling down on the China market

The performance of "Skyscraper" in China wasn't attributed only to the fact that posters of Johnson, hanging from a very large building, appeared all over the place. Like "Rampage," when the actor flew to Shanghai to promote the movie (and helped it earn over $150 million in its China run), Johnson was back hustling in China for his latest movie.

This time he went to Beijing and Hong Kong, where the movie is set, to get the word out about "Skyscraper."

But that was not the only play The Rock had this time around.

Along with Johnson's tireless promotion, the movie also had a rare summer release in China for an American-produced project. This time of year, Beijing often puts a blackout on foreign releases, but "Skyscraper" slipped in thanks to its being cofinanced by Legendary Entertainment, which is owned by the Chinese conglomerate Wanda.

That meant that at a time of year when the fastest-growing movie market typically doesn't get huge American stars on the big screen, suddenly The Rock was front and center.

A movie designed to do well in China

Another thing working in the favor of "Skyscraper" was that, from the beginning, it was made for the China market.

The film's director, Rawson Marshall Thurber, told Business Insider that even before he pitched the idea of the movie to Johnson, he wanted it to be set in Hong Kong. That was mainly because it's one of the few places that could believably house the world's tallest skyscraper.

Thurber was also aware of that region's appetite for cinema.

"The Middle Kingdom is massive and only growing, so it's certainly not by accident that we set the film in Hong Kong," Thurber said.

The director also made sure to cast a recognizable actor to Chinese audiences playing across from Johnson. The veteran Asian star Chin Han played the role of the man behind the creation of the skyscraper in the movie, and by the end he's fighting alongside Johnson against the bad guys who have taken it over.

"I wanted to make a movie that felt authentic to a place, that felt authentic to Hong Kong, that the Chinese people would embrace," Thurber said.

With "Skyscraper" now grossing more than $179 million worldwide, it's no longer a doom-and-gloom scenario when it comes to Johnson's ability to carry a movie. And for studios, this weekend also probably reassured them that if a movie from The Rock doesn't connect stateside, it can always rely on China.

SEE ALSO: All 37 Dwayne "The Rock" movies, ranked from worst to best

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8 lessons I've learned from moving 14 times in 12 years

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Moving

  • Moving can be overwhelming, both financially and emotionally.
  • On the other hand, moving to a new place brings the opportunity to meet new people, explore a different area, and have meaningful experiences.
  • Author Yan Mei moved 14 times in 12 years, including international and cross-country relocations — here's what she learned.


I've been living contentedly in the same neighborhood for almost four years, yet my friends and family still ask, "Will you move again soon?"

I don't blame them: I have a bit of a nomadic history. I moved 14 times in 12 years, including three international moves (from China to Great Britain, from Great Britain to Switzerland, and then Switzerland to the United States) and one cross-country move from the San Francisco Bay Area to New York City.

I consider myself fortunate, because my moves have gone hand in hand with positive steps in life — a graduate degree in London, career growth for my husband, a bigger apartment before I gave birth.

Moving so many times commanded a great deal of planning and effort, not to mention stress. However, the excitement of reorganizing my life and being part of a new place has always given me an adrenaline rush.

Here are the lessons I've learned as a serial mover:

SEE ALSO: 5 mistakes we made when we bought our first house

Always research the cost of living, job prospects, and healthcare details prior to moving to a new country

I didn't know that London would be so expensive until I moved there from China for grad school.

The city really honed my math skills: The number on every price tag, times 15, would yield how much it would cost in Chinese yuan. At least the UK's public health insurance, National Health Service (NHS), is free.

For every subsequent relocation, I made a list of pros and cons of the cost of living, job prospects, and health care in my new prospective home prior to moving.



A short trip to the country you're moving to before the move can leave a misleading impression

Moving to London taught me that cities vary widely neighborhood by neighborhood, and one sightseeing trip might leave a skewed impression.

My husband's company offered us visits to Switzerland and San Francisco before our moves, but we turned them down. We decided to leave neighborhood navigation until after we landed.

Once we arrived, with a clearer big picture, we had no qualms making the final decision about where we wanted to live, even though we hadn't set foot in the cities before we moved.



Find your bearings through research before moving

While calculating the financials and having a big picture of relocation is crucial for people like me, who either can't or choose not to visit a new city or country before moving, visiting and investigating different neighborhoods is equally important after you land.

A neighborhood's public transportation, commute, schools, neighborhood safety, grocery shops, and entertainment options will all affect your daily life, so you want to get to know them as well as possible before making a decision.

During our last move, daycare hunting was the last thing on my mind. I naïvely thought that there would be abundant choices in a cosmopolitan city like New York. This was a big mistake. In reality, it took me three months to find suitable daycare for our son.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Inside one of New York City's oldest and most famous bars, which serves only 2 beers and didn't allow women in until 1970

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bartender

  • Established in 1854, McSorley's Old Ale House is one of New York City's oldest bars.
  • The bar is still open in its original location.
  • Hundreds of items hang on its walls, some of which have been there since the day it opened.


McSorley's Old Ale House is one of the oldest bars in New York City. Established in 1854, the bar still serves its signature ale and sits in the same location as it did from the beginning.

Plenty of famous people have walked through its doors, like Teddy Roosevelt, Woody Guthrie, John Lennon, Babe Ruth, Hunter S. Thompson, and Harry Houdini. President Abraham Lincoln is rumored to have paid McSorley's a visit, and E.E. Cummings even wrote a poem about the bar.

Entering McSorley's feels like a trip back in time, and there are signs of its history all around. Ahead, take a look inside the famous ale house.

SEE ALSO: Take a tour of New York's most expensive neighborhood for renters, where the apartments cost $6,500 a month

McSorley's Old Ale House is located in the East Village, on 7th Street near 3rd Avenue in the St. Mark's Historic District.



