The League of American Bicyclists released its annual ranking of the most bike friendly states today. For the eighth year in a row, Washington took top honors.

Washington is well-known for its sustainable infrastructure and commitment to alternative transportation, and is home to largest cycling organization in the United States, the Cascade Bicycle Club, which has 15,000 members.

"In Washington, we're focusing on connected communities and sustainable transportation, and bicycling is an important element of that multimodal system," Washington Secretary of Transportation Lynn Peterson told the League. "There's more work ahead, and this recognition tells us we're on the right path."

Some states made large leaps in this years results. Massachusetts had previously dropped from third in 2012, to 10th last year. This year the state is almost back to its former glory at number four.

Other states dropped considerable amounts. Iowa, which has been ranked as high as 6th in years past, dropped to 28th this year.

Rankings are compiled through surveys distributed by the League to each state’s “bicycle coordinator” and then compiled and verified by League staff in conjunction with advocates in each state.

States are awarded points based on these questionnaires across five categories: Legislation & Enforcement, Policies & Programs, Infrastructure & Funding, Education & Encouragement, and Evaluation & Planning.

Find your state’s bicycle report card here.

SEE ALSO: I just tested out the 'world's most advanced fitness device' for cycling — here's what it was like

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This is what it's like to do a double backflip on a dirt bike

Bridal registries are a godsend during wedding season — they take the guesswork out of choosing a gift. 

But what if you've waited until the last-minute and all of the couple's pre-selected gifts have been scooped up?  

When going off the registry, there are a few things to steer clear of. 

1. Any piece of art

Unless you have intimate knowledge of the couple's taste in art (and home décor), step away from the wall hangings and conversation pieces. That butler dog statue is not your friend.  

2. Bulky kitchen appliances

A simple rule is to avoid anything larger than a coffee-maker. So walk away from the industrial-size margarita machine, please. Most first homes are small, meaning there is no space (and no need) for counter-crowding appliances. 

3. Quirky or funny-to-you gag gifts

Speaking of taking up space, just say no to eclectic gifts that serve no purpose; think funky lamps, knick-knacks, etc. And avoid all "joke gifts," including anything baby- or sex-related. Self-help books of the "how to be the perfect spouse" genre are out of the question.    

4. An empty picture frame 

The only exception to this rule: if you have an amazing picture to put inside of the frame. Otherwise, this gift is highly generic and will likely end up being re-gifted. A digital frame, however, is something the bride and groom can put to use as soon as they return from their honeymoon. 

5. Crystal or silver anything

Silver requires maintenance (read: frequent polishing), and crystal is heavy and takes up space. Not all couples want to decorate their new home with shiny objects.  

Join the conversation about this story »

Editor's note: "Primates of Park Avenue" is a memoir about the tribe of uber-wealthy moms of Manhattan's Upper East Side as told by Wednesday Martin, a PhD with a background in anthropology.

In the excerpt below, Martin and a friend calculate the cost of maintaining a "Manhattan Geisha" lifestyle for a year. 

What, I wondered aloud to Candace as our Cobb salads materialized before us, did one do in order to be a beautiful-enough woman with children in this world?

And how much did it cost in actual dollars and cents? Candace’s hazel eyes, free of crow’s-feet thanks to good genes, good diet, and some good, strategic recent Botox, lit up.

“Let’s figure it out!” she suggested.

Why hadn’t we thought of this before? Our salads were soon forgotten—this was more fun than eating.

When we were done, our notes about what we guessed a Manhattan Geisha of the Upper East Side tribe I was studying did for and spent on her upkeep—based on conversations, observations, and a heavily padded version of what we did for ourselves—looked like this.

