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I stayed at one of the best hotels in the world, where a $16,000-a-night suite includes its own movie theater, popcorn maker, and 'cabinet of delights'

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  • The Landmark Mandarin Oriental is one of the most exclusive hotels in Hong Kong, and considered to be one of the best hotels in the world.
  • I stayed at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental recently to see if it lives up to the hype.
  • While the hotel's rooms are spacious — by Hong Kong standards — and full of nice touches, it's the hotel's facilities that make it stand out. The spa in particular makes the hotel worth a visit all by itself.

While the Four Seasons, The Langham, and the Mandarin Oriental get all the press in the Hong Kong hotel world, The Landmark, Mandarin Oriental's sister hotel, is hiding under the radar as one of the city's best.

The Mandarin Oriental hotel group's flagship property, the 500-room The Mandarin, opened in Hong Kong in 1963. The Landmark Mandarin Oriental is a fraction of the size, at 113 guest rooms and suites.

But as soon as you step in, you'll feel transported into an ocean of calm. 

Opened in 2003, The Landmark Mandarin Oriental has boutique hotel charm, with amenities and style of a grand five-star hotel.

From the sumptuous meals at the hotel's two-Michelin starred restaurant, Amber, to the 25,000 square-foot spa, the Landmark Mandarin Oriental is a hotel you can get lost in. 

I recently visited on a business trip to Hong Kong, and it did not disappoint. Keep reading to check out my stay at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental:

SEE ALSO: I stayed at Hong Kong’s first 'capsule hotel' to see what it's like to live in micro — and the experience was a nightmare

Situated in central Hong Kong, The Landmark Mandarin Oriental is known for its luxurious design and legendary service. The front of the building was not flashy, but modern.



The entrance, connected to a large luxury mall, was understated. You have to go up a couple steps or a quick lift to enter the hotel.



While the lobby was not grand, it felt luxurious without being kitschy— it made sense for upmarket business travelers and fast-paced city dwellers.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The trick to getting more money in a negotiation isn't what you say — it's what you don't

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woman listen job interview talk boss worker

  • 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

Join the conversation about this story »

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

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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

DON'T MISS: You can tell someone's lying to you by watching their face — here are 12 dead giveaways

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

10 old-fashioned manners kids aren’t taught anymore

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Etiquette

  • Etiquette standards have changed throughout the years.
  • Some etiquette experts believe that old-fashioned manners that kids aren't taught anymore should be brought back.
  • Here are 11 old-fashioned manners, like standing for introductions and asking for permission, that kids just aren't taught anymore.

 

Etiquette and manners seem to change over the years. Many kids don't learn old-fashionedmanners, like making eye contact and writing thank you notes by hand, anymore. However, some experts think these aspects of old-school etiquette should make a comeback.

"There are a few things kids should be taught that were once thought to be routine manners training," Diane Gottsman, national etiquette expert and author of "Modern Etiquette for a Better Life" told Business Insider in an email. "Etiquette skills are much more than learning when to say 'please' and 'thank you.' Courtesy requires thought and training, and kids thrive when they are given guidance and boundaries."

Below, etiquette experts weigh in on old-fashioned manners that kids aren't taught anymore.

SEE ALSO: 5 surprising etiquette differences between the US and Japan

1. Talking in person more than via technology

These days, when it comes to kids and manners, phones often seem to replace in-person conversations, Lisa Gaché, founder and CEO of Beverly Hills Manners and author of "Beverly Hills Manners: Golden Rules from the World’s Most Glamorous Zip Code," told Business Insider via email.

"Years ago, kids were taught how to speak, with emphasis on language, speech, and diction, but talk has since taken a back seat to tech," she said. "It seems face-to-face conversation and talking on the telephone are a last resort in a world where kids much prefer to communicate by typing on their tiny smartphones."



2. Addressing adults by their last names

Charles MacPherson, founder and president ofCharles MacPherson Associates, a training and recruiting firm for private household staff, said that children used to always call adults by their surnames, Mr. or Mrs. X, as a form of respect.

"Today, however, our society is much more casual," he told Business Insider in an email. "Children are not often taught to do this, so it is no longer practiced."

Gaché said she agreed. “Now, it is no longer in fashion, and adults are often encouraging kids to call them by their first names as a way to express to children that they are equals,” she said.



3. Standing for introductions

When you meet someone new, do you stand up to say hello?

"In years past, little boys were taught to stand and girls were taught to stay seated," Gottsman said. "Today, it's correct to teach your children that both girls and boys stand for introductions to show respect for themselves and the other person."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Disappointing photos show what 9 supposedly-glamorous jobs look like in real life

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Lufthansa flight attendant air hostess

  • Some jobs have a reputation for being particularly exciting, glitzy, or lucrative.
  • Occasionally, that's partly because of inaccurate media depictions.
  • Other jobs do boast a number of major perks, but they also come with trade-offs.


Glamorous jobs might seem enticing, but, at the end of the day, work is work.

And sometimes, jobs that sound especially fancy or thrilling turn out to have a less-than-luxurious side. Many have hidden tradeoffs, at the very least.