Established in 1854, the pub boasts the slogan "We were here before you were born."



Only two types of beer are served at McSorley's: a light and dark ale. Ordering is easy — you simply say "light" or "dark."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

One of the 7 wonders of the world is a 10,000-year-old city hidden in the desert — and in real life, it's more incredible than you can imagine

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indiana Jones

  • The ancient city of Petra in Jordan became one of the 7 New Wonders of the World when it was chosen in 2007 by a vote of 100 million people.
  • The city's carved rose-red sandstone rock facades, tombs, and temples became known around the world with its appearance in Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade in 1989.
  • Ever since, Petra has become the most visited tourist attraction in Jordan and one of the most visited archeological sites in the world.
  • I recently fulfilled a childhood dream to visit the archeological site during a trip to the Middle East. It was even more epic and awe-inspiring than I could imagine.

While only one of the ancient seven wonders of the world still stands — the Pyramids of Giza — 100 million people voted in 2007 to select a New Seven Wonders of the World.

Among the winners: the Great Wall of China, the Christ the Redeemer Statue in Brazil, Machu Picchu in Peru, Chichen Itza in Mexico, the Colosseum in Rome, and the Taj Mahal in India.

The seventh and final site was the ancient city of Petra in Jordan, unknown to much of the world before 1989. That year, the city’s carved rose-red sandstone facades were featured in the blockbuster film Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade.

In the film, Petra stood in for where Indiana Jones finds the Holy Grail. I can recall being blown away, as a child, by the setting's grandeur and beauty. I have been dreaming of visiting it ever since. 

Petra was the capital of the Nabatean Empire, an ancient Arab state that grew rich due to its control of the Spice Road, the main caravan trading route that brought spices, incense, and textiles from Arabia, Africa, and India to the West. The carved rock faces of Petra were a testament to the civilization's prosperity and grandeur that has lasted to the present day.

I recently got a chance to visit while on a trip to Israel. Petra is about a day's drive from Tel Aviv, Israel, making it the perfect weekend excursion.

Here's what the experience was like:

SEE ALSO: I visited the most contested city in Israel, where Israelis and Palestinians are separated by a gauntlet of military checkpoints — and the harsh, complicated truth of the conflict was immediately clear

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I've been dreaming of visiting the city of Petra ever since I saw Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade as a kid. It seems silly now — the city has a far more interesting history — but I was amazed when they come upon the red-rock structure in the film.



I took a tour that left from Tel Aviv. After a seven-hour drive, we stopped at this viewpoint in Jordan over looking the valley where Petra is located. Even from this vantage point, the desert is stunning.



Our guide was a Jordanian man named Nizar Alhasani. Alhasani studied international relations at the University of Chicago. He told us that he'd spent some time advising the US military during the War in Iraq, but gave that up for tour guiding after his vehicle hit an IED.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Doing these 24 uncomfortable things will pay off forever

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yoga

  • It's time to challenge yourself and improve your life.
  • In order to make a positive change, you'll likely need to overcome obstacles and bad habits.
  • Check out these life-changing tweaks that might seem hard to adopt at first, but will ultimately pay off.


Challenge yourself to lead a better life.

Making a change for the better isn't always easy, but it's worth the effort all the same.

So what tough-but-worthwhile tricks can you start applying to your life today?

The posters on this handy Quora thread had some excellent suggestions. Business Insider also scoured the web for other ways you can challenge yourself to live a better life.

Here are some uncomfortable habit changes that could ultimately help you improve your life:

SEE ALSO: These 13 daily habits will seriously improve your life — and they each only take 5 minutes

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Wake up extremely early

Ekin Öcalan said he loves to wake up before sunrise because it provides the perfect study-and-work environment. While everyone else sleeps, waking at 5 a.m. is the perfect, albeit challenging, way to begin the day in silence, he wrote.

 



Start the day with exercise

Yeah, there are super humans among us who crave that pre-sunrise workout (that, or they're just really good liars). Still, for everyone else, waking up at the crack of dawn to sweat and get sore probably doesn't sound ideal.

But the morning is probably the ideal time to exercise. By starting your day with exercise, you'll prevent yourself from putting it off.

Think about it this way: If some of the busiest people in the world can find time to workout, so can you. For example, "What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast" author Laura Vanderkam notes that former Xerox CEO Ursula Burns schedules an hourlong personal-training session at 6 a.m. twice a week.

"These are incredibly busy people," Vanderkam said. "If they make time to exercise, it must be important."



Take cold showers

Taking a frigid shower at the end of a long day doesn't sound too relaxing.

But research indicates that cranking up the cold can be good for your health. According to Medical Daily, the cold water can improve your skin, soothe your stress, and boost your body's circulation.

Plus, people who've given icy showers a chance have reported feeling more alertmotivated, and ready to tackle the day.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The tiny nation of Bhutan resisted technology for decades — but computers and cell phones are changing things fast

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bhutan

  • Bhutan, one of the most mysterious countries in the world, has resisted modern technology for decades.
  • But lately, cell phones, computers, and TV has transformed the way of life in Bhutan.
  • Reuters photojournalist Cathal McNaughton documented everyday life in Bhutan to show how industry and technology are taking hold.


For many years, the South Asian nation of Bhutan has resisted technology — no television, no cell phones, not even a single traffic light.

But lately, outside influences have slowly started to take hold of Bhutan's 800,000 people.

Teens, wearing jeans and English soccer jerseys, spend much of their time on their cell phones and playing computer games at internet cafes. Adults while away their nights at karaoke bars and pool halls. Meanwhile, industrial plants and construction sites are popping up across towns, introducing modern problems to a largely traditional culture.