Head-to-toe analysis of annual cost of self-maintenance for high-mid- to high-ranking UES woman with kids in private school

Hair and scalp

Haircut & color (5x/year @ $500) $2.5K and blowout (weekly @ $70 per, incl. tip) $3.5K = $6K

Hair & makeup stylist for events (10x/year @ $150) = $1.5K

Consult and follow-up w/specialist who does not accept insurance, regarding hair loss due to color, stress, hormones, and/or autoimmune issues caused by stress and hormones = $2K

Face

Quarterly Botox, Restylane, and fillers ($1,000 x 4) = $4K

Monthly peel ($300 x 12) = $3.6K

Monthly facial ($250 x 12) = $3K

Monthly brows: waxing, tweezing, sugaring, or stringing ($50 x 12) = $600

Laser (for sun damage, collagen stimulation, etc.) = $2.5K

Facial skin-care products (cleaner, moisturizer, serum, sunblock, eye cream) = $1.5K

Facial makeup = $1K

Body

Exercise classes = $3.5K

Personal trainer = $7.5K

Nutritionist = $1.5K

Juice cleanses = $3.5K if weekly

Mani/pedi = $2K

Massage = $9K if weekly; $4.5K if biweekly

Spray tan = $500

Spa getaway/s = $8K if biannually

Plastic surgery incl. breast augmentation, lipo = wild-card items

Wardrobe

Seasonal Fall/Winter = $3K–20K

Seasonal Spring/Summer = $3K–20K

Events = $5K–20K

Hamptons = $5K

Palm Beach = $5K

Aspen (ski jacket, pants, hat/s, gloves) = $2.5K 

Shoes/boots = $5–8K

Bags = $5–10K 

Total: $~95,000

“Stupefying,” Candace pronounced as we tallied the numbers and put our credit cards on the table.

Something like $95,000, on the low end, just to be beautiful enough and well-enough dressed and well-enough shod and sufficiently well tended to be in the game.

“We are not telling our husbands,” she intoned seriously as we kissed good-bye and parted on the street.

Although maybe that would have been a good idea, since we were cheap dates compared with others we knew.

“Hey!” she shouted seconds later from the window of the cab she had just hopped into: “We didn’t even count drivers and Ubers to get to and from the stores and appointments!” She was right.

But I didn’t have the appetite to revisit our figures. I felt dizzy.

In spite of this fact, I had an outfit to plan, and some shopping to do.

"Primates of Park Avenue" is available for purchase at Amazon.

Courtesy of Simon & Schuster. Copyright © 2015 by Wednesday Martin.

SEE ALSO: The ultimate status symbol for millionaire moms on New York's Upper East Side is not what you'd expect

Join the conversation about this story »

A dimly-lit Youtube video of a man proposing to his girlfriend at McDonald's is bouncing around the internet today — and it's not because the couple ends up living happily ever after.

The caption of the video, uploaded by user "Joseph Ann" reads:

I met my girlfriend 2 years ago in LA. I've never been good at planning in advance which is why we wound up ending our first date at this exact McDonalds. She joked for months about how 10 years down the road I would probably propose to her in a chicken nugget box so I thought she would love when I surprised her this way. She didn't love it like the way I thought she would. We agreed to wait longer until it's time to get engaged.

She said no!

Just two days after it was uploaded, the video has been amassing thousands of views. It was first picked up by the Toronto Sun, who took note of something we're probably all thinking: "[This] cringe-inducing McDonald's proposal is either the worst idea ever or great fodder for a viral hoax."

After all, when you get rejected by your girlfriend at the McDonald's, do you really want to put it up on the internet for the world to see? Hmm...

Either way, here's how it all went down.

The video begins when Joseph Ann's girlfriend gets in the car. He asks her if she's hungry, and she says no. He drives to McDonalds anyway, where he orders a Crispy Chicken deluxe with a Diet Coke. His girlfriend (we never learn her name) grabs the bag and helps herself to a few fries.

Joseph Ann then asks his girlfriend to make sure they didn't include mayonnaise on his sandwich. "I forgot to say no mayonnaise," he explains.

When she opens the sandwich box, she finds a ring. As she turns to him (looking surprised, and a little weirded out) he asks, "Will you marry me?"