Here's a look at the reality of certain glam-sounding jobs:

SEE ALSO: 19 US presidents' surprising first jobs

DON'T MISS: 37 brilliant questions to ask at the end of every job interview

SEE ALSO: The top 25 companies where American business students dream of working

What's more glamorous than getting paid to travel? That's the job description of a flight attendant in a nutshell, which comes complete with perks like flying standby for free or discounted prices and getting to explore exotic locales during layovers.

Source: Business Insider, Business Insider, Travel and Leisure



But the job isn't a constant glitzy adventure, even if you're working in first class. The job can be frustrating, as many passengers dismiss flight attendants as "waiters and waitresses on a plane," according to longtime Delta flight attendant Danny Elkins. The reality is flight attendants are trained to ensure everyone's safety aboard the aircraft.

Source: Business Insider, Business Insider, Travel and Leisure, Business Insider



And, while frequent travel is a great perk, many flight attendants don't necessarily get to see the world on a regular basis. "Most layovers are short, and you barely have time for food and a good night's sleep," a flight attendant previously told Business Insider's Rachel Gillett.

Source: Business Insider



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 5 worst ways to address a cover letter when you don't know the hiring manager's name

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  • Knowing how to address a cover letter can be frustrating when that information isn't readily available.
  • Many times, there are steps you can take to figure out who exactly the person reading your letter will be.
  • But in an absolute pinch, certain ways of addressing your cover letter are more off-putting than others.
  • Some of the worst ways to address a cover letter include "Dear HR professional" and a simple "Hi!"


Dear Reader,

We know it's frustrating when a job posting doesn't include the name of the person in charge of the hiring process.

We also know that's not an excuse to slap any salutation on your cover letter and send your application off.

According to Amanda Augustine, career advice expert for TopResume, you should always do some research to figure out who exactly the person reading your letter will be.

You can even play it safe by writing at the beginning of your cover letter: "I noticed you're working in [whatever department] at [whatever company]," so you show that based on your research, it looks like they're involved in the hiring process.

In the case that you absolutely, positively can't find a person's name, Augustine said certain ways of addressing your cover letter are more off-putting than others.

For example, "Dear Hiring Manager" and "Dear Recruiter" aren't great openings, but they're the best of many bad options.

Here's the full list of cover-letter openings, ranked in reverse order of egregiousness.

Sincerely,
Business Insider staff

P.S. This advice doesn't apply in the case of an anonymous job posting, when a company is deliberately keeping their name and the names of their employees confidential.

SEE ALSO: 7 ways to figure out who the hiring manager is when it's not listed in a job posting

DON'T MISS: Here's how to write an email to a potential employer

5. 'Dear Hiring Manager' or 'Dear Recruiter'

The language in your cover letter should be at once professional and conversational, Augustine said. And these openings aren't overly formal or casual, which is a plus.

But the lack of customization — you could submit this letter to any company you're applying to — will still stand out.

"You're not earning brownie points" with this salutation, Augustine said. "But you're not putting people off" either.



4. 'Dear HR Professional'

Augustine said this opening isn't necessarily accurate.

The person reading your application might not work in the company's human resources department, or they might call themselves a recruiter instead of a human resources professional.



3. 'Hello' or 'Hi'

With "Hello" and no name after it, you've gotten the conversational part down, but you've still failed to customize your letter.

"Hi" is a double whammy, since not only is it not customized, but it can also be considered slang, Augustine said.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Free food may become a thing of the past in Silicon Valley — but there are plenty of other incredible perks companies like Facebook and Google offer their employees

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Facebook happy employees



Most of us spend a majority of our waking hours at work, so it's only natural that we want to enjoy our time in the office as much as we can. And perks help with that — a lot.

According to career site Glassdoor, more than half (57%) of all workers say perks and benefits are among the top things they consider when deciding whether to accept a job, and almost 80% of employees say they would prefer new benefits over a pay raise.

That's why some employers are raising the bar and going beyond standard vacation days, health insurance benefits, and 401k matching to attract top talent.

Companies like Airbnb and Google offer unique and surprising perks like travel stipends and death benefits, Glassdoor reports, while Facebook and Netflix have upped the ante for companies wanting to support new parents.

"Benefits and perks matter because they're an added piece of the total compensation puzzle," Scott Dobroski, Glassdoor's career trends analyst, told Business Insider. "Job seekers should understand what benefits and perks an employer may be offering, and do their research ahead of time to find companies that offer benefits that matter most to them."

Employees rated some of their favorite employee benefits on Glassdoor. The following perks are not only unique, but they also received a rating of at least 4.0 out of 5.0 on Glassdoor.

SEE ALSO: San Francisco Bay Area cities are cracking down on free food at Facebook and other tech companies

DON'T MISS: The 20 most flexible jobs for working parents

Generous paid parental leave at Netflix

Netflix offers one paid year of maternity and paternity leave to new parents. The company also allows parents to return part-time or full-time and take time off as needed throughout the year.