Reuters photojournalist Cathal McNaughton traveled to Bhutan earlier this year to speak with residents in the changing nation and document their everyday lives. Although Bhutan's government pioneered the concept of "Gross National Happiness" to measure its success, McNaughton found that modern challenges are taking their toll.

Here's how technology is starting to change one of the most mysterious countries in the world.

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DON'T MISS: Inside the lives of Mongolia's 'millennial monks,' who play basketball, pray for 12 hours a day, and visit the outside world only twice a year

The small nation of Bhutan has resisted technology for decades.

Source: Reuters



There are no traffic lights in in its capital city, Thimphu, and its culture, centered on Buddhism, has barely changed in centuries.

Source: Reuters



But all that is starting to change as technology slowly gets introduced across the country.

Source: Reuters



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

9 intense arm workouts you can do virtually anywhere without any equipment

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arm workout header

Making time for a solid arm workout isn't always easy, especially if you're in need of weights and other equipment.

But when you're on the road or have a few minutes to spare between events, it can be nice to have some quick, virtually equipment-free arm workouts up your sleeve.

We asked New York University physical-therapy professor Marilyn Moffat, who also wrote the book "Age Defying Fitness," for some of her favorite arm workouts that don't require weights.

Here are the nine she gave us, including modifications to help personalize your workout. Feel free to mix and match, or just do one exercise on its own. Repeat or hold each exercise until it gets to be too much, building up at your own pace.

And remember: If you have any unusual pain or problems with the exercises, stop doing them and consult a physical therapist.

SEE ALSO: The science-backed 7-minute fitness routine is a great way to get in shape

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Exercise #1: The dreaded plank. Keeping your arms directly under your shoulders, hold this pose for at least 30 seconds, until it gets to be too much.



To better distribute your weight, spread your fingers as wide as possible while in these poses. You should be able to feel the difference along your arms.

Finger posture



For a modification, try putting your forearms on the ground. You'll still feel the stretch along your arms (not to mention torso and legs).



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The pay-TV exodus is ramping up as Netflix and other streaming services pump out high-quality original shows

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arrested development

  • TV cord-cutting will outpace projections and increase an estimated 32.8% in 2018, according to new analysis from Emarketer. 
  • The firm projects that the total number of cord-cutters will jump from 24.9 million users in 2017 up to 33 million by the end of this year. 
  • This hike in cord-cutting comes despite an increasing number of pay-TV providers forming partnerships with over-the-top (OTT) services like Netflix in an attempt to retain customers.

The percentage of people ditching their traditional pay-TV packages is expected to skyrocket this year, according to a new study from Emarketer. 

The firm is projecting a 32.8% increase in 2018 for the overall number of cord-cutters: those who cancel their paid TV subscription with a cable, satellite, or telecommunications company.

This increase — far outpacing the firm's previous projection (from July 2017) of a 22% increase for this year — would bring the total estimated cord-cutters from 24.9 million users in 2017 up to 33 million by the end of 2018. 

cord-cutting emarketer

The significant hike in cord-cutting comes despite a swath of pay-TV providers forming partnerships with over-the-top (OTT) services like Netflix in an attempt to retain customers. 

"Most of the major traditional TV providers [Charter, Comcast, Dish, etc.] now have some way to integrate with Netflix," Emarketer senior forecasting analyst Christopher Bendtsen said. "These partnerships are still in the early stages, so we don't foresee them having a significant impact reducing churn this year. With more pay TV and OTT partnerships expected in the future, combined with other strategies, providers could eventually slow — but not stop — the losses."

Overall, Emarketer estimates that 186.7 million adults in the US will watch pay TV (cable, satellite, or telco) in 2018, which is down 3.8% over last year — and slightly higher than the 3.4% drop in 2017.

The firm also notes that streaming platforms like Netflix and YouTube are meanwhile experiencing rapid growth fueled largely by demand for their original programming. 

"The main factor fueling growth of on-demand streaming platforms is their original content," Emarketer principal analyst Paul Verna said. "Consumers increasingly choose services on the strength of the programming they offer, and the platforms are stepping up with billions in spending on premium shows."

Netflix, which is increasingly dominating the field of original programming in the eyes of consumers, will have spent around $8 billion on content in an effort to have over 1,000 original shows and movies on its service by the end of the year.

The streaming service's spending is also paying increasing dividends in the realm of accolades, as Netflix broke a 17-year streak from HBO this year to earn the most Emmy nominations of any network— just five years after the company notched its first nominations in 2013. 

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SEE ALSO: All 65 of Netflix's notable original shows, ranked from worst to best

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The Georgia lawmaker who screamed the N-word and exposed himself on Sacha Baron Cohen's show has attempted to explain why he did it

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Who is America? Jason Spencer Georgia rep

  • Lawmaker Jason Cohen yelled the N-word, exposed himself and posed as a tourist taking upskirt photos on Sacha Baron Cohen's "Who is America?"
  • Cohen was pretending to be an Israeli counter-terror expert, giving Spencer a fictional lesson in fighting off terrorists.
  • Spencer issued a statement explaining himself to The Washington Post, where he said he was motivated to learn self-defense because he gets many death threats.
  • He also admitted he was "not thinking clearly" during the mock lesson, was "distracted by my fears" and "deeply regret[s]" his language.
  • Scroll down to read the full statement.

A Georgia lawmaker who yelled the N-word and bared his butt in an effort to "fight off terrorists" on Sacha Baron Cohen's new TV show has sought to explain his actions.

In a long statement addressing the footage, Jason Spencer said Cohen took advantage of his "paralyzing fear" that his family would be attacked, and manipulated him into humiliating himself.

In the episode of the show, "Who is America?," which broadcast on Sunday, Cohen adopted the disguise of an Israeli counter-terror expert.

Under this guise he gave Spencer, a Republican state representative in Georgia, a fictional on-camera lesson in fighting off terrorists.