Unfortunately, she starts to laugh. "You're not serious" she says in disbelief. 

Her reaction was not what he was hoping for. "You can't... this is not what you do," she exclaims.

Then he takes the ring and puts it on her finger. "Surprise!" he says.

But she's still not convinced.

"This is a joke," she says. 

After a couple seconds of awkward silence, she says, "you can't ask me to marry you on a chicken sandwich!"

After the two share a very awkward and forced kiss, she continues.

"I know everything is a joke with you, but this is... I can't marry you," she says as she holds back tears.

He explains everyone knows about the proposal. He even asked her father for permission. Then he shows her the hidden camera. 

Check out the full video here or below:

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: These are the keys to a happy marriage in China

There's nothing worse than being the only passenger awake on a plane when everyone else is sleeping soundly with their sleep masks and neck pillows.

Instead of just hoping, here are some strategies you can use — which we found in a helpful Quora thread— to help you get a little shut eye on your next long flight.

Try to book a nonstop flight at a time that's closest to your normal sleeping hours.

In other words, try to fly through the night (according to the time zone you're normally in). You're more likely to fall asleep if it's nighttime according to your body clock than if it's daytime.

And the longer uninterrupted flying time you have to try and fall asleep (and stay asleep), the better.

Wear comfortable clothing.

Tight clothing is not ideal for sleeping, so it's best to wear clothes that are a little more soft and loose-fitting. Layers are also a good idea since trying to sleep when you're hot or cold is difficult.

Don't try to fall asleep right after take off.

Although it's easy to fall asleep during pressurization of the cabin immediately after take off, chances are you'll end up waking up once the plane levels off and flight attendants start serving drinks and meals. Instead, wait until everyone has settled into their seats and the lights have been turned off.

Take the window seat.

This will ensure you won't be disturbed when your seatmate needs to use the bathroom. And you won't be woken up by flight attendants pushing food and drink carts or other passengers walking up and down the aisle.

Make sure you have lumbar support.

Lumbar refers to your lower spine. It's best to fall asleep with your butt planted on your seat and your back against the back of your seat. It can be tempting to hunch over or try to curl up, but you probably won't stay comfortable for long or you're likely to wake up in pain if that's how you fall asleep.

Invest in a neck pillow, a pair of noise canceling headphones, and a sleep mask.

A neck pillow is crucial in avoiding waking up with a crick in your neck — which can make the rest of your flight very uncomfortable. Neck pillows also ensure that your head will stay in one place when you sleep, as opposed to falling forward every few minutes.

Noise canceling headphones can be expensive, but they're worth it for those who have trouble blocking out obnoxiously loud plane and passenger noises. For light sleepers, a baby crying or flight attendants talking can ruin your chances of getting any sleep during the flight.

Even though the flight attendants turn off the lights in the cabin, the plane is never completely dark. The only way you'll achieve this is with a sleep mask. 

Take off your shoes.

It's unnatural to sleep with your shoes on, and your goal is to try and do everything you would normally do when you're sleeping soundly in your bed at home. If you're wearing sandals on the flight, it's a good idea to bring some socks with you, since cold feet are just another obstacle that might keep you awake.

Wrap yourself in a blanket — but make sure your seat belt is buckled over the blanket.

You'll feel more cozy if you're wrapped in a blanket, but if the flight attendants can't see your seat belt buckle, they might wake you up to make sure it's buckled when the seat belt sign is on. So buckle your belt over your blanket and you'll avoid that issue.

Give yourself as much legroom as possible.

Trying to sleep when your legs are scrunched up is not easy. If possible, put your carry on bag in an overhead compartment so that the space in front of you is taken up only by your legs. Having the luxury to stretch your legs will improve your chances of getting a good rest.

Try reading a book or magazine instead of watching movies.

Watching TV can make falling asleep harder, whereas reading often makes you feel tired, so you're more likely to fall asleep after doing it. While it's fun to watch the movies offered on long flights, if you're determined to sleep, you may be better off bringing a book or magazine to read on board. You may even surprise yourself and fall asleep mid-page.