'Yay Days' at REI

REI encourages its employees to get outside by offering two paid days off each year, called "Yay Days," to enjoy their favorite outside activity.



Paid time off for volunteering at Salesforce

Salesforce employees receive six days of paid volunteer time off a year, as well as $1,000 a year to donate to a charity of their choice.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Your 24-step plan for getting the promotion you want and deserve

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  • Knowing how to get promoted is key if you want more responsibilities.  
  • If you want to get promoted quickly, you'll need to step up your innovation and problem-solving abilities.
  • Then, prepare a case to your boss about why you deserve a new title. 

 

If you haven't gotten that promotion you were hoping for in 2018, don't fret. There's still just enough time to get the new title, perks, and pay.

Ramit Sethi, author and founder of iwillteachyoutoberich.com, wrote that it can take just three to six months to establish yourself as a top performer in the company.

By keeping an open dialogue with your managers about your ambitions and excelling at your goals, you'll be in a prime position for a promotion.  

Here is your 24-step plan on how to get a promotion: 

SEE ALSO: A 30-step plan to getting the raise you deserve

DON'T MISS: 15 signs you're about to be promoted at work — even if it doesn't feel like it

First, understand that you can't get promoted just because you've been there for a while

The fact that you put in a few years at a certain company doesn't mean you're automatically eligible for a promotion. You'll need to show that you add value to the company.

"After a certain amount of time, employees just expect a promotion, but they don't stop to think if they really are effective," wrote Thuy Sindell and Milo Sindell, the principals of Skyline Group, in Entrepreneur.

 



Instead, demonstrate that you deserve a promotion by being a leader today

Owning your projects is a key way to show you're already a leader. 

Show your bosses that you're able to lead and inspire your coworkers by being able to independently come up with and complete major and minor projects. 

"Organizations place a premium on individuals who follow through on tasks," Kyle Wong of Pixlee told The Muse. "If you can prove that you can consistently own projects from start to finish, you will not only get promoted, but you’ll also make yourself indispensable."



Figure out what needs improvement in the company, and address it

Solving the problems that others shy away from is a great way to quickly get promoted, James Caan, CEO of Hamilton Bradshaw, wrote in a LinkedIn post.

Look at where the inefficiencies or problems in your company are, Caan wrote. Then, focus your efforts on improving those areas.

"Every manager is impressed by self-starters, and somebody who takes the initiative in areas where the business may be weak is putting themselves high up the list for a promotion," Caan wrote.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 6 things men do wrong when buying and wearing a suit

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  • Savile Row tailor Henry Poole & Co has dressed clients including former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, the Queen, and supermodel David Gandy.
  • Managing director Simon Cundey told Business Insider there are a number of mistakes men make when buying and wearing a suit.
  • The key is to look at a suit as an investment.


With past and present clients who include the likes of the Queen, former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and supermodel David Gandy, Henry Poole & Co knows a thing or two about how to choose the perfect suit.

The first tailor on London's famous Savile Row and the inventors of the "dinner suit," CFOs, CMOs, CEOs and "chairmans of various financial institutions" are also among those who get suited by the tailors, according to managing director Simon Cundey.

"Many customers you meet and greet in the business world are dressed by Poole discreetly," he told Business Insider.

Everything is cut and made on the premises, which is part of the reason for the steep price tag — a two-piece bespoke suit starts at £4,133, excluding VAT.

However, according to Cundey, there's more to picking the right suit than splashing out — but it's something few men know how to do.

Here are the things most men do wrong when shopping for a suit, according to Cundey, and what they should do instead:

1. They don't do their homework

henry poole suit

"Homework is important when you have to buy a suit," Cundey said. "People say, 'Oh, I need a suit,' and go into a shop and try on something that's near enough to them." Often, what they try on isn't right for them, but they buy it anyways.

"The sad thing is, if people go for this experience and it's an awful one where they aren't comfortable, they'll never buy a suit again, or they don't want to wear a suit," he added. "If you do your homework and try and find something where the style is right beforehand and you go to the house and it does feel good, you'll return."

He added that once Henry Poole makes you a pattern with your measurements, it's "your pattern for life. When you change, it changes with you."

Here's what a pattern looks like:

pattern

2. They buy it too tight...

Often, Cundey said when men don't do their homework the suit they end up with is too tight. "A lot of suits are too tight at the moment — everything has to be super slim, there's often an extreme where things are pulling, too short, or too narrow."

3. ...Or too baggy.

"It goes the other way where another age group tend to wear too big for themselves, where it looks oversized, too long, too wide on the leg, and also ill-fitting," Cundey said, adding that that can mean it's too long on the sleeves or sits off the neck.

4. They wear a belt with a waistcoat.

waistcoat and belt

Cundey added that often the trouser waistline is too low, "especially when you get waistcoats, and you see the shirt sticking out around your waistline or the belt."

He added: "The belt and the waistcoats is not really the right way to wear things, so we strap a buckle on the side vs. a belt."