Who is America? Jason Spencer

The segment included ridiculous advice, such distinguishing terrorists from non-terrorists by using a selfie stick to take upskirt photographs of people wear a burka.

Another "technique" saw him prompt Spencer to scream the N-word in order to "attract attention" to save himself from kidnap.

Lastly, Cohen recommended scaring off ISIS terrorists by running towards them buttocks-first in a bid to turn them into a "homosexual."

Spencer went along with these techniques, donning a fake Chinese accent as he pretended to be a tourist and running towards Cohen with his buttocks exposed, yelling "Murica."

Here is the segment in full:

Amid backlash for his actions on the show, Spencer texted a response to The Washington Post, where he said that he was acting in response to fear for the lives of him and his family. He claimed that he had received "countless" death threats and that the shooting at members of Congress as they played baseball in June 2017 intensified his fears.

He claimed that Cohen and his team took advantage of these fears. Spencer said that he was "uncomfortable" participating, but wanted to learn techniques to protect himself.

Spencer has faced calls to resign from his position and criticism from his own party, including from Republican governor for Georgia Nathan Deal. Spencer told The Washington Post that he intends to finish the last five months of his term. He lost his primary contest in May, so will have to leave office anyway.

Spencer is one of a host of Republican lawmakers who have made controversial statements on the show – and many have later claimed that they were "duped."

On the same episode, former Vice President Dick Cheney autographed a "waterboarding kit."

In a previous episode, a group of current and former Republican lawmakers advocated the idea of arming children in kindergarten.

Here is Spencer's statement to The Washington Post in full:

“In 2017 I received countless death threats in connection with my introduction of legislation involving the wearing of masks. The threats escalated to the point that my wife received threatening phone calls concerning her and my children. I was very afraid for my safety and the safety of my entire family.

"Then, on June 14th, a gunman opened fire at members of Congress on a baseball field. I knew people on that field. Now, the fears I already had became more intensified as the reality of my family being targeted by a similar, deranged, would-be assassin became even more possible. I was in such a poor state of mind that my wife and I also undertook marriage counseling with a licensed therapist during this time.

"Sacha Baron Cohen and his associates took advantage of my paralyzing fear that my family would be attacked. In posing as an Israeli Agent, he pretended to offer self-defense exercises. As uncomfortable as I was to participate, I agreed to, understanding that these ‘techniques’ were meant to help me and others fend off what I believed was an inevitable attack.

"My fears were so heightened at that time, I was not thinking clearly nor could I appreciate what I was agreeing to when I participated in his ‘class.’ I was told I would be filmed as a ‘demonstration video’ to teach others the same skills in Israel. Sacha and his crew further lied to me, stating that I would be able to review and have final approval over any footage used.

"I deeply regret the language I used at his request as well as my participation in the ‘class’ in general. If I had not been so distracted by my fears, I never would have agreed to participate in the first place.

“I apologize to my family, friends, and the people of my district for this ridiculously ugly episode. Finally, there are calls for me to resign. I recently lost my primary election, so I will not eligible to hold office next term. Therefore, I will finish the remaining five months at my post and vacate my seat."

SEE ALSO: All the notable people and politicians Sacha Baron Cohen has 'duped' for his new TV series, 'Who Is America?'

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

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tequila

  • July 24 is National Tequila Day.
  • However, tequila has a bad reputation.
  • While artisan gins and spiced rums are now hugely popular, the evolution of tequila outside Mexico has lagged behind in comparison.
  • But the premium tequila movement is gaining traction.
  • Business Insider spoke to Chris Hare, brand manager of premium tequila brand Cazcabel.
  • Hare shared his tips with Business Insider on how to enjoy it the Mexican way.


Tequila has a bad reputation. The spirit is too often shot on a sticky dance floor at the end of the night — and it's rarely a refined affair.

While many bars now boast artisan gin menus, high-end vodkas, and a decent selection of spiced rums, the evolution of tequila outside of Mexico has lagged behind somewhat.

But the premium tequila movement is gaining traction. And, intriguingly, A-listers have been cashing-in on some of this action.

Clooney, with his close friend Rande Gerber, founded premium tequila brand Casamigos in 2013 and sold it on to Diageo last year under an agreement for up to $1 billion (£790 million). He was reportedly spotted serving this billion dollar tequila to guests at the royal wedding after party.

Justin Timberlake also has his own premium tequila brand, Sauza 901, as does P Diddy, with his acquired stake in DeLeón

In honour of National Tequila Day on July 24, Business Insider spoke to Chris Hare, brand manager of premium tequila brand Cazcabel. It produces tequila in an independent micro distillery in the town of Arandas, located in the highlands of the Jalisco mountains in Mexico.

Below is a bottle of Cazcabel's honey-infused tequila.

Hare said that he believes the reason tequila is one of the last spirits to be premiumised is because people just don't know what to do with it.

Since there are clearly some fancy tequilas on the market, we asked Hare where we're going wrong ordering, buying, and drinking tequila — and how to do it the Mexican way.

1. Most of what you've been drinking is probably not made from 100% blue agave, it's a "mixto."

Agave tequilana used to make tequila

Hare explained that a good tequila is made 100% from blue agave plants, but said that what most people have been drinking for years is probably a "mixto," which typically only has to contain 51% agave sugars, and the rest can be topped up with added sugars and syrups.

To know if yours is pure you should look for a sign that says "100% blue agave."

Most tequila is made in the state of Jalisco, either in the town that is called Tequila or up in the Jaliscan highlands, Los Altos.

Hare says that there is a microclimate in these mountains, where Cazcabel is also grown, which helps the blue agave plants to grow bigger, at a slower pace, with more flavour.

2. 'Gold' tequila isn't necessarily better.

tequila

Many people claim to prefer prefer "gold" or "brown" tequila, but Hare says the colour doesn't necessarily mean it's better.