SEE ALSO: Here's everything you should do before you travel abroad

FOLLOW US: BI Travel is on Twitter!

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: You'll want to travel to Turkey after watching this incredible video

Sotheby's announced this week that an anonymous collector had put his entire exotic portfolio up for auction this summer. The crown jewel of this collection is a 1998 McLaren F1 LM hypercar. 

"The F1 is a technological tour de force and a real triumph in terms of packaging and design," McLaren Automotive executive chairman Ron Dennis said in a statement in 2010.

"Whether endurance racing or on road, it is supremely fast, agile, and yet comfortable. Its styling is enduring and will never fade."

The car up for auction is one of 106 McLaren F1 vehicles ever built and just one of a handful in the "LM" specification. According to Sotheby's, the ultra-rare British exotic is expected to fetch between $12 million and $15 million when it hits the auction block this August in Monterrey, California. 

McLaren automotive was born from the racing team founded by legendary driver Bruce McLaren.

The team has dominated Formula One racing — winning 182 races and eight World Championships.

In 1988, McLaren obliterated the competition by winning 15 of the 16 races on the F1 schedule. Afterward, the team decided it was time to use its talents to build the ultimate road car.

High-end coffee retailer Blue Bottle Coffee, a favorite of the tech community, has received an additional $70 million in funding from several big-name tech investors and Fidelity Management and Research. 

Tetragon Financial Group, Morgan Stanley, Index Ventures, True Ventures, Bono, Jared Leto, Tony Hawk, and Instagram founder Kevin Systrom contributed to the round.

The company, which operates 19 locations in New York City, California, and Japan, has become hugely popular with hipsters and techies from coast to coast. Vintage brewing machines and artisanal coffee are some of its major selling points, and lines are known to get long. 

The chain previously raised a $25 million round in January 2014, with contributions from Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Twitter cofounder Evan Williams, VC Chris Sacca, and WordPress cofounder Matt Mullenweg.

Last year, we paid a visit to the spacious Blue Bottle cafe in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, to see what the hype is all about. 

We visited Blue Bottle's Brooklyn shop, located on a pretty nondescript street in Williamsburg. The cafe is housed in an early 20th-century brick building that, according to Blue Bottle's site, was at different times used by glass blowers, metal smiths, and barrel makers.

We got our first glance of their famous Blue Bottle logo right at the entrance. The logo on a to-go cup is part of the company's cachet and a sure sign the drinker is "in the know" about what's cool in the world of coffee.

Guests were sipping coffee and reading the newspaper at the counter when we visited in the late morning.

What better time to take a deep dive into the world of fried dough than National Donut Day on June 5?

And lest you've chocked it up to some clever publicist, Donut Day actually dates back to WWI, when "donut lassies" delivered provisions to soldiers on the front line.

In honor of coffee's eternal BFF, we took a look at how fried dough is eaten around the world. 

BEIGNETS (FRANCE): Beignets come in yeast and non-yeast varieties. They're also the official state doughnut of Louisiana.

CHURROS (SPAIN): Made of choux pastry, churros are also popular in Mexico and Portugal. In Brazil, they're often filled with cream or chocolate.

BERLINER (GERMANY): These deep-fried yeast doughnuts have been around since the 15th century.

True power is ageless.

From the toddling Prince George, third in line to the British throne, to 100-year-old Pulitzer Prize-winning author Herman Wouk, we found the most powerful person at every age from 1 to 100.

To create this list, we took four criteria into consideration: command, or the degree to which a person formally controls a group of people; past influence, or how much a person has changed the world; future influence, or how much a person is likely to change the world going forward; and net worth.

Spanning industries and time zones, these are the most powerful people, from 1 to 100.