5. They don't see a suit as an investment

henry poole suit

Cundey said you should divide the cost of the suit by the number of years it will last, adding that Henry Poole suits last for about 10 years.

"The customer in the financial world [is] usually quite astute when it comes down to price and lasting and working out the costings," he said. "Number one, you get a beautiful suit from a bare cloth how you want it, how you wish it, you design it together. It not only fits beautifully, you don't feel anything.

"Then finally, it should least 10 years, so that's the economics of them. People in the know and the wise know Savile Row is a lasting [investment]."

6. They don't wear one to a job interview

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"For me, going into work in the morning, you want to feel like you're actually going out and you represent something rather than just a casual Saturday afternoon watching TV or playing golf," Cundey said.

"First impressions still stand. If something is out there and you want it, you want everything to look right.

"The first 30 seconds people are reviewing how you come across, how you look , how you presented yourself, have you made the effort that morning, and if you at least shine your shoes, put a suit on, shirt, tie, whatever, you've made the effort, you come across well.

"It doesn't matter what field you're in, whether you're in media or sport, you can still look the part. You don't have to wear a shirt and tie, maybe, but a jacket and chinos vs. just jeans and a tshirt [makes] the difference."

SEE ALSO: Winston Churchill's tailors told us he owed them so much money they sent a bill to Downing Street on his first day as Prime Minister — and it didn’t go down well

Join the conversation about this story »

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8 signs you're in a strong relationship — even if it doesn't feel like it

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  • Signs of a strong relationship include responding positively to each other's good news and trying new things together.
  • That's according to psychologists who have spent years studying the fundamentals of successful long-term relationships.
  • Consider the following list a chance to evaluate the quality of your relationship — not a deciding factor in whether you should end it.


Psychologists have spent years studying the traits that are fundamental to successful long-term relationships. We listed some of their most surprising insights below.

A word of caution: If you notice that your relationship doesn't meet all these criteria, that does not necessarily mean you should end things with your partner. Consider this list a general set of guidelines that can help you start evaluating whether your current relationship is bringing you satisfaction and happiness.

SEE ALSO: 15 relationship facts everybody should know before getting married

You think about your partner often when you're not together

In 2007, Stonybrook University researchers randomly dialed nearly 300 married people and asked them a series of questions about their relationships and how in love they felt.

Results showed that certain relationship characteristics were linked to stronger feelings of love. One especially interesting finding: The more often people reported thinking about their partner when they were apart, the more in love they felt.

The same study included a follow-up experiment with nearly 400 married New Yorkers, which found that difficulty concentrating on other things while you're thinking about your partner is also linked to strong feelings of love — especially for men.



You respond positively to each other's good news

Business Insider previously reported that one litmus test of a happy relationship is how enthusiastically each partner responds to the other's good news.

A Psychology Today blog post breaks down four ways a man could respond after his partner tells him about a promotion at work:

• An active-constructive response from him would be enthusiastic support: "That's great, honey! I knew you could do it, you've been working so hard."

• A passive-constructive response would be understated support — a warm smile and a simple "That's good news."

• An active-destructive response would be a statement that demeaned the event: "Does this mean you are going to be gone working even longer hours now? Are you sure you can handle it?"

• Finally, a passive-destructive response would virtually ignore the good news: "Oh, really? Well you won't believe what happened to me on the drive home today!"

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the response that's most closely linked to relationship satisfaction is the active-constructive response.



You spend some time apart, with your own friends

Over the past few decades, we've started placing increasing demands on our spouses. As Business Insider's Jessica Orwig reported, no longer do we expect them to be financial partners, protectors, and companions — now we also want them to provide personal fulfillment.

The psychologist who produced some of these findings, Eli Finkel, suggests that if you want to be happy in your marriage, it's best not to look to your partner for all your existential needs. Finkel recommends finding yourself in hobbies, friends, and work.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

We went shopping at Vans and saw why it's suddenly wildly popular with teens

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  • Vans' sales are through the roof. 
  • Vans has been making California skate culture a global phenomenon since the brand's inception in the 1960s, and it's currently hugely popular among teens.
  • Part of why the brand is so successful today is because of the popularity of athleisure and a resurgence in retro styles.
  • We visited a Vans store in New York City to better understand why the brand is so successful right now.

Vans is bringing California skate culture around the world. 

The brand is thriving after more than 50 years in business. Vans' sales rose a whopping 35% last quarter, parent company VF Corp announced on July 20.

As teens shift from favoring athletic styles to street styles, Vans is apparently one of the first brands they pick up, according to Piper Jaffray. Part of why the brand has found success as of late is that it is able to capitalize on two major trends happening right now: athleisure and a preference for vintage and retro styles.

"People are wearing athletic apparel now for all kinds of occasions — work, play, and school — without any intention of using them for athletic purposes," Matt Powell, a sports industry analyst at market research firm NPD Group, said to CNN Money. "There's a lengthy heritage around California lifestyle here. Most people who buy Vans don't have a clue about how to skateboard." 