There are many types of tequila. "Blanco," for example, also called "silver" or "white" tequila, is unaged and essentially represents tequila in its purest form. Then there's "reposado," a tequila that has a golden hue and has rested in oak barrels for up to 12 months (the first stage of ageing).

Anything that has rested over 12 months is known as an "añejo," which typically takes a darker colour than reposados, while anything that's aged over three years is "muy añejo." And they usually go up in price in that order.

But beware, "mixtos" are also typically golden in colour, this is usually the result of added caramel colourings or flavourings.

3. Good tequila can be expensive because it takes at least 7 years to grow an agave plant.

tequila 2It takes between seven and nine years to grow an agave plant, Hare said, sometimes even longer, up to 11 or 12.

Because it takes so long to grow the plants, there are occasional droughts that disrupt the supply chain and push the price up. "This is especially the case now in terms of supply and demand as demand is very high at the moment," Hare said.

So Hare advises against scrimping on a bottle, "anything below £20 ($27) is probably a mixto," he said.

4. Swap salt and lime for a typical Mexican chaser.

Tequila shots

Hare says that drinking tequila with salt and lemon is not a thing in Mexico and instead suggests that you try a traditional Mexican chaser with it.

A "sangrita," is made of juice from tomatoes, pomegranates, spices, and peppers. It's the same ingredients that make up typical salads in Jalisco, Hare said, and at the end of the day, it's customary to drain the leftover juice from the large salad bowls and pour it into a bottle to sip with your tequila as a chaser.

There's also the "verdita," which consists of pineapple juice, coriander, mint, and jalapeños that can also be enjoyed after your tequila to balance out the acidity.

5. Sip, don't shot.

Tequila Shots

In Mexico, it's all about sipping your tequila and enjoying it throughout the day with food. They use a slightly taller and wider glass than a typical 25ml shot glass you'd normally find in a bar — they call it a "caballito" (little horse).

6. Don't serve it too cold.

While some people do prefer to drink their tequila cold, Hare recommends drinking it at room temperature to get the full range of flavours, just like you would red wine.

7. Nice tequila cocktails — other than 'margaritas' — do exist.

Other than the margarita, there aren't that many cocktails that you'd immediately associate with tequila, compared to the vast number of gin, vodka, and rum-based concoctions that are popular with drinkers.

If you're sticking to the margarita, Hare recommends mixing it up with some pink peppercorn or chipotle salt around the rim "it gives more of a tang," he says, but definitely don't use sugar.

You could also try a "paloma," which is made with tequila, grapefruit, soda, and sugar. The "matador," an old classic, is another option that consists of tequila, pineapple juice, and lime, according to Hare.

8. Tequila is said to be an "upper."

If you're prone to the gin blues, tequila, unlike other other spirits, is said to be an "upper," and many have claimed that it can give feelings of euphoria.

Even better, while bad tequila is known to be the cause of nightmarish hangovers, Hare claims it is possible to enjoy tequila throughout the night — responsibly of course – and not have a dreadful hangover. But — yes, you guessed it — you first need a decent bottle of tequila, then stick to sipping just that all night.

couple drinking water fun summer party

SEE ALSO: The 9 mistakes people make when buying, ordering, and drinking gin — and what to do instead

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The height differences between all the US presidents and first ladies

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While every American president and first lady has reached the same heights of political office and public service, not all reached the White House at the same physical height.

The average height of US presidents was 5-foot-10-inches, and the typical height difference between presidents and first ladies was 6.5 inches.

Scientific studies suggest that men have it better when it comes to success in the workplace, and that women are more likely to choose taller men than shorter men.

John Adams and Abigail Adams were only separated in height by an inch, while Thomas Jefferson was over a foot taller than his wife Martha Jefferson.

We found the heights through online research and speaking with presidential historical sites and libraries. But a few first ladies' heights have been lost to history.

Here is the height difference of every US president and first lady we could find:

SEE ALSO: Here's what every president's signature looks like

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George and Martha Washington: 1-foot-2-inches (36 cm)



John and Abigail Adams: 1 inch (2 cm)



Thomas and Martha Jefferson: 1-foot-2.5-inches (37 cm)

Jefferson was a widower when his presidency began, and his daughter, Martha, acted as first lady, along with wives of the Cabinet secretaries.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Inside the world's largest aircraft, which is set to have glass floors and take wealthy travellers on luxury 3-day expeditions

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The Airlander 10 hybrid airship makes its maiden flight at Cardington Airfield in Britain, August 17, 2016. REUTERS/Darren Staples

  • The world's largest aircraft has revealed its interiors — and they're extremely luxurious.
  • Airlander 10 is a 300-foot hybrid airship that plans to take travelers on three-day excursions.
  • The airship features en-suite bedrooms, a bar, and a lounge area.
  • There's also glass flooring so people can take in the views from 16,000 feet.


Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's a hybrid airship!

The world's largest aircraft unveiled plans for its interiors at Farnborough Airshow last week — and they look stunning.

Airlander 10 hybrid airship interior

Nicknamed "The Flying Bum" because of its posterior-shaped hull, Airlander 10 is part-plane, part-airship, part-helicopter, built by Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV). The £25 million ($33 million) aircraft is 302 feet long, making it about 60 feet longer than the world's largest passenger plane, the Airbus A380, which spans nearly 240 feet.

HAV plans to take up to 19 passengers on three-day excursions on the Airlander 10, and it looks like they're in for a treat on board.

The interiors were developed in collaboration with Design Q, a UK-based design consultancy.

Airlander 10 features luxurious en-suite bedrooms, an "Altitude Bar," and a spacious lounge area.