AGE 1: Prince George of Cambridge

Heir to the British throne

What makes him powerful: After his grandfather and father, little George is next in line to succeed his great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. As an eight-month-old he took his first royal tour — a 19-day visit to New Zealand and Australia. He's also a tiny fashion icon, and he recently became a big brother to new princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.

AGE 2: Macallister Bogue

Son of Marissa Mayer and Zach Bogue

What makes him powerful: While he's only a couple of years old, Bogue, son of Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer, still influences his mom's outlook at work. Though Mayer herself only took a few weeks off after giving birth, she doubled the amount of paid maternity leave Yahoo offers new mothers from eight to 16 weeks and offered new dads eight weeks as well.

AGE 3: Blue Ivy Carter

Daughter of Beyoncé and Jay Z

What makes her powerful: Nothing is too good for this power couple's little girl. Blue Ivy's second birthday was celebrated at the exotic Jungle Island in Miami; for her third, Blue got an ice sculpture with her name carved into it. Gwyneth Paltrow, who is good friends with the Knowles-Carter clan, said of Blue Ivy: "She is a powerhouse. I love her so much."

It's National Donut Day, and what better way to celebrate than with a ranking of America's favorite morning treats?

We couldn't personally taste doughnuts from every beloved pastry shop in the country, so we scoured blogs and online reviews to find the 20 best doughnut spots.

Then we ranked specific doughnuts based on availability, originality, taste (according to reviews), and price.

#11 The foie gras doughnut at Do or Dine in Brooklyn, NY makes the list for originality alone. But its $11 price tag is really a drag.

Originality: 10
Taste: 8
Price: 1
Availability: 5
TOTAL: 24

Availability was based on store hours and how quickly the establishment sold out of donuts. Originality reflected how common the customers' favorite flavor was at other donut shops, and price took into account both the actual price as well as if the store was cash only.

#10 Diners rave about the chocolate glazed doughnuts at Do-Rite Donuts in Chicago, IL. Though not the most original flavor, the extra dollop of chocolate is always welcome.

Originality: 2
Taste: 10
Price: 7
Availability: 6
TOTAL: 25

Availability was based on store hours and how quickly the establishment sold out of donuts. Originality reflected how common the customers' favorite flavor was at other donut shops, and price took into account both the actual price as well as if the store was cash only.

#9 This picture doesn't do it justice, but everyone loves the classic tres leches doughnut at the Doughnut Plant in New York, NY. It tastes just like a slice of "three milks" cake.

Originality: 4
Taste: 9
Price: 7
Availability: 8
TOTAL: 28

Availability was based on store hours and how quickly the establishment sold out of donuts. Originality reflected how common the customers' favorite flavor was at other donut shops, and price took into account both the actual price as well as if the store was cash only.

Megan Sullivan has survived cancer, a car accident, and falling off of a cliff. Now she's riding an electric skateboard through Europe. 

Earlier this week, Sullivan made headlines around the world for her unorthodox trip which spanned three continents in just under two weeks, the Daily Mail reported. 

Sullivan and her boyfriend, Chris McNamara, saved money and time by forgoing hotels and sleeping on their flights between destinations like the Colosseum in Rome and the Great Wall of China. The whole trip was planned just 10 days before the pair departed from the United States, Sullivan explains on her blog. 

Today, Sullivan posted a YouTube video of her latest adventures. "A month ago I received an email letting me know that the typical three day Memorial Day Weekend that I was accustomed to, was suddenly turning into a four day opportunity to do something cool," Sullivan writes in the video's caption. 

Taking matters into her own, Sullivan sold off everything everything she owned that hadn't been used in six months to purchase plane tickets. 

The couple traveled to The Netherlands, Turkey, and Italy over the course of a slightly extended Memorial Day Weekend. "The places were purely inspired by price; we purchased the plane tickets after I sold everything on eBay, so it was purely dependent on budget," Sullivan told Business Insider. "We also wanted to get more in extended layovers to experience more of Europe within the same trip that did not cost us anymore."