Vans, rooted in 1960s skate culture, also appeals to younger shoppers who are embracing vintage styles. For example, clothes with visible logos are back in style — and that's something Vans sells a lot of. Vans' global president, Doug Palladini, told Business Insider's Dennis Green in 2017 that he sees a "multi-generational" appeal in Vans that makes it unique, adding that both parents and teens can wear it.

We visited a Vans store in New York City to see for ourselves why the brand is so successful right now. Here's what it was like:

SEE ALSO: Gucci has become hugely popular with teens and millennials. We visited a store and saw why they love it despite the high price tags.

We visited the Vans store in Union Square in Manhattan.



The layout was very straightforward — men's clothes were on the left, women's on the right, and shoes in the back. The store was pretty busy considering it was the middle of the day mid-week.



The brand's ties to skate culture were evident all over the store. Vintage-looking photos of skateboarders were all over the walls, and the "Off the Wall" slogan, rooted in skateboarding, was seen all over the store.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Watch Sacha Baron Cohen trick Roy Moore into participating in a 'pedophile detector' test

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roy moore sacha baron cohen

  • On Sunday's episode of "Who Is America?" Sacha Baron Cohen made the former US Senate candidate Roy Moore participate in a "pedophile detector" test.
  • Cohen, disguised as his recurring character of an Israeli "anti-terror expert," interviewed Moore and concluded the segment by pulling out a metal-detector wand he said the Israeli military had been using to detect pedophiles.
  • Cohen tested the wand repeatedly on himself, Moore, and another man in the room, saying it must be "malfunctioning" for beeping only when it was waved over Moore.
  • Moore lost his Senate race in Alabama last year after eight women accused him of sexual misconduct, including several who were teenagers at the time they say the misconduct occurred. 

On Sunday's episode of Sacha Baron Cohen's Showtime series "Who Is America?" Cohen duped the former US Senate candidate Roy Moore into participating in a "pedophile detector" test.

Cohen, disguised as his recurring character of an Israeli "anti-terror expert" named Col. Erran Morad, interviewed Moore and concluded the segment by pulling out a metal-detector wand he said the Israeli military had been using to detect pedophiles.

Moore lost to Doug Jones in a run-off election in Alabama in December after eight women accused him of sexual misconduct, including several who were teenagers at the time they say the misconduct occurred. One woman said Moore groped her when she was 14 and he was 32.

"If they detect a pedophile, the wand alerts the law enforcement and the schools within a 100-mile radius," Cohen said, taking out the wand. "It's very, very simple to use. You just switch it on, and because neither of us is a sex offender, then it makes absolutely nothing."

In the segment, Cohen tested the wand repeatedly on himself, Moore, and another man in the room, saying it must be "malfunctioning" for beeping only when it was waved over Moore.

"I've been married for 33 years and never had an accusation of such things," Moore said. "If this is an instrument — and certainly I'm not a pedophile, OK? I don't know, maybe Israeli technology hasn't developed properly."

Earlier this month, before the show's premiere, Moore released a statement in which he threatened to sue Showtime and Cohen, accusing them of tricking him and other Republican politicians into segments that would "embarrass, humiliate, and mock not only Israel," but conservatives like himself.

Watch the segment below:

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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13 places to visit in August for every type of traveler

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13 best places to travel in August

  • The best places to visit in August are already on savvy travelers' lists.
  • Business Insider looked at airfare trends, climate data, and peak travel times to find the best places to visit in August 2018.
  • They include tropical paradises in the Caribbean and Malaysia, a fudge festival in Michigan, and a Buddhist celebration in Sri Lanka featuring elephants and fire-dancing.


August is one of the most popular months to travel for Americans, with millions of people squeezing in one final summer vacation before the weather cools down.

Choosing the perfect destination for an August vacation isn't easy. You may find yourself favoring northerly locations that are simply too cold any other time of year — think Oslo, Norway, where the sun doesn't set until close to 10 p.m., or Mackinac Island, Michigan, which draws thousands of travelers to its famous Fudge Festival each August.

You can also check out some of the greatest scenes in nature in August — it's when the breathtaking rice terraces in Ifugao, Philippines, are at their greenest, and it's also the dramatic culmination of one of nature's grandest events, the Great Migration in Kenya.

We looked at airfare trends, climate data, and cultural calendars to select 13 vacation spots that are some of the best places to visit this August. Take a look at the places we recommend for an August trip, and plan away.

SEE ALSO: 13 places to travel in July for every type of traveler

DON'T MISS: I've been to 25 countries, and there are 16 things you'll almost never find outside the US

Mackinac Island, Michigan

August is the perfect time to visit Mackinac Island, the scenic island between Michigan's Upper and Lower peninsulas.

On Mackinac Island — pronounced "mackinaw"— visitors can enjoy the sunny weather while  boating, fishing, and parasailing. On land, you can hop between historic sites like Fort Mackinac and Fort Holmes, both key sites in the War of 1812.

And sweet tooths will have something to celebrate too: the Mackinac Island Fudge Festival, which takes place every August and allows the many fudge shops on the island to show off their best work.



Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts

Martha's Vineyard is heralded as one of the most classic summer getaways in the United States.