Airlander 10 hybrid airship interior

The most exciting feature of the interior design is the glass flooring, which will allow passengers to take in the horizon-to-horizon views from 16,000 feet.

Airlander 10 hybrid airship interior

Though it may be bigger than the A380, it's certainly not as fast — the Airlander's top speed is just 91 mph compared to the A380's cruising speed of 560 mph.

The Airlander is not about getting to places quickly, though. The luxury aircraft is instead designed to revive the joy of flight as an experience rather than a means of transport.

Airlander 10 hybrid airship interior

Stephen McGlennan, CEO of HAV, said in a press release: "Airlander challenges people to rethink the skies – that's the driving force behind everything we do.

"Air travel has become very much about getting from A to B as quickly as possible. What we're offering is a way of making the journey a joy."

However, it's not always been plain sailing for the world's largest aircraft.

In 2016, the giant airship crashed into a telegraph pole and nosedived on its second test flight.

In 2017, Airlander 10 collapsed before take-off less than 24-hours after a successful test flight. Two people suffered minor injuries.

Part of the collapsed airship Airlander 10 is seen in Bedfordshire, Britain November 18, 2017 in this picture obtained from social media.

The giant airship has now completed six successful test flights, but it will need to complete a total of 200 incident-free hours in the sky before it is allowed to take on commercial passengers.

We can wait.

SEE ALSO: The world's busiest air route is between Seoul and the 'South Korean Hawaii'

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The best tactic to get more money from a negotiation might be too painfully awkward for most people to try

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  • Awkward silences can work to your benefit in salary negotiations, according to Melissa Dahl's book "Cringeworthy."
  • Too many people make the mistake of talking too much — and sabotaging their own chances of success — when they're nervous.
  • Media exec Joanna Coles has said she uses the awkward-silence strategy to win negotiations.


Psychologists often talk about the supposed benefits of embracing discomfort. The idea is that, by leaning into feelings like anxiety and anger instead of resisting them, you'll take away their power to consume you whole.

This idea has always held a lot of appeal for me, but I haven't always been sure how to put it into practice.

So I had a lightbulb moment towards the end of Melissa Dahl's book "Cringeworthy," in which she describes a very practical strategy for acknowledging your discomfort and giving it a big ol' hug.

Dahl writes specifically about embracing the inherent awkwardness during a salary negotiation. She quotes Katie Donovan, founder of the consultancy firm Equal Pay Negotiations, saying that the first step in a negotiation "is to be silent, hush up, or SHUT UP!"

Donovan said that if you're offered a starting salary that's lower than what you know is the median salary for this position, you can say something like: "Thank you for the offer. I'm a little surprised about the salary, though. Based on my research I would have expected it to be in the [X] range."

Even if the hiring manager raises her eyebrows; even if he gasps in horror, don't backpedal, and don't run your mouth out of nervousness.

As Dahl writes, the hiring manager "might not be able to reach the number you're asking for, but let them tell you that; don't undercut yourself by saying that for them."

A top executive says she uses the awkward-silence strategy to win negotiations

Alison Green, the woman behind the popular "Ask a Manager" advice column, has said something similar. On an episode of the Ask a Manager podcast, Green tells a confused caller to ask, "Any chance you can go up to X?" and then stop talking.

Green said: "Wait for an answer. It might take them a minute, there might be a pause there. That's totally okay. Sometimes people get really nervous when there's a pause there and they start talking again to fill in the silence, and then they end up undercutting themselves and kind of backtracking. Say the words and then wait."

Note that this strategy isn't used exclusively by knock-kneed entry-level employees. It's also used by the likes of Joanna Coles, who is the chief content officer at Hearst Magazines, and has served as editor-in-chief of both Marie Claire and Cosmopolitan magazines.

On an episode of Business Insider's podcast, "This is Success," Coles shared with Business Insider US editor-in-chief Alyson Shontell her best strategy for winning a negotiation: silence.

"In any kind of negotiation, silence is often your best friend because you don't want to give too much away," Coles told Shontell. "I'm always amazed when I'm negotiating with people from the other side of the desk, how people will rattle on and not stop talking. People talk a lot when they're nervous."

Dahl quotes Green, the Ask a Manager columnist, in "Cringeworthy," too. "My advice is that you should embrace it," Green said of awkwardness at work, "and find the humor in it."

SEE ALSO: It's not your imagination — scientists say other people are probably watching, even when you think they aren't

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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez claps back at a Florida representative who called her 'this girl ... whatever she is'

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alexandra ocasio cortez

  • Republican Rep. Ron DeSantis dismissed Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as "this girl ... whatever she is" at a recent campaign rally.
  • Ocasio-Cortez has since alluded that those comments will cost DeSantis in upcoming elections.
  • DeSantis also criticized the progressive candidate accidentally referring to Israel's "occupation of Palestine" in a recent interview, and said she had "no clue what she's talking about."
  • Ocasio-Cortez beat an establishment Democrat in New York's congressional primary elections earlier this year, representing a major upset in the Democratic Party.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the millennial Democratic congressional candidate, has clapped back at a Republican representative for dismissing her as "this girl Ocasio-Cortez, or whatever she is."

Ron DeSantis, who represents Florida's 6th District, said at a campaign event on Saturday: "You look at this girl, Ocasio-Cortez, or whatever she is — I mean, she's in a totally different universe. Basically, socialism wrapped in ignorance."

A video of the event in Orange Park, Florida, was posted on YouTube and obtained by HuffPost on Monday. Watch it below:

Later on Monday, Ocasio-Cortez clapped back at DeSantis and alluded that those comments would cost him in upcoming elections.

She tweeted:

"Rep DeSantis, it seems you're confused as to 'whatever I am.'

"I am a Puerto Rican woman. It's strange you don’t know what that is, given that ~75,000 Puerto Ricans have relocated to Florida in the 10 [months] since [Hurricane] María.