To help with their limited time frame, Sullivan and McNamara cruised through each country on the wheels of an electric skateboard, documenting their travels with the help of a selfie-stick. 

"The hardest thing was getting our skateboard through security. Most [people] laughed at us most of the time ... one security person even asked us to ride it," Sullivan said. 

Spending 48 hours in Istanbul, 14 in Rome, and just eight in Amsterdam, Sullivan and McNamara wasted no time seeing the sights on their whirlwind vacation. 

Their tight schedule was almost ruined in Rome when airport security told the couple that the skateboard was a potential weapon and they would not be allowed to check it.

"We had to run back to our airline to get special permission and run back just in time to make our flight with only minutes to spare," explained Sullivan. 

"We might die," Sullivan jokes in the final seconds of the video, but after all her previous close-calls, it seems like she's doing just the opposite, living it up, all over the globe. 

You can watch the entire amazing video here and check out where Sullivan is headed next here. 

SEE ALSO: The 'Man Who Flies For Free' says these are the 3 best websites for airline deals Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/best-websites-for-cheap-flight-tickets-2015-4#ixzz3cCH2nodk

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: You'll want to travel to Turkey after watching this incredible video

We spent a day with "Team Liquid," a professional video gaming team. Here's what it's like to be a professional video gamer.

Produced by Devan Joseph. Photographs by Harrison Jacobs.

Follow BI Video: On Facebook

Join the conversation about this story »

A French-impersonating mansion in the Beverly Crest section of Los Angeles is now on the market for $37.5 million, according to Daily Mail.

It's been on and off the market for a while now, after former owner Curtis Somoza was busted for a Ponzi scheme and sentenced to jail for 25 years in 2007, according to Curbed.

The house was transferred to an LLC in 2005 and subsequently bought by Jeoung Lee, a healthcare entrepreneur.

Originally built in 2000, the entire home has been fully remodeled and renovated since. 

Susan Perryman of Hilton and Hyland has the listing.

Welcome to the Wallingford Estate, a 22,000-square-foot home on the outskirts of one of Los Angeles' most expensive districts.

Built in 2000, no expense was spared in bringing it up to the modern luxury standards commanded by a $37.5-million price tag.

A manicured 5-acre lawn, huge snake-like driveway and a ginormous front gate surround the house.

This August, a 1998 McLaren F1 is estimated to sell for $15 million at RM Sotheby's Monterey sports car auction. This sum would set a record for the most money ever paid for a McLaren. 

The carbon-framed sports car features a unique driver's seat sandwiched between two passenger seats and a 680-horse power engine. 

Produced by Emma Fierberg. Video courtesy of Associated Press.

Follow BI Video: On Facebook

Join the conversation about this story »

People on Kickstarter are going crazy for a smart water bottle that glows when you need to take a sip.

Spotted on TechCrunch and officially launched on Monday with 38 days left to go, the HidrateMe water bottle has already surpassed it’s $35,000 funding goal and reached over $130,000 at the time of this post.

HidrateMe GLOWS. If you e forgotten to drink water your bottle will glow to remind you to stay hydrated. #glow #glowingwaterbottle #Hidrate #HidrateMe #smartwaterbottle #drinkwater #stayhydrated #drinkwater #tech #KICKSTARTER #fitspo #new #stylish #fashionable #fitness #workout #getfit #drinkup #run #cycle #triathlete #yoga

A video posted by HidrateMe (@hidrate_me) on Jun 1, 2015 at 10:33am PDT

The 72 ounce bottle has a lot of really cool features. It works by syncing the water bottle to your phone through an app using Bluetooth. The app will ask your age, gender, preferred metric (ounces or millileters), height, weight, and how active you usually are.

All that data will go into the free app and it will then calculate how much water you should be drinking and work with a sensor within the water bottle itself to track how much water you’ve consumed.

The coolest part is that the app will sync with fitness wearables and apps, so if you go for a long hike or a bike ride, your HidrateMe water bottle will adjust the amount of water you need to drink.