The charming island south of Cape Cod is dotted with quaint New England homes, relaxing sandy beaches, and iconic lighthouses. The sunny summer weather in August sets the perfect stage for a boat outing or a shopping trip to the town's eclectic upscale boutiques.

And although Martha's Vineyard has a reputation for being expensive, it's possible to enjoy what the island has to offer on a budget — you just have to do a lot of planning.



Seattle, Washington

The perfect time to visit the Emerald City is in August, when the sun is shining and you'll be able to spend as much time outdoors as possible.

Seattle's iconic Pike's Place Market is an excellent way to spend an afternoon — especially if you can find the secret shops that most tourists don't know about. You can also wile away the day island-hopping across Puget Sound, or for the more culinarily inclined, sampling the best of Seattle's food, coffee, and beer scenes.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

We compared McDonald's, Wendy's, and Burger King's signature burgers, and the winner was unmistakable

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Fast Food Signature Burgers 8

  • McDonald's, Wendy's, and Burger King are each known for their signature burgers. 
  • We tried all three of them to see which one was the best.
  • Ultimately, the Big Mac, which is celebrating its 50th birthday this week, came out on top.


In terms of menu choices, fast-food chains are a lot like car brands — there's something for everyone.

Five-piece chicken nuggets for the on-the-go soccer mom. A quarter pounder with cheese for the erudite lovers of the classics. A salad for ... someone.

And for the person who enjoys the finer things in life, there are the flagships: the signature burgers. Without these, fast food would lose all meaning.

I decided to contrast the signature sandwiches of the fast-food "big three" — the Whopper at Burger King, the Big Mac at McDonald's, and the Dave's Single at Wendy's — with one question in mind: Which chain truly makes the best flagship burger?

SEE ALSO: We visited beloved American fast-food icon Sonic for the first time. Here's the verdict.

DON'T MISS: The Big Mac at 50: McDonald's CEO on 'MacCoin,' the Big Mac Index, and why there will probably never be a veggie Big Mac

Here is the storied and gloried lineup: the Whopper from Burger King, the Dave's Single from Wendy's, and the Big Mac from McDonald's.



Unwrapping them is like driving off the lot — once it's done, there's no going back. The Whopper and Big Mac held up well, but the Dave's Single looks like a flat tire.



Let's start with the Whopper. There is simply no Burger King without the Whopper. It's as entwined with the chain as the croissant is with France. It is indeed the "Home of the Whopper."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

What it's like to live inside one of the iconic 'Painted Lady' homes in San Francisco

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painted ladies home tour4; san francisco housing crisis affordability

Imagine coming home from work and finding dozens of tourists camped across the street, snapping photos and singing the theme song from '90s sitcom "Full House."

For San Francisco residents Come Lague and Charlene Li, it's part of their everyday routine.

The couple lives in one of the Victorian homes in the Alamo Square neighborhood, known collectively as the "Painted Ladies." Made famous in part by their appearance in the "Full House" intro, the homes are among the city's most photographed tourist destinations.

In 2016, Business Insider had the chance to tour the home. Take a look inside.

SEE ALSO: All the crazy things happening in San Francisco because of its out-of-control housing prices

Look familiar?



The Painted Ladies rocketed to fame in the 1990s after their cameo in the "Full House" intro, but they've been featured in dozens of commercials, TV shows, and movies.

Source: NPR



The iconic row is located in San Francisco's ritzy Alamo Square neighborhood.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Frustrated with 'the divisiveness of this White House', billionaire Charles Koch says he's open to backing Democrats in the midterms

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Charles Koch

  • Billionaire Charles Koch, whose network has long supported libertarian causes, said he's open to backing Democratic candidates if they align with his platform.
  • Top donors in the Koch network gathered in Colorado Springs this past weekend.
  • In a rebuke of President Donald Trump and the Republican Party, Koch network co-chair Brian Hooks said "the divisiveness of this White House is causing long-term damage."

Frustrated with "the divisiveness of this White House", billionaire Charles Koch, whose lucrative network has long funded conservative causes, said he's open to backing Democrats in the midterms.

Koch's comments on the upcoming midterm elections this November came at a gathering of Koch network donors in Colorado Springs this past weekend, according to a report from the Washington Post. During the gathering, the group reportedly distanced itself from President Donald Trump and the Republican party.

"I don't care what initials are in front, or after, somebody's name. ... I'd like there to be many more politicians who would embrace and have the courage to run on a platform like this," Koch said when asked about Democrats possibly retaking control of one or both chambers of Congress this fall.

Along with the divisive rhetoric in Washington that Koch network co-chair Brian Hooks said is "causing long-term damage", the libertarian-leaning network also condemned the Trump administration's tariff and immigration policies.

"The urge to protect ourselves from change has doomed many countries throughout history," Koch said in a video shown at the meeting, according to the Wall Street Journal. "This protectionist mind-set has destroyed countless businesses."