"But I'm sure these new FL voters appreciate your comments!"

DeSantis is running for Florida's governorship later this year, and was said to be leading his opponent Adam Putnam in a poll published last week. President Donald Trump has endorsed him.

In the campaign video, DeSantis also criticizes a recent PBS News interview Ocasio-Cortez did, where the Democratic candidate referred to Israel's "occupation of Palestine" as being an "increasing crisis of humanitarian condition."

Her comments were a deviation from the US's official position, which recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Ocasio-Cortez walked back her comments moments later, saying in the same interview: "Oh — I think what I meant is the settlements that are increasing in some of these areas and places where Palestinians are experiencing difficulty and access to their housing and homes."

israel palestine conflict two state politics 2

That didn't stop DeSantis from lashing out at Ocasio-Cortez.

DeSantis said on Saturday: "You're saying that one of our best allies is occupying some country. There's never been a Palestinian state. You're just repeating these canned, left-wing talking points, and you’re somehow the savior of the Democratic Party? Good Lord.

"She is, I think, the symptom of some of the problems that we have, or really laying that foundation. She has no clue what she's talking about. She doesn't understand the principles of the Constitution. Hers is just: Spout this talking point or that."

David Vasquez, a spokesman for DeSantis' campaign, told HuffPost that DeSantis' comments were "expanding on the importance of education," and that teaching children the Constitution could "prevent more socialists like Ocasio-Cortez calling for 'free' everything."

He did not answer when asked about the "this girl" comment.

ron desantis donald trump jr

Ocasio-Cortez won the Democratic Party's congressional primary election for New York's 14th District last month, beating Joe Crowley, who had occupied his seat since 1999 and been touted as a potential future House speaker. She has since accused Crowley of mounting a third party bid against her.

Her victory in the primaries represented a major upset within the Democratic Party, which has seen a schism between establishment and progressive Democrats since the 2016 election.

Her success has also appeared to rattle the Republican Party. Ocasio-Cortez has been touring the country to support progressive Democratic candidates in their state elections.

SEE ALSO: Meet Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the millennial, socialist political novice who beat her establishment Democratic rival in a huge electoral upset

DON'T MISS: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez accuses Joe Crowley of mounting a 3rd party bid against her in a Twitter fight

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A 30-step plan to getting the raise you deserve

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job interview meeting coworkers

  • It's crucial to know how to ask for a raise, but many Americans have never done it.
  • Knowing when to ask for a raise can also be tricky.
  • Asking for a raise could improve your income in the short- and long-term. And if you don't ever ask, failing to negotiate could potentially cost you more than a million dollars over the course of your career.

 

It's crucial to know how to ask for a raise and negotiate your salary.

"The important thing to remember is that if you don't ask the answer is always no," Joanna Echols, a career and wellness coach, told Business Insider. 

But most Americans have never asked for a raise. And an analysis by Salary.com found that failing to negotiate could potentially cost you more than a million dollars over the course of your career.

It can be intimidating to ask for a raise. But here are 28 tips on how to navigate the pay bump process.

First, you need to prepare your case ...

SEE ALSO: 16 signs you're underpaid — and what to do about it

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Ask yourself if you actually deserve the raise

You need to determine if you have an important role at the company or not, Comparably CEO and co-founder Jason Nazarwrote for Inc.

"Take an honest and objective look at your value to the business and negotiate accordingly," Nazar wrote. 

He shared a quick way to judge just how valuable you are at the business: "If you were to leave your company tomorrow, would there be any meaningful disruption to the business? If the answer is no, you don't have any leverage to get a raise."



Don't ask if you've been at the company for less than a year

Don't mention the need for a pay raise if you've been there for less than a year, wrote Alison Green of US News & World Report's Ask a Manager blog.

There's one exception — if your responsibilities are dramatically different from what was outlined in the interview process, you might be eligible for a raise, Green wrote.



Understand the goals that you need to accomplish

Career strategist Miriam Salpeter told Business Insider that it's important to have goals that you can use to measure your success. Make sure you and your supervisor both understand how success looks in your organization and what is expected.

If your employer does not make this clear, it is up to you to identify these targets and pursue these goals.

 



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Sean Spicer's new book praises Trump as a 'unicorn riding a unicorn across a rainbow'

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donald trump unicorn

  • Sean Spicer's new book details his time with Trump's campaign and presidency, in an attempt to set the "record straight."
  • In "The Briefing: Politics, the Press and the President," the former White House press secretary repeatedly praises Trump and calls him a "unicorn, riding a unicorn over the rainbow."
  • He admits that Paul Manafort was key to the Trump campaign, refuting his previous claims that Manafort played a "limited" role.
  • Spicer also claims that his handling of the debate over Trump's inauguration crowd size was the "the beginning of the end" of his time as press secretary.


Sean Spicer has written a book detailing his time working for President Donald Trump, and described the president as "a unicorn, riding a unicorn over a rainbow."

In "The Briefing: Politics, the Press and the President," the former White House press secretary writes:

"I don’t think we will ever again see a candidate like Donald Trump. His high-wire act is one that few could ever follow. He is a unicorn, riding a unicorn over a rainbow.

"His verbal bluntness involves risks that few candidates would dare take. His ability to pivot from a seemingly career-ending moment to a furious assault on his opponents is a talent few politicians can muster."

The Guardian obtained a copy of the book, which was released on July 24. It is Spicer's attempt at "setting the record straight," according to the book's description.

Spicer resigned last July after six months on the job, but has remained a vocal fan of Trump.

Spicer admits Manafort's role in the campaign

Paul Manafort

In the book, Spicer also admitted that Paul Manafort, who is the focus of the special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into the Trump campaign's ties to Russia, played a central role in the Trump campaign — refuting his previous claims that Manafort only had a "limited role" for a "limited time" in the campaign.