It also takes into account your location and can adjust your daily water goals depending on the temperature, humidity, and elevation of your surroundings.

And if you’re bad about remembering to drink water, the watebottle will glow whenever you’ve gone long periods of time without drinking anything.

The idea for HidrateMe came when CEO and cofounder Nayda Nguyen realized she wasn’t drinking enough water and wanted to develop an elegant solution.

“We are tracking everything about our body right now — our exercise, our sleep, our diet,“ Nguyen explained in the Kickstarter video. “But there’s no easy way to track the most essential thing to our body: water. It’s the next piece of the puzzle.”

She teamed up with four other engineers, designers, developers, and marketers from the University of Minnesota and within 54 hours, they had created the first prototype.

After that, they knew they were onto something. They quit their jobs and were selected to join the Sprint Mobile Health Accelerator sponsorship that took them to Kansas City, MO and let them work for three months developing the bottle.

“We did 80% of the work for the campaign before it even started,” Nguyen told TechCrunch. “Thanks to that, we rallied a large group of influencers in the fitness world to help us spread the word and had a big sign-up list with potential backers long before our Kickstarter launch.”

There’s no word yet on if the app can work with multiple HidrateMe bottles or if you need to stick with just one bottle. Another issue could be if you prefer drinking water out of the bottle without the cap on since the HidrateMe sensor will stop tracking water intake if the cap is removed.

According to the team, the battery will also last a year, but after that, you’ll need to replace it to keep your water bottle functioning with the app and Bluetooth.

The HidrateMe bottles will be made with BPA-free Tritan plastic and are dishwasher safe. The early bird price for the water bottle will be $39 with the regular price at $45 and it comes in five colors, including white, green, teal, pink, and black. The team is aiming for a late 2015 or early 2016 release date.

Check out the full Kickstarter page here.

SEE ALSO: Former employees from 3 media juggernauts have launched a Kickstarter to bring public access TV online

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 7 things the Samsung Galaxy S6 can do that the iPhone 6 can't

On June 5, 1989, one day after China's government began violently cracking down on protestors in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, a lone man, dressed in black pants and a white shirt, decided to take action against an approaching line of military tanks, en route to suppress protestors.

In an act of nonviolent protest, the man, who to this day remains unidentified, calmly walked in front of the procession of tanks, forcing the lead tank to halt. As the tank tried to move around him, the man repeatedly shifted his position, continuing to block the progress of the tanks and creating a symbolic gesture of opposition that still holds power today.

Friday marks the 26th anniversary of that day, that man's actions, and the famous photograph of him that shocked the world.

Photographer Stuart Franklin, a contributing member Magnum, a famous photojournalist and photographer collective, was there, shooting from a balcony at the Beijing Hotel.

The following day, after his roll of film was smuggled out of China in a packet of tea and delivered to the Magnum offices in Paris, the "Tank Man" image appeared on front pages everywhere. Three other photographers also snapped the scene, but Franklin's image is arguably the most iconic, having appeared in Time and Life magazines, and winning him a World Press Award.

25 years later, the iconic image is back in the spotlight. Franklin's contact sheet — a piece of photographic paper containing thumbnails of all the exposures from a specific roll of film — was recently part of Magnum's show of famous contact sheets at Manhattan's Milk Gallery.

The sheets, which were used by photographers and photo editors to make image selections before computers and digital photography rendered them obsolete, are treasure troves of information. They show outtakes and behind-the-scenes images from a specific photoshoot or event, helping the viewer to gain a better sense of the process and the mindset of the photographer.

Franklin's contact sheet from Tiananmen Square contains multiple slide exposures taken from a balcony of the Beijing Hotel, giving us a new perspective on the event and photographic process.

(Double click to zoom in and explore the contact sheet in more detail, or click here for an enlarged version on mobile.)