This is not the first time that the Koch network has sought to use its political influence to push back against Trump. Last year, the group offered millions in campaign funding to Republicans who voted against "Trumpcare", the replacement plan for the Affordable Care Act that Republicans tried to repeal in March.

And last month, the Koch group spoke out against Trump's "zero tolerance" policy, encouraging him to stop separating migrant children from parents at the border.

Hooks criticized the "tremendous lack of leadership" under Trump and the "deterioration of the core institutions of society," according to the Post.

But while the donor group appears to be showing an openness to Democratic candidates, the network is still expected to be a strong campaign resource for conservative candidates running in districts where Democrats could be vulnerable.

Many of Trump's strongest supporters also happen to be some of the Koch group's biggest donors. The network is expected to spend $400 million on policy issues and political campaigns this election season, according to the report.

While being critical of the president, Koch did not place all of the blame on Trump.

"We've had divisiveness long before Trump became president and we'll have it long after he's no longer president," Koch said. "I'm into hating the sin, not the sinner."

SEE ALSO: David Koch leaving politics, business due to declining health

SEE ALSO: 'Koch brothers' rebrand underway, still a conservative force

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A lawsuit exposed Harvard's 'Z-list,' which some people suspect helps VIP kids who don't have the grades get in

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harvard students graduation

  • A lawsuit against Harvard has exposed admissions documents that reveal some surprising policies, reports the New York Times.
  • For example, students on the "Z-list" must defer their enrollment at Harvard by one year. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit say the Z-list is a way to get legacy students into the college, even if they wouldn't otherwise qualify academically.
  • Harvard disagrees, saying the Z-list has a disproportionate number of legacies to the class as a whole because legacy students might be more inclined to accept their spot on the list.


Among Harvard students in the Classes of 2014 to 2019, about 50 to 60 students each year were admitted off the "Z-list," Anemona Hartocollis, Amy Harmon, and Mitch Smith at the The New York Times report.

Students who are "Z-ed" must defer their enrollment for one year. But plaintiffs in a lawsuit against Harvard say many of these students are legacies (meaning their parents attended Harvard), and wouldn't otherwise make the cut.

Business Insider has previously reported that Harvard University is America's hardest college to get into, with an acceptance rate of 5.2%.

The lawsuit, brought by the anti-affirmative-action group Students for Fair Admissions, accuses Harvard of discriminating against Asian-Americans in admissions, The New York Times reports. Many admissions documents have been filed, revealing aspects of Harvard's admissions process previously unknown by the general public, such as the Z-list.

The Harvard Crimson, an independent student-run paper, reported on the Z-list in 2002. The publication gathered information about 36 of the roughly 80 Z-list students at Harvard between 2001 and 2002 and found that 26 of those students (72%) were legacies, compared to just 12% to 14% of the entire class.

Another Crimson article about the Z-list, published in 2010, reported that 18 of 28 Z-listers interviewed had parents who attended Harvard and 24 received no financial aid from the College. (The Crimson reported that about 70% of Harvard's student body received financial aid.)

Harvard disagrees that the Z-list shows preference to legacy students

Harvard admissions staff say the Z-list is not a way to admit legacy students.

The 2010 Crimson article reports that William R. Fitzsimmons, dean of admissions and financial aid, said the Z-list has a disproportionate number of legacies to the class a whole because legacy students might be more inclined to accept their spot on the list.

Fitzsimmons also told The Crimson that Z-list admissions are need-blind, but many students can't afford to take a year off before starting college, so they might not accept their spot.

Fitzsimmons said the Z-list began in the 1970s, though it didn't have a name back then.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit say that Asian-American candidates are often described as intelligent but unexceptional in their "personal rating," according to The Times.

Other revelations about Harvard admissions since the suit was filed, according to The Times, include the existence of a "dean's interest list" or a "director's interest list." Those lists identify candidates who have connections to Harvard.

Fitzsimmon told The Crimson in 2010 that the students on the Z-list aren't of a lower caliber than the rest of admitted students. "We are 100 percent sure that we want them here next year, not 99 percent," he said of the Z-listed students. 

SEE ALSO: The one book every student should read in 2018, according to Harvard professors

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NOW WATCH: Asian-American groups are saying affirmative action hurts their chances to get into Ivy League schools

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

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who is america roy moore

Sacha Baron Cohen's new Showtime series, "Who Is America?," caused a stir before its premiere earlier this month, as several Republican politicians felt the need to get ahead of the show in explaining how Cohen "duped" them to appear on it.

The former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, the former congressman Joe Walsh, and the former US Senate candidate Roy Moore were among those who preceded the show's premiere with statements explaining their appearances on the series and criticizing Cohen.

In the show's pilot episode, Cohen, disguised as an Israeli "anti-terror expert," roped several Republican congressmen and former elected officials into voicing their support for a program that would arm toddlers with guns to prevent school shootings.

This week, in episode three, Cohen tricked Moore into participating in a "pedophile detector" test and conducted a comically uncomfortable joint interview with the Atlanta rapper Bone Crusher and the former South Carolina state representative Chip Limehouse.