Spicer writes in the book:

"Paul brought a much-needed maturity to the Trump campaign when it needed an experienced political professional operative more than anything else.

"There was no semblance of a campaign structure, just a few, distraught, overworked people constantly barking into their phones. Paul immediately set up and staffed the political and communications operations necessary to take on the Clinton machine.

"The Manafort message was clear: Trump will be our nominee and our next president, and anyone who didn't want to work to that end could spend the next four years in political Siberia. (No Russia pun intended.)"

'The beginning of the end'

Donald Trump Sean Spicer

In the book, Spicer also claimed that Trump was unhappy with the way he handled the debate over the inauguration crowd size with reporters — which marked "the beginning of the end" of his role as press secretary.

"This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period, both in-person and around the globe," the then-press secretary claimed last January, contrary to the numerous photos taken of the National Mall on Friday that appeared to show a smaller audience than the crowd at former President Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration.

Spicer assumed Trump wanted him to be "strong, aggressive, no questions," he said in the book. Instead, Trump was angry that he did not take questions and that Spicer did not run his statement by him.

"I went back to my office, expecting an 'attaboy' from the president; instead Reince was waiting for me and said the president wasn’t happy at all with how I had performed. ...

"Minutes later, the president himself called, and he was not pleased. And I started to wonder if my first day would be my last. ...

"I had made a bad first impression, and looking back, that was the beginning of the end."

Spicer has sought to remain in the spotlight after his departure from the White House. He is planning to host a TV show that would have him talk to interesting guests, and he also recently started a podcast with the Fox News contributor Katie Pavlich.

SEE ALSO: Here are all the casualties of the Trump administration so far

READ MORE: Sean Spicer is planning a TV talk show, but it looks like nobody wants to be on it

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All 42 Tom Cruise movies, ranked from worst to best

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Ever since that iconic moment in 1983’s “Risky Business” when Tom Cruise slid across the floor pantless, he has been one of the biggest movie stars in the world.

That’s 35 years of being Hollywood royalty!

And he’s had that longevity at the top thanks to making some of the most memorable movies of all time over those three-plus decades.

“Top Gun,” “Jerry Maguire,” all the “Mission: Impossible” movies; he doesn’t just bring a unique intensity to every role he does, but over his career has had the talent to do it in every genre a movie star can be placed in including romance, drama, and most recently, action.

With his latest movie “Mission: Impossible - Fallout” hitting theaters Friday, we’ve decided to dissect all 42 Tom Cruise movies and rank them from worst to best:

SEE ALSO: Tom Cruise defies age and gravity in "Mission: Impossible - Fallout," the best action movie you'll see this year

42. “Rock of Ages” (2012)

Somehow Cruise got roped into being part of this feature film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical. But leave it to him to lay it all out there. Though the movie is unwatchable, Cruise gives the movie’s only memorable moments when his rock star character belts out classic songs “Pour Some Sugar on Me” and “Wanted Dead or Alive.” 



41. “Endless Love” (1981)

Cruise’s first-ever appearance in a movie is this 1980s teen romance drama starring Brooke Shields that’s known most for giving us the Diana Ross/Lionel Richie title song. Cruise gets a brief bit of screen time as one of the male lead’s friends. It’s quite forgettable.



40. “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back” (2016)

In between “Mission: Impossible” movies, Cruise tried to kick off another action franchise by bringing the main character of the Lee Child novel series to the big screen. Though the first movie just got over the $200 million mark at the worldwide box office, the performance (or lack thereof) by the sequel proved that no one wanted any more Mr. Reacher. It barely made $162 million worldwide. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine says he gave up around $750,000 in jewelry in an 'inside job' kidnapping and robbery that left him hospitalized

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  • Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine called the kidnapping and robbery that left him hospitalized on Sunday an "inside job" in an interview on Monday.
  • The 22-year-old rapper, whose real name is Daniel Hernandez, confirmed reports that he gave up an estimated $750,000 in jewelry in the robbery in Brooklyn on Sunday.

Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine called the kidnapping and robbery that left him hospitalized on Sunday an "inside job" in an interview with DJ Akademiks on Monday. 

The 22-year-old rapper, whose real name is Daniel Hernandez, confirmed reports that he gave up an estimated $750,000 in jewelry in the robbery, and he seemed to refer to the robbers as people from his inner circle.

"It was an inside job," he said. "It wasn't no outside n-----s. It's n-----s that know how the king of New York moves,” he added, referring to himself. "The only person that can get a Pharaoh in Egypt is the person who helped build the f-----' kingdom, you know what I’m saying? The n----- that’s right next to him. The n----- that know who built that shit, that got the blueprints."

When Akademiks asked if Hernandez planned to tighten his circle of associates moving forward, the rapper said, “My circle's been short, it's just that I opened it with the wrong n-----s."

The Associated Press reported on Monday that Hernadez was in a car in Brooklyn when three men removed him, put him in their car, and robbed him of an "undisclosed amount of jewelry," citing the New York Police Department. TMZ later reported that the jewelry was worth an estimated $750,000, which Hernandez confirmed in his interview Monday.

In the interview, Hernandez compared his robbery to the death of rapper XXXTentatcion, who was fatally shot in a robbery last month. 

"I’m just happy to be alive," he said. "I look at the X situation like, 'That could have been me.' That would have been the same situation if I didn’t give it up."

After the interview, Hernandez posted a picture of XXXTentacion on Instagram, along with a caption that specifically addressed the attack. 

"Nothing materialistic is more important then LIFE. I live to see another DAY. I get to see my daughter another day," he wrote.

Watch the interview below:

SEE ALSO: Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine was reportedly kidnapped on the streets of Brooklyn, beaten, and hospitalized

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