The exposures show "Tank Man" entering the fray and standing in front of the tank before finally being grabbed and moved out of the scene by others. We can also see where Stuart takes a risk and rushes back into his hotel room to change out his lens for a closer shot.Take a closer look at some of the exposures. Here, we see the tanks beginning their march towards the Square."Tank Man" enters the frame.Here's the image that made it to the front page of newspapers around the world.Finally, thanks to the contact sheet, we can see Tank Man being escorted away by others. Who they were is still a topic of debate.

SEE ALSO: 22 Of The Most Unforgettable War Photos You Will Ever See

FOLLOW US: Business Insider is on Pinterest

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This is one of the most dangerous parts of China's Great Wall

New York City has a reputation for being an expensive city.

But that doesn't mean you need to have a disposable income to enjoy it.

Particularly in the summer, New York offers multiple events that won't cost you a penny to attend.

From parades to movie nights in the park to cultural festivals, here's what you can enjoy in the city this summer free.

Governors Island offers free bike mornings from Monday to Friday between 10 a.m. and noon. Visitors can have a relaxed ride while exploring the island.

For more information on free bike rentals in Governors Island, click here>

Get crafty at Etsy's kaleidoscope-themed craft party taking place at the Manhattan Bridge Archway (near the company's Dumbo headquarters) on Friday and Saturday. With music, a bar, food trucks, and paper-crafting supplies provided by Etsy, you'll have everything you need.

Click here to find out more about the party >

From April through October, the High Line offers stargazing on Tuesdays from dusk to 9 p.m. Experts are available to discuss any sights of interest, and food vendors offer tacos, gelato, ice pops, and seasonal treats.

For more information on stargazing on the High line, click here>

Talking about money could improve your sex life?

That's a new one.

However, it's the implication of a new poll from MONEY, which surveyed 500 millennials and 500 baby boomers about relationships and money. 

The poll found that people who trusted their partners with money were more likely to report that their sex lives were "hot" or "very good," while those who were less confident in their partner's financial skills — or reported fighting with their partners about money — were also less satisfied with the more private side of their relationship.

Kerri Anne Renzulli and Susie Poppick write on MONEY:

In general, couples who saw eye to eye on retirement savings, emergency savings, investment decisions, major purchases, and retirement age fought less often, trusted each other more, and reported higher levels of bedroom bliss.

Renzulli and Poppick are clear that the poll only implies a correlation, not a causal relationship (agreeing about money won't necessarily improve your sex life; conversely, a great sex life doesn't always mean you'll agree about money).

Bearing in mind that disagreements over money are one of the leading causes of divorce, the poll's findings provide another good reason to get on the same financial page as your partner.

If you're considering marriage, take a look at the three essential money conversations couples should have before getting married. If you're in any stage of your relationship, try the six money conversations every serious couple should have.

Can't hurt, right?

SEE ALSO: 6 money lies that can destroy your relationship

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: JAMES ALTUCHER: Why investing in a 401(k) is a complete waste of money

Too often, we tend to look at simply our own narrow view of the world. But different cultures give way to many different interpretations of life and the many desires therein.

International moving company, Movehub, recently put together a fantastic infographic that shows us what matters most to people all over the world. They say the data come from the OECD Better Life Index that's been collecting information since 2011 with more than 60,000 people responding.

Take a look for yourself at the conclusions:

SEE ALSO: The disposable income of people in every country of the world in one fantastic infographic

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Animated map shows what the US would look like if all the Earth's ice melted

Taking a road trip gives you the chance to check out sites you might not otherwise get to see. 

Car Dealer Reviews put together an infographic of 15 epic road trips you can take in different countries around the world. 

The company gathered mileage data and recommendations from people who have taken these trips to determine how long each route would take, the quality of the road conditions, and the best stops along the way, like the easy-to-miss detour of Milford Sound along New Zealand’s South Island Circuit. 

See the full infographic below to learn more about each trip.

FOLLOW US!  Business Insider Travel is on Twitter

SEE ALSO: 15 gorgeous beaches that are easy to get to from New York City

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This is the best route to take for an epic road trip across the US