Before the show's premiere, Matt Drudge of The Drudge Report tweeted a list of political and media figures he said Cohen had "finked" for the series, including Palin, Howard Dean, and David Patreus, all of whom we can expect to see in the show's subsequent four episodes.

Here are the notable people and politicians who have appeared on "Who Is America?" so far:

SEE ALSO: Watch Sacha Baron Cohen trick Roy Moore into participating in a 'pedophile detector' test

Sen. Bernie Sanders

The show's first episode began with Cohen interviewing Sanders, the Vermont senator who was a Democratic presidential candidate in 2016, as a right-wing conspiracy theorist character named Billy Wayne Ruddick Jr.

Sanders, with a perplexed expression, politely dodged and shut down various absurd questions on income inequality and other topics from Cohen's Ruddick.



Larry Pratt, executive director emeritus of Gun Owners of America

In the strongest segment on Sunday's episode, Cohen's Israeli "anti-terror expert" character, Col. Erran Morad, introduced Pratt and several other conservative political figures to a fake program called "Kinderguardians" that would arm children as young as 3.

Pratt endorsed the program and, reading off a teleprompter, said: "Toddlers are pure, uncorrupted by fake news or homosexuality. They don't care if it's politically correct to shoot a mentally deranged gunman. They'll just do it."



Florida congressman Matt Gaetz

Cohen's Morad character interviewed Gaetz for the segment on arming toddlers, but Gaetz wisely sidestepped the topic, saying, "Typically members of Congress don't just hear a story about a program and then indicate whether they support it or not."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

5 things today's grandparents did or said that just aren't OK anymore

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grandparents

  • Grandparents are notorious for believing that younger generations listen to horrible music, are irresponsible, and are overly sexualized.
  • Many of us have heard from older people about how things were better "back in the day."
  • However, there are certain things your grandparents did or said that are absolutely not OK today. Here’s five of them.

 

More often than not, when a grandparent complains about how things were different "back in my day," the issue isn't so much that things have changed as that people change.

Our grandparents endured the same complaints about their rotten modern music when they were gyrating to Elvis or The Beatles as those jeers they now issue when they hear today's top 40 tunes. And while every generation of youngsters seems promiscuous to the older folks, teen birth rates are at an all-time low, revealing that perception and reality are often disparate.

The ways in which people relate to one another and in how they go about their daily lives are often similar from generation to generation. However, there are certain things today's grandparents were more likely to have said and done back in their day without a second thought that would be seen as violations of social standards today.

SEE ALSO: 8 things my parents let me do that I would never let my kids do

People from previous generations smoked more

In 1965, more than 40% of adult Americans smoked cigarettes. As of 2016, that number is significantly lower, with about 15% of adults in the United States using cigarettes, according to the CDC.

According to the US National Library of Medicine, experts were gathering evidence that smoking was bad for health as early as the 1930s, but smoking rates remained higher than they are today for much of the century.



Drinking and driving was a factor in more traffic accidents

Drunk driving may plague every generation until automated cars take over the roads, but it's a statistically less significant problem today than it was a few decades back.

According to an NIH study, alcohol played a role in more than 60% of traffic deaths in the 1970s, while as of 2014, booze is a factor in 31% of deadly traffic incidents.



People used more culturally insensitive language

When my grandparents were young, it was unremarkable to refer to people of color using inaccurate and offensive terms. Some older people still do today.

The continued use of insensitive and outdated language is still an issue, but awareness of how offensive and inappropriate it is has spread throughout society.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

You'll reportedly need a minimum of $10 million in your family's bank account to score an invite to this summer camp for rich millennials

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rich people private plane

  • Big banks have begun courting millennials from wealthy families in an effort to woo them as future clients, Bloomberg reports.
  • At a recent summer camp sponsored by Swiss banking conglomerate UBS Group, a group of wealthy millennials enjoyed entrepreneurial workshops, luxurious food and drink, and niche networking opportunities.

At a three-day event sponsored by Swiss banking conglomerate UBS Group, a number of wealthy millennials reportedly lugged a 40-pound keg of water for a mile-long journey. The trip's goal? To get a better understanding of the grueling excursions many women in impoverished communities regularly make to get water.

Afterwards, Bloomberg reports, the group was rewarded with cocktails at a swanky townhouse, where it was later announced that UBS would donate $12,000 to build a well for a community in the name of its moneyed guests.

These "workshops," reports Bloomberg, have become a trend among big banks, which have begun to offer luxurious, multi-day experiences to affluent young people in an effort to woo them as future clients.

At this particular UBS summer retreat, which was hosted at The Four Seasons in New York, the barrier to entry was high: Invitees all had a reported minimum of $10 million in their families' bank accounts. 

Familiarizing their affluent guests with UBS was, seemingly, just one part of the bank's mission: At UBS's summer camp, guests enjoyed a number of entrepreneurial-themed lessons including demonstrations on "impact philanthropy," like the water-lugging example above. Other camp perks reportedly included niche networking opportunities and wine tastings led by Jon Bon Jovi's son. 

Read the full story over at Bloomberg.